⇨ 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

[otoko]

[He swears he can hear someone right now. Someone calling...someone-] HMNN?

AUHH-!

[There is a quiet 'splsh' as he's abruptly dropped into the water, the fae scattering and giggling as the main light disappears. Soon enough, there's a sputtering tree-dog surfacing, choking on the sudden fluid as he searches for who shouted.] Y-YUUYA!

[hippocarnival]

[Whoops. Yuya rushes out to the lake, but he doesn't go further than the water up to his shins when Gon resurfaces.] Gongenzaka! Are you okay?!

[He doesn't catch on to what just happened yet.]

[otoko]

BLGH... [He'll get there, just...Give him a bit.] Kauhh...J... Just fine..! I, the man Gongenzaka, am merely wet...

[Annnnd that is about all the warning Yuuya gets before Gon stretches, bows his head, and shakes.

SORRY BUT HE HAS DOG INSTINCTS SO HERE COMES THE TURBINE OF WATER DROPLETS.

GOTTA SHAKE THAT OUT.]

[hippocarnival]

[Honestly as Yuya stares at Gongenzaka, that's the next thought that rolls through his head as he surfaces closer to the shore: wet dog.]

Hey--! [He's quick to step back and shield himself, except Gon is a giant and not compact, like En, so he's still getting wet. He covers his mouth to at least try and stifle his laughing, but... Gon acting like his corgi with that serious expression on his face is kind of funny.]

S-sorry. [snrk. He starts to shake the water off himself, now.] What were you doing?

[otoko]

Mnn- Practicing..! [He turns to Yuuya, still looking... ...well basically like ENORMOUS EN with still sopping leaves. He'll probably look even more ridiculous if he dries out wrong. He gestures out to the lake with a nod, and focuses on his friend.] Shortly before we appeared in Portland, I, the man Gongenzaka, had asked the Ringmaster for some tutelage in a few techniques... this is an exercise in focusing one's internal energies. If proper focus is attained, it manifests in this case as balancing upon even the water-so it makes it simpler to tell where my personal failings in the technique are.

[~Chakras~]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya clears his throat, although there's still amusement in his expression as he looks up at Gongenzaka.] So you learned magic to make yourself even more steadfast?

[That's what he's getting from that, anyway.] That's cool! But I guess I distracted you... if you were focused enough, could you just walk around on the water?

[otoko]

Auh...S...Something like that... [Something about the way Yuuya puts it makes him a touch antsy, and he can't identify why. Though...] Mnnh. I, the man Gongenzaka, certainly could...it was how I reached the center after all!

[hippocarnival]

Can you do it on solid vision water? [Do you see where he's going with this, Gon. Think of how cool your duels will be.]

[otoko]

Auh...S...Solid vision? [Oh! Oh, he's feeling a bit better all of a sudden-]

..I, the man Gongenzaka, hadn't considered...

[hippocarnival]

I don't have any field spells with water. [Unfortunately, they probably won't be able to test it.] But since it's mass, it'd work, right? You'd be the ultimate steadfast duelist if not even water could shake you!

[otoko]

W-Well, we will merely have to find some way to test it once home then..! After all, it is knowledge of what lies within, not a matter of bringing some sort of change home!

[#stillgonnadogitup tho]

[hippocarnival]

Yeah. [He looks pleased at the idea. Although thinking of "home" prompts him to remember something else.]

That's right! Don't you only have a few months left of your contract? [He's not sure what Gon's actual timeframe with the carnival is with the whole being dead thing, but he's definitely been around for a while.]

[otoko]

Aaah, not much time is left... [Though...Hrmnn.] ....Depending on, I, the man Gongenzaka, imagine I could think of...some way to stay while you have yours to fulfill though...

[Is that a small smile creeping in IT IIIIIIIISSSS]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya smiles back, but it's hesitant. Of course Gongenzaka would stay for Yuya's sake. And Yuya does like having his best friend around, more than anything, but...]

You don't have to stay for my sake. [It doesn't feel right to hold him back, given what he's had to go through. Yuya just can't ask him for that.] I can take care of myself, and haven't you been away from home for too long?

[betheman]

There is nothing to say that I, the man Gongenzaka, could not take a break there between the contracts first, if you insist I take some sort of time at home first... [He frowns.] ...But you must realize that I, the man Gongenzaka, still have concerns.

[WHO GOT STUCK IN A TREE LIKE TWO DAYS BACK. WHO!!!]

[hippocarnival]

I--I'll be fine! [But if Gongenzaka starts pulling out examples he knows he doesn't have much of an argument. He can't even say he hasn't been hurt after Portland.] But you died. I don't want you to have to go through any more pain just because you thought you had to watch over me.

[betheman]

I, the man Gongenzaka, died in an incident that is now impossible to recreate. The vampires of that realm are gone, [he adds seriously.]

[hippocarnival]

That doesn't mean other things can't hurt you! [Now Gongenzaka's worry and Yuya's reassurance have now completely flipped on themselves.] I can't ask you to stay with me knowing what it might put you through. And you don't have to! I'll definitely make it home too when my contract is done, that's what I promised.

[betheman]

....

Yuuya. [He huffs.] In the span of a few weeks, you have taken the role of being speared through the soul, and become trapped in a faerie tree.

I, the man Gongenzaka, can at least say my problems and risks have only come when the entirety of the carnival was threatened.

[hippocarnival]

She didn't hurt us. [The fairy, count their lucky stars.] At least find a better reason to stay if you're going to sign another contract...

[betheman]

My point is that you attract danger more than you think, Yuuya..! Please! At the very least, if I am to trust you to stay safe, trust me to do the same while being ready to help in the event that you need it!

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya looks like he intends to retort, but it fizzles out into a sigh and his shoulder drop. Gongenzaka is right, after all.]

I do trust you! I know you want to be there because you're my friend. [And he's always been there, always stable and reliable even as they crossed dimensions to find Yuzu.

He looks up with a sheepish smile.] Sorry, I'm being selfish. [He doesn't want to feel guilty for trapping Gon in the carnival, but it's his choice to make if he wants to stay because he cares about Yuya.] I really am grateful for it!

[otoko]

[Of course he trusts him-and he believes that Yuuya trusts him in turn-Gongenzaka sighs, but moves to sit beside the other, setting a hand on his friend's shoulder.] It is an understanding feeling, however-I, the man Gongenzaka, would no doubt attempt to tell you the same, if our positions were switched...

...But, Yuuya-no matter what I, the man Gongenzaka choose-whether to come here with a second contract, or to wait for you at home-it will be a choice. Remember that. No matter how you feel...it is not something that you have forced me to choose!

[hippocarnival]

[It's almost silly how massive Gongenzaka is now, as if he wasn't big enough before--Yuya especially notices when he's next to him, and his neck has to crane a little more to look him in the face.

His smile is much more genuine at that reassurance. He has a feeling he knows what choice Gon intends to make... but that just means he needs keep his chin up and be strong, so that he doesn't cause Gongenzaka to worry so much. So he can be relied on, too.]

Yeah. [He turns to face Gon, brighter now--and then the wet paw on his shoulder reminds him.] Uh, you should really dry off!

[otoko]

[The things that happen when your lower-half is replaced with a BearHorse, evidently. It's bizarre especially when looking at his upperhalf-in actuality...not much size-wise changed up there. At all.

Gongenzaka jumps, looking over his hand a moment before coughing.] AUH-!! Y-Yes... A good idea..! Sorry about getting you wet...

[Just. Picked up on that.]