Zero

"I like the pineapple addition to yours." He complimented with a cheery smile, raising his cup to hers. "And for great smoothies with great new friends." He gave her cup a gentle tap before bringing his up to his lips and taking a gulp. The smoothie tasted a little off but...

"You've met a pirate prince before? That's pretty a great, y'know." He smiled as he took another drink, resting his cups on his knees when she spoke. "At first I was only here because Jack wanted to be here. Do you know Jack? Jack Skelington? Well, anyway, he was the reason I originally showed up. Wherever Jack goes, I go." He took another sip of his drink, not understanding why it no longer tasted funny to him. "Now I've come to grow fond of this place and the people around here. Everyone is such a character with amazing stories and talents to offer. From the smallest of jobs like hammering in a tent to the fire breathers. Everyone has a job that works and clicks with the carnival. I love it. What about yourself?"

By the sounds of it I'd say they found their meal for the night. They sounded hungry for whatever it was they found. *Suddenly his eyes widen* You don't suppose it could have been one of us, do you?

Making the most of things

"I like the pineapple addition to yours." He complimented with a cheery smile, raising his cup to hers. "And for great smoothies with great new friends." He gave her cup a gentle tap before bringing his up to his lips and taking a gulp. The smoothie tasted a little off but Zero was never one to be rude, so he gave Lilo a warm smile and took another gulp to reassure her that it was in fact delicious to him. "It's delicious, by the way. Did you add a special fruit or something?"

Making the most of things

"Oh you did?" Zero gave her  warm smile and extended a hand to take the offered drink. "Thank you so much! Do you have a smoothie drink too? We could do a toast, with smoothies." He gave a light chuckle, setting his notepad aside now and scooting up more.

His eyes fell upon her hand when it came up to rest on his forearm, his small smile still on his lips. "During the shows it would be tricky because of your performances, I'm sure. However I could give you a tour after hours..but I warn you..it isn't everything you might think it is." In reality Zero was excited that someone seemed interested in his line of work. He always loved to geek out when it came technology or his lights. Plus, he really did think the cat walk was the coolest seat in the house. "But if you're really up for it perhaps when this is all over we could plan a night? Bring your notebook too, please." He looked back down at her loose pages, "But I don't anything about your line of work either. It can't be as easy as growing out your hair and saying you're a hair performers, I imagine. It looks like it would be a bit painful."

A wave of relief and curiosity washed over Zero when Rapunzel told him about her drawings. “You do?” His eyes fell on the pages, “You do.” He whispered. “Yeah I know what you mean.” He chuckled softly and looked up at her again. “It’s also like that when you have to tell someone about your drawings. I never know if people are going to be weirded out by that or not. It’s always a swing or a miss. But yes they are, aren’t they? Everyone is beautiful when in their zone. Plus I see a lot from where I work.” He gave her a soft smile. “What’s your name? I’m Zero.”

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zero!" Rapunzel said sincerely, shifting her weight to sit resting on her hip. "I’m Rapunzel, even if we haven’t talked you’ve probably heard about me, what with the.." She gestured sheepishly towards her long braid, coiled on the floor like a length of golden rope. "I’ve been told it’s kinda a neon sign around here. Not like you." Rapunzel cocked an eyebrow at him, trying to remember if she’d seen the dark-haired man before. She couldn’t recall all the new faces if she tried but Zero was new to her inventory of carnies she’d collected in an excited attempt to acquaint herself with the whole cast at once. "So, where do you work, Zero? You’re like a ghost, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before."

"Pleasure is all mine! It's very nice to meet you, Rapunzel." Zero gave a light laugh and shook his head a little. "While I do agree that your pretty hair does help you stand out, I actually know of you because of a different reason." His smile softened again, "I'm the light show coordinator. During intermission I get to flash a couple of cool lights and during the shows I shine them on the performers. That's how I know most people before they know me, and that's why I say I see a lot from where I work. Up on the catwalk you get to see most everything while also being invisible." He chuckled, "Like a ghost, as you said. Um. So, um, does it hurt to do what you do?"

Zero was never used to getting attention. He was always the one in the background no on noticed but was always there when needed. Because of this, Zero has always had a way of being able to disconnect from the world around if he wished it and that was exactly what he had...

A wave of relief and curiosity washed over Zero when Rapunzel told him about her drawings. "You do?" His eyes fell on the pages, "You do." He whispered. "Yeah I know what you mean." He chuckled softly and looked up at her again. "It's also like that when you have to tell someone about your drawings. I never know if people are going to be weirded out by that or not. It's always a swing or a miss. But yes they are, aren't they? Everyone is beautiful when in their zone. Plus I see a lot from where I work." He gave her a soft smile. "What's your name? I'm Zero."

Do these windows open?

Zero was never used to getting attention. He was always the one in the background no on noticed but was always there when needed. Because of this, Zero has always had a way of being able to disconnect from the world around if he wished it and that was exactly what he had done. He hadn't heard Rapunzel's gentle greeting and so he didn't look up from his canvas yet. It wasn't until her question came that he slowly looked up from his pencil and paper to her big curious eyes. "O-oh, um..uh.." he glanced down at what he was drawing, "oh it's n-not anything..um..it's nothing. It's just, uh, it's just my work. I mean. No. It's just one of the performers. See?" He moved over his paper so she could get a better look at the sketch he was making of Esmeralda. "I like to draw a lot of the people around here. It's probably a little weird, I know, but believe how mesmerizing a person can be when they are in their zone, ya know?" He gave her a weak smile. He knew he probably sounded a little weird but he was used to this feeling by now, he only hoped she wouldn't get too weirded out. 

Do these windows open?

Zero laughed with her and flashed her a toothy smile, ” I could go on, y’know. Do not tempt me.” He gave her a playful wink. “I’m more of a tea person, myself. Although I do enjoy having coffee in the morning as a perk me up, sometimes.” He couldn’t help the snort and small...

Zero gave her a soft smile and chuckle. "Don't be so mean to me and tempt me. What if you get annoyed? Why would you do that to me?" He teased. "Have you ever had blueberry tea? That's originally what got me sucked into tea. I used to be very into coffee so I haven't completely given it up, thus my morning perks at times." He tilted his head at her food comment however. "Do you just like food or have you just never had anything that has blown you away? Because if that's so then I'll have to cook something for you sometime." He listened to her speak about how she never really ran in the same circle as the popular kids. It made him soften even more knowing that, comforting to know someone so confident and beautiful was in his same place when it came to that stuff. "Same here. Well, considering I am the main light person here, I'd say you no longer have to worry about stealing it. I'll gladly let you outshine whoever you'd like, but shhh."

Zero looked up from his book and over at Lilo and Jessica. He almost wanted to begin reading out loud from his chapter to just distract Lilo but then he realized that what he was reading was rather morbid and would probably send the poor girl spiraling into further panic. Instead he cautiously walked over to her, reached into his pocket and pulled out a hand sized plush pumpkin doll. "If you squeeze it really tightly whenever you're feeling anxious it helps. Sometimes..." he stepped back now to face both of them so as not to be rude, "whenever life likes to get too stressful around here that's what I do. Um. I hope it helps. I assure you you're safe here." He gave her a small smile and then looked over at Jessica. "Are you okay?"

I, um, I hope everyone had good holidays.

Laughed and flicked her wrist, “Oh stop. Evil genius is a bit much.” The she let her hand rest on his arm for a moment catching his eyes, “But really go on, I enjoy a good compliment.” She felt a little delight that he went along with her joke, “Hot chocolate is okay. More of a coffee person though…. Jack…. I don’t think I know a Jack. Is he cute? I might help you look for him if he’s cute.”

Zero laughed with her and flashed her a toothy smile, " I could go on, y'know. Do not tempt me." He gave her a playful wink. "I'm more of a tea person, myself. Although I do enjoy having coffee in the morning as a perk me up, sometimes." He couldn't help the snort and small laugh that escaped him at Shock's question. He had never actually thought about Jack in that sense and never once did it cross his mind to acknowledge if his friend was attractive. "I'm not too sure? I've never actually looked at him in that sort of light, but he is popular with a lot of people. Maybe he is attractive. He has a lot of tattoos. Does that help?"