salem says

\ˈa-və-rəs, ˈav-rəs\ Definition of AVARICE : excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain : greediness, cupidity

[uitvinder]

 They've been out for long enough by Avi's standards, but if they'd gone by his preferred after all, they would have never caught the city's second-wind and the inviting crisp air that bothers the back of his neck. "Sure beats staying inside as you said, I wanted to go in two hours ago." 

 "Aren't you like, supposed to listen to what I want to do today? Not-that-it-should stub your great mantra. What was it?" His voice hikes up, suiting the ridiculous tone he's adapting.

   He's completely serious. 

If you know what's good for you. No, wait, that's painting you shadier than you are..." He dabbles for a moment, "I got it!" Getting carried away, "If you hadn't listened to me, if it weren't for me you wouldn't have seen any of those places." With his best haughty voice, "Hard enough to get you out of the house as it is, you should be thanking me." 

He tilts his head, the superficial glow dropping. "Something like that?"

He's keeping one foot in front of the other, swaying when a cab skirts past them and he balances his package in the other arm. Alarming, when he locks arms with the man next to him and it'd strike a passer-by disguised as genuine startle. They're not wrong. 

 But the mild shock aside he shifts all weight to one foot as he peers up at his guy, from under the hood that falls onto his face. He remains latched on. He'd almost gotten one of them ran over on a day they went by strict-rules, that no one would be mentioning. Big deal.

It's after hours, they're a suspicious bunch, at least the age gap is clear, but ...It wasn't like anyone would interfere. "So I heard a few blocks up that section really never sees sleep. Is there something lively up there? 

If there is, and you're vouching for it. We'll go. I trust my handy know-how."

[uitvinder]

It's that night either of them get antsy. Nothing's special when one excels the other, and the best they've s keeping him mindful even if he doesn't see him day-in, Day out, day-in. If the other shows up, then it's a bonus, then he's done something the last night that keeps him alert. 

It's nothing that either of them did. And it shouldn't be set aside if they're fully seeing each other. If it's nothing constructive, then Avi will take the time of day. If it either proves either of them is antsy, then all plans should be  

[shinju-ku-deactivated20150805]

'Probably,' Shinju agrees with a tilt of the head, eyes flicking first to his watch, and then to the kid who's not even trying to make himself look alluring. It's like he doesn't even know. 'But whose fault is that, huh?' He tugs his arm away and sets a hand against the small of Avi's back, and then he grins. 'Definitely not mine.

'But since you were, uh, so kind to bring it to my attention…’ A second hand, and then he’s tugging the teenager right into his lap, leaning back against the couch from his position on the floor.

He forcibly situates Avi before he can do anything else, starting to rub his back enticingly. ‘Maybe you should do something about it? I mean, if I’m bored, I’m not gonna hang around…’ And he hangs that particular fact up to dry, an idle threat that he only sort of wants to get under Avi’s skin. Shinju crooks his head into the boy’s neck and leaves a couple kisses there.

'You wouldn't want that.' he says, and then he pulls away and grabs for Avi's chin, making him look at him.

He kisses the kid hard and only pulls away when they’re nearly out of breath.

'Right? 'Course I'm right. So I should think you… should… try…’ he continues, walking his fingers down Avi’s spine. He stops when he’s situated his hand comfortably around his hips. ‘To impress me.’

[uitvinder]

 It's a touch here, and then a little unexpected there that automatically does bring to his attention ...that maybe this was deliberate? Arms wrap around Shinju's neck as he sits up, staggering back to take balance and his breath as he's, steadied.

He didn't care for who was responsible, "Sounds like some one doesn't get the premise of asking, not threatening..." but the man with the commanding voice and hands was really laying it on here like it was ...all his fault. There he goes again, stealing the air right out of him and

--Avi, would have, in his head, come up on him and gave this back if he had that benefit of a doubt. It earns him a faint moan when he keens at the de-stressor, reminds him that Shinju really knows all his buttons. 

It sucks. "oh, but. we're beyond this. You don't ask for things," He corrects himself, downing air in gulps just to finish his super important sentence. "I'm just entitled to." Toying with a faint clink to the belt he teases it until it gives, "Know when you want them."

It's frustrating. How were you supposed to know when the man was in the mood for kissing anyway? There should be seriously some indicator, a kissing meter, that tells him where he's at.

but with the ramped up frantic need to prove him wrong, or was it prove him right- 

"how do you want it?" Avi demands, unsteady and set to a grind he slaps a hand over his mouth before he sounds off anything.

Shirking off his own hood he eyes him down with a mean look, protests from earlier died somewhere behind his chest. What does stick is the renewed heat that darts up his neck, he looks like a mess. And that's just one thing he couldn't stand for, he decides as he hooks his finger in a sharp tug to Shinju's belt. "I could do you first."

[uitvinder]

 nothing sets the alarm off quite like not having a plan for the evening, and that's where they're at. they never plan, but when they're stuck inside like this ...he wonders if he should have. 

because this kind of evening is ideal for him, but his kind of man? well... the tv is still running and remote in hand avi doesn't bother to flip it off. he ought to, but decreases the volume by 80% and accidentally switches the channel to something less stimulating instead. 

he's not restless, at least right now. but he wants to check in to see if the same goes for the one camping it out with him. he sets the remote off to the side and starts padding over to him on knee and palm, stopping 

just short of shinju's stomach, situating himself so he's wrapped around his waist and then some. he taps at the watch on one wrist, tutting up at him before he looks up. '...did we get in too early?'

[shinju-ku-deactivated20150805]

It’s typical, what happened. He’s been getting better, all things considered, but ramping up the stakes means that improvement is hard to notice. The kid probably hasn’t even noticed it himself.

After some cautious manoveuring, Shinju relinquishes Avi from his hold, making sure the kid has a hand on the guardrail behind him before he lets go entirely. There’s definitely something callous in his motions, and when the man straightens to look around them, he almost looks impatient. It’s a blue evening, and there’s fog starting to roll in, but they’re alone. Only the skylights on the buildings overhead stand as their companions.

'Well, you tried,' he sighs, and it's almost like he's chiding the boy. He winds a bored hand into Avi's hair, though, and that dulls the impact of any criticism he might be giving. 'Honestly, I didn't think you were ready for that kind of jump, but hey. You tried.’ Still not making eye contact, he readjusts his scarf with one hand, the other tilting Avi’s head up distractedly.

"That kind of jump" had turned out to be pretty simple, actually. It was a simple descent from five stories to two — tricky, if you didn’t know what you were doing, but momentum and landing in a roll made it possible. It’s not like Avi hadn’t tried to do that, but the slick surface of the roof underfoot had made his footing bad, and he’d almost been introduced to the dark pavement 30 feet below.

At length, Shinju finally casts his eyes over the teenager, eyeing his bruised ankle with a condescending grin. It’s not broken or anything — he checked — but for Avi, walking’s probably not going to be on the agenda for another couple of days. Lucky him.

'Least now you'll have time to play with those stupid cards of yours,' he quips, ruffling Avi's hair for a final time. After that, he takes it upon himself to bodily handle him once more, seating him on the guardrail's topmost bar. It's only when that is done that he moves to lean against the rail, bumping the kid's hands with his elbow.

”cept, can’t say that means I’ll play with you or anything! You’re on your own.’

[uitvinder]

So that happened! 

That almost happened. When you're around a man that takes things that aren't happening, "You're, you're." He hisses, it's aloud that comes out which he doesn't know, until he catches his breath. He's coaching himself off the high train, but the more space he lets fill the time between them, he looks like he really needs to take a hike. He's looking, alright behind them where -That could've easily been him! 

'You were right.' He emphasizes with a strain in his voice, that doesn't last when relief takes control of all his features and in a put-out sense he 'smacks' his mentor? on the chest, the terror that gave each of the buildings in this district roofburn and wrecked damage that could be permanent! so which was it? - avi's eyes flick up to the man he's sure could've lost him, if he'd wanted to. but back there just now, that was a close call! 

So he'll cut him some slack, won't he? That's not what he wants, by what he's announcing (from experience) you listen to this kind of person! otherwise recuperation might take longer. Naturally he'll grab closer for the man's sleeve, clutch him close with some desperation, a mix of lingering panic, and a lot of 'can we do that again sometime'. 

'...You can't leave me by myself! I'll catch up! You saw me back there,' He throws Shinju this look that dances around "you had me back there, right?" It's something he can't bring himself to ask. 'But you did see that.' He nudges closer, crinkling his nose when he's prompted on how the earlier half of this week's going to look. 

Really, did he have to go that all out? 'I'll follow you. I always know where to look for you.' He grates on a haughty exterior that belongs to someone much younger, but it suits him! He peers back up at the man balancing him, and it's because he's up on a perch that they're pretty much level. Isn't that something. The look that lies there should be 'in', stuff that frontpage types get directed into. It's kind of a sulk. 

 Except when it evolves in seconds. 'You'll visit me sometimes, if I can't get around?' The double meaning is laid in there, doesn't stop him from pulling his best face.

[shinju-ku-deactivated20150805]

All the kid gets between the stairs and the door is a rough kiss, two, three, four as he’s shoved out of the apartment and into the dawn outside. Shinju leaves him there, but the cold morning blue takes his place, pressing icy affection to Avi’s neck and wrapping gust and chill around his bare, bare arms. It can’t be any later than six, the air promises, the moon still yet to be roused from its happy home far above their heads. The sun’ll change that soon.

Shinju returns, and he’s left his grin back inside the flat. With a one-two ghost of a stare that he drapes over the kid, he’s pulling his jacket off and throwing it around the boy’s shoulders instead, something warm to keep the bite away. It’s the end of summer, but you would never know it.

'Come on,' he murmurs, and he gets Avi's feet to moving again, pushing him forward with a lick of impatience as they down and reach to solid ground. From there, pavement is their red carpet, bringing them away from the dead-end neighbourhood and back into a city that's forgotten what it means to sleep.

What’s the rush?

The rush is what’s pounding in his veins right now, a cacophony that rebelled as soon as the night was over and he had his wits back with him. What else could it be. The walls said “trapped" and the windows said "come" and, well,

You know the story from there.

He pushes Avi without any gentleness into the opening of an alley, familiar to him but probably foreign land to the kid. It’s the same old, same old— the brat gets cornered, the brat gets his belt undone, the brat gets coached on how to hold his breath as he covers his mouth with his own, the brat figures out that oh, you can use your tongue for that after all.

It’s about five solid minutes before the headiness takes him over and takes his feet off the ground, keeping the panic at bay and letting him take a good step back from what’s going on. He lets Avi go then, tipping his head back and bringing one of his hands away to massage the crick in his neck.

He hates when this happens.

'Morning,' he greets boredly, like he hasn't just forced himself on a sometimes-willing teenager, like this is just any other normal day. Not that they have normal days. Not that he ever behaves normal. ‘What’s up.’

He leans back over to bump their foreheads together, offering a smile so unfitting for the situation that it’s got to be him.

'Worse ways to be woken up, you know.'

[uitvinder]

he really doesn't know what to do with the mood, are they in a mood?, they are, 

 that's just where it's happening. it's barely audible but it's there. '- right now?' 

it's one thing to put it past them, inviting oneself in to their place, all the things you hold really dear (but it's just you, the things the loud and invasive one keeps at all  aren't yours to ask about, like you don't ask questions now. they're not things that you can rob either, rather you have to buy your own admission on the way in.

and that's just how it is, reaction time hacked in half when he ries his best not to jolt when the cold air reminds you it's there and even more important is the quick, time mindful way that he carves his way around you. and it doesn't end there, it just keeps going just like days should kick off to and always should, by the time it takes to pull back 

-- you're already taking full measure of the color that spreads through your face and it's taking your sweet attention and all your time, it's not to say that you both have all the time in the world at your disposal because all alarms in his head say if you don't want this to go away, act now, 

because it makes sense. a fleeting warmth like this isn't the type to linger and he thinks that sliding his hands over soft hair and grabbing him in place, he has an idea where he wants those demanding hands and the voice is already swelling, coaxing just where he wants it to be. 

he's not permanently adjusted to all his surroundings and he'll drink it all up later but out of breath he thinks he should give you an answer and takes an established grip on a lockful of hair, keening upwards and avi (shaking his savings' bank) gives the best lopsided smile he can. a dealbreaker, a winner, but one that speaks for itself before he tugs in harshly to pull himself up. less talk makes more promises that don't see the light of day, but here they are,

and for some reason they've started early and he wants to experience it with this man, smothering him with another set of kisses that challenges his short of breath endurance. but how to send the message home, yanking apart he tuts to test the grounds after he speaks. 'but this means you really, really wanted me up, right?' that means something, doesn't it.

 it's when you're roused like this that it's hard to force the blatant stretch with how his back arches at being cornered and fingers curling into the fabric and wrapping arms tightly around his neck which promises something like, 'you can get whatever you want'. 

he's really bad at bluffing, for one. 

[shinju-ku-deactivated20150805]

Flowers.

Not what he was expecting, but he’ll take it.

That’s what he does, too, once he’s leaned back and actually assessed what the kid’s trying to shove in his face. He reaches out and pulls out one of the bluer flowers in the arrangement, thoughtfully twirling the stem between his gloved fingers 

'And what message is that supposed to be?' he asks, sounding a mix of bored and guarded. He's not put-off, not really; but it's—ah, how did Avi put it?—“an occasion,” isn't it? So he's definitely earned the right to mess with the other, just a little. 'Not really into flowers myself,' he grants, 'But if you gave some poor lady the wrong idea about us, sounds like I might have to make a trip down there.'

It’s not often that Avi gets the jump on him. Shinju re-steadies himself, balances the boy’s weight carefully. It’s not often that he tries, either— he’s usually too busy trying to catch up with where he’s taking him, too struck by confusion, or panic, or even both. So this.

This is different.

'—but seriously. Flowers. Am I your girlfriend now?' He laughs, quiet, at that, sticking the flower in one of his pockets. He leans back into the wall behind them, shifting again and settling an arm around Avi's waist. 'Considering how good you usually are at the “persuading” thing, I'm betting that what's that lady thinks. What'd you end up telling her, anyway? I kinda wanna know how weird she thinks you are.'

And that, if anything, would be worth the trip down to whatever back-alley florist Avi saw himself to. He takes another look at the bouquet, and even he has to admit that it looks good: most of the flowers are a brilliant, healthy blue, the kind that he really likes to see. The smile that’s started to creep up his face fades a little when he sees the red flower hidden among the rest, but he doesn’t dwell. What he does instead is grab Avi’s hand and hold it up high, so the kid has to look at him head on.

'Well. As your girlfriend, I'm 100% flattered,' Shinju says, and that's the closest he'll get to a thank you. 'You didn't have to.' And there's an unvoiced warning there: don't go any further. Avi's toeing it, and Shinju's aware; but he hasn't crossed it, so he's still in good spirits.

He tugs the boy in and leans closer, ducking his head against Avi’s. And he murmurs,

'Still way too old for you, though.'

[uitvinder]

Aand, there it is, that's as close to an alarm going off right next to his head but he doesn't say anything about it. His extravagant shield is removed, but he's got to remain tight-lipped about some things. 

Or else it wouldn't be this man's day. 

 'I can't imagine her wanting us back, no.' He starts as if he'd been there with him the whole time, unpracticed and unpromised are the flock of things he cannot let fly out of his mouth. 'But if you wanted to stake your claim and clear up some confusion therein, be my guest. I wouldn't mind introducing you. ...And -and are we playing the sure about anything range? I thought you'd lead.' 

And it's the truth, and he tries not to flinch with how close and non-demanding the next but it shows. ...And... And... He's doing a terrible job building this edgy character up, but that's possibly the only token that'd help verify his stance. 

It's a record time that he lets the air he's wearing start to collapse in itself, and relaxed as he may be he's still not getting a lot from the man's warning enough to fold up his plans. 

It can wait though, what's the holdup? What you'd call a snag isn't the mood that he's so startlingly accustomed to, he's not kidding about how many records this has broken in one go. Best of the evening, he's probably not trying it all. It's not groundbreaking enough to take the mood with it, but he's never been less capable of that kind of jist before. 'I don't hear any complaints?' He chimes in, a little late. 

 'If that's what she thinks, ought to let her, right? I'm not the correction team and recreational for you as it might be, ...ah...' He tips back to lean into the other, nudging where it counts. 'I like the sounds of that.' He has ideas but a topic change might leave them some room to air it out, maybe the man of the hour would ...magically forget the gesture's context. He wrings his hands out, locking theirs together. 'Girlfriend.' 

'You think you could get used to it? Pretty sure you took that upon yourself, I sure didn't. Playing the gap card is pretty weak all things considering, isn't it...?' He pulls them a little forward into a steady walk, keeping chatter if to take the guy's mind off of things.

[uitvinder]

Well she kept on asking and never have I felt so bad in my entire life not lying to a woman." 

You get that, right. I'm sure whatever your reason was there's a whole lot more where that ...came from, but.' He shuffles his feet, looking straight at the ground like it would give him tips, it doesn't relent anything like that. 

And that's his cue. More accurately, 'Why do bad things happen to good people?' has settled on his face looking regularly put-out, but it's not the place or the time. He stepped up for a reason! He puts all his weight on the tips of his toes,

and it wasn't on the program but he tramples lightly the feet before him, giving himself a few more inches' leeway to make sure he doesn't miss. It's the worst reasoning ever and he ignores the way he scuffs the man's shoes on the only day that matters, he'll get something for that later. Surely but squarely shoots all anticipation by planting a diligent kiss, (it's a kiss and not a peck)

because he can't get himself to balance again. He expects something to amend this, like being thrown off but the sound of plastic crinkling reminds he's carrying much more precious cargo, the only thing he'd been toting about all day. 

He's backed up and off his man's business, wedges one foot into the ground to take a few steps back. Like he's standing his ground, facing away it's the most convincing thing he's done all day. 'And I'm in for the day.' They don't share titles, so it's not as easy as said to discard an easy question like 'who are they for?' 

  'And I tell her, I think I tell her off.' He hadn't, but it's worth the try. Perhaps he'd let him shrug it off. And he remembers how his tongue clicked beyond his control and she sat there and took it, still appearing interested in the various arrangements, honing honing in on some. It occurred to him that he might not even give them a lookover and that wouldn't hurt his

feelings, but the arrangement just might. '--- I don't think I know anyone who they know that they can say, but I'm sure he'd like the work you're doing here.' He hadn't heard himself talking before, but he could definitely hear it now with the angry way he kept on rattling out without thinking, he'dforgot to keep himself in line. 'It's an occasion.' He'd put on his greatest grin which he actually meant, but it said nothing about how welcome he'd be the next time he stepped in here! If there were a next time to speak of, that is.

'They're looking at you. ' He shoves the bouquet forward, with the way it's thrust into his face he yields and hides behind it. 'They want to meet their makeeeer.' He drones on, resigning with his attempts not to laugh. 'I -I think she got the message.' 

[uitvinder]

[uitvinder]

[shinju-ku-deactivated20150805]

It’s early morning — not just 8 A.M., but closer to 6, when most people haven’t even started beating their alarms to death. It’s really early, and anyone who’s out is basically yawning their heads off, either because they’ve just gotten up, or they’ve been up all night. The latter’s sort of the case with him (but here he is!), and the former is more the case with the kid right next to him (here he is).

Shinju brushes his fingers against the small of Avi’s back before gliding his hand up, delivering a smack that says “look-alive” not moments later. They’re more-or-less side-by-side on an idle sidewalk, and it’s been about ten minutes since he coaxed the boy out of bed, promising food and TV and not-tea, sorry-buddy, but-you-can-have-some-coffee-instead.

And it’s fine.

He ushers Avi into some corner coffee shop that’s way too brightly lit for how early it is, the only small, transparent entrance door slapped with too many adverts to let any light in. It’s cramped — like almost every place in Shinjuku — with the bar’s chairs and the table chairs separated by only a couple feet in between, making getting through hazardous. The girl in the black smock behind the bar greets them brightly, and they get to sit wherever they like.

There’s no TV, or whatever it is they do in foreign restaurants. When Shinju nudges Avi into one of the end seats at the bar, the only thing they can do is order, which he does with a mumble mumble nihai and a casual flick of his wrist. The girl moves off to the back to get their order ready, and that’s when he turns back to the kid.

'You haven't been to one of these places before, have you?' he asks, an uplift in his tone which makes it sound like he's actually asking a question. He hitches his foot against one of the chair legs. 'Remind me.'

[uitvinder]

 He's not mad the man woke him up. There are greater evils in the world than not catching the whiff of the last five minute to your deranged bake in the-sun nap fantasy. 

There's definitely 0% chance he'll speak a word about it either,

             but chances are it must have been something banally pleasant because when he's stirred, shrugged out of bed and tugged out before he can fit his socks on and he's drifting in and out, in-between the totally not fugitives, not runaways that don't have to be carded 

 and he's trying to look as alive as he could be. It's definitely taking this great deal of work, and there's buzzing not the bad kind just out of his sights and screw having a safe haven and all, the hustling and bustling he revisits in said haze isn't taking away from the effect at all when

he knows he's with the only right kind of person in this city. And it's not like he's being led by the hand, he'd like to think that he doesn't need to hold your hand just because he's bleary and blinking out of his dreamy 

state.     Which doesn't prove close to anything at all, with the way that his pupils dilate and the untampered, eerily meaningful smile stuck stupidly there. he mumbles a scarcely disappointed 'you promised', tucking his face out of the way.

...             You'd think that he hadn't woken up. You'd think he might even have a thing or something, for the detailed man in question. Maybe you'd, take a wild guess, think they had something to do with each other, a little shady, a little stab in the dark, a little, 

   a little everything off-kilter. 

So he's relieved in all his man's importance when they're taken in by the friendly hand of the neighborhood staff, again. all friendly faces that he didn't quite care to recognize, but he leans when they're not looking anyway. 

They surely weren't going to remember him. The one who had a memorable face but that was the least of it, try for fast speech pattern, quick and polite pooled in ambiguity gestures, and just plain 

presence. He had presence. They had presence, or so that's how he felt, but only when he was with this guy. He pulls back and leans too far for comfort but if the man in front of him plays nice he certainly won't take that 3.5ft distance trip. - They'd just gotten here, so perhaps stunts could wait.

 'What what was that?'(!) Oh so you know what I like now? But if we're talking about the usual there's not much variety when it comes to the choosy man's palate. 'You know I order off a budgeted menu, so I don't know why you're worried. Are you worried?' He's not asking just to make sure.

'if I was going all-out I mean, you would know. Besides,' he pauses, because he really hasn't got it together. He realizes. And for a whole moment, he doesn't know where he's going with that. 

'even if I did, it wouldn't hurt you.' He fusses with the menus when the waitress tries to take them away, growing more and more upset as she succeeds. He deflates and reaches far across to swipe the menu from the next table, 'So you're ordering for me now?' The waitress has better things to do,

but she's still in ear shot at another table. Attending to this someone else, and just because he can, feeling needlessly outspoken for the occasion. He chides at her, 'Oh don't worry, he got it.'

 she's too far to make out anything he's saying but to do this whole 'read my lips' service with customer service, ...Certainly ages his alert ass down. It's whatever. 

Certainly makes one wonder, what kind of entity wanted to go through the trouble of shaking this pleasant token awake. 

[uitvinder]

it takes him like two tries to get it right but once he's up on the wall it's all safe and game because primarily he thinks that no one's not around, but watching. 

   everything's easier to do when everyone's distracted, and you're under safe guarantee that there were no prying eyes keeping tabs on whatever foolish stunt you were doing. 

and it really was whatever. keeping his balance on this tall wall (it was a trial run, it counts so so much more upstairs where it really does serve to be light on both feet) 

shame something so light was also somehow so clunky when it came to recreationally showing off! he wasn't going to show up anyone, he just 

well it would be nice to not straggle all the time, that's what.

 he defaults to this district be cause it's just out of the way enough to not be intrusive on the ground the Man stands on, if he had to be specific it was his plain. and though he'd never really felt intrusive or cautious as before he'd made a note at the start of this week to watch what he did in that man's turf. 

 so needless to say, the red and busy district (the one out of many he'd been ditched in, had, and re -collected but it was that one, and it stuck out in his fogged up memory) 

that quelled the forever brewing unease that never exactly settled well, like served to coat his insides with the confidence he really did not have. 

 he's let his mind wander for what, two half-seconds and BAM there goes his concentration and he almost loses his footing, grabbing onto a pipe (that gives, of course it does )  in a hasty save. it's the least of his worries that no one's watching! that could have been a nasty fall. 

if only he could save himself from looking so consistently stupid in broad daylight. it didn't contribute in the slightest that kabukichou was bumbling with the low drone and buzz of winding down, sunday nightlife. 

because eeeeverybody, eeeveryone including the not-student not-officially employed cog like himself went back to work tomorrow. 

there were no exceptions.

[uitvinder]

 it's good he doesn't bother to carry around that much on his person anymore, travel light! that was the idea, anyway. ...not like a crammed parcel like the one the man who

- literally. payed the bills, makes sure the heat is going with the hefty thing he carries around called a wallet. he's with the law, or he's not sure exactly what he do, and maybe it's because he could have your a** hauled away 

or it may have been that he just woke up. almost dozed off into his bowl more accurately, and that -that's the nightmare of it. he would know !- so. please don't make fun of that. 

 ' you can make fun of other things.' he mutters at a general direction that could easily be mistaken for no one, but it was obviously intended for the man who'd just walked in. he thought he 'd been stood up, you know! it's not a good feeling, but he's pretty sure that the customer that just sat himself down, now with a newly garnered amount of presence. because he's an important customer, you know. 

     to their local vendors working hard behind the counter, the ones he'd probably insulted by almost dozing right into the starter bowl of soup he'd made sure to order if only to make it seem any less like they were loiterers.   he's sure that his guy will offer up to explain or do what he does best, play it off someway somehow. 

he's still bleary but he makes sure to swipe at his own chin, making sure nothing was there. smooth, because there definitely was something there a moment ago. '   couldn't have arrived any later? isn't that your thing. 

they're open for another hour, i think.' 

[shinju-ku-deactivated20150805]

It’s a run-of-the-mill clothing store he finds the kid in, easy to spot from the window (he’s the one on the right, the one with his back turned who looks a little slow). It’s not anywhere special, just one store in a strip mall, and it’s not like he’s got time for this — but he’s bored, and that’s all the motivation he needs.

He whips Avi around by the shoulder some three minutes later, prying his fingers from rifling through the racks and dropping a full bag of something into his arms. The second his hands are free, Shinju gives him a push and starts ushering him away, towards the back entrance meant for employees. The one employee there is is over to their left, helping some girl pick out her size, but who knows if that’ll last?

They’re not exactly subtle.

‘This is what you do in your spare time?’ he questions with a grin, condescension just dripping from his voice. ‘Kinda lame. You at least buy stuff, right? Max out some credit cards?’ His fingers dip into Avi’s backpocket, and out comes his “wallet,” which he sees fit to rifle through. It’s not any more loaded than usual — kid’s not equipped for a shopping spree.

Really, really lame!

He stashes Avi’s wallet in his coat, then brings him to a stop, lifting the hand he’d been using to escort the boy along. ‘You can be really boring, you know that?’ he says, rhetorical because he’s said it a hundred times. Shinju looks off to the side, eyes following something outside the store. ‘I’ve got some stuff to do, but if you’re done being you, I can give you some time.’ He gestures to the exit with his thumb. ‘You can meet me outside in 5, or keep doing whatever. I don’t really care.

'Just don't let that nice lady see what's in the bag, okay?'

And, what would you know! The empl yee’s just finished helping that other woman out. He lifts his hand and waves at her, calling her over.

”scuse me! Yeah, this kid wants to buy something. Do you mind?’

He steps away and out, off to some nearby place to let Avi deal with the woman. There’s nothing really special in the bag — just some scarves and shirts and stuff, some of them even women’s — but it’s never a good idea to get caught shoplifting.

'5 and counting!'

[uitvinder]

The first thing he does at the sight (to be fair he doesn't see him first) of the man is light up, drop what he's doing, run up to him, throw his arms around him, gasp into his shoulder because there's no one more in this big, big city he'd wanted to see.

That's exactly how it had played out. Well it could have, should have, because they already stuck out like a sore thumb. Wouldn't have been much different, except it would have. So here's the thing, he hasn't even matched the face of his initiator, but the light and demanding touch, the unmistakable meddling and involved compensation, it all lines up. He's not in danger, he's not being creeped on.That's for sure.

 This is someone he knows, that he's accustomed to them a little too well. So he doesn't jump, doesn't make plans to immediately skitter away (which is the natural survival backup that kicks in when anything foreign comes his way), but naturally his fingers tense at being plucked away from his object of interest and before he can complain with a 

whump. Does the unidentified, sack of something (definitely) criminal land in his arms and almost take him down with it. What a wimp, and to think, he'd have to work on that. A long way to go before he garnered any type of upper armstrength. But yes, more importantly criminal.

 Relayed off to him. There was the baton, fair and square, right out here in clear as day and how did he know this? 

Of course otherwise it wouldn't be handed to him! Of all places, was there ever a better place. You couldn't just, take him from his most prized domain and expect him to react. Not on spot!

Unreal! 

Except that was what Shinju was doing, and he'd already gotten away with it, because he was doing that whole walking away thing. And. And! 

Completely out of his reach, since he'd hailed the only bright-eyed and super intimidating can't escape without answering all your questions, absolutely no escape assistant trotting over to him at the speed of sound. He's not ready for this, he just rolled out of bed like this. He didn't ever really anticipate interacting with no one. 

He opens then closes his mouth that he'd opened up to protest at the standard jabs, but all considered the fact that he could not cater like that, or he was inexperienced, out of practice, what have you.

Worst part of it, was. It was all true! to some extent. He watches dismayed at the ticking off countdown and he's not sure how he can fumble through this, he's got no chance. 

But if to only be able to to catch up with the man before he disappears again from sight, he'll pull this off sloppily or die trying. No loose ends, if he'd help himself! 'Um, -- Um,' He starts off, smoothly.

 Tosses it over his shoulder and it doesn't quite fit the cue, probably the wrong type of bag to sport if he were even a student. 'I'd just like to know if those on display right next to the clearance items are marked down like the sign at the front of your store, 

They don't have any tags on them, and. If I can today, I'm looking to buy!' He's not. He's really not. But it seems like he hasn't got a choice.

[shinju-ku-deactivated20150805]

He’s basically got no choice in the matter: the kid rails on without end, playing the joke up while being as loud as possible. Now, instead of being the kind soul who offered the (strange, weird, disturbing) kid some water, now he’s going to be seen as the one sleazy guy who decided “you know what? I want to fuck a kid who looks half my age. That sounds like a great idea.” And none of this is his doing: it’s basically all Avi’s fault.

He cares so much.

'I dunno,' Shinju starts, honestly sounding like he could go either way. He takes the kid's cue and lets him lead them along, discreetly taking his hand while they weave their way through the crowd. 'You already said you might be “beyond help,” and you think I want to be the guy who supports a kid's dark habits? If that's what you really think of me, then I’m hurt. Honest.’ He’s as moral as they come, and he says as much by doing basically nothing.

He’s basically a saint.

'You know, if I really cared about you, I'd make sure you got back into school, stopped doing drugs… I mean,' here his voice stops sounding so casual, taking on a pragmatic tone of voice instead. 'obviously you’d have to keep doing the prostitute thing for a while. You’d have to make enough to support yourself, y’know? I’m not made of money.

'But point being, if I go with you, I'm basically supporting child prostitution.’ he sounds so concerned about that, tone becoming breezy once again. He takes a few longer strides to bring them together, and here he pulls his hand away from Avi’s, instead slinging his arm around his shoulders. If they’re going to play the game, they might as well look the part. ‘That sounds pretty bad, sure. But honestly, you’re the bad person here, am I right? Even if I didn’t want to, I’d have to take you.

'You're just an evil guy.' And that's the end of his conversational ramble, a few seconds of silence reigning as Shinju toys with the hairs on the back of Avi's neck. But he's Shinju, so the silence doesn't persist for long.

'You're terrible, but I'll take you home, sure.

'You gonna pay me for the privilege, or—-?’

[uitvinder]

'Pay you? Now that is fair, I'm not even in character anymore! That ship sailed long ago!' He scowls, leaning into him and making a point to nuzzle. 

'You'd have to take me. Now that's a new concept.' There's a visible stoppage of air and he's holding it all within his cheeks, flashing the most indignant look he can for someone playing this infamous hold-your-breath game. 

Only infamous for suckers like himself, but that's beyond the point, isn't it! -- At least. It's an upgrade, isn't it? from the sappy wounded looks and pouting that's beyond standard. Men didn't dig that! 

Men, being a hilariously broad term for the totally prizewinning patron that was doing him the actual service, nevermind trades that thought that they were offering the real deal. No, this is more than he could have ever banked on by just stepping outside. More than he could ever ask for, really, but they were (mainly he was), working on that. 

 'I resent that.' His s's sound sticky for once and it must be the blamed on the way he's schmoozing on the man that'd whisked him away and, were they still trading lines or was it the real thing? He was too hazy and fogged up to leave a sturdy guess, and that was the thing. 

It didn't matter if they were in their assigned 'role' or not, they looked the part did they not? Proven sleazy just by a glance, and probably even more unethical the more you dug if you found anything, about the skimmed details that no matter how hard you tried could not be scraped from the surface. 

 'I could support myself.' It's grated out more than anything, his fingers flitting from an arm and cast aside to help out his point. He was definitely a freeloader, but there were ways. It wasn't ideal, what he had was ideal, 'If you cared that much, I'd support myself.' What replaces the bright gaze a second ago is a wry grin, and that's all he has to offer. Swaying them as they walked on, clinging strictly on one arm. 

'Now this is the decisive point, I'm afraid reason and delusion are tied.' He makes the best sulking face he can pull, not all that impressive. Surprising. 

 'You think I'm beyond help? I know I said that, but rehabbers, just jailed not yet adults really, that whole lot you think they know what they're talking about? You think anything that flies out their mouth is supposed to add up, make some for-real sense? Get real, we all know.' He's unbelievably talk-y, to the point where he'd pay good money to get someone to shut himself up. 

'They don't know what's best for them. ' But it's all in good call, really. 

'Home sounds nice, I've missed you.' He murmurs into his sleeve at a crosswalk that they're due to wait, only projecting 

To announce, 'Of course. I'll pay your fee! Any fee. By all means please name it, and we can get tonight kicked off and I'll make you forget about all you have going on at home. You won't even remember being with me. Sound passable enough for you, buddy?' 

[shinju-ku-deactivated20150805]

He’s sorta, kinda used to being sought out. After all: he doesn’t tend to make himself all that reachable, so it’s normal that people would come after him! Normally, it’s not anybody really important, but sometimes, the people who deserve some extra attention decide they just can’t wait up — and one of those times, and one of those people, is right here, right now.

-hold up. That’s a mistake.

Kid**.

Better.

Actually, is the kid even really after him? Getting up on a low wall like it’s a soap box and calling for someone “to take him home…" See, it’d be logical for Avi to be after him, but would that be fun? Maybe the kid had finally seen the light and wanted to try getting someone else to take him home for once. It’s a fun sort of experience, and the teenager is always needing some more excitement in his life.

So, he gives Avi a couple minutes. He doesn’t have much momentum to begin with, and he keeps sputtering and coming to a halt (kid’s definitely not made for public speaking), and honestly, it’s kind of sad how everyone basically ignores him. Sure, they look, but do they see? That’s the question. Nobody comes forward to say, “Well, hey there; you’re hot, and I’d like to show you a good time.”

Tough crowd.

So, Shinju does the right thing: when the boy has basically worn himself out, he makes his approach, casual as the day is long. He looks around, like he’s not all that interested at first, and only then does he start to speak, in the same disinterested sort of voice. But only, it’s pretty funny. It’s one of the more exciting things that Avi’s pulled in a long time.

'Not gonna get anyone like that,' he comments first, which is the most obvious thing you could say. Next: 'Honestly, you sound like a prostitute. Or a kid. A kid who wants to be a prostitute.' And what a sad image that was, huh? It's almost just as sad that nobody had called the authorities.

He digs out his water bottle and proffers it to Avi, now finally looking up at him (but only having to raise his eyes a little) and offering a smile.

'You're pretty bad at this. At this rate, you'll never get taken home.'

[uitvinder]

 'Do I look like I have the hot rocking bod that's like compulsory to have, required to even to go after my childhood dream. 

Mister, you are so ungentle. --SO ungentle, I cannot even conjure up the energy in me to call you a gentleman. Which you are the latter, man. Just like anybody in this crowd. 

Oh my goodness. Well you are my first client, but I'm afraid regardless if you are the first one in my line,' He's already knelt down and now batting for the water bottle. This is his chance, or more like never to hydrate because with the totally uncreative, sham-like comments (which is what this is, somebody should have called him out. Shame right, damn shame.) that he's running out of his running script. 'I'm, I'm going to have to ask you to step back, sir. I will not be taken in by the likes of your charming mannerisms, that is, if you cannot pay up.'

And he is tired, boy is he tired. Not once did he go back inside to recharge, to confide in his things. Because usually - with company of the guy he keeps on tailing and trying to keep up with, for some reason this does not seem to fill that case! But he has been looking for him, all day. Which a teensy bit of him hopes that it doesn't show, that this was just his regular, scheduled tantrum that had made it outside the home.

Believe it or not, some few immediate heads turned, and this may be the only thing spurring him on. Only, those arms look really enticing. Only, he's done with his little gimmick, has been, but a little spotty notoriety here and there never hurt. And that, is what does him in. 

'Your non-ill intentions will not pay for my schooling, and this you have to consider. Before you try to stop, a kind like me.' He's really just making stuff up on the spot, but ever since he took that gulp of water his volume is back and here to disturb the local populace. 

 'Who knows, for all I care. I might be beyond helping!' And there you have it. For someone so caught up on being needlessly (not to forget to mention vainly) showy, he's turning in the towel. 

The attention that he'd raised a few seconds ago had already gotten bored, it's not like he needed it. What he does do is climb off the wall and bound straight to the guy, mowing into him and ushering them through the crowd so it doesn't look like they're holding up anything. 

 'You will take me home, right.' 

[uitvinder]

 So it's not out of the ordinary, is it! If an underaged goes around, tapping on people, asking for his guy. Have you seen his guy. He's about 'yay' tall, on a stretch he can reach without getting up on his tip toes, and that is a victory in itself. But have you seen his guy, voice like silk, moves like a current, you've probably seen him, but you haven't seen him. 

Literally, how could you miss him. 

Is something he asks himself, because again, like something frustrating in the back of his throat it starts to edge up! Much like the same pattern that's been occurring for that same week and a half, but it's just there. Demanding to be explicitly said, better he shout that to a wall and get it out of there. 

Believe him, was he any more desperate. And were he not on his feet, actively pursuing the man in question he'd be more than brooding about it, and that's not his thing. 

People that have lived, brood. 

Well he's trying. He is, so what he does is somehow, get himself onto that wall and root both feet down before he tries to stand. 

And success! 

 He clears his throat, slamming his fist against his chest to assist this process, and he assesses the crowd but only for a second, no. You know what, he gave it two. 

He doesn't expect fate as he'd have it to drop out of the sky, but occasionally he gets like this. Impatience translating into the best that it can, right! Making a goddamned fool out of himself. 

As long as he's not spotted by the guy in question, he thinks deep down he'd be, maybe, really, really proud. This was what funlovers do!

   'Has anybody seen the guy that's bound to take me home or am I going to have to take myself home because it's not going to be a fun night in store, because I won't wait up anymore! I won't! It's a -horribly- long night! 

Endless! Do you hear me, endleeeeeeeeess! You try being on the receiving end! for once-' and he has to clear his throat, he probably needs water or something to hydrate.  'Eeeenddleesssss!'