lostcarnival | ⇨ WISMUTH

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⇨ 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.

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"They can be," Ginko agrees. Seems safe to say that much is true, even if he'd be hesitant to agree it's always the case. "I think I've heard of curry - haven't had it, though. It's supposed to be pretty spicy, right?"

Ginko also looks over the sign, raising his eyebrows. "...Did you bring any bags, because I didn't." Let alone one that could fit Antlers.

"Yeah, some of it can be pretty spicy, but there's stuff for all sorts, I think." He never got to have too much of the kind that was brought to England, although he's had some while traveling with the Carnival. He's not sure how much that counts.

Still, they have a more pressing matter, and Joker hums. "I don't suppose ya brought Miu's ball...?"

Thinking back on it, Ginko is pretty sure there's been curry available at the Cookhouse before, for sure. Maybe sometime he should actually try it.

He shakes his head, frowning down at the little ~~dog~~ Pokemon in his arms. "Probably should have. There's gotta be somewhere around here that sells bags, right?"

Probably cheap shitty ones, but that works fine for temporary animal-carrying purposes, probably.

Ha. Somehow, Joker isn't particularly surprised. It seems, somehow, like the kind of thing that Ginko would end up leaving behind in his trailer. For now, he just waggles his fingers. "I'll find somethin', just wait here." If he can keep Feathers tucked away, and he already has an idea for Mui....

That just leaves their good dog Antlers. And there has to be a bag big enough for him.

"Hm. Alright, I'll be here." The "don't do anything too ridiculous" is kind of implied in his tone, but it probably says something that he doesn't feel the need to express that concern out loud. It'll probably be fine, for a given definition of "fine".

He waits patiently by the sign until Joker returns, letting Miu down so she can shuffle around on her leash. Eventually, she scoots between Antlers' paws to nestle in there and stare expectantly at Ginko, while Antlers leans down to gently lick the top of her head.

What, isn't he trusted?

...Don't answer that.

Joker is only gone for perhaps five minutes, and, when he returns, it's with Feathers hidden away now in his Pokball, and a large totebag slung around his shoulder. He's grinning widely, even as he slips the bag of and tosses it to Ginko.

"Put Antlers in there." Crouching down, he grins brightly to Miu. "And you, pet, are comin' with me." Trust him, he knows what he's doing as he holds his hand out to her.

Well, to be fair, if Ginko didn't trust Joker he would have expressed a lot more doubts about... whatever he's doing. He probably also would not be so willing to scoop Miu up and pass her to him once he's got hold of the tote bag.

"Careful that she doesn't make a break for it." If she did, he doubts she would go far, but this isn't the safest place for a tiny fluffy animal.

With Miu passed off, he sets the tote bag down on the ground and holds it open while he coaxes Antlers in. Antlers, for his part, looks extremely unsure of this entire situation, but eventually steps in - while still staring up at Ginko as if silently begging him not to do anything stupid.

Hopefully he doesn't consider being carried around in a bag to be too stupid.

It's fine. It's getting them where they need to go, so Antlers can wait out a bit of shenanigans, right?

Joker, in the meanwhile, cheerfully cradles Miu in his arm, undoing one of the top buttons of his vest in the meanwhile. With enough breathing room, he carefully tries to put the little bug-dog-but-really-a-bug into the front of it.

Assuming she allows it, it's going to look adorable.

She's not super cooperative at first, though that's more general wiggling than a focused effort to escape. Eventually, though, she settles down enough and long enough to be tucked into Joker's vest, and...

"...Wow." Thanks to Ginko's personal mannerisms, it might be a little hard to tell from his tone what he thinks of that, but, spoilers: It's very very cute. Not just Miu's fluffy face poking out of Joker's vest, but also the fact that this was the solution Joker thought of, and just how pleased he seems with it.

Rather than dwell on that for any longer than the absolute minimum, Ginko scoops up the freshly-bagged Antlers and turns toward the subway platform, shooting an amused grin at Joker. "Nobody can say she isn't contained, anyway - just keep a hold on her leash, to be sure. You ready to go?"

"Yer appreciation of my genius and quick wit is duly noted~." With the leash wrapped around one hand, Joker grins, bopping Ginko lightly on the side of the arm. As long as the "dog" in question is contained, he feels like that follows the spirit of the law, although not the letter. It's fine, it's fine. Surely no one would complain about a sight so cute, would they?

At least, the person who allows them through only seems to roll their eyes in amusement, no doubt having seen far worse in a city as big as this. With no trouble gotten, Joker gladly goes to wait for the train and is one of the first through when one arrives with doors open.

"Ya should sit down, unless ya like carryin' Antlers around like that~."

"Mm-hm." Ginko doesn't even bother to hide his smirk as bops Joker right back.

Once they're on the train, Joker's suggestion is, frankly, a welcome distraction from the sheer number of people he can still see heading for the doors. He figures it probably gets to be more crowded here sometimes, but this is, frankly, more than enough people for him already.

He nods and scoots into one of the seats, shifting Antlers onto his lap. "Yeah, that... sounds like a better plan. Not sure the bag could take it, either." This thing isn't really made to carry an animal this size, surprising nobody. "You going to sit down, too?"

"Only if we get ta cuddle." Joker laughs, as if that will expel the strange fluttering feeling suddenly causing havoc in his chest, and instead reaches up to wrap his fingers around one of the bars hanging down from the ceiling. He still has the leash, so it's alright. This way, he can stand right there in front of Ginko, and look him in the eye as he chatters.

"I have two good legs, don't I? Might as well put 'em ta use. Miu doesn't weigh much anyway." If people end up subconsciously giving him a little space because, well, glamoured wings are still existing wings... He barely pays much mind to it.

Okay, well that's. That's not a response he expected, though he takes a moment to remind himself that he probably should have, knowing Joker. Obnoxiously, though, that reminder does not stop his heart from doing something extremely stupid that he's not totally sure what to think of.

So he just gives a weak laugh, and pulls Antlers a little closer against his chest, as if that will help. Antlers leans over and nudges Ginko's cheek with his nose. "Fair enough. You'll get plenty of time to sit down when we're eating, right?"

"That's the ticket." Right, just talk about work and food, that's always good ways to focus his mind on things besides himself. "Anyway, standin' is better than havin' ta walk so much. Ha, I've been doin' that for ages."

...Except, even as he asks that, he notices Ginko pulling Antlers in a little closer. Just a bit to get his attention again, he nudges his knee so that his leg bumps into Ginko's. "Not gettin' motion sick, are ya?"

"Agreed. Nice just to take a break and stop moving every so often." Yep, sounds like a plan. Just talk about whatever crap comes to mind, that makes a good distraction.

He blinks and looks up at Joker, confusion passing over his face for a moment. "--Oh, no. Maybe. Uh... these things do move faster than I'm used to."

Maybe that was it. That would make sense, right?

Yeah, he figured that's what it had to be. Ginko isn't like him, after all. Subways and the like might never have existed back in his England, but it's no less worrying than swinging through the air or flying. Ginko.... Well.

He's down to earth, but not this down to earth.

However, that only has him scrunch up his brows a bit, and Joker leans closer a bit. "Ya gonna be alright? We can get off a the next stop, if it's that bad."

Ginko doesn't lean back when Joker leans in, but he does go very still. He makes himself swallow despite the sudden tightness in his throat and shakes his head. Maybe it's not the speed so much as the crowding. "No, it's... not too bad. I should be alright; just--"

Unfortunately, talking makes it a little harder to anticipate turns, and anything else Ginko was about to say is cut off by a quiet, startled grunt as a sudden turn pushes him against his seat.

Normally able to take a few sharp turns or at least keep his balance, this is where him leaning in so close does him in. His balance is already uneven; the turn just pushes him over completely. As his feet go out from under him, Joker swears a little bit under his breath and immediately gives up on holding onto the bar to hold Miu instead.

The good news is that he doesn't smash his face into the car window, or anything else. The questionable news is that he ends up half on Ginko's knee, squished up against a large sort-of-dog. Welp.

"Didn't think the joke would come true." He blinks a bit as he's nose to fur. "Cheers, Antlers."

Suddenly, Ginko is very glad that he's sitting down - but also kind of wishing that Joker had also opted to sit, because whoops THERE HE GOES.

It doesn't look like he or Miu is hurt (though Miu is looking kind of ruffled, particularly when Antlers twists around to lick both their faces), but Ginko still takes in a sharp, startled breath and sets a hand on Joker's shoulder. "You two okay?"

Oh, well, there goes at least a little bit of his makeup, and Joker tilts his head back a little just so Antlers doesn't get to his eyeliner. Then again, smudged eyeliner would be a little easier to pull off than anything else he puts on his face. "Yeah, yeah, don't get her too wet now."

A hand suddenly on his shoulder surprises him a little, and he blinks, looking to Ginko- and finally realizing how close they've ended up. Normally, it's no big deal. When doesn't he invade people's space? Yet somehow right now feels different, with him on Ginko's lap and their faces in particular so close. It makes his stomach churn a little, startled, and Joker decides there's only one way to make that go away.

He grins and winks, propping his elbow up against the back of the seat. "So, come here often?" Yeah, he's fine.

For a moment there, Ginko is only concerned with making sure nobody is hurt. Joker's reactions, though, make it pretty clear after only a couple moments that he's fine, and, bit by bit, Ginko relaxes. He pats Antlers' head, leaning forward and over to look at him. "I think they're okay, you can back off a little."

Let's face it, he might be talking to himself as much as to the deer-dog in his lap.

...Speaking of being in his lap. He looks up, and then it really strikes him, too, that Joker is just... right there, all rumpled red hair and now-slightly-smudged makeup, and then he's doing that dumb cheesy grin and his whole fake-flirting thing and holy shit maybe Ginko needs to get off this train early after all.

As much as his heart rate is probably reaching dangerous levels, though, Ginko isn't really bothered by it. Instead, he finds himself letting out an amused huff, breaking into a smile despite himself. "No," he replies dryly. "I prefer transportation that doesn't end up with my friends falling on me."

Ginko smiles, his heart smacks into his ribcage like it's making a prison break, and Joker realizes that his plan has horribly, extremely backfired.

Not for the first time, he thinks that Ginko looks a lot better this way, softer and actually happy instead of looking so quiet and tired. Well, he's still a little quiet now, but it's the good kind. The kind that follows a good rain and things seem greener, green as Ginko's eyes. Dammit, how does he have such pretty eyes?

With the absence of his brain, temporarily stuttered, Joker can't hide his own grin, and doesn't realize a pleased pink has come over his cheeks. "Well, if friends fallin' on ya makes ya smile like that, I can't say it's a wrong thing."

Well, that sure looks like a genuine smile - not a forced imitation (even an alarmingly good one) or an exhausted effort at appeasement, but a smile, and that just makes the sudden warmth in Ginko's chest a little warmer.

Joker's reply takes a moment to sink in, and when it does it brings with it a sudden surge of something akin to embarrassment. Ginko sort-of-laughs again and covers his mouth with one hand while he tries to control his expression.

"--Sorry. I'm not laughing at you. ...Mostly."

"Oi, oi!" Laughing, Joker leans all the closer, making sure not to let Miu topple out even as he tugs lightly at Ginko's wrist. It's not enough to really pull it away, in case he's serious, but definitely enough to let his protests be known.

"Don't you go and hide that from me!"

"Why d'you care so much, huh?" Even so, Ginko moves his hand without too much resistance; he's not having to try and keep from laughing anymore (or what passes for laughter, coming from him), but his expression is still settled into that gently, genuinely fond smile, his eye bright with wry amusement.

Maybe it's kind of ridiculous, but-- just sitting here, laughing about this stupid, harmless accident while carrying these fake dogs on the way to a restaurant that might have Japanese food? It's a far nicer moment than it has any right to be.

He guesses it's the company that makes the difference with these things.

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