makurakotoba | OPEN POST

Attempting to find a decent gift for Kuroo has been a task. A real task. He didn't know what the other guy liked, so he went with his gut- got him a red t-shirt (with black and white print "I'm Captain Awesome" on it because it's relatable to his volleyball position) and black cat key chain. He almost changed his mind about gifts but he couldn't go on birthday empty handed.

So, bag in hand, with his trade headphones on, he entered the train for Tokyo in early hours, hoping to arrive around 2pm so he can spend more time there. Kuroo said he didn't mind when he arrives, so Tsukishima took him seriously. He dressed simply- in black t-shirt, fitting jeans and beige jacket. He wasn't big fan of formal clothes.

He sent message to Kuroo when he was 10 minutes away from Tokyo so that the boy can come and find him. He's never been to Tokyo so he's totally clueless about where to go and what to do.

[Tsukki never particularly disliked coffee. he didn't particularly like it, either, but he'd drink it when he felt like it. now, though, after a month of working as a barista - going home after his shifts with his hands and clothes smelling like coffee grounds and his head still ringing with the drill-like noise of the grinder - he'd be happy to never see a paper coffee cup ever again.

and today he's working the cash register, which is even worse, since it means directly dealing with the establishments idiot customers. he arranges a smile on his face just as someone pushes the door open, making it jingle, signaling the start of their afternoon rush.]

Hello, can I take your order?

Kuroo has lived here all his life, and there's nothing he likes more than showing off his city - apart from volleyball and Kenma and Tsukishima and... plenty of other things really, but he does like showing it off - and sharing his favourite haunts with Tsukishima sounds like the best way imaginable to spend this birthday.

He's been hovering inside the stores near the station, just to make sure he isn't late, even though is home isn't much of a walk he doesn't want to leave Tsukishima alone there. Besides, he's picked up some snacks on his way around that he can try and tempt Tsukishima with since the guy seems to eat like a ~~crow~~ bird.

A grin spreads across his face as his phone buzzes with Tsukishima's text and he fires off a reply, making his way to the station platform with a couple of minutes to spare.

He tries not to look nervous as he waits but the way he's fussing with his hair is turning it into more of a disaster than usual. Good impression to be making.

[Kuroo's opinion of coffee doesn't amount to much. If it's hot, smells good and he can add enough sugar to it to make it taste reasonable, he'll enjoy it. On bad days, the sugar is optional.

Today isn't a bad day but Kuroo's thirst for a caffeinated beverage is high - it's been a whole three hours since he last had one. He knows most of the places with coffee in the area and cycles through them, so that he can't call any his regular place, but he generally knows the staff of them as a friendly kind of blur. Which is why the blond behind the counter sticks out: that smile is as chilly as a crocodile's.

Kuroo gives him a warmer one back, wondering if it might spur some reaction.]

Hey, yeah. Uh. [Smooth. Like he'd want to do something else in a coffee shop.] Have you got any recommendations?

After few moments, the train stopped with loud screeching of the breaks and Tsukishima stepped out. He easily made his way through the throng of people leaving the train- this is where the height becomes nice advantage, people can't just push you around as they like.

But he didn't have time to think about other people. He had to find Kuroo. And that shouldn't be hard... right? He looks over the crowd and finally spots messy mop of hair at the other end of the station. Perfect, he won't get lost in here.

"You're making it worse," Tsukishima quips as he approaches. Yes, he saw Kuroo's failed attempt to fix that mess, but it was only getting more out of hand.

The Land of Song and Glass is actually gorgeous and nowhere near as bad as it could be, but you can only run around in it so long before the beginnings of your brain dribbling from between your ears begins to become a problem. It's a good thing the gate isn't too far off.

Pop! Out comes the procrastiputer keyboard.

chronosKairos [CK] began pestering you!

CK: Hey, just checking in.
CK: I think I"m at y°ur gate p°rtal thing.
CK: Are y°u still °n that mini-quest °rrrr??

She's been humming on and off as she makes her way through the world, just to keep her ear in, and it seems to help with the brain dribbling problem, though she can't test what outright singing would do. She's still not sure what happened with her voice upon entering, but it's become But her swordkind is very suited to taking care of that.

The handheld she's been using isn't a piece of technology she particularly likes, she always tried not to obtain too many devices like that, but then, back home she had terminals every which way to fall back on. So having a computer tucked away isn't the worst thing.

steadfastSonorous [SS] changed their status to online

SS: Nearly finished, it was more complicated than I expected, but I think I have it just about squared away.
SS: And how are you faring, not too many encounters, I hope? -- R

Who knows if she'll ever get used to not signing her messages.

Edited 2015-07-01 15:05 (UTC)

CK: Faring just fine. Just wanted t° give y°u a heads up °n the inc°ming.

And he's going to just... youth roll past some proton imps and rainbow sand trap into the gate, appearing with a neat tumble on her planet. Which is also brain dribbly, so that's just wonderful.

You don't get chased around your house by walls and ladders without getting to know a bit about your server player, so Lobsang has his ears open for humming or maybe the sound of Red's ~~sprite~~ weapon. No luck.

CK: I mean, I"m n°t l°°king f°r a welc°me c°mmittee °r anything.
CK: Just s°me kind °f hint?
CK: I"m at y°ur h°use n°w, by the way.
CK: Obvi°usly.
CK: Where"d y°u get t°?
CK: Can I eat this pizza?

Kuroo lets his hand drop. Well, that's embarrassing. "It's the new Tokyo style," he says with a grin. He's joking, obviously, but he has to try to cover his awkwardness somehow. He tries once more to flatten it but it springs back up, same as ever.

And on to changing the subject, "How was the train ride? I heard on the speaker there were some issues on one of the lines." He holds out a hand as he asks the question, in an offer to take Tsukishima's bag. When Kuroo travels by train, the last thing he wants to do is haul something around with him while he gets to wherever he's going, and he figures that he has a fair amount in common with Tsukishima.

He's very aware of how wide the stupid grin on his face is, but can't be bothered trying to get it down to a more normal width, not when he has Tsukishima here in the flesh. He'd really like to kiss him now, but he's polite, doesn't want to overstep in public, besides, he's busy drinking in every aspect of Tsukishima. Not much has changed since they last saw each other, and Tsukishima has sent him a few pictures to keep him up to date, but there's something so much better about having him here.

Tsukishima didn't plan to embarrass Kuroo with that comment, only tease him a bit. He likes Kuroo's messy hair, but that's a secret. "It suits you," he says with twitch of lips as he hands over the bag.

"Happy birthday. That's the gift in the bag." He hopes it's something that Kuroo will find funny/acceptable as gift. If not then he'll have to come up with something while he's here. He's trying to cover up the nervousness by looking idly around the train station, fingers entwined in front of him. He wants to congratulate Kuroo his birthday in different way too and train station is not good place for it.

[The smile catches him unawares. By now he's used to having to trot out saccharine behaviour for their customers at a moment's notice - to varying degrees of success - but he isn't used to getting that back. And this guy isn't a regular - at least not from what Tsukishima can remember - so his behaviour is even more befuddling.

...And he has a question, too. Why can't he just order something right off so Tsukishima can ring him up and get this over with already?]

Well, the Colombian roast is always a good choice, very strong and robust. Or there's our French vanilla latte if you prefer your coffee sweet. [he doesn't say "weak".] You should also check out our specials, this week it's a set for two - a slice of coffee cake and two macchiatos. Ah, but it looks like you're alone~

[he rattles the recommendations off pleasantly enough, although sounding like he's repeated the same line many times before, but let's the last comment slip without thinking.

...he's figured out what the smile reminds him of, now. it makes the other boy look kind of like a smug cat.]

[A cat, really? He's... okay, he's a little cat like, sometimes. But who doesn't like stretching out next to the fire? No one. That's who. But it's not like he has whiskers, and smug? That's rude.

Also rude was that last comment, and it takes Kuroo a few seconds to process it, mind churning and expression locked in place. After he does though, a less pleasant smile takes over from his previous one. It's still friendly, sure, but if this guy is going to risk losing a customer over a comment like that, he can probably handle taking something back.]

For now. I could be getting my caffeine fix now so I'm ready to go all night. How well does that strong one heat up? Pretty sure his microwave could use the work out.

[The idea of reheating coffee has always made every coffee lover Kuroo's ever met cringe instantly. And reheating it in a microwave usually prompts a bigger reaction again.]

Her quest takes longer than she'd like, but faster than it would if she was checking her handheld while ferrying the last of the orbs filled with crackling light into the correct spaces to she tap out a tune and unlock a door, so he'll have to wait a few of minutes to get her reply.

Lock clicked open and satisfaction apparent in the corners of her smile, she pulls out her handheld again.

SS: Glad to hear it, it would be a pity if you were all banged up for our meeting.

SS: Please, go ahead. It is my favourite but so long as you leave me a slice, I'm happy to shard, though it must be somewhat cold by now I know from experience that it will still be delicious. -- R

If Tsukishima thinks it suits him, then that's what matters, and Kuroo can stop worrying about his bedhead... for a while at least. Plus he's got a great distraction.

"Thanks, seriously," he didn't think his grin could get bigger but then Tsukishima handed over that bag. And, he discovers when he peaks inside that it's just the kind of things he likes. The cat charm immediately comes out and gets fastened on the chain of his wallet. Mostly, he just appreciates that it's Tsukishima who picked the things out, the shirt will have to wait till he's home to check it's the right size, but even if it's not he'll be wearing it tomorrow.

Taking a chance, he ducks in to give Tsukishima a kiss on his cheek, ignoring the nervous way his stomach flipflops as he does.

Tsukishima goes still when Kuroo leans in to give him kiss on the cheek, getting a bit of color in the face. He's not opposed to it at all (he wants proper kiss too) it's just the place he got it... has several people staring at them and pointing.

The kiss he leaves on Kuroo's cheek in return is a bit fast before he pulls away and clears his throat.

"We should, um. Go."

Tsukishima's imagining the people, or Kuroo really hopes he is. He feels better for the action and getting a kiss in return but they can do more of that when they get back to Kuroo's place, especially if it helps Tsukishima relax. "Yeah," he clears his throat, "yeah okay. It's this way," he says, gesturing in the right direction where his bike is chained up outside the station.

He glances at Tsukishima as they walk, because damn, it's nice to have him available to glance at. And he looks no worse from the train ride, though Kuroo might be biased.

"You really look great," he comments. Like he didn't say practically the same thing a minute ago.

[The job was a temp thing, something to do during the summer before she was officially in college. She hasn't quite decided if she'll still do it when classes start again, or if she'll find something closer, but she figured getting the experience now while there was still a few months before classes start would make the transition easier.

Of course, she's already been visited by a few friends who found out. Her former teammates teased her about any cute guys she's met, and Sawamura wished her good luck when he had accidentally found out by entering said store. All in all, it hasn't been too bad. She was responsible and cheerful, and she's gotten along with all the old ladies who passed by. So she was confident nothing can go wrong, at least not right now.

So when the bell rings, signalling someone entering the store, she smiles brightly from behind the counter-- it's been a very slow day-- as she greets him.]

Hello, welcome to our store!

[College entrance exams were a lot more stressful than Ennoshita would like to admit, despite the fact that he's sure he answered at least 80% of the test correctly, he was still worried. Although Narita and Kinoshita had assured him there's no chance he'd fail, it doesn't help.

Still, what's done is done now, and since this was the university he had planned on entering, he figured it can't hurt to at least look around to see if he can find their film department. Maybe seeing the facilities will ease his mind a little. After all, he'll have to go back to training by Monday and he's not quite sure he wants to be this stressed out before he has to collect both Nishinoya and Tanaka's corpses from the examination hall and try to revive them before the weekday arrives.

It's with this line of thought that he manages to run into a familiar face--quite literally-- since he hadn't been paying attention. He lets out a soft oof, started before an apology escapes him before he could think.]

Oh, sorry about--- Oikawa-san?

[It's hard for him to forget the guy, after all, even if they never officially spoke with each other.]

Kuroo's definitively biased. But he always is and Tsukishima's slowly getting used to it. If he says he looks good, then Tsukishima can't argue because he knows Kuroo wouldn't let up on his opinion.
It's kind of annoying at times, but that's what makes Kuroo him.

He has a flush on his face:"Thanks. But you look better than me." Tsukishima can't believe they are both so nervous about this that they are just repeating themselves.

[There are a few people who think that Oikawa entering a store is definitely something going wrong, perhaps not clapping thunder and cracking lightning down onto the roof wrong, but around the level of walking into the corner of a table. And much like walking into the corner of a table, he has a tendency to make people wince.

Well, if they're not charmed by his winning smile anyway.

He has a smaller smile in place than his usual today, he doesn't like summer, not now he's free of school and club activities, when all he's doing is waiting and trying to nail down his plans for college. Most of the work is finished, but there's still one or two things left hanging that have yet to resolve themselves which irk him.

He waves to the store clerk behind the counter as she greets him. Her face rings a bell, but he can't place it, she might have gone to Seijou? Perhaps a year ahead of him and that's why he doesn't immediately recognise her. Still, worth further investigation.]

Have you worked here long?

No, not really! I just started last-- [It doesn't click with Yui immediately. She wasn't really paying attention to his face, except that quick idea of 'oh, he's kind of cute' because she was used to seeing people come and go. However, when he starts to speak, she actually does pay attention this time, blinking for a second before she realizes just who she's talking to.]

Oh hey! You're that grand king, aren't you? From Aoba Jousai?

[Okay so she might be picking up the wrong keywords from Sawamura's teammates.]

[Oikawa's stopping by for much the same reasons as Ennoshita, a distraction is never a bad thing when he keeps agonizing over each answer that he pulls from his memories at the strangest times. An obsessive nature and determined force of will meant that he'd studied as much as he could, but going back to his textbooks after the ordeal was over revealed a few mistakes he's certain of, and a few he suspects.

So, after Iwaizumi caught him moping one too many times he'd thrown his wallet at his back and forced him onto a bus to check out the university. It's better than sulking at home.

He was busy looking at the architecture of the university when Ennoshita hits him, and he was ready to offer a saccharine but scathing comment before he said his name. But that makes him pause.]

Ennoshita-san? [He thinks he remembers his name correctly, it's hard to forget someone who played for even a moment on the winning team of his last high school volleyball match, either way, he says it with hesitation, he could just as easily be some other person who knows of Oikawa but Oikawa wouldn't know.]

Kuroo has a matching blush that only gets redder at his words. "Okay, if you say so but if you're lying then I'll find out one day." Still, it helps him relax about his messy hair and he's grinning like everything's as good as can be.

They reach Kuroo's bike and he unchains it, winding up the bike-chain and tucking it into his bag, which he then hooks over the handlebars. "Put your stuff on here, I'm pretty skilled at this." Because he's had plenty of practise rolling his bike when Kenma doesn't want to sit behind or in front of him.

Now they are both red in face. Good, good. It feels nice not to be the only one blushing madly for a change. Because Kuroo just enjoys doing that to him and Tsukishima can't help it, he's still not immune to him and his compliments or teasing.

He puts everything where Kuroo tells him to, a bit relieved that he doesn't have to carry it anymore. "Is your house close?" Because he used bike to come to the station so Tsukishima guesses it needs a bit of travel by foot.

[He's not complaining in the slightest! And his face lights up at her words. No one really says that in front of him, though he heard it a couple of times by accident - Hinata's hold on his tongue could use improvement. ]

I'm not sure, what does a grand king entail? Oh! But I am from Aoba Jousai. Where are you from?

[She could be from Karasuno if she's calling him that, but it's hard to say, nicknames do have a tendency to spread after all.]

OPEN POST

✘ For Kuroo ✘

[For Kuroo] the coffee shop job from hell

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For Red - Homestuck AU?

yessssss

hm fistkind here probs? what's her land?

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I was thinking lightning and melody, class rogue of hope perhaps?

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convenient store is go!

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bike as in motorcycle or regular bicycle?

yay!!

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bicycle! kuroo is not yet cool enough for a motorbike, sorry tsukki, you're dating a nerd

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