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Who: Lio Fotia and you
When: Juril
Where: Aefenglom
What: Quests, may use as a catch-all
Warnings: None at the moment

I.) Cheerful Buns

( he stares at the dough, perfectly round in front of him on a floured surface, flexing his fingers over it. 'give it compliments' isn't the foreign concept, it's the part that he was told to do it to this future cheerloaf so that it would give its eater the same kind of joy? does bread think? does putting yeast in a dough automatically make it a living thing? lio's got a ton of questions, but all he can think about doing is sinking the tips of his talons into the surface of it and... just seeing how it feels.

...

it sticks, just slightly. with a sigh, lio looks to his side, hopefully at someone else who is just as perplexed. )

What can you say to it that counts as a compliment?

( he furrows his brows. )

II.) Blink and Miss 'Em - A

( lio is... a little uncomfortable, but he sits in the middle of the petagorium with the cats all around him. apparently one of the best ways to catch their attention is to offer something that moves, something that looks interesting to bat at or claw or try to pounce on. in this case, it's lio's wings--- the feathers fluttering every so often. he doesn't mind acting like some kind of makeshift cat tower, though it's only when one kitten decides to blink out of existence and reappear on his face that makes him gasp and almost fall over. )

Ah... the hell?

( he has to carefully pull the cat off, cradling it in his arms for a moment before yet another one decides to pull the same stunt. only this time, the cat digs his claws into the middle of his back, right in between his wings. )

F--- f.... ugh, can someone... help.

( through grit teeth, he's happy he didn't just unload colorful language in front of the kittens. )

III.) Blink and Miss 'Em - B

No, get back here!

( this one particular kitten, one that the petagorium must've affectionately named 'peaches', is... a handful. and by handful, lio hasn't even had a chance to get his hands on her yet. the little peach-shaped patch of fur on her hindquarters keeps vanishing, just like the rest of her, as he continues to chase the cat down the street. even the word 'chase' is misleading; vanishing then reappearing, vanishing then reappearing... lio's incredibly lucky that his eyesight is so strong otherwise he would've lost her minutes ago. she's quick and oddly intelligent, even going as far as to blink up to ledges then back down to the ground.

so lio has taken to the sky in order to pursue her. it feels oddly natural for him to be observing things from the air, but even more so something that would be... prey? no, not this kitten. he could never do anything that mean. but peaches is asking for it, and it's when she appears to stop in front of someone for a moment that he takes his chance and swoops, dives down toward his target.

and then she just. poofs again, and lio's focused and determined expression turns into shock and horror. he's definitely going to collide with someone, and he desperately tries to slow down but!

lio can only hope whoever he plows into is strong enough to catch him.)

IV.) Wildcard - Catch All

( if you have anything for me, we can do it here. otherwise PM me to plot or something!)

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[ven may not be great at baking, but he enjoys it enough to keep practicing. so when the offer to help make bread comes around of course ven signs up for it. he's never heard of cheerload, but that isn't new. he hasn't heard of a lot of things.

he's trying hard himself to knead the dough without his own claws digging too deep or ruining it in some way when lio turns to him. ven perks up, absently pushing back some of his hair with his hand. it leaves a smear of flour on his cheek.]

Hmm... Maybe something like- how it looks super round and soft? Or about how it'll be really delicious when it's all baked!

~~( after looking at ven in his normal form, he is too cute and i am crying )~~

Super round and soft? ( he snickers, not having yet turned to look at ven. ) I guess that's one way. How would bread compliment itself? Maybe being fluffy and soft, or...

( but then he does look, and his eyes widen in recognition. lio's mouth parts slightly, wanting to say something, but instead he swallows down a gulp of air.

it's the one that vanitas was pulled out of. the one he saw in his memories. it's him...! )

... sorry. ( he's just standing there like a doof. ) I was thinking about eating bread.

[~~try petting him, he's very soft~~]

Bread that looks all golden and warm? I wonder if it's happy to hear about how it'll be eaten later... that's kinda weird, huh?

[he doesn't notice lio staring at him until the heavy pause and he looks up. his ears perk up curiously before smiling.]

Have you tried cheerloaf before?

[ Several things happen very quickly.

Killua was just walking down the street when he noticed the movement above, and at the same time the kitten dashing toward him, running full-pelt as though from something. His first thought, naturally, is that the little creature is in danger and, since it was zooming right toward his legs, he prepares to lean down and catch it.

Except. It vanishes.

And then-- ]

Whoa!

[ Whatever the hell had caught his eye above before he was distracted by the cat is now very much swooping right into him. In a split-second, Killua decides dodging is too risky, both for the person (it's definitely a person, right?) plummeting out of the sky and for the passers-by around them.

He braces himself and opens his arms instead, cushioning Lio's landing. Despite his petite size, it barely even pushes Killua back an inch.

But he definitely has questions. ]

What the hell are you doing?!

Nope. It's one of the reasons why I jumped at the chance to make some.

( because then he might be able to gift some to a friend who's recently lost their bonded. it hurt lio to see them so distraught, even if it their own attitude and demeanor was a little strange to him. )

I don't know if I'd be happy to be eaten, that's for sure. ( it's a little weird, but he's not going to judge that line of questioning from ven. after he gives his dough a few more careful presses... )

I'm sorry, but I have to ask. You're Ventus, right?

( nice! he's not going to accidentally mow someone down. lio is, however, certainly in the embrace of someone he's never met before. after a second to realize what exactly happened that led him to this moment, he quickly hops out and away from killua with his hands out in front of him. )

Sorry! Sorry... uh, have you seen a kitten around here? She has cream and light brown fur, with a small patch of fur shaped like a:

( and he makes the heart/peach with his fingers. )

This. Like this.

( the harpy continuously scans the area, eyes wide as he fixes his gaze on anything that moves. )

Oh, Lio!

[ lio's all toppled over, and sylvia sympathizes completely. the cats are cute, but they sure are a lot. she sees the one clawing at his back, and she gently reaches over and tugs it off, careful not to hurt it. it takes a little tugging because those claws are latching onto his shirt, but once the kitten's off (and meowing in protest), sylvia cradles it in her arms. ]

You okay? You're not hurt, right?

Edited 2020-07-03 21:03 (UTC)

[ She's not really the culinary type, but kneading bread seems straightforward enough that she thinks she can lend a hand. She's not on the Grandcypher any longer, after all; she can't rely on the help of her crewmates anymore. And in any case, it turns out that kneading isn't even the bulk of the work she's expected to do.

Well, that's fine. There's never a shortage of compliments when she's around, and she's happy to share the wealth with anyone that asks. ]

Have you tried telling it how smooth it looks? How warm and rich and buttery its [ skin ] surface looks? Or perhaps the way it simply melts under your touch?

[ Hm, maybe that might be a little difficult with those talons of his, but the point remains. ]

( ah, he's been recognized. will this be it for whatever ego that lio has? despite it being somewhat wrecked by losing his promare, then slowly becoming some kind of bird monster? the only way lio will be able to concentrate on these questions is after he removes... kittens from his body. )

No, of course not.

( he's super perfectly fine and none of his feathers are ruffled! )

Don't think I'd ever be a cat person... this isn't helping.

( also because he's a birb. )

( with ever question, his face turns a darker shade of pink until there's nothing left but a harpy who really wishes he lost the ability to blush! can birds blush? i don't know but lio still can and honestly he can't wait to stop feeling heat flood his everything, from the tip of his pointed ears all the way to his chin. )

I don't think... are we still talking bread?

( his question comes out a little shrill, a little awkward, but hey! at least he didn't immediately flee the coop. that's probably more chicken than harpy, but details. )

Heh, it's okay, you know! I'm not doing so hot, either.

[ she moves the kitten up so it can perch on top of her shoulder. it seems to like that, at least, which is the most luck she's had with any of these kitties all day. ]

I should be doing better, considering I work at a cat cafe and all, but animals were never my strong suit.

[ she's never had a pet before. rip. ]

Anyway, two heads are better than one! So let's try to think of a way to handle this?

[Momo is out and about at the moment, on his way to do a bit of shopping, when he sees something small and kitten-shaped moving on the path. His first instinct is to try and catch it as well, but then it disappears, and the shadow bearing down from the sky now says he wasn't the only person trying to catch it.

That said, Momo recognises the blond head before Lio actually crashes into him, and he braces for the collision, catching him in his arms and then half-rotating on one foot from the momentum before he plants his second one and stops them properly.

And then grins down at Lio, arms still wrapped around him.] Come here often?

[It's obviously just him teasing for the sake of it, but he couldn't resist in this kind of situation.]

A cat cafe? ( he's heard of those, but he never could take a step in one. he couldn't risk accidentally letting out a flame in public, let alone in a place full of cute animals. ) I'm sure if your cafe was full of these kinds of cats, you'd be exhausted all the time.

( he's already exhausted and he hasn't even reached the second part of this particular prompt. wowee. )

Okay, well! I guess we should probably keep them entertained. But not with our body parts.

( sylvia's ears are probably a solid target for kitty claws if they latched on.

... )

How fast are you?

[ Aw, how cute. Three hundred years and the sight of a blushing young man or woman still never fails to disappoint. Rosetta smiles slyly, though her voice remains entirely innocent. ]

Of course. What else would I be talking about? [ What else, indeed. 🤔 The weight of the conversation shifts back to Lio as Rosetta asks: ] Are you feeling more inspired towards your bread now, or would you like a few more examples?

[ She can go on all day. ]

Yeah. Luckily the cat handling's not part of my job, I'm just a barista -- that in itself is pretty tiring already.

[ they can both be tired together!! ... though when he asks her how fast she is, oh boy. oh boy! she perks up and her ears are perky again. she's got a slightly mischievous grin on her face. ]

I'm a Puca, of course I'm super fast! Why? What're you thinking?

( it's not so much being caught by momo that surprises him, it's that his arm easily wraps over and around the other's shoulder without slamming into him. his momentum is somehow diverted into a half-spin, and he can rest his taloned fingertips against the back of momo's neck. if he didn't just slam into momo, one might think there are two... very good friends standing in the middle of a path, the harpy's wings fluttering in sudden surprise as he looks wide eyed at his bonded...

once the shock passes, lio looks away to conceal the blush. )

No, it's my first time.

( two can play that particular kind of game, but he doubts he could fluster momo the same way he does to him. with a sigh, he peers over momo's shoulder. )

The cat. It's just... watching me. I've been trying to catch it so I can take it back to the shop.

[the question has ven faltering and his expression falls a little.] Um, yeah-

[if he was being honest with himself he was getting a little tired of everyone else seeming to know who he was while he was left in the dark. at least that's how it felt.

he goes back to kneading the dough, slower this time.]

Let me guess... Do you know Vanitas?

( he stares at the dough a little longer, unsure what to say. she's caught him at an impasse: one where he could ask her for more... things to say to the pre-bread. or, he could try his own. either way he's going to be on the struggle bus, his wings drooping around him. )

I'll try one.

( lio clears his throat, closes his eyes, and addresses the dough with the experience that comes with being with very few others in his life: )

You're... very sticky?

( the dough cries. )

A barista? ( he's surprised. then again, he's never asked. still? he's happy to learn more about sylvia. )

Well, maybe... I don't know. They're pretty fast with their teleporting, so maybe they'd chase after you if you had some kind of toy?

( he's not sure if she can outrun flashing kittens, but it's a thought. )

I can probably follow behind you but in the air.

I do.

( he's not going to beat around the bush here. as he continues to massage the dough with his talons, lio doesn't really know how to compliment the mix. it's difficult finding nice things to say about others, but this? this is way more difficult than he thought. )

I'm Lio. ( it doesn't seem right to not give him his name right away, especially when he knows ven's. ) It's nice to meet you.

( he offers the turnskin a smile before staring back at the dough. )

Uh... I guess I could say "someone's going to be really happy eating you one day". Is that a compliment?

Ohhhh. I like the way you think!

[ it's actually a genius idea. good thinking, lio! this is why she needs more friends who can think quickly like he can. ]

We can corner them into a pen that way, and I can easily hop over it so I'm not locked in. How does that sound?

[Momo has enough mercy to put Lio down on his feet after he responds, because he assumes he doesn't have to worry too much about him having been knocked silly by the collision. He follows Lio's gaze to look over his own shoulder, watching the cat watch them and seemingly wait for its opportunity to disappear again.]

Did they give you any advice for catching them or did they just assume everyone had some teleporting cat capture tactic up their sleeve...? [It seems like a great way to accidentally lose your pets.] I could try and catch it in a barrier, but I don't think that would stop it from teleporting again.

[The barriers are less about negating things and more about just resisting anything that might try to fight their way out. And he's not sure a counterspell would work on an ability that's innate to the cats.]

Like a great idea, that's what.

( whether the pen would hold them for very long or not is up to the kittens, but at that point no one can say neither of them tried? it's about getting them to wear themselves out anyway. they have too much energy for one harpy to handle, and hopefully not for one harpy plus one puca. )

I think they have one here. We'll just have to run a lap around the city, I'm sure that'll get them quickly tired...

( he closes his eyse and huffs as he pulls a few feathers from his side, ones that can be quickly strung up together as an impromptu cat toy. )

... here. This'll work.

Nope, no advice worth listening to. ( lio rolls his shoulders, staring icily at the cat who is now licking its paws and enjoying how it's been able to elude escape for this long. the harpy narrows his eyes, flexing his talons--- he wants to catch that damn animal. there's nothing else more important than that right now, and he licks his lips thinking about what he'll do once he gets his hands on that cat.

he'll... pet her. a lot. she looks soft. )

I figure if I can just keep chasing, she'll get tired. Then I'll finally be able to sweep her up and take her back to the pet shop. Think it'll work?

Lio? [well he seems pretty nice. ven smiles, tail slowly starting to wag behind him.] It's nice to meet you too.

[he does wonder what vanitas has said about him for lio to know his name...]

Hmm... Maybe, "you'll taste great with jam and butter"?

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1. i too want to compliment bread

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iii, i'm not sorry

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