for carnies and candy.

[payingthepiper]

Who: Rain and Allen Walker.
When: Backdated to August 1st.
Where: The Fair Grounds.
Summary: It's the best place to spend a good day, and for once, everything promises to turn out that way.
Warnings: Happiness. ...

Comments

[violins_rain]

The summer months here were ending. If there was any time to be going to the fair, it was now, and who could say that they had gone to a carnival in another world? The answer: not many at all. But Rain would be missing his chance soon if he didn’t make the time to hop aboard the bus one weekend and take the ride out to the fairgrounds early-ish in the day, while the weather was still welcoming and the flags on the big tops fluttered in a balmy breeze.

So he does just that. Buys a ticket at the gate and joins the throng of people out for a last bit of fun before autumn sets in.

At first, crowd-watching is enough, and Rain ambles along contentedly eating puffs of cotton candy, enjoying the sights, smells and sounds---the energy of the place.

But after a while, he begins missing Machika.

With startlement, he realizes he’s going back to the way he was before, just a wandering observer, cutting through crowds with practiced ease, unseen and apart. He stops mid-step and looks around, but of course, no familiar faces emerge. Maybe coming here alone was a mistake, then?

If only he were with his friends from home. The thought cuts across his mind and he easily begins to imagine what Eury and Ayla would be up to. Eury would try to impress her with his marksmanship and totally end up winning her the wrong prize. She’d pretend to be upset and pick a fight, and while they squabbled Rain and Machika would slip off on their own, sharing the cotton candy---

Bah, what is he doing? He didn’t come here to think himself into a funk; he shakes his head vigorously. He should know better---he’s never alone, not truly.

As if on cue, someone calls out to him with a bright salutation. He feels better almost instantly. Yes, today, like every day he has been given, is one to be thankful for, no matter what his circumstances are---and what better place to meet people than a carnival?

Rain smiles at the upside-down-on-a-ball pierrot, waving a bit. “Hello to you, too! Good thing you’re a clown, and not a mime,” he says in a light tone.

[payingthepiper]

"I'd miss my voice too much to be a mime. My voice might miss me, too." The friendly return, the way the other man simply smiled and waved had the exorcist's day brightening up just that much more as well-- most people ignored him if they didn't have kids, and if they did, the children usually hid behind a grudgingly smiling and truly impatient parent (or an over-enthusiastic one, and Allen couldn't decide which one was better) while he coaxed out a few choice answers- where are you going today? are you enjoying it? will you see the elephants? they'd like to see you!- and then left them to move on, oftentimes ending up being the one smiling and waving at the end as well as the beginning.

But this was a legitimate comment. And it might have been the only one before the man moved on, but that was fine-- even a little could be enough, and he'd take it as such.

Nonetheless, he was curving his foot like it was a hand - stood on his hands as if they were feet. Smiled back and up, bright and fairly real. There was no reason to hide anything inside of a circus, after all. His tone was light and happy, and that wasn't really faked, either. This was a job - this was a purpose. A small one, maybe, but still one. And, as mentioned, a small thing could easily go a long way.

And so the question was one of the simplest:

"Enjoying the day so far, Mister Goer?"

alluva sudden my replies get so very short XD;;;

[violins_rain]

“...Yeah," Despite himself, Rain looks around the carnival grounds again before answering, “I am. Thanks.”

His inflection suggests he is more content than happy-- making the best of things, as it were. Rain studies the clown a little more closely under his star-shaped make-up (it was make-up wasn’t it?) and suit. A young man, in his teens, with snow white hair and clear, lightly-colored eyes. Chuckling, Rain bends sideways to meet Allen’s gaze upside-down.

“Mr. Goer, huh? Haha, that’s me, I guess. You’d miss your voice, and I would have missed the opportunity to talk to you, Mr...?”

introductions are always the longest! :B

[payingthepiper]

Whatever that voice hinted at, it wasn't the utmost joy someone who didn't have a kid normally took to when they visited the circus. Allen kept his expression bright and unchanging, of course, but he was making some mental notes.

Even as he was as cheery as ever.

"Walker!" An exaggeratedly stretched out gloved hand for a shake, because this man didn't seem to think too oddly of the clown get-up (aside from that eying), and that was sort of nice. "Or Allen, or Red, or whatever else you'd like -- what's your name, Mr. Goer?"

[violins_rain]

“Nice to meet you, then, Mr. Walker.”

He reaches out and shakes the proffered hand warmly, expression brightening with Allen's cheeriness.

“As for my name, well, it’s a good thing the weather today isn’t my name. Can you guess?”

[payingthepiper]

That... that got another blink and pause. Huh. Word riddles? That definitely wasn't something a normal circus-goer would ask a clown.

He cocked his head, made his pause into something vaguely dramatic -- leaned forward and snapped back with a playfully hopeful, "Mr. Sandstorm?"

[violins_rain]

He chuckles, straightening himself properly and continuing the game, “Nope. Guess again."

[payingthepiper]

Allen gave an exaggeratedly sad sigh, before once again peering up with a question in his eyes. "Ah..."

Hm...!

"... Mr. Tornado?"

[violins_rain]

Rain laughs out loud this time.

"Haha, good try, but no cigar! I’ll give you a hint. ‘When the sky feels sad for the people on the ground, it cries and gives us rainbows'."

[payingthepiper]

"A rainbow isn't something that I would mind to have right now, though, Mr. Bow!" With another very exaggerated gasp and shocked look, though it should've been obvious he was tempted to smile. "And that's not a true hint... That was telling me!"

i hate LJ

[violins_rain]

"Not quite, Mr. Walker. My name's the other part of 'rainbow'." He points skyward for emphasis.

it's a silly thing.

[payingthepiper]

"... Mr. Rain!" Hopefully, and then with a happy whoop - Allen made forward as if to hug the man, but then doubled back with a great old smile, muscles all wiry. "Mr. Rain. Mister Rain.

"I hope you don't try to go away." That was treating a big line, but the clown went for it. Why not?

[violins_rain]

Sing-songed: "Nope, I won't 'go away and come again another day.' I'm here to stay."

Then he answers in a normal, cordial tone.

"So then, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Walker. You can call me just 'Rain'."

[payingthepiper]

"Are you sure? That's right quick!"

With a smile and a slight twirl around, feet moving him over to the side. But -

"Rain it is! Is there anything you need help with, Rain-that-will-stay?"

[violins_rain]

Rain watches the clown gently dance around before affecting a thinking pose, complete with hand stroking chin and gaze traveling skyward in contemplation.

"I need...someone to show me around! Do you know someone who could do that?"

[payingthepiper]

"Do I... ah-hmm..." Allen mimicked that pose to a T, only his eyes went out to the rest of the circus rather than upwards. "... Ah!"

A 'eureka!' moment that showed clearly on his face, complete with absolute excitement. "I think I might! If you don't mind a few cracks along the way." With a mimicked laughing motion, to boot.