Valentione's Day 2011

__NOTOC__
Valentione's Day is fast approaching, and love is in the air! Why, even this very moment, adventurers across Vana'diel are preparing gifts for this most romantic of occasions.
What's that? Still unsure how to express your affections to that special someone? Mayhap this tale of one young man's misadventures in love will inspire you.
It was last Valentione's Day that I met the love of my life. So perfect for each other were we that we never had so much as a single lovers' spat. Until, that is, this past Firesday.
That day, as we struck out in search of adventure, I noticed that she was sporting one of her prized accessories. A silken ribbon of deep green exquisitely entwined in her long, lustrous hair, she was truly a sight to behold. Knowing how much she appreciates compliments on her appearance, I expressed my admiration.
"I must say, that ribbon looks absolutely stunning on you, my love. Why, every time you wear it, I—"
The very next moment, her sapphire blue eyes were staring daggers back at me.
"What do you mean, every time!? This is brand new! I wore it just for you, and you don't even notice? How insensitive!"
I quickly realized that she had replaced her usual green ribbon with a high-quality version of the same, but the damage had already been done.
"Ah, er...I seem to have misspoken, my dear. What I meant was, every time you wear something new, it...ah...suits you even more than—"
"Insensitive, and unwilling to admit a mistake to boot. That does it! No cures for you today."
"But, my love! I could...die..."
"Good! Then I can find a man who knows how to treat a lady. You're only getting Protect II, too."
"Have pity, my sweet! Why, at least make it Protect III..."
Though I survived our battles that day, let it suffice to say that I emerged considerably more battered and bruised than usual. And yet it was my heart that had suffered the most grievous wound. No, this simply would not do—I had to regain the favor of my lady love.
Chocolate. This was the only answer.
After all, Valentione's Day—our first anniversary—was fast approaching. What better way to win back her affections than with a homemade gift from the heart?
Bubble chocolate—lighter and fluffier than air, with a taste so heavenly sweet as to melt even the coldest of hearts. Furthermore, I had heard of a recipe by which this delectable treat could be fashioned into a heart-shaped confection perfect for the occasion.
I knew what had to be done.
Armed with a sackful of chocolate rusk for sustenance and inspiration, I set to work on my creation, vowing that I would not leave the kitchen until my masterpiece was complete.
Sadly, the skills I had honed as an apprentice at the Culinarian's Guild proved vastly unfit for the task. Ten, twenty, fifty pieces of bubble chocolate I fashioned, yet the end results more closely resembled goobbues than hearts.
I devoured rusk—as well as my failed creations—like a madman as I slaved away before my stove. Finally, at the end of a long and sleepless night, success was mine...along with an acute case of heartburn.
My abdominal anguish was hardly for naught, however. For the very next day when I presented my homemade sweets to my sweet, she beamed a beautiful smile and said, "For me? Oh, my dearest! How could I ever have doubted you?"
Her cheeks red, she reached behind her back to reveal a sheepskin box. "Actually...I brought a little something for you, too."
With joy in my heart, I opened the box to see inside a Mithran stone, a stylish belt of mysterious powers that I had long sought after.
"I adjusted the waistband to perfectly fit your slim figure. Just stand still and I'll...put it...on... Curses!"
"Unnn...ngh! It's no use, my sweet! It's too...tight!"
It would appear that all the sugary delights I had consumed had gone straight to my gut.
"Your sweet? I'm not your anything until you lose these love handles!" she said, and promptly stormed away.
And so it was that a most bittersweet Valentione's Day drew to a close.
Story : Miyabi Hasegawa
Illustration : Mitsuhiro Arita
==Event Schedule==
The Valentione's Day event will commence at midnight (PST) on Tuesday, February 1 and conclude at the same hour on Tuesday, February 15.
==Moogles in Love!==
Looking to join in the festivities? The moogles stationed in the areas below will fill you in on all the scrumptiously sweet details!
- Southern San d'Oria (J-9)
- Northern San d'Oria (D-8)
- Bastok Mines (I-9)
- Bastok Markets (G-8)
- Windurst Waters (north side, F-5)
- Windurst Woods (K-10)
== Related Links ==
* Valentione's Day 2011/Guide
Category:Seasonal Events