Out of the frying pan and into the Ulven [CalaxUlv]

As Cala once again found themselves wandering the streets of Minatumi they were much more...... lively. Their meeting with Ari, and subsequent meal, having down wonders to improve their mood. As one should expect to happen when they go from near-starving to nice and full. Cala wore a soft, content smile and glanced curiously around at every sight and sound that drew their attention. This included stumbling onto a particularly busy street that... baffled Cala.

Lining both sides of the street were large booths covered in all sorts of flashing lights. The words "winner" and "jackpot" being displayed quite a lot in a subconscious attempt to get people to play them. The people manning these booths wore odd devices on their hips and heads, and shirts marked with some sort of logo Cala had absolutely no way of recognizing.

Cala was... a bit overwhelmed, to say the least. People bustled to and fro along the street, children screaming for some toy they happened to see offered at a certain game, adults either attempting to placate said children, ignoring them entirely, or talking on their phone amongst the loud bustling noise. Cala, for their part, did their best to navigate the street fair without bothering anyone too much. Generally able to move past people with fluid grace before finding themselves all but trapped up against a particular booth.

The man operating the booth, a middle-aged fellow with hard, firm features that made him look as if he made a living coaching a sport, as well as the slight tan to match, had an even wider, more confident grin than Cala expected from what they'd seen of the other people manning the booths. The man stepped forward and leaned on the edge of the booth almost conspiratorially, tipping down a pair of shades before smiling at Cala. "Hello there young lady. Care to take a try? First one is on the house."

Cala pursed their lips softly, staring at the objects in the booth with abject confusion. Some odd cup-looking objects were stacked atop one-another, with two of them forming the base, and the third being set atop it's comrades. Biting their lip Cala asked quietly "Umm... w-what am I supposed to do? A-And... if I do it?" The man smirked and held up an old, scuffed baseball and pointed at the stacked cups. "It's simple doll. You take one of these balls and you use it to knock over those there cups. If you win...." the man trailed off before motioning to the myriad of cheap fair toys around him. "You get your pick of most the things you see here.... however if you get three knockdowns in a row you can pick from the top shelf here." The man explained, motioning to a set of much, MUCH larger stuffed animals above him.

Cala's eyes widened and they gasped softly, their eyes falling on a small, stuffed wolf and they nodded without hesitation. "O-Okay. I think I can do that..." The man chuckled. "Perfect! Let me just get it set up for you..." Walking over to a bin the man set up a stack of cups and moved it roughly five or six feet from Cala on a small stool before offering them the ball. Cala hesitantly took the small sphere, suddenly feeling very self-conscious about the whole thing as the man crossed his arms and watched them.

Swallowing softly Cala was so occupied with how nervous they were that they hadn't even realized the crowd around them had thinned enough for them to simply walk away. Instead Cala held the ball up and looked past it to the stack of cups, focusing for a moment before meekly tossing the ball. The old, worn-out thing tapping the tap cup lightly and bouncing off, sending it tumbling off the stack easily and Cala gave a small, excited jump. The man, seeing this, chuckled before applauding politely. "Not bad, but too bad little lady, ya needed to knock down all three. Better luck next time, course' you can always try again for a a hundred yen."

Hearing this Cala blinked and fidgeted from foot to foot. "O-Oh umm... I don't actually have the money r-right now..." The man nodded in understanding before motioning to the rest of the fair. "Well, anyways, go out and have some fun. Hopefully you can win something!" Cala nodded softly, a bit disappointed as they gave the little stuffed wolf a furtive glance before turning away. Looking around with wide, curious eyes as they tried to find something else to do.... or more precisely, tried to narrow down just ONE thing to do in all this craziness.

Cala gave a small jump at the thunk the cups made as they fell to the ground, turning around in time to see a tall women, wearing an odd crown and dress. Cala's head tilted softly, watching them curiously. Something about them felt... familiar.... in a way that made Cala hungry. Cala bit their lip, their heart sinking a bit as they saw the woman choose the wolf they had wanted as her prize. Soft lavender eyes lowering to the ground in quiet resignation. It was with no small amount of shock that Cala found that same wolf being presented to them.

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With eyes now as wide as dinner plates and one arm drawn close out of disbelief and shock Cala asked, almost to themselves, in a quiet voice. "F-For me....?" Judging by the way the woman offered the stuffed animal to Cala she did indeed intend for Cala to take it. A faint blush colored pale, flawless cheeks as Cala meekly took the little animal. Hugging it close and staring up at the kind stranger in awe. Something about the way the woman called them 'little Arancar' making Cala fidget in an.... odd way. Something very familiar, yet different, about the way this woman spoke. For a brief moment Cala felt like a lesser Hollow again, like prey. Like this woman wanted to gobble them up without mercy.... the thought made Cala give an involuntary shudder, their grip tightening the tiniest bit on their new wolfy as they struggled to collect themselves and respond.

"Uhhh... ummm....." Cala swallowed thickly, face burning a hotter, brighter pink from awkward embarrassment. Rough? Tumultuous? Cala was even more confused. Sure the human world had been confusing so far but... rough? Cala couldn't help but internally disagree. Even so, this stranger had been kind to them, and so Cala answered as best they could. "I-I didn't come for uhh... the carnival... and I don't really live... a-anywhere. E-Except in Hueco Mundo....." Cala trailed off, before they blinked and gave a small start, remembering how their conversation with Ari had gone Cala offered their hand to the stranger and gave a small, sheepish smile. "My name is Cala. Can I ask yours?"

Cala shifted a bit uncomfortably at the odd mental sensation the woman seemed to radiate. They didn't like it. Retrieving or, even, focusing on memories from before they became Cala was like bobbing for apples in a tub of water full of razor blades. Needless to say having someone, even unintentionally, trying to push your head into that particular tub of water was very uncomfortable. Cala had to clear their head a few times, trying to focus on what the woman before them was saying. The lack of interaction with Cala's outstretched hand further confused the Arrancar, who wasn't quite able to keep the small, confused pout from their lips as they awkwardly lowered their hand. Unable to shake the feeling that the human word was just... weird. A soft blush arose as Tvilling's words only further confirmed this as they made some very.... odd remarks towards Cala's sex. Needless to say Cala didn't think of it much.

Out of all the awkward things Tvilling had said and not-done since their meeting Cala was... pleasantly surprised as they mentioned the possibility of a home of their very own. It definitely served to brighten their perspective. "Ummm...." Cala began with their usual eloquence, hugging the small wolf to their chest as they stared into the impassive silver crown. "I-I would very much appreciate somewhere to stay. I don't.... know much about the human world." Cala took a small breathe before also adding quietly "I don't.... r-really have any Yen.... almost everyone here has been asking me f-for it but... I don't even know what it is..... or why it's so important Miss Tvilling."

Cala gave a rather empty nod as they were told they would need some rules explained to them. Not because they did not believe or were against the idea. But because they couldn't really imagine all the rules the human world must have. Falling into step behind his new.... friend? Caretaker? Cala hardly had time to ponder this new relationship before they were greeted by the sight of a huge, bull-horned woman. Cala's mouth fell open slightly as they stared at this 'King Uma'. A soft "Wow...." leaving Cala's lips in a tiny gasp. Though Cala's brown furrowed in confusion for a moment as they thought to themselves. 'King? Shouldn't she be a Queen...?' Cala shrugged before glancing up at King Uma and shrinking back just a bit... uncomfortably before asking gently "Umm could I just... have some sushi please? Maybe some water?" Not at all trying to be rude Cala then scampered away to sit with Tvilling, feeling rather intimidated by Uma.

After sitting down with Yvilling Cala could not at all help but compare what she described to how things were in Hueco Mundo. The concept of someone stronger than you not just taking... things because they could sounded foreign to Cala. Though it was a relief to hear they wouldn't be trying to kill them, anyways. When Yvilling began to explain currency Cala had to ask a few question but picked upon the idea well enough. When Yvilling asks if Cala is followed by trouble or if they're under an Espada, to which Cala shakes their head. Everything Yvilling said seemed to be explained except for one thing, that very much confused Cala, who's entire existence revolved around all those around them scrouging and devouring one-another for power. Why would this mayor, their leader, willingly give power away? Cala swallows softly, taking another bite of sushi before asking softly "Ummm sus-sustenance? I don't understand. And umm... where could I get a... job?"

Cala bit their lip as Tvilling explained to them... well... what Cala was already well aware of as an Arrancar. Though Cala supposed they simply hadn't been clear enough when they had asked what was meant by the mayor providing sustenance. As the only method Cala was aware of would be for the mayor to let Cala devour them but that didn't seem.... likely. Cala did give a brief nod when Tvilling mentioned looking around and trying to find a place that suited them though something about the prospect made something deep within Cala squirm uncomfortably. Something about finding a singular place to belong that made them.... itchy.

It was Tvilling's next choice of words that made Cala flush a deep, dusky red and look down. Though Cala didn't exactly know what a 'harem' was they were able to put two and two together from what Tvilling said. A bunch of people someone, in this case Ari, though was cute and like to touch a lot. Cala shivered but nodded softly in understanding. After a moment Cala raised their eyes back to the silver-crowned woman and gave a small smile, fumbling for words for a brief few seconds before finding their voice. "Thank you... Miss Tvilling. Umm.... is there anything I can do in return?" Cala might not have had Yen to offer, but from how they had come to understand transactions, deals and trades from their new friends you could always offer something else. Without waiting for a reply Cala continued a bit.... hesitantly. "It must be.... boring guarding the harbor all the time. Maybe we could go and play more games?" If nothing else Cala wasn't exactly looking forward to being alone again. Something about having others nearby feeling strangely... pleasant.