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[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

// mafioso

TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION

XIMILIA

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Post-training

[hikae]

[ One of the downsides of relying on supply drops means there's always something that's gone. Or just not enough of it. Alcohol is sure one of these things. One after-mission party and it's nearly gone, the horror.

Hence half-empty bottle of mediocre whiskey turned into a treasure to stash and protect. For an occasion exactly like that - getting to share a drink and get to know a teammate better.

This might not be a prizewinner among brands, but despite that it's one of the more popular drinks on the Ximilia station [ He poured them two glasses, emulating the barkeep he knew always explaining trivia. Only he makes it all up for a joke ] Do ya know why is that so? Because it's the only whiskey left.

[ Ba-dum-tss ]

At least until next supply drop.

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[Zhao smiled despite himself. The joke was lame and they both knew it, but it was what it was. Which was the truth. Zhao wouldn't blame anyone for hiding it when there wasn't enough of it to go around.]

That's a shame, but I'm happy to get a taste of it. It's always a pleasure to get to try something rare and meaningful.

[He, too, was mostly joking. Apparent by the lilt to his voice.]

when u ruin html and don't even notice it until it's too late.... oops

[hikae]

[ Rare and meaningful... good joke, but also not really wrong. It is rare here. And meaningful part— ]

—and it always tastes better in a company. Cheers! [ Yeah, that. Simple pleasures ]

audio; un: alenko

[majorbiotic]

[After this little event, for context. Clearly Kaidan is not showing his best judgment right now, and his audio is a little loud]

Hey, Zhao-kun. You know... you know I was thinking, and you should take off those glasses sometime. I bet you have really nice eyes.

audio;

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[This is really unexpected. To say Zhao is surprised is an understatement. And yet...]

You really can't hold your liquor, can you? [He laughs. And then, in a bit deeper tone:] Is that all you imagine about me?

[...not entirely unwanted.]

special delivery

[bossily]

[On the evening of the 24th, Clara drops a gift off for Zhao. Inside the wrapped box is a folded paper chimpanzee and a little charm she got from Gyeongje. It's a small, painted clay circle with the shape of a lotus flower etched into it. There's a note beneath both small items.

Here's a little Clara the chimpanzee and a bit of good luck that will hopefully see you safe and happy in the coming year. The charm is from my first mission here. I grabbed an extra since I thought I'd need the extra luck, but it feels more important to share it with people here who are just as far from home and potentially as lonely as I can feel sometimes.

-Clara]

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[This was definitely unexpected, especially since they really only talked (meaningfully) the once, and yet the gift from Clara was memorable and cute and thoughtful. He unfortunately didn't have anything in return for her as he hadn't planned for extra. However, it was easy enough to find some colorful paper that he, trope that he was, could fold into a makeshift return gift. The only thing he could remember from his childhood was how to make his favorite animal; so he made her a little orange tiger and painted on some black stripes to complete the image. He left her a note as well to explain.]

This is Charlotte-chan. She was in the same circus as Clara-chan the chimpanzee. These two (along with a bear named Catherine-chan) were escape artists that Kasuga-kun and his friends (including me) rounded up on behalf of the ringmaster. It's a crazy story, I know. That's only the half of it. If you're ever in need of a good story, hit me up. I've got plenty more to share whenever you need some company.

-Zhao

[If she catches him while he's dropping off the gift she may be pleased to notice that he's wearing the little charm, added to his jewelry as if it belonged there all along. It's not just so she can see it either, he genuinely likes it. It seems to fit right into his image perfectly.]

[Gift Delivery]

[majorbiotic]

[Happy holidays. Kaidan already said he was getting Zhao a bonsai so that shouldn't be a surprise. Also included is a cookbook with some asari recipes that are safe for humans to eat, a few bottles of different colored nail polish, and a collection of music from Kaidan's world. When you can't decide what to give the guy you like, just give him all the things]

Zhao-kun is good in a fight, his presence a welcoming sight. If he is free and if he agrees maybe I can see him tonight?

[This is the most cheesy and dorky way to ask someone out on a date. You're welcome]

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[The bonsai wasn't a surprise, but everything else certainly was. It was all so perfect, too. Zhao had to admit he liked everything here, and would put it all to good use. His own gift felt very little in comparison now.

However, (thankfully?), he was distracted from the exchange process by the poem. He was left staring. His mouth twitched. He was either about to burst into laughter or was trying not to sneer disrespectfully.]

...wow. This took some guts.

[He's not sure what to say to Kaidan about it so he won't bother (yet) and instead he will simply meet Kaidan later that evening. Since he didn't get around to delivering Kaidan's gift yet, he might as well wait till that time, too, and bring it with him.]

Gift Dellivery

[hikae]

[ The neatly packed large gift, turns out to be a fancy, portable dartboard — slap it to the wall, then it takes it off, wherever there's space —, complete with a set of darts. Each set of three is differently coloured for your convenience. ]

For a casual party, or some real competition. An idle fun, or a challange.
Is the hand quicker than the eye?

~MG

[ Attached is a small box of popular Osakan souvenirs, the Omoshiroi Koibito cookies. ]

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[Later that day a private message is sent to Majima from Zhao. His sly voice comes over the comms with an obvious smirk worn on his face as he records.]

You know I can't resist a challenge. So now I'm issuing one to you. You know where to find me if you've got the stamina to try and go a round or two with me.

text. un: 10-54

[construing]

Hey. Wouldn’t happen to have put in another order for those energy drinks, have you?

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

Yeah, I'd say they're going to be a staple after the last two missions ended up in shitstorms towards the end. So you can count on me making sure to remind Viv-chan to include them every supply drop.

I take it this means you need a few.

Valentine's Day [oh boy]

[hikae]

[ With how the mission has ended, it was hard to put up a neutral, let alone content face. Sure they won, and that's something to cling to, but—

No buts. The calendar doesn't lie. Viv-chan even went ahead and stocked them on necessary items. Besides, they all need cheering up. Even those who are incredibly adept at cheering other people up, while hiding their own.

So he sent a message to Zhao. A simple one, time, place, be there. NOT a kitchen because that would end with Zhao making food for them and anyone that walks by, and that's not part of the plan. Not a training room or sunlight room either, again, someone might walk on them. Simulator—

No, it just gotta be Majima's own room. ]

:3

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[It was an unexpected summons but then Zhao was getting used to Majima doing the unexpected. Besides, they loved to hang out and shoot the shit or play some games to unwind so if the invite was just another challenge from the Mad Pup then Zhao was down for it.

Though it was a little unusual not to have an idea what they were going to do before hand. Sure, sometimes it was only a clue rather than an outright declaration of war on the Chinese man's skills to be tested that day but it was still noticed as missing entirely this time.

He showed up fashionably late on time at least and knocked on the door in the tune of a little jingle.]

[farr]

[ one morning on the station, on each orber's door, the following hand-written note (in fancy calligraphy) will be taped:


the orber can choose to attend or simply listen in to the meeting when it occurs, or they may ignore it altogether. ]

[farr]

[ yet another flyer ends up on every orber's door, evidently by the same culprit as last time, except now it's a more colorful display:


the back of the flyer features more details about the play and its characters, and soon enough, an announcement from rita herself goes public, giving more context about the event, which all can sign up for. ]

action (kinda);

[heroooic]

[Finn walks up to the box, squinting down into it thoughtfully. Apparently, gift giving was the custom around here. A human custom, as far as Finn could tell. The thought gives him a weird fluttering in his stomach as he focuses on one of the new people he's met -- human or not -- racking his brain for what they might want...]

Never had a food prank, huh? [Finn's grin takes a turn for the devilish, leaning down into the box.] Hehe, that's about to change.

Later...

[This month's supply drop has arrived and with it, a little something special for Zhao. He'll see a box wrapped in whimsically patterned paper, a black bow, and a small glittery gold tag with 'From Finn' printed on it. The wrapping job is too neat to be from Finn himself, clearly created by the ship's replicator based on his gift request.

Inside the box, he will find bag of jellybeans that hide a dark truth. There's no indication of the flavor until they are eaten... bon apple teeth!]

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[The box is almost too perfect to unwrap. It's perfect, done up in his favorite colors and everything. Probably not wrapped by the kid himself but what does Zhao know. Maybe he's real neat once he sits down to do something important!

Anyway, he eventually gets the present back to his dorm and carefully opens it up without making a mess. He peers inside to find the snack treat and huffs out a little laugh. He's not really surprised.

He isn't surprised to discover the special flavors either later when he finally decides to try a few one evening. But he does make a face at the first one that makes it into his mouth. Too bad even his keen sense of smell wouldn't alert him to which ones were which, but they all smelt like jellybeans. Oh well. He popped another one into his mouth in hopes it would over-flavor the other one. Bon appétit indeed.]

[ present ]

[dr_unconscious]

[It should be obvious from the shape of the wrapped present left on Zhao's doorstep that it's a large book of some sort. A "southern cookbook," to be exact - something like this but somehow even more obnoxiously branded. The recipes, at least, are all exactly what you'd expect. A barely legible handwritten note has been tucked inside the front cover.]

Was hoping I could share some of my favorite dishes with a talented cook.
--Clayton

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[This was completely unnecessary and yet the smile on Zhao's face was pretty wide whenever the gangster opened the present and peered at the title of the book. Well, at least it made it simple for Zhao to come up with a return favor. He would have to attempt to make some of these recipes and obviously Clayton would need to be present to test taste his work.

That would come later. For now he enjoyed looking through the foreign recipes and deciding which to try to cook first once he got back in the kitchen. Thanks, Clayton. He'll owe you one until he can return the thoughtful gesture.]

[deaddrop]

Delivered to Zhao's door without a note, a Christmas stocking.

The contents include:

• A dragon travel mug.
  
• Chili infused tequila.
  
• Hot chocolate mix.
  
• Coffee.
  

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[He feels as though he needs to make Peking duck now and see who shows up. At least that's the first thing he thinks of when he finds the stocking. The second is that whoever left this here for him was the absolute best. He's only slightly peeved there's no note but has a guess or two who it could be. He'll leave it alone since they wanted to be anonymous.

But he's totally heading to the kitchen now to cook a really ridiculous meal for whoever might show up today.]

text; un: jtd (a few days post-ciraiwei)

[doooooog]

[ Little snatches of the past few days were coming to Jake in odd fits and starts now that they were back in the relative calm of station living. It's late in the evening that one such memory comes to mind; a quiet bid for forgiveness in the middle of a quiet forest.

It wasn't something Jake was strictly meant to hear, but that didn't mean it left his head so easily. ]

hey. sorry for the late night text. i know you don't really know me, but i gotta know.

you ever manage to bring those plants back with you?

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[Sleep is for the weak. Also, the day time because that's how cool cats roll or something. More like the nightlife was just gangster prime time back in the red light district of Ijincho where he was king of the Liumang. He's not even remotely disturbed by the late night text. A little bit amused actually.]

Don't worry about it.

Yeah, you wanna see? Got a few I managed to hang onto. They're real cute. Tiny.