( OPEN ) AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES...?

[regression]

WHO: Whoever wants to be involved!
WHERE: Serene
WHEN: Before the imminent jailing, leading up to the jailing.
WHAT: An open house for Han Sooyoung Corporation, which is an apartment complex renovated for fellow Restless! While Sooyoung, Dokja, and Joonghyuk have invited a few for the initial wave, they want to see if others may be interested which may be followed with a public network post later in the month after all the event things.

As a note, while this is a light-hearted gathering where Joonghyuk, Sooyoung, and Dokja consider housing logistics, the Hierarchy guards will come in and arrest criminals somewhere midway... Sometimes you drew blood and must face the consequences.

If characters found interest in joining just from the open house alone, feel free to submit a form, but as Sooyoung and Joonghyuk will be jailed for a portion of the event, Dokja will be the contact for house things.

This post is also FFA!

WARNINGS: will be updated if anything comes up!

STOP BEING HOMELESS TODAY!

Wherever you are in the Stygia, you'll find a flyer that notes a refuge for Restless from other worlds. It is better to combat the Netherworld, its curses, and its beasts in numbers, no? Hopefully here you can form bonds with those who share the same space, that is what the flyer tries to sell you. An address is penned after its pitch, a building found in the calm of Serene.

The building towers over, floors overtaken by vines with no end and hanging plants, but it seems to be spruced up a bit compared to other forsaken lands. The yard has been manicured with grass leveled like someone bought a lawnmower for this occasion (they didn't). The doors are open for those who wish to take a tour of the floors, granted they will find Floor 3's Suite 1 locked. The rest are free for perusal and they are in good form, though empty aside from wild greens and beds.

Most of the action is on the yard, anyway... What with the wafting aroma of food, the sound of popping kernels, and the wonky projector that plays some movies from Mirth's notice board.

NETFLIX & FEAR?

The projector isn't the best quality... It really did seem like someone haggled their way to get it, however, and it plays while being attached to someone's phone which somehow has a USB slotted in. Netherworld technology really is interesting? Swathes of blankets are placed on the floor for all to lodge and enjoy the movies with sweet and salty popcorn (maybe tomato flavor, there are a lot of flavors) to munch.

The movie list can be found here (with whatever you can think of):

✦ Paranormal Activity
✦ The Blair Witch Project
✦ It
✦ The Ring
✦ Cargo
✦ Black Swan

✦ Us
✦ Nope
✦ The Cabin in the Woods
✦ Beetlejuice
✦ The Interview with the Vampire
✦ Shark movies (Jaws, Sharknado, etc.)

Outside of popcorn, there is stew and bread available for feast. It's delicious despite its simple presentation. While a bowl warms the heart and the stomach, it won't be washing away whatever jealousy y'all fostering. Weirdos. There are also dumplings, though one out of every twelve is extremely spicy.

No, there is no alcohol unless someone else brings it with them.

— ✤ —
Remember that the Hierarchy will be busting in later in the open house to arrest people, just to reference in threads if necessary! For characters interested in joining the house, feel free to submit a form to this page or wait until the network post later in the month.

Comments

[appeale]

[ a little absent-mindedly while they go through the list: ] No, this kind of technology didn't exist when I was alive.

[ let's see... anything she's wholly unfamiliar with is out, since there's no way of knowing how bad it will be. she does really like Black Swan, but it's too depressing and too real to be watching at a party. Paranormal Activity has too many jumpscares, and honestly, The Ring freaks her out no matter how many times she sees it. Beetlejuice, maybe? and Sharknado... is also stupid enough to be viable. ]

Maybe... one of these two? They look a little less scary than the others...

[lackluster]

I wouldn't be surprised if Fontaine had something similar to this, but...

[ That doesn't really help them with their current predicament. Luckily, it seems she's managed to narrow it down to two movies. Beetlejuice makes him think about how he'd meant to go collecting a few onikabuto for his little brother so that's out.

He looks at the odd name that is Sharknado. ]

Shark... nado? [ what ] Huh, like a tornado? With sharks? [ That sounds ridiculous as hell. ] Let's try that one. I'm kind of curious now.

[ Okay, time to figure out how to switch movies. Give him a second. He's concentrating. ]

[appeale]

[ she's biting her tongue to keep from giving him any pointers... this is like watching your university professor struggle to play a video on the classroom projector. it's so painful, but she has to leave him to it. you can do it, Tartaglia!! ]

It's a relief that I'm not the only one who's just now learning about all these things... But it does mean I won't be any help. [ unless there's a manual she can lie about having read. ] Is Fontaine a very advanced country from your home?

[lackluster]

[ Wow, can't believe she's just watching him struggle. At least he's providing entertainment even if he isn't necessarily aware of doing so... but he manages to figure it out eventually.

After randomly pausing and fast-forwarding and rewinding the movie currently playing— ]

They made the Kamera, so it would make sense to have movies be the next step. And it's not like Fontaine is the most advanced country, but this seems like something they would come up with.

[ He shrugs, and then finally presses play to start up Sharknado. ]

I think it's working, right?

[appeale]

Oh, I think it is! [ she starts applauding him... ] Well done, signore!

[ considering she thought she would never see a movie again in her life, it's... kind of sad that Sharknado, of all things, is what serves as a trigger for nostalgia. if she had a list of every film in history, she would never pick this as one that she'd be glad to see again, and yet, here she is. watching shitty CGI sharks get sucked up into a tornado with an emotion vaguely approaching fondness. ]

So all of this is... fake, right?

[ the good thing is she doesn't have to toe the line between "old-timey" and "stupid" because she's meant to be both. ]

[lackluster]

Childe. Call me Childe.

[ How that title is so close to Signora... He's so childish, but hopefully this person doesn't mind. At least they have the movie to distract them now.

Except the movie is just as ridiculous as he expected. Maybe that's the appeal? Either way, this is a lot better than the earlier one they were watching. ]

It has to be. I haven't seen sharks that can fly like that yet, unless they were hydro constructs. This isn't too scary for you now, right?

[ Despite all the gore. ]

[appeale]

No, no! It's a little strange, but not so scary.

[ it's all just loud noise and chaotic visuals, so there's nothing in particular to make her jump, and the gore is too fake to be disturbing. not a movie she's really going to enjoy watching, but as a way to pass the time while she's trapped in this awkward social gathering, it'll serve its purpose.

and speaking of socialising— ]

By the way, you said it's... Childe?

[ that can't be a name. is it an old-fashioned title, perhaps? then what's the difference between calling him that and calling him signore?! Rudbeckia was Italian, so it's a hard habit to break, you know! ugh. it's not a big deal, but she put a lot of effort into her speech patterns. this guy is just making things harder for her.

one foot crosses behind the other in an informal curtsey, left hand lifting her skirts and the right placed delicately over her heart as she inclines her head. ] It's a pleasure to meet you! My name is Lady Rudbeckia de Borgia. But it's okay to call me Ruby! Are you moving in with us here?

[lackluster]

[ Soon enough, Sharknado is going to be background noise. It doesn't matter how many people get eaten by sharks. Tartaglia is more focused on Ruby now, especially when she casually does a curtsey in front of him. The 'Lady' title gives it away so it all makes sense, but he didn't think he'd be greeted in such a manner around here. ]

My other name is Tartaglia, but most just call me Childe. You can use either one.

[ Sure, it's no different from being addressed as signore, but at least it isn't close to Signora's name. Which is what matters more. ]

But yeah— Sooyoung invited me to live here, so I wanted to check it out. It's hard to pass up lower rent and free food.

[appeale]

[ ... ???? "Tartaglia" like the commedia del'arte? never mind, she doesn't need to know. he can go by as many strange names as he wants. that's later than Rudbeckia's time, so she shouldn't even recognise it, just think that it's a strange choice of Italian word to use as a name. ]

Signora Sooyoung is really kind! I'm sure you'll enjoy it here, Childe. [ she reaches for his hands to hold one in each of her own, her grip dainty but enthusiastic. ] And if you ever want company, I'll be here!

[ maybe she can make that her role. like a communal pet. at least that way, if the trio ever get sick of her, someone else might take her in. ]

The other owners are Dokja and Signor Joonghyuk, have you met either of them yet?

[lackluster]

[ listen, this is the name he was given... he doesn't question it,

Well. If she's going to go around calling others Signora and Signor, then maybe he should just get over himself. It's stupid that Signora has this much of an effect on him when she's dead anyway—

When Ruby reaches for his hand, he responds with a boyish grin. ]

Same goes to you. If you ever need company, just say the word.

[ As for her questions, he has to think about that. ]

Joonghyuk is the one in the apron, right? And Dokja is the one who promised to fix the elevator. Are they your friends?

[appeale]

[ a positive reaction to touch...! it feels like it's been forever since that worked on somebody. her husband and sister-in-law both had always reacted to it like they had come in contact with a rat, or otherwise like she was doing something indecent in public. and her own brother—ugh, it's best not to think about Cesare. this is a good development. she's just going to keep holding one of Childe's hands, though she lets their joined hands hang between them at their sides instead, swinging back and forth gently. ]

Yes! [ she pauses for a moment, and then adds, sheepish: ] Or—perhaps that's somewhat presumptuous of me... but I hope they are. The three of them are very kind, and they've taken good care of me since we all came to the Netherworld. I'm staying in their rooms!

[ if she can eke out just the tiniest bit of status or security by having it known that she's the landlords' idiot pet princess... ]

Um, I'm sure Signor Joonghyuk will seem scary, but he's actually really nice.

[ HE'S NOT. ]

[lackluster]

[ If she's going to keep their hands linked like this, then he doesn't mind it. He takes note of her claim that she's staying in the trio's rooms, so that must mean they really are her friends. Or she's something of a trophy to them, which he'll probably think about later. Maybe.

Right now he's more preoccupied with what she says about Joonghyuk. It's enough to make him laugh softly. ]

Seriously? He looks like he could murder someone in cold blood. I guess that counts as nice.

[ It doesn't, but it makes Tartaglia want to fight him... ]

How did you end up staying with them?

[appeale]

[ yes, yes, that's right. she's so naïve and laughable that she'll fangirl for the guy who would definitely kill anyone who annoyed him even a little. that's the reputation she has to establish. a girl with endless cheer and simply such a big heart. ]

Signora Sooyoung invited me to live in the building, and Dokja said he thought it was a good idea...

[ she giggles and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, shy. ] Well, I wasn't really expecting that I would get to live in their suite, but hopefully that means they think I'm at least a useful roommate to have! I did promise that I would do anything they ask of me.

[ that last part she says casually, like it's a completely normal thing to have promised a bunch of relative strangers. ]

[lackluster]

[ Someone is probably getting eaten by a shark alive while they continue to talk about the most mundane things. Well, as mundane as it can be when Ruby admits that she's willing to do anything the trio asks of her. ]

So if they ask you to do all their errands, you'd be alright with it?

[ He would have asked something more outrageous — like what if she was asked to dodge Sooyoung's daggers too — but he doesn't think Ruby will enjoy that very much. ]

That's pretty generous. Be careful that they don't take advantage of you.