[OPEN] A Cat's Paw Touch Will Win It!

[legallygreen]

Characters:   Jennifer Walters and anyone who wants to join in!
Content:  Tired of the political panel, and waiting with baited breath for some kind of formal gala to be announced, Jennifer spends some time in the town, playing games and winning goldfish.
Setting:  The Flower Festival
Time:  Early evening, after the political panel
Warning:  None as of

Comments

[defenses_gone]

In spite of himself, Fox was having a good time. He wasn't very interested in the games along the streets, or the curious food items, but the festival had such an atmosphere. It helped to keep his mind off of the flower catching contest, which he was admittedly a little anxious about.

At least it had. Whenever the sky was raining petals and there was a coating of flowers over everything, it was hard to stay distracted. He couldn't help but consider patterns and plans in his head. How big was the cloud anyways? Did the flowers fall over the whole town or--

Craning for a better view, he'd managed to veer off of the road and into someone at a stall. Worse, maybe, it was someone he recognized, "Ach--Miss Walters!"

[legallygreen]

She was just beginning to figure out how to win the game. A minute or two more of watching and she would be ready to try it herself. Jennifer had just decided that it was time to attempt the game when someone came behind her and jostled her suddenly. Holding on tightly to her bag and her parasol, she straightened herself and turned around, recognizing one of the crew members of the Serenity. And not only that, but he was a demi-human.

Despite being ruffled, she smiled, and nodded to him. "Mr. McCloud. Are you quite all right? That was a very rough little bump."

[defenses_gone]

Fox had raised his hands defensively, but he lowered them now. "Sorry. I'm fine. Just, not watching where I'm going," He rubbed at the back of his neck. "Are you okay?"

At least it didn't look like he'd interfered with anything. She'd only been watching the game, as best as he could tell, not playing it. Still, of all the people to run into like that.

[legallygreen]

Jennifer gave him a smile then, and nodded her head in response. "I am quite well, Mr. McCloud. Just some dust to shake from my skirt and all will be well."

Which she then went ahead and did. Alphonse the fish was fine in his little bag, waiting for a new home, and her parasol had done no damage to the people around her. No reason to get upset over such a thing.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Jennifer asked, one gloved hand pushing a stray curl back behind her left ear.

[defenses_gone]

That was good to hear. Fox shifted to relax a bit. "Yes, I am," he replied, "I've never seen anything quite like it." With all his time in the Badlands, it was a wonder that he'd never made it here before. But then it was a rare event. Something about every seven years, at least that's what he thought he'd heard.

"Ring tossing, eh?" he said, observing the game. The fox had to admit, from what (little) he knew about the lady, she didn't seem like the type who would go around playing festival games.

[legallygreen]

"I believe the trick to the game is to get the ring to go over the target at an angle. If you try to throw it straight on, it simply slides off." She replied with a nod.

"I have been trying my luck all evening." Jennifer continued, pulling out her little bag and displaying her new pet. "Alphonse the goldfish has lucked out today. He will be the most pampered goldfish on the continent."

Smiling at Fox, she noticed that he seemed slightly tense around her. That was fine, most people were until they got to know her. "Would you care to try with me?"

[defenses_gone]

He looked from the goldfish to the ring game, "You won him at this?"

She was probably right about how to win the game. The flower-shapes would make it impossible for any ring to land flat and stay. Meaning that an angle was the only way to go.

Fox's hand went to his neck again. It couldn't be that difficult, if kids were winning it, "I guess I could try."

[legallygreen]

"Actually, I won Alphonse from the game stand that is four away, you have to throw a light little ball into the water and if you make it in, you are given a lovely little fish. This particular game looks a little more difficult."

As he agreed to attempt it with her, she gave him a bright smile. "Lovely."

Jennifer paid for two sets of the rings, and handed one set to him. "Now, let us see how this works."

[defenses_gone]

"Hm," was Fox's only response. Yes, this probably would be more difficult.

On some level, Fox couldn't believe that he was doing this. It wasn't that he was bothered by "childish" things. He felt a little silly doing it, maybe. But it was more of a complete lack of interest. This wasn't what came to his mind when someone mentioned fair or fun.

Yet here he was. He took the rings that were offered and bounced one of them in his hand, to test the weight. Of course, that was only so helpful. When he approached the boundary and gave his first toss, it fell short of the closest target.

"No luck," he said. He had a better feel for it now, though. "Your turn?" he said to Miss Walters.

[legallygreen]

Jennifer watched him as he attempted to toss the ring around the target, noting that his throw fell a little short. That would be her problem as well. Tossing the rings hard enough would be difficult, but she would attempt it. It was no fun if she did not.

"That was a good try. I doubt I will do any better." She replied, but held one of the rings in her free right hand and gave it a toss towards the target.

It had enough distance, but slid off the target. She had not gotten the angle right that it needed before it would go over the flower petals. She smiled though as she missed and turned to him. "Well that was unsuccessful. Your turn again."

[defenses_gone]

"Still, looks like you did a little better," Fox quipped. His next toss managed to hit the flower. The ring landed almost perfectly. It nearly stuck, but the angle was too straight. It slid off just as quickly as hers had.

"That was better too," Fox stood up with a grin. "We're getting there."

[legallygreen]

"So close!" She said, getting just as excited as the children around them who were watching them play. Jennifer took her next ring, and sent it flying after the first, unfortunately just as badly aimed as the first as well.

"Oh dear, that did not go well." Jennifer mused, laughing softly at herself before she looked at Fox again. "Well, let us try again and see if we can get this on the last try."

[defenses_gone]

Fox could've laughed. At least she was taking it well. "We'll see," he said, preparing to toss his last ring. He thought he could manage it this time. He understood the weight, and how far to toss it and with how much of an angle. He was almost sure it would stick when he threw, and it--didn't. But it was close. The angle was fine, but the toss was just a touch to low. The ring actually hung from the flower petals for a moment before it fell.

Maybe he was just over thinking it. Trying to not see the children, he turned to Miss Walters. "Looks like it's up to you then," he said with an amiable look.

[legallygreen]

Jennifer gasped as the ring held for a moment, but then slipped off and dropped to the ground. There was a disappointed sigh, but she smiled at her companion, and nodded a bit.

"I will try not to let us down." She replied with a grin.

Eyeing the target, she gave it a toss, and ended up holding her breath as the ring hovered over the petals, before dropping over onto the stem of the target, winning the game.

"I did it!" She said with joy, smiling as the game owner handed her a stuffed animal and she turned to one of the small children that did not have one and passed it on to the little girl.

Jennifer smiled as the girl hugged her carelessly and ran off, stuffed kitty in hand. "Well, that was fun. Thank you for playing with me Mr. McCloud."

[defenses_gone]

It was oddly relieving to see his "partner" win the game. Even if it was something silly like that, it felt significant at the time. He watched the girl run off with the toy with a small sense of accomplishment.

"Oh. Sure," replied Fox. "It was," he added as an afterthought

[legallygreen]

"It was very nice to spend the time with you." She continued with a smile, turning away from the booth.

"Are you going to be flying in the flower catching? As one of the pilots I would think you would be very good at that particular contest." Jennifer asked, adjusting her bag on her shoulder, the parasol over her head keeping flowers off her head.