( OPEN ) it's the time for ugly sweaters

[maskreant]

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. ]

Comments

[ascatic]

If you're forty-two, I'm one thousand and forty-two years old.

[ he doesn't forget a face! or rather, he certainly remembers a face. that and he can't do math. this is why he has helpful employees, to do the painful task of addition. but Akira is memorable. beyond memorable. ]

... as long as the heat lasted, it certainly goes pretty quickly, doesn't it?

[ NO NOT ANOTHER WING. commence the internal screaming? but as he reaches for a final one... his resolve has been tested and it has lost.

no more! no more.

hands resting in front of him, he tries his best to find his zen in hopes that if Akira needs to borrow some of his, he'll certainly give it to him. otherwise? suffer, my dude ]

[maskreant]

[ Damnit. Akira thought his nondescript appearance would let him slide past even the sharpest of eyes. Of course he can't fool a fellow cat. Instead of huffing out of defeat, he huffs because he wants to breathe. The sauce, while lukewarm, still burns.

It's fine. There's water. He's trying to avoid getting full off of it, though. ]

It also comes back just as fast.

[ AAAAAAAAAAHhhhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHH; his stomach tingles (that is most likely not a good thing). He finishes it, so it leaves them with the very last wing. It practically taunts them. Taking controlled sips of his glass, he gives Leon a confident nod. ]

Take your time, great elder.

[ you eat that or else, cat man ]

[ascatic]

[ honestly, neither of them are going to feel very well after this experience. he coughs in order to mask the gurgling in his own stomach, hoping that the noise isn't louder than his need to disguise the... well, no one's a winner. free food, a shirt, a photo, these are just going to memories of a competition whose finish line is a blazing inferno.

does he have to eat this one? maybe if he stares at it long enough, it'll burn a hole through it and cause it to disappear from this world forever. maybe.

how many lives has he spent eating these wings, again??? ]

Fine, fine.

[ three heavy, open-mouthed breaths--- then he consumes it, licking his lips after and shutting his eyes as tightly as possible. ]

... hey, I don't feel it.

[ he says, lying, splashing himself with what's left in his glass before filling it back up and doing the same thing.

no shame. ]

[maskreant]

[ They're going to have stomach problems for a week after this, but they'll survive. They are tough black cats out in this cruel world, after all? Akira only smiles ear to ear when he watches Leon down the wing, down his drink, and get a refill. It isn't a cocky grin at all... Though he did enjoy watching the older man squirm and mentally hiss at the food, but a satisfied and content one. The Inferno has been defeated and Akira can already picture their photos on the wall, names on a plaque, and free t-shirts used as summer PJs.

Most of all, he's surprised, if not grateful that Leon stuck with him to the end. A sense of accomplishment and camaraderie swells in his chest. ]

We did it.

[ He stretches out a hand for a high five!! Little did they know, there are a couple of people that have been watching their show, applauding when they realize the two have finished the spicy wings within record time. ]

[ascatic]

[ VERY TOUGH BLACK CATS except right now, he's just... a puddle of cat on the table. may it be known that if he had a tail and ears right now, they would flat. just like him! flat and moping. even though it's not the worst he's felt in his entire life, he knows it'll change with time.

he looks up from the table, narrowing his eyes at that smile.

cocky cat. ]

Yeah... we did.

[ a sharp, short sigh of relief and he reaches up to gently bat at that hand with a clenched fist. almost like knocking on it. the applause from the onlookers gets him to blush again, clenching his teeth. ]

They better pay us in antacids, too.

[maskreant]

If they don't, I will. Don't worry.

[ It's okay. He makes whatever Leon is doing into an official high five before the slumps against his seat. His stomach... Does not feel well. He can feel the walls burn, but he only laughs. Even if they take taste away, at least spice is still around. As he says, he plans to take responsibility and buy them medication if needed. His poor wallet is dying this December, but he feels it has been worth it.

Stretching his arms up to get the server's attention, he notices something about that expression— ]

You don't do well in the spotlight, huh?

[ They have to write down their names and take a photo, but do answer him. ]

[ascatic]

I don't mind it. I have to take care of a store and my employees, but at least it's on my terms.

[ and he should feel a little more frustrated at the fact he can't be as controlled and calm in front of others, especially Akira? a good black cat? he should be setting the proper feline example and lick his wounds later when no one's watching, but the spice has truly destroyed him. ]

... I hope you don't think poorly of me. Especially when you seem as cool as a cucumber.

[ with a weak smile, he takes one more sip of water before brushing his hair out of his face. ]

[maskreant]

[ He listens intently since Leon is quite older than him. While he has been casual all this time, Akira respects authority a little more in Recolle... Just hasn't ran into trouble with them yet despite how he knows what his other self felt about adults in general. People with power tend to abuse it. They stomp on everyone beneath them to stay on the top.

Leon seems kind, so such emotions don't stir. Akira keeps a bright expression even though his stomach feels uneasy with some forewarning sloshes. Rubbing his neck, he chuckles nervously as the pain blooms each breath. ]

... I'm dying, actually. [ He wouldn't call himself cool right now. ] There's also no reason for me to think poorly of you. You did go along with with my dumb adventure.

[ Doesn't that make Leon a fool? Akira doesn't mind that, apparently. ]

[ascatic]

[ thank god shitty human adults aren't the same as shitty cat adults. :^) ]

Couldn't let you do it alone. [ and he laughs, though it hurts him to do so. ] The dying part, too.

[ though his smile, as wracked with pain as it might seem, is firm as he shakes his head and reaches out with a somewhat clean hand to pat Akira on the shoulder. ]

Not dumb. Unforgettable? Yes. Impulsive? Yes. But not dumb.

[ being a fool is probably the least offensive thing to be called, especially by a true Fool. ]

[maskreant]

[ At first, he thought Leon would say that he could die alone, so he's caught off guard for a moment. With a perplexed expression, he's... blown away by how kind his new acquaintance is. Akira knows in his heart that he has caused his man a lot of suffering and possible bowel issues for the rest of his life, so why?

They're both fools. ]

You've truly proven than I thought, Mr. Aksera.

[ Tough as nails with a heart of gold— ]

Shall I escort you back?

[ascatic]

[ nah. no deaths yet! however, there's no telling what tomorrow might bring. or the next day. or the next day. especially when those very specific issues creep into his daily duties, and then he'll just be embarrassed.

and THEN he might die. ]

Of course. I wouldn't mind the company.

[ and when he stands up, he fights the urge to punch the table. again. everything must've settled while they were seated, because he's Really Feeling It. ]

... nope. Still good.

[maskreant]

[ Leon... Akira notices the small flash of pain, but he knows better than to call a man out when his pride is on the line. He straggles out of the booth and gives Leon a couple of pats on the shoulder.

Out the restaurant they go! ]

Lead the way.

[ Unlike someone, he isn't going to pretend he isn't Suffering. Akira is holding onto his stomach and everything. ]