OPEN

[sisconning]

Who: [OPEN] Nesso (sisconning) & ANYONE -- multiple options
(One prompt closed to Elza (lionly)
When: Sometime around today (IC: December 18th...ish)
Where: Around the pleasure district
What: Nesso the cage dancer works hard for the money, okay? Even if a proper knight can't help but be a little mortified hanging around the pleasure district
Rating/Warning: Body glitter. Oontz oontz oontz.

---

[Option 1: In the Club]

[It's not that Nesso really enjoys his job. In fact, he's only now starting to get over what can only be called stage fright. Give him a sword, give him an enemy, he'll manage it without batting an eye. But dancing? In front of people? Wearing very little save hot pants and body glitter?

Mortifying. But it pays the bills, and his little family here is important. So he does it.

Now he's waiting for his stage call, sitting back and nursing a beer, robe drawn loose about him and making his attire at least a bit more decent. Or at least a bit less indecent. It's with a heavy sigh that he glances to the side,] This really is a normal place for people to come, in the modern world? [Feel free to discuss the merits of exotic dancing with Nesso. Unless you're a familiar face. Then he's just going to stare and blush mortified.]



[Option 2: On the outskirts of the pleasure district]
[Nesso makes his way out of the more scandalous district quickly as he can, but just within it, he's realized something fairly crucial is missing.

A frantic patdown of his coat and pants and pockets and he begins turning in quick circles.] Ah... where is it? It's not...

[Any passersby will be stopped with an apologetic,] Have you seen a keycard? I know I just had it. [No his keys his money this isn't good.]



[Option 3: Closed to Elza]
[Another night of work is finished, and with a fully relieved slump of his shoulders Nesso makes his way off of his little platform, done with dancing. He's ready to shower, rinse away the glitter and the sweat and make his way back home to make sure that Elza and Zara and Mary are doing well.

His mind is already running over it -- and the few errands he thinks he ought to do on the way (they're out of bread, he thinks) -- so he's distracted enough that he very nearly bowls straight into the man in front of him. But he stops just short, starting on an apology before the identity of who he's encountered strikes him.

Oh. Oh no. Nonono. Not good. This is his biggest kept secret ever. Okay? EVER.] E-Elza?! [He's blushing a shade redder than even his hair and wondering if this is perhaps a nightmare. It feels like one.]

Comments

1/3

[lionly]

[He doesn't always get to pick where he works at nights, no, that's up to the security company that he works for. Sometimes it'll be a bar, or a club, or a more decent establishment. Tonight it's a club in the pleasure district and by the end of the night he's tired but wide-awake.

He wants a drink before he goes back, really, hoping it'll be good enough to help him to sleep, and swings into the nearest place without caring and thEN

there's his captain dddddoing a thing annnnnnd what and they collide before he even has a chance to process and]

[lionly]

[he wants to laugh he wants to laugh so hard he wants to laugh]

[lionly]

[But he is a knight. A BASTION OF RESTRAINT, OF PROPRIETY. So instead he schools his face into the sort of expression he makes whenever Nesso starts talking about his sister, something that looks perfectly composed and attentive.]

--Evening, Nesso. Maa, maybe it's closer to morning. So this is where you've been working, is it?

[look at his captain................ he's glittery]

[sisconning]

[Nesso is a bastion of flustered and blushing right now, that is the only thing he seems capable of at all. And staring. Because yup. This is Elza. His most trusted second in command who is acting like everything is normal.

While Nesso is half naked and glittery.

Nightmare. Why hasn't he woken up yet?] That... I...

[Well.] Yes.

[Hold on though hang on just a second.] What are you doing here?

[lionly]

[Look at him look at all of the glitter is that much glitter normal goodness gracious he's sparkling like anything. It's almost creating a glare and Elza has never wanted to laugh so hard in his life.

However, Nesso looks blushing and embarrassed so he's doing his very best.]

Aaah, me? Well, I was working security at a building close to here... I wanted to grab a drink somewhere before heading back to the apartment.

[sisconning]

[It is so much glitter. He's horrified by himself. At all times. It's even worse under the lights, Elza. So worse. Wait.

How much did Elza see? Did he see him dancing? Oh god why why is this his life.]

This isn't the most upstanding establishment, Elza!

[Wow he knows how hypocritical that explanation was.]

[lionly]

...

[Elza's face goes blank for a moment and what's really happening is that he's trying not to laugh again. But in the end his nose scrunches incredulously, eyebrows furrowing.]

Nesso... Are you really saying that?

[HE CAN'T JUST NOT SAY ANYTHING.]

[sisconning]

[He can tell you're trying not to laugh, Elza. It's very obvious. Especially with that nose scrunching. He lifts his hands to hide his face now don't look at him his life is suffering.]

Of course I'm saying that! That was the only thing about working here that was okay, that you and Zara would never set foot in here to see me!

[But here they are. Having this conversation.]

[lionly]

I didn't choose this place in particular on purpose, you know... this was just the closest spot where it looked like I could buy a drink.

[Elza sighs lightly and reaches out to give his shoulder a gentle shove because he's saying silly things and then he remembers something too late and... that sure is glitter all over his palm.

He looks at it for a long moment with complicated feelings and tries (ineffectually) to shake it off.]

Anyway, it's not a big deal, Nesso. I won't tell anyone else about it.

[sisconning]

[Nesso sighs and lets his hands fall away from his face as he's shoved. ...then he watches Elza try to shake the glitter off. IT's.... okay now he's the one trying not to laugh.

Damn it, Elza.

Though his eyes widen all over again.] Oh god... no, no you definitely can't. Please don't tell Zara. Or Mary. [Or Fiona. Or anyone else back home. His father. ANYONE. Or anyone here.]

...the pay is actually quite good. For this job, I mean. Aaaah but I must look ridiculous.

[lionly]

[Shakeshakeshake what the fuck glitter get off]

Oi, oi, what're you panicking for? I wouldn't tell anyone. [He shakes his head.] It'll be our secret. [Which he will laugh a lot about later. Yes. Very much. But not in front of Nesso because he's actually trying to be a good guy and not laugh.]

A job's a job. It could be worse, right?

[sisconning]

[Nesso smiles despite himself.] It's hard to get off without a bath.

[And even then he sure does find glitter in odd places. Professional hazard.]

Our secret. Yes. [And then because he's totally aware don't think he's not.] Go ahead and laugh. I know you want to.

[Hands on his hips just above his tight little short shorts.] I'm sure it could be worse, but I'm not entirely certain how.

1/3

[lionly]

...

[that pose]

[lionly]

[hands on his hips]

[lionly]

...

[He can't do it. HE CAN'T HOLD IT BACK ANY LONGER.]

--ku... pff....hehee... N-Nesso...

[sisconning]

[...gdi Elza you do't have to laugh that much. Jerk lion.

But yeah his pose isn't changing, because now he's looking defiant.]

...feel better?

[Go ahead get it out! He'll just stand here waiting and glittering.]

[lionly]

I ca-- can't, I...

[He's dissolving into helpless giggles, his shoulders shaking and he looks at Nesso again and he just laughs harder. God, look at him. The defiant face is even better.]

Sorry, I kn-know you're... heehee... working for our sake but... Nesso, you're...

You're sparkly.

2!!

[amemory]

[why is totsuka in the pleasure district, that should be the real question here, but he's on the outskirts too and close enough to be hailed by Nesso --]

I haven't seen anything like that around, but -- [he comes to a stop, adjusting the strap of his guitar case more securely over his shoulder before] Do you remember the last time you had it?

2

[puerilely]

[ Shuu is mentally five years old, there's no good reason at all for him to be in the Pleasure District..

But near it? Well, sure. He enjoys wandering around quite a bit, after all, although he does blink when a human he only vaguely recognizes speaks up to him. What, does he look like he's open to helping you?? ]

A keycard..? [ Nope, he hasn't, if his tone is anything to go by. Although even if he had, he might have said he didn't and threw it into some body of water lately just to make stuff harder for this guy, whoops. ]

Wha-t.. are you saying you lost it?

[sisconning]

I know! It's awful. It's genuinely ridiculous! I never even knew something as ridiculous was even possible to exist!

[Body glitter. Why. Why on earth does it exist and why does he wind up wearing it so often. When did his life come to this?]

But it is a job! And I want to make sure that everything is taken care of. ...I have to dance, it only gets worse.

[sisconning]

[That should always be the question. So much scandal.]

Aaah... [A dismayed sound as Nesso rakes a hand through his hair.]

Oh. That's a good idea. I... [He doesn't remember at all.] I must have had it at work. Before I changed...

[Ugh no is it at his work that's the worst he doesn't want to go back to that place. He avoids it as much as he can. For the sake of his dignity.]

[sisconning]

[Oh it's this guy. The one who turned out to have secret magic powers and be way too un-horrified by overly sexual teachers turning into bugs. Seriously. That still creeps Nesso out, the sexy teacher turned bug thing.]

Yes. I mean, no. I hope not. It must be around here somewhere. I know I had it in my pocket.

[So it must be around. ...please don't have thrown it in the water he doesn't know how he'd even get a new one he wouldn't even be able to get in his house.] Which I guess that means I lost it.

[ option 2 ]

[pure_confidence]

[ If only Peggy was actually interested in hitting up the host clubs in the district, but, alas. She has no real interest in such things and nary a mission to send her there. Instead, she'll just take pause at the young man a few feet down the road from here and clear her throat. ]

Did you happen to lose something, sir? Perhaps I could help you look for it.

[ because while it may be suspicious that Peggy is still out and about at this time of the night but, in truth, she's just an early riser. All the better to get some work done, wouldn't one agree? ]

2

[regives]

[ Leanne hardly, if ever, goes to the Pleasure District since the last time she had gone. And even before then she always kept her usual walks to the outskirts, which is how she happens to come across an unfamiliar face. ]

A keycard? Hm.. can't say I have. [ But she's not going to just leave at that, fortunately. ] I wasn't paying too much attention though, you lost it around here right? I'll help you find it.

[lionly]

N-Nesso, you want me to stop laughing, don't you? That's wh-what you want? 'Cause I seriously can't stop as long as you tell me that...!!

[GIGGLING HELPLESSLY, he's bent double now, his hand waving at the air before landing on Nesso's elbow.]

Partner, just when I think you can't exceed my expectations any more...