lostcarnival | (316): I don't know. Sometimes you can be a wild card with your emotions.

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(316): I don't know. Sometimes you can be a wild card with your emotions.

Who: Alois Trancy, ...you?!
What: A day in the life of an eccentric young man.
Where: about the Carnival grounds
When: various times through D16
Warnings: He's a foul-mouthed pain in the butt, so there'll be that... Maybe some emotional rollercoasters? I'll add to this if he drops any bombshells. —Oh, this isn't a warning, but I'll match prose or brackets!

(afternoon)

[Situated out front of the cookhouse, as though he really is a pleasant patron, Alois is sprawled along a picnic table. There's nothing idiomatic about that: he is sprawled, sitting atop the table instead of on its bench, lying on his back. One leg is stretched out; the other is flat-footed, bent at the knee. His head is tilted up, but it isn't so he can look at the sky. Instead, it's...

Well, it's a book, and its airbrushed, overly dramatic cover gives a pretty good idea of what sort of book. The heroine is demure and achingly beautiful, while the hero is chiseled but warm. In between the turning of pages, Alois picks at the little box of fries (or, okay, he's British, chips) which sits next to him. He never looks at these chips, just plucks them up one at a time and drops them into his mouth. However, depending on when you find him, he'll be either

a) lazy about it, flipping pages like he's barely got the will to do so, chewing all languid and even sleepy, or

b) weirdly frantic, even almost short of breath, body tense as he speed-reads in order to get to the next page faster. Talk about passion. (I can guarantee you it's not what you think.)

Regardless, he's ON HIS BREAK, so don't even think about harshing his harlequin vibe!!!]

(evening)

[Now, much later into the day, Alois is back in the gamer's circle, you know, doing his fucking job, ostensibly. He's not actually shilling any games right now, though—instead he's sipping at a giant lemonade. Well, kind of sipping, kind of chewing on the straw. Weirdly, before him, on the ground, sits... a stuffed rabbit? It's of a medium size; it must be the prize from a game. As someone who plays games in order to con others into doing so, Alois doesn't really get his own prizes, so this is a bit odd...

But he seems to think it's odd himself. He's staring at the rabbit, stuck between a scowl and something quizzical. It looks like he's having a hard time figuring out what to think.

He makes up his mind, perhaps, or just goes with something he might regret—whatever, that doesn't matter, Alois has been ruled by impulse for a very long time. So—he kicks the rabbit plush. Not very hard—it doesn't fly away—but it tumbles a bit, then falls over sadly, ears flopping against the ground. Alois scowls more deeply now, and gulps at his lemonade.]

(night)

[The Carnival has just closed, or is about to, but Alois isn't nearly ready to settle down for bed. Well, yes, he is; he's been exhausted for several days, trying too hard to go with the Ringmaster's original suggestion to stay awake. Frankly he doesn't look his best right now, which is mortifying to him, but... Look, everything is scary. He just plain doesn't feel well, no matter what he does.

Although tonight, at least, he's chipper enough. Deprived of sleep or not, Alois is full of energy, and it's obvious he can only barely quell it. The only reason he's putting in the effort is... he looks to be... trying to coax something along? Well, it must be something very small; even if you're a few feet away, you won't be able to see anything in particular. Alois is practically on his hands and knees, so he must be desperate or just naturally ridiculous, but as he's leaning down low at this nearby bench, he's cooing,] Come, there, there, darling, oh, la, come on. Come on, darling, won't you? [He sounds quite gentle, which is out of sorts for him.]

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Whoa.

[Ash had watched that whole display, eyes wide and ears perked -- and despite her better judgment, such as it is, she can't help but straighten up from her lazy lean where she'd been watching the games.]

What'd it do to you?

Edited (actually you know what I'll match better) 2016-11-16 19:59 (UTC)

[Alois doesn't exactly jump, when Ash speaks—not quite so fragile, he would snap—but his shoulders do lift, anxiety or insecurity, and he chomps down on his straw. His face makes him look completely disagreeable, brows drawn in like a tired child's—well, that's exactly what he is. Regardless... The sour twist of his lips isn't just from his lemonade, and he glances aslant at this interloper (Alois, so hostile!), displeased... more with himself than with her. But he's not about to admit to that, so all his dark mood gets projected outward.

The scowl leaves him abruptly, a sullen flash flood overwhelming his nastiness. He eyes the rabbit now instead of Ash, still attached to his straw, toeing at the ground with his boot. So, what best to say...

...]

It has a heart and soul, you see, [he announces airily,] but despite these beautiful qualities, it's quite rude! It was very insulting to me and I couldn't bear it anymore, how awful to be bullied by a soft stuffed toy... Perhaps it was remiss of me, but I went ahead and kicked the ghost right out of it. Now it's off to torment some other poor sod, I'm sure.

[He's haughty as he says all this, but he sounds entirely confident in it. That's one of Alois' favorite talents: he can say outlandish things with a completely straight face. It's fun, you know? Doesn't it feel better? Just saying whatever you want? Well, that's what he tells himself, at least, and his habit of lying has grown more frequent and brazen the longer he's been with the Carnival. Now he's prone to just lying at random, even when it's entirely unnecessary—just like right now.]

[Ash regards him, a small furrow between her eyebrows and her lashing tail the only initial signs of her reaction.]

Yuh-huuuuuuh.

[Sigh. Kid sees the tail and the tits and the hair color and thinks she got the short end on brainpower. Or he's nuts. That's a thought.]

Seriously, everything okay? I mean, I'm perfectly aware that someone spinning a story like that isn't gonna give me a straight answer, but I'd feel weird if I didn't seriously check after that display.

[Is everything— Alois grimaces, face sinking into a cringe. He probably looks disgusted, and disgust is an expression he frequently wears... but if he's honest, he's actually... baffled.

Then again, who the hell wants to be honest?]

It was just a— [Not that it's any of her business! And he doesn't need to tell anybody anything, besides. All right, the truth is, he's uncomfortable with anyone wondering if everything's okay with him. His heart is skittish and mistrustful, and he doesn't believe that anyone has his best interests in mind, so why is she even asking? Why would anyone?

He shifts from foot to foot.]

Everything's okay, [he murmurs.] You seem a new face, so it's no wonder you don't know. I'm sure you'll hear from others all about how troublesome I am. Sometimes I've a foul mood and so I'm a reckless brat. That's all.

[Not that it's really all—he has actual heartfelt reasons for having kicked the helpless toy—but he's projecting his poor opinion of himself, and maybe she'll want nothing to do with him. So there.]

[Ash steps a little closer to him, folding her arms behind her back so she can lean down to address him more directly without the gesture being intimidating. (She has over half a foot of height on him, after all.)]

Yep. I'm totally new. But why the foul moods though? Is it because of being here?

[She'd been surprised to discover not everyone was here entirely willingly. Being aware of dangers and tricks is a way of life for her back home.]

[When, she leans, this tall woman—well, she's tall like Hannah. Maybe even a little bit taller. Hannah had seemed like the tallest woman in the world, and she was very beautiful, and soft like a wonder in bosom and face as well. But she had terrified Alois with that softness, her gentle eyes, and while she was tall for a woman, she wasn't so tall as Claude. Claude, meanwhile, was the perfect height. Nearly a foot taller than his master, and able to lift him on even an unspoken command. Alois had great fun climbing all over Claude, too, as though he were a tower. Alois had never climbed upon Hannah.

Tangents like these, homesick and anxious, play through Alois' mind a lot. But Ash's height, and all it brings with it, make Alois turn his face slightly, now glancing at Ash at an angle. He chews more fervently on his straw.]

I'm entitled to my foul moods if I please. [It doesn't hold all the primness he'd intended—he's too uncertain for the full effect.]

I didn't say you weren't. [People are allowed to feel how they feel. Ash believes in that strongly. If she were more introspective she might even have a good handle on WHY she believes that...] Just curious why. I don't know of anyone who really likes being in a bad mood, after all.

W-e-ll... [It's a slow start, practically dragged from Alois' mouth. He thinks about brazenly lying again, but she's kind of sucked the fun out of it. His massacred straw rests at his bottom lip as he considers the discarded toy rabbit, and all his thoughts.

Then he shrugs.] There could be loads of reasons anyone would feel foul. Who says it's only one thing... Life is that way, you know, there are a lot of things to press somebody down. I don't know. [Now he huffs.] I don't know! Just...

[His eyelashes flutter, eyes still low. It's half genuine, half not.] You know, it's hard to be away from home. I miss my household. And things before that, too. I miss my darling father. I miss having proper skin. And sometimes things just don't feel right. Maybe I want a hot bath with my favorite soap. Maybe I want to play games in my own drawing room. It could be anything.

[Rather than brazen lies, he deposits them quietly in that little speech—some real things, too close to the heart, and then some fake things just for spice. His skin, for example, that's real; he hates the faerie gemstones which have started to mark his skin since his stay with the Carnival. But things about fathers, that's all a farce, and Alois just uses it as emotional leverage. And so on.]

So it is being here. [Ash cuts through all the meanderings and maundering down to the key element uniting almost all of that speech. Except for the skin one -- she sure doesn't get that.]

[But okay, all this begs a question, which she puts a finger to her cheek to ponder.] Why'd you sign up to stay then? Are you getting something really good out of it?

["Being here," in purest truth, is just an excuse. Alois can take his other hurts and upsets and project them onto the fact he's far away from home. Yes, he misses his beautiful manor and his beautiful butler; but even if he didn't, he'd cry over over things, so...

Well, homesickness is awfully convenient when one prefers not to think about self-loathing. Not that he's about to spill his guts, though. So he draws a little line across the dusty ground with the toe of his boot.]

Something really good, [he mumbles,] more or less, I guess.

I hope so. 'Cuz they have really, really good stuff to offer here. [Spreading her hands, she flicks her fingers upwards like she's trying to lift his mood with the motions.] Which means all this is just the work you're putting it! No different than any other job when you get right down to it, right?

[Ever the skeptic, except where he should be, Alois puckers his lips a bit. He seems unaffected by Ash's sweet endeavors.]

That so? What good stuff? In your opinion.

Well. [No one here knew about her kind. And frankly, the little issue she'd sought to get fixed here? It was kind of embarrassing. And having it gone was a super weight off her shoulders, but that didn't mean she wanted to let total strangers know.]

[Just in case. Just in case something happened.]

I had a problem I couldn't work out any other way.

_{[While Alois is enraptured by the novel he's reading he's going to realize soon enough that he's not alone. His chips are on display and for the taking, as far as Dedenne's concerned, and it doesn't take him long to sniff them out. Bonnie isn't far behind him but she's not in view just yet and while the little Pokemon has the chance to indulge without her admonishing him he's going to do just that. Hopping up onto the table he wastes no time taking one to nibble away at. The more he can score the better, after all.]}

[Enraptured or just bored—this is one of the moments where Alois is lazy with his pages, as though getting through this particular passage is a chore. In truth, he's spacing out, and has been reading the same sentence over and over for a couple of minutes now. God, he thinks, what tripe... So he doesn't notice a little skittering of paws up near him. Dedenne would be overlooked completely if not for—

Alois reaches down to pick out a chip, still staring at the same set of words which have overstayed their welcome. He isn't expecting to feel fur, to feel little ears. As soon as his hand makes contact with Dedenne, Alois' eyes fly wide open, and he flings his book away, while he wrenches his hand back from the chips and Dedenne's body, which he thinks is some sort of rat.] Fuck! [he squawks, peeling backward across the picnic table, almost to the point of falling off. One leg is hanging from the table, toe reaching the ground and ready to help him spring away, while the other is pulled in defensively toward his body. But...]

Oh, [he breathes, winded.] You're Bonnie's little... [Now he puffs some nervous laughter, feeling silly.] Are you all alone, then? Is your mistress here, too? [And so he looks about for her, still angled awkwardly on the picnic table.]

_{[Alois' shocked reaction has the little Pokemon's cheeks sparking in reply, startled as he scrambles away from the fries to the opposite end of the table, squeaking. He calms down though, once he realizes Alois recognizes him. No harm no foul, right? Composing himself Dedenne makes his way back to the chips to snag another one and hold it up to his mouth. Where's Bonnie? She's coming. Soon even. Which means he needs to inhale as many of these as he possibly can.]}

[A bit befuddled, Alois watches Dedenne ravish his chips, with half of an uncertain smile.] Oouuhhhh, [he crows softly. It's an exclamation left over from his days as a societal blight; things like that ought have been beaten out of him, but he's able to whisper it when no one's around. Then:] Fellow, you're awfully panum struck!

[He hesitates for a moment—he isn't sure whether he ought to let the little creature gobble these chips. He's fine with giving up his lunch, but... Well, isn't it a bit odd...]

_{[It's when Dedenne's starting on his third chip that Bonnie's call can be heard in the distance. Fuzzy ears twitch and turn, rotating until he shoves the the chip fully into his mouth, cheeks bulging from the surge of potato. He tries to not look guilty as he licks his paws and distances himself from the chips, deciding to settle near Alois instead.]}

Dedenneeeeee! Where are you?!

_{[Finally she spots him and rushes over, panting a little. It's obvious she's been running about trying to track him down.]}

Dedenne! What did I tell you about running away?

Edited 2016-11-17 06:35 (UTC)

[Ah, so the creature is unruly. Alois examines him for a moment, looking down his nose, before focusing on Bonnie's arrival with eyes less critical. He even smiles.]

Oh, he gave me a bit of a fright, but he hasn't been too rowdy. I think. We're just having a snack.

[Sorry for snitching, Dedenne, but Alois doesn't know what a glutton the little guy is... At least he isn't casting it in a terrible light, though. He's angling himself back upon the picnic bench, legs swaying as he settles and then begins to fidget.]

[Well, this is a funny little sight. Alois automatically draws Joker's attention even on regular days, ever since he made the decision to keep an eye on the melodramatic shit. To see him acting so peculiarly has him pause where he's been making some idle rounds.]

[Quiet as he can make himself- and he was a thief, once, and a worse criminal later, so it's rather quiet- Joker starts to approach to see if he can get a look at what has Alois' attention.]

[Luckily for Joker, Alois is out of practice. Living in his manor, its rooms all spacious and silent, Alois had tuned his nerves to be high-strung, trying his best to always guess when Claude might appear out of nowhere. Sometimes he'd been good at it (when Claude was behaving indulgently, and let his master find him), and sometime he hadn't been (when Claude wanted to remind this child that demonic forces were in play), but he always tried.

There's been no reason to try, ever since he's been with the Carnival. He has no drive for hide-and-seek, without the whisper of Claude's presence. So, no, Alois' hairs don't prickle; his hackles don't raise. He's too enamored of whatever it is he's found, and he stays wrapped up in its charms completely. He keeps cooing.] Darling, darling, my sweetheart, won't you come out and see me? [It might be a legitimate surprise that Alois is able to sound so tender, so patient, and lacking in the over-sweet glaze he displays when he's trying to be charming.

Finally, either by his gentle voice or by lack of any threat, his apparent darling creeps out into view. It's a spider—good-sized, thick-legged, one which would send lots of folks running. Alois, on the other hand, seems delighted, wiggling a bit but not springing forth so as not to scare the poor thing.] Ooouuww! [he cries softly, almost a whisper. But while the exclamation is hushed, it's also... Well, the upper class doesn't usually make a sound like that.

At least he doesn't make to grab the spider, but he sure looks like he's thinking about it.] See, you're a good girl. Aren't you beautiful!

[WELL.]

[THAT. IS CERTAINLY A THING.]

[The sight is so unexpected that for a second Joker is completely caught off-guard, stunned into silence and befuddled blinks. It’s not that the spider itself is the surprising part of this picture. A couple of years in the circus, and that deadens the part of the mind which gets alarmed at weird things. Bewildering fashions, music as magic, fantastical inventions powered by steam, creatures made of pure water…. Yeah.]

[What’s surprising is that this of all things is what gets down Alois’ barriers. Not a pretty girl (or boy), not a cuddly cat, no, a giant creeping spider.]

[...Well. People are weird. All people, unequivocally. Joker’s learned that much. Besides, he guesses he’d be a hypocrite if he got worked up now. Snake, after all, thought pit vipers and other assorted deadlies, were the perfect things to wrap around the body and coo over. This is… kind of like that, he guesses. Although he thinks Snake might have had a better excuse.]

[Even in his surprise, however, that particular exclamation has his attention. That’s something he’d hear from Doll, rough accent all warmth and fondness. Maybe once upon a time he would have dismissed it without really thinking but… The things that have lead to him working here taught him a lesson in that. In ignoring the little details. So he quirks an eyebrow and tucks the detail away.]

[For now, however, he’ll keep quiet and let Alois have his moment. There’s probably no good to come out of surprising him anyway.]

[...He’ll definitely reach out and grab him for a tug back if he tries to pick up that damn spider however, Jesus Christ in an opium den, Alois, you don’t know where that’s been]

[Joker won't have to grab for another few moments—at first, Alois keeps his fingers splayed across the ground, spindly and welcoming like his dewy voice. The backs of his hands gleam faintly in whatever light casts through the night; his ring gleams along with his own gems. And then there are his glowing spots, of course. The patches of soft light that are evident wherever his skin isn't clothed. (For these reasons, spots of jewels and little lights, Alois most always wears long sleeves.) Perhaps it's that glowing, in fact, which invites the spider.

But after a point, the spider ceases to approach Alois, and just sits quietly before him. They examine each other for a while, Alois still murmuring endearments... Until, of course, always being needy, Alois isn't satisfied with the idle spider's distance. So, yeah, he cups his hands and tries to scoop up the little creature. The movement is slow, so as not to spook her (despite his general air of impatience, he is at least practiced in catching things like this), so Joker has plenty of time to see him and reach out, and—]

Ah, [says Alois, halfway to a yelp, as he's tugged backward and away from his prize. It's more surprising than actually alarming, since he hadn't known that anyone was nearby—it catches him off guard to the point he falls back onto his bum. With an oof, his mouth is a startled 'o', and he tilts his head all the way back to look up and behind himself. He's presented with an upside down view of Joker, of course.]

Oh, what! She'll be scared away! [And indeed, the spider has retreated back underneath the bench partway.]

[Joker shakes his head as he straightens up after pulling Alois back, half amused and half befuddled.]

Do ya even know what kinda spider she is, or where she's from?

[Honestly, Yuugi is just about ready to fall face first into his bed and not wake up until the next destination, wherever that might be, and at the moment his limp, multicoloured hair is just about as messy as he is. Stifling a yawn and running a hand through it, he can't help but pause on his way back to the trailers, rubbing an eye and tilting his head.

Nope, the other boy was still there.

He steps a little closer, curiosity piqued by now, and clears his throat before asking (and making a mental note that the boy had a nice sounding voice, but he'll ignore that thought for now).]

Did you lose something?

[ Alois is pretty good at most of the games - even some of the ones she's fiddled with - and Chiaki's slowly grown used to his presence. She wanders over to him late in the day sipping a mug of coffee and watching him curiously. ]

Nobody's won that one. [ The rabbit is actually a fairly common prize among the Circle, but the medium-sized one isn't. She frowns a little. ] Maybe we made that game too hard?

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(316): I don't know. Sometimes you can be a wild card with your emotions.

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