[open!] 🎶 want to be close

[orphne]

Who: Kotone Shiomi and you!
Where: various places around Aldrip, including Astralin's farmhouse, the club building, and Bar Lupin
What: Catch-all for Kotone for October! (log and network prompts inside)
Warnings: None yet!

[Things weren't exactly easy for Kotone in the maze, but... some of it had been necessary, too. Feelings she'd been holding inside for a long time had been screamed, shouted, or cried out. Honestly, she wouldn't have made it through the maze at all if it hadn't been with the help of her friends.

It would be way easier to stay in bed all day and sleep. She's tired enough that she could do it easily! But that just wouldn't be right after so many people had honestly helped her through it. So even though it's with difficulty every day, she manages to push herself out of bed to start her day. Most days, it seems like she can be found bouncing all over town!]

A. Mornings

[Most mornings, Kotone can be found at Astralin's farmhouse. Astralin never asked her to do chores, per se, but he also doesn't make her pay rent for living there, so ever since his short disappearance a few months ago, she's taken it upon herself to lend a hand. Well, mostly with the animals, brushing and milking the cows, feeding the chickens and cleaning their area, etc. Sometimes she's out in the fields, though that's less a genuine attempt to help and more her gathering fresh fruit or vegetables that she intends to use to cook with.

If you stop by at the right time, you might catch her making breakfast, or preparing herself some lunch for the day. She'll share! In fact, if you wander in, you're being shared with. That's non-negotiable.]

B. Afternoons

[A post over the tablets and charms goes out as the fog starts to retreat away from town.]

Hi, everyone! It's Kotone. I just wanted to remind everyone about Cooking Club and Sewing Club. I know things have been really, really difficult for a lot of us, so maybe it seems a little silly to advertise about something as ordinary as this, but I think it's really important to have something mundane to look forward to. Even though there are bad things happening, we still have to try to enjoy our time here as best we can.

Anyway, Cooking Club will be in the afternoon Mondays and Wednesdays, Sewing Club will be Tuesdays and Thursdays. Feel free to come to just one day, or all of them! I'll be there. Hope to see you, too.

p.s. if you want to start your own club, just let me know and I'll make space for you! Don't forget about Scott's Teens with Abilities and Talents club, either!

[And as promised, on all of those afternoons, she's in the promised building, working on something. It seems she always has to keep busy.]

C. Evenings

[Most evenings, she can be found at Bar Lupin. Usually she's working as a waitress, handling orders with a smile, but sometimes she can be found behind the bar, mixing drinks and chatting with the regulars. Some of the locals who'd been coming in don't carry a conversation quite like they used to, responding with uninterested grunts at her attempts -- which hurts, her smile staying fixed on her face but falling away from her eyes as she continues working and tries to keep up her positive attitude in spite of it all.

The sight of a fellow Chosen does at least make her smile a little more genuine as she sweeps by to take their order or prepare their drink. Really, she could use the company.]

D. wildcard!

[It's a catch-all, so there might be more prompts later in the month added in, but feel free to make your own. Kotone can be found flitting around Literally Anywhere in town doing her very best to keep busy enough so as not to get Sad. If you want to chat about something specific, feel free to contact me! 😊]

Comments

B - Text

[shadowofpride]

[These are some mundune stuff. Normally wouldn't give a damn about it, but lately...he's been interested in cooking, before being tossed in this world at least. Perhaps there wouldn't be any harm in continuing to learn. Being mostly on his own, it would be good knowledge to have.]

Do we need to bring anything for cooking club?

[orphne]

Not really! I have pretty much all the appliances and stuff you'd need. I usually ask people to bring some of their own ingredients since it's just me buying everything, but I've got most of the basic staple ingredients ready for everyone to use!

[shadowofpride]

I just got here last month, so I don't really have a lot of ingredients myself. Is there a theme for each day of what we're cooking?

[orphne]

That's okay, I don't mind letting you use mine.

As for themes... nope! Do you have any suggestions?

[shadowofpride]

[There's a pause for Selim to think. There's so many options that it's hard to just pick one.]

What about pies?! Apple pies, meat pies, all kinds of pies!

[orphne]

Ooooh, yeah, that's a great idea!! I've definitely got the stuff to make those, and it's pretty easy to do, too! I bet we could sell them around town, too...

Anyway, what's your skill level? Are you a pro chef, or a beginner?

[ticket218]

[ On a Wednesday afternoon, there'll come a polite knock on the cooking club's door. ]

Shiomi-san? Am I interrupting anything?

[ And it's one (1) Sigma, a very full grocery bag clutched in his other arm to hopefully not spill out any of its contents, which also seem to be nestled in smaller bags. ]

[orphne]

Sigma-san!

[The whole kitchen currently smells like baking apple, and a nearby wire rack reveals a preview of what's in the oven -- spiced apple cupcakes. Of course, Kotone's apron has a bunch of flour on it as she pauses her mixing and beams up at him. Once she realizes that his arms are full, she drops her wooden spoon and darts over to try to take the bag and help.]

You went shopping! What d'you wanna make?

[ticket218]

[ Oh but that is a lovely smell. Maybe he should find more excuses to visit? He spends most of his earnings on his own groceries so it's not like he doesn't have the money to make trips like this a more regular thing. Speaking of which... ]

Oh, I'm not here to make anything. I just saw you saying on the Network that you provide for most of the ingredients here out of your own pocket, is that right?

[ Let's see, where's a free horizontal space? He'll set down the big bag, unloading smaller bags of flour, sugar, salt, and a mesh drawstring bag of walnuts. ]

[orphne]

Oh? Yeah...

[She's a little confused at first, like why would he be bringing ingredients here if he wasn't planning to cook...

...Oh!]

Wait, is this a gift? [She blinks a few times and ventures over to look at what he's unloading. Oooh, walnuts...] You don't have to do that, Sigma-san! I don't really mind!

[ticket218]

Not having to is one of the rules of gifts, isn't it?

[ Once it's all out and arranged he'll offer her a smile. ]

You clearly put a lot of effort into these clubs and I'd like to see them stay afloat. I'm not that good at cooking or sewing, but this is one way I can help.

[orphne]

[For a long moment, it's like she doesn't know what kind of face to make, staring at the ingredients with a kind of slack-jawed confusion. Maybe she's just so used to doing things for others that she's not used to people doing the same for her in return...?

When she glances up, it's with a bit of a smaller, but no less genuine smile.]

Thanks, Sigma-san. [And then her expression brightens again.] Hey-hey, do you have time to stick around? We could make something together!

c

[bulleting]

[Caitlyn's visited Bar Lupin plenty of times with Vi, but it's not often she's come alone. She's been trying to stay strong since the maze incident, but some days are better than others.

Today is one of the not so good days, which is why Caitlyn slides into one of the stools at the bar and gives the best smile she can muster as Kotone approaches. She doesn't know what she wants, she's definitely not as familiar with the alcohol choices as her girlfriend Vi is, but she'll take whatever she can get that can distract her from the imagines of her dead loved one out of her head.]

Surprise me?

[orphne]

Sure!

[It's not an uncommon request, Kotone taking a moment to study Caitlyn's face. Hmmm... she's pretty sure they've never spoken before, which means it's okay to ask,] Do you like sweet drinks or strong drinks?

[Not that a sweet drink can't be stupidly strong (thanks, Dazai), but she doesn't want to assume anything about her tastes.]

[bulleting]

Sweet is fine.

[Caitlyn most certainly isn't Vi. She isn't accustomed to heavy and hard drinks. But it was moments like this that she wished she could down a few pints and not feel anything.

If she tried that, she'd probably never wake up. She got into enough trouble with just champagne at the casino, after all.]

walks in late with sbux A

[scythedance]

[Ever since the maze, things have been a bit tiresome. However, instead of bringing it up with her, or even mentioning anything toward that matter, he doesn't. He's simply remained by her side once they arrived back at the farm house and continued their routine. She would help where she wanted or could, and he would be out in the fields to tend to his gardens.

Even now, he still doesn't bring it up, and simply smiles at her when they walk past one another through the house. Happy to just not bring it up, since he knew teenagers well. Sometimes they wanted to talk, other times, they didn't. This was one of those times, and he would absolutely respect that.

So today, while she's in the kitchen, and comes back with a basket filled with fruits and vegetables, as well as something nice from the butcher in Aldrip.]

Here. For you.

dad dad dad dad

[orphne]

[It feels awkward to try to bring it up with Astralin. After the maze, things had felt... strange, at least for her. She isn't used to being so honest with anybody, really, let alone with someone like Astralin. It's part of why she's putting in even more work into the farm than she was before (in her own fashion), because she almost feels like she owes it to him to prove that even if he said he won't kick her out, she won't take advantage of that kindness.

She's just deciding what to make for her lunch to bring with her to Sewing Club when Astralin walks in with his basket. She gives him a delighted smile, as if nothing is wrong, and bounces over to take a look at what he's brought.]

Oh... thanks! What's the occasion?

[scythedance]

[He had been noticing that, but he wasn't going to say anything on it until she worked herself to the bone. But, it appears that she doesn't seem to be going beyond her limits, but none the less, he's still keeping a careful eye on her. Just in silence, as to not disturb her during this sensitive time. That's the last thing that he wanted to do.]

Nothing. I just thought it may be good to indulge a bit... And with the addition of the hot spring being added to the farm, I thought it also might be good to celebrate.

[Astralin didn't eat a lot of meat in general, but he was happy to celebrate with Kotone and Ken with a nice dinner. Again, it was the least he could do as the responsible adult around here. Which. He honestly feels powerless and not so responsible after the maze, but he'll deal with it.]

[orphne]

It is really cool, right?

[She brightens at the mention of the hot spring, nodding a little. That's right, she's going to have to take advantage of that, isn't she...? Though it feels a little lonely without the other girls from SEES to hang out with. Plus, most of her friends are boys, which makes the hot spring a little awkward...

Eh. It's probably fine! None of her guy friends would be weird about it, she's pretty sure.

Hefting the meat in hand for a moment, she hums again, trying to decide what she wants to make. It's a really nice cut, so maybe-- oh!]

How about curry? Akira showed me how to make a special kind that goes really well with coffee. I can whip it together now, and then it'll be ready for dinner!

[scythedance]

It is. After stories of your adventures back home, I decided to model it after Japanese architecture. So maybe you will have a little piece of home here as well.

[He smiles softly at her, hoping that she'll be using the hot spring as much as he will. Of course, it will be extra work for him to clean it up every day and provide the best experience for other people but he'll hire someone to help with the extra chores. A duty for another day, as he watches her silently for a moment.

He knows what curry is, and he's even had it before back home, so he doesn't hesitate to nod at her suggestion. More than happy to have whatever she makes, since Kotone was quite the cook.]

Curry will be nice for the upcoming weather. And... A cup of coffee may be nice as well. There will be quite a bit of construction going on for awhile, so I will need to be up for a bit longer than usual.

the ~date~

[izanagis]

[A few days after the party on the beach, Yu slides into Kotone's inbox, which for some reason I'm putting in your catch-all instead of her inbox, but anyway:]

Hey
There's someone renting kites on the beach
Care to join me?

[Whether we play out the coordination of that or not, there is indeed a beachside vendor renting out elaborate, colorful kites, and Yu is, indeed, there.]

[orphne]

[Damn, sliding right into her DMs.]

I'd love to! I have a few things to take care of, but I'll be there soon! :)

[Her "few things" is packing up some cucumber sandwiches and sliced fruit for a snack, and also deliberating if she wants to wear her bathing suit or not. Like, it's the beach, so maybe they'll go swimming? But it's kind of chilly... eh. She'll settle for wearing her bathing suit bottom under one of her usual skirts, and a jacket over her bikini top. There's no way she's walking all the way back to the farmhouse to change, and then walking all the way back to the beach if they decide to swim... too much work. This is the least amount of effort!

Still, when she does show up, she's full of energy, bouncing over to look at the kites. Which one to choose...? Oh, also-]

Hi, Yu! [And a bright, genuine smile at him. Considering she doesn't see any of his other friends, this must be his idea of "fun for just the two of them."] Have you ever done this before?

[Go on a date, or fly a kite...? Probably the latter.]

[izanagis]

[It's that transitional part of the year when you can't quite decide whether you're ready to say goodbye to summer and put on a jacket...at least, not completely. Yu has landed on a similar compromise: swim trunks with a polo shirt. Seems simple enough, right? He's got a tote slung over one shoulder with a beach blanket and some snacks. Great minds think alike.

He brightens when he sees her, offering a wave and a little smile as she heads straight for the kites. Hey, who can blame her on that? They do look pretty cool.]

Hey, Kotone. I'm glad you could come. [At the question, his eyes land on the kites again.] I haven't had the chance, but it seems fun. What about you?

[He seems to mean the kites...when it comes to the date part, he seems a little more relaxed -- like maybe he's done this before.]

[orphne]

Nope, never! [Her smile quirks into something more genuine with the admission. It's nice to see that he's relaxed about hanging out; it makes it easier to relax herself and just have fun with it! Plus, it's kind of exciting to learn how to do something new with a friend.

Anyway, hmmm... so many options for kites. She settles on a bright orange one with a pattern of flowers on it and gives Yu another smile.]

Can I get that one? [And she points, fully assuming he's going to pay for it for her. Like, he invited her out, he pays. If she'd been the one to invite him out, she'd be paying! That's how this works, she's pretty sure.]

[izanagis]

So it'll be a first for both of us, huh?

[That's kind of a good thing, right? It's fun to have new experiences with people. As for the vendor, he doesn't really bat an eye -- look, however common it may be to split the bill on a date, he did kind of spring this on her without warning. So he pays the vendor and then examines the kite before handing it to her.]

Now all we have to do is figure out how to fly it. [No big deal...right.] I guess just throw it up in the air?