open log....2!

[cupidsammo]

Who: Koharu + you!
Where: Aldrip
What: December catch-all

Starters within!

Comments

around town.

[cupidsammo]

[ After the week where the world was plunged into perpetual night, matters seem to have calmed down, fortunately enough—and Aldrip's denizens... don't appear to be doing much about it? There's plenty of property damage, but the more Koharu goes about her business through the town, the more she notices they're going about as usual, as if it isn't even there.

Koharu ends up by the storefront she had been at the night she got caught by monsters on the prowl. The window is, notably, still smashed in, shards of glass still littered everywhere, along with a generous amount of dried blood splattered from the ground to the windowsil (ugh)... Looking in, the inside appears to be a little better, at least, with a storekeep within, even. Odd they haven't done anything about the mess though.

Should a familiar face or someone clearly a fellow Chosen come by, Koharu says in a hushed voice: ]

Should... we offer to help clean this up?

[chimericalclaw]

[The one she addresses is frowning at the same sight with clear concern, his arms folded. He'd come to a stop a few moments before, between seeing his young acquaintance and taking stock of the damage.]

I think we should do more than offer, Miss Koharu.

[Or rather, they can just skip over the offering part. He's not certain if it would get them anywhere, anyway. Things need to be fixed.]

[cupidsammo]

Right...

[ Maybe it ultimately didn't matter if the people around really were just a part of this whole simulation, as others have said. But regardless of their true nature, they give enough of the cold shoulder as it is.

Yet, even so— ]

I could at least let them know what we're doing. [ a beat. ] Or... ask for a broom.

[ Touching glass with her bare hands? No thank you. ]

[chimericalclaw]

[Well, he has no argument with that. With a nod:]

Certainly. Let me know if you have any trouble—I'll see about getting some water and peroxide to work on the stains.

[He doesn't sound unsure about whether or not he's going to accomplish that—why does he know how to get blood out of concrete? Don't worry about it.]

[cupidsammo]

Right! I'll be right back!

[ Inside she goes... Whether he's wandered off or not, after a handful of minutes Koharu does successfully return with a broom, assessing the mess further. ]

Oh, jeez, it really is everywhere... Maybe breaking this wasn't a good idea.

[chimericalclaw]

[He returns about the time that Koharu is muttering to herself, and he has a bucket of water, sponge and separate container in hand. His eyebrows are raised at her as he says:]

Don't tell me you have a penchant for vandalism?

around town, again. but like later.

[cupidsammo]

[ A few days later into December... it's snowing! Very exciting.

Koharu can be found around the commercial district in an open plaza, where there's plenty of space for a large Christmas tree to be set up.

... That's also very on fire. Hm.

She stares, concerned, especially because no one else seems to be alarmed by this. ]

Um... Is this a tradition I don't know about?

[cactusy]

Beats me.

[Remarks Shaw - who's just passing by, but who nevertheless stops when she hears Koharu's possibly-rhetorical question spoken out loud. She too had been giving the fiery tree a weird look - but, well. When in Rome, or whatever.]

Seems like a great way to get your shopping district burned to the ground, but maybe we've got fireproofing programmed in.

[cupidsammo]

[ Ha ha... Yeah. Though, Koharu doesn't want to imagine another disaster happening so soon after the last one. ]

Maybe it's like having a large bonfire during a festival... Is that something that happens during Christmas?

[cactusy]

"Not really. Not where I'm from. It's always pretty cold, so people make fires inside instead."

Shaw adjusts her coat, and then, in case it's necessary to clarify--

"In fireplaces, not bonfires. Then they drink hot chocolate and open presents around a non-flaming tree."

[cupidsammo]

[ Koharu hums in thought, taking a moment to mull over this. Okay, so it isn't some cultural difference; she's aware the western flavor of the holiday differs from how it's treated in Japan, but setting a whole tree on fire still sounded a little off. ]

Is this where we start saying it must be 'cause of the, er... unusual qualities of this place? That's what the others do a lot.

accidentally switching formats AND losing this tag...... smh @ me

[cactusy]

I guess. It looks like they're trying to get it right and just simulating it badly.

[When it comes to an artificially created city, that seems more likely than genuine cultural differences.]

Personally, it gives me a headache. I'd rather they just didn't try at all.

the wildcard option.

[cupidsammo]

If you want a custom starter for any reason, comment here (or hit me up on discord/plurk/pm) and I can set you up! It'll be helpful to mention any usual haunts your character has and, if you like, something they might be up to that day. Otherwise I can try to yolo something!

closed to minato.

[cupidsammo]

[ It may be cold and snowing, but that doesn't mean Koharu can't be found outdoors (in... not entirely snow-appropriate clothing; she's got a scarf, but no coat to speak of). There's an empty spot behind the inn that doesn't get much foot traffic, and she's spending her day off away from prying eyes.

The snow in a small area around her has been shoveled away, and on the ground sits a lone wooden stepstool. Though she isn't standing on it, she appears to be quite focused on it; eventually she extends her wings experimentally, pauses again, and then folds them back as her shoulders deflate. ]

Uuugh. How is this supposed to work...

[memori3s]

[ Minato has an affinity for poking around in places he's not really supposed to be. And thus, he finds himself in the back of the inn where he spots Koharu staring very intently on a wooden stepstool. He spends a mere three seconds pondering whether he should interrupt her focus before calling out to her. ]

...Koharu?

[ Huh. Where's her coat? ]

What are you doing?

[cupidsammo]

—Gyah!

[ So focused, she didn't hear him coming. Koharu starts in place, whipping around on her heel. ]

O... Oh, Minato! You startled me... I didn't think anyone would come by here.

[memori3s]

[ Oh. Was this supposed to be something secret?

Minato averts his gaze, as if that would change the fact that he'd already stumbled upon Koharu. ]

Sorry. ...should I leave?

[ Which would be fine, for the record. ]

[cupidsammo]

[ She pauses, giving this some thought, before eventually giving a shake of her head. ]

No, it's okay... I don't think I'm getting anywhere with this, anyway.

[memori3s]

[ Koharu seems troubled, which means Minato definitely can't leave now.

He looks back at his friend with a curious frown. ]

What were you doing?

[ And in that question is the tacit, inevitable follow-up of, "and is it anything that I can help with? ]

closed to ruca.

[cupidsammo]

[ It's past sundown, and Koharu is only just now making her way back home from the commercial district, a large shopping bag in hand. For the first few minutes all is well and normal, trekking through the snow covered streets illuminated by candlelit lampposts...

But eventually she pauses, looking around. Furrowing her brow, Koharu murmurs to herself: ]

It's not usually this empty around here, right...?

closed to ryoji.

[cupidsammo]

[ For their outing today, Koharu is dressed up in a more casual, cuter fit! (With the back tailored to make room for her wings, naturally.) As planned, the two make their way to the local cat café, and once reaching the entrance she pauses to size it up. ]

So—this is it, right? I don't think I've passed by here before.

[luneminary]

[Ryoji, on the other hand, doesn't have much changes to his own outfit - save for a dark jacket that compliments his usual ensemble, now that the weather is slowly growing cold. His usual scarf is also there, something that he pointed at ecstatically when they meet.]

Hey look, we even match!

[The walk there was pleasant enough, Ryoji for his part being as chipper as always.]

The very same place! It doesn't look much on the outside, but it's a place comfortable enough for the cats to stay at.

[cupidsammo]

It does look pretty cozy.

[ She takes a moment to peek in through the large window—and there is, of course, a cat napping to catch the rays of the sun. ]

Alright, let's go in! It's been a while since I last visited a cat café.

[luneminary]

[Watching the cat also makes him wanna laze around and take a nap himself. Such is the appeal of the cute little critters. But that wouldn't be appropriate, would it? Not when he's in the company of such a lovely lady!

Speaking of, Ryoji has taken himself to be the gentleman to open the door for both of them. If Koharu hasn't visited one in a while, then he wants this to be a memory she would be happy to have.]

After you.

[Sure enough, the cafe itself is a delight to see. Cat themed paraphernalia is all over the place, from the welcome mats to the plates displayed at the counter.]

[cupidsammo]

[ Indeed, what a gentleman! Koharu gladly strolls in, and while it's not busy at all within, she still brightens at the sight. ]

Aww, look—it's even cuter inside! It makes me think of all the cafés back home, too.