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

[keepscalm]

[England has dealt with enough tiny royalty to know that tone. He reaches up with the hand he had used to point out the sign so that he can poke America's nose; a small, playful undermining of America's assumed authority.]

All right, all right. Come on now.

[So of course he carries America over to the kiddie coaster anyway.]

[colonial]

[America giggles and looks around for the ride England's referring to. It looks similar enough to the larger roller coaster that as soon as it's within sight America recognizes it, and when you're still (sort of) a toddler it's big enough that America is excited all over again.]

Is that it? Can I go on that one?

[keepscalm]

Yes, I believe so. [England doesn't see a sign with a height restriction like the big coaster, so he assumes it's safe for most small sizes.

Once they're in the queue, he crouches so that he can put America down again.] There we are.

[colonial]

Yay! Let's go! [Grabbing onto England's sleeve, America runs through the line as fast as he can manage. Hopefully England doesn't mind the awkward angle given how small America is.]

[keepscalm]

[Wait, America wants him to ride too?]

America—

[England has to bend over as he follows because of America's size; it's a good thing his legs are much longer than America's, or it would be hard to keep up in such an awkward manner.]

I think I'm a bit too big for this ride!

[colonial]

You can fit! [Probably. America is going to keep dragging England, anyway.] Come on, come on!

[Pushing England into the car!]

[keepscalm]

I really don't think—

[But he's being pushed into the car. One of his knees knocks against the colourful moulding — this car was definitely not built for an adult-sized person — and he has to fold awkwardly to look back over at America.]

You don't want to ride by yourself?

[colonial]

[America beams at England.] I wanna ride with you!

[keepscalm]

[Hook, line, and sinker.

The fight goes out of England as he regards America's happy face. After a moment of consideration, he huffs out an exasperated sigh that is definitely not fond in any measure whatsoever.] Fine, fine.

[He has to fold his legs up a little too high to get them to fit in the car, and he's not sure where his arms are going to go for this ride.

How undignified. But at least America is happy.]

[colonial]

[America scrambles in--the ride is a much better fit for him, of course, though if he notices England's ridiculous pose he doesn't comment on it (which means he definitely doesn't notice). He fusses with the seat belt a little, not quite understanding how it's supposed to work.]

When do people start making stuff like this? [He wants to ride things when he goes home, too.]

[keepscalm]

[England has to think a bit on that, because roller coasters were never exactly one of his priorities. While he thinks, he reaches over to help America with his seat belt.]

Big ones like this started getting popular in the 1900s, as I recall. [So still like three centuries away for America, sadly.]

[colonial]

That's too far in the future! [America lets England handle the seat belt.] I'll just make my own when I get back and it'll be great and everyone will come over to visit me to ride it!

[Because what America definitely needs is more of Europe tromping around.]

[keepscalm]

[After securing America, England manages to finagle his own seatbelt into snapping closed.] I'm certain you'll figure it out eventually.

[He won't tell America that he does pretty much popularise roller coasters like this. It's just not until the 1900s.]

But perhaps focus on your other studies first.

[colonial]

[Once the ride starts America gasps a little, grins, and peers over the side to look at the track going by. Even having lived in the Tower for over a year, technology of any sort was still fascinating.

What was that about studies? Are they roller coaster studies?]

[keepscalm]

[England makes a bit of a startled noise and immediately reaches over to grab America, even though the seatbelt should offer adequate protection from America falling out or anything.] America, you have to stay in the car.

[Which means butt needs to be firmly planted in seat.]

[colonial]

I'm in the car! [He is properly seated now, though, and giggling as they pick up speed, though the ride doesn't go very fast, really.]

[keepscalm]

[England doesn't derive much excitement from the ride, but he's pretty sure he'll have enough adrenaline just from dealing with America as they chug along. Once America is seated the way he's supposed to be, England withdraws one hand but keeps the other in America's vicinity, in the hopes of deterring him from squirming around the car too much.]

[colonial]

[A small hill distracts America from any squirming--he finds the entire thing amusing, at least--though had he not spent all this time in the Tower, he'd probably be far more excited. He looks up at England after a moment.]

Does this one go upside-down? [The big one goes upside-down! This one does not.]

[keepscalm]

[England turns his head to get a better look at the track ahead of them.] No, this one doesn't. It's probably too dangerous for young children.

[The irony of saying this about something in the Tower definitely strikes him, but he's giving Zo the benefit of the doubt on most of the horrors in this place.]

[colonial]

Going upside-down's not more dangerous than monsters.

[Probably? America thinks so.]

Can we go upside-down after this?

[keepscalm]

[England frowns at that, because of course, America is right about that.]

No, it's not. But I think Zo is trying not to hurt anyone here.

[He looks down at America rather than at the track after he smooths out his expression a little. He can't exactly take America on a big loop like a roller coaster can, but he could probably hold America up like an aeroplane?]

Certainly, we can. [Not that he's sure if it will be sufficient in light of a big roller coaster, but it wouldn't do not to sound confident in his abilities.]

[colonial]

[America beams again, having no reason to doubt that England will definitely be able to live up to his confident tone.

Then he bounces around on his seat, which might give England more to worry about.]