raya lukova.

「 don't talk to me. 」 RP blog for The Ultimate Confectioner. Associated with EXAIVI: UNDYING. Status: ALIVE

[undyingxiv]

Riddle Me This | Raya Lukova | Chapter 3 | Closed for Yuuki

UUuughhhh. Raya knew that she was pretty intelligent. That much was clear. It wasn’t really bragging, it was just kinda… Knowing. When you spend your life training, you get good at something. That was one of the most basic of facts. But this place as starting to soften her, and that was the worst case scenario she could ever think of. She needed to stay sharp. So, she headed to the room full of escape rooms. She figured that all she needed to do was just get through these.

They weren’t the best, but they’d do. There wasn’t exactly a maths room. She whizzed through the first escape room, taking a breather outside for a moment as she prepared for the second one. They were actually fairly difficult, but… Kinda fun. 

She glanced up as the door opened, offering a small wave. 

[ hey. ]

Wow. No intimidation? No attacks? Just a greeting? Who was this and where was Raya Lukova? 

[shslsatired]

Yuuki had to be in a specific state of mind to enjoy escape rooms. Usually that state of mind required them to be alone in their room, and the escape room to be more like a video game or something. Eh.

They sure saw Raya as they walked in, holding a cup of coffee in one hand, but were not compelled enough to care about how she greeted them. They had bad object permanence, they stopped caring once you were out of sight. They lazily gave her a two-finger salute as they walked over to the switch on the wall.

Flick. Nah. Flick. Nah. Flickflickflickflickflickflick. Nah. Yuuki was hitting the button, mostly for the comedy of seeing the room change rapidly from one to another. Seeing if any of the rooms would bleed together, so to speak. What would happen if they put the switch halfway, they wondered, and held it there? These were the questions that made them curious. Edge cases and load conditions. Besides their initial greeting, they paid Raya no mind.

[shslraya]

Well. Okay. She was quiet as they waved at her, watching them silently as they walked around the room and essentially blocked her out. She seemed pretty used to it at this point, standing up and stepping over to them to wave a hand and show them her notebook.

[ are you looking for a specific one ? i just did the first bit so if u wanted to do the next room with me i don’t mind. they aren’t too hard, just kinda tedious after a while. ]

My brain refuses to come up with good words to put on this reply. Curse these two for being anti-social and not saying much to interact with each other. Raya was expecting to be shot down, already writing out a new message ahead of time to respond to them before they had even said anything. Considering their last interaction, she wasn’t really all that surprised that they would.

[undyingxiv]

Suite Life On Deck || Fumi || Chapter 3 || Attn: Raya

Oof 4.

Lingering thoughts of the trial followed, as he resumed his supposed ordinary day. His accusations were right I suppose, and his theories were correct as well but did it feel right? He’s alive, of course it should feel right. They won, found the killer, and got to live another day. Of course, the momentary victory doesn’t compare to the lasting guilt he feels. Condemning someone to death doesn’t feel right. Pray to the stars above that it would never feel right.

A new habit he has come to make since entering this school, an area of respite for him to air out his thoughts.. Contrasting to the area’s innate feeling of joy and happiness, why is it that he comes here to dwell? Though, the time directly after trials seems to be when people are most active, so he probably shouldn’t stay in here too long.

He ends up straying not too far from said area, into the greenhouse. Maybe a nice boat ride would clear his mind. He could even gather some vegetables to make a nice salad in the kitc- Yeah… never mind that.

He presses the button, waiting for the next boat to arrive.

[shslraya]

She liked nicknames. She was bad at remember people’s actual names, so she usually assigned a nickname to their appearance based on a dessert. While she didn’t often go for a person’s name when creating a nickname, the opportunity presented itself with a play on funfetti that she just couldn’t ignore. And also because she literally just couldn’t think of anything else. 

She gave an audible sigh of relief as he took her up on the churros, pressing the container in his hands so she didn’t have to hold it anymore. She thought for a moment before quickly writing out a message.

[ lol just make sure you aren’t allergic to nuts! i used a hazelnut base in the dip so!! ]

She suddenly stopped, her smile freezing for a moment as she realised what she was doing. She flinched ever so slightly, like someone was talking to her in a not so nice way, before her expression melted back into the cool and vaguely annoyed look that she was practically known for at this point.

[ … yes, i can join you. ]

She became infinitely more distant again, fidgeting and adjusting her gloves as she avoided eye contact all over again.

[gachaboi-fumi]

It takes one to know one Raya. “So that’s what that was about”, he thinks to himself, readily accepting the container being shoved into his palms. Her actions read as unnatural, forced, something he’s inadvertently learnt to pick up. Her tone especially, read as a red flag. Despite it all, he takes one of the churros and swirls it around in the dip. He takes a bite, a cautious bite mind you.

“Hey Hey… someone once told me this, but don’t force yourself. I don’t mind taking them off your hands if you really don’t want them. Not like I particularly mind.”

Fumi watched as Raya’s face returned back to her usual expression. Resting bitch face I suppose? It’s best that he doesn’t push the conversation on her sudden change of attitude.

The boat finally arrives. He takes the time to hold on to whatever point of balance he could find. He wouldn’t want his newly gifted snack to go to waste, regardless of the incredibly off chance of it being poisoned or not. Fumi waits for his riding partner to board the vessel.

[shslraya]

I think it’s obvious by now, but just for clarity’s sake; the churros are delicious. Mind blowing. Raya really didn’t want to talk about her emotions right now and made that feeling clear by changing her body language into something more closed off. This didn't stop her from looking at him with a vaguely surprised expression as he spoke to her kindly, before rolling her eyes and turning her head away from him.

[ ... ]

She ignored him for a while, stepping onto the boat and sitting herself down elegantly by smoothing her skirts out so they wouldn’t be creased. She was just a little too tired at the moment, leaning back a little as she looked out at the scenery. 

[ nothing that i do is forced, for your information. i just didn’t want them, that’s all it is. you don’t have to deconstruct my every action to try and justify my attitude and find a morsel of a redeeming quality. because you’re not going to find one. ]

[undyingxiv]

Mean Girls 2 || Namiko || CH3 Closed With Raya

"Hrmm... Yep. That's a painting."

A beautiful landscape painting sat before Namiko on the wall. The plaque said it was extremely famous and honestly, she didn't get it. Namiko had never been much of an art person. It wasn't really her thing. She preferred games, spooky stuff, drama. This was just some location out on a canvas and considered amazing. She was willing to bet the original location looked way better.

The decision to come here had come after she got out of her shower. An effort that took, far too much to go into detail here. Mostly because I don't know how it goes yet. The main point was Namiko had intended to do something to relax her mind. Escape from the hell she was currently in. The Art Museum really wasn't doing shit for that to be honest. It was, maybe making it worse. Since there was nothing around to actually distract her, she just kept on focusing on Kiaria's death, again, and again. The look of horror on her face, the blood on the wall, how much she didn't deserve any of it. It had all been Jun's fault. yet she suffered. Shaking her head violently, Namiko poorly rushed away the negative thoughts filling into her brain.

"This place sucks so much shit."

Frustrated and upset she kicked the wall in front of her, jostling several paintings on it. Seeing them respond as such, she got the urge to start wrecking them. The AI would probably punish her for it.

[shslraya]

Raya didn’t seem surprised by her words as she scrunched her nose a little, casually lifting her notebook.

[ did you not get the memo? i said those things because i owed Stella as much. she told me i had to do it, so i obviously did it cause that’s what she needed me to do. i didn't think that anyone would actually go for you and you seemed pretty adamant on not hurting her, so... lol. also stop disrespecting the artwork they’re all good. ]

She sighed, continuing to write.

[ it’s unfortunate that i can’t force myself to hate you. it would certainly make this situation a lot easier. i simply do not know what to think anymore. ] 

Honesty was key, right? She paused for a long time, staring at her book and revising her next statement a few times. When she eventually showed her message, she looked hesitant.

[ i am confused. i only lived for Stella. what now? what comes after my only reason for existence is gone? and the fact that i failed? it truly would be great if you could give me a good reason to hate you so i can lash out at someone that deserves it, but i don’t think that’s possible. ]

The slightest of laughs. The sound is pained, cracked and generally unpleasant to hear.

[undyingxiv]

Mean Girls 2 || Namiko || CH3 Closed With Raya

"Hrmm... Yep. That's a painting."

A beautiful landscape painting sat before Namiko on the wall. The plaque said it was extremely famous and honestly, she didn't get it. Namiko had never been much of an art person. It wasn't really her thing. She preferred games, spooky stuff, drama. This was just some location out on a canvas and considered amazing. She was willing to bet the original location looked way better.

The decision to come here had come after she got out of her shower. An effort that took, far too much to go into detail here. Mostly because I don't know how it goes yet. The main point was Namiko had intended to do something to relax her mind. Escape from the hell she was currently in. The Art Museum really wasn't doing shit for that to be honest. It was, maybe making it worse. Since there was nothing around to actually distract her, she just kept on focusing on Kiaria's death, again, and again. The look of horror on her face, the blood on the wall, how much she didn't deserve any of it. It had all been Jun's fault. yet she suffered. Shaking her head violently, Namiko poorly rushed away the negative thoughts filling into her brain.

"This place sucks so much shit."

Frustrated and upset she kicked the wall in front of her, jostling several paintings on it. Seeing them respond as such, she got the urge to start wrecking them. The AI would probably punish her for it.

[shslraya]

Fucker. Raya realised very quickly that Namiko hadn’t noticed her and was about to tap her when she turned around. Raya listened to her with a dismissive eyebrow raise, scribbling out a response almost immediately. 

[ yes, well, the artwork did nothing to you. it shouldn’t need the collateral damage. people often put themselves into their art and convey themselves through art, so you should treat all pieces with respect. it’s a part of a person. maybe you could try it. that’s what i’ve been doing. ]

A pause.

[ your perception is dog shit, by the way which is HILARIOUS. ]

She ignored Namiko’s glaring and worked on another response, presenting it fairly quickly. It was almost as if she had it pre-written. Also go on, Namiko. Don’t be a coward. Bring up Raya’s dead sister. There’s no possible way that could backfire on you at all. 

[ i don’t fully understand the situation, but no. not what i came here for. i was in the gallery before you, actually. i was just wondering what the noise was. ]

[undyingxiv]

Suite Life On Deck || Fumi || Chapter 3 || Attn: Raya

Oof 4.

Lingering thoughts of the trial followed, as he resumed his supposed ordinary day. His accusations were right I suppose, and his theories were correct as well but did it feel right? He’s alive, of course it should feel right. They won, found the killer, and got to live another day. Of course, the momentary victory doesn’t compare to the lasting guilt he feels. Condemning someone to death doesn’t feel right. Pray to the stars above that it would never feel right.

A new habit he has come to make since entering this school, an area of respite for him to air out his thoughts.. Contrasting to the area's innate feeling of joy and happiness, why is it that he comes here to dwell? Though, the time directly after trials seems to be when people are most active, so he probably shouldn’t stay in here too long.

He ends up straying not too far from said area, into the greenhouse. Maybe a nice boat ride would clear his mind. He could even gather some vegetables to make a nice salad in the kitc- Yeah... never mind that.

He presses the button, waiting for the next boat to arrive.

[shslraya]

She liked nicknames. She was bad at remember people’s actual names, so she usually assigned a nickname to their appearance based on a dessert. While she didn’t often go for a person’s name when creating a nickname, the opportunity presented itself with a play on funfetti that she just couldn’t ignore. And also because she literally just couldn’t think of anything else. 

She gave an audible sigh of relief as he took her up on the churros, pressing the container in his hands so she didn’t have to hold it anymore. She thought for a moment before quickly writing out a message.

[ lol just make sure you aren’t allergic to nuts! i used a hazelnut base in the dip so!! ]

She suddenly stopped, her smile freezing for a moment as she realised what she was doing. She flinched ever so slightly, like someone was talking to her in a not so nice way, before her expression melted back into the cool and vaguely annoyed look that she was practically known for at this point.

[ ... yes, i can join you. ]

She became infinitely more distant again, fidgeting and adjusting her gloves as she avoided eye contact all over again.

[undyingxiv]

Suite Life On Deck || Fumi || Chapter 3 || Attn: Raya

Oof 4.

Lingering thoughts of the trial followed, as he resumed his supposed ordinary day. His accusations were right I suppose, and his theories were correct as well but did it feel right? He’s alive, of course it should feel right. They won, found the killer, and got to live another day. Of course, the momentary victory doesn’t compare to the lasting guilt he feels. Condemning someone to death doesn’t feel right. Pray to the stars above that it would never feel right.

A new habit he has come to make since entering this school, an area of respite for him to air out his thoughts.. Contrasting to the area’s innate feeling of joy and happiness, why is it that he comes here to dwell? Though, the time directly after trials seems to be when people are most active, so he probably shouldn’t stay in here too long.

He ends up straying not too far from said area, into the greenhouse. Maybe a nice boat ride would clear his mind. He could even gather some vegetables to make a nice salad in the kitc- Yeah… never mind that.

He presses the button, waiting for the next boat to arrive.

[shslraya]

God mother fuuucking damn it. After her encounter with Namiko that went a certain way that I can’t say yet, she went to the other place that she knew that she could relax in. It would be nice to just sit in a boat and relax for a while. After taking a stop to the lunch room to make herself a snack, Raya walked over to the greenhouse with a small container of churros and a little chocolate dip. It was a little challenging for her to eat her own produce, but she could do it. She could! She really could.

...

[ small tw for implied eating disorder ]

Urgh. Raya’s stomach knotted at the thought of making herself eat. She had felt the anxiety curling in her chest the moment she had started making them and she had ignored it, but now that she was here she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. She didn’t want to waste them, though. That would be the worst scenario. So... Ah. There was her answer as she stepped into the greenhouse.

She walked over to Fumi, tapping him on the shoulder before quickly pressing the container of churros into his hat. They were still pretty warm, and naturally they looked and smelt godly. 

[ yo, fumifetti. had these spare. you going on the boat ride? ]

She didn’t mind Fumi. He was actually pretty chill and didn’t do stupid shit all of the time specifically to grind on her gears. Thank god he was the one she had bumped into.

[undyingxiv]

Mean Girls 2 || Namiko || CH3 Closed With Raya

“Hrmm… Yep. That’s a painting.”

A beautiful landscape painting sat before Namiko on the wall. The plaque said it was extremely famous and honestly, she didn’t get it. Namiko had never been much of an art person. It wasn’t really her thing. She preferred games, spooky stuff, drama. This was just some location out on a canvas and considered amazing. She was willing to bet the original location looked way better.

The decision to come here had come after she got out of her shower. An effort that took, far too much to go into detail here. Mostly because I don’t know how it goes yet. The main point was Namiko had intended to do something to relax her mind. Escape from the hell she was currently in. The Art Museum really wasn’t doing shit for that to be honest. It was, maybe making it worse. Since there was nothing around to actually distract her, she just kept on focusing on Kiaria’s death, again, and again. The look of horror on her face, the blood on the wall, how much she didn’t deserve any of it. It had all been Jun’s fault. yet she suffered. Shaking her head violently, Namiko poorly rushed away the negative thoughts filling into her brain.

“This place sucks so much shit.”

Frustrated and upset she kicked the wall in front of her, jostling several paintings on it. Seeing them respond as such, she got the urge to start wrecking them. The AI would probably punish her for it.

[shslraya]

This was another instance that clearly showed just how different they were. Raya had always been interested in good artwork. It was like a small window to somewhere completely new, and as an artist herself she always liked to appreciate the time, effort and talent that went into creating something like this. It was one of the first places she explored as it opened, taking this time to having a moment of quiet to herself. She was constantly bumping into people and it was tiring, so at least she had this moment. 

And then there was a bang. The confectioner jumped out of her skin for a moment before moving to find the source. What the fuck.

She had been worried that there was a corpse or something and that she’d be a prime suspect again, but when she saw Namiko she wished it was. Hearing her words and seeing the clear disrespect as evident by the footprint in the wall, she wrote out a small message. It wasn’t a paragraph, sure, but she thought that it got her message about perfectly fine.

[ if you break any of the artworks ill break your spine. ]

She rolled her tongue a little, clearly debating on what else to say, eventually writing out something extra.

[ .... why??????? are you kicking things. ]

[shslsatired]

shslraya​:

Her hands worked like clockwork as she worked. As much as she hated people, she just couldn’t stay angry when she was working on her special interest. She was almost smiling, a calm and almost happy look on her face, until she turned her head to see them walking off. For a moment, her face fell. And then, just as quickly as it happened, her face became stone cold. She finished without any of the final touches she usually enjoyed. 

Well, it wasn’t as if she wasn’t used to it. Stella often got bored when she talked about her special interests, and her reactions were usually a whole lot worse than just walking away. So maybe she was lucky that they didn’t do anything worse to her. She glanced at them, tilting her head.

Right. They wanted her to switch the cups. She did so almost immediately, now a lot more silent than usual. Which was saying something, considering she’s mute. Usually when she made someone something, it was considering godly and she was complimented. People were excited to see what she did, and she relished in that. Her expression betrayed her just for a second.

[ … ]

God, this sucked. 

Yuuki’s expression was just as grumpy as ever. Their true feelings and intentions, whatever they may be, if they even existed, remained constantly hidden behind their just all-around exhausted face. They were too tired for these games, they had just wanted their coffee, and then someone had to come along and ruin it. 

They peered down at the cup, their chin resting on their closed knuckles. Yuuki gave off the appearance of someone deep in thought. Over coffee? 

They looked up at Raya, as though trying to read her expression as well. What they took away, what they thought of it, whether they noticed anything, was filed away in secret. 

Back to the coffee. There was no particular fascination. Despite their focus, they were clearly bored. “Tricky, tricky.”

There was, of course, nothing tricky about this situation at all, not on Raya’s part. They were confident of this. They leaned back in their chair. They had come to a revelation. 

“Switch them." 

[shslraya]

Raya realised very quickly that they were messing with her as they told her to switch the cups again, immediately exploding into anger.

[ GOD JUST FUCKING TELL ME YOU DON’T WANT IT AND I’LL DUMP IT OUT YOU WRETCHED LITTLE GREMLIN ]

After her outburst she slammed her notebook down, cradling her face in her hands as she took a moment to breathe. Fuck. How long had it been since she had tried to do something nice? It was exhausting and she hated it. It was much easier to be cruel. She dragged her hands down her face, silent for a moment before slowly starting to write out her next sentence.

[ ... sorry. ]

[ i know you don’t care, but i appreciate that you’re at least honest. so tell me what to do. i am unsure on how to approach situations anymore. ] She pinched the bridge of her nose, her paper filled with scribbled out sentences and corrections as she struggled to find the right words to say.

[ my only goal was to be by stella’s side and help her have her best life. i am. unsure on what to do anymore. i don’t know whether i’m happy or sad. on one hand i guess i don’t have to worry about her killing me in my sleep anymore, but on the other hand... i had literally one job. ]

[ like, i’m certain she only made that pact with me because she didn’t think that she’d ever be put in a vulnerable situation. because she’s the better one. she just wanted the satisfaction of killing me. ]

She laughed a little, the horrid sound raspy and cracked. 

[ ... i don’t talk to people often. i don’t think that’s hard to tell. ] 

[undyingxiv]

Buffet for None | Raya Lukova | Chapter Two | Closed for Konan

Right. She had given herself a small break with the piano and the spa, but now she had to go back to work. She realised now that with Stella gone, the entire company was now on her shoulders completely. God damn it. Still, it was a work load that she was willing to take. She just needed to keep practicing and working. With that in mind, she headed to the lunch room.

The kitchen's here weren't as big as the ones she was used to, but she could work with it. For the next hour or so, she quietly worked. A delicious smell began to waft from the kitchen as she produced pies, chocolates, all the desserts she could think of. It helped her get her mind off of things when she could just bustle about and experiment.

She just needed a taster. Stepping out, she looked around the hallway until her gaze locked onto Konan. Without a moment of hesitation she reached out, grabbing his arm and yanking him along with her to the kitchen. Only after she let go did she actually write a message.

[ taste test for me. i know it's in bad taste considering what just happened, but just do it. i can sample it before you to prove it isn't poisoned. i just need feedback from the public. ]

[shslraya]

Of course he was in danger. He was speaking to Raya Lukova, the confectioner known for having an incredibly short temper and a knack for both violence and general cruelty towards others.

However, she seemed just a little more relaxed than usual as she stared at him, eyebrows raised as he literally proved her point whilst trying to argue against it. It was almost humorous. She fought back a small smile as she raised her notebook again, keeping an expression of judgement.

[ you just whined like a baby, and you’re tall. that makes you big. if you put them together, what do you get? a big baby. ]

In reality, Raya really didn’t like to eat her own desserts. It didn’t feel right for her to eat them when her whole job as a confectioner was to make desserts and treats for other people to eat. Not her. Maybe that mind set had grown to a degree that she just couldn’t eat her own works anymore without feeling like she was committing a felony or a sin. Of course, that wasn’t something that she’d admit in front of Konan, so she just rolled her eyes.

[ what face? i didn’t make a face. this is the face i’ve got. ] 

She played it off, watching him eat it. She nodded quietly as he gave his feedback, writing down notes before pausing. Her pen hovered above the paper for a while before she looked up at him again.

[ only good? fuck. ]

She scribbled something out, pacing back and forth as she adjusted her notes. She gestured a little to the other desserts, not looking up from her book for a second. It was really up to him to choose whatever dessert he wanted to try next.

[undyingxiv]

Buffet for None | Raya Lukova | Chapter Two | Closed for Konan

Right. She had given herself a small break with the piano and the spa, but now she had to go back to work. She realised now that with Stella gone, the entire company was now on her shoulders completely. God damn it. Still, it was a work load that she was willing to take. She just needed to keep practicing and working. With that in mind, she headed to the lunch room.

The kitchen’s here weren’t as big as the ones she was used to, but she could work with it. For the next hour or so, she quietly worked. A delicious smell began to waft from the kitchen as she produced pies, chocolates, all the desserts she could think of. It helped her get her mind off of things when she could just bustle about and experiment.

She just needed a taster. Stepping out, she looked around the hallway until her gaze locked onto Konan. Without a moment of hesitation she reached out, grabbing his arm and yanking him along with her to the kitchen. Only after she let go did she actually write a message.

[ taste test for me. i know it’s in bad taste considering what just happened, but just do it. i can sample it before you to prove it isn’t poisoned. i just need feedback from the public. ]

[ultcinematographer-deactivated2]

Konan was heading towards the talent exhibition, specifically for the room that had his Greek letter in it. Perhaps he could finally mess around with some cameras and distract himself from the very terrifying trial and execution, plus the ticking bomb. Even though he spoke to Ginjirou for a limited amount of time, it was still someone that he knew being executed… Actually, he doesn’t want to think about it.

He felt a small hand yanking him towards the kitchen. He looked around (and then down) to see Raya and was impressed by her strength.

“Ouch, that’s a lot of strength there…” commented Konan. Him, a very tall guy getting dragged around by such a short girl? It was unusual to him. He’s usually the one doing the dragging around, more specifically of a large camera around sets.

He read her message and stopped to think for once. To be honest, Konan didn’t even consider that he’d get poisoned. If he was going to get murdered, he wouldn’t like poison as his way to go. Maybe something more in line with a horror movie and with a chainsaw, but it feels a little scary to think about what might happen - considering the situation and all.

“… Taste test?” he repeated, finally catching up to her words. He’s not much for sweets type of guy (instead he prefers salty things), but he can occasionally appreciate some delicious desserts. He’d hate to disappoint.

“Well, heh, okay, you go first.”

[shslraya]

When you were someone like Raya, you had to learn to defend yourself. Mostly because Stella always ended up pissing the wrong people off, but it was Raya’s fault for not stopping her in time. Either way, Raya liked to think that she was pretty good at fighting and was decently strong. Even if she had her limits with her height, she had gone up against people around Konan’s size at Stella’s request multiple times. Didn’t all go well, but hey, that was life.

She paused a little at his startled expression, taking a moment to realise the abnormality of her being strong, and then chuckled ever so slightly. It was a fully malicious laugh, which was surprising.

She didn’t respond to his comment considering she couldn’t write, stopping once they were at the kitchen and watching his face carefully as she waited for an answer. If it wasn’t clear already, she was pretty impatient. She tapped her foot rapidly as he took his sweet time looking around. 

It was almost cathartic when he finally responded. Only two words? MOTHER FUCKER. She bit her tongue to stop herself from writing something violently offensive, glaring up at him. He stands there for two god damn years staring off into space and the most he can manage is a repeat of what she already said? This literally fucking sucked. She huffed a little.

[ yeah whatever you big baby. I'm not going to test all of them before you. ] 

She went to the first dessert, a still warm cinnamon roll, using a fork to take a tiny piece out. She popped it in her mouth, chewing for a look time and looking visibly uncomfortable before forcing herself to swallow.

[ ... please don’t make me eat all of these ]

[undyingxiv]

Consideration | Raya Lukova | Chapter 2 | Closed for Fumi

She shouldn’t. Seriously, she shouldn’t. It was a bad idea and it would ruin her appearance. Despite her internal pleas, Raya was stood by the hair dye, inspecting them carefully. Yes, the white hair was nice, but now that she wasn’t going to be forced to match… Maybe she could try something new. A colour that she liked. Blue might be nice.

She picked up different shades of blue dye, looking them over as she debated in her head. She saw a shadow in the corner of her eye and turned her head to see Fumi. Right, the one who’s loved one she had. They had spoken before and he didn’t seem completely incompetent. So, she raised one of the hair dyes for him to see as she held up her notebook in her other hand.

[ opinion? ]

She seemed surprisingly calm for once. 

[gachaboi-fumi]

It’s not like he ever really had a chance to go to one of these types of spas growing, as he never really had a reason to.Though with a luxury like this the idea of having a make-over does seem enticing. After all, it’s been ages since he last had a haircut.

Seeing Raya here isn’t really surprising, you’d have to work hard maintain that ‘look’, but out of all the people here. Him? Asking him for his opinion? It’s as much of an honor as it is a shock to Fumi.

“Huh? Why would you want me of all people? I know you’re only asking for an opinion but are you sure?" 

Hair dyeing like many other things, is something you could easily mess up. Even if you manage to apply it perfectly, the end result could still come out badly and completely ruin your aesthetic. Like, It’s okay if you fuck yourself up, but fucking someone else up… He doesn’t want to bear that responsibility, especially if it’s Raya. Even with his hesitation, deep inside he know that he’s better off just answering than not.

"Uhm. Blue. Blue. Blue. I think it’d look nice on you. You’ve got this pastel aesthetic going on, so I’d probably recommend maybe a lighter shade? All that really comes to mind is a sort of cotton candy look with the white, pink and blue. Iconic colors honestly.”

[shslraya]

She watched him with a look of annoyance. Why was he taking this so seriously. It was just an opinion. It wasn’t as if that she was going to immediately take his advice and do whatever he said. She just wanted to see if this was going to be a beneficial colour change. 

She quirked an eyebrow at his shock, trying not to smile at his dumbfounded expression. Was she really that threatening that he was startled when she asked him something more casual? That was hilarious.

[ it’s not that deep. you’re the first person to walk through the door. i would have asked marble cake, twinkie, matcha roll, basically anyone besides blondie the same question. ]

Was that just an excuse for me as the mun to list off a bunch of nicknames? Absolutely. She tugged her gloves up a little further as she listened to his rambles, looking at the hair dye in her hand. You could practically hear the gears in her head as she thought it over. Then, a thought hit her, and the light died in her eyes. She immediately put the bottle down, shaking her head somewhat as she made up her mind.

[ forget it. i’d have to take my gloves off to apply it. that’s not happening. ] 

She sighed, sitting down in one of the chairs and spinning her pen between her fingers. After a moment, she wrote again.

[ ... it would have been fine if Stella was here. the one thing that she’d do for me was help me dye my hair. mostly because she said that she wasn’t going to let me look like a freak show and ruin her reputation, but i always appreciated it. ]

[ ... she was always a jokester. ]

Despite her frown, there was something deeper to her expression. She refused to show emotion, however, and stayed stone cold. 

[shslsatired]

shslraya​:

Raya wasn’t ashamed of her piano skills, not by a long shot. She had stopped playing only because she was curious on whether they were trying to sneak up on her or not. Once she realised it was the latter, she went back to playing. The song quietly trailed off when she forgot the rest, ending it up promptly and leaning back just a little to stretch. Taking a break was nice, even if she was a little sleepy now. Maybe she could take some inspiration from Yuuki and make some coffee herself.

She stood up from her seat and finished the drink she had previously made before stepping over to where Yuuki was preparing their coffee. She paused for a long time, watching, until a disgusted expression slowly formed on her face.

[ have you never made a cup of coffee in your life? you’re doing it all wrong. ]

She shooed them out of the way, taking control and quietly working. Coffee was one of the many ingredients she used in her recipes, and considering how often she made it for Stella (who was a known picky eater), she was extremely confident in her abilities. She taste tested the coffee they had already made to see how they took it, grimaced, and continued. She made sure to do everything right in front of them so they could see that she wasn’t pulling any stunts.

After pouring two new cups of coffee, she pushed it over to them.

[ try it. ]

She gestured a little, sipping her own coffee as she watched. All hostility went out of the window when it came to her culinary arts. It was a comfort thing, and like hell she was going to be angry when she was doing anything regarding it.

[ if you don’t trust me, i can taste test it for you. though you did watch me make it and pour the same mixture into my own cup which i’m drinking from. just in case, though. ]

At eighteen, Yuuki had by this point in their life spent a considerable amount of time honing their coffee brewing skills. They were good at it. They knew they were good at it. They’d spent days, weeks, trying to brew it to their precise tastes. They knew coffee. So. They simply ignored Raya’s criticism. They knew their shit, and were assured enough in it that they took someone being a dick about it as a sign of inexperience. Yuuki was talented at this. 

At being brushed out of the way, they just rolled their eyes. Watching her ruin a perfectly good cup of coffee and dump it (what, too bitter?) before they had any. Trying to make her own blend too. As she started making her own, they simply… blinked. “Wooooow.” They. Legit didn’t care how she made coffee. And as she started trying to show off how she did it, Yuuki actually walked away. “Yeah I don’t give a shit.” 

Once Raya mentioned she was done, Yuuki returned, plopping down at the counter with a bored looking expression on their face. Sighing. Then again, this provided an opportunity. Maybe they could try something. It sure was presumptuous of Raya to assume that 1.) yuuki would even bother with coffee she made, and 2.) that they particularly cared if it was poisoned or not. 

They appeared to be deep in thought. Eyeing the cup suspiciously, as though they didn’t trust it, and were analyzing whether to drink it or not. This was a mind game… they turned to read raya’s expression… Studying her as well. Was it poisoned, or not? 

“Switch them.” One. 

[shslraya]

Her hands worked like clockwork as she worked. As much as she hated people, she just couldn’t stay angry when she was working on her special interest. She was almost smiling, a calm and almost happy look on her face, until she turned her head to see them walking off. For a moment, her face fell. And then, just as quickly as it happened, her face became stone cold. She finished without any of the final touches she usually enjoyed. 

Well, it wasn’t as if she wasn’t used to it. Stella often got bored when she talked about her special interests, and her reactions were usually a whole lot worse than just walking away. So maybe she was lucky that they didn’t do anything worse to her. She glanced at them, tilting her head.

Right. They wanted her to switch the cups. She did so almost immediately, now a lot more silent than usual. Which was saying something, considering she’s mute. Usually when she made someone something, it was considering godly and she was complimented. People were excited to see what she did, and she relished in that. Her expression betrayed her just for a second.

[ ... ]

God, this sucked. 

[shslsatired]

undyingxiv​:

Music to the Ears | Raya Lukova | Chapter 2 | Closed for Yuuki

It had certainly been a tiring trial, but Raya wasn’t the type to shy away from the brutal reality of her situation. In fact, she didn’t let it bother her in the slightest. Just because she had been kidnapped and put into a situation where she couldn’t trust the people around her and could die at any moment, doesn’t mean she could slack. She could always hone one of her other skills now that she had the time.

That might be nice. To just practice something. With all the business trips and working in the kitchen, it could be pleasant to pick up one of her old hobbies again. 

She headed to the jazz lounge, making herself a mocktail and gingerly sipping as she walked across the room to the piano. She hadn’t touched a piano in months. God. She rested the glass down and sat herself on the stool, gloved fingers tracing over the key as she familiarised herself with the instrument. She then began to play, a soothing and quiet melody that matched her appearance even if it completely contradicted her personality. But…

[ … ]

She looked happy, at least. However, the moment she heard footsteps, that calm smile dropped and she turned her head to glare.

[ what. ]

Yuuki wasn’t sure what time it was, and was too lazy to check their watch. Therefore, they could not confirm that it was, for a fact, coffee time. However, they felt that a nice piping cup of joe would be able to give them the motivation to look at their watch and see what time it was. Therefore, in a way, it was coffee time. Always coffee time. And not that cheap stuff from the cafeteria, the real shit, from the jazz lounge.

Yuuki heard piano as they stepped in. Incredible. Powerful. It was so good, it brought a tear to their eye. LOoollll jk, they didn’t care, their mind registered that someone was playing and they just kept going for their coffee. Raya was here too. Yuuki didn’t even look her direction, but they’d heard her enough that they got the schtick right now. She was probably annoyed they had the audacity to exist in the same public room she did, was gonna try to ask them why they were here, yeah, yeah. 

They’d never spoken to her, but from that dumb stunt at the trial? That painted a clear enough picture in their mind, they felt. Any conversation would be bound to be frustrating, like sticking pins and needles into their brain. With nary a word, they climbed up onto one of the chairs and then over the counter, popping down on the other side where they got started on their coffee. They looked over, and noticed her glaring at them. Yep, just as expected. They offered a nod of acknowledgement, and then returned to making their coffee.

Yuuki had zero intention of justifying their presence, because. Uh. Why should they? If Raya had a problem with them being there, they’d let her say so explicitly. 

[shslraya]

Raya wasn’t ashamed of her piano skills, not by a long shot. She had stopped playing only because she was curious on whether they were trying to sneak up on her or not. Once she realised it was the latter, she went back to playing. The song quietly trailed off when she forgot the rest, ending it up promptly and leaning back just a little to stretch. Taking a break was nice, even if she was a little sleepy now. Maybe she could take some inspiration from Yuuki and make some coffee herself.

She stood up from her seat and finished the drink she had previously made before stepping over to where Yuuki was preparing their coffee. She paused for a long time, watching, until a disgusted expression slowly formed on her face.

[ have you never made a cup of coffee in your life? you’re doing it all wrong. ]

She shooed them out of the way, taking control and quietly working. Coffee was one of the many ingredients she used in her recipes, and considering how often she made it for Stella (who was a known picky eater), she was extremely confident in her abilities. She taste tested the coffee they had already made to see how they took it, grimaced, and continued. She made sure to do everything right in front of them so they could see that she wasn’t pulling any stunts.

After pouring two new cups of coffee, she pushed it over to them.

[ try it. ]

She gestured a little, sipping her own coffee as she watched. All hostility went out of the window when it came to her culinary arts. It was a comfort thing, and like hell she was going to be angry when she was doing anything regarding it.

[ if you don’t trust me, i can taste test it for you. though you did watch me make it and pour the same mixture into my own cup which i’m drinking from. just in case, though. ]

[scorpiety-bye-deactivated202310]

just bc i came when you went pspspsps doesnt mean i like you. Fucking idiot

[undyingxiv]

Initial Boarding || Ginjirou Sotomaru || Prologue || Open

Hope's Peak Academy... or Neo Hope's Peak Academy, rather. The prestige of such an institution had not been lost on Ginjirou Sotomaru. Despite the recent reopening, in his position he had heard the name many times over the course of his life. A shame that nobody in the family would be attending due to the closure, and so on. Preserving the family name and such. But here Ginjirou was, one of the members of the first class to attend the new Hope's Peak Academy. A monumental achievement, and one he was in no position to refuse. So when the time came, he packed his bags and set off.

Though, he hadn't exactly expected any situation like this. 

Passing out at the front gate and waking up inside certainly wasn't very becoming of him. And he already had a device to tell time, he didn't need another watch. Though, rules were rules, he assumed. The AI seemed helpful enough as well. A few of the rules seemed a bit... strange, to say the least, but he was sure that the AI was busy as it was, going through each of the students individually to give out instructions. He supposed he would inquire about this later.

For now, he figured he should introduce himself to his fellow students. It was the polite thing to do, after all. So that was how he found himself standing outside another student's door. He gives it three sharp knocks, before standing and waiting patiently.

[shslraya]

She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, leaning against her doorframe somewhat in a surprisingly casual gesture that conflicted drastically with her elegant appearance as she folds her arms against her chest and watches him. Why was he continuing to be nice to her when she was openly insulting him?

[ ... are you trying to mock me? ]

She eventually asks, wringing her hands somewhat. She wasn't used to an attitude like this, and she wasn’t sure whether he was a robot, incredibly stupid or incredibly brave. She eventually decided on the second, calming down somewhat. She froze up a little as he complimented her, confused and out of her comfort zone.

[ ... yeah whatever what’s your talent asshole ]

[undyingxiv]

Chaotic Tranquility | Raya Lukova | Prologue | Closed for Namiko

Waking up in a place that she didn’t recognise sucked. She could admit that. So, the first thing that she did was get the fuck out of dodge and leave when she could. The map took her straight to a place she figured that she could relax for a moment; the garden. It seemed peaceful enough, so she was fine with staying there for a moment before she moved on and figured out just what the fuck was happening at the moment. 

She allowed herself a moment to take in the view, a soft sigh leaving her lips. Raya Lukova was a busy woman, really, so it was nice to get times to sit down and relax. She could at least admit that. 

She sat herself down on one of the benches, smoothing out her skirts to make herself presentable and closing her eyes to just listen to the gentle noises of nature. However, she realised quickly that someone was on their way to her from the tapping of shoes against the cobblestone path. She kept her eyes closed, praying that they’d see that she was relaxed and leave her the mother of fuck alone.

[ … ]

Don’t poke the bear.

[shslraya]

Raya could feel her skin crawling. This was the worst. This was literally just the worst. If there was something she hated, it was when people didn’t have the brain cells or the common sense to be afraid of her. It irritated her to no end. Usually she found stupid people fascinating, but this girl wasn’t even stupid in an entertaining way. Raya just found her boring. Plain and boring. You’d think that being a cult leader would give her a certain amount of flavour, but no. She was about as flavourful as a palette cleanser. Which, in a way, was hilarious symbolism. She just seemed to be there to spark discourse, which in turn boosted the status of HPA. She was the palette cleanser for the ‘flavour’ of Hope’s Peak students in her eyes.

She glared at Namiko as she complimented her, clicking her tongue. She didn’t give a reaction like before, a bored expression washing over her face. 

[ and yours makes me wish that i had lost my eyes instead of my vocal chords. ]

She paused for a minute, inspecting her nails delicately as she preened herself somewhat. She had ruffled a feather or two in this conversation, and she wanted to make sure she looked like her status. Something hit her after a moment, and she looked over at the cult leader with a raised eyebrow.

[ i notice that you can’t refute my statement about you being a tool to spark discourse for Hope’s Peak. how does it feel to not have talent? it’s the easiest job in the world to convince the broken to come to a ‘haven’. all you need to do is bat those eyes and give them a smile. the only talent that takes is being a blonde haired blue eyed pretty girl. ]

Namiko honey im so sorry Raya is a bitch ass bitch

[undyingxiv]

READY, SET, ACTION! / Konan / Prologue Reaction

Things felt like they were happening too fast. 

Moving to Japan, getting into Hope’s Peak, and now AI talking to him? Konan feels like he’s in The Matrix, or Alien, or… any futuristic movie. Is what’s happening around him even real? He needs to take a breather, so he sits in his room for a few minutes.

First, he makes sure his baby camera, Canon-baby, is doing a-okay! It seems like she wasn’t hurt during his passing out. Actually, he passed out in front of the campus gates? What did he even eat? How many people saw him do something like that? He's relieved he’s already in Japan, since there’s gotta be no paparazzi following him or weird fans taking pictures of him, especially after… uh.

No point in worrying about that now. Hey, this sofa is pretty comfy. Look at that, a remote! Konan picked it up and played around with the light settings, making it dark, then light again, then dark, then light-

.

.

.

Ah. He’s getting dizzy. With that in mind, he accidentally pressed a button that changed the simulated background. It’s now cute pink clouds, kind of relaxing really. He likes it! Konan approved.

Now that he thinks about it, it feels awesome to be a part of such a technologically advanced school! A kinda cute AI, a super cool wristwatch that’s also a door key, what else is there?! Perhaps a mega camera with all the cool bits and configs he needs. He won’t know if it actually exists or not, unless he looks for it, like he’s Indiana Jones. That AI guy seemed really nice; maybe they know something about the alleged super cool mega camera that Konan’s made up in his head.

After another quick snoop around his room (mostly just admiring the pink clouds), he decided to do what any good adventure movie protag would do, and that is get into dangerous but fun and rewarding journeys! And explore. He’s going to explore now, and hopefully meet some of his classmates.

[shslraya]

Raya wasn’t all that impressed by the display of technology, but she digressed. This school was just something to endure rather than enjoy, considering she hadn’t even wanted to come here in the first place. At least they had the common sense to make it as luxurious as possible for their students, though she had stayed at better places by a long shot.

She stared at him as he introduced himself as if she was supposed to recognise him, pausing for a long time.

[ ... who? ]

She shot him a terrifying glare at his comment, immediately writing in annoyance.

[ YOU HIT ME WITH YOUR FUCKING DOOR YOU INCOMPETENT IRRITATING NUMBSKULL. HOW THE FUCK AM I PAPARAZZI WHEN YOU HIT ME WITH YOUR DOOR AS I WAS WALKING PAST? ]

However, she was caught a little off guard as he announced that he had no idea who Stella was. Huh. [ Stella Lukova. huh. i figured you’d be one of the boys who DMs her every day with an essay long poem declaring your love for her. she’s a big social media figure, few million followers and all that. she’s had a movie offer or two, but i don’t know if she took it or not. ]

Her irritation only grew as he pulled out a camera, refusing to humour him for a moment as she scoffed and held up her notebook.

[ ultimate fuck up. ]