Day 64, Public Channel

[whattaprick]

[ After the Ringmaster's finished kicking everyone out and the tent arrangements are more or less settled... ]

So, I'm up. [ Short and to the point. ] Heard people were yelling at my nightrunners. You wanna yell about it some more, you can come yell at me.

[ That's it, that's the post. ]

Comments

[atouts]

[ And Celandine will have found Childermass occasionally reaching down to brush the top of her head with a fingertip before she dashes off again. Not every time she darts close, only here and there, when his hands aren't busy. ]

Hm. Still A bit pointless after the fact, if you ask me. [ Picking the scab off the conversation, so to speak, he's not really sure it'll do any good. ] And this thing...

[ He's turning his attention back to the tent itself, trying to force the last of the poles into place. Currently, it looks like it'll stand, but it's definitely a little misshapen. ]

I think it needs stakes to hold it down. Do you see any around?

[whattaprick]

[ Pointless or not, Celandine won't argue the point. She'll focus on helping Childermass instead, perking up as her tail swishes. ]

Oh! I saw some over there!

[ She skitters over to where a bunch of stakes have been rolled together in a cloth bundle -- probably to keep them together for this exact purpose -- and starts dragging it over to Childermass with her teeth. She's had enough practice at this sort of manipulation with Lambert that it's an easy enough job. ]

Hm. Borrowing my soul for labor, are you? I hope you plan on paying me back.

[atouts]

[ Childermass will leave it to her, only leaning down to retrieve the stakes once they're near enough. This earns Celandine another scratch behind a weasel-y little ear and a, ]

Thank you. [ As for Lambert, guess what, he's still talking to Celandine. ] I'll see if I can pocket a few treats from the kitchen campfire for you later.

[ That's right, he's paying back the soul directly, not Lambert. ]

[whattaprick]

[ The polecat chirrups at the touch, and Lambert's tail thumps against the ground behind him as the contact instantly makes him feel weak in the knees. Luckily, he's sitting ]

Stop spoiling her. You know she doesn't even need to eat. [ If that comes out a little whiny, well, he'll whine about his soul getting more attention than he is as much as he wants. Even if they're the same person. He certainly doesn't think he's getting ear scratches in public. ]

[atouts]

[ To which Childermass can only give a snort of amusement. ]

You can't possibly be jealous of yourself.

[ Though he's right. Chances are slim he'd ever give Lambert scritches in public. That just isn't something you do to actual people, but with small, fluffy animals? That's normal, that's acceptable. Regardless, he'll stop if only to open up the pack of stakes and start getting the tent nailed down into the earth. ]

in which i timeskip all the drama

[whattaprick]

He’s jealous you’re not doing it to him right now. [ Celandine says smugly, to Lambert’s sputtering (ineffectual) protest.

With Childermass bending to work, Lambert will continue to idly chatter on the radio. It’s evident, at some point, that things get heated — mostly Peridot’s gremlin screeching over the line. Lambert snaps a few times too, but it’s less yelling than one might normally expect, just snarls and his tail lashing against the dirt. Celandine is much less circumspect. She abandons Childermass to hiss and pace around Lambert, fur bristling, until he reaches out to smooth it down in a vain attempt to soothe himself. ]

[atouts]

Maybe later.

[ Is all either of them are getting before he sets about getting the rest of the tent staked down and set up. As tempting as it is to intervene and take the damn radio away from Lambert, he won't. He's right that he would just find another way to yell back at people over the channel...

Only sooner than later he'll be done with the tent and turning back to frown at Lambert and Celandine both. ]

Just what are you making worse over there?

[ Wow, he's so supportive, isn't he. ]

[whattaprick]

The Foreman thinks I should resign for not being able to do my job.

[ Lambert, obviously, disagrees. He sets his radio down on the floor, done for now. ]

Think my people need protecting from me, too.

[atouts]

The Foreman oversees ride operators and floor moppers. That's hardly the expertise needed to make that call.

[ Not that the carnival doesn't need those jobs but come on.

And he's moving on to grabbing random items snagged from the pile of camping gear and tossing them into the open tent now. Sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, things? Other things. He doesn't know what all of them are, to be honest. ]

[whattaprick]

I’m surprised the Ringmaster didn’t.

[ Lambert doesn’t stir his ass when Childermass starts pitching things into the tent, but Celandine will help in her own way— setting teeth to tug cushions closer to Childermass’s hand, then darting inside to fuss them into something cozier. ]

I asked her if I should step down, after the Manor.

[atouts]

[ It doesn't take terribly long to get everything stowed. Neither of them packs for much, so now it's just leaving Celandine to her fussing as he turns and idly leans on one of the tent poles. It holds... for now. ]

After the Manor? But you didn't do anything against her wishes there.

[whattaprick]

No, but I was half-rock at the time, and my grand plan consisted of setting a table on fire and picking a fight.

[ He shrugs, idly drawing a claw through the soil. He supposes he never actually mentioned this to Childermass, if only because it was shut down so quickly. ]

Felt like someone else could do the job better.

[atouts]

[ Yeah, that earns a scoff. ]

Oh please, the only other reliable option would be Syrlya and I'm certain he wouldn't even want the job.

[whattaprick]

[ Lambert shrugs. ]

If I hadn't asked for time to think about it, I think the Ringmaster would have made me Nightrider right after Hell.

[ Yeah, yeah, Lambert asking for any time to think about things. Laugh it up. ]

[atouts]

[ Childermass pauses, quiet a moment as he looks into the tent to check on how Celandine is doing, what she's up to, then, satisfied she isn't about to start shredding the blankets, he'll turn to walk over and take a seat on the ground next to Lambert. ]

Do you want to step down?

[ It's a valid question. Demanding it of Lambert is just like telling him what to do, which the witcher undoubtedly hates. Asking what his own thoughts are, however... ]

[whattaprick]

[ Celandine, as it turns out, is simply curled up on the cushions, all her attention on watching Childermass. Even if Lambert isn't looking at the magician right now, she at least clearly betrays where his attention is at. ]

Now? No, I don't. [ He says, simply. And ... that's it. He doesn't offer any reasoning or attempt to justify it, but he's unmistakably tense, like he's expecting some kind of reaction to that. ]

[atouts]

[ Childermass gives it a moment of silence, waiting to see if Lambert will say anything else. When that doesn't happen, he looks back towards the tent and holds out a hand towards the staring polecat. ]

Well, that's all that matters then, isn't it, Celandine?

[whattaprick]

[ Is it really that simple? Is Childermass content to leave it at that? The shared doubt makes Celandine visibly hesitate, head lifted and nose twitching, like she's not sure if she can take what's being offered ... even if she desperately wants to trust in it. ]

What do you think? [ She finally asks for them both, quietly. ]

[atouts]

[ Perhaps Childermass is missing something deeper here, but... ]

I think if Lambert wants to keep doing his job, then he will, same as he ever has. [ The Ignatius thing is admittedly leaving a lot of people sour to the idea but it's done. They can't take it back. ] Or was I supposed to disagree with it?

[whattaprick]

[ As Childermass speaks, Celandine uncurls herself and creeps closer to that extended hand, slowly, like she's still worried it'll be pulled away even if Childermass clearly isn't about to. Lambert is studiously looking away, like he can pretend his daemon isn't voicing the fears he can't bring himself to say. ]

Not about that. [ She says, finally, stopping a fingerspan from Childermass's hand, tail, drooping. ]

About ... everything. Are you... [ She pauses, searching for the words. ] Did we disappoint you?

[atouts]

Ah. That. [ Well, he can't really bring himself to lie to them, not that he tends to do much of that anyway. ] You worried me.

[ Though he doesn't move his outstretched hand. ]

It was a reckless plan. You got hurt, you've angered the Ringmaster. I would have much preferred you to return safely... but that's a part of the job, isn't it? [ And it's with a sigh that he'll add, quietly, ] There's no guarantee.

[whattaprick]

[ Celandine and Lambert cringe together as Childermass lists off his sins, but after a moment, the polecat will look up. ]

No, there isn't. [ Lambert says, just as quietly. Close as he is to Childermass, he makes a tentative move to lean against him, only to get caught up by the pain lancing through his side and he has to stop, wincing. ]

But you're still here. [ Celandine will finish for them both. She finally closes the distance the rest of the way and pushes herself against Childermass's hand, leaning her spine against the side of his palm to invite him to run his hand along her back. ]

[atouts]

[ Which he does do, running his fingers gently along her fur. It's difficult to think of Celadine as a walking, talking soul even if that's what she is, though that fault no doubt lies with not growing up in a world with such creatures. ]

I am. [ Both literally and in the sense that he isn't so mad as to abandon them to their own devices. ] For longer than I may have anticipated... [ At that point, he looks back up towards Lambert. ] Whereas you, you may not be. The Ringmaster may not be inclined to demote you and kick you out but she also isn't obligated to offer you a second contract.

[whattaprick]

[ As one, Lambert and Celandine jerk away from Childermass, breaking the contact they'd only begin to lean into. The witcher winces again, at the pain that leaves lancing down his side, and frowns. ]

What? [ He snaps, whatever hesitant mood he'd borne before now lost at this new thorny topic introduced to the conversation. ] How do you figure that?

[atouts]

[ That he'd react that poorly to it... Well, Childermass did have to bring this back up again. He'll look back to the daemon again, leaving his hand out a moment longer, as if hoping Celandine will return, but when she doesn't, he'll straight up and pull it back, settling it on a knee instead. ]

It's pointless to replace you when you both still have obligations to fulfill, on top of there not really being anyone else to do the job. However, she doesn't have to reward you with another favor if she's still angry with you by then. [ Which leaves him glancing towards Lambert once more. ] You two won't be able to avoid one another forever.