[open] bother an archaeologist

[openhanded]

WHO: Sorey and YOU
WHERE: All around Recollé
WHEN: During the month of March!
WHAT: Sorey has some things to do, feel free to pop in! No previous plotting required. This is going up pretty late so I'll backtag for ages. He's hitting up the high school, the dojo, the library, and Club Sunshine in the prompts.
WARNINGS: None.

[I. THEM'S FIGHTIN' WORDS]
[Every Sunday, Sorey holds up his promise to help teach swordsmanship at the dojo to Retrospeccers. While he offers more traditional kendo training gear (shinai and bokken), he also has plain wooden swords for people who find that more comfortable. The simple targets set up near the wall give something to aim at. There's also padded armor for the paranoid. Sorey doesn't wear anything out of the ordinary, just a tank top and some black capris. He likes being able to move around.

While waiting for students to come over (if they so choose), he busies himself with polishing his blunt-edged ceremonial sword.

For those who've decided to try their hand, he might try to correct posture by very lightly tapping an arm.]

Keep your elbow down, it makes you more steady. Now try a swing. Feel the difference?

[II. UNEARTHING RUMORS]
[After a long day at school, Sorey should've known that doing more work on top of it would be a bad idea. He's currently snoozing at a table in the library, surrounded by several books on haunted places, with his fancy vanilla latte gone cold (and only half-empty). The book he may or may not be drooling on talks about the dark and unpleasant history of treatment for chronically ill patients.

Not exactly prime reading material. But he's sleeping like a babe, so.]

[III. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE]
[Sorey still splits his time between bartending at Club Sunshine and being a rookie host. Whatever your flavor, he's here to put the sun in Sunshine and maybe even get paid to be your bestie for an hour.

Sorey's still finishing up his student teacher credit for his degree, which means making up for the hours he missed in February. He spends a lot of time working after school this month to help students with their history homework, upcoming tests, and whatever else.]

Comments

III. Closing up at work?

[angealwings]

[ Andrew has definitely noticed that Sorey's been. Tired. Not in front of customers, and he's pretty good at what he does, but, well. Staff can see more than most.

As the place empties, on one of the nights when Sorey's tending bar, Andrew lingers a bit.

He did promise Mikleo that he'll keep an eye on him, after all. ]

Hey. Need any help?

\o/

[openhanded]

[It's true. There's a lot to be tired about. Mikleo and Sorey are still adjusting to Mikleo's new... sort of half-life, his friends are having some serious troubles, he's been hard at work for graduating, and then there's the ghost stuff on top of it.

Andrew catches him in a rare sleepy moment, running his hand through his hair and trying not to yawn. What is it, one in the morning? He hasn't looked at his phone all night.]

Huh? Oh, sure! I can take care of the dishes if you wipe the counters down.

[He carefully places another glass in the plastic tub.]

II

[fashioneebo]

[Mikleo's also decided to steal away to the library, mostly to prevent himself from being bored. He has to be extremely careful about picking up books from the shelves, though. Retrospec users might be able to faintly see him, but that doesn't mean the normal people in the city can.

As the seraph's walking over to a table to read, he spots his husband apparently asleep on top of an opened book. Mikleo shakes his head with a small smile as he walks over there, silently placing his book in front of the seat next to Sorey. He reaches over to gently place his hand on the brunet's shoulder.]

Sorey. Soreeeeyyyy. The librarians won't be happy about you drooling on their books.

I

[ascatic]

[ it's a Sunday that he can finally get out of the cafe and to the dojo, where he already knew Sorey would be, and that he could finally learn how to defend himself--- as best as an old man (read: 37) can. wearing black denim jeans and a simple black t-shirt, he finds himself interested in some of those basic swords, carefully picking one up that feels comfortable in his hand.

as he does, his ears twitch. the cat ones that peeking through his hair. ]

Hm. Do they all weigh the same...?

II; midmonth

[floret]

[ Jamie's got midterms coming up, so he's in and out of the library on a fairly regular basis himself; today he's scouting for a good spot to settle in when he catches sight of Sorey.

Hmm.

After thinking about it for a moment, Jamie fishes a napkin out of his bag, folds it up, and tries to very gently slide it in between Sorey's cheek and the vulnerable-to-drool page of the open book underneath him. It's true that Jamie has a pretty light touch, and he really is being careful, but...
...does this have any chance of succeeding?? ]

III hi coworker

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji's usually in the back room working on numbers, but that doesn't mean he doesn't see anything of what goes on in Club Sunshine. He often steps out to check their inventory, talk to Majima or Minato, or just take a break from glaring at finance papers.

So after one of the nights when Sorey's been hosting a lot, Shuji catches him while they're cleaning up.]

You did really well today.

ii!

[alienated]

[While the library is pretty peaceful as far as places to study go, falling asleep while surrounded by books is... probably not something anyone has ever done intentionally. Keith's walking past Sorey.

Stopping.

Glancing.

And then backtracking a little, just to unceremoniously jab him in the shoulder with his finger.]

... Hey.

[Don't... Don't drool on the books, bruh. That's gross.]

wildcard

[complementing]

[Pay to be a bestie! Nah. Minako's just dropping off cupcakes in her pink and frilly outfit. It's been a while since she's actually worked for the Confectionary, what with things being so busy, but she's back in it and ready to be a cheerful delivery girl.]

Hi~ Delivery for Club Sunshine!

:>

[angealwings]

Yeah, absolutely.

[ And he'll keep an eye on him, too. Andrew's not tended the bar, but, well. He does cook, so how different can cleaning up be?

It takes a little while working in silence before Andrew murmurs, ]

How're you doing, Sorey?

III - March 27th

[naught_again]

[Ultimately, Dylan is still acting like a tourist on holiday from Australia. He keeps thinking that any day now he'll be able to hop a plane home, and it keeps not happening. That's his excuse for not actually following up on his agreement to Sora to check in with Dante.

Frustrated, he finally finds himself at Club Sunshine, thinking of it purely as novelty sight-seeing. Now, part of his frustration is that he's 20 years old and has been drinking in Australia for 2 years now, along with occasional sips in the comfort of his own home before then. So this significance of 21 years old in America has been annoying to him for awhile now. Time to see if he can get into this place without some kind of special wristband that marks him as underage.]

[openhanded]

[They actually have underage musicians who work at Club Sunshine, but there's very little for a guy to do if he can't drink. He might be able to get some company, at least? The issue is that he's a twin, and Sorey knows Dante-- he's known him since before his hair went silver. So while he's usually happy to chat up new arrivals and get a drink started, there's a moment where confusion crosses his expression. Dylan looks like Dante, but something isn't quite right, and that puts a damper on seeing someone he considers a friend.

Weird. He brushes it off.]

Welcome to Club Sunshine! What can I do for you?

!!!

[openhanded]

[Sorey's dressed in a crisp light blue suit, obviously because he's playing host this shift. Which means he's around to answer the door. His expression brightens when he sees Minako drop in, and it's like sunlight bursting out from behind a cloud.]

Mina! I didn't know you were coming by today!

[He reaches out to take the cupcakes, grinning broadly.]

Thanks for these. They're always really, really good. [Oh--] Do you want to stay for a little while? I'm close to taking my break.

[openhanded]

[Let him live. Just let him live!!!

Sorey doesn't wake up immediately. He's not determined to make this awkward, it just feels like it right now. His brow furrows and he gives a soft snort-- but then he's right back to snoring softly on the books.

At least he's not grading any papers right now, or else he'd be asking for student sabotage.]

[openhanded]

[Sorey's worn out after that shift, but he seems more optimistic than tired. Hosting is hard work-- but he really, truly enjoys spending time with people. He's a host who also sometimes doubles as a therapist, it's just an accidental thing. People drop their problems in his lap and he helps the only way he knows.

Sorey pauses with two empty glasses in his hands. He's surprised at the compliment, but then it eases into a soft, almost shy grin.]

Thanks. I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of this. It's been almost six months since I came on, so... 'bout time, right?

[openhanded]

[Jamie is so nice and considerate. Sorey would feel awful if he knew he was drooling on a book right now. Books deserve so much better!

However, being touched makes him stir, or so it seems. He makes a sleepy mumbly noise, followed by a plaintive:]

Five more minutes...

[openhanded]

[Sorey is happy to help Leon learn where to stick the pointy end, though he keeps getting distracted by the cat ears. They're so soft-looking and they remind him of the Last Fantasy game he used to play with Mikleo all the time... He wants to touch those ears.

He crosses his arms instead.]

The western ones are all pretty similar, I think! The bokken and shinai weigh a little more depending on what size you pick.

[openhanded]

[Sorey sighs deeply as his sleep is interrupted. It's not the first time Mikleo's had to rouse him, and it won't be the last. He groans petulantly.]

Nooooo...

[He turns his head over-- and goes right back to sleep.]

[openhanded]

Thanks!

[Sorey is still drying off dishes when Andrew pokes at the happy bubble he's created for himself. Andrew is pretty good at seeing right through it, though, and Sorey knows he can't dodge the smalltalk for long.]

Sleepy. What about you?

[He's honestly so, so tired. He wonders if he'll be able to eat something before he sleeps tonight.]

[naught_again]

[Dylan doesn't sound like Dante either, thick Australian accent and all, so the confusion wouldn't have lasted long if he hadn't noticed. He takes up a smile of interest.]

Well, for starta's, you could just tell me about the place. How long's it been open? You like workin' here? Best drink, most famous host or hostess?

[And at the sound of music, Dylan even picks up that topic for professional reasons.]

And any live acts worth listening to call this club home?

[ascatic]

Oh. Hm... I think I'll stick with this one, then.

[ the one that he picked up. it definitely feels balanced, as much as a practice sword can be, and with being happy with his choice comes another wiggle of those ears. do they sense Sorey's desire to touch them, or is it just instinctual that they'd flicker upon making a decision?

it's a mystery.

he holds it in both hands, straight up in front of his face. ]

Is this when I swing it and try to injure my opponent?

[openhanded]

[Sorey's eyebrows shoot right up to his hairline. An Australian accent is the last thing he was expecting out of Not-Dante's mouth. Even so, he's interested. If this is Dante playing a prank, it's sure as heck an entertaining one.

He clears his throat.]

Let's see... it's been open a while, yes, the Vieux Carré, definitely the guy who models for ice cream, and Elliot-- he's our best.

[He sets a glass on the counter.]

Ever had a Shirley Temple?

[naught_again]

[ He scoffs a little, but still laughs. ]

Models for ice cream? Weird...

[ He pulls up a barstool and sits. ]

Sounds like a Shirley Temple's my only option around here. What's this Elliot do that he's the best?

[openhanded]

[Sorey shrugs helplessly.]

Advertising.

[He's not an expert in the field, so he could really care less. He just knows the ice cream is decent.

Sorey nods and begins making the drink. There is no alcohol going anywhere near it.]

He's got an ear for arranging music, and he can play a whole bunch of different instruments. Mostly he plays the piano around here. He's really, really good, but the violin is where he shines. He gives it a tone that'll make you shiver. I've never seen anyone play the way he does, like it's just an extension of himself-- like it's his own voice!

[He sets slides the finished drink in front of Dylan, complete with a red maraschino cherry stabbed by an umbrella.]

Here you go.

[naught_again]

[ Sure enough, Dylan can't argue with completely nonsensical as a good way of advertising. ]

... Thanks.

[ Childish, but endearing, especially since now his attention is on this Elliot guy. Far more than Dante, this guy might be a worthy rival - or possibly a collaborator, if he was really as good as this guy is saying. ]

What was your name again? If I happen to find this Elliot and he wonders who gave him such a glowing recommendation.

sorey is a fucking furry just like his dad

[openhanded]

[Sorey struggles to keep his attention on Leon's face and not his ears. He never had this problem with Cleo, damn it.]

No, not quite. If someone came at you right now, you'd just hit yourself in the head.

[He reaches out to adjust Leon's blade a good... 75 degrees. Gently and slowly, just in case there's a bad reaction, he touches the older man's elbow to get him to lower his arm.]

You'll want to make sure you're grounded. Bend your knees slightly and keep them about shoulder width apart. That should feel looser all around.