job | open | are you ready for SUMMER WARS

[arcanepower]

Who: Belthazar and you!
When: The second week of June
Where: Caissa
What: Belthazar is helping with Dance of the Drops. By all means, please ruin his life.
Rating: Standard family action.

[ A. concessions ]

[Belthazar might not be tall or good-looking or spectacular in any visible way, but he is damn good at cooking. He is being paid to make festival food but it comes out looking fancy and tasting top-notch. The shops all the way down the block are watching as lines form, and they're getting jealous. And unruly. In fact, some of them are trying outlandish claims to attract customers to their less-than-gourmet food.

Belthazar sticks his head out of the back to take another order and hears:]

'Fried pork sticks! Guaranteed to extend your life!'

... I'm not sure about that.

[ B. wrong place, wrong time ]

[He's very much regretting his choice of black clothing. It's hot, and it's hot when he's in the back cooking, and basically he's sitting in the shade miserable because he wore long sleeves and pants today. He pushes his sleeves up to his elbows and drinks some juice, utterly exhausted, and stares at the crazy watergun fight going on across the plaza. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize he's actually out of the 'off limits' area.

Inevitably, a steampunk-style robot approaches. Having never seen one of these in Caissa before, Belthazar gets up to study it closely.

And gets water to the face.

While he's soaking wet and spluttering, a group of rampaging children douse him further. He is quiet, deathly so... something must be wrong.]

You... how dare you! Do you think I was hiding because I am weak!? No. I am prepared for anything!

[Belthazar lets out a chilling evil laugh and pulls off his tunic, revealing a tank top underneath as well as a water gun and several water grenades strapped to his belt. He unholsters his water gun, which is really too big for him, and holds it at the ready.]

I AM COMING FOR YOU, HUMAN CHILDREN!

Comments

B'O CLOCK

[topkong]

[ The water gun fights that have broken out across Caissa have been more than fun to Wukong, whose aim isn't exactly the greatest! Sometimes, he'll get a random citizen and other times, he's basically helping clean the streets and walls with his pretty bad aim.

He does, however, hold a trump card. One that he won't unveil until the most crucial of times...

... like that laugh? It's one that makes him shiver, his fur stand up on end?! What kind of Hero has a laugh like that? He reaches around the corner, gun out and ready to super soak whatever enemy has breached the walls and---!!! ]

Oh. It's you.

[ His gun stays pointed at Belthazar. He's not gonna put it away, not with those kinds of munitions strapped to his body! ]

Nice tank top.

[arcanepower]

[All's fair in love and war. He finds himself face to face with Wukong, who he recognizes as the pervert monkey from before.]

You! [He reaches for his water grenades, one in each hand.] I have been waiting for the chance to reclaim my father's honor. Have at thee, scoundrel!

[Yep, even with a water gun pointed at him, he's still going to toss these at Wukong. His courage is somehow very surprising.]

[topkong]

Scoundrel? [ A beat, and then he scrunches up his face. ] Thee???

[ Of course, all this time could have been better spent defending himself from the grenades hurtling toward him. Meh. Wukong chucks his gun at one of the grenades, pulling out his bananarang from his belt and pointing it at Belth like a gun.

A banana gun.

Nothing will shoot out of it, but he does try to bat the explosive water device away with it, which ultimately means he gets immediately soaked by the first and second grenades.

After the water clears (and the sound stops echoing in the streets), a deservedly soaked monkey stands there with fur matted and the same quizzical expression on his face before he falls down to the ground in a heap of surprise. ]

[arcanepower]

[Why is this hozen pointing a banana at him? He should be throwing poop or something. Or yelling I'M GONNA OOK YOU IN THE DOOKER. But no. He just stands there and gets soaked with his sad little banana in his sad little hand.

The sight surprises Belthazar so much that he laughs genuinely, and then he's surprised by his laughter and becomes terribly self-conscious. He clears his throat and tries to compose himself.]

A-anyway... I win.

a

[herplaceinthesun]

[Aisha is one of those people waiting in line. She's still not to the window yet, but she can smell how good this food was going to be. Far be it from her not to defend the honor of great food, even if this is just a theme park.

So, loudly-]

Well, Aisha heard this food will help you find your true love! In like a week!

[There are murmurs in the line, curious if the rumor was true. No one was leaving it, in any case.]

[arcanepower]

[Belthazar's ears stand straight up. He's not exactly expecting someone to defend his honor... and in truth, it's a bit embarrassing.

He hands someone else their food, and they are very happy to leave the line. He squeaks at Aisha.]

I-is that really necessary?

[herplaceinthesun]

Yes! If your food is as good as everyone's raving about, it'd be a crime to let people get talked out of eating it.

[This is Serious Business, okay. The most serious.]

You can't just let them win!

[Maybe she's a bit too invested...]

A

[showsnopiety]

It's more of a...truth of sorts, but not the sense that people may think.

[Caren had been here, trying to adjust her hat and generally dry off. Sure, she could do that with her mana, but with being inside of the zone? It feels like a waste. She'll likely get soaked again.]

After all, without the energy provided by food, people would not survive.

[She offers him a small smile, almost seeming affectionate. She's not in line, but she can keep him company for awhile.]

Hello Belthazar.

[arcanepower]

Oh! Lady Ortensia.

[He looks about as pleased as he can be what with his constant grumpy face. But even he has a soft spot for girls, it's true.]

I suppose anything can seem true if you look at it in a very simple way. [He pops his head back inside for a moment, then fetches a dainty cake on a napkin.] I fear I am too busy to leave my post, but you can have this for your troubles.

[showsnopiety]

You have no need to be formal with me. Caren is fine.

[It's okay, she likes his always grumpy face. She thinks it's cute, in its own way. Then again, she's also rather odd in her tastes. But not odd enough to refuse the cake.

She takes it, and tries to take a bite. She ends up with icing on her nose. And her chin. But it's good.]

It's all right; I understand. Truly. I thought I would keep you company for a time.

...really this is quite delicious. I had no idea you knew how to bake.

[Whether it was his father who taught him...well, she promised Adra she'd behave.]

[arcanepower]

[He pretends he doesn't see how bad she is at eating. It's the polite thing to do. Also, he doesn't want to incur the wrath of any girl ever.]

Really? I admit I am surprised, but... well, you did say you would help me practice.

[He clears his throat.]

Thank you. I learned to cook when I was very small, mostly out of necessity, but then I grew to enjoy it.

[sunderings]

You are in need of a sous-chef.

[ —Sion's voice is a hum, a light, silvered thing as he makes his observations (a line spanning the whole of the bazaar, customers lured away by the siren-song of a shorter wait and the promise of longevity, forsaking all that is good and gourmet for that which is beguiling and deep-fried...!), and takes action: with a flourish of motion, he rolls up his sleeves, sees the long fall of his hair tied back, and offers his fellow Hero a smile.

No, they may not be acquainted, but the Hero King has glimpsed the younger man's face in passing many a time in the dormitories and halls, and Sion will never be someone who abandons a comrade at so crucial a time, so critical an hour...! ]

Please, allow me to support you. [ It is almost disarming, his sincere will to assist. And will the Capital's fair citizens not be more swiftly fed with two pairs of hands manning the food stall? ] We will win even your competitor's hearts, if they've the chance to try your food.

sorry this is so late, I got sick lol fml

[arcanepower]

[Belthazar is in need of a sous-chef, but he's mostly distracted by just how beautiful this guy is. Is he even human? Probably not, since that's the kind of elven beauty that kills people.

Excuse him, he's having a moment.]

Um-- uh-- that is--

[And he's offering to help. Belthazar can already feel his face turning red-- a blush that tends to ignite the tips of his ears.]

Y-your offer is very kind, my lord, but y-you needn't trouble yourself...

[He is slowly but surely shrinking behind the counter. He's only 5'1. Let him die.]

np! o/ makes... this worse!!

[sunderings]

[ Ah...? The chef himself is sagging behind the counter? Coupled with such stilted speech and the rise of hectic color (truly, that is a rather magnificent shade of scarlet!) to both the younger man's face and long, slender ears, the sight is troubling enough to Sion (who, as assumed, is very much not human, though he would never have expected such a determination to be made based on his appearance alone!) to prompt immediate action.

Action, in the form of a hand placed upon the counter-top, providing leverage enough to bound over the construct itself in a graceful arch of motion. With surety, he finds his feet on the other side of the food stall, and there is no inkling, no measure of hesitation when he reaches to support his fellow Hero with one hand, lightly pressing the cool back of the other to the man's brow.

Perhaps this is heat exhaustion? ]

Are you all right? [ —he asks, silvered lashes hooding over golden eyes narrowed in concern. ] You must take care not to overwork yourself.

AHAHAHHFDSJF

[arcanepower]

[WHAT, NO. THIS IS THE LAST THING HE WANTED. He's completely frozen for a moment despite the temperature, his blush turning to pale. Oh, Light, he's still not good with physical contact... The truth is that he has been working very hard, and in this heat, and he is very overdressed, and that combined with 'why are people so nice' has made him a bit dazed. It's horrible being a repressed, isolated, immortal teenager. It really is.

And then there is the matter of mana transfer, which feels so wonderful to him, as he hasn't had any for quite some time. He still needs it to live even if he tries to feign otherwise.

Blood elf problems.]

I-I-I'm fine! I am fine. [He tries to right himself as best he can without elbowing Sion in the face, though most of him just wants to flail and spit like a dragon.] I appreciate your kindness, but I would request that you either help me or stay out of my way. [He tries to gather himself and resume what he was doing before-- mixing batter for crepes.]

B. SORRY FOR THE LATE TAG-IN the entire week ran away from me

[houndumb]

["... I AM COMING FOR YOU, HUMAN CHILDREN!"

Okay, Nora's probably the only one in a considerable radius who actually perked up when that particular warcry shook the market street and beyond -- look, considering he's the greatest demon alive and has been reduced to helping humans with their war games (again) and their children's games (... again), he's got a leg to stand on when it comes to complaints. Not that he seems to be trying all that hard, just now.

Just at the moment, he's much too busy ruining all his Heroic clothes for the umpteenth time running through geysers, small fountains, hordes of human children and for some reason -- robots. He's mostly shed the upper layers (who would wear those in this weather anyway) and looks more like a drowned white rat than anything.

He's also toting a colorful armful of water balloons and what looks suspiciously like a small steampunk catapult, and has just dissolved into wild cackling and pointing at Belthazar.]

I thought I recognized that stupid laugh!! Ya can't even beat a few human kids an' machines, for talking so big!

[Here, have a water balloon sailing at your face. He didn't even bother with the catapult--]

YOU'RE GOOD ♥

[arcanepower]

[Belthazar isn't expecting the faildemon to appear, but now that he has, the elf understands he must defend his territory.]

Like you're doing any better!

[He raises his hand to block the water balloon, catches it midair. It explodes but only barely manages to soak him. Not that he isn't already soaked. It's mostly just his arm. He gives Nora a dark look, his eyes alight with green felfire.

He wants that catapult. But for now, he will settle with calling up an intermediate water spell and dropping it on Nora's head.]

♥ ♥ ♥

[houndumb]

[What territory, gosh, it's not like you marked it or even got far enough into the splash zone to have much territory -- in fact, Nora's detoured this way to the outskirts for one reason only, and it definitely isn't running away or tripping over inconvenient elves. His balloon supply is running low.

Not that that stops him from making an indignant squawking noise when what must be half a raincloud suddenly sloshes over his head. To his credit, despite the undignified noise he doesn't even slow down when he dashes to a new spot -- slightly obscured by the previous steampunk waterbot that seems to have decided to settle down and become a sprinkler -- and lets fly several more water balloons.]

I'm doing plenty awesome, those dumb human kids were running away from ME!

[And on that last shout, he... jumps on the robot's back, giving him a clear shot and leverage to get one arm free:]

I declare Anemos Magia, Wind God's Breath! TAKE THAT!!

[... Yeah, no subtlety here. It's not a very strong wind spell, either, more like an incidental gust -- but it's enough to get those water balloons flying all the faster.]

omg these brats

[arcanepower]

Should I cower in my boots?! I think not!

[Shit, he's fast. But Belthazar is dancing! He's dancing pretty decently, actually. Watch him dodge the first three... though the rest explode against his sides. Shit, those are cold.

He screams with rage and conjures another spell, not caring that he's out in the open still. Who's even keeping track of points?]

Is that all you have!? Your smell is worse than your bite, dog!

[This water spell is absolutely relentless, like a hose to the back of the head. He's trying to get Nora to fall.]

a, comes in late with starbucks....

[accordance]

[ Lord Light had assigned to work at the same stall - rather than cooking, he's serving and taking orders with almost mechanical precision. He's just arrived, though, which means he still has enough focus left to spare to things outside of his duties. ]

Humans will try anything when they are desperate.

[ ... not really helping there, but he feels it appropriate to at least explain. ]

you're latte....

[arcanepower]

[Belthazar is glad he has help at least. The... stiffness of Lord Light's movements doesn't escape Belthazar, and neither does his impressive glow, but he is trying to focus on it and not on how starved he is for mana.]

How many times have I seen that myself, I wonder...

[AT LEAST SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS.]

Here is the next order. [A pause as he starts on the next batch of sweets.] If-- if I may ask, why are you here? I am sure you could earn more money being outside in the festival proper.

v latte... but a matcha latte too

[accordance]

[ There's a smoothness to the way he conducts himself, almost too smooth in the way he walks between the tables as if gliding along - a fundamental difference in his gait that suggests an inhuman body structure.

His voice is low, much like Adra's, but with a remarkable measure of calm. ]

Thank you. [ Setting them out on the trays now. ] I wish to have this experience of waiting. And I wish to see the people I know.

[ Which is Belthazar, basically. That, and he's not really suited to too much festivities. ]

A, for another late tag

[moreasleep]

[The one making the outrageous claims about the pork sticks was Rory's new employer. Seemed he received the worst time to begin work.]

Don't complain, just work.

[He muttered as he passed the Hero and approached the opposing food stand. The owner quickly dropped the fried food, grabbed Rory by shoulders, and shouted to the crowd:]

'Try our food, made by the best chef of all the Heroes!'

[Rory rubbed his head. Not a minute into the job and already this was a competition? The owner and Rory looked at Belthazar. While the former was obviously trying to get a reaction out of him, Rory only hoped that he was not stupid enough to fall for this.]

it's all good ♥

[arcanepower]

[Who is this cranky human? Belthazar is absolutely surrounded by them even on the best of days, and part of him is still getting used to it. But more importantly-- the owner from the opposing food stand is trying to rustle him up! He understands this, and so he doesn't join in the childish claims immediately.

Instead, he stands up straight-- to his full height of five foot one-- and generously holds out a plate with tiny cakes on it.]

You look so famished in this heat! A pastry or two for my fellow Hero and his companion. I insist.

[He smiles like a knife.]

[moreasleep]

[Rory looked down at the tiny, though presentable, offering and said flatly:]

I don't want it.

[Thankfully, the owner released his grip on the Hero and gladly took both cakes. In just one bite, he devoured a cake whole and then waved the plate under Rory's nose.]

'Hey! This is actually good, really good! What's in this? Here, try it, maybe you can make something like this.'

[He pressed his lips together as if physically holding back what he wanted to say. Instead, he took a deep breath and said with as much restraint as he could gather.]

I'll do my best with what I'm given.