[Midnight Hotel] June catch-all

[gistful]

Characters: Anyone, everyone.
Date: Month of JUNE, 2016 (2017 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!

After Rey and Kylo’s fight, and subsequent ejection from the Hotel, the Hotel is undergoing some repairs for the first part of the month. Although the clean-up happened well before June begins, the stairs and some of the furniture in particular needs some replacing. As a result, sitting areas in the lobby are a bit of a commodity this month and traffic upstairs is funnelled through the common-room staircase (which has the same magical conveniences as the main stairs, for those who need the stairs to not be stairs).

The wards are also being checked and fine-tuned, though Anton mostly does those after hours; even still, night owls will have some brief opportunities to see the arrays of multi-directional sigils in the walls which dictate the Hotel’s workings.

Anton is taking this opportunity to have a second console system installed beside the first; there is a partition between them, but they’re still generally open to the lobby. A small team of Metalworkers can thus be seen around the Hotel for the month, as they’re taking their time and using the opportunity to see whether they can figure out the undetermined error showing up in a handful of other consoles.

There are one or two instances of gang-members boasting about their new roles, which causes a few disagreements about authority; but for the most part these are smoothed over easily. In general, there’s fewer non-patrons lingering around the Hotel this month – though by no means is it empty – simply because many of them are also using the facilities offered by Dara Deis shelter. Especially because of the repairs, it’s easier to shift for a while.

Luckily, the kitchen was undamaged, so the restaurant will continue to be open in the evenings as usual!

[ooc: The Midnight Hotel’s status page is available here, with the rules at the top. 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.]

Comments

Anton, please!

[witchcrap]

Bakura had told Avery to go talk to Anton about the magically-appearing-building scenario, and they'd been about to, honest. But then there'd been that big fight, and they hadn't wanted to get underfoot.

But now that things seem to have calmed down a bit, they've headed into the Hotel to find Anton.

He looks busy, but... "Excuse me? Mr. Shudder?"

[gistful]

Anton is a bit busy, but not uninterruptable. He's taking lead on the repairs, though he's hired a few kedan to help; everything in the Hotel has passed through Anton's hands while building or repairing, and this is no different.

But he also knows he needs to take it slower than he perhaps would prefer. At the hesitant call he straightens up from the balustrade he's measuring, laying the tools down carefully and brushing them off on the rag he keeps around his neck. He's stripped down to his waistcoat, with his sleeves rolled up and his braid pulled up into a loop to keep it off his shoulder. He looks as though he should be bending over a coffin, rather than timber.

"I am Anton Shudder," he says, and keeps the rag in his hands to hide the fact his fingers are trembling. "Welcome to the Midnight Hotel. How may I help you?"

[witchcrap]

Avery looks a little chagrined at having interrupted Anton, though on second thought, maybe it's a good thing that they did. While he's doing the carpentry Avery was accustomed to seeing from Landry in the cafe, there's something about him that reminds Avery of Graves, and how distracted he'd been during the run-up to Nacht's final strike.

They're not sure how they feel about that.

"I'm Avery Grey, Mr. Shudder," Avery said, keeping their tone respectful. "Bakura told me that you might be able to help me - he said you showed up with a building, too, this Hotel. I was wondering if you knew anything about why."

[gistful]

"Bakura?" Anton's eyebrows lifted. That was a surprise; they weren't on particularly good terms lately. But it was true he had some experience with translocational buildings. "I believe it's due to the Hotel's characteristics," he said. "The Midnight Hotel, in my home universe, moves location every twelve hours. It's highly magical. And I built it with my own hands, which I understand in some universes presents some degree of connection. When I was brought here, I was in the Hotel; I believe the aforementioned traits contributed to its arrival with me."

He paused. "You arrived with a building also?"

That was interesting, and the first time--other than himself--that Anton had heard that happening. Very interesting indeed.

[witchcrap]

"Oh." Avery bit their lip. They weren't sure if Graves had built the cafe himself - he probably had, though they'd never thought to ask - but some of what Anton had said sounded familiar. "Yeah, it's, uh, a cafe called A Cat's Paw, it's in the Sky Sector now. It doesn't move around, usually. I was in it when I came here, too, but I also showed up earlier, without a soul gem. And now I have this," they said, touching their amethyst pendant, "and I think that's why it came with me this time. Because Graves Gave it to me before I got here, and I'm not sure how that works but he held my hands and there were some magic light motes and he said that everything he had was now mine, and..."

Avery was vaguely aware that they were babbling, and trailed off into silence.

Mr. Shudder, please | But really open for anybody who feels like talking to he newbie

[aprettyflyboy]

As promised, Poe was working on the repairs of the hotel after getting Anton's permission to be there. Fixing the stairs kept him busy and stopped him from over-thinking too much about what happened the last days between him and Kylo Ren.

It also reminded him of those times when his father and him were repairing the generators on their perimeter fence, back in their homeworld. A small part of Poe wondered if he was ever going to see Yavin IV and his father ever again. He did his best to ignore it.

[ten_zero]

"Hello." Bisi approached Poe slowly to make sure she didn't surprise someone using heavy tools - which wasn't hard since she had to control a wheelchair through all this construction.

"I don't think I've seen you before. I'm Bisi - I work the desk here sometimes."

[aprettyflyboy]

Poe was a bit wary of people trying to sneak up on him again and that assortment of tools and pieces of wood around him might had been arranged that way on purpose. He looked over his shoulder and then turned to put some of the tools aside so she could get closer.

"Hello Bisi, it's nice to meet you. I'm Poe Dameron and pretty new here, but that's probably obvious."

[ten_zero]

"I don't know about that. It's not like I've met everyone in Keeliai. I've only been here a few months myself."

"Were you around for all this...?" she gestured around towards the damage.

[aprettyflyboy]

"Ah, I see. I'm still trying to process everything about this world myself."

It was rather overwhelming and crazy but Poe was used to his life turning into madness since he joined the Resistance. He wasn't all that bothered. He gave Bisi an apologetic look.

"Unfortunately. I showed up when the fight had been going on for a while and at the same moment Mr. Shudder interfered. This is exactly why you don't want to Force users fighting near you."

At your service.

[gistful]

For his part, and leaving aside the cause of the damage, Anton quite enjoying the opportunity for this kind of work. Renovating the shelter with the other Dead Men had done that--it had been so long since he'd built something so long-lasting, let alone with them.

This wasn't the same, but unexpectedly, it wasn't much different, either. Mr Poe was a hard and conscientious worker, and though initially it seemed some of the tools were unfamiliar to him, Anton chalked that up to a difference in universes.

"Ready?" Anton called up to the height of the stairs. The escalator function wasn't working, with the wards broken, so they were using a simply but effective pulley and counterweight system, with Anton at the bottom and Poe at the top.

hello there

[aprettyflyboy]

Poe hadn't expected Mr. Shudder to do the work himself. In the New Republic's fleet, people in charge delegated these sort of taxing jobs to others in a lesser position. General Leia never saw the point of working above others instead of doing it by their side. That was one of the reasons why Poe admired her so much. It had come as a pleasant surprise to see Anton so involved in the repairs. He was enjoying himself too.

After checking the device one last time to make sure there would be no unfortunate incidents, he nodded and replied back. "Ready when you are, sir."

7 days late and forgetting starbucks /facepalm/ i could've sworn i wrote this one

[gistful]

Anton had never considered himself a leader, even when the Dead Men became legends. He--like most of them--had been offered a place in politics and turned it down. Most of them had laughed at that; the Dead Men had lived to circumvent politics, avoid it from getting in the way of their job.

"I'm no sir," Anton said with dry humour, uncensoring. Then with a grunt he hauled on the line, the pulley at the bottom taking most of the weight so it lifted easily to the top of the stairs until Anton could tie off the end. Once satisfied it was secure, he turned to make his way up to join Poe at the top.

"These lengths of timber need to be fitted," he said. "Would you rather fit them or plane them afterward?"

All he had was hand-tools, so he wouldn't blame Poe for choosing the option with which he was probably more familiar.

Yorda | OTA

[shroudofgray]

A-
Once again Yorda can be found standing in front of the little supply closet after putting away her bin and duster. After locking the door, she will simply stand, stock still with her eyes shut and a look of immense concentration on her face. Nothing seems to be happening, though on occasion she will grow brighter as though whatever inner light she possesses were intensifying. It will last only a few moments, until she dims again, and then just stares at the door with a look of frustration.

B-
Yorda's up to her usual chores. Need clean linens? They'll arrive crisp and fresh and on time. Those dishes won't wash themselves and she's practically an expert now at fitting them in the drying rack for maximum efficiency! Nary a cobweb nor speck of dust can be seen as she has mastered the duster. Her methods for reaching high places however are... precarious at best. Watch for falling Yordas!

C-
While Yorda doesn't need to eat, she certainly does like food. And in her efforts to become self-sufficient she is learning to cook the things she likes. She can be found in the kitchen, either making a mess that may or may not turn into something edible, or with her face pressed up against the oven window as she watches the miracle that is dough rising. ...It really doesn't take much to grab her interest.

Look, it's not like she had netflix back in the castle.

B

[redfiend]

Dante comes by, taking a quick look at the environment and then up at Yorda, as if he's keeping a close eye on her. "Are you gonna be alright up there?"

Re: B

[shroudofgray]

Yorda was crouched precariously at the top of a bookshelf, reaching very slowly up to an occupied spider web.

"Yes," she said, not taking her eyes off the spider. "I am good at climbing things now."

[redfiend]

He's not so sure about that. "If you say so," he muttered under his breath. He looked over at the spider, "You don't plan on killing the little guy, do you? He's not doing anything wrong other than just being there."

[purered]

The incident in the stairwell meant that Klaus was sticking to the hotel far more frequently.

A-
He can be found doing his usual work on the books during the late evenings, usually accompanied by a cup of tea and biscuits. When squabbles over authority break out with the Snakes, Klaus will get up and approach, his mere physical presence enough to remind them what Anton's rules are and to take it outside.

B- During the afternoons and early evenings, Klaus will be helping with any heavy lifting for repairing the stairs. Stacks of lumber weigh diddly squat to him, though mind you don't get in his blind spot because being smacked in the head with a stack of wood planks probably hurts like hell.

C-
Do you like flowers? Klaus sure does. Almost every day he can be seen carrying a pot of something bright, colourful and fragrant up to his room to help spruce the place up a little.

A

[badly_behaved_priest]

Sanzo watched Klaus effortlessly break up another squabble and head back for his work before he drew near. One thing noted: Not a guy to piss off. As it was, Sanzo was hoping he wouldn't grate on him too much, he need information after all, not to get dismissed.

"Can I speak with you?" he asked in an even tone that could pass for polite.

[purered]

Klaus looked up from his makeshift planner to what must have been the grumpiest looking Buddhist priest he'd ever seen. Not that Klaus were one to judge - despite his air of polite bemusement, Klaus's own expressions tended to range from stern to homicidal - even when he was none of those things.

"Yes, of course," he said and gestured to one of the armchairs nearby. "Is something the matter?"

[badly_behaved_priest]

Sanzo eyed the armchair before deciding maybe it wouldn't hurt to sit down. He wouldn't know how long this might take.

"Klaus von Reinherz?" Like he didn't already know the answer. The guy was hard to miss. "I was told by China Sorrows you might know something about that weird kid that was showing up here and there not long ago."

Common Room | OTA

[drinkuntilidie]

Since Kevas arrived on the turtle he heard talk of this Midnight Hotel. So far all the gossip he picked up only had good things to say. Word of mouth wasn't a bad way to grab some leads, but he preferred to see things with his own two eyes before making a decision. Especially it was about a place he might live in for a time.

It was early afternoon when the troll arrived. He figured it might be busier around this time. That would give him the chance to scope out the people and the goings on in the building. On the outside it didn't look too special but when he stepped inside by all the construction happening. Something big happened here before he arrived. He felt somewhat disappointed that he missed it. Whatever happened it looked like it had been a fun time.

Moving through the lobby, he came to a stop in the common room. He knew this wasn't a great place for him to blend in. Outside he had no problem. Plenty of people on the streets looked just as strange as him, if shorter. In the hotel he stuck out like a giant blue sore thumb. So the troll did what he could. Kevas picked a spot with the best view of the exits and tried to look as non-threatening as possible.

[gistful]

The construction was being led by a man in a subtly purple suit, dressed down to his waistcoat and with his sleeves rolled up. Despite the tailoring, he didn't have the look of a nobleman; the familiarity with how he planed and polished timber said that. He dressed well, but worked like a labourer.

Anton noticed Kevas coming in. A lot of people noticed Kevas coming in. He was a bit more unusual than usual, but since most patrons were kedan themselves they were used to tusks and tentacles. It was the height that got him some appraising looks, more than anything. And the vibrancy of the blue. Anton mostly noticed Kevas at first because he saw some kedanese chidren by the kitchen door giggling as their skin changed hues, trying to copy the look.

He didn't go over right away, but finished what he was doing--aligning one of the new balustrades to his satisfaction--before pausing for a drink (of water). Then he moved toward where Kevas was seated. Anton was a tall man--6'6--and he wasn't the tallest in the Hotel; but Kevas surpassed even Klaus.

"Welcome to the Midnight Hotel," he said with a bow. "I am Anton Shudder, the proprietor. Are you looking for a room?"

Hm. He might have trouble fitting into a bed.

[drinkuntilidie]

He knew keeping a low profile was all but impossible in the place. At his height Kevas towered over everything and everyone. It cast an imposing presence even when he tried to be as nonthreatening as possible.

Any looks Kevas got went ignored. The children only received exasperated looks which only made their giggling grow louder. He just wanted to get a sense of the place. It wasn't until Anton actually approached him that Kevas rose and spoke. The bow got a strange look though. Kevas wasn't used to people bowing to him, unless it was meant to mock. This guy didn't seem that type. He sort of reminded Kevas of a butler.

"Maybe. Maybe not," Kevas answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I been hearin' word of dis place since I got here, but I rather be seein' things with my own eyes. Wanted to know if dis place be for real."

[gistful]

Anton had to look up unnervingly far. For a moment he felt a pang of doubt--only because the last person to whom he'd had to look up this far was Mevolent, and that wasn't a good memory for various and sundry reasons.

But Kevas had done nothing, and the fact he stayed out of the way told Anton that he was trying not to be intimidating. Anton could relate to that. Irishmen in his birth century had thought he was a giant.

"Realities ought to mesh, if there's to be much in the way of harmony," Anton agreed with a straight face. He had a sort of deadpanness which made it difficult to tell if he was being literal or not. "If you've any questions, I can tell you whether the reality you need is present here."