lostcarnival | [closed] well this was unexpected

[ 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. ]

[ They still could, if only the old fashioned way of skulking along the edges of the carnival itself, but he doubts that would work out any better for them. This time isn't the same as when Strange had seen through his tricks the last time; he'd never been too serious about following the man, so being found out meant very little to him.

This time it'd been for the best, in his own mind, but it's a moot point now. Reapplying the spell would be more of a headache than he cares for, so it's getting past the Circle the normal way. He's still patient, at least, allowing to be pulled off course towards one game or another to let Strange take a look, if not for very long.

When he has to apply some force, he will, and they'll somehow — after what feels like an age — make it to the back of the cookhouse. It's the back way that they'll be using, which will put them right into the kitchen. There's a brief second or two before he actually lets Strange go again that he's looking warily around them, for someone, but there's only cinder sprites at work here.

Only then and there will he let Strange loose again. ]

[ Eventually, they make their way to the cookhouse. And the wafting smell of food reminds Strange that he is a bit hungry. Most of his time in Venice was spent trying to figure out how to bring back Arabella, not on things like 'taking care of yourself.' The lack of an attention span doesn't help—and oh hey, there it goes again because cinder sprites?The cinder sprites get Strange's attention more than anything else. Because what on Earth are these. Most descriptions of fairies paint them as relatively human looking. These...obviously aren't.

Now that he's let loose, Strange immediately makes a beeline towards them, peering at the cinder sprites and watching as they work. He doesn't interrupt them (because they are working), but he's straight up creeping. ]

Your grip is quite impressive, [ said almost as an afterthought as he pokes around the kitchen, out of simple curiosity more than anything else. God help us all when he inevitably finds the fruit. ]

[ As long as he's not poking the sprites, Childermass won't stop him from creeping on them. They're somewhat sentient, but they're also the souls of those doomed to eternal servitude for pissing off the Ringmaster, so dealing with Strange watching them is just about as awful as anything else in their existence. No big deal.

Though one does manage to give Childermass a reproachful look, to which he frowns at and shoos it off, adding, ]

Don't you have something to be doing? Go on. [ And hopefully that something won't be to tell the head cook there's two magicians raiding the kitchen. That done, he'll take a peek at what's on the stove currently. ] And of course it is.

[ He's back to addressing Strange now. ]

Dragging magicians around is something I have far too much experience in.

[ While Childermass shoos away the cinder sprite, Strange continues poking and exploring, much to the annoyance of all the other cinder sprites, who have started to give each other looks that are pure 'dude, really?' If Strange notices, he doesn't make any sign of acknowledging their annoyance. And then in his prowling around, he finds a pineapple, sitting innocuously in a bowl of fruit. Picking the fruit up, he gives it a downright death glare.

And oh hey, Childermass is talking, go pay attention! Childermass, then taking care of this horrible thing, this repulsive piece of fruit. ]

I have a feeling though it's much less literal back home—that is, unless parties are involved. [ They both know there is no damn way Gilbert Norrell would go to a party unless forced. ] Now if you'll pardon me for a moment,

[ Strange returns to glaring at the pineapple as he mutters something under his breath and...poofs the fruit from existence. Where is it? Who knows! One of those cinder sprites decides huh, now would be a good time to hide the rest of the fruit and starts scurrying off to do so. Thankfully, Strange is oblivious. ]

[ That innocent pineapple did nothing to you, Strange, what the fuck even-- okay, that isn't exactly what crosses Childermass' mind when Strange makes the fruit vanish, but it's pretty damn close. It involves a few prolonged seconds of staring, bemused, but it feels like one of those things to let go rather than question.

Why a pineapple, why that would bother him, how would it ever make sense to a sane man?

No, he'll ignore it. ]

You'd be right. [ The dragging about hadn't been as physical when it was Mr. Norrell. Just try and imagine the indignation if he'd done that with him, basically strong-arming him across half a carnival. ] Though the exasperation was much the same. Here.

[ 'Here' being added on once Strange has dealt with the pineapple, because he probably wouldn't be able to catch the bread roll (it's a little cheesy, as in actual cheese, not as in tacky) being tossed his way as Childermass helps himself to what's been left out. ]

[ Strange catches the bread roll easily. He looks at it with an expression that's a little ravenous as he digs in, eating the roll like he hasn't eaten in ages. It doesn't matter how good or not the roll is, Strange is ravenously eating it. Eventually, he pauses, swallows, and speaks. ]

I do hope that you literally dragged him at certain points. I doubt it, but the image is quite amusing.

[ Making fun of Norrell's a valid reason to pause eating. And, now that he's finished with that...Strange goes back to finishing off the roll as fast as he can. ]

Out of the way of something, on occasion. [ Which isn't as amusing, but it's the best he can offer. ] He's never been very aware when he has his nose in a book.

[ Hey, something Strange and Norrell both share, isn't that hilarious? No? Maybe? He won't point it out, of course, and instead finds a spot leaning against a now larger, grander kitchen counter and helping himself to a bread roll of his own. ]

[ How weird, something they both share, who knew? Strange doesn't realize that Childermass is essentially calling him out as well. Instead, he finishes off his bread roll and prowls around the kitchen to find more food. ]

That much is obvious, [ said with a little smirk. ] I've had to struggle to get his attention plenty of times while we worked together.

[ look at him, he's...oddly nostalgic ]

[ Here's hoping the cinder sprites have managed to hide any additional pineapples as Strange goes on the prowl... ]

I usually found it quicker to work around him. [ Which probably explains a lot, it's only that the 'a lot' falls to a number of details Strange just wouldn't have known. Who ever really pays attention to what the servants are up to, right? ] Though I could see where that would be more difficult in your own position.

[ Man, a couple of those cinder sprites are doing a REALLY GOOD JOB of "move the pineapples behind Strange's back when he's not looking at them." The carnival will live to have fruit salad another day. ]

It's hard to work around someone who's supposed to be your teacher. [ Bitter? Why would you think that, he's not bitter in the slightest, oh my god he is really bitter. Strange is frowning as he continues to search the kitchen and ooh, wait, that's a bit of cheese, that looks pretty good.

He looks back up towards Childermass as he munches on the cheese that he claimed for himself. ] This is a depressingly normal kitchen, by the way. This is Faerie, after all, I was expecting something a bit less... [ a bit less like an actual kitchen. ] Well, more different!

[ Well, it's not as though Childermass can't understand where the bitterness comes from. He knows all too well and he isn't about to defend Norrell. He won't add anything more to that fire, however. Instead, it's time to consider the kitchen.

The depressingly normal kitchen. ]

Oh? You've often spent time in a normal kitchen, Mr. Strange? [ Seems to him the kitchen is greatly improved from, say, what was expected in their own time, actually. ] Could be there's no need to add magic to what already works.

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