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

[tacosgay]

Oooh, why thank you!

[Oh, no, you've found the way to his heart-- flattery. He grins at her, swinging his Umbra Staff on his finger with a flourish before hanging it at his back.]

Nope. I was just getting to know the, errr, natives, I guess. Or the other guests. Whatever.

Er... I'm sorry, darling, I don't think I ever caught your name? I'm Taako.

[fortuneglass]

[Flattery Works Wonders.] Oh, I see!

A lot of the people here are pretty welcoming, so that's good to hear! [A lot of them are not being welcoming Carly.]

Carly Nagisa! It's nice to meet you, Taako!

[tacosgay]

Eeeeehhhhhhmmmmmm... yeah, not in my experience, but hey, at least that's true in your case.

Carly? That's... actually kind of adorable. Charmed, I'm sure.

[He offers her his arm, grinning at her.]

Shall we?

[insidescoop]

[Oh, charmed indeed! She's quite eagerly taking that arm, a grin of her own in turn.] Of course~! The swings aren't far from here-they're one of the big rides, so they're pretty close to the yard!

[tacosgay]

Cool deal. Let's get going.

[He heads off towards the swings, delighted to've found something to do besides sit in his trailer and be upset, or go and actually do work.]

... so, hey, uh, Carly. Can I ask you something? Uh, just how much of... this... birdness and all is you, and how much is this place? I mean... unless that's all you, in which case, hey.

[fortuneglass]

Right!

[Walking might be somewhat odd initially, but once she's got her hover back to a proper clip, it's pretty smooth sailing. She almost has to pause to the question however, and after a brief hum-] Hmmnn...well, my eyes are because of Aslla Piscu...and being undead is his fault too... [Way to throw that on a guy, Carly, it's not like normal people listen for a heart beat-]

Everything else is from here though! I'm human!

[..................well that's a lot.]

[tacosgay]

Uh... okay. Listen. I suddenly have a whole lot more questions than I did before.

[He stares at her with just... slightly wider eyes, eyebrows lifted.]

So, uh, you're undead, huh?

[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.