⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 138 - Day 152
Where: The Summerlands
What: The Ringmaster brings the carnival to the Summerlands immediately after being freed from Portland so that everyone can take a fucking nap. Her included.
Warnings: Individually marked! Most likely discussion of torture and trauma in here.

DAYS OF SUMMER↴ You made it! And things are back to normal... more or less. Upon waking, you will be greeted with a clear blue sky and gentle breeze – the carnival has found itself situated between a pair of mountain peaks, with great fields of flowers extending in the distance. In the other direction, you’ll see mountain-top cities and tall waterfalls accenting vast swaths of forest. Some of you will already know this place. It’s the Summerlands. You game here once to rest in safety nearly a year ago, and now you’ve come to rest once again. ► WAKING UP: Shortly after the carnival arrives, the Ringmaster will send out a somewhat cryptic radio message - but her immediate location won't be clear. Whatever items you had on your person at the time the Severing was broken will still be on your person, including whatever clothing. All of the animals and pets of the carnival will have returned to the grounds as well, though they are currently free from their designated living spaces. Things in the carnival will appeared to have naturally aged a month, as if the carnival was been sitting here empty and waiting while everyone was in Portland. The lawn needs mowing. ► SUMMER CITY: After the Summer Fae become aware of everyone's presence, they will welcome you into their city. There are stairs that lead up the sides of the mountains, but thankfully there are also magical means of getting up there as well. The Summer Fae will be willing to help workers with the injured as needed, offering herbal remedies and healing magic to those that want it. You'll also be invited to join them for dinner, but they will not be particularly offended if they are turned down, for now. ► SUMMER PEOPLE: The fae here will mostly enjoy the company of any carnival members that offer it - it doesn't seem that much happens here besides day after day of peaceful meditation and relaxation. It is not uncommon to see Summer Fae spent days doing exactly the same thing, whether that be enjoying the weather, listening to music, or dancing - the day and night periods may be similar to earth, but when you don't need rest it can all blur together just the same. Some of the fae work on feats of agriculture or craftsmanship, and while there is no particularly need to work in this place, they take pride in the fact that they do. ► NEW ARRIVALS: Though the Ringmaster will not be offering much guidance for the first week or so, eventually the carnival will begin running for a few small performance sessions, off and on, as a thank you to their fae hosts. The carnival will also be open to receiving new arrivals during that period, and so there will likely be some newbies to train and get orientated as well.

Comments

Summer People

[chronosynthesis]

It's only because the Fae are slinking away that Syrlya approaches, because that seems kind of terrible to make someone cry and then just leave them to it. He stops a respectful distance in front of her, leaning over a bit with concern clearly etched on his face.

"Are... is there something wrong?" Well, there's obviously something wrong, but if he's going to coax a reason out of her he's going to do it gently.

[steadydollypegs]

She's never seen someone who looks like this person does-- at least not yet. But hey, this is the carnival and she has antlers and partial gem-face, nothing is strange at this point.

"Yeah," Doll nods and rubs under her visible eye to wipe her tears. "I lost my brother in Portland, 'n it was my fault."

[chronosynthesis]

"Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss," He offers his hand to her with a sympathetic expression. It's so hard to lose the people you love, but especially to hold yourself responsible... it's not a guilt Syrlya wishes on anyone.

"Perhaps you should sit." He glances around for any place that he can guide her to sit while she cries, although it will likely just be the grass.

[steadydollypegs]

He sounds nice, genuinely nice, and Doll doesn't have it in her to be suspicious. She'd spent months second-guessing everyone's intentions, feeling scared of every stranger, if something happens to her here... well, all she can think about is how Joker smote two demons in as many minutes. Something similar would probably happen if he found out.

But that's probably not going to happen, and she's just going to trust this person for now. Doll takes his hand and nods. "Yeah alright," she mumbles. The grass is fine, it's cool and doesn't itch, strangely enough. Doll wanders a bit further away from the group and sits down heavily to sniffle and use her sleeve as a handkerchief.

"Ev'rybody's been sayin' it's not my fault, that this happens s-sometimes, but I... I tried t'tell him not t'get involved with what was goin' on. He wouldn' listen, but I shoulda said no harder."

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya kneels beside her, letting her hold onto his hand as tightly or loosely as she needs. It's a shame he doesn't have any sort of handkerchief to offer her himself, but her sleeve seems to be doing the job.

He gives her hand a gentle squeeze. "Sometimes it is not enough to say no, because people will make their own decisions. It's heartbreaking to watch someone make a choice that hurts them." It probably won't assuage her guilt now, but hopefully she can ruminate on it later.

[steadydollypegs]

She'd never really thought about it that way, but it makes sense. When she'd first arrived at the carnival, Joker had tried to tell her no, too. But in the end, she'd made her own choice too. Doll likes to think that it was a good choice, that she gives Joker some kind of comfort or support, but what if something happened to her? Something could have happened to her, easily. He'd prevented it every time though.

"It is, it really is," Doll says with a nod. "I've done th'same. Made choices that prob'ly hurt people. I jus'... thought it was the right thing t'do."

[chronosynthesis]

"He might have thought so, too." Syrlya says it in a reassuring tone, moving to put his hand on her shoulder. "Instead of dwelling on who to blame, though, you should honor his memory with the things that he did well and what you loved about him."

This is absolutely hypocritical advice from Syrlya, but he says it so genuinely and without hesitation thete's no way to tell.

[steadydollypegs]

"He did think so. He recognized me b'fore I knew who he was," she says with a faint smile. "He said... that he knew he was supposed ta stick t'me, an' that was jus' how it was gonna be.

"He had snakes, and they'd talk t'him. Never talked t'me, but I fig're that's jus' cause I didn' know how t'listen right."

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya returns her small smile with one of his own. He assumes this alll has something to do with their horrovle prior stop, but he won't ask the details.

"He must have cared dearly for you. I'm sure he's someone who deserves to be remembered fondly. Can you tell me more?"

[steadydollypegs]

"Yeah," Doll nods and unfolds a little, less hunched over and tense, more relaxed. "He um. I didn' grow up with 'im, he joined our family later on, after we'd started our circus. But he was lonely too, needed a home, people thought he was some kinda creature 'cause he had, yanno, scales all around here--" She gestures to her cheeks with both hands. "But I liked 'em. They were shiny 'n smooth, nice pattern. ...better 'n what I have," she says, taking a moment to fuss with the bangs over her eye. "He was quiet, polite-- some people thought he was stand-offish but just 'cause people don't rattle on like I do don't mean they're unfriendly."