hobo?? eye-gazing party?? (open)

[goen]

WHO: Yato and anyone who saw this post willing to bring food!
WHERE: The Inkwell and (technically) its sister restaurant The Quill.
WHEN: Friday, June 16. Early evening.
WHAT: A... hobo eye-gazing party… but mostly it’s a potluck. Come stare into Yato’s eyes and eat the random dishes everyone decided to bring!
WARNINGS: Existential questions such as Why


[ Welcome to the Inkwell!

It’s an old-fashioned bar with a warm, homey atmosphere, old timey furnishings, and clever literature-related drinks. Get your Tequila Mockingbird or (in light of recent events) Pitcher of Midorian Gray! It isn’t much a party spot -- usually. But tonight there’s more bustle than usual, and the normally relaxed bar is buzzing with a greater Retrospeccer population than it’s used to.

Most importantly, the bar is lined with an eccentric variety of foods. Nachos, curry, cupcakes, samosas, steak, sandwich cake (what), and more: truly, the person who screened this food selection cared more about quantity than quality. Admission to this party required you to bring your own dish to share. What’s your contribution to this mess?

Technically, if you’re under 21, owner Chuuya Nakahara would like you to keep to The Quill, the restaurant attached next door. But this is Yato’s party and everything fun will be happening at The Inkwell, so he’ll casually smuggle in any underage invitees with the cheerful stipulation that they not drink illegally.

Stick to the honor system or die.

The hobo of the hour will be in his work clothes, serving alcohol out of his own pocket and dutifully offering his eyes up for prolonged gazing. Why? That is an excellent question. And one you’ll have to answer yourself, because you chose to come here of your own free will. Enjoy. ]

Comments

[goen]

[ A: HOBO STARING CONTEST

You’re here, which must mean you thought staring into Yato’s eyes would do something for you. Cool. He’s here for it. Extremely here for it.

He rolls up the sleeves of his black dress shirt (the uniform around The Inkwell is simply: black) and faces you with sudden focus. And say what you will about Yato’s personality, but his eyes are as blue as advertised. Perhaps even unnaturally so, their hue as smooth and clear as glass, threatening to overtake his pinpoint pupils. If you catch him in a dimmer part of the bar, his eyes may even take on a catlike gleam…

Now think fast because-- ]

Whoever blinks first has to give the winner a prize, okay? Go!

[ And now he’s very intensely staring into your eyes. Good luck. ]


[ B: BARTENDING

The Inkwell is alive and people are looking at him and Yato is having a great time. Which is good, because his wallet will be taking a huge hit from the open bar he’s both funding and working tonight. When he’s not holding excessive staring contests with people, he’ll be leaning against the bar and smiling more openly than he has in weeks. ]

Thirsty? What’ll you have?

(( p.s.: Some interaction notes for Yato! People who talked to him in the initial network post will most likely remember him, but feel free to play with it. ))

a

[skald]

[Man, Tuuri was not expecting this to be an actual eye gazing party. Like, she thought that was just an excuse. So here she is, two enormous party-sized grey bags of Cool Ranch Doritos tucked under each arm, startled into a staring contest when she really just wanted to like. Say hi. Maybe retake that selfie she promised him.

Important thing to note: she didn't forget this time, ha.] I-- okay! [She already blinked in surprise.] Wait, start over!

[goen]

[ How dare? Yato always delivers on what he peddles. ]

Wellll, alright. But this means the stakes are doubled! Ready...

[ He BLINKS REALLY HARD and moistens his bad boys up for a second round. Then he stares into Tuuri's eyes! ]

Go!

a!

[sharplydressed]

[It takes a lot of effort to not jab Yato in the eyes and frankly Kashuu doesn't think he appreciates this unspoken self-restraint enough.

BUT ANYWAY.]

What, is my attendance not enough of a prize for you? [Punk.] You'll have to pick something good before I agree, anyway. I'm not playing for beans here.

[goen]

[ Kashuu lives with so much... ]

You really are a vampire, 'cause you sure know how to suck the fun out of a staring contest.

[ But ugh ok. ]

The loser has to let the winner draw a unibrow on him amd keep it on for the rest of the party!

B

[bitemefightme]

[For whatever reason, when Orion mentioned this stupid thing in passing, his mom baked a cake for it, and told him that maybe he should go.

.......

After some serious debating with himself, he did decide to go. Alright, fine.

He sets the cake on the counter beside him as he looks dead at Yato when offered a drink.]

I'll start with a gin and tonic, make it a double.

[His tone is flat and direct. He pushes the cased cake toward Yato.]

You the one that asked for this stuff?

[goen]

[ A cake...!!!! Yato's attention swivels toward it, momentarily forgetting to get that gin and tonic. So good?? Best hobo potluck ever. ]

Yeah, that's me!

[ Therefore he claims himself as the rightful heir to this cake. He pulls it toward himself... before remembering that he should probably be making that drink. He pulls some gin and tonic and gets to it, finishing off with a wedge of lemon. ]

Name's Yato. Who're you?

b!

[okitactless]

[INCREDIBLE...

This whole thing is incredible, because why? Are there actually people here??? Yamato wouldn't have been among their number if not for Kashuu (since I still can't afford the relevant regain) and yet here he is... he even brought a great big container of edamame, lord.

But memory issues aside, he is here, and for the moment, Yato's not slipping out of mind. He even remembers enough to notice how genuine Yato's smile seems, though he doesn't mention it just yet. There are other things to talk about, such as--]

Is it seriously a whole pitcher?

[goen]

[ Good priorities tbh... Yato assumed Kashuu would come despite his griping, god knows why, but he wasn't sure if Yamato would remember enough to be interested. But it seems like he does (or Kashuu dragged him along which is much more likely, he has to admit...) and Yato brightens to see him. It's a little strange, how some happinesses can feel so familiar yet so foreign. ]

Wanna find out? I'll warn you, it ain't cheap.

[ Except it's Yato footing the bill, so who is he really warning here... ]

A

[frisyr]

Va--!!

[ He's so surprised right now, but he won't break eye contact. He's holding a fork in his hand, and trying very hard not to drop the food on it while maintaining the stare.

Food slips off his fork, but he stays still. The more he stares, the more he realizes how pretty Yato's eyes are. Damn. He's really missed the color blue. ]

Um... have you won against anyone yet?

[goen]

[ A formidable opponent... Not blinking even when caught off guard. Yato has to hand it to him!! Now Yato is even more determined not to lose this challenge. The hobo eyes intensify. ]

Tuuri lost. Twice! You think you can reclaim her honor?

[ Yato doesn't know how this guy and Tuuri are related, just that they know each other... ]

a

[admiringly]

[ Chiyo is here for the warning, the existential questions, the why, the how, the party, the food, and her friends. She dragged Mikoto with her like promised, which was easy enough even if every other time she tries to talk to her best friend about Yato makes the sinking sensation in her stomach intensify.

Now's not the time to think about the blank look that Mikoto gives her sometimes. Now's the time to stare into Yato's stunning blue eyes. Chiyo's incredibly focused when she's determined and in working mode, but still, she can't help but comment: ]

Your eyes are so vivid, if I weren't here, looking at them like this, I might think they're Photoshopped. And I'm fine with any prize you want, but... you'll still talk to me about you-know-what even if I lose, right?

[goen]

[ He loves Chiyo and she's the best, but she will receive no mercy. She has a good stare. This will be a valiant battle!! ]

Yeah. But don't think that means you can slack off. If you lose, you have to refer to me as "The Most Handsome and Venerably Moe Yato" whenever you talk about me.

a

[splinten]

[He's in shades, Yato.]

[goen]

[ it's fine

HERE COMES HIS BLUE FURY ]

You'll tell me if you blink, right?

b;

[eyestitch]

[Definitely one of those "promised" to be well-behaved minors here--though her fake ID, at least, definitely isn't cheap, and has gotten her into a few less-classy establishments without a problem. She's never tried it at the Inkwell, probably because it's kind of stuffy and boring.

The blue-eyed hobo staring contest may be over, but Nui seems intent on continuing it. She leans her elbows on the bar, chin in hand, her eyes wide and unfortunately drained of color. Maybe she's just jealous?

She gives him a charismatic smile.] What's your recommendation?

[goen]

[ New faces are A-OK. When she's old enough, maybe she'll come on back! And the better the Inkwell does, the happier Yato is. He leans on the counter and cheerfully returns her gaze. Blinking like a normal person though because intense stares tend to be bad for business. ]

For you? A White Lady. Or a Bloody Mary, if you're looking for a more soothing taste!

[ Both virgin of course because even if he is personally being loose with the rules tonight, he doesn't want to get the bar in trouble... ]

a

[wordcarvings]

[ Koutarou brought vegetable-rich food as promised. Don't think he has not added some more vegetables in his atelier fridge.

He also has his sketchbook open but that's no surprise to anyone. He might not be able to add the color, but he still is going to sketch Yato's eyes, and also his face. And other things but still. And once he sees that gleam, well, then he'll want to try to express that in only graphite, won't he? ]

Eh?

[ He didn't expect that. And of course his surprise makes him blink. Several times. ]

[goen]

[ Yato will be nosy about Koutarou's art in a moment. More importantly-- ]

Hehehe! You lost like four times just now! That means I get four times the prize!

[parodeity]

a) it's nacho problem

[ since dave more or less set this off for some reason (he was bored) he actually does show up with the promised nachos + dip and even one or two other items. there's an apple pie from his mom, and for some vegetables and dip. there's also just like two 24-packs of apple juice boxes.

while he loiters around the refreshments table sometimes, he basically seems to just be having apple juice. how many boxes has he had. who the fuck drinks like 8 juice boxes in a row. eat something you loser. ]

b) prizes

[ anyone who wins a staring contest with yato (or even anyone who loses) is promptly handed a portrait lovingly drawn in crayon in dave's truly questionable art style, why this. ]

Nice job, dude. [ you did nothing to deserve this travesty. sorry. ]

c) stare off

[ he's wearing shades so a stare off might actually be hard, but: ]

No, no, I can't do eye-gazin' without takin' off the shades and I ain't gonna. But I'll do rock-paper-scissors with you?

d) music system

[ also if he can get anywhere near the music controls for anything he will be queuing up things he likes or messing with it to pick Annoying Ear Worms apparently just to fuck with people out of boredom. dave, stop. ]

c; continuing the trend of my characters commenting on the shades

[eyestitch]

Ah, you're joking, right?

[She leans close, probably a little too close for anyone with strict ideas about boundaries and personal space, trying to angle the light just right that she can get a glimpse at his eyes even if he doesn't remove the glasses. Her own (two) eyes are moon-sized. Life hack: If you pretend the shades aren't there, it's almost like the shades aren't there. Right?]

What is it, huh? A lazy eye? Hideous scar? [She gasps.] Oh, are you missing one? That'd be horrible!

[parodeity]

[ DAVE'S JUST GONNA LEAN BACK... ]

My eyes are red, ain't nothin' for you to get all interested about.

a

[goen]

[ Yato pauses in his socializing to do a double-take at all the fucking apple juice boxes Dave is leaving in his wake. Dave?? Yato snatches up an apple juice carton and squints at the nutrition facts. ]

You know you've drunk like four pounds of sugar?

[ Like LOOK Yato is no health nut but he doesn't want you to die Dave... ]

a+b

[admiringly]

[ Chiyo has a plate of cupcakes, and she accepts the prize with a smile. She's fine with his art style itself, so she's happier to receive something he's drawn in person rather than what's badly compressed digitally. ]

Thanks, Dave. I'll keep it in a safe place. [ She means it. She's going to put in a plastic sleeve and keep it in a binder.

She also holds out her plate with one specific cupcake facing his way. ]

It's apple cinnamon. Please take it. I got it for you.

b

[splinten]

[He raises his hand like a child in the back of the class.]

Teacher, do I get a prize?

[HE DID NOT TAKE HIS GLASSES OFF. HE DOES NOT DESERVE ANYTHING.]