A Tail-Flick ahead [Zidane]

What in the heck was that about?!

Zidane made his way from the outdoor restaurant holding his gloved hand to a red, stinging cheek. Standing at about 173cm the rouge was below average when compared to his comrades. Leon and Bartz with their stupid long legs! And this stupid, burning cheek! He supposed the waitress didn't much like his flirting. The coarse thief was often regarded a ladies man. He was a smooth criminal, a real charmer. But with his heart still on another he found his usually poetic advances turning into -- fights for his life! Maybe he shouldn't have made that off-handed comment about how well her blouse fit her, all considering! Well you live, you learn. But in his mind it was a loss, one his brothers would have a stitch over. Him, losing his touch?!

He was infamous for being able to bed any lady from Dali to Treno! Was his speechcraft failing due to lack of use?!

“Well I just have to practice!” He can't lose his touch! How else would he impress Dagger?! “Keep it together!” He clenched his fist and psyched himself up before a thought came to mind.

That was all well and good but he wasn't home so his brothers couldn't much find out or find out through some arbitrary rumor. Moreover, despite his most expert piloting skills, granted to him.by his sentient ship: he was in Traverse Town! He came for a reason, but he had yet to find out why...

He's not been able to get back to his world for a while now, but it wasn't the problem. It was far from one because he did have the means to, but Invincible had a reason to be out here. What was that blasted ship looking for? He figured it had sentience. He felt it when Terra collapsed. He shouldn't be surprised given what Invincible actually was. But Traverse Town didn’t have much going on, as far as he knew. Heartless were pretty sparse save for a few Districts that their alleyways were a bit dangerous during the night. Keybladers and others did pretty well in keeping the town safe. He shrugged at the thought. No point in worrying too much about it. The ship wouldn’t lead him into some dangerous situation he couldn’t handle! He was a hero! Even if -- he was still just a regular guy. Folding his arms behind his head the rouge dawdled about, having no real direction.

It wasn’t until the thief approached the the Mog Shop that he remembered he needed his blades sharpened. “Hey guys!” Zidane looked to Ravus, motioning his hand in greeting as he grinned, behind him.his tail calmly swinging side to side.”Oy, you floating beanbag! I know you hear me!”

How queer. Though he looked quite human that tail of his and those narrow pupils sunk in haunting blue eyes, which were almost cat-like slits, stood out against his youthful features. Young, perhaps in his late teens, the rogue was sharply dressed with his a silk jabot over a sleeveless blouse and teal vest. Over the jabot a gold pendant, resembling a theater’s half mask was strung with colorful beads which matched his glistening eyes. His jodhpur and loose, heeled boots made the boy look like something out of an ancient play of Lords and Kings, yet something surprisingly modern with how he spoke. What was the kid doing shouting at the roof of the shop? Well no sooner did he shout a moogle’s head would pop out of the shop’s upper window.

“What do you want you hooligan?! Kupo! Always slinging insults, po!” The head craftsmoogle didn't appreciate the cocky rouge's mouth. “Kupo-po!” They shook their hammer threateningly.

Zidane held out his hands to calm the rattling pipsqueak. “Whoa, I was just teasing. Come on, sharpen my blades would ya? I'll give you something g nice this time.”

“And not just a bunch of stale kupo nuts, po. You swindler!” The craftsmoogle declared.

Zidane put his hands on his hips and cocked his head. Tucking his left toe behind his right heel as he rest his weight on his right side: that lothe, Sandy tail leisurely swayed from side to side. “You act as if I knew that. You're lucky I even had any.” They were pretty rare back home. Only came around once a year!

The craftsmoogle pondered the pressed their puffy paw to their cat curled muzzle. “Hmm. No!” The pink-white pastry hollered out. “Go see if Cid’ll do it you-you, kup!” The fumed, causing Zidane to wince at the implied curse. “You make my pom-pom frazzle kupo!” They slammed the shutters shut leaving the thief to wince.

Zidane rolled his eyes, shrugging his shoulders in defeat. “You have one bad kupo nut and you'd think their society's fallen” the brigand rubbed his nose, looking to Ravus as he thrust his thumb to the shop. “You'd think we were married with how that went.” Of course that brought to question of the craftsmoogle was a girl...

Zidane eyed the young man, head tilting as he peered up the mountainous figure. “Name's Zidane.” He held put his gloved hand in a curt wave, but he smiled in glee. The moogle's sour mood hardly put a dent in the sunny blonde. But that tail though… of all his features, it stood out the most. Quite expressive as it's tip flicked from side to side.

Ravus Nox Fleuret

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

Zidane arched a brow at Ravus. Those bushy brows drew over his features expressively. Blue eyes focused on the young man with a sense of awe. It wasn't as if Zidane had the sense to admire such objectivity. In all honesty Ravus sounded like Blank. Zidane and the older Brigand never did see eye to eye, though it didn't mean they didn't get along or that Blank wasn't always right. It caused him to snort, his lip curling up in a light sneer before it turned up into one of his trademark smiles. It was bright and honest making it hard to tell if he was scheming or was relaxed. He shrugged and folded his arms behind his head, gloved fingers knitting together to hold the back of his head. The lithe boy tucked his left leg behind his right, tail held out towards his left side to aide in his balance. His blue eyes turned away as he sucked his teeth in a dismissive response.

“Oh they'll get over it. It wasn't my fault the kupo nut was stale.” It wasn't as if he was an expert in their freshness. He only had it by chance from the last Hunter's Festival.

Though the thought alone swirled up a world of guilt in his chest. So it was a stale kupo nut. It wasn't what made him feel bad. He visibly sulked. His shoulders slumped forward as his left hand slid up to the center of his chest, draw upward toward his face before he tossed back a few loose strands into the whole mane of gold. A thousand thoughts pushed through him in that moment. He really hated the fact Ravus was -- right. It was what the nut had meant to them…. Snapping his right fingers he waved his hand before the in heel before squatting and stretching out his legs. Jumping to a standing position once more the rouge bounced on his heels, arms at his side as if he was ready to run.

He turned to face Ravus, feeling the situation had turned on him despite his attempt to keep it lighthearted. “Fine, fine. But that's a specialty item. That's kinda why I ended up trading them a stale one. Back where I'm from you can only come by them once a year.” He explained it had been mere circumstance of chance than malicious intent.

The rogue looked back towards Traverse Town's gates. He took a ponderous pose, letting his left hand come to his chin, his right rest upon his hip. The end of his blonde tail, though long, did well to remain curled up and off the ground. Positioned so that even as it slumped low: the length was curled to a side and raised. It was that hooked end that twitched and flicked. He really hadn't a choice. Invincible was not likely to do what he asked if it was real important. Go figure when you had a ship with a mind, or several, of its own.

Right.

He grinned. “Well, Ravus, I doubt there's any shops around here with kupo nuts, but I bet they've stuff a Moogle’ll trade for.” He pointed off towards the Third District. “I've got time before my ship comes back. Wanna come along?” He had plenty of time.

Wait, a ship?

This irresponsible cur?

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

Zidane always felt it was good to have a buddy when you were in a place all on your own. Trouble did to naturally find people's of the best intentions. And since he was the sort of guy with reasonable intentions at best, the rouge always did to find heaps of trouble. Wandering Traverse Town on your own was one way to find it. While Heartless were a rare find what with the Districts patrolled and Cid’s defense system up and running you could account that any attacks perpetrated by Heartless come due to a recklessness driven by the fatal condition of curiosity. For Zidane it was all about luck.

As one would have it heroes had the worst of it. While baddies were inevitably tossed off their high Chocobos on account of arrogance, heroes had the rotten fate of running into trouble by chance! He could be our buying Gyshal Pickles and he'd find himself up a creek without a paddle! And he didn't like Gyshal Pickles, nor was Lindblum anywhere near a stream, unless you counted the root marshes. And he didn't. He couldn't stomach the stuff, let alone be near it. And yet it never failed: he always ran into Granny’s stall!

Zidane led Ravus along towards the Second District. Here a large number of shops inhabited the walkways. Shoe shops, suit shops, a hotel and a Gizmo shop! Though who knew what went on in there… Entering through the large gates it was pretty overwhelming. While the buildings were tall and generally common for city dwellers like Ravus and Zidane, but the air in the city was something akin to… home. Traverse Town was a collection of worlds who could no longer find place in the universe. Broken and scattered by the Heartless they came together to tell a story.

What story he wasn't quite sure.

The rouge grinned as he made way along the streets with the familiar comfort of someone who’s been here before. “So you been here long? First time?” Ravus just had this air about him, like he was a greenhorn. “Sticking up for those moogles… if you knew the prices they charged for an upgrade.” And the outrageous tasks of collecting what they, as self respecting blacksmith, should have.

The came before what could be considered the most bizarre clothing shop. Clothing with frills, frocks, crimps and curls and some with boots attached to the legs as well as hats with whole birds attached. It looked a gaudy place with curious customers. But the lad about with a tail was among the strangest. He scratched his head at Ravus’ strange question. He looked a bit hurt as his eyes pinched up.

“Ouch. Guess I know how Cinna feels. Creature? I'm a person you know.” He put on an annoyed expression. “Oy, you're sounding a lot like Bartz. I ain't that short ta be called a fairy or something.” He put his hand on his hip and wagged his gloved fingers at the taller male. “Besides who are you to talk?” He pointed to the top of Ravus’ head.

With Zidane at 173cm one supposed he wasn't average in height and with such baggy pants it created more of an illusion on the matter. Ravus was a little over 189cm, so he was pretty tall with those long legs like Squall and Bartz. Did the rogue not even think twice on it? Well why would you think twice of something born attached to you? Said tail curled around a small top hat and tossed it up, the rogue catching it atop his head with a laugh.

“Believe it or not I'm an actor! Cinna would love this place, Ruby too. They made some great costumes.” You'd not think Cinna someone who has any measure of skill, but with a face like his he'd need a few skills to attract ladies.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS