I hid in the shadows the moonlight ♛ of a chilly night illuminated

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

[Kyouya appears with his laptop on the Plane, so he has good reason to be surprised when there is SNOW around him]

...what?

[Wrapping his laptop up in his blazer, he looks around. First instinct? Someone brought a snow machine. To the Plane at large, and so whoever may be responsible, even if it is Lapis and Lazuli]

I don't think that this is an advisable idea.

[A sigh. He pulls off his glasses to clear up the fog]

Comments

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh. [nods] That time again, huh?

[sidles up to him] Hey, Kyouya-sempai, what do you think it'd be like to try hosting here? That kitchen replenishes itself so we wouldn't have to worry about food expenses.

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

[looking at him with narrowed eyes] You haven't been talking to Tamaki about that, have you?

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

[completely innocent look here! and an honest one at that. whodathunk?] No. Why?

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

He's set on the idea of hosting here. I consider the idea pointless.

[as they step into the warmth of the onsen, Kyouya glances around, then picks a table]

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

Pointless? Hmmm, maybe, but it'd be an experience. [shakes off the snow from the umbrella before closing it and having a seat at the table]

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

[setting up his laptop again] Why are you interested in it, Kaoru?

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

[shrugs, looking away] I figured Tono would want to do something like it sooner or later, so I've tried to think of what it might be like to host without Hikaru. I can't do our normal act, but...

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

[he looks up from his laptop, giving Kaoru his full attention] If you're doing this for Tamaki's sake, he is indulged more than enough at home. I dislike the idea of hosting anything when I'm unfamiliar with our clients.

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

[frowns, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features] But I'm not doing it for him. I'm beating him to the punch.

Besides, no doubt you've been doing your own bit of research on the people here.

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

Not enough. [he makes a mental note to look into mergers] As interesting an experience as it may be to see how Haruhi responds to hosting for those who might suddenly turn on her and kill her, I think I'll avoid learning it. We can't deal with problematic people as we dealt with Princess Ayanokoji.

[Kyouya is honestly scared for his friends, but he masks that with a tone of polite, factual indifference]

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

We wouldn't allow that to happen. Not to Haruhi or any of us. If something goes wrong, we can simply step off the Plane and return to the club room. We did make it through those two weeks in the onsen just fine and we didn't know anybody then.

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

Really? Kaoru. Give me your hand.

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

My hand? [makes a face] Errr, okay... [holds his hand out]

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

[Kyouya returns home, and as he is holding Kaoru, Kaoru comes with him]

I imagine the effect would be the same with someone whose hand is around you're throat. Don't you agree?

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

[angrily tears his hand away from Kyouya's]

No, I don't! You can't know that we'll get into trouble so easily! And that was cheating anyway! We're from the same world. Have you tried doing that with anyone else?

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

[Kyouya calmly adjusts his glasses] What card was it that you got, again?

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

[stares at him incredulously] What does my stupid card have to do with what we're talking about?

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

It's had quite the effect on you, I suspect. You're willing to snap even at me. [that is: you just snapped at the shadow king] Why don't we go back to the onsen? I'll make you some coffee.

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

[the full gravity of his actions didn't quite hit him until Kyouya said that.]

[and he looks quite horrified now.]

Y-You don't have to do that.

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

[the glasses glint eerily]

As I said, I would hate for you to provoke anyone dangerous.

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

[honestly, he thinks most of the people on the Plane have more to fear from Kyouya than the other way around.]

Yeah sure. I'll, uh, be careful not to do that. [puts a hand on Kyouya's shoulder and brings them back to the onsen]

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

[Kyouya sits back down on his laptop]

Do you really want to host here? You've done well enough adapting your technique to the Plane so far, minus your lapses. [Why do his glasses get shiny whenever he brings up Kaoru snapping at him? Demons have detailed files] And it seems we'll have to hold one eventually. I doubt anyone of us is interest in Hosts, but all of that is left to Tamaki's discretion.

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

[ignores that comment about his lapses; it's better for his own sanity]

I'm not that interested in it. I figured Tono would propose [re: complain and pout and grow mushrooms in his corner of despair until he gets his way] something like it in the future, so I had to prepare myself for the inevitable.

If it's a matter of selling ourselves individually, why don't we try just a general themed party and let people choose for themselves? We haven't exactly advertised ourselves here.

[hostclubmommy.livejournal.com]

[The Shadow King puts something into a file, then pulls out a piece of paper and puts it on the table where Kaoru can see it. It's a detailed chart - but blank - with the standard information he collects about customers in name, year, grades, family prestige, looks, general impression, strongest point, and most negative aspect. There's a place for a picture at the top. He crosses out the sections on year, grades, and family, but adds in a section each for age, abilities, and relationships on the Plane]

If you can fill out these profiles for ten potential guests, I'll suggest to our President that it may be possible to host some kind of event here.

[maturelildevil.livejournal.com]

[Kaoru looks at the chart Kyouya's produced and sighs inwardly. of course there'd be extra leg work. if Tamaki only knew what he suffered...] And you'll want them as precise as I can get them, I take it?