lostcarnival | ⇨ GREYSOL

Entry tags:

⇨ GREYSOL

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 155 - Day 169
Where: Greysol
What: The carnival resumes its tour, this time heading to Greysol, a city tied deeply into the fabric of the multiverse. Here, everyone has an animal companion from birth that is the second half of their soul - and thanks to the Ringmaster, so do you. (Remember,

joysweeper is our guest event runner for this location, and location specific questions should go to them.)
Warnings: Individually marked!

THE CITY OF GREYSOL↴

The carnival arrives in a manicured park in the center of a big city that sprawls out along where the river reaches the ocean. It’s spring, early enough that nights are chilly, warm enough in the days that people and their souls savor the weather, and sometimes shelter together from the rain. Greysol was designed from the bottom up to accommodate the human-dæmon bond. Go out and see!

► THE SHAPE OF YOUR SOUL: The dæmon-forming spell kicks in at about four in the morning. Most characters will wake up with their souls in some small form, curled against them. Even if they were awake, they became dazed and unfocused while their souls were being drawn out of their bodies and have little memory of how it happened.

Until that evening every character's dæmon is able to change shapes, and children and some teens will continue to do so. Most will settle on their permanent forms by evening. Characters without dæmons will just look on, and the few who are thousand-pound bears have to handle being really big.

► IT’S GOOD TO SETTLE: Elaine Tavis Aracari, sixteen-year-old daughter of two actors and a moving pictures sensation herself, just ‘settled’ - her dæmon Tavis stopped changing shape - as a stunning blue peacock. Settling is a major coming of age milestone and celebrated as such in different ways all over the world. She and her family are throwing a massive party in the central park and inviting the public to join in! Enjoy easy access to free catering, live music and showings of moving pictures, and displays of mostly trivial magic. There are also form readers from across the country setting up booths, happy to accept a small fee to inspect your dæmon’s settled or most favored forms and tell you what they mean. Is there anything to these analyses? Eh, maybe, but they’re flattering and fun.

► WITCHING HOURS: Characters who are clearly witches for this event will often be assumed to be in town for a lover, and people, witches and not, may want to know who that is. Humans usually regard them with wary respect and interest. Real witches living with their human families or on business quickly suspect that something’s up, but without clear and present danger take a relaxed wait-and-see attitude. Wait for long enough and any possible decision will come around again, they believe.

There isn’t time to learn much witch magic, but witches, real and carnival-made, have an inherent power: the ability to fly using branches of “cloudpine”, an attractive soft-needled tree common in the park. Witches usually ride large branches as if they’re steeds but can use even short sprays, and you’ll probably see the few witches in the city coming to the park to do so. Why not try?

► BEAR PUN: Human-panserbjørn relations have historically been troubled, but have warmed in the past century. It’s the 65th anniversary of the breaking of the Siege of Bertin, a much-mythologized time when Spectres flooded Greysol and a company of panserbjørn arrived and directed efforts to get the survivors out of the city. A statue is being erected and many florid accounts of the story are being told. If you’re in a panserbjørn shape for the duration of the visit you will probably get thanked and celebrated by people trying to hide their nervousness of you. Expect someone to ask if your dæmon would be a human - it’s a common supposition.

► KERNER ISLAND: From the harbor you can see a wooded island. Although there are no rocks to speak of it sports a tall lighthouse, and nearly all boat traffic avoids it carefully. On a clear day someone with binoculars or a particularly sharp-eyed soul can see loads of trash, birds and various other animals that don’t seem local, and… children? Adults and settled teenagers will see tall vague shapes moving about too.

When asked about it the most important thing adults will tell other adults is don’t go there. They’ll hold their dæmons close and tell you that on that island are things that eat souls. They may also admit with mixed pride and shame that it’s been a source of wealth and innovation for the city. There’s a facility there that can open windows into other worlds, and the children who can reach it can cross through and bring things back. Many of the children are recruited by research and development teams on the lookout for items they can use, but there are also kids out to have adventures or who’ve run away. More on this later.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Not at all!" Strange remarks, having absolutely no idea what 9S's pod is. Though, show his performance...it must be some sort of recording device. He doesn't know exactly how to work them, but through all of the various worlds the carnival's stopped at, Strange at least has a slight idea of how a recording device works.

But the phrase 'show your performance to everyone back home' is enough to warm his show-offy egotistical heart. Hell yeah, 9S can record it!

"Shall we meet in the big top? My act does have a flashy entrance so if I'm not there but a mirror is set up, then go ahead and start recording. I'll be able to tell when you enter."

By watching 9S with creepy spying magic.

Heck yeah!

9S gives Strange a quick salute -- left arm bent at the elbow, hand held horizontally at his chest -- before saying, "Roger that!"

And he absolutely books it out of there. The more observant would notice his slightly heavy footfalls as he runs, but he quickly disappears out of sight.

As agreed, he's soon entering the Big Top, his pod beside him. It looks like a hovering box with two metal arms with three fingers jutting out. As he walks over to a good spot in the front, 9S wonders if Strange is ready.

"Pod, record the entire performance. I bet the others would love to see it."

His pod replies in a voice that can only be described as female and robotic.

< Affirmative. Recording will commence in 3. 2. 1 >

Edited 2017-09-12 01:26 (UTC)

Thankfully, Strange is ready. There's a large standing mirror, sitting in the big top, near the back of the ring and a water barrel about halfway full to one side, but that's it. Thankfully, Strange managed to get some things set up before booking it backstage when he heard 9S and Pod appear. A combination of scrying and straight up eavesdropping tells him when the two have shown up and when Pod started recording.

The surface of the mirror ripples briefly before Strange magically steps through it, as if being pushed out from the mirror. His daemon follows, before she comfortably sits herself down next to the mirror. And now that they're in the carnival, the glamour of Greysol's been removed and 9S can see the various changes the carnival's given Strange: most notably, eyes that are comprised entirely of mirrors, and which shimmer as the light reflects off of them.

Oh, that little metal box thing must be Pod. Strange focuses his attention on the two of them, giving 9S and Pod a little nod before he speaks.

"Obviously a show can only go so far on it's own. I'm not in my performance attire and there's nobody to help man the lights. I suppose that's all the more reason for anyone watching this to attend the carnival! After all, my act can only get better. Though, you may wonder, what can possibly top the act of traveling through the mirrors themselves?" His voice raises as he gestures theatrically to the mirror--and then, almost on clue, Siobhan slaps the mirror with her flipper with a resounding thud as if to prove just how solid it is.

Turns out the daemon's just as theatrical as her other half. Because Strange is just far too hammy. He's settled into the show-offy role of a magician annoyingly well. "I've plenty more tricks up my sleeve. 9S, Pod, and any future viewers: are you ready for an astonishing display of the strength of English magic?"

9S has never attended a magic show before, but somehow, he feels that the correct response to the amazing feat of strepping through a mirror is loud applause, his wide-eyed expression easy enough to read. It had never even occurred to him that the mirror could possibly be fake, but Siobhan's demonstration more than proves otherwise.

Strange looks very different now, though. It's practically instinct for 9S to scan Strange. Is he like all those other Carnival workers who are human but changed by fae magic?

Already delighted by what he's witnessed, 9S cups his hands around his mouth and shouts back, "I'm more than ready!"

Pod 153 on the other hand, doesn't respond at all; it is only programmed to respond to the unit it is supporting, after all. But it is recording every moment.

And so, the act starts. It's an impressive barrage of magic. Strange mostly uses the elements, working whatever's around him into something different. Scooping up a handful of dirt, Strange tosses it in the air where the wind shapes it into circus animals of all sorts. Two feathers yanked from backstage become two birds of paradise, flying around the big top before they vanish with a gesture. What started off as a tendril of water from the water barrel becomes rings in various shapes and sizes as Strange and Siobhan improvise something on the spot. The seal 'swims' through the hoops of water, coming up from the barrel, adding in her own twists, turns, and flourishes.

Whenever there's a moment that he needs to do something, be it catch his breath, rest for a moment, or undo a spell, Strange talks instead. He tells 9S about magicians of old, people who could easily turn into mice or foxes, people who cast amazing magic that even dwarfed his own. He tells 9S about the king's roads, roads leading from England to Faerie that Strange rediscovered and explored. The act goes on for a lot longer than it normally would. It's fifteen to twenty minutes before Strange pauses and looks back up at 9S and Pod.

"I'm afraid my act is almost over. But before I make the obligatory grand exit, do you have any questions or requests?"

9S is a rapt audience, cheering and gasping with surprise in all the right moments. And for the backstory... 9S listens, processing the information and filing them away in his memory system. Magic has been long gone for thousands of years, and to hear of it spoken of so freely, so wonderously... It's almost like he's being mentally taken to another place, another world where fantasy is real.

He has so many questions, he's not sure where to start. But he gets the sense that now is not the time to ask those sorts of questions despite Strange's statement. No, now is the time for--

9S cups his hands around his mouth, as if he were one android trying to be heard amongst a sea of people in the audience, and yells, "Finish with the best you've got, Strange!"

Precisely what he wanted to hear. Strange gives 9S a wide grin. Normally he'd end the act differently, but screw it! He has a seal here who's equally desperate to show off, let's craft something on the spot.

"Siobhan!" he calls out, before gesturing to the water barrel and muttering under his breath. The seal's eyes sparkle as she swims back through the air. A moment later, a different seal forms from the water in the barrel, one held together by Strange's magic and one that looks like a replica of his daemon.

It's taking all his concentration to keep the water in the shape of the seal and keep it mirroring Siobhan's movements. The two seals dance around the air, swimming in circles, twirling around each other in an elegant aerial ballet. It lasts a minute or so before Siobhan notices that Strange looks a bit tired out. She swims back towards Strange who, with a gesture, sends the water seal flying past 9S and Pod, splashing against the wall of the big top near the back of the stands.

"And there we go," Strange simply remarks, obviously out of breath. "Not entirely what I usually do but, then again, I usually don't have a seal for a soul!" As he talks, Siobhan nudges the barrel of water with her head. It falls over and what's left of it splashes onto the floor of the big top. With a look of relief, Strange steps into the puddle, followed by his daemon.

"I do hope you enjoyed it!" Strange mutters something under his breath before giving 9S a wild grin. Less than a second later, both seal and magician vanish into the puddle...only to reappear at the back of the stands, currently out of sight of the camera, but easily audible and visible if 9S turned around. Really, Strange knows he should say something, but he'll wait a moment for Pod to turn off the camera and to catch his friggen breath. When was the last time he had done so much magic like that, for such a long period of time?

Heck yeah 9S enjoyed the show. At this final demonstration, 9S lets out a whoop of joy.

Once Strange disappears into the water, signalling the end of the show, Pod 153 finishes the recording. Normally, 9S would inspect the video quality, you know, just to check, but he'd noticed the guy had seemed a little flatter close to the end there. Weird.

It's practically reflex for 9S to ping for lifeforms in his immediate area; being a Scanner model and unsuited to combat, it's even more important that he's aware of his surroundings, which could include potential hostiles. It doesn't take him long to realise Strange is at the back... and sounding like he's in a bad way.

Turning, 9S rushes to the man's side, alarm evident in his expression. "Strange! Are you alright? What happened?"

What's he supposed to do? He only has a rudimentary understanding of medicine for biological beings. His pod hovers behind him, speaking in its robotic voice.

< Alert: Human respiratory functions irregular. Proposal: Provide rest and care to restore normal respiration activity >

Strange however, just laughs 9S's concern off, shaking his head. "I'm fine," he says, though he's not moving from his spot, leaning against a post of the tent. But how to explain this in a way that 9S would understand?

"I use a part of myself in the magic to help hold everything together and make the spells work the way they do. Naturally, there would be results if I use a lot of myself in a short time."

That makes no goddamn sense and Strange realizes it. Quickly, he adds in, "Think of it as combat drills. Someone could be the most talented swordsman in the world. But if they practice at their full strength, as hard as they can, for a time longer than expected, then of course they'll get tired!"

The more Pod scans him, the more the machine will find that Strange isn't in danger of passing out or anything of that sort, he just needs to catch his breath, drink some water, and not push himself to the magical limit again.

Hmm. 9S doesn't really understand it as a point of shared experience; as androids, they don't really tire so easily. Really, their biggest concern is physical breakdown from repeated and frequent over exertion. Do the combat androids even need to practice? And, well, he's not even supposed to be able to fight, so running through drills is a moot point.

But he understands it, in a way. Magic is a drain on Strange's energy source and he just needs to replenish it.

"If that's the case, you really should rest. Sit down or something. You look beat." A glance away. "You shouldn't have gone so far if it was going to do a number on you."

"Yes, but I wouldn't have given a good show if I didn't go so far in the first place," said as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Strange has a mixed relationship with things like 'self-preservation'. Oh, he wants to stay alive and wants to stay in one piece...but it's alright if he pushes himself to the limit while trying to get there. Ergo, it's perfectly fine if he pushes himself to the limit in the name of a good show! He wants to impress 9S and anyone watching, after all.

Still, if 9S wants him to sit down then hey, don't mind Strange, he'll happily sit down. He starts moving down the stands, closer towards the audience arena of the big top. There are seats here, let's sit there instead.

So, carefully, he sits down, looking over at the android with a small smile. "Happy?"

Look, it's fine if 9S pushes himself to the brink of death -- sometimes even over it -- but it's not fine if someone else does!! 9S kind of hovers by Strange's side, ready to give him a hand if it turns out he can't make it to a seat on his own.

"Yes. You really shouldn't be so reckless... But I'm glad you let me see your performance."

9S sits down next to Strange, still feeling a little guilty at being the reason the guy pushed himself so hard in the first place.

"Have you wondered what your show looks like to the audience?" He gestures for Pod 153, who hovers a little closer so it is within arms' reach. "I could show you."

If 9S feels guilty, Strange doesn't realize it. He gives 9S a small smile as the other man sits next to him. And then, as 9S mentions showing the performance, Strange can't help but look surprised. Truth be told, he had no idea how Pod worked and therefore had no idea they could view the performance then and there.

He is a little curious. He knows how the magic works and he's seen it be used before, by Childermass and by Norrell. But both of those magicians had a more understated way of doing things. Even in the carnival, Childermass's act tended towards vanishing over large feats of magic. And whenever he casts his own spells, Strange is too worried about the specifics to see just how they look. That surprised expression lingers for a few moments, before Strange assents.

"Why not! Show me what it looks like."

9S feels a little better, being able to offer something in return for the show he received. Get comfortable, Strange.

"Pod, project the recording so Strange can view it."

After all, 9S doesn't really need the recording to be projected when he can tap into the data himself.

< Understood. Initiating playback >

Pod 153 hovers just above 9S' shoulder. A small flicker and a beam of light is projected from the pod, materialising into a semi-solid screen within comfortable viewing distance of the pair. 9S wriggles in his seat until he's in a comfortable position.

As the video plays, the sound and video are crisp and clear. Every flare of magic from Strange, every one of Siobhan's airborne dances, captured in HD. And, of course, Strange's own voice is played back, grandiose as he shows off, strong and powerful as he had told 9S tales of the magicians of his world.

...Though unfortunately(?), the recording has also picked up every one of 9S' shouts and whoops of excitement throughout the entire show. Thaaat's a little embarrassing, hearing himself act like that.

Edited 2017-09-17 02:50 (UTC)

Strange watches the viewing with rapt interest and full attention. Every now and then, he'll offer a little bit of commentary. "That one's a reworking of a spell of Kirkwood's titled Contract With the Breeze," he says, pointing at a spell involving the wind. But for the most part, Strange remains quiet, watching his act, occasionally frowning to himself as if critiquing the magic on display.

It's good that he's actually sitting down and paying attention as his breathing becomes less laborious and his manner more relaxed. Good job 9S, you unintentionally got him to chill out, a task that plenty are still having trouble with.

When the recording's finished, Strange turns towards 9S and gives him a wild grin. "When I'm casting magic, I'm usually so focused on the shape of the spell that I don't consider it's appearance as much. Now that I've seen this..." Strange laughs a bright laugh as he gestures in the direction of where the screen was. "I know what I need to do next!"

Oh good, Strange hasn't said anything about his own overenthusiastic cheering during the video. Hopefully, it stays that way.

A small smile spreads across 9S' face. "Glad I could help."

He really means it. The fact that his small action was useful... It fills him with an overwhelm sense of contentment, especially since it seems the vigour has returned to Strange over the length of the viewing.

"Hey, Strange? Let me know if you ever want another recording. I'd be happy to assist."

At 9S's statement, Strange still smiles, giving the android a little nod.

"Likewise, if there's anything I or my magic can do to assist you, don't hesitate to ask."

Hopefully 9S now at least has a vague idea of the sort of things Strange can do. Of course, 9S hasn't really seen many of his practical spells. And how showy circus tricks can help out, Strange doesn't really know himself. Still, he's shown off enough magic that hopefully the man could piece together some of the non show-off things Strange could do.

Hmm. He has a better idea of what Strange is capable of now, but he's a little hard pressed to come up with a practical use for it. Maybe he'll come up with something later.

9S nods. "Thanks."

But maybe... He could help him with something else. Though is it presumptuous for an android to request help from a human when it should be the other way around?

"Hey, Strange? You're human, right? Before the magic here changed you." At least that's what Rita had told him, when he'd asked about why she seemed human but different. "I came here to learn about humans, so I've got a few questions."

Before the magic changed him...what an interesting response. So at least to 9S, he didn't seem human anymore? It only makes sense, considering how deep the faerie magic runs that Strange can turn himself into literal smoke now. But it's still a little disconcerting.

"You're right—I once was human." A true, yet terrifying statement. "And I'll be happy to answer any questions about humanity that you might have. Though, I'm afraid my answers might be different compared to others in the carnival. Different worlds, and all that."

Hang on, though. How much did 9S know about different worlds in the first place?

9S knows about other worlds; that's where the maso particles used in magic came from, after all. But maso particles... they were deadly to humans. There's not much maso left in the world now, so once the machines are exterminated, Earth will be ready for mankind's glorious return.

And they will enter a new age of peace.

"Even if you're from another world, there's still points of commonality. Humans always have the same base set of features and they're always sapient." At least, that's the impression he's getting here. "Most of all, humans have all kinds of culture, societies, and forms of entertainment that are lost to us. We only have incomplete records of what things were like. But all those things... I think they still exist in other worlds populated by humans. Things like... families. Or rollercoasters."

He'd seen one in one part of the Carnival when he'd been scoping out the place. Because of course he'd scout out the Carnival to build his own personal map of the area he'll be living in. He wouldn't be a very good Scanner if he didn't, would he?

"So any insight you can provide will be useful."

Strange can't help but look a little shocked. Yes, he can understand why 9S would want insight on rollercoasters: he had no clue what the hell they were before he arrived at the carnival. But he wanted to know something as simple as families?

"I doubt I'll be helpful for understanding families--I had a strained relationship with most of mine." Fun fact: Strange's mom died when he was younger and his dad was an asshole. "But I can help with other concepts. As I'm one of the few members of the carnival who is married, perhaps we should start with marriage? Madness might be another option--or what about England herself?"

Hopefully at least one of them might be a good topic of conversation for 9S. Because honestly, Strange has no damn clue where to start.

"...Oh." Not being able to ask about family... that's kind of disappointing. Operator 21O had gone kinda weird and quiet after she told him about family and he never could figure out why.

But the other options... Okay, why would madness be one of Strange's suggested topics? 9S has already had to deal with machines that're totally bonkers, so nooo let's not talk about madness. And England... herself? ??? Can a country even have a gender? Or is this like Rita and her blastia, where something is assigned a gender to show closeness to the subject in question? Humans are such strange creatures.

Nah.

"Let's start with marriage. What is it?"

Pod 153 pipes up.

< Records state that marriage is the ritualistic union of two human beings as a form of social progression. Circular bands of metal were often on the third finger of the left hand of the humans involved >

So obviously, the first thing 9S does is look for the 'band of metal' in question on Strange's hand.

Strange does have that band of metal in question. He holds up his hand for 9S to see: the ring is a simple, golden band, with no additional fripperies or embellishments.

"Pod is right. Where I am from, the man in the union is called the husband and the woman is called the wife. My wife is a woman named Arabella. We knew each other as children, but fell in love as the two of us grew older. We decided we wished to remain together forever, so we were married."

As Strange talks about Arabella, his voice softens and a small smile appears on his face. It's obvious that he loves her deeply and misses her tremendously as well.

9S peers at the displayed ring. Huh. That looks rather plain for something used in a human ritual. He's so used to humans and their excess that something as plain as that is rather surprising.

9S kicks his feet as he listens to Strange, feeling a strange ache in his chest. He understands love, sort of. There are plenty of androids who're in relationships with each other. But lover seems too distant when thinking about...

...He wishes she were here with him.

Without any outward indication of his thoughts, 9S verbally prods. "Why do you need to be married to be together forever? Can't you just... be together anyway?"

"Oh, you could. But at least in my time, it's seen as socially advantageous for one to get married." Usually for the women, poor things. After all, Strange is from the 1810s. The carnival's broadened his horizons but at least back in his world, an unmarried woman of a certain age was to be pitied, thought of as a spinster, and written off as not marriage material.

"Likewise, it wasn't seen as proper if an unmarried man and unmarried woman lived in the same space. They could certainly shows or travel together, but the unmarried woman usually required a chaperone. If you truly love someone, it's simply smart to get married so you can do all sorts of things without public judgement."

And if you didn't love someone, that never stopped a marriage. Oh, Strange knows that he can go on talking about marrying for money, legalities of coming into land via marriage, marrying to boost one's social status, the arranged marriages of royalty, and so on and so forth. But honestly, they'll be here all day if he was to do that.

"Of course, there are...other benefits to marriage that have nothing to do with status. After all, marriage involves the couple sharing a bedroom."

And Strange just smiles a big shit-eating grin, assuming that 9S will pick up on his implication. Because it's sex. He's talking about sex.

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