⇨ 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]

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."

[dontpokethat]

"Well-- no, it's..." He sighs and stoops down, partly to let Antlers out of his bag and partly to avoid looking Joker in the eye when he speaks again.

"I... don't actually mind too much when it's you. I mean, I usually appreciate some kind of warning, sure, but-- that wasn't the problem." It was actually just fine. Completely fine. A lot like with Psi, actually.

Dammit, should he tell Psi about this? Will it bother him? They'd only just worked out how to handle the whole "talking about feelings" thing, now this...

[pipers_son]

Shit. Something in his chest positively sinks the more Ginko talks, although Joker does a commendable job of swearing or letting his face twist with emotion. He just glances down the street, fighting against his own stupid traitorous heart.

"Well," he says, trying to keep his fingers still around Miu. "I'm still sorry. Gonna be alright, then?"

[dontpokethat]

Ginko re-wraps Antlers' leash around his wrist, tucks the tote bag under his arm, and takes a deep breath. When he stands up and turns back to Joker, it's with the slight, subtle smile that Joker is probably more used to seeing by now.

"I'll be fine. Better now that we're out in the open." He nods at Miu. "Out of curiosity, are you planning to put her down or just keep carrying her around?"

[pipers_son]

Times like this make him wish he could push people away, let them know without saying anything about how bad an idea it is to get involved with him too closely. Let them know that he doesn't deserve the kind of things they want to give him. But if he acts too strange, then he only hurts them, and that's worse than anything.

So Joker goes back to as normal as he can, putting the same old smile back on as he scratches Miu underneath her chin a bit. "And lose a little chestwarmer? I think I'll kidnap her instead, Ginko~."

[dontpokethat]

Joker, if you think any of that would convince Ginko anyway, you clearly still need to get to know him better.

"Aw, you've got to give her back eventually. If you kidnap her, who will suffocate me in fluff when I'm trying to sleep?" Despite everything, his smile becomes just slightly more genuine just from this stupid joking around, and he gestures for Joker to lead the way.

[pipers_son]

There. That's a little better. At least as a stopping measure, because Ginko's sense of self preservation is questionable. How he'll deal with this problem is.... something he'll have to figure out later.

For now, Joker tries to bury his feelings down as deep as they'll go, and starts to walk again with a laugh. "Oh, I'm sure ya could find somethin'. I could let ya borrow this pillow Steven got for me. S'furry!"

[dontpokethat]

"He got you one, too? Man, how many of those did he pass out?" By way of explanation, Ginko adds, "He gave Tanyuu and me matching ones. One patterned like Un, the other like Ah."

Frankly, matching mushi-themed pillows are one of the cutest things Ginko could imagine the two of them being given.

[pipers_son]

"Ha." Joker laughs a little bit into the back of Miu's head. "Probably as many cookies as I passed around, probably." Then again, cookies come in batches, and pillows take a lot more work. Either way- "He's a sweet kid. Doesn't belong in the Carnival with the mess it's been lately." Then again, not many of them deserve this.

After a few moments of walking, Joker twists into a smaller sidestreet that's a bit too large to be called an alleyway. He looks over his shoulder, just to make sure that Ginko is still following him, before he stops in front of a restaurant squeezed inbetween a few other little stores. Sure enough, there's something that seems close enough to Japanese put onto the sign, along with the title "HATCHO" that's clearly the name of the restaurant. The window is large, showing an inside with a couple of booths, a couple of small tables by the window, and a long bar where one can watch what appears to be a nice elderly couple cooking and preparing food. There are a few little things put up on shelves, little knickknacks that the elderly like to keep around to remind them of home.

Joker bounces on the heels of his feet a little, cradling Miu against his chest. Despite what he's telling himself, somehow he can't stop the curious excitement in his chest. "So, I get it right this time?"

[dontpokethat]

"...Yeah. He deserves better than things have been, that's for sure."

When they actually come across the restaurant, Ginko brightens up visibly. "Sure did. This place looks like it's for real - just hope they allow dogs, huh."

[pipers_son]

"Well, we could always tie 'em ta somethin' and keep a watch from the window, yeah?" Joker nods to the glass. "And they're smart enough, they'd let us know if anythin' bad was happenin'."

...Well. He hopes they would, anyway. That isn't going to sour his mood on being right for once.

[dontpokethat]

"Right. We should see if we can buy them each a quick snack, too." After running around all morning, he's sure they'd appreciate it.

Ginko kneels down by a bike rack near the door, and ties Antlers' leash to it, giving his head a gentle pat. "You stay here for now, okay? We'll be just inside."

He's got no idea if he can understand that, but, you know. Just in case.

[pipers_son]

It takes a little while longer for Joker to tie Miu's leash as well, for fairly obvious reasons, but this isn't the first time he's had to manage. It takes a foot and his teeth to help, sure, but he manages. Getting up, he pats his knees off and goes to hold open the door.

"After ya~."

[dontpokethat]

For a moment, Ginko wonders if he should try and help, but... he supposes that might be insulting. Joker seems to be handling it just fine, even if it takes a bit longer. So he stands by while he finishes, leabing over to give Miu a pat, too, before heading for the door.

He goes ahead and steps through with a slight smile, then greets the couple behind the counter, glancing around to get an idea of if they should just go ahead and sit down.

[pipers_son]

Somehow, it feels a little more appropriate to let Ginko take the lead on this sort of thing. Despite that thinking, however, he still can't help but pop out from around Ginko's shoulder with a grin. "Alright if we take a seat by the window?" The husband of the pair laughs a little, giving his go-ahead, and Joker doesn't waste any time going over there.

"Yeah, they look like they're behavin' themselves so far." At least, Antlers is no doubt being The Best boy. With that confirmed, Joker glances down at the menu. "So... I haven't the faintest idea of what ta choose here, Ginko."