⇨ HOME AGAIN

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone!
When: Day 68 - Day 72
Where: Carnival grounds.
What: Everyone makes it back to the carnival after their adventure in hell. The Ringmaster makes a new lake to celebrate, apparently.
Warnings: A notable absence of torture.

TO HELL AND BACK↴ The rescuers and the liberated captives will emerge from the portal like bats out of hell. Much like their previous return, this arrival will be met with a flurry of medical activity as everyone gets their injuries seen to, particularly those that had been held prisoner within Morningstar's hell fortress. It will still be night when they arrive, and the rest of Day 68 will be clouded over completely, for the benefit of the new vampires as they get settled in. After the immediate panic is dealt with, the Ringmaster will disappear into the forest until the morning of Day 69. It will be raining off and on during her absence. ► RECOVERY: Unlike the last time, the Ringmaster will be supplying the carnival workers with some healing potions from her private hoard, given that most of the healers are already wounded or spent. Damage caused by iron poisoning will not be cured by healing magic or healing items though, unfortunately, and those who have spent a lot of time in contact with iron will take at least a week to fully recover. However, regular healing remedies like bandages and herbs may help speed things along if the patient is suited to them. ► A BRAND NEW LAKE: On the morning of Day 69, the Ringmaster will return the forest to announce that she's built a new lake into the carnival grounds, only a short trail's distance from the backyard. Unlike most of the forest, this area won't just lead you in circles when explored, meaning that it can actually be modified and developed as the workers see fit. The water is always clean and just the right temperature for swimming, though it gets a bit cooler the deeper you swim. At the far side of the lake, there is a warm, stone pathway leading up the side of the mountain, that will eventually take you to some bangin' hot springs. Brought to you mostly because the Ringmaster doesn't know how to say sorry with actual words. At least it gives you something to play with while you try to shake off the trauma. ► FRUITS OF VICTORY: On Day 70, all the workers who came to hell for the rescue mission will be given a gift from the Ringmaster. Each of them will receive a bright green, glowing seed, about the size of your thumbnail. She will tell you that, when planted, the seeds will swiftly grow into a small citrus tree, which will grow fruits with regenerative properties. More details about these plants will be written up in a separate post, but for now your characters can ogle them and decide if they are going to plant them or not. ► TAKE ME TO CHURCH: Staring on Day 71, the Ringmaster will be starting to work on removing the vampirism from those infected with it, which apparently involves a lot of... meditation? She will take the newbie vampires out into a shady area of the forest and encourage them to look inside themselves and attempt to separate themselves spiritually from their demonic beasts. How well you character masters her teachings over time will determine whether or not she is ultimately capable of stripping out your demon soul and returning you to life. Of course, not all demons are made equal, and some will be more difficult to separate than others...

Comments

[dorkypantsuit]

68: Harder.

He'd been unconscious when he was brought back to the carnival. It means waking up back here feel especially unreal to him. His memories of his fight with others are foggy, and he finds most of his memories past leaving the cell with the others are a blur. It feels like a bad dream the details of which he can't remember, and he doesn't examine the memories too closely either. He prefers the blankness, even if it makes it feel like he still is in a dream.

He's still out of it when the potion is forced into his hand. He drinks it without much hesitation, it's just easier to do what he's told. The pain vanishes from his wings as they magically mend themselves, attuned to this type of magic. His horn however isn't something that can be mended, and the brand they'd burned over the fae mark on his pack has already healed over. If he wanted it gone he'd have to cut it out of his skin. It's not worth the effort.

If you happen to see a conscious Psiioniic the day of the rescue, he will seem extremely out of it and dazed. He likely sits himself down somewhere and stares off into space for a while, and if he's walking around he'll likely end up knocking into something.


69: Better.

He's wearing some sweatpants and an oversized shirt that covers his wings. There's an ugly bruise around his neck from his iron collar and some of his skin even looks blistered, as though it were burned. There's similar marks around his wrists. It doesn't occur to him that the sight of the wounds might make someone uncomfortable so he doesn't bother to cover them. He knows he's not fit to be around people, but at the same time he doesn't want to be alone, so he wanders towards wherever people hanging around at the edges of crowded areas, just listening and watching.

Eventually this means he finds his way to the new lake. It's strange to see something so huge where there used to be nothing, and even though he's always been afraid of water he can't help wandering nearer to look at his own reflection in the lake's surface.


71: Stronger.

He hasn't been infected, but despite the weird apathy that's been plaguing him the past few days he finds himself wanting to help. Many of the people who had been turned belonged to his group, and he felt responsible not only for their injuries, but for helping to cure them as well. If he see's someone having difficulty meditating he will come over and try to offer his own help.

"The key is to not think."

day 69

[dontpokethat]

Not too surprisingly, losing over a liter of blood took a lot out of Ginko; for the first few days after the attack, he was pretty much wiped out, spending more time asleep than awake and rarely moving around.

Now, though, he's starting to be up and around more often... and it doesn't take him long to find the lake.

He found not long after leaving Atlantis that the gill slits along his ribs never disappeared the way the rest of his temporary changes did, but that hasn't been particularly relevant lately. Now, though, he's considering testing them out again. He's not fully in the water just yet - just sitting at the edge of the lake, his pants rolled up as he dips his hooves in the cool water.

When he hears someone else approaching, he looks up-- then practically jumps to his feet, his ears flipping upward. That quick of movement turns out not to be the greatest idea, and he wobbles a bit, but he manages to keep his balance as he raises a hand to get Psi's attention.

"--Hey!"

Re: day 69

[dorkypantsuit]

Ginko's reaction is so sudden it startles Psi a bit. He stops back wondering if Ginko will fall, but he catches his balance quickly enough. Psi notes that he's relieved by that outcome. Though he sees and gears Ginko's greeting he doesn't react other than to move closer to him. When he reaches Ginko he stops, looks him over and than looks to the lake. The last time he'd seen Ginko he was close to unconscious with bloodloss. He's glad to see he seems okay.

"Hey."

[dontpokethat]

He's certainly doing a lot better; he's still a little pale and shaky, but he's definitely a lot more stable, and there's no sign of the bite mark on his neck.

On the other hand, the longer he looks Psi over, the more worried Ginko gets. His tail twitches back and forth and he slides his hands into his pockets, ears drooping. "...I'm glad you're back."

[dorkypantsuit]

He notices the shift in posture. He thinks Ginko might be feeling uncomfortable, but he isn't sure why. Ginko called him over here, afterall. Perhaps he was regretting it now? Or more likely he was just being friendly. Part of him is therefore surprised when Ginko says he's glad to see him, but he figures Ginko is just being polite. He has a flicker of a memory, some dumb conversation held in a diner, but the specifics aren't totally clear. He just remembers thinking that Ginko cared about those sort of societal norms. He nods in understanding.

"We don't have to talk."

[dontpokethat]

Now that Psi's come over closer, Ginko sits back down, wincing a little, and slides his hooves back into the water. He looks up at Psi, giving a small smile. "I guess we don't. But if you want to we can."

Which is to say, if Psi wants to talk about what happened, Ginko is open to listening. Or if he wants to talk about something else and not think about it. Either works.

[dorkypantsuit]

The problem was Psi didn't have anything he wanted to talk about. He didn't even really know what he was doing out here, he just didn't want to be alone. He watches Ginko, slide his feet back into the water. He notices the wince, but isn't sure it's his place to mention it. He wants to help though, if he can.

"Do you need assistance?"

day 69

[forkedroad]

Annabelle notices the Psiionic at the edge of the lake. She was actually heading there for the sake of exploration, and maybe in some small part she isn't exactly wholly willing to acknowledge, to clear her head and find some peace. Even if personally spared and pretty removed from everyone at the carnival by virtue of being so new, she can't help but feel a tense feeling of unease in the back of her mind after all that's happened, even after the rescues.

She stands there, for a moment, then smoothes her long skirt as she walks towards him, trudging with unnecessary force forward. She sits right beside him wordlessly, pretzel legged and flopping her hands into her lap, and she stares at the lake with an unintentional squint as she watches the light catching the surface. She knows that the Psiionic was gone—she didn't at first, but she'd eventually caught wind.

She looks to him, her hair blowing in her face. Still, she says nothing, studying his current state.

Re: day 69

[dorkypantsuit]

Even though her approach is wordless it doesnt escape his attention. His antennae twitch as she comes closer even ifthe rest if him does nothing to aknowledge her presence. He can tell she's looking at him and he wonders idly if she's thinking of asking him something. But the silence continues and he feels compelled to fill it.

"How are you?" he asks, still not bothering to look at her before speaking.

[forkedroad]

Annabelle knows this is a little strange for the Psiionic, but not the true extent of it. She doesn't feel frightened, or even wholly disturbed. She just feels she senses something, which is partially informed by the fact that he'd been gone. Taken, presumably; those who went on rescue were at least back for a short time, weren't they?

"I'm fine," she answers sincerely, looking at the lake as she puts her arms over her knees. She's honestly a little perplexed; she'd been made to look into the eyes of death and rebirth, as well as the consequences of tragedy on the psyche of peers, even if they were overtly distant. All things she'd absorbed intellectually through historical anecdotes and fiction, but never in practice.

It's different, she's finding, even if she isn't as sad as a more sensitive individual might be in these scenarios.

"Better than most, it would seem, after all of that."

She looks back to him, resting her cheek against her knees.

"I'm happy everyone is back."

[dorkypantsuit]

He nods. He's happy too, no matter how else he feels that much is true. This is the place where they all belonged, where they were all safest. He only hoped everyone would be able to recover, especially those who'd been turned.

"It's not right here, without the people." he says, voicing his agreement. It just didn't feel right to be here without the rest of their kin. Sometimes it still didn't feel right if there was someone you were missing.

[forkedroad]

"I don't know anybody very well," Annabelle says, and she idly traces her fingertip through the soil by her feet, denting some of the grass and moss. She's not sure why, but she feels like it might be easier to do this and say this stuff if she isn't looking at him. For him, mostly. "And I'm not close to anyone. But I was still worried. I think... if I never saw you again, I would have been sad."

She lifts her finger, cleaning the soil from underneath its nail with her other hand.

"Is that strange?"

[dorkypantsuit]

He shakes his head. It isn't strange, not in his opinion at least. You didn't have to know someone well to be sad at their loss. Even if you don't miss them you could miss the opportunity you'd had and the experiences you missed out on.

"I don't think so... There's plenty of people I knew briefly that I wish I could see again."

Day 71

[destiny_key]

Sora's sitting kind of by himself, away from the group of other turned carnival members while still clearly being part of it. His umbrella is propped up behind him, protecting his exposed face and arms while he sits and meditates like the Ringmaster told him. He's... not really getting it. He's never been good at sitting still like this.

He's vaguely aware of someone approaching, but doesn't open his eyes until Psi speaks. He blinks in the sun for a moment before a grin spreads across his face.

"Psi!" Sora smiles excitedly. He'd been looking for the guy for days now.

[dorkypantsuit]

"Hello." he says, his own smile small in comparison to the way Sora beams at him. He shifts, moving to sit down beside the boy and his umbrella.

"You made it."

[destiny_key]

"Hehe, I did, yeah," Sora replies, smile falling slightly. He turns away and starts idly pulling at the grass in front of him, meditation forgotten for the moment.

"Listen, I... I'm really sorry. About what happened."

[dorkypantsuit]

What happened... It takes him a second to remember. He stares ahead, almost looking confused before he realizes what Sora must be talking about.

"You threw a giant key at me..." It's so ridiculous without context. His smile widens just a bit. What a strange terrible day that had been.

[destiny_key]

Sora watches Psi's smile, and it hits him, too, how ridiculous it is, and he bursts out laughing. He shouldn't be laughing, it's not funny, but at the same time, it's the funniest thing he's heard in days.

"Yeah, I guess I did," Sora replies, still chuckling. "It was my keyblade."

[dorkypantsuit]

"A key blade..." he repeats the word, still looking amused. It was a rather strange weapon to him, but he guessed it wasn't any better or worse than a club or a sword.

"Don't worry about it."

69

[wild_magic]

He may have been wandering near the lake to look at his reflection, but what he actually gets is sudden splashing from underwater before Susan surfaces with a grin on his face, trying to see if he got him wet at all. He may not be feeling all the way better yet but playing around is definitely helping his mood right now.

"Did I surprise you?"

Re: 69

[dorkypantsuit]

He jumps back, his psionics flaring to life, before immediately dying down again. He simply doesn't have the energy or the focus to maintain them. Ultimately it's a good thing he doesn't as the only thing attacking him is the carnival's resident Pyro. He stands there, breathing deeply his bloodpusher thumping rapidly in his chest.

[wild_magic]

Susan still grins at first when he can tell he's surprised him, but as the Psionic keeps standing there in shock his smile fades into a vague look of concern.

"...Are you okay?" Did he hurt him somehow?

[dorkypantsuit]

He nods, but still doesn't bother to respond verbally. He closes his eyes, putting his hand over his chest as he tells himself to stay calm.

"... Just startled."

[wild_magic]

He nods, giving him another smile, although he still looks a little unsure.

"Sorry. I just thought it would be funny to surprise people."

[dorkypantsuit]

He nods. It would be funny, normally. Right now though, with everyone still wound up from the attack it might not have been the best idea. Psi doesn't say that though, because honestly he just doesn't care enough right now.

"Sorry."