recolle | ( OPEN ) it's the time for ugly sweaters

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( OPEN ) it's the time for ugly sweaters

WHO: Akira Kurusu, local nasty crimeboy and people
WHERE: places in Recolle
WHEN: throughout this god forsaken month of December
WHAT: December happenings (includes event log stuff, Catmosphere Cat Santa, and... stuff) Thank god i wrote up a comment. Reply to the plotting comment if you would like Akira to send your character a Christmas card, too!!
WARNINGS: Akira existing.

santa is coming to town

[ The cat cafe staff have spent relentless hours deliberating over the limited edition Christmas menu all for naught, but they changed their process for the whole month. All hail aromatherapy! You'll be hit with the refreshing smell of fresh pine, peppermint, cookies if you lurk any deeper. Everyone's favorite carols are also playing... mixed in with carols sang by cats. You may curse the owner for this. They also have a cat music video for these carols on some of the flat screen TVs that would usually show menu items.

So Akira is at work dressed up as... Santa. Without the beard at least, but his outfit is rather extravagant for the occasion. Of course there's that small touch of cat ears attached to the hat. It wouldn't be Catmosphere Cafe without it! He's seated on a grand throne, decorated with snowflakes, ribbons, and presents around it. The cats aren't tearing it apart, either. Amazing. ]

Have you been naughty or nice?

spice adventures

[ Usually, he would ask someone he knows to join him, but... He feels a bit off as of late. It means that he'll be dragging some poor soul (or even call up random people) to join him on his quest. With taste being gone, this is one way to entertain himself when he's hungry.

If you even look at a restaurant momentarily with a spicy challenge, Akira is there with a flyer for it. ]

Want to give it a try together? It'll warm us right up.

[ If you need a reference as to how well your character handles spice, please refer to this chart. Akira is three chili peppers hoping to level up... This will help with anyone's courage stat, too. ]

christmas event surprise

[ Akira definitely has been a victim of garlands, mistletoe bats, and slipping on ice like an idiot. Go ahead and and pick your choice! He's running away as fast as he can from two out of those three and, like his predecessor, will pretend to be dead if he slips on ice.

Also, for those that are around when he opens his present from the Retrospec Christmas tree, you'll notice he has been staring inside the box he opened...

For a long time. He remember reading the description as "a stone worth 100k yen" on his ticket, but... Uhm. ]

wildcard!

[ HIT ME. Akira's cat won't be joining him later in December due to the cold, but he's around the university and sometimes the most desolate of areas. Anyone may even catch him or a dragon in the forest. ]

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[ Oh, hello other dragon. Akira catches himself raising his hand, wanting to wave at this new friend that appears. Technically, Personas are always there. ]

Prickly, huh... Is that also another side of Minako Arisato?

[ Kohryu, being the grandpa dragon he is, acknowledges the other presence, but watches Samael carefully. ]

[Minako sticks her tongue out at Akira.]

Let's just say you don't want to see me when I'm annoyed.

[Samael is a proud and prideful side of Minako, the part of herself that is unapologetically true to herself, that believes her abilities to protect and shelter others has become a badge of honor-- the vanguard against evil for those in need. Physically, there's also something provocative about Samael too, sleeker and more streamlined than Kohryu in a way that makes all his movements imply "come hither", matching Minako's playful "bring it on" attitude. But whether it's an invitation to camaraderie or ruin for his enemies is up for his master to decide.

Of course, Minako sees Akira as a friend, so all Samael does is lazily circle around the other Persona and Persona user, flicking the end of his tail very lightly in a way that acts as a pat on Akira's head.]

[ Wow?? He sticks his tongue out at her, too. Is this what you're going to teach younguns, Minako. Kohryu floats there as Samael circles around them before joining in. The dragon is calm, collected, and observant, keeping its eyes on the other Persona for the most part. ]

Sounds like that's something I'll need to prepare for.

[ Because while he doesn't want to be on Minako's bad side, he knows that sometimes they all need to step over boundaries for good reasons. Anyway, they should take a brisk walk. ]

How have you been?

Oh, the usual. Though... [She hesitates, and then sighs.] I might as well tell you. You were one of the people telling me not to overwork myself, after all...

[ Oh... Is this the Time? While they were on the same team and spent time with each other before, he can legitimately say he doesn't know too much about her personal life.

As they take a little detour, he looks up to the sky. ]

I'm ready for the spilled tea.

[She shoots him a sheepish look.]

Late November, I got a high fever and passed out on the streets. They kept me in the hospital for a day for it.

[ He just

looks at her... Expressionless. ]

[No...stop judging her...]

I know, I know. In my defense, I was going to go home after I realized I was sick...Yukiko was even going to drive me back. But I thought I'd stop by Lucian's clinic first, since it was on the way, and... [A sigh. It's been some time so it's easier to talk about, but.] When I saw that it was gone, and when I called out to find out he was leaving the country, I kind of. Broke down.

[ He's quiet before patting her on the back. Even if he knows he should chide her even a little bit, he understands that she did her best. ]

... A lot of things have changed, huh. [ No matter how much someone thinks they haven't changed, their surroundings do. ] Are you all right now?

[She smiles helplessly.]

Not really. But since I have to be, there's nothing to do but to move forward. I'll take it one day at a time until I'm actually alright.

Yeah... Take it easy and take days off, okay?

[ But this makes him wonder one more thing— ]

How's it going with your brother?

[A deep sigh.]

It's...going? We've talked a bit, and it's not so bad. I'm trying to be patient and take it easy as we get used to being around each other again. But I keep feeling like there's something missing. [She stares off to the side.] Some sort of connection we used to have.

[ He hums thoughtfully... Minato seems to be having a swell time pretending to die— ]

Are you clinging to the past?

[Minako flinches, her whole body tensing up and bristling in automatic, visceral fury in reaction to what her snap judgment says is an accusation. It's enough that Samael stops slithering through the air, coiling up into a tight unit in the expectation that a fight will soon commence.

But the anger ebbs quickly, replaced with a tired sense of failure. What does it say of her that she would react so strongly to a question like that? Why does talking about Minato still bother her so much? This, and so many more questions...she knows the answers to some, is still parsing out the others. Maybe Akira can lend her an ear.]

I want to say of course not. But it must sound like I am to you.

... I wouldn't know, which is why I asked.

[ Maybe it's a good time to take a break from their walk. He halts while Kohryu continues to slither through the forest, not at all finding Samael a threat. The dragon does end up raising his head above Akira, watching over the two to indicate that this has his attention.

It's true, he doesn't know, but her reaction is telling. This isn't the Minako he's used to, but he knows she's still the same person. Masks keep people comfortable; he understands that. ]

I'm not going to tell you how to live your life and how to go about your relationship with your brother, but I don't want you to make yourself a prisoner.

[ The past may leave its mark on their hearts, but it doesn't define them, he thinks. They're never meant to ever be shackles. She helped him find his way when memories shook him... So he hopes he can lend her a hand, too. ]

A prisoner, huh.

[Who exactly is imprisoned? Her automatic answer is to say Minato is. Her expectations of how he should act, her hopes to become close again-- surely that's imprisonment. She didn't mean to. She only recently realized she was pushing those desires onto him in the first place. But intentions mean little when all he wants is space. She has to stop thinking of him as the little brother who will go along with everything she says, because he clearly wants to break away from that.

And yet here she is, still wishing he was that boy again, or at least wishing he would open up to her more, because it means a shared connection. Shared history. Something nobody else (not his roommate, not Lalli, not Angela) has with him. Their childhood, so precious to her, the foundation of the person she is today. She didn't want to let it go.

She probably has to, for his sake.

So maybe Akira is right, and she's been the prisoner all along. Too wrapped up in preserving their shared memories and recovering their lost fourteen years that she fails to see where he's going now.]

If I am, then...should I start from scratch? Give me and him a new beginning?

[ He sees that they're both prisoners, but he isn't talking to Minato right now. It isn't about him, exactly, but about Minako. While he doesn't know anything about their past, he can see how much it's tearing her apart right now—it's different, these disillusioned expectations and misplaced hope. He doesn't think there's anything wrong with hoping to re-establish a connection, to reconnect...

But it's hurting her. Sliding his hands into his pockets, he scuffs the ground with the tip of his shoe before sighing. ]

That's for you to decide, Minako. Do you want to keep going at this? Do you want to start over? Whatever path you choose, don't regret it.

[ He just doesn't want to see her despair, but that's her life. ]

[Samael slithers down from the air to twine around Minako, and she sets her cheek against his scales, finding comfort in the cool touch against the heat of her face, the threat of tears.]

I thought I could ride all these doubts out. Keep trying my best, be patient and persistent, and eventually it would go back to what it was. But going that route just seems...so lonely, if he doesn't want that back either.

[An exhale.]

And recently, my cousins, they're a set of twins too, and they're having the same problem. Separated for a while, with problems seeing eye-to-eye, and now trying to bond again. They decided they should give starting over a try. So...maybe that's what me and Minato should do, too.

[ Akira can't keep Kohryu out for too long, so the dragon disappears after it gives Minako a determined yet soft gaze. He has the same look on his face as he listens to her resolve, but wishes he could do something about the pain she must be feeling.

Pain isn't always bad... Sometimes it can help people become stronger. Fussing with his scarf, he looks up to the waning moon for a second. ]

I wouldn't jump the gun until you talk to him about it. Ask him what he wants—work things out together.

[ Two-way street, after all. ]

[Together. It's a nice thought. Being able to walk in step with her brother is really all she's wanted ever since he came back. She really hopes she can clear the air between them...because she doesn't know what she'll do if he refuses and she can't.

Two way street indeed.]

...I'll do my best. Thank you, Akira. [She turns away, Samael shifting with her, voice thick with emotion.] I'll let you know how it goes.

[ He can see the tension in her shoulders, but sometimes tension and conflict can be good. They're necessary in a healthy relationship. There's a hopeful future for the two of them, he thinks. ]

I'm cheering you on, Minako.

[ He's here and so are her friends. ]

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( OPEN ) it's the time for ugly sweaters

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