2545/Dinner, a Cat, and Mocha Digestif

Dinner, a Cat, and Mocha Digestif
Date of Scene:	18 May 2025
Location:	Mamoru's Apartment
Synopsis:	Recovering Mamoru and Zoisite are around, and Chiyo stops by with Bonito and abalone porridge.
Cast of Characters:	Mamoru Chiba, Zoisite, Chiyo Sakai

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Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Between the two Zoisites and Saturn and his own regeneration of strength from being back on Earth after his ordeal, Mamoru is... delicate but technically healed. It's his turn to be on calcium and iron supplements, and to take it easy, and he hasn't been able to read or listen to music because his mind is just going and going. Television annoys him.

So on and off, he's been playing Stellaris (until his hands need a rest even from keyboard and touchpad) and staring out the windows in his living room. He can't even sit in the ballpit, it takes too much muscle work to get in, and his bones are so fragile right now.

Like Junichi.

He should be in bed, but he needs to be where he can hear other people. As long as there are only a couple people and they're not loud.

Zoisite has posed:
The first thing Izou did once he was back to his proper timeline was to have the longest shower, scrub deep and firm until he knew every bit of him was clean. Thankfully there would be no school until Monday, so all he's been doing after was fuss over his brothers-in-arms. Mostly Mamoru, as the prince was the last one to recover, and the quietness was getting to Izou. Always having been boisterous to a point of annoyance at times, not having that voice ring out more often now was a loss.

Which is why he's downstairs with Mamoru, keeping him company while cats roamed around.

"Want some coffee? I can get you one. Or some cookies." Izou suggests. Had he still had his phone, he'd be scrolling through it to share some funny videos and memes and some auctions he was eyeing.

Damn, he really needed to procure a new phone later before Monday. Sighs.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Yesterday, Masato had visited Nounamu sweets after the halfday of school where he had informed Chiyo of *quite a lot* that occured. She didn't even know the extent that Mamoru was injured, she just knows he usually was. Whenever things got as bad as it sounded they were right now he was usually in a very bady way.

Precisely why she's here today.

Following the familiar path to the elevator, and up to the apartment, she gives enough warning of texting his phone with 'I'm coming up' while actually ON the elevator. There was not going to be any of this 'avoiding company' thing right now if she could help it!

That's the only notice though besides the elevator itself lighting up to warn those already here of company. As soon as the doors open the plum-haired girl with odango and curls strides confidently in. Her attire was usual for her, a pink tank strap dress over a 1/4 sleeve white shirt with a matching pink bow at the collar. It was comfortable, not too fancy, and just right for the weather. In hand she carries a large insulated food thermos by it's handle.

Beside her an orange and white tabby cat of rotund proportions saunters in.

"Mamo-kun, have you eaten yet? I brought abalone porridge with egg. Lots of protein and easy to digest." Spotting the ginger Shittenou here as well she nods toward him in greeting. "There's plenty to share, too, if you'd also like some."

Bonito for his part (the cat) continues on toward where Mamoru is lain out to forehead bump to whatever portion of his body that can be reached. In his deep bass voice which doesn't match being a cat he intones, "I wouldn't argue with her. She's been on a tear since hearing about things."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"I'm almost always down for coffee," Mamoru says, sitting on the couch in such a way that his recovering leg is stretched out with no stress on it, and his recovering elbow arm is across his midsection. "But I--" he starts, his voice getting a little smaller, "I just want to touch. And know you're okay in my gut, in my heart. You and Kazuo and Masato and Tamaki. I know-- you haven't wanted to, and I haven't pushed. But..."

And the elevator dings and lets Chiyo and Bonito out, and Chiyo's Usagi's cousin and Chibiusa's aunt and she's offering him food and Bonito is offering pets, and Mamoru brings his hand up to wipe at his face with the back of his wrist and he says, "I'd love some. Are you sure you want to give it to me though? I'm the one who lost your cousin and niece for you..."

He definitely scritches Bonito before it's too late though.

Zoisite has posed:
"You mean jeonbokjuk?" Izou looked positively annoyed when someone came in unannounced as far as he was concerned. Still the same red head, looking like daggers as the girl addressed Mamoru. Considering how many people came to visit the prince while still in the deeper stages of recovery, part of Izou wondered what part of that automatically invited everyone and their bloody mother to yap at Mamoru? "No. Mamoru can eat all of it. He needs it more."

People were weird, and stupid, but Izou got up from being sat next to his prince and made his way towards the kitchen. "I'll make you that coffee."

Maybe later he and Mamoru could continue the conversation about touch.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai raises her eyebrows sharply when Mamoru starts to blubber up with such remarks. Or maybe it was Izou's response as she gives a nod toward him a single time. "That, yes. I know you guys never eat well."

When Izou heads for the kitchen she walks past him toward the couch. A quiet, still polite remark of, "If you could bring a blanket back too I'd appreciate it." Because... she saw how Mamoru was starting to spiral. It wasn't the first time she saw this when Usagi was in trouble. The fact that *his daughter* was also in trouble certainly didn't make it better, no doubt. So she ignores the daggers shot at her by Izou with the strength of someone used to shooting her own.

Bonito is more than happy to plop himself within easy petting reach as he hops up onto the couch and just. LOAFS. Right up against Mamoru's leg. Anko would have competition tonight it seemed.

As for Chiyo she sits next to Mamoru as well so that the chonky talking cat was squished between them as a bolster against direct touch. As if she perhaps knew.

"I've told you this before, and I'll keep telling it until you don't need to hear it anymore: You're *family too*, Mamoru."

Zoisite has posed:
"The blankets are not in the kitchen and closer to you. Instead of waiting for me to start and make coffee for him, you could get them yourself." Izou replied back quickly. That was a much more efficient in his mind instead of asking him to serve her whims. So he ignores her after that and goes about in the kitchen as his usual, careful pace.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"No thank you on the blanket anyway, I don't want the weight on me," Mamoru says, and it sounds-- gently apologetic. "I am extremely fragile physically right now. I had to piece together a lot of bone shards in my own self, and it was--"

He breathes. "It was my hands, my ribs, my elbow, my leg, my nose, and a concussion."

Then he sounds frustrated, "And I barely dinged the asshole." But then, ruefully, "I did last five whole minutes against him. But anyway, I put my bones back together and the glue isn't strong enough yet."

There's a flicker of a smile. "I don't entirely know what family means yet, I suppose. Thank you."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai actually glances around at Izou's remark until she spots the blankets mentioned with a soft 'ah'. "Thanks, I don't really know where things are around here." It was true! While she'd been here a few times she didn't know where things were. Usually she was in and out rather quickly because she didn't want to intrude on Mamoru and Usagi or Kazuo or... Was he still dating Tamaki too? Whoever.

When Mamoru begins to explain the extent of the damage she just... Takes a deep breath to quell the rising rage within her. Not only did they take her cousin, her neice, they had done awful things to Mamoru. The guy who *healed* everyone. She still recalls how he was when in the hospital from being burned.

Turning away she unscrews the lid to the food jar turning it around to become a bowl which she soon fills with the steaming, savory porridge. There's utensils as well. This was one of those all-in-one kits that was old, though it was well kept.

"All right. I thought you might like a hug, but I know you don't always like direct touch," she explains with a worried glance back toward him. She does offer a faint smile as well. "... I'm still learning that a bit, too. Other than Ojiisan and Obaasan, I didn't really have any either. I'm just, I'm not giving up on it. We can fumble through together."

A pause and she asks quietly, "Did I do something to irritate him?" A pause, and her eyes widen. "Did I come in at a bad time? I know you and some of your boys are dating."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
And it's funny -- it's funny, really, it's laughable that Demande didn't even go after the healer on purpose. The healer engaged with Demande on purpose, and kept Demande's attention on him on purpose; he pulled the aggro of a Dark General stronger than Hematite, as Tuxedo Kamen, on purpose.

In a way it really is Mamoru's fault, especially since his plan didn't work. It didn't even work.

He has the tightness to the corners of his mouth that mean his mind is still going and going and going. But then Chiyo's putting food in his hands, and Mamoru gingerly takes it and starts eating.

He listens, then swallows, and he says ruefully, "Touch and I have a complicated relationship. It's generally always safer to assume not-okay, or to ask and not mind a no."

She asks about Zoisite, then about dating Zoisite, and it's a miracle Mamoru doesn't choke. A very good miracle. "Just me and Kazuo! But no, it's not personal, Izou is a misanthrope."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"Ah," Chiyo remarks knowingly when Izou is 'explained' a bit. Then she just remarks idly, "You do like to collect cats."

More seriously she continues giving a nod toward him with ne hand lifting to tuck a curl of her hair behind her ear. "I'm not as hug happy as others. I'm still getting used to that myself, so I never mind if you need that not to be a thing. But, if you ever do..." The offer is there at least.

"Though I do have to warn that if you do, you might get more than just me in my head these days. It's kind of weird having someone else be able to always talk to you in your head. Although," she adds with a little chuckle as she leans forward to nudge the thermos of soup to a more stable position in the center of the coffee table instead of near a risky edge. "It is nice not being alone."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"I do," like to collect cats; Mamoru smiles lopsidedly, eyes twinkling. He has another bite as Chiyo's talking, and another, and then he has to put it down and rest his hands.

"Giving me a hug doesn't put you in my head, doesn't put me in yours. Out in public or in crowds you can even touch my skin without warning because I make the effort to keep my hatches battened. I mean don't, but you could. I have them up now in case you accidentally brush against me while you're here on the couch, because I'm exhausted and I don't want you to feel exhausted, I don't want you having to put up with what'sgoing on in my head right now. In henshin I wear gloves. I don't want people to look at me like they used to, but thankfully, we don't live in a high-contact culture."

Then he glances in the direction of the kitchen, where Izou is, and he looks back to Chiyo, but doesn't quite make eye contact. "There were five people I was comfortable having no filters with, and now there are six. And two of them are evil and in another dimension's future."

Zoisite has posed:
Mind was focused on his own task. Electric kettle boiling, and a French press ready with coffee grounds already served within the container before pouring scalding water inside. He let it sit while he moved around the kitchen, intending to clean up as he goes so there wasn't much of a mess to clean up after him.

He needed to minimize it as much as possible.

A tiny bit of sugar, some chocolate bits broken into pieces with cream set aside for now. It had been a couple of minutes until he started to press down the strainer of the glass container before pouring the coffee into the cup. Next, the cream. Finally, the one shot of whiskey he also pick up.

All mixed together with a teaspoon, and set aside on the saucer. The last touch was the whipped cream with powdered cocoa sprinkled on top.

Perfect.

So no, he did not hear mores of the conversation. When he returned, Izou was careful in carrying the item over to Mamoru. "Be careful, it has a kick to it."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"This is why there's a fire spirit covered in fur between us right now. You shouldn't *have* to have your guard up at the moment. You need to *rest* and recover as much as you can.

Said fire spirit, AKA the chonky Bonito, lifts his head at that to gaze up at Mamoru with soulful orange eyes. His head lowers to rest on Mamoru's leg very. Very gently. Only to intone deeply, "Fire spirit needs pets badly." Maybe he was spending too much time around video games.

It's about this time that Zoisite comes back which causes Chiyo's attention to shift to him regarding him with a smile at the sight of how he's being so very careful of delivering that rather perfect looking coffee. "That looks great. Good job." What? It's a peace offering of compliments!

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru, instead of actively petting Bonito, moves his leg off the couch gingerly and slowly so that he's sitting more upright and there's more space on the couch, ends up resting an arm on the lorge firecat. "I-- I know, and thanks for that, I just didn't want you to worry that a hug would put me in your head," he says a little sheepishly. "Just back in my bed, as you suspected, haha."

This as Zoi's on the approach, and on the approach with a delightful thing with whipped cream and a kick, and Mamoru's eyes widen, and he gives Izou such a soft look. "I feel so spoiled. Dinner and cat and mocha digestif."

And after these, maybe some big-screen Stellaris-watching. Or Die Hard.