log - too tired for title whee - closed to B1 and A4, open to those likely to wander by

[conning]

Who: B1: Closed to Neal and residents; A4: open to B1 and those who wish to poke their heads in because socializing and open doors
When: Early September--on a Sunday and then the following Wednesday. Why the following Wednesday? Idk man I just picked something.
Where: B1 on Sunday, and A4 on Wednesday IG???
Summary: Meredith invited Neal to visit, and Neal suggested making it a mingle for both apartments. Then Malcolm invited Neal over and Neal decided to do a solo trial run or something like that.
Warnings: Not at the moment. except possibly meredith giving neal a shovel talk


B1 - SUNDAY

Okay, well, he meant to make it simple. But then he got carried away, because that's who he is as a person. So here is Neal managing two coolers, one slightly smaller than the other. He has to set one down in order to knock on the door.

The coolers themselves contain tiny servings of about a dozen different dishes, from tiny seasoned steak slices of varying doneness to little onigiri stuffed with lightly salted salmon. If it's stupidly elaborate, feel free to assume there is some dressed-down (read: locally available) version available in miniature.

The other cooler has small bottles of cheap wine and those little paper cups that barely hold a mouthful. He sets the wines with the foods that pair best.

Look this is who he is as a person, okay? At least he's dressed normally--turquoise sweater, close-cut jeans.

[ SUPPLY ACTIVITIES AS YOU WISH, both with Neal and each other. ]


B1/A4/Passerby - FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY

Okay, so the tiny food was a bit much. Only God can judge him.

At least this time it's a plain old cook-out with a grill on the patio of A4. Yes, the grill items include salmon, chicken, and... tofu in several marinades including citrus-chipotle.

Only God can judge him.

There's also a spread of perfectly ordinary salad-shaped objects and tiny pickles et cetera inside on the kitchen counter.

[ SUPPLY ACTIVITIES AS YOU WISH, both with Neal and each other. ]

Comments

PASSERBY

[forethinking]

(Ren's just, as usual, going to A1, but he hears a commotion and the smell of food makes his feet move without his so willing, and before he realizes it, he's already poking his head on the apartment to see where the aroma is coming from.

Maybe he can nag a recipe and be on his way?)

[conning]

Neal spots him leaning in the door as he brings a plate of various grilled things inside. He waves him over. "Come on in. There's more than enough."

[forethinking]

Ren doesn't really mean to intrude, but he's being beckoned over and he perks up a little at the invitation.

"Are you sure? Just the recipe is fine."

[conning]

"I would be derelict in my duties to a fellow chef if I didn't let them taste what they were going to end up with first."

Another little invitational jerk of his head, since his hands are now busy dividing things onto plates. "Please. I'm Neal--I've seen you around, but I don't think we've actually met."

[forethinking]

Ren gets that, it makes sense. Quite frankly, if he just tastes it, he doesn't really need the recipe -- but he'll still ask for it for bonding reasons. Calmly, he enters the apartment, bowing to the people and to Neal himself. Sure that he's rather Americanized by now, but it's still a habit.

"I'm Ren. Pleasure to meet you."

[conning]

Neal bows politely in response, speaking in simple Japanese, the slight accent of American English at its edges.

"I was starting to think it was only Americans and British here."

[forethinking]

Oh! Color Ren surprised, there's a smile on his lips that is nothing short of beaming as he too switches languages to his mother tongue.

"There's a handful of Japanese people, too."

[conning]

"It does make you wonder why they defaulted to English for whatever their magical language trick was, but we are in America. There is both practicality and ego to go with it."

He's not as fluent with Japanese as he is with other languages--the occasional pauses as he speaks give away the moments he's left searching for a word--but he's not bad. "Beef, pork, chicken, tofu? In my defense, I get bored easily."

[forethinking]

It just feels nice. With them becoming more and more familiar with America, it's good to remember where Ren comes from. He tries often -- with his culinary, with the cigarettes he smokes every now and then to feel closer to Sojiro, and now this.

"Pork would be nice. I'll teach you Japanese food if you'd like."

[abrightboy]

So maybe Malcolm takes a little long to get ready because he has to find another outfit that matches properly and he’s determined to do it himself this time, because Meredith has Suspicions about his feelings for Neal, which are totally and completely platonic, he reminds himself.

He brings wine, however meagre the offerings are at the store. Red wine. He’s clutching the bottle nervously as he pokes his head inside the apartment. Neal’s outside. He recognizes the angle of his shoulders through the window.

Not that he’s ever looked.

Then he spots Ren and his face lights up. “Ren! Hey, how are you doing?” he asks as he walks over.

[forethinking]

Oh, that's right, Malcolm is at ADI's too! He's way too happy to see him, eyes closing as he smiles and waves.

Nothing too interesting about his outfit, just a black v-neck, a gray coat, jeans and boots.

"Hey, Malcolm. Something smells good."

[abrightboy]

"Oh, that's Neal," he says brightly, then stills, eyes widening slightly. "I mean. That's... that's the food that Neal is making," he corrects.

[forethinking]

"It smells great. Maybe I can have the recipe?"

But he laughs at the word choice Malcolm had going.

[abrightboy]

“I’m sure he’d be happy to share; he’s really nice,” Malcolm assures him. “Do you want a drink?”

[forethinking]

"Sure-- am I not intruding, though?"

He really wouldn't like to.

[abrightboy]

“Never!” Malcolm assures him as though the idea he could be intruding is scandalous. “Wine?”

[forethinking]

"Eighteen."

So, unless the people in this apartment would like to deal with a very drunk teenager having his first drink ever, maybe this is not the best time?

"I did say I was going to come visit..."

So it makes him feel a little better about the intruding.

[ployboy]

[Oh, god. Tim's... about done with socializing. It's one thing to get out now and then, to see new faces and make nice with new names. It's another thing to begin to feel overwhelmed by the simple... niceties of people, without reprieve. But there's a duty, y'know, some chant for Three Musketeers bullshit that compels Tim to say an enthusiastic yes to any invitation of or by one of his roommates.

And now here's] Ren.

[When did that happen.]

Here for the friends or for the food?

[forethinking]

I was passing by and Neal and Malcolm called me over.

(And only now he realizes that this is definitely where Tim could be, considering the company. He wasn't expecting to see him, but isn't this a nice surprise?)

How have you been?

(Considering they haven't met in a while.)

[ployboy]

[Sounds like Malcolm. And though Neal is still new to Tim's radar, he's gathered that the man enjoys the attention of hosting.

And hey, there's more food than tiny food this time around.]

Doing alright. Especially since these guys keep throwing dinner parties.

[He gestures at the offerings, today. Of which he had absolutely no involvement in.]

Grab a plate. Tell me about your day.

[forethinking]

(Okay, sure, but it's nothing too interesting. Tim's slept over at Ren's before, surely he knows unless he's prompted, there are little words that come from Ren's mouth when it comes down to it, so he busies himself with getting some of the salmon.)

Work and visiting A1.

(Reads Akechi, Monika, Mercy. Ren sleeps over more often than not, regardless of ADI rules, so most likely Tim has seen him sneak out of their room every now and then. He's basically a forth roommate at this point.)

Which department do you work, again?

[ployboy]

Yeah, one would think getting cannonballed into another world would be more exciting than 'hurry up and wait'.

[How many times had he heard that phrase from his family's war stories? Hurry up and wait. And then, sometimes, shit hits the fan.

Tim follows and, miraculously, he gets himself some veggies. Look, Ren is a good influence already.]

I.T. It's a lot less fun than I was promised. [Lies.] Basically I'm resetting Admin's passwords five times an hour. [Lies.]

[forethinking]

Join me at Research.

(It's a lot of reading, sure, but every now and then, something interesting pops up. His other department is 'Canteen', but that one, he doesn't reckon Tim would want to join... But it'd be a good experience, wouldn't it? To teach Tim how to cook, sometime.)

I'm planning a barbecue, I'd be very happy to see you there if you'd like to come.

(So at least they have something to do other than just wait. Now, where to sit?)

[ployboy]

I've thought about it.

[A moment of weakness, maybe, where Tim admits to too much curiosity and the willingness to do something about it.] But I value the work-life balance a little too much. [And then he's right back to lying like he breathes. Tim smiles shyly at Ren. He thinks he does that too much.

He nods to a couch Ren can take.

Tim will seat himself on the arm of it, unable to sit like a normal person.]

You posted on the forum, didn't you? Of course I'll go. I'll take the roomies too. [Or vice versa.] Why do you like cooking so much?

[forethinking]

If you change, I'll help you with the ropes.

(Not that there's so much to teach if Tim does decide to work alongside him. Ren loves to work though, so he's really not going to deny it considering the sheer amount of part-time jobs he had back home.

He takes a small space on the couch, contrasting with the confidence that he tends to sport, and takes a moment to think.

It makes him feel at home.)

It brings people together. Makes me think of my friends.