lostcarnival | let's get down to business

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let's get down to business

Who: Nightrunners and whoever wants to make use of the training yard for whatever reason.
When: S2 D1-D5
Where: The Training Yard
What: Training, or pointing and laughing at people training.
Warnings: Explosions and swearing, probably.

Though it's never really been off-limits, once they're down off the moon, Lambert wastes little time informing the nightrunners he officially expects them to get back to training and getting in shape. They can make ample use of the training yard facilities to learn how to work with each other after their extended vacation, or just get to know their newer coworkers in an environment closer to what their actual working conditions will actually be like.

The yard, as usual, isn't limited solely to nightrunners. Anyone who wants to work on their physical or magical skills are welcome, as well as anyone from the other departments who have anything they might want to test out that requires a combatant, for some reason.

Lambert's generally a constant presence at the fringes, sometimes participating in exercise or sparring himself, but mostly just watching and making sure no one's about to put someone's eye out or break the equipment, because that would be bad for obvious reasons.

[ ooc; this is an open log, so bring your own toplevel! ]

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Ah, now isn't that interesting. Joker leans forward in interest. "That would be useful for all sorts of things...." As their last 'stop' showed. Wing adjusting, he considers something.

"Just fae magic, then?"

And Strange shakes his head. "It works on all sorts of magic. The spell's strongest if I can physically touch whatever I'm disenchanting, but as I obviously can't touch some things, I've been working on a verbal component as well."

By 'physically touch things' Strange means 'smooch' but magic is weird and he's not bringing that part up unless Joker asks about it. Still, if he needed to break any magic of a more elemental or poisonous nature, best not to go ahead and touch it.

Strange can't help but ask, "Do you have anything you want me to practice on?"

Hey, he'll be a gentleman and not ask... Partially because no one has yet to tell him about the unicorn. Or when he tried to make out with Tyki. It's fine.

Instead, he smiles dryly at the question. "Nothin' I'd want ya ta practice on. Still." He tilts his head to the side a little. "I've been wantin' ta ask the Ringmaster about angelic magic, or whatever ya would call it, so I suppose that's why I got curious."

"I'm afraid I wouldn't know anything about that," Strange admits, with a little shrug. "The 'me' of Portland barely knew the angels existed to begin with."

He also had an amazingly low opinion of what angels he did know but Portland Strange was an asshole anyway. That's not new.

"I know she can help you develop a spell though, especially if one isn't the most magically inclined to begin with."

Joker's mouth twitches a little in a grin he can't quite suppress. "I know," he says simply, very generously not mentioning about the dickery their other selves did to each other. Mostly him to Strange.

Well, he deserved it.

"Anyway, that's what I'm countin' on." He tilts his head to Strange. "Want me ta come talk ta ya about what I figure out?"

He so deserved it. But back to magic. At Joker's question, Strange nods.

"I do," he simply responds. "And I want to see whatever you cast as well. For lack of a better term, I can see magic. If I become familiar enough with any angelic magic you learn, I can tell you if anyone at any of the other places we visit has something similar."

For most situations, Strange would try and fix the problem and teach Joker the magic himself. But, to everybody's surprise, he's acknowledging his limitations for once. He can't really do anything with regards to angels.

"Like Rita, then." That's one of the things that he'd been hoping they'd be able to use to their advantage... back at the manor. A pity that things had gone south so very quickly on that end.

"I'll let ya know how things turn out, then. I guess it's just a matter of figurin' out which things will be easiest ta pick up again." His mouth quirks up. "Invisibility probably isn't too hard, right?"

"It's more like Rita's than you realize." And he's got a small little smirk on his face, like Strange is privy to an inside joke only he knows about. After all, he's got a pretty good idea as to why he and Rita share the same magic sight (and that idea is Portland).

At the mention of invisibility, Strange shrugs. "I've never been particularly good at it—that whole 'being quiet' thing sounds like more of a bother than it's worth. But I know other magicians have managed to figure out invisibility without much help."

Or, at least, have managed to figure out some form of stealth spell. Looking at you, Childermass.

Alright, he can't help it. Joker starts to laugh, hand curling halfway up to his mouth as if he gave a passing thought of hiding it a little weight. "Oh," he snickers, shoulders shaking, "I was just thinkin' away from sight, not completely silent, but I see where yer mind went!"

Even if it is completely true that Strange sucks at shutting up, which is half of what makes it so funny to him.

"You know what I mean. It's no use being unseen if people can find you in the first place!"

Strange takes Joker's laughter in stride, shrugging slightly. He knows he's right. Being invisible doesn't meant that one's completely hidden away, whether it's via hearing, magic or other methods that they could be spotted. If Joker learned invisibility, there would be ways to find him, even if it was something as simple as 'chuck a rock in his general direction.'

"I was able to piece Childermass's stealth spell back home, I'm certain I'll be able to piece out whatever you end up with."

"I know, I know!" Snickering, he straightens up and shrugs. "But it's funny comin' from you of all people." If it was anyone else- well, mostly anyone else- he wouldn't have reacted. Strange is just special that way.

"Still, I'll look forward ta what ya think about it." His hand swings down to go rest on his hip. "I'm still not much good at some of this stuff, so havin' a professional talk will be enlightenin', I'm sure."

Joker might regret using those words. As soon as he calls Strange a professional, Strange's eyes light up and a small, self-satisfied little smile is planted firmly on his face. Yes, he knows he's a professional. And yes, he knows he's one of the best magicians in the carnival (at least, so thinks captain ego). But man, just hearing someone else say this is a boost to his morale.

"You were good enough to make those little cufflink trinkets," Strange points out, describing that teleportation spell that Joker cast ages ago. "I'm certain you'll be able to figure this magic out. And if not, perhaps I'll call together another meeting of the carnival's magicians to help or offer advice!"

Welcome to magic club, Joker.

Some people would regret making Strange's ego bigger than it already is. Joker doesn't bother to regret. After all, unlike some people, Strange does have the power to back things up, and he was apparently helpful during that whole... mess in the manor. So Joker snorts a little bit, and only that.

As long as Strange is working to stay good, then it's fine.

"I'm glad ya think so. But those sort of things work best for threats inside the carnival." His fingers tap against the outside of his thigh, thoughtfully. "With how our luck has been, it'd be better for trinkets that could get us from outside back in... but I don't think I'm skilled enough for that, and I'd need the Ringmaster's permission." This is her realm above all else, after all. "I'm tryin' ta figure out different ways ta help my lot." A nod to Strange. "Includin' yerself, although ya hardly need it."

Besides maybe some vague idea of self control, a fact which should definitely not be in Joker's hands some of the time.

"You never know," Strange responds, with an annoyingly enigmatic smile on his face. "Even someone as powerful as I needs help at times."

After all, there was no way he could have rescued Arabella back in his world without the help of Childermass and the other magicians. But, there's other things to focus on, so Strange's attention shifts back to the magic.

"The cufflinks are tied to your trailer, correct? What about if you tie it to a person instead? I know it wouldn't be much help if we were up against the fae again. But if someone was up against a vampire, for example, they could press the cufflink to be transported to a supervisor, a nightrunner, or someone more capable who could help them flee or provide support. Something like that could help even if someone was outside the carnival."

Oh no, he's gotten dragged into a nerd talk. Fortunately, having learned his first dose of magic from Sans, at least Joker is mildly prepared for it.

"Well, there's a problem with that, at least with the kind of magic I learned." Hip cocked, he starts to gesture idly through the air. "Sans basically taught me how ta make... basically, it's all math, and certain results are certain places, if that makes sense? So he helped me get the one settled for my trailer. But people-"

He gestures to himself. "We're always movin'. So I don't think it would be as cut and dry as with a place." A laugh slips out of him. "At least, it requires fancier math than I was ever taught."

Welcome to nerd talk, Joker, you can never escape.

"My magic's different. It's more complicated back home, but in the carnival it connects like to like—reflection to reflection, for example. Perhaps that can help compensate for the problem the lack of math might have?"

Strange is right in his zone as he starts talking about magic. It's obvious that he can ramble on for literal hours unless Joker cuts him off or changes the topic.

"We could combine it with whatever magic you used to enchant the cufflinks—or did you create those out of magic yourself?"

"Like ta like, huh?" he muses, although that certainly makes sense now that he thinks about it. It certainly explains some of the magic he's seen Strange do. Something he'll have to look into, once he's done figuring out his own messes.

Strange's latest question just has him laugh. "Oh, definitely not. It was plain enchantment, honestly, on things I have around." He winks playfully. "Thought I would put my jewelry collection ta good use. Everyone got somethin' different." That'd probably been the easiest thing out of the whole process, honestly. But what Strange is suggesting...

"When are ya free, then? After we get back inta the usual routine, maybe we can work that kind of magic out."

It's like asking the prima donna if they'll sing the lead solo at Christmas. Strange just looks so pumped at the idea of working out magic and working with Joker to create some entirely new sort of spell. He can't hide the massive grin that spreads over his face.

"Aside from performances, I'm free most evenings." After all, Strange certainly isn't going to train in the dark. Evenings are reserved for working on his routine and messing around with magic. "But I'm flexible. Honestly, the only thing I have set in stone is nightrunner training in the afternoons, but I can easily skip some of those if that time works best for you."

Sorry Lambert.

Fortunately, Lambert's hold on the Nightrunners won't be disturbed. Joker is just a gentleman like that. (And, besides, he already has Strange as a magician, he's half his egotistical mess too.) He waves his hand blithely. "Evenings are fine. I'll let ya know when a good time for me is." Once he's satisfied that things have mostly returned to normal and all his performers are able to do well under the spotlight, he's sure he'll have time.

But for now... He nods to the rest of the course. "Shall I leave ya ta yer practice for now?"

Strange nods, as he turns back to the course. "You know my radio—contact me whenever you wish!"

And, content that's a good way to end the conversation, Strange starts muttering slightly as his magic springs back to life.

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