⇨ 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

[dontpokethat]

"Aw, come on--" Despite that brief attempt at a protest, he can't stop himself from letting out a snort of laughter. He gives an enthusiastic nod in response to Joker's suggestion.

"We could bring some vegetables for Miu, and Antlers might like the beef, or chicken... do you think Feathers would want that, too?"

[pipers_son]

"Feathers," Joker states, pointing his chopsticks at Ginko, "will eat anythin' ya shove inta his gob. I think bein' part plant and part animal confuses him."

So, yes, Feathers would want that too.

[dontpokethat]

"Y'know, that's fair. It sure confused me."

Okay, he's not sure he was really part plant in Portland, but whatever.

"So that's gonna be some vegetables and some beef. Maybe then they'll forgive us for leaving them alone for a few minutes." Of course, he says that, but Antlers and Miu aren't looking particularly distressed outside.

[pipers_son]

Joker is technically part plant himself, and has been doing alright... but he guesses it's been fine enough. Certainly, he could be worse, and he's been frankly lucky enough to just be as he is. People get worse deals around here.

But right now, just sitting here? It's not half bad, although Joker knows it can't last. He just laughs down at his food. "I don't know what I would do if Antlers never forgave me~." Feathers will be fine, hidden away in his Pokeball, Joker has that apparently confirmed. In the meanwhile, he just continues to work through his food.

[dontpokethat]

"I know what I would have to do. Go live at the bottom of the lake and never come up," Ginko replies gravely. Then he grabs more udon. At this rate Joker might not get a chance to try to pick it up himself.

[pipers_son]

"And steal all the udon with ya, apparently, c'mere-" Fruitlessly, he reaches over with his own chopsticks and, unable to really win at all in the game of 'picking up noodles', results to just batting Ginko's away instead.

Listen, it's the only way he can win here.

[dontpokethat]

"Oh, well, of course--" Ginko snorts and bats at Joker's hand right back.

"I guess we could take these back to the carnival. And you could give up, and just get a fork." Like a QUITTER. As if Ginko himself wouldn't probably also give up in Joker's position.

[pipers_son]

Wow, rude. This is going to be a chopsticks war now, isn't it?

"And deal with yer mockery all the way back?" He tries to get another noodle. He can do it, he swears! "I think not."

[dontpokethat]

Oh is THAT how it’s going to be. Ginko grins and makes a minimal attempt to bap at his hand again, but honestly, he’s not really trying at this point. He does want Joker to figure it out. “You say that as if I won’t be mocking you either way.”

[pipers_son]

"Wow!" He laughs, trying to dip his chopsticks beneath Ginko's to slide them into the bowl. "Such sass! What would the carnival say if they heard about it?"

[dontpokethat]

"Hmm, depends on who you told. I'd love to hear the results if you decide to pass it around."

He doesn't even try to stop Joker, just pokes lightly at his chopsticks - which does leave their knuckles knocking together for a moment, and boy he notices that a lot more than he should. This is... fine, probably, he can deal with it.

[pipers_son]

Congrats, Ginko, you've knocked on wood. Joker is too busy grinning victoriously to notice, fumbling as he tries to twist the noodles around. Mostly, he's just losing his grip on them a lot.

"Lessee, who would it be funniest ta tattle on ya ta... Tanyuu already knows, and Psi outta. Maybe one of the kids, see if they'll even believe me at all."

[dontpokethat]

Good, that makes it easier for Ginko to ignore it, too.

"Yeah, Psi and Tanyuu wouldn't be surprised in the slightest. You should absolutely tell the kids, though, I'd love to hear how that conversation goes."

[pipers_son]

"Their beliefs of the world will be smashed worse than people were with Lambert's booze," he mutters wryly, before perking up. "Ah, almost got it!"

'Almost' meaning it still fell back into the bowl.

[dontpokethat]

That gets a snort of laughter - though Ginko does manage to keep from reacting too much when Joker drops his noodle. Again. He's definitely still smirking, though.

"You're getting closer! Just gotta keep a hold of it a little longer."

As in, long enough to get it into his mouth.

[pipers_son]

"Are ya gonna keep mockin' me, or are ya ever gonna eat?" Joker retorts, a smile tugging at his lips despite his words.

"I can't concentrate with such harassment."

[dontpokethat]

"Hey, I was being sincere that time! But, fine, if you're really having so much trouble, I'll just eat everything else while you're working on that."

Which is really just flipping around their earlier plan, but oh well. Ginko won't complain as long as they both get food!

[pipers_son]

"Nah, ya were bein' sassy," Joker mutters as he works on the noodles, but not minding much as he does His Best. Eventually, sort of, he gets it, and beams around a small mouthful of noodles before going to work on everything else he's been missing. He can't miss out on all of it, after all! And he might even get the hang of chopsticks. Maybe. Sort of.

Give him a while.

Partway through the meal, however, the woman behind the counter comes over to drop off a small bowl of mochi ice cream, saying it's on the house before taking her leave with a smile. Joker won't understand the parting Japanese, but Ginko can probably pick up on the fond reminiscing of 'young love'.

Whups.

[dontpokethat]

"Aw, c'mon, I can't try to encourage you?" But, after giving Joker one last grin, he turns his attention to the food and keeps quiet, letting his friend focus on eating.

When the woman approaches a few minutes later, he looks up from his food with a slightly surprised smile, and replies with a quick "thank you"-- then he hears that last comment. It's a good thing he wasn't in the process of eating at that moment, or he probably would have choked.

Instead, he starts to open his mouth to correct her - then shuts it again, with a quick glance at Joker. If he said something, Joker would know what she had said, and that's... yeah, that's just a non-option.

So he settles for staring at the ice cream in vaguely distressed silence. Much less suspicious.

[pipers_son]

Totally less suspicious, nice going, Ginko.

Although Joker does miss it for a moment, if only because he's focusing on getting the last of the crab cakes with his tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth. Even if he's had a good life the last few years, both in the carnival and back in England (not counting, well, everything else aobut his life in England), that can't erase a childhood of starving on the streets. He won't even a bit of this food go to waste, not if he can help it.

However, as he finally pops it into his mouth, he notices Ginko's stuck stare, and pauses. "Y'alrigh', Ginko?" he asks, tucking the cake into the corner of his mouth.

[dontpokethat]

Ginko jolts at Joker's voice and looks up, blinking. Fuck. Yeah, that was suspicious, wasn't it. "--Yes. Yeah, I'm alright. Just, uh... thinking."

[pipers_son]

Yeah, just a little suspicious, Ginko. Joker quirks up his eyebrow. "About what?" Because of course he's going to ask that.

[dontpokethat]

Goddammit.

Okay. He's got to think carefully about how he's going to approach this, right? The more suspicious he acts, the more Joker is going to push, and the stranger the whole thing will seem. So he could try and brush it off and keep evading. Or he could make something up.

Or... or he could be straightforward - and straightforward about how ridiculous the whole thing is. Right. Yes.

So he manages a quiet, weak laugh, and replies, "Uh-- well, I guess the owners think we're on a date or something."

Hilarious!

[pipers_son]

Hilarious.

At least, the way Joker just blinks at him, brain stutter-shocked by that bit of information, and loses a vegetable into the udon with a splash that makes him jolt and swear a little might be a little hilarious.

The real question here, in Joker's opinion, is how the hell old people are so sly. Is this what they mean by old people wisdom? Either way, his brain scrambles for some sort of reaction even as he tries to fish his lovely piece of fried vegetable out of soup.

"Are ya sure ya heard her right?"

[dontpokethat]

Okay, yes, see, that’s legitimately funny and not just… incredibly stressful. Too bad Ginko can’t properly appreciate it, since he is essentially a man-shaped pile of nerves right now, and also… well, he doesn’t know what reaction he was anticipating to that information, but the one he got only makes him more nervous.

“Uh— well, I’m pretty sure, but... guess there’s no way to be totally certain, right?” Leaving the possibility that he was wrong sounds like a good plan. Even though he’s... pretty sure he didn’t mishear. But, since he can’t actually take it back, this is the next best solution.