recolle | (Open) This is Halloween!

(Open) This is Halloween!

WHO: Jirou and YOU
WHERE: The floor that Jirou lives on
WHEN: Forward-dated to October 31st and going until sunrise of November 1st
WHAT: It's a Halloween Party!
WARNINGS: Should be nothing but if you feel something requires a warning please put it in the subject of your comment!

Upon arriving in the very nice apartment building, one will find a couple of what looks like secret service agents at one of the elevators. Tell them you're going to Jirou's party and they'll tell you what floor. Step inside the elevator and you'll find it decorated with bats and spooky lights. Just the sort of thing that is perfect for the event you're about to step into because Jirou has gone all out.

He's bought out the entire floor that he lives on and when you get off the elevator the entire hallway is decorated in spooky decor. If you step out of this elevator without a costume then you will be immediately shuffled off to one apartment by a pair of more secret service agent types (Jirou's dressed all the bodyguards this way) and told that you will be waiting here until you can be put into a costume. For those with a costume well it's time to enjoy the festivities!

Every apartment is clearly labeled for what it is. Food and drink. Spooky stories. Scary movies. Party games. Haunted house. It looks like Jirou has everything covered!

In party games, one can participate in all the usual activities. Bobbing for apples, a fun cake walk... Name a fun carnival activity and Jirou has something for it! So have fun and win prizes of fancy pastries and candies! There are plenty to go around so you can possibly win more than once if you really want to put the effort into it!

In the haunted house apartment, you will start in a well lit entryway where you will then be given a ghostly guide (someone dressed up in a ghost attire) and then taken through the apartment to the various scares. A kitchen where it seems that people are on the menu, a living room that seems to have two terrifying children staring at a static screen, bathrooms with what seems like bloody baths, coffins in the bedrooms. There are plenty of jump scares and if you feel that you can make it through this all the way you'll be rewarded with a fancy dessert dining experience. So do try to be brave.

In scary movies there are three movies going on at any given time. In the main area you can get popcorn and drinks then pick from gore, psychological, and random. There is always some movie going on so take your pick for which you'd like to partake in! Ritsu has done a great job in helping Jirou pick out the movies.

In spooky stories you can go to hear lots of terrifying ghost stories! The apartment is emptied out so you'll easily be able to grab some pillows from the helpful ghost at the door then go make yourself comfortable for a night of spooks. Or, if you feel really bold, try to scare friends and stranger with scary stories of your own!

Finally there is the apartment for food and drink. It comes with a full service bar that can provide you with anything but comes with a variety of Halloween themed drinks. Don't worry those of you not allowed alcohol because you have some fun drinks as well. Plus there are delicious snacks to pick from so everyone can be happy as they eat and socialize in this room.

So enjoy yourselves and have a great time because this party is going on all night. It won't be over until the sun starts to rise the next day!

[ooc: Hey guys! So feel free to comment around and let anyone know that they are welcome to come. You don't have to be a friend of or know Jirou to attend. There are only two main rules here. 1. You have to wear a costume. If you don't then you will be put into a costume by Jirou and Fai and they have full creative rights to it. So while you will look AMAZING you also may not end up in the costume you want. 2. No people who are underage will be allowed alcohol. So please if you have an underage character do not have anything like someone slipped them a drink or drunken mishaps or anything.

If you have any questions feels free to PM this journal or message me on discord at eiredragon1#6217 or at

eiredragon1! Otherwise spread the word and have lots of fun!]

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[Faolan doesn't particularly want to be here anymore either. He doesn't particularly want to be around Laurent anymore for that matter as well, but he's the man's bodyguard. Neither of them have a choice in the matter, at least not until Laurent is safely back at home.

He doesn't know how civil he can be in his reply so he pulls his phone out to text the driver a message about their departure instead. His expression still pinched, his eyebrows furrowed at the younger man as he elaborates:]

The car will be ready by the time you get downstairs then.

[ Laurent narrows his eyes at Faolan a moment, considering saying something else, then turns and slips away through the crowd instead to say his goodbyes.

It's a short circuit -- Laurent only knows a few people here to begin with, and he's all smiles as he catches their attention and makes his apologies. He wishes he could stay,
of course, but he's tired and it's a weekday and he has a class tomorrow morning.

Then he's weaving back through to the elevator and calling it, loosening off his costume tiredly and rubbing at his face before remembering Minako drew on it with pens.

He can't remember where she drew, but a glance down at his hand shows some colour has rubbed off. Laurent sighs and closes his eyes for a moment, trying to control the frustration welling up again.

He definitely wants to go home. ]

[Faolan doesn't follow Laurent around the room, though perhaps he should given Laurent's commentary. He doesn't think that he can force himself back into the crowd again, however. Not at Laurent's side, at least. So he waits by the side of the room and watches him smile and put on airs as he apologizes his way out of the party, and for once he's grateful that there's no reason for him to be saying any goodbyes himself. He doesn't think he could lie to their faces, pretending that he's only headed home for the night and that nothing had happened between them just then. That nothing was wrong.

It isn't a skill that he's perfected, himself. Not like Laurent has done. Nothing like Laurent has done.

As the younger man makes his way back to call for the elevator, Faolan steps in line to trail after him. Hanging a few paces behind, a silent shadow lest the reminder of his presence somehow further offend him in some way.

Laurent's not the only one that wants to go home. Faolan's just not certain he's ready to go home together. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't have much of a choice.]

[ Laurent digs out his phone and switches to the front camera, squinting to assess the damage he's done rubbing his face and trying to push back curls to see better.

He can sense Faolan trailing up behind him, even though he's not speaking, and Laurent steps into the lift as it arrives -- turning to watch Faolan follow. ]

I don't suppose you have some kind of handkerchief in all those sleeves.

[ To tidy up this face smearing, he means. ]

[Faolan's eyes narrow slightly at the question. Is this how it's going to be then? Laurent insults him, and then he acts as though nothing happened? Has it really been that awful, to work with him all this time that that moment should mean so little to him as that?

He's caught between his indignation at Laurent's lack of regard of his person and his desire to please him even so, and the juxtaposition of the two makes him sick to his stomach. Shaking his head slowly, Faolan glances away from the younger man.

Slathering.]

No. [Faolan responds tightly.] I don't.

Then I suppose I will just continue to have smeared ink on my face. I'll pretend it's fashionable.

[ He presses the button for the ground floor, locks his phone again and pushes it into his pocket. The doors slide closed and the lift begins to move down. ]

If you're going to say something, you may as well say it.

[ Laurent would rather Faolan was angry. He'd rather they fought. That, at least, he is good at. He can hurt people. He can't cope with this fear of everyone around him, of hidden assassins. ]

[Even Laurent's invitation for the pair of them to speak on the matter irks Faolan. 'May as well.' As though he's checked his schedule and decided he hasn't anything better to do, after carefully weighing up whether he'd rather speak to Faolan or watch paint dry.

Slathering. The more he thinks on it, the deeper it cuts. He feels as though he's been struck although Laurent's hardly lifted a finger against him. He almost wishes he had. He knows how to defend himself against a fist, but he knows he's no match for this.

He hardly thinks that the lift is quite the place for this conversation but he's also finding that he's starting not to care. At the very least there's no one there to listen in as he responds:]

If my company honestly bothers you so much, then perhaps you should find another bodyguard.

Are you sure that's all you want to say?

[ He links his hands neatly together, leans his weight against the side of the elevator and studies Faolan through hooded eyes.

He thinks there's plenty more Faolan has to say, if he really gets going. ]

[Faolan's hands ball into fists at his side at the younger man's words and his eyes narrow further. It feels as though Laurent is deliberately prodding him with a stick, and by god it's working.]

I don't know, should there be? Is there something that you want me to say? I'd love to know it. Clearly I've done something wrong. Why not tell me all the rest of me you find fault with while you're at it.

There's plenty, but you're avoiding it. You've taken the easy way out, which is your choice, you haven't committed to anything. But you can't have things both ways, Faolan, and I don't like being toyed with any more than you do.

[ He glowers a second longer, then the elevator slows to a stop and he turns toward the door -- steps out as it begins to open. ]

Easy? [Faolan sputters, starting after him, reaching for the sleeve of Laurent's jacket to pull him aside and face him once the pair of them have stepped out, stepping close to keep their conversation as private as he can, his hand closed around Laurent's bicep as he hisses his reply up into the younger man's face.]

No, you wait just a damned second. You don't get to say things like that and turn it around on me again. Not and blame me for my lack of a decision when you know full well how much there is at stake here. You told me to think about it. You don't get to tell me that this is easy.

[Faolan lowers his voice further, leaning so that he barely has to raise his words above a breath between them.] I watch you -- every day I watch you. It's what you pay me for. I can't take my eyes off of you. I can't stop watching you. I can't stop thinking about you. I can't stop. Don't you understand, Laurent? From the moment you came into my life, there only ever was one choice to make.

[Even now, when he's angry and upset and honestly still more than a little hurt by the younger man's words, all he wants to do is to step forward, close the distance between the pair of them, and kiss him. Slathering, indeed. God, he feels sick.]

Edited 2017-11-14 22:07 (UTC)

[ He looks back sharply as Faolan grabs his arm, eyes narrowing down at it. ]

I said you've taken the easy way out. You have. Doing nothing is easy.

[ Inaction is the easiest response of all, the bystander default. ]

If you're going to reject me just do so. I know how much is at stake. I'm the one who made you think about it, when it makes no difference to me if you ruin your career. I didn't take you for a coward.

[ Laurent tugs to try and free his arm, so he can step away from Faolan again. ]

Edited (#drama) 2017-11-14 23:49 (UTC)

[It makes no difference to me if you ruin your career. Coward.

Once again, Faolan feels as though he's been struck, though this time with the pain burns an anger, hot and bright.

Slavering. Coward. Damn it. God damn him.]

What else am I, then? Go on then, Laurent. While you're being honest, tell me how you really feel. Because I'll be damned if I honestly know. I'll be damned if you've told me anything about what you want out of this, other than to remind me of how terrible a decision it is and the consequences that it might bring down upon me. Do you really think that it was me that I've been thinking of this whole time? Do you really think that I haven't been trying to understand what was best for you as well?

So why not. [Faolan throws his hands up in the air.] I suppose I'm a coward for it. Selfish. Why don't you tell me what else is wrong with me while you're at it? For god's sake, Laurent! The only reason I haven't said yes yet is because you keep telling me not to...!

[ What else am I? Faolan prompts, and Laurent's expression twists into a nasty sort of smile.

He could do it, he thinks. He could easily break Faolan down here until he felt so tired, so rejected that he left of his own accord and never spoke to Laurent again. That would probably be better for him. He might live a longer life that way. He wouldn't get drawn into all this chaos. He wouldn't get hurt. ]

Well, if our dreams were real you're an inept guard as well.

[Faolan blanches at the younger man's words, physically paling at the memory of the sights and sounds in that dream. At memory of his failure, and the smile on Laurent's face as he reminds him.

Laurent's safety be damned, Laurent has done nothing but throw punches himself, and Faolan is tired of being beaten down with no means of defending himself against these attacks. He's torn between wanting to physically punch the younger man and simply walk away, and he feels like he wants to scream or cry, and honestly is embarrassingly close to either.]

So then fire me. For god's sake. Just fire me and be done with it.

[ There's a hint of triumph at that, at the way Faolan reacts to his words. It's a victory, in a way, but it isn't one that feels satisfying. He takes a few slow steps back, shakes his head and lets out a weak laugh. ]

It doesn't matter if I do or not. You weren't meant to be there, Faolan. I've had that dream over and over since then, you're not in it. Nobody will come to rescue me. Whatever happens, I'll be facing it alone. If my uncle wants me dead you won't be able to stop him. You'd have a better chance if you left.

[Faolan stares at the younger man incredulously. That was the point he was trying to make in this?]

So because I didn't come to rescue you from that cell? Because I couldn't, what -- I'm just supposed to give up on you? You're a lost cause? Because I wasn't there to start I've now failed you even further? Is that it?

[Faolan swears under his breath in Gaelic before continuing in a language that the other man can understand.] God damn it, Laurent, that was then and this is now and you can't know for certain how any of it is going to play out! And if you think for a second that I would leave to give myself a better chance when I could at least stay and try then you're a damn fool yourself.

[He growls angrily before turning towards the door and the car that's waiting for them outside.]

[ Laurent glowers at him, watching him prowl through the door and shove it open. ]

But I do know. Haven't you realised? Everyone we speak to, the more they regain new memories, the more they feel they're turning into the person they remember. Sometimes physically, too. Do you want to know the person I was?

I was alone. My brother was dead. My parents were dead, and my uncle sold me out to a man who had no intention of killing me quickly. He wanted control, and I was in the way. All I could think to myself was, he has a knife but he has a temper too. I could goad him into killing me, then it would be over faster. Do you think I don't wonder if he'll find me, here? If I'll turn around and he'll be waiting for me? If my uncle has already sent him looking for me? If tomorrow I'll wake up to news that it's all started happening, that there's been another accident and the press are waiting for me to make a statement?

I'm waiting for you to decide who you are, Faolan, because I can't --

[ He hears his voice break and stops, flinches and takes a breath slowly. Tries to drag himself under control. His fingers flex hard.

I can't do this, he thinks, but if he says it aloud then it might become true. ]

[Faolan turns in place, bracing a hand on the door to stop its motion as Laurent addresses him so that it doesn't end up shutting in his face. For all that he had been aiming for a dramatic exit, he'd intended for Laurent to follow him. He hadn't intended -- hadn't expected -- this. And so it takes him a moment to process it all, from the break in Laurent's voice to the look on his face to the words he had shared.

More than anything, he wishes he had finished his thought, if only so that he might know for once exactly what it is that he's feeling, instead of leaving him to infer his best guess on the bits and pieces he's hinted at. At least for once, just tell him what he wishes of him so that Faolan might be able to offer it with open arms. It doesn't take a genius to understand what Laurent is hinting at however, even so. Not at least when it comes to the fact that underneath it all, he is afraid. Afraid of becoming the man in his dreams. Afraid of being so alone.

Faolan's brows furrow and he takes in a deep breath, letting it out in a long, heavy sigh. Of course he would lead up to such a moment like this. Of course...]

I can't think like that, [he replies at last.] I barely remember the man I was, and the things that I do... I can't look at him and think that one day I might become him.

[Faolan releases the door and takes another step back towards Laurent, until he's standing face to face with him again.] I don't want to lose who I am. And I don't want to lose you. Damn it, Laurent, what more do you need me to say? I would risk a hell of a lot more than just my career for you. Just to keep you safe. Just to make you happy. Don't you understand?

[ Don't you understand, Faolan presses, and Laurent doesn't think he does. Not really. His fingers flex, face twitching just a little as if Laurent is desperately repressing something.

He can feel emotion pressing at him but Laurent refuses to dignify it, forces his breaths steady. Since I was thirteen, he thinks, alone since I was thirteen. I survived that. I can survive this. ]

Promise me.

[ It sounds childish, and Laurent frowns at himself. He doesn't feel in control. He's stand in an entryway, coloured paint on his face, dressed in a costume asking Faolan to promise him. When his eyes flick back up there's something defiant in them. I don't care. Do it. ]

Promise me you'll stay.

[ Whatever we become. Whatever I become. ]

[It doesn't matter to Faolan that Laurent has colored paint on his face, whether it's smeared or it's pristine. It doesn't matter whether they're dressed in costumes and standing in the entryway of a stranger's apartment complex, or whether they're dressed in pajamas and standing in the living room of their home. So long as Laurent looks up at him like that and asks him that same question, the world could be ending and Faolan wouldn't care, so long as he finally has this. So long as Laurent finally allows himself this.

Faolan takes one step forward to close the distance between the pair of them. Looking up into Laurent's defiant light eyes for a long moment, until he is certain he has Laurent's complete attention before he reaches for Laurent's hand, fingers threading gently through the younger man's as he does.]

I'm not going anywhere, Laurent. [He says softly, squeezing his hand gently before using it as leverage to pull Laurent down closer to his level. Rocking up onto the balls of his feet so that he can sling his other arm around Laurent's shoulders and hold him closer still.] I promise. I promise.

[ Laurent looks down at Faolan's hand taking his, is so busy frowning down at them that the tug forward surprises him. His eyes lift again, and then he finds himself enveloped in Faolan's arms.

The warmth of Faolan's body presses against him and Laurent lets his eyes slip closed, stays tense for a long moment before slowly letting himself go limp against Faolan's chest. His hand creeps up to latch onto the back of the thick robes.

He wants to make a joke, to try and deflect from his own weakness. Something about prophecy, maybe, but it all dies in his throat before he can try to form the words. You make a terrible Nostradamus, he thinks, you couldn't see that was going on.

His face presses into Faolan's shoulder instead, and fingers twisting into the fabric of his clothing to try and hang on tighter. To keep him close.]

[For a moment, Faolan fears that Laurent may just pull away from his hold. Like all the other times that he has reached for the younger man and Laurent has tensed or stepped out of his reach. But Laurent goes limp in his arms and his fingers latch in the back of his costume, and Faolan knows that he's finally done right by him.

Laurent turns his face against his shoulder and Faolan raises a hand to brace against the back of his head, tangling his fingers in the curls just above the collar of his jacket and holding him close.]

I promise. [He repeats softly.] I'm here to stay. With you.

[ He takes a few steadying breaths, letting the feel of Faolan's warmth seep through and soothe his soul. The feel of his fingers in his hair, the sound of his voice.

Then Laurent takes another deep breath and draws back, eyes flicking around warily. ]

We should go.

[ His fingers stay tangled with Faolan's, though, even as he pauses to touch his face then check the fabric of Faolan's costume. ]

Careful I don't smear my face art all over your costume.

Edited 2017-11-16 17:50 (UTC)

[Faolan understands that this moment will not last forever, and it doesn't. He's pleasantly surprised that Laurent's fingers remain threaded through his own, however, and he gives the younger man's hand a reassuring squeeze as Laurent does his best to piece a sense of normalcy back into place.]

It will wash. [He hardly thinks Minako would be drawing on his face in something that wouldn't, and even so. Faolan would ruin any clothing he owned to be able to hold him close again, to feel the tension flow out of him at last as his body relaxes in his arms. It's a terribly cliche'd thing to say that he would give someone the world, but Faolan is finding it entirely true in this instance.]

Let's go home. [He offers, though he does not move again just yet.] We'll see if we can't get that cleaned off.

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anguinous - 2017-11-19 21:59 (UTC) - Expand

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