I don't want to love a weak-minded love

[hairpincurves]

Who: Akira and you!
What: A new friend hatches, Valentine's things
When: Throughout the first half of February
Where: Throughout the station for the first prompt; one of the kitchens in Keystone for the second; throughout Keystone, then Lodestone, then the viewing deck back at Keystone for the third
Warnings: Nothing anticipated besides bitter singles club-related grumbling on the 14th, but if anything major comes up, I'll change this.

confined within unfilled time
(February 3rd - 11th)
[After a couple days of being out of commission (sickness sucks), Akira's out and about again! She wastes no time getting back to her usual routine... if taking it a bit easier, after that. And making a point to spend less time outside.

She's especially staying inside on the 11th, actually. But, as luck would have it, she's occupied by other things--that egg she's been spotted carrying around since Bellmare? It's finally starting to hatch! And as for what comes out...

Is... Is that a sword? That... sure is a thing she guesses.

After a while, she can be spotted with her Murkrow and the floating sword... trying to name it? She's naming off what someone from versions of earth might recognize as legendary or mythological swords...]

Laevateinn? [There's a pause as she shakes her head.] Actually... no, never mind. I'm not about to name you something that translates to 'damage twig'...

[... The Honedge lets out a noise that vaguely translates as 'and thank god for that'.]

it's "incomplete" I'll say it time and time again
(February 12th-13th)
[Akira's busy these two days--like, seriously, she's basically spending all her time in the kitchen? Though, a look at what she's making probably makes it clear why--that's a lot of chocolate she's working with, goddamn. She does, at least, seem to be taking breaks every now and then. Anyone approaching during one of these breaks will be greeted enthusiastically and, if she's aware they like sweets, offered some of the chocolate she's working with to taste-test.

Though, interestingly, it's not all chocolate she's working with... are those sesame seed cookies?]

amidst a love that missed hitting "no"
(February 14th)
[Akira's pretty scarce today. You might catch her running around in the morning while she seems to be looking for people... Though, it kind of seems like she's in a hurry to get out of there.

(On the off chance anyone's out at Lodestone that day for some reason, Akira can be found there, spending the time baking.)

... She returns in the evening, but spends most of it out on the viewing deck... with an entire chocolate cake all to herself. She's looking pretty grumpy as she cuts a slice and starts eating...]

Comments

YOWAI NA AI O DAITE KURENAI NO (feb 14)

[ninjabanish]

[Alice has been... scarce, lately. Finding out that Sophie and Aran have left has had her keeping to herself, as she doesn't want anyone to see her crying. But she can't continue to hide forever...

She finally pokes out again, trying to find her friends, when she spies... Akira? On her own? With an entire chocolate cake?

Which means this giant fucking ninja is going to be quietly appearing out of nowhere behind Akira. Or rather, walking up normally, it's just that her 'normal' is sneaking because she was trained as a ninja and that's just how she moves.]

Akira? What is that?

[hairpincurves]

[... Man, it sure is a good thing spending time around Nagisa got her used to suddenly people being there when they didn't seem to be before... As such, she's only barely startled as she turns around, offering a sheepish smile to Alice.]

Oh. Hey. It's, ah... a cake I made today. I needed something to occupy my time today while I spent it out at Lodestone, so I decided to do some baking.

[She pauses.]

... Want a slice? I probably shouldn't eat this whole thing by myself...

[ninjabanish]

I would be honored to try it.

[... okay, listen, that probably sounds weird, but remember, medieval. a chocolate cake in her mind is like, worth more than a year's wages for most people.]

It never ceases to astound me how plentiful everything seems here.

[hairpincurves]

[... it's probably for the better that Alice didn't see the near obscene amount of chocolate she'd been working with the past couple of days, then.]

Ah, that's right, chocolate's pretty rare for most people back in your world, huh?

[Said as she starts cutting another slice of the cake, sliding it onto a plate and offering that to Alice, with a fork soon to follow.]

It's kind of crazy to think about. Something I'd do on a whim back home being so valuable elsewhere...

[ninjabanish]

It is. If I had to put it into words... For the common folk of no status, to ever taste this is a dream within a dream. For those who live in farming villages, this one slice is worth more than three years' full harvests.

[so. yeah. it's a big fuckin deal.

... The way she sits, holding the plate, and being sure to cut the cake with the fork to taste it in small bites definitely shows she is not unfamiliar with cake, though. And that she has incredibly proper table manners about it.]

... I was truly fortunate, to have been able to taste such things in my life before.

[hairpincurves]

[She lets out a low whistle.]

We really do have it good here... and I have it good back home, too. I could go to the corner store and just buy some chocolate, if I wanted.

[... Actually, she kind of misses being able to do that, even if not needing to pay for things is nice.]

People would hardly bat an eye at someone casually giving chocolate as a gift...

[ninjabanish]

I can hardly imagine what that must be like.

[She laughs a bit, taking another bite...]

Sweet things are valuable. Perhaps even more than gold. The idea of it being such a casual gift...

[A smile tugs at the corners of her mouth.]

Your world is truly blessed.

[hairpincurves]

Ah... well, it's got its bad points, too. But... in some ways, I guess it really is, huh? I know I'm definitely not going to be taking anything there for granted anymore...

[ninjabanish]

Nor I. Travel always serves to broaden one's horizons... It seems the further one travels, the broader they become.

12th

[nor_iron_bars]

[So, fun fact: despite what you'd think, having a gas mask on doesn't do much to block Jail's sense of smell. And right now?]

[She smells chocolate.]

[She's a scavenger at heart, really, she can't just let this go uninvestigated. So she follows her nose down to the Station kitchen, until she's staring at Akira's chocolates with very clear intent.]

These for everybody?

[She's already reaching for one. It's probably amazing that she asked at all.]

[hairpincurves]

Those ones are, yeah.

[She grins as she glances over to Jail.]

And quality control is a key part of this process, isn't it?

[nor_iron_bars]

Oh yeah, totally.

[Jail nods solemnly and immediately pops one in her mouth. Mmm, chocolate.]

Gotta test that kinda thing, otherwise it just ain't responsible. And, well. You know me.

[She surveys the tray and selects another one with exaggerated care.]

I'm all about responsibility.

[...sometimes, it's a wonder these lies don't just get her struck by lightning on the spot.]

[hairpincurves]

Absolutely. And responsibility about chocolate is the greatest of all.

[She snickers.]

Those are the salted caramel ones, right? How did those turn out?

[nor_iron_bars]

Legit.

[She tilts her head slightly as she chews, considering, and gives Akira an approving thumbs-up by way of conclusion.]

Not bad, caramel came out pretty good. Maybe, like, a tiny amount less salt'd be better? But still a solid B+.

[She says, like she wouldn't still eat them even if they came out completely ruined.]

[hairpincurves]

Niiiiiice. So, loads better than my first attempt. I really need to work on a lighter hand with the salt.

[Still, she seems pretty pleased.]

What kind of chocolates do you like? I'm trying to get a good variety here, since I'm going to be handing out some boxes with a decent mix...

[nor_iron_bars]

Yeah, a little goes a long way. Might not be the best person to ask on that one, though- my favorite kind of chocolate is "more".

[Well, at least she's honest.]

[hairpincurves]

Hey, fair enough. I can't say I'm not the same way. And then combine that with a willingness to try most things...

[nor_iron_bars]

Means you got a great place to toss anything that comes out weird.

[Yep, she's shamelessly angling for extra chocolate by calling dibs on the mistakes. Some things never change.]

11th

[nojohnyouare]

[Mai's taking Bear-san for a walk around the station when he notices a metal friend! Swords are nice. He totters over and she follows.]

Sword?

[hairpincurves]

[The Honedge makes a curious noise at Bear-san and floats down to greet him! Akira, meanwhile, waves at Mai.]

One that came out of an egg, if you'll believe it.

[nojohnyouare]

[Bear-san tilts his head up and... okay, bursts of vacuuming are probably his attempt to sniff the Honedge.]

Like Kyouko's dog-san. From another world.

[hairpincurves]

Mhm! I suspect it might be a Pokemon, like Bedb-chan and Goro's Yaeki-chan.

[The Murkrow caws when her name's mentioned and she flutters down to perch on Bear-san.]

[nojohnyouare]

[Bear-san makes a grumpy growl and tries to paw up at her, which doesn't really work, considering how poorly articulated his robot body is. He eventually just gives up and leaves her there.]

Mm. I haven't seen many. But I knew someone who had them. Usually ghost-san.

[hairpincurves]

[The Murkrow caws triumphantly and settles where she is.]

Yeah? [...] Think this one might be a ghost? [Glancing to the Honedge now...]

[nojohnyouare]

Unsure. I don't know much about them. ...Are you?

[She asks as if the Honedge will reply.]

Feb 11?

[blessedprotector_rising]

[Because of course she's around when the egg hatches. She's been on and off curious about it, after all.

Don't mind the Gym Leader staring. W T F.]

Laev-

[Deities, Clair can't even pronounce that.]I... I can't say I've ever heard of anything like this happening... Or seen a pokemon like that.

[hairpincurves]

At this rate, I'm not sure I should question much of anything about Pokemon anymore...

[The sound Bedb lets out almost sounds like laughter.]

And, uh, Laevateinn is a sword from mythology in my world. Norse, specifically. And, like I said, translates to "damage twig"...

[blessedprotector_rising]

I'm inclined to believe you on that.

[Just. That was the weirdest thing ever.]

Hardly strangest name for a sword [-or a pokemon] But perhaps another name for this one.

Feb 11

[redmeguca]

[Magical Girl Kyoko sent out Growlithe! And by "sent out" I mean "Momo jumped out of her arms and it currently sniffing curiously at the Honedge.]

Momo, what are you- oh, hey there Akira-chan. You found a Pokemon too, huh?

[hairpincurves]

Yeah, I found the egg up in the mountains!

[The Honedge lets out a curious noise as it studies Momo. The Steel-type isn't the only one, though, Akira offering a hand for the Growlithe to sniff at as well.]

So that's what the one you found hatched into, huh?

[redmeguca]

Yep. Akira-chan, meet Momo. I'm warning you now, she's probably going to try to fight your sword or your bird at some point.

[But not right now, as she is too busy smelling ALL THE THINGS! Akira, and the Murkrow too.]

[hairpincurves]

That's a Pokemon thing, right? Bedb-chan and Yaeki-chan get into tussles a lot, I've noticed... Though, admittedly, I thought that was because Yaeki-chan's a bit of a prankster.

[The Murkrow caws and tilts her head to examine Momo better.]

[redmeguca]

Yeah, I've found a book or two that says that Pokémon fight each other pretty much all the time, for any reason. Honestly, that sounds like my kind of world.

[Momo holds her head up as to be examined better.]

[hairpincurves]

Huh, neat! I can't say I'm opposed to that kind of problem-solving myself.

[Akira.

After a bit, Bedb lets out a caw of approval and flutters back up to rest on Akira's lap. Akira reaches down to pet Momo with a grin.]

[redmeguca]

[Momo happily allows Akira to pet her, raising her head to meet the hand.]

Hey, maybe we can set up a battle between Momo and...

[Kyoko just. Stares kind of blankly at the Honedge.

[hairpincurves]

... I'm still working on the name. The little one's rejected everything I've said so far... I thought Durandal sounded pretty cool...

[redmeguca]

How about... Kusanagi. Susano-o's sword, one of the three treasures of Japan, it's a pretty good one.

Feb 13th

[have_hat_will_travel]

[Pidonus had actually noticed Akira's amount of cooking yesterday, but didn't ask much of it. By day two, however, as Akira is on break, she thinks to ask...]

Erm. Hey. How goes it?

[Okay. She's not getting right to the question but.]

[hairpincurves]

Oh! Pidonus-san, hi!

[She perks up when the succubus approaches, greeting her with a smile.]

Things are going pretty well. I haven't caused any kitchen disasters, that's a good thing.

[... Not that she's caused any of those since she got here, but, you know. There have been plenty of kitchen disasters.]

[have_hat_will_travel]

Well, that's a yay.

But I couldn't help but notice you were working in there all yesterday and a fair bit of today. What's the context?

[hairpincurves]

Valentine's Day! I dunno if you have it in your world, but if you don't, it's a celebration of love and affection... Where I'm from, girls usually give chocolate to people they know on February 14th. Male classmates or coworkers usually get chocolate out of obligation not that I ever did it back home but someone a girl has romantic attachment to gets nicer stuff. And sometimes girls will give chocolate to female friends! That's giri-choco, honmei-choco, and tomo-choco respectively.

So, this is what I'm making for people around the station! I don't really have anyone to give honmei-choco to here, but I figured I'd do something nicer than the typical obligation and friendship chocolate.

[have_hat_will_travel]

Ah.

Yeah, definitely not much like that in my area... Really getting to celebrate love itself, rather than it being an obligation, is... I guess newer than my world.