and love itself is just as innocent as roses in may

[killed]

who: sou hiyori
what: catch-all post for open & closed prompts
when: september 2022 onwards.
where: various
warnings: tba

Comments

( open )

[killed]

a. though love itself is just as brief as a candle in the wind
( tauva/lounge — september 1st )

[ There's certain offerings that are befitting of the greek gods, and particularly those who one would invite to their table. Hiyori neither puts up offerings nor offers worship, but he's not some inconsiderate boor who has forgotten to pay his respect to the gods. Such as it is, he can be found sitting at the buffet with a variety of fruits and a variety of items before him: A bottle of the finest wine (which will be watered down by those heathens,) chocolate covered strawberries, plums, and other fresh fruit along with a small knife, cutting board, long lollipop sticks, and few other things.

There's also a strawberry shaped box with foam in the center. He appears to be cutting the plums into stars right now, pushing the sticks into them before setting them off to the side. He's fairly focused on his work, but if sees someone passing by he'll wave to stop them. ]

Excuse me... Might I ask you a question? [ He'll stop there if they say no, but if they respond affirmatively - ] What do you think would go well with stars? Hearts? Or perhaps diamonds? Hm, I wonder if a gemini symbol would hold...

[ He seems to be enjoying himself at least. ]

b. and it's greedy just like sin
( anywhere — early september )

[ Hiyori can be found about the ship taking measurements and checking the angles in various places about the ship. There's no pressing need to do so, but nor does every action concerning it require unraveling some great mystery. It's enough that it gives him a better idea of what he's working with, as well as the items within it. He's always been one to know every detail of the setting he's stationed is, as knowing the layout gives one an advantage.

Besides, he's bored and needs something to keep him occupied. He hums as he goes along. The lack of spacial anomalies is as expected - in fact, everything is, which causes a twinge of annoyance to bubble up in his chest. He lets out an exasperated sigh as he snaps the tape back, pushing himself up and pocketing it. His memory is perfect, so there's no need to jot it down.

He shakes his head. ]

He's not very creative, is he...? If a person has that kind of power, they should utilize it better.

c. alone but sane
( anywhere — throughout september )

[ One of the first things an aspiring bartender learns is how to clean the glassware. It is perhaps the most important skill that one learns, as every drink will suffer if its poured into an dirty vessel. It's what movies focus on for the simple ease of repetition and silence, but it really is quite soothing to practice. Hiyori, brilliant and well trained, would be remiss to have no experience in a trade that almost all will indulge in at one point or another. It's no different than learning how to pour tea for guests and act as a host.

Thus he finds that every now and again it's nice to preform the repetitive tasks that come with working at such a place. It's like revisiting a piece of his former life, one in which she was beloved and meant for greatness, and better yet for the fact that he can put together something more suited for his tastes in the end. The ghosts that work here do well enough, but they can be a bit dense, and he's as picky about taste as he is presentation. He hums as he puts one of the glasses away before inspecting the bottles of liquor on the shelves. There's so many to choose from, but he only indulges in the best of the best.

What will it be today? Ah, he thinks it would be nice to be able to share a drink with others again. It was business, always business and performance, but those times were fun.

Perhaps a golden cadillac, or a spanish coffee... ]

a. i am a love suicide
( anywhere — wildcard )

[ Is there you want to personally do with Hiyori? Throw me something here or contact me at pfle and we'll work something out. ]

Alone but Sane

[businessorlibation]

[Normally Johnny's the one doing a bar takeover, but he's glad to be the one stepping up as the customer today. Why not? He works hard enough to have earned a break, and someone else doing the same work might have a similar mindset behind it.]

Good afternoon.

[killed]

[ That's right, he is often in here, isn't he? Hiyori smiles as he sees him come in. He's not one to take up the role of another without reason, but it is calming. ]

Good afternoon... Ah, I haven't taken your shift now, have I?

[businessorlibation]

On the contrary, you've given me the opportunity to play customer--if you're serving and not just making drinks for yourself. Either way, I hope you don't mind the company.

[Johnny's smile is warm and easy as he steps up to the bar.]

b.

[makesomedeals]

[Max watches him for a few minutes, wondering why so many here feel compelled to make maps and take measurements or analyze the space. So far it hasn't helped anything, that he knows of anyway.]

Are you insinuating he should build a better ship? Because I can assure you he will not take that suggestion very well.

[killed]

[ There's plenty of reasons to take a lay of the land, but perhaps the most important is that any productivity is better than inaction; there's questions that arise and answers that should follow, words to be put down on paper, and amusing little interactions that can come of it. ]

My, my, do you think so? The most important part of working in the arts is being able to take critique, so I should be disappointed if he couldn't even handle that... Do you think he'll throw me overboard, or make me walk the plank? But then he is a fan of fictional works, so I would hope he'd at least think to feed my hand to a crocodile.

[ It's not that he's not taking the matter seriously, but he won't panic just yet. None of the above will change the fact that he's slapped together such an uninspiring vessel. He might as well have just thrown a bucket of paint onto the canvas. ]

[makesomedeals]

I suggested once that he build duplicates of it for when we inevitably do something ill-advised and sink it, and he was rather upset at the very notion of creating another. He's quite proud of this vessel I think.

Honestly I'm not sure. He hasn't directly killed anyone that I know of. Perhaps you'll be the first.

alone but sane

[nyktifanis]

( it's to her surprise upon making her way inside that she sees a different, yet familiar face behind the table. she recalls how proud johnny was about working behind the station, and as she glances both up and down to see if there's anyone else here offers few answers. it's only the ghosts acting as support while hiyori happens to be the main act for today. then she remembers what she was told that friday would be upset if anyone act like they owned the place, and so anyone must be able to come behind the bar and take over.

her hands press together, tips touching, as she slowly makes her way over to one of the seats. pulling herself up, and a hand down on her hip to smooth out her clothes properly so they hang without being caught under her, and she wiggles in the chair to sit properly.

she's by herself, or well, hiyori knows that castor isn't too far away from her. )

You're a wonderful face to see here, I hadn't known you were interested in this profession.

( pollux states, leaning forward as she glances at all the bottles of alcohol until she decides that she'll choose a beverage. ) Do you have menus, Sou?

[killed]

It was brief, but I've taken up a fair amount of odd jobs in my life... Though I suppose a fair bit of it is from learning how to act as a proper host.

[ He had to be the perfect aristocrat, after all. It was necessary to learn how and what to serve, what to wear and how to speak, and so much more. He wanted for nothing but safety, but his parents were hardly gentle with him. They couldn't afford to be. He couldn't afford for them to be. ]

Hm... I'm afraid I don't. I really should have prepared something like that, shouldn't I...?

[ He trails off. There's so many who have no concept of what they want. It's always a little humorous when someone asks the bartender to surprise them, and for those who don't know their tastes he's happy enough to work with them, but it is a lovely idea. It really is a fine idea though. Higher end establishments tend to have lists and patient hosts who are all too happy to go over them, after all.

But for present company he finds himself with a better idea than going off her tastes. He claps his hands together with a bright smile, as though having come up with the most wonderful idea. ]

Might I surprise you, Pollux-san? There's a wine I'm particularly fond of, and I would love the opportunity to share a glass with you.

[nyktifanis]

That sounds excellent, a surprise from you is nothing different from a well-loved gift.

( curious, she claps her hands together to in order to mimic the gesture presented before her. this means they're both interested in the future scenario, or well, pollux knows that she is. as she could offer her tastes would be way too easy, so why not start with the bartenders? his taste would be a nice appetizer, testing the palate before moving onto others, but he's so sweet she wonders if the beverage will be too. )

I do prefer drinking with groups of people, but your personality is as vibrant as maybe five or six. I feel sharing in this delight with you will be more than enough for me.

( she shouldn't just throw out compliments, but hiyori in his own right can be too charming and what is she to do... keep it to herself? she's sure it's easily read on her face as she smiles at him warmly that she thinks positively of him. now she can't help but to eye the bottles behind him wondering which must be the one he's partial to. )

a

[winepouring]

[ Oh, it's one of Shi Qingxuan's favorite things: Being asked for his opinions! ]

Of course! [ He answers easily. ] Let's see...

[ The smell of freshly cut fruit is enticing, and Shi Qingxuan eyes the spread on the table with a keen eye. He doesn't know anything about making fancy little bites - who among his closest friends would enjoy them? - but he does know what looks good!

After giving the spread a look, he taps his fist to his hand. ]

Your stars look very pretty—why not try spheres? A perfect circle will make your stars stand out more, and it will be a good contrast if you make diamonds.

[ He also has no idea what a Gemini symbol is to pretend he can comment on the aesthetics or logistics... ]

[killed]

That's a wonderful idea! Yes, I agree, that would be the perfect compliment to the other two.

[ He gestures to the seat before him to invite the other to sit with him if he cares to. Still, he seems pleased by this development. He's fond of cute and sweet things, and an arrangement with all of the shapes that stars charms him in a way few things do.

Would yellow be too close to the sun? It's one of many stars of that color, so perhaps it might be alright... It's simple enough too. It would be difficult to shape them by hand, but a melon baller should do quite nicely for this task. ]

Have you ever tried making something like this before? These sorts of arrangements are quite popular where I'm from.

[ Food presentation has been important throughout history, but it was a display of wealth and power rather than a form of art and creativity that the masses can enjoy. That said, it's a fun little venture. ]

B! \o/ i hope this is ok!! lmk if you'd like a change ' v')

[qliphoths]

[ she observes him from a distance at first, curious about what he was doing: bent and measuring, fixated.

tear herself had spent a good amount of time exploring her surroundings as well, wandering the lengths of the ship,
hoping to find some sort of clue... but she'd never thought to be so thorough as to measure anything. ]

I'm not sure if I should be concerned, or impressed. [ she doesn't mean to insult him, really,
and won't catch how her comment may sound to the ears of others: tear is only being honest.

his comment, while probably rhetorical, does not escape her interest. ]

... Why would you want for the ship to be built differently?
As long as it functions, what difference does it make?

[ despite the coldness of her wording, her head tilts just a bit.
she's genuinely curious, just ... not the best at emoting, at first. ]

this is perfect! c:

[killed]

[ That direct way of speaking is one he's well acquainted with, and it draws a smile from him as he snaps the tape back before pulling himself to his feet. It's a good question, really. ]

In terms of functionality, none whatsoever. I wonder if it even need be a ship, or if a mansion or an island might not work just as well.

[ If the diner is anything to go by, those little vacation stops are nothing more than pockets created by the Captain. Then again, perhaps he'll be surprised. He has heard that the was one here who managed to escape. That's all an aside though, just leading up to the bigger question of - ]

... Still, even if not, how a place is designed says quite a bit about the person who did so, don't you think? If you could create a small world, one which is only limited by your imagination, what would it look like?

[ It could be a beautiful rose garden with butterflies fluttering about, a bustling sea port, or it could be a facility that seemed to expand endlessly, or something far simpler. There's no wrong answer to such a question, really. ]

( open )

[killed]

i. once, a girl found a big box; the bird of happiness was inside
( bellona theater — start of october )

[ The ship is a mess, or at least more of one than it should be, courtesy of a series of fits following unfortunate realizations and an explosion. Hiyori is a social creature by nature, but it's taken him some time to process everything. There's a lot to process on top of the Captain suddenly losing the last shreds of responsibility and Friday's general absence. Hiyori knows how to clean up after himself at least, so things won't be overly messy from him.

He's mulling over that as he sits on the edge of the stage, his legs dangling over the edge, one hand resting behind him. The other holds a plastic cup with what is likely coffee, though it's color has been lightened by the milk mixed in, and there's caramel drizzle lining both the cup and the whipped cream atop it. There's a violin and box resting next to him. He can play piano well enough, as that is the perfect instrument for a rich prodigy, but he's always preferred string instruments.

He sips at the coffee as he back, weight supported on his palm, head tilted back to look toward the ceiling. It's poor behavior in a public place, his parents would surely scold him for the way his legs swing back and forth and he listens to the sound of his heels clacking against the wood echoing throughout the room, and so he'll be quick to correct his posture upon seeing another person. His smile is fixed soon after, a hint of embarrassment coloring his features now. ]

Oh, please excuse me... I didn't realize someone else was here...

[ How embarrassing... ]

ii. the bird would take her to forever land, or so she hoped
( photos at sea — early october )

[ Hiyori checks the photographs taken during the cruise every now and again, mostly because he prefers to remove anything incriminating, or embarrassing, or anything else he just doesn't like. The one he holds in his hand is all three. He's hardly a shy man and it's difficult to fluster him, but the sight of a woman atop him, her crotch practically in his face and her sword slammed into the ground next to his head., in a library, is shameless enough to make his cheeks tint.

That is so undignified. It's not becoming of either of them, and he presses it against his chest before anyone can see it. He doesn't want to keep it, either, but he supposes he'll have to buy it... Then shred it. Possibly burn it. ]

How shameless...

[ To put it there that is. Him nearly being murdered was just a misunderstanding. ]

iii. in a cramped, dark space, she finally found her little bird
( playback — mid-late october )

[ Hiyori isn't a gambling man, or at least not one of the traditional sort. He would rather force the roulette to land where he chooses, and to reroll the dice as many times as it takes to get his desired outcome. But his luck carries him through well enough to do so as he chooses, and so he finds that he has no trouble in doing so. Such as it is, one can find him pulling the lever for slots and spinning the roulette. Often he has a cigarette in his mouth - cigarettes and liquor both go together with gambling like fish and water.

Alternatively, he might be found idly shuffling cards. Card games require two people, though, and there's no longer a dealer. ]

iv. but it was far to little, and far too late
( tauva — mid-late october )

[ Alternatively, he can be found lounging in the tauva, sipping at whiskey that doesn't seem likely to match the actual age listed. There's some that are better than others, and so when he lifts the glass to his lips he's quick to lower it, wrinkling his nose in distaste. He has rich taste, but not so much so that he can't appreciate cheaper varieties, but this is... ]

Cheap shit...

[ He mumbles under his breath, slipping out of his seat so he can put it where it belongs - down the nearest drain. ]

v. the moral: everlasting happiness is a joke.
( anywhere — wildcard )

[ Is there you want to personally do with Hiyori? Throw me something here or contact me at pfle and we'll work something out. ]

iv.

[nyktifanis]

Sou, you aren't busy are you?

( she thought that he'd be here mixing the drinks, but instead he seems to be a customer like anyone else. pollux doesn't question his decision of pouring it out, which to be honest, if it's not diluted it's no good in general. )

Halloween is coming up, and I thought doing something for the occasion could be nice.

( her eyes watch as the liquid filters into the sink, splashing down the drain with a faint hiss. )

[killed]

[ honestly she's right, cheap whiskey should never be tasted!!! There's a slight delay as he shakes out the last of the liquid before turning his head to look at her with a smile. He sets the cup down in the sink, forgetting about it as he turns to face her properly. ]

I'm never too busy for you, Pollux-san. What did you have in mind? It's too early for trick-or-treating, but we could make bags for it, or bob for apples, and there's making jack-o-lanterns...

[ These are all things that one does with a small child, but there's no offense meant. Aside from being an adult child, he's mostly done activities with them. ]

There are pumpkin marshmallow candies in the buffet right now. Have you seen them?

[ That question is likely less of a surprise given who it' coming from. ]

iv

[lightconductor]

[Watson, lighting his pipe, looks over with a sympathetic expression.]

All the variety we have at our fingertips here, and sometimes you still get unlucky.

[killed]

It is unfortunate... I suppose I should be grateful that this is the first time I've had such struggles. I'm familiar enough the different types, but there's quite a few brands on this ship that I'm not familiar with.

[ Which makes it luck of the draw. But taste doesn't lie, and there's no mixing up low and high quality liquors. ]

v.

[mikraitios]

( so. gift shop. there's only so much candy on this ship, and now that it's out that the ship is not restocking, gathering it seems to be a priority of immense importance. at least, it is for castor. maybe it is for hiyori too, judging from the fact that he can be found in the very same shop when castor arrives. before long, he may even find himself offered a greeting: )

Human.

( very charismatic, as always, and if hiyori turns, he'll find that castor... does not look particularly impressed with him. with his arms crossed over his chest, at least that signature scowl of his isn't present—pollux is nowhere in sight, after all. instead, he just looks kind of... troubled? uncertain? maybe a little bit perplexed? it probably isn't such a difficult thing to infer that the man enjoys his sweets, but with the amount that are being taken off the shelves right now... and castor will glance at the emptying shelves... )

Do you intend to take all of it?

[killed]

[ There's not much that slips past Hiyori, and it doesn't here either. It's unfortunate, then, that in such a close space one can only hope not to be noticed engaging in what can only be called undignified behavior. It's doubly so for a grown man who was raised to maintain a certain image. His saving grace is that he's methodical in his efforts, taking one item at a time and carefully stacking them in a basket rather than haphazardly grabbing like some greedy sloven.

It's still embarrassing. He offers Castor a sheepish smile instead. ]

Ah... Please excuse me, I must look much like a squirrel preparing for winter now. I hardly need so much though...

[ He going to hold out a rather expensive looking box of chocolates. They're shaped like seahorses and seashells, perfect for a luxury cruise gift shop. ]

Would you like one? I'm fond of this brand.

ghost hunt, text — pollux

[nyktifanis]

( off in another location, the infirmary— )

Sou, you won't believe it!
Your dreams came true, if you take a trip to Hurikane and then the Infirmary, there's chocolate galore!
Don't eat it all or you'll get a cavity!
Trick or treat.

destined to go unanswered, probably, though he doesn't know it yet

[obeyseventually]

Hiyori our room blew up

If only.

[ninetoes]

I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but so did Hiyori.

[obeyseventually]

[... Oh. Well. That's... Unlucky, given how little he used their room.]

Ah. 😬 Thank you.

[Is this the appropriate context for emojis? Jack wouldn't know, they didn't even have texting in his day, but it's easier than trying to put words together when he feels half out of his body.]