[Mingler] Gong Hey Fat Choy! (Congratulations and be prosperous)

[chevalier_boy]

Riku has fond memories of Setsuban or the Lunar New Year, and given the number of Chinese immigrants in their neighborhood, his dad had offered a double celebration at Omoro. And so, as part of continuing to give back to the Mansion and the people in it, he's spent the past day cooking up a buffet of Asian delicacies, including Chinese dumplings

Comments

[not_snake_bite]

Steerpike stared at the 'dragon' for a bit, then decided that it wasn't doing anything dangerous and shrugged it off as a weird ritual. If someone should know how weird rituals can be, it would be anyone from Gormenghast.

So here he is, sneaking behind Riku and lookiing at the maki rolls with curiosity.

[cute_shinigami]

There's a sudden loud clatter and someone yelps, startled. If he turns, the lion dancer has managed to trip on a floor lamp and to get tangled in a curtain, and is now sprawled on the floor.

[not_snake_bite]

Seriously, this feels almost like home. In case this is someone useful, Steerpike scrambles to help the silly dancer.

"Are you quite alright?"

[cute_shinigami]

The mouth of the lion's head pops open, and that tall, goofy fellow with violet eyes peers out, laughing. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine, I just didn't see that lamp or the curtain," he says.

[not_snake_bite]

Ah, right, the dork with the purple eyes. "It's only that the place is a touch narrow for your excellent costume," Steerpike replies flatteringly. "It is most crafty - have you made it yourself?"

[cute_shinigami]

"Well, I kind of half-made it: I found it in the attic, but it was a bit short on me, so I added on some extra fabric and extra streamers and spangles," Tsuzuki says. "How've you been since the last time we met? It's been a while, hasn't it?"

[not_snake_bite]

"So it has," Steerpike replies. "I do miss the days of your lovely pond, and the buffet with those exquisite cupcakes of yours, my lord. I do see that you've kept busy nonetheless..."

[cute_shinigami]

He blushes. "Thanks. I guess I like to celebrate and share the fun with people. My little friend Sophie and I put up the paper cranes here a week after Christmas," he says, looking up at them. "There's a thousand of them and they're considered lucky: If you make a wish, while you're looking at them, it just might come true. It happened for me: my partner and best friend arrived here."

[not_snake_bite]

Steerpike makes note of this information - the purple-eyed fool now has an ally, and one who knows Muraki, perhaps. "It must have been a relief, to have a trusted friend in a time of need," he replies, hoping to coax more out of Tsuzuki.

[cute_shinigami]

"Oh, it is: he's more than just a work friend, you know? We've saved each other's lives on more than one occasion, so we've got a bond that's stronger than, well, death," he says, his eyes taking on a look of fond memories passing through his mind. "Hisoka's about your age, well, maybe a little older, but he's wise beyond his years. He's had a hard life, so that does something to you. He can be a bit grumpy and snarky, but he's got a good heart underneath it. I think you'd like him."

So, so very oblivious, and only too willing to share information...

[not_snake_bite]

And so very happy to hear all about it, of course. "Is that so?" Steerpike asks, "then you should introduce us, of course."

[cute_shinigami]

"Sure thing! You're gonna like him," he says, grinning. "So how've been keeping yourself, since we last met? Have you joined the university here? Started seeing someone who thinks you're cute?" There's an almost mischievous lilt in his voice as he asks the last.

Shall I nudge Hisoka's player and arrange a three-way??

[not_snake_bite]

"I suppose you could say that my life is that of someone my age. I study, I do have a few... friends." The latter, in Steerpike's voice, sounds a bit mischievous.

[cute_shinigami]

"Ooh, looking for that special someone?" he asks. "It's the year of the Rabbit, so it would a good year to find her -- or him -- or to start some new endeavor. Rabbits are loving and lucky critters, you know?"

[not_snake_bite]

Steerpike raises an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"

[cute_shinigami]

"Well, you see, in a lot of Asian countries, the years are divided up into cycles of twelve years, each with a different animal to symbolize it. So, if you were born, like me, in the first year of the cycle, they'd say you were born in the year of the Rat," he explains. "Each animal is said to bring different good points or different not so good points, so some are said to be lucky or not so lucky."