lostcarnival | ⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 4 PT2

Yuya pulls his hands back to give Steven room when he says he can help. He'd like to stay and watch, make sure that they recover... but there isn't time. Whether the Winter Court retaliates or someone else tries to intervene, they have to succeed first.

"We'll definitely get home. Everyone will," he says, as much to himself as Steven and Peridot. "This won't be for nothing, I promise."

Yuya's determined not to let anyone down. He moves to his feet, looking at the blood that got on his hands and then the blood around the ritual circle--and he cringes. But he's going to have to tolerate it, and he knows that worse than just looking at blood is in store for him... but if this is their one chance to get home, he has to do it.

He glances down to the softening snow left where the Count disappeared, and starts pushing some of it away. Maybe the pendant was here, and if it wasn't he'd look for it while helping clear the blood snow.

Rita hurries to the ritual site as quickly as she can, but once she's there, there's little that she can do. She can't heal the injured; she can only look at Lambert and Childermass and wince in sympathy. Fortunately, Steven seems to have that somewhat covered, and for now, Rita lingers nearby, watching for any enemies that might make a move for either Steven or Childermass.

She sees Yuya and approaches him, facing him with a firm look. "Are you sure you want to do this? It's not too late to back out now." Some people here might disagree with that, but in Rita's mind, this is Yuya's choice, and not any of theirs. After all, they just saw how it was for Childermass...

Lambert, unmoved by his sister's shriek of dismay or the sudden rose-tinted lightshow surrounding him as Steven heals him, remains firmly unconscious. This is probably a good thing, since he's still injured enough that being awake would be an incredibly unpleasant experience -- and a strangely familiar one. There's a little more color to his face, but at least his breathing is less labored (a pained wheeze instead of faintly bubbling with liquid) and his pulse is stable.

He still looks pretty gross with the slowly-drying blood that's dripped from his nose and ears and mouth, but at least he's no longer dying. Thanks, Steven!

Sans exhales through his teeth, slowly lowering his scythe as Zangetsu backs off. He had been ready to fight it out, but an angel like that was honestly not somebody he'd relish fucking with - that was an angel built to smite, and Sans was an angel meant to guide.

Or, well... he was an angel. Is an angel? Part of him is an angel, still, not matter what he's remembering now. He just wishes he could remember where this Zangetsu asshole even came from, because he doesn't remember hiring him. He turns to the crow sisters.

"You heard 'em, kiddos," he says, seriously. "You stick with us and I'll have your back. But, you gotta stay out of this fight if you want to survive it."

Sans pulls back for now, keeping an eye on the castle entrance, for now. Neither Lambert nor Childermass are immediately dying, nor is anyone else. That's as much as he can hope for.

Yuya stops and looks straight at Rita as she looks at him. He's clearly a little disturbed, but...

"I'm sure," He smiles, and it's genuine despite the horror they're surrounded by. "I told you, didn't I? I want to go home too. I know you don't really trust the angels, but can you at least trust me?"

If not trust him to succeed, or trust his judgement... at least trust him to be doing what he wants, not what he's being forced into.

The chaos is settling-and likewise, as Carly regains the memories of those she fights for, those she would die for, her fires calm. She com's forward in through the ritual site, where everyone gathers-and, with a shout-

"...if it's you, and Yuugo, Yuuya...then you definitely have this! Like you said...we're definitely going home..!"

As it is, home is...all she wants, at this point.

~~ok but who are u, demongal~~

Faced with Yuya's smile, Rita knits her brow, still uncertain... but unable to argue. "Idiot," she just grumbles at him. "Do what you want."

Clearly unhappy with the outcome, she sharply turns away, but soon sets about assisting in clearing the lines of blood in the circle. She thrusts out an arm, and a wave of fire spreads out in front of her, melting the blood-covered snow.

'We'll definitely go home. Everyone will.'

Foster feels a flush of rage and nausea--like an ocean surf, rolling over a sandbar. He's kept to the outside of the circle and its milling occupants, trying to keep his nose and the snow and his other senses on everyone else. It's a testament to the array of supernatural powers that the gigantic, bleeding bear-on-fire slowly walking the a ring around them hasn't attracted any attention.

And there's a possibility that even speaking up, he won't be heard.

"....and what if someone doesn't want to 'go home?'"

It's an effort, but he keeps his tone perfectly mild, holding himself back, maintaining a calm facade in spite of it. On some level, he's still hoping he can escape unscathed, without resorting to drastic measures against them. But he and Taako have already talked it over, and he's fully admitted to it: if things come to that, he's willing.

Jack pretty much runs in out of nowhere, holding a 4-pack tray of coffee in his hand. It doesn't look like enough for everyone here, because it was all for him. He comes to a halt few feet from the rest of the group, sliding a little on the ice, his teeth gritted.

"Am I too late?!"

It sure looks like a war zone. He actually looks concerned, but since nobody appears dead, Jack lets out an undignified huff.

"To think you would go on without Jack Atlas!"

Pru shrugs her shoulders at the bear's question, though she's made a note of his presence and the scent of that demonic fire. She straight up ignores Jack, because whatever.

"Then don't, I guess," she says. She is charitably assuming he would be helping regardless, but she's intending on verifying shortly. "Everything I know about the other worlds are from you people."

Carly is the one who catches a wave of nausea in response to Foster's words. She hears Jack, as well...but for now, says nothing, unable to face the feelings it would bring.

Instead, she allows very purple fire to coat her arms, tone lowering to a dangerous chill as she looks toward the bear.

"...if you want to stay, you can discuss that with the Ringmaster," she begins slowly, her fist tightening.

"But we ARE going home..."

Carly's support of Yuya is relieving, and he maintains his smile. If they could believe in him, he wouldn't let them down. He looks around when he hears Foster, staring at the... bear, that he assumes was the one talking. He hadn't actually considered if anyone would want to stay in Portland with their rearranged memories, separated from their home.

"... Uh. I guess you can stay...?" It's not really his decision, but if the bear is one of the carnival workers, surely the Ringmaster could work something out. Actually, who is that bear?

He hears Jack being Jack in the background, but there's about 15 feet and dozens of angels blocking his sight. At least it looks like everyone's congregating now.

Foster angles his head slightly, creating an effect not entirely unlike a side-eye. It's not hostile, exactly, but there is a clear aura of reproach--his gaze passes from her to Yuya, and then back to Carly.

He doesn't say anything, exactly--just casts a glance up at Pru before turning his entire face away after a second.

He's not enthusiastic about what's coming, but he's reluctant to believe them. For something so important could be given to him that easily? No... he wants to believe it, wants that to be how simple this is, but no.

Edited 2017-07-29 00:11 (UTC)

"Oh, yeah, and we can totally trust her, am I right?"

Taako's smug, irritated voice cuts into the conversation; he approaches on Garyl, still bleeding pretty decently from where an ice blade struck his shoulder earlier and looking very ruffled from the wind.

"I mean, I'm just saying-- last time any of us made a deal with her, we wound up giving up a fuckin' year of our lives to do her bidding."

Damien approaches Yuuya, rifling through his pockets.

"Speaking of which," he says. "No sign of that pendant yet, so the Count probably still has it. In the meantime... we really gotta start getting you ready for the ritual, in the event we get it back."

They'd gone over the theoreticals several times before, but this was different. This was also, ending up largely improved. He pulls out a pair of reading glasses and a couple pages of scribbled notes with angelic symbols and other mess.

"I'm gunna need some of you and Yuugo's blood, after we get this cleaned up."

Okay, Taako's commentary is what pushes it over the top. Pru frowns and turns away from what she's doing, specifically to face him and Foster. Carly seems to be on team ritual, despite her extreme demonic presence.

"Okay, seriously. Who are you two? Is there going to be a problem?" She turns to the people talking about the carnival. "Do any of you even know these guys? They weren't with us..."

Yuya stares back at Foster for a moment, pursing his lips. But pulls his gaze away to look at Damien. It isn't really the best time for him to argue with them about the Ringmaster's intentions. He just... hopes they won't try and stop the rest of them from returning home.

"I think they're with the carnival too? But is anyone looking for the Count? He just kind of melted into the floor."

And nobody's going anywhere until they get the pendant back, that much he knows. But he pulls from his pocket the small folding knife he brought along, flipping it up. At least with the fire and other supernatural abilities, and so many people, cleaning up the blood isn't an issue? Someone just needs to move the other bodies.

Edited 2017-07-29 00:17 (UTC)

"Just a little cut," Damien prompts, as if this is just another day at work. "I can suck it out from there." He pulls out a wide brimmed vial.

"...With magic, not my mouth."

"Hi, yeah, I'm Taako," Taako says to Pru, "And this is Garyl--"

"Yo," responds the binicorn he's riding, in a surprisingly deep voice.

"-- and I'm not from around here, and neither is anybody else here, right?" He doesn't understand the question here, exactly; is this chick an actual native of this place? That's gonna make this complicated.

Yuya nods, pulling the blade up and sticking out his arm. He puts the blade to his arm, hesitating before he sucks in a deep breath and presses it in and down along the skin.

It's a small cut, only deep enough to let the blood drip slowly from the wound. "Okay, there,"

He absently offers the knife to Yugo... if a standard pocket knife is at all viable to breaking angel skin.

Right. She should explain. The fire doesn't fade, but Carly's voice returns to a far more typical pitch as she looks to Pru of the angelic team. ...And she is honest.

"...My name is Carly Nagisa. ...I came from another world-with almost everyone you see with us now," she adds somewhat passionately, glancing to the others. "...before we got stuck here. ....I...before I remembered everything, I came here with Anath-to remove the barrier. But Yuugo told me you would do the same...so if that's what we're doing now..."

She turns-and the fire on her arms moves, not to Foster, but around the relative circle of area they seek to use. She has power enough for this-a ring, a barrier of violet flame, and while the power could be questionable in its effectiveness against what may come for them next, the gesture is just as equally symbolic.

And she turns back to Prudence.

"It's true...some of the workers at the carnival didn't want a contract. They entered through debt...And the cost is one year and one day with us! But even with that...

"Even with that, if this barrier doesn't fall, this world dies!!" She shouts, looking back to Foster and remembering well the pleas of those at the entrance of the tunnels. And so, she looks back to Pru.

"...I'm going to do everything I can, to make sure you succeed in this...but not just for myself. Everyone here needs this barrier gone! ...whether we know it or not!"

Her shadow, for his part, seems to cringe. It is not a good sign for him after all, if his host is growing spine.

Back over by Lambert, Peridot's breath catches when Steven sidles up. Yes... She remembers enough to recall his healing abilities, enough to know that he might be the only hope for Lambert and Childermass.

More importantly for Peridot, his appearance just automatically makes her feel like everything is going to be alright. They may have barely spoken to one another for the last month, or even remembered each other in as much time, but she's just as glad as ever to see her friend.

She watches anxiously as he goes to work, and it doesn't even occur to her that she's forgotten to breathe until the pink glow happens and she let's out a shaky sigh mixed with a hysterical laugh.

"Oh thank heavens," she wheezes, shoulders sagging. "Steven... STEVEN!!!"

Peridot doesn't give a damn about his thorns, this kid is getting the most grateful Peri hug in the world. She practically tackles him, clinging for dear life.

"Thank you so much, I'm so glad you're HERE and YOU'RE OKAY AND LAMBERT IS GOING TO BE OKAY TOO--"

Buckle up for lightning speed babbling and a lot of blubbering, buddy.

The world dies?

... why... does this sound familiar? Why does this feel familiar to Taako? Why... is his head hurting now...?

His gaze drops, a hand idly moving to tangle into his hair, clutching his head. His breathing shakes slightly, just for a moment. This is...

"... so, lemme get this straight," he says finally, lifting his eyes to Carly. "If we don't go back, this whole world is basically boned anyway? Is that what you're getting at here?"

Tamaki (who at some point came back out of the crow sister to let her get back to... crow sistering) speaks up now, from where he floats near where the count once stood.

"It's true. I spoke to the earth spirit. It said it was dying, and needed help."

He gestures back at Lambert. "That's why it possessed Lam-san. He asked for its power, and it gave it to him."

A pause, and then he adds, "I didn't expect him to bleed so much though..."

"It's not boned anyway," Pru will snap, anger seizing her for perhaps the first time this entire venture. The rest of it has all been composed impatience, or other subdued negativity. The look she gives Taako is furious, however.

"Some of us live here and are fighting for something other than just a ticket somewhere more convenient. And, yes, it sounds like if we want the Earth Spirit to survive, this spell needs to go. The Circle have overstepped their bounds, and now we're the ones stuck fixing it."

She looks back to what she's doing, purifying the area.

"But it isn't a lost cause. It isn't over. It only will be if people treat it like it is."

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T/W for self-harm (just in case)

all of my italics are gone OHWELL

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