You can check out anytime you'd like.. [Hotel Corona Mingle]

[thespaceopera]

Who: The Fleet!
Broadcast: If you want
Action: Hotel Corona or Planet Ikke
When: December 7th onward



[After the mystery and isolation of their last destination, the Marsiva seems determined to head to brighter, busier territory. After a long journey through remote, nebula-painted space, speeding along at a brisk pace for the Host ship, the Marsiva brings her Fleet to a sudden and prominent point of traffic.

It seems that the Fleet has happened upon some sort of vacation destination! Maybe Atroma thinks that the passengers deserve some rest and relaxation... or just wants to distract them with something huge and shiny.

Welcome to Hotel Corona! Feel free to enjoy yourselves and enjoy the sites! If a hotel resort isn't your thing, you can head on over to the nearby planet and explore it's icy wonders.

In order words: it's a mingle!! Everyone get in! ]

[>> Plot Post]

Comments

Erik Lehnsherr | OTA

[exothermia]

a. corona hall, hotel lobby

[It's nothing to Erik if he spends some of his ridiculous amount of credits on a hotel room, but he still opts for the budget option. The room roulette has a waiting time of nearly an hour, so he drops into one of the lobby chairs with his bag and opts to read the pamphlets to pass the time.

He can be found there, either absorbed in the pamphlets, or getting increasingly annoyed at an over-eager bell boy who keeps trying to check in his bag for him. The fifth time this happens, Erik makes his irritation clear enough to anyone within earshot:]

If you try to take my bag again, you'll be leaving here in one. Leave it.

b. apogee getaway

[Erik and beaches have a fraught history, to say the least. But that doesn't mean he can't enjoy them, provided it's the right part. The main swimming areas are too boisterous for him, so he's more likely to be found sitting near one of the rock pools near the climbing area, pants rolled up to his knees and feet in the water. Sometimes he'll rap his knuckles against the 'rock', shaking his head at the sound.]

Plastic.

[Once or twice, he hovers around the spa entrance, surreptitiously checking the prices and services on offer.]

c. blue nebula museum

[Erik is much more inclined to spend time in the museum, a quieter space with room to breathe. He's often to be seen walking slowly around the viewing decks, watching the nebulas beyond. Soon enough he makes it a routine to spend a couple of hours in one of the cafe lounges, reading a book with some coffee. Sometimes he doesn't even do that, preferring instead to stare pensively out the windows, lost in melancholy memories.]

d. wildcard

[If you have another place you'd like to find Erik, feel free!]

[ the D ]

[axiomed]

[ It was easy to persuade Charles to come to the hotel. Not only were the facilities nicer, it just felt safer. The press of minds were all around and now Charles had no compulsions of doing scans of the people around him. He doesn't feel threatened, though he's not sure he feels better.

Still, Erik mentions the spa and Charles finds himself softening at that suggestion. So they make their way down there. ]

[exothermia]

[It took Erik a few days to make the suggestion. The first day they had checked in, Erik had succumbed to his exhaustion and slept for nearly twenty hours. That had been embarrassing. After that, he had wanted to get the feel of the place, see what was around.

He had scoped out the spa a couple of times, and even viewed the hot springs room. The whole thing was artificial, of course, but it hardly mattered. Erik turns to Charles after he collects the room key from the spa attendant.]

They provide swimming clothes and towels in there, so at least it isn't necessary to buy any.

[axiomed]

That certainly makes it easier.

[ He moves his chair forward. ]

Their facilities are quite good.

[exothermia]

[Erik leads them down the short hallway, full of doors with "fun" placards announcing what lies beyond.]

I thought so, from what I saw of them. They really do offer almost everything I could think of.

[The massages hadn't escaped his notice, but that seems more of a solo thing. He stops in front of a door that says "Hot Stuff Springs!!" and uses the key to open it.]

[axiomed]

I suppose it's not surprising for a traveling hotel.

[ Charles watches people leave out of the corner of his eye. ]

A

[cajunspice]

Oui, god forbid they try 'nd do their job, hein? [It was said with a smirk in place, a note of humor in his tone as Remy was carrying his own bag over one shoulder before he too had to wave off the same bell boy from trying to take his own.]

Ya know, hotels 'nd so called holidays suppose to be fun. [And Erik certainly did not look like he was having fun.]

[exothermia]

[Erik glances up at Remy, previous irritation still written on his face despite the bell boy's quick departure. It takes him a good moment to remember Remy's name - one conversation ten years ago made it a little tricky. He snorts finally, tossing the pamphlets back on the table.]

I never considered the lobby to be part of the fun. [Not that he can say he's been to many hotels for enjoyment.]

[cajunspice]

[Remy had been a little out of the loop with Erik's own transformation, since he didn't really go out of his way to meet up with the man normally. Though a second glance over his glasses at the man and a quiet moment to take it in was answered with only a nod of his head before he continued on.] Depends on the lobby, should try the ones in Vegas, free drinks, bit of gamblin', good way to pass the time.

[exothermia]

[He grimaces slightly.] I've been. I wasn't a fan.

LeBeau, wasn't it?

[cajunspice]

Ah, oui, it be. [Before shrugging a shoulder sheepishly at the situation.] Guess forgot ya'll kinda went through a bit of a time skip while 'sleep. Gets kinda hard keepin' up with who be where in all these different timelines. [It wasn't a great excuse, but a true one.]

d.

[exothermia]

[Rain or shine, ship or elsewhere, the routine meditation session is just that: routine. Now that they're docked in a hotel, the main difference is Erik and Charles have a different location to do it in. The Apogee Getaway has suites of meditation rooms, both guided and solo. Erik had merely raised an eyebrow at the woman offering the guided sessions, before making a standing booking for a solo room.

That was where Erik and Charles were now, in the last few minutes of their hour. Erik shifted a bit, rolling his shoulders in his seated position. Today had gone better than yesterday, when he couldn't keep his focus. Ironic, given he had something in his bag which he had thought would be a distraction.]

[axiomed]

[ The edge of unease is distracting, but Charles manages to keep himself centered. After a few minutes though, he can't help but prod. ]

Is something wrong, Erik?

[exothermia]

[Erik glances over at Charles, and shakes his head.]

No, I'm just tired. [Which is nothing new.] Is it obvious?

[axiomed]

I wouldn't say obvious. It just seems like something is bothering you.

[ But he leaves it at that, closing his eyes. ]

[exothermia]

[Erik watches Charles for a moment longer, before closing his own eyes. There usually is something bothering him, but it's a formless sense that he can never really point to and say, "That." It's more likely... that the gift is weighing on his mind. Not surprising, given how long he's spent on it.

After another few minutes, the timer on the wall beeps. Erik huffs, unfolding his legs and getting to his feet.]

I'm not overly fond of the alarm method of telling us time is up.

d.

[exothermia]

[Plans. Erik has made quite a few in his time, and some work better than others. In some instances, unplanned events tend to work out more satisfactorily, and if he were more reflective he would consider that it's because he doesn't attach expectations to them in quite the same manner.

This couldn't be said for the dinner offer he'd made to Charles. It felt like doing things in reverse somehow, asking the question then working out why, and how, and when. The former had come quickly enough, the latter took some time. But having lined all the pieces up, Erik told Charles after meditation yesterday - with a not-negligible amount of awkwardness - that they could go to dinner today.

And so Erik was waiting in front of a restaurant perched above the beach cafe they had been to a couple of weeks ago. He was grateful for the still busy noise of the pool below, as it provided an ongoing distraction for him to focus on.

It has occurred to him several times that he could have met Charles outside their rooms, but neither of them had thought of that.]

[axiomed]

[ It's not as though Charles was nervous, though he could certainly feel his nerves acting up. Talking to Beverly had given him the clarity he so desperately sought. His fears may not have abated, but at least he understood how limited and unfair his behavior had been.

Straightening his jacket, he maneuvers his chair towards the table where Erik was and gave him a genuine smile. ]

Were you waiting long?

[exothermia]

[Erik smiles back when Charles approaches, glad to see the other man had made it. He shakes his head, gesturing to the busy kitchen behind them.]

No - only a few minutes. They've only just started their dinner menu for tonight.

[axiomed]

Ah, excellent. I wasn't sure I'd be too late or not.

Have you looked through it yet? Seeing as you're the adventurous sort lately.

[exothermia]

[Shrugging, he hands Charles the second menu. Lateness had not really been on his mind; they would arrive when they did. The comment about adventure does prompt a twitch of his lips.]

I wouldn't oversell it too much. And yes, I have, at least the entrees.

So wild, much card

[passingthrough]

Video
You are a hard man to find. [Thus calling first.] Except for the times when I find you by accident while drunk. Less weird to get it out of the way by talking about it, right? No?

video

[exothermia]

[Erik stares at the message for a moment, not sure if he should respond or not. Being reminded of that little incident wasn't high on his to-do list. Still, he answers.]

Hello, Kitty.

[Not that he intends to answer in an affirmative or negative right off the bat.]

video

[passingthrough]

Hey. [Almost surprised he answered.] So, sorry about that other thing. I might be even more stubborn than usual after having surprisingly strong drinks.

video

[exothermia]

You were certainly that. I hope you didn't end up in any other rooms on your way back?