~ Tнє Pαяα∂σχ Hσυѕє ~ now back to regularly scheduled chaos

Vincent - mintedstar/fur

Vincent folded his hands behind his back, watching Myrnin walk away from him with a tilted head and lingering smirk. He truly didn’t know what Myrnin wanted out of their relationship - he figured the vampire didn’t know either - but that’s what made his efforts so worth watching.
He glanced around as he theorized what the house would throw at them, raising his eyebrows at the elaborate suggestions. He hummed in consideration, musing over those scenarios for a moment until the vampire turned to face him again. He frowned a bit, giving Myrnin a disappointed look. He knew about his choice of words, it’s seemed awful rude he was trying to pressure him into something he didn’t feel like answering.
He bounced a bit on his toes for a second before teleporting close to where Myrnin was facing, stepping carefully so he didn’t step on the vampire’s feet but considering it as he kept in stride with him. With Myrnin walking backwards, he kept moving quick enough that it be a struggle for him to turn around without tripping over himself, his face close to the vampire’s as they went. Should he need to, he was ready to disappear at any moment.
“Do you really think I’m being rude?”

Kelsier | Living Room | strider

Kelsier grinned as he successfully pinned Hook, pewter making him stronger as he pushed him against the wall. He was letting everything he’d felt at Nico’s death seep into him, his eyes dark and focused as he pinned the captain firmly.
“You already did ‘shit’ to the kid.” He answered, his voice low and dark as he twisted the arm. “You killed him. For nothing. I don’t know why I shouldn’t kill you for that.”
He did know. Because Hook wasn’t the only one who had killed Nico. He wasn’t the first, and he wasn’t the last. That was the way the House worked.
He narrowed his eyes. If he had been burning iron or steel, he would have been able to see the hook move. But he wasn’t. He was letting himself be arrogant, perhaps, convinced that he had nothing to worry about from the man. And he didn’t know the hook could come off.

"Of course it is," Arthur snapped. "This is ... my shop. The place where I live."
He turned slowly. There was a prickling sensation along his spine. There was something off though. And it wasn't Vincent, surprisingly.
"No."
He said it very slowly.
"No. It isn't where I live."
He wasn't sure what it was. He said it very slowly though, as he tried to work it off, "You know how you become very familiar with a place? Like, if it was dark, you could find your way around without seeing?"
He was having difficulty explaining already.
"That's what this place should be. But it's ... like someone's come in and moved everything an inch to the left. I know nothing has moved ... but there's ... there's a sense like you've stepped up a set of stairs in the dark but miscounted the steps. Your foot just ... plunges down ... and you know something is very wrong ... but you don't know if your foot will ever hit bottom."
He felt like he was making a big deal about a room. But it was like that sensation was constantly playing in his chest, only as he looked around the room. Everywhere he looked around the room, he was falling because of unfamiliarity that was way too familiar.
"I ... I don't think I want to be in this room much longer," he half choked. The sensation wasn't going away.

(Oddly specific horror room anyone? cx )

Touka | Lodge | des |

"Dropped my eye somewhere," said Touka dryly, slowly resigning herself to the fact that Vincent wasn't going to leave her alone.  "Let me know if you see it."

She moved a little to the left, discarding the cider that she'd mildly hoped the House had made palatable for her.  It had not.  It tasted like rotting cabbage.  The rest of the food didn't look too promising either - it looked like food, of course, but the smell...yeah.  She wasn't going to be able to eat any of this.

Rue | Lodge | Iceclaw

To be told that it was okay, that it was the right thing to do...felt good. Noah had told her the same thing. Maybe...just maybe...she was beginning to believe them.
She hadn’t had a choice, after all. It was okay, what she’d done, and it was even okay that she’d hidden it as best she could.
She didn’t look away from Daud, her expression shifting slightly as he asked about the Games.
“There was once a place called North America.” She told him, her voice starting out very quiet. “Terrible things happened there. Most of the world was destroyed. Only a small part remained, and that became the Capitol and thirteen districts, each one with a different theme. It was like that for a while. Until the districts rebelled.”
She hesitated. “Those were the dark ages,” she continued, her voice soft, as though she were telling a gentler tale. “That was the war. People died. The Capitol fought back, and the districts tried as hard as they could to defeat it, but they failed eventually. Twelve failed. The thirteenth was completely destroyed. They still show the smoldering remains sometimes, just to remind us.
Her voice was just a tiny bit bitter as she continued. “And then they gave us the Hunger Games. Every year, each district must provide a boy and a girl, between the ages of twelve and eighteen, to compete against each other in an arena that could be anything you could imagine, and probably things you can’t. The last person standing is the winner. They and their district is showered with prizes, mostly food, and the winner is given a life of ease while the rest of us starve.”
She met his eyes, her own dark. “I was chosen as one of the district eleven tributes.” She said softly. “That’s who I’m running from. Other people like me. That’s why I can’t just kill them, because they aren’t the enemy, not really. They’re just trying to survive, too.”

Joey | Lodge | Rain |

"-uckin, I dunno man. Not the brightest of the bunch are you?" Joey snickered to someone who wasn't there anymore. He was left to his own devices upon blinking outside of the lodge. The young man leaned back on the wall minding his own business when he spotted someone or rather a bundle of clothes. "The hell is that? Santa actually showed up?" He scoffed, not necessarily recognizing the stranger under all that weather and clothing.

L | Lodge | strider

Orpheus seemed to like the cookies. That made L happy, for some reason he was unsure of. He didn’t often share his food, but he could see in that moment why he might. Maybe if he had someone to share with in his own world, he would start.
He had to think about that for a moment. He could share with Watari, but that seemed odd when Watari was the one who gave him food in the first place. 
He’d have to consider that a bit more later. 
It was possible Orpheus was merely seeing the world through L’s eyes, that the world wasn’t nearly as dangerous and terrible as L thought it was, but of course L himself didn’t think of that. He could only see the world as he saw it, and that was a dangerous, terrifying place.
He was a target. He was in constant danger, but he was used to that. That was just the way life was for him.
He looked at Orpheus quietly for a long moment, his eyes searching. Did he expect his belief in Orpheus to mean anything? No, not really. His belief didn’t really have anything to do with what Orpheus was doing, after all. He wasn’t going to do more with it, or less without it. He was making an exception to his rule, and why? For his friend, who he didn’t trust, who seemed to trust him. Was Orpheus aware that the trust wasn’t mutual, that it might never be mutual? Could he be okay with that? Most people seemed to be upset and take it personally when they found out he didn’t trust them...and they weren’t even a friend, just an ally. He considered Orpheus. Would he think as highly of L’s belief in him if he was aware that L didn’t trust him?
His attention was pulled from his thoughts by Orpheus’ words. His eyes widened a little, and he didn’t answer for a long moment. Then he gave a small smile. “Thank you.” He said, his tone a little bit surprised. “I...consider your opinion to be worth a lot. So you’re belief in me matters to me a great deal.”
He paused, unsure of himself. A cookie would have helped him think. It was annoying that he couldn’t take one. But he just didn’t trust it enough for that.
He, too, glanced around, noting the others that seemed to have appeared. He didn’t know most of them, and it was hard to see if he did know any of them. He shifted, keeping his back to the wall, his eyes flicking around the room for a moment before he pulled his attention back to Orpheus. He didn’t like busy rooms. He preferred to focus his attention on one person and the House itself.
With effort, he looked back at Orpheus, though he was still highly aware of everyone else around him. “Thank you.” He said, nodding once. “I would appreciate that. I can’t promise to eat it, though the chances of it being dangerous are...complicated….but I would be interested to see it.”
He paused, tapping his fingers gently, watching Orpheus and trying not to stare at the weapons some of the others were carrying, including a man by the fire with a...small child? Was that concerning?
And several others who seemed to be almost fighting. He watched them for a moment, then looked quickly back at Orpheus, giving the other blinker his full attention.
“I will attempt to bring you some of the food I often eat, as well.” He offered. “That is, if you’d like me to.”

</div>

Kelsier | Lodge | <Raintalon>

Kelsier looked down, drawing his hand back as he nearly lost a finger.
Then he considered Sol for a long moment. She reminded him more than anything of the desperate Skaa children he often encountered in the streets, children he was unable to help directly. He had to stick to his plans. He had to bring down the one who had caused all of it.
But this wasn’t Scadrial. He could actually do something this time.
“Okay.” He said, keeping his voice level as he looked at her. Putting his hands up was useless, naturally, as she couldn’t see whether he was armed. He glanced down, remembering the stained dagger he carried. Yeah, maybe that was for the best, actually.
“I’m backing off.” He told her, and took a few steps back to prove it. She wasn’t likely to just believe that though, so he made an effort to sound a little bit scared. “Take it. I’d rather live.”
Was that enough to convince her it wasn’t a trick? Probably not. But if she was anything like the kids he knew, she would take the risk.
He shot a longing glance at the hot chocolate. This could easily be the last time he got to taste it, but...he pulled his gaze back to the girl.
And he smiled. 
He didn’t need it. She did.

Kelsier | Lodge | <Raintalon>

Kelsier watched as Sol climbed up onto the table, his smile still resting easily on his features. So she was willing to risk him tricking her to get the food. He wasn’t surprised, there was no way getting food was ever easy or safe for her. This was probably a whole lot less drama than she was used to, in fact.
He didn’t actually know what her world was like. But he thought maybe he had an idea now.
“It’s called hot chocolate.” He told her, and almost sheathed the dagger before he realized that it would sound like he was drawing it instead. Best to leave it out for the moment, then. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted, honestly. We don’t get it where I come from, so I never had it before I came here.”

Vincent - <Raintalon>

Vincent scoffed, a bit disappointed he hadn’t gotten a more honest answer out of the woman, but still willing to be amused by a creative response. “Ah,” he replied with an understanding nod.

He tailed her as she started to walk away, raising an eyebrow at the drink she abandoned and glancing over the food as they went. It was a little busy for his liking, but he got the impression that Touka would be sticking to the walls as well; so surely she could learn to enjoy his company. “Are you upset about something?” He asked casually while taking another drink, watching her with a lingering smirk.

Kelsier | Living Room | ~∂єѕтιиу

Kelsier grit his teeth, smiling a little in bitter satisfaction as Hook winced. Good. This was nothing compared to what Kel had gone through watching Nico die.
Was he letting himself get carried away? Would he have been better off if he’d just stepped back and tried to talk this out? Undoubtedly. But this was Kelsier, and he rarely talked first.
“There is a difference between killing a kid whose back is turned to you and killing the bastard who did it.” He answered quietly. He wanted to make a point here. He wanted Hook to think twice before he came after Nico again. He knew Nico wasn’t helpless, he knew the kid was far from that, but just because you could take care of yourself didn’t mean that someone watching your back wasn’t helpful.
That was his reasoning, anyway. And it was too late to back down. He hadn’t really had a plan, he hadn’t really intended for this to become a fight, but he’d be damned if he lost.
He could just kill Hook. He considered it, imagining just ending him right here. It wouldn’t be hard. Or dangerous. That wasn’t why he hesitated.
He hesitated because he knew perfectly well that he wasn’t blameless either. It frustrated him to stand there and try to decide what to do with that particular thought buzzing in his head.
He finally let go with one more vicious shove against the wall, taking a step back, glass dagger held loosely at his side, ready to come up in a moment if Hook so much as twitched wrong.
“You get to live today.” He told him, his voice completely devoid of any warmth, a dark, cold smile still resting on his face. “But I’ll be watching you. Hurt him, hurt anyone again, and I will kill you. And then I will kill you again. And again. Until the House has mercy and stops bringing you back.”
Back to life or back to the House, he didn’t elaborate. He almost hoped the pirate would attack and give him an excuse to kill him.

Rue | Lodge | Iceclaw

Do you want to win?
Rue hesitated. How was it that no one had ever asked her that before? Half the people she met assumed she wanted to win. The other half...the other half were people like Noah. People who were kind and gentle and who assumed that she couldn’t want to win.
And her? Where did that leave a tiny girl with wide eyes? A girl who made special friends with birds and sang with them, whose greatest passion mattered to no one but herself?
She looked at Daud. The first person to look at her and ask her what she wanted. And she found the answer was complicated.
“I want my family to have enough to eat.” She said quietly. “I want to sleep at night without being afraid that I won’t wake up, or if I do, it will be in a puddle of someone else’s blood. I want to learn to play an instrument and sing and and I want to yell at the person in charge.”
She didn’t need to breath except to speak, but she took a deep breath anyway. “But I’m not stupid. And that’s not the choice I have. Do I want to win the Games?”
Rue looked Daud in the eye.
“Yes.”