exsiliumlogs | [OPEN] A floating, bebop sensation...

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[OPEN] A floating, bebop sensation...

Date & Time: Backdated waaaaay to the night of March 16th.
Location: Around the city.
Characters: Kano and whoever happens along!
Summary: The apartment's been taken over by girls. Kano spends the night wandering around the city, maybe stirring up a little trouble...
Warnings: May contain short, annoying brats.

A. [When Kido told him she was having a girls' night with Ringo, Kano answered that he understood and left the apartment after shooting a lighthearted tease her way. That smart remark earned him a kick to the knee, but it was worth the bruise. He's still grinning at the memory of the joke as he made his way through the marketplace, hands in his pockets.

To be honest, he's glad that Kido's making friends, especially with other girls. Though there were many downsides to Exsilium, he had to admit that it was a lot easier to befriend others here than back home. Maybe it's because of the fact that here, the unnatural was considered normal. For once, they didn't have to hide.

And it felt great.

He buys a bag of fruits and sweets to eat during his nighttime journey and stuffs them in his backpack. He's heard that not everyone lives in the housing complexes provided by the Initiative, and it makes him curious. It might be dangerous, but he's fairly confident that he can make a run for it if anything goes bad. He heads off the lit streets, nosing around the beaten-down places easily overlooked by other Transports or natives. He can be found standing in the middle of the path or on top of something, snapping away pictures for later reference.]

B. [When he's tired of taking pictures, he retreats to behind one of the bombed-out buildings where what he's about to do is unlikely to be seen. Paint isn't too hard to come by in the market. A good respirator mask... that was a bit tougher to find. He's found a substitute for now, but he knows that he should find a real one soon.

If you happen to be passing by the area, you might notice some punk kid painting up the wall of one of the ruins with graffiti. What a deviant.]

C. [After texting Kido that he'll be back soon, he purposefully takes the long way back. He happens to be stopped by the sight of a stray cat, though, which he proceeds to tease by sitting on top of a trash can and dangling food just above its reach. Kano's grinning as it bats and mewls at his arm, occasionally mimicking its meows back at it in jest.]

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[The voice that comes from behind him is deep, a little raspy, tingled with an accent that 's almost Spanish, and amused in tone.]

I suppose that's one way to beautify the area. Better than I could do.

[She's leaning against a building, and her body language is in no way threatening. She doesn't even have her sword with her, wearing ornate boots, army fatigues, and a dark cloak with the hood pulled up enough to keep rain off but not hide her eyes.]

[He's surprised by the voice, but he hides it as he turns around, tugging down his mask so his own voice isn't obstructed. He didn't expect anyone to come along--hence why he chose this area--but he greets the stranger with a smile all the same.]

Isn't it, isn't it? Ah, this city is really too gloomy and boring! It needs more color.

Heh... and to be honest, I need the practice too~

[Especially at paying attention to his surroundings. He knows that there isn't an official police force, but there's an unofficial one. He isn't sure what their stance is on graffiti, but he's willing to bet it isn't positive. He wouldn't want to get caught if he actually wants to start painting in the city.]

[She pulls back her hood a bit more, so he can see her face, and then she sketches a bow.]

I agree with you there. It's as if they go out of their way to be as drab as can be.

[She looks at the painting then, carefully.]

Sorry for sneaking up on you. My job where I came from is usually described here as 'commando', so I sometimes get sneakier than I should. I just wanted to complement it. I have no skill or talent at painting, so I try to appreciate what I see. It's nice to see something bright here.

[She looks back at him.]

I'm Meliantha, and I'm not one of the constables, if that's what you're worried about.

[The first thing he notices is her skin. What an odd color. Maybe she's related to the trolls in some way...?

Kano leans against the wall, idly shaking the spray can. He's made some progress. It's nothing more than a couple of colorful swirls and stylized letters--like he mentioned before, it's practice, with no specific goal in mind.]

Commando... I see. So you were soldier back home, too. [She certainly dressed the part. He gives a lazy salute.]

Nice to meet you, ma'am! And, well, I figured that a constable would've cuffed me by now.

Call me Kano.

They'd call me an 'irregular', not part of a formal unit, just... bring me in, send me behind lines to cause trouble. Not a real soldier, to a lot of soldiers. [She returns the salute, as lazily.]

I'm in favor of nice peaceful areas, but it's not like there's anyone to make a complaint. So even if I was, I'd probably just ignore you.

Nice to meet you, Kano. Please, don't let me disturb you - I didn't mean to stop you from your creation.

Ah... that sounds like an infiltrator.

[He chuckles.] No, no, you weren't disturbing anything! [He glances back at the wall.] To be honest, I'm out here because I'm bored. There isn't much for a teenager to do by himself~ It's a pain, a real pain in the neck.

Not much for anyone to do. Part of why I wander around.

[She smiles.]

And I get to find interesting things like your art before other people do.

Maybe that's a good thing. [Peace is what everyone wants. Still, a part of him itches for something to do.]

You got any spots you like to frequent?

[A professional adventurer tends to get itchy with nothing to do. This is why there's so many bar brawls, where she's from, after all.]

It can be. I tend to think that if you love peace, prepare for war, especially if it's to keep others safe... [Her smile gets a little wry.] But that's religion to me, and I try not to preach.

Here, some of the places to the north, a turn through the greenhouses, sometimes up top of some of the taller buildings. Places that let me see things, stretch myself.

The greenhouses... I've been there. They don't seem to be in the best shape, but the flowers there are nice. [Though it seems that some of the Transports have taken up clearing up some of it. He glances upwards. The sky is as dark and gloomy as always.]

I'd love to see the city from a higher vantage point. Ah, but I'm not too good of a climber, I have to say.

[There's a smile.]

Well, if you take the lift-room in the apartments to the top, there's a door to the roof from a stairwell... or.....

Do you have any terrible moral objections to someone who can climb carrying you so you can see it from up there? I promise I'll do my best to not embarass you and won't tell anyone after.

[He blinks at that. She doesn't look like the type who could carry him at a first glance.]

What an interesting answer! Are you offering me a lift?

[She nods.]

I am! If you want one.

Ah, sorry if I sound skeptical, but I really am curious! How do you intend on getting us up there?

[She shows her boots.] I can walk up walls with them, along with anything I can carry. And I don't want to boast too much, but I can carry quite a bit.

[Give the cat a break, Kano. Keith likes to take walks outside at night and it's during one of these walks that he hears a familiar voice from nearby. He recognizes the noise Kano is making as meowing quickly enough, and he's not surprised when he sees the kid playing with a cat.

He shakes his head a little and walks over, startling the cat but not making it run off just yet. He puts a hand on Kano's head. Oy.]

[He's having some fun when he notices the cat's reaction. He turns a second too late when he feels a hand on his head.

Kano's ready to throw the food at whoever it might be and make a break for it when he sees--thankfully before he executes his brilliant plan of action--that it's just Keith. He relaxes.]

Hello! Nice evening, isn't it?

[Kano could've thrown the food and Keith would've just wiped it off, and not even on Kano. But he nods in greeting and pats Kano's head once, watching the cat as it circles around them and tries to catch the food in Kano's hand again.

He turns his head to look at Kano again. What're you up to, kid?]

[~~hey quit that patting him~~

He grins up at Keith, still keeping the food out of the cat's reach. It mewls in irritation.]

Ah, I happened to find him on my way back! He's a cute cat, huh?

[He lowers the food, just a little, to tease the cat further.]

You wouldn't happen to be a cat-lover, would you? I think he'll need a home.

[~~You're a good height for it.~~

He isn't much of a pet person in general. He makes no move to touch the cat, wondering about the things he heard around. The animals here were apparently severely deformed or something. What if it has a second mouth on its tail that Kano doesn't know about?

He shakes his head to Kano's question and looks at him as if to ask why don't he take it in himself?]

Me? Taking care of a cat is too much trouble. And Kido isn't the sort to like cute animals at all. [The tone of his voice and his smirk says otherwise, though. He finally drops the food but picks up the cat instead, much to its irritation.] She'd punch me, I bet, for bringing one back.

[Does that mean Kido likes animals that aren't considered "cute"? Keith tries to imagine her having a pet tarantula, or maybe even a boar (that being an animal he thought of only because his friend back home might have tried to keep one).

Kano should give it a try though. If she doesn't want it it's always possible to ask someone else if they'll take it in.]

[Kido with a tarantula... wouldn't turn out well at all. To say the least.

He doesn't expect Keith to say anything in return. That's fine. He chatter away to make up for the both of them.]

Maybe I could surprise her... [He stifles his laugh.]

Well, well! If you aren't going to take him in, then I guess I have no choice. [He sighs.] I'll just have to sneak him back in my pocket...

[Is it actually necessary to sneak it in? Keith thinks carrying it into their apartment at all would surprise her enough, honestly. Then he wonders if the two of them would even be able to take care of it.]

It's gonna need food.

[Believe it or not, Hitsugaya does have some 'normal' clothes; he doesn't walk around in his uniform all the time. Really, if it weren't for his somewhat striking colouring and sharp features, he'd look remarkably unremarkable right now.

[He's been back in his own skin for a few days now, and there are no words for how glad he is of that; not that his gladness shows outwardly. Hyourinmaru has been thrumming particularly close to his consciousness ever since things had been set right, almost as if he's trying to make up for the time they spent separate. He'd have to commune with him properly soon.

[As it is, he doesn't like to spend too much time cooped up in his room. He doesn't like being stuck in small spaces without work to distract him, and there's not exactly a surplus of work for him around here like there'd always been at home. And so here he is, in areas that aren't as densely packed with people. No sword on him, but he's fully alert and doesn't require the weapon to fight if any situation should come to that.

[And yes, fewer people in general, but he actually spots someone familiar. Oh, look. It's that idiot he'd gotten body-switched with. And he's standing on top of a trash can and taking pictures for some reason.

[Hitsugaya has this way about him, where he moves lightly and quietly without really meaning to sometimes. It's lead to accusations of him 'sneaking up on' people when he's done no such thing. But he just walks up behind the guy and starts talking. Because what is properly getting someone's attention first?] What could possibly be so interesting around here that you'd take pictures?

[Kano's just about wrapping up when he hears a familiar voice. He blinks in surprise. That voice... he remembers it clearly because he'd been stuck with it for a few days.

Yes! It's that grumpy guy from before, just as he thought. He grins.]

Uwah, if it isn't the shinigami!

[He sits down, so they can talk face-to-face. As usual, he isn't going to answer his question right away.]

Did you finally discover modern fashion? Personally, I would've picked cooler clothes than yours, but I guess that's up to your own tastes.

[No comment on all that. What does he care about fashion anyway? Hell, the jacket is only to keep the rain off; it's a lot lighter than what most people would wear in this weather. Because when you don't get cold, what's the use of heavier clothing?]

[His eyebrow ticks up marginally. He's actually a lot less "grumpy" now than the first time they'd talked; their souls are back where they should be, so he can just go back to being straight-up serious.] Did you forget that I asked you a question?

I was just trying to make conversation! We haven't seen each other in a while~ It's natural that I'd want to catch up.

[He's unfazed by the eyebrow raise. He sets his camera in his lap.]

It's a hobby of mine, that's all, that's all! Ah, and the fact that I can't go back to my apartment yet, but that's a different story.

A few days isn't a "while." [Not when you're not friends, and especially not when your lifespan can be measured in centuries at the least.]

Exactly! A couple of days have passed. That's still some amount of time, isn't it? So it'd count as a "while."

Beyond getting that body-switching lunacy fixed, I doubt anything exciting has happened.

Ah, but shouldn't shinigamis lead exciting lives? Souls to reap and all that?

I can't exactly do my proper job here.

[Sending someone on is doable on some level, but not on the level it should be, but that's hardly all there is to being a shinigami where he comes from. Especially an officer -- a captain.]

Really? [There's genuine curiosity here.] Aren't we at war? That surely would keep you busy, wouldn't it?

Things operate differently here.

[And damned if that doesn't bother him on some level. If he could establish some kind of connection to Soul Society, he wouldn't have still been here. A captain's job is rarely in the Living World.]

I see. [With that said, he pulls out the bag of candy from his backpack, popping one into his mouth before offering it to Hitsugaya.]

So even gods have trouble adjusting, huh?

[There's definite linefacing at the offer of candy. Just . . . no.]

High-powered shinigami shouldn't spend prolonged time in the Living World as it is.

[That's no problem, because more for him! He sets the bag in his lap as well.]

I think I get it! The dead aren't supposed to mingle with the living, that sort of thing, right?

[He can have it all! Hitsugaya just gets rid of any candy anyone somehow manages to successfully give him. It's the principle of the thing, you understand. The stuff might as well stay with someone who'll actually eat it.]

That's part of it. [People might find it strange, but it's against shinigami policy to actually kill one of the living. They're not supposed to interfere any more than necessary, and killing someone is a rather large interference.] There's also the distinct possibility of our spiritual force influencing the area too much.

Spiritual force... [That sounds familiar. He pops a candy in his mouth.] Aah, you mentioned that when we swapped bodies, didn't you? Didn't you say it could kill someone if I wasn't careful?

[Wandering the streets at night is becoming a part of Al's routine these days; he has to do something to bide his time until morning, and Exsilium still holds its fair share of interesting areas to explore. He makes for a pretty imposing figure in the dark; the unnatural red and white glow of his eyes, the glint of moonlight off metal, the heavy clanking that echoes with every footstep.

But then he speaks, doesn't sound a day over fourteen, and the whole effect is pretty much lost.]

Isn't it a little dangerous to be out here by yourself?

[He hears Al's footsteps before he sees him--it's hard to not hear the loud clanks in this quieter portion of the city. Kano turns around at the sound of it, peering into the darkness before he recognizes that suit of armor. He flashes a smile.]

Maybe so, but it's become a little less dangerous now with you here, Sir Knight~

Sir Knight?

[That's the second time. Maybe he should've just gone with something like that as a cover story after all. Oh well.]

My name's Alphonse Elric. You picked an interesting time to start taking pictures.

Ah, then I guess I'll call you Sir Alphonse, then.

[He turns his camera's lenses on him, snapping a quick photo.] Well, it can't be helped. Ku ku... I've got to kill time. The entire night, to be precise. You picked an interesting time to come by here as well.

Funny. And what should I call you?

[As much as Al wants to look put-upon by the whole thing, it's pretty telling to how bored he is that he keeps trying to talk to a near-stranger rather than leave Kano to his business.]

Why, whatever you want to call me! But Kano's what I prefer~

[He lowers the camera.] Have you adjusted to the future, Sir Al?

[He's serious about that nickname, huh? Al gives him a long look, but ultimately rolls with it.]

Well, I think I've got the network down at least. Other than that there isn't a whole lot to adjust to. All the fighting's kept this place from advancing nearly as much as it should have.

[He's undeterred by that look. He's grown used to getting looks like that.]

It seems that's how it is. It's a shame. I remember thinking when I arrived... "Wow! The future!" But it turned out that it wasn't as bright as I thought it'd be. [He gives a small laugh as if to offset that depressing comment.] It's definitely a lot colder, I'll give it that.

Mm, it's hard to think of this world as the future of anywhere we really know. But I guess there's nothing we can do but try to make it better while we're here.

[He shrugs, his own way of dismissing the heavier implications of the topic.]

So, are you working on something or is the photography just a hobby?

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[OPEN] A floating, bebop sensation...

B.

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aaaand sorry about the wait, hooray hiatus and I apologize.

c;

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A; since potential offers of candy are always funny

kano's going to offer him the whole bag

He doesn't want your damn candy.

not even one piece?

NO CANDY. That festival a couple months ago was hell, okay?

kiiiiilljoy

People shoved candy and toys at him because they thought he was NINE. He'll not stand for it.

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A.

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