Post by Floresca Rosaziri on Jul 26, 2015 22:10:56 GMT
This was a world of heroes, adventurers and magics which made for great excitement and legendary tales. Adventurers often belonged to guilds or simply made a name for themselves. Many young people might well grow up dreaming of becoming legends themselves. Sometimes they found other, less dangerous ways to seek fame and fortune. Floresca Rosaziri was one of the latter. In childhood she'd certainly had all the talent and skill to become an adventurer, but never the will to follow through on it. Instead she'd taken to street performances, acting as if she actually were battling evil across town. Donations had led to professional work and now she got to tour Fiore with Wizard's Challenge, telling stories of heroism and duplicity all across the land.
Wizard's Challenge was the largest company putting on the touring magic battle shows, and therefore the best known. Floresca had been with the for three years and made a name for herself as an irreverent, snarky rebel-incarnate who had proud roots in Cerulean Town. Every time they had a show in her hometown she got a standing ovation, loud cheers and general support no matter if her character was a villain or hero at the time. Considering that she worked hard to be the bad guy when that was her role, it was surreal. Rather than be confused she embraced it and played to the crowd, to the point that she was a fan favorite in most places. Despite being cast as the 'bad guy' in the most recent storyline. That storyline was going to be paid off at a big show in town over the weekend, but Floresca had been short sighted.
In her whirlwind of preparation and acting, she hadn't thought to book a room at any of the hotels or inns in town. Getting a room now was far too short notice, so she had to think up something. Otherwise the number one contender for the Wizard's Challenge Crown would be sleeping in the street. A stroll through an old neighborhood reminded her that she did know someone in Cerulean Town. Someone she'd known about five years before. Someone whose personality had been the basis for her stage character. Without much of an option she sought out the girl who'd called her 'Buttercup' during their time together.
Standing on the precipice, she hesitated to knock. Would Kotone Hoshino really remember her after all this time? It wasn't like she'd been as confident or memorable back then. Her taste in clothes had changed drastically as well; the frills and skirts of the past were cast aside in favor of the shorts and hoodie she wore now. Casual clothes suited her, were easier to move in and required less maintenance than the dresses she'd worn as a teenager. Without Kotone's help she figured she'd be in more trouble than just being called by her doll's name would cause. Sighing, she reached up and knocked on the door firmly so that whoever was inside would surely hear it.
"I don't think she'd recognize me if I just said 'I'm the best wizard in the world'.." she thought aloud.
Post by Kotone Lazarus on Jul 26, 2015 22:55:18 GMT
Kotone had just been on a call on the lacrima phone (a sort of magical version of cell phones), chuckling and shaking her head as she put it down. The old lady she used to live near in Hosenka town was a talker sometimes. She seemed to miss having someone living in the little old rental house on her property. Kotone had long since moved into a home built onto the Lamia Scale guild hall, so that her husband could never be too far from those he was in charge of taking care of.
Just as she sat down the phone, she heard a knock on the door. Distractedly, she assumed it was one of the guild members; her husband was the guild leader, after all. Kotone wasn't dressed in her normal 'adventuring' attire; she was home taking care of her and Kade's kid while Kade did some paperwork, and as such was wearing a set of shorts and a simple t-shirt instead. She was barefoot, and her hair was in a sort of loose ponytail simply to keep Eri from tugging on it for the twelfth time that day.
The brunette opened the door, her mind still on the call. She didn't even look or pay attention to who it might be. "I thought we told you... if we didn't lock the door a guild member doesn't need to kn- oh." Kotone blinked. She recognized the girl; Kotone was good with faces, and better with scents, what with having the senses of a dragon and all. "Buttercup?" she blinked. What was her actual name? Actual names were rather more difficult for her than faces or scents.
Kotone herself actually didn't look more than a couple of years older than she had; whether it was the dragon slayer magic or she really just aged that gracefully, no one really knew, but she barely looked twenty-two if one didn't know.
Kotone's free hand moved to rest on her hip, the other still holding onto the doorknob. "...Long time no see?" she asked in surprise.
Post by Floresca Rosaziri on Jul 28, 2015 22:02:34 GMT
As the door opened all number of potential difficulties surfaced in Floresca's imagination. The last time she'd crossed paths with Kotone Hoshino she'd been a bit shorter, far shier and vastly more feminine in her fashion. There had also been liberal use of the nickname the brunette had given her. A nickname she'd hated then and despised the thought of being called now. Even though it was based on the name she'd given her childhood doll, anyone else referring to her by that name was just asking for trouble. Her greatest fear as a familiar voice began to respond was that she was just going to be treated like a little kid again. After five years and a great amount of development, the last thing Floresca needed was to be seen as the delicate loli who'd clutched her doll close into her teenage years.
"Well, I'd know that if I were actually a member of the Guild and all. As it stands you'll have to cut me a little slack," she responded at first, relaxing as she thought this might go better than expected.
Then that name hit her like a boulder on its path of unrelenting destruction. Buttercup. Despite the years it still stung, and it didn't help that Kotone looked practically the same. That same face, spouting that same nickname in that same way. Floresca clinched her hands into fists as she battled the motivation to react as her stage character would. She needed to get a place to stay and, honestly, to be on good terms with Kotone. This was something she wanted to put behind her, but it was really hard to let go. Then she sighed and folded her arms on her chest. This didn't seem to be a case of wanton insult. More likely just Kotone having never learned her real name, as so many colleagues and fans similarly hadn't. Of course they called her 'Mage' or 'CT MAGE' or whatever, not 'Buttercup.'
"Look, if you're gonna call me that I'll just go. There are plenty of places I'm sure I could crash in overnight," Floresca responded somewhat defiantly, "I'm C.T. MAGE now, by the way.. but yeah, it's been a while."
Then she smirked, "So how's life been treating Kotone Hoshino? You still look really good."
Post by Kotone Lazarus on Jul 28, 2015 22:21:22 GMT
Kotone's eyebrows fell from their surprised position as she watched the girl react to the name 'Buttercup' Her right hand followed suit, falling from the door as she stepped outside. "I like Buttercup better, personally," she responded with a shrug. CT MAGE sounded.... familiar? "Er, sorry about that... uh... Floresca?" she asked, unsure if she remembered the name. CT MAGE was not on her list of names to call anyone.
"What do you mean places to stay?" It was probably not the best way to respond to Kotone, for multiple reasons, though fortunately for a certain celebrity, being around children, especially her own, did wonders for improving Kotone's mood and general attitude. She was just a sucker for kids like that. "I think I'd remember if you lived here," she responded in kind to the way she'd ben talked to by the ghost from her not-so-glorious past. She shook her head. She'd been addressed by something nicer after the initial greeting, so she should probably respond appropriately. "Life's... good." she answered slowly. "And thanks." She glanced down at the lazy home clothes she was wearing. "Not sure how this qualifies as 'really good' though."
Post by Floresca Rosaziri on Jul 28, 2015 22:52:26 GMT
Very, very few people in this world referred to the number one contender for the Wizard's Challenge crown as 'Floresca'. Maybe her parents, a few people who'd known her before the street performance days. That anyone called her that meant that either they did their research and were just being snarky, or that they knew her beyond her public persona. She'd embraced her stage career so readily that she just expected to be called by that name rather than the one she'd been born with. Being called it now by this woman she'd known back in her awkward youth was a bit confusing. Did it really feel okay being called that? Really this was someone who knew her but might not follow the industry Floresca worked in, so.. it was forgiveable. Not that she hated her name or anything. It was just awkward being called that after years of being known by her character's name.
"Yeah, that's the ticket. Floresca Rosaziri, and it certainly has been a while," she responded, trying think of how to explain her situation to the brunette. After a second or two she relaxed her posture and shrugged, "Doesn't matter how you're dressed, it's how you carry yourself. And from what I can tell you're carrying yourself pretty well. Plus you're just as good looking as you were last time we saw each other. So.. yeah, you're lookin' good."
Then she chuckled, "Sorry for being so direct there, it's been a long road trip for me. We've got our next show in town here and I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to figure out what all is going down. What I meant was that I was so busy with all that kind of stuff that I didn't think to book a place to stay.. and now, they're all filled up. Not even 'CT MAGE' can rate a room at this point. So I heard you lived in town now and thought you might be able to hook me up with something?"
Post by Kotone Lazarus on Jul 29, 2015 5:03:04 GMT
Kotone was well known for having a certain type of grin - a grin that said she could not only take on the world, she'd come out on top. It was a competitive grin, a grin that could be creepy, reassuring, or just about anything else depending on who it was directed at and why. Most people found it unnerving though. This was the grin she'd worn since she was a teen. It was not, however, the grin that adorned her face this time. It was gentler, more... vulnerable? "Well, what can I say?" she crossed her arms, "I did always insist I was better looking than people gave me credit for." She moved one arm to flip her brown hair as if to show off.
Kotone had always been attractive in a tough girl sort of way. It was just that she'd been tough enough very few people really thought of her that way. It had bordered on the ridiculous at one point, with Kotone literally arguing with someone that she was, in fact, drop dead gorgeous and the guy just hadn't noticed. A certain 'C.T. MAGE' might have been there at the time. The one thing she hadn't seen was Kotone hitting herself on the head for even getting into an argument like that.
"So you're a show wizard." She realized after she said it that this 'accusation' sounded more demeaning than it was meant to be. "That's interesting." She wasn't sure how else to say it; Kotone was only minimally familiar with the very idea that people had started going around using their magic to make people cheer and smile over, well... what the guilds had originally come together for. "So what's the CT stand for?"
During the entire conversation Kotone was listening inside to make sure the home's other inhabitant was happy and quiet. She had amazing hearing, and it really wasn't that hard. "Anyway, if you need a place, I'm sure we have a spare room in the guild. It doesn't happen very often though." She nodded her head to the left; the home was literally attached to the guild hall. Fortunately the large abode wasn't exactly the rowdiest guild around. "But really, what's it stand for? Carrot... Tomato?" No wait, that was stupid. That was two of the ingredients she'd put in her lunch. Did she really have to say that out loud? Too late now.
Post by Floresca Rosaziri on Aug 1, 2015 18:54:48 GMT
Floresca remembered that specific type of grin all too well from the formative years she'd spent alongside Kotone. Its supreme confidence exuded strongly in defiance of anything which said she couldn't succeed. Other girls had likely found it intimidating, off-putting or annoying but Floresca had seen inspiration in it. When she'd begun working out the character that she wanted to put out to the world, that had been one of the fundamental factors. Nobody was going to support a mage who said she was awesome but wore frilly clothes and carried a doll around. One who was brash, confident and proud while being able to back it up? That was a different story. Her take on the Kotone grin was to add a bit of smugness to it. Seeing a softer grin on Kotone's face was kind of surprising. This was definitely a different Kotone than she'd seen in the past.
"Show wizard is such a layman's term. Officially, we're 'Arcane Entertainers'," she responded to Kotone's answer, putting air quotes around the official term. The company line really wasn't any better than the kind of derogatory term Kotone had tossed out there. It sounded so fake and pretentious. Then she shrugged, "We performers tend to prefer the term 'Professional Casters', it has more of a ring of authenticity to it. Plus it gives our industry a more respectable sound than people give it credit for."
At the question about her stage name she laughed with great amusement. Kotone could be pretty clueless, couldn't she? Floresca answered with a polite smile, "Hey, thanks for the help finding somewhere to stay, I really appreciate it. If there's anything I can do to help your guild out I'd be happy to pitch in. As a kind of thanks from.. er.. Buttercup.. to Kotone Hoshino."
Only after that did she address the confusion which had amused her. Floresca tapped the letters 'CT' on her sleeve and explained, "This certainly doesn't refer to a shopping list. It's pretty obvious, isn't it? Cerulean Town! I was born and raised here, so when I turned to pro casting it made sense to tie myself in with the hometown crowd, with my roots! But enough about me, what is the esteemed Kotone Hoshino up to these days?"
Post by Kotone Lazarus on Aug 1, 2015 19:47:34 GMT
Professional Casters huh? Show mage was easier to say, but... whatever. Kotone wasn't going to argue it; she didn't need to use any of the terms directly to Floresca anyway. At least not at the moment. Kotone adjusted her shirt a bit as she stood there idly and a little awkwardly as she was being thanked for something as simple as a room. "Er, yeah, no problem," Kotone insisted. Kade would enjoy having a new recruit for the guild; those were always welcome in Lamia Scale. But that wasn't exactly what Floresca was talking about, so Kotone decided not to extend said invitation for now. "I guess that makes sense," Kotone nodded. "So CT Mage it is then. Though, not to me. You're still kinda Buttercup to me. Or Floresca. Whichever." She could call people by their actual names, but not getting to pick the nicknames was kind of boring.
"As for me," Kotone grinned a little bigger, crossing her arms since she wasn't really sure what to do with her hands; she had no pockets in her shorts, so her normal habit wasn't possible. "Well, it's Kotone Lazarus now. So it's kind of a mix of hero stuff and, well..." She glanced at the door as a child laughing at the toy Kotone had left Eri with. "Other stuff."
Post by Floresca Rosaziri on Aug 4, 2015 1:42:01 GMT
"Hey, from what I hear about you you're a pretty big name these days. At least for Guild-member-types. So I suppose.." Floresca responded with some hesitation, flipping her hood back a little more, "You can call me whatever you like, just not in front of the public. I've got a lot of fans out there who aren't afraid to try and strike up conversation in the street. That's all well and good.. until they start calling out 'Hey Floresca!' or 'Hey Florie! We're supposed to stay in character a lot of the time, to keep up the illusion of our show, so it gets dicey."
She leaned her hand up against the front of the doorway and listened to the brunette's explanation of how she was doing. It wasn't all that crazy really, pretty much the type of stuff you'd expect to hear. At least from anyone else who'd decided to become an adventuring Guild member. This was Kotone Hoshino, though, the supremely confident warrior who laughed in the face of whatever defied her. To hear that she'd undergone a name change - marriage, it seemed - and the appearance of a child was pretty surprising. All the same Floresca just responded with a big smile at the child's appearance. Much as she was the 'bad girl' of Wizard's Challenge, Floresca really loved kids and always took time to interact with her younger fans.
"Kotone Lazarus, huh? Has a nice ring to it. Though I'd almost swear you couldn't be the same Kotone I knew five years ago," Floresca replied, then motioned toward the door, "I take it that laugh is from your kid? Congratulations! Sounds like you've got everything nice and orderly in your life. Beats mine hands down, believe me."
Kotone the 'Ice Dragon' was just one nickname she'd earned from her exploits in recent years. She also held the title of 'Wizard Saint' denoting that she was recognized by the government itself as one of the top wizards in Fiore. She was also, a bit less notably, the wife of Lamia Scale's guild master. So yeah, she'd earned a pretty big name with the guild member types. Floresca's wording caused her to chuckle, though she still nodded in an affirmative to "C.T.'s" request. "Yeah, I'll refrain from using your real name, why not?" she decided.
"Honestly though, I'm not the same Kotone," she told her old acquaintance. "For one, I grew up a bit. For another... well, let's just say your outlook changes a bit when suddenly you know you're not as big as you want to pretend you are." It had been easier not to relapse into her old self as her power grew to match what she had pretended to be before. "Though I don't know about beating your life. You're the kind of celebrity that brings a smile to people's face, eh? That's what I used to wish would happen when I did my hero stuff. So in a way you're living my old dream."
