Blossom Festival Matchmaking

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Spring was finally, at long last, arriving in Nova. With the blessing of the gods, warmth was beginning to sweep through the valleys, dusting away the traces of snow from the grass and letting flowers rise in their place. It was the time of year to celebrate love.

The crowds had already begun to gather at the river, commoner and royalty alike, to see the spectacle. The Goddess and her attendants were here, but it was impossible to tell which one was the true goddess. A group of ten women, each of different shape and tone of skin and hair were gathered at the river, their arms full of baskets filled to the brim with white flowers. Each woman wore an identical white dress, each deceptively simple in their design with long sleeves and skirts that brushed the grass, but upon closer inspection it looked as if each dress was covered in sparkling drops of morning dew. The women shimmered as they walked, their faces each hidden by a plain white mask.

The crowds parted as the women walked between them, catching the small white flowers that the women tossed in their path as they walked. There was one who led at the front, taller than the rest and thin, her skin nearly as pale as the white dress she wore. Her golden hair was pulled back like the rest, shining like the sun. Despite her face being hidden, the gazes of the crowd were drawn to her as the crowds parted before her. The women eventually stopped when their baskets were empty and turned to form a circle, facing the crowd. They spoke in unison.

“Blessing be to the Goddess of Love! Her grace welcomes you to this place where spring begins and love can thrive. We have selected the chosen couples, may this day bring happiness to you.”

Then one by one, each woman stepped forward and gave her list of names. The last was the tall woman, who spoke with a voice like warm honey. Despite her eyes being hidden, the names listed could feel her gaze upon them.

“May my blessing go with…
Garrett Blade and Aria Wurud
Sima Oratio and Lilith Harmonia
Dylan Berne and Uhedinai Nwekhaate
Ilta Kveld and Séanait Nic Ádhamhnán
Adrain Kaiaru and Thalia Anwen
Ghaur Fyrehart and Harlequin Dryth
Killian Lancaster and Yuki d'Avranches
Coaxoch Fynn and His Grace, Noku Noru
Roland Walker and Lady Aveline Zoe
Sai and Serenity Melanie Caine
Diamond Corsica and Amiee Silver
Rivers and Mysteria Williams
Kuro Sorrera and Princess Imajane De La Fontaine
Mordecai and Louie Kanto
May you find joy in your match.”

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Aria awoke just as false dawn began to show, and stumbled outside to go splash some water in her face from the stream, and to clean up a little. As she walked/tripped outside with her bath supplies, the smell of spring wafted to her nose. She stopped and lifted her face to the smell of sweet warm air that brought new life and vigor to the forest. A wave of giddiness came over her, as it did every spring; Aria walked over to the brook near her home and washed up.
The Blossom Festival pair ups would be announced soon. She wondered who’d get Rivers, Adrian, and Garrett. Her victims put on the romance list. Well Adrian she just signed up because he needed something other than his arcane works to dabble around in. Rivers…well apparently he had genitals as she found out during their meeting with Madoc…so she figured he might enjoy the whole event. ….And Garrett…well she just felt like being an ass to him since Ratty wasn’t around to do it. She knew he was tweaky around girls, what better thing to do then to pair him up with one. Least she wasn’t throwing anyone into his bed while he slept….

Aria walked back into her home to gather her things; it was the beginning of the blossom festival…she felt it was appropriate to wear the gifts she had gotten for her twentieth birthday. They were girly and springish, she didn’t see any other occasion that she’d wear the fine set of garments on. She packed them into a bag and once outside again took to her dragon form to make a speedy flight to the city. She stopped by the lake to take her humanoid shape and get changed there. Close enough to walk to the city in time for the announcements, but far enough away from the city that one would not see a dragon approaching the city.

Aria got dressed; pulling on a form fitting white gown with a low sweet heart neckline. The skirt itself was long and flowing, whispering with every moment. The material itself was semitransparent and layered to provide her modesty. But it shimmered in the light like no other material. A long slit going up to her right hip, visible when she moved. Gold trim leafed around her left breast and swooped down in a trim that hemmed the left side of the slit, going to wrap around the bottom hem of the skirt. Gold armlets adorned both arms, the gold twisted into a design of vines. From them a transparent material with lace like edging flowed down into knee length open sleeves. An ornate gold belt with two large red gems and embedded turquoise accompanied the outfit, hugging her left hip and thigh in a feather like pattern. Gold chains looped around the belt, with small turquoise beads. A light lavender one shoulder cape rested on her left shoulder, the front coming down in a point waited by a gold and turquoise bead. The back of the cape went down to her ankles; the hem in a lace like pattern. Aria wore her only none boot pair of shoes, light lavender ballet flats with gold edging. Each with a small oval jewel embedded into the shoes, the jewels matched the large red amulet that hung off of her neck. She also wore earrings and bracelets that matched. The most ornate piece however was one hair clip that pulled just a portion of her deep wavy red locks off to the side. The clip was a small floral arrangement filled with small wild flowers. These flowers seemed to bloom, and wilt and bloom again; they were a range of pinks blues and greens. The hair clip was Arias favorite piece; she loved to watch it go through its cycles. It was calming in a way to watch. Besides for the clip Arias long hair was brushed but left untied, letting it cascade past her waits, transforming from soft waves to full curls.

Arias usually tattoos were moved to covered parts of her body, so they were no longer visible on her wrist or back. Aria checked her reflection in the lake and smiled, before heading to the Goussael River. She lined up with the crowd, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she watched Granny lead the procession. As her eyes rested on Granny Ai her mischievous smile lessened slightly, it was sad to think in this world she wouldn’t get the same advice she got back home. But her grin was back when it was time for announcements; she edged her way slowly to the front of the crowd, her eyes scanning the crowd for the guard captain that was sure to have helped guard this whole event. Her lips quirking when his name was finally called. However alas her joy was short lived as his pair was announced. Her face paled…..

”FUCK!”

Ok that last part was said much louder then she had meant it, but her prank had just came round and bit her on the ass majorly. As some of the crowed turned and looked at her for her small outburst Aria turned and bolted. Time to get the hell out of there!

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Ilta had more or less come to the river side to see Ai in person. Her old home was far from the Goussel. They celebrated the Blossom Festival still, but it lacked the exuberant atmosphere. She wears something similar to what she wore when celebrating Kail’s victory, except swapping a white tunic with a green one. However, she still had a black vest and black pants. Her hair was pulled and tied back with green ribbon. She sits by the edge of the river underneath one of the willows.

Hearing her name on Ai’s lips, however, came a surprise. Ilta didn’t sign up for this matchmaking thing. She goes through her short list of friends and acquaintances to try to figure out who. Honestly, it seemed like Alex’s or Kail’s sense of humor. Maybe Kail was getting her back for dragging him to that tavern...

She’s even more unprepared to hear the name of her selected partner. Shy? This probably couldn’t be a more awkward setup. Friends, roommates, co-workers. Ilta wasn’t sure what to do here. It wasn’t that Shy wasn’t attractive. If Shy asked her to sleep with her, Ilta probably wouldn’t decline the offer. Perhaps, she should leave how this went with Shy.

[Deleted]

Lia regretted signing up the moment she did it. She didn’t want to be down here. She didn’t want a relationship right now. The only reason that she seemed to do it was because it seemed so popular. A good portion of the city was talking about it. She goes to the Goussel deciding not to back out now. She let her long pink down as she did with most formal occasions. Her dress is a soft mint green. The neckline is a traditional square cut. The sleeves are form-fitting until midbicep. After that, they transition to a more sheer fabric and become a wide bell shape that ends at the elbow. There is a pale blue trim around this transition. The sleeves themselves reach her ankles. She’d wear a long white belt around her waist.

As she gets to the riverside, she realizes that this was perhaps the closest that she ever stood to her grandmother. She wonders if the goddess would recognize her.

“Adrain Kaiaru and Thalia Anwen.”

Hearing her own name takes her out of her thoughts. Adrain Kaiaru. The name was not remotely familiar to her. Some of the other names were. She’d been introduced to both Diamon and Amiee. Cute that they were paired together. She met Rivers, and she almost laughs as the goddess of love says everyone’s last name but his. Always mysterious, so perhaps being paired with Mysteria wasn’t a bad decision.

She giggles a little as one woman runs right past her. Wasn’t that the fainting woman from the ball? This response, perhaps, shouldn’t have been surprising. She then looks around, trying to guess who Adrain is.

[Deleted]

Lilith had bugged SIma to get out of bed and go to the festival with her. They had just gone to a similar one not to long before, but this one involved them both. Lilith had signed him up without his knowing, and a friend of Lilith's had done the same to her. Going only seemed right, however else were they to know who they were matched with. Lilith had prepared herself mentally for whomever's name was called next to Sima's. She hadn't for a moment thought of who her match could be, regardless of the fact that she would no doubt be an awkward mess with whoever it was.

By the time Lilith and Sima had made it to the crowded area, shouldering their way to the middle/front of the crowd, names had just begun to be called. She gripped the mans hand, and looked up to him smiling. This was for fun, nothing more. They didn't have to wait long however, as Sima's name was second on the list, and much to Lilith's surprise, her was next to it. They had been paired together. How had that happened? All at once her worry and mental preparation evaporated from her thoughts and a shy grin developed on her face, her complexion darkening by the looks of the crowd. She recognized a few, only adding to the pink in her skin.

Lilith pushed a few stray strands of hair from her face and glanced at Sima who stood next to her. I guess we don't have anything to worry about after all! She giggled and leaned up, kissing his cheek quickly, the stares of the people around them causing her nerves to flare up. I guess the odds are in our favour huh? If the goddess thinks so... She smiled, referring to an earlier conversation the two had already had. Lilith then turned her attention back to the names, in time to see a familiar red head bolt from the scene. She'd heard Arias name just before her own, so it hadn't been that long since then, but something seemed to have spooked the fiery woman, running through the crowd without looking back. Lilith's eyes followed her, worried, but made to move to go after her. She knew she had no chance of catching up regardless of it she tried or not.

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity had arrived to the crowd when the women were still walking forward, so she took the time to address their outfits. Certainly different than what she was used to, but given everything else she had seen in this world, it certainly wasn't bad either. Serenity noted how everyones eyes were drawn to the lady in the front, and she wondered why. There was nothing different about her in Serenity's eyes, but then, Serenity wasn't from this world, and was still learning. Perhaps there was something she didn't know.

As the women began to chat Serenity crossed her arms, wondering who this "Goddess" would match with her. She knew very few people in this world, and only really cared for one, and by cared, she meant the only one she didn't dislike so far. As the names begun, her head snapped up, recognizing the name Sima, from the man Kuro she had been with not to long ago. If Kuro was here now, there was no doubt he would be interested in this, along with the woman he was paired with, Lilith Harmonia? Serenity's eyes immediately scanned the crowd, trying to find the mans name who was called. Eventually, she saw a woman with incredibly long blonde hair smiling happily at a seemingly harmless man. That couldn't be them could it? Kuro couldn't be after someone so normal. Serenity shook her head, and as she went to look away, a set of stunning purple eyes caught her attention. That girl was the one that was described to her at the Mary, she was the one who was with Sima. That must be him then. Paying so close attention to them, she didn't notice as a particular red head fled the festival.

Serenity stayed where she was, bringing her attention back to the list. There was nothing to be done currently, but she would keep the image of them in mind for when Kuro returned. There was no doubt in her mind that he would. At the name Killian Lancaster her ears perked up once more, wondering who would be paired with him, and dropped her eyes immediately after. It wasn't her, and she had no reason to care. None at all.

Serenity heard her name not long after, but had to scramble to remember who was said before her. Shy? No, that wasn't it. Sai? Who on earth was that? She'd never heard of such a person, and she scanned the crowd to see if anyone was looking for her. Sai wasn't a common mans name, so Serenity prepared herself for the worst, not at all suspecting a woman to be at the end of this.