lostcarnival | [ota] have to believe we are magic

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[ota] have to believe we are magic

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! )

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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?"

"You work here?"

Another carnival guy? Must be a new one, since Tamaki hasn't seen him around yet. But why would he be lurking around in the shadows? Maybe he works with the security guys - he's heard they sometimes sneak around like that, too.

"If you're supposed to be hiding, you're bad at it."

"Which is why I was practicing," said in a tone as if he's trying to explain something to a child. He knows his hiding's a rubbish, being seen and called out proves that much. He just doesn't really like to be pointed out that his hiding's rubbish.

So, let's focus on the first part. Strange gives Tamaki a small little nod as he explains, "But yes, I do work her. My name is Strange, former magician of London, current magician of the carnival."

Well, he definitely needs more practice, and Tamaki would have said that, but the conversation has moved along.

"I'm Tamaki, former idol of Tokyo, current acrobat of the carnival."

Maybe this is how people in London introduce himself. The least he can do is play along. It's being multicultural.

"So if you're a magician, can you do real magic? Besides hiding."

Which, as established, he is bad at.

When there's only two magicians in the entire country, you get used to introducing yourself by your profession.

Also what precisely does an 'idol' do, Strange doesn't know, he'll have to ask Tamaki that later.

"Of course I can do 'real magic,'" said with a little scoff, as if it was the silliest question in the world. "Do you want a demonstration?"

"Sure."

Forgive him if he doesn't look super excited about it. Magic is becoming more common to him now, though if Strange can do something particularly cool, he'll probably perk up.

There's a pause while Strange frowns, mulling over what to do. Pointing his palm at a small patch of weeds, he mutters something under his breath, obviously an incantation. The weeds start to grow, spreading out and growing taller, some snaking up a nearby building.

"There we go," said as he brings his hands to his side. The weeds stop growing as he does so. "I probably should have grown flowers or something more beautiful, but at least these will be easier to clear."

That is pretty impressive, but to Tamaki's teenaged brain, it's not particularly exciting. Strange just literally made him watch grass grow (albeit very fast).

"It's kinda lame," he judges, looking at the weeds. "Stevicchi can float. It's way better."

Is comparing Strange's magic to the innate abilities of a half alien child fair? Probably not, but he does it anyway.

And once again, that term goes completely over Strange's head. At least with this time, he decides to ask about it.

"Who's Stevicchi?"

"One of the assistants. Short, curly black hair."

It would probably be helpful to note that his name is actually Steven, but Tamaki does not.

As such, Strange is under the impression that okay, there's another short curly black haired person here but this one's Stevicchi instead of Steven. Perhaps they'll run into each other at some point.

"I don't think we've met. Anyway, I hardly see why floating would be better. There's really no use for it!"

Maybe one day, he'll learn the truth. For now, Tamaki just looks irritated that Strange would put down floating.

"It's almost like flying! You could jump from a really high place and not die!"

"Or you could not jump from a really high place to begin with," said as if pointing out the obvious. There's a bit of disdain in Strange's voice (because his magic is awesome, thank you very much) as he continues talking.

"If I had to get to a high place, then I'd simply ask the trees or have the ground lift me up. That's just as useful as floating."

But where is the fun in not jumping from a high place? Live a little, Strange. (Not that Tamaki himself would do it without promise of something catching him, but that's beside the point!)

"You ask the tree? So the tree is doing the magic?"

"Not entirely. It's more of a conversation between myself and the tree. I ask the tree, the tree agrees, I perform the magic through the tree."

He's talking about all of this like it's a perfectly normal conversation and not something that would confuse most people. Strange sighs as he continues to talk, gesturing to a nearby tree as he does so. "It's very hard to do some nature magic, like moving a forest, without the agreement of whatever nature you're trying to move."

"Oh."

...

Yeah, he has no idea what that means. Tamaki looks utterly lost, scrunching his nose up in thought.

"It sounds complicated..."

"Not entirely. Mostly, it just takes effort and a lot of time."

He's assuming that Tamaki's keeping up with his conversation. After all, in Strange's mind, there's no reason why he wouldn't understand what he was saying.

Tamaki still looks just as lost as he did a second ago.

"So... trees can talk?"

What language would a tree speak, he wonders.

"If you know how to listen. I don't really hold conversations with them though, the most I do is ask and they respond."

Again, this is said with 100% certainty, the certainty of someone who's firm in his beliefs. Have fun puzzling that one out, Tamaki.

"How do trees talk if they don't have mouths? Do they speak the same language as you?"

The more Strange says, the more questions about all this Tamaki has. Apparently there's a whole world of tree communication he never heard of. Why doesn't anyone teach that in school?

"You talk to them through magic."

And there we go, that's the reason why no one teaches it in school: because it's yet another example of magical nonsense that's not unique to all worlds but Strange is treating like it is.

Tamaki scowls, folding his arms. "This is just a circle." Seriously, this guy isn't explaining anything. Why can't everyone just be like Steven? He's part alien, that explains everything succinctly, at least in Tamaki's view.

"Can you only do plant stuff?"

"I can do all sorts of magic," Strange continues, with a huff. Only do plant stuff, what sort of magician would he be if he could just do plants? His pride is pushing him to gloat a bit as he continues talking.

"I can manipulate water, earth, fire and other natural forces. I know a spell to see what my enemy is doing and one to travel through mirrors."

"Mmm. The fire and water stuff sounds cool." He wonders if he can make it fly at people like characters in anime. That'd be pretty awesome, actually. "Seeing enemies is okay too..."

But that last one... "If you traveled through a mirror, wouldn't you just hit the wall?"

"Not really. Back in my world, mirrors were the doorway to a different realm. You could travel from place to place that way. Here, it seems mirrors are a doorway to a different mirror."

Strange shrugs. He's got absolutely no idea why it works that way and why it even works in the first place. But hey, he's not complaining.

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