intro | day 104

[tacosgay]

Listen.

[The voice that comes over the public channel is... odd, and new to most folks here. He pauses for a bit, as if that's the entire thought-- but, sure enough, he follows it with an obviously annoyed question.]

So we're just kind of... here, because they say so? Like... this can't be legal, can it? Has anybody tried talking to the fuckin' police about this?

[As he speaks, he gets increasingly irritated, his voice breaking.]

I'm gonna be real with you guys: I've got half a mind to just kinda magic my way out, except I'm pretty sure the Ringleader or whatever would come after me. Is that a thing?

Comments

[insidescoop]

[There is a long pause, before eventually she answers with-] ...I've made some mistakes, while dying.

[tacosgay]

Yeah, no kidding, huh?

[His tone is baffled, but surprisingly sympathetic.]

[insidescoop]

[There is... An awkward nod.] ...Demon contracts might have been made. ....It's over now though, so this is about as bad as it's getting! [she adds, brightening just as quick.]

[tacosgay]

Euuuhhhgh... demons, am I right? But hey, yeah, that's a good way to look at it, you know. Besides, I mean... I've never seen what you looked like before all... this... but you're definitely gonna make impressions with people now, that's for sure.

[fortuneglass]

Hahhh, yeah...

[She looks remarkably awkward on that demon note, and if Taako's observant enough he'll see why-that shadow of hers very briefly gained a set of glowing purple eyes with which to scowl with.

Just briefly though.] Ah~ Good ones, I hope? [She seems...so excited about that...]

[tacosgay]

Of course.

[He has no idea. Probably not. But he doesn't let on that he feels that way in his tone or expression; better to stay polite with her, especially given she's been alright to him so far, once she got off her high horse about cheating.

He does, however, see that... odd moment; he doesn't know what to make of it so far, but he does definitely file that away to worry about later.

Sort of.]

So, uh... the whole demon thing. How's that working out for you? I mean... those things usually come with a catch, right?

[insidescoop]

Mnnn, it did, actually... ...Technically, when we lost against the 'Signers', I was supposed to just be banished to the netherworld with Aslla Piscu... [The demon, no doubt,] ...That was where I found the Carnival from-but apparently, the one leading the Signers was going to bring me back anyway?

...So I'd be pulled out of the contract... ...Of course, that means Aslla Piscu is still here, but the Ringmaster said she'll just destroy him entirely if he tries anything! ...And at least when I go home, he'll just be sealed in the ground for another 5000 years...

[Even More Questions are being raised-]

[tacosgay]

... mmm-hm, I see.

[Taako is... processing all this. It's complex stuff, but he thinks he's kinda got the gist of it.]

... so this, uh, Aslla Piscu fella, he's here with you?

[insidescoop]

Ahhhhh....

[Well. She looks down to the shadow for that bit.]

Ugh. Present, if I must...

...Yep.

[tacosgay]

Whoa, okay, yeowza, I was not expecting him to answer for himself. Uhh. Hail and well met?

[fortuneglass]

Well, at least someone here has manners...

Don't be rude... [Ahem, anyway.] He normally stays quiet-sometimes he's helpful, but a lot of the times he's just a grouch...

[tacosgay]

Yeah, sounds like my associates back home. I'm just glad we're not literally, uh, attached to each other like that.

[insidescoop]

Mnn, that's probably for the best... ...It used to be worse though-until a while ago, he was just stuck in my head. I think being able to talk to other people has been better for him.

'He' is right here.

See?

[tacosgay]

Uhhh... yeah, I fuckin' bet that was weird. I mean, this is pretty weird, what's going on right now, and it's still less weird than that, I guess.

... uh, should I be talking to... both of you, or what...?

[insidescoop]

Ummmm...

If you want?

...Most people ignore him.

[tacosgay]

Yeah, uh... I'm gonna be honest, this is pretty fuckin' weird. I think I'm just gonna stick to talking to you, 'cause I don't know that guy, frankly.

[insidescoop]

"Then you're just doing what's normal~!" Carly no.

"....He's kind of creepy anyway, so it's probably for the best."

[tacosgay]

Good point.

So, anyways, where's this thing you're taking me to see, huh? It's not gonna kill us, is it? 'Cause I don't know how death works here, and I'm not exactly eager to find out.

[fortuneglass]

Definitely not..!!

...People die when they are killed, that's not going to change... [Goodness...]

And it's just over there-see that tall thing? The swings are hanging from it~

[tacosgay]

Yeah, see, that's not how it's worked in my personal experience, so pardon me if I'm a little hesitant to believe that.

[Oh. Shit. That looks a little terrifying. But at least he's got Feather Fall if he does manage to fall out of it...]

Errr... right, yeah, that thing. That is for sure a thing that I wanna entrust my soft, beautiful body to. Looks great, let's go.

[insidescoop]

Seriously..? [Ah.] ...though I guess I'm sort of dead right now... [This is bringing a lot of questions to mind now. Anyway.]

Right! Just over here and... [And soon they'll be around the other stands enough to see the ground level of the ride. The hanging swings, safety harnesses in place, a cinder spirit attending.] Ta-daaah~ Ah, I need to get admission... [She'll just dig around a small waist pouch for that...]

[tacosgay]

So it's not just us then, huh. Yeah, see, death has a weird habit of not actually working on me, or my companions, but it's still pretty garbage, so I'd really rather avoid it if at all possible, know what I mean?

[He's never actually enjoyed any of his many deaths, or even really found them anything short of horrifying and painful.

He quietly looks the machine over, mistrust very clearly written across his features.]

[insidescoop]

Two for the swings~ [Carly says cheerfully, before waving for Taako to follow.] That's..definitely really weird though..And probably not something to test! At least not unless you set something up with the Ring Master first.

Anyway... [She sets up Swing One for herself.] It's pretty easy to get in this thing-and it doesn't go that fast too~ So it's really safe!

[tacosgay]

Oh, definitely. Trust me, I have no intention of testing whether or not that trend continues here.

... wait, is that a thing she can do?

[He seems a little too distracted by that for a second, forgetting to fully climb into his own swing.]

[insidescoop]

Mmm, sort of... [She pauses, pointing to the seat itself.] Make sure that clicks, by the way..!

But what the Ring Master does is sort of...make a back up? She does something to keep you from 'passing on' if you die, so that she can bring you back. It's why you can't ask for someone to come back from the dead on a contract..!