⇨ 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

[soft_focus]

Well, that could theoretically work if...Mushi weren't definitely their own brand of weird spirit thing. Reira mulls the idea over for a bit...and..

"..............I don't know," she decides "..........I don't think you're a 'Mushi', so." It's probably a specific sort of deal.

[hurtcomfort]

"I don't think I'm a mushi either," Cole admits, though he's still a bit confused as to what a mushi is. All he's got are invisible bug things that Ginko can see, for all he knows he could be a mushi.

"I'll have to ask him about that." It's said in a bit of a grudging tone of voice. Cole really doesn't want to ask Ginko about it but well, what other options does he have?

[soft_focus]

Yes she can tell the idea is not a welcome one-and tone isn't the only indicator. "........What if I just asked him first?" If she asks him 'can Mushi look like people', and the answer is 'no', it's Fine.

If it's not 'no' she supposes she'll have to ask if they're in other worlds, but anyway.

[hurtcomfort]

The idea isn't welcome partly because Cole knows he's terrible at people. Granted, Reira is also terrible at people to a certain extent, but she knows Ginko. She might know how to ask him better.

"I'd like that. If you don't mind, of course." If she does, then he'll do it himself. It's as simple as that.

[soft_focus]

"It's okay!" .... "....I have to talk to him anyway, since we work together... ...but he's nice, and I don't think he likes talking either, so he's already really quiet..." Not that talking is bad, just. Not being afraid to talk to people can be Pretty Hard.

"So I can definitely ask!" She'll probably just radio him, honestly.

[hurtcomfort]

Cole smiles, a small little smile, before he nods at Reira. That's good. Reira asking the question is good.

"Words fall like water, tripping and tumbling, I think it but sometimes the saying fails. So thanks."

It's Cole, in his own weirdo way, expressing that sometimes he just plain isn't good at saying what he thinks or what he feels. And then, as if to ruin the mood, one of the seagulls makes a loud squawk before looking at Cole with his beady eyes.

"...I've run out of food," he says, more to himself than to Reira or the birds.

[soft_focus]

The way he says it, it feels like water, certainly-she can imagine a trickling stream, going over a wall, and down, crashing gently against rocks.... ....It makes sense, and she nods, before frowning at the birds.

".......You have to find more somewhere else now," she 'instructs' the birds, a few of whom simply spread their wings in a huff to start squawking in protest. She doesn't understand what they're 'saying', obviously, but the entire feeling of 'WHAT!!! BUT WHY' is pretty easy to catch even just with eyes. "...There's places that have fries that aren't here, you have to go there now."

Will birds understand that? Probably not, but that hardly stops her from acting like they do.

[hurtcomfort]

A few of the birds fly off, squawking and fussing all the while. A few more of them just stare down Cole with their awful beady little seagull eyes.

"I'll get more food for you," Cole explains, though the birds probably don't understand that as well. Though, Reira's here, maybe she'll want to help as well. He turns from the birds to Reira, fixing her with a hopeful expression.

"Do you want to help?"

[soft_focus]

Such a shame....but, ahh well, apparently they're doing this now. Not that she doesn't want to anyway, but she sort of worries about what'll happen when not so nice people are the target of their woes.

Well whatever. "Mn!! Yeah," she decides, fishing in her pocket for something. "...The Ringmaster gave everyone money for snacks, I think, so...we can get fries..."

[hurtcomfort]

There's an awkward paaaaause before Cole admits,

"I haven't been using my money. People don't eat things so I grab those instead."

The spirit has straight up been raiding trash cans. It makes sense to him. People don't eat all their food, Cole can take that and give it to the birds. It's as simple as that. Though, Reira mentioned the money so she's been using her money so should he use the money as well? "Should I have been buying the food?"

[soft_focus]

Oh no!

"...What if they could get sick because of all the other garbage though..?" Reira's just been taught to be more careful about what you feed animals, herself. If the birds have been living 5Ever on fries, the fries themselves are probably fine but.

Garbage! Disease!! They need to be more careful about the birds!! "Mnnh. Maybe? ...We could also get the things from the menagerie supplies..." Reira no.

[hurtcomfort]

"But they like those things." At least, he's certain they do. The seagulls feel annoyance when they're shooed away from the garbage can and they keep swarming Cole whenever he appears with french fries and hot dogs stolen from said garbage can. Ergo, it's best to feed the seagulls with people's leftovers.

Sometimes birds like like garbage. Sorry, Reira. Cole's still a bit confused as to why feeding the birds other people's leftovers would be a bad idea in the first place, as he gives Reira a bit of a frown.

[soft_focus]

"The cats like chocolate too, but if they ever eat more than what they steal before they get caught, they'll get sick and die. ...Sometimes animals like things, but the things are dangerous. ...and... ...we don't know what could stick to the fries in the garbage."

Her counterargument is Perfect, honestly.

"...I can get the fries, if you want to use your allowance for other things, though."

[hurtcomfort]

"What would I use it for?" It's an honest question. Because most of what Cole's needed, he didn't really need himself. It's things for others, such as fries for the birds and supplies for the carnival. And, well, people wouldn't miss one or two things, little things filched from their noses. It would make Childermass happy.

Any sort of 'buy things because it would make you happy' is a bit foreign to poor Cole. As such, he's downright confused at Reira's suggestion of using his allowance for other things.

[soft_focus]

"...........I........don't know." She's honest, at least. Very honest.

"..........I don't know what to do with mine either..." Which is, you know, a shame. "....but I don't want to waste it..." The struggle is real, Cole.

[hurtcomfort]

By their powers combined, they have no clue how to spend money.

Cole frowns a little, thinking and looking down at his feet as he does so. What to spent the money on if neither of them know what to spend it on in the first place.

"Maybe we could buy useful thing," he concedes, "I know what people want."

[soft_focus]

Oh!! "Like on the moon!" she exclaims, eyes wide. Actually, speaking of the moon...

"Oh..!" She pulls out her camera, quickly taking a shot of the seagulls while they're briefly distracted by its colour. "...I almost forgot pictures..." Phew.

Anyway. "...Do you know what someone other than the birds wants right now?"

[hurtcomfort]

"Cigarettes," Cole answers, matter of factly, entirely unaware of things like 'age laws' and 'not selling them to minors' and 'the fact that Reira is a minor.'

"I think I know where to find them, but there's too many choices."

[soft_focus]

Cigarettes. She crosses her arms, nodding. Those are the things that people have in their mouth, right..? "Mnhh... ...I don't know which ones people like most... ...Just that they're smelly..."

Hmm. But, she has an idea. "Oh-! ...What if...we asked everyone buying them here, what makes theirs the best?"

[hurtcomfort]

That makes a lot of sense. Cole nods, looking over at Reira. After all, people like talking about things they enjoy. Cigarettes would fall under that category, wouldn't they?

"We should ask together." Not just because by their powers combined, they're a competent human being, but because Cole would rather do this with someone else, not by himself.

[soft_focus]

Of course it makes sense! Why would this ever fail? Reira nods confidently, and she looks toward the city. "Yeah! We just have to find the first place that sells lots of them, and ask there!"

oh no

[hurtcomfort]

"That place might work," Cole responds, as he points to a drugstore. He doesn't know much about what the heck the Walgreens is, just that he went inside once and they've got so much stuff.

And hey, if it doesn't work then they've at least got a starting point.

[soft_focus]

"Let's find out then..!" She sure doesn't know if they will or won't, but she has a really great feeling about this!

All they have to do is walk in, look, and... ...Aha.

"Aha!" THERE. She'll point right at it.

"They're behind the counter..!"

This is for a good reason, guys.

[hurtcomfort]

As Reira points to the counter, Cole's eyes follow her. And there they are: the cigarettes. Getting out some of the money from his pocket (because Cole doesn't even have a wallet or purse), he walks up to the counter.

Alright, Cole can do this, he's seen people buy things before, he knows how to do this. He walks up to the woman behind the counter, a young woman in her twenties idly flipping through a gossip magazine. Her nametag says 'HELLO THERE! My name is KRISTI. How can I help?'

(That's good, Cole likes Kristi already, she wants to help them!)

"Hello!" he says, pushing past that nervousness to give Kristi a small smile. "We would like to buy cigarettes."

Says the young man wearing an inside out sweatshirt and the seven year old.

[soft_focus]

Helping? IS GREAT. Mind you, she's not entirely certain Kristi actually wants to help. She seems sort of bored, and labels will say lots of things. Lots of fake things. It'd be great however, if she actually did want to help.

Besides, Cole is nervous, so she should really try to offer some support. "Yeah!" she pipes in, standing up on her toes to try and see over the counter. Reira herself probably looks like a small hobo-child. Which is only adding to the 'validity' here, clearly. "We need to know which ones are the best ones, so that we get the best ones..!"

Kristi is already trying to determine if she actually heard what she just heard. This isn't happening right? That's.

What.