aterat | It's a Watts party! (Just don't tell him)

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It's a Watts party! (Just don't tell him)

Who; Aerith + YOU
What; Potluck party
Where; Gray building's downstairs common room
When; Sunday June 26th; after 4pm
Warnings; None

Aerith co-opted the common room of the gray building starting on Saturday when she began the process of decoration. The most important part of any decoration (especially for Watts) was the flowers and Aerith had put together a few center pieces for tables. Each flower that she'd chosen had symbolized friendship in some way and they were set up in the center of small tables that had been brought inside. Of course she wasn't the one that moved those tables, she had a trust bodyguard for things like that, but she did the decorating!

And the cooking! The main attraction was a pretzel bar in the center of the room. Please, thank Cloud for bringing it in and Jacob for making the pretzel rack at Aerith's request. The soft pretzels were premade and there were plenty for everyone who may come through to have several (if not more). In addition to that there were also several dipping sauces to choose from including cheese, caramel, cinnamon sugar, honey mustard, and a spicy ginger sauce with chili flakes (eat at your own risk).

A table next to it had Materia Xiaolongbao. Yellow is crab flavor, black is soybean, blue is pork, green is cilantro, and red is spicy shrimp. Next to those are tiny moogle sweet bean buns. They fit in the palm of your hand but some of the moogles look...a lot better than others. She did her best!

There was another table with a few drinks set up for people to grab including a materia bomb cocktail with a bit of alcohol and different flavored materia ice (peach, strawberry, and blueberry) and bright green bubble tea with pop bubbles in the bottom. The green tea is flavored like something very different than one might expect it to be, it's a bit bit bitter and yet also a bit sharp, almost biting. It's meant to be the flavor of wind, whatever that's supposed to be. The pop bubbles are extremely sour and explode in the mouth with the sourness. The drink is also somehow fizzy, don't ask how.

A third table was empty save for the friendship bouquet at it's center. There was a little handwritten note on the table saying:

Leave your dishes here! Complete with a heart.

Aerith herself can be found wandering around and paying close attention to the drink table, making sure to run back to the kitchen quickly to grab more drinks if they run low.

OOC: Feel free to use this log as an open thing for anyone to mingle and get to know each other. Characters are welcome even if they didn't bring a dish themselves, but the more dishes the better! Anyone is welcome to come even if they didn't know she was throwing this party, it'd be pretty obvious that there was something going on in the Gray Building and she'll be leaving the door open with a small table that has a friendship flower bouquet on it. Please have some fun!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

“These were made by him?” He asked, picking up one of the schnitzel sandwiches with curiosity. “I had been meaning to stop by the lodge, though I haven’t had the occasion to go that far as yet.” There had been quite a lot to figure out since arriving, and the teen had a terrible habit of getting caught up in an idea and forgetting about a lot of other things… Often times important things like sleeping or eating. But he had an appreciation for Ignis, given the man had been quite helpful on the day they met at the market.

Well, with Tommy’s praise and obvious experience with Ignis’s food already, the teen was even happier to take his recommendation and follow it. After all, it sounded like he had good reason to say as much if he worked with the man.

Now the sight of the sloth actually manages to get Yusuke to stop thinking about the food for the moment. “Speedy…” He commented thoughtfully, what an amusing name for a creature not known for speed. It was hard to not chuckle lightly at that as he leaned in for a closer look (sorry about the personal space, Tommy, he means well) at the little creature. “Hello, there, Speedy.”

He glanced at Tommy again with a curious hum. “Here I had thought it might be a cat or something of that nature. I’ve never seen a sloth so close before. I did not know they could be kept as pets?” Aside from the odd zoo, perhaps… But he didn’t go to zoos often. He had a particular preference for aquariums and viewing aquatic life.

Of course they were made by him. Who else? Tommy smiles and takes a nibble of a treat as Speedy starts to climb the strap of the bag. Well, he supposes he can wait on feeding himself. He puts his plate down and pulls out a container of cut celery and carrot sticks.

"Wanna feed the little guy? He's the best. And no, normally you can't keep them as pets. I'm not a normal dude though. He's a message, to remind me to take the world slow sometimes."

Yusuke still hasn’t quite gotten a feel for how many or how few people might have been involved in the making of food at the potluck, but he was delighted by the selections he made. An enthusiastic sound escaping as he took his first bite, though it might have tasted as good as it did because he hadn’t really eaten a full meal since… Maybe this morning? Last night?

Who could say? He did manage to enjoy a few lovely samples from the bakery earlier that day when he was purchasing the cake. And now he had a wealth of food to choose from. He’d fill up.

The offer gets a curious pause as he watched the sloth begin climbing up the strap of the bag. Would he like to feed it, though? Humming, he put the plate down and nodded enthusiastically. “I should like that very much, sir!” To see the little creature eat, and to get a closer look at it, would be a delight.

Such a curious thing to behold, really. It seemed to be going at its own pace, but with a particular steadfast motivation towards snacks. Truly a good reminder that sometimes it was best to be calm and relax rather than rush about without pause or breaks. “What an excellent and particularly adorable reminder.” He doesn’t say that lightly, either. But it was cuter than other fluffy creatures he’d been around (sorry, Morgana). “I presume you must be prone to keeping busy, for someone to decide you need the reminder?”

"Oh, no. I'm a speedster," Tommy says quite simply as he offers a carrot stick out to Yusuke. "Hold it somewhere in front of his face, but give him space. He needs to realize what it is. Once he wraps his hand around it, you can let go. He'll have it."

Oh, and after a moment of thought he frowns. "Don't call me sir."

A... speedster…? Yusuke blinked, tilting his head with a slightly perplexed expression. “I’m not sure if I’m familiar with that term? Is that a way to reference being a runner or someone who races using some vehicle, perhaps?” He knew a runner, but certainly nothing like Tommy at the end of the day.

But he takes the carrot carefully and follows Tommy’s instructions carefully, holding the carrot just in front of Speedy’s face where the little creature could hopefully see it and get an idea that food was being offered.

The request gets a small pause, though, and the teen glanced at the frown with some uncertainty. “My apologies. What should I call you then, if you have a preference?” He responded, remembering rather late that they hadn’t really introduced themselves. “And I should mention, I’m Yusuke Kitagawa.”

"It means I'm faster than sound itself. Not faster than light, but I'm super fast."

Dude, he's amazing, and it's okay to be intimidated by that.

Speedy, with the slow and careful focus of a sloth, reaches a slow arm out and curls his two long claws around the carrot. Then he gently tugged until the carrot was free so he could bring it to his mouth and chomp on it.

"I'm Tommy, that's my preference. And it's nice to meet you Yusuke Kitagawa."

“That fast?? I see! So it’s a reference to an ability you possess. That’s quite impressive.” And, yes. The guy looked more surprised and impressed than he did intimidated. Yusuke did tend to take things that should be hard to believe in stride, though. Some thought it was weird, but it was how he was.

Plus… It was slightly difficult to be intimidated by someone with an adorable sloth hanging by a bag they were wearing. Sorry, Tommy. You’ll have to take impressed instead. And he was slightly appreciative of the idea that someone had given a person that fast a sloth for a reminder to slow down.

“That certainly makes the reminder from you little companion here make sense.” He commented with an amused hint in his tone as he watched the creature taking the carrot from him. Drawing his hand away once he was sure it wasn’t about to drop the carrot stick, he hummed lightly as he tilted his head to get a better look… Yes, he might be adding an odd sloth or two to his sketches somewhere between the lobsters and the ones containing the odd things he’d seen in this world.

Finally, he looked up at the introduction. “Tommy, then. I’ll be sure to remember that in the future… And in that case, you can simply call me Yusuke.”

Impressed will do given all he cares about is Speedy getting the credit he deserved. So cute, so nice. But it also wasn't like this was strange. His uncle had a pet turtle.

"I'll do so. And I'll keep myself from saying something stupid about it too, because I'm considerate like that. I work at the Lodge with Ignis like I said, but also run a delivery company in the city, so I'm usually around."

Well, there was something kind of amusing about the idea that it was a trend to give creatures known for their slow, relaxed paces to speedsters, certainly.

Yusuke blinked a little at the comment, clearly turning that idea over in his head. “Are you prone to saying stupid things? I don’t believe you have as yet, if that makes you feel any better.” He commented, wondering if the man was prone to sticking his foot in his mouth. Yusuke knew how easy it was to do that, even if he wasn’t always sure what he’d said in the first place at times that could be considered doing so. “Oh! I believe I’ve seen some of your employees running around the city. They wear those small badges, don’t they?”

Oh, Pietro wasn't given his. No, he'd chosen Mr. Dibbles all for himself.

"Nah, but that's just how it happens," Tommy answered with a shrug. Though then he's smiling. A lot.

"Yeah, those are my kids. I take care of them the best I can."

Yusuke could at least somewhat understand that, and he offered a knowing tone. “Indeed it does on some occasions, I suppose one cannot help it sometimes.”

But Tommy’s clear pride concerning ‘his kids,’ gives the man quite a pleasant expression, as Yusuke sees it. A rather brilliant smile, practically beaming… It was nice to think that someone might help children out, without any motives beyond that. They always seemed well fed, clothed and cheerful enough as they ran around taking their message carrying seriously. “That is quite kind of you to do, there are many who might not go so far for children in need of a little care.”

"I know," Tommy answered. "It's sorta a 'there but for the grace of god' shit."

He could have been like them, had he been born earlier in time. Someone who just needed a chance.

“Well, they are very lucky to have you.” He responded with a small nod before picking up his sandwich again. It was good to see the ways people seemed to be actively trying to help others and make this odd world a little better. Most people were only in something for personal gain, and wouldn’t think to even try to help. Admittedly, Yusuke found himself musing over how there may be a few living in the building he had been assigned that might find a place with Tommy’s group.

Oh. That's... Wow, he's not used to hearing shit like that. It's nice.

"Uh, thanks man. I just like helping them out. And the kids need the help sometimes. Some of them got shunted over to the orphanage when that opened, but a number of them were just locals with families that need the help."

And he does his best by them. They're his team now.

Yusuke nodded, tone curious as Tommy confirmed something he’d been wondering while also adding another question. “I had wondered if any of those I lived with were working with you. Though I find it interesting to hear that the orphanage wasn’t always there?” That indicated the orphanage was a new feature, which… Was odd to think about. Could he have simply been allowed to stay in the apartments before? Where did the children stay before now as well, but then again… this world did seem rather strange. Which probably made Tommy’s business all the more important when he began, if the children hadn’t had places to go.

"Yeah, it only arrived relatively recently," Tommy answered, frowning. "It's something the city does sometimes. It... happens. Things appear. Everyone who isn't like us just acts like it's always been that way. Kids from not here just had places in the apartments."

Including his little brother. But Billy had come and gone like a spring breeze.

“I see…” He murmured thoughtfully, musing over the fact that apparently they were the only ones who would have noticed the change. “I had wondered if that might be the case, the subject of them staying in the apartments before, that is. I can see how some may be better in a space where they can have people they can turn to if necessary…” Too young living alone in the apartments might be a bit dangerous or irresponsible, he supposed.

Still, it was mildly frustrating to be shuffled somewhere without choice. Even as he knew living in a more… social environment was good for him, as challenging as it could be. “But it seems an odd thing to develop rather than existing from the start.”

"Don't know. When Billy came, he was the youngest person. He had his own apartment. But I took care of him. How could I not?"

It was his brother, even if it was another world that he was from.

"I don't get this place at all. Still better than the Spheres."

“It is nice that he had you then. It is good to look out for one another when possible. Especially those younger who need it.” He said, somewhat thoughtfully. It was pretty clear that Billy had meant something to Tommy, regardless of their circumstances. The nearest he’d had to siblings would have been Madarame’s other pupils while they were still around, and… Well, that wasn’t a memory lane he felt like going down right now.

The second comment, at least, gets his attention and shifts the topic. “I’m sorry, the Spheres? I don’t believe I know of that, or at least no one’s spoken of it to me before.” Was that something he hadn’t learned of yet, or was it something from Tommy’s own world?

It was nice. Billy hadn't had to be alone, even if he had been the wrong Tommy.

"The place I was before this. The Sphere. It was a set of habitable domes under the ocean. We think."

Not like many people were from there.

“Before? I see… So you weren’t even in your own world before here.” He tapped his chin lightly, turning the idea over in his head. That was troubling to imagine, frustrating enough to miss home for however long a place kept you… More frustrating still, to not be sent home when it was done with you. “My apologies, I hadn’t realized. That must be quite difficult, to be bounced from one place to another that isn’t your own.” He added as an afterthought, shaking himself out of his musings.

“That world must have been quite the odd sight, though, to be living under the ocean? Or wherever it might have been that was like that.” He added, trying to imagine such a place if his expression were anything to go by. It was hard for him to not wonder what the domes looked like and what one might have seen in the depths. He couldn't even fathom how anything could exist at that depth other than the sea creatures meant to be there, unlike people.

It was more difficult than Yusuke could imagine, and at this point Tommy wanted nothing more than to just go home. But for now he was taking care of the kids and that had to be enough.

"It was... claustrophobic. Everything was wrong. A lot of the people there apparently weren't real. It was bad. I don't suggest it."

A frown finally crossed his face, interrupting the thoughtful musings. Suddenly it was hard to not imagine a dark and murky world, a place no one would wish to remain. “That certainly sounds less desirable for a place to be trapped away from home, at least compared to my experience in this place so far.” People who weren’t real though? How was that exactly, was it almost like the cognitive versions of people in the metaverse, or something similar? Probably not, of course, it sounded entirely different but… no less unpleasant.

Even if he didn’t think ending up here was exactly lucky, Yusuke still felt rather fortunate to have ended up in this world when he realized he could have ended up somewhere worse by the sounds of it.

It was a bit more complicated than that, but since TOmmy couldn't see what the dude was imagining, he couldn't even begin to correct it.

"It wasn't so bad. A version of my mom was there, and I had friends. I got Speedy. I had Gar."

Past tense. Fuck, he needs to stop thinking about Gar. It hurt too much.

"Yeah, this place is better than there. Especially without the forced sharing of memories happening a ton, or the nightmares manifesting."

It was hard to not note the expression on Tommy’s face as he listed those who he had. The past tense, the obvious note of loss lingering behind it. It seemed that Speedy here was the only one of those he had remaining, or at least near enough to it. “I see… I am sorry for them not being here now, it is particularly jarring and upsetting to be used to having people there and suddenly to find them beyond your grasp.” Yusuke responded in a rather sincere tone. He missed his certain people dearly since arriving here. Their care and support had been something he found great comfort and stability in. So it was not hard to imagine Tommy was feeling a strain without those dear to him.

Yusuke’s expression shifted to something akin to horror at the very idea that such a thing should happen. The idea of memories being shared without consent, or one’s nightmares becoming real? “That sounds rather frightful. I certainly would find that horribly invasive and uncomfortable to have such things spread to those around me without permission.”

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