Kibou is still enjoying his fizzy candy, loving the sound of the popping that occurs. It tickles his tongue and he cannot help but chuckle at the sensation. No matter how many times he’s had packets and packets of this particular candy, he still enjoys the sensations they bring as if it is his first taste. Kibou has tried every flavor (green apple, cherry, strawberry, grape, and orange among some of them) but this time, the flavor was new. He had grabbed blue raspberry and he was quickly finding that it was one of his favorites.

As he hears someone coming from behind, he calls out to him/her (for Kibou doesn’t know about pronouns, gender identities, sexual orientations, or even political correctness), asking if he or she has ever tried this particular candy. When the individual answers him, he slowly turns so he can rest eyes on whoever he is speaking to.

However, Kibou is not prepared for the appearance of the individual. He quite obviously jumps at the sight, but he tries to offer an apologetic smile. He’s not quite sure what he prepared for, but as his eyes rested on someone taller than even his 18hh mother, it startled him. Only when he was really looking at the individual did he realize just how plain he really was in comparison. Eyes continued to scan over the body of the individual in front of him and it was then that he realized the individual had no eyes or ears. Jaw dropped open when blue, glittery, liquid fell from opened lips. Poor Kibou did not mean to stare, but he couldn’t help it. He or she simply looked so much different than he did.

It took him several long minutes to realize that A. he was staring and B. He was being rude but when he finally realized all of this, he gasped. “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to stare…you just look so different.” He offered a smile, his tone innocent and sweet as evidence by his gangly youth body. He stood there quite awkwardly before he figured he should just answer the question. “They are very good. This flavor is my new favorite.” Realizing that he probably need to do something to correct his obvious rudeness, he offered her the open packet of candies. “Do you want to try some?” The real issue here was that the stranger had never tried these fizzy candies. That was something that clearly needed to be corrected.

@Cicatrix - so sorry for his innocence.

Kibou has seen a lot of things in his life, a lot of things that he can’t always explain or put his hoof on. That was the funny thing about worlds where magic runs rampant. Everything was never as it seemed. Horses came in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Magic that flowed through their veins knew no limit. There was always something new and different to learn. Kibou’s upbringing was much like this. His exposure to so many different things only helped him to grow into a more well-rounded colt. Soon, he would be old enough to make his own decisions and walk down the path he believed was chosen for him.

So naturally, when the individual states rather matter-of-factly that they are used to being stared at, it makes Kibou sad. No one should ever be stared at, no matter different they look. While he couldn’t always control his initial reaction, it’s how he dealt with it that made a difference. “I don’t fear you…” His voice is soft as he chews at the fizzy candies that have since stopped fixing. “It’s just…you look different. I’m very plain. I like to see differences in people – I find all the uniqueness fascinating.” Poor Kibou had always been fascinated with those who were unique and different. Perhaps he should work on his staring. He knew it was rude, but he really didn’t mean anything by it. After all, he was just studying everyone else, learning. Wasn’t he supposed to learn?

He’s given the stranger’s name and he vows to lock it away so he could remember it the next time they run into one another. Cicatrix. It was an interesting name, he very much liked it. So many here in Novus had unique names and he vowed to learn them all at some point.

Kibou offered Cicatrix some of his fizzy candy, a gesture that he hoped might make up for his rather rude welcoming. At the acceptance of his offer, Kibou allows the package of fizzy candy to float between them. He watches with interest and curiosity as Cicatrix finally tastes the candy, taking back the package and pouring the last bit of the candies on his tongue. His spine shivers at the sudden onslaught of popping and he cannot help but smile.

As his friend begins to tell of their account of the first taste of the fizzy candy, Kibou can only watch with a smile. “I love them! My mom says they put a pep in my step, whatever that means.” Kibou, the poor soul, just likes anything that fizzes, pops, or tingles. Anything that adds additional sensation to his feasting was alright by him.

As the last of the fizzy candy seems to fade, Kibou swallows what is in his mouth before he looks up at his new friend. “Have you been in Denocte long?” Kibou can’t recall seeing Cicatrix around, but that didn’t really mean much of anything. After all, the life of a colt is generally filled with exploring and getting into trouble.

@Cicatrix

Kibou finds it hard to believe that other people find Cicatrix scary. Sure, their look is a bit different and strange, but Kibou definitely wouldn’t classify them as scary. After all, the voice that came from between their lips was soft and kind, not mean and degrading. “I’ve seen scary, and I promise you that you are not scary.” He offers them a smile, hopefully a way of showing that he really wasn’t scared.

When Cicatrix begins to explain to him that he’s not plain, he’s still himself, Kibou cannot help but look up at them with a strange smirk. He’s heard that before. “You sound like my mother. Though, she says I look like my dad.” He sighs. Sometimes, he wished he could have met his dad, to see how important he meant to his mother. But Katniss didn’t talk about Metaphor. At first, when Kibou started asking questions, he was given short, simple answers. It was always just enough to satisfy the question, but not enough to make him ask more.

The conversation naturally transitions to the fizzy candies and Cicatrix is kind enough to tell him that “pep in his step” means that the candies make him happy. He nods his head, knowing that they did make him happy. He loved the sensation on his tongue and jaw. It was always strange, but it was sort of addicting too. He supposed there were worse things he could get addicted to.

Curiosity always seemed to get the best of the little sorrel colt and he couldn’t help but ask if Cicatrix had been in Denocte long. After all, he didn’t remember seeing them around. While he was usually busy getting into mischief, he liked to think he recognized a face when he saw one. Cicatrix confirmed his suspicions when they said that they were pretty new. But, the thing that stood out was that they liked it here, that it felt warm and safe. Kibou nodded his head softly, knowing that feeling. While he liked to wander Novus from time to time, he always came back here. This was home.

When asked if he lived here in Denocte, Kibou nodded his head softly. “I was born here. My mother and I live just outside the city.” Ever since he was born, his mother and he, as well as their companions, had lived in the same hut just outside the city. His mother always said it was more peaceful out there and it allowed her more time to relax without the constant sounds of the city. Kibou, on the other hand, rather liked the sounds of the hustle and bustle. It meant that there was always something to do.

But the question about living here in Denocte made his heart ache for a moment. He knew that soon, he would be old enough to fly the nest and he would go to Terrastella. Kibou hadn’t the heart to tell his mother that he wanted to train to be a medic. He could only help that she might support him. “Next spring, I plan to move to Terrastella. I want to train to be a medic.” He smiled as he dwelled on the excitement surrounding a new path for himself. “My dad was a healer. I even have healing magic!” Even though he couldn’t control it very well, he still had it. Surely his dad had made sure Caligo gave him that gift. It was something that would always remind him about his father and it would do the same for his mother. It was bittersweet though. She might be upset that he was following in his father’s footsteps, but at the same time be proud. Emotions were something the colt was still learning and often times, they proved to be exhausting.

@Cicatrix

Novus was an interesting and wonderous place. It had deserts and mountains and swamps and burned down forests. Kibou, while not as well traveled as some, had seen a good bit of what Novus had to offer. He had always been so fascinated with the changing of the landscapes – so vastly different from one another. It puzzled him how such a small (in the grand scheme of the things) island could maintain such vastly different habitats. He supposed it was all due to the gods. How else can you have sweltering desert next to icy mountains?

Kibou thinks quietly for a moment about the question about what it’s like outside Denocte. Kibou doesn’t want to paint a terrible nor a perfect picture. “Dangerous…yet exciting!” There were so many things outside these boarders that wanted to kill him, and yet, he could not help the draw they had. “There’s a lot of different people too, none as interesting as the people here, though.” Kibou would always call Denocte home. Even if he was planning to leave for his training, he would always return. After all, his heart was nestled here in Denocte.

Cicatrix seems to approve of his plans to go to Terrastella and he can only hope his mother will be just as open and welcoming to the idea. He nods at the question before he elaborates. “I feel like helping people is the right thing to do, no matter what court they are from.” If Katniss had done anything right by her son, it would be the lesson she taught him about helping each other. They may be of different courts, but they were still all one people, all deserving of health and happiness.

When his new friend speaks of seeing him in Terrastella, he smiles. “I’d like that.” It was nice to know that someone believed in him, believed that he could be successful. It was nice and comforting. While he knew his mother would approve of his chosen path, he knew she would hate the distance it would bring them at first. At least maybe he could use Cicatrix as a way of convincing her that he would not truly be a lone the whole time.

Kibou doesn’t notice that they are drawing attention, he never does, but he does notice the way his companion seems to grow uncomfortable. He nods in understanding, knowing that their meeting is perhaps coming to a close. “I’d like that…to show you around the markets. I can show you the best vendors.” Kibou had spent a lot of his young life perusing the stalls of the markets. Most of the vendors knew him by name and many that he frequently knew what the cold wanted before he could even ask for it. “Perhaps tomorrow? A little earlier than tonight. I want to make sure I can show you everything before it gets too late.” Already the moon was rising high in the sky. He knew he had to get home before his mother began to worry. “Until next time.” He offers his new friend a soft smile before he begins to head through the crowd back towards the little hut he shared with his mother on the outskirts of town.

@Cicatrix – I figured this would be a good closer.