[Open]

[yokunaru]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Vkusno! Shaved Ice in the Shopping Centre
WHEN: 2/10 afternoon
WHAT: Valentine's Day Chocolate Workshop
WARNINGS: None so far


[After a handful of people expressed interest in learning how to make Valentine's Day chocolates, somehow what had started as tentative plans between a couple friends turned into a full on workshop.

The prep took a couple days, but in the end things were ready! The kitchens of Vkusno! Shaved Ice were secured for melting down the chocolates. The tables and chairs in the shop proper were all equipped with chocolate molds, decoration toppings, and other tools for anyone who stopped by to use. All that was left was to send out the invites via network:]

Chocolate making workshop at Vkusno! Shaved Ice is open now. We're on the 4th floor of the Shopping Centre if you want to join in.


(ooc: Please feel free to make your own top levels!)

Comments

[yokunaru]

A.

[Though Yuuri wants to work on his chocolates and finish up as quickly as possible, he also knows that as the person who apparently started the whole thing, he should stick around and make sure that things go smoothly. So he makes the rounds, moving between the kitchen and the shop proper to keep an eye on things. It's a little unbelievable when he stops to think about it. Him...organizing a social event like this. He can almost imagine both Phichit and Minako-sensei raising their brows at him from across the galaxy if they ever catch wind of this. Somehow Viktor is to blame for this, he knows it.

Yuuri's jolted out of his thoughts by a very distinct smell as he enters the kitchen again--the smell of something burning. He spies the smoking pan immediately.]

Someone's chocolate is burning! Um, you'll probably have to start over... [Yuuri immediately gets the pan into the sink and looks down at it, sighing. He hopes the owners of the store won't be too upset after all this. He does still work here, after all.]

B.

[Once Yuuri feels a little better about leaving people to their own devices in the kitchen, he finally heads toward the tables with the intent to start his own chocolates, finally. There's a problem, though: he can't find the mold he'd picked up specifically for this anywhere.

Yuuri checks each group, eyes scanning the tools scattered across the table tops as he frets.]

Excuse me? [He doesn't want to be bothering anyone when they're all so focused on what they're, doing, but...] Have you seen the molds that look like pawprints around here?

C.

[Wildcard! Let me know if you want something else!]

C

[genice]

( he sweeps in late because he's been practicing, taking advantage of Yuuri's workshop hours to workshop his own new program. it's exciting, and it's raw, and he's not going to have the polish that a season of perfecting would afford, but it will be genuine, and it will say what he wants to say with the whole of his body, skating there on the ice.

he looks to find Yuuri, a curious glance over the packed away and mostly clean area; he's happily exhausted, carrying his backpack slung over one shoulder and slipping around the counter to slide an arm around Yuuri's back, leaning in and pressing a kiss to his cheek. everything smells like chocolate, in a way he wouldn't call nostalgic, but a manner he does find fond. )

How's everything gone today?

[yokunaru]

The shop is still intact, so I think I’ll call it a success. [Yuuri turns his head, cheeks warm at the sudden act of affection. ] There were a few close calls in the kitchen, though.

[Closing his eyes, Yuuri allows himself to lean against Viktor for a second.] Didn’t think organizing a get together like this would be so tiring.

[genice]

( He hums, not replying straight away. It's nice to have this moment of respite in lives that are otherwise made busy through obligations they gave themselves, and the ones given to them by others. The Fek have needs that are met and organised by three humans with no diplomatic experience; Viktor is orchestrating his program to propose to Yuuri, officially; he works, theoretically, but in running the rink in technicalities now more than in marketing for Vkusno!

he has no regrets. just a kitchen that smells like chocolate and his heart held in his arms. )

Sounds like it's been an adventure. Almost ready to head home? ( speaking by Yuuri's ear: ) I can think of at least one person I know who could benefit from a nice shoulder massage after a tiring day.

( Yuuri. he means Yuuri. )

[yokunaru]

[Though his face heats up immediately at the offer, Yuuri simply turns his head to shyly give Viktor an affectionate peck on the cheek.]

It’s too bad there’s no onsen here. We could both use it—you must’ve worked really hard at the rink today, too. [Now curiosity tickles at him again. Yuuri knows Viktor’s been working on something for the exhibition, though he hasn’t seen it yet.] How’s the choreography coming along?

A

[winscenario]

What? —oh.

[ Clearly looking away from his pan for longer than thirty seconds was not a good idea. Jim really had been paying close attention to what he was doing up until then, but he got so fascinated by the recipe book (printed on actual paper and everything) that he got lost reading through other recipes and is now staring at the bottom of a very burnt pan. Oops. ]

Sorry. I got distracted. [ He winces slightly and offers Yuuri an apologetic smile, taking off the glasses he was using to read. ] Think that'll come off? I'd hate to know I ruined the pan.

[yokunaru]

It'll be fine. [Yuuri's quick to reassure him, once he realizes who he's talking to.] We can just grab another pan to start over and leave this one in the hot water to soak.

[As he's filling the sink, he smiles over his shoulder at him.] It's good to see you, Jim.

[winscenario]

Alright. You're the master here. [ Well he definitely knows more than Jim, although that's not saying much. He smiles back at Yuuri, tipping his head in a nod. ]

Likewise. I'm sorry I never got in touch, things just... kept getting in the way. [ And a month has gone by surprisingly quick. ] How've you been doing?

[yokunaru]

[For a second, Yuuri stands stock-still, then gives a soft, amused laugh.] Oh, no, I'm pretty new to this myself. I was just planning to figure out how to make chocolates for someone on my own, but a few other people wanted to try it out, too. That's how the workshop happened.

Ah, that's okay. [Yuuri shakes his head, waving away the apology without hesitation.] I don't blame you for being busy. Things have been really hectic here. [This time, he falters a little.] There's just... been a lot to process. I guess we all needed a break like this.

my own toplevel pls

[sweatysometimes]

The invitation is interesting enough to get Pidge out of her shell. Something about the possibility of getting real chocolate (real familiar food!) again, maybe. Man, if Hunk was here he'd be so excited. The thought of her friend makes her smile as she tugs open the door to the shop and peers inside.

"Hello? I heard there was chocolate..."

[yokunaru]

"Come right in," Yuuri says over his shoulder, as he rearranges the molds on one table. With that done, he brushes off his hands and finally turns around to face her. It's early enough in the day that not a lot of people have showed up yet.

"Here for the chocolate workshop?"

[sweatysometimes]

"I'm mostly here for the chocolate, not really to do any workshop," Pidge admits a touch shamelessly. "...I've been away from earth for weeks and haven't had any familiar food since I left..."

Sure it's a little sob story, but if it gets her free chocolate, she's not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

[yokunaru]

Her sob story does work on him, judging by the way his expression softens. It’s something he can easily relate to; being on the Eluvio for the past month or so has definitely made him miss certain things from home as well. There’s a lot of chocolate for the workshop. A little bit of it wouldn’t be missed, even if they’re technically for people to give to their loved ones.

“I guess it couldn’t hurt,” Yuuri says eventually. “I made a test batch that you can sample, if you want?” Melting the chocolates to shape them sounded relatively easy in theory, but Yuuri doesn’t want to take any chances.

[sweatysometimes]

"That would be awesome, thank you!" Pidge's gratitude is genuine in the extreme and she sniffs the air, mouth fairly watering at the thought of chocolate. "Where are they?" She pauses for a moment, then blinks.

"Uh, I'm Pidge, by the way."

[nodyinteam]

A

[Nekomaru Nidai is in attendance, wearing a pink apron over his ordinary attire as he prepares to get to work. He's just finished a series of stretches before he announces to no one in particular:]

Alright!! Now that I've finished my warm-up exercises, I feel completely fired up! Who's ready to make some chocolate?!

B

[In the aftermath, Nekomaru oversees the fruits of his labor: a set of chocolates that are all shaped like different sports balls, with a proud grin.]

They came out pretty great, didn't they? Of course, if anyone wants an early taste... there will be a price to pay!!

C

[Or just run into him at any point before, during or after the chocolate forming!]

B

[yokunaru]

[Yuuri, just finished with pouring chocolate into the molds, glances over at Nekomaru's work curiously.]

Wow, those look great. [His smile falters just then.] Um, wait, what price?

[nodyinteam]

[He crosses his arms as he looks down towards Yuuri, as daunting as can be.]

I'm glad that you asked! You see, they say that there are systems that follow a low called equivalent exchange... but in this case, I want to institute a price that's called equivalent exercise!

[yokunaru]

Equivalent…exercise. [Yuuri says, looking between Nekomaru and his chocolates somewhat dubiously. Somehow he’s getting a bad feeling about this.]

How does that work?

C

[genice]

( It's after, when most the clean up has occurred, that Victor makes his way to the store; taking advantage of time where Yuuri has his attention dedicated elsewhere to work on his own new routine means making the most of moments like these. He smiles when he sees Nekomaru, adjusting the strap of his backpack and giving him a halfwave from about shoulder level. )

How was your passion given form today, Nekomaru?

[nodyinteam]

I'm glad you asked, Victor! It's taken on a very wonderful new form...

[Nekomaru grinws and steps to the side to give Victor a look at the sports ball-shaped chocolates.]

BALLS!!

[genice]

( gore i'm so sorry Victor just looks at Nekomaru, then the sport ball shaped chocolates, then back to Nekomaru. )

Sports balls. I presume?

( He's having flashbacks to "Icy Balls Shaved Ice" right now, we're sorry, Nekomaru. )

[slackbeard]

[Making candy’s not his usual thing, but when in space Rome! Plus he has nothing else to do and isn’t imagining that there will be the usual amount of post-Valentine’s day chocolate sales. Gotta get his seasonal cheer somehow.

And he’s successful! In that he has made one (1) entire piece of chocolate. It’s small and shaped like a bear and it’s flawless. Too bad it’ll never have a friend, what with Jughead just eating the rest of the melted chocolate out of a bowl with a spoon while he stares contemplatively at the tiny chocolate bear on the counter.]

I’m gonna name you Yogi Jr.

[canadese]

[Ax sidles up to Jughead originally on the hunt for more melted chocolate, because he didn't even get as far as making the mold before he lost all self-control. When he approaches his face is half-covered in chocolate and he looks like a crazy person. He's not even looking at Jughead. He's staring right at the solitary bear on the counter.]

Are you going to eat that.

[It isn't a question.]

[slackbeard]

[Listen, he's not here to judge. He's been where Ax is.]

That's the plan! [Jughead looks over, and-- okay, maybe he hasn't been exactly where Ax is. Somewhere adjacent, though.]

...you okay, buddy?

[canadese]

[He is not okay. Unless by okay Jughead means maniacally fixated on chocolate.]

Please allow me to have your excess substance.

[His pupils might be somewhat dilated.]