"La vita va avanti."

[sharktrash]

Who: Squalo and: Xanxus, Genos, Koumei, YOU!
What: Catch-all for January Shenanigans.
When: Jan 1st-15th ish
Where: MANTICORE penthouse, Pride HQ, possibly elsewhere
Warnings: language, violence, dicks out, the usual. will detail for each toplevel

(( Prompts in toplevels below! Feel free to tag into the ones marked as OPEN. I am still waiting on details for some of them, hence "placeholders" since I wanted to put the threads up in chronological order. They'll be there soon enough! Also, feel free to PM this account or hit me up on Plurk if you want a thread, too! ))

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CLOSED: Xanxus // Jan 1st-3rd ish

[sharktrash]

[ Last day of the year, getting a show of … well, fire and brimstone, to be honest, from one sexy as fuck Satan, and he’s called out the fucking wrong name. And the worst part? He has no idea why it happened. He barely even knows the guy, and definitely doesn’t like him -- okay, so he’s proved to be alright recently, but still. How the fuck, seeing someone set their hands aflame and their eyes turn red, his automatic response was “Xanxus”? That made no sense. ]

[ And when something made no sense, he forced it to make sense. So here he is -- wherever he’s gotten the word Xanxus would be at this time of day, whether it’s a lounge or a recording room -- kicking the door open. And possibly ruining a perfectly good take with a shittily loud; ]

VOOOOOIIII!!

[variaboss]

[Recording room it is. He's been trying to get this song out. It's the one he's supposed to write for that Garnet chick but it's a pain in the ass without a full band behind him. He's had to lay down ever damn soundtrack himself. It's fucking hard work and he really misses having a Metal band. He loves the Carnies, he really does, but more and more he's been feeling this nagging feeling. This thought that the Carnies aren't his actual family and his real one is far far more metal in their approach. Something with princes and robots and stalkers with crushes...

He's just about finished and taking a break, which means a drink of something very alcoholic when Squalo kicks the door down. The glass in his hand immediately leaves his hand, traveling towards Squalo's head. It's not even a conscious thing.]

CAN YOU NOT READ? THE SIGN SAYS SHUT THE FUCK UP, RECORDING IN PROGRESS!

[sharktrash]

[ Sounds nice. Better don't tell Luci that, though. She might be heartbroken. And that'd probably be terrifying, so let's not. ]

[ Well, shit. It's not exactly what he expected (really, Squalo? You break into a rec room and not expect a violent retaliation?), so it does hit. There's a sharp pain, familiar somehow even, but he bravely tries to continue anyway. ]

TOUGH SHIT! I'VE GOTTA TALK TO YOU. SPEAKING OF WHICH, STAY THE FUCK OUT OF MY HEAD.

CLOSED: Xanxus and Genos // Jan 1st-3rd

[sharktrash]

(( soon after this thread and this call end ))


[ After making the call, Squalo stays right outside, still seething. ]

[ People didn’t fucking beat him up and get away with it. People definitely didn’t get to treat him like their fucking bitch. Even worse, apparently that was a Thing. Or at least those weird flashes seemed to imply so. That bastard has pelted him with whiskey glasses in the past, or was going to in the future, or was doing it in some alternate dimension. Worst of all, That Squalo seemed to condone it. Take it without anything more than a few yells of protest. Not even trying to fight back or raise a hand to protect himself. So fucking pathetic. ]

[ That was infuriating to experience. Like some kind of a fucked up abusive arrangement. ]

[ No, Squalo was not going to take this shit, and his Alternate Dimension Self could stuff it where the sun didn’t shine. He was gonna fight back, and not necessarily fairly, and Xanxus was going to pay for it, damn it. He had to come out of there eventually. ]

[ There we go, his reinforcements have arrived. He bares his teeth at Genos while wiping some more blood off his hair with a tissue. ]

Right. As soon as he comes out, try to get behind and take a hold of his arms. I’ll take care of the rest.

[wounds]

[The fuck. He already promised to help with this, but the sight of his friend that beat up is even more motivator.]

He hurt you. Fine, he deserves every bit of this.

[sharktrash]

[ Well, he's not really bruised up, aside from having apparently gotten brained with something heavy. Does that count as beating up? Wait a minute, how is that even a question? ]

[ The corner of his grin twitches. ]

Wanna know the best part? Apparently, I've known him before. Apparently, he's always been doing this to me.

[ He scowls, clearly displeased with that revelation, not particularly concerned whether or not what he's saying is making any sense to the other. ]

Well, fuck that. I'm gonna stop it once and for all.

OPEN // Jan 3rd-7th-ish // ANYWHERE

[sharktrash]

[ So. Have you heard stories about MANTICORE teaming up to beat up Xanxus? No? You probably will soon enough. Clearly it's a legend that will make them heroes of their people. Well, technically, the security separated before things could really get out of hand, but still. Everyone's favorite scarred asshole has bruises to show for it. ]

[ Except so does the other side. ]

[ Squalo looks fucking proud of his, though. The night after the fight, he can be found... in pretty much any bar around Pride of Vista City, looking pretty damn smug. He's got visible bruises and possibly a black-eye, and even some blood in his hair that he hadn't bothered to wash out yet - why would he, this kind of shit is fucking metal - and he seems especially cheerful and pleased with himself. ]

[ It will take a few days for the bruises to subside, and he'll be found anywhere from his videogame couch to rec rooms (or more bars) in the following days. ]

CLOSED: Koumei // Jan 9th-ish? // MANTICORE lair // CW: dicks and probably nsfw

[sharktrash]

[ So, Koumei has promised to share his… “notes”. It didn’t seem like anything interesting happened at either party, at least nothing that would reach those who didn’t come, but hearing a confirmation from the inside would be nice. Besides, there were more things to discuss. ]

[ Not to mention that Squalo had been toying with the idea of making the guy take proper care of his hair ever since that revelation back in the dinner party. Brushing it was nice enough, he got to touch such a sizeable amount of reasonably pretty hair, but it also made it painfully obvious how much that poor mop needed proper conditioning. So here we go. ]

[ He just ‘accidentally’ happens to be in the bathroom when Mei comes by (on a previously agreed time, too, but what is subtlety). There’ll be a “Come in!” loud enough to hear past half the penthouse and the door if he actually knocks, and if he just slips in like last time, he’ll have the joy of wandering MANTICORE’s lair for a bit until he finally locates Squalo. Who’s currently naked and sitting in the huge round tub filled with hot water, leaned back with a glass of iced vodka in hand and some more drinks and empty glasses within reach. There's probably still some bruises on him. And he's grinning in a borderline unsettling manner as soon as he spots a familiar figure in the doorway. ]

Well? Get in and let’s talk business.

[ ...yeah. Somehow it’s overall feeling more like “threatening” than “sexy” in here. ]

CLOSED: Koumei // Jan 9th-ish? // MANTICORE lair // CW: dicks and probably nsfw

[dishevelment]

[Koumei just came here to exchange notes and, honestly, he was feeling very much like a tiny fish staring into the jaws of a shark right now.

Quirking a curious eyebrow at Squalo, Koumei-- who had come prepared for an evening of thorough work, in comfortable lounge pants, loose tee, and jacket that could easily be taken for a blanket-- set his stack of paper down and untied his voluminous bun to unleash the mess of hair that threatened to devour everything from bobbypins to hairbrushes in the shadows of the night.]

This isn't quite the workspace I expected, [he quipped lightly, now shedding his blasphemy of a jacket and dropping it on the floor.] Generally I don't mix work with pleasure...but I'll make an exception for you.

[sharktrash]

[ When Squalo said 'notes', he hadn't expected Mei to actually bring notes in paper and ink. More like a conversation about what each of them had found out, just in case they had different pieces to the same puzzle. But ah well. They can deal with paper, too. Afterwards. ]

We can move later.

[ For the moment, he'll watch that monster of hair get unleashed. Might even chuckle to himself because shit, that's a lot. It'll probably eat a whole bottle of conditioner. Maybe two. Guess he'll find out. ]

[ He barely stops himself from noting that with Koumei's sense of fashion, he really looks better without clothes aloud. ]

Too bad. One's dull without the other. [ His grin spreads, but it's a bit less sharky and more friendly now. ] I'm feeling special already.

CLOSED: Genos // Jan 11th // MANTICORE lair

[sharktrash]

[ He wakes up and he realizes something is wrong. ]

[ He moves his hands. All good on the right, he can feel the sheets under his fingertips, the firmness of the mattress beneath. There’s nothing on the left. He doesn’t even feel having fingers. He lifts his head a bit to glance down. Yeah, it’s moving, he can see the shape of hand under the blanket -- and yet he’s not feeling any of it. ]

[ He pulls it out and brings it up in front of his face -- and instead of flesh and skin he’s seeing metal and leather and plastic. A mechanical hand, strapped safely to his forearm. He moves his fingers again. It listens perfectly, spreading and bending as he wants it to. He can hear that faint mechanical buzz and metal clinking against metal when it moves. ]

[ For some reason, it’s not as much of a shock as one could anticipate. He’s still staring at it, though. ]

[ And then jumping out of his bed and making a beeline for Genos’ room in his dumb fish-patterned pajamas because shit just got real. He’ll kick all the doors on his way open, too. ]

Wake up!

[wounds]

[He doesn't wear his sunglasses when he's in the privacy of his own room- especially not when he's asleep.

Genos is usually up before most of their band, but this particular day he was planning on having a lie in. But he's definitely not going to when Squalo demands his attention like that.]

Squalo?

[He's up in bed and half way out, black and silver pajamas rumbled in his rush to get up.]

What happened?

[sharktrash]

[ Squalo hadn't exactly checked before breaking and entering, so he would've probably yelled the same even if Genos wasn't even in the room. Lucky him, though, he finds him right where he wants him to be. ]

[ He's pretty sure that words won't be as descriptive as visuals here. So instead he just walks up to him, pulls his left sleeve up and wiggles his very obviously mechanical fingers in front of Genos' face. ]

[ This is what happened. ]

OPEN // Jan 11th-12th // Pride HQ

[sharktrash]

[ Later in the day, he can be found in the same places as usual. The penthouse, the bar, the lounge areas, the recording rooms. Still wearing his red shirt with long leather jacket on top. ]

[ The one new thing is that no matter what he’s doing, he’s wearing leather gloves. Well, if he’s eating or cooking or playing the cello, he’s only wearing the left one, but that only makes it more suspicious, doesn’t it? Not to mention he looks… on edge. Frustrated. Sort of frowny. (If he’s playing, he’s breaking his bow more than usual.) Feel free to come by and ask what’s up. ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Geez Squalo, save breaking your bow for when you're performing.]

[Luci happens to be walking by from a session when she sees the bow-breakage occur. She frowns and knocks on the observation/soundproof glass.]

[sharktrash]

[ He'd love to, really. That shit's expensive (though considering he supposedly got a raise he could probably afford that now. Still. It took a while to really break those things in). But it's a bit hard to coordinate the pressure when you can't fucking feel it. ]

[ He actually scowls at her for a moment, as if she's noticed something she wasn't supposed to, but then gets up. Not leaving just yet, though, he just stops in front of her and mouths a "What?" with a half-amused expression that may or may not be a little fake. ]

[scalpedsociety]

[Tamara just so happened to be watching that recording session where Squalo broke his bow, and she was... concerned. Squalo hasn't broken a bow since he was young and starting to learn the cello. (And he got over it quick, bows were expensive and his Father tended to get angry and beat him for it.)

After the recording sessions, Tamara may find him the lounge areas. Perhaps even carrying a container with leftover homemade fish cakes brought from the penthouse.]

[worthlesspride]

[Tooru walks by the lounge when he hears someone playing the cello. It's beautiful, so he goes to investigate. He looks in and sees it's Superbia Squalo.

He smiles, he might hate the man, but he can't deny that he's a great player. A true genius when it comes to playing. Tooru know he himself isn't one. He got as far as he has by working his ass off, which is why all of Squalo's taunts that he needs to practice more pisses him off. He practices as much as one can with it still being healthy. In fact there are many days he practices more than what's healthy. He's better than he used to be. He once nearly... nearly... nearly what? Iwaizumi stopped him from over working himself once. But it wasn't enough, he still screwed up his knee.

Another stray memory that didn't fit with his life. He let out a sigh and walked into the lounge and sat across from Squalo, pulling out his cello]

Want some company?

[Once set up and coating his bow with resin he gives Squalo a slow smirk.]

Or perhaps a little competition? You look like you can do with a distraction.

CLOSED: MANTICORE // Jan 13th // MANTICORE penthouse

[sharktrash]

[ Nobody’s seen Orion today. Or, when he really tries to think about it, the day before. It almost feels natural to go check on him, but once he opens the door to the guitarist’s room, it’s empty. Well, not completely empty. A hotel that’s been checked out of -empty. There’s furniture and nothing more, as if it looks ready for someone new to move in. ]

[ He angrily stomps to find their manager and demand an explanation for it, but all he gets is some vague shit about him getting fired. What the fuck? Was he too nice? What could anyone possibly have against that boy? Unfortunately, shouting doesn’t get him any more satisfactory answers, and soon enough he’s enraged enough to actually try to throw a punch at Kid who’s at least twice as big as him. ]

[ It doesn't go far. He'll get hit back, maybe hard enough to stop him from trying again, or maybe his bandmates will actually hold him back -- and they're told that they'll take what they get if they want to keep playing, and any more complaints can go straight to Lesedi. No need to say, that prospect does not feel attractive to anyone after that Solstice party, so it'll probably end like this... the official part, at least. ]

[ Squalo's still seething as he puts some ice on his bruised face, and he's probably muttering a lot of colourful curses... in Italian, so Kid doesn't understand just in case he happens to be nearby again. ]

OPEN // Jan 13th // ANY BAR ANYWHERE

[sharktrash]

[ Evening after that Very On Point twitter post he’ll probably be found drinking. He’ll start in the penthouse, move through Pride’s HQ bars and possibly end up out in the city if he’s allowed to go out. If not, one of the lounges it is. There’s a dark frown on his face and he’s… just drinking, pretty much. Throwing back glass after glass. It’s almost weird to see him without that huge grin on his face. ]

[ He might have a new bruise over his eye, too, and this time doesn't seem to want to talk about it. ]

[cleartranquil]

[ Yuffie Kisaragi has something of a reputation for being one of the more reasonable carnies, if not the most reasonable. If that's because she's the one without a drug problem or because she's never had charges pressed against her in her adult life, or it's because she's frequently nice to people, who's to say.

That said. If you were to ask her friends, they would probably say she's one of the more terrifying.

Yuffie wanders up, and sits down at the opposite side of his space in the lounge, wearing a sweatshirt that likely doesn't belong to her judging by the size, and boots that look like converse. She, for once, isn't holding her phone, and she's not smiling.]

Hey there, you look terrible.

[Yuffie doesn't care if technically they've never had a full conversation by themselves. She figures everyone should know who she is. And if he doesn't, he'll figure it out.]

I thought me'n you should talk.

CLOSED: Fetch // Jan 15th or later // Pride HQ

[sharktrash]

[ As proposed, he'll be waiting near one of the fully equipped rec rooms, leaning against the soundproof glass separating it from the hallway. He'll raise a gloved hand in greeting when he sees her approaching. ]

Heeey! Glad you showed. I think you're gonna like this.

[ And he's already turning to open the door and get in. ]

[makeitright]

[Fetch should probably be more suspicious of this but what the hell does she care if this is some kind of joke or something. Luci would eat him alive if he so much as blinked at her wrong. At least that was what reassured her.]

Oh yeah?

[SHES DETERMINED NOT TO. Being contrary is her favorite thing to do. ]

CLOSED: Bill // January's second half sometime? // THE MALL

[sharktrash]

[ You know how there are those huge tower aquariums in malls that they sometimes hire "mermaids" to perform in? Looks like the Vista City Center Mall got itself one of those, and Squalo just happens to walk past and be completely entranced by it. ]

[ There's a small shark -- an angelshark, perhaps? -- swimming around. It looks a bit upset? Or maybe it's his imagination? Either way, Squalo's pressed up to the glass wall, hands and face, watching the shark's every move. ]

[ He may or may not be planning a rescue mission already. ]

[SHARK HEIST III- Return to the mall; Starring Squalo]

[liarmonstersnappydresser]

[Cipher purses his lips, taking in the look Squalo appeared to be giving the tank.]

"Sad isn't it?

[Entranced or not, chances are Squalo (or heck, even the shark) will see Bill approach whether he turns around or not. With the saxophone player's flashy choice of clothing, even the lesser polished surfaces easily reflected the gold of his coats.]

"When people have things far too good for them."

[No doubt his trailing Virgo escort is eying Squalo's accompanying Pride security guard with cautious regard. Bill strides past them both to stand on the cellist's right, to better see the other with his good eye.]

"Checking for a family resemblance?"