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apocalypsehowcomm2021-08-25 09:07 am
- !event,
- !npc,
- aelwyn abernant (d20 fantasy high),
- bucky barnes (mcu),
- kate cordello (original),
- martin blackwood (tma),
- mercy graves (original),
- zz_andrew jaeger (original),
- zz_gil arroyo (prodigal son),
- zz_harrier du bois (disco elysium),
- zz_jeff calhoun (original),
- zz_keith (voltron),
- zz_malcolm bright (prodigal son),
- zz_meredith idlewild (original),
- zz_porco galliard (attack on titan),
- zz_satoru gojou (jujutsu kaisen),
- zz_stephen strange (mcu),
- zz_takashi shirogane (voltron),
- zz_thackery binx (hocus pocus),
- zz_tim drake (dc comics),
- zz_toji fushiguro (jujutsu kaisen),
- zz_wanda maximoff (mcu)
Event - Circus, Circus
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
- 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.
no subject
Tim continues to crane his head, daring to keep himself staunchly in Napping Position until it gets way too uncomfortable and okay, okay, he sits up.]
I don't know, [please don't make him think about it. But Tim, sitting properly now, can feel his wallet still on his person, and that's... good.] would you?
[A shock of white hair means only one thing to Tim. Fortunately for Shiro, he's had his idiocy thoroughly beaten out of him today. That doesn't mean he can't lean back a fraction, can't ready himself for something that might not happen-- subtly. Of course.
Guy's still bigger. It's natural. Tim offers him a wry, small smile.] I think I've seen you around. [Around... the circus? Gloucester? ADI? Yeah, one of those.]
no subject
are there any other open picnic tables…? shiro doesn’t look and it’s just as well, because the mood shifts and the topic too. shiro relaxes -- slightly -- on the next breath and narrows the guessing down to: ] ADI. I’ve seen you around there too.
[ and now, he’ll answer that smile in kind. dryly: ]
So no, to your earlier question. Working for ADI is already disastrous enough without added workplace drama.
[ is he trustworthy now?? ]
no subject
[There.
Case closed.
Tim wonders lightly if it's offensive to tell the Big Guy that he doesn't strike him as all that Stealthy; too late now, and it's Tim's turn to glance this way and that. Huh. Packed dining area. He winces, if slightly.] Guess I should be thanking you for waking me up before anyone else did. [That would be an embarrassing reason to get pay docked, or worse: lose his cushy computer gig. He glances at the guy's drink, suddenly thirsty, and then at the man himself.] I'm Tim. [And please don't mind as he runs a hand through his hair in some half-stretch, and says] Did you take a dip in Lazarus pool lately?
no subject
so yes, moving right along to a waved off thanks and -- oh, it’s introduction time. slips in during the stretch: ] Shiro. [ nice to meet you, yada yada. they never get to the niceties -- a blessing, really -- because the absurdity is back and with it, shiro’s confusion.
who's what now?
… there’s a pool here?
and why would he think… -- does shiro look like he’s swim-ready? or is this some sly poke at him? it’s hot out here, okay, and shiro’s in long sleeves and pants, of course his hairline is a little damp. narrows his gaze, trying to figure it out and clearly failing. ] Are you calling me sweaty?
idk what happened here but ilu
[Is he?
God.
While, yes, that... lack of response more or less answers his (very important) question of rebirth, Tim still silently ponders his fate and place in the universe.
If he wills the ground to open and swallow him whole in some biblical show of repent, he is for once convinced his wish would come true. Can't do that to the table neighbors to the left
who are enjoying their chili dogs.
Wow, Tim's thirsty and hungry.
He presses his mouth into a thin line.]
How do you feel about starting over.
1st he accused him of being a thief, then insinuated he's sweaty. tim this is not how to make pals
he pauses mid-suck on the next draw, brows rising. who knew he was signing up for a philosophical discussion upon sitting down at this picnic table? shiro certainly didn’t. is he game? he supposes. he gives one last slurp from the straw and plops his cup back down.
considers tim for another beat, frowning faintly. ]
I think you never really escape your past. Life doesn’t work with a reset button. [ unfortunately. he could really use one of those. a little more encouraging now: ]
But I do think it’s possible to change the course you’re on if you’re honest with yourself and determined enough to make the necessary changes.
[ the obvious question is why? you dealing with a dark past too, kid? buuut he’ll let it sit for now. ]
no subject
I meant, like.
[He needs help. Therapy, even. That would be shockingly welcome.]
Hi, I'm Tim. And you would say, 'I'm Shiro', and we can forget everything else that has happened here.
[--the man is glistening. Tim wants to die. It's a day ending in Y.]
That kind of starting over.
LOL I READ THAT completely wrong fjherikgdf
would getting up, taking his drink and turning his back on this interaction be less or more embarrassing than sticking it out? probably less, but shiro isn’t a quitter.
he does kind of want to jam this straw into his head though. guess he’ll settle for sticking his elbow to the table and shoving his face into his palm. groan included. ]
Yes. Please. Let’s do that. [ this feels like a fever dream. someone punch him awake. ]
No mention of the last five minutes ever again in three, two, one. [ CLEAR. ctrl, alt, delete: the slate is clean.
… because that totally works. ]
press F to pay respects
Tim straightens up, even leans back from the table, hands on the edge and arms straight because he doesn't really know if that groan is some code for get the hell away. Like, it wouldn't be a (heh) stretch, right?
This is awkward, right?
But. Survivable. He-- they can do this. For sure.
(But why.)
Tim nods, mum. He trusts nothing, most especially not himself.
So. Like.
Do they have to re-introduce themselves no that's really stupid and it's not as if this has been an interaction of intensely calculated and cunning acts and words and. Tim looks a little like a rabbit too dumb to run, he thinks. He stares. Poor guy. Tim should
Dude's got a whole foot on him in terms of size, probably. Wild.]
this is the true horror of the circus
yeah, thankfully tim isn’t spearheading a repeat introduction. shiro’s fairly certain he’d get a crick in his head from the kind of cringe he’d suffer.
but while he’s free from bodily harm, he isn’t in the clear.
fuck, he’s alone with his thoughts.
now he’s stuck half hoping, half dreading for the silence to be broken. usually, shiro has no problem filling gaps in conversation. but. this has been such a clusterfuck of assumption and miscommunication that shiro is at a loss.
so -- are they just going to stare at each other then? okay. cool. shiro taps his cup against the table a few times, frowning. how about the first person who blinks, loses and has to leave immediately? in that case, shiro is blinking hard. no? mutual suffering it is then. ]
i'm shaking my head at everyone here.
'how is one person supposed to eat this without entering a diabetic coma? who knows. maybe adi has it all wrong and the circus isn't trying to feed an eldritch fear vacuum, but is actually trying to funnel patients into gloucester general.
in any case, keith heads to the designated meeting spot where he finds shiro and... ah, that guy from a few days ago. he doesn't call over right away because it seems like the two of them are pretty engaged in... whatever they're doing? but seconds go by and neither of them are actually saying anything. hell, they're both just sitting there .... staring? he looks from shiro to tim then back to shiro. yep, definitely just staring.
well okay then. keith approaches, half hidden by the rainbow cloud and pops out from behind it with an incredulous look. because obviously the person walking around the circus with candy the size of a small child isn't the sus one here. ]
Did you guys get caught up in some weird magic or is this how you're choosing to spend your time?
3 guys 1 brain cell
And then that... dude, from before, just strolls up. Tim doesn't have to turn his head to notice but he... does. While glancing sidelong at the big dude who just does not back down from a challenge.
Tim idly wonders if he's about to get beat up. Cotton candy would make it sticky. He hopes he isn't about to get beat up.
But then: hope. An out. Tim blinks.
Weird magic-- they can do that?]
I think it was magic.
[They can do that.]
1 brain cell is a generous assessment
especially when behind the rainbow pops a familiar face. blessed keith, always there, always ready to save him. shiro’s never known a truer friend. shiro’s even beginning to smile. it doesn’t stretch far.
he glances to tim. ]
It’s not magic.
[ flat. exasperated. wow, way to be a spoilsport, shiro. though, on second thought, entities and the like, they’re all operating off the idea of fear and suffering, right? then maybe…
looks to keith now and check it out, the frown eases. try guessing who shiro favors here. ]
We were getting to know one another. [ paaaaaause. ] But then decided to… take a break?
[ it’s been an exhausting five minutes; a time-out was highly required. ]
half a brain cell?
Okay.
[ it's the flattest okay in all the land, and the thinly veiled why aren't either of you making sense isn't all that difficult to hear between the lines. ]
I'm just gonna... leave this here for when you guys need a second break. [ and with a gentle plop, the large plastic bag of cotton candy is placed on the table between them. ]
half a brain cell, going once.... going twice........
Oh, my god.
[His forehead thumps against the table. Tim bites his tongue to keep from groaning.
What a dick.
There's rustling and movement, and when Tim peers up next the... guy... whose name he does not know (wow, Drake, way to be a dick) has extended this rainbow olive branch between all offending parties.
Tim has a headache and he wonders if a sugar overdose would help at all. He takes a second to just breathe, to remember that zen state one should deploy and depend upon to keep their wits about them during grueling torture.
I have no idea what just happened he could say. But that would be admitting weakness. To Keith:]
Please tell me you weren't going to try to eat that all alone.
[because unadulterated judgment of personal dietary decisions is somehow better than the Truth.]
still generous.
this better taste like heaven.
not that he’s all that inclined to eat it -- though, stupidly, he is fond of the purple. bet that layer is the tastiest. that’s the level of intellect he’s dealing with as the swirled sugar is situated between them. and it’s fine, for about 1.3 more seconds.
wait. wait. rewind and replay. leave this here? that sounds a lot like someone is leaving.
the utter betrayal shiro feels right now. tim asks something ( legitimate concern, shiro’s surprised ) and then shiro piles on right after. ]
And don’t tell me you’re leaving us alone to eat it. [ he takes back everything he said in dogtown: they’re a team and no one can be left behind, especially not shiro. he scoots over, even though there’s already plenty of space on the bench seat. ]
Sit with us.
[ it's a trap, someone revoke shiro's bff card. ]
... a third of a brain cell????
.... by which he means, he's preeeeeetty sure whatever is actually happening here, it's tim's fault.
the first question earns the dude a flat kind of stare. ]
Do I look like I wanna die?
[ actually don't answer that because the answer is probably yes. guess who has been having a great time at the circus? as for shiro's question, keith chooses to answer it by taking a seat as more unnecessary space is made for him. getting the distinct feeling that he's going to regret this, but actually maybe this could be informative. ]
Alright. I'll sit if you want.
[ a beat, then attention's back on dude. ]
I didn't get your name before. I'm Shiro Shirogane.
[ and as keith gives the fakest fake name in all the land, he gives shiro's calf a light kick under the table. do NOT spoil this research for keith, big guy. he needs to know just how bad his mess up with fenix down was, alright? ]
I'm losing faith
Tim's already thrown a chair at a man; he can't, like. Do that again.
And frankly, this is very quickly careening into the dangerous territory of absurd...ly hysterical. Tim keeps a professional lid on his emotions.
Keith's comment could invite some more genuine, honest, serious worry-- but the need for privacy wins out. And the dude sits down. And it really does become a situation where it's two against the one, huh, and Tim swallows and counts to four.]
Right. [A slow, deliberate drawl.
He wants to sleep. Forever.] And I'm James Griffin.
[--]
Except I already told Shiro over there that I'm Tim Drake, so do you want to try that again?
[..........please.]
the stupid is too strong.
he’s quite possibly having an aneurysm; it hurts to think.
keith is an ex-delinquent. isn’t the prerequisite to a life of crime being able to pull off a convincing lie? y’know, the basics. for the first time in his life, shiro is actually disappointed in shiro shirogane ( the dude formerly known as keith ).
tim and him finally have something in common though ( one plus?? ): they are equally unimpressed. or wait -- not tim. james griffin? talk about blast from the past.
shiro wants to yell.
he does not yell. he stares at the cotton candy and contemplates all his life choices. mumbled, consoling himself. ]
I think I’m hallucinating. [ again. or hearing things at least. shiro really needs to stop hanging out with teenagers; they’re nothing but trouble. ]
/closes eyes
wait.
/SQUINT. ]
James Griffin? Seriously?
[ forget whatever embarrassment keith ought to be feeling over getting called out like this. ]
The hell made you pick that as a fake name?
[ and yes, judging from his tone, keith does sound absolutely convinced that james griffin is a crappier alias than shiro shirogane. he looks across to the real shiro, registers that his best friend looks like he wants to drown in the cotton candy... and does nothing about this. ]
Were you two talking about Griffin for some reason?
[ ... so no, apparently keith does not want to try again. sorry tim??? ]
inhale
ADI needs to funnel some of that money into communication courses, clearly.
But, anyway, now he is doubting the effects of rogue magic. He glances to the sides, for the first time, trying to catch a familiar face in the bustling crowds around them. Where's the damn bard when you need him? And then... Tim is the accused. He blinks slowly, head about to freaking explode. He's exhausted and it's not even due to the horrid lack of rest the past week. He clicks his tongue (gross, it sounds like something Damian would do) and he sits up again. God, he just wants to sleep.]
Who is Griffin? No, we weren't talking about [ready for that level of exasperation he didn't know he could still muster] anything.
whose idea was this
ah, well. he’s dubbing it weird for now. suspicious, too.
shiro knows keith has a shit-list going for their adi colleagues. this dude is probably on it now, yeah? the real question here though: is he going down as tim drake or james griffin. guess it would be james griffin 2, because that guy is perpetually on any kind of keith shit-list.
he sighs heavily.
there’s far too many other questions being thrown around this picnic table. shiro’s a brave man, but not quite brave enough to look at their neighbors. he does turn to keith though. tim griffin is pleading his case and after a pause, shiro nods, backing him up. ]
It’s true. [ they weren’t talking. it wasn’t safe to. ] Every time we tried talking to each other, it derailed.
[ james drake called him sweaty. after accusing him of being a wallet-snatcher. him. doesn’t he know who shiro is?? considering he’s confused about his own identity, perhaps shiro shouldn’t be too offended.
turns, looking at tim over the swirl of rainbow. their brief alliance is over. ]
So if you didn’t hear it from me or him -- where did you get that name? You want us to believe you picked it at random?
[ sus, so sus. who is griffin indeed. spill. ]
i don't know but these boys are so embarrassing
So what you guys were just having a staring competition this whole time then?
[ not that anything about what he'd observed with contradict that, but seriously? that's so unbelievably awkward which is a lot coming from keith. luckily, shiro swoops in to corroborate and paints something of a clearer picture.
step 1: conversate
step 2: fail to conversate
step 3: assert dominance by staring
...yeah okay that checks out 100%.but if they weren't talking about griffin, then what are the odds? keith gives shiro a nod, and unfortunately for tim now it really is a 2v1 situation because keith is only going to add to that line of questioning by saying outright what shiro isn't. ]
Spill it.
[ not that who james griffin is is some cia classified information or anything, but keith's run into not one but two mind-readers here that just pull info out of people's heads. looks like tim really might go on the conspiracy wall after all... ]
who needs magic to ruin your life when you can do this all on your own
it all sounds really dumb when you put it like that.
Second:]
This means we can agree that James Griffin is a better fake name than Shiro Shirogane?
[He's so getting his ass kicked and he's so past the point of caring.
Tim has found peace in the idiotic comedy before them all.]
does this count as an apocalyptic event? sure feels like the world is ending
keith.
shiro’s sorry. so very sorry. he supposed to be a dependable bff, one willing to stick it out until the end. but there’s one thing he’s more loyal to than he is to keith.
the truth.
he turns his head, looking to keith with an apologetic frown. ]
He has a point.
[ at least james griffin is believable. helps that it’s an actual name. ]
in keith's mind? yes