[Midnight Hotel] April catch-all

[gistful]

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

The last month has seen some new faces, including a young man by the name of Yuri who’s taking over the Hotel’s breakfasts. Thanks to a suggestion by Skulduggery Pleasant, there is now a sheet on the desk for newcomers to write their names and languages—an informal Foreigner census sheet, as it were.

There is also a new feature in the lobby—a birdhouse with a peppermint-fragranced candle on the porch and an owl tucked inside to project the nest. It’s hung from the balcony over the desk, and in fact its presence there has dissolved some tensions among the kedan which had not been readily apparent until they were gone. If anyone asks, the kedan will freely explain that a house-guardian traditionally protects a homestead against nightmares, bad luck and ill-will. Fighting under the eye of a house-guardian is Very Bad Luck, even if fighting in the Hotel wasn’t bad luck already.

The garage is also newly opened, shiny and bright and still smelling of steel and brick from the construction. The Bentley has claimed her rightful place inside it, but be careful about touching her; her owner is possessive. There is a sign-up sheet at the front desk for the four fee-based work-spaces now available there. They’re medium-sized and in cubicles against the wall, with some space underneath for storage and power outlets. Chairs are bring-your-own. There are also storage spaces on the other wall, for those who’d like to lock their things away somewhere more private.

In general, however, the Hotel is running quite smoothly and more and more the kedan are relaxed about being there. Those who are regulars are less likely to call it ‘the Foreigner’s hotel’ and more likely to call it by its name, in passive recognition of its place in the city at large rather than as a representative of the outsiders.

[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 OR A JOB. Anton will manufacture means of payment until Foreigners are able to properly offer recompense or choose to move out.

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[wolfstrike]

The patrons of the hotel will start seeing a certain face every morning, possibly from now on, in the kitchen for breakfast. He doesn't exactly look like a cook, since you know, he's always wearing black and has a weird looking sword sitting nearby as he cooks. Plus one might notice that his movements are a bit stiff, as he's still recovering from the stab wound that he arrived with. But he's not letting that slow him down. Or at least not willingly.

Those coming in for breakfast will find an assortment of foods to choose from:
Crepes, Fruit Parfaits, Rice Balls, Omelette Rice, Miso Soup, Fish with Miso Sauce, Scottish Eggs, Croquettes, and sometimes maybe even a Cake. Generally this list isn't available every morning, just a few from it. Unless someone makes a request. But if there's nothing to your liking, he will take any recipes and do the best he can with it.

By the way, the croquettes are to die for. And were made with love. <3

[phoenixstrut]

Though she's not big on eating a lot of food, Dove can't resist the smells coming from the kitchen of the hotel in the mornings, and like a moth to flame, she'll be one of the first to venture in a few days after her arrival, her wings away for now. She pauses in the door way upon recognizing the man cooking, but shakes it off. Their first encounter was...awkward at best, but she's determined to get past that. He seemed nice, anyway, and this looks like a comfortable opportunity.

So, moving to an empty counter, she casually crosses her arms and leans forward on her elbows to watch him cook, eyeing one of the fruit parfaits he's put together. "So you're to blame for the smell in the lobby, hm?" she greets, lifting her eyes to watch him again.

She's quick to note the way he's moving, and her eyes travel over him to search for the cause, but she won't point it out just yet.

[wolfstrike]

Yuri looked up from what he was doing as Dove strode in and took a seat, a little smirk on his face as he turned over a croquette in a frying pan.

"Hey it's better than Anton's prepackaged meals."

Sorry Anton, but fresh cooking is always better.

[phoenixstrut]

"I would agree, but I haven't eaten any of them," she smiles. "Or any of your cooking. So really, I've no comparison."

Still watching him, she tilted her head again at his stance. "How have you been? Any more Angels waking up in your bed?"

[wolfstrike]

"That's a pretty personal question, but nope. You're the only one."

And with that he placed a croquette on a plate and offered it to her.

[strokeofgenis]

Genis, for what it's worth, generally likes to make his own food. But sometimes, there's something nice about being served. And today, he's got plenty of time. He rose with the sun, and he's got a few hours before his shift at the restaurant starts. So why not have a decent breakfast? And even better is the chance to learn from someone else who's doing the cooking?

And so naturally he's going to pick something that he's never made himself before: croquettes made with love. After all, how good they are does seem to what people are gushing about in the room. So yes, one order of croquettes, if you please, and make it snappy.

Hi, Yuri, have a bratty genius mage.

[wolfstrike]

One can probably guess why Genis likes to make his own meals, but for now, Yuri is ignorant of this fact.

So with one order of croquettes, Yuri places down a plate with two of them on it and slides it over to Genis.

As if one bratty genius mage in his life wasn't enough.

[strokeofgenis]

Of course, the first thing that's going to hit Genis is the smell. The aroma of these things are to die for. He can smell that onion, the fried potato, and the meat just permeate the air. He's practically salivating already.

He looks up to Yuri with almost a mesmerised look. "Are these yours? They smell fantastic!"

[wolfstrike]

"They're yours now, but yeah, I made them."

Genis' reaction was not all that different from Karol's when he first tried Yuri's croquettes. Though he didn't think they were all that special himself.

Gene | Midnight Hotel Lobby | CW: Feels

[redlightgreenlight]

She stood outside the door to Gene and Tony's room, hesitant to knock. He had no reason to speak with her, no reason to forgive her for what she had done, but she hoped that he would at least give her a chance. Taking a deep breath, she could tell that Gene was alone and raised her hand to knock.

"Gene?" she asked tentatively, "I'd like to speak to you. I'll understand if you don't wish to talk, but I'll be downstairs in the lobby should you decide to hear me out."

She sighed, shook her head and then turned to head back downstairs.

[wrathfulkhan]

Gene froze when he heard Valdis's voice. He knew, intellectually, that he would not be harmed within the walls of the Midnight Hotel, not unless Valdis wished to incur Anton's wrath and banishment from the premises, but his heart started beating faster and he tensed up regardless.

Before he could answer - before he decided if he even wanted to answer - she moved away, and it took a long minute before he was able to convince himself that it was okay to breathe again.

Within a quarter of an hour, he'd made his way downstairs to the lobby, loitering at more than lunging distance away in case it turned out to be a trap. He didn't say a word, waiting for her to speak first.

[redlightgreenlight]

She was honestly surprised when he decided to show up and she didn't blame him for keeping his distance, but she really didn't feel like shouting across the hotel lobby for all to hear.

"I know that words aren't enough," she began, "But I'm sorry for what happened."

She gestured to two chairs, "I know you have no reason to trust me, but you can at least trust that Anton will protect you, so please, hear me out."

[wrathfulkhan]

That seemed fair enough. He grunted in reply and took the offered seat, settling into it with his body angled as far away from her as possible. Anton and the Hotel's magic would protect him. He hoped. If not, well...she had better finish him off this time, for real.

[redlightgreenlight]

She could feel his distrust, his fear and she couldn't blame him for it and he owed him an explanation.

"Anton told me what happened," she admitted, "I don't actually remember it, because at the time..." she paused, trying not to let the painful memories resurface, "My soul was being torn apart by the darkness that gives me my power."

Mid-April | Anton and Krei | Commons

[skeletonenigma]

Anton had a tablet.

That wasn't, by itself, anything noteworthy. Anton hadn't taken to computers, but largely because his Hotel was self-sufficient and magical enough not to need them. It was always possible he'd started carrying around a tablet to serve as some kind of personal organiser, but there were two noteworthy things about the tablet which made the function of a personal organiser seem laughably small. The first was that tablets didn't exist in Keeliai. The second was that the tablet was holographic.

Skulduggery had been passing through the commons on his way to the garage when he noticed Anton using it, and, after three or four times of walking by without a word, finally decided to ask. He could use the distraction of a conversation.

"What'll be next?" he asked as he came up. "Purchasing surrounding real estate?"

[gistful]

In truth Anton didn't particularly feel the need for a tablet, and hadn't even when Krei had offered it; but it was still a worthwhile investment, whether Anton kept it or sold it, either to Stark Industries or back to Krei directly. Still, he felt obliged to at least make the effort in testing its use, and was therefore taking lunch in the commons and--not for the first time--familiarising himself with the tablet's processes.

"I dare say some kedan would argue I've rather seized some of that already," he said without looking away from the holographic dash, his brow furrowed. He'd had the calendar just before. It was an Earth calendar, though, and he'd been trying to update it. Where had it gone?

"It was an investment on the part of one of my patrons," he added, and touched a holographic command which did not, in any way, take him back to the calendar.

I'm not proud of it but it had to be done

[kreitech]

Speaking of that patron, he happens to be passing by right around this time with a latte in one hand (which is pretty much his default state; if the magic coffee beans ever run out he's going to be more than a little distraught) and a yogurt parfait in the other. He's still a bit sketchy on most of the food in Keeliai but it's hard to go wrong with coffee and yogurt. There's even a spring in his step today--he's got a job and the promise of a steady source of income, meaning he'll be able to pay for his room in the Hotel.

At the sight of Skulduggery his step falters just a little, though he does his best not to let it show on his face. The man--skeleton--man?--is pleasant enough, but unnerving.

But there's Anton, and it looks like he's actually getting some use out of the tablet Krei had used to pay for his room initially. He doesn't really have a free hand right now, so he lifts his coffee cup in a gesture of greeting.

"Gentlemen."

[skeletonenigma]

"Nobody was using the space," Skulduggery pointed out. "In fact, I don't think anyone knew the space was there."

If Anton said he was talking about accidentally edging out local tavern or hotel competition, Skulduggery was going to have to assume his old friend had fallen completely off whatever wagon men like him usually rode. Real estate, indeed. Next thing he knew, Anton would be running a hotel chain across the city.

"Which patron?" he asked just as Alistair Krei joined them, coffee and yogurt in hand. Krei had been carrying coffee the last time Skulduggery saw him, too. A mild addiction, a habit, or a perceived necessity? Or all three of them - sometimes it was difficult to tell them apart. Skulduggery gave the man a silent nod of greeting as he approached.

CLOSED TO HIRO

[pushtheboundaries]

((set the day after this thread))



[so he may have panicked a bit, but he's calm(er) now, and he desperately needs to know for certain how bad the fallout is. and without a much better way to start, he's started at the Hotel- if nothing else, he should be able to find something here.

with the information he's been given, he follows the numbers on the doors until he arrives-and after a breath, knocks twice in quick succession.

he needs to know. he'd dropped Hiro off here the night before- or, as close to such as he could risk, watching until he was certain he'd be fine. and now...

well, now here he is, waiting for the door to open and for it all, quite possibly, to come crashing down]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro's still not sure if he had a really lucid nightmare or if last night really happened.

Everything's still mostly as it should be; he woke up in the garage and then hauled himself off to bed still in his clothes, only if it was a dream he doesn't know when he fell asleep and that's the weird part. Bits of him hurt. His throat feels raw and there's a ring of soreness around his neck he can't otherwise explain.

Microbots. A mask. He's pretty sure it happened, but he only has his own memory to rely on and who knows, in this place?

None of it makes any sense.

A knock at the door signals he's slept longer than he should have, though, so he groggily crawls out of bed and goes to the door, assuming it's Tadashi come to get him up. He opens the door. It's not Tadashi.]

P-Professor!

[He doesn't quite manage to contain his shock, tripping over words in the process. Okay, so he knew the guy was here, because Krei and Tadashi both said so, but it still doesn't prepare him for the man showing up at his door. He's never going to get used to unexpected visitors - especially not the ones that should be dead.

He also wouldn't dare assume Robert Callaghan would be here to see him.]

Sorry, I didn't know you were...did you come looking for Tadashi? Because he's...not here right now...um. He might be at the desk. Or in the laundry room?

[pushtheboundaries]

[it is most certainly not Tadashi. it is a Professor with a thin but warm smile, tilting his head as he looks down at Hiro, all while his mind races furiously.

there's no sign of fear, or hostility, or wariness. only the slightly star-struck young man he met what seems like a lifetime ago, and offered a quiet challenge to- if you like things easy, then my program isn't for you.

he has no program here. and things are anything but easy. but right now...

right now, in this moment, he may have gotten a lucky break.]

Actually, Hiro, I came to see you. I hadn't realized you were in Keeliai until yesterday. [he pauses briefly, then continues-] May I come in?

[bigdamnhiro]

[Oh.

And again, he's frozen in place, stuttering out a barely coherent Uh, y-yeah, sure and practically tripping over himself to step back out of the way and open the door to let Callaghan in. He still doesn't know why the Professor would come see him; Krei showing up to complain about the noise had made more sense.]

Sorry about the mess. [He fidgets uncomfortably. By virtue of just not having the resources, it's only really the desk in the corner that's strewn with what parts he's managed to collect - including one microbot, half torn apart with wires protruding from one open end where he was examining it briefly last night - but still.] I...Tadashi told me you were here, I guess I just hadn't really thought to visit or anything.

[Hadn't seen any reason why Callaghan would want a visit. Hadn't wanted to, anyway, not with the guilt of a trashed acceptance letter hanging in the back of his mind.]

4/15 Mostly for Alayne, open to anyone who sees him enter or leave.

[walkthedarkpath]

Vergil had finally taken a break from working and made his way to the midnight Hotel in search of Alayne. With Nelo's memories he knew her to be a seamstress and he was rather tired of not getting to dress as flashy as he liked, thus why he had some of the money he had set aside with him. Making his way into the midnight hotel he looked around at first.

He didn't remember, or even know if he truely knew her room number so he started by looking around the common rooms. Logic would have said call her via the communication boxes, but he felt it was simply easier to look around manually. He walked with an air of confidence, feel much more like his old self than he had in the months passed.

[stonebird]

She could be found in one of those common rooms, reading quietly in a corner. Looking up at him as he walked in, she marked her place in her book and rose politely. No matter how long she spent in Tu Shanshu, her courtesies never left her, though she was notably less tense than she had been. Littlefinger and the life she had left behind in Westeros seemed like a nightmare. This was her life now and she was happy to busy herself with it.

"Are you searching for someone?"

[walkthedarkpath]

When she moved and spoke it did caught his attention, just the lady he had been looking for. Luck worked out for once. He fully made his way into the room now. His hair was swept back like Nelo used to do, but his eyes no longer glowed red, but were a icey shade of blue. He stood with much more pride, the uncertainty the other personality had had was washed away.

"Actually yes," he spoke in a tone almost nasally but deep. "I was looking for you Lady Alayne." He offered as he made his way over offering a slight nod of his head in greeting as his hands went behind his back. "It has been some time, first, are you doing well?"