⇨ ALOLA

[ringleaders]

Who: EVERYONE.
When: Day 73 - Day 87
Where: The islands of Alola.
What: The Carnival arrives at its next touring location, a series of tropical islands inhabited by a species of animal called Pokemon and their trainers!
Warnings: Pokemon is pretty PG-rated.

IT'S A POKEMON WORLD↴ Alola is broken up into four different islands, with a number of unique points of interest. Boats can easily be rented in order to get between the islands, or you can just pay for the fair of a scheduled trip. If you can prove you have the skills for it, you can also call on a "Ride Pokemon" - that is, either a Charizard or a Lapras that will fly or swim you between locations. ► POPULATION: Though the islands appear very small as an abstraction in the actual games, that doesn't hold over into the actual reality of it. When interacting with the different locations, imagine that they are about as big and spread out as they would be in real life. It's about on the same scale as Hawaii is on earth. Ignore any wikis that say the population of each island is like 200 people, because that's just adding up all the scripted NPCs, and there are realistically more than six houses per town. ► AMENITIES: Even if they aren't overtly listed on island maps, it can be assumed that all towns and cities will have basic amenities - that is, places to eat, place to go to the washroom, places to buy souvenirs, and the other things one would expect in a tourist heavy area. You can also buy malasadas pretty much anywhere. ► POKECENTERS: You'll be able to find a Pokecenter in pretty much every town - a Pokecenter is a public building in which Pokemon Trainers can rest and get their Pokemon healed. Think of it like free international Pokemon healthcare. You can also buy Pokeballs here, as well as potions and other healing items for later use. ► AETHER FOUNDATION: A peace keeping organization that shelters Pokemon from harm and abuse. If you kill/maim any Pokemon or otherwise act violently in public, they will come to try to take you down with their Pokemon. They also are the main force working against Team Skull. MELEMELE ISLAND↴ [MELEMELE DETAIL MAP] [GUARDIAN DEITY TAPU KOKO] [WIKI LINK] ► TRAINER SCHOOL: A full fledged for young, aspiring Pokemon Trainers! Students go here to learn about Pokemon care and battling before setting out on their own journeys. It would be sort of weird for an adult to show up here, like it would for an adult to try to attend an elementary school, but you can probably learn some of the basics just from touring the facility. ► HAU'OLI SHOPPING DISTRICT: The biggest shopping district on Melemele, you can do a lot here, from eating out to getting your hair dyed. A lot of shops are, unsurprisingly, completely Pokemon focused - but there are some that aren't, too. There are also some very nice beach fronts nearby. ► BERRY FIELDS: Berries come in a lot of different types and have different effects when used. Mostly, Pokemon love to eat them, regardless of what type they are. This is a big field of them, most of which are free to take if you catch them when ripe. ► TEN CARAT HILL: The secluded interior of a small mountain, filled with some rare types of rock Pokemon. You have to be able to bypass the left overs of some recent rockslides to get in. ► TRIAL SITE: There is only one trial on this islands, which is the Normal type trial. All you have to do is fight a bunch of Pokemon ferrets, and then fight an even bigger Pokemon ferret that thirsts for your blood. It's not so bad. AKALA ISLAND↴ [AKALA DETAIL MAP] [GUARDIAN DEITY TAPU LELE] [WIKI LINK] ► TIDE SONG HOTEL: A big ass hotel near the port - if you want to stay on Alola overnight, this is a pretty good place to go. It isn't too expensive, and is also rather nice. ► DIMENSIONAL RESEARCH LAB: Alola, on occasion, has been the site of various dimensional breaks (haha) in which extraplanar creatures called Ultra Beasts have crossed over. There isn't much information about these beasts, but they are something that are being actively studied. Characters who are nerds might find some of this information interesting. ► HANO GRAND RESORT: The inevitably big, fancy resort that tends to take route in touristy places like this. If you actually pay to spend some time there, you can enjoy all the things you'd expect to find in a fancy resort, except with way more Pokemon. There is also a fancy, secluded beach for resort goers only. ► BATTLE ROYALE DOME: A battle area in which 4 trainers fight each other all at once, with teams of there Pokemon. The trainers here are mostly quite expert, and you need a team of three Pokemon to play, so player characters probably won't be able to participate. However, you can still come to watch, if you like seeing a bunch of colourful monsters slapping each other around. ► PANIOLA RANCH: A large ranch that keeps a lot of Pokemon that resemble earth farm animals. You can leave Pokemon here to stay for a while if you need a break from the strains of trainer life. Quite often, however, your Pokemon will end up getting knocked up and leave you with another egg to care for. ► TRIAL SITES: Brooklet Hill is a lake filled area that contains the Water Trial. You have to fight a bunch of schooling Wishiwashi, and then an even bigger schooling Wishiwashi to win. Wela Volcano Park contains the Fire Trial, where you must climb to the top of the dormant volcano, and spot the difference between a series of ceremonial island dances. Then you gotta fight a team of Marrowaks and a giant Salazzle. The Lush Jungle contains the Grass challenge, in which you have to find a series of rare organic ingredients in order to brew something that will lure out a giant Lurantis. ULA'ULA ISLAND↴ [ULA'ULA DETAIL MAP] [GUARDIAN DEITY TAPU BULU] [WIKI LINK] ► MALIE GARDEN: A nice big garden to hang out in and chill. Also, there are Pokemon there... and also, Pokemon battles? There's really no end to it. ► MOUNT HOKULANI OBSERVATORY: Up at the top of the local mountain, you can go see a space observatory. Like most things in Alola, it's like a regular observatory, except with more Pokemon, since some Pokemon just straight up come from space. You can take a bus up here, but you can also hike if you want. ► HAINA DESERT: A shitty desert in the middle of the island. Mostly only good for if you want the kinds of Pokemon that live in shitty deserts. ► ABANDONED THRIFTY MEGAMART: A Megamart, but haunted. Extremely haunted, filled with the kind of ghost Pokemon that would actually kill you. You have to take a bunch of pictures of ghosts on your way through here if you want to beat the Ghost Trial. ► PO TOWN: The ramshackle remains of the town that Team Skull have taken over. It's completely walled off from the rest of the world, and is pretty terrible. No point in going in there unless you're fighting crime, in which case you can expect to get challenged to Pokemon battles by a lot of Team Skull knuckleheads. ► LAKE OF THE MOON: A huge, round temple thing in the middle of nowhere. It's used to praise a legendary Pokemon that existed years ago, but there presently doesn't seem to be anything around except cool architecture. ► TRIAL SITES: The Observatory contains the Electric Challenge, during which you have to fend off various kinds of electric grubs, before eventually taking on a giant Vikavolt. The Abandoned Megamart must first be cleared before challenging the Ghost Trial officially, at which point you will have to defeat a powerful Mimikyu. PONI ISLAND↴ [PONI DETAIL MAP] [GUARDIAN DEITY TAPU FINI] [WIKI LINK] ► SEAFOLK VILLAGE: A village made of nothing but houseboats and other water fairing homes. It's the only major town on Poni Island. ► ANCIENT RUINS: Most of Poni Island has been reduced to ruins, over time. Not many people live here, relative to the other islands, but there are a lot of abandoned buildings from when they apparently used to. ► VAST PONI CANYONS: Most of the island is comprised of canyons, caves, and valleys filled with particularly strong Pokemon, and also a lot of fight-hungry Pokemon trainers. Most of them will want to fight you as soon as they see you, since they are there mostly to train, but they will back down if you tell them you're not a trainer. Though, at that point they will strongly urge you to go home, because it's too danger for anything other than the strongest trainers. ► ALTAR OF THE SUN: A matching altar to the one found on Ula'ula, except this time dedicated to a legendary Pokemon of the sun. If you play some magic flutes here at the right time then apparently a giant lion might show up, but there's no way to be sure. ► TRIAL SITES: The only Trial here is the Grand Trial, which is a fight against the leader's ground type Pokemon. You may also get lucky and have the Fairy Trial's kahuna deign to fight you, with her fairy types, if she randomly wanders into your path. Both of them are very strong, and are not advised to challenge for new trainers.

Comments

Day 77

[whattaprick]

[ At this point ... Lambert hasn't said a damn thing about being the new Nightrider yet, but the changes are obvious enough. He's taller -- a lot taller -- which means his clothes suddenly fit a lot tighter than they used to, and are six inches shorter besides. At least the pants were baggy, but the tank top has unfortunately ridden up his stomach and won't stay down. In the darkness of the Megamart, the sharper quality to his teeth and new claws are less noticeable ... but there's no way to miss that long, spade-tipped golden tail, lashing restlessly behind him as he steps inside.

Nightrider or not he's keen on continuing to make as much money during his stay here as possible. While this world doesn't have anything near as convenient as witcher contracts, the townspeople talking about a haunted building seems like a promising start. He's completely missed the fact that it's also supposed to be a trial site, though. Whoops. ]

Come on, Pig. [ He says over his shoulder, somewhat impatiently, at the Mudbray lingering in the doorway, unwilling to step inside. ] You're not scared of a bunch of ghosts, are you?

[kingsroads]

[ Strange had been sitting behind some of the shelves of the Megamart, idly sketching a picture of Haunter as best he could while the ghost flitted around. After all, he was going to keep taking notes, even if only for himself. When he hears the door open, Strange turns to look, still mostly hidden behind some of the shelves as he looks to see...Lambert? Who has a tail?

He's got half a mind to speak up and ask about the tail but the problem here is that Haunter's a dick. Poor Pig's already scared, ergo Haunter's gonna continue to scare the shit out of it. As such, Haunter's already gone invisible and turned on one of the unused conveyor belts, whoa where'd that come from, spooky.

Strange rolls his eyes in the direction of the conveyor belt before deciding...he might as well join in, if only for Haunter's sake. Besides, this is Lambert. If he can dish out some teasing, he should be able to take it. With his freaky witcher senses, Lambert can probably hear a faint trace of whispering before the room suddenly gets uncomfortably cold and a breeze comes out of nowhere to jostle one of the shopping carts. ]

[whattaprick]

[ With his freaky witcher senses, Lambert can see in the dim light, too. It's not completely dark in the megamart, even with all the boarded-up windows, and as he scans his surroundings and shit starts to move...

Pig isn't really so much scared as sensible enough to stay out of what is obviously a lot of bullshit, unlike its master. It pricks its ears at the sound of creaking conveyor belts, then turns in the direction of the cool breeze wafting out of nowhere, it decides its out of here. With nary so much as a farewell nicker, it backs out of the door way and lets it slam shut again, leaving Lambert with the creepy noises and the sudden cold. ]

Fuck! Not this again. [ He rubs at his arms, grimacing. Fine, if he's going to have to do this on his own, he will. Which means heading right over to that creaky conveyor belt and reaching out a hand to see if he can stop it from moving. ]

[kingsroads]

[ Smart move, Pig.

Strange moves from his spot slightly, still behind the shelves, but trying to get a better view of Lambert's new tail. That curiosity is getting the better of him and will probably be the thing that ends up getting him spotted. He was much better at this 'hiding and messing with people' thing when it wasn't anybody he actually KNEW. Haunter has no compunctions and, as Lambert stops one creaky conveyor belt from moving, he makes the one next to it move instead.

Under his breath, Strange whispers something. His voice is still fairly recognizable, though he's straight up forgotten about that fact. The wind carries the whisper to Lambert, so that it sounds like Strange is closer to the other man and not on the further side of the room, as Strange whispers, ]

Boo!

[ he's so gonna get punched ]

[whattaprick]

[ Jury's still out on that, but for now, Lambert seems more amused than pissed off. After all, a witcher doesn't spook easy (Strange has a lot to beat before he can get there) and there's a noticeable lack of, say, dead brides or tortured specters around. A little creaking and shifting could be caused by a lot of things, but not that voice. ]

'Boo'? Is that the best you've got? [ He can't pinpoint the direction just yet, but he'll turn away from the conveyer belt, eyes searching the shadows while his tail curls lazily behind him. ]

You make a pretty shitty ghost, Strange.

[kingsroads]

[ Strange wouldn't have any idea how to conjure up a tortured specter even if he wanted to. Thanks to the lack of any sort of illusion magic, creaking, shifting, and odd weather effects it is.

Still, he can't help but laugh at Lambert's comment and again the wind carries his voice so it sounds like Strange is right next to the man. A pretty shitty ghost? He...well, he won't deny that fact. Atmospheric effects can only go so far. He's not moving from his spot but instead sends a cold breeze Lambert's way ]

I'm afraid that's because I've only been a ghost a short while. Have any suggestions?

[ Haunter is taking that opportunity to knock over a few boxes behind Lambert. ]

[whattaprick]

[ Strange could learn a thing or two from Childermass in that respect, but on the other hand -- it's probably for the best that isn't the case. He makes enough trouble without being hard to spot. ]

Being visible helps. Partly visible, anyway. Rotting, if you can manage it. [ He raises his head, searching the room, though not so much with his eyes as with his nose. The magicians both carry a similar air about them distinct enough for him to pick up on, and while it's nothing he could sniff outside or with a stiff breeze going, here there's nothing but dust and mildew.

He doubts anything else but Strange would smell distinctly like a candle's extinguished wick here, so he'll investigate in the direction of that lingering scent. For now, he'll ignore the boxes, tail lashing as he stalks off in the direction he's pretty sure Strange is in, posture low and dangerous. Now, more than ever, he's a predator. ]

[kingsroads]

[ As Lambert approaches him, Strange looks around, trying to see if there's a mirror or a puddle anywhere around here. It would be so much fun to lead Lambert here and then just pop off to the other room to continue causing shit. Alas, there's nothing within reach. And really, if Strange conjures up some rain that would give away his position exceedingly quick.

He peers through the shelves, watching Lambert's tail flick back and forth. Strange has little to no experience with actual predators, but even he can tell there's something dangerous about Lambert like this. His movements at certain points remind him more of an animal than a human. ]

I don't think I can manage rotting...I might be able to do a rain of blood but that would take a bit of effort.

[ But he can definitely knock some more things over. Boxes on the other side of the room tump over as a door also creaks ominously.

Haunter takes the opportunity to float up behind Lambert and become visible...just for the sole purpose of laying a hand on Lambert's shoulder like a creepy motherfucker. ]

[whattaprick]

You can do that? Maybe you should've thought about distracting the vampires with that.

[ No seriously, as freaky as it would be, it sounds both a. kind of like it would be visually cool, b. something that would have been a great distraction. More impressive than the spookshow going on right now, anyway. When he feels the phantom touch of a hand on his shoulder, though--

Lambert's tail responds before the rest of him can think to, lashing out sharply at the Haunter behind him on a purely instinctive attempt to swat it away before he's even fully processed what it was. ]

[kingsroads]

Haaaunt!

[ The Pokemon lets out a cry of annoyance as the tail swipes at him, swatting him to the side slightly. Strange can't help but laugh at that, in a good-natured sort of way. Stay hidden and you don't have people swiping at you in the first place!

Lambert's a few feet away from Strange now so when he speaks again, he doesn't even bother doing the trick with the wind and his voice. Instead, he simply gives Lambert a little nod when the man comes into eyesight, not bothering to do any attempts at spooky nonsense. ]

I said I might be able to do it. The vampires was a crisis situation, I wanted to stick with things I knew I could do.

[ Something that he probably should do now as well, considering the snow day debacle. He knows he should apologize for that...but man alive does he not want to. Admitting he made a mistake? Admitting he was in over his head? That would be like pulling teeth. Strange frowns slightly as he thinks about it, but quickly changes the conversation to something else entirely. ]

I like the tail, by the way. When did that happen?

[ Haunter floats over towards Strange, through the shelving units to float near Strange's head, still giving Lambert a bit of a stink-eye as he does so. Apparently, the Pokemon views attack by tail as a party foul of sorts. ]

[whattaprick]

[ Lambert has no idea if the tail's visible to the Pokemon or not, but if isn't, serves it right for trying to sneak up on him. When he finally spots Strange (of course Strange would be the kind of weirdo to hang around in a dusty, mold-filled abandoned building for fun) he just sort of leans an elbow on a crate and looks at him, smirking.

He could give Strange shit about the snow, considering how much he hated the cold, but the man is already sitting in the dirt playing cheap tricks on tourists. That's much easier to make fun of. Though he's distracted for now by the attention Strange gives his new features... ]

Today, actually. [ Closer up, even in the dim light, maybe Strange's creepy mirror eyes are sharp enough to pick up the other differences -- the sharper teeth and nails, the occasional flash of golden scales when he shifts his weight. His voice is wry when he adds: ]

Still getting used to it.

[kingsroads]

[ Strange gets to his feet, brushing some of the dirt off of his trousers as he does so. And now that he and Lambert are closer to eye level...he picks up on those changes almost instantly. The glint of his scales reflects in Strange's mirror eyes, which leads him to wonder just what else has changed about the witcher.

Still, this setting is fairly dim. And it's not like the abandoned shopping mart has any electricity to begin with, what with the whole abandoned thing. So, muttering under his breath, Strange conjures up a small fireball, about the size of a grapefruit, which hovers over one hand as it lights up the area somewhat. Yes, those are definitely scales. Scales, claws, a tail...the amount of changes Lambert's undertaken is a bit worrying, especially since they've all shown up so fast. ]

I thought the Carnival only did changes gradually. You seem to have had three or four shoved on you at once.

[ It's said in an inquisitive tone, as Strange moves the fireball up and down, illuminating different parts of Lambert. How odd this was...if Lambert didn't give him any answers (an unfortunately worrying possibility), he'd have to ask one of the other supervisors. (But then again, asking one of the other supervisors actually meant leaving the area and turning the radio back on and urrrrrgh he still has no idea how to say 'sorry I messed up' to the Carnival as a whole) ]

[whattaprick]

[ In the light of the fireball, the changes are pretty apparent. Lambert doesn't shy away from it, though his catlike eyes do contract at the sudden brightness. He isn't one to be bashful about being stared at -- with his eyes and his scars and just being a witcher in general, how can he be? -- but all the same ... it's usually strangers who do all the looking, and he can afford not to give a shit. ]

Yeah, well. [ He shrugs, affecting nonchalance. ] If you ever want to ask the Ringmaster to make you stronger, be careful how you say it.

[ It's an evasive answer, and he frowns at himself, hearing how it comes out more cagey than he intended. He'd had his reservations about accepting it, but he'd done it anyway -- might as well own it. ]

I'm the new Nightrider. [ His tail lashes once, then comes to coil loosely along the ground behind him. ]

[kingsroads]

[ paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaause

Well, Strange is of two minds about this. On the one hand, there's a little part of him that's still a bit ticked off that the Ringmaster didn't ask him to be the new Nightrider. After all, he's certainly one of the more qualified candidates in their motley crew, what with the peninsula and everything. But then that arrogance buts up against common sense and his strong desire to not die, both of which win out and alright, it's probably a good thing the Ringmaster didn't ask him to be a Nightrider in the first place.

But on the other hand, he should be happy for Lambert. After all, he at least gets a better trailer and probably gets...hell if Strange knows, bigger swords or something like that. But Mari's fate hangs over the conversation like the sword of Damocles. The last Nightrunner died. And Strange, though he hasn't yet admitted it yet, considers Lambert a friend and, as such, really doesn't want him to die. What's the likelihood that something terrible happens again and the vampires or whoever it is this time decides to personally go after Lambert?

Of course, all those mixed feelings are pushed aside as Strange hides them behind a nonchalant exterior. No, he's certainly not going to tell Lambert how he truly feels, that's silly. ]

I already had a hard enough time trying to keep Miss Nakimani from doing something idiotic, now I have to watch over you instead? [ it's said in a deliberately teasing sort of voice—they both know that Strange did fuckall with regards to keeping Mari safe (and perhaps that's part of the reason why she died, he can't help but think). But this time is different.

And besides, he's already set up that ritual with the Ringmaster to bring him back from the dead. Obviously Strange doesn't plan on using it anytime soon (remember that strong desire to not die?), but if the situation called for it, it's certainly something he can use to help keep a dear friend safe. An ace in the hole that again, he's certainly not going to tell Lambert about. We'll stick with teasing instead. ]

Do you at least know anything about strategy? Perhaps that's what I'll ask the Ringmaster for next, some books so that you'll actually know how to lead a unit.

[whattaprick]

[ Mari being dead is sort of a technical issue. After all, without a body (and sometimes not even that is proof enough -- as Strange will, one day, discover) it's hard to conclusively say that someone is, in fact, deceased. More to the point, the sort of person Mari is doesn't seem like the type to let silly piddling things like death get in her way, now does she? Part of Lambert swears he can still hear her mad cackle on the air, even if witchers aren't prone to flights of fancy.

Still, hearing Strange joke about it like that releases some of the tension from Lambert's shoulders, enough to make him laugh and rock back on his heels. ]

I can look after mysel, Strange. [ He shrugs. ] Strategy would mean people actually have to listen to me in the first place. I'm not holding my breath on that.

[ He totally took the position for the trailer benefits. Sorry, Papyrus, his own place is too good to pass up, whether or not he actually uses it. ]

[kingsroads]

The members of the Carnival here are a hopeless cause, [ Strange has to admit, with a little shrug. Yeah, nobody here's gonna listen to you Lambert, it's just a fact of life. ] But we constantly get new members. I'm certain you can at least fake competency in their eyes until you learn some actual strategy. Someone in the future's had to have written a book about Wellington and the peninsular campaign, you can read that to learn something.

[ The problem here is that Strange is nattering on about an English form of combat, once again forgetting about the fact that they're not in England. Besides, Wellington commanded armies. The current total of the nightrunners is like, six. Still, dreaming about strategy and English combat and peninsulas is at least distracting Strange from his guilt over causing a snow day and his trepidation about Lambert taking the Nightrunner's role. ]

Perhaps I'll ask those already here if they've got any sort of books on strategy to begin with.

[whattaprick]

[ Ironically, Lambert would have taken orders from a new Nightrider pretty well ... if only because it's what he's used to doing. Leadership, that's a whole new ball game for him, so Strange isn't wrong to think he needs advice ... this just isn't super helpful as far as suggestions go. The witcher grimaces, shaking his head quickly with a quick bark of laughter. ]

Strange, this is a faerie carnival, not an army. [ You know, in case he'd forgotten that little tiny detail. ] I'm not leading anyone to war. Mercenaries and scouts, remember? We go where the Ringmaster tells us to.

[ In theory, at least. In practice, he already knows, it's not so simple -- especially since the Ringmaster might be powerful, but she's hardly omnipotent. Still, if they run into another bit of trouble, or if anything like the Celebration ever happens again, at least he's made an effort to have some kind of insurance at hand. ]

I need people who can do the job, and who can keep themselves alive. That's it. [ His eyes flicker to the ghost (for it is a type of ghost or spectre, he's figured out that much) over Strange's shoulder, and he smirks. ] No offense to present company.

[kingsroads]

[ Haunter shrugs in a 'none taken' sort of way. After all, it's not like he was ever alive to begin with, god Pokemon are weird.

But Strange can't help but think back to the chaos of the Celebration and their later trip to hell. Of course this isn't an army. There's not enough people for this to be an army in the first place, and far too many children. But if it was structured a bit more like an army, if all of them (including him) knew what to do when trouble happened, maybe less people would have become vampires. ]

I can do that much, [ he idly responds to that last statement. Do the job, keep himself alive, that part's easy. It's the keeping other people alive that Strange is inevitably going to beat himself up about when or if they fail. ] I've already suffered though the Agents, a giant crab, and a literal trip to hell, I'll easily survive whatever nonsense you toss us into!

[ It's 100% teasing on Strange's end, that small little sarcastic smile affixed to his face. ]

[whattaprick]

[ Pokemon are definitely weird. No arguments there. They're even weirder when you're not reliant on a helpfully informative Pokedex to tell you anything about them.

Lambert's mouth twists a little as Strange goes through the list of things he's had to survive during his time here, though it's more out of a cynical sort of amusement than anything else. ]

With that kind of luck, I should make you go ahead more. [ Haha, yeah right. Despite Strange's performance during that whole vampire debacle, Lambert won't readily forget how easily the magician's powers can be shut down or go awry at the drop of a hat. Also, you know, he's crazy and his wife's dead. That's a recipe for trouble if there ever was one. For now, though, his tail snakes out to tug a crate over so Lambert can sit down on it, apparently without very much conscious though. ]

Isn't making sure the Carnival can defend itself the Warden's lookout?

[kingsroads]

Well, the Warden is Sans.

[ said as if that explains everything. He's sure that there must be some competency in there somewhere, otherwise why would the Ringmaster have chosen him? It's just that finding the actual competency might be the hard part. It also doesn't help that one of the most recent conversations Strange actually had with Sans involved hot tubs and foot water and really, it was just a little uncomfortable all around.

Sans must be capable. But yeeeeeeeeah. ]

Besides, there are some things that I'd imagine even the Warden can't defend the Carnival against. [ Like accidentally making everything an icy hellscape, don't mind Strange as he looks a bit guilty again. ]

I really should apologize for that, [ said more to himself than to Lambert. ]

whoops here we go

[whattaprick]

What, burying the Carnival under two feet of snow? Can't imagine why you'd apologize for that.

[ Now he's just being an ass, though, as he proves when he reaches for the radio he's clipped to his belt, grinning as he thumbs it on and shoves its glowing sigil-etched side at Strange. ]

No time like the present. Don't be shy now.

they're adults

[kingsroads]

I need time, [ Strange remarks, with a little huff and a frown. ] You can't expect me to craft a perfect apology on the spot like this.

[ He also is straight up deflecting a bit and trying to dodge the question. Yeah, he SHOULD apologize but he needs to build up to this okay? ]

the adultest

[whattaprick]

Doesn't have to be perfect. [ Lambert says with patient faux-encouragement, the tone a mother might use to convince a child to open his mouth for his vegetables. ]

Apologies usually start with 'I'm sorry.' [ SUPER HELPFUL right?? ]

[kingsroads]

Which is only half the apology. Again, I'll need some time to decide what I'm going to actually say.

[ Like how he's going to answer the 'so why'd you do it in the first place?' question. Childermass is the only one who knows Arabella's trapped in faerie after all, and Strange is not entirely sure he wants everybody to know about the whole matter. ]

[whattaprick]

What's there to decide?

[ Lambert squints at the radio, cocks his head for a moment, then straightens. ]

'My name is Jonathan Strange and I'm dreadfully sorry for freezing the Carnival for a day. Won't happen again. Carry on!' [ It's actually not a terrible imitation of Strange's speaking mannerisms, though Lambert goes farther than that -- imitating, if only for the duration he's speaking, the way Strange holds himself, stuffy and proper. He lapses back into his normal slouch after a moment, grinning not at Strange, but the Haunter over his shoulder. How's that for a performance? ]

See? Easy.