[ 22 ] action/voice

[hostclubshadowking]

[Somehow, Kyouya knew.

The moment he woke up at ten AM and had been allowed to sleep that wrong, he knew something was wrong. There was nothing special about the day, no reason his sleep schedule should have been undisturbed.

Still, he spent the morning waiting for Tamaki to come waltzing back home. Back to the ship, rather.

Hikaru was absent as well.

For most of the day, he tried to ignore the growing knot in his stomach. By evening, it was undeniable. They weren't coming back.

He still waited up all night, standing on the deck with a golden retriever at his feet. It remained just he and Haruhi on the ship.

The following day, he fully accepted the truth and got to work. clothes and personal items for he and Haruhi were packed into a chest each.

Everything else, he sold. The kotatsu, the clothes, the fabric, the ship itself. The profits were divided equally between he and Haruhi.

After that, there were only two points of business.]

I regret to inform everyone that the Royal Host Club is currently closed. There are currently no plans to reopen.

[His voice never falters. It remains calm and professional.]

For those who do not know me, my name is Kyouya Otori. I and [he pauses, considers, and chooses his words] a friend, Haruhi Fujioka, need to join a crew.

We also bring a golden retriever.

Neither of us are combatants, and we would prefer to avoid conflict with the Navy as much as possible.

Haruhi is a capable cook, and I am a competent one. I am also extremely qualified to manage expenses and budgets. I also have decent medical knowledge.

Thank you.

Comments

voice;

[melodyssong]

I can offer you a place aboard Queen's Gambit. We don't really get into fights with Navy if possible and we're...Lets just say we dabble more in the Black Market because we can't do trade legally.

[They would do it that way otherwise.]

voice;

[hostclubshadowking]

[The black market. With the right understanding of supply and demand, fair winds, and a hard working crew, that might turn quite the sum.

A great many things were different in this world, but that remained true: everything was for sale.

Everything and everyone had a price. Kyouya had learned to embrace that long ago.]

I shall certainly keep you in mind. Thank you.

My friend and I will discuss it, and you'll have an answer before the week is out.

If that's suitable.

voice;

[melodyssong]

You can take all the time you would need to talk about it, I'm not one for forcing an answer right away. [After all she can understand the need to discus something as important as who you go to next. It's something she considers one needs time.]

[voice]

[dragonbadfaith]

...Only you and Haruhi?

[voice]

[hostclubshadowking]

Yes.

[Simple. Calm. Impassive. The Ice King at his best.]

Our crewmates have returned home, it seems.

[voice]

[dragonbadfaith]

Of course. All the lucky people get to go home. Back to their lives of luxury while we slum it out here.

[SIGH.]

Shame, I was quite looking forward to meeting Tamaki eventually. ...Anyway, we've plenty of room aboard our ship. If you're interested.

voice;

[windofthephoenixtemple]

[She pauses for a moment, to be honest he never really mentioned his friends so she didn't know who they were. She hasn't quite put two and two together.]

I know that my ship will try to avoid battle for the most part, unless the situation is dire and I have no choice. But I'm wondering if there is a reason your asking for a crew now? You don't have to say and I won't pry too much because that would be awfully rude of me.

voice;

[hostclubshadowking]

The rest of my crew [his friends, people he trusted, people he was supposed to protect] have, if superstition is correct, returned to the world they are from.

[The way he says it, he could be talking about total strangers. There's almost nothing in his voice, and it isn't hollow, either.

Simply matter-of-fact.]

voice; private

[cherrybombpie]

Not reopening?

[Well, that was unfortunate - considering that Kodachi now had to "widen her options".]

I see . . .

I would invite you to our ship, but then, we are all fighters and I am not certain how well you would hold up. However, my captain my find your medical knowledge to be of use. Perhaps you could ask him if you are interested.

voice; private

[hostclubshadowking]

[Playing with fire can lead to burns.

But hosting is profitable, and he prides himself on handling difficult customers.]

I'm afraid we're rather short on hosts.

However, if the "cool type" is to your liking, I am still willing to entertain guests on my own.

[As for her crew...

He knows to tread carefully. He's heard enough over the journals.]

Voice

[my_lost_heart]

[Considering the recent loss on her ship, Haruka could certainly sympathize with the remnants of the Antoinette crew. Not only that but she thought favorably of Haruhi-kun.]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. How are you both coping with it? [Didn't Haruhi join a ship with her friends from home? It must be even harder with their history together to say goodbye]

As a member of the Koumyou crew, I would like to extend an invitation to board our ship. Both the two of you and your pet would be welcome. I personally have no interest in combat. Gakupo-kun and myself are musicians.

Voice

[thepurpleway]

I shall second her invitation. It's a shame so many of us are missing crew members, but it's fortunate that they get an opportunity to return home.

Voice

[hostclubshadowking]

I wouldn't presume to speak for Haruhi as to coping. I'm managing quite well.

[Almost entirely undisturbed, beyond having to find a new crew... if his tone were to be believed.]

I will certainly consider your offer. Thank you.

What sort of music do you play?

[hand_of_courage]

[Link had reservations about inviting Kyouya, but he didn't think he could invite Haruhi without the other man. As it was, his voice probably wasn't familiar anymore, being as he was now in an older body and his voice had deepened quite a bit.]

You and Miss Haruhi should join our crew on the Sea Princess. You don't have to fight the Navy if you don't want to. We have a second ship, a sailboat, that you can stay on when everyone else wants to fight the Navy.

[hostclubshadowking]

I shall extend your invitation to her. Thank you.

[Though he won't point out that merely being on a different but associated boat isn't too likely to keep them out of harm's way.

Still, it's an offer, and it will be considered with the rest.]

[Voice...ish]

[b2_dragon]

[The dragon knows that voice. He growlfs a greeting, which naturally sounds muffled and a little louder than it has to be only because he nearly shoves his face against the journal.]

((OOC: LOL if he manages to recruit them))

[Voice]

[hostclubshadowking]

Ah.

[He knows that sound. Though he doesn't entirely remember what the boy called him. Still, he knows enough to know it's the dragon.]

You again. Good afternoon.

Keeping well fed?

[borntochangetheworld]

Hi there Kyouya and Haruhi.

I am Sinbad the Sailor and it is your lucky day because I have room in my crew. It is the best crew to sail across any sea! There is no safer crew for you and your friend and uh, your dog.

I, Captain Sinbad, would protect you both with my life and there is no more valuable word than mine. I am not familiar with a host club, but I am sorry to hear it is out of business.

My goal is to seek out adventure, to meet as many people as I can so I may understand the most amount of people, for one day I intend to be a king! I am strong as is my first mate Ja'far, you would be perfectly protected.

Care to join us?

[hostclubshadowking]

[The offer of protection is a tempting one. The second crew to offer a proper incentive.

Which is more important? That's the question. Money or safety.

He does, after all, have Haruhi to consider. It isn't just him.

And a dog.]

Thank you for your offer, sir. My friend and I will certainly consider it.

If I may ask: what sort of adventure do you intend to seek?

Voice

[raavashing]

I see Toothless has already spoken up. I'm sure the Captain wouldn't mind having someone with medical knowledge. One of our members is still healing up from a stab wound. She could use some help and I don't know enough about how to heal myself to help her yet.

[Superficial cuts he could do. Deeper stuff he'd have to have more practice to do anything about.]

Voice

[hostclubshadowking]

How bad is the wound at present?

[Because the part of him that has always half toyed with the idea of being a doctor cares more about the immediate concern (a stab wound) than the long-term concern (finding a crew).]

[voice]

[thethundersaid]

I see two of my crew have already offered space on board to you.

We've lost a number of our people recently as well. A cook and someone with medical knowledge would be useful on board.

However, we don't go out of our way to avoid conflict. No one who has chosen to stay out of trouble has gotten hurt yet.

[voice]

[hostclubshadowking]

[Of course a cook and a doctor (because he had enough to call himself that by this world's standards) would be useful. Not that he says that, of course. But only one crew has given something that actually sounds like an incentive to join.]

We will certainly keep it in mind. Thank you.

[Action]

[haruhi_fujioka]

[She seeks him out because they share this burden. There is no argument over what he does with the ship or the profits. Being onboard the vessel they had all shared would have been too hard - and they both know that. Even so, she isn't sure what to say to him.]

You don't have to stick with me. [Though, honestly, she wants him to. He's her last piece of home; of familiarity.] If there's somewhere you would rather go -

[Her hair falls in front of her eyes and she tugs awkwardly on the bottom of her shirt.]

[Action]

[hostclubshadowking]

If you'd like to split up, we can.

[His wasn't the easiest personality to get along with. He knew that. It was why he wasn't even going to bother with the pretense of continuing to host. Of trying to run a host club alone.

He needed the energy and the personable skills Tamaki provided.

But, even as he said it, his eyes flicked away for a moment. Down. Preparing himself to deal with another loss. Haruhi might well prefer to be somewhere else. It would be selfish to expect or demand her to stay with him just because they were... something like friends.]

Our skill sets make us valuable enough, separately or together.

[He has about as hard a time telling her he wants her to stay as she has telling him.]