jikan_network | Video

Very well.

Address?

We're staying at Hanamikoji Okiya in Gion! It should be pretty easy to find. And the ladies there can show you how to enter the teapot!

[Aka, the refugee dorms in Kyoto shared with the local Maiko and Geiko, many of whom are Aether's friends. I hope he has fun telling them he's there to see Aether, because they'll tease him all the way to the teapot.]

[ Ah, refugee dorms—he's familiar with the areas. While he's been splitting his time between his own dorm and increasingly more over at the Tinker Emporium, sometimes to the point of falling asleep on his desk instead of his bed, he navigates there with relative ease. Bags of warm food and whatever other feline relevant goodies he could conveniently grab sag heavy in both his hands.

What are they teasing him about he's COMPLETELY INNOCENT!! S-sure the last time he saw Aether was... you know, but that's none of their business! He's a good chap and deserves any sort of help he can get, especially if left in the care of one ugly nickname bequeathing Paimon. Food soothes the savage beast so he's hoping that works both ways this instance.

He does puzzle a bit over the teapot, despite instructions. So THIS is it...? How... does he knock politely first... ]

[The Geiko will helpfully instruct him that he needs to sing a small tune and dance a little jig, and will probably be delighted if he actually does any of this. The torment will continue until the Okiya's resident Dorm Mom shows up to shoo them away, and tells him he can just open the lid.]

[Upon which, he'll simply be teleported inside -- appearing at the front door just in time for Paimon to open it.]

Oh! There you are! Paimon was starting to think you got lost!

[ Bricks weakly protests; says he's more of a ballroom sort, not a merry little jig sort. Still, he naively believes it and does his best, twirling and wobbling precariously while still holding on to all those bags of food which make for an ungainly awkward dance. Thank goodness he's saved by a mommy. ]

No, no just um... getting to know the women about the teapot.

[ He inhales sharply, desperately wanting to immediately change the subject before Paimon can inquire further. He holds the bags up. ]

I brought food.

[He is spared thanks to Paimon's one-track mind.]

Ooh, yay! Paimon's starving! Maybe having some really good smelling food will bring Aether out! ...he's still hiding after hearing all that embarrassing stuff people were suggesting.

[He's suffering.]

Well, he's got every right to not take in any of those suggestions, if he so desires.

[ Bricks would hypocritically be first to tell you "you should have listened to me" any time any of his suggestions goes unheard, but, he's trying to give Aether some credit here. The other blonde has clearly been here much longer than him... and who's suggestion back in the gardens atop Miyazaki was one he should have listened to.

...Egads, does that mean he'll possibly turn into a cat one day too?

He finds a table and starts unloading the food. It's an assortment; mostly whatever he could grab from outdoor food stalls along the path or convenience store goodies. He also did grab a cans of more traditional cat food. There might be some catnip in there too. ]

Do help yourself Miss Paimon. You may have first pick since Aether is hiding. I hope it, ah, appeases...

Oh, Paimon will make sure to leave something he's like! But... that probably won't be the cat food...

[The catnip tho...]

[But as Paimon settles in with some delicious non-catfood snacks, Brickston will hear a soft meow from behind him--]

[And there's Aether, peeking out from behind a corner, and sparkling a little the moment their eyes meet. He's basically a Kizuna creature at this point -- so that won't be the last side effect they see.]

["Oh, there you are! Look, Potty-pervert brought us some food!"]

[Ever heard a cat laugh? Because he 100% just laughed at the nickname.]

[ Not only is he an adorable cat, he's an adorable sparkling cat. There is a less pronounced but similar sparkle in Bricks' eyes when he sees Aether. Short-lived as Paimon brings up that nickname. He blushes and pouts, his voice cracks with sheer indignancy. ]

T-That name is meant to perish under all this food...!

[ He GROANS. Sets some more food out. ]

["That's for Paimon to decide after Paimon's done eating!" He must continue to suffer, sorry.]

[There's a notable shyness in the way Aether makes his way over -- aware that he's just a cat, but also very aware that he's naked. And somehow, being naked like this is more embarrassing than taking a shower together after the plant fuckening.]

[So he slinks over, keeping low to the ground with his tail brushing the floor behind him. But he will jump up on the counter and--]

[Sorry, attempt to jump up on the counter. Instead, he immediately flops off the edge and then falls on his butt, because this is not a cat who knows how to land on his feet.]

[ He did not come here to get bullied in stereo but here he is anyway.

Bricks has never had a pet of his own, and exposure to nice friendly animals in Doskvol is grimly uncommon, spare one Miss Apollo J Stoat, but an uneasy slink like that seems pretty universal. He tries to not gawk as Aether makes his way over but the jump and fumble has him startled and fumbling in turn, nearly dropping a small box of fried chicken. He bounces it in one hand in the air and then leans to catch it with the other, somehow managing to keep everything shaken but contained. He sighs and sets it on the counter. ]

Oh, that's embarrassing isn't it... [ It's said with less empathy than usual, a little airy, maybe even a little too sweet. Fair turnabout he thinks for being laughed at, but that's about as far as that pettiness goes.

He'd be embarrassed as hell. A cat that can't jump or land on its feet. He crouches down on his knees and more earnestly asks, ] Are you alright?

Want me to um... I could put some food on the floor here or if you want to try again?

[He huffs in turn, then shakes his head. He refuses to eat on the floor, and if the way Paimon hovers close by -- probably refuses to be picked up, too.]

[But this time, he's smarter about it!]

[Because he takes one glance at Brickston, and then proceeds to use him has a human ladder to climb up -- and then jump up off his shoulder onto the counter.]

[Sorry for the claws.]

[ He's cat natural. Bricks winces but holds still as he's unceremoniously used as a ladder. ] Or— oof do that...

[ The pinpricks of claws are uncomfortable but he bears them, then rises to his feet again and dusts off some golden fur. ]

Anything smell enticing?

[It does, actually! And Paimon's going to be helpful by putting some of the food on a plate, seeing as he can't very well open anything with just paws. Though as he goes for the fried chicken, he comes back to the same reason he didn't want to eat before.]

[There is no way to eat gracefully when you are a cat.]

[He can't use his hands, his can't chew with his mouth closed, and most of what he eats is going to end up all over his face! Sure, he can eat without needing to chew very much, but that's easier said than done when everything is so much bigger.]

[So, while he does paw at a plate of fried chicken to bring it closer, when he leans down to try and take a bite, it's the smallest most pathetic bite he thinks he can manage to swallow in one go -- mostly just breading, really.]

[Which is likely what happened the last time he tried to eat, hence Paimon's expression shifting to worry.]

...Paimon sure wishes he could talk. Maybe then it'd be easier to ask what's wrong. You don't have to force yourself if you're not hungry!

He's clearly hungry, just...

[ Bricks cants his head, squints, and observes for a moment, honing in more on the mechanical malfunction of his movement than the trepidation that comes from not wanting to get his face dirty. Jaw too small. Food too big. Well then, that could be an easy fix, if that's the issue.

He rummages around the bags hoping to find some cutlery thinking even a cheap knife would do. He gets his hopes up but finds only chop sticks. Not sufficient enough. ]

Where do you keep your cutlery?

["Huh? Over here! You think maybe he'd eat if you fed it to him...?" Which is where Paimon's mind goes, of course.]

[But Aether? He can tell immediately that he's been understood, and the change in his mood is palpable -- while his tail will stay low, it starts happily wagging back and forth, as he happily meows in thanks, and even sparkles a little for good measure. Bless u, Potty-pervert.]

[ "I suppose we'll find out."

After finding a knife and fork and refraining from making any snobby commentary about the boorish lack of distinction between said knives and forks, he cuts a tiny cat-bite sized portion from the fried chicken, taking care to try and keep some of that outer crunch and offers it to Aether. ]

Here, say nyaaa~

[It's the perfect sized bite, and he carefully takes it off the fork to chow down on -- only needing an extra chew or two to get down. The ideal morsel of food!!]

[He's so happy he can't control the tail anymore, waving it in the air as it trembles happily, as he paws at the counter for another bite. He's even started to purr-- and rather loudly, too.]

["Wh-Whoa! Guess he was pretty hungry... now Paimon feels kinda bad." At least she can bring him something to drink! Water, with a straw. Because he can drink through one.]

[ There's something particularly rewarding seeing so much appreciation and happiness manifest in a situation where words can't be said. There is maybe the kindling of some Kizuna sparkles happening around Brick's head as his heart swells with satisfaction. He's helping!

Another piece is cut and offered and he'll continue to dutifully do this as much as Aether wants. He'll thank Paimon for the thoughtfulness and slide the drink closer.

He'll also cut a piece for himself during a lull where Aether is chewing. ]

See? That's better, isn't it.

[Much like Paimon, Nyaether still has a pretty healthy appetite despite his size, so he'll be eating quite a bit. Brickston won't be the only one sparkling at this rate -- Aether following suit not long after.]

[It was still a little embarrassing to be hand-fed like this, but using a fork and knife felt leagues better than just offering him a plate to shove his nose into.]

[Still, whether it's because he's just been a cat for so long by now, or whether he's just feeling a little affectionate-- once he's done eating, he walks over and just kinda nuzzles against Brickston's side with his face in an attempt to say thank you.]

he's so cute i want to die

[ He's not sure if it's appropriate to pet his friend but his hand is moving of its own accord, the instinct to return the adorable cuddling and pet the cute fuzzy being nuzzling against him utterly impossible to ignore. He lightly runs the tips of his fingers over Aether's head and behind his ear and cheek. ]

Much better.

[ Brickston permits himself one (1) insufferably smug smirk he throws Paimon's way as he looks over his shoulder at her before returning his attention to Aether.

SPARKLING INTENSIFIES. ]

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