[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

[sullenstallion]

[Careful, Reign. The Orbiters have gifted him with animal hearing to go with his furry ears...

But whether he's heard or not, Dylas doesn't immediately turn around. He's in the middle of deveining some shrimp that seem to be native to this planet, and he considers that to be a little more unimportant. His ears do perk, so it's not like he hasn't heard Reign, it just takes a second for him to realize he's making a horrible first impression.]

Yep. That's me.

[At hearing Atsushi's name mentioned, ah. Dylas needs to be more polite. If it were someone else's friend, he really wouldn't have cared, but one flick of his tail later and he's turned around. ...Wait, is Rain really a name?]

I'm making seafood pizza. It's easy to eat, but it won't be done for a while. [His eyes light up for a second, more traces of his grumpiness vanishing, but...] Wait, Atsushi told you about me? Why would he do that, I wonder. He's been doing that a lot lately...

[He takes off his cooking gloves and sets them on the counter behind him before rubbing the back of his neck. His hair, a very definite periwinkle mane, is tied into a long ponytail that moves when he does.]

[eaudevamp]

[ Internal panic! Reign would be more careful if he knew just how good Dylas's sense of hearing was, but in all honesty he hadn't meant the words in jest. Hopefully Dylas would let it slide if he did hear it.

By now Reign knew better to ask about Dylas's features unless the man himself voluntarily divulge that information. Sometimes Reign could be pretty blunt and needed a little knock on the head. Dylas seemed friendly enough, Reign noted as he properly stepped into the kitchen and closed the door behind him.

Truth be told, Dylas would be surprised at the naming culture of Reign's world, specifically those of vampires. Hey, his best friend's name was Shell. Was that weird enough? But if Dylas ask, Reign will be sure to spell out his own name. ]

Smells delicious though. [ Although Reign wouldn't be able to really eat it, not if he wanted to give Dylas the fright of his life by saying he drank blood. ] Atsushi only told me because I ask. Maybe he wants to introduce you to more people.

[ Reign took a step closer, then stopped, wondering if he was allowed to be around someone who was busy cooking. He knew personally that when one was in the midst of a task, focus was most important and any interruption wouldn't be appreciated. So he stood where he was, unless Dylas invited him closer. ] What kind of seafood pizza are you making? [ He asked instead. ]

[sullenstallion]

[It's going to be an odd ability to have now that he lives with so many people. He's sure there are some things he really, really doesn't want to hear.

He folds his arms against his chest, not having the heart to tell Rain that what he's smelling is the previous fish hors d'oeuvres or other breads. He's not going to be able to finish constructing his pizza until his attention is back on finishing the shrimp. He'd like to get back to it, but he can spare some time for a friend of Atsushi's.]

It's mussels and shrimp served on a tomato sauce bed. It's a pretty popular dish from the restaurant I used to work at.

[He wasn't a chef back then. No, he was just a waiter. Nowadays, he's just practicing and refining his cooking on his own and at work to keep the days of his old life in his head. His ears droop at some depressing thoughts of his own design, that he might be making trouble for Atsushi if he's so concerned he has to send new friends his way.]

I know lots of people...tch. That tiger's too pure. He should be focusing on other things.

[eaudevamp]

[ In truth, Reign would have been impressed that Dylas was able to use what little remaining food there was and create a new dish out of it. As much as Reign was a chatter and wanted to get to know Dylas more, he didn't want to take Dylas's time away too much. ]

That's quite amazing. I haven't try anything like that before.

[ That was probably Reign's faux pas #1: mentioning that he'd never tasted a certain food and being offered it when it wasn't in his diet. What would Dylas think if he knew that Reign was a vampire that drank human blood? Dylas may be safe from Reign since he clearly wasn't human, but even Reign had drank demon blood before, though that was more Mephisto being in a human body.

Either way, he chuckled softly. ] But that's what makes him endearing. [ A pause. ] Urm, I understand if you prefer to be alone while preparing the seafood pizza, but... is it all right if I watch you cook?

[sullenstallion]

Really? It's nothing special.

[But his cheeks color at the compliment, enough so that he turns around and pretends to check on his work to give himself a second to get over how embarrassed being praised makes him feel. Even if it's nice? He has no idea about any blood stuff going on, of course.]

You can try this if you want. I already seasoned and cooked these shrimp. [He grabs one of the bowls and holds it out for Reign.] I wasn't sure if I wanted to bake them in the oven or add them when it was over. Both ways are fine, I think.

[The shrimp are delicious, actually, so he expects Reign to take one and try one. He can't imagine someone not liking seafood.]

There's not much left for me to do, anyways. Once I put it in the oven, we just have to wait.

[eaudevamp]

[ Oooooh, that was a good look on Dylas. Did the man not receive compliments often? Reign will have to change that. It reminded him of Atsushi a little. Whether Dylas knew about the blood stuff, Reign wasn't going to bring it up, not unless Dylas broach the subject.

He stepped closer as he was offered the shrimps, and while such food wouldn't give him sustenance, it didn't mean he couldn't give it a taste. ] If there's enough ingredients and time, why not try both?

[ Either way, he picked one of the smaller shrimps and popped it in his mouth, chewing with a thoughtful hum. ] Not bad, though I'm not really a good judge when it comes to flavours. [ Maybe if Dylas sprinkled a bit of blood on it... ]

Does it take long to bake?

[sullenstallion]

[He certainly doesn't make it easy for others to give him compliments. El Nysa seems to make his moodiness worse. He has high highs and he has low lows. Everything is so much more frantic than it used to be.

At 'why not try both,' he offers a helpless shrug.]

I don't think there are that many people here waiting to eat pizza. One will be enough. [He tries to sound apologetic; it's a rare tone on him, but Reign seems pretty...not annoying so far.] It shouldn't take more than twenty minutes, I guess. I guess I'll wait in here. [As opposed to going back out into the party.] You not a big fan of seafood or something?

[eaudevamp]

[ Dylas's mood sounded like a pendulum. Highs and lows, predictable yet not.

Not as if Reign would know, but... Dylas certain proved a curious study to Reign. ]

Mmn, you're right. It wouldn't be appropriate to prepare so much and then have the food be wasted. Well, you can always attempt it next time.

[ He smiled encouragingly at Dylas, before it morphed to a sheepish chuckle. ] Urm, seafood isn't part of my diet, actually. [ How was Reign to go about explaining that he was a vampire who drank human blood? ]

[sullenstallion]

The fish and shrimp would've died in vain if no one ate them.

[Not only is the statement coming from completely out of nowhere, Dylas says it with a straight face and a serious, reverent tone.

Get out while you still can.]

What do you eat, then? I have a feeling I'm going to be the one doing the most of the cooking around here.

[But his tone has gone from reverent to him sounding like he's a little pleased at the prospect.]

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign stared at Dylas's straight faced look, before bursting into laughter. ] No doubt about that! I'm sure someone in the house will come looking for extra snacks once the party is over.

[ Sorry Dylas, he wasn't trying to be rude. And now Dylas asked the one question that had Reign's laughter dying into an awkward cough. ]

Ah, urm... Have you heard about vampires?

[ Surely that was a good start? ]

[sullenstallion]

[...? Why the laughter? Normally, Dylas would be offended, but he didn't say anything worth laughing over so clearly Reign is laughing at something else? What a weirdo. He makes a mental note to package everything into the fridge later.]

Nope. I've never heard of...that.

[He's not even sure which modifier to use. Them? That? This, these, thou?]

They must not have...it...where I come from.

cw: vampire stuffs

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign had always been weird, but the way Dylas spoke just had him in stitches. Probably because of how serious Dylas said it, and in such a matter of fact manner.

Either way, Reign now had more explaining to do. He opened his mouth slightly, one finger pointing to his sharp fangs. ]

This is what I am. A vampire. We're beings that drink blood, specifically human blood, though we can consume other types. It's just not as sustaining, like eating normal food.

[ A sheepish shrug. ] I could try the shrimp, but it just wouldn't taste as good to me, and it would be a waste of your talents as I'm not able to fully appreciate it.

[sullenstallion]

Uh...huh.

[Dylas blinks. He's silent for a long moment. What the hell is Reign talking about exactly? He eats humans, but he hangs around them at the same time? That sounds sort of fake? But Reign doesn't seem like a liar. Of course, he's never met him until now, but he doesn't seem like an asshole?

Eventually, Dylas finishes thinking.]

If you didn't want to eat seafood, you could've told me instead of coming up with a crazy story.

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign blinked as well, stunned that Dylas thought he was cooking up some weird story as an excuse to avoid eating seafood, or whatever it was that Dylas may offer.

Certainly some vampires in Reign's world ate humans, but they were either the really violent types, or unless they were Blood Lords of their land. Reign knew his father did, and for once he was glad he got exiled from the clan, no longer the heir. Otherwise he'd have to suffer through that against his will.

Right now, though, Reign just stared blankly at Dylas. ]

W-what...? I'm not lying! Why would I? You can ask Atsushi. He'll tell you all about vampires.

[sullenstallion]

[The blank staring is mutual. Telling him to ask Atsushi is a power move. Dylas would believe whatever Atsushi told him, and it's a poor bluff if it's not true. The only sound coming from Dylas comes from the light "fwish" of his tail against the floor as he swings it in contemplation, lowly, unhurriedly.

And finally:]

I, uh. I don't...know how to cook blood.

[eaudevamp]

[ For a long moment, Reign was pretty sure Dylas was going to chase him out of the kitchen, or something equally worst.

It was so quiet he could hear a pin drop, and then Dylas gave his verdict, of sorts. Honestly, that wasn't what Reign expected to hear. What came out was an awkward cough from Reign, almost a chuckle. ]

If it'll make you feel better, I don't either, though I've read in some old cultures humans used to make a kind of dessert call... "Black Pudding"? It's made with pig's blood.