Application for Tachibana Sakon and Ukon from Karakuri Zoushi Ayatsuri Sakon

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

Tachibana Sakon is a bunraku puppeteer. Ukon is a bunraku puppet made in the 1870 (the series is set in the late 1990s). As Sakon is shy enough to be practically mute without Ukon and Ukon is a puppet, they are together. Sakon is also a master ventriloquist. His mouth doesn't move when Ukon talks and their voices are different. He can also mimic voices he's heard, though he tends not to very often as he feels that mimicing voices is something similar to channeling. Ukon can be touched, but permission would be needed, either IC or OOC to actually remove him from Sakon's control. For Sakon's sanity, though, Ukon shall have to be indestructible as his version of the 'no kill' spell (or, in other words...I'm fine with curious poking, asking to take the puppet, but no taking apart the puppet).

One of the joys of being a performer was being able to travel. Sakon enjoyed being a street performer, enjoyed the more formal stage performing, even enjoyed the practice for performing. He loved puppetry, loved learning more of it, exploring more. He was going to a museum in Hokkaido, a long way from his home, to learn more about the art of puppet making and repair. While his family did have ties to a school of puppet makers, it was still a good idea for him to know as much as he could about as many different techniques as he could. And, he enjoyed the opportunity to travel. The journey also coincided with the autumn festivals, giving him a chance to perform as well.

He was dressed for travel, as well—a long, brown trench coat with and elbow length cape over the shoulders to keep out the cold, his sneakers on his feet, comfortable for walking and standing in, black pants, a black, long-sleeved shirt and the sleeve covers that kept his sleeves out of the way of his puppetry, and a gear-like collar. On his back, the green wooden case that held Ukon and in one hand, the suitcase that held clothes for him. He traveled light, his family only providing enough for the train fare up. It was up to him to earn the fare back and to cover a place to stay—a task he'd yet to fail in.

When he arrived at the gates of the castle, he thought it a little strange. He couldn't remember any building like the one before him in Japan, but he also knew that western style archetecture wasn't completely unheard of. The grounds looked different, too, but it was his first trip to Hokkaido, so he wasn't entirely sure what to expect. As the gates were open, he started to proceed, only to pause. He brought the case on his back forward and Ukon burst out of it.

"What is this, Sakon? This doesn't look like a museum!" the puppet declared, looking around, even over Sakon's shoulder.

"I'm not sure, Ukon. This is where the train and the map led us," the boy replied, his voice much gentler, quieter than his puppet's.

"Are you sure you read it right?" Ukon demanded.

Sakon chuckled, handing over the map. While Ukon examined the map, Sakon adjusted the case on his back and picked up his suitcase and started toward the castle again.

"Oi, Sakon, that lake is on the wrong side," Ukon said as they approached the doors to the castle.

Looking over at the map the puppet held, Sakon considered a moment then turned it around. "No, it's not," he said, raising his hand to knock on the door. It opened before him, though, before he made contact.

"This place gives me the creeps," Ukon complained.

"Hush, Ukon. We were invited," Sakon replied, though a shadow of doubt flickered over his features.

They remained in the door, though, a portrait of contrast. Sakon, with his dark clothing, dark hair, fair skin and violet eyes, still, only his eyes moving as he looked around the strange room. Ukon, a child's puppet, a masterpiece of work, with bright red hair, blue eyes and a yellow haori over a white kimono, a blue collar showing at his neck, a square sash around his neck with white medallions on it, looking around avidly, his neck craning, trying to take in everything.

"Well, I guess we're here," Ukon declared, his hands coming up behind his head. "Might as well see what this place is about, Sakon."

Sakon walked in, turning when the door closed behind him. "It seems we have little choice," he mumbled.

"What?" Ukon demanded, his eyes wide as he stared at the door.

"Nothing, don't worry about it," Sakon said, turning back to the room. As there was nowhere to remove his shoes, he left them on, walking over to a table in the center of the room. He picked up one of the pieces of paper on it, handing it over when Ukon demanded to see it.



State your full name.

Ukon bristled then smirked smugly, crossing his arms over his chest. "My name is Ukon. I am a masterpiece of children's puppetry born in the second year of the Meiji period. This is my partner, Sakon, who can't do anything without me."

"Ukon," Sakon said softly, his tone chiding. "I am Tachibana Sakon, puppeteer." It was why he had been summoned, after all.

1. What is your favorite cheese? Why is it your favorite?

"Sakura cheese!" Ukon declared. "It's local here in Hokkaido, so we're going to have some, right, Sakon?" he said, looking over his shoulder.

Sakon smiled. "We promised to bring some back for Kaoruko-neechan."

"That auntie," Ukon complained, crossing his arms over his chest again.

2. Who would you kill first, Barney or Carrottop?

Ukon shook the paper, obviously offended. "Hey, now get this right, Sakon doesn't kill anyone! But, if someone did kill them, he could tell you who did it!"

Sakon frowned at the question but didn't add anything to Ukon's answer. He glanced at the table and noticed a quill moving of its own accord, recording his conversation with Ukon and their answers to the questions. That was strange. He couldn't see anything connected to it and it was very thin for remote controlling.

3. What time is it where you are?

Ukon blinked. "Time? You want to know about time after a question like that!?" he fumed. His tirade was cut short as Sakon covered his mouth, leaving him mumbling and waving his hands.

"It was four thirty in the afternoon when we got off the train," he answered quietly before letting go of Ukon's mouth.

"Why did you do that, Sakon!?" Ukon demanded, turning a glare on Sakon.

"I think there's something we need to learn here," Sakon replied, his eyes moving around the room.

"I'm not sure what, but..."

Ukon looked around the room with new eyes. His eyes rested on the quill, watching it as he spoke. "I see what you mean," he said, turning to look at Sakon again. "But, why is that quill writing what we say and how is it doing it?"

"I don't know, Ukon. Let's finish this and see what we find out."

4. If you were Albus Dumbledore returned from the dead, which member of the Order of the Phoenix would you sexually harass? How would you harass them? If you are Albus Dumbledore, please answer as if you were Sirius Black.

Sakon blushed deeply, glancing away from the paper. Ukon, though, tilted his head looking at the names. "Are any of them cute girls? And, it wouldn't be 'harassment' if it was me," he said, obviously cocky about his own prowess. He smirked. "Heh, I am quite the charmer, after all."

Sakon was too embarrassed to chide the puppet. Instead, he moved onto the next question.

5. If you are pushing to be in:

A. Slytherin - please state the clever, witty name of the bar in which you bartend, in the dark.

"A bar?" Ukon hooted. "What kind of nonsense is this? It would be Ukon's Bar, of course! And I would be the main attraction!" He flung his arms wide, a flourish.

Sakon chuckled. "That's a good name, I think." As good as any he could think of.

B. Gryffindor – Debate whether Harry should ultimately end up married to Fred or George. Use examples from a variety of world mythologies to bolster your argument.

"Married?" Ukon sputtered, then laughed. "Shouldn't you ask Harry who he wants to marry? He's the one that has to live with whoever it is."

"It's better if they belong together," Sakon added. Though not a huge believer of fate, given his experices with it and the experiences of those he'd seen, he couldn't deny there was something that made two people just fit together, despite their history.

C. Ravenclaw – You guys are supposed to be smart. Explain why my desk is inundated with paperwork at all times, even though I’m constantly disposing of it.

"You're obviously doing it wrong," Ukon declared.

"Maybe you need an assistant?" Sakon suggested.

D. Hufflepuff – Prove you are not useless.

Ukon laughed. "I'm not useless. I am me, a great entertainer. Sakon's pretty good with figuring things out and he gets me around, so he's not useless."

Sakon looked at Ukon and chuckled slightly, not saying anything as he turned to last question.

6. Offer a bribe to the members of this community so that they will not squib you. Items used in bribery do not necessarily have to belong to the person offering the bribe. Do not threaten us rather than offering a bribe. A threat indicates you either don't really want to be here, or don't have enough sense to answer the question properly. The hat will automatically squib you, regardless of other votes, if you do.

"I don't know what this squib thing is, but we came here to perform and to learn. If performing isn't enough, then you're out of luck. This guy doesn't carry much more than the clothes on his back and a yukata to sleep in."

Sakon covered Ukon's mouth again. "We did come to perform. If that isn't enough, then we will depart."

Comments

[woocha.livejournal.com]

Hey, you smell like wood!

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

Sakon and Ukon both looked around to find the source of the voice, Ukon with his hand over his eyes, both looking in different direction. "Oi, who said that?" Ukon demanded.

"Down here?" Sakon asked, looking down to see the little dog. The direction was right, but he was looking around to see another ventriloquist. He knelt anyway to greet the dog. Might as well, since it was common for people to speak to Ukon directly.

Ukon looked down. "I'm not just wood! I am made by a master puppet maker!" He put his hands on his hips. "Just look at this workmanship," he said, lifting his chin.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well, you still smell like it. Good thing Wishbone had some manners or he'd gnaw on a limb.

I'm Wishbone!

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

"I'm afraid the two of you were spirited away. This isn't Hokkaido, I'm afraid, but Scotland."

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

Ukon's jaw dropped and his eyes bugged. Sakon reached over and lifted his jaw. "Scotland?" he said, obviously confused. "But, when I got off the train, I was in Hokkaido. And, I walked here from the train station."

"I told you you read the map wrong," Ukon put in.

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

"Now, now, don't blame your...er, friend. Hogwarts has a rather odd magic that's good at spiriting away someone from any place...or time, even."

[isnotabumblebee.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it was some pseudo-magical lure caused by the presence of puppetry at Hogwarts, but for whatever reason, Toki Wartooth came ambling into the Sorting Room, a big, goofy grin appearing his face as soon as he saw Ukon. As he usually did, he ignored the application and went straight to the new arrival- or new arrivals, in this case.

"Wow-wee, thats a nice puppets!" Toki exclaimed to Sakon, genuinely impressed with Ukon- he was of impressive contruction and complexity. "Are you good at using hims? I's a puppeteer, you knows, I wents to school fors it because I wanteds to be the master of puppets likes from the Metallica album. Insteads, I joined Dethklok, but I still gots my old puppets!" Toki tended to forget that people at Hogwarts didn't immediately recognize him, so after a few seconds of grinning at Sakon as if he expected Sakon to know who he was, he added, "Oh yeah, I'm Toki Wartooth, no one's heard of me here, buts I'ms a big rocks-star."

Trailing Toki were the 'eyesball throw-up' children, the four Shoggies who lived with him and Skwisgaar. They lurked behind Toki, examining both Sakon and Ukon with numerous randomly-placed eyes. "Soooo cool," murmured Shoggy 3, observing, "The one person looks like a humans, but its not mades of meat! I can smells that it's not."

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

Ukon preened. "Of course I'm a nice puppet! I am a masterpiece by Unosuke Koizumi III! And this guy," he pointed at Sakon with his thumb, "is the grandson of the Tachibana Zaemon, who is a national treasure! Not that he'd be any good without me, of course." He looked behind Toki, though. "What are those?" he asked, confused and somewhat disgusted. "They look like moving mochi."

Sakon looked at Ukon then at Toki and the creatures behind him. "Ah, sorry," he said, smiling a little. "You probably haven't heard of us, either."

"How could he not!?" Ukon demanded, his pride obviously wounded. "And, you didn't answer," Ukon continued, pointing at Toki. "What are those?"

"Ukon, don't be rude," Sakon chided.

[bar-en-lothglor.livejournal.com]

"To be 'squibbed' essentially means that you will be turned away and forced to leave school grounds," Glorfindel explained, giving both puppet and puppeteer a curious once-over. "It is unlikely that you'll be squibbed. Exceedingly few are. Which I have to say is rather unfortunate, in certain cases." The Elf offered the pair an affable smile, seeing no harm in playing along with the puppetry game by acknowledging Ukon. His comment about it being unfortunate hadn't been directed at them.

"You say that you have come to learn and perform. You sought Hogwarts intentionally, then?" That would mark an interesting change from how applicants usually arrived, himself included.

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

"A school? This is supposed to be a museum. I told you you read the map wrong!" Ukon declared, turning to glare at Sakon, his hand pressing against Sakon's cheek. "You can't get along without me, can you?"

Sakon blinked, well aware of the differences in the man before him. What odd ears, and his stature was almost delicate.. "I'm sorry, but I got off the train in Hokkaido. I don't know any place called Hogwarts."

"And you said I had the map upside down," Ukon continued.

Sakon covered Ukon's mouth, enduring a few grumbles before he continued. "I traveled intentionally, but I do not think I arrived intentionally."

He lowered his hand. "It's because he doesn't listen to me," Ukon asserted, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Sakon.

[idiotsallofyou.livejournal.com]

A sickly looking lion watched Ukon move with intelligent, though confused, eyes. "The child makes you move?"

Having lived in Africa, away from human civilisation all his life, he didn't quite understand what a puppeteer was. Personally, he just wanted to eat the smaller one, but was confused by the smell of wood and oil.

He tilted his head, his ears shifting as he tried to figure out where the little ones voice came from.

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

A talking lion was not high on Ukon's list of 'creatures I want to meet.' Nor on Sakon's.

Ukon looked at the lion, summoning up all his bravado. "He's my partner," he allowed. "But, he's nothing without me."

Sakon just watched, wary of the way they were being eyed.

[carriesapurse.livejournal.com]

((this horror is inflicted with mun permission.))

Today, Tinky Winky had found his red purse! Had it been lost? No, he had forgotten its existence for half an hour, so tripping over its bulk beside the door of the chaw parlor (right where he'd left it) had been a major rediscovery.

He was so excited that he did the bag dance and sang the bag song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSj13sTSWGM) all over the castle, all through the rest of the day. He danced right into the Sorting Room without pausing in his singsong drone.

The bag dance consisted of some awkward hand motions and hopping. The bag song consisted of the word "bag", over and over again.

"Bag bag bag!" he sang at the puppet and the human who was holding the puppet.

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

Ukon pulled away, his arms coming up to protect himself, his legs flinging up and flopping lifelessly as he moved. "What is that, Sakon!? It doesn't look like a puppet!"

"I don't know," Sakon said, watching the creature. "Maybe one of those Western style costume puppets?" he suggested. Having expected to be at a museum, it might be an exhibit or demonstration.

Ukon peered over his arm at the creature. "Are you a puppet?" he demanded.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

He'd planned on just passing the sorting room, not even glancing in, but that there seemed to be two voices answering the questions instead of the normal single irritation (he couldn't help hearing, damn his ears) was intriguing enough to make him stop.

The puppet surprised him. Not just because they were a rarity here as far as he knew, but the subtle articulation of body movement and personality it exhibited. The puppeteer, by comparison, was the perfect shadow, still and fading into the background while still being distinct. Yin and Yang as demonstrated by unbelievable manual dexterity and perfect ventriloquism. Kurama, as proud as he was with being able to call all the tells and details, was less concerned with his inability to catch Sakon's mouth moving along with the puppet's speech than the mind-blowing amount of craftsmanship attached to the entire ensemble.

After a few minutes of watchful thought, Kurama decided that he had never in his life been more impressed by a normal* human.

_{*Normal for values of not having superpowers, psychic powers, advanced magical powers, a job in some kind of secret government organization that provided battle suits and improbable weapons, ones that were undead, redead, ressurected, or had a stunning case of demon avatism. Which was pretty much the lot for all the humans he knew.}

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

For all intents and observations, Ukon saw Kurama first. "Eeee! A kitsune!" he said, clinging to Sakon as he did.

Sakon looked over, his eyes widening a little. "Hello," he said. "That...it's a very good costume," he continued. He'd seen people dressed up as kitsune before.

Ukon looked between Sakon and the newcomer. "Costume?" he asked and then looked over at Kurama again. He relaxed a little, his hand going behind his head as he laughed. "Yeah," he chuckled. "Of course."

[tragitragedy.livejournal.com]

Drosselmeyer had grown bored with sitting in the Sorting Room and had thus taken to poking about. It seemed he couldn't leave by the same door which he entered, but he did stumble upon a passage that led to a room identical to the one he had just left--except that it was already occupied.

And by whom! A fellow entertainer, and a puppeteer to boot. Drosselmeyer did harbor a special fondness for marionettes and other, less direct, means of manipulating chosen puppets. The old man clasped his hands together, smiled widely, and stepped further into the room.

"Herr Sakon, I would be quite delighted to make your acquaintance. It's always good to meet a kindred spirit." He had turned Gold Crown into quite a puppet theater with The Prince and the Raven, so surely that counted as performance as much as it did novel writing. "And Herr Ukon as well," he added politely, squinting to examine the puppet better. "He rightly claims to be a masterpiece. Taking you up on your offer of a performance would be a pleasure, I'm sure."

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

Ukon watched the newcomer, squinting back at him. "Why are you talking to him about me? I am here, after all," he demanded, pointing at himself with his thumb.

"Ukon, it's okay," Sakon said softly to the puppet. "If you'll give me a moment," he said bowing.

"Oi, what are we going to do?" Ukon demanded, turning his attention to Sakon as the boy set down his suitcase and opened it. "Oh, that's right, you brought the spear," he said, one fist dropping into the palm of the other hand. He turned back to the other man. "I hope you don't mind I'm not in proper dress, ojii-chan. This is rather short notice."

Sakon knelt and removed the case from his back quickly enough that the change was hardly noticeable in Ukon, save that Ukon was more serious when Sakon's hand returned to him. "If you'll pardon the lack of chanting," Sakon murmured as he and Ukon bowed to their audience. Without another word, he began his performance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPitxAhPZgA).

[codex-of-good.livejournal.com]

Codex looked from Ukon to Sakon and back a few times. This was... weird. Then again, she was (or had been until this stupid and/or awesome school) perpetually glued to a bunch of pixels on a screen as a substitution for actual interaction with people. And there was that really creepy thing that happened at the LAN party where she found herself talking to her avatar, and she really didn't want to think about the implications of that. So really, who was she to judge?

"Erm," she said.

Way to open a conversation, Codex.

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

"Ah, what a pretty lady!" Ukon said, apparently before Sakon turned to look at the woman.

Sakon turned. "Hello," he said softly, bowing in greeting.

"I am the master piece of puppetry made in the second year of the Meiji era, Ukon, and this is my partner Sakon," Ukon effused, gesturing to each of them in turn.

[calligraphywolf.livejournal.com]

((OOC: I think you're a player who already knows Ammy's Shinto deity in enchanted wolf form schtick? It's something characters are free to notice if they're capable of it/actually worship Amaterasu; if not, they'll tend to see just a white wolf without red markings or the Reflector (http://okamiworld.com/wiki/index.php?title=Reflector).))

Since Amaterasu was already poking about the sorting room (http://community.livejournal.com/hogwarts_hocus/1928560.html?thread=108465264#t108465264), she figured she ought to greet some of the other newcomers she'd noticed. Wearing her Dethklok hoodie (which Sakon and Ukon might now recognize (http://community.livejournal.com/hogwarts_hocus/1928108.html?thread=108237228#t108237228)) and with cheerful spring flora trailing her every step, she circled Sakon, sniffing, then settled back on her haunches before him, peering up expectantly. Her bark was directed at Ukon, a friendly greeting of sorts.

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

Ukon's jaw dropped as he swiveled around to follow her progress. He clung to Sakon as Sakon bowed deeply. It was the flora more than the form that made him think this wolf was far more than it appeared.

"Sakon, there's...gods here," Ukon said, his voice awed and trembling, his eyes still wide, staring at Amaterasu.

"It is a great honour," Sakon said, still bowing.

[ugly-old-hat.livejournal.com]

"Ooh! Entertainment!" The Hat settled back. "Entertain me!"

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

"Sakon, that hat is floating and talking to us!" Ukon yelped, his arms drawing back, reaching for Sakon.

"We were told this would happen," Sakon said to Ukon before asking the Hat, "Is there something you'd like to see?"

Hufflepuff!

[ugly-old-hat.livejournal.com]

Your bribe has been accepted!

Welcome to Hufflepuff!