it's beginning to look a lot like christmas. . .

[skincares]

Who: Carmilla and you!
Where: All around Shehui.
When: Days 161 - 167
Open/Closed: Open! Very open! HMU at goatsong if you want a prompt that's not here! You can never be late ;^)

Warning for potential NSFW.

(A) - COINS!

(1)
[In the end, Carmilla acquiesces to doing menial work. She's unhappy about it -- what noblewoman wouldn't be aghast at the situation? -- but she understands what she has to do. Money is power and money is what will keep her here. Even if she must submit to tasks she openly and spitefully disdains, she'll lose less face than if she were kicked out. Throughout the week she can be seen working some less labor-intensive jobs, though it's clear her heart isn't into it. She doesn't seem keen on paying close attention to detail. If anything, she seems to be taking a lot of breaks?! Hopefully you aren't her coworker.]


(2)
[--and, if you're lucky, you may catch her at Coins!

The casino isn't where you'd expect to find such a cranky woman, but she must find some other way to amuse herself, now that fighting and killing are options beyond her. She makes sure to dress up whenever she goes out. Carmilla doesn't have much choice in attire so she keeps it simple: a coat (most likely furred) with some manner of high heels that click loudly as she walks. Her favorite seems to be the poker. Classic. If you happen to be about and you pass by her table, you may catch her watching you. Meet her gaze and she'll only give a small smile before glancing at the seat beside her.

The invitation is clear.

Will you play?]

(B) - ANMUNG TOWER

[... someone is doing a little late Christmas shopping. Carmilla can be seen comparing gifts, though what she picks out looks more suited for an entourage of dancers than actual clothes...? There's no way someone would wear something so gaudy in real life! One of the stands is selling a polka-dotted clown costume. Carmilla pinches its sleeve, lifting it ever so slightly with a wrinkle of her nose.]

My. This is hideous. Yes, I think this will suit them just fine.

[... who exactly is she shopping for...? Shouldn't you put more care into gifts?!]

(C) - CAT CAFE? CAT CAFE.

[If you're visiting your local cat cafe, you'll notice that some weird, white-haired woman has been lingering outside like some pale ghost. She doesn't stand there. Of course not. That'd be too obvious. But she's definitely passed the premises at least three times in the past half hour. She fakes being interested in a pamphlet or in the scenery, but as she passes by she will always sneak a glance into the cafe.

... could it be that she wants to come in...?

Oh! It seems as though she's finally stopped in front of the cafe's menu. But judging by the look on her face, she's awfully conflicted. Why?]

(D) - SANTA, BABY - POSSIBLE NSFW OPTION

[Escorts were an overlooked population. Nobody liked to talk openly about sex work -- not unless you were crass or shameless or both. There's no law against it but Carmilla knows the shame frequently assigned to the communities. Those who recognize her may start to see her heading towards the red district-esque areas of Shehui. It's never for the company offered. If anything, she seems to take more interest in the shops. Particularly those selling BDSM gear. After some time, she's struck up some form of acquaintanceship with one of the shop owners. If you're in the area (for whatever reason), you'll spot her chatting freely with said owner, looking absolutely comfortable as they discuss this and--]

These decorations are heinous.

[So saying, she puts a hand on the large cutout Santa in front of the shop and gives it a push, just to show her disdain.

Better watch out for kinky Santa! Don't let him hit you!

ooc: if you want the nsfw option mention it in the comments and i'll pp you to work out the details!]

Comments

[skiouros]

[He likes his guts where they are.]

I did. After all, I was the skipper: it was my duty to look after my men.

[But those glory days are behind him. These days (before all of this), he's a content observer.

Benwick and the others soften his mood, and not in a bad way. With a mirthful huff, he takes a sip.]

[skincares]

[The drink can be likened to a spicy tequila. Carmilla leans on the bar, her reflection murky.]

And how exactly did you gain such a title?

[skiouros]

[It's strong. Eizen pauses mid-sip, as if to savor the taste, before he nods his head and continues drinking.]

I was the Captain's first mate. He'd recruited me after raiding the ship I was on.

[That, to say, had been a moment.]

[skincares]

[Good. He can handle his alcohol. Carmilla, meanwhile, keeps her glass where it is.]

How oddly merciful of him. He didn't even consider killing you? I would have misgivings in recruiting my victims.

[skiouros]

[He pulls the glass away, finding that he doesn't particularly care to be labeled a victim. Although—]

It's the opposite. He chose to become the victim of my curse, which had wiped out the previous crew. That's the kind of fool he was—and also the reason I played against you, given that I don't normally have luck with cards.

[skincares]

[The mention of a curse is what grabs Carmilla's interest. There's a subtle shift in her demeanor. She was listening before out of respect to Eizen's status as a winner. Now? It's clear that she's genuinely curious. It's in how she leans in ever so slightly, in the questions within her eyes.]

What do cards have to do with your little... ailment?

[Will she be struck by it? What were the details of it? She has much she wants to know, but she refrains from throwing all of them out at once.]

[skiouros]

[It figures that his blessing would be the thing to pique the woman's curiosity. After all, it's his most notable (and notorious) feature.]

I only draw jokers. My curse brings misfortune to those around me, including myself. [He pauses, sipping his drink.] This world's low magical vibration seems to be interfering with its effects.

[skincares]

[Her answer comes in the form of a soft peal of laughter. Carmilla has the decency to cover her mouth as she turns her face away, shoulders slightly shaking.]

What a dreadful curse! Does this mean that this is the most sociable we'll ever see you?

[skiouros]

[Getting laughed at for something beyond his control kind of hurts . . . ]

Don't be ridiculous. I've told you before that I control my own wheel. My curse is no exception, and there are other ways to socialize.

[skincares]

[She can't help herself. The circumstances surrounding Eizen has her drawing parallels to her old lifestyle. Nobody dared to reproach her when she began her crimes - thus, she became a living curse wearing the Bathory name.

... the loneliness must have been significant. Like the selfish creature she is, Carmilla is glad that there's someone else who has it (somewhat) worse than her.]

There's only so much a captain can control.

[Idly, she crosses her legs.]

One man can only do so much, you know. But do tell me how you keep your crew. I'm interested to hear why they stick with a beacon of bad luck.

[skiouros]

[He has half a mind to tell her that he's no captain—just a skipper who'd substituted for Aifread, and not even that anymore—but the crease in his brow softens at the mention of his crew.]

We're pirates who sail in dangerous waters. Compared to death, a bit of bad luck is just enough to challenge our skill as sailors.

Besides, it isn't as though they had a choice in the matter. I'm the first mate.

[His seniority trumps theirs, so they can't complain about the ghost lurking on the deck. Eizen's tone suggests that he's joking, however: Aifread's men are tethered by unflinching values in the face of something as trivial as his curse.]

[skincares]

[... not as unlucky as she thought, then. Regardless of how he kept his men on - be it through fear, authority, or true loyalty - the fact remained: they remained at his side. Her happy, jealous little thought sours into something uglier. Carmilla picks up her shot glass by the rim, drinking its content down in one swift go. The bitter taste burns on her tongue and makes her eyes water.]

... you're really irritating.

[Before he can ask why, she moves on.]

You're cursed, you say? Whoever cast it upon you did a shoddy job.

[skiouros]

[That's a slight against him, and Eizen snorts, the humor in his posture and tone subsiding. But he's not angry—just amused that she must always resort to petty insults in order to rile him, whatever her reason.]

Don't underestimate the reaper's curse.

[As much as it dogs his every step, it's still a part of him that he measures highly.]

It wasn't cast upon me. I was born with it.

[skincares]

[Petty insults is all she has, truth be told. Carmilla's softened somewhat after working with Chaldea - but there's still a coat of poison to her that won't let too many people close.

It's super immature.]

So you say.

[Her tone is colored with a bit of disdain now.]

What man can complain when he has command of a ship?

[skiouros]

[He doesn't understand women. Her words are barbed, but he has difficulty fathoming why. On the other hand, he finds that he doesn't care much.]

Any man can command a ship, whether he's cursed or blessed. But you're right—if my crew has no complaints, then I have none myself.

[Eizen knows that he's fortunate. It's all too rare to find people who don't mind his curse, much less those who remain unfazed.]

[skincares]

[. . .

Carmilla slides her empty shot glass towards him.]

Hmph. You ought to buy me a drink after such a poor story. You certainly raised my expectations when you mentioned a curse - yet you let me down tremendously.

[skiouros]

[He'll buy her a bottle of Jack Shite™. Eizen glances at the shot glass, then shrugs.]

It's not my problem if you find my curse to be poor entertainment.

[skincares]

[If her cue is being ignored, that's fine. She'll tap on the rim. C'mon. Do it.]

With the way you set me up? It certainly is! You are still a fortunate man. That makes me sick to my stomach.

[skiouros]

[She can find her sugar daddy elsewhere, and her standards are extremely disturbing. He quirks an eyebrow.]

You'll just have to get used to feeling nauseous, then.

[He gave up on feeling sorry for himself a long time ago. These days, he always counts his blessings (hah).]

[skincares]

[Her standards are remarkably low for a woman who's so poisonous and haughty. Ritsuka is living proof of that. So long as someone accepted all of her, Carmilla will behave properly. Well. As well as she can manage to, in any case.

She clicks her tongue at his refusal, annoyed.]

I liked you much better when you kept your mouth shut.

[skiouros]

[She can click her tongue all she wants. He's not buying her that drink.

On the other hand, he does agree that things had been better during the poker game. In light of this:]

I'll play a round of cards with you anytime—same stakes. Who knows; you might win a couple drinks off of me. It'd give me something to test my luck on, too.