lostcarnival | [closed] well this was unexpected

[ Let's be honest, Strange didn't expect him to smile there to begin with. Gotta hold up that rep, after all. He'll just take the 'smiling challenge' for the team by giving Childermass a wry little smile of your own. ]

One of your talents that's really quite obvious and yet somehow under-appreciated. [ There's a pause before he looks him over. This is quite possibly the longest conversation they've had, just the two of them. It's good, because he quite likes Childermass, even before their meeting here...but it's bad because Strange is just BURSTING AT THE SEAMS with questions that he knows aren't ever going to get answered. ]

Will I ever receive a serious answer, by the way?

I believe you already know the answer to that, but who knows? Perhaps one day I'll feel like telling you the real story behind my being here.

[ And for the many, many days that he does not, he can at least amuse himself by making shit up, every single time. ]

I know the answer that I want is different from the answer I expect to receive.

[ He's got a weird little feeling this is going to end up being a sort of game between them. "Hey Childermass, why'd you join the carnival?" and Childermass responds with a different lie each time. ]

I imagine the one day you do tell me won't be any time soon. In the meantime, I suppose I'll simply have to create theory after theory about the circumstances of your arrival.

[ See? He was right. Strange really does already know the answer. ]

Oh? And have you already worked out your first theory, Mr. Strange, or will I have to wait until the next time you ask?

[ Because those are only going to make this all the more interesting. ]

[ There's a pause, while Strange furrows his brow as he thinks. He's got a couple of half-formed actual theories...but if Childermass is going to give him something patently false, he might as well do the same.

Putting on as straight a face as possible, Strange continues. ]

During a bargain that went wrong, you accidentally cursed your first born child over to a fairy. As your dream is to eventually settle down in blissful domesticity, you took up a contract with the Ringmaster in order to see if she could nullify or rework the other fairy's contract, so you could live in happiness with Mrs. Childermass and the little Childermass child.

[ He is not as good at this at Childermass, and occasionally hints and cracks of a smile show up on Strange's face. ]

[ It's one thing to drone out his own ridiculous yarns, but hearing one from another is a wholly different matter.

To even come up with that story, one would have to imagine Childermass with a family, and that's funny even to Childermass himself. So, while he won't grin, he can't keep the crooked smirk off his own face forever. It's not a huge smile, sure, but it exists and will continue to, at least for a little while, as he turns to give Strange an incredulous look. ]

That I would let a bargain go so wrong is the least believable part of that.

[ Points for creativity, though. ]

Edited 2016-12-08 16:03 (UTC)

[ Yeah, any attempts at being serious are going out the window as Strange matches Childermass's smirk with a smile that's a little too deliberately innocent to be sincere. ]

You must admit, though, that my story's as believable as yours about being a milliner.

[ Well okay, it's LESS believable, but details, details. ]

[ Ridiculous though it is, it's also a little hopeful. Strange seems somewhat less manic for the moment. That's a good sign. Or, at least, Childermass would really like it to be a good sign. Whether it is or not, whether it lasts or not, he'll have to wait and see. For now? ]

Hardly. I would make a fine milliner, I'm sure.

[ Not even remotely, but he may as well run with the joke while it's there. ]

Though all that aside, [ That being all the complete and utter lack of answers. ] You'd found your way to the maze, but have you seen the rest of the carnival grounds?

I haven't, [ he simply responds, with a nod. ] The first thing I went to when I arrived was the mirror maze.

[ And really, is it really so surprising that Strange made a beeline to something entirely full of mirrors? But Childermass asking if he's seen the rest of the carnival grounds obviously means Childermass is going to give him a tour, right? Right! ]

I suppose the first thing I would like to see, if there is one, is supply storage. I shall need a basin.

[ Yes, he probably could ~~creep on~~ view people via magic using the sink...but man, it would be so much easier if he actually got a useful basin. Oh, and then he might as well get some bottles, and certainly a candlestick with some spare candles, and maybe there might be a useful knife in there as well...

That mania's tempered for the moment but god help us all when Strange finds a potentially useful broom cupboard. ]

[ He won't make much of a tour guide, lacking the enthusiasm for such, but he can at least point out what's what. ]

You can put those requests in through Mr. Joker. [ Since letting Strange loose on what's kept in supply seems like a terrible idea, which means it's being excluded entirely from the places they'll be going. Speaking of which, Childermass pushes away from the countertop and turns to head back towards the trailer's door.

He assumes Strange will follow. With how he's calmed down some, it's probably safe enough to go back to wandering the carnival proper. ] Though mind who's business you pry into. You're not the only magician around here.

[ Because he knows, man. He knows what the basin is for, he's seen that trick a thousand times before. ]

[ Excuse you, letting Strange loose on what's kept in supply is an AWESOME idea (no it is not.) Still, he follows Childermass towards the door, taking care to set the little mirror contraption turned magic doohickey on the counter before he leaves.

Of course, the problem with wandering around the carnival is that Strange still looks like a goddamn hot mess and is in seemingly no mood to do things like 'brush his hair' or 'shave.' But hey, at least he's a relatively calm hot mess. Strange gives Childermass a wry little smile at the warning about prying into others business. ]

Rest assured, Childermass, I don't intend to pry into your private life. [ just everybody else's. Though that does offer a question... ]

How many magicians are here in the first place? And how many of them are proper magicians verses poor souls that the Ringmaster stuck with the magician job as there was no better option?

[ That look of bored disbelief Strange gets should tell him exactly how much he thinks that this man isn't going to try and, as he said, pry into his private life. Which is to say, he doesn't believe it at all. He's keeping information away from Strange. Strange knows it. Like hell he's not going to pry.

But he won't say that much out loud, because he's not exactly worried about it. ]

That depends on what you'd call a proper magician. [ Like, no one back home really wants to call him a proper magician, for example. ] As far as the job goes? The third man stuck with it is the Doctor. An odd man, but I've yet to see him do actual magic. Outside of us, however, you're bound to find some of the older workers to be capable enough.

[ Although, while they're on the topic of magic, once they're about to leave the relative peace and quiet of the trailers, Childermass slows down a step so he's walking next to Strange rather than leading on ahead. ]

A moment. [ Yeah, he knows Strange looks more liable to scare guests than make them feel at ease, which is why he's dropping a hand on the man's shoulder and muttering his own spell. It's too quiet and truncated to really catch and the effect is as subtle as Childermass himself usually is. Whatever he's done settles over them both like a veil, dulling the sound and color of the world ever so slightly. It isn't the spell he'd been caught at using before, with the shadows, but it is similar, yet another for lurking around as he often does.

Admittedly, he probably should have asked permission first, but, oh well. Strange will have to deal with it. ] There. No one should bother us. Just try not to wander off.

[ You bet that Strange is trying to hear what exactly Childermass's spell is—the fact that the man's words elude him is more annoying that he'll admit. But, as the feeling of magic settles over him, dulling the senses, Strange can't help but be a little impressed. Then again, spells like this were Childermass's specialty...though he wonders just how hidden they really are, how tightly the spell's woven to begin with.

He'll scare a couple of people later to find out. And, you know, not tell Childermass about what he's planning to do.

Though 'try not to wander off,' Childermass has such faith in him it's almost endearing. Because as soon as they exit the trailer, that's exactly what Strange does. Quickly, he turns himself back around to look at Childermass, giving him a look that's entirely too innocent--surely this isn't MY fault for wandering off? ]

Where shall we go first?

[ He's going to ruin the spell, that's what he's going to do. The intent was to keep people from noticing them, of course the spell isn't as fool-proof to hold after something like scaring people. Of course, since Strange isn't going to announce this, well, Childermass being cross with him is delayed until then.

But oh, you'd better believe he's going to be cross. ]

It's all in one great circle. Pick left or right, it won't matter. [ Is the answer, as he closes the door behind them. ] We'll see most of it regardless.

[ All he knows is the end of their trip will be at the cookhouse. Also that they won't be going into the menagerie. Strange can go ahead and get mauled on his own time, thanks. ]

[ Strange is straight up going to get mauled on his own time.

But left or right. There's a pause as Strange debates which way to go...before gesturing towards the left. ]

Left it is. Lead the way, Childermass!

[ cause yeah, like hell he knows where he's going. You're the boss, buddy. ]

[ It's like he doesn't even need his cards to see that mauling in Strange's future, that's straight up eerie. ]

Very well. [ So left is the turn they'll take once they've left the trailers behind and moved on back into the carnival proper, though even before they do, he'll point out the Big Top tents that loom ahead of the backyard. ] Those up there should be where you'll be most of the time.

[ Along with himself, but he's not going to talk about that. ]

[ Their first day on the job is going to be amazing and by amazing I mean Childermass is probably going to end up considering drinking.

But oh yeah, he's a circus magician now so he...kind of needs to come up with an act. That'll be interesting. He knows he can use his magic for showy needless performances, he just hasn't actually done it before. ]

As for practicing, do I practice in the Big Top or shall I practice elsewhere?

[ Who has no idea how circuses work: this guy. ]

[ Well, the silver lining to that could be him turning out to be a fun drunk or something, who even knows. ]

The Big Top should be open for that when there aren't any shows going on. Once we move on again, there'll be some time where the entire carnival is shut down.

[ Perfect time to figure that out, basically. Though moving on, past the tents, they'll be coming up on the roller coaster next and Childermass still isn't quite sure how to explain that one. It isn't something he's ever felt inclined to take a closer look at, considering all the screeching, rattling metal and screaming involved. ]

And that... is apparently meant to be fun. How, I am not sure, but that's what I've been told.

[ He's not going to admit to avoiding it out loud, okay. ]

[ Strange can't help but frown as he looks at the roller coaster. Because yeah! What the hell is that? That's supposed to be fun? It looks like it'd be something designed to make you vomit or possibly kill you.

For all of Strange's nosiness he...is not going closer to the roller coaster. ]

Well, they seem to be enjoying it...I think.

[ Is that happy screaming? ]

[ At least that makes one thing they can both definitely agree on, even if it's just avoiding the roller coaster. ]

I suppose so. [ Can there be happy screaming? Really? Let's not find out. Continuing on, Strange might find this side of the carnival familiar enough, since they're passing by the mirror maze again. ] You've already been here. Aside from the roller coaster back there, the maze is the next biggest attraction on this side.

[ But as they've been there, done that, what's up next are a handful of other little tents and buildings, various midway games and rides. After that, the gates and, eventually, they'll be passing by the menagerie, which Childermass does point out, but the way he keeps walking on by, he doesn't seem inclined to take Strange inside of it.

All the while, the carnival's guests, true to what he'd said before, don't bother them. They don't even look at them, even, though they do move to go around them without ever realizing why they're doing that, even if only by a narrow margin. ]

Edited (adding something i forgot shh) 2016-12-10 21:18 (UTC)

[ They have been there done that—and Strange can't help but give the maze a little frown. He's obviously still a bit bitter about the fact that he couldn't teleport via the mirrors, as well as what the mirrors were saying to begin with.

Strange idly looks at the carnival guests as they walk past. Whatever spell Childermass cast was surprisingly good: nobody was even giving the slightest inclination that they saw the two of them. The temptation just keeps growing...until eventually, Strange idly saunters over towards one guest, who's standing by himself, deciding what to do next. Strange leans in, ostensibly to see what the guest's reading...before he leans in, exceedingly close too the man's ear and whispers, ]

Boo!

[ He can't help but laugh shortly after he scares the man. Petty? Yep. Fun? Absolutely. And oh yeah, he might have ruined that spell did he. Whoops. ]

[ And he'll know it's been ruined by the way the poor guest he just scared whirls around and looks right at him. ]

What the hell, dude?

[ Is the question the guest asks, going from startled to irritated in no time at all. It's not cool for some crazy-looking guy to lurk up on someone like that, so naturally the guy's annoyed. He also won't stick around, though, because who really wants to deal with someone as disheveled as Strange is?

Further proof of the spell going awry is that Childermass, who'd only looked away for, like, one moment -- one, Strange, one! -- brings his attention back around to bear on Strange after he's been bumped into by an equally startled gaggle of teenagers. There hadn't been a tall man in their way a second ago! But, of course, he'll excuse himself and swiftly turn to make his way towards the other magician. Guess who doesn't seem at all pleased by this. Go on, guess! Did you guess Childermass? Because that would be the right answer. ]

[ Strange continues to laugh, grinning like...well, like a madman as the guest walks away. Other people are also muttering under their breath things like 'what the hell,' 'who is that guy,' 'where'd he come from.' Though, with Strange's disheveled appearance, they're not actually asking him the questions, moreso muttering under their breath as they stare at this weird fellow.

He turns...and oh! There's Childermass. Wow does he look angry, Strange really should have expected that. Instead, he simply gives Childermass a little nod. ]

Your magic's astonishing—I had no idea it was that good!

[ and also that easy to break. Whoops? ]

Only in certain circumstances. [ Childermass admits that somewhat stiffly and only partly due to being about as annoyed as the people he's bothering. ] But it would seem our tour is at an end.

[ Because he's not going to finish the entire circuit if Strange isn't going to behave.

It's almost becoming habit already to try and take the madman by a shoulder and steer him in the preferred direction, this time away from, well, everyone else. Time to see if they can make it through the Gamer's Circle, since he still intends to stop by the cookhouse in the end, even if he is cutting this short. ]

Oh, but we just started!

[ Still, he's pretty sure why Childermass's stopping the tour right now. After all, he'd want to hide in the shadows and keep away from the rest—they couldn't really do that now, could they? Not now that Strange's busted the trick open once already.

Strange doesn't fight as Childermass pushes him in a certain direction. And...well, good luck getting through Gamer's Circle because as soon as they arrive, the lights and sounds and everything distract Strange more than he wants to admit. It's a bit of a struggle dragging him: occasionally he stops to look at some kind of carnival game and Childermass has got to forcibly yank him to keep him going. ]

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