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

What, you've never had pizza?

[What is wrong with Shigeru's life.]

[ Ah. Shigeru and pizza don't exactly mix very well. He might fiddle with his phone before responding to that. He looks embarrassed about it but if anyone understands it's probably Dodger, maybe? ]

It's a bit too messy for me, I guess. And...people have to use their hands a lot to make it, so I just...don't think I can eat that sort of thing right now.

[ It makes him squeamish thinking about it. ]

But I think I'll be able to eat other things, maybe!

[He tips his head as he thinks about it... he guesses that's a fair point - and the reason why he likes pizza is that it's messy, so he can't argue with it.]

If you're worried about that, most italian cuisine is made with hands at one point or another... how about chinese? It's not... romantic, but I can guarantee they don't use their hands for that.

[No he can't, but he can at least guarantee he doesn't know any chinese dishes where hands are necessary. Out of the maybe two things he has a concept of how to make.]

[ It's more hands on than other dishes and Shigeru gets grossed out so easily with that sort of thing.

He'll tilt his head at that and then smile with a nod. ]

Okay! That's sounds good then. I haven't tried Chinese food before. That's also from Earth?

Yeah, it is.

[He makes a mental note of Shigeru continually referring to them as 'earth cuisine'... he has questions. Especially since he'd assumed the kid was a normal, if mutant, Japanese man... who might not have had Chinese takeout before, but would be familiar with actual Chinese food, from China. It begs a lot of questions, many of which he's not sure if it's worth it to ask. He's sort of passed the point where knowing about Shigeru is really as important as knowing how he's doing.

After a few moments he's set the delivery up in his phone, checking off things that he figures taste good, and sets it to be delivered to Shigeru's house.]

By the time we get back to your place, they should be almost there. [He hesitates.] We could, uh. Try out the Lampyr again while we're waiting, or... after we eat. Your choice.

[ He is definitely not any of those things, though he will be surprised to learn that Shigeru is a surname in Japan as well. He just figured every planet had their own people with first and last names, weird or not, so he never really bothered looking into it further.

He gives Dodger a bright smile with a nod. ]

Okay! We can try it out while we wait then. I don't mind either way.

Sounds good.

[With many people, Dodger tends to be silent while traveling, until something catches his attention. Shigeru is treated to small snippets of interest. Things like 'hey, check out that dog' and 'jesus, is anyone really into chicks like that?' as they pass by people. Nothing that leads to a very deep conversation, and his interest is off of it within a minute.

Finally they're on the couch in Shigeru's house, and Dodger draws up another sample of his drug - this time it's a brighter purple hue, closer to indigo in color. Less honesty, more affection, and a slightly larger amount of sadness. And just in case, he draws up about twice as much as he had before before offering the syringe to Shigeru.]

How about you try touching me this time? So, y'know - you can stop right when you get nervous with it.

[ The walk is in general peaceful and new for him. He's obviously never experienced something like this with someone else before and he'll happily nod and smile at Dodger's quips when he gives them.

But his calm demeanor slowly changes as the make their way back to his house and finally once inside he has a vague nervousness about him that's probably easy to see. He'll be rubbing his arm as he listens to Dodger, eyeing the strange concoction again with half curious and half uncertain eyes.

But he'll take it without hesitation and then slowly bring it up against his skin and inject himself without a seconds glance. His eyes will close as he allows the drug to take effect. But he'll do as Dodger suggests his hand shakily reaching out to touch him, though he pauses midway before taking a deep breath and continuing. The increased affection helps him with getting closer but it also makes him more embarrassed as he finally manages to touch Dodger's arm and linger there for at least a minute before he pulls away.

He looks strained when he does that and he's rubbing his gloved hand against his thigh, but for the most part he seems okay?! Even if his face is super red now. ]

...That's it?

[He raises a brow, but... he knows Shigeru's having trouble. Still, it gets his mind racing with possible adjustments to the formula. Maybe less affection, more of the other two, or... maybe there had been too much sadness, and that had thrown him off balance...

But it's more than that, isn't it. Shigeru had been rubbing his arm since they got to the house. He seemed... tense. Maybe just about this, but... it still makes him worry. And after a moment he reaches out to cup Shigeru's cheek and press a kiss to his lips.]

You alright?

[ He might move away slightly when Dodger leans in to kiss him again. He's actually sort of used to the others advances by now that he doesn't look entirely alarmed or put off by it, he might even close his eyes briefly, but that's probably due to the effects of the added affection in the drug. The kiss makes him blush even more but he shakes his head in a yes response. ]

Sorry. I'm just...nervous. I want it to work so badly...but it just doesn't seem to stick. I...I want to try again though, is that okay?

[ He is going to touch Dodger for more than a few seconds! ]

Edited 2017-08-02 00:25 (UTC)

[Dodger nods, staying close so there isn't much space to cross, or much time to chicken out once he makes the effort.]

Miyata, you've got no fucking idea how much I want you to touch me.

[He may think he knows, but... hell, even Dodger has trouble even handling the depth of his interest in the man. It's the intoxicating temptation of something that's always just out of reach, he guesses.]

[ Oh my god Dodger?! Shigeru wasn't expecting him to say something like that. He's never really had anyone say that to him ever so it's obvious that it's a bit flustering for him to hear. But, okay, he's go this! He'll swallow thickly as he lifts his hand again and reach out to touch the other man's cheek. His hand will lightly trace over the faint scarring, but he doesn't mean to do that, it's just a mindless wandering of his hand at that point. Even if...those scars have always worried him and he's always wondered about them but never had the gall to ask. He doesn't know who or what caused them but they look like they hurt and a pain like that was never easy to talk about. But he might pull his hand away after that, unless Dodger stops him from doing so. Dodger can probably feel his hand shaking while he does this but Shigeru looks pretty determined to not give up. ]

[Dodger is always fluid and relaxed to the touch, but he bristles slightly and the playful smile leaves his face when he feels Shigeru's hand on his cheek. Still, when he can feel Shigeru about to give up, he slips his hand over Shigeru's to stop him, to press it down gently against his cheek. His grip is soft, but firm enough that Shigeru won't be able to easily pull away from it. And he watches the other man steadily, his expression open enough to show the depths of somber affection he feels for him.

This is not a privilege many people get, for Dodger to actively want him to touch his scars. But he does want Shigeru to touch him, to really be allowed close enough to comfort him. He hopes he can convey that much without having to say it.]

[ Ah. On the one hand he gets to see a side of Dodger that he's never really seen before. He's not sure how many people ever actually have, really, but he does stare back into Dodger's one good eye before looking away again. He might shift in his position but he doesn't pull away. He might use his free hand to type something to the other though. ]

I'm sorry. I...didn't mean to touch your scars without your permission.

[ He looks a bit uncertainly back at Dodger as he shows his phone. Though now that his hand has remained on Dodger's skin for a good few minutes he can sorta start to feel his anxiety creeping up on him again. Like he needs to go wash his hands despite having his gloves on. ]

[Dodger's barely read the message before he pushes the phone aside, reaching to tip Shigeru's face back to look at him and pull him into another kiss. He knows the man is starting to reach his limit, but... he suddenly feels an intense urge, a need for him that has him tipping him over until he's balanced on top of him without even noticing, panting softly from the force of it.

As he leans up it hits him how far beyond Shigeru's boundaries that likely was, and he can't make eye contact as he moves to lean back and give Shigeru space to retreat.]

Sorry. Fuck. Sorry.

[ It is a very strange thing to realize someone wants you. In a world where everyone, even those of the same kind, fear you because of your powers and your capabilities shuns you and never even tries to associate with you ever, having someone go to such lengths is...strange to him. Shigeru is completely thrown when all that happens, it's far too fast for him to really process and yet his body is reacting from his phobia before his mind catches up. But when he finally does there's a fear in his eyes that Dodger probably hasn't seen before. One filled with a certain helplessness, mostly at his own lack of power to really stop anything. His phobia is bad enough that the action made him freeze in fear as his back pressed against the couch and a sort of claustrophobic spike of fear envelopes him when Dodger is on top of him.

His own breathing is a bit shallow and he might sit up slowly and move away towards the other side of the couch as he watches Dodger. He looks a bit shocked and somewhat alarmed but otherwise fine. Right. He'll blink as he takes his phone and starts typing something. ]

It's okay. I'm okay. [ He's fine, really, aside from his hands and body shaking still. But that's to be expected when you were scared suddenly like that. He might move a bit closer though before a knock at the front door interrupts whatever he was going to do or say. ]

[Yeah... he'd royally fucked up, hadn't he. Dodger figured that as soon as he saw that look of shock on the man's face. Seeing him tremble like that, cowering at the edge of the couch... it would excite him if the person cowering wasn't so important to him... since it's Shigeru, it just makes a ball of ice form in his stomach.

He's about to speak - although, what he'll say he has no idea - when he hears that knock on the door. He's silent for a moment, glancing around before turning to watch Shigeru.]

Are you- expecting someone?

[ If he had continued he might have. But Shigeru knows that Dodger didn't have any malicious intent behind the action. Passion is a hard emotion to curb and he probably shouldn't have gotten the other man so riled up. So...he doesn't think anything of it even if he's still a bit shaken as he gets up from the couch to get the door. He'll type something quickly before he goes to see who it is. ]

It's probably the food.

[ He had almost forgotten about that as well. ]

Fuck, right.

[He had entirely forgotten... it's a testament to Shigeru's power over him that he's lost focus off of food of all things.

He gets up and teleports to the front door, talking to the delivery person as quickly as possible before coming back and handing Shigeru his food and a pair of chopsticks.

And he doesn't actually know how to use chopsticks, so he'll be sitting here fiddling with his own because he doesn't want to impose by asking where to find a fork.]

[ Oh, right, he forgot Dodger could do things like that. After he returns though Shigeru will take said food and set up plates on the table in the kitchen for them to eat. He'll eye the chopsticks with some curiosity but he also might laugh a little as he watches Dodger try with his own. Shigeru seems to have little trouble using them though. So even Earth had similar things to eat food with. He might motion for him to look up and hold out his phone for him ]

Do you want a fork? You look like you're having trouble.

[The look he gives Shigeru isn't far off from gratefulness for saving his life... and he just sort of nods while stabbing a piece of chicken with one of the chopsticks. He's totally clueless.]

We can forget about- what just happened. If you want.

[That's the best he can do to apologize, but.. he's kind of hoping Shigeru is more okay with it than he seemed.]

[ Shigeru shakes his head silently at that. ]

I don't really want to forget that. It was scary and I was scared but...I appreciate you not continuing forward.

[ He hands the other his fork before he types something again. ]

I just hope that...one day I can take physical contact like that. But I still have a long way to go it seems.

It was... kinda nice, aside from scaring the hell out of you... right?

[He's mostly picking at his food with his fork for a moment, his nerves quelling his appetite. But- hell, it can't be quelled for long, and he ends up eating fast enough that he'll probably end up with hiccups in a bit. It's all his nerves talking.]

[ He fiddles with the chopsticks in his hands and nods slightly. He'll eventually put them down, his food mostly untouched for the most part. At least he ate some of it?! ]

It wasn't bad, no. I...wish I could touch you and other people without my gloves though. It would be...different I think. I can't remember the last time I touched something without them on.

[He frowns at the uneaten food, but... he guesses it isn't his problem. He just tries not to choke while he eats, and coughs slightly as he finally swallows and speaks.]

I'm- not kidding about making it possible, I'm... trying out everything I can think of to fix it. But I figure the easiest thing is just... y'know. Pushing yourself, yeah?

[He hesitates a moment, and his shoulders slump.]

I know I've got... no idea what I'm doing here, but I figure it's worth it. To help you.

Tired of this human duet...

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