( 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

[maskreant]

[ If you change one letter in kong this would have became hella awkward. Anyway, Akira tilts his head when Titan brings the toy, petting the dog a bit before taking hold of it. If the dog allows him to take it without issue, he'll gently toss it somewhere random. His attention is drawn back to Eren when he doesn't respond quickly.

To Akira, living arrangements aren't intimate. They're a necessity for someone that hopped across cities, even countries, and home was so foreign to him for a while. However, he understands that everyone has different priorities and values. It might be too early for them, even if he can see that Eren must have thought about it before.

If not, he's forced to think about it now. ]

That makes sense. Sorry if I brought up an awkward topic; I was curious.

[ Sometimes he thinks about how nice it would be if he lived with his own boyfriend, but that isn't reality, either. ]

But I guess if you ever wanted to wake up to Elliot's cooking, you would stay over our place... You would need to fight me over seconds, though.

[usurpers]

[ titan looks like a skidding storm trying to go after a kong, with a k, in an apartment, no matter how big it was, but— it’s a normal enough occurrence that eren says nothing against it. if anything, that last part gets a chuckle into his nearly finished water bottle. ]

I’ll even fight you for thirds. [ or for any and all of elliot’s food. staying over with them sometimes was probably not a bad idea— he’s done it before! maybe far less than when elliot stayed over with him, but you can bet he’ll consider another sleep over soon. they can have shenanigans.

at least his face has gotten a bit more color to it. ]

It’s not awkward, though, so don’t worry. [ awkward is probably the disgusting amount of transformers merchandise near the tv. ] I wouldn’t mind a movie night or something with all of us, either.

[maskreant]

[ Hopefully, this proves Akira isn't always a menace all the time. He will cover for people when they need it. It doesn't stop him from playing along, shooting Eren a rather fierce yet cold glower. He points to his eyes, then points to Eren. He's watching you.

Elliot's extras can only belong to One, even though he's sure Eren can snap his neck with his regained thighs. ]

... Would you ever want to watch Tuuri's homemade movies?

[ Just wondering! He still doesn't know why she went out of her way to do this for Elliot when he knows Retrospec exists. A mystery. He takes another sip of his water as his eyes wander to see where Titan went.

Did you get the kong, Titan? ]

[usurpers]

[ eren runs his flat hand right by his neck in return. when he goes for something, he goes for the kill. he accepts your leftover challenge, may the best man win when the time comes. titan is also chewing gladly into his kong, trotting around just to show it off— you’ll have to take it from him now, human.

to that, though. oh. boy. ]

. . . Uah, [ what kind of sound was that, he doesn’t know, it wasn’t even a proper answer. but, spoiler alert, eren was the peter pan rip off and titan was his trusty steed. ] I think I did a little more than watch last time. You didn’t see it, did you?

[maskreant]

[ Oh... Titan is one of those dogs. They want you to throw the toy, but they want you to play tug-of-war to show you're worthy of throwing it a second time. Akira's lips quirk up as he doesn't take the bait yet. When the German shepherd relaxes a bit more, he grabs onto the toy as quick as lightning. Give it.

Eren gets to answer and speak without Akira's gaze on him, but when prompted with a question, he turns slowly to lock his cat-like gaze onto him. On top of that, there's a Cheshire grin. ]

I did.

[ That's all he has to say. ]

[usurpers]

[ titan loves a challenge as much as his owner does, a military-trained dog that’s drilled to being a partner of many strengths and forces. determination and boldness is one of them, he challenges you!! kong between the teeth and allowing some grabbing room, the shepherd sets his weight back and tugs. no, u give.

to that, there’s a slight smirk from eren, tossing his finished water into the trash and crossing his arms. ]

Then you’re a rat bastard. [ you sneak—! acting all innocent, he’s onto your type. ]

[maskreant]

[ Oh, titan... Akira is very much a cheater in any kind of game. Of course he tries not to, but he isn't above using cheats to win especially to even the playing field. How is he supposed to compete with a military trained dog?

He turns his attention back to Titan, but he listens to Eren who technically has his attention. ]

I've been told I'm more of a cat.

[ He shakes his sleeve over the dog and here comes out a flood of playing cards falling onto him. ]

[usurpers]

[ “what is this wizardry in my home”, says titan, if he could speak, and he lets go to start nabbing at the cascade of cards that came out of nowhere! he sniffs and looks confused— what’s going on, how did you get the kong.

just, how.

eren, at least, seems more than a little amused, watching his dog trying to spit some that got stuck in his mouth out and trying to break sorcery with a stoney stare. at least, a leisurely tail wag gives away his own fun, as serious and down to business he looks. ]

You do card tricks?

[ because why else would you carry CARDS UP YOUR SLEEVES ]

[maskreant]

[ Akira tosses the kong again, though in a different direction this time. Looks like he's been caught for a different hobby this time. Rubbing his neck, he chuckles a bit... It has been a while since he has learned something new. With his jobs, school, friends, a boyfriend, and Retrospec, he hasn't found enough time for other indulgences.

It doesn't stop him from showing off, though. ]

"Magic" tricks. Too bad I haven't learned how to vacuum all my cards back into my sleeve.

[ But he does take out a bouquet out of it. Here you go, Eren. You can have this. ]

[usurpers]

[ what the heckie!! okay, tricks are always surprising, especially when you’re not expecting them. and fooling the eye just right, it really does look like magic. eren’s already got a solid view on the difference between “magic” and “tricks”, which are completely different!! but why rain on his parade, in his own home. eren stifles a chuckle behind pressed lips, tentatively taking the flowers and

checking to see if they’re real or fake, he’s curious. all while titan’s having a jolly good time nosing the kong around on slippery floors. ]

Anything else up your sleeve?

[ you can show off a little more if you want. eren’s not that much of a stick in the mud, especially when he liked these things as a kid— who didn’t? ]

[maskreant]

[ They're obviously fake.. If Eren investigates the stems, there's a very subtle button that can be pressed. The flowers would rescind back into a very thin and flexible film. That prop was expensive.

Oh, no. Eren is making a grand mistake. This isn't good. Akira has always thought of himself not a man that likes the spotlight, but he has... Habits. He has tendencies. Unfortunately, some of those have to do with showing off. ]

Do you want to check?

[ He tugs his sleeve for Eren, making sure it's stretched enough for him to reach in a bit. Is this weird? Who cares? ]

[usurpers]

[ (of course it’s fake. childhood mystery: solved).

but was he seriously telling him to reach up his sleeve? eren’s brows furrow with doubt (because what other big surprise could there be?), but his forming grin gives his diversion away. fine, he’ll bite. he’ll try to reach in with just his fingers, keep an eye (both eyes) on akira. do your worst. ]

One of those cloth things?

[ you know, the one that’s tied onto another that’s tied onto another and just never stops? he’s onto your trickery. amaze him. ]

[maskreant]

I don't have those on me today.

[ Hopefully that doesn't disappoint Eren at all. Instead of finding any cloth or maybe a bunny, Eren can pull out a rather realistic dagger... Except from its weight and feel, it's a toy.

It was definitely not there when Eren was feeling around earlier, but ta-da?! ]

[usurpers]

[ dude wtf

out with a handle pinched between his fingers . . . comes a blade made of rubber. eren snorts, but he’s still smiling and holds it up, swinging the blade. ]

I’ll kill to know what you really use this for.

[ questionable props to just CARRY AROUND AKIRA ]

[maskreant]

To cut stuff, obviously?

[ Akira will take the dagger back when Eren is done with it. While there's no transformation cue with background music or special effects, it is suddenly a real knife in his hands. Look at that sharp sheen under the light.

Turning toys into hazards is his power. ]