⇨ 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

[pipers_son]

"Ah, we'll save her, we'll save her~." Laughing, Joker flops his hand back and forth casually. It's not a big deal, as far as he's concerned. As long as people are there to help each other, it should be fine. Besides, Feathers can do that much, he's sure. They've been getting better on learning how to delicately grab things with his talons.

In the meantime, he gives a hair flip that's definitely a lot more dramatic than it really needs to be. "Yep~. Folks around here don't usually see birds as big as this one just casually on a bloke's arm, ha! I'm sure it'll help business, or at least get folks talkin'."

[dontpokethat]

"Well, here's another idea - instead of saving her, we keep her from needing to be saved to begin with." JUST A THOUGHT.

Whether it was meant to or not, the hair flip gets a quiet, amused huff. "Seems like a pretty sound marketing strategy. You've certainly got a talent for getting people's attention, anyway."

[pipers_son]

"And miss out on some fun and excitement?" Crouching down, he holds out his hand to the little bug even as he grins up at Ginko.

"And it all comes down ta the right look, the right gimmick, and a bit of charm~." Laughing, he bumps his head against Feathers' fondly. "Anyone could do it. I should take ya with me sometime, if yer interested?"

[dontpokethat]

"We can have plenty of fun without letting innocent animals endanger themselves." Miu shuffles over eagerly to bop her face against his palm, while Antlers sits down patiently and thumps his tail in the sand a couple times.

"Exactly. Pretty sure getting all those takes some kind of talent, even if you've got practice at it."

The corner of Ginko's mouth twitches, and he shakes his head. "Doesn't sound like a good plan. At best, my being there probably wouldn't change much."

[pipers_son]

Who's a good bug? Who's a good bug? Joker and Feathers alike coo over her, type differences meaning nothing in terms of Carnival team ups. Eventually, he'll give Antlers some love too, but Antlers is less likely to get washed away by the waves.

"I figure it could change a bit, honestly." After a second, Joker grins up at him. "But I think ya would get all flustered if ya had that many people crowdin' ya like that! Not that it wouldn't be a good luck." With that same roguish grin, he winks up at him.

[dontpokethat]

Miu leans into the attention with a delighted full-body wiggle, completely oblivious to the recent discussion of her vulnerability to the ocean.

"Probably for the worse." Listen, he's just saying, this sort of thing is not his strong suit. Part of that, though, does get him to make a face. "Flustered is not the word I'd use, but, no, I'd rather that not happen. Don't see how it would do anyone much good, either way."

[pipers_son]

"Well, ya know a lot about the animals we have!" Trying to find a place that a bug might accept scritches, Joker glances up at Ginko again. "No one else in the Carnival knows as much about them as ya do. That sorta expertise is good. All I can do is make a mystery of it, when folks ask me about things like that."

[dontpokethat]

As it turns out, the top of her head works fine, as does her fluffy front -
though the former also has the definite advantage of causing some pretty adorable ear-flopping on her glamour.

"Well, that's just it - mysteries draw people in, don't they? Nobody wants to listen to some guy tell them about animals they haven't even seen for themselves. That stuff is supposed to wait 'til they actually get into the carnival."

[pipers_son]

Well, the most adorable option is always the best one to go with, isn't it? Ear flopping ahoy!

Besides, it's easiest to do while he scoffs playfully at Ginko. "But just tellin' folks ta look in a box without tellin' 'em anythin' else isn't gonna do it, is it? Ya need enough ta hook 'em in. And besides, anyone who would listen ta ya talk would be enchanted, I'm sure of it." What comes out of his mouth next isn't planned, exactly, only that it had been something he had been feeling, and now it just... tumbles out of him. "Ya get so focused, it's a great sight ta see. Especially when ya smile."

[dontpokethat]

Usually, when people try to compliment Ginko, it ranges from weird and uncomfortable to... well, appreciated, however quietly. Joker, however, seems to have a unique talent for finding a specific, narrow range of comments, of sentiments and phrases, that manage to push that appreciation a step further.

The downside of this, of course, is that Ginko isn't sure how to handle that next step. It's hard to imagine that there's anything particularly interesting about hearing him ramble about the animals; as fascinating as they are, Ginko himself isn't any kind of showman. At least, when guests tour the menagerie, the animals are right in front of them, creating interest on their own simply by virtue of their existence. But Joker seems... sincere about it. At the very least, he believes it.

Which... Ginko is very, very happy to hear, enough so that it surprises even him. But he also doesn't really know what to say about it.

He looks away and clears his throat, pressing his lips together. "I... I'm glad you think so, but I don't know how many people would agree. Now, I wouldn't say telling them nothing is the way to go - but wouldn't it be enough to make sure they know we have creatures they won't see anywhere else? They can go to the carnival to find out the details for themself."

[pipers_son]

Aaah, no smile. It's not that Joker was expecting one, of course. He already knows that he's not one of the things or people that get that kind of expression on Ginko's face. Maybe Feathers could, which is a nice thought and one he should experiment with, but Feathers isn't him. Still, that hadn't stopped him from hoping a little bit. At least the reaction is a good one, and Joker laughs a little bit as Ginko turns his head away to mask his own strange little pang of longing. At least he'll always have Antlers, who he extends his hand to next. Time for a good boy's turn.

"Yeah, but everyone always says that when it comes ta circuses. It's the easiest thing ta say in the book." He's run one, he should know. It was easy enough in England, everyone staying in their little spaces, unable to travel, unable to see things so easily like he's seen in some worlds, and with whispers of new exotic things on nobility's lips. Of course, when it comes to the carnival the Ringmaster runs, they're actually saying the truth, but no one can know that before going.

"Give 'em somethin' solid, the best tidbit ya can, and that's the sort of thing that comes best from the people who know best." Glancing up away from Ginko, he smiles. "Don't ya think?"

[dontpokethat]

Antlers bumps his head affectionately into Joker's palm, and Ginko recovers enough to look back at him after a moment - though now his face feels a little warm. This is so stupid, just gonna ignore it and keep talking.

"I guess so, but-- I'm not sure what I could say that would interest them, and that they'd believe. I can't exactly tell them we've got a dragon and expect them to assume I'm telling the truth, right?" He snorts and tilts his head toward Joker a little. "I don't think I've got the knack for treading that line the way you do."

[pipers_son]

"Well, of course-!" Joker laughs, using his wooden fingers to their best affect for the best scritches a dog could ask for. "That's why ya don't give the name away! Just say that it's an animal big as a house, and we got an animal in a mystery box that they'll never guess what it is~." Calling it a box of hands would just concern people....

...Or, wait, maybe that would be perfect. That's actually perfect sideshow fodder, just as long as they don't mention the whole moving and probably living thing.

Still, is it just him, or does Ginko's face have a little more color to it than usual...? In this place, Joker doesn't immediately for the obvious. After all, even he's noticed how much... brighter everything is here. Still, still... "Have ya just been walkin' these too around all day then?" he asks suddenly. "Not gotten anythin' ta eat?"

[dontpokethat]

"That... does sound like a good plan. See, this is why you're in charge of stuff like this and I'm not."

In-depth explanations of the behavior and life cycles of magical or semi-magical organisms, he can do. Piquing people's interest enough for them to come see a carnival? That's... not really his specialty. Or something he knows how to do at all.

The shift in topic seems to catch him a little bit off-guard, but it doesn't take him too long to adjust. He looks up at the sky, his mouth twisting as he checks the position of the sun, since he... doesn't actually own a watch or anything. "I had breakfast, but that was... a few hours ago, actually. These guys have kept me pretty busy."

[pipers_son]

"Yeah, that's just like ya." Did he mean for the words to come out that fond? He didn't, he thinks, but there they are, warm as a summer sun. Joker realizes it in a split second, and keeps talking as if that will mask the moment.

"Well, since I've got some time on my hands, why don't we go find somewhere? Just you, me..." Standing up, he gestures to all three creatures with a wide grin and softly shaking shoulders. "An entire zoo..."

[dontpokethat]

Something about that tone sinks into Ginko's chest, threatens to make his face go another shade pinker - though he couldn't for the life of him say why. Maybe he's just not used to people saying stuff like that like it's a good thing, instead of scolding him or making fun of him for working too much.

He snorts and crouches down momentarily to scoop Miu up; if they're heading out, he might as well make sure she can't take off again. "Sounds like a plan. Anywhere that's caught your eye yet?"

[pipers_son]

A certain brilliant triumph sparkles in his chest when Ginko picks Miu up, because it's an answer before the other man even speaks. Excellent. Perfect. "Not particularly, although I've seen plenty of- ah ha!" He taps his fingers together.

"Yer, ah, what is it... From the East... Japan, right? I got the name right?"

[dontpokethat]

"Yeah, that's right. And you're from England." See, Joker, he can do that too.

Jokes ("jokes") aside, though, he can guess where Joker is going with this. "Did you see somewhere with Japanese food?" Because that is actually a pretty appealing prospect.

[pipers_son]

They barely qualify as jokes, honestly, but that doesn't stop Joker from laughing a little even with how excited he looks.

"Yeah! At least, I think I got it right. I didn't look too much at the name, but the food inside looked like it fit the bill." His shoulders roll in an easy shrug. "Then again, who knows if they even call countries the same here." It means a bit of guessing, depending on the world, but Joker hasn't minded much. "It might take a bit of a ride ta get there, but I have enough money for that." Are animals even allowed on buses or subways? It's fine, he'll figure it out.

[dontpokethat]

Boy, that's encouraging. But the ambiguity of whether the place they're going is Japanese at all actually makes Ginko grin even more. "Looked like it, huh? Guess we'll find out for sure when we get there."

Lead the way, Joker. And, uh... yeah, he'll just hope the local public transit doesn't have a problem with dogs. Or owls.

[pipers_son]

Hey, the surprise makes it more fun, or something. At least, that's what Joker thinks as he cheerfully begins to lead the way with Feathers fluttering back up again. Look, a well trained bird! At least, that's what he's promising.

Fortunately, subways aren't too hard to find in a city like this, and Joker skips down with a cheerful hum. Feathers' whole body seems to bob with each step. "What kind of countries did ya know about back home, anyway? Besides yer own, I mean."

tmw your character is from an alternate history setting and you gotta Bullshit

[dontpokethat]

Antlers stays close by Ginko's heels as he follows Joker, while Miu, after wiggling all the way to the subway, seems to have settled down some by the time they start down the stairs. Honestly, thank goodness, places like this put Ginko on edge enough without her trying to break free.

"Ah, well... only a few, honestly. I'd hear bits and pieces about China, or Europe, or the Americas... We were pretty isolated, I guess." He snorts quietly. "Most of what I heard was from one friend of mine; he always wanted to talk about whatever new gadget he'd had imported."

[pipers_son]

"Ha, one of those! Well, they're always a delight, that sort of person." Or perhaps Joker is just biased with how much he likes to talk himself. Arriving down at the bottom of the stairs, he waits patiently for Ginko to come with him. "England was goin' all over, so I got ta hear about a few interestin' places... But it was mostly folks from India that we were hearin' about. Curry and stuff like that was really popular."

He suddenly comes to a pause, however, glancing at a sigh. Ah, animals only when brought in a bag.... Well, he'll figure that out.

[dontpokethat]

"They can be," Ginko agrees. Seems safe to say that much is true, even if he'd be hesitant to agree it's always the case. "I think I've heard of curry - haven't had it, though. It's supposed to be pretty spicy, right?"

Ginko also looks over the sign, raising his eyebrows. "...Did you bring any bags, because I didn't." Let alone one that could fit Antlers.

[pipers_son]

"Yeah, some of it can be pretty spicy, but there's stuff for all sorts, I think." He never got to have too much of the kind that was brought to England, although he's had some while traveling with the Carnival. He's not sure how much that counts.

Still, they have a more pressing matter, and Joker hums. "I don't suppose ya brought Miu's ball...?"