In search of discreet advice about romantic traditions

[katayoku_tenshi]

I... er... have some questions I'd like to ask.

I believe I have performed adequate basic research upon the upcoming holiday, but, as ever, the details prove both essential to master and challenging to select.

Would anyone who is familiar with Cloud's world

any world?

...I may need all the help I can get...would anyone feel inclined to offer

Comments

[teenytinytres]

I may or may not be able to provide the help you desire, but I will do what I can. What is it you wish to know?

[katayoku_tenshi]

One of the things I am attempting to determine is how a person goes about acquiring a private reservation at a romantic place that serves appropriate meals on the same night that, presumably, nearly every other couple in town is possessed of the same intention.

It would be unfair to attempt to play upon my governmental position in order to make such arrangements.

In addition, I am more familiar with the city's bars and cafes than with formal dining options. I learned the bars through my police duties and the cafes through the places where Father Abel and the children acquire sweets, but I'm not really acquainted with non-violent and non-sugared dining options.

I am also hoping for some degree of privacy during the evening, since it is a night intended for romantic gestures.

Have you any suggestions?

[ooc: asking an android about food, let alone romance. XD But he really is looking for advice...]

1/2

[teenytinytres]

2/2

[teenytinytres]

First, General, I must ask. What culinary skills do you possess, if any?

//to Sephiroth

[lady_caterina]

What...sort of suggestion, brother?

[ooc: Perhaps you'd better ignore the reply on the other..xDD Imma sorreh x_x]

Re: //to Sephiroth

[katayoku_tenshi]

I...

there are too many things I don't know, about how things ought to be done.

What kind of restaurant to choose. Whether some place other than a restaurant might be innovative and romantic, or merely laughable.

How to determine what the 'right moment' is.

How to find the right words, when there have been so many poets who have apparently thought that no proper set of words had yet been formulated, since they all persist in trying to assemble them for themselves.

What to do if he says no, or if he laughs at me.

Even how to ask for advice without seeing it trumpeted all over the city -- I...

Yuuko, gods damn it--

...I don't know too many things.

Re: //to Sephiroth

[lady_caterina]

Dear brother mine...firstly. *hugs* Do calm. This is Cloud . I don't think he would say no, or laugh at you ...at you, no. With you, yes.

You do realise my only practical experience with this comes well after the proposal?

And no, that almost-proposal I received in college does not count, brother dearest.

[ooc: She's trying...she really is xD]

Re: //to Sephiroth

[katayoku_tenshi]

I... really don't know what he might say. The speculation has quickly gotten out of hand in certain areas, and I hope that he doesn't mistake that to mean that I would... presume upon his reply, or

[boomchucka]

I'll help! What would you like? :D

[ooc: hehehe, Selphie's being super niiiiiiiiiice. Clearly, she wants something. XD]

[katayoku_tenshi]

[Private to Selphie]

You'd mentioned that you might be able to offer me social advice?

When one is attempting to manage the flow of a romantic evening and its associated conversations about the nature of one's relationship -- in the reference materials I've read, one sees quite a few references to the importance of selecting the "right moment" and the "right words" and the "right mood."

How can I be certain that I have chosen the right moment, or the right words, or the right... well... everything else that is associated with attempting to construct a properly romantic evening?

Does the nervous uncertainty ever go away, or is it something one has to learn to work through in order to correctly identify the precise opportunities?

[ooc: *facepalm* he hasn't seen that Selphie's gotten into his locked post yet. He's going to freak out a bit more once he gets there!]

[Private]

[boomchucka]

Well... it varies with each situation so you're just going to have to use your best judgment. And the nervousness doesn't go away until it's all said and done. Try not to worry about it so much and you should be fine. :)

[ooc: uh-oh... xD]

Re: [Private]

[katayoku_tenshi]

I'm afraid my problem is precisely in the realm of judgement. I know how to judge the angle of an attack. I know how to judge the proper staffing level for a city-wide security event. But I have no experience to speak of in following the rituals of a civilian romantic holiday, because this is the first year I've cared about its significance. So I haven't had the opportunity to test my judgement.

In the absence of experience upon which to base my judgement, 'trying not to worry about it so much' is a formidable-sounding task.

But I do promise that I will try.

[ooc: ok, he spazzed! XD Gmail has been failing at sending reply notifications to me lately though...]

[cheery_reaper]

Suggestions, huh? What are you thinking about?

[katayoku_tenshi]

Ah -- Father Abel... thank you!

I'm not certain whether your profession allows you to comment upon the romantic potential of a particular restaurant. But since I believe Father Tres would make an excellent assessor of the privacy-and-security balance of the city's more civilized restaurants, I think you would make an equally excellent assessor of their food. Or at least I've heard you express quite a few more opinions on food than Father Tres does.

With the caveat that I would like to locate a restaurant with some sort of nutritional main course available before one looks at its dessert menu -- are there any restaurants that you would recommend as quiet, mature, civilized locations that also serve tasty and nutritious meals?

...Preferably some place that doesn't show up on the list of local bar fights, robberies, and break-ins on a regular basis?Oh -- and one more question as well. It seems as though long-stemmed roses are traditional for the expression of love. But long stems would, presumably, offer thorns

[cheery_reaper]

Oh, honestly! I'm sure I've told you before; there aren't many things the church prohibits me from talking about, really.

On the subject of restaurants, however, I do know one excellent location. I went there with Miss Caterina a while back, it was very professional. I thought the food was too small, myself, but what there was was fantastic.

I suppose the atmosphere wasn't that bad, either, but I wasn't paying a lot of attention. I think it was quiet, and the lights were fairly low--not the sort of place where anyone would start a fight or break in. I'll have to get the name from her, I forgot that, too... But I must have written down the number somewhere!

Hm--on that second note, I would have to assume it's not actually that important. Most flower shops do offer the option of removing the thorns for you, unless I'm mistaken.

It's the thought, and not the flower itself, that is most symbolic.

[katayoku_tenshi]

I misspoke a bit; I'm sorry. I'm sure you are at liberty to speak of romantic things; I simply wasn't sure whether you felt at liberty to take personal note of them, given that you have sworn to deny yourself such joys

[im_waaaiting]

Lemme know, buddy! I'm practically an open book!

... Well, maybe not. But I can try and help you out!

[ooc: *lively listening to the Lion King OST wtf* -mustntimaginesonicassimbacan'tcan'tcan'tshittoolate...]

[katayoku_tenshi]

Do they celebrate this day in your world, Sonic? I'm given to understand that some cultures celebrate it differently than others -- some of the worlds seem to indicate that women should offer chocolate to men on this day, regardless of whether the relationship is romantic, and other worlds indicate that everyone should give chocolate to their romantic interest regardless of gender...

What are your world's traditions? What would you consider a properly romantic event for someone you love and wish to see happy?

[im_waaaiting]

Well, in my world, it's basically if you've got someone you think you love, you give them Valentine's Cards or whatever you want that you feel romantic... To them. I don't have a love interest, but a friend of mine's got a huge crush on me. She's always telling everyone that I'm her boyfriend. <<; She'd be able to tell you more about Valentine's Day than I can, but she's not here, so I'll make do.

I'm not an expert on romantic stuff, but I think a box of chocolates, a card and some flowers is a perfect idea of a Valentine's Present for that special someone! Maybe even some poetry. ;)

[katayoku_tenshi]

Ah -- thank you! I had planned on the chocolate and the flowers, but I hadn't thought of a card.

I seem to recall that the sneezing store the store with all the highly scented candles also offers a selection of cards, doesn't it?

Poetry -- that will take some work. But I wouldn't feel right asking anyone else to write it for me; I believe the words should be mine, so that Cloud knows what I feel, not what I've asked someone to translate for me...