lostcarnival | ⇨ WISMUTH

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kind of, yeah. They'd feel at home right now but...

Well it's awkward. Also none of this was new so Frisk has no reason to suspect Sans is around. They're very much under the impression he was going to avoid them. They more then ever deserve that.

Frisk's abilities work as intended but they feel like something's still wrong. So they doodle a few more drawings - Sans may recognize a certain Annoying Dog if he's paying attention - before reaching for their SAVE again. And--

And they feel a sudden, sharp pain as if someone slapped them across the face. Frisk twists a hand into the fabric of their sweater, coughing loudly.

* Nothing happens.

Yeah, Frisk can agree. It didn't work. It hurt them instead. So that means....]

[...Well, that's sure interesting.

He knew as well as anyone that the time manipulations seemed to have no limit, that they could loop a moment again and again and again until things played out how they wanted. So it's a bit of a surprise when the kid doesn't cause another anomaly, and just looks pained instead.

He narrows his sockets, considering the options. Some magic is limited across dimensions, it's true. Especially the stuff that relies on laws of physics that might change between realities. What is the limiting factor, though? Is this a stamina based limitation?

Sans disappears and reappears somewhere closer - out of cover this time, just standing on the beach somewhere behind Frisk, trying for a closer look. His expression is blank, just quietly observing. Waiting, maybe.]

Edited 2018-02-04 04:59 (UTC)

[Once the coughing fades, Frisk checks their drawings and sees the ones they drew prior to trying to create a new SAVE were still there. Which makes sense. If they can't put down a new SAVE then there's nothing new to LOAD.

Their methods of figuring this stuff out wasn't as refined as Sans', but it's clear they're tying to work things out.

Okay, so SAVES are funky. What about using their first LOAD from before with the scribbles that were just lines? It's been a bit but that didn't matter much back in the Underground.]

Okay...

[* You're filled wi--

But once again, there was that pain, even strong now then before. Frisk slaps a hand against their mouth and cough harshly. It's almost like something is matching Frisk's Determination in equal measure to slap down any attempts from succeeding aside from their first go.

They wonder, idly, what would happen if they kept going. But that's a dangerous thought to follow all the way.

Follow it and you follow something else. Frisk knows that.

But they also realize that someone is probably going to notice a child hacking up a lung on the beach so they look around and spot --

Oh.

Um.

This is awkward.]

....hi Sans.

[Sans watches the second failed attempt, noting how harsh it seems to be on the child's body. It almost makes him feel bad for a second. Almost being the key word, there.

He doesn't really react when Frisk turns around and spots him, as if that's exactly what he was expecting them to do. His expression remains stoic, but guarded.]

Isn't quite the same, huh?

[His own inner thoughts are carelessly bitter at the moment, pondering how it must feel to no longer have other people at their mercy. Just as quickly, though, he tries to correct himself. They were just a kid at some point, weren't they? Is it really fair to assign them so much malevolent agency?]

No, it isn't.

[There's nothing wishful in their tone, just honesty. And if Sans was watching this whole time, there's no point in telling a lie.

Besides, Frisk learned the hard way years ago to not lie.

They need a way to focus their thoughts, so Frisk starts drawing in the sand again. It's just absentminded doodles this time around rather then anything that makes sense.

But they do keep talking.]

I think something's stopping me that isn't me.

[They'd comment on the irony but it probably won't help.]

[It makes sense. They haven't really been here long enough to know the limits interdimensional travel places on things. His tone is hard to read, but his voice is level as he explains the mechanics.]

Stuff like that usually doesn't work right, away from home. It's based on a reality that doesn't exist here. Whatever it is about our world that lets you bend it over like that... doesn't apply.

[It took Sans a while to fully comprehend how big the scope of things really was. In a way, it was refreshing after having grown up in a closed environment like the Underground.]

It's a big universe.

[A lot of those words go over Frisk's head but they get the point. They can still SAVE, but there's a limit this time around.

There's now only one chance to get things right. Meaning Frisk is going to have to be careful.]

It is really big. I wonder how far it goes.

[Frisk kind of wants to ask if anything Sans could do were limited too, but they feel like it might be too soon to ask that.]

[Sans looks up at the sky, which is currently alight with stars, despite how close it is to the city. Someone on this planet knows how to do things right. The first time he'd seen the stars, it had been one of the most emotional experiences of his life, so soon after having signed on to leave his home...]

...Probably forever. The RM told me that the further you get from this neck of the multiverse, the more the rules change. So... there's probably all kinds of stuff out there that we couldn't understand, even if we tried.

I'd like to see it anyway. It'd be pretty neat.

[But that might simply be coming from a child's imagination at work. That, in the better timelines, was what made them Determined.

And an inability to give up. For better or for worse.]

Dunno.

[Sans looks down to Frink again, meeting their eyes if they move in his direction. His grin is about the same as ever, but there's something slightly wry about it.]

Sometimes the things you don't understand end up being the hardest stuff to swallow.

[They do meet his gaze, a hint of red as Frisk opens their eyes a little wider. But that is what it is, and simply --

* Was it worth it?

...didn't happen.]

Maybe. But I think I'd want to know anyway.

Fair nuff.

[He shrugs a shoulder, as if his words aren't loaded, as if none of this is a big deal. He makes things difficult, like that.]

Just speaking from personal experience.

[He looks at the sky again, finding that a bit easier to take in.]

["That comment's so loaded you might as well have a gun."

Nope.]

I think I am too.

[They look up at the sky too.]

But it's pretty at least.

⇨ WISMUTH

Yup!

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