[ Well, he better not tell her to "shut up" again. That's just asking for a fight.
Even if she does ask for it, most of the sometimes. ]
Oh, sure. [ Oh, thank god. She sounds serious. Is she actually listening to him this time and will stop with the lame jokes? ] I'll only say something again if it's knee-cessary.
[ That's the last one. For now. He won't know when the next one will come, but she will be there... waiting for an opportunity to flaunt her funny bone again. Her teammates would be so proud. (Or they would be on Team Ragna for this one. It really is all up in the air.)
But with only one last cream puff left though, there's not much else to eat. She places the plate on the tray and makes sure she didn't leave any crumbs on the couch, cleaning it up if she spots any. It'll be as if she was never here, by the end of it all. ]
[ She'd have to genuinely grate on him to accomplish that again. He's even almost over the whole Crimson Calamity deal. She sounds serious though? Was he breaking through to her?! He swallows what's left of his cream puff just in time for her to drop that lame ass pun. But instead of complain even more or beg her to stop... ]
And there's the coup de grâce...
[ Weiss Win. Perfect. ]
[ Ragna is content with what he's eaten so far, so he's ready to tidy up as well. Pushing himself back up to his feet, he tidies up with her, only piping up when she goes back to picking the crumbs from the couch if there's any left. He offers to take care of it for her, though conschnee-ds easily enough otherwise as he takes the cart of leftover food towards the fridge in the kitchen. Whether Weiss follows him or not, he regards back to her: ]
I think I changed my mind about changing. [ Main reason being? Besides the sus titty shirt? ] I'm not feeling so stuffy with just a dress shirt.
[ Ragna can just tuck it in again! He starts arranging the leftover Chinese dishes into the fridge real quick, followed by turning around to the marbled island where the sink is. He's mindful of his gloved right hand, only rinsing his bare left hand as he intends to just wipe the right clean. ]
So what now? Wanna relax for a little bit or head back down?
[ A dress shirt is a regular type of clothing... If he feels stuffy in one, Weiss would. . . honestly be judging. There's a reason why Weiss didn't have a high opinion of Sun when they first met. While a big factor of it was because he was a Faunus and was clearly not to be trusted at the time, he certainly looked very uncivilised (harsh) by having his shirt open the whole time.
No, she did not think the washboard abs were attractive. ]
Hold on to that shirt of yours, especially if you don't have a lot of chips to spare. The free clothes that come from this place are very tacky.
[ Just like that "I'm in my slut era" shirt from before... Fortunately, she's done with that phase of wearing free clothes, because she purchased some new ones as soon as she got out of the room she woke up in. While she'd much rather be in her usual battle gear, it's not like there's any reason for her to fight just yet, so she's just been spending most of her days in casual dresses in this place. Just like now. ]
Let's head back down soon. I'm plenty relaxed as is.
[ No, she does not ask about him, but he had a bunch to eat. If he wants to sit down and relax a little longer, she won't mind, but she might go down ahead just so she can move around and do something else. Eat and run mentality ]
[ A regular type of clothing that he most certainly wasn’t used to. Loosened cuffs and a well fitted dress shirt wasn’t so obnoxious on him after all though, the longer he relaxed and got out of the grandiose of his white jacket. Only thing he’d have preferred was if he got decked out in black. But, even Ragna knew that beggars couldn’t be choosers on their predicament.
That, and…the less questions that get (inevitably) asked about his arm and why that whole sleeve underneath was staying on, the better. Another reason why he second-guessed the Great Tit! t-shirt. ]
Tacky’s a…uh, real polite way of putting it.
[ And as such, he’s on her wavelength in that respect, he clicks his tongue in annoyance as he dries his hand clean on a gilded hand towel provided. ]
Seriously, what the hell were they thinking stealing the clothes off my back?
[ And he presumes off Weiss’ too. But when she gives the go ahead for them to get ready to hit the Casino, he lets go of his earlier frustration over outfit compromises with a more calming sigh. ]
Sure. I’m feelin’ pretty good too now.
[ Really good actually. The food and dessert were a bigger pick-me-up than he thought they’d be. This was a much needed change of pace. …even if he had to contend with a tiny Schnee along the way. ]
[ It certainly is very cheap to her. No respectable person would wear a shirt that says "I love dildos" unless they found it funny or something. In contrast to him, she is a beggar who is also a chooser, and actually did. . . refuse to put any of those free clothes on and instead went shopping in her bathrobe.
(Yeah.)
At the very least, that whole ordeal is over now and Weiss does have clothes she's more comfortable wearing in public now. ]
Also, you're lucky you have something decent on. Some of us here, when we arrived, woke up naked in the jungle.
[ "Some of us here" obviously means it wasn't her, but he should be glad it wasn't him, either.
She'll wait for him to finish cleaning up and fixing the leftovers by the door. There's her watch that she fiddles with as she waits, making sure she's texting her catdemon roommate that she's out and if he can get room service to clean the place up unless he wants to do that... ]
Embarrassing? Raunchy? [ Oh wait. The most obvious term. ] Stupid?
I mean if you've gotta have shirts with slogans or logos, have at 'er but would it kill them to have one shirt that wasn't slapping a dick or boobs on it?
[ To be fair. There probably(?) is tamer apparel. But Ragna also wasn't about to just start looking desperate digging through and find out whether it exists or not. Yet it's when Weiss puts everything into perspective for how some of the wildcards arrived previously that grants him pause. The incredulous look he gives her isn't directed at her, but at the absurdity of the statement. Although part of him, somehow, still wasn't surprised either. ]
That...wouldn't have boded well for anyone involved if that were me.
[ Half a frown, as he avoids sparing a glance to his right arm. Beneath his dress shirt is a full-length black sleeve. No one needed to see the raw Azure Grimoire underneath. And ever since he got here? It stopped hurting, and any time someone bumped into him or even accidentally touched it, they didn't get woozy either. Bristly and cautious as he may still be about letting people get too close, it's also been getting...harder to. For one reason or another that he's happy to have distractions for in the form of taking a chance on this girl.
Still... ]
Well then. Guess that just means I gotta count my blessings then.
[ He sounds so enthused. Weiss has plenty of time to fiddle and keep her roommate in the know before he's all set! He already knows that he's going to be on edge a little once they're down in the hustle and bustle of the Casino. But...if he can just keep his attention on Weiss to start and focus less on the mindless drones of lustful idiots 'enjoying their stay', he can forget he's in a sex resort for a little while longer.
Be that anchor, Weiss. Just for a little bit. He'll even endure more of your cringe puns to do it.
But at least Ragna sounds better as he even has a relaxed smile on his face. ]
Alright. Let's see how lucky we can get after all.
When I find a shirt that has a knee on it, I'll be sure to get it for you. Consider it a "welcome to the casino" present.
[ Ah... what has he done...
She isn't too fazed by his reaction to waking up naked in the jungle, though. No matter who it was, she imagines, anyone sensible would just find it all too embarrassing and awful. A really bad experience overall. But if others get affected by it too, well... Weiss doesn't have to think too hard about it— that's his business and she won't ask. She maintains what she said, that he's lucky that it didn't happen to him.
Although waking up in this place to begin with is rather unlucky... but what's done is done!
She'll wait until he opens the door before she steps out. Goodbye, fancy room. Goodbye, very comfortable chaise lounge which she one day hopes to have in her own room. Goodbye, bathtub which she didn't really see but knows it's there. This should probably be the time when she thanks him for the coffee and the snacks, and she does think it. Rather than say it out loud, though, she decides to wait until later to show her gratitude.
It's just a little embarrassing, that's all. ]
Right. Like I said, the slot machines are the easiest, but if there's another game you want to play, I'll watch. Maybe you might win big.
[ Come to think of it... he can put himself up for auction, too. That'd get him quite a lot of chips in exchange for an hour with someone. ]
[ Ragna resists rolling his eyes, instead shaking his head before at least fessing, ]
Painful as that sounds, I'd...still take it over the rest of the junk.
[ Even if it's hypothetical. And probably joking. ...if he finds out people have a kneejob fetish here if that's even a thing, he's going to go insane. Ragna follows after her, only stopping to spare a glance back into the illustrious suite one more time. Remembering everything Weiss said before about being assigned a rank soon... This is too much even for him, but he also doesn't want to get thrown down into the pits either. For selfish reasons and...he just knows it'll put him in an even more sour mood. That and the trouble he'd cause if he had to put up with seeing the staff be assholes not only to him, but to people around him.
He's already got little patience for crap to begin with.
But who knows? Maybe he'll get dealt a good hand. And he can...invite her up again sometime. ]
I know how some of these games work. Even if I never really had the time for a lot of it back home.
[ Putting him up for auction is just asking for a bad time. For both parties involved. adskflj It's not long before the two return to the private elevator leading back down. From there, they can take the public elevators once again so they can get a clear path to the casino. ]
You're not gonna try your hand at any of them?
[ Curiosity more than goading her on! He reaches for and taps the button for the public level, the pristine golden doors gliding shut before they start going down. ]
[ She has had enough risk-taking for a lifetime, thank you. And even then, there are still more bets to be placed in the future.
In this place though? Games in the casino aren't really her thing; it's not her idea of fun. While she does sit down and play some Blackjack from time to time, it's all done out of spite. She needs to learn what she can from other players and improve her bluffing and card counting skills, because there's a stupid person in this casino who she needs to win against at some point. If that day will actually come is unknown, but she sure as hell isn't going to let him keep winning against her.
The casino does have a pretty good stage, though. Get up on it and entertain the crowd and get some tips. It's not quite as lucrative as getting ten times your bet if you win a game, but she'd find that more fun. ]
I'll watch. And provide commentary.
[ :) Watch him, she means. Unfortunately for him, she doesn't have anything better to do. This place gives one a lot of free time, but it gets so tiring not doing any work or anything productive... everything is leisure. He really is stuck with her for now until something better catches her interest. ]
Are you that eager to get rid of me?
[ Into the lift they go, and Ragna presses to take them to the connecting floor to the public elevator. Weiss isn't really all that bothered if he did want to just be alone as he played some games. They're not friends, and they certainly don't owe each other one's company. There's just something about his presence at this time that makes her not want to be anywhere else, though.
It's not something she's even aware of. It might be best that it stays that way. ]
[ Then, assuming that she didn't gamble much, to have chips, then... Talk about a new learning experience. He lets that thought stay at that- perhaps out of an unspoken respect. If this place was all about leisure and there was very little else beyond indulging, he was going to find himself getting...really bored, really fast. Time will tell if Mr. Grim Reaper here was going to find a particular balance in how he accrues his chip stack. He still isn't keen on paying these guys, but he finds himself being more easily swayed by the suggestions of this girl who could have left at any point.
Actually...sigh, playing games. But not necessarily "the" game. Can they go back to hanging out in his suite and forgetting where they are? He'll even take getting bullied teased by her over what's waiting for them down below. So much so that when Weiss taunts him again, he folds his arms and gives a halfassed response. ]
Words in my mouth, why don'tcha...
[ Because saying "No" was too direct of an invite.
'Ding!' The elevator opens! And they're now far removed from the fancy couch, the fancy bath, the fancy kitchen, the luxurious privacy... And he takes a deep breath in through his nose. Out his mouth. Just relax, Ragna. So long as he focuses on his company? He can hold a modicum of ignorant bliss while they continue to hang out. So far as they walk, it's not like they're being bombarded by innuendo and debauchery just by walking down a hallway into the more open space. Although there is one difference he notices. ]
Looks like we skipped the big rush.
[ Compared to how busy and crowded it was waiting for an elevator earlier, let alone getting crammed in with so many others. Now there's just only a couple other people around. It's awfully quiet now... But they gotta head down to the main level from here if they want to hit the casino. Ragna walks up to press the â–¼ button, only for a moment's passing and another audible 'Ding!' as the light above the door illuminates. ]
Huh. Good timing, too.
[ Good timing indeed. Especially when those doors open and out fumble a seemingly drunken pair of women, clothing still dishevelled and giggling something about 'hoping they liked the show' before Ragna can barely step to the side as they walk off together. Furrowing his brow at them whilst biting his tongue, he scrunches his mismatched gaze with a shake of his head before shrugging it off, remembering to step into the elevator in time. He holds his arm out against the side so that it doesn't start to close on Weiss. ]
[ Ragna, Ragna... The Grim-Reaping Crimson Calamity. You better not think of the other ways Weiss gets her chips, because she definitely did not mean to imply what you're thinking when she said that. She doesn't gamble regularly, but the amount of money earned from small payouts isn't so bad— she can get by! Especially when (sighs) people invite her over to their rooms to have coffee or snacks, or when other people actually volunteer to cover her expenses. Of course, Weiss is an independent young lady who don't need no man, and she still is a player of the bigger game here. Just don't think about that now, will you?
The way he responds to her tease just gives her more motivation to keep doing it. Weiss isn't someone who clicks with people easily, given her more prickly nature, but sometimes, maybe she can. It's a miracle! And while she wouldn't say they're clicking, she isn't disinterested in forming a connection with him. Even if the way he approached her was rather suspicious. ]
You could just say "no", you know.
[ A shake of her head. Down they go, then out. When they get to the next elevator door, she takes a step to the side as two people walk out. She's no gossip, so she doesn't really care about what they were talking about. Though judging by how they looked? Weiss could guess what they did and what they might do once they get inside one of their suites...
But, again, not her problem. She steps into the elevator and presses the floor that'll lead them to the lobby so they can head to the casino. Not a very long ride down, even if they're at the highest part of the building. With no one else around, Weiss notices the painting on one side, but doesn't pay it any mind. She just doesn't think there were paintings in the elevator before... huh!
Once the elevator doors close, they should actually feel the machine descending, but they're not moving at all. In fact, there isn't even any noise from it that it's started to move. Weiss looks up, and the screen still says they're on the same floor they came in from. ]
Is it broken?
[ In which case, they'd just need to get off and call for another one. So she clicks on the button that should open the door, but it doesn't do anything, either. She presses again, and again, and again, really mashing the button this time, but there's still nothing. And so, she passes a puzzled look Ragna's way. ]
I'm not sure what's going on.
[ Little do they know, the painting Weiss spotted earlier? The three subjects are all smiling innocently as they keep their eyes on her. ]
[ Tch... // Saying that Ragna "doesn't click with people" could be the grossest understatement of the decade; although much of it was a combination of choice and circumstance— circumstance that he deems best to keep under wraps for as long as he can. Granted, much of that had to be said front and centre when he was still entrenched in the turmoil of his own world. What was he trying to do again? Defeat Terumi? Defeat the Imperator? Or was he just trying to make heads or tails of the wide-open realm of possibilities laid out before him now that he's left Kagutsuchi?
He didn't have the time to make niceties with other people. It was just as much a problem for him as it would have been for everyone else.
And yet...there she is, still at his side. He hasn't warned her away. He even went against his own hesitations to invite her up and take her away from the hassle of the hustle they're coming back to now. What information did he glean from her to begin with? Was it worth it? Or did Ragna find something else he'd been denying himself since he got here? A connection?
Was it...even okay to even think about wanting— ]
...Huh?
[ The surplus of paintings that have manifest since they last hopped in here was a bit on the excessive side. Did they ride this one before? Or did they take another one beside it? Ragna can't remember. But more alarming was the fact that they weren't moving. He can't feel anything off, at least, coming from the outside. If there's one thing that he was good at, it was having a good sense for danger, imminent or no. So now they're just...stuck? ]
Wonder whose luck this is.
[ She taps it again. And again. And he folds his arms and leans to one side out of confusion. This wasn't a case of Weiss doing something wrong. She's clearly pushing the button for the main floor? That's when she gives up and shoots him a puzzled look. ]
Let me try something.
[ ...by "try something", Ragna, you don't mean...
He steps up beside Weiss, staring down at the console of buttons. Just as he tightens his fist, mindful not to just go denting the damn thing in with his strength, he's about to knock the console when all of a sudden...
The elevator lights flicker, immediately setting the hairs on the back of Ragna's neck on end as he stops himself mid-swing and the lights normalize. Instantly accompanied by: ]
[ "Does he think hitting everything can solve all his problems?" ]
[ Disembodied voice?? Also not Weiss'?? Ragna's pupils reduce to pins and he reluctantly turns around. First towards Weiss as he attempts to force some bass back into his words. ]
Hey...you uh, hear that?
[ "Although..." A gleeful giggle. "What! What!""Isn't it kind of sweet too? Bravely charging ahead all, 'Don't worry, I'll save you'?"
"Oho that is so darling!"
So begins another facet of Ragna the Bloodedge on full display, as he hones in on the painting on the wall, the Teasing Trio all smiles and longing sighs as they chinhand at the two and— ]
G-Ghosts?! H-H-Here tooooo?!?!
[ Oh. There's a new octave. Ragna immediately takes a step (two) back, hairs on his one good arm standing on end as he halfheartedly raises it in front of himself in defence. ]
[ Weiss gives him space, taking a step to the side. Before he can even do anything, the lights flicker and then there are voices...
She doesn't scream or anything, but she does tense up, immediately looking around to see if there is anyone else around. It's the painting. They're moving and talking, and they most definitely aren't human. Ragna might think they're ghosts, but she doesn't think they are?
It's under investigation. Weiss isn't as scared anymore compared to when she first arrived and met her doppelganger, but it is still very unsettling regardless. ]
Um...?
[ What the hell is going on... she thought for sure the paintings couldn't talk. They could jump out of their frames, but... this is weird. Should she just accept that just about anything can happen here? She really should, shouldn't she?
Her companion's voice breaks, and her attention goes back to him. He isn't looking so good, which gets her to raise an eyebrow. Is he really scared? Somehow, she didn't think he would be scared of ghosts... but to each his own. She won't kick him while he's down, so she takes a step forward, as if to shield him with her smallass body from the painting. ]
Leave him alone.
[ Now the Teasing Trio stop giggling. Or at least, they do when Weiss shuts them up for a second or two.
"Oh, how cute! Don't you worry, we aren't going to do anything! We're stuck here!"
Great, they're smartasses, too. Whether or not they're trying to be annoying on purpose, Weiss just frowns, unimpressed with the response she's received.
"Show us something cute! We'll let you go after you entertain us a bit, okay? Please? Look, look! He's sooo scared! Doesn't he deserve a kiss and a hug?" ]
... [ So that's it. They can't leave the elevator and it's all because of this painting. Weiss honestly feels a little bad. This isn't her fault, but somehow? She thought for sure Ragna wouldn't get subject to the resort's oddities right away. Maybe it was wrong of her to be optimistic about it, but they did seem to have a good start, just chatting and not even eating anything that made them horny. She doesn't even know what to even tell him now, because she knows what she should be doing to get out. But if she were in his shoes, she'd totally be making a big deal about this. No way can this stupid place tell her what to do!
It's why instead of talk about a kiss and a hug, she instead asks: ]
Are you okay? [ Scared, obviously, but she'll at least make sure he knows he's got company and the paintings won't do anything crazy while she's around. They don't look threatening, and that's all that's important to her. If it were a painting of a demon or something, then she'd 100% be terrified with him. ]
[ Phantoms weren't something that Ragna typically dealt with on the regular, as attuned as he was with the concept of souls and spirits by now. Unfortunately? They're still rooted deeply to him, to the point where his heart was palpitating as he scrunches his eyes shut just so he can avoid looking at them. Like a rare, childish notion that if he can't see them, they can't see him. He's already got it imprinted in his head that they're ghosts...and there weren't very many that he didn't just soldier on through despite himself. It's always that initial impact— the heat, the ringing in his ears as the pain exceeds the shock his body attempts to throw himself into, the wooziness, the blood loss, that son of a bitch's voice cackling all the while and making him feel even more powerless than he already was... It's funny on the surface, and for all intents and purposes, he masks the truth well behind his girly screams or flinching whimpers.
But then he hears another voice. One he just met. One he knew. One that stuck around with him as she tells the Teasing Trio to leave him alone. And Ragna bites down a whimper. He doesn't cry; he's not even close to that. But he cracks his green eye open first, Weiss practically shielding him by standing between him and the painting. And the visual is sobering for an entirely different reason. And his eyes open with a tremor behind her. The last time someone stood between him and a ghost, they...
...!
Come on, Ragna. Come on. Get out of your own head. Get out of your own thoughts. Snap back to reality?! He'd already been skeeved out from his prior investigations here, this shouldn't be so shocking to him. That was all then. This is now. Why should he be scared of some phantom painting? So, despite himself, keeping behind Weiss as he does, Ragna does bark back up. ]
Yeah, ha HA ha! Real funny, assholes! What the hell do you want??
[ "Show us something cute! We'll let you go after you entertain us a bit, okay? Please? Look, look! He's sooo scared! Doesn't he deserve a kiss and a hug?" ]
Shut up! I-I'm not scared—
[ Another little voice crack. ]
[ "Come now, we're not asking for much~ Please? We just want to have a little fun... Unless...you want to be stuck in here... Foooreeeever~" ]
Check it. Better plan? How about, you piss off and let us off already, you damn voyeurs.
[ He lets out a frustrated little growl, after the initial outburst had been burned away into the ether. He remembers to take a deep breath again. Slow. Try to calm himself. Around the time that Weiss turns around to ask him if he's okay, he almost looks...ashamed? A frown mars his lips as he closes his eyes, one more breath in through his nose, and out his mouth. Weiss had stepped in to stick up for him. She didn't need to do that, even if it was just some playful spirits in a painting.
There he was, wanting to do better than this resort ever could in helping someone and sticking it to them, and now he's the one hiding behind her. So when he opens his eyes again, trying to keep his attention on her, there's still a hint of embarrassment in his voice. They're just in the painting. They're not monsters. There's no fire. There's no pain. There's no haunting voices whispering in his ear. ]
Yeah. [ A beat. ] Yeah. I'm fine. Great.
[ Shit, he can hear himself. That wasn't "Great". ]
Sorry. I... I overreacted.
[ Getting mad at the painting was his coping mechanism, it seems like. And chances were he'd still feel a shiver trickle down his spine if they decided to pipe up. Instead, at least for the time being, they keep to themselves, little whispers in each others' ears and distanced giggles as they wait and see if they need to give the two of them some more coercion or not. ]
So. [ Back to trying some sense of normalcy as if he hadn't just had a freakout earlier. If nothing else, he bounces back quick. ] Guessing this is another trick up this place's sleeve.
[ That didn't sound great to her... but she won't question it. Though he will see with the way her brow almost quirks up that she's doubtful. Very doubtful. No, she just doesn't believe him at all. But the fact that she doesn't comment on it is more for his sake and not hers.
Whatever he says. ]
You're fine. Just... try to ignore them, I guess.
[ Weiss gives a slight shake of her head, only wincing slightly when the giggles of the trio pierce her ears. She resists the urge to turn around and give them attention though, merely rolling her eyes as she scoffs. ]
I don't really like them, either. And I know there was something weird with the paintings... They're alive? Sort of.
[ Her voice is a little softer, trying to ensure that the trio won't be able to hear her. While she doesn't have a lot of information on how these paintings can even talk, she at least knows that there's something up with them. And they're the reason why she doesn't like sleeping alone, else she's scared she'd find her doppelganger in her room just staring at her.
The doppelganger that actually is inside one of the framed artworks. Strange as that may be... ]
I'm not sure that we can get out of here on our own, though. [ She turns her attention towards the panel with the buttons again, pressing on the open door button a couple of times. ] We can't even leave this stupid casino...
[ So something small scale like this? While she should have figured that something like this could happen, she never really did. ]
[ It's alright, Weiss. He's already lambasting himself in his own head over it all. Ragna is more self-conscious than he likes to let on, despite making it seem as though he could care less what other people thought about it. Though, maybe that's just more being easier to brush off his enemies after the Azure Grimoire, or his bounty, or who simply knew him for being the SS-Class Criminal. ]
H'okay.
[ Right on cue, Ragna joins her in wincing when the giggling trio drips into his ears. For what it's worth, Weiss, he can do that for you. If he doesn't say anything, he at least fixes them with a glare before her voice brings him right back.
Whisperwhisperwhisper "So smouldering..." DO THEY EVEN KNOW HOW THAT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK?
The softer register in Weiss' voice, as if they were trying to keep the painting out of the loop, helps him too. And though he can't completely dispel that tension that grips his spine, his shoulders do seem to lax some again. Because this isn't a gag reel ending he concentrates on Weiss, his own voice comes in softer in a an attempt to echo her. ]
Not without causing a ruckus, anyway.
[ And by "ruckus", he means trying to break the walls, pry the doors open (which won't work sorry), attack the paintings themselves... The only reason he doesn't is because he's not by himself. Yes. Ragna the Bloodedge is, by some stroke of a miracle, holding back for someone else's sake. It helps that her words distract him from those violent thoughts, and she opens herself to him with that little lament about not even leaving this stupid casino...
And something in his heart sinks. He knows next to nothing about her. Next to nothing about anybody here. But there's nothing that makes him special either. They're just guests, rolling the dice on what leisures await them next. All of this was new for him, but when he takes a seat and thinks it all through, it's less the fact that they're being coerced into having sex as a big game, and more about what's been left behind. What was waiting back home for Weiss? What responsibilities did she get whisked away from, if any? Weiss acting all fussy about the lineup at Birdbucks, making fun of his name, finding him so easy to tease...
And for Ragna, inviting her up to his place without any strings attached, tolerating her as long as he has, even smiling for the first time since he got here...
Is it all coping? ]
That's why I wanna know everything I can about this place. Even if it means I gotta... [ It's hard to keep looking her in those pure, icy blues of hers, but Ragna manages. Why the hell not? She's already caught him with his pants proverbially down when he flipped over ghosts the way he did. They're also stalling. ] ...play my hand, to do it.
But I'm not giving up. [ He already almost did that once. And whatever Weiss does with her spare time isn't his business, but he can place his wager on one thing; she's not happy about this either. How many people that were stolen away from their lives were still coping? These past few days of shock have finally settled for Ragna. If he can figure something out that not just helps himself, but helps people like her, than he'll do it. There doesn't have to be any big reason behind it. It's as simple as that. He breaks this casino's foundations and learns how to jump back home? He takes that chance. He breaks this casino's foundations and learns how to get everyone else back home?
He tells the dealer to hit him and prays he doesn't bust. ]
...
[ And so, against his better judgment and fighting that creeping sensation that lingers on the edges of his thoughts, Ragna breaks his gaze away from Weiss to look back up at the Teasing Trio. Oh! He's looking right at them! ]
Hey. What do you want?
[ And don't bullshit him. He's fighting against every fiber of his being not to just shudder just thinking of being surrounded by haunted paintings.
"What do we want? That's easy. Show us some flirting, give us a treat!"
Flirting, a little treat. A hug and a kiss?
"We'll let you two go after you entertain us a bit." As for what they like? "Anything cute, anything sweet. It gets so boring in here. Imagine watching everyone do nothing but stand before leaving. Don't we deserve some fun?" ]
[ And a lot of people, she thinks. Sure, this place has practically summoned all kinds of people from all kinds of places— normal humans like her or those who can almost parallel the strength of gods. This place seems a lot more powerful than everybody combined, though, which makes it very troublesome.
This ruckus Ragna's thinking about? It's going to take a lot of time and effort to organise. It can't just be one person causing mayhem and all.
But that's something for later on. Far later, when there's more information to this resort beyond what it's appeared to be. ]
I'm sure some people have more information than I do. But it doesn't look like those people are keen on sharing what they know to everybody.
[ When the population— at least, the ones who recently arrived like her— aren't all interested in leaving anyway, there really is no point to force anything. Everyone's still feeling this place out, making connections, learning what they can about everyone and this casino. Leaving this place remains to be her priority, because she isn't one to run away from her responsibilities, but she is of the same mind. Much as she'd hate to admit it to just about anyone.
If she has to participate in this casino's... eccentricities, if it means learning in the process, and if it means getting out of here in the end? Then sure, she'll play. She hasn't gotten hurt. Yet.
That's enough serious contemplation for now, though. Even if she'd like to continue exchanging opinions about this place, there really is something else they have to deal with. The painting's stated what they want for them to get out of here, and while Weiss did understand. Anything cute, anything sweet, and being stuck in a place like this doesn't really help in setting the mood. ]
So, [ Coping. Coping.
She's got a wry smile on her face when she asks: ] Are you even capable of anything cute?
[ Whether it was for some convoluted purpose or something surface-level as in not wanting such a good time to end, Ragna's also of the mind to keep this more serious contemplation as an aside for now. Besides, their conversation was beginning to bore their audience, it seems like. One of them even has the audacity to yawn? Tch, like they had anywhere to be. Unlike Ragna and Weiss. Which, practically means that...
Sigh.
Damn it. He still doesn't know what this is supposed to look like before the elevator actually moves. But if anything?
Fine. He'll do this for her. First things first however, ]
What, is Mr. "Crimson Calamity" that mean looking?
[ But they're circling the drain on this one. Even Ragna can figure that one out as he tries to match her wry smile with that of faint amusement. If he's gonna be a guest here for a while, he might as well just roll with the punches (until he can start punching back). He doubts she'll ever let him live that card down either way. ]
[ He doesn't take offence to it. Back home, he couldn't afford to let people stay close to him for long, after all. He doesn't care about his status or the height of his criminal record. Although "mean" doesn't exactly do one favours in this place. As a member of the trio pipes up once more, he less bristles this time (thanks to Weiss' presence) and more knits his brow in annoyance as his attention is divided once more. Shooting another "knock it off" look up at the paintings: ]
Hey, you want cute? Then zip it.
[ "Oh oh oh! And shy to boot~"Growl."Okay okay. Shh shh shshshshshh..." whisperwhisperwhisper...
"So. You didn't answer." ]
You want me "changing my tune" or the real answer?
[ Because the former and trying to act all lovey-dovey, flirty or actively trying to play into the hands of the Trio was gonna be fake. Fake and awkward. And the longer he looks down at Weiss, Ragna, he... ]
[ A softened sigh this time. He told her that as attractive as she looked, he wasn't into coaxing people into sex with the promise of fancy food and lodge. He was grateful for her help and what little information she had to give him. That was all still true. She even convinced him to actually try out the Casino and get some money so he didn't land in too much hot water with the staff over his room service bill. The entire time he invited her up, she even got to see a side of him that not many had a chance to in his world.
How could they? He was the SS-Class Criminal with the highest bounty on record. He was the destroyer. The Grim Reaper. All the stories about him just had to be true. He was a monster wearing human skin. It's like he has a role to play and he knows it beat by beat.
And for the first time since he got here- no. For the first time in what felt like ages even back home, Ragna felt...
Normal. And what came with this normalcy was...a little more honesty. It's not Weiss' fault either, which may be why he doesn't have any bite in his voice when he confesses: ]
I've never...flirted with anyone before. Heck, I've never even kissed someone. [ A huff, less out of annoyance and more a prelude to admittance: ] I doubt I'd even get far enough for that back home.
[ It's difficult to set the mood and get all cute and romantic in this place, especially when what it's really asking for isn't romantic at all. It's why even asking for it—the fact that she's blatantly asking, rather than being subtle about it—does not help at all.
Still, if the painting won't shut up and won't let them leave until they do something that appeases them, then Weiss just has to try and make the most out of the situation. For now, she doesn't think about the objective too much, and would just prefer to let things be natural.
Although if he doesn't do anything cute, she might just have to force him on his knees so she can smush his cheeks with her hands and kiss him.
Ragna's response is honest, though. Vulnerable, even. Weiss can't even tease him for something like that. Not to mention, there's a part of her that can relate. Sure, she's flirted with people before, but it never really led to anything concrete. Her first kiss was in this place, and it was given to someone she doesn't even like. Not in a romantic way, anyway... ]
You and me both.
[ That's mostly to the "back home" comment. It'd take some time for Weiss to want to commit to a relationship given everything that's been going on. She doesn't sound all that bitter, though. Her commitment to being a Huntress and protecting her world comes first, after all. But she does smile up at him as a means to say he's not alone in this, and even though she's been here longer, and has therefore, had some experience in being close to people? She knows a bit of what he's feeling. ]
You should probably kiss someone you like, though. Especially if it's your first. So... here. I think this should count.
[ Handholding counts as cute, right? She thinks she heard one of the subjects in the painting say so earlier. She moves to stand on his right side now instead of in front of him, taking a deep breath, then she takes his hand in hers. ]
[ It's not that Ragna didn't know what to do— or at least, he had an approximation... The man has eyes and ears, even with the life he leads as a wandering destroyer with a bounty high enough that one could buy an island with his worth. What modicum of privacy he finds for himself in fleeting instances (that aren't interrupted by the Rabbit or something or another) grants him time to be alone with his thoughts, varying as they were. He's heard things— read things even. But Ragna has never given himself the time, it's something he's never been allotted...nor did he find himself pining for it either. How could he when he didn't even know what it felt like to touch someone without risking hurting them? He talks a big talk, and walks it well when it pertains to the perceived view everyone has of him. But the cold hard fact was that he'd already thought he made peace with saying goodbye to anything like intimacy.
And then he woke up here.
Weiss' words cut through to him, and how she can relate to him and what he's going through. It must have been the same way for so many other people here. ]
This place sure knows how to pick 'em, don't they?
[ They can go back to bickering, bantering, taunting and teasing...whatever the beginning of this was. A beginning that Ragna never would have thought of, let alone entertained with the life that he lead— or what little of it he's probably got left. Right now, she smiles up at him and flat-out disarms him in an entirely different way; the Teasing Trio would be treated to a first out of their rougher guest as his cheeks are gently dusted rose. But it's her next words that, unknowingly, challenge his own thoughts. And his inexperience shows once more, his throat clearing as he attempts to...
Protest? Bark? Clear the air? What was he even thinking? Well...if he was, his words are faster than his brain is as she moves to stand on his right side while he pipes up: ]
Hey, I didn't say I didn't like you I just—! [ He catches himself. Shit. His cheeks fluster further. Careful, Ragna. Temper temper. He's about to rant... ] What I meant was— I get what you meant, it's not like that but first anythings in a goddamn place like thi—
[ She takes hold of his right hand. ]
[ And his breath silently catches, the whole length of his arm visibly tensing as he braces himself... But the Azure Grimoire doesn't respond. It doesn't throb with waves of chronic pain. Nor does it latch onto Weiss' soul. It's just. Silent. And what looked like an initial bracing for pain and panic on his expression as he looks down at Weiss at his side...ebbs away as his gaze drifts down at their hands connected. She's holding the Azure Grimoire without consequence. No one has responded to it negatively since he got here. And without that power taking anything away from her, even through his glove, it almost feels like direct contact.
Her hand feels so small...
Ragna doesn't jerk his hand away. Instead, he reciprocates, squeezing it back before his hold settles on something firm yet...surprisingly gentle. ]
[ She most certainly meant that he should kiss someone he likes romantically first. Given that he's in a place like this though, it would be a challenge to do that. Still, she was thinking that the longer he could hold onto that first kiss of his here, the better. Maybe it was just a cool idea in her head. Who knows.
The panic is clear as day when he looks at her and how their she has his hand in hers, and anything she could say about his first kiss is gone for a moment. So, is it his first time holding someone's hand too? Blue eyes flitter over briefly towards the painting. One of the trio's got their chin on their hands, and the other one is biting their nails in anticipation, while the other is doing this.
That's enough looking! Thank you very much.
He might just see her looking a little flustered from that too, but the way the panic disappears from his face and just turns to something more like a calm and curious acceptance mellows her down, too. As does the squeeze of her hand. ]
You'll get used to it. [ Maybe. Weiss sure did after holding her teammates' hands at some point. ] It feels nice, when you're troubled and someone holds your hand.
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Even if she does ask for it,
most of thesometimes. ]Oh, sure. [ Oh, thank god. She sounds serious. Is she actually listening to him this time and will stop with the lame jokes? ] I'll only say something again if it's knee-cessary.
[ That's the last one. For now. He won't know when the next one will come, but she will be there... waiting for an opportunity to flaunt her funny bone again. Her teammates would be so proud. (Or they would be on Team Ragna for this one. It really is all up in the air.)
But with only one last cream puff left though, there's not much else to eat. She places the plate on the tray and makes sure she didn't leave any crumbs on the couch, cleaning it up if she spots any. It'll be as if she was never here, by the end of it all. ]
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almostover the whole Crimson Calamity deal. She sounds serious though? Was he breaking through to her?! He swallows what's left of his cream puff just in time for her to drop that lame ass pun. But instead of complain even more or beg her to stop... ]And there's the coup de grâce...
[ Weiss Win. Perfect. ]
[ Ragna is content with what he's eaten so far, so he's ready to tidy up as well. Pushing himself back up to his feet, he tidies up with her, only piping up when she goes back to picking the crumbs from the couch if there's any left. He offers to take care of it for her, though conschnee-ds easily enough otherwise as he takes the cart of leftover food towards the fridge in the kitchen. Whether Weiss follows him or not, he regards back to her: ]
I think I changed my mind about changing. [ Main reason being?
Besides the sus titty shirt?] I'm not feeling so stuffy with just a dress shirt.[ Ragna can just tuck it in again! He starts arranging the leftover Chinese dishes into the fridge real quick, followed by turning around to the marbled island where the sink is. He's mindful of his gloved right hand, only rinsing his bare left hand as he intends to just wipe the right clean. ]
So what now? Wanna relax for a little bit or head back down?
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No, she did not think the washboard abs were attractive. ]
Hold on to that shirt of yours, especially if you don't have a lot of chips to spare. The free clothes that come from this place are very tacky.
[ Just like that "I'm in my slut era" shirt from before... Fortunately, she's done with that phase of wearing free clothes, because she purchased some new ones as soon as she got out of the room she woke up in. While she'd much rather be in her usual battle gear, it's not like there's any reason for her to fight just yet, so she's just been spending most of her days in casual dresses in this place. Just like now. ]
Let's head back down soon. I'm plenty relaxed as is.
[ No, she does not ask about him, but he had a bunch to eat. If he wants to sit down and relax a little longer, she won't mind, but she might go down ahead just so she can move around and do something else.
Eat and run mentality]no subject
That, and…the less questions that get (inevitably) asked about his arm and why that whole sleeve underneath was staying on, the better. Another reason why he second-guessed the Great Tit! t-shirt. ]
Tacky’s a…uh, real polite way of putting it.
[ And as such, he’s on her wavelength in that respect, he clicks his tongue in annoyance as he dries his hand clean on a gilded hand towel provided. ]
Seriously, what the hell were they thinking stealing the clothes off my back?
[ And he presumes off Weiss’ too. But when she gives the go ahead for them to get ready to hit the Casino, he lets go of his earlier frustration over outfit compromises with a more calming sigh. ]
Sure. I’m feelin’ pretty good too now.
[ Really good actually. The food and dessert were a bigger pick-me-up than he thought they’d be. This was a much needed change of pace. …even if he had to contend with a tiny Schnee along the way. ]
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[ It certainly is very cheap to her. No respectable person would wear a shirt that says "I love dildos" unless they found it funny or something. In contrast to him, she is a beggar who is also a chooser, and actually did. . . refuse to put any of those free clothes on and instead went shopping in her bathrobe.
(Yeah.)
At the very least, that whole ordeal is over now and Weiss does have clothes she's more comfortable wearing in public now. ]
Also, you're lucky you have something decent on. Some of us here, when we arrived, woke up naked in the jungle.
[ "Some of us here" obviously means it wasn't her, but he should be glad it wasn't him, either.
She'll wait for him to finish cleaning up and fixing the leftovers by the door. There's her watch that she fiddles with as she waits, making sure she's texting her
catdemonroommate that she's out and if he can get room service to clean the place up unless he wants to do that... ]no subject
I mean if you've gotta have shirts with slogans or logos, have at 'er but would it kill them to have one shirt that wasn't slapping a dick or boobs on it?
[ To be fair. There probably(?) is tamer apparel. But Ragna also wasn't about to just start looking desperate digging through and find out whether it exists or not. Yet it's when Weiss puts everything into perspective for how some of the wildcards arrived previously that grants him pause. The incredulous look he gives her isn't directed at her, but at the absurdity of the statement. Although part of him, somehow, still wasn't surprised either. ]
That...wouldn't have boded well for anyone involved if that were me.
[ Half a frown, as he avoids sparing a glance to his right arm. Beneath his dress shirt is a full-length black sleeve. No one needed to see the raw Azure Grimoire underneath. And ever since he got here? It stopped hurting, and any time someone bumped into him or even accidentally touched it, they didn't get woozy either. Bristly and cautious as he may still be about letting people get too close, it's also been getting...harder to. For one reason or another that he's happy to have distractions for in the form of taking a chance on this girl.
Still... ]
Well then. Guess that just means I gotta count my blessings then.
[ He sounds so enthused. Weiss has plenty of time to fiddle and keep her roommate in the know before he's all set! He already knows that he's going to be on edge a little once they're down in the hustle and bustle of the Casino. But...if he can just keep his attention on Weiss to start and focus less on the mindless drones of lustful idiots 'enjoying their stay', he can forget he's in a sex resort for a little while longer.
Be that anchor, Weiss. Just for a little bit. He'll even endure more of your cringe puns to do it.
But at least Ragna sounds better as he even has a relaxed smile on his face. ]
Alright. Let's see how lucky we can get after all.
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[ Ah... what has he done...
She isn't too fazed by his reaction to waking up naked in the jungle, though. No matter who it was, she imagines, anyone sensible would just find it all too embarrassing and awful. A really bad experience overall. But if others get affected by it too, well... Weiss doesn't have to think too hard about it— that's his business and she won't ask. She maintains what she said, that he's lucky that it didn't happen to him.
Although waking up in this place to begin with is rather unlucky... but what's done is done!
She'll wait until he opens the door before she steps out. Goodbye, fancy room. Goodbye, very comfortable chaise lounge which she one day hopes to have in her own room. Goodbye, bathtub which she didn't really see but knows it's there. This should probably be the time when she thanks him for the coffee and the snacks, and she does think it. Rather than say it out loud, though, she decides to wait until later to show her gratitude.
It's just a little embarrassing, that's all. ]
Right. Like I said, the slot machines are the easiest, but if there's another game you want to play, I'll watch. Maybe you might win big.
[ Come to think of it... he can put himself up for auction, too. That'd get him quite a lot of chips in exchange for an hour with someone. ]
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Painful as that sounds, I'd...still take it over the rest of the junk.
[ Even if it's hypothetical. And probably joking. ...if he finds out people have a kneejob fetish here if that's even a thing, he's going to go insane. Ragna follows after her, only stopping to spare a glance back into the illustrious suite one more time. Remembering everything Weiss said before about being assigned a rank soon... This is too much even for him, but he also doesn't want to get thrown down into the pits either. For selfish reasons and...he just knows it'll put him in an even more sour mood. That and the trouble he'd cause if he had to put up with seeing the staff be assholes not only to him, but to people around him.
He's already got little patience for crap to begin with.
But who knows? Maybe he'll get dealt a good hand. And he can...invite her up again sometime. ]
I know how some of these games work. Even if I never really had the time for a lot of it back home.
[ Putting him up for auction is just asking for a bad time. For both parties involved. adskflj It's not long before the two return to the private elevator leading back down. From there, they can take the public elevators once again so they can get a clear path to the casino. ]
You're not gonna try your hand at any of them?
[ Curiosity more than goading her on! He reaches for and taps the button for the public level, the pristine golden doors gliding shut before they start going down. ]
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[ She has had enough risk-taking for a lifetime, thank you. And even then, there are still more bets to be placed in the future.
In this place though? Games in the casino aren't really her thing; it's not her idea of fun. While she does sit down and play some Blackjack from time to time, it's all done out of spite. She needs to learn what she can from other players and improve her bluffing and card counting skills, because there's a stupid person in this casino who she needs to win against at some point. If that day will actually come is unknown, but she sure as hell isn't going to let him keep winning against her.
The casino does have a pretty good stage, though. Get up on it and entertain the crowd and get some tips. It's not quite as lucrative as getting ten times your bet if you win a game, but she'd find that more fun. ]
I'll watch. And provide commentary.
[ :) Watch him, she means. Unfortunately for him, she doesn't have anything better to do. This place gives one a lot of free time, but it gets so tiring not doing any work or anything productive... everything is leisure. He really is stuck with her for now until something better catches her interest. ]
Are you that eager to get rid of me?
[ Into the lift they go, and Ragna presses to take them to the connecting floor to the public elevator. Weiss isn't really all that bothered if he did want to just be alone as he played some games. They're not friends, and they certainly don't owe each other one's company. There's just something about his presence at this time that makes her not want to be anywhere else, though.
It's not something she's even aware of. It might be best that it stays that way. ]
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Actually...sigh, playing games. But not necessarily "the" game. Can they go back to hanging out in his suite and forgetting where they are? He'll even take getting
bulliedteased by her over what's waiting for them down below. So much so that when Weiss taunts him again, he folds his arms and gives a halfassed response. ]Words in my mouth, why don'tcha...
[ Because saying "No" was too direct of an invite.
'Ding!' The elevator opens! And they're now far removed from the fancy couch, the fancy bath, the fancy kitchen, the luxurious privacy... And he takes a deep breath in through his nose. Out his mouth. Just relax, Ragna. So long as he focuses on his company? He can hold a modicum of ignorant bliss while they continue to hang out. So far as they walk, it's not like they're being bombarded by innuendo and debauchery just by walking down a hallway into the more open space. Although there is one difference he notices. ]
Looks like we skipped the big rush.
[ Compared to how busy and crowded it was waiting for an elevator earlier, let alone getting crammed in with so many others. Now there's just only a couple other people around. It's awfully quiet now... But they gotta head down to the main level from here if they want to hit the casino. Ragna walks up to press the â–¼ button, only for a moment's passing and another audible 'Ding!' as the light above the door illuminates. ]
Huh. Good timing, too.
[ Good timing indeed. Especially when those doors open and out fumble a seemingly drunken pair of women, clothing still dishevelled and giggling something about 'hoping they liked the show' before Ragna can barely step to the side as they walk off together. Furrowing his brow at them whilst biting his tongue, he scrunches his mismatched gaze with a shake of his head before shrugging it off, remembering to step into the elevator in time. He holds his arm out against the side so that it doesn't start to close on Weiss. ]
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The way he responds to her tease just gives her more motivation to keep doing it. Weiss isn't someone who clicks with people easily, given her more prickly nature, but sometimes, maybe she can. It's a miracle! And while she wouldn't say they're clicking, she isn't disinterested in forming a connection with him. Even if the way he approached her was rather suspicious. ]
You could just say "no", you know.
[ A shake of her head. Down they go, then out. When they get to the next elevator door, she takes a step to the side as two people walk out. She's no gossip, so she doesn't really care about what they were talking about. Though judging by how they looked? Weiss could guess what they did and what they might do once they get inside one of their suites...
But, again, not her problem. She steps into the elevator and presses the floor that'll lead them to the lobby so they can head to the casino. Not a very long ride down, even if they're at the highest part of the building. With no one else around, Weiss notices the painting on one side, but doesn't pay it any mind. She just doesn't think there were paintings in the elevator before... huh!
Once the elevator doors close, they should actually feel the machine descending, but they're not moving at all. In fact, there isn't even any noise from it that it's started to move. Weiss looks up, and the screen still says they're on the same floor they came in from. ]
Is it broken?
[ In which case, they'd just need to get off and call for another one. So she clicks on the button that should open the door, but it doesn't do anything, either. She presses again, and again, and again, really mashing the button this time, but there's still nothing. And so, she passes a puzzled look Ragna's way. ]
I'm not sure what's going on.
[ Little do they know, the painting Weiss spotted earlier? The three subjects are all smiling innocently as they keep their eyes on her. ]
1/2
[ Tch... // Saying that Ragna "doesn't click with people" could be the grossest understatement of the decade; although much of it was a combination of choice and circumstance— circumstance that he deems best to keep under wraps for as long as he can. Granted, much of that had to be said front and centre when he was still entrenched in the turmoil of his own world. What was he trying to do again? Defeat Terumi? Defeat the Imperator? Or was he just trying to make heads or tails of the wide-open realm of possibilities laid out before him now that he's left Kagutsuchi?
He didn't have the time to make niceties with other people. It was just as much a problem for him as it would have been for everyone else.
And yet...there she is, still at his side. He hasn't warned her away. He even went against his own hesitations to invite her up and take her away from the hassle of the hustle they're coming back to now. What information did he glean from her to begin with? Was it worth it? Or did Ragna find something else he'd been denying himself since he got here? A connection?
Was it...even okay to even think about wanting— ]
...Huh?
[ The surplus of paintings that have manifest since they last hopped in here was a bit on the excessive side. Did they ride this one before? Or did they take another one beside it? Ragna can't remember. But more alarming was the fact that they weren't moving. He can't feel anything off, at least, coming from the outside. If there's one thing that he was good at, it was having a good sense for danger, imminent or no. So now they're just...stuck? ]
Wonder whose luck this is.
[ She taps it again. And again. And he folds his arms and leans to one side out of confusion. This wasn't a case of Weiss doing something wrong. She's clearly pushing the button for the main floor? That's when she gives up and shoots him a puzzled look. ]
Let me try something.
[ ...by "try something", Ragna, you don't mean...
He steps up beside Weiss, staring down at the console of buttons. Just as he tightens his fist, mindful not to just go denting the damn thing in with his strength, he's about to knock the console when all of a sudden...
The elevator lights flicker, immediately setting the hairs on the back of Ragna's neck on end as he stops himself mid-swing and the lights normalize. Instantly accompanied by: ]
2/2
[ That's not Weiss' voice. There's another. ]
[ "Does he think hitting everything can solve all his problems?" ]
[ Disembodied voice?? Also not Weiss'?? Ragna's pupils reduce to pins and he reluctantly turns around. First towards Weiss as he attempts to force some bass back into his words. ]
Hey...you uh, hear that?
[ "Although..." A gleeful giggle. "What! What!" "Isn't it kind of sweet too? Bravely charging ahead all, 'Don't worry, I'll save you'?"
"Oho that is so darling!"
So begins another facet of Ragna the Bloodedge on full display, as he hones in on the painting on the wall, the Teasing Trio all smiles and longing sighs as they chinhand at the two and— ]
G-Ghosts?! H-H-Here tooooo?!?!
[ Oh. There's a new octave. Ragna immediately takes a step (two) back, hairs on his one good arm standing on end as he halfheartedly raises it in front of himself in defence. ]
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[ Weiss gives him space, taking a step to the side. Before he can even do anything, the lights flicker and then there are voices...
She doesn't scream or anything, but she does tense up, immediately looking around to see if there is anyone else around. It's the painting. They're moving and talking, and they most definitely aren't human. Ragna might think they're ghosts, but she doesn't think they are?
It's under investigation. Weiss isn't as scared anymore compared to when she first arrived and met her doppelganger, but it is still very unsettling regardless. ]
Um...?
[ What the hell is going on... she thought for sure the paintings couldn't talk. They could jump out of their frames, but... this is weird. Should she just accept that just about anything can happen here? She really should, shouldn't she?
Her companion's voice breaks, and her attention goes back to him. He isn't looking so good, which gets her to raise an eyebrow. Is he really scared? Somehow, she didn't think he would be scared of ghosts... but to each his own. She won't kick him while he's down, so she takes a step forward, as if to shield him with her smallass body from the painting. ]
Leave him alone.
[ Now the Teasing Trio stop giggling. Or at least, they do when Weiss shuts them up for a second or two.
"Oh, how cute! Don't you worry, we aren't going to do anything! We're stuck here!"
Great, they're smartasses, too. Whether or not they're trying to be annoying on purpose, Weiss just frowns, unimpressed with the response she's received.
"Show us something cute! We'll let you go after you entertain us a bit, okay? Please? Look, look! He's sooo scared! Doesn't he deserve a kiss and a hug?" ]
... [ So that's it. They can't leave the elevator and it's all because of this painting. Weiss honestly feels a little bad. This isn't her fault, but somehow? She thought for sure Ragna wouldn't get subject to the resort's oddities right away. Maybe it was wrong of her to be optimistic about it, but they did seem to have a good start, just chatting and not even eating anything that made them horny. She doesn't even know what to even tell him now, because she knows what she should be doing to get out. But if she were in his shoes, she'd totally be making a big deal about this. No way can this stupid place tell her what to do!
It's why instead of talk about a kiss and a hug, she instead asks: ]
Are you okay? [ Scared, obviously, but she'll at least make sure he knows he's got company and the paintings won't do anything crazy while she's around. They don't look threatening, and that's all that's important to her. If it were a painting of a demon or something, then she'd 100% be terrified with him. ]
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But then he hears another voice. One he just met. One he knew. One that stuck around with him as she tells the Teasing Trio to leave him alone. And Ragna bites down a whimper. He doesn't cry; he's not even close to that. But he cracks his green eye open first, Weiss practically shielding him by standing between him and the painting. And the visual is sobering for an entirely different reason. And his eyes open with a tremor behind her. The last time someone stood between him and a ghost, they...
...!
Come on, Ragna. Come on. Get out of your own head. Get out of your own thoughts. Snap back to reality?! He'd already been skeeved out from his prior investigations here, this shouldn't be so shocking to him. That was all then. This is now. Why should he be scared of some phantom painting? So, despite himself, keeping behind Weiss as he does, Ragna does bark back up. ]
Yeah, ha HA ha! Real funny, assholes! What the hell do you want??
[ "Show us something cute! We'll let you go after you entertain us a bit, okay? Please? Look, look! He's sooo scared! Doesn't he deserve a kiss and a hug?" ]
Shut up! I-I'm not scared—
[ Another little voice crack. ]
[ "Come now, we're not asking for much~ Please? We just want to have a little fun... Unless...you want to be stuck in here... Foooreeeever~" ]
Check it. Better plan? How about, you piss off and let us off already, you damn voyeurs.
[ He lets out a frustrated little growl, after the initial outburst had been burned away into the ether. He remembers to take a deep breath again. Slow. Try to calm himself. Around the time that Weiss turns around to ask him if he's okay, he almost looks...ashamed? A frown mars his lips as he closes his eyes, one more breath in through his nose, and out his mouth. Weiss had stepped in to stick up for him. She didn't need to do that, even if it was just some playful spirits in a painting.
There he was, wanting to do better than this resort ever could in helping someone and sticking it to them, and now he's the one hiding behind her. So when he opens his eyes again, trying to keep his attention on her, there's still a hint of embarrassment in his voice. They're just in the painting. They're not monsters. There's no fire. There's no pain. There's no haunting voices whispering in his ear. ]
Yeah. [ A beat. ] Yeah. I'm fine. Great.
[ Shit, he can hear himself. That wasn't "Great". ]
Sorry. I... I overreacted.
[ Getting mad at the painting was his coping mechanism, it seems like. And chances were he'd still feel a shiver trickle down his spine if they decided to pipe up. Instead, at least for the time being, they keep to themselves, little whispers in each others' ears and distanced giggles as they wait and see if they need to give the two of them some more coercion or not. ]
So. [ Back to trying some sense of normalcy as if he hadn't just had a freakout earlier. If nothing else, he bounces back quick. ] Guessing this is another trick up this place's sleeve.
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Whatever he says. ]
You're fine. Just... try to ignore them, I guess.
[ Weiss gives a slight shake of her head, only wincing slightly when the giggles of the trio pierce her ears. She resists the urge to turn around and give them attention though, merely rolling her eyes as she scoffs. ]
I don't really like them, either. And I know there was something weird with the paintings... They're alive? Sort of.
[ Her voice is a little softer, trying to ensure that the trio won't be able to hear her. While she doesn't have a lot of information on how these paintings can even talk, she at least knows that there's something up with them. And they're the reason why she doesn't like sleeping alone, else she's scared she'd find her doppelganger in her room just staring at her.
The doppelganger that actually is inside one of the framed artworks. Strange as that may be... ]
I'm not sure that we can get out of here on our own, though. [ She turns her attention towards the panel with the buttons again, pressing on the open door button a couple of times. ] We can't even leave this stupid casino...
[ So something small scale like this? While she should have figured that something like this could happen, she never really did. ]
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H'okay.
[ Right on cue, Ragna joins her in wincing when the giggling trio drips into his ears. For what it's worth, Weiss, he can do that for you. If he doesn't say anything, he at least fixes them with a glare before her voice brings him right back.
Whisperwhisperwhisper "So smouldering..." DO THEY EVEN KNOW HOW THAT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK?
The softer register in Weiss' voice, as if they were trying to keep the painting out of the loop, helps him too. And though he can't completely dispel that tension that grips his spine, his shoulders do seem to lax some again. Because
this isn't a gag reel endinghe concentrates on Weiss, his own voice comes in softer in a an attempt to echo her. ]Not without causing a ruckus, anyway.
[ And by "ruckus", he means trying to break the walls, pry the doors open (which won't work sorry), attack the paintings themselves... The only reason he doesn't is because he's not by himself. Yes. Ragna the Bloodedge is, by some stroke of a miracle, holding back for someone else's sake. It helps that her words distract him from those violent thoughts, and she opens herself to him with that little lament about not even leaving this stupid casino...
And something in his heart sinks. He knows next to nothing about her. Next to nothing about anybody here. But there's nothing that makes him special either. They're just guests, rolling the dice on what leisures await them next. All of this was new for him, but when he takes a seat and thinks it all through, it's less the fact that they're being coerced into having sex as a big game, and more about what's been left behind. What was waiting back home for Weiss? What responsibilities did she get whisked away from, if any? Weiss acting all fussy about the lineup at Birdbucks, making fun of his name, finding him so easy to tease...
And for Ragna, inviting her up to his place without any strings attached, tolerating her as long as he has, even smiling for the first time since he got here...
Is it all coping? ]
That's why I wanna know everything I can about this place. Even if it means I gotta... [ It's hard to keep looking her in those pure, icy blues of hers, but Ragna manages. Why the hell not? She's already caught him with his pants proverbially down when he flipped over ghosts the way he did.
They're also stalling.] ...play my hand, to do it.But I'm not giving up. [ He already almost did that once. And whatever Weiss does with her spare time isn't his business, but he can place his wager on one thing; she's not happy about this either. How many people that were stolen away from their lives were still coping? These past few days of shock have finally settled for Ragna. If he can figure something out that not just helps himself, but helps people like her, than he'll do it. There doesn't have to be any big reason behind it. It's as simple as that. He breaks this casino's foundations and learns how to jump back home? He takes that chance. He breaks this casino's foundations and learns how to get everyone else back home?
He tells the dealer to hit him and prays he doesn't bust. ]
...
[ And so, against his better judgment and fighting that creeping sensation that lingers on the edges of his thoughts, Ragna breaks his gaze away from Weiss to look back up at the Teasing Trio. Oh! He's looking right at them! ]
Hey. What do you want?
[ And don't bullshit him. He's fighting against every fiber of his being not to just shudder just thinking of being surrounded by haunted paintings.
"What do we want? That's easy. Show us some flirting, give us a treat!"
Flirting, a little treat. A hug and a kiss?
"We'll let you two go after you entertain us a bit." As for what they like? "Anything cute, anything sweet. It gets so boring in here. Imagine watching everyone do nothing but stand before leaving. Don't we deserve some fun?" ]
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[ And a lot of people, she thinks. Sure, this place has practically summoned all kinds of people from all kinds of places— normal humans like her or those who can almost parallel the strength of gods. This place seems a lot more powerful than everybody combined, though, which makes it very troublesome.
This ruckus Ragna's thinking about? It's going to take a lot of time and effort to organise. It can't just be one person causing mayhem and all.
But that's something for later on. Far later, when there's more information to this resort beyond what it's appeared to be. ]
I'm sure some people have more information than I do. But it doesn't look like those people are keen on sharing what they know to everybody.
[ When the population— at least, the ones who recently arrived like her— aren't all interested in leaving anyway, there really is no point to force anything. Everyone's still feeling this place out, making connections, learning what they can about everyone and this casino. Leaving this place remains to be her priority, because she isn't one to run away from her responsibilities, but she is of the same mind. Much as she'd hate to admit it to just about anyone.
If she has to participate in this casino's... eccentricities, if it means learning in the process, and if it means getting out of here in the end? Then sure, she'll play. She hasn't gotten hurt. Yet.
That's enough serious contemplation for now, though. Even if she'd like to continue exchanging opinions about this place, there really is something else they have to deal with. The painting's stated what they want for them to get out of here, and while Weiss did understand. Anything cute, anything sweet, and being stuck in a place like this doesn't really help in setting the mood. ]
So, [ Coping. Coping.
She's got a wry smile on her face when she asks: ] Are you even capable of anything cute?
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[ Whether it was for some convoluted purpose or something surface-level as in not wanting such a good time to end, Ragna's also of the mind to keep this more serious contemplation as an aside for now. Besides, their conversation was beginning to bore their audience, it seems like. One of them even has the audacity to yawn? Tch, like they had anywhere to be. Unlike Ragna and Weiss. Which, practically means that...
Sigh.
Damn it. He still doesn't know what this is supposed to look like before the elevator actually moves. But if anything?
Fine. He'll do this for her. First things first however, ]
What, is Mr. "Crimson Calamity" that mean looking?
[ But they're circling the drain on this one. Even Ragna can figure that one out as he tries to match her wry smile with that of faint amusement. If he's gonna be a guest here for a while, he might as well just roll with the punches (until he can start punching back). He doubts she'll ever let him live that card down either way. ]
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[ Was he expecting her to say otherwise? He's not exactly friendly looking. Weiss does not sound ashamed to be saying that to his face, either.
"Oh, but there's something cute about someone acting so distant and serious, when they're such a huge softie on the inside!"
Somehow, Weiss cannot seem to realise that those words apply to her, too. ]
So. You didn't answer.
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[ He doesn't take offence to it. Back home, he couldn't afford to let people stay close to him for long, after all. He doesn't care about his status or the height of his criminal record. Although "mean" doesn't exactly do one favours in this place. As a member of the trio pipes up once more, he less bristles this time (thanks to Weiss' presence) and more knits his brow in annoyance as his attention is divided once more. Shooting another "knock it off" look up at the paintings: ]
Hey, you want cute? Then zip it.
[ "Oh oh oh! And shy to boot~" Growl. "Okay okay. Shh shh shshshshshh..." whisperwhisperwhisper...
"So. You didn't answer." ]
You want me "changing my tune" or the real answer?
[ Because the former and trying to act all lovey-dovey, flirty or actively trying to play into the hands of the Trio was gonna be fake. Fake and awkward. And the longer he looks down at Weiss, Ragna, he... ]
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How could they? He was the SS-Class Criminal with the highest bounty on record. He was the destroyer. The Grim Reaper. All the stories about him just had to be true. He was a monster wearing human skin. It's like he has a role to play and he knows it beat by beat.
And for the first time since he got here- no. For the first time in what felt like ages even back home, Ragna felt...
Normal. And what came with this normalcy was...a little more honesty. It's not Weiss' fault either, which may be why he doesn't have any bite in his voice when he confesses: ]
I've never...flirted with anyone before. Heck, I've never even kissed someone. [ A huff, less out of annoyance and more a prelude to admittance: ] I doubt I'd even get far enough for that back home.
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Still, if the painting won't shut up and won't let them leave until they do something that appeases them, then Weiss just has to try and make the most out of the situation. For now, she doesn't think about the objective too much, and would just prefer to let things be natural.
Although if he doesn't do anything cute, she might just have to force him on his knees so she can smush his cheeks with her hands and kiss him.
Ragna's response is honest, though. Vulnerable, even. Weiss can't even tease him for something like that. Not to mention, there's a part of her that can relate. Sure, she's flirted with people before, but it never really led to anything concrete. Her first kiss was in this place, and it was given to someone she doesn't even like. Not in a romantic way, anyway... ]
You and me both.
[ That's mostly to the "back home" comment. It'd take some time for Weiss to want to commit to a relationship given everything that's been going on. She doesn't sound all that bitter, though. Her commitment to being a Huntress and protecting her world comes first, after all. But she does smile up at him as a means to say he's not alone in this, and even though she's been here longer, and has therefore, had some experience in being close to people? She knows a bit of what he's feeling. ]
You should probably kiss someone you like, though. Especially if it's your first. So... here. I think this should count.
[ Handholding counts as cute, right? She thinks she heard one of the subjects in the painting say so earlier. She moves to stand on his right side now instead of in front of him, taking a deep breath, then she takes his hand in hers. ]
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And then he woke up here.
Weiss' words cut through to him, and how she can relate to him and what he's going through. It must have been the same way for so many other people here. ]
This place sure knows how to pick 'em, don't they?
[ They can go back to bickering, bantering, taunting and teasing...whatever the beginning of this was. A beginning that Ragna never would have thought of, let alone entertained with the life that he lead— or what little of it he's probably got left. Right now, she smiles up at him and flat-out disarms him in an entirely different way; the Teasing Trio would be treated to a first out of their rougher guest as his cheeks are gently dusted rose. But it's her next words that, unknowingly, challenge his own thoughts. And his inexperience shows once more, his throat clearing as he attempts to...
Protest? Bark? Clear the air? What was he even thinking? Well...if he was, his words are faster than his brain is as she moves to stand on his right side while he pipes up: ]
Hey, I didn't say I didn't like you I just—! [ He catches himself. Shit. His cheeks fluster further. Careful, Ragna. Temper temper. He's about to rant... ] What I meant was— I get what you meant, it's not like that but first anythings in a goddamn place like thi—
[ She takes hold of his right hand. ]
[ And his breath silently catches, the whole length of his arm visibly tensing as he braces himself... But the Azure Grimoire doesn't respond. It doesn't throb with waves of chronic pain. Nor does it latch onto Weiss' soul. It's just. Silent. And what looked like an initial bracing for pain and panic on his expression as he looks down at Weiss at his side...ebbs away as his gaze drifts down at their hands connected. She's holding the Azure Grimoire without consequence. No one has responded to it negatively since he got here. And without that power taking anything away from her, even through his glove, it almost feels like direct contact.
Her hand feels so small...
Ragna doesn't jerk his hand away. Instead, he reciprocates, squeezing it back before his hold settles on something firm yet...surprisingly gentle. ]
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The panic is clear as day when he looks at her and how their she has his hand in hers, and anything she could say about his first kiss is gone for a moment. So, is it his first time holding someone's hand too? Blue eyes flitter over briefly towards the painting. One of the trio's got their chin on their hands, and the other one is biting their nails in anticipation, while the other is doing this.
That's enough looking! Thank you very much.
He might just see her looking a little flustered from that too, but the way the panic disappears from his face and just turns to something more like a calm and curious acceptance mellows her down, too. As does the squeeze of her hand. ]
You'll get used to it. [ Maybe. Weiss sure did after holding her teammates' hands at some point. ] It feels nice, when you're troubled and someone holds your hand.
[ Ragna, please call her senpai. ]
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