highly new, slightly improved open post

[appliances]

assorted morons

☆ @ the muselist

optional prompts/ideas

☆ caught in the rain meme ☆ little steps meme ☆ affectionate physical contact meme ☆ picture prompt also acceptable but link them so it's tidy ☆ AU ideas: soulmates AU, reincarnation AU, Bad End AU, canon divergent/roleswap AU, dorky college AU, crossover AU, super indulgent high fantasy AU ☆ melodrama is ultimate tier ★ SHIPPING AND FUCC: ☆ non-fluffy relationship types I'm down for: codependent, master/servant power imbalance type ships, "we're bad for each other but worse for anyone else," other things I am failing to think of tbh ☆ things I am not into: noncon (includes "dubcon"), incest, tsundere shit if your tsundere is just verbally abusive, gratuitous torture porn, you'll probably have to ask me about harder kinks and they will vary by character ☆ I don't have a kink list so pitch me an idea if u thirsty ☆ if you would prefer a locked post I can also make that happen

Comments

[trivialpursuit]

[...At least it's an honest answer. Kakyoin can give him that much credit - he's not trying to gloss over this place. Kakyoin remembers the things people have done to him and the things he's witnessed people do to the others-- the girls outside, his fellow thugs...

He shifts uncomfortably again, and tucked behind the fold of his sleeve, his opposite hand closes around the handle of his knife. He has this. He probably deserves to use it by now. Would it even work? Should he try?]

...Anything. [He repeats it darkly, then, eyebrows raised,] You keep coming here to drink and play hero.

[It's only a criticism in the, like, Kakyoin way. Polnareff could be Worse.]

[silvercrusader]

[He flushes dully. There are far worse things he could do, it's true, but there are also far better. But he's left at a bit of a loss; Geil is dead, and that's all well and good, but now the journey that's propelled him for years is gone, so what does he do with himself? Save play hero, and drink, and-- and this is important-- seek out one host in particular.]

And so what if I do?

[trivialpursuit]

[Oh, the speed at which this reaction makes him feel better is probably something to watch out for. He smirks and, still mercifully behind folds of fabric, lets go of his knife. There will be no misplaced revenge stabbings here, congratulations.]

Just a reminder. Now that you don't have to tell me the stories over again, maybe we can get something done.

[silvercrusader]

[--what?

He blinks at him, honestly taken aback, because they've just gone from hey, everything you know is a lie to hey, the joke is actually on you, Polnareff! It's jarring, and he's almost certain that isn't the end of the conversation, but still, jeez.]

Like what?

[trivialpursuit]

[Kakyoin may have skipped a few steps in the middle without looping Polnareff in, such as the part where he's decided he'll trust him in a... limited sense, for now. And the part where he's probably going to need someone else who's aware of what really goes on here, because—]

I can't believe you have to ask. [figures..... SO fleshy of him] I'm not going to stay here and let these people do whatever they want to me anymore.

[He raises an eyebrow, the question unasked. Help him break out of prison, buddy.]

[silvercrusader]

I don't even know if you can survive out of here.

[It's not a no, but at the same time, they probably should think about this for like . . . three seconds.]

And this place is expensive, I can't just sneak you out, they're gonna be watching.

[Hmmm . . .]

We're gonna have to do this right. With a Plan.

[trivialpursuit]

[This is thinking time-- Kakyoin is immediately ready to object to these, uh, very valid points, but never mind, he's going for it. A plan... Well, he's doing this, and maybe later he'll go into full dramatics about how he'd rather die on his own terms than the same way, again, for someone's pleasure, but not now. Focus.

He looks down at himself. Well they've dressed him conspicuously, there's no way this is the fashion in 2019 very-much-not-fucking-Japan, so-]

How do I get something else to wear? That sounds like a good place to start.

[silvercrusader]

I can bring you some. I . . . guess I'll buy some, you'll just swim in mine.

[Thank god for the endless wealth of the Joestars and the careless generosity of Jotaro; he'd never be able to afford this many trips here if it wasn't for them.]

And we could always . . .

[Hmm.]

They're gonna see me go in with just me and then come out with a guest. But what if I came in with somebody? Then I leave with somebody, maybe we disguise you a little-- and when my friend tried to leave, he'd prove he was-- you know-- human, so he could just go.

[There's a very awful implication stitched up in there-- you know, as opposed to you, totally inhuman-- but he breezes right past it.]

How do you feel about dying your hair?

[trivialpursuit]

[Don't wait up for a single objection from him about buying him things, you know, after buying his attention and company over over in this hellscape. It's fine to buy him jeans.

The rest of this, though, he has nothing to contribute for. He's never been outside of this little world— hell, there are so many jumbled memories knocking around in his head, he doesn't even know how long he's been here at the Lotus Petal. The in and out logistics are, sadly, all up to Polnareff.

Ah, but.] I'd rather not. I'll... wear a hat.

[silvercrusader]

We can dye it back.

Look-- I wouldn't insist, but I'm gonna walk in here with a black-haired Japanese man. It'd be a lot easier if I could walk out with one too, you know?

[trivialpursuit]

Why can't I wear a hat?

[PLEASE... just look at these luscious locks. And on principle, after getting stabbed a lot, there's a level of physical autonomy he's very suddenly interested in, but that would be, like, vulnerable to admit. He tugs at the end of his hair, frowning.]

...I'll think about it. What else?

[silvercrusader]

That's . . . about it, really.

[That's it: the plan. The Plan, capital letter, because it needs all the help it can get.]

And then, you know, you can stay with me.

[trivialpursuit]

What?

[Sorry, says who? The blank look on his face also isn't a no, but it's really not a yes. This was... not part of Kakyoin's own, more violent plan for his great escape.]

Why?

[silvercrusader]

Where else are you gonna go?

[Mr. Sensitive.]

[trivialpursuit]

[You mean he can't just live in the forest, the way a young thug might if they were run out of Edo? Hmm... 2019 sucks.]

I— Fine. But I don't owe you anything for helping me.

[Maybe a thank you. That's all.]

[silvercrusader]

Did I say you did? Jeez. Just . . . give me some time, all right? It's gonna take a bit to set this up.

[. . .]

How, uh . . . how far back do you remember? How detailed?

[trivialpursuit]

I'm telling you.

[Look at him, exercising his newfound desire to Set Boundaries. It's great. He pauses, looking pensive, then hums.]

All of it, as far as I know. I remember you complained the yukata was hard to put on, one of the first times.

[silvercrusader]

It was.

[Just saying. It was foreign, all right, let's see Kakyoin struggle with a pair of hot pants, god. But his quiet sulking is interrupted when he realizes, oh, wait, yeah, he asked for a reason. And that's--]

How many times were you--?

[trivialpursuit]

[Please let him wear sweats. His expression darkens then, but it's not at Polnareff, at least.]

Enough. A few days ago. That's going to be the last time.

[Anyway, talking about his brand new, horrific self-awareness is great and all, but ngh. He stands, brushing dust off his knees.]

I need some air. Come on.

[silvercrusader]

[He stands up, stumbling just a little, catching on the yukata. Christ.]

So now what? You wanna get drunk? I mean-- I dunno if you have before, but we can do whatever you want now, and we can just say it's whatever I want.

[trivialpursuit]

[hah.....]

You did say you were going to buy me a drink. But not here.

[There are Quests everywhere, but they're harder to avoid when he's technically supposed to participate.]

[silvercrusader]

So let's go somewhere else.

[It's easy to walk out, hands moving idly at his sides (because he keeps wanting to shove them deep into his pockets, but can't). A little harder to hit the street and be so aware of Kakyoin beside him, really seeing this world for the first time. It's not so obvious, not really, but there's little details. Little oddities, loops of dialogue and actions that just repeat, over and over.

There's a bar he likes a few blocks down, small and shabby but serviceable. It's got a sheet in front as a door, and he holds it up for Kakyoin, smiling a little as he does.]

So what can I get you, huh?

[trivialpursuit]

[There's novelty in leaving just this building. Yes, Kakyoin has been outside before, but it was always because of the narrative, never just because he wanted a drink. There's a special kind of delight he feels when one of the girls by the door gives him a quizzical look and he walks right past, following Polnareff out into the daylight. She doesn't get it, anyway.

But, ah, there's also something to be said for the... detail of the narratives, because more than one of the few people in this shabby little bar tense uncertainly when Kakyoin ducks past the sheet and blinks a few times in the dimmer light. Oops.]

A better reputation...? [ha ha, jokes] For something like alcohol, I think I can leave that choice up to someone else.

[silvercrusader]

[Whatever. Whatever! It's fine. People are fucking terrible all day long, and more than once he's nearly gotten kicked out for actively trying to stop other guests from being fucking assholes. So what if what Polnareff wants is for Kakyoin to accompany him? That's his wish. No limits, right?]

So we'll start with whiskey and go from there.

[Did they have whiskey in Edo Japan? They do here, and he glances up, meeting the barman's eyes, holding up two fingers.]

Anything else?

[trivialpursuit]

No, that will do.

[Whiskey and Whiskey+, it sounds promising enough. He watches Polnareff order the drinks, just sort of studying him; there must be a crack somewhere in how he and all the other hosts behave that clues the guests in on who's who, right? Surely there's a seam somewhere, and since he'll certainly never find it by looking at himself in a mirror now, he'll just have to compare Polnareff to as many hosts as possible.

But he is, essentially, just leaning on his elbow and staring. Hey.]