[Open] Forward dated!

[eatsyourscience]

Who: Souji (eatsyourscience), Minako (xxiipins), Tohru (breakthecurse), and everyone else.
Where: The Diner
When: December 24th & 25th
Rating: KFC for Japanese Christmas!
Summary: The Japanese teenagers bring their version of Christmas to the Diner.
The Story:
Christmas is a secular, consumer oriented holiday for most Japanese, not national or religious. Souji, Minako, and Tohru know what it's like in other countries, so they know no one will probably want to man the diner during that time. But that doesn't mean the diner shouldn't be open! So in true Japanese fashion, they've pooled their skills and cooked up enough Christmas cake and fried chicken to feed everyone in the Mansion, should everyone happen to drop in. Souji even found a certain Colonel and dragged him up to stand inside the door, because why not.

So feel free to drop in! Have some chicken and cake (or if you have different tastes, they can probably be convinced to make you something else). They'll be there on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Comments

Souji, 12/24

[eatsyourscience]

[On Christmas Eve, Souji busies himself cleaning up tables and the floor, carefully skirting around the ghost of Cecil in the corner. He pauses there, to take an incense cone and a lighter out of his pocket. He sets the incense on the bare table Tohru had previously pulled close, and lights it. He puts his hands together for a minute, eyes closed, then picks up the broom and goes about his business.]

Souji, 12/25

[eatsyourscience]

[On Christmas Day, Souji is in the diner again bright and early. He brings a small bag containing a few parcels in it with him, just in case the people he has gifts for turn up. If not, he'll go track them down later.

In the meantime, he gets started on a few cakes. While they're in the oven, he starts frying chicken. He has no idea who will come or if anyone does, but he'll make sure there's food ready for anyone who does come in.

He spends the day alternately cooking and looking through cupboards, tasting a lot of the things he comes across, though many of them aren't meant to be tasted alone.]

[askedforit]

[Food in general isn't meant to be tasted alone, which is why when Peter walks into the diner, a place he's only passed by thus far, he doesn't hesitate for more than a few seconds before heading over to talk to Souji.]

Hey.

[He glances around them, while also taking in all the pretty good smelling things in the room.]

It looks like you've been busy.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji smiles and nods for Peter to take a seat at the counter.]

Can I get you anything?

[askedforit]

[Not needing any further encouragement, he sits down.]

That chicken smells really good. And, well, if they're anything like those hamburgers from last time, they probably taste good too.

[He's made a mental note that Souji's a decent cook.]

Tohru, 12/24

[breakthecurse]

[Tohru is bustling around, busy as ever. She's still not really sure she has all the spices correct for her knock-off version of Kentucky Fried Chicken, but she's been told it tastes good, so she's trying really hard not to fret about it much. The truth is, Tohru's never really celebrated Christmas. She and her mom never had much money, so all of their holiday celebrations went into New Year's instead.

Once the first batch is ready, she places some in a cardboard bucket (a miraculous find in the closets!) and sets it out for the Ghost of Cecil Yet To Come, along with a slice of Christmas cake. She places it by the incense, and puts her hands together and closes her eyes just as Souji did.]

Merry Christmas, Mr. Cecil!

[Of course, he can't return the sentiment beyond his repeating words, but it's the thought that counts, right?]

[goodnightlisteners]

"Oh! Merry Christmas to you too!"

The Ghost of Cecil Present appears out of nowhere. Actually, he just happened to walk in at the right time, because appearing at the right time is just one of those things that comes naturally to him. Sometimes.

He peers past Tohru to see what's going on. Fried chicken and cake! That's nice! The ghost he completely ignores. If you can't ignore horrifying glimpses of your future, you probably shouldn't be working in radio.

"That's really nice of you, Tohru, thanks! Is that for him or me?"

[breakthecurse]

That startles Tohru pretty badly - she was clearly unprepared for someone to actually answer her back, and is definitely a little embarrassed. Deep down she knows she's been sort of talking to herself, but to have the current version of Cecil turn up in the middle of it was a big shock!

She turns around though, and her ego has made a speedy recovery.

"O-Oh! Merry Christmas, Mr. Cecil!" She feels a little silly saying it again, but she'd been saying it to Ghost Cecil the first time, and it would be rude not to say it to Present Day Cecil, right?

She glances back over at the chicken and cake and realizes she has a slight dilemma.

"Um...both, I think?" The Ghost Cecil is supposed to eventually be Cecil, right? So wouldn't any offerings made to the ghost also be for Cecil? "I didn't want him to be lonely while everyone else was celebrating...oh! But, um, let me get you something fresh! You should have your own, so please excuse me just a moment-!"

And Tohru rushes back into the kitchen for a second before he can protest, and returns with a fresh bucket of Christmas Fried Chicken and a slice of Christmas cake for Present Day Cecil.

"Here you are!" She hands them over with a big smile. "Just for you!"

[goodnightlisteners]

"Ah!" He holds up both hands. "I'm sorry, didn't mean to startle you!" He takes a step back and beams at her. "That's very nice of you considering he's only technically real. And it's also nice of you to say it to me, too!"

He's about to tell her that he doesn't need his own portion, that he'll just share with his future self, but then she's running off. He shrugs and sits down across from the insane, other Cecil.

"The people here really are quite wonderful, aren't they?" he says conversationally.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!" says Future!Cecil.

He nods knowingly. By then, Tohru is back and he smiles up at her.

"Ah, thank you, it's the perfect Christmas meal!" He's not being sarcastic either. Fried chicken is perfect for Christmas.

so amazingly late sob

[seekingbrother]

Al has become used to seeing the incense and occasional offerings next to the ghost-Cecil, and smiles a bit when he glances over and sees them when he enters the diner. He hesitates for a moment, then goes over and mimics the proper bow as a sign of respect. It is a holiday, so maybe it's more appropriate for such respects to be shown?

(Not that he really wants to acknowledge this future as one they will find, but it's hard to ignore them all the time.)

Once that's done, he takes a moment to look around at the rest of the diner, grinning widely. "Wow, you guys have been busy, haven't you?"

shh it's okay ;;; sorry I was late too.

[breakthecurse]

Tohru notices out of the corner of her eye, and it makes her smile. It's a touching gesture, and it's nice that Cecil's ghost has some company other than the diner workers. He won't be lonely this Christmas! That's wonderful!

"Mm, just a little!" she admits. As soon as the idea was pitched, all three of them had been running around trying to put it into motion. "It's okay though, really. It's work worth doing! I don't know if I could actually change anything that we've been hearing about, but...so many people here celebrate Christmas that it didn't seem right to not have a celebration!"

Everyone's been so worried and sad. If there's anything at all Tohru can do to change that then she wants to try her best, even if she wasn't someone who could fix everything that was so wrong with the future.

[seekingbrother]

Al nods with a bright smile, knowing exactly how Tohru feels. "Yeah, I think we could all do with a little something to lift our spirits. And I really like everything I've heard about the holiday. It's a lot like Solstice back home, just...bigger!"

He looks over at the buckets of fried chicken with curiosity. "I don't have to wait to try some of those, do I? They smell absolutely delicious!" He really wants to dig into some of the cakes first, but Edward already gets after him for eating too many sweets.

Tohru, 12/25

[breakthecurse]

[Honestly, she's a little surprised and jsut a touch sad when she comes in the next morning and sees that the Ghost of Cecil Yet To Come is gone. But, hopefully this means that the event is over, and maybe that everyone has come back to the right time? She hopes so.

She alternates between frying chicken when Souji isn't, decorating cakes, and just welcoming everyone who comes in. She seems to be just about everywhere at once, and when she has spare moments she flutters about the dining area with her Christmas gift from the mansion - a Polaroid camera that takes instant photographs.

After everything that's happened, she feels it's important to have photographs of people in Wonderland. She walked by her ghost-self each time she went to the diner, and she knew immediately that she should have wanted pictures of the fallen. Everyone would have, she imagines. And she knows she would have loved to have a picture of Ruby or Aerith. A picture can do a lot to keep someone's memory alive. So, expect to be asked at least once if she can please take your picture, even if she's never met you before.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji can't help but notice the camera. He's pretty sure he's seen it more than Tohru's face so far today. Leaning with his elbows on the counter, he watches her ask people for pictures curiously. When she comes back over in his direction, he gestures at the camera.]

Did you get that for Christmas?

[breakthecurse]

[Tohru happily turns her attention to Souji, and hurries over to him when he gestures.]

Mm! It was in my stocking when I woke up this morning, along with lots of film for it. I don't know if they came directly from Wonderland, but...it was a really thoughtful gift! I'm really grateful.

[But hm. How do you say thank you to a...building? Tohru's not sure.]

Oh! Um, if you have a minute...could I please take your picture too?

[They've been a little busy getting ready, so Tohru probably hasn't had a chance to even ask.]

I'm just going to be all over this post, sorry

[askedforit]

[After a little while of hanging around with Souji, Peter moves off to see who else has shown up for this little gathering. It's then that he notices Tohru with her camera, and although it's fairly obvious what she's doing, he still asks:]

Are you a photographer?

[People take pictures all the time; it doesn't always mean they're interested in photography as a profession or anything like that.]

shhh never be sorry ♥

[breakthecurse]

[Tohru looks up and it takes half a second for it to process that he actually thinks she might be a photographer.]

O-Oh! No, not really. I found this camera in my stocking this morning! I've never actually had one before though s-so I wouldn't call myself a photographer exactly...

[She's humble and a little embarrassed by the misunderstanding, but also a little flattered he would think she's a real photographer.]

BELATED TAG IN WOOOOOOOOOO

[unsleeved]

[After spending the previous Christmas on the run from walkers in the freezing cold, yeah, you bet your ass Daryl's spending this one inside. He likes being out in the woods, of course, that's not something that's gonna change any time soon, but he's got the opportunity to take a load off this time around and he's not about to waste it.

Which means by midday he's... Wandering. What, like anyone thought he'd be able to hang around for longer than an hour or two? Not likely.

That wandering eventually leads him to the diner... Or maybe it's the smell, who knows? Point is, he can't help poking his head in to see what's what. He spots Tohru as he steps inside and nods in greeting.]

Hey. Y'all havin' a party?

['Cause that's... A lot of food he can see hanging out. Cakes and chicken... Wat.]

WOOOOOOOOOOOO

[breakthecurse]

Ah, hello Daryl! Welcome! Merry Christmas!

[She's wearing one of the festive hats Minako brought with her (a Santa hat!) and smiling brightly. She also still has her new camera out, but she's wearing it around her neck while she serves their party guests.]

We're having a Christmas party! We thought it might be nice with everything that's happened recently. I'm really happy you stopped by though! Would you like some chicken?

[Because they seriously have buckets and buckets and buckets of not-quite-Kentucky-Fried Chicken. But it's pretty close (at least from what Tohru remembers) and it's Christmas, so of course they have fried chicken!]

[hamburellakind]

[John's struggling, a little. Keeping one's head up when it keeps getting bogged down by more and more stupid shit is hard. Especially when, in the past, that sort of thing ha seemed almost easy, like breathing or something. Food sounds good, and seeing Tohru too, although seeing the ghosty one just bummed him out. He's relieved when he shows up and only finds the present-day one.

As he sits at the bar, he gives her a once-over. As always, she seems a little frantic and overly busy. He waves for her attention.]

Hey. Merry Christmas or, uh, whatever. You need any help? [It might help for him to stay busy. Even if being around Tohru cheers him up a little, her niceness sort of reminds him of all the stuff he's missing this Christmas too. Doing work might help relieve that sort of dwelling on the past, maybe.]

[breakthecurse]

Merry Christmas, John!

[She's particularly adorable today, with a Santa hat on and a polaroid camera slung around her neck.]

Actually, some help might be nice. We've had a lot of people come in today. But! You can only help under two conditions!

[She holds up two fingers, and looks weirdly serious about it for a second. Then, she pulls over the bin of festive hats that Minako brought.]

First, you need one of these - any one you want! Arisato brought them with her and everyone has to wear one. It's um, our holiday uniform!

[She smiles brightly and holds up her new camera for condition number two.]

And second...I'd like to take a picture of you, if that's okay. It doesn't have to be with the hat, if you don't want it to be.

Minako, 12/24

[xxiipins]

[ Minako had been rushing back and forth all day putting up decorations. Reindeer, snowmen, santa, elves, you name it, were covering the walls of the diner. She only ever stops once, to listen to the ghost of Cecil and close her eyes along with the other two.

She also made sure there was a pot of fresh coffee brewing. She had aquired a taste for it working at the cafe back home and, well, after everything that's been happening, Minako decided that maybe some residents would really need it. ]

Minako 12/25

[xxiipins]

[ There was nothing different about Minako when she walked into the diner on Christmas-- except for the incredibly festive elf hat she was wearing. In case anyone was jealous and wanted their own, she made sure to ask the closet for extras. A lot of extras, actually. She had placed a large bin at the end of the counter filled with various hats for guests to grab.

She spends most of the day helping Tohru and Souji cook (and maybe stealing a strawberry or two). Minako had never spent a Christmas with so many people since she was often moving between houses. Needless to say, she was extremely giddy about the holiday. If you listen closely you can hear the faint sound of Christmas music playing from her headphones. ]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji, of course, is wearing a Santa hat. That is what cool kids do.

At some point during the day, when there's no need for more chicken or cake right at that minute, he comes over to Minako and taps her on the shoulder to get her attention.]

[xxiipins]

[ Minako turns, slides her headphones off, and gives Souji a once-over. She nods in approval of the Santa hat. So cool. ]

What's up?