┊shopping center.

@ᵇ kim jaeyoung. []raahh I confirmed that we can have animal features while human with the admin so introducing cat antics

"Yeah. Gotta feed myself for a week, that's a family of seven." Jay is beginning to wonder if there's some strange magic on jaeyoung that was compelling him say more than he really means to. He would have never pinned himself as the impulsive type, or even outgoing, really, but something in the way the older poked and prodded made it easy to brush past his personal defenses just for a quick quip. (He wasn't even making good jokes, half the time, and that was a problem, too, because it felt like losing in the comedy department.)

His shoulders slump even further when the main weight of his load magically disappears and reappears in Jaeyoung's cart, ears twitching in response to the peal of laughter and wondering how fast he could go if he just turned tail and booked it out of there. But now his blanket (the last one of the shelf) was being held hostage and besides, he didn't need more confirmation onto whatever strange bias that is attaching the word cute to him. "I'm not cute, I swear. Do you find everything I do cute? --which is totally wrong, by the way."

He wrinkles his nose despite the slow, pleased swish of his short tail brushing up against the aisle, choosing to pointed ignore baser instincts because- what did they know? "'S not wrong to say that I am, I guess. I don't mean that- was just wondering why...oh." Belatedly his brain supplies the reason why Jaeyoung must be here, which is exactly the same as his, even though it takes seeing his laden basket being stacked on top of the equally impressive mountain within the cart. ".....Pot calling the kettle black, oi. But you don'- don't have to do that, I'm fine, really, 's wasn't a problem-"

@ᵒ park jongseong. "normal purchase indeed...feeding a family of seven?" jaeyoung remarked sardonically. his indecisiveness opting to toss both fabric softeners into the mountain of food. the beta wasted no time adding the male's blanket to his cart, lacking any resistance because he'd been quicker than the latter caught in a moral dilemma.

the raven is clearly holding back his laugh, ripe lips twitching from the unnecessary effort when at jongseong's exaggerated posture, with an intention to intimidate. however, he fails the challenge as soon as those broadened shoulders collapse again.

"how cute."

he says, bending forward to grab the handle of the jam-packed basket. he couldn't help but wondering why the male has chosen such a strenuous method of shopping when pushing a cart is simply more convenient?

"I'd think you were preparing for an apocalypse. why? am i not allowed to shop here?"

jaeyoung liked weight-training, almost four out of the five days at the gym and even he struggled at a bit carrying the basket. he was impressed, nonetheless.

"will this be all? or should i go fetch another basket for you, kitty?"

@ᵇ kim jaeyoung. The thing is, moving is a lot harder when you have an immensely full basket. It was even harder when that was topped with a ginormous blanket, and add the way he had swapped the handles for a full bodied hug of the basket... well. It was safe to say that any attempts Jay instinctively made to move away was very much stifled by the inability to do anything more than waddle, wobbling somewhat precariously to the left, to the right, and then falling right back again where Jaeyoung had supported some of the weight of the precious cargo. (In his head, Jay berates himself for cheaping out on the clearly much superior choice of a cart, but then again, he hadn't expected to buy this much either.)

"M not ransacking the store! This is a very normal purchase!" It's a shame that his mouth is still running faster than his brain can work to catch up, blurting out the indignation before he can remind himself of things like manners and being polite and thanking or apologising. It takes him a long moment of puffing up and posturing to make himself big behind the mountain of groceries before he realizes he is being watched with what he can only assume is amusement, deflating slowly like a sad balloon. "---I mean. Thanks. Sorry for... I didn't realize you were there. I was thinking about what I needed to get is all. Why are you here?"

@ᵒ park jongseong. jaeyoung preferred winters over any other season, perhaps due to his hybrid constitution, he rarely experienced cold. so, despite the biting wind chilling to the bone and the ground blanketed by a pristine layer of snow, the raven is wearing just a cardigan with nothing beneath. his rebellious strands falling onto his face while he embarked on a short journey towards the nearest shopping center.

twenty-six minutes later, the beta is filling his shopping cart with copious amount of food. well, mostly preparing for his oncoming cycle. just one more item and he'd be good for the couple of days.

he'd been stuck choosing between the two types of fabric softener, until something or rather someone walked into him. the bump wasn't hard, probably cushioned by the large blanket and of course, an all too familiar scent ades his nostrils. akin to a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

"careful there while you're ransacking the store." jaeyoung's polite smile replaced with a mischievous one when he recognised the person lugging a ridiculously sized duvet. his left hand, immediately reaching under to support the weight.

"claws out already, kitty?"

[attire:https://64.media.tumblr.com/586c0893cb09688d82539b2f75d1f6e7/b34eb75cf4015094-80/s1280x1920/c4c1fe0ad01926b5bb8b9bf0bdecb06506c15108.jpg]

@ᵇ kim jaeyoung. To tell the truth, Jay wasn't a planner. He trusted in his regular routines - that somebody else usually forced him into - and his instincts, letting things go with the flow and seeing where it took him. Most of the time he was fine, but he had to admit, doing preparation for his heat with only one day left was a teeny tiny bit of a problem when his body was already starting to feel sluggish, clothing tight and slack around the wrong places and a perpetual cold beginning to sink in before he'd start to burn up.

Still, it doesn't excuse himself from having to run the errands, stubborn about taking up his own responsibilities properly and ending up milling through the store aimlessly, trying to decide whether today was the day he carried home a better, thicker blanket after all or if the nest of clothes already done would do it. Somewhere at the bottom of his basket were the other essentials, water, medicine, a number of things that he would rather not name publicly, buried underneath a healthy - unhealthy layer of snacks and other comfort (instant) foods. It was already heavy, not impossible, but a blanket. A blanket would be a serious load and he didn't want to commit to that much grocery shopping on a half fuzzy mind...

...The downsides of which were already beginning to show itself, stopping way too late to prevent himself from bumping straight into the figure up ahead, arms wrapping possessively around his basket but with an embarrassed frown already on his lips. "Sorry, I wasn't loo-" He blinks when the figure and face sharpens into view behind his glasses. "-Oh."

@ᵒ jake sim. Felix was finding really cute things for his friends and it made him happy. "Something cheesy... sounds cute, anything you have in mind?" His eyes were sparkling as he looked at him, very curious to hear more about his ideas. By now he had already two hoodies between his hands, his eyes scanned to place in a search for more cute clothes. "Collectibles? like what?" He said with a warm smile over his face. "I would love anything cute some would fun for me, honestly." He giggled softly as he wasn't really picky with his gifts.

@ᵒ lee felix. "That's true, but I'm with him a lot so i feel like i should do more." He sighed lightly, pulling out a shirt and looking at it before hanging it back on the rack. "Might do something cheesy and get us something matching." He chuckled a bit to himself before moving to a different rack. "I need to get stuff for my group as well." He mumbled lightly to himself taking small notes before humming in thought. "For me? I'm not really sure, honestly, I like small things, you know. like collectibles?" He hummed a bit before looking back at the other. "what about you?"

@ᵒ jake sim. "I'm sure he would be happy as long as you are with him." Felix whispered gently, knowing that he would be glad himself if he had a lover to be around with. He was finding really cute hoodies and pajamas and it really made him smile. "Something special sounds lovely to me..." He said gently and tried to keep the smile over his face. "Well... my bandmates, family of course... also some good friends I met... what would you like to get for christmas?" Felix asked with with a sweet and curious smile.

@ᵒ lee felix. He nods in agreement, with a small nod. “I’m not sure what I’m getting him actually. I haven’t bought gifts from him in this manner.” He sighs before looking around following the other towards the pajamas, he’s shuffling through items just a bit away but close enough to hold conversation. “I might go simple for now, and do something special with him.” He nods. “Who are you buying gifts for?”

@ᵒ jake sim. "Yeah those things are the best as a gift, unless it's for a lover... I mean those are cute for a lover too... but still." Felix was chuckling softly, looking at Jake with big doe eyes while thinking for a bit. "So what are you getting for your lover?" He was quite curious, after all it's been a while since he himself had a lover. "Yeah, baking is the best, it shows how much you truly care about them." Felix said happily as they reached the first shop, a clothes one, he went right away to the cute disney pajamas, wanting to get something cute.

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@ᵒ lee felix. He nodded lightly, listening to Felix as he listed thing off. “Me? Oh!” He hummed lightly in thought for a moment. “Well I’m not sure actually. Probably a bit of the same things.” He nodded. “I wanted to get more gifts for people but since I wasn’t able to go shopping until last minute I might focus on Heese, first and… just spending time with people as the ‘gift’” he brought up his hand to make little quotations. “Baking sounds fun too though. I should get some stuff to do that.”

@ᵒ jake sim. Felix was smiling widely still, going right to him he nodded gently. "It's so good to see you!" His voice was gentle with him as he started to walk along with him. "Well... cute stuff! like warm blankets, clothes~ I'm also going to make cakes for special people... so I need to buy ingredients too!" He said and looked at his friend with big doe eyes. "What about you?" He was quite curious to know what was his style with gifts.

@ᵃ lee juyeon. He watched as the other attempted to relax a bit, and nodded, with a smile, taking a moment to breathe himself following the other inside the store. Looking over to check the list on the others phone, agreeing where he could. “Yes, I’d get some clothes, some shoes, those little hand mits..” he trailed off trying to think of what is good for children to have. “Formula too just in case, diapers too. The baby kits that have thermometers, and things, pacifiers” He looked at the other with a smile. “Don’t worry, if we forget anything, you can send another one of us out to get it once the baby gets here. We got this!”

@ᵒ lee felix. Hearing his name caught his attention very quickly, and he looked up to see Felix, raising a hand for a small wave before quickly stuffing it back in his pocket. “Hey! Glad you could make it.” He greeted, slowly moving to get the to start walking through the shopping center. “Do you know anything you want to buy?” He asked curiously tilting his head to the side a bit as he glanced around

@⊹ ᵇ kim sunwoo. Juyeon nodded and just inhaled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Yeah, you're right," he breathed out, smoothing over his shirt and adjusting his coat before shutting the door and locking the car with a bright honk from the horn on the second click of the button. Now that he thought about it, he probably was also just feeling a little guilt that he wasn't there much for Hyunjae. Or at least, he felt like he wasn't there much, and thus the guilt arose.

But this wasn't the time to get into that. They had gifts to buy. His keys, he switched out in his pocket for his phone, opening up the list again before starting to walk toward the center. "I... don't even know where to begin. I know furniture last, though, since... it'll be a lot to haul," he mumbled, running a hand through his hair. After a pause, he exhaled through his nose again. "Let's just start with the clothes and toys?"

@ᵒ jake sim. Felix's mood lately wasn't great but when his friend suggested going shopping for Christmas it really made him feel happy. He liked Christmas very much, the joy and the feeling this lovely holiday brings to all. Even when he wasn't so sure who he should give gifts to, the blonde was quite confused lately. He was wearing warm clothes and a cute white hat when he saw the text from Jake, he saw him right away and a bright smile was all over his face. "Jake!" He said warmly to him, it was nice to see him.

@ᵒ lee felix. after agreeing to meet felix at the shopping center jake got ready and headed out. he needed to do some last minute christmas shopping, and catching up with old friends while doing so was certainly one way to do it. dressed warm, but enough to be comfortable enough to shop around inside, he waiting on the inside entrance of the place, pulling out his phone to send a message.

〔 to: lixpix 〕
— i'm waiting inside!
— right by the door, can't miss me!

@ᵃ lee juyeon. Sunwoo had simply messaged Juyeon out of boredom. He knew that the other still needed to prep for the baby coming with the fresh move happening just before she was due. The icing on top of the cake was that she was due on Christmas of all days. It was already a stressful time of year and Sunwoo wanted to do his part in making things easier for the expecting couple. So when Juyeon had drilled it into his head to make sure he had everything, he came out of his apartment prepared, following the other to the car nodding along and listening to everything that he said.

After arriving at the shopping center, Sunwoo didn't even have time before Juyeon was opening the car door for him, and Sunwoo couldn't help but to let out a laugh at the others question as he got out the car, a hand reaching up to simply pat the older male's head. "I think you're obviously a bit stressed, but given everything that's a little understandable." He said his voice filled with a mix of joy and concern for the other. "Just take a deep breath, it's right before Christmas so I'm sure there's gonna be a lot of people in here too."

@⊹ ᵇ kim sunwoo. This had to be a fast, effecient mission. He had his card and his credit card on deck, and he had fussed a little too much over making sure Sunwoo had the same. He had managed to convince Hyunjae to nap, and they'd decorate the apartment later. But once the other was fast asleep, he'd snuck out of their apartment and dragged Sunwoo out of his room, keys flush to his hand so they didn't jingle. On his phone he had notes of what things Hyunjae had looked at specifically for their daughter, where and if they could be found in-store. Most of them could, it was mainly some of the clothes and a few toys that couldn't, but that he'd already handled by ordering them from his own accounts so Hyunjae wouldn't get any emails. And he gave Sunwoo this rundown as he power-walked down from the complex to the car. "We not only have to get this all, but we gotta get it into the apartment and decorate the room for him and put little bows and ribbons on everything, since she's due on Christmas. 's a big present for him and her, from dad and uncle, yknow?" he nudged Sunwoo as he hit the unlock button on his car. He paused. "We should probably ask the birthday boy if he wants us to get anything on his behalf, I'm sure he's busy with his birthday so he can't come, but I'd feel bad if he didn't get a chance to contribute..." he mumbled, then as he tugged the door open, he made a noise, like he figured something out. "Maybe he'll wanna join for decoration when we get back? I'll- call him later," he shrugged and hopped into the car.

` ° • ○ • ° `

A short car ride later, and they'd arrived, and he parked the car without any need to adjust... Okay it wasn't a great parking job but it was late as so there wasn't really anyone around he needed to adjust for. He whizzed over around the car to Sunwoo's door and opened it for him, gesturing him out. "... I'm not too insane right now, am I? I think I am..." he offered a sheepish smile around the edge of the door