[Open]

[bass_instincts]

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.

Comments

I

[dredefulchilde]

[Assuming Shin is outside the music store - is this okay?]

"Those things will kill you," a familiar voice says ironically. It's Joscelin's first solo trip to the Near Shore and so far it's gone swimmingly. He's been doing a bit of shopping too; in one hand he carries two large shopping bags and in the other he's got a massive crepe--filled with all manner of goodies and chocolates and even ice cream on a cold day--that looks almost comically oversized in his small fist. He plops down next to Shin without so much as a hello.

He takes a massive bite of banana and nutella and grins at his friend with chocolatey fangs.

"You look a damn sight better now that you aren't in your prison uniform anymore." They make quite a pair; the teenage rocker and a child dressed in such a fastidiously preppy way that he looks like he stepped out of a Brooks Brothers Kids ad. "I've got a name now, by the way."

II

[purr_ince]

"You're almost as bad as Marinette, you know that right?" But Adrien isn't judging in fact he's moving to shift a few things out of the way. "I know I told you to get clothes. I was wondering how you were going to get by with just the three outfits. I'm glad to see you're not going to try to make do with just those." He crouches picking up a band tee-shirt with some tears along the hem. "But seriously. Good on you for finding an easier way to get the things you want." Adrien hadn't been planning on keeping Shin from getting anything he wanted or needed. Since many things were provided and he had more than he needed there was no reason to save anything back he'd already gotten gifts for his most important people so Shin was more than welcome to treat himself. "I have to say you've got some good taste in fashions."

IV. Riverside Music

[welcome_home]

[ It's the sound of music (ha ha) that draws Nanako towards the direction of the bridge as she'd been flying back home to her temple. The little girl with feathery wings flapping behind her redirects her course to come hover not far away from the bridge, listening to his song with a shy smile, as if half-afraid to be noticed, or interrupt his playing.

Sorry, Shin, you now have an avid audience peeking at you. ]

IIIb.

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex walked through the city a lot, especially at night. It was familiar territory, despite the unpleasant memories. If anything, things were tamer in this area. At least she thought so until she spotted what looked like someone far too young to be entering that kind of establishment one night. Maybe it was a one time thing. Maybe he was curious. It wasn't her business. Except she spotted him again the night after, and once more two days later. Other times, it wasn't even him entering the club, but escorting women around the city. What really caught her eye was when he passed by close enough for her to spot a familiar mark on his neck.

Was it her place to meddle with someone else's shinki? No. And she would be the last person to judge someone's reason for being in this business. However, she couldn't just leave him alone, not with the dangers she knows can come with this.

The next time she sees him, it looks like he's taking a break, a cigarette between his lips. That at least makes it easier to approach him. ]

Excuse me..

iv - got an idea for a conflict, lmk if you'd rather i tag the first prompt and i'll edit!

[priforprince]

So that's where the music has been coming from.

Hibiki is drawn to anything performance-related, being the sort of person who fills her days with the things that interest her and nothing else. So of course she'd be attracted to someone taking advantage of this spot. Especially someone talented.

Except...there's one problem.

Hibiki has recently had an acoustic guitar re-strung for a prayer - someone had left it at her shrine, praying its sound would improve. And she'd previously found that this bridge possesses the ideal ambiance for guitar playing. She figured she'd strike a chord on the bridge, confirm the job had been done in a First-Class fashion, and return it to its owner.

This person is on the bridge she needs.

So up she steps, guitar slung over her back, one hand on her hip. "I require this space," she points out. "I'll have you yield it."

V - After getting Joss to sleep

[purr_ince]

Once they put Joss to bed and he made his way to the kitchens, he's giving Plagg his Camembert but he knows Shin is following him. And now that there's not a sleeping kid in the room. "You called your boss Mamasan and you said your girls." He's pausing as he snags a drink a left over muffin from the basket he'd gotten earlier in the day.

"I think I'm going to need you to explain what it is you do exactly. It doesn't sound... I mean it sounds strange to me so..." He's moving to sit at the island counter watching Plagg break up his cheese with his paws as he looks over to Shin. "I just want to understand all this. I can't help you with anything if I don't understand it."

II.

[deathmetalist]

Money was a double-edged sword. Yui hated and liked it. She wanted more, but- it was kind of hard to find a job when you didn't stand out a lot. Mirei had told her it wasn't necessary, but that if she wanted to she could look. As long as it wasn't anything dangerous or suspicious. Right now she was simply looking at what places were hiring. It looked like this store wasn't either.

A little disheartened, she sighed. Ah well...! Maybe the music shop down the road was? Or what about a convenience store? She thought her age seriously put a damper on things. But, while she was here, there wasn't any reason not to look around. Some of the clothes fit her style, similar to what she wore for the day, and with a bit of an allowance from her god, she looked through the racks. Idly she hummed, in a good mood as she pulled out a few things to try on. The humming turned to quiet singing shortly after.

"-- can't even take a breather."

Had she gotten too much black? Maybe she needed a bit more blue, or pink...

"The starry sky is the best stage of them all.
The crows cry out, "Caw, caw," above me.
I'm always thinking of them. I wonder when they'll go to sleep..."

Maybe she should pick up something for Mirei, too.

"Hmm hmm hm hm hm hm
Rock out and let it echo.
With the crows, I'll sing out."

Oh-! But this shirt looked super cool. It was too big for her, but she thought it would look great on Shin. She couldn't find the price tag. Was that kind of thing appropriate though? To get something for a guy when they were just-

"Hey, how much does this-"

She stopped and blinked. Oh. It wasn't a worker. Speak of the devil...

"Ah-- Shin-senpai?"

Wildcard

[mithrarin]

The two of them couldn't help but cross paths, thanks to the paired temples... that had become somewhat estranged of late, but that didn't stop Dust from going about his business of training and practicing nonetheless.

But Dust's usual activities, then, raised a question -- so one day, in passing Shin, he paused to ask a question.

"What sort of weapons do you use?"