(Catch all) Ominous October Threads

[insinning]

Who: Sinclair and You.
What: Dungeon runs, trauma bonding etc
When: All throughout October.
Warnings: Gore, Emeto, Psychological horror in one thread, NSFW stuff in another

“I see now that the path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being—one of many ways—and knowing the paths I have followed and the ones left to take will help me understand what I am becoming.”

Comments

[dissimulative]

[ Oria was invited by Sinclair and promised that he wouldn't eat the entire load of shabu shabu ingredients by himself. But if you were wondering why the pot was overflowing with things and with the sheer number of ingredients on hand, that's probably because of this guy: the black hole.

Anyway, he's behaving and not kirby-inhaling. He's eaten shabu shabu before and is familiar with chopstick usage, so he's enjoying himself. He's not eating as fast as he usually does, but when he takes an ingredient out of the broth, he immediately puts it in his mouth despite how hot it should be.

He seems fine................. ]

[insinning]

[ You know what Sinclair is probably used to this now so when he's done setting up, he'll just quietly hand Oria a cold drink]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria looks over with a ? radiating from his existence for a second before taking the cold drink and downing it. Yum. ]

You should eat some more too! The broth is perfect.

[insinning]

[Sitting down to eat properly as he reaches out to help himself to some food]

Yeah? Tylor made that part.

[dissimulative]

He did?

[ Oria is definitely impressed. ]

It's delicious—really enhances the flavor of the ingredients as hot pot should.

[ And then... ]

You should see a healer about those cuts when you can.

[ His cute and dedicated hardworker... ]

[insinning]

[He's taking a sip of the broth, he didn't have a chance to try it before and. Oh, it's good. He's not too bad with the chopsticks either, because he comes from a korean game since despite some of his picky habits about food, he does have practice from eating out with coworkers]

Mm. It really does bring out the flavour--Oh, he said we should come over for breakfast or dinner next time.

[And looking at his bandaged fingers sheepishly]

I'll ask Nanashi to help out in a bit.

[dissimulative]

Oh, can we?!

[ Oria's eyes sparkle like stars. A meal with Tylor and Hani with Sinclair! It sounds like an incredibly warm meal... ]

I'd like to go!

[insinning]

[Oh. Oria is making such a cute face??]

Mm. Justy said we should just drop by whenever we want.

[Sinclair is not that abrupt though! He'd definitely message Tylor ahead of time]

[dissimulative]

Justy...?

[ ... ]

Tylor?

[ He eats some more meat that's been cooked in the broth. ]

[alchemicalbirth]

[ Seeing people inhale food isn't exactly unusual.

Albedo turns to face Kirby! Oria regardless.

There's a long pause like...he doesn't know what to say. ]

...Your mouth doesn't feel like it's on fire?

[dissimulative]

I have pretty good heat tolerance!

[ Only for eating, it seems. Oria hates hot weather. ]

Besides, it tastes the best right out of the pot!

[alchemicalbirth]

I imagine so, given that you haven't started yelling or fanning yourself.

[ It's a little impressive; Albedo doesn't think he'd have the same kind of constitution for that. ]

Simply because it's warmer, I gather?

[dissimulative]

Yup! Fresh out the pot is the best moment to eat something.

[ But Oria knows that he's abnormal regarding "eating right out the pot", so. It's fine. ]

You like a particular ingredient? Want me to secure you some? Looks like Swallow is trying to get all the prime cuts.

[ He sees her!! ]

[alchemicalbirth]

[ Hot food is far better than cold food, so he accepts the agreement, naturally.

He stares slightly in Shoka's direction and then looks back at Oria. Not like he has to think about it, but just... ]

...It doesn't quite matter, does it?

Even if it is a small or odd portion, it'll be fine.

[ It isn't like there are sweets hanging around...and if everyone wants a certain piece, they may as well. Though even if he had a preference, with the way things are, Albedo finds it hard to think it matters. ]

[dissimulative]

It does! There are quality grades of steak and prime is one of the better ones, but it's also rarer because you can't get a lot of prime cut out of its source. Maybe around 12% compared to the other ones.

[ And here, Oria will explain at length between the differences in quality of the meat that Albedo never asked for, comparing it to A5 wagyu, the differences in judging between Japan and America (with the former being more strict) and then lastly, mentioning that they're more expensive for supply vs demand reasons. ]

[alchemicalbirth]

[ Albedo will stare a little longer at Oria, then.

There's a slight smile on his face that will appear right after as he makes his explanation. The spirited energy behind it is kind of...entertaining. ]

The way you speak at the topic at length makes me understand clearly how much you've been thinking about this.

Even if I don't exactly share your enthusiasm in such things.

[ But such things are contagious regardless. ]

[dissimulative]

Yup!

[ Oria knows not many people share the same enthusiasm, but he's here to spread the energy. ]

But Calx, it's great to see you smile too!

[ophidie]

[It isn't that she misses her job. She'd been lucky enough to find it and fortunate enough to maintain a persona well in front of strangers, but of all the things she misses about the life she no longer has, working at the cafe shouldn't be at the top of her list. It just turns out her list is very short.

She's just not sure how to respond to this level of appetite normally. It's so beyond anything familiar to her that even breaching conversation while Oriade pipelines food from boiling broth straight into his mouth. Her service voice is in full swing when she pops over to him with a tray full of smaller cups and shallow dishes, distant and polite.]

Would you like some sauces or sides to go with that? [Miharu's expression is a thin, silently judgmental smile that doesn't crack a fraction.]

[dissimulative]

[ Despite eating a lot, Oria's mouth is never so full to the point that his cheeks expand. He chews thoroughly and swallows like a normal person, but he never seems to stop eating.

When Miharu comes over, Oria's attention is immediately occupied by her. ]

Thanks!

[ He's been eating everything without sauce... maybe he likes the natural taste. Oria plucks some shallow dishes with the sauce to put in front of him. ]

But you should make some time to eat too.

[ He thinks she's been doing waitress-like things for everyone instead of eating... ]

[ophidie]

Oh, I'm getting in there here and there.

[She hasn't been playing waitress for everyone, especially given this wasn't her event to organize, but she has been keeping busy in a way that's kept her portions on the smaller side. Some habits from easting on a budget have carried over, now that times are lean within the game as well. So, to her, watching him eat is like watching a conveyor belt, precise and never sloppy but never once actually thinking about what's being brought into it.]

This is going to sound rude. [Because it is, without a doubt, a little rude, but she isn't about to downplay it or ignore it.] Do you need multiple consumables to heal a normal amount?

[dissimulative]

Hm?

[ Oria looks over at Miharu for a moment and then laughs. He doesn't seem offended at all. ]

Nope! One serving is enough to heal me! But will I feel full from it? No.

[ophidie]

I see. At least that's one thing that isn't glitched.

[...It isn't glitched, right? She's tempted to ask if his inability to feel full is a result of an issue with his sensors, even though that really would be veering into rude territory.]

Still, it's going to be a problem if this scarcity keeps up. Since this is a special occasion, you should eat what you'd like. Worrying can resume tomorrow, right? [It's enviable, sometimes, how easy it can be turned off.]

[dissimulative]

Yeah, but I'm not going to vacuum up everything in here. Everyone should eat as much as they want too!

[ Oria just smiles at her, still unoffended. ]

There is the issue with scarcity, but I think you can just ask the head admin to just make stuff for you. He can code things into existence, can't he? Especially for small parties like this.

[ He looks out to the others... There are quite a few people here that he likes so he'd definitely be roped into doing that. ]

Besides, stuff like this is nice. It boosts morale.

well since oria is doxing hien it has to be true

[ophidie]

Are you so sure about that? I think we're past the time for picnics at the beach.

[She doesn't know what to think of the head admin or his continued presence as everything collapses around them. If Vogel - Emil - or one of the others were to run off to ask him, she'd have to interfere, or at least caution them. No sense in writing a voucher for a debt that can't be paid.]

I am eating, by the way. [She'll pause to dunk a strip of improvised brisket and bring it to her mouth, just to demonstrate.] But I guess I don't just turn off and relax as easily as some others.

[No matter what she loses, she's never going to fully know how to be around people, is she?]

hehehe

[dissimulative]

That's fair. It takes time getting used to, if you want to be used to it at all.

[ He also sounds like he understands regardless of how carefree he seems. Oria seems pretty happy that Miharu is eating though ]

There's a reason for everyone, and that's fine. I just hope that you can enjoy yourself, even if just a little.

[ There's a lot of people here around her age--Oria's age too, so he feels like he's in high school again... ]