|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 12:01 am
Day 1: A New Arrival
Players: lil_nekochild and Tsu 5 e
Medium: AOL Instant Messenger Logs
Tsu crushed his damp cigarette out on the ground as he fumbled at the small sheet of paper in his hand. It had been a few days since he had received a strange call from a drink shop/bar that said they had some sort of package for him. "Where the hell is this place anyway?" Tsu grumbled as his finger smudged more of the wet writing. "It wouldn't be funny if I got lost." Just as he was about to give up, he finally found the door to the shop he was told about. Without a second to lose, he pushed against the door to get out of the cold rain that was seeping through his thin jacket. "Hello? Anyone here?"
"Who's asking?" A distant voice calls out from behind a couch.
Resisting the urge to reply back sharply 'me,' Tsu remembered his rule about first impressions. "It's Tsu, I got a call on the phone about some sort of package for me?"
"Oh yeah, come out of the rain and make yourself at home. I have hot cocoa..once...erk." She gropes around under the couch, trying to reach the pen she had dropped. Sucks that it went and rolled under the couch.
"You need some help there?" Tsu asked cautiously trying to find a body that matched the voice talking to him. He was glad to be out of the rain, but wasn't sure if he should still be nice to said voice, or could relax and act like he's dealing with a non datable prospect.
Star is pressed against the floor and reaching, nearly grabbing the pen, but as her fingers touch it, it rolls just a bit farther away. "Oh blast." She sits up and sighs, looking up at the new arrival, "Sorry...tempermental artistic instrument...rolled under the couch and refuses to come out. Not important though." She sighs and straightens up, dusting off her sleeve. "So let me look up your package and then you can ...do what you will with it."
Finally hearing an explanation and a body to go with the voice, Tsu decided it was time to be polite. "Why don't you just move the sofa...?" To be honest, polite wasn't always well defined when it came to Tsu...
"I'd rather be challenged." She replies, "..and I've deemed it not worth it. Bastardly pen." She hops over the counter and pulls out a book of records to match Tsu's name with his package.
"Ah the package, right right......" Tsu had been distracted again by girl that he had forgot his purpose of visit. "wait... what do you mean can do what I will with it? This is a bar / drink shop correct? I'm supposed to drink said package I thought...."
Star's eyes widen, "I most certainly hope not. If you do you die. Literally. Or have the worst case of diarrhea EVER IN YOUR LIFE, which will probably result in death from dehydration..." She muses aloud and scans the list, wondering if this man is really capable of handling his "package".
"Okay... so I DON'T drink the substance. I guess I look at it swirl around and say..." "...Oooh pretty...." Tsu was once again destracted by something else... "Anyway, one thing is for certain. I don't like pain/death... so I guess I won't drink it."
"That's good." She finds his name and goes into the back room to get him the special custom cup, painfully handcrafted by Raife herself. "You sure you can handle this? If you swirl the liquid, be careful not to let it spill out. You'll be a very sad panda if you do." She places the cup before him and looks up at him expectantly.
"Okay...fine, I'll look at the nice pale blue liquid on a good flat surface. and won't spill a drop" stopping to take a look at the cup he was now given. "Besides, you said Raife did the design for this? It looks amazing!"
"She's talented. What can I say?" She smiles, "So you really have no idea what this glass of stuff is capable of huh?"
"Short of killing me if i consume it... no."
"Well, you'll be in for a treat then. I find it funny though...that you'd buy something that you're pretty much clueless about."
"I know... it was sort of an impulse buy. I really thought I was just getting a cup designed by Raife...the fact that there is something more makes me even happier though."
"Well....I hope you make the cup happy too."
"...the cup has feelings?" Tsu was wondering what sort of joke this was now. Where the cameras were...or if the girl had just snapped.
"You'll see. You just have to watch and see. I know it sounds crazy, but things will happen. Maybe you'll change your mind about it being crazy and just plain unexplainable in an amusing sort of way." She smiles and winks, "Just enjoy it while it's silent."
"Anyway... so 'Silent...'? You make it sound like I'm gonna be taking care of a kid or something..." Tsu took a breath to really let it sink in what he was about to ask, "..If that's the case can I ask it not to call me dad? I'd think everyone would be better off if I wasn't a parent."
"Hey, it's your call. You'll be dealing with it when it happens." She replies vaguely.
"Okay... well thank you for the package" Tsu said warily staring at the pale blue substance. "Is there anyway I can cover it since it's still raining?"
Star ducks down and a small ripping noise is heard before her head becomes visible once again. She hands him a piece of plastic wrap. "Here you go. If you have any problems with your cup please come back and visit us."
Thankfully taking the piece of plastic wrap, Tsu starts making his way for the door. "I'm sure if something goes wrong, you'll be the first to know."
"I hope so. Raife always beats me to the punch."
"I'll call especially for you just to see what the bloody is going on."
She laughs, "Alright. You do that and I'll give you the skinny."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 12:47 pm
Day 15: The Plot Takes a Twist... I'm a... a Dad?!? Players: kai and Tsu 5 eTurning up the collar on his jacket, Tsu started to limp back to the labs through the rain. Only this time he had the little kid under his makeshift plastic wrap poncho. Self introductions would have to wait until he got back to the office, could dry off and put on some non wet bandages. Questions and answers would hopefully wait until then.
"So... what's a Tsu, Who or what is Astro Boy, Who's Marco, Who am I, Who are you and mostly Where am I going?" the little drink asked. Hope is sadly short lived. Was this what Star meant about enjoying the silence while it lasted. "I'm not taking another step with you as long as you don't answer my quesshuns."
Sighing, Tsu looked for a shelter from the rain. Shelter from the cold was going to have to wait until later. "I wanted to save introductions until later, where we could be warm and not outside in the rain, but it seems you can't wait. I'm Tsu, a doctor in some labs over in the Port of Gambino. I currently live there as well, but will move out at some point so we can have our own space as well."
"And youuu," Tsu continued, poking the kid gently with his index finger, "are Kai. For the time being, you're going to be living with me, so hopefully that works out. We'll talk about Astro Boy and Marco when we get back to my place, where I'm currently taking you. Now my turn for a question. What's with the tough guy act?"
"S'not an act" Kai huffed, "I am tough. 'Specially because that other guy there was making fun of me constantly. I want to make sure no one picks on me. I can't trust others to watch my back, can I?"
Tsu sighed, "I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience with Kyou's little guy. If you let me, I'll watch your back. Like I said, I'll try and help you get out of that bottle. It might not be immediately, but some point we'll get you free. Now let's get home before the rain."
================================================
Closing the door to his office, Tsu kicked off his boots, took off his jacket and got a dry change of clothes. After taking care of one problem, Tsu had to deal with his bandages. "Hold this for me, will ya?" Tsu mumbled handing Kai one end of dry bandages. "Just hold on tight, I'll take care of the rest." Tsu began working on changing his dressings and making sure the cuts were healing.
"What happened to you? What are all those scratches and red goo on your arm? Who or what is Astro Boy? Who is Marco? Are you my dad?" Kai's barrage of questions came once more. The last one sticking to Tsu and causing him to almost freeze in motion.
"D-Dad?! Why would you think I'm your dad?!" Tsu felt his mouth turn to cotton.
"Well, since I'm living with you now, and you're taking care of me. I just thought dad was the right term."
"I think... guardian, or big brother is a better term than dad." Tsu sweated, "As for your other questions, I got the cuts while hunting for herbs, and working on getting you another brother. This time a little brother. Marco is Marco Polo, he was an explorer and kids play a game in the pool where one person who is the explorer has his eyes closed, and calls out Marco and the other people that he's trying to discover call out Polo. Finally Astro Boy is a nuclear creation in a graphic novel created by Osama Tezuka in Post war Japan. Astro Boy is a robot and was named Might Atom, or Atomic Arm in Japan. In translation he's called Astro Boy. Does that answer all your questions?"
"One more question," Kai said, eyes wide from the information overload at once, but still satisfied to be getting answers, "Who are all these women you have around your room? What are they doing?"
Tsu's face was more pale than the skin of Kai. "Uh... uhmmmm those are..." ...pornos. Your big brother is a pervert. Don't grow up to be like him "... pictures of models. Some models get dressed up in nice clothes and pose, while others don't wear any clothes at all. It's sort of a preference thing." Tsu stammered a little more while stubbing out his damp cigarette. He was more aware of how the ashtrays were overflowing. "I better take care of these, and then we'll go sleep a little. Tomorrow we'll try and see about the bottle."
"Okay..." Kai said obediently. He had more questions, but they would have to wait until the morning. His eyelids were heavy after all. He watched Tsu go out with mounds of paper tube thingys in weird shapes and made a note that he should see what's inside later.
"Good night Kai" Tsu whispered and smoothed the hair on his charge with one finger.
"G'niii Mar- Tsu" Kai yawned sleepily and adjusted a little in his bottle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 1:00 pm
Day 18: Movie Night Players: kai and Tsu 5 eI can't believe Kai found my dirty mags Tsu worried while walking through the video rental shop What would Star and Raife say if they knew what my kid had learned in his first day at home? All I gotta do is rent some movies and then can spend a nice relaxing evening with Kai Tsu hadn't been able to get Kai out of the bottle and something deep down told him it was meant to be that way for at least a while longer. To keep Kai's mind off Tsu's failure, Tsu decided to rent some movies, including some that Kai thought might look interesting. Granted, Kai was just basing his decisions off the covers.
"Look!!! Looooooooooook!!!" Kai's calling had snapped Tsu out of his reverie "It's more models, but on film!!!" Without realising, Tsu was now taking his kid into the adult section of the movie rentals.
Okaaaay, moving onnn...Tsu thought, as he answered Kai, "Erm... yes, but we shouldn't watch those models. Their business is rather boring. Let's see what other movies we can rent." Inside, Tsu's guts were churning for telling a lie, but if it meant that Kai didn't lose more of his innocence, then it couldn't be bad. Right?
Moving onto the action section, Kai located just what he had wanted. There was a lot of smoke and fire on the cover and a man that looked like he was running. "Ooh Oooh!!! Thisss! Can I get this??" Kai's hands were slapping on Tsu's hand. "It looks cool!! The Twanspotter?"
"Trainspotting?!" Tsu spluttered aloud, remembering some brief moments of drugs, violence and other things. Imagine his relief when he realised Kai just misprounounced the name. "Ohhh, no... this is the Transporter," Tsu said breaking down the title into tran - sport - and er.
This movie would just start up the conversation about "No, we do not tie cute French-Asian girls into a bag and then smuggle them in the trunks of cars." Still not ideal, but much better than coversations of "Drugs are not cool, and here's why. Although yes I do drink and smoke, which are both drugs, so I'm a hypocrite and that's different. You should still listen to me." or else from some of those adult movies, "Sometimes the tales of the birds and the bees - which I'm not delving into tonight - don't match up to real life. In those times, there are other instruments that come in. You shouldn't watch though, because those are private matters." Tsu was really beginning to thank the stars he said he was only to be thought of as a big brother, or at most a guardian.
"Tran-sport-er," Kai repeated prodding Tsu a little bit harder, unaware that Tsu had gone off into another little reverie, "So can we get it? I wanna see it!"
"Oh, uhh... yeah sure." Tsu said absently, adding the movie to his pile. "The one thing, you can't watch these movies without me around. After all, if you have questions, you want them answered right away. That way I feel better that you aren't confused."
Checking out the movies, Tsu and Kai walked along the beach back towards the labs. Sometime soon I need to get an apartment or something so Kai has his own space when the time comes. The cool sea air felt good, and it wouldn't be bad walking from one of these condos along the beach to his work each morning.
================================================
Upon getting back, Tsu popped some popcorn in the complex staff room and pulled a bottle of water out of the refridgerator before coming back to his office and settling in a chair next to where he put Kai down. Looking at the stack of movies, Tsu realised they were very limited. The Transporter, a porno that Tsu had snuck into his pile, and also a couple other action movies, finally a documentary on the human body.
Sighing, Tsu grabbed the Transporter dvd and popped it into the laptop. Throughout the movie, Tsu couldn't help but notice how quiet Kai was, and how intently he was staring at the scenes. Still no questions and it was more than halfway through the flick.
By the time the movie was over, Tsu looked back at Kai, unsure if his kid was asleep or not. He almost fell out of his chair when he saw how wide Kai's eyes were. More lessons on why you shouldn't lean back in a swivel chair. Tsu thought with his heart pumping.
"THAT... WAS... COOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL!!!" Kai was gripping onto the bottle, but Tsu couldn't tell if he was whiteknuckling the bottle or not. "It was amazing how he solved all his problems, and kept with the girl. I wanna be like dat!!!!"
...and the bomb drops... Tsu thought glumly. "Okay, okay, okay." Tsu sighed, "We need to get something straight before you watch more action movies."
"Wat's dat?"
"Anyone of these people have their own circumstances. These people aren't able to talk their way out of their problems. Any acts of violence should be used as a very last resort. I want you to promise me that you solve your problems by talking them out, or coming to me if you need help. Don't automatically go to fighting. You got that?" Tsu became serious for one of his rare moments.
"I pwomise." Kai said a little dejectedly. The moment of the action cutting out, and Tsu's stern words caught him off guard.
Smiling, Tsu made sure to sound kind once more. "Okay, then there is one thing left for us to do." Tsu looked in Kai's eyes, and held out a pinky.
"Wat are you doing?" Kai looked at Tsu's eyes, and then at his rough looking pinky.
"Take the pinky in your hand Kai," Tsu told him, "This is called a pinky swear."
Kai dutifully took Tsu's pinky and they shook.
"There, the promise is sealed." Tsu smiled. "This way to seal promises can be for good things as well. Once you break it though, that's when it gets messy. Remember that."
"Okay," Kai started, "By the way, what were those loud noises? Like the booooms! With out the smoke and flamey stuffs?"
"Oh, you mean explosions?" Tsu asked, "They're kinda like the fireworks we'll see later this summer, but fireworks shoot way up into the air and sparks of pretty colors shoot out. What about them?"
"They kinda made my ears hurt." Kai said truthfully. "But I want to see those fireworks."
Ruffling the kids hair gently with his fingers, Tsu replied, "Then we'll go see it this summer for sure. It's been a while since I saw them myself. Although, now it's time for bed."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 2:15 pm
Day 24: A bit of air
Players: Kareme, Star, Kai and Tsu 5 e
Medium: AIM Log
Star is taking a late afternoon nap in preparation for staying up all night long to do ninja things. Not really, but that's the excuse she always gave anyway. Kareme has learned to accept the eccentric-ness of her caretaker. In fact, without it Star would be rather dull. The small tea child rather enjoyed such strange things like hanging chimes in the shape of assorted candies or rusted dishes. She hums and sways about in her teacup by the CD player tapping the forward button after the "enjoyable" part of the song had finished. Generally this was just the instrumental intro.
Tsu had no idea what he was doing back in Durem. He had just nabbed the little kid in his care not too long ago, and he was back at the bar. However Kai had seemed a little listless sitting around in his office constantly, so maybe Tsu could ask star if this was the norm and if there were other kids like him. Besides, Kai could stand to see the sun a little. He did look rather pale. Without pausing, Tsu pushed open the door to the drinkables shop.
Kareme spins around when she hears the tinkle of the door chimes as Tsu enters. She wonders if she should wake Star, but decides she can handle the shop. Placing her hands on her hips she tries to imitate Star and her confidence when dealing with customers or rough sorts of people. After a second her mimicked attitude breaks and she begins waving enthusiastically and calling, "Heelllooo! Helloooo!"
"Hello?" Tsu looked confused because he could hear the voice, but not where it was coming from. "Who's there?"
"Over there!" Kai pointed at the counter, "Hello!!!" He was waving one arm while the other kept balanced on the bottle. So far he hadn't been able to come unstuck from the mouth of the container. "I'm Kai? Yeah, that's what he called me. Kai! Who are you?"
Kareme bounces up and down in her tea, "I'm here I'm here! Hiiiiii! <3" She giggles when she sees Kai, finding him very strange and new. He didn't have a pumpkin cup, but something...like what David had? "Hiiii! I'm Karemmmme!" She replies with a bit of a sing-songy style of speaking.
"Welcome to...this shop!" She decides, remembering she wasn't just supposed to socialize, but watch the shop.
"You're gonna get a hoarse voice shouting back and forth," Tsu sighed, "Here, I'll move you closer to her and you can talk and play normally." He had noted that Kai seemed to finally relax himself a bit and stopped fidgeting with the bottle so much.
"Kareme" Kai repeated the name putting it in his mind. "I like it! It sounds like a good name." He said with a shy smile on his face. Thinking to himself, he thought her bright smile and sunshiny personality were relaxing somehow.... but he didn't know why. "Do you know who Astro boy is?" Kai asked suddenly, wanting to share some of his newfound knowledge with someone else.
Kareme beams, "Astro...boy? He must be a star boy! Because Star told me...astrogololgy...has to do with the stars...annnd boy is..a boy. Maybe he has a sister, like astro girl!" She guesses, throwing other random knowledge she had acquired and hoped it made as much sense out loud as it did in her head.
"Astro...Astro-whatsis deals with the stars?!" Kai asked, eyes wide in amazement. Tsu hadn't bothered to tell him THIS information after all. "Actually Astroboy is a character created by Osamu Tezuka in Potswar Japan... At least that's what Tsu, my guardian told me. He didn't tell me if there was an astro girl, but I could almost think there was." And she'd be bright just like you too! Kai blushed at his thoughts.
Kareme looks thoughtful, what was an Osamu Tezuka in Postwar Japan? It was a mouth full...."It's ASTROLOLOLO...GOLGY...." She corrects and then asks, "So Astroboy...is a thing made...in the sky? And what's a Osaaaaamoootezka...in a potsjapan?" Kai is very smart and she would have to learn everything she can from him since Star was napping and couldn't fill her mind with education.
"I don't know what potswar japan is. I guess they fought with pots in that time. Tsu never told me...." Kai started, "But Osamu Tezuka was not only a doctor, but an artist as well."
"Astro boy was a comic character that was the child of a professor and made out of nuculear? new clear? newcure powers. He was called Atomic arm, but then in places other than Japan called him astro boy."
Kareme looks dizzied by the sheer amount Kai knew. "...Wow.....I want an atomic arm. I don't know what it will do, but it sounds strong!"
"Doesn't it? No one would make fun of me for being stuck in this stupid bottle again." Kai grumbled. "If they did, I could just smack them with that arm."
Kareme giggles wildly at the idea, "Ohhh, you don't hit! You can just...tickle them! That always makes you win!"
"What is that..you are in anyways? It's like..something else I see...but I don't know."
"They'd still be laughing at me though" Kai lamented aloud. "They always laugh because I'm stuck in this bottle!!" as if to emphasize his point, he fidgeted once more showing he could go neither up nor down.
Kareme looks sympathetic for his situation since she could move very freely in her teacup. Maybe a little more than Star would like even. "I sowwyy....They wouldn't laugh at you, they laugh because tickling tickles!" She smiles, "Maybe if you wiggled like you were being tickled you can go down in the bottle?" She suggests helpfully.
"I tried that. It didn't work" Kai replied glumly. "As long as they don't laugh at me, I guess I could handle it. Still it's no fun being stuck here. Would you still play wif me like this?"
Kareme nods, "I would! The other people I know wouldn't laugh either! David is stuck too and I think it makes you higher than me!" Kareme holds her little arm up to illustrate the height difference, "We can play the arm game!"
Kai was really happy to find someone who didn't laugh at him. The other guy on the shelf with him would poke fun about him being stuck, and that upset him. Curious, Kai couldn't help but ask, "Arm game?"
"Or maybe it's the hand game, but we play. Like this." Kareme shows him three different hand signs. "This is rock..it smashes this one....sicsors....it cuts like this." She opens and closes her two fingers in a scissor-like action. "It cuts the paper." She holds her hand palm up.
"How does paper work?" Kai asked. He had already learned two of the types of hands.
Kareme thinks and stares at her hand as if it would magically talk to her and give her an answer, even though it's just her hand. "Umm...." She crumples her hand into a fist and thinks, "It makes a ball and pushes rocks away." She decides, not sure of what it really did, but it seemed right.
"So rock smashes scissors, scissors cuts paper to shreds, and paper shoves rock off the table? Is that how it works?" Kai thought he understood but was just asking to confirm.
Kareme nods, "Yes! So we hide our hand and then after three you choose on and we see who picked what!"
"Okay! I think I got it." Kai grinned. "let's go at it!"
Kareme smiles and holds her right hand to her chest, hiding it in an odd fashion, "Ready!? One...tew....three!" She holds her hands up like she's surprising someone, but her right hand is in a scissors formation.
As Kareme shouts "Three!" He revealed his hands to show a pair of fingers as well. "We both did scissors! What happens now? Scissors can't cut scissors..."
Kareme stares again thinking, "Maybe they become friends and don't fight"
Kai smiled, "Then let's become like two pairs of scissors. I'd like that the best."
Kareme laughs, "We can cut paper and make a mess!"
"That sounds like fun! Although Tsu gets a little upset if I cut too many of his papers. They are important he says, but all I see are pictures."
Kareme looks intrigued, "Ooohhh! Pictures of what? Star has lots of pictures on her desk too!"
"Maybe they are like twin scissors too!"
"These pictures are odd. They are women posing, but none of them are people that Tsu knows." Kai mused, "maybe he likes taking pictures in his free time?"
"What is a Tsu?" Kareme ask blankly, thinking about what Star has on her desk.
"Tsu isn't a what..." Kai smiled, "Tsu's a he. He happens to be the one that looks after me." Kai pointed at the confused looking man with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth.
Kareme stares hard at Tsu, as if unraveling the inner mysteries of the man. "He has something..on his lip." She points to the cigarette, never having seen one before.
"Is he on fire?" Kareme asks, a bit worried since the smoke didn't seem natural.
"No... he smokes paper thingys." Kai didn't remember the name, "all I know is that they smell weird... and he has a lot of them in his room. I hope later, I won't have to smell them too often."
Kareme is again intrigued, "Why does he smoke..what is smoke things?"
"He says he likes the taste of it. But that's all I know. Those smoke things are just weird smelling pieces of paper with brown strips inside." Kai had secretly taken one apart, just to see what's inside but couldn't figure it out.
Kareme pats her chin with a hand, trying to look intelligent and thoughtful like Star. Her mind is a complete blank however. "Star always told me not to eat paper....Maybe he needs a time out." She suggests.
"He doesn't eat the paper... Just burns it" Kai corrected. "Besides, How can I give him a time out? He's olldddddd compared to me."
Kareme doesn't seem deterred in the least by this, "Fire is bad. It makes forest disappear. It's easy to give him a time out. You point to a chair or a corner and you tell him to sit and think about what he did wrong."
"Somehow I don't think that will work easily" Kai said skeptically. "However I do agree fire is bad. Maybe I can get him to cut down or something?"
Kareme shrugs, "I tell Star what to do all the time. You have to just be sure. Make sure you don't give up! It usually works. We have to take good care of them otherwise they'll end up hurting themselves..."
"I'll try... but sometimes he doesn't listen. Hopefully this time he will."
Kareme thinks, wanting to help keep forest fires down, "Sometimes when I cry...Star will give me treats or listen to me better. Have you tried that?"
"I'm a guy! Guys don't cry!" Kai was indignant. He wanted to handle his dispute with Tsu man to man. "Besides it's only a few fiery papers. I don't let him smoke in areas full of trees."
Kareme tilts her head to the side, "I never knew guys don't cry..."
"At least I don't cry. I'm not sure about other guys."
"Why don't you cry? Don't you feel sad sometimes?" Kareme asks, with concern and curiosity.
"I cry sometimes.... but I don't show my tears to others. They might think I'm weak and pick on me again."
Kareme leans on the rim of her cup toward Kai, bouncing in place as she always does, "How do other people know when you're sad then? I don't think crying makes you weak, just sad... Why do people pick on you? You're fun!"
"I usually don't let others know when I'm sad. Just maybe you and Tsu. Others know if I'm mad or happy... but that's it. Others pick on me cos I am different"
Kareme finds this silly and sways her hips idly, "Buuuuut what if Tsu and me aren't around? Then who will make you happy when you are sad?"
"Then I guess it's just up to me to make myself happy when I'm sad."
Kareme looks shocked, "Can you do that???"
"I can at least look after my personal interests."
"...what is personal interests?" Kareme feels rather dumb next to Kai and wonders why Star hadn't mentioned all these things.
"It means, what matters to me, is for me to protect. I heard it from an action movie and had to use it." Kai explained.
"Wooooow Tsu lets you watch action movies? Star said they were too scary for me! What's it like?" Kareme's eyes have grown wide with intense interest.
"Tsu doesn't mind that I watch them as long as he's around. Some action movies are good... I really like the ones where it's spying, but too many splosions make my ears hurt." Kai said honestly, a little proud of the fact he got to watch action movies.
Kareme is fascinated, "Woooowwww..." Is all she can manage, "What's a splosions??? It sounds BIG!"
"'Splosions are like the big boom noise you hear! Lot's of smoke and booooom!!!! they are like... what are they called? fireworks!"
Kareme is once again lost by Kai's sea of knowledge, "Fireworks? Fire works on trees..."
"Fire works go... Booom!!! and then pretty colors of all sorts come flying out. They go way high in the air, and are really neat to see. Or at least that's what Tsu says. I wouldn't know myself."
Kareme sighs, thinking of how pretty it would be to see fire in the sky and not on the land where it would burn things. Although if it burned the stars that wouldn't be good either. Maybe the stars could dodge....Then a frightening thought comes to mind. "What happens to the fire when it goes up and comes back down??? Won't it make fire on the trees and houses?"
"You don't have to worry about the fire sparks as long as they shoot high enough Tsu says. Then maybe the stars could have the sparks from the fire keep them company without burning them."
Kareme Oooh's at the explaination and idea. "I can see that. Maybe they can be friends too...." O:
"I hope it can be like that. Everyone should have friends."
Kareme nods and smiles brightly, "Yes, yes. One day you'll meet the other friends I have. We can ALL be friends!" <3
"I'd really like that a lot..." Kai started.
"I hate to cut this short," Tsu spoke up, "But I have someone coming into the office for an appointment, and I can't bail on them at this time. We're gonna have to head back Kai." Seeing his downcast face, Tsu assessed the situation, "But we'll come by the shop again soon, I promise." Tsu smiled to Kai holding out a pinky. Taking Kai's pinky in his, Tsu shook the two hands. "And now the promise is sealed."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:57 am
Day 27: For every action there is an Equal and Opposite Reaction
Players: Kai and Tsu 5 e
Back to Gambino Isle and the Labs, Tsu talks to Kai about appropriate questions and inapporpriate questions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:59 am
Day 41: Changes of Scenery
Players: Kai and Tsu 5 e
Packing up and moving - a new place
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:09 pm
Day 58: A new Face Players: Kai, Tsu 5 e and ZavierAs soon as Kai heard the tumbler of the lock turn and the door swing open, he knew that Tsu was home from whatever emergency had called him away from putting more of the strange boxes away. In fact Tsu had been very particular about not letting Kai see the contents either. It looked like there was going to be an adventure at some point... but not any time soon sadly. Not like he could just walk over there himself after all. Instead he sat there absorbed in the pretty colors swirling around on Tsu's laptop while listening to some weird jokes by a man Tsu said was "Eddie Is Herd". He was pretty funny... but Kai had no idea what he was talking about.
"Kai... are you still in the same room as before?" Tsu called out, realising how stupid he sounded. Of course his other kid would be in the same room. After all, it's not like he's been successful in breaking the kid out of his prison of a bottle, and besides... Star had told him not to bother trying. "I want you to meet someone... I'll be right there!" Tsu called helping Zavier to navigate along the hallway that used to be completely crowded from adjusting to the move. All the way into the room Tsu claimed to be his "study" - really just a place to have his laptop set up with enough room to watch movies comfortably with Kai and now Zavier.
"Who is it?" Kai turned in his bottle to try and get a better view of the door. His kid brother was supposed to be coming at some point and Kai was getting more and more excited at the prospect of being a big brother to someone. Sure the move had been exciting, as Kai no longer had to suffer the smell of antibacterial cleaners all the time and feel like he was in a hospital. Still... now HE would be able to talk to someone and show how smart he is. "Is it my little brother?"
"...well yes... in a way." Tsu admitted, entering the door, shortly followed by a floating entity that had a swirl of cloth where his lower torso and legs should be, and had a set of wings folded cautiously to avoid bumping doors and other objects. "Meet Zavier, he's your new... erm... younger brother." Can't really say little after all. That was hardly the case. Turning to Zavier he motioned towards the bottle with a kid inside, "...and this is your older brother, Kai."
Kai just stared wide eyed at Zavier - while Zavier stared back a little. Granted Zavier was looking because he was curious as to what the little boy in the bottle was... but Kai was just... too shocked to really utter anything. "... Z... Zay... veer" Kai struggled to manage uttering something first. It didn't sound right to him somehow. "... Zay... Zave." He managed to nod a little at the shorter name. Everyone on an equal ground this way. Tsu, Kai, Zave. Sure monosyllabic names seemed to be childish... but everyone can remember that way.
Zavier floated there mulling over everything being told to him. He was excited to have an older brother... but for some reason he expected someone... well... bigger. "Kai..." the raevan repeated outloud. At least the name didn't sound that harsh on his ears, and well... maybe he could still learn more from his new brother.
"...Zay... Zave." Once again Zavier didn't mind the name. In fact he took to the shorter version a bit more. Smiling he responded, "Yes... I'm Zave. Nice to meet you Kai."
He was still a little overwhelmed though. Tsu had just shown him a few of the rooms, there was the kitchen, study, bedrooms for Kai, Tsu, and himself - each facing the beach. There were still many other rooms not taken up. Tsu had even shown a little space where he could go out and get fresh air if he wanted. There was one condition though. "Don't go out alone for the time being. I don't have a key for you yet, and I don't want you getting lost."
"I promise... but please take me to see that sandy area sometime. I like the wind." Tsu could hold up this bargain. He had been meaning to take Kai out more often as well after all.
================================================
"Well... now that everyone has been introduced, I've got to set up some rules for this house."
Both Zave and Kai looked at each other a little puzzled. Kai never remembered having rules before in the household and now Tsu was adding new thing after new thing. "Like... the rule about not asking questions that might get you in trouble? Kai recalled the problems he ran into when asking Star about explosions and mentioning the pretty naked women in Tsu's office.
"Somewhat like that." Tsu replied. That was the first rule... because it was made out of fear of losing his first... erm... little brother. There was no use trying to get accustomed to being called a parent after all.
"What sort of rules?" Zave asked, he had been unsure about Tsu, and well... still had a little bit of worry. Things in this house seemed interesting at least. "Will I be stuck in here most of the day? he made a face as he wanted to explore... not be cooped in a house all day.
"Could you just let me go over the rules? Ask questions after I finish."
"Sorry" Kai replied eyes downcast.
"Sorry" Zave repeated, mimicking in mannerisms and tone.
"It's fine." Tsu lifted both of their chins so they could look in the face. "No reason to have your face downcast.
"First... the rule that Kai mentioned is important. Rather than just saying don't ask questions that could get you or myself in trouble... please don't talk to strangers. You never know if the person is good or bad. People you have met before with me are fine to talk to.
Second... no fighting. Zave, you may be bigger than Kai... but don't pick on him. Kai... I know you're older. Please don't boss him around though. The two of you are important to me. No one is loved more or less.
Third... let me know where you go. It is fine if you'd like to come to work with me. I do work with other Raevans, so Zave... you can meet others that are similar to you. Kai, it might be boring... but at least you'll get to be out of the house. Until you get a key though... please stay with me.
Fourth... the toilet is off limits. Seeing as neither of you have a reason to use it... this should go without saying. When the time comes, you'll learn how to use it and everything.
Fifth... one creature/person to the bathroom at a time. This is to wash your hands only. There shouldn't be more in than one person in there anyway. It's a little disturbing. Only exception is if you need help washing your wings, Zave."
"In any case, I'll leave you two to mingle if you want, or continue watching things on the laptop. Even explore the house a little more. I need to start dinner too and finish unpacking some extra boxes..." And Tsu was gone.
Zave had so many questions he wanted to ask, he didn't know where to start. So for the time being he floated around looking at things, before he too wanted to start asking Tsu some questions. "I'm going to find Tsu, I have some more to ask him. Do you want to come along?" Zave thought to ask his new brother before just leaving.
"Sure!" Kai was excited that he was offered to be escorted by the floating creature. "It'll be like an adventure!" Kai already had more plans for adventures for later. Such as discovering the contents of those mysterious boxes Tsu was moving around in the back. Sort of like a treasure hunt.
Carefully picking up the bottle his brother - who looked nothing like him or Tsu - was in, Zave floated out the door to search for the last member of this new "family". Very softly, Zave tried out some words that had popped into his head. "I'm home."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 1:13 am
Day 69: A Grand Adventure
Players: Kai and Zavier
The tour of the back room
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:24 am
Response to metaplot prompt #1 on page 258. Finished Friday Oct 20, 2006 at 00:27. "How about Spam Musubi?" Tsu suggested weakly, turning away from the laptop screen to look his bottle in the face. He needed to be inspired for a potluck dish idea, and frankly his lack of creativity was not helping. Hence he was resorting to asking Kai for help.
"What's Spam?" Tsu feared that was going to be the response from the beginning... and well Kai just confirmed it. Technically the dreaded response would be "Spam? Ewwwwww!!!!", but the other response was a close second. Sighing and flipping a few more pages of the online cookbook, Tsu finally settled on the yakisoba. Something easy that could also have large amounts for many guests. The only problem? He was out of ingredients and was in need to go to a store. Kai had shown interest in attending.... he's been kinda bummed not having anyone to hang around with. The least Tsu could do was go along with his wishes. He could almost kick himself for getting so tangled up with kids. Sighing, Tsu grabbed his knapsack, Zave and Kai before headed to the supermarket for some vegetables and meat.
================================================
"Ooohhh!!! Skittles!!! Can we buy some for Skittle water?" Kai looked hopefully at Tsu as they passed through the candy aisle looking for the Oriental Foods section.
"Skittle Water? What's that?" Zavier was floating a little ways back, but could still hear the conversation quite well. Skittle water intrigued him a little to say the least.
"Kareme taught me! You take skittles and use it to flavour water and make it pretty colors. We can make some together sometime!" Kai explained to Zave.
"Fine... we can get some. I need to get the sauce mixture stuff and then we'll hit produce and meat for the remaining items. Just skittles then?"
"Yeah! Thank you Tsu!!!" Kai chirped happily as Tsu placed a large bag of the classic flavor Skittles into the cart beside the boy. Pushing the cart down the aisles, Tsu managed to fill up the cart with Worchester sauce, Okonomiyaki Sauce, Cabbage, Carrots, Onions, Mushrooms, and thin slices of pork before heading out of the supermarket.
================================================
"Boooooooooooreddddddd" Kai's voice managed to squeek out loud enough to be heard from the room over as Tsu was still double checking the ingredients for yakisoba to the recipie he had copied off the internet. "I wanna show Zave how ta make skittle water! Can I do that Tsu?"
Sighing Tsu went to the cabinet to grab a couple cups and proceeded to fill them with cold water. "Alright, I'm coming, I'm coming." Tsu said bringing out the cups of water. Zave was floating a little bit further behind with the large red bag of skittles. The colors on the little round pellets intrigued him. Kai, on the other hand seemed to know what he was doing and wasn't really paying attention to the pellets, but instead the cup of water that was within reach to drop the skittles in.
"Red and Yellow in this one and Purple in the other one." Kai commanded with confidence as Zave set to work separating the colors and watching as the pellets dissolved in the water... changing the normally clear substance into light shades of pink and purple. He still didn't understand why they should ruin perfectly good water, but at least Kai was happy. "Good! I'll set to work on the purple one some more... you just keep using orange, red, and yellow to your liking."
"What are we going to do with the drinks after we finish?" Zave looked at the substances suspiciously. "I'm not sure if anyone would be able to drink this."
"Well Tsu drank one before... but he choked. Maybe too many skittles? Kai remembered a few weeks back. "The glass is too big for me to pick up... so I guess you can try the water and tell me how it tastes? Too bad Zave would find this to be famous last words.
================================================
"All finished in the kitchen. You about ready to go Kai? I don't want to be too late." Tsu came back with a bowl of yakisoba around 8 pm. "Zave are you going to be alright alone with Lazzie? Hey Kai, where is Zave?"
"He's in the bathroom. He looked a little pale after trying both the skittle waters." Kai said sheepishly. This was the second failed experiment of his after all.
"What?!? He drank the water?" Tsu was beside himself with worry. "We really need to get going... but I can't help but worry about Zave too...."
With a flush of the toilet Zave emerged from the bathroom. "I'm fine now. Just didn't agree with me. It was too sweet. I'll get some rest I guess." With that he floated off towards his room for some fresh air and rest.
"Okay then... Well.... I guess Kai and I are going." Tsu said as he picked up his charge in one hand and held the food in the other. "Just take it easy, and we'll see you later." Locking the door behind him, Tsu rushed to the train station. After commuting, it was going to be cutting close to the meeting time on that note.
True enough, Kai and Tsu showed up outside the door around 11:50 pm. His coat collar was turned up against the cold, but at least there was no rain this time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:54 pm
Response to Part Two of metaplot prompt #2 on page 274. It wasn't until about 2 am that Tsu and Kai arrived back at the apartment. Neither was feeling very tired, despite the late night and weird events, so they decided to compare notes about what they experienced. The whereabouts of Zave were still unknown, but as long as he was keeping out of trouble, there was no problem.
"So what did you think of Evie and Drucilla? Same level as Kareme or more like Kaze? What did you think about that weird rain? It kinda tasted like peppermint to me for some reason..."
"Peppermint?!? I thought it was more like Strawberry Skittles!" Kai exclaimed. He had a puzzled look on his face from the difference in tastes. Weren't they at the same place? However his short attention span didn't let him worry about that too much. "Evie is fun to play with! Drucilla is okay.... nicer than Kaze, but not as nice as Evie or Kareme."
"Strawberry Skittles? Really? Interesting. I really don't know what all that was about. Since Raife or Star weren't there, I guess we can't ask them for help either." Tsu sighed. He wasn't sure what to do anymore.
"Hey Tsu? I feel kinda funny. Funny and sleepy." Kai stated rubbing his eyes for emphasis.
"Okay, it's time for bed. I really don't know what to say about anything that has been going on. All I can say is that Halloween brings out the weirdest events. That and Friday the 13th. Anyway, go to sleep and I'll check up on you."
Tsu was really fretting. He needed to talk to Jack and Caleb to see how their kids were doing. However it was late and he didn't really have any way to contact them at hand. He'd just have to bump into them or something. He couldn't even call Star at the shop at this hour. Would he have to diagnose his own kid? He never had to test his own kid before. Whatever it was he was going to do, it would have to be saved for the much later morning. He suddenly realized how tired he was feeling too. The alcohol catching up and fogging up his brain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:38 pm
METAPLOT PART II
Here we start our post-pinkopolyptic adventure! For the rest of our metaplot, you'll be on your own personalized RP adventure with a staff member guiding you, post for post until the inevitable conclusion! The faster you post, the faster you get to your goal! Responses must be at least a paragraph, and if you ever go more than a week without responding, you're out! (C'mon, guys. It doesn't take a week to write a paragraph.) These don't have to be as long as the original metaplot #1 and #2, as we're going for more an RP style than a journal style. This could take anywhere from three weeks (four if you're unfortunately with Raife) to three months, depending on how you play this out! LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED, BABY.
All is quiet and after a long night one would expect it to be. When Kai had returned home he was a bit pink from the dust. It seems to have faded away now, so no harm done right?
What is unusual, however, is the amount of bubbles in Kai’s bottle. Sure it had always been carbonated, but like this? At first it’s not very noticeable, but as the night progresses the steady stream of carbonation can become a little tickly. When passing by, the extra amount of carbonation is audible. Stranger yet, the mouth of Kai’s bottle seems to have grown a little snugger than usual. That can’t be good, can it? What could have caused this?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:15 pm
"Hsch--- oo!!! Dangit!!"Kai started sneezing for the fifteenth time in the course of an hour. The light hurt his eyes, the bubbles tickled his nose and he had a splitting headache - not to mention he could still taste pink. "Is this what a hangover feels like...?" He mused aloud just as Tsu passed by the open door. If the effect was to make Tsu panic and almost fly off the handle, then goal achieved.
"What do you mean hangover?!?" Tsu was spluttering. "You shouldn't have tasted alcohol before! Who gave it to you? Kaze? Drucilla? Zave?
"No... I just mean I'm headachey, sneezing a lot, and my eyes hurt." Kai corrected.
"Oh. Then that's not a hangover. You also forgot to mention you had a little accident it would seem." Tsu said, pointing at a little of the liquid that seemed to be from the bottle. He finally calmed down enough to think straight. "I guess it isn't too big a problem as long as you don't run out of liquid.... however it IS a little odd for you to be desk wetting this late in the stage, and a bit of a pain in the a** cleaning up each time."
"Stop treating me like a little kid already!!!" Kai shot back haughtily and pouted up at Tsu. It was bad enough that Kaze did it to him constantly, he didn't need it from his big brother too.
"Sorry." Tsu grinned sheepishly. "Anyway, if there isn't anything else, I guess we won't worry about calling a state of emergency."
"There was something else I wanted to tell you. This bottle pinches around me too much. I don't get it... did I get fat?!? Kaze will make fun of meeeeee. I want to fit in my bottle again!" Kai wailed and flailed about. Stirring up even more bubbles from the cloudy depths. "It's not fairrrr hrrrrrr---choooooooo!!!! DANGIT!!!!"
Before Tsu could consider cutting the bottle lip to fit the noticeably larger drink/kid, he really needed to call the staff at the bar and figure out what on earth he was to do. After all, it would be a disaster if Kai fell out and it would be all Tsu's fault. I just hope they answer this time... he fretted as he made his way to the hall phone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:56 am
What is terribly unfortunate for Tsu is the shop owners seem to be MIA. No one answers the phone. Man, how flaky is that? Not at the shop for their own party and now not answering the phone. Sheesh.
I guess that leaves you to handle this one on your own.
Kai seems to be doing better though, the excess carbonation seems to have died down after his outburst.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:05 pm
"C'mon... pick up the phone ffs!!!" Tsu cursed... biting off the actual curse words before his kids picked up any more bad habits. The phone was ringing away, and still no answering machine or normal person picked it up. "Playing hookey from your own party, and then not being there to handle the aftermath?!? Talk about irresponsible." The dead silence and sound of the phone ringing seemed to shoot the accusations back at Tsu. Slamming down the receiver, Tsu stalked back towards Kai's room to check up on him.
"You doing okay bud?"
"Yeah... the bubbles stopped being so fizzy. I can stop sneezing so... ma- mah- MAH Choo! Dangit!"
"That's good, but the top is still a little tight for you, isn't it?"
"It's pinching me. I would hold my breath before and there was a lot more room... but now it's still a bit tight."
"Well... hold very still when holding your breath. I'm going to be cutting away the top for you, so you can relax a bit more. Hopefully that extra room will be all you need for the time being." Tsu said digging out a scalpel he kept around home.
"Okay..."Kai said a little suspiciously as his eyes fall on the sharp cutting instrument in Tsu's right hand. Tsu's a doctor though he thought I'm sure he'll be just fine.
I just gotta make it seem like I know what I'm doing Tsu thought concentrating from keeping his hand steady while slicing into the lip of the bottle, opening up the top for Kai to move around more in.
"Okay... you are all set for the bottle. I'll go ahead and watch to make sure nothing goes wrong... since I am still worried about the random symptoms appearing and then disappearing." Tsu announced as he got things together to prepare for a vigil.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
