[OPEN]

[carptricks]

Who: Kaito carptricks and various other people!!
When: Viola (February!) 8 - 10. THE BLOOM FESTIVAL
Where: Around Caissa!
What: As though a magician would pass up the chance to try and charm a captive audience, plz. See also: weird fortunes. See also also: accidental hypnotism.
Rating: None!

Viola (February) 8.

[lights, festivities, revelers and just plain old good fun? now this was the kind of celebration Kaito could really get used to]

Ladies and gentleman and all distinguished festival guests! ♥ Your attention up here, if you will!

[the magician's voice, somehow both commanding and playful at the exact same time, manages to rise above the crackling of the fireworks in the night sky. anyone who heeds the call and looks up will find him perched atop one of the many festival stalls, balancing over the very edge of it like a cat (although naturally, the poor stall owner below is shooting him rather dirty looks). with the eyes of a few Blanc and Ma Jiang natives now trained on him, he lifts a hand and tips his dusty top hat in the air]

A night like this is the sort of night in which magic buzzes through the air like electricity, yeah? But if you aren't paying attention. . .

[he runs his fingers across the brim of his hat and leaps off of the stall, landing on the ground in a graceful crouch (much to the stall owner's relief). he then proceeds to lift a hand, forming a circle in the air with his thumb and forefinger, which he peers through for a moment or two. . . before he blows a puff of air through the hole, which somehow makes a small bundle of flowers appear in his hand!1 there are a few impressed gasps in the crows as Kaito takes an exaggerated bow and hands the bundle to the nearest pretty woman, who flushes red at the attention]

You might miss it, yeah?

[way to spend all that hard earned colle from building snowmen and helping set up for the Bloom Festival on magic props, Kaito!1 if you fancy a few minutes of entertainment, Kaito sticks around to perform a few more hand slights-- mostly small ones involving coins and cards-- for any willing audience member. natives and heroes alike!]

Viola (February) 9.

[if you happen to be near one of the fortune telling booths today, you may just hear a loud groan come from nearby. investigating the origin of that noise reveals Kaito, who is currently leaning against the side of a booth with one hand stuffed in his pocket as he stares at a slip of paper in his other. it's one of the fortunes the fortune-telling booths are handing out. although judging from Kaito's sour expression, the fortune is pretty darn lackluster]

What the heck. . .? 'M not sure you could make sense of this one if you turned it upside down and squinted.

[ah, wait, the owner of that voice is now attempting to get your attention by waving the slip of paper at you]

Yo! You got a fortune, too? Wanna trade? This one's pretty good, y'know.

[he raises his eyebrows and flashes you a wide grin. do you dare see what his weird, nonsensical fortune is or. . . what]

Viola (February) 10 - Closed to Astrid.

[today finds Kaito far, faaaar away from the Bloom Festival activities. it wasn't that he hadn't enjoyed the celebration-- on the contrary, it was the most fun he had allowed himself to have since his arrival. but most of his first week and a half in Caissa had been spent either scoping out the city, pouring over book after book at the library in an attempt to learn more about this world, or trying to earn money for food from various short-lived jobs. the one thing he hadn't done, however, is try to figure out how his fancy new weapon worked]

[so today? today would be "learn how to use this yo-yo so you don't bean anyone else in the head with it, Kuroba" day. as such, Kaito can be found in the courtyard of the Hall of Glory, tossing his yo-yo to and fro as though it were nothing but a simple toy]

As far as weapons go, it's a pretty subtle one, yeah? Most people prob'ly wouldn't even think it's a weapon at first glance.

[he muses this out loud to his carrier, a small arctic fox who sits nearby with her chest puffed out proudly. she merely lets out a small huffy "yip" in reply, and Kaito sighs. this time, when he tosses the yo-yo, he lets it hang by its string near the ground as he idly swings it back and forth-- like a pendulum. he continues to muse his thoughts to himself out loud, totally thinking that he's completely alone, here]

I s'pose the first thing to do is learn how to control it.

[he sure seems to be deep in concentration. bother him anyway??]

Comments

[convictionary]

[...






Well, he has to admit that the guy worked well. Props to you, random fortune dude. In fact, pigeon poop foister gets a nod. It's an approving nod. A well done nod.] Anybody you seen have a pigeon? I haven't been keeping track of...you know. [The wildlife that have been following them around. His is currently in a tree. She's a delicate bird.]

[carptricks]

[huh. Kaito squints at his new fortune, tilting it to the side as he tries to interpret exactly what it's saying. is he supposed to come into a lot of money, or eat a lot of Mystery Monday food. . .?]

[well, whatever!! at least this one held some hope of good things happening. unlike the pigeon poop one he just foisted off onto Gaius]

Can't say I have, nope.

[with a shrug, he stuffs the new fortune into his pocket]

But I'd keep a wary eye on the skies if I were you. Pigeons can come outta nowhere.

[convictionary]

[You know what has to happen next, of course. With a remark like that he looks up in the sky and with a perfectly timed caw from above-]

Gods!

[He...doesn't get crapped on, since that was totally a crow, not a pigeon. But that spooky timing.] Great, I'll be jumping at birds for the next month.

Whaddya say your name was?

[carptricks]

[Kaito's gaze flickers up when the crow caws, and he can't help but double over and snicker when Gaius jumps]

Oi! Just remember, you willingly chose this fate.

[sort. . . of]

'M Kaito. And you are?

[convictionary]

Kaito. [It's repeated, except it's more of a contemplating mutter opposed to just repeating the fucking obvious as he crossed his arms and one finger drummed against his other arm. And then he frowned, briefly, running through something (a list of nouns - nothing works, at least nothing he'd want to stick with in the long haul...yet) in his head. Mouthed Lucky and then shook his head.

No.

He'd have to think about this. This was tricky.]

Gaius. Guessing you're another guy in the same boat as the rest of us.

[And priorities.] What did you get stuck with? 'sides a sketch fortune.

[carptricks]

["Lucky" was probably a pretty ironic name, considering the exchange that just occurred. Kaito certainly notices Gaius mouthing the word to himself, and he quirks an eyebrow in response. although curious, he doesn't ask]

How'd you tell? I s'pose the white uniform gave it away?

[he replies wryly and with a sharp grin. he also tugs against the collar of his jacket for emphasis. he really needed to buy some good civilian clothing. . .]

And if you're asking about my-- ah. Carrier, I got stuck with a fox. She's pretty cold. Likes to keep to herself. Hates all things fun.

[his gaze flickers around the area]

She's probably around here somewhere. She never goes far. She just. . . hides.

[convictionary]

Same with mine. She's either in a tree or in my hair. Bird. [...] Not a pigeon.

[Which seemed relevant as quantification went.] And my weapon? A candy cane. [And yes, the fact they were wearing white really did bug him and he hated the reminder that they were walking around in something that screamed watch me. Why couldn't it have been brown? Or black?] I still haven't completely figured it out.

[...and Tricks sounded like what you'd name a dog.]

[carptricks]

Luckily for you.

[he says with a snicker]

Mine's a yo-yo. More toy than weapon, but I guess it'll get the job done.

[Kaito reaches down to his belt and tugs at the wooden yo-yo strapped to it, bringing it up for Gaius to see. by all means, it's unremarkable. made out of wood, with the clubs suit symbol carved on each side. the only think remarkable about it was its size-- it was definitely slightly larger than a normal yo-yo]

I haven't even begun to figure it out. [not to mention he had hit a few people on the head with it the first day he tried using it] But I can do tricks with it.

[AS THOUGH THAT WAS IMPORTANT]

[convictionary]

[That actually is important. Tricks just got bumped up on the possibilities list but it doesn't feel right. Hmm. He could settle, but you must dream a little bit bigger.]

Maybe the enemy's just bored and we're here to entertain 'em with candy and toys.

[Sarcasm punctuated with a waggle of the offending candy cane which gets returned to where...did it come from in the first place? Who cares. Right, priorities.]

So far I'm feeling like we're more entertainment than anything else, the way everybody's been staring at us and these clothes and all.

[carptricks]

[Kaito doesn't even blink when the candy cane disappears. he totally knows how that trick works. instead, he lets out a dry snort and rolls his eyes]

Aha.

[he also gives the yo-yo a casual toss. it swings towards the ground, then snaps back up into his palm immediately afterwards]

I may be an entertainer by trade, but I'm a magician. Not a clown, or a statue on display at a museum. [not some spectacle to be laughed at or admired and praised from afar]

You think they're actually gonna give us some real "heroic" work to do, or just keep us around to carry boxes and set up festival stalls?

[convictionary]

You really want to know what I think, Strings?

[Yup, they just went there. Strings is said offhandedly. It just felt right. Gaius, on the other hand, eyed the yo-yo, and then eyed the crowd, who was whispering about heroes and things like that.

He's just wishing he had something that tasted better than his candy cane.]

If all they wanted was cheap labor, why get a bunch of guys from elsewhere.

[carptricks]

["Strings??" Kaito arches an eyebrow, but otherwise doesn't comment. "Strings" certainly is a new one. he's been called a lot of things, but "Strings" is probably the most out there one yet]

'Cause they prayed for some Heroes and then suddenly had a bunch of 'em dumped onto their laps. Naked, mind you.

[he's never gonna let that go]

Keh! I guess they just wanna make use of the resources they've got.

[convictionary]

[Because of the yo-yo and also because the guy yanked his strings real good when getting rid of his fortune.]

Gods! Cripes. Don't remind me about the naked part.

[Did he see naked people? (He did see naked people.) Is there regret there? (There is regret there.) Is there a story there? (There is a story there.)]

[carptricks]

[how appropriate!! either way, Kaito shoots Gaius a sympathetic look]

Judging from that reaction, I'd venture to guess that I'm bringing up bad memories.

[who DOESN'T have regret there, let's be honest]

[convictionary]

Yeah, one of my roommates is the type that likes to...

[There's a gesture which implies that someone's flipping around something like one would sling a knife or perhaps a spatula in a kitchen, except it's crotch level.]

...wave around his knife. Hasn't tried stabbing anybody, least as far as I know.

[carptricks]

[oh my god]

[no matter how much willpower Kaito may have, in the end. . . he is a really dumb and immature teenage boy. there's no way he can stop himself from covering his mouth with both hands and nearly doubling over in laughter. WHAT AN ANALOGY, GAIUS]

Does he at least know how to put on pants?

[convictionary]

Dagger? [Why yes, Gilgamesh is nicknamed after his penis and doesn't get referred to by name.] Eventually the man was convinced to fish out his smallclothes and fish for his pants. Took him ten minutes to get talked around. Got hands on at one point but we managed to get it sorted with only my neck and eyes taking a beating.

Take it yours took to pants much quicker.

[carptricks]

[WOW POOR GIL. the nickname's origin doesn't escape Kaito's notice, and he barks out another laugh. his grin practically stretches form ear to ear at this point]

Luckily for the rest of us stuck in that room, although he did need a little bit of help.

[handwave handwave. Kaito had totally passed on that job. poor Lupin had been left to it instead]

I guess he came from a place where people don't wear pants. Heck if I know.

[convictionary]

[






Did he just imply that he had to spend some time coaxing someone into pants?]

Maybe we should've figured out who the nudists are and kept them together. [IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR THE WORLD LET'S FACE IT.]

[carptricks]

[well, one of his roommates sure did. he totally avoided that mess tyvm]

Maybe they'd enjoy each other's company.

[he adds dryly]

[convictionary]

Ugh, don't put it like that. It makes it sound like they're doing something else.

[Let's take this out of small talk hell. Let's say at this precise moment a pigeon flew overhead and with a noise released some droppings strategically between the two gentlemen, with a chirp and a splat. Gaius jumped back a little. He's probably not the only one.

Because that's gross.]

Let's go somewhere else.

[The fortune seems eerily accurate.] You know where the food is?

[carptricks]

[. . .]

[he stares at the ground. then he takes a risk and glances up. and then he immediately looks away from the sky because he is not putting that fortune to the test, all right]

. . . right! Good idea. Maybe somewhere with a ceiling overhead.

[he turns on his heel and gestures for Gaius to follow]

Food's this way. Way better stuff than whatever they feed us in the cafeteria.

[convictionary]

That ain't hard. [He nearly, nearly resorted to old habits when he bumped against a person a little too hard, but...nah, it was more the tension of being a hero that was getting to him. They got the occasional stare like someone expected them to pull a sword out of their asses and smite a hypothetical dragon which he was starting to wonder about, but besides that, nothing.

But, point being, the two of them were getting more attention that he liked. Then again...]

Think we could use our 'hero' status to get a discount? Given the attention and all. [Although there probably was some grumbling going on even now, grumbling which would eventually culminate later into a tense snowball fight but for now was just vague grumbling.]

[carptricks]

[hey, just ask Kaito what he thought about the whole hero business. the whole. . . being forced into a role that he didn't ask for, nor did he feel like he deserved. he'd talk about how dumb he thought it was, too]

[but if the status bestowed upon them upon arrival could get them good food at a discount, then. . .]

Heck if I know. Couldn't hurt to try, yeah?

[they totally deserved to milk these shenanigans for what they were worth]

[convictionary]

You got any weird mail yet? I heard another guy's been getting fan mail for the last week. Seems the people who sort our nonsense haven't been able to keep up with that man's load.

[Does anyone look gul- awestruck. Awestruck, yes. There's one who looked plausible, but-]

Tater pancakes. [A ways away so that the person wouldn't judge them too hard and/or overhear them.] We could do better, I think. You?