Curiosity and Satisfaction

[amusicaladventure]

Who: Ash and OPEN
What: Ash is heeeeere! And poking around! And being loud!
Where: Alllll over!
When: Allll day!
Warnings: None?


A.

[You ever have one of those days where suddenly you ended up awake in a carnival you'd signed up to work in for the sake of your own freedom? Well, up until today, Ash hasn't either, and the feeling is downright electric.]

[So today a catgirl wanders the carnival, not quite certain what she's supposed to be doing or who she's supposed to be talking to, but absolutely eager to drink everything in from her newfound perspective as ajn eager employee. So she's poking her nose into booths, tents, and people's affairs with the curiosity of... some sort of curious animal.]

B.

[As the day, such as it is here in dreams, wanes and Ash's excitement continues to bubble, the performer makes her way out to the edge of the grounds. Warm, tingling delight is surging through her nerves and begging to let itself out, and when she feels like this she knows she can't resist forever. As far away as she can safely get, she slings the guitar off her back and flips its strap around her shoulders properly. The lack of a pick doesn't stop her, she has claws. The lack of an amp doesn't stop her; she has magic.]

[With a fierce, joyous, feral grin, Ash picks up the loudest, fastest anthem of joy that comes to her mind at the moment; it happens to be really excessive solos that probably aren't far enough away from the carnival to avoid disturbing anyone.]

C.

[Was that your dreamcatcher with a feather dangling from the bottom of it? Because now its strings are tangled around Ash's claws as she looks around, incredibly sheepish and guilty, to check if anyone had seen that.]

[Instincts come with the tail and ears, you know.]

Comments

[amusicaladventure]

Yeah, the music magic sort. [She half-closes her eyes in appreciation of her own wit.] That's it exactly. So long as it's in the song to evoke, I can pull it out.

Which also means I can back up anything you got on deck now. I don't need top-billing.

[pipers_son]

Actually, this works out perfectly for the rest of us. One of our musicians is out for a while- no clue when he'll come back- so we could use skills like yers. When you've settled in after a day, I'll have ta show ya what we tend ta use.

[amusicaladventure]

[Perfect! Her tail goes up a couple inches as it trails begind her.] You bet, but whatever it is, I can use it. So don't worry on that score. Gimme that one day and you'll wonder how you ever got by without me.

[pipers_son]

Well, now I’m just dyin’ ta be impressed!

[But they’re at their destination, which seems to be in a permanent state of delicious smells wafting out from it.]

Anyway, here’s the cookhouse. Koel is our head chef, and she’s always about. You’ll never be wantin’ for food with her here.

[amusicaladventure]

I'm good at impressing. [Which she downright purrs as she flicks her tail at him, coming up to peer into the door.] Oh man, that DOES smell good. I was kinda worried...

[pipers_son]

[He chuckles, fingers curling against his hip.]

What a lack of faith in our cooks! What did ya think it was gonna be like?

[amusicaladventure]

[Ash waves a hand to brush that thought away.] Hey, hey, nothing against them! Just when you get the impression of a carnival messhall, you kinda don't think five-star quality, you know? But I guess you attract the cream of the crop everywhere!

[pipers_son]

Ah ha, but the good thing about travelin’ throughout all sortsa different worlds is that we get access ta all sortsa different food~. So our cooks have plenty ta use and experiment with. Helps that Koel has been with us a few years. Just hope yer up for bein’ adventurous some days.

[amusicaladventure]

I've been described as that, yes. [Her smile comes with half-lidded eyes.] But this is really cool. So are there meal times when we're not performing, or is just general hours?

[pipers_son]

I’ll see for myself~. [And his grin turns sly again before he answers her question.] There’s regular meals, if ya like yer company, but so long as Koel is workin’ here, ya can peek in whenever ya got the time and she won’t mind. She likes cookin’ for folks.

[amusicaladventure]

Oh man, that sounds great. [She interlaces her fingers, flexing them against her knuckles as she imagines that. If her girlish figure could actually be in danger, it sure would be.] Kinda glad I didn't know about this before I signed up, I mighta gone too cheap on my contract!

[pipers_son]

[Another laugh.]

Just one of the many benefits ta workin’ with the carnival! So has that woken up yer stomach?

[amusicaladventure]

A little. Maybe. Just a smidge. [She flickers an amused little smile his way.]

[pipers_son]

Well, I won’t judge if ya want ta snatch a snack~. We can always eat and walk, after all.

[amusicaladventure]

Naaah, if I go in I might never come out. Better finish showing me around first, that way you look like a good boss doing his job and I look like a good employee eager to learn.

[pipers_son]

Well, with thinkin' like that, yer already gettin' points from me~. Off we go then!

[Turning away, he starts to walk off, already thinking on where else she needs to know, before he recalls something.]

Ah, right- are ya familiar with the kind of trinkets like the little black box the Ringmaster gave ya?

[amusicaladventure]

Walkie-talkies? [Reaaaally, Joker. She gets where the question's coming from, but is the hair color really giving that sort of impression?]

[pipers_son]

[He holds his hand up defensively, even as he grins.]

Don’t give me that look, now. Ya would be amazed at how many people come through here and this is the first time they’ve seen things like that.

[He’s not saying he was one of them or anything.]

[amusicaladventure]

Yeah, but how many of them were carrying electric guitars strapped on their back? [Swish, swish goes the tail in wry amusement.] No, no, you had to ask, I get it. For all you know I'm a lord of lightning and make my axe hum with bolts from on high instead of from the nearest handy wall socket.

[pipers_son]

….I mean. It wouldn’t be the strangest thing I’ve heard, honestly.

[THE CARNIVAL IS A MYSTERIOUS PLACE…]

But that saves me a lotta trouble, ha! Anyway, the most important channels for ya will be 144, which is just for everyone ta talk with each other, and 507, which is us in entertainment. There’s still a bit of fiddlin’ ta get it exact, but those are the basic numbers.

[amusicaladventure]

144 and 507. Got it. [She nods, her eyebrows narrowing as she pushes those numbers into her memory.] For the record I'm tech and magic savvy both and weird creatures are pretty normal for me. You're gonna have a hard time surprising me.

[pipers_son]

See, now yer just askin’ for it. Jinxed all of us.

[Well. Maybe, maybe not. Joker is taking it in stride either way, chuckling.]

Anyway, I’ll introduce ya ta wardrobe as well, and they can get yer measurements so that you’ll have somethin’ ta look nice and proessional~.

[amusicaladventure]

[Ash makes a little disparaging noise at the words. 'Measurements' has a specific connotation she doesn't much care for, even knowing it was all professional here.] Don't think I don't know what that means, but c'est la vie. Any unwritten rules I should know about for being around here?

[pipers_son]

Unwritten rules, huh…? Most of ‘em are common sense ones- ask the supervisors if ya need ta bother a particular area- but really with how things are and who’s around… Just stick ta the golden rules the Ringmaster told ya about no killin’ or thievin’ in the carnival, and ya should be fine.

[amusicaladventure]

No worries there, I'm as sweet and innocent as they come. [Well. At least in regards to crime, she's telling the truth.]