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Kai usually didn't win anything. On rare occasions he might get a free soda under the cap during some event, but otherwise he was down on his luck most of the time. It was only by rare chance that he won tickets to the local carnival from a sub shop he would frequent as a easy and cheap meal on his way after work. Not much of a chef himself, a sandwich was a easy way to get off work, grab something to eat, and get home. Diesel loved the place and since he was still on the man's couch, he would pay for part of his meal if he also picked up his order. Win Win in his book. It only so happened that the shop supported local events and had a little sticker stuck on certain wrappers to give out tickets.

With two in hand, his coworkers were interested in who he'd bring, but he tried his best to dance around the subject despite their pressing insistence. He just left it that he'd probably bring a friend he knew in town and just pop in for a little while. The "Oh he's just another tattoo artist. No, no one you know." was not a thing his coworkers let go, pressing still until they got the hint they were loosing and making Kai uncomfortable.

It took some scheduling between the both of them, but they managed to get off on the second day of the carnival. Being a local event, it wasn't like a large amusement part but a popup of a few rides, tents for food and games, and some people selling crafts. Simple, spaced out in a park, but busy. Second day of anything meant the hype had not even began to die down.

Knowing that Kioshi didn't like noises or crowds, he was surprised the man even agreed. Not one to pass up on such a rare opportunity, he smiled and showed up after his morning shift.

He was wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers as was his usual attire. His hair was tied up and back as usual in many braids.

"Hey!" He said, waving before he was fully over and then walked up to Kioshi. "Hope you didn't have to wait long. The bus was slow." He pointed behind him before looking back, offering Kioshi his ticket.

"I was just thinking we just kinda - see what's up. Anything interesting. No pressure or anything to like - stay long. Just haven't been to these things much....really."

Start off on a happier note. Quick.

"You been to a lot of carnivals?"

"Oh well, don't push yourself too hard. We can take a break anywhere." He said, looking ahead and being more and more aware of the noise. The cries of excited children, the ringing of bells and other music, and the general chorus of chatter of people talking over one another. There was wafting smells of friend and grilled foods, and the movement of small rides between the crossing of people that walked in the soft sun. A few benches and tables littered the place for people to sit and eat, gathering around baskets of fries and large cups of lemonade.

Kioshi was right that Kai got looked. A tall man who also worked out, he stood at both a impressive height and had width to him. Even the t-shirt he wore was form fitting to his chest. The beard made him look a little older, but the incredible long hair on a man spoke to others of a 'alternative' lifestyle. Most would expect a man like that to have ferocious tattoos, or something hinting to a rough life, which made the arm of different flowers confusing. Was he a freak who wanted to give peace signs or someone who'd punch you if you looked at them wrong - it was hard for those trying to assess at a glance who and what he was.

Kai took a breath, used to it on his own, but far more aware of it in present company. He didn't want to make being around him awkward for Kioshi, but he hoped the carnival had enough distractions to keep the attention off of him.

"Well, I guess it's a first for both of us then." Leading the way, he went in line and as they approached, handed off their tickets to the volunteer who sat with three others under a tent, smiling at them all and pointing out the first aid station to everyone should they need it.

"Diesel had a doctor's appointment today so Trish is in charge. When she knows she is on the schedule leading the shop, she tries to get us all to schedule clients early in the morning so we can get off as soon as we can. She didn't have a issue letting me go. She'd just waiting on Brit's last client to come in before she can close the shop as soon as she can." He said with a smile. "She can get away with it cause Diesel knows she doesn't abuse that power so much. He knows she's going to do it, but still likes the game of making a huge fuss about it when he gets back in. That way he can get Trish to buy him a 6pack later."

We shouldn't talk about work. Remember the plan.

"Do you like going fast? Or being up high? Cause they got rides like that." If Kioshi couldn't remember, he'd want to figure out what the other was comfortable to try out. "Anything I should know that might freak ya out?

"I'm not really great with some heights. I'm still learning to get over it." He had to get over it for the Night job, but the really tall buildings did him over. He felt like he might die at any moment if he got too close, and sometimes the wind just felt too strong for his liking. "Night job helped me go up to three stories but anything other than that and I'm feeling a little sick. I think I'd be better knowing I'm secured to something, so I think rides are okay with me." He said, looking up at rides to see which one was even the tallest. Most were relatively low to the ground.

"I used to sleep in cars all the time. I don't have issues with that kind of motion." He actually found cars pretty soothing when he slept. "I've fallen asleep on the subway a few times."

"Should we try out a ride then? They have the little cars that just go in a circle real fast." It went up at one end and down at the other and just went in a circle with some spinning of the carts.

Turning to the direction of the ride, he followed Kioshi through the walkways of the carnival. Seeing as it was the second day, the place was packed. While most that were coming their way made way for them to move, most others were standing still in other lines, looking at phones, talking to one another, and generally just not paying attention. This made following difficult for someone like Kai who was much larger than his counterpart.

Worried he'd loose him, Kai reached out to gently set a hand at his shoulder. Lightly setting it there, he was able to use his arm like a sort of rope that told everyone he was following and behind the other.

Once he got out of the pocket of people and closer to the ride, he dropped his hand as they made their way to the end of the line. "Sorry. Was about to loose you with all the people."

His shoulder isn't that board. He thought.

Right. Holding hands. They could do that. He looked at Kioshi's hand and then tried not to think of it too hard. Tried not to make it noticeable when he wiped his palm against his shorts as he moved beside the other in the line.

"I think so. Looks fun." He said as he heard the delighted screamed from those in the moving carts. Music pumped from speakers as people spun about, a few spinning faster than others as they worked to turn a center wheel to spin more.

"Probably good we didn't eat first." He mentioned with a smile.

The line wasn't that long, used to taking a large group of people every ride. Considering each booth could fit 2-3 people, the line moved and Kai and Kioshi made the cut off for the next ride.

Moving into a booth, he let Kioshi sit before going in. Luckily his worried that he might squish the other were alleviated, but it was still side by side enough to touch sides.

A worker went around to lower the bars for them to be in place and then walked to check everyone else.

His eyes went again to his hand on the bar and then to Kioshi.

"Do you - want to hold hands?" He asked, but the music was rather loud now that they were in the ride.

Kai held the hand in his, staring down at the one intertwined with his before his heart lurched first and then the ride lurched second. As the ride spun around, he held onto that hand, taking note of the slender fingers. The world blurred around them as they spun around.

This was nice. This was really nice.

A little cooler than mine. Maybe I'm just sweating too much. He ran a thumb over the other. Short nails. Trimmed. He keeps himself pretty clean and neat.

Kai's own hands were on the warmer side, rough on the palms from random jobs like dishwasher and random labor jobs. His nails were clean but slightly chewed on.

The momentum of the ride had Kioshi sliding against him, and he was glad he was not the other way around or else he'd crush him a bit.l

The ride was all too short and soon it slowed down before someone came around to life up the lap bars from everyone to let them step out.

A little uneven, Kai stood up, grabbed Kioshi and the cart as he stepped out and headed the way off the platform down the couple of metal steps back out the surrounding fence and out to the carnival.

"Uh...." He said, looking around. He looked past to a few kid rides before pointing to a ride that was one circle like a flat disc with walls all around it. It seemed to spin real fast and people would just line up and were pressed up against the wall where they stood and it would go so fast as to be able to spin on it's side but keep everyone where they were at.

"How about that thing?" He pointed, and walked carefully past a few excited kids. This time, he did reach out to grab Kioshi's hand to not loose him.

"So, you sort of just figure out things as you're going and everything. Is there anything you want to try and do since you kinda have a blank slate?"