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It really was amazing what a group of high-schoolers (and maybe some faculty? Melissa didn’t really know who all was on the Kickoff Planning Committee) could do when they were properly motivated. Melissa had heard stories from the year before but even then there was something breathtaking about being there in person. It almost made one forget everyone- Nope! She could feel herself getting dizzy and quickly put a stop to it. Not tonight, or, at least, not now. There was wonder in Gabriela’s eyes (even she couldn’t hide a “Whoa”) and Melissa wasn’t about to take it away from her. She wasn’t quite sure where to go next, though. Her mental picture of her plan was starting to fade, and only general details really remained. Was that where the ominous feeling -- that something-will-go-wrong feeling -- was coming from? Maybe, but “Entertain Gabriela. Keep her happy” was still a pretty solid overall goal. Plus, now that she knew Gabriela a bit better, it was hopefully easier than ever. The first item on the Kickoff agenda was the duel, right? Some sort of grudge match between members of the duel team? Maybe Gabriela wanted to- Gabriela was already on it, interrupting (and confirming) Melissa’s thought process with “We should find a good place to watch. I must show support to those beneath me, yes?” She didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, she took Melissa by the hand and lead her up the stairs to a pair of balcony seats neatly overlooking the soon-to-be duel arena. In fact, one could see quite a lot from where they were. That also meant that quite a lot of people could see her, but she- she almost didn’t care. The fact that Gabriela seemed to care as much about Melissa’s happiness as Melissa did Gabriela’s certainly helped. “Ah, but you aren't all that interested in the duel team are you? I did not mean to force my desires upon you,” Gabriela said. “After all, I may be of royalty but tonight I am also your companion.” “No! No,” Melissa said. “No, this is good. This is good.” She smiled, hoping that communicated a little extra emphasis, a little extra sincerity in her words. “I do- I probably need to meet up with some other friends at some point, just to say hi -- I think you’ve met some of them too, so it shouldn’t be too awkward, I hope. Um, but we can stay here for now. There’s a whole night ahead of us to do all that other stuff.” There was another reason she rathered they didn’t move. Melissa didn’t say it, though. If she said it, it had a chance of spoiling the moment, and it was such a good moment. They were still holding hands. “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” -Mark 10:9 (NIV)

The card maker can generate a random serial number for your card. Furthermore, a rarity option is added for card with "gold" lettering.

Mektech Synchro Signature [Continuous Spell] Once per turn: You can target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; it is treated as a Synchro monster until your opponent's next End Phase. You can add 1 "Meklord" card from your Deck to your hand, and if you do, destroy 1 card you control. You can only use this effect of "Mektech Synchro Signature" once per turn. Support To: Concept:

I loved the Meklords. And I feel this card is a step in the right direction. However, I feel they should also have a means of attacking. Kind of like Malefic Territory. I know they have effects to absorb Synchro monsters, and Granel's default ATK could be 4000. But They're still rather clunky and easy to get rid of, so I don't think another card or effect like Malefic Territory for Meklords would be too much issue. Overall, good step in the right direction for Meklords. They have generally nothing in terms of searching outside of Meklord Fortress. And that sure isn't enough.

Tora Mori After spending time riding, Tora had given Gil an earful for a lifetime. After that, she didn't do much of anything else. Dinner came and pass, but she was too tired and sore to make much of conversation. Then, she had retired to what would be her dorm. However, Tora couldn't quite fall asleep. Just outside the bedrooms there was a small common room connected. It really wasn't much of anything-- a particle-board table, a small counter with a sink, a mini fridge, and a microwave, and a few wooden chairs with an uncomfortable couch tucked away at the far end. At the table, Tora had her brother's deck spread out across the table, and she sat their with her head cradled in her hands, just trying to make sense of it all. She had seen her brother duel a hundred times over, and each time the moves just... made sense. When he did his turn, there was no question whether he had made the right move or not. Sure at first some people would doubt his decisions, but when the duel would play out all doubt would be gone in an instant. He knew just the right moves to make at the right time, even those that didn't seem obvious at all. Some people accused him of cheating, but there was never any evidence beyond just him making a good move. If they ever lucked out with an interview, he would always tell them the same thing: "I never plan these things out. I just run with my gut and my gut hasn't been wrong yet!" But Tora didn't have his gut instinct, and every one of the card's effects and implications were just another language to her. What would he say to new duelists that didn't have quite a grasp at the game yet? "First, you need to know your deck. Every card, inside and out. And I don't mean memorize their effects word for word, nobody has time for that. I mean, well it's hard to say... it's like... building a relationship with your deck. You gotta spend time with it, you gotta know it, what it likes to do, what it hates to do, you know maybe take it out for dinner every once and while." Sometimes people laughed at that joke, but it often fell flat. But Tora knew the deck. It was her brother's deck, why shouldn't she know it? So why wasn't any of this easy?! It should be! Finding itself in the middle of the spread of the cards was her duel dragon, Mach Accel Dragon. She had yet to summon it any practice sessions. It wasn't a matter of not knowing how to Synchro Summon, she knew how to do that. The problem was partially her brother's deck and getting the levels of the monsters to add up just right. He always knew how to do it and whenever the field came together for a synchro summon it was like poetry in motion. But not for her. Every time she tried the total levels would be either too high or too low and she would be forced to start over. And when she did get close to summoning it, there would be this overwhelming feeling in her mind and her symbol would start to burn. When Zirco summoned his Duel Dragon he made it look so effortless, what was with that?! Tora gingerly picked up the card and looked it over. Her eyes seemed drawn to it and there was a little tingle in her fingers, but she couldn't tell if that was her mind playing tricks on her, or the card itself. Every time she looked at this card it felt like it was trying to tell her something, but she could never figure it out, and the harder she tried the worse her confusion got. Tora let out a sigh and put the card back on the table. She would continue to stare at her cards well into the night before falling asleep at the table, dreams riddled with card effects and failed combos.

Decided to watch Fate/Zero. Rider is the best and I love everything about him.

Location: Trailsau (Team Alola, day 27) Inventory: Good Rod, Antidote, Kasib Berry "Y-yeah. Yeah, I did, so what? But it was kinda sandy and stuff, so I might not have seen it very clearly. I couldn't have. No face looks like that, I mean, no, of course not. Never mind. I didn't see anything." "I'm asking just out of curiosity," Nani clarified, as she continued the work on her hood. "Whatever campfire stories you've heard about what we do to people that see our faces, they're not true." That would be a terrible way to live. Not to mention inconvenient! "You were the only other one who could have seen it besides Allie, and it's not like anyone will believe her if she describes it anyway." A bit here, a bit there. Almost done! Just a tiny patch job for the mesh over her left eye, and... done! It certainly wasn't the prettiest job, but it was fast, and it was functional. It sure looked better than what would be underneath it, anyway. Aside from the patchwork of green thread now sprawled out across it, Nani's hood looked very much the same as it did before the fight, in all its Pikachu-like glory. "They say our kinds are connected, you and me. It's just a myth as far as I know, but the short version is the first Mimikyu was a different and unknown species at first. It was horribly disfigured in a fight with a Pikachu that put a curse on them, so badly that it became something different entirely, and crafted its costume after the person it hated most afterwards. Like a voodoo doll, almost, but it also kept their twisted body hidden." Or at least, those were the stories Nani used to hear up on the mountain with the Marowaks. She had no idea how much of it was true or false. Not to mention they never clarified how the story was supposed to end. One way or another, Nani was pretty confident that the story was just something people told each other around campfires. Something like that couldn't have possibly happened. "Honestly, I think we're all compelled to model our costumes after Pikachu because they're generally popular and well-liked by people around them," Nani suggested, turning her costume back around and pulling her hood back up. It wasn't until her head was properly covered that she finally lifted it back up. "Like going trick-or-treating as something people like, so they'll compliment your costume." Stop talking now. "That's how it was when I grew up anyway; there was this very popular Pikachu girl." Nani. Stop. Where are you even going with this? "I'd like to find out what causes us to look like this under the costume though. Something crazy like an ancient curse seems a bit absurd." Please me, I'm begging you. Just stop talking. "Er... the important thing is, I'm more concerned about you if you saw it than I am about me. I'm used to it because it's my face, but I know it can be a shock for others. That's why we wear these in the first place." In order to forcibly shut herself up, Nani took another large bite from her food. One that would take a bit to chew and swallow, giving Keanu ample time to change the subject if he wanted.

As the dinner went on Gabby began to feel more and more relaxed about the night. It really seemed like it was going well. She was certain it wouldn't, and certain questions about her "homeland" still made her feel queasy with worry and guilt, but things seemed to be...good. Really good. It was going to be a nice night. She didn't know why she thought this but she just felt it in her bones. As that thought crossed her mind she thought about her deck and the unintentional, if a stretch of one, pun made her giggle slightly on the way to the hall. She noticed Melissa beside her giving a quizzical glance and she shook her head. "No, it's just...bones, skeletons...ah...nothing, nothing, never mind." She should feel embarrassed by the awkward statement but she just felt really good at the moment. Which just caused her to laugh again. "Tonight is a lovely night isn't it?" Upon entering the Maiden Hall Gabby was rather astonished. So much so she let out an audible "Whoa." When she remembered who she was supposed to be she cleared her throat. "T-that is, it's passable I suppose. For such a small gathering." Even so she couldn't keep away the shine in her eyes as she looked around. It was so big! Is this what rich people lived in? She noticed the platforms on the second floor and remembered that a couple of her teammates -or was it clubmates?- were supposed to duel up there to start things off. "Ah, yes, there is to be a battle to commemorate this night. Between two of those lucky enough to share a team with me. We should find a good place to watch. I must show support to those beneath me, yes? And it would be good to see what level of duelist they are." She took Melissa by the hand and led her up to the second floor and to one of the balconies. Only once there did a thought cross her mind. "Ah, but you aren't all that interested in the duel team are you? I did not mean to force my desires upon you. After all I may be of royalty but tonight I am also your companion."

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” -Galatians 5:19-23 (NIV) “You look so pretty,” Gabriela said. “T-that is you, um, you look fitting to escort one such as I to… a thing… such as this!” Melissa curtsied. It was a full curtsy this time, not one of those weird half curtsies she’d done before when meeting up with Gabriela. “Thank you, your majesty,” she said. She also let herself take in Gabriela’s appearance. It was exactly as she had remembered it, which was good. That had been the plan, after all. “You look as regal as ever,” Melissa said, paying back the compliment. Then, of course, came the more important matters. “Where are we going?” Gabriela said, and, thankfully, that was part of the plan too. “I made reservations at this restaurant called The Warehouse,” Melissa said. “I, um, I know the name is a little un-royal, and it’s not as formal as Le Chef Vagabond or something like that, but, um, it’s good food and it’s not too expensive and I thought you might like it. How does that sound?” Warehouse? Le Chef Vagabond? Gabriela hadn’t heard of either place. Thinking back on it perhaps she should have looked into things just a tiny bit. Every attempt to do so was met with panic and fretting and she had ended up just leaving it all to fate. “That is quite alright,” Gabriela said, nodding along. “After all, I did ask you to plan everything. This way I can, ah, better learn the culture of this place. The Warehouse it is!” “Great!” Melissa said. “First thing’s first, though.” She held up a pair of flower bracelets. “Speaking of culture, I don’t know if you do this in Romvania, but when dance dates meet up they exchange these little flower arrangements. See, they’re bracelets. So we- I guess traditionally we’re supposed to put them on each other.” Melissa handed a white carnation over to Gabriela, beckoning for her to take it. “Yeah, so you just put it on my left wrist and I’ll do the same with this one to yours.” Gabriela stared at it blankly for a moment before nodding and taking it. She waited for Melissa to raise her arm and then brought the bracelet to it. Or rather, that was what she was attempting to do. In reality, she couldn’t stop her hand from shaking as she tried to put the thing on the girl’s wrist. “Ah, haha,” Gabriela nervously laughed. “I, that is, er, I do not usually do such things. You see… yes, that’s right, my servants usually do things such as this. Not the other way around. What a strange custom.” She finished this with another nervous laugh before finally getting the cursed accessory on. It fit just as Melissa had hoped it would, and even in the late summer sun, the flower showed very few signs of wilting. She gazed at it for another moment, then took the mauve carnation and slid it right onto Gabriela’s wrist slowly, but without hesitation. “I’m sure you know this, um, your majesty, but purple like this has been a symbol for royalty for a very long time. Even- especially in flowers. That’s why I picked this one out for you. I really do hope you like it.” All that was left was to make sure it fit as well as hers had. She shook her wrist a little. “Just, sorry, could you go like this? I kind of had to guess at your wrist when I bought these so if it’s too loose or too tight…” Gabriela gave a smile -- a genuine one as far as Melissa could tell. “I am sure it’s perfect,” she said much more softly than one learned to expect from her. Even so, she did as Melissa asked. “Yes, everything is fine… Ahem, good work, you’ve done a fine job today!” she said and slipped right back into her more “normal” state. It was that praise that made the entire ordeal at the florist’s worth it. Yes, she had done well! Melissa was only experiencing that latent stress that came from the sheer anticipation of a busy night and Gabriela’s comment made it that much lighter. Dinner was the next step in Melissa’s master plan. She made another gesture, an invitation to accompany her. “Shall we?” she said, and off they went. The walk to The Warehouse was very similar to Melissa’s walk to Gabriela’s dorm, though of course there was the obvious difference that Gabriela was there this time, and because they didn’t quite know each other that well, that difference alone made the walk filled with small talk. This was an element Melissa was less prepared for; she knew what people said in small talk, and she knew a few icebreaker questions, but she also knew she hated answering icebreaker questions and Gabriela probably would too (because who really liked icebreakers?). So instead, Melissa endured the awkward silence until she could think of something interesting to say. Or so she thought. But as they passed Maiden Hall, Melissa couldn’t help but break it. “That’s where we’re headed after dinner, by the way,” she said. It also came with a question that, the more she thought about it, the more she wondered about the answer. It was pithy, but… “How have you been liking campus anyway?” Melissa said. “Um, I know it’s probably different from what you’re used to, but I- I don’t know, I think there’s a lot to like here.” “It’s…” Gabriela had been about to blurt out ‘amazing’. Because, truly, it was. She hadn’t ever been to a place like this before. But that wouldn’t be in line with what she was trying to build, right? So it was with some doubt that she cleared her throat and started again. “It’s fine, yes, rather common I suppose. But it has enough to be passable. And of course, you’re here, as well.” Why did she say that? It just slipped out. Certainly, she was grateful for a friend but… “Otherwise today would have been more dull, you see.” Gabriella continued, trying to dig herself out of the potentially awkward hole. “Oh,” Melissa said. It was the kind of “oh” that had a lot of sub-meanings hidden inside it, like the disappointed “Oh, I’m sorry you don’t think Blue Yonder is as magical as I do” or the more accepting “Oh, I’m glad you don’t think I’m dull.” Whichever it was, Gabriela's response slammed the door shut on that particular line of inquiry. But, as the saying went, when God closes a door, he opens a window, and it turned out the building on campus closest to The Warehouse, the last building they had to pass was the one the Duel Team had had its first meeting. Melissa pointed out that one out too. “How was that meeting, by the way?” she said. “I never-” She almost said “I never was really interested in that sort of thing,” but then she remembered what club she had attended Wednesday afternoon. So the cutoff stayed, but then, so did the question preceding it. “I suppose it went fine for what it was,” Gabriela said. “Rather boring, though. I do not understand why there has to be so much talking about something so simple… And then there was that woman. Elizabeth I think? I don’t know what she was doing there. Apparently, she wasn’t even part of the team… Do you know her? Is she the captain’s girlfriend or some such thing?” Elizabeth. It was a common enough name, but Melissa’s mind still went to the one she’d actually seen enter the building. That Elizabeth. “I do know her- or I’ve met her, at least,” Melissa said. “She’s nice. I don’t think, um- I think Hitomu has a different girlfriend, though. Or had. I don’t know too much about that sort of thing; I just pick things up listening to other people.” Was she supposed to talk more? Melissa wasn’t sure, but Gabriela’s opinion seemed more than a little negative and she felt obligated to correct that. “She was on the duel team last year but left after -- you wouldn’t have heard this, I don’t think, um -- her brother died, and she took it pretty bad. So that’s- uh, Hitomu probably asked her to show up or something.” Gabriela paused for a moment upon hearing that. “Ah,” she said. “Well… I-I suppose that is understandable then.” And just like that, that conversation window shut as well. But this time it was fine. The Warehouse was right there, and the change of scenery was certainly welcome. The Warehouse was actually nothing like its namesake. It was on the smaller side as far as restaurants went, though it did have a backyard patio with additional space for those who were feeling a little extra adventurous. The lighting was dim, and the predominant color of the place was a deep crimson, but that was to be expected. Melissa almost wondered if there was a correlation between a restaurant’s darkness and its formalness (Was Le Chef Vagabond just pitch black? She’d never actually been…). The staff at the front podium greeted them both warmly and Melissa reminded them of her reservation. “Reservation under Ashforth?” she said. It turned out she needn’t have bothered. While there was a lively enough early dinner rush going on, there were still a decent amount of unoccupied tables and Melissa and Gabriela were ushered to their patio table almost immediately. “Your server will be right with you two.” And just like that, they were alone again. “I actually, uh, I was also at a Duel Monsters-related club meeting Wednesday afternoon,” Melissa said, a little bit hoping that Gabriela would pick up on the continuity of the conversation despite the intervening pause. “Um, there’s- my roommate, actually, she’s an idol and I guess a couple other people on campus want to be entertainers so they managed to get a club started around entertainment dueling. And I thought at the time that, uh, well, someone convinced me to show up. He’s kind of shy like me, so I thought… “No, I’m rambling, sorry. But I did want to ask you because you seem like an outgoing person, um, your majesty, what is public life like? Do you just- is it just an extrovert thing I’ll never understand or…?” Gabriela couldn’t stop looking around as they walked through the restaurant. So this was what it looked like? She was so lost in her wonderment she actually forgot to put on an act until they sat down. She opened her mouth to respond to the person who led them here but stopped. It would be far too embarrassing to talk like that to this stranger… Melissa, unintentionally and unknowingly saving Gabriela from complete awkwardness, began to ramble about her own duel club adventures. She had heard of the Entertainment Dueling and, truly, she found it interesting. But it didn’t really fit what she was going for. She wanted Melissa to tell her more about it but, as soon as the other girl was getting engrossed in it, she switched subjects. To Gabby’s least favorite subject. Herself. “Ah, I see, the little lamb has come to get advice from myself,” Gabriela said with a gentle chuckle. “Well, you see, it’s rather exciting. There’s never a shortage of things to see or do for people will bring them to you. Or at least that is how it was for me back home.” She knew she was speaking vaguely but she didn’t know how else to answer. The waiter stopped by. “Hi, my name is Benjamin, I’ll be your server this evening,” he said in a peppy voice, with a smile one could assume he was told to keep on at all times. “Is there a drink besides water I can get either of you?” “Water’s fine for me, thank you,” Melissa said almost immediately. Gabriela had clammed up entirely as the waiter approached. She didn’t look directly nodded and, at the question, she just shook her head. “Water for both of you. Aaaaall right.” As soon as Benjamin was gone, the conversation went right back. “Right, I get that,” Melissa said, leaning in a little bit and scootching her chair forward. “But, like, I don’t know how else to phrase this, but all that excitement, am I really supposed to ‘take it all in?’ Is that really the secret?” Oh no. Gabby knew what was going on. She was being asked for actual advice. Potentially important advice. How was she supposed to respond? She had no experience to fall back on. “Aha, um. Well you see…” The girl waffled about for a bit, glancing down at the tablecloth as though the answer would be spelled out in front of her. “Well, you know, I was… raised for such things. It became second nature after a while. Yes, that’s it!” She glanced up, excited she had thought of a plausible answer. “It’s just something you get used to.” Melissa didn’t know what she wanted to hear, but that certainly wasn’t it. But she let that specific topic drop all the same. It was clear that Gabriela was uncomfortable with the grilling and this was supposed to be a nice pre-dance dinner, not an interrogation. “Alright,” she said. “Thank you.” And she really did mean it. Just because it was a frustrating answer didn’t mean it wasn’t worth something. She opened up her menu and started browsing its pages. “They make so much different food here,” Melissa said. “I’m sure if you look you’ll be able to find something Romvanian-adjacent at least. But it’s all good, I promise. “If you want to keep talking, though -- and I definitely understand if you need to go through this, uh, this tome of a menu -- is there a question you’d like to ask me?” Gabby tried to see if the advice she gave stuck. If Melissa thought it was wise. But she couldn’t really tell. Especially when Melissa went right to the menu after. Gabriela glanced at the menu and realized she didn’t have any idea what kind of food she intended Romvania to have. She really should write it down sometime, she thought. When Melissa opened up to questions Gabriela smiled up at her. “Why of course. I’m here to learn things after all! One must always know everything about those under you.” She placed her elbows on the table and cradled her head in her hands as she looked at Melissa. What should she ask? She hadn’t really had anyone close enough to ask about personal things so she wasn’t entirely sure where to begin. “One as kind as you must have many whom call you friend,” she began. Admittedly, she was partially fishing to see how much competition in that department she had. “Are… are they not jealous you have chosen to spend today with me, who is, even if an incredible one, still a stranger?” It was Melissa’s turn to freeze up, to the point that it was almost difficult for her to parse Gabriela’s question. And yet, she should have expected something like this, right? She’d opened herself up to questions, after all. Melissa fidgeted with her silverware to stall for time. “I don’t really have friends,” she almost said. She almost said. But she remembered Hoshiko. And Jun. She’d probably get along with Elizabeth too once Melissa stopped running into each other at the worst possible moments. Even Connor had been nice until he hadn’t been. And Father Gregory, did he count? So that statement would have been a lie. Instead, Melissa said, “I- I have a couple friends, just a few, but I like them all. Um, that includes you, by the way. We’ve met enough. We’ve acquainted. I don’t think you’re a stranger. But, um, actually, I don’t know what they’re doing for Kickoff. They didn’t ask me about anything if that’s what you were asking.” A wild Benjamin appeared with a glass of water in each hand. “Aaaaall right, there you two go. Now, what can I get you two to eat this evening?” Gabriela was blushing. They were friends. They were actual friends. No denying that now. It was said. The words were said as clear as day. The delight at this statement made her eyes light up and she very nearly forgot the rest of the answer. She didn’t have a chance to respond as the waiter showed up. In a panic, Gabby picked up the menu and started looking through it without actually being able to read it. “Uh. Umm. Uhh… Er… yougofirst,” she blurted at Melissa. Melissa looked up at Benjamin, half because, well, that’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re ordering (right?) and half because she’d noticed Gabriela’s blush and felt like giving her some space was probably the best course of action. “I’ll have the, uh…” her eyes immediately went back down to her menu, searching for the right item. “I’ll have the fish? With the side salad, and, uh, yeah.” “Excellent,” Benjamin said. He turned to Gabriela. “And for you?” Gabriela, half-panicked, continued to scan the menu over and over until her eyes noticed something she recognized and, more importantly, something that reminded her of the good times at home. “Er… Chicken dumpling soup,” she said. The waiter hesitated. “Is that all? Just the side?” “Yes, of course, that’s all,” Gabriela said, doubling down. “I don’t need anything else.” “Aaaaall right!” Benjamin said. “I’ll go put those in right now. Next time you both see me, I’ll have your soup and your fish and your salad.” And he was gone again. “Are you-” Melissa started, but stopped herself from saying anything more, seemingly either conflicted or concerned or both. But instead, she said, “Is that a traditional Romvanian dish? Chicken Dumpling Soup? Or is that from somewhere else?” “Ah, um, no,” Gabriela said. Truth be told it was simply the dish that her mother would make when they had money to eat decently well. It was something of a comfort for her. “I merely… thought it sounded pleasant is all.” “Oh,” Melissa said. “What is Romvanian food like then? I remember you said something like sugar being poisonous so it can’t be all that sweet, but that’s just one type of taste, right? So what’s it taste like?” Right, she had said that, hadn’t she? Glad that Melissa had reminded her, the girl nodded. “Yes, sugar is… bad. But, um, there’s other things that can make stuff sweet there! Yes, like, um…” she glanced away, clearly thinking, before coming up with “Like honey! Rivers of honey!” Wait, no, that was dumb. “Not literally of course, haha, but you understand my meaning I’m sure.” Honey. The word clicked with Melissa for a number of reasons. The first was, well, that was the exact other sweetener she’d brought Elizabeth at the exact time Gabriela had mentioned Romvanian sugar’s particular qualities. But it also brought to mind a particular phrase: “Land of milk and honey.” That was God’s promise. She wondered… No, it wasn’t important. Benjamin came back quicker than expected. “Aaaaall right! Here’s your fish, and heeere’s your soup! Is there anything else I can get either of you?” Melissa smiled. “No, thank you, everything looks lovely,” she said. Then, as Benjamin left (with one final “Aaaaall right!” on his way out) she said to Gabriela, “Do you mind if we said grace real quick?” She bowed her head: Lord, thank you for this meal and the hands that prepared it. Thank you for friends and dances and please bring peace and happiness to everyone tonight whether this be their first Kickoff or their last. Guide us on, Lord, so that we may know the everlasting truth of your love, Amen “You’re welcome to some of, uh, some of this if that soup isn’t enough for you. I’m sure there will be snacks and things at the dance, too.” A thought wormed its way into Melissa mind. “I assume Romvanian Princess School taught dance, right?” she said. “There’s bound to be one or two slow dances tonight.” At the offer of the food, Gabriela shook her head. Sure, it was much less than she expected, but it felt wrong to take food from another. The question about the dance, though, froze her in place. She stared at Melissa without answering for a bit. She knew this was coming. She knew. Yet it hadn’t really stuck in her mind until now. “A-ah. Well. O-of course… n-no, er.” Gabriela stirred her soup as she tried to get her words back on track. “That is… we don’t have dancing in the same way as you do. Of course, there’s certain, ah, Romvanian dances. It’s a lot like here I’m sure, but with some differences. Er… perhaps it best you show me this land’s dances o-once the time comes.” “Sure!” Melissa said as she started cutting up her meal. “It’s no problem. You, ah, the one thing to keep in mind -- I’ll tell you this right now -- is there’s a temptation to get really close to your partner. There’s, ah, because one person’s hands are at the hips and the other’s are at the shoulders.” She gestured to her own hips and shoulders to demonstrate. “You don’t- people tend to get antsy if you get too close to them. I’ll get antsy.” She laughed. “We Catholics call it the ‘Leave room for Jesus’ rule.” There was a hint of something on Gabriela’s face at what Melissa had said. Perhaps disappointment? Whatever it was it didn’t last long as Melissa soon reminded her about the food in front of her. “How is your soup?” she said. “You said it wasn’t Romvanian so if you’re not used- if you don’t want it we- you could probably order something else.” Gabby had only taken a few bites but even that sent a warmth through her body. It was still unusual to her thinking about how easy it was to get food like this. It made her appreciate it even more. “No, no not necessary!” Gabriela said in a hurry. “It’s… rather good.” Then, under her breath, “Really good…” She glanced up at Melissa and followed up. “Ah, yes, is yours acceptable? I hope they provided you with something to your liking.” Melissa took a few bites, smiled, and nodded. The silence was different this time, as each girl ate their respective meal. The previous ones had been awkward, the dead air only serving as ellipses in the conversation. This one, though, this one was a full stop, a nice comfortable end as Gabriela and Melissa just appreciated each other’s presence. And just like that, it was time for the dance. As soon as the tip had been added and the receipt had been signed, they were out the door and back on campus headed towards Maiden Hall. Just before they went in, though, Melissa paused to ready herself. As much as she hyped it up in her own head, as much as she put it on a pedestal as the crowd to end all crowds, it still had its more predictable moments, right? The first thing on the agenda was the duel, right? That was manageable; she’d already been to, what, two duels already this school year alone? And she knew how to dance and she was fully prepared to teach Gabriela and tolerate her missteps as she learned how to dance. And yet… The fear was still there, and instead of diminishing with every passing thing done right, it seemed to increase. Something was going to go wrong. She could feel it in her bones. In her soul. And while she did have those contingencies she’d set in place, that same fear made her wonder if any of them were going to matter. Melissa took a few extra deep breaths, just for that. But she also knew she couldn’t keep Gabriela waiting, and went in after her, hoping she continued to not disappoint.

aside from the obvious kazooie? cause kazooie is best bird irl birds are a little harder maybe motmots, they're colorful and pretty damn cute

Last year was the only major flop other than the very first year, and that was because people had trouble with the theme. If there’s no strict theme, then there shouldn’t be an issue, provided people keep interest up.

3 Ash Blossom 2 Ghost Ogre 1 Subterror Behemoth Umastryx 3 Subterror Fiendess 3 Subterror Guru 1 Subterror Nemesis Archer 3 Pot of Duality 3 Pot of Extravagance 1 Terraforming 3 The Hidden City 3 Evenly Matched 3 Gozen Match 3 Infinite Impermanence 3 Solemn Judgement 1 Solemn Warning 2 Subterror Final Battle 2 There Can Only Be One Side changes based on your locals or whatever, and ED is basically irrelevant except for clara to get out of secret village and waking targets