( in all of her effortless charm and care-free attitude, it really didn't dawn on her that some of the people here had lives— connections and things that tethered them to one another. since her arrival, she had taken a bit of a stance not to get too emotionally attached to the people she slept with but even she was failing at that miserably. she just hadn't thought how she would feel if they left.
so in her careless disregard, she hadn't quite asked or ventured into knowing more about hiyori— so his second response came as a shock, then came the guilt.
she was an idiot wasn't she? messaging him so carelessly when clearly he was struggling. she could just say they can meet a different time, perhaps set this plan aside for another time in the future and yet the people she's become close to here have brought out a more compassionate side of her. she couldn't just ignore this. )
I'm so sorry, I didn't realize. are you going to be okay? are you all alone right now?
( it took some time for her response to come in given she wasn't sure how to approach this but she was at least trying. )
[She had no way of knowing when he just discovered it himself. He hasn't broken the news to anyone yet, or put up a Network post like he did when Rinne vanished. He's still in shock.
Yet this sort of thing isn't shocking, and that's what's so horrible. So many guests have disappeared. Before Leo it was Rinne, and before Rinne it was others he knew. It's all so horribly common, and it terrifies him.]
I'll be alright.
[For now, anyway. Two people from his world have vanished; it's just him and Jun left. How long until it's their turn? It's a question he's had to grapple with many, many times.]
I'm alone right now since I went looking for him, but I do still have my partner here. We live together, so I won't be all by my lonesome.
[...]
I should let you know the person who went missing is Leo-kun, though. He's the composer from home I mentioned.
( in a way maybe she was lucky she was all alone here in this resort, with no one from home and no one to miss if they suddenly vanished. it was very saddening to read his words and she truly felt for him, how could she not? they seemed so similar in their disposition so she's sure he's hurting—
yet that last bit of information about having a partner left her stunned. was the resort truly that cruel to bring in established couples?? or did he meet someone here? a million questions but she had to focus. )
oh I'm so sorry, that's really tough.
I'm glad you're not alone but you know maybe I don't seem reliable or something like that but if you feel like venting or just need a distraction...
I'd be happy to help.
( the non-sexual kind of distraction of course, she was reaching her own emotional limit when it came to that after all. )
Thanks. I'm sorry I got your hopes up about a collaboration with him.
You seem plenty reliable to me. I do appreciate the offer. I just don't think I'd be very good company at the moment.
So for now, all I'll ask is that you take care of yourself and have fun planning the concert.
[Ah, but there is one more thing he could ask. Tears well up as he even thinks about it, yet his fingers move to type the words anyway—without his brain considering that she might not know the truth yet.]
If you see a statue of a short boy with a small and scruffy ponytail, though, do let me know.
you don't need to apologize, but alright I understand.
( it was still difficult for her to fully grasp and understand how things could be so heavy and emotional for people here, but she was trying. she could sense the pain through his words and figured it was best to just give him some space.
it's the best she could do in the end— but for his next request, she made sure to actually go out looking for the statue even if she didn't find it. that bit of information was given to her by shanks after all and it was still confusing to her. )
oh right, I'll make sure I do. do you...
I don't want to keep bothering you during this difficult time but do you know more about those statues? I was told it happened randomly but I don't know much more about it.
He blinks back tears, his vision clears, and then he's faced-to-face with a reminder that other people don't already know all about the statues. Of course. Though given that she doesn't question the request, she must already know that it can happen. Right?
Will it help to tell her more? Or will that just cause unnecessary panic? There's nothing any of them can do. The cheerful woman who'd been so enthusiastic about planning a concert... he'd hate to take her smile away. But it's a little late to worry about that, isn't it?]
I don't know the full truth either, but I can tell you what I've heard over the past year.
Do you want to meet in-person after all? I can go to where you are.
[He declined her offer to spend time together a moment ago, but this seems like a conversation that might be better off being had in-person. Not to mention...
He is the type who gets lonely easily. For all that he may not be good company, he does prefer not to be alone.]
( as a woman who often ran from her troubles and walled herself up away from the world, she understood what it was like to want to close everyone off and just sequester yourself in a cocoon of pain and emotions. she wasn't going to push for him to do anything he didn't want to—
yet much like himself, she often felt lonely and strove to be in the company of others as often as she could. she was getting better at not burdening others here too much with her issues but even she was starting to fall prey to using sex to fill up the hole within her heart.
so even if she said he didn't have to force himself, she immediately sent him her location— the smoked egg. )
i'll be here, waiting for you if you do decide to come.
[Does he want to talk about the statues right now? Not really. But the desire not to be alone is strong. He could find Jun and ask to be comforted, and he will later, but Jun is also going to be distraught about Leo's disappearance. In a way, it seems easiest to talk to someone who isn't so intimately involved.]
Great, then I'll see you soon!
[And then he wipes at his eyes a bit, before getting up and checking his face in the reflective surface of the hallway, just to make sure he doesn't look too terrible. He then pulls up the digital map on his watch. Let's see, where did she say she was again...?
... ah. That's where she is.
He stands outside the doorway after he arrives, peering inside the lounge. He's passed the place plenty of times in his year-plus of living here, but he's always walked on by it. The air, thick with smoke, reminds him of the Roost, and the prospect of breathing it into his lungs seems unpleasant. He'd never pick up a cigar himself, and the dim lighting makes him wonder what sort of things might be going on in the dark. Idols, and noble scions, are supposed to keep their noses clean. This isn't his scene.
But he's been held hostage for over a year now, with no reason to think he'll be back home anytime soon and every reason to think things will get worse. He just lost a second person from his world. Compared to all that, a little darkness and some smoke seem like nothing to be afraid of.
He pushes through the doors and looks around the lounge, taking in the different silhouettes seated on cushions, slumping over tables, sharing whispered conversations and taking drags from elegantly-curved pipes. A few guests look his way, raking over his form with their eyes, but most are wrapped up in their own world. Here, unlike at home, he's no one noteworthy. He's not a royalty card.
Unlike some people. He doesn't know where precisely Reira is, but it doesn't take long even in the dark. All he has to do is keep an ear out, and eventually he hears the expected whisperings about the Queen."Such a beautiful Queen. Do you think she's waiting for someone?"
Hiyori walks up to where she is. Despite everything, he smiles.]
( deep within the spaces of the smoked egg, reira sat at her own booth, sprawled across a layer of pillows with a pipe in her hand. it was very rare that she ever smoked, but long before her arrival here, her nights were often filled with the scent of nicotine from her former young lover, a westwood lighter orb dangling between the two as they promised to keep in touch despite the obstacles that came with both of them being in rival bands. her desire to linger in a place like this came from a need to reminisce over the past and mull over some of the mistakes she's made, but really she's just lonely and bored. there's only so much that could be done in her suite, only so many people she knew who she could call upon to spend time with her, and only oh so much sex to be had.
for her things were starting to slowly becoming repetitive— and so an opportunity to comfort someone, even in a place like this was something she looked forward to. even if she had insisted he needn't push himself so hard for her sake.
still when that familiar voice came rolling in through the cloud of smoke and soft jazzy tunes, she peaked her head up and offered a relaxed smile to hiyori. the smell of vanilla tobacco filled the air as she sat up and offered the seat next to her for him. )
No, all yours. Sorry I was probably hanging around the worst place imaginable when I texted you, so we don't have to stay long. Come sit—
( with a playful tone, she patted the pillow and encouraged him to come forth. )
[He can feel people watching from the neighboring tables: the lovely Queen, and the person lucky enough to be her date at the smoke lounge. Such attention may make others uncomfortable, but not him. They can look all they want, and they can think whatever they please.]
I wouldn't go that far. I don't like to smoke, but I can think of worse places than this around.
[Like the bondage club or the Roost. Or the maintenance area, with its eerie dark tunnels and whispering voices.
... or the Punishment Room. That's a place within the resort, too, he learned the hard way.
He drops to his knees gracefully and takes a seat upon a cushion. He doesn't want to breathe in any smoke, but once they're at eye-level (and nose-level) he gets a whiff of that vanilla scent anyway, causing him to a blink a few times in surprise.]
That's not what I expected that to smell like. I thought it'd smell all stale and gross.
[He's willing to sit with her in the lounge... but hopefully she doesn't mind some gentle ribbing about her smoking habit.]
( the restless chatter surrounding them doesn't quite escape her, but given that she had been used to such buzzing from her time being a celebrity back home, it was easy to drown out the sounds without much effort. in fact her own attitude made it seem she couldn't even hear it— opting to relax and focus on her guest. his comfort and happiness mattered to quite a bit in this moment, especially because she understood what it was like to be in pain over losing someone. )
I'm glad, and don't worry it's not a habit I partake in often.
( especially because she had to keep her voice in prime condition— or rather she did back home. wasn't she free from that here? those pressures? she wasn't sure anymore but for now she smiled once they got to eye level, putting the hookah pipe she had in her hands onto the table before them. )
Apparently this is more unique way of enjoying tobacco. I've actually never used one of these before but apparently they're all the rage. Smells nice doesn't it? Anyways do you want to order something for yourself? I'll cover it.
[He understands instantly. It's why he wouldn't consider smoking himself. That, and he doesn't like the smell. But cigarettes and cigars don't usually smell of vanilla. The scent is sweet without being overpowering, and pleasantly smoky, almost like a cologne. He finds he doesn't mind breathing it in.
Though he's also not quite sure he wants to order anything like that for himself.]
So they sell snacks too, hm?
[He thinks he did see a couple of people feeding each other. Probably dangling cherries over each other's mouths.]
I'm not sure what's on their menu. And it's impossible to tell what other people are eating or drinking, since it's so very dark in here. So!
Yeah back home I had to follow a lot of little 'rules', not just for my voice but also for my appearance. You know what that's like right?
( he certainly didn't have to answer that question because she assumed he did— she didn't comment on it, but his appearance clearly suggested he took good care of himself or rather had to. if she had to guess, they both probably avoided the sun for the most part, even if those trivial worries didn't matter much in the end here.
still with the looming threat of learning more about this place and the need to bring him something for his company, she focused on the task at hand, eyes wandering around for a staff member before she stood up. cherries being erotically fed to each wouldn't do, but she could get him something for himself in the meantime. )
Alright, I promise not to get you anything too weird and hopefully...um well you'll forgive me if it's laced with anything weird.
( she might have been a bit silly and careless for the most part, but she at the very least knew about how things here could be laced with aphrodisiacs to send them all towards that little goal the resort had.
with a smile, reira nearly bounced off her seat and walked off to speak to a staff member, placing an order for their most basic snacks [chips, pretzels] and a few sodas to keep things light for now. once it was settled, she came back and returned to her previous seat and smiled at her companion. )
So it sounds like you know quite a bit about this place. I feel like the more I learn....the less I understand anything at all. I thought if I just went with the flow of things, I'd be alright but it does seem weird things happen regardless, fully outside of our control. I mean that cupid from before was something.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
so in her careless disregard, she hadn't quite asked or ventured into knowing more about hiyori— so his second response came as a shock, then came the guilt.
she was an idiot wasn't she? messaging him so carelessly when clearly he was struggling. she could just say they can meet a different time, perhaps set this plan aside for another time in the future and yet the people she's become close to here have brought out a more compassionate side of her. she couldn't just ignore this. )
I'm so sorry, I didn't realize. are you going to be okay? are you all alone right now?
( it took some time for her response to come in given she wasn't sure how to approach this but she was at least trying. )
no subject
Yet this sort of thing isn't shocking, and that's what's so horrible. So many guests have disappeared. Before Leo it was Rinne, and before Rinne it was others he knew. It's all so horribly common, and it terrifies him.]
I'll be alright.
[For now, anyway. Two people from his world have vanished; it's just him and Jun left. How long until it's their turn? It's a question he's had to grapple with many, many times.]
I'm alone right now since I went looking for him, but I do still have my partner here. We live together, so I won't be all by my lonesome.
[...]
I should let you know the person who went missing is Leo-kun, though. He's the composer from home I mentioned.
no subject
yet that last bit of information about having a partner left her stunned. was the resort truly that cruel to bring in established couples?? or did he meet someone here? a million questions but she had to focus. )
oh I'm so sorry, that's really tough.
I'm glad you're not alone but you know maybe I don't seem reliable or something like that but if you feel like venting or just need a distraction...
I'd be happy to help.
( the non-sexual kind of distraction of course, she was reaching her own emotional limit when it came to that after all. )
no subject
You seem plenty reliable to me. I do appreciate the offer. I just don't think I'd be very good company at the moment.
So for now, all I'll ask is that you take care of yourself and have fun planning the concert.
[Ah, but there is one more thing he could ask. Tears well up as he even thinks about it, yet his fingers move to type the words anyway—without his brain considering that she might not know the truth yet.]
If you see a statue of a short boy with a small and scruffy ponytail, though, do let me know.
no subject
( it was still difficult for her to fully grasp and understand how things could be so heavy and emotional for people here, but she was trying. she could sense the pain through his words and figured it was best to just give him some space.
it's the best she could do in the end— but for his next request, she made sure to actually go out looking for the statue even if she didn't find it. that bit of information was given to her by shanks after all and it was still confusing to her. )
oh right, I'll make sure I do. do you...
I don't want to keep bothering you during this difficult time but do you know more about those statues? I was told it happened randomly but I don't know much more about it.
no subject
He blinks back tears, his vision clears, and then he's faced-to-face with a reminder that other people don't already know all about the statues. Of course. Though given that she doesn't question the request, she must already know that it can happen. Right?
Will it help to tell her more? Or will that just cause unnecessary panic? There's nothing any of them can do. The cheerful woman who'd been so enthusiastic about planning a concert... he'd hate to take her smile away. But it's a little late to worry about that, isn't it?]
I don't know the full truth either, but I can tell you what I've heard over the past year.
Do you want to meet in-person after all? I can go to where you are.
[He declined her offer to spend time together a moment ago, but this seems like a conversation that might be better off being had in-person. Not to mention...
He is the type who gets lonely easily. For all that he may not be good company, he does prefer not to be alone.]
no subject
( as a woman who often ran from her troubles and walled herself up away from the world, she understood what it was like to want to close everyone off and just sequester yourself in a cocoon of pain and emotions. she wasn't going to push for him to do anything he didn't want to—
yet much like himself, she often felt lonely and strove to be in the company of others as often as she could. she was getting better at not burdening others here too much with her issues but even she was starting to fall prey to using sex to fill up the hole within her heart.
so even if she said he didn't have to force himself, she immediately sent him her location— the smoked egg. )
i'll be here, waiting for you if you do decide to come.
no subject
Great, then I'll see you soon!
[And then he wipes at his eyes a bit, before getting up and checking his face in the reflective surface of the hallway, just to make sure he doesn't look too terrible. He then pulls up the digital map on his watch. Let's see, where did she say she was again...?
... ah. That's where she is.
He stands outside the doorway after he arrives, peering inside the lounge. He's passed the place plenty of times in his year-plus of living here, but he's always walked on by it. The air, thick with smoke, reminds him of the Roost, and the prospect of breathing it into his lungs seems unpleasant. He'd never pick up a cigar himself, and the dim lighting makes him wonder what sort of things might be going on in the dark. Idols, and noble scions, are supposed to keep their noses clean. This isn't his scene.
But he's been held hostage for over a year now, with no reason to think he'll be back home anytime soon and every reason to think things will get worse. He just lost a second person from his world. Compared to all that, a little darkness and some smoke seem like nothing to be afraid of.
He pushes through the doors and looks around the lounge, taking in the different silhouettes seated on cushions, slumping over tables, sharing whispered conversations and taking drags from elegantly-curved pipes. A few guests look his way, raking over his form with their eyes, but most are wrapped up in their own world. Here, unlike at home, he's no one noteworthy. He's not a royalty card.
Unlike some people. He doesn't know where precisely Reira is, but it doesn't take long even in the dark. All he has to do is keep an ear out, and eventually he hears the expected whisperings about the Queen. "Such a beautiful Queen. Do you think she's waiting for someone?"
Hiyori walks up to where she is. Despite everything, he smiles.]
This seat's not taken, is it?
no subject
for her things were starting to slowly becoming repetitive— and so an opportunity to comfort someone, even in a place like this was something she looked forward to. even if she had insisted he needn't push himself so hard for her sake.
still when that familiar voice came rolling in through the cloud of smoke and soft jazzy tunes, she peaked her head up and offered a relaxed smile to hiyori. the smell of vanilla tobacco filled the air as she sat up and offered the seat next to her for him. )
No, all yours. Sorry I was probably hanging around the worst place imaginable when I texted you, so we don't have to stay long. Come sit—
( with a playful tone, she patted the pillow and encouraged him to come forth. )
no subject
I wouldn't go that far. I don't like to smoke, but I can think of worse places than this around.
[Like the bondage club or the Roost. Or the maintenance area, with its eerie dark tunnels and whispering voices.
... or the Punishment Room. That's a place within the resort, too, he learned the hard way.
He drops to his knees gracefully and takes a seat upon a cushion. He doesn't want to breathe in any smoke, but once they're at eye-level (and nose-level) he gets a whiff of that vanilla scent anyway, causing him to a blink a few times in surprise.]
That's not what I expected that to smell like. I thought it'd smell all stale and gross.
[He's willing to sit with her in the lounge... but hopefully she doesn't mind some gentle ribbing about her smoking habit.]
no subject
I'm glad, and don't worry it's not a habit I partake in often.
( especially because she had to keep her voice in prime condition— or rather she did back home. wasn't she free from that here? those pressures? she wasn't sure anymore but for now she smiled once they got to eye level, putting the hookah pipe she had in her hands onto the table before them. )
Apparently this is more unique way of enjoying tobacco. I've actually never used one of these before but apparently they're all the rage. Smells nice doesn't it? Anyways do you want to order something for yourself? I'll cover it.
no subject
[He understands instantly. It's why he wouldn't consider smoking himself. That, and he doesn't like the smell. But cigarettes and cigars don't usually smell of vanilla. The scent is sweet without being overpowering, and pleasantly smoky, almost like a cologne. He finds he doesn't mind breathing it in.
Though he's also not quite sure he wants to order anything like that for himself.]
So they sell snacks too, hm?
[He thinks he did see a couple of people feeding each other. Probably dangling cherries over each other's mouths.]
I'm not sure what's on their menu. And it's impossible to tell what other people are eating or drinking, since it's so very dark in here. So!
[He flashes her a friendly smile.]
I'll let you choose!
no subject
( he certainly didn't have to answer that question because she assumed he did— she didn't comment on it, but his appearance clearly suggested he took good care of himself or rather had to. if she had to guess, they both probably avoided the sun for the most part, even if those trivial worries didn't matter much in the end here.
still with the looming threat of learning more about this place and the need to bring him something for his company, she focused on the task at hand, eyes wandering around for a staff member before she stood up. cherries being erotically fed to each wouldn't do, but she could get him something for himself in the meantime. )
Alright, I promise not to get you anything too weird and hopefully...um well you'll forgive me if it's laced with anything weird.
( she might have been a bit silly and careless for the most part, but she at the very least knew about how things here could be laced with aphrodisiacs to send them all towards that little goal the resort had.
with a smile, reira nearly bounced off her seat and walked off to speak to a staff member, placing an order for their most basic snacks [chips, pretzels] and a few sodas to keep things light for now. once it was settled, she came back and returned to her previous seat and smiled at her companion. )
So it sounds like you know quite a bit about this place. I feel like the more I learn....the less I understand anything at all. I thought if I just went with the flow of things, I'd be alright but it does seem weird things happen regardless, fully outside of our control. I mean that cupid from before was something.