Open!

[eatsyourscience]

Who: Souji and you
Where: The diner
When: 12/15-12/25
Rating: PG-13 at most
Summary: Souji's catch-all for the second half of December
The Story: When not having crazy Mansion dreams, Souji can be found...

The Diner
The diner has been decorated just like everything else in the Mansion. Of course, like every year, Souji's made his own additions, like the Colonel (plus twinkling fairy lights). This is the fourth annual KFC Christmas in Wonderland and he's pretty sure he's gotten even closer to the 11 herbs and spices recipe (it took a lot of practice and many days eating nothing but fried chicken).

Inside the diner, visitors will find plenty of fried chicken, a few appropriate sides, and plenty of Christmas cake complete the menu. Cocoa, coffee, tea, and various other drinks are available.

Souji's there, of course, to greet anyone who comes in and to hang out with folks, especially the others who work there when they choose. Regardless of which category people fall into, he will try to feed them. (He'll even make any non-fried-chicken-or-cake foods people might want, but seriously, what more could you want?)

Outside
Now that there's finally snow, Souji can be found outside playing with his very fat, small pet dragon and a gray and white bunny, which remains mostly bundled up inside his jacket, its head peeking out under his chin. He plays with the dragon, coaxing it to run, as well as making rather distinctive snowmen, each of which Tefra (the very fat, small dragon) immediately pounces on. He never seems particularly bothered by that.

He also takes his little troupe down to the beach, though that's less to play and more to just stare out at the horizon. He did that at home in the past, though it wasn't usually during the winter. It makes him feel nostalgic.

Around the Mansion + Gifts!
Souji spends time at various tables around the mansion working on his Christmas gifts. He can be found in his own room, the library, diner, tea rooms, even the dining room working on them as well as their very nice packaging.

He makes enough of these gifts to give to everyone he knows, even those he's only spoken to a handful of times. He delivers them on December 24, giving them in person if he can, and leaving them at peoples' doors along with a "Happy Christmas" note if he can't.

Of course, there are a few people he has special gifts for.

Dreaming
Here is Souji's dream thread!

Wildcard
Choose your own adventure. c:

[ooc: Feel free to use prose or brackets. I'll match style. If you want something to be on a specific date, just put it in the subject line along with the prompt name. :3]

Comments

Outside | 12/25

[jivitadana]

[The event was now over. Minato had a slight delay in his plans since, well, lack of sleep and a whole event would do that to someone. He got enough sleep and was happy enough with that because now he could finally get back to normal and do the things he wanted to, carry out plans that he had. The event couldn't be helped, but it was still an event and still caused that delay.

He finished what he had to in the morning and luckily out of sight of anyone who might peek in the kitchen and be curious as to what he was doing, then saved what he made in his room, in a safe spot. It would be fine since the weather outside was cold and it would keep.

It was perfect, actually, since then he could go outside where he could find Souji. Or Souji-tachi, really, which was a cute sight to see as it was. Minato had his blue scarf on, gloves, and a double-breasted coat, a similar version to his coat at home, and then went to join Souji as he was building that snow... thing, only to have Tefra trample on it.]

Need help?

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji offered a wave as Minato approached, then gestured at the small dragon.]

Want to sit on Tefra for me?

[He's kidding of course, but it would keep her out of the way long enough to at least finish what he'd started.]

[jivitadana]

I don't want to get on a dragon's bad side.

[Minato smiled too, going over to pet Tefra just briefly so as not to bother her too much while she was playing. And of course, that bitty bunny needs some attention too, so Minato pet it too before straightening again.]

What kind of snowman was it?

[eatsyourscience]

[Tefra romps around in the snow, making an absolute mess of the entire area.]

It's supposed to look like Teddie, a friend of mine.

[It was a replication of the one he'd made with Nanako.]

[jivitadana]

I'll help you build a new one.

[Maybe if the both of them are there, Tefra might let at least one Teddie snowman survive. Plus Minato wanted to see what Teddie looked like too.]

Diner, midway through the event.

[theothermrgray]

Dear god. Why isn't he getting any sleep lately? He's tried everything at this point, even indulging the urge to puff on the opium pipe, but no matter what he does he always ends up in the white Wonderland feeling the same restless wakefulness. At this point, he's given up on trying to sleep and heads to the diner for some coffee and perhaps a holiday treat.

The first thing that greets him when he gets there is the statue of a gentleman from the American South dressed up in a red and white suit. Is that supposed to be the owner's interpretation of Father Christmas? Stranger still, it seems like the special of the day is of the avian variety; Some kind of chicken or small turkey has been torn to pieces, coated with a layer of rough crust, and unceremoniously dumped in a bucket to be served to the happy customers.

Dorian stared blankly at the whole display.

That's it. He hasn't slept in so long that he's finally loosing his mind.

[eatsyourscience]

Souji's used to sleeping less than most people his age, but this is getting ridiculous. He's leaning against the counter, one elbow on its surface and his chin on his hand. When he hears someone come through the door, he perks up, straightening and leaning forward.

"Welcome."

He looks at the new comer staring at the display and can't help smiling to himself, just a little.

"It's how we do Christmas where I'm from. I can make you something else, though."

[theothermrgray]

... Oh! Someone's talking to him. He should probably say something.

"... What is this?" is the first thing Dorian's sleepless mind could think of. It takes a second to realize this is a stupid question, so he clears his throat and clarified.

"I mean, what are you doing to the turkey? Is that meant to be your Father Christmas?" He points at the statue of Colonel Sanders. "What sort of cake is that?"

... Nailed it.

[eatsyourscience]

That is a lot of questions and Souji takes a moment to process them. He knows the answers but it's a few unblinking seconds before he can answer. Unblinking because his eyes burn.

"It's chicken. I'm deep frying it, so it gets this crust." He points it out as though it weren't clear enough just be looking. "It makes it crunchy."

And then there's the Colonel. "No, he's dressed like that for fun. The way he's made, he has a white suit on."

And finally the cake. He picks up a piece to show the strawberries inside. "It's white cake with whipped cream and strawberries. Christmas cake."

Diner, 12/16

[fulllifeconsequences]

Chara... they like kitchens. Like the coziness, the security, the intimate homey warmth. And diners have always been ingrained in the back of their mind as safe places to hide, as one of the few shelters a runaway can exploit on a cold night, if only for as many hours as they can loiter with refill after refill of disgusting coffee.

It's probably not surprising that they end up gravitating to the diner after a long, uneasy night. The minute they step in, they can catch the pervasive aroma of fried food filling the air.

* Smells like skin and seasoning.

They let themself behind the counter, help themself to a cup of coffee. Do their best to smother it in cream and sugar, in hopes of drowning out the awful bitter taste of the Death Sludge. It'll wake them up more than tea would.

"It smells good in here," they announce. "What are you making?"

[eatsyourscience]

Souji, in the middle of battering chicken for frying, glances up as Chara comes around the counter to get some coffee. He's perfectly happy for them to make themselves at home, though he hasn't seen much of them since that last event. He's not entirely sure whether or not that was a relief.

"Fried chicken." He sets aside a drumstick and starts on a thigh. "It's traditional where I'm from."

[fulllifeconsequences]

"Fried chicken... for Christmas? That's a Japanese thing, isn't it. I think I saw that in an anime once," they blurt, then immediately redden, because that is quite possibly the lamest way to discuss culture ever. "It's a marketing thing, isn't it? Like diamond rings for married couples."

Commercialism, right? The true meaning of Christmas, if you're bitter and miserable and also a ten-year-old who's trying really hard to sound knowledgeable and cool. They take a drink. It's still too hot and it tastes awful. It's exactly what they expect from coffee.

But hey, it's warmth and energy. That counts for something.

"We celebrated Christmas back home, more or less, only it was Gyftmas," they quickly redirect the topic. "It didn't have any religious connotations. Just a guy dressing as Santa and gifts under a decorated tree."

[eatsyourscience]

Souji isn't surprised about the admission of learning from anime. He's learned about America mostly through TV and books. It only comes up in school occasionally.

"We don't have the religious part either." Well, most people don't - there are some Japanese who are religious about it, but they're quite the minority. "Lots of stores decorate, but it's mainly for chicken and cake and going on dates, if you have someone to go with."

He wipes his hands on his apron, turning to face them fully. He leans back against the counter where he's been working and puts one hand on his hip.

"New Years is a bigger thing at home."

Diner!

[interpersonal]

Jo Harvelle was the one to introduce Elena to the diner, and it's how she finds her way back a month later, scrubbing her face tiredly. She is in desperate need of coffee, and she doubts she is the only one that's come to Souji with that need in mind this week. The latest event has proven formidable in its inescapability, but it won't keep Elena from trying to fight sleep for as long as she possibly can.

She returns his greeting with a feeble smile, breathing in the delicious smells.

Her stomach rumbles lightly, reminding her she hasn't eaten all day. "Early celebration?"

[eatsyourscience]

Souji's been feeling the sleep deprivation himself and he's got plenty of coffee going, if not for patrons then for himself. He's also keeping up on the chicken and cake as well, though that doesn't keep him entirely busy.

He's cleaning and cutting strawberries for the cake when Elena comes in and greets her. He wipes his hands on his apron and, without waiting to be asked, gets a mug and pours her a coffee. If it were to turn out that she didn't want it, he'd drink it himself.

At her question, he glances toward the Colonel at the door.

"The last few years, it's just been a few days before Christmas. But Wonderland doesn't cooperate every year." So he'd started early.

[interpersonal]

Bless you, Souji.

The sigh of relief that follows at the sight of that coffee mug is hopefully indication Elena really, really wants it. Her hands cradle the mug as she slides it over to her side of the counter, listening to Souji's explanation.

"This will be my first Christmas in Wonderland."

She shifts a little at the reminder. "I'm still not sure what to expect, outside of sleep deprivation."

[eatsyourscience]

"It'll be my-" He pauses as though counting. "-sixth Christmas here."

That's not a bragging point, but it's not said with anything close to depression either. It's just fact - like he's given up on the thought of going home any time in the foreseeable future. More than anything, he feels like that NPC in the tavern in an RPG who gives helpful advice.

...Which, by itself, is kind of a depressing though, since he set himself up here like this.

"This hasn't happened since I got here. The sleep deprivation. It changes every year."

The Diner | 12/18

[goodwoofjames]

[After a few days of uncertain reality and unfulfilling sleep, seeing that weird Father Christmas statue again is just another layer of surreal. Sirius stands before it for a long moment, then heads to the counter and flags Souji down.

It's not why he's here, but he has to ask:]

Why doesn't your Father Christmas have a full beard? He looks strange without it.

[eatsyourscience]

[Without being asked, Souji starts to pour coffee for Sirius. He isn't totally sure if Sirius likes coffee, but even after just a few days, it's become automatic to serve coffee, no questions asked.]

He's not Father Christmas. He's the mascot for a chain of restaurants that sells chicken.

[goodwoofjames]

[Sirius doesn't particularly like coffee, but lately he like caffeine. And the warmth is comforting now, as he lays his soul--]

What?

[eatsyourscience]

Do wizards have fast food?

[This is a question he'd never thought to ask before now...]

The Diner

[mettatonvevo]

[He's never been here before, but it's about time that Mettaton explore every inch of the mansion, and what better time than during Christmas? That lovely time where humans decorate pine trees and give each other presents and celebrate happy times and fried chicken.

...wait.

He stares at the food around the diner as well as The Colonel and, when he spots someone who looks like they work here, gives a small wave to get their attention.]

Yes, hello, why do you have so much fried chicken here?

[He recognizes it a bit, having been on the surface for a few months, but he certainly has no idea how that plays into Christmas.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji comes over, head tilted to one side. This is not the first time he has heard this question (nor will it be the last, he's sure) and he has an answer ready.]

Where I'm from, we eat Kentucky Fried Chicken at Christmas. It's a nation tradition, sort of.

[...]

I can make something else if you don't like fried chicken.

[mettatonvevo]

[Mettaton gives a bemused smile, looking at this human curiously.]

Is it really? How fascinating! You humans are so diverse in nature, it's quite a wonder.

[He shakes his head.]

Oh, there's no need to go through that trouble! I don't want to interrupt your traditional celebration! Where are you from, if I may ask?

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji is used to bemusement over the chicken - people seem to take the cake in stride much more easily.]

I'm from Japan. Christmas is kind of an imported holiday, so we have our own way of celebrating it.

[Hm...]

Have you not met a lot of humans?