Ship-testing catchall

[oneblackcat]

To Try:

Omi:
Akaya
Kura
Nagi (not for the same set-up, but as long as futureverse catchall is there, maybe a test thread for what they'd be like?)

Kura:
Ken
Rasu
Hak
Soo-won
Jaeha

Mizuki:
Hak
Ran
Rasu
Yun (I know you don't want a bitchfest, but I still wanna try this one... lol)

Yukimi:
Ran
Rasu
Jaeha
Nami
Kimina

Yagyuu:
Fuji
Hak
Yukimura

Goku:
Ouka
Yona

Comments

Kuranosuke

[kurarinn]

1.

"It'll be fun!" That was the way these nights usually began, with Kenya's cheerful optimism and hopeful tone that never seemed to get discouraged by Kuranosuke's repeated rejections. One couldn't call themselves a friend of his without having a lot of patience and the ability to overlook his many antisocial tendencies. That was really the only reason why they still remained friends after all these years, despite the fact that their careers had diverged in significant ways.

For reasons he could not explain himself, Kuranosuke agreed to the invitation that night, leaving his work at home and venturing out into the streets like they used to do back at university. The Black Cat was a club they'd frequented before, where rock bands played to sellout crowds and Kenya got to grin with satisfaction at successfully planting a cat-shaped stamp on the back of Kuranosuke's hand that glowed neon green under UV light.

He stared unamused at the too-cute stamp, knowing it wasn't going to wash off for a few days at least, and pulled up a stool at the bar. Kenya having excused himself for a pit stop, Kuranosuke went ahead and ordered a couple beers. If 'fun' was the aim for the night, then he would need at least a few drinks to get there.


2.

It was Friday night, late. Where most folks might be out with their friends to get the weekend started, Kuranosuke was -- where else -- home, working. He lived on the 35th floor of a luxury highrise condominium located smack in the middle of town. It was set in a great neighborhood that had streets lined with classy boutiques, sleek office towers, and hip new restaurants that had the networks buzzing with their eclectic selections. Not that these things really mattered to Kuranosuke. He rarely went out into those very happening streets, except to go to the office and back again.

Tonight was no exception, having turned down a very disappointed sounding Kenya and putting his attention instead to the task at hand. He had reports to read and analyze, portfolios to reassess, news feeds to keep up with. Things could turn on a dime in his industry, and being on top of the latest was critical to his success.

Take-out Thai food sat on the kitchen island, where he'd eaten it right out of the box. He put his tablet down for a moment to switch on the coffee maker. It wasn't as though he'd be going to bed any time soon, after all.

2.

[kiminaishin]

For most people, it was probably the most boring and unromantic date night to be had.

She messaged him at 6 when she left the office to announce she was coming over with dinner. An hour later she rang his bell, her work bag worn across the shoulder and take-out in a handheld bag. They ate in relative quiet and then sat down to pick up work where they left off-- also in relative quiet.

Kimina for her part liked it. The relationship (insofar as the word applied) was unobtrusive and easy. The fact that Kuranosuke didn't feel a need to fill the time with small talk was a plus, and being in the same industry gave them conversation topics that were productive on two levels when they did talk.

She adjusted her sitting position on the sofa, looking up as Kuranosuke started the coffee maker. Possibly he just wanted something to drink; coffee to her signaled that either physical or mental fatigue was setting in. It wouldn't be a surprise, either. It was the end of a long week.

"Time for a break?" She asked.

[kurarinn]

Whether this was work or a date was not something that Kuranosuke would ever stop to consider. Dinner-in was fairly mundane, after all. Though if he were to look back on any of his past hook-ups, he would at least acknowledge that this sort of thing was rare: that is to say, allowing such a person up into his house for reasons other than sex. It probably helped that she worked in the same business, but what really mattered was that it was uncomplicated. It was what it was, and neither of them bothered to frame it as anything specific.

He paused as he pulled out a cup from the cupboard, tilting his head at Kimina from over the counter. It wasn't his intention to take a break. Kuranosuke could work for hours on end without pause, a trait that was actually not so unusual in his line of work. Though even there, he was known to be more focused than most others.

"I was just getting coffee," he said. "...do you need a break?"

1.

[jaeha]

Working a bar tended to bring at least a little bit of everything to the counter. Tonight's specimen was one of the rarest-seen: the antisocial workaholic. Jaeha had seen this one here before, and more than once; he never forgot the pretty ones. Pity he didn't come by more often, but if these types were easy to get out of the house, they wouldn't be such a rarity.

Beer was on tap, making it one of the easiest orders to fill. He placed two steins with full heads of froth on the counter and grinned at Kuranosuke through a tilt of his head.

"You're not the type that relaxes easy, are you?"

[kurarinn]

He and Kenya had been coming here often enough for Kuranosuke to recognize the face behind the bar pushing the frothy beer mugs to him across the counter. He had sharp and striking features, bright green hair and an easy manner that was probably part of his bartender persona. Kuranosuke never could be in the service industry. He'd probably scare off most of the customers with his blunt manner and stoic gaze. The same gaze that he leveled upon the barkeep now.

"Hn," he said.

Kuranosuke took a swig from the beer before wiping his mouth the back of his hand.

"It's not about relaxing. It's having other things I should be doing with my time." For once though, he didn't say that he'd rather be doing those things.

1.

[raijyuu]

Number One Perk of working a club: free drinks at the bar.

Lucky for him it took a lot for him to get wasted. Not so lucky for the club owner. As his break rolled around, Hak ambled away from his post by the door and popped his neck in a bid to rid it of stiffness. Hak supposed he couldn't complain: he did like that most of the time he got paid for nothing more than standing around, and when there was action, it was usually over pretty quick.

Even luckier tonight, there was an empty stool with a cold one already waiting. Hak slid into it, picked up the second drink Kuranosuke had bought, and started downing it without a second thought.

[kurarinn]

Kenya must have bumped into someone he knew, because he was taking his sweet time. Some idiot decided to help himself to his beer. Maybe that was just as well, since it would lose its fizz sitting there, but Kuranosuke was somewhat annoyed anyway. What kind of person just walked up to a drink and assume it was theirs for the taking?

"You must've been thirsty," he said dryly, glancing at the guy from the corner of his eyes.

2.

[falconking]

It was almost reminiscent of their college days like this. A quiet room with take-out dinner and studying, only now instead of textbook chapters and research papers, it was stock prices and business reports. Soo-won lounged against the couch cradling his box of pork and noodles.

"No rest for the wicked, is how the saying was meant to go," he mildly observed as he caught Kuranosuke heading for the coffee. He tipped his head enough to cast a smile in the man's direction. "You're testing the ancient proverbs on their theory. I think it safe to say even the devils of the world will be retiring to bed before you do."

[kurarinn]

Living with someone made you more aware of their various quirks and habits, lending itself to an intimacy that few other experiences could bring about. Of course, it could easily have gone the other way too, if your roommate turned out to be a psycho or slob. Fortunately, the random roulette of the college dormitory match-up game rolled well for Kuranosuke and Soo-won. Outwardly, they would seem nothing alike, but as it turned out, they were weirdly compatible. Soo-won didn't mind Kuranosuke's bluntness and dry antisocial nature, and seemed to know exactly when to keep his distance and when to push in. Kuranosuke didn't quite understand the smiles and the pleasantries Soo-won often put on, but came to realize there was something much more interesting on the inside. There was a darkness there, an ambition and the drive to follow through that he appreciated.

As he walked to the kitchen, he paused for a moment to glance back at his ex-roommate, who was making himself quite at home on his couch with the take-out.

"And you, I would guess, didn't come here to relax either," Kuranosuke said with a snort. There was a trace of a grin on his face before turned back to prepare the coffee.

1.

[dandeliondreams]

The club was a familiar scene for Rasu, one of his favorite ways to spend a free night. Music, dancing, drinks, colorful lights, plenty of opportunities to meet new people, maybe even find a hookup... what wasn't to like? Between dancing and the inevitable blanket of warmth from being in the thick of a crowd, he'd built up a fine mist of sweat across his face. He broke from the floor and made for the bar to cool off with a drink and maybe flirt with the bartender before jumping back into the action.

His attention instead went to one of the guys sitting at the bar. Now there was someone he didn't see very often-- especially not in The Black Cat. Shame, too, because he was damn hot, if a bit (ok more than a bit) distant. Thankfully, that didn't especially deter Rasu. He bounded over, folded his arms to rest across the spread of Kuranosuke's shoulders, and grinned into his ear.

"Yo. I'd almost forgotten what a looker you are... When can I get another reminder?"

2.

[huskysiberian]

"Oh, come on!" Ken complained-- and loudly-- at the holoscreen where a soccer game was playing out. "He practically gave it to them!"

The other team took swift advantage of the fumbled pass, driving the ball back down to the other end of the field with a hefty kick. It sailed over the heads of everyone in midfield and bounced a couple of times to a forward. Pass to another forward, dance around the defense, another pass, shoot... and score!

Ken turned off the screen at that point.

With nothing left worth watching on the game, Ken gathered up his trash from dinner and carried it to the kitchen disposal unit. The containers with Kuranosuke's portion (Ken would hesitate to call it his 'half') were still on the counter. And speak of the devil... he was actually not buried in his tablet for the moment.

"You done with yours?" Ken asked. Might as well clean up a bit for the guy, considering he'd crashed the pad to eat and watch the game with basically no notice.

Yukimi

[yukimi]

1.

So what kind of guy walks around with a solid wedge of dried of bonito in his pockets? At least it wasn't something hideous, like a grenade or a used condom. People carried all kinds of random things in their pockets, he was certain. (And maybe that was a good lifestyle piece that he could write about when he really ran out of story ideas: "10 insights into a person's character, based solely on the contents of their pants." ...maybe not).

Actually, Yukimi had a good reason for the aforementioned bonito wedge, and he was facing it down right now, in the alley where he crouched. His hand was extended in a non-threatening manner, dangling the smelly slab of fish enticingly.

"Come on, little guy. I know you want it," he said patiently. The 'little guy' remained stubbornly in the corner of the cardboard box, hesitant. The human-shaped shadow that cast over Yukimi's shoulder wasn't helping matters any. He turned his neck a little to look at the culprit.

"You know, I could be a much better cat whisperer if you didn't hover over me like that," Yukimi said with a smirk.


2.

Little Bean, is what they called the place. Yukimi wasn't sure if he thought more about coffee beans or bean beans at when he heard the name. But clearly there was no name confusion amongst this opening week crowd. Everyone seemed to know exactly what to get. Yukimi marveled at the plethora of decisions one had to make just to order one cup of joe. Skim or soy? Half caf or decaf? Wet or dry? (That was a cappuccino thing). Extra shot? No foam? Whipped cream? He wondered sometimes whether such complex decisions came easily to all frequenters of these establishments, or if that bravado was only a pretense.

In any case, he patiently waited his turn in line before finally making it up to the counter. He ordered five drinks (yup, count 'em, five): flat white, pour over Costa Rican blend, chai tea latte, cafe americano, and a classic cappuccino, extra shot. Hey, he had to try them all for his piece.

"It's all for here. What can I say, I'm thirsty," he said to the barista, shrugging.

The drinks came up with impressive speed, set out onto the counter on a tray. Yukimi swiped it up and took the whole thing to a long communal table by the window and set it down. Ah, photographs first.

He whipped out his camera to take a few close-up shots. Yukimi looked up from his camera at the person sitting across from him.

"Hey. You mind being in this shot? My treat. Take a pick from the spread," he said with a wide grin.

2.

[plight_of_the_navigator]

For most people, 'please' was the magic word. For Nami, it was 'free.'

She was here for the same reason as most everyone else: trendy new shop? Must investigate. Her drink was mostly gone now, and what was left was too cool to be worth finishing anyway. That was her excuse to keep sitting at the table mooching the Wi-Fi.

She glanced up briefly when her peripheral vision caught someone approaching-- and tried not to gape too visibly seeing the tray of so many drinks. Unless he was ordering for a group just shy of arriving, that was far too many to order at one time! But as long as it wasn't her money he was wasting, that wasn't her concern. Nami went back to her tablet.

Until he offered one of those drinks to her. She looked back up and beamed. "Really? All right!" A picture was an easy payment; she was very photogenic, after all, and never went out looking a slob. She took the pour over and scooted her old drink out of the way. "Posing or sipping?"

1.

[rookieoftheyear]

"You could also be a much better one if you offered it something that wasn't disgusting," deadpanned the shadow's owner.

Had he been asked, Ran would have begged to differ on the qualification of dried bonito as a non-hideous pocket item. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the sentiment of the gesture; Yukimi's compassion was an endearing quality, and one of the reasons he loved him. It was just that, when you got down to it, compassion didn't make a smelly piece of fish any less a smelly piece of fish.

Still, he obliged the idea, and moved out of sight from the alley entrance, instead leaning against the front wall of the building on the other side of the corner to watch.

1.

[jaeha]

It wasn't unusual for Jaeha to spot someone he knew when he wandered the streets; life as a bartender tended to introduce one to quite a few people, after all. And Jaeha was just social enough and nosy enough that he'd usually poke his head in on said spotting, whether that introduction might be welcome or not.

Today's victim was crouched at the front of an alley, apparently out to entice a stray into accepting some food. It was probably rude to stand over someone without saying hello, but Jaeha had picked up on Yukimi's personality at least enough to know he could get away with it with him.

When the mild complaint came forth, Jaeha smirked back and sank down into a crouch behind him, elbows propped on his knees.

"Are you in the habit of taking strays home with you?"

1.

[dandeliondreams]

"Probably," Rasu admitted with a grin and not a trace of abashment. Maybe it was a little rude to stand over someone in front of an alley when they were trying to coax out a frightened animal, but that was Rasu for you. He couldn't pass up the chance to say hi to one of his friends-- especially one that came with benefits. Besides, it wasn't like he had anywhere special to be; his part of the latest shoot was already done. What better way to pass the time then, than pestering the people he liked?

"Am I ruining your dreams for a career change?"

2.

[kiminaishin]

It was fortunate that several of the patrons were the type to use a tablet while they enjoyed their drink. It made it easier to blend in.

Technically, she wasn't there for the coffee, though she did have a drink beside her. Kimina was there to work, making observations and keeping records on turnout and sales for the newly opened shop. Demographics, traffic patterns, which orders were most popular and at what times of day. It was valuable data for a marketing team.

When someone approached the other side of her table with a tray, she couldn't help taking note-- and then she saw who it was, and it all made sense. Of course. Kimina should have known she'd see Yukimi here; business analysis wasn't the only career to have reason to show up at a new coffee shop. She hadn't gotten to know him that well in college-- different years and all-- but they'd had a few classes together, which was more of a connection than strangers.

She quirked a smile at the request that was really half-bribe. Kimina wasn't the type to get in front of a camera, but it wasn't exactly a harmful request, nor would it take up much time.

"I don't normally do this sort of thing, you know," she said. Even so, she took the chai latte in indication that she'd make an exception this time.

Mizuki

[realisateur]

1.

This was utterly absurd. Mizuki was not the sort of person who went on blind dates. He was much too busy with his work, which threw him into plenty of situations where he could meet fine handsome young men the natural way, thank you very much. Anyway, getting set up by a friend had a tinge of desperation to it that he abhorred, and he certainly did not need anybody's pity!

Somehow, he got himself finagled into it. (Possibly because he wasn't haven't much luck finding anyone the so-called 'natural way,' but he wasn't about to admit that out loud). And so here he was, sitting at a sidewalk cafe with a cappuccino on the table and a proud expression on his face, trying to hide his discomfort with his usual poise.

Hmph. Well, whoever was coming, he was sure to be unimpressed.


2.

Clothing was a very personal thing for Mizuki; he chose all his outfits with meticulous care. They were tasteful and stylish without being overly trendy. And certainly, they were never boring. Though he usually preferred to shop alone, today he was with someone else. They had arrived downtown early for the evening movie, and Mizuki figured he most definitely should check the new collection at the nearby Monsieur V while he was here anyway.

He pulled a vest from the rack, a lavender colored number with a pretty deep purple trim brocaded on the pocket slit. He held it up against himself in front of the mirror, tilting his head to the side in scrutiny.

"I like the color. It's all the rage this season, but classic," he said. "What do you think?"

1.

[raijyuu]

This was fucking ridiculous.

Hak scowled a bit as he walked down the block, on his way to-- of all things-- a blind date. That Ouka clearly knew him far too well, even going so far as to secure the date, time and place, and only then tell him his plans for the evening. Worse, she called his bluff of walking away without acknowledging any commitment on his part. You'll be there, she said, with her trademark air of self-certainty. "Yeah, yeah," he'd said dismissively, as though she was kidding herself, never even turning around, but Hak knew she was right. Damned if he'd admit it to her, though.

Whatever. It was just a couple of hours of chatting up a guy at a café. How hard could it be? Hak wasn't expecting or even hoping for anything spectacular, which made it easy to be relaxed in spite of it technically being a date.

The first thing he noticed at the table was the way the man held himself: proud, and with a certain sense of being above it all, or maybe simply above this. That went for both of them. He rather liked that dignity though. It was much better than finding someone skittish and insecure.

"Yo," he drawled as he pulled back a chair, though he didn't sit down yet. He didn't stand stiff and proud, but he really didn't need to. He was perfectly confident in his relaxed lean against the back of the chair, and tall and muscular enough for it to barely affect his stature. And if he was the least bit self-conscious about his black tank top and the light jacket and jeans he wore with it, it didn't show. Hey, she said casual date.

"Son Hak. This my spot?" He asked with a smirk.

1.

[dandeliondreams]

Rasu didn't consider himself someone who exactly had a shortage of potential dating partners at any given time, but he was rarely one to turn down an opportunity either. (The two facts went somewhat hand-in-hand.) So when Mari told him there was an awesome, classy, hot dark-haired man she wanted him to meet, of course he was going to say "Sign me up!" What idiot would turn that down?

That was all he had to go on when he left. Casual date, André's, outdoor table, 7 PM. And sure, casual was pretty laid-back, but a café wasn't the zoo, and a 'classy' man meant "don't meet him looking like you rummage from Goodwill", so Rasu passed over the jeans and tees for a camel pair of pants with a brown belt that matched his loafers and a dark green polo shirt. Comfortable enough for casual, dressy enough to not look slobby.

He scanned the tables of the outdoor patio on arrival, looking for anyone to match the description he'd been given. It was possible, of course, that he was the first one there, but not all that likely, as he was just barely on time (why were there so many shiny things between his apartment and the café?)

Then it clicked into place as he saw a table with a well-dressed, dark-haired man sitting alone with a cappuccino.

...Oh.

Rasu almost laughed from the sheer awkwardness of it. He and Mizuki weren't exactly the tightest of friends at work. They worked together well enough, but it was hard to deal with the fact Mizuki was often right when he was wrong. Never mind that it was kind of weird to go on a date with someone you worked with in the first place. Well, it would be worse to not greet him and leave him thinking he'd been stood up; awkward and weird it would have to be!

So Rasu walked up to that table, pulled out the chair, and sat down with a grin that communicated perfect awareness of the spot he'd just put Mizuki into. Sorry, bro.

"Fancy meetin' you here. I guess introductions would be a bit frivolous, huh?"

2.

[tensaibishounen]

For someone with such humble beginnings, Yun could seem incredibly picky while out shopping. It wasn't that he refused to eat or wear less than the very best-- he simply refused to spend precious funds on anything less than well worth the investment. As a result, he had a discerning eye for quality and value. Monsieur V was one of the higher-end stores, which made it a favored place to browse.

That was one of the things he appreciated about Mizuki: he knew taste. Fine dining, fine clothing, fine appreciation for culture. And he took care of himself. It was depressingly hard to find people their age who did, especially on all fronts.

He brought a hand to his chin in thought at Mizuki's question, his eyes on the mirror.

"It's a good match for you. It complements your skin tone." Mizuki did tend to do rather well in purples as a rule.

2.

[rookieoftheyear]

Ran may never understand the enjoyment of clothes shopping. It was a practical necessity to be resolved with practical choices. To that end, it was fine by him to spend some extra time in a clothing store because it was less time Mizuki would have to spend later. On the other hand, even being in such a high-end store made Ran feel rather uncomfortable and out of place.

It wasn't that he dressed a slob-- quite the contrary. He simply didn't dress as a wealthy person. Because he wasn't. He was from a working class family of five. He had two nicer outfits for dates and interviews and that was it. The items in this store will be out of his price range, and so he doesn't bother to browse.

Circumstances being what they are, he also considers himself one of the last people who should be consulted on fashion. Why does his opinion even matter? He looks at the vest, knows immediately it's something he'd never wear, and that this fact is wholly irrelevant.

"I think if you like it and will wear it, you should buy it."

It's just that simple, isn't it?

Goku

[solaris9]

1. ​

You can't really go wrong with a good disaster flick, in Goku's opinion. There's always a human element (heroes rise in times of crisis), maybe a little romance, and then there's the main event: the catastrophic fury of nature that threatens to level an entire city. Or continent, or planet, depending on the scope. This movie was particularly good because it was in partial immersion VR, so you could really feel like you were part of the action as the earth split open under your feet. Awesome.

Hopefully, his date thought so too, because these things are always lots more fun when you're with someone you like. The audience had roared its approval at the end with applause.

"What'd you think?" he asked with enthusiasm as the lights went up.

--

2.

Picture prompts: one, two, three, four, five

1

[phoenixflower]

Disaster flicks were not Ouka's cup of tea, though credit should be given to any guy who at least understands that dinner and a movie is a classic outing. Unoriginal, maybe, but safe. And if she's honest with herself, neither she nor anyone else would date Goku with reasonable expectation of an evening with the kind of suave romancer who would opt for a movie targeted to the female audience. Goku's selling points were sincerity, openness, a love of fun, an easygoing nature, and a goofiness about him that was sort of adorable. More than sort of.

She puts a finger to her chin in thought as Goku asks her opinion on the movie.

"Well. You realize you're talking to a professional, right? The special effects were gimmicky and sent the plot to the backseat. The director did a decent job with use of the camera, which helped compensate a bit for the mediocre acting." She pauses for a couple of seconds, then allows a smile.

"But for all its technical shortcomings, it was fun to watch. I'd rank it a B."

2 - prompt 3

[princessofdragons]

Yona could not say that nature was her niche.

Nature looked beautiful in pictures. Lush green forests, crystal clear springs, breathtaking canyons, colorful sunsets, majestic mountains. It was easy to get sucked into the beauty of it and not understand just how unpleasant it could be to visit in person.

Yona's feet hurt. They feel blistered and sore and swollen and in dire need of a cool soak. The sun isn't warm enough to make up for the chilly breeze and the bugs.... god the bugs. They're everywhere and some of them are loud and some of them swarm in front of her face and some are lurking in places she'd never expect them to surprise her. Squirmy, slimy, creepy, crawly bugs!

And to top it all off, the humidity is making her hair even more unmanageable than usual.

"Gokuuuuuuuu," she whines. "How much farther? Aren't we to the end of the trail yet?"

It's been twenty whole minutes. She refuses to even contemplate the prospect of having to walk back.