[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]

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.]

[kingsroads]

You know Carly? [ it's obvious from Strange's tone of voice that he knows Carly as well. ]

Well that's good! At least you've someone here you trust to help show you the ropes.

[kingofd]

[Jack picks up on the implication, giving Strange an appraising look.]

Yes, I know her from back home. I was surprised to find her here. It seems she's getting along well...

[kingsroads]

It seems most are surprised when they find someone they know from home here. [ Strange can't help but chime in, with a shrug. ] I know I almost scared a friend of mine to death when I first arrived.

[ Said as he just assumes that Jack and Carly are friends in the first place. ]

[kingofd]

[This would be a (mostly) correct assumption, so Jack doesn't correct it.]

How often does something like that happen?

[It would be annoying if Yusei or Crow showed up.]

[kingsroads]

I honestly don't know. If I had to guess, a majority of the people in the carnival have someone they know from home, though it's usually one or two others at the most.

[ the Steven Universe cast is an exception and therefore should not be counted. ]

[kingofd]

[Who's Steven and why does he have a universe named after him.]

So then the carnival tends to revisit places. I could have figured that out, it would have had to to contract me.

[He lets out a huff of air.] Let's hope this is the last time, I don't need anyone else getting in my way.

[kingsroads]

You're jinxing us by saying that, [ Strange teases, with a small smile. ]

[kingofd]

Hmph, how childish. [Jack scoffs, responding as lukewarm as ever to the teasing.]

I don't believe in jinxes.

[kingsroads]

You've taken up appointment in a faerie carnival and you don't believe in jinxes?

[ The teasing continues, as Strange makes a 'tut tut' sort of noise with his mouth. ]

I'm afraid you're going to have a hard time here.

[kingofd]

[Jack doesn't make the connection.]

What does one have to do with the other? Jinxes are mere superstition!