rainbowlounge | The Villa Is Open

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roleplay: open

The Villa Is Open

Zephyr had a plan. "We are gonna make you the best electric milkshake that ever was!"

"Or will be!" Pip joined in, clapping her hands over her head as she danced along before him and Roa and generally got in the way of where they were trying to walk.

This gave Zephyr plenty of excuse to pause at the end of the hall and make himself a sweeping gesture. "In the historya... ah..." one that should have ended with him banging his hand on the wall.

Except for the part where the applicable wall had disappeared and not in the usual behold the busted drywall kind of way. It was just gone. Likewise, the hallway and the entirety of Sky Plaza.

Zephyr stood on some low, sweeping stone steps. That happened to be outside, while just a moment before been /inside/ and headed to the kitchen. "OK, what the hell?"

Roa took in the sudden sky all golden up the flanks of the villa before them and held her finger to her lips in curiosity. "I don't know, actually." Then, she attempted to walk down the way they had come. This got her over the steps and almost to the spray from the fountain in the drive before it became quite apparent merely turning around wasn't going to accomplish much besides dampening her shoes. Back up she went. "This *looks* like where they held the last Court of the Manor."

"You dunno?" his next sound was an odd one, not a moan and not a laugh, and awfully feline besides. "Yeah, that's not freakin me out or nothin. Dun you know everythin?"

"Zephyyyr. Same to you."

"You guys," interjected Pip, her bare toes rapping on the stone. "Think this's kinda the same thing happened to Seb."

"Hm?" Zephyr craned himself her way, and their hands tangled together, wires all a-flash.

"Mm!"

"Mnhn."

"Nnn~."

"Well, I like your theory so far," Roa nodded. Mostly, she wasn't being silly right back at their latest ridiculous display. Mostly. "Happened to Siebenkas...?"

"Yeah, he had this dream," the elder of the two evokers almost began to explain, digits working.

Whatever he meant to coax out of the recollections between them, Pip took over, swaying as she did. "He thinks was a dream, but is totally notta dream. I know. I touched him thinkin about it an it was all wrong fora dream. Still didn't make any sense, but not the same kinda way dreams do."

"Also, Seb never dreams he's nekkid. Fun fact."

("So useful, too," Roa remarked, quite to herself.)

"But, he walked outta his bathroom an alla a sudden, he was in this bar in Old New York an there were all these other people an he was almost kinda sorta mebbe flirtin with this mob boss lady over gin an tonic and then there was this real cute muddy guy. Seb didn't think he was so cute, but I did. He got way more distracted by the other lady evoked with her eyes and the booze was good an there were pretty blond polyamourous peeps bonkin in the restroom an... an... an..."

Her not so little description might have gone on another few hours, except that Zephyr reached around with his unoccupied hand and tickled her. The way they'd tangled up together, she must have known it was coming.

Which left Roa to conclude Pip wanted tickled more than she wanted to discuss any washroom adventures. "On one hand, that sounds very much like a dream to me. On the other, if there's some sort of precedent for people in our manor suddenly disobeying all known laws of physics. And you're not playing some sort of elaborate prank."

"Hey! I had my heart set on givin you your first electric milkshake an that's not somethin I'd go back on for any money." Next thing she did know with any certainty, Zephyr had play staggered over, clutching at his shirt, "'m so disappointed it /huuurts/."

"Well, you can make it up to me when the universe goes back to normal."

Grin for the time being, too.

"It is going to go back to normal?"

"Did last time. 's why we still gotta Seb an notta portal to someplace called Dan's," said Pip.

"Alright, so why don't we...?"

"Make the besta it?"

"Yes!" Roa swung from Zephyr's grasp. He only then reached for her, trying to find that place in her moments where the best meant [concrete] he could play after and with her. As it was, he missed her as she skipped the villa steps instead, swirling her skirt in her hands and calling back after: "We're going to get company, right?"

"Woul, that'd be nice, but if not," he shrugged. "We get blitzed an watch the stars come out." A quick little sigh and a pop of his shoulder after, he followed.

Pip watched the space in the sky where the clouds should have been. The end of her nose twitched. "We're so gettin company. Can smell it, almost. Somethin's zactly not right out there." Laughing then, she blew past them both and straight through the doors.

Stuff you actually need to know available in this direction:
http://rainbowlounge.dreamwidth.org/18653.html

Have fun!

ETA: This post has not been up thirty-six hours and we officially have more than 500 comments. SO I SUPPOSE THIS ISN'T FUN AT ALL AMMIRITE? XD

ETA II: I am really, really touched that everyone wants to take care of the deceased fellow in the pool. I'm sure he appreciates it (he didn't even have a name in the story where he first appeared ;_;). But, alas, there was only one of him and he's currently being handled. He may be installed in a bedroom shortly, and should that happen, I will give him his own thread for poking purposes.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mark was, admittedly, not paying much attention as he stepped out of the elevator and onto the floor where his office was located. It was late, the hallways were darkened, and he was the only living soul left in the building.

He'd meant to go home, after the funeral. Richard's funeral. His longest, closest friend--just friends, a wry, bitter mental voice chimed in--was dead, and he should be at home, not heading for his office. Why had he come here? Right now, his empire--and he was dramatic enough to refer to it as such, maybe even unironically--just seemed so small, so meaningless.

Maybe that was why.

He shook his head and unlocked the door to his office, swinging it open and stepping inside. He'd get a drink, maybe, then leave. Then he'd go home.

Or at least that was the plan before he really took in his surroundings. This was not his office. This was an expansive ballroom with marble floors and high, vaulted ceilings, and he had no idea what was going on.

Mark did not appreciate having no idea what was going on.

Date night.

Eva loved date night, loved having the time with Michael that they carved out of their schedules at least once a month. Most of the rest of the time was devoted to school and Jimmy, but date night was theirs.

She finished doing her hair and touched up her lipstick before turning to leave her bathroom to go say goodbye to Jimmy before she left.

The ballroom was distinctly not her bedroom.

She stepped backward and, when that didn't work, blinked hard. Then she pinched herself, maybe hard enough to bruise.

Still there.

At least the man nearby looked as confused as she felt. Disgruntled, but confused.

"I take it you have no idea where this is?"

Mark glanced over at the woman who had, for all intents and purposes, suddenly appeared nearby. She was certainly dressed more appropriately than he was for the grandeur of wherever they were. "Unfortunately, no," he said. "I was walking into my office and ended up here instead."

He wondered, briefly, if it could be a trap, then dismissed it. The subversives didn't have capabilities of this magnitude. He'd know.

"I'm Mark Hamilton," he said, managing both humility and importance, and offered her his hand.

Eva shook his hand, and didn't miss the self-importance in how he said his name. "Eva Watson. I was trying to leave my bathroom." She glanced around. "This is...interesting, isn't it? I'm going to miss date night."

"Very interesting," Mark agreed, and then nodded. "That's unfortunate. I did notice you seemed far more dressed for the occasion than I am." The crisp black suit was expensive, of course, but it all but screamed 'funeral attire'. Or perhaps he was simply projecting.

Either way, he knew he was never going to wear it again.

"I'm only going to miss--my bed," he added. He almost said 'some sleep', but that was inaccurate, wasn't it? He wouldn't have been sleeping much tonight even if he hadn't wound up here.

Eva laughed, a bit, and said, "That could still be unfortunate. Your suit could fit in as well as what I'm wearing." That happened to be a red dress suited for dancing, salsa and tango, not club. And it wouldn't have been out of place in a four-star restaurant, either.

She almost ran a hand through her hair, but that would have disturbed the work she put in to it. "I hope this doesn't last too long. My son's going to get upset if I don't see him soon."

"Yes, it would be...worrying if we were kept here for very long." In all manner of ways. What would his employees, both official and unofficial, think about his sudden disappearance? They'd probably suspect the subversives, and that would lead nowhere.

Knowing Lucille Anderson, however, she would immediately take advantage of the situation, and that was unacceptable.

"I have a lot of people depending on me," Mark added. "I don't like to leave my responsibilities unattended."

Eva glanced him over. He did look rather...corporate.

Actually, and she had to work to not laugh, he sort of reminded her of one of her half-brothers, Leo.

"What sort of work do you do?" she asked politely.

"I run a nonprofit organization," he said. "We have shelters and programs throughout the country." Mark smiled faintly. "We try to help as many people as we can."

Some, of course, did not want to be saved, and that was always unfortunate. Such sacrifices were so unpleasant, if necessary.

"Oh, would I know your organization?" she asked. There weren't many she knew that worked nationwide; the Salvation Army was the major one she thought of, but they could go fuck themselves on their homophobia.

"I'll be surprised if you don't. The HMC Group," Mark said.

She smiled apologetically. "I have never heard of HMC in my life, outside of the abbreviation for Hyundai."

"The former car manufacturer?" Mark asked. He hadn't heard them called by that name in at least two decades, after their merger. "That is...a surprise. Can I ask--what year is it? Where you left?"

Eva shook her head. "There's nothing former about them. It's 2024...I assume it isn't for you?"

"It isn't. It's 2114 where I'm from," Mark said. "December," he added, almost as an afterthought. What was it about winter?

There it was. Another expected but ill-timed wave of grief, and something else, something he was choosing not to examine too closely. He needed a drink.

"I wonder if their brandy is any good," he said, spotting the bar. "Would you care to join me?"

"It's May for me. We shouldn't be going out, it's getting towards finals, but everyone needs a break." Eva nodded, studying him. "You seem like you could use it, and I'd like something too."

"Breaks are important in producing quality work," Mark agreed. "After you," he said, gesturing in the direction of the bar.

She smiled and started toward the bar. "Would it be horribly rude of me to ask why you seem sad?" That was a more appropriate word than upset, certainly. Mark was too controlled for 'upset'.

Mark smiled faintly. "Not rude, no. Observant. An admirable trait," he said. "A close friend of mine passed away recently. The funeral was today."

Close friend. It seemed like such a pitiful way to refer to Richard, but even so, it was the truth, wasn't it? He'd made sure of that.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. My sympathy." Eva hadn't had a close friend die, ever. Friends, yes, but not really close ones.

They reached the bar, and Eva asked for a glass of white wine and ordered Mark's brandy as well.

"Thank you," Mark said. He sat at the bar. "It was...very sudden."

"Do you want to talk about it at all?" she asked. The very young bartender handed them their drinks, and Eva continued. "If you think it would help at all, that is."

Mark couldn't help but smile at the offer. There was no one in his own time who would have dared, either due to fear or loathing. "I wouldn't even know where to begin," he said. "But thank you. I appreciate the offer."

He noticed the bartender, how young she was, and frowned. That was...concerning.

"If you change your mind while we're here, I'll be willing to listen."

Eva glanced around the ballroom as she sipped her wine, wondering at the number of people she knew through being related. Zach didn't look happy about her pile of groceries, and Eva smothered a laugh.

Mark glanced around as well. There was quite the collection of people here, most of them looking somewhat bewildered. "This is...ridiculous," he said at last. "Do you know anyone here?"

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