"WOOOO," Porkchop cheered as the carnies practically paraded a selection of fabrics before him. "I'll take... that one!" he decided, pointing with his nose at the pink-and-gold plaid. It seemed to match the general aesthetic of Nemean, which he thought was probably appropriate.

Sniffing at the cinnamon ants scattered on the ground (from the wild celebration a few moments back), Porkchop gobbled up a few with a grunt of appreciation before picking up the wrapped orb in his teeth. "Nish shnacksh," he grinned from around the cloth. "Sho," he added, turning expectantly to Nemean, "where're we goin' wi' uh orb to fiksh all dish?"

Bebby was messing with the claw game again, and Nemean threw her head back with a giggle. "Don't bother, that thing's rigged," she told Bebby. She swept down, tossed her drink over her shoulder, and frowned briefly at the fact that Porkchop had taken the cloth that would've totally looked great as a saddle blanket on her new mighty steed. Oh, well; she picked up the dark pink one in its stead and buzzed back to the candy-cat, aiming to flap the cloth out like a bedsheet before laying it across Bebby's back, between her wings. "Nobody's ever supposed to win those," she went on. And she wasn't wrong--despite what should've been a perfect grab of loot, the claw just... let go at the last second, seemingly of its own accord, and came up empty.

Meanwhile, the carnies hastily wrapped the pink orb, leaving the knot loosely looped so that Porkchop could carry it in his mouth, or over his snout. Then they stood back, making way.

"So, mighty steed-wise!" Nemean cried, and clapped her tiny hands together. "I get on your back, and we make a GRAND entrance. I'll do the lights, the sounds, you just gotta strut your stuff, uhh, what's your name?" She attempted to land on Bebby's back, neatly on the cloth.

"Anyway we're going to Cetus. The shithole," she clarified. "Aquarian's smelly swamp. Let's go!" she added, and then, yawning and pointing; "It's, uh. That way!"

@Porkchop @Bebby

Bebby shrugged as she lost the game again, excitedly turning her full attention back to nemean. "my full name is "Strawberry Extravaganza Glitterpaws", but Bebby works just fine!" she said, bouncing in place.

she nodded along to everything nemean said, seeming to agree with all the conditions of things she'd have to do, and seemed pretty content with the pretty dark pink cloth being draped on her, giving no protest as nemean landed on her back.

Bebby nodded, "To cetus!" she cheered, before beginning her journey with nemean on her back.

exit unless stopped

speech
thoughts

As they prepared to leave for Cetus, Fahl was left with a choice, eyeing the fish that swam circles within its bowl. Its confinements smaller than even the shallow ponds of his home Pisces, shining fins collided with the glass walls more often than not. Suspended above ground and far from water, freedom would be more struggle than captivity might be. And more disgusted by the prospect of cooperation with Nemean for however many tunnels than hungry, he couldn't stomach devouring it himself.

"Hey, Imp!" he called out. "Want a snack for the trip?"

Wondering whether he could cook the fish using an easier method than breathing heat directly into the prison it was held in, the iguana drew a deep breath and focused on the surroundings instead of the subject. He suspended a paw over the bowl's opening. Tension building in his jaw, he set the magic loose upon an exhale.

A sharp hiss. Bubbles rolled over a surface that'd once been host to only gentle ripples. Steam hitting him, Fahl jerked his paw away, taken aback by the suddenness of the reaction.

If answered in the affirmative by his teacher, his next words were, "Over here! Got some fish." Otherwise, he'd turn with a shrug to follow after the others, but not before telling the carnies they could have the meal as a treat for their work here.

Good relations. If they weren't entirely beholden to Nemean, it'd do to keep himself in their good graces in case he ever had to come this way again.

-Exit Fahl

After brief consideration, Porkchop dropped his ring and kazoo into the unbearable pain ball bundle, too. It wasn't like he had any other way of carrying his prizes, and inanimate object's couldn't feel pain anyway, so it was fine. He frowned slightly at the Bebby-Nemean duo, though. Why didn't HE get a mighty steed? He was the one who'd arguably done the most for this quest, and deserved it the most.

But he comforted himself by thinking I'm too big and powerful for any mere rainbow cat to carry, anyway! If anything, a tiny rainbow steed would ruin the imposing atmosphere he had going on. With that thought to soothe his bruised ego, Porkchop lumbered off, bundle of prizes clutched between his teeth.

exit

Well this had turned chaotic.

Imp could hear the pig, could hear Nemean too, could smell the sickly sugary sweetness of the newcomer Bebby. He was itching to get this all done with: to help those other Masters and, hopefully, to see Nemean dead.

And--if Farina kept her word--to get his fucking eyes back. Even now, visions (ha) of color and shape, memories of sight, were flaring through his mind.

The fish distracted him, though: he gave Fahl a quick, surprised "Shit, thanks!" and snapped it up before moving on (totally unaware of the poor thing's intended life as 'pet').

And then? Well, then--Imp supposed--they were moving on! "Fucking finally. Let's do this," he muttered, and then, far more loudly and in Porkchop's general direction, "You got that shit already!? Nice job! Let's get outta here."

The music was making his head spin.

exit Imp