thenearshore | [Open]

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Who: Shin and Open
When: December 8th - 10th (bass shopping) or 24th (Other things)
Where: All over
What: A bit of a catch all for things Shin's doing his first weeks here

I. Bass Instincts Ahahaha see, I said the username, that's kinda like saying the title right?
Adrien had told him to get himself a bass, along with some clothes. He was given full reign on it, much to his shock. That didn't mean that he wasn't going to be conservative... with the clothes. The bass he seems determined to find the perfect instrument. He'd gotten three days worth of clothes on the first day, then went to the nearest music shop and tried every bass in the place. He'd then gone to the next nearest one, trying everything there as well. He left most of the people he'd talked with confused, as he couldn't tell them what kind of music he planned to play, or what kind of feel he liked best, or what string type he liked most. The first person he couldn't even tell if he prefered strumming with his thumb or a pick. Yet every time he played well enough that it left the attendant shocked. And then he handed the bass back each time, feeling like it wasn't right.

He didn't quite connect the glares he was getting with him lighting up his cigarette in the store. Sure, a lot of people seemed to be willing to forgive it when they heard him playing, though there seemed a few even more pissed at him over it. Sure, it's not technically illegal in Tokyo to smoke in stores, but public opinion has shifted since he had developed his habit of smoking where ever he felt like. At least he carries around a disposable pouch for his cigarette butts so he's not littering too much. He found himself still lighting up as he starts to realize what the glares are for, the irritation of not being able to find something that felt quite right starting to get to him.

II. I got Twenty Dollas in my Pocket
Shin finally finds a bass, and so he spends the next several days looking through thrift shops, finding for himself new clothes. He is pretty consistently drawn to the designer suits hidden in the back of some of these places, usually with all kinds of holes that made them unwearable to their previous owner, but gave Shin a ton of possibilities. Between his obvious leaning in style once he started picking out clothes and Marinette at least being able to teach him how to mend, he was thrilled to be getting all kinds of clothes second hand. It might be difficult to find him under the pile of band shirts while he looks through countless old shoes for things that might fit him in the back of a overstuffed store. His favourites all tend to share major design elements with 90's era Vivienne Westwood. He likes a touch of leather fringes, platform shoes, and upholstery type fabrics mixed in with his plaid pants with hanging belts and band tees. It's not long before he's picking out all the icons of early 2000's punk fashion.

IIIa. Hello from the Other Side
It didn't matter that Adrien insited that Shin shouldn't feel like he needed to pay anything back. Shin knew he'd want to be able to have his own money to spend without worrying about bothering Adrien for it. He didn't want to make things hard on Adrien, having already noticed his own expensive tastes. Not to mention, he couldn't secretly get Adrien his own bass for Christmas with Adrien's money. That just wouldn't feel right.

He'd gone out searching for jobs, and after passing over a lot of other options, he'd stayed out later than he had before, trying to get jobs in bars. Most bars thought that he wasn't old enough looking to work there and didn't want trouble. He worked his way deeper into the city, and before he knew it he was surrounded by some things he was pretty sure would make his god blush, but he felt drawn to. Expensive clothes, expensive drinks, big lights. It took almost no time for him to decide to start asking some of the men if they knew anywhere that was hiring. A few of the men he'd asked laughed, called him too little, or didn't seem to notice him at all, which he suspected was going to be the biggest issue of all.

Finally he found a group that were willing to humor him. They told him that if he, said with some words about his baby face, could get a girl's number that night, then he would be able to work at their place. It doesn't take him that long to realize that they didn't really notice him since he's dead. He decides to stop his first approach and instead waited to find a certain kind of person. He looked around for girls that looked overwhelmed by the lights and pretty people. Sure, it might be kind of like taking advantage of someone, but it was just a number. The moment the right kind of girl hesitated nearby against a building, Shin lands on his hand in front of her, slamming his palm against the wall. It would be hard to miss that sound, even if he was otherwise easy to miss. But he wasn't putting on some cheesy tough line, he's instead asking with a surprising gentleness, "Is everything alright, miss?"

IIIb. This is Fine
It works at least once during the night, though it's possible they egg him on to get another number. By the end of the night, though, he's agreed to work at the host club and set up his first working days. It was nice to see that he'd have a pretty flexible schedule, mostly working when he decided to come in. Of course, it would be having regulars that brought in the best cash. It was an easy swing to get into, and one he enjoyed. He mostly did daytime and early evening dates so he'd not worry Adrien too much with nights out, but he knew that was where the real cash was, and it was bothering him to be missing out on it.

But he was worried that Adrien would judge, so he hadn't actually told basically anyone from the Far Shore, at least anyone that hadn't gotten caught up in his trying to get a number, that he'd gotten this job yet. Not when Adrien gave off this rather disgustingly obvious vibe of overly sheltered rich boy. It wasn't that Shin held it against him, but he didn't need to remember anything about his life to know that Adrien's type did not really get involved in this kind of business unless they were the ones paying for the date. Needless to say, if he recognizes anyone as being from the far shore, while he's entering, leaving, or taking a cigarette break outside of the club, he'll be trying to blend in with the surroundings as best as he can.

He's definitely not hiding, he's just trying to make things run smoother.

IV. Riverside Music
Shin usually practiced bass in one of the studios he had access to, either in Adrien's mansion or with Yui at Mirei's place, but sometimes it is nice to actually get some sun. He found that one of the bridges over the river in the Far shore actually gave pretty great acoustics, so some afternoons he can be found out there, practicing some kind of rock music, though it almost all leans towards grunge and punk. He's able to pick things up quickly, playing most songs decently well after a day or two without the tabs in front of him. He is able to play things much faster with tabs in front of him, and even has an app and a stand for his phone so he had access to a much larger list of music than he could easily carry printed out. The portable amp was already more than enough bulk attached to the guitar case.

V. Wildcard/Other Did we discuss something else? Got an idea that didn't fit into the others? I'm still open to it. I'll let you know if there's any reason something wouldn't work.

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He could practically hear his own voice from Joss's mouth as he pushes his definitely-a-joke. It's a method he'd used all too often. Offer something preposterous in a slightly joking tone, and if they aren't receptive, just pretend it was supposed to be funny.

"But I'm not as young as you," he says, his voice strained. "I'm not going to use you to lure in women for money, Joss," he insists, fear in his eyes. God, was this how he started? Did he have a brother figure that did this work or something?

More importantly, how the hell does he help him?

Shin is scared.

That surprises Joscelin. What on earth had he said? He'd made a business proposal, not a very serious one, and been rejected. That should have been the end of it. Instead...

"Are you...trying to protect me?" Joss's voice is quiet, thoughtful. "You are, aren't you? I'm not some silly infant in need of saving, you know. I'm perfectly capable of making my own decisions."

Shin's phone goes off, and he takes a moment to look at it, needing to figure out what he has to say. He types back with one hand a quick message before looking to Joss, "I know. You're anything but some kind of infant."

He stops at a vending machine, buying as much time as it takes to get two beers. It was a rarity to find these machines anymore, but this one is hidden in a bit of an alcove in an alleyway that advertises cheap hourly rooms at the motel hidden in the depths. He hands one to Joss with a sigh and slumps against the wall, dropping his head back to look up at the starless sky. "But you're right. I want to protect you," he covers his face, "but it's not because you're a kid. It'd be the same if you were my age, so... let's pretend you are for a bit." Maybe it might make it feel a little like he had to be the adult, or like he was trying to lecture a kid. He doubted that would get them anywhere.

"Just, ignore me on the phone. Adrien can tell somethings up, I'm letting him know everything's fine." And maybe even getting him to come over.

Joscelin is just as surprised by the beer as everything else Shin has said in the last five minutes. "This is for me, really?" He pops can open but doesn't drink just yet. He stares at it as if he doesn't quite know what to do with it. Shin really is treating him like an adult, like an equal, and he isn't sure how to respond.

He watches Shin type furiously on the phone for several seconds with those same large, innocent eyes. "How does he know something's up?" he asks before taking a cautious sip of the alcohol.

"Really, Shin, you're not making any sense. What did I say? What has you so frightened?"

Shin frowns, "Your god can feel when you're upset." Didn't Joss's god ever check in on him?

He stares at his phone, desperate for an answer. He takes a drink from his beer, able to juggle it with his cigarette so he can also still smoke. He sighs, fidgeting. "I know you were joking," he starts, but then sharply says, "no." He looks sternly at Joss, "I know you were pretending it was just a joke." He closes his eyes, turning his head away from Joss, "It's the same thing I do all the time. You're trying to avoid conflict, so you can say it's just a joke when people are shocked, or disgusted."

His phone goes off again, and he shoots off another quick message with a furrowed brow. He glances to Joss again, "I don't know how to say it." Even if he was speaking Swedish, he wouldn't be able to find the words to explain to Joss why he suddenly felt this existential dread. "I can see the direction you're going, and it's not one that's good." He takes another drink of his beer, and gets himself some more nicotine.

"And what if I was?" Joss shoots back, getting defensive. "What if you're being too bloody sensitive?"

He wants to get up and leave, run away from Shin and all the uncomfortable emotions inside him. He clenches the beer can in his hand and swears when it crumples, sending alcohol shooting up onto his sleeve. "Shit!" The boy glares at Shin like it's his fault.

"You don't know anything about me, so stop pretending that you do. You're not my brother. You're just some asshole I let get too close." He's shaking now. "Get away from me."

Shin walks like he's going to listen, to leave, but he only gets between Joss and the street. "I do know. I know because you're just like me. You're so much like me it hurts. Because it hurts being me. It's painful and overwhelming and I can't help but hate myself," he's shaking, wondering vaguely what Adrien must be thinking, feeling this overwhelming sense of terror and despair for Joss. "But I don't hate you, or seeing it in you. I'm terrified for you, because I don't want you to hurt like me."

Joss throws the can on the ground. "I never asked you to care!" His eyes are stinging. Why does he cry when he gets mad? It's so stupid and weak. "I never asked you to take me on as your...your project." He spits the word out like it has a foul taste. He's angry and upset and it's all Shin's fault.

He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

"Let me pass."

Shin glares at Joss, his phone going off again, but Shin doesn't check it. Adrien could wait. He's standing in the way still, "You don't ask people to care about you, idiot!" He's trying not to shout, he really is, "It's not like I chose to care about you, either. But I do." Why does he have to care about some brat of a kid?

"You're not a project, Joss. You're a friend. Isn't this what friends are supposed to do for each other?" He's not doing a good job of being quiet, so if Adrien's missed his mark, he won't have to look all that hard to find his Shinki, blocking Joss from running away from him as he tries to tell him why it hurt so much to see him act like that. He throws his beer down the alleyway with a frustrated shout "And don't act like I'm a horrible person for caring," his voice cracks and he whispers, "it's the same thing I do."

Having felt that terror Adrien didn't know what to make of it - it could have been an ayakashi or something. And since Shin didn't answer him even when he ported over it worried him. Being able to sense Shin it helped him to find him. Not that he wouldn't have. The instant he'd arrived he'd transformed and took his baton out to get started in searching for his shinki. He should have known he would find himself here.

Could Adrien even Miss them with that shouting and his Chat enhanced hearing? Nope! He's not even batting an eye at them being in this part of either. Shin's a big boy and he can do whatever he want as long as it falls under Adrien's rules few and strange though they are. He paused crouching on the roof to try and assess the situation but from what he's hearing it's not an ayakashi Shin's fighting.

Oh boy.

Those black cat ears on his head perk and he catches that whisper. It makes his ears droop into his blond hair. Nope, he doesn't like this. Taking his baton he's extending it and taking hold to slide down with it as it retracts. Soon those steel toed boots hit the street and Adrien is tucking his baton away without his usual flirty smile, playful hair toss and Chatisms. This time he's just speaking softly seriously.

"You're not horrible, Shin." A gloved and clawed hand rests on Shin's shoulder as Chat moves to him. "You're doing a good job. You're not horrible - you're nothing even remotely bad." As he speaks Joss and Shin might see a hint of sharp feline teeth in his mouth

"Get out of my way!" Joss punches the wall of the building next to him, leaving a sizable dent. "I don't want you to care! I want to be left alone!" He's stubbornly holding back tears at this point, not wanting to give Shin the satisfaction of seeing them fall. He goes to push Shin aside, when--

"...Who the fuck is this freak?"

Edited 2018-07-16 06:02 (UTC)

Shin glares at Joss, "That is Adrien." He wanted to do... something, but he also still wanted to help Joss. He looks to Adrien, still shaken. Somehow Adrien's assurances aren't helping right now.

"I know you want to be this tough little hardass punk kid, Joss, but can you drop the act for five minutes and let me help? You're not fooling anyone." And Shin had to wonder if he was really fooling anyone either. "You don't want me to care," he growls, "But when you saw that I was scared you were worried, weren't you?" It had been concern he'd caught, right? "You were worried about me, and I didn't ask you to be either. But you were anyway." Shin steps forward again, in a way that might prompt a hand on his shoulder from the more level-headed boy in their group, "Go on, tell me how you didn't really care."

"Okay, First? Rude. Second, Don't do that you'll hurt yourself and you're damaging city property."

At that glance Adrien gives a little nod of his head. He's here. He's going to help as best he can. He was worried and he's still concerned but this is Shin's friend. He'll let him do what he feels he needs to.

Unless it makes things worse. Just. Like. That. Mon Dieu. Adrien tightened his hold on Shin's shoulder bringing his left hand up to his mouth. Kitten fangs are taking hold of the leather of his glove and drawing it off slowly, a seam of gleaming green power appearing where the suit parts to allow for the removal. He's tucking it carefully between his belt and his waist.

"No one really wants to be alone and uncared for. You can say that all you want but it's not true. Not for you. Not for Shin. Not for anyone." His hold on his Shinki's shoulder tightened. "Why don't we go back to the temple and you two sober up and sleep this off to talk in the morning?"

“I was—“ Joss whispers, choking back what may sound suspiciously like a sob, “I didn’t—“ He punches the wall again, too angry now to articulate clearly. He glares up at both Shin and Adrien, eyes bright with unshed tears. “You don’t understand,” he seethes, “neither of you.”

A third punch, and the wall now has a large crack in it in addition to the dents. Joscelin doesn’t know his own inhuman strength in the best of circumstances, but now that he’s losing control he could bring down the entire wall without really meaning to.

His fangs are well and truly out now, too. He looks less and less like a child with every passing second, as his vampiric nature threatens to take hold. He doesn’t understand what’s going on, what’s happening to him. He just knows he’s angry, and that he wants to hurt them to make it better.

Shin's attention is suddenly drawn to the wall. He'd not really registered before that the wall had been anything besides old and crappy, but that crack went right up the building.

Adrien and Shin hadn't had any real encounters with ayakashi besides a few bells that were destroyed with a single strike. Shin's just human. Normal, every day human. Human from a world without magic. Where the scariest thing was dying young and tragically... or old, alone, and unknown. There's an instinctual fear now, this wasn't some ayakashi he was designed to destroy, and that fear of being the next thing on the menu is something Shin has never actually felt before.

He stumbles back, tripping over the cut out heel of his platform shoes. He lands pretty lightly, all things considered, but it's pretty clear he's freezing up. His fingers are in that position he'd practiced to make a line, but this was Joss. He didn't want to make a line between himself and Joss.

A scowl tugged at Adrien's lips. Nope he's got to stop this kid. He's no ayakashi or akuma but there is one thing at his disposal that would work. Hopefully. He's kneeling down to Shin taking hold of his arm as if to guide him up but that isn't what happens. Those green eyes meet Shin's and for a fraction of a second he's willing his Shinki to understand what he doesn't say before he's breathing out, "Come, 真器."

When Adrien stands and rights himself he's got Shin's vessel form firmly in hand. His left hand gripping the neck and his fingers moving into place. His eyes are half closed. He instinctively knows the chords he needs - taking a soft breath he's starting to play. Now that he's playing there's a subtle little sway to his body as his eyes focus on Joss. That's where he's directing all of Shin's power and all of his own intentions.

'Calm down. Relax. You're safe. You're fine. You're around friends. No one is going to hurt you.' As if maybe if he wills it hard enough that it will take and Joss really will calm down. He needs him to. The last thing he wants to do is knock out his Shinki's friend but he won't risk people getting hurt either. That's not what Chat Noir does - in or out of the suit.

Joscelin charges forward when Adrien calls Shin, ready for a fight, but the fight doesn’t come. Instead, Adrien just starts....playing. Joscelin stops and looks at the cat god with a confused expression on his face. Isn’t he going to fight? Shouldn’t there be blood? That’s all the little vampire knows. But now he feels so tired...

The boy sways slightly as the power in the music takes hold. Why was he fighting? What was he upset about?

Two large, fat tears trickle down his cheeks.

“I...”

The boy sways again and then topples over, fast asleep.

Shin lets out a breath of relief, "Good thinking." He'd not even thought of his vessel form.

"Can you take him back to the mansion? I should at least close out for the night," he says with a sigh. It's still relatively early in the night for him, and he hadn't been picked as anyone's shimei that night. "My break's probably only another few minutes long," he admits, "But I don't want to just leave you alone with him after you came all the way out here."

Edited 2018-07-17 00:25 (UTC)

Adrien winced seeing Joss fall because reflexes were fast but not that fast. "Revert, Shin." He's holding his hand out letting his Shinki revert to human form before nodding. "Yeah.. I got this. I've carried people before." He's already moving, kneeling to look him over. He's not seeing any real damage though which is a good thing.

"It's fine. He'll be out a while. I'm pretty sure he's going to be asleep a while." Sliding his arms up under the little vampire he's scooping, Joss up; carefully cradling the boy to his chest. "I'll wait for you. It'll be fine. I've got him for now. If you can call it a night early that's fine. If not that's okay too. Either way, we're taking him back to the temple. Do you know who his god is? I could contact them and let them know he's safe at the very least."

"I don't," he says frowning, "He barely mentions him. All I know is that he says that his god just lets him do whatever off on his own." It was all too negligent for Shin's tastes, but he knew it was useless to try to to convince Joss that there was something wrong with your god being so distant.

He starts a cigarette he knows he won't be able to finish - there's no smoking in the club, at least for the hosts. "I'll talk to my boss and see what she says. She can be pretty strict, but she seems to have a soft spot for kids." Like him. It's part of how he managed to get the job, aside of just proving that he's at least capable when not put into a crowd, though sometimes it was nice to have someone to just pad the numbers at a table.

".... That's not good. I swear. I don't know who his god is but if I ever find out I'm going to be giving them an earful." He's scowling, adjusting Joss in his arms. "This is no way to let your shinki be especially one of this age. He's a child." Likely not but even so.... It's dangerous just letting him wander about alone."

Adrien exhaled then nodded. "Right. I'm going to hop up to the roof and wait for you. That way we're out of the way if people pass by. The last thing I need is people seeing me dressed like this holding a passed out kid." He's moving back toward the alley, then making use of some things back there to jump easily up onto the roof. He walks along it before crouching int the shadows - tucking himself and Joss out of sight.

Shin's out in less than ten minutes, walking a little away from the club before waiting for Chat to drop in. "Mamasan let me end my shift early since none of my girls are in," he says with a smile, "I called him my little brother without thinking, and she was happy to let me go."

He will wait for Adrien to teleport before joining him and helping him get Joss into a room.

Chat hopped down an effortless, light landing. He didn't even jostle Joss much. "That's good. I'm glad she was so kind." Adrien smiled slightly before his belt tail wrapped around Shin's waist; it's a habit now. It'd started with Marinette, continued with Snake, and now Shin...

He's teleporting the three of them back. On booted feet he's making his way back into the mansion and carrying Joss toward one of the spare rooms - stepping inside he's making his way to the bed. He's careful about settling Joss in.

It took them a few minutes to get the first aid kit and clean up his knuckles. Adrien had to take off his other glove to do it without accidentally hurting him but between both of them working together they had Joss cleaned up in no time; even the little scrape on his cheek and temple from where he fell was taken care of. Then there was the task of stripping away his coat and his shoes before tucking him in. It was an easier task when the two of them shared it rather than just one trying to do it on their own.

"I'll snag him some spare clothes later. It'll be fine. We should leave him to rest. He'll have questions in the morning. Let's go eat some cheese Plagg and catch some sleep." Adrien is letting his transformation drop. He's already stepping from the room to head for the kitchen to do exactly what he'd planned for.

Edited 2018-07-17 06:46 (UTC)

Joscelin doesn't know where he is.

The bed--far bigger and grander than the one he has at Nari's temple--and the room aren't familiar. When he runs to the window in his bare feet, the view is unfamiliar. He doesn't recognize any of it. How did he get here? The last thing he remembers is Shin buying him a drink and then...nothing.

Had he gotten drunk and passed out?

That might explain why his coat smells like a brewery.

Mystified, and a little frightened, the boy turns the door handle and winces when he sees bandages around his hand. A hallway mirror reveals that that wasn't his only injury; there are bandaids on his face as well despite the fact that he has no memory of hurting himself. So how...?

"...Hello?" he calls, hoping that he's in friendly territory. There's no answer.

Joscelin wanders the halls for several minutes, getting progressively more and more lost. Just how big is this place? He comes to what looks like a sitting room or grande salon with a massive piano in one corner and pauses to rest. "Hello?" he calls again. Still no answer.

Figuring he ought to stay put a little longer, lest he get even more lost, Joscelin turns to the piano. There's something rather familiar about it. He fingers the keyboard and is surprised to realize that there's muscle memory there. He knows how to play.

Within minutes, the Allegro from Mozart's Piano Sonata 1 in C can be heard coming from the room. Joss is so entranced by his newfound talent that he forgets to be scared by this new turn of events.

Edited 2018-07-17 06:59 (UTC)

Shin could just hear the piano music in his sleep, and maybe that faintness is what made his mind start to wake up so he could investigate. Sure, Adrien played often enough, but if Adrien knew he was still sleeping he wouldn't play one of the pianos that could be heard from Shin's room.

Besides, it sounded different than Adrien's playing. There was something about how the player's fingers must be lingering on the keys, he's guessing. It was different from Adrien's crispness. He stands up and heads to the piano room the song had to be coming from, still wearing his pale blue cotton pajamas bottoms. For once his hair is flat and there's no piercings in his face or ears. He gets to the door and peeks in, having already realized the phantom musician must be Joss. He smiles a little to see him there, lost in the music.

It was good they brought him back.

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