Public Channel | forward dated to S2:D9, Morning

[genice]

Victor Nikiforov, new showman here. I have a question for anyone who has a few minutes to talk!

( There's a smile in his voice; entirely deliberate, and entirely gone once he gets to his question. )

What things do you wish you'd been told about or known from early on once you started working here?

Comments

[kingsroads]

Not the competition, just the action. I've seen people figure skating before, though I'm rubbish at it myself.

We do have a lake that I can attempt to freeze over, if you wish. Rain's more my specialty than cold when it comes to weather magic, but I'm sure I can have it work.

[genice]

( he can't help but sound genuinely happy at the idea. he doesn't need the smoothest ice for that, but at least getting some ice training and skating in would be wonderful )

If you're willing to try when there aren't more pressing obligations...! Is there anything you'd ask for in return?

[kingsroads]

A decent show?

[ although, there is something in mind. ]

If you're from a time close to Wismuth's, I might have a request for you.

[genice]

( a muffled snort. )

Oh, I'm sure I'll manage that much. Wismuth at least seems similar to what I'd expect from cities in... my time. ( this is the new normal, isn't it. ) What did you have in mind?

[kingsroads]

I'd love a recommendation for any candy, sodas, or energy drinks you like. With actual sugar, of course, none of those disgusting sugar free things that masquerade as actual sweets.

[ this is a 100% serious request. However, there's a bit of a smile in Strange's tone of voice to tell Victor that yeah, he knows this request is a bit silly. ]

[genice]

( Victor pauses, then laughs outright, genuinely amused. )

It would be easiest to simply go shopping together; there's more you'll learn in reading ingredients than my recommendations might hold on a world that doesn't have the same store brands. Sugar comes in a whole variety of forms, but my guess is you mean something with cane sugar or honey? What are your feelings on chocolate? Hard candies, or soft candies? Do you enjoy caffeine or do you prefer just the sugar rush? Have you ever had a drink with a glass ball inside the bottle?

( Okay while he will suggest Pocari Sweat for various reasons at the end (not related to sweetness, but really), he's also curious if anyone's had something like Ramune here at the carnival. )

Pear soda is nice, both light and sweet, but most of it depends on reading over what you see, or consulting the local web for relevant results.

[kingsroads]

I believe so, I like chocolate but I haven't had too much of it, soft candies, I enjoy caffeine, and no I haven't! Is there something special about the glass ball itself? Can you get it out of the bottle?

[ Mr. 1810s over here is a complete neophyte to a lot of garbage food and desperately wants to learn more about said garbage food. ]

[genice]

( Meanwhile Victor's the competitive athlete that shouldn't be eating any of it but definitely got super curious while in Japan and has been having a Time Of Things between that and his favourites while growing up in Russia. )

Dark chocolate tends to be a little more bitter, but I prefer it these days. Milk chocolate is what it sounds like, sweetened with cow's milk in one form or another. Have you had taffies? Licorice? Caffeinated beverages keeps more options open, hm. Hahaha, the ball isn't special so much as a feature, but it makes it enjoyable when you open the drink by popping the glass ball down into the neck of the bottle itself. Enjoyably clever! Getting it out would require breaking the bottle, but after drinking the contents, there's no real reason not to if you're inclined to try.

( Strange is an adult, he can make his own decisions. )

About how much time do we have between performances and when the Ringmaster heads the carnival toward its next location?

[kingsroads]

[ Strange is an adult who is 100% going to break that Ramune bottle on something just to get the dumb marble. ]

It wouldn't surprise me if we have a few days after performances to explore Wismuth. The Ringmaster usually gives us a week or so before performances for that purpose. The only reason we've had a few days this go around is because the carnival just got off of a vacation.

And I have had taffies and licorice, but not in a while for either of them. I don't want anything citrus or acidic, by the way, and I loathe pineapple and pineapple flavors.

[genice]

Easy enough to avoid! ( And it makes sense, considering the dislike of anything acidic; citrus and pineapple certainly fall in that category. Better to avoid most things flavoured after green apples, too. )

If you wanted, and we do get time after performances to take a trip to the local markets, I can help pick out things in person. Otherwise I can write up a list of names I remember and wish you luck in the searching on your own. Wismuth is a large enough city they should have a few stores dedicated to candy alone, and some of those tend to carry special flavours of soft drinks, though you'd have luck at both large markets and the specialty grocers in getting a wider variety... unless you want bulk? Bulk is a different shopping experience.

( Usually. Sales change that too. This is a wonderfully normal thing to focus on, Strange, thank you!?? )

[kingsroads]

[ stores dedicated to candy alone = he has died and gone to heaven. ]

I am a big fan of company. The more the merrier! After performances are finished, we'll plan this shopping trip.

[genice]

Wonderful! We'll figure out details then, of course. Is there any way you can get in touch with my radio specifically?

( Flipping through channels hasn't really given him the clue-in that choosing a particular one is essentially how this happens.

Look, he has a phone, things work differently than he's used to here )

[kingsroads]

As a matter of fact, there is. You pick a channel number and then you can use it for private communications.

[ and then Strange gives a fairly decent ic explanation of how exactly to do that which I am oocly bullshitting because I'm mobile tagging atm ]

[genice]

( Victor makes all the appropriate noises of someone listening, before he abruptly disappears for a few seconds testing out this new knowledge. When he's back on the public channel again, he listens for a beat to make sure he's not talking over anyone in particular, then chirps a happy; )

Thank you, that makes so much sense! I'd never worked with handheld radios like this before, it's a bit different than cellular phones. What's your chosen channel number?

[kingsroads]

My frequency is channel number 875.45277. I try to have the radio on me at all times, but if I don't, give me a minute or so and I'll have it ready.

[genice]

( A slightly delay as he taps the number sequence into his phone, but he comes back on to say: )

Got it, and thank you again, Mr. Strange. I'll radio after our performance week ends.