Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was a quiet day in the park for chess. Kirin had only been able to find one of his usual chess partners - perhaps his fault, since the Barren Pines thing meant he hadn't been here in over two months. So even though Kirin and his partner both apologised for what was sure to be an underwhelming game, Kirin sat and played just the one partner, as opposed to his preference of playing two or three games at a time.

They were halfway through their game when a scuffle broke out behind them. Lots of "eeep!"ing and jeering and then... silence.

Kirin turned around to see a group of boys walking away, looking entirely too pleased with themselves. A pair of shoes were sticking out of a nearby trash can - legs still attached. "That happen often?" he asked his partner.

The old man scoffed. "Some people don't know how to win gracefully. Sooner or later someone was bound to take offense. Interesting way of going about teaching a brat a lesson, though. Young kids these days..."

Breaking in before the old man could start one of those 'in my day' speeches, Kirin asked, "And... no one's going to help him out?"

His partner was calm and unconcerned. "That's not the first person he's mouthed off to around here. Maybe it's not how we would have chosen to go about putting him down a peg or two, but that doesn't mean we'll complain. Besides, these old bones..." He trailed off and gave Kirin a wink. "Why don't you go help our damsel in distress? I don't think today was going to be my day to beat you, anyway."

Kirin gave the old man a tiny smile, barely there. At least here people didn't mind if he was cold. Some, like his current partner, thought it was the reserved demeanour a "nice young lady" should be displaying. Others didn't care as long as Kirin played a decent game of chess.

"I'll see you next weekend," Kirin said as he rose from his seat. Making his way over the boy in the trash can, he considered how to best go about helping. Arms and legs were up in the air, just out of the trash can. Had they shoved the kid in bent in half? Ouch.

Thankful that he was wearing jeans under a shorter skirt, Kirin braced one leg on the trash can. He grabbed at the kid's wrists with his hands. "I'm gonna pull on three," he warned. "If you can help, that'd be peachy. One... two... three." Kirin pulled.

Kirin nodded at the male she'd rescued. Older than he'd thought, probably Kirin's own age. The height and build had fooled Kirin into thinking the 'victim' was younger. It wasn't often Kirin found anyone past puberty that was the same height as himself.

"You're welcome," Kirin said, not entirely sure the boy was welcome, but it was the appropriate response to someone saying thank you. Just like seeing someone stuck in a trash can lead to pulling them out - admittedly, that exact scenario wasn't covered by Kirin's mental flowchart, but it was similar enough to ones that were in there that Kirin hadn't had to hesitate for long.

He repeated his earlier question, though this time asking the victim directly. "This happen often?"

Kirin raised an eyebrow at the mention of happening in regards to things other than chess, but didn't force anything. Lord knew Kirin was a b***h, but this guy must be something special if people kept stuffing him into bins (or other objects) over it.

"The world is over-populated with idiots," he agreed. "And they just keep breeding. Or possibly in-breeding, judging from the sudden leaps back in evolution to cave men."

Kirin stepped to the side, thankful for the tap next to the bin. He washed his hands and then gestured the other male was welcome to take his turn, if he wanted to wash himself after being stuck in trash. A slight wrinkle appeared on Kirin's nose, glad he hadn't had to climb in or anything. He'd want a scalding hot shower, if it had been him in there.

"I play a good game," Kirin said, pretending modesty. "I prefer speed chess or playing multiple games at once, but I haven't been around for the past few months so most of my normal partners are missing. I had to settle for a normal game." Which was utterly boring, but better than nothing, Kirin supposed.

"I'm Kirin, by the way. And you are?"

"Hmm, that'd be very interesting, thank you," Kirin accepted the offer of a game in the future. He wanted to see for himself how Zac behaved - whether it was truly as bad as people were making out, or just the wrongs egos being bruised. "It's truly rare to find an intelligent person these days. I'd tack 'my own age' onto the end, but adults are just as moronic as children."

Kirin made a mental note that Zac had been playing for money. Maybe that was also the cause of half the problems. The people who did play for money wouldn't like losing, and those who played for enjoyment like Kirin's normal partners would no doubt find the idea 'greedy' and the players 'repulsive'. To each their own, Kirin thought. At least Zac hadn't made the mistake of offering to play Kirin for money.

"Anyway, I'm done with chess for today. How about you? Heading home to shower?" That would be Kirin's plan, but he also lived alone. If Zac had parents that he'd have to explain things to, maybe he wasn't so anxious.

There wasn't all that much body language to grasp from Kirin. One of the perks of not caring about what he was saying, just following his flowchart for 'polite' conversation.

"Me? Home, I guess." Kirin didn't look enthused at the prospect. Despite the fact that he'd been away from his apartment for two months, even those familiar four walls around him felt too much like being cooped up. He considered his options. "Or maybe karaoke?"

That got some body language going for Z to read. Sparkling eyes, toes and fingers that couldn't remain still. Kirin had just jumped from placid as a lake to the beginnings of a whirlwind.

Caught in his enthusiasm for the idea, Kirin eyed Z speculatively. "You sing?" He thought it was a silly question - everyone sang. It was just whether or not they admitted it and whether they were willing to do so in front of another person.

"Oh?" Kirin dragged the questioning sound out, almost a drawl. The sparkle in Kirin's eyes grew brighter. Some internal decision was made, because the redhead gave a sharp nod. "Excellent, my treat!"

Suddenly a firm hand latched on to Z's wrist and he was being dragged away at a brisk pace by Kirin. Apparently Kirin's particular set of manners didn't include him asking if Z wanted to come, or waiting for an answer. It was decided - Z was going to karaoke with Kirin. And since Kirin was in such a good mood (finally free from the evil campus of doom to actually go to karaoke whenever he wanted), he would even pay.

... Well, it wasn't as though he wouldn't have booked himself a room anyway. One or two people in the room, what difference did that make? Just increased the fun, that was all!

"As long as you don't sit there like a deer in headlights, I don't care," was Kirin's easy response to Z's claim of being a better violinist than a singer. Karaoke was about energy and passion and fun, it was for cutting loose, not hitting perfect notes. Though truth be told, if Z turned out to be tone deaf, Kirin probably would throw him out. He had his ears to think of, after all.

Kirin shot a questioning look back at his unwilling companion. "Have I sung a...? That's a weird question. I mean, everyone sings. I don't think 'all my life' is the answer you're looking for?" Maybe it was. Though it didn't say anything about whether Kirin was talented or not. (He was, it just didn't say anything about it.)

"You got a name?" Kirin asked abruptly. He didn't offer his own first. Manners apparently took second place to karaoke.