(insert inappropriate nicki minaj lyrics here)

[hoboagogo]

WHO: Shinjiro Aragaki, his pet snake Soba, and ANYONE!
WHERE: A big old Park in Heropa for the most part! Anywhere else will be specified.
WHEN: EARLY AUGUST, Pre-Swear-In.
WHAT: Open + Catch-all log for August! If you'd like a different or specific starter, just drop me a line here or at soozaphone
WARNINGS: None anticipated!

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It's bright, sunny, and hot outside in Florida today. For once, the near-daily, intermittent rain showers seem to have subsided, leaving fairly clear skies across the town. It's a great day for people to go running, biking, eat some ice cream, walk a dog, or for kids to play on a jungle-gym (desperately using this last week or so before school starts-) or even just sitting outside to read a book.

Or, for Shinjiro, it's a pretty good day to take a three-and-a-half meter python outside and let her bask in the sun and get some air back on her home turf-- as opposed to the more forested and (slightly) cooler climate of Virginia.

So he's staked out in a less-populated area in the large, green park-- away from walking trails and doggy-bag sites, just to minimize the chances of her lunging for someone's child or yappy dog or something. Back against the trunk of a thin tree, he'll spend most of the day hanging out and flipping through a book, or the network-- when he's not grabbing the massive snake by her tail end and dragging her back towards himself anytime she starts to slither too far.

And when he's not trying to desperately untangle her lengths of muscle and scales from a parkbench she's wedged herself into. (If she's not entrapped him to it with her.)

Or hopelessly staring up into a tree that she's climbed, once he realizes he'd gotten too absorbed in reading things, only to find that she's gotten herself up on a branch and has no plans of slithering back down anytime soon. But if you're lucky, she'll just be coiled up in a patch of grass in the sunlight, head slightly lifted as she stares out at where more people are hanging out, and tongue flickering in and out patiently.

Whenever it is that anyone happens over, though, it's a fair bet that he'll be cursing at the snake and doing his best to keep her relatively contained. Or at least away from eating someone's dog. (The pigeons, though, are fair game.)

Comments

i'm sorry you have so much of me // FORWARD DATED: THE 11TH

[amadaman]

[Whether Shinjiro got taken out on a surprise date by Akihiko or he avoided people doing anything for the date altogether, or if he even remembers that he told Ken his birthday, at some point on the 11th when he's home, Ken shows up on his front steps looking shifty as hell but with a Koromaru who is practically glowing with excitement. What's with these two? Koromaru immediately bounds over to Shinjiro, proudly showing off the white backpack secured on his back, while Ken shuffles with an incoherent mumble to the kitchen. He's got something in his arms but that hardly matters, right, with a fluffy dog shoving his butt against your hand so that you definitely have to pay attention to the bag he wants you to look at.

If Shinjiro relents to his demand for attention, the bag has a piece of masking tape on it with "please open it" written in Japanese. Ken's handwriting is recognizable: careful to be neat but still just so awkward with the balance of his kanji, giving away the fact that he's still learning how to form them comfortably.

And when Shinjiro opens the bag he'll find a second baggie inside that has some slightly lopsided but still carefully made shiba shaped cookies before Ken got too horrified of the idea of someone eating these cute cookie puppies and switched over to the paws that came in the same cookie cutter kit instead. There's a note stuffed into the baggie with the cookies that says in the same handwriting: Happy Birthday.]

[hoboagogo]

[Even though he'd answered the door, Shinjiro had barely been able to acknowledge Ken before getting a hopping, bounding ball of fluff at his shins and heels, Koromaru yapping and frantically wagging his tail, definitely drawing his attention away from Ken.]

What's gotten into you? [But it's asked fondly as he crouches down to reach out and scratch the shiba's ears, eyes trailing down to the little doggy backpack. He'd seen it before, sure- and thought it was a great idea, to tuck all the doggy bags or collapsible dog bowls in, or any other supplied Koromaru would need while about. But the note is new, and it doesn't take him long to figure out that it's the reason Koro is so happy to shove his butt at him. (Though, maybe he wanted scratches right above the base of his tail, too. Dogs loved that.)

But he rests a knee on the carpet, the metallic purr of the zipper being peeled open easy to hear in the quiet household, followed by the distinct sound of cellophane rustling. His brows crease a bit, that silent amongst these two and the dog lapsing a little bit longer

'Happy Birthday.' He'd.. had an idea that Ken was going to do something, since he'd asked for the date of his birthday. Or, more likely, would have just passed it along to someone else. Sure, there a little uneven or burnt on some of the corners... but really? he's not even noticed.

More than anything, he has no idea what to do with the fact that Ken Amada had not only wanted to do something for something as simple and stupid as a birthday for him-- but that he'd put this much thought into it. (They're definitely homemade-- and as much as he pretends, it's no secret how much he loves that damn dog sitting in front of him, tail beating at the ground in a steady cadence.) His fingers tighten over the small baggie for a moment-- not hard enough to break or crumble them, but an unconscious increase in grip- and after a second, he glances up.]

...You make these?

[He's at a loss of what else to say. 'Thank you' would be the appropriate line... but it feels so canned and cliche that he feels it would sound obligated, or just reactionary. But... one step at a time. He'll look back down at the gift, so as not to stare down Ken too much.] ...They look good.

[amadaman]

[Ken hid away in the kitchen madly texting his panic at Jaime until he heard the cellophane, when he gave up on the message he accidentally sent mid-sentence and poked his way out. He's watching nervously, holding back a fidget, wondering if Shinjiro might even dislike it until the guy looks up and he almost bolts like a rabbit. This isn't easy. But he he keeps his ground, knowing that this is important.]

... Yeah. I, um, practiced. I found the cookie molds online, so.

[They look good, Shinjiro said. That makes him happier than he'd ever admit.] They turned out better than the others.

Happy... happy birthday.

[hoboagogo]

[There's a lot that can be drawn just from those short words. Ken practiced-- so he'd spent more time than just the hour or so it would take to make one batch. That he'd wanted to do it well, as opposed to just putting in the token effort: something he's already leagues ahead of Shinjiro on.

It makes his chest feel tight, and he's not sure if he feels thankful for the sheer normalcy, or guilty for quietly appreciating the simple care and thought from the last person he deserved it from. But his motions fill in the gaps where his words fail, and he nods slowly- before glancing up again.]

Thanks. I mean- [The words feel stupid in his mouth, but... he doesn't have any better ones. So with a short huff of air, he glances down, and amends.] ....No, just thanks.

[That's how interactions are supposed to go, right?

He opens up the bag, taking one of the paw-print cookies and snapping it with his teeth, holding one hand down as he eats it, and nods.]

Did you just look up the recipe, too? They turned out pretty good. And baking can be a bitch to get right sometimes. [After all, temperature and timing could be everything. He'll offer out the bag, and speak right before finishing the second half of the cookie.]

You want some?

[amadaman]

[He blinks. Then laughs a little.] I made them, you know? [But he shuffles over closer and takes one of the cookies to bite into it. It somehow tastes better knowing that Shinjiro seems to like it, and while he keeps his head down and close to the cookie he's nibbling, he does keep flickering his eyes up to glance at him.]

I asked some people to help me. [Kay, who brought cookies for him at Minato's party. Reika, who he just assumed was good at everything. Gamagori... whose omurice he didn't get to perfect but he'll work on it. He glances at the other cookies still in Shinjiro's hand, and at Koromaru who's so proud of the successful delivery, then back at Shinjiro.]

I also, um... there's cake. In the fridge.

[hoboagogo]

Mm. [True- Ken did make them, and the short noise as mostly acknowledging that fact, without offering explanation. It felt weird, just eating them in front of Ken, after all- seemed rude not to at least offer. But he'll keep that to himself, simply listening to Ken stumble through how it came to be.]

...I'm surprised you went that far. [Not because Ken isn't the type, but more because things had always been so strange and strained between them. Despite mutually acknowledging that they'd like to be able to work past it, the fact of the matter will always be that it's Shinjiro's fault that Ken has nothing resembling a family anymore. It's a hard step to vault over and build a sort of acquaintanceship on top of-- let alone a true friendship.

It feels- undeserved. He's grateful for it, sure. But there was no reason for Ken to go to any sort of length, especially for a day Shinjiro held no particularly strong attachments for anyway.]

You wanna wait on that one 'til everyone else comes home? [Not that- Shinji wants to make a thing out of this. But it's not like the two of them are going to finish off a cake all on their own.]

[amadaman]

Yeah. [He finishes off the cookie quickly -- none of them are particularly big -- and without anything to occupy his hands with, he clasps them in front of himself and tries not to fidget. The air between them is not as cold or heavy as it used to be, but comfortable? They're far from that. So, so far.

Koromaru nudges his way between them, first rubbing his head against Shinjiro's hand, then against Ken's leg. Ken, a little encouraged by that glances at Shinjiro again.] If they find out tonight, they won't have time to try to pull a party.

[That was meant to be a joke. It was an attempt. He ends up biting his lip for a moment.]

We agreed to try... but we won't get anywhere if we don't actually try, right? You came to my birthday, so.

[hoboagogo]

[Ken certainly has a point- and a way of saying things bluntly and outright. They'd agreed to try and- get away from their mutual past, be better teammates and, maybe, even friends. And there wouldn't be any progress made without trying, no matter how appealing the idea of just acting like nothing was wrong is.]

....Yeah. You're right. Thanks.

[It's awkward, but- honest, at least. And he's not sure what to say or do afterwards, after accepting the cookies and cake from Ken, and agreeing that they should actually try to talk and get along and actually know something about one another. So he glances down at Koromaru, who simply wags his tail encouragingly, tongue lolling out in a doggy-smile.]

Guess we got some time to kill before then. [Man, what do you do with a twelve year old.] You- ah...

[Shit, what to say. He brings a hand up to scratch at the back of his head, thinking for a second. What did Ken like....] How's that town-game you've been playing going?

[amadaman]

[Well, being asked about New Leaf is better than being asked about the selfie stick, at least. Ken, instead of standing awkwardly in the hallway, moves his way over to the couches. He doesn't say anything but Koromaru perks up and pushes his nose up against Shinjiro to get him to move, too. No more floor crouching for you!]

It's slowly recovering from Jaime-san's attack on it in June.

[Ken's joking though. "Jaime's attack" was one destroyed bush of flowers that grew back within the week. The two of them have a positive trade relation going where they exchange furniture and fruits and sometimes gossip about their neighbors.]

It's pretty fun, even though it doesn't really change from day to day. Do you want to try it sometime?