⇨ 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

[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.]

[betheman]

[Technically he probably knows what it is.

He's just a bit sidetracked.] ...If I, the man Gongenzaka, focus too much on that at this moment, I fear you will get hit with something.

[GEE THAT'S TELLING]

[hippocarnival]

That's silly. [Could you pick a more vague description here. He's reaching for the wisp again so he can just try it himself, his fingers ghosting against it as it makes its way up Gon's arm. Really, he doesn't notice anything but the warmth and a delicate brush of the flame against his palm, that almost--oh. Oh.

He pulls his hand back.] Are you ticklish?

[Gongenzaka. His proud, broad, steadfast friend--is ticklish.]

[otoko]

[If that glow is any sign....]

.....................somewhat.

[Yep]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya stares at Gon as a wide grin creeps on his face. An expression of no good, bad ideas. It isn't often Yuya learns something knew about his friend (months run away on a fae contract aside), but Gongenzaka was always a stable, protective friend. And Yuya used to be weak, so roughhousing was right out of the equation. He still wouldn't take him on for a wrestling match, but he's pretty confident in his ability to dodge.

He doesn't break eye contact as he reaches with his other hand to press his fingers into the crook of Gon's elbow.]

Somewhat? [He's absolutely going to try ticking Gongenzaka right there. Sorry, Gon, but he sees an opportunity and he's going to take it.]

[otoko]

NNHHH- I-IT IS A SEVERE RISK YUUYA, I, the man Gongenzaka, do not wish to hit you with anything!!!

[hippocarnival]

You're not going to hit me. [He says this with full confidence. He's also not stopping, because Yuya's confidence is usually stupid confidence.]

Did you have to train to be steadfast against tickles, too? [He leans over and, with his other hand, reaches for the vines near where the wisps are settled.]

[otoko]

MNGGG-!!! YUUYA, NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND-!

[AND ALSO NO HE DIDN'T, BUT THAT ISN'T THE POINT-

The point is, as soon as he starts, Gongenzaka is struggling not to either sputter his way through a fit of odd snorting bark-laughs, and keep various vines from springing out from the plant grown mane in uncontrollable swinging.]

[hippocarnival]

[Hearing Gon's poorly-masked laughter makes Yuya laugh in response. He does, at least, turn his attention to the vines to keep an eye on them--but flailing up like that he's not concerned.

When he thinks about it, Gongenzaka laughing is pretty rare. He doesn't doubt the fun they have together, but Gongenzaka is always so severe. It's something Yuya appreciates, but as an entertainer he can't leave anything well enough alone until he gets his audience to respond unrestrained.

So he dives forward with both hands tangling among the leaves and vines to find his side underneath it.] I won't stop until you really laugh!

[betheman]

AAAAUHH!! Y-YUUYAAAAAA!! [NOPE THE BARKCHORTLES CONTINUE. The vines are flailing, but worse, now Gongenzaka is trying to instinctively back away from it all-the result is sort of like when a horse really doesn't want to go somewhere, digging the hooves into the ground and half-sitting, half just drawing back.] Th-This isn't the way to get me to laugh at all..!!!

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya does stop, at least, though he doesn't pull his hands away. He looks over his shoulder to peer at Gon out the corner of his eye.]

Then what is?

[otoko]

NMMNHHHH!! I, the man Gongenzaka, have laughed numerous times in the fFFF-gGGHH- In the throes of VICTORY!!! GHJFFFF-!

[This sure is getting closer as well, but at this rate-

...

-BROOUF--

Yep he's fallen backward, and still flailing.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya pulls his hands back at Gon topples backwards, the wisps all scattering away as he falls so as not to get crushed. He's so big now that Yuya has to actually walk around his lower body so he can see his face again, putting his hands on his hips as he peers down at him.]

Well, looks like I'm the victor here. [Okay, he wanted to get a bigger laugh out of Gon. But he can relent now that he's knocked him over.]

[otoko]

Hahhh...hahhh...hahhh... [It's a heck of a work-out too, though fortunately he's not panting or anything like that. That'd probably make this Very weird.

And then-] Hh-ahahahaaaaaa, [he laughs, the sound weak given his lack of breath.] You certainly are, Yuuya...

[hippocarnival]

[The wisps, thoroughly startled, retreat back to the pond. Yuya sits down before falling back against the grass next to Gongenaka and threading his fingers behind his head.]

[otoko]

[It is much more peaceful, now that he isn't being tickled. The 'taur stretches some, trying to get comfortable, before apparently finding himself content enough to stay on his back. (A forelimb might end up on you, Yuuya. Sorry about that.)

With a calm sigh, he closes his eyes, and smiles.]

...Thank you for bringing me here, Yuuya.

...It truly is a beautiful place.

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya grunts a little when Gon's arm hits him, but he doesn't protest--it's probably fair after that tickle attack.

He opens an eye to peer at Gon.]

Thanks for coming with me. [And entertaining his shenanigans, basically. He shifts to get comfortable and let the quiet of the atmosphere calm him down again... probably enough to fall asleep for a bit.]