[open] TIME TO GET SWOLE

[emotive]

Who: emotive & hoasen and ANYONE who wants to hop in!
When: IC: 8/11 | OOC: 7/22
Where: THE MACHO CAFE
What: It's a mingle log! Appliances and machines aren't working as they should, Vietnam and Ai Thao have turned to the Macho Cafe to use their STRONGER and BETTER kitchen. And then they ended up with muscular volunteers because they couldn't say no. Vietnamese chicken porridge for all plus a few fun games from the scary dreamy muscled employees!
Rating/Warning: Really strong, muscular waiters, a lot of food.

[ It was about that time again where Ai Thao and Vietnam wanted to share their culinary passion with the rest of Cerealia. Since their pho dinner went pretty well last time and there's yet another influx of new arrivals, they wanted to cater to them again! Problem is... The usual equipment sure hasn't been heating up or chilling their food well. But that problem seems to have been solved.

If you pass by the Macho Cafe, there seems to be a fun event going on involving a delicious special on chicken rice porridge (free bowl for every customer including new arrivals). The savory aroma wafts throughout the cafe and out of the door hopefully enticing new customers.

You'll probably spot Ai Thao and/or Vietnam walking around the tables taking away plates and asking how the food is and totally not staring/looking away at the masculine workers nope. There's a bit more to do here other than get free food though.

Ai, here waves cheerfully at new people who come inside. ]

Hello! Please come in and enjoy yourself! Um, we should have more seats than we do at the Sanctuary and there will definitely plenty of chao ga to pass around.

Oh, and I think one of the guys might have set up some games? They were really excited about it...

[ Looks like there's more to do than meets the eye!

a. EAT AND DRINK

Sit down, have a drink, and free chicken porridge. The muscular workforce is all too eager to pull you into a chair thrust a bowl at you, oops, hope some hot porridge didn't spill on you?! Other then that, you might be seated across from someone you know, your best frienor someone completely new! Chat it up, see if you can make heads and tails of Cerealia if you're new, or discuss Athena's Timeline Document. It's more fun over food after all.

b. MO' FOOD MO' PROBLEMS

There is a humongous bowl of steaming hot porridge sitting menacingly at the biggest table. In fact, it's so big, it nearly takes up the whole table, it might as well be a huge pot. There's a sign in front of it:

"FINISH IN 1 HOUR!!
GRAND PRIZE: 350 CREDITS!"
Ai Thao Kha is banned from the contest

c. DEM GUNS

Here's another sign at another table! With a lot of the handsome muscular men who flex at you as if daring you to come close!

"ARM WRESTLING.
DEFEAT ONE OF OUR SERVERS.
BEST 2 of 3
FREE CHICKEN SALAD."

So do you dare for the chicken salad!? ]

((ooc: MINGLE POST. Feel free to make a top level and tag each others threads!))

Comments

open

[emotive]

A. Hanging Out

[You can probably catch Ai helping out by gathering a bunch of finished plates and utensils from other customers. Said items float around her because that's how she rolls and she doesn't notice some of the Macho servers beginning to be a little competitive because now they're gathering MORE THAN HER IN THEIR MANLY HANDS.]

Oh... Looks like there isn't much for me to do for now!

[She'll probably turn to whoever sat down to a bowl of piping hot porridge and smile encouragingly at them!]

Hello! Is this your first time here? Don't worry about it and enjoy yourself, okay?

b. sadness.gif

[She has no comment about the sign.

She just stares at the large bowl of porridge.

Longingly.]

It's not like we can't make more....

b

[psycholawgy]

[ she puts a hand on her best friend's shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. ]

Don't worry, Ai. I can probably steal it for you if you want.

A.

[decoyhero]

[FINALLY SLIDES IN HERE]

[It would take a stronger man than Jack to resist the sweet, siren call of free food. Once a cripplingly in-debt college grad, always a cripplingly in-debt college grad, and all that.

The extremely macho servers are kinda funny, so that's a bonus.

And the young woman followed by floating used dishes is pretty cute, so that's a definite bonus.]

Uh. Hi! Yeah, it is. Is it, uh, is it always so busy, here?

[One day he may master the art of talking to cute girls. Today probably isn't that day.]

B!

[moribound]

[The smell of porridge is honestly what drew Minato here, and he can't help but notice Ai's longing look at the piping hot bowl as he accepts the challenge and takes a seat.]

I'll think of you while I'm eating this. [And no, he doesn't mean in that way even if she's cute.

...actually yeah, it's kind of large even for someone who's eaten seven meals in one go, and that makes him curious about the ban.] Can you really eat that much in an hour?

b

[yaayaa]

[A sad girl in a macho cafe...Naki looks at the offending bowl of porridge, over at the sign, and back again at Ai.]

...I can get it for you. [but that's stealing or cheating or something, Naki.]

b

[drinkscola]

[ there are two things startling about this. one: that is a massive bowl of porridge; he knows only three people that could likely finish that. two: it's porridge. why would you ever want to eat that much porridge.

at her words (yes, he's overheard), he glances between her and the dish. ]

Kaa~ Don't tell me, you're one of those girls that can eat ten pizzas alone, hm? [ he's Seen things ]

b

[faithfulflame]

...

[Rei gives Ai a one armed hug.]

Ai-chan, why are you banned from the porridge contest?

ota

[hoasen]

A

[If Vietnam isn't helping in the kitchens to make sure that everyone gets something, she would help outside too, because she's noticed that these MANLY MEN may intimidate a few other people. That and sometimes she wants to ask what people think about her food.]

How is it? Do you need anything else?

B

[ON THE OTHER HAND, if you're not challenging a macho to arm-wrestle with you, would you do so with this petite woman, 5'1 and looks a little delicate at some angles?

She's bowing her head politely.]

I will be your opponent for this round.

A

[hopetype]

[Granted, all these MANLY MAN were a little intimidating to Takeru but if it meant free food? Then it didn't scare him all that much.

That and when Patamon was a little curious about the food, how could he say no to that? But when he saw Vietnam before him, he simply smiled]

No, Patamon and I don't need anything! But I wanted to say that the food is really good! It must have taken you a long time to make them!

B for hilarity

[rejuvenate]

[ Honestly he came for the free food but the arm wrestling was interesting. He managed to win a few rounds, all with the help of Gold Experience of course. Giorno's no manly man or beef cake with any sort extraordinary strength. He lucked out there in terms of genetics.

Still, when Vietnam takes a seat, he'll politely give her a bow before placing his arm onto the table. ]

Please go easy on me.

[ Look, Giorno knows that she's the embodiment of a nation. There's no way that she won't be tougher than she appears. He might not know much of the country itself, but underestimating people (or nations) was something that Giorno never did. ]

A!

[beatofmyblood]

[One could be forgiven for thinking Jonathan was part of the macho waitstaff. After all, his massive build always made him easy to pick out in a crowd, but no, he's a patron of the cafe today. Being a nobleman from England, where he seldom had reason to make his own meals, there wasn't any reason for him to learn how to cook - that is, until he was dropped here, where he has no servants and just about the same level of cooking skill. He isn't one to complain, but until he figures out the appliances in his apartment and until his meals start looking a little less burnt, he's grateful for establishments like these where he can dine out. The food has been quite a pleasant surprise, so when what looks to be the chef comes up to his seat and asks him what he thinks, he's inclined to swallow his bite and answer honestly.]

Delicious! Thank you for the meal. I've never had anything like this before, but it does have a nice flavor to it.

a!

[adornmental]

Ah— I was looking for you!

[And got sidetracked with food along the way, apparently! His bowl is almost empty... But he'll lean forward and gesture for her to sit down, because what's work without a few breaks, right?]

It was super, super tasty! Did you make it? It tastes like something you'd make. Is this gonna be a special forever, or will we be able to get more of it later?

[Someone's a greedy punk...]

a

[yaayaa]

It'sh delishus! [says Naki's fox, who shouldn't be talking right now. But he's gotta speak up!?

Meanwhile, Naki looks at Vietnam as the fox devours his meal.]

Did they help you? [the buff guys. With the food.]

B

[faithfulflame]

[Rei is not intimidated. Then again, she's...only an inch taller than Vietnam. So there's that, at least.]

If you like, certainly, Vietnam.

that's a b

[drinkscola]

[ 100% immediately intimidated ]

[ honestly, he didn't really want to do this? cola doesn't go well with porridge. now he really doesn't want to do this. alas, he's piss poor at backing down from challenges he's already accepted. ]

Vietnam?! Really??

C - GUNS OUT, FUN'S ABOUT (to happen) | OTA

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin had heard this place was supposed to be good.]

[He did not expect the muscled entourage trying to wrangle him with their bulging pectorals.]

[However, the problem here wasn't the overly muscled men, the problem was that Darin may or may not have spent most of his money on supplies for the smithy. And he wouldn't be paid for another few days. That's when the sign catches his eye.]

[Arm wrestle for free food? It's almost unfair how easy that'll be for someone of his strength. Even if he was just a normal guy, he's stronger than most people. But the fact that he's decidedly not normal makes this like shooting fish in a barrel.]

[He plays it coy as he walks up to the table. He rubs his shoulder, whines about how he doesn't think he has what it takes to beat such strong, muscular men. He even pretends to shake when they herd around him, challenging him, flexing in a 'come hither' motion.]

[When he sets up to wrestle for the first time, he even throws the first match. His arm slams in another direction and he feigns pain. There's tears in his eyes and he cries out 'my wrist! It's broken!']

[When he sets up for the second round, he stops.]

Oh...wait. I'm right handed!

[When he sets up, he grins and proceeds to arm wrestle his opponent through the table without any effort whatsoever.]

Man, I don't know what I was so worried about! Do I get the free food now?

C

[emotive]

Ah...

[Ai had been watching the match and at first she was worried. But then Darin pulled that move.]

... Couldn't you have just used your right arm all along?

[tetherbell]

It said two out of three. Don't you need to beat him a second time?

[Muzét is hovering over the man lying on the crumpled remains of the table with a curious, inspecting look.]

OPEN

[reprizesal]

► A. Sudden Seating Arrangement
[Considering Sayo's small size, it's not hard for one of the muscular workers to pick Sayo up and seat him at a random, available table.

Before Sayo can properly retaliate, he's not sitting in a table and facing a fairly big bowl of chicken rice porridge. Maybe they think he needs to eat a lot to grow big and strong?!

He looks up to see someone else sitting opposite to him. Or about to be seated, just like him earlier.]

... Hello. Are you here to eat as well?

► B. Arm Wrestling?
[There's another challenger for the chance to win FREE CHICKEN SALAD.

So there's one tiny boy walking over towards the table, looking up at the big, muscular men. Emphasis on "small" for the boy and "big" for the macho men.]

I'd like to try the challenge.

[sayo... no...]

A

[powertotearer]

[Well, that's got to be embarrasing. But then, Eiji had been a little manhandled himself into the chair.]

Yeah. My name's Eiji. It's kind of...interesting around here, isn't it?

ota!

[psycholawgy]

[ A: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED ]
[ it can't be a challenge if athena cykes isn't part of it. which is why she has a large bowl in front of her. she's eyeing it menacingly, totally determined to win this and show whoever even started this challenge who's boss.

also, the 350 credits. she's broke as hell, SHE NEEDS THIS. ]

Hey, you! [ totally talking to you. ] Can you record this for me? I'm going to eat all of this in fifteen minutes or less.

[ that wasn't part of the challenge, but okay athena… you do you. ]


[ B: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED… AGAIN! ]
[ she may not have finished the gigantic bowl of porridge in fifteen minutes, but she sure as hell got those 350 credits. and now she's trying to relax by participating in another challenge!

despite her small stature, she is a bit strong. some of the macho men at the cafe are by the side of the table, frowning because they've lost to her. ]

Alright, who's next?

A

[meowbel]

[As walked around the store, that's when she spotted a familiar face! Although, before she could even say another word, that's when she found herself staring at Athena. Looking back at the large bowl before her and then back at Athena?

There was a huge grin that appeared on her face]

Weeeeeelllll, I certainly wouldn't mind! But if you get super sick, you know it won't be my fault!

open

[sunnymerc]

( A - why is she here )

( There is absolutely no reason for her to be here. Did she tire of all the maid and cosplay cafes? Did she take a wrong turn?

Regardless, she finds herself sitting at a table with a swarm of waiters waiting on her. She is staring forward with a look of utter disappointment. )

This does nothing for me.

( C - eat THIS up )

( All of the lady customers fawning and giggling over these muscleheads left Soleil determined to show them what is what. So, the moment she sees the sign with the challenge, she takes it up.

It isn't long before she has not only won, but upped the ante to best 5 out of 9. Not too long after that, most of the servers have been defeated, with a few rubbing their hands and arms in pain and at least one trying not to cry.

Soleil jumps up with one foot on her seat and the other on the table and flexes and poses. )

Hey! Hey, everyone! All eyes on me! You want to see strong and cool? Right here!

a

[emotive]

[Here's someone who's not muscular!! Ai peeks out from behind one of the waiters who's aggressively flexing at Soleil before stepping aside.]

I'm sorry! Is there something wrong with the food?

open

[sayonaradumbass]

B.
[There's a face in the middle of that bowl. Maybe it's a familiar one, maybe it isn't. It belongs to Kaneda, though, so your luck is up in the air. Speaking of, he comes up for air and burps. Loudly.]

Pretty good, but there's gonna be more after this, right?

C.
[Kaneda's propped up and ready, flexing as he awaits his opponent.]

You better come see if me breaking your arm's worth the salad! [also:] Can't we get something else, though...

c

[emotive]

Well, I supposed you could ask the guys that work here if you can get something else for free on their menu! The chicken salad is what Miss Sen and I made though.

open

[raisdiant]

A.
[Gilles is just going to breeze in, because it looks like there's something going on, and he could use the entertainment. Looking around, he recognizes Ai.]

Hello, dear. I had no idea you were running a restaurant— Oh!

[And then Gilles is promptly distracted by one of the muscular servers, reaching out to squeeze his biceps without any regard for personal space. But he continues to address Ai as he does so.]

I do like to play games. But what is this food on offer?

[He sniffs the air. He does like food, too.]

C.
[Gilles found it hard to resist the handsome, muscular men, and now he's having a fun time decisively defeating them all and laughing. There's no way they can match a demon's strength! Although maybe someone can...]

Who's next? Who can defeat the peerless knight Gilles de Rais?

[Victory may have gone to his head.]

C

[saudadist]

[ The arm wrestling challenge hasn't kept her interest as she's looked around for a place to sit, especially since it's a lot of fuss over something she doesn't think is ultimately worthwhile. After all, a salad? C'mon, at least offer something more substantial.

But, something about Gilles' boasting makes her want to do it anyway, so she comes up to the chair with a deathly serious look on her face. ]

Will you be quiet if I do?


[ ooc: Lucy's vectors are overpowered in her own canon, but I'm not sure how well they might work on Gilles since I'm not canonly familiar. She'd for sure use them to cheat to win, but the outcome is up to you! ]

B

[zuper]

[After a few beers and other assorted hard alcohols, Angela is totally ready.

Ready for the FOOD CHALLENGE.

Okay, she would probably fail considering her slight frame but that doesn't mean she isn't ready to have fun.]

Who shall be activating the time?

[finished]

Huh? Someone else is taking on the... challenge...?

[So, hi. Funny meeting another angel here. ... you are a real angel, right? Honestly, Pit is not particularly good at telling the difference, but it's quite obvious he's the real deal with the feathery wings sprouting off of his shoulders.

Either way, he's looking up at her with a gleam of starry-eyed admiration now. After a moment, though, he gives a bashful smile.]

Then I guess I'll have to wait my turn while I'm cheering you on!

OPEN

[neverexpected]

A

[For some reason, stuff like this keeps happening to Lavellan. She's just walking along, minding her own dang business, but then the smell of some delicious porridge lures her on over to that there Macho Café.]

[All she wanted was to take a look!]

[But then, all of a sudden, some muscly arms are picking her up and plopping her down in a chair, shoving a bowl in front of her.]

Ah...

[She sits there, stunned.]

...What just happened?

B

[Now that's she's stuck here, and there's the promise of so much food.]

[SO. MUCH.]

[And if she can make a little bit of money off of her voracious appetite, may as well.]

[So Lavellan straightens her back, cracks her knuckles, and starts going to town on that giant-ass bowl of chicken porridge.]

[RIP her elf-y figure.]

[Want to cheer her on? You know you do.]

A

[emotive]

Oh! Welcome! The Macho Cafe is having a special on porridge today!

[This is totally normal! Ai seems nonplussed at least.]

Ah, we've met before haven't we?