[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

[thetaintedsorrow]

Huh. Who knew?

[Chuuya is used to fine dining, but clearly he hasn’t paid that much attention to what he eats. Whatever, pairing food with wine is his specialty, not cooking it. He’ll leave that to Dylas and Atsushi.

Chuuya blinks a few times at the question. Okay, so maybe he shouldn’t be surprised because different words exist and all, but he’s not really prepared to answer that question.

He can’t back down now, though.]

Uh. Jesus Christ? Christians think he’s the son of God? Died on the cross? That sort of thing?

[Chuuya isn’t religious, but he’s aware of different religions, at least.]

[sullenstallion]

I did. Because I'm a chef.

[He says that with more smugness than he has any right to. He's just a baker, after all, who makes treats for sick children. But if he can sound smug and superior to Chuuya, something tells him he should just take the opportunity.

He listens to the following explanation, but it's clear from his expression that it isn't sinking in at all.]

So...he's a friend of yours? This Christ guy? And he's a god? Are you two close or something?

[He did just randomly say his name in the middle of a conversation.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Tch.

[That’s all Chuuya has to say to the chef comment. Look, he might not know much about cooking aside from what he learned on the food channels, but he’s not about to argue over something so dumb when Atsushi has just invited him to live here. Unless Dylas keeps poking at him. Then he will.

Chuuya lets out an exasperated sigh; he’s the last person in the world that needs to be explaining religion to others.]

No. It’s just an expression. Like “holy shit”.

[sullenstallion]

Holy...shit?

[Dylas scratches right beneath the scar on his cheek. He's heard that expression. Chuuya doesn't know he has, however, and he'd like to keep having some fun here. Who needs friends when he already has Atsushi???]

That's disgusting. Worship shit on your own time. And don't go worshiping anyone else's while you're in this house.

[thetaintedsorrow]

...you’re fucking with me.

[An astounding revelation, really. He could buy the Christ thing, because whatever planet Dylas is from likely didn’t have Christianity, but this? Obviously he’s being fucked with. If it weren’t for Atsushi being the host of this party he might just practice his martial arts skills all over Dylas’ smug face.]

And don’t tell me what to do, horseface.

[sullenstallion]

No shit.

[He scoffs. The Christianity thing is completely serious, and he's going to assume Chuuya is some weirdo guy with weirdo god connections from now on. But there it is. The "h" word. His nostrils flare, his tail lashes.]

Do you want to come closer and say that? I can't hear you all the way down there, runt.

[thetaintedsorrow]

What’s that?

[Chuuya is bristling now, tensing up like a snake poised to strike. He shouldn’t fight in Atsushi’s house, but Dylas seems to thrive on rubbing him the wrong way, and Chuuya isn’t one to take that shit sitting down. He puffs his chest out, standing tall as he glares daggers at Dylas.]

You really wanna go? Cause I will.

[sullenstallion]

Yeah. I do, keep talking and I'll shove my fists right up—

[And just like that, an oven timer goes off. His ears perk and his eyes go wide, aggression vanishing from his face completely.]

—the oven. The cake is done.

[And again, just like that he turns his back on Chuuya, tail swishing from side to side as he searches out his oven mitts. It's time to pull his creation out of the oven and let it rest before icing it.]

I hate sweet stuff. But maybe Atsushi will like it.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[...oh. Chuuya had already assumed a fighting stance, fists up and ready to go when Dylas had all but snubbed him for the cake. Chuuya blinks a few times, utterly flabbergasted, and while he’s already buzzing with adrenaline in preparation for what he thought was a fight, he can’t quite bring himself to kick Dylas’ ass when he pulls a freshly baked dessert out of the oven.]

...oh.

[It smells divine, honestly...]

You made it for Atsushi?

[That takes the wind right out of his sails.]

I didn’t know he liked sweet stuff.

[sullenstallion]

I sure as hell didn't make it for me. [Like he said.] It's made with dark chocolate, so it shouldn't be too decadent.

[Using the various tools in the kitchen, he transfers the cake from the baking tray and onto a stand for it to cool before he ices it. He trims off some of the top to make it perfectly level before he's back and facing Chuuya.]

As long as someone here eats it, I don't care. A real chef cooks more than what he enjoys the most.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Right.

[Well. That takes all the fight right out of Chuuya. It’s kind of hard to want to deck a guy when he’s baking a cake, especially if it’s for Atsushi. He sighs in exasperation, running a hand through his hair.]

Whatever. Atsushi deserves not to have his party ruined, so.

[He shrugs.]

Guess I’ll let it slide this time.

[sullenstallion]

Yeah. He's a pretty amazing person, isn't he?

[At "I'll let it slide," Dylas almost wants to keep fighting. Almost. But he sighs, suppressing his urge to get the last word in.]

I don't think he knows it, but he is.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Yeah. He was the first person I saw when I woke up on Thesa Station. He welcomed me here. Him and Daifuku.

[Chuuya’s smile is a fond one as Atsushi comes to mind. He’s such a good guy; in the past it would’ve made Chuuya roll his eyes, but now? He finds it kind of endearing.]

We’re from the same place. Before the storm, I mean.

[sullenstallion]

He's one of the first people I met, too. I started a fire for him back when we all landed on this planet.

[Dylas has a smile on his face, too. He remembers. Atsushi had seemed pretty cool back then. But then he's surprised to hear that.]

Wait, you are? Were you two friends or something?

[thetaintedsorrow]

...not exactly.

[Is it really wise to be telling Dylas this? Probably not, but it’s not like Chuuya is afraid of him. He’s hardly afraid of anything, really.]

He had a bounty on his head in our world. I never went after him myself, but I didn’t stop anyone from doing it, either. It was my job to keep things running smoothly.

[sullenstallion]

[Dylas clicks his tongue. A bounty, and a bounty hunter.]

Atsushi is too pure and simple. But if he's letting you stay here, I'm not going to question it until you give me a reason to.

[It's not like Chuuya has any reason to collect on that bounty now. It's a good thing their entire world is destroyed. What a dark thought. But it means, at least, Dylas isn't too worried.]

You're not going to give me a reason to, are you?

[thetaintedsorrow]

Yeah, he is. But the world needs more people like him.

[Chuuya huffs. As if he’s threatened by Dylas. Surely Atsushi wouldn’t kick him out just because Dylas didn’t like him...

Right?]

Not if you don’t provoke me for no reason. I’d rather have a home to come back to.

[sullenstallion]

["And less people like me," Dylas thinks to himself. He doesn't say it, but the thought is enough to make his ears droop.]

Yeah. It does, and they're needed now more than ever. Olympia's going to become a real shitshow at this rate.

[He sighs and lifts a hand to run it through his mane.]

I'll do my best. It's not my fault you have a face that says 'provoke me' written all over it.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Heh. Same to you.

[Well, at least they didn’t end up fighting. That would’ve gotten ugly fast.]

I’ll leave you to it then. I’m sure Atsushi will like the cake.

[He seems crazy about food in general.]

See ya.

[Sooner than later since they live in the same house.]