Get Ready For the Show

[pipers_son]

Who: All the performers, plus any visitors
What: Time to get back into the swing of things! Nothing says "I've recovered from trauma" like learning how to plaster a smile onto your face for the crowds.
When: D1 - D5
Where: The Main Tent
Warnings: None.... Probably

As the saying goes, "All play and no work makes Jack forget how to do his job". On the bright side...

Over the radio, Joker makes a cheerful announcement for all performers to start getting back into the practice schedule with new arrivals to show up on the first day back from the moon. On the first day, he'll be lenient. No one has to be on time, but he does want them to at least make an appearance and token attempt at practice. After that, well... Show up, or you'll have an aggravatingly cheerful stage manager paying a personal visit. He bothers because he cares.

To those who have become familiar with it, the tent is outfitted with all off the usual practice equipment, and new faces will be in for a treat. There are the usual acrobatics equipment: silk ropes, the high wire, trapeze swings. Daredevils will find all sorts of things to threaten their lives with, although they'll soon find that there are magical safety precautions in place which stop the Big Tent from, say, getting set on fire. And the magician stuff? Well.... Don't hurt yourself there.

Out of the love of his heart, Joker will make sure there are bottles of water nearby, so don't be afraid to work up a sweat.

Comments

[dontpokethat]

Ginko is mostly working on getting his new deer-dog-thing used to the layout of the carnival, so there's no need for him to be here specifically. But you know what? This is part of the carnival, so why not.

He doesn't actually interfere with any of the performers, of course, and keeps Antlers close by him - to his relief, the Ruvian has proven pretty docile and cooperative, though he doesn't seem to totally understand some basic commands yet. They can work on that.

Anyway, though he doesn't want to get too close, he does slow down and watch some of the practices going on - including Tyki's. He just stands a few feet away, one hand resting on Antlers's back.

If Tyki looks toward him, he raises his other hand in a small, friendly wave.

[prazerbutterfly]

Oh, he was wondering how bought that. He had seen it when it had appeared and while it looked interested Tyki didn't have an interest in upbringing a dog right now. Perhaps down the line but at the moment it wasn't any of his concern.

Plus it is nice to see Ginko not working even as he waves to him from outside of the tank. He's kind of bound at the moment but that doesn't stop him from breathing shallow, forcing the locks free and making his way back up through the top. It's only when he manages to drag himself out of the wet water and plop onto the ground will he wave back, "You know, if you wanted a closer look, you could just ask~"

[dontpokethat]

Ginko waits patiently for Tyki to get out, and gives a quiet laugh.

"I'm fine over here. Didn't want to bother you, anyway - though it looks like I might have failed at that."

[prazerbutterfly]

"And miss a chance to talk to such a good looking man? Not on your life."

Though his attention is off Ginko for the next few seconds as he squats down near his deer dog and holds out his hands in offering. He knows better than to just outright touch someone else's dog, "I could use the distraction. I'll just blame you if I get caught not practicing."

[dontpokethat]

It... takes a few moments for Ginko to realize that's even referring to him, honestly. And, even when he does, he just replies, "I think you might be confused."

Antlers leans forward, then bumps his nose into Tyki's hand, his tail giving a couple tentative wags. Ginko snorts softly. "Hey, come on; I don't need you getting me in trouble with Joker."

[prazerbutterfly]

Just watch Tyki's brow slowly start to raise at how long that took him to understand. Oh god, Joker was right. This is hilarious. "No, no I think I got the right person."

He lets the dog come to him and he puts on a bright smile when he's well received. He's careful to go for general pets instead of full on smother in case he's touching somewhere he shouldn't be, "I don't know. Now that you're here it doesn't seem like that would be all that hard."

[dontpokethat]

"Hm. Okay, then, I think you might want to reconsider your standards." Like, he's just saying.

Antlers's tail wags gently at the petting, and Ginko watches him with a smile. "Yeah, that's why I'm asking that you don't do it. I screw up enough on my own without other people contributing."

Just casually commenting on his own social incompetence. COMEDY.

[prazerbutterfly]

"My standards are fine," he says quite confidently. He'd even reach out to boop Ginko's nose right now but his hands are occupied by petting this not dog maybe dog thing.

At that happiness that washes over him he's squatting down to get more on the dogs level and will use both hands to rub that head of his appreciatively, "I could also just shout over everyone that 'Ginko is being mean' directly to him. I know he's around here somewhere. But joking aside, you haven't 'screwed up' around me. Plus, I know that you got Joker somewhere safe back on the moon.'

[dontpokethat]

"Great. So, is the problem with your eyes, then?" There is, of course, always the possibility that Tyki is messing with him, but he's not going to say that so bluntly yet. Instead, he'll just... try and ignore how uncomfortable this whole conversation is.

"Please don't." He gives a soft snort, not quite a laugh, as Antlers rubs his face eagerly into Tyki's palms. "You haven't been here very long. And... well, that wasn't exactly complicated. It was just a matter of carrying him there."

And he... probably should have come back to help with the others, frankly.

[prazerbutterfly]

He stands up and abandons the dog deer for a moment as he leans ever so casually towards Ginko with a raised brow and a wide grin, "What? Want to examine me all over again already?" But he reads body language well and if Ginko is showing any sign of uncomfortable air he'll lean back and allow him space.

"You're in luck though. I think he's busy at the moment and your new friend here is quite adorable He or she have a name?"

[dontpokethat]

"Only if there seems to be something wrong." He can follow the thread of the conversation well enough not to miss the possible implications there, but he figures it's probably best just not to acknowledge them. Maybe if he ignores it it'll stop.

He gives a slight smile at the shift in topic, and looks down to Antlers, who's staring patiently at Tyki as if waiting for more attention. "Antlers. Not... the best name, I know, but Joker insisted I should name him myself, and it was all I could come up with."

[prazerbutterfly]

He snerks gently because he can tell the conversation is waning though he has a feeling that either Ginko was use to this or he wasn't taking him seriously. Either way he's leaning back up to stand straight again and will let his hands slide back down to his sides.

His attention is drawn from Ginko to Antlers all over again, "Well, hello Mister Antlers. Aren't you handsome?" Poor thing just wants attention and Tyki is happy to oblige. He's good with his hands as they search and rub against that head of his as if searching for just the right spot to scratch, "And you listen to everything Joker tells you? You're rather fond of him, hmm?"

[dontpokethat]

For all Tyki knows, it could be both.

Antlers' tail thumps against Ginko's leg as he leans into the attention all over again. Fortunately, he's well-behaved enough not to try to jump up or anything.

Ginko, meanwhile, doesn't even try to hide the smirk that tugs at his mouth. "He can be very persuasive." Some might even say pushy. "But, yes, he's a good friend - might give me a disadvantage in not going along with his ideas, huh."

[prazerbutterfly]

Antlers was a classic example of not judging a book by its cover. He was loveable and docile to the point he was basically just a dog. Tyki was giving him well deserved affection as his fingers hit that nice spot he seemed to love. Even if he did jump up Tyki would be quick to coral him back down onto all fours if he wanted to, that is. He is a very dominate person even if he does let people climb over him occasionally.

Later on he'd be calling Joker 'mother' just to mess with him. His grin is fixed now at the subject of Joker, "Very, very persuasive. I have a feeling even if we told him no he'd still find a way. You've known him for a while, haven't you~"

[dontpokethat]

"I'm sure he would. He's, uh... certainly something." As wry as his voice is, there's still a definite tone of affectionate amusement to it.

One of Ginko's ears flicks as he nods in confirmation. "Two years, more or less. He was already working here back when I first arrived."

[prazerbutterfly]

He's so convinced at this point that the both of them have at least something going on even if it was hidden tension. He's seen no evidence otherwise but if it was a secret he's not going to just say it out loud.

That surprises him honestly that people would choose to stay that long and he's half blinking at Ginko, "Two whole years in this carnival. Must be a good reason but he's been here even longer? I can't imagine that."

[dontpokethat]

Ginko gives a soft hum, and a lopsided shrug. "He's, uh... let's just say Joker's signed on for the long haul. If you want any more details than that, you'll have to ask him yourself."

Briefly, Ginko's thoughts jump back to that conversation on the moon. Six more years. He can only know bits and pieces of why Joker agreed to stay so long to begin with, and even those strike him as more than he has the right to pass on to other people.

[prazerbutterfly]

His head actually tilts as if he doesn't understand and for a moment he's akin to a child that just received information that seems... implausible. Of course, that brings more questions to mind than he wants to admit.

He already knows he cares about a few people here and when he leaves he'll leave them all behind. It's enough that his hands have stopped moving and he's almost cupping Antlers' head in his hands, "What about you? Are you here for the long haul or is there unfinished business at home?"

[dontpokethat]

"Probably the former." Probably. He supposes he'll likely want to return to Japan eventually, but... at the moment, it's not like he has any particular plans to.

"There are a couple people I'd like to see again, but, for the most part... I'd rather just stay here."

[prazerbutterfly]

"Probably? Perhaps you're not the workaholic I thought you were if that such final decision is probably."

He stands up, abandoning Antlers again, and dusts off his hands only to adjust the long white strips placed over the tops of them that wind around his palm. "You already know that I miss my family."

[dontpokethat]

Ginko snorts. "What's that supposed to mean? The fact that it's such a big decision is just another reason to give it careful consideration."

That gets a small nod. "Yeah. You're planning on getting back the moment your contract is up, right?"

[prazerbutterfly]

"I had thought maybe even a decision that final would at least be more... final."

He wants to smoke but he never does within this tent. It's always outside or near somewhere quiet. Still, his hand drops to the edge of his pants as his other lifts to swirl in the air gently, "Probably. I might say goodbye to a few first." There is stuff he has to do. A world he has to end. A family to love and care for. Maybe he would come back after all that. Maybe he wouldn't. A part of him hates he would even consider that. This place was somewhat exciting.

[dontpokethat]

"Mm. Maybe I'm just bad at making commitments." He gives a lopsided shrug, a wry smile still pulling at his mouth. "Maybe I'll just keep renewing a year at a time."

That gets a small nod. "I'm sure they'd appreciate it. Seems like you've fit into the carnival pretty smoothly while you've been here."

[prazerbutterfly]

"I'm not exactly good at that kind of thing either," unless it was actually something important to him. He always made a commitment to his family and his goal, even if he was partially into all of this just to have some fun and mess around.

Ginko will notice that smile of his fading into a small one. This is how it always goes. It's not different from home where he's made friends with humans and other people. Eventually he'll leave them all behind and nothing will matter. It'll all be destroyed so it wasn't going to be much different going home. "I adapt quickly," is the feinted response.

[dontpokethat]

...Whoops. Ginko sees Tyki's smile fade, and immediately regrets speaking up. It had been meant to be encouraging, but... he supposes he shouldn't be surprised when what's meant to be positive has less-than-stellar connotations for someone else.

He looks away, his expression stilling into something like a smile, but more quiet and subdued than before. "Guess so. ...It's a good skill to have."