vatheon | If they say why, why, tell 'em that it's human nature...

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If they say why, why, tell 'em that it's human nature...

Who: Ioder Heurassein and Yuri Lowell (Surprise threadjack from Estelle!)
When: Shortly after this
Where: The Vesperia house
Style: Action
Status: Closed

"Then perhaps you should be asking Mister Zelos about these things, since he seems to run the "Host Club" you mentioned."

"... perhaps I will then."

Ioder's tea had long since gone cold. It sat near by in it's usual cup, a far too flowery thing that likely belonged to Estelle, with a half-eaten cookie that he was no longer interested in sitting in the tray. His focus was entirely on his SFC, now lying on the counter he was perched in front of, legs swinging lazily off the high stool. Chin in his hands, he let out a surprisingly disgruntled sounding sigh.

"Ridiculous..." he huffed to himself, finally pushing the SFC away. "Zelos has no reason to justify himself or his business to me. There is nothing going on. ... I'm sure of it."

Even though he was only speaking to himself, he was acutely aware just how hesitant his voice sounded.

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"Nothing going on where?" Yuri himself was wandering the house restlessly; he was getting ready to head out again and bother other people before he'd overheard Ioder talking to himself. It was strange, really... it was rare that he'd seen him this perturbed about something.

"Wanna talk about it?"

Ioder had gotten used to Yuri seemingly coming out of nowhere. It was a skill he had, to move in silently and make a comment when some one least suspected. Once upon a time it would have made him fall off his stool, startled in to nearly having a heart attack, but thankfully he'd gotten over that pretty quickly.

He looked up with a clearly unamused expression, letting out another sigh and flicking a hand in the air as if it would banish the situation entirely.

"A silly misunderstanding with a new arrival. She seems utterly convinced that my place of employment is engaged in some sort of... illegal activity. The entire idea is preposterous!

Yuri's a ninja like that, what did you expect? In any case he frowns, glancing at the emperor and shrugging off his unamused wave. It would take much more than that to just satisfy his curiosity, really.

"Illegal activity... well, you aren't, are you?" Yuri asked. He'd known that he was working for a man named Zelos -- a name he'd recognized from Duke's conversation -- but he admittedly didn't get that many details from Ioder about it.

"Of course not!" Ioder huffed in clear irritation, looking positively miffed. It wasn't a common expression for him, but Ryoko had done more than ruffled a few feathers with their talk.

"I don't understand what she could possibly think a host club is doing..."

"... host club." Yuri stared at Ioder incredulously, blinking a few times. Did he seriously hear that right? A host club? Still, that would explain why he came home late sometimes. Still, for Ioder to be involved in such a thing...

"... I'm beginning to see her point, actually." Yuri finally responded. "What are you doing working at a male brothel, anyway?"

Edited 2012-08-05 07:48 (UTC)

"... a male--"

Ioder stared. Blinked. And then balked as though he'd been slapped.

"Yuri! What a horrible thing to ask me! What in the world makes you think I'm working at such a place?!"

"That's... kind of what a host club is, your Majesty." Yuri responded finally. Was he really this sheltered that he didn't know what he was getting himself into? "Young women go to a club full of young men, who then fulfill whatever they request. Sexually." He'd seen a few of those in Zaphias, admittedly, but didn't dare venture into them for obvious reasons.

"... n... no it's not!"

Even as he said it, he knew his words sounded ill convinced and unsure. That couldn't be it, could it? All he had done so far was spend time with his customers...

This was just so out of left field for Yuri, and yet part of him wanted to see how much he could troll the young emperor with this information. Especially since he'd also left out how some of the clubs he'd seen involved just talk or companionship between the female clientele and the male hosts, too.

"You sound unconvinced, your Majesty..." he noted. "How many women have flirted with you or wanted to take you home?"

"... there are some who are rather enamored by my..." achem, "young appearance. But if you're truly suggestion that I've ever even been propositioned--!"

Keep trolling, Yuri. It's working well so far.

"Well, yeah. You look young, cute and boyish -- some girls like that in a guy." Yuri pointed out. "Enough that they... may want to take you home and have their way with you. To put it in less vulgar terms, as you might say."

That led to another question in his mind. "... no one's touched you anywhere they shouldn't, right? Your Majesty?"

If Ioder had been drinking anything right then, he very well would have choked on it. A rather undignified sputter did escape, though, face going a particularly interesting shade of red.

If Yuri thought it impossible to ever get Ioder riled up enough to yell, he was sorely mistaken.

"No one has done any such thing with me or to me! You are being utterly ridiculous! There is nothing going on there, illegal or otherwise!"

Yuri winces a little as he backs up, looking at him exasperatedly. "Okay, okay... no need to yell... I just had to check."

Inwardly, though, he was laughing. Oh, man, that was priceless. "... I believe you for now. But... yeah, don't be afraid to speak up if anything of the sort happens in the future, okay? You should be saving that for someone you love."

A deep breath in, and Ioder calmed visibly, though any semblance of his usual smile cheerful or otherwise was virtually non existent right then. First Ryoko, now Yuri... had the whole city gone mad?

He crossed his arms over his chest, giving Yuri a rather surprising glare, teal eyes narrowed at the older man.

"I suppose I should thank you for your concern, but I must know why my... love life would ever be any of your business, Yuri. I'm nineteen, I'm not a child."

Edited 2012-08-05 08:35 (UTC)

~~Speaking of people Yuri might love--~~

Estelle's head popped out from behind the doorframe. She had heard her cousin yelling something about nothing illegal going on or something, and while the fact that Ioder was yelling was alarming in itself, the content of the yell was even more troubling. She watched Yuri and Ioder for a few moments before she made her way fully into the doorway, clearing her throat to make her presence known.

"Is-- ... A-Ah, is everything all right? Ioder?" She looked to her cousin with a curious, yet very concerned expression.

"I thought I heard yelling."

"Estelle." Yuri blinked, spotting the pink-haired princess in the doorway, slightly confused at this turn of events. How much had she heard? Glancing between her and Ioder, whose patience was waning considerably rapidly, he figured now would be a good time to try and act normal now. The trolling would have to continue some over time.

"It's all right. Just asking your Majesty about his work, that's all."

Oh well, that was just bad timing all around.

Ioder deflated slightly, trying his hardest to banish his own annoyed look but only managing to get somewhere between startled and perturbed.

"Y-yes. I was... simply clearing up a misunderstanding. That's all. Nothing to concern yourself with, Estellise."

Oh, Ioder. How you underestimate your dear cousin's curiosity with such things. And how you also underestimate her insatiable need to help everyone ever. Especially people she is related to and/or very close with.

"... Perhaps I could help, though? What was the misunderstanding about?"

She had heard enough to know that the issue had something to do with the Host Club Ioder was working at, though she didn't know the specifics. Estelle herself had her own concerns with the nature of the Host Club, based on things she had read about in books. But, as she was fairly close friends with the person who owned it, she hadn't really thought much about it and deemed those things as nothing to worry about, really. Ioder seemed fairly well-received there, and he didn't seem to mind working at the Host Club at all, and of course, Estelle was a fan of whatever made the people she loved happy.

Edited (this is the tag that never stops editing .....) 2012-08-05 09:05 (UTC)

"Mostly about what he does there." Yuri responded a little too quickly as he coughed quietly, hiding his mouth behind a hand. To be truthful, he was genuinely concerned about Ioder's welfare, even if he did have to be such a troll about it. Still, he wasn't exactly sure of just how much Ioder divulged to Estelle about his work.

Perhaps Ioder would be able to tell her -- and indirectly him -- more?

Not much more than he had to Yuri, which was evident by the all too obvious awkward expression that came next. Looking for something to occupy himself with, he grabbed his unfinished tea and cookie and made for the sink, keeping his back to both of them.

"... some people are under the impression that we're an unscrupulous lot involved in all manner of activities. I was simply clearing up the misconception. I keep people-" he was very particular about that, considering many including himself saw male and female clients "company and share an afternoon or evening with them. No more, no less."

"Perhaps elaborating on the kinds of things you to to keep these people company would further clear up any misconceptions, Ioder?"

Estelle really just didn't want anything bad to happen between two of the people she loved most. Yuri was one of her best friends, and Ioder was her cousin; she didn't want them to argue over something so trivial as a job.

She was just trying to help. Really.

"In any case, I know the owner of the establishment personally, Yuri," Estelle said, turning to Yuri and offering him a comforting smile.

"I'm certain that whatever the Host Club is doing, it is all in good fun and good taste. Zelos may be a bit ..." She paused for a moment, and tried to think of the right word.

She found she couldn't really think of one. Every word she thought of just didn't seem to fit, not at all.

"... I-In any case, I assure you, Zelos is a very nice man. I'm certain that he, as well as Ioder and all of the hosts treat their guests with the utmost respect, and nothing awful is happening at the Host Club."

She hoped, at least. Naturally, she still had her doubts; books she had read in the past certainly had an effect on her and her overactive imagination. However, she trusted Zelos, and definitely trusted that Ioder could handle himself. If Ioder had no complaints about the Host Club himself, then it must have been a nice environment to work in.

"Really." Yuri blinked, glancing at Estelle somewhat warily. Well, he had to admit he was wondering about him but if Estelle had him in such high regard... the lack of anything that described him well was disconcerting, yes, but still. If Estelle insisted on his being okay, then, well, he'd trust her on that for now. Perhaps meeting this Zelos personally would resolve any further doubt in his mind.

In any case, he finally relaxes a little as he glanced between both royals -- since Flynn was absent Yuri'd taken it upon himself to keep an eye on the two and make sure nothing too crazy was happening to them.

"All right, all right, I'll take your word for it, Estelle." he finally said. "You can't say I wasn't justified, though. I just had to make sure Ioder wasn't, you know." Getting kidnapped or molested or anything worse. he finished mentally. Heaven knows what would happen if that really were the case.

Ioder sighed noisily, setting the dishes down and turning back around finally. He still looked terribly exasperated from the whole ordeal, but calmer and much less irritated than he had been.

"You could always come and visit. I doubt Zelos would mind at all. Would that put your minds at ease, to see where I work and what truly happens there?"

Estelle brightened a little at the idea. She had been meaning to go by there for a while, herself, if only to see what Ioder was up to, and to visit Zelos. Ioder had just given her and Yuri both an invitation, though, which meant she had all the more reason to go by and see what it was like.

Estelle clapped her hands together a few times and smiled brightly.

"I think that is an excellent idea! That way, both Yuri and I could have a look at what goes on, so any misconceptions will be cleared up. It would be nice to see Zelos again, as well! I haven't seen him in quite some time ..."

Estelle actually had to wonder how he was doing. It really had been a while.

Well, this was as good a time as any to meet Zelos, wasn't it? Duke mentioned him by name, and he seemed like a good guy... in any case he shrugged nonchalantly, glancing at Estelle and Ioder before nodding.

"Sure, why not. I might as well see for myself what happens there. Plus meet the guy that Estelle here seems to be enchanted with." Yuri responded jokingly.

"Good. I'm glad we've gotten that much cleared up," Ioder nodded, finally relieved at the direction the conversation had gone in.

A faint smile even appeared, directed at Estelle after Yuri's comment.

"Oh, he really is a wonderful man. He even took Estellise out on a date! I'm sure you'll enjoy his company a great deal, Yuri."

Estelle's face became a bright red as the mention of her date with Zelos came up, and she turned away, holding her face in her hands.

"I-Ioder! Was it really necessary to mention that?"

To some extent, Estelle knew her cousin was teaming up with Yuri to tease her, and that this would probably turn into something merciless and, at the same time, oddly comforting. Despite her obvious flustered state, she couldn't help the smile on her face.

Good, things seemed to be better between Yuri and Ioder now. Whatever was irritating Ioder seemed to have cleared off a little, at least for the time being.

"Oh, so she IS seeing him, then." Yuri couldn't help but grin teasingly as Estelle, his desire to troll now redirected at the princess after Ioder's mention of their date. "How cute. How'd the date go? Was it like in your romantic books of yours?"

Why yes, he is going to be teasing the hell out of her with this. And thus trolling of Ioder would have to wait until next time...

Ioder just smiled innocently at his cousin and nodded. Sorry, Estelle, you gave him a good opening to deflect attention off himself.

"I-I'm not seeing him! He and I aren't like that! We just went on a date, that's all!" Flail more, Estelle, flail more. She turned back and pouted at the both of them a little.

"And it was a lovely date," She added.

"You're dating... you speak well of him..." Yuri listed off, grinning as he glanced at Estelle. "I'd say you're seeing him. Unless there's something I missed here."

"No, that seems to be about the situation," Ioder offered with an all too cheerful smile. Sorry, Estelle. You just got thrown under the bus.

"It was just a date! We haven't really even spoken to each other in quite some time!" Sure, she and Zelos were on good terms, but he was busy with his things, and she was busy with her own. It resulted in them not really talking much.

"We aren't really ... together like that ... are we?"

Actually, this whole thing has really gotten her thinking about that.

That was a good question, actually. And Yuri was already aware of how clueless Estelle could be when it came to... well, a lot of things, much less romantic feelings.

"I wouldn't know. What do you think, Estelle?"

"I suppose it really is a matter of your perception on the issue, isn't it? All teasing aside, is he some one that makes you happy and would you like to be with him?" Ioder offered, finally calming in to a much more sympathetic smile. He honestly had no hopes ever for his own love life, but he would have been happy to see his cousin happy with some one, certainly.

Estelle was quiet for several moments following that. She looked down, placing a finger to her chin as she thought. Well ... yes. Yes, she was happy when she was around him. But was it enough to warrant her actually having any romantic interest in him?

... No, that was silly. It was silly, right? She and Zelos? No, they had already proven that they were better friends. There was no way.

Estelle shook her head.

"I think he and I are better friends, really."

It would be easy for the two of them to see how conflicted she seemed about that, though.

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If they say why, why, tell 'em that it's human nature...

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/threadjackin' this with permission for great justice or summat

FFFFFFFFFFFFF ohboy this is gonna be a beautiful trainwreck.

the most amazing trainwreck ever

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