lostcarnival | ⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

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⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

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.

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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."

Go on, call him a lord. Joker will laugh himself sick and, after everything that's been happening lately, that's probably what he needs.

"Magician, huh? Ha, there's always a lot of those..." Although at least right now there's not a surplus of them. In Joker's opinion, that tends to make things a little awkward. People come to the circus for variety, right? Variety and things they don't get in their regular life.

...And sometimes to sign a contract with a fae woman but listen....

Regardless, it all works out right now as far as Joker is concerned, and he gives a slight hop down the stands. "Well then, you'll have ta compete with Strange! He's got smoke and mirrors handled now, so let's see somethin' different, shall we? Step inta the ring and show me what ya can do."

"Just Joker? No sir, mister or lord?" He has to ask just one more time because if given permission to be informal he may never be formal around him again. It would put in perspective who he was talking to.

He notices easily how that 'month' question is dodged. No one wanted to talk about it and he might have to pry it from the boy from his world later. He's sure he can coax Walker into some misery.

He rises to his feet as he eyes the performance area, "Truth be told I've never actually performed for anyone. At least not for entertainment." He's performed for dying victims and he's performed for the Lords and Ladies of the court. He does know what a basic human desires. He had been sitting here for a while attempting to see what other powers others may have. Tyki knows from how much his power seems to be limited that the Ringmaster is aware of what he can do. She knows more than she lets on and others have attested to that already. Yet what Joker says raises a confused question. "Smoke and mirrors?"

Feet curling over the back of a chair, he nearly over balances from barked out laughter at the question, and his wings have to flap hastily so that he doesn't crash down. "I don't think I've done nearly enough ta be called a lord!" he cackles, flapping down onto the grounds properly so he doesn't accidentally break his neck. "Just Joker. That'll do fine." Pausing for a moment, he lets his laughter ride its course while he wipes at his eyes. Oh, the kind of people that show up.

When he's finally caught his breath again, he gestures glibly to some mirrors that Tyki has likely spotted around the ring. "Yeah, literally. He can pop through them, easy as anythin'. So pretty literally smoke and mirrors, ha. He has other things he can do, but be careful if he asks for yer help or ya might get set on fire."

Look, he had to make sure. He always has to make sure. He may be lazy and a little unconditioned but he was a gentleman when his words weren't being wicked. Still, his laughter is a welcomed tone compared to the dreariness of the carnival in anywhere else but the summerlands where it was peaceful and comfortable. "Right, right. Joker."

"Experimental sort," he says while completely not probing for information. His expensive shoes carry his way to the ring as he steps into it and then just steps upwards. Now that he knows what one person can do he might feel the need to show off a little. From Joker's perspective it is something of levitation but in truth he was rejecting the air underneath his feet. He scales the air in a mock instance of an invisible staircase even if he could just float upwards with ease. "It wouldn't be the first time I've been set on fire."

"Oh, absolutely," Joker says glibly. Before he can talk further about what an absolutely ridiculous bastard Strange is, he manages to look over his latest magician just in time to catch his little trick. Joker can fly- has been able to for over a year now. (If he's been able to fly well- another thing entirely.) Still, things like this never fail to impress him, and his grin stays right in place as he watches Tyki make his way down some invisible steps.

"Well, if that's the case, yer free ta find him and volunteer for help," he says, not bothering to hide his delight. "Still, that's a nice little entrance ya could do for a show."

Well, Tyki certainly can't fly. He couldn't soar through the air with this power like a bird or someone with flying abilities. It's just that he's able to walk on anything he wishes. Yet Joker's words are taken into consideration. He could perform with it as an opening and he did ask for pointers.

"I might if I get a little bored of the basic routine of things around here. It's awfully quiet and a lot are resting. His expensive shoes announce themselves when he hits the ground instead of the air and he turns around to face him with a chuckle, "I've already talked to one magician of yours. He says he can make things appear and disappear. I could do that too, technically, but as you and I have said, that would be boring to see the same thing twice."

He reaches down for anything on the floor that might be long or sharp, "I want to give them something a little more than that if I am required to do my job."

"Yeah, we don't want ta bore the audience." But what can they do? Well, it's his job to find out, isn't it? Joker rocks on his heels a little bit, glancing over his latest magician. Not the manic energy of Strange, but nothing like Childermass' somber look... Very dandy, if he had to say. Being able to walk on air only adds to the impression, in his view.

Well, a challenge is always fun. "So ya can float through air and do some disappearin' tricks. What else?" A beat, and he clarifies, "Not just magic, too. Any skills are good ta kno!"

Tricks would be right because he didn't exactly disappear. He could simply walk into something else or use a curtain or sheet to fake it. His true power was something far greater. He dresses to impress as he's always use to doing. At the carnival he might casual down a little over time but coming from a basic venue he always had to look his best even with out with the Earl for groceries.

"Well," he says as his fingers lift to his hat. He takes a casual step back only to slip right through the floor as if he just suddenly dropped. He goes right through the ground and leaves his top hat behind in the center of the ring. Completely out of sight he traverses the underground until he's relatively right in front of Joker. It's only then that he rises back out of the ground as if it was easy. He seems to stop and stare as if considering showing him more yet he's stalling with a twitch of his hand. He really shouldn't show Joker his power in the usual way. Plunging your hand into someone else's chest even if there is no damage or pain is a little rude. It's clear he's holding back until he just smiles normally again. "I could show you more but you'd have to trust me."

"While underground I don't have to worry about suffocating. The same goes for water. Sleight of hand, light on my feet, fluent in Portuguese."

Edited (orz sorry phone is being bad.) 2017-08-30 03:52 (UTC)

His wings puff out in alarm when his latest magician just suddenly disappears, and the first thought that goes through his head is oh hell I hope we didn't lose one. Which is silly, of course, because they're in the Summerlands. Nothing ridiculous is going to snatch anyone up.

Still, when Tyki suddenly shoots up in front of him, he gives a squawk and flaps backwards only to immediately duck forward again with interest. Oh, that's a new one. There's no missing that pause, but that just means his first response is, "Well, I'm all for tryin' new things! Besides, it's up ta me ta know everythin', isn't it?"

Really, it's not necessary- his brain is already landing onto an act he can get this one into. But why turn back now?

The shock and value of the trick will go a long way or so he considers when he usually performs that feat in front of his enemies. Most are alarmed if not startled and he's quite pleased with Joker's reaction.

His smile is rather bright now as his head of hair is now visible without that top hat. It's quite a bit of curls and wave. Without that small pin at the back and ponytail it would look messy. An observant man would notice the twitch of his fingers at the verbal permission with the way his smile seems a little more mischievous, "Ah, you are right about that, Joker. This is my power."

It's quick the way his arm shoots outwards straight for his chest. With fingers spread he plunges it inwards and out through his back. To anyone else it would look as if his arm is half buried within the other but there is no sign of blood on the other side. An odd checkered pattern has spread across the fabric on Joker's chest. Again, he looks rather pleased, "Don't worry. It doesn't hurt, does it? You see, I can choose what I do and don't want to touch."

Joker freezes completely.

Pain and him aren't strangers, and in more than simple street scuffles. When you get an arm lopped off, well. That's not an easy memory to forget. It's one he's expecting when that hand suddenly goes thrusting straight through him, and all the breath expels from him from sheer shock. For a second, he thinks he can't feel the pain because his mind is so surprised- it'd happened the first time. But then he realizes that it's not coming at all, and Joker glances down right as Tyki starts to explain.

"Well I'll be damned," he says quietly.... before trying to wave his arm in front of himself to see if it goes through Tyki's.

His eyes narrow faintly because he enjoys the look on people's faces when his arm is deep within their body. He loves to see the stiffness of limbs, the trembling of features or even the shock on a person's face.

Pain and him aren't strangers either but he would rather avoid it. Despite all of his deception his face does look rather cheerful with a soft grin of delight. He's enjoying himself as Joker will find his hand goes right through Tyki. Right now he's choosing not to touch Joker. He'll be able to pass his hand through any part of Tyki right now and he'd allow it.

"If I wanted to I could touch any part of you without having to touch any other part of you." It's a shame really given how much good he could do in the future if he just put his mind to it. He could easily remove a bullet without having to cut or some sort of cancerous infection but no, his talent lies in removing organs in battle.

"This applies to all manner of objects from knifes to swords to fire. I'm sure you can paint that picture." Except thanks to the Ringmaster meddling with his power if someone attacks him with an intent to harm he cannot use this power for defensive means.

"Ya could be a scary bugger in a fight, I imagine," Joker mutters even as he almost playfully seems to hop back and then forward again. By all means, it's impossible for him to imagine just what Tyki has done in his past or how bad this could be.... But, frankly, Joker won't ask.

It's a policy of his. He doesn't interrogate his workers and coworkers about their nonsense beyond casual conversation, and they stay away from his.

Finally, he takes a definitive step back and nods, satisfied with what he's experienced. It really wasn't necessary.... But the explanation of what Tyki can do certainly helps. "Alright," he says, "I think I have an idea. Now stop me in my tracks if it doesn't like like anythin' ya would be interested in.... But what do ya think about escape artists?"

"Better an ally than an enemy," he'll answer with that notion of truth. Joker was right. He might see something like that in the future but only if his hand was forced. He didn't necessarily start fights as much as he finished them with extreme means.

His hand at least lowers so it is out of Joker's chest. He could keep this power up indefinitely even while he slept if he wanted to. In a normal human world he would never show it to anyone unless they were about to die.

He's heard of escape artists barely if only because one had cropped up recently and news had just reached an area he had traveled recently. Honestly Tyki might get bored if it was just a card trick or a disappearing act over time. "High risk takers. The hushed breath of an audience as they sit on the edge of their seat. The adrenaline of a possible disaster? I can't say I have any objections."

Tapping his wooden fingers sharply together- the closest he'll ever get to snapping his fingers now- Joker grins. "There we go! That's it exactly. I'll have ta make sure that the Ringmaster knows what's goin' on, just so that any particular safety spells don't interfere with anythin'- you know how it is." Idly, he waves his hand through the air. It's a necessity of the carnival, just to make sure that things don't get too out of hand as far as he can tell. Really useful, if he's honest. After all, with how many magicians use lots of fire in their acts, it's handy to have, say.... something to protect the tent from catching ablaze.

Still, that seems to be decided, and Joker rocks on his heels unable to contain himself. An escape artist isn't something they've had in a nice good while. It'll be fun. "We can figure out all the details as we go and once I see the kinds of equipment we have, but any particular way ya would like ta risk yer life?" His grin widens a little more.

"Oh, I do not know if she cares for any of us or values only the loss of her precious contracts but she was quite clear that she didn't want anyone killed or harmed. I understand if precautions are needed to be taken before we go any further." He wondered in the last couple of days just how much she knew about him and if all of this had been planned in some way or if everything that had transpired was more simple as it seemed to be.

He's been warned about Strange now with his use of fire and other things and he already knows about Childermass and what he offers for performances at least. To give this all a little more air of anticipation and excitement would at least give Tyki more interest in all of it. Not to mention Joker seemed to share a bit of it as well. It'll certainly be fun and his own grin shows that. "Whatever is most dangerous that you can rummage up. Water, being dropped from the air, something sudden death. I want to hear the entire audience forget to breath in those mere moments."

How the Ringmaster feels about them, huh...? Joker hums a little bit, tapping one foot thoughtfully. That's a hard thing to answer, and one he wouldn't put any bit of money on. Sure, he's a risktaker, and a bit of a gambler at times when it's for fun, but this... "She has a different way of thinkin'," he finally says, shrugging. It's the best answer he can give. "She'll get us inta all sorts of stupid trouble, but she'll at least get us out of it again.... eventually."

Which is all they can ask for in the end, he supposes, although he's still quietly sour about it.

Well, complaining about the Ringmaster can be for another time. While it doesn't seem like Tyki was a performer before all this, his words are still enough to get Joker grinning right back. That's the perfect kind of thinking for this line of work. "Perfect," he says. "I'll see what I can scrounge up, then, and what I can badger acquisitions inta gettin' for us. When I've got all that figured out, I'll come find ya again, yeah? Let ya know the options we have. Until then..."

His hand sweeps out, gesturing to all the 'toys' about: high wire, aerial silks, various magician goodies, and just about everything else. "Feel free ta mess about with what ya like."

Childermass had given him a brief intro into her kind but he didn't have the full book on her. In any case his answer is enough to solidify a good image of her for now. He didn't necessarily mind trouble as a dull and boring experience would make this contract drag longer. He did like the latter fact of getting out of trouble, "So at least consistent on making sure we are kept well within hand."

He's a quick learner and use to adapting. He'll get through it one way or another. If he was going to go this far with this extreme of a measure he may as well make it worth it. "Hai, hai. I am in trailer #11 if it is sooner than later though I may rarely be there at all. I am willing to wait if it provides better results on the other hand."

He makes another sound, low and full of mirth, as he walks towards where Joker offered. He did want to have a deeper look and now he had permission, "As you wish, Joker." He was going to touch so many things.

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⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

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