[semi-open] 💣 they're gonna clean up your looks

[fullgauntlet]

Who: The PLUS ULTRA! crew & friends.
Status: Semi-open.
Where: The Mighty Explosion God Ship Bomb!! ship that is docked in Eltrut or Elah. Or the small cottage the crew owns in Elah.
What: A catch-all mingle log for March for the PLUS ULTRA! crew and any friends happening by. Some Manta Board quest prompts have been included too.
Warnings: Tba.

⛵ Like the rest of the ships around the docks lately, the explosion of sea slugs has taken over the hero's ship as well. It's covered in what seems like hundreds of playful and colourful sea slugs. They are all over the deck, climbing up the mast and leaving strings of sticky slime all over the place. The slugs will either need to be removed somehow or killed. And the sea slug slime mopped up...

If crewmates and friends are looking for partners to go harvesting underwater pineapples with the ship can also be found in Eltrut waters where the special pineapples can be found. Go swimming or diving to collect as many underwater pineapples for the ship stores as possible.




🌼 If not on the ship, the crew can sometimes be found at their small cottage on the paladin's leviathan, Elah. The cottage is small but happens to be well kept despite four very unruly and busy teenagers living inside it. They have a small garden growing outside as well as various plants and pots all over the terrace.

And they seem to be preparing to build some kind of new addition to the cottage soon too as there is a pile of stone and wood stacked up outside. And an apple-shaped sheep keeps walking around too. Baaah.

Comments

[fullgauntlet]

[Izuku really can't stop how his heart is already deciding to do backflips in his chest. It's a little annoying and a little scary. But he's more than happy to hear that Katsuki will still make chocolates with him today even if it's out of some backwards obligation that Izuku accidentally put in place.

He's hoping that he can somehow hint that today was always about... About this. About them. Somehow. Without dying on the spot.

But they've been getting along so well lately and Izuku thinks its more than he could ever ask for. If he could have just today too, he'd be happy enough.]

No, I don't think you'd take back your word. Thank you, Kacchan.

[He fumbles with his sleeve for a moment before folding them up some more.]

I was hoping to make some milk chocolates first. Something with not too much sugar? I don't want them to be too sweet. And I figured since I'm learning how to do this that would be a safe first pick.

[callmekacchan]

[Katsuki watches Izuku fumble with his sleeves a moment before stepping closer to roll them for him. Carefully and without commenting on it.]

That's simple enough to start with.

[Sleeves fixed he steps back and then moves past Izuku to grab his own apron and put it on.]

I've got chocolate molds in that cabinet. Pick something.

[He gestures. Izuku has three options. The plain rounded ones, square and hearts.]

[fullgauntlet]

[Oh- Izuku is not expecting Katsuki to fold his sleeves for him. The moment comes and goes so quickly that he doesn't know what to do but lets it happen. The gesture is just so... Weirdly thoughtful.

His cheeks are already warmer.]

Um. Right!

[He turns to the cabinets and upon searching his hand freezes up over the options... Heart-shaped???????????]

Well. T-These ones. Are cute. Aren't they?

[He picks those ones up.]

[callmekacchan]

[He isn't surprised.]

They're fitting.

[He picked all three up for when he helped Todoroki. The chocolates he ended up giving to Izuku, however, were very specifically not hearts though. He wonders if he... should have used it though.

Especially since Izuku picked it??

Ugh.

He's convinced Izuku is making them for someone and Todoroki just misunderstood something. Or Izuku didn't tell Todoroki something.

He starts setting out the ingredients.]

Bring it here.

[fullgauntlet]

[He didn't mind that his own gift wasn't heart-shaped. It only cemented Izuku's own thoughts that Katsuki hadn't made those chocolates for any one person. Although he's still wondering, ultimately, if he and Shoto were right about their cross-examination of Katsuki's actions... It's still a very Katsuki thing to do. If he did like someone, would he really make hearts even then? Probably not.

That's why Izuku is going to try and keep going. Taking the heart shaped mold and turning to join Katsuki at the counter with it.]

They are fitting... Ah, at this rate, Kacchan, you'd be able to start your own bakery or candy store, ne? You're getting a lot of practice with this.

[A small joke, with a small playful tone in Izuku's voice.]

[callmekacchan]

[He snorts.]

Like I wanna spend so much time baking.

[It's not like he hates it. He enjoys it even. It's a fun hobby.]

Maybe if there weren't ways to make money fighting here. But I can beat up monsters for cash. So there's no point.

[He beckons Izuku closer.]

Take this bowl and get ready to stir.

[He begins measuring out ingredients and putting them in the bowl. He's done this so many times lately that he knows by heart what he's doing.]

[fullgauntlet]

[Izuku nods and comes close to Katsuki's side, their shoulders brushing together.]

That would be like you, wanting to do jobs like that for support rather than baking. But... Still, it's nice that you're so good at it, Kacchan.

[He does what he's directed to and starts mixing.]

Do you like the sort of work we've been doing here? I know it's not exactly hero work but... Sometimes it feels like it.

[callmekacchan]

[His eyes tick to the side when their shoulders brush. He's suddenly aware of how small their kitchen is. Cozy in normal circumstances. But it has Izuku so close...]

It pretty much the same. Just not fighting other human beings in this case. Only real difference.

[And he guesses that could change at any time. If a human being wants to start trouble, they'll catch his fists same as a monster.]

Make sure you scrape the bottom of the bowl good to get it all.

[fullgauntlet]

There are more monsters to worry about here than there are actual villains, isn't there- Ah!

[He quickly starts to scrape the bottom of the bowl to fix his mistake but in the process of doing that, some of the chocolate mixture does smear a bit over the brim of the bowl.]

But I don't mind it. It still feels like we're making a difference.

[But he does wonder if Katsuki misses home...]

[callmekacchan]

Guess we are for this place anyway.

[He's worried about home. There was a threat looming when they were snatched. Izuku is safer here than he was there. But everyone else is in far more danger too...

He watches the contents spill a little and reaches to grasp Izuku's wrist to stop him stirring.]

Not so rough. Keep the mixture in the bowl.

[fullgauntlet]

[Izuku slows down the moment that Katsuki's fingers grasp his wrist. It's almost like he's so easily tuned by whatever action Katsuki does. It makes his cheeks feel warm, especially when he notices how warm Katsuki's fingers are.]

S-Sorry. Right... I knew that. I won't make a mess.

[Of course he's got to keep the mixture in the bowl!! Stupid deku. Stupid.

His thoughts drift slightly. They're stuck here in this watery world. And he worries about home. A lot... To the point of not being able to sleep sometimes. But. Is it bad that he's grateful for moments like this?]

[callmekacchan]

[Katsuki’s grip lingers just a moment before he's letting go and moving to get the molds.

Those little heart shaped molds that make Katsuki want to ask just who they're making these for. But instead he sets them down.]

Almost done. Just put the chocolate in these, carefully. Then we leave them to set.

[fullgauntlet]

[When Katsuki takes the moulds to set them out... Izuku's cheeks flare red.

Gosh, he's never been so happy for Katsuki not asking him about something before-]

Y-yeah. Okay.

[He's going to hyperfocus so hard on pouring the chocolates into the moulds. Carefully... Slowly...]

[callmekacchan]

[Katsuki lets him do the pouring while he starts cleaning up. Nearly done and... they haven't bickered once.

That feels surreal.

He sort of wishes it wasn't over but at the same time it would be nice to end this on good terms...]

[fullgauntlet]

[They have been getting along really well lately. Not just today but in the last few weeks too. Even danced together surrounded by dancing dragons looking for soulmates. And no one has thrown a punch in months!

Izuku tries to keep the heat in his cheeks in check. Now that the chocolates are almost done... It's almost time. To give them to who Izuku wanted to give them to.]

Kacchan... Thank you for helping me so much today.

[He fidegts carefully. He seriously looks like he has something to say.]

There was something I wanted ... to tell you.

[callmekacchan]

[Katsuki glances over his shoulder for a beat before setting aside what he's cleaning, drying his hands on a dish towel and turning fully to give Izuku his attention.

He... isn't sure what Izuku might possibly want to tell him, but he's listening.]

What is it?

[fullgauntlet]

[Oh no- When Katsuki turns around and looks at him like that Izuku feels the rush of nervousness hit him like a truck.]

Oh- It's ... It's nothing. Really. [fjgdkfgdf] Okay, it's something important but it's something that I've wanted to say. But you don't have to listen to me if you don't want to, it's nothing massive or anything like that I just... Well.

[He's muttering nonsense again.]

[callmekacchan]

[Ugh. They were doing so good and then Izuku needed to mutter. Katsuki closes his eyes and clenches his jaw, counting down from ten. It only helps so much.]

I said I was listening, didn't I?? Just spit it out, damn you!

[fullgauntlet]

[Sorry- he's going to be annnoying for ten more seconds-]

Ah- okay! Wait- Are the chocolates almost done!?

[HE NEEDS THOSE FISRT]

[callmekacchan]

What??

[The chocolates???]

What, you wanna tell me something about the chocolate?? They're not gonna be done that quick, damnit!

[And oh no. He just realized that maybe Izuku wants to tell him who they're for??]

[fullgauntlet]

I do- I mean- I'm sorry, I need the chocolates to be done first I-

[dkjfghdjfkg HE'S BIFFING THIS SO BAD.

He turns away, face burning and his heart beating out of his chest. He's going to pass out...]

Sorry, Kacchan. Can we wait until the chocolates are s-set??

[callmekacchan]

What the hell do the chocolates have to do with telling me something???

[Izuku is panicking and it's setting Katsuki off because what the fuck did he even do wrong this time??

He has to take a moment to take a breath and just...

Ugh.]

Put 'em in the fridge. They'll set faster. I'm gonna clean these dishes up.

[fullgauntlet]

[He wants to scream, "They have everything to do with what I want to tell you!!" but the words get caught. He's too close to a panic attack.

He quickly mutters and nods fast. He has to count that Katsuki hasn't totally lost his temper and punched him or stomped off yet so-]

Just- trust me! Please...! Hold on just a while longer and then I'll ask you...

[Meanwhile, he'll also grab bowls and tools to help wash...!!!]

[callmekacchan]

[He's trying lately. It's a process. He wants to yell and storm off. That's the comfortable and safe option for him. But the easier road isn't the road he wants.

He passes Izuku a towel.]

Dry.

[And he will wash. Working together to clean up until the chocolate is set.]

[fullgauntlet]

[Katsuki is trying so hard lately but somehow Katsuki passing him a towel to dry puts him a little on edge. He's so used to Katsuki losing his temper so he was almost expecting a blow up. Now he's just ... a little anxious.]

I'm sorry... I don't want you to think that I'm ungrateful or anything like that, Kacchan.

[Again with the sorry. But Izuku does his work cleaning and drying the mess up together until everything is sparkling and put away again. Done!!]

There. That should be everything?