lostcarnival | [OPEN]

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[OPEN]

Who: Howard Link and you!
When: Days 42-45
Where: Various locations around the carnival
What: A newbie gets his feet wet
Warnings: None for now. Will update as needed o7

[ Day 42 - Newbie ]
One moment you're thinking things can't possibly get worse, and the next you're somehow surprised when they do.

It was his hurry to escape one situation that first brought him to this strange place, but now an entirely new development means to keep him here. What is 'here'? According to the Ringmaster, 'here' would be an interdimensional carnival traveling through the multiverse. Naturally there is no going back the way one came. The moment he was given his contract and trailer keys, he rushed off to check. The door he'd entered through is gone, and any others serve a practical use.

Had Link not pinched himself, he wouldn't have believed it. The shock of pain had assured he was indeed awake and in control of his own actions, but the presence of so many… oddities... now gives him reason to believe this could be some elaborate hallucination. Perhaps the Atuuda had drained him more than he'd thought. Whatever the case, his feet still work and he can't risk standing idle. Hallucination or not, Walker might very well be here, possibly drawn to the bright lights, sounds and scents of circus life, and it's in their best interests to find a way out together. Any moral dilemmas stemming from their last encounter (does it even count as theirs?) will simply need to wait.

But now he finds himself saddled with a new predicament. For reasons he can only fathom, he can no longer sense Walker's life force. In any other circumstances this might mean Walker is not here, but Link finds he cannot sense any. Regardless of how human his target appears, his attempts to read auras leave him with nothing but a throbbing temple and a twinge of pain in his chest. With time working against him, he resorts to the reliable method of skulking through shadows, stalking the unaware and sleuthing through carnival fliers.

Day or night, during your job or your spare time, you might feel as though you're being watched on the carnival grounds. It could be anywhere. Maybe you're watering your flower pots at your trailer or you're tending to a patient in the medical tent. He might even find himself spotted, and it never occurs to him to look into a mirror to discover ~~the bright, glowing dots on his forehead~~ why.

[ The Big Top - Day 43 and onwards, mostly around showtimes whenever those are… ]
When turning over stone after stone yields nothing, it may be more feasible to let your prey (should it even exist in this place) come to you. The bait might not be perfect but the ebb and flow of crowds provides excellent cover. Group after group make their way into the Big Top, taking in show after show. Link is usually among them, always in the very back where he has a good view of the rows ahead. The tent tends to be packed with performers, guests and athletes -- some of them several times his height, some of them several times his length -- and he often moves about to keep his sights clear.

The performances themselves are merely a distraction and you may find him sitting or standing next to you, looking way too stern and serious for somebody watching an amazing space show. He doesn't even clap for the acts or have popcorn.

[ The Cookhouse - Day 45 and onwards, any time ]
Well, this is it. This is where he's to labor away for the next year and a day.

The cookhouse is surreal but its atmosphere is as pleasant as it can be in these conditions. What conditions, you ask? When Link had first been thrust into this world and all of the antics accompanying the Space Olympics, he'd wondered that himself. An answer has yet to come to him.

Fortunately, enough people come and go to keep his hands busy, and if nothing else it's work he's familiar with. He supposes he ought to be grateful. Someone had enough consideration to assign him a job with an oven. And yet, despite the subtle familiarity of the kitchen, Link has never felt more out of place.

Lost, he manages the only way he knows how: by making himself useful. He can be found poking around in the kitchen, clearing tables and tidying the dining areas. Depending on the time of day, he may have already been working hard for a while and will have his sleeves pulled back to his forearms. May he take your empty plate? Should he? Maybe he'll just sweep again…

[ Wildcard! ]
Feel free to run into Link just about anywhere on carnival grounds. During the days leading up to off week, his snooping can take him pretty far but he'll be avoiding the Olympic fanfare whenever possible. If you'd like to work out something in particular, just hmu on Discord (Bans#5363) or PM this journal. I'm new here so don't hesitate to let me know if I get something wrong o7 I'll match prose or brackets.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Operation: Make Trouble is a grand success. Suddenly everyone wants to know where this damn cat came from and why it's everywhere, holding up the line and tripping workers and guests alike. Someone means to kick it aside just as another blustering patron staggers out of the way. The line begins to balloon out as spectators shuffle to and fro but not forward, their progress hindered by the escalating scene. There are so many large guests -- tall aliens, giant talking slugs, half-horse folk -- that the area has become congested, and for a moment Link wonders the odds of such a small animal making it out alive. Can he really leave it to such a cruel fate? Best decide quickly as time is not on his side.

More and more eyes are shifting towards their little corner of the tent, and if anyone has followed him from home it's only a matter of time before he's spotted or recognized. This stupid cat is going to blow his cover!

Risking a kick in the face, Link drops down to his knees and reaches through the sea of legs. He grasps blindly for anything furry, hoping he doesn't mistake some alien appendage for the cat's leg or tail.

Edited 2018-04-18 22:35 (UTC)

He almost forgets he has to dodge when a leg hits him and knocks him over. There's a scramble of limbs as the cat climbs over legs, someone's arm as it is stepped on, and another person's back. Except Tyki is certainly getting an eye full of everyone overhead and with the plan working as intended he lowers his body to the ground and tries to wiggle his way out of getting actually stepped on.

Link's on his hands and knees now, reaching for him and he knows he has his attention finally within his grasp. He makes an attempt to move, staggering to the side out of something slimy and pushes himself just within reach of the man's hands. Closer now, he can't feel Innocence on him but with the way the carnival exists he can't out rule that he isn't an Exorcist.

As amusing as this is, and he wants to laugh, it was drawing attention towards the both of them. Tyki may as well reward him for his efforts. Fur graces Link's fingers as the cat nearly slams into him out of panic. If he's grabbed roughly, Tyki may try to sink his tiny fangs into his arm.

Edited 2018-04-18 22:56 (UTC)

Under these circumstances, there really is no gentle way to scruff a frightened, flailing cat. You just grab what you can and yank, hoping for the best. He's already resigned himself to getting bit. While he'd had the forethought to go cat-fishing with his gloved hand, the leather isn't thick enough to protect against a serious show of teeth or claws. He supposes it's a small price to pay for what might amount to a test of altruism.

The second that furry body skirts his fingertips, he claps his hand over its back and drags it backwards through a row of open legs.

He's grabbed roughly and claws rake across the ground but with nothing to grab onto he goes easily and right into Link's grasp. In turn it makes his head jerk to the side, teeth sinking into the leather of Link's arm in annoyance. Normally he's not so quick to lash out but then he's not use to being manhandled like this. Thankfully his bite isn't that strong and he's likely not to draw blood. Biting isn't something he normally does.

But congratulations Link, you now have a cat in your grasp that isn't flailing any longer. At least the line can move forward now and normalcy can return to the staggering crowd. He makes a noise akin to something annoyed though with a hollow meow escaping his mouth.

Link sucks a breath through his teeth, flinching with the first jolt of pain. He's certain to find marks tomorrow... Luckily it doesn't become any worse, but the pressure tells him his furry friend hasn't yet let go. That's fine, really. So long as its mouth remains occupied, it can't bite anything else. Hopefully his coat sleeve holds up...

While there's a lull in the excitement, Link gets to his feet with his prize clutched tightly in both arms. The cat sounds as unhappy as Link feels, and he's sure they both appear equally pissed to whoever cares enough to look. Before his patience grows too thin, he shoulders his way into line and promptly out of the Big Top.

He feet lead him around the tent to a side entrance that sees little traffic. There are some boxes for the cat to hide in and hopefully less chance of it getting under foot. Maybe a worker will recognize it as they leave and take it home.

"I'm going to place you down," he says to this cat, a cat who cannot comprehend human language and would probably disobey him even if it could. "If you've any sense at all, you will learn from your mistakes and stay out of trouble."

Tyki would prefer blood in all honestly but when his tongue doesn't receive any he clings to that arm with his tiny mouth until he finds he can properly sit against Link. He relents finally as he's head tightly in both of his arm. Claws will grip onto his shirt and lightly press against skin. He's still getting use to gripping without shredding and while this is an enemy from home he would rather not be dropped. It isn't that high but for a cat it seemed like a long drop.

Link's moving and his tail curls inwards and under Link's arm for purchase. No, he's not going to give up his prize that easily and when he mentions that he's to be put down he'll tuck his head forward and nose into his coat or shirt to try to crawl closer. He's even going to pop his head upwards and rub his head under Link's chin. Man, this cat is suddenly friendly.

Suddenly indeed. So, the cat can speak English? Link exhales through his nose, wishing that were the case. He might ask it why it could walk just fine while he was trying to catch it, only for it to change its mind when he goes to put it down.

Again, he shouldn't be surprised when cats somehow do the opposite of what's wanted. It's simply their nature to be bothersome, just as it's doing its best to bother him now with its misplaced affection. Maybe it's expressing gratitude but he doesn't really care. Like a heartless jerk, he lifts his chin out of reach while juggling the cat around for a better grip. He moves to hold it underneath its arms, letting it dangle like a long noodle. Clutching it with both hands, he pulls the cat away from his chest and grimaces when he realizes its claws have gotten stick in his sweater.

"Enough."

He gives the cat a little shake. Clearly this cat is a liar and not really into him because he doesn't notice any happy purring.

Heartless, a bit of a jerk, straight to the point. While Link was making this harder to handle, he was giving him the information he needed. Still, there was no Innocence present now that he was this close. His paws stretch against his shirt as he legs his hind feet slide down against his stomach. He's not absently searching for weapons as he's sure anything like that would be lower but he wants a better hold on someone that kind of seems reluctant to help in the first place.

But he doesn't get to think on it for long when he's suddenly pried outwards and shaken. Who shakes a cat?! His claws are stretched and after a bit of a pull one paw remains stuck to his shirt. The shaking does help when it pops free and he hangs there with a deadpan expression, somewhat lost on cat features, and lets his ears bend backwards with a bit of a tail thrash. Wow, someone has a stick up their rear. Straight to business huh?

They must make quite a pair. It'd be humorous if it weren't so troublesome.

Once he's free, Link thrusts the cat out and as far from himself as physically possible. He's more irked than he'd like to be, but it's all because of this foolish animal and the interest it's taken in him. Well, that's too bad. He doesn't have time for this nonsense and their chance meeting is over.

He approaches the nearest cluster of boxes and, without so much as a courtesy warning, drops the cat on the top of the stack. It doesn't have to fall far (only a foot or so) and cats always land on their feet so it's fine.

"Go on! Get out of my sight!"

He has to admit that while he's annoyed at being treated like this he's actually amused at the same time. He's being treated like he's some offense to nature and Link might catch a case of cat if he holds on longer. He looks down at the boxes below them with his tail swaying. He almost makes an effort at being cute and inviting.

That is until he's dropped. He looks surprised with his tail poofing reflexively and his legs haphazardly tense at not being prepared to drop. He lands, awkwardly, on his front paws and the side of his rear. Thankfully it isn't that painful and he only half drops before managing to drag himself upwards onto all fours.

Look at those ears flatten instantly as he leaps down onto a lower box away from Link.

Ah, it didn't land on its feet...

This cat is clearly broken. Or perhaps it's simply stupid. Or it might have been injured during the excitement. Ah, yes, that's also possible...

Link eyes the cat as it hops away. Is he really going to have another moral dilemma after all of that? Over a cat? There are at least ten things he could (and should) be doing right now. Each moment spent outside is another moment Walker could be sneaking beneath his nose.

Damn it.

Maybe he'll just catch the thing and leave it at the medical tent.

Fwip.

What's that sound? Huh, that's paper between his fingers.

Link's not interested and he thinks that's enough for today. There was time in the carnival for everything Tyki wanted to do. If this man was going to be sticking around it would be best to do these interactions in small spurts. Not to mention while his stamina for the spell is getting longer with each day, there are still performances going on. He couldn't keep this up all day. He had a duty to the carnival that he had to carry out.

It's that sound that alerts him as he makes his way in the opposite direction of Link's presence. He's heard it before during the fight with Apocryphos and it makes him stop mid step to glance back at him. His fur raises in alarm and his ears cant backwards. For just one moment, he considers dropping this con but instead chooses his only other option.

Just going to run now.

Cat, you only have yourself to blame. Had you scurried off when given the chance, you wouldn't be in this situation. Now Link's concerned, and once Link worries there's no changing his mind. Just ask Allen Walker. Whether or not the cat agrees, Link will at least see that it receives a professional examination.

He risks a glance around to see if they're being watched. As he does so, his target manages to put some distance between them. Several precious seconds pass until he brandishes his hand, and with a grand sweep of his arm he throws a long line of paper charms. He aims their path with a crook of his fingers and they go sailing, hot on the cat's heels.

The last thing he wants is to be taken to medical. He didn't prefer the Doctor of the carnival nor did he feel like getting poked and prodded by anyone else as a cat. The minute he was there he would transform back and disappear.

The world is so much larger at this height and he's running as fast as his cat legs will carry him. He's just not as fast as he could be especially since he landed awkwardly moments ago on his rear. Those pieces of paper catch up to him quickly and if he's able, he's going to spit and make noises of displeasure the moment he's ensnared. No, he is not a happy cat right now.

It's over soon enough. The cat is small and only a few talismans are needed to do the job, so when Link catches up he finds it wrapped in a snug little ball. The charms' symbols glow faintly, active with just enough magic to restrict movement without much pressure. Like this, there's no reason to tape the cat's mouth closed. It's free to complain as much as it wants.

Completely deadpan, Link scoops it up, tucks it beneath his arm and turns to go back the way he came. Back at the tent, he sorts through the boxes until he finds one mostly empty. Using one hand, he opens it, dumps its contents onto the ground…

… and then stuffs the cat inside. As its bonds loosen and return to Link's outstretched hand, the flaps are slapped shut and held closed. Now, there is only darkness.

This isn't going how he planned but this is why he was testing it out in the first place. As Tyki, he could get just about anywhere. As a cat, he had limitations and he would rather end up in the hands of an enemy he could conquer than find out later the troubles that came with this small form at the hands of something much more dangerous.

It's dark in the box once he's freed and the flaps are sealed shut. He tries a little harder than he wants to invoke his Power to Choose. When it doesn't work, he makes a noise and then goes rather quiet. There's no point wasting his energy in fighting and that deep seated laziness that usually accompanies Tyki kicks in. He's just going to lay there like he's offended.

Stupid Crow. If he ever gets turned into a bird he was going to eat him.

Very good, cat. He's glad you've come to your senses, or maybe you're just all fussed out and have nowhere to go. He's all fussed out, too, so he doesn't waste another moment in making this someone else's problem. Off they go.

The box sways a little with each step but Link's strides are even, and he steers clear of crowded areas so the box isn't jostled. The journey is smooth and quick, culminating in an equally uneventful drop-off at the medical tent. Luckily he doesn't spot any staff so he doesn't need to explain how this situation came to be, which is the first positive thing to happen to him all day. His furry delivery is left somewhere it will be quickly spotted, but also be out of the way. After a short pause Link turns to slip around a corner and out of sight, as though the time they've spent together means nothing at all.

Goodbye, cat, and godspeed. You're going to need it.

Being trapped in a box does indeed tame someone's mood after they've tired themselves out and he'll lay there as the box sways. He has enough sense to probe for insight as he glances outwards at any lingering souls nearby.

Thankfully no one is at medical and even if they were they likely wouldn've transported him to someone in the animal keepers. Some of the medical staff were a little lazy in his opinion if they weren't somewhat humanoid or had sentient thought of their own. Either way, he'll pull a Schrodinger's cat eventually and free himself. Oh, this isn't the last Link will see of him.

DAY 45 - THE COOKHOUSE

Link should be thankful he didn't break into his trailer, but that could always come later, given he could easily crack a window and pretend he got in that way. Either way, he's going to appear in the cookhouse during one of his shifts, walking in through the front when someone opens the door. Knowing the place at least came with the territory and he'll head in past the double doors leading to the back and just in case he's spotted he'll lift his nose to fake sniff.

He's not terribly hungry right now but comfort food could go a long way. It's why he'll find a path upwards onto the counter or prep table and announce himself with a meow.

Edited 2018-04-21 16:31 (UTC)

No.

There comes a metallic ring as Link claps his mixing bowl down onto the counter. His wooden spoon rattles against the bowl's lip, then stills altogether when his hands move away. He presses his palms flat to the tabletop and jerks his head to look behind him.

It can't be. Can it? Oh, it can. And it is.

Now days after their encounter, he'd foolishly thought life had moved on. He'd assumed he'd done his part and that he'd seen the last of this bothersome animal yet here it is, in the flesh, sitting pretty on a table he'd just wiped down. He notes it looks all right but he can't bring himself to feel even the slightest bit relieved. Puffing up like an angry hen, he snatches a nearby dish towel and flaps it in the cat's direction.

"You, again?! Get away from there! That's clean!"

Edited 2018-04-21 22:17 (UTC)

Something certainly smells good and he'll enjoy the scent of food and whatever Link is making.

He could stop playing this cat role if Link just gave his name, position, information on any and all Exorcists, and just let him probe him for information.

Last thing he wants to do is end up in another box and Link will find him backing up at the towel flapping in his direction. He relents and bounds across the counter towards the other end. It's then that he'll leap towards the prep table and sit on that instead. Either this Crow was always this stiff or he really hated cats.

Don't! That's where they cut vegetables!

"No! Out!!"

Link follows but keeps a respectable amount of distance between them. As though reminding him of the danger, the bruise on his arm twinges when he gives the towel a sharp flick towards the cat's nose. No bites today, thank you.

"Go on! Get lost before I use you to scrub the floors!"

Cat, have you forgotten what happened last time? Link sure hasn't. Really! You must want to drive him mad! And to think he'd been in something of a fine mood. That is, he'd woken up today and felt agreeable enough to comply with his orders. Given he can't actually leave, he may as well stress bake and stockpile bait for Walker. Dealing with an ignorant animal wasn't (nor would it ever be) in his plans.

Edited 2018-04-22 01:55 (UTC)

Interesting, that's actually a scary look he's got there. He's heard about Crow only because of what they possess and now that the Noah used them as pawns. The Earl had the courtesy to fill them in on what was necessary.

He continues to back up until his hind paw slips off the edge and he knows he's reached the limit of retreating. He turns then, leaping down towards the floor on shaky paws. He slips short but recovers instantly this time. A part of him believes Link's threat but then a cat wouldn't understand human speech entirely and he continues with his con.

Faking curiosity but sincere apprehension, he's under the table and tucked behind one of the table legs but at least he's not on the counter. It doesn't look like he's completely retreating. Sorry not sorry, Link.

No animals in the kitchen! It doesn't matter where the cat decides to sit as Link knows its mere existence contaminates the entire room, either by tracking in germs on its paws or by getting its hair into the food. It doesn't matter which corner it squeezes into for hiding as Link will still sense its bright, golden eyes on him, always watching but somehow still too clumsy to stay out of his way.

So, no, cat. He doesn't care that you're not on the counter. You shouldn't be in here to begin with!

He stoops over to look beneath the table. Keeping the cat in his sights, he swishes his towel to spook it back towards the kitchen's exit.

"Shoo! Shoo!"

Any normal cat would've been caught unaware of what Link is trying to do. He would've backed up, headed towards the exit and been tricked into going it. This cat on the other hand does the opposite as it moves backwards with light steps as not to get hit by the towel. As if he would relent to the enemy so easily.

His head tilts, like he's calling Link an idiot, and he'll lift his chin and turn away to leap onto a few boxes to the left, up onto the stool nearby. From there he'll leap onto a nearby spice rack, up the side of a cabinet and he'll climb right onto a windowsill. He then pretends to lick his paw and will rub it along the top of his head.

Sorry, he can't speak human. What was it you wanted again?

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