Submission (#316) Approved

Starlight glittered across the lake in the distance, at least that’s what it appeared to be if you didn’t look close enough to see the jellyfish. A lone kittom sat staring, kicking at the ground beneath their paws with a heavy sigh. They had run off here, as much as a kittom could run off from their guardians. Mitzi wanted to be a performer. What better place was there than the glamorous Silveil City for reaching such aspirations? So she had run off leaving her father but a note behind. She had a feeling in some way he was still watching out for her. Here she had met a few elnin here that put her up but she was no closer to her goal. She didn’t want to be just any performer she wanted to go to the big top. She would have to start small though.

Padding through the busy streets her eyes caught sight of the stands. They were filled to the brim with decadent treats and flashy items Mitzi almost found herself running into a passerby’s leg. She shook her head quietly muttering to herself. “No. No. Don’t get distracted now.” Her eyes caught sight of it, a grand casino that lit up with a thrilling quality to it. Sitting across the street from the entrance she knew they wouldn’t let her in. Of course there was an age restriction, she sighed heavily. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t tried to get in once before…the problem with a coat like hers was that it was hard to conceal.

Looking over a shoulder she admired her flashy coat, covered in twinkling stars. She was deep in thought, contemplating how to get in, when a chipper voice startled her. “What are you doing?” It asked, a hint of mischief to it. Mitzi blinked and a pair of soft blue eyes started back at her from a distance so close she just about fell backwards. The stranger before her was a kittom, probably close to her age, with a soft spotted coat and a curled tail. “Well I want to get in there and…w-wait who’s asking?” Mitzi piped up, her eyes wide as she disclosed her plan.

The other kittom paused to consider for a moment before grinning. “You’re in luck. The name’s Yukina! And it will be a lot easier for us to get in together than alone.” She responded with an eagerness that put Mitzi’s confident personality to shame. Had Yukina done this before? Mitzi didn’t know what to think…but this kittom seemed to have a plan. “So what do I have to do?” She asked the pale kittom before her. “It’s easy. You just need to slip in while I distract the bouncers out front.” Yukina announced with her chin up.
“But don’t you need to get in?” Mitzi asked, confused. Yukina wasn’t making a whole lot of sense. “Oh I will.” The other assured her. Mitzi was doubtful though. “But why would you help me?” She had to know. Did the other have any motives Mitzi needed to worry about? Silveil wasn’t beside some shading dealings happening, or at least that’s what a few of the elnin in the city had told her.

There was a warmth in Yukina’s expression for a moment. “You look like you’re on a mission. It’s as simple as that.” Yukina piped up looking over her shoulder at the casino building. “Wait for the signal.” She assured, before disappearing into the crowd. Mitzi didn’t even have time to respond but for some reason though Mitzi felt as though she could trust Yukina. While confident there was something very reassuring about the other. Into the bustling street Mitzi couldn’t hide her glow but among the colorful lamp light and clothes she seemed to fit right in. “First the stage and then the big top.” She whispered to herself. There was a flash of a curled tail with a flick of it through the crowd and then a clamor among the guests near the front of the Casino.

“Kittoms aren’t allowed in here.” Voices scolded and in the chaos Mitzi snuck through the front doors, creeping as much as she could out of visibility. Hiding beneath a side table she peeked out from under the table cloth to try to get a good view of the doors to back stage. She nearly jumped when something moved beside the table and Yukina climbed under. Mitzi had doubted her maybe just a bit at first but the other’s intuition seemed good. “I’ve lost them. What’s next?” A glimmer excitement danced in Yukina’s eyes. She seemed to be having fun and Mitzi was easily caught in her excitement. Her thoughts raced. She was here. The sound of the coins falling and the dice rolling. The idea that there would be a stage. Nerves caught her though. She couldn’t go up on a stage with a crowd yet. That was too big a jump. “I want to find a stage…but the one here looks occupied.” Mitzi announced watching curiously as the other kittom sat down to think.

“Hmm…there was one. I think. It’s a bit quiet though. You just need a stage right?” She said, cautious only a bit because she didn’t want to get in trouble. “Follow me” Yukina said creeping out from one table and under another. The two continued on like this for a while until they reached a door, it looked like a back stage door. Gingerly Yukina set her paws on it, pushing some weight into it and Mitzi was quick to help when she saw the door wouldn’t budge. With the extra bit of weight they cracked the door open, a thin stream of light pouring through. Indeed it was back stage, behind some kind of stage anyway, though it looked smaller than the one Mitzi saw where the gambling tables were.

It looked like a side room in the casino, one used for parties. The lights were on curiously enough but no one seemed to be there. Mitzi peeked her head out from between the curtains to look at the empty tables and finely decorated room. The tables looked gilded with star patterns, a popular theme in Silveil. She blinked a bit as Yukina tripped a light switch. Mitzi was in awe as she turned her head to see the kittom had jumped a great distance to hit the switch before gracefully landing. She was filled with admiration.

“Will you teach me how to land like that?” She asked, stupefied for a moment that left an awkward pause and some staring before the question was even uttered. Yukina just chuckled and nodded. “So what now?” The next question prompted Mitzi into thought. She hadn’t actually thought she would get this far. “Well…I want to be a performer when I get older. I’ve heard you have to start as an assistant first though…” She glowered while she thought about it though. They had come so far…and she had no plan past this point. What did assistants do? What would she need to do to get closer to her goals?

Yukina’s tail thumped a bit as she sat down and wiggled it, thinking quietly to herself. “In exchange for me teaching you how to land how about you be my assistant for a bit for your own training?” She proposed. Mitzi looked confused for a moment but nodded eagerly. “What should I do?” The starlit kittom asked. Yukina looked around for a moment before grabbing an elegantly folded napkin from a chair back stage. She gave it to Mitzi to set in front of her. “Alright I want you to go out there and announce my act and then…” Yukina leaned forward to whisper something in Mitzi’s ear. The starlit kittom perked up at the words, nodding before she made her way to the stage center. Standing on the stage the lighting blinded her a bit and her voice spoke quietly at first before it built up with some eagerness.

“May I have your attention? Thank you for coming to our first act! I now present to you the lovely Yukina!” Mitzi posed, as an assistant would, before picking up the folded napkin and with a powerful flick of her paw it flew upward. A flash of white and soft blues and purples few past her in a leap, catching the napkin in midair before landing on one foot. The balance was impressive. Mitzi felt herself welling up with pride. The casino noises could be heard in the distance but much clearer was a soft clapping. It seemed as though someone had come back to the room, which explained some of its partial use. They were carrying an instrument and looked to be tightening a string on it.

“A wonderful performance. You’ve got the staff in knots though sneaking in here. You might want to consider taking your ambitions to a more suitable stage.” The stranger said. Yukina and Mitzi were surprised for a moment before they realized the petite stature of their lone audience member. “I fix instruments for a place or two. If you two are looking for something a bit more appropriate I could introduce you to someone.” They said. Mitzi was excited. This was the opportunity she had been seeking. She looked to Yukina for support. Despite being a new found friend Mitzi felt like they would know each other for a long time. Yukina admitted she would have to get back to her parents soon but that a short adventure might be fun. The older elnin had introduced herself as Chise, an instrument maintainer from a tranquil town in Kyendi.

Yukina had heard the name before through her father, a bit surprised. Kormir knew so much that it amazed her. This was an elnin they could trust. Being guided out of the casino after Chise’s work was done the three of them set out to meet an acquaintance of Chise’s. Mitzi was beaming with pride the whole time. This time not even the tasty smelling food stands nor the glittering accessories could catch her eye. Her feet carried her forward. Maybe this year would be the year she would become a performer yet. Until then an assistant of sorts might just have to suffice.