Stitch Nine - [Visual]

[topgun_textiles]

[Hey, it's this guy again. He'd traded an acoustic guitar for electric, and for a moment he's strumming a note or two to test the richness of the sound. It's just right. Well, he's clearly about to do a little ditty for everyone, but what on earth for? Was this another accident, an entry meant for someone? Don't want a song? You're welcome to close the scroll. He won't blame ya.]

[Still here? Cool. Thanks. But something's not right. Kanji does not look happy. And when he begins... he just sounds angry. Here goes.]



I've got another confession to make, I'm your fool
Everyone's got their chains to break, holdin' you

Were you born to resist or be abused?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

Are you gone and onto someone new?
I needed somewhere to hang my head, without your noose
You gave me something that I didn't have, but had no use

I was too weak to give in, too strong to lose

My heart is under arrest again, but I break loose
My head is giving me life or death, but I can't choose

I swear I'll never give in, I refuse

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel
You trust, you must confess

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

[A short break here. He's focused on the guitar, having practiced every day. But the strums are hard, the sound of someone trying their goddamned hardest not to quit in the middle. He'd come this far.]

Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel
The life, the love
You die to heal
The hope that starts
The broken hearts
You trust, you must confess

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

I've got another confession, my friend... I'm no fool.
I'm getting tired of starting again, somewhere new.

Were you born to resist or be abused?
I swear I'll never give in, I refuse.

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel
You trust, you must confess

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

[The song demands a wail and he gives one in spades, hammering out the final notes before he grit his teeth. If he keeps this up he might wreck the poor instrument...]



[Then, he stops. He looks away from the 'camera', took a breath, and sets the guitar down a little less than gently- the amp makes a brief and terrible sound from the impact vibrations over the strings, and Kanji simply walks out of the frame. The feed dies a moment later.]

Comments

[punchingbagman]

You a'right there?

[topgun_textiles]

...Just hadta get somethin' out. This singin' thing ain't half bad once ya get into it.

[punchingbagman]

Ah ain't really sung before, so ah guess ah'll take yer word fer it.

Sounds like ya had somethin' pretty big t'get out.

[Action]

[pishirogane]

[Closing the scroll once Kanji's done singing, Naoto rises from where she sits and pats Raidou. The puppy had been startled, but he's dozing off again shortly while his master steps out.]

[Kanji will shortly hear several hoof knocks against his door.]

[Action]

[topgun_textiles]

[Sheesh, who could it be? In some ways, he just wanted to sit and stew for a bit, but in other ways he wondered if he should just force himself to be social and move on. Fiddling with the amp to power it down, he sighed.]

It's open.

[Action]

[pishirogane]

[Pushing the door open with her hoof now that she had received permission, Naoto enters and sees him by the amps.]

... Sorry, I thought you might like some company. Though, if you wanted to be alone after your performance... [There's still time for her to leave.]

[1/?]

[verygassy]

.......

[She was in the middle of sweeping her shop when the loud, raucous music came on. She was about to turn off her scroll when she saw him.]

....................

[2/?]

[verygassy]

[Such anger and passion! That emotion, and...AND...]

[3/?]

[verygassy]

[...No, Minako, her more rational mind says firmly. The mind that remembered things with more clarity. Pony land. Your previous history. He might be evil. Or taken. Do you really want that on your conscience?]

Ngh.

[4/4]

[verygassy]

....

[Screw her crush. She can think about it later.

He did almost break the guitar...]

...Hey, you ok over there?

[topgun_textiles]

I'll get over it. I jus' needed to blow some steam is all.

But it's- it's weird, y'know? I'll hit a punching bag or somethin' when I'm this pissed off usually, but somethin' got in my head and I figured singin' might make me feel better.

It helped. Sort of. I guess.

[Text] [Private]

[timeloopingfool]

[He... was pretty impressed that Kanji had learned how to play the guitar so well in his absence. He knew he could play the drums well enough too, but hey, Kanji was a man of many talents.]

[And uh, he was a bit surprised Kanji had the guts to do something like this- but he knew that song. And he couldn't help but worry. But he also knew his face and voice may not be ideal right now, so...]

Hey... can I come over?

[He'd just been out to grab some ingredients, but... he wanted to make sure it was alright.]

[Text] [Private]

[topgun_textiles]

Gotta be honest- I wanted to sit by myself and let myself feel grumpy for a bit.

But maybe that's not what I should be doing.

[Text] [Private]

[timeloopingfool]

Well, it's okay to do that for a while. If anyone deserves to feel grumpy lately, it's you.

How about this-- I'll finish up picking up the groceries, and we can chill when I get back. Talk or just sit in silence, work on something... whatever you want to do. Or need to do.

[kingofthetvworld]

Kanji...

[There's a moment of silence as he soaks it all in. He needs time to think as he figures out his next question.]

How...are you affording all this cool stuff?

[And why would he just throw it like that?! Someone needs to be more careful with their things, gosh.]

[topgun_textiles]

...Sup, Ted.

[But he grinned a little.]

I run commissions, remember? I didn't think I'd make so many Bits from it, but hell, here I am.

[kingofthetvworld]

Ah, I getcha. A real business man! How admirabear...

I 'spose that gives you every reason to just break your things, but I really think you need to be more careful there. You could hurt poor sensitive little bear ears that can pick up ANYTHING.

[Hint hint.]

Kinda takes you outta the mood, if you get what I'm saying.

1/2

[like_a_dragon]

[She looks and sort of... stares... I mean. What could you actually say to that?]

2/2 [visual]

[like_a_dragon]

I didn't know you had such a good voice. Punk rock really suits you.

[Well, there's that.]

[visual]

[strengthinkindness]

[She hesitates a moment as she listens, trying to get her thoughts together.]

Y...Y-You sound really good, Kanji...

...A-Are you okay...?

[visual]

[topgun_textiles]

[Fluttershy... he nodded, but wasn't looking at her.]

Yeah. I think I'll live. Just gotta get all this crap outta my head, y'know? It was weighin' me down.

[millionbitpipes]

[Well that sure was somethin'.]

You're gettin' pretty good, kid. [Don't be fooled - while that is true, this is absolutely a smokescreen for Harvey to figure out what's wrong.

He thinks he probably knows anyway.]

[topgun_textiles]

Yeah? ...Thanks, Harvey. I had to get that out.

My throat doesn't get tired after stuff like that! So that's... that's good, right?

[kuukai]

[ Kyouko's wandering by the commune when he starts, and has to put her paws over her sensitive bear ears -- but it's actually a pretty sweet jam. Slow-clapping when it's done, outside his window -- soft, bear-paw clapping, but still. ]

[topgun_textiles]

[Weird, he heard that sound but at first didn't know where it came from. But Coconut did, the little cockatiel perching on the windowsill and peeping out the open window. Who is this? Who is you?]

[But Kanji peeks out soon enough.]

Oh- Kyouko. How's it goin'?