[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

A

[hippocarnival]

[Performance week keeps Yuya busy, he hardly has time to play any if the games. He still has stars painted on his face as he cuts through the gamimg circle for a shortcut.

And then he stops, before he even hears Jack because hoknestly he's hard to miss even without shouting. His voice just confirms Yuya's suspicions.

He strolls up with a grin.] Jack! Hey there!

[kingofd]

[Jack's just finishing up his turn, having only knocked down two measly clowns, much to his chagrin. He's rewarded with a small, stuffed banana, which he immediately shoves into someone else's hands as he turns to see who called out his name.]

Hm? [He's a bit surprised to see someone who knows him here, but stranger than that is the way he acts so familiar.

Jack folds his arms.] Who are you? A fan?

[hippocarnival]

Uh--[Yuya stops in his tracks and raises a brow. There's a solid moment of staring dumbly at Jack before he remembers oh, yes, people can come from different time periods here--Gongenzaka was shortly behind him, and Carly was way behind him. And surely Jack wouldn't just forget him after all that dueling.]

N--[Wait, is saying 'no' going to be offensive.] Kind of? We've met before.

DAY 103

[fortuneglass]

[Carly has been Promoted. It was unexpected-and for a moment she almost simply had a panic attack in fact. But it was pointed out that for the most part she...was already doing the job of the Wardrobe manager. Between no longer having scouting duties, and what little would be added to the workload, it'd be great in fact!

She would even have a new trailer, in the Supervisor's grove. An exciting prospect admittedly, and as she hauls a frankly enormous bag of possessions along on her d-wheel, she beams, rattling on to her companion-

A Marowak.] It's going to be really different Nuna~ The supervisors have all kinds of space in their trailers, that's what Psiionic said at least. We'll have a great big bed, and a really nice view, and there might even be a little spare trailer for another room of things...there's a lot Nuna, just think! Just you, and...

[....................................And she's pretty sure she just saw the Wheel of Fortune.] ....me..?

....MAr-oh! [Well now, she's certainly making a small spectacle of herself just by standing there.

At least she's wearing pj pants and a 'Universe's Most Talented' t-shirt instead of her...usual.]

[kingofd]

[Between the trees and the narrow pathway, Jack decided it was better to keep pushing Wheel of Fortune by hand than to drive it as he entered the Supervisor's Grove. According to his directions he should be there any second, and as the stacks of mismatched trailers come into view, he confidently assumes this must be it.

Jack lets out a huff of air, stopping with one hand still on the handle of his bike as he digs in his pocket, pulling out a small key. He mutter to himself.] What number was it...

[fortuneglass]

[She recognizes that man. He stands tall and proud no matter the circumstances, even if it's something as simple as looking for the right address. His coat is pristine, and his earrings shine under the light above them, stylized 'initial' catching her attention with shocked silence.

She knows that voice. A quiet mutter for now, but familiar all the same, she can remember those mutters that were made when he thought none were in earshot, curses against some other name, or perhaps even himself, depending on.

She knows-] ....Jack...

[The bike can stand on its own, and thank goodness, because the speed that she charges forward is phenomenal, perhaps on par with her hummingbird state. Her marowak is quite literally left shaking a bone in the dust, and Carly's shout is Jack's only warning before she all but tackles the man with a hug.]

JACK..!

[Is she crying? No, that would be ridiculous. Yet her face feels wet, and she holds him as if afraid she'll never see him again. He's here he's here and oh, she never thought she'd see him not until she returned home and why is it that seeing him now makes her realize how much she missed him-!]

Jack...

[kingofd]

[Jack turns his head at the sound of his name, only to see a blur of black and orange before it hits him full force, nearly knocking him off his feet. He moves to push the offending something off, but stops just short of that when he realizes who it is.]

C...Carly?!

[The amount of questions he has leave him momentarily speechless, but there's something else too.

Jack feels a sting in his chest as she squeezes him and seems determined not to let him go. He lets out a stifled noise, then after a moment's consideration, raises his hand to pat her on the head.

Despite the gesture, his resolve for answers is steely.] What are you doing here?

[fortuneglass]

[She doesn't let him go....mostly. Still hugging him, she does at least loosen grip enough that she can use one arm to wipe her eyes. She's smiling-a wide, relieved smile, and she looks to him with eyes just as dark as they were when last they dueled. The dark signer marks are there, accompanied by marks of the fae, glowing and shining on dark skin and feathers, and-]

I- ...I've been working here for a while! [she manages to answer, shaking her head.] That's not the point though! Jack... ...I didn't think I would see you here at all, and yet you're here, and...

[And her words are breaking before they come forward-she's stammering, and choking as tears keep coming, and coming, and...] I didn't even see it, I just...

I missed you so much...

[kingofd]

[Jack's already acquainted with time travel tomfoolery, but he's just brushing this encounter off from the get go.]

Hmmm... You must not have been very memorable.

[Yuya might have been concerned with being offensive, but Jack certainly wasn't.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya chokes on an indignant sound. It takes all his self control not to just blurt out how he totally beat Jack in a duel, he's way more memorable than that!! But also, Jack probably won't believe him.]

Well... it's probably because I'm from the future. [And that's supposed to be more believable??] I'm Yuya!

[kingofd]

[Jack's confusion and unease are written clearly on his face, more so now that he's gotten a good look at Carly's, and all the unfamiliar features accompanying it. It doesn't add up. Those marks were...]

Carly! [He pulls back, reaching up with both hands to grasp her shoulders, his jaw clenched. Seeing her cry in this state is a bizarre sort of reassurance.] Is that really you?!

[The answer seemed obvious, but there was no one, simple answer. He needed to know if this was the Carly he knew. The Carly he had lost to the Dark Signers, and who he had a bond with that could not be replaced or replicated.

He needed to know if that was her talking, and not the thing that possessed her.]

[insidescoop]

Heh? [This is. Odd-but as she blinks she quickly tells herself that it's not THAT odd. She turned to ash last she saw the guy after all. Also Aslla was....being himself. So it goes to follow that he'd be worried, right? (It clearly has nothing to do with her actual appearance)] I-

Of course it's me..! [she replies, frowning lightly.] Aslla Piscu can't even try to possess me here, the Ringmaster would disintegrate him on the spot..!

[These are Important Details, probably. But if there were any reason to ask about her being 'her', she's pretty sure that would be it.] I can even prove it..! It's really me, Jack..!

C | Wildcard

[bananaspeedrider]

[Performance week means the actual performers tend to be super busy. But that doesn't mean there isn't at least a little bit of extra time in between for some weird-looking teenager with... probably draconic features if the scaly black and white striped tail is anything to go by, compared to the crystal growths and large spiny ears they have.

Yugo's doing some last minute checks on his D-Wheel, which is a mostly white with and vaguely hornet-like with bright green headlights. But hey, there's no way someone like the new hire would be skulking about the carnival quietly. The biker looks up... and looks in awe when he finally spots-]

Jack Atlas...!!! No way!!!! You're here too now!?!

[kingofd]

[Jack watches her explanation with scrutiny, before softening somewhat and pulling his hands back. He's not so sure about that part about Aslla Piscu, but it at least doesn't sound like it's an immediate threat. It was looming, nonetheless.

All of this only leaves him with more questions.] I believe you.

But Carly, the Dark Signers were defeated!

[He defeated her. It was her wish, but that didn't make it any less painful. It shouldn't have had to come to that.]

How is it you remember what happened--and that mark is back?!

[insidescoop]

Hahhhh... Thank goodness...after what happened, I- [...Oh. Carly doesn't get to finish her words, as she has the rest of Jack's to deal with instead. Stepping back from their embrace, she takes a look at her arm a moment, half muttering her initial answer.] Well, Aslla Piscu came in here with me, and I'm still technically...AH-

[She hurriedly changes where the focus of her words lie, waving her hands in defense.] I-It's true, you defeated me...but that's when I found the Carnival..! In the netherworld, where the dark signers and their gods were to go after their loss..! [The Dark Signers were defeated is something she knew would happen at least-the reason she made her contract, after all, is tied into it. And-] It's-

....how... ....Wait, how did you know everyone else won already...

[kingofd]

[Jack would believe Yuya's from the future before he believed he beat him in a duel. Except he doesn't believe either right now; the obvious answer is he's just a fan. Yuya's a little too old to hit his soft spot for kids, but he's not completely dismissive, even if he seems exasperated; that's normal.]

If you want an autograph, then just ask for it. Lying is unbecoming!

[kingofd]

[Jack had been curious about what Yugo was doing. He knows a D-Wheel when he sees it, but it's not often he sees someone other than Yusei working on one.

He wasn't expecting to be called out though, even after he'd opened his big mouth when someone ran into him. Having someone shout his name with such enthusiasm isn't new, but it hasn't been the norm for awhile now.

He jolts a little, looking back over at the boy.] Ah, yes...

[Jack props a hand up on his hip.] So you're a Duelist?

[hippocarnival]

I'm not lying! It's how the carnival works! [He crosses his arms with a huff.] Whatever it's not important anyway.

[Now that's a lie, it was all pretty important. But if Jack is anything like how he knew him, just making claims won't win him over any.] ... Are you having fun?

[If he works here he should at least assume the patrons are enjoying themselves.]

[kingofd]

[Jack lets the subject drop, letting out an indignant huff of his own.]

I'm not here to have fun. [Says the guy who was just playing a carnival game.

He clenches his fist.] I'm here for my contract!

[hippocarnival]

You signed one too? [He leans back a bit, surprised.] What'd you sign a contract for?

[kingofd]

[He doesn't like the sound of any of that. Jack clenches his jaw again, letting a small noise of frustration slip, but he's keeping it bottled it up. It's not directed at Carly.

Illiaster had talked about changing the past in order to change the future, and the Ringmaster had said she could return them to the point in time they came from. Then was the Carly here from...the past? It sounds like it, and he believes her--everything she says, no matter how outlandish it may sound, even if he second guesses it. She wasn't the type of person who would lie to him about something like this.]

I know because it happened! [Jack reaches out to grab her arm, covering her Dark Signer mark. The awful mark.] This all happened because of me...

[kingofd]

Why else would I be here? [He scoffs, only because he was lucky enough to have accidentally incurred debt on his way in instead.]

I'm here to find a new power. [He'll refrain telling him much, if only because he doesn't know who this kid may tell in turn.] To fight with in the WRGP!

[fortuneglass]

Heh-! [When her arm is grabbed, she's caught off guard-but there is no avoiding what he is talking about, after all. The hummingbird shines, and with it, come the darker memories of what occurred. The countless souls devoured, all without her conscious memory.... She wonders, if that could be why she was destined to forget. Aslla's presence being ever constant, what would happen to her mind, when he was torn from it?

It leaves her silent, and saddened...but-] ....But it meant I was able to see you again, [she admits, unable to look him in the eye.] ....I...

...If you're from the future, but I'm still here while we're talking... ...That means I 'forgot', doesn't it... [That was what they said was 'meant' to happen. Aslla Piscu returns to the earth, the Crimson Dragon revives her to her untainted state...

...And she forgets.] ....Jack-if...if you're here, you know what the Ringmaster can do though, right..? ...You know what that means, don't you..?

[kingofd]

[His grip loosens as his own Signer mark glows red, shining through his gloves, but doesn't pull away even as it burns through him.]

You forgot, but it's better that way...! [He gestures with his other hand, wide and sweeping.] Getting involved with me only make things worse. You don't have to remember the pain or sadness, I can bear it alone!

[fortuneglass]

[Her own mark also begins to sear, but while she grimaces, she bears with. She bears it, and finds herself looking to Jack in shock. Better? It is a shock that is brief, as the remaining words hit. So clearly, it's not for lack of care, but...

...But with steely eyes, she not only pulls her arm back, she brings her palm right across that perfect cheek-, a resounding 'smack' sound coming over the air.

She did NOT go through three years for this!] What kind of idea is that?! [Tears are dotting her eyes again, and her face heats and blushes orange, as she bites through her words.] Bearing it alone? No one should be doing that!

More importantly, what do you think I've been doing, while working here? Looking forward to you?

Looking forward to remembering you, after it's all done!

I made a contract to make sure I don't forget, Jack... ....And I'm not taking it back..!