𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕒 𝕧𝕒𝕞𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕜𝕖𝕟𝕕

[nerine]

✦"Yeah, you waste your time on daft pretty boys
..."✦

Comments

life's a carnival

[nerine]

No.

[ That is Monts' only answer. What is she saying no to?

South Sister had opened up and thanks to doors found around the islands, people were able to go back and forth between their worlds and then back to the accursed place. Monts found herself frequently visiting to check up on her friends. She thought she had lost her chance to deepen her bonds when she was sent back to her world with memories still intact. Monts didn't like South Sister, but she liked the people she met here.

Yes, even Father Abel Nightroad.

But as they stand before the entrance of an ominous carnival full of rides and attractions, Monts finds herself revaluating how much time she wants to spend here. ]

I'm not ten years old.

[expio]

[ ominous? OMINOUS?? what about this carnival is ominous?! it looks like sweet, innocent, perfectly wholesome fun~!! what was there to be apprehensive about, honestly...?

...okay maybe he just wants any and all excuses to eat fair food and he is not accepting criticisms about his life choices at this time,

in contrast to Monts' hesitation, Abel is grasping her by the wrist and - with the utmost enthusiasm - dragged her excitedly into the bustling sights and sounds and delectable scents of the Carnival!!! he is like an over-eager child and Monts, by association, has no choice but to Suffer with him. ]

--I'm sorry, but 'no' simply isn't in my vocabulary at this point and time... You'll have to try it again later~! [ MOTORING right on in and bulldozing over any protests, he's flashing her a bright and cheery smile over his shoulder!! ] Hey, hey Miss Monts - what should we do first?! Are you hungry...?! --Ooo, funnel cake...!!

[nerine]

[ Before she can even protest some more, Abel takes her by the wrist and she's taken to the other side and straight into the fray. God help her.

Maybe she should have specified she didn't want to go with him. If it was Megumi and Itadori, for sure she'd drag along the younger boys and treat them, but here she is being pushed around by a priest and now she feels like the surly teenager in this case (it's called preferential treatment Monts, you should get that fixed).

She understands Father Abel to know enough that he'll probably whine if she tries to walk away without him so she'll just. Entertain him for now. ]

If you want to try out the food, be my guest. Whenever something appears on this island, there's always a catch.

[expio]

Yes, and the catch part is me catching it in my mouth. Hungrily. And with vigor.

[ he's keeping hold of her wrist and he isn't relenting in the least as he tugs her through the array of bright lights of the attractions and food stalls; honestly, is he suspicious of all this...? considerably. please, please, he isn't a complete moron (citation needed) and Abel's well aware that Fogtown had a mind of its own with a decidedly cruel twist, at times.

...even so. it could also be unexpectedly kind, couldn't it? and sometimes, it was harmless. he could hope, alright? he could hope.

Abel's sending another glance over his shoulder at her, completely ignoring her sour expression and grudging acquiescence. ]

Oh, come on...! You're not going to make me eat all alone, are you...?! That's so boring. You don't want to be boring, do you...?

[nerine]

[ Her response is quick and snappy. ]

You're paying for both of us.

[ There is no mercy for this carnival jaunt. ]

And I don't like funnel cakes all that much. Shaved ice or pretzels will be fine though.

[expio]

Wow... boring and cheap.

[ judgmental look... ]

And not only that, but you're telling me you have horrible taste as well? Who doesn't like funnel cake?? Next you'll tell me you don't like caramel apples, either.

[nerine]

[ Hey. Hey Abel.

It's that smile of hers again. You know, the one that looks pleasant, but there's barely concealed rage that only has been directed at him so far (well, other people get it too, but they're not here so). ]

Father Abel.

[expio]

[ wow. wow, it's that smile. wow. there's that icy crawl up his spine. but he's pretending he doesn't notice anything, playing oblivious as he merrily continues toward a food stall selling large soft pretzels and different fountain drinks-- ]

Hm? Yes, my dear? Please, whatever could be on your mind...?

[nerine]

[ Hello, here's a hand on Abel's shoulder and immediately, he should feel a vice-like grip on it. ]

Let's pause and take a breather for a moment alright? I'll let you know what you can buy for us and how long we can stay here. Got it??

life's a carnival, II

[nerine]

Anyway.

[ Monts looks around. They've had carnival foods, a game, a spooky fortune-telling appointment... What's next even? ]

Wanna try bumper cars?

[ She points to the colorful ride with flashing lights and mini-cars made to stay within its pre-made arena. The only problem is that the only other riders are.... Clowns. ]

It looks kind of fun. I haven't been in one of those in forever.

[expio]

[ ...it's still a little hard to picture wild-and-rebellious Monts, but - he lets the topic slide for now. Abel's keeping up pace alongside her as they head towards the attractions littered this way and that, though they're all woefully Clown-manned.

including the bumper cars, apparently,

when she makes the offer, he's perking up some - who doesn't like bumper cars?? - but seeing there are lots of red-nosed, puffy-wigged weirdoes helming the vehicles...




...he is totally on board, ]

I'm going to ram them all.

[ HE'S GOING TO JAIL TONIGHT FOR CLOWN CRIMES,

...also that line was not innuendo. for the record. he means ram, with the bumper car. of course. ]

[nerine]

Ahaha. Oh man, I hope this doesn't come back to bite you or anything.

[ Worry not, even that fruit hangs too low for Monts to poke at. She's totally in synch for once with Abel. ]

Let's move on then!

[ After entering the arena, a clown staffer points them to two available bumper cars. Monts seats herself in a cherry red vehicle and makes herself comfortable. ]

Guess they're ready when you are Father Abel!

[expio]

[ Abel's fumbling awkwardly into a navy blue car, trying to squeeze his lanky limbs inside this thing but he is MOTIVATED to make it work. clown crimes are happening tonight so help him God who art in heaven,

he's gesturing emphatically, ]

Let's blow this popsicle stand!!

[ he's been hanging out with Nero too much. ]

[nerine]

Well, those sure aren't the word of the Lord...

[ It has taken a while, but Monts has accepted the fact that Father Abel was probably just... A special kind of priest. No time to dwell on that, it's bumper car time! The ride is activated and everyone (or every clown) in this case starts maneuvering their car, bumping into each other playfully... At least for a minute or two.

Monts notices that they're starting to drive and group together in an organized effort to surround Abel. ]

Uh oh.

[expio]

[ Abel is having the time of his life?? hello, this is amazing... even if he's terrible at controlling which direction he's going and ramming into the wall far more than he is any of his clown fellows.

...and is, thankfully, blissfully oblivious in his concentration to drive in the direction he INTENDS to go, versus the one his car seems intent on going-- ]

I-is my wheel broken? Miss Monts, are you-- [ ...yes, that's the wall again ] --are you having any trouble over there...?

[nerine]

Uh. Father Abel? I'm fine, but... Um!

[ Oh god, the bumper car clowns are starting to bump into Abel's car aggressively, There's one on his left and right. Monts is going to drive and knock one of the cars to the other side in order to disrupt the group. ]

Just keep driving! Don't worry about it!

[expio]

H-- hey!! Would you kindly watch where you're--

[ oh. oh no, he's made eye contact with the one on the left. oh no. OH NO.

abruptly realizing his predicament as he turns his head to realize there's more than one, he's now frozen like a deer in headlights.

...SAVE HIM. ]

K... keep driving WHERE, exactly?! I-it won't-- [ a suffocated noise as he tries to back up

and drives right into her, instead ]

[nerine]

[ Goddammit! At least whatever bruises she gets from this won't last long and she wouldn't know she's getting them, but still ]

You have to drive into them, not me!!

[ God, she's gonna have to swerve so she can avoid him. She'll keep herself busy trying to bump into the clowns in the outer ring, but Abel might be on his own for a minute or until the arena is turned off. ]

coffee @ midnight

[nerine]

[ Monts stays from Fogtown for a while after the carnival incident.

It takes about a week for her to fully shake off what had happened in the house of mirrors. While she hadn't told them anything, Iona glanced at her way worriedly every once and a while during her shifts and would text her employee to ask if she was okay. Monts always replied, yes, I'm fine, don't worry about it. Oren had no comment as usual, but his way of showing concern was allowing Monts to go home a few minutes early and he would hold down the fort for the rest of the night.

She stares at the door when there are little to no customers waiting to see if a certain someone would come in with fluster and bluster. Monts had told him to visit, but wouldn't be sure if the gilded door would show up for him. They had parted rather unceremoniously after all that happened and part of Monts feels as if something needed to be clarified or at least things could go back to "normal" between them over a cup of tea or coffee.

Today's special was mini-cheesecakes. Oren's in the kitchen that evening checking on the various flavors he's created while Monts is in charge of the front. Old and relaxing vintage music fills the empty cafe. They'll probably have more customers at some odd hour, but for now... ]

[expio]

--and I really don't think that now is a good time to discuss all this, honestly. I mean, don't you have anything better to do than hassle me about these sorts of things? R-really, I don't get paid nearly enough for this, Professor, so you really ought to...

[ Abel is trailing off in whatever nonsensical tirade of complaints he'd been on as he realizes the threshold he'd stepped through did not, in fact, lead to Caterina's office but somewhere else entirely, and that is company had not followed him, and that he was now addressing his whining to a (mostly) empty cafe.

... ]

W... well, this is awkward. I really ought to pay more attention to what I eat before bed. Is this another one of those dreams, again? No, no, it's not a maid cafe this time...

[nerine]

[ From behind the counter Monts glances over, fully alert this time. You'd think after all this waiting, she'd at least give Abel a smile and a happier greeting, but instead, she raises her eyebrows and crosses her arms looking almost petulant. ]

Really? That's how you're going to greet me after all this time?

[expio]

[ o-oh, look at that, if it isn't Monts?? Abel is giving her a once-over before adjusting his glasses and tilting his head curiously. ]

Mm, maybe this isn't one of those weird, 'just ate something strange before bed' dreams? No maid cafe and Miss Monts is scowling at me instead of greeting me with a nice warm hug... ah, could this be the cruel, cold embrace of reality after all--?

[nerine]

...

[ Monts turns to the beautiful dark haired man who is currently clearing a table of its dishes and cups. ]

Oren. We're going to make this customer pay for his first drink.

[ Oren mostly shrugs because clearly, she knows this guy, so her problem now!]

[expio]

Ah? Ah. Now she's making a poor, penniless priest pay for his own drinks. Mm, definitely not a dream.

[ he's going to amble on toward the counter where a certain Monts is hovering... ]

...My~! How lovely it is to see you again! Who would've known I'd end up in your little neck of the woods, Miss Monts...! How have you been?

[nerine]

[ Monts visibly relaxes although her expression is neutral as she regards Abel. ]

Well, now we know that you can definitely go through the entrance. It's just like you to not notice though.

[ She makes a sweeping gesture with her arm to present the cafe to him. ]

Welcome to the Midnight Grind, Father Abel.

[ The Midnight Grind, despite being in impossible space, is a normal cafe. The interior is a warm mixture of red brick walls and sleek wooden floors and tables, along with comfortable-looking sofa chairs and a large couch with a coffee table to accompany it. The ceiling is decorated with colorful hanging lanterns that cast interesting shadows on the walls and floors. Behind the counter are large espresso machines, syrups, jars of tea, coffee beans, and a display counter for edible goods. The menu consists of empty black chalkboards aligned on the walls. Why are they are empty? Because they just never have a proper menu, that's all. ]

Take a seat and I'll choose which drink to make for you.