[OPEN]

[thisloveisjustice]

WHO: Tatsuo Kihara and... anyone who even vaguely knows him
WHERE: Tatsuo's new apartment in Tisse, which is a step up from the trash heap that caught fire last month
WHEN: Saturday evening, June 10
WHAT: House warming party! There's pizza and ice cream! If you're really nice, bring a gift. Otherwise, just bring yourself.
WARNINGS: Tatsuo's not providing alcohol, but if you want to BYOB he's not going to stop you.

The text went out Friday morning. JUST SIGNED CONTRACT FOR NEW APARTMENT! HOUSE WARMING TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7! [INSERT ADDRESS HERE]

Come Saturday night, there's a stack of pizzas and 2-liters of soda on Tatsuo's counter and ice cream in the freezer. As for the rest of his apartment... look, it's a huge improvement on his last place.

The entry opens into the living room where Tatsuo has a couch and coffee table. Rather than a table in the 'dining room' next to the kitchen, Tatsuo has set up his office. A desk for his laptop and two bookcases full of various books and science periodicals. There are two tall stools at the counter and though it's a galley style kitchen, it doesn't feel too cramped since there's just the high counter between it and the living room.

The door to the bedroom is opposite the entry and there's a double bed, a nightstand with lamp, and a small dresser. Take a quick right and there's the bathroom. Need more space? There's decent sized patio off the living room.

There is nothing by way of decorations, with the exception of a small framed picture of him and his mom sitting on his desk. Hey, his last place did catch fire after all.


A. SET-UP/ARRIVAL

Did you help him move in earlier in the day? Are you an early arrival or do you sneak in half past eight?

B. FOOD

There are two pepperoni pizzas, one cheese, one Hawaiian, and one supreme. No sneaking off with a tub of ice cream though. Especially not the mint chocolate chip in the back of the freezer. Or did you bring a bag of chips as your house warming present? It's perfectly valid.

C. MUSIC & MINGLE

Tatsuo has his phone hooked up a to a blue-tooth speaker and a selection of 80s classic rock and 90s pop songs are playing. Do you agree with his selection or do you take over with your phone? Maybe now is the time to discuss when country music officially jumped the shark with that guy over there. [occ: legit a conversation I briefly had with coworkers last night]

D. CLEAN UP

The party has wound down. Who's asleep on the couch and who is helping Tatsuo clean up?

Comments

A

[judgementkazzy]

[ Tatsuo had been to Majima's birthday, so of course, Kaz will be at Tatsuo's party. I mean, it helps that he's also the guy helping him sign the lease, but he's here extra early with a bottle of wine when he walks through the door. ]

Hey, Tatsuo. Where should I leave this?

[thisloveisjustice]

Kaz! Thanks for coming.

[oooooo wine, fancy fancy]

Uh... you can put it on the counter there. Though, I don't think I have a corkscrew.

[he's not really a wine drinker, but someone will surely empty that bottle by the end of the night]

[judgementkazzy]

No problem. Thanks for inviting me.

[ Whoops, next time ask him to bring beer, Tatsuo...! ]

Oh... [ It's a new place, of course Tatsuo would be missing some things. ] I might have time to go get one, if you want.

[thisloveisjustice]

I literally couldn't have this party without you.

[playful punch to Kiryu's shoulder... which is kind of pointless seeing how BUFF he is now :|]

Eh, let's see if someone brings one. Or we could text someone and ask them to bring one.

[Majima is sure to have one just laying around at the club.]

[judgementkazzy]

[ :') He never asked to be this ripped, ok!! But he appreciates being treated them same. Even if the punch does nothing. ]

Yeah, let me know either way. I figured I could come early and help out if you needed anything.

[ Majima can be relied on always, of course. ]

[thisloveisjustice]

[But it looks good on you Kiryu!]

Just waiting on the pizzas to arrive. I finished placing the order just before you knocked. Uhhh... I've got some paper plates and cups around here somewhere...

[There are a few grocery bags sitting around, some with chips others with said plates and cups.]

[judgementkazzy]

[ You're a good friend, Tatsuo... ]

Okay, cool. I can help you with that.

[ You know, since he's strong now, he can totally do any heavy lifting if you need it. ]

How are you settling in?

[thisloveisjustice]

Once I got over the indignity of figuring out how to assemble my desk, not bad!

[finds the bag containing the chips and puts them out on the counter]

It seemed a little big at first, but then I got the furniture in and it started feeling the right size.

[judgementkazzy]

Ah yeah, those Ikea instructions are really hard to read, huh? I've been there.

[ That single bachelor pad life. ]

It's crazy how much of a difference furniture makes. 9/10 times, people prefer to view apartments and houses when they're furnished, it's almost always good for sales.

B!

[flowrite]

[Fai feels a little out of place showing up for the party, given that he only knows Tatsuo through Retrospec and the brief time they've spent together at the dojo, but housewarming parties really aren't about being super close friends anyway. They're about celebrating and helping someone settle into a new home, and Fai can do that just as easily for someone he likes but doesn't know very well.

His housewarming gift is--surprise!--food. Lots of food. Fai loves to cook and he's pretty darn good at it, so he arrives with a half dozen tupperware containers of various dishes. Cookies to share for the party. A whole casserole. Carmelita bars (if Tatsuo's never tried those he's in for a treat). Basically enough that Tatsuo should have a few meals where he won't have to worry about cooking (more if he freezes part of them), plus some treats for himself while he settles in.

The blond wanders over to find Tatsuo, a big smile on his face and his arms completely full of containers.]

Hiiii~! I made you a few things, if that's okay? I'm sorry, I didn't know if you had any allergies, but I can tell you what's in any of them just in case!

[thisloveisjustice]

[Tatsuo might just love you a little now Fai.]

That is very much okay, Fai. Thanks for coming! Nah, I'm not allergic to anything. Lactose intolerant, but I risk the occasional stomach ache for ice cream.

[He relieves Fai of a few of those containers, putting them on the counter so he can open them and peak inside.

Wow, this all looks amazing. What are these?

[He found the carmelita bars.]

[flowrite]

[Fai gratefully sheds some of his burden, then follows Tatsuo to the counter so he can set his own containers down next to the others. He lights up at the question, grinning.]

Ah, those are carmelitas! They're one of my absolute favorite desserts. The crust is oats and brown sugar, and the center is chocolate and caramel sauce and walnuts. They're pretty much an orgasm for your mouth.

...not because I made them! I mean, because they're so tasty. It's hard to go wrong with chocolate and caramel!

[thisloveisjustice]

[Oh, one of those is going right into Tatsuo's mouth. Within seconds there is a blissful expression on his face.]

I might not share these at all.

[He's joking. He'll share them. About half of them.]

[flowrite]

Nothing says you have to! I made cookies to share for the party, so if you want to keep those to yourself you can~!

[He opens one of the other containers, one of the larger ones, to reveal a large pile of various sorts of cookies. Although... he's eyeing the carmelitas.]

...I might steal just one little tiny one though, if you don't mind! Sugar is my weakness~

[thisloveisjustice]

Oh, go right ahead.

[despite Fai's invitation to keep the carmalites to himself, Tatsuo still puts them out on the counter]

They're really too good not to share. I can't be selfish.

[flowrite]

Ah, thank you! I guess I should have made a pan for myself while I was making them, huh?

[Fai reaches over and picks out the tiniest bar he can find. His reaction to the treat is... much the same as Tatsuo's was.]

Don't worry, if you run out I can always make some more, or I can show you how to make them! They're really easy~ But here, the rest of these dishes should probably go in the fridge or the freezer. Do you mind if I...?

[He grabs a dish and moves like he's going to put it away, but doesn't quite go through with it. Not until he has permission to go rooting through Tatsuo's kitchen first!]

[thisloveisjustice]

Oh, no, go ahead. There's plenty of room.

[because he legit has not gone grocery shopping yet except to pick up chips and snacks for his guests

and coffee]

I'm not that good of a cook myself. I've been trying to get better, but it's been a bit of a disaster.

d;

[sotenbori]

[ admittedly, majima had to sneak in a little late because of work but he definitely stays later to make up for it, helping tatsuo clean up. ]

This is a nice place ya ended up with, Tatsuo.

[thisloveisjustice]

[Tatsuo is stuffing empty pizza boxes into a large garbage bag]

Isn't it? I really like the layout and it's just big enough without me feeling like I'm bouncing around inside.

[sotenbori]

Guess Kazzy's actually a good real estate agent, huh?

[ i mean, he'd like him either way but its nice to have confirmation ]

[thisloveisjustice]

Good real estate agent, good friend, good guy all around.

[Tatsuo is starting to be amused at how often the subject of what a good guy Kiryu is comes up. His tone is sincere though. He really does think Kiryu is a great person.]

[sotenbori]

[ kiryu's just... a really important guy ok ok ]

It's been a weird fuckin' month, huh?

[thisloveisjustice]

So fucking weird. I mean, shrinking, mysterious holes in the fabric of reality, glowing flowers, colors disappearing... oh look, there's a little wine left.

[Tatsuo has found the bottle of wine Kiryu brought. At some point a corkscrew was procured and the wine uncorked. There's just a few sips left in the bottle, which Tatsuo pours into a cup so he can rinse the bottle out in the sink.]

If not for you and Kaz and a few other people, I think I'd be having trouble dealing with all this nonsense.

[spoiler: he's still having trouble dealing with it]

[sotenbori]

I'm here whenever ya need, okay?

[ majima is definitely going to try and take the bottle so he can rinse it out!! let him do stuff ]

At least we're not goin' through it alone, I guess. It's kind of a shitty consolation prize, but it's something.

[thisloveisjustice]

Yeah, I know. Hence why I dropped by Monday night.

[he lets Majima take the bottle]

Though, speaking of Monday. After I got back to Kaz's, I remembered something. Other-Me was in this hostess club and racked up a huge bill. Like $1000. Not all on his own, but he was totally responsible for at least the last third of it.