3 o'clock things

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

"Lucky you," Niki says, continuing to nibble on his pizza before setting the crust off to one side, evidently deeming it unnecessary. "And that's a clever idea. I should've thought of that when I was back in the woods. They never got too close to the house at least - or if they did, they don't know how to knock doors, so..." He shrugs; he hadn't been aware of them lurking so close to where he slept and worked, so where's the harm?

"That is so," he continues of his various memory hacks, the necromancer shifting to get more comfortable in the booth, tucking himself into the corner and pulling up his good leg to rest an arm across his knee. "It's all about buildin' habits. Like... you know you get out cigarettes when you drink, 'cause you've done it so much. So if you get up every day an' check your calendar, you'll stop forgettin' it."

Smiling sunnily like he's solved one of the world's problems this way, Niki is interrupted by his own sudden yawn, hiding it behind the back of one hand. "Does liquor always make you sleepy?"

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

He had been pretty lucky. His entire intention had been to get in there and tank the majority of the hits, but without the banshee landing one on him it left him completely unscathed. Which was, admittedly, unfortunate when the target of the attacks had been the whole reason Sunjata tried to be the tank in the first place. But, they’d all survived, killed the banshee, and moved on to see another day. “Probably for the best.” Sunjata admits about the banshee with a soft laugh.

He relaxes into the booth as Niki continues to explain the why for how his memory could improve, how the little steps would add up and build a habit. “Yeah that makes sense. I’ll have to try that.” He’s already noting it mentally (which does very little in the grand scheme of things), when he notices Niki’s starting to yawn and shift more comfortably in the booth.

“Oh yeah. Always worked for me to get to sleep.” He admits, leaning forward now toward the necromancer with a raise of his scarred brow. “I’ve got a room available for you whenever you're ready.” He tacks on, having already figured it would have been next to impossible for Niki to successfully leave, even if Sunjata carried him from here to New Haven with all this snow.

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

Humming firm agreement with Sunjata's verdict on the banshee - and probably to any wandering enenra if he thinks about it too much, which he's luckily not inclined to do right now - Niki grins across the table at the other man. "Maybe for your next birthday I should get you a calendar," he suggests wryly. "I bet I could go to the Gilded Market and make one that changes the year automatically."

And if he wasn't already liquor-tired, that riveting thought might have gotten him there already, the necromancer sighing hard enough to puff out his cheeks and rubbing at his eyes with his free hand like he might perk himself back up. "You got a room for me?" He barks out a laugh at that. "I mean, no. Of course, thank you. Still, I can't imagine how it must have looked. I'm having a friend come to the House of Midnight. I want to give him every type of booze we have, and also a bed."

He raises his eyebrows as if to ask whether Sunjata wants him to fill in the blanks.

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

His brows lift at the option of another birthday gift, the Heartless hiding the chuckle that leaves him as he tilts his head toward Niki. “Ooh, then I wouldn’t miss a single event.” He poses, even though it was far more likely that Sunjata would forget to write anything on it in the first place. Regardless, Sunjata doesn’t voice that as he starts to tell Niki that he’s got a room figured out for him already.

To hear the sigh and the way he rubs at his face, Sunjata’s smile grows a touch more muted as he raises a scarred brow back at the necromancer, leaning in a little. “That’s to assume I told anyone anything more than I’d like a flight of everything, food, and a room empty.” Which, to anyone else he could guess probably seemed like a time for someone to get absolutely fucked up and want a space to crash.

“But, even if I had explained everything to them, I’m positive it’s one of the easiest requests they’ve had and they'd think little about it.” And not exactly noteworthy in a brothel of all places, where people come to do whatever even if it didn’t involve having sex.

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

"Mhm, exactly," Niki says with the sage certainty of someone who only half remembers how they got to this part of the conversation. "Events like my birthday. Which is in Deepfrost, by the way," he continues, the booze clearly making him much more forthcoming with personal information. (And it's a coin flip, truly, as to whether he even remembers what he says from here).

Huffing out a laugh and nodding in acknowledgement, the necromancer finds himself gazing across the lounge with fresh eyes. "Y'know, all the times you've spoken about this place, you make it sound like no one actually comes to use it for what it's for," he points out suddenly. "A place to stay, to work, to relax, to imagine nice places they remember... but not actually as a brothel."

He doesn't mean to sound so amused, but it does strike him as strange for a place literally blessed by the god of sex and their demigod.

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

To hear the drop of Niki’s birthday, Sunjata’s gaze is squinting over at the necromancer. He tries to remember if the other man had told him it before, but remembers that it seemed more like pulling teeth to try and get anything personal from him. So he laughs softly, nodding and makes a mental note of what to get him for his birthday, seeing as he’d remembered the Heartless’ own. “Early or late Deepfrost?” He asks, as if trying to pinpoint just where Niki’s birthday fell.

It’s temporary, at least, with the announcement of the multitude other ways that the brothel is used, Sunjata leans back as Niki glances around the bottom floor with a new outlook. “In my experience, Frey’s always been more about following your impulses, indulgence, and having fun along the way.” He answers the playful musing that the necromancer has, glancing past him to peer out at the rest of the lounge. “So maybe it doesn’t line up exactly with what Frey represents as a whole, but, it’s how they’ve always been to me. I might as well replicate that kind of.. safe space to do all of that.” He shrugs casually. “Whether it’s sex or just wanting to revisit somewhere you can’t go back to or something new. The opportunities are endless and as long as people enjoy themselves and have fun while they’re here, that’s good enough for me.”

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

"Mid Deepfrost," Niki answers easily enough, knowing all too well, of course, that they're just about approaching that part of the season. "Though I'll be furious if you get me anything after you provided me with an entire house for movin' to King's End," he tacks on with another waggle of his finger, in case Sunjata gets any ideas. "You can consider me gifted out for the next year at least, thanks to that."

His voice lowers then, and when he speaks it's almost to himself, though certainly loud enough for Sunjata to hear. "That was really kind of you, by the way. Not just settin' me up with somewhere to live, but somewhere so..." He gestures helplessly. Perfect seems disingenuous even if it's true. The place is just very Niki, in a way he'd struggle to articulate even when sober.

Much easier, it seems, to comment on the House of Midnight instead. "Ah, I see," he remarks, raising his eyebrows at the booths and tables and the bar. "I think you've succeeded in that, one way or another. Everyone's havin' fun that I can see."

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

Mid Deepfrost gets tucked away into the confines of Sunjata’s memory that’s practically labeled DO NOT FORGET, so we’ll see just how well the Heartless manages to remember the birthday that’s very shortly coming up. And when Niki continues, Sunjata can’t help the bright laugh that escapes him with a raise of his brows, placating and surprised. “Furious, huh?” He asks, wondering if a black coffee and a happy birthday would be dull enough to not capture the necromancer’s wrath.

As Niki’s voice drops, Sunjata’s even more in tune with what leaves his lips, thanks to the hEARs that boost it just enough. “I’m glad it was a good fit.” He says softly, easily, as though that might make the gratitude easier seeing as he can tell it’s hard for Niki to wrap his words around it. He is glad, too, because all that he knows about the necromancer seemed to pinpoint right to that house.

“Yeah, I think I have too. Haven’t had any complaints so far.” He boasts playfully, reaching up to ruffle a hand through his hair and knocks it into the horns he’s forgotten were there. “Oof,” Sunjata mutters, huffing a laugh at himself as the horns melt away back into nothing and he can finally run his hand through his grey speckled hair before inspecting his hand.

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

"Mmhm," Niki drawls with all the seriousness of a death sentence, raising his eyebrows across the table even as his head lolls back against the side of the booth. "Furious. My temper's a terrible thing to behold, you know." For all the confidence with which he says it, not even the necromancer can say how true it is. His temper has a long fuse and he can't honestly remember the last time it burned to the quick (though it probably involved Vesper).

Relaxing as Sunjata seems to get his point even with his failure to articulate, Niki's smile is something quiet and privately more pleased than he lets on. "Me too," he says. "I was worried I'd be homesick." The confession is easy after a flight of liquor, already half forgotten as the conversation bounces onward.

Or rather, bounces into Sunjata smacking himself with his own horns. "I didn't realise your memory was that bad," he blurts with a boyish laugh. "At this rate, people could've made complaints but you just don't remember them." Biting back further laughter and tilting his head, he nods to the Heartless's hand. "Fingers all still attached?"

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

There’s a lot of confidence there that Sunjata most definitely doesn’t want to tempt. If anything, he’s half assuming that Niki’s correct in the temper he has, and with the cane in addition, he’s far less likely to tempt fate in that aspect. “I can only imagine.” The Heartless replies, sparking a chuckle to trial at the end of the sentence.

To hear that Niki would be worried about being homesick is something Sunjata can understand. He often was homesick, specifically for a place he could never return to. It’s why he liked the rooms here so much, why when given the options of what he could make it stand out as, that he chose that particular ability. “The rooms can help with that, too, if that ever does happen.” He offers easily.

It’s precisely before he’s making a fool of himself, but figuring it’s worth it to hear that boyish laugh leave Niki’s lips and the playful delight in his gaze. He only witnesses it for a few moments as he inspects his hand, rolling his eyes playfully as he extends out the hand for Niki to see for himself. “All attached.” He confirms before he sighs dramatically. “And in my defense, usually I use my other horned shift and they’re not as big.” He drawls, partially shifting into the Nyala horns for emphasis. They spiral, too, but outward and upward, far less likely to get knocked into. They start as a dark hue around the crown of his head up until the very tip which shifts abruptly to a golden hue.

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

"Mm, I remember," Niki says of the rooms, the subject of his (non-existent) temper promptly forgotten in lieu of the other things suddenly happening, mostly involving Sunjata managing to almost skewer himself on his own shift. "I'll let you know if I ever really need the Greatwood an' make sure to book an appointment." Sans flight of liquor this time, but perhaps with a martini or two.

"Good," he says of Sunjata's hand, glancing down towards his palm and the fully attached fingers before he's feeding him the easiest innuendo of the afternoon so far. Glancing slowly across the table - and up, as the nyala horns spiral into view - Niki has to bite the inside of his cheek to keep his smile at bay. "The owner of a brothel with big horns," he says, just to make sure he's got it right.

"I'm learnin' so much about you, Sunjata."

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

“Sounds good.” He nods to the necromancer, sure that the House would be amenable to whatever it was Niki wanted to book for an appointment and however he wished to use the room. For now, though, he lets the jest spill – realizing it, but figuring based off of a bad amount of information thus far that Niki might choose to ignore the innuendo. He should know better, though, with how warm and amused and happy Niki looks right now despite the inebriation, that the comment would be latched onto.

An accented laugh leaves Sunjata, his smile twisting up crooked on his face as he nods his horned head. “Big horns and wide wings.” He drawls as if a wingspan had something to do with the size of other parts lmaooo. “What else do you wanna know since you’ve got me primed to tell you?” He asks with a cheshire glint of mischief flashing in his gaze, in a way that makes him almost appear younger for it.

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

"Be still my heart," Niki drawls, his amusement still dry as ever but his nervousness well and truly drowned by the alcohol he's consumed, his free hand lifting to ruffle through his hair while the other remains propped across his raised knee. "Primed to tell you, though? How'd I manage that. You're the one who gave me ffff...ive? shots?" He's not sure at this point, honestly. "And you're still sittin' there with your pizza an' your whiskey, sober as a judge."

But still, Sunjata has asked and Niki's prim and proper attitude has been eroded enough that he's able to voice thoughts and questions he'd otherwise never dare to show the light of day. Even so, for this in particular he lowers his voice, as if recognising the potential faux pas he'd never normally allow, and his hand raises to gesture to his cheek where, on Sunjata's face, the scar causes his smile to cut into something crooked. "How did that happen?" he asks softly. "An accident?"

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

Unable to relate to the heart comment, unfortunately, which is definitely something he’s been thinking about as of late, he’s content to sit there comfortably and watch as Niki ruffles his hand through his hair and lounges not unlike a coy and comfortable feline along the booth. “I guess you’ve got some magic.” He muses in response, because given Niki’s status as an Abandoned, he supposes it wouldn’t be that far from the truth, even if his magic had more to do with the deceased than the living sat across from him. “Trust me, if I had my choice I’d be where you are.” He tacks on – which is the whole point of this endeavor.

But still, Sunjata waits for the questions to fall, half expecting them to be something wryer and more playful. He cuts to the chase, though, to the scar on his face that’s gnarled and warped. And while he’s explained a lot of the scars that linger on his body, the ones on his face almost feel more personal because far less people ask about it.

He’s happy to answer regardless, though. “Oh it was very much on purpose.” He rolls his tattooed shoulder in a small shrug. “I got it in my final stand against my father. I challenged him to a Trial. Which, basically, was this horrible tradition we did when we were young, but only ever ended with one survivor.” He purses his lips slightly as he realizes it probably doesn’t inject anything warm and fuzzy into the conversation, but here he was. Alive and well. “I challenged him in Torchline on the cliffs over the Arclight. He got the upper hand at first because he was a fucking brute, but I won in the end. I didn’t get healing on it for a couple of days.. Ocean water isn’t exactly great for healing wounds.”

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu