lostcarnival | [closed] well this was unexpected

[ 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.

I've spent enough time in a kitchen to know what one looks like. I managed an estate once, you know.

[ granted it was for five minutes before he fucked off to become a magician because some dude under a hedge said so but Ashfair still counts, dammit. ]

And yes, you have a point but...well, it's Faerie.

[ The bits of the Kings Roads that he had seen were awe-inspiring. Strange could have (and did) wander around those for hours. This...well, roller coaster aside, it looked a lot like a normal carnival.

It's entirely possible that Strange has way too high expectations and way too big an imagination. Though, the lighting that's not candle light is quite convenient, that can stay. ]

[ So long enough to delegate anything related to the kitchen to someone used to kitchens, he would imagine, which Childermass isn't sure counts. ]

Faerie will look however it wants to look, even if that happens to be mundane. [ Finished with his own roll, he'll just keep on hanging out, leaning against the counter. ] In my own experience, it looked mostly like a poor reflection of England. This is far more solid.

[ And therefore far more preferable. ]

[ Yes, but he doesn't want solid. And that's the main problem these two are having. The familiar is comfortable for Childermass. Strange is perfectly fine to throw away the familiar and plunge straight into the unknown given the chance.

He finishes his food as he looks over at one of the cinder sprites, busy working. At least there was one thing properly otherworldy in this kitchen, even if it was...not what he expected. Sighing, Strange looks up at Childermass. ]

Solid as it may be, carnivals travel. Perhaps I'll see something more like my tastes at our next destination.

[ well no, it'll be the matrix which'll just confuse Strange even more but details, details. ]

[ Which is a place Childermass could take him to, as they're already settled there, but the thought of trying to keep a madman wrangled through a trip to a sprawling, futuristic American city is the stuff of nightmares. In fact, he might prefer dealing with literal Nightmares again, instead, since at least something intent on hunting him down and killing him is predictable.

So, as if probably expected, he shrugs. It is what it is, Strange. Deal with it.

The lone silver lining is he can at least mention the previous destination without having to worry about Strange running off to try and visit it, and so he will, adding after the shrug, ]

I'm sure you will. The one before was a literal realm of dreams. I'd say the carnival was the only thing there that didn't keep changing.

[ A realm of dreams...Strange pauses for a moment, as he lets his imagination run wild, picturing just what sort of place a realm of dreams would be, especially if you added in the dreams of Faerie and the carnival residents as well.

That pause lasts for a moment, before Strange wistfully responds, ]

That sounds wonderful and yet at the same time quite dangerous.

[ Not just because some dreams are nightmares--even the happy dreams have the potential to lead one astray. After all, more lately than in the past, Strange has found himself dreaming of Arabella. ]

I do wish that I could have seen it.

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