estdeus_innobis | round and round and round in circle games

June 3, afternoon
The Carnival

The trees're different and there didn't used to be so many houses comin' along the road into town. The river's still the same, and the spot where I liked to sit and draw, that's still there, but Excolo's all different.

'Cept the Tower's still there. The Tower's always still there.

Momma says maybe we've come back because there's so many new people here now, people who don't 'member us from last time, so's maybe we can get a good take.

I don't think so. I think if we're here it's only 'cause Management wants us to be here. Maybe Momma knows that and maybe she don't, but even if she does, she ain't never gonna do nothin' that Management don't want her to.

It's been real hard hidin' everythin' from her. It's gonna be harder now that we're back.

I hope I can get into town to see the twins, and Ri, and everyone. Not the Doc. I missed the Doc real bad after he died, and now that we're back in Excolo I'm missin' him all over again.

Tez already took off - he didn't say where he was goin', but he don't hardly ever say nothin' when he gets in one of his moods to go run off. Even though he gets his moods it's been good havin' him back. Ain't like it used to be, 'cause he ain't like he used to be. I guess he's got a right to his moods with everythin' he's gone through. But it's good. He likes my paintings and really talks about 'em like he's lookin' at 'em hard. It's good to have other people to talk about art with, but Zann's still the best for talkin' 'bout it.

I'm gonna go into town too, but I gotta finish these posters first. They're gonna hang up all over town, and I want 'em to have ferris wheels on 'em that turn. If we're back in Excolo, I want to show 'em what we got.

[Open to Ri, and to anyone who's around the Carnival or wants to be]

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Ain't quite sure why I don't mention Dorian to her. S'not cuz what Dorian an I have's too complicated to explain, cuz it ain't. S'just the opposite. Just pure fun with a hot guy. Who belongs to someone else but who doesn't seem to mind if he goes off an sleeps with other people. Prolly cuz she knows she's the only one he actually loves.

Smile when Gen says the butterflies sounded more like fun. They were. An the snowmen sorta were in that they didn't do nothin' bad to anyone...but when she asks if it was done on purpose or by accident all I c'n do is shrug. "Dunno. That's the thing with most a the really weird stuff. Things happen an' you never get to find out why."

S'a good thing though, that things always seem ta return to something that at least looks more normal after. An' people always come up with ideas to explain what they think happened an why, but I ain't never heard anything I trusted to be the real reason why somethin' happened.

That's kinda what it's like bein' in the Carnival. We go places and don't ask why, and weird stuff happens and we don't ask why. I didn't mind till I started thinkin' 'bout it, and now I've started I can't stop thinkin' 'bout it, and can't stop mindin' it, neither. I'm tired of havin' stuff just happen.

"Ain't you never wondered where it come from? Or how to make it so only the good stuff'd happen and not the bad?"

"Yeah, but I ain't one'a the people as have some special talent as might let me actually do somethin' bout any of it!"

Not like Genny has with her special paintin's with blood or tears. Not like some a the other folks here in Excolo. Sure, people talk bout what might be goin' on but none a us c'n stop those things comin'.

Ri sounds kinda sharp, and I feel bad. Didn't mean to make her feel bad 'cause she can't paint like me or see stuff like the twins...

"I'm sorry," I mumble. "Didn't mean it like that. I know it's hard just…watchin' stuff and not knowin' what to do 'bout it." I try to think of somethin' else to say, real quick, so she won't be mad no more. "Um. You seen the twins? Are they okay?"

Know it's not Her fault, s'just the way things are. But I am glad when she changes the subject to ask me 'bout the twins.

"Yeah. They're doin' fine. Think by now that tea shoppe is more their's than Wanda's. Faith still lives with Hope n' Edmund, don't think she ever plans to move out." Probbly never was the plan in the first place. She an' Hope always did stick together even when all they wanted was a little space to have somethin' for themselves.

Whew. Ri don't sound mad no more when she answers. I grin, too, when she tells me 'bout the twins.

"Yeah, I kinda didn't think she'd leave. The twins still can't live apart." Ain't most husbands'n wives'd have a sister livin' with 'em, but I can't imagine Faith'd ever live somewhere that Hope ain't. Or the other way 'round. And Edmund's so nice, he'd just let anythin' happen. Wonder if he's gotten Faith to get any softer, with all of his niceness? Kinda hope he ain't, 'cause then she wouldn't be Faith no more.

And look at all of us, bein' respectable folks with jobs and shops'n stuff. All of Syl's gals, growin' up.

Well, all of them, with shops. I'm still where I always been, but I hope I'm growin' up. Pretty sure I am, after all I been workin' on with Syl'n Zann...

"I'm gonna head into town later to see 'em later. They're still livin' in the same place, or should I go to the Dormouse?"

Grin at her, "Think so. The twins ever show you the house? MY first thought when I saw it was how big it was an' thus how much Edmund must love Hope." Laugh an' push my a few stray bits a hair.

I also used ta think my little apartment above the Salon was huge.

"Yeah, I saw it 'fore we left. I thought the same thing! And how rich she was gonna be. Don't know what all they'd do with so much space, but I know the twins could find a way to make it real nice."

What would you do with a big house like that? It'd be nice to have a house with enough rooms to have windows on all the walls so's you could get the light at different times of days, I guess? But how'd you ever have enough stuff to fill it up?

We talk some more, mostly 'bout some a the other people we both know. And then I get a look at the sun an' realize I oughta be goin'n' sigh.

"Was real nice catchin' up with you, Gen, but I oughta let you finish your work 'fore the light goes. Say hi ta Syl 'n Zann for me?" Lean over an' give her a hug. "I'll be back for another visit next Sunday if you guys're still here."

I do hope they stick around for a few weeks.

Edited 2013-08-03 02:48 (UTC)

"Yeah, we'll still be here. Usually stay at least a week or two long's the business is good." Hope we stay that long. It'll probably take at least that long for me'n Syl'n Zann to get all of our stuff done. We hoped we could do it while we was out on the road, but I think it might work better if we do it here.

Hope it don't hurt nobody.

"It was real good to see you, Ri. I missed you." I hug her tighter. Still can't hardly believe that I'm really here and huggin' her. "I'll stop by your shop when I'm in town."

"Missed to you too, Gen." M'glad when she says that we've probably got at least another week maybe a bit more. Part of me wants them to stay longer I 'member how bad it was when it looked like the Carnival was never gonna move again. N' I don't want that. I really don't. Not even for the chance to have my family back again.

Instead I smile one more time, n' squeeze Genny good before lettin' go. "'ll hold you to that. No matter what time you show up."

Turn an' take a few step then spin round for a wave, "See ya soon!"

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