jigokulogs | (july catch-all) oh, the misery

(his first thought when he finds himself in-store is not using it himself. shin’s not a big drug user, casual more than anything, but there’s that little sound in his head asserting that being in the right place at the right time with these in his pocket might help him somehow, sometime… and if he feels like it, he has it with him, too. a win-win situation that won’t backfire on him.

the normality of it noticeable in the streets, in the eager chatter that he can listen to around the store, winded speeches about this strain or that, the difference between this and that - helping nothing, when did all this become so intricate and difficult? shin’s sigh is audible, as he smells a container of weed over the other, confusion furrowing his eyebrows as he tries to check what each of them does. too… much…)

(scrawny, delicate, small, all words that could readily illustrate shin’s appearance, but that also tells a tale of how vulnerable he is in this place, unable to even preserve himself from birds when they came racing and tugging on his lip chain at the festival. if he can’t resist birds, he plainly can’t defend himself from whatever more this place has in store. sure, he can seek assistance from one or two tough people he knows, but relying on others to have his back incessantly sounds ludicrous, doesn’t it?

a pistol feels both comfortable in his hand and alien nonetheless, and he has been standing in front of targets for some time now.

is it as straightforward as pulling the trigger?)

(first time he came here, it was with wonder, and awe, as emily swept bargoers off their feet as she sang with the sweetest voice and enchanting charisma, and shin now finds himself on the same stage he once watched. reason why he’s doing this isn’t as simply as ‘because that’s who he is’, it’s more something along the lines of ‘is this who i want to be?’.

being a celebrity back home was an interesting experience, but shin’s never cared about spotlights, fame, never had the drive to crawl to the top of the charts like it was his life purpose. all he wanted was to play in a band and have fun, and now, he’s solo. is it still as captivating and thrilling when he’s the only one on the stage, and there’s nobody to go home to, play mahjong and drink to celebrate shared success…?

he plays only two songs, completely unaware of his own power as his voice and guitar fill the echos. empathic music projection - what the song portrays, one feels, but as his fingers press the chords, he hardly realizes the changes in the patrons' expressions, emotions bubbling to the surface as he goes. the one thing he notices though is how his chosen repertoire differs from what he is used to playing. he can’t play his songs by himself, and with the new wave he’s received of music after the early 2000s, he’s trying to figure out what could be fun for him on his own.

almost immediately after he’s done and his guitar is secured, he goes to the bar. there’s a lot to think about.)

… Phew…

(ooc: here’s what he played! panic! at the disco, and an acoustic guitar cover of muse. he has a thick british accent, slightly swedish on some words!)

(how did he find this place, he has no idea. either way, he’s coming in, watching all the statues, some a trip due to how famous people have changed since he was, well, alive. he’s having the time of his life taking pictures until he finds…

… blast, in wax, in the funniest way. nana looks extremely mean, and angry, like she’s about to twist a neck. yasu’s bald head glows, literally, with LEDs on top of it to make it sparkle. nobu’s absolutely drunk, red as a tomato, a large pout as he flips his beer to see that it’s empty… and then there’s shin, with an expression on his face that screams ‘i’m just a little shit’. he can’t help the laughing crisis that escapes him, back to the wall as he slides down, attempting to kill the chuckles to no avail.

this is incredible. bless this place.)

(two in the morning, and shin’s already fatigued? doesn’t sound like him at all, when his entire sleep pattern has been flipped around. nights are when he flourishes, walks the streets and tries to get a hold of what this place is about. the concept of being somewhere wholly new isn’t as daunting as it had been before, with language barriers, unfamiliarity, fear and uncertainty. shin’s been through that, and jigoku-cho at least allows him some of his limited understanding of japan to translate here.

it means there’s more to figure out if he wants to survive, and the finest way he finds to do it is through research and discussion when the opportunity presents itself - or it would be if he hadn’t been yawning and virtually collapsing on his whiskey. coffee hasn’t done a thing so far, and the crowd has thinned out as the hours go by. a bump, and he’ll go to another establishment, a solid plan his depleted brain puts together once he makes his way to the restroom.

he’s gotten way less paranoid about being caught since he’s made it here. store-bought rather than from any other means, it’s the people who seem to care about him he worries the most about and none of them are in the bar tonight. once the powder reaches his brain, shin’s head shakes a little as it takes in the substance, his heart already so loud that shin’s sure that it’s right next to his ears.

… oh. a creak.

… shit?)

(you know what this night calls for? cute boys together. not that shin knew this is where robin works when he opened the doors to hemlock. the crimson makes his eyes squint, getting used to the lights and atmosphere of the place. looks rather fancy, and he has a thought that he most likely cannot afford it. he’s ready to turn around, leave as if nothing has ever happened, but he sees a face he recognizes behind the counter.

… oh. fine, he’ll approach. maybe he won’t buy anything, but robin’s company is precious enough to go through the embarrassment of just taking the spot of a paying customer.)

I found you! ♥

[ it's a pretty average night at hemlock, and robin's honestly happy about that. the influx of lost souls has made shylock's bar more and more famous; those who come once inevitably return again and become regular patrons. if not for the drink, but for the service that each customer receives from either robin, shylock, or both. ]

Shin! [ a beat as he raises a hand. ] Hold on. You need to put your phone in one of those boxes... don't worry, I've never seen anyone try to steal someone else's. They'd never be let back in, and Mister Shylock would be incredibly upset too.

[ and something about making a wizard mad seems very stupid, epsecially when said wizard also has a higher standing than robin does. not that he minds. shylock is super nice. ]

Do you want a drink? I can make you one!

My phone? ... Why?

(he's never heard that one before. there's not a worry in his mind that it'll be stolen, he just fails to see good reasoning. perhaps it's because people didn't depend so much on their phones back home that makes him not think of heads down, texting rather than talking and interacting.

the edges of his lips curl into a smile, his head shaking.)

I'm here to see you rather than drink, it looks expensive...

[Billy is not part of the Shuten gang but it doesn't stop him from visiting the local ranges belonging to them. Practice always makes perfect and gives him something else to do.

Besides he wasn't being bothered any and didn't bother anyone else while here.

Well, maybe he'll go ahead and bug the guy standing in the booth next to him, looking like a deer in the headlights.]

You never used a gun before?

(the blue-haired kid jumps a bit in place, like he had been caught with something he shouldn't be - but oh, isn't the whole point of this place firing a gun?

a few blinks before he exhales, loudly, putting the gun down to give the stranger attention as is, a pout to go with his frustration.)

Never even held one, nope.

It's a rule! For this bar, anyway. Shylock is very adamant about it.

[ even robin, who loves to take pictures and fiddle around with EMBER and social media in general, isn't allowed. he has to more or less take the drink out of the establishment before he can take a few glam shots and then return... even then, it skirts a line. ]

And it's fine! This drink is on the house. [ a beat, then: ] It's free.

[ because he's already beginning to get his ingredients out. a few clear flasks with white liquid, and one with something light amber inside. ]

I've been trying out different things, so I think you might like this one... maybe not... come sit down.

Isn't that going to get you in trouble, though?

(not that he knows how bars really work on that, does Robin himself pays for it? if he's sure, shin's not going to argue, just coming to the seat the other indicated.

an elbow on the counter, his knuckles pressed against his jaw, shin watches the other with a gentle smile. with his new power, compliments give others a nice warmth and gentle bliss, and he doesn't even realize whether it's 'on' or not when he says it.)

I doubt I'd dislike anything you'd make, Robin. By the way, you look even cuter today?

Easy, easy there partner.

[It was said calmly and with a little laugh. His eyes, however, remained locked on the gun in the kid's hand. Then remained so as it was placed on the table. Ever wandering, his grey eyes returned towards Shin's face, smile still on his face at ease.]

Haha! I can tell. Well... before ya put it down you usually wanna make sure you eject the magazine and make sure there's nothing in the chamber.

[He hums a little.]

Want a bit of help?

... I don't understand a thing you're saying!!!

(a loud whine, from a big baby. he isn't sure it's because his japanese could definitely show improvement, or simply because he doesn't get what the other mean. there are no magazines!!!)

... Please. I can't afford to get shaken down again.

Nope! Not at all.

[ he knows, with utmost confidence, that other bartenders will sometimes give out free drinks to loosen up customer's inhibitions. here? robin's drinks never contain alcohol; even the virgin versions he's served has made a youkai or two feel like they've gotten smashed over the head.

upon hearing those words... robin blinks. a compliment, yes: but he finds it easier to smile.

and then he blushes. ]

Thanks... haha, it's not like I did anything different today.

[ he pours the light colored ingredient first, then the thicker looking white one second, before filling the rest of the glass with the thinner and fizzier liquid. it immediately froths up, and robin sticks a metal straw into the highball glass before pushing it toward shin. ]

It's a non-alcoholic version of a White Russian! Some green tea and coconut milk, mixed with coconut soda!

(as long as it doesn't get him in trouble.

shin's eyes are mostly taking in everything in the bar, and with the scarlet highlights, he almost misses the blush on robin's cheek. the fact that he didn't does make him smile, and he stretches a bit from his seat to watch what robin's doing.

non-alcoholic is usually not his speed, but alas. he won't say that to someone who's taking care of him so nicely, and it looks rather interesting, all the ingredients together like that. a sip and his expression lightens, childish excitement as he speaks. eighteen years old his ass.)

Wo--Woah!!! This is really good, Robin!! You're really good at this!!

[ Kim has always considered firearms to be a necessary evil. Life would be better if they didn't exist, perhaps, but there's really nothing like the reassurance of a gun held firmly in his holster, insurance that whatever comes his way, he will be able to fight back. He's been here in Jigoku-cho for far too long now, when he realizes that he's missed out on what ought to be his yearly assessment to ensure that he's still at the top of his game.

What he lacks in a commanding officer to officiate the proceedings, he makes up for in sheer anal-retentive dedication to being as good as he can be at every facet of his job, especially now that he's found himself plunged into violent situations with more regularity than he ever desired, even considering his occupation. Besides, he has to familiarize himself with a brand new firearm, taken from the Sutoku armory, now that he's given Andromache her gun back.

He sheds his jacket as he enters, exposing the fact that he's wearing a handgun holster over his slim-fitted tank top, sturdy dark brown leather, and clearly the sort meant more for practicality than for style (though Kim rather likes the way it looks too, truth be told). He removes his firearm from the holster, turning it over in his hands, when he looks up and spots a familiar face. ]

...Shin? I wasn't expecting to see you here.

(his eyes don't really avert from the gun, even with the creak of the door and the steps into the room. a part of him, a larger part, loathes the fact that he has to even protect himself like this. it's ugly, feels awfully emotional, and he doesn't think he can pull the trigger with killing intent. perhaps a leg or a foot, something that gives him the advantage to just bolt away as the perpetrator squirms in the background, but if he has a choice, he'd rather not even dirty his hands like that.

there are others - stronger, faster, with powers that far surpass his own in defensiveness. all the powers he's received are much more emotional than offensive, if his words don't count that much.

the voice is what snaps him away, and he looks back to confirm his suspicion with a large, childish sigh.)

Yeah, me neither, but apparently, I can neither fight birds nor outrun thugs... So something's gotta give, right?

[ both hands over his heart, robin happily bows his head and lets out a similarly excited noise. with a wide smile, the bartender gives shin a nod as he tries to suppress a jump from happening. he's just... thrilled! so proud of himself! ]

I'm so glad! I'll have to tell Mister Shylock about this one.

[ not all go to the board for future makings. some are just experimental, but this one seems like it could work out for later. ]

So um... Shin! How are you? Are you getting used to being here yet?

[ it took robin some time. ]

(STOP BEING SO DAMN CUTE, SHIN'S HEART CAN'T TAKE IT, he's even mimicking the hands over heart motion, just because of robin... this was such a great idea, to come in, and spend some time with the other. his mood is saved.)

Can we smoke here?

(first things first.)

... I'm not sure, actually.

[ Mion's still new to a lot of this... well, hell, which is why she's been checking every single place at any open opportunity that she can get. So when she finds herself at the range and sees someone with a gun in his hand just standing at the target, she can't help but speak up, trying to keep her voice light. ]

You look like you can't make up your mind on something! Do you need help figuring out how to use that?

(july catch-all) oh, the misery

TAMAMO

drug buying

SHUTEN

guns? guns.

SUTOKU

now i'm going solo

a laughter crisis at the wax museum

CLOSED

to harry - a bender

to robin - a cutie

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UP TO U IF HIS POWER IS ACTIVE BTW

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Re: guns? guns.