Family, friends, food. These are what matter most.

[redpeacoat]

Who: Shinjiro, Junpei, and you! Wait, did I say Shinjiro and Junpei? I meant Santa Claus. Santa's helpers. Something like that.
Where: Various apartment locations.
When: First part: before Cupid's party. Second part: Late at night on Christmas Eve and the wee morning hours of Christmas Day.
Summary: It's a three-parter! Part One: Junpei volunteers Shinjiro to cook. Part Two: Junpei makes it up to him. Part Three: Two not-so-mysterious boys venture into the apartments to deliver special gifts.
Warnings: Shinjiro's mouth as usual.

[OOC: Will be dividing this log into three parts! The first two are for Shinjiro and Junpei, and the third part is open to everyone! What's going on? Click here if you missed it!

Please don't post until I get the initial threads started, it'd be much appreciated!]

Comments

Part One: Volunteering (closed to Junpei)

[redpeacoat]

Shinjiro was on good terms with his friends in SEES, as far as he knew. Despite only living with them for about a month before his hospitalization, order was established and maintained. His kouhai were very respectful to him. At times, a mite annoying, but respectful. Whether it was from seniority or a bit of intimidation, it seemed to work, and Shinjiro had some peace while staying in the dormitory.

Of his kouhai, Junpei seemed most concerned with not angering him. Shinjiro could see how he got on people's nerves, Yukari's especially. But despite doing dumb things and getting into trouble, Junpei managed not to do anything too annoying in the time that he was around him.

Aki had been out to exercise, and Shinjiro decided to flip through one of his cookbooks. He wondered in the back of his head if he'd ever make as much food as he did that one night at the dorm. Encouraged by Minako, he made a huge spread that devoured quickly by hungry friends. He humored the thought in his head. Would a time like that ever come again?

[blazeoflife]

A knock came to the door, as Junpei leaned on one foot, then the other. Hooow was he going to bring this up to his senpai? He'd kinda jumped the gun in his eagerness to help out the girl, but he also really felt this could be a fun thing for his senpai to do!

Well, he had to try.

"Yo, senpai?"

[redpeacoat]

Shinjiro perks up at Junpei's voice, setting aside his cookbook and making his way to the door at a relaxed pace, but not excessively slow. If anybody had come to visit, well...Junpei would be the least likely, he thought. Fuuka or one of the next door neighbors were more expected.

He opens the door and stands in the entranceway, looking at his kouhai. "What is it?"

[blazeoflife]

...Maybe this had all been a bad idea. B-but hey, he was here now! No point in backing down!

"Just... came to visit! You doin' anything?"

Yeaaaah Shinjiro'd be able to see right through that, but at least he'd maybe invite Junpei inside first? That way Junpei wouldn't get publicly chewed out by his senpai...

[redpeacoat]

Just came to visit? That...seemed off. Unless he'd been expecting Aki. His expression shows a bit of confusion and uneasiness.

"Aki ain't here." He responds, looking back at the couch and then back at Junpei.

[blazeoflife]

Ooooof course Shinjiro would make this difficult.

"I... actually came to talk to you, senpai."

Junpei rubbed the back of his head, glancing beyond Shinjiro.

"I uh, kinda... see. Uh. Can I explain this inside?"

[redpeacoat]

This...is new. Shinjiro looks out into the hallway, then stands aside, letting Junpei come into the apartment.

Part Two: Twas the night before Christmas (closed to Junpei)

[redpeacoat]

He didn't know what to feel that day.

Shinjiro leaned over the counter in his kitchen late in the afternoon, a heavy rolling pin covered in flour gliding over a lump of dough to flatten it against a plastic mat.

For the first time since his arrival, their kitchen was a real mess. Having to cook for two, things didn't get too crazy when it came to making a meal for himself and Akihiko. But today, there were few open surfaces with which to place things on top of.

Once the dough was flat enough, Shinjiro took a cookie cutter and carefully cut dozens of tree shapes out of it, trying to cut them close to each other in order to yield the most cookies he could.

As he worked, the events of Cupid's party played in his head. Junpei had volunteered him to cook for a party. A large party. And then he ditched him after promising to help. He should've known it would have happened that way. He wanted to forget the project all together and just save the food for himself and Aki.

But at the party, the feelings he had warm up inside of him when he served SEES a special dinner resurfaced at the party. He was happy that the party goers were happy with his food. He took home mostly empty containers too. He fed some of the other visitors. He helped.

Perhaps that is why he stood there, making Christmas cookies all day long. He'd already completed six dozen and was still eager to make more. He could give them away, and they wouldn't have to know it was him. He did not need nor want any praise for his work. There was still a ways to go, though. At this rate, everyone would get only one.

[blazeoflife]

Another knock on the door, though this one was a little slower than before.

Man, he'd really screwed up this time. He hadn't meant to leave Shinjiro-senpai hanging when it came to the cooking, but he'd planned to help out on the 23rd... but he'd spent the last two days running after snowmen and melting them and basically kicking ass that he'd over exerted himself. Even with Spring of Life, a guy needs to sleep, and sleep he did.

So he was a day late. After dropping off his gift to Yu-san at the party, AND seeing that Shinjiro'd somehow managed to pull off the food, Junpei'd slinked up to his senpai's apartment, gift bag for his senpai's in hand. He hoped he could make it up to Shinjiro somehow...

[redpeacoat]

Another day that Akihiko was out. Then again, that was most everyday. Aki wasn't a homebody. He had goals. Shinjiro's goal was just to get through the day, and wait for a chance to get some information on this place.

He answers the door at a leisurely pace, frowning when he sees Junpei standing there.

[blazeoflife]

As the door opened, Junpei looked up, seeing his senpai frowning some at him. His eyes dropping again, Junpei fiddled with the bag he was holding. Somehow that frown felt like it cut deeper than some of Mitsuru's glares. Taking off his hat, Junpei bowed low to Shinjiro.

"I'm sorry, senpai."

This wasn't how it was supposed to go, damnit. He'd really wanted to help out, but he couldn't ignore helping everyone in town, either.

"I screwed up, and I'm really sorry. I passed out cold after running after those Snow Men for two days and when I woke up... It was too late."

[redpeacoat]

He didn't know how angry he should be. It was Junpei; he seemed to screw up a lot for the others when he was staying in the dorms throughout September. But they didn't boot him or give up on him. He was still a member of SEES.

"I don't need excuses." Shinjiro started, looking away for a moment. He wondered if he should just let it go. Who cared if Shinjiro was upset? Nobody. So he shouldn't be upset. He doesn't deserve to be. Past issues springing up, he thought maybe he was obligated to go it alone. After all, other people's happiness was more important than his own.

[blazeoflife]

"...I-I know."

Junpei sighed softly, his head still bowed low. How could he screw up so bad on this? All he wanted to do was help Shinjiro-senpai out of his shell a little, like Minako had managed. But even here he screwed up.

"So... let me make it up to you, somehow... please?"

[redpeacoat]

Junpei wanted to make it up to him? Why? It boggled him. He could do that, and get ditched again. Or he could leave things where they were.

"I need to finish this shit." He muttered, walking back into the kitchen. The sound of a spatula sliding underneath cookies could be heard eventually.

Part Three: Special Delivery (OTA)

[redpeacoat]

Shinjiro felt his stomach sink when the floor boards creaked, or the plastic bags crunched as he and Junpei trekked quietly down the hallways of the various apartment buildings late at night. Did he really want to do this?

...Maybe he did.

When they arrived at a door, Shinjiro pulled a bag of cookies out of his backpack, and hung it on the door knob from a piece of red yarn used to keep the bag closed. Junpei was armed with his own cookie packages as well. He would need to keep an eye on his partner in crime. The last thing he wanted was for someone to see them.

He wondered if they would make it in time before the sun came up.

[ofwesternwinds]

[Unfortunately for Shinjiro, someone else is up this time of hour. And he's completely oblivious to the significance of today's date, having spent the last few hours tuning his ARM. Christmas isn't really a thing back in his homeworld, see.

Though what does grab his attention is the sound of floorboards creaking. Specifically outside his door. Normally he wouldn't pay it any mind, but it did sound like an awful lot of creaking at this time of hour. What time was it again?

... Then again, it could be someone just returning to their room. At a considerably late hour. That's not really that suspicious, is it? Shrugging it off, he returns his attention to his gun. Shinjiro or Junpei ought to be careful if they intend to mess with his doorknob, because this kid has accidentally left his door unlocked. It's a bad habit, unfortunately.]

[redpeacoat]

As Shinjiro stands in front of the ARMS user's door, his feet block the thin line of light beneath the door. They're just about done with this floor, then they can continue descending down the floors.

Carefully, Shinjiro hangs a bag of cookies on the doorknob as quietly as possible. Unfortunately, the yarn wasn't strung through the bag properly, and the bag falls to the ground. It doesn't make much of a sound, but Shinjiro's soft cursing does.

[ofwesternwinds]

... Wait, is there someone in front of his door? It definitely sounds like there's someone there, although he couldn't quite make out what they were saying just then. Carefully, Rudy takes his ARM and quietly approaches his door, carefully placing his hand on the knob and listening for any other noises from the stranger.

It couldn't be anyone he knows in this town, because they'd just simply knock, right? This person seemed to be waiting in front of his door, for reasons Rudy couldn't quite figure out.

Better be careful, "Santa". While Rudy isn't the type to shoot first and ask questions later, his gun is more than intimidating looking enough to dissuade any fishy business from happening. And he's more than able to defend himself if he feels the need to.

[redpeacoat]

Shinjiro hears the knob shake subtly, experiencing a bit of a scare and internally questioning whether or not he really wanted to do this. He was aware not everyone kept 'working hours', but the quiet made him think otherwise for the residents of this floor. The two of them have been doing everything in their power not to make too much noise...

He side steps away from the door to look for another bag of cookies; broken won't do.

hope this is okay!!

[sweetjeans]

Jean hasn't been having the easiest time finding his apparent in this wildly large complex, his world's buildings couldn't even compare to something so grand, almost like he was walking through room embedded within the walls, always finding himself on the wrong floor. This time however has wasted him hours trying to get back to his room, the kid is just tired alright?

Tired, suffering with a bit of culture shock....... and cold.

Shinjiro just happens to be the first human being Jeans run into within those 'hours', on top of that it's his door Shinji is hanging cookies onto, "HEY! HEY YOU!!" Jean points to the older teen, flagging him down.

of course it is! :D

[redpeacoat]

Shinjiro doesn't feel threatened when he hears the other teen, but who knows how Junpei will react. So much for stealth and secrecy. But...

"Keep it down, people are asleep."

[sweetjeans]

"Whatever.." Jean lowers his voice, however, keeping it quiet.

"I've got some questions for you, rhinestones." Interesting choice of nickname, Jean meant it none hostailey but those rarely come off anything but, "Where is this place? .....And do you know where apartment 3-03 is?" tone growing softer with each sentence.

[redpeacoat]

Rhinestones? What kind of an insult was that? Shinjiro arches an eyebrow at the unexpected company. "Building two." Shinjiro looks at the number on the door, then turns around and points. "That's 3-03."

[sweetjeans]

"...Oh." He looks in the direction Shinjiro pointed in, taking note. "Thanks, hey ah-- do you know what all the fuss is about?" Meaning the holiday.. Jean has yet to understand the meaning behind Christmas. He's just got here and yet everyone seems to be excited over some holiday.

Mind if I jump in?

[blazeoflife]

"Heey, Senpai! I took care of the-- Huh?"

He blinked at the two other boys, then looked a little dejected.

"Aw man, we were supposed to keep this a Christmas Secret...!"

But, the guy looked a little lost... And Junpei didn't recognize him. Huh, he didn't go down to the welcome center this month, did he? So maybe this guy was a new arrival?

"You new here, dude?"