welcome to the masquerade // aurum

[charactercemetary.]

[glow=#000,1,400]WE'VE BECOMES ECHOES BUT ECHOES, THEY FADE AWAY — ｡+ﾟ.[/glow]

He stands outside of his house, perhaps a bit too close to be inconspicuous, staring up at the moonlight, holding a gem in front of his left eye. One stolen from an NPC, and he hoped, deep down this would be it. It would be one step closer to stopping Snake. To finding Jii-chan. To avenging his dearest father.

He holds it up, closer to the moon, the blue rays of light from the gem itself glistening down, almost in a shimmering way. He scans it for any hint of red, something that would lead to crimson-colored tears spilling out from the gem. No. Nothing. A disdained frown etches itself on the Phantom Thief's face. He places it in a small bag, making a mental note to return it. Instead of deconjouring it, it falls to the ground, kicking up dust around it with a satisfying thud.

"How disappointing," he snarls, pacing around, running a paw across his neck and chest, as if to calm himself down. "It's just an average gem!" He cries out, ivory fangs clenched as he wanted to sob. "Why do I always have to go back to step one?!" His footsteps hit like an earthquake against the ground, harsh and full of deep-seated anger. "I just wanna... smash it! And break it into tiny pieces!" Such was his promise. He stared down at the mafia, after his sixth heist ever, remarking that he'd find Pandora before them and he would make sure justice would be delivered. By breaking it. It would have been even better if it was right in front of them, but, if he could not have that, merely making it unusable was enough.

Eventually, he stops pacing. He had nearly forgotten his poker face. He stops his breakdown, not allowing himself to display any emotions further. The thief blinks a few times, making sure any would-be tears are wiped away. The Angora lowers his head slightly, spinning and turning to face what was behind him. He offers a smirk, teeth the color of snow glistening in the moonlight, and making sure his eyes were hidden - thanks to his monocle and tophat. The cat clasps his paws together, shifting his weight to not fall over before lowering himself once more. "Kin-keibu," he greets, with a slight chuckle. "You came all this way just to see little ol' me? And here I was, starting to think you hated me! I must say, sir, this is very kind of you." His voice was soft, yet taunting, and his tail was flicking as he waited tor the lion's reply.

// [member=6881]aurum.[/member]

[wormwood.]

Everything stays, right where you left it.

But it still changes, ever so slightly, daily and nightly.

Normally, or at least from what Aurum had been able to pick up in the past, Kid was careful. Sure, he certainly loved to put on a show, and one couldn't exactly say that he didn't draw attention to himself, but that didn't mean he didn't always have a plan, and some flashy power to pull out of his sleeve in order to get away. It was infuriating, but it was something that proxy certainly had to give the little thief. After all, if Kid hadn't had some sort of back up plan for the situations he had ended up in thus far, he probably would've ended up captured, or worse. Of course, the worse would never come from Aurum, who had never thought once about legitimately harming the young thief. After all, why would he? Kid didn't hurt anyone in his heists, and while what he was doing was wrong, it wasn't something that couldn't be solved with a bit of diplomacy. And while there were certainly times where Aurum did feel like violence was necessary – say, when some Pittians showed up at the border – he didn't feel right making any sort of plans to maim or kill Kid. However, it seemed as though he would never again have to think about such drastic measures, thanks to the fact that Kid had become a bit... sloppy. Aurum wasn't exactly sure what had triggered it, but the gentleman thief had messed up just enough that the lion could actually track him, and he had eventually ended up leading him straight to... Kaito's house. Aurum's heart had sunk as he landed nearby, slowly moving to come up behind the other.

The frantic and angry yelling was not something that Aurum had been expecting when he had tailed Kid, and he found himself freezing for a moment, just watching as the male angrily paced around and made a rather lackluster effort to calm himself down. The angel couldn't exactly understand the meaning behind everything that the other was saying, but he still felt a little ache of sympathy, mainly because of the sheer sadness he could hear in the other's angry cries. He took a few more steps forward, his intentions not fully planned out yet, when Kaito actually turned to face him. He lifted his head up in slight surprise, his golden mane shifting a little as he listened to Kid's almost robotic little speech. It didn't sound like it had any real reason behind it, and it was obvious the thief was forcing it in order to not look weak and reveal his identity. However... there could really only be two explanations for why the angora was in front of Kaito's home, and if he was trying to steal from Kaito? Aurum would be very displeased. He hissed out softly, his eyes narrowing a little in the low light, "I did come out all the way here to talk to you. To find out who you are, considering you've been wreaking havoc on our town the last few weeks." His tail twitched slowly behind him, and he mumbled as he looked up at Kaito's home, "And I think I may have my answer... although really it just leaves me with more questions."

template by orion

[charactercemetary.]

[glow=#000,1,400]WE'VE BECOMES ECHOES BUT ECHOES, THEY FADE AWAY — ｡+ﾟ.[/glow]

He couldn't be alone, could he? Weeks ago, he'd give anything for his mother to come back home from her parties. He'd give everything if it meant he could find Jii-chan again, and he would burn the world down to see Toichi. Now, though he wanted to see them again, his thoughts were often swirling, his mind was a tornado - though it lacked an eye of the storm. Still, he remained composed on the outside, making sure his eyes were not seen and having that shit-eating grin he was known for.

Still, he looks at the lion, hearing him speak. How long was he here? How long did he know that Kaitou Kid was here for? He was getting dangerously close to the truth, and he forces himself to not appear surprised, instead laughing."You wanted to find out who I am? And you even have a clue, Kin-keibu?" He keeps his poker face on surprisingly well, chuckling into his cape, his tail swishing and his stance arrogant and confident. Then, he looks serious, still having that stupid smile of his on. "You rip my mask off," his voice lowers, and his eyes narrow. "and you will regret such an action. This is because it is like Pandora's Box - you wish to open it because you have suspicions about what is inside," he gestures to his own house before continuing, "but you have no clue what you might unleash. And even if you did know what's inside, it would be boring, wouldn't it?"

[wormwood.]

Everything stays, right where you left it.

But it still changes, ever so slightly, daily and nightly.

The poker face was convincing, even Aurum could admit that. Still, that didn't stop the male from seeing that he was getting close. He noticed the way that Kid's gaze darted up to the house, and.the way his breath seemed to catch for the faintest of moment's best returning to normal. He was launching into some type of lengthy speech, but the lion was already moving forward, further into the boy's personal space. The seriousness in Kid's voice only pushed him farther forward, a paw raising as he tilted his head to one side. His one blue eye focused intently on Kid as he spoke softly, his wings shifting and stretching out to both sides, "I'm used to regretting my actions. Hell, spent an entire long period of my life just stewing in my bad decisions. I know a bad decision when I see one. And unmasking you? It isn't a bad decision. It's one for your own good." He then continued, his large paw out stretching, trying to hook his razor sharp claws in the edge of the monocle, tugging it forward, "Besides... I like boring. I like mundane. My life has had more than enough excitement in it for a million of them, honestly. Why do you think I settled down to be a father and help run a group? It's not because I live for battle and excitement. It's because I wanna take care of my kid. Live happily... you should be able to live happily too, Kaito." Once he was done speaking, his paw flicked upward to knock the tophat from Kaito's head, the lion growing quite tired of the charade going on before him.

template by orion

[charactercemetary.]

[glow=#000,1,400]WE'VE BECOMES ECHOES BUT ECHOES, THEY FADE AWAY — ｡+ﾟ.[/glow]

What - no! What the hell was the golden inspector doing? He went on about how it was for his own good. Though annoyed by the statement, given how he felt misunderstood, he shrugs it off. "I don't think someone like you understands what is 'for my own good'." He steps back, fear rocketing through him though he keeps speaking. "But, I am sorry to hear that you spent a lot of your life in regret. That sucks, Kin-keibu." He digs his claws into the soft dirt, before relaxing his paws.

Relaxing was one mistake; and though he may not have harmed others, his anger could have lead to an outburst if he had enough to process what he was doing. With a swift tug, his monocle was pulled off of him and his hat, swiped off. His eyes widen and he leaps, quickly springing into action, catching the hat, and twisting his body to land on all four feet, before putting it down. He looks at his monocle, which landed in the dirt. He skidded, grabbing it and wiping any mud off, staring at it intently - it didn't break again, did it? Then he puts it back on. It was Oyaji's, it was his, it needed to stay with him.

Kaito grins at being called that. "In Japan, I would have denied such an allegation," he replies, a "tsk, tsk" sound, regaining his composure. "Given how much danger I'd be in if people knew." He stares up at the lion, chuckling as if he were mad - which, he probably was. "Well, if I am to face some sort of punishment, I'd rather deal with you than with those in my past." He paces around. "So, what're you gonna do, Kin-keibu? Turn me in? Capture me?" He lowers his gaze. He still hasn't found Pandora yet, so it looked like he'd be bolting if that was the case.

[wormwood.]

Everything stays, right where you left it.

But it still changes, ever so slightly, daily and nightly.

It wasn't exactly surprising to Aurum, that Kaito got a mite too cocky for his own good. One minute he was ranting and raving, talking about how he felt sorry for the proxy and his past regrets, and the next moment the male was unmasked, his brief moment of relaxation betraying him as the monocle and hat were swiftly swiped away. Kaito was quick to flail indignantly, evidently panicking over what had been pulled from him, but the damage had already been done. The angel saw Kaito's face clear as day, and he felt a heavy sigh leave him, his eyes darkening a little bit. He had really hoped that his assumption would be wrong, and that he could've laughed at himself for even considering not trusting Kaito, but his judgement had proven to be reliable, at least this time. He shook his head a little bit as Kaito put the monocle back on, his mane shifting with his movements as his entire body language seemed to change. It didn't reflect anger, or even sadness, just... disappointment. He wasn't sure when exactly he had started to care to Kaito, or hold him to the same standards that he held Roy to, but it was obvious that he had been hoping for better from the boy. It was obvious he didn't have the full story, but he wasn't sure that even if he did get all of it, he wouldn't still be feeling this unpleasant wave of betrayal. A sigh left his lungs as soon as Kaito began to ramble again, regaining his false composure and asking if Aurum was going to turn him in.

Aurum finally seemed to respond after a long moment, shifting and straightening up. The proxy looked rather intimidating at his full height, his wings outstretched and his one blue eye focused downwards on Kaito, full of sheer disappointment. He rumbled after a long moment, a soft snort leaving him as he shook his head, "I'm not going to turn you in, Kaito..." It was a bad decision, and he knew it. He was supposed to be the second in command of this place. He wasn't supposed to be protecting thieving little kids, yet... he couldn't help it. Another sigh left him, this time directed mostly at himself, before he continued, "You shouldn't be doing this and you know it, Kaito. These people are your clanmates. We're like family around here. We don't steal from family. We don't like to family. Don't you feel bad about that?" He fixed Kaito with his intense disapproving gaze again, challenging the teenager to answer him.

template by orion

[charactercemetary.]

[glow=#000,1,400]WE'VE BECOMES ECHOES BUT ECHOES, THEY FADE AWAY — ｡+ﾟ.[/glow]

Kaito had moved his stance, ready to turn and bolt out of there. He wasn't just gonna sit - a waiting duck, for bread - only to get caught and shot. He looks at Aurum, noting how he stood at his full height. How he looked majestic - despite being a cyclops - and how he wings were spread out. Was he knowing of Kaito's plan, and was planning to fly and catch him like that? He wasn't that unprepared, give him some credit! He snorts, overconfidence taking over him again as he lifts a paw to fix his tophat.

So, the old man wasn't going to capture him, huh? Surprising. Yet, still, he knew that he couldn't just trust this guy that kind of acted like a father. So, his nerves were on fire, and he was ready to bolt at any second concerning his capture. However, at his comment about the fact that stealing wasn't right - despite his own morals of returning the stolen items (at least, until he found Pandora), and not hurting anyone - made his red-blue eyes light with fires of fury and he clenched his teeth. "I shouldn't be doing this?" His voice seems caught in his own throat, as if he were choking on words.

He slams his paw down, and kicks up to flick his cape. The sinner in white was pissed. "It doesn't matter whether or not that I should, it's that I have to, Kin-keibu." Venom is dripping off of his words, built up anger from all the times he's desperately had to put up a show. About how he needed new skills like escaping, being able to tell what a gem is from real and fake, living his life in fear yet smiling. "Of course I feel bad!" He yells, his fur on end and his ears pinned against his head underneath his hat. "Or what, did you really think... that... that-" The boy begins, huffing for a brief moment and then catching his breath.

And there he went, ranting and raving once again.

"That keeping my father's legacy alive and avenging him - like he wanted me to, being chased by a mafia, having too many close encounters with death on these heists, and looking for a fabled gem - might not even be real - of immortality is fucking fun? That I just do it for a pastime? A hobby?"

[wormwood.]

Everything stays, right where you left it.

But it still changes, ever so slightly, daily and nightly.

Aurum isn't entirely sure why it happens. He isn't entirely sure why he can feel a grin splitting over his muzzle, and his eyes faintly lighting up. It isn't because he's happy to see Kaito in such an angry and upset state, he was just... relieved. He was relieved, that Kaito was actually, finally, showing some emotion, without shoving it down and hiding it under layers and layers of bluster and bullshit. Aurum's smile didn't reveal cruel satisfaction that Kaito was suffering, but actually just... happiness that the teenager was finally sharing, and wasn't trying to hide his true motives away like he usually did. He could tell that Kaito was actually pissed, and he was even faintly worried for a moment that the phantom thief was going to attack him, but he still remained mostly unfazed. After all, this was a good thing. Aurum couldn't solve all of Kaito's troubles, mainly because he wasn't sure he could ever understand the full extent of them, but that didn't mean he couldn't try to help. Before, he couldnt even begin to help because he had no idea what was going on inside of Kaito's head. What was going on inside of Kid's head. But now? Well, it was pretty far from perfect, but he could at least work with it. As Kaito raved, Aurum found himself rumbling softly, "Kaito. Kaito, deep breaths." He was making an effort to get the teen to slow down, and actually take a breath. If he didn't, he was going to pass out before long.

Once Kaito was done speaking, Aurum just looked down at him for a moment, with his one sparkling blue eye and that soft, sympathetic smile on his face. He could tell how tense the other still was, but he found he couldn't bring himself to worry too much as he moved forward, moving to wrap his front legs around Kaito and pull the boy into his chest. He mumbled as he held the other close, in the hug, "...For fuck's sake, took you long enough to actually say something with genuine emotion." He let out a faintly amused chuff, touching his nose to Kaito's head near the edge of his top hat, before he continued, "I don't really understand half of what you just said, but... it's a start. To hear that you feel bad, and that you actually have a reason for what you've been doing. You've been so much bluster and bullshit that I was beginning to think you were really just a petty thief, but... I wanna help you, Kaito. Not with your... heists, or whatever, but I wanna help in any way that I can." He pulled back a little, eying Kaito closely as he waited for the teen's reaction. His words were rather blunt, especially for him, but they felt... appropriate, for the situation.

template by orion

[charactercemetary.]

[glow=#000,1,400]WE'VE BECOMES ECHOES BUT ECHOES, THEY FADE AWAY — ｡+ﾟ.[/glow]

Slowly, but surely, Kaito listens to the tawny lion in front of him. His breath starts to slow - simply because he forced it to, his fur was starting to lay flat. He slams a paw against his face, grumbling and mentioning something about forgetting his poker face. The enigmatic teen just stand there, waiting for a reply about how this guy had no clue what as going on, that Kid was a madman, and that he needed to be locked up.

Only the first part was true and he was dragged into a hug. At first, his numbness took over, and he didn't feel like hugging back. After a short while, he reached over and gently tapped Aurum's shoulder, before grabbing it in a sort of hug. When he felt the nose touch his tophat, he made sure it was securely on. After the lion pulling back, the black smoke angora coughs and pulls away completely, looking at the ground. Then his eyes flicker upward. "I am not a petty thief," he hisses, licking his paw. "A phantom thief does steal, yes, but we don't steal lives. We are the villains putting on a show, and we are bold, and flamboyant." Really? Comparing him to a cat burglar? Eugh.

"As for understanding what I meant, well..." he sits down, shaking his head. "I suppose International Criminal 1412 can spare you his story."  He wipes his cape, tophat, and monocle, making sure all dirt was gone. "My father was a magician - kinda runs in the family. So, I learned magic from him, and loved it. But, he didn't reveal his alter ego. He was the first Kaitou KID, the one before me. He did it because my mother - Phantom Lady - was a phantom thief, and he wanted to... marry her and give her a good life." Kaito glances over at Aurum, making sure he is at least looking at him. "He stole gems, returned them, like I did. But, he was affiliated with a mafia. He stole gems for them, and they could make replicas to sell on the black market, claiming it was the real thing. After a while, a certain gem caught their eye: Pandora. It was a red gem, inside of a different one, that is revealed underneath the moonlight. It's said to bring immortality. For some reason..." Kaito takes off his monocle, wiping tears from his eyes. "He told them he was done. He wouldn't find that gem. So, during a magic show, they kill him and make it look like an accident. About... four or five months after, I fall down into his lair, where he had programmed the suit to be shown to me. He wanted me to become the next Kaitou Kid. So I do it. And then, after a few heists, I meet a mafioso who said he killed my father and that he was still looking for Pandora, the so-called Stone of Immortality. So, I'm Kaitou Kid to find that gem, and smash it into tiny, little pieces before they can become immortal." 

[wormwood.]

[table][tr][td]

AURUM

DO NO HARM BUT TAKE NO SHIT !

[/td][td]

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Kaito's story... it was long winded, but Aurum couldn't deny that it was interesting. Just from the boy's body language, the proxy could tell that he had been heavily effected by his father's death, and really, who wouldn't be? Even Aurum, whom had a very strained relationship with his father – although much better than the one he had with his mother – had bawled his eyes out when his father had died. It had surprised him, the remorse he had felt due to Aethelwulf's passing. And here was Kaito, a kid who had evidently loved his Dad dearly and admired him, yet had lost him anyways. It was definitely a sympathetic tale, and Aurum could already feel his eyes softening as he listened, his parental instincts rising. He wanted to once again pull Kaito into a reassuring hug, but he managed to hold himself back from doing so, remembering how stiff and awkward the boy had been just moments earlier. Besides, he still seemed a little bit pissy about the whole petty thief thing, and while Aurum couldn't really say he hadn't meant it – Kaito had been going around trying to steal things, after all – he didn't want to make things any worse or make Kaito retreat back into his shell. The kid was already mumbling about how he had lost his poker face, a fact that made Aurum grimace a little bit. He didn't want poker face. He wanted genuine emotion.

Taking a deep breath to allow a moment to pass after Kaito's story, Aurum got a thoughtful look to his face, evidently trying to figure out how to approach this. Eventually, he spoke in a soft rumble, seemingly having found his words after a little bit of time, "Kaito... I can't imagine what this must be like for you. Hell, I lost my old man too, but at the very least I knew it wasn't murder, it was just an accident. I... o still can't say I approve of your methods, but I'm not... I'm not as mad as I was earlier. I don't believe that stealing is the right way to go about it, but I'm also not about to turn you in..." The proxy looked down for a moment, kneading the ground beneath him as he continued, "Although... I'm curious. If you're looking for this one gem in particular above all others, then why don't you just ask around? If anybody in Tanglewood was in possession of it, more than likely they wouldn't know what it was, and they'd hand it over. You wouldn't need to steal it from anyone, and you'd be able to accomplish your goals. The way you're going now... eventually you're gonna get caught by someone other than me, and you're going to be punished. It wouldn't be too severe now, but if you kept trying...? You could get thrown out. And I don't wanna see that happen." And that, that was genuine. Aurum had no desire to see Kaito get thrown out, and had even begun to care for the other like a second son along with Roy.

━ I'M GONNA WIN┆PROUD. WARM. PROTECTIVE. ━