[Niki fights him for a bit to take back his own device... But then he remembers he doesn't actually want to miss the conversation, so he uses Rinne's to check back in instead.
...but the topic makes him wish he hadn't! Rinne's message leaves him with a pang of guilt, but that isn't why he answers what he does.]
um, I think I'll pass. I'm really no good with stuff like that.
[Niki doesn't mind being an idol, but he's never been too keen on doing it alone.]
Edited (added a bit) Date: 2026-01-15 09:20 am (UTC)
[ one yes, one pass... truthfully she doesn't think takasugi'll reject the idea, since it's different than their usual, so niki should be addressed sooner than later. without being pushy... well she's never really been too good at not being pushy but-- ]
Aww, you haven't even heard me out yet, Niki! I promise, I'd never offer up anything you couldn't handle -- but we can talk later, just keep it open for consideration. If you still feel the same after, then I'll accept your pass. How about you, Takasugi? Sound fun?
I won't turn down an interesting offer, if that's what you mean Something that isn't just handing out promotional material or signing cards Like shooting me out of a cannon, or holding a fan quiz Running a game as a fundraiser for those with little food would be...
( but it's unusual for niki to voice his own personal dissent with something... hmm. )
Then I'll get in touch with each of you later. Make sure you're stretching daily and eating well, and don't be so quick to spend your money on gambling. Oh, and when you have the chance, can one of you swing by the studio? There's a draft I can't find. Let's kick off this year with kon-fidence!
[ she really did miss them... now, how best to work with niki. something to mull over while she works. her idol notebook's at home after all. ]
[ Still using Niki's phone, Rinne reacts to Malkuth's message with a smiling imp emoji. 😈
I don't care if the device can do that or not. It's happening somehow.
As for Niki... ]
Kon-fidence, huh?
[ Wish I could say it was just that.
He looks up at the young man lying right on top of him, the two of them snug on this couch barely big enough for them both. Now that the conversation's over and Takasugi feels validated again, he can move his limbs, shifting under Niki as he lets him rest against his broad chest. ]
Not gonna hear her out, Niki? [ The question is a languid drawl drawn out after stretching his arms and legs. ] Mm, after all the work Bambi put in for ya, too... Kyaha! You're damn lucky she thinks you're cute.
[What's with that emoji... That's so ominous! But oh, it's so comfy here... Niki could definitely fall asleep here, even after their little scuffle.
(That's how they get you!)
If they're done with the work talk, he surrenders Rinne's device and places it on top of his chest. He leans into him a bit when he yawns so that he doesn't fall off, and at what he says, Niki shakes his head.]
Nuh-uh, don't think you can sweet-talk me into it. [It's not like Niki hasn't done stuff like this before, but... It's exactly because he's done it that he knows what this entails!] I'm more of a side dish than a main dish. You guys are way better at dealing with that kind of attention. You guys can do it.
I know your ass can't stand a second of attention when I'm in there every night, but c'mon, Niki. [He twirls a lock of Niki's hair around a clawed finger...] Didn't you say you became an idol for me?
Besides, you don't gotta do it alone. What Bambi doesn't know won't hurt her. Right, Shinsaku-chan?
( deep within the digital confines of their syntrofos is a certain AI, planted ages ago by one incredibly invasive president.
but he doesn't respond at first.
there's a brief crackle of static. a flicker of light, and then a prompt births to life in the corner of rinne's phone with a familiar face leaning an arm over a rectangular window. )
Wait. Wait! You haven't been there the whole time, have you?
[Like. That would make a lot of sense, but... How long? Niki's not really worried about the things they say, because they talk like that all the time, but the things they do...
[? Why does he say that like it's a bad thing? Both of them.]
Pretty much. Just be on call when he needs ya. Niki thinks he's a fucking mess right now, but he's been a celebrity longer than me, you know? When we were tryna get gigs back then, everyone said yes to this face 'coz he was so damn cute on TV!
( and what if he vanishes mid-act while niki is looking for a helping hand?
what if he doesn't track them, and leaves them to their own devices just to get snatched up off the street again?
there isn't anything in it for him, and there never was, but his obnoxious smile stays the same. so does the hum of amagi rinne's sweet song that wasn't meant for him in the back of his data bank. they really are foxes, the whole of them: bewitching tricksters that can be as cruel as they are kind.
he moves to another side of the little window, trying to dodge the pokes meant to disrupt his hologram. )
"As long as their will is strong, anyone can become a great warrior, regardless of who they are," Shiina-kun Calling me besides, if the gig isn't fun, there's no reason you have to do it Aside from money and stability in a decaying world, I suppose
[Niki would complain about being pinched, but... actually, he's in a really good mood right now! He throws his arms around Rinne and hugs him tight!]
Oh, Rinne-kun, you're so sweet, I could seriously kiss you right now! I thought you two were gonna seduce me into it or something, but you were actually being really thoughtful, weren't you? I love you soooo much! I would be so lost without you!
[He buries his face in Rinne's big, broad chest. (Sorry.) Really, there are so many worse ways this could have gone! Bribery, blackmail, sexual harassment... Not that Niki minds those, either, but this is... really genuinely considerate!]
I guess it's true that I don't have to... I don't like standing out. Even if I did, I always struggle with things like... "being myself." [Because that's usually what these sorts of activities involve.] I'd rather just lift them up.
[Rinne and Takasugi, Kohaku and HiMERU... The other idols he's worked with, too.]
But with you, I think it'll be okay. [At the very least, it does solve one of the many, many issues Niki has with this.] Would you really do all that for me, Shinsaku-chan?
( as if he hasn't heard so much... so much. things i'm not going to put in a tag right now. )
But, sure Unless it's super boring, I'm not going anywhere What else would I do with my free time? And besides, Takasugi Shinsaku is a champion of justice
[ Good to know Niki will be the first in 3kon to experience AI-induced psychosis.
Rinne just feels crazy. Please don't bury your face in Rinne's chest in front of Takasugi, Niki. They're sensitive. Niki probably had a part in making them that way. I'll stop here before the tag gets worse. ]
Ngh, stop kissing everybody...
[ And don't tell Rinne those three words while he's off guard? He's really happy, though. ]
As far as being yourself's concerned, I think you got the least problems with that, Niki. At least I know Shinsaku-chan ain't stoppin' ya.
'Sides, aincha thinking about it too hard? Thinkin' was never your strong suit, so you should relax and take it easy. Bambi would never throw ya off the deep end, yeah? Prez and I would, though♥
... Ah, I guess this guy would, too. [ He pokes the other side of the screen now. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 06:27 am (UTC)...but the topic makes him wish he hadn't! Rinne's message leaves him with a pang of guilt, but that isn't why he answers what he does.]
um, I think I'll pass. I'm really no good with stuff like that.
[Niki doesn't mind being an idol, but he's never been too keen on doing it alone.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 01:35 pm (UTC)Aww, you haven't even heard me out yet, Niki! I promise, I'd never offer up anything you couldn't handle -- but we can talk later, just keep it open for consideration. If you still feel the same after, then I'll accept your pass.
How about you, Takasugi? Sound fun?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 02:33 pm (UTC)Something that isn't just handing out promotional material or signing cards
Like shooting me out of a cannon, or holding a fan quiz
Running a game as a fundraiser for those with little food would be...
( but it's unusual for niki to voice his own personal dissent with something... hmm. )
Either way, I'm eager to hear what you've got
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 03:25 pm (UTC)Let's kick off this year with kon-fidence!
[ she really did miss them... now, how best to work with niki. something to mull over while she works. her idol notebook's at home after all. ]
i promise this is here for a reason
Date: 2026-01-15 03:48 pm (UTC)I don't care if the device can do that or not. It's happening somehow.
As for Niki... ]
Kon-fidence, huh?
[ Wish I could say it was just that.
He looks up at the young man lying right on top of him, the two of them snug on this couch barely big enough for them both. Now that the conversation's over and Takasugi feels validated again, he can move his limbs, shifting under Niki as he lets him rest against his broad chest. ]
Not gonna hear her out, Niki? [ The question is a languid drawl drawn out after stretching his arms and legs. ] Mm, after all the work Bambi put in for ya, too... Kyaha! You're damn lucky she thinks you're cute.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 12:20 am (UTC)(That's how they get you!)
If they're done with the work talk, he surrenders Rinne's device and places it on top of his chest. He leans into him a bit when he yawns so that he doesn't fall off, and at what he says, Niki shakes his head.]
Nuh-uh, don't think you can sweet-talk me into it. [It's not like Niki hasn't done stuff like this before, but... It's exactly because he's done it that he knows what this entails!] I'm more of a side dish than a main dish. You guys are way better at dealing with that kind of attention. You guys can do it.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 01:05 am (UTC)Besides, you don't gotta do it alone. What Bambi doesn't know won't hurt her. Right, Shinsaku-chan?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 01:19 am (UTC)[Ahhh! It's always like this!
...hold on.]
Wait. What do you mean by that?
[He's not sure if this is a good thing or not?!]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 01:55 am (UTC)but he doesn't respond at first.
there's a brief crackle of static. a flicker of light, and then a prompt births to life in the corner of rinne's phone with a familiar face leaning an arm over a rectangular window. )
Yeah
What do you mean by that, Amagi Rinne-kun
1/3
Date: 2026-01-16 02:53 am (UTC)[Like. That would make a lot of sense, but... How long? Niki's not really worried about the things they say, because they talk like that all the time, but the things they do...
...]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 02:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 03:00 am (UTC)Anyway.
He looks at Rinne! Pleadingly!]
The longer you don't explain, the more worried I get!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 03:27 am (UTC)I'm sayin' if you got another guy with ya, then it ain't a one-man act now, is it? If you need someone to chew on, you can just call this lil' guy.
[Rinne props his syntrofos up and pokes Shinsaku's little head on the screen.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 03:36 am (UTC)That's if I come calling, mind you
( because he's still a little irritated about (redacted). )
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 03:43 am (UTC)[Taps on his screen some more. Maybe the AI is broken.]
1/2
Date: 2026-01-16 03:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 03:46 am (UTC)Wait, why am I a girl...
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 03:51 am (UTC)( because TAKASUGI doesn't care. it's not like he's a real man either. )
He'll say whatever sounds nice to get you to play along, that Amagi-kun
Anyway, I'm just supposed to show up?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 03:57 am (UTC)Pretty much. Just be on call when he needs ya. Niki thinks he's a fucking mess right now, but he's been a celebrity longer than me, you know? When we were tryna get gigs back then, everyone said yes to this face 'coz he was so damn cute on TV!
[He pinches Niki's cheek.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 04:13 am (UTC)what if he doesn't track them, and leaves them to their own devices just to get snatched up off the street again?
there isn't anything in it for him, and there never was, but his obnoxious smile stays the same. so does the hum of amagi rinne's sweet song that wasn't meant for him in the back of his data bank. they really are foxes, the whole of them: bewitching tricksters that can be as cruel as they are kind.
he moves to another side of the little window, trying to dodge the pokes meant to disrupt his hologram. )
"As long as their will is strong, anyone can become a great warrior, regardless of who they are," Shiina-kun
Calling me besides, if the gig isn't fun, there's no reason you have to do it
Aside from money and stability in a decaying world, I suppose
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 06:09 am (UTC)Oh, Rinne-kun, you're so sweet, I could seriously kiss you right now! I thought you two were gonna seduce me into it or something, but you were actually being really thoughtful, weren't you? I love you soooo much! I would be so lost without you!
[He buries his face in Rinne's big, broad chest. (Sorry.) Really, there are so many worse ways this could have gone! Bribery, blackmail, sexual harassment... Not that Niki minds those, either, but this is... really genuinely considerate!]
I guess it's true that I don't have to... I don't like standing out. Even if I did, I always struggle with things like... "being myself." [Because that's usually what these sorts of activities involve.] I'd rather just lift them up.
[Rinne and Takasugi, Kohaku and HiMERU... The other idols he's worked with, too.]
But with you, I think it'll be okay. [At the very least, it does solve one of the many, many issues Niki has with this.] Would you really do all that for me, Shinsaku-chan?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 07:31 am (UTC)( as if he hasn't heard so much... so much. things i'm not going to put in a tag right now. )
But, sure
Unless it's super boring, I'm not going anywhere
What else would I do with my free time?
And besides, Takasugi Shinsaku is a champion of justice
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 07:46 am (UTC)[Niki doesn't know how he'd use him outside of, like, moral support, but he'll appreciate having him around no matter what!]
I look forward to working with you, then!
1/2
Date: 2026-01-16 12:45 pm (UTC)Rinne just feels crazy. Please don't bury your face in Rinne's chest in front of Takasugi, Niki. They're sensitive. Niki probably had a part in making them that way. I'll stop here before the tag gets worse. ]
Ngh, stop kissing everybody...
[ And don't tell Rinne those three words while he's off guard? He's really happy, though. ]
As far as being yourself's concerned, I think you got the least problems with that, Niki. At least I know Shinsaku-chan ain't stoppin' ya.
2/2
Date: 2026-01-16 01:29 pm (UTC)... Ah, I guess this guy would, too. [ He pokes the other side of the screen now. ]
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:🎀
From: