⇨ 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

[genice]

"I'm glad."

It isn't precisely gratitude, but it is true: he appreciates Cole saying he isn't the Ringmaster, and all that it implies. Which is an odd balance against the discomfort he's shoved down over Cole's capabilities, but he accepts it. Cole, spirit that he is, is better earnest than manipulative.

... Only he's both, without precisely saying so. Victor sighs inwardly, finding himself smiling when the ball's shoved in his face, Cole's excitement almost endearing. He feels so thoroughly, it seems. "With a vote of confidence like that, how couldn't I?" He winks, allowing himself to relax enough to chuckle in a thoughtless sort of flirtation, focusing back on the remaining bottle and the weight of the ball in his hand. He pulls his arm back, more or less aiming, but also distracted.

He does wish Yuri was here; he wishes all kinds of things, but wishes aren't productive so he lets them float unanchored as he narrows his eyes. When he throws he ball and watches it slam into the milk bottle, sending it flying off sideways because of how he clips it, he's taken by surprise. "I..." he laughs again, turning toward Cole. "Looks like your support was what I needed!" It feels nice, winning something irrelevant and focusing on the passing happiness it brings. The pleasant kind of surprises he enjoys bringing to others as much as experiencing himself.

[hurtcomfort]

A real, honest to god smile spreads across Cole's face as Victor knocks over the third bottle. It's fleeting and quick, but still counts. All that self-doubt and worries that Cole had earlier are just straight up vanishing as he looks at Victor's smile and feels his gratitude. He is helping. Just, in a way he didn't expect.

"You get a prize," Cole states, as if it's obvious. He looks at Victor for a moment, not making eyes at the man from beneath his hat, before Cole turns back to the prizes hung up for display. Looking them over, Cole picks one stuffed animal out and holds it out to Victor.

The stuffed animal is a brownish dog, with large cartoon eyes. It's very fluffy, but it's a carnival prize, the dog's made of shitty cheap fabric. The build of the stuffed animal is very generically 'dog' but it's closer to a larger dog than a smaller dog. All in all, the stuffed dog looks remarkably like Makkachin. There are a few differences: longer ears, shorter tail. But the resemblance is close enough that it's obvious Cole picked this particular stuffed animal out for a reason.

"It's not the real one, but it might help."

[genice]

He hasn't thought about what winning this game meant, for all Cole had told him there's a small prize if all three bottles are knocked down by the time one runs out of balls. He watches Cole turning back to the displayed prizes with an amused sort of consideration.

The brown not-Makkachin hits his heart hard. Not outwardly, when he blinks once and holds his hands out in response to what Cole says. He feels a spike of bittersweet happiness because Makkachin isn't here. She's a good dog, and an old dog, and his oldest friend. A year dealing with the stress of this carnival wouldn't be kind to her, less so if she thought Victor was in distress. Having this imperfect, cheap imitation to hold onto is better than having Makkachin herself. It means she's back home, safe, and he won't be missing any of his remaining time with her. He won't get back to have sent everyone he cares into a frenzy not knowing what happened to him and to find his dog has died.

Positive spins can sometimes be in finding what morbid realities won't come to pass. He takes the stuffed dog, a man going on thirty, and presses the stupid thing to the middle of his chest. He still finds Cole's talents unnerving, but it's gentling some. He's feeling far more of a mingled sadness and gratitude, toward Cole, toward Makkachin's safety, toward missing a companion for so many years of his life, that all he can do is offer Cole a softer sort of smile. "Thank you, Cole."

[hurtcomfort]

He misses her. In between all the confusion and shock at his new surroundings, Cole can pick up on one strand of hurt in Victor's heart: he misses his dog. And that, at least, he knows how to help. He can't bring Makkachin here. But he can do the next best thing: give Victor something to remind him of her, to soothe the suffering.

And so, when he sees Victor hold that stuffed dog, when he gets the thanks, Cole's heart just swells in happiness. There we go. He made things better.

"You're welcome," he responds, with a little nod. "You'll see her again. A year isn't that long." But it still can be longer than expected, so this stuffed animal should help.

[genice]

And it will help, being a link to years of fond memories and companionship even while Makkachin's out of reach. Even while everyone's out of reach, really.

"Not if I keep busy," he says, agreeing in his own way, tone bright and chipper as if it'd never been anything else. His smile now is easy, his mood still happy and tangled in the sorrow that won't go away, only dull with time. He doesn't like being away from Yuri, no. But he's never been away from Makkachin for more than a few weeks, and even then, just for the Olympics. "Besides, even if I don't have my phone, apparently I can think about her around you and get at least one sympathiser."

Victor winks, chuckling lightly. He's half-way serious, if only because it's nice in an exceedingly odd way to have something like that understood. Freaky, also. He's going to go with nice, though. He tucks the stuffed dog under an arm, keeping it close.

"I should let you continue with your job at the game for now, though. I'll see you around?"

Questioning because he's frankly not sure what Cole's general mode of operation is, and even in a small carnival, people can still manage to be nothing but a series of missed connections.

[hurtcomfort]

Victor's smiling, Victor feels better, Victor's happy now. And, though it doesn't show much on Cole's face, that just makes him all the more happy as well. It makes sense to miss people. So many people here have someone they miss, friends, family, loved ones. If Cole can do anything to ease that burden a little bit, he's going to try to.

At Victor's question though, Cole nods.

"You will," he responds, in a matter of fact sort of voice. Of course Victor will see him around. Cole wants people to see him. It wouldn't work otherwise and he couldn't run this booth. Cole gives one last look at Victor before he starts setting the bottles back up, getting things ready for another customer to try to win something.

[genice]

Victor nods in return, taking his leave with the intention of heading back by his trailer. He doesn't want to accidentally lose the poorly crafted stuffed dog.

You did good, Cole. You did good.