Lost Carnival Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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lostcarnival2017-09-04 07:53 pm
ringleaders) wrote in lostcarnival2017-09-04 07:53 pm
⇨ GREYSOL
Who: Everyone!
When: Day 155 - Day 169
Where: Greysol
What: The carnival resumes its tour, this time heading to Greysol, a city tied deeply into the fabric of the multiverse. Here, everyone has an animal companion from birth that is the second half of their soul - and thanks to the Ringmaster, so do you. (Remember,![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
joysweeper is our guest event runner for this location, and location specific questions should go to them.)
Warnings: Individually marked!
When: Day 155 - Day 169
Where: Greysol
What: The carnival resumes its tour, this time heading to Greysol, a city tied deeply into the fabric of the multiverse. Here, everyone has an animal companion from birth that is the second half of their soul - and thanks to the Ringmaster, so do you. (Remember,
Warnings: Individually marked!
THE CITY OF GREYSOL↴ The carnival arrives in a manicured park in the center of a big city that sprawls out along where the river reaches the ocean. It’s spring, early enough that nights are chilly, warm enough in the days that people and their souls savor the weather, and sometimes shelter together from the rain. Greysol was designed from the bottom up to accommodate the human-dæmon bond. Go out and see! ► THE SHAPE OF YOUR SOUL: The dæmon-forming spell kicks in at about four in the morning. Most characters will wake up with their souls in some small form, curled against them. Even if they were awake, they became dazed and unfocused while their souls were being drawn out of their bodies and have little memory of how it happened. Until that evening every character's dæmon is able to change shapes, and children and some teens will continue to do so. Most will settle on their permanent forms by evening. Characters without dæmons will just look on, and the few who are thousand-pound bears have to handle being really big. ► IT’S GOOD TO SETTLE: Elaine Tavis Aracari, sixteen-year-old daughter of two actors and a moving pictures sensation herself, just ‘settled’ - her dæmon Tavis stopped changing shape - as a stunning blue peacock. Settling is a major coming of age milestone and celebrated as such in different ways all over the world. She and her family are throwing a massive party in the central park and inviting the public to join in! Enjoy easy access to free catering, live music and showings of moving pictures, and displays of mostly trivial magic. There are also form readers from across the country setting up booths, happy to accept a small fee to inspect your dæmon’s settled or most favored forms and tell you what they mean. Is there anything to these analyses? Eh, maybe, but they’re flattering and fun. ► WITCHING HOURS: Characters who are clearly witches for this event will often be assumed to be in town for a lover, and people, witches and not, may want to know who that is. Humans usually regard them with wary respect and interest. Real witches living with their human families or on business quickly suspect that something’s up, but without clear and present danger take a relaxed wait-and-see attitude. Wait for long enough and any possible decision will come around again, they believe. There isn’t time to learn much witch magic, but witches, real and carnival-made, have an inherent power: the ability to fly using branches of “cloudpine”, an attractive soft-needled tree common in the park. Witches usually ride large branches as if they’re steeds but can use even short sprays, and you’ll probably see the few witches in the city coming to the park to do so. Why not try? ► BEAR PUN: Human-panserbjørn relations have historically been troubled, but have warmed in the past century. It’s the 65th anniversary of the breaking of the Siege of Bertin, a much-mythologized time when Spectres flooded Greysol and a company of panserbjørn arrived and directed efforts to get the survivors out of the city. A statue is being erected and many florid accounts of the story are being told. If you’re in a panserbjørn shape for the duration of the visit you will probably get thanked and celebrated by people trying to hide their nervousness of you. Expect someone to ask if your dæmon would be a human - it’s a common supposition. ► KERNER ISLAND: From the harbor you can see a wooded island. Although there are no rocks to speak of it sports a tall lighthouse, and nearly all boat traffic avoids it carefully. On a clear day someone with binoculars or a particularly sharp-eyed soul can see loads of trash, birds and various other animals that don’t seem local, and… children? Adults and settled teenagers will see tall vague shapes moving about too. When asked about it the most important thing adults will tell other adults is don’t go there. They’ll hold their dæmons close and tell you that on that island are things that eat souls. They may also admit with mixed pride and shame that it’s been a source of wealth and innovation for the city. There’s a facility there that can open windows into other worlds, and the children who can reach it can cross through and bring things back. Many of the children are recruited by research and development teams on the lookout for items they can use, but there are also kids out to have adventures or who’ve run away. More on this later. |
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[Speaking of, he grins back at Tyki.] There's definitely an advantage ta flight. My favorite part of this business~.
[Not that he can do it right now, in Greysol and disguised as they are, but Aurora drives the point home well enough.]
[The person she's picked is a pretty good target, too: fine clothes, a tell tale swag in his step. Aurora swoops back down to Joker's shoulder, and both of them glance over to see if this is to the conman's liking.]
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When she stops and lands back onto Joker he'll tilt his head and examine the other. He's not intentionally staring. He's watching mannerisms, speech with others and satisfied with his newfound prey he'll glance over at Joker with that wide grin. It's then that he simply leans back onto a side table with chairs. His fingers snatch around Joker's wrist and he pulls him into the opposite chair just behind him at another table so they are side by side. He does want him to watch.
His body slouches, fingers relaxing against his deck of cards as they shuffle from one hand to another. He'll let his knuckles rap against the bag of coins to draw his attention .] Good day, sir. Care for a row of cards? I just found a large fortune and I thought I could entertain myself with a little wager. You see, I don't know if I should keep it so it is only fair that I at least make amends by possibly gambling it away. All you have to do is draw one card and I will draw the next. If yours is higher you win this stash of coin. If mine is higher, I win the same amount from you. You only have to play if you like the card you draw.
Naturally you cut and shuffle the deck of your own accord. What do you have to lose?
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[As he's addressed, the man who's been unwittingly targeted pauses and steps a little closer in interest at the jangle of coins. Closer, now, it's clear to see his daemon is a slick greyhound, and she raises her snout to sniff at the whole set up suspiciously. With nothing out of sorts, she draws back in satisfaction.]
"Nothing seems odd to me."
[A grin passes over his face, and he reaches for the deck.] Then I think we'll take you up on your offer, sir!
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Morticia should scream danger to anyone that runs into her. Big cats usually righted themselves with positions of power, wealth and sophistication. She curls behind the chair and remains entirely calm as she watches the greyhound and makes no move to stop him. The trick isn't in the cards. They aren't marked, labeled, cut or anything as he'll find when he picks them up.
He's even rolling up his sleeves to give the man more of a relaxed feel so he knows he's not drawing cards from them or his gloves. He'll let him divide, cut shuffle as much as he wants before he extends his hand to take the deck back from him. His fingers slip over the cards as he sets it down on the middle of the table where they all can see. When his hand lifts he's already 'touched' the queen of hearts and brought it to the top of the deck.] Gentleman's draw. If you don't like the card you pick you don't have to play. If you do, you may count what I have to offer and set your own wager.
I just won't feel right taking this money I acquired unless I win or lose it far and square.
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[This does not seem to be stopping the gentleman at all.]
Come now, Octaviana! Relax. It's merely a spot of fun. The offer is even a rather generous one, don't you think?
Oh, definitely! [Joker laughs.] I'll tell ya that it's a lot more generous of an offer than I threatened ta give him, that's for sure~.
["Octaviana"'s ears twitch slightly but she nods in the end.] "If it's not a good one, then we are done, I think."
You fuss too much. Now let's see... [Reaching over, he draws a card, and his expression immediately lights up. Without seeming to think too hard, he shows his draw to Octaviana.] Now, won't you look at that? [Finally, he shows the queen to Tyki.] I think you may be losing that money, my friend.
[An assessment Octaviana seems to be agreeing with, considering how much she's lightened up: ears perked high and tail starting to wag.]
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He's a beautiful actress.] I told you we should've just taken the money and gone on our way. Think of what we could've bought with it!
[He stares at that Queen with a bit of a disappointed look and turns to Joker with a shrug.] Ladies. They just don't understand the way of a gentleman. I wouldn't have felt right.
Well, may as well get it over with. [His face is of pure apathy and somewhat mild disappointment. He'll reach out to touch the top of that deck with his fingers sliding over it. His power to choose activates silently as thumb and ring fingers draw a King of Spades to the top of the desk. He slides it off and turns it over, surprise hitting his face right on cue.] I... I don't believe it. [His fingers move fluidly, displaying the card.]
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[Aurora pecks at his ear playfully.] Stop doin' things that need me ta tell ya off, then.
[Their mark is laughing along with well, his good mood obvious from miles away. Clearly, so long as he's winning, he's willing to be playful and genial. His daemon's tail keeps wagging, patiently waiting for their presumed victory.]
[Which means of course when the card gets twisted around on display, the rate at which his expression falls is almost impressive. Besides Tyki, Joker leans across the table, craning his neck to see the card even as he knows damn well what the result is, and he gives a long impressed whistle.]
What!
Now if that ain't a kiss from Lady Luck!
[Octaviana the greyhound, who'd jolted forward at the reveal, starts to sink back in gloomy disappointment.] "I knew it. I knew this would happen. This is what gambling gets you."
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[But he's there for the rise and the fall of the other man and will set the card down neatly with a spread of his fingers over the glove. He's letting the reality of the situation sink in and will resist asking for any sort of payment. It's a gentleman's game and he's expecting him to fork the money over on his own.] Well, well. I'd certainly like to meet this lady if she's throwing this kind of tease at me.
[He reaches out to take his own set of coins with a look of confidence that he can keep it without feeling guilty and he'll pocket it before his eyes lift to meet the other.] Sorry. I was quite sure I was going to lose it all. Though I better stay away from the gambling tables for a while. This probably drained all of my luck for weeks!
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[At least Octaviana keeps him from wallowing too much, sighing as she nudges at him.] "An agreement is an agreement. If you don't, I swear I'll bite you, and then you'll have to explain that mark."
There's no need to get so stroppy...
[With threat of an upset dog daemon besides him, the man finally reaches into his pocket to start paying up. If Joker didn't know better, he'd swear they were pulling out the guy's teeth with how he looks. Lightening up the air, he chuckles.]
If it makes ya feel better, sir, I'm sure I can convince my mate here ta go for another round with someone, and he'll definitely lose then! That way ya both can be on the bottom together, ha!
Aurora here sure won't let me gamble myself, with how she tries so hard ta keep me on the straight and narrow.
[Another peck from the bird, another laugh.]
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[He waits until the other starts to pay up and/or sets it on the table before casually glancing at it. He's showing a sign of good faith at not being shorted but he already knows the money is there.] Oi now. I'll probably lose everything then.
[He gives a lazy shrug and will only pocket the gentleman's money AFTER he leaves. Right now he just gives him a cheerful smile.] I do hope I didn't put a downpour on the rest of your day. Keep a little and buy yourself a drink later. It's on me.
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[With the way the man is still shaking his head, the "sins of gambling" is definitely leaving its mark, but he does take just a bit of money. It'd be honorable, if not for how his daemon is watching keenly with her ears flat back.] Quite generous of you, sir.
"And quite foolish of you." [The greyhound can be heard scolding him even as they start to walk away back into the busy streets.] "What did I say? This is just like this time a few months ago when you got cocky-"
[And they're gone.]
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[Not that he should be encouraging either of them into more vices.
Still, he waits until both of them are gone and out of ear shot before his hand moves forward and takes the money paid. He'll count it just to have a headcount with how much he has. He's not good with math so he's adding it onto what he does have by manually counting in his head. It's then he slides it into his pockets for later as his own money is picked up after.] Well, how did I do, Joker?
Have I earned a right to take you to dinner yet~?
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[They tend to get it done fast, for starters.]
[So Joker does him a favor and doesn't badger him much as Tyki counts up everything in his head, occasionally roping passerby into conversation or encouraging a visit to the carnival. It's when the latest has passed by that the other man speaks up, and Joker is already grinning by the time he looks back to him.]
Yer a scoundrel, sir, make no mistake, and I'd be delighted if ya took me ta dinner.
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Nor is he easily distracted while doing it. He spends his time well and quickly to manage a good appearance. Joker might've noticed but then he's not worried about Joker at all. He trusts him and cares for him. It's a lot coming from a man like Tyki who could disregard others for more effective measures.
He stands up with Morticia raising from her position to join him at his side with a rub into his leg and he bows at being called a scoundrel.] Good. Good. I'll radio you later when I've found the perfect place to eat. I hope 7pm isn't too late?
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We expect a good one~!
She's right, and ya wouldn't want ta disappoint a lady, would ya?
[Their laughs meld together naturally; perhaps it's only to be expected from two sides of the same soul. Stepping away, he gives a jaunty little wave.]
And hopefully by that time, I'll have a few more things set up for the new additions of yer act.
[But there's no rest for the wicked, and he's probably wasted enough of his free time on his own personal fun. With that promise made, he makes his way back to the big tent and all the goodies that lie within its storage. It's up to him to make sure that the audience has the best performance ever, and that his workers have the best tools at their disposal.]
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Oh no. Certainly not such a distinguished lady.
[His hand moves down as Morticia rubs her cheek into it and he's scratching there lightly with a rather warm and funny feeling echoing his own body. He watches Joker walk away along with his little friend.
It doesn't take much for the both of them to head in the opposite direction to find somewhere worth treating his friends. They'll get the best restaurant in town with the best seats by the time his silver tongue is done and his coin is well spent.]