riverviewlogs | Tired of this human duet...

Entry tags:

Tired of this human duet...

who: Jamie Dodger and YOU! (run.)
what: General catch-all with an open prompt that can be used for mingling.
when: June 25th through the end of July.
where: All over the place.
warnings: Dodger. ~~Lots of swearing, drug use, sex and violence.~~

--

Lampyr is Here for You.

If anyone missed his commercial, or simply didn't want to respond to it, they may instead find his second marketing scheme. Around the city, usually hidden in alleyways, you may find a small display similar to sample trays in grocery stores. Each has a sign that says "DRINK ME" in a bright neon color, which matches the covered trays of drinks below it. Sketchy? Absolutely, but curiosity may take the better of you... or maybe you read the inscription on the table siting the tempting results of the liquid.

RED - ENRAGED LAMPYR: Feel as strong as an ox! Filled with bravery and fighting spirit! Defeat your foes without giving them a chance!
ORANGE - HONEST LAMPYR: Open up your inner emotions! Come to terms with startling truths! Share with others to learn their deepest secrets!
YELLOW - FEARFUL LAMPYR: Enhance your adrenaline! Give yourself goosebumps or share with enemies for a frightful surprise! Raise the stakes of night-time hide-and-seek!
GREEN - ENVIOUS LAMPYR: Test your social safety! Learn the intentions of others! Share with friends and lovers to learn their honest opinion of you!
BLUE - GRIEVING LAMPYR: Strengthen your bonds! Open the depths of your feelings! Instigate attachment with others!
PURPLE - AFFECTIONATE LAMPYR: Let go of your reservations! Accustom yourself with touch and social comfort! Become cuddly!

Each display also features a very crude drawing of a firefly showing the appropriate emotion, although it looks like a kindergartener drew it. One of these days Dodger will have to hire an artist. While your character will not see Dodger initially, he is watching from a nearby hiding place and will come to observe and mess with them if they take a sample, to see the effects of the drink.

The drink tastes spicy, savory, sour, bitter, sweet and minty respectively, although not particularly good regardless. They all have an aftertaste like cough syrup. Obviously the effects don't exactly match up with the claims; they simply give you a very strong form of that emotion, which may lead to side effects. Bloodlust, impulsive truths, paranoid hallucinations, a compulsive need to check your importance to others, uncontrollable crying, or a lovedrunk, affectionate stupor are respectively the most common side effects. Though the effects are strong, they are significantly lessened within an hour (when they stop entirely is up to the player) and the character will never do anything they are morally against.

While Dodger will generally try to speak to anyone who has inadvertently become a test subject, feel free to make open top-levels for others to come across your character in an affected state. Please assume that Dodger is watching them during their exchange, though, and any information passed between them is now known by him.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's taken a lot of awkward ~~handwaved~~ messages to hammer out the details, but... yep. Date time. The worst time in Dodger's opinion, and the time he'd much rather be drunk as shit in an alley somewhere, but... he's trying to be a better person. God help him, he really is.

He's trying hard enough that.. he ended up getting a bouquet of small, unfragrant flowers for him and is sort of awkwardly playing with the petals while he waits at the edge of the path that runs through the local park. Words can't even describe how difficult it is for Dodger to go into a flower shop, but he's honestly trying. And... he smells even more heavily of alcohol than usual, as a result of his trying. But that's fine, right?]

[ Shigeru is realtively nervous about all of this. Mostly because it's Dodger he's dealing with but also because he wants to make sure everyone has a good time?! But he's so bad with being social and he's never gone on a date before so it's a bit...intimidating for him. Either way he shows up at the specified time and at the specified place, pausing when he sees the other with that small bouquet.

It's kinda romantic and not something he thought Dodger would do, but he has a big smile plastered onto his face as he comes up. He doesn't miss the smell of alcohol coming off the other however. ]

I hope you haven't been waiting too long.

[He glances at Shigeru with... a surprisingly open expression, looking nervous and sort of like a child that's lost their mom in the grocery store. His skin is pale enough that his blushing shows up starkly against the rest of his skin, as he presses the flowers into Shigeru's hands.]

Guh- fuck. Finally, you had me sitting here like a kid on prom night.

[There's a small pause before he realizes something.]

You can't type well holding that, huh... you can hand it to me whenever you wanna talk.

[He feels like a fucking idiot.]

I'm sorry!

[ Oh. He does notice all of that. He's really not used to Dodger being so...expressive. But it does make him smile and nod. He'll take the flowers with a slight blush on his face as he types with one hand. ]

They're very pretty, thank you.

[ Though he does look Dodger in the eye as he holds those flowers and continues to type. He'll shake his head though at that. ]

It's okay! I'm fine like this. Are you okay? [ He never really figured that Dodger would be awkward or nervous about something like this. He seemed to be so experienced in things like this that is never really occurred to him to get this way. ]

[God, it just makes him more embarrassed to have Shigeru handle it so smoothly. All of this is so far out of Dodger's depth, he doesn't even know how to pretend he knows what he's doing. He lets out an awkward, and slightly bitter laugh.]

I'm fine, just... nerves.

[He motions as if to take Shigeru's hand, but- right. He explicitly said he wouldn't touch him. So a moment after starting the gesture, his hand falls back to his side and he just awkwardly leads him down the path.]

It's... been a while since I've done shit like this. Usually just take people home and forget about them the next day.

[Which... he'd been planning to do with Shigeru, but somehow this happened instead.]

[ Shigeru might let out a little laugh as well. He sure is awkward and nervous too. If his hands being shaky are any indication. But he does feel bad about...not being able to hold hands. He knows Dodger is a rather physical person after all. ]

Then...why are you doing this?

[ It clearly makes him uncomfortable and he didn't figure Dodger was someone to put other people before himself?! It's so fascinating and intriguing to him. But, he shakes his head. ]

What I mean is...I'm really happy that you showed up! [ And have a bright smile to follow that message. He might not be able to hold hands but he can walk next to the other with little difficulties. ]

[Those messages actually makes the lazy smile that had been forming drop off his face, and.. he's back to somber moodiness. He'd done such a good job making himself seem selfish, that - he actually can't even feel upset that Shigeru sees him that way. It just means he did a good job.]

What, you think I'd stand you up? [He huffs softly, reaching to light a cigarette.] I... owe you, for putting up with me. Least I can do is show you a good time, for all the... y'know, the passes I keep making, and- just enjoy it, alright?

[He emphasizes this by reaching over to ruffle Shigeru's hair, mostly just to distract him. He feels so horribly embarrassed.]

Edited 2017-07-22 02:02 (UTC)

[ Shigeru might duck his head a little at the hair ruffle. He types something on his phone in response to Dodger. ]

No! I didn't mean it like that! It's just...it's nice getting to see this side of you. So thank you for all of this.

[ He smiles shyly as he lets Dodger read that. ]

But I am enjoying it, so that's a plus, right?

[ He wonders if Dodger is though?! ]

[He just... offers a very awkward nod, the sort of thing a teenager does when they're forced into a conversation with their relative and trying to make it go as quickly as possible. It isn't that he isn't enjoying himself, but... god, he can't help stressing over whether or not he's doing this well. The whole... being a normal human being that doesn't make people uncomfortable... thing.]

So is there... y'know, anything you wanna do, or.. do you just wanna find a spot to watch clouds and shit? [Should he be censoring himself? Does Shigeru care? He decides against it, but... it still feels somehow wrong to be speaking coarsely.] I mean, I'll go either way, it's... your day.

[ Shigeru smiles. He knows this is apparently...very hard on Dodger and he truly is grateful for the other even trying this sort of thing. So he'll nod and type something. He's sorta used to Dodger's way of speaking, so if it bothers him he doesn't show it. ]

I was thinking a walking through the park and then...we could go someplace for dinner? Maybe back to my house for dessert, if that's okay?

[ Eating at restaurants is hard...but if Dodger is trying his hardest then Shigeru will too. ]

["Back to my house for dessert" sounds a whole lot like sex.. but Dodger's nice enough not to voice the joke that comes to mind. And hell... he doesn't mind either one.]

That sounds good to me... we'll have to find some place quiet - unless you wanna just order some take-out and make it easier on you.

[He pauses for a moment, before glancing at him as he mumbles:]

I have another bottle of Lampyr, by the way, it might- uh. Help a little more than last time.

[ Dodger no. Shigeru didn't mean it like that but now that he's had a chance to think about what he wrote his face is all sorts of red. Oh my god, why does he do this to himself?!

But his expression does take a turn into something more surprised. ]

Oh! Yes! That isn't a bad idea.

[ That would...make matters so much easier for him, ah. But he might look down at his phone before nodding. ]

We can...give it a shot then as well. Thank you...for working so hard to help me.

Good. Yeah. Sure.

[He hesitates a moment, before gently moving to take Shigeru's hand.]

You think you could, uh... handle this for a little bit? I won't force it, I just... y'know. It's.. nice.

[His face is still red, and he's far from relaxed, but... he's not sure he'll really be able to relax, trying as hard as he is to make this worth Shigeru's time.]

[ Oh. Well he doesn't mind it, really, Dodger is at least someone he's had the most contact with since arriving here. Despite their...obvious rocky start, he is at least more comfortable with Dodger touching him than most people here. It's a strange thing to say and even think but it was the truth. So Shigeru will smile and nod before giving Dodger's hand a gentle squeeze. He's fine with this his anxiety is surprisingly low, probably because of the atmosphere in that they're both awkward and nervous over the same thing. ]

It is nice. I never really...did something like this with anyone before.

I could've guessed that.

[He laughs softly, reassured by the gentle squeeze. It's the first time Shigeru's reciprocated, not just put up with it, and that's a huge step. It almost makes him more nervous, about possibly messing this up after coming so far.]

It's been... god, nine years for me. Even with my old girlfriend... we just never had the time to go out.

[The smile drops off his face as he remembers that girl.]

She used to get all nervous about getting her makeup right... by the time she thought she looked pretty enough for me we'd be an hour late to whatever we were doing. Started just giving her the wrong times so she'd be ready in time. When we moved in together she stopped fussing about it and... something about that just pissed me off.

[ Shigeru listens, of course, he is a very good listener given his situation. He watches Dodger's expression as he talks about her. ]

Even if it...didn't work out, I'm sure she did it with good intentions. She probably just wanted to impress you and that's why it took so long.

[ He smiles though he can't give a reason as to why she stopped. He wasn't very good with that sort of thing. ]

Do you...miss her?

[He does miss her. That much is clear on his face, the way it cracks for a moment and shows an expression of deep regret. He's the reason she was gone... the only reason, and it had all been because he was a fucked up piece of shit that couldn't handle anything nice without breaking and ruining it...

A moment later he snaps out of it, and he trains his face back into a more detached look, but he's started scratching one of his wrists... hard enough that if it didn't have the gauze around them, he'd likely be scratching through his skin.]

Forget about her. It's not-.. important.

[ Shigeru watches him with a worried look. Normally he wouldn't try to stop him but he knows and has seen what's underneath those bandages so he might just...gently touch the hand Dodger is using to pick at the gause over his wrist. His expression is telling that he's sorry for making him remember it and for bringing it up, but he can't actually type it given how both his hands are occupied.

He knows nervous ticks and he has many of his own, so he can aort of grasp what exactly this whole thing means to him. ]

[Dodger pauses as Shigeru touches his hand, and glances down before managing to stop the scratching. That's right, Shigeru would be one to look out for things like that... and he's already seen what Dodger's hiding with his bandages. He doesn't have to explain how he's feeling about the whole thing at all, does he.

After a moment of hesitation, he stops walking and just shifts to hold both of Shigeru's hands. And after a bit more hesitation, he leans toward to press his forehead against Shigeru's in a soft, affectionate head bump.]

I shouldn't've brought Janet up. I'm not.. ready to talk about her. But I don't want you worrying about me, alright?

[Because he knows he will. Shigeru always seems to worry about him, and it's... endearing.]

[ Shigeru tenses lightly at the head bump, but he looks back up at Dodger with worry in his eyes anyway. He does worry, a lot, about him because he seems to be going through so much and yet never really tells anyone anything. It's not a healthy way to live and yet...it's not his business either.

So he sighs and nods his head before pulling his arms away to free up his hands so he can type something. ]

Okay. But if you ever want to...I'm always hear to lend an ear. I'm sorry for...bringing her up.

You didn't do anything. You're fine, you're... more than fine.

[Dodger presses a kiss to his lips softly before returning to just resting his forehead against Shigeru's, his arms linking around the other's waist.]

Thanks for agreeing to this, I know- I know I'm a lot. Especially.. for you.

[ Oh. Well the kiss is a surprise and Shigeru moves away slightly, blushing as he shakes his head. Dodger's always pushing his boundaries with him that he's almost used to being kissed now, by him at least, he's not sure if he'd react as well if it were someone else. ]

It's okay. You're actually helping me get a bit better with all of...this. I wouldn't even be able to handle being this close to anyone if you hadn't helped me with it. But I...want to get to know you better too, so I can help you as well. I know I'm not...a prime candidate for that but I'm happy to be able to do little things too.

[ And he gives Dodger a warm smile. ]

Are you hungry? We should...go get something to eat.

[Dodger accepts him backing off, and he can't help blushing more as he reads off of Shigeru's phone. Honestly... it still surprises him, after the life he's led, that people exist who are willing to just listen to him.]

I'll keep it in mind.

[With that he releases Shigeru, offering his hand to hold so they can keep walking. Which also frees a hand to go through his phone for that one food-ordering app...]

Anything in particular you wanna eat?

[ He smiles and shakes his head. Although he does pause after a second to type something before he takes Dodger's hand again. ]

I've heard that Italian food is good. Have you ever had that before? It's a cuisine from Earth, right?

What, you've never had pizza?

[What is wrong with Shigeru's life.]

Closed to Shigeru

here I come with my cinnamon bun

<3

they're so cute it's illegal

there goes dodger finding new and exciting laws to break

good please don't break anymore

you can't stop him. one day he'll get shigeru to break laws too.

/gasp never Shigeru is too pure for such things!!

if dodger can do emotions shigeru can do crimes!!

maybe just...small ones

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