[open] one's home is one's.... hopefully-not-burning-like-the-actual-palace castle

[gekkajuu]

Who: Atsushi (gekkajuu) & anyone/everyone
What: A fairly subdued housewarming party! Also a chance to get some activity in while waiting for the event. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
When: Now. Ish. Now is good.
Where: Olympia, Noble District because tiger boy is moving up in the world~
Warning(s): None..? This is an open mingle, so tag each other with some (probably) lighter stuff between all the WAR and RAWR! Should things get some kind of naughty, please put proper warnings in your subject lines, thank you.

It's almost certainly not the biggest mansion in the Noble District - but who cares? Atsushi is honored (and more than a little surprised) that he got offered this housing in the first place. Carefully inquiring about the rent (because of course this had to be some kind of scam?), he was told that there wasn't any, and he could simply live there for free.

There is always that voice in the back of his head telling him "if it seems too good to be true..." - but he's trying to get better about ignoring it. After all, even if he has to go back to a simpler place to live later, there's nothing lost. So he moves in (together with some friends), tries to find his way - and organizes a housewarming party almost immediately. He could use something to distract him... and so could other people, probably.

Join him? The mansion is still pretty empty - Atsushi's previous possessions aren't enough to fill so much as his bedroom - but the kitchen is full, and there's enough furniture in the living room to make yourself comfortable, a long table decked out with food and drinks that took some effort to procure.

Some options:
- Enjoy the food! Enjoy the drink! Atsushi isn't big on alcohol, but he invited Chuuya to live here, so you can bet your ass there will be something to get drunk off.
- You're welcome to raid the kitchen, too! ... but, seriously, don't open that ribbon-tied box with a note that says "for Reign-san". Yes, those are some tasty-looking mochi - but they have a secret ingredient.
- Do you want to look around upstairs? The master bathroom is huge. Please don't have sex in other people's beds, though... Or do, I'm not your boss.
- Just do your thing, man. It's a party. Forget about the city being on fire for a few hours, and try to have fun. Or plot how to achieve peace over some nice snacks, that's also appreciated.

Floor plan, to help you visualize the place, is this - with the minor change that the office and massage rooms are combined into a single room: the guest bedroom mentioned in Atsushi's network post.

Comments

[inaurare]

I did - I settled on Lula, in the end. "Peace" took me to quiet, which took me to her snoring and-- well, I suggested "Lullaby" more out of a sense of irony than anything else.

[a shy little chuckle]

It was a short enough jump from Lullaby to Lula, once I'd written it down, and she took to it well.

[gekkajuu]

That's an adorable name! It really suits her.

[It's then that Atsushi spots Daifuku coming into the room.]

Oh - Daifuku! Look, Linneus brought a present for you.

[Whether the cub recognizes his name is doubtful, but he's certainly come to recognize his owner's behavior: he wanders right over. Atsushi grabs the jar to put it on the floor, and Daifuku jumps up at it with his front paws, sniffing at the contents, before it's even all the way down.]

[inaurare]

Though I can't say the origins of the name were in the kindest of spirits. I can but hope she will forgive me.

[a light chuckle at the creature and his antics]

Oh, but he's even more marvellous in person-- do mind he doesn't tip over the pot!

[gekkajuu]

With a name that beautiful, I can't imagine she minds.

I'll be careful! There you go, Daifuku...

[Putting down the jar, Atsushi holds it steady just in case, Daifuku sniffing eagerly at the grass.]

Is it okay for him to eat it? Maybe I should just take out a sprig or two...

[inaurare]

I’d say she probably wouldn’t understand but she has proved quite swift at picking up commands...!

[the strangest one, more recently, the difference between ‘Lula, protect’ and ‘Lula, guard’. Not that a three-foot guard-llama strikes fear in the heart of anyone...]

It shouldn’t harm him to eat - he’ll nibble it as he wills, I’m sure. Though I imagine he would take well to you pulling a couple of blades and using them as toys...!

[gekkajuu]

[That's okay, she can conquer with cuteness instead.]

That's a good idea!

... Actually, would you care to try? You're the one who brought him the gift, after all, and I can play with him whenever I want.

[The cub is a bit rough for all the strength contained in that tiny body, but he's never been intentionally harmful, so Atsushi feels confident offering.]

[inaurare]

Oh-- certainly.

[he hasn't... really been around cats, save for strays in the street and that was childhood, but Linneus has always loved animals, and a little rough and tumble is no bad thing. Strange though it is to be kneeling in his host's house, plucking a blade of the cat grass and twirling it with delicate fingers]

Will I get his attention, I wonder...?

[gekkajuu]

[With next to no delay, Daifuku turns his attention to Linneus, nose in the air to get closer to that blade of grass. He'll jump up to grab at it soon enough.]

I think that's a "yes".

[inaurare]

Oh, how precious!

[Atsushi has to be a proud cat-dad with this one - as if Daifuku wasn't cute enough the first time he was shown to Linneus. Continuing to twirl the piece of grass, letting it dangle down, then flicking it up out of reach again, trying to draw him to jump]

This is harder to do with Lula. Though she fetches and plays tug-of-war...

[gekkajuu]

Fetching is an amazing skill, though! That means she has to understand what you're telling her, right?

[To a point, anyway. Atsushi is extremely fond of Daifuku, but he's never even considered trying to teach the cub any tricks. It's been hard enough making him understand that he isn't supposed to sleep on Atsushi's bed... and, honestly, since moving in here, Atsushi has given up that particular doomed endeavor. The beds here are big enough, anyway.

Daifuku jumps, sure enough, not all that high - his legs will always be short by comparison - but with a lot of dedication. He'll try to catch the grass - or Linneus' hand - with both front paws, just so he can pull it down to his mouth and gnaw on it.]

...these proud pet-dads...

[inaurare]

Oh - more throw-and-bring-back, I suppose? She’s learned some objects but asking her to fetch actual things is a little hit-and-miss she is better with simple commands. Perhaps when she is older-- ah!

[another delighted sound as Daifuku reaches up for his hand, happy to let it be pulled down - yes, fierce hunter, you did great.]

Perhaps three blades braided might make a good toy, too?

hopeless cases, all of them

[gekkajuu]

That's still impressive!

[Having caught his prey, Daifuku pulls Linneus' hand with the grass close, and tries to put it in his mouth. He merely holds on, though: he doesn't break skin.]

That's a great idea! Someone may even know how to weave it into a ball or something similar - but then, that might be too much work for something that will get chewed up.

[Something to consider, anyway!]

Yes, yes, Daifuku. You did well. Now let go.

[He'll try to pull the cub away just in case, though if Linneus relinquishes the grass, Daifuku will probably let him go without a fight.]

[inaurare]

They shouldn’t be too difficult, actually - it would be more like a knot-ball, but it would most certainly get chewed!

[Grass stains might be a concern...]

He’s quite all right, he isn’t hurting...

[just. Those fat little paws. He is more than happy to let the little creature have his prize though]

[gekkajuu]

[Well, with this kind of pet, there's no keeping the place perfectly clean, anyway. Atsushi will deal with grass stains.]

All right. Tell him if he's going too far, though!

[Because talking to a tiger is always super useful. Daifuku is pleased with his prize, anyway, rolling over with it as if he actually needs to fight it.]

Then, would you like to see the rest of the house?

[inaurare]

[talking to a tiger - about as useful as talking to a llama.]

I shall. But he means no harm, I'm sure.

[he... will withdraw his hand and resist rubbing Daifuku's belly (that is probably a trap) and moves to rise again]

I think I might enjoy a tour, yes. The whole house is yours and your friends'?

[gekkajuu]

Then, this way~

[With a bright smile, Atsushi will lead Linneus to the stairs.]

Yes, it's all ours... somehow.

[He's very proud of his house, but when asked about it like this, he can't help feeling a bit... embarrassed, almost. He's very grateful to have been given a house like this, but he's not sure what he's done to deserve it. It makes him feel bad for everyone who probably deserved a house more, and didn't get one.

Well, that's one of many reasons why he's sharing with his friends. That, and it would be horribly lonely in such a big place, otherwise.]

I would have hardly expected to ever own my own place, and now this.

[inaurare]

"Somehow"?

[His hand gliding up the banister as he follows the young man up. Linneus isn't sure he understands, but if Atsushi isn't happy to discuss it, that's fine.]

You envisaged something different for yourself? But you have companions to help fill the space - and Daifuku. I was raised in a large house, but I'm not sure I could in one all by myself...!

[happy as he is in the little place he was given, it's still strange having somewhere to live that is just his - he has filled it the best he can, and Lula helps, but were it very much bigger he would surely feel the space by himself.]

[gekkajuu]

I didn't mean to sound ungrateful! I really am happy that I was given a mansion like this.

But at the same time... I'm not sure I understand why?

[How does one get given a house in the first place? Getting starter housing free for a month was more than generous, but at least that was a kind of generous that seemed understandable. This, though?]

[inaurare]

Oh-- no, if it seemed I was saying that, I do apologise...

[he only meant that it was strange not to have any idea of the reason at all - but Atsushi clearly knows that incongruity well enough without Linneus having to say anything more about it, so he doesn't try explaining himself.]

Have you a favourite part of the house?

[gekkajuu]

It didn't seem that way at all! Please don't worry about it.

[If anything, it's Atsushi himself who keeps filling in the blanks that way, and he knows it. He just can't seem to help it. It feels like, if he starts thinking he actually deserves things like mansions, it will all be taken away from him.]

Hmm, let's see... I like everything, but maybe the upper terrace? It's nothing special in itself I suppose... It's not even very big. But it's a part of the house, yet also outside. It makes me feel connected to the city while still being private.

This way, please! My bedroom is here.

[inaurare]

I half-feared that my home would be taken away from me, in the beginning. I've never had one of my own before. But perhaps we can enjoy these things, as long as they are given to us?

[of course, the idea of losing his home is still a very real fear, with all the rioting and vandalism, but...]

It would be nice to take tea or have meals out there, I shouldn't wonder. Which room was yours...?

[gekkajuu]

I am the same.

[He'd briefly had his own apartment back home, but even that had been subject to threats about losing it if he decided to quit. Maybe that was why he'd never quite managed to feel at home there...]

Over here! [He opens the door to his bedroom.] It's... a little big, but since it's also a playroom for Daifuku, I think that's all right.

[Except he still feels pretty extravagant, having a room like this all for himself.]

[inaurare]

Well you're sharing, aren't you?

[he's cautious as he steps in - he's used to inviting other people into his space; it's weird the other way around and the bedroom is about as personal a space as there is. He still lingers by the door as he did downstairs, only drawing further in if Atsushi leads]

My master kept dogs, rather than cats, but I can imagine the need for the extra space. He must grow very energetic, but at least you're removed enough from the rest of the house that he can work it off?

[gekkajuu]

[The room is big, sure enough, but it almost seems bigger for how relatively empty it is. While Atsushi's apartment had seemed full of all kinds of things, brought into a mansion like this, they didn't amount to much. With a little more living here, the mansion will feel more like a home, but for now, it still feels more like a hotel.]

Yes, he loves the extra space already.

[And Atsushi, who could care less about the space, at least appreciates the windows a great deal.]

This way! The bathroom is over here.

[inaurare]

[it will feel fuller eventually, Linneus is sure - it's just a matter of them getting used to the space - it must be hard, if one inherits no furniture]

I'm sure he does.

[oh, they're moving again! As he follows through-]

You were in one of the small houses before - the ones provided in the beginning? How did he adjust to stairs?