⇨ 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

[fourthscribe]

"I wasn't saying he doesn't--he needs to listen to his own advice just as much."

Tanyuu smooths Doll's hair, letting her take what support she needs. For a moment, she reamins silent, before letting out a long, quiet sigh. "...I wasn't much help to anyone in that world, either. My brother was kidnapped and I couldn't even help to free him. I was...useless, really."

[steadydollypegs]

The idea that someone can dispense what sounds like good advice and not follow it themselves is apparently mind-blowing to Doll. What's the point of having good ideas if you weren't going to use them...?

Adult life sounded complicated, and Doll just wants to feel comforted by the hair petting.

"Who's your brother?"

[fourthscribe]

There are a lot of things about being an adult that are needlessly complicated. Taxes, for one thing. But Doll shouldn't need to worry about those right now--she's still young, and deserves to have a childhood while she still can.

"Ginko. The takes care of the menagerie, and both of us handle mushi infestations when they occur." Tanyuu smiles a little, brightened just by mention of her family. "Have you met him before?"

[steadydollypegs]

"Mister Ginko's yer brother?" Doll looks shocked. Ginko just seems so... distant and morose compared to Tanyuu, but now that she's trying to see it maybe there is a little family resemblance...

"Yeah, yeah! He came by, carryin' Joker. 'Pparently he had 'imself too much ta drink 'n ended up a tree. Mister Ginko brought 'im home."

[fourthscribe]

Tanyuu nods, and laughs when Doll explains their first meeting--oh, she heard about that whole incident, Ginko had been very flustered about the whole thing. "Yes, he's got a caretaker's instinct, even if he says he's no good at dealing with people. It takes a while for him to open up, sometimes, but he's very dear to me."

[steadydollypegs]

"Hmm... 'e never seemed standoffish ta me!" Doll shrugs. Not many people seem to be distant, though-- and if they are, Doll isn't one to let them be that way, for better or worse.

"Maybe a little quiet, but I'm used ta loud folk. He reminds me 'a my brother Jumbo, ya know! Big 'n gentle 'n quiet."

[fourthscribe]

"That's Ginko, all right. If I know my brother at all, I would say he's quite fond of you." Something that both siblings share, to be certain. Tanyuu's eyes crinkle up with her smile, and she pats Doll's shoulder fondly.

[steadydollypegs]

"Yeah?" Doll's face gets a little pink at that, and she looks embarrassed and shuffles her feet a little bit. "I'm fond 'a him too. 'N you too, Miss Tanyuu." She smiles up at her and puts her hand on Tanyuu's, in an attempt to hug from where they're standing.