ஐ 3rd Serenade ஐ Voice and Action [Antoinette] Backdated to the 28th

[princelycharm]

[Voice]

Hello everyone~!!!! It has been a while.

I hope that everyone's settled once more. I also hope there weren't that many casualties on our part and wishing for Dog's speedy recovery. Stay safe~!!!

[Written]

[To the crew of Antoinette]:
Everyone, we have a meeting later. Please meet me in front of the Wardroom!

We have much to discuss. [Plus, he needs to show everyone the new Kotatsu.]

[Private: Kaoru, Hikaru, Karen and Kyouya. Dated: January 30]
February is so close! We have a meeting in the Wardroom tonight. After Haruhi has slept! Make sure no one tells Haruhi about it!

Comments

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Karen looks around, taking in the new decor. As the odd woman out, it's sometimes hard for her to tell whether there's a backstory she's missing out on or if people are just being strange at random, and this is one of those times. Regardless, it's a cute little arrangement.]

Oh! This is a kotatsu, isn't it?

[A mundane object she recognizes, but as it happens, it's been a long time since she actually saw one in person.]

[princelycharm]

Yes. It is.

[Tamaki had a gentle smile focused at Karen, before he shows Karen the double-colored pillow. The last thing he wanted was for Karen to feel out of place, most especially now that they were getting to know each other more and that he sees her as his daughter.]

This is where you sit. It is beside Haruhi's place.

[Because they were both his daughters.

It was very concise, but he had to explain why there was a Kotatsu.]

You see, everyone in this ship is like a member of my family. I, the captain, am the Father, and the first mate Kyouya is the Mother. Everyone else, including you, are my children.

In Japan, a kotatsu is the greatest symbol of family unity. They bring families together, and this is where you share your fondest memories. Ever since I first met Kyouya, the first member of my family, I requested for a kotatsu. Because I wanted to make sure I had a good relationship with him, and my friends to come.

[He pointed once more at the pillow.]

Have a seat.

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Karen... oh, dear, Karen accepts all of this. Yes, of course a kotatsu represents family unity. Why wouldn't it? And yes, a crew is like a family, and the captain and the first ma...

Karen offers no explanation for why she starts blushing, and if asked she will refuse to acknowledge it.

Anyway, she carefully sits on the indicated pillow.]

A family, huh?

[They're already more like a family than her actual family was. It's kind of a nice thought.]

[princelycharm]

[Of course Tamaki will respond to that with the fondest of smiles.]

Yes. And you are my daughter. You can treat me like a father if its all okay with you. And Hikaru, Kaoru and Haruhi will be like siblings to you!

[Most especially Haruhi. Cause they're both girls, and he's sure they'll understand each other.]

Now go seat. You don't look too well.

[Yes, he notices that slight blush. But he doesn't want Karen to feel too uncomfortable, so he let's out a simple chuckle. The same thing he told Haruhi during her first day as a host should do the trick.]

If I didn't know better, I'd think you're starting to fall for my charms.

[oceanicbutterfly]

[The problem is that Karen isn't entirely sure how one treats a father. Siblings are easier to understand, she has friends with siblings, but her experience with parents is that you talk to them on the phone and welcome them home at Christmas--]

Eh?!

[--and that seems to come out of nowhere. Oh, she really was blushing--this could lead to serious misunderstandings--]

Ah, no, that isn't it. I mean, it's nothing, but it especially isn't that. --Not that there's anything wrong with you, it's just... I mean...

[princelycharm]

[Wait, he was joking. She knows he was joking right?

Why was her words so opposite from her face's reaction. She was blushing even more than earlier. This spawns a pink blush on the host club king's face.]

Don't tell me you're really starting to fall in love with me...?

[oceanicbutterfly]

[AAAAH SHE MADE IT WORSE. Tamaki will now be treated to the rare sight of Karen flailing wildly.]

What? No! It isn't that at all! It's the opposite of that! --Wait, no, that would mean I hated you and I don't hate you, I just...

[princelycharm]

[Almost instantly, Karen will see the blonde run to the nearest dark corner of the room, with a gloomy cloud around him.]

...so.. you hate me....

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Holy crap that was fast.

Karen follows him over.]

I don't hate you at all!

1/2

[princelycharm]

[Again, almost instantly, a mood change that the rest of the club was so used to already. He now looked happily at Karen like a puppy.]

Really~!?

[totheright]

Yeah. Milord sorta has this crazy idea that we're family or something. ((Kaoru deadpans, coming up next to her.)) I mean, Hikaru and I are, but the rest of us? Let's be real, there's no way I'd want to be related to him. ((He points at Tamaki from her side, rolling his eyes.))

Though you're not too bad.

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Karen giggles.]

So, I'm ranked higher than Tamaki-san.

[totheright]

Just a little. You're still the newbie at this point, so you can't rank too much higher than him, see?

[oceanicbutterfly]

Fair enough. Although, when it comes to the ship, you're all the newcomers here.

[totheright]

... touche. But you haven't been here longer than Kyouya-senpai, have you?

[oceanicbutterfly]

I believe we both arrived the first day, but Celes recruited me first.

[totheright]

Still. If you're the only one left, that doesn't really make us newcomer's to the ship. Especially considering how we've commandeered it. ((He lifts his chin proudly, then looks down at her.)) You don't mind hosting, do you? Because it's sort of non-negotiable at this point.

[haruhi_fujioka]

[Haruhi gives Karen a comforting smile, sitting on her rose-colored pillow.]

You don't need to be nervous. I'm sure this meeting is about the new room.

[While it is a nice room, she has a feeling most Captains wouldn't interrupt their entire crew to show it to them. Tamaki is special.]

[oceanicbutterfly]

Oh, I, er... I was just looking around.

[Now she's kind of embarrassed...]

[haruhi_fujioka]

[Aw she's cute.] I think he wants you to sit by me. I'm Haruhi Fujioka. It's nice to finally meet you in person, Princess Karen!

[oceanicbutterfly]

"Princess Karen"...

[TAMAKI WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN TELLING HER]

[haruhi_fujioka]

Sorry - that's what we call all girls who visit the club. [It's a habit that has rubbed off.]

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Phew.] Oh, you don't need to apologize. --But if I'm going to be working, it probably doesn't make sense to call me that.

[haruhi_fujioka]

As a host? [She stares.] You'll have to look like a boy.

[oceanicbutterfly]

Ah, no, no, we went over this before. I'll be a hostess. And possibly a maid.

Wait, does that mean...