[OPEN] we're underneath a thousand shining stars

[nowingsyet]

Who: NONA1 and YOU.
Where: All around the carnival.
When: Before going into The Matrix, at night.
What: NONA1 dances in the moonlight to ease robo stress. Gets robo feels.
Warnings: N/A.


NONA1 couldn't explain if was nerves about moving to a new place, a place were there was artificial life like her own, or the fact her systems were getting unused and needing 'a test' of sorts. (Plus it's a beautiful night out, the carnival always had these stunning nights filled with fae energy.) So in the moonlight near her trailer, she begins to dance. Feeling the energies of the night, letting her metal limbs nail each movement gracefully and perfectly.

These are usually the forms taken for a ritual done by her tribe of fae in the dead of night. It was for protection against those that would harm them in the night. At least that is what she was taught. She remembers to steps taught by one of her creator, clumsy and graceless. But NONA1 paid attention to it nonetheless.

Her movements slow, and she stops.

They are gone... every one of them.

Comments

[amusicaladventure]

"Hey, what's up?"

An unintentionally-stealthy viewer -- cats being quiet, even if they're also girls -- couldn't help but wander closer as the dance came to an end.

[nowingsyet]

Despite her blank face, body language tells that NONA1 was taken aback by that surprise. Still, her greeting is nice-sounding, if blank as usual.

Greetings. Where you watching me?

[amusicaladventure]

"Yeah, sorry." She wasn't really sorry. Why would someone be dancing like that if they weren't intending to be seen? Or maybe she had but didn't realize the trailers just weren't private enough. "And then you stopped... with a sort of 'this isn't the end' vibe to it."

[nowingsyet]

Thoughts came into my mind, it slowed my movements.

The dancing brought her back to another place.

[amusicaladventure]

"...Anything you wanna talk about?" She wasn't much of a therapist, but after all the good this carnival had thrown her way, she kinda felt like she ought to give it a chance.

[nowingsyet]

This dance was taught to me by one of the people that raised me. It's part of a traditional protection ritual done at night by my people.

They are gone...

Because of me...

[amusicaladventure]

"Protection ritual? Was it general, or against something specific?" She couldn't help but shoot a glance up skyward, wondering superstitiously if some beast was lurking about, warded off.

[nowingsyet]

General, back when my kind weren't secluded in the world. Now it's done for calming purposes.

But maybe a beast is warded off somewhere.

[amusicaladventure]

"Well... right now, I'm not sure it's calming you so well. Maybe you need a different ritual for a while, till things are a little better?"

[nowingsyet]

The idea of protection ritual is supposed to calm. It's the safety it brings, something went wrong. My memory banks were too active.

[amusicaladventure]

Memory banks -- oohhhhh. That explained a lot.

"Eh, that happens. Maybe you ought to switch up for a bit, let the rough parts settle a bit..."

[nowingsyet]

She's a android.

I may need to figure what dances I can do...

[amusicaladventure]

Yup. Totally got that.

"So you're a performer here?" Made sense, since dances seemed to be her thing...

[nowingsyet]

No, I am a makeup artist.

She has many talents.

[amusicaladventure]

"Oh wow. Coulda fooled me, with that performance..." Ash ran a claw through her hair, a bit awkwardly.

[nowingsyet]

I believe they didn't choose me because of my inexperience.

Also it's one thing to dance to calm yourself down, it's another to dance in front of crowd, entertaining them.

[amusicaladventure]

"They must not have seen what you were just doing then, because that was great." Ash was always 'on', as it were, and sort of assumed other people were too.

[nowingsyet]

I figured my hands would be more treasured.

[Being a android means your physical actions will be physically perfect, but will lack emotion.]

[amusicaladventure]

What an odd thing to say.

"Well... guess that means you're gonna be working with me. Not that I like makeup, but..." Not that she needed makeup, but.

[nowingsyet]

What do you do?

[amusicaladventure]

"Music and magical mayhem," Ash said, with all the smug confidence of a cat who'd caught a bird. "I perform."

[nowingsyet]

Fascinating. Your magic is done through music, what instrument do you play?

[amusicaladventure]

"All of them, of course." She... was being literal, not hyperbolic. Came with the territory. "But I usually play guitar if I'm given the choice."

[nowingsyet]

Fascinating... so you sing as well?

She is getting an idea in her memory banks.

[amusicaladventure]

"Boy, do I." Despite her talents being a gift rather than learned and practiced, she wasn't above taking pride in them, bordering on arrogance.

[sunflowerfields]

Hinawa doesn't grasp the deeper meaning of the dance. Heck, she hardly even recognizes it as dancing at first, because the kind she's used to has considerably more do-si-do-ing. She can still appreciate that the young woman is a talented dancer, however, and applauds politely at the end.

"That was very lovely!"

[nowingsyet]

NONA1 blinks, still in the final form of her dance.

Thank you. I assume you were watching?

[sunflowerfields]

"Of course! I hope you don't mind," Hinawa smiles warmly. "You're very talented, how long have you been a dancer?"

[nowingsyet]

Not long since I was created.

And she doesn't mean 'since she was a child' neither.

[sunflowerfields]

"Created...?" That's certainly an interesting way of putting it, but Hinawa has noticed that people here have very different ways of looking at things, after all. "You've been doing this since you were very young then, I take it!"

...That doesn't mean she still isn't going to miss the point entirely.

[nowingsyet]

She has a monotone way of speaking, she occasionally does not blink. NONA1 isn't natural in any sense of the word.

Ever since I could record it on my banks, yes.

[pipers_son]

Sometimes, when he's restless and doesn't want to sleep (which happens more than he'd like to admit in the Carnival), Joker goes flying. It's been one of the nicest things to happen in the carnival he has to admit. Besides, sometimes you get to see all sorts of thing at night.

For example, this, and NONA1 will be able to hear his wingbeats as he circles in for a landing.

"Now ain't that interestin' ta see! Ya dance often?"

[nowingsyet]

She stops once she hears him and turns around.

Joker. I once did, I'm trying to get back into the habit.

[pipers_son]

“Well, if ya ever want the space, yer always welcome ta any of the tents we performers use~.” He probably shouldn’t poach from other departments so much, but he just can’t help it. Landing with a few steps, his wings fold behind him. “I mean, it’s what the tents are there for, after all.

[nowingsyet]

I wouldn't want to impose. The space is for performers only. I am in makeup and hair.

She looks at his face closely. I want to try new markings of your face...

[pipers_son]

“I’m the Stage Manager. The tents are for whoever I give the okay for.” Still, there’s no point in forcing her, and he lets it drop easily enough as he watches her inspect him. Curiously, he reaches up to touch his own cheek.

“Oh yeah? I usually let Tanyuu take care of that, but what are ya thinkin’ of?”

[nowingsyet]

You normally use blue for for your face markings, I want to change it up a little and put some gold or another metallic color. And maybe we can change the shape.

[pipers_son]

“Gold, huh…” He rolls the idea over in his head, considering it. It’s not too much of a change up from his usual work wardrobe- he probably has colors across the rainbow for suits, and he can no doubt make just about every basic color combination that can be thought of at this point. “Well, I’m all for a bit of experimentin’. What about shape? Teardrop is a pretty classic one, after all.”

[nowingsyet]

I am fond of loops and lines criss-crossing... a minimalist look. But I may have to ask Tanyuu about it. Usually she does makeup and NONA1 tends to hair.

[pipers_son]

“Loops sound like they could be fun~.” And they definitely suit his personality, if nothing else. “Let me know what Tanyuu says, then. I’m sure she’d have a time of it.”

[nowingsyet]

What are your feelings on changing your hair?

[pipers_son]

Huh. That’s a question he’s never heard before. He reaches up to fiddle with a few stray strands. “Well, the red is usually eyecatchin’ enough, but if ya can think of somethin’ new, I’m all for hearin’ it.”

[nowingsyet]

I don't mean the color, but you do give me ideas.

[pipers_son]

Oh, well then. He blinks. “Well, I’d rather not cut it, if ya don’t mind… I mean, besides the occasional trim. Anythin’ else, well, I’d listen ta an idea, I guess.”

[nowingsyet]

I meant for a different style...

[pipers_son]

“Do ya know how ta draw?” His wings shift a little as he thinks. “If ya could show me what ya meant, it’d help.”

[nowingsyet]

I need paper and a pen. There's also casting an glamour on your head...

[pipers_son]

“Well,” he chuckles, “I can supply that easily enough! S’probably somethin’ lyin’ around, especially in one of the trailers. Ah, but I wouldn’t want ta interrupt yer practice more than I have already. If ya come find me later, that’d be better, yeah?”