dottedline | IC Inbox for isleofavalon

Hm... maybe next time we see Ren, you can hum some for him and he can transcribe it. I can sing, but I don't really know how to do stuff like that. I guess we'll have to find some people to play instruments though.. heh, unless merfolk songs can be played on Taiko drums.

[ He gives a sheepish grin as the carpet rolls up and he tucks it under his arm. Taichi gets out his phone to pay for the whole thing once they're in. He has.. quite a bit of extra money, not buying fancy expensive foods and stuff for Hikaru since he doesn't buy a lot for himself, and it's not like rent increased since Taichi was already paying Hikaru's half. Plus it's a birthday celebration now! ]

Hey, hey, do you have to be somewhere later tonight? Do you want to stay the night? We can go to bed whenever you want, I'll do my best to stay up if you're a night owl.

[Oh.

Huh.

...hm. Well, he is curious about Taichi's situation--he's paying for this entire deal, after all--so.]

I just need to do end-of-day things at Golden Silence, but I can ask Jade to cover for me. Why not?

[And he gets his phone out to fire off that text message.]

Remind me to thank Jade-san later.

[ They get lead back to a private karaoke room, so it's just the two of them. They can ask for the video file at the end though, so Taichi might do that!! He also did, in fact, order a fruit platter and one of every fried food on the menu. And a cola and a water for each of them. If Azul doesn't like cola then Taichi will drink them both like a fiend. ]

How much am I going to owe you for all of this, Taichi? You're paying for everything.

You don't owe me anything. It's your birthday celebration, so it's fine this once! Plus... Hikaru is- was what people call a "high maintenance" boyfriend, so I worked hard to take care of him.

[ He doesn't have to say the rest, he thinks. Azul is smart. He can do the math. Most spending on Hikaru, minus Hikaru, equals extra income. Though he also adds: ]

Let Lord Taichi treat you tonight!

[ He's also nobility, after working at it for a long time. ]

[Yeah, he can do the math. Ouch.

But also:]

Now, when you say "lord"...?

I, um... I was working on it in secret. I wanted to surprise him with a castle, since he was used to living in a mansion... And he has been living in an apartment with Juza-san and I since his twin went home. It's silly now.

[ Taichi looks for a song he likes in the booklet while they're talking. Something with repetitive lyrics so it's easy for Azul to catch on, since he only knows merman stuff. ]

[Ah.

God Azul is bad at this.]

Honestly, I think it's admirable that you worked that hard. Most people don't have that sort of work ethic, even for those they care for.

[ Taichi doesn't think he is. But Azul is right. Taichi doesn't always think he deserves the wins he gets, but the truth is, even if he has to work twice as hard to get to where everyone else is in a lot of things... he is always willing to put that work in. ]

Mm... I'm stupid, and clumsy, and slower than everyone else, so I know I have to work hard, but if I keep trying then I'll always move forward. I'll get there, and one day I'll do it. Hard work is a step toward being able to smile tomorrow, even if it's hard to smile right now. That's how I always try to approach things. But you know, right now only exists once.. so it's important to do other things than work hard too, like right now.

[ He smiles, though it's softer than normal. It's real, at least. Taichi loves acting, but he doesn't like to lie to his friends. ]

Pick out a song with me, let's start with a duet~

[How does someone so fucking earnest latch on to Azul? How did this happen?!

Azul stands to try and make sense of the songs but for a moment he looks like a very confused fished just hauled out of the water.]

...I don't know what any of these songs are, Taichi. [But fine, he'll pick one and pray it's not something stupid and weirdly sexual.] Any stories you heard about merfolk having amazing voices are lies, by the way.

Me neither.. music is a little different in my world. Apparently Single Fellas is called "Single Ladies" in some worlds and it's sung by a queen named Beyonce!? And there's no such thing as Break the Tub outside of Veludo's world! I just have the stuff on my phone, so I don't really know how to play my world's music... otherwise I could just sing one of my songs for you.

[ Wait, he's rambling, Azul just said- ]

...I still don't even understand how you talk under water, let alone how you would sing. [ There's no air underwater!! Though it's not really important, they're just here to have fun, after all. ]

[Taichi...]

And until I gained a set of human lungs, I didn't understand how humans sang or spoke on land.

[Just saying.]

Veludo?

How did you grow lungs anyway? That sounds so badass...

[ Taichi nods. Despite that Taichi does mispronounce things from time to time, Veludo is correct, despite how close what he says next sounds to a Taichi brand butchering of "Broadway." ]

Veludo Way! It's Japan's theater district in my world. I moved into Mankai Theater after.. after I quit God Troupe when I realized where I really belonged. GodZa is one of the top troupes in Japan, but I think Mankai is going to go so the way someday... Also, Mankai has a dorm so we all get paid in food and rent and bills! It's really cool. Mankai is on Veludo Way and has been there forever... We're the second generation. Ah, but there's lots of theaters and street acts everywhere, it's the mecca for actors!

Edited 2022-06-12 06:55 (UTC)

[Magic, Taichi. The answer to anything involving Azul is going to be "magic" a good 80% of the time.]

It sounds like there's a lot of competition--oh, crap, the song--!

[It's starting and help he doesn't know the words!]

[ Taichi will be happy once he figures that out. He tries to understand how things work but usually ends up lost. Getting to say "It's magic!" Is way easier.]

Oh! Azu-chan, the words are at the bottom of the screen, break a leg!

[ Taichi will start first though since Azul seems nervous. He grins and picks up the mic, following along for the first verse before gesturing to Azu that it was his turn next, then they sing the chorus together! ]

[This is so awkward, his voice is so weak compared to most merfolk...

But he manages! Awkwardly and he absolutely misses a few words, but he really isn't as bad as he'd claim.]

[ Ehhh? That voice sounds so familiar when he sings. Taichi looks surprised at first, but since Taichi's fumbling some of the notes he doesn't know either, it's just fun.

Azul may not be prepared for the second round of chorus though, when Taichi wraps an arm around his shoulders for hug-singing and excited jumping.]

[HE IS BEING HUGGED WHAT THE FUCK actually it's weirdly...almost comforting, Azul himself as an octopus is prone to clinging but at the same time HE IS BEING HUGGED WITHOUT CONSENT.

This means that last chorus is sung with him a bit oddly tense because what.]

[ It is Azul's luck that he is neither taller nor more muscular than Taichi, or else Taichi would've considered leaping into his arms. The hug is mild. ]

Are you okay, Azu-chan?! You sounded weird in that last part!

[Small miracles.]

I...the only people who tend to touch me are either my parents or the twins. I'm not used to it, otherwise.

Heh.. I'm a pretty touchy-feely kind of guy. Is it okay? I'll try to keep my hands to myself if you really don't want me touching you...

[ He sounds like he'll be sad about it though... 🥺 ]

Just...not too much, and warn me next time.

[Can't be worse than Floyd.]

Okay! In that case, I'm going to give you a calmer apology hug now.

[ Incoming... ]

[...he will allow it. Some people are just Like This.]

I'm not mad. [Just incredibly baffled by this whole thing.] However, I'll let you sing the next few solo if that's alright.

[ The hug he gives this time is soft and warm, a little squeeze at the end. Taichi can't imagine life without any hugs and he wants Azul to experience that warmth. Also he likes hugs a lot himself. He grins then and goes to plug his phone into the karaoke system.]

In that case, I'll show you my solo!

[ And the food is delivered right about then to the table in front of the seats.]

Sit back and enjoy the show, Azu-chan!

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