dontpokethat: to accentuate my dirt like quality (Default)
Ginko ([personal profile] dontpokethat) wrote in [community profile] lostcarnival2017-05-08 11:55 pm

but all this time i've been chasing down a lie

Who: Ginko and a whole bunch of people (Sans, Joker, Snake, Zecora, Tanyuu…)
What: In the aftermath of Foster’s shitty mushi plot, Ginko isn’t doing great.
When: From Day 90 onward
Where: Medical tent, trailer 13, and menagerie
Warnings: Possible talk of Foster’s shitty reasoning, also Ginko is a pile of depression and self-hatred in a trenchcoat.

Zecora - Medical Tent - Day 90 afternoon

Ginko was unconscious when Tanyuu first brought him in, bruised and scraped from the fight with Foster on top of his already being exhausted. After a certain point, though, he’s just… asleep, and remains that way through the night and well into the next day. The past few days - between the mushi leeching off his blood supply and the lack of sleep from trying to handle the infestations around the carnival and stressing himself out over them - have taken their toll.

Normally, he’d be pushing himself up the moment he woke up, always moving before his brain is even fully awake. But, today, he just lies there for a few seconds, staring up at the ceiling, before lifting a hand to press his palm over his face.

“...Shit.”

Tanyuu - Trailer 13

Once it’s been confirmed that he’s good to go (and he’s promised not to strain himself too much), Ginko and Tanyuu head back to their trailer. Of course, agreeing not to tire himself out more doesn’t mean Ginko isn’t going to want Tanyuu to catch him up on what happened while was out - what happened to Foster, what was being done about the repellent.

The whole time they’re talking, he keeps fidgeting, whether with his sleeves or his hair or just in the form of his tail twisting and lashing around his ankles. “So… things are being worked out, right? Just… that’s all I need to know.”

Snake - morning of Day 92 - Menagerie

By all rights, this should be the best off Ginko has been in the past several days. In a lot of ways, it is; with the mushi situation finally under control, things are more or less looking up - and, since the mushi that had been leeching off his blood are finally being removed, little by little, he should be feeling a lot better.

Should be. He is feeling better of course, but he’s still more tired than he’d normally expect, and getting himself to go back to work when the time comes proves something of a challenge. But it’s not like he’s never had this problem before, and he does get to the menagerie, albeit a little later than usual.

His ears flick forward when he sees Snake already there, and he gives a small wave as he heads over to watch him feed his snakes. “‘Morning. How are they doing?”

Joker - Menagerie

For all intents and purposes, Ginko seems to be settling back into his work as if everything is normal - though he may seem a little more singlemindedly focused on it when he’s working, and a little less focused on anything when he isn’t. Of course, he’s still having trouble bringing himself to seek out conversation outside of what’s necessary, but… that’s probably fine. Even now, part of him wonders if it might be for the best.

Even when cleaning out the enclosures, he doesn’t pause for long between stalls. Clear out the muck, wash what needs to be washed, change out bedding and food as necessary - it’s a simple, easy pattern to keep up. Like walking, putting one foot in front of the other; he doesn’t need to think for it.

Sometimes, not thinking can be a nice change of pace.

Sans - Barn

Breaks… might pose a problem. Theoretically he could just keep working through them, but the opportunity to pause for a while is more tempting than usual… even if as soon as he’s not working he starts wishing he were. He’s used to spending his breaks chatting, wandering around the carnival to visit with coworkers, but… no way. Not right now.

Which leaves one obvious solution. Going back to his trailer would take too long and probably get some questions from Tanyuu if she catches him. So, instead, he just… flops down on a pile of hay in the corner of the barn. He’s slept in worse places.
zebrarhyme_everytime: (cheerful)

[personal profile] zebrarhyme_everytime 2017-05-09 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not quite the nicest greeting,
But you didn't expect this meeting," came Zecora's voice, a moment before the Zebra leaned into his field of view. Her smile was genuine, but her gaze professional appraising, as she waited for him to drop his hand so she could check his pupils.
zebrarhyme_everytime: (a friendly chat)

[personal profile] zebrarhyme_everytime 2017-05-09 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Darkness was something Zecora had become very familiar with in her time here. It offered its own clues, to those who knew what to look for. Satisfied that he was looking well, Zecora stepped back slightly.

"All the night, much of the day.
As for Foster, I cannot say."
ophidiarex: (Listening)

Day 92 then!

[personal profile] ophidiarex 2017-05-10 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Snake likes the menagerie. It's quiet. It's easy. Admittedly some of the creatures are weird, but then again so is everything about the carnival. He's gotten used to his pants-leg being grabbed by a crate of hands (scattering meal worms across it is enough to make them let go) or occasionally being caressed by a wayward tentacle (don't look), and the legged snake is always a pleasure, always has gossip.

He was chatting with the latter creature in a low susurrus of hisses when Ginko made his way into the room. Snake tries not to look guilty, tossing a dead but warm rat into the already-pudgy animal's enclosure before setting it back down. His own snakes are also eating, some of them in their own cages, others who are shyer in covered 5-gallon buckets. Emily is lapping up animal blood in one of the tanks, and hisses low at Ginko.

"'Hello. We're doing well.' says Emily." Snake looks... tired. It's hard to be awake in the daytime, but he manages. There's an umbrella leaning against the door, evidence of how he got here.
fourthscribe: (I don't want to hear any more)

[personal profile] fourthscribe 2017-05-11 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
"As well as they can be, given the circumstances." Tanyuu frowns at the slowly heating pot of tea before turning back to Ginko. "We managed to find the remains of the supplies, which weren't completely obliterated. I was able to salvage some of our prepared kit, but the plants all need to be replaced."

Tanyuu lets out a long sigh, closing her eyes and rubbing at her temple. "Foster has already been set his punishment by the Ringmaster, though what the nature of it is, I've no clue. But he is alive, thank goodness."
zebrarhyme_everytime: (you can see i'm smug in my mug)

[personal profile] zebrarhyme_everytime 2017-05-11 01:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"You'll continue to rest
If you know what's best," Zecora said, all smiling cheer but fixing him with a look that said, quite clearly, her advice was not optional. Sitting up she didn't mind, but running outside in a tizzy won't stand.
zebrarhyme_everytime: (zebra in a cloak)

[personal profile] zebrarhyme_everytime 2017-05-12 01:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"Until I am satisfied
You're hale and well, with nothing to hide."

Thank you for behaving, Ginko; she honestly appreciated it, even as she drew up a chair to clamber into, the better to patiently regard him from it. A very rare sentiment from Zecora, who generally preferred to move around while talking and treating.

"Not your body. Instead
I worry about your head."
fourthscribe: (Then what can we do?)

[personal profile] fourthscribe 2017-05-13 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
Things could be much, much worse, and both of them know it. But it doesn't mean that what did happen isn't incredibly unfortunate and distressing.

Haruki looks up at Ginko from his nest among a few tiny sprouts of leaves along Tanyuu's tail and buzzes quietly. After a moment he flies up to settle on Ginko's shoulder, nudging the tip of his nose against Ginko's cheek.

"No, I can handle that. I'm sure I can find plenty of willing helpers if I need." The members of the carnival are likely more than willing to do anything she or Ginko says at this point if they promise it comes with relief. "You need to rest for now--at least the rest of the day."
ophidiarex: (Look away children)

[personal profile] ophidiarex 2017-05-13 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"'We're used to it,' says Emily." It's a little bit hard to stay awake, especially towards noon, and getting harder, but he can push through yet. It's not something he enjoys, but it's doable.

He stares at the legged snake as it starts coiling around the rat, tiny limbs scrabbling for purchase on the dead creature's fur. That way he can pretend Ginko's not here, that he's talking to himself. "... difficult."
zebrarhyme_everytime: (digging for water or whatnot)

[personal profile] zebrarhyme_everytime 2017-05-15 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Zecora frowned at him. "You know that is not what I mean.
Talk now, Ginko, and come clean."

If she had to drag it out of him, she would, as they both well knew -- but she'd prefer he opened up of his own volition.
zebrarhyme_everytime: (ominous)

[personal profile] zebrarhyme_everytime 2017-05-16 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Call this idea wild,
But you sound too mild." Zecora knew Ginko way better than that. Especially after their conversation the other day, where he'd outright said she was only helping him because it was her job.
zebrarhyme_everytime: (digging for water or whatnot)

[personal profile] zebrarhyme_everytime 2017-05-16 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, Ginko. She didn't want apologies -- how he'd been lately was understandable, though certainly not IDEAL. She shook her head slightly, then looked back at him.

"You say it is fine
But this worry of mine
Is that 'fine' now is worse
That a persistent curse."
zebrarhyme_everytime: (ominous)

[personal profile] zebrarhyme_everytime 2017-05-16 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
The zebra fixed him with a long look, the sort that ought to make it clear just what she thought of that plan and his general effort to downplay his own feelings.

"If you do it alone," Zecora said, as pointedly as if she'd directly jabbed him with a sharp obsidian hoof,
"You'll make me groan."
zebrarhyme_everytime: (zebra in a cloak)

[personal profile] zebrarhyme_everytime 2017-05-16 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"Talk to me," Zecora responded immediately,
"and let me see
What thoughts I find
Inside your mind."

If she could just get him to open up a little... well, it wouldn't solve everything, but it would help.

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