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[[Pools of Doom]]

"A real venetian mask...Bauta, I would love to visit your shop! Just be forewarned that I might not leave it for a while...I love masks..." Taking the delicate work of plaster art into his gloved hands, Isi excitedly began to turn it over in his hands, his eyes filled with admiration and desire. He had wanted a mask for so long, but he could never pin which one he wanted. He knew that he could only afford one, but he didn't know which one he would like to buy. So, giving up on picking one, Isi had wanted to make one himself. But that endeavor crashed long before it began. He didn't know how to make these masks and neither did he have the experience. Masks were like a pot of gold to Isi, so when he was finally able to touch one and hold it in his hands, he felt himself glowing with excitement.

A couple seconds later, he found himself glowing with embarrassment. Unexpectedly, a warm, slightly moist pair of lips planted themselves on Isi's cheek as he inspected the mask. His entire body froze up with surprise, as if the kiss were a kiss of cold from Roux. For a split brief moment, Isi was torn between being angered and irritated and embarrassed and giddy. If he hadn't already been excited by Bauta's mask making, he might've snapped at Natsuki, but this was not the case. He was prone to weakness and Isi gave in to a side of himself that rarely revealed itself.

Isi had expected Natsuki to simply edge away when their bodies brushed against one another...Not for her to turn around and give a playful peck on his cheek! Il Pagliaccio felt his face heat up so much that he feared for his makeup melting off and he gave a choked 'eep'. To him, Isi thought that the soft kiss was the kind of kiss that a mother would give and there was a pang deep in his chest that yearned for motherly affection, like he had read in books. He knew it wasn't though. It was far more playful.

He wanted to give the woman a confirmation that she was not old, somehow affirm her, but all that came out of the young boy's mouth was a garbled tumble of broken words. He tensed his body in and compressed himself. So, at a loss for what to do, Isi threw the mask over his face to hide his reddening cheeks and the guilty smile that was creeping over his cheeks.

(Pools of Doom)

Bauta suddenly wished he had a mask for himself so he could hide his shocked expression. Kissing as a greeting was one thing but...but...but...he could feel the flush creep under his skin at such a casual and public display of affection.

He nodded again at Miss Natsuki, keeping his eyes averted and hoping it was too dim to see the color in his already dark skin. Oh dear, women these days. They were quite brash, weren't they.

The harpy cleared his throat, desperatly trying to resume talking and divert the awkward moment. "You are most welcome to visit, Isi." he said, regaining some of his lost composure. "I would be honored to have you come. Feel free to stay as long as you wish, there are many things to see. I have some masks that are centuries old that my great-grandfather crafted and are quite special. I have also taken a hand to marionettes, though I have never been as skilled as my father in that particular art. Perhaps if you had an afternoon free, I could show you how I create them? An extra set of hands would always be helpful."

Bauta glanced back as Natsuki departed...and almost swallowed his tongue. So bold! Oh my, oh dear, oh sweet gods, women in short clothing! His feathers ruffled in scandal.

[[Pools of Doom]]

Good thing that Isi's face was covered by the mask that was too big for his mien, otherwise, the boy would've seen the show provided by Natsuki. The mask was just big enough so that the eye holes were underneath where his actual eyes were and he was blind to the spectacle. If he had seen it, he would've blanched and definitely gotten angry at the gesture. So it was a good thing that he didn't see, otherwise his good mood would've been ruined.

About the time that she straightened herself up and waltzed away, Isi carefully lifted up the mask so he could see through the holes and he glanced up at the harpy behind him, "Is it safe?" he asked. Then he noticed that it wasn't only he, who had been embarrassed and the boy felt a bit more inclined to open up. From now on, he'd definitely be a little wary around women of Natsuki's strength and confidence lest he run into that embarrassing situation again.

When Bauta suggested that he go along on a mask making class, Isi nearly let a great burst of laugh escape his painted lips, "I would LOVE to, please! I've always wanted to!"

[[Pools of Doom]]

Isikoro nodded his head in excitement as he held out the mask to be returned to its true owner. He felt a dim hope well up in his chest, the same kind of hope that Isi would feel when he heard Aphi's footsteps ascend the wooden porch steps or the call of his voice as he announced Isi, I'm home! whenever he came back from a day at the kitchen. He had always liked theater, but all he knew about it he read in books during his self-studies or heard on tapes or, God forbid, from Beauregard's mouth. Masks he knew from other texts and picture books. Carnival, especially Italian carnival, seemed so far away to Isi, but he always wanted to reach out for it. It was one of his hopes to go to the carnival some day with a costume of his own. Though, when he thought that, his ever present disability weighed his hopes down with doubt and regret.

"Your shop is in Durem, you say? I can make that journey. Perhaps I can even get a ride with Aphi...Yes! I want to learn everything there is to know about mask making. I've always wanted to make a mask of my own. That'd be fantastic!

[[Pools of Doom]]

Excited and hopeful of the future, when he'd hitch a ride with Aphismet into Durem and visit Bauta at his Italian Mask-making shop, Isi waved goodbye to the harpy. "Thank you for coming to the party," Isi called out as the other walked away and into the home, apparently searching for his friend "I'll see you around."

Then with a rare happy sigh, Isi turned and rearranged his crutches so that they leaned on one side of the bench. For once, he felt the ghost of happiness tickling his stomach. After all the recent events, Chloe...Aphi...Nightmares, and more, Isi finally felt himself momentarily relaxed. Sure he still felt the heavy burden on his soul, the monster that lived in his gut and twisted his innards with worry and concern, but for at least a moment, he was happy. So, content, Isi laid back along the bench and stretched out his small teenage body. A small smile crept onto his lips as he let his eyes close and he let himself be.

((Shadow Chateau))

Alex was so engrossed in her own curious thoughts and Gwee-comforting that she seemed to momentarily forget about the rest of the humans in the vicinty. A cool arm across her bare shoulder was quite the startling reminder, earning a lofted brow and almost a snide remark until she heard the voice of a female. Sharp green eyes turned to meet the stunning grey of her arm candy, her lips slipping into a wry smile. The Ada-persona blanketed her once more. "A lady never tells," she purred, not at all looking the hardass gun-toting agent with two baby Gwee clutching her. She made an admirable try, anyway.

Her attention moved over Lara's face, much like she had with Jae; she recognized the person, no doubt, but she was having a hard time pinning down who it was. It was too easy to associate the lovely lady next to her with the real thing, and Alex knew her imagination was quite wild, making it difficult to translate Lara Croft into someone real. Was it that sultry smile she recognized? A little. Was it those keen grey eyes? Yes, something about the eyes--

--reminded her of a cold night, well on the way to being a year ago, where she received a broken phone call.

"Natsuki?" she breathed in surprise, finally recognizing her dear friend. It felt like ages since she'd see the spry young woman, having last seen her while she strutted her stuff for the summer festivities that had introduced her to Yuffie and the fun-bantering Jun.

[[Pools of Doom]]

As a fact, silence never lasts for long. So just as Isi had closed his eyes to enjoy the Old Hallow's Eve serenity around him, a loud voice exploded from no where, ripping apart the silence that had decended upon the peaceful boy. It was then, as well, that Isikoro snapped up from the bench and slipped off in his surprise. After having rolled into the cool dew-wet grass of the marsh backyard, Isi pushed himself up without the aid of his crutches and dusted off his white costume, snapping a hideous glare towards the duo who had entered his backyard and broken the silence. He didn't know them, but by playing "Guess Who" in his mind, Isi was able to connect the dots. Only Doctors were going to be dunked so...This had to be a doctor. There were only two doctors he knew of at the Lab, this was not Kyou, so it had to be...

"Tsu," Isi growled with contempt. Reaching for his stilts, because he could only stand for so long, Isi fixed his arms into the slots and proceeded to the tanks with a slow hobble.

"Hell, I'll give it a try," Isi answered to the yelling man, his face pulled into the perfect clown-like frown. He wouldn't mind trying to throw a ball at the target. In fact, he was quite strong in the upper arms area because of his incapability. After having to swing himself around on crutches for his whole life, Isi was quite muscular for a kid his age. He knew that the sight of a cripple to this man might cause a bubble of chuckling disbelief, but he didn't care. Not right now at any rate. All that was on his mind was to...dunk. That. Doctor.

((Shadow Chateau))

Aside looking from a two headed Lara Croft, Natsuki gave herself away with her signature smile and a wink over her glasses. "Ladies, it has been far too long," she cooed, greeting Ada and Yuffie respectively. Though Alex may try, Natsuki could find her like straight man in a Rickie Martin concert. With a gorgeous dress like that, she couldn't help but stand out. Giving Yuffie a once over, it took Natsuki a couple of seconds to place the face. "You're Jun's girlfriend, right? I believe we met at the summer charity event. Thanks for letting your boyfriend rent me in the name of generosity. "

Seeing a familiar pink Gwee hanging around, she turned her attention to Parfait giving her a peck on the snout and petting the pink dragon gently. "You can blame the costume and the Gweezilla set up on me. Long story, involving a very massive parfait castle. I couldn't help myself." she cacked, putting the heavy English accent on and stroking Headmitri with a mischievous smile. "This little guy is "Headmitri'... I mean Fredmitri. He's Mouse's chimera, but I found him wandering around outside by his lonesome. Anyone missing a Jacktopus?" Natsuki called out, over the music, hoping that Mouse was close by, and Fredmitri had been kidnapped by someone and dragged to the party without his owner's permission.

Then her ears perked, from outside the house, she hear the voice that gave her goose bumps, especially when in close proximity. "Mind if we circulate? I want to make sure Headdie here gets returned to his mistress. And I can't help but want to go outside and try out my throwing arm with the dunk tank? Are you ladies up for a little shameless mischief?" Lara posed, motioning to the window where Tsu could be seen mounting the plank over the cold pool of water. Tossing her head in the direction with a wink, she couldn't help but have a girlish smile on her pouty, glossy lips.