Don't Skip Your Flu Shot

[purrtagonist]

Who: Everyone! It's a mingle post for the first week of Struxta sickness!!
Where: All around the temple
When: During the first week of the sickness
Rating PG?? At most??
What: Curry, blankets and pillow forts, and other assorted sick things

[With the Struxta illness sweeping through the temple like a wildfire, and with so many new arrivals trying to get adjusted to temple living, it's probably no surprise that things around the Astoria's little pocket of space have gotten a little hectic. Feeling under the weather? Looking for something warm to soothe that scratchy throat? Just want to curl up underneath a pile of blankets and not move for like, seven hours or so? Never fear! A Mysterious Helper (TM) has you covered]

A. Curry in the Kitchen

[The kitchen smells extremely nice during lunchtime this week, the only meal of the day that isn't pre-prepared by the misty servants. Like the scent of coffee intermingled with complementary spices. Those who take the initiative to investigate will find something pleasant waiting for them. A few pots of fresh made curry and steamed rice; a few pots of miso soup (a. . . little on the salty side, sorry); and some freshly brewed coffee already poured into individual mugs, along with cream and sugar and whatever additives your heart desires. It's all strewn out across the counter tops with a handwritten note pinned against the wall above the stove:]

Help yourself, and get well soon.

[There isn't any sign of the mysterious chef when you enter the kitchen, and if you arrive near the end of lunch hour, some of the food and coffee miiiiight be a bit cold. But hey! This might be a good chance to mingle with some of your new coworkers who are also seeking out a warm meal to help quell some of their cold symptoms. Just please don't sneeze into the curry pot, thanks. . .]

[Lunch will be laid out in the kitchen every day at lunchtime for the entire first week of the sickness. Help yourselves!]

B. The Temple Hallways

[THERE ARE BLANKETS AND PILLOWS EVERYWHERE]

[. . . no, seriously. For some reason, it's like you can't even walk down a hallway without tripping over a bundled up blanket or a pillow. What's up with that! For the most part, they're normal bedtime accessories, although you may find a bundle of pillows and blankets stacked up into an ENTIRE PILLOW FORT if you're lucky.]

[Pinned to the walls of the hallways (not every hallway, but enough of them that it should be easy to find one of the signs without wandering for too long) are more handwritten signs:]

Whoever can build the tallest pillow fort will receive one (1) high five as a grand prize. Good luck. Blanket provider is not responsible for anyone accidentally falling asleep in the hallways and blocking your route back to your bedroom.

[Hm. Well, that's weird. Anyway! You can build a pillow fort if you want, grab some blankets to take back to your room, or. . . nap in the hallways. Or do whatever! They're all free for the taking. Maybe you could even team up with another Circle member to try and win that extremely coveted high five??]

C. Wildcard

[Don't feel like interacting with any of the above? That's okay! Make your own prompt based on the event stuff over here, or just use this post for. . . whatever you want! It's totally and completely open for mingling for new and old characters alike, so. HAVE FUN ♥]

Comments

[p_mortem]

i.
[ Sickness isn't anything new to Minato, particularly in the last few days of his life where every step gets harder and harder to take; it never was, however, something sleeping couldn't solve, so when he happens upon the blankets in the temple, he selects one for himself to pull to a corner where he'll be out of the way and protected on two sides, the rest of him protected by a shiba inu- white, with shining red eyes, who stands guard before him, tail wagging slowly and giving a soft bark at anybody who approaches, as if to say, "Shh."

If you're too noisy, the dog may leave its post to nudge up against your leg, a more insistant, "Shh!! Let the boy sleep. He deserves the rest. ]

ii.
[ Eventually, the food cooking in the kitchen lulls Minato from the depths of slumber, looking no better than he was when he'd first got here, but again, that's the usual course and while he makes a little show of stretching out his back and legs before pulling the blanket over his shoulders like a cape, there's a faint smile on his face that he thinks his bangs do a good job at hiding, only for his dog to see as he leans over and whispers under his breath. ]

Hey, Koromaru. Hungry?

[ ...Can dogs eat curry? He doesn't know, and there's no responsible senpai here to tell him otherwise, so there Minato is ladling up a bowl of curry and a bowl of rice. The first goes to Koromaru. The second is his. Come to him, carbs. ]

iii.
[ The tallest pillow fort would be something like... not so much a fort, as what Minato is making looks more like a tower, a stack of pillows barely six feet tall so far, but stacked one by one with one edge against the wall as "support."

It's totally a fort. It hasn't fallen over yet, and there's even a one-man army in the form of his dog pacing back and forth before it. It counts.

It's also maybe falling over. ]

wildcard.
[ For your miscellaneous threads! Minato is a new character in the game, so there'll be a lot of wandering around, getting lost, and staring blankly into space for a good while. ]

iii

[twitter]

[ well, hajime is just watching minato work at that pillow fort and/or tower. she's nodding her head appreciatively. yes, good pillows, it looks very comfy. ]

Ah. It's leaning.

[ leaning tower of pillows..... ]

[p_mortem]

[ Minato still has a pillow in his hand, mulling over whether it'll be a safer bet to toss the pillow up there à la the water bottle flipping challenge, or if he can jump high enough to slide it on top, when Hajime's timely advice comes. All he can do is lift his arms up and hover them there, about to sandwich the pillows in between himself and the wall if it comes to it, but he's not hasty. ]

Which way...?

[ Left or right? Or towards him? Koromaru trots over to Hajime and sits at her feet, tilting his head this way and that, trying to tell which way it's leaning.

It's swaying. It's leaning both sides. ]

[twitter]

[ she waves her arms, trying to imitate what could, potentially, be the ocean. or maybe it's swaying pillows. who's to say. ]

It's going left then right then left then right!

[ yes, that describes it just fine. ]

[p_mortem]

[ It sure does describe it, it's just hard to see when his vision's completely obscured by pillows. As long as it's not forward, though, it means he can shift over to one side of the tower and hover his hands over there— Koromaru bumps his forehead against Hajime's leg before running over to the other side of the tower and placing his paws on that side. The dog's eagerness to help results in the one-pillow base getting shifted, and Hajime's assessment would now more accurately be "left then left, more left, left left- ...down."

There the tower goes. ]

ii

[purrtagonist]

[Minato's in luck today, because the Masked Curry Man lingers in the kitchen after finishing up the latest batch, seated in a chair at one of the tables and curled up on same like a bundle of gross, germ-y blankets. later on, Akira will blame the headcold for the reason why it took him so long to realize, because he spends a good five minutes just watching this new arrival serve himself and his trusty loyal companion some curry before it clicks]

[that fur. that fluffy tail. that happy expression]

[he knows this dog]

. . . Koromaru?

[except he kind of croaks out the name in a raspy, hoarse voice. talking is hard when you're sick]

[p_mortem]

[ There's something about one's own name that always pings you, no matter how far away or difficult to hear, and Koromaru, ears perked up and head turning immediately, isn't an exception. Minato's gaze follows after the dog as he trots off on his own, and Minato himself contemplates going after him, but in the end, takes the opportunity to steal a carrot out of Koromaru's curry bowl, keeping his eyes on the dog.

Koromaru makes his way directly to Akira, although he stops just a couple of paces before him, taking a seat and looking up at Akira inquisitively. Hello, yes, this is Koromaru. Did you call? ]

[purrtagonist]

[dog!!]

[it takes a few more seconds for Akira's sick-addled brain to process that yes, this is Koromaru! and no, the person he is currently with isn't the red-haired, energetic wish-maker he met back at the temple's star festival. still. . . Akira leans forward in his chair, hand extended for Koromaru (COME GET SOME PETS) while his gaze flickers up to meet the other new arrival's from across the room]

[huh]

Is he yours?

[it's the same raspy voice as earlier, but he tries to raise it so Minato can hear him from ALL THE WAY OVER THERE]

[p_mortem]

[ Koromaru meets Akira halfway for the pets, pushing his muzzle up against that hand so he can get the backs of his ears scratched, but standing slightly out of reach to pet the rest of him unless Akira gets out of his chair. Maybe that's what he's trying to encourage Akira to do, because it's possible that Minato doesn't even hear Akira when he speaks, because he's busy picking carrots out of Koromaru's food. Or maybe he's just pretending not to hear. ]

iii

[moonlightbeast]

[It's definitely falling, and all Atsushi can do is watch as it goes.]

You made a good effort, at least?

[He's. Also looking a bit unsure about the dog. While dogs never really bothered him back in his world, his powers are distinctly more cat-like now and he's wondering if said dog can tell that about him or not.]

[p_mortem]

[ There really is no saving a stack of pillows once it starts toppling, and even with Minato's best attempt to salvage the situation, he only manages to snag a single pillow out of the air before it hits the floor. He sighs, and lets this pillow drop to the ground too, nudging the rest over with the side of his foot to clear up some space to walk. ]

Yeah... Thanks. I don't think I would have won with that method, anyways, in the end.

[ He'd have to be very very careful and very very tall, and he is neither of those things. The dog is neither of those things either, happy to see somebody new and bounds forward to sit in front of Atsushi's feet with expectant wags of his tail. He wouldn't be able to tell anything about Atsushi, but he'd give that same friendly greeting regardless. ]

[moonlightbeast]

You can try again? Maybe from a new approach too.

[Koromaru's reaction is good, and it makes Atsushi smile a little.]

Maybe your friend here can help keep it upright.

[p_mortem]

[ He looks down at the dog. ]

What do you say, Koromaru? Want to try again?

[ Koromaru barks, but it's not as if Minato can decipher whether that's a yes or a no; hope edges him towards "yes," seeing the way Koromaru continues to wag his tail. Or maybe he's just happy at being called a friend, who knows. ]

...We'll be trying again, then. I don't supposed you have any tips to make it better?

I

[cakebuffet]

[Ann happens to be in the process of gathering up some of the discarded blankets to be washed when she passes by, almost mistaking the one Minato has claimed for himself as being abandoned before she spots his shock of blue hair on one end. She's content to let him sleep, knowing that most of them could do with some extra rest right about now, but the soft bark of warning from Koromaru grabs her attention. Careful to keep quiet, she stoops down and holds a hand out to him, offering him the chance to sniff it before she makes any attempt to pet him.]

Hey there, boy. [She sounds stuffy, though she keeps her voice low, clearly as susceptible to the illness as everyone else despite the fact that she's pushing herself to try and help keep things running smoothly.] Are you standing guard? Your friend over there is pretty lucky to have a bodyguard like you, huh.

[p_mortem]

[ Koromaru lets out another soft bark, and while its exact meaning may be up for interpretation, his tail does wag a little faster at Ann's assessment and he presses his nose against Ann's hand for a second before sitting down in front of her feet.

He sure is standing guard. Not that he thinks anybody in this place might suddenly come and attack him or Minato, but the last time he had seen Minato before appearing here— up there on the rooftop with Minato with his eyes closed— there was that nagging feeling that something was wrong. He won't let anything go wrong here. Not on his watch.

Even though. Things look kind of bad already, don't they? Koromaru gives an inquisitive whine, and while Ann still has her hand out, he lifts his own paw and places it on top of hers, one of the tricks he does with children at the shrine which always seems to delight them. Cheer up, we'll do this together, et cetera. ]

[cakebuffet]

[Consider her absolutely charmed. Her eyebrows shoot upwards, surprised, and she offers Koromaru a broader smile in the moments that follow.]

That's a pretty neat trick.

[She knows lots of dogs know how to shake hands, but there's something different about this one— he almost seems like he could open his mouth and start talking to her at any moment, although she feels silly thinking so as soon as the idea enters her head.

She inclines her head towards where Minato is sleeping.]

You're worried about him, aren't you. [She rubs at her nose with the back of her free hand, sniffling as she wards off an itch.] Don't worry. Whatever's happening, we'll figure it out before it goes any further.

[p_mortem]

[ Koromaru barks his agreement, eyes shining as he looks up at her. Being a dog, and being new to this place, he has little idea of how to help any more than just being by Minato's side, so he appreciates how hard everybody around here is working for the sake of everybody else. He'll place his trust on Ann's shoulders too. ]

...it's fine...

[ The voice comes not from the dog, but from the bundle of blankets and pillows just a couple of paces away, muffled and quiet but clearly from the boy lying behind Koromaru. Minato doesn't get up, or even lift his head or open his eyes, but before his mumbling can be interpreted as sleep talking, he continues ]

It's a cold. It'll get better in three or four days.

iii

[imperialsun]

[Down it crashes, right into Naoya's own masterpiece and he looks sadden by its demise.]

Darn.

[Absolutely devastated. He looks over to Minato.]

You're going to have to help me rebuild it.

[p_mortem]

[ Ah.............

There's no way he can refuse that, after he's destroyed Naoya's fort, but does Naoya really want the assistance of somebody who thought the solution to making the tallest fort was to stack pillows up one by one like a tower? ]

Right, I'll help. How did it go, before...?

[imperialsun]

[Naoya looks back at his half-broken fort and shrugs. The cold has gotten to him and he's not thinking completely logically.]

Doesn't matter. If we can rebuild it tall enough to get ourselves a high-five it will be worth it. If we pool our resources together we should be able to do it!

[p_mortem]

[ Resources... In that case, they have no time to be standing around. ]

You're right. Pillows are limited resources. First thing we should do is secure our supply.

[ Koromaru seems to understand what he's hinting at, seeing somebody nearby reach for one of the pillows that had fallen from Naoya's broken fort and leaping over to snatch it in his mouth, tail wagging its challenge. ]

We've got to build a rudimentary fort to keep our pillows safe first, then let's worry about height.

[undeserved]

[ she's seen a lot of weird human behavior since leaving Earth and meeting them when they're actually alive, but this might be the strangest thing yet. She can't even begin to guess at the purpose of this structure. That's not even mentioning the unfamiliar animal pacing around in front of it; she doesn't think she's ever seen one like that.

It's not falling over yet. Thankfully. But whenever Minato pops back up, he'll find 2B warily walking around it (and Koromaru), clearly trying to figure out the secret of this stack of cushions. ]

[p_mortem]

[ It's not... that... badly made, that it warrants this much scrutiny, Minato likes to think (though it's that badly made, recognizable only because of the others surrounding it and the signs suggesting what the competition is for).

Then again, he's not quite sure 2B can see, with that blindfold on, so... ]

Are you having trouble getting around? Sorry, the hall's kind of crowded.

[ Maybe she's just wary of knocking it over or something, he thinks, not quite moving from where he stopped, but Koromaru is there bumping his forehead into 2B's legs as if to say, "I can lead you where you need to go!" ]

[undeserved]

[ she startles just a little bit when Koromaru bumps into her, looking down at the dog with mingled confusion and concern, as if an alien just walked up to her and touched her. But after a second, she returns her focus to Minato, shaking her head. ]

That's not it. What are you making these for?

[ she doesn't get it!! ]

[p_mortem]

[ If Koromaru were a ruder, meaner alien, turning her attention away from him wouldn't be the smartest idea. But the dog simply sits at her feet and looks over at Minato to do the talking, with him immediately wishing he had somebody else there to explain why pillow forts and what do they do. ]

Something like a team building exercise...?

[ His answer does not sound very confident at all. ]

Or display of one's skill in architecture. It's a competition. To win that prize.