⇨ THE PRINCE IS DEAD

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 178 - B1: Day 6
Where: The Carnival and sometimes on top of the Heart of Stone.
What: Now that the Prince is dead and gone, there's a lot left to sort out. As the remaining servants are liberated and those captured by the Prince are tended to, it's time for recovery and goodbyes.
Warnings: Nothing in particular.

HOME GROUND↴ At long last, it is over. The Prince is dead, and all of his stolen Names have been restored - all that's left to do is treat the wounds and move on. For the first day or two, the Ringmaster will be arranging passage for the servants that are left, all of which have remembered their names for the first time in years. The earth elemental that had been trapped and forced to serve as the Prince's manor, the Heart of Stone, is happy to help for the moment. It appreciates the Ringmaster's mercy, and is free after untold eons of imprisonment. Yet, there are plenty of aspects that are far from simple. There are still servants left mad and transformed into beasts, with no easy way to change them back. The Prince's spells outlive him, and those bearing his poison and his curses will have a difficult road ahead of them. Though most of the bestial servants have been rounded up, and a large number that had been reduced to unmoving statues returned, even the Ringmaster can't return them to normal so simply. The next week is for rest and for settling remaining affairs. If you want to bid farewell to any particular NPCs, or assure care is given where it's needed, now is the time to do it. ► A CURE: The Ringmaster will tell everyone simply - there is no simple way to undo another fae's magic. The Prince's powers were essentially on par with hers, which means that those who have been transformed to stone and those that were cursed into beasts and driven insane are not something she can trivially fix. It will take the work of the carnival and a couple weeks of treatment to shed the curse of stone, and the maddened servants are an entirely separate matter. She will do what she can, but for the most part she is arranging for the Prince's servants to be cared for elsewhere. At least for now, the Ringmaster will be animating the stone portions of people's bodies with magic, though those portions will still be a bit clumsy and numb feeling. ► THE NEW HEARTSTONE: In the absence of the prince, the Heart of Stone will be taking over the remains of the Prince's realm and preventing it from collapsing into void. As it turns out, the manor had been an earth elemental all along - a form of Wyld Fae almost on par to the Prince and Ringmaster themselves. How the Heart of Stone was enslaved is a long story presumably, but the Ringmaster considers it to be a sign of the Prince's own depravity. The Heart will be allowing visitors for the first couple days of this period through the portal, but keep in mind you are essentially just walking around on its body. At least the realm has a floor, now, instead an endless abyss surrounding it.

Comments

Closed to Gongenzaka

[hippocarnival]

[When Gongenzaka was cleared to his tent to rest, Yuya followed. He has been separated before he saw his friend rouse, not willfully but caught by the sudden energy of things and his own wounds. While Gongenzaka's wounds and poison were tended to, Yuya's shoulder and upper arm had to be deeply patched.

He has, at least, changed shirts, and he crouches beside his friend in his tent. Much like Portland, except this time Yuya doesn't try to sleep. He doesn't know how coherent his friend is, so instead he watches silently and waits for Gongenzaka to acknowledge him first.

However long that takes.]

[otoko]

Mnnh...

[It's a pained sleep, and mostly one created by fatigue, admittedly. He's been in and out since brought here-the various lounges that Blue Diamond had created for herself from things now restored somewhat to either what beds they had been or-in the case of Gongenzaka-to something that could be added to a bed for his own sake. Pillows, pillows, and more pillows...and Gongenzaka lays there, a mess of himself, with bandages over The Eye.

The place where death had come.

It doesn't take long however, for his ears to weakly twitch in his friend's direction. And weakly, quietly...]

....Yuuya...?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya's breath hitches and his shoulders tense up in anticipation. Rita remembered what happened, so why wouldn't Gongenzaka? Yuya hurt him, necessary or not, and it's left his nerves frayed and nervous both for the health of Gon, and... the way he'll see Yuya now.

It's so much fainter than he's used to hearing. Yuya moves to speak, but his throat locks up. He's relieved, he's guilty, he doesn't know what to say. Does he apologize first? Welcome him back, assure him he's somewhere safe?]

Gongenzaka. [His name breaks as Yuya says it, wide eyed, twisting his hands together.] You... you're safe now. Promise.

[otoko]

[Whatever Yuuya fears, it would appear that fear is not properly placed. Gongenzaka's memories of the incident are hazy at best-perhaps in part due to where they struck in the first place-but he smiles when he sees the other, and does not drop that smile.] ....Yuuya.

....What are you doing, over there? [he chuckles, breath still hoarse.] ....I, the man Gongenzaka, am fully aware of our safety... ....but can't one friend give another a proper greeting?

[Let him hug you, dammit.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya smiles back, faintly, more out of reflex than out of assurance. He's so happy to see him after what he did. It makes his chest hurt.

But he does scoot closer, in reach of Gongenzaka's arm even if he doesn't lean over or embrace him. Not yet.] Um...

How much do you remember? [His gaze drifts up to the horns on his head, despite himself.] About dying?

[About being hunted.]

[otoko]

About dying? [Gongenzaka practically snorts, clumsily reaching for the other for some attempt at an embrace. He's not quite strong enough for his usual but... Well. It's plenty enough for this, and Gongenzaka frowns.] ...Do you feel that I, the man Gongenzaka, should act any different, if I remember or not?

[Perhaps one of the happier parts of being stabbed through the eye to the brain by a set of arrows and then a horn-the memory isn't faded persay, but....distant somehow. He doesn't identify with the 'beast', it wasn't 'him', not at heart.

Which means he can step back from it all and think, 'it was necessary'.

But mostly it's because a lot of that didn't actually hurt too much. The eyeball has plenty of nerves, true, but it was also still an eye and not everywhere else.]

[hippocarnival]

[Even at half his strength, Yuya isn't much stronger. He's too weighed down by his injury and lack of sleep and stress. So when Gongenzaka pulls him in he falls forward, letting out a yelp as he lands badly on his left shoulder.

He doesn't bother adjusting his position, however, eyes downcast.]

I killed you. [Maybe it was better he didn't remember, but Yuya thought he deserved to know.] Me and... and Yuzu, and Zangetsu.

[He deserves to know the truth.] I'm sorry.

[otoko]

[...............] Yuuya.

[He doesn't change his hold-though he does immediately bring his arm up, gingerly doing his best to avoid that shoulder this time.]

....Yuuya. ....I, the man Gongenzaka, did not say I did not remember.

I said it does not matter.

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya sucks in a sharp breath. He doesn't agree. It does matter. Maybe not in the way that would rift their friendship, but it isn't like he can just forget that Gongenzaka was kidnapped, poisoned, hurt, transformed against his will, murdered...

His right hand absently twists in Gon's fur. There's small claws at the end of his fingers, now.]

Everything that happened there matters. It matters a lot to me.

[otoko]

[There is a slight snort, and Gongenzaka does his best to at least nudge the other with his head. It's...Difficult.

He doesn't acknowledge the other's claws, for now.] ....I know.

...But Yuuya. If you think for a moment...that I, the man Gongenzaka, would change my opinion of you, or Yuzu, or Zangetsu due to such a matter...

[Hmn!] Well..!

...I, the man Gongenzaka, am telling you otherwise, am I not?

[hippocarnival]

[Sometimes, Yuya's not sure what he does to earn that kind of loyalty. Usually he didn't think about it.

He notices Gon struggle. He's still weak, probably still in pain. Yuya falls quiet for a minute, before he shifts and slowly pushes himself up in his arm, meeting Gongenzaka's... eye.

He doesn't notice his own smile, faint. A little distant, but genuine.] Even so, I want to be a better friend. I don't want that to be the way you have to rely on me.

[betheman]

It won't be, [Gongenzaka assures him, shaking his head.] ...If anything, I, the man Gongenzaka, should say it never was, hmm? What happened, then...

...It will never happen again, of that, I am certain, [he eventually manages. It's hard. To say, to address...to think about, because what was it in the first place, the entire incident? There was no way to make it stand next to typical matters.

...It just wasn't something that...should have been.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya's face scrunches up. It's the same argument they had at the ball, that it shouldn't happen again. But look at how soon Gongenzaka was hurt after that? He died again, and if it hadn't been by Yuya it would have been someone else.

He looks frustrated before sitting back on the pillows and turning his face away from Gongenzaka.] So you're going to keep yourself out of trouble to make sure it doesn't? You're going to just stop helping people like you always have?

[betheman]

.............Yuuya............. [Oiiiiii.]

................The chances of even remotely encountering one such as the Prince are low.... [Or are they? ...well. Regardless.]

...as it is, I, the man Gongenzaka, doubt she intends to bring us anywhere near such a place for quite a while, now...

[hippocarnival]

It's not about the Prince! [His fingers curls tightly into fists.] You died again. You're half a rock and whatever it's done to your soul and we had to save you by--

[He chokes the word down, hunching over.] I hate it. So I'm going to be a stronger friend so I know it won't happen again.

[Because he'll stop it next time. He doesn't know how, but he won't let Gongenzaka just suffer like that again.]

[betheman]

...................

[He's quiet. He can't well argue most of t his, but...]

................and what is 'stronger' now, to you, Yuuya..?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya whips around to face Gongenzaka, determination masking grief.] Strong enough to do something! Stronger to stop anyone before they hurt you, or Yuzu, or Reira, or anyone else ever!

[He puffs his chest, sucking in a breath. Its suspiciously sniffly.] Mr. Strange is going to teach me magic. I'll use whatever it is to protect everyone.

[otoko]

........And what sort of magic, Yuuya?

...What sort of 'strength' do you intend to find? [he asks, his voice kept low, and even searching.]

[hippocarnival]

Whatever it takes. [Meaning he doesn't have a damn clue and he's just myopic on his goal and not the way there. He never thinks straight when he's distressed.

If it keeps his friends safe, then why does it matter? Right now, that's not even his concern.]

[betheman]

.................

[NOPE. NNNNNOPE.

Sorry Yuuya, but while he's avoiding your shoulder, you are being plunged face first into pillow.]

.................That would merely mean becoming 'worse' than myself, Yuuya.

[hippocarnival]

[Boof.] MMMMMPH--!

[Yeah, Gon still has his strength beat. He flails brie he tilts his head enough to breath, gasping and glaring with his one visible eye.] what's that mean!

[otoko]

What do you feel it means, Yuuya..! To seek strength BLINDLY, without concern for the cost?!

What does that mean? [He growls, removing his hand.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya flinches. When Gongenzaka removes his hand, Yuya stays pressed into the pillows. His fingers dig into the fabric, and tears start to fill his eyes as he glares out at nothing.

He gets Gongenzaka's point. Of course he shouldn't sacrifice his ideals for strength. He doesn't want to. But when he thinks about Gongenzaka lying in a pool of his own blood with his arm missing... when he thinks of Yuzu evaporating into that machine, terrified... all he can do is feel. The weight of his emotions almost suffocates him.]

If I save you, it's worth it. [He knows that isn't the answer Gon is going to want to hear.] I want to... get stronger in the ways I believe in. But if I had to, for you and Yuzu, I...

[He can't deny it, if it was the choice he had to make he'd take any cost for them.

It's almost unbelievable how life or death everything has become for them. He's never had to be so afraid that they wouldn't be there anymore.]

[otoko]

So then, is it worth it to turn the tides on where we stand now? [He growls, moving to try and sit up.] To make it you in my place, and myself in yours, or Yuzu, or Reira, or any other?

Is hypocrisy your new goal, YUUYA?

[He quiets, half heaving as he continues with a more quiet tone.] Yuuya.... ....I, the man Gongenzaka, am not against you being stronger...but please-stick to what you believe in.

If you intend to learn magic... ....please. Make it a magic you can stomach.

[hippocarnival]

Gongenzaka--[Yuya scrambles up, hands hovering in the air with alarm. He's supposed to be resting, and even that is obviously difficult for him to do.

He flinches at the accusation, his argument crumbling. Not because he agrees entirely, but because to Gongenzaka, who can't stand the idea of Yuya being hurt instead... He doesn't want to hear it.

He lowers his hands and his gaze, staring dumbly at the pillows for a moment.] So there's stuff you wouldn't do for my sake no matter what, right?

[His tone isn't accusatory at all. Just curious where Gongenzaka draws the line. It doesn't mean Yuya would never cross it, but he's never questioned where the limit is that Gongenzaka wouldn't protect him, or try.]