interstellar5555 | 5 ♊ My shoes are falling apart

Entry tags:

5 ♊ My shoes are falling apart

Who: Artolo Apemis and various other people
What: In which rising star Artolo Apemis deals with his shiny brand new assistant, does an impromptu performance, drinks worrying amount of alcohol, and drops by Lion Pit to see a familiar face.
When: Throughout the day
Where: Pride HQ, a bar on the lower level, and Lion Pit
Warnings: None as of yet, although consider this a general catch-all log for Art if you want to hit him up. Prompts in the comments below.

In a way, he almost wishes he hadn't learned a single damn thing. Laying in his bed, mismatched eyes staring straight up, Artolo thinks on that.

The things he knows here, now, as himself, it's so much better than the flicker of visions that go through his head. In those things, as that person, there's nothing but suffering: the crack of a slaver's whip, uncontrollable mania that jerks him back and forth out of the depths of crushing misery, watching something so good who he loved die long and-

Artolo takes a breath. It feels strangely familiar, to fight against visions in his head. How much was taken away from him? How much was for the better?

As much as he'd like to, he can't stay in bed forever. He has shit to do.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Those wandering through the halls of Pride HQ today, whether recovering from a hangover or heading to a room to practice, can find Artolo Apemis leaning against the doorway of Crown of Thorns' penthouse. For once, however, his expression isn't malicious or lazy glee. In fact, it's almost disdainful.]

[At least, what can be seen behind his thick shades. Yeah, he hasn't stopped wearing those ever since before Fairy Trial.]

[The subject seems to be a new face, a gun with floppy hair that's half dyed who's doing his best to smile. Apparently something is happening here, or at least it was before Artolo notices someone nearby and calls out to them.]

Hey! I need help harassing Pepe here. Want to help me out?

Aramat knows that Artolo is a legit star now, he doesn't have to hang about here anymore. But he still around... with a new person that makes Xie An look like the most lax manager ever.

"That's his name?"

"Actually-"

"Yup," Artolo interrupts, shoulders easing up a little as he sees Aramat. Whatever the hell is going on with his promotions, he's stubbornly determined not to let it interfere with his band life. He's still CoT's drummer, whatever nonsense is going on. "Have chores you need done? I promise I'll keep the shit from your underwear or whatever."

"He'll go through my underwear?" Aramat says in disbelief. The poor manager.

"No-"

"Who knows," Artolo drawls, cutting him off. 'Pepe' gives him a sort of strained look, because, yeah. Poor manager. No one should have to deal with Artolo when he's in a mood. "Anyway, interested?"

"A little. Maybe you can help me and protect my underwear from Pepe." She jokes.

Going along with it makes him grin brightly, even if it's edged with a bit of annoyance still at his new 'assistant'. "Don't worry, I've already put it in the fine print." You know, of the contract he never signed for this. Whatever. He detaches from the doorway.

"Got any plans today?"

"Once this is done, I'm going to have to run some errands. You can come tag along if you want, some of them might be fun." Also a gothic lady and a rapper all about the town.

Edited 2016-04-26 02:45 (UTC)

"Are we going to spraypaint rude words onto the side of some Virgo building?" he chirps, already gesturing for the poorly named Pepe to follow along. By all means, he's glad to find some way to fill his time.

"...I don't know about that." Get a couple drinks into her, she might think it's a good idea.

So Operation: Wine Mom is underway? He'll keep it in mind for later. For now, just a disappointed raspberry. "Alright, fine, what did you have in mind then?"

Yes, yes it is.

"How dull do you find looking for birthday venues?"

"I can make my own fun if I get bored, don't worry." Even if that statement is perfect cause for worry, but whatever. Art just waves away 'Pepe' dismissively. He doesn't need an entourage to go around with Aramat.

[Later, around noon, Artolo can already be found in one of the bars on the lower level of HQ. Yeah, he's already drinking. At least he seems a bit better than however he was in the morning, willing to offer sharp smirks to anyone who sits nearby. Despite the attention people seem to be paying him due to his new status- from established names in the label to paparazzi that lurks around in places like this- he doesn't seem to be in a talkative mood.]

[...At least, he's not until he suddenly is, suddenly hopping off his bar seat to find someone random.]

Hey, want to do a performance in, like.... half an hour?

[He's been up since six, not because of a party, but because he'd had the most unsettling dream and drinking at lunch time seemed like a good idea at the time. Fortunately, he's only on his first one when someone he hasn't met but he knows who he is suddenly comes up to him.

Demyx blinks at him twice.]

Uh, sure. [He smiles, okay, not his most eloquent answer ever, maybe if he could get his head back in the game for a moment.] What do you want to perform?

[Better. Much better.]

[Holy shit, someone said yes. Artolo almost doesn't seem to know what to do with this information for a moment, blinking, before his shoulders roll in a shrug.]

You rap?

Well, actually, no.

[Demyx laughs and grins at him.]

I'm willing to try. What's a little public humiliation?

That's the spirit. As long as we're entertaining trainwrecks, after all, we keep our jobs.

[Art makes a lazy gesture for him to get up.]

If nothing else, I can show you how to beatbox a little.

[He laughs at Art's agreement and nods.]

Alright, sure, show me. I haven't done that before either!

Alright, c'mon, then. I'll teach you some basics on the way to the place I have in mind.

[Gesturing for Demyx to follow him, he starts to move for the exit.]

Alright!

[He cheers and goes willingly, because why not? It's practically an adventure.]

[Making sure that he doesn't get too ahead of Demyx, he starts to explain.]

So, there's a bunch of shit to beatboxing, but you'll want to start with three basics, and then you put those basics into an 8 beat rhythm. Simple, right?

[In thirty minutes, Artolo does indeed find an open stage in one of the many clubs around with whoever he has managed to drag into this bullshit, and manages to get it cleared up nicely for him. The amount of worth his name and reputation now has seems... almost strange. Like it fits, but not quite, there's something off.]

[It's a thought that keeps him quiet until the stage is ready for him, and word has spread quick. People curious, who know his name, and anyone who was there already- they all fill up the club.]

[It shouldn't be me here the tired part of him whispers, thinking of bright red and a tiny frame that held up the world. He brushes it away as he comes up to the mic and takes a breath.]

[No introduction. Fuck that. He just starts going right off the bat, words sharp and quick in his mouth.]

You know me, I used to get caught up in everyday life
Tried to make it through my day so I could sleep at night
Tried to figure out my way through the maze
Of rights and wrongs, but like you used to say...

[His lips curl up into a sardonic grin, and his gaze sweep throughout the crowd. When it settles on someone, does it mean anything or not? All he says is-]

Nothing feels like it's really worth it.

Edited 2016-04-15 03:56 (UTC)

[Rapping helps, a little, but at the same time, weirdly enough, Artolo finds himself loathing the experience almost right after it happens. Without a word, he hauls ass and gets himself into a rentable car that he knows he could buy if he gave half an ass.]

[His goddamn assistant, of course, won't get off his ass.]

[Artolo keeps himself from caring until he's on the edge of the city, car parked at the edge of what he's fondly dubbed the Lion Pit. Cat Pit's older sibling. A whole building and land with a nice big fence to keep his two little hellion's inside.]

[She'd love it a part of him always hums whenever he gets time to visit, a thought that's half fond and all bittersweet.]

[Either way, it's not a space for some random little shitstain, so Art sends off his brand new assistant off for supplies before he retreats to the yard to flop down into the grass. Almost immediately, hellchild 1 and 2 mob him, and he breathes.]

[He'll sit, and be with the cubs, and stare into the forest as he tries to think about what the hell he's going to do with his life. It'll be fine. He tries to believe that.]

[Signless has been wasting a lot of time doing nothing, in his opinion. He has so much riding on him at home, he's been terrified of taking risks. If it was just him... if he was just Geshua, he would have done this months ago. He hasn't been just Geshua for a long time, though, and he's always done his best to value and respect that responsibility.

But what is his worth here? He's pretty sure that Artolo remembers him in some way, but how deep does it go? It feels so impossible to find somewhere private, where they can talk without him being afraid of being captured of having Psii punished.

Hearing of his lion reserve, though, is what finally gives Signless the guts to do it. It seems like the perfect opportunity - a big open space, and a home away from the labels. Even if he gets spotted, he could have the chance to get away. Maybe he'll even be able be able to talk to him!

That's all that's on his mind as he scales the wall on the edge of the lion pit. Suddenly, this narrative sounds like a biblical reference.

He waits until twilight, using his nocturnal senses to his advantage. It's easy to navigate what is essentially a wilderness area - working towards the building portions and hoping that Psii will be inside. As far as he knows, that was on the schedule.

He only stops when he finally spots a small huddle of creatures - human Psii and two lion cubs. Signless's cheeks blush at the sight, instinctively filled with fondness. Di would be so proud.

But now what? He huddles down behind some underbrush, trying to figure out how to approach.]

[If it were still the Psiioniic sitting there, he'd pick something up. Once upon a time, it was almost like an obsession- sitting at the edge of whatever campsite they'd scrounged together, cloak tugged over horns to shield him from the sun, fingers twitchy, ears straining to hear a single thing out of place. Sometimes the others would have to force him to sleep.]

[Artolo Apemis is not... yet the Psiioniic. He's not even the Helmsman, who would have found the lack of connection to hundreds of hundreds of surveillance staggering. For now, he's only human, and a human lost in his thoughts as he tries to figure out what on earth to do and what he can do.]

[Fortunately, as Disciple would have preached without prompting- cats are more attentive than oblivious alien species.]

[One of the lion cubs perks up, ears and nose twitching, and clambers off of Art's lap to scramble towards the edge of the fence. That gets his attention, a swear under his breath as he grabs his glasses again and slides them on.]

You better be a squirrel and not paparazzi because guess what shit I'm done with for the day.

[Oh.

Signless isn't scared of the cub, really. He's had to handle himself against beasts much older and more aggressive on Alternia, and he has his shield device with him anyway. It's just obviously going to blow his cover, and it's forcing him to make his choice over how to handle this socially much more quickly than he wanted.

He's not wearing his holo projector. He didn't see the point. He's wearing black clothes for the sake of blending in at night, including a hooded jacket, but he's not really that interested in deception. That is, he wasn't, until Artolo was right there, clearly annoyed.

The lion enters the bushes with him and Signless raises his hands pacifyingly. After a moment, he bites the bullet and stands.]

Neither, I'm afraid...

[His voice is weak and uncertain. He doesn't even know if Psii remembers him, but here he is regardless.]

...Aw fuck, I'm tripping.

[It's meant to roll of his tongue sharp and flat, sarcasm drawled out.]

[What leaves his mouth instead is faint, quivering so hard it's like his voice might break apart as shards in his mouth to destroy his tongue and dig into his teeth. Suddenly, he's more glad than anything that he had the foresight to put on his glasses. There's a feeling in the pit of his stomach that the person in front of him wouldn't care- no, knowledge that he wouldn't- but he thinks he's on the verge of crying again.]

[Or maybe laughing. Hell, both. Duality is his thing, isn't it?]

[The lion cubs have none of his issues. They just flop over on clumsy feet to investigate this stranger, and maybe tear at his shoes a little with teeth and claw. Just because they can, of course.]

[Signless's grey skin can't help but heat up, at this. This is one of the most awkward diplomatic situations he's ever faced, and that is judging from a pretty long list.]

You're not. Sorry to say...

[He frowns and comes forward, kneeling down enough to offer his hand to one of the lion cubs and to also pointedly put himself in a non aggressive post. Hard to attack when leaning over.]

I'm sorry, this must be confusing. Do you...remember people like me? Alternians. Trolls.

[The cubs collide into each other in their eagerness to sniff his stranger, noses twitching, because they've never picked up anything like him before. Art watches him silently for a moment, biting back the crying fit that threatens him.]

....No one has horns as nubby as yours.

[Signless smiles faintly at the cubs, charmed by their youthful eagerness to get to know something new and strange. He looks up at Artolo, his eyes brighter for it. His smile becomes a bit of a grin.]

I've been told I'm remarkable that way. Yours were longer. And...more numerous too, come to think of it.

Always twos...

[It's more a mumble, a sense of yeah that's right, and huh. That makes his text choices to go for double i's more relevant, doesn't it? He rubs at his face, fingers nudging at his glasses.]

You know, for whatever you're saying, I know I have to be hallucinating. It's not even because of the extraterrestrial shit.

[Signless pauses, and looks at Artolo carefully.]

Why is it, then?

[He doesn't want to talk about it.]

[He doesn't want to admit it.]

[Artolo takes a breath and it's like a death rattle, clattering down his throat. Like the sound he heard from a limp body strung up like a doll with screaming still ringing in his ears. Another breath, and it catches on something, and the pull of it tugs tears out from the corners of his eyes.]

[Fuck.]

You....

[Breathe. One. Two. He forces out the words past the block in his throat.]

You're fucking dead. [A broken laugh, cutting the insides of his throat like he's swallowed glass.] I don't even know who you are, but you're dead, and I'm the only one left, and I can't do this anymore, okay? I couldn't do it before the goddamn hallucinations and I can't do it now.

[When he inhales again, at least the pain clogging his throat is soothed by the tears that have joined it.]

[The words don't strike him as hard as they might have, in another context. It causes him to flinch, but only because of the pain in his friend's words. He doesn't immediately think much of being accused of being 'dead'... with the things that go on in this place, who knows what thoughts might have been planted there? Maybe he remembers something out of context.

Its much more reasonable feeling to believe that something has Artolo confused than to try to work out how he could be correct. It's not as if he has ever been under the delusion that he'll have a long life, but he's obviously not dead, given that he's here.]

I'm sorry. [He says it for lack of other options, at first, but then slowly builds off of it.] I don't know what has caused you to believe that. But... I'm really here. You don't remember me, but you are very important to me - just like I am to you. I know you don't understand, but I can't just leave you here without trying.

Esth-

[And there’s a clumsy but new mangling of his nickname- no lisp, but he remembers it that way, and his tongue trips on it all new.]

Don’t try to act like you’re smarter than me, you bulgewipe, or I’ll point out all the husktops you’ve fucking ruined.

[Tears are still pinpricking at his eyes, and he half turns away to wipe them away from under his shadoes.]

...We already know our memories have been fucked with. We’re not oblivious over here- people have been doing things. Getting bit in the ass for it, too.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

5 ♊ My shoes are falling apart

(open) I ain't never been disgusted like this

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(open) 'Cause we're sick of being counted out

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(open) Then watch us 'cause we know you lied to us

(closed) 'Cause last night we stayed awake, strapped like we came to stay

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject