Week 4

[bathymetric]

Good morning, New Rapture. A new day is dawning.

Sunday arrives ahead of schedule again, bringing with it the creeping dread that this is just how this is going to go. Welcome to the murdergame cycle.

At least there's another section of the city available to you! This one even has some things to do without you having to make your own fun. Which also means there's more to find about this place.

There's still over 20 of you alive... maybe that's something to celebrate? It could be worse! But... at least one of you is an attempted killer, apparently. Either way, better keep talking if you want regains!



SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to the fourth week of Unknown Seas Round 3! Please make sure to mark any investigation toplevels accordingly, post your ac, and you can reach either Mayor Fontaine or Eleanor for conversations! ]

Comments

[bootyhunter]

Goes to the great big surfin' shore in the sky?

[He chuckles. Making light of death is easier for him, and probably wildly inappropriate, but he's doing his best to diffuse the obvious tension.]

There's a whole bunch of em, y'know! Andromeda has a couple that're just amaze-balls. If we end up makin' it outta here alive, maybe I'll take ya one day.

[Dandy reaches out to gently touch the side of Jonathan's face, and slowly works his way to resting a knuckle beneath the other man's chin. There's a voice in the back of the alien hunter's head, screaming not to do it, cosmically loud.

Like always, Dandy ignores it, and attempts to guid Jonathan's cheek so that their eyes are forced to meet each other.]

Hey! You look at me when I'm talkin' to you.

[hotpaprika]

[It takes too much willpower to not immediately relax into the touch, making his gentle nudging towards Dandy stiff and uncomfortable. He stares at Dandy's eyes for a second too long, suddenly realizing that he's been gazing into them.

A part of Jonathan want to cry out at Dandy, demanding to know why he insists on teasing him like this if he didn't share his feelings.

He can't, he cares about Dandy too much to say so, but he swallows the words down before he speaks.]

I... I'm terribly sorry Dandy.

I... yes, we could all use a nice holiday after this. But...I am unsure if I will be able to stand to be near the ocean for awhile after this.

[A part of him hopes that Dandy will just forget all about this conversation if they talk about something else enough.]

[bootyhunter]

Quit sayin' you're sorry! It makes you look stupid. You've got nothin' to be sorry for.

[Don't worry Jonathan! He is fully aware that he is being an ass right now.

It's not to say that the flirty, boorish imbecile routine is a facade of any sort, but it is not the whole truth, not the entire picture, as Jonathan is probably aware. Dandy is trying to use this to make their conversation less painful and to signal that he is not angry or upset in the slightest.

Perhaps it's shitty of him to feel this way, and thankfully he has enough tact not to utter it aloud, but it's good to know that Space Dandy's still got it, baby.]

Can't say I'd blame ya.

[The smile on his face stays plastered on.

You'd never know that wading through the next portion of this conversation feels like pulling a shard of glass out of his own thigh.]

I never told you about my ex, huh?

Well, the last one.

[He despises talking about her. The past is the past, it's fucking over.]

For your old-timey butt, that means my the last girl that I "snorted."

[DANDY-]

Err, "courted!" My bad, Jonny-baby, you guys've got a lotta weird lingo.

[SAYS YOU?????

also he is still holding jon's face SORRY JONATHAN]

[hotpaprika]

S-so-

[He bites his lip to stop himself, and his eye darts away from Dandy.

He remains stiff as Dandy continues, barely even looking confused at the "snorted" comment.]

No... I don't believe you have told me about her.

[bootyhunter]

She and I had been together for a minute, but at the end of it all, the relationship got a little too crowded for my tastes.

[He’s just gonna withdraw his hand now so poor Jonathan can recover from that emotional gobsmack… ]

Soon it was more of her and him than her n’ me! And then it was just those two.

[She left him for another man, is what he’s getting at. Someone they both knew.]

I don’t share good.

I never have.

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan gently touches his face where Dandy's hand once was.

So that explains it. It was really foolish to ever fancy the idea that Dandy would ever have mutual feelings for him. If the fact that he was a man didn't stop him, the fact that he has a fiancée would certainly turn Dandy off from ever even considering...]

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. I... suppose if I ever get to reunite with Mina, it would make things far too uncomfortable.

[bootyhunter]

Yeah.

[Dandy shrugs all too casually. I am ashamed, so all I will say is that this is when the hickey becomes visible. For a short smidgeon of time.]

It’s not like I’ve got a problem with it!

It’s just not for me, baby.

[hotpaprika]

[His eye catches Dandy's hickey and his depression turns to downright horror. He had a few once upon a time from private evenings with Mina, and he remembers the marks he would have to cover up afterwards.

He confessed to a man who was taken.

He told a man who was taken his dark secrets about his relationships, and dear lord that included Mina.

He jumps up, absolutely panicked. He wants to just run out and never look back but this was his room, there was nowhere to hide.]

I am so sorry! I had no idea you were taken! If I had known, I wouldn't have... I would have just...

[He stumbles completely over his words, unsure how to complete that thought.]

nsfw implications ig but i feel like that is all dandy threads

[bootyhunter]

[Dandy, who has maintained his composure for the most part until now, immediately contorts his face into an almost cartoonishly alarmed expression. His cheeks flush bright red, and hastily, he yanks that bit of fabric right over the "injury."

Instead of saying anything intelligent, or relevant, or you know something vaguely helpful, he yells (loudly enough for Nandor to hear):]

LIKE THE MOVIE?!?!??!?!?!

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan flinches noticeably at the shouting, eyes still open in terror. He had no idea what he meant by that, all he gets is the shouting, and a new fear sprouts up of someone taking notice.]

P... please be quiet. I... I don't want anyone to know about how I...

[He doesn't finish it his tone is quiet, timid.

Like he's convinced that Dandy is going to announce his secret to everyone the moment someone comes knocking on his door.]

[bootyhunter]

[The dies down to all but a puff of air, any color or exaggeration in his face leaving as reality begins to settle in. What kills a man, if not another, is loneliness. Dandy looks into Jonathan's eyes for the umpteenth time... Although upon this shared glance, he's showing clear signs of shame.

He's been in Jonathan's shoes many times before. So many that if he were to collect a fee after each and every single instance, he'd be able to quit alien hunting and perhaps even purchase his favorite location of the BooBies franchise.]

I'm not gonna squeal.

[Dandy tilts his chin downwards, primarily as a sign of his sincerity. Watching the other Victorian man on the verge of a breakdown really does hurt.]

This stays between you...

And me.

I promise. If Fangs starts askin' any questions, [bc we all know nandor is nosy as fuck] just tell him I was givin' ya hell. Y'know! Like usual.

[Like right now.]

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan isn't entirely convinced, but the promise seems to have calmed him down from a total meltdown.]

Thanks. I deeply appreciate your friendship.

[He looks away.]

You... you can leave now if you'd like. I... I'm sorry for... everything, truly.

[Sorry for panicking. Sorry for being emotional. Sorry for assuming the worst with him. Sorry for putting him in an uncomfortable situation.

Sorry for thinking it would turn out alright.]

[bootyhunter]

Jon.

[Not the full nickname! And spoken in a more serious, hushed tone.

This sucks. Dandy knows.]

I know it's gonna rip you a new one, but I needja to do me one last solid.

[hotpaprika]

[He wordlessly looks up at Dandy. He wasn't sure if he wanted to hear what Dandy has to tell him but he feels obligated to.]

[bootyhunter]

Don't be so hard on yourself.

[The gruff exterior gives way to something far more tender.]

This place reeks.

I know after this you probably won't want to see me. But I've gotta ask.

[Dandy sighs.]

Wouldja let me check in on you later? Same time, every day.

I just need to know if you're still breathin', is all.

We don't even have to talk.

[hotpaprika]

I... I will be fine, I promise. I will be holding a séance later so you will see me then.

[...]

I... am sure your partner needs you more than I do, anyway.

[He is pretty sure Dandy wouldn't want to be around him regardless.]

[bootyhunter]

Okay, let's not take it that serious-

[Meaning the partner thing! They haven't even talked about it together yet.

Dandy fights the urge to stay, to help. Whatever the fuck that means.

Instead, he wills himself to the door, giving Jonathan one last look over his shoulder.]

See you then.

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan looks somewhat dead inside as he waves Dandy farewell.]

Thank you for keeping me company.

[As he closes the door, Dandy will hear the door lock behind him.]

[bootyhunter]

Oh, shit.

just cameoing to yell through the walls

[fuckingguy]

GUYS, IF YOU COULD PLEASE KEEP IT DOWN--

[bootyhunter]

[HE IS JUST GONNA BANG ON THE WALL IN RESPONSE IN BETWEEN!!!]

nsfw

[fuckingguy]

[ wow okay some of us are TRYING to SLUMBER and not BANGING IT OUT ]

[bootyhunter]

[NOBODY IS BANGIN G HERE

NOT THAT KIND]