⇨ 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

[puddingemote]

Nope. [He pokes himself in the side, as though this proves that he is solid once again.]

You've been out for a couple days... you'd wake up every now and then but you were asleep a lot. [He moves back so he's not looming over Yuya so much anymore.] Zeco-san said you were physically okay though.

[hippocarnival]

Eh, really? [It's all really hazy, he can barely remember being conscious at all.] Where's the carnival now?

[Or are they just... floating nebulously in space?]

[puddingemote]

The Summerlands. It's where we landed.

[To be fair, Yuya probably doesn't remember that. He was pretty out of it.]

It's a fae world.

[hippocarnival]

[His nose wrinkles at 'Fae world', because summer and fae are no longer words he likes hearing in the same context.]

Not... not like the Summer Court, right? The Ringmaster wouldn't leave us with them after what just happened! [Or, well, that's what he'd like to believe. Say it ain't so, Tamaki.]

[puddingemote]

[Tamaki's interactions with the Summer Court were limited, so he doesn't have as negative a reaction. Demons seemed like much more of a problem, and those Winter Court guys in the end.]

I think they're different. Some of the vets said they've been here before.

[hippocarnival]

They better be... [He did not get stabbed for everyone to get screwed up by fae again.

He moves to try and sit up, but ends up falling against the bed with a grunt after making it a few inches.] You're okay, right? You look okay.

[puddingemote]

Ah- [Tamaki starts when Yuya tries to sit up, but at least he seems okay even after he falls. Reaching easily up to the top bunk (he's back to seven feet tall), he grabs his pillow and, if Yuya will let him, works to get it behind Yuya so he can be propped up more.]

I'm okay. [It's said as he works.] Since I was dead there, I couldn't really get hurt.

[Possessing people was tiring, but that was about the worst of it.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya certainly won't fight him, looking grateful as Tamaki helps him sit up.] Thanks. But you could be--[That thought dies as his stomach grumbles. Guess who hasn't eaten in two days.]

[puddingemote]

Mm? Hungry?

[Tamaki doesn't wait for an answer, immediately moving to the small trailer kitchen. He opens cabinets and reveals that there is now a lot of food - more than there ever was in the trailer before. It's not like it's necessary for them to keep anything like that when they can just go to the cookhouse.]

I have a bunch of stuff... do you want a sandwich?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya looks rightly embarrassed about it, but he isn't going to turn down a meal right now.] Yeah, that's fine. Thanks. [At least he's propped up enough to be able to eat now.]

[puddingemote]

No problem.

[Tamaki sets about making whatever sandwich is Yuya's preference without any fuss, and also fills a glass with water before returning to Yuya's bed. He also has a bag of potato chips.]

Here. [He hands him the plate and chip bag.] I can make some soup or something too, if you want.

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya sets the food right on his lap, not trusting his arms to keep them suspended for very long. But the water is the first thing he starts to consume, sipping slowly.

He gags a bit on a large gulp and pulls the cup down.] This is fine. Thanks a bunch, Tamaki.

[He really is grateful. Though his attempts to take things slowly falter quickly when he realizes how hungry he really is, and after bite one of the sandwich he's scarfing it down quickly.]

[puddingemote]

Don't do that! [Though Tamaki doesn't try to stop him, his tone holds warning.] If you eat too fast, you'll get sick!

[He might or might not be speaking from (recent) experience.]

[hippocarnival]

M'not gonna make myself sick! [He says, without even finishing chewing. Sorry about his awful table manners.] Ugh, I really haven't eaten for two days...

[puddingemote]

I said that too. Then I threw up...

[Tamaki sighs and leans back, relenting.] I get it. Just be careful.

[hippocarnival]

... How much did you eat when we got back? [It doesn't count if you're gorging yourself, Tamaki.]

[puddingemote]

...A lot... [At least he has the decency to sound sheepish about it.

But then he gets defensive.] I didn't eat all month! I was hungry!

[hippocarnival]

[It still gets Yuya to laugh. Given all the emotional pain since Portland, it's kind of nice just hearing that the worst someone had was getting sick from overeating.]

[puddingemote]

[Unfortunately it will not be so nice for Tamaki when gorging this time becomes unhealthy binge eating and food hoarding down the road...

But for now, Tamaki just looks embarrassed about the whole thing. He puts his face in his hands and groans when Yuya starts laughing, visibly blushing to the tips of his ears.]

It's not funny! [His words are a bit muffled by his palms.]