tushanshu_logs | [Midnight Hotel] October catch-all

Characters: Anyone, everyone.
Date: Month of October, 2015 (2016 in-game).
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, using the subject header to label specific rooms or for specific people. See also the OOC note at the bottom.
Warnings/Rating: Mark your threads if content warnings become applicable, please!

The Hotel clears out this month – what with the weather cooling down, many of the patrons who had been finding respite from the heat no longer need to do so. Windows are kept open and linens are aired. The result is that the Hotel seems roomier and far less bustling, and it’s an opportunity to relax for the staff. Mostly. Somewhat.

Though there are fewer patrons this month than before, there are a number of gang-kedan holding little workshops for the building of spirit houses or little planterboxes. These are primarily for impoverished kedan who can’t afford their own materials (which are provided), but anyone is willing to help out or ask for advice, and donations are welcome! The most notable thing about these little workshops is that they are, quite frequently, being run by kedan from different or even rivalling gangs, working together.

The spider infestation has tapered off, but there’s some new signs in the kitchen stating that the only free ingredients provided by the Hotel are on two very specific shelves in the cupboard and in one of the fridges. (Not including the food cooked by Yuri, or pre-cooked into packages by Anton.) There’s also a sign asking anyone who sees Klaus and Raine in the kitchen together to please alert the Hotel staff, as this will result in a health hazard.

There’s also a very loud and obvious newcomer to the Hotel – someone some might recognise from the network. Rue is loud, brash and always appears in old-style frock-coat, breeches and heels, all brightly coloured and perfectly representing a period-era dandy. He’s also got a taste for massive wide-brimmed hats and facial rouge, and is mostly obvious due to his English accent and outrageous flirting, and the fact he apparently knows Anton. Fortunately, he doesn't spend a significant amount of time around the Hotel, and frequently goes out on the town to explore (and flirt).

[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, JOB OR AREA IN THE GARAGE, OR ARE MOVING OUT. Anton will manufacture means of payment until Foreigners are able to properly offer recompense or choose to move out.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There were more people checking out than checking in, though given the last couple of months that was something of a relief. Certainly the Hotel had done well in terms of finances in the recent past, even taking into account the temporary hire of some of the kedan Anton knew and trusted most.

He saw Valdis coming and nodded to her, but didn't engage until he had patiently checked out the rest of the kedan waiting to be served. Only then did he put down his pen and motion for one of his helpers to take over, massaging his hand absently as he went to where Valdis waited. "Lady Valdis. How may I help you?

She waited in silence, making sure to stay out of the way of the kedan who were leaving and only moving when Anton began to make his way over to her. He had seemed better over time, and she knew she hadn't been paying as much attention to him as she wished she had been. Worry passed through her eyes as she noted the movement of his hands. She hadn't noticed them trembling like they had after the poisoning, but it was possible that some weakness still remained.

She looked away from his hands when he addressed her, meeting his eyes, and deciding to get right to the point, "I found the person who poisoned you."

Occasionally, yes. Usually in the mornings, after he'd rested; he was more prone to the shakes when there was a lack of activity. Using his hands made them subside more often than not. The numbness was more persistent.

But all that was secondary in his head, and had been for some time. Until now. Although Anton had known Valdis had been searching, he still somehow hadn't expected this. "I see," he said after a moment. "What happened?"

She wasn't reacting with guilt, so he didn't think she'd done anything to them. But she seemed hesitant nevertheless.

"Skulduggery and I spoke to him...he's...mentally challenged," she replied slowly, "Short term memory loss, a stutter. He's essentially the perfect target for manipulation."

She would know a thing or two about that sort of thing, "Even so, it would have had to be someone he either trusted." Like Milyn, except Valdis still had a hard time believing that. "Or someone he feared."

"I see," Anton said again, but softly. They weren't the same symptoms Mor had shown, but still ... Anton wasn't inclined toward harming those who were so unfortunate. And he didn't like people taking advantage of such people. "Is he well, then?"

Anton wasn't too concerned with finding the culprit for his own sake. He had been collateral damage. For Jintou, and for the safety of those manipulated, yes; but not at the expense of the safety of those around them.

"For now," she replied, feeling slightly concerned, "I am worried that whoever used him might do it again and next time he might not be so lucky."

She was also half-hoping that whoever had used the poor guy would try again, and that she could catch them if they did so, but using someone like that as bait felt wrong. Was wrong. She shouldn't do it, but she was quite tempted.

"Hm." Anton gazed toward the door, not really seeing but thinking. "It is possible," he said finally. "A good tool should not be easily discarded. On the other hand, a secret tool, once known, is often less useful. A ruthless master would remove the threat."

Truthfully, it was very likely this 'informant' was already marked for removal ... unless his condition was already the safeguard preventing him from being useful to anyone searching for culprits.

He looked back at Valdis. "Will you be keeping an eye on him?"

"I had hoped that he would forget that Skulduggery and I had even been there," she said, echoing his sentiments, "But Skulduggery gave him a note telling him to come here and ask for us should he be contacted again..."

She had disagreed with that decision, better for Dardul and them if the kedan had forgotten their visit. But if Anton was correct, and Dardul was already marked, or someone else saw them, then he wasn't safe.

"I didn't think there was an immediate danger," she admitted. "And then with the Chihuelans...that's why I didn't tell you sooner...If they are that ruthless and think he's compromised, he might already be dead."

But Milyn would have told her, right?

"It may be worth following up again," said Anton. "If not yourself, then one of the gang-members at the Hotel could know him. If you give me his address I can choose someone who has a reason to be in the area." It would be less noticeable, that way. Some of the gangs did volunteer work in their local sectors.

If Dardul was under suspicion of being compromised, then it might be best if she wasn't spotted anywhere near the area. She hoped he wasn't dead, but she also had to know if he was.

"It might be best if someone else went," she said finally, "I don't want them to think that he's a threat."

She picked up a pen, grabbed a sheet of paper and wrote down the address, before looking back up at him, "Just, let me know what they find..."

"I will," Anton said, taking the sheet and examining the address before crumbling it to put in the fire later. He looked up at Valdis. "If you wish, I can have the person I choose report to you directly."

It was Valdis's quest, after all. Anton appreciated being told, but he had no reason or desire to approach this informant himself.

"Yes," she replied, watching him memorize the address and then crumple the paper. "I would appreciate that."

It would keep Dardul safer if no foreigners were seen interacting with him and she'd rather the information come to her before anyone else.

"Thank you."

"Of course." There were a few people Anton could think of already who may be able to do the task with a minimum of notice. He rose and pressed a gentle hand against her head, stroking her hair. "Thank you, a leanbh. I didn't expect you to pursue this so far."

There were very few left that she truly cared for and she wasn't going to let anyone hurt those who remained. She was nothing if not stubborn. She smiled softly, "Hounds are nothing if not loyal, perhaps to a fault."

"I've noticed." Anton smiled down at her, and ruffled her hair gently--not enough to mess it up to a point where it would be unfixable. "Just be careful not to forget yourself." He dropped his hand. "Is there anything else you require?"

She nodded, "I won't and no, nothing else."

She could care for herself and others just fine, it was simply that she was more used to caring for herself over others that made it difficult to do both at once.

"Take care," she said as she turned to leave."

[Midnight Hotel] October catch-all

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