[OPEN] we were strangers on a crazy adventure

[whattaprick]

Who: Lambert and YOU
When: In the time the Ringmaster gives them to make up their minds.
Where: In the newly-reformed Carnival.
What: Bother him about recent events and about the choices ahead.
Warnings: Lambert's potty mouth, references to past violence, etc.

The Carnival has really seen better days.

That's Lambert's first thought, at least, surveying what's left of his material possessions. Now that it isn't stuffed away in drawers or hidden in boxes, it mostly amounts to a not-inconsiderable amount of jewelry and various novelty clothing, as well as some of the Solstice presents he received with less military applications. Pig and Butcher have been left free to wander around as they please in the stripped-down Carnival while Lambert lazily flicks through his belongings -- a book here, a necklace there -- and sorts through it all. Perhaps surprisingly, for the amount of time they've been with the Carnival, there isn't too much.

When he hears someone else come up to him, he speaks without looking over his shoulder, the flat joke varying:

"What do you think the chances are of her bringing back the springs right now?"

"Seems like a good time for a nap, doesn't it?"

"So, you made up your mind about becoming a god or not yet?"

Comments

[anti_nonsense]

Rita crouches down by the piles of possessions, giving them a curious look. Was Lambert this much of a jewelry fan...? She doesn't exactly see him wearing this kind of stuff. Francis, also checking out the goods, appears quite interested in the valuable-looking items, despite most of them having little use for a cat (one would think).

"Hmph..." She gives a short scoff, like he just told a mildly funny joke. "I guess I'm not too surprised, as disturbing as it is to picture you as some high and mighty godlike being." Knowing Lambert, whatever power he ends up receiving, he'll probably find some way to use it for jackassery, at least once in a while.

[whattaprick]

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lambert says, mockingly. “Are you saying I’d be a bad one? What about you? You’re probably going to use any powers you get to make your cat able to talk again. Not exactly godlike, is it?”

Don’t even pretend that wouldn’t cross your mind, Rita!

[anti_nonsense]

"D-don't be stupid! I have a lot of important work I plan on doing!" Rita protests, but Lambert's comment brings her attention briefly back to her cat. Francis, who seems to be in the middle of trying to pick up one of the shiny trinkets with his teeth, freezes a moment, lets go, and then turns around, feigning disinterest.

Now that he mentions it, though... would she be able to talk to Francis again?

Without giving even a little reaction to her cat's attempted theft, she continues. "Unlike somebody here, who'll probably just use them to screw around most of the time."

[whattaprick]

Lambert, on the other hand, is swift to protect his territory -- namely, by stepping close enough to give the cat a bony little prod to the rump to spook him away from the witcher's stuff, though it's all done while he gives Rita a faux-offended look.

"What else is that power good for? It's not like I'm going to need to take over any worlds after we're all done here."

[anti_nonsense]

Francis hisses, his fur puffing up and his legs going briefly rigid, before he decides to run around behind Rita's legs to hide while he composes himself.

Rita sighs with resignation. "Well, if you're not doing that, then it means you'll still be better than the fae." Better to give power to the jerk with a heart of gold, than to leave the bulk of it in the hands of amoral crazies, she figures. "And I suppose you'll have Childermass around, to be the voice of reason."

[whattaprick]

"I suppose so," Lambert agrees, smirking. "And I'll be the voice of telling him to lighten up a little." Childermass may have his hands full dealing with jolly old England, but Lambert doesn't intend to let that stop him from demanding the magician's time and a break from responsibilities when he deems it necessary.

"What about you? Planning to stay with the Courts?"

[anti_nonsense]

Rita's expression softens a little at that first part. While the idea of those two being all lovey dovey over each other still kinda weirds her out, there's no denying the fact that Childermass needs to catch a friggin' break once in a while. If Lambert's going to be there to make sure he does... maybe they really are good for each other.

She doesn't get to reflect on that for long, though, as his next question catches her off guard.

"Huh!? D... don't be ridiculous. Why would I do that?" she sputters.

[whattaprick]

Lambert gives Rita a look. Come on, don’t try to pull that with him, missy.

“Well if you’re going to end up with all this power, it makes sense to stick around with people who can teach you how to really make the most of it, right?”

[anti_nonsense]

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean I'd go running to the Courts over that!" Rita protests.

She lets that linger for a few moments, than begrudgingly adds, "I... I might try to stay in touch with Ignatius, considering... I mean, he's in the same boat, basically." At least, his ice affinity is new to him, and is something he still has a lot to learn about. It's still hard for her to read Ignatius, to figure out what he really thinks of her... but he's been willing to help her in a lot of ways until now, so maybe he'll be open to the idea.

[whattaprick]

“I’ve been wondering,” Lambert muses. “If taking this power means we’d be as powerful as fae, that means we could open our way to other worlds on our own now, doesn’t it? Might be easier to stay in touch than you think.”

And he glances over at her, pointedly. “Or look for someone who’s gotten lost.”

[anti_nonsense]

Rita folds her arms, her fingers tensing slightly. She sucks in a long breath, then lets it out in a sigh.

"...Yeah," she admits, knowing it's probably futile to pretend like 9S hasn't been at the forefront of her mind for the past while. "I thought of that, too. I've left Nines waiting long enough... As soon as I'm able, I'm going out to look for him, whether it's through my power or someone else's."