[ota] have to believe we are magic

[kingsroads]

WHO: Jonathan Strange & you!
WHERE: various points around the carnival
WHEN: Days 33/34
WHAT: actually doing his job + failing a bit at magic + accidentally succeeding a bit at magic
WARNINGS: n/a!

in the main tent: showing off some
To the surprise of everybody, Strange is actually doing his damn job. Granted, his damn job of a magician instead of his damn job as a mercenary with the Nightrunners, but he's staying in the carnival for now, trying to keep an eye on Childermass as best he can. After all, Strange knew in theory that Childermass knew how to rest, but he wasn't entirely sure if he knew in practice.

So here he is, in the main tent, actually practicing. Sometimes you can find him just staring at a candelabra, as if staring will magically make it do something. Other times, Strange is actually working magic, as a giant top made out of the dirt floor of the tent spins around the stage, or animals made of straw prance around the area.

The most notable thing about all this? Strange looks downright relaxed as he works his magic, possibly the most relaxed he's been since he first arrived.

anywhere: like the one thing childermass is better at than him
Something's weird about that patch of shadows out of the corner of your eye. It almost seems like it's trying too hard to be shadows. The stillness is unnatural and you can't shake the feeling you're being watched. It's not changing with the light, instead the shadows remain just shadows, no matter what. Occasionally, facial features can be made out in the shadows, that of a tall, wild-haired man, concentrating very hard on not being seen.

And then the shadows sneeze. Whoops.

"Damn," Strange can't help but swear to himself as he suddenly becomes visible, peeling himself off the shadows of whatever building he's up against. He sniffles a bit as he carefully rubs at his nose with clawed hands. "I still don't entirely understand how he manages to do it so well."

trailer 29: sorry y'all his bad
Strange is in his trailer (which honestly, is a bit of a mess, with stacks of paper on too many surfaces, this is what you get when you give the eccentric a closed space.) He sits at the table, a candelabra in front of him. Match lit, Strange mutters something under his breath before he lights the candle.

What he muttered was a summoning spell, something to summon a faerie. After all, it worked back home, why not see if it works here, while they're in faerie. The worst that could happen was that it didn't work, after all (Strange has very low standards for 'the worst that can happen') So, as the candle is lit, you find yourself randomly in this guy's trailer...and wow, is Strange a bit confused at your arrival.

"Hmm. It wasn't supposed to bring in workers."

( ooc: so because I thought it's hilarious, I kept Strange's ability to summon fairies except, surprise, it's weird in the carnival and he's equally likely to have summoned someone tainted with faerie magic aka characters in the game. This'll default more to veteran characters/characters with more changes but if you want your character to have been pulled out of what they were doing to appear in some rando's trailer, I am all for that! drop me a pm or plurk @allikateor if you have any questions! )

Comments

The main tent!

[amusicaladventure]

"Heeey, that's pretty cool," Ash commented with a little hint of a purr in her voice as she trailed a hand along one of the straw animals' back as she walked past. "This gonna be your new act?"

[kingsroads]

He gave Ash a wide grin of his own as she approached. The straw animal that she's petting (which turns out to be a lion) just kind of gives her an appreciative little nod. It seems like even magic animals like pets.

"Perhaps," Strange explained, as he reached over to give a straw ostrich a scratch of his own. "I don't think I'll ever fully settle on an act--my interests are too widespread for that. I would change my mind with every new spell I test!"

[amusicaladventure]

"Oh, it's all spells for you?" Magic was of some interest to her, particularly others forms -- which she found terribly limited and depressing, if she were being entirely honest, but that didn't stop her from being curious. "Where are you learning them from?"

[kingsroads]

"I learned them back home. This...it's more of combinations." His eyes light up with manic glee as he talks--it's been a while since Strange has essentially talked shop with anyone. He's enjoying it, actually seeming a bit happy as he launches into an explanation.

"There's plenty of basic spells. Any magician worth his salt knows things like weather magic or spells of revelation--it's when you add them together that they become potent. When you cast the right spell with the right medium, that's when the magic happens. What I did was a spell of animation that drew upon the characteristics of the straw: animals from animal feed."

[amusicaladventure]

"I get it. Never met anyone who worked magic that way but I've heard the theory. How's this for an act?" Ash leaned back against the straw lion to spread her hands wide, the better to set the scene. "A feather tucked under every seat, and when the time is right -- zing! Birds emerge from the audience where they clearly weren't before! All sorts of colors and shapes and sizes!"

Trailer 29

[waitingforplayer2]

[ Chiaki had been halfway through a leap when she suddenly found her surroundings changed. The Carnival dirt outside has a bit more spring to it than the trailer floor, and she immediately goes sliding and lands on her back, rabbit legs wiggling in the air.

"H-huh??"

[kingsroads]

[ Fortunately there's plenty of stacks of paper for poor Chiaki to slide into if needed. Strange, for his part, looks a BIT MORTIFIED. Not only is she someone he didn't mean to summon, but summoning her in such an undignified position? Possibly even worse. ]

I'm terribly sorry, [ he can't help but say, with a little frown on his face. ] If you want, I can pretend that you didn't arrive on your back and we can start all this over with you standing upright.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ The papers go flying, luckily enough, so that Chiaki is mostly obscured by them. She struggles to her huge unwieldy feet and blinks around. Okay, a trailer. That's... half her bearings gotten.

Now for the other half.

She turns her gaze on the strange man. ] Who are you?

[kingsroads]

I am Jonathan Strange, [ said with a nod, as he watches Chiaki. She still seems fairly human, ears and legs aside, so that's another point towards 'accidentally summoned a worker'.

And yeah, strange is a pretty good way of putting it. He looks like only the barest attention was paid to things like 'looking halfway decent.' His clothes are unkempt and threadbare and his hair is just all over the place. Carefully, Strange sets the candleabra down on the table as he looks over Chiaki. ]

English magician, formerly of Ashfair, currently of trailer twenty-nine. Who are you?

tent

[atouts]

Strange is right enough. Childermass is content to do some resting, but he gets restless sooner than later. If he can't sleep, that means he'll end up pacing. If he can't pace very far (which in a trailer, distance severely limited), he'll go out. Seeing as he isn't feeling up to things like eating much, either, he's skipped loitering at the cookhouse and has taken up sitting in the stands of the Big Top instead, boots propped up on the seating just ahead of him and arms crossed across his chest.

See, while Strange is thinking to keep an eye on him, Childermass is thinking to keep an eye on Strange. It's an entirely unnecessary cycle of stalking.

And while he did watch Strange messing around with all sorts of random magic out on the floor for a bit, the fact that he's actually only gotten the least possible required amount of rest is catching up with him. It's not usual at all for Childermass to doze off somewhere like this, but he does, so Strange is left with a snoozing audience of one, not even paying attention to whatever cool trick he's pulling off next.

[kingsroads]

It's the circle of stalking and it's really quite annoying, maybe these people will actually talk to each other later.

Said cool trick is almost going to involve fire but Strange idly casts a look at Childermass, only to spot the man asleep. Well. On the one hand, that's rude. But on the other hand, that's worrying. Why isn't Childermass in bed? Heaven only knows that the man's still probably tired due to that kidnapping nonsense, why on Earth is he attempting to be in the tent today?

Obviously, he needs to be woken up to be properly fussed at.

So, as quietly as possible, Strange walks up to Childermass, making sure that no, he is asleep. That little asshole streak comes out in full force as Strange leans over, close to Childermass's ear...and then just blows in it. Almost instantly after doing so, he attempts to just back out of the way because he's got a feeling he might

[atouts]

Lash out suddenly and grab him by his poorly tied cravat before he can make his escape? Why, yes, Strange, that's exactly what happens, good thinking there. Only it happens almost immediately after, no doubt faster than anticipated. He doesn't even have to open his eyes to manage it, too. Could be he's just scarily accurate like that, could be it was a lucky grab.

The world will never know.

Though once he has done that, he'll at least crack one eye open to verify that — yes — it is Strange that he has. Guess he better not throttle him. Not that he's letting go of that cloth, it's just he isn't going to actively try to strangle him or anything.

"...was there something you needed?"

[kingsroads]

Welp nope, almost getting strangled here. Childermass has a surprisingly good grip on his cravat. When Childermass checks to see that it's him, Strange gives the other man an apologetic little expression. Sorry? His bad, please let go of him now, no strangling today.

"I simply wanted to see if you were awake. Obviously, the answer is yes."

Now don't mind Strange as he attempts to squirm out of Childermass's grasp.

shadows

[puddingemote]

The feeling of being watched bores into Tamaki's back, and he tenses, looking around for the source of trouble. After only getting back from the Matrix the day before, after being held hostage for almost a week, he's on high alert.

The shadows moving catches his eye, and when they sneeze, he nearly jumps out of his skin, before realizing it's just a man. A man he hasn't seen before, but who doesn't look like the agents. A new carnival worker? Or something else?

"Don't screw with me!" He points at the man accusingly. "What are you doing? Were you watching me?"

[kingsroads]

It's never really occurred to Strange that oh, by the way, people might not like it if they think you're spying on them. So, as he steps further away from the shadows and more into the light, it becomes more and more apparent that yeah, he's not an agent. Strange looks wild, hair going every which way and eyes heavy-lidded and sleep-deprived. His attire is still very 1800s and equally unkempt.

As for the accusation, Strange seems to be taking it entirely in stride. If anything, he's a bit confused that he's being pointed at in the first place.

"I was simply practicing," Strange responds, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Practicing what? Who knows, he's not going to explain unless provoked. "And I suppose I was watching you a little bit. After all, I need to be able to see you to see if you can see me."

He pauses, frowns, then shrugs it off. Does that make sense? Hopefully!

[puddingemote]

So not an agent, just a creep. That doesn't really make it better.

"Practicing? Watching people?"

What a weird thing to practice. This really is a creep. Tamaki frowns, folding his arms.

"Are you supposed to be here? I'll call Manager!"

[kingsroads]

Strange, in comparison, doesn't really get what the big deal is. Obviously this man is angry but really, he has absolutely no idea what for. He wanted to practice blending into the shadows, he needed to watch people to see their reactions, what was the big problem?

"I work here!" he responds, obviously affronted. "So obviously I'm supposed to be here—where else would I be?"

trailer 29

[mirrortide]

It's one thing to be summoned verbally. It's another entirely to just. Suddenly appear somewhere without knowing what's really going on. It's not like she was working or anything, but she was putting together a Morp in Peridots' and hers trailer, which means there's a veritably sopping wet carnival prize teddy-bear in her hand.

She's just looking around in confusion for the moment. This is not her beautiful house. You are not her beautiful wife.

"Uh."

[kingsroads]

She's...blue.

Well okay, this is unexpected. As Lapis looks around in confusion, Strange is just staring at her in confusion. Because look, he's only encountered a handful of faeries in his life, but they've all looked...well, more human than this blue person. And not blue. Did he mention she was blue?

There's a pause before Strange eventually decides on what to say.

"Your stuffed bear seems to be wet."

[mirrortide]

"I know?" That's the point of it, after all. But also completely not why she's here. This absolutely isn't her trailer? There's not enough stuff laying around.

"Why am I here? How am I here?" She looks under her bare feet and nope, no warp pad. She looks back to him. "Where even is this?"

[kingsroads]

"Trailer twenty-nine," Strange answers, as if that's the most obvious answer of them all. Where else would she be? He wouldn't be in other people's trailers (well, except Childermass's), so naturally she must be in his.

And, while the trailer isn't messy with stuff, it's messy with papers: Strange has all sorts of papers and notecards scattered all over the trailer in seemingly no rhyme or reason.

"And you're here because I've summoned you. This might be terribly insensitive, but are you a faerie?"

Look, she's blue. He's got no idea what Lapis is.

Trailer

[pipers_son]

Well. Strange has certainly summoned his boss (one of them, anyway), so. A success, depending on how fae he thinks some of his coworkers are.

Joker arrives while wiggling a ballpoint pen between his teeth, brow furrowed as he stares down with narrowed eyes at some papers he has in his hand, and frankly he's so goddamn out of it from overworking that it takes him a second to realize that his surroundings have changed. Long pointed ears swivel upwards as he looks around, raising an eyebrow when he sees who it is.

"Strange, mate," he starts off, which could be a greeting, commentary, or both, "I coulda swore I was back in wardrobe and didn't have any plans on payin' ya a personal visit."

[kingsroads]

"If it's any consolation, I wasn't trying to summon you specifically." Strange simply shrugs at that. It's not much of a consolation, that much is apparent. But hey, that's what it is.

Pushing his seat back from the table, Strange walks over to Joker, looking as wild and eccentric as ever. "I wanted to test the limits of my magic. I could summon a faerie back home, why not here? Of course..." and here he looks over Joker and, to his credit, seems at least the slightest bit apologetic in his tone. "...the magic seems to interpret 'faerie' as 'anyone tainted with fae magic.' That's a new discovery."

[pipers_son]

Fortunately, Joker has had to deal with just as much strange nonsense as this in the years he’s already worked here, although perhaps not exactly Strange nonsense. As he’s looked over, Joker looks over him in turn while still waggling the pen between his teeth. Hearing his dilemma makes him snort.

“Yeah, ha, ya might want ta be a little more specific next time,” he says dryly, lips quirking around the pen. “Have ya met Sans yet?”

[kingsroads]

"I haven't," he states, with a shake of his head. And then, taking absolutely the wrong impression from Joker's question, Strange muses, "Perhaps I should try to summon him next. After all, I haven't tried summoning a particular fairy. I'm certain that variations can be made if you know the faerie's name. After all, in Omskirk..."

His voice trails off as Strange continues to mutter to himself. Hopping up from the table, Strange starts to rummage through some papers scattered on the floor. Lost in his own train of thought and straight up ignoring Joker, he pulls out a seemingly random sheet of paper before he realizes that oh yes, he's still missing his damn ink. There's a huffy sigh before he looks over towards Joker, expression brightening as if he's realized for the first time 'oh, Joker's here.'

"Oh, this will do marvelously. May I borrow that pen for a moment?" It's unclear whether he's ignoring or unaware that the pen's been in Joker's mouth. That's nasty, dude.