It was a beautiful fall day, and the strange group of misfits were once again on the road, in their old, beat up pickup truck.

They were on the freeway currently, with the driver aimlessly following the road, and picking which destination to follow almost randomly.

A sign was coming up, showing names for two towns up ahead, with Jackrabbit Town(the town being known for little to nothing now, almost like it's a ghost town) on the left, and Eureka City(being known for its theme parks) on the right.

Which place will the misfits choose, or will they even choose at all?

((@Angstyrainbow @Daxam @Ordsmed @Hyyde322 @EmiliaBaiYue @Martian))

Sat atop the moving machine but her hair barely stirred at all as she manipulated wind around herself
What everyone saw was an illusion and hid a freighting Oni, at least that was the non magical reaction. They see her horns all dark an glossy only the last 3-4 inches glowed like embers in a fire and around her small sparks of light flickered in an out of existence the tiny embers of a fire she seemed to stand in, sit in, or streamed in a trail behind her when she dropped her illusion. She wasn't a monster though she appeared to look like one, wait no she is a monster.
Bai yue couldn't escape the logic that you are what you appear to be an she looked like a monster, then there was her genetics which she discovered was part of why she looked as she did. She never told anyone but as she was aging she became more Oni like even in some of her habits. She was stronger than most mortal men and couldn't help worry when part of her looked down on them, you know -Puny Human- thoughts
It was all part of why she was on the outside, she was worried she'd offend them with her arrogance, work that one out you psych majors.
She liked these people they didn't look at her as if she might bite, a couple were even friendly. Till Bai yue stumbled across them and they all were briefly chased by bagboys (Bai yue's name for the government hunters) she thought friendship a thing for normal people. If these are normal people?

Eli lounged on the flatbed of the old truck, a cigarette attached to his lower lip. Upon feeling the truck slow down, stood up and leaned on the roof to look at the sign quickly approaching them. Looking to the girl before him, he offered a small smile. "What do you think B? I'm gonna put my money on the circus being something evil and sinister." He laughed, taking another long drag of his cigarette.

Nicknames were something he gave to people to remember them by, Bai's nickname being B for obvious reasons. He's been with the group a few months now, having helped them out of a tight spot with his plasma. He normally wasn't one for travelling with people. He wasn't normally one for people in general but he had to admit, the ragtag group had grown on him a little

Audrey laid down sprawled out horizontally across the flatbed, her legs hanging off the side of the truck. She had been reading a book she "borrowed" from a bookstore in the last town they were in. If her mother could see her now, shoplifting, although she figured her mother probably wouldn't care. That relationship had been severed the night her mother and father decided to sell their only daughter down the river. In truth the only person she missed was her little brother who probably wasn't so little anymore. She often thought about what grade he'd be starting, how many birthdays she had missed.

He had only been a baby when she fled from home, so he probably wouldn't remember her, but that didn't stop her from loving him all the same. There was a silver lining to the situation she was in and it was finding what she sort of considered her new family. "Evil circus, that'd be a first" she answered Eli's question, Sarcasm hanging on her breath. As she looked up, she could see recklessness had taken Eli as he shot up to look at the sign. This of course kicked her motherly instincts into overdrive "And stop standing in the truck, you're gonna fall out when we start moving again." She warned.

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Vincent sat in the driver's seat, his left arm hanging out of the open window as he tapped the door to the time of the heavy metal playing over the radio. As the driver this time around, he had full control of the radio and he always took full advantage of it. His usual overcoat sat bundled on the front seat next to him, between himself and whoever was sitting next to him. The fact that neither he nor any of his friends had any set destination was another boon, as his sense of direction wasn't exactly...present. When he noticed the sign they were approaching, offering them two choices between where to go, he pulled off to the side of the road and pushed his sunglasses to the top of his head. He had heard vague rumblings about both towns, moreso Eureka City, so he had a rough idea of waited for himself and his friends. "Let's see; we could go to Jackrabbit. Might be something there, but all we'll probably do is waste time looking at empty buildings. Or..."

He glanced in the opposite direction. "We could go to Eureka. Theme parks are always worth going to." Despite putting on the show of thinking, he had already made his decision. He pressed down on the gas...and the truck didn't move. Swearing under his breath, he turned the key. The engine tried to turn over and finally did on the second attempt. He pulled out of park and, with a smirk, shouted so the people in the bed of the truck could hear, "Alright, kids, you've all been good, so I'm making the executive decision to go visit some theme parks! Next stop, Eureka!"

Eli raised an eyebrow at the truck seemingly stalling, he leaned around the side of the truck to speak to vincent. "We need to get a new ride man, this hunk of junk is gonna croak on us someday soon and I'd rather it not be when we're trying to get away from the grunts." He hated to admit it but the thought of being caught by the grunts scared him slightly.

He gave a small snort as the truck turned. "I give it ten minutes of being in one of those theme parks before wee get attacked by some sort of evil clown"

Lucile “Lucy” O’Connor

Lucy waited by the side of the road, wearing a flannel shirt and ripped jeans. Most of her clothing on her was stolen. She had stolen most of her clothes from vintage stores. Holding out her thumb, hoping that she would be picked up. A small brown rat was hiding inside the pocket of her shirt. There were not many cars that had stopped for her, which was understandable. The drivers did not know who they were picking up. But finally, a truck stopped beside her. As soon as the door opened, she got inside. The driver looked over at Lucy, asking her where she wants to go.

“I am going to Eureka City.” Reading the driver’s mind, she knew she would be safe for the time being. Her hand reached into her shirt pocket. Petting the rat, who was squawking softly. She hoped she would be able to find some information about the scientist in Eureka City.

THULILE

Thuly woke up startled. ’What, where?’ Then she realized it was Vincent’s voice that had ripped her from her dream. She was so relieved. Relieved to be back in the real world and relieved to be amongst her friends. Her dream had teleported her back to the day that Thulile had been allowed to join this odd pack of misfits.

She remembered that day, three months ago, vividly. The weight of the wounded dog across her shoulders, the police sirens coming nearer and nearer and this same beat up truck driving towards her. She’d yelled at them, pleading them to stop and save her. And they did, they had. She remembered what happened next only vaguely, as the mist of fatigue had weighed her down. When she discovered that her companions had mystical powers, they wanted to drop her off somewhere. Thuly’s natural inclination not to trust anyone, meant she hadn’t revealed her own power yet. But somehow being part of this group of misfits felt right. So, gulping away her nerves, Thulile had given them a taster of her power. It had been rather impressive to see this petite girl lift the back of the truck off the road a good three feet. It had been convincing enough, and they had taken her in.

Now, all these months later, Thuly had proven her worth. Her power had manifested in unexpected and unpredictable ways. She liked the way it felt: being part of a team. It was the first time she’d experienced this.

Then she looked over to Vincent, from her perch on the passenger’s seat. ’What had he said? Theme parks?’, she wondered. Then Eli leaned around the side of the truck: "We need to get a new ride man, this hunk of junk is gonna croak on us someday soon and I'd rather it not be when we're trying to get away from the grunts." Then he snorted: "I give it ten minutes of being in one of those theme parks before we get attacked by some sort of evil clown". “Whoah, WHAT?!” Thulile asked. She hadn’t been in a theme park ever. Eli’s last remark shattered the glittery, pinkish, jingle jangle image she had been painting in her mind. The idea of being ambushed by a terror clown didn’t appeal to Thuly whatsoever.

Still, she had gotten used to Eli’s murky sense of humor since he had joined them these last couple of months. Regaining her composure, she straightened her back and smiled bravely: “Clown or no clown, let’s check out those theme parks!”

Eli instantly felt bad, he'd taken a liking to Thulie and he always felt guilty for spooking her. "Sorry. I'm sure it'll be fine. and with the time of year, the theme parks will probably be pretty empty." He backtracked, hoping if he mentioned the lack of crowds she'd feel a bit more at ease.

Eli had never had a family. Not a real one anyway. This little ragtag group was the closest thing and he'd taken to Thulie like a little sister with how young she was.

Bai yue smiled at the thought of an evil circus having once been a brief member of a freak show because it was the easiest place for her to hide in her early days.
Snapping her fingers she made the truck appear to be a small construction truck nice paint job with the members of a family business aboard, she was one of those magnetic signs sitting on the roof her illusion solid because she gave it as simple an overlay as she could.

The sign red promising a delighted Kitty an making sure very few paid attention to where she flew just above the truck tethered to a small suction cup holding a string with her right as she munched on some form of candy. She was as she sat in the best point of view on the truck untouched by winds because she was an elemental, at least that was her new course in life.
She seemed to be showing off when all the while she was using the trip as a practice session an exercise. As the truck moved she manipulated the airstream just about six feet out an centered 3 feet off the ground. The effect was the old beat up machine sliced through the air with an ease the finest formula one car could manage, also as a result sand, dust, debris, and insect were caught in the pressure wave an deflected away for them.
The candy was her fuel in this exercise.


@Angstyrainbow "I don't bet on things like fate, fate has a booty fetish for that sort of thought" giggles as she grabs a local dust devil making it vanish adding it to the trailing wave of the air pocket pinching it till it made a forlorn moan

THULILE

She just didn’t get Bai. Thuly wasn’t able to see past her illusions and had often been taken by surprise lately as Bai decided to reappear suddenly. It unnerved Thulile. Still, she did respect Bai Yue heaps, so she tried to keep her neck hairs from rising as her voice abruptly emerged from thin air and addressed Eli.

’Eli’, she thought, ‘isn’t he just a doll? He fusses over me and tries to help me whenever he can’. Thuly really liked him. She’d appreciated how he’d accepted her right of the bat and how he was treating her like his little sister. He gave her the impression that he’d go through extremes to keep her save. That felt really good!

"Sorry. I'm sure it'll be fine. and with the time of year, the theme parks will probably be pretty empty." Eli’s words, although feeling slightly forced, made Thuly calmer. In an added attempt to rid the air of any premonition of doom, Thulile asked: “Do you think they have barbe à papa? I mean candy cotton?”

Eli laughed at the new look of the truck, finding immense enjoyment from it. "Oh my gods, this truck looks amazing. Great job B!" He grinned and leaned over the other side of the truck to talk to Thulie.

"Oh hell yes. Candy floss is one of the like, staples of theme parks. I'll buy you some if you like Lele" He assured. "And I can show you which rides aren't too scary"

Thank God no one settled for the small town, Audrey had enough of small towns to last a lifetime. Going to an amusement park sounded like a great time. Lots of people, great food, tons of rides, loads of activities and the latter.

She noticed Bai had camouflaged the truck giving it a new paint job and an interesting sign with a kitten on it "well at least it won't draw any attention" she said. Bai was still a mystery to her. Everyone else checked out, Vincent, Thullie, and Eli seemed as close to normal as the definition would allow, but she couldn't really make heads or tails of Bai. It didn't bother her too much, she was apart of this ragtag group like everyone else and that meant she was family.

She put her book down and stretched out her legs and stretched her arms as far as they would go. "Don't worry Thullie, we'll make sure you get as much as you can handle" she mentioned. Thullie was a fairly new addition to the band of merry runaways.....well...they were all new. "Hey, you think they'll have funnel cake there?" She asked.

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"Oh, come on, this old girl's gotten me out of too many scrapes to just abandon her," Vincent said as he patted his door again. "I've got the skills to keep her running for a while longer. Now, as for evil clowns, on the other hand, I'm kinda hoping for something like that." He grinned and single-handedly cracked the knuckles of his left hand as he added, "Been way too long since I was able to cut loose. Gotta make sure I don't get rusty."

As he finished speaking, the truck shimmered as Bai cast an illusion over the vehicle, turning giving it the form of a construction truck, the logo of which featured a kitten for some strange reason. He shrugged, having never been one to fret over little things like that. Sure, it wasn't his first choice of design, but since Bai was the only one who could disguise the truck, he felt it was only fair she decided on how it looked. He flipped his sunglasses back down onto his face, brought the truck into the next gear, and added, "Oh, they better have funnel cake or else it's not a park worth going to. That and those rigged booth games. Sure, I end up wasting all my cash on them because there's no way in hell I'm letting those cheats get the best of me, but a theme park not having one of those just doesn't sound right."

After a few moments, Vincent asked, "So, new girl, what's your name?"

OOC: I gathered Lucy got into another truck, not ours, right? So, who is Vincent addressing? *confused* 😅

IC:

THULILE

Her little band of misfits was colorful to say the least, but the friendly banter that went around the car made Thuly feel at home. ‘Well, except for the lack of French of course’, she grinned. The grin broadened to a smile, which made her white teeth flash brightly in the darkness of her face. “Yummm…”, Thulile salivated, “all the candy…err…floss I can eat? Superb!”

Looking at Eli, she wondered about the scary rides. She’d seen pictures and YouTube films, and compared to her life they weren’t likely to spook her. Still, a guide to the parks would be a good thing.

As Audrey mentioned funnel cake, Thuly chuckled. It seemed to her that their crew had an unnatural fixation on food. ’Especially, on the unhealthy kind!’ Well, her companions were unnatural in many ways, this was just another of their quirks. “Funnel cake? What’s that? Never seen or tasted that”, she admitted.

Those theme parks promised to have lots of new experiences in store for her. Thulile wondered how long it would take to get there. At least Bai made sure that they didn’t attract any unwanted attention to them.

Eli snorted a laugh. "Come on Vinnie, you'll break a hip if you're not careful." He teased. He'd taken to picking on Vinnie for being a few years older than himself.

Eli nodded at Audrey. "Oh they better. I'll be really pissed off if they don't." Looking back over the side of the truck he grinned. "Theme parks are normally really packed with small animals like birds and rodents, right ReyRey?"

Lucile “Lucy” O’Connor

Lucy was sitting in between two of the females inside the truck. But she didn’t really say much. Mostly listening to their conversation, wondering if she could hear some useful information. But mostly they were talking about an amusement park. She had read about places like this but had never been to one herself. She had not been outside of Area 66 ever since she was a baby, so she did not know much about the outside world. A part of her was excited to experience something that would be fun. “My name is Lucy.” She spoke in a soft sounding voice. “What else is in the amusement park?” She didn’t want to sound stupid for not knowing what an amusement park was, So wording her question differently would not make the others think less of her.

Reading the minds of the others in the truck, wanting to know what information she could find. But rationalizing it by wanting to know more about them. People in the truck more attuned mentally, could notice Lucy trying to read their minds. The rat in her pocket poked his head out, “I wonder if they know if this amusement park has any cheese?” Lucy assured them that the amusement park would have something for him to eat. And hopefully something she could eat. She had not eaten anything since before her escape.

The thought of her being caught was starting to fill her mind. She would have to fight if these people would try to hand her to the police.

"Mmmmm, small animals are more county and state fair territory, but it's possible they might" She said. Her hometown used to hold county fairs every year. She remembered going to them as a kid and visiting the petting zoos they had. As she finished answering Eli's question , she heard Thuly ask about funnel cakes, what they were and what they tasted like and shot up like a lightning bolt at her question "you've never had funnel cake, well you are in for a treat" she said.

Before they could take off, the band of misfits were gifted with a new passenger. A young girl with an interesting haircut. She seemed of the shy sort as she introduced herself as Lucy and asked about the amusement parks. "Audrey" she mentioned with a warm smile "oh, you know, rides, food, games, and other junk."

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Vincent barked out a laugh at Eli's playful barb and held his hand out of the window, with which he extended a certain finger in his general direction. He pulled his arm back into the truck then, to Lucy, he grinned and said, "I'm Vincent. Pretty much the designated mechanic around here.. You could say I've got a way with this old girl. As for funnel cake..."

He thought for a moment before continuing, "It's basically deep-fried ropes of batter, usually with powdered sugar sprinkled on it or whatever else you wanna use. Fairs and theme parks usually keep it pretty simple, though. God, now I could go for some funnel cake with chocolate and strawberries. Not knocking fairground funnel cake, but next time I get a hold of some batter, I'll show you guys what good funnel cake tastes like."

As his mouth watered at the thought of the deep-fried goodness, a song began to play on the radio that Vincent liked, so he turned the volume up a bit higher. He hadn't been traveling with this group very long, having mostly wandered on his own for a little over half of his life, but it was something he had gotten used to by that point. It was nice having people to banter and joke with. More than that, though, it was nice knowing there were people at his back when things got rough. Sure, he didn't know much about any of them and that was fine, given that he had things he'd rather not talk about, himself, and as far as he was concerned, you didn't need to know someone's life story to trust them.

Listening to those around her wasn't Bai yue's thing. Sure she paid attention with a tiny portion of her brain her multiplexed logic handling several tasks at once as she manipulated the air elements to create small will-o-wisps, 30 or more that were so weak they collapsed the moment they struck any of the objects she aimed them at. It was like most things she did when bored training, she had to because as a freak she was easy to spot by the magically inclined if she wasn't actively concealing her presence.
"Don't worry too much about it an amusement park of any type it's the real money maker. you see something I'll get it for you" Bai yue the girl most likely to steal