[closed] it's not a nutritional dinner

[kokuyoyo]

Who: Chikusa, Ken, and all the people invited to Hakkai's temple
When: October 12
Where: Li Tieugai's temple in the Central District
What: Having recently lost their other god, Ken is sad by yet another loss.... so Chikusa is fixing this with his dog's favorite things: people he likes and copious amounts of meat.

Unless people actually ask, Chikusa.... doesn't exactly tell what time the dinner is actually going to be at. At least he'll probably tell them that Hakkai's temple moved? One would hope.

The temple of Iron Crutch Li doesn't really seem all that impressive upon approaching it, despite being in the Central District. The walled gardens are certainly large and lovely enough, if a little wild, but the building itself is rather plain at its two stories. There's a small sign attached to the front door that simply says 'come in'. Chikusa isn't going to bother answering the door for visitors. It's not like Hakkai locks that thing anyway.

The inside of the temple is about as sparsely decorated as its outside, but, today, the overwhelming smell wafting from the kitchen has overtaken any medicinal smells that might normally be about. It adds a certain warmth to the room.

Until dinner will be served a little later into the night, people are free to do whatever- hang about the gardens, go bother Chikusa in the kitchen, or otherwise find the other residents of the temple. Chikusa won't care to stop anyone, although Hakkai might.

As for dinner? Chikusa is serving so much meat: rabbit stew with olives and rosemary, swordfish, curried chicken, veal marsala, and a more traditional spaghetti served with meatballs. Fortunately, at least there's garlic bread and stuffed mushrooms, so there's something that isn't meat.... And for dessert? Zeppole, cannoli, and an apple ciambella with almond cream.

Comments

A

[moonlitknight]

[ From behind: ]

You're moping.

[junkyarddog]

[Ken half turns his head to glance at Zero over his shoulder.] They took Roy-sama.

[moonlitknight]

[ No response. He doesn't know who that is. ]

Who's they?

[junkyarddog]

Whoever makes gods disappear here. They took Roy-sama away, just like they took Axel-sama.

But...Roy-sama took better care of me than Axel-sama did...

[moonlitknight]

[ Whoever makes gods disappear... then that meant...

He looks at him, remembering the last time he lost his god. Cerberus had picked up the broken wails he'd let loose into the night. He hadn't known him then, but it was impossible to ignore the depth of pain in those howls. It was different this time, but that didn't mean it hurt any less. That was the thing about pain, the more it plagued you, the higher your tolerance.

And now, he had lost his second god. ]

.....

[ He doesn't offer him any words of platitude, instead he steps beside him, inches apart, and gently places a hand on his head; a silent pillar of support. ]

[junkyarddog]

[The gentle comfort is almost too much for Ken's depressed sensibilities. He ducks his head slightly under Zero's hand, eyes squeezing shut, and makes a low, almost whimpering whine in the back of his throat, leaning towards Zero enough that he's almost leaning against him.

Zero's entirely correct; just because Ken isn't howling wildly this time doesn't mean he's not hurting just as bad, if not worse. It's not just because he's been through this before that he isn't wild with grief, though; it's also because he still has a god, and doesn't feel as utterly abandoned and lost as a result.]

[moonlitknight]

[ He doesn't break the silence, letting Ken draw closer without judgement as the Hunter pulls him closer, letting him work through his emotions without intruding even more than he already has. ]

[junkyarddog]

[Eventually, Ken's resting his forehead against Zero's chest, head bowed. Tiny, half-suppressed noises occasionally escape his throat, low and plaintive, but mostly he's quiet; there are tears, too, but at this angle they're almost impossible to see.

He doesn't know what to say. There doesn't appear to be much for him to do, either. All he can do is lean against Zero, and ache.]

[moonlitknight]

[ Those stuttering half-formed cries seep into his heart causing pain to bloom deep in his chest. ]

You're not alone.

[ He whispers as he pulls him into his arms in a warm embrace. ]

[junkyarddog]

[Ken lets himself be held, not resisting at all; in fact, he lifts his hands slightly, fingers curling into the front of Zero's shirt. He's not quite holding Zero there; he just seems to need something to hold onto.

(His claws may be leaving small holes, but that's an unintentional consequence of long claws and an agony-tight grip.]