prismatica | video

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[The camera opens to Crystal Beach. With the weather as it's been lately, nobody should be surprised that someone decided to spend a little time there. With the sun starting to set, the sky has burst into mingled red and gold, the color spread over the sea as well in gentle lapping waves. A small jostle, and the camera is all set on a beach chair that was the resting place of a few cute little dolls. Some were shaped like local animals, but among the others were a smattering of dragons, perhaps an inspiration from their recent dealings with Lyestellus.

Kanji stepped back and into the frame, dressed for the outing: A basic black speedo and a pair of snappy designer sunglasses. He didn't seem bothered by his choice of attire- it was too damn hot to give a shit anyway- as he lowered to his knees and settled next to his makeshift display.]

A'right... uh, yo! Ain't done one of these videos in a while. Few months, I think? Anyway, I'll just get right into it with the question I sometimes get:

Did I make these? Damn right I did! They're cute as hell too, yeah? And if somebody's got a problem with a guy like me makin' stuff like this, they can kiss my ass or get outta my way! This is what I do, and I'm damn proud of it!

[He sat up straighter with a grin.]

...For the rest of ya who don't give a crap and want a piece of what I can make, I'm open for orders. I make dolls, charms n' clothes. Hell, they can be clothes that accommodate ears n' tails or whatever when the moon changes. I can do alterations, too.

I'm gettin' better at workin' needles while transformed, too, so the Sanguis moon ain't slowin' me down much. Gimme a little more time, and that'll be nailed no sweat!

[He supposed that was it. Off-camera, there's a distinct panting. Kanji looked off-frame, too. Despite the hardened look right up until then, his expression softened immediately.]

Hey, pal... tired of diggin', huh?

[A large black and white dog pads in, some kind of jowly breed but it's sporting a strange pair of horns and very dirty paws from a digging adventure. His tail is wagging like crazy as he flopped beside the human, and is happy to get those tummy pets.]

Anyway... drop a line here or in the inbox.

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Wine? This earl-... wait, no, we agreed to meet at this hour, right.

[But this guy would probably have super fancy wine. Alas, he lifted a hand.]

Thanks, but I shouldn't drink. Once my 20th rolls around next year, you bet your ass I'm havin' some nightcaps!

[ ...He has absolutely no idea what most of that means.

That said, he's going to consider his hosting responsibilities at least moderately fulfilled. He at least had the foresight to prepare the clothing he wanted Kanji to work at -- all of them are trousers. ]

I would like these tailored.

[ He holds out one hand, palm up. Something stirs in the shadow by his leg, then uncoils -- a tail, lightly furred, with a tuft of fur which grazes his palm now, as if to show itself off. ] To perfectly fit my measurements, but also to accommodate my tail.

[ --he frowns, and then reaches over to indicate a specific pair of pants. These ones seem to have suffered an... accident... given that the fastenings at the front are torn. ] These will need repair also.

[ His gaze fixes on Kanji, significantly more awake now. ] You can do this?

[Adjusted to fit, a repair for an incident he was sorely tempted to ask about but opted wisely not to, and to accommodate a tail. But oh no, he wanted to reach out and touch the tail. Kanji was cashing in on a hell of a lot of wisdom tonight. With a tip of his chin, he nodded and reached for his tape measure.]

Yeah, I can get that worked out. I'll just need to take some numbers off ya and I can handle the rest from there.

[Man, he was lucky... he wanted to keep his tail permanently. But it seemed to only pop up during full Sanguis.]

Then I put myself in your hands.

[ Funny story, about the pants. As it turns out, making out with angry people sometimes ruins one's expensive outfits.

He leans against the desk, arms crossed in front of his chest. ]

Where would you like me?

[ For the measurements, of course.

Although, if the upward quirk of his mouth is any indication, he is well aware of the innuendo, and maybe watching for Kanji's reaction. ]

[He nodded, the gears starting to turn. He usually worked with friends and folks who he could swear would fit perfectly in his home town. This guy made him feel like he was working in someplace like Paris or Venice, and the expectations were a thousand times higher.

Hell of a challenge. He welcomed it.]

Where-

[Ha. ...Ph-phrasing. He should have expected stuff like this considering the planet he lived on, but despite not exactly falling for the bait, he still turned a bright shade of pink and lost his train of thought for a beat.

Soon he gestured vaguely.]

You, uh- y'got a step stool or somethin'? W-we can do this anywhere, I ain't picky.

[ It's an attractive blush; even if he wasn't a smug ass, he'd be pretty pleased with Kanji's reaction. In fact, at the moment Cardan seems much more interested in the tailor than he is in his clothes.

Still, they are here for a reason. The question provokes a slight frown; he gestures towards the dining table. ]

...I have a chair.

That's- that's fine. Jus' need ya to stand on it for a few minutes while I get measurements.

[Oh. OH. Right- he patted the notepad into the opposing palm.]

I don't give these numbers out to people and I can dispose of the info after I make use of 'em if you're more comfy with that. I work with some pretty private people, so I extend that to everybody I work with.

[ He is going to draw the chair close and step up onto it. The tail waves lazily back and forth all the while, almost as if it has a mind of its own. ]

Hm?

[ ...that disclaimer surprises him. He hadn't even thought to be worried; when he speaks again, he sounds genuinely curious. ]

Is there such a large market for client measurements?

Fortunately, no. The ones that used to ask are still seein' dentists for repairs after I got done with 'em.

[Just casual talk of violence as he unrolled the tape measure and got started. He'd duck his head to avoid the tail whenever he needed to, considering it a challenge for himself.]

But I still wanna give peace of mind, y'know? People feel a little better knowin' I ain't some guy hoarding how big everybody's chest, crotch or waist is for personal use or monetary gain.

[ That's a sensible enough explanation; he seems content to leave it there.

He is also very obviously used to being measured; he'll move obediently as directed, and hold as still as he can besides. ]

...so what is this about your age and wine?

Huh? Oh... back home I gotta be 20 to drink or the cops have another excuse to lock me up. It doesn't apply to this world, obviously, but I figure why rush it? I'm gonna be the right age pretty soon anyway.

...That, and I'm dating a detective.

What a strange thing to be punished over.

[ Says the man with the drinking problem. ]

Tell me more about these cops of yours.

Bunch'a bored people with sticks up their asses. They look at me and figure they wanna make their quota by askin' me what I'm doin', where am I goin', and threaten to take me in because I'm too close to 'good people' and they wanna make sure I won't do somethin'.

The number of times they dragged me home for "trespassing" on sidewalks everybody else could walk on, the number of times they'd stop to talk to me when I was just minding my own damn business...

Overall, bored pricks with sticks up their asses.

[ ...despite his best efforts, he really only understands like half of that, but--

But it is mildly uncomfortable how much it sounds like the kinds of things he did to others in his youth.

Perhaps best not to mention it. ]

Why you, specifically?

Because I was the one who cleaned up their messes. Tch...

[He wrote down the numbers he'd gathered. Focused on his writing, he shrugged.]

I guess when ya go to academy to learn to be a cop, finding out some random kid could clean up all the shit you drag your feet on feels like a kick in the balls. Thefts in the local odds n' ends shop? Gone, 'cause of me finding out who was stealin' and draggin' 'em by their ear to go apologize to the owner and pay 'em back. The cops tagged me for "harassment", even if Shiroku-san vouched for me.

Then there were the creeps who stood around makin' googly eyes at the tofu shop, hopin' to get a peep at a local celebrity... a knock to the skull and her stalkers were gone. I get tagged for fighting.

Biker gang makes the area stink to shit and makes a lotta noise. I wreck 'em, I get put on the news for "starting a gang"... starting a gang! That time, they didn't even try!

[ Cardan listens to all of this with an expression that's only vaguely bemused. He is starting to get a sneaking suspicion that this is some extremely human-specific business; if he'd had any mortal friends in Lunatia, he would have probably asked them.

As it is, he will draw a hand through his hair, and then step off of the chair to walk over into his kitchen. ]

...are you certain you would not like a drink.

[ He certainly wants one. ]

[He blew out a sigh. After a moment's thought, he wagered that this guy may be somebody who didn't wanna be rude and eat or drink solo with company over.]

Y'know what? I ain't certain. I'll do one drink.

[He closed the notebook and stood upright.]

[ Well enough. He pours for them both: a full-bodied, beautiful red, probably deceptively potent to someone who doesn't drink. Not that Cardan would realize, being used to the much more heady effects of faerie-made wines.

Instead of a glass, he hands Kanji a goblet. His own wine is already half gone. He has brought the bottle out with him. ]

Thanks.

[Whoa, a goblet... he was totally fine drinking like a medieval lord or something. He took a drink and realized that he was definitely not much of a drinker outside of the occasional cocktail: There was so much from start to finish that he realized the wine experts weren't fucking around when they talked about characteristics of 'dark berry' and 'butter' and all.

Kanji's eyes widened as he stared at the goblet, riding on the warmth that slowly worked its way down to the belly.]

I usually get mixed stuff or sneak a little warm sake... this is really tasty!

[ He's assuming the measuring part is done -- at least for now -- so he's going to sit on the couch, both bottle and goblet in hand. ]

Have you tried the wine the dragons make? It is the best I have had here.

[ And, unfortunately, expensive. ]

I was plannin' on movin' to Lyestellus. Guess I should try their wine, huh...? Their tea's real good, but I try to be careful around the stuff before it gives me horns or whatever.

...Could do with a pair of wings, though.

[Another drink. Hopefully this stuff wasn't going to turn him into anything, but at this point he was just throwing all caution to the wind.]

[ Kanji is probably safe; if the wine had any transformative properties, Cardan would have long encountered them.

Probably.

He refills his own cup; before setting the bottle down, he glances over at Kanji's goblet and raises the bottle, questioningly. The tailor did say one drink, and Cardan has no interest in pressuring him, but he also seems to be enjoying the wine...

And, if he's honest, it is nice to be drinking with someone, instead of by himself.

Which is all to say: if Kanji wants a refill, he's certainly welcome to one. ]

You desire wings?

[He'll accept a refill.]

Hell yeah! It beats public transportation and you get to see everything sailin' on by. It...

[He turned a bit pink again, but shrugged it off. Be honest, Kanji.]

Okay, this is kinda dumb to say out loud, but whenever I rained or snowed, I'd always stand outside and look straight up. It kinda felt like flyin'... or just fallin' in. It always calmed me down.

[ He listens to this, leaned back in the couch, his attentive gaze on Kanji's face.

His next question may seem incongruous. ]

Have you ever ridden a horse?

Nah. My neck of the woods're all paddy fields, no ranches or nothin'. Hell, I ain't even seen a horse up close.

[Someone would mistake him for some sengoku-era thug anyway.]

Closest thing's my two jinba friends, here in Lunatia. Uh, but they're centaurs.

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shit now i need wine

hahaha hilariously i almost never drink wine :')

I married into a family of wine snobs and they absorbed me into the fold

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