video | un: octavinelle

[dottedline]

[The video doesn't show Azul at all for a minute or two, instead clearly being a pre-recorded tour of a very nice looking restaurant with some royalty free music (Azul absolutely paid someone to film this nonsense).

Eventually the pre-recorded stuff stops and we cut to Azul at a desk in what is likely the office of the restaurant. He's smiling, quite proud.]

You'll have to forgive the amateur intro video, that's never been my forte. Hopefully that won't turn anyone away from coming to visit my establishment once we officially open at the end of this month or early next month. Golden Silence is a fine dining establishment with a focus on atmosphere, live music, and excellent cooking. There is a business casual dress code, though this can change depending on events we're hosting.

[Right. Time to talk about that.]

Such as our first one, to be held the weekend we open! We're all outsiders here and I know it's not always easy making connections in a new world, so to help with that we will be hosting...a speed dating event.

[The silliest idea, and yet here we are.]

Thank you for your time.

[And the video cuts out to another short little thing, advertising the Speed Dating and also that Azul is hiring.]

Comments

video;

[reloves]

Hold on-- you're doing speed dating?!

[ Yes, Minako recognizes him from their talk.

But even if she hadn't, let's be real - there's no way the whole speed dating thing wouldn't have pulled her attention. ]

And I thought you weren't interested in romance stuff!

video;

[dottedline]

Speed dating can be used to just meet people, you know.

[reloves]

.. hold on a second time!

[ Apparently she just keeps getting startled with sudden realisations here.. ]

You can't call it 'dating' in that case! 'Dating' implies some level of romance going on, you know! That's false advertising!

[dottedline]

Only if you're romance-obsessed. Besides, calling it anything else would just confuse things. Terrible marketing decision.

[reloves]

Romance-obsessed, please!

[ Minako huffs. ]

I'm not the only one who'd think that way, you know! And do you know how embarrassing it'd be for the one person who didn't show up for actual romance to turn up between a huge group of people looking for love? You're going to end up making someone feel bad!

video; un: signorvespa

[prontissimo]

[ The video shows a tanned, freckled young boy, maybe thirteen or fourteen but clearly tweenage, with sun-bleached curly brown hair, a faint sunburn over his nose and cheeks, and uh... a seemingly unimpressed face on, lids lowered slightly at the camera to match his suave-but-somewhat-condescending tone of voice. Which surely must be a front, seeing such a beautiful restaurant, and yet... his dismissive response is not about the silly speed-dating part? ]

...What's with all the fish.

[dottedline]

[Yeah, Azul is not unused to dealing with younger teenagers.]

Seafood. My family's always specialized in it.

[prontissimo]

No, no, no, no. The fish — that're alive. Swimming. In those— uh—

[ Tanks, is the word he wants. The aquariums shown in the front. But he's never seen an aquarium, sooo, frustrated by his lack of words for this, he waves his own lapse off with his free hand and abandons the sentence. ]

In the beginning of the thing [ thing, meaning "video," ahem ], those fish. You keep them there until you kill them? Why?

[dottedline]

In the aquariums? They're not on the menu, they are purely for decoration and atmosphere. It's not like people on land ever get to see fish in anything resembling their native habitats, and if I can give them that experience, well, why not? The fish are well-taken care of, if that's your concern.

video; un: lilmonix3

[peninhand]

Oh wow, that looks like such an elegant and comfortable restaurant! It must have taken a lot of time and work to set it up.

[ It really was impressive, even though what had drawn her in wasn't at all the restaurant, but she wasn't going to be rude and say that. ]

Good luck with your grand opening! I'll try to pass by during that event if I have the time.

[ What she really means is that she'll definitely be there and she really hopes to finally find some boyfriend-slash-girlfriend material. ]

[dottedline]

[Look, Azul knows what crowd he's catering to with this event.]

Please do. It should be going most of the day, from lunch until close.

[peninhand]

I'll most definitely try.

[ Monika absolutely takes offense at being compared to that crowd, even though in all likelihood, she is far worse. ]

Will you be participating yourself or just organizing?

[dottedline]

Organizing, unless there's an odd number of participants.

video | un: dragonlord

[draigon]

Speed dating, eh?

[He'd given up on dating a while ago, having been far too caught up in his own job and hobbies and his job and his hyperfixation on a certain someone and his job that he could never focus on it that much. He still can't say he's terribly interested in it, but it'd be a nice way to meet people, especially since he's so new, so why not?]

You sure made a fine establishment for it! Looks like the perfect atmosphere and lighting for taking selfies, too.

[dottedline]

No selfies in the establishment unless they can be taken without a flash, and even then you'll be expected to limit yourself. It ruins the experience for the other guests.

[draigon]

[Oh so it's gonna be one of THOSE restaurants]

My own phone doesn't need flash for a good selfie, and I'd argue that they only enhance the experience, especially when it comes to speed dating! How else will you commemorate meeting the person?

But, fair enough. Rules are rules.

[Doesn't mean they can't be bent a little.]

[dottedline]

[Azul just has had a Time with annoying selfie-takers, okay?]

Thank you for understanding. Most people don't want to be annoyed by someone in the middle of the room taking pictures for five minutes.

video: un akashicknight

[morganknight]

This sounds like a great idea. I can toss you one to make it better, if you'd care -- I'm developing a Bargaining subcontracting system. Got a dish or a dessert that'll benefit from something rare or difficult to get? Pay a fae to do it for you.

Not that I'm just here to advertise. I'll totally be there one way or the other!

[dottedline]

[Oooh.]

As a rule, I try to avoid bargains with faeries, but if you're subcontracting...

[morganknight]

Totally understandable, and also incredibly sane if you don't have actual Bargaining magic, but I've worked out a pretty comprehensive Appendix A that protects everyone involved. Huge list of things that basically boil down to everyone not screwing each other over. "Neither party shall use the soul, essence, energy, or material of the other party without explicit consent obtained outside of duress." "This agreement shall retain effect on completion of each transaction, except that either party may terminate it by expressed and understandable communication at such time as the agreement would recur. Neither party may through any means cause, coerce, or contribute to this communication or an inability to perform this communication." Stuff like that. Appendix B names the person I subcontract to as equivalent, equal, and responsible as if being the original Bargainer and subject to all the same restrictions and privileges, etc. etc. So you can review all of that and determine if that adequately addresses any concerns of yours.

[Morgan's a businessman! And more to the point, a businessman who avidly believes in extremely thorough contracts and agreements that protect everyone involved, and also in making certain transactions are mutually beneficial.]

[dottedline]

[Oh, Azul is almost glowing with how much he loves what he's hearing. He's not too much into the "mutual beneficial" part (or at least not "mutually equitable") but he does love a good contract.]

Can you email me a copy of this contract? I'd love to see what protections the subcontractor has against angry faeries, since even after the contract is fulfilled I'm not sure how giving your name and location to a faerie is smart, without Bargaining magic.

Video; un: Paladin

[reresurrected]

Ah, about that... were you still looking for the sort of help we discussed earlier?

[dottedline]

Yes, I am! Are you still available?

[reresurrected]

Certainly! You'd want to handle all of the formalities first, I suppose. Then again, I would need to get myself something that would fit the dress code anyway, assuming that you would like us to be a bit more formal...

[As long as whatever he's wearing allows him the flexibility to be able to shoulder check someone if necessary, he's good!]

[dottedline]

I would, and there's a uniform, but obviously if it needs to be altered so you can do your job...