Bright lights! An abundance of color! A cacophony of laughter and delighted (?) shrieks! Welcome, everyone, to the carnival! Enough of those nonsense protein shakes and that hoity-toity recycling; it's time to let loose, have some fun, and live a little! No judgment will be allowed today, not when everyone’s dressed up in ridiculous costumes and eating those unnecessarily huge turkey legs (it... is turkey, right?). For you see, CERES has invited the Traveling Circus of Tjghsldiwk (they hail from a different planet, but here's a hint: the h is silent) to bring some joy to the colonists. This is a safe place to let your inner wild child out, really. Definitely safe. Promise.
Yet for those who are a little less easily convinced to follow the sounds of laughter and amusement (bless your sensible hearts), they will find themselves grabbed and forcibly dragged by a pair of friendly souls in matching costumes. Everyone should be able to enjoy the festivities, don’t you think? Can’t have them missing out on all this jolly good, innocent fun!
The Public Announcement System crackles with... well, a fit of coughing first. But then a gravelly voice speaks! It seems the ringmaster has an announcement for you all. What joyous news can he bring?  Listen... I know that we’re supposed to keep these idiots entertained for at least another day or two but the machinery’s starting to complain. I think I heard the gates of the petting zoo groan – they’re on their last legs.
... Wait, this isn’t the direct line
Oh.
Ohohoho!! Have a great time, everyone! Everything is perfectly fine!
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PHASE I [ 11 00 ] Come one, come all!! There’s quite a large amount of people here, isn’t there? You’ll find yourself tugged this way and that – up until you get dragged right into a changing booth. The helpful attendant meets you with a worryingly large grin – how is her face not breaking? – before pushing you right through the curtain. Then you’ll be given your choice of one of these lovely garments to change into. Look, one of them has to match your skintone, right? Don’t be picky about it! You also have... 90 seconds to figure out how to wear it before you’re tossed out into the middle of the crowd again. Have a good festival!
If you’re not willing to put on the outfits though, that’s fine. Instead, they’ll top you off with a cape and crown, shoving you out onto a... stage? Your adoring public cheers for you, yells your name, and throws confetti in your honor! Then a jester appears again, announcing your grand title:
The Ugliest in All of Cerealia.
Don't worry, that's just your introduction to the carnival; enjoy the rest of your time here! (They may or may not have given you back your clothing.)
PHASE II [ 1600 ] Do you hear that? Cymbals crashing together, trumpets blaring off-tune, the march of absurdly tired feet – a parade is coming! Best move off to the side before an acrobat quite literally tumbles into you. If you are an unfortunate casualty, they’ll actually just start to fall asleep on you because they’re tired… so very, very tired.
Yet the parade continues to march on without them and you can let yourself be distracted by the impressive jumping around and festive partygoers (who seem to be joining in the parade as they please, in various states of undress). But be wary. Distraction will only make you easier prey for the very hungry caterpillar that’s coming up the street next. Run if you can, but it has so very many legs and it’s coming after you.
For those unable to make it away from the caterpillar, they will find themselves gulped right into its gross, drooling mouth – and about five minutes later, they’ll be released out again onto the streets covered in a pink slime. It looks like you won't be able to free yourself from the stuff, so hopefully you can find a friend to get some help! Or one of the strangers around you? Unfortunately, when a kind soul finally comes by to pull you out of the slime, they’ll find that the outside of the gunk is not only immensely sticky but also slippery. If they're not careful, you'll both end up stuck to the gunk together.
You both better get out of that stuff quick because once someone joins you, the slime starts to move. Quick and gooey, it'll pull you and the hapless soul with you down the street at a much too quick pace. Hopefully you won't slide into too many people as you skid your way through the streets of the Entertainment District like some sort of demented Katamari Ball. This is why you should never trust giant bugs!
PHASE III [ xxxx ] In a smaller booth, toward the outskirts of the carnival, some may find a familiar face manning a quiet little shack on her own. Although those who have been in the colony long enough may have first encountered her as an 8-bit version of herself, Aria the fortune-teller is now back and more than willing to drag unsuspecting people into her hands again. Once you step into her stall, she takes one long look at you before sliding over a fortune cookie and a mask. What do you mean you didn’t ask for a mask? That's too bad, because it's yours now. She won't say anything more than that, giving nothing more than a quiet dismissal with a hand and an enigmatic smile to match.
When you step back outside, you’ll find that you just can’t get rid of the mask. If you toss it into a trash bin, it’ll be right back in your pocket. Throw it at a friend? It’ll be in your hand in the next second. Throw it away enough times and it’ll suddenly plant itself on your face -- which leads to all the alien carnival goers in the nearby vicinity suddenly going still with fear before moving to get as far away from you as quickly as possible. Well... you seem to be able to take it off for now if you still want to enjoy the carnival. It just won't go away, and every time you try to throw it away, it'll attach itself to your face. Might as well just keep it.
But... still, it's strange how none of the aliens running the carnival will look you in the eye now, isn't it?
PHASE IV [ 1200 ] For those who aren’t interested in dealing with the abundance of people, there’s also an assortment of critters gathered around for the petting zoo! They all seem to follow a general theme… kind of. That might be floppy ears and a tail if you... squint. The alien staff is right there and quick to ask you not to worry, they're perfectly harmless -- they don't eat humans! It would be bad for their diet, so feel free to pet them, if you can gather enough courage to do so.
Unfortunately, it seems as though this part of the circus was not put together very well; the rickety fences and cages don't really seem to do much against these giant...creatures. Towards the end of the circus' time here, it looks like those cages will start breaking down more and more, too.
The animals rattle the makeshift fences of the petting zoo, until finally, the fences just... collapse. Oops. The ground shakes as the animals stomp and immediately move to break out of their little ring. Well, would you look at that? You’ve apparently found yourself in the middle of a little stampede -- and those warnings about these animals not eating humans doesn't seem to hold much weight when now they're looking at you -- and they look pretty hungry.
BONUS [ why o'clock ] Left and right, there are voices shouting for your attention. "Hey pretty young miss!" or "Excuse me, you stud!" or "Look at this, jackass!" – that said, aliens think that you all manage to look the same, so who knows if they’re yelling at you in particular – and they’re all daring you to come and try your hand at their carnival game.
It’s run of the mill stuff: shooting games, tests of strength, and knocking down a couple of milk bottles. You might actually be doing well! Or... you might be embarrassing yourself in front of whatever cute person you’re trying to impress! But regardless, in the last allotted ten seconds of your game, no matter what, you’ll find your point score plummeting right into the negatives. Did you get a bullseye? What do you know, that’s now worth -1000 points! You missed? -5000 points.
The stall assistant seems to be having a grand old time, laughing at your pain and when the clock finally runs out, they'll give you a large grin. "Look at that score! Well, you know what that means, don’t you? Now, we win you!" With that, metallic tentacles suddenly sprout from the booth itself, looking to capture you and whoever you’re with. Welcome to the carnival, now you're one of the prizes. And it seems you'll be here for quite some time. That is, of course, unless someone can win you back from these really horribly rigged games.
Looks like you'd better get comfortable hanging motionless from a display, like an oversized stuffed animal. You'll be here for a while.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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ota;
[Phase I]
[Okay but.
What the fuck actually though.
This kind of outfit isn't something she'd wear outside of, like, going to the beach, maybe, if she was feeling especially daring and maybe if Miu or Hisoka were asking her to or something. There's a time and a place for these kinds of outfits and this is certainly not one of them.
The normally passive girl is suddenly incredibly flustered as she's tossed back out into the crowds, possibly bumping right into you as she tries desperately to avoid touching anyone.]
Sorry! [Fuck.
Yuri crosses her arms uncomfortably over her chest and looks around, her face red as she tries to relocate the booth. She'd been jostled around so much and gotten disoriented, she has no idea which way she came from now.]
Hey, that booth-- Where is it? They have my clothes. [She glances at whoever she ran into and then away again, embarrassed and agitated, for once the emotions easy to see on her face.]
[Phase III: A]
[Yuri likes fortune telling. Hisoka had been rather skilled at it and had been teaching Yuri a thing or two, so when presented with a fortune telling booth, she can't help but enter curiously.
It's kind of a rip-off though. Just a fortune cookie? And a...weird, creepy mask? SHe makes a slight face as she's ushered back out of the place. She looks down at the fortune and cracks it, tucking the mask under her arm.]
'Before you can be reborn, you must die.'
[Oh.]
...Cheerful... [She glances at someone else coming out of the booth and tilts her head curiously, trying to catch a peek at their fortune...]
[Phase III: B]
[HOLY SHIT OKAY THIS IS ANNOYING. The mask won't go away. Yuri certainly doesn't want it, but no matter what she does it won't stay away. Which is why after like the 20th time, it suddenly attaches itself to her face.
Yuri stumbles back and drops with a cry of surprise, hands immediately coming up to rip it off her face. She stares, wide-eyed, and looks around as if to see if anyone else saw that. The response of the aliens doesn't escape her notice either]
What was that...? They're afraid?
[WILDCARD]
[u know what to do. Yuri may or may not be in her normal clothes at any point so just go wild it's cool]
Phase I
And then, someone bumps right into his chest. He blinks and steps back a moment as he processes that voice. It's a very familiar one, and one that resonates warmly in his heart.]
Ah! I would be glad to help you find it Yuri-sa-
[Lee's words die on his tongue as his gaze finally settles on her, and his eyes widen as he quickly realizes what she is and isn't wearing. None of the costumes he had seen on display tonight could have prepared him for this sight, and so Rock Lee practically freezes in place, while his face turns as red as a tomato.]
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I look weird, I know. [is what she says at length, fighting back a blush herself so she doesn't turn as red as him.] Lee-san...? [SNAP OUT OF IT MAN.]
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I apologize! Yuri-san, I... I would not say that you look weird! This- this is just... unexpected! That is all! [He's already been scandalized in the past by seeing Nonon's Nudist Beach uniform, but it's something else when it's a new level of fluster when it's someone he knows and cares for a lot in a state of undress. And he doesn't even have anything on him to offer as a cover.]
I will help you. We will find the changing room in- in no time at all!
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You would find one in green. [The corner of her mouth twitches, a hint of a smile despite the circumstances. At least some things would always stay constant? Yuri looks away then, trying to figure out the way she came.]
I kept getting pushed along by the crowd, I don't know where the original tent is anymore. I guess, if it comes to it, I could just go home and grab clothes, but... [But that'd require making her way through the city to said home looking like, you know. This.]
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I see. Do not worry! We will figure this out, by checking each tent! [He then looks around, trying to see past the overwhelming crowd, to try to spot the nearest tent.]
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Yuri sighs and makes a disgruntled noise when she's jostled by the crowd again, looping an arm around one of Lee's to pull him to the side where it's less congested.] If we start on one side and go up, then cross and go back down, it'll be easier than trying to zigzag through.
[unfortunately the booth they've ended up near isn't that changing booth, though it does have a few colorful silk scarves and trinkets for sale, which she peers at curiously despite the situation]
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He feels twinges of warmth as their arms loop together, and he's almost in a trance as he follows her lead through the overwhelming crowd. And then they take a moment to check that first booth.]
Ah... This does not seem to be what we are looking for. [It's not even clothes. But he still peers as well.] They are still very nice!
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[The man behind the booth smiles and tries to sell the scarf, but she quickly lets go and shies back, turning away.] ...Come on. Let's go to the next booth-- Though, I think we're just in the section with stores and such. We'll have to keep going back, it must be further away.
[She's sort of cheating using Lee as a human shield against herself and the rest of the world but hey if it works.]
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Ah... Yes, that is a good point! Let us work our way onwards, Yuri-san. I know in my heart that we will find your clothes! [And then he prepares to move on.]
i! OF COURSE
SO!! He'll help her out in a second here - he knows exactly how uncomfortable it is to be in her shoes, after all - but first and foremost:]
I'm starting to get reeeally worried about you.
[And by "you" he means "your penchant for winding up in stuff like this and then saying you didn't do it intentionally."]
ONE DAY, KASHUU WILL SEE HER IN REGULAR CLOTHES FIRST...
I don't know what you're talking about. [Excuse you look. This is not her idea or her fault okay!! This place has it out for her]
WILL HE... will he!!
I'm starting to think you don't actually own any normal stuff after all.
[HE'S TEASING THOUGH... Even if it's kind of hard to tell, ah.]
probably not at the rate we're going lbr. alas poor Yuri
Wha-- I do! [KASHUU PLEASE?] It's this place! I don't dress like this by choice. [She says this firmly, because honestly, who would?] The booth has my old clothes, you'll see. If.. we can find it again.
[She looks at Kashuu expectantly, as if to ask, 'you will help, right?']
her wardrobe will live in infamy
[ALARMING. Was Yuri's whole wardrobe lifted and she's just trying to play it cool?? A mystery...
But of course he won't leave her floundering on her own in this, so he'll meet that expectant look with a nod.]
Let's go take a look! And if it's the same guys who stole mine, we can beat 'em up. [Which is a step above stabbing, his first choice.]
she didn't ask for this life
She rubs her arms self-consciously and there's a vague feeling of sulkiness around her.]
...I'll leave the beating up to you. [Yuri you're supposed to say VIOLENCE ISN'T THE ANSWER or something wha--] I don't know how to fight if it isn't against a ghost. [And if she doesn't have her camera... She feels a little useless when she says it like that. How often are they going to go up against ghosts??]
TOO LATE...
Okay, I believe you. [HE DEFINITELY DOES... 100%. He has faith, Yuri, in your potentially nonexistent wardrobe.
But he'll nod in response to that, clearly a-okay with the notion of just destroying some carnies.]
I'll do a good job, pro-mise! [Though that other addendum has him pausing for a second.] D'you know any hand-to-hand or something?
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[The question surprises her a little, but she figures it's logical to ask after her admission.] No, I don't. [She shakes her head.] I guess I never had to learn it before. [A pause and she adds] I suppose I have to start learning, right? It'll be useful here.
[She crosses her arms over her chest, thinking about it.]
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But there's a natural follow-up to that, too, and Kashuu responds without hesitation.]
You can come to the dojo that my comrades and I built, if you ever wanna learn stuff like that. We teach a bunch of different sword styles but also some hand-to-hand combat and defense!
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Do you practice with-- yourselves? Ah, is that weird to ask...? [She glances automatically to Kashuu's hip where his sword--er, self??--usually sits] Could even I wield you, some day?
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Sure! You're a friend, so you're welcome to come. It's open to the public anyway, y'know? And it's not weird! [Or at the very least, a ton of people ask similar questions so he's used to it. His sword is still there at his hip, and he rests a hand against the hilt briefly.] We do, yeah. Unless we're training beginners, then we just use shinai or bokuto like everyone else!
[As for that question-- It's not like he trusts just anyone to even hold his vessel, but he's already seen a lot of Yuri in the small amount of time they've known each other.
Still, he can't help but tease a little...]
I dunno, I'm preeetty hard to handle. You'd have to work hard so you don't cut a finger off! [RUDE.] ...But I wouldn't mind letting you wield me once you train up a little. You'll treat me well, right?
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three-a!
'You are vigorous in both words and action.' [You can practically hear the ??????? from a mile away. He still doesn't notice Yuri there, though.] Vigorous?
[He takes an old-looking red cell phone from his pocket and murmurs into it, like a conspirator (or a crazy person, really):] I fear they know too much. More observation is needed. El psy congroo.
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[She instantly regrets making even that small amount of noise, because...wha...t..... What even. The best way to deal with crazy people like this was to not acknowledge and probably to just up and walk away. But Yuri recognizes him and he'd seemed so collected when they first met. What happened here.
She looks this way and that, even up at the sky like somehow the answers to what the hell Okabe's talking about will be found there. Finally she just settles on a:] What?
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[Moreover, he didn't think someone was listening. Much less this girl. Guh.]
[He turns to her, maybe a little embarrassed, and says:] Ah, Kozukata. [A little salute. Don't mention the chuuni...] Good to see you're well.
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Should she salute back? Instead she sort of raises a hand in a weak greeting, still feeling the earth stabilizing itself again around her.] Who were you talking to? [because of course she's going to ask. How can she not?]