[ console | video/action ] we get to carry each other

[edgeoftheknife]

[Hello folks, it's your friendly neighborhood gorgeous janitor. Except he's not looking so friendly, today. In fact, he's looking more serious than most people have probably ever seen him, here in Keeliai. When he speaks it's with a gravity that his words normally lack.]

Anton Shudder is no longer in charge of the Midnight Hotel.

I'm taking over.

[There's a pause, while he lets that sink in.]

Since Shudder has proven himself incapable of the running of the Hotel--or indeed, simple things like standing and walking, I find myself forced to keep him confined to a comfortable chair in front of the fire. With tea. And yarn.

He knits, did you know he knits?

[It should be noted that while the tone of the video has become decidedly less serious, Ravel's face has not.]

At any rate, I'll be taking over the day-to-day operations of the Hotel for the time being. Matters such as employment and pay will still go through Anton, obviously. Day-to-day functions should come to me, instead. Any present staff are encouraged to pitch in as you're able--God only knows you don't want me doing the cooking. Not unless the lot of you fancy grilled cheese or cold cereal.

[He pauses]

Was that it? Yes, I think that was it. Er. Carry on.

Comments

action; audible through the broadcast;

[gistful]

[Anton himself is resting on a seat just out of video-range after having experienced a bout of dizziness and unbalance so intense that he practically fainted. Him. Anton Shudder. Fainted. Now his hands are shaking so hard he couldn't pick something up if he tried, and he feels horribly lethargic. He is Extremely Displeased by these facts.]

I'm not having you ruining my Hotel, Ravel. I can handle it.

[Anton eases himself to his feet using the corner of the console and leans on it while his knees shake and his equilibrium tries to lie about his balance.]

action; audible/partially visible

[edgeoftheknife]

[Erskine rolls his eyes and reaches for Anton's arm to support him.]

For God's sake, Anton, I've been Grand Mage of Ireland, I think I can handle your Hotel for a week or two. Besides, right now you couldn't best a little girl in a tickle-fight. Here-

[He gestures with a nod of his head back toward Anton's chair.]

Come on, then. Back you go.

action; audible/partially visible

[gistful]

Yes, and how did that turn out.

[He's not going to say anything more than that, but really, Erskine, your tenure can hardly be called a rousing success. Unfortunately, he's not wrong, so while Anton doesn't argue about being lowered tremblingly back to the seat, he does grunt his discontent. His hands are tingling. It's alarmingly similar to how it feels when the gist comes out, even though it's entirely under control.]

I need to finish the repairs. I promised.

[akito]

He made everyone socks for the holidays. [ socks that actually survived the abuse Akito put them through for quite a long time ]

I know that Tadashi's aunt owns a café at home. Maybe you could contact her and see if she is interested in some temporary work? And if Mr. Anton and Auntie Cass thinks it's a good match then maybe it could be a more permanent position.

[ gotta help out as much as he can since he fucked up a lot okay ;_; ]

Bird usually visits just once a day but I will have him visit twice a day for a while, ne? And if you need errands run I can pick things up for you during my delivery runs!

[edgeoftheknife]

[There's a pause while Ravel ponders this information.]

Tadashi... that's the kid that works the front desk sometimes? The one in the baseball cap?

[He smiles, the "serious" expression easing up.]

That would be quite a help, actually. Thank you, Akito. And Bird is always welcome--especially now that I'm not lugging Skulduggery around to be a grump about it.

[akito]

Un! Yeah, that's Tadashi. He's also good at first aid if you ever need it.


You're welcome! And remember that you can always shoo Bird away if he gets too annoying, ne?

audio;

[inkulcation]

He knits.

[China sounds delighted. Under it, of course, is the sharp attention to whatever must have happened, to the fact that Shudder is apparently incapacitated, and that's certainly something, but... knitting. Just because it's not the most important matter does not mean it's getting no attention.]

How... useful.

video;

[edgeoftheknife]

[China.

Ravel's expression, still relatively sober from the "serious" post, goes positively ice-cold.]

Isn't it just.

audio;

[inkulcation]

[That's colder than his recent usual. Hm. Time to proceed as if nothing has changed, and see what Ravel does.]

It is. Charmingly so. The useful trades fall so commonly by the wayside, these days.

video;

[denyamenti]

What a day, when the hired help becomes the head of the house.

video;

[edgeoftheknife]

Conscripted help, more like. Hired implies some sort of payment.

Re: video;

[denyamenti]

Room and board isn't considered payment anymore?

video;

[ruinsprofessor]

[As soon as she spots this announcement, Raine has a terrible feeling about it. Her face says she's worried, but her tone is remarkably flat.]

Erskine, what happened?

[A beat, then.]

Never mind. I'll be there soon.

[And she will be, too, within half an hour or so, coming in via the Water sector entrance and looking about the same, exasperatedly worried.]

action;

[edgeoftheknife]

[Several minutes ago, Ravel found himself levitating Shudder--yes, levitating--across the lobby of the Hotel and to his bedroom. Far be it from him to label any of the Dead Men as stubborn, but... well, Anton is a stubborn prat. A stubborn prat who can hardly stand on his own.

Every now and again, in between making sure Shudder is comfortable and staying in the damned bed, Ravel pops back out into the office and peeks out into the lobby, keeping an eye out for Raine. He hadn't even got a chance to reply to her on the console. Sounded like she was on her way.]

action;

[ruinsprofessor]

[She takes the walk to the Hotel at a brisk pace but not a run, assuming that if Anton was immediately dying, Erskine would have sounded much more panicked.]

[She beelines for Erskine when she sees him -- she's hardly been in the door but a moment, it's good timing. Her staff's in hand and her mouth is set in a disapproving line.]

What happened?

[She'll follow him into the room, if and when he moves.]

Video

[deadclumsy]

Don't suppose you found someone to do the cooking?

[Since she's living there, she might as well chip in, right? She never has been good at the domestic stuff, but she can cook a bit.

Sort of. Maybe.

Well, she can make things that don't require cooking, like sandwiches.]

Video

[edgeoftheknife]

[Oh hello again. That serious look on his face, during the post? Yeah that's gone almost immediately.]

Well, we still have the fellow who makes breakfast, and I have a lead on someone to help out--I think--but nothing's set in stone yet.

Is that a volunteer I hear?

Re: Video

[deadclumsy]

[She shrugs as though it makes no nevermind to her whether he wants her to volunteer - but of course, it does matter now. There's nothing like seeing someone lose their serious side around her; it's flattering in its way, and now she has something to prove.]

Could be. Just until you find someone better, of course.

[She will learn to make a soufflé, damn it.]

Voice

[needmetoo]

If... if there's anything I can do to help.

[Guilt guilt guilt.]

Video

[edgeoftheknife]

[Ravel's expression eases considerably at the sound of a familiar voice.]

Ah, Xion, is it? Of course--we'll take any help we can get. Did you have anything particular in mind?

Voice

[needmetoo]

I... I'll need to talk to Aqua.

[Somebody's still grounded.]

But when I lived there, I did small chores and things. I can do that again.

(Console - but she's likely easy to find for Action.)

[stonebird]

I could aid Mister Shudder if you find the tasks bothersome. (And what's wrong with knitting? A man knitting might be strange, but it is useful.) He needs time to heal and surely we can support him?

WELL THEN :) Action!

[edgeoftheknife]

[It doesn't take long for him to track her down--explaining any of this over the console seems awkward at best.

When he's maybe fifteen feet behind her he lifts a hand and directs a little puff of air at her hair, to alert her to his presence so it doesn't seem like he's sneaking up on her.]

You need to stop taking me so seriously, my lady.

audio

[unetrustworthy]

[She's only slightly less confused than the last time a broadcast vaguely similar to this was made.]

Was there something wrong with the Hotel before?

I didn't notice anything.

video;

[edgeoftheknife]

[Upon recognizing the voice in the audio reply, Erskine's demeanor instantly shifts. The solemn, overbearing expression is gone, replaced by a barely restrained laugh.]

Other than the fact that I've cleaned more toilets in the last several weeks than I would have ever cared to? No, not especially.