AgujaCabra (9:59 PM): The trolley stop is located a few short blocks from the park; a black metal and glass box, open on the side facing the street, provides a simple bench and shelter from the weather. The street is just slightly damp from being washed earlier in the night, and a small plume of soap dust hangs in the gutter. Glass buildings rise up on either side of the street, and stark, metal lamp posts casts a cool light on the pavement..
AgujaCabra (10:00 PM): [shall we let the trolley come, or do we want any interaction between now and then? ]
NerwenGreen (10:01 PM): Ryan saunters over to the stop and stands next to it. Thomas follows and goes to look at the trolley schedule and map with idle curiosity.
NerwenGreen (10:02 PM): [not unless chauncey has anything to say ]
AgujaCabra (10:05 PM): Chauncey runs his fingers lightly down the side of a lamp post, taking a few small steps round it, and holding his other palm up towards the light.. letting the pale, yellowish luminance filter through his hand and fingers a moment, before lowing his hand back to his side.. humming quietly, as he waits for the transport.

About 15 minutes later, an old fashioned trolley car, painted a dark green with black and red trim, comes rattling up along the road.. pulling to a stop on the street corner. Chauncey
AgujaCabra (10:05 PM): goes over to get on board.
NerwenGreen (10:06 PM): Ryan and Thomas get in line behind him to get on.
AgujaCabra (10:08 PM): There are few passengers on the trolley at this hour.. an older woman shoots Chauncey an ugly stare as he moves past her, and he returns the look with a very slight smile.. waving at the woman delicately with his fingertips, as he takes a seat across the aisle. After everyone gets on board, the trolley starts off.
AgujaCabra (10:09 PM): [meh. Chauncey dropped a couple coins into the little payment box at the front. I think trolleys should be free :p ]
NerwenGreen (10:09 PM): Ryan and Thomas settle into seats near Chauncey, across from each other. [And they paid on the way in too. :p]
AgujaCabra (10:16 PM): The trolley rattles down Windham St., passing tall, nondescript buildings, and an assortment of small businesses; some of them lit up for the night. The woman exits near a large, classic theatre hall.. which appears to be closing for the evening, as traffic backs up in the parking lot. . Beside the river, the trolley makes a stop at an old train station: vibrant, green and blue lights glinting off box cars, converted years ago into kitch restaurants and shops. Music from a saloon drifts down from the second
AgujaCabra (10:17 PM): story, and pedestrians still wander underneath the balconies and through the varied shops, even at this late hour.
AgujaCabra (10:17 PM): [oy. scenery of doom... I figure this is a good way to get acquainted with the city sites.. ]
AgujaCabra (10:19 PM): [anything between your guys, or should I just take you to the carnival ;p ? ]
NerwenGreen (10:20 PM): Thomas looks casually out the window as the trolley passes various locales, openly curious about the city. Ryan, who has likely seen some of this during the day, doesn't rubberneck quite as obviously. He glances at Chauncey occasionally.
NerwenGreen (10:20 PM): [can't think of a thing to say! :p]
AgujaCabra (10:21 PM): [that's fine :p I just didn't want to take ya'll along for a ride, without letting people talk if they wanted to]
NerwenGreen (10:21 PM): [hehe we're fine then ]
AgujaCabra (10:23 PM): A couple tourists climb on to the trolley as it stops, and sit down towards the back of the transport. It continues on with a slight jolt, and crosses the bridge over to Apache.. As the trolley pulls to a stop, quiet carnival music can be heard drifting in on the air. Lighting up the night sky, a slowly turning Ferris wheel glitters with tiny white and blue lights..
NerwenGreen (10:26 PM): Thomas sits up expectantly as the trolley approaches the carnival. Ryan reaches up to the pull the signal for the trolley to stop, then stands up as it brakes.
NerwenGreen (10:26 PM): [oops .. delete the extra the]
AgujaCabra (10:27 PM): [heh. I didn't notice until you mentioned it :p ]
NerwenGreen (10:27 PM): [doh]
AgujaCabra (10:29 PM): Keeping Miyu tucked back gently into the crook of his arm and a bit of his loose clothing, Chauncey gets up as well as the trolley brakes. Flashing a short smile at Ryan, he hops down onto the sidewalk, and begins to head towards the lights.
NerwenGreen (10:30 PM): Ryan grins back as he follows Chauncey off the trolley. Thomas follows Ryan.
AgujaCabra (10:34 PM): The entrance to the carnival is guarded by a series of simple ticket booths, and a large wooden sign hanging precariously overhead. It reads, in neat, hand-painted letters 'Nightshade's Midnight Carnival', and the paint glistens a dull red in the light. Chauncey fishes in a pocket for some money to purchase tickets, and hands one to Thomas and Ryan before trotting through the turnstile gate.
AgujaCabra (10:34 PM): [meh. sucky me. ]
NerwenGreen (10:34 PM): [did he just buy tickets for Thomas and Ryan?]
AgujaCabra (10:34 PM): [yes]
AgujaCabra (10:36 PM): [okay. time for me to get back into the character of Chauncey.. it's hard to do all new scenery while trying to play a character too :p As soon as I set up the carnival, I'll focus more on him again.. ]
NerwenGreen (10:36 PM): Thomas looks a bit startled as Chauncey hands him his ticket, then smiles warmly and says "Thank you" as he accepts. Ryan grins again as he receives his ticket and echoes "thanks" as well. They follow him into the carnival.
NerwenGreen (10:36 PM): [okay ]
AgujaCabra (10:43 PM): Chauncey giggles quietly at Thomas and Ryan, as he gently lifts Miyu back onto his shoulder to ride. . once inside, he begins to look expectantly about the front of the carnival.. his eyes bright like a little kid, soaking in the sites. To the left is a thriving midway: prize games and party music create a steady drone of frenzied, teenage activity and laughter, while before you stretch an array of whirling rides, and curious funhouses. A black octopus ride pivots at a dangerous angle; twirling its
AgujaCabra (10:44 PM): passengerns nearly upside down, before righting itself and whirling the other way. The ferris wheel crowns the right hand corner of the park.. and site almost on the river itself.
AgujaCabra (10:44 PM): [oops. 'sits' not 'site']
AgujaCabra (10:46 PM): [I suck tonight. wow. ack. you take over]
NerwenGreen (10:47 PM): Thomas smiles slightly to himself as he watches Chauncey's excitement. He looks about curiously at the different rides and allows Ryan and Chauncey to lead the way. Ryan glances at Thomas, then walks over to stand beside Chauncey. Smiling broadly, he says "So what shall we do first? We're both new here."
AgujaCabra (10:49 PM): [hey. I want to larp this carnival at a real one... that'd be a heck of a lot more fun :p ]
NerwenGreen (10:49 PM): [hahaha]
NerwenGreen (10:50 PM): [hmm... maybe we could do that if I do get the job .. I'll probably play Ryan rather than Thomas for it]
AgujaCabra (10:55 PM): Reaching up to lightly skritch at Miyu's ear, Chauncey looks over to Ryan for a brief moment.. considering his comment, before grinning again merrily, and responding, ".. half of the fun is discovering what is here.. I have not been in months, and things have changed again... " Starting to walk off slowly towards the rides, he gestures lightly for Ryan and Thomas to follow along, turning back to look them over, and walking backwards a few steps while he waits for them.
AgujaCabra (10:55 PM): [whoo! I do not know if I could play Chauncey :p ]
AgujaCabra (10:56 PM): [we'd have to find a carnival, too.. hm. ]
NerwenGreen (10:56 PM): Ryan falls into step beside Chauncey, on his left and Thomas follows slightly behind the other two, on Chauncey's right.
NerwenGreen (10:56 PM): [we could just go to disneyworld ]
AgujaCabra (10:57 PM): [gah.. totally different thing :p]
AgujaCabra (10:57 PM): [Busch Gardens has a midway.. :p ]
NerwenGreen (10:57 PM): [hehehe]
AgujaCabra (11:02 PM): Chauncey tilts his head slightly at a carousel with richly painted, large wooden horses and lions.. Then dances over towards a haunted house.. peering up at the ghostly facade, and sleek black cars as they pass behind an upstairs window. Moving back into the park a bit, you can now see a red, warmly illuminated tent flanked by animal cages and a few sideshow boxcars. It hovers over the ground; almost gelatinous and unnatural in this small corner of the park. A sword swallower with decorated, bright blue
AgujaCabra (11:02 PM): skin entertains passerbys outside.
AgujaCabra (11:03 PM): [holy cripes. too much detail in a carnival... :;goes on overload.::]
NerwenGreen (11:03 PM): [it's good, I like it ]
AgujaCabra (11:03 PM): [I'm hoping some stuff will happen here too :p not just scenery]
NerwenGreen (11:06 PM): Ryan looks around at everything with a big grin on his face, then peers more closely at the haunted house that has caught Chauncey's attention. "Want to go in here?" he asks. Thomas follows the two of them, moving just a bit more hesitantly than usual. He looks over the haunted house as well, a little warily.
AgujaCabra (11:10 PM): Chauncey nods slightly, and takes a few more steps over to the haunted house; waving to the ride attendant with the ends of his fingers, as he gets up on the steps to wait for a car. ".. do you suppose that it is haunted?" he questions absently, looking both to Ryan and the attendant. The attendant, who has been made up to look like a dead bellhop, smiles darkly without saying anything.
NerwenGreen (11:12 PM): Ryan, following Chauncey up the steps, grins easily at the question and replies, "I suppose we're going to find that out, aren't we?" Thomas brings up the rear after a moment, standing silently.
AgujaCabra (11:16 PM): Noticing the cat, the attendant's placid expression falters slightly, and he takes a small step back from Chauncey; cracking his knuckles, as he pushes a button to open the gate. Several passengers exit the cars, and jump down from the ride onto the grass.
AgujaCabra (11:17 PM): [aw. Thomas.. lighten up :p ]
NerwenGreen (11:21 PM): Ryan waits for Chauncey to enter a car, then looks back over at Thomas. Smiling with just a slightest hint of sympathy, he gestures toward the middle spot. "After you," he says, sketching a bit of a bow. Thomas looks over at Ryan and his expression softens slowly into a small smile. He climbs into the car and settles down next to Chauncey as Ryan follows to take the other 'window' seat.
NerwenGreen (11:21 PM): [Thomas just isn't that fond of crowds :p]
NerwenGreen (11:22 PM): [or carnival rides for that matter ]
AgujaCabra (11:22 PM): [aww... heh. just a sec.. munching pizza]
NerwenGreen (11:22 PM): [he's a backwoods gangrel durnit! ]
AgujaCabra (11:23 PM): [^.^ meh to him ]
NerwenGreen (11:23 PM): [hehehe]
AgujaCabra (11:29 PM): A couple additional passengers pile into the third car, before the ride begins to move towards a set of foreboding, double doors. A soft strobe light kicks on overhead as the doors creak open, and the cars rattle into the building. Chauncey rests a his hands on the rail.. drumming his fingertips lightly, as he looks around. The haunted ride is fairly elaborate for its genre, and the brick work inside seems almost clammy to the eye.. Torture victims moan from shackles on the walls, as bloated rats peek up
AgujaCabra (11:30 PM): from the shallow water underneath the car. Chauncey points lightly at one of the characters, and a few cockroaches scatter over his face and fly towards the car..
NerwenGreen (11:30 PM): [huh?]
NerwenGreen (11:31 PM): [cockroaches from who's face?]
AgujaCabra (11:31 PM): [these are robots.. not actors. Oh. one of the tortured people.. they came out from the wall.. went over him, and are flying at us :p ]
AgujaCabra (11:32 PM): [does that make sense?]
AgujaCabra (11:33 PM): [if not, I will just delete it and pretend it didn't happen :p ]
NerwenGreen (11:35 PM): "Hey!" Ryan protests, with a note of amusement in his voice, as he quickly pulls out a gadget and begins pushing buttons on it. A gust of wind originating from the other side of the car scatters the cockroaches back toward the wall. [rolled 3 successes - so, stronger wind this time ]
AgujaCabra (11:35 PM): [we can totally fast-forward through some of these rides. I figured Chauncey might play with bugs in here .. :p ]
AgujaCabra (11:40 PM): Chauncey giggles quietly, and rests his chin on the bar as the cars continue on. They pass through a series of rooms with flickering lighting and ghostly apparitions. In front of a wide staircase, the car stops abruptly, and a greenish fog jets out of the wall.. obscuring the stairwell. A fanged creature descends towards the car from an open ceiling panel; reaching towards you, as the car begins to move up the stairs.. Chauncey giggles at this as well, and tries to touch the figure's cape as the car moves
AgujaCabra (11:40 PM): past.
AgujaCabra (11:42 PM): [oy. you get to make a ride next!]
NerwenGreen (11:47 PM): Thomas is silent and still for the most part, as he looks at the passing automatons a little uneasily. Ryan starts and ducks at various parts, laughing.
AgujaCabra (11:48 PM): [will you make a ride? ;p ]
NerwenGreen (11:48 PM): [heh I guess I could ]
AgujaCabra (11:53 PM): The second floor is similar to the first, but the scenery [a haunted parlor room] has a slightly decayed essence about it.. floorboards creak and groan.. threatening to break under the car as it passes, and sections of the floor are missing altogether.. where you can see down bellow to what had come before. When the car comes to another sudden stop, the floor in front begins to shake violently.. the boards almost cracking outwards as something tried to get through. As the trap door breaks open,
AgujaCabra (11:55 PM): the track is revealed to curve downwards in a sharp incline.. through a rotating series of ominous, fiery circles... The car eases forward.. and plunges down the track ^.^ . Chauncey ducks his head down into the car.. white-knuckling the hand rail.
AgujaCabra (11:55 PM): [Miyu has retreated to the bottom of the car, instead of Chauncey's shoulder :p ]
AgujaCabra (12:00 AM): Oh. after escaping the descent into hell, the car slows to a stop outside again. [you can add any detail you like. this is the end of the ride ^^]
NerwenGreen (12:00 AM): Thomas and Ryan both eye the floor nervously as they go over it, though Ryan is still smiling. When they get to the spiral, they both look rather alarmed as they all grab onto the handrail.
NerwenGreen (12:01 AM): As they get off the ride, Thomas raises an eyebrow at Ryan and comments "That was .. interesting." Ryan grins sardonically back at him and replies with a slight chuckle, "Glad you enjoyed it." He begins looking around again for another interesting ride.
NerwenGreen (12:04 AM): [is Chauncey going to comment before I find us another ride? ]
AgujaCabra (12:04 AM): Chauncey scoops the cat out of the car, and hops down lightly from the ride.. looking around as well, and murmuring quietly into Miyu's alert little ears.
AgujaCabra (12:04 AM): [that's all :p ]
NerwenGreen (12:06 AM): Ryan begins to wander toward the other fun houses, browsing them casually. After a moment, he glances at the other two and heads for the mirror maze. Thomas glances at Chauncey and the cat as well, then goes to join Ryan, studying the new attraction with interest.
AgujaCabra (12:08 AM): Chauncey scampers along after the other two.. peering at the maze curiously, and lightly nudging the cat to look as well. Miyu seems supremely disinterested, and attempts to scramble down out of Chauncey's grip. She succeeds in freeing herself, and minces along quickly by his side.
NerwenGreen (12:14 AM): The maze is a two-story attraction painted in bright pink. The first floor is brightly lit and from the outside can be seen many large panels of glass - half of them are mirrors and half are transparent. A few people are wandering around inside in tight circles, occasionally bumping up against one of the transparent panels. The entrance is to the left, and the exit to the right. The second floor is an open balcony like area where a few people have stopped to look out over the carnival.
NerwenGreen (12:15 AM): [You go in through the entrance, and try to find your way upstairs. Then from upstairs you can go directly to the exit.]
AgujaCabra (12:16 AM): [ack! I didn't see you type that . okay. back]
NerwenGreen (12:18 AM): [didn't see me type what?]
AgujaCabra (12:18 AM): Chauncey looks to Miyu before stepping into the maze behind Ryan and Thomas [if they do indeed go inside]. She mews to him irritably, and sits down outside the attraction.. blinking up at passerbys who occasionally stop to stare at the bizarre cat. Chauncey waves to himself in a mirror, trailing his fingers along the glass as he progresses in.
AgujaCabra (12:19 AM): [the whole long description :p I was waiting for it, and noticed you'd typed stuff about 2 minutes after it had come through :/ ]
NerwenGreen (12:19 AM): [ah .. hehe ]
NerwenGreen (12:20 AM): Thomas and Ryan go in and start wandering around in the maze.
NerwenGreen (12:20 AM): At the foot of the stairs (when they find it) are a number of warped mirrors - the kind that make you look taller and thinner, shorter and fatter, etc.
AgujaCabra (12:20 AM): [hehe! how does obfuscate work with mirrors? ]
AgujaCabra (12:20 AM): [I guess it wouldn't :p ]
NerwenGreen (12:20 AM): [if they can't see you, they can't see you in the mirror either?]
AgujaCabra (12:21 AM): [but.. does the mirror pick up the reflection, thereby negating the obfuscate effects?]
NerwenGreen (12:22 AM): [The mirror picks up the reflection regardless of what the minds of the people affected by obfuscate see.]
AgujaCabra (12:22 AM): [I know I know.. but the people wouldn't see the reflection? ]
NerwenGreen (12:22 AM): [I wouldn't think they'd notice it any more than they'd notice the person who's making the reflection]
AgujaCabra (12:23 AM): [whee.. ]
AgujaCabra (12:26 AM): Chauncey dashes away from Ryan and Thomas.. heading deeper into the maze. Trying not to giggle out loud, he begins to stalk a group of humans navigating the mirrors.. lightly picking up bits of their hair, and standing in their way so that they collide with him in the maze. He pops back into site as this occurs, and they shriek at him.. backing off through the mirrors.
AgujaCabra (12:26 AM): [slight liberties with the people in your maze :p ]
NerwenGreen (12:27 AM): Thomas groans as he watches, trying to hide his amusement for a few minutes but eventually breaking into a chuckle. Ryan openly laughs delightedly.
AgujaCabra (12:29 AM): Grinning at them, Chauncey moves off towards the stairwell.. pausing to turn about in the funhouse mirrors, and admire his shifting reflection in the glass.
NerwenGreen (12:29 AM): Thomas and Ryan work their way through the maze. Ryan pulls out a gadget midway through and gets a devious look on his face for a moment, then reluctantly puts it away again.
AgujaCabra (12:33 AM): Chauncey hangs out by the goofy mirrors for a while, waving at other carnival-goers who come by, and generally making them uncomfortable. He places his palm next to one mirror, making the hole stretch out so that he could almost fit inside of it.
AgujaCabra (12:33 AM): [in the reflection, of course. yikes. :p not his actual hand]
NerwenGreen (12:35 AM): Eventually Thomas and Ryan make it over to join him. Thomas studies his image in each mirror methodically before moving over to the next one, turning a little in front of each and making noncommittal "hmm" noises. Ryan grins as he watches the other two play with the mirrors.
AgujaCabra (12:37 AM): After watching Thomas test the mirrors for a minute, Chauncey jets away from them up the stairs.. his feet clacking quietly on the steps.
AgujaCabra (12:37 AM): [is it just the balcony upstairs, or is there anything to play around with :p ? ]
NerwenGreen (12:40 AM): The balcony upstairs is a plain wide-open area with the floor painted the same pink as the outside. There are no furnishings. The rail is an elaborately-carved waist-high affair, painted white. It is only dimly lit with a couple ceiling lights mounted on a rail in the back. The balcony offers a decent view of the nearer parts of the carnival.
NerwenGreen (12:43 AM): After Thomas finishes looking at all of the mirrors, he and Ryan go upstairs. They both pause at the rail to look at the rest of the carnival. After a moment, Ryan looks at Thomas and grins. "Your turn to pick one," he says.
AgujaCabra (12:43 AM): Chauncey paces the length of the rail thoughtfully, pausing to prop his elbows lightly upon it for a few moments, and look out across the glittering park. He leans over to check if Miyu is still outside, and then heads for the exit after taking his fill of the still night air.
AgujaCabra (12:44 AM): [oops. Chauncey will stay up there a little longer, once they come up]
NerwenGreen (12:44 AM): [hehe okay ]

NerwenGreen (12:51 AM): Thomas glances over at Ryan when he makes the suggestion, then begins looking over the carnival offerings with renewed interest. After a few minutes, he points to the bumper cars. "That one might be interesting," he comments. Ryan looks over toward the bumper cars too and replies "Ooh! Yeah, let's do bumper cars." Smiling, he heads for the stairs and outside, Thomas following a beat later.

AgujaCabra (12:57 AM): Chauncey follows along amicably after Thomas heads down the stairs... tracing his hand down the rail, and leaning over half way to look at the people below. Miyu looks to him as he passes by her, and gets up to trot behind the group.. bypassing a teenager who tries to pet her in the process.

Hidden under a dark blue canopy that painted on the interior side with tiny, glittering glow-in-the-dark stars, a collection of shiny, brightly coloured bumper cars await additional passengers. They looks slightly
AgujaCabra (12:58 AM): heavier than the usual version, and have a classic, box-shaped quality that was popular in an earlier generation.. The smell of electricity hangs on the air, as a few stray sparks burn blue on the connection wires.
AgujaCabra (12:59 AM): [ack. *they look . not 'looks']
NerwenGreen (1:01 AM): Thomas eyes the ceiling sparks warily as they approach the bumper cars, looking a little uncertain. Ryan smiles at Thomas's reaction and remarks, "That's how the cars are able to move. It's perfectly normal and safe." Thomas nods after a moment.
AgujaCabra (1:04 AM): Chauncey steps into place behind Thomas and Ryan; waiting for the gate to open, and the riders to clear out. After a moment, a man pulls open the metal gate, and gestures the line inside.. A couple of young adults go in first, and pick out a blue and a red car, looking over the controls before settling in.
NerwenGreen (1:05 AM): Ryan immediately picks out a bright red car and settles himself into it. Thomas finds a darker blue car and, watching Ryan, figures out how to strap himself in as well.
AgujaCabra (1:09 AM): Chauncey makes his way over to a green car, and delicately pushes at the pedals on the floor.. He fastens himself in as well, after an uncertain pause.

A carnival worker pushes a button after everyone has found a car; unlocking the vehicles to roam about the rink. . A teenage boy guns it immediately, and sparks crackle on the ceiling as he starts to pick up speed.
NerwenGreen (1:11 AM): After a few seconds, Thomas figures out how to work the car and begins driving around the rink experimentally. Ryan immediately targets Thomas's car for his first bump, cackling evilly. He broadsides Thomas's car, then breaks away to chase after Chauncey. Thomas decides to pursue Chauncey as well and the two approach him from opposite sides ...
AgujaCabra (1:14 AM): Slowly acclimatizing himself to the vehicle, Chauncey watches as Ryan creams Thomas with a quiet smile.. He blinks at them curiously as the cars turn in his direction, and strategically pivots his own vehicle towards Ryan's .. pushing on the gas to jet in his direction.
AgujaCabra (1:15 AM): [anybody dodge :p ? do the cars all collide together in a big crash of metal?]
NerwenGreen (1:17 AM): Ryan and Thomas both run into Chauncey simultaneously, and the three cars drift for a moment in Ryan's direction [since that's where the momentum was]. Ryan groans in mock pain, then laughs.
NerwenGreen (1:18 AM): Thomas chuckles, a slight hint of deviousness in his own amusement. He turns to look at the other targets in the rink.
AgujaCabra (1:21 AM): Chauncey covers his ears at the loud crack of metal impacting metal.. casting a piteous glance at the other two, before starting driving his car away from the crash.

Elsewhere in the rink; the teenagers are having a go at one another.. two are somewhat stuck in a corner; trying to get their cars apart, while another lines up to crash into the hapless and unsuspecting victims.
AgujaCabra (1:21 AM): [starting to drive... geez]
NerwenGreen (1:21 AM): [these cars have rubber bumpers right? they wouldnt' crash metal directly on metal?]
AgujaCabra (1:21 AM): [you warm up as the game goes on, and my skills go downhill :p ]
AgujaCabra (1:22 AM): [It's not directly metal.. but it kind of still has that quality. they're heavier, older cars also]
NerwenGreen (1:22 AM): [ah, okay]
NerwenGreen (1:25 AM): Thomas tries to ram into each of the other drivers in the rink at least once while the ride lasts. Ryan chases after some of the other drivers as well for awhile. Eventually he turns his attention back to pursuing Chauncey, however.
AgujaCabra (1:29 AM): Chauncey spends most of his time in the rink being attacked by other drivers. He bats at them playfully as they drive away, and then casually navigates his vehicle around the edge of the rink; watching the others have collisions. He does get in two solid blows to the teenager's cars; starting at the opposite side of the square, and ramming full-speed into their vehicles. When Ryan begins targeting him again, Chauncey has turned completely around in his seat to watch the action unfold.
NerwenGreen (1:33 AM): [hmm..] After Ryan creams Chauncey, he grins deviously at him and digs out a gadget. He starts strategically slowing down Chauncey's choice of targets, snickering to himself as he watches. Thomas notices this after he finishes going after the others, and begins getting his car in the way of people targetting Chauncey.
AgujaCabra (1:34 AM): [what's this about slowing cars down? how's it work, and what's it do? ]
AgujaCabra (1:35 AM): [is he trying to keep Chauncey from landing a blow, or help him to do so?]
NerwenGreen (1:35 AM): [forces 2 will do it .. he's helping chauncey hit other people, while thomas helps chauncey from being hit]
AgujaCabra (1:35 AM): [hehe.. why are you silly people helping him? ;p ]
NerwenGreen (1:35 AM): [Ryan essentially can turn forward momentum into some other form of energy, such as heat or light]
NerwenGreen (1:36 AM): [because he looked like he was being attacked a lot ]
NerwenGreen (1:36 AM): [or wait .. it's forces 3, sorry]
AgujaCabra (1:37 AM): Circling the rink once, after being hit by Ryan, Chauncey looks over the cars curiously one by one.. He then aims his vehicle directly towards Thomas, and smashes into his rear bumper with a devilish little giggle.
NerwenGreen (1:39 AM): [ehh .. forces 2 could still do it]
AgujaCabra (1:40 AM): [well.. he's not changing momentum into anything, right? he's just altering its magnitude slightly.. that doesn't seem like it'd be as hard.]
NerwenGreen (1:42 AM): Thomas gives him a look of mock outrage as their cars collide. He then makes a tight uturn to come around and broadside Chauncey's car. Meanwhile, Ryan groans and gives Chauncey a dirty look. Still pushing buttons, he cuts power to Chauncey's car completely for an instant, so that Thomas can hit him unopposed.
NerwenGreen (1:44 AM): Thomas and Ryan look at each other with amusement after this, and then they both go back to hitting the other people in the rink.
AgujaCabra (1:46 AM): Chauncey lets his car coast to a halt, and steps out of the vehicle while the ride is still in progress.. heading over to the exit. Noticing this, the attendant cuts power to the vehicles and ends the ride. Chauncey waves to him delicately as he steps out of the bumper car rink.
NerwenGreen (1:46 AM): [umm... he can dish it out but he can't take it? :p]
AgujaCabra (1:47 AM): [he wasn't really mad.. just bored. he didn't want to be in the car anymore, so he left]
AgujaCabra (1:47 AM): [besides, that was a pretty long bumper car ride :p ]
NerwenGreen (1:47 AM): [hehe true enough I suppose]
AgujaCabra (1:48 AM): [and.. you need to go!]
NerwenGreen (1:50 AM): Thomas and Ryan exit the rink and rejoin Chauncey outside. Thomas looks at him with a concerned frown, while Ryan just looks confused. Ryan speaks up first, asking "Are you mad? We were just having fun, right?"
AgujaCabra (1:55 AM): Chauncey tilts his head at them, giving a slow, confused blink. After a pause, he places a palm over one eye, and blinks at them again through the hole.. starting to smile a little bit as he drops the hand back to his side. ".. what are you talking about?" He asks quietly, still smiling slightly, " The ride was over-- the man turned it off. . ."
NerwenGreen (1:57 AM): Thomas begins to look confused as well, and Ryan more so than before. They look at each other for a second. Thomas raises an eyebrow, then Ryan shrugs and his smile returns as they look back over at Chauncey. "Your turn to pick something," Ryan suggests.

[Dec 10, 2002]

AgujaCabra (9:56 PM): Turning around slowly a few times to drink in the various sites and pungent scents of the carnival, a small, mischievous smile begins to creep onto Chauncey's lip after a moment.. Looking back over at Thomas and Ryan hopefully, he suggests in a quiet voice, ".. The tiger and I were once good friends.. I would like to go and see her, if she is here.. "
NerwenGreen (9:57 PM): Thomas and Ryan glance at each other for a second. "There is a tiger here?" Thomas asks. "I would like to see her as well." Ryan nods in response and adds "Which way?"
AgujaCabra (10:03 PM): Chauncey beams at the two of you briefly, and hops slightly as he begins to wander off in the direction of the circus tent. Passing by a child, a little too young to be out late at night, he waves friendlily to him.. eliciting a shrill shriek in response, as the child ducks behind his father to hide. Scowling at Chauncey, the older man ushers his child away to purchase some cotton candy on a paper stick.
NerwenGreen (10:04 PM): Thomas and Ryan follow Chauncey to the circus tent. Ryan chortles under his breath at the small child, while Thomas looks over at him with a hint of concern.
AgujaCabra (10:08 PM): There is a small gathering outside the tent, watching a man with dark blue skin and intricate, yellow and black markings, as he slides a series of small blades down his throat. His long hair mirrors the pattern of a peacock feather, and as he leans forward to remove the sword.. you can see his piercing, snake-like yellow eyes. The man stares into the crowd for a turn, and then cracks a sharp smile.. juggling two of the swords once, and putting them into a bag.

Also around the tent; a number of sideshow
AgujaCabra (10:10 PM): attractions wait in decorated wooden trailers. One advertises a miniature horse, while another holds a woman with the body of a snake.. Several people wait outside a trailer with a 'rat' man, eager to get a peak of the ''grotesque' transforming' 'wonder'.
NerwenGreen (10:11 PM): hmmmmmm
AgujaCabra (10:11 PM): [^.^]
NerwenGreen (10:13 PM): Ryan casually pulls out his tricorder and begins surreptitiously scanning each of the 'attractions'. Thomas makes quiet guesses as to what they are to Ryan, who confirms or denies based on his scans.
AgujaCabra (10:16 PM): The miniature horse is honestly a very tiny horse. They can be bred this way, although I believe it is unhealthy for the animal. The woman with a snake's body is a cleverly designed body suit... and the rat man seems to be entirely real. Ryan can tell that the body composition of the creature actually changes as it shifts between human and an oversized, half-human rat. [Does he scan the blue man also?]
NerwenGreen (10:17 PM): [yeah ]
AgujaCabra (10:17 PM): The blue man is quite dead. ^.^
NerwenGreen (10:17 PM): And the rat man is alive?
AgujaCabra (10:17 PM): yes.
NerwenGreen (10:18 PM): What's Chauncey doing now
AgujaCabra (10:19 PM): Chauncey claps quietly when the blue man returns to putting swords in his gullet, and has wandered over to the side of the tent slightly, to look at the small petting zoo outside.
NerwenGreen (10:20 PM): Ryan tells Thomas, "That rat guy is kind of interesting. I've never seen anything like him before." Thomas makes a noncommittal "hmm" noise and asks "Is he alive or otherwise?" Ryan responds with "Yeah, and he really is changing shape between rat and human." Thomas nods thoughtfully and comments, "How odd."
NerwenGreen (10:20 PM): They have a similar conversation about the blue man.
NerwenGreen (10:20 PM): [Thomas has never seen a Settite before]
AgujaCabra (10:21 PM): [hehe.. who said it was that?]
AgujaCabra (10:21 PM): [^.^]
NerwenGreen (10:21 PM): [umm.. snake eyes, right?]
NerwenGreen (10:22 PM): [I suppose he could assume the guy is a Gangrel]
AgujaCabra (10:22 PM): Chauncey steps over to peer inside the tent flaps.. watching whatever show occurs within for a few moments, before returning to the petting zoo and letting himself in through the wooden gate.
AgujaCabra (10:23 PM): [either way. ^^ ]
NerwenGreen (10:25 PM): Looking at the blue man, Ryan quietly says to Thomas, "that man is not alive." Thomas observes the man carefully for breathing and nods in agreement. "How much of his appearance is makeup?" he asks.
AgujaCabra (10:26 PM): [The man's appearance is not makeup, at all ]
AgujaCabra (10:26 PM): [there's a reason he works in the circus :p ]
NerwenGreen (10:27 PM): After a few more minutes of scanning, Ryan replies "None of it. He really does look that way." Thomas raises an eyebrow at that, then postulates "perhaps he is of the same 'family' as Chauncey then." Ryan nods agreeably at that, scanning for oddities in bone structures or other alterations to that effect.
AgujaCabra (10:30 PM): The man is capable of producing venom, which is delivered through the fangs very much like a snake. Aside from that abnormality, he appears to be an otherwise normal vampire.
NerwenGreen (10:34 PM): "Oh, this is interesting," Ryan comments after another minute. "He has the fangs and venom of an actual snake." Thomas looks intrigued. "That is very odd." He continues to think about this for another minute, then finally shakes his head slightly, once, and looks over to the gate of the petting zoo. "We should go look at the tiger with Chauncey," he suggests. Ryan nods and stuffs the tricorder back into his pocket. They go into the petting zoo.
AgujaCabra (10:37 PM): There is no tiger to be found in the petting zoo :p . Chauncey has occupied himself with two young billy goats, who are begging food pellets out of his hand. When Thomas and Ryan come over, Chauncey casts a sideways glance at the both of them.. offering part of a bag of pellets, for them to feed the animals.
NerwenGreen (10:39 PM): Thomas accepts the bag and pours some pellets into Ryan's hand, then a few into his own hand, before giving it back to Chauncey. "No tiger," he notes, slightly disappointed.
AgujaCabra (10:41 PM): Chauncey's eyes light up briefly, and he smiles up at Thomas as he takes the bag again.. ".. the tiger is performing at the moment.. I could bring her here, if you like?"
NerwenGreen (10:42 PM): "Ah, we should wait until after she finishes performing," Thomas replies quickly.
AgujaCabra (10:44 PM): "Oh," Chauncey sounds remotely disappointed, as he turns to let the goat grab some pellets from the bag. ".. I do not think that she enjoys performing. . but I would not want her to be in trouble for leaving early, " he responds thoughtfully.
NerwenGreen (10:47 PM): "Yes, we would not want that," Thomas replies. He looks over at the goats for a moment, offering a pellet to the one that Chauncey isn't feeding, then looks around at the rest of the tent. Ryan looks curiously around at any other animals in the tent as well.
AgujaCabra (10:48 PM): [oh. the petting zoo is actually just outside the tent.. there is an overhang for the animals if it begins to rain, but they are not actually under the tent itself]
NerwenGreen (10:49 PM): [oh .. okay .. so is there any other animals here besides the goats?]
AgujaCabra (10:51 PM): The petting zoo is a rather meager affair compared with the rest of the carnival. It consists primarily of a few goats, and a couple of sheep grazing lazily on some grass to the side. There is a rooster pacing about outside the fence, and a stack of empty rabbit cages to one side of the enclosure. A large, pot bellied pig lounges in another corner.
NerwenGreen (10:53 PM): Ryan looks over the animals with a smile that is half cynical and half nostalgic. "I grew up on a farm," he comments. "This place feels kind of like home." He walks over to look more closely at the pig.
AgujaCabra (10:57 PM): The pig grunts lazily at Ryan as he comes over, but makes no move to get up. It appears to be rather well fed, and not at all as energetic as the young goats.

Either Thomas or Ryan could see the blue-skinned man pack up his collection of blades and retreat from the crowd with a stiff bow, to the circus tent itself.
NerwenGreen (11:00 PM): Thomas and Ryan both look up casually as the blue man goes into the tent. Ryan wanders back over to Thomas and Chauncey. "Want to go see what's going on in there?" he suggests.
AgujaCabra (11:03 PM): Chauncey nods agreeably to that idea, and empties the small bag of pellets onto the ground for the goats to munch. "perhaps the tiger is finished entertaining, " he suggests brightly, stepping through the gate and over to the tent.
NerwenGreen (11:05 PM): Thomas smiles and scatters his remaining pellets as well, then follows Chauncey in. Ryan brings up the rear.
AgujaCabra (11:11 PM): Inside the tent, a handful of people gather in on metal stadium seats; some of them clutching hot-dogs and sodas, while others seem bored with the activity and ready to leave. Those who are interested have their attention directed to the center of the tent, where a large, metal globe is being fastened securely to the ground supports. Slightly to the side, a gorgeous [if slightly aged] Bengal tiger is being led out of its cage and towards a back exit by a leather-gloved trainer with a sturdy leash. Chauncey

AgujaCabra (11:44 PM): [Right after entering the tent. keep the detail from before]

Chauncey smiles quietly when he sees the animal, and tilts his head at the trainer is soft disapproval. Stepping forward into the enclosure slightly, he holds a hand out towards the tiger invitingly.. As he does so, the animal pulls on the leash; straining to get away from the trainer, who pulls back roughly. The tiger snarls at him, baring his fangs as the audience looks on.. a few of them actually showing interest at the unhappy animal.
AgujaCabra (11:45 PM): [oy. that sucked. oh well. ::kicks re-writes::]
NerwenGreen (11:47 PM): Ryan looks at the tiger with some confusion, then looks over at Chauncey suspiciously. Thomas raises an eyebrow at the scene and suggests softly to Chauncey, "Perhaps it would be wise to allow them to return her to the cage. We can meet with her once she is there."
AgujaCabra (11:51 PM): Chauncey frowns thoughtfully at Thomas, and lowers his hand away from the tiger with a look of regret. ".. it would be simpler to speak here, without bars between us.. " He smiles again after a pause, "there are better homes for her than the carnival. "

As the tiger growls at the trainer again, the blue man [partially dressed for his motorcycle routine] steps over to assist.. taking the leash from the man, and firmly pulling the tiger towards the back of the tent, while talking to it quietly.
AgujaCabra (11:52 PM): [I'm researching schizophrenia ^^ ]
NerwenGreen (11:55 PM): "Yes," Thomas agrees with the same note of regret in his tone, "but so long as she must make her home here, we should not make her life more difficult." He pauses to look where the tiger is being led. "It seems her show is over. Shall we proceed to her cage?"
AgujaCabra (11:58 PM): Staring at the flap in the back of the tent, Chauncey nods after a pause, and turns around to head back out the tent entrance; pushing some of the thick fabric aside as he steps through. Chauncey will begin to walk around towards the back of the tent, where it seems the animals are kept.
NerwenGreen (11:58 PM): Thomas and Ryan follow him.
AgujaCabra (12:04 AM): Chauncey pauses at the edge of the tent; watching the blue-skinned man critically as he coaxes the tiger into its cage. Looking over at the three of you as he locks the cage door, the man gives Chauncey a puzzled stare, before asking matter-of-factly ".. did you mess with the tiger?" The man continues to look at him coolly, as Chauncey merely smiles back in an unconcerned way, without responding.
NerwenGreen (12:06 AM): Thomas and Ryan both stand behind Chauncey and watch without comment. Thomas looks curiously at the tiger after a few minutes if the tense silence continues to stretch.
AgujaCabra (12:09 AM): Chauncey wanders over to the cage idly, continuing to look at the man easily, as he proceeds to stick his fingers through the tough mesh wire.. wiggling them at the tiger happily. ".. I only wanted to speak with her. she knows me," he responds with the same small smile, pushing his face closer to the mesh and staring in at the cat.
AgujaCabra (12:10 AM): The man takes a seat on a nearby stool, watching Chauncey carefully as he interacts with the animal.
NerwenGreen (12:12 AM): After a moment, Ryan moves closer to the tiger to look at it curiously. Thomas approaches the cage as well, to watch Chauncey interact with the tiger more closely. [What happened to Miyu?]
AgujaCabra (12:16 AM): The tiger sniffs curiously at Chauncey's fingers, and cautiously butts her head up against the side of the cage; depositing some loose fur on Chauncey in the process. She then circles the cage idly, and lays down in the center.. looking at the three of you with disinterest. [Miyu has been popping in and out of sight since the bumper cars.. she is still around. I forgot about her for a few passages :p ]
NerwenGreen (12:17 AM): Thomas is going to attempt to speak with her with feral whispers, only without the sound effects...
AgujaCabra (12:19 AM): Go right ahead.
AgujaCabra (12:19 AM): [sorry. didn't think you'd responded yet :p ]
NerwenGreen (12:19 AM): Thomas greets the tiger and asks it about what its life is like, how long has it been in the carnival, how do they treat her, stuff like that
AgujaCabra (12:22 AM): The tiger returns Thomas' greeting, and responds [in general] that it prefers to be outside than in the carnival, but that she is taken for walks at night and enjoys this. She's been in captivity her entire life, and at the carnival for as long as she can remember. ^^
NerwenGreen (12:23 AM): Thomas asks if she has a name, and if she is happy living in the carnival.
AgujaCabra (12:25 AM): The tiger's name is Diamond, and she is sufficiently happy living in the carnival. She does not like performing much.
NerwenGreen (12:26 AM): Thomas asks what her performances consist of.
AgujaCabra (12:28 AM): Basic tiger cage stuff. Rolling around on a ball, hopping up on platforms, jumping through low hoops. She cannot jump as high as she used to, being an older tiger.
NerwenGreen (12:29 AM): ah okay .. Thomas is done asking her questions now.
AgujaCabra (12:29 AM): okay ^^

[Dec. 14, 2002]

NerwenGreen (10:02 PM): hmm... Thomas just finished talking to the tiger. From the perspective of everyone else, basically what happened was that Thomas and the tiger stared into each other's eyes for a few minutes.
AgujaCabra (10:03 PM): probably not a few minutes :p Chauncey had been doing the same earlier, but not maintaining solid eye contact with the cat.
NerwenGreen (10:03 PM): well, however long it would've taken for him to get the info he did.
AgujaCabra (10:04 PM): not too long.. either the cat or Chauncey would have lost interest in that amount of time. :p
NerwenGreen (10:04 PM): hehe okay
NerwenGreen (10:04 PM): So what is Chauncey doing as Thomas finishes his conversation.
AgujaCabra (10:08 PM): Slipping his fingers through the narrow mesh of the tiger's cage, Chauncey reaches out towards the whiskers of the cat in a vain attempt.. He abandons this as Thomas ends his silent conversation, and removes his hand from the cage; letting it rest back easily at his side. After a pause, he looks over to the blue man with a hopeful smile, ".. may we see her outside the cage?," he asks innocently.. tilting his head at the man slightly as he speaks. In response, the blue man shakes his head without considering
AgujaCabra (10:09 PM): the request. ".. Diamond gets to stay in her cage for a while.. She isn't part of the petting zoo, fella. "
AgujaCabra (10:09 PM): [my dad came home :p had to talk to him for a min]
NerwenGreen (10:09 PM): [ah okay]
NerwenGreen (10:11 PM): Thomas turns to look at the blue man. Tentatively, he asks "Has she already gone for her evening walk? Perhaps we could join her then."
AgujaCabra (10:14 PM): [oops. just got that a sec ago]
NerwenGreen (10:14 PM): [chat lag? or are you doing something?]
AgujaCabra (10:14 PM): [I'm done. I was just conferring with my dad over a couple of things, but he's going on to bed now]
NerwenGreen (10:15 PM): [ah, ok]
AgujaCabra (10:17 PM): The man looks at Thomas skeptically for a long moment, before giving a small nod in acquiescence. ".. I take her out after the park closes. There's less chance she'll jump someone that way," he smiles a bit wryly at that, continuing "... We don't normally have company. What do you two want with the cat anyhow?"
NerwenGreen (10:19 PM): Thomas shrugs casually and glances at Chauncey. "She is an old friend of my friend, and he would like to spend some time with her."
AgujaCabra (10:24 PM): The man chuckles drily at that, "A tiger is odd company to keep-- and from the looks of your friend, he might turn Diamond here green, or give her horns, or something worse." Chauncey frowns deeply at that, responding quietly as he goes back to playing with the tiger cage a bit, ".. I would not change any part of her unless she asks me specifically.. that would not be a friendly behavior, and she is an old friend.. "
NerwenGreen (10:27 PM): Thomas smiles slightly in amusement at this exchange, but makes no comment. Ryan begins to get bored and starts looking idly around at the parts of the carnival he can see from where they are gathered.
AgujaCabra (10:34 PM): The man offers a gruff smile to rejoin Chauncey's remarks, looking him over with a critical eye, before responding.. "Sorry. I don't own the tiger, and the boss would not appreciate carnival guests getting too close to her. You can chat while she's in the cage-- that's fine. " Chauncey nods in idle acceptance, and coaxes the cat over to his fingers in the cage.. he pets her nose softly with the ends of his fingertips.