[Oda hasn't been at Quartz all week. It isn't like him at all. His illness started out no more irritating than a cold, but now, it's hard to get out of bed. He doesn't believe he'll die. He'll figure out how to alleviate the symptoms and everything will go back to normal. The last thing he wants to do is worry anyone.
[But he should say somethin. Dolph would worry if he didn't, right? Just in case...]
Sorry I haven't stopped by in a while.
I'm dealing with that illness, but it should clear up soon. I hope my seat hasn't stayed empty.
[But he should say somethin. Dolph would worry if he didn't, right? Just in case...]
Sorry I haven't stopped by in a while.
I'm dealing with that illness, but it should clear up soon. I hope my seat hasn't stayed empty.
hey. just checking in on you.
you doing ok?
you doing ok?
cw for certain links: not-hanaki so blood, body horror, etc.
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nterwebz
- 2025-03-08 04:37 (UTC) - Expand[ At some point during the week, Dolph receives an invitation:
One gets the impression that if you go against his wishes to bring something anyway, it might stress him out...
When the mingle log goes up on the 22nd, please feel free to come tag around! ]
I'll be hosting a dinner party on March 22 and would love to see you there!
Feel free to come to the Horizons farmhouse any time after 5 PM.
Please do not bring anything! No food, no drinks, nothing but your presence. I appreciate the thought, but for me, the joy of this is being able to cook for a group of people, and I would like to handle it myself.
Hope to see you there!
Dr. Maruki
One gets the impression that if you go against his wishes to bring something anyway, it might stress him out...
When the mingle log goes up on the 22nd, please feel free to come tag around! ]
[ He doesn't really say or type anything but he does send a picture that he's taken of some local produce seed packets, held in one of his hands. ]
[ By the time he gets to Dolph's, he's had at least a little while to center himself. It hasn't helped much, he's still furious, frustrated and without a proper outlet. It just made sense to come to Dolph, one of the few people Vash felt comfortable enough to go to when he half feels like he's coming apart at the seams.
The place is still huge, and Vash doesn't know where Dolph is so he stops in the kitchen first, standing in the middle of it like he's half in a daze, fingers flexing. He probably should have texted Dolph first.
He moves to get a glass out of a cabinet, goes through the motions of getting ice, turns to the faucet to get water and the cup slips, clattering to the ground and shattering. Vash stares at it. Watches the ice melt a little on the tile of the floor.
It's sure a sight to see. ]
The place is still huge, and Vash doesn't know where Dolph is so he stops in the kitchen first, standing in the middle of it like he's half in a daze, fingers flexing. He probably should have texted Dolph first.
He moves to get a glass out of a cabinet, goes through the motions of getting ice, turns to the faucet to get water and the cup slips, clattering to the ground and shattering. Vash stares at it. Watches the ice melt a little on the tile of the floor.
It's sure a sight to see. ]
[ it's nice to have his house a touch more lively. even if it comes at a price. dolph makes sure erwin has everything he needs and then tending to the menagerie he brought over. he's not great with horses, but he makes sure they're fine, takes a quick shower because horse smell is not great.
it's after all that when he wanders through the living room and close to his large kitchen that he notices vash. his expression softens before moving closer . . . and then frowns. vash seems listless. upset.
dolph reaches out to squeeze his shoulder from behind, concerned. ]
Hey. Something wrong?
it's after all that when he wanders through the living room and close to his large kitchen that he notices vash. his expression softens before moving closer . . . and then frowns. vash seems listless. upset.
dolph reaches out to squeeze his shoulder from behind, concerned. ]
Hey. Something wrong?
[ Jean, belatedly, is realizing he's never actually had to deal with Levi being gone.
Unavailable, sure, especially back home when he was deployed on missions. But Levi has always been present since he joined the Survey Corps; whether as a figure or his near Captain. Even after everything, in Fort Salta, he hadn't been far, even if he was still recovering.
And now Levi's gone. There's a tea shop that was once his that is currently shuttered. There's a crushing feeling in Jean's chest, achingly familiar. At least, this time, he knows Levi's not dead.
But he's gone.
He eventually makes it to Dolph's cabana, looking a little lost. Has someone told Dolph yet? He came straight here, rather than the bar. If Jean is aching, Dolph - he's going to be crushed. ]
Dolph?
Unavailable, sure, especially back home when he was deployed on missions. But Levi has always been present since he joined the Survey Corps; whether as a figure or his near Captain. Even after everything, in Fort Salta, he hadn't been far, even if he was still recovering.
And now Levi's gone. There's a tea shop that was once his that is currently shuttered. There's a crushing feeling in Jean's chest, achingly familiar. At least, this time, he knows Levi's not dead.
But he's gone.
He eventually makes it to Dolph's cabana, looking a little lost. Has someone told Dolph yet? He came straight here, rather than the bar. If Jean is aching, Dolph - he's going to be crushed. ]
Dolph?
[ it's hard to put into words. levi was the first person who welcomed dolph. it's because of levi that he managed to straighten his spine. navigate the muddy waters. fight for himself. levi was there, every single step of the way, even when dolph fucked it up. and they were finally in such a good place. dolph no longer placed the man on a pedestal. levi leaned on dolph. trusted him. believed in him.
he just never thought levi would go. he always felt what levi had was so close to perfect. so close to happiness. how could that just vanish? be taken away? he was married. but that's the nature of the cage, of having overlords. they giveth and they taketh.
he doesn't know what to make of it. he feels numb. alex came. died. wasn't real. levi would be ashamed to see him flounder. he let the man down and now he's gone. a maelstrom of feelings churn and dolph just wants to cut them off like a limb.
normally, he'd be at the bar. but it feels odd to drink. levi didn't even like alcohol. instead he sort of meanders around the cabana listlessly. erwin would be crushed. eren will be crushed. jean will be crushed. he has to keep it together. he has to.
at jean's voice he startles himself out of his reverie. ]
I'm here. In the living room.
he just never thought levi would go. he always felt what levi had was so close to perfect. so close to happiness. how could that just vanish? be taken away? he was married. but that's the nature of the cage, of having overlords. they giveth and they taketh.
he doesn't know what to make of it. he feels numb. alex came. died. wasn't real. levi would be ashamed to see him flounder. he let the man down and now he's gone. a maelstrom of feelings churn and dolph just wants to cut them off like a limb.
normally, he'd be at the bar. but it feels odd to drink. levi didn't even like alcohol. instead he sort of meanders around the cabana listlessly. erwin would be crushed. eren will be crushed. jean will be crushed. he has to keep it together. he has to.
at jean's voice he startles himself out of his reverie. ]
I'm here. In the living room.
Laserhawk, are you available to talk right now? In person is probably better but I can also call.
Hello, Dolph-san.
I'm going to be away for a few days, I believe. May I ask that you check on the garden for me?
I'm going to be away for a few days, I believe. May I ask that you check on the garden for me?
I hope that made sense. It's a general overview of the rules for our first game - we'll consider this a practice one.
[ It's fortunate that Dolph has a billiards table hidden in the depths of his massive home. A simple, familiar setup. It's far more comfortable to play here than in the corner of some shitty bar.
He gestures towards the table itself, ever the kind host in a home that isn't his. ]
You can go first. A break is a good way to test and gauge the force you're putting into your shots.
[ It's fortunate that Dolph has a billiards table hidden in the depths of his massive home. A simple, familiar setup. It's far more comfortable to play here than in the corner of some shitty bar.
He gestures towards the table itself, ever the kind host in a home that isn't his. ]
You can go first. A break is a good way to test and gauge the force you're putting into your shots.
[ dolph has seen billiards before, though it's not a big thing in the bars and clubs he used to frequent. alex probably had more experience there. he twirls the stick idly, getting a sense of the weight. he doesn't want to accidentally break it.
he uses his metal arm to prop it up, which is probably cheating but. what can you do. then he slides his stick across the green to break the balls which . . . shoot off in alarming speed. ]
Hm. You really have to be precise.
he uses his metal arm to prop it up, which is probably cheating but. what can you do. then he slides his stick across the green to break the balls which . . . shoot off in alarming speed. ]
Hm. You really have to be precise.
Hey, you at home or at work?
[ Home being, in this case, the cabana. ]
[ Home being, in this case, the cabana. ]
[Well.
This is...incredibly awkward. He hadn't meant this to be how he reaches out to Laserhawk again, but ultimately -- there's nobody else he'd have felt comfortable asking this of. Dinner party invite notwithstanding, he doesn't know Maruki that well. Guilt still gnaws at his ankles with Qifrey. Aki's recovering himself.
It takes several minutes to actually make himself open the messaging app and a few more after that to type anything into it, but at length he manages:]
i could use a hand getting to the clinic
This is...incredibly awkward. He hadn't meant this to be how he reaches out to Laserhawk again, but ultimately -- there's nobody else he'd have felt comfortable asking this of. Dinner party invite notwithstanding, he doesn't know Maruki that well. Guilt still gnaws at his ankles with Qifrey. Aki's recovering himself.
It takes several minutes to actually make himself open the messaging app and a few more after that to type anything into it, but at length he manages:]
i could use a hand getting to the clinic
Edited 2025-06-21 05:15 (UTC)
[ Dazai doesn't repay his debts, or at least not always. He picks and chooses when to do so, because he simply doesn't care enough to worry on whether or not someone owes him.
But today is a bit different. Today he slips in near the close time for Club Quartz, looking about to ensure that there's not all that many stragglers before approaching the bar. He doesn't sit, but rather folds his arms on the bar and waiting until he can catch Dolph's eye. ]
... Hey. You got a minute?
But today is a bit different. Today he slips in near the close time for Club Quartz, looking about to ensure that there's not all that many stragglers before approaching the bar. He doesn't sit, but rather folds his arms on the bar and waiting until he can catch Dolph's eye. ]
... Hey. You got a minute?
[He comes to at Visium's purple crystal, dazed. He drags himself home, puts himself to bed, sleeps longer. By the time he's fully awake, he's not sure what day it is. He's checked in with Dazai, who's only a door away.
[But the first person who comes to mind is nowhere nearby. Oda pulls up Dolph's username and calls. His throat is raw. He has to clear it before greeting:]
Dolph.
[A breath out, like he's been punched.]
Shit. Dolph.
[But the first person who comes to mind is nowhere nearby. Oda pulls up Dolph's username and calls. His throat is raw. He has to clear it before greeting:]
Dolph.
[A breath out, like he's been punched.]
Shit. Dolph.
; v ; we can just go ahead and wrap this unless u have more, smth new soon
savetheweak
- 2025-07-03 19:40 (UTC) - Expand[ A photo pops up on Dolph's device. It's from the waist down; Jean appears to be sitting on one of the floating docks, judging from the water in front of his legs. He's holding an empty fishing hook up to the camera; in the water, something appears to be swimming away in a blur. ]
I don't think I like fishing :|
I don't think I like fishing :|
[It's been a few days since everything settled down. Shinjiro hasn't run into Laserhawk since then, but that's not so unusual. It's not really like they hang out.
So perhaps what is unusual is the message that appears in the older man's phone one evening, without preamble or warning:]
hey
what kind of things you like to eat?
So perhaps what is unusual is the message that appears in the older man's phone one evening, without preamble or warning:]
hey
what kind of things you like to eat?
dolph
i have a problem and unfortunately you are the person i think knows the most about this stuff
at least out of the people i know
i have a problem and unfortunately you are the person i think knows the most about this stuff
at least out of the people i know
RSVP
You are invited to Sip & Blossom's soft launch party!
Okumura Haru is celebrating the launch of her brand new cafe, located in Stellari. There will be coffee, tea, fresh food, as well as a performance, so please come join her and others for this special evening event!
The launch party will be held July 25th at 6:00PM.
Please feel free to bring a plus one!
Thank you, and Haru greatly appreciates your support.
[Dolph might have had the persistent feeling he's being watched lately, if not outright followed. Knives had been watching his brother's comings and goings from the cabana; to say that what transpired back in June left him spooked was an understatement. To get him to admit as much, however, would be near impossible, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, Vash has given him the slip enough times that the next best person to pursue is the human he's attached himself to.
So, while its bartender is locking up Club Quartz one evening and turning to head home, Dolph is accosted with a sharp--]
Wait.
[Knives is nearby, face obscured as ever beneath the hood of a cloak. His tone is that of an order more than a request.]
So, while its bartender is locking up Club Quartz one evening and turning to head home, Dolph is accosted with a sharp--]
Wait.
[Knives is nearby, face obscured as ever beneath the hood of a cloak. His tone is that of an order more than a request.]
[ dolph may have been in this place for a long time, but some instincts never dull. so yeah, he noticed knives skulking around the corner. he didn't need to react to it, not unless it became a problem. he was more than happy to continue to act like he wasn't there as he went about his business.
he only pauses when knives finally calls out, turning around to face him, his face impassive. ]
We're closing. Better make it quick.
he only pauses when knives finally calls out, turning around to face him, his face impassive. ]
We're closing. Better make it quick.
[ His fingertip trails along the rim. It's the same glass of whiskey. It's the same ice sphere in the center. Nothing ever changes, yet everything changes. Everything around Dazai changes, but he remains the same.
Everything changes, but he is ever the same, and he ever quietly accepts those changes without feeling any need to point draw attention to them. Rather, he just picks and chooses when he comments - he makes conversation, as he does now, ]
... By the way, why did you start up this place? It's pretty flashy.
[ Which one could argue that Dolph himself is, but well - that's a feature, something that was impressed upon him, no different than his hair or eye color. It's no more interesting or unique than either in the end, save for the story behind them, but neither translate to a place like this.
Dazai can guess, he has his own way of knowing, but still he asks, because as ever he only cares for the answer to the question. ]
Everything changes, but he is ever the same, and he ever quietly accepts those changes without feeling any need to point draw attention to them. Rather, he just picks and chooses when he comments - he makes conversation, as he does now, ]
... By the way, why did you start up this place? It's pretty flashy.
[ Which one could argue that Dolph himself is, but well - that's a feature, something that was impressed upon him, no different than his hair or eye color. It's no more interesting or unique than either in the end, save for the story behind them, but neither translate to a place like this.
Dazai can guess, he has his own way of knowing, but still he asks, because as ever he only cares for the answer to the question. ]
Edited 2025-08-31 07:09 (UTC)
[ it's no surprise dazai was here. but he wonders if dazai knows. or will even bring it up. dolph doesn't think oda would but. you never know. this place has a way of uncovering things and it wasn't a secret. and dolph was certainly not ashamed.
either way, the answer to dazai's question comes easily, much more easily than it ever had before. he hums as he cleans out a glass. ]
It's modeled after the club I met Alex in. Club Prism. I needed something to do and in a place like this, it's the only thing that felt normal to me.
[ he doesn't really fit into the fantasy core lifestyle. ]
either way, the answer to dazai's question comes easily, much more easily than it ever had before. he hums as he cleans out a glass. ]
It's modeled after the club I met Alex in. Club Prism. I needed something to do and in a place like this, it's the only thing that felt normal to me.
[ he doesn't really fit into the fantasy core lifestyle. ]
[ Vash seeks Dolph out, likely when they're both home rather than anywhere public. When he finds him, he approaches Dolph from behind, settling a hand on his back as he leans in to press a kiss to his temple. ]
Hey. Do you have a minute?
Hey. Do you have a minute?
[ The person that walks into Dolph's house is not as tall as he used to be.
Jean huffs a little bit as he finally sets down the bags of groceries. He'd been carrying them when he'd been struck by a tongue of lightning, and when he woke up the groceries had been scattered around and ... well, he'd been smaller. Smaller and slighter and a familiar hunger gnawing in his stomach, and with a dismal feeling he realized he was back in his fifteen year old body.
Though, at the very least, he had his memories, even if they were a little muddled. So he looked around before calling out in a sharp, higher voice: ]
Hey! Anybody here? Dolph?
Jean huffs a little bit as he finally sets down the bags of groceries. He'd been carrying them when he'd been struck by a tongue of lightning, and when he woke up the groceries had been scattered around and ... well, he'd been smaller. Smaller and slighter and a familiar hunger gnawing in his stomach, and with a dismal feeling he realized he was back in his fifteen year old body.
Though, at the very least, he had his memories, even if they were a little muddled. So he looked around before calling out in a sharp, higher voice: ]
Hey! Anybody here? Dolph?
[ he feels strange. he vaguely recalls this from a couple of months ago. his muscle mass has dropped too, but not by much. he has hair. this is . . . close to when they were prepping him to go public.
the pool of uncertainty twists in his stomach. ]
I'm here.
the pool of uncertainty twists in his stomach. ]
I'm here.
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