⇨ 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

[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?"

[pipers_son]

"Ah, yeah, yeah." At least Joker doesn't sound too concerned by it, checking a street sign as he passes it by just to get his bearings. Ever since then, after all, they've had much worse things to deal with. And anyway...

"It's only been the one time in three years, ta my recollection, so at least that doesn't happen often, and the folks who were actually visitin' for fun didn't question much... But there were these things that I guess were in control, and they realized we didn't really 'belong' ta the place. Got pretty aggressive immediately, I have ta say, and we weren't even doin' much."

...As much as maybe a few of them might have been trying to.

Joker shrugs after the explanation. "Of course, we were also cursed at the time, which probably didn't help."