lostcarnival | ⇨ SHOW'S OVER

Entry tags:

⇨ SHOW'S OVER

Who: Everyone who DIDN’T get caught up in CY-Ren’s music, D13-D14.
When: D13-D15
Where: Wismuth, the Carnival
What: Recovering, taking stock, and trying to figure out where to go from here.
Warnings: ? ? ?

FALLEN STARS↴

► AFTERMATH: After the culmination of the confrontation between Noa and CY-Ren — as much as it can be called one, since it ends with the Guardian being flung off the stage — the arena returns to darkness. After a few seconds of silence, the backup lighting sputters on, but instead of music a loudspeaker begins to blare loudly:

ATTENTION, FANTASIA FESTIVAL ATTENDANTS. DUE TO AN EMERGENCY, WE WILL BE EVACUATING THE VENUE. PLEASE FOLLOW STAFF DIRECTIONS AND PROCEED TO THE NEAREST EXIT. THANK YOU.

The pleasant, automated woman’s voice begins to play on loop as the concertgoers, snapped out of their trance, look at each other in confusion. The Void creatures that had come out at CY-Ren’s command are nowhere to be seen now, and neither is the singer herself.

Wismuth police officers, though they look as uncertain and dazed as half the audience seems to be, break up the crowd and directing them to file out of the Fantasia Festival’s exits. It’s easy enough for Carnival members to slip away, though as they go through the crowd they’ll hear the festivalgoers discussing anything but the sight of Guardian and Harbinger in combat, much less people being dragged into shadows…

“Right in the middle of CY-Ren’s set, too! Aren’t they supposed to check the wiring on these things?”

“I paid to go to a concert, not a fire drill! I’d better get a refund!”

“They didn’t have to shut the whole place down—"

In the chaos and flow of people, it’ll be hard for Carnival workers to keep track of each other, but one thing is clear: they can’t stay here.

► HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN: The would-be saboteurs and those who’ve stayed behind have a chance to meet up again once they get back to the Carnival’s grounds. However, what exactly happened back there is unclear — and the one who might have answers is still unconscious from her brief altercation with the Harbinger. Still, there’s no shortage of things to do: after all, once they get back, it’s obvious there are more than a few missing faces.

► HEADLINES: Anyone who ventures to Wismuth in the days after the festival will find something peculiar: all news about the incident at the festival has been written off as a freak fire from some faulty wiring or a potential incendiary device, which reporters say police are ‘investigating the cause of’ and which some of the more sensational news sites are already having a field day with (based on rumors and hearsay the venue may have received a bomb threat). Most entertainment sites and social media coverage of the event only include blurry clips with captions like ‘tmw you fucked up the only vid you have of cy-ren’s concert 😭fml' and generally agree that it's a pity she never got past a second song.

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The problem with wandering, of course, is running into other wanderers, and some of them can fly.

Joker isn't subtle, of course. His wings do make sound. If Rip wants to avoid him, she likely has the time. Still, he is circling a landing right to her, if that means anything at all.

She heard the wings and refused to look up. Whoever was approaching, Rip was a bit on edge after watching all of what went down. But, with no weaponry, she felt it was better to just shove her hands in her pockets as they landed.

Still, there was the tell tale twitch of someone who was used to having a gun in their hands when startled. Not that she could do that here.

Rip eventually glanced to the side to see who it was and tensed a little. Joker, one of her bosses. Either this was going to go well for her, or badly. Rip really wasn't sure.

"Can I help you?"

For him, the tenseness seems to be rolling off of Rip in waves. He's been around long enough to see that little twitch for want of a weapon, and, well, it's not like he can blame her. He thinks they're all feeling like this nowadays.

"Checkin' on everyone, mostly." He nods to her. "Ya went with everyone, right?"

Rip nodded, hands firmly in her pockets. "I vatched from zhe back. It felt...wrong." To her anyway and Rip knew enough to trust her instincts. As much as she loved to fight and as much as she was a soldier, sometimes instincts trumped over her need to destroy.

And it left her feeling on edge and agitated.

"Just vat zhe hell kind of fight did ve get roped into."

"A bloody miserable one." Perhaps more than one kind of 'bloody'. Joker isn't looking forward to it. They were all supposed to be recovering from the nonsense that was the Prince's manor, and Portland before that, and Hell before that. There's an aggravated and anxious energy thrumming in him that has him want to tap his feet against the ground. Joker refrains, but only barely.

"Tell me what ya saw yerself? If ya don't mind."

"Und just vhen I thought vorld vars vere...bad." Depending on the point of view. She was looking forward to the upcoming war at home, but the previous ones even made her uneasy and the part she played in the last was less that stellar.

Rip could feel there was something anxious about Joker at the moment and it left her still balancing on edge. but, at least in the carnival, it could be considered safe, right?

At his request, Rip reported everything she could about the fight she witnessed from her position hidden in the stadium. For a sniper, she had excellent eyesight just so long as she was wearing her glasses. So she was able to give him a detailed report.

However, the way the music affected her, it had kept her away instead of drawing her in as it kicked her instincts into gear surprisingly.

Joker is the Stage Manager, and for good reason. Part of it is, yes, he's the most qualified person in the entire carnival for the job, having run a circus himself before all of this. The other part is that he'd rather not get involved in the wretched business that is Security and Nightrunners, and anything like that.

Still. He listens carefully and attentively to the things she says, not interrupting throughout the whole report. When she finishes, he lets out another breath. Great. Fantastic. The kind of powerhouse they don't need. But there's no stopping it now...

So, instead, he jerks a thumb in the direction of the Ferris Wheel. "In the event that anythin' happens ta invade the carnival, which it could, the Ferris Wheel is the highest spot in the place. You'll be able ta view most of it from up there. It might leave a little vulnerable... but you'll be amazed at how many people fail ta look up sometimes." A pause, and he adds, "Or just want somewhere ta be alone, too."

She glanced to where he was looking and nodded as she studied the ferris wheel and even tilted her head a bit. "It vould ve zhe perfect advantage for a sniper, vith or vithout a veapon. I could easily call out varning position or, if I had a long range veapon, take out targets."

Joker was getting to see the military side of his new knife thrower. The side of her that didn't just follow orders but figured out how best to carry them out with her specialized skill set.

"But, how often does zhe Carnival get attacked?"

Great, the question more people should have asked but he was almost half glad they didn't. It was never a pleasant thing to explain. Still, while he was a habitual liar, this wasn't worth lying about. They'd get bitten by it in the end.

"In the first couple of years I worked here," he began, "It hardly ever happened. Never, I think. We had troublemakers comin' through, and people did stupid things like insult royalty, but we weren't ever attacked." Shaking his head, he rests his hand against the back of his neck. "But ever since last year... A curse made trouble for us in one stop, and it only took a couple more before we got attacked and some of us taken. We were brought back... But then we got lost in another stop where it messed with our minds, and after that, well. We had ta deal with tryin' ta ask a favor for someone, and it didn't go as planned."

His shoulders rise up in a shrug. "So, there's been more trouble in one year than the last few, and I couldn't tell ya why. Still, I'm not discountin' anythin'."

Rip nodded and mulled that over. So, it was peaceful at one point and now they were paying for that peace. Personally, she wasn't too surprised, but, the frequency of having one entirely shitty year?

"I zee...zhen zhe Carnival has had a turning point in it's luck." She could deal with that at least. Though now she needed to decide on whether she wanted to just observe their downward spiral or actively help to change it.

Or, just bury herself in performing. The part of her that was dedicated to her profession as a sniper...and as a vampire called for blood and violence. Rip would love to just let loose! But, somehow...she felt that at the moment even she might be out of her league.

"Now, zhe question iz...shall I just perform or actually seek out zhe varden und protect zhis place."

Hmm, a good question. On one hand, they are a carnival. This sort of nonsense isn't meant to be in their jurisdiction, however much as it keeps interfering. On the other hand...

His fingers tap along his skin. "So far, there's Steven Universe, Lapis Lazuli, Yugo, and Amethyst missin' from this department alone, far as I can tell. So that's around... a fourth of our performers gone, but, save for a Wrestlin' act which is what Amethyst did, we could fill in other folks for their shows." It wouldn't be the same, obviously, but they can't be picky in a situation like this.

"More importantly... We don't have any leads now, do we?" He sighs. "For now... Unless Sans says otherwise, in which case I'll defer ta him, I'd recommend workin' on yer act as best ya can. Search or prepare in yer spare time, if that's what ya want ta do. When we find out more, well, we'll find out more."

Sound advisement. Rip was starting to appreciate that Joker had a sound ead on his shoulders. "Zhen, it sounds like my efforts vould be vasted if I don't haf a direction to be pointed in. I am a sniper, it uzually helps to haf a target to aim my bullets at." She smirked faintly before shaking her head.

Focus on her performance. That was simple enough. "Zhen, haf you gotten me any knives? I'll need zhose if I am to practice."

Amazing how sensible he can be when it comes to things like this... Still, he's glad to at least direct her to something he can provide, and a lop-sided smile appears on his face.

"You'll be glad ta know that, while I had a quiet night-" You know, while everyone else was off getting themselves kidnapped. "-I was able ta get a good set for ya. I can leave 'em at yer trailer, or we can fetch 'em from the tent together. Whichever, it doesn't matter to me." Really, the latter would just mean more of a chance of running into other people... which she might not want to with how she's been on her own.

At least someone was sensible around here. Rip relaxed after hearing that he had a set of knives for her. Even if they were for her performances, they were still weapons and something she could use for defense if she really had to.

Pity she wasn't allowed her musket...Maybe in the future the Ringmaster would reconsider. She can dream anyway.

"Az much az I vould love to haf you just leave zhem at my trailer, I also feel zhe need to haf a veapon az soon az possible. Even if zhey are for performances, knives are very versatile tools."

Which meant her need to be armed overthrew her desire to be left alone at this point.

"Alright, then, follow me." If nothing else, he can understand wanting to have a weapon on hand. His used to be hidden, before he lost it in the fire he was escaping, and now he simply has a throwing knife hidden in his boot, just in case.

Well, no point in wasting time, especially when she doesn't want to. He begins to lead her through the carnival, not sparing a glance for anyone he passes by. There's only the big top and the path ahead of him. As he ducks through the flaps, he speaks back over to her.

"Have ya made yerself familiar with where we keep the performance and practice equipment now?"

Rip follows closely behind, avoiding everyone that may be in their path for now. She just wanted to get this over with so she could retreat to the relative safety of her trailer.

"Not quite yet. I haf a basic understanding of zhe layout, but nozhing more zhan zhat yet." She ducks in after him, still wanting to avoid others if she could help it.

"Then the equipment is over here." He keeps a good steady course to the area, tucked away and hidden from audience eyes. It's a bit of an organized mess- so much equipment and so many items that there's nothing that can be done about the clutter. Joker makes his way through it deftly enough, until he finds a small case to pull out. "Here we are."

True enough- lovely, far too colorful throwing knives are displayed within as he opens up the lid. "I'm sure we have more, but this is the first set I found."

Rip just quietly follows after him and steps lightly through the organized chaos of the mess within the hidden area. Once she finally sees the case, she relaxes a little and draws even closer.

When she finally sees what the case holds, she tilts her head to the side to consider the knives. they were to colorful. Oxidized metal? She quietly moves to pick one up to test it and them smiles slightly. Nice balance...Rip loves them.

"Zhey are perfect! If you find more, I vould love to zee zhem as vell~. But, zhese are definitely a good set to start vith."

"Glad ta hear they have yer approval~." The color might not seem like it fits her at first glance, but they're meant for the ring. Such color catches the light wonderfully, and thus the audience's attention at the same time. "When I have some spare time, I'll be sure ta find some more for ya."

Considering the circumstances... that might be for a while. But he'll do what he can. "Gonna head off now for practice, or rest?" He won't begrudge her either.

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⇨ SHOW'S OVER

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