[ step right up ϟ open ]

[kirkwalled]

Who: Hawke + Merrill + Anyone who comes to visit their balloon booth
When: IC: 6/9
Where: The Cultural Festival
What: Hawke and Merrill try to run a con. It goes just as well as you'd expect.
Rating/Warning: None!

---

HAWKE AND MERRILL

[ today at the cultural festival, there is a certain booth crammed in amongst all the other booths. it's bright and colorful and very much open to the public. the most noticeable thing about the booth are the stuffed plushes surrounding the edges -- plushes of mosley, bellona, and all kinds of fantastical creatures (dragons, unicorns, three wolves howling at the moon, etc etc). on the wall of the booth and the main attraction of it, is a wall filled with different brightly colored balloons and a sign that reads “BALLOON GAME”. pretty straightforward, huh?

then there are the two manning the booth: hawke and merrill. hawke, just as scruffy as usual with a t-shirt that reads TRUST ME, I'M A DOCTOR and merrill, elfy and pure. as your character approaches, they'll catch a conversation between the two friends. ]

You can't just tell them how to play, Merrill. It's a whole process, you have to convince them! Let them figure it out themselves and say nothing while they do it.

— But Hawke, if we don't tell them how to win, how ever will they— [ merrill's voice lowers to a slightly muffled whisper. nevertheless, she isn't being too discrete. ] Oh, I see. It's a trick, isn't it? You're always thinking ahead, Hawke.

First, thank you, I try. Second, no, no. Not a trick. [ hawke, stop lying. ] A challenge! They have to use their wits. Will the dart pop the balloon? Will they pop enough to win the prize? Will they use all three chances wisely or have to pay to play again? Only the Maker knows, of course.

But we're hoping that the dart doesn't pop the balloon, yes?

[ does this question even require an answer, merrill? unfortunately, hawke's actual answer is drowned out by the buzz of the fair but their booth is open and they're waiting for any sort of customer so, uh...

... step right up? ]

HAWKE

[ as the day goes, hawke decides to give merrill a bit of a break (or told her to go enjoy herself at the festival because she kept BLOWING THE CON -- either one) and hawke takes over the booth completely. hawke is charming and personable to those who approach the booth and encourages multiple attempts to win a prize. surely, you'll get it next time! surely. she even lets a few people win (if only to keep up the integrity of their reputation).

but at one point during the festivities, anyone who comes across hawke will find her at the booth, sitting on the table and leaning against the booth wall, arms crossed over her chest and... asleep? yes, hawke is asleep on the job.

you're welcome to wake her up. or not. you do you, friend. ]

MERRILL

[ with the culture festival wrapping up, merrill found herself levied with the grand, insurmountable task of breaking down the booth. she had to be useful somehow, seeing as how every time she cut in during a transaction, she ended up ruining the con.

this would be easy (easier, at least) if the booth wasn't so— so fancy, but unfortunately, it was way too future-y sci-fi for merrill to figure out. there were hinges in places merrill didn't know hinges could even be, and merrill had forgotten to ask hawke for the instruction manual. she decided, then, to just wing it — she moves to a nearby hinged corner and begins to fold it, when suddenly, it electronically takes over and flips wildly, causing merrill to fall on her back. damn.

when she gets up, everything looks good except... oh, well, it looks like a plush got decapitated. the three wolf moon plush was now a two and a half wolf moon plush. she grasps the head tentatively, wondering what to do now, when she sees someone approaching. she scrambles to her feet, hoping it isn't hawke.

when she sees it isn't, she sighs, holding out the... head. ]

Ah... you wouldn't happen to want a headless wolf for your, um, collection, would you? I'll gladly give it to you if you help me fix — fix this.

[ she waves over to the booth rather sadly. ]

Comments

h & m hahaha...

[sayonaradumbass]

[he's seen plenty of these kinds of booths in his day (speaking like an old man when you're actually a baby, ok), and the fact that he'll have to provide his own con isn't a surprise.

So when he saddles up to their booth, he leans an elbow down and smirks.]

Don't tell me this isn't a kissing booth.

Hawkeye

[2cool4guardian]

[It's the dragon plush that calls Jack's attention, bringing memories of a friend now gone. It wouldn't hurt to do this gesture in his memory, right?

Right. Except the one in charge is... ugh. Hiccup better appreciates this, wherever he is now.]

So I find the boss sleeping means I get a prize for free?

GIMME BOTH. We can do one thread or separate threads I am down with either.

[animated]

[ Charlie is well-aware that carnival games are rigged as shit. That's pretty much a law of the universe, and he's not really looking to blow his money, but the sight of a familiar face draws him over to the booth. ]

Just what are you ladies up to?

hawke and merrill!!

[faceplate]

[ anything like this draws zero's attention, though they don't care all that much for a fair. throwing sharp objects, though, that's good. ]

Show me the arms here. [ zero... this isn't a weapons shop... ]

gimme an m!

[ukakus]

I'll help you. Just— Just keep it.

[She doesn't need a headless wolf for her collection. Or, any other headless animal for that matter? She's trying to avoid making a face at the mess and failing spectacularly. Sorry, you sad, sad booth attendant.]

[outcast]

No, it's a game booth.

[ said very matter-of-factly, but in a saccharine voice. ]

Would you like to play, perhaps? —I am allowed to ask that, yes, Hawke?

[outcast]

We're just attempting to garner some credits!

[ see, merrill, that was honest but also not too honest. do that more often, hawke would say. ]

And yourself? Aside from patroning the festival, of course.

[kirkwalled]

[ hawke's just gonna let merrill take the lead on that, yep. she's sitting on top of the booth, toying with a dart between her fingers and raises an eyebrow at kaneda. ]

Yep, [ she pops the p. if you say something rude to merrill, hawke will stick this dart in your eye, kaneda. ] Ten credits to play, three darts and three chances. Ready to test your luck?

[outcast]

I'm afraid I haven't much muscle to show, but..

[ she'll hold out her arm and flex lightly. she's a bit too weenie hut juniors, as you might expect. ]

Hawke's arms might be a bit more exciting. They have so many scars! Mine are just a bit boring, I'm afraid.

[kirkwalled]

[ oh it's charlie. hawke likes charlie. she gives a grin and a short wave and thank you for now blowing it, merrill. ]

I imagine he's about to play a game, isn't he? Why wouldn't you, on such a fine day as this?

[outcast]

I'm not sure what to do with it, then.. I can't help but feel like he deserves a home, too.

[ he? she's gone and gendered it, so it's all over now. it was a vagabond wolf-head that would find a home, even if she had to ask everyone in the colony. either way, she motions to put the wolf's head in her bag, so as not to forget about him. ]

Well! Where should we start? I have this flap covered.

[ the one she flipped, that is. ]

[kirkwalled]

[ hawke knows what zer0 means but also merrill's answer is hilarious and she is trying very hard not to literally laugh out loud. instead, she rolls with it and nods as merrill talks of hawke's arms. she pushes up the short sleeve on her t-shirt to show her bicep -- which you can see, is very scarred up! -- and flexes.

she's pretty ripped, yeah. ]

Yeah, I'm pretty swole.

[ hawke, when did you learn the world swole?? ]

hawke and merrill!

[adornmental]

[AH, IT'S THE PUNK. And a pure bean who's clearly somehow been roped into these shenanigans because Hawke is a bully who bullies...

But no, Kashuu's actually curious about this booth. He's been trying a little bit of this and that all night long, both by way of snacks and entertainment, so of course he'll be stopping by here too.]

What's all this for? Is it some kinda game?

[sayonaradumbass]

These really all the prizes you got?

[maybe he really hoped for one of those stupid plastic mustaches or something.]

You guys don't seem to be makin' a killing right now.

[kirkwalled]

[ you love it, jack. but hawke does crack an eye open when jack speaks and lets out a grunt, waving her hand dismissively at him. ]

It means you have to pay fifteen credits for a round. Ready to try your luck, kid?

[cultivations]

[ The Champion of Kirkwall and a Dalish elf walk into a tavern...

Dorian recognizes the both of them, of course, and a part of him is a little surprised they know each other; it logically follows, he reasons -- people do tend to cling to what is familiar. Even more mysterious is how or why they've become carnival barkers. Tough times, one supposes. Or a trick of some sort. Possibly both.

He catches snippets of their conversation as he approaches, which does little to assuage his doubts. ]

Ah, yes. This looks like an honest and upstanding establishment.

[outcast]

Is there some kind of prize you'd prefer? Perhaps we can get something made! —If you win!

[ because you have to win, obviously, they aren't just going to give you the prizes!! she'll go behind the counter and pick a plush from the wall — one of mosley — and come back around to show kaneda. ]

You really don't think he's cute? I think he's quite adorable.

[outcast]

Yes! A game! It's a very fair and very fun game.

[ maybe a bit too on the nose there, merrill.. she'll scamper over to the plushes and motion towards them, vanna white style. ]

Any of these lovely dolls could be yours with the low, low cost of.. winning!

[ she'd heard that before, somewhere, around the colony, but it didn't seem to quite work this time. she'd have to brush up on her marketing skills. ]

[outcast]

Why, thank you! We certainly are trying.

[ sarcasm flying directly over her head aside, Merrill is happy to see Dorian! she does, indeed, feel a sort of camaraderie with him, given that he's a mage, and one not lacking in talent — the first magic user who uses it at least similarly to how she does that she'd met in the colony.

she'll wave him closer, hoping he doesn't try to skitter away before she gets a chance to have a conversation with him! and also before he gets a chance to play their game. ]

Would you like to play? I haven't tried it myself but Hawke claims it's quite fun.

[kirkwalled]

[ wtf merrill don't put yourself out there for people who don't deserve it. hawke throws a baffled look at her before gently reeling it in. ]

We have to be thematic, serah. Win the game, win the Mosley toy. If you don't like the theme of the prizes, I'm sure you can find something less challenging for you to play.

[kirkwalled]

[ look!! hawke never bullied merrill. merrill is her canon pure bean, okay. CANON.

still, merrill does fairly well and hawke looks pleased about it. she directs her grin to kashuu and gestures with the dart she's playing with to merrill. ]

Exactly what the lady said. Twenty credits gets you three darts and three chances to win. Would you like to try your luck, ser?

[adornmental]

[SOMEONE HELP MERRILL, the pure bean who tries her best... A VERY FAIR AND VERY FUN GAME. Ah, he's tired...

But 20 credits isn't too much, so he'll sigh and hand over his card.]

I guess the dolls are kinda cute... Fine, fine! I'll give it a go. How does it work? Just hit those with one of these darts?

[kirkwalled]

[ haven't you read tale of the champion, dorian?? so rude.

but hawke gives a lazy sort of wave to dorian as he approaches, sitting up on the table of the booth and twiddling a dart between her fingers. she also likes dorian, less because of the magic but more because he's got a wonderful mustache. hawke thinks if she were a man, she'd have a mustache like that.

no, no. she changes her mind. if she were a man, she'd have a beard. ]

-- Hm? [ hawke was too busy thinking about beards when she heard her name. ] Oh, yes. Quite fun. Five credits gives you three chances to pop a balloon. Pop enough and you win a prize. It's all quite simple, really.

[cultivations]

[ It sounds simple enough. The festivals held in Minrathous had games like this, though Dorian rarely took part. Disinterest, for one; "tossing balls into baskets and hoops around pegs for cheap prizes is unbecoming for a boy of your upbringing," for another. He glances at the prizes in question, an eyebrow arched.

... Yes. They look to be worth about five credits, he decides. He points up at one. ]

Is that a three-headed wolf?

[outcast]

[ she'll gingerly take his credits card and scan it. see, she can be a good assistant.. sometimes. ]

Yes, yes! It's easy enough, I think.

[ grip your seats and brace for impact everyone ]