I Think I Need A Little Change

[fragileandsoft]

Who: Greg and Anyone
Where: Around and about
When: In the week or so following the kidnappings
What:The feeling when you just can't find the silver lining and give up trying

While Steven's more than earned some time off of work recovering from his wound and the sudden rush of changes, Greg can't justify the same. As much as he'd like to stay with Steven all day there's still things that need fixing and lights that need arranging, and so long as Steven's in no actual danger Greg has to trust he can be left to his own devices. After all, Greg usually has to leave him to his own devices even when there is actual danger. That's how things have always been. It's no different.

No different, no different. Who cares about growing horns or fangs or the rest, it's happening to everyone. He has to get over it, deal with the differences, it gets better after all, and so many people just love living here, and what has he got to complain about anyway. Steven's fine, he's fine, everything's fine.

A. On the job


The work is just involved enough that Greg can focus in on it and block out the excess of frustration and distress plaguing his consciousness. The rest of the world fades to a blur while he works.

Still, sleep deprived, working on autopilot, and electrical wires rarely make a good combination. If he doesn't irritate people with an overbright spotlight shining in their eyes, he may draw ire via the occasional yelp as he shocks himself.

B. Comfort Eating

Greg's never been the most outgoing or energetic person around, but he's made an effort to appear open and friendly to his coworkers and peers in passing. Still, he's fairly certain he's of passing interest to anyone, and that suits him just fine right now. He moves quickly around the grounds, avoiding eye contact and speaking little. If he can't shake off this bad mood, he may as well avoid rubbing anyone the wrong way with his moping.

The longest he spends outside of work or his trailer is in the cafeteria, where he guzzles down coffee and whatever's served with the highest calorie count. When all else fails, he can stockpile the energy and comfort. It's not exactly the prettiest sight, but he does make the effort to eat by himself where no one has to watch him scarf it down. Doing great, feeling fantastic.

Comments

A

[mossbuds]

Lars had recently reported that one of the ride consoles was acting a little funny. Nothing too dangerous outright, but it seemed like some of the buttons were on their way to not working.

And he was just coming back, realizing he forgot his bomber jacket (much to his own irritation), and he sees Greg—who he's pretty sure is Steven's dad—working at the console he'd reported earlier that morning. That's a fuckin' surprise. Lars kind of stops and stares, his eyes wide, finding it utterly bizarre to see someone's dad here.

What would he do if one of his own parents ended up in this place? —Lars pauses, rolling his eyes thoughtfully. They'd probably love it, actually.

He jumps when he hears Greg zap himself, and immediately scurries over. "Whoa, hey! You alright?" Lars's hands loom near Greg's arm as he inspects, but all he really finds is that Greg looks haggard as hell. "Daaang, you look like shit. Maybe you should take a break before you lose your eyebrows."

B

[mirrortide]

Unfortunately for Greg, there is one blue gem who has decided that she might as well just look around. Get to know her surroundings and all that nonsense since she's apparently stuck here for stars know how long.

Whatever, she'll deal with it.

Anyway, it's on this whim of looking around at this place where she finds Greg. Though he only looks semi-familiar thanks to his changes. It means Lapis just sort of awkwardly stares at him as he shoves food into his mouth. She looks a little grossed out. Just a little.

Classy.

"What are you doing?" Eating, obviously. It's the quantities that are disturbing.

B

[pipers_son]

Right. Absolutely fantastic.

That is to say, Joker is pretty sure Greg is doing fantastic like he's doing fantastic, although the way Joker is run ragged is for a few different reasons than Greg's.

Still, at least his heavy schedule means that his times to eat are a bit unconventional and away from most other people's as well, and so he's exactly around at the same time Greg settle down to eat. The Stage Manager strides up to the table that Greg has sequestered himself at, one plate balanced on his hand. "Hey there, Greg. Mind much if someone comes ta sit with ya?"

A - DID U KNO DOGS WILL ALSO CHASE LIGHTBEAMS

[otoko]

[He just needs to ask Greg something, really. It's not vital-but it's better to get things dealt with sooner as opposed to llllaaa....

...Gongenzaka pauses as he comes into the stage area he was told Greg was working in, a single jerking, wiggling light beam focused around in an unpredictable pattern along the ground. ...He shouldn't. He really shouldn't. Despite himself however his animal legs have already entered a sort of half crouch, tail swishing as his eyes track the light. He........has better things to do....]

HMMNN-!

[LATERLATERLATERHENEEDSTOCATCHTHELIGHTBEAM-

It may be a bit, it may not- but Greg's going to end up looking over the side of that spotlight to see an oversized bear-dog-man chasing a spotlight glare.]

A

[destiny_key]

Sora's the type to help anyone in need, whether they ask or not. Which is to say, he's got a slight case of Chronic Hero Syndrome.

So when he hears a yelping coming from one of the tents, he can't help but go check it out. That's his job here, isn't it? Helping people? That shouldn't extend to just the guests, but to everyone.

He doesn't know much about electrical wiring, but he's pretty sure you're not supposed to be shocking yourself with it. Still, it takes him a second of standing and watching before he speaks up.

"Hey, um... Are you okay?"

b

[wild_magic]

Susan is one of the most outgoing and energetic people around, and he normally will happily greet (and maybe chat the ear off of) any of the other carnival workers when he passes them. He was a bit more subdued and quiet for a couple of days after he was attacked, but now that he's had a chance to get over it he's back to his normal self.

...Which means that when he sees Greg sitting by himself in the cafeteria, he doesn't even think about it before heading his way with his own food. Greg seems pretty nice (even if Susan doesn't like being told by adults what he should or shouldn't do) and so he's going to at least see if he can cheer him up.

"Hi! Can I sit here so I don't have to sit by myself?" Not that he minds sitting by himself, or sitting somewhere else, or even going back to the trailer and eating with Lauren, or any other number of options.

B

[sunflowerfields]

Greg can run, but he can't hide from concern mom. Hinawa had heard the news- that one of the carnival's younger residents, who also happened to be Greg's son, had been injured while out in May Tricks, so it was no surprise to her that he was looking downright distraught. It's any parent's worst nightmare.

She comes by with the coffee pot, giving him a refill without being prompted. Then she sits down across the table from him. "I hope you've been able to get some rest. Coffee'll do the trick for a while, but it's got nothing on a good night's sleep."

B

[amusicaladventure]

A low whistle interrupted his solitude, followed by the splay of clawed fingers on the table as Ash leaned in to get a better look at him. "You look like hell, man," she said, brutally honest but sympathetic as well.

A

[dontpokethat]

Once upon a time, Ginko used to be surprised and almost impressed by the R.O.U.S's skill for getting past him and out of its enclosure. These days, its escape attempts are really more annoying than anything else, especially when it gets far enough to chew up the wiring in the stable before he can wrestle it back into its pen.

He sits aside, examining the gold-tinted scratches Barfy left on his arm as Greg works. That yelp draws his attention, though, and he stands up, already ready to go over and check. "Hey, you okay?"