1369

[animusmods]

Characters: Anyone coming to Zo's carnival
Setting: Cafeteria; please specify the date and location in the carnival in your subject header!
Format: Anything
Summary: Zo has set up a carnival for the residents, but it's not meant to last. Anyone wandering after the bombs go off might see things they never wanted to see...
Warnings: Psychological and body horror
Note: Characters entering the carnival from the 27th to the 30th will experience visions! Please refer to the info post for details and reply to this thread if your character enters the carnival during these days.

[The carnival has taken up the entirety of the cafeteria. A large roller coaster and ferris wheel tower over the residents, while a child-sized roller coaster, a merry-go-round, and spinning teacups project much less daunting silhouettes. Stands are set up with standard carnival foods available, from ice cream to cotton candy. These stands do not ask for anything as payment.

On the twenty-seventh, the carnival appearance changes. The machinery all appears rusted and broken down, as if weathered with decades of rain and snow. Plants grow up and around the rides, ruining them, and all the food is rotten.]

Comments

[11/25, ferris wheel]

[keywrite]

[Things "Riku" expected to find in the cafeteria mid-morning: Food, other people, tables and such. Things he found: an entire carnival. Which was weird even for the Tower, and he doesn't trust it one bit.

Well, not the food, anyway. He bypasses the food stands and can be found at the bottom of the ferris wheel, debating how safe it is and whether he should risk getting on it to see.]

[keybearer]

And here I thought you'd shoot for one of the coasters.

[Don't look now, but there's a certain "Fake" marching up from behind with a smirk plastered to his face.]

[keywrite]

[Too late, he looked. And scowls at Riku's approach, but not doing more than that.]

Well, you're wrong. [A pause.] I don't know how safe they are is all.

[keybearer]

Hah, not like anything's really safe around here.

[He looks up at the wheel, chuckling softly.]

But I guess I can't blame you for taking the easy route. Truth is, I'm not even sure I trust any of these rides.

[keywrite]

Just places that are safer than other places.

[He looks up at the wheel as well, wondering if it would be worth it to wait and see if other people are able to ride it without harm.]

What about the food, have you tried any of it yet?

[keybearer]

Not yet, but I've thought about it.

[He peers over his shoulder, in the general direction of the food carts.]

Might as well make the most of it before we're stuck on nutrition bars again.

[keywrite]

Well, the worst that could happen is we eat something that kills us. We'll come back anyway, eventually.

[Or just get food poisoning.]

Good point. I'll try something if you do, what do you say?

[keybearer]

Ice cream?

[He shrugs.]

Not that it's getting any warmer, but at least it's not as tacky as cotton candy.

[That stuff's just too sweet for his liking. Riku's not sure how people stand it.]

[keywrite]

...Sure, ice cream's fine.

[Hey, he likes cotton candy. Sugar is tasty. He can't eat a LOT of it at once, but still.]

Should've picked the cotton candy.

[keybearer]

[Hey, don't think he didn't hear that.]

You know, if you want cotton candy, nothing's stopping you.

[Riku, in the mean time, will grab one of those tasty ice cream bars with crunchy nuts mixed in with the coating. Simple, not too sweet. Who can complain?]

[keywrite]

I don't want cotton candy, I'm fine.

[He wants to see Riku eat a whole thing of cotton candy, that's the point. And lies, Riku heard nothing!

He'll grab an ice cream as well, some sort of fudgecicle-looking thing and give it a wary look before taking a small bite of it.]

[keybearer]

So, how's it taste?

[Hopefully not like nutrition bars. That'd just ruin his appetite.]

Sorry this is so late

[keywrite]

Like chocolate. Thankfully. Yours?

[Jason might be offended that you don't like his nutrition bars, Riku.]

no worries!

[keybearer]

More or less the same, just a bit nuttier.

[He twirls his bar like a revolver before taking another bite.]

It's probably all nutrition bars, but at least it tastes good. Guess glamour has its perks.

[terra_nullius]

It's rather impressive isn't it?

[You're not alone, so sorry. Someone else has been sizing up the contraption too.]

It goes up so high... I wonder what the view is like from up there.

[keywrite]

No idea. I bet it's pretty good.

[He turns to look at his new companion. Someone familiar looking, but not entirely familiar. Hasn't seen him in the tower much, anyway.]

I'd go up, but I don't trust it to not fall apart while I'm on it.

[terra_nullius]

[A nod at the first statement, then Xehanort grins broadly at the second.]

I don't see the problem. We'll just wake up with a bit of sleep paralysis. I bet it'll be fun.

[keywrite]

I'd rather avoid that part if I can.

[He's been here nearly a year and only died once or twice, he's not sure. He just doesn't want to do it more.]

I guess we could try it...

[He moves towards the bottommost cage on the wheel, but doesn't get in it yet.]

[terra_nullius]

It's tough. Laying there for that long not being able to do anything, completely at the mercy of outside forces... I don't blame you for not wanting that. [It is unnerving. But it's just a byproduct, something to be overcome... and he's not going to let it get to him.

He follows Repliku up to the cage, but brushes by to enter where the other stops.]

It's an interesting mechanism, an enormous wheel... I wonder if it could break off of its mooring and roll around? That would be quite the ride!

[keywrite]

Good, we agree about it, let's stop talking about it now.

[He hesitates, then climbs in the cage along with Xehanort, giving the other a wary glance. It'll start moving once they're both inside.]

It's not supposed to...but that might be kinda cool if you could control where it went.

[Don't get any ideas.]

[terra_nullius]

[Xehanort acquiesces with a laugh, seating himself comfortably and looking around. It begins to move with a jerk, which startles him, making him clutch at the edges reflexively... before laughing at his reaction. Now that they're moving he's more interested in looking around them than anything else.]

Oh yes, like with a control... I'd imagine it would have a fair amount of power at its disposal. You could break down walls or something like that. I wonder if there's secret passages waiting to be found in that fashion...

You still interested in continuing this? Sorry for latetag...

[keywrite]

Yeah...I wonder if it'd be able to break through the walls, though. Nothing else seems to be able to, or else no one is trying hard enough.

[Or, y'know, can't try hard enough.]

I know there are levels below us, but I've never been down there myself.

no worries, it's that time of the year

[terra_nullius]

I suppose it would need a good deal of inertia to have enough force. There's nothing that you've encountered that would break a wall? How odd... There's so many secrets about this place, and little way to learn more...

[He looks a little distant for a moment, before grinning cheekily.]

Then again, there's various methods useful to learn new things if one is willing to take the risks.

Hi, I exist!

[keywrite]

If there's a way to break through the walls, no one's thought of it. Or else the damage just gets fixed too fast for any of it to stick.

[If people could break the walls, the tower would likely be ruins by now.]

and so do I... back from my holiday, yay

[terra_nullius]

[He stands up for a moment to peer out of the car... they're progressing well along the circle now, about halfway to the top. The car swings a little precariously at his sudden movement, and he grips onto the sides for balance.]

It's quite the view. I can hardly wait for the top!

I'm sure someone's tried... someone has had to try. Otherwise people are just making a foolish assumption.