expiationlogs | cupid adventures for cupid month !!!

[ From the outskirts of town along the edge of the woods, away from passersby and homes and businesses, stands Koharu. In the near distance a paper target is pinned to a tree, and in her hand, a pistol; she experimentally slips a magazine in, holding the gun as if she's attempting to measure how it feels in her grip. ]

Hmmm... [ She pauses, thinking, then murmurs: ] No, it almost feels exactly the same.

[ The air about her implies she expects to be wholly alone out here, but who's to say she is? ]

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. If not, I'll subject you to my whimsy and yolo our way into a tl.

[ On this fine afternoon, should Richard be in his office, he will hear a few clumsy knocks from the other side of the door, followed by: ]

Excuse me! Are you in there? I have the rest of the decorations you wanted me to find!

[ Seeking out Aldrip's resident cupid? Well, the inn is usually a good bet.

In fact, she might be one of the first things to be seen upon entering the lobby, as she goes around and about with a featherduster in hand. ]

[ As usual, it's not strange for them to also cross paths within the inn. This time, however, Koharu makes her way down a hall with a few too many blankets stacked in her arms. As a couple on top threaten to slide off, she does her best to grab at them with one hand while awkwardly attempting to keep the rest from toppling down.

And then she... just stands there, as that might happen if she makes another move. ]

... I should have grabbed a cart.

[ While Koharu hasn't been around long enough to notice every time a new establishment pops up (or closes down, too), her errands to bring her down familiar streets enough that she happens to notice it sometimes...

Such as today. Koharu can't claim to be a frequent tea consumer, but with the weather still chilly, she can't help but think it would be nice to keep something in her room for the especially cooler nights. And so, curiously, she slips into the town's newest tea shop, taking a moment to admire the cozy atmosphere as she wanders through. ]

[ They do cross paths rather frequently. It's inevitable; the inn is only so big. So it doesn't take very long for Minato to spot Koharu with her giant stack of precariously balanced blankets.

He wanders over and reaches out with two hands, carefully grabbing a couple of them that were about to flee from Koharu's arms. ]

...blankets?

[ As in, what the heck are you doing with so many blankets?? ]

[ Root is here specifically to find Koharu. She enters wearing a thick black winter coat and gloves, which she quickly peels off and shoves into her pockets as she locates the cupid. She unbuttons and tosses her coat carelessly over a nearby chair and practically skips over to Koharu in a flouncy cherry-printed dress and red kitten heels. ]

Kocchan! What do you think?

[ She does a quick practiced twirl, showing off her ballet training. ]

Should I wear this for our Valentine's date, yes or no? [ Not that Shaw knows there's going to be one yet, but that's besides the point. ]

[Levi still likes the woods, and likes to spend time in them if he's feeling overwhelmed or just wants some fresh air. He's heading back towards the town from a walk today, rifle on his back (can't be too careful with monsters out there). He stops near Koharu as she speaks.]

The same as what?

—Oh, Minato! Thank you!

[ A relief from the impending blanket avalanche! ]

We just had a bunch of them cleaned, so I was trying to get the empty rooms changed out for the day. I thought they'd be easier to carry than this, though.

[ Ohhhh... It's inn staff work, huh. This makes sense now. ]

Do you want help?

[ And though it's not like he'd be getting paid for it, Minato does still have those two blankets in his arms. ]

...I'm sure Mr. Richard won't mind.

[ She blinks in surprise. ]

Are you sure? I don't think he would, but you're not getting paid.

It's okay.

[ You see, Koharu. Minato does many things for people without getting paid. ]

...I have plenty of money.

[ Thanks to his fifty billion part-time jobs. ]

Still...

[ Though, honestly, if she were on the other side of this scenario, she would also offer without missing a beat. After a moment's hesitation, however: ]

But—it should be quick, I promise. The fitted sheets are all changed out at least, so these only need to be set at the ends of the beds.

[ Truth be told, Root manages to take her by surprise. When she's doing small tasks like these around the inn, it's easy for Koharu to get lost in her own thoughts, so the sudden call of her name gets a start out of her.

A nickname no less.

There's a brief moment where Koharu looks over her shoulder, dumbfounded, before she manages to regain her bearings. ]

Root! Hello. [ Did she hear that right? "Kocchan"...? ] Sorry, I must've been daydreaming.

[ Okay! Okay, time to size her up. After taking in the dress, her eyes do light up. ]

It does give Valentine's vibes, doesn't it? Do you usually wear dresses like this?

[ If she has to be honest, Koharu would have expected something with a stronger air of maturity... But V-Day isn't about being mature, anyway. ]

—Gyah! Wha?

[ Oh! Oh, jeez, it's another person. Okay. Wait, she recognizes him! ]

O- oh, my bad, I was just talking to myself... I got this pistol pretty recently, so I was trying to get a feel for it.

[He flinches and steps back as she startles. He probably should have said something sooner, but he defaults to being and moving quietly in the woods.]

S-sorry! I didn't mean to scare you.

[He glances to the pistol.]

Have you used one before? I can give you pointers if you want.

[ A beat, then a nod. ]

I'm not totally new to firearms, but it's the first time I've used a... real one? [ Is that how she should put it? ] But it hasn't been very long since I started, so I'm not very good at it yet.

[He nods and looks over how she's holding the gun. Using toy guns or dart guns or whatever at least gave her a basic understanding.]

First thing you want to be aware of is the kickback. You're not holding it badly but you want to make sure you have a firm grip because it'll jump back at you when you fire. You have to try and account for that when you aim, too.

[ Koharu exhales softly—at herself, of course, not him. ]

Dealing with the recoil is still something I'm trying to figure out.

[ Demonstratively, Koharu lifts the pistol toward the target; it's a proper grip, pointer finger hovering away from the trigger, left hand curled firmly over her right, taking on the isosceles stance. It isn't perfect, but it's practiced. ]

Like this, right? I feel like I still have to find the right balance to how hard I should hold the grip.

[And it is this fine afternoon that Richard can be found in his office. While he left most of the personnel and other staff management to others there still was still a lot to work to do around the inn. But luckily, the nature of it was not something he wasn't used to. As a Duke of Gloucester and keeper of the north he, too, had been responsible for managing lands and organizing banquets.

So, just like with the Christmas he did not wait to start ordering preparations for this local holiday 'day of devotion', which did remind him more or less of the saint valentine's day, he made sure to react fast. Good thing that he had such reliable workers employed.

The knock on the door alarms Whitey who was napping on his luxurious pillow. He scuffles up to his feet and trots over the door, waiting for it to open so he could welcome their guest. Richard, meanwhile, keeps his attention to his writing and just calls out:]

Enter.

[ Nicknames are a combination of affectionate and teasing, which is one of Root's favorite modes of interaction. Of course she loves nicknames. And she also glosses right past them, practically daring comment. ]

Oh, you know. When I need to.

[ Root can absolutely do femme fatale, and has on many occasions, but she also willingly takes up outfits such as: Mr. Bernstein Bear the children's mascot, a chef, a flight attendant, or a Girl Scout troupe leader. Her confidence is so irrepressible it lets her wear basically anything, and even in something this cutesy and girlish, she carries it off without a single trace of self-consciousness. ]

Not usually when I see Shaw, [ she admits. ] We didn't have a lot of time together before I died. [ Root sounds utterly frank, not morbid, just maybe a little bit wistful. ] I wanted to do something really over the top romantic with her while I have the chance.

[ Hm.

Ange went to the outskirts for some peace and quiet, but she has a feeling that it might be ruined when she spots the other in the distance - considering the previous situation she ran into Koharu was a little.. chaotic, to say the least.

The gun in her hands sure isn't helping that impression either. Talk about really ruining the peace and quiet.. Not to mention that Ange isn't entirely sure how to feel about the idea of a gun in this girl's hands. ]

Who gave you a gun? [ She shamelessly calls out from a distance.

Look, maybe it's not a great idea to just call that out to someone holding a gun, but on the other hand, Ange is pretty sure Koharu didn't take off the safety. ]

[ this time around, it is charles who stumbles on her at the outskirts of town — the last time, he had been out walking because of bad memories weighing him down; this time, he's here solely for fun, headed into the woods for some recreational hiking...

except, uh. ]

Target practice, is it?

[ hi, koharu... ]

[He looks over her old and nods.]

Have you fired this one yet? Best way to get an idea of it is to do it.

cupid adventures for cupid month !!!

open to all!

the wildcard option.

richard.

root.

minato.

vash.

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