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thegreatdrake (thegreatdrake) wrote in carnaval_logs,
@ 2013-09-03 23:10:00

Entry tags:

!open (20), ~diana tregarde, ~nathan drake

Who: Nate and OTA
Where: Heading for the trailers
When: Now.
What: Nate tries to orient himself.
Warnings: TBD
Status: Incomplete.

Nathan pushed the black and silver bike he'd been sitting on along a path, taking time to observe the people milling around. Five minutes ago he'd been sitting on the couch, smart mouthing Sully as he watched Elena's show. Now, he found himself at some circus, like the one he traveled with as a kid. He was hit by the smells of animals, hot food, sticky sweet candies, dirt, and sweat. People in all manners of dress and colors passed him by, contrasting against the dust around them. Chatter, animals sounds, grunts, laughter, and music surrounded him, setting him at ease. The scene was familiar, comforting. The motorcycle was a bit of a surprise.

A burly man by the entrance had grunted at him to go towards the trailers, before he could even ask where he was supposed to go. He sighed as he stopped to wipe some sweat from his brow. He couldn't be the only one lost and confused in this place. He was used to weird, but people don't just teleport to new places. Explaining this to Sully would definitely be a trip. He leaned against the bike, letting his sweat cool his face as he watched the inhabitants socialize and walk around.

He was good as long as it wasn't a trap. Or something.

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tregardian
2013-09-04 12:10 am UTC (link)

After the double on Monday and a long enough day on Tuesday, Diana was exhausted. She had clearly failed to realize how tiring selling candy and soda was going to be. There had been a lot to learn about pricing and procedures for handling all the money and how to restock inventory. On top of it all, Diana had been a strangely enthusiastic salesman for someone who had been expecting to sit on her butt all day. Oh, no.

Thankfully, she didn't have to take anything down. The cart was out for the run, and she just had to restock it, clean it, and make sure it looked pretty. For some reason, Diana found herself taking a lot of pride in the appearance of her cart. She made sure it was sparkling, well, as sparkling as it could be in this weather. So, after everything had been cleaned to her satisfaction, Diana heaved her messenger bag over her shoulder and began to walk back toward the tent. Sleeping tent. With strangers. Yeah, still not used to that bit.

Out of the corner of her eye, the young writer caught someone who looked out of place. It was easy when everyone was dressed in such overt period clothes. It was only then when Diana realized how much she must stick out when she shirked her 1930's garb in favor of her jeans and leather jacket. Still humming to herself, she made her way over to the young man on the bike. Her hat, quaint and rather out of character for herself, protected her face from the rain, but Diana's dress was starting to get damp. The linen was beginning to stick to her skin which was incredibly uncomfortable.

"Hey!" Diana called out to him, hoping to catch the guy's attention with a wave. She was smiling, as Diana always did. Cheer was just her natural disposition, and discomfort didn't change that. "I think we're technically supposed to be wearing our work outfits while the town's folk are still mulling about. Also," she let out a little giggle, point her finger at the bike, "that, I'm sure, doesn't fit in."

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thegreatdrake
2013-09-04 01:12 am UTC (link)

Nate nearly started at the sound of someone calling out to him. The sounds around him had been fairly muted, like he was underwater. But the woman's voice was sharp and clear. He looked over at the source, a pretty little brunette with a goofy looking hat in old clothes. Did he travel in time, too? "Uh... work outfits?" He glanced at his standard henley and jeans, along with the leather jacket he'd shucked and draped on the bike. "This isn't... work?"

Looking around, he realized just how out of place he really was. People all around him, people he'd been watching, were in early 20th century garb. How could he have missed it? The only thoughts on his ming were where he was and where he was going The guy at the entrance had pointed him in a direction and gave him a job. "I'm, uh... I'm new here? I was told to go to the trailers."

When she pointed at the motorcycle, he laughed a bit with her. "Yeah, I uh... I don't own one of these normally. When I showed up here, I was rolling up to the joint." He rubbed the back of his neck, stepping away to look at the bike with her. "Someone said something about me being a stunt cyclist. Which sounds about right really." He smiled and held out his hand, always a gentleman. "I'm Nate. Nathan Drake."

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tregardian
2013-09-04 01:30 am UTC (link)

He was a handsome thing, if a bit of a little lost lamb. Diana waited patiently for him to register her presence before waving again and letting out a bright laugh. "Yes! Work outfits. Didn't they give you your--oh! New. Right. Duh."

Closing the distance between them, Diana unpinned the hat from her hair and shook out the loose, chocolate brown curls of her hair. "Nobody's given you the low-down, yet? They must have been steering you toward Management's trailer. Don't worry. You're not alone in the confusion. A few days ago, I was just where you're at. Where are you from?"

Diana wasn't shy about taking his hand and giving it a good shake. She didn't let go immediately though, giving him a little tug and gesturing her head toward the trailers. "Come on, I'll walk you over. That's a nice bike. I've got one back home in Hartford. My name's Diana. Diana Tregarde. Nice to meet you, Nate!"

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thegreatdrake
2013-09-04 03:07 am UTC (link)

Nate felt a smile creep across his face as she worked it out. "Yeah. Just showed up. I've not been here too long, figured if I kept walking, someone would take pity on me." She was cute, for sure. She reminded him a bit of a girl he met back in France. But that was a long time ago. And not at a weird circus.

He watched her hair tumble down when she took her hat off, and was grateful. She was very cute. "Management? Yeah... that sounds like the place I should hit first." He rubbed his jaw. So he wasn't the only one who just showed up here. Curious. "A few days, huh? Just all of a sudden? You were reading Cosmo and bam, instant circus?" He grinned again, glancing around. "Key West, officially. And this definitely isn't Florida." Key West wasn't dusty and dry. He had to be far from home.

Her strong handshake impressed Nate. He worked with a lot of strong, assertive women, Elena being the most recent, and he was always impressed by their grip and tenacity. He chuckled when she held onto his hand, and followed her. His bike was safe and sound where it was for now. He'd get it when it was darker and cooler. "It's nice to meet you too, Diana. And, thanks, I guess. Like I said, it wasn't mine until about ten minutes ago." He continued to watch the people around him as he followed her, her hand still wrapped around his. "Connecticut? Haven't been up north in a while. Unless we are north."

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tregardian
2013-09-04 04:12 am UTC (link)

"Well, consider me your good Samaritan, weary traveler. Pity hereby bestowed." She squeezed his hand one more time and laughed before letting go, replacing it with the shoulder strap of her obviously modern messenger bag.

"Yeah, Management. No one's ever met him, or them, except for Art and Carl. They're going to kind of give you the four-one-one on what is going on. Not going to lie, some of the things they say are going to sound crazy, some of it downright impossible, but...it all checks out so far." Diana wasn't sure that she should be the one to break the news. Art and Carl? Well, this was old-hat for them. They knew how to deal with the myriad reactions that could be consequence to the news.

When he mentioned that bit about Cosmo, Diana laughed loudly, as if it were a little too true. "Oh, yes, something like that. Definitely with the instant circus. That's something most people here have in common. And, I regret to inform you, Dorothy, but you're not in Florida anymore. This is Oklahoma, as in 'where the wind comes sweeping down the plains.' And where it rains, apparently, as much as the east coast."

She had a little bit of a lead on him, so Diana turned around to face him so that she was walking backward. "You're lucky, then. I mean, about the bike. I came all the way here and all I got was this lousy dress!" Despite it all, the young woman was in good cheer. She firmly believed that a sunny disposition on delivery of catastrophic time-leaping and translocative news was crucial to reducing psychological meltdowns. Given Nate's general positivity, she'd say she was right.

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thegreatdrake
2013-09-04 11:50 pm UTC (link)

"The weary traveller very much appreciates it," Nate replied sincerely. He shoved his hand into his pocket when she released it. He wasn't used to holding someone's hand in non-life threatening situations. It was nice. Kinda. He nodded as she spoke, listening to every word and soaking in every detail. The more he could learn, the more he could piece together. "Art and Carl, huh? Sound like a couple of regular old school circus workers." He really hoped she was right, that these guys could clear things up for him. "The secret management sounds very reassuring."

Nate couldn't hold back a grin as Diana laughed. Making people laugh was something he enjoyed doing. Or groan of exasperation. At least it meant he got a reaction out of his jokes. "Well I'm glad we all have that tidbit to talk about. Makes finding friends easier." He hummed, taking in the area again when she told him where they were. "Good old Oklahoma. Guess I can cross it off my list. Definitely not Florida." He snorted, nodding in agreement. "Well it's good to know it rains in other places."

He studied her dress as she walked, also making sure she didn't trip on anything. "The dress isn't so bad. You're pulling it off, all things considered." Her enthusiasm was close to contagious. He was still a bit too lost and in shock to really be too excited. Maybe once things were clear, he'd be able to laugh and enjoy himself. Or he hoped. Because he'd just left two people who cared about him, and they had no clue was he was. That worried him. But he allowed himself to enjoy just this moment of fun.

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tregardian
2013-09-05 02:15 am UTC (link)

"Here to help!" Diana chuckled and offered him a shrug that was absolute in its nonchalant nature. "They're the closest thing to visible management in the hierarchy. Hell, they might even be management and just use the smoke and mirrors as some kind of power tool. I dunno! Haven't really been here long enough to poke my head around places it oughtn't be. Though, knowing me," Diana whistled innocently before finishing, "that's bound to happen."

"I can probably go without visiting it again. It's bland, dreary, and the people are weird. Then again, could just be the times. Although, if my studies were correct, the Midwest has always been less forward-thinking than the coast."

"Oh, it's awful, but it's nice of you to say that. I am so not a dress-wearing type of lady. Just wait until they give you your clothes. All high-waist trousers and suspenders. I love it." That was for sure. The modern menfolk did not like their clothes anymore than the girls did. But, hey, at least they still got to wear pants.

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thegreatdrake
2013-09-06 01:15 am UTC (link)

Nate simply nodded, taking in all the information he could. He'd write it in his journal later. The more information he had, the closer he could get to figuring it all out. He was used to puzzles. But this was totally new territory. He wanted to know more. He chuckled at her admission. "It's okay. Knowing me, I'll do the same. I'm always poking around where I don't belong." His list of arrests for trespassing was proof of that.

"If it's that boring," Nate sighed with a shrug. "Maybe I shouldn't be excited about crossing it off the list, then. I just travel a lot. Oklahoma was probably... near the bottom." He grinned. he really never even thought of going to the state.

Raising an eyebrow he took another look at her dress. "It does leave much to be desired. Maybe I'll look good enough in my trousers and suspenders for the both of us." He grinner at her conspiratorially. "Do I get a newsie hat too? I've always wanted to look like a dapper newsie."

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tregardian
2013-09-06 08:49 pm UTC (link)

"Ah! A fellow curious cat. Good to have you. Like I always say, if curiosity killed the cat, that's why they have nine lives." You were never going to get anywhere as an investigator, really a problem solver of any kind, if you didn't dig for yourself. That often meant peeking where your eyes were meant to go.

"Cross away, sugar," Diana replied, "and bask in the glory that is the Midwestern dustbowl. Hurray, hurrah." She extended her hands out and looked up to the sky. She spun around before letting her arms drop down to her sides.

"No, you're not supposed to like your clothes! That's the whole point!" Mocking a scoff, Diana jokingly rolled her eyes, "What a nerd!"

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thegreatdrake
2013-09-07 02:32 am UTC (link)

"Wow. You make a very good point there, Diana." He'd never heard it put that way, but it made a whole lot of sense. And he did have a tendency to not die. He hoped his lives or luck wouldn't run out. That would be unfortunate.

He smiled as he watched her bask in the bright sun. He was reassuring to know someone was still enjoying herself. He hoped he'd eventually be that enthusiastic. That well adapted that he couldn't be bugged by it as much. If he was stuck here, he might as well enjoy it. "If this is real glory, I don't know what could be more glorious."

"C'mon," he implored, grinning. "Everyone loves a good boy in a nice set of turn of the century clothing." He shrugged and looked off to the side. "Say what you want, but this nerd will make it look good."

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tregardian
2013-09-07 08:55 pm UTC (link)

The two made it to the trailer area, and Diana looked around for the familiar, if albeit still utterly enigmatic, management wagon. Finding it, she continued her even steps.

"Besides, cats always land on their feet." That much was true, for now at least. Diana hadn't braved very much magic since coming here, but her little enchantment underneath her bed had worked to keep it dry from the rain. Even if magic failed her, Diana still had her wits and her very underestimated karate chop.

"Let me tell what could be more glorious. For starters, a hot shower with fabulous water pressure. Don't even get me started on Internet or Chinese takeout." Diana spun to look at him again, as if imagining him in the period clothes. "Yeah, yeah, we'll see. Maybe I'll steal your clothes and leave my dress behind just to spite you!"

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thegreatdrake
2013-09-10 01:45 am UTC (link)

Nate continued to follow the girl, even when she was unsure. She still knew more than him, so even when confused, he'd trail behind like a lost duckling. It was pathetic, he knew, but it was his only shot at getting to this Management.

He smiled at her comment. "You got that right." He knew all too well about landing on his feet. Free running and sparring had given him excellent reflexes, and he'd landed on his feet far more times than on his front or back. Or head. But that's another thought for another day. "Cat's got it good, curious or not."

Nate almost stopped in his tracks as he took in her list. That's right. it was the 30s. All the luxuries he loved would be non-existent. He could have cried. "Well... I always love a good bath after some strenuous activities. Helps the muscles just to soak." He grinned when she turned, and mock gasped, pressing a hand to his chest. "What would I wear, then? Your dress? You wouldn't do that to a poor, lost soul you just met." He pouted as petulantly as he could. "That'd be mean."

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tregardian
2013-09-10 06:44 pm UTC (link)

They arrived at the lone trailer and Diana stopped a few feet away, as if not willing to get too close to it.

"Say goodbye to bubble baths, sugar, because the facilities are not built for good or soaking. It's almost like what you hear about the military, but even they have indoor plumbing." Her hands hit her hips and she looked at him with a cocked eyebrow, suppressing a snort. "Yeah, you could wear the dress. Besides, I'd look good enough for the both of us." Diana mocked him with a wink and a smile, showing it was all in good fun.

Jutting a thumb over her shoulder, she added, "This here's what you're looking for. Like I said, I doubt you'd actually get management face to face, but the two guys that seem to talk for him, or it, I guess, seem to be alright. If you have any questions or whatever, I'm in that tent yonder."

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thegreatdrake
2013-09-11 01:31 am UTC (link)

Nate watched her stop not too close to the trailer. It did feel foreboding, like a dark tomb did when he tried to find it's secrets. This wasn't too different. It just had more... wacky mojo involved.

He sighed dramatically. "Oh God. What will I do without my bubble bath? I won't make it!" He smiled at her. "I've had worse, believe me. I can handle losing the bath." He cocked his head, his smile widening. "Oh, really? I believe I called that honor not too long ago. You're too late."

He looked over her at the weird trailer. He doubted he'd get any answers. Real answers, anyway. But it was the first step to figuring out what was going on. "Great. Thanks, Diana. I really appreciate it." His eyes flicked back to her, his smile becoming more of a smirk. "I'll be sure to stop by sometime. Don't worry." He may have been flirting a bit too much, but he was having fun. And he needed the distraction.

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tregardian
2013-09-13 01:20 am UTC (link)

"Yeah, yeah, bucko. We'll see who has the last laugh." Diana shot him a wry grin before giving him a stout nod. "Right, I hope everything goes well with them. Should be pretty straight forward, from what I experienced and heard from others, but you never know."

She kind of did that awkward shuffle toward him, as if not sure if she should give him a hug. She seemed to think better of it and instead shrugged, "I guess I'll see you at dinner! If you make it that long. I'll make sure to lay out your new dress!" Accompanied with a loud laugh, Diana moved past him toward her tent. He seemed the nice type, which was good. He also seemed like the type of guy who could roll with the punches and not lose his shit over the time warp bit. That was even better.

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