lostcarnival | Performance and Dreamcatchers

Who: Joker, those working entertainment, and whoever wants to do fun arts and crafts
When: The day after the orientation, and then after the ringmaster's announcement
Where: The Big Tent and one of the side stages, respectively
What: Joker gets his performing ducks all in a row, and then does an arts and crafts corner. As you do. Mingle log!

At around ten in the morning, as he told a few other workers and anyone who'd been listening in on the walkie talkies, Joker starts to radio in those who are working under him to meet up in the big top. Hope you had breakfast and not a hangover! Of course, for anyone who tries not to attend, Joker will cheerfully hunt them down and bother them into going.

Sorry, mandatory, you know how it is.

It's later in the day, after the ringleaders' own announcement, that eventually Joker makes another of himself, this time to the general channel. It's an invitation to one of the side stages to make dreamcatchers together, for anyone who still craves company or simply doesn't know what the hell a dreamcatcher even is. Along with that, Joker has taken it upon himself to make sure signs advertising this are plastered all over the carnival.

He drew them himself. Please appreciate the scribbled stars.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[While he definitely bothered his fair share of people at orientation, Joker hasn't been able to bother everyone. That's partially, he'll admit, part of his motivation for getting this little arts and crafts party together. He wants to see who else pops up and, anyway, it's a good idea to see what the various newbies will do at this request.]

[Sometimes, you get the ambitious ones. Other times... Well, at least Joker isn't judging as he come over and chuckles.]

Whatcha got there?

[ The leather's kind of sculptable, actually. Not that Chiaki has much to tie it down, so she's kind of concentrating and holding bits and pieces together as she makes a rudimentary little animal with it. She's placing some finishing touches on it when Joker arrives, and she jumps -- scales go scattering. ]

... Nothing. [ Shit. This is one of the guys in charge, right? She saw him talking to the performers earlier. ] I'm just experimenting...

Whups-

[Best he can, he leans over with a cupped hand to catch a few of the scales that tip past the edge of the table. Not all of them, but what can you do?]

Well, that’s always fun ta do, but best make sure nothin’ goes ta waste. Looks like we got the fancy stuff, ha.

Mm.

[ She ducks her head, focusing on what she's doing again, trying to recreate the animal form she had a moment ago. But she slows -- something's eating at her, and Joker is right here... ]

Do you know where she got all of this?...

This in particular? Nah.

[He deposits some of the scales back onto the table.]

But… The Carnival travels through all sorts of places. Ta make sure we’re safe, that’s why we have the Nightriders and those in Acquisition go ta check things out. So… It might be from this world, or it even could have been from the place we were at before this. Ah, but none of ya new ones woulda known about the Crossroads.

N-no. [ She just got here. ] The Crossroads?

Yup. Real interestin’ place. It was a sort of…. [He wobbles his hand a little.] Inbetween a lot of places. Ya could get all sorts of things.

A bazaar.

[ Ah! She knows what that is. Or a marketplace. Either one. ]

Has The Carnival traveled... for a long time?

Oh, I’d say so. I’ve only been here maybe a couple of years, but I’ve known people who’ve worked longer. Ah… Most of them are gone now, ‘course, but ah well.

Nobody seems to know how old it is.

[ She scratches one of her ears, thinking. ] I guess it could be older than any of us.

Probably. The Ringmaster is definitely the sorta person who’s been around, after all… So the carnival will probably still be goin’ along even after we’re all nice and gone too.

[ She nods. ]

Well... I wouldn't want to stay that long anyway. Too much to do at home.

Oh yeah? Mind if I ask what? Course-

[He makes a vague but lazy gesture.]

If ya don’t care ta answer, don’t need ta.

Just...

[ A funny feeling settles in the pit of her stomach and she fiddles even more with the leather and scales. ]

... Don't you have anyone at home you want to get back to?

Ah….

[For all that he’s a good actor, something different- genuine- in his expression shows through at that question, but he’s quick to cover it up with a laugh and a shrug.]

Actually, that’s what my contract here is for~. I plan on movin’ us all ta somewhere nicer, but I’m too poor ta do it on my own! The Ringmaster has been real accommodatin’~.

[ She misses the strangeness of his expression - the pause he has before he talks is noticeable, but maybe it's just hard for him to talk about back home. She looks up at him at his answer. ]

That's a pretty good idea.

[ She hesitates, and then looks around. Nobody else is listening. ]

I've... thought about doing that. For a second wish. I know that other people extend their contracts, and... and I feel like my friends deserve better than they got, I guess. [ She hesitates. ] It's a little scary, but... I'm thinking about it, I guess.

Well, there’s no rush ta make yer decision. I mean, ya just started yer contract now! So take yer time.

[He shrugs, grinning.]

Ya have a year. And if ya want ta know more about what it’s like workin’ long term, I don’t mind answerin’ questions.

... What is it like?

[ She can't help herself, ok? ] I mean... you've been here for two years?

That was quick!

[His words are tinted with laughter, and he hums, thinking it over.]

Well, what part of life here has yer interest most? The different worlds we’ll be goin’ ta, the carnival work itself…?

[ She's JUST CURIOUS really.... ]

I guess... what it's like to... be here. For that long.

I know that isn't really very specific, but... how do things change? Now that you've been here for... a bit?

Would ya believe me if I said that the only things ta really change are the people?

[He passes his hand along his hair, fingers bumping into his antlers.]

And I don’t mean that on a physical level only, either. It’s just… The carnival’s stayed the same for the years I’ve been in it. Sometimes workers might change things up a bit with, y’know, what food comes out of the kitchen, or what performances get put on, but ultimately, it’s a solid place.

Even the Ringmaster- maybe it’s just because things are different from her point of view, maybe I just haven’t been here long enough, but she doesn’t change much either.

But people? People are always passin’ through. A year’s contract ain’t actually that long, frankly speakin’, and only people runnin’ away from somethin’ or who want somethin’ they can’t get anywhere else… They’re the only types you’ll see for longer than a year.

Performance and Dreamcatchers

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