Sugar can be a dangerous thing.

[black_hat_cat]

The amusement park was...

Well. Loud, crowded, and having a rather unpleasant smell. But it could have been worse. Entertaining things happened. A child almost fell out of the Ring of Fire ride, for example.

I think Hattori may have eaten too much cotton candy. I'm going to have to have him take it easy on Halloween.

Comments

[inudaiyoukai]

The peril of human children amuses you?

[inudaiyoukai]

And there is no way to speed along the process?

I am capable of managing my own affairs, I merely thought it would be useful to employ someone who is more knowledgeable about this world than I am at present.

[black_hat_cat]

Not that we're aware of.

You're welcome to ask me or others for assistance if you need it.

[inudaiyoukai]

...I suppose my house will function on its own in my absence.

Your offer is appreciated, although I am sure I will manage on my own, thank you.

[black_hat_cat]

That's the spirit.

You do seem the self-sufficient sort, although I wouldn't have guessed from the makeup job.

[inudaiyoukai]

Things just tend to fall into disarray if I am not there.

It is not makeup. They are markings.

[black_hat_cat]

You know, I think I understand the feeling.

Did you do them on purpose? Because if you did them on purpose, that doesn't help your case.

[inudaiyoukai]

I assume you are familiar with the concept of useless underlings, then?

What case is that? I was born with them.

[black_hat_cat]

Quite, but a useless underling is hardly as bad as a useless boss.

Ah, well then, I suppose you can't be blamed.

[inudaiyoukai]

If your leader is useless, you are obligated to do something about it. At least that is the way it works where I am from.

Blamed? You find my markings distasteful?

[black_hat_cat]

Oh, I'm going to kill him the next time I see him. But working under him was a greater help to me than a hindrance, even if it meant putting up with his idiocy.

I wouldn't say "distasteful", no. Perhaps "absurd" would be more fitting.

[inudaiyoukai]

How did your leader fail you, then?

I have never heard anyone describe them in such a way before. My father had similar markings, as did my mother. They are a symbol of the power of my house.

[black_hat_cat]

He didn't fail me in particular so much as he simply...failed. He did, however, blame his own faults on myself and my team, leading to our exile and our being hunted as criminals.

They look a bit like you fell asleep and someone drew embarrassing symbols on your face with markers.

[inudaiyoukai]

The mark of a weak man, that he would blame his failure on his subordinates. I am sorry.

Thy symbol on my forehead is the moon. I am the Lord of the House of the Moon. I am not embarrassed to bear this symbol. The rest of my markings are stripes. And they are not just on my face.

I see you have markings of your own, although I am quite certain you were not born with yours.

[black_hat_cat]

Your sympathy is unnecessary, but appreciated.

Is that so? Where else do you have them?

Do you refer to the scars on my back, or the tattoos on my upper arms? In either case, I wasn't born with them, but I consider them integral to who I am.

[inudaiyoukai]

Mm.

My arms, they wrap around and end at the wrists. There are a few others.

Both. And I'm sure that you do.