Howard Link (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
churchninja) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
lostcarnival2018-04-17 09:31 pm
churchninja) wrote in lostcarnival2018-04-17 09:31 pm
Entry tags:
[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 discoverthe 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.
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 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.
day 42
Which is why when she feels someone, something, watching her, she doesn't hesitate to slide her hand back under her jacket to snag a knife and promptly lob it near the face of whoever's creeping on her.
The knife embeds itself in a tree not too far from Link with a thunk.]
Stalking a girl is pretty rude, y'know~
[She has good aim for not having bothered to look before throwing. There's something dangerous in her voice when she call out, and when she turns to look towards this stranger, he can easily make out the way her eyes glow in the low light of the woods.]
no subject
Left with no reason to hide, Link plucks the knife from its target and steps out of the foliage. Though it's getting dark, it's easy to see his overall shape is at least human. If not for the markings glowing on his forehead, he might look completely normal. After giving her a cursory look over, his attention is drawn back to her most prominent feature: her eyes.
He stops several paces away and flips the knife with a short toss. It's caught by the tip of its blade, held gingerly in his fingertips with its hilt pointed toward her. That's as far as he comes, and if she wants it back she'll need to approach.]
Apologies.
[He sounds a little stern and maybe a little too polite but he's agreeable enough.]
You may not believe me but I did not intend to observe for much longer. I had to be certain…
no subject
She'll come closer in order to retrieve her knife, showing only a minor bit of care as takes it by the hilt. He's smart enough to not get cut, right? He's not some dumb kid. Well, hopefully not. She sheaths back in its holster on her lower back and takes another step towards him. Sure, maybe a scantily clad woman with glowing eyes invading someone's personal space might be the dream of some individuals, but the leering grin on her face on her face isn't friendly.]
Fufu, certain of what, huh?
[He might be a newbie and maybe didn't deserve meeting Shura like this, but it's a little too late for anything else.
no subject
[How thoughtful.
Really, though, she needn't worry about him. There might not be much about him that suggests an aptitude with knives but the exchange takes place without injury. Afterwards, as she's putting her weapon away, he slowly, deliberately, slips his hands into his coat pockets. She's in his bubble a moment later but he remains where he is, standing straight and tall. Under any other circumstances he might be stunned by her state of (un)dress, but as things are his eyes never stray below her face. There are more pressing things to worry about than her abundance of cleavage.]
no subject
[She lets out a laugh. She keeps a watch on his hands, perfectly well aware that things could go south very easily and very quickly. But wasn't that the fun part of messing with strangers?]
This place is pretty messed up, isn't it? I don't blame you for thinkin' you've gone crazy.
[She has to admire his discipline, though. Most men would look down at least once if she was this close.]
no subject
Mm. I don't know whether to feel troubled or relieved to learn I still have my wits.
[But that's enough about him. He wants to talk about her. She isn't the strangest person he's crossed thus far, but she's the first to be so bold with her skills. Had he not been watching at that precise moment, there's a good chance he wouldn't have dodged the incoming knife. He certainly didn't hear it, but a beam of light catching on its blade had saved his nose.
With a slight lift of his chin, he purses his lips.]
Tell me, did you mean to miss your mark or was that simply a warning?
no subject
Don't worry~ If you're stuck here with the rest of us, you'll have plenty of time to think about whether not that's a bad thing.
[She hadn't been at the carnival more than a month, and it's been a pretty wild ride so far. And there still so many days ahead of her! Really, she's not looking forward to it, but at least time was passing quickly enough.]
Oh, are you worried for your health? Nyahaha, that was just a friendly lil' greetin'. With the rumors flyin' around, you can't be too careful! It's my job to make sure that there aren't any troublemakers hidin' out here, so you can't blame me for it.
no subject
Give him time and he'll learn to fear her like the rest.What an interesting development. It's her job to spot trouble, is it? Well, a certain someone has that in spades. And it isn't only that, but the timing is too perfect to be a coincidence, making it his best lead yet. Seems he was right to follow her after all. If he's lucky, he won't need to be stuck here for much longer.
Her teasing is ignored and he presses on, frank and businesslike.]
Rumors? What sort of rumors? They must be quite serious for you to be so tense.
no subject
Mm, you haven't heard? You must not be listenin' hard enough.
[Since being in his personal bubble doesn't seem to be affecting him much, Shura will take the chance to take a step back, clasping her hands behind her back as she turns to start back on her patrol. If this guy isn't going to be fun and just wants to ask her questions, then he was going to have to follow.]
But you think I'm tense? Aah, I must be due in for a soak at the hot springs if I'm making strangers worry about me.
no subject
After a moment of consideration, he trots after her. Once he's close enough, he matches her stride.]
What do you mean? [He's quick to clarify, lest she think he's interesting in joining her for a soak at the springs.] These rumors… Do they have something to do with new arrivals?
no subject
Ohoho, you really don't know? A guy like you must be going crazy!
[So stiff! He probably would benefit from joining her for a good long soak. But Shura can humor him as he follows her, raising her arms up and clasping her hands behind her head.]
Not about the new arrivals, though. Well, this ain't about them. There's talk about an invasion, y'know? The Greimen. [By the way she says that, she doesn't sound too particularly scared.] It's be a pain if it happened on my shift.
no subject
Nevertheless, this is the first he's heard of such an enemy, but then she's the first person he's found who sounds like they keep an eye open for trouble. From the way she speaks, it's obvious they don't know when or even if an invasion will take place. He only hopes he can find his mark and leave before events unfold.]
You don't seem terribly worried. Should the rest of us be?
no subject
That depends. Y'scared of little aliens and don't trust that Ringmaster? Then maybe you should be.
[She casts a quick glance at him over her shoulders, giving half of a shurg with her hands still behind her head.] I ain't gonna get my panties twisted up from worryin'. If they come, they come. It ain't the first time I've been outnumbered.
no subject
Her question sticks with him, though. Does he trust the Ringmaster? Of course not, but it sounds like everyone else here does. Are they the fools, or is he?]
And the civilians? You and I will manage, but what measures are being taken to protect those who cannot defend themselves? Regardless of how capable you seem, you cannot be everywhere at once.
no subject
It ain't like I'm the only one who'd be out there, y'know. [And from what she had seen, there were more fighters than civilians in the carnival's ranks. She turns to face forward, dropping her arms down to her sides.]
An' even if it was something that big, that Ringmaster seems willing enough to step in if she gotta. She doesn't like someone else playin' with her toys if ya know what I mean.