sticksandbones | Now Kiss!

Now Kiss!

Who: The Entire (Adult*) Population of the Grove
What: Spin the Bottle Round Three
When: Somewhere in Magic Month
Where: The Inn Lobby
Warnings: Magic will probably go haywire because what's funnier than your emotions spiking and making your windy magic go woosh

*Younger muses can set up their own Spin the Bottle behind the Inn or whatever. Be some punk little rebels I don't care, I'm not your dad.

After two months of terror, it's time for a little whimsy — or so Luca Aurelius says, at least. And since Ain is a perpetual bad influence on him, Luca defaults to the most menacing game he knows: spin the bottle.

The rules are simple, plop down in the middle of a circle and get comfortable. Or maybe you got roped into this by a friend and now you're trying to put on a brave face? Either way, it's time to wait: the bottle will land on you eventually, right?. At that point, the rules are simple: kiss!

You can be brave about it and lock lips, or something mildly more. Or if you're trying to play it cool, a kiss on the hand or cheek should suffice. Luca isn't really enforcing any strict rules. The bastard isn't even playing, what the hell.

(Or, to put it all simply and break the fourth wall: drop your character. Add a little description about their behavior/demeanor prior to the kiss, if you want. Then, wait for someone to tag you, while you do some tagging out of your own! Spinning the bottle is a mutual affair, after all. Just remember to take any escalations off comms and to your inboxes, you fucking menaces)

Hope you're ready to resolve some of that tension you've been ignoring!

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Well, that's fine. But I don't mind helping you clean up a little, especially if you're as bad as you say at keeping spaces clean.

[No offense, but.

Now that he's in here, though, he'll let the door shut behind him as he surveys the damage, a hand in one pocket.]

I never got this impression from my stay at the Hotel, you know. Every room there was spotless, other than the dust from general disuse.

Yeah, 'cause... I can keep other spaces clean, especially if they're not mine, but keeping my own clean is impossible for me. I dunno why, but I just sort of give up if it's something for me, since I know where everything is. Like, something in my brain just goes "I don't really care" and that's how you get this. My room at Hotel Z was the same.

[Babe that's depression. Specifically the type of depression where you have to mask as Not Depressed to other people and it's easier to care for others than it is yourself. You have this. Go to Mizuki-]

Hm...

[His eyes scan the room, taking in the various states of disarray that Urbain has left it in and, well...it's not the worst he's ever seen, but it's also not good.

Sighing, Corbeau adjusts his glasses before rolling up his sleeves.]

Well, it seems the only solution for this is for me to move back in. Then, you'll be needing to keep my space clean as well. You understand?

Now come on, this room isn't going to tidy itself.

Whuhuh—

[What do you mean what huh excuse him pardon what]

O-okay but, the room's not that big, right? So we should... get two beds, like— 'cause I mean you don't want to share a bed with me and my nightmares again, do you?

If that was going to be a problem, I would have mentioned it at the jump.

[He's already moving around and picking up bits of trash as he goes so he can throw them away. Easiest thing to do to start, if nothing else.]

Going to the trouble of dragging a second bed in here makes no sense. At that point it would make more sense to get a bigger room, or better yet your own building.

[Corbeau continues as he works, eventually picking up the trashcan to bring along with him as he swipes crumpled up paper into it.]

Start picking up these clothes, don't just stand there!

Eek—! Y-yes Sir!!

[He's grabbing the clothes he's sorry he's throwing them into the hamper to be washed since they were on the floor and strewn about the furniture, he's so sorry he will be so good and do his laundry and remember to put it away this time please be nice to him—]

[Good. They'll tidy the room in silence for a bit, at least until the immediate area no longer has clutter all over the place. Some furniture needs to be readjusted, and he thinks the room could use a good dusting...he'll have to check the bathroom too, since he imagines it's in the same sort of state.]

...of course, if the real issue is me staying here, then you need to tell me now.

[The bathroom trash is overflowing and there's toothpaste stains in the sink, and water droplets dried on the mirror, but it's in a lot better of a state than the bedroom on a technicality! A very slim technicality.

The question makes him fidget, because logically Urbain does want this — he's so down stupid for Corbeau it's insane — but part of him doesn't want this so he can continue to pretend he's putting ~distance~ between them. This guy is twice his age and scary and out of Urbain's league, and Urbain's sort of a loser with no real direction in his life. Who wants someone like that? He's not about to force his stupid feelings onto Corbeau!

In the end, though, logic does not win out.]

I don't... have an issue with it. I wouldn't even let you come in if I did.

[So sorry Urbain, but you're not subtle, and he is on to you. Maybe if you were better at keeping your emotions hidden, Corbeau would have remained none the wiser forever...but you've got him thinking about it.

Quite a lot, actually.

So when Urbain confirms that it's fine, Corbeau's frown shifts back into a smile as he finishes picking up the last of the trash in the main room before moving to the bathroom, keeping the door open so they can continue their conversation.]

That settles that, then. I'll bring my things back in this evening, if that's alright with you. Scolipede is going to miss having half the bed to himself, but he'll get over it.

O-oh, yeah, it's chill. Might wanna get him a big ol' pet bed, though. His own little space. And maybe I could convince Meowstic to not sleep on my chest and go bother him instead.

[Meowstic will Consider this, probably, maybe, maybe not.]

Uh, I'd better make room in the dresser again, though. I sorta moved stuff back over haphazardly after you dipped.

[To the dresser! To reorganize! Except these are super empty because he hasn't done laundry heyo.]

[Realistically, the Pokemon are still going to want to sleep with them...that's just how it goes. You know, until it gets to a point where they Need To Leave, but Corbeau is still working on getting to that part.

For now, he'll work at giving the sink a good wipe-down, because he knows that even if things like toothpaste stains and water marks are easy to miss, you don't realize just how much cleaner it can get until they've been wiped up properly.]

That's fine. I can wait to bring clothes over if needed, it isn't an issue. And I can always bring over the dresser from my room...it may fit.

[Oh so you complain about a second bed but another dresser is fine, slut.]

N-no, it's good, I got it. See? I mean you can't see 'cause you're in the bathroom I'm sorry by the way but you'll see. I gotta take my laundry downstairs to get it all started, but the same half of the dresser you had before can be yours again.

[...]

And if you gotta drag in another dresser, I might as well ask Mr. Heimr to make the room bigger, you know! So we're back to square one on this.

Fine...if you're sure. But it's like I said, there's no point in making an Inn room bigger. You'd be better off getting your own place.

[Your own house....perhaps............WINK.....

He tosses some paper towels in the trashcan once he's done wiping the bathroom down, starting to organize the products next.]

[He wouldn't know :( he's never thought of home ownership that's like big steps and Urbain only ever takes very small ones :(

Anyway, he uh. Shuffles on to make sure the underside of the bed is trash-free.]

I don't know how home ownership works, I dunno, I think I'd get lonely without people really close by. I've only ever lived with others except when I was little and it was just me and mom.

[And then he squishes himself out from under the bed.]

[Hm. Well, that's fine...Corbeau isn't about to assume Urbain would be ready to make that kind of leap, even if things were different between them. He was already depressed enough having to be alone by obligation when they'd been tasked to kill each other, so he can only imagine that being in a room alone hasn't been much better on his mental state.

That is something Corbeau can fix, if nothing else.]

Well, it doesn't sound like it's going to be a problem either way.

[He sighs, adjusting his glasses again as he takes a moment to give the room another once over.]

This is looking a lot better. The room itself needs dusting, but other than that the trash is gone. That's the most important thing.

Y-yeah... thanks for the help. That got done fast.

[Urbain is sitting on the floor here, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. It's really hard to look at Corbeau after the man just helped clean his room, but...]

I'm gonna take the trash down and do my laundry. Uh, sir. [Is he still sir...]

Not that I’m going to complain about it, but…if we’re going back to living together, you can skip the formalities. It’s Corbeau.

[He tilts his head, his smile dangerous.]

If I’m having you call me “sir”, it’s when you’ll know you’re in real trouble.

[please cease being attractive in front of him his brain literally cannot handle it.]

S...sure. Okay. ...I'm gonna! Do laundry bye.

[he needs to be out of this room for fifteen minutes—]

[ :)

To his credit, Corbeau actually lets Urbain go this time. He’ll busy himself with transporting his own clothing back over from his room to Urbain’s, folding them up neatly in the drawer.

Well, getting to share the room again is a step. Probably not a step Urbain would have ever taken on his own, but a step nonetheless.]

[Girl he is crashing out. He is down in the inn laundry room putting things away and just yapping quietly to Floette about how he's down horrendous and they kissed and he liked it and he wasn't intending any of this to happen and and and— meanwhile she simply spins in place and emotes sometimes. There there. Tiny hand on your head, shh, it is okay.]

And I should get him like flowers but I don't know if guys like flowers or if I'm crazy. [She chirps.] Yeah, but a zen garden is different from flowers! You like flowers, you probably have advice.

[She spins. Then points out the window.]

Wildflowers...? Yeah, maybe. ...not right now. I gotta go upstairs. I gotta plan.

[She's just looking at him like boy?? But he's taken the trash out and done the laundry and his face is super stupidly red, so.

Yeah nothing has changed. Up to the room he goes.]

[Corbeau is having himself a little relaxing sit in the recliner in the corner of the room when Urbain returns. He somehow manages to look like a mafia guy sitting in the corner waiting for the protagonist to walk in, except he doesn’t plan to use his gun on Urbain any time soon thank God.]

There you are. I was starting to think you fell in the washer.

[obviously Corbeau has to do the full godfather chair turn with Meowstic in his lap now.

Urbain sort of just. Trips into bed and sits there. Floette is looking at this man like she's mad her son won't fess up.]

Nah, just uh... Got distracted.

[...]

So. Breakfast tomorrow! Whatcha want bestie.

[Still in the bestie zone, huh? Well, it’s better than Urbain being completely petrified to talk to him.]

Hm…I have been missing your croissants…

[do you want him to open this with babe??? They aren't dating Urbain just is down stupid. You're not babe yet you're bestie.]

Word, let me get some dough going do it rises in time then.

[and then he pauses. And then grins as he gets up.]

Let me get some dough going dough it rises in time. [that was bad and he knows it]

[Listen if you slipped and called him babe he would have just been extremely amused by it.

Instead…Corbeau is heaving a sigh through his nose as he pinches the bridge of it.]

That may have been less horrible if you’d used the pun your first time saying it.

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