what's cooler than being cool? ice cold

[kingsroads]

Who: everyone!
What: hey wait a minute, why's it suddenly cold oh for fuck's sake Strange...
Where: the carnival + Alola
When: all of day 76!
Warnings: none, will edit if needed

the Carnival
Surprise, it's now winter.

Starting from the early hours of day 76, the Carnival is covered in snow, the temperature rapidly dropping from 'nice' to 'freezing.' Patterns of frost cover everything and icicles dangle from most buildings. Try to be careful as you're walking around, patches of the ground are frozen over and incredibly slick. Nobody be that dumbass who tries to stick their tongue to the ferris wheel, you're just going to regret it later. Enjoy the fact that almost anything that used to be a liquid is now frozen solid. All in all, it's like someone flipped a switch from summer to winter--there was absolutely no sign something like this would happen in the first place. Why not ask around to see what's up? Or, just enjoy the change of weather and pelt your friend in the face with a snowball, that's also an option. The Carnival re-enacting the plot of Frozen lasts all day, though things finally start to melt and/or magically vanish once dusk settles.

For all you vampires who've slept through most of this, the effects of winter still linger a bit after the faerie's vanished, though in slowly diminishing form. The temperature's a bit warmer and some of the liquids have started to melt, but it's still a bit uncomfortable. It's hard to clean up an entire magical wintery hellscape by yourself, okay?

Alola
Due to the way the Carnival drops people in Alola, it's entirely possible to miss the fact that something weird's going on at the Carnival. Still, some of the winter wonderland manages to seep it's way into the tropical paradise. For most people, the changes are noticeable but easily dealt with. The temperature drops to something more chilly but not downright freezing. Occasionally there are small flurries of snow, but they'll end up melting fairly quickly. Locals are downright confused, mentioning that really, it shouldn't be this cold, this weather is weirdly unseasonable.

Also, what's that weird little ice fox that keeps showing up? More and more ice Pokemon feel a little bit braver thanks to the cold temperatures and are willing to venture out into areas that ice Pokemon might not normally live in. Go train all your fire cats by having them beat up the sentient ice cream cones, everybody.

( ooc: here is the relevant ooc post! This is an open mingle-style log, so feel free to create your own threads, tag around & have some fun! )

Comments

[kingsroads]

"That's what I'm trying to do!" Strange can't help but snap, with an aggravated sigh. Of course he was trying to make this go away, nobody wanted the tropical vacation to suddenly turn into a frozen hellscape.

"It's simply that the summons went in a different direction than I was expecting. Here, walk with me, if you're going to argue, then the least you can do is argue while I search for this stupid thing."

It's said as Strange gestures for Lambert to follow him towards the big top. He hasn't looked there yet, that might be a good place to try next.

tmw u know u have a full tag written but it's on ur other computer and you didnt hit send???

[whattaprick]

Lambert groans, but -- just because he likes Strange that much -- he follows anyway, Pig trailing behind. The Mudbray, covered with a blanket as well, is much less bothered by the temperatures as its master, and it's certainly not complaining about the slush. It's also leaving a muddy trail in its wake as the melting snow wipes off some of the dirt clinging to its hooves and flanks.

Thing is, though, as much as Lambert protests? Strange is right, he is a witcher, and that means he's already thinking through what the magician's said even as he walks beside him. A summoning, something hiding a candle, he might not know the specific details of how magic works in Strange's world, but he knows enough about how it works in his to know that if he's looking so desperately for it, it's the way to undo this.

"Ringmaster not up to just kicking it out, whatever it is?" If she's even around, anyway.

nice job, buddy.

[kingsroads]

"She told me to take care of it. I made this mess so I need to fix it." There was probably a lot more glowering and aggravation and 'for fuck's sake Strange, people just came back from hell' involved but the Cliff Notes are good enough.

Every now and then as they walk, Strange will pause to mutter something under his breath, look around, frown, then keep walking. And, since he knows Lambert's going to ask him what he's doing, he answers with, "It's a spell of disillusion. I tied the spell to my magic so in theory it will hone in on the summoning spell and remove the spell of concealment that faerie placed on the candle."

The key word is 'in theory.' Strange knows that it's a bit of a half-assed solution. Though he doesn't know it, Strange isn't as good at recognizing magic as some other magicians from his world are. It's a bit tedious and might not work but a half-assed solution is at least an attempt at a solution.

[whattaprick]

Typical. Still, at least the Ringmaster's a believer in having people fix their own fuckups. As Strange works his magic, Lambert just sort of watches, not really having anything to contribute at this point, sorry buddy.

"If it's under an active spell, might be easier to look for that. Maybe my medallion could pick it up," Lambert says with a shrug. Never mind that he's never actually ever explained how his medallion works to Strange, but he fishes it out from around his neck now, cupping it in his palm and holding it out. Here, in a realm filled with magic, it's practically inert, but Strange's spells have been enough to make it hum in his palm every time he's cast them.

"It's not foolproof, but worth a shot."

[kingsroads]

Strange has no idea how the medallion works in the slightest but hey, he'll take it! Picking it up, he frowned slightly before putting it around his neck. That little part of Strange's common sense not torn to shreds by the madness and potion has pointed out that he's a lot less likely to lose the damn thing if he actually wears it.

Of course, this means that you've got a reedy lanky magician still wearing his Alola clothes but now with a dumb wolf necklace on. Not necessarily #aesthetic.

"What does the medallion do?"

[whattaprick]

"Picks up on almost kind of active magic. Curses, charms, spells, even magic constructs or sources of power -- though it won't pick up on most naturally magical creatures." That includes mages and other witchers, for the most part. It's weird, seeing the thing around Strange's neck, and Lambert feels practically naked without it, but ... well, he's already pretty much determined Alola is as magicless as it gets. He tamps down the discomfort and continues, reciting from memory.

"Once you get near enough, you can't miss it. It'll feel like it's tugging you in the right direction. Your own magic might throw it off, though." It's spiky and a lot heavier than it looks, so it's also probably uncomfortable. Also, he's not telling Strange that at one point he used it to torture information out of a vampire!

[kingsroads]

Strange experimentally picks the medallion up, feeling the weight of it in his hands before he lets it rest back against his skin. He can't help but frown a little as Lambert mentioning his magic might throw it off--how was he supposed to find the candle, then? Still, beggars can't be choosers, he'll muddle through the conflicting magics somehow.

"Thank you," Strange responds, with a little nod. Of course, Lambert giving him the medallion is a sure sign to Strange that Lambert isn't going to help him fix this nonsense to begin with (but then again, he doesn't really blame him.) "I'll be certain to return this to you once I've cleaned up this mess."

Yeah, Lambert's never getting that medallion back.

[whattaprick]

"You'd better," Lambert says, dryly. It's almost like he suspects Strange might ... just be ... a little irresponsible with other people's personal possessions. Despite the chill, it doesn't seem any colder than it would be at room temperature, something about it keeping

"I know it's an ugly piece of junk, but I went through a lot to earn it." That is a bit of a lie -- the first part, at least. Lambert doesn't actually mind its terrible aesthetic; it's fitting for what it represents. What he was made for, what shaped everything he is. If Strange does lose it, relocating it is going to be an adventure all of its own, and Lambert's definitely never lending him so much as a pen again, but he'd still rather find it again than losing.

He's also absolutely right about Lambert essentially meaning the handover as a 'good luck and so long' though he'll ... offer an explanation, at least.

"The last time I was hired to break a spell on something, the person who hired me got killed by it." And he got a best friend out of it, but ... "Call it superstitious, but I don't have the best track record."

[kingsroads]

Strange can't help but laugh a little. The idea of Lambert being superstitious is something that makes no sense and yet doesn't surprise him in the slightest. You'd think the big strong witcher wouldn't be wary about breaking a spell, but then again with all the nonsense Lambert's probably had to face back home, he might have a reason to be superstitious.

"Don't worry. I'll have this mess cleaned up within a day or so." It's said with absolute confidence. Because really? He's got to send that faerie home back to his proper realm as soon as possible before the Ringmaster decides to take matters into her own hands and turn Strange into a bird or something like that. "Just go back to Alola--I can handle things here." He hopes.

Strange has not yet realized that the cold's kind of seeped out into Alola as well. Whoops?

[whattaprick]

"You'd better," Lambert says dryly. "This isn't the only place the magic's messed up. It's getting chilly back there, too."

Think of all the poor tropical Pokémon you're freezing, Strange. Oh the Pokemanity. Do it for them.

He jerks a thumb over his shoulder, indicating the Mudbray behind him. "I'm gonna go train this one up. If it's still cold here in a couple of days, you know how to get me on the magic box things right?" Radio. He means the radio...

[kingsroads]

Ha ha joke's on you Lambert, Strange only gives minimal shits about the Pokemon. Aside from that awful Exeggutor who tried to kill him and the ghost friends he'll make later, he gives most of the Pokemon the same time of day that he would give squirrels back in London.

Still, he nods at Lambert's question. "It's called a radio, you know," he can't help but sarcastically interject. Still, the sentiment is definitely appreciated and there's a hint of thankfulness in Strange's next words. "But I'll certainly call you if things get worse." Which they won't because he is a competent magician and can fix his own mistakes, dammit.

At least, he's a competent magician who really hopes he can fix his own mistakes. "Best of luck with your horse."

[whattaprick]

"That's what I said," Lambert smirks, then offers a lazy wave. "Gotta check on my garden first. Make sure all the snow hasn't killed it."

Of course, the only thing planted there right now is the weird little seed the Ringmaster gave all the rescuers, but it's still his. Plants are tough little bastards in general, but all the same, who knows? If it's supposed to bear fruit that will restore health, maybe the magic won't let it be buried in snow, either.

[kingsroads]

Strange rolls his eyes slightly. "First you adopt a horse, now you plant a garden. You're becoming awfully domestic."

Apparently even when he's got a bit of a shot morality thanks to a magic potion, Strange is still a little bit up for teasing Lambert (but seriously dude, you're becoming a farmer). Still, with that last bit of teasing, Strange starts to head off. Lambert's welcome to get one last tease of his own in if he wants but yeah, gotta fix your mistakes and bring back summer.

[whattaprick]

"It's called getting a hobby, Strange," Lambert calls over his shoulder, already turning to go as well. "You should try it sometime."

Like magic's not enough to get him in trouble on his own. Regardless, the witcher's quick to scarper, closing this particular chapter in this tale!