[open mingle] close your eyes, feel the present

[revolutionfalcon]

Who: Everyone! This is an open mingle log, so feel free to toplevel and thread between yourselves as much as possible.
When: October 27th
Where: Calico Cat Cafe, somewhere vague in Tokyo. An address was posted on the BBS a day prior.
What: Cat adoption day - come bring some (or a lot of) new friends home, take advantage of the no entry fee to spend a day hanging out with cats, or volunteer to help out the somewhat overloaded staff.

An adoption event needs no small venue, and Cat Cafe Calico provides that much, visible as soon as anyone walks in the front door, pane glass with a little bell to ensure no cats walk out undetected. The area is spacious and welcoming, warmly lit with smooth and modern decor, and of course, plenty of posts for the cats. The cafe area itself is on the lower floor, along with various stools, cushions and lounges for people to sit on and spend some time with the plentiful felines. Most of the adoption services have set up along one wall down here, but it's plenty easy to avoid them and just play around with the cats unless you intend to adopt. They've got plenty of waitstaff available, and the cafe is testing out some new and unusual styles and flavours of tea, coffee and milkshakes, as well as seasonal fruit based cakes and tarts. For those without as much of a sweet tooth, there's savoury snacks as well - or maybe you'd prefer to just buy some snacks for the cats, which is an option too.

Upstairs, there's also a video game area with plenty more seating and plenty more cats...though good luck getting them out of the way of the screens, or occasionally off the consoles themselves. Quite a few of the cats are lounging around by the large window, either between cushions or on an impressively-sized play frame, and some are even up near the roof on mounted walkways. There are no guarantees they won't drop onto the occasional passerby. The upstairs also houses a few enclosed areas for people to socialise with specific cats or groups of them to see which ones they get on with best.

Volunteers will be thanked profusely, and some of the staff may even approach visitors to ask if they might help, offering compensation of food and drink prices or similar. There's a lot of adoption paperwork to be done, and with the waitstaff run off their feet, there's few people left to supervise interactions between visitors and cats to make sure all's friendly. Of course, this is an excellent excuse to just surround oneself with any available cats and let others approach as they please.

There's a steady stream of kittens being let out into the mingling cats throughout the day, most of them kept to enclosed areas under staff supervision. Whenever more come out, it might be possible to catch some whispers from the waitstaff, as if surprised at something - listen closely enough, and it sounds like they're talking about an employee, one who they barely see and rarely talks, yet finishes work promptly and slips away before anyone notices except the cats, who all seem very comfortable around him...

Whatever the reason for being here, there's plenty of cats to go around, plenty of activity, and ample opportunity to take home a new friend! Or two. Or ten, if you can convince the staff you can handle it.

Comments

[kagenonadeshiko]

A.

[It's been less than a week since Ayumu was grievously injured during a yakuza raid at work. Though her wounds are physically healed, she's still hasn't fully recovered from the blood she'd lost but given her great affection for both felines and strays, she simply couldn't resist coming for a little while, at least.

Under different circumstances, Ayumu would be happily assisting the volunteers but she's still weary from her ordeal and looking a little paler than usual. Today, she can be found resting on one of the couches on the first floor with a large Maine coon sprawled across her lap and a gray longhair draped around her shoulders like a purring, furry shawl.

Her tea sits just out of reach, getting colder by the minute, but the cats are so comfortable where they are, she just can't bring herself to disturb them. So instead, she calls out to the nearest person for assistance.]

Excuse me. Could you hand me that, please?

[Of course, she could just move one of the cats off her of but what kind of inhuman beast do people think she is?]

B. Adoption

[There's never any question that Ayumu would be returning home with a new cat.

The question is how many will she be taking home with her.

There's so many charming felines to choose from. Older ones that might get passed over because of their age, young adult cats swaggering about, adorable little kittens... If Ayumu had her way, she'd take every single one of them home but between the two she already has and all of the monkeys running around Sanzang's temple already, she needs to approach this responsibly and reasonably.

So she goes up to one of the workers and says in a calm, authoritative tone:]

I'd like to adopt that box of kittens over there.

[She points to the one she has in mind, currently being used as fierce battleground between about four or five of them. It's kind of hard to make out exactly how many are in the box with the way they're wriggling about.]

What do I need to fill out?

[swordofzero]

Of course! [Suzaku seems to have made a friend. Said friend is currently clinging to his shoulder batting at his ear. But Suzaku doesn't seem to mind as he picks up the tea and hands it to her with a smile.]

There you go.

[kagenonadeshiko]

Thanks.

[Ayumu smiled at the young man and his darling little friend, leaning forward slightly to take the cup.]

Lovely place, isn't it? It looks like you've found a cute one.

[Any place with affectionate cats is a place worth going in Ayumu's book. She sips from her cup.]

[swordofzero]

I have. [It's seeming more and more likely that this one is coming home with him. It seems disinclined to leave him alone anyways.]

So have you [Nodding at the Maine Coon] Though it is a very large cat, I've never seen a cat that large before

[Meaning, he's not seen one in this cat cafe. He barely has two days worth of memories]

[kagenonadeshiko]

[Ayumu laughs and pets the dozing mass in her lap.]

I think they called him a Maine coon? I can't say I know much about cat breeds. I just love them all. When I heard about today, I just had to come.

[And she'll be fine so long as she doesn't do anything too strenuous. Lazing with cats, tea, and making conversation's fine. She takes a moment to squint at the boy curiously.]

Are you new here? I don't think I've seen you around before.

[swordofzero]

Maine coon [He nods] I don't know anything about cat breeds either.

[He spends a moment thinking about the question. Not because the answer is hard to come by but because this is his first time on the Near Shore. He has already met some people who he knows here but he also knows that many people here were probably human.]

I am new yes. I've never been here before, but I was interested in seeing the cats.

[kagenonadeshiko]

I see. God or shinki?

[The cat in her lap bats at her hand for attention and Ayumu automatically starts petting, sipping her tea. Maybe she should introduce herself first before immediately launching into questions.]

I'm Ayumu, by the way. Shinki to Lady Sanzang.

[swordofzero]

[Well that answered that.] I'm a shinki. I've only been here a few days.

[He nods politely at her introduction] Suzaku Kururugi I am shinki to Lady Grell who is the god Kali. It is nice to meet you.

[kagenonadeshiko]

It's nice to meet you, Kururugi-kun. I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting your goddess yet.

[She smiles. Really once she's completely recovered, Ayumu needs to get out and about more.]

How are you finding things here so far? Are you getting around okay?

[swordofzero]

Suzaku is fine. [After all she had only given one name, it felt weird for her to call him Kururugi.]

Everyone has been very helpful. Things are a little confusing but I am learning and hopefully will get the hang of everything soon. [Things were already less confusing than they had been when he first arrived so he hopes they will continue to get less so.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

Suzaku-kun... Got it.

[Ayumu nods, still smiling.]

It gets easier with time, I think. Is your goddess helping you adjust? I think it's tougher without that extra support.

[Which Ayumu tries to give as much as she can but sometimes she still gets easily overwhelmed. There's just so much a shinki has to learn. Their new duties, who they are and what they can do, and still somehow find time to make sense of it all! And still find time to enjoy life.]

And if not, well, it helps to call on your fellow shinki. If nothing else, they understand what it's like to be in your position best.

[Or so it's been the case with Ayumu's experience. She pets the cat in her lap, suddenly looking a little sheepish. Really, she hadn't meant to go off into a lecture.]

B

[pure_radiantics]

[Kairi has been hanging around the Adoption event and while she's not officially running it or anything, she's not about to turn away a request for assistance from someone she knows fairly well and isn't looking her best today.]

The whole box, Ayumu?

[She's a little stunned because if Ayumu's not feeling well, maybe she'll have trouble getting them all home too.]

I can get you a couple of copies of the form if you're sure.

[kagenonadeshiko]

Yes, please. They all look like they're having such a good time together. I just don't have the heart to separate them.

[And maybe returning home with a box full of kittens will help cheer up Sanzang, too. Her goddess has been keeping to herself a lot in recent weeks and she said she loved animals, too. So clearly this is a good idea that'll benefit them and the kittens, too, right?]

Getting them all home might be a little tricky but I'll take them.

[Or as many are still in the box together by the time the paperwork's all filled out.]

I didn't know you were helping out with this today, Kairi-san.

[pure_radiantics]

[She laughs and shrugs.]

I wasn't planning on it, but I just kinda got roped into it. Not that I mind - everyone's having such a good time!

[But she smiles fondly over at the box.]

That's really sweet of you, all the same - keeping them all together like that.

[She's clearly thinking of something else, but she looks back soon enough.]

I hope you're not going to have to walk anywhere with a box of kittens?

[That would be rough for anyone to keep balanced, even if the lid shut!]

[kagenonadeshiko]

Well... I'll have to get them home somehow. I should be okay, though. The shrine's not far. After that, I just have to make it to Sanzang's...

[She trails off a bit, uncertain. It won't be an easy trip, especially in her condition. She's not fully recovered from her blood loss yet and can't really chase them if any of them happen to escape from the box. Not unless she wants to faint on her way back. Maybe she should just take a few but they're all so cute and snuggly together, separating them really is a very sad thought!]

If I go slow, I should be okay. I think.

[pure_radiantics]

[ Kairi nods. So her god/dess isn't here today. That's why she has to walk to a shrine first.

Might as well ask straight out then. ]

Do you need help carrying them that far?

[ Since Kairi's an 'extra hand' already today, she can't imagine they'd miss her if the whole point would be getting several kittens adopted together. ]

[kagenonadeshiko]

I could use the help if it isn't any trouble.

[Ayumu takes another look in the box to get a head count of the kittens now that they've calmed down a bit. There's four in the box now, all fluffy calicos with differing patterns and colorations but similar enough to be siblings.]

They seem to be settling down a little but it's still quite a walk.

[She gives Kairi a very grateful smile.]

[pure_radiantics]

For you? Of course not.

[ She smiles brightly before ducking her head to look in the box again. ]

It'd be a shame to separate them even for a little bit... We could trade off carrying the box, unless you'd rather I get another box and we could put two of them in there, then each of us carries a box?

[ She pushes the paper over for Ayumu to finish while she considers this. It's ultimately her call, Kairi figures. ]

[kagenonadeshiko]

Two boxes with two in each might be easier to manage though I think I could carry them in one. It's just that if any of them climb out, I won't be able to chase them very far. I'm afraid I got hurt recently. If I have to run after them, I might faint.

[There's a lot more to her injury than what she's saying but Kairi's a very sweet girl. The story behind it might be a bit too much for such young ears. And she's not very proud or pleased with her own role in the mess that led up to it. She and Gojyo did terrible things that can' be undone. If Kairi judged her for her actions, and in all honesty, Ayumu would deserve it, she'd feel guilty and that guilt would hurt Sanzang.

Being a good shinki can be so complicated and difficult but she's trying her best. In her own way.

She busies herself with filling out the form; hopefully she doesn't look too pensive and Kairi won't get the wrong idea and think she doesn't enjoy her company.]

[pure_radiantics]

And we don't want that!

[ Kairi's a bit more understanding of Ayumu avoiding certain explanations based on what she remembers of Ayumu's time as a goddess, and then her coming back with that scar on her face, it's just a very different life than Kairi. More than someone like Hakkai purposefully concealing darker life aspects from her even after she witnessed his ablution, Kairi doesn't judge Ayumu for doing the same, if only because of the physical manifestations of her living it. Maybe one day an adult will trust her enough to talk about adult matters, but not today. Today is a day for caring about cute kittens. ]

So... your choice! We can either carry the two boxes together, or I can chase down any little rascals that escape you!

[ She offers up an extra box in case that's the option Ayumu would like to go with. When the form is complete, she'll happily carry it off to the right person too. ]

A

[smilingbullet]

Sure. [ As D2 says that, one of the two kittens that's planted themselves in the hood of his hoodie meow at her, its tiny paws on the back of his shoulder. He is mindful of the kittens - and the big, round, purring-like-a-loud-engine cat that he's got in his arms, as he picks up the cup. ]

Are you alright?

[ They may not know each other well, but he still can tell that she's looking a little pale. ]

[kagenonadeshiko]

Oh, I'm okay now. Just recovering from some recent injuries. I lost a lot of blood but I'm better now. Just have to take it easy for a while.

[She wouldn't normally be this forthcoming but she's gathered D2's a trusted friend of Hakkai's. That combined with the other conversations they've had makes her inclined to properly extend a hand in friendship by being honest.]

I heard about this event and thought it'd do me some good to get out of the temple for a while.

[She takes the cup from him, chuckling a bit at the kittens in his hood and the loud rumbling feline in his arms.]

I see you've made some friends. Cats are such wonderful animals...

[smilingbullet]

Oh. That's rough. What happened?

[ He's concerned, after all he considers her a friend. A new one, at least, that he isn't close friends with yet, but if he spends a little more time with her they might become proper friends. And he's concerned because she's important to Hakkai, and Hakkai is very important to D2. And he's concerned because he likes people. ]

It's a great even, and it'd be great if a lot of cats found homes.

[ Once his hand is free he proceeds to scratch behind ears and pet the cat. ]

Yeah, I have. And they absolutely are, they're amazing. You've made friends of your own too, huh.

[kagenonadeshiko]

I have. Trying to decide just how many I'll be taking home with me. I'd take them all if I could!

[Just look at those darling little kitties. Has there ever been a more beautiful sound than a cat's purr? It calms her down like nothing else which is why she's able to speak about what happened.]

Ah, I got into a bit of trouble here on the Near Shore. Different neighborhood than this, not nearly so safe or friendly. But a friend offered me a job there so I took it. One day some hoodlums came in looking for trouble.

[She's minimizing it a lot. There's no easy way to describe being horribly outnumbered in an attack that left her bleeding out on the floor of a bar. But she also doesn't want to worry anyone unnecessarily. She's out of danger and on the mend.][That's what happens when one gets gutshot, especially when the person's never been around guns before. She still hears the gunshot in her nightmares.]

[smilingbullet]

I understand that feeling. I'd do that too if I could, but I'm not sure my god would appreciate that.

[ They are absolutely adorable. He couldn't have any pets while he was alive, so it's nice to have some now. Not that he's making up for it. ]

Ah, that happens.. For some reason there are people intentionally looking to cause trouble and to escalate it.

[ He has personally never understood that desire. Beyond teasing and pranking people, which he finds fun. ]