⇨ WISMUTH

[ringleaders]

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.

Comments

lavellan | ota

[dirthena]

a. what the hell is fast food

Things that Thedas has: demons, a regular occurring zombie plague, ungrateful shemlen. Things Thedas does not have: processed food. And certainly no fast food. Which is why Lavellan is waffling outside the doors to a local venue, as if she's not certain whether she wants to go in or not. It's bright, it's well lit, and someone directed her there when she asked them for the nearest place to get something to eat.

She frowns -- she's going that a lot lately, it would seem -- and mutters, mostly to herself: "I don't even know what a burger is, or how someone could rule over them." Lavellan hates seeming ignorant, as much as she's lost in this world, and crosses her arm further over her chest. Although it loses some of the effect as it's only one arm.

b. no shirts, no shoes, no service

Dalish don't wear shoes. And regardless of Lavellan's awkward stepping around that particular word when using it to describe herself, the Ringmaster had generously given her seven outfits that are unmistakably Dalish in origin. And she's not just about to wear shoes because everything she thought she knew about her culture and her history was a lie; no, Lavellan is going to proudly wander around barefoot even in this strange new world.

Habits and all.

Which makes it a rather noticable problem when she tries to enter a store. Any store, really, for as soon as she walks in there’s someone gently escorting her out, pointing to the sign next to the door that simply reads No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service. Lavellan blinks at it, and then back up at the harried, probably underpaid individual who's already exasperated by the fact she didn't know how the electronic sliding doors worked.

"What do you mean I can't go in? It's not as if I'm not wearing nothing at all--"

c. [for solas, continuation of above]

Lavellan peers further into the store -- bright and shiny and filled with electronics she doesn't understand. But there's a familiar figure in there, one she knows. And so she gestures and frowns. "He's not wearing any shoes," which apparently was the wrong thing to say, as a kerfuffle follows shortly. Ending in Solas being helpfully escorted out of the store with a 'did you bother to even read the sign, sir'.

Which means she's face to face again with him, awkwardly.

d. doing her job

Despite being qualified to be a scout, Lavellan feels far more at home being a Patch than she thought she would have been. Petty disputes over who owed who what or who was cheating were easy compared to everyone yelling at each other over who's fault the world's near-end was. It was easy to pacify customers with promises of another ground of games to make up for the thing they felt they'd been cheated out of, or assurances that yes, the Ringmaster would look into it.
Later, of course.

Lavellan has no real skill at lying, and she doesn't wish to cheat these people out of anything that they deserve, so her assurances are at least genuine, and the offers for them to go a few more rounds exactly that. Even though she knows the goal is to, well. Take them for all that they're worth. It wears at her a little, however, and when someone begins to pick a fight with a carnival worker, she's quick to react -- throwing out her hand to keep the guest away from the stall or individual. "What," she says, picking her words carefully, "seems to be the problem here?"

wildcard
i am down for anything! feel free to hit me up to talk about something or just hit me with a starter, it's all good.

a: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pgPq4FGWfk

[hurtcomfort]

"It makes people happy," Cole murmurs, looking over at the Burger King, as if he can stare straight through the walls at whoever's inside. Granted, the people it makes happy are usually under the age of 10 but kids being happy still counts as people being happy.

Also, surprise, Cole's there, don't mind him just appearing out of nowhere like he does occasionally.

"I don't know what a burger is either," he admits, with a bit of a frown. Still, he could at least see what a burger was once they entered the restaurant. And maybe they'd find the king as well! The king would certainly know what burgers are, and probably wouldn't mind talking to this fantasy canon group about them, right?

B~

[insidescoop]

Carly, if she can be counted on anything that isn't Wardrobe, is an impressive eavesdropper. She was a former reporter after all-more importantly, a former scout. Glamors are tricky things-for those who barely need one, a glamor could barely take effect after all. No matter how contrasting Lavellan's outfit is to the world around, there's no doubt in Carly's mind that the people themselves see more typical fashion.

Carly of course very much needs a glamor-focus your eye and you can see her in her brilliant, light-flowing glory of course, complete with hovering bird feet, but at a passing glance? She's her old, normal self, 5'6'' and wearing jeans, jacket, glasses (not. Trifocals, this time..), sandals..

Wait a minute, but the bird feet-

"Ooh-!" In any case, glamors make finding other employees rather easy at times, she must say. If she doesn't get a protest or swat for her efforts ahead of time, Lavellan will feel a poke on her shoulder. "Hey, hey~! Have a minute~? I have an idea...~"

She'd met Solas on the moon-hasn't known him long enough to decide that he's a bit of a prick, but she Did know him long enough to hear about the...Feet thing, and if she were to hazard a guess, it's a similar matter Here.

And well. She's been making plans, since then.

[dirthena]

There's no swat or further protest -- for a moment Lavellan's uncertain why someone from this world would feel the need to call her out: the glamor hides her ears and her tattoos, and most simply accept that she's just a short adult. Beyond getting kicked out of a store for not wearing shoes.

But then she stares, and it all becomes clear. The other is a member of the carnival, same as she, and gives her a curious look.

"An idea?" But she doesn't put up any obvious resistance to the idea, just curiosity.

[fortuneglass]

And Carly...

Well, Carly just beams. And whispers, just so that she can make sure there isn't any awkward staring. "You're like that other guy, right? He was bald, but he didn't wear any shoes at all, even on the moon-feet to the ground, that's about what he said..!"

But she's getting ahead of herself, so she nods. "Carly Nagisa-Wardrobe Manager..! And...I wanted to ask! Can you cover the tops of your feet?"

THEY'RE GONNA DISGUISE THE SHIT OUT OF THESE BARE FEET

[dirthena]

"So you've met Solas," Lavellan says, grinning. It was probably the most flattering thing anyone has ever said about the other elf, but she nods. "We're elves, yes." Anything more than that and it got complicated.

But the girl introduced herself, and so she nods. "Lavellan. And I suppose it doesn't matter, in the end. It's just traditional to keep them bare." No Dalish elf had given it much thought beside that, she's sure.

[insidescoop]

"Oh-! You know him too then..! ...That makes sense I guess," she hums, nodding to herself. Regardless. "Even if you say that though...you were still following the tradition, so it must be at least a little important right..? If the tops can be hidden in any way, even with something fake though, it should fool people, even without a Carnival glamor on it.... ...I'd be surprised about it not catching right now, but I guess in a beach town, there's a lot of swimmers going around without shoes...."

[dirthena]

"We were coworkers," she supplies, readily enough. Just in case she thinks all elves know each other. Her question is far more of a personal one than Lavellan thinks the other knows -- does following tradition make it important? What about if it was all a lie? For a moment Lavellan feels as if the tattoos on her face are burning, even though she knows nothing has changed.

"That seems as if it would be alright. Did you have anything specific in mind?"

[fortuneglass]

"Oh, I see..." She can't tell if that's good, or bad, but regardless... "Then you definitely know him~! That's good to have in mind, I guess..." Well, she certainly didn't have the odd idea that they all knew each other, it seems, but as is.

"I was thinking something similar to a shin-cover; in this case, it would move more downward though-covering the foot's top to a point. It wouldn't have to wrap under the foot-the shape of it would be covering enough-but because of that, it'd look like you were wearing shoes..! ...Even if you weren't!"

There is a slight cough. "Also, I think it'd be 'strange' enough that the glamor would cover it, even if it started flapping around, or something..." She hasn't really had the chance to test it, but since it'd just be to trick someone watching a door, it's probably fine.

[dirthena]

Coworkers is a generous term for what they were, but it's simplest and easiest, so Lavellan is sticking with it. "Yes, I do definitely know him." And there's no bitterness in her tone, which is something.

The idea seems like a solid one, and Lavellan nods. "You've given this a lot of thought, haven't you." Not that she's complaining, of course, since it seemed to work in her favor.

b

[pipers_son]

"Yeah, it never made much sense ta me either," drawls a thick British voice, and there's the carnival's resident stage manager glancing into the store with a dry expression. He hasn't met this lass personally, but he's seen her around the carnival and passes her a friendly smile for her trouble.

This isn't the first place he's seen with this kind of sign while he's traveled with the carnival, although he's a little disappointed to see it actually enforced. Some places are a little more accommodating, or at least the workers are too apathetic and tired to care about such a minor thing. At least it's a good thing that this one is full of spark?

Regardless, he offers his hand to the woman. "Why don't we find somewhere else ta spend our time, yeah? I'm sure we can find another shop like this one if we wander around a bit~."

[dirthena]

The accent doesn't sound all that strange to Lavellan, although it is different. Her own is similar, a thing that becomes evident when she speaks again, lips twitching upwards. For a moment, however, she thinks he might be a native to this world -- the glamor is still something she's not used to seeing around, but once she does, her assumptions are corrected.

Well, better to have someone around who might think it's all as odd as she does. Cars were interesting, as were phones and electronics. The carnival had helped in some ways; she wasn't a complete stranger to electricity as she was before, but it was still new.

Taking the younger man's hand with her remaining, Lavellan cautiously lets him lead the way. "Most likely. The only place comparable I've been to cared little for how one dressed." Most likely because Orlais just really likes being able to point to the shops she's visited and exclaim the Inquisitor visited here.

[pipers_son]

"Ha, there are some stops like that," Joker muses, making sure that the two of them don't bump into anyone else on the sidewalk. It's one thing when he's going on his own, but things are a little different when it's a pair walking side by side. "Some don't care, others will fuss over what yer wearin' until yer sick of it all." That was the fashion world stop for more than a few people, he's sure.

Pausing at a stop light, he grins to her. He hasn't had a chance to really get to know some new faces in the carnival as well as he'd like, honestly, although a part of that was being poisoned and then having to recover from poison. (And a hangover. Thanks, Lambert.)

"Anyway, I didn't introduce myself. The name's Joker."

[dirthena]

Lavellan stops when he does, having already become acquainted with the merits of stopping at stoplights. Not something she has to worry about in Thedas, certainly. But her lips quirk up in a small smile. "I'm used to the fussing. Normally it was within my power not to care, but I somehow don't think that's the way here or they wouldn't go to all that trouble to make us look indistinguishable from the shemlen of the worlds we're visiting."

Not that she thinks her companion isn't one, but it's so hard to tell with the carnival twisting the appearances of others. Lavellan has noticed that most arriving seem to be human, however. Solas, Cole, and herself seem to be the exceptions that she's met rather than the rule. "Lavellan." And it still feels hollow, the way she says it without any titles, any introduction. This is what she wanted, she reminds herself, for three years -- simply to be herself again.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Joker."

[pipers_son]

"Well," he muses, "some folks- a whole lot of 'em, actually, from my experience- they don't react well ta things they don't understand. If it looks like I doesn't belong, then they'll make a fuss out of it, for better or worse." That's a lesson he knows well, with how his family was treated for years. Snake, he thinks, had the worst of it. Unless they knew the whole story, or had been around long enough, most would ignore Peter and Wendy's seemingly eternal youth, or how Doll's eye was always covered.

A man with snake scales and strange eyes got them a lot warier a lot faster, at least in England.

As the light ahead of them flashes green and the cars come to a stop, he escorts her across the asphalt. "Of course, sometimes it help for performin', too." He grins over at her. "With stops like this, we can give 'em a nice surprise when they walk onto the carnival grounds~."

lmf god, i love it when things get lost in my inbox

[dirthena]

His words get a small snort of agreement from her. "You don't need to explain that to me," she says, waving any argument away with a brief smile, "where I'm from, most would think I stood out." Not among her clan, no. But the shemlen? Absolutely. Her ears and her tattoos quickly meant that she was different; and Lavellan had made certain that they didn't forget it. His attitude towards it, and getting a reaction from anyone visiting, makes her grin.

"And how do they normally take the surprise of having to deal with a bunch of people that look like nothing they've ever seen before?"

i have been there and yeah it is just a loving moment

[pipers_son]

"In the carnival?" Joker laughs, following the crowd as they finally begin to move across the street at the change of lights. "Oh, they love it. If they're not used ta anythin' like us, then they'll lie ta themselves about what they're seein'. All just costumes and makeup, innit?" His wide grin is full of nothing but delight. Well, it certainly makes their jobs easier, doesn't it?

"But if it's a place where, say, they have wings or scales or things like that, they're more open ta it." He pauses, hopping up onto the sidewalk in a way that's completely unnecessary.

"...Well, most of the time."

[dirthena]

She pauses at the hop, and simply shakes her head and follows him, although there's an amused smile flirting across her face. He's friendly enough, and right now she could use something friendly and not a reminder of, well. Literally everything else in her life. "I've seen some that would require magic to be considered a costume in the first place, but I see your point."

Although-- that last bit. She frowns, pausing in her walk to look at him more. "Most of the time?"

A

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya actually does know what a burger is, although not the flat, sad, processed version for $1.99.

"I think humans like to lay claim to anything, if they can." He says it in a neutral tone, as if it's less a personal insult and more a statement of fact. And he has noticed this world seems to be entirely populated by humans.

He's making an honest effort to blend in, wearing a more modern pressed shirt and slacks. He's only glad the glamour that makes him look human to the native population isn't physical--he's not sure he'd want to feel so fleshy. He looks aside to her. "Hello, Lavellan."

[dirthena]

She laughs at that, shaking her head. "So the shemlen of your world are similar to mine. It's a shame some things don't change." Ah, humans. Her attempt to not blend in even through the glamor is beginning to seem a poor choice as she turns to look at him, for he blends well with their clothing more than she.

Something to consider in the future. For now she's content to tease humans while there's none around to get offended with perhaps one of the few people she thinks understands a part of her life.

"Hello, Syrlya. Have you been well?"

[chronosynthesis]

Shemlen.... is that meant to be insulting to them, he wonders. It's rare he hears any language but common and, now, faeish.

Still, though, he smiles wryly, clasping his hands behind his back. "Very well, thank you. I'm glad that, so far, I've nothing of note to report to Lambert."

It's reassuring for the security of this place, at least. Much like Greysol, although with less islands full of spirits the carnival members could hurt themselves with.

Cars, though. He's a little worried about the cars. "Were you looking for something to eat?"

[dirthena]

If it was meant to be insulting, she would have gone with the shorter shems. For her, it's just the word for them. Quick children, in the face of the once-immortal elves. "Same, although the requirement to check in once a day--" She's not used to being the one doing the reporting but the one being reported to. It rankles in a way she didn't think it would.

Cars were something vague and unknown, and Lavellan had been doing her best to steer clear of them with varying amounts of success.

"I was, yes. Something that reminded me more of home than this, if I'm to be honest."

[chronosynthesis]

"I don't suppose Thedas is much like this, is it?" He'd take a wild guess 'no'.

He turns his attention to the menu, reviewing all of the possible options. He's almost surprised how much of it is familiar to him. Soda remains a mystery, however.

"It is understandable after dealing with the Prince. Of course reports were required before that, but people had a habit of going missing in the night while we were his guests... none of the nightrunners, of course."

They were in fact surprisingly competent, all around.

[dirthena]

"Not in the slightest," she says, with a small grin. "We still use animals as the main means of transportation. Not cars." She's been absorbing as much as possible about this new world as she could. It isn't the same as Thedas, and sometimes it makes her miss the forests deeply, but the way that magic flows over her and through her is intoxicating. She likes that part.

That news makes her raise her brows, although she nods. "Of course. I would expect nothing else if Lambert remains in charge of them." And not ousted in favor of anyone else. He seems to have had the position for a while, but how long she doesn't know.

But at least they were competent. That much she was glad for.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya raises a brow. "That confident in him already? Ah--not that he does not deserve confidence," Syrlya gestures quickly. He has absolute faith in Lambert, but acceptance and faith in your superior are a little different.

His attention glances back up to the menu for a moment. "Much of this world is fairly unfamiliar to me as well... but most of this food I recognize. I would expect it to be equally edible here."