• F • R • A • C • T • U • R • E •

Who: Ella and Ash
Where: Around the grounds
When: Around noon

Ella was still trying to make sense of everything that had occurred to her in the last twenty-four hours. She went to bed slightly buzzed and woke up in a strange new place with clothing she would never be caught dead wearing. It didn't take her long to realize she wasn't in her own time period and the first question that entered her mind was - how did I get here? You would think that the clothes alone would be a dead giveaway about her location (not necessarily how she got there), but no the atmosphere was what convinced her this was real and the strange new smells she was encountering verified that. She looked down, noticing the colors and pattern of her attire and wondered if it meant anything. She decided to spend the day looking for people wearing similar outfits and quickly learned the significance once she did. The information intrigued her.

It took her a few hours to accept her new reality, but she soon found herself embracing it and deciding to make the best of this situation. This was a new place to explore and she was going to seize the opportunity to do just that. She liked the change of scenery, especially because back at the hotel she was starting to get a little stir crazy. At first it was amusing to try to leave only to end up in someone's room or a utility closet, but after a while she was certain it would get old - not that she knew for a fact since she had only tried to leave twice and both times she ended up in some random closet. As she walked around the grounds of Lavel she took the time to notice who was around, what they were doing and since she knew her role in this place it was easy to return to her duties if she felt bored by the amount of free time on her hands.

Who: Mai and Ash
Where: The banquet
When: evening

Mai had woken up to the weirdest of situations. She was in a room that wasn't Ash's room, which was alarming, but more than that was the time period. She was loving the clothes, but as she did her best to get situated she realized that she wasn't just any old guest in the castle but very, very much betrothed to the prince of this kingdom. She'd spent countless hours hearing about him but it wasn't until she was seated next to the man that she had a chance to meet him. And sure, she could have done worse as far as arrange marriages went but Mai wasn't the type to do anything anyone told her.

She'd introduced herself as Anne and the prince, who's name she'd forgotten was chatting her ear off as she scanned the banquet from her place at the head table. The worst of the fear she'd been feeling through the day as she realized it wasn't dream had subsided when she spotted others from the hotel, familiar faces here and there, but after spotting her sister and Ronin her eyes were looking for one person.

( almost a princess at least )

Who: Mai and Ash
Where: Courtyard, his room
When: Late afternoon
Warning - NSFW

There was no doubt in her mind, Mai had Ash in mind the entire time she got ready. Yes, she’d considered her sister and Ronin and what that might mean and hoping that things were fine there and she wouldn’t be putting up with a heartbroken Kai. There was no need for Kai to be heartbroken. Ronin wouldn’t let her down. But that was nothing compared to the way Ash had dominated her thoughts. In the morning, she was thinking more of what he was, who he was. If everything he’d told her was true, he was a big deal. A real one. And one that liked her. It had her nervous, and going through most of her suitcase before finding the right dress, something short and flirty in a light floral, flattering on her frame and perfect with a looser hairstyle. Her makeup was done, her hair curled all of it, and she draped a loose cardigan over it, giving the whole thing sort of a dreamy look or so she hoped.

She started heading towards his room, but he didn’t answer when she knocked. Mai was confused about where to go from there, but she wound up heading down towards the lobby, exploring the hotel slowly until she found the courtyard, surprised by the room as a whole. She wondered if Kai had seen this place yet. This would be right up her alley.

( getting what you want )

Who: Ash and Bianca
Where: The elevator
When: Early afternoon

Ash was thinking about Mai and sort of absently wandering down the hall outside his room toward the elevators. He was trying to decide what he felt like doing. He had a planning notebook and his laptop under his arm. He really needed to get out of his room; he wanted to see what Mai was doing. He needed to get work done. He pushed the button and stepped into the elevator. He settled against the back wall after pushing the button for the lobby. He’d work first and then go see Mai. There was only a brief sensation of going down when the car stopped and the doors opened again. They almost began to close again when Ash heard a shriek of frustration outside them.

“Oh my fucking… hold the fucking door, please!” Bianca demanded loudly. She’d been fast walking down the hall away from Kyle’s room with her suitcase rocking on its wheels behind her. She’d been about to pull the case into the elevator when it had toppled, pulling her wrist at a slightly painful angle and holding her back. Which just added to her aggressive frustration. She almost kicked the elevator doors but Ash had managed to push the button to send the doors open again.

( May I call you Ben? )

Who: Mai and Ash, later Ronin
Where: Mai’s Room
When: Early morning

Ash woke and almost startled to find someone else in the bed with him. Then the memories of the evening before flooded in and he felt a slow smile spread across his face. It was definitely strange to wake up spooning someone when he hadn’t shared a bed for years. But he liked it. Because it was Mai. She had awakened things in him last night that he’d thought were long forgotten or dead. And she’d definitely jump-started his libido again. He couldn’t wait to find out what else she would bring to the surface. It could only be good things. He lowered his face then and pressed a kiss to the back of her shoulder, not wanting to wake her but feeling the desire to bestow some sort of affectionate token on her while she slept.

Mai had fallen peacefully asleep, which was good considering just the afternoon before she’d been plotting the demise of her career with one missed photoshoot. But then there had been Ash. And he’d just taken all the fear and the worries away. How could she be worried when he was there, when he seemed to capable. When he kissed her shoulder she shifted in her sleep, stirring slightly. She stretched a little before turning to see him there. Unlike him, she’d shared a bed with someone recently, but didn’t always wake up as clothed as she was right now. Still, she wasn’t surprised to see him over her shoulder, just pleasantly amused that he was still there. “Morning,” she greeted softly, turning so she was facing him, head tucked under his chin.

( You're either shit at being a Rockstar or you're in love with someone else. )

Who: Mai and Ash
Where: Mai’s Room
When: Late

Mai had wandered with Kai for a while, trying to find a way out but eventually they got nowhere. Mai had given up and gone back to her room for a nap and maybe to mope some, but that only entertained her until it got dark and she realized she was stuck. Really stuck. Photoshoot missed, life possibly missed and there was no escape. She lay on the bed for a long while before Ash came to mind and as soon as he was there he wasn't going away.

It didn't take long for her to get up, dig an oversized sweater out of her bag and throw it on over the tank top and jeans she had and leave her room to head to his. He might not want to see her, but it was worth a shot.

Ash had settled in his room for a while with his journals. He spent a good deal of time refining several new non-profit plans. He really didn't need to but it was keeping his mind occupied and also precluding him from pacing endlessly through hallways or the lobby. He felt like a tiger in a cage and it was slowly burning in the back of his thoughts. He knew if he didn't defuse the situation he was going to cause some damage of some sort.

When he'd written and re-written and re-arranged and proofed until he couldn't stand to even think about the causes he was attempting to aid with the non-profits, he thought about eating. Something he hadn't done all day. He didn't really feel like doing that alone which was when he thought of Mai and wondered if she'd eaten. Maybe he'd go find her, make sure she was okay. Ask her if she'd like to join him for a late dinner or something. He left his room and took the stairs quickly, entering the third floor hallway as she was coming out of her room. He chuckled to himself at the fact they'd met this way the last time. "Hey," he said.

( Normal guy. Normal handsome, warm guy. )

Who: Mai and Ash
Where: Wandering the hotel
When: Morning

Mai didn’t think this was the hotel they’d stopped in. Sure, it was late when they finally pulled over to find a place to crash, but hadn’t it been like a Holiday Inn or something? It definitely wasn’t a shithole, Kai had seen too many horror films and their parents watched the news too much to let them stay in really dumpy motels, but it was definitely a run of the mill hotel. That much, a sleepy eyed Mai remembered. She thought.

She’d gotten up when the alarm on her phone went off, heading straight for the bathroom, meaning to get ready, which meant doing her hair per the instructions the hair stylist had given her, then her base make up the same way and finding something comfortable to wear to the shoot, but the bathroom was different. Like fancy different. Giant claw foot tub, ornate shower curtain in gold, sink with brass handles and a giant mirror. Looking back at the room, that wasn’t much different, large four poster bed, an actual vanity with padded stool, as well as a small table and chair and dresser and closet. Mai looked around for the door that connected their two rooms, but didn’t see it and she was almost sure that had been there.

Finding it all too curious she went for her robe instead, a bright blue silky thing with flowers embroidered up one side throwing it on over the tank top and boyshorts she’d been sleeping in and heading for the door, being sure to grab her room key and the note next to it on the way. “Kai?” she called into the hallway, looking around.

( So that's all It would take to get you out of my bed? )