Event - Circus, Circus

[apocalypsehowmods]

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Circus, Circus

➥ By the Pricking of My Thumb

(cw: wax, potential compulsion and fighting)

The train pulls into the railyard at noon under a bright blue sky. The engine is a bright red with orange and yellow flames painted along the sides. The first carriage after that is pitch black with similar flames and a logo for the Fenix Down Extravaganza. It's a stylized red phoenix head in a circle of orange and yellow, the name of the circus painted across the top and bottom, mirroring the curve of the circle. A line of carriages stretch out after that, painted all different colors, but each maintaining the motif of flames down the sides and each bearing the company logo.

Excitement comes to the railyard. The circus is in town for a one-week stint before they continue their journey north. People in colorful costumes--clowns, 'fire fairies' covered in drips of candle wax, and those in animal masks--paper the town with advertisements. You might even find yourself conscripted to help with putting up the fliers and posters if you look idle. A stack of posters is placed in your hands. A $100 bill set atop seems to be your incentives to do something more than just toss them in the bin. There's a frantic energy both about the performers and the people in town. You might even find yourself strangely caught up in it. You want to help spread the word, to ensure the posters reach every part of town. Everyone else who's been conscripted, as well? You can do it better, faster. You need to be faster. You need to claim the space for your own before it's lost to someone else.

There hasn't been a circus come to Gloucester in decades, and it's the Fenix Down Extravaganza! They're renowned for their pyrotechnics and laser lights shows. Surely the enthusiasm for all that is just… catching.

The tents and booths are set up in vacant fields to the west of town, and there's one curious addition, as well. There's a railroad car that's been seemingly pulled away from the railyard somehow. No one sees it being moved, but it's out in the vacant field, and some might recognize it as the old, dilapidated thing that had been hidden in the railyard, the charred husk filled with old posters. It looms, in the field, almost seeming to smoke where it sits. It's quickly cleaned and restored over the course of the day the circus is setting up, though, and it seems to have been turned into the ticket booth for the front of the circus, complete with a new bright red paint job.

➥ Something Wicked This Way Comes

(cw: large-scale vehicular collision, industrial disaster, fire, harm to animals)

It's not a single person who can claim credit for the find, but many people all together. Hours have been poured into researching the mysterious midnight train crash that had rocked people from their beds almost a week ago. Finally, something is found. Stitched together from local newspaper clippings from around Cape Ann, a story emerges, identifying a derailment in the city of Gloucester back in 1921. More than a dozen workers had died in the railyard and there were fires beyond that in the town. The train itself had had only a few people aboard, performers for the Smoke and Mirrors Acting Troupe, along with animals used in their performances. The stories seem to be tucked away a few pages from the front of the newspapers, which are dominated by stories about skyrocketing unemployment following the Great War and the return home for the troops.

All of the stories seem to end with the same sentiment: It could have been so much worse. If the train had derailed further north in one of the more populated cities, where it had been scheduled to arrive the next morning after the crash? It could have been hundreds, maybe even thousands dead.

The information, whomever has found it, is enough. ADI calls a staff meeting. Ghostly circus train derailments just before another circus rolls into town? That's not a coincidence. Everyone who's willing is purchased a ticket for entrance to the Fenix Down Extravaganza, and every person is assigned a partner to join them. Don't lose track. There will be no kidnappings this time. ADI is determined to keep their people as safe as they can be while investigating. Maybe have a chat with your new companion(s).

Those who misbehaved during the last event's Sticky Wicket prompt and were caught with either an opened box or found to have injuries related to the artifacts inside the boxes will be assigned an additional person to their group. A mentor to keep them on the right track this time. And also to narc on them if they mess up again. Better behave, partner.

➥ Send In the Clowns

(cw: reference to cannibalism, fire, pain, mild body horror)

There's a light and excited atmosphere about the circus once a body makes it through the long queue out front. The sweet and sticky scent of fried and sugary foods permeates the air along with barbecues and the ever-present smell of ash. Fire would seem to be the main attraction for the Fenix Down Extravaganza. Fire dancers, fire jugglers, people swallowing fiery swords, and walking over beds of hot coals. There are sideshow attractions and games to see before heading into the big top. Notably, there are no animals or signs of animals at the circus save for a small contingent of goats that are set up as a petting zoo, and a sideshow with a reptile exhibit along with a 'snakeman.' Otherwise known as a performer decorated with shiny sticker scales who provides interesting 'snake facts' to anyone who happens by.

The Food
The food is typical carnival garbage. A little overpriced, but still decent and provided in excess of what people should reasonably eat in one sitting, especially for things like the cotton candy and funnel cake. There is some decent grilled food available, and those who go snooping will find that the food prep within each of the little booths is acceptable for what it all seems to be. There is one booth characters might notice that has 'long-pig' on the menu. Or does it? Check again, and it's not there. It seems to be selling hotdogs, though. Just ordinary hotdogs. Care to bite into one?

The Games
Your standard rigged carnival games: the ring toss, the ladder climb, the baseball and milk jugs. Spend more money for bigger prizes! But you're risking losing it all, as well. There are a few unique games, as well, though. One is called 'The Floor Is Lava,' and participants must make their way around a strange obstacle course that's up on balance beams. If you slip and go down, it's just grass of course. But for a moment, for a split second, you can feel the heat and agony as the lava engulfs your body. You're fine, though, of course! It's just a game, after all. Even if you might feel a bit… singed after that. Another game someone might find tucked away in an obscure corner is 'Liar, Liar,' which involves throwing beanbags at targets. Each target lights a match that helps to burn a string leading toward a cartoonish figure in polka dot boxers. The goal is to get the fire to touch the boxers before a timer runs out. When the fire hits the boxers, there's an uncomfortably realistic shriek. But it's probably fine.

The Sideshows and Exhibits
Fire is the overriding theme at the side shows with fire dancers and jugglers being the most prominent amongst the tents. Attendants for the tents all wear full (and varied) animal heads obscuring their faces; though, if someone is rude enough to rip off their masks, they'll just find disgruntled employees who would like that back now. The more notable sideshow acts include:

• The Twisted Twisters - A pair of contortionists who maneuver bowls filled with flames while they shift around. They're very affable, joking with each other as they work.
  
• Flammie the Magnificent - A magician who's open about his use of smoke and mirrors, as well as making objects appear in a burst of flame. He's a purposefully goofy magician aimed at younger kids.
  
• Asbestos Mike - A man who juggles burning coals. His hands are… unfortunate to look at. But he doesn't seem to mind and claims to have no working nerve endings. He's extremely calm about… everything.

➥ Lost & Found

(cw: child endangerment/distressed parent with missing child, disorientation, hallucination)

And then, of course, there are the 'experiences.' They're not rides per se. Those are hard to pack up on a train, but they're exhibits to pass through with a particular theme toward interaction or ogling. There's a small wax museum with decently-crafted models of a few famous individuals. And then there's the Fun House. It's a mirror maze inside that seems to stretch on far larger than the small space it's set up in should allow. For those who make it to the center of the maze, they'll find a dark room with a single mirror in it. This, unlike the rest of the mirrors in the Fun House, isn't one that distorts your form. It's simply a standard mirror. There's also a corridor of mirror beyond it that leads to a quick escape from the Fun House for those lucky winners who make it there.

Said 'winners' will find that everything seems to be perfectly normal when they step out onto the bustling circus grounds. But is that- Ah, that's someone they wanted to talk to. Or maybe it's someone who looks suspicious. Just someone they want to follow. There is a figure and it's someone they want to follow. If they do so, they'll quickly lose said figure in the crowd, only to spot them a ways on a few moments later. Pursuing this figure will result in the winner being run around the circus grounds, never quite able to catch up. If they stop their pursuit, they will find themselves somewhere that they have not seen before. There may be a sense of disorientation as they try to get their bearings.

For those who don't enter the Fun House or come out as winners, they might notice someone--a parent--frantically looking about some other time. The parent comes up to them, asks if they've seen their child, before hurrying off to try to find an employee for help. Their little one was just there. They just came out of the Fun House and now… now they can't find their child! Employees will be only too happy to help, but non-employees might be quicker on the draw to locate the missing child. They're always found in a random place, seemingly unharmed but confused and frightened as they search for their parent, claiming they saw said parent going just over there, or over here. Still, you've reunited a family! No harm, no foul, right? Kids go wandering all the time. Parents really ought to keep a closer watch.

➥ The Ringmaster

(cw: fire, pain, immolation, screaming)

"Please be advised the following show contains flashing lights, sudden loud noises, and fire. Anyone who may have difficulty with these, please make your way to the exit. Our employees will provide refunds for anyone who may have challenges due to these effects." A full two minutes pass to allow those who need to leave time to do so. And then…

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and everyone in between, put your hands together for the one, the only, Fenix Down!" The words sound over the PA system in the tent just before roaring calliope music picks up and the man himself practically dances to the center of the ring in the main tent. Fenix is a remarkably short Caucasian man with dark hair, brown eyes, and a suit that looks like it's on fire, all orange, red, and yellow licks of color across the fabric. His bright yellow tophat features the company's phoenix logo on it, and he nearly loses the thing as he dashes around the ring, grinning like a madman and eliciting cheers from the audience as he raises his arms for them to shout.

"Are you ready, my friends, for the brightest, the grandest, the most extravagant show you have ever seen?" Thunderous cheers from the audience. "I am Fenix Down, and this is my extravaganza!"

The show plays out with two main acts with smaller ones in between. The main acts are introduced by Fenix in turn:

• "Penny, the dancing flame!" is firedancer with an elaborate show involving a flaming whip and multiple other performers in horse heads acting as her 'animal companions' for the show.
  
• "And Roderick, the man with laser hands!" is a young man in large, dark glasses who conducts a laser lights and pyrotechnics production from a DJ-style turntable as rock music plays and performers dance and tumble around the ring.

On the final night, there is a change to the performance, though. "And now, my friends, my dear friends, we have a special treat, a new main act to premier: Pyre, the burning man!" Those who are witness to this will see a young man enter the ring. He's sweating and a bit on the heavy side. He also looks… frightened. Frightened and exhilarated. He waves to the crowd as a circle of pipes is raised from a stage in the center of the ring. Pyre sets himself in the middle and lifts his hand. Liquid sprays from the pipes and for those who are close enough, they will likely recognize the scent of gasoline.

"I will be reborn and rise as the phoenix!" Pyre declares before striking a match. His whole body catches immediately in flames and there are horrified gasps and screams from the crowd. Those who might try to interfere are asked to hold on, hold on, just wait by employees. There's nothing to do for young Pyre, anyway. The flames burn rapidly until he collapses on the stage. Fenix makes the first subtle movement he has ever made for anyone who has watched his other performances. A small snap of his fingers, half-covered by one hand. The fire snuffs itself out immediately.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, I know that seems frightening, but just watch," Fenix calls. "Like a phoenix, we rise!" As he says this, Pyre picks himself up. His clothes hang in a charred mess about his form, but his flesh… it seems to have knit itself back together. He is whole, and proceeds to give the audience a double-thumbs up. Relieved guests erupt in applause for this… very strange and rather harrowing final act.

After each performance for the night, the main acts and Fenix are available to take photos, sign autographs, and generally schmooze with the public for a little while. They each have a small tent so that you can have a moment of privacy with your favorite act, if you'd like. If anyone is looking for answers, particularly, these are the top of the hierarchy and might prove the most fruitful to speak to. They're also the only people in the circus that seem to have supernatural energy about them, for those who might have such senses to notice that.

➥ Mod Notes

• GENERAL - Players are welcome to play NPCs for themselves when they are needed in a thread. If you need more information on general behavior for these types of NPCs, please feel free to ask! In general, the information provided in the prompt should be sufficient and you're welcome to make up any details beyond that for your specific scene. For this event, the only NPCs that should not be controlled by players for threading are: Fenix Down and the Main Acts in The Ringmaster prompt. These NPCs will be played by mods and available for interaction.
  
  
• BY THE PRICKING OF MY THUMB (25-26 August) - Characters may accept fliers to put up a maximum of three times (that's $300). Not everyone will feel the compulsion to put up the fliers, but if you need incentive for your character to take action, they can do so. The fliers are ordinary adverts with dates, hours, location, and pricing for the circus. Characters can wander around some of the set-up for the circus, but they'll be shooed away if they linger too long with a request to leave for their safety. Circus personnel doing the set-up are not interested in talking. They'll ignore characters or threaten to call the police for harassment if characters persist in bothering them while they're trying to set things up. Those who attempt to mind-control the workers or otherwise compel them for information will quickly discover that these are genuinely just ordinary people who are doing all the set-up. And they would really like to do their job because they do not have enough time.
  
  
• SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (25-27 August) - Players are free to OOCly select their ADI-assigned partner. Those who misbehaved during the Sticky Wicket prompt (and there was evidence of that misbehavior) will find themselves saddled with a mentor, either as their partner or in addition to their partner. This mentor (if they're a PC) should be someone who DID behave in that prompt or who has not made themselves a problem for ADI up to this point. Partners are not required to stick together or with their mentors for the duration of the event. This is just an opportunity to get some new CR (or strengthen existing CR)! And maybe butt heads while you slip away from each other while investigating. Mentors will be expected to be somewhat responsible for their charges, though, if you would like to play with that dynamic.
  
  
• SEND IN THE CLOWNS (26 August - 2 September) - Regular employees and sideshow acts have no particular information to provide about anything sinister going on at the circus. As far as they know, the work is grueling sometimes given the quick set-up/break-down and schedule, but they're paid very well and even have benefits! They're pretty protective of their employer, as a result, and aren't going to willingly trash-talk him or the circus beyond some standard grumbling about the extra work going into this as Gloucester wasn't originally on their tour schedule.
  
  
• LOST & FOUND (26 August - 2 September) - Employees will be generally helpful in these situations, using walkie-talkies to try to find missing children. They won't be fast, though. Parents will be uniformly distressed, then grateful to anyone who might assist in locating their children. Children will be wholly unharmed, wherever they are found, but frightened, confused and disoriented. Characters who end up as 'winners' in the Fun House will need several minutes to get their bearings back after following their hallucinations. If they try to return to the Fun House, they won't seem to be able to find the center of the maze anymore, and the mirror maze will appear to be wholly ordinary and the correct size for the space it's in.
  
  
• THE RINGMASTER (26 August - 2 September) - Characters who would leap in to assist Pyre will be waylaid by staff just long enough for him to stir and complete his act to show that he is, indeed, alive and seemingly fine. Those who still try to interrupt will be escorted out by security. Characters will have the chance to speak to Fenix, Penny, Roderick, and Pyre during this prompt. The first four will be available for the full week the circus is in town. Pyre will be available the final night. Characters may interrogate one NPC each. Each NPC will have different information they may be able to provide.

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Comments

Junior | Read or Die

[littlegentleman]

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES

[It's not that Junior means to impolite about the whole ordeal, but he can't help the wave of mild disappointment that goes through him when he's assigned a partner. He's heard stories of circuses and carnivals and all sorts of marvelous festivals, but never expected that he'd ever get the chance to go to one. Sure, it's for business and research, but...he'd perhaps hoped to get more of a chance to look around on his own.

Don't be surprised when he takes the first chance he can to sneak off, one of Junior's very special skills. For now, though, he stares at the colorful ticket in his hands and there's a bit of sheepishness in his small voice.]

You don't suppose...there'll be time to do more than just observe?

[When all is said and done, he really is just a kid, after all.]

SEND IN THE CLOWNS

a.)

[Actually being in the thick of things is practically overwhelming to the sheltered boy. Junior's eyes are wide as he takes in the smells, the sounds, the sounds. Always, he reminds himself, that he needs to stay on task, and keep himself as focused as possible on the assignment. Easier said than done when surrounded by such magnificent temptations.

Although he's not particularly interested in the sidehows, he very often hesitates when passing by different stalls of sticky, colorful treats. The cotton candy and candied apples he can't help but steal repeated glances toward.]

Excuse me...

[Whether you're his partner or just passing by, he poses a tentative question.]

Have you ever had one of those, before?

b.)

[The games are just as intriguing to him, but despite admiring some of the large stuffed prizes, always stays back, observing how others interact with the different set-ups. After watching several losses, he seems to come to a conclusion:]

They're designed for failure.

[A money-stealing scheme?]

LOST & FOUND

[If there was ever any doubt that Junior doesn't behave like your standard kid, the apparent twelve-year-old looks exceedingly uncomfortable when a much younger boy, likey around six or seven, can be seen latched onto his arm and sobbing. The poor kid, crying for his parents, has seemed to decide that the best way to feel safe was to latch onto another, older, calmer boy.

But Junior is flush-faced and awkward, limbs tensed as he looks around him with panic in his usually calm gaze.]

Um, please stop crying.

[Honestly, isn't there an adult who can handle this better than him?]

WILDCARD

[If you want to do something else, I'm up for any other prompts, as well! Feel free to come up with something of your own or plot with me over at ddsapphire!]

Send In The Clowns (A)

[aelwyn_aberration]

[Aelwyn blinks a few times as she realizes she's being spoken to, breaking her out of her more obsessive thoughts of what the fuck, what the fuck is all this, why are there so many people.]

Erm... no, I can't say I have.

[What is that. It smells like sugar which, well, she wasn't really allowed to have growing up.]

...What is it?

[littlegentleman]

A candied apple. I don't know what they taste like.

[Here they are, two individuals faced with sugary snacks that have sense been forbidden from them. He feels so out of his element that he can't help but feel bashful. Junior glances up at Aelwyn, recognizing her, and finds the courage to ask:]

Would you...care to try one, with me?

[aelwyn_aberration]

[She sees how nervous he is and Aelwyn can't help the small guarded smile that appears on her face.

Adaine used to do that. Fidget nervously before asking for Aelwyn's help.] Well, how could I say no?

Come on then, I'll buy us one each. [She'll approach the stall, resisting the urge to cast mass suggestion on the crowd and get them out of the way.]

Have you ever been to one of these before? [She can at least make conversation with him while they wait their turn.]

[littlegentleman]

Are you sure?

[He has his own ADI allowance, after all, from the work he's helped out with thus far. It only feels polite to make sure she doesn't mind spending on his behalf! That said, he's pretty excited, beneath that broody exterior. His hands fidget against his hoodie.]

This is the first time I've been allowed.

[aelwyn_aberration]

Don't worry about it, it's pretty cheap and I've got some spare money from hanging up those posters.

It's my first time too, actually. My parents never would have let me have this much sugar.

[Not that they kept a close eye on the things that she was getting up to but this wasn't really something they had in Elmville. She wouldn't have gone as an adult, and as an adult... well, it's not like she had any chance to escape them.

Eventually, she gets to the end of the line and buys two apples. She holds her own up, still a bit unsure how she's supposed to eat it, before turning and passing it to Junior.] For you.

[littlegentleman]

I see...thank you.

[It relaxes him a little, the confirmation that he's not the only one that's completely out of his element. Having the treat in his hand, he's just as much at a loss as she is, but as they move away from the line he turns the stick between his fingers, admiring the shiny surface.

Well...gotta try it at some point, so Junior finally, bashfully, takes a bite. It isn't as soft as he was expecting, and the surface much sticker, too, so he realizes he's coming away with a messy face almost immediately. This only makes him blush harder, but as he pulls away and covers his mouth with one hand to chew, he admits:]

It's quite good!

[aelwyn_aberration]

I'm at a bit of a loss at how to eat it, to be honest. [She frowns and takes a bit into it. Oh wow, that's a lot harder than she thought it would be. She chews, feeling the candy get stuck to her face. This seems to bother her a bit more than it might bother Junior and she instinctively reaches up and casts Prestidigitation, wiping away any mess from her face.

But it's...]

It's amazing... Wow, I'd say we've been missing out.

Clowns - B

[guildmastermind]

Yeah, it's one of the ways the circus makes its money. The basketball hoop, for example? It's shaped like an oval, not a circle, in games like this.

[He points out that booth in particular.]

They're all a little tricky like that. Engineered to be extremely difficult to win. Not impossible, though, with enough time and money. Because the rare people who do win carrying their prizes around the circus are free advertising for the games.

[littlegentleman]

I see.

[It's clever. From the angle they're at, it's not easy to see the subtle difference in shape.]

I suppose there isn't much harm in it if it isn't impossible.

[After all, they do need to keep a business afloat, and it's less morally questionable than plenty of other lines of work. It's just a game, and just some prizes.]

Although, I feel as if it must be more frustrating than fun, knowing that...

[guildmastermind]

Most people don't think about it logically--to them, it's just a game and they might be the lucky person who can win it. They don't know they tricks used against them, and they don't really want to.

[Shiroe glances down at Junior, offering an apologetic little smile.]

I'm sorry if I ruined the experience for you, but you were already most of the way there.

[littlegentleman]

[Junior can't help but look up in a bit of surprise at the apology. He gives a quick shake of his head in response.]

It's all right. I wasn't going to play.

[A few of the games seemed a bit more fun than others, but just the same, the overall atmosphere kept him back.]

I was only curious.

[guildmastermind]

You're with ADI too, aren't you? I saw you at the briefing. I'm Shiroe.

[He smiles slightly.]

You seem like you haven't been to many circuses before.

[littlegentleman]

I'm Junior.

[Are the stars in his eyes as obvious as he feared? The boy can't help his face from coloring as he ducks his head, easily confirming the suspicion.]

This is my first one.

[guildmastermind]

Then we ought to make sure you get a chance to enjoy as much of it as possible. Have you been to the petting zoo yet?

[Shiroe doesn't know Junior's circumstances, but he already sees himself a little in a lonely, quiet, thoughtful boy who doesn't get out much. He's projecting, he realizes he is.

...doesn't mean he's not going to try to be helpful.]

something wicked

[allapplesaregood]

[Luckily for Junior, his partner this time (this evening?) is definitely not against taking a little extra time to themselves to do...fair things. Fun things! Archie hasn't been to a carnival in a long time, honestly, and she's pretty excited all on her own.

Pair that with getting, well, paired with a kid and she's instantly sympathetic to the way Junior asks that question.]

I think so! [There's a warm, understanding smile on her face.] After all, it's important to do our own research, right? And how will we do that except for going into places and playing games and things like that?

[...She knows this carnival might be dangerous. But that doesn't mean she's not going to try to enjoy it. It can't all be scary.]

[littlegentleman]

[It's such a confident answer that he can't keep his eyes from widening. He forgets, for a moment, that most people have been to something like this before, and would know more about it than him. He's only ever really heard and read stories.]

What kind of games are there?

[allapplesaregood]

Oh, lots of kinds! Like, you have to try to pop as many balloons as you can with darts, or throw a ball through a basket, or get a ring around a bottle.

[She's gesturing Junior along as they start walking into the thick of the carnival. In a minute they'll start actually looking around and watching people and all that...stuff. The stuff they need to do but is kind of boring.]

Let's walk around a little, and I can show you. Oh, there's one where you take this big hammer and you have to try and hit a target as hard as you can. I like trying that one. [Archie laughs.] And after we've walked around and looked at everything...

Well. I think we can try one or two.

Lost & Found

[graveyounglady]

[Mercy is technically an adult! She sees two children in distress--one she vaguely recognizes--and heads over, an enormous puff of cotton candy clutched in one hand. There's so much here, and she's a little overwhelmed by it all, but... well, she can't help but want to try this.]

What's all this, then? [She crouches down so she's on the same level as the youngest child, offering them the cotton candy.] Tears ain't for festivals, little inchworm. How about you try some of this while me and your big brother figure out what needs doing, hmm?

[The child is still sniffling against Junior, but reaches for the treat. She turns her eyes to Junior.]

You two missing your parents, then?

[littlegentleman]

[Junior, of course, is absolutely not missing his parents, having no relation to the boy holding onto him, but he's so thankful that she's used the age-old tradition of bribery to calm him down some that he doesn't even think of correcting her. Rather not be rude. Instead, he breaths a small sigh of relief, glancing at the (sticky) younger boy before looking back at Mercy. Likewise, he believes he's seen her around before.]

I'm not really sure where to begin looking, and he doesn't really seem to want to move from this spot...

[The inchworm, in question, has been rooted desperately to the spot, applying all his weight whenever Junior has tried to start wallking.]

[graveyounglady]

Hmm... well, you know what's better than staying in one spot? [This is directed at the younger boy who shakes his head.] Being up high so you can see further! You want to ride on my shoulders?

[The child seems to consider this with a concerned frown, then a firm nod. Mercy's smile is gentle and wide as the boy holds his arms up and Mercy reaches down to lift him and set him on her shoulders. She doesn't mind when he puts his sugar-sticky fingers atop the white cloth tied atop her head. That's what washing is for, and it's so easy here!

She holds out a hand to Junior.]

Come on, Big Brother, lets see if we can find what's been lost. You let me know if you see your Mama and Papa up there, inchworm. I can head us that way.

[littlegentleman]

[With Mercy doing the heavy lifting, Junior finally feels like he can breathe again. He gives a sigh of relief, hesitating before taking her hand. It's a bit odd, he feels, too young for him, but...kind of nice.]

Thank you for your help. My name's Junior.

[graveyounglady]

[Mercy walks slowly along, letting her small passenger guide their direction.]

I'm Sister Mercy. It's nice to meet you, Junior. How'd you run into this one?

[She can see the boys aren't related, just by looks.]

[littlegentleman]

It's nice to meet you, too.

[He ducks his head in a quick show of politeness before answering her question.]

It was outside the Fun House. He'd come out the exit and had gotten all turned around. I think I'm the first one young enough that he saw that made him feel comfortable enough to approach.

[graveyounglady]

['Mama!' the little boy calls eagerly and points the stick of cotton candy in a direction. Mercy sets off at more of a clip, her hand clasping Junior's tight to make sure he stays close, too.]

There's been a lot of that going on. Got mixed up thinking I seen my brother yesterday. A doctor in a funny cape helped me through that. You ain't been in the Fun House, yet, have you? It's not a good place, I don't think.