(july catch-all) oh, the misery

[mindthebass]

Who ⬤ shin(ichi okazaki) and you??
What ⬤ honestly, a lot. drug buying, learning how to fire a gun, playing music solo for the first time, the wax museum, and probably more to be added. two closed prompts as well!
When ⬤ july!
Where ⬤ tamamo, sutoku and shuten territories.
Content Warnings ⬤ drugs, first and foremost, there's a bender in here. sex is a topic that comes up in the songs he'll play, and it's shin, so honestly, his cws might apply.

Comments

[sweetsong]

... I understand.

[ robin's been mostly singing his own solos; ones he's done in the past, ones he can handle with little accompaniment.

it's his turn to take shin's hand, pull it close to his face, and gives it a nuzzle. ]

I'm just glad you got to perform. It's a way to stay bonded to our homes.

[mindthebass]

I'm trying to figure out if that's what I really want to keep doing, though. Have you given that any thought?

(considering he, too, is a musician. his hand gently caresses the silky skin it touches.)

[sweetsong]

Nope! Not at all!

[ and he's happy about that. sometimes, brain empty is the best way to live. overthinking can lead to a lot of... not great things. ]

I want to sing. It's what I've been doing since I was a kid! It makes me happy, too... making people smile.

[ though the smiles he receives nowadays aren't always pure ones, but. he'll take it. ]

[mindthebass]

(he wishes he could be no thoughts, brain empty, but instead he's more - brain notices literally everything, and everything's on fire all the time.

it's fine.)

... So I can find you singing somewhere? I'd love to be serenaded! ♥

[sweetsong]

Oh! Sure, um... you know, there are times where I want to try songs I've heard before? Or ones that that sound really popular I've never known, so. Maybe I could sing one to you sometime.

[ some are more difficult to do without the proper backup, but there is certainly some kind of magic that he could employ... ]

We could... go back to my place. Or yours! And I could sing you something.

[mindthebass]

Sorry, Robin, my place is off. I live far and with a roommate, so visits should at least be with a warning beforehand, so she doesn't get caught by surprise... But your place is fine with me, I'll listen to you all night gladly!

(... that is, when robin shifts ends. not that it's a worry, shin comes home at noon most days.)

[sweetsong]

That's no problem! My place is always open for people who want to visit... and I think it'd be nice to perform for you, too.

[ he has no roommate. the perks of being a good tamamo member. ]

I think I can probably end my shift here and we can walk back together. It's not that far from here. The building is well taken care of and everything, though there's not much in the way of security...

[mindthebass]

If it won't get you in trouble, we can get going!

(all he does is to gesture with his head, putting off the cigarette even though he knows he'll probably get another one lit on the way. tsk, tsk.)

... But you're safe, right? A lock on the door and everything?

[sweetsong]

Of course I'm safe! The owner is... hehe, he's very strong too. Way stronger than me. He'll make sure things are locked up.

[ as robin makes his way around the bar, he disappears for a moment to grab his bag--- a little pink one that he slides over his shoulder. ]

Okay! Like I said, it's a pretty short walk. You just follow the little fox statues with the purple scarves. They're so cute.

[ and he grabs shin's hand after he's done with that first cigarette, to pull him along and out the door. ]

[mindthebass]

Good! I think Tamamo is safer than other places, but I'd be really mad if something happened to you!

(there's something so nice to hearing robin talk. like he's so excited and happy about everything he retells, a little sunshine drop on hell.

everything's such a little adventure, and once their hands come together, shin dares to intertwine their fingers, bringing the back of robin's hand to his cherry tasting lips for a lingering kiss.)

Like yourself! ♡ Ah, hey, do you mind if I crash? I'm not looking forward to going all the way home. I can sleep anywhere.

[sweetsong]

Definitely safer than other territories that's for sure! You won't get randomly approached by one of the drunken Shuten oni, trying to shake you down for no reason...

[ or get grabbed or pinched by one, but he doesn't really like talking about those things.

he fawns and blushes as he makes a gentle noise--- feathery and light that is just the barest whisper of a giggle. being kissed on the hand like this, out in public? even though there aren't many at this time, because most are already in their favorite places getting wasted or other things.

but he leads them, following the stone foxes, towards an apartment building that isn't quite as big as the ones meant for newer lost souls. it's shorter and out of the way, seemingly more contemporary and better taken care of on the outside. ]

Oh, sure! You can sleep with me if you'd like. I also have a couch, but it's a little small.

[mindthebass]

That's already happened to me, you know.

(because some of us break rules and live in shuten. oops.

that little noise makes shin sigh in admiration. robin's truly sunshine, isn't he? a little beaming light in a place that seems committed to darkness itself. how can he not crave to press a million kisses on his skin?

-- robin, again, maybe consider... what you're saying...)

... We'll see. I sleep on a futon, so I don't mind sleeping anywhere. Whatever's more comfortable to you.

[sweetsong]

... you don't say.

[ robin's tone shifts slightly, from the one that could make a rainbow appear out of nowhere, to something a little cooler. still sweet, but with an edge. as he turns his head slightly to look at shin with the corners of his eyes, robin hums lightly. ]

Well. Um! If you ever run into problems... take a picture of whoever's causing them, and... just show me sometime, okay?

[ the building is in sight and they're almost at the entrance of the building. ]

Honestly, I like... I miss snuggling with others in bed. A teddy bear doesn't quite work all the time.

[mindthebass]

Don't worry, they didn't hurt me. Just my ego.

(which is, well, absolutely fine with the fact that he's not strong. after all, this is shin. being frail and small is part of what gives him that look, and -- he's not supposed to grow taller, anyway. that's why he's skipping way too many meals. even if he had the strength, he would have no stamina.

and he's got a little army behind him now. no need to involve sunshine in it, is there?

this is robin's space, so he's letting the other lead.)

I'll gladly sleep next to you, on that case... Who were you snuggling with?! Should I get jealous?!

(he wouldn't, and the laughter punctuates that.)

[sweetsong]

[ inside they go. it's a rather clean looking place already, something that robin's already used to. it was the previous apartments that made him a little worried at first until he met his neighbors, and then it was a lot better for him. ]

I'm on the second floor! I always take the stairs. Something about elevators and youkai and things being haunted.

[ he opens the door into the building and holds it for shin, letting go once the other enters. ]

And nooooo, don't be jealous! I've been pretty lonely... um... but it's okay.

[ up the stairs and down the hall, and he'll stop in front of his door. ]

[mindthebass]

... Is that a thing? Yokai hunting technology? Should I be more worried?

(he hasn't even heard of the umbrella yokai yet. a naive, naive child. it's with respect that shin makes his way into the apartment. despite everything, he forgets to leave his shoes at the door, but he does remove the guitar out of his shoulder.

it's time to find a spot on the floor and have robin take the stage.)

[sweetsong]

Not at all.

[ his apartment is comfortable, not too big or small. a bedroom. a living room with a separate kitchen that has a decent amount of sweets sitting on the shelves. ]

Here... let me... okay. Ready?

[ pulling out his phone, he starts playing a song that he can sing with. it's his song.

when he's done? robin bows. ]

[mindthebass]

(nothing is so special than being sung to, he would think, and robin's just so passionate about it that all shin can do is to smile, beamingly, hands on top of his acoustic guitar and his chin on his forearms.

just admiring the other, even a gentle blush coloring otherwise fair cheeks.

once the song ceases, shin gives his share of applause, excited for the honor.)

You're so good, Robin!!

[sweetsong]

Thank you! Ehe~

[ he blows shin a kiss, bringing his hands in front of his chest with his palms together. ]

It's a song I sang to get people to come to our first show. It was a huge hit! People were clamoring to come see OZ.

[ and then robin sighs, lowering a hand down to shin. ]

Come, let's sit on the couch at least! It's more comfy.

[mindthebass]

(well, he does like the floor! but alright, alright. he'll take the hand, his free hand on the guitar's dashboard, but the one touching robin? that one pulls him closer to kiss his cheek.

freaking adorable motherfucker!!!!!!)

Look at that! You should perform here as well, you know? More often. Make it big.

[sweetsong]

I do! I want to! But...

[ robin huffs at the kiss. wow, another one please! ]

... it's hard. Doing things without my band feels empty at times. I know I can make it so it sounds like they're here, or I could fill in their parts myself. It doesn't feel right.

[ hand over his chest, over his heart, as he wraps his arms around shin. ]

But I'll try.

[mindthebass]

(the little hand on chest goes around shin, and he's smiling. he gets it, the loneliness of being the only one when your experience is of togetherness. their musical styles don't seem to mesh, but shin would be more than overjoyed to play so that robin could shine.

at least robin's not heavy, shin can actually lift him a few inches from the ground once his own arms wrap around sunshine, and he tiptoes to hide on the crook of the other's neck again once shin's feet hit the floor.)

If that's what your heart is telling you, I'll support you.

[sweetsong]

[ listen, he's trying his best not to tear up right now? that out of everyone in this city, there are only so many that understand what a musician's plight might actually be, nevertheless a performer in general. ]

Okay... good. I'm glad!

[ a kiss on the forehead. a kiss on the cheek. shin deserves a lot more, honestly. ]

I'm just so happy to have you, you know?

[mindthebass]

(in six years time, shin will leave the guitar as a hobby, the bass as a way to fill the absence when blast comes to a halt. his arrest won't be a theme for discussion in the years to come, nor will it hurt his career with how well it will be covered. in six years time, he'll find his true calling, theater over music, and he'll be, overall, satisfied.

that doesn't mean he doesn't understand how lonely it must be for robin. he's going through the same thing after all. some part of him debates on telling robin he shouldn't be so happy - shin tends to leave a trail of problems where he goes. another melts, and he just squeezes a little before he takes robin's lips against his own.)

Trust me, I'm much luckier to have found you than you are to have found me. Now, should I play something for you?

[sweetsong]

Yeah! Please do! I've... well, I've played a little bit of piano, but that's it. I'm used to having others play for me while I sing.

[ not just in the church, but on the stage as well--- where the backup musicians are more than just figments of a shared imagination. no, they are a part of the prison that robin can conjure up at a moment's notice. it's the rest of his unit that he lacks, and that'll take some time for him to get used to...

but for right now? he savors the taste of shin's kiss on his lips for a second or two before giggling. ]

So yeah! I wanna hear...