It's the most splurgingest time of the year

[cornets]

WHO: Arion & YOU
WHERE: All over Recolle
WHEN: December 15-25
WHAT: Shopping shopping shopping (and open prompts)
WARNINGS: Capitalism

[A: Decisions, decisions]

[It's easy enough to get gifts for your friends when the great majority of them are growing athletes. But a secret santa for someone you kind of sort of met online with a very small inkling of things they like? Much more difficult, though Arion seems to be on a good track. Maybe. He's stopped in front of a bunch of novelty bags in different shapes. In his hands are one shaped like a camera, and another in the shape of a dog's head. He can't seem to make up his mind, and if he spots you close enough, consider yourself flagged down and at the mercy of some puppy dog eyes.]

Excuse me, can I get your thoughts on something real quick?

[B: tfw you can taste bitter vegetables again]

[On the night of the 16th, Arion had one awful surprise when he snuck a late night healthy snack. So on the 17th, he's gone grocery shopping by himself. He's filling up his basket with sweeter fruits and vegetables. He gets a little too enthusiastic over the idea of having something sweet again, and causes the pile of whatever he was grabbing to avalanche down to the floor and to your feet.]

Ah...!

[C: Winter season is time to go postal]

[Okay perhaps not everything is about spending money. But there are still goodies involved. Probably. Arion's out in front of the Retrospec mailbox, with a ticket in hand. Unfortunately it's about as difficult as it is mailing things out at the actual post office. There are packages out in front, and he can see other 20-digit codes on the tags. Is he... Is he supposed to look for his among the stacks?]

[D: Unpredictability]

[OOC: Wildcard prompt. Or something from the event post? Feel free to make one up or hit me up at otenko!]

Comments

A

[promisedyou]

Hmm?

[ Mio's aquamarine eyes blink at him quite curiously as she cants her head slightly in confusion. ]

I don't mind, but what is it?

[cornets]

[Arion smiles at Mio with an ease like he already knows her.]

Well I signed up for that secret santa posted on Retrospec, but I only know mine likes dogs and photography... Which would be better for a college guy?

[He holds up a pouch in the shape of a dog and one in the shape of a camera]

[promisedyou]

I feel like the camera-shaped pouch would be the better option, here out of the two, especially if they have a place to put their camera in.

[cornets]

[He considers the camera one some more.]

It's not as padded as the dog one, but I guess it is bigger....

[promisedyou]

Well, bigger is sometimes better, you know? You can put more stuff which is useful for things like this.

[cornets]

I know what you mean, I have a hard time packing my sports bag.

[He reluctantly puts the dog pouch down. Poor puppy bag, you'll go to someone who needs you soon.]

Oh, I forgot to ask, did you want to start up a new game since they didn't make a new one this month?

[promisedyou]

Yeah, exactly.

[ She says this really easily before canting her head to the side. ] ... a new game?

[cornets]

Like what we did last month with the photo scavenger hunt!

[People having twins isn't something he really considers.]

[promisedyou]

Oh!

[ She can't help but gasp in surprise, it's just something that catches her off guard slightly. ]

Ahaha, that's what you meant... I suppose we could play a game if you'd like. Did you have anything in mind?

[cornets]

[From what he knows of Kotone, that is a strange response to him, but he doesn't really question it]

Not really, I was kind of hoping you'd have more ideas since the scavenger hunt was a bust.

[promisedyou]

Hmm... a game, huh? Well, since the scavenger hunt didn't work out too well, maybe we should go simpler! Do you play cards?

[cornets]

Yeah, a few, like old maid and uno.

[He doesn't know what he's getting into]

[promisedyou]

Oh, good, good. Those games aren't too bad, but they're mostly not as fun without more players, you know?

[cornets]

Yeah, I don't think I can even think of a Christmas version of them either. [He titters a little.]

It is too bad someone at Retrospec didn't make a game for this month, especially after I said they might. Sorry about that.

[promisedyou]

Maybe they just wanted a Christmas break! Besides, they're also working on bringing the taste back, so they must be really busy. But you don't have to apologize!

[cornets]

They should have worked on it during November, but you're right. They were pretty busy getting color back.

[The conversation doesn't seem to sit right with him, so he looks at Mio with a curious expression.]

Still... It is a little disappointing they gave us a game for Halloween and not one for Christmas...

[promisedyou]

Yeah... it is, I guess, but some of the other games for Halloween ended up with really weird results.

[ She remembers the Trick or Treating. That was horrible. ] Then again, we didn't get anything for Thanksgiving, too! Maybe games were just more Halloween specific, or maybe they just got tired of making games.

[cornets]

[He's ready to agree with her, but...]

Kotone, are you okay?

[promisedyou]

...hm? Is there something that says that I'm not? Unless I said something wrong. Did I say something wrong?

[cornets]

I thought you liked the Halloween effects...

[promisedyou]

Ah... I do like Halloween and the effects, but I actually got stuck in a costume with someone else because of the trick or treat thing on the app. It was really difficult to move around, you know?

[cornets]

Yeah...

[He fidgets in place, letting the conversation die off awkwardly.]

Well, I better go pay for this then! Thank you again for your help!

[promisedyou]

[ She laughs a little awkwardly, rubbing at the nape of her neck. ]

Ahaha... no problem, no problem!

A

[burlyheart]

[Peter relaxes into a smile when Arion comes up. He did promise this man a favor, and Peter views his word very highly.]

Of course. What do you need?

[cornets]

[Beaming, he holds up a pouch in the shape of a dog and one in the shape of a camera]

Which one of these would a college guy like more?

[burlyheart]

[This is it? This is a simpler task than he was expecting. It's just about the young people (or so Peter thinks of them, having never went to college.)

That's easy, right?

He crouches slightly, to look right at them.]

Hmm. Does this person like cute things?

[cornets]

I... I don't really know. It's for a secret santa. All I know is that he's studying photography and he likes dogs.

[And he's vaguely aware that the guy in question likes cool things but not sports? His mind can't compute that.]

[burlyheart]

Hmm. Just like the office parties.

[Peter comments in sympathy. ]

Almost everyone likes dogs! But photography, it could show a more personalized touch.

[cornets]

Really?

[He looks it over.]

Hmm, it's not too girly?

[burlyheart]

Girly?

[The hunched over man straightens out like a spring. Peter has to be reminded to worry about something like that, because it's not something that ordinarily occurs to himself. Very few people would be brave enough to give Peter trouble over not being enough of a man.]

Oh, huh, when you think about it, cameras aren't especially girly. Neither are bags!

[But what's the dividing line between a bag and a purse?]

[cornets]

[Arion brightens a little at the reassurance.]

Oh, that's good! I don't want him to get teased for it.

[burlyheart]

Hmrph, any person who would mock someone based on a gift has a lot to learn.

[It's politely worded, but Peter refers to those people with contempt. ]

If it comes to that, someone should teach them.

[cornets]

I hope so. Being teased for something like that isn't... very nice.

[Putting it mildly. Arion's mood drops for a second, before he perks back up.]

Well, thank you!

[burlyheart]

[Peter makes a salute.]

Take care! If you need assistance, you can call on me.