come_sailaway | YOU'RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT

Entry tags:

YOU'RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT

WHO: the Captain + You
WHAT: contractually obligated price is right game
WHEN: 11/18, like nightish?
WHERE: Bellona Theater
WARNINGS: N/A, currently

[you've heard the announcement, the sound of Friday's cautious optimism as she spoke it. you've waited all day. now, it's time for the game.

the amount of effort that has gone into this production at Bellona can be safely defined as “minimal.” there are three podiums, with three slate boards and three pieces of chalk. there is another podium, currently empty, next to a plain folding table. there is a tablecloth draped over the table, covering a lumpy, inscrutable shape.

the most remarkable thing is the giant wheel set up on the other side of the empty podium. the slices of the giant circle are colorful, but also completely blank. the Captain actually spends 30 minutes prior to the start of the event simply sitting in front of it, back to the audience, and spinning it, listening to the loud clacking noise pick up and then die down again, before spinning it once more.

clackclackclack clack clack. clack. clackclackclackclackclack.

it's gonna be a long night.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You must always act like guns and cannons are loaded and could always go off without warning." YOU WERE A SOLDIER. Oh well, he guesses it doesn't really matter when you can come back from death. Just like here.

"You bonded over stealing panties." JUST SAYING.

Nobunaga's hands shake some. He's trying REALLY HARD to keep it together and remember he doesn't in fact own the ship, world, and everyone around him has equal claim to this space and he can't, or at least shouldn't act like he can do anything he wants whenever he wants, everyone else just has to put up with it. He can't help the growly voice though, equally low to Klaus' ear. "That is exactly what I was envisioning." Yes. "Do not worry my cute fiance. Teyrey already has you covered. She wrote it into our contract I am not allowed to engage in such reckless displays unbefitting the example of leadership I wish my other officers to conduct themselves under. Even if I'd be okay with her trying the game, I am obligated to maintain a little more decorum now."

Decorum meaning not gamble his life and being eaten. He's still basically groping Klaus, but he's discreet about it with the fan and all, except that Klaus is in his lap.

"Oops?" Can't do anything about it now. They already died and came back.

"Hey. We bonded over breaking and entering. I just was like, 'Leave the shit people are gonna notice is missing. The panties are like...whatever' like a responsible uncle." That makes sense, right? Sure it does.

Klaus smiles a little cause he's very aware of exactly what he's said and done in this moment. Even if he is just generally making sure his shit-eating grin is hidden behind his hand. "Was it? How convenient for you." My cute fiance reminds him that he did propose...but the memory takes a minute to come back to him. He was so high. Do proposals count if you're high? Shit. Is he engaged for real? That was not how they saw this going. "You know I was high when I said that, right?" Just checking. JUST CHECKING. "But good on the rest of that stuff."

Except he's got to pretend even harder to not be up to something he's not supposed to. "M-maybe not...when there are children in the audience." Because he is painfully aware of this due to his collection of two teenaged friends. "I have a plan, but you have to wait. And behave yourself." Which means they have behave themselves. Really. It's a double-edged sword.

Nobunaga just laughs! "A responsible uncle, indeed. You don't think people would miss their panties?"

A beat. "Ah... do you not want to? Do I have to keep you permanently high? I can do that." Mwahahaha? But more dark evil laughs. "You expect one such as me to be well-behaved? Truly, you are either clouded by love, or an absolute optimist!" But he is! See? Look at him being good!

"Not as much as their precious belongings that cost more money." He thinks he's very responsible.

"Did you want to?" Cause that's news. Already? Klaus snorts softly. "I don't think you want me permanently high." Unless he does? Which then leads to a lot of questions. They tilt their head back enough to press a quick kiss to Nobunaga's cheek. "Yes. I do. I believe in you." Because evil as he always claims to be, he does seem to listen. "Is this just a ploy to get me to tell you I love you? Cause all you have to do is ask."

"That makes sense. I guess not everyone thinks getting fully dressed is a necessity. Hotels are like traveler brothels then?"

A blush and a small growl. "Shut up. I love you too, but I'm trying not to bite you." A HUFF. "Of course I want to." He kisses Klaus' cheek back because apparently this allowed in public, yes. "But I don't really know what it means. In the future, or here. I only know what it used to mean in my time, in Hell. So you'll have to tell me what you want it to mean and then I will make it so."

"That's not what I-" But then he pauses. "Actually...I mean...sometimes? Sometimes not, though. Like...the Hotel Oblivion is like...you could murder someone there and probably no one would say shit about it. I've done a lot of questionable shit in there. Including dying."

"That will have to wait, yes." This is definitely Klaus just staring at a space in front of them because...well, sure, the idea of marrying someone has definitely crossed their mind, but never like seriously. Maybe with Dave. But that was impossible. They couldn't really be married. "You've only known me for like...um..." How long has it been? A month? "Not very long." Maybe it doesn't matter, but there is also perhaps a slight undercurrent of anxiety about this.

"I..." He frowns slightly, hoping Nobunaga doesn't take it poorly if he's intensely awkward right now. "I don't really know what it means. I mean, my brother got married and shit? To Sloane. At the end of the world. So what do I know?" A lot of this is self doubt and a lot of this is also just having mostly forgotten he'd proposed in the first place. "What if you get tired of me? Or you find out like I'm really annoying or like...maybe I will do something stupid. I do a lot of stupid things. Also what if you realize you actually hate so many things about me and then you're already married. You should like...consider that sort of stuff."

Maybe they should just focus on the game instead. Or just throw themselves head first into the chair in front of them so it knocks them out and they can just get out of this conversation. "I don't know what I want it to mean right now. Is that okay?"

Edited 2022-11-18 04:18 (UTC)

"It has a pretty intense name. Oblivion. Seems like it would encourage death. But I've never heard of a place where murder is unquestionable. Even brothels." A beat. "Especially brothels."

But the future is pretty different.

Klaus...

Nobunaga just holds Klaus tightly around the waist, and gently rests his head on Klaus' shoulder. "You do not annoy me. You can take all the time you want. But the only part of you I don't like is the voice in you that lies to you, and says anything other than the truth: that you are the most fun entertaining individual I've ever been lucky enough to meet. And as such, I will never let you go so easily. And knowing that voice sounds like your father makes me want to shoot both. If the only reason you hesitate is because of that voice, then I will get more stubborn about wanting this, not less. Because I love you, you are my lucky number, and I will never get bored. This self doubt of yours, I will conquer as ruthlessly as you've conquered my heart. Mufufu."

"I mean, yeah. She's a great old dame. Fucking crazy ass shit happening in there." They shrug. "But like I guess they just don't ask a lot of questions and they're happy to look the other way there."

Klaus lets himself be held because he kind of likes it. Especially when he's feeling shitty about himself. Which is...right now. "What if we find out, later on, that we're just...not compatible somehow?" Even if they have actually no reason to think about that because like...they seem to be pretty good so far at just bouncing off one another. He squirms a little, she he's sitting sideways and can just more easily cuddle. Sort of.

"It's not the only reason," he says quietly. "I just...need to sort out some things in my head." They pause briefly before adding, "Not about you. About me." Cause there's definitely a lot of self reflection that they have to do before they can commit to anything serious. And they can barely take compliments right now. He sighs. "You...make me feel like I'm enough," he says quietly. "And I'm just...it's just me that makes me feel I'm not."

There's a long silence after that. "I want to know everything about you. Even the stuff you don't like about yourself. I want to know it. I want the time to know more. So someone isn't like, 'Do you even know his favorite color?' and I am just staring in confusion. And looking stupid." A beat. "And I kind of want proposing to you to mean more than just me being some high asshole in love with garlic bread. Even if someone bringing you garlic bread when you're high is probably a fucking good enough reason."

"Sounds like fun. I want to see it someday." Along with basically everything else ever.

Nobunaga laughs softly at the question. "Then we'll deal with it. Or split then." Nobunaga's red eyes flicker softly in amusement. "Like I said, take all the time you want. It's something I actually have the luxury of, for once." And he gently kisses Klaus' nose tip. "You're more than I could have ever deserved and I'll work every day to prove to you even if you don't think you're enough, you're more than I could have even know I wanted." Chu!

"I will keep you in steady supply of garlic bread then," a giant smirk like that's all it takes to bribe this negotiation the way Nobunaga wants. "My favorite color is red." Because duh. "Though I'm partial to everything bright and flashy. The tenshu -- the top of my demon king tower in Azuchi castle is red. But there's also blue and yellow, because I gave Akechi a headache with how flashy I wanted it. He was my architect for it. And I even like the pastels of konpeito. Remember it." A light tap with his fan to Klaus' nose tip. "You may woo me more formally however you wish." Because the idea is hilarious. Nobunaga has never been in a position to be proposed to before, probably why he took the garlic bread proposal so seriously. "The things I don't like about myself... I believe you already know. Another reason I am not so concerned that you will change your mind or grow to detest me even more than Kichou." A nod. And a headtilt. "But I still don't know what future marriage usually entails."

"I want to show it to you someday. If I can." But he doubts it. Unless they figure something out.

Klaus nods. That's a reasonable thing to do. Marriage makes it weirdly complicated, so probably best to know before marriage. They smile. Both at the words and at the kiss to his nose, even if they do scrunch up their nose about it. "You deserve good things, too," he insists, letting his hand come to rest over Nobunaga's heart. "You're enough for me, too. More than." A pause. "Even if I will smack you if you put yourself in unnecessary danger again outside of the other stuff." But if there's a fight, he knows he can't expect him not to fight. It's both frustrating and somehow endearing. "I know I can't stop you from being a big damn hero...and I wouldn't want to take that from you. It doesn't mean I'm super excited about you dying more."

This does draw out a laugh from him. "Bribing me with garlic bread, I see." Red. Klaus notes that and the other colors, smiling somewhat. Even the pastels, nose wrinkling again at the finger tapping his nose. "It's because it's candy, isn't it?" He cuddles in closer. "I bet I could bribe you with candy," he says quietly. "My favorite is...probably purple? I think. But I don't wear a lot of it. Weirdly. Usually a lot of yellows and blues and...so much black."

But there's a nod. He does know quite a lot about the killing his brother stuff and all the other stuff. "Usually it's not as political. At least in America? I mean, there's probably rich people making deals with other rich people. But in general, it's just like...two people being in love with each other. Most people don't get married as quick as Luther and Sloane, but they're usually big deals with flowers and fancy dresses and people. But you can also like just get married in a courtroom and throw a party after."

"I'll put it on the list. After conquering Delos and seeing space." A nod.

There's an intense urge to deny that Nobunaga deserves good things. He doesn't. But this is a fight they'll always have. Klaus deserves good things and has the same fight. So they will fight each other's inner demons, the best Nobunaga can do is help Klaus with that. Set a role model, as he would for his soldiers on war things. And a laugh about unnecessary danger. "Sounds like a nagging spouse already." He's giddy. The idea of a marriage not like with Kichou which would have always been a fight to the death, trying to figure out what was the best or only livable way to resolve things; but with Klaus it was just like floating. Breezy, easy, weightless.

"You probably could bribe me with konpeito, yeah. That's what the Christians did. I sold the country for candy," a playful smirk, because obviously that wasn't exactly it. "You'd look good in more purple. It is the color of Roman royalty, is it not?" Though Roman history and him have a tenuous relationship at best, since there's even less access to it than everything else in his time.

"Flowers and fancy dresses, huh? Do you know what kind of dress you'd want? I will keep on a lookout for one to replace the Halloween one. A better one. Maybe ask Siffleur to let me know if anything looks interesting." Give how he was distracted and died among panties. As one does.

“Fair. What’s Delos, though?”

He nearly laughs about being considered a nagging spouse already. “Hey, now. It’s normal to not want your boyfriend to be hurt. And it’s hot nagging spouse to you.” Because Mr or Ms doesn’t work here. Not in their mind. “I’ll also accept Your Grace or Your future royal highness or Hot Demon Tamer.”

Klaus smiles a little. “Just wait. There’s so much candy in this world. I bet I could find more. Keep you in candy and sweets. I’m very dangerous like that.” They nod at the question about Roman royalty. “Yeah. But like everyone wears it in the future, too.”

“To attend a wedding? Or for our potential future wedding?” He’s pretty sure neither are in the Tommy Bahama. “And all the dresses from Spirit are just like…costumes I thought you’d enjoy.”

"Maeve's world. It's super fucked up, even by Hell's standards. So I'm going to conquer it and destroy the infrastructure that makes so abhorrent. Everything the castes are in Hell, but worse."

Nobunaga slowly grins and then blushes, glancing all tsun tsun to the side. "Yeah, hot Demon Tamer. Future royal highness." And gently kisses Klaus' cheek! CHU!

A small laugh, still not glancing back yet. "Okay, keep me in candy. I will fight your demon with garlic bread and you can eternally conquer me with candy." More laughs, because that is hilarious.

"Ah really, it's common? We don't have anything for that color dye. Plums would be a bit exorbitant just for dye, though I suppose one could use the pickle juice, but pink is a lot easier. And already very popular. Why don't you wear it more often?"

Finally composed again, Nobunaga does grin at Klaus, "I have no doubt I shall," he gently takes Klaus' hand in his and kisses the top tenderly. "Whichever you prefer. Our own or others, if that's easier for you to contemplate."

"Ohh." That makes a lot more sense why he'd want to go there first, then. Cause he always wants to destroy stuff like that. Which is why he's cute. Cause he always wants to make things better for people. Even if it costs him a lot.

"I knew you'd like those ones." Klaus smiles a little. It's perhaps a little less daunting now to consider the possibility that they could marry. Eventually. One day. If Nobunaga is considering them as technically engaged...then it's just like...a really long engagement or whatever.

"Yeah. It is. Dyes have gotten a little more better and the green ones used to kill people, but not anymore." He shrugs. "I dunno. Do you like pink? I could wear more if you like it." It isn't like Klaus dislikes pink. He just somehow always ends up in yellows, oranges, and blues.

They smile at the kiss to the back of their hand and the hand holding in general. "Well, others you can wear any color as long as it's like...not white. Usually. But these are all guys getting married, so that probably doesn't matter. I know other cultures don't do white at weddings for...reasons. But usually the dress is white or off white because purity or whatever, but I'm not really into purity culture and so I'd probably wear whatever I wanted. Basically. Some people wear other colors, too. Some even do themed weddings! Like based off movies or books they like."

"You know me pretty well, see?" Nobunaga couldn't resist.

"I like pink," a nod, "It's more of a princess color. Oichi's favorite. But cherry blossoms are national pride, so it's used to try to soften things. I tend to be a bit more brutal than someone who can easily deal with such softness without worry of crushing it. But I can take that risk with you. You bounce back stronger."

A quiet hum. "Interesting. It's usually red in Japan. And in Hell, the women wear a tsunokakushi to hide her demon's horns. We should do a themed wedding. Based on candy." Flawless.

"Yeah. I do." It's true.

Klaus snorts softly. "A princess color." But that really doesn't stop him from liking the color. Pink can be nice when it's the right shade. He studies Nobunaga a moment. "I do handle brutality pretty well. For the most part." From Nobunaga, it's usually not like 'trying to murder him'. It's just trying to fuck him up a little...for fun.

They laugh a little at the comment about a candy themed wedding. "All pastels to make the konpeito, huh?" They press their face against his neck. "I can do whatever, though."

"Just remember your safeword."

Such a normal thing to say.

"It doesn't have to be pastels. It could be purple. There's all purple konpeito. Just the best ones are multicolored." Nobunaga leans his head against Klaus' and is just unbelievably ridiculously happy. This could all end in horror in a few moments, and the knowledge keeps him stubbornly towards bliss.

"I know my safeword," he assures him. If things get a little too much, they'll use it, but it hasn't so far.

Klaus nods. "I like the pastels. Pastel rainbow." He is also happy here because Nobunaga knows how to make him feel better even just...existing in his space. If someone told them they would be in a relationship and feeling this way this fast before last month, Klaus probably would have laughed at them. But he's here and it doesn't make any fucking logical sense, but he's happy.

"I love you."

"Love you too, babe." He is now just contemplating pastel rainbows, and other candy themed things. Like decorations and all the rest. Sounds awesome.

A candy wedding. Perfect.

He is a grown ass genocidal warlord. Also secretly five inside. And not really secretly. More like in that way he calls things secret and they're not really.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

YOU'RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject