⇨ 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

[anti_nonsense]

"No... I can deal with a year." There's a calm resolve in her voice. Rita was already prepared to put up with all kinds of crap for the contract period... provided it's actually limited to that period.

"I just didn't know how I'd go back and face everyone as some freak of nature." She was only just beginning to shed her reputation as a freak with the other mages. This sure as hell wouldn't help. That, and trying to imagine what Estelle and the others would think if they saw her...

[atouts]

"Oh, I don't know. You would think the average human might be more envious of wings than disapproving," Childermass makes that one and only effort to make it sounds 'not so bad', but honestly, it's a good thing they can all go back to normal. "Do you plan on learning to fly with them?"

[anti_nonsense]

Rita gives him a humorless look, but he isn't entirely wrong. Growing wings and flying in the sky is something lots of people have dreamed of, since the dawn of time...

Unfortunately, Rita's not sure she counts herself as one of those people. When asked about flying, she sighs, and with some reluctance, answers, "Yeah. It's what they're for... so it'd be a waste not to." Flying is a useful ability, and without learning, the wings would just get in her way without ever serving a practical purpose.

[atouts]

"I hope you're prepared to jump off a lot of high places to figure it out, then," Childermass says, probably coming off as a little more amused than Rita might like. It's weird to think about how much he knows about flying himself when he isn't the one with wings.

[anti_nonsense]

That is a terrifying thought, and it shows in how Rita flinches at the mental image, her shoulders tensing and her teeth clenching. Was that a joke? It'd better be a joke.

"Yeah, right. There's got to be a better way to do it than that," she retorts, an uneasy edge in her tone.

[atouts]

"Oh, I suppose there's also jumping off slightly less high places," Childermass replies. Overall, 'jumping off things' is unavoidable. However, he can at least suggest one.

"You could try off the top of the trailer once you get a better feeling for your wings."

[anti_nonsense]

"That much should be doable, but..." But it all comes back to jumping off things... Rita sighs, then shakes her head. "I'll figure something out. I always do."

She faces one of the trailer windows, considering the dark sky outside. It's still the middle of the night, but she's much too worked up to think about going back to sleep. This conversation's given her a few things to think about, besides.

"...I'm going out," she says abruptly. "I'll let you get back to sleep."

[atouts]

To which he'll nod, actually looking just a little grateful at the thought. He does still need sleep, a lot of sleep, and getting back to it is exactly what he'll do once Rita heads out.

"I hope you have a peaceful walk, then, Miss Mordio."

He won't waste breath telling her to be careful or anything. It's the carnival grounds, in the Summerlands, and she can set people on fire. She'll be perfectly fine.

[anti_nonsense]

"Peaceful isn't exactly what I had in mind," Rita replies with a hint of her usual smugness. She's probably going to go blow off some steam with some explosive magic. Fortunately for Childermass, she intends to do it far away from the trailers.

She opens the door, steps outside... and can be heard cursing and struggling when her wings get caught in the doorway. It's going to take a while to get used to their presence. Eventually, she does get all the way out and leaves Childermass with some peace and quiet.