⇨ 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

[espigeon]

Julien puts his hand to the side of his face and tilts his head, grinning and unabashed, deliberately half-hiding his smile under fuzzy palps. "I don't think you like me enough. And now I feel so embarrassed for oversharing, golly gosh. Maybe I shouldn't even say where else I've considered putting a stud."

When he'd formed this, human body he'd gone right into a little roadside parlor and got the seven piercings he has now. Three per ear, one brow. Body piercings are more involved.

[pipers_son]

"Oh no, do tell~." Leaning in close conspiratorially, he waggles his eyebrows. "Y'know I always live for juicy details like this." Which isn't exactly false, either. He's a nosy jackass, and loves getting involved in what's going on with people.

[espigeon]

"Joker, you filthy scamp," Julien pretends to scold him. He does love talking about himself, though, and he leans in to murmur, since he always feels like his whisper is too harsh, shielding his mouth with a palp.

"You know, I lost almost all my piercings when I turned into a bird. Either right then, because my ears pulled back into my head, or over time. They were all just set awkwardly into a layer of skin and migrated out, the way surface piercings do. I'd shake off and they'd fall out of my feathers. All the ones this face has are new." It had been amazingly unpleasant, losing the piercings he'd gathered over years of interest, even though they weren't visible anymore. He hasn't actually really tried to copy them all exactly. New body, new style, right?

"But I also kept one, just because I kept something I don't just show people. A stud that made certain people... very... very... happy. And this body doesn't have it, and maybe I miss it." At that he shoves Joker with the palp on that side, which is about like being prodded on the jaw with two fingers, and pulls back to put his hands in the pockets of his neatly tailored jacket, all innocence.

[pipers_son]

If there's one thing Joker has learned to be sympathetic about during his time with the carnival, it's about transformations taking away some of the personal things about one's self. He's seen it time and time again: hooves or multiple legs making fancy footwear difficult, scales making makeup a little more difficult, and, as a personal example, wings making clothing a pain to wear. Sure, there are ways to adjust sometimes, but it's not always, and it's not the same.

So he clucks his tongue sympathetically at listening to Julien, but soon enough it's replaced by chuckles even as he's prodded. That's sure a new sensation... "Well, if yer gonna get somethin' you'll want ta get it now before we leave," he says, waggling his eyebrows.

[espigeon]

Losing his human face and its expressiveness had been a blow, as hard in its way as losing the ability to stand upright and use his hands. That Julien had chosen it, in a sense, hadn't meant it was okay. That he has them again, even with fae alterations tweaking them, is... well, it's really something.

"I don't think I'll be telling you what I do or don't get," he says, playing at dignity. "Since I don't think you'll see it, it's not any of your business. But rest assured I know about the timetable."

Sensations seem to be stronger here and that's... kind of rather daunting. But, this is the first halfway familiar world he's been to since Portland, which doesn't count, and the jewelry is really good. And he's not got long to decide with performance week starting soon.

[pipers_son]

Another bit of laughter, this one a little more sharp and sudden, a bark. "Ah, now I know never ta buy you a drink." But he's just playing- he's always playing when it comes to this sort of thing, really, but Joker winks to really drive the point home. Even if it were something possible, it's better not to sleep with performers. Not his, anyway.

"Still, it's yer business as ya said~." He nods his head to the doorway. "Are ya gonna stick around and look through some things some more, or are ya feelin' hungry? There are plenty of places ta eat at here that I haven't tried yet."

[espigeon]

Julien snorts and gets his palps out of the way of a crooked smile. "Just never say the word. I'm a shamefully cheap date, but I'm always happy to take drinks with friends. And mooch off them if they're offering."

It really is better not to get too entangled with people who are more or less in a position of power over you, even if Joker's not his direct supervisor. Pursuing Carly would be even worse, however cute both of them are.

"Oh, hm. Now that you mention it! I was kinda getting a multi-universe collection going." Mostly of street food, but he could branch out. "Anything look particularly choice?"

[pipers_son]

"Well..." Joker taps his chin, wings rustling behind his back. He's seen a few places that have been tempting, but he only has so much money. A choice must be made wisely.... or at least without regrets.

"I think there was one of those burger places that would let ya put all sorts of stuff on 'em, yer choice... and then one of those fancier café places." It had seemed dreadfully healthy, but also fascinatingly new to Joker himself. Sometimes, it's the mundane stuff that really interests him more than the flashy new sights and stops.

"So, really, it's all up for what yer interested in, I think."

[espigeon]

"Ooooh. Well. In my world, hipster cafés are usually pricier than all but the fanciest burger joints and less filling, but here especially I don't think there's a wrong choice." Except he supposes for foods someone doesn't like, or spoiled stuff? The intensity here in this world could go wrong, it's easy enough to see.

Julien taps his chin with his palps, debating with himself, and smiles broadly. "You know what, how about the café? I'd like to see the extra-vivid forms they go for here."

Ideally it's not so fancy there are people in quasi-Victorian garb waiting on them, right now that'd be kind of unpleasant, but he's hopeful for good-looking men and women with undercuts and piercings and aprons.

[pipers_son]

"Hipster it is~." Propping the door open with his foot, he keeps it open and whistles a little tune. "The fashion here really is somethin', tho, isn't it? Or maybe it's just the way I'm feelin'. I can't fully tell." What's real, what's not... A part of him bristles, thinking of Celebration, but it's not the same. It's merely another world, another city, only a little brighter. People live out their lives, perfectly normal, and not indulging in all sorts of pleasure willy-nilly.

[espigeon]

Julien emerges with a nod of thanks. He feels like Joker's less comfortable here than what he's projecting. You don't just poke at that kind of thing, though.

"Reminds me of when my eyes changed. Bird eyes, you know? Suddenly there was a halo around the sun and stars were there in the day, and there were too many colors and they all popped." He glances about in an exaggerated way, making a face. "Back then when I saw how everything looked different I thought I'd ended up in another world that just looked kinda like mine."

He'd known his eyes would change but not what it would be like. It had been helpful, once he'd gotten used to it, once the headaches and eyestrain had eased, even if he now sometimes has to guess what color someone else will see a given object as, and if he's allowed to choose someone else's makeup colors they are sometimes odd.

[pipers_son]

"Is that what that seems like, then?" Joker glances up towards the sky as they both head out onto the streets. It seems so blue, so unfettered by smog or dust. It's the kind of blue that felt as though it belonged in his early adolescence, when he was a little more optimistic with an actual roof over his head off in the country side. London has never held such clear skies, whether as he was growing up there or when he was visiting. Even on good days, it seemed weighed down. Funny, then, that this one is perfectly fine.

He's almost kind of envious, really.

"Never really had any changes for my senses really. Oh-" His ears flick up. "Well, hearin' might be a little better, although I can hardly tell."

[espigeon]

"Kinda! This isn't as technicolor." The eyes set into this head are closer to human. He manifests some floating ones which are more birdlike, compares the view. "Everything always looks filthier to bird eyes, but it is more dramatic with the colors. I feel like we're a little drab. Washed out."

He grins at that. Someone with bright red-orange hair and someone with teal hair, drab. It's more noticeable to bird eyes with their finer precision for colors, he doesn't think it's something people will pick out.

"Maybe you're better at telling where a sound comes from?"

[pipers_son]

Well isn't that a joke, and one Joker can't resist laughing at. What a life, where bright colors like orange and teal are washed out. Then again, that sort of thing isn't too unusual, he guesses. Some people see nothing at all.

"Maybe- Oh. Well, now that ya mention it, I can do this." His stare goes a little bit elsewhere, lost in concentration, and he sticks his tongue out from the corner of his mouth. Slowly, his ears perk up, and twist a little bit to focus backwards.

So he can do that.

[espigeon]

Joker's laughter draws a passing glance or so, no further attention or curiosity. With the glamour neither of them stand out at all. Julien has to marvel at that. The last actual performance stop he'd been part of, only his eye and 'hair' color and probably clothing choice were unusual, and the extra eyes, but it was possible to just not manifest those. He's sure picked up a lot under the Prince's manor.

It's still kind of strange to not draw attention. Funny. A year as a gigantic bird, then so, so much longer as an angel who could be inconspicuous at need, and he still half expects the nudging and whispering and overt and covert stares.

He wipes at the side of his face with a palp, brushing that aside to focus again. "Oh, hey! Nice. ...You know, I thought for a second there that you were showing me what you could do with your tongue. I can do the single tube but I can't do the cloverleaf... oh, is this the place?"

There are indeed many hipsters with exciting multilength dyed hair and piercings here.

[pipers_son]

"Now now, I save for what I can do with my tongue for only special friends~." To Joker's credit, he at least keeps his voice down for that one, and glances upwards at where the sign has been placed up over the doors.

There definitely are a lot of fun hair colors and tasteful piercings about, so it shouldn't be a surprise when Joker nods his head. "Yep~. This is the one. After you~." He holds open the door with a grin to him. The inside at least is warm and comfortable, although, true to hipster form, there aren't many proper tables and instead various armchairs and couches. Non-traditional, because of course it is.

At least the counter and the menus over by it are simple enough.

[espigeon]

Julien tries to pout, but he crosses his palps like arms over his mouth and it looks so silly that he can't help smiling, even if he tries to sound wounded. "Why do you tease me with what I can't have."

He sweeps in with all the wounded dignity he can conjure, looking in all directions with floating angel eyes, and gets a menu and directed to a spot.

Sitting alone in an armchair a chubby individual with very short, curly hair catches Julien's eye - in fairness, he saw them looking with his glamour-hidden spectral eyes - and winks. Julien seems inordinately pleased by this and starts to kiss a palp, then remembers they won't see it and kisses two fingers instead as he settles down. If Joker follows his gaze he may or may not get a wink himself. They've got different aesthetics, after all.

"I'm such a stereotype," Julien says under his breath, stifling a laugh. He looks over the menu and his eyebrows raise.

[pipers_son]

One would like to say it's the magpie in him, courtesy of his wings, that has Joker so curious at what's got Julien's attention... but no. He's just always been this way. So he glances over, not hiding his interest, before his face splits into a grin. Does he wink right back? Of course he does.

At least his attention drifts back to Julien and he laughs a little. "Has the price taken the wind out of the S. S. Flirt's sails?" he teases, leaning forward.

[espigeon]

Immediately responding to the implicit challenge Julien says "Do you think they'd take handjobs as payment, or would they hold out for oral? Maybe the mx. with the curly hair over there will take my tab if I bat my eyes enough." He snorts, pushes his glasses up his face with his palps.

"The S.S. Flirt is unsinkable. It's survived an exorcism." Or rather his partner at that time had expressed interest in resuming and who was he to say no? This is about as far along the road to kissing and telling as he's ready to go. "But this is a little much. Ouch. I noticed it a little in the jewelry shop too, I think it's also that a dollar here doesn't buy as much as a dollar where I'm from, but still. Man all these patrons must have really well paying jobs. I think I'm jealous."

[pipers_son]

Sometimes, he does so love his coworkers, and Joker has to duck his head down a little to hide his laughter with his hand. Clearly one should never challenge Julien in the way of flirting, unless they're like Joker and looking for an entertaining moment. "Well, ya could always try," he says, finally looking up again with a grin once he's gotten his amusement out of his system.

"I've given up on tryin' ta figure out how money changes across the world. S'all too much for the wallet I used ta know back in my England." Which is to say, what wallet.

[espigeon]

"I could. With how everything pops and is all intense here, would I be an amazing lay right from the start or would I begin easily overwhelmed and struggling?" Julien muses like it's a philosophical question, though he then says, "I need more data for this conclusion. For science, you see."

"Yeah, it's nice we get a stipend. It's the same for you and me, do you think?" That is, a Supervisor veteran and a relative newcomer who works a support role. "How communist! 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his need' or however the phrase goes."

A waiter with earlobes stretched around immense plugs comes by for drink orders and Julien, suddenly afraid for his budget and plans, has to request a water. He's not ashamed though, his smile says. Everyone goes for a water sometimes, despite the extensive and interesting juice bar, the artisan sodas, the elaborate mocktail menu, the actually hard stuff.

[pipers_son]

Well, if Julien wants to go bang people for "science", Joker by far is the last person who can possibly judge him. It's an entertaining idea, one that he toys with for himself. After all, he likely won't see this stop for the rest of the years that he's with the carnival. He'll see how he feels before they leave... but for now, he'd rather just get back into normal routine before really playing around.

As it is, there's something more interesting to him, and he leans a little closer with his hand gesturing vaguely. "Y'know, I've heard a bit about that here and there, but nothin' solid, so tell me a bit more about communism- ah, water," he says to the water with an idle nod of his head, mostly following Julien's line. Might as well keep things cheap anyway.

Also, is it just him, or does the waiter almost seem approving of the subject matter...? Ah, different worlds.

[espigeon]

How into sex Julien seems depends a lot on how the people around him feel about that. At home, after becoming a bird and before getting the ability to remote pilot a more human body, he'd ended up acting like he had virtually no interest at all because the optics were just better, and because overnight he'd become a massive sensation among tweens and he hated the thought of being creepy.

Here, well, maybe he will maybe he won't, but he won't really talk about success or failure. It's just not classy to brag or whine in that way.

Yeah, the waiter seems to have overheard and that won't hurt at all in this instance. "Man I wish I could check a 'pedia but like... It's a reaction against uneven power structures, it's trying to put power into the hands of the workers who get exploited for money. Upending everything, sharing out resources, money's not such a thing. And it's a wonderful concept but like... when you have a revolution you've always got people swarming up to the top, you know? And people with power don't like to give it up. So it always seems to end up with most people at the bottom and new and different people on top, being horrible."

[pipers_son]

Patiently, Joker listens to the brief explanation. There's definitely stuff that's getting passed over in favor of simple layman's terms, so he knows he's probably missing out on all sorts of details and whatnot... but that's fine. He was asking for a layman's explanation in the first place, after all. This isn't some fancy college for nobles, where they can flaunt their knowledge using often unnecessarily long words. (At least, that's what Joker's understanding of college is, from what he can tell.) Just this much is enough.

Certainly, it does its job, and he clicks his tongue sympathetically. "It seems like the kind of thing that ya would really have ta keep a close eye on, and have the exactly right people leadin' the way with enough power or skills ta make sure that it doesn't all go south."

[espigeon]

Julien knows some of the jargon, and since he speaks French he wouldn't stumble over the proletariat and the bourgeoisie and so on, but he's not particularly interested in the topic and hasn't retained a lot of specifics. Dimly he's aware that if various friends with interest in history or governance could hear him now they'd have a lot to say about this elevator pitch. Oh well.

"Right? And it's so hard to find the right people, and sometimes someone seems right but then goes all mad with power, it's just a mess." He shakes his head, uses a palp to adjust his glasses, and checks no one's close enough to overhear. "Makes me think of Portland a little - that angel that, I don't know, was and wasn't me, I remember how different they were before the Severing, way more coherent but very full of themselves with that seraph authority thing."

His memories are kind of shuffled and clouded to a degree, but a lot of them still exist, and he remembers Iuliael as rule-bound and superior and kind of pulling rank in petty ways. When they hadn't been fascinated with mortals and music they'd been kind of a jerk.