⇨ ATLANTIS

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: The morning of D44 and onward.
Where: The ocean realm of Atlantis.
What: The carnival abruptly arrives at an underwater realm, and everyone is transfigured into merpeople just as suddenly.
Warnings: Body horror, I guess.

THE CITY OF ATLANTIS↴ The visit starts without much warning, but at least there is a full week of free time before performances start. In the meantime, your characters will be given ample opportunity to adjust their acts for an underwater audience, get used to their new fishy appendages, or just spend the whole time enjoying the sights and sounds of Atlantis city. King Triton will not be immediately seen, but it's possible to gain an audience with him if you get in contact with the ambassadors of the kingdom. Just, make sure that you're not wasting his time. He's a lot less patient with nonsense than the Ringmaster is. ► FISH FRIDAY: You fell asleep, whether or not that's something you usually do, and the next morning you wake up as one of the merfolk. A few last additions may grow in after you're awake, but for the most part everyone will have a method of swimming and a method of breathing underwater transfigured into them upon waking. Don't worry about your belongings - everything is waterproofed, and technology will work the same underwater as it does above it. That doesn't mean there won't be plenty to get used to, though. ► GREAT BLUE YONDER: The ocean realm where Atlantis resides is enormous, and the depths seem to be unending. Despite the fact that there doesn't seem to be any surface, sun glimmers all the way down to the ocean floor. Atlanteans use creatures like whales and dolphins as rides and beasts of burden, and they can be seen swimming in and out of the city as constantly as roadways filed with cars in earth civilization. Beyond that, there's everything you would expect to see on the ocean floor here - huge reefs of coral, both familiar and exotic, enormous ocean plants, deep ocean trenches, and all kinds of weird critters living in them. There are a mix of mythical and standard ocean creatures, and are likely a combined populations of many oceans worth of beings. ► THE ATLANTEAN MARKET: The Atlantean market (aka the "merket") is a long trench between rows of buildings in the middle of the city, lit with bio-luminescent plants and rocks, and filled with all kinds of weird mer stuff that you can buy. There are a great many individual booths, mostly with hand crafted wares and objects that have been salvaged from various sunken ships. The Ringmaster has already traded a large number of goods to the merfolk here, and has taken the profit to award each worker with 100 Atlantean Gold to spend as they please. One gold is worth roughly five USA dollars, for a comparison of how much that is. There is a top level set up below in which characters can make their purchases, and you can also handwave the purchase of random common, necessary items (food, drink, etc) at your convenience. ► TREASURE HUNTING: Right now, the only major salvage areas are a few left over sunken ships that have mostly been picked over by the merfolk. However, you are welcome to head over to them and explore, and see if fortune smiles on you when it comes to finding anything that hasn't been taken yet. The current options are three similar looking brigantine that all probably came from the same world. Merfolk do not seem to consider them to be anything extraordinary, though magical items and gold have allegedly been found within them. Whether or not anything is left, is the real question. ► LIMELIGHTING: Merfolk are curious and generally socially forward, as a species. This mean that they find the carnival's workers to be a fascinating novelty, and also are unafraid to make that fascination obvious. Given the opportunity, merfolk will demand your character's attention for bombardments of questions and for general socializing, especially if they are particularly unusual for some reason. Don't be surprised if you get invited to stay at total stranger's houses, or dragged off to a merfolk bar to surprise party with their friends. They'll let you say no, reluctantly, but they will also be pleased as punch to get up in your gill. It's also possible to make some money, this way, if you're willing to do street performances, or are willing to sell your "skills" in a more private environment. Yes, there are opportunities to become a fish hooker if you are so inclined. Merfolk may also offer money to take you as arm candy to various public events, escort style. They don't consider this to be a particularly socially inappropriate thing to do, either. You can ask general questions about this setting over on the event post. There are top levels below for buying Atlantean merch, and also for making dolla dolla, if your character is inclined to try.

Comments

Phichit Chulanont || OTA

[phichitchu]

☼ Fish Friday ☼

Phichit didn't even get the chance to meet anyone the night before; after making the deal with the Ringmaster to atone for his voyeurism by working for the carnival, he was struck with sudden exhaustion, the result of all the wandering and new information he had been hit with all at once. So, trailer assignment in hand, he quickly went off to bed -- and awoke with a jolt to unfamiliar surroundings.

Even when he remembered the events of the night before, Phichit was jarred by the realization that he was underwater; his body immediately stopped breathing, until he could hold his breath no longer and realized, to his immense relief, that there were gills by his collarbones taking in air, and that even breathing through his nose was perfectly harmless. The next big surprise was his body; though as identical as ever from his waist up, gills aside, everything beneath his navel had been swapped out for the massive tail and fins of a Thai redtailed catfish; black and white on either side of his body, ending in a bold, vivid red fin.

Figuring out how to control his tail and navigate was more intuitive than he'd expected, to his immense relief; as an athlete, he wasn't used to being betrayed by his body. And once he had that down, he decided it was time to explore, both his new workplace and these fantastic new surroundings.

☼ Limelighting ☼

Though he's heard whispers from some of the other carnival workers about the market, the native merfolk, and even treasure ships, Phichit is still too curious about his immediate surroundings to be ready to wander the wide ocean world he's in. He stays close to the carnival tents, talking to any merfolk, native or otherwise, that he runs into.

And if those people ask to see what he can do, well... it'll be hard to demonstrate any figure skating or acrobatics in an underwater environment, but Phichit wouldn't be Phichit if he didn't know how to put on a show.

FISH FRIDAY

[fortuneglass]

[Among the people Phichit needs to meet, his future coworker is probably among them. Carly-as the (former) sole tailor for the joint, is LONG overdue for some help to say the least...especially now that literally everyone is going to have to be refitted, have costumes redesigned, remade, so on, so on...

The now jellyfish looking woman is rushing rather frantically through the Carnival lanes, with as much skill as she can have when she can only really propel herself ala...Jellypumps. It's hard.

It's very hard.

It also mean that between two merthings learning how to properly control how they move, a collision-or near collision-is immenent.] H-Hihhhh!! Look out!!

[phichitchu]

[The first person Phichit runs-- er, swims-- into is a jellyfish lady; a really large, beautiful, kind of glowy jellyfish. He doesn't see her coming, too distracted, and by the time he hears her it's too late to avoid the collision. At least she's pretty soft in this form?]

Ah! I'm sorry! The fins are new, they don't exactly know how to stop yet. Are you okay?

[fortuneglass]

Oh! Um!! That's fine, [She insists, even trying to lift the canopy up to properly see the other. Now where are y- aha, there you are. It's a good thing her wings are still as dexterous as ever, or she'd never have reached the edge of this thing though...lifting it up with them, she beams.] I'm still figuring it out too! I've never been to a location where we had to change everything before~

It's exciting...!

[Well she's certainly taking this well, isn't she? As for you...] What about you though? You crashed into me right? I have this big thing around me, but you don't, so...

[phichitchu]

[Phichit ogles her wings in awe, and almost forgets his manners. When he's aware of himself staring, he laughs sheepishly and runs a hand through his floaty hair.]

It's okay, I'm alright! I'm Phichit, I'm part of the carnival now, since yesterday. I guess you are too, since you have wings? Does that usually happen? Is that what people mean by "changes"?

[He doesn't know much about the changes; he's seen some interesting people popping in and out of the tents, but he assumes they just came from interesting worlds, like this one.]

[insidescoop]

I am!~ [She gives a small bow of sorts, which is a little difficult given the wings and canopy combined. She's doing her best though.] Something like that, [she explains.] Everyone has different changes, so you can't just guess of someone else! It's like how everyone is different, right?

[It certainly makes sense. In theory, at least.]

Limelighting

[pipers_son]

As Phichit finishes showing off for a few curious merfolk, there's a laugh not far from him. Joker would make for a sight normally with his wings and antlers alone, but his colorful mantis shrimp lower half is definitely a little bit of a change from the usual fins about.

"Y'know, if we weren't in need of so many people in Wardrobes, I think I might try ta steal ya for performances."

[phichitchu]

[Phichit doesn't really know everyone who is around him, who is a carnival worker like himself and who is a guest, but he's enjoying making them all laugh and smile just the same. Performing feels good-- it always has, ever since he was a toddler putting on shows for his parents.

When he hears a sharp laugh as the crowds thins, and sees a person with wings and antlers, and a curled shrimp tailed, he's pretty sure this is one of the other carnies. This assumption is confirmed when the man speaks, and his words have Phichit laughing adorably.]

It would be really great if I could do both, but I was told there aren't many people working in Wardrobe at all. And since I perform in my other life, I thought I'd try something different. I'm Phichit! But you probably knew that, since you knew my job assignment?

[pipers_son]

I just happen ta be a chatty sort and heard about ya, that’s all.

[Oh, right-]

Joker, stage manager and, until we get someone better, actin’ wardrobe manager.

[Managing to swim out of the crowd, sadly leaving the local bereft of feeling up his wings, he grins and offers his one good hand to the young man.]

Pleased ta make yer acquaintance. How have ya been likin’ the first stop for yer contract, then? Not bad, is it?

[Definitely a lot friendlier than some of the stops they get to, and downright fun, if Joker says so. Do shifting dreamscape which is a little overwhelming, no strange Matrix where the local enforces got up in their business… Very nice. He hopes the rest of their stops can manage so well.]

[phichitchu]

People have already been talking about me? Oh, but I guess it makes sense if you're a manager!

[He shakes the man's offered hand and beams.]

I'm at your service, Mister Joker! I'm excited to be here. Both the carnival and Atlantis. I never thought I'd get to be a mermaid in my life. Or merman, I guess. It makes me want to reenact one of my favorite movies from when I was a kid.

[pipers_son]

[Well, this is certainly someone quick to adapt. Joker chuckles at his commentary, letting himself drift back a bit and float in place for a moment.]

Glad ta see yer adjustin’ so well! Some folks don’t take the changes the best. Still, if anythin' happens, you'll let me know, won't ya?

Fishy Friday!

[musicinmotion]

Having overcome his initial 'WHAT THE FUCK', Yuuri had started to hesitantly explore, first checking on the things he was familiar. Everything seemed the same for the most part with the exception of the few familiar faces that he came across were all like him: Half sea creature of some sort.

Apparently this was their stop for the week. So he was going to be like this for a week. Great.

Yuuri struggled to move about, his tentacles not working like he wanted them to and he was sort of just hopping about when a flash of red caught his attention. His gaze was immediately on the other former human now mer and even from the side he could tell who it was. Eyes going wide, Yuuri stopped himself by grabbing onto a barrel, tentacles shifting on the ground.

"Phichit!"

[phichitchu]

[At the sound of his name, Phichit jerks his head around in the direction he thought he heard it coming from, sending bubbles flying around him. The voice was too familiar to be forgotten, and when he saw Yuuri, bracing himself against a barrel as the tentacles at the end of his tail fluttered in all directions, he beamed like the Sun itself and swam right over to his friend.]

Yuuri! Yuuri, I'm part of the carnival now with you!

[musicinmotion]

[Yuuri stayed where he was since Phichit was coming over to him--and seemed to have this swimming thing down better than he did anyway--torn between smiling in delight and frowning in worry because yet another person he cared about was stuck here now.]

When did you--how--Phichit-kun, what did you do to end up here?

[You and Victor are going to be the death of him!]

[phichitchu]

[At least he has the shame to look a little bit sheepish, as he admits:]

I sort of got caught peeking into a tent, eheh... But this honestly sounds pretty exciting! I mean, a year of traveling to weird places and working hard to make people happy? And then when we get home, it'll be like we never left? And I get to be with you the whole time??

[He was back to beaming as he put an arm around Yuuri's back and hoisted him up, offering wordlessly to help him find his balance.]

I was convinced to work with the wardrobe department, so it'll be kind of weird for me not getting up on stage for months! What job do you have?

[musicinmotion]

Phichit...

[You're just as bad as Victor. It's hard to stay mad, though, when the other starts beaming again after rattling off how exciting it all will be.

At least he's not alone. Yuuri honestly feels a bit better about all this having Victor and now Phichit here.

A muffled, bubbly sound of surprise escapes him as he's hoisted up and he grabs at Phichit's shoulders to steady himself as his tentacles automatically start to move to keep him upright.]

I'm--ah--actually going to be a showman! [Sheepish smile is sheepish.] Looks like you get to dress me up, Phichit-kun.

!!! lime lighting

[vitrissimo]

[ so viktor happens to make his way through the carnival tents, learning how to swim very slowly. so it takes him awhile to swim-stumble into phichit, who he immediately recognizes. it's refreshing to see a familiar face, so he may be swimming too fast towards the fellow skater -- which means he's probably going to not be able to stop and collide into you???? he's so sorry. ]

[phichitchu]

[This isn't Phichit's first collision of the day, but this time he sees it coming -- he's so excited by the familiar face that's grinning and coming right at him that instead of moving, he holds his arms out. When they collide, Phichit gets sent flying (swimming?) backwards, but he brings Viktor along in a tight hug.]

I didn't know you were here, Viktor! Oh my god, your tail looks incredible. Can I take a photo?

[Of course he still has his phone on him; this is Phichit.]

[vitrissimo]

You don't look half bad yourself! And of course you can --

[ he returns the hug and then lets go at the offer! however, after a quick thought, he brings his hand up to stroke his chin very deliberately. ]

Do cameras work under water? And phones? Hmmmmm...

[phichitchu]

[Phichit hadn't considered that it wouldn't, but now he was somewhat nervous. He withdrew his phone and tapped the screen, and it came to life the same way it always did.]

Phew! Looks like a success!

[vitrissimo]

Wonderful!

[ although viktor isn't great with this whole swimming thing yet, he dramatically wraps his arm around phichit's shoulders and drapes against him. he throws up his hands in a peace-sign. ] I'm ready!

Limelighting

[waitingforplayer2]

She's still learning how to use her new ray-like body, so Chiaki keeps close to the ground as she explores Atlantis. Still, she has to pause as she watches the mer.

It's a familiar scene - she's seen Carnival workers showing off, and it's always enrapture her, but she hasn't seen this person around at all... so he must be a local, right?

She watches for a while, and applauds when he's done - although since her fins are attached to her hands, she immediately kicks up an accidental cloud of dust.

[phichitchu]

[Phichit is still taking a few extra bows, reveling in the attention he's getting a little more than a modest boy might, when a cloud of sand comes right at his face, and the grains fall into his eyes, nose, and mouth. He coughs and waves it away, though it's different in the water than it would be on land; a few blinks, and he's cleared.

He looks up and sees the girl responsible, and smiles.]

Did you like my show? I know it wasn't much; I'm not a very good singer.

[waitingforplayer2]

S-sorry!

[ She goes pink, but can't really turn around in embarrassment because... this body isn't really conducive to that. So instead she offers a hesitant smile. ] It was good, I thought. Do you perform a lot?

[phichitchu]

[His smile only widens. She's so cute!]

Don't worry about it! Yes, I'm actually a competitive ice skater back home.