⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 47 - Day 58 ish
Where: The Athenaeum
What: The carnival arrives at book world. First week, they'll be performing for magical manifestations of book characters. Second week, it's time to hunt (for books, in the library.) Around Day 58 some stuff will occur.
Warnings: Reading is mandatory.

FAERIE TALES↴ Though the carnival will be performing for its guests in the first week, they are welcome to search the Athenaeum while they are off duty during that time. The manifestations of story characters will be out in full force during performance week, with animals, people, objects, and even locations growing out from various tales. Most are distracting at worst, and will be curious to check out the carnival. Some, however, can be as dangerous as they were in their stories of origin. You know what to do. ► IT'S TIME TO ROLEPLAY: The best way to deal with book ghosts is to follow their narrative to its logical conclusion - turn the tables, work the story so it ends in your favour! Naturalistic and narratively satisfying plotting will have the manifestations following your lead. However, push too hard and introduce too many plot holes, inconsistencies, or illogical plot twists, and they will reject your reality utterly, becoming quite aggressive in the process. You can also use your natural abilities and powers to fight them in a traditional sense, but in the Ringmaster's experience, it's best to fight reality benders by bending reality right back at them. If you aren't careful, it's possible to be dragged fully into a story's reality, and then things get really messed up. ► IT'S ALSO TIME TO READ: The carnival came here for a purpose, and that purpose is to research. Specifically, the Ringmaster is looking for information on the Queen's Miracles - the set of ancient fae artifacts that the Blue Rose is one of. The carnival needs these artifacts to defend itself, but nobody knows where they've been for thousands of years. That's what the books are for. However, nothing is stopping you from pursuing knowledge for personal reasons. The halls are open to your perusal, and only your heart can guide you to the book you truly seek. Check the plot post to see what's allowed, and sign up to find plot info or other important game information below.

Comments

Joker - ota

[pipers_son]

A - Practice

For all that this is a more selfish and self-interested stop than anything else, well, they're apparently still expected to perform. Joker is more than fine with that. He's not apart of the Nightrunners or Security. This sort of thing, helping to put on a good show, is why he's gotten the Stage Manager position in the first place, so he'll stick to what he knows. What else can he really do?

Still, at some point- whether while he's preparing the big top for some practice, cleaning up after practice, or in the middle of throwing knives or up in the silk ropes- he does speak an idly curious question to the open air for anyone to really answer.

"How exactly do ya entertain books?" His lips quirk up in an idle grin. "I mean, it's usually the other way around, isn't it? Do ya think they'll just put the whole books in the seats, and we'll perform ta paper?"

Hey, it's a legitimate question.

B - Book Learning

As with any good library, there are always plenty of ways to get to some of the more... difficult to reach tomes. Ladders that roll along the ground and reach up high are one way, although you can't tell what is up there until, well, up there, that's one way. Other ways are how some places have multiple floors that one can troop up and down in their search. But the really easy way to get a good look at what's in this massive and far-reaching library?

Flight.

For anyone stuck to being on the ground, they'll hear a familiar voice calling down to them. "'ey!" That would be Joker, the beat of his wings a noticeable rhythm in such a quiet and enormous place. He waggles his hand when attention is finally snared. "Need a help lookin' around? Two eyes are better than one, right?"

Of course, Joker isn't the only person who can fly in the Carnival, through whatever means. As he's flying around, he may have to suddenly rear back, wings flapping to get him to a stop, so that he avoids an accidental collision. "Oi! Oh, sorry about that."

C - Library Encounters (NPCing available)

Whether it's him or others, of course... The library is teaming with a kind of life its own. You never know what kind of things might pop up.... Have things suddenly become a little quieter?

[ooc: A npc chance! Whether you want me to do it for you, or want to get some of those NPC bonus points yourself, I'm available for anything!]

D - Joker's Wild

[I'm also really game for anything else here, so if you have another idea, feel free to run it by me, and I'm set to go.]

Library Encounters

[criticallyfucked]

Foster is going through a lot of books in his search for Wood and Rot... it's not as many now that he's gotten sick of how many books contain references to 'wood' as a concept and has narrowed his search exclusively to decay, but... it's still an awful lot of books. Death is a really popular theme.

So really, it's only a matter of time and probability.

What is, you ask?

Well, the painted pine trees and river shore, water pouring from the pages like ink, and a ghostly young woman, wrapped in the tatters of clothing the both of them might have found familiar on Tanyuu, who drops to her knees in front of them.

"Please! A great oni has attacked our village and burnt our crops and homes, and he's carried my sister off into the mountains to be his bride!"

This... has nothing to do with rot at all.

1/2

[pipers_son]

Super nothing to do with rot. It also, coincidentally, doesn't really have a lot to do with shade or light, either, and only a nebulous connection to Heaven.

Needless to say, those are all things Joker himself is looking for, himself, and it's really coincidence more than anything that has Joker browsing through the same spots as Foster. Mostly, he's been ignoring the other man, humming nursery rhymes to himself. The second things begin to change, however? He perks up, wings twitching, and steps away from the shelves. Yet the colors which begin to wash over past everything don't seem too threatening just yet...

...And the woman who collapses before them is certainly the picture perfect image of a damsel in distress.

Joker pauses for a split second, trying to decide how to best spin this particular tale... when he glances over at Foster...

2/2

[pipers_son]

And grins.

"You've had great fortune, fair lady," he says, tone shifting just a bit towards ringleader dramatics, only without the volume. Going down onto one knee, he uncurls his hand towards her in offering. "Because the man travelin' besides me-" And above him, what the fuck are horses? "-is none other than a great hero known for outwittin' and defeatin' oni wherever he goes~."

[criticallyfucked]

W.

What.

Foster looks at Joker, the whites of his eyes showing in visible alarm, but it's too late--

It's a credit to whatever bullshit he's on that he recovers before the pacing is irreparably stalled, but his style and Joker's are very different in tone. His eyes lid slightly, a thin, deliberately canny smile on his face as he steps back.

Foster knows nothing about Japan, to the point that he does not actually recognise this story as taking place there at all. But he can take a hint--unfortunately for Joker.

He dips into a bow, heavy claws spreading wide--he keeps his head up, though, the increasingly predatory smile never once wavering.

"And my servant and I would be happy to offer you our aid."

At his words, the young maiden bursts into tears, weeping tears of relief and joy--

"Oh, thank you. Thank you! But oh, please, be careful! He has many faithful living on the path to his palace, and they will surely try to stop you!"

Unfortunately, this warning might have been less wasted (or not) on Foster were he not stuck on an extremely basic question:

What in the fuck is an 'oh-ny?'

[pipers_son]

Ha ha wow, what a rude thing to call him! -Although Joker guesses that he was going to suggest something similar. Travelling storyteller might have had a little more dignity to it, but whatever. Hiding his laughter in a soft huff, he glances up to the road before them.

Well, it looks like they've found themselves a nice way to waste time.

Encouraging the woman up to her feet, Joker drawls, "I imagine we should start our journey at the very place the wretched thing has wrecked, for surely he's left a trail, bein' so powerful and prideful as he is." He's guessing, honestly. The extent of Joker's own Japanese knowledge is that he's friends with Tanyuu, crushing awkwardly after Ginko, and eating at a restaurant, once. However, well, context clues and all that, right? It sounds like an dragon or troll in a fairy tale. Hopefully he's on the right track.

But in case he isn't... He inclines his head back towards Foster, fluttering his eyelashes up at Foster. "Unless my fine heroic lord would like to correct his humble bard."

[criticallyfucked]

Well, Joker, that's what happens when you put Foster van Denend in a position of control--over anything or anyone.

(Un)fortunately, Joker's sense of humour about the whole thing is keeping him soundly in his place--the laugh, the gratuitous tone, the fluttering of his eyelashes.

But really, Foster knows about as much about Japan as Joker does, especially Japan in a... fairy tale period of time. 'Japan,' where he's from, is pretty much synonymous with sushi, cartoons for children, and the only decent vegetarian carryout that isn't pizza.

"If we can track him to his home, we'll surprise him in his sleep," Foster declares; then, lest anyone forget this is a fairy-tale, he adds, "Such a cruel and greedy beast has no honour, and so shall receive none in return."

If it weren't for the wide, decidedly messy smile on his face, one might actually believe he takes this sentiment seriously.

The ghostly seems pretty willing to believe, at least, because she wipes her eyes on the hem of her sleeve and nods to them before turning to begin the walk back to the smoking ruins of her village home.

Foster gives Joker a glance, still smiling--then glances back at his own hind end?

Walk, or ride?

[espigeon]

Julien's been playing with a long makeup brush in his beak, clasping it with the prongs on his tongue. Now he sets it to skewing out the side of his beak, jauntily, like a cigarette. Even though he hasn't smoked in a long time and actually being around tobacco smoke physically hurts, he sometimes misses just fiddling with them. He doesn't have to miss handling things with his mouth, because before the peripheral body thing happened that was a lot of how he manipulated objects at all.

"I want to know if it's split by genre," he says offhandedly. "Bet graphic novels like it more daring, satire likes some mean humor, and who knows what historical bios want?"

At this moment he's also out in the library, paging around in conditions a little too claustrophobic for his main body to feel comfortable, and he thinks he's found something. He's gotten pretty good at splitting his attention, but considering if this mention of Lilith is important or it's just yet another random item is distracting.

[pipers_son]

A giant pigeon using a makeup brush as a faux cigarette is some kind of look, although Joker couldn't say exactly what kind. It definitely has him grinning a bit whenever he looks back to Julien, honestly, and he can't ask for much more than that.

"If it's a biography, maybe it depends on who the biography is about," he muses aloud, carefully watching a knife as he tosses it up in the air and catchse it again. Wouldn't do to accidentally cut himself, even if he's starting to suspect his right side might do something odd. There is a strange bit of glow often trying to form there.

"But the only way we could find out is if we somehow got ta control who got ta see different shows. I mean, ya would think books wouldn't mind bein' manhandled, but ya can never tell with different worlds, right?"

[espigeon]

Julien's seen a bit of glow in passing. So much happens here that he's decided to wait to bring it up until it gets more noteworthy, if it does.

"Maybe it's just got to be done respectfully. Gloves, dry conditions without too much light and definitely no fire, no breaking their spines... like a lot of other guests, really." He's definitely had friends concerned about the spines of books before. "I think... it looks like some books kind of project their characters and scenes out, somehow? I just saw a bit of that out in the library. So I guess if they wander in here?"

This body isn't all that good at his job, but it's not like he's the only one in his department, he can take a couple hours to poke around if he doesn't go too far.

[pipers_son]

It's done a few things, but it sure seems to be taking its sweet time about it... Which is really annoying, in Joker's opinion. Still, he knows it'll all work out in the end. That's how most changes are, in the carnival, and he doesn't doubt that's what's going on.

"Well, if they need that much care, then I don't think any of us here in performance outta touch 'em." Another toss, another catch, aaaaaaaand throw. The thunk goes through solidly into the target. "Let's pretend ta ignore that tidbit about them projectin'- which department would you say is most qualified ta go movin' books around?"

[espigeon]

A couple of weird things have been taking their time with Julien, too. There's no sense in complaining about it, though he'd kind of like to do so anyway.

He watches the knife with somewhat less than half his attention, preoccupied with what his other body is doing. "Oh, uh, engineering? Once they've all been compelled to wash the grease off of their collective hands and other manipulatory appendages, put on gloves so there's no issue with skin oils, then they should probably have the dexterity you need to not accidentally tear anything, right? Ah but they'll be tired of extra work from all that time mopping up after incompetent aliens at the last stop. Maybe Acquisitions needs something to do if they can't pilfer things."

Yeah he should probably tell Joker. It's not as relevant as he might have liked but it's an interesting tidbit all the same.

A!!

[soft_focus]

[Well, Reira's coming in with her usual batch of animals-they need to get a good feel for the arena, and when it comes to animal training, the caretaker (or one of them) needs to be There.

So she's literally bringing in a herd of cats today, while Joker mutters his question out loud.] Eh?

[...What?]

...I thought the book people looked like people... [That was what it seemed like anyway. Like how Card Spirits were just cards but real, instead of talking cards.

It Made Sense. But now she's not sure who's right!] A-Are they really just going to be books..!?

[pipers_son]

[Oh, sweet summer child. Joker grins over her playfully.]

Book people are still books at their core, right? Maybe lookin' like people is tirin' for them, so when they want ta relax, they just turn inta books~.

[He laughs, half to show he's mostly playing.]

I've never had ta do this kind of performance before!

[soft_focus]

....They're not made of paper if they're only books at the core though. ...That's important, [She insists, pouting.] ...Turning into books is different, I think...

[He may be playing, but she's Super Serious, Mister. Anyway.]

...Umnhh...do you think they won't like things that aren't from their books, then..? [It's the first worry she can think of.]

[pipers_son]

Of course, of course~. [He tries to muffle his soft laughter into his hand.] They're very different. My mistake.

Anyway, it may be that they might like things not in their books. We might have ta ask now, won't we?

[soft_focus]

[SHE'S AN EMPATH JOKER SHE KNOWS YOU'RE AMUSED AS HECK.

But she won't call him out on that either, so she'll just Pout.]

....You can't ask everyone though, can you...?

PERFORMANCE

[starseedling]

Steven has been winding down from his particular practice session, and is now just sitting on top of some kind of plant construction he's grown, mostly made of big leaves and slightly crystalline vines. He's plucking away at his guitar idly, like he's working out the chords to something. Lion has long since grown tired, and is currently snoozing at the base of the plant.

That doesn't stop him from immediately answering Joker's question though.

"Maybe it will be like that one movie, and all the books will have faces, and they'll have funny personalities based on the kind of book they are!"

One can dream.

[pipers_son]

Yep, that's absolutely the kind of thing he can expect from Steven, and Joker lets out a laugh from where he's putting away some of his throwing knives. With Rip here, he doesn't really need to do it, but it still makes him feel better to practice occasionally. You know. For reasons.

"I think I wouldn't mind performin' ta a crowd like that!" Putting the last knife into place, he closes the case and starts to secure it. His right side is aching more today, but he ignores it for the time being.

"But it almost makes ya wonder if we coulda turned out like that ta blend in. Y'know, like in Atlantis?"

[starseedling]

"Ohhh... yeah!" he hums, that thought only having occurred to him the moment Joker suggests it. He remembers all the different fish tails people had - it's somehow even harder to imagine everyone as books with faces and legs and stuff.

He leans back onto his plant chair, still plucking out notes as he thinks about that, letting it sink in.

"What kind of book would you be?"

[pipers_son]

Honestly, it's a pretty absurd thought, which means it's a great one to entertain. Better the absurd and funny ones than the depressing ones, right? Joker lets that stew in Steven's mind a bit as he makes sure that he's not missing anything on the case. Not (currently) having a second hand means he has to make triple sure that he hasn't messed up anywhere.

Of course, the question that soon comes is thus a bit expected, and Joker draws out a long and thoughtful hum. "What kind of book would I be..." Putting the case to the side, he gets up to his feet to head over to the mark riddled target. Maybe it's just him, but it always seems good to go for the next day of practice.

"Now, I couldn't say for sure, but I rather wouldn't mind bein' a fairy tale book." He laughs a bit as he hooks his arm through a part of the target's stand. "Or a book of nursery rhymes!"

D, probably slightly backdated

[dontpokethat]

Psi's answer to the question of whether he would be okay with Ginko and Joker having... some kind of a relationship was conclusive, to say the least. A not-insignificant part of Ginko is relieved, even excited, at the fact that Psi didn' seem bothered and at the opportunity now left completely available.

So, that accounts for one of the emotions making Ginko's heart try to work its way up and out of his chest as he searches for Joker. It seems safe to assume that there's also some kind of fear involved. Maybe this whole thing will fall apart, maybe he'll find Joker only to discover that he's finally come to his senses... the possibilities are endless, really.

But he can't just not tell him. So, once he finds his... friend-crush-whatever, he doesn't give himself any more time to hesitate before he approaches. "Hey. Joker."

[pipers_son]

When Ginko finds Joker, the stage manager is over in the storage area for all of the shows. Practice targets, the big water tank for Tyki's shows, throwing knives and various juggling items... It's no surprise that Joker sometimes spends a lot of time in there as much as anywhere else in the big top. After all, it's partially his responsibility to make sure that everything is in order and nothing has been stolen. As Ginko approaches him, it almost seems as if he might be bent over...

....but then he turns around, and it's clear that Joker has shoved part of his face down his tugged up shirt, antlers sticking out the top awkwardly. Reaching up a little blindly, he tugs it down until it's against the bridge of his nose, and blinks up with bright pink eyes over at Ginko.

"Oh. 'ey, Ginko." Don't mind... this...

[dontpokethat]

...Ah. Hm. Y'know, he didn't have much in the way of expectations for what Joker might be doing when he found him, but this is still something of a surprise. Because, really, what the hell.

Ginko raises his eyebrows, and tucks his hands into his pockets as he steps closer. "Uh... you okay, there?"

The actual reason he sought Joker out can wait, alright.

[pipers_son]

"Oh, yeah, fine, probably." Definitely a reassuring assessment of health.... Tugging the front of his shirt off, Joker takes the time to straighten up a bit more. He's fine, this is... fine. Don't worry about it. "Just doin' a little self inspectin', really."

Don't ask him what he was inspecting.

"Need help with somethin'?"