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( open. )
WHO: Gen & OTA TO KENOMA.
WHAT: A Very Special Episode about how good and fun it is to stop smoking.
WHERE: Around the Citadel, Achamoth.
WHEN: Early-to-mid Visoseri, starting early during the Rise to the Challenge event.
WARNINGS: None at the moment!
i. training fields ( closed to LIEM )
[ It's not like he actually enjoys physical activity in any capacity, whether it be fighting or training or labor. The construction work he'd done back home and the training he does here are mostly the same to him -- just a job, a means to an end, and something "productive" he can do to vent his energy and keep himself occupied. Gen can't really imagine what kind of muscleheaded jock actually finds this shit fun or rewarding in its own right.
That said, the taste of a smoke right after a period of strenuous work almost makes it worth it.
Late in the afternoon, after one of the semi-regular group training sessions has wrapped up and the equipment's been mostly put away, with just a few stragglers still hanging behind to chit-chat and do final cool-downs. From where he's walking by, Liem might hear the sound of a soft click, a pause, then a deep sigh of contentment. Sensitive as he is to smells, it won't take him much effort to pinpoint the bitter tang of cigarette smoke; a plume of gray directs the eye to where Gen's leaning against one of the fences surrounding the training field, looking perfectly at home as he takes another deep drag.
And, feeling that glance directed his way, he looks over. Lucky for Liem, he's caught Gen before he could pocket his cigarettes once more, and since he's in a good mood he gives a cant of the head before holding out the pack in his direction. His words come slightly muffled around the cigarette in his mouth: ]
What, you want one?
ii. citadel grounds ( the sickly option )
[ It's a nice sunny afternoon, warm but not too warm, clear skies, etc. And anyone walking through the citadel grounds, might hear the sound of a low groan and a hoarse voice calling to them: ]
-- hey. [ It only takes a glance over to spot where Gen is slumped on a bench under the dappled shade of a tree, looking thoroughly pale and miserable and unwell. But more importantly, he gives a few shallow coughs before mumbling: ] Get this thing off me.
[ 'This thing' being a stray cat that's draped itself over his throat and chest, apparently having the best nap of its life, using him as a bed while it soaks up the sun. In typical cat fashion, of course it's made itself right at home on the place where it's least welcome at the moment. And while Gen really does look like he's having a rough time of it, and would appreciate being freed of that weight on his chest without having to unscrunch himself from the inglorious position he's huddled himself into ...
The cat looks really cute. And comfy. It's even purring a little! Maybe it'd be fine to just let it continue napping there. ]
iii. training fields ( the cranky option )
[ There's sounds of a commotion coming from the training field. Some sort of argument, it sounds like? And while the shouting and the snarling dies down by the time any concerned interlopers show up, one might spot the way several guards hurriedly exit the grounds, looking disgruntled and muttering something begrudging amongst themselves. One is nursing a bleeding nose leaving a trail of red spots on the ground.
And left on the otherwise-empty training circle is one (1) horrible teenager scuffing a hand through his hair, looking thoroughly roughed-up and irate. He's sporting a few scratches and a freshly-welling bruise on his cheek himself, but either hasn't noticed or doesn't care. Instead, the moment anyone even peeks into the training field, he's quick to turn on them with snarl. ]
-- the hell're you looking at.
iv. corridors ( the tired option )
[ Some stupid hour of the night finds the corridors of the Citadel largely quiet and empty. Almost peaceful. But well ... here he is, wide awake and dying for a smoke.
Anyone who glances down the corridor towards the balcony at its very end, illuminated by cold moonlight and framed by the swing of the door left open, might spot Gen where he's practically draped over the railing surrounding that little balcony, staring listlessly out at nothing.
This really would be a nice place to smoke and relax. But instead, here he is with his nerves rubbed raw by withdrawal, practically shivering from the way he can't quite calm down. Even the slightest noise coming from the corridor has him jerking around to glance over like a spooked dog ready to attack. Sorry not sorry if you were just trying to get to your room and instead find yourself being stared down by this incredibly tired but frazzled-looking youth. ]
v. wildcard
[ I'm open to just about anything! Please feel free to hit me with whatever, but otherwise I'm around at![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
databomb, inktrashing#5307 on Discord, or right here on the event plotting post if you'd like to plot things first or want me to shotgun some ideas at you to see if anything piques your fancy! ]
WHAT: A Very Special Episode about how good and fun it is to stop smoking.
WHERE: Around the Citadel, Achamoth.
WHEN: Early-to-mid Visoseri, starting early during the Rise to the Challenge event.
WARNINGS: None at the moment!
i. training fields ( closed to LIEM )
[ It's not like he actually enjoys physical activity in any capacity, whether it be fighting or training or labor. The construction work he'd done back home and the training he does here are mostly the same to him -- just a job, a means to an end, and something "productive" he can do to vent his energy and keep himself occupied. Gen can't really imagine what kind of muscleheaded jock actually finds this shit fun or rewarding in its own right.
That said, the taste of a smoke right after a period of strenuous work almost makes it worth it.
Late in the afternoon, after one of the semi-regular group training sessions has wrapped up and the equipment's been mostly put away, with just a few stragglers still hanging behind to chit-chat and do final cool-downs. From where he's walking by, Liem might hear the sound of a soft click, a pause, then a deep sigh of contentment. Sensitive as he is to smells, it won't take him much effort to pinpoint the bitter tang of cigarette smoke; a plume of gray directs the eye to where Gen's leaning against one of the fences surrounding the training field, looking perfectly at home as he takes another deep drag.
And, feeling that glance directed his way, he looks over. Lucky for Liem, he's caught Gen before he could pocket his cigarettes once more, and since he's in a good mood he gives a cant of the head before holding out the pack in his direction. His words come slightly muffled around the cigarette in his mouth: ]
What, you want one?
ii. citadel grounds ( the sickly option )
[ It's a nice sunny afternoon, warm but not too warm, clear skies, etc. And anyone walking through the citadel grounds, might hear the sound of a low groan and a hoarse voice calling to them: ]
-- hey. [ It only takes a glance over to spot where Gen is slumped on a bench under the dappled shade of a tree, looking thoroughly pale and miserable and unwell. But more importantly, he gives a few shallow coughs before mumbling: ] Get this thing off me.
[ 'This thing' being a stray cat that's draped itself over his throat and chest, apparently having the best nap of its life, using him as a bed while it soaks up the sun. In typical cat fashion, of course it's made itself right at home on the place where it's least welcome at the moment. And while Gen really does look like he's having a rough time of it, and would appreciate being freed of that weight on his chest without having to unscrunch himself from the inglorious position he's huddled himself into ...
The cat looks really cute. And comfy. It's even purring a little! Maybe it'd be fine to just let it continue napping there. ]
iii. training fields ( the cranky option )
[ There's sounds of a commotion coming from the training field. Some sort of argument, it sounds like? And while the shouting and the snarling dies down by the time any concerned interlopers show up, one might spot the way several guards hurriedly exit the grounds, looking disgruntled and muttering something begrudging amongst themselves. One is nursing a bleeding nose leaving a trail of red spots on the ground.
And left on the otherwise-empty training circle is one (1) horrible teenager scuffing a hand through his hair, looking thoroughly roughed-up and irate. He's sporting a few scratches and a freshly-welling bruise on his cheek himself, but either hasn't noticed or doesn't care. Instead, the moment anyone even peeks into the training field, he's quick to turn on them with snarl. ]
-- the hell're you looking at.
iv. corridors ( the tired option )
[ Some stupid hour of the night finds the corridors of the Citadel largely quiet and empty. Almost peaceful. But well ... here he is, wide awake and dying for a smoke.
Anyone who glances down the corridor towards the balcony at its very end, illuminated by cold moonlight and framed by the swing of the door left open, might spot Gen where he's practically draped over the railing surrounding that little balcony, staring listlessly out at nothing.
This really would be a nice place to smoke and relax. But instead, here he is with his nerves rubbed raw by withdrawal, practically shivering from the way he can't quite calm down. Even the slightest noise coming from the corridor has him jerking around to glance over like a spooked dog ready to attack. Sorry not sorry if you were just trying to get to your room and instead find yourself being stared down by this incredibly tired but frazzled-looking youth. ]
v. wildcard
[ I'm open to just about anything! Please feel free to hit me with whatever, but otherwise I'm around at
no subject
Is it a silver lining or ignoring a ticking time bomb, that they are both carrying on almost as if their encounter in Venera never happened? One way to find out.]
More rice should be an easy request to make, we'll just have to make sure they boil it properly. [Western rice is... Actually, a very good thing that Gen probably doesn't know how badly it can be made in Europe,] What about noodle dishes? We could try looking into if dishes like ramen or udon could be done here, too.
[Too bad she hardly cooked herself because of work back in Japan, but with enough trial and error, maybe they could imitate something similar? It doesn't have to be perfect, neither of them seem to be particularly picky eaters anyway. Ciel just has very strong personal preferences, that's all.
There's a small pause at his question, but ultimately, she answers plainly without making a notable deal out of it.]
Yes. My mother was Japanese, I was born abroad. I came to study in Japan due to... circumstances.
[The last word is said in way that heavily implies "there is bullshit involved". She normally doesn't like to go into much details about herself, but given... whatever the HECK that ended up forming being between them, might as well. (He still hates her and she knows it, but he's here stuffing his face with cupcakes she made while they have what passably resembles a 'normal' conversation, mmhm.) What's the point in being dodgy, anyway? It's not going to change things, he already knows she's a monster too. One doesn't end up being what she is for no reason. Besides, it doesn't matter anyway: the only thing that does is contribute to the cause that called out to her, that certainty had grown within the last few days. 'Better attuned', was it...?]
no subject
Noodles'd be fine.
[ Gen finishes off his cupcake, then idly licks a few flecks of icing off his fingers and the side of his hand. ]
Just miss the ... the flavors of stuff that's more familiar, sometime. Not like I'm expecting anyone here to match the menu or taste of convenience store food or stuff from family restaurants exactly. Just something close enough.
[ He makes no mention of any finer dining options, Ciel might note. Which seems appropriate enough for his age? But he doesn't speak about any home cooking, either. He actually can't remember the last time he'd stuck around home for dinnertime and happened to have his stepmother cook a proper meal for him, so the familiar taste of junk food eaten away from home is what he ends up missing the most in comparison to the regular meals they eat here.
His movements are definitely growing more languid as he fetches one last cupcake for himself, looking it over instead of immediately starting to demolish it. Too bad Ciel wasn't making something savory, instead; he probably could have eaten a lot more, and with way more quickly. But at least all this sugar should be enough to sate his cravings for now. ]
Not like I actually miss home, but ... [ He shrugs as he takes a modest bite. ] Y'know how it is.
[ It's telling though, isn't it? The fact that Gen feels the need to clarify that he doesn't miss anything of his home. And while it's not like he's lying -- the deepening hold the Kenoma has on his psyche ensures he means it when he says that -- some part of him still feels the need to confirm it out loud. Like he needs to reaffirm it for himself. ]
no subject
She mixes the lemon juice and the faintest pinch of salt together, and after whipping it some more, does use the other end of one of her makeshift chopsticks to scoop out a bit of the icing to have a taste herself. Mm, it's less sweet now, but figures she couldn't tell it was too much earlier; she had grown up in a French bakery and was used to the sweetness level of things from back then, and practically everything is sweeter in Europe compared to Asia. That done, she sets the bowl aside once more, this time closer towards Gen in the dubious case that he wants to try going for another icing dip again. Food is a luxury she can understand despite her questionable personal taste at least, that Gen doesn't speak of more homely food doesn't strike her as anything out of the ordinary either. He wouldn't want to talk about anything that may come across as personal around her if he can help it anyway, right? Home cooking is sappy, it doesn't help cultivate the tough and punkish delinquent imagery either. Preferring convenience store food seems fitting, he also does seem like the sort who may be overly picky.
So indeed, his need to clarify he doesn't miss home is what ends up sticking out, that he feels compelled to voice it out loud is much more notable than if he's said nothing at all.]
Mm.
[But then what? It's not like they can 'go home'. Their present is Achamoth, Horos, to not even get into how they both had to deal with... things before ending up here. It's been many years since she last had anything to call 'home' anyway, how can she approach this even if she makes an effort to?]
What about red bean, black sesame paste, and stuff like that? Eastern snacks are less sweet than western ones, too.
[Food remains the easier topic, in the end.]
no subject
Gen shrugs to himself before dunking his cupcake in the renewed icing. ]
Not really that much into sweets. [ He says, as he looks at his newly-decorated cupcake. ] Ate'em when girls wanted to get them and then whined about too many calories, or there being too much, or whatever. But they're not really my thing. Eastern or Western.
[ But enough of 'his thing' to demolish half a pan of cupcakes by himself, evidently.
A pause as he finally takes the glass of water Ciel had put down a while ago. It seems enough time's finally passed that he's willing to accept it and pretend Ciel isn't the one who'd given it to him. Also, five cupcakes is the limit of what he can eat (practically non-stop) before needing hydration. And after a long sip, he takes a bite of the frosted cupcake.
Gen chews slowly. And makes absolutely no comment about its taste, predictably. But this time, his expression doesn't scrunch up at all; it seems this revised version of the frosting is more to his tastes. ]
Not like I know anything about cooking, though. So I'll eat anything familiar while -- ... [ Another small pause. 'While we're here,' he'd started saying. But that doesn't feel like Something deep in the recesses of his chest whispers a reminder in his ear that there is no 'while,' because his home is gone. This is his new home. ] ... since I'm here.
[ Then he shoves the remaining half of the cupcake in his mouth in one go. Disgusting. ]
no subject
[No idea about the other girls, but Ciel does muse that much out loud once Gen's elaborated about the
normalones he's used to back from his world. Which does track, she's heard chitchat on that line during her brief stint as high school 'senpai' too.That said, she should really resume working on getting that second batch started. There's one important reason why she doesn't though, and it's to peer over her own shoulder to watch his reaction after he's gone ahead for the second dunk.
...
Oh, he didn't make a face! That's good. Satisfied, Ciel puts herself back to work.]
So... Thank you for the taste test. It may have been too much for her, and knowing her, she would be too polite to say anything.
[Is there an implication in there somewhere? Never mind that, because Ciel's moving on without elaborating further. She needs to measure the sugar and flour to get the second batch started, and she needs her eyes for that.
(That "slip"... No. There's no point making mention of it, even if she wanted to.)]
Right. Speaking of eating, how do you usually get your meals? Delivered to your room, bought in the city, or maybe decided by whim depending on how you feel on the spot?
[Asking for... no reason, she's not looking his way because she can't anyway. Which is probably for the best, as much as she may otherwise be tempted to gauge his reaction by sneaking a glance back again. Is that enough to make him moody and wary...?]
no subject
As for her question about his eating habits ...
It's mostly because he's distractedly staring at the cupcake pan, debating whether to take one more for himself or not, that he doesn't just brush it off. It doesn't hurt, either, that his thoughts are still a foggy mess; it's hard thinking about more than one thing at a time, and with cupcakes on the mind, he can't be bothered to consider why Ciel's asking such a thing. ]
You think I'm the type to plan those things? [ In other words, he makes himself a pain in the ass to the kitchen staff by demanding things without warning. Also, in the end, he does decide to take one more cupcake for himself; he holds onto this one without immediately tearing into it, though. ] I usually eat in my room after training. But otherwise -- just whatever I feel like. Not like I have a schedule to keep.
[ So he says, but it won't take much digging for Ciel to find out that Gen does keep a fairly regular schedule in the mornings and early afternoons: intense bouts of sparring or training in the mornings, under Eustace's guidance or with off-duty guards, then a generous meal of, to quote his words, 'whatever, just pick something good' brought to his room by his retainer. The kitchen staff, at least, appreciate that Gen makes for a fantastically unpicky client as long as they provide enough food.
A pause before Gen directs a weary look her way. ]
What, you about to start bitching at me about my eating habits, too? [ That thought occurs to him only now, after he's already answered it. ] Or are you just nosy about what everyone eats.
no subject
She hasn't stalked that deeply into his everyday life at the citadel, but she does know that he takes his training very seriously thanks to keeping in touch with Eustace and Emet-Selch. (He picks who to go with depending on his mood, doesn't he?) Persistent training requires discipline, so he probably doesn't live as wildly as he may be implying. Not that anyone can really stop him if he decides to go off the rails, but... Stuff like that is part of why she goes around asking other adults to keep an eye on him, which is not snitching.
Busy with a less sweet batch of cupcakes, Gen's stare lands squarely on her back.]
I did make a meal plan for Emet-Selch, I also had to make sure he abided by it. But he's [a tired old man] someone who needs to be reminded to eat, so what he's served has to taste good, be energizing, and nutritious.
[Smh Ascian/emperor/whatever that Emet is... That said.]
You're still growing, so as long as you eat enough, it should be okay. I was just thinking... I suppose you'll find out sooner or later by yourself, once the kitchen staff starts serving more Eastern-style dishes.
[Or she can also simply hit up his poor retainer and inform him of "Sir Minegishi"'s preferences, and let the rest sort themselves out on their own. Ciel CAN work with Gen by interacting with everyone around him except the guy himself, it's as valid a strategy as any other? Anyway, she still has cupcakes to make, and he's already demolished through the half a dozen she previously had ready. RIP Gray's bday cuppy cakes that were going to have gray cat icing decorating them... But at least the next batch will be less sweet, so everything turned out for the best?]