high_seas | Welcome to the Host Club

Entry tags:

Welcome to the Host Club

Who: Absolutely anyone
What: The Host Club is open for business!
Where: Antoinette, currently docked at Isla Empieza
When: February 7th - 14th (+ additional dates for crew members)
Style: Whatever you want
Status: Mostly open, some sections closed to crew members
Warnings: None. Will add if necessary.

Loans have been issued, furniture has been supplied, and food had been bought.

The deck of the Antoinette is plainly decorated. There are a few rugs about, but, for the most part, small tables are arranged with couches and chairs. Platters of food are waiting, mostly sandwiches and sweets. Little snacks. There's plenty of hot water kept on hand, too, for tea or commoner's instant coffee.

The Host Club are looking their best, even though their best might be a little more ragged than they would otherwise appear.

Posters have been put up around town, advertising the opening of the Royal Host Club, specifying the Antoinette's location, and disclosing the offer of refreshments.

On the 13th, things will only get more interesting when a bowl of candy appears overnight and adds to the Host Club experience.

(Please feel free to specify dates for interactions in the subheadings below and make your own subheadings if there's something else you want to see.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah. So you know about that.

[Kyouya merely gives an easy shrug at the question.]

In our school, Haruhi wears a male uniform and is addressed as a male. For her safety in this world, we've agreed to do the same.

I wasn't aware you knew she was female.

Ser Tamaki invited me to her birthday celebration. I did not stay long. I shall refer to Ser Haruhi as a man from now on, if you would prefer it of me.

[He inclined his head in agreement with the protection that might offer.]

I think, since you have been so accommodating, I should like to continue our conversation seated. If you are not busy?

We would all appreciate it if you would, at least in front of guests and strangers.

[At Ouran, he would have shrugged it off, left it to Tamaki or Haruhi to argue whichever way they wanted it. But here... He couldn't bring himself to consider it an unwise decision.

At the other's remark, though, he smiled and made a gesture to a couch a few steps away.]

I'm not at all. Would you care for anything to eat or drink? I could fetch it before we sit.

[All host.]

What do you have to drink? I wouldn't assume you serve Ale.

[Sydni asked it as he took the offered seat, sitting stiffly at the edge of the couch with his back straight. All very formal, like he was back at the tower.]

We are presently not serving anything alcoholic.

[Calm, polite.]

We have tea, coffee, water, and either pineapple or coconut juice.

[Another small smile, even with a chuckle.]

Though, please, feel free to relax.

[He gave a glance to the couch and carefully pushed himself backwards into it, though he hardly looked 'relaxed' despite the effort.]

If the water is clean, I would not mind it. Clean water is a rare treat in most of the cities of my world.

Of course.

[Kyouya returns a moment later, bringing a tray. He sets a cup of clean, cool well water in front of his guest and a cup of tea at another part of the couch. Between the two, a small plate with a few sweets, a few pieces of fruit, and a few of the small sandwiches.

Just in case.]

You'll have to pardon me. [He sits down as he says it, neither too close nor too far from the other. This is a situation he hasn't seen before, so he'll have to play it moment by moment.] I don't believe we've been formally introduced.

My name is Kyouya.

Sydni Surana, Warden-Commander of Ferelden.

[The elf inclined his head politely as he leaned forward to take the glass.]

It is a pleasure, Serrah Kyouya.

[He studied the water intently for a long moment before he carefully took a sip of it. Clear water didn't always mean clean. And unclean water could kill a man. It was why Alcohol was safer, particularly in large settlements.]

Thank you.

[Western style? Or Eastern? It was always so hard to tell in a place like that. Still, "Warden-Commander." A rank, certainly... and he'd mentioned earlier being given a title.

Best to play it safe, then.]

You're welcome, sir.

It's good of you to join us. To be perfectly honest, we weren't sure what kind of a turn-out we'd get in a place like this.

I wasn't sure I would be able to make it. Ser Tamaki's advertisement of it was enthusiastic, though confusing. He didn't exactly explain what this was about until after I asked for more details. I'm fortunate the Captain of the ship I've joined decided to stay in port to try and pick up some of this month's arrivals. Doubly so as a friend of mine arrived.

I hope the reception has been favorable for you?

I'm afraid that's a rather apt summary of Tamaki in general. [Though the tone he uses is nothing less than fond.] I think he sometimes gets so excited about things that he doesn't explain himself well.

I believe we've established ourselves, certainly. I expect to be able to do a fair amount of business when we're in port.

Where we come from, these activities are our hobby, which just happens to make a bit of money. Unfortunately, here, we're somewhat forced to rely on what we enjoy to actually provide us with an income.

Not to be rude, but I assume you must rely on it because you lack training in other skills, yes? That sort of experience is reserved only for certain members of the Orliesian or Tevinter Nobility in my world. Even in my country, Ferelden, the nobility is trained in some sort of trade. Usually military related. Do you have security in case of trouble?

Tamaki and myself are trained in the running of businesses. I have some minor medical training, but it's hardly going to turn a profit. There are far better qualified than I.

Hikaru and Kaoru are clothing designers. [And video games, if either of them follow their father, but he won't even get into those. He just has an inkling he'd have to explain what they are, and... He's not the right person to do that.] As I understand it, Kaoru was -- and might still be -- taking commissions, but we can hardly ask one person, or even two, to support all of us.

Haruhi is exceptional with academic matters and intends to pursue a career related to that.

Our protection lies primarily in Honey-senpai. [He makes a small gesture over to the one he classified as the "Boy Lolita."] He is small, and he looks harmless, but he's far from it. I trust him with my life and the life of our friends.

[It's explained lightly, no shame about it. After all, it is a strength to be aware of one's flaws and to compensate as necessary.]

A single man to protect all of you. He deceptive appearance is remarkable for you too trust him so completely.

[Sydni's gaze landed on Honey once more and the pleasant mask he'd put on dropped long enough for his serious and calculated demeanor to be seen. He was ever adjusting his thoughts, his awareness of the world around him, to plan for fights that - in this world - would not likely come. But it had become so ingrained him him after a year of building an army that it was second nature to the mage.

However, when his gaze returned to Kyouya, the smile was back in place. While he didn't lean into the couch, his posture did relax ever so slightly. Knowing there was a warrior aboard who could protect the people on the ship helped ease his mind.]

I think I'd enjoy discussing clothing with Sers Hikaru and Kaoru, and academic matters with Ser Haruhi. The first to aid me in making a few more appropriate robe sets so I do not ruin my battle gear by wearing it out, and the young scholar because it is has been some time since I've gotten to enjoy discussing various points of learning with anyone. Before I became a Warden, I lived in what can best be compared to a 'university' for those like myself. I don't suppose you're very interested in academia are you? My only training in medical arts is some minor herbalism and creation magic. Finer points of the art of healing is lost to me.

For all their faults, you'll be well served by clothes from the Hitachiin brothers. They know their work excellently.

[Praise where praise is due, and Haruhi would enjoy the conversation, he imagined.]

I consider myself an academic as well. For my class -- the peers my same age and with the same schooling -- I have the top performance. Though I confess a curiosity to healing magic.

Where I am from, all one with medical training can do is care for a wound and see it heal correctly over time. Nothing so efficient as I have heard magic can be. You must be extremely talented.

Not especially, no. Not with the Creation School. My talents and the focus of my training lay more in the arts of battle. Controlling the flow, the way the enemy can move, and raining lightning down upon them when the occasion calls for it. Paralyzing, sickening, sapping energy. Spells that allow me and those I fight with to move through the field with more ease and help prevent ourselves from being injured if possible.

The most I can do with the Creation School is knit flesh and bone for something like a minor fracture or a relatively shallow cut. I could show you, if you'd like. Otherwise, I'd be interested in hearing of your studies. History? Religion? Economics?

That sounds fascinating. The only magic in my world is accomplished by sleight-of-hand tricks. They make engaging performances, but it's nothing like I've seen here.

[And, well, as to his studies. There, Kyouya adopts a slightly more relaxed posture on the couch, taking a sip of tea before offering the tray of snacks to Sydni without a word. Merely an indication that, if he'd care to sample them, they are present.]

I haven't made much of a study of religion, but the others are familiar to me. I also study several languages as well as mathematics. Ouran Academy requires a variety of courses so their students have at least a basic knowledge of a wide range of subjects.

Mathetics has a field of study? How fascinating.

[Not really.]

What languages do you know? What are they like? Thedas has many languages, and I am moderately fluent in a few of them. It would be interesting to hear of the languages of your world.

I was raised speaking Japanese, and I've learned German and English fluently. Because of my association with a friend, I've a good grasp on French as well.

[But. Ah. There's the difficulty.]

I've attempted those not native to me since coming here, and I have to admit -- I no longer hear a difference, nor do others I speak to seem to notice a concentrated effort to speak another language.

[Syndi's brows knitted as he considered that. It was not a phenomena he had been consciously aware of, but now that he was putting some thought to it...]

What language does it seem to you that we are speaking now?

Japanese.

[The answer comes after a moment. He has to actually think, listen to what he's saying and what he's hearing.

But yes. Definitely Japanese. That's what he hears.]

I hear Ferelden. Something I should have questioned sooner if everyone is truly from other worlds. It is simply so familiar that... I did not.

I didn't think of it either. Though that is a very strange thing, now that I think about it.

Well, we know there's magic at work. It makes sense that language barriers would be eased.

Does it? No magic I know has ever altered the mind's perception of languages before. Even the forbidden magics that take control of another's thoughts and actions do not enable a person to achieve and use skills they have not trained. While I do agree easing the barriers allows disparate peoples to communicate and work together, why eliminate it entirely? Why is making it so we are always able to be understood important enough to expend such power on it? What does the one who supposedly brought us, this Davey Jones, have to gain from it?

I can't say for sure.

[The whole talk of magic is staggering to him. He's come to accept it, yes, but it isn't something he regards as normal, so to hear Sydni just... discuss it... is fascinating. The latter part, though, is something he has, to some degree or another, from several angles, given a lot of thought to.]

But I think --

I think that for whatever reason, Davy Jones can't collect the pieces of this jewel. Maybe his form is incorporeal? Maybe there's some ward against it? But for whatever reason, he can't bring the pieces together.

So that's our job. He wants us to collect them. To make the ruby whole again. Likely for his own purposes.

And we can't do that as efficiently if we all speak different languages.

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