Thistle and Weeds

[dishevelment]

Who: Cosmic Indulgence, Junkyard Carnival, their friends, and YOU
What: Things have changed in recent weeks, personally and professionally. People need to meet. Things need to be discussed
When: Latter part of March
Where: All around Vista City
Warnings: Carnies, Squalo, etc. Things get wild with these guys.



[Insert your prompts as needed, folks. This is a catch-all for everyone to react!]

Comments

[dishevelment]

1

[...Perhaps he was taking too long in the bathroom.

The shower was the only sound breaking the utter silence that befell Koumei's mind as he blindly stared at his own reflection in the mirror, not fully comprehending what he was seeing-- and knowing in his gut that this was more real than anything he had seen thus far. A vicious looking scar, starting under his ribcage and extending over his chest, was apparently his souvenir from a misspent night on the town celebrating Squalo's 23rd birthday. He had met with those strange men with the helmets, but he couldn't quite recall the details of what happened in his own drunken haze...

Now he knew why.

Eyes wide and his breath held as he thought over that battlefield and his overwhelming sense of surprise that dominated the scenario, he gave no thought to the notion that others might want to use the bathroom at 2 in the afternoon.

And the water was starting to go cold.

Perhaps knock? He needs it.]

2

[A distraction. That was what he needed and, while it wouldn't make anything right, it would certainly make the immediate moment a little more tolerable. Thus, Koumei took to the town to do a little shopping and freshen up his wardrobe for the spring. With his hair tied back into a messy braid and a wide brimmed hat upon his head, he felt like he had made a decent disguise for himself. The wide sunglasses added to it-- and helped hide his own emotion as he looked through the racks.

While he favored the boho prints and loose cuts, he knew he would need to find something a little different in order to keep people distracted from his new little problem. Scarves were part of the order of the day, as were smarter looking jackets to replace his loose hoodies and some button up shirts in fresher colors to replace the old.

Spring was a time of change-- and he certainly needed it.]

3

[Later in the evening, Koumei could be found at Brad's Diner nursing a thick, chocolatey milkshake as he poured his focus over his scattered notebooks and journals-- ostensibly songwriting, although it could have been something else. His writing at some point had slipped into something fluid and unrecognizeable that could have been construed as Arabic, but it was impossible to tell. The writer himself gave the change no thought, and the characters flowed from his pen as naturally as water flows down a stream.

He needed to get some of these details in concrete form, just in case he was misunderstanding something, and he needed to have it in a format that he could possibly share if he found that he needed a second opinion.

This was all too much for one mind to handle, even one as keen as his.]

[traumatizing]

[When you fall asleep all gross and sweaty and still wearing your makeup, a hot shower is more than necessary come the next day. Terry's usually quite patient, but right now he feels gross and he's already been waiting a little while, so. After another few minutes, he starts knocking on the door.]

You okay in there?

[dishevelment]

[--Right. Other people used this bathroom. Koumei had just been busy trying to recall the exact strategy he had been using at the moment when the javeline hit him, and figure out what exactly the puzzle he was looking to solve was at that moment.

Normally serious injuries are met with different emotions, not simple surprise and an odd sense of clarity.]

...I'm fine, [he said after a few moments' too long a wait, and easily shut the water off without even bothering trying to get his head wet.] Just fine, [he repeated, scanning around the small bathroom in his distraction. Where was a decent towel around here...?]

[traumatizing]

You sure?

[That doesn't seem like a normal amount of time for 'fine', but honestly Terry's finding it harder and harder to tell with Koumei.]

[But he's still concerned, so.]

[dishevelment]

Maybe had a little too much to drink last night....it was someone's birthday.

[But the lie was half-hearted. He was still distracted by looking for a proper towel...and he was glad to find that he was still wearing his pants.]

[traumatizing]

I've got some aspirin if you want.

[He can put on some coffee too. Such a helpful child.]

[dishevelment]

[There was no towel in sight-- and Koumei knew his options all too well.]

...I don't think asprine will help with this problem, Terry.

[He cracked the door open to peer at the younger man, and there was no disguising the haunted look that shadowed his eyes.]

3

[twoscompany]

[Koumei's not the only one at the diner. Garnet's there, too, staring at her own milkshake, her eyes emotionlessly glazed over in weariness. There's a paper in front of her. Several, actually. None of them look like anything she's written down.

She doesn't even notice Koumei as she lifts her head up to look around, before returning to her drink.]

3

[dishevelment]

[Ah. There Garnet was, lost in her own mind again. Sucking on his milkshake for a moment, he found himself wondering once again about what she must have been thinking behind those eyes of hers...and kicking himself for not being able to protect her properly, like he knew that he should be able to.

Rationally, it wasn't his fault-- just like he could never have predicted certain movements on that battlefield without going against his core beliefs.

...At least watching her was a nice break from his feverish writing. The strange lettering system still hadn't really registered in his mind, and it was doubtful that it would unless something else came up. For the moment, wondering about Garnet was more interesting.]

3

[twoscompany]

[It took her some time to notice Koumei, to notice anyone else in the room, really. Once she does, though, Koumei will notice her sliding into the other side of his booth, quietly grasping her own drink.]

...How long have you been here?

3

[dishevelment]

A while, [he confessed, setting his pen aside as Garnet slid into the adjacent seat.] I needed to get out of the apartment a bit to think-- and not in a place where someone would encourage me to get drunk.

[Because he'd have been surprised if Garnet hadn't notice how frequently he'd been hanging out with Squalo in recent weeks. Manticore's apartment was a relatively safe place, where people wouldn't ask him questions or anything. ]

[twoscompany]

A good idea.

[Don't worry. She's noticed, even with everything happening. Her glass clinks on the table, papers rustle on her side, and there's something clearly on her mind.]

People tend to loosen their lips when they're drunk, after all. I'm sorry I didn't notice you, just now, though. Just a lot of paperwork I'm looking through.

[...One of those papers has a key attached to it.]

[dishevelment]

...So it seems, [he said mildly, noticing the key. He shifted slightly, hand moving unconsciously to make sure his button up shirt stayed closed while he tried to peer at some of those papers.]

What's all this about?

2

[sharktrash]

[ Well, hello there. Squalo's on the other end of the store, since their tastes are pretty different and all - but he's also looking for simple shirts right now. Long-sleeved ones. He could get away with T-shirts under his longcoat, but with the changing season, it was going to be too warm for that soon. Maybe he could get a jacket. Would help with the whole hooligan-y look. ]

[ Of course he spots the horrifying fashion disaster that looks pretty much like a scarecrow come to life, and saunters over. Without bothering to announce his presence, he plucks the hat off Koumei's head -- oh yeah, he knows this hair -- and puts it back on. ]

I fucking knew it. You do realize that a disguise is a failure if you don't blend in, right?

2

[dishevelment]

[Koumei just blinks in surprise-- he hadn't expected to be found in this place so quickly, nonetheless by the likes of Squalo.]

Well, it's rather hard to do anything with this hair... but what's so wrong with it?

[He had been channeling the influence of a certain country star who was no longer in the city....complete with his horrible fashion sense. Truly, poor fashion taste must be genetic.]

[sharktrash]

[ "The likes" wow excuse you. EYEROLL. ]

The hair's the least offensive thing here. Floral patterns and a cowboy hat? Seriously? And don't get me fucking started on the glasses --

[ SHIT IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY ]

[dishevelment]

[BE GLAD HE HASN'T TRIED A STUPID GOATEE!!!]

...I don't see anything wrong with this, [he said mildly, looking down at his shirt. It was a perfectly normal shirt, in his opinion.]

[sharktrash]

[ idk he could probably pull it off. :0 no mustache though please those always look dumb. ]

There's nothing wrong with it by itself. All of this [ emphasizing hand gesture ] just doesn't go together.

Like -- I don't know. If you put some salt into your coffee. There's nothing wrong with it, yeah? But what you get is shit.

[dishevelment]

I see.

[Koumei reached up to tangle a hand uneasily in his messy braid, looking appropriately chagrinned over being caught.]

I was just trying to avoid recognition. Garnet's fans have been getting a little crazy lately.

2

[variaboss]

[ And here's someone that's stopped bothering trying to disguise himself. It really just doesn't work for him. Unless he went around with a damn mask, there was no way to hide who he was. So he just didn't bother. He was motherfucking Xanxus, bitches. Line for autographs start over there.

At the moment though, he's being left alone. He's sort of inching his way towards the kid's section without trying to look like he's going there. But he veers towards the really suspicious looking Koumei.

He can't help it when he looms behind him. ]

The condor flies at midnight.

[ Someone might have been watching too many spy movies. ]

2

[dishevelment]

Ah, but where will the condor land?

[Koumei peered up at Xanxus from underneath the brim of the hat that was far too Country for an Indie Rock Pianist. Curious about what the man was doing (and glad to have yet another distraction, for he was getting lost in the mess of spring fashions,) he tipped down his shades to get a better look at the man.]

It's been a while. You staying out of trouble?

[variaboss]

That's not the code. You must be a spy. Now we must have an epic chase scene with cool music in the background before I spout a clever one liner and bang some hot chick in the cool car I was driving.

[ He's grinning hugely though because it has been a while and Koumei is one of those people he really truly considers a friend who isn't a Carnie. ]

Sadly, yes. But I'm trying to figure out how to get myself back into the tabloids before I'm forgotten for the next greatest trainwreck. Trouble avoiding you still, Mei?

[dishevelment]

[That was why Carnie Indulgence was a thing-- and why Koumei was surprised there wasn't more inter-band slashfic out there. Koumei chuckled at the quip, truly glad for something so mundane in his life.]

I don't know, your supplier might not approve of that-- or complain about the mess you made on the leather interior.

Aside from a few hiccups, yeah. Trouble and I have yet to be on a first-name basis, for better or for worse. I think I prefer to keep it this way for a little while longer.

[variaboss]

[ There really should be. Mostly because he was sure they would have a good laugh reading them. Still, it's good to hear his friend's laugh. It seems people haven't been laughing a lot recently. Too much fucked up shit has been happening. ]

Nah. My supplier would be mad because they didn't get involved too. Though honestly, I'd rather it be the enemy spy than some random chick. Then again, I've always like the bad guy.

[ He slings an arm over the other man's shoulder and sort of leans on him. ]

Probably for better. And don't worry, if trouble comes, it'll come at me first, at least here. Even with your shit disguise, I'm more recognizable. So, you just keep flying under that radar. I'll take the attention.

[dishevelment]

You are a man who does quite well with it, [Koumei chuckled, grinning slyly up at the beast of a man.] I'd never dream of taking it away from you!

...What brings you here, anyway? This style isn't quite your thing.