Trying to befriend people is harder than Ace and Sabo make it look.

Kyo staring across the table at her new roomie whilst bringing her coffee to her lips, taking a small sip and watching as the brunette mirrors her action, the two both seem to struggle with socialization apparently. 

The redhead's stare briefly shifting toward her phone as it buzzes beside her coffee, taking note of the incoming message from Ace lighting up on-screen before her attention returns to Lotte;

Ace:

"We're having a party tonight, come join otherwise we'll gate-crash your new apartment!"

Gate-crash? Does that mean inviting themselves over?  

"So...you gotta boyfriend or somethin'?" Lotte playfully inquires, her brown orbs flicking between the phone and her roommate, clear discomfort traversing across her features although there's no indication as to why. 

"I have friends who are male, if that's what you mean...?" 

"No, I mean are you dating anyone? And will you please put your eyes away?" And there it is, the reason for her discomfort. 

"No, I--! M-My eyes?" Kyo's gaze reluctantly trailing down toward the coffee in her hands once again, perhaps she was staring too intensely. "What about you, anyway? Are you and Barto an item?"

Lotte visibly grimacing at the mere suggestion as she shakes her head. "No, I just came out of a relationship...well, an engagement, actually."

"Oh? Who with?" She isn't even sure why she asked that question, it's not like she'd know the person regardless, she isn't exactly popular in this city.

"Charlotte Katakuri." Nevermind, seems she is familiar with him after all, silence filling the room as she gawks back up at the brunette in slight horror. "It was an arranged marriage, my uncle set it up." 

"Oh...Charlotte Katakuri..." Well, Kyo might complain about her father from time-to-time but at least he has never tried to force her into marriage, in fact she'll be willing to bet he would hit the roof if she got engaged - she wouldn't even be surprised if he killed the groom. "Why didn't the engagement work out?"

"Well..." The brunette hesitates for a moment, her eyes narrowing at the girl before her, seemingly trying to decide whether to trust her or not before continuing. It would seem they both have issues when it comes to opening up. "He ended it, I don't really know why...Katakuri isn't exactly the type to express his feelings, after all."

"Hm...I see. So, it was a painful ending to the relationship, yes?" Her little question earning a soft chuckle from Lotte although it does sound a little forced as she lightly shakes her head in disagreement, it would appear that the break-up has hurt her a little more than she wishes to let on.

"There's no hard feelings between us, although uncle Doffy wasn't too happy when he heard..."

"Doffy?" That name drawing a very vague frown to Kyo's face, it almost sounds familiar, as if she has heard it before from somewhere but she can't quite place it. 

Wasn't he a business owner of sorts? 

"Oh, Doflamingo. Sorry, I forgot only the family calls him Doffy." 

Donquixote?

Yes, she has heard about him. 

Businessman, conman, colourful past and very likely a criminal. 

Mihawk has always encouraged his daughter to stay far away from that flamboyant man during events and now here she is, living with his niece who seems to have a very close relationship with him.

The redhead's tongue awkwardly poking at the inside of her cheek as she slowly processes the information. "And you're his niece...so would that make him Trafalgar's father?" Of all the guy's to catch her attention.  

"Oh, no-no, Law was adopted by Rocinante." Lotte explains with a discreet grin, leaning across the table, her elbows propped up on the surface and her fingers entwined while her chin rests on top of her knuckles. "What made you ask about him~?"

Kyo can't quite help the slight heat rising to her cheeks as her heart thuds inside her chest although she does well to act nonchalant, a challenging smirk etched into her features as she carelessly shrugs her shoulders. "I merely thought we were speaking about our relatives."

"Oh? Well, I haven't heard anything about yours yet." The brunette's voice riddled with smugness, she and Law certainly have their wit in common, that's for sure. 

"There's not much to say, I have a father and that's about it, Dracule Mihawk."

"Wait, wait, your father is Hawk-eyes?!" Suddenly Lotte has lost her gull, the girl's eyes wide and mouth ever so slightly agape before slowly, she smiles to herself once again. "Well, that explains a lot!"

"Does everyone call him that?"

"Huh? Well, yeah...can you blame them? He does look like a hawk!" 

Another buzz catching both girls' attention, their gazes shifting down to Kyo's phone as another message displays itself on the screen. 

Ace: 

"Bring your roommate too if you want, it'll help you bond!"

A sigh drifting from the redhead lips while Lotte raises a curious brow, her brown eyes subtly peeking at the message before they shift back up to her new friend. "Who's Ace and why does he wanna meet me?"

"He's one of Edward Newgate's sons," Judging by how Lotte's eyes widen at that and how she nods her head, Kyo would assume she's quite aware of who Newgate is, not that it should come as a shock if she's Doflamingo's niece. They're both businessmen after all, surely they've dealt with each other in the past. "Ace is the middle child, I believe. And he likes parties, in fact he's throwing one tonight, if you're interested."

Apart of her really wishes that the brunette would decline the invitation so that she isn't obligated to attend either, however her hopes are shattered when the girl beams instead, excitement shining brightly in her eyes. 

"Sure, I'll go! What time does it start?" 

Of course...

Kyo's eyes narrowing at the answer while her hand reaches for the phone, taking a moment to text Ace back and let him know that they'll both be there, since making her roommate go alone would be rather rude. 

A tiny pout etching into her features as she sends her reply, her dark eyes meeting Lotte's as she releases a soft huff. 

"I'd wager it's already begun."

But at least the party gives her the golden opportunity to snap some more pictures for her wall. 

I wonder what kind of film the camera takes...