(no subject)

[shadowscall]

Kai had covered a lot of ground and to his disappointment, still hadn't found 'Jem anywhere. He didn't feel her either, and he'd learned to trust that sense a while ago. She just...wasn't here. So now he sat at a picnic table in the courtyard with a soda and candy bar, still untouched beside his hand, while he played with a few (bigger than normal) marbles he'd made out of ice. He usually didn't use his magic for stuff like this, but it was keeping him distracted.

Not that being in this place with no explanation wasn't enough of one.

[ooc: Kai should be talking to people, but if left up to him it might take a while. Feel free to come stare at say hi to the magic user.]

Comments

[demi_nightlight]

[From not so far away, Naoki sat in a tree. The marking's on his body were particularly bright in shade of leaves and branches.]

If you're not going to eat that, you should give it to somebody who will. [He said with a mocking laugh, flashing his sharp canines with a grin.]

[shadowscall]

Surprisingly enough, the disembodied voice didn't make Kai jump. Outwardly, at least. He flicked an ice marble against another and looked up, turning toward the source of the sound. The markings on the boy caught his eye first, and he frowned. He should've thought of hanging out in a tree.

"Going to in a minute." Which may or may not have been true, but now that someone had brought it up...Kai picked up the candy and unwrapped a corner, taking a bite. He swallowed before speaking again. "There're vending machines in the lounge."

Ever helpful, this one.

[kunimitsu]

[For the briefest of moments, something can be seen rustling in a tree from afar... It's there for only the briefest of moments, before disappearing entirely.]

[But it's probably just your imagination... right?]

[shadowscall]

Yeah, Kai thought he saw something...but he wasn't quite so quick to dismiss it as imagination. He'd been dealing with creepy crawlies that liked to hide in the dark for a while now. He stared at the tree for a little longer before turning his attention back to his makeshift toys, keeping an ear open.

[demi_nightlight]

[Naoki pulled his feet up onto the branch, crouching over with his arms on his knees. He continued to smile at the other boy, but there was something hateful about it.]

I know, I saw. I already looted them. I used to love junk food, but now it's too sweet.

[shadowscall]

"Nice balancing act."

Kai didn't like that smile. It made him want to be a few more feet away, preferably with his weapon at the ready. He pushed the thought away. No need to bring that out yet, his magic was enough. Hopefully, anyway.

"That sucks. You're not going to try any of the cafeteria food, are you?"

[demi_nightlight]

[Naoki stands up as if to purposefully mock that comment.]

The cafeteria food? Hell no. [He suddenly jumps down, landing in a crouched position before leisurely straightening up and walking towards Kai.]

Unfortunately there's nowhere to hunt, either.

[shadowscall]

...Yep, nice balance, all right.

"I feel bad for the people that have." He watched the other boy jump down and come towards him, contemplating whether he really wanted to stay seated or not.

...Nope.

As casually as he could (which wasn't much), Kai got up and traded sitting on the bench for leaning against the tabletop. He absently realized his marbles were starting to melt. Good times.

"Hunting's a pain in the ass."

[kunimitsu]

[It's silent, again... And then eventually Kunimitsu makes her presence known; leaping down from a much closer tree and down onto the picnic table where the boy sat. Even as she lands directly in front of him, the ninja barely made a sound; as though light as a feather.]

[Face hidden behind her trademark mask, she simply stares back at the boy now; her expression unreadable as she analyzes him.]

[thenotsostraightman]

[And now, have a person who's not hiding in a tree!]

[In fact, Tadakuni's just going to approach the other boy like a normal person; sipping on a soda that he had obtained from a vending machine himself.]

Hey. [The High-Schooler casually introduces himself, before taking a seat across from the stranger at the picnic table.]

[shadowscall]

Okay, he'd been expecting something, but it hadn't been that. The woman landing on the table actually startled him enough that he jerked back, eyes wide. What the holy-

The way she was staring at him without saying anything was a little creepy too. "Uh...hi?"

[shadowscall]

Kai glanced up from where he'd begun sticking the marbles to each other in a row, and raised an eyebrow.

"Hey." He was content to leave it at that, but he could almost feel 'Jem poking him with that stupid stick of her's, demanding to know where his manners were. "I'm Kai."

He looked Tadakuni over, took note of the soda, and smirked. "Smart choice."

[demi_nightlight]

[Despite his ominous approach, Naoki merely takes a seat at the table Kai had been sitting at just moments before. He props his chin up in his hands and reaches out to grab on of the melting marbles with a knowing smirk.]

It's not so bad when once you get used to it.

[Turning the ice-marble in his fingers, he inhales, and then blows out a small puff of fire to melt it entirely.]

It's almost fun...slicing and dicing them.

[kunimitsu]

....

[Still saying nothing, the silence between them lingers for another few somewhat awkward moments.... before the woman smirks; canting her head to the side as she continues to stare.]

[Then, finally, the ninja raises her hand- and gives the boy a small wave in return for his greeting. Almost playfully, she waits for him to make the next move.]

[thenotsostraightman]

I'm Tadakuni. [He replies plainly; taking another sip of his soda.]

[Blinking.] Oh... yeah. [He looks to his bottle.] After experiencing what was in the cafeteria... I really needed something to wash that taste out of my mouth.

[Elbow on the table, he props his head up in one hand as he quietly observes the boy sticking the self-made marbles together. Curiously;] I think I've seen that one before...

[He taps his chin; thinking back.] -The trick is that they're really magnetic, right?

It's been a while since I've practiced any magic tricks...

[shadowscall]

Well, he'll just stay standing. His butt had been falling asleep anyway. Instead he turned to watch Naoki.

"Didn't do it often enough to get used to it." Which is partially a lie. He had done it plenty, but it'd never sat well with him. He prefered his food already cooked and unrecognizable.

Kai made a face as his ice marble was destroyed. Oh good, some of the people in this place were turning out to be more fun than he'd expected. He paled slightly at the slicing and dicing comment. Nightmares, what nightmares?

"Maybe if you're a chef."

[shadowscall]

"You actually ate something from there?" Kai stared at him, resisting the sudden urge to reach out and poke him. "And you're still breathing?" He nudged his candy bar toward him. "Have half, you deserve it."

The mention of magic made him snicker, and Kai shook his head. "No magnets. Ice magic. Look."

Kai didn't tend to think of himself as a show-off, but he was his mother's son, after all. Sometimes he couldn't help it. He held out his left hand, palm up, and watched as tiny particles of ice swirled into being, forming another, larger sphere.

"Go ahead and touch it if you want."

[shadowscall]

"Yeeah..."

Kai thought his life had been weird before. He couldn't help but mirror the woman's head-tilt before catching himself and straightening.

When she waved at him, he nearly laughed. This was totally normal. Right. "Can I help you with something?"

He might not get an answer (a verbal one, anyway) but he couldn't just sit and stare at her forever.

1/2

[kunimitsu]

[Kunimitsu responded with a nod.]

[Then, leaning in closely... the woman gave a small, abrupt kiss to the boy's cheek.]

[kunimitsu]

[-Before grabbing his candy bar, and leaping off of the table; landing a good distance away with a smirk. Yup. Turns out she just wanted to yoink your stuff.]

1/3

[thenotsostraightman]

Yyyeah.... [He's actually pretty ashamed of himself for that. -Especially considering what he had just found in his food earlier that day.] I was... getting pretty desperate. [Ahem.]

[But, ANYWAY! Moving on from THAT subject- Tadakuni gives the boy a grateful smile.] Are you sure...? Hey, thanks man! [Tadakuni gladly goes to break the candy bar in half. As he does so, he watches Kai's demonstration with a somewhat blank expression.]

......

[Reaching out his own hand, the boy gave a small poke to the sphere of ice. It... it was cold, alright...]

[...Hm.]

2/3

[thenotsostraightman]

[Brow still furrowed in slight skepticism, Tadakuni lifts the ball of ice up, then sets it back down.] ...Okay... this is a tough one.... [But he'll figure the trick out! He just needs a minute, that's all!] Uh...

[Picking the ice up again, he sets it down on top of the table.]

[And then he looks to Kai's hand. And then back to the ice.]

[thenotsostraightman]

[And then he pokes Kai's hand. And then he raises Kai's hand up by the wrist.]

[And then he turns Kai's hand over to look at the back of it. And then he goes to wiggle each one of Kai's fingers. And then he holds the hand up to his own face; staring into the palm closely.]

.......

[He just..... He just needs a minute to figure this out....]

[demi_nightlight]

Well...

[He taps his fingers on the table.]

I'm not a chef. [Naoki smiles, seeing the other boy pale. Then, suddenly, he seems to be conflicted and loses that devilish look.]

So, how did you make these? [Flicking the remaining water off his hand.]

[shadowscall]

Kai had never been all that comfortable around girls; oh sure, he could talk to them just fine, and hanging out as friends wasn't a problem, but as far as anything beyond that? He had a tendency to turn beet red and forget what words were, which was exactly what happened when the woman kissed his cheek. He just sat there staring blankly for a few seconds before-

"H-hey! That's mine!" Kai stood, glaring at her, before throwing up an arm in exasperation. It was just a dumb candy bar, he could get another. Might have to start eating them right away, though. He snorted and shook his head.

"You could've just asked, y'know."