[OPEN]

[churchninja]

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.

Comments

[prazerbutterfly]

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.

[churchninja]

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.

[prazerbutterfly]

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.

[churchninja]

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.

[prazerbutterfly]

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.

[churchninja]

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!"

[prazerbutterfly]

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.

[churchninja]

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.

[prazerbutterfly]

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.

[churchninja]

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!"

[prazerbutterfly]

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?

[churchninja]

He doesn't have time for this. They've a schedule to adhere to, with ingredients to prep and leftovers to sort during downtime. Only they can't, because he needs to clean the tables and counters again! He'd wanted to have this cake ready for lunch, too! Glowering, he can do nothing but watch as the cat frolics out of reach.

"Now you can climb?! Enough of that!"

It's strange how graceful this cat can be when in the mood. Sometimes it's as though this animal is still learning how to be a cat, and then other times it gets around just fine. Maybe it has a lame leg. If only he cared enough to find out.

Drawing up until his back is ramrod straight, he hurries to the window. While giving the cat the stink-eye, he lifts the inner pane with one quick jerk. Luckily there's no screen so the cat is free to go.

"There! Out!!"

[prazerbutterfly]

Tyki is very much aware of the warmth cascading off his fur that leads down his flank. There is a really nice sunspot pouring in and the instinct to flop down into it and take a nap is rather high.

But then there is Link shouting at him again. He turns his head towards him and he'll cock his head once more like he doesn't understand. Tyki was actually a very good climber. It was the getting down that usually troubled him. It isn't perfect and he's right he's learning how to be a cat. Link could chalk it up to this being a very dumb animal.

Link is close again and he wants to bite once more. This is still the enemy despite how friendly he is being. If it wasn't for the Ringmaster he likely would've gotten rid of him already.

Hmm, but friendly isn't working so he again adapts to the situation. Fine, he'll listen this once as he leaps onto the potted windowsill outside the window and lays down there with a sway of his tail. If he's locked out he'll just watch Link through the window like a creep.

[churchninja]

If only Link liked cats. Well, it isn't that he minds cats. It's just this cat in particular. When it looks at him like that...

Cat, if you think Link is going to take pity now you must be more foolish than he'd thought. Whatever plans it'd had, he wastes no time in crushing its hopes and dreams. As soon as the cat safely clears the window, Link yanks it shut and it closes with a loud thwack. He stands there, glaring through the glass, and jabs one finger at the cat's face.

His lips move, forming the word, "Stay!" And then, with a spin so quick it makes the tail of his braid bounce, he turns away to go back to his work. There are counters to clean!

[prazerbutterfly]

It's just a cat, Link. It's not like it has a nefarious plan to infiltrate his state of living in order to gain information and possible tabs on anything from home.

The window shuts in front of him and he curls his toes back to avoid them being slammed in the process. He can't bank on the fact it isn't an intent to attack. Not to mention his power didn't work with this transformation just yet. That was a work in progress.

When Link jabs his finger at the glass his paw raises to poke against it. Pads press against the windowsill and he meows in response at being told to stay. That's fine, he can listen for once. Besides, it looks like he'll be in there for a while and he's going to lay down and stretch out for a warm sun nap. Plus, it is kind of high and he can't risk transforming in front of Link.