estoria | (no subject)

Who: Aoba

aocatch , Clear

gasmaskguy , Koujaku

kaba , and Vietnam

hoasen
When: Monday, December 1
Where: Clear's apartment
What: Family dinner!! Well, two neighbors/good friends and Aoba, but close enough.
Rating/Warning: This is bound to be embarrassing in so many ways.

[ Having some time off from work during a weekday had left Clear with an abundance of free time, but he's made good use of it, he thinks! While his friends and Aoba were busy at their own jobs, he got an early start preparing a nice dinner for the four of them to share. It wasn't a grandiose idea, really, but he felt it to be an important one - a necessary ritual shared among good company. It promoted a sense of familiarity, home, and happiness.

Of course, he didn't believe that Aoba or Koujaku had the privilege of meeting Vietnam yet, but when he sent out texts asking them to share a meal at his place tonight, he assured them that the additional 'new friend' that he'd invited was a very kind person that they were sure to like! As for Vietnam, he'd asked for the opportunity to introduce her to Aoba-san♡ and their cool friend from home. They're sure to get along well, he juuust knows it!!) ]

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[ Poor guy. Looks like there's still a lot to do, even if he's starting to get the whiff of something delicious from somewhere inside.

Koujaku steps in, admiring the décor here, too. ]

Just thought you might need a hand is all. [ He shrugs. ]

[ Oh, what a nice offer! It makes Clear smile warmly. ]

Well... Hm!

[ Raising a hand to thoughtfully tap a knuckle at his chin, he steps back to look around at the placing he has already. ]

I think I'll be okay - but I do appreciate the offer. [ Is what he decides on, nodding surely as he looks back to his friend. ] Are you enjoying yourself, though? It looks like you haven't tried the drink I left out yet, is it not a good one?

[ Shaking his head, his smile turns a bit sheepish. ]

I don't know anything about alcohol, really. Grandfather couldn't drink it.

It's fine. It's fine. [ Sheesh he's just trying to be a good guess here, but he has to admit, Clear appears to be far more efficient than he is in the kitchen.

Then again he's never had to cook for more than one or two people at a time. ]

So's the alcohol, by the way. You might not wanna give Aoba too much of those, though. 'Specially if he asks for it. [ Whoops. ]

[ Sorry Koujaku, he's just got this entire process worked out in his head and he's already a ditz, so he doesn't want to lose track of that! ]

What do you mean? [ Totally clueless, Clear blinks. ] Does Aoba-san get sick from whiskey? There's other types of alcohol, if you want to look at them! I wouldn't want him to get sick... [ NOW HE'S WORRIED. ]

[ Fair enough. ]

Oi, calm down. He's not gonna get sick. [ Much. ] He's just… [ It occurs to him that Clear, in all his boundless innocence, might not have even seen a drunk man before. Especially an Aoba kind of drunk, which is indeed something to behold.

It'll be an amazing life experience, Clear. ]

He's just kind of [ embarrassing ] a lightweight is all.

[ That does ease his nerves enough to relax and hear him out. With a cant of the head, he ponders over that term for a good moment. ]

Oh, that means they're sensitive to it-- right?

…Yeah. So he doesn't need to drink all that much. [ To get the full effect and then some, you know. ]

Mm, got it! [ He understands now!! Which is apparently exciting enough to make his face light up in a smile. ] It's okay if we're here to take care of him though, right?

[ Now that he's calmed down a bit, it's back to mixing the dessert. A mild champagne custard, it looks pretty tasty. ]

--Hm! Maybe I can use your help, actually! [ It dawns on him quite suddenly, and he's scooping up a spoonful to hold out to Koujaku, a hand cupped under to catch any drips. ] Could you please sample this for me? I couldn't decide if it's sweet enough!

Right! [ Champagne custards are way out of his league. He stares at that gloop of custard like it might try to leap up and kill him.

Doesn't smell half bad, actually. ]

Sure, but… [ He licks up that spoonful thoughtfully. ]

Doesn't taste too bad. I never had something like this before, though.

[ It's a good thing Koujaku accepted, because Clear was starting to amp up the puppy dog eyes - but once he tasted it, that was quickly replaced with an optimistic glimmer that just dazzles when approval is given!!

Well, maybe it's not total approval - but it's good enough for him, okay. ]

Me neither, honestly! I didn't have access to half of these ingredients back at home, so I've been trying new things~ [ Reaching out, he wipes a thumb beneath Koujaku's lip with a quiet laugh. ] Wah, you got some here!

[ And without thinking, brings it to his own mouth to taste. ]

Mn, since it doesn't taste bad, I guess it's okay. Thank you, Koujaku-san!

[ How awkward can you get. ]

[ Fuck it should he be glad that Clear appears to have taken his mask off for good?? How can you say no to that face? It's a dangerous, dangerous weapon and—worse—Clear doesn't seem to be aware of it. ]

You're… [ He swallows, flushing at the contact. Things have just been weird overall. Also: he hasn't gotten laid in forever. Woe. ]

We—Welcome. [ Let him just…laugh it off like it's nothing. ]

I'm glad you could make stuff like that, though. It's almost as good as Tae-san's. [ And this is the highest compliment he can give to anyone who isn't Tae-san. Be thrilled, brighteyes. ]

[ While Clear may have only had the pleasure of tasting Tae-san's homemade doughnuts, which were exceptionally good, he knows how much she means to Aoba - and that she seems very important to Koujaku, too! He also knows how much love goes into cooking for the people closest to one's heart, and that they can always taste it.

So, when he's given that compliment, he can almost imagine how highly she'd set the bar. Of course, he's also reminded of how very much she did Aoba and himself.

Thinking that he may feel his little artificial heart soar, he draws a breath with moistening eyes. ]

Kou- Koujaku-san!

[ If he doesn't react quickly enough, Samurai Shampoo will find himself being adhered to, arms thrown around his middle with this fair-headed dweeb crooning at his shoulder. ]

[ …Whoa. ]

Hey!! [ NOHOMONOHOMONOHOMONOHOMONOHOMONOHOMO… ]

What are you doing!! C—Clear! [ Suddenly in a panic, and ol’ Kougen over here doesn’t even react fast enough before he’s clung to tightly like bitty, stubby-legged Aoba after seeing something really really scary!! This shouldn’t fluster him so much, but shit, what with the Aoba issue and Clear getting…

Is he getting sweet on him or something?? Up until now robot romance had been far from Koujaku’s mind and now he feels an incredible sense of dread. Clear’s awesome hearing powers can’t miss that frantic heartbeat. ]