thegreatestlittlemod (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thegreatestlittlemod) wrote2023-10-14 10:28 pm
thegreatestlittlemod) wrote2023-10-14 10:28 pm
Entry tags:
Test Drive #1 - London, England, Earth 1845
The last few days of a stop are always either the slowest, or the busiest. The gray days of London in the autumn don't seem to be helping this to be the busiest, with rain driving customers away.
There are still some customers jogging between tents and ducking under game awnings, using coats and hats to try and keep the water off, but tips are few and far between, and a lot of audiences are empty, leaving performers sitting and waiting, or ducking into each other's shows to watch or just say hi, and those on the game alley shouting across the aisle at each other. Food vendors move up and down the aisle and tents with hot cocoa and kebobs to keep people warm.
A few people are out in the city proper running errands for themselves, each other, or the Ringmaster, often in pairs. Maybe the goal is to find six spools of ribbon in one exact color, or to capture a whole bowl full of raindrops from under a specific shop sign, or to replace some pants you tore in your last show. Whatever it is, you're down to the last day to find it.
Are you determined to put on a show despite having an audience of five? Are you chatting with your fellow carnies, bored with the slow day and wondering where you're going next? Are you seeking out something strange and confusing in jolly old London with a friend?
Or are you determined to enjoy the circus on its last day in your city, not expecting a surprise in store for you when it starts to pack up its doors tomorrow?
There are still some customers jogging between tents and ducking under game awnings, using coats and hats to try and keep the water off, but tips are few and far between, and a lot of audiences are empty, leaving performers sitting and waiting, or ducking into each other's shows to watch or just say hi, and those on the game alley shouting across the aisle at each other. Food vendors move up and down the aisle and tents with hot cocoa and kebobs to keep people warm.
A few people are out in the city proper running errands for themselves, each other, or the Ringmaster, often in pairs. Maybe the goal is to find six spools of ribbon in one exact color, or to capture a whole bowl full of raindrops from under a specific shop sign, or to replace some pants you tore in your last show. Whatever it is, you're down to the last day to find it.
Are you determined to put on a show despite having an audience of five? Are you chatting with your fellow carnies, bored with the slow day and wondering where you're going next? Are you seeking out something strange and confusing in jolly old London with a friend?
Or are you determined to enjoy the circus on its last day in your city, not expecting a surprise in store for you when it starts to pack up its doors tomorrow?
alphonse
ticket booth
Perhaps it's his way of trying to stay out of the rain as best he can—left over caution from having worn his suit as long as he did, rust was forever his enemy—and still be of some use to the circus. And he's also advertising! Calling out to passersby (who might also be looking for shelter) and holding out flyers to the various acts. Only ones that said they'd be open for sure, but he has others in the booth with him.
Every now and again, one of them steps up to the booth and Alphonse greets them with a smile. "Hi there! Would you be interested in seeing our Strong Woman today? Or perhaps spend some time with the Animal Tamer? We even have a daring show involving knife throwing!"
They seem mildly interested, peering around the side of the booth to see a bit of the grounds.
"We're having one last show today, so it's your last chance until we come again!" Perhaps you could help cinch the deal?
polishing
It's busy work, definitely, mostly meant to keep him out of the way, he's sure. But Alphonse doesn't mind it at all, his hands coated in the buffing polish as he works at getting bits of show armor and weapons shiny. It's nostalgic in a way, since he often found himself doing this very same thing when he was back home.
He's humming softly, focused on what he's doing but at the same time his mind seems a million miles away. And yet he also gives the sense of knowing what's going on around him, shifting himself and bits he's working on out of the way as others pass by.
wildcard
[feel free to "kidnap" him for chores, shopping, lessons, companionship, whathaveyou. can work it out with gloryfalling on plurk]