SHIN KUROI

How do you do? My name is Shin Kuroi; a beastman who resides on the outskirts of the small village of Minasato, Japan. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. Please, do feel free to inquire anything if you wish. – This is a casual Morenatsu stories blog.

[baker-kuroi]

The latest Tweets from Shin Kuroi (@bakerKuroi). From the desk of @MisutaaUrufu: "Welcome to the story account of Shin Kuroi, where you can interact with a certain black cat. Make yourself at home!" #RP. Minasato, Japan | USA

Seeing as tumblr is becoming a more difficult platform to use, I've moved to Twitter. Feel free to follow me there. — Mun

[baker-kuroi]

“Something like that, it’s a good interpretation on its own. We know so very little, and yet we can learn to understand almost anything. We can be easily discouraged from things that are too hard, and yet persevere despite it. We can be emotionally overwhelmed by heart ache or self loathing, and yet still find so much to love in the world. We can be upset and over react, and yet we can act with reason and logic to find a better solution. We can feel as though all is lost or hopeless, and yet still we remain. A person can lack so much, and yet they can still be impressive and worthwhile as individuals. Myself in particular, I spend so much worrying about what I want to be, that I sometimes forget to actually be those things, whereas if it’s what I truly value and believe in, It shouldn’t be something I need to think about, I could use to trust myself a little more to do the right things naturally, and simply take responsibility and fix my mistakes when they happen.”

The feline waves to the staff to order another drink, sitting back in his chair and rubbing the bridge between his eyes a bit.

“Philosophy, Sociology, and Psychology have been topics of focus for me lately, not just for their practical uses, but for my own self maintenance as well. Education and understanding can help lead to a lot of discoveries regarding the self, those three fields have assisted me in figuring out a little more about the world and where I stand in it.”

Paying for his drink, he turns to look at the rain and sips. Letting out another content sigh.

“I’m glad you’re finding interest in these things. Development of the self is something I’ve taken a lot of pride in. I have to agree though that the warm beverage and comfortable setting certainly help. As for the insight, I think that’s up to an individual to decide. I took something away from my dream that I feel happy with, but another may not agree. Philosophy is all about making your own interpretations from the thoughts of others, finding a place in the world and yourself with bits and pieces of what you and others have experienced. Just as well, a Philosopher never remains on a single interpretation, it’s a never ending, ever changing pursuit. To stagnate is to deny yourself growth, and I feel as though that’s a tragic shame for a person to fall in to.”

"I do not see how I could of said such any better, myself. I honestly wish more people would put as much thought as you or I have into such things; I feel we would be in much a better state than this if so." Shin replied.

"Knowing more about yourself, and your effect on the world, can help one to take the next step forward in life. Admittedly, I sometimes have trouble myself even still, but that is why it's so important to at the very least be aware of one's self, as even if you are not in a position to fix things, or move forward, now, you may be, at some point soon, 'down the road'. It would be a right shame that one would miss such an opportunity."

"Everything in life is connected; we all have little effects on eachother which build up over time, exponentially by the number of people we interact with, and the number of people who interact with those we interact with. We all share the power to better eachother, and by that, the world, but only if we all choose to do so, collectively."

"Pardon me for a moment." Shin said as he got up from the table. Shin heads over to the bar and begins preparing another drink — a chai tea latte, made with an in-house blend, topped with foam and a delicate nutmeg topping. A few minutes pass before Shin returns to the table. "I do appologize. I do not feel comfortable in making my staff prepare my drinks when I myself am fully capable of making them. — I feel that it would be terribly rude, if not inconsiderate, of me, and would only add to their workload, rather than take away from it."

[baker-kuroi]

“Poetry is something I like to dabble in now and then when I have an inspiration. I’ve also been interested in Philosophy, Sociology, and Psychology. Caring about others and retaining integrity is one of the few things I can do consistently. I make mistakes at times, but have committed myself to constant reflection and betterment of the self.”

He chuckles once again, rubbing the back of his neck and shaking his head.

“Of course, anyone can simply say these things, it’s only through consistency and constant proof that one can be believed or trusted, but being subject to that criticism and constant trial is precisely what drives me. A dream I had recently inspired a piece of writing I rather enjoyed.”

The panther clears his throat and takes a deep breath.

“I am weak, yet I am strong.

My mind is shallow, yet it is deep.

My will is glass, yet it is steel.

My heart quivers, yet it also sings.

My anger burns, yet empathy prevails.

I am beaten, yet I am not broken.

I am weak, yet I am strong.”

"That's rather quite an intriguing poem — Forgive me if i'm mistaken, but it seems to touch on the duality of life, and how someone can be weak of nature but strong of mind; how one can both be shallow minded in terms of geneneral interest, yet deep in that it thinks through, and about, every little thing; How we can both be scared, or angry, yet even still we may choose to give away our love and compassion in the moments it's needed most. Rather beautiful, if you ask me." Shin responded.

Shin pauses for a moment, then says, "You must forgive me, for it is I who is rambling this time around. Your words really put my mind to work." Shin then takes another sip of his drink.

"Mm. Nothing like a warm drink on a cool, rainy day, to warm the body, and some insightful poetry to warm the soul, no?" he says with a smile.

[baker-kuroi]

“Heh, fair enough. Quite the romantic, aren’t you? Your speech carries somewhat of a poetic nuance to it. I think you’ve summed up the rain rather nicely.”

Don folds his hands under this chin, looking up at Shin. Ears flicking idly.

“I appreciate the credit you’ve given me regarding my ramblings.. For someone claiming to be shy, you’re carrying yourself quite well. If you insist, I’ll keep your offer in mind. A few hours to burn is it? If you’d like me to stick around, I’d be open to suggestions, I haven’t any further obligations today myself. Do your friends or other acquaintances often visit you here?”.

"I suppose you could say that", Shin replied. "I enjoy looking for the beauty in the little things. It helps one remain at peace with the world, I think."

"While I'm admittedly quite shy, the way you've carreid yourself is rather quite approachable. Based on your seemingly inquisitive and helpful nature, you allow yourself to be easy to talk to.", Shin responded. "I rather wish more people were like that... But no matter."

"Since you're here, and I've rather enjoyed our conversation, let's continue on, shall we? You mentioned poetry; is that something that you are deeply in to, or is it a passing interest?"

[tohfu-kun]

Stream doodles from tonight!! Featuring …Shin! hehehe

[baker-kuroi]

“I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better about your situation, I do wish you the best in finding something that works for you.”

Don bows his head momentarily.

“Regarding the dessert, you don’t have to worry about treating me to anything. Admittedly, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, a dessert for me would have to be quite low on sugar. I’m just happy to be of some help.

If there’s anything else you would like, let me know. if I’m around and able, I’ll give you a hand. I don’t really have much to do when I visit here, it’s just… a place I’m drawn to.”

The feline pauses for a moment, looking back outside, and sighing a bit.

“You know, the rain is nice in some ways. It can be a little dismal, but it can also bear opportunities, especially if you have somewhere warm to curl up for a while, like here. I may not have happened across this cafe without it. Little silver linings, discovery lead by a random circumstance-”

He shakes his head a bit, stopping himself, and chuckling.

“But… I digress, I’m just starting to ramble now, my apologies. If you have other matters to attend to, don’t let me keep you from them.”

"Rain check, perhaps then? If you ever feel the need for something sweet, even if it's light and delicate, just stop by and I'll ensure you get something on the house." Shin responded.

"I'm not terribly busy, now that I have a plan of action. I'm not actually on the clock at the moment; I took off not too long ago so I could focus on menu improvements. Seeing as that's taken care of, in a sense, Im free to enjoy myself for at least the next few hours, barring the case of my staff needing any help around the place. — I always try and pick up the slack, so that no one may feel like we're understaffed. It's quite an unpleasant feeling after all."

Shin looks back out the window. "The rain is nice, isn't. The melancholy that it brings somehow manages to bring the color out in the littlest things, making you notice that which comforts you so much more — A warm crackling fire, or perhaps your favorite book. It's rather peaceful, perhaps a bit sullen, but it's greatly underrated within todays world. It manages to make one appreciate the little things for once, and it's soothing sounds as it pitter-patters against the buildings, the streets, the ground, are like a whisper inviting you to relax."

"Don't appologize for rambling. I rather quite enjoyed it. Like the rain, your so called ramblings are peaceful, gentle, casual. Your words may not cary an excess of weight, or draw any particular attention to themselves, but it's in that which makes them delightful to hear. It allows one to listen so much more, and to process each spoken word with care. Casual conversation is at it's best when it is calm and amiacable."

[baker-kuroi]

Leaning back in his chair, Don rubs the back of his neck and also looks out the window. Picking his drink up with his free hand and taking a few sips from it.

“You could say that I’ve… been around. Not really an expert or anything. It’s different for every place, depending on what you’re trying to sell, and who you’re selling it to. If you want to take some risks, but aren’t keen on interacting with a ton of people, the suggestion box idea might be good for you. Could also take a wander around and observe what else is selling and doing well in the area. I’m a bit of an introvert, so I can sympathize with the shyness. Fortunately when it comes to collecting information, there’s plenty of non-direct methods you can use. If you have some folks you could trust, you could always get them to advocate for you as well. Word of mouth is a good way to gain attention in small towns.”

The feline chuckles a bit and glances back towards Shin.

“Don’t feel too bad about it, people are unpredictable. Owning a business isn’t easy. Do your best, trust your gut, use the resources available to you to learn about your clients, and above all else, make sure you take care of yourself. The stress of trying to figure out what people like and keeping your business afloat can wear on someone pretty quickly, you sometimes forget that you’re a person too. This is… just my ten cents. The decisions are something you’ll have to ultimately make yourself, but hopefully some of what I’ve rambled about might help you in your story.”

The Panther raises his glass and drinks back the last of his Chai, letting out a content sigh, and stretching out some.

“Anything else on your mind you’d like to talk about?”

Shin listens to Don’s insightful advice before taking another sip of his drink. “Yes, that all does sound like very good ideas. Perhaps I’ll spin-off your suggestion box idea by having guests fill out survey; They can write down their favorite desserts, or perhaps a dessert they’ve always wanted to try. I can then use that to craft up a series of new desserts which I can trial with the public; whichever one hits it off with the public best would therefor be my new dessert!”

“Thank you, Don, for the splendid idea. You’ve been ever so much of a help. Allow me to treat you to any dessert, on the house!” Shin said, politely, with a smile; Don’s advice seems to of put him in rather a pleasant mood.

[baker-kuroi]

Don takes a sip of his latte as he listens to his companies responses. Purring softly as the Chai relaxes his nerves and warms his core. Setting it down and folding his hands under his chin as he looks toward Shin.

“Mm.. clientele are always tricky. You’re always at risk regardless of what choice you make, half the time they don’t even know what they want. There’s also the random consumer effect too though, where one week something won’t sell at all, and the next you won’t be able to keep it in stock from them buying out.”

“You could try taking suggestions from the people for things they’d like to see, or flip a coin and go for something relative to other popular items around town. If you’re lucky, you might be able to craft something using flavors particular to this area that the population may find both tasty and endearing, culture and heritage and the like. The old fashion types tend to love things like that, and if you can net younger generations on the flavor as well, it’s a double win.”

“To be honest, I’ve always found simple palettes much, much harder to please. The less ingredients something has, the harder it is to master. Take a slice of french toast for example, there’s not a lot to it. Have one, and you’ve likely tasted it from dozens. It then comes down to how well it’s prepared, and if the maker takes a risk to try to add something to spice it up, which could result in devastating failure as much as revolutionary success.”

“That being said, why don’t we take a look at the kind of clientele you serve? What have you observed from them, the kind of tastes and presentations they go for? If you gather enough data on their preferences, you could perhaps then look at how to apply them in a way that makes you happy as well.”

"You do seem to know what you are talking about. Part of the trade, perhaps?" Shin said with a smile. "The locales mainly enjoy simpler treats; cakes and tarts, and the likes. That's why some of my more-elaborate desserts are still a cake or a pie, at heart. Honestly, though, I've probably played it a bit too safe, as i've yet to really explore what others may enjoy."

Shin looks out the window pensively, taking a sip of his drink. "I know my friends enjoy almost whatever I make, and guests were always a fan of my treats when they came to visit as a child. However, I've never really paid much attention to what some of the other locals like to enjoy. I've always been a bit of a shy individual..." Shin stops himself. "No matter the reason, suffice to say, I'm rather lacking in the knowledge of just exactly what might 'hit it off' with the local public. There are a number of more traditional families in the area, however, so I've thought, perhaps, that I should look into a traditionally-inspired dessert that would wow the crowds, while being pleasant enough for older generations to enjoy."

[baker-kuroi]

“Certainly. I most often go by the name ‘Don’, I’ve never really been fond of the full pronunciation of my name. I hope the abbreviation will be acceptable enough. I appreciate the invitation to your table.”

The feline gives a slight bow before taking his offered seat, setting his drink on a clear corner of the table.

“So, may I ask what you’re working on? If you’d like someone to bounce ideas off of, I’d be glad to lend you an ear. I travel in and out of town now and then, I believe this is my first time coming to this Cafe. Have you been here long? Or are you relatively new to the business?”

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Don.” Shin replied with a smile. “My, you sure do like to get right into the questions. Alright, well, to start off, this café has not been here too terribly long. It is my first time, actually, running a place, and as you can see it’s not rather big. As far as my residency, I’ve lived here since I was a kitten, if you will. It’s become my hometown, of sorts.”, the cat replied.

“Now, for what I’m working on is a revision to our menu. I want to find something absolutely spectacular to add to the dessert case, but I fear whatever I may introduce may not cater to the simpler tastes of the locale. — I’m already pushing the limits with some of the desserts over there, such as the Opera Gâteau.” He said as he motioned his hand to the case. “I have to be careful not to introduce anything that I may be wasting my time on.”

[baker-kuroi]

A barely audible chime echos from door as a being steps in to the cafe. Strolling up to the counter, he appears to be a black panther, height of 5′5″, weight of 110lbs, white hair, long bangs in the front, and cut short behind his ears, and brown eyes. His attire consists of a hooded black jacket, with a belt slimming around the waist, black slacks, and black cloth moccasins. Ordering a chai latte with a touch on cinnamon sprinkled on top, he scans around the cafe periodically debating where to sit. Noticing the small black cat in the corner with papers upon their table, his curiosity gets the better of him as he approaches.

“Pardon me, I’m hope I’m not interrupting anything. You seem to be in a somewhat contemplative state. If you would not be adverse to company, would you perhaps like to sit together and talk?”

Shin looks up from his paper and notices the Panther standing before him. “Hello there.”, he starts off. “It’s always been a pleasure to talk with my guests, so I wouldn’t be adverse to the company at all. My name is Shin, and I am the proprietor of this quaint little establishment.” “May I ask who I have the delight of speaking with?”, he asks politely, motioning to a chair across from him, on the opposite end of the small table at which he sits.

[baker-kuroi]

“A Rainy Day In A Little Town” [Open Story feat. @ittybittysparklekitty]

It was a quiet afternoon. Rain was pouring down overhead, pitter-pattering amongst the roofs of the buildings, and the sidewalk which sat below them. The occasional car passed through the small village street, splashing water upon the sidewalk with a solid “sploosh”. The air was crisp, and cool, but otherwise not terribly unpleasant.

Inside a small café, pinned amongst the scattered shops lining the village street, the smell of delicate desserts, and freshly ground espresso, fill the air from end to end. A small pastry case can be seen on the far left wall, housing everything from individual slices of Opéra Gâteau, to a frangipane apple tart, sliced into triangle-shaped pieces, with a diamond-pattern crust on top, underneath the warm casing lights. Quiet chatter fills the room, no so much as to be bothersome as it is an accompanyment to the rain, as if it is playing harmony to the rain’s own melody. Espresso machines and coffee grinders chime in intermittently within this strange symphony, almost making the actual music, playing ever so faintly from an overhead speaker, pointless for anything other than atmospheric noise.

Over in a corner, a particular black cat can be seen, sitting by the window. He is dressed in his usual attire, except that his sleeves are rolled and he is adorning a black, cloth apron to protect the front of his clothes. In one hand is a cup of coffee, or perhaps a tea or latté; it’s difficult to tell from a distance; and upon the table he sits at is a pencil and some scattered documents, sitting atop a clipboard. He has a calm, yet perplexed expression upon his face, as he sips his drink so delicately.

[baker-kuroi]

"Heh, I'm glad you're back. So, to welcome you home, how 'bout I take you on a date?" He winks at the feline, giving the most charming smile he could.

“Do you honestly think that would be a wise idea? I’ve only just returned from some time away, so i emplore you to think whether or not it is in my best interests to suddenly begin dating a casual acquaintance.” Shin said, with that special brand of stern look he mastered over the years.

“None the less, I just so happen to be in the mood for tea, and would not turn down your company if you were to offer, none the less. Friendly visits are oft a pleasant experience.” Shin’s stern expression changes to a smile.

[baker-kuroi]

“Cafe, and it’s right up there.” He pointed somewhere far up a grassy hill next to the forest, but it was just as he said. From here, you can make out a few tables and chairs on the patio next to a glass wall. Some lights and a few people could be seen inside the building. The walking distance seems like it could take at least half an hour.

“Sorry, you don’t mind walking, do you?” He asked with an apologetic expression.

  "Not in the slightest" the cat replied. "The distance isn't terrible, and the weather is fair; it makes it a pleasant day for a brief walk, no?" he said with a smile, as he began walking in the direction of the café.

[baker-kuroi]

A good cheesecake is always a delightful treat. Especially when it's drizzled with a special caramel sauce.

[baker-kuroi]

"Heh, I'm glad you're back. So, to welcome you home, how 'bout I take you on a date?" He winks at the feline, giving the most charming smile he could.

“Do you honestly think that would be a wise idea? I’ve only just returned from some time away, so i emplore you to think whether or not it is in my best interests to suddenly begin dating a casual acquaintance.” Shin said, with that special brand of stern look he mastered over the years.

“None the less, I just so happen to be in the mood for tea, and would not turn down your company if you were to offer, none the less. Friendly visits are oft a pleasant experience.” Shin’s stern expression changes to a smile.

[baker-kuroi]

“Woah, thanks! That’s really nice of you, Shin-kun.” He receives the book happily, beginning to read said book. He stared into the pages with wonder and awe, these kinds of books were his favorite! “Haha, Shin-kun, you have really good tastes in books. This one’s really cool!” He complimented him, happy to be able to read it.

  "It's no problem, really" the cat replies.

  The bus eventually pulls into the Kazenari station; an actual station in this case, compared to the small shack of a place back home. Shin and Adrian step off the bus and head out of the station in to the streets. Shin takes the book from Adrian and returns it to his bag."So about this tearoom you spoke of. May I ask where we are to go from here?" he asks.

[baker-kuroi]

"Heh, I'm glad you're back. So, to welcome you home, how 'bout I take you on a date?" He winks at the feline, giving the most charming smile he could.

“Do you honestly think that would be a wise idea? I’ve only just returned from some time away, so i emplore you to think whether or not it is in my best interests to suddenly begin dating a casual acquaintance.” Shin said, with that special brand of stern look he mastered over the years.

“None the less, I just so happen to be in the mood for tea, and would not turn down your company if you were to offer, none the less. Friendly visits are oft a pleasant experience.” Shin’s stern expression changes to a smile.

[baker-kuroi]

"Ah!! …No, I did not…You can’t fly and read at the same time. You need to focus on the wide open sky as to not hit anything on the way.” He expressed his sorrowful realization. “A whole hour huh? Seems I really messed up, haha.” He rubbed the back of his head, laughing heartily. “Poor planning skills on my part, ”

  Shin picks up a small bag to which he had brought with him upon the bus and pulls out a copy of “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells. “Here you are. It’s nothing much, but it’ll suffice for the duration of our trip.“ Shin says while handing his friend the book. “I tend to bring a few things with me anymore when going places; never know when you’ll be stuck somewhere and in need of a good book.” he playfully remarks

[baker-kuroi]

"Heh, I'm glad you're back. So, to welcome you home, how 'bout I take you on a date?" He winks at the feline, giving the most charming smile he could.

“Do you honestly think that would be a wise idea? I’ve only just returned from some time away, so i emplore you to think whether or not it is in my best interests to suddenly begin dating a casual acquaintance.” Shin said, with that special brand of stern look he mastered over the years.

“None the less, I just so happen to be in the mood for tea, and would not turn down your company if you were to offer, none the less. Friendly visits are oft a pleasant experience.” Shin’s stern expression changes to a smile.

[baker-kuroi]

"Oh! The bus huh? Alright then, heh. I didn’t really consider it. I actually just flew there. ” He places his hands into his pockets, waiting at the bus station. “Once we get there, you might have to walk a bit though, it’s on a hill. Hence the view.” He explains to the feline, whilst standing idle. Every now and then, those large wings on his back would flex a bit. His body type was quite normal, but those wings make it feel like he takes up as much space as Tatsuki.

 The two board the afternoon bus which soon embarks on its journey to Kazenari. Shin pulls out a copy of The complete collection of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and begins to read. "I don't suppose you brought something to read, did you? It will take about an hour's drive by bus." he remarks.

[baker-kuroi]

"Heh, I'm glad you're back. So, to welcome you home, how 'bout I take you on a date?" He winks at the feline, giving the most charming smile he could.

“Do you honestly think that would be a wise idea? I’ve only just returned from some time away, so i emplore you to think whether or not it is in my best interests to suddenly begin dating a casual acquaintance.” Shin said, with that special brand of stern look he mastered over the years.

“None the less, I just so happen to be in the mood for tea, and would not turn down your company if you were to offer, none the less. Friendly visits are oft a pleasant experience.” Shin’s stern expression changes to a smile.

[katieskitchenry]

“Aah-A-Alright then, heh.” That spooked him, Shin-kun’s face can be quite scary sometimes. None-the-less, he was back, and he knew just the place to take him to.

“If you’re in the mood for tea, then I know a new cafe that just opened up at Kazenari! You should go, they’re a pretty fancy place! There’s also a view of the city from their windows, adding to the atmosphere.” He beamed with excitement just talking about the place, and unknown to him, his slithery dragon-tail was swaying behind him, matching his mood.

[baker-kuroi]

Shin nodded in agreement. "That sounds rather pleasant, actually. I would not mind a bit if were to make the trip. However, if we are to head towards Kazenari, it would be wise for us to embark towards the station post haste; one does not wish to miss the afternoon bus, lest we be stranded in Kazenari for the night; There are only so many busses per day that make the trip out here.

  Shin took note of their aquaintance's elated demeanor; "Had I really been gone that long?" Shin pondered for a moment. This brought a strange, unsettling feeling upon him, and so he put such thoughts aside for the time being.

  Shin began walking towards the quaint little bust 'station' which resided on the other side of the village, motioning their friend to follow along.