The Midnight Hotel

[purered]

Characters: Anyone, everyone.
Date: Month of FEBRUARY, 2017 (2018 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 cold snows of February bring with them a large number of Kedan seeking the warm comforts of the Midnight Hotel. While repairs on the city have gone better than could be expected, there are still those who need a place to stay until their homes are rebuilt. It certainly isn't as crowded as it was the month prior, but with food prices being what they are and the seemingly unlimited supply of coffee, many have opted to take advantage of the hotel's small, and reasonably priced comforts.

With many of the Kin'nal employees opting to stay in Ioa Elanog, Klaus has sent out the message that he is still looking to hire more help around the place, offering well-paying jobs to Foreigners and Kedan alike.


[ooc: The Midnight Hotel’s status page is available here, with the rules at the top. PLEASE POST TO THE ROOM REQUESTS IF YOUR CHARACTER WOULD LIKE A ROOM. YOU CAN REQUEST A JOB HERE. IF YOUR CHARACTER IS MOVING OUT, DROP A LINE HERE. Klaus will manufacture means of payment until Foreigners are able to properly offer recompense or choose to move out.]

Comments

Klaus | Early Feb 14?

[flowrite]

[They arrived two nights ago--the ninja just as tall as Klaus himself, dressed in black, with the smaller blond man covered in splashes of blood tucked in the crook of one arm as if he weighed nothing at all. Fai had been awake at the time but so emotionally exhausted that he barely remembered the exchange at all. Somehow Kurogane had arranged for a room for the two of them and that's where Fai has been ever since, sleeping, trying to gather up the jagged pieces of himself and make them somehow fit together again. Kurogane's been in and out of the Hotel in that time, but Fai doesn't remember it.

This morning the blond is a completely different person. Dressed in the clean clothes Kurogane found for him, a slim black kedanese-style suit that shows off just how skinny he is, there's little resemblance to the blood-spattered man from two nights previous. His hair is clean and tied back. His left eye is still covered with an eyepatch, but there's a friendly smile on his face as he makes his way to the front desk.]

[purered]

[Klaus isn't at his best or his brightest in the mornings when he'd missed quite a bit of sleep. There had been a grievous error in the books that he had to set right, and after hours of checking and double checking to make sure it had been nipped in the bud, he'd finally fallen asleep only for his alarm to go off two hours later.]

[Lack of sleep left him a bit absent minded, which is why he left his spectacles to one side. And the fact that Fai looked completely different not covered in someone else's blood didn't help matters.]

[Which is why Klaus mistook Fai for another tall, lanky, eyepatched blond he was much more familiar with.]

...K.K.? When did you arrive...?

[Oh that twinge of hope and worry in his voice.]

[flowrite]

[The mistake is certainly understandable--the eyepatch and blond hair would be confusing enough, even if Fai weren't almost criminally slender and pretty enough to pass for a woman if it weren't for shoulders slightly too broad. Except Fai barely even remembers the redhead at the desk from the other night and he certainly doesn't know anyone named K.K.

He pauses, considering. His gaze turns from the man--who's obviously overtired--to the glasses on the desk, and sudden understanding dawns. With an amused chuckle he steps forward, long fingers carefully picking up the glasses by the frames, and he gently slides the spectacles onto Klaus's face.]

Let's try this again, shall we?

[His voice is effeminate light and high, full of friendly amusement. He moves back a single pace and rests his hands on his hips, smiling.]

[purered]

[There are things Klaus wasn't ready for - having his specs put back on his face suddenly was one of them. The other was that he just made a grave error.]

[Oh dear. He really hadn't recognized Fai at all from the barely conscious, blood covered wreck he'd been a few days prior.]

My sincerest apologies - I mistook you for someone else. Are you feeling better...?

[He straightened his glasses, sitting upright and proper.]

[flowrite]

[Fai's smile doesn't so much as waver.]

Much better, thank you for asking~! I'm afraid I was dreadfully tired the other night, I hardly remember anything from when we arrived. So I suppose we'd better try introductions again, if you don't mind!

[He lifts one hand from his hip, but instead of offering it to shake he uses it to wave. As if they weren't standing four feet away from each other, tops.]

I'm Fai, Fai Flourite. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.

[purered]

[Klaus looked, for a moment, slightly bemused. He could understand the sentiment of not wanting to discuss such matters (especially with a near stranger) but he only knew one person who would be this chipper after showing up in such a state.]

[Klaus could be a bit naive, and always gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, but he'd also known Steven Alain Starphase for years.]

Likewise, Mister Flourite.

[He stood, giving a most gracious bow. He wasn't about to press Fai for private details, at least, even if he was fairly sure Fai's memory wasn't nearly as spotty as he said.]

I'm relieved that you feel much better. Please, allow me to formally welcome you to the Midnight Hotel. Klaus Von Reinherz at your service.

[flowrite]

[Fai's one good eye widens, not intimidated but merely surprised, as Klaus stands up. And up. And up. Fai is tall--taller than most give him credit for unless he's right next to them, given his build--but the top of his head reaches somewhere in the vicinity of this man's shoulders. The same height as Kurogane, if Fai had to hazard a guess.]

Hyuu~~ You're a tall one, aren't you?

[He still sounds chipper as he says it. And yes, that was his silly approximation of a whistle.]

Just 'Fai' is fine, Mister Von Reinherz. And you have a very lovely hotel. Thank you for letting us stay.

[purered]

Ah... well. Yes.

[He looked, for a moment, a bit sheepish. While he wasn't terribly self-conscious, he knew the sheer size of him could make people nervous. Coupled with some rather unfortunate facial features, he always had to be on the careful side.]

You and your companion are most welcome here. I hope the lodgings are to your satisfaction?

[flowrite]

[Fai spots the dilemma right away, his smile softening to something more comforting, or so he hopes.]

Ah, you're embarrassed about your height? You shouldn't be! There's nothing wrong with being tall. It makes people feel safe if you're protecting them.

[And since Klaus runs the Hotel, security is probably a very good thing. Fai, at least, doesn't seem concerned with Klaus's appearance.

He nods at the question, smile brightening again.]

No complaints! As I said, it's a lovely hotel. You must be very proud of it. Actually, I was wondering if you're in need of any help around the place? Since our initial stipends won't last forever.

[purered]

That is a very kind thing to say. Thank you.

[Security at the Hotel was pretty good. No one with half a brain would start a fight with someone like Klaus sitting at the front desk.]

I do have a number of positions open. Is there anything in particular you're looking for?

[He rifled through the pile of papers, coming up with one of the fliers and passed it to Fai for inspection.]

[flowrite]

Only telling the truth. Kuro-pu gets funny looks sometimes for being so big and tall, but they're certainly glad to have him in front of them when there's trouble. Plus he always looks much grumpier than you do~ [Grin]

Mm? [Fai takes the proffered flier and turns to the side so he can hold it out at arm's length. He makes a show of it, curling his other arm back around behind his head while he reads, so it's less obvious that he's farsighted and mostly just looks like he's being cute.]

Hmm, I-- Oh! You need cooks?

[purered]

...Kuro-pu...

[Give him a minute to process that one, Fai.]

I... see.

[He rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck, grasping immediately onto something more professional after Fai finished flailing. What an animated individual.]

We do! Do you have experience working in a restaurant kitchen?

[flowrite]

[And now he's grinning like the sun]

Kurogane. Mister Tall, Dark, Handsome and Lethal. And Grumpy. Especially Grumpy. You get used to him after a while~

[Probably best not to call him Kuro-pu though, just in case. Unless you're Fai.

He nods and hands the paper back to Klaus.]

I ran a café for a while, a few worlds ago. We weren't there all that long, but I'm sure I could do it again. Or at least make myself useful, if you already have someone else running the show.

[purered]

[Kurogane did seem terribly grumpy. But Klaus wasn't about to judge - that may have just been an unfortunate neutral expression.]

I... see.

[He took the paper back, setting it back on top of the pile. The cafe thing sounded pretty promising.]

Do you think you worked there long enough to get a feel for the pace?

[flowrite]

[It's not necessarily neutral, but 'grumpy' is pretty much Kuro's default state of being. Fai just keeps smiling; if he's anything to judge by, there's nothing to worry about.

Fai rests his hands on his hips and slouches back a bit, his lanky frame making the otherwise confrontational pose appear more languid than anything.]

We were there for... a few weeks, I think? I'm sure I can handle it. [He laughs] I've survived battlefields during a war, I should be able to survive dinner service. Unless you'd prefer some sort of trial period?

[purered]

[He rubs his chin for a moment before giving a small nod.]

Alright then. I'll set everything up with the staff and you'll start your training in a week.

[That seemed a reasonable amount of time to get Fai on the pay roster and adjust the schedule to accommodate.]

How does that sound?

[flowrite]

That should be fine, thank you very much!

[Their stipend from the Welcome Center should hold out long enough for him to start getting paid. And if not, well. They've always made ends meet before somehow. And Kurogane will have some sort of pay coming in eventually too, though Fai isn't quite sure what the ninja will be doing yet.

Fai leans over to rest his elbows on the edge of the desk and rests his chin in his hands, smiling up at Klaus.]

Oh, but--it's Valentine's Day today! Do you have any plans~?

[purered]

I - er...

[No one in an eyepatch should be that adorable. Watch in aw as a grown man turns bright red. While not exactly difficult to do, it's still an impressive sight. Who knew a man like Klaus could so easily resemble a deer in headlights?]

...That is -er- rather sudden, I think?

[flowrite]

[Wha--?

Oh.

OH.

Fai straightens back up quickly, clearly startled. It's not that he's never flirted with anyone before, but... but people hardly ever take him seriously! And he wasn't even trying this time! And if he weren't so damned confused about his feelings for Kurogane, and whether the ninja feels anything for him--

Oh stars, this is--

Yep, Fai's turning bright red too. At least they're not alone in that.]

I-- I meant for the hotel. Did... did you have anything planned for the hotel?

[purered]

[OH.]

Oh.

[He rubbed his face with his hands, and shook his head. This wasn't exactly the worst, but it certainly wasn't his finest moment either.]

I am terribly sorry - that was incredibly rude of me.

[Just breathe and try not to die inside of embarrassment.]

But I did not have plans for Valentine's Day - most here are not from places that celebrate it. Maybe a few decorations at most.

[flowrite]

No, no! I'm so sorry, it's not your fault. I wasn't very clear, I... I'm sorry.

[He covers his face with his hands and laughs]

Not exactly the best way to start off a working relationship, is it?

[He laughs again and drops his hands, now only pink instead of beet red.]

Actually what I meant to ask is if you would mind me making some things in the kitchen, since it's a holiday? We didn't celebrate Valentine's Day where I'm from, but I learned about it recently and it seems like a lot of fun. And my specialty is making sweets and desserts~

[purered]

Please, do not apologize - I was the one in the wrong-

[Well, at least Fai found it more amusing than offensive. Klaus cleared his throat, deciding it best to stick to the topic at hand instead of embarrassing both of them further with a cycle of apologies.]

The kitchen is always open to residents in off-hours. There are some supplies we're conserving because of shortages, but those are marked and stored away. I see no reason why you shouldn't enjoy yourself.

[flowrite]

[Fai's about to argue that again, but Klaus seems like he wants to put the whole thing aside for now. Fai's okay with that. He can always reassure the other man later that no offense was taken.

Upon hearing about the kitchen, he practically lights up.]

Ah, thank you! I'll do my best to work around the supplies that are short. And maybe try to make a little money for the Hotel, since I'll be working here soon anyway! Oh, but I'd better go and get started, I have so many things I want to make.

[He takes a step back, heading in the direction of the kitchen, and waves to Klaus again.]

It was very nice to meet you, and thank you very much~!

[purered]

No, no, any money from your personal projects is your own.

[He gave a small nod, as if to emphasize his point.]

And it was a pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Flourite. Do take care.