Happy Choco Egg Day!

[damn_juicebox]

WHO: Rukia Kuchiki, OPEN
WHAT: As an avid lover of rabbits, Rukia is more excited about this holiday than any other. So she's agreed to help out in her bunny costume, and even contribute her own chocolate sculpture to the contest (spoilers: it's terrible).
WHEN: March 27th - 28th
WHERE: Aqures Ixen


It was 4 a.m. when Rukia stepped out of her bedroom and closed the door behind her, pulling the zipper of her pink bunny costume snugly up to her throat. The big plush feet didn't make a sound as she crept quietly into the bathroom and applied her make-up. Some false eyelashes, some drawn whiskers, and a pink triangle nose completed the look, and she stood back to admire the effect in the mirror. Yes, this would do nicely! She turned around to check that her tail was appropriately fluffy, nodded to herself, and stole quietly out of the house.

It was time to hide the eggs.

She reported to the Hypellos as she'd promised, taking up the baskets of chocolate eggs before moving quickly through the city. They had to hide these as swifly as possible before people started to rouse from their beds, and she saw nothing wrong with utilizing a Haste spell to help her move at maximum speed. She placed wrapped chocolate eggs in flower pots, tucked them behind window shutters, rolled a few into the grass, and even placed one in the top drawer of Cid's desk. No one could claim that Rukia didn't know how to get into the spirit of a holiday.

Once the clock struck nine, it was time to stop hiding eggs and start delivering them. She slid baskets onto her velveteen arms and cheerfully went to houses to deliver baskets of candy and treats to people personally. Some were to the houses of heroes, because of course they got chocolate too. Most went to the houses of citizen families, particularly those with kids. Rukia was only too happy to chat with the little ones, allowing them to tug on her ears if they wished, hugging them when they practically bowled her over with enthusiasm, and encouraging them to be on their best behavior so she'd see them again next year.

It was almost a pity they didn't have a position like this required on a daily basis instead of just two days out of the year, she thought to herself with a smile as she went to the next door and knocked.


------------------


Rukia considered herself something of an artist. Her illustrated reports were always well received when she turned them in, and as often as she drew, she had a lot of experience under her belt. But she didn't always draw.

Sometimes she sculpted, too.

And that was how a giant lumpy chocolate rabbit statue came to be set on a pedestal in the town square where the entries were being displayed. Rukia carefully carved at the sweet chocolate, applying heat where necessary to better shape and mold it to the vision she had in her head.

Rukia took a step back, wiping her hands in the chocolate-stained cloth to admire her work. "That's looking good," she remarked more to herself than anyone else. It was almost finished, it just needed a little more detail here and there. Or a wrecking ball.

Comments

March 27 | Also Open??

[oldspyce]

Raven had probably dedicated more time to this holiday than he liked to admit. Something about eggs, chocolate, and rabbits. It was geared toward the younger population, but the town celebrated it as whole. No one assigned the archer to do any of what he did, and most of it was of his own volition. Most of what he contributed was not because he wanted to, but for a multitude of other reasons.

Because he wasn't as engaged during the winter holidays as he would have liked to been, Raven took it upon himself to make up for his absence. This would be a good way to paint Brave Vesperia in a positive light toward the populace despite their guild being neutral in critical events.

With that said, he had gone through vigorous trouble to obtain a bunny suit. It was similar in color to the one he gifted Rukia a month prior. Arguably he could have stitched it himself, but it was hard to tell as he had no provable experience in seaming. Regardless of the methods to reach this point, it was how he executed this job. Raven, too, had gone to great lengths to hide eggs through the town. He was careful to not hide them too well so the children could easily find them.

Now came the most exhausting part of this job he bestowed upon himself, and that was interacting with the children themselves. Thanks to the Hypellos, he had more than enough chocolate and eggs to gift to them, and there were a number of check points in which he could restock if his rations ran dry.

Throughout town, Raven could be seen with children. Standing, sitting, couching while he engaged them. Some of the daring children would even hop onto his back while he interacted with him. As much as he was against the wear-and-tear playing with children could be, it was still his civil duty as a bitch member of Brave Vesperia, to reflect favorable engagement.

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia had just completed another run of deliveries along a neighborhood street. As she made her way back to the chocolate egg headquarters, a small gang of children went tearing past her, some with chocolate around their mouths, all of them laughing and delighted.

"He was so cool!"
"I got a piggyback ride!"
"Definitely better than the talking bunny last year."

Another talking bunny? Rukia had thought she might be the only one, but she had arrived very early. Perhaps another had come along after she left to go scatter the treasured eggs.

Or maybe...

Maybe it was the real thing!

No longer weighed down by baskets, Rukia quickened her steps until she was running in the direction the children had came from. She still wanted very much to see this legendary rabbit. Even if it was just another Hero in costume, she wanted to shake his hand and congratulate him on doing fine work.

Sure enough, there he was, surrounded by adoring miniature fans. Rukia squinted. There was something about this rabbit...

Then he turned his head, and she caught sight of his face.

"RAVEN???" Rukia boggled. And wearing the same color as the stuffed bunny he gave her on Valentine's Day! Surely he hadn't planned it this way on purpose. ...Or had he?

Her heart skipped a beat.

[oldspyce]

"Can I have another egg?" A younger, shy girl peeped, embarrassed to even ask for seconds. The bunny-attired archer gave a warm smile. He kneeled before her so he could match her height. From his basket Raven picked a second chocolate egg with his paw-mitted hands and gently placed it onto her outreaching palms. "There ya go, kid." He gave her a hearty pat on the had. Her eyes had lit up in joy, "thank you, mr. bunny!" and she took off.

Raven gave a prolonged sigh, now that the last of group of kids had taken off. It was a mini break, finally. He forgot how exhausting kids were. "I'm getting too old fer this." He mumbled.

The lavender clad rabbit stood back up, with minor difficulty. The perils of being old. His padded paw brushed off the dirt on his knee. His costume was proving to be sturdy, a good thing considering how interactive he's been with the children so far. Raven pivoted to hit a new location, in doing so, he faced Rukia's general direction.

"There ya are." Indicating that he had tried to locate her sooner, but being a rabbit was turning out to be a full time job. Whether the coincidence was planned or not was debatable.

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia stared, her eyes just as bright and full of wonder as the gaggle of kids he'd drawn to him.

"You look amazing..." she gasped, scarcely able to stop staring. The ears were perfect. And what detailed paws he had! She couldn't imagine a single one of her other male friends ever donning such an important costume. Consider her significantly impressed.

She took a shuffling step forward, then another, then several as she slowly increased her pace into a run. She'd never wanted to hug someone so badly in all her life.

[oldspyce]

"Oh this?" It wasn't that spectacular, but he also didn't appreciate the detail of body suits and how much it meant to others. What he did appreciate about it was the fact that it was keeping him warm. Raven was sure the weather would have warmed up by now and the snow would melt, but no. It still felt like winter. If he wasn't trying so hard to be useful and productive, Raven probably would have become a hermit until things warmed up.

It felt like the air could have been knocked out of him, with a hug as eager as that. Luckily he had good footing and never lost his balance when they made contact. Raven properly greeted her by wrapping his arms around her, returning the hug.

"Yer not too bad either." Really. There were plenty of ways to mess things up, but hers was very much presentable. The chocolate statue however....

Chocolate sculpture

[free_spirited_wind]

Yeah! It looks great!

[She wanted commentary from a random passerby, right? Still, Bartz is impressed.]

And really unique! I've never seen a chocolate malboro before.

[Sorry.]

[damn_juicebox]

[How quickly Rukia's expression sours from sparkling optimism to vein-popping irritation. A chocolate malboro?]

And just what about this sculpture suggests to you that it's a disgusting tentacle monster?

[free_spirited_wind]

Uh.... the tentacles..?

[No idea what she could possibly be upset about. He said it was good, didn't he?]

Those... aren't tentacles?

[damn_juicebox]

They're ears! Tentacles don't grow out of the head, and they're certainly much longer!

[She snaps at him sharply, her pride obviously offended by his honest critique.]

Honestly, you'd think you didn't have bunnies in your world.

[Rukia scowls and turns back to her sculpture, carefully carving more chocolate.]

Option 2

[they_call_me_sonic]

Sonic wasn't into art. If there was someone creative in his little circle of friends, it was certainly Tails. However, he couldn't help but notice how proud Rukia was at her odd little statue.

"Hard at work, eh?" he asked.

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia bobbed her head, carefully patting some of the softened molding chocolate higher on the rabbit's head in an attempt to better shape the ear. "Indeed. I think I have a good shot at winning the competition," she proclaimed enthusiastically. She hadn't really spoken with Sonic since he'd come over to let her examine his false sword, so it was nice to reconnect. "What about you? Are you hoping to enter?"

Prompt 1

[line_piece]

[Chiaki tilts her head for a moment as she opens the door, blinking at Rukia's rabbit costume.]

Oh, it's that egg festival, isn't it?

[damn_juicebox]

It is. I'm surprised you forgot.

[Because it's been on the forefront of Rukia's mind ever since Valentine's Day. She holds out a trio of baskets by the handles, sliding one off to hand it to Chiaki.]

Here! This one is yours. The other two are for Jack and your new roommate.

[line_piece]

I didn't get you anything, though.

[not_most_days]

At first the knock on the door brought no reply, but soon it opened a crack. A bleary eyed moogle peeked through, clearly having been just woken up. Foolish little creature to think she might steal a chance to sleep in today. She enjoyed her workouts and Assassin training, but Sundays were the best for burrowing under the blankets that Mary had made warm.

"Kupoooo? What is it?"

[needsteaplz]

Unfortunately for Bonnie, she wasn't the only one in Mary's room. From the foot of the bed, Saori's white and gray cat, Aoi, climbed her way up. Her big blue eyes notice the large lump shifting around. She crouches low, watching with rapt attention for a good minute or so. In a flash, Aoi pounced onto the moogle blanket burrito.

[not_most_days]

"WAUGH!"

Bonnie cried out as the cat leaped upon her! Wrapped as she was in the blankets there was no clear or easy escape, and her twisting and turning only kept her wrapped up in those covers. At least they kept her protected from any fangs and claws.

"I'm not a mouse, kupo!"

[needsteaplz]

Saori had fed her early this morning. Any meows were a lie.

Aoi wasn't interested in food. Her inner kitten thought this was a play thing hiding beneath the sheets. The cat jumped a bit only to lightly jump at Bonnie again. She would've done this a second time if she hadn't jumped too far back and off the bed.

Whoops.

[damn_juicebox]

"It's Chocolate Egg Day!" Rukia beamed. She had a couple of baskets to deliver to Mary's residence, and since the Hypellos had known Bonnie was inclined to live there at times, they'd also sent along a smaller basket with chocolate kupo nuts instead of eggs. "Happy Holidays to you," she said, presenting the gift proudly.

[not_most_days]

That smell. Bonnie, and really any moogle, would know it anywhere, even with the chocolate coating. Her little nose twitched as she gingerly took the basket. She was for the moment convinced she was still dreaming.

"Ku...pooooo?" The heft and weight of the basket seemed real though. Was she really being given a basket of tasty treats just because of what day it was?

"A...are you sure, kupo?"

[damn_juicebox]

"Naturally," Rukia-bunny answered with a nod of her head that sent her velvet ears bobbing. She was pretty sure that the Hypellos had prepared a basket for every civilian and Hero in the city, and that absolutely included Moogles. They were just as much a part of the populace as any other race.

Once Bonnie took the basket, Rukia saluted. "Well! I have more deliveries to make. Please enjoy!"

2. i are late

[dammit_flynn]

"That's suppose to be a rabbit right?"

Never mind that Yuri is quietly observing the chocolate sculpture since Rukia started working on it. He didn't particularly make his presence known but he assumed Rukia would have figured it out by now that he was quite the nosy person when he wanted to be. Especially when it came to people he cared a good deal about.

"Then I guess it's looking pretty damn good."

He replied with a chuckle as he continues to examine the creature.

"I have to say, you're getting pretty good at this sculpting stuff, Shorty."

As Yuri said that, Repede sort of rolls in curiously as well. He seemed to be glancing at the rabbit as if it were a strange foreign object but he knows better than to go and take it apart since Rukia won't like it, probably.

ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT!

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia turned her head, blinking at Yuri's question. A few weeks ago she might have bristled immediately at his inquiry, thinking he asked only to make fun of her artwork like the previous critic had unconsciously done by calling it a malboro.

But instead, he complimented her work, and Rukia brightened intensely. "Thank you," she beamed, and turned to gaze at her misshapen rabbit with obvious pride. "I've only ever worked with sand before. Chocolate is new to me, so I admit that I'm rather pleased with what I've made given that it's my first attempt."

That was honestly very kind of him to say. And, as usual, she had a happy grin for Repede as well once she spotted her favorite dog in all of existence. But even that wouldn't have spared him her wrath if he damaged her beloved bunny art.

"What brings you out here? Have you come to participate in the contest as well?" she asked, dipping a ladle into the melting pot to scoop up more melted chocolate and hold it aloft to let it begin cooling, softening it up so she could roll it into pieces and apply finer details to her sculpture.

NEVER XD

[dammit_flynn]

At least Yuri had enough control not to call it a Malboro, but honestly it's not that awful. He could tell the delicate shapes she was trying to make out of the chocolate and he wouldn't call chocolate carving an easy task. She took the challenge so he supposed he could praise her for the hard work she put in it. He chuckled at her reply. She seemed to be very happy at the comment.

"Eager for a compliment aren't we? You seem to be doing fine, though you probably want to shape it a bit more."

He replied pointing to certain areas he was noticing that could use some work but not in any sort of rude manner a he skeptically reviews the sculpture. It made sense. Yuri had never really made one of these things himself, but he wasn't the type to let a challenge pass. He'd probably join in the matter very soon.

"The first attempt isn't all that bad. I'm pretty sure with more practice, you'd be a pro."

He replied with a hand to his hip as Repede looked at her for the grin that he was getting. He honestly would rather not have to deal with biting her because she threatened him over eating her chocolate. He's more mature than Yuri.

"Not entirely. I didn't know folks could get this festive, but I wouldn't mind trying my hand at this. It's not exactly my forte but it can't exactly be that difficult right?" he mused giving her a once over.

[damn_juicebox]

"I wouldn't call it simple," Rukia replied, looking at him thoughtfully. "It does take a great deal of patience and attention. However..." She smiled, picking up one of the short carving knives and turning it in her fingers to offer it to him handle-first. "There is one way to know for certain."

Which meant she was pledging a great deal of trust in allowing him to shape and mold the chocolate she'd worked so hard to create. He was her friend. Much as they enjoyed teasing one another, she knew he would not be so crass as to spoil her beloved art project for the sake of a selfish laugh.

Once he took the knife, she nodded in approval, before turning back to the rabbit thing. "Do you prefer to mold the tail, or the face?" Whichever side he was up for, that was likely to be the side that actually looked like it might have a chance of winning.