⇨ 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

[dressedtothe]

"Great!" he's only seen a little bit of Childermass' magic, but it was appropriately sneaky for someone whose job title is the Aquisitioner. "The security cameras have plenty of blind spots, so it'll be easy to get in close."

Anyway, he better put things back to how they were before. So with another quick hack, the lamp post's light turns back on.

"Is there anything else you need to know before we get going?"

[atouts]

It is appropriately sneaky, thank goodness. He was a capable enough thief before having any magic up his sleeve but it's definitely better with it. Easier. In any case, Childermass doesn't reach for any particular spell just yet, focusing on the building again briefly.

"One last thing," he says after a few seconds, lips pursed and brow furrowed in thought for those, considering something. "The security cameras are those devices jutting out of the building. Is that right?"

[dressedtothe]

A nod. He's not sure how familiar Childermass is with cameras -- a valid question, given that people in the Carnival on the whole seem more familiar with magic than technology -- so he adds, "They can only 'see' in the direction their lens are pointed at, kind of like an eye. They're usually pointed at key locations, like entrances."

Which makes sense; everyone who enters a store would have to pass through the entrance, theoretically.

"As long as we stay outside its field of view when we approach, we'll be fine."

[atouts]

Familiar enough, now that 9S has confirmed that they're what he saw while casing the building earlier. With that explanation in mind, he can decide on a decent enough point of entry.

"That I can do," he confirms and without further ado, steps over to place a hand on 9S's shoulder. They'll be dropping away through the android's shadow, into a realm that's pitch black and lacking in any sound save for what they make themselves. It isn't cold, exactly, but there isn't much reason so expect warmth in a place between shadows.

It only lasts two or three seconds, however, and then they're stepping out of a shadow along a darker side of the big box store itself. They come out in a spot between cameras, the very edge of one's view so long as they don't move terribly much.

[dressedtothe]

It's a little different from travelling with Strange, but still nevertheless fascinating to 9S. There's no doubt he'll record the experience (but for who? He won't be going home ever again).

Once they step out of a shadow, 9S doesn't need to be instructed to take out security. Raising a hand, 9S hacks into the camera. It takes him longer than with the lamppost -- the shop is small, the security is a closed system that makes it easy for him to find his way -- but soon he's lowering his hand.

"Alright, the cameras will play old footage back to the security television. No one will know we were here."

[atouts]

To that, Childermass gives a nod and, for the second time, pulls them into the shadows. This is for getting into the building, however, and despite only a wall separating them from it, it does take a few seconds longer. He's searching, feeling out with his magic for the best spot to appear from. When he finds it—

"Here," he says on stepping back out into the material plane with 9S. They've gone from outside to the shadows between two walls — at a corner — and a large video game display, something about invading aliens who look like Shiba Inus in robot suits for some bizarre reason. Not that he'll pay that much mind (for now; he played an awful lot of stupid video games in Portland, so maybe when 9S isn't looking...) and instead turns to the android.

"You'll have to point out what you want. I can store most things in my shadow."

[dressedtothe]

At least 9S waits patiently for Childermass to do his work. He might whine and complain about a lot of things, but he does take work seriously! ...At least, when he's in the middle of it. Give him a break, and he'll use the opportunity to run his mouth.

When he steps out next to a video game display, 9S pays it little mind; the cases are empty of the actual game media. Besides, that's not what he's here for... even if the other electronics are almost a siren song to him.

No, he really wants the storage; it'll be the only way he can back up his memories if something happens to him.

9S walks past the video games, looking for the shelf he'd seen before. His eyesight isn't any better than a humans at night, unfortunately, so he's plucking boxes and holding them up so he can try reading the words from the faint lights from outside. If Childermass happens to pocket other items, it's not something 9S will pay much heed to.

Eventually, he finds what he's looking for: the largest sized external harddrives he can find in the store. They have security devices fitted over them, but it's nothing he can't disable. Holding one of the boxes up, 9S waves to flag Childermass over to him. "Here we go! This is what I'm looking for."

[atouts]

And as 9S goes about look, he'll have Childermass trailing along after at an easygoing pace. So long as he doesn't lose track of where 9S is in the dark, that's good enough, which means he does stop on occasion to squint curiously at this or that, random bits of technology he isn't entirely familiar with.

He will break off from that once 9S flags him down, however, turning to join him over by the hard drives. So it's all in a box he can simply hold up? That's all?

"Seems a little small for a storage container," he comments aloud, picking one of the other boxes of that kind up. Too dark to bother trying to read the fine print, but he can still try.

[dressedtothe]

9S chuckles before picking up more of the boxes, deactivating the security devices with some quick hacking.

"Well... if you think about it, your brain stores incredible amounts of data, but it's smaller than two of these."

The comment isn't intended as an insult, but...

Still, 9S can't help but sigh as he hands over the boxes of external harddrives to Childermass to store. "Data storage in this time is really inefficient... These aren't going to be large enough to make a complete backup, but who knows when we'll be in a place that even has this kind of thing."

[atouts]

And he won't take it as one, though he will quirk an eyebrow at the comment and make a quiet 'hm' sound.

"If you think this is inefficient," Childermass replies to that instead, "You would not enjoy England. Everything is still on paper."

Everything, literally everything, but as these aren't and are, in fact, in nicely packaged boxes, he'll take a hacked one and casually stuff it into the shadow of his coat. It's one of those long sorts, picked up helpfully for him by Lambert and Strange back on the moon. Unfortunately, it's also a swashbuckler coat, but seeing how his boring old black one didn't survive their trip to Heartstone, well—

Anyway. He's pulling one side of the lengthy coat open and just shoving it into the darkness it creates just by being the inside of a coat in a dark building. It looks shady as hell but the box does vanish outright, going only Childermass knows where. That done, he holds a hand out for the next box.

[dressedtothe]

Can one really expect a boring looking gift from people like Lambert and Strange?

If only 9S could have a storage space like that. But then again, it would probably get filled with all sorts of junk. His own little bag, on top of keeping some important android supplies, has things like pebbles and feathers from Earth.

9S lets out a quiet hum. "But your England is still populated by humans, right?" He assumes it is. "I'm sure your world is still vibrant and full of life. I'd put up with technological inefficiencies if it meant I could see it for myself."

If he isn't stopped, 9S is just going to clear out this shop of all its external storage on display.

[atouts]

"Still populated...?" Childermass questions that, turning to give 9S a peculiar look. Overall, he isn't really aware of the android's background, where he's from, what his own world is like. "Well, of course. Every country is populated by humans. We're the only ones about, save for faeries, though they have had little opportunity to cross back into our realm just yet."

That may change soon now that all the roads are wide open.

"Though if you must know the truth, it is mostly full of rain."

But he does, at least, say that with a hint of fondness in his voice, like it's some kind of inside joke about where he's from. After all, it is, but he's honestly never minded the rain. Just not London rain, mind. Jokes aside, he does consider the soon to be empty display. Should they really be taking that many? But who will ever be able to track them down even if they do? This world is mundane, even with the ease of magic here.

[dressedtothe]

Rain, huh?

"I guess rain's nice once in a while, but all the time? That sounds annoying. Wouldn't you always be wet?"

What are umbrellas or raincoats? That incredibly advanced technology certainly didn't make it into androids' records.

Well, Childermass didn't stop him so 9S dumps the last of the external storage with him. It's not like he's clearing out the backroom as well!

"Is there anything you wanted to get while we're here?"

[atouts]

"We have hats," Childermass uses that as an example rather than explaining umbrellas, raincoats, and other ways to keep dry. That's right, 9S, all humans of England must wear hats constantly. As to if there's anything he would like to get, that does give him pause.

He does consider it, gaze straying over to the section with VIDEO GAMES signage stuck on the tops of the shelves.

"...hm." It's a fun memory to have, but ultimately, he knows humoring that particular whim is pointless. He'll always have better things to do with his time. Still-- "Just a look at something."

And he'll wander away towards that section, just to check out what Wismuth has for systems compared to what Portland had.

[dressedtothe]

Hats to keep off the rain? 9S considers that.

"Wouldn't the hats need to be very large so you didn't get wet?"

9S trails behind Childermass as he heads towards the video game section. It's not something he particularly has much interest in, personally. It's hard to, when his interest is more aligned with history and video games are just time consuming stories, as far as he's concerned.

Curious, he asks, "Do you like playing games?"

[atouts]

"Some have very wide brims," Childermass answers with that. Technically not untrue. Farmer hats, for example, even if they aren't at all in style. As for games, well, he takes his time perusing them, though inevitably has to fish out a necklace charm — a crystal tied up in curled sterling wire — to make it easier to see.

When he gets that out, it lights up, glowing the same soft grey-blue of his fae marks (not that 9S would know about those, seeing how overdressed the magician tends to be). It's enough to make reading so much easier.

"And... well, I'm not sure, actually. The man I was in Portland kept an older device for them, nothing like the ones in this store."

[dressedtothe]

9S squints at Childermass.

He can't tell if the guy is messing with him or not. These large hats to keep the rain off sound fake. But 9S doesn't verbally question it; Childermass may not be his boss, but he's a boss in the Carnival.

"Er... Portland?"

[atouts]

"A very troublesome stop," Childermass explains. "We ended up on a version of Earth that had been wholly enchanted and got caught up in the same spell. It gave everyone different lives."

Because, yes, he's well aware it was before 9S ever set foot in the carnival.