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

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.

[arcanepower]

[Ouch. Denied. Belthazar isn't offended, though-- he's more just trying to make a point. A point that Belthazar's manager yells out from the side of the stand.]

'Even the competitors love it!'

[He wins. But as for an actual olive branch:]

We could always use more help over here.

[moreasleep]

[The man turned red in the face and stammered, defeated. He shook the fork accusingly at both Belthazar and Rory.]

'Y-you, you both planned this!'

[While Rory tried to object this accusation, the owner was not having it. He fired him on the spot and retreated to the back. Rory stood there, shocked, before he glared down at the fellow Hero.]

Don't have a choice now, do I?

[He walked ahead to the stand where Belthazar worked and rolled up his sleeves. Despite trying to sound calm, he was obviously upset.]

Where do you need me?

[arcanepower]

[Down is right. Belthazar is surprised... and then a little defensive.]

I had no idea he was going to fire you! [Light, why is this boy so touchy? Reminds him of-- ... of himself, actually, but far less assertive. He looks down at his shoes for a moment.] I-- I am sorry.

[Rory probably needs a break after all that.] I will tell Francis what is going on.

[He disappears briefly to speak to the owner. Only briefly-- as some people are getting impatient in the line. When he pops out again, he motions for Rory to come around the gate.]

You can-- um, make yourself a drink and sit out here if you need a rest. Otherwise, you can chop up the fruit that's on the counter.

... What was your name?

[moreasleep]

Think next time.

[He could have gone on and in much more distasteful language, but under these new circumstances he did not want to give any reasons to be fired from two jobs in one day. He tapped his fingers impatiently while he waited for him to speak to Francis. As soon as the gate was open, he moved in, washed his hands, and began chopping the fruit. It may not seem like a good idea to chop while angry, but he seemed adept enough at handling a knife. No harm came to his fingers, and the fruit came out uniform and clean.]

I'm Rory.

[His tone was brusque and he did not ask for Belthazar's name. Yet at the very least, he did not seem as angry as he was just a moment ago. Having a task before him helped him focus. With a sweep of his knife, he gathered the chopped fruit into an adjacent bowl.]

Done. What are we making?