( OPEN ) compared to what

[hedone]

WHO: solo & you
WHERE: bajikan: luxuria, gula, avaritia
WHEN: between march 9th and whenever the fleet leaves
WHAT: solo arrives on the eluvio, but soon makes his way down to the planet to explore.
WARNINGS: sex, drugs (in the form of alcohol) and rock'n'roll bespoke suits.


❝ luxuria ❞

[ the first thing solo notices when he enters this district is that the air is cloying and sweet, like the heavy perfume only some women can truly wear without it becoming overpowering. it's an interesting impression, especially combined with the sort of stores lining the streets, the things that they have on offer. some are rather more adventurous than anything solo has ever seen. some of it is intriguing, some of it strikes him as rather declasse, but all of it invites further investigation.

so he continues wandering the streets until he finds a five star restaurant overlooking the ocean, a beautifully designed place that offers food that has solo making appreciative noises all through the meal—though near the end of it, he finds that his hunger is nowhere near sated, that what started as a low sort of interest has changed into full-blown need. his fingers itch to touch someone, to run over sensuous curves or even hard muscle. he wants to taste sweat and skin.

loosening his tie and unbuttoning the first button of his suit doesn't quite help, but solo will admit this much: it's a welcome change from confusion and an even more welcome change from what he'd felt before finding himself on board of the eluvio. he hasn't quite written off the possibility yet that he did actually die in that electric chair and only hallucinated illya rescuing him, but if the afterlife feels like this?

solo has no complaints—but he does have a metaphorical itch to scratch, and when he spots another person on their own in the restaurant, he crosses the distance and slides into the chair opposite them, legs spread just a little wider than normal to make room for the result of his growing hunger between them. ] Hello. [ he smiles, a slow and intimate affair. ] What do you say we split dessert?

❝ gula ❞

[ the first bar that solo had wandered into had turned out to be less of a bar and more of a club in which they'd played loud music that solo will one day learn is called "techno". he had been quite curious to see individuals with their shirts off and luminous paint on their bodies, but the music hadn't been to his liking and the drinks menu had left quite a lot to be desired, so he'd grown more discerning in his approach.

what he settles on in the end is a bar that is all but hidden away behind a narrow door in a brick wall with little indication of the dimly lit speakeasy that lies beyond it. the waiters all wear waistcoats, a singer croons in the background, accompanied only by a piano and a bass, and the list of whiskeys is truly extensive.

solo settles in for the night, and it isn't until his third whiskey that he decides he could stand for a little company in his drinking. so once he finishes it, he abandons his table to slide into an empty spot at the bar, turning a charming smile to the person next to him. ] Is there anything you'd recommend here?

❝ avaritia ❞

[ solo cannot understate his delight when he'd found that consuming a flower would give him a decent disposable income. of course, he would be happy to supplement it by stealing some of the jewellery on display or by trying his luck in one of the many casinos, but he hasn't had the time to get a feel for this place yet beyond that instinctive first impression, and so he decides to play it safe for now. after all, he is somewhere entirely unknown, with no allies—and no leash. it's freeing and it's only a little worrisome to think that he has been transported to a time and place where not only is transporting people from other times and places a possibility, but where space travel exists and whole planets, it seems, have been turned into tourist attractions.

not that he is complaining, mind.

he has, in fact, found a delightful store that makes bespoke suits for a really very decent price, and seeing how he'd only arrived with one suit and one missing its jacket at that, he is more than happy to leave his money in said store. (he refuses to think of how he lost his jacket or of what transpired just before he'd arrived here. it's of no consequence now, is it?)

there is only one issue: for the third suit he's ordered, he can't settle on a print. and so he sticks his head out of the store and calls to a passerby: ] Excuse me. Would you mind terribly giving me a bit of advice?

Comments

avaritia

[genice]

( victor, surprisingly, has stayed away from flower consumables that produce financial results, though he's aware of the gimmick by now. he's also aware of the call out that had gone for who controlled this world; between the urge to disassociate with anything of organised crime, and his own lack of actual regard for what the Eluvio considers general group safety, paired with the forced nature of emotion in these districts?

he doesn't wish to invite more trouble than he can handle. he's come to terms with the reality of his limitations even as he moves past those he can push outward. taking on cartel planets is a wee bit outside of his general capacity.

victor tips his head to the side when he hears someone speaking, a pause in his step indicating he's heard. he's not certain he's being addressed, but a flash of a smile (a little confused, yes, but that's to be expected) he gives a quick glance around the area. no one else has so much as paused; either he's the sucker listening, or he's the intended audience.

squaring off with solo in an affable way, victor, dressed in his own more casual clothing, gives the unrecognised man a wave of his hand. )

Only if it won't cost me.

( he says with a grin and a wink; he's serious, but he's playful in tone. )

[hedone]

[ it's an affable reaction, certainly, but the message underneath it still comes across loud and clear and solo lifts his hands in a show of innocence, expression turning into a winning smile as he steps entirely out of the shop for a moment. ]

The only thing it'll cost is some of your time.

[ from inside, the tailor hands solo the two print samples. ] I'm buying some new suits. [ it's long overdue, if you ask solo; he's been walking around almost an entire day without a jacket. ] And I can't seem to settle on a print. One of these two, but which one?

[ a pause, entirely for effect. ] Your advice would be much appreciated.

[genice]

Lucky. Advice comes free of charge!

( he appreciates the simplicity of the clarity this unknown person provides; Victor considers, ultimately stepping in his direction. the winning smile does little more than prompt the same sort of expression, simmering down into pleasantly considerate. )

These two? Let's see.

( he gestures for solo to hold them up to himself, giving both a critical eye and solo a speculative once over. victor had long since left his own costume design up to his designer, trusting in their artistic eye; but when it came to his own wardrobe, he was his own strictest informant. solo taps into that, unwittingly or otherwise; victor steps forward with a considering noise in the back of his throat, holding his hand out for the fabric samples. )

About the same weight and wave? I want to say this one suits your colours better, but that depends on how you're planning on layering. Bright colours and you'll want this instead. More classic or subdued, definitely this one.

[hedone]

How fortunate for me. [ solo's reply is immediate and smooth and he steps back from the door to let victor decide if he'd prefer to remain outside or enter the shop to give his advice inside. solo doesn't mind the fresh air and the sunshine on his features, tipping his face just so toward the sun, though he keeps his eyes on victor.

it seems fortunate indeed that he asked someone who actually has an opinion on the matter. ] You seem to know what you're talking about.

[ solo rubs one of the fabrics between two fingers, considering for a moment. ] I do like the classics.