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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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.

Adrien had popped out before going to bed to get Joss some clothes. They're waiting in a stack in the kitchen; Adrien making approximate guesses at Joss's size. Though it's the piano that wakes him.That and the loud mews of kittens telling him there's someone in the temple. He's shushing them gently as he rolls out of bed and shuffling from his room upstairs and down the massive stair case down into the main floor where his Steinway is.

Gripping the banister he's rubbing at his eyes sleepily before scratching at one of his scars with his fingers. Adrien hasn't bothered to hide any of them and he slept in baggy black sleeper pants now rather than a full pajama set. "Oh look he's awake and he doesn't seem any worse for the wear. That's good. How's your head and your hand?"

He's not sure what story he and Shin wanted to tell Joss. What they should tell him. That he punched a building? That he flipped out? Adrien doesn't think that is a good idea at all so he's holding it back. If anything he'll just lie and tell Joss that he'd passed out after getting kind of tipsy with Shin and let that be it.

At some point, Joss realizes he doesn't remember the other movements of the Mozart sonata, so he moves on to Debussy and Clair de Lune. He's so engrossed in playing that he doesn't realize there are other people in the room until Adrien speaks. He shuts the key cover with an audible slam and jumps off the bench in full fight or flight mode.

"Who are you?" he demands.

Looking beyond the unfamiliar teen, he sees Shin. "Where is this?"

Shin walks in and puts his hand on Adrien's shoulder, "That's 'my precious Adrien'." No, he hadn't told Adrien that Joss had said something like that about how Adrien thinks of him.

"Relax, Joss, you're just at Adrien's temple. Did you sleep well?" He's smiling brightly, as if nothing strange had happened at all. It was easier to pretend it didn't happen than it was to figure out so quickly how he felt about it.

" 'Your precious Adrien', huh? I'm not sure if I should be flattered or tell you I'm a very taken cat." He laughs raking his fingers through his hair. "I'm Adrien this is the Bast portion of the Bast-Fortuna temple. We brought you here after you and Shin had a teeny bit too much to drink. Nice to meet you."

Because for all Adrien knows that's completely what did happen. "How're your injuries?" He's gesturing to his hand and his band-aids. "You feeling okay?"

"...Oh." That doesn't feel right, but Joscelin racks his brain and can't find any reason to doubt what Adrien says. His memories are so hazy...

"I don't remember being brought here." He thinks he might have been angry at some point? But he can't recall why. He's often angry, though; maybe Adrien is right and he just couldn't handle his liquor well.

The boy looks down at his hand and flexes his fingers--which had just been so nimble on the keyboard a couple of minutes ago--experimentally. "A little sore. How did I hurt myself?"

For someone who lies for a living, he was really struggling with the idea of just flat out lying right now. He feels a pang of guilt even as Adrien is the one to lie because he goes along with it. What's more is that it grows as Joss asks for details. He tries his best to tell himself that if this is what Adrien thought to be right, then he shouldn't challenge him on it. Not a petty white lie like this.

But he's going to let Adrien cover for the soreness and the pain, "You were completely passed out."

"You were so deep in your drink that you kind of passed out on us. You hit the street like a bag of rocks which is why you're scraped up like that. My reflexes are fast but not that fast. But from what I can tell nothing was broken. You'll just be tender for a while, while you mend."

He's moving way from Shin closer to Joss. "You're good with the piano. If you want to keep playing you're more than welcome to come here and do that." Because this is Shin's friend and Adrien wants him to feel welcome and he doesn't want Shin to feel like he's trying to keep him from having friends over.

"I'm going to head to the kitchen, start on breakfast after putting food down for the kittens. Anything you guys want specifically?" Lying is second nature and it's so much easier when it isn't to Marinette or his father or even Shin.

He frowns; this really isn't adding up. Touching the bandages on his face, he winces when he finds a particularly deep scrape on his cheek. "Shin, I think you need to stop indulging me when I ask for alcohol," he says matter-of-factly, though he can't shake the wrongness that he feels. Maybe it's because he's hungry; he finds he needs to eat more and more lately to make up for the fact that he hasn't been able to consume life energy since his first afternoon in heaven.

He looks over to Adrien.

"Toast with butter and strawberry jam. And black tea with lots of sugar--at least three lumps of sugar."

Shin grins at Joss's immediate answer. He just laughs and says, "anything with coffee for me. It's about two hours before I'd normally be getting up." Even though he tried to keep his nights early it was rare for him to get back before two, but fortunately Adrien rarely needed him up early enough to cause conflict.

He goes over to Joss, "you might be right, but it's just so hard to say no," he teases. Which is a pretty big lie, since Shin really hadn't fallen prey to Joss's charms before.

"Might be a good idea. Black tea, super sweet, butter strawberry toast and coffee. I'll text when I'm done fixing it." Stretching he's moving into the kitchen and yes now there are a couple cats following him. One only has three legs, the other is extra tiny and bundled up in a little hoodie. He's crossing over into the kitchen and putting out food for the kittens and a bit extra for the snakes; it's a habit by this point.

Then it's over to the toaster with some homemade bread and he's starting coffee and putting on tea with a yawn. All and all it's a pretty standard breakfast for them since Adrien tends to keep it simple. He's digging out four plates, Shin's mug, his own, then a tea cup for Joss and a glass for some juice. Moving about the kitchen he's getting out the jam, cherry preserves, butters and his juice. He's pausing after pouring his juice, taking his phone out before sending Shin a text.

'Does Joss like sweet butter or salty on his toast?'

Putting the tea away he's getting out some cheese to cut up and a small hard roll that he's cutting the top from then scooping the center from - stuffing it with the cheese and moving to pop it in the oven.

Joscelin watches Adrien disappear towards what he imagines in the kitchen before he turns on Shin.

“I’m not stupid, you know,” he says conversationally, as if he’s commenting on the weather. “I may only have a couple weeks’ worth of memories but that doesn’t make me a naive, biddible babe-in-arms. You’re lying to me, aren’t you? Both of you. Or at least telling half truths.”

To illustrate, he begins unwinding the bandages around his scraped, bruised knuckles. “For instance, a person does not get injuries like these from just falling. These are offensive wounds; I obviously hit something. Hard.” Joscelin sighs and sits back down on the piano bench.

“I understand you’re trying to protect me, and I can’t really remember much about last night beyond a certain point. For all I know, you really did go against your own nature and let me have as much of a drink you’d previously denied me in fairly strong terms as I wanted. But I know there’s quite a bit more that you’re not telling me. I don’t use the word 'friend' lightly, but I consider you to be my friend, Shin. So if you value our friendship as much as I think you do, please cut the bullshit and tell me the whole truth.”

Edited 2018-07-20 00:45 (UTC)

Shin can feel his guilt gnawing at him. He worries about Adrien, because he knows that he's stinging him, and right now he's stuck between stinging Adrien more because Joss is going to keep guilting him, or stinging Adrien for telling the truth even though it was obvious that Adrien wanted to keep it hidden for some reason; probably to protect Joss.

He sighs, defeated, "We got in an argument. An argument I really don't want to get into again this early on. You got upset, so Adrien used my vessel ability to calm you down. You fell asleep and it was late so we brought you home." Shin checks his phone, figuring it was Adrien asking if everything was okay, but it's just a mundane question.

"We can go into it after breakfast if you really want to, but Adrien wants to know if you prefer sweet or salted butter." He already looks tired, just trying to be fair with Joss.

There's a sound from the toaster as the six slices of bread pop; toasted a warm golden brown. Adrien might be humming as he collects them - weaving around the counter and the kittens who are eating with soft omnomnom-noises. Placing them all on one plate he's picking up a butter knife only to drop it back to the counter as guilt spikes thought his chest.

He hadn't expected it. Not really. It must be something going on with Shin and Joss. Maybe Shin felt bad for lying. Maybe he felt bad for Joss's injuries. Adrien doesn't know but he's sucking in a breath between his teeth. Reaching for his phone again he's sending a second text.

'You need to relax. I don't know what's going on but you did nothing wrong.'- AA

Things he's had to say no less than four times this week - he could give these kinds of words and forgiveness to everyone but himself. Good going, Agreste. It takes a bit for him to get himself in check to swallow down that twinge of guilt and the sting that pulsed with it.

How...anticlimactic. Joscelin can tell there is still much, much more to the story than Shin is letting on, but he decides to leave it there for now. He can tell that this is already profoundly affecting his friend. What had he said? What had he done? It must have been significant to leave Shin so shaken.

He nods; that'll be enough for now. He isn't even sure if he wants to find out about the rest just now. Maybe he needs to give it some more time.

When Shin repeats Adrien's request, he blinks. "Uh. Salted, I suppose."

Maybe it's time for them all to regroup. He gets off the bench and heads off in towards where Adrien had disappeared off to, figuring Shin will correct any mistakes should he make them.

Shin sighs, relieved. He shouldn't be so easily bothered by Joss, but here he was. He smiles at Joss, falling into step with him and guiding him towards the kitchen as he texts back, "Salted. He knew we were lying, so I told him we argued and we put him to sleep and brought him back here. I don't know if lying about it is the best idea."

The mansion is big, but not so big that it takes them much longer after Shin texts back to get to the kitchen, "Adrien's a pretty great cook, too."

He's already busied himself with taking Plagg's breakfast from the oven to cool the kwami curled up against the blond's bare shoulder, nestled against his neck. The tea is seeping and coffee nearly finished. Now he's back to buttering his own bread and setting it aside. He's not looking up as they come in. "Did you want salted butter too Shin or not? Strawberry or Cherry?"

There's a pause as he finishes his own toast setting it aside so he can add the preserves to it once he's finished their food. That's not why he's stilled though. He's carefully weighing his words. "And I do apologize for lying to you, Joss. That was my doing. However, I felt it was best for the moment. You were already distressed enough - I didn't wish to cause you guilt and have you sting your god."

Though perhaps whoever Joss's good is deserves a nice reminder that there is a shinki here in the Heaven's he is responsible for. Now he's picking up second butter knife and spreading butter on two other pieces of toast. These are Joss's and he's going ahead with adding the jam after. Once he's finished he's placing it lightly on the counter closer toward where they were.

Joscelin looks up at Adrien and gives him a frank assessment of his god:

“I don’t think he cares.”

Joss likes Nari for his hands-off style of godship, leaving the boy to do whatever he wants. Being fussed over and worried about makes him uncomfortable. He can’t remember anything before three weeks ago, but sometimes he has the impression that he hasn’t had anyone worry over him in a very long time.

He grabs his toast and chows down, getting some jam on his chin in the process. He’s so hungry, all the time, and even his diet of almost pure sugar isn’t sustaining him anymore.

Edited 2018-07-21 20:46 (UTC)

Shin frowns a little towards Joss, with maybe an edge of pity. But he doesn't dwell on it, smiling to Adrien as he responds, "Salted, and strawberry!"

He's feeling better now to have at least mostly cleared up the lie, and that Adrien's not upset with him for that, even if Joss still worries him. At least it meant that he wouldn't keep stinging Adrien through breakfast. He gets out some orange juice as well, putting it on the table with three glasses so they can have it with their tea or coffee. He starts pouring coffee for himself, "What do you two want?"

He'll leave it to Adrien with what to do about Joss's god. Even if he could guess at what Adrien would want to do, it's Adrien's place to actually say those things. And Shin has a feeling of the offer Adrien might make to Joss.

Adrien nods and he's fixing Shin's toast just as he asked placing it down near Joss's.

"The tea should be done. There's a cup for Joss and tea for me you can pour it if you want." He's already got his own juice half gone. He paused in his task of fixing his own toast to peer at Joss. "I see. He doesn't care." And there's a scowl settling on the blond's features. How reckless and neglectful. "Did he even try to contact you when you didn't come home?"

Finishing with his toast he's moving to put things up. Then he's cutting up Plagg's breakfast into roughly eight pieces so the kwami can eat it. He's holding back his anger biting back his words for the moment and Shin would be right about that offer. But Adrien won't make it just yet..

Joscelin shrugs and pours his own tea, then sets to heaping sugar into his cup. “I haven’t seen him in a couple of days. He mostly lets me alone.” And why wouldn’t he? Joss remembers Nari’s expression after he’d let the boy suck his own life force on that first day. Why would you trust a shinki who could kill you?

“Don’t worry about me. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

Except where his unnatural hunger comes in. But he doesn’t want Shin to know about it. He seems to shock and frighten his friend enough already. No need to make it worse.

"So can I," Shin counters as he looks to Adrien, "But that doesn't mean it's not nice to have someone to have your back." He pours Adrien tea, putting in sugar, a bit of cinnamon and a little vanilla for him. Maybe it's a part of his job that he noticed those kinds of things, but if he was going to make Adrien's tea, he was going to make it right.

In his own coffee he pours in a bunch of milk and sugar, making it a fairly pale colour as coffee goes. He adds a bit of coca in before bringing the drinks to the table, sitting next to Joss, "Even if I don't want to worry about you, I do sometimes, because you're my friend and I care. I'll try not to make a big deal of it." He takes a sip of his coffee, his heel on the edge of the chair and arm looped casually around his knee.

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