lostcarnival | ⇨ THE PRINCE IS DEAD

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⇨ THE PRINCE IS DEAD

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.

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Once they're both awake, once the fight is over, once they've both finished holding each other in confusion in fear, Lauren stands, holding Susan in his arms as he makes his way back to the carnival. Normally Susan would complain or fight against being picked up, especially like a baby, but right now he doesn't have it in him, and so instead he doesn't bother as he clings to his brother as best he can with one stone arm and one injured arm. The position isn't the most comfortable for his wings, but he ignores that for now, just wanting to go home. Unfortunately, though Lauren can move with his stone feet he forgets their clumsiness, and after a few steps begins to stumble, barely managing to catch himself from falling. Maybe he needs a little help with this.

Strange had been watching awkwardly from a distance as Lauren and Susan cling to each other. What does one say to this? Terribly sorry that I murdered you, except it had to be done for the greater good of the carnival? I wish there was another way, pity we couldn't think of it? Don't fret, it all worked out in the end? All were terrible options. But Strange felt that he had to say something. So, he gathers up his courage and walks over towards Lauren and Susan, wincing slightly as Lauren stumbles forward. Perhaps he'll start the conversation about that.

Unfortunately, he hasn't bothered changing out of his Hunt clothes yet. So he's still wearing a bloody shirt with a charred coat over top of it, dagger at his side, completely unaware of the level of 'goddamn mess' Strange looks like right about now.

"Do you need any help?" He doubts they'll accept it. But, well, Strange has to at least try.

Susan clings awkwardly to Lauren when he stumbles, but before he can make sure Lauren is okay someone is offering help. He looks to them, but then when he sees Strange...

Normally he likes the man, normally he'd consider him a friend, someone he likes talking to or showing off magic to or things like that.

But normally he doesn't have foggy memories of running (flying?) from him, of being grabbed by him, of being slashed repeatedly by him, of being held and then stabbed by him. He knows that things were complicated, and it wasn't really him, even, getting stabbed through the heart...

But that doesn't matter to the part of his brain that remembers it, the part that has his eyes widening in fear when he sees who's talking to them. The part of his brain that has him hiding his face against his brother almost immediately afterwards, willing Lauren to protect him from him. Lauren may not be in much better shape, but right now, the part of him that's terrified by seeing Strange can't think of that, all he can think of is the fact that Lauren can protect him.

Lauren only glances to Strange before he notices Susan's panic. His brother doesn't say anything at all out loud, but to Lauren he doesn't really need to. He holds his brother close, running a hand over the perpetual mess that is Susan's hair as he murmurs reassurances to him in Elven. It's a second before he looks back to Strange once more. He's exhausted and his memories are foggy. He personally doesn't blame Strange for whats happened. He remembers it, though like something that happened in a dream. The distance of that is enough for him. He isn't afraid when Strange approaches him, but Susan is.

And he doesn't like Strange, is the thing to remember. Even if Lauren doesn't blame Strange, that doesn't mean he wants him here. Especially not if Susan is afraid of the man. At the same time, he might not be able to make it all the way back to the carnival without help from someone. He looks Strange over, seeing his bloodied shirt and charred jacket, and his dagger.

"...We'll be okay." He turns as he speaks, as though to hide Susan from the man, putting his own body in between them. "But thank you."

He should expect this. He knows it should happen. But the sight of Susan looking at him with an expression of utter fear and horror is enough to drive a dagger into Strange's heart. He's only received an expression like that a few times in his life, and even fewer when he was in his right mind. It's awful.

Strange needs to at least make an attempt at explanation, even if he knows it will fall on deaf ears. He keeps his hands visible, at his sides, as Strange takes a small step forward towards the two.

"It shouldn't have happened this way," Strange explains, words spoken to Lauren but Strange's eyes lingering on Susan all the while. "But it was the only option we could think of. I truly am sorry."

He doesn't want to hold it against him. He really, really doesn't. He likes Strange, he wants to say it's okay, he wants to agree and say he isn't mad at him, that he understands, that it was for the best.

But he can't manage it, not now, not when he still feels so sick, so run down, so exhausted (it's hard to sleep when you're stuck standing up for almost three days, after all, especially as you're slowly turning to stone), and he can't even manage to say "it's okay." Instead all he manages is a stuttered start of a sentence before he breaks off, shaking his head and just leaning into Lauren.

He can't handle this, not now. He's never wanted someone else to handle things so desperately before.

He scoffs as Strange steps closer again, amazed at the inability of this grown man to take a mother fucking hint. Of course before he can say anything Susan is stuttering and hiding against him again, and he knows he absolutely needs to get his brother out of here.

"Just leave us alone." he says, before turning to walk away.

Edited 2017-11-13 04:38 (UTC)

Yeah, the hint's gotten now. Strange takes a step backwards as Susan leans into Lauren, realizing right then and there that he probably should back away from this conversation. At least, he should back away for now. Strange is too persistent for his own good, of course he'll try again later.

And then, he simply doesn't move. He just watches Lauren and Susan walk away for a few minutes or so, mostly to see if Lauren actually gets the hang of walking. After all, they might not want him to help but a quick mention to someone else might be needed.

Only when it seems that Lauren's gotten the hang of walking and isn't going to drop Susan does Strange turn around and head off in the opposite direction, back towards the manor.

When they finally retreat to their trailer, they're likely not alone for long before the rattle of a tea cart can be heard pulling up to their door, followed by a soft knock.

"Are you home?" Comes Hinawa's voice, also soft and low.

Susan has managed to doze off already, since he's easily the sicker and more injured of the two, although the knock and the call still startle him out of his sleep. He's exhausted, on the one hand, but over the past few day's he's gotten used to almost no sleep, to waking up regularly from the way he was stuck standing, and so right now he's easy to wake.

But that doesn't mean he knows what to say, honestly still too ill to feel like talking to people. He instead looks to Lauren, hoping he'll be able to handle their visitor.

Lauren's laying down too, but he isn't asleep. He hears the knock on their door and is standing to answer it before Susan even looks his way. It's a bit hard for him to walk on his stone feet. He has to look down and see where he's actually putting his feet to avoid tripping. Still, he'd much rather get the door than Susan. His brother needed the rest more right now.

"Just a minute." he calls to the door as he slowly makes his way over, before opening and seeing Hinawa outside.

"...Yes?"

"Oh, good, you are here," She grins. "I brought some things for you to share. Some hot cocoa, and bread fresh from the oven. I think everyone needs a little something sweet right now, don't you?"

Sure enough, there's a tall kettle and a covered basket on her cart. The scent of sweet bread wafts through the doorway.

Even from bed Susan can smell the fresh bread, and given how little he's had to eat the past few days ~~aside from onions~~... Well, he may be sick, but it still smells pretty good right about now. And hot chocolate? It isn't a drink he's super familiar with, but he's had it a couple times before... It sounds great too.

He doesn't get up, though, letting Lauren deal with it - but he's definitely giving his brother a hopeful look from where he's laying.

"Oh." he's surprised, and not really sure what to do. He looks back to Susan as though hoping for some kind of clue. Obviously he wants to accept, but he's not sure if that involves anything other than saying thank you. Is she expecting something in return? Does he need to let her inside? Does he have to get some specific kind of silverware or something?

"Um. Yes? Thank you?"

There's a brief pause as she waits to see if he'll accept, and when Lauren finally does speak she just gives him a smile.

"You don't have to eat it right away, of course," She says, handing him the basket of bread. "But it's better warm. There's a little jar of honey in there, too."

Next, she hands him the kettle. "We'll have breakfast ready at the normal time in the morning, but if you two are still feeling-" How does she put this without sounding insensitive? "-A little worn out, we can have someone bring some up here instead."

"Like breakfast in bed." His voice is quiet, and he still isn't getting out of bed (or even really sitting up), but it's still loud enough to be heard at the door. He looks to Lauren with a smile.

"That's really nice." Even if honestly right now he just wants to sleep, he still appreciates it.

Lauren appreciates it too, even if he's distracted by the feeling from how surprised he is at her thoughtfulness. He takes the basket and then the kettle, holding the door open with his elbow.

"Thank you." He's a broken record now, but he can't think of anything to do besides repeat himself. "But you don't need to go through any trouble like that."

Hinawa is delighted to get a response from Susan, and tries to get a quick peek around Lauren. But she's not going to push it.

"Of course we do, it's our job as cook staff." She insists. "You two have been through-" she pauses, just briefly. "-Through so much. You need rest and support more than anything right now."

"It would be nice, to not have to go down there..." Honestly right now he isn't even certain he'll be awake at anything resembling breakfast, he's completely exhausted, but if it's here then at least he might eat it.

He isn't necessarily trying to tell Lauren to accept it, but it would definitely be nice if Lauren doesn't turn down the offer.

She said it was her job, but it wasn't like she'd get in trouble for not offering. She was doing it because she wanted to be helpful, and Lauren doesn't actually know how to respond to that. He can't remember the last time someone had done something nice for him without him specifically asking them first. He thinks maybe his mother was the last one to do something like that for him. The realization makes it even harder to respond. He finds he's at a loss for words, but he does want to accept, so he just nods.

"...Thank you." He says, again. He just doesn't know what else to say. He looks away, finding it difficult to keep his expression plain.

"That would be... Great."

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⇨ THE PRINCE IS DEAD

Returning to the Carnival

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Sometime after Strange maybe?

works for us!

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