Welcome to the Host Club

[hostclubshadowking]

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.)

Comments

[hostclubshadowking]

People in my world attend school until about the age of eighteen. After that, those of moderate or advanced means continue their education well after that.

I attend Ouran Academy, where students are required to have family status and money. Some who have neither are allowed in as honor students -- those who make exceptional grades and pass a rigorous entrance exam.

My fellow hosts are from the same school, all of us are at the top of our classes, which are the top classes of our respective years.

[Vanity? Perhaps. But he also knows very well how hard they all do work for those coveted positions.]

[bloodandbattle]

Every person in your world attends a school until they're eighteen?

[While continuing one's education for most of one's life was the norm for a mage, schooling for everyone until eighteen years was not common as far as he knew. Perhaps for the Nobles, but not far the common man. Certainly not for most city elves. What schooling they got was from their parents and the Chantry Sisters that reached out to those in the Alienage.]

Even if they don't have the means to attend the same school as you, they do still attend a school?

[hostclubshadowking]

Well, plenty don't, of course. But it's a societal expectation in developed countries.

[There are dropouts, of course, and places where those kinds of opportunities aren't available. But in Kyouya's part of the world, neither of those things ever happened.]

Most of the time, yes, they still attend a school. Less prestigious ones, yes, but schools.

[bloodandbattle]

It's not expected in my world. It's not even expected that everyone will learn to read. Learning more than a trade is often reserved for those in the nobility or those merchants with enough money to fake nobility. At least among the humans. I know Dwarven society has different rules and I believe even the dusters are trained in the basics of reading and writing if only not to dishonor the Stone they come from. But humans and elves don't live in their cities. It's a different society with vastly different expectations. City elves rarely have the opportunity to earn a living skill beyond service jobs and among the Dalish all their learning is passed down through oral tradition. Books are rare enough that clans may only own one or two.

Mages of the tower live differently, of course, but we're the exception. All we have to pass the time is furthering our education.

[hostclubshadowking]

Historically, that's what a lot of my world used to be, too. At this point in our history, education is considered the usual, not the exception.

[Sydni's world sounds like a different era in history. With magic, too. But it's interesting to think about it.]

[bloodandbattle]

I wonder if that will ever happen in Thedas...

[Not likely, really. At least not in his lifetime. What people valued didn't seem to lend itself well to education. He gave a sigh and cracked a smile again.]

Not that it matters if I have a wonder about that, of course. So, now that I've had some time to speak with you... is this how the Host Club-thing tends to go every time?

[hostclubshadowking]

[Kyouya smiles and takes a moment to consider the question before he gives a small shrug.]

I've been the club's director for two years at Ouran, and I can comfortably say that every guest probably has a different experience. They all come for something different, and it is our job as hosts to satisfy them.

It's what we enjoy: making them happy. And as we get to know them better [he smiles a little more, chuckling softly, as if a bit embarrassed] we learn how to do that better.

I admit -- you have me at a disadvantage. Our society does not lend itself to allowing us to entertain male guests at school, much as I wish it did.

[bloodandbattle]

How do you mean?

[This has him a bit curious.]

[hostclubshadowking]

About our school?

[Kyouya shrugs again.]

There was fuss enough when we wanted to start the club in the first place. It required promising to uphold a very particular code of conduct and being monitored for a time.

If we had ever even suggested entertaining male guests, I have no doubt we would have been shut down by the school.

[There was one, but that was a special case and word never really got around to the faculty about all of that.]

[bloodandbattle]

But why the restriction? What's the point of limiting the guests to only women?

[hostclubshadowking]

Part of the appeal of our activities is offer of romantic interaction.

Where I'm from, it's considered... inappropriate for two people of the same gender to be in a relationship, especially among the well-to-do ranks of society.

[A simple fact.]

The faculty and parents of students -- even our own parents, for some of us -- would be very upset with us if we opened our doors to male students as well.

[bloodandbattle]

Truly? How odd. Where I'm from it's considered inappropriate only for the interest to be blatantly obvious and spoken of. And mostly because having heirs is important for the continuation of the nobility's bloodlines. Among those who are not part of the 'well-to-do', I don't think it's commented on much at all by anyone regardless of interest.

[Outside the Circle, of course. Any romantic intent was actively discouraged in the Tower. Particularly that of man and woman for fear of a child being produced. But going into that would take the conversation in a direction that was probably best to be left alone for the time being.]

Does that mean some of your members are interested in more than just women on a not-so-professional level?

[hostclubshadowking]

[Continuation of a bloodline was a consideration in his world, but Kyouya couldn't state that was the cause. No, it came from a supposedly moralistic standpoint.

If it was solely about heirs, then there would have been no fear for the third son. But it was reputation. Perception. And... whatever else society and his father dictated.

He manages a slight smile.]

It isn't something we discuss amongst ourselves, admittedly, but I know at least one of us is interested in men exclusively.

[bloodandbattle]

Well then, I suppose I'll have to figure out who that someone is. I don't have an exclusive interest in men, of course, but it might mean my flirting gets me somewhere in negotiating a cheaper price should I return when you are charging for your time.

[hostclubshadowking]

[Kyouya tilted his head a bit and smiled.]

I'll be curious to know if you do. I'm not sure how many of our number know. I think it's rather obvious, but I can't say for certain.

[bloodandbattle]

Well, unless it's Serrah Haruhi, I would not say it's obvious. Your whole crew would know with as close friends as you claim to be and I from what you've said, it suggests heavily you are not counting the lone woman of your group in this number.

[hostclubshadowking]

[Kyouya can't help but chuckle, shaking his head.]

I cannot speak to Haruhi's preferences, but, no, I'm not counting her. I have my own guess as to her tastes, but that's all it would be.

[bloodandbattle]

Then when I have an idea of who it might be, I shall let you know.

[He set his glass down and stood.]

Thank you, Serrah Kyouya. This was just as you advertised it would be. A pleasant, enjoyable experience.

[hostclubshadowking]

I'm glad you've enjoyed yourself.

[He stood as well, offering a small, polite bow.]

I hope to speak to you again soon.