lostcarnival | ⇨ 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

[ She offers the headphones back. ]

I've never been in a music store before. Not like, a dedicated one like this, I mean. The closest is probably browsing bargain bin CD's at the gas station. Most of those are old AOL browsers, though.

[Yuya sets the headphones back onto their stand, picking up one of the CDs for himself.] Really? [He looks thoughtful.] I guess I haven't been in one for a while, since you can buy it all online now. But since I don't know any of these bands, I can hear a lot of it right here.

[He's not sure what exactly 'old AOL bowser' music is, though.] What's it like where you live?

Right now? [ She's only been in the area for a little while now, with how much they've been moving around. ]

It's alright, school is pretty good, there's lots of opportunities for extra curriculars.

But what makes it great is when I get to visit my friend Steven. He lives in a magic temple with three Gem Warriors. It's some crazy Magical Destiny stuff.

Magical destiny, huh... [Yuya, having been on the wrong side of magical destiny, is a little less enthusiastic about that. Though he knows about the gems, and knows a Steven with a gem.]

You mean Steven here in the carnival? [A pause.] Is that stuff why you know how to fight?

[It sounds a lot more high profile than after school curricular, is all.]

Yeah, that Steven. We moved in together.

[ She can't stop herself from blushing intensely from that revelation. ]

Yeah! Pearl is great teacher, not only did she teach me how to fight, she taught me and Steven how to fight in tandem.

So you have a friend here too, that's good. [Or more, given the way she blushes. But Yuya's experience with girls and romance is: avoid acknowledging at all costs.]

I've seen some of what Steven can do. [He doesn't strike Yuya as much of a fighter, but maybe he's a 'fight out of necessity' or 'fight for his friends' type. That seems like him.] What are you fighting for?

I guess-

[ It's a little bit of a weird question. When she first started, she'd been fighting for Steven. But that had made Steven really uncomfortable. She wasn't sure if she'd really settled on a reason after that. ]

I guess for... happiness? Peace on earth? Maybe just because I think it's really exciting.

[She doesn't sound as certain, and it makes him think about Gongenzaka abs Sawatari's attitudes about being Lancers. Gon was so serious about it, but... He wouldn't be surprised if 'exciting' was Sawatari's while reason for going along.]

Is it that bad? I mean, are you in a lot of danger from whatever you're fighting against?

Yeah, actually...

[ She's never actually mentioned this to other people. Most of the time she's being Steven's support, and she mostly hears about these things second hand. ]

The 'Homeworld Gems,' the ones in a distant star system, the ones with a massive space empire, they wanted to destroy the earth to make a massive weapon, and they're probably doing the same thing on other planets...

Eh, really?! [Was that why Blue was talking about being unable to see humans when she left the carnival? She didn't seem like a conqueror at all. Not like Leo or the Fae...

He frowns, pursuing his lips.] That's terrible... it's not just you and Steven protecting the world, is it?

No, there are other gems, the Crystal Gems, who are helping to protect it.

Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst, Peridot... [ She wasn't sure if she should count Lapis Lazuli or not. ]

And Steven's dad helps when he can, there's also Lion!

The same Peridot in the carnival, too? [He doesn't know her very well, but she was part of the ritual to get them out of Portland ands a supervisor. It still seems like a small group, but then again so were the Lancers. Yuya can't credit them for everything, but the allies they made to stop his own war were significant.]

That's pretty intense, but you definitely won't let them win, right?

No way! Not in a million years!

[ Which might actually be hold old the Diamonds are... ]

[Yuya grins wide.] Then I won't worry! It sounds like you've got it handled.

[He picks up the dance mix CD, waving it in the air.] I think I'm going to get this. If you want a copy, I can let you borrow it.

Thank you! I should get one too... what do you think looks good?

[ Music is one thing she has had a decent exposure to. Just some basic explicit content controls on her phone meant she could listen to most music she liked. And she's also had some fun listening to Greg's old records. ]

I mostly listen to pop or J-pop. But I can't hear all of it while we're here, so I've just been listening to songs if the cover looks really cool!

[This is obviously not a calculated endeavor. When in doubt, gravitate to pretty pictures.]

[ Nothing says you couldn't judge an album by it's cover so it checks out. She starts looking through some covers and finds one with a very intricate circular pattern etched on the cover. She pulls it out in excitement. ]

Wow, a mandelbrot!

Huh? [Yuya leans over from starting to flip through the rack of CDs to to the side, his gaze skinning astound the pattern?] You mean the pattern?

[He's not sure why the pattern has such a fancy name, but it is pretty.]

Yeah! It's a type of fractal. A mathematically generated shape! If you magnify it, you can see the same patterns reemerging again.

[ Math is cool. ]

Uh... yeah! [Yuya is barely passing math. He doesn't sound half as enthused, but he won't knock her excitement.] It looks really cool... what kind of music is it?

[He starts looking down the demo list, trying to match the CD to any of the songs.]

⇨ WISMUTH

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