lostcarnival | ⇨ WISMUTH

Entry tags:

⇨ WISMUTH

Who: Everyone!
When: S2:D6-D11
Where: Wismuth and the Carnival Grounds
What: The carnival enjoys a few days in Wismuth, a coastal city on this planet's version of the American east. However, there are a few things very unique about this version of the planet...
Warnings: The usual, wholesome fun.

PILLAR OF CREATION↴

Upon arriving, things in Wismuth will seem pretty peaceful. It's a massive city, with no shortage of things going on, but things like violent crime and homelessness are at an all time low. You can wander the streets without much scrutiny, presumed to just be tourists, and most people here come across as helpful and friendly.

► VIBRANCY: The main thing that sets this planet apart is its vibrancy - AKA, the raw creative energy its filled with, flowing from its status as a Pillar of Creation. There is no literal pillar, but Wismuth and its planet is a place where Creation's energy comes through strongest. As a result, everything here feels somehow more real, more intense in a way that's hard to put a finger on. Life is abundant, and its bleeds through in every sensation.

► ATTRACTIONS: There are plenty of things to see while going around the city. First and foremost, there is a lovely beach area bordering the ocean, and a number of tourist aimed attractions built around it. There are giant malls, movie theaters, live stage performances, museums and all kinds of other points of cultural interest. Anything you can do in a big city you can do here, but better.

► ALLOWANCES: The Ringmaster will be giving everyone a reasonable amount of local currency for a few days on the town. You can't make any massive acquisitions with it, but it's more than enough to eat out, see some shows, go to the beach, and whatever you like. You can feel free to pick up some casual supplies, like mundane clothing and souvenirs. There will be more given out later, after the performance week.

► PERFORMANCE: Performance week is starting early this time, after only a couple days of exploration. When the carnival has already been on vacation for a month, the Ringmaster figures they may as well get right to it, and then do more touring afterwards. Members of the local populace will find themselves in the carnival once performances begin, dazzled by the other worldly sights. Magic doesn't seem to exist here, despite the fact that it will flow easier for people bringing it from other worlds.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( He's first to admit he doesn't know what to make of the relative insanity he's now cohabitating with. It hasn't sunk in, even as everything feels almost painfully real. The resulting emotional morass isn't one he enjoys or particularly appreciates, but it does mean that when he's faced with the sight of said tiny rock-patched girl sitting on what's practically a cloud, trying to read while two different species of bird vie for her attention, all he can do is...

... swallow his protestation and force his eyes to be slightly less wide, lift his hand in a small wave, and ask the only sensible question he can come up with: )

... Are you managing to get any reading done?

( There has to be some sort of normalcy here. Really, there does. )

[[OOC - She's sort of super adopted in her series HAH...]]

Umn? [Reira didn't so much see or feel him coming as she did feel that someone was Around before he spoke. She's an empath, not a radar-blip. But she does seem at least far less surprised than one would be, when it comes to interruptions mid book. The birds, as well, stop their nonsense-the eagle fluffing herself up a bit in some vaguely 'threatening' display that looks more like a fuzzy chicken, the sparrow diving back into hair.

And yet, she nods.] Um...a little..! Sometimes there's a word I have to write down to ask Jonathan about... ...But I'm definitely not stuck!

( Jonathan meaning nothing to him beyond indicating the name of a person she knows, Victor nods, more subtly perturbed and amused by the actions of the birds. In deference to the eagle, whose beak and talons he'd respect even if promised she were the most tame bird in existence, he stays where he is, posture relaxed. )

It's good to have someone who can help you with new vocabulary. ( Things he'll miss the internet for, if this is really going to be mostly offline for the next... year. He tucks that thought away. Books were helps on their own. Which, actually, what language was he speaking? He'd thought it was Russian at first, since he'd been in St. Petersburg before he was here, but... hm. )

Do you mind if I ask what the book's about?

[[OOC - 'surprise most of the people here speak russian' thanks wiki]]

Umnh..! Yeah, and there's a lot of words I don't know, so... [Quite a lot, though not necessarily the ones anyone expects. Regardless, she holds out the cover.] It's about griffins..!

...The back said they have to save the world, but they don't know what they're saving it from yet. ...They just know they have to.

[It feels a bit Familiar, suffice to say. Her brother had a similar idea about saving things. That's not really important anymore though!] ....Umh...

...Who are you though?

( Griffins, huh? Victor blinks when she asks who he is, caught off guard at his own poor manners. He laughs lightly, lifting a hand to run his fingers through the hair at the back of his head. )

Ah, I managed to not even introduce myself, how rude! My name's Victor Nikiforov, I'm a new employee here with the carnival. ( He smiles; not that it'd been intentional, but that's neither here nor there. ) A showman without a show for the time being. And you are?

Oh! [New employees, well that explains that bit apparently. She puts a little bookmark in the book, closing it to better focus on Victor.] Um- Akaba Reira, [She introduces-a very different name from the face, but Oh Well.] Ummmm.... ...I look after the animals here!

...The ones in the menagerie. ...The ones right here are mine, so I have to look after them anyway.

[That's IMPORTANT.]

( Something about her clarification pulls a chuckle out of him, lips quirking up in remembered fondness. )

Of course. We have to take care of our friends and family, after all. ( Like Makkachin in particular. He's just thankful that his dog has no way to know he's off and joining circuses; not that Makkachin wouldn't forgive him for it, but he didn't want any of Makkachin's time lost to him because of things like this. While an eagle and the smaller bird are odd choices to Victor, who is he to judge? They could be rehabilitated, or... something. Possibly. )

It's nice meeting you, Akaba Reira. ( Another smile, and a nod of his head forward, hands falling to his sides. ) I haven't been to the menagerie yet. What kinds of animals do you take care of there?

Yeah! [Are they family then? It's a nice way to put it, she's pretty sure. Anyway. Counting on fingers now...] Ummm... There's Snat, Peacat, and GCat... ...there's Bow-Wow... ...Tektite, Shoopuf...

And Tyrannosaurus likes it most when I'm feeding her, now, so I get to look after her a lot too now..!

[why was there a t-rex in there]

( In his sad and likely temporary ignorance, he just thinks Tyrannosaurus is an affectionate name for a lizard or a bird. Not for an actual Tyrannosaurus. Bow-Wow he hopes is something canine, because he really would love a doggie fix. At some point.

... So in the process of taking everything she says as a list of names instead of species, he finds it cute. )

Oh? That sounds like something deserving congratulations! It's nice when the animals we take care of look forward to seeing us, even if they're not domesticated. ( Theoretically, since he has no practical experience with this. ) How long have you been working at the menagerie?

Ummm... ...I guess...more than a month? [TIME IS HARD.] There was lots of stuff in between. We went to the moon, and played in the snow...that's where she came from, [She adds, pointing to the eagle.] Frisk bought her from the Caravan, and said she was for me.

[But yes. She nods.] Yeah..! Tyrannosaurus really likes when I scratch her head too...I guess it's hard to scratch there...

( ... how big is Tyrannosaurus? She's not that small, relatively speaking. He might need to upgrade his estimate to a pony size. Perhaps an ostrich? His mind insists on finding animals that make sense from his context. One day is no time at all to start running with strange directions. )

Went to the moon. ( ~~With Steve.~~ ) There was snow on the moon? ( Colour him confused and laughingly holding his hands up. ) Wait, I'm not keeping up. Frisk is another one of the workers here, like Jonathan and you?

( That's much easier to grasp than "we went to the moon," where he's now imagining it snowing with it's lack of atmosphere and all the moondust playfully converted into something more like the place he just left behind. )

Just how big is Tyrannosaurus?

( If he's lucky, she'll put up with him asking all the dumb questions and feeling like he's fumbling to keep up with an onslaught of information she takes for granted. We went to the moon?! )

It's one of the Carnival's moons..! ....The Ringmaster said we could fly there if we wanted... ...but it would take a few hours...

[She hops off the cloud though, the tiny child walking out from under the trailer awning to point upward. There it is, off in the distance...Very white....] Mnh, they are..! Frisk is a clown, and... ...I don't know what Jonathan does. He's magic. [That's very vague. Anyway.] Ummm....

[Oh no. The hesitation is...] ...She's definitely taller than the trailer!

[OH NO] She looks bigger than she is though, because of all the feathers...

( We could fly there if we wanted. Victor glances upward, unable to stop himself. How many moons does the Carnival have, and... no, slow down, focus on the grounded details, not the moon snow ones.

Then again, he watches a child hop off a cloud and wonders what in the world grounded even means. He looks up again when she points, seeing what she means after a few moments of searching the sky. )

Magic, huh? ( Magician is what his mind leaps to, but he doesn't even let it linger for long. A clown and a magician? Okay. And an animal larger than the— )

Wait, she's what? ( He whips his head back around to look at Reira, opening his mouth to speak, then closing it again before he blurts out something stupid. Okay, where to start with this? ) I'd... like to see that. It's hard to form a mental picture of what she looks like, just hearing she's so big.

( There's literally no bird he can imagine being that large. Maybe Tyrannosaurus is actually a giraffe? )

Yeah! He can turn into smoke! [Clearly a standard magic trick, and not at all literal. She does seem to be getting more and more excited-if excitement was a small smile at least-despite the um. Slight Lack of Confidence going on from Victor here.

To be fair not a lot go to her about the menagerie.] Mm-! I can definitely show you then..!! I could show you a lot of the others too, even, if you want!

Much more than I've ever managed. ( He says, affable enough, though predictably, believing it in a manner of smoke and mirrors. Magicians are incredible at what they do. He doesn't except the magic itself is real, even with the nonsense he's already starting to face. There's a limit to believability before he has to have a moment to break down certain understandings and probably laugh it all out.

Her enthusiasm at least warrants a warmer smile on his part. He's always appreciated seeing people light up over whatever had their interest and passion. Even if that's for a giraffe. Giraffes are great, who is he to judge? ) I'd appreciate that very much, thank you. I'll appreciate hearing your insight on all of the ones you take care of as well. ( He laughs, a light enough sound. ) I have a dog back home, and I've helped out with a rinkmate's cat before, but that's about the extent of my personal experience with different animals.

Mnnhhh... ...Yuuya used to have lots of dogs and cats... ...That's what he said, anyway, [She explains, motioning for him to follow before she moves for the Menagerie path-way start.] They're at his house, so I bought him 'snufflewomp' from the caravan. They're really small, and like flowers, and sleeping in the sun, so I thought he'd like that one....

[It's also basically a hummingbird frog. Tricky tricky. The path, in any case, might as well be a hiking trail. Complete with bridges formed of vine itself, and...No fences. They'll pass the sign for the menagerie, sure, but. No fences. Just...Trees and the paths. Mmmm....]

Tyrannosaurus' spot is over this way..! They like meat a lot, but they also like trying to fluff up when I'm there. Julien says she's trying to make me warm and give me food, but I don't think it's good for me to eat too many things like that...

[Why were you eating raw meat ever kiddo- oh well, delicacies, maybe...]

( He hums an acknowledgement of what she says about yet another person he doesn't know, registering more that a snufflewomp is small and foreign and nonthreatening. Probably. Small, flower loving, and sun-napping could be dangerous, but he wants to be optimistic.

He follows along readily enough, observing landmarks as they go. The trail is a bit of a surprise, almost too rugged compared to what he would expect. Are people to visit the menagerie? With these kind of walking paths? This would never pass regulations to allow access for wheelchairs.

(The things that come to mind.)

The lack of fences is another oddity. He's half expecting they're just expertly worked in, or perhaps an extensive electronic collaring system with all the fence-lines buried under earth, like with some dog runs. It could be possible. Why not?

His attention comes back to her when she mentions... yet another person he doesn't know, though at least he's getting a list of people who all probably work here. Connecting who knows who and in what capacity and in what way is going to either be a quick study or a next to impossible one. )

This Julien knows something about animal behaviour? ( The "meat" could be... well. Victor furrows his brow, picking all that apart. ) You'd want to be careful with anything raw, especially if it isn't fresh or served properly. From what I know about people preparing raw diets for their pets, it's not what anyone should be eating, so maybe hold off?

( He's not sure if she's joking with him, or if it's a cultural difference he's not aware of coming to the forefront now. This is all delightfully bizarre, the continuing lack of fences keeping him off center. Is there really a giraffe just roaming freely? Isn't that unsafe for the giraffe as well as the visitors? He listens all the harder for anything moving in the foliage as he follows along toward where Tyrannosaurus the hopeful giraffe likes to be, apparently.

... Do giraffes even eat meat? He lifts a finger to his chin, tapping without thinking about it. He knows they like leaves, but could they be omnivorous? Or... what the in the world(s) is Tyrannosaurus? )

Edited 2018-01-18 06:55 (UTC)

Yeah, I try not to get any in my mouth when she tries it...and I only ever ate things like that when there was nothing else! ...But Julien is a bird, so he knows lots about how birds and dinosaurs work!

[oh no. Just as she says that, she stops, and holds up a hand.] Ok! You have to stay here, otherwise you'll be over the barrier, and that means Tyrannosaurus can reach you! Hang on! [She adds, hopping over one of the bushes lining the path before waiting on an answer. Mere moments after she does, and the trees farther past her seem to...Rustle. A little.

There is also some light Thudding sounds.] HI TYRANNOSAURUS..!

[She is Absolutely Shouting For Whatever is Coming.]

( ............................ he nods, letting himself turn over the easy comment of Julien is a bird and swallowing it down for later examination, because Julien is a bird?! Metaphorical or literal? These are important details he has no present information to fill in. Staving off that headache, he... )

The barrier?

( So it is a buried fence? He does as instructed, meaning he stays on the rough hiking trail of a pathway while he watches her leap over the bushes and start shouting out the animal's name.

No, Victor realises as the thudding comes closer and the trees rustle more, a large animal moving between them with its own grace. Her own grace. Tyrannosaurus emerges, focusing on Reira, an enormous, feathered animal with no hint of wings, only tiny numbs of taloned arms tucked up in the feathers of its chest. Her chest.

Tyrannosaurus was a giant bird. A giant carnivorous bird, and Victor couldn't help it. He felt his adrenaline levels shoot up, clenched his hands into fists, and lifted an arm to his mouth to try and stave off the burst of laughter that verges just shy of being hysterical and a touch horrified. Not even terrified: if he believes anything, it's that Reira was being genuine. He stays here, where apparently the Tyrannosaurus can't reach, and he starts laughing, laughing, because this is too much!

He concentrates on speaking in Russian, not because he's figured out what they're speaking: it's just the only language he feels like he can fully capture how ridiculous this is. Even English won't do, though his words are only captured between peals of laughter. )

That's a giant bird. A dinosaur? You meant it literally. It wasn't a pet name! That's actually a Tyrannosaurus? I can't believe this. This is crazy, this is all insane.

( Victor Nikiforov, Russia's Hero, the Living Legend, is clutching his stomach with near-tears in his eyes from laughing over the temporary mental break in witnessing a young girl rendezvous with a form of extinct animal towering over her.

This is fine. This is so entirely fine, in about five minutes, when he gets ahold of himself again. )

Mm! The Ringmaster made it so that it's nice for everyone! [She explains, in a way that naturally explains nothing. And just as she says that, there's the T-Rex. Crouching down, lowering its head to sniff at Reira, and then nudge the girl as she laughs a little, before carefully climbing on.

The level of 'cute' in the chirping sound that comes from the thing is a stark contrast to the size, honestly. But there she is, gently scratching from atop a head she practically blends in with.

Um-well, this is odd though. Ironically, Victor hasn't been speaking English the whole time-everyone in the Carnival automatically speaks Fae. It keeps it easier, simpler...Reira doesn't even know English, in fact.

But it's a different language, different enough that one would or could switch to another. And Reira's eyes bolt wide open when she hears the words.

A number of them are unfamiliar-there was no reason for anyone in Donbass to mention dinosaurs, after all. But.... ...Crazy? Insane??? Her mind tries to piece together the response, but it comes out-somewhat stiff toned, despite the look on her face. She had been good at listening, in those days.

Speaking was something that could get someone hurt, or worse.] Iiinns.. She's not..!, [She manages, shaking her head furiously.] Tyrannosaurus isn't insane...!!

[That is Not Quite what he meant, Reira.]

( He does notice the shift, if not the means of it. Reira sounds different to his ears as soon as she's speaking in his first language; there's less of a smoothness to her speech, reminding him of how he'd sounded when learning English and French. He has to gasp for a breath and turn his head her way, one hand still wrapped around his middle, holding on. The back of his other wrist dashes across both eyes, disturbing the few tears of hysterical release that'd found their way there. )

Not her. This place, this situation. That's insane.

( It certainly isn't sane, and he has no place to mind or not for anyone other than himself. Only he's staring at her again, because she's sitting on top of a giant extinct animal and defending said animal's sanity. )

Tyrannosaurus seems very nice. She likes you, that much is obvious. ( He pauses, licking his lips and biting down on his tongue to forestall another burst of laughter, still a reaction to the sheer improbability of this all. ) You speak Russian, Miss Akaba? I didn't expect anyone would, once I learned we weren't in St. Petersburg.

( He still can't process the whole of what Tyrannosaurus means, so he doesn't. He accepts it, lets it flow past him, and focuses on the things he can manage: like language, and the realisation that he recognises it's what this young girl had responded to him speaking. As long as Tyrannosaurus doesn't start speaking too,
he's probably got himself under control again.

He is not going past that bush barrier, whatever construction it is. Nope. )

Umnnh... ...Oh... [Well, if he says so. In her view, it's all fine once you get over it, but...well. Maybe he isn't at that stage, then. That's probably it.

But now...he'll be catching red flags of another sort, if he isn't careful.] She's really nice, when she knows you. ...More than Barfy...

[She blinks, and frowns, however.] ...Is that what it's called..? ...'Russian'?

....then...is St. Petersburg where people that speak it are from?

[Well it's...One place..]

I'm sure she is. I'll have to ask for an introduction sometime.

( He doesn't make any move closer right now. Barfy sounds... anything but promising, though he does try to remember that name. (He'll possibly remember by the time he actually meets Barfy.) He runs one hand through his hair, subtly shifting how he stands so his feet are more firmly planted on the ground. Okay, he's got this. Whatever this is. The worst contract he's ever been strongarmed into, and that's including that one ice show he did as a teenager. )

St. Petersburg is a city in Russia, so yes, people from there can and do speak Russian. There are a number of other countries outside of Russia that speak Russian. Kazakhstan, for example.

( He says this all more slowly, deliberating as he speaks. It's odd for her to be so unaware of what the language was, even if her name sounds Japanese to his ears.
Maybe he should try speaking Japanese? His was rough, too obviously foreign, but he could get through uncomplicated conversations these days. Nine months of immersion hadn't gone unused, though his... accent, for lack of a better word, seemed to amuse Yuri.

For now, he sticks with Russian. )

Where did you learn Russian?

[It is odd, and rough, yet only the sounds are in such a state. The phrasing, the pacing, everything else is right on point, practically mirrored or copied or-]

...This is... ....The soldiers all used these words. ....this is how they always talked. ...Sometimes there were people that sounded different, but...it was almost the same as this.

....I don't know where that was though, [She admits, shaking her head.] ...it's just where 'Mom' took me from.

( Somehow the implications of what she says are as grounding as his feet on the ground. While he hasn't faced just how many worlds people might be from yet, he already knows it's not about singularities. He can guess that a certain... pride instilled in Russia can lead toward the circumstances that leave young children surrounded by and expected to be soldiers. Even in his time, young people can be expected to attend camps meant to instill a sense of national pride, amoung other things, where they learned even rudimentary skills of warfare.

Still, he finds himself frowning just a touch, hands coming to rest on his hips. )

So you were raised around soldiers until you were taken away. Was that when you... Did you end up in Japan? You don't have to answer any of this if you don't want to, Miss Akaba.

( In his limited experience with the kids at the rink, it can be harder for younger girls and boys not to feel they need to answer when older rinkmates and adults ask them questions. He has no role for authority or a desire for it; he asks to try and understand, well aware he doesn't need to in the end. Still. )

Edited 2018-01-18 21:34 (UTC)

Performance Boredom

Fun Facts; Reira's country of origin is headcanoned as the Ukraine-

Laughs, good, hello neighbour (so to speak)

it was great bc I had to check to see if her region would have it and...

we can bring out our character's inner Russian speaking now without worry

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

anddd implications of warfare coming in

l a u g h s sadly for her