tushanshu_logs | The Midnight Hotel January catch-all

Entry tags:

The Midnight Hotel January catch-all

Characters: Anyone, everyone.
Date: Month of January, 2016
Location: The Midnight Hotel
Situation: Catch-all post! Feel free to use this post for anything that happens within the Midnight Hotel over the month of January, using the subject header to label specific rooms or for specific people. Please also see the OOC note at the bottom.
Warnings/Rating: None thus far.

The Midnight Hotel was among the few buildings which showed no sign of having been damaged by the invasion six months ago. That followed, of course; the Hotel hadn't even been present. But either way it stood out, and many of the kedan knew by now that the building, so different from the architecture of the rest of the city, was a safe-haven. Too many mistook it as a Foreigner safe-haven alone, but not all; even now there was usually one or two kedan present.

Some of them were gang-members, ones with whom Anton had forged closer relationships before the Foreigners' year-long disappearance or simply those who chose to visit in defiance of the general public's opinion.

Anton had taken great pains to give the Foreigners structure and normalcy. While the means of payment were, in some cases, not much more than an illusion, he gave as much in the way of purpose as he could. As a result there were now many Foreigners on staff at the Hotel, though of course the rules were still in strict effect. Anton himself was readily available at most given moments if needed for assistance, questions or otherwise.

There was also an oddity in the lobby: a construction in one of the corners where a long bank of three public consoles was being built. The Metalworkers responsible for its construction were generally taciturn and more concerned with their work than with interactions, but they didn't seem worried about being observed or by the close proximity of the Foreigners.

[ooc: The Midnight Hotel's status page is available here, with the rules at the top and ongoing status at the bottom. PLEASE POST TO THE STATUS PAGE IF YOUR CHARACTER WOULD LIKE A ROOM. Anton will manufacture means of payment until Foreigners are able to properly offer recompense or choose to move out, so you can assume they're 'paying' in some method.

If you have a specific job for your character to do around the Hotel (eg working the kitchen, security, house chores) please also note that so I can keep track of Anton's casual staff.]

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Tony's ongoing campaign to ignore Solomon's existence is being slightly undermined by the fact that Solomon now lives literally down the hall. And it doesn't look like that's going to be changing any time in the immediate future.

It's exhausting, trying to constantly avoid and/or ignore someone who shares such a relatively small space. Tony has come to the very mature and adult conclusion that he ought to, like, work things out with the necromancer, or something. (Not apologize. He doesn't need to apologize, because there's nothing for him to apologize for. If anything, Sol should be apologizing to him— AHEM. ANYWAY.)

To that end, he finds himself knocking on the necromancer's door (and sort of hoping that Solomon doesn't answer).

For Solomon's part, Stark hadn't registered high enough on Solomon's awareness to be a problem for the necromancer. Stark was a child and an arrogant one at that, overly so regardless of his experience--experience didn't equate emotional stability. In as far as Solomon had been forced to work with him, or indulged in teasing him, he wasn't nearly enough of an equal for Solomon to care about him living in the same area. So while Tony was exhausted by Solomon's presence, Solomon had barely noticed Stark was there.

Most of his time had been spent keeping an eye on Bakura while experimenting with the khajbit in ways that didn't result in having his soul torn to shreds through misuse. Not to mention the lingering sensation of missing a limb. As a result, Solomon has been more tired and irritable than not, and since this particular morning wasn't one where he could at least wake up to Raine's mitigating presence, it's possibly not the best of timing.

Bakura's out of the room for the moment and Solomon was trying to nap. He'd actually managed it before the knock woke him, but he groggily swung his legs off his bed and called, "Come in."

It had to be Raine. She still made a habit of knocking, in spite of the fact it was growing less and less necessary.

What?! No way, he doesn't want to go in. This was not part of the plan. He was just going to drop by, say a couple words to make nice, and then be on his way. At no point had he intended to set foot past the threshold.

But Solomon apparently isn't going to answer the door, so Tony is left with the options of accepting the invitation to enter, or ding-dong-ditching and trying again later. For several seconds, he strongly considers the latter option.

Then he sighs, and winces, and pushes the door halfway open.

"Um... hi."

Solomon looked up with a smile that instantly faded into a sigh. Stark. Stark. What was Stark doing knocking on his door? Please don't tell him Solomon had somehow become the local therapist. Skulduggery, alright, Solomon could swallow. Bakura, Solomon knew well enough to prod information from. Stark?

This was something to do with the Dreaming, wasn't it?

"What do you want?" he asked with a snatch of impatience, getting to his feet and rubbing his eyes, and not particularly caring of the fact that he was slightly rumpled. Mostly it was in the hair--he hadn't really bothered to take off so much as his waistcoat before trying to nap.

Tony grimaces again. Of course, he had to pick a time when Solomon's in a bad mood. Well. Better get it over with.

"Look, we really got off on the wrong foot, and I've been kind of a jerk about it. But Raine thinks you're a good guy [for whatever unfathomable reasons], and you had my back in the Dreaming. And... I really appreciate that. So, uh, thanks, and sorry about... being a jerk. I guess I just... with the way things are with the kedan, I feel like the foreigners should stick together, you know?"

No hard feelings, a fresh start, let bygones be bygones and all that. Apologizing is one of Tony's less favorite things, but he consoles himself by telling himself it's for Raine's sake rather than Solomon's. Since she's saved Gene's life and his, now, the least he can do is stop passively-aggressively antagonizing her [horrible] boyfriend.

Did Stark just apologise? Really? That just happened. He apologised. For a minute Solomon watched Stark with a blank expression, his tired mind moving through the motivations and reasonings. Really, it was the part about Raine that told the most; Stark wasn't really sorry for Solomon's sake. It was to placate Raine in some fashion. Solomon didn't think she'd asked for this, but it was something a youth like Stark could come up with if he was feeling guilty or seeking to escape a lecture.

Solomon sighed and turned away to move to the chair and sit, reaching for his shoes. "Don't apologise unless you mean it," he said frankly, pulling one on to lace it. "Certainly don't thank me for something I would have done anyway. We were at war. Of course I 'had your back'. That's how wars work against a common enemy."

It was almost insulting, to be thanked for it as though it was unusual; as if Solomon would have actually stood aside and let Malicant win against all logic just because Stark annoyed him. Almost--Solomon didn't have the energy to take offence.

Tony sighs, irritated despite his best efforts. He's trying to be civil, and Solomon apparently can't be bothered to be anything other than his usual snide, spiteful self. Why had he expected anything else?

"Guess I'd better steer clear of trouble when we don't have a common enemy, then." He tries to make it a joke, but he's worried it comes out a little more biting than he intended. Moving on. "But thanks anyway. Being at war's not a guarantee that people will do what they're supposed to. It's good to know you have people you can really count on."

People who he thought were on his side have turned on him at critical moments before. Tony's learned the hard way that having a "common enemy" doesn't mean that someone won't betray you. He knows he can always count on Pepper and Rhodey, of course, but they're not here, and he's not used to having to rely on people he doesn't even like. Solomon may feel differently, but to Tony, the necromancer's actions were noteworthy enough to merit gratitude.

Why was Stark here? Was it truly just an apology? Far from feeling grateful or flattered, Solomon found himself growing more irritated the more Stark fumbled. As if Solomon had gone out of his way to do him a favour, or even wanted Stark's gratitude.

"Then they're idiots who lack an ability to prioritise," he said irritably, pulling on his other shoe. "I don't need your gratitude, Stark. I was fighting Malicant because he was a threat and he needed to be defeated, not because I felt the urge to be a hero and certainly not because I wanted your thanks."

Tony rolls his eyes, and, unexpectedly, almost laughs. Solomon's crankiness is getting to the point where it's practically self-parodying. Tony wonders if it ever gets tiring, going through life always acting as if someone pissed in your cereal that morning.

"And here I thought you'd be sitting here in your room, pining after my approval. Wow, Solomon, I'm so hurt. Anyway, I am thanking you, even if you don't 'need' it. It's almost like gratitude is a spontaneous human emotion. Weird, right? You might want to try those out, you know, now that you're dating Raine. I think she'd appreciate it. Or is your evil twin the one who got the part of your brain that makes the happy feelings?"

There's no spite in his words; really, he's just yanking Solomon's chain to try to get the guy to lighten the hell up. The whole 'feelings are uncool and my only emotions are cynicism and snark' thing is only cute for so long. Seriously, would it kill you to crack a smile once in a while, Solomon? ~~Smirks don't count.~~

"Are you done?" Solomon demanded, rising finally from the chair and turning a frown on Stark. "Gratitude isn't terribly gracious when accompanied with mocking, and to assume you're familiar with how and why I choose to express myself is arrogant at best. Prattling on about nothing isn't a sign of intelligence, Stark."

Especially when it was such a habit that Stark actually let the enemy prattle on about nothing. Solomon would have liked to say it was inexperience, and in a way perhaps it was; but a different sort of inexperience than simply being able to blow things up quickly enough to prevent catastrophe. Whatever Malicant had said that was the truth, Stark had given him power by letting him talk, and that more than anything was a sign Stark didn't know much about strategy.

In a way maybe that explained why the teen was there. He thought words mattered more than they did.

"And being grumpy about everything isn't a sign of being worldly and sophisticated or whatever. It's just a sign that you're no fun to be around." Tony puts his hands in his pockets and shakes his head. "Man. Do you ever lighten up? You actually have a good reason to be in a good mood, for once - if you can't manage it now, I give up."

You think a guy would be happy to be in a relationship with someone who can put up with the fact that he's, oh, sometimes a crazy murderer. But apparently not even that can add a little shine of silver to Solomon's personal raincloud.

Tony shrugs and turns to leave. "Sorry for wasting your time."

Solomon frowned. That was the second time Stark had made a flippant remark regarding Solomon’s happiness in less than a minute, and while the first was nothing special save it was related to Raine, this one was directly related to time, as if Stark expected them to be connected. “What are you talking about? You’ve known about Raine and I for months. Whatever do you think happened recently that I ought to be dancing for?”

There were any number of things he could be happy about. There were any number of things he was currently unhappy about. None of them were Stark’s business, let alone responsibility, and the fact the teen seemed to believe he had a right to criticise Solomon for it was galling.

Tony turns halfway back around to look at Solomon, and says, "I just figured you'd be happy that Raine decided to stick around even after you pulled your party trick where you turn into a crazy murderer. Whatever. It's not any of my business."

Honestly, he doesn't want to know any more than he'd already overheard. He really doesn't feel the need to be involved in Solomon's manpain and relationship angst. ~~He already has enough of his own to deal with.~~

... Stark had overheard their conversation. It had been spectacularly bad place to have that conversation, and in retrospect it should had been had elsewhere. But to bring it up here and now, so soon after spouting off about gratitude--to presume that Stark had a right to intervene in their private affairs simply because he happened to be in the right place at the right time--he claimed it wasn't any of his business, but by raising the issue at all Stark implied responsibility.

Solomon had gone very still and his expression slid smoothly into an impassivity. Not the sort that was a mask; the sort belonging to a man who could kill and not regret it. The sort belonging to a man who could very easily set his emotions aside and do what had to be done.

It was a pity he couldn't simply kill the idiot, but it was too impractical; Solomon would have to find a non-magical means and Stark would only come back. The Foreigner community was too small to expect to get away with it. (And Raine would be disappointed in him, besides.)

"You are a foolish little boy," Solomon said quietly, "who doesn't understand the merit of keeping one's mouth shut. No wonder Malicant got to you so easily. You are nothing but talk. Do you understand, little boy, that perhaps I simply don't care about you? You're either a minor amusement or a minor inconvenience. Your gratitude is meaningless. Your assumptions are asinine. The sheer magnitude of your idiocy would be amusing were you not currently throwing it in my way."

Tony is visibly unimpressed by Solomon's little tirade. His eyes narrow and his jaw tightens when Solomon mentions Malicant - that definitely got his hackles up - but he doesn't rise to the bait. ~~Yet.~~

"Yeah, cool, okay," he tosses off dismissively. "Thanks for the horoscope reading. Here's one for you: if I were you, I'd spend a lot less time worrying about being dangerous, and a lot more time worrying about being a snobby, bitter jerk. Raine knows what she's doing, and she can take care of herself." (Even if she does have terrible, terrible taste.) "Angsting about what happened in the Dreaming is making you more annoying than usual, and I'm betting it doesn't make for sexy pillow talk."

He turns away again and starts for the door. "But hey, what do I know? I'm just an idiot who talks too much." And it has nothing to do with the fact that you're totally not as subtle as you think, Solomon. Noooo, not at all.

Is that what Stark thought Solomon had been doing all this time? Sulking? And he dared to imply that Solomon would, in any way, demean Raine's ability to handle herself? Not to mention assumed that Solomon was so conflicted.

And then he turned to leave like that, as if he was right and knew it, when he was completely, unequovocably, wrong. It was so ridiculously arrogant, so self-righteous and smug, that Solomon laughed, and it came out genuine--genuine, and amused, and derisive.

"You are an idiot who talks too much," Solomon said with a shake of his head. "The fact that you assume I've been angsting at all only tells me how little your opinion is worth. I'm not the one who demeans Raine's choice, Stark. I'm not the one constantly passing judgement on how and with whom she spends her time. I'm not a self-righteous fool who turns his guilt into some ridiculous badge of honour. I know what I am and what I do, and I, at least, am willing to accept my darkness. But you?"

Solomon snorted and turned away. "You're just a little boy pretending he's better than he is, and denying the rest."

Oh, well, excuse me - here I was thinking you needed a reason to be a jerk. That was stupid.

[Just keep walking. Don't let him get to you. Walk away, urges the voice of reason that he's been (very slowly) cultivating.

But he's so irritated, and so frustrated, and Solomon is just so fucking snide and condescending and full of himself—]

It's not Raine I'm judging, it's you, [Tony snaps. His hand's on the doornob but he's looking at Solomon again, glaring, his shoulders tight and his fist clenched.] If she wants to spend her time with an asshole like you, that's cool, I guess. That's her business. Doesn't make you any less of an asshole.

[He barks out a humorless laugh.] But I guess you've "accepted your darkness" or whatever, and that makes it okay to kill people and be a dick. Glad that's working out so well for you. Personally, I'll take "pretending to be better," so long as it means I don't end up anything like you.

"You are stupid, I'm glad you recognise it," Solomon agreed sanguinely, going to the bureau to collect his used mug. He turned toward Tony, and though his expression was cool, his eyes glinted more with amusement than anything else. It was a dark, cutting sort of amusement, though, almost a cruel-edged one that would have been exasperation if he and Stark had known and liked each other any better.

"Maybe you won't end up like me," he pointed out, "but since you don't have any idea of the difference between pretence and truth, you're certainly well on your way to becoming the man Malicant showed you. Congratulations."

"No," Tony hisses. But the accusation cuts deep. He hates that Solomon was there for his fight with Malicant. He hates that Solomon has somehow managed to crawl into his life and like this; always catching him at his most vulnerable, always weaseling his way into Tony's biggest fears and regrets and using them to humiliate him.

"I'll never be like him. You don't know anything about me. You just like to think you do. You think think being old and bitter and cynical means you know everything, but you know what? You're just as full of shit as Malicant was."

"Ah, the words of denial," Solomon said with a sigh. "You're the one who let Malicant talk. Enemies like him aren't dangerous because they lie, Stark; they're dangerous because they use the truth." He shrugged. "But, since you're so secure in your self-righteousness, go ahead and ignore me. I'm sure the people you inevitably hurt while clinging to your denial will forgive you."

A dozen retorts jump to Tony's mind. He chokes back all of them - barely. Because you know what, Solomon? Good fucking point. He let Malicant talk, and now he's letting Solomon talk, and really, there's no reason he should have put up with either of their hot air. Malicant took a few little snippets of truth and distorted them into a horrible lie, and Solomon seems pretty proficient at doing exactly the same thing.

Tony stares at Solomon for a full three seconds, cheeks flushed with anger. Then he snaps, "You're right. I don't have to listen to anything you say," yanks the door open, and stomps out. And slams the door behind him.

Edited 2015-03-15 06:57 (UTC)

"Finally, some peace," Solomon muttered. Whether Stark actually paid any attention to Solomon or not remained to be seen, since, like all teens, he was intent on only listening to the parts he wanted and rejecting anything he didn't like.

Solomon put down his cup and headed for the shower. At least he was bloody well gone.

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The Midnight Hotel January catch-all

closed to Solomon

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~FLOUNCE~

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