[open] one's home is one's.... hopefully-not-burning-like-the-actual-palace castle

[gekkajuu]

Who: Atsushi (gekkajuu) & anyone/everyone
What: A fairly subdued housewarming party! Also a chance to get some activity in while waiting for the event. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
When: Now. Ish. Now is good.
Where: Olympia, Noble District because tiger boy is moving up in the world~
Warning(s): None..? This is an open mingle, so tag each other with some (probably) lighter stuff between all the WAR and RAWR! Should things get some kind of naughty, please put proper warnings in your subject lines, thank you.

It's almost certainly not the biggest mansion in the Noble District - but who cares? Atsushi is honored (and more than a little surprised) that he got offered this housing in the first place. Carefully inquiring about the rent (because of course this had to be some kind of scam?), he was told that there wasn't any, and he could simply live there for free.

There is always that voice in the back of his head telling him "if it seems too good to be true..." - but he's trying to get better about ignoring it. After all, even if he has to go back to a simpler place to live later, there's nothing lost. So he moves in (together with some friends), tries to find his way - and organizes a housewarming party almost immediately. He could use something to distract him... and so could other people, probably.

Join him? The mansion is still pretty empty - Atsushi's previous possessions aren't enough to fill so much as his bedroom - but the kitchen is full, and there's enough furniture in the living room to make yourself comfortable, a long table decked out with food and drinks that took some effort to procure.

Some options:
- Enjoy the food! Enjoy the drink! Atsushi isn't big on alcohol, but he invited Chuuya to live here, so you can bet your ass there will be something to get drunk off.
- You're welcome to raid the kitchen, too! ... but, seriously, don't open that ribbon-tied box with a note that says "for Reign-san". Yes, those are some tasty-looking mochi - but they have a secret ingredient.
- Do you want to look around upstairs? The master bathroom is huge. Please don't have sex in other people's beds, though... Or do, I'm not your boss.
- Just do your thing, man. It's a party. Forget about the city being on fire for a few hours, and try to have fun. Or plot how to achieve peace over some nice snacks, that's also appreciated.

Floor plan, to help you visualize the place, is this - with the minor change that the office and massage rooms are combined into a single room: the guest bedroom mentioned in Atsushi's network post.

Comments

[inaurare]

"Somehow"?

[His hand gliding up the banister as he follows the young man up. Linneus isn't sure he understands, but if Atsushi isn't happy to discuss it, that's fine.]

You envisaged something different for yourself? But you have companions to help fill the space - and Daifuku. I was raised in a large house, but I'm not sure I could in one all by myself...!

[happy as he is in the little place he was given, it's still strange having somewhere to live that is just his - he has filled it the best he can, and Lula helps, but were it very much bigger he would surely feel the space by himself.]

[gekkajuu]

I didn't mean to sound ungrateful! I really am happy that I was given a mansion like this.

But at the same time... I'm not sure I understand why?

[How does one get given a house in the first place? Getting starter housing free for a month was more than generous, but at least that was a kind of generous that seemed understandable. This, though?]

[inaurare]

Oh-- no, if it seemed I was saying that, I do apologise...

[he only meant that it was strange not to have any idea of the reason at all - but Atsushi clearly knows that incongruity well enough without Linneus having to say anything more about it, so he doesn't try explaining himself.]

Have you a favourite part of the house?

[gekkajuu]

It didn't seem that way at all! Please don't worry about it.

[If anything, it's Atsushi himself who keeps filling in the blanks that way, and he knows it. He just can't seem to help it. It feels like, if he starts thinking he actually deserves things like mansions, it will all be taken away from him.]

Hmm, let's see... I like everything, but maybe the upper terrace? It's nothing special in itself I suppose... It's not even very big. But it's a part of the house, yet also outside. It makes me feel connected to the city while still being private.

This way, please! My bedroom is here.

[inaurare]

I half-feared that my home would be taken away from me, in the beginning. I've never had one of my own before. But perhaps we can enjoy these things, as long as they are given to us?

[of course, the idea of losing his home is still a very real fear, with all the rioting and vandalism, but...]

It would be nice to take tea or have meals out there, I shouldn't wonder. Which room was yours...?

[gekkajuu]

I am the same.

[He'd briefly had his own apartment back home, but even that had been subject to threats about losing it if he decided to quit. Maybe that was why he'd never quite managed to feel at home there...]

Over here! [He opens the door to his bedroom.] It's... a little big, but since it's also a playroom for Daifuku, I think that's all right.

[Except he still feels pretty extravagant, having a room like this all for himself.]

[inaurare]

Well you're sharing, aren't you?

[he's cautious as he steps in - he's used to inviting other people into his space; it's weird the other way around and the bedroom is about as personal a space as there is. He still lingers by the door as he did downstairs, only drawing further in if Atsushi leads]

My master kept dogs, rather than cats, but I can imagine the need for the extra space. He must grow very energetic, but at least you're removed enough from the rest of the house that he can work it off?

[gekkajuu]

[The room is big, sure enough, but it almost seems bigger for how relatively empty it is. While Atsushi's apartment had seemed full of all kinds of things, brought into a mansion like this, they didn't amount to much. With a little more living here, the mansion will feel more like a home, but for now, it still feels more like a hotel.]

Yes, he loves the extra space already.

[And Atsushi, who could care less about the space, at least appreciates the windows a great deal.]

This way! The bathroom is over here.

[inaurare]

[it will feel fuller eventually, Linneus is sure - it's just a matter of them getting used to the space - it must be hard, if one inherits no furniture]

I'm sure he does.

[oh, they're moving again! As he follows through-]

You were in one of the small houses before - the ones provided in the beginning? How did he adjust to stairs?

[gekkajuu]

We were, yes! He's taking to them very well, though I try to discourage him from using the steeper ones on the other side of the house... I'm sure he can manage them, but it seems more dangerous and more of a strain on his little body than he needs. The ones we just used are all right for him, though!

[Walking through the bathroom, Atsushi comes across a flaw in this well-intended tour of his: they'll have to turn back. It's inevitable, really, but it still feels a little clumsy.]

Through here is the upper terrace... [He opens the door.] It's only small, but it's still nice, I think.

Over there is Dylas' bedroom, so we'd better turn back.

[inaurare]

The steeper ones...?

[that there's an additional staircase is unusual, but not much of a surprise -the Teahouse had multiple sets of stairs but they were all well-balanced, beautifully banistered and carpeted - at least the outward ones.]

Oh, how lovely!

[there was already that big bay window in the bedroom, but the direct access to the outdoors is always nice, even if the terrace itself it small. The bathroom is... also serves as a closet? It's actually about the size of Linneus' own, from home - Linneus doesn't poke around, though he does run his fingers over some of the surfaces, the fittings. Also two sinks, but then it's keeping in with the grandeur of the rest of the house as well.

A little lift of his brows, and a smile at the mention of a familiar name.]

We shan't intrude on him, then, I think that's for the best. Please, do lead on...

[gekkajuu]

[Going from the layout, it's entirely possible that the steeper stairs on the other side of the mansion, as well as the smaller rooms there, were originally meant for the hired help, rather than the owners of the house. That doesn't apply here and now, though. Similarly, the double sinks were no doubt meant for the master and lady of the house, but in a slight role reversal OR IS IT?!, Atsushi leaves one for Dylas. Admittedly Dylas has his own bathroom, but it's smaller, and Chuuya and Dazai are likely to bicker over the one they should technically share...]

He's probably in the kitchen, but I'd feel bad going into his room just like that... Maybe he can show you himself, later!

[And Atsushi meanwhile will lead Linneus back through his bedroom to the other side of the house, to go down the steeper stairs he mentioned, back down to the kitchen.]

[inaurare]

Perhaps.

[Linneus doesn't expect that, though; from all of the impressions he has had of Dylas so far, it seems he is a more private person. Linneus can't imagine him opening his space to just anyone...

Peeping in a second, before a light, tinkling chuckle at his suspicions confirmed]

Oh- this is a servants' passage.

[he was raised in service and recognises the cramped back-way immediately - how the stairs are enclosed with doors to screen them from sight, and how the steps wind tightly down in comparison to the broad sweep of the main staircase. Teasingly as he follows Atsushi down-]

As a master of the house, you aren't supposed to use these staircases at all, you understand. Never mind set foot in the kitchen...!

[gekkajuu]

Is that what it is?

[A servants' passage, really? Atsushi isn't even connecting the dots enough to realize what that could imply, but he will later, and feel a little awkward.]

Well, since we don't have servants, I think it's better that the stairs get some use once in a while.

[He gives a slightly awkward smile. He knows that Linneus wasn't being serious, but Atsushi isn't sure how else to deflect a topic he doesn't know how to handle.]

Besides, I'd rather be able to step into the kitchen whenever I get hungry!

It's through here. We still need to stock it a little better, but the basics are there.

[inaurare]

For the maintenance of a home this size, yes.

[but then, in Linneus' experience large houses are never kept up by the home owners themselves. A hum of thought, following him down]

Just be careful? The stairs are steep...

[and servants' stairs rarely had handrails to catch oneself with. The kitchen is nice, though, a little smaller than either of the Teahouse kitchens, but much larger than the little kitchenette he has in his small house - and plenty big enough for the individuals here]

What more do you need...?

[gekkajuu]

[Atsushi has never even considered hiring staff... but then, he never thought he'd get a house this big in the first place! He just figured everyone can clean their own room, and Dylas will no doubt handle the kitchen, so Atsushi will try to do the other shared spaces... Most of the required cleaning will be because of Daifuku's fur, anyway, and that's Atsushi's responsibility.]

Hmm, well... So far, we only have some very basic herbs and spices, and not much in terms of shelfables... [Lots of fish, though, no doubt. That's what you get when you have Dylas in charge of the kitchen.] We only just moved in, so we're still finding out what we all like to eat, and what we should keep around.

[inaurare]

You'll figure it out, I'm sure.

[the arrangements for their home will likely fall out between them, even if it is not necessarily what Linneus is used to for a house like this they will make it work their own way.

Brought full circle and back into the reception hall again, he smiles and dips his head slightly]

Forgive me - you must have other guests...