Test Drive #1 - London, England, Earth 1845

[thegreatestlittlemod]

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?

Comments

b

[thirdchance]

Alphonse—it seems—is already in the store and as the bell chimes overhead the door from another patron, he lifts his head. Then a grin crosses his face as he spies a newly familiar face, "Rain drive you in here, too?"

Admittedly, he first wandered in here when the rain was threatening a downpour instead of just a steady fall. He had been out clothes shopping himself, unused to having to be presentable to a point and not just hide in his armor. That and his current clothes were severely outgrown; he's all ankles and wrist at the moment. But things in here are...pricer than his wallet. And now he lingers because the shop-keep is looking at him rather hopefully and Al is just hoping to find maybe a ribbon that he can afford. Though, what he'd do with it is unknown.

[makingmyway]

For some reason, Dorian wasn't entirely expecting to run into anyone else from the circus, though he probably should have. So he manages a smile and wave as he steps into the store.

"Actually, I didn't mind walking around in the rain. But I also wanted to do a bit of browsing in here."

As he steps closer to where Alphonse is, he tries to take a peek at what he's looking at. "How about you? Anything you're planning to get?"

[thirdchance]

The selection in front of him is spools of ribbons, various thickness and color, there's a few lacier options and even some that seem to have a painted on design. Or perhaps inked by a press... Alphonse scratches at his cheek sheepishly, "Everything in here is too nice for me, really."

He's still a 'kid' in some ways, always getting dirty, so it wouldn't do to get something as nice as many of the things here. "Maybe a ribbon to tie onto my pocket watch but I don't think I'll have much luck finding a fitting shirt I can work in."

He's always admired Dorian's fashion, even if it's not up to par with what the other is used to. It's still a lot better put together than anything he'd come up with. Not that he's said as much out loud. "Was there anything that you were looking for in particular? Maybe I've already browsed by it," and could probably show him where it was in the shop with little interaction of the shop keep.

[makingmyway]

Looking him over for a moment, Dorian hums softly as he considers some of the articles of clothing for sale. "I don't know...I think some of these would look pretty good on you." Glancing back at him, he smiles. "Besides, it's not always what you wear, but how you wear it. I'm sure you could find something that would look fancy without emptying your pockets too much."

The question gets a soft laugh from him, and he looks a bit embarrassed. "Ah...well, I'm actually supposed to be looking for strings for my lute."

Which are...definitely not sold in this clothing store.