[OPEN] In Rides the King: Day 103+

[kingofd]

Who: Jack and YOU!
What: Jack's come here on a mission and he really doesn't care about socializing, but bug him anyway! Just an intro log to get him assimilated before the AU event.
Where: The Carnival, the lake, wherever.
When: Day 103~105

a; arrival, gamer's circle - 103
[It was performance week, but Jack's late arrival meant he didn't actually have to work yet. He wasn't exactly thrilled with the job he'd been assigned either, but he had full confidence he would excel at it. He was supposed to be a Talker, so all he needs to do was learn more about the attractions he was supposed to talk about.

He thinks.

Unfortunately, Jack has no plans to make himself useful until he's asked. While he walks himself and his bike--which is essentially just a motor on a giant wheel--through the park with the sole intent of getting to his trailer and staying there, he has to walk through the gamer's circle first. The flashing lights and noise just make him look more sour than usual, at least, until he comes across a stand where you shoot down strafing, cut-out clowns with a water gun.]

Hmph... [That annoying smile. The make-up. Those two, tufts of hair on either side of its head. It reminds him of someone irritating.

Just for that, Jack steps up to the plate, grabbing the water gun with bravado.] Is that the best you can do?!

[He's really taking his aggression out on those clowns.]

b; by the lake - 105
[The carnival itself didn't really interest him. Jack wasn't here to have fun; he was here with a goal in mind, and because of that he didn't feel inclined to "goof off". It's only been two days, and while his conviction hasn't wavered, he'd much rather be somewhere quiet and alone. Meeting Carly here was an unexpected twist.

He's taken to sitting on one of the rocks far off to the wayside of the lake, tossing smaller ones into the water. It's just something to do while he thinks.

Why not ruin it for him?]

c; wildcard - 103~105
[Jack is probably in the way or being loud, somewhere, somehow. We can hash out an idea on my plurk danderly or just wing it!]

Comments

[kingofd]

[Why can't a man just get some peace and quiet around here?! Jack only spares Strange a passing glance before he goes back to the nothing in particular he was doing. He already sounds annoyed, but since it sounds like the guy might be looking for someone, he answers.]

A child and his cat.

[kingsroads]

Good, [ Strange remarks, with a little sigh. He then...straight up proceeds to sit on the rocks near Jack, straight up ignoring the fact that Jack probably wants to be left alone right about now. ]

Neither of them are the people I'm trying to avoid, so hiding out here for a while should work.

[kingofd]

... [Jack watches Strange sit down, definitely giving him a disapproving look. He's not in a bad mood though, and he doesn't own the place, he just doesn't feel like dealing with people. Unfortunately, he's found himself in yet another situation where it's forced upon him.]

And who would that be?

[kingsroads]

Any other member of the Nightrunners, to be honest. Have you seen the training grounds yet?

[ This person is obviously new so Jack might not have seen the training course from hell--and based on Strange's tone, that's entirely what he thinks of the training grounds. It's awful, it's obnoxious, and he doesn't really want any part of it. ]

[kingofd]

[Jack narrows his eyes at the term "Nightrunner", as if he's hearing it for the first time. Which he is.]

No... Where are they?

[Training for what, he wonders.]

[kingsroads]

In the woods, [ Strange continues, with a dismissive gesture towards the wooded area of the Carnival. ] There's a path leading towards them, just follow that if you want to visit. I wouldn't recommend it, though.

[ It's obvious just from looking at Strange that he's not entirely one for things like 'muscle tone' and 'physical labor' ]

Anyway, we're supposed to be practicing and training on that thing. [ but Strange decided to slack off instead. ]

[kingofd]

[He wouldn't recommend it, but Jack was unfortunately not the type to heed warnings, friendly or otherwise.]

That's news to me. [Whether it's news because he wasn't paying attention or not is yet to be seen.] Then it's for the performers? Hm, it's no use to me.

[kingsroads]

What? No, it's supposed to be for the nightrunners. I suppose anybody could use it, though.

[ Strange can't help but frown slightly as he looks at Jack. How could someone practice performing on a training course to begin with? It had training in the name! ]

Although, what job do you have?

[kingofd]

I've never heard of them. [He says dismissively. Don't know, don't care. Jack's here to further his own motives.]

I'm a "Talker". [There's a slight bitter tinge to his voice.] I've no doubt I'll be successful at it, but it wasn't my first choice.

[kingsroads]

That's... [ there's a pause, as Strange thinks, ] under Miss Elsa, I believe. I don't work under her myself, but I've no doubt she's a good supervisor.

[ Granted, Strange has never actually seen Elsa in a supervisory role, but they're fairly good buds to begin with, why wouldn't she be a good supervisor? ]

As for the nightrunners, we're the ones who scout out the different realms the Carnival arrives at. We tell you the lay of the land as well as what to expect.

[kingofd]

I haven't met her.

[He supposes he'll have to, but he's not working this week. There's time.]

So you're a nightrunner. [Jack picks up, looking somewhat dismissive.] Is that all you do? It doesn't sound hard at all.

[kingsroads]

[ Strange can't help but frown a little. He doesn't have any particular pride in being a nightrunner, but he's not that fond of his job being dismissed so readily. ]

Spoken like someone who's just arrived. Has anyone told you yet about the places the Carnival stops at? One of them was literally hell, so that'll give you the start of an idea.

[kingofd]

[Jack's not terribly expression, but he does look a little more annoyed at Strange deliberately pinning him as a new arrival.]

Hell? I've already seen hell on Earth. [Jack scoffs.] For every unusual place, I'm sure there's a dozen that aren't worth mentioning.

[kingsroads]

You have? [ Whether Jack's talking about literal or metaphorical hell, Strange doesn't know. Still, curiosity gets the better of him, so he asks, ]

How much lava would you say there was?

[kingofd]

[It's kind of both, not that Jack seems too keen on explaining it.]

More than enough! That's not the point.

[kingsroads]

Of course it's the point! Lava was a defining trait of this hell, I want to see how closely they match up!

[ Because this is apparently the point that Strange felt the conversation should be turned towards. He gives Jack a frown. Honestly, he's being quite unhelpful right now. ]

[kingofd]

There was plenty of it! I don't care if it matches what you saw or not.

[This seems like a sore spot.]

We stopped it from happening, the details don't matter beyond that!

[kingsroads]

Well how exactly did you stop it from happening to begin with?

[ This is a sore spot and Strange is starting to realize it's a sore spot...but he's going to poke a little bit more, going to ask one more question just to see if Jack will give him anything remotely resembling an answer. ]

[kingofd]

That's none of your concern!

[Nice try, but Jack's not one to open up that easily. Especially on a topic as sensitive as this.

He turns away from Strange.]

What's done is done.

[kingsroads]

Really, are you always this aggressive to people making idle conversation?

[ Says the person who started being nosy to begin with. Strange can't help but glower slightly, as if Jack's reluctance to talk about something that might be a bit traumatizing is somehow inconveniencing him. ]

[kingofd]

I didn't ask for your "idle conversation".

[That probably answer his question, though it's not exactly true. As far as Jack's concerned, Strange brought this upon himself by poking and prodding at recently re-opened wounds.]

I'm not here to converse or make friends, I'm here to gain power!

[kingsroads]

[ There's a pause...and then Strange just laughs, not really realizing that this is only going to piss Jack off even further. Gain power? What an odd thing to sign up for in the first place! ]

The best ways to gain power are through unconventional means. [ He's speaking from experience about this. ] I suppose signing up for a faerie carnival counts as that, but most would still consider it far too drastic. And besides, you're stuck here with us for a year and a day. Might as well converse and make friends just to keep yourself from getting bored to death.

[kingofd]

I don't care what the means are, as long as they yield results.

[He's just frustrated at having his motives and means brought into question. Also, Strange laughed at him.]

Why are you so fixated on friendship?

[kingsroads]

I wouldn't say I'm fixated on it. I simply know that if you want to survive this place with your sanity relatively intact, you should find someone to complain to.

[ or just accept going insane. either/or. ]

[kingofd]

Then I'll complain to Carly if I absolutely must.

[Not that he plans on it, and while he won't admit it, it's bound to happen. Jack thinks himself above complaining.]