A Day at the Carnival

[Nagi-kun]

(I'll start things off and you can all throw ppl in whenever and however you wish. The setting is pretty broad so have fun!)

The noise of a thousand voices, the sounds of screams and squeals amidst the electronic whirl of carnival rides, and the smell of cheap but homemade foods and trodden earth commingled within the air. Coming to a stop and taking a deep breath of air, Cassian exhaled with an opening of his eyes and a delighted smile. Nothing beat the scent of coming close to home again. His ear twitched as he caught a familiar jingling sound, and with a cheerful swish of his tail, he trotted off towards the sound of caravan dancers.

Not far away, Fen and Naedri wandered around the game booths, the latter holding a funnel cake in his hand and nibbling at it as they checked out the sights. Most people knew carnival games tended to be rigged even if the operator vowed they werent, and for all the members of MINERVA, this little ploy on the business of gaming rarely seemed to work. It probably had a lot to do with all of them growing up streetwise or among vagabonds themselves so they knew all the tricks or could see where one was laid. Not to mention they'd done undercover ops under the guise of carnies themselves in the past so the carnival was right up their alley of entertainment.

"Ah, Naedri? Where do you think the cat's wondered off to?" Fen asked, realizing he hadnt seen Cassian since they arrived.

Naedri was idly looking at some of the games they were walking by and deciding whether or not any of the prizes were worth getting. He didnt look at Fen as he decided on a shooter game and took up a gun, only half listening to the operator's instructions. These games were some of the least rigged, but the key to winning was a steady gun and good aim. Fortunately Naedri had both. "He's probably gone off to catch up on wander-way small talk over by the travelers tents and wagons. Toushi will be coming with Hondou and Kenji I'm sure, so as usual it's just you and me." Naedri replied in his soft but deadly voice, taking a deep breath and shooting three targets dead-center with the exhale. The operator of the booth stared in disbelief and Naedri calmly set down the gun and turned to the carrot top.

Fen stood with his hip cocked and his arms crossed tapping fingers and one foot as he mulled over what Naedri had said. He knew better than to question Naedri since the man was always right, but it still seemed disappointing to hear that particular news. "It seems so sad that we're all going to be here but not spend time together. I mean, what's the point in being at a carnival if you cant spend the day with all your friends?"

Naedri's brow furrowed slightly and he said curtly, "Sometimes it's nice to not be together all the time Fen. Everybody needs a break once in awhile." He turned back to the shooter booth to claim his prize, waiting for the tell-tale move from the other.

Sure enough, Fen moved right up next to him and leaned on the booth, looking at Naedri with a playful smile. "And dont you ever want a break, sweetheart? You're almost always stuck with me. I have a hard time believing that's by choice."

"What do you want Fen? Tell the man your choice and let's go. He has other patrons waiting." Naedri said, pointing up at the prizes and immediately steering the carrot top's attention. Fen picked a large stuffed bunny and the two walked off with prize in hand, the carrot top boasting a gleeful smile on his childish face. It wasnt that Naedri didnt have a choice, but it never occurred to Fen that he stuck close to him because that was where he was contented to be or the fact he didnt have anyone else. Being alone was so boring after all, and as long as he was around Fen, he never had to trouble with either anymore.

Suddenly Fen ran on ahead and Naedri dreaded what was coming when he noticed they had reach the area of the carnival with the rides. He didnt like any of those damn machines, and full or empty of stomach made no difference since he got sick either way. Fen stopped and pointed up at a towering giant of a roller-coaster and hollered over to the psychic with excitement. "Naedri, let's go on that one!" If he wasnt already pale skinned, he was sure all the color had drained from his face as he stared up at the beast before him. Just what was Fen thinking?! Who in their right mind would go for a ride like that? Clearly someone who had an infinite death wish...someone like Fen.

[brailey]

Brailey And Camden walked Hand and Hand through the Cotton-candy and popcorn crusted walkway. it was extremely humid, but they didnt mind. they could finally get some time together, which was extremely rare, seeing as Brailey would usually have to stay at home with her brother.

[Y-n-Y]

"Come on! Come on! I want to ride the ferris wheel!" Yami said and he pulled Yuki's wrist.
The vampire, like always completely dressed in white, really looked reluctant. He ice blue eyes were in killing mode.
"You do realize that is a ride for couples?" he asked with his childlike voice.
"Of course! But you should be used to people staring at you!" Yami grinned.
"I'll buy you a cotton candy afterwards! I promise!"
Yuki sighed and looked around to see if someone was watching them. He normally didn't want to be seen with Yami.

[Nagi-kun]

He wasnt afraid of heights, having been climbing trees and 'flying' practically his whole life. He really didnt want to go on that ride with Fen and carefully let his eyes drift around to find a way out of the situation. Or at least distract himself until Fen either changed his mind when he noticed or focused his chi enough to survive the experience.

Not far away by the ferris wheel, he noticed a pair of boys that looked to be having a similar problem. One was clearly excited about the ride while the other looked like he wanted to kill something or find a clean way to run. He was glad to see he wasnt the only one suffering from someone else's ridiculous idea.

Apparently he hadnt realized he'd been staring at the dark haired pair so intently because Fen suddenly startled him by coming right alongside his ear and saying, "Whatcha lookin' at sweetheart?" Naedri nearly jumped from how loud he sounded and sidestepped from the carrot top's embrace so that he tumbled over on the ground with a shocked cry of 'WAHH!'.

[Yera]

The wind carried the music of the carnaval off in the air.
Astra didn't even need the giant lid ferris weel to find his way to the grounds.
It took him some time to find a spot to land though.
When he finally did he landed and folded his wings close to his body.

[Y-n-Y]

"Hmm?"
Yami looked over his shoulder to see where the cry came from. Yuki seemed even more annoyed now.
"You really have to learn to make up your mind," he snapped, but Yami wasn't listening to him.
He walked over to Naedri and reached out his hand to him.
"Are you all right?" he asked charmingly, completely ignoring Fen.

[Nagi-kun]

(lLOL! Fen was the one who fell over from Naedri moving out of the way of leaning on him)

Naedri blinked in surprise as one of the boys walked over to them and held out his hand helpfully, bypassing the fallen carrot top. He lowered his gaze to Fen who was casually dusting himself off and fixing his naturally messy hair, then turned them back to Yami. "Mm...I'm fine. Typical idiot acting up again. No biggie." Fen's jaw dropped at the insult and honestly should have felt hurt by being ignored but didnt.

"What's up with this? You let me tumble over in the dirt and you're the one getting the help? Something's jipped here sweetheart." Fen pouted before chuckling and moving over to stand off-side between the two and look back and forth between them. His smile was somewhat devious and Naedri didnt like where he was sure the carrot top's head was going.

Naedri inwardly groaned, "Ugh, why me?"

-----------------------
Meanwhile, near the entrance of the carnival, Toushi walked alongside a rather excited young boy bouncing as he gaped at everything they passed.

"Nii-san, look! They have a roller coaster!" Kenji said with delight as he pointed towards the rides they could see from the vending lane they were walking along. "Oh oh! And look! There's a rock climbing wall and bungy jumping!" He pointed briefly to each then turned to his older brother and lightly jerked on his sleeve. "Toushi, lets go on those. Please?"

Toushi's rarely smiling mouth tipped a little at the boy's enthusiasm. He couldnt help it when he was around his little brother, the boy just brought out a whole different side of him. Placing his hand on Kenji's head, he fluffed his hair and shook his head with an amused breath. "How bout we grab something to eat first? Then we'll go on the rides, okay?"

Kenji nodded emphatically and didnt bother to fix his hair after his brother's pet and casually walked alongside him holding his hand so he wouldnt get lost. The grounds were all fenced in by they covered a lot of land and sometimes kids got lost or could easily be kidapped in bustling places like a carnival.

Toushi led Kenji towards where he saw some lemonade stands and one for funnel cakes, turkey legs, and hot dogs. Personally he thought 'fair food' was junk but then that was part of the experience of coming to such places. Kenji just loved carnivals and the circus, so when he'd heard there was one nearby, he decided to treat his little brother to a fun weekend out. They had just passed a cotton candy stand when Toushi saw what looked to be a couple walking hand and hand away from it. Seeing them together made him wish Hondou had been able to get off work, but he had a big project he was working on and couldnt take even one day this weekend to spend with the brothers. It wasnt like it happened all the time, but it always made a person feel lonely when they saw happy couples when they were without their partners.

Kenji noticed and lightly jabbed Toushi in the side where he was slightly ticklish, giggling when his brother jumped. Toushi tried not to smile as he gave Kenji a scolding look but it didnt work very well and the boy released his brother's hand to rush into the line of the large food stand with a laugh.

[Yera]

It took Astra a second to adjust to the sounds and lights and bells and whistles of the carnival. He looked around and smiled pleased.
There were a lot of rides hat were impossible for him to get into because of his wings but it did not matter to him. Those rides were made by men who wanted to experience flying, he had the real thing and nothing could ever best that.
He was just happy walking around and soaking in the admosphere... looking at the people.
He was amused for a little while watching a man and what looked like his little brother walking around and enjoying the carnival. Scenes like this always made him smile. It made him wish he had a brother or family as well.

[Y-n-Y]

"What's your name?" Yami kept on smiling.
"Mine is Yami."
"If you do not want to ride the ferris I am going home," a voice behind them said, in a very annoyed tone.
Yuki had followed Yami and had his arms crossed.
"And this is Yuki," the turkoise haired boy said with an even wider smile.
"He's nicer than he wants you to know. Don't be scared."

[Nagi-kun]

Naedri blinked, perplexed by the unusual greeting. Fen, being the friendly person he always was, grinned wide and opted to speak for the silent psychic. "His name is Naedri, and I'm Calystakus Fenrir. Though everyone simply calls me Fen. Much easier that way, ya know?" He laughed and perked up when he heard the other voice behind Yami, waving at the pissy looking vampire. "Hey there sweetheart! Not much for theme parks, are you?"

Naedri sidestepped a little away from Fen and looked Yami over curiously. He seemed nice enough, but who could really tell in the beginning? He pointed a thumb over towards Fen who had moved over to Yuki, no doubt to harass a smile out of him. "What he said. That's the idiot. I'm just along for the ride....err, of sorts." He let out a small groan as he looked back over at the towering roller coaster and slightly gulped again. Why did humans enjoy technology so much? Who were the morons responsible for creating such mechanical monsters? He really wished someone had nipped those 'bright ideas' in the bud right now.

[Yera]

Astra suddenly spotted an icecream cart.
He bit his lip, if there was one thing that was his absolute weakness it would have to be icecream.
He spread his wings a little, nearly knocking someone of his feet.
"Oh I am so sorry!" he said and he pulled them close to him again.

[Nagi-kun]

While standing in line to get something to eat before going on the rides, Kenji let his eyes wander around at everything. He blinked in disbelief a moment when his eyes caught sight of a man with wings not far away. He turned to Toushi and pointed, which he'd been told often to stop doing but always forgot, "Toushi, look! That man has wings!"

Toushi looked down at his brother before looking where the boy pointed and then turned his eyes back to Kenji with a shrug. "I dont see why you're so surprised, Ken. There's all kinds of people out there. Cassian's a catboy, remember? "

"Yeah but, if you have wings, doesnt that make you an angel?" Kenji asked and looked back over towards Astra. He saw the winged guy bump into someone and quickly released his brother's hand to rush over and help. "Are you okay, mister?" He asked Astra, staring up at him with innocent concern in his aqua-blue eyes.

[Y-n-Y]

Yami saw Naedri looking at the roller coaster and a smirk appeared on his face.
"Don't want to go alone?" he asked him, trying to get eye contact.
"How about I go with you?"

Yuki looked at Fen but he didn't seem to feel like responding to his remark. He glared at him, hoping his ice cold eyes would scare him off. He got even more annoyed now that Yami was planning on leaving him here.

[Nagi-kun]

Fen wasnt the type to take scary faces seriously and merely went on grinning like an idiot. "You know sweetheart, you're kinda contradicting yourself right now. You didnt seem all that thrilled to be with your friend, and now you look annoyed that he's ditching you." He laughed and poked Yuki in the middle of the forehead where the angry wrinkle was. "Careful, sweetheart. Wrinkles can become permanent."

Naedri stared at Yami with a quirked brow at his misconception. "Excuse me? It's not that I'll go alone, cus obviously I wont be." He pointed over to Fen, "He's the one who wants to go on these damn machines." He dropped his hand to his side again and glared up at the electronic monolith. "Idiots. Who would put their lives in the hands of something without life of its own? Death by a man-made monster. Seems such a pathetic and dishonorable way to die." Because of course, Naedri thought the risk of death on carnival rides was high, or in his mind, inevitable.

[Yera]

(Normally I wouldn't expect anyone to recognize Astra as a guy immediately, but I supose even he sometimes doesn't wear a dress)

When the boy he had seen earlier walked up to him and asked him if he was alright Astra smiled. "Yes, thank you." he said.
He looked over the crowd to see if he could spot the boy's what he thought to be brother as well.
"You know, you shouldn't run away from your brother like that." he said with a kind smile on his feminine face.
He held out his hand. "Here, I'll take you back." he said.