[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

[purr_ince]

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.

[reformedsinner]

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.

[purr_ince]

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.]

[reformedsinner]

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.

[purr_ince]

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.

[reformedsinner]

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.]

[purr_ince]

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.]

[reformedsinner]

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.]

[purr_ince]

Well, I guess. But it seems kind of dumb. [Then he nods.]

I love them they're so nice. All of mine are girls and tiny kittens. [He's watching Hakkai gently dislodge the cat.]

Hi Spot. You're a handsome boy, you know that?

[Reaching out he's cautiously reaching to rub behind one of the cat's ear.]

[reformedsinner]

[Spot immediately pushes his head against Adrien's fingers, purring rustily.]

We have three, and Pookie, who isn't exactly a cat. Spot here, and then Kishi and Misha -- we got them all from a former shinki friend of mine, who disappeared some months ago.

[purr_ince]

[Adrien is happily petting the cat.] Aw, What an affectionate big baby.

[He's arching a brow before peering at Hakkai.] Oh. Marinette and I have, Luna, Joli, Snowflake, and Fleur. They're all kittens and bundles of cute.

[Shifting slightly Adrien is gathering the big cat up into his jean clad lap.He's got lint rollers at home if he needs to get the fur off.] You know if shedding is a problem you can get a brush or glove that when you use it on him it'll remove loose fur painlessly.

[reformedsinner]

I do brush him, but with all that fur there's no helping some shedding.

[He'd learned quite quickly that if he didn't brush Spot, the cat would wind up with mats. Why Hibari had chosen to give him a Persian, he's not sure, but this is the cat he's got now....]

... How do those gloves work, exactly?

[purr_ince]

True. That's what those sticky lint roller things are for.

[Adrien doesn't care. He's happily petting Spot and lavishing attention on the cat; purring happily at him as his nails scratch lightly against and under thick fluffy fur.]

Well, they're like normal gloves - but you can get them with the fingers all together like mittens if you want. They have these little rubber nubbin things on the part where your palm is. So when you pet along your cat's body, the loose hair will come into contact with the rubber and come out of their coat but it'll be kind of attracted to the rubber because the pressure, the static and all that.

Once you're done the hair'll have coated the rubber nubbins and you'll be able to just peel it off in a clump or layer and throw it away. It keeps it from getting everywhere all the time. Our girls seem to like it - well when they're in the mood for pets and cuddles.

[reformedsinner]

How interesting. I'll have to look for a pair. [Do they come in pairs? He has no idea. Static attraction to clear out loose hair is a very clever idea, if it works on cats with a coat as thick as Spot's, and might save him some money in lint rollers and tape.]

You're quite a cat person, aren't you?

[purr_ince]

Marinette and I got them over where the mortals are.

[Happily, the blond is petting Spot getting fur all over his lap but it didn't bother him at all]

I am. I adore cats. You must like them a little to have one, too.

[reformedsinner]

He was a gift from a friend, but I don't dislike cats.

It's just that I'm more of a dragon person.

[This isn't strictly true. What's true, he supposes, is that he feels uncomfortable around animals: they understand and ask for so little, and they're very fragile things.

Jeep, not being as much of an animal as he appears, doesn't count.]

[purr_ince]

Ah, well a cat can be a good gift or a bad one depending on if you like them or not. But Spot seems to be happy ball of fur.

[Just have a teenager blinking at you.] Dragon? You have a dragon?

[All he knows about dragons is from fairy tales so...]

[reformedsinner]

My former exemplar likes cats very much. [And at least half of the treat-related pudge on the household pets can be traced back to Ayumu's soft spot for small furry things. Hakkai raises his eyebrows at the question, smiling.]

Yes, I do. I think he's napping off his dinner at the moment... his name is Jeep, and he's quite small.

[He measures out about two and a half feet between his hands.]

Around this long, nose to tail tip.

[purr_ince]

We would have gotten on famously. Cats are my favorite animals.

[His eyes are widening slightly.] Jeep? [Watching as Hakkai measures out how big his dragon is he smiles.]

Is he always going to be so small? Do you think I could come see him some other time? I've never seen a dragon before but I don't want to wake him up either.

[reformedsinner]

Certainly you can. He's often with me when I'm out and about, so you may meet him before you have the chance to visit here! [He smiles in return at Adrien's fascination.]

I don't know how much larger he'll get -- I'm not sure how old he was when I adopted him, but I don't think he's full-grown yet.

Oh, and my former exemplar is still in the Heavens. We just don't work together any longer.

[purr_ince]

That would be amazing! I would like that a lot and you're welcome to come visit us if you want. Mari's always got snacks and we have movies and stuff you might want to borrow or something.

[Adrien smiled at that.] Aw! You adopted him? How on earth do you adopt a dragon though? Was it like when you adopt a cat or did you just find him lost in the wild?

[Green eyes blinked and his head tilted.] Did you not get along or did he become a god, too?

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai hesitates for a moment, with an odd discomfort fleeting across his face before he smiles.]

I found him injured by the road by my home, and took care of him until he was well again. After that, he seemed content to stay.

As for my exemplar, she and I still get along, but we don't work together, so it's for the best. Actually, I think Chikusa invited her tonight.

[purr_ince]

[There's a frown settling on Adrien's face.]

Why would someone be so mean to such a tiny little thing? People can be horrible. I'm glad you found him. No wonder he stays you take good care of him. People and animals want to be around those who are kind to them.

[Adrien isn't sure why any Shinki would want to split from their good if they got along but as long as everyone was happy.] I don't know that I've met her yet but I'm sure I will sometime.

[reformedsinner]

[Adults, unfortunately, are complicated. Hakkai doesn't explain in response to the confused look on Adrien's face; it's easier not to, and he hasn't really asked, after all.]

If she stops by -- she has long dark hair, and sometimes wears an eyepatch. You should say hello.

[purr_ince]

[Adrien is frowning a bit looking down at his lap. Poor little dragon. Adrien will be sure to make friends with him.]

I'll keep an eye out for her. I'm sure she'd be a nice person to meet.