(Untitled)

[notstrangers]

The autumn has come, and with it the temperatures have dropped and the winds have picked up. The trees in the City, small but thriving now, get red and gold and brown edges to some of their leaves, and...well, there are no birds to fly South, and no South to fly to, but you get the idea

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[janitor_thorn]

Thorn lives his life in a fairly narrow rut, these days. He goes from the house to the Prince Institute, back to the house again, and lingers on the back porch with his cigarettes. His furthest forays on Shell Beach are to the newagents for more cigarettes, which are far cheaper and contain fewer additives than what he had grown used to. The first appearance of tents goes unnoticed, it being an evening after work. The morning he steps out to smoke, however, and sees an immediately recognizeable ferris wheel shape looming over a settlement of tents and other rides, his hands shake so badly he drops both cigarette and lighter. Terror sends him quickly back inside, where he warns Ms. Branigan and Dr. Schreber in stammering tones of the horror that is a carnival in their own neighbourhood. It does not occur to him that there will be no freak show, as there is no one that unusual within the city. Neither does it really come to him that not all carnivals are sinister cursed affairs that turn visitors into monsters

[anna_was_emma]

Anna smiles gently at Thorn, then answers Sarah, "I rode the carousel. John stood beside me. He wouldn't get on any of the animals, but I think he wanted to ride the whale, secretly."

John looks tired, but as happy as a small child. "I'd like for it to continue. If it makes any money I'm sure it will. It's bringing all kinds of temporary jobs in; that has to be a good thing. And I think it's giving some artists some exposure."

He pokes Anna, and she blushes.

[janitor_thorn]

Still unnerved by the setting, Thorn is alert enough to catch the exchange. He's aware he needs to work on his social skills, and as this woman is clearly a friend to his hosts, she must be good and safe person to speak to. Summoning his courage with a deep breath, Thorn manages in a mumble that is relatively coherent, "D-d-d'ye d-d-d-d-um... y-you're an art-tist?" He has to shut his eyes to get the brief sentence out.

[sarah_branigan]

"Perhaps we'll visit the art section next," she smiles, proud of Anna. "Thorn is an artist, too. He sculpts." She knows he'll blush even more and hotly deny his talent, but it's something he has in common with Anna and hopefully it'll ease conversation between the two.

"The carousel sounds nice. I'm hoping to try a few games and win Daniel something." She grins slyly and takes another bite of her elephant ear.

[dr_schreber]

"I'd love to see more of your paintings!" Schreber is a fan of Anna's art. "Maybe next year Thorn can en...ter some sculptures." He smiles and looks at Thorn to see how he's doing. See how nice and happy everything is. Then he looks at Sarah and blushes. "I thought I'm supposed to win you some... thing? My throwing arm isn't all that bad." It isn't all that good either but he does not throw like a complete geek.

[anna_was_emma]

"I entered one in the competition at the last minute. A watercolor of the beach, nothing special, but it has a chance of getting noticed." Anna smiles shyly, then answers Thorn, "I draw and paint. I'm not very good at sculpting, but I'd like to try it sometime. Maybe you can give me some tips."

John is also proud of Anna, and it shows. He laughs a little at Sarah and Schreber's discussion over who will win whom a prize. "You can win things for one another, I guess. Or you can both just lose money trying."

It's easy for him to say. He could cheat.

[janitor_thorn]

At the good doctor's suggestion, Thorn shakes his head and goes so far as to take a step backward. The very idea of showing his work to anyone that is not a friend and claiming it as true art is embarrassing. He considers it healthy humility, rather than low self-esteem in the extreme. His action may worry them, but he's not actually fleeing, yet. "I'd l-l-like to s-see y-your painting." Paints are ultimately a more expensive pursuit than his usual carving, but it's likely he'd be fairly adept if he tried his hand at it.

[sarah_branigan]

Sarah giggles and gives Daniel's arm a squeeze. "You can win me any prize you like. Except for a goldfish. I don't think it'd last long in our house."

Briefly, she remembers when she did have a goldfish, but not as Sarah, and she can't help but look a a little lost. "Isn't it strange that we have goldfish..."

Then she shakes her head, as if clearing it. "Did you want to look now, Thorn? Do you mind, Anna? Who is judging the competition, anyway?"

[dr_schreber]

"Clio and Orwell might like a goldfish..." Schreber ruffles the raven's feathers. He's getting some looks from other people here to visit the Fair. Look that man has a huge raven on his shoulder! Is he a performer? Does it do tricks?? "We have goldfish, cockroaches, and rats. I couldn't say if they were brought... here or crea-ah. Well." Maybe they should not talk about that in public. To John he says, "I intend to win Sarah a prize."
Yes that is a challenge!

[anna_was_emma]

Anna blushes, but smiles happily, as well. "I'm flattered. It's not really one of my favorite paintings I've done; it's just a very literal interpretation of the beach. I wasn't sure what the judges would think of some of my more fanciful work. Anyway, I'll show you which one it is whenever you like. And I quite like goldfish; I'm glad we have them. I should paint some."

John blinks at Schreber, then snickers. "You're usually so subtle, Doc. I wasn't going to play the games, but if you're gonna be that way about it, I can't let a challenge to my manhood go unmet."

"John!" Anna squeaks and pokes him in the side.

[janitor_thorn]

Thorn drops his cigarette butt and grinds it out on the boardwalk, listening to the exchange. He's aware they're trying to soothe his fears and make him comfortable, but between the two couples he feels like a fifth wheel. His interest in the art is genuine, but he entertains thoughts of cursed paintings, his imagination creating new terrors the other carnival never held.
"Um. D-d-don't w-want to g-g-get in the way..." Already they seem to have plans to compete in the games, and he has no one to win a prize for.

[sarah_branigan]

"I know Clio and Orwell would like a goldfish. That's what I'm afraid of..." Sarah still seems a little disconnected, only half-listening to some of the banter that follows.

[dr_schreber]

((Poor Tom! are we supposed to move down there or anything?))

Schreber notices and puts his arm around her careful not to poke her with the cane. "I can win you something else. We... could all see what games are on the way to the art showing?" He is trying to make everyone happy! "And you're not in the way. More people will be more fun."

[anna_was_emma]

"That sounds like a sensible compromise," Anna smiles. "You're both being silly. But for the record, I like the stuffed monkeys."

"Monkeys?" John laughs. "Really?"

"They remind me of you, darling." She grins, and then offers a hand to Thorn. "Come walk with me, Thorn. We can talk about art and let John and Daniel be macho at one another."

[janitor_thorn]

Blushing fiercely, and very much surprised, Thorn accepts Anna's hand. His gloves are soft and worn from use, which renders them as unobtrusive as they can be. If things go on like this, he just might be convinced to try his hand at a game. Nerves might not improve his aim, but he has a good arm normally. "Um. Ok-k-kay. D-don't know 'ow to g-g-give c-carving advice. Ye j-just d-d-does it." He surreptitously snags some kettle corn out of the top of the open bag.

[sarah_branigan]

((I figured Tom seeing Schreber would be later on. If Schreber sees him now then he'll be upset and no one will enjoy the games and ferris wheel. :P))

"Hmm? Oh, thank you." Sarah tilts her elephant ear towards Daniel, offering him a bite--

--and snatches it back just before Orwell tries to peck at it. "I remember winning my brother a stuffed dog at one of the games. He couldn't play the bottle toss for some reason... I think he had a broken arm that summer..." She breaks off a piece of the pastry and lets Orwell have that as she walks with Daniel.