[Video]

[21kingpuddings]

[Hello Havenwell! You are, by now, surely no stranger to what a video entry to the network containing one vaguely worried, vaguely upset subject might entail. Here we see Tamaki, seated in the living room at his Havenwell-designated housing, hands occupied by one spoon and one glass containing the tail end of what looks to be a sweet dessert of some kind, and looking just... terribly anxious.]

My roommate, and, uh, my friend, Nagicchi, he hasn't been back in a while. I know he's not the only person who's gone missing lately, and I know he wouldn't just abandon me, so... he might not be coming back, I guess? I don't know if I should still be keeping an eye out for him.

[He frowns, frustrated and feeling a little defeated at the admission. That spoon is moved around to fish out some of the contents of the glass, but he doesn't quite move to take a bite just yet.]

It's really lonely here without him, though. [Okay now he takes that bite, pensively finishing it off before speaking up again.] If anyone else is looking for a roommate right now, I think I could use the company.

Comments

[21kingpuddings]

I've been mad about it. [Considering he disappeared a while back now, and all. What we have here now is a Tamaki who's burned through most of that in private.] I'm still pretty mad but I'm also... just kinda tired, I guess?

[daikonrose]

I... see. [ The sort of empty loneliness that comes after blasting through the fiery parts of your upset isn't unknown to Kyoko, for all that she's usually good at just finding more anger. She sighs. ] At times like that, I miss having a job more than anything else.

[21kingpuddings]

[He lets out a sigh at that, leaning back a little in his seat.]

I get what you mean. We're usually really busy all the time back home doing all kinds of things, it's way quieter around here.

[daikonrose]

Right? Even if you don't need money, it doesn't feel right to just idle the days away. And it's boring! What does everyone here do?

[21kingpuddings]

Yeah, like... some of the stores let me run deliveries for them, but it's not the same as having a fully booked schedule with practices and gigs and stuff...

[But thinking about that is just making him miss everyone back home even more!! It sucks!]

The VR cafe's are cool and all, but they're nothing like going to an arcade, either.

[daikonrose]

[ Kyoko blinks a few times, and her grouchy expression clears over. ]

Practices and gigs... sorry to change the subject a little, but by any chance, were you in show business back home?

[21kingpuddings]

[Oh what has he not brought this up before? He has probably not brought this up before. The shift is fine, though, he's not exactly bothered by the opportunity to take his mind off feeling so frustrated.]

Yeah. I'm in an idol group back home.

[daikonrose]

An idol group! [ She claps her hands together. ] You really would be busy, especially this time of year! I keep thinking, it's kinda strange not to hear everyone talking about holiday specials and that kind of thing.

[21kingpuddings]

[Aha! Someone who gets it!!]

Right! They're calling it something different, but it's basically December here, so you'd expect there to be a lot of Christmas programs and stuff like that.

[Alas, it seems that particular holiday is nowhere to be found here.]

They've at least got seasonal drinks, but the whole atmosphere is totally different.

[daikonrose]

[ Big nod. ]

Ranir, right? I wasn't sure, but it kinda seemed that way, with it getting colder and all those special drink stands. I don't know about any of the holidays here, but seasonal products popping up always mean something, right? I wonder if that's all we're gonna see, though.

[21kingpuddings]

Could probably ask one of the robots, I bet they'd know.

[Like... none of the offworlders are going to, at any rate.]

It'd be cool to see more stuff, make it feel a little more like home. [As much as a city of robots is going to feel home-like, anyway.] They'll probably do something for the end of the year, though, right?

[Assuming... they count the end of December as the end of the year.]

[daikonrose]

Like home, huh.... [ There's a twist tightening in her stomach, but she tries not to pay it any mind. ]

Will they? I haven't managed to learn that much about the natives' culture and their holidays.... I guess I shouldn't assume they'd visit the temples on New Year's Day, or things like that. And it's not like we'd be invited if they were having parties.

[21kingpuddings]

[He does catch that little comment, but not so much the less-obvious reactions to it from her end. Hm.]

They've been pretty welcoming about everything else, so they might invite us? [They might not, but, really, it's all speculation at this point, until someone manages to ask about it, or stick around long enough to find out.]

Is there anything you would have been looking forward to doing?

[daikonrose]

Well... working? [ Her grin is only a little wry. ] It is always busy this time of year, whether you're in the service industry or show-biz.... I did end up helping throw a pretty big party last year, but I'm not sure it's the kind of thing we need to repeat.

[ There's a beat, her face softening a touch. ]

But I guess I've always looked forward to seeing pretty decorations everywhere, and the special set-ups in shop windows, ever since I was little.

[21kingpuddings]

Ohh, yeah! Last December the agency threw a party for us, I'd never seen a Christmas party like it before. I wouldn't know how to organize anything like that here, though. I'm not good at baking or cooking, and getting all that food seemed expensive.

[On the other hand...] It might not be too hard to make a few decorations, though. With the right stuff... [Something. for him to think about. we will see. if this pays off.]

What kinda work do you do?

[daikonrose]

Expensive? Is there somewhere around here to get food besides the replicators? [ She's leaning in all intense, this is an important question! ] --Oh, or I guess you're just talking about back home. If anything, making the decorations would be more expensive here, right?

--Oh, I'm a talent, actually, so--this and that, you know? But I'm focusing on acting! And I'm a waitress at my landlord's restaurant too, but it's been getting harder to fit those shifts in.

[21kingpuddings]

[Well, yes, and yes.]

I mean, I did manage to get them to get my replicator to make this. [And here he holds up that glass of mystery dessert tantalizingly, grinning a bit like this is some kind of impressive feat.] I had to pay for them to do it, though, and a whole party's worth of different foods would probably cost a lot.

Something simple like stuff to hang up wouldn't be too bad if you have colored paper, or... maybe fabric? [He's honestly not sure what would be easier to acquire here, but it's probably good to get some out-loud brainstorming in either way.] Wouldn't be the same as a big tree or glass ornaments, but it'd be something.

[But! An actor! She really would know about how busy the holidays can be!! His eyes light up a bit at this information.] Yeah? Do you do a lot of television, or stage stuff?

[daikonrose]

[ Pudding is impressive though. Kyoko might not ordinarily have any special love for it, but if that's the real thing, it's certainly tempting! But it is beyond her reach. She shakes her head. ]

It might take a little longer than it would at home, but it's definitely possible to cook and bake everything for a basic, homespun-style Christmas party from the replicators. I'm sure of it! ... Well, but I don't think I could feel good about feeding guests food made from those ingredients. [ She's gotten so used to eating alone, she almost forgot. ] But I guess you're right--I haven't looked for paper crafting supplies yet, but fabric is definitely around. And wire! There are plenty of things you could do with that.

[ Acting though!! Kyoko grins a little bashfully. ]

All television! I mean, I guess I've also been on stage for variety show work, but that's kinda different.

[21kingpuddings]

[Real pudding! Surely a good selling point for his roommate quest - unlimited dessert access.]

I bet someone could. [Not him, though, his kitchen skills are... not very vast.] I don't know how to make very much. [And a whole dinner worth of puddings might be a little much, even for him.] I'd probably be able to make decorations better than food.

[But!! Acting!!!]

One of the other members of the group gets a ton of offers for dramas and stuff, it always looks like really intense work, totally different from showing up on variety shows.

[daikonrose]

... So, you don't know how to make very much, but you asked for pudding? Do you ask for most of your meals, then? Now that I think about it, I did hear we could buy better food a while back, I just kinda forgot, since I never do it myself.

[ But acting. She's not about to brush off idol work just to puff up her own abilities, though. ]

Ohh, really? Being able to sing and dance and act is almost too much power! Is he also a model? [ She gives a small giggle. ] But variety shows are their own kind of work! I was a regular on one for a long time before my acting got me a spot as a guest, so I can say it's interesting on both sides!

[21kingpuddings]

I know how to make like... rice, and stuff. [It's not like he's gonna starve or anything.] Pudding's my favorite, though, and I don't really know how to make it. [So it made perfect sense to get this upgrade!

But acting]

Hah! I mean, he is pretty good looking. [Hang on, he can even show you! He just has to set aside his dessert and dig his phone(!!) out of his pocket. Give him a second to swipe through some of these photos, here...] Nagicchi's the one who gets modeling offers the most, though. [So much! For that joke! Multi-talented idol group... they truly are Too Powerful.] Ah, here. [He selects and zooms in on a photo, making the man in green the focus of the screen. It's held out toward the communicator's camera feed, which takes a second to refocus itself, but sure enough! One photo for you to take a peek at, Kyoko!] That's Yama-san, he's super talented. He always puts a lot of work into his roles, so sometimes he'll come home with a bunch of weird books. [I'm. Sure he'd appreciate hearing you say that, Tamaki.]

Keeping at that kind of thing for a long time's gotta be a lot of work, too.

[daikonrose]

Rice and... stuff? [ Somehow this is not 100% reassuring.

But whoa wait he just pulled out an actual, normal phone? A phone with pictures on it. This man just has it all, doesn't he? Kyoko dutifully squints at the screen; she's not really picking up on ~actor vibes~ because that just isn't a thing, but it's hard not to get swept up in Tamaki's enthusiasm. And she's curious. ]

Ohh, research for his roles, huh? He takes it seriously! Especially if he's getting big roles, it must be kinda hard on the group?

[21kingpuddings]

[He's still alive, clearly it's working out well enough?]

Mmm, sometimes it's tough. [At least, from his perspective, anyway. His phone is pulled back, and he idly scrolls through a few more photos.] Our managers are really good at making our schedules work out. [It is... probably way more stressful for the agency's workers than they're willing to admit.] Sometimes we'll get to do work in smaller groups if some of us have other things to do.

[daikonrose]

Super managers, huh? I know one of those. How big is your group, anyway?

[ That picture had four guys and none of them were even Tamaki, but then, it was possible they weren't all group members? But talking about having smaller groups do things separately kinda gave the sense that it was a lot. You never knew with idol groups! ]

[21kingpuddings]

There's seven of us. [Not as wild as some groups, probably, but still easy enough to break a number like that into some smaller chunks.] IDOLiSH7.

Sou-chan and I debuted first as MEZZO", though. [A little more scrolling aaaand...! Here! One Sou-chan for your viewing pleasure.] The two of us still do a lot of work with just each other.