#thread: elysium

[wonderingprince]

Telemakhos never had a brother, he cannot relate to the warm, fond smile that he sees across from him. he looks happy, talking of his family. It reminds Telemakhos of Peisistratus, at home with his family on the beaches of Pylos, carefree and confident.

That's a good memory. It's at least better than remembering his own lonely childhood.

As a youth he'd wondered often what it would be like to grow up with siblings, but that daydream had been so dependent on the dream of his father returning that he'd never been able to give it any serious thought. But the way this young man speaks makes that old dream surface, and he considers, not for the first time, a world where his father didn't go to war, or returned sooner, and there's a new baby, a baby his father could see grow up. Telemakhos' smile turns bittersweet, but he has, at least, as a balm, the very real memory of placing his child in his father's arms.

The mountainside this young man points out is hardly the uneven, rocky land that Telemakhos loves so dearly, but even so, just the suggestion of being on more familiar territory is enough to put him more at ease. All that's missing, perhaps, is the distant crashing of waves and the salty sea breeze.

Maybe he could wish it into being. But he does not miss it so badly yet, and he doesn't want to take away from the beautiful meadow scene that this man clearly fits into so comfortably. He'd prefer to see how this plays out.

"This is a taste of whichever land you call home?" he asks, waving a hand around them idly. It is beautiful, but that's only to be expected, here.

"I explored many places in my youth, but nothing ever compares to that one place you call home. I suppose even Elysium must understand that. That even here we can get homesick."

"Sometimes we all need that," Paris agrees with a nod. "Whether or not we enjoy spending a lot of time among people, family or not."

More so for those who don't enjoy it, Paris has noticed. Not a problem he has ever had, really; a crowd was like a drink of water when one was thirsty. But he'd always enjoyed the hours, days, weeks, he'd spent among the cattle on the mountain, too. Had been able to realize how much more he enjoyed it after there was some choice in it, finding out how much more a royal herder might have access to than one who was a slave.

Sometimes, though, no matter how much he loved his family, loved spending time in the middle of them or a crowd of others, he simply had to go elsewhere.

Not that doing so here in Elysium was for quite the same reasons as it had been while he was alive, but - small differences.

"My older brother."

The smile is unconscious and warm, fondness and, perhaps, a little bit of relief that Hektor hadn't just wanted him back with both him and the rest of their family to just have him there, a complete set, to hunt him down the once. It's happened a couple more times, since then.

"One of my little sisters, too, as well another brother that I have, and my mother. More than enough."

Especially when he hadn't been sure even those he'd been closest with might want to see him again here. Which wasn't something he was going to lay out plain to Polyxena as long as he could help it, or she might be very wroth with him.

"What I really like," Paris adds softly with a glance around the clearing," is that even the landscape itself reveal some spot that might look like something you left behind and were missing."

Elysium has no mountains, as such. Yet this clearing, with a little cliffy edge off to one side and the way the meadow is on an incline and the flowers all ones he would only expected to see on a mountain, could indeed be mistaken for a mountain meadow.

[revacholianpizzaagenda]

It is not wrong to say that Disco Elysium makes fun of all political stances but it is an incomplete statement. It makes fun of all political stances from a Marxist perspective.

You can be mocked as a fascist from a Marxist perspective. You can be mocked as a capitalist from a Marxist perspective. You can be mocked as a centrist from a Marxist perspective. And you can be mocked as a communist from a Marxist perspective. One of these things is not like the others!

(all while exploring dialectical materialism: the worldbuilding: the game)

[silvanillabean]

how exactly is disco elysium communist?

[mythrilthread]

It’s been a while, and this project fought me every step of the way, but I managed to finish this book. This is a Frankenstein’s monster of two fan translations of Sacred and Terrible Air slapped together and haphazardly edited some more to my personal satisfaction. As far as I could tell while I was typesetting it was even more bleak than already bleak world of Disco Elysium, and deeply nihilistic to boot.

So I wanted to make it look as disturbing as I could manage (and still want to hold it long enough to read).

🫁 Endpapers are hand-inked neurographics;

🫁 I painted and splattered the edges to look as moldy as possible;

🫁 The spine is linen, and titled by hand;

🫁 The design on the cover is a concept art for the game (I know the book is not set in Revachol, but I wanted a very specific brand of Eastern-European angst, and that church fit the bill).

[saragrosie]

Are you normal or did Disco Elysium make you like the color orange

[bleedinghubris]

looking for disco elysium threads

okay actually... don't mind the muses on my carrd for the moment. i started playing disco elysium and i am suddenly desperate for a harry dubois & kim kitsuragi thread (or multiple!) PREFERABLY fem versions of them (i will write for either of them), during or post martinaise! pleaseeee dm or respond to this post if you'd be interested !! i looove character study, angst, n smut <3 will write it all !!

[bowyooo]

still to the @spilledkaleidoscope disco sapphics au

Kim wanted to hear sounds of people (part two)

Part one -- link

[icarus-suraki]

People on the DE subreddit doing their best Leftist one-upmanship and infighting and then swiftly approaching literal criminality??? To the point that the mods????? Have to lock the thread????? And I'm over here on Tumblr like

Does...does anyone wanna talk about the conceptual parallels between the game and the Buddhist concept of the bardo? Or the thematic parallels with Dante's Inferno and Purgatorio?

...pwease? 👉👈🥺

[the1sammie]

can I ask any of you in the fandom to explain to me in the tags/replies/comments of this post the meaning behind glowing lungs in DE? like, where we first hear about them, what character/s it's applied to, the meanings attached to it. plz mansplain to your heart's desire or just keep it simple, its whatever you want, because I think it's something I kinda keep missing in my playthroughs and I've seen it drawn/referenced a lot but still don't fully get what it symbolizes and why I see glowing lungs drawn on both Dolores/Dora and Kim

[uncanines]

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃      ˃˃           𝚃𝚁𝙰𝙽𝚂𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 _ 𝙺𝙰𝙶𝙰𝙼𝙸 & 𝙴𝙻𝚈𝚂𝙸𝚄𝙼           ˂˂          the   colosseum   was a vast playground where the deadly sins could test out their powers, lit   by   harsh   artificial   light,   but   for   a   moment,   akeno   could   almost   imagine   the   glow   of   a   setting   sun⸻ catching   on   the   fringes   of   elysium's   wings   as   he   effortlessly moved   through   the   air.   and the   sound   of   each   beat   barely   a whisper   as   he   soared high above,   cutting   through   the   space   with   the   kind   of   grace   that   belonged   to   something   far   older   than   pandora's   science. and akeno   just stood   there,   silent,   in awe, eyes   following   the   path   elysium   traced   in   the   air.   his   mind   wandered   back   to   the folklores and mythology his mother taught him, to   the   tengu,   guardians   of   sacred   mountains,   with   wings   that   carried   them   between   realms,   between   heaven   and   earth.   divine,   yet   always   bound   to   the   mortal   world. how beautiful it was for such divinity to be replicated now. " you   remind   me   of   them, " akeno   finally   murmured,   his   voice   quiet,   but   carried   enough   to   reach   elysium   as   he   landed back on the ground. " the   tengu.   winged yokai. they   were   said   to   watch   over   us,   both   teachers   and   protectors. though some can be bad and troublesome. " his   gaze   lingered   on   the   wings,   folding   back   against   elysium's   back,   as   if   the   sacred   had   taken   form   before   him. " perhaps, " he   added,   a   trace   of   something   reverent   beneath   the   calm of his voice, " even   the   gods   would   be   in   awe   of   what   pandora   has   created. " then, akeno took a step closer, head canted just a little, as if it was only curiosity that pulled him toward the other agent. " i don't think i've ever asked but . . . how does it feel to fly ? to be so high up you could touch the heavens ? " @psivn

[chthonicgodling]

I did say that ALMOST no one else in the palace knew about the TaKi baby— [baby?! oh yes click here]

*mindreaders excluded,

whoops!

Another Elysium Canon Convo! very cool and chill interaction, nothing weird happening across the mental plane as everyone hangs out in the kitchen, everything’s super normal what do you mean. nbd. what. shh.

{actually as of today the grand total of People In The Palace Who Know besides the Parents is three - Bel, Ty who’s of course Bel’s twin sharing a mind with him who knows everything Bel knows; and Hecate who got pulled into the bedroom to relieve Loki’s morning sickness (to his utter stubborn chagrin and irritation lmao). teehee shhhhh! }

Maci & EeL & Chal & Fjöer & N are all mine, potential chinchilla Bel belongs to hiatused @fenixethekid !

[july-19th-club]

im stuck already omg ive explored every available part of town that's not blocked off by weird streets or dead ends or busted bridges or just trucks everywhere . and i can't get a room for the night bc i owe the hotel a hundred and thirty bucks and i only have four dollars (all of which i found on the street) and nobody will help me get the body off the tree and my tasks are piling up and my only explorable avenue right now is to fistfight a giant who will kill me. and kim doesnt help he just stands there with his hip popped like the competent judger he is

[shakertwelve]

need more vicky images (vic pics) where she’s not shiny and powerful and cool looking at all need more antareses that are all busted up and bedraggled with a thousand yard stare it’s how she looks 99% of the time

[cicerosfavouritelistener]

I really like books in person, but I adore the power that comes with digital books or fanfics.

[c-infinity-83]

ALSO!! top 5 favorite/funniest/coolest channel names in your discord server (if you are comfortable with sharing <3)

ok we have 2 servers we r active in so here's some names from the first one, in no order:

Cock

Squictures

Microbe

Kill-Squad

and this one isn't a CHANNEL but a thread but shoutout to SPLISCO Bwee ASYL5TOP WHITE BOY STOPNya :3 HEY IT'S FRED. Whenever something funny gets said in it I just add to the name GJFJSJFJXJDDJ

second server doesn't have much but:

pokcet-monster

testfuckfuck

honorary mention to Intros-if-so-desired which has like 5 messages in it one of them being this

Billy u will always be famous

[nightmaretist]

TIMING: In the orbees era, around mid-June PARTIES: Dīs @disinfernus and Inge @nightmaretist LOCATION: Elysium Hotel SUMMARY: Inge shows up at Dīs' hotel at their invitation. They really hit it off. CONTENT WARNINGS: WRspice (last reply, suggestive). ACCOMPANIED SONG: Hotel Room Service - Pitbull

“I do have a very nice home here in town, but maybe I could check in for a night just to enjoy a whirlpool.”

Dīs had no qualms with what people did with their money or for how long they needed, or wanted, to stay. It made no difference to them, as long as they paid the bill or gave them something worthwhile, whether it was a trinket or their body, it mattered not. As long as it piqued their interest, they’d take it. Those with the intent to stay for shorter visits, however, were a little harder to crack than their more long-term counterparts — it was easier to misplace things the lengthier the stay, thus easy to pluck.

There was a slight ping, like a small flicker from a lightbulb, when the online user mentioned their own penchant for revenge. It could be nothing, sure — people liked to say all sorts of things, most with no meaning or weight. Still. Maybe it could be worth something. Usually not, but they had the time to mess about.

Check-in was between three and four in the evening, so Dīs made sure to hang around the lobby to get a first look. This could very well be the world’s most boring individual with nothing to offer, but they weren’t going to miss out on the opportunity — even risking their most prized title of ‘elusive and enigmatic’. Names were exchanged and not much else, but it was enough to pique Dīs’ attention when they’d heard the familiar moniker alight in their circular lobby walls.

“Did I hear that right?” They spoke from behind one of the lobby desks; they’d appointed themself by one of the concierges, looking every bit the supervisor that they were. “Ingeborg, was it?” A million watt smile welcomed the red-haired woman. “Hi, my name is Dīs, I believe we spoke online?”

—

Immortality could become boring, though not for Ingeborg. She acted on whim, followed spontaneous instinct and didn’t occupy herself much with things like consequence and ramifications. She was a creature without ties, anchoring herself in certain places for a while and leaving when she was done or chased out. And thus, following up on a whimsical conversation online and actually booking the hotel room was a no-brainer.

Besides, it might be that there were some nice meals in the rooms around her own. If the owner of the establishment turned out to be a sour person, maybe she’d haunt their customers a little, see if it would influence their reviews. Otherwise, she’d just leisure in a bathtub and grow pruny. Order room service. Finish her book. 

As she was checking in – a mundane and very mortal affair – things turned interesting as a tall, handsome employee addressed her. Inge’s eyes passed over him and soon enough moved herself and her small suitcase into their direction. “I believe we did, too.” 

Her hand extended to be shaken. “Good to meet you, Dīs. Much better in real life than online, hm?” Her eyes cast around the building before landing back on theirs. She had to crane her neck slightly, though she didn’t mind entirely. “A fine establishment you have here. No more orbs bothering you?”

—

Dīs’ smile softened when their hands met, with handshake firm, but not overly confident. Too much tooth could be, well — too much, especially for a first impression. The faint breath of an appreciative laugh escaped them. “You’re too kind. It’s a pleasure to meet you, as well. And no. Thankfully not,” they returned with an air of relief. There was no stopping hotel guests from bringing in the dreaded colored spheres, but they made sure to relay the message to keep an eye out for any suspected activity. Just in case. 

“They were a lot harder to remove than we originally thought, but we shouldn’t have any more issues in the future.” The next person to do it would become a permanent addition to Dīs’ collection. A physical key with a black leather tag with the room number, in gold coloring, was handed over to Ingeborg by the concierge — key fobs were detestful to program, plus they really just liked the weight of an actual, brass key.

“If you’re ready, I can walk you to your room?” Not that they needed to, they had people for that (they could feel the concierge’s gaze on the side of their face), but what harm could it be? It was an opportunity to learn something and if not, then where was the waste? Ingeborg was a beautiful woman, anyway; it wouldn’t be all for naught.

—

Their handshake was firm, their height impressive and when they spoke it was in a manner all too pleasing. Inge hummed, as if relieved as well — she supposed she was, as it was enjoyable to see the other relieved. “Well, that is good to hear. It sounded like quite the pesky problem. Pesty, almost …” She thought for a moment, the idea of those childish orbs being like actual pests. Scuttling around. A good image, maybe she’d use it one day.

She took the key, appreciating the feeling of the leather in her hands. “Thank you,” she said to the concierge before turning to Dīs. The offer to personally escort her to her room could be considered a little strange, but Inge thought no such thing. There was something appealing about the other, and besides, she wasn’t here to simply sit in one of these rooms by herself. Something had to make it more interesting. “I’d like that.” 

With the owner by her side, she navigated towards her room, tilting her head sideways and up to ask him a most pressing question: “Have you caught the perpetrator?” Cameras made it hard these days to do anything incognito, Inge knew this from personal experience. Of course, she had the ability to become close to invisible when there were shadows — humans did not. “And if so, have you thought of how you’ll make them pay?” She was half-serious, mostly wanting to know how vengeful a spirit the other was. 

—

“If they had lingered any longer they most certainly would be pesty. I didn’t think I needed to add Orbeez to our ‘do not to bring’ list and yet, here we are.” Between weapons of any kind and outside liquids, Orbeez were going to look a little out of place. They were beautiful little transparent colored spheres and their texture was actually quite pleasing — calming, almost. But they were dangerous, so Dīs couldn’t take another chance.

That ‘thank you’ thrummed within their bones, but it wasn’t meant for them. No, their staff consisted entirely of humans, so the ever tantalizing appreciation went completely over the concierge’s head. Ah well. Dīs surmised they might feel a little guilty anyway at having entrapped someone as interesting as Ingeborg. They wanted to see what else lingered in her mind. 

Dīs lifted a brow in response to the sound of her voice as she asked her question, not unlike a dog would at a sudden and inquisitive noise. They offered her a rather cheeky smile as they walked the hallway towards her assigned room. “He was given up by his employer.” It was a pretty humorous situation, one that came from complete worry on the employer's part, which they could understand, but for him?  “We struck a deal that would keep him out of harm’s way — for now.” It was all said in jest with humor evident, but they spoke the truth. 

Dīs didn’t take kindly to their belongings being messed with, even if it was something as stupid as a pool and jacuzzi. It was still theirs. “I do have something in mind, but.. We shall see.”

—

“Humanity will always surprise you with the kinds of rules that are necessary,” Inge said, avoiding saying humans as if she didn’t count herself among them. She didn’t, but that didn’t mean she didn’t dabble with those on the mortal and natural ends of life, and as of right now Dīs had not yet proven to be anything but. “For your comfort and continued success, I hope this isn’t one anyone will be insistent on breaking.” 

They were all sharp features — from the chiseled shape of their jaw, the pointiness of ears and nose, the cut of their beard. Inge took it in with appreciation before leveling her gaze forward again, taking in the hotel and home for the night. She wouldn’t spend a second sleeping here, so it was crucial to know what else there was to entertain her besides this mysterious owner. Lest she get bored and add to the rumors of this place being haunted by scaring half of the patrons for snacks, after all.

“His employer? You’ll have to expand …” One of her eyebrows raised, head cocking back into their direction as she twirled the key in her hand. Inge let her lips spread in a small smile, head turning back now as a sound of amusement escaped her. “For now, hmmm. What is it you had in mind? Or is whatever deal you made satisfactory enough?”

Inge checked her room number and pressed the elevator button for up, readjusting the strap of her overnight bag as she halted. “Also, please satiate my curiosity — I’ve heard whispers this place is haunted. Is it true?” She did hope it was and she didn’t much bother to hide her eagerness.

—

“Rules for toddlers,” they returned simply. To them, at least, that statement wasn’t completely untrue. Humans were about that age to them — actually, even younger. Babies, even, but babies behaved better than the majority of humankind did. To her, as far as they knew, it would only be a sarcastic quip. “I hope not, either. That’s very kind of you.”

Dīs did not miss the linger of gaze as they turned their attention from her back to the hallway ahead. They were used to others staring. Their entire outward appearance, from their getup to their long hair, seemed to elicit curiosities. It was a lot to take in. “She saw my post regarding the whole … issue and messaged me privately about considering other punishments instead of legal action.” They lifted a shoulder. “Just a little fright, that’s all. I’m still working out the details.” Whatever it was, it would be nightmare inducing. The kid should get the point.

They lifted a brow and smiled before stepping into the elevator once its doors slid open. Their hand immediately went to stop the doors from closing, as if Ingeborg didn’t have enough time to get onto the platform. Her enthusiasm was endearing. “I’d like to think so, yes.” The elevator started its ascent with a ding. “We do have our fair share of skeptics that stay with us, hoping to debunk our claims. While they are wasting their time, I get their money regardless.”

— 

She let out a sound of amusement at that statement, almost a laugh. Inge wasn’t above a bit of childish behavior herself and the idea of bringing orbeez to a hotel was funny to her still — but the other’s assessment was tickling, too. “Maybe you should make a little time-zone spot for your naughty guests too, then.”

A little fright. It seemed the other was a person after her own heart, and she nodded appreciatively. “A tattletale boss, now that’s a horrid thing to have. Glad you got your answer, though and … well, if you’d like to brainstorm fitting repercussions, I’ve got plenty of time now that I’m on a little holiday.” About half an hour from her own place, if she were to go by car. She slipped into the elevator after them, watching the doors close before turning to her own reflection for a moment.

“Hm, I mean … capitalizing on such rumors seems like a fair enough thing to do. I hope the ghosts don’t mind being exploited,” she said. Inge hoped to see some ghosts tonight, but wasn’t readily giving up the information that she was able to see those dead things caught between planes. “Above all, I hope the skeptics get proven wrong. Closed mindedness is such a dull trait, don’t you think?” The elevator doors slid open and she exited, looking at Dīs over her shoulder. They really were striking. “How busy are you today?”

—

“Ah, that’s not a bad idea. I believe malls have those in their loss prevention offices. I think I have a few places I could put one of those.. A sort of jail, if you will. Maybe a time-out will do them all some good.” They certainly liked the way she thought; not many fell into step so easily or even lead the charge so quickly. It was refreshing.

“Giving them up with the hope that the punishment would be less severe… A useful tactic, in the right circumstance. It’s not the first time I’ve seen it, though I doubt it will be the last. Hm.. I may take you up on that offer.” Their own desire for revenge, as it were, could easily be waved off as a stereotypical reaction from someone who owned and ran a casino/hotel combination. There was a lot to lose when it came to gambling, a lot of money, a lot of power, so it made sense for the intimidating owner to be a little prickly. “I have a feeling you may have some good suggestions.”

Dīs offered her a shrug. “I find it to be a… Fair trade. They scare some guests away, but bring in others.” Those novice ghost hunters tended to neglect the casino’s services, losing them money the other patrons would have given, had they not been scared away. But they had figured out a way to supplement and that meant higher rates, taxes, etc. Anything that they could get away with, they utilized. It was all just a fun game when it came down to it. They smiled at her. Admiration was avoidable. “I do, yes. It can be quite the killer.”

They carried themself out of the elevator behind Ingeborg with a glance down each side of the hallway. It was dark there, comfortable. Maintenance had a tendency to ‘forget’ about replacing the lightbulbs. A common negative among reviewers, but it made for perfect cover. Her question felt like a lead, a tether thrown out and wiggled for them to grab onto. Was there a hook at the other end? “Not terribly,” Dīs returned with a hum. “There is a meeting I’ve scheduled, but truthfully, it can be an email if I wanted. Why do you ask?”

—

Time-outs weren’t always as effective as one might like, this Inge knew from having seen a child grow from toddlerhood into young adulthood. But it was always an option to try. “You could call it a place of reflection, make it seem like something more zen than it actual is. People don’t like punishment, but they love the idea of self care.”

She hummed in thought, thinking that in some situations a tactic as such might work. She would never utilize it, though: Inge lied and ran, in the face of accusation, didn’t give herself or others up so easily. “Ah, well, did it work out for them? Or are you planning your revenge?” Her lips spread a little, a shoulder lifting as if she was dismissing their comment, an aw shucks of sorts. “I’m a creative, you know. Not just in my work, but in all areas of life. I can think of some interesting way to resolve this.”

Scared customers, now that was intriguing to her. It would be bad for the other’s business, should she start bothering some people with nightmares, but it wasn’t as if Inge felt an obligation to the other just yet. “I think a hotel with rumored ghosts is the best kind of hotel. Why people would opt to stay in a place that isn’t rumored to be haunted …” She shook her head, tsk-ing in disapproval. “I’ll let you know if I come across any ghosts tonight.” Maybe she could be considered one, with the way she had died four decades ago. But the other needn’t know that.

The darkness was welcoming, a comforting cloak for a creature made for shadows. That this was something she had in common with the owner was something she didn’t know just yet. Inge let go of subtlety as they asked that question, lifting a shoulder once more. “I could use some company, and you seem to be the most interesting around thus far. I’d like to get to know you more.” She pulled her suitcase to her, letting it stand next to her legs as she paused in front of the door corresponding with her key. “We could brainstorm ideas of payback?”

—

Dīs couldn’t help the sound of immediate approval at her expanded suggestion. Oh, that was clever. “Your ideas continue to surprise me,” they returned with a smile too giddy for their liking. “I will have to give that a try for next time. I know it will work on some of the more VIP members and perhaps those that function with minimal brain cells. I’ll let you know how successful it is.”

Her question elicited a brief and slight tilt of their head, as if the angle difference would help with thinking. She seemed wholly the type invested in acts of revenge and although they didn’t really know every minute inflection or ulterior word of humans in general they had a feeling that this wasn’t just a facade or play. It seemed genuine. It made them want to divulge in her, to confide.

“I’m still deciding. They did do a good job at removing all of the little orbs, after all,” Dīs gave a shrug; maybe they should just leave the kid with the discouraging look and manual labor and not take it a step further. But humans were self-centered, disgusting little creatures and the act of defacing their property still irritated them even after the fact. Even after it had been rectified. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

“If you can help me think of something… good, I may be inclined to change my mind.” Their mind wasn’t yet made up, not completely, but they knew that showing grace and mercy could be valuable. Still, they didn’t like it when their things were touched. Dīs had to offer her a chuckle at the ghost comment. “For rest, I would assume,” they returned a bit humorously. “They all want to live their boring, uneventful lives, unfortunately.” For being so short, they really did prefer the mundane. It was a little sad — but they supposed they couldn’t scoff at it too much, lest they be too big of a hypocrite to handle. “I look forward to hearing about your findings, if they do happen.”

Company. And then the suggestion of payback. While that meeting definitely could be as simple as an email sent out to any of the department heads, they really shouldn’t be spending all that much time in a guest’s room. But they didn’t follow those silly little human rules and truthfully, how were they supposed to turn her invitation down? That would be rude. They would take it as a little rude, so they gave her a little nod in reply after a beat of thought. Despite their amicable and pleasant smile, their fingers did twiddle with excess energy behind his back.

“That does sound far better than my meeting.. Alright. I would be happy to join you. And for the help.”

—

Inge was glad to get their approval, no matter how much she’d prefer to insist she didn’t need other people’s approval. There was something magnetic about the hotel owner, wasn’t there? “I would argue that VIP members function with minimal brain cells,” she suggested, giving a small grin. “There’s plenty where that came from, though.”

That was one thing, she figured. If someone had brought those little orbs into her studio, she would have made their nights a living hell. Her sleepers were not often picked out of a personal vendetta, but exceptions could be made if her spaces were defaced and round. It was important, wasn’t it, for all creatures and persons to have a place to call their own, untouched and undirtied by the hands of others? It certainly was to her.

“Well, I’ll try and sway you towards revenge, then. For someone to have messed with your property, well — I don’t think that should be so easily let go. And them cleaning up behind them is just the bare minimum, isn’t it?” Inge didn’t mind instigating some chaos. This wasn’t truly about justice, after all, even if she thought that letting the culprit off so easily was a little boring. It was about her endless boredom that required attention. 

She laughed at their joke, lifting her shoulders. “Sure, I’ll give that to you. Maybe I’m just incapable of understanding such a thing — wanting an uneventful life.” Mortals only had so much time on this plane of existence, so why waste it with nothing but dull things? It was hard for her to remember that she had once been much like them, preferring a slow and steady life and inching away from any hint at there being something more out there besides God. The idea of ghosts had terrified a younger, more alive Inge, but that was so long ago now that it might as well be fiction.

She opened the door before waiting for their answer, perhaps with unearned confidence or just to signal that she would find a way to enjoy herself regardless. But when they said alright, her non-beating heart did metaphorically skip a beat with relief and excitement, eyes flashing over her shoulder as she parked her suitcase. Soon enough Inge was looking into her room, tastefully decorated and – as of yet – lacking in ghosts. It mattered little, as there was something else of interest in the room with her.

And so soon enough there was a toast of glasses, words of mischief exchanged, a song playing in the background. A hand on her tigh, a hand on their chest, a finger underneath a chin. And then, the press of a body into a mattress, clothes discarded on the floor and plans of payback abandoned, for now.