lostcarnival | [OPEN] 3 Spoopy 5 Me

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[OPEN] 3 Spoopy 5 Me

Who: Tamaki and Anyone!
When: Post Day 145
Where: The Summerlands
What: Tamaki's realized he kept a... useful ability from his time as a ghost.
Warnings: Depends on what you want to talk about.

The first time he'd used it had been an accident; without even really thinking about it, Tamaki started to walk through the wall of the cookhouse like he used to as a ghost and-

Well. He crashed into it. Fell flat on his butt, actually. It took him a moment to remember that oh yeah, he's solid again. Walking through walls isn't really a thing he can do anymore.

Though he'd still been a bit curious to see if he really couldn't get through the wall anymore; being able to phase through things easily was really the only nice thing about being a ghost. He'd leaned against the wall of the cookhouse, remembering the way it felt to be completely weightless, just a person-shaped mass of soul energy that could go anywhere-

And then he fell through and landed on his face. Welp.

That little bit of slapstick dispatched, Tamaki was eager to try out his new ability on the Carnival. Which is what lead to now, where a seven-foot teenager has just walked through the wall. He glows blue for a moment before coming solid again, looking all around the space before his eyes land on the person he just most likely startled.

Trailers, tents, game stalls... the only thing he seems to be purposefully avoiding entering unlawfully is bathrooms. He could really be anywhere.

At which point he'll look at the person he just so rudely intruded upon, blinking like they're the ones who just showed up.

"Uh. Pardon the intrusion."

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Tamaki sees Joker. Tamaki sees Joker's grin. A cold dread pools in his stomach because Doll definitely mentioned it, and now Joker knows and this is so embarrassing.

He stops and stares at Joker for a moment, withering under his gaze. His eyes glance around but there is no help.

"Manager," he says in greeting, voice shaking. For another awkward moment, he continues standing there.

Then he says abruptly, "I'm gonna go practice," and turns toward to walk toward the silks. Maybe Joker will let him get away...?

Oh lord. Joker doesn't say anything, and he's half doing it as a favor to Tamaki because he's going to make some sort of horrible joke if he says anything right now, in the moment. So he gives the poor kid a moment to compose himself....

....Which is ruined when Tamaki practically turns tail to run. The laughter bursts out of him then, and he follows after him. It takes a lot of reaching, but he ruffles the back of Tamaki's hair. "Embarrassed, huh?" he teases. "That's what ya get when ya don't knock!"

"I didn't mean to!" Tamaki hides is face in his hands, blush growing to the tips of his ears, despite the harsh sound of his voice. "I didn't know the dressing room was there! I was just playing around!"

He also didn't know that Doll's reaction to the whole mess was going to be to call him over to help. She really should have screamed and kicked him until he left, like in all the movies.

"Yes, yes." Indulgently, Joker continues to ruffle Tamaki's hair. Frankly, this isn't the first time he's had this kind of mistake happen under his watch- whether here or in England. Sometimes, when people are in a rush to change their outfits or just new to the place.... Well. Mistakes happen.

So it's usually not teenagers experimenting with ghost powers, but Joker is flexible.

"I hope ya apologized at least, ha."

"Yeah." He'd given multiple apologies, in fact; it was about the most coherent thought in his brain at the time, since most of the rest of it was taken up with Doll's legs. Not that he's going to admit that to Joker. He's pretty sure if someone told him that about his own little sister, he would kick their ass.

"She wanted me to help with her shirt," he adds, as though to clarify that everything after that point was her idea.

"I bet she did," Joker snickers, letting his hand fall down to his side. "Well, she did room and bathe with some fellows, so she's gotten ta be a bit more glib about this sorta thing than most ladies would." As long as nothing comes of it, Joker won't be too bothered. If something does, well....

"If ya want ta practice that kinda thing, do it in public places, yeah? Less chance of accidents happening."

"She did? Really?"

That's pretty surprising, actually. It explains why Doll was so unembarrassed by the situation (even though she was embarrassed by grabbing his hand), but Tamaki still can't really imagine anyone being okay with that set-up. Well, different times and different cultures...

Though thinking about that leads Tamaki down a different train of thought. He remembers Doll, sobbing into his chest and saying she didn't want to leave the Carnival. He remembers Snake acting like he never quite trusted anyone around him. He knows that Joker is concerned for his family.

"Manager... what is it like for all of you, back home?" So he might as well ask.

"Yeah, her and the whole circus." So saying that, he supposes he can't be surprised at Tamaki's follow up question, and Joker pauses by the silks.

"Ah.... Pretty busy, I suppose." He taps his chin thoughtfully. "We were always travelin', and people were always comin' and goin'. I mean, that's not really too surprising when it comes to the circus. Some just wanted ta hitch a ride outta the town, you know? And others thought workin' would be easier than it was." Shrugging, he makes sure to test how the silks are holding up.

"We got all sorts of people with us, 'tho, because of that. Made life interestin'!"

"That's not what I mean."

Sure, hearing about the circus life is interesting and all, but Tamaki knows that can't be all it is. Why wouldn't Doll want to go back to a life like that, if it was all adventure and traveling and performing?

"Were you in trouble? Was Doe-chan in danger?"

Ah. Well. Shit.

Joker comes to a sudden stop, his wings twitching, and he's glad he's facing away from Tamaki for the moment as he tries to figure out what expression to settle his face at. That kind of question doesn't happen without some sort of event prompting it and, all considered, Joker knows exactly who it had to be. Doll has always been a bit more open than the rest of them, always more honest. It's a trait that drove Peter up the wall, although Joker can't blame him.

Hastily, his mind churns out what of the truth to tell and what to keep secret. There's... a lot. Eventually, however, he settles on something. "It's not the sort of thing we go gabbin' ta folks," he says slowly, "so, ah, try not ta spread it as gossip, yeah? But there was a bit a... trouble. With someone that just joined the troop we had runnin' back home. He nearly hurt Doll somethin' terrible... Dunno what would have happened if I hadn't made a deal with the Ringmaster ta make sure she was safe."

Tamaki doesn't intend to go gossiping about it, just like he won't go telling anyone about Doll's eye. Tamaki doesn't want to know just out of idle curiosity, after all; he wants to know so he can better understand Doll, where she's coming from when she says with such fearful surety that she doesn't want to leave the Carnival.

"So she's part of your deal..." That doesn't surprise him; he knows Joker is here to help his family, he just hadn't realized before how bad things must truly be for them where they came from. He wonders if the Ringmaster can really help them against whatever is back there, this other person who wanted to hurt Doll.

He comes a bit closer to Joker, so he's not shouting about this across the big top. No one else is around right now, thankfully for both of them, but it still pays to be cautious.

"I want Doe-chan to be safe and happy. But it doesn't sound like she was, back home. Or you either, Manager." He nervously scratches his face, and the lime green lines on his skin race up and down his neck for a moment before disappearing under his clothes again. "Sorry."

Frankly, whatever the Ringmaster can do back home is of no consequence to Joker. Maybe she could upheave the whole system, if she so desired, but he doesn't care about England. Home or not, it's never treated him or his family kindly. All he wants is a way out... and for the door to be open.

Still... Laughing almost sheepishly, he scratches his own cheek and glances away. Well, considering the state he was found in that one time, he guesses he can't deny that he's... under a lot of stress. "Well... It was a rough month, the last time we were back home with our troupe. And when we've had a rough start as it is..." Well. He won't say much more after that. Joker's always been a lot more closed off when it comes to this kind of thing than Doll, or even some of his other siblings.

Still, after a moment, he reaches over to pat Tamaki on the shoulder. "Yer just tryin' ta be nice. I get that much."

"I'm trying to help."

He looks into Joker's eyes, to let him know he's sincere in this. Maybe he can't help Joker, but he can help Doll, or at least he hopes he can. It's not just about being nice; he wants to go beyond that.

"She showed me." He doesn't really elaborate on what she showed him, trusting Joker to understand. "She trusted me. So I can't leave it alone."

Ah.

Joker goes still at that, and for a second he actually even frowns a little. Doll doesn't do that kind of thing often- showing her scar to people. It's an issue that few are shown, like Wendy's and Peter's real ages. Unlike him, or Beast, or Dagger, their issues weren't ones that could be hidden... and Doll's especially couldn't be played up in any way.

He chooses his words carefully before letting out a breath. "I'm not sure there's much that can be done," he says, gently. "All we can do is get out of England, and go somewhere a little nicer, yeah? S'why I'm here."

Tamaki isn't sure what the frown means, and he can't help but wonder if Joker isn't happy she showed him. Maybe Joker doesn't trust him like Doll does; he honestly wouldn't be surprised if that's the case. He can barely believe Doll trusts him.

"...Okay." He can't exactly deny that he doesn't have a plan here. What could he even do, really? The best he can think of is taking Doll back with him, but who knows if she would even agree to that. It would be a time and a country far different from her own, and Joker's too. "I hope it works out."

"Ah, yeah." Joker lets out a breath before smiling again. It's the only thing he can do- his first and last defense for these kinds of things. "I'm sure it will, won't it? Still, if ya want ta help, I think bein' a friend with Doll would do her good. She doesn't know too many people- carnival life bein' what it is and all. Folks always came and went."

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[OPEN] 3 Spoopy 5 Me

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