[log] Inncoming [open]

[swatsflies]

Characters: Sad Losers and Guests
Location The Hotel (162)
Date: Various times during days 124 - 125
Summary: Hanging out, giving out keys, and being sad.
Warnings: Dumb Teens, Grumpire, Brian, a lack of symmetry, and anything else.



A hotel--the Norfinbury Inn. By hotel standards, it's not especially large, but it's the largest building in the downtown area. The lobby is mostly empty and seems a bit old-fashioned in design, with what appear to be wooden floors and fairly plain walls. There are a few cozy areas where people can sit, and a fireplace in the center that, while it has no wood, is in perfect working order. The front desk has nothing of note except for all the keycards to the various rooms of the hotel. It looks like there are a total of twenty rooms. There is no elevator--looks like you'll have to use the stairs the old-fashioned way.

There is a small dining room area, although there are no tables or chairs to be found. The room echoes uncomfortably due to its emptiness. It connects to a small industrial kitchen, although there is no longer any food or appliances to be found. It seems like the ovens and stoves were cut out of their places. The sinks still work, at least. There is also a door that unlocks with a management keycard that can be found in the lobby that leads downstairs.

The basement is very simple. It's colder down here than in the rest of the building, and utilitarian in style. There's a small break room, a laundry room that no longer has any of its machinery but does have large rolling baskets for moving clothes in bulk (that refuse to leave the hotel, unfortunately) and some cleaning carts devoid of cleaning supplies (that are just as stubborn as the clothes baskets). There's a small room with space for what must have once been a furnace--and an actual very old-fashioned incinerator. It's not on, of course, but if a fire were started manually, it would still function. There's nothing inside it.

The first floor of the hotel contains rooms 101 to 110. There are five single rooms and five double rooms. All of the plumbing works, though the water runs cold. The second floor, containing rooms 201 to 210, is identical to the first floor, except for one door that has no key, only a note on the front: "All at once, use the keys". There's no place to insert any keys, however.

Tied to the knob of the front door is various eating utensils, nails, screws, and a spare house key. Looks like someone rigged a doorbell to be alerted to newcomers. The fire is going in the lobby, and there appears to be a mattress close to it.

((OOC: Miiiingling. Toss up your own starters))

Comments

Night 125 or Wildcard - OTA!

[rattlingthestars]

[ There are four monsters outside.

It's not hitting Jim has hard as it usually does, since he wasn't the one having to run this time, but it's still a steady presence in his head that's difficult to ignore as he sits on the mattress by the small fire.

He's trying to keep an eye on the door and an eye on the people he doesn't know as well even when he's clearly working on something that should be taking up more of his attention.

That something is three or four cans of something called campbell's that he's emptying into a pot and holding over the fire. The cans had promised beef stew and for once he can't complain about the results, though he does keep hissing and cursing in an alien language every time his hands accidentally get too close to the fire. After one such incident he's looking around for help and thrusting the pot at whoever's closest. ]

Ow - can you hold this a second?

ON A SCALE OF ONE THROUGH TEN- let me know if this is okay

[swatsflies]

[Zell can tell just how on edge his boyfriend is. From how he keeps shifting his attention between guests and monsters. Thankfully he hasn't managed to cut himself on the open cans, but the cursing is enough to get Zell in motion to stand beside him quick.

Not exactly what he wanted Jim to thrust at him, but he'll take it. Shifting the pot over to one hand as he reached out to hook his his fingers in Jim's belt to keep him there.]

Hold on. [Leaning down to place the pot on the edge of the fire place. It'll probably be okay to stay close to the heat, but his priorities at to Jim first. Once he was sure the pot and boyfriend weren't going anywhere, he's pulling Jim close by his belt.

Inspecting his fingers until he finds the burnt one to place into his mouth. It's what he used to do every time he got any burns or wounds on his fingers. Lifting Jim's other hand to inspect each of his fingers to be sure it's okay. Then he'll set him free, but hold his own finger up.]

Stay. [He says it quickly as he leans forward to give him a quick smooch on the cheek before he's ducking away to his bag to grab a bag of snow. Thankfully he didn't have far to go. Once the snow was procured, he wraps it with a dish cloth. Taking quick strides back to Jim and holding it out.] Here.

/baps

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim had been half-expecting a stranger; Zell's voice causes his mouth to turn up into a smile. Well, good thing it was Zell; anyone else trying to grab his belt would be in for a punch, and he's not too bad at throwing those these days. Jim tries to shake the sting out of his hand before handing it over to Zell for inspection and then -

Oh.

Well, that's nice. It's... yep. Nice. ]

- Or I could burn the rest of them! [ Jim calls after him, though when Zell gets back he hasn't actually moved to do any such thing. He accepts the cloth and wraps it around the handle. ] Better. Thanks.

/boops

[swatsflies]

[ Jim’s smile is contagious. A glance to the pot to make sure it’s still okay as he helps himself to putting his hands on Jim’s hips. Tilting his head as he thinks about Jim’s words again. ]

You know you don’t need an excuse to put them in my mouth. [ Leaning close to kiss the side of Jim’s face. ] If you really want them, you can feed more fruit. [ Sorry Jim, he’s not really minding that they are in the lobby with a chance of anyone walking in on them. Lowering his voice for Jim’s ears only just in case anyone actually was around ] Do you trust me, Stars?

nope, wasn't satisfied with that care.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim hides his face with his free hand, half turning away from Zell, because yep. In the middle of a lobby, surrounded by people, Zell. Grumpire people. Jim clears his throat. ]

-Depends.

[ That comes out louder than he meant it. Jim clears his throat and lowers his voice, though it doesn't do much to help with the squeaking: ] .Trust you to what, exactly?

;D

[swatsflies]

[ As far as Zell is concerned, they are the only two there. The only two that really matter at the moment anyways. Though that is an interesting reaction from his boyfriend. Moving his hands from Jim's hips to slide slowly around to his back. Feeling along his spine as he keeps his voice low. ] With you. With your back.

[ Nodding towards the windows. ] I'll stay close by and make sure they're staying out there. I'll also keep an eye on our guests. You worry about your fingers and the soup.

[ Bumping his face affectionately against the side of Jim's face. ]

'thanks for watching my back.' 'it's a pleasure.'

[rattlingthestars]

[ If Zell was hoping to get more flushing, he's doing a good job of it, though the content of his words at least distract Jim. ]

Don't exactly want you to be the first in line if things go bad.

[ Ideally, Beckett would be, but Jim'd still like to be eaten ahead of Zell.

You know, if he had a choice. ]

I ALMOST LOST THIS ONE ;-;

[swatsflies]

[ Resting his hands low on Jim's back, not really risking doing anything more because there was still soup that could over cook. It is pretty tempting to drag Jim off some where to distract him long enough so he'll relax. He knows he felt some knots already. ]

I'll stay close. [ So he wouldn't exactly be the first. But he might try to be first if it means saving his friends or Jim. Not saying that out loud though. ]

Want to read for a bit after dinner? Just the two of us in one of the rooms upstairs. [ He really does mean just to read and relax, but wouldn't be against to reading and chill. Nuzzling against his ear. ]

please don't i would be sad

[rattlingthestars]

Good. I want to keep an eye on you.

[ Is Jim being literal or joking? No telling by his tone, until he stumbles over the end and half-laughs.

He catches Zell's second possible meaning, too, but lets it slide until they are alone. ]

Sounds nice. We still have anything we haven't read yet?

I SEE THAT SOUP PROMPT

[bookofnope]

[It's the fire, more than the boy next to it, that keeps Beckett hovering at a respectful distance away. He's in a deep dilemma. Though the sight of it no longer sends him into a frenzy of terror, he's still deeply uncomfortable with fire, staring at it like a long-tailed cat at a rocking chair. On the other, the fire is warm, it's warm even at this distance. And whatever Jim is cooking over the fire smells like - oh, God - it smells rich and meaty and absolutely overwhelming.

Don't ask Beckett when or how he's started inching closer. He barely knows himself. He just does. He could not possibly care less about what Jim had to say about it. That is, of course, until Jim tries to hand him the pot. DON'T DO IT JIM HE'LL EAT EVERYTHING.]

What is that? [He doesn't hold out any hands to take what is offered. He knows he won't be able to resist it if he does.]

looking up the last time they talked and crying a little

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim starts, sending a few drops of the stew sloshing onto the hearth, and glares up at Beckett as if it's his fault. He'd been expecting someone else, apparently, though he couldn't say who. Definitely not Beckett.

The sight of someone he doesn't particularly like does a lot to toughen Jim up; he puts the pot down by the hearth and shakes his hand without another comment about it even though it really stings. No showing weakness!

Jim glances down at the pot and back at Beckett and, in a mock-helpful tone, says: ]

On my planet we call it 'soup.'

[bookofnope]

I know what soup is. [And he knows that Jim dislikes him, although for his part he hasn't nursed that grudge overmuch. Jim is just a boy. Whatever they don't see eye to eye on can't be all that important. The business with the ghosts... was meaningless, in the end, it wouldn't have yielded any better answers than anything else.

So he only sounds a little counter-mocking, not truly hostile. The scent of the soup is still pulling him by the nose, and he's much more interested in it than in Jim's hand. He edges just the slightest bit closer to the pot again. What does he need to say to get his hands on a cup? He'll do it.]

I've never had any out of a tin before. It smells like it might actually taste of something.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim's not really sure what to do with a grudge that's not evenly matched. He's built Beckett up in his mind, after the ghost incident and what he did to Quark and what he'd said to Zell, that once, and he's expecting something with a little more, uh, tooth.

It leaves him off balance and blinking at the lack of an insult, expressive face open and genuinely surprised for a moment before it closes back down again; all of this is accomplished by maneuvering bushy eyebrows all over the place. ]

-Doesn't look too bad I guess.

[ Though Jim is much more interested in the fact that Beckett is moving closer to him. He's not quite looking around for Zell yet, but it's a near thing. ]

-Did you, uh-?

[bookofnope]

[Beckett silently watches the Eyebrow Dance unfold. He's a little amused by that outright surprise, not even in a smug way; he understands Jim's dilemma here. It's not every day that your bogeyman turns up looking more than a bit worse for wear and maybe asking you politely for some soup. Being a bit thrown in a reasonable response. He no longer cares very much about scaring anyone - scaring people is an effort, head games are effort, he is a zero effort vampire right now - but here there's something almost... well.]

- want some soup? Yes, thank you. I don't persist on pure spite, you know. [And still not hostile. The ribbing is almost gentle. Even Zell might approve.] Though it is flattering that you think so.

[Yeah. He means that. For all his pride, Beckett is acutely aware of being an absolute wreck. It's nice to occasionally be reminded that he used to be anyone's bogeyman.]

[rattlingthestars]

-offers soup, something about empathy

--

[ Jim's not great at reading people, but he's good enough to know that he's amusing Beckett, somehow. He's even worse at realizing when he's not exactly being laughed at, so his expression finally settles into something grudging after all. Still, nothing Beckett's said is threatening or openly mocking - ]

Yeah, sometimes you supplement with piano blood, right?

[ - So Jim's response is only a little hostile. Practically friendly, for Jim, who's setting aside the pot to rummage in his own bag again.

(Beckett may be gratified to note that Jim does so without fully turning his back or eye to the vampire.)

He comes back with a mug, which he pours a generous portion of stew into before setting it on the floor between them. ]

-Here. Let me know how it tastes.

[bookofnope]

[Ouch. That shot hits, and Beckett's face shows as much. He's not feeling particularly guilty or regretful of the piano blood incident, but to remark on it is always, in his mind, to remark on the spiral of physical deterioration he hasn't been able to break since. And that always smarts. He flashes his fangs at Jim in a quick grimace, less threat than acknowledgement.]

Touche.

[Which might mean don't push your luck, boy. But he will let it slide, along with most everything else, at the sight of the full mug. He's cautious as he takes it, still wary, by instinct, of unfamiliar scents and flavours. But that does thankfully mean he doesn't burn his tongue on the stew; and as he takes a sip something eases throughout his body language, spine and shoulders loosening. The thickness of the soup, the rich, salty flavour... it isn't what he wants, nothing is, but it's the closest he's come yet.

He lets out a quiet sigh, and for a long minute sits there, head lowered, eyes half-shut, trying for every bit of calm and comfort he can get from this closeness. Trying.]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim's hand tenses around the handle of the pot when Beckett shows his fangs, and stays tense for longer than the apparent non-threat really warrants. He catches the implication - when has he ever, in his life, not pushed his luck - and gives Beckett a baleful stare as he hands over the soup.

As Beckett eases, so does something in Jim, though. His tension is never really gone these days, but his jacket is no longer up around his ears as he spoons out a portion for himself and abandons the pot on the hearth.

It is, quite simply, the best thing Jim's ever tasted. Or, at least, he thinks so right now, after months of nothing like it. Beckett's relaxation may be interrupted by the surprised, contented noise Jim makes. ]

-Didn't think it was going to be that good.

WILDCARD Night 124: Closed to Jim

[swatsflies]

[ Zell takes the steps two at a time without any care for being quiet. He's fairly certain everyone but Mochi is up anyways. From where he stood, he catches sight of his boyfriend in the lobby. His face is lit by the flames and it's enough to keep Zell rooted to the spot to enjoy the view. All the tension from his conversation with Zack drains from him. Jim is still here and still alive. ]

Hey. [ He says it quietly as he crosses the space between them to sit down next to him. Zell didn't realize how cold he was until the felt the warmth from the fire close by. He’s in the shorts and a tank top, which might provide a sneak peek of a splash of color that’s brand new on his chest. Throwing an arm across Jim's back and gently leaning against him. ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim wasn't expecting to see Zell for a few more hours, yet. He'd set himself up by the dying remains of the fire, both for the warmth and the light, and he's half-laying on the mattress with a book. He jerks into a sitting position when he hears someone on the stairs, but relaxes again when Zell comes into view.

Zell's bare shoulders are the first thing Jim notices. Frowning, he wordlessly retrieves his coat to put it around his boyfriend. It's when he's trying to settle it on Zell's shoulders that he notices the bruise. His frown deeps as he reaches out to run a finger over it - no pressure, just a brush of skin. ]

Sunshine?

[swatsflies]

[ He relaxes more and more seeing that Jim is real and he can feel all of that. The weight of the coat brings a smile to his face as he pulls it close. Resting the side of his head on Jim's shoulder as he sighs contently. This is nice. ]

Hmm? [ He tries to look down on his chest and it takes a moment to click to what Jim is asking. It's the color is a lot more noticeable than he thought it would be. ] S'not as bad as it looks. [ He'll probably feel in more in the morning. ] I surprised Zack earlier.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim has to twist his neck uncomfortably to see the bruise again. He tugs a little at Zell's shirt, trying to get a good look even as he winces at the explanation. ]

He got Hiro in the eye for that once.

[ So chest - as long as Zell doesn't have any cracked bones - isn't as bad as it could be. ]

What happened?

[swatsflies]

[ Pressing a kiss against his shoulder as he lets go of Jim. Scooting on the mattress until he's facing his boyfriend. Pressing their knees together to keep some physical contact. ]

When you guys were drawing on them, right? [ Tugging down on his collar to let Jim have a good look at it. ]

I peeked in on them when I was looking for you. Had to be sure they were still alive and actually here.

[rattlingthestars]

Yeah, right before you got here.

[ Jim peers at it closely, trying to assess how bad it is in the unsteady light of the fire. He gently runs a hand over it, watching for a reaction from Zell. ]

It was my turn to watch. [ Otherwise, he would've been right by Zell's side. ] Nightmares?

[swatsflies]

[ Folding his hand over Jim's as he gives a nod of his head. He does remember, and belatedly he remembers that Jim didn't seem proud of that moment. Lifting his hand up to press a kiss against his palm. ]

Yeah. [ Poking Jim in the chest as he recalls the panic feeling he woke up. Talking to Zack helped at first, but seeing Jim is helping ease it away. ] You were taken.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Taken. From Zell, by a monster, by the admin again...? In the end, it doesn't really matter, does it? Just the fear of losing each other does, and Jim knows how powerless they are against that. ]

I'm here. [ It's useless, but true. For as long as Jim can be, he'll be at Zell's side. ] And yeah, it wasn't exactly our finest hour. You need some of your pills?