#the food and bring it home to a peaceful quiet environment that I control lol). But more typically like stopping by a grocery store deli

[icewindandboringhorror]

On average, what is the total MONTHLY amount that you spend on dining out*?

*(This doesn't only count going out to restaurants, but also stuff like picking up fast food to bring home, getting a coffee on the way to work, getting a premade sandwich from a grocery store deli during lunch, buying a quick snack from a convenience store or food cart whilst walking somewhere, ordering a pizza or any other food to be delivered to your home, etc.)

*(If you often dine out in groups/as a household: calculate and divide the costs so that you get a Per Person average. This is for YOU individually, NOT the total household/group costs)

(I'm sure polls similar to this have been made before (very common topic), I just haven't personally seen one that I can remember, so, I was curious to do my own! I was discussing this with a group of people today and it was very interesting to see how widely the number varied between individuals. :0c )

(Reblog for bigger sample size if you can, and feel free to explain your answer in tags if there's anything extra to add!)

[ilovereadingandilovebreathing]

Hi! Hope you're having a good day or night depending! For the strangers meeting thing, could you do one for Soul and Maka?

Thank you; you, too! Holy CRAP I haven’t written SoMa in a long time, but I have been binging Soul Eater again, so I’ll do my best. Sorry the formatting is funky; I did it on mobile, and I’ve already had one format fiasco, so....

Young Adult!AU

“I swear to god this cat is gonna be the death of me.” Soul “Eater” Evans grumbled haughtily as he pinned up his last Lost Cat poster and began the weary trek back to his apartment. His brother had begged him to take Blair in last year when his long-time girlfriend, who was painfully allergic to cats, decided the pair should live together before getting engaged. Having no other family to willingly pawn the creature off on, Wes had turned to his bachelor younger brother. Of course, he was the one with the crazy cat lady landlady; she’d even offered to catsit for him.

Honestly, though, as much as he begroaned the circumstances of Blair’s adoption, he’d grown to like, maybe even love, the frisky little black cat. Her hours were as odd as his (night shift jobs screw up a sleep schedule), so they often kept each other company. As long as he remembered to put out her food and water and clean her litter box, she was really a low maintenance cat. Well, unless she was starved for attention. Then she’d rub herself all over him until he acquiesced to stroking her until she fell asleep, usually on his stomach so he couldn’t escape. Or unless she decided to vanish for a week without a trace. A few days was normal for Blair; Soul often suspected she had another family somewhere, but this long was unusual. Hence the posters.

Soul shoved open his lopsided apartment door, a frown pulling at his lips when he realized he’d expected Blair to come bounding over to him; maybe he did love her after all. He sighed and dropped his keys on the small table next to the front door, immediately slipping out of his coat and shoes. He collapsed onto his aging couch, allowing his head to fall back and his eyes to fall closed just as a loud buzz buzz buzz from his back pocket startled him upward again. He pulled out his phone to find an unfamiliar number.

[+1 555-6969]

Hi, you put up wanted posters for a black cat?

[+1 555-7685]

Missing? Yeah.

[+1 555-6969]

Oh. Missing? NVM

“What the hell?”

Another message came through just as he was turning his phone off; another strange number.

[+1 555-6666]

When did you put those signs up?

[+1 555-7685]

Today

[+1 555-6666]

Oh, okay. Good. Your can’t wasn’t with me, but I can’t promise anything from the others in the area. Hopefully she isn’t used.

[+1 555-7685]

Fuck off, weirdo.

He blocked the number.

A few more ominous texts came in and one from his landlady expressing her wishes for Blair’s safe return. A few fellow searching pet owners asked him for leads on their pets, and he exchanged yeses and the same request. Just as he was going to throw his phone after another sick-headed black cat hater, a properly formatted message came through with a kinder message. Finally.

[+1 555-6252]

Hey, I saw your Lost Cat posters. I’m really sorry to hear you lost her. I’ll be keeping an eye out for her; I’m pretty active in the area.

[+1 555-7685]

Thank you I appreciate it

[+1 555-6562]

No problem! I have a cat, too. Crona.

A photo of a small, sweet-faced but timid-looking kitten came through; it’s big blue eyes and stark white fur made him gasp a bit.

[+1 555-7685]

Beautiful cat

I’m a little jealous seems to be the opposite of Blair haha

[+1 555-6252]

Thank you! I just got him. He’s really shy but a good cat. What do you mean? What’s Blair like?I know you said “noisy asshole” on your poster, but…

[+1 555-7685]

Haha gets peoples attention

Pitch black fur

Big yellow eyes

Needy and bossy as hell

Nah really she’s pretty good for the most part

My brother dumped her on me

[+1 555-6525]

Crona has his moments, too, but she sounds like a handful! That’s no good, but it’s nice that you kept her! I hope you find her soon. I’m Maka, B. T. W.

[+1 555-7685]

Soul

[+1 555-6525]

That’s a cool name! Nice to meet you, Soul!

[+1 555-7685]

Maka’s pretty unique too

Back atcha

[+1 555-6525]

Like I said, I’ll be on the lookout, so let me know if there are any updates!

[+1 555-7685]

Will do.

Thanks

-

A few days passed with silence about Blair. And from Maka. Soul didn’t know why he cared about that second one. He usually got bored with texting people, especially girls who talked a lot and formatted their texts perfectly, but something about Maka was the right balance.He shook his head and focused back on his TV. He didn’t even know Maka; how could he daydream about her?

As if on cue, his phone buzzed, and he picked it up, finding himself disappointed that it wasn’t Maka’s number, but his eyes widened when he read the text.

[+1 555-7827]

Hey dude found your cat I think over near the market on Crescent Street she was bugging my girl for something to eat I think while she was waiting for me to get off work

A picture came through of a bright-blue haired young man with a wide grin and a sweet-looking lady with dark hair. The latter gently held Blair who looked up with wide eyes.

[+1 555-7685]

Yup that’s her

Where are you?

[+1 555-7827]

Outside the Limpin’ Imp Tavern on Crescent

[+1 555-7685]

Cool be there ASAP

Soul jogged out the front door and down the steps. “Found Blair, Miss Ortega!” Soul called as he eyed his landlady sitting in her front window.

“Wonderful! I’ll have a treat for her when you return!”

“Thanks!”

He continued jogging toward Crescent Street, thankfully not too far from his house. He slowed when he neared the tavern, easily spotting the couple who’d contacted him.

“Hey!” Soul waved as he approached, eying Blair curled up in the woman’s lap. “I’m Soul. You’ve got Blair.” He laughed and the woman giggled in reply.

“Yeah we do! Totally saved your cat for you, as any good citizens would!” The man erupted, laughing loudly if not unnecessarily.

“Yeah…”

“She’s very friendly.” The woman cut in. “I figured she was a local stray until I saw her collar and Blake saw your posters.”

“Yeah, maybe I should save some time and paper and get her a license with my number on it.” Soul rubbed the back of his neck.

“Not like she’s a dog or anything.” Blake cut in. “Cats are way smarter. Unlike this one. Or maybe she’s just more stubborn.”

“Blake.” The woman rolled her eyes. “I’m Tsubaki, by the way, since you introduced yourself. Here.” She took Blair into her arms and carefully stood. “We have to get going, but I’m so glad we found her.”

“Absolutely. Thank you both so much. Here’s the reward.” Soul handed a wad of bills to Blake and took Blair from Tsubaki.

“Thanks a bunch! We’re off to a great dinner!” Blake laughed loudly and threw his arm around Tsubaki’s shoulders, drawing her against him as they walked away and planting a firm kiss on her head.

“Bye, Soul! Bye, Blair!”

“Bye!” Soul chuckled as the couple made their way down the sidewalk, idly chatting about their evening plans. “Time to go home, Missy.” Soul chided the cat but ran his fingers over her back. “You’ve been gone for too long.”

Blair just sat comfortably in his hold and purred as Soul walked them both home.

-

The evening hours found Soul and Blair lounging on the sofa, Blair curled comfortably on Soul’s stomach as he scrolled idly through Netflix. The companionable quiet was shattered when Soul’s phone buzzed loudly against the glass coffee table top, and he grit his teeth. He needed to take those damn posters down. However, his annoyance simmered out when he registered the familiar number.

[+1 555-6525]

Hey, it’s Maka. Just checking in since it’s been a while. Any luck finding Blair?

Soul stretched back and snapped a shot of Blair sleeping on him.

[+1 555-7685]

Yup

Just got her back a little while ago

[+1 555-6525]

Aw awesome! So cute!!!

Maka sent an above shot of Crona snoozing on her chest, but Soul was fixated on the photographer. Big green eyes, a sweet smile, and smooth skin and hair made his heart flutter, and he swallowed.

[+1 555-7685]

Really cute

[+1 555-6525]

Ugh I know! He’s so peaceful when he sleeps. I love it so much.

[+1 555-7685]

Thanks for checking up on us

[+1 555-6525]

Yeah of course! I’m glad that she’s home! Maybe she and Crona will meet sometime, though he’s still not quite an outdoor cat yet.

[+1 555-7685]

We could arrange it

Soul smacked himself internally. A kitty play date? Really? What was he, a cat dad?!

[+1 555-6525]

True! It could help Crona develop confidence and social skills to meet in a controlled environment. Did you have anything in mind?

Shit. He didn’t really think she’d agree.

[+1 555-7685]

Uh not really

[+1 555-6525]

That’s okay! There’s this cool cat cafe that lets you bring your cat and keep it in a play area. We could try to rent a little space there or something!

This was becoming way more real and serious than Soul anticipated.

[+1 555-7685]

Sounds cool

Though we don’t really know each other

[+1 555-6525]

I promise I’m not a serial killer! Haha!

[+1 555-7685]

You’d meet some random guy? What if I’m a weirdo?

[+1 555-6525]

I’ll change my number. Easy.

[+1 555-6525]

But really it’ll be fine! I trust my instincts if not you. L.O.L.

[+1 555-7685]

Gee thanks lol

[+1 555-6525]

😉

So….Is next weekend okay?

[Soul & Blair]

Sure works for me

[Maka]

Great! See you two then!

Maka sent a snap of an awake Crona and herself making a thumbs up. Soul’s breath stuttered.

-

The weekend couldn’t come fast enough, but when it did, Soul found himself blindsided. Was he ready to meet Maka? They had only gone back and forth for a week, but the exchanges were multiple times daily, and he quickly found himself falling fast and hard for the girl in the photos and videos.

As he opened the door to the cat cafe, he gasped, ignoring Blair’s pitiful cries to be free of her cat carrier when he spotted Maka in the back corner. Her slender legs were folded over each other; her hair was pulled back into a neat messy bun (crazy how that worked somehow), and he could see her eyes quickly skimming over the pages in front of her. Smart and beautiful. He was done for.

“Hey…” He pulled up in front of her and pulled out the chair across from her.

She looked up and beamed, her eyes catching the dim glow of the Edison lights around them.

“Hey!” She closed her book and pointed to a low, plastic door. “The play area is over there. They have some toys in there, but I kept Crona with me until you guys got here.” She picked up Crona’s carrier from its guarded spot between her seat and the wall and led him to set their cats free.

Once they settled back in, Maka handed him a menu. “They have great coffee drinks here.”

“I drink mine black, so it doesn’t make a huge difference to me.”

“I could never. Why, if I may ask?”

“Lactose intolerance.”

“Ah.”

“This is so weird.”

“What?” Maka cocked a brow, a slight shadow of worry passing over her features.

“I dunno. It’s like we’re texting in real life now.”

“Texting is real. Just not in person.”

“You know what I mean.”

She giggled. “I do.”

That giggle confirmed it.

Soul would make sure their conversations were purely words and in person as often as possible.

“So, tell me about yourself. I wanna hear it all.”

Hope you liked it! Thanks for the prompt!