Carnality Walking (open)

[natsumi]

Hands deep into his tight leather pants Natsumi hunched his shoulders in against the chill. His heeled boots clicked against the sidewalk sharp in the near empty streets of downtown, downtown St. Louis. It was four a.m. and he'd just gotten off of work from Carnal Pleasures a strip club of the lowest kind. It was Tuesday night and not many people had showed but some were regulars that came nearly every night. He hated regulars they got to "know" you, want you specifically. Though some were nice and gave better tips.

Blond hair tipped with blue for tonights costume he shivered against the January night air. Home was still a long ways off, but he'd walked it many a night before. If he got too cold he could always hail a cab or find a bus stop. He hated to do it because he hated spending money on transportation when he had two very well working legs. Even in California he walked everywhere he went. Course it was a whole heck of a lot warmer in California.

Tugging at his red dyed, rabbit fur coat he stared up at the neon signs of the store, bars, and various 'other' places he passed. He might spend night after night dancing in front of people who ate him with their eyes, lusting after him like a piece of chocolate cake to a fat man. But every night, or nearly every night depending if he had a "client" or night, he went home alone. He hoped Eryk had gotten his letter. He'd sent one to Xavier but the letter had come back with deceased stamped on it. How a healthy 20 year old had died he didn't want to know. Hopefully the area alpha didn't kill outsiders. If they did he was going to stay low. He just wanted to be, but maybe he should look out for an alpha. Pay homage or something.

Pulling his hands out of his pockets he blew on the cold appendages his breath showing in the air. Cursing the winter he started walking faster through the dark streets.

[Ϛ The magician]

^{I felt bad seeing this sit here so long. If you don't want to RP it anymore, that's fine with me though :)}

"Ohhh, I like your jacket!"

The compliment echoed off of the buildings in the area, losing all sense of proper tone, volume, or origin, and it would almost seem like the words had come flying out of thin air. But the moment the echoes ceased to be, a figure appeared a few feet down the sidewalk, taking up what had been empty space just a blink of the eyes previous.

The man seemed friendly (he was smiling, anyway), but his dress was so out of place in the cold, dark city at night that it was, in and of itself, almost frightening. He wore his customary tuxedo, top hat, cape, and masks, all of varying colour, and though they weren't exactly the warmest clothes, he didn't seem to mind the biting cold as he slowly paced down the sidewalk toward Natsumi.

"And your hair, too. It must be the colours. I loooove colours," he said, throwing his arms into the air for emphasis. Upon closing the distance between them, he tilted his head quizzically to one side and jutted out his lip ever-so-slightly, the very image of curiosity.

"What are you?" he said, as if it were as normal a thing to ask of someone as 'how was your day?'

[natsumi]

(ooc. I had completely forgotten about this thread! I am sooo sorry!)

There he was walking along when a voice started complimenting him out of no where. Pausing in his click clack steps Natsumi glanced around in search of this mysterious complimenting ghost. When he turned back around there was a rather interesting sight before him. A man dressed as if ready for a costume ball, and he was very flamboyant in his actions. It made Nattie smile, and cover his full lips as he giggled.

"You're outfit is pretty sweet itself. It's pretty, like a kaleidoscope of colors." His chilled hand went to his hair his bright blue eyes rolling upwards. He'd forgotten that he'd dyed it for the show, but it made him smile at the compliment anyway. Like a lot of women he knew, Natsumi loved compliments, especially when it came to his looks. The next few words out of the strangers mouth however had Nat tilting his head in curious confusion.

"What am I? Isn't that a rather peculiar question to ask a random person on the street?" Hand on cocked hip he screamed corner hooker, though his clothes showed of higher class than some prostitues. When one traveled in a seedy area of town, dressed as he was, one had to be extra careful. Even more so when interesting, eccentric characters came into your path.

[Ϛ The magician]

S'quite alright. (:

The magician, for all and any of his violent tendencies and peculiar mannerisms, much preferred the sound of laughter to say, the death rattle of a man with a knife embedded in his ribs. It was for this reason that, as a child, he had aspired to become a magician, and it was perhaps also why he hadn't simply become a homicidal maniac when he'd lost his mind. Suffice to say, the giggling brought forth to his ears by Natsumi was a welcome and honoured guest, and although his crooked half-smile was a few shades more creepy than he was, at the moment, his uncovered eye gleamed with happiness no one could mistake for more sinister meanings.

"I'm glad you approve," he said in a voice both undeniably eloquent and deliciously insane, and he accompanied the statement with a smooth bow and the brief and respectful removal of his chapeau, fully exposing a head of oddly-coloured hair of his own. "It's the only outfit I have, though, so it better look nice!" Shame his only laugh was a cackle.

He spun his hat in both his hands for a moment before moving to put it back on, but he paused as if something was wrong, and took the hat off again. A moment later, a rabbit hopped out of the hat and down an alley, disappearing as abruptly as it had appeared. He smacked the top of the hat as if to make sure nothing else was in it, and after flipping it over and taking a quick look inside, he finally placed it back on his head, his face suggesting absolutely nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

"No, a rather peculiar question to ask a random person on the street would be who are you, because a stranger's name will mean nothing to you. Asking what are you is by faaaar the more superior query. For one thing, it makes you think. 'What am I? What defines my being? Do I answer with my profession? Is my profession my life? If I say, "An accountant," will they assume I'm a nerd with no friends? If I say, "A stripper," will they assume I'm promiscuous and dirty?' It's quite the dilemma!"

Contrary to how it might seem, the magician had absolutely no idea what Natsumi did, and had only stumbled upon his profession by chance and luck of the example-draw. He never formed his own notions of a person until he knew them, and would thus never assume anything of Natsumi, regardless of his attire. Of course, this was more due to a sort of naivete he possessed than to any desire to not pre-judge others, as might be the case with a normal person.

"I, for one, am a magician. I can say this because I've deliberated for a good few minutes about it, at least, and decided it defines who I am very well, thank you." He offered another (smaller) bow with this statement, and his hat stayed on his head this time.

[natsumi]

Natsumi frowned at the odd man's declaration that the clothes he worse was his only outfit. Did he just not like spending money on clothes or was he homeless? Or too poor to buy other clothes? To a boy who loved clothes shopping, organizing clothes, and dressing other in decent clothing it made him sad to think a person only wore one outfit.

"Only one fabulous outfit?" He pouted his bottom lip his eyes taking in the rather odd assortment. Maybe the man was just really picky on what he'd wear. It surely didn't look very warm, but once again he could be wrong. As Natsumi stood and pondered the man's attire the flamboyant person started fiddling with his hat. When the rabbit hopped out Nat, who also enjoyed laughter, couldn't keep the laughter in this time with a hand covering. This man certainly was entertaining.

So Mr. Rabbit Hat wasn't an idiot, or a jokester, he was actually smart. Grinning Nat tucked his freezing hands under his upper arms listening to the reasoning. When the stranger guessed Natsumi's job as of late his eyed dimmed a bit. The smile stayed in place however for it probably quiet obvious what Nat was from the clothes and make-up. "Makes sense I suppose. Well then, I'm a dancer."

That was a nice clean version of what he did, but in truth that's exactly what he was. It just so happened that stripping was the only kind of job he could get dancing in this town in a short amount of time. Over the past few months he'd auditioned for various dance companies but they all seemed to have their pretties picked out. Favoritism was a horrid thing in an artists life.

The labeling of magician made even more sense than the puzzling reasoning the man had given. From the top of that hat, to the rabbit down the alley the man was clearly a magical sort. Natsumi chuckled and returned the bow with one of his own. As he straightened from the deep waisted bow a chill wind blew through the street. Shivering he wrapped his arms back around himself. Did the man not feel the cold? Nat was a lycan and he thought it was cold, but he'd never been for the frosty winter months.

"Excuse me, Mr. Magician, but do you mind if we keep walking? It's kinda cold out here and moving helps me keep at least semi-comfortable." After saying this he took a few steps toward the colorful man his heeled boots snapping in the crisp night air. The man, though rather eccentric in his ways, didn't seem dangerous, but rather entertaining to say the least.

[Ϛ The magician]

"Yes, only one. It's quite hard to make two outfits this amazing by hand, you know," he said, smiling to himself as Natsumi laughed some more. It was then that he made a very rash (and very 'him') decision; from that point on, he would endeavour to keep a smile on the stranger's face as often as possible. Sort of like an insane, colourful guardian angel. Or a stalker, depending upon how you looked at it, really.

"You're a dancer? I love to dance!" As if to prove his point, he did a quick, lively dance around the sidewalk, ballroom in style, with an invisible partner. He dipped his non-existent partner, right in front of Nastumi, and came up from the dip as if it were another bow, now closer than ever. He only knew ballroom dances, and would probably be very confused to see how people danced in clubs and such.

He puzzled for a moment over Natsumi's shivering, as if he hadn't noticed it was the slightest bit cold. The man's clothing was far warmer than it looked, and he always seemed to have a feverish temperature anyway, but even if he were cold, it would be likely he wouldn't even feel it. He never seemed to feel anything, other than perhaps confusion and amusement and a select few other emotions. No pain, no remorse, no actual sadness. No real anger either, not even when he killed someone who tried to rob him or something of the sort. He dealt with most things as if they were daily business and didn't affect him in the slightest.

However, he wasn't stupid, he was just insane, and it took him not very long at all to realize that Natsumi was cold. Especially since he told him at that very moment.

"Oh, yes yes yes," he said, sliding over to Natsumi's side and beginning to walk. "Would you like my cape? It's very warm, and I don't need it at all!" Natsumi would probably be able to feel heat radiating from him even at the distance he was at, and it was true that he would probably be just as warm without the large yellow cape. It was hardly conspicuous, but it was very warm and surprisingly comfortable, if a little heavy.

"Where are we off to, anyway?" he asked brightly, as if they were on an adventure.

[natsumi]

Natsumi blinked in shock at the man's statement about his clothes. This made him look at both the man and the outfit in a whole new light. The attire had to of taken some time to make, and from the looks of it some bit of skill and patience. People sure did shock you every once in a while. What appeared to be some strange, eccentric jokester. Turned out to be an intelligent, crafty sort who was rather funny.

"My, my aren't you the talented sort?" It still made him slightly sad at the idea of only one outfit. He'd often change his clothes within the day, almost as often as some girls he knew. The next exclamation made him jump slightly and laugh enough that he felt tears brimming from the force. By the time the man rose from his pseudo-bow Nat was shaking his head and smiling.

"You, Mister, are hilarious." He'd needed this, the laughter, and the light heartedness of this stranger. Sometimes he got a little down, but he couldn't think such things when such a character was with him. It was nice to have someone to walk with who wasn't a client. He might never see this man again but at least the night was brighter.

Heels loud inbetween their words he walked along at a brisk pace trying to warm up his body once more. The fur coat wasn't nearly as warm as people might think, it was more for show than warmth. The rest of the outfit wasn't much better. Most of his clotheswere more for their appearance value than their comfort, or practicallity. That was also before he moved to a place that believed in snow. Of all the places in the US why had he picked this place? Natsumi shook his head having never figured that little mystery out.

"You're cape? Oh, I couldn't." Mainly because it would throw off his entire outift. The other was it was freezing out and he couldn't take a strangers cape just because he was being a whiny baby. "I'll be alright. Wouldn't want you to freeze."

On they strolled into the crisp, winter night. He'd almost thought they'd fall into silence when the man asked his question. Natsumi smiled glancing at the odd being beside him. "Well, I was heading back to my aparment. Just got off work and all." A wave waved over his clothing with a charming smile.

"You're more than welcome to come along. Might stop off and get some food too." He shrugged up to anything. Living an unstructured life lead to pleasant surprises, such as this one.

[Ϛ The magician]

"Tailoring is a lot like magic," he said in what might normally have been a perfect imitation of a crazy person, from anyone else. From him, it was pretty ordinary. "It's just taking something plain," he brandished a rose that he had pulled from his jacket, "making it special," he flicked his hand and the rose disappeared, "and then having fun flaunting it while people admire your handiwork."

The grin on his face threatened to split it in two, and Natsumi's comment that he was hilarious didn't help any. The magician couldn't remember the last time he'd had this much fun, and that was really saying something, because he was always having fun. Whenever he got bored with something, he simply moved on and found a more entertaining place. This was the first time he'd had a reason to stay in a place for any extended period of time. It was just a shame it was so close to those pesky Academy people.

He stewed over the fact that his cape had been refused for a moment, trying to figure out why. Sure, Natsumi had said he wouldn't want him to freeze, but the magician knew he wouldn't be cold, and in his mind, that meant everyone must know he wouldn't be cold. In the end, his fractured mind couldn't cope with it, and he simply forgot the whole incident ever occurred.

"Get some food where?" he asked excitedly. It was unclear whether he was up to something or was simply excited for no reason a lot of the time, but each was about as likely as the other with a person like him. Still, anticipation was thick in the air.

[natsumi]

What an extraordanary way to look at things, course the outfit did speak of extraordinary. Though all Nat saw was a very colorful outfit on a very colorful man. The smile was a bit distubring but after a few seconds of such agrand smile Natsumi couldn't help but smile in return.

"Yes, it is a sweet outfit. But if you have free time why not work on another amazing outfit piece by piece?" He started crossing his steps as he walked each time his foot crossing over the other. It made for some odd walking but it was fun, and worked the muscles in his legs differently. Oddly enough it didn't slow him down at all, his steps continued to flow like a liquid smoothness only animals can obtain. "Then you'd have two outstanding outfit to flaunt to people. Where the same outfit all the time and it loses it's grandeur."

Natsumi's steps turned into that powerful stride of any model strolling down the runway. He often tried out various walks to see if they could be incorporated into his job at all, surprising enough the powerful model stride was one of his favorites.

"Hmmm, I'm think a local sandwich shop. It's pretty close to here." Homel; however, was not. Most times he'd just take he sweet time going home until he got to the river where he usually hid his clothes. Then he'd travel the rest of the way on four paws until he got close to his apartment, two blocks from home was more clothes hidden. From there he'd go home. Once a week he'd pick up his stored clothes, take a taxi home, and start all over.

[Ϛ The magician]

Some part of the magician's mind that still held onto the remnants of who he once was told him that 'sweet' was a good thing for his outfit to be, and did not mean it tasted good. Of course, the pushing and pulling of his mental processes was done on a subconscious level, and thus he didn't even notice it had happened, and was merely presented with the end product; an understanding of the phrase that seemingly came from nowhere.

"I wouldn't enjoy having to carry another outfit along with me," the magician explained, "and I like this one way too much to just switch." He walked alongside Natsumi, not seeming to notice his odd stride. His own walk was the same one he always used; one that spoke of royal descent and training that he had absolutely no claim to. Every once in a while he would claim to have royal blood, but his parents were actually just your average upper-middle-class types, working office jobs in a big city.

The magician tapped a finger to his chin when Natsumi mentioned a local sandwich shop. He had just passed a place like that, not too long before he came across his new 'friend'. His finger then moved into the air, as if to say 'aha!', as an idea struck him. His poor friend was freezing and he was in the position to do something about it.

Positioning himself suddenly in front of Natsumi, he then moved his busy finger in front of him in the familiar gesture of 'wait just a moment'. "I'd like to show you a little trick," he said, detaching his cape from the rest of his ensemble and swinging it around in front of him. He flipped it around so Natsumi would catch a glimpse of both sides of it before swinging it between them, completely obscuring Natsumi's view.

When the cape was finished moving and the space in front of Nastumi was visible once again, Natsumi would find himself standing out front of the sandwich shop, a manically grinning magician standing between him and the door, reattaching his cape to his shoulders.

"Voila!" he said, with much gusto.

If you object to me moving your character as such, let me know and I'll edit it

[natsumi]

"Carry around with you?" Was this stranger saying he was homeless? Natsumi quirked his eyes brows upwards in a questioning way at the curious man. He was trying to figure out this curiosity. Was this man just flamboyant, or was he an entertainer? If he was an entertainer he certainly was a good one. The young lycan didn't often find himself laughing this often just because of one person's actions.

Nat rubbed his arms thinking about the oddity that was this stranger when the oddness increased. He came to an abrupt stop as the man moved in front of him, then smiled at the finger action. Watching in ernest he chuckled at the flashing of the cape sides then gasped. They, they had moved? Natsumi turned in a full circle eyes wide, and mouth dropped open in surprise.

"That-that's amazing!" He knew certain people had special abilities, but he'd hardly ever personally exprerienced them. They had moved blocks at least, and he hadn't even felt anything. Natsumi turned back to the magic man with a grin. "Well, in return for shortening the trip I'll buy you some food. I insist."

In quick strides he headed for the 24 hour dinner like cafe knowing other such late nighters would be inside. Cops were usually there, with boozers, partiers, and the like. It always made him giggle inside when he walked past the police. They always gave him this look as if some day they'd arrest him for prostitution, but Natsumi made it his business to never get caught. He'd just give them his littler finger wave and keep on strutting by like the cocky peacock that he was.

He gave a quick glance at the magic man before going inside ushering him in with a hand wave. His stomach gurgled demanding food at once. Nat strode right on past the two officers only one of which bothered to glare at him. The other had seen Natsumi far too many times to even glance up. At his seat he plucked up the menu and started scanning the lamenated pages.

[Ϛ The magician]

The magician had offered nothing but a simple nod in response to Natsumi's question, not considering it something important. The man was indeed homeless, but he led a far more glamorous life than any bum on the street, and couldn't imagine living any other way.

He took Natsumi's amazement in with satisfaction. This is what a magician lived for; the awe of the crowd, the entertainment, the wonderment, the happiness. It was quite worth carrying the young lycan all the way to the sandwich shop himself.

He simply smiled graciously as Natsumi insisted on buying him food. He didn't eat much, but he did like food. He decided that, for the time being, he would let his dancer friend believe he was paying for the food so he wouldn't feel like he wasn't being grateful. He followed along behind Natsumi as he entered, smiling all the while, until he spotted the police officers in the place. For a moment he paused, and the look Natsumi would have seen on the magician's face if he hadn't been facing his back was one of apprehension and nervousness, but when Natsumi kept moving, the magician dutifully followed.

He sat across from his friend and picked up a menu as well, but his eyes kept shifting toward the officers, who were staring right at him. Not surprising, considering the flamboyant man was noticeable in any setting, but he was also a wanted man in the city after a good deal of incidents in the past, including the one time he had turned two squad cars' worth of officers' guns into bouquets of flowers and fled the scene of the crime.

Normally, he would have been long gone by now, but he didn't want to just leave his new friend. So, for once in his new life, he was essentially trapped, and the beginnings of a new emotion were seeping through him; he was feeling fear for the first time since his mind had been irreparably fractured.

"Sandwich," he said simply, shakily, and without explanation, his mind trying to make conversation while coping with the fact that the officers were now standing up and making their way over to he and Natsumi's table. When the men finally reached the table and simply stared down at the seated magician, he shrunk down in his seat and avoided letting his frightened gaze meet theirs.

"Bad. Bad. Bad," he muttered, sounding like a traumatized child all of the sudden. All traces of grinning and his flamboyant manner had disappeared; it was as if he was reverting to a vulnerable, childish form. He looked, basically, pitiful.

[natsumi]

There they sat looking at menus when Natsumi glanced up to ask what magic man was going to get. Odd that they hadn't traded names, but Nat didn't mind. Just as Nat's eyes lifted above the menu he saw the officers walk over to their table. The one wo knew Nat gave him a nod then focused on the flamboyantly dressed man sitting across from him. Nat frowned at them, and frownedeven harder at his new friend's reaction.

Laying down his menu he propped his elbow on the table chin to hand he gazed up at the two men in blue. With a charming flirtateous smile that made the rookie gulp then glare at Natsmi before Nat spoke.

"Evening officers, is there somethin' I can do for you two scrumptous parsels of our cities police force?" He wiggled his eye brows at them his eyes threatening violence and hinted of sex. Both things that were often in his life. The older officer held up a hand before the rookie could utter a word. Which made Natsumi grin in glee at the rage flying over the younger cop's face.

"Nothin' to do with you, Blue. Just wantin' ta talk to yer friend here." The man's voice was deep, and held a thick country accent even in this part of town. Nat had learned about a month ago during one cold boring night that the man grew up on a farm in the bootleg of Missouri. Came out to the big city to try and make something of himself. Must not be doing too well seeing where his district manager had put him to patrol.

"Yes, but see this colorful man is my responsibility. I'd rather you didn't upset him further." He drummed his fingers along his cheek smiling like a boy talking of his birthday party. The rookie this time jumped in before the older man could say a word.

"Stay out of this you hooker." Natsumi laughed crossing his legs underneath the table. The rookie turned red in anger and took a step forward, but the old timer pushed him back with a strong hand.

"Looks like your puppy needs more training, Sarge." Hands in fists the rookie came forward again. Laughing Natsumi lifted a hand and waved at the young man who was probably only a few years older than himself. "And anger management sessions from the looks of it."

If he could keep their attention on him then his friend wuldn't have to worry. All he had to do was keep egging on he young idiot until either A. the rookie lost his cool, or B. the Sarge would think it easier to just walk away. There was a C. but Natsumi didn't feel like going to jail. Grinning he scooted to the edge of the bench in a smooth quick motion that had the rookie stepping back a bit and his hand went to his gun handle.

"Ooh, trigger happy too? You've got your hands full with this pup. Maybe I could losen him up for ya." Nat winked and licked his lips.

"Blue, do you really need to antagonize him?" The older cop just looked tired as he held an arm in front of his partner. Nat leaned back in his seat smiling like a cat playing with a new toy.

"Yep."

[Ϛ The magician]

The magician's top hat caught the back of the seat as he slid further down into it, causing it to fall into his lap. And still he slowly lowered himself, holding his menu in front of his face protectively, as if he expected the officers to forget there was an arrest warrant out for him simply because he was about to disappear beneath the table.

He could hear his friend the dancer making conversation with the uniformed men, who he'd dubbed Angry and Smart, but he couldn't make much sense of most of it. Except, of course, that one of them was angry, and the other one was smart. He liked how the smart one called the dancer Blue, because he was kind of blue, if only in his hair. It was a pretty sensible title, especially compared to most names people used.

Though he didn't understand much of what was going on, he somehow knew (remembered?) that 'hooker' was not a nice thing to call someone, and a subtle growl escaped his lips as he slid still lower, almost completely under the table by that point. He didn't know why he did it, or even what exactly hooker meant, but he regretted drawing attention to himself instantly, and his sliding pace increased slightly until only his head was left on his seat.

[natsumi]

Natsumi heard the growl but he ignored it knowing of all the people in here he was the most experienced with growling. That growl wasn't a threat more of an angry warning. The rookie however turned angry eyes toward the sinking man. Nat's eyes narrowed as he took in every muscle movement of the rookie. He was already standing and blocking the stranger from the rookie's grasp before the rookie even went to grab.

"What do you think you're doin' you f*gg*t?" Rookie snapped his reaching hand colliding with Natsumi's chest. The young lycan laughed brushing off the hand before leaning against the table effectively blocking them from his new friend, but also keeping his friend trapped. Unless he pulled another cape trick of disappearing.

"I said to leave my friend alone. I meant it." Natsumi giggled, outright giggled as the old timer tried to pull the rookie away. The older cop new Natsumi, new when not to push, because the two had tasled before. The old cop had learned a bit about Natsumi that most people who lived in the dark never even got a hint at. Nat had strength, strength a normal human of his build shouldn't have. That strength had put a fist through a police car windshield.

"Sarge, take your puppy and go play somewhere else. I want to at my breakfast-dinner in peace." Still smiling he let his eyes show the seriousness of the matter. He'd never done anyting directly to the older man, and the windshield incident was far too long a story to explain. But in the end Natsumi went home without anything on his record, and Sarge went home without a partner. Fancy that the old man had gotten stuck with another hot head.

"Come on, Carmichaels." He tugged at the younger cop and though he knew something about the man hiding beneath the table, he also knew Natsumi wasn't the regulay prostitute.

"But Henry!"

"That's Sargent Baker to you rookie." That bark of command instantly sent the rookie into submissive mode. Natsumi laughed shaking his head loving how he'd pegged it. Puppy was just that a pansy little whelp. He'd have cleaned the floor with him.

Waiting until he heard the cruiser pull away before kneeling to peer under the tabel for his friend.