[ rent is due by the end of the month. he's unemployed. well, he technically has a part time job now courtesy of a local blind 13 year old, but that's beside the point. on paper, he is unemployed.
and that is precisely why he's crouched behind a tree, eyes trained on an unsuspecting black cat ambling up a branch. when he catches sight of you, he physically jolts, shock running through his body instinctively. ]
DON'T kill me-- oh, shit, it's just you. [ whew. the back of his hand wipes off a rivulet of a sweat beading down his brow. ] Not that I know you, but like, you're clearly not a hitman so. Anyways, you wanna help me get this cat down? Pretty please? With a cherry on top?
party time
[ what a wretched month. sha-ming has been oscillating between bed rotting lows and mania induced highs. how else does a man cope?
the simple answer is: he goes to the club -- or the closest thing there is to one. the newfound entertainment district has a wealth of pleasure to offer, and you can easily catch him outside of a booming building, music rattling against its walls as color floods through its windows. he's got a drink in hand, lurking in the shadows in an attempt to get some air. strangely enough, there's a kind of melancholy lingering around him, lips flattened into a thin line.
regardless of how you look, he'll readopt his more jovial, more lackadaisical front at the sight of you. with a grin: ]
Hey! You wanna learn how to party? This month's been a steaming pile of crap. We might as well as make the best of it. C'mon, it'll be fun.
[ if you're a newcomer: ]
First time I've seen your face. Need me to show ya around? And before you say anything, I'm too much of a loser to jump you -- I'm just sooooo damn bored.
party time featuring MINATO ARISATO from the hit game Persona 3 (this is a threeway thread)
[ the club is even worse inside. oozing neon, the dancefloor is blindingly bright, pulsating violently in tandem with whatever's playing.
why is there a teenage boy in a wheelchair here, you ask?
because healing at a hospital fully and properly is for losers.
sha-ming is... riding the back of his wheelchair? it's zipping across the dancefloor? he's clearly somewhat inebriated. the wheelchair is bolting towards you. ]
Yeah man, screw this city! And screw the fake memories! Screw my parents, every corporation out there, and you know what, screw Jerry while we're at it! Yeah, yeah, yeah! Ain't that right, lil bro!?
[ he's smiling so wildly, completely entrenched in his own mind, he doesn't even notice that you're in the way and that the equivalent to a human car crash is about to occur. ]
drag time
[ he's been waiting for this.
gold, glitter, sequins and sparkle -- what isn't there to love? the most audacious of queens and kings stride down the catwalk as the judges sit at the panel, watching with a careful eye.
backstage, sha-ming is flitting around, observing the contestants with a smile. at the sight of you, he whistles wolfishly, like a total asshole. ]
Lookin' good, hot stuff! [ ah yes, he is overwhelmingly pleased by this. ] Bet the judges are gonna be allllll over you.
drag time v2
[ well, they got him.
he's in the dressing room again, except this time, he's a contestant alongside you. he's donning a mini skirt, fishnets, and jet black hair extensions that pool down at the small of his back. all things considered, he looks remarkably good. very lethargically: ]
Hey... can I borrow your lipstick? I just realized this isn't my color... like... at all...
[ listen! if he's going to get dragged into this, he might as well as try to win! ]
network/glitch
bro who the hell stole my door 😭
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[ these prompts are all open to newbies and oldbies alike. hit me with anything, i'm so serious. if you're unsure just message me at moontrip ]
[He should have known Sha-Ming would break them out of the clinic just for something lame like this. Music thumping, the people of Aldrip dancing, and lights strobing, fluorescing whatever highly colorful drink lays untouched before Shinjiro whenever the stray beam strikes it. It could be worse, though. He could be Minato, being spun and flung around like the worst theme park ride ever.
His worse leg is up on a second chair next to him, sitting at one of the tables farther away from the dance floor. As itchy and hot and disgusting at his healing wounds area at least they give him a perfect excuse to not get dragged up dancing. (And the shitty alcohol helps mask the weirdly sweet antiseptic smell of whatever the hell Ethlyn had covered his infection with--)
It's like Escapade, but bigger. Same concept, though. People throwing themselves into hedonism to avoid whatever else. Whenever Sha-Ming finally returns for a water break (liquor break?), he pushes the bright drink the other man's way.]
You're gonna make him puke with all that spinning.
[If Minato is even still awake. Who knows with that guy.]
[ this totally beats the hospital moshipit, come on shinji.
sha-ming was on a joint water and liquor break, gotta keep hydrated. he's got a cocktail in hand just for shinji -- it's his night, after all. ]
He'll be fine, trust me. Little bro's had worse. You guys literally jumped someone last week?
[ just saying. he raises a glass, ceremoniously. ]
And you won, so let's celebrate that! [ in a much louder pitch, for all of the club to hear: ] Here's to my bros that jumped someone and won! We're alive, yay! Let's all keep jumping people and living, guys!
[ They won, technically. Not that it felt like they won at all. Between the physical pain and their curse issues, Minato felt more like a loser.
He should have said no. He should have said no, it's okay, please leave me and go to the club. So in truth, Minato has no one to blame other than himself for landing in this situation.
Shinjiro is right to question whether he's awake or not. In fact, Minato's eyes are shut and he's doing his best not to move. He puts on his best sleeping person impression. Maybe if they all think he's passed out, they'll leave him alone and out of their shenanigans. ]
[There's a lengthy pause as Vincent stares down at Sha-Ming. This is definitely the guy that he ditched in a trash can. Hard to mistake him.
He looks at Sha-Ming, then the cat. It's tempting to just leave because this is definitely not his problem... but even he isn't mean enough to ignore the plight of a beloved pet.]
[ the cat stares back down at vincent too, as if it's also shocked by this revelation. ]
Came back for more, eh? [ okay, he should stop before he gets thrown into another trash can. ] Well, I was gonna climb it. Problem is, housecats tend to scare easy; natural byproduct of their prey instincts. Soooo, I dunno, I gotta figure out how I can get up there without settin' that off.
[ "Not that I know you," he says. Maybe it's a joke, she tries to reason, memories that are rooted in falsehoods twisting in Aerith's mind painfully. She'd wanted to corner him, press him to put all those feelings into something compact and easy, but this is already like being stabbed in the back. She frowns deeply, the expression even more downcast than a rain cloud. ]
Okay. [ With all the enthusiasm of a deflating balloon, Aerith breaks away from behind Sha-Ming to bound over to the cat. Already it's hackles are raised at her intrusion, eyes wide and blown over with the vibrant yellows of it's irises. ]
Shh, it's okay. Here. [ Angling her palm down, she holds it out for the cat to sniff, as if it's the easiest thing in the world. ] You're such a pretty little kitty, aren't you? Yes, you are. We want to take a few pictures, if you'll let us.
[ he hates seeing her like this -- the memories dig into his mind like thorns, pricking and prodding at him.
so he's going to make this worse, actually. best to rid her of this curse, this pity she's feigning, whatever the hell it is that's addling her brain. ]
I mean it, you know. [ he raises his arms over his head, stretching them out leisurely. ] We don't know each other. All of those memories were fake. So it's better to stop pretending like they matter to you, okay?
[ fuck. this inexplicable emptiness permeates in his chest, gnawing at the edges of his heart -- suddenly, ghosts of the past whisk past his vision, this overwhelming sense of loneliness hovering over him. his sentencing. his stupid fucking sentencing. ]
Fucking Jerry.
[ anyways. sha-ming also holds out his hand -- before gently raking his fingers through the cat's fur, taking its attention away from aerith. ]
[ A snap retort dances on the tip of her tongue as Aerith watches him pet the cat. It wasn't that long ago that they held hands, in her mind, or when she would make him touch her in the most mundane of settings. Then what do you need me for? She never says it; the words get swallowed down on her tongue like all the other things she ever wanted to tell him. (Her, or the other Aerith? There's so many Aeriths running around in her brain that she decides it doesn't particularly matter.) ]
You're scaring it. [ The cat's spine slinks down, pressing into the green of the brush, trying to dodge him. Then, it presses it's face into Aerith's, eyes still blown wide with a judging look. Weighing it's chance of scampering away from the two harassing it, no doubt. ]
We're not here to hurt you, promise. Just a few moments of your time, and it'll be alright. [ The gentle tone she adapts mollifies the black cat for a moment, and it nudges a little deeper into her hand. Then, with a tone even she can't place, Aerith addresses Sha-Ming: ]
Get the camera before your chance is gone— oh, wait!
[ Interrupted by the cat leaping away from him, Aerith catches it in her arms, where it's nails dig into her skin painfully. All the same, she holds it and grits her teeth together in a grimace. Funny— the cat's doing the same shit he's doing to her. ]
If Yu had a nickel for every time he got manhandled into drag...wait, it's another '2 nickels' situation. Wild. Too bad Yukiko isn't here to help him this time, but he's holding his own -- looks like he was more observant during the "Miss" Yasogami pageant than he really thought.
Anyway, what I'm saying is he's here, and he's in a very cute pigtailed wig. As for the lipstick--]
... I don't remember it being this color, but here.
[It seems to have turned purple? It's definitely not purple on him. But the color in the "blush pink"-labeled tube is definitely very purple.]
[ you know what, that's fine. purple is his color! he'll work with it. sha-ming reaches for yu, snatching the lipstick out of his hand -- before pursing his lips in the mirror and very meticulously applying it, centimeter by centimeter.
all done. his lips smack together in a satisfied pop. ]
Thanks, man. Like the do, by the way. Not my style but it's cute. Like, it's givin' "I'm looking for a college aged boyfriend to buy everything off my Whamazon wishlist."
[ makes sense, doesn't it? in the meantime, sha-ming adjusts his black corset, which very shamelessly exposes his midriff and fake boobs... as you'd expect. ]
You think going bigger'll land me more points with the judges?
[Sha-ming applies the makeup with such confidence that Yu has to wonder if he's done this before... Not that he hasn't, as well, but -- it's a very different story when you have a bunch of girls helping you out with this kind of thing.
Anyway, after a stupidly extensive Google search, I can confidently say that Yu understands that reference, so he huffs a quiet chuckle.]
Thanks. I was going for "who gets to carry my shopping bags today?" but it'll do.
[Probably should have modeled the look off of Ai a little bit, for that. Anyway, he offers a discerning look to Sha-ming's getup --somehow he's looking over this absolute ho outfit with real thoughtfulness-- but...hmm. How to put this?]
Bigger's only better to an extent. I wonder if a creative theme would help with a higher score, too.
[Teddie really nailed that best in their pageant, but who doesn't like a theme to really pull an outfit together? Not that Yu can think of one immediately...although a certain school teacher does, unfortunately, come to mind.]
[ The side-eye Sha-Ming gets could kill a man, but despite the sigh that probably gives away just who Sha-Ming is talking to, Cloud's not that irritated — he just has resting bitch face as he stands there in the dressing room, putting the finishing touches on his own tasteful outfit.Someone has even gone to the lengths of making sure he got a matching purse for the event. ]
Not surprised to see you got mixed up in this, too. [ A sigh, as he opens the purse, looking through it. ]
...I have a few on hand as backup, what color do you need? [ It's not like he's not going to help. They're both stuck here together, after all. ]
[ wow! way to make sha-ming look like the harlot of aldrip, miss cloud.
i mean, he is, but that's beside the point. sha-ming rests his chin against tented hands, looking at cloud through his fake lashes. ]
Gimme the one you used the most. That way, it's like an indirect kiss.
[ .......... ]
Hey, don't look at me like that... I'm joking! [ he heaves out a sigh, his gaudy silver earrings clattering against his head. ] Listen... ya look so cute, I just couldn't resist. I'll take black, it'll bring out my cleavage.
[ Which of us willingly opted into the fishnets, Sha-ming? You can't blame him for making you look like a harlot. ]
Come on, you can't be that desperate. [ Listen, Cloud knows he's a snack, but also he knows you could do better, Sha-Ming. Probably. Nevertheless, he's rummaging in his purse for a tube of black lipstick. Turns it over in his hand. Looks at Sha-Ming, like he's actually giving it a thought. Hrms. Pulls out another one. ]
Try this one too - it's more of a blue-black, might give you a little more pop.
[ He's going to let Sha-Ming fiddle with the lipsticks before he pops the next question. ]
[ This place is a soiled den of debauchery, so it only makes sense that Sha-Ming of all people would be found here. Yuriko looks wholly out of place, sitting prim and proper at the bar with only a glass of water to drink.
She speaks as if she expected to run into him here. ]
The list of things I fear is small and it is limited. However, in no world would you ever be included on it.
[ A very Yuriko way of saying "I could take you".]
YURIKOOO, BUDDY! What the hell! Where’d ya come from? You were here this whole time and didn’t even tell your good friend Sha-Ming!?
[ damn, the alcohol must be addling his brain — or maybe he assumed he was tripping initially. but he raises his glass. ]
Where’s the rest of the D.Q.O? Dude, this place sucks! Well, this club’s pretty okay actually, just don’t go into the bathroom… But yeah, this place sucks!
Edited (i didn’t even know Knut was a word wtf ) 2024-04-17 19:00 (UTC)
[ There's little point in even making the effort to correct him. Her gaze drifts between his inebriated state and then his glass, with disinterested disgust. ]
Where they are is none of my concern, nor do I have any interest in where they may be. Do you truly wish to be reunited with that circus? You would commit them to a frozen prison for less than the putrid contents of your cup.
[Kotetsu also happens to be in the area when he runs into Sha-Ming, albeit on one of the scavenger hunts rather than catquest, but whatever he may or may not have to say gets lost to the winds at the young man's reaction.
He blinks owlishly, perhaps a couple more times than necessary, in fact, as though he can' t entirely process what's just happened, here.]
Wh-why would someone be trying to kill you?! [Painfully earnestly:] Do you need help? A safe place to stay??
[That kitty's gonna be getting away unless you can calm down this bigger, dorkier cat first, Sha-Ming.]
[Somehow, this is an even more unsettling thing to say to Kotetsu than the idea that he himself was in some kind of specific danger.]
No???
[...]
I mean, it's not like there aren't murders and stuff now and again, but I mean...that's not something most average people have to worry about? Definitely not hitmen.
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expiationlogs2024-04-14 10:44 pm
sha-ming | gnosia
party time
party time featuring MINATO ARISATO from the hit game Persona 3 (this is a threeway thread)
drag time
drag time v2
network/glitch
wildcard
PARTY TIME minato can join if Jin wants
His worse leg is up on a second chair next to him, sitting at one of the tables farther away from the dance floor. As itchy and hot and disgusting at his healing wounds area at least they give him a perfect excuse to not get dragged up dancing. (And the shitty alcohol helps mask the weirdly sweet antiseptic smell of whatever the hell Ethlyn had covered his infection with--)
It's like Escapade, but bigger. Same concept, though. People throwing themselves into hedonism to avoid whatever else. Whenever Sha-Ming finally returns for a water break (liquor break?), he pushes the bright drink the other man's way.]
You're gonna make him puke with all that spinning.
[If Minato is even still awake. Who knows with that guy.]
jin will be here trust
sha-ming was on a joint water and liquor break, gotta keep hydrated. he's got a cocktail in hand just for shinji -- it's his night, after all. ]
He'll be fine, trust me. Little bro's had worse. You guys literally jumped someone last week?
[ just saying. he raises a glass, ceremoniously. ]
And you won, so let's celebrate that! [ in a much louder pitch, for all of the club to hear: ] Here's to my bros that jumped someone and won! We're alive, yay! Let's all keep jumping people and living, guys!
[ the club applauds. ]
Indeed I am here
He should have said no. He should have said no, it's okay, please leave me and go to the club. So in truth, Minato has no one to blame other than himself for landing in this situation.
Shinjiro is right to question whether he's awake or not. In fact, Minato's eyes are shut and he's doing his best not to move. He puts on his best sleeping person impression. Maybe if they all think he's passed out, they'll leave him alone and out of their shenanigans. ]
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I hate this thread
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why are you a hater @ jin
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side quest
He looks at Sha-Ming, then the cat. It's tempting to just leave because this is definitely not his problem... but even he isn't mean enough to ignore the plight of a beloved pet.]
How did you intend on getting the cat?
[can he just watch or]
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[ the cat stares back down at vincent too, as if it's also shocked by this revelation. ]
Came back for more, eh? [ okay, he should stop before he gets thrown into another trash can. ] Well, I was gonna climb it. Problem is, housecats tend to scare easy; natural byproduct of their prey instincts. Soooo, I dunno, I gotta figure out how I can get up there without settin' that off.
[ wait one second. ]
Can I ride on your shoulders?
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No.
[no one climbing vincent valen-pine im sorry vi just fire me forever]
Do you have a jacket or something similar?
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side quest (REAL) (GONE CRAZY)
Okay. [ With all the enthusiasm of a deflating balloon, Aerith breaks away from behind Sha-Ming to bound over to the cat. Already it's hackles are raised at her intrusion, eyes wide and blown over with the vibrant yellows of it's irises. ]
Shh, it's okay. Here. [ Angling her palm down, she holds it out for the cat to sniff, as if it's the easiest thing in the world. ] You're such a pretty little kitty, aren't you? Yes, you are. We want to take a few pictures, if you'll let us.
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so he's going to make this worse, actually. best to rid her of this curse, this pity she's feigning, whatever the hell it is that's addling her brain. ]
I mean it, you know. [ he raises his arms over his head, stretching them out leisurely. ] We don't know each other. All of those memories were fake. So it's better to stop pretending like they matter to you, okay?
[ fuck. this inexplicable emptiness permeates in his chest, gnawing at the edges of his heart -- suddenly, ghosts of the past whisk past his vision, this overwhelming sense of loneliness hovering over him. his sentencing. his stupid fucking sentencing. ]
Fucking Jerry.
[ anyways. sha-ming also holds out his hand -- before gently raking his fingers through the cat's fur, taking its attention away from aerith. ]
No need to ask, not like the thing can talk.
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You're scaring it. [ The cat's spine slinks down, pressing into the green of the brush, trying to dodge him. Then, it presses it's face into Aerith's, eyes still blown wide with a judging look. Weighing it's chance of scampering away from the two harassing it, no doubt. ]
We're not here to hurt you, promise. Just a few moments of your time, and it'll be alright. [ The gentle tone she adapts mollifies the black cat for a moment, and it nudges a little deeper into her hand. Then, with a tone even she can't place, Aerith addresses Sha-Ming: ]
Get the camera before your chance is gone— oh, wait!
[ Interrupted by the cat leaping away from him, Aerith catches it in her arms, where it's nails dig into her skin painfully. All the same, she holds it and grits her teeth together in a grimace. Funny— the cat's doing the same shit he's doing to her. ]
Sha-Ming? [ Please? ]
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drag 2
If Yu had a nickel for every time he got manhandled into drag...wait, it's another '2 nickels' situation. Wild. Too bad Yukiko isn't here to help him this time, but he's holding his own -- looks like he was more observant during the "Miss" Yasogami pageant than he really thought.
Anyway, what I'm saying is he's here, and he's in a very cute pigtailed wig. As for the lipstick--]
... I don't remember it being this color, but here.
[It seems to have turned purple? It's definitely not purple on him. But the color in the "blush pink"-labeled tube is definitely very purple.]
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all done. his lips smack together in a satisfied pop. ]
Thanks, man. Like the do, by the way. Not my style but it's cute. Like, it's givin' "I'm looking for a college aged boyfriend to buy everything off my Whamazon wishlist."
[ makes sense, doesn't it? in the meantime, sha-ming adjusts his black corset, which very shamelessly exposes his midriff and fake boobs... as you'd expect. ]
You think going bigger'll land me more points with the judges?
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Anyway, after a stupidly extensive Google search, I can confidently say that Yu understands that reference, so he huffs a quiet chuckle.]
Thanks. I was going for "who gets to carry my shopping bags today?" but it'll do.
[Probably should have modeled the look off of Ai a little bit, for that. Anyway, he offers a discerning look to Sha-ming's getup --somehow he's looking over this absolute ho outfit with real thoughtfulness-- but...hmm. How to put this?]
Bigger's only better to an extent. I wonder if a creative theme would help with a higher score, too.
[Teddie really nailed that best in their pageant, but who doesn't like a theme to really pull an outfit together? Not that Yu can think of one immediately...although a certain school teacher does, unfortunately, come to mind.]
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drag 2
Not surprised to see you got mixed up in this, too. [ A sigh, as he opens the purse, looking through it. ]
...I have a few on hand as backup, what color do you need? [ It's not like he's not going to help. They're both stuck here together, after all. ]
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i mean, he is, but that's beside the point. sha-ming rests his chin against tented hands, looking at cloud through his fake lashes. ]
Gimme the one you used the most. That way, it's like an indirect kiss.
[ .......... ]
Hey, don't look at me like that... I'm joking! [ he heaves out a sigh, his gaudy silver earrings clattering against his head. ] Listen... ya look so cute, I just couldn't resist. I'll take black, it'll bring out my cleavage.
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Come on, you can't be that desperate. [ Listen, Cloud knows he's a snack, but also he knows you could do better, Sha-Ming. Probably. Nevertheless, he's rummaging in his purse for a tube of black lipstick. Turns it over in his hand. Looks at Sha-Ming, like he's actually giving it a thought. Hrms. Pulls out another one. ]
Try this one too - it's more of a blue-black, might give you a little more pop.
[ He's going to let Sha-Ming fiddle with the lipsticks before he pops the next question. ]
So. First time, or no? [ Cloud??? ]
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party time
She speaks as if she expected to run into him here. ]
The list of things I fear is small and it is limited. However, in no world would you ever be included on it.
[ A very Yuriko way of saying "I could take you".]
1/2
[ to whomever this stranger is—
wait.
he squints through the slats of his glasses. for like? at least a solid minute…
then his eyes widen. ]
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[ damn, the alcohol must be addling his brain — or maybe he assumed he was tripping initially. but he raises his glass. ]
Where’s the rest of the D.Q.O? Dude, this place sucks! Well, this club’s pretty okay actually, just don’t go into the bathroom… But yeah, this place sucks!
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Where they are is none of my concern, nor do I have any interest in where they may be. Do you truly wish to be reunited with that circus? You would commit them to a frozen prison for less than the putrid contents of your cup.
[ She will not be toasting. ]
False niceties.. I despise them.
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side quest
He blinks owlishly, perhaps a couple more times than necessary, in fact, as though he can' t entirely process what's just happened, here.]
Wh-why would someone be trying to kill you?! [Painfully earnestly:] Do you need help? A safe place to stay??
[That kitty's gonna be getting away unless you can calm down this bigger, dorkier cat first, Sha-Ming.]
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the cat is watching, too. ]
Uh.
[ another blink. ]
I mean, it's just... yanno, that's how people work and all. Always tryin' to kill each other. I guess it's... what I'm used to?
[ is that weird? why is that weird? ]
Is that... not how it is for ya?
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No???
[...]
I mean, it's not like there aren't murders and stuff now and again, but I mean...that's not something most average people have to worry about? Definitely not hitmen.
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Network | text
[He knows its a stupid question but he can't help but ask. Wtf.]
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my closet's purple too like wtf
whack ass city
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