⇨ 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

[pipers_son]

"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?"

[dontpokethat]

"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?

[pipers_son]

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."

[dontpokethat]

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.

[pipers_son]

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."

[dontpokethat]

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?"

[pipers_son]

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.

[dontpokethat]

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."

[pipers_son]

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."

[dontpokethat]

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."

[pipers_son]

"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!"

[dontpokethat]

"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.

[pipers_son]

As if he eve really needs to ask. "All my jokes and tricks, and I've never gotten ya ta smile like this before," he says decisively, feeling light as air, lighter than when he's flying and has found a good gust of wind to carry him on. If there's a tone of self satisfaction to his voice, well, he likes to think he has good reason for it. "I'll be holdin' onta this one for ages, thank ya very much."

And he will, too, more than any of his grandstanding might normally hint at. Animals and Tanyuu alone get that smile, he'd thought, but here he is, finding it totally by accident. Somehow, that just about figures. Well, Joker will count his blessings gladly for little accidents.

"Are ya gonna carry me like ya did Antlers, then, all the way ta the restaurant?" His grin stretches wider, shoulders shaking a little. Ginko probably could, too, he figures.

[dontpokethat]

"That was what you were trying for? I figured you just liked messing around." It might be hard to tell if he means it or not, grinning the way he is. "But, glad to have... I dunno, fulfilled that wish?"

He shrugs, and makes no effort to lean back or move away from Joker. This... really is fine. He'll probably be overwhelmed by being this close to someone if they're on here too long, but for the moment? He doesn't really have a problem with it.

"Y'know, I think I could, if you wanted me to. You're not too heavy."

[pipers_son]

Even before Joker has opened his mouth, his eyes are sparkling with absolute delight, and his response is probably obvious from a mile away. "Oh, if ya say that, y'know I can't resist takin' ya up on the offer." Something suddenly occurs to him, however, and he immediately perks up. "Actually-"

With a bit of struggling, he leans closer with his hand propping up Miu so he can bump her against Antlers. "I double dog dare ya!" And he bursts out laughing, shoulders shaking at his own bad joke.

He's a genius, and, also, it was too good to pass up, knowing about the glamour as he does.

[dontpokethat]

Oh goddammit. Ginko snorts despite himself and buries his face in his hands. "Okay, just for that, maybe I won't after all. Maybe I will just make you walk."

[pipers_son]

"Nooooo!" Except he's still laughing as he says it, collapsing against Ginko's shoulder (and partially Antlers) while cradling Miu to his chest. "Come on, that was almost a quarter of a laugh! Ya can't abandon me like that if it was a quarter!"

[dontpokethat]

"I absolutely can. Laughs aren't currency, and involuntary fractions of laughs definitely aren't, and they don't make up for making me listen to bad jokes."

So there. Dammit, though, he really can't stop grinning, and it gets worse the closer Joker is - and Antlers' look of sheer confusion as he looks between them isn't helping.

[pipers_son]

"Hey!" Joker protests, cheek smooshed against the shoulder he's crumpled again. It draws one eye nearly shut, and the other one is nearly as bad considering he's still grinning.

"Ya laughed at it, so that means it can't be bad."

[dontpokethat]

"It can absolutely still be bad." He tugs lightly at a lock of Joker's hair, because it's there and he feels like it might emphasize his point somehow, probably. "Maybe I only laughed because you were the one making it, ever thought of that?"

Just... give him a moment to realize what he just said.

[pipers_son]

Don't worry, Joker will realize for him.

That comes, of course, in the form of him abruptly pausing in his own laughter and snickers, blinking with wide eyes. Suddenly the subway feels a lot hotter, and he can't realize that's his own face starting to go as red as his hair. Blushing is such a foreign thing to him, save when he's hot, or exerted himself.

"Ha," he says, mouth running on autopilot while his brain fumbles with understanding. "Hadn't occurred ta me, actually."

[dontpokethat]

"Well, now you know."

And... shit, is he okay? Ginko's amusement shifts toward concern as he gets a look at Joker's face - and then he remembers where they are.

And how they're sitting..

And that he has been... very, very okay with this.

He clears his throat and looks away, and now his face is heating up, too. "...So. That's that."

[pipers_son]

Shit, he's gone and made things awkward. A part of Joker despairs a little at that, at losing the comfortable air that had been between the two of them just sitting somewhere and teasing one another. Another part despairs for an entirely different reason.

He's played out through this scene before.

Thankfully, the jingle of the subway system's speakers distract him from making the choice on if getting off would draw more attention to the awkwardness or not, and Joker looks up. "Ah- Ginko, s'our stop." He smacks his shoulder a little bit, glad for the timely excuse to get up onto his feet.

[dontpokethat]

"Oh-- yeah, okay." Ginko is pretty glad for the distraction, too, honestly; now he doesn't need to think too much about what just happened.

He sort of nudges Joker to his feet before standing up himself, holding Antlers to his chest in that dumb bag. The doors open, and when he steps off the platform seems even more crowded and claustrophobic than it had before.

So he doesn't waste any time in hurrying up the stairs and back into daylight, only stopping to wait for Joker once he's out on the sidewalk.

"Uh-- Sorry. About that."

[pipers_son]

Whoa- It's a good thing that he's quick on his feet. He has to be in order to follow Ginko, who's moving through the station with extreme purpose. At least Miu fits tightly into his waistcoat, although he doesn't remove his hand just in case. One can never be too careful about losing a pet.

"Nah, it's fine-" He bumps Ginko's arm without thinking, too used to contact, only to make a face. "S'my fault. I shoulda got off sooner, I know how ya are about people bein' too close."