open | cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

[stressweets]

WHO: Tsukasa & you
WHERE: A variety of places, both in Recollé and outside of it... (which is just Pesgare) (for a weekend)
WHEN: Throughout the month
WHAT: It's an open post... and a catch-all. All-purpose post.
WARNINGS: None, will add if necessary

do. drawing in the city

[ Due to some recent... developments... Tsukasa's been putting a lot more effort into keeping himself busy, and that chiefly involves getting better at drawing people. Landscapes, flora, all of that? He's perfectly great at, albeit his style errs more on a loose, flighty style of watercolor.

But again. Getting better at drawing people. He can be found at a few of the parks doing studies on people, couples, animals, you... all of that. Looking vaguely frustrated and, at one point, just kind of. flopping back in the grass with the world's loudest groan.

Not that his attempts at it at the square are much better, where he ends up laying on the fountain's edge, looking at the water like he's considering rolling into it.

......Yeah, it really isn't going well. ]

re. drawing out of the city

[ "Maybe I'll have better luck somewhere new," he said, and then went to Pesgare one weekend when he wasn't busy.

Except Tsukasa doesn't handle boats well, so on the way he can be found leaning on the railing and looking more than a little miserable. He prefers these to like, airplanes? Definitely? But... boats... Three hours of this is awful, like at least it isn't walking into heat but Respartum had only been like an hour away...!?

When he's there though, he can be found resting his poor stomach on the side of the road for a bit before he starts sketching again. Those with a keen eye will notice, though, that he ends up drawing the sights more than the people... Pesgare is beautiful, and he needs to practice architecture anyway... ♪ Even if he's supposed to be focusing on people.

He can also be found just around, taking in the sights and... in the marketplace, taking in the smells. And the bakeries. And— look, he likes food, shush. Are you reaching for that last chocolat au pain or other tasty treat too? Tsukasa'll back off with an "Ah, sorry," though he'll look a little put-out at not being able to have it himself. ]

mi. wildcard

[ Nothing catching your interest/we already have plans/you wanna do class stuff (his electives are art and home ec, he's in Art Club)/maybe at work at the riding school and stables/whatever? Go ahead and throw me anything, I'll roll with it! You can also catch me over on plurk at flaired, or on Discord at Bella#4429; I'm quicker to reply to pings though, as a heads up. ]

Comments

[stressweets]

[ Oh, he's there already... What a timely kid. Tsukasa's after five minutes after, a bag swinging gently in his hand, and he gives Xiaolang a wave when he sees him. ]

Li! Sorry for the wait... [ Boys, boys, you're both technically early for your meeting time. ] I had to put some finishing touches on our treats...~ You eat with your eyes first, after all, so presentation's really important.

[cardcaptured]

[Xiaolang's a punctual boy!! But he does look up from his phone as he hears Tsukasa approach, giving the other boy a small wave of his own at the greeting.]

No, I only got here a few minutes ago myself, so it's fine. [And he checks the time quickly on the screen--] The shrine isn't officially open until eleven, anyway.

[He hoists his bag off of ground, although Tsukasa's comment on the treats does get him eying the other's in mild curiosity.]

I guess so, though... but taste is usually what matters most, isn't it? [Not that he thinks they might be bad or anything!! Xiaolang's just a simpler boy in comparison when it comes to decorations and things.] What did you wind up making?

[stressweets]

Strawberry daifuku, sweet tamago, and three types of onigiri... The traditional umeboshi, one with salted pork, and the last made with fried rice. I put aside some last night just for this. ♪

[ ...He's the one who does a lot of the cooking in his house right now, he's allowed to do that. Also, if that sounds like quite a bit, it kind of is, and they're definitely in bento boxes. ]

What about you?

[cardcaptured]

[He boggles a little as Tsukasa lists off the snacks, (although really, this sounds a lot more like meal than just something to nibble on) thinking back on the things he made himself. There wasn't nearly as much in his own bag, and now he was feeling a touch inadequate.]

Ah... just some peach buns, and tea eggs. I thought something that would be easy to eat while we walked would be good, and I have some thermoses of milk tea as well...

Wasn't a lot for you to do, though? You really didn't have to make a whole lunch for us.

[Because Xiaolang's also the one who does a lot of the cooking in his house (actually...... he does ALL of the cooking, because their apartment would be in flames if Leon attempted it), so he knows it takes a lot of time and effort!!]

[stressweets]

It was, but it isn't like I minded... It was really relaxing to do after homework and stuff too.

[ And a good way to keep busy. Tsukasa keeps that to himself though, twisting the handles around his fingers. ]

Peach buns and tea eggs sound great too... As does milk tea~. It's been a while since I had some of that. My parents usually ask for lemon balm or chamomile, so I end up drinking that a lot too. [ He's excited about all this food ♡ ] Um... Sorry if I made too much though? At least we definitely won't run out while we're walking, and we can take as much time as we want...?

[cardcaptured]

[He shakes his head at Tsukasa's apology, trying to assure him otherwise.]

No, it's not a bad thing, I just-- didn't want you to go through that much trouble on my behalf. But you're right, we can probably take a break at some point to eat this all instead of having to go someplace else for a proper meal.

[With his bag of snacks over his shoulder, Xiaolang starts walking towards the shrine steps, anticipating the long climb upwards towards the entrance.]

Um, it's Hong-Kong style milk tea, though, so it might be a little different from what you may have had. It's a bit on the stronger side...

[But sweet too, considering it uses a mix of condensed and evaporated milk and all. Although, speaking of sweet things...]

You said you made sweet tamago, though? That's like tamagoyaki, isn't it? And daifuku, that's-- [He presses his hands together in an approximation of a round, flat shape.] It's like those mochi dumplings, isn't it?

[stressweets]

Yes for both, but daifuku's like... [ Tsukasa makes a small, round ball with his hands as he walks alongside Xiaolang. ] Rounder when it has things in it, like strawberries or oranges... Oh, candied yuzu's good too~. All of them have red bean paste around them, so that's why it's a sphere...

[ he has high praise for all types of daifuku but his favorite is actually chestnut. ]

Oh, but—yeah, basically. [ ... ] Red bean daifuku's flat and round though.

[ ........Tsukasa clears his throat, covering his mouth with a fist. ]

Um, but I'm not really an expert or anything... I'm sure there's plenty of other people who know a lot more.

[cardcaptured]

[He peers at Tsukasa's demonstration, head slightly cocked and brow furrowed.]

... Oh. So a little like jian dui, I guess? Ah, but that's fried, so that's probably not really the same.

[Though now that he's mentioned jian dui, he kind of wants some now?? Li-Na had given him some for Christmas, and they went entirely too fast for his liking. He does take note of that in his head, though, and he straightens up a bit when Tsukasa clears his throat.]

No, um-- this is interesting! It's interesting to learn about. We have some Japanese foods and snacks back in Hong Kong, but not those kinds of variations. And, I, uh-- [His cheeks flush, involuntarily, as his hands twist around the bag handles] I sort of want to try making them myself some day. F-For practice, and to give to others and stuff.

[Like, technically, he could ask Mio since she's Japanese and sort of family given her relationship to Leon, but Tsukasa's a boy and closer in age, so?? But mostly he just wants to know so he could impress Sakura with it one day.]

[stressweets]

[ Oh, fried daifuku would be tasty...~ Fried mochi already is, so why not have stuff in it? ♪

Tsukasa bites the inside of his cheek at Xiaolang's blushing, letting his hand drop. Well, well... ]

Mmm, if that's the case... I wouldn't mind teaching you or something. Food's best when it's shared with others anyway. [ The look on someone's face when they eat something you've made and they love it is the best look on anyone, too~. ] Don't worry about paying me back or anything for that though. I like cooking. ♪ My Baba—my grandma—and I do it a lot.