thenearshore | [closed] it's not a nutritional dinner

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[closed] it's not a nutritional dinner

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.

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I don't mind rewatching movies myself, but it's always more interesting to watch one for the first time, isn't it?

So I bought a few down on the Near Shore for the party.

[In the certain knowledge that Chikusa was going to collapse after a day of cooking and be immovable from the couch for hours.]

I guess? I've never re-watched a movie. For me every time is the first time. She didn't seem very put out about it though. But I did catch her humming some of the songs.

[He laughed softly and smiled.]

Sounds like a good idea really. It'll help keep everyone entertained since I'm sure Chikusa will be tired after all that hardwork cooking for everyone.

You haven't been here very long yet, have you?

[Meaning: not nearly enough time to watch movies more than once. He smiles, briefly, and starts this one up before returning to settle on his end of the couch.]

I'm sure, if she knew the songs, she did enjoy the movie -- so you shouldn't feel bad about it.

Not really? I've been trying to learn things here and there so I haven't really just sat down and watched things.

[He's settling, drawing a throw pillow into his lap hugging it against himself. A smile tugged at his lips.]

I really hope so.

No, I remember what it was like first arriving here. There's not much time to sit around and watch movies.

It takes a while to get your bearings!

[He smiles a little, settling back more deeply into his spot with legs crossed.]

Exactly. I'm trying to learn the spells and how to use various weapons so I can protect Marinette with whatever might be available to me.

Right I've been here since the 25th of last month. So that's almost two weeks? Somewhere around there. I'm finding my feet.

[Adrien is making himself comfy and at home, settling to lay on his stomach on the floor his arms on that throw pillow and his chin rest on them.]

Oh, how are your borderlines coming along? If you need extra practice, there's a shinki spell club that meets at the school on weekday mornings.

I'm getting better but I'm not satisfied. I did talk to Kairi about the classes on the first day though. There's so much I need to learn. I don't think I've ever used this kind of - [He pauses trying to pick the right word, brows furrowed slightly.] Magic? Power? - Whatever you'd like to call it before. I was thinking of attending the classes.

[He won't be satisfied even if he's doing his best a little voice in the back of his mind whispers that there's always room for improvement - that he can do better be better. He doesn't know where it comes from or why it's there - Marinette had never said any such thing to him.]

You'd be welcome to come. We don't have a set curriculum -- it's just shinki helping each other with spells. I try to attend when I can, although I can't demonstrate any more, of course.

[There's a faint glint of amusement in his eyes as he looks over at Adrien.]

I was a shinki once, though.

I'll definitely do that then. I'm at the point that learning anything would help really. That's very nice of you to be there to help. I'm certain that everyone appreciates it.

[His head tilts though at that mention of being unable to demonstrate anymore. He'd thought only Shinki had to learn stuff like that.]

You were? [He's surprised by this new knowledge.] Wow, That's really neat. How'd that happen?

I'm afraid I can't explain how. Sometimes, gods become shinki, or shinki gods; we generally disappear for a period of time first.

[He spreads his hands in a little shrug.]

Most of us don't remember, but I seem to be in the minority there.

Fair enough! Seems like a lot of stuff here is kind of just - 'This is a thing that happened. There you go.' but I guess that's true of anywhere? Only here it's a bit different - more extreme.

[He shrugs his shoulders a bit.]

Nice to know I'm not the only one just going, 'I don't know what's going on here but I'm going to make the best of it'. It's kind of comforting really? We're all kind of in this together.

No matter where you are, I suppose, you have to deal with what happens to you.

-- I could wish there were a few more explanations forthcoming about why these things happen to us, but apparently no one knows. Exciting, isn't it?

[His tone is too pleasant by half: exciting is not the word he'd prefer, if he had to pick one. But this is Ken's party and he's not going to ruin the mood by snarling about things that none of them can help.]

Pretty much, yep. It's lots of random sometimes unexplained things, too. So you just have to go with the flow.

-- Honestly? I'm pretty sure they're as clueless as the rest of us are. They might know a bit more but during that party thing they seemed just as lost as me.

[Adrien laughs softly only it's not an amused laugh not even by half.] Yeah it's a really thrill a minute. [But he's glancing around the room.] There are worse ways to face uncertainty though.

They have been telling us they don't know anything. For now, I suppose, it doesn't seem they know much.

[He shakes his head, and adds:] I suspect someone has more information, but I couldn't say who.

I don't know how exactly people can't know what's going on when it's their home.

[Adrien is inclined to agree. There's likely someone that knows what's going things don't happen in a vacuum. There has to be a catalyst.]

I'm sure someone somewhere will start talking. People have a hard time keeping things to themselves. Eventually, secrets slip.

They may live here, but they don't necessarily know everything that's happening around them.

[And Hakkai can judge them for their observational skills and security in response.]

... But we'll see. If nothing else, I suspect we have more reason to keep digging for those answers than anyone else. If we don't find out why we're appearing, we can't find out why we're disappearing, either.

You would think they would be more aware..

[Adrien might be inclined to agree with that judgement. Heck, he'd do it right along side him.]

That's true. Who knows the reasons might be the same for both.

I almost hope that it's the same reason. It's easier to find one cause than two...

But we still need more information, don't we?

[He shakes his head, chuckling, and refocuses on the television.]

So we may as well take it easy tonight, and worry about all of those questions later.

Who knows maybe we'll get lucky.

[Not that he'd hold his breath for that.]

Right. [He's turning back to the movie making himself comfortable.]

Yep. Hey, that was a pretty neat move. [He's perking up a bit.]

Isn't it? I'm not convinced it's practical...

[That dramatic stagger? Maybe it's a drunken kung fu thing, but apart from putting opponents off their guard, isn't it a waste of energy?

On the other hand, he also never technically studied martial arts, so who knows?]

... but it does film well.

Misdirections and forcing a challenger off balance is always a good thing.

[He's tilting his head.] Granted this is horrifically exaggerated and over the top, but feints and false attacks are always useful.

[Glancing to Hakkai he smiles.] And sometimes letting yourself be seen as less skilled or knowledgeable than you are makes people underestimate you so it gives you a pretty solid advantage. The same thing can be said of making use of distractions. All of that can be useful in winning a bout.

Well, yes, of course. It's the exaggeration that makes it impractical!

[It's also what makes it fun to watch, so Hakkai supposes it's serving its real practical purpose very well. His chuckle is interrupted as Spot leaps heavily up onto his knee, and he glances down at the red-and-white Persian with a wry smile.]

-- Spot, you'll shed on my slacks.

[The cat begins, industriously, to knead.]

It's supposed to be a movie. I mean come on. I saw one where this guy didn't know the girl he liked was the girl he liked because she was wearing a poofy dress and a mask. In what way is that remotely realistic?

[He laughs then blinks. Then he's beaming.]

Oh no, what a cute fluff.

[Just overlook him as he scoots over to extend his hand out to the cat for a sniff.] Aren't you the biggest ball of fluff? Yes, you are. [Movie? What movie? There's a cat.]

Oh, well, fairy-tales, you know... do you like cats?

[Spot blinks up at the stranger, then goes back to kneading. Hakkai detaches him, claw by claw, and sets him on the couch, where he blinks again, whiskers bristling with offense, and then sniffs at Adrien's outstretched hand.]

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