[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.

Comments

[pushtheboundaries]

He can help you find whom you need. When I was still getting settled, myself, he had me work on some of the refrigerators and on the incinerator; I still trade labor from time to time.

[in other words, Hiro, he's an adult you should consider trusting. Callaghan has the feeling that can be hard for you, but he doesn't say as much specifically.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Well when you're fourteen years old and think you know enough to be independent...also when one of said adults choked the shit out of you last night and you're worried and confused and don't know what to do. Not sure how or why you're still alive and unharmed after. It's complicated.]

I already know how to find the healer, I think. And I can figure out other stuff. But I don't wanna bum off the hotel forever...Tadashi's stuck scrubbing toilets to pay for the room and it's kinda not fair for him.

[A beat.]

Is that all you do? I figured somebody like you would've, I dunno, landed a job at Stark Industries or something as soon as you got here.

[pushtheboundaries]

[that was an awful masked man and you should stay away from them. clearly. though- he does grimace at the thought of Tadashi on cleaning duty. all that talent, put to waste...]

I'm not sure I'd get along with the management, from my impression of her. I visit Tony himself there, but mostly I work for myself, helping the kedan with small upgrades and improvements to what they've already in place. I was actually planning a supply run later in the day, in one of the markets.

[bigdamnhiro]

[Well, it's not glamorous, but it's not toilet scrubbing, either. He's almost jealous. Hiro chances a sidelong look at his own meager tool selection, scattered on the desk, shoulders dropping just barely. Now that the garage is pretty much finished, it's not like he can borrow Anton's tools anymore.

And he already lost one of those last night, anyway. Whoops.]

Yeah? [He doesn't quite manage to not look pathetic.] Where d'you even find tech stuff around here? I looked around the markets and it's all just...vegetables and knicknacks, or overpriced junk.

[pushtheboundaries]

Well, it just depends on where you look.

[there's a pause in which he considers Hiro, and considers, and...]

I could show you some of my sources, if you'd like.

[bigdamnhiro]

[You may as well have just struck him with a bolt of lightning, dude. There's like this half a second where he looks uncertain, like he's not sure he just heard correctly, and then his face splits into a grin and he jolts up straigh, balling his fists in excitement.]

Yes?!

[...Wait no. Be cool, Hiro. He stiffens, collecting his composure again, rubbing the back of his neck; awkward.]

I mean, if it's okay, yeah?

[pushtheboundaries]

[that's a far more pleasant look than the other ones he's seen so far; Robert can't help but smile, himself, and nod slightly.]

I wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it. If you're busy I can find you later, but if you've got some time, now...

[bigdamnhiro]

[The speed at which Hiro zooms to find his shoes and jacket (before Robert's even finished the sentence, no less) would probably be answer enough, but then he's back at the door, stat, ready to go.]

I'm not doing anything - [...Okay, well, when you put it that way, it sounds pretty lame. But for real. He doesn't have anything to do and if he doesn't find something he'll get bored.] - I mean, I'm not busy right now. I can go.

[pushtheboundaries]

[okay, that's a bit more of a smile. Robert rolls his shoulders, briefly, then moves for the door himself] Field trip it is. Stay close to me, though, all right? Some of the kedan there can be a bit cranky.

[bigdamnhiro]

[Any other time, and Hiro would probably shrug, crack a joke, and not take a statement like that too seriously, but what happened last night scared him. Kedan, foreigner - whoever they were, cranky is an understatement.

So he hurries after Robert, hunched shoulders and hands in his pockets, compensating two steps for his every one to stick as close as possible without being awkward - subtle, but the evidence he's more than a little jarred by what happened is there. Maybe it's best to trust somebody a little bigger than him, who's been here a little longer.

(His trust is misplaced, but he doesn't know that).]

Right...where are we going, exactly?

[pushtheboundaries]

There's a market area near Metal Sector that most people don't know about. [he walks briskly, but with no intention of leaving Hiro behind.] You can get things you won't find at the common places, but it's a bit...

[pause. how to phrase...]

...well. You were a botfighter.

[bigdamnhiro]

[Were, past tense, and Hiro's struck guilty recalling he was just about to go back to sinking all his time into that hobby before he ended up here. It occurs to him to wonder how much Callaghan knows - if he's lived through the expo yet and remembers giving Hiro his letter. If he knows he's dead. Or if, somehow, he came from a point before that, the way Tadashi did.

The laugh he lets out isn't all that convincing, and he looks the other way as they pass out of the lobby to conceal a grimace.]

I get it. Don't worry, Professor, I'll watch your back. [A beat. He wouldn't dare ask outright, but...] I, uh - so. How long have you been here?

[pushtheboundaries]

[...interesting. once again, Callaghan begins wondering about timelines...] Oh, a few months at this point. I've got the feeling it doesn't seem like any time at all, by your perception. And, [he adds with a thin smile] make sure you stay where I can see yours?

[his back, that is]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro hunches his shoulders, sheepish, nodding to confirm; he's not running off or anything. He doesn't even know where he's going, so he's relying on Callaghan for directions.

He has to think, for a second, about how long it's been. Funny thing about losing your brother - everything starts to blur together and suddenly it's been weeks since the funeral and the school's calling for the third or fourth time and you don't know how how all of it just slipped away from you, because it still only feels like a few days ago. By Hiro's perception, Callaghan wouldn't be wrong.]

...Actually, it's kinda been a while since the last time I saw you. [And here, he picks his words carefully, because he's fishing for information but he doesn't want to accidentally let slip anything about the fire. That'd be a huge buzzkill.] The expo was a while ago - and then I ended up here, and it's been a couple weeks, so.

[pushtheboundaries]

[and in those words, Robert knows everything he needs to know. he chooses his next words carefully as well, a hint of something in his words] The expo was an...interesting night. You sure had an interesting angle, with those 'microbots' of yours. Where were you planning on going with them?

[bigdamnhiro]

[Interesting. What an understatement. Hiro stops in his tracks, sucking in a deep breath, and only after a moment does he hurry to catch up again.]

- Disaster relief, maybe. I hadn't...thought about much, past what I was gonna use in the presentation. [Fidgeting again, picking at his jacket sleeves, eyes on the ground -] Guess it doesn't matter anymore, though. The fire destroyed everything.

[There, he said it. Granted, he now knows there are microbots in Keeliai, but that's a totally different subject. Not one he thinks he should share, right now. He chances a sidelong glance at Callaghan, gauging his reaction.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[there's a slight tightening of his jaw, a slow in his steps...he really doesn't have to fake his reaction. he hasn't faked much, really, only withheld and kept himself in reserve...

so all this is, in fact, is not holding back. yes, he knows about the fire. and he lets out a slow breath, popping the real question;]

Does Tadashi know about it?

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro doesn't expect anything that direct, that quickly. It hits him like a punch in the gut, and he stops dead in the middle of the street, staring straight ahead, balled fists and, for a flashing second, all the grief from the past month or so spelled out on his face. Only for a second, though.

He shouldn't be surprised. He wanted to know, and he got his answer.]

...I didn't tell him. He has no idea. [He swallows hard. Admitting it out loud is...well. He still feels guilty.] - How'd you know about Tadashi? Did you....?

[pushtheboundaries]

[a few more steps and Robert comes to a stop, himself. he doesn't turn to look at Hiro, wondering if that was maybe too direct, if that was perhaps a real slip, in all truth he really should have let Hiro bring it up...

...his mistake.

when he speaks, his voice is quiet, thoughtful, and has a note of finality to it;]

I don't really think I did.

[and he'll try to leave it at that.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[It doesn't really answer his question, but then, he doesn't know what happened in that building in those last few seconds, or if Tadashi ever found the man he was looking for...what he knows is what he felt, and saw, when it went up. Nothing could've made it out of that alive.

Maybe he can take a little solace in the possibility his brother didn't die completely alone.]

...I'm sorry.

[He stands there for a long few seconds, compulsively wringing at the hem of his jacket, before he speaks up again - a note just shy of pleading in his voice.]

Don't tell him? Please? It doesn't do him any good now to know about it.

[pushtheboundaries]

[those two words cause a sharp twist in his chest, because Hiro has no idea what he's saying- what he thinks he's apologizing for. Robert can only shake his head in what may be dismissal, before he then nods]

I wasn't planning to. He's from...just before everything went wrong, unless I'm mistaken.

[a beat]

I'm sorry, too.

[he wants so badly to mean those words. to offer some comfort to Hiro, in what way he can- but while they come out and sound right, they don't feel right


and for a moment he wonders about himself, but can't let himself linger on it. he needs to focus here and now, and that involves tilting his head back towards the route]

Let's move forwards. Sometimes that's all you can do.

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro ducks his head and nods, coaxing stiff legs into moving again, trying to commit that advice to heart because it's from somebody he admires and, as far as he knows, Callaghan's been nothing but kind with him. And he's right. There's no point in thinking about it for too long.

It's fine. He's fine. Here, in this place, Tadashi's alive and okay, so everything should be fine.

Maybe.

He trails after Robert, quiet, less chatty than before; it takes him a little before he pipes up again, this time with a change of subject.]

If this is anything like botfighting, should I assume it's probably a little illegal, or...?

[pushtheboundaries]

[he wishes he could say something else, but the silence endures and he doesn't try to break it. at least, not until Hiro's the one to ask a question; he glances back over his shoulder, then smiles a little]

It's the sort of place I'd rather you not go alone, but as for the illegality? Possibly. But then again, so is whistling on Sundays. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

[bigdamnhiro]

[If something dumb like whistling on Sundays is illegal, this is definitely illegal. There's a pause while Hiro takes that information in, and then ventures a small grin, the mood lightening a tad.]

Cool. [And again, there's another pause, because he's still thinking; and it's not like he's not used to dangerous places and situations, but last night has him thinking. And as he thinks, he picks up in enthusiasm, skipping a step because oh boy he just had a great idea:] In that case, first order of business: build a homemade taser. Just gotta get the parts first.

[Yeah sorry Robert he's totally gonna tase your the masked man's ass if he ever runs into you him again.]

[pushtheboundaries]

['cool'? really, Hiro? Robert snorts a bit at that, but his smile's still present.....up until the mention of the taser]

...why do you need a taser?