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"Julian Sweet is..." Natsuki replied with a certain softness to her voice. Her eyes remained focused on the stage, watching him closely. Without realizing it, Natsuki looped her arm around We'rika's, seeking comfort from her friend. She knew it was rude to help herself to his person without asking permission, but if the Huiochol had any sense for women, and his friend in particular, he'd be able to tell she was distracted. Leaning her head onto his shoulder, her grip loosened as she finished her sentence, "...a scientist."

Natsuki usually participated in conversations far better than she was at that moment with We'rika. Their usual banter would have been enough to satiate her, but in that moment, all Natsuki wanted was her friend beside her. Her thoughts were scattered, replying the events over and over in her head. Part of her wanted to rush up to that stage and talk to him, but the other kept her firmly planted on the spot. She was unsure if it was fear of humiliation or Julian's wrath if she confronted him in public, but either way, she simply stood there, watching him with focused stormy gray eyes.

"Are you ready to go up there?" Natsuki said, hearing the auctioneer open the bidding for Julian's date, leaving her with a most precarious decision. In their final moments together prior to the auction, she was the aggressor in their kiss. For a lady of her upbringing, it was one thing to be aggressive in private, but another to do so in public. Hands of hungry women... and men started flying up, and Natsuki simply bit her cherry red lips, waiting in anticipation. She wanted to see how he'd react, but only if she lost to another person. Her pulse spiked at the bids went higher and higher, and it sank like the Titanic when the winner turned out to be... a guy.

"I don't think I am..." she said nervously as her hand tightened around his arm, "I don't know if I can do this..."

"To know for sure you should ask one of the doctors," Kali suggested with a shrug. While it was a topic she was interested in, she was hardly an expert. All the signs pointed towards this woman having one of the coveted essences, but Kali was no scientist to be able to pull numbers and statistics out of her head. "I think that when it comes to Raevans, it's best to assume you're not imagining anything."

A quick glance over at the ice cream stall had Kali reassured that nothing horrible was happening (luckily, or perhaps unluckily, she'd missed the boob-grabbing). She extended a hand to the pirate. "Kalindara, by the way. It seems like we'll be meeting again more often if you're joining this project, too."

Aphismet blinked in susprise at the boy's question. He let out a laugh, although it sounded a little too hysterical to honestly be from his amusement. His answer held an edge, showing that he would be talking with Riv later. "W-what? If Riv has ever...? No, Tyson, Rivener's never killed or eaten anyone before. He can't eat anyone, seeing as he has no tummy to keep food in!" Aph purposefully refused to say that Rivener couldn't kill, however... He was certain it was within the Scorpion's ability.

"Why would you ask that? Did he scare you? Rivener can be very scary, but that's just what he does when he's annoyed. He didn't really mean it, I'm sure," the cook cooed, reaching forward and mussing up the boy's hair.

"You can't..eat?" Namini interpreted as she was still stunned by Tari's beauty. But then her eyes were drawn away from the female Raevan's raven hair and metallic gauntlets..to her breast, in which Tari was grasping proudly. Blushing fiercely, Namini looked away and let out a shaky laugh. Tari said something to Lazarus and her about hair and sakura disappearing? but Namini simpled nodded and said, "Really now?.." though her tone showed her embarrassment and effort to avoid looking back at Tari. Then she heard a slight shifting noise and turned back to see Lazarus leaning over the counter to allow Tari to feel his hair.

Well..this was awkward. Shifting her feet uncomfortably Namini somehow squeaked a request to Lazarus. "Can I..um..still get the..the..bana-bananana-banana boat?"

After everyone had drifted away from their booth to address the other awakening activities of the fair, Isi and Eiry took a moment to relax at their booth. Isi leaned on his crossed arms on the table, lying his head on the crook of his arm as he drearily fought back the lulling whisper of a calm summer day. The cash box was secure, lying rested like an overstuffed robot, satisfied from the meal it had been served. Judging by the money they had made, and the money that had been donated (holy CRAP Isi was still geeking out about it!), the Lab would have a nice sum to rebuild the Lab with. Isi also took this time to relax from the repeated questions of the newbie fair goers. He didn't even want to think about how many times he retold the tragic tale of the smoking Lab. Now, he just enjoyed the fair smells, the fair chatter, and the warm breeze that made the balloons dance and bump into one another on an invisible dance floor.

In a way, Isi felt disconnected from the crowd, sitting here behind the booth, but then again, he always felt disconnected. Being as young as he is and as mature as a twenty-five year old at the same time made it difficult to find someone to talk with. Well, if he could find someone to talk with. Because of his weak legs and the crutches lying next to his stool, it was hard to merge with the crowd and meet new faces. At the same time, Isi was glad. He didn't want to deal with probing questions or assuming stares as he hobbled by. Isi rolled his head to the other side of his arms. Well, perhaps ... It wouldn't be so bad to know what was going on. Usually at fairs and events and birthday parties, he found a place to sit down and watched the scene unfold before him. It was rather like watching a foreign film with no subtitles ... So one could imagine how the crippled boy felt at the end of each event.

Unfulfilled. Unsatisfied. Hungry.

There wasn't much he could do about it, though. It was a dead end at every turn when Isi considered and mulled over the possible options.

Though...Things have been different since Eiry came along.

The boy rolled his head again to the other side of his arm and lifted his neck slightly so he could glance at his charge. Eiry, satisfied with his job with the balloons was taking what appeared to be a well deserved rest.

Now he didn't feel as lonely with Eiry to teach and watch over. Well... In that case, Isi thought with a slow smile, I'm just fine right here.

Aphismet smiled sadly. Rivener could be such a jerk sometimes, impatient and intolerant... but to scare a child this much? Especially Tyson, who normally seemed so full or energy and unstoppable.

"Awww, Ty. Rivener just isn't very nice, but he certainly wouldn't hurt you. And besides, I'LL protect you. I wouldn't let anything happen to you while I'm around." He grinned and sat up. "Think of Rivener's friendship like a treasure to be won; it doesn't come easily, but it's like a Quest! If you do things right he'll be your friend, and then won't you feel even more special for having won?" He tried to encourage the boy. This subdued Tyson wasn't the same, it made Aphi incredibly sad.

Munchies could also detect something was wrong. She chrrrred and sat up in the boy's lap, balancing on her back paws and placing her front ones on Ty's chest so that she could reach his nose with her muzzle, giving it a friendly little lick.