Open log.

[darkremnant]

 Who: darkremnant (Vanitas), possiblydepolarized (Riku) and YOU

What: STEP RIGHT UP, ITS SHOW TIME. Open log.

Or Van Shows You His Tricks’ and Yin Goes Missing In the Park While Riku Is At A Really Long Ice Cream Line. Seriously, did he die? Who cares, that guy sucks.

Where: The Oh So Convenient Park Near You!

When: July 20

 

[Some notes:

1. Van is in complete control of who wins/loses the games. But generally if your character looks rich, they’re likely going to lose because Van will cheat. For modest-looking characters, they may win/lose based on a coin flip on random.com.

2. Games will range from simple card games and trick like pick a card, blackjack and gin to finding a ball under a cup or just random betting games I find on quirkology if card games don’t keep your characters’ attention.

3. Please PM or drop an OOC note here if any questions or concerns! :D

4. Riku might do random tags. However, will be gone for long periods of time. Probably photographing stuff or getting food/drinks.
 

5. Yin, their 2-3 yr. old female black doberman, is very friendly and playful, but gentle and neat, for a dog. She’ll be played by either me or Myth, if around. ]

 

It’s a beautiful day at the park, sun shining, wind balmy, and one spiky-haired teenager in a hoodie setting up camp on a park bench. There’s a small folding table open before him and a variety of cards, cups, and other weird stuff neatly stacked beside him. There’s a crowd already, it looks like, and business is brisk. That is, of course, when his eye lands on you. “Hey, you. Care to try your luck? You can win big like this guy here just did.” He pointed to a man that’s walking away with some winnings. “Come on now, I’ll even let you pick the game!”

 

While you’re being fleeced, though, there’s a black doberman barking and playing with a few people, including a small child that’s doing her very best to ride her. Gentle and friendly as she is, you’d never guess she belonged to the boy on the bench and one other who appears to be missing from the scene. 

 

The dog doesn’t seem to mind the attention, in fact she quite likes it if her wagging tail is any evidence. Some people offer her treats, but she’ll either bow her head and drink from her water dish or look at her master when they do to see if he gives the okay.

 

Comments

[fatherssins]

Adrian had taken the day off; after everything that had happened recently he needed to take some time to recover. He hadn't done much with himself today, most of the time he'd spent indoors sleeping, going out when it was as hot and bright as this seemed to exhaust him.

The afternoon was slowly coming to close however, and he felt that if he didn't do something proactive with his day then he'd have wasted the holiday. So, that thought in mind, he left his apartment and went for a walk. He ended up in the park, sticking mostly to the shade, and just as he was about to finish his tour he spotted someone.

"You!" he huffed, storming over to that rude, spiky-haired customer. "Thief! Ha-ha, now I've found you! I told you you were going to be in trouble and you will be--" Adrian's gusto began to fail him "--what's this? You're a street performer?"

[darkremnant]

Van was just setting up the cups again when a voice broke his concentration. Yin perked up when an angry blond woman approached them and Van gave her a curious look as he tried to remember when he'd seen her face before...

He'd made so many people angry in even these short few days, that it was sometimes hard to keep track. "Thief?" So he's her...? Been awhile since he stole from a woman. Not since... "Oh-ho, Shop girl!" He pointed at her when he finally placed her face. "Trouble?" He glanced around but didn't see any cops or thugs. Was she just spouting more nonsense?

"Hm? Something like that. Care for a game? Just 5 bucks. You can win 10." He leaned on the table and Yin curiously sniffed the woman's boot.

[fatherssins]

Adrian was momentarily distracted by the dog, and what a handsome dog it was, had he not been so furious with this chap he would've rather liked to have petted it. But now was not the time for petting. No.

"I am not a shop girl!" Adrian huffed, although he didn't raise his voice loud enough to draw anyone's attention - mainly because he didn't want anyone hearing that someone was openly referring to him as a girl.

That offer caught Adrian off guard "A game?! No, I'm furious with you! I had to pay for that ice cream you stole!"

[darkremnant]

Van raised a brow at her insisting she wasn't a woman. Transexual, then? Would explain the voice and the mood swings. He silently mused. "Listen, babe, I'm sure you'll make a fine looking man when your operations are done and as for the ice cream? That's your own fault. I asked you many times to do your job and you refused. So I did it for you. Think of it as you paying for my services."

He shrugged. "But if you'd like to win the money back from me, I'm offering you an out."

[fatherssins]

"You are the rudest person I have ever met!" Adrian fumed, resist the urge to scold this man in a louder, more aggressive tone. "If we were not in public, I would tell you what I really think about you a lot more openly!"

And a moment passed where Adrian didn't speak, he simply glared at this ruffian in a disapproving manner.

He glanced down at the game before him then back to game's master "I don't trust you enough to play this with you, you'll surely cheat!"

[darkremnant]

"But you just said what you thought. That I'm the rudest man you ever man." Van drawled. "You mean if we weren't out in public you be screeching even louder instead of just sounding constipated." He corrected, still sounding bored with the effort of speaking and went back to shuffling him cards.

"Please, with you? I don't even need to cheat to beat you." He scoffed with an unimpressed look.

[salvagedlight]

Sometimes Ben liked to study in the park. At least on days when it was sunny and not blazingly hot, as some had been lately. He'd pack up his books and his lap desk, find a nice bench, and camp out there with his iPod and coffee until it got too dark to see.

Today's a bit different, though, as there seems to be some guy with a table set up yelling loudly to anyone walking by. He's occupied by another victim person when Ben approaches the area, but that's fine with Ben. He's more interested in the dog anyway; he likes animals, a great deal, and he stops to give her a good rub on her shoulder and a scratch behind the ear before he moves on.

[darkremnant]

"Better luck next time, guy." Van said with a shrug when his latest victim finished the game with a sour look and a few choice curses. "Oh, language buddy, there's children present." He laughed it off and pocketed his winning when he noticed a yellow blob out of the corner of his eyes. Looks like Yin hooked another one.

He glanced around to make sure Riku was still gone then over at Yin spotting a blond boy. He looked young but not a child. He seems to have enough money to walk around a park with a laptop and a pricey coffee drink without a care. Likely relies on his mommy and daddy's money. An allowance perhaps? He silently profiles as the dog greeted the new comer with the usual enthusiasm. Wagging her tail and licking his hand before he tried to slink off.

"Wow there Blondie. Just gonna feel up my dog and sneak away?" He leaned on the table and calmly smiled. "Care to try your luck? I'll even let you pick the game."

[ex_elude798]

For his part, Suzaku isn't paying the people around him any mind as he makes his way down the bike path. Cutting through the park saves him time on his walk, and efficiency is always a good thing. Occasionally he shifts the bags he's carrying, brown paper crinkling with each step.

An orange tabby is perched on his shoulders, moving about to compensate for his movement. Small, needle-like claws dig into his shoulders as the kitten tries to find and maintain purchase on him. Sometimes he winces a little, but he doesn't appear to be bothered by it. At the least, he doesn't pause to do anything about it. And since the kitten is purring like a little motor it's no real wonder why.

When he spots the dog, he pauses. He reaches into one of the bags awkwardly, attempting to balance them without throwing the cat off. Even more impressive is his attempt to tear open a plastic wrapper one-handed. It's an awkward display, however, Suzaku succeeds with persistence.

And then he offers the dog what looks like a roll. It is in fact a bun with red bean paste in it, since he just visited the Asian market. The way his godfather eats, stocking up on food that's actually good is a priority. Since to his knowledge, dogs will eat just about anything, he figures it's a decent enough snack.

At least, he likes them.

Suzaku winces again as the kitten bristles on his shoulder, tail puffing up like a bottle brush. "Ouch- quit that."

[darkremnant]

"Hm? No money? Well that's not my problem is it? Get lost!" Van snapped at a guy who was lingering too long. The guy flipped him off then stomped away as Van shuffled his card with a satisfied grin.

"Ouch- quit that."

Van blinked when he heard a boy's voice by Yin. Hurting? Yin'd never hurt anything. He frown and walked over to see what was happening. "Hey, hey, what's going on here-- Oh. A cat." Well that made more sense.

Yin was sitting up and wagging her tail. She paid no mind to the bun but was staring at the kitten curiously. "Well looks like your making two new friends here, girl. Go on. Say hello. Speak, girl."

The dog barked excitedly at the command.

[ex_elude798]

The kitten on Suzaku's shoulder hissed, bristling up all the more. Her tiny size was nearly doubled with her agitation, arching her back and digging her claws in. Suzaku tenses from the unpleasant needling, but having someone else around, grits his teeth and says nothing about it.

Since the dog doesn't seem interested in food, he sets the bun back in one of the bags. Suppose there's no accounting for American tastes, even when it comes to the animals.

He turns around and levels a flat stare at the dog's owner. There's no doubt in his mind that the guy prompted his dog to speak on purpose. But reacting to it isn't likely to serve any productive end and probably isn't worth his time.

"Friendly dog," Suzaku finally says, after a considerably long bout of silence.

[darkremnant]

Well that's a shame. He was hoping for a hilarious freakout that may result in some face scratched and the cat perched on his head like a fuzzy hat. 'Oh well.'

"Yep, she's the best. Though from that sour look your giving, and that fuzzball on your neck, I take it your not a dog guy?" Van looked over the guy calmly making a silent profile. Actually... that face and that strict voice... plus cat. This picture looked familiar...

A look of realization crossed his face when he finally pieced it all together. It was the cat guy from the network! The cat guy... taking his cat out for a walk? The image was almost so perfect it nearly made Van laugh.

"So do you often take your cats out for walks or did you just run out of meow mix?" He gestures to the bags the stranger was holding.

[ex_elude798]

Suzaku knew recognition when he saw it, though for much of his life it was followed by immediate retreat. Things had been somewhat difference since he'd come to this town, however, he always half-expected that outcome. But that wasn't the case with this guy.

He shifted the bags to one hand and reached up to pet the cat on his shoulder. Although she bumped her head against his fingers, her claws were firmly rooted. It figured.

The comment was worth a small frown, if only because he never ceased to be impressed by how rude Americans were. Even years later there were times that he marveled at it. No subtlety. That's how he saw it.

"Nothing against dogs. This cat's a stray," Suzaku replied. A kitten as small as this one was couldn't get by on her own. Although he'd looked for the mother, or even an owner, he'd had no success.

[darkremnant]

"Oh, so that's just your face." Van stated with a shrug. "So no meow mix?" He doubted the cat lady was without cat food or even catnip in his pockets.

"And what were you trying to give my dog anyway?" He reached into the bag quickly and plucked out the bun the man was just trying to give Yin then sniffed it, stepping back just out of the man's reach if he tried to grab it back. He bit it curiously...then spat it out after making a face.

"Ew, what is this? Toothpaste danish?" He sniffed it again. Maye it'll be better now. He took another bite... nope. "Bleck..." He spat it out again.

"This what you feed your pets, Cat Lady? No wonder they run away."

[recollection]

On warm days, Thalassa would spend her time out of her apartment. With classes done and no desire to visit her parents, she needed something to do, and usually that would include grabbing a book and heading out somewhere. The park wasn't too busy, and she found a nice spot on one of the benches to sit and read and have her coffee.

Normally, she wouldn't have much of an issue concentrating on her novel, but today she's seen far too many people walking by, obliviously disgruntled, pissed off, and mutterings about losing something. It becomes frequent enough that she can't concentrate anymore, and after watching yet another man walk right by, she's had enough.

Getting up for her spot, Thalassa's investigating the area, though it doesn't take her long to see a young man at a table with a dog nearby. And it's quite obvious with the way her holds himself and the way that he talks that he may very well be the culprit. Not wanting to attract the attention of his dog (it could be an attack dog for all she knows) nor get caught in his game, she stands a few feet away and watches him carefully, wanting to be sure that he assumption was correct.

[darkremnant]

"Hit or not hit fella, I ain't got all day." Van huffed at one customer that was taking his sweet time with his bet. Van impatiently tapped his foot and looked over at Yin to see a kid climbing on her back. "Hey, kid, it's a dog not a horse." He snapped his fingers and the kid pouted but climbed off and settled for petting the dog instead. Which Yin seemed to appreciated and happily licked his hand.

He turned back to the customer, staring at him silently for a few moments. God, this is taking forever. He thought before snapping. "...HIT!"

"HIT?!" The man shouted in surprise.

"You say hit?" Van smirked and slammed a card on the table. "Oooh, 25. Tough luck." He chuckled and collected his winnings, barely listening as the man tried to argue. "I heard hit, buddy. Now unless you wanna play again to win it back I suggest you get lost." He answered calmly and after a few tense moments of giving Van the dirtiest look he could muster, he stormed off, taking the kid that was occupying Yin with him.

As Van shuffled his cards the dog stood up and sniffed around looking for something or someone else to occupy her.

[recollection]

She's not one for a life of crime, but now she can't help but commend him on his showmanship and cleverness. Distracting him enough and pretty much getting him to say it sealed the deal for him, and she very nearly smiled at that.

Thalassa steps out of the way of the man, watching him pass while his child merely ran along beside him. She flinched hearing the dog's steps and wandering around. She's never had a bad experience with dogs, but doesn't like them anyways. And besides, Yin looks big enough to bowl her over.

Taking a sip of her own coffee and side stepping around Yin, she decided to step a little closer to Van and his table. Not enough to be his next target, but enough to observe him a little more closely. "So you're the source of ire in this park."

Sorry for the late. Busy week's been busy T_T

[darkremnant]

Van glanced up when he heard the feminine voice. For once someone managed to sneak up on him. He spotted her earlier looking through the crowd but she looked too young to have any money, so he didn't pay much mind, but up close she looked slightly older. Late teens perhaps? Well dressed. Possibly has money. Though he wasn't getting a rich feel from her. Maybe he'd play this game fairly.

He silently mused as he looked her up and down, making a silent profile. "So it seems. What can I say? People love a good game. So you looking to have a go or are yo just here for the dog?" He nodded towards Yin who was settling at her water dish.

S'okay <3 I've had a busy one too

[recollection]

She'd be willing to try his game out if he convinces her. But at his question, her eyes instantly go over to Yin and her lip curls. She's... large, and might be too strong for Thalassa to deal with. Taking a swig of her drink, she shakes her head. "Not... really a dog person. Sorry." Despite her awkward tone, it would be the quickest way to dismiss that part of the conversation without revealing any unwanted details.

Standing for a minute more and giving his little 'shop' another scrutinizing eye, she steps a little closer. He certainly was shifty looking, and if Thalassa took him up on his offer, she could loose. But there was something curious about how he was operating this. Not to mention the man himself. She hasn't seen him before, but there was something about him that she just couldn't explain or put her finger on.

"Never was much of a gambling girl. Perhaps you could explain the rules?" It wouldn't hurt to play coy now, would it. It might help her see if he'd play fairly with her if he's got multiple games running.

[darkremnant]

"Oh, such a face. You're gonna break her heart." Van chuckled at the way the girl's lips curled at Yin. The dog let out a small whine and looked down at her water dish. Van reached down to scratch her ear and looked back to his potential customer with the same calm smile.

"Well luckily they're more for fun than a gamble. There's a few games to pick from, all with different rules. What's your preference, Doll face? Cards? Brain teaser? Riddles?"

[dododo]

It's such a nice day out that John figures he'll take his book outside, especially since he has one of his few days off and that's for taking advantage of. He's got said book under his arm as he reaches the park and is just about to bring it out to open it, because there usually aren't enough people for him to have to pay that much attention when he reaches it.

Except there's apparently a commotion today. Curiosity gets the better of him and he decides to have a look, but tries to be unnoticeable because days off really are for reading. He wouldn't think a man with a shirt with rolled up sleeves and a pair of plain trousers held in place by braces would attract attention, either, but then someone calls for him and he jumps in place, staring at the stranger. Young stranger.

"Pardon?" he asks, dumbfounded.

[darkremnant]

Van shooed away another loser and stretched lazily. He glanced around for Riku wonder where the hell was lunch. The idiot is probably chasing a butterfly around with his camera or something. Well since the cost was still clear, Van looked out at the potential. That's when he noticed come guy that kinda reminded him of an English teacher was staring over at him, then was trying to slink away.

"Wow, not so fast there, English. Don't think you went unnoticed." He pointed him out and Yin ran over to sniff around the stranger's ankles, wagging her tail excitedly. "Why take a curious glance when you can take part in the fun first hand." Van smiled lazily and waved the guy over.

[dododo]

The dog is a little distracting, and really what makes John hover a bit longer in the first place, rather than try to slip off after being more directly called out. English. Right.

He'll just pay attention to the dog instead, and squats down to pet her.

"What would that fun be?"

Sorry for the late. Busy weeks been busy T_T

[darkremnant]

"Why games of course. You look like fun guy." Not really, but we're trying to sell here s why not? "And you're out here to relax and..." He spots the book in the man's hand. A brainy type perhaps? Maybe he really is an English teacher. "Stimulate the mind." HE gestures towards the book.

"How about some brain teasers? You look like a guy that enjoys a good thinker."

All good!

[dododo]

Rambling, a bit, this guy. John pets the dog for a moment longer before he stands up again, turning the book over to glance at it, and is once again a little torn. He'll probably finish it today even if he uses up some time on this, but still...

Hm.

"That would depend on if they look any fun." But it's true, he does enjoy a good thinker, so he walks over.