[Never? He's reminded of the time Rinne and Niki were getting used to each other. Niki was so small yet so capable, and Rinne pretty much lugged himself around like his huge dumb pet. But sometimes, when school was hard, Niki would curl up next to him, and...
This will chain him down, but if it means giving Takasugi a good time, there's no reason to hesitate. When Takasugi's tail tail touches Rinne's, Rinne brushes his tail against Takasugi's in turn.]
I didn't think you'd hold me from behind, either. You're always charging ahead of me. Sometimes, I don't even know where you're going. It's hard to chase you, but I wanna be able to see you, at least. Watch you from afar like a star...
[...]
But courtship, huh.
[He's gone on dates, been called charming, but no one's ever called what he does as heavy as that. Courtship doesn't need to be serious, but don't you do that sort of thing with marriage in mind?
Marriage is always on Rinne's mind.]
After shopping, we can have lunch or watch a movie. If the movie sucks, we can just make out 'til it's over.
[Casually. Like it won't be a first for him, too.]
( you’d think takasugi would be surprised at such nonchalance, and maybe even come up with something ridiculous like, "who swapped out my amagi-kun for a fake?". instead, his face lights up in a fit of laughter he hasn't shared with anyone in weeks, revealing sharp canines over what this honeyed declaration of a date plan might entail. a reflex tear clings to the crease of his eye, takasugi thumping a fist against his chest lightly. he's just having fun, though. not choking to death. )
W-We can, can we? Pfh, ... hahah! But, okay, okay. I like the sound of that. Surely it won't be anything lame like the educational videos I used to force my employees to watch.
( it'd be nice if it's at least mildly entertaining if they go, but if not... well. that's fine. he'll secretly hope for the alternative.
the stuff about stars and whatnot, though? takasugi gives that hand a light squeeze. he doesn't want to say anything stupidly cryptic right now. )
Today, I'm sticking by you, so no need to stress about reaching for that star when you've been holding its warmth in your hand the whole time. I told you I came down to meet you, didn't I? If I get too far ahead, just pull me back by the scruff and ignore my complaints. Even if I dive into a ton of books and get caught up in projects, I'll always end up drifting back to thoughts of you, anyhow.
( and raising him back up in the sky again would just be impossible. )
[Now that's laughter Rinne hasn't heard in a while. It's the kind of laughter he's worked his whole life for. The kind that reminds him just what becoming an idol was all about. So long as he can make Takasugi smile and love him right now, nothing else should really matter. Not saving the world, fulfilling his dreams, or meeting back in Hagi. In this moment, he tugs on Takasugi's hand with absolute certainty.]
Haha! Got it, loverboy. If you float off too far, I'll just pull you back down with me.
[A blue streetcar gets ready to chug along the tracks as they turn a corner. Normally, he'd wait, but when their schedule's packed with surprises, do they even have the time? With a brighter grin, he tightens his grip and starts walking faster.]
C'mon, Shinsaku! We'll miss the streetcar!
[He breaks into a sprint, or at least as fast as Takasugi can manage until he leaps into the car's entrance with ease. He pulls Takasugi up with him, holding him close so he won't fall, but that goes without saying.]
Edited (last one...) Date: 2025-08-23 06:55 am (UTC)
( it brings back memories of all those times he dragged kusaka along while kusaka kept telling him to stop being so impatient since others were watching. they had an image to maintain given their status, and no one else could keep up with takasugi, so why couldn't he just move at everyone else's pace?
they go headfirst into the streetcar, takasugi's heart hammering briefly for the way rinne is so careful with him.
or maybe he should say, the way rinne has quickly become so hands-on.
a couple locals heading for their early morning work shift startle in their seats over the way two augmented crowd onto the air-electric car at once, and takasugi flashes them a quick, tired smile. a child in the back leans over their seat wearing a headband with fox ears, her eyes glowing with a need to say something about her heroes in the flesh making such a brazen appearance during their family commute. )
Dibs on the window, actually.
( he's thinner, so it's easy to slide past and into the cushioned seating, hanging rails above them swaying for the movement. he reaches a hand out to tug rinne down with him. )
[Rinne lets himself get tugged around and sits down, but he's more than distracted by the pair of fox ears he sees in the crowd. It's hard to forget that flash of red, let alone miss it. Rinne nudges Takasugi with his shoulder, giddy with excitement.]
Didja see that? [He makes no effort to hide how he peers at their little fan at the back, grabbing the ledge on Takasugi's side to push himself up.] She was wearing fox ears just like mine. We've got real fans, [he shakes Takasugi's shoulder] real fans!
( a sound of recognition as takasugi wobbles back-and-forth in his seat. )
How could they not, especially with someone like me on board?
( he peters in something typical for him to say, but it warms his heart to see rinne more excited over it than he is. this is small step towards that dream of theirs, isn't it? one that he might be starting to share in genuinely, for as much as he hasn't entertained it seriously until now. time will inevitably sweep him away, like the waterfront fading as the scenery outside the streetcar rushes past.
... You and Shiina-kun are the ones that taught me what it means to be an idol. Honestly, it’d be more fair to say that both of you are the driving force behind our success, even with all the effort I’ve put in on my own. Teaching me your choreography. Leading me through your set list. Having a president as part of a unit is a tangible achievement I would've never imagined to have. Sometimes I wonder what my mentor, Shouin-sensei, would say about it all. Maybe he'd just say we're being disruptive or something stupidly stern.
( he sinks back further into his seat, a hand coming up to brush lightly at rinne's bangs, which are all over the place from excitement.
those light red eyes of his, which sometimes seem to only be hollow, shine brightly. )
But as your first fan, I'm just excited to see how much you've grown alongside me. Your talent is the real deal, Amagi-kun.
[What would his brother say about it? Maybe he would say they were being disruptive. Maybe he would tear this all down and call it wrong. Maybe he would refuse those fake fox ears like he refused everything Rinne ever gave him. But when the stars in Takasugi's eyes put the life back into Rinne's fair cheeks, Rinne wishes he could act like family didn't matter.
The streetcar drives further into the next district as the morning sun pours into it. The rays paints Takasugi's face with a warmth he's only seen within the four corners of that small apartment, if not the mountainside at dawn. The scene is so familiar, he wonders why it can't be all the same to him. Then Takasugi's fingers brush against Rinne's forehead as he fixes his hair, and Rinne thinks that nothing else could upend his heart like the person he wants to be. For once, he feels blessed that he can see the shape of these feelings and know what to call them.
He settles back into his seat, too shy to face the man next to him. His smile is small, but it's there.]
I don't have talent. Everything I've done until now is just hard work.
I don't know if I've already told you, but whenever I put myself out there, I'm just trying to be an idol I'd love. Someone who coulda saved that kid who couldn't be who he wanted to be. I'm way too serious, so I keep trying to come up with ways to make it happen, but you don't even have to think about it. Being a hero is just who you are.
If it were you, you coulda saved us sooner. Me, Niki, and...
[His words are lost to the wind when the streetcar shudders to a crawl, brakes sighing as it approaches their stop. Seats creak as passengers begin to filter out of the vehicle. Holding her mother's hand, the girl from the back of the car shyly approaches the two Augmented.]
takasugi can feel the protest rising in his throat, the sudden denial of everything and how he wouldn't have been where he was without that academy and teacher who took the time to try and set him straight, even if he felt like, in the end, he could never measure up to his expectations. but all that comes out instead is a vague stiffness in his posture, the corners of his smile thinning out slightly. how is he still holding him to such standards even after recognizing his mistakes? it doesn't sit entirely right. it almost feels a little lonely. is this what being "family" means, or even lovers?
but before he can make a move and drag them off to keep from digging even deeper into his own discomfort, the little girl looks at them expectantly.
takasugi leans his shoulder slightly into rinne's broader frame, extending a hand over him in their signature gesture: two fingers pressed against a thumb, the sign of the fox. he forces an infectious smile, as an idol is someone who brings out the smiles in others, right? much like a hero whose excitement rubbed off on everyone he met, who often looked like he might go crazy if he had nothing to do.
she’s practically bouncing with excitement as she recites their band chant and mimics it back, while her mother gently tugs her along toward the streetcar exit. )
[What a cute thing to do for a fan. Takasugi acts like he's too cool and clueless for these sorts of silly things, but he actually enjoys them, doesn't he? Being a celebrity, making fans happy. If anyone's forcing him to do this, Rinne certainly isn't. After he watches the girl bounce away, he gives his fellow idol a toothy grin.]
See? You're a natural, nii-san♪ Chu!
[He makes his fox sign kiss Takasugi's own.]
Haha. Didja do some fanservice as a CEO, too? ... We gotta make sure you and Niki stay healthy by Halloween. Lemme tell ya, being an idol's no fun when you're alone. Let's go!
[Rinne takes the same bony wrist and tugs it along. With a spring in his step, he leads him out of the streetcar, across the bustling road, and into the nearest music shop.]
( cute... that's too cute, actually. but he doesn't have time to react to their fingertips bumping against each other, let alone that "nii-san".
the inside of the shop is lined with records on shelves, with guitars that practically glisten with a chorus-like shimmer as they hang in rows along the walls. it's a world beyond the average citizen that doesn't understand what it means to be a musician, and it's set up pretty well for those who have the cash to invest in a good instrument. takasugi's pulse beats a little faster for it in the wrist rinne holds to tightly, and when he wrenches free he's pointing up at various guitars like a child buzzing in excitement over their very first time seeing the horimono etched into a family blade. )
Wow, wow. They've got everything in here. Which of these has the best feedback, do you think? How about I just—
( and he's reaching up to unlatch one before a staff member rushes over in a panic to stop him. )
No? I can't just get it on my own? Well, hurry up and pull that one down so I can inspect it.
( tapping his foot now. wasn't this shopping episode supposed to just be about rinne?
but in no time he's got that butterscotch blonde smooth wood in his hands, takasugi leaning the guitar against his frame to flaunt it. )
I used to have meals with everyone in my Kiheitai, plucking the shamisen for fun while asking them about their day, their injuries. It was all part of building a good relationship, but you could also call that fanservice in a way. Here...
( he runs a claw lightly along a string, tucking in his chin as he cheerfully strolls along behind rinne through the store. )
I suppose composing something new rather than playing or reciting the same old would be fanservice. How about I whip up some poetry for you, Amagi-kun? Something nice that captures your form on stage, or something.
[A fond smile tugs at Rinne's lip as Takasugi busies himself with looking around the store. Takasugi's excitement gives Rinne the proper time and distance to appreciate him from afar and properly etch this scene into memory. It's just like in his dreams—Takasugi making all these demands, never bothered by who he is or his place in the world, as if everything he asks for is just what he deserves. This is not how Rinne would act, but it's nothing he would tamp down. Wherever he goes, Takasugi always paints it in his color. He always wants to see more of it. If he had lost him the night he was shot, Rinne would be...
Well, he doesn't want to think about that now.
Rinne goes ahead, browsing as he walks further into the store. He should look for a guitar or his own. Something cool, something that would sound good with his shamisen.
Something that can distract him from how cutely he's letting himself act. Playing around is fun, but letting his guard down around a man like Takasugi is something he's still getting used to. Rinne was taught how to rule a people, but Takasugi has more experience connecting with them. He has much to learn, and no matter how little time they can have together, letting someone witness his flawed self is still a process. He can't let Takasugi remember the bad parts just as vividly.]
Edited (let's make this clear) Date: 2025-08-25 04:26 am (UTC)
Oh? Do I inspire you, Shinsaku? Kyaha, go right ahead! It's been a while since I've gotten a fan letter, both here and back home. You'd be the first to do it!
[Takasugi seems to love that. Being first, that is.]
( that same claw curls a little harder against the string, pricking gently against the flesh of his finger. )
Not a fan letter. Poetry, like a tanka poem, or a dedicated dodoitsu told in song. The sort you'd compose for...
( your lover, ideally. why does it need to be fan-related? even though this date is also, partly, connected to work, where takasugi is typically the one mouthing off about tasks.
that nasty habit of his that he's kept clamped down for a while now is like fire beneath the skin suddenly, and he sticks that finger in his mouth to suck on it, just around the corner. it's that stupid frustration of his that always rears it's head and makes him want to do something brash. a pang of jealousy towards his own self, the fan, that he might rake out of his chest bury if it gets too annoying to hear. still. he can push this feeling aside, the distraction of his own finger enough. when it feels like the cut is starting to close, he removes it, saliva clinging to his fingertip. )
Let me know when you've found something you like. Apparently they've got a soundproof room in the back for testing the amp.
( smooth. like he wasn't just thinking about fighting himself like a nut job. )
[Rinne thinks he said something wrong. He thought Takasugi was a fan who wanted to show his support, and wasn't he so proud to do just that a while ago? He's not sure how Takasugi would have finished his sentence. Celebrations, maybe? He doesn't mind. Rinne will take anything Takasugi wants to give him.
He really wanted a fan letter, though.
He watches the movement of Takasugi's finger, how the wet sheen mesmerizes him in the moment. The haphazard direction of his fingertip leads his attention to a cherry red electric guitar hanging on the wall. He effortlessly picks it off the wall without even waiting for assistance, enchanted by how its surface reflects the light.]
Shinsaku, look. This one looks so fucking cool...
I read that back in our world, [our world,] electric guitars were invented 'cause acoustic ones were too quiet to be heard in an ensemble. Jazz guitar players did these single-note solos... I guess they wanted to be stars. Some of Karteria's tech looks like it's from that era.
[While Rinne explains all this with a gentle twinkle in his eyes, one store clerk hurries over to where they are in a panic. They should both really be asking before they touch.]
( that small kernel of disappointment sits at the bottom of his gut, takasugi working hard to conceal it with a practiced dignity that he only exercises when he really needs it. it's not as if it's really rinne's fault. it was only a few months ago that he was timidly asking takasugi about his first kiss, carrying a shame within him that takasugi still couldn't quite grasp yet. takasugi had just gotten too excited. it's better he has people like shiina-kun, who are more patient, than someone like takasugi who always takes a knife verbally to his obsession to cut them open and stuff them with the crinkling plum blossom petals of his affection.
but it has little room to grow in the face of rinne's genuine hype. he peers over the electric guitar rinne chose for himself, a gentler smile spreading across his face, like an older brother watching his younger sibling show off a new toy. the historical tidbits are cool and all, but... )
It's a nice color, too. Not quite the soft notes of a cherry song of spring, leaning more towards the deeper tones of fall. It's got a sort of richness to it that we both have, an intensity that’s hard for others to replicate or keep up with. If it's really as loud as you say, it makes me wonder how many of those musicians at the time chose bold colors to complement the new pitch of their sound.
( the hand that'd just had a finger in his mouth moves almost on instinct to heft up the weight of the wooden guitar he's holding. sorry to the diligent staff member in the background who has to watch them mess around despite their efforts to keep this permanently founded store and its contents in order. )
I'm really into it, by the way. The depth of that color we share in particular.
( he makes his way past towards the aforementioned soundproof room, having to push on his heel to lightly brush his cheek against rinne's as he goes by, given their height difference. )
[Rinne would have liked to be even more enthusiastic with the guitar, but it's a little difficult when his dreams don't quite match up with reality. There was Takasugi showing a man from Tosa his revolver, the two of them staring in starry-eyed excitement as they both admired the new mechanism...
But Rinne supposes that's different. Takasugi wasn't in love back then. How deep do Takasugi's feelings go that he can see them both in a single guitar? Their cheeks touch, and the color Rinne has grown to cherish tinges his cheeks as he follows Takasugi into the room. Under his breath, he murmurs,]
Your color is brighter.
[Rinne's is dark, murky, and uncomfortable to see. No matter the shade of red, this has always been true.]
[They test the guitar's sound and, satisfied with their findings, note what to purchase for next time. Malkuth will be pleased to have something to do, but she might have enjoyed comparing the guitars. Rinne liked being in that small booth with Takasugi, though.
When they head to the cinema, Rinne wordlessly reaches for Takasugi's hand.]
You ever been to the theater? Idols pretty much do everything, but some pivot to acting after they've been in the industry for a while. Yep, idols usually debut when they're younger. Back at home, they even got schools for it. I never went, though. But I mentioned that Niki was on TV before, right? Thanks to Niki, Rinne-kun dove right in♪
You've got a lotta stage presence, so... Mm, yeah. I think you'd do great on the big screen.
Shiina-kun? Not that I can recall. ( his memory of niki's background outside of what's in front of him: hazy. ) But as for me attending theater, not particularly. If I had any spare time, it was spent running around trying to see what would split our dear nation in half. Or, my nation, that we both happened to live in. Sort of. The performing arts took place in certain venues, and... well, I suppose I got to experience a unique performance during those last, decisive moments in the world I was called into just before this one. A real restless secretary of mine put on a dance for me, and I played in accompany to her.
( maybe that's not the sort of thing you should mention on a date, but honestly, those last moments of his weren't really romantic at all. sort of. he tries to be vague about it, the weight of rinne's hand in his far more important right now than how his body had shattered, and was likely still shattering even now. that little warmth they’re sharing seems to be making a difference, at least from what he can feel, and he squeezes those larger fingers between his briefly just to ensure that they're there. which, of course they are.
but the reminder feels good.
the vintage cinema building flashes titles across the lighted billboard outside, the reds of the lights having faded into a dimmer orange here and there. the inside is staffed just so by tired-looking young adults who barely register their guests outside of the usual sing-song in greeting them. various posters line the walls, and before takasugi can get distracted and "ask" to fuck around with the professional-grade machines that produce servings of popcorn that sit around stale, he points at an arrangement of posters. )
The line-up is more extensive than I thought it'd be. What do you prefer? A sad war film focused on a broken romance? A thriller about a couple of teens trying to find the culprit? Or a horror flick about a rogue Augmented running amok in the community? ... Actually, that last one is a bit offensive, isn't it? Hahah. How'd that even get greenlit?
[...Secretary? Now, now, was it a habit for this CEO to pick up secretaries wherever he went? Rinne always knew Takasugi was that sort of person—even now, he tries not to bring it up so often—but when the man himself brings up another woman so casually, he can't help the sudden alertness in his body, especially in his eyes and ears. What was she like, he wonders. He's never asked Takasugi about things like that. What kind of women did he like? What kind of men? Was there a reason he's never mentioned any of them until now?
No, no. He shouldn't ask him about something so unpleasant. Focus, Rinne. Be a fun date.]
So it's your first time going to the movies, huh. Your country must've been a real mess at the time if they needed a genius pretty boy working twenty-four-seven to save it. But back then, didn't you have friends to save it with you?
Well, reading about it's one thing. Living it's a different sort of beast.
[He remembers when he first saw his idols on TV. Back then, he knew nothing about the industry...]
Kyahaha! Check out the poster. It looks so bad. [ So bad that he pauses for a beat far too long before he approaches the ticket counter. ] Two tickets for Attack of the Augmented, pleeease♪
[The buck-toothed teenager at the counter listlessly hands the tickets over, incredibly bored... until his eyes widen at the claws that ask for them. Rinne grins.]
What, never seen an Augmented before?
["Y-You're..." The boy's hand trembles as he points at Rinne's ears. His uniform cap is askew from the small jolt that shakes him off his seat. Of course he recognizes them. The magazine on his lap is open on a page covering 3kon's summer concert.]
( he says, albeit a bit quietly, where he always tends to let that topic die. now is no different.
but then his shoulder tenses up for an entirely different reason than before: the unexpected recognition. it’s not a bad thing. it just reminds him that they shouldn’t be this close, and really, if takasugi could go back in time, he would cut that man's throat and wipe away this weird unease he caused. fortunately, he's quite accustomed to staying confident when faced with pursuers, whether they were looking to put a blade in him or arrest him, so what's a little nervousness in the face of some kid? and the page spread of their concert looks great from what he can see over the counter, anyway. )
Handsome? Or maybe you were about to say, famous?
( takasugi finishes that sentence with a fox-like smile, )
Feel free to brag about the fact that we were here. I know I would.
( then he casually starts to drag rinne away toward their assigned seats in a private area of the theater, giving a cute little wave behind them. the lighting is already dark. trailers are playing on the big projector screen, and a couple has settled further down in the front of the theater. it's all pretty straightforward and easy when it comes to finding their seats. )
These seats obviously weren't made for people with giant tails like ours, but damn. What a pain having to shuffle it forward to get comfortable all the time, and... wait. Here. I want the seat closer to the exit. Switch with me.
[Liar. But, it doesn't feel like a malicious lie. Rinne lets it go for now. There are other things on his mind, like...
Wait. Rinne knows he bought tickets to the worst movie on the list for a reason, but is Takasugi seriously dragging Rinne while holding his hand? Not that Rinne cares about that sort of thing. He doesn't mind if the kid starts a rumor. Better Rinne and Takasugi than Niki. But the kidnapping still has Rinne on edge, and if anyone like the man from before finds them together like this—
Before Rinne thinks to comment on it, they're already in the theater. For once, being in the dark is a very good thing. For one, it hides the color in Rinne's cheeks. He can't even be mad at Takasugi's demands. After all, he's only in a seat he hates because he wouldn't let go of Rinne's hand.]
You wanna let go of my hand first? We didn't even stop to get popcorn. Someone's excited for his shitty movie.
( he's been holding tighter since the question about his past without even realizing it, almost like a need for comfort.
he'll release rinne finally so the swap can be done properly, flexing his open palm. once seated, takasugi smooths out the lines of his fitted tee, checking on the sleeves of his lightweight summer jacket to ensure they're still rolled. yep. everything is still in place. )
So you’re not a fan of holding my hand? ... Joking. It's a joke. Sorry. If you want something, I'll just wait here.
[ Liar. But Rinne thinks he knows what to do now. For someone who's supposed to be charming and spontaneous and whatever else he's let himself be in this city, he hasn't exactly been living up to Takasugi's expectations. They played a song together, but Takasugi had wanted to sing a poem. Rinne had wanted to learn more about him, but all he'd managed was to make him uneasy. What was wrong with him? He'd assumed everything else would naturally follow after the night they spent together, Takasugi bleeding on him as he ran his hands all over his beautiful body like porcelain or something delicate. Nothing this film would have ever thought to capture. If only he could hear the music inside Takasugi's head.
After they switch, Rinne watches the title screen in black and white, the big bold letters shining the projector's light back onto the crowd's faces. He watches it carve Takasugi out of the darkness, his skin not a ghostly pallor, but a life he wishes he could see better in the sun. If the sun were here, it would show him the sanguine glow of Takasugi's cheeks, the peek of veins that run down his inner wrist...
Well. Not that there's anything stopping him from seeing more.
So Rinne reaches for it. ]
It ain't like you, being a good boy.
[ He wraps his fingers around Takasugi's arm, sliding them up to his wrist. ]
It's fine. I just figured you'd wanna try something new. But doncha think it's kinda weird that we skipped lunch for this?
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no subject
Date: 2025-08-23 02:03 am (UTC)This will chain him down, but if it means giving Takasugi a good time, there's no reason to hesitate. When Takasugi's tail tail touches Rinne's, Rinne brushes his tail against Takasugi's in turn.]
I didn't think you'd hold me from behind, either. You're always charging ahead of me. Sometimes, I don't even know where you're going. It's hard to chase you, but I wanna be able to see you, at least. Watch you from afar like a star...
[...]
But courtship, huh.
[He's gone on dates, been called charming, but no one's ever called what he does as heavy as that. Courtship doesn't need to be serious, but don't you do that sort of thing with marriage in mind?
Marriage is always on Rinne's mind.]
After shopping, we can have lunch or watch a movie. If the movie sucks, we can just make out 'til it's over.
[Casually. Like it won't be a first for him, too.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-23 06:18 am (UTC)W-We can, can we? Pfh, ... hahah! But, okay, okay. I like the sound of that. Surely it won't be anything lame like the educational videos I used to force my employees to watch.
( it'd be nice if it's at least mildly entertaining if they go, but if not... well. that's fine. he'll secretly hope for the alternative.
the stuff about stars and whatnot, though? takasugi gives that hand a light squeeze. he doesn't want to say anything stupidly cryptic right now. )
Today, I'm sticking by you, so no need to stress about reaching for that star when you've been holding its warmth in your hand the whole time. I told you I came down to meet you, didn't I? If I get too far ahead, just pull me back by the scruff and ignore my complaints. Even if I dive into a ton of books and get caught up in projects, I'll always end up drifting back to thoughts of you, anyhow.
( and raising him back up in the sky again would just be impossible. )
no subject
Date: 2025-08-23 06:46 am (UTC)Haha! Got it, loverboy. If you float off too far, I'll just pull you back down with me.
[A blue streetcar gets ready to chug along the tracks as they turn a corner. Normally, he'd wait, but when their schedule's packed with surprises, do they even have the time? With a brighter grin, he tightens his grip and starts walking faster.]
C'mon, Shinsaku! We'll miss the streetcar!
[He breaks into a sprint, or at least as fast as Takasugi can manage until he leaps into the car's entrance with ease. He pulls Takasugi up with him, holding him close so he won't fall, but that goes without saying.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-23 03:05 pm (UTC)they go headfirst into the streetcar, takasugi's heart hammering briefly for the way rinne is so careful with him.
or maybe he should say, the way rinne has quickly become so hands-on.
a couple locals heading for their early morning work shift startle in their seats over the way two augmented crowd onto the air-electric car at once, and takasugi flashes them a quick, tired smile. a child in the back leans over their seat wearing a headband with fox ears, her eyes glowing with a need to say something about her heroes in the flesh making such a brazen appearance during their family commute. )
Dibs on the window, actually.
( he's thinner, so it's easy to slide past and into the cushioned seating, hanging rails above them swaying for the movement. he reaches a hand out to tug rinne down with him. )
no subject
Date: 2025-08-23 05:59 pm (UTC)[Rinne lets himself get tugged around and sits down, but he's more than distracted by the pair of fox ears he sees in the crowd. It's hard to forget that flash of red, let alone miss it. Rinne nudges Takasugi with his shoulder, giddy with excitement.]
Didja see that? [He makes no effort to hide how he peers at their little fan at the back, grabbing the ledge on Takasugi's side to push himself up.] She was wearing fox ears just like mine. We've got real fans, [he shakes Takasugi's shoulder] real fans!
All your efforts finally paid off, Shinsaku!
( 1 / 2 )
Date: 2025-08-24 02:04 am (UTC)( a sound of recognition as takasugi wobbles back-and-forth in his seat. )
How could they not, especially with someone like me on board?
( he peters in something typical for him to say, but it warms his heart to see rinne more excited over it than he is. this is small step towards that dream of theirs, isn't it? one that he might be starting to share in genuinely, for as much as he hasn't entertained it seriously until now. time will inevitably sweep him away, like the waterfront fading as the scenery outside the streetcar rushes past.
but if he could stay here, then he... )
( 2 / 2 )
Date: 2025-08-24 02:19 am (UTC)( he sinks back further into his seat, a hand coming up to brush lightly at rinne's bangs, which are all over the place from excitement.
those light red eyes of his, which sometimes seem to only be hollow, shine brightly. )
But as your first fan, I'm just excited to see how much you've grown alongside me. Your talent is the real deal, Amagi-kun.
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Date: 2025-08-24 04:28 am (UTC)[What would his brother say about it? Maybe he would say they were being disruptive. Maybe he would tear this all down and call it wrong. Maybe he would refuse those fake fox ears like he refused everything Rinne ever gave him. But when the stars in Takasugi's eyes put the life back into Rinne's fair cheeks, Rinne wishes he could act like family didn't matter.
The streetcar drives further into the next district as the morning sun pours into it. The rays paints Takasugi's face with a warmth he's only seen within the four corners of that small apartment, if not the mountainside at dawn. The scene is so familiar, he wonders why it can't be all the same to him. Then Takasugi's fingers brush against Rinne's forehead as he fixes his hair, and Rinne thinks that nothing else could upend his heart like the person he wants to be. For once, he feels blessed that he can see the shape of these feelings and know what to call them.
He settles back into his seat, too shy to face the man next to him. His smile is small, but it's there.]
I don't have talent. Everything I've done until now is just hard work.
I don't know if I've already told you, but whenever I put myself out there, I'm just trying to be an idol I'd love. Someone who coulda saved that kid who couldn't be who he wanted to be. I'm way too serious, so I keep trying to come up with ways to make it happen, but you don't even have to think about it. Being a hero is just who you are.
If it were you, you coulda saved us sooner. Me, Niki, and...
[His words are lost to the wind when the streetcar shudders to a crawl, brakes sighing as it approaches their stop. Seats creak as passengers begin to filter out of the vehicle. Holding her mother's hand, the girl from the back of the car shyly approaches the two Augmented.]
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Date: 2025-08-24 03:52 pm (UTC)takasugi can feel the protest rising in his throat, the sudden denial of everything and how he wouldn't have been where he was without that academy and teacher who took the time to try and set him straight, even if he felt like, in the end, he could never measure up to his expectations. but all that comes out instead is a vague stiffness in his posture, the corners of his smile thinning out slightly. how is he still holding him to such standards even after recognizing his mistakes? it doesn't sit entirely right. it almost feels a little lonely. is this what being "family" means, or even lovers?
but before he can make a move and drag them off to keep from digging even deeper into his own discomfort, the little girl looks at them expectantly.
takasugi leans his shoulder slightly into rinne's broader frame, extending a hand over him in their signature gesture: two fingers pressed against a thumb, the sign of the fox. he forces an infectious smile, as an idol is someone who brings out the smiles in others, right? much like a hero whose excitement rubbed off on everyone he met, who often looked like he might go crazy if he had nothing to do.
she’s practically bouncing with excitement as she recites their band chant and mimics it back, while her mother gently tugs her along toward the streetcar exit. )
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Date: 2025-08-24 06:34 pm (UTC)See? You're a natural, nii-san♪ Chu!
[He makes his fox sign kiss Takasugi's own.]
Haha. Didja do some fanservice as a CEO, too? ... We gotta make sure you and Niki stay healthy by Halloween. Lemme tell ya, being an idol's no fun when you're alone. Let's go!
[Rinne takes the same bony wrist and tugs it along. With a spring in his step, he leads him out of the streetcar, across the bustling road, and into the nearest music shop.]
( 1 / 2 )
Date: 2025-08-25 01:58 am (UTC)the inside of the shop is lined with records on shelves, with guitars that practically glisten with a chorus-like shimmer as they hang in rows along the walls. it's a world beyond the average citizen that doesn't understand what it means to be a musician, and it's set up pretty well for those who have the cash to invest in a good instrument. takasugi's pulse beats a little faster for it in the wrist rinne holds to tightly, and when he wrenches free he's pointing up at various guitars like a child buzzing in excitement over their very first time seeing the horimono etched into a family blade. )
Wow, wow. They've got everything in here. Which of these has the best feedback, do you think? How about I just—
( and he's reaching up to unlatch one before a staff member rushes over in a panic to stop him. )
No? I can't just get it on my own? Well, hurry up and pull that one down so I can inspect it.
( tapping his foot now. wasn't this shopping episode supposed to just be about rinne?
but in no time he's got that butterscotch blonde smooth wood in his hands, takasugi leaning the guitar against his frame to flaunt it. )
I used to have meals with everyone in my Kiheitai, plucking the shamisen for fun while asking them about their day, their injuries. It was all part of building a good relationship, but you could also call that fanservice in a way. Here...
( 2 / 2 )
Date: 2025-08-25 02:07 am (UTC)I suppose composing something new rather than playing or reciting the same old would be fanservice. How about I whip up some poetry for you, Amagi-kun? Something nice that captures your form on stage, or something.
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Date: 2025-08-25 03:45 am (UTC)Well, he doesn't want to think about that now.
Rinne goes ahead, browsing as he walks further into the store. He should look for a guitar or his own. Something cool, something that would sound good with his shamisen.
Something that can distract him from how cutely he's letting himself act. Playing around is fun, but letting his guard down around a man like Takasugi is something he's still getting used to. Rinne was taught how to rule a people, but Takasugi has more experience connecting with them. He has much to learn, and no matter how little time they can have together, letting someone witness his flawed self is still a process. He can't let Takasugi remember the bad parts just as vividly.]
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Date: 2025-08-25 03:49 am (UTC)Remember, be silly.]
Oh? Do I inspire you, Shinsaku? Kyaha, go right ahead! It's been a while since I've gotten a fan letter, both here and back home. You'd be the first to do it!
[Takasugi seems to love that. Being first, that is.]
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Date: 2025-08-25 04:55 am (UTC)Not a fan letter. Poetry, like a tanka poem, or a dedicated dodoitsu told in song. The sort you'd compose for...
( your lover, ideally. why does it need to be fan-related? even though this date is also, partly, connected to work, where takasugi is typically the one mouthing off about tasks.
that nasty habit of his that he's kept clamped down for a while now is like fire beneath the skin suddenly, and he sticks that finger in his mouth to suck on it, just around the corner. it's that stupid frustration of his that always rears it's head and makes him want to do something brash. a pang of jealousy towards his own self, the fan, that he might rake out of his chest bury if it gets too annoying to hear. still. he can push this feeling aside, the distraction of his own finger enough. when it feels like the cut is starting to close, he removes it, saliva clinging to his fingertip. )
Let me know when you've found something you like. Apparently they've got a soundproof room in the back for testing the amp.
( smooth. like he wasn't just thinking about fighting himself like a nut job. )
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Date: 2025-08-25 10:00 am (UTC)He really wanted a fan letter, though.
He watches the movement of Takasugi's finger, how the wet sheen mesmerizes him in the moment. The haphazard direction of his fingertip leads his attention to a cherry red electric guitar hanging on the wall. He effortlessly picks it off the wall without even waiting for assistance, enchanted by how its surface reflects the light.]
Shinsaku, look. This one looks so fucking cool...
I read that back in our world, [our world,] electric guitars were invented 'cause acoustic ones were too quiet to be heard in an ensemble. Jazz guitar players did these single-note solos... I guess they wanted to be stars. Some of Karteria's tech looks like it's from that era.
[While Rinne explains all this with a gentle twinkle in his eyes, one store clerk hurries over to where they are in a panic. They should both really be asking before they touch.]
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Date: 2025-08-25 01:52 pm (UTC)but it has little room to grow in the face of rinne's genuine hype. he peers over the electric guitar rinne chose for himself, a gentler smile spreading across his face, like an older brother watching his younger sibling show off a new toy. the historical tidbits are cool and all, but... )
It's a nice color, too. Not quite the soft notes of a cherry song of spring, leaning more towards the deeper tones of fall. It's got a sort of richness to it that we both have, an intensity that’s hard for others to replicate or keep up with. If it's really as loud as you say, it makes me wonder how many of those musicians at the time chose bold colors to complement the new pitch of their sound.
( the hand that'd just had a finger in his mouth moves almost on instinct to heft up the weight of the wooden guitar he's holding. sorry to the diligent staff member in the background who has to watch them mess around despite their efforts to keep this permanently founded store and its contents in order. )
I'm really into it, by the way. The depth of that color we share in particular.
( he makes his way past towards the aforementioned soundproof room, having to push on his heel to lightly brush his cheek against rinne's as he goes by, given their height difference. )
1/2
Date: 2025-08-26 01:22 am (UTC)But Rinne supposes that's different. Takasugi wasn't in love back then. How deep do Takasugi's feelings go that he can see them both in a single guitar? Their cheeks touch, and the color Rinne has grown to cherish tinges his cheeks as he follows Takasugi into the room. Under his breath, he murmurs,]
Your color is brighter.
[Rinne's is dark, murky, and uncomfortable to see. No matter the shade of red, this has always been true.]
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Date: 2025-08-26 01:33 am (UTC)When they head to the cinema, Rinne wordlessly reaches for Takasugi's hand.]
You ever been to the theater? Idols pretty much do everything, but some pivot to acting after they've been in the industry for a while. Yep, idols usually debut when they're younger. Back at home, they even got schools for it. I never went, though. But I mentioned that Niki was on TV before, right? Thanks to Niki, Rinne-kun dove right in♪
You've got a lotta stage presence, so... Mm, yeah. I think you'd do great on the big screen.
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Date: 2025-08-26 02:14 pm (UTC)( maybe that's not the sort of thing you should mention on a date, but honestly, those last moments of his weren't really romantic at all. sort of. he tries to be vague about it, the weight of rinne's hand in his far more important right now than how his body had shattered, and was likely still shattering even now. that little warmth they’re sharing seems to be making a difference, at least from what he can feel, and he squeezes those larger fingers between his briefly just to ensure that they're there. which, of course they are.
but the reminder feels good.
the vintage cinema building flashes titles across the lighted billboard outside, the reds of the lights having faded into a dimmer orange here and there. the inside is staffed just so by tired-looking young adults who barely register their guests outside of the usual sing-song in greeting them. various posters line the walls, and before takasugi can get distracted and "ask" to fuck around with the professional-grade machines that produce servings of popcorn that sit around stale, he points at an arrangement of posters. )
The line-up is more extensive than I thought it'd be. What do you prefer? A sad war film focused on a broken romance? A thriller about a couple of teens trying to find the culprit? Or a horror flick about a rogue Augmented running amok in the community? ... Actually, that last one is a bit offensive, isn't it? Hahah. How'd that even get greenlit?
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Date: 2025-08-26 03:12 pm (UTC)No, no. He shouldn't ask him about something so unpleasant. Focus, Rinne. Be a fun date.]
So it's your first time going to the movies, huh. Your country must've been a real mess at the time if they needed a genius pretty boy working twenty-four-seven to save it. But back then, didn't you have friends to save it with you?
Well, reading about it's one thing. Living it's a different sort of beast.
[He remembers when he first saw his idols on TV. Back then, he knew nothing about the industry...]
Kyahaha! Check out the poster. It looks so bad. [ So bad that he pauses for a beat far too long before he approaches the ticket counter. ] Two tickets for Attack of the Augmented, pleeease♪
[The buck-toothed teenager at the counter listlessly hands the tickets over, incredibly bored... until his eyes widen at the claws that ask for them. Rinne grins.]
What, never seen an Augmented before?
["Y-You're..." The boy's hand trembles as he points at Rinne's ears. His uniform cap is askew from the small jolt that shakes him off his seat. Of course he recognizes them. The magazine on his lap is open on a page covering 3kon's summer concert.]
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Date: 2025-08-26 04:02 pm (UTC)( he says, albeit a bit quietly, where he always tends to let that topic die. now is no different.
but then his shoulder tenses up for an entirely different reason than before: the unexpected recognition. it’s not a bad thing. it just reminds him that they shouldn’t be this close, and really, if takasugi could go back in time, he would cut that man's throat and wipe away this weird unease he caused. fortunately, he's quite accustomed to staying confident when faced with pursuers, whether they were looking to put a blade in him or arrest him, so what's a little nervousness in the face of some kid? and the page spread of their concert looks great from what he can see over the counter, anyway. )
Handsome? Or maybe you were about to say, famous?
( takasugi finishes that sentence with a fox-like smile, )
Feel free to brag about the fact that we were here. I know I would.
( then he casually starts to drag rinne away toward their assigned seats in a private area of the theater, giving a cute little wave behind them. the lighting is already dark. trailers are playing on the big projector screen, and a couple has settled further down in the front of the theater. it's all pretty straightforward and easy when it comes to finding their seats. )
These seats obviously weren't made for people with giant tails like ours, but damn. What a pain having to shuffle it forward to get comfortable all the time, and... wait. Here. I want the seat closer to the exit. Switch with me.
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Date: 2025-08-26 04:32 pm (UTC)Wait. Rinne knows he bought tickets to the worst movie on the list for a reason, but is Takasugi seriously dragging Rinne while holding his hand? Not that Rinne cares about that sort of thing. He doesn't mind if the kid starts a rumor. Better Rinne and Takasugi than Niki. But the kidnapping still has Rinne on edge, and if anyone like the man from before finds them together like this—
Before Rinne thinks to comment on it, they're already in the theater. For once, being in the dark is a very good thing. For one, it hides the color in Rinne's cheeks. He can't even be mad at Takasugi's demands. After all, he's only in a seat he hates because he wouldn't let go of Rinne's hand.]
You wanna let go of my hand first? We didn't even stop to get popcorn. Someone's excited for his shitty movie.
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Date: 2025-08-26 04:53 pm (UTC)( he's been holding tighter since the question about his past without even realizing it, almost like a need for comfort.
he'll release rinne finally so the swap can be done properly, flexing his open palm. once seated, takasugi smooths out the lines of his fitted tee, checking on the sleeves of his lightweight summer jacket to ensure they're still rolled. yep. everything is still in place. )
So you’re not a fan of holding my hand? ... Joking. It's a joke. Sorry. If you want something, I'll just wait here.
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Date: 2025-08-26 06:44 pm (UTC)After they switch, Rinne watches the title screen in black and white, the big bold letters shining the projector's light back onto the crowd's faces. He watches it carve Takasugi out of the darkness, his skin not a ghostly pallor, but a life he wishes he could see better in the sun. If the sun were here, it would show him the sanguine glow of Takasugi's cheeks, the peek of veins that run down his inner wrist...
Well. Not that there's anything stopping him from seeing more.
So Rinne reaches for it. ]
It ain't like you, being a good boy.
[ He wraps his fingers around Takasugi's arm, sliding them up to his wrist. ]
It's fine. I just figured you'd wanna try something new. But doncha think it's kinda weird that we skipped lunch for this?
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