⇨ 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

Tyki Mikk (Newbie Alert) | OTA - Prose or Bracket I'll match

[prazerbutterfly]

Day 145 - First Day

Well, this is embarrassing. He can still hear her laughter after losing that unfortunate hand of strip poker. He's pretty sure she was cheating but then again so was he. When he had said 'anything' as a prize when they started their little bet he hadn't expected this. Still, he was a gambling man and now he had a price to pay. It was very clear after an hour or two that there wasn't a way out and there wasn't any real reason to leave or stay given how time wouldn't pass while he was gone.

He could use a break despite telling the horned fellow, Rambert or was it Lambert..., the night before that he didn't plan on running away with any carnival. He may as well make the best of his circumstances. He just had to adapt like he did with every situation while traveling.

Sliding his hair back into a messy pin he sets his top hat back upon his head. A second look around than the one he already took the night before was in order. Funny how he wanted to see the inner carnival and the people it contained and only got a harder closer look in return. There's a 'heh' that issues from his lips at the slight amusement he can get from that irony. He may as well find his way back towards the trailers. He kind of lives there now.

Day 146+ - The Big Top

Tyki put on his best first thing in the morning to set out towards the middle of the carnival. While he got a good view the night of his own purchased ticket within the audience it was where he was going to work the coming year from now on. He may as well see what he has to work with. Already he has a couple of ideas on how to go about his own Magician act but there was the matter of meeting the boss if there was one other than the ringmaster, mingling with co-workers and taking a look at what devices and set ups he could acquaint himself with.

If he's lucky he'll catch others performing or the behind the scenes crew setting up lights or fixtures. He might even take a seat somewhere and just watch to weed out any of his ideas that might already be on display. Tyki was a little lazy but he was definitely a show off and he certainly didn't want to mimic anyone else's act. Either way anyone can find him poking around at things familiar and not familiar to him.

Day 146+ - Summerlands

As a man with a lot of freedom now chained to a contract he was rather pleased to know that he still had a lot of freedom to work with out in the open areas. The carnival traveled and they were allowed off grounds to venture outwards and explore. He could imagine there was eventually some sort of curfew he wasn't aware of or a time limit on how long to stay out but as a gambling man he could test a limit or two.

"Good afternoon," he'll say as he greets anyone he runs into with a warm smile and a small tip of his hat. As a Victorian Lord of the Court he was always a gentleman to anyone new or familiar. He looks the part to the top hat and cravat down to the gentleman's coat and white gloves. He looks like money and he's sure it'll draw attention from the anyone wanting to sell anything at all. Sampling the comforts of the land was a great pleasure to him and he'd flit from the city to look at the shops and scenery and then wander back into the fields to take a nap. The air was refreshing and comforting and he never minds company.

Wildcard

[Any day is fine as is any location. He'll frequent the Cookhouse to single out food he can eat, wander from trailer to trailer for any familiar faces. While the big top is an obvious choice for a magician he was also given the side job of Conman and he'll simply expect that to happen eventually. You can find him just about anywhere unless he's been told not to wander somewhere. He's a little mischievous in nature especially when bored~♥ I am equally open to anything.]

Summerlands

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya realized very quickly after he signed on with the Ringmaster that now he had time. Not just a year and a day to stop and reevaluate... well, everything he thought he was fighting for. No, he very immediately had a lot of time because the carnival this was a sort of rest stop for the carnival, and there wasn't a lot of his work to be done at all.

So he's wandered out to the Summerlands as well--and he recognizes Tyki. That man from the fair games.

"Oh, hello. You're still here?" This wasn't carnival grounds, so he wasn't staying just to play some games, was he?

[prazerbutterfly]

Give him a moment to put the name to the face because he has a horrible memory when it comes to names or maybe he just refused to remember anyone he might never see again. Still, his face is warm and inviting just as it was the night of that carnival.

His face immediately betrays him in surprise, "Yes, it seems I am but so are you." Which implied quite heavily that whatever he had done he had either incurred debt or he had been there to stay for the long run in the first place.

[chronosynthesis]

At least it's hard to mistake the talking plant.

"I will be staying here for the foreseeable future," he explains plainly. He doesn't look terribly bothered by the prospect, though. "Travelling with the carnival, I mean. What about yourself?"

[prazerbutterfly]

Yeah, kind of hard to miss a talking plant. He hasn't seen another one yet. Still, a name is something he'll have to put to memory. Might call him 'bud' for short if he forgets.

"Get roped into something messy then?" He laughs lightly because it seemed their meeting wasn't just a random circumstance. "I will be also staying at the carnival for the time being. It was not my decision at first but I will make do." He gestures towards the Summerlands, "I take it you got to experience the night better than I did? Yet here we are."

summerlands

[atouts]

The cities of the Summerlands are not prone to gloom, which is, unfortunately, something that makes Childermass stand uncomfortably out among all the bright colors and general good cheer of the fae who live there. He's also not quite dressed up in the same Victorian style by any means, but it is similar enough, if older, with cravat and his coat and all. Shabbier, too, as all of it has seen quite a bit of wear in its time.

He is, as ever with this damn city, alone. The few fae who do pass by will certainly acknowledge him, but it's as quickly as politely possible or with some lingering pity which only earns a scowl from the man. It's one of his few rare forays into the city for that reason alone, hating the way they might stop and whisper.

But as he needed to get a refill on pipe tobacco, well, how could he avoid the place entirely? So even as he scowls at faeries, he's found a spot to sit in the shade of a tree along a market-crowded street to puff away on his pipe and its newly gotten fuel. It's actually a bit of a surprise when someone stops to actually greet him over moving along swiftly, but then again, this man clearly isn't fae, which means—

"I suppose it must be a good afternoon," the Englishman responds after taking a moment to just eye Tyki, then pull his pipe away. "As are all of them here. I'm not sure this place is capable of having a bad one."

[prazerbutterfly]

He'll become a little more casual has time passes but for now what he came in with suits him because it is what he is the most comfortable in. Not to mention every time he was out on a job either as an established gentleman or a lord of the court this is what he wore. He's definitely one of the younger ones with some age on him. Despite being 27 he was well liked and established just about everywhere. Old habits would take some time to die off.

Just as old habits sat with him in clothes so did gathering information not to mention the style of clothing made him feel less out of place. His hand extends if only to gesture towards the pipe, "You don't have to stop on my accord. But yes, it seems to be very content here. I imagine not all the places this carnival visits are like so?" A place this happy had to have a catch.

[atouts]

That gets a shrug from Childermass, as though whether he carries on smoking or not doesn't really matter. It doesn't. Chances are he'll just keep at it between sentences, which is normal enough.

"Didn't intend to," he adds, at least putting that thought to words before looking around them with a skeptical eye. Comparing the city of the Summerlands to where else he's been, it's actually a quick thing to do, and the leaves him returning his gaze to Tyki soon enough.

"They're all different, so you're correct on that part. This one has been the most peaceful thus far, although Atlantis could have given it a good run for its money. If the Ringmaster hadn't taken to making wagers, that is."

[prazerbutterfly]

It's a courtesy if anything and while the other looks a little ragged to be a gentleman of the court he was at least being polite. The inconsideration thankfully doesn't rub him the wrong way. It was only habit and words that bade him to say as such. He didn't really care either if he smoked or not.

And then there was the fact that he would never stop someone from indulging in something they liked to do. He was an enabler by trait. "As you wish then."

"Alantis? As in the book?" He may not be all that well educated but he certainly loved books. "Wagers. I've gathered that much already that she's capable of wagers. Does she always have such a gambling habit?" Because he knows first hand how that goes.

BIG TOP

[soft_focus]

There is a gap of time between practices, what with the shows being more small and spread apart for this particular location. Intermission periods are common-and it is in the middle of on in particular that Reira takes her moment. Not to perform, however, though her presence can still be seen-the shadow of someone wandering along the lighting sets above, is cast upon the stage, the girl reaching far, far out to grab something...

This is probably dangerous, but maybe she'll get down safely?

smol one no

[prazerbutterfly]

At least he's observant because otherwise he might not have seen it at all. He's rather close to the stage at the moment with his hands set up upon the fixture of one of the props and he's poking unnecessarily at it due to the odd shape of something foreign. Yet now his attention casts him upwards and he swings around towards the tiny stairs near the back to get a better look.

His head tilts at small one up above. He is rather fond of children and is surprised to see one working on something so complex.

reira does as reira desires-

[soft_focus]

Working is...a way to put it, certainly. It's unclear from there of course, but following the source of shadows means finally spying the little girl as she finally successfully stretches along one of the support rails and-

"Mmnpg-" The grunt echoes as she pulls back from the reach, hands closed around something quite small. It, too however, makes a sound to give an idea of what it is-

"Peep!" It's a bird! (...an undead one.)

"Got you..." Yes and now they're still up here, which is not a good idea-

Suffice to say, with Tykki at the stairs, she can see him easily. "Umm-! ...Hello?" She didn't think anyone was still here..! "...can I get down before you go..?" She asks, assuming he's coming up.

What do you mean he's dressed too nice for that

[prazerbutterfly]

His concern is naturally for the child more than the thing she just caught. He hears the peep and will raise a brow with a slight smile growing on his face. Really, she's reaching for a bird?

"I have no intention of coming up at the moment so you are free to come down, kid. You shouldn't be up there anyways. You could fall." He smirks and opens his arms to beckon her down whatever she used to get up there. "Either way, be careful."

big top!!

[showmystar]

At the Carnival, Allen's eye is always keening at him, in some form. That's what comes of being constantly surrounded by people with possessing souls and demonic energies. It's made his senses dull, made it difficult to pinpoint a new cause of the pain behind his left eye. He has a constantly running radar of where every dark-aligned carnival member is at all times. Even once he takes notice of one more dot, it's difficult to tell which is the new one he should track.

To think he had thought it was normal being without it during the lost month he spent in Portland. He almost misses being a changeling. It was much simpler. While the imagined past of Portland wasn't real, his experiences were just as real as anything else he's gone through. It's stuck with him. In the aftermath of everything, he's turned inward to think on the new memories Nea revealed to him nearer the end, masked as his "true" life outside of the amnesiac one. His mother in a wheat field . . . ? And a mansion with all the answers within?

His thoughts were rudely interrupted by the agony of his left eye screaming to life. It's here, it's finally here, kill, kill, kill kill-- With its pupil rolling about wildly, it was completely useless in tracking anything.

He had wasted the 145th day searching for Akuma. The following day, frustrated beyond belief, Allen marches into the Big Top, eyes peeled. He's mostly here to take out his anger on the carnival equipment, but he is also keeping an eye out for whatever possessed undead newbie he'll run into today. His arms full of juggling balls, he's already halfway across the room when he spots him.

Tyki Mikk. Here. In the flesh. And he's probably known Allen was here the entire time.

. . . Tyki will find a juggling ball sailing fast for his head.

[prazerbutterfly]

Tyki had offered in the past to take care of a lot of Allen's issues including lopping his arm off to prevent a certain Innocence infused being from following him. The Akuma were drawn to Allen now more than ever. It wasn't just the coat he might where or the Innocence he wore. It was also the Noah now that resided inside of him. Unlike Allen a carnival like this could be a relaxing break. He had no drive to kill humans at the moment nor would he given how the Ringmaster was strict on that policy.

Yet he had felt Allen the moment he joined this carnival. He may not have entered because of him but now that he was here and apart of it he felt Innocence somewhere. It was almost amusing how well the ringmaster had hidden him until he joined. He couldn't hide forever and right now he wasn't hunting him. Allen was special because Akuma could feel Innocence and Noah coming from him and so could he. He knew that eventually he would come to him. All he had to do was wait.

He's not enjoying much at all at the moment as whoever was practicing has moved on and while he has a blind sense of anything flying towards his head, he ignores it. It can't touch him. He won't allow. That is until it just clocks him right in the side of his head causing him to reel to the side. He catches himself on the bench he's sitting on with his hand slapping harshly onto the surface. His other hand instinctively touches the side of his temple with a rub. It's then that he's rising to his feet with a startled expression. That shouldn't have hit him.

He lets his fingers dip into the bench as they phase right there. No, his power was still active. Then why...? Give him a moment. He's a little stunned. "If you wanted my attention that badly you could've just asked, boy."

[showmystar]

Oh. Oh, wow. Allen can't help but stare stupidly, shocked himself. He had expected the ball to pass right through Tyki just as much as Tyki had. He knows Tyki noticed him. Did the Ringmaster mess with his irritating Noah abilities?

. . . Oho. Allen's eyes glint sharply, and a devilish grin creeps across his face. It's enough to mellow out the sulking frown Tyki's comment would normally elicit. He chooses to ignore it. Instead, he'll continue the train of thought his juggling ball attack had started.

"It was you yesterday, wasn't it?" Allen says it accusingly, as if Tyki had showed up just to make Allen's life more difficult, and he had planned it exactly as such. "What are you doing here?"

From the look on his face, he honestly thinks Tyki has been following him around, watching him freak out all this time. (And without even saying hello! Rude.) Going by the two blue bioluminescent markings under Allen's right eye and the Innocence-like feathers twitching behind his right ear, he's been here for at least a month or two.

[prazerbutterfly]

She likely was protecting him from harm and he has a feeling she made sure he couldn't commit a grave crime and get away with it. He's not understanding at the moment what is going on but it'll come to him quickly.

He's reaching down for the ball now lost at his feet and picking it up into his hand. He palms it with the other to test how much he can choose not to touch it and allows his hand to pass through it easily. No, it's not Innocence. Allen hasn't seemed to develop anything new.

Yet it does make him turn and casually start to walk towards Allen. He does look different and he won't be caught off guard with this boy. His own grin slides onto his face as he closes the gap between them with those expensive shoes of his clacking loudly on the big top floor. He wants him to know he's coming. He always does.

"I did arrive yesterday. I felt you almost immediately as soon as I was inducted." His fingers squeeze that ball with a light grip, "I work here now~ Just like you."

big top

[pipers_son]

If there's anyone Tyki will see who's in the big top before anyone else, it's the redhead with mismatched black-white wings which are just about as mismatched as the fact that he's missing his whole right arm and the forearm of his left is completely wooden. Not even the smooth kind, either, but entwined wood from which something shiny shimmers.

That's not even talking about his colorful wardrobe.

Joker doesn't let folks sit all on their own for long. After fussing at anyone else who's showed up for practice today, he glides and hops on over to the stands. All the earrings on his long ears jangle with each twitch. "Lookin' for someone, mate?"

Once upon I time I did play Sebastian for about 4+ years...

[prazerbutterfly]

He's found himself a good spot on the stands right in the middle where he can see everything. It was the same spot he had picked when he had watched the show officially. This time though he had the perfect view to inspect other routines not in the show.

But yes, just as Childermass said, it was hard to miss Joker's appearance. It made himself feel rather ordinary in his Victorian Noble attire. The other man definitely stood out and he watches with a hint of amusement as he glides right over to greet him. It's a bit funny how his usual 'boss' dressed like a clown. "Yes, I am, good sir. I'm looking for you."

His hand gestures outwards in no particular gesture, "Or should I say boss?"

[pipers_son]

One could say that Joker becomes a little more down-to-earth for proper performances... But that'd be a bit of a lie. He's still as colorful as ever then, just in a proper suit.

However, that sort of effort isn't worth it on their off-days, not when he only has one arm to work with. While it's certainly earned some comments, there's been no complaints so far. Or maybe Joker's just ignored them.

Either way, he grins when he's addressed. "Oh, that's the Ringmaster- just Joker's fine with me." With his facepaint still applied, it's always an apt name. "So yer one of mine now, huh? We've had a bit of a month, so I hope ya don't mind if I check with what role she put ya in."

They were kind of stuck inside an alternate reality with false memories, so.... No chance for the usual work chatter.

[prazerbutterfly]

Just as Tyki looked rather refined at the moment a lot of that would change when he starts to perform. He might seem less like himself and more of someone putting on another self. He's not even sure if he should just wear what he is now or something else.

It's horrible how much he wants to ask about the arm but he won't. Maybe that can come another time. From all the Akuma to the colorful displays of the Earl this doesn't bother him at all. He seems actually almost use to it.

"Joker," he says with some reluctance as he nods his head. He's use to slapping Sir, Mister, Lord on everything. It seemed so informal at least with this side of his life. "One of yours, hmm? That's right. I don't mind at all. I was told to seek you out. Magician is what I think I was assigned."

"I suppose you don't want to talk about that 'month' either. No one does. I've heard it from two other people and all I know is it isn't something to talk about."

Wildcard!

[amusicaladventure]

Normally the windows to Trailer #11 stayed resolutely closed as a courtesy to those nearby -- but today they were not, for the sake of cleaning and airing out the inside. And apparently whoever Tyki's trailermate was had left on a stereo or something? Because music poured out of that window, guitars and keyboards and drums setting its whole frame vibrating with their power, and a voice lifted over it all in song.

Hopefully not a total dealbreaker? Well, he's stuck moving in there anyway for now... The door was closed, but would anyone hear a knock over that music?

[prazerbutterfly]

It didn't take him long to find it but the noise that came from the apparent trailer he was going to be staying in for now on was a little off putting. He didn't really have a choice in the matter as it was his first day. He hadn't really ventured out here the first night given he wanted to look around. Albeit it was a day later that he walked up to his trailer and simply let himself in. Greeted by the array of music he poked his head in with his hat lifted off his head and a raised brow.

He at least hoped it would be quiet at night while he slept. Otherwise he would have to change things his own way. "Hello?"

[amusicaladventure]

Ash jumped, making a noise that sounded very much like a scared cat, as the music abruptly cut off like a plug had been pulled. She whirled around, bottlebrushed tail lashing as she stared at him wide-eyed, a broom held in her hands more like she was about to start air-guitaring with it than bash him with it. Clearly, she'd been cleaning -- aside from the stack of cleaners on the counter by the sink and the smell of bleach and lemon in the air, she was smudged with dust both on her skin and her tank-top.

This wasn't exactly how she wanted to receive company. "Uh. Hi."

[prazerbutterfly]

He's not expecting a cat or a woman as he tilts his head with a clearing of his throat. He is a gentleman by far as he steps in further and takes a look around the trailer.

"I heard the music," he begins politely, "So I figured you would not hear me lock. I am Tyki Mikk and I am apparently your new room mate." He's even showing his key or whatever proof they give to the patrons of the carnivals. "I do hope I didn't startle you, young lady."