The Midnight Hotel January catch-all

[gistful]

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.]

Comments

[highprofilerichkid]

[YEAH, A LOT IS WRONG, AYA. But he'd been bracing for a much more direct question about his visit to SI, so that really throws him for a loop.]

Oh. Uh. I... thought you were going to ask about Zanru.

[Well if she wasn't before, she sure is now, you fucking walnut.]

[looksfine]

[It had been on her list of conversation topics to address, yes, though...now that it had been brought to the forefront of her mind...]

[Yup. Good job, Tony. You deserve every word of what's to come.]

Should I ask about Zanru?

And...what precisely should I be asking about?

[highprofilerichkid]

This is not going as planned or expected. If he backpedals quickly enough, can he still escape this conversation?

"Uh, no. Nothing. Forget it. Sorry. Did you, um, was there something else you wanted to talk about?"

[looksfine]

[No.]

[Aya actually blinked twice in the span of his brief, rambling answer. A fear that was telling in and of itself, as she did not require the re-moisturization of her eyes and, as such, the action was pure mimicry in the face of a disbelieving scenario.]

I possess an eidetic memory, Tony Stark. I do not forget.

the longer I spend RPing the worse I get about format/tense switching wtf is wrong with me

[highprofilerichkid]

It's... a figure of speech.

[A figure of speech that means "please pretend to forget it, because I would rather eat a box of nails than talk about it."]

don't worry about it

[looksfine]

[If she did not recognize that it was a figure of speech, why would he expect her to catch the very subtle underlying intention behind it?]

[Tony, you give her far too much credit.]

Meaning...what, precisely?

It sounded quite literal to me.

[highprofilerichkid]

[Tony lets out a resigned sigh.] Meaning everyone I know has already gotten on my case about Zanru. I don't need another lecture. I get the picture. It was stupid, and irresponsible, and I need to apologize, and we have to be friends with the kedan even when they treat us like shit because otherwise they'll probably let us starve to death or kill us in our sleep. I know, I know.

[He leans up against the wall and crosses his arms, looking thoroughly disgruntled. But not rebellious, at least. He's accepted that his actions were rash, he's just still bitter about it.]

[looksfine]

[At the mentioning of Zanru, Aya's eyes noticeably hardened. She had yet to master the art of a poker face, and as such, the entire range of emotions she felt towards the kedan woman would be very apparent to Tony in that moment.]

What precisely did you say to her?

[highprofilerichkid]

[Tony sees Aya's expression darken, but he doesn't realize that her displeasure is aimed at Zanru, not him (...for the moment). He looks down and his shoulders slump.]

The kedan took everything we built and earned while we were trapped in the Dreaming trying to save them. Zanru thinks the kedan don't owe us anything for killing Malicant - not even giving back the stuff they stole from us while we were gone. [He shrugs, glances up at Aya, and looks away again.] I told her what I thought about that.

[looksfine]

[It was...not unlike how her conversation with Zanru had gone, actually. Though Aya had attempted to resort to logic. Stating the facts as they were, while making an effort to point out the kedan woman's own obvious bias.]

[Her attempts had not gone well. She assumed Tony's had gone worse.]

She is a very bitter individual. There was very little I could say that would have changed her mind, particularly regarding the reasons why we were taken from this city after being involuntarily brought here in the first place.

[highprofilerichkid]

[...Okay, Aya almost sounds like she's agreeing with him, there. Unexpected success? Tony perks up a little.]

Well, it's not just me, then. That's good to hear. I thought she might just have it out for me because my name's still on the building and that makes things awkward for her. [Tony laughs humorlessly.]

And because she knows she can't push me around like she can some of the other foreigner employees. If I decide to go take my stuff back, she knows she can't stop me. I bet that really ticks her off.

[Not like that gives him any spiteful satisfaction or anything.]

[looksfine]

[She was agreeing with him. To a point.]

[Ever since the moment she had awoken, Aya had a rather independent view of authority figures. Should one prove themselves worthy of being followed--such as Kyle and Hal and, to a point, even Tony--then she would listen and obey. Most of the time. Unless the orders made less sense to her than her own ideas of how the plan should be executed. However, if one attempted to lay claim over her commands and role...well...]

[She would have defied the Guardians themselves, her very creators, if they had treated her in a manner similar to Zanru.]

...are you planning to reclaim what you consider to be your property?

[On the other hand, there was a noticeable hesitation in her voice. She might have agreed on Tony's views, but potentially not his methods.]

[highprofilerichkid]

...No, [Tony concedes, a bit sullenly.] Not like that. It's a bad idea, I know. [Under his breath:] Even if she deserves it.

[He frowns and scrubs his fingers through his hair.] It's just... so unfair. And stupid. I could be getting ten times more out of that stuff than they are. They probably don't even know how to use half of it. But Zanru's obsessed with the kedan being "independent." It's like she thinks it's our fault that Eshai messed with their heads and had to call in reinforcements to save them. It doesn't matter that we just did our job - now that we're back, suddenly we're the bad guys.

[looksfine]

[She heard that mutter, Tony.]

Objectively speaking, Zanru has done little more than assume a vacated position--however temporarily so--and utilized the resources that we--again, however temporarily so--left behind when we left for battle. [However, before it sounded too much like Aya was defending the woman, she added a more subjective:] ...even if her attitude regarding the circumstances leaves much to be desired.

[The word 'bitch' wasn't quite ingrained in her vocabulary, but if it had been, she might have been inclined to use it.]

I have encountered females with similar dispositions before.

[highprofilerichkid]

It's still stealing, [Tony grumbles. Adverse possession doesn't kick in for at least five years, depending on jurisdiction! Everybody knows that.]

And even if they did need that stuff while we were gone, she doesn't have to be such a bitch about it. [Allow Tony to help you expand your vocabulary, Aya.]

How did you convince her to to give you your job back? [Teach him your secrets, Sifu. The secret is not being an asshole.]

[looksfine]

[Aya didn't. She knew a lot of things, but those limitations were not a part of her current database files.]

I simply listed my numerous credentials and the objective reasons why my presence at the company would be a far greater mutual asset than any such grudges she holds against us could argue otherwise.

[highprofilerichkid]

You actually got her to see reason? [Tony snorts incredulously.]

The way she was acting, I wouldn't have thought she'd give a foreigner the time of day unless they crawled up to her on their hands and knees and kissed her feet.

What do I have to do to get her to deal?

[looksfine]

It was ultimately difficult for her to argue with pure, calculated logic.

Though I was quick to point out the obvious flaws in her statements, not once did I resort to an overly emotional outburst. The outcome would have not been in my favor had a succumbed.

[In other words, don't be a dick, Tony.]

[highprofilerichkid]

[Tony sighs again, and mutters, ] I guess I proved that, didn't I? And now I have to figure out how to apologize to her.

[He doesn't offer any further comment on how he feels about that prospect, but the face he's making very eloquently speaks for itself.]

Do you think you could... put in a good word for me with her? [Tony asks hopefully.

No, Tony, you are not allowed to outsource your apology.]

[looksfine]

[She gave him a moment of silence in response. Not to process the question. To process the precise phrasing of her response.]

I am not certain I possess enough good words to say to her.

[It was meant as a reflection of Zanru, not Tony. She had many good words to say to him.]

Why can you not simply amend your previous statements yourself?

[highprofilerichkid]

[Tony wilts further, until he realizes that Aya probably intends that to be an insult to Zanru, not him. He attempts a chuckle, which overs quickly trails off again as soon as Aya makes her suggestion.

He rubs his forehead.] I know, but... I don't know what to say. I don't know if she'll even see me again.

[looksfine]

If she does not agree to meet with you in person, then perhaps you should make your apologies via pre-recorded message?

[Or a letter.]

[highprofilerichkid]

Yeah, that's probably the best way to do it.

[He sounds extremely unenthusiastic about the prospect.]

I guess I could write a letter, or something. [That'll be the safest bet. Then he won't have to worry about his tone of voice sounding insincere.

That doesn't make him any more eager to do it, though.] I've never had to write an apology letter before.

[Even if there were plenty of times when he probably should have.]

[looksfine]

[She nodded.]

Neither have I.

Although this is, perhaps, for the best, as I do not believe there are any individuals currently residing in Keelai who are capable of reading Oan.

[highprofilerichkid]

[Knowing Aya, she probably hadn't meant that as a joke, but it's funny anyway, and Tony chuckles and smiles.]

I guess that means you don't have any advice on what I should say, huh? [he asks, with wry resignation.]