Happiness Spiral

[sickhackbassist]

KIkuri Hiroi | Bocchi the Rock

Your friendly neighborhood drunk bassist.

Psychedelic rock is in her blood.

Anxiety ridden to the core, but she gets over it...

...with the power of, you guessed it, booze.

Sadly sobering up means realizing the future is bleak, and thus begins the unhealthy spiral.

Lived in a 52 year old apartment prior to arriving.

Terrible with IOU's & basic living habits. Miracle she made it this far

Despite everything she's got a heart of gold & incredibly talented.

Give her a chance and she might just help perk up your mood.

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[sunsage]

"Come on, girl." He huffs, now actually a little annoyed. Not that much, but still! "You get the snacks, and then you help me out on a little-"

He waves another donut that he already pulled out the bag around in some vague motion before tossing it into his mouth.

"-let's call it a reconnaissance mission. Since we won't be stealing anything probably so it's not a heist." He's not really selling this as a crimeless activity, which it technically is - all Wukong needs is for someone who can't be traced back to him to help him sneak somewhere he shouldn't be. How is that a crime?

(Don't answer that).

[sickhackbassist]

"Ooooh yeah yeah..." Most of his words flew right over her head as Kikuri's eyes hyper focused on the donut swinging back and forth in front of her. Food shouldn't have been so easy to work on her and yet here the bassist was, actually contemplating the clearly a crime "crimeless" activity just for this.

"I mean isn't there an easier way? I don't mind scoopin' things out but there's gotta be something that isn't, well, all this right?"

[paraunfinal]

"hm? ah. ángel," he supplies without much thought, his enthusiasm momentarily shot by her questioning. ".........it's nothing like that, nah. haven't had much worth celebrating in a while. doing quite the opposite, really."

oh brother, could he sound any more mopey? she didn't ask for a vent post!

mercifully, he's rescued by the bartender setting down their first bottle—his previous downer of an answer banished with a wave of his manicured hand and a forced smile.

"i mean! to new friendships, yeah? that's always something worth celebrating!" he hopes raising his freshly-poured glass is enough to distract her from the tonal whiplash. "besides, i could ask you the same, kikuri. what's one woman need five bottles for?"

[sickhackbassist]

"Ah that's too bad. But I get ya', sometimes things just don't work out and there's no parties to be had. It's why what's at the bottom of the bottle helps out so much!"

Or maybe it was just one of those things that only the bassist could really grasp in her odd wild mind. After all her happiness spiral truly was a cycle only someone of her caliber could really manage to pull off so consistently.

"Huh? Why five? Because I was gonna drink 'em all duh." The bassist said with the amount of energy that it should've been expected. "Just a little bit out of range to pay is all. And I'm not home to use a card either..."

[3moreseasons]

You can't quite figure out Kikuri's tone. Something like surprise, maybe with a bit of disbelief? She doesn't sound against the idea, at least.

"Well, only if you're okay with it. If you're not, I could always draw something else. It's just... well, it's a little embarrassing, but I'm not really used to drawing people anymore... I mean, human people. Back home, everyone was just a digital avatar, so I just want to get some practice."

You pull out your sketchbook, leafing through some of the half-filled pages. There's some other Spirale residents on them, as well as your friends from the Circus. It's been nice to draw again, and you hold out some of your drawings to Kikuri.

"Uh, see? Just figure drawings. I kinda like to... draw candid stuff, i-if that makes sense. It feels more natural. So you do your thing, and I do mine."

It's not very exciting, which suits you fine. And you've been kind of curious about Kikuri's music, so this is a two birds kind of situation. But her last comment makes you blink as you return your things to your bag.

"Really? I think you look cute... I-I mean, you look fine!" you say, urgently trying not to make it weird. "A-anyways, if you really don't want to, I can draw something else. I'd just rather not sit around, if it's okay with you."

[sickhackbassist]

"A-Ah right you did mention that before." It still was a little weird to think about being an avatar in a virtual universe on top of being there against one's will. It truly did feel like one of those combinations you'd find in a movie or manga series to try and grab the attention of the reader. Yet the only difference was it being set in reality rather then fiction.

"It's nothing like that no. I just didn't really get a lot of attention back in school. Didn't matter what grade or class I always was the quiet one in the back. So anyone asking me anything was well, kind of a disaster."

The simplest way to put it. Without getting into all the nitty gritty of how strange her life ended up to get here in the first place...

"But I've gotten better at it! Probably why someone like you drawing me just doing my thing ain't too worrying. Nothing too fancy like all those photo shoots the big rockstars gotta go through all to just be thrown on the cover of some magazine for a few weeks."

[paraunfinal]

"wh- hey now! i said it's only yours i'm covering." tipsy miscommunication or not, this gal's readier to bleed him dry than his best friend back home ever was. and that's saying something! ángel repeats to the bartender (loud enough for any preying customers to hear), "only her, alright? as much as i'd love to provide for all the lovely people in this, uh... fine establishment."

now with that out of the way, even if she orders the most expensive drink on the menu, it's a monetary sacrifice he'll have to make after wasting everyone's ti--

"f-five bottles!?" it's almost a squeak. "i'm not here to rain on any parades, but..."

he doesn't know if encouraging that much drinking is, y'know, ethical. .............on the other hand, maybe she's got the right idea......

"tell you what. split the liquor and i'll buy you six."

[sickhackbassist]

"Oooh it's been awhile since I've done a halfsies situation!" Maybe back in college? Most of the time people just handed her off drinks rather then needing to go so a hoop like this. But it seemed far easier especially with how nice he was in the first place...

"Deal. Name's Kikuri by the way! Why'd you want to do that in the first place? You celebrating something?"

Because it absolutely wasn't her. Unless all the signs were flying right over the bassists head as she spoke.

[bitemedotmp3]

"I mean, doesn't amnesia come in short-term varieties too? I dunno, I'm not in any psych classes. But you see it all the time on TV or whatever," says Uzi, frowning.

But college students like to throw big ol' raging parties that Uzi will probably never be invited to, right? This girl probably came from one of those, not that it's any of her business. But she does sympathize with not wanting to draw any undue attention.

"Well... If you're sure, then we'll skip it. But at least let's get you out of the frickin' planter. Next person who wanders by might not be as nice as me."

Guess she's involving herself in this after all. Uzi sighs and grabs the girl's arm to try and get her upright while also trying not to get herself tangled in the sticks and shrubbery.

"God, frickin'- you're heavy, dude," she huffs, not nearly in a physical condition to try and pick up another human. "Where am I supposed to take you? Dorm? Bathroom? Taxi? Dumpster?"

[sickhackbassist]

"Oh, right I am still in the planter aren't I." It was something that completely passed her mind up until she brought it up as well. And taking far more effort then anyone was going to guess. But at the very least she fumbled out of it with her own help and Uzi's, still wondering if maybe there was some kind of amnesia sitting right up in her mind...

"Wait you can believe the stuff on TV? I thought all of that stuff usually came with one of those warnings about being fiction and the like."

Unless she got tossed into a world like that. Which definitely would've had more questions and answers for the aspiring bassist...

"B-But you can just take me to the bathroom. I'll uh, I'll wash up and I guess I can figure out what we should do from there."

[dangoronin]

" That does still does not seem safe... "

She then talks more and introduces another instrument Masa has yet to witness yet once in his life.

" ...guitar? "

" ...I am afraid I have not heard of either. They are both string instruments? "

He guesses since the one she has seems to be.

[sickhackbassist]

"Eh? You really haven't heard of it? Either of them?!" Maybe there was a special name for it back in his home? String instruments couldn't have been that foreign of a concept.

"Well that's true yeah. Both got strings but both help put something together in a song a band is trying to perform. The melody can only go so far with a bass but complimented with a guitarist and you can really put anything together as long as your minds on it."

Which was trying to simply give a decent answer to a really broad question. Not everyone was going to get it without trying it for themselves, but the least they could do is understand some parts of it...

"Makes sense right? I'm the only one from my world though so uh the whole band thing ain't really a thing I could do right now. Not at the drop of a dime that is."

[paraunfinal]

@sickhackbassist

"we only serve cinnamon rolls after 8pm, sir."

"you only huh!?" ángel's eyes dart to the menu, touching its one (1) item in a daze. he hangs his head then, shoulders slouched and pouting; like a camel that's one straw away from imploding into a million pretty pieces. "but... i don't like cinnamon rolls..."

"hey, m*tski? losing dog here... i heard you're a betting woman--"

"um. sir? you're holdin' up the bar. you want the roll or not?"

"nono! no rolls!" that breaks him out of his stupor, jolting to note the woman only a couple stools away. he flashes her a small, rueful smile. "sorry. go ahead, i'll cover your drink. i-i'd cover the whole bar's, but i, uh... left my millions in my other wallet."

[sickhackbassist]

"Eh cover all our drinks?" While Kikuri was hearing the mini argument from a few seats away the bassist's stupor made it particular hard to focus in on one aspect. Something about cinnamon rolls, a losing dog, betting women, and millions in money. But most importantly was the part involving the whole's bars drinks being covered causing her eyes to widen in delight before shutting them yet again.

"That's really considerate of ya'...."

Unfortunately for him, Kikuri was someone who didn't know what anything in reason was at all...

"...Can I get like 5 more bottles of these please? If yer' putting it on his tab that is."

[sunsage]

@sickhackbassist

"Alright," he sits down on the curb next to the girl, the grocery store's fancy bag placed onto his knees. Out of it, he pulls out a box of their limited edition sakura mochi donuts and a can of strawberry lime hard cider (also limited edition, apparently, though he wonders if they just say it to make people pay more) and passes them over to her. "This enough for a bribe? Because I'm pretty sure it should be, with how much that cost."

He's playing up being annoyed a little bit, which becomes obvious when he pulls another donut out of the bag (peach pie flavour, obviously) and eats it in one bite.

[sickhackbassist]

"Oh my goooosh those look so good." And the moment he did pull one out and bite it did Kikuri start to salivate at how good it looked too. Only to double back around sweating at how quickly the conversation was turned to her.

"Wait bribe? Is that what all of this was about? I-I don't even remember what the bribe is in the first place.""

[thiefandlyre]

"I would like that, though I'm finding I don't actually need money much. I have other ways of getting essentials."

Octavo grins slyly at her. "Are you free now? I've nothing better to do if you'd like to find a place to settle and play a little music..."

[sickhackbassist]

"Ah of course I am! Not like I got anywhere to go just yet." Probably because there was barely anything to do in the first place. Or if she did there was still a decent amount of time before any of that started...

"Pick anywhere that feels good and I'll be right by ya'! Plenty of space if you wanted to get somewhere picky."

[thiefandlyre]

"I'm not sure I'll be lucky enough to get my other instruments back, but I do have my Lute. It's really all I need..." He sounds wistful, resting his chin on his folded hands. The rest of his instruments were often troublesome, difficult to control, but they were companions all the same.

"I have been playing in public, actually. Every day. It's just no good for making money unless someone is paying you to be there. But, I would not mind a duet sometime, even if the Lute doesn't always care to share the spotlight."

[sickhackbassist]

"Hey I didn't think so either. But I got it back eventually didn't I? So the same will definitely happen for you!"

Surely the confidence was not too misplaced. Especially when it came from someone that barely had any when booze wasn't in her body.

"And then we can share money we get if you'd play together. We're like a little band ourselves, just without too much else to our names."

[3moreseasons]

She's just still as messy as ever, but it's endearing in a weird way. Though it would probably be more endearing if you hadn't been waiting for like half an hour.

"Um, i-it's fine Kikuri," you say, not wanting to commit to any kind of anger. You adjust the weight of your own bag on your shoulder, looking over Kikuri's shoulder at the city streets.

"I was thinking... maybe we could go somewhere? I've been kinda cooped up for a while, so I'd like to get some fresh air. U-unless you don't want to, I mean. But one of of roommates is just..." You sigh. "Some angry shirtless guy, and he's kinda annoying so I'd rather not deal with it."

You gesture to your bag, giving Kikuri a small smile. "But I thought you could play, and I could draw you. If... if that's alright, I mean..."

[sickhackbassist]

"An angry shirtless guy...?" It didn't sound enjoyable and judging by Gangle's voice Kikuri could've picked up that they weren't enjoying it either. Although the part that came right after managed to get her eyes to widen in a mixture of delight and concern.

"W-Wait you wanna draw me playing? N-No one else? just me?"

As if there were plenty of other bassists out in the city. Or at least ones that were outwardly social and in the streets as much as Kikuri was.

"I-I'd love that. I'm just a bit surprised you'd want to do that. Not like I look good or anything."

[dangoronin]

" Um... yes... "

She seems energetic but is that a fine measurement to judge her with? Masa still feel unsure. He glances around, nervously. Maybe he should stick around for now... Even if he seems to be the only audience for now.

" I- is that so...? The instrument you play is quite unfamiliar for me. It has an interesting sound however... "

" But um. Is it alright for a young woman to be around at this time of night...? "

[sickhackbassist]

"Don't wooooory 'bout it! Last time I managed to fall asleep out here someone managed to get me and bring me right where I live! And the nice kind couple also helped out too."

Who that couple was Kikuri wouldn't have been able to say. Though maybe it was better that way so the bassist didn't rely on them too much. Or get scammed out of doing her usual thing...

"You've never heard a bass before though? It's kinda like a guitar of sorts, just with a few differences. You might even confuse the two if you didn't know 'em."

[bitemedotmp3]

What would she do with a dead body? Just call the police? Or would N want it? Moot point, probably.

"How would I know?" says Uzi. "You're just lucky you're at ground level. And alive. You've heard people are going missing, right? Gotta be careful or you're gonna end up in some lame true crime podcast."

She'd probably listen to it, though. Uzi tosses the stick aside but doesn't make a move to help the girl, instead just kind of standing off to the side unhelpfully.

"Jeez, are you... are you good? I don't wanna leave you here if you got amnesia or something," she says, frowning. She doesn't want to be late to class, but helping someone like this is probably an okay reason to skip, right?

"Do you need to go to the nurse? Or, uh..." She squints, trying to figure out her age. "Whatever the nurse's office on the college campus is called, I guess. You look..."

What's the right word? What can describe the state of the woman in front of her? Uzi purses her lips.

"You look like shit, dude."

Awesome.

[sickhackbassist]

"I mean I don't think its amnesia. If it was I wouldn't remember evertyhin' else right?" That's what everyone always told her happened. And it didn't seem like a situation like that. "I think I had a drink or two and then I ended up here. I-I usually don't drink that's why."

And if she was then something had gone dreadfully wrong. Or stress had reached an all time high. Maybe even both...

"I feel a nurse is gonna ask me more questions. And I got a lot of practicing to still do later, not to mention all the exams that are coming up too. And avoiding whoever is kidnapping everyone in the first place."

Not that she believed she'd be a real suspect in that. Far too many people out there who stood out more then her.

[frosthera]

ah. she's there again , that music student. feline ears twitched at the sound of a guitar ringing through the halls. originally , when artemista heard it the first time , she wondered if it was the rumored " music ghost " wandering the building she had heard about. it wasn't until questioning a member of her fan club ( who just so happens to be a music student themselves ) that she learned of the quiet student who stayed behind.

to play music.

a shy one , from what was told. a bit hard to talk to.

( also the source of a music ghost rumors )

❛ she really does play well ... ❜ art student wasn't quite sure how to proceed. so , she's just going to sit outside the classroom , ears perked , sketchbook on her lap. might as well use this as inspiration. @sickhackbassist

[sickhackbassist]

It wasn't exactly uncommon information that Kikuri always stayed behind after class to "study" for the next exams. While the student did put enough time into her life to get ready for the next test all of it was just a facade to get some breathing room for her own music advances. Although being alone did have her own share of problems...

"Geez I feel like something's wrong with that part." Even after so many times Kikuri had to wonder if it was just herself holding back or something she couldn't see. "Maybe its a note or two?" Still after a brief rumination did the bassist pick up the instrument again after jotting down a few pieces of info.

"Guess I just gotta keep at it till it sounds right..."

[sickhackbassist]

"A-Ah well I don't usually play my bass too much. I mean I guess I do play it a little bit more then most people but I usually go somewhere where nobody else is going to hear me."

Which didn't seem to be having right now. Considering the individual that stopped her seemed to know exactly who she was without the bassist ever actually having met them in return. Though she had heard some rumors about someone that did look him, but nothing beyond surface level stuff...

"And well...I'm trying to make the most before I can actually get my degree. if I get it in the first place..."

@imnotdracula | s.c

[bitemedotmp3]

@sickhackbassist

Is she, like, okay? Uzi's seen this girl around campus a few times, usually only half-awake. Just kind of stumbling around, and very occasionally playing guitar. It's usually a nice sound, but right now she looks more like a corpse than a musician. And that would make Uzi so late to next period.

There's a planter nearby, and Uzi retrieves a small stick, just in case. You never know.

"Uh, hello? You alive?" she says, poking the body. "C'mon, don't die right here, this is how I get to class. You know how annoying it's gonna be if they shut it down to do an investigation or whatever?"

She jabs a little harder, which does prompt some kind of noise. Something between a grunt and a groan, which is probably an appropriate noise to make when you're being poked.

"Oh, thank god you're alive," says Uzi, wiping her brow with her free hand. "I know I was making jokes about it, but I don't know if I could handle a dead body right now."

[sickhackbassist]

"H-Huh? How did I end up here?"

For someone usually as attentive as Kikuri she couldn't recall any real reason why she would've been so tired. Or even somehow managing to pass out the way she did. Still if it wasn't for the stick poking her the bassist would've certainly ended up sleeping her way through all of her classes. So that alone she could be thankful to the individual for...

...Everything else not so much. Especially when it was going to be blamed on her rather then anyone else.

"W-Was I out long? I don't even remember when I did pass out." And if she was going to be potentially late for class that no doubt meant Kikuri was too. "And why does my head feel like it's spinning all over the place."