⇨ 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

[hippocarnival]

[Fae probably makes more sense than 'disembodied soul', but that definitely feels fitting for their appearance.

He regards Gongenzaka silently for a moment, before stretching his arms to hold the wisps close to him.] You can touch them. They don't burn.

[betheman]

A..Auuh. ....that is a relief then... [Well, here he goes then. Gently bringing forward a hand, claw closest to the flame and hoping one or the other is...careful. Very careful.] ...They seem delicate, up close, [He murmurs, blinking at the little things.]

[hippocarnival]

[They're shy at first, but eventually one of the wisps leans into his claw. They do feel warm, but more like a cozy candle warm than anything dangerous.] I didn't think about that... I'll be careful.

[He'd hate to hurt these poor creatures after all. Still, Gon's willingness makes him smile brighter.] The Ringmaster found a good place for us. I think everyone's having an easier time recovering.

[otoko]

Mmmn. It can be difficult to tell how to judge most things here, after all...what one sees can be rather deceiving...

[But, that aside, he nods in agreement, a light smile on his own face.] ...Apparently, this is a place she often returns to-whether to perform regular showings, or merely to recover. Though...

...It is the former, not the latter, which is apparently most common, fortunately...

[hippocarnival]

I heard she's close with the Summer Maiden. [It's maybe dating.] So I'm sure she trusts her. It's too bad we can't give them a better performance this time.

[betheman]

Incredibly close, as they are apparently occasional lovers.

[hippocarnival]

Yeah, that's what Joker said. [Because they only see each other occasionally, he assumes. He starts to lower his hands, but as he does the wisps grab hold of Gon and start crawling onto his hand instead.]

[betheman]

Auh- [And there they go...] ...They are surprisingly cool to the touch, considering their appearance..!

[hippocarnival]

[They have trouble getting much further through Gon's fur, and stay firmly latched to further than his wrist.] Looks like they like you.

[Well, now that his wisp friends have departed Yuya turns and moves to sit down at the water's edge, crossing his legs. He doesn't reach out to any more, although there's still a curious few floating at the water's edge to... what he assumes watch them back. They don't have faces so he's really not sure.]

[otoko]

Aauh, s...so it seems, [He murmurs, a few others creeping over as well. They seem quite entranced by the foliage, much to his chagrin, the leaves and branches far easier for them to 'climb'.] A...Auhhhhhhhh...

[It also has the general effect of fireflies pursuing an appealing bush.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya watches the wisps march right on by to join their friends on Gon. They don't move terribly quickly on land.]

They really like you. [Gon doesn't seem to like them very much, though, so Yuya leans over to gather the wisps trying to make their way over. Unfortunately he only has two hands, so whenever he puts a couple back in the water more have already begun to walk by and the cycle repeats.]

[betheman]

S-So it appears..!! Though I, the man Gongenzaka, cannot speak toward how that is..!

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya makes a valiant attempt to curb them, but there's more wisps than he has hands. So sorry, Gon, looks like you're on your own here.]

Uh... Maybe they think your fur is soft? [No? He shrugs helplessly, dropping the wisps in his hands back on the water.]

[betheman]

Th-then why do they focus on the plants..!? [Noooooooo Yuuya don't leave him to become their new treeeeee-]

[hippocarnival]

Well, that tree fae did say they were pretty, right? [Maybe it's just a Summer Fae thing.

Yuya shakes his head and moves to get up and help, although he's really not sure how he's going to convince the wisps to leave him alone.] I guess this wasn't a good choice after all--okay guys, everyone off!

[He stretches his arms out. None of the wisps listen.]

[betheman]

Th-that probably isn't the reason they are doing this, [he sputters, nonetheless heating up regardless. The result is that, of course, the blood gathers under his fur-and his blood, being glowing blood, well...

There's a slight, dull red shine to him now, and the wisps are EXCITED.] M-NMNNH!!! Even more are coming?!

[hippocarnival]

Ugh, this was supposed to be fun... [He carefully plucks one of the wisps off of Gon, who shimmers around in confusion at being removed from the foliage.

Yuya squints, looking between the wisps and Gongenzaka as he flusters and the rest of them respond to his blushing (glowing?)... ah. Ah.

He leans back and looks up at Gon with a grin.] Hey, you said before your body might be kind of fae, right? And now you're glowing--they probably think you're a friend like them!

[Look at all the friends you've made!!]

[otoko]

Mmmm- [He can at the very least be momentarily distracted by focusing on that particular topic, which buys the time for the wisps to get quite comfortable amid the flowers.] A friend? As in the same species?! [He questions, blinking rapidly.] ...Mnh... I, the man Gongenzaka, suppose that would make sense... ...even most of those who have been with the carnival long enough appear 'fae' to others, so...

[This is still weird, but...Hmm.] ...I, the man Gongenzaka, am reminded of how I came to keep Suzu, however...

[hippocarnival]

They don't hurt, right? [Yuya gestures to the ones settles in his flowers.] I don't think you have to worry. We'll make sure to leave them behind when we leave.

[Unless Gon wants to collect himself an entourage of wisps, he can't really argue with that.] What happened has everyone upset, but I think things are okay here. It's not dangerous.

[betheman]

They do not hurt, but it assuredly feels strange...it is a bit like having living smoke in my hair... [...Which, one would suppose the leaves ARE so...]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya holds up the wisp in his hands. It's still trying to get to Gongenzaka.] Is it really as strange as the rest of you, now?

[Or the rest of the carnival, frankly.]

[betheman]

TH-

I, the man Gongenzaka, was speaking of the physical sensation..!!! It has nothing to do with-

...Well! [It's perhaps, in a cruel sense, more amusing to get Gongenzaka flustered like this, as it results in much of his fur bristling upward until he looks quite like a cotton puff covered in flowers.]

[hippocarnival]

That's what I meant! [Aaand there Gongenzaka goes, fluffing up. Yuya's changes have been mild and slow, but surely having your body warped resulted in very weird changes to how it physically feels in your skin. If he had been more aware when Zarc took over...

Well, if he had been more aware maybe Zarc wouldn't have taken over to begin with.

He moves to put a hand on Gon's arm to calm him down, which has the effect of letting the stray wisp latch on and start crawling up.] Is it bothering you that much?

[betheman]

Auh- [Well, the fur is moving back down then, and he sighs. Once he's past the strangeness of it, it isn't that bad, he will admit that. But as he looks over the wisps, and then over Yuuya, he finds himself feeling almost shamed.

Perhaps actually shamed, given who he is.] ...Truthfully, since most of these changes occurred through a manner that I, the man Gongenzaka, was not conscious to...

...it is difficult to say what does and does not feel strange about them. ...These little ones are not terrible, but...

[Oh to hell with it. He steels himself, huffing somewhat.] Such a reaction from myself is too rash to be called steadfast..! Even if it is strange..!!

[....he'sticklishain'the]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya knows Gon to be passionate, but there is something strange about the way he's reacting to the wisps--that's what's got him worried. Maybe that's just all those weird fae changes?

He pats Gon's arm gently. There's the impulsive urge to pet it, like he would his pets, but he reigns that in tightly.] Maybe if you describe what it feels like it won't be as strange?

[If it's because it's a surprise, revealing the surprise might make him feel better.]