♫ 4

[both_neither]

[There might have been days when Gren had imagined waking up next to Vicious, but that situation hadn't included him wearing a dress, which he fills out alarmingly well. A dress which can't seem to decide if it's blue or red, additionally. Also, the both of them were in his castle room, which he'd moved all his belongings out of, meaning he was stuck in this outfit for the time being.

And then Vicious...oh god Vicious...what was he going to say when he woke up?

Somehow he'd managed to slip out of bed (though part of him wanted to linger) without waking up the other man and open the journal, which he addresses after a moment in a hushed tone]

I, um...I'm guessing this is castle-related. Did anyone else wake up wearing something weird? I was wondering...[he pauses to yawn. Weird, why did he still feel tired?]...if anyone had any spare clothes they could lend me?

Comments

[nothingtobelieve]

[It would be a lie to say he'd never woken up in a bed with no recollection of how he'd gotten there. He tried to be mindful of his surroundings and actions at all times, but certain personal proclivities meant that there were, occasionally, holes in his memory.

It's clear after a moment that he's still in the castle, but the room isn't his, and neither are the clothes. They're still his usual brand of monochrome, but of a distinctly older vintage than his suits. A slight flicker of annoyance, and then he's sitting up. It only takes a moment to realize he's not alone. Perhaps he should be surprised, but he isn't. It's only the circumstances that don't make sense to him, really.]

What are you doing?

[Because making a demand is better than admitting he has no idea what is going on.]

[both_neither]

[He glances to the side, instinctively hunching inwards, his hair hiding part of his face in a rather transparent effort to pretend to be invisible, thinking blinding for Vicious to please please please not notice the dress, though of course he will.

Still, he answers quickly, as if he was under Vicious' command again, though he's not about to snap to attention any time soon]

Trying to find out what's going on.

[Strategically omitting the clothing issue]

[nothingtobelieve]

[And he does notice, because Gren's reaction draws his attention. Body language is informative, and he can tell just how badly Gren doesn't want him to see.

It means something significant, but he'll get back to it.

Gren's answer is good enough--it tells him that he's not the only one left clueless, at least, and that makes things easier. He doesn't like not knowing, but at least Gren doesn't, either.]

The castle playing games, I imagine.

[Painfully unamused. But it seems the most logical conclusion.]

[both_neither]

That's what it looks like. I can't exactly figure out what kind at the moment. Mostly it's a lot of shouting.

[He keeps his eyes on the journal, though there wasn't much there to find yet, and no offers yet on his question. He supposed he might get desperate enough to wish up some clothes, if this went on too long.]

[nothingtobelieve]

[The noise he makes indicates that's just about as helpful as he expected anyone over the journal to be, and that their lack of usefulness isn't worth using any real vocabulary on.

But then he's getting up so he can look at Gren directly and... yes. That sight might have been surprising, but he hadn't exactly forgotten their meeting on Callisto, so it's more interesting than anything else.]

This is becoming a habit.

[Whether he means the Castle fucking around or the dresses, he's not specifying.]

[both_neither]

It's not the first time I've woken up with someone else in this room either. I wonder if we're locked in this time too.

[He doesn't immediately jump up to check, though.]

[nothingtobelieve]

[An interesting admission. There's the barest hint of a smile on his face, which... well. It's about as welcoming as any of Vicious' smiles ever are.]

And if we are?

[both_neither]

[Oh no. Wrong thing to think. Damndamndamn...

There's the tiniest hint of a blush on his face.]

We'll just...have to wait it out and hope it doesn't get any worse. Not much else we can do.

[nothingtobelieve]

[He didn't miss that, and he stands there watching for a long moment just to draw things out a bit before he lets his gaze flick away again to some utterly uninteresting bit of the room's architecture.]

You might want different clothes, in that case.

[Just in case Gren thought he hadn't noticed.]

[eat_me_beat_me]

Yeah... but not as weird as Mark.

[both_neither]

What...happened to him?

[eat_me_beat_me]

[deadpan]

He's a mermaid.

[both_neither]

Seriously? Fish tail and everything like in the stories?

[eat_me_beat_me]

Scales and all. He woke up in our bathtub.

[both_neither]

[He's not even sure what to say to that]

Did you ask him to sing yet?

[eat_me_beat_me]

[... wut] Sing? What's singing got to do with anything?

[both_neither]

I remember something about mermaids singing.

[gunslinger]

Yeah! Try wearing a tail!

[both_neither]

A tail? Did it turn you into a cat or something?

[gunslinger]

A mer...man, I guess. I'll consider the bracelet some nice bling.

[both_neither]

I'm sort of starting to think I got off light.

Did you wake up with anyone else in your room, by the way?

[gunslinger]

Woke up in the pool room. My friend Sylvanas was right next to me, but we're not the only ones who are here now.

[both_neither]

Huh? In the pool, you mean?

[gunslinger]

Not her, thankfully, or that could have involved twice the amount of bitching... She was left poolside.

[both_neither]

Oh...well...

You mentioned other people?