⇨ 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

[periphrasing]

Peridot gleefly catches the headphones in both hands, peering at them eagerly for a moment before absorbing them and the motor into the fancy gauntlet the Ringmaster gave her for her solstice gift. She'll have to take them apart more carefully back at her trailer.

She grins warmly at Amethyst's comment, a light blush tinging her cheeks. "Wow, thanks," she says, the tip of her tail twitching happily. "Not all of this is for morps, of course, but. That's still super nice to hear..."

[drrdrrdrr]

"You guys make some cool stuff," Amethyst shrugs, tossing the baby head so it bounces off a burned out TV. "I oughtta let you come rummage around in my room some time when we get back home." She pauses a second, considering. "D'you think Lapis would wanna come..?"

[periphrasing]

She perks up a little with interest. "To your room in the temple, you mean?" Peridot hasn't been in there yet. The possibilities are certainly intriguing. She looks less certain about Lapis, though.

"I could probably convince her to come... How successful I am tends to depend on her mood, though," she muses.

[drrdrrdrr]

"I was thinking it could kinda be like... y'know, a... double date, I guess?" says Amethyst with a kind of forced-casual awkward shrug. She is totally comfortable with verbally implying she is involved with romance, it's fine.

[periphrasing]

Peridot squints.

"What's a double date?"

Sorry Amethyst,

[drrdrrdrr]

"It's like when two lots of people who are dating go on a date at once," Amethyst explains. "I guess you usually have four people on one'a those but it basically counts 'cause, y'know..." Another totally not awkward shrug, "We're... Both dating you."

[periphrasing]

She opens her mouth, as if she's about to go ooooh in understanding. But she freezes, and then frowns, and then shifts her posture awkwardly.

"Uhhhhhhhhh... Lapis and I aren't... dating," she explains, with no small amount of discomfort.

Much though her heart is also fluttering ecstatically over the fact that Amethyst just used that word to describe what they're doing.

[drrdrrdrr]

For her part, in the wake of that word choice, Amethyst is pointedly directing her attention to the pencil stub she's just picked up and is twiddling between her fingers -- but Peridot's response makes her look back over at her in total surprise.

"Wait, what? You're not? What happened??"

[periphrasing]

"I mean, we never really were to begin with? So I can't really say that anything 'happened'," Peridot admits. "Anything other than 'nothing', that is."

[drrdrrdrr]

"... But didn't you guys... y'know..." Amethyst blinks, and then shakes her head, incredulous. "Man, I totally thought you were this whole time! Like, I've been all like, whoop, better make sure I don't hog all of the smoochin' in case Lapis wants a piece of this..."

[periphrasing]

"I tried to talk to Lapis after Portland," she explains, IN HER DEFENSE. "But every time I did, she'd start avoiding me or she'd just. Brush me off... So eventually, I just let it go."

The green gem stares at the ground sadly for a long moment, lost in thought.

[drrdrrdrr]

"... Wait," says Amethyst. She scoots over a little. "Lemme get this straight. You want to have a thing with her... but she's bein' all... me about it?"

[periphrasing]

Peridot flushes teal.

"I dunno... Maybe? What I WANT is to be able to talk to her about it and either make something constructive of it or put it behind us, but she won't even let me get that far," she complains, knotting the claws on one hand into her weird hair. After a second, she sighs heavily and lets go, letting some of the tension go with it.

"It's fine though. I mean... I get it. Lapis is... complicated. I don't want to stress her out by insisting on making this a thing, you know? Things are kind of strained lately as is, without my adding to the problem by insisting we talk about my dumb feelings."

[drrdrrdrr]

As Peridot speaks, Amethyst's frown deepens.

"... What the heck, dude," she says. "I know she's got some stuff going on but, like, I mean... we all got stuff going on, right? If I can get over myself then her soggy butt can."

[periphrasing]

That comment actually just makes her look kind of distressed? Peridot wrings her hands and folds her ears back, grimacing. "Sure we all have 'stuff', but... Lapis has... a LOT. She's been through so much. Probably even more than you realize."

She sighs again. Stares at the ground and fidgets. "If she doesn't want to talk, I'm not going to make her."

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst huffs and kicks one leg out. "Yeah, yeah, trapped in a mirror, trapped in a fusion, I get it; that doesn't mean she gets to just -- be shitty to you."

She's aware this is pretty hypocritical of her, but, well -- if she could get over herself...

[periphrasing]

"She's not being shitty to me," Peridot insists, growing flustered.

[drrdrrdrr]

"She kinda is," says Amethyst. "It was shitty of me to pull all that with you, just 'cause I didn't wanna... Y'know," she scratches the back of her head, "talk about stuff or think about stuff or whatever..."

[periphrasing]

"It's more complicated than that," she says quietly, glancing away. "She's having enough trouble adjusting to the carnival. I need to focus on helping her with that, not make things even harder for her by forcing her to talk about stuff she's not ready to."

[drrdrrdrr]

"But," Amethyst starts, only to stop immediately, frustrated but not sure how to articulate it.

Instead she just flops onto her back with a huff. "I guess," she says reluctantly.

[periphrasing]

Some weirdly illogical part of Peridot is almost disappointed that Amethyst seems to have given up already. Which is dumb, and doesn't make any sense at all, because she's very much committed to this line of thinking.

"It would just complicate things, anyway. If we hooked up." She pulls a nearby toaster out of the scrap pile and starts dejectedly picking at a rusty spot on it. "She hates it here. I know she's going to want to leave as soon as her contract is up."

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst shifts onto her side and props her cheek on her hand. "I mean... maybe she'd hate it a lil less if you guys got all this junk out in the open. I'm just sayin'."

[periphrasing]

Peridot looks like she considers this for a second... But then shakes her head. "No. No, I don't think that's true. She hates the carnival, she EXTRA hates the Ringmaster for keeping her here... And the carnival is always moving around, getting into trouble. While you were gone, when we were at the Prince's castle? She basically begged me to leave. She was so scared..."

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst sort of slumps down, her cheek kind of mashed against her hand. "Maaan... I kinda don't blame her, but -- we're pretty much always getting into trouble back home too. I just figure, like... maybe if you guys had this stuff sorted out it'd be like... I dunno, easier to deal with everything else?" She sighs, and adds, half into her hand, "I mean, I know it makes it easier for me."

[periphrasing]

Peridot looks up and stares at her for a long, long moment, her expression indescribably sad. There's a rather large number of tumultuous thoughts all vying for her attention in her head. Amethyst has a point, actually... but the engineer just can't see how to broach the topic with Lapis, even if she could work up the courage. There's too many factors, it's too risky. There's a very good chance it might do more harm than good. But isn't it also kind of unfair to keep these worries to herself, when Lapis might appreciate the full honesty?

In the end, these thoughts all come down to the same overwhelming compulsion. Peridot tosses the toaster to one side. Lifts her hands up to her chest for a second, hesitating... and then holds her arms straight out in front of her for a hug.