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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[ Strange knows what he should say. I'm fine. I'm alright. You don't need to worry about me, I wasn't kidnapped or poisoned or killed. But he can't bring himself to say that. He can't bring himself to just lie like that, not when the pit in his stomach starts churning and that sinking feeling sticks in the back of his throat.

So, there's a ten second or so pause as Strange looks up at the sky before he answers Yuya's question and answers it honestly. ]

I miss her. Oh, I know she was an illusion and I know I only saw her for a few hours in the first place, but that hardly changes the fact that I miss her. I miss Arabella.

[ Yuya met Arabella. Yuya saw the Stranges together and saw them happy He should be able to understand this more than anyone else in the carnival might. And then, because Strange knows he needs to at least ask, ] What about you?

[He did see Arabella. Saw how Strange's attention revolved around her, heard the way he talked about her... it's not a love he's familiar with, but the dedication. That he understands. That he knows very well.]

I'm--[He stops, considering how to respond. He wants to say 'I'm okay', but he's not. He hasn't been okay for the past few days, and even though the worst of it is over and everyone's moving on... the worst of it continues to replay in his head.]

... I'll be okay. [That much is probably true. He looks over his shoulder at Strange.] I'm sorry about your wife. If she's like that, then she's really nice.

[ If Yuya doesn't want to talk about the events of the past few days, then Strange will happily not talk about them. Lord knows he'd rather not mention the Hunt any time soon.

But Strange will gladly talk about his wife til kingdom come. A small dopey smile forms on his face as he continues talking. ]

She is. Arabella's one of the kindest people I've ever met. [ mostly because she's tolerated his aggravating ass for so long. ] And yet, at the same time, she's so passionate. She's never hesitated in telling me when I was being an idiot and always made certain to tell me how she felt.

[Yuya smiles again at that. It's not so much he doesn't want to talk about everything, as... he's not sure how. It's overwhelming how the past week and a half has been.

Arabella is a simpler topic, he thinks. One that makes Strange happy to talk about.] When your contract's over you're going back to her, right?

[ And there's another pause. Because sort of. Eventually. Strange hopes. Still, Yuya's a good kid. And besides, there's no reason to hide the truth from him. ]

I plan to. However, it might be some time. [ and then, because he knows he's being needlessly cryptic, Strange continues talking before Yuya has the chance to interrupt. ] Back home, I'm cursed. Trapped in a tower of darkness, sent away from England and away from Arabella. When my contract's over, I'm going to break the curse myself and get back to her.

[ He knows Yuya will have so many questions about this. So, Strange goes quiet. After all, he doesn't know which one Yuya would think of asking first. ]

Wait, you're cursed?! [Yuya leans over, alarmed. Has he been since he went home briefly while they were at Greysol, or was it earlier? His brow furrows as he tries to recall what little details he already knows about Strange's life at home.]

Does it have to do with the Gentleman? [The Fae that kidnapped his wife. Things seem to come back around to her.]

[ Strange still remains lying down, but he props himself up a bit to better look at Yuya. In comparison to Yuya's alarm, Strange is trying his hardest to remain as composed and collected as possible. Of course he hates the fact that he's cursed. But he can't really change that.

And smart guess, Yuya. Strange nods at his question before he goes to explain. ] That fae, the one who called himself the master of Lost-Hope, kidnapped Arabella, spiriting her away to faerie and leaving a doppelganger in her place. Once I learned of his actions, I went to faerie myself to confront the fiend. Once there, he cursed me and ejected me back into the realm of humankind.

You needn't worry about me, [ Strange quickly interjects, because he knows Yuya's already worrying about him. He tries to give Yuya the most reassuring smile he can think of (it isn't that reassuring). ] The curse cannot affect me in the carnival and once I return home, it shall be more of a nuisance than anything potentially life-threatening.

[ it's stopped trying to kill him! Points for Strange! ]

Edited (holy unfinished sentance batman) 2017-11-13 22:45 (UTC)

[Strange telling Yuya not to worry, surprisingly, doesn't make him worry any less. Still, he doesn't protest, instead just pursing lips.]

You're not going to be lonely like that? [Trapped in darkness for who knows how long... Yuya wouldn't wish that on anybody. Being trapped within Zarc was bad enough, but when it's all outside your mind is there any escape?] Why not just ask the Ringmaster to break it?

I never said I was alone. My friend and former mentor's trapped with me as well. [ Gilbert Norrell. Someone who...Strange isn't entirely certain if Yuya's heard him shittalk or not. They were enemies once. But it's marvelous how your opinion of a person can change thanks to a near-death experience.

And why not just ask the Ringmaster to break it. He knows he'll get that question plenty of times in the future and already mulled it over himself with his daemon back in Greysol. ]

I won't ask the Ringmaster because I can break it myself. [ Just said in such a very matter-of-fact tone. ] I don't know how, what steps I should take, or how long it would last, but I know I can do this.

Edited 2017-11-13 23:47 (UTC)

[Yuya doesn't know Norrell at all, so the mention of this mysterious friend gets an eyebrow raise from him. Two people being trapped in a tower of darkness isn't much better.

He looks unsatisfied with that answer for a moment.]

That's too proud. [Not that he doesn't believe Strange can't. Just that refusing help over it is silly. He couldn't imagine being separated from his loved ones like that again.] Is that the story you said you were gonna tell me before?

[ Strange just gives Yuya a bit of a Look. Too proud, how ridiculous, there was nothing proud about his assertion. It was common sense, plain and simple. ]

I've already dragged the Ringmaster into too much fae nonsense on my account. Though the fae who trapped me may be dead, I've no idea if he had descendants or what not who'd want a claim on my head. And I am powerful enough to break the curse on my own. [ especially now. Especially the longer he stays here and the longer he learns about faerie. ] I simply need to study the specifics.

Besides, I'll have my friend's help. And I'm certain some of the magicians in England would want us back as well so I can count on some of their help.

[ a pause. ]

But yes, it was the story I was going to tell you before. Circumstances changed and all that, [ said with an idle wave to nothing in particular. ]

[Yuya just pouts right back when Strange gives him a look.

He doesn't want to ask Strange a million questions about his life story, all at once, after all of this. Even if he wants to know a lot more.

So he settles on one more question.] Who's your friend?

His name is Gilbert Norrell. He's a magician as well, and one of my closest friends.

[ For all of Yuya not wanting to ask Strange a million questions, it seems that Strange is perfectly fine answering those million questions. ]

I saw him at the ball as well—though thankfully, he was also an illusion.

[Him too? The Prince really did make a lot of illusions of people Strange knew.] I don't think I saw him there.

[He looks back out at the lake, falling quiet for a moment.]

... Thanks for telling me. You're my friend, but I guess we've never really talked about things outside the carnival.

[Bits and pieces, mostly Strange's wife. But not a lot of the things that are important to them when they aren't paying off a year with a fae.]

You're welcome, [ Strange simply responds.

However, he has the acute realization that he's the one who's been carrying the conversation. Yuya's definitely shaken up as well, considering that half of his friends got into so much shit during the stay at the manor. ]

And you're my friend as well. If you wish to talk about something in your life outside the carnival, I shall listen.

[Yuya smiles at that.] Most of my life's been pretty normal.

[And a lot of the stuff that happened before... seems distant after every catastrophe in the carnival. But he thinks about it, there's still a lot of damage, and he doesn't know if all of it will get fixed...] Um, some stuff happened right before I joined the carnival but it's really hard to explain and I don't even understand all of it. But the Ringmaster's already fixed some of it, so it's going to be okay.

[Yuya is absolutely not ashamed to have asked her help. He wishes he'd been able to deal with it himself, but this was other people's lives on the line.]

[ The nosy part of Strange just wants to keep pressing: what do you mean it was hard to explain, tell him what happened, tell him everything. But, Yuya's being vague for a reason. As such, Strange can respect that and will keep that in mind.

Though, he can't help but tease Yuya a little bit. ]

You seem so normal that I'm honestly curious as to what sort of hard to explain stuff you've gotten yourself into! [ he grins, before, ] But as long as it ends up fine in the end, that's what matters.

[Yuya smiles wryly.] Uh... an interdimensional war.

[That's the part that's easier to talk about, just hard to explain. It's also the part that Yuzu knows, so he can talk more freely without worrying what she'll hear.] That was... four months ago? I was... I mean, I still live with my mom in Maiami. But I had to leave for a while, and then there was the carnival...

[ okay but what the shit.

Strange actually sits up at that giving Yuya a confused frown that's purely 'what the shit.' ]

Well. I can safely say I wasn't expecting that answer. [ He was expecting something easier to understand, like some sort of magic or someone getting caught up in some trouble, not an interdimensional war! ] Is it over?

[That's how Yuya felt when he first heard of it!]

... Maybe? [He sounds genuinely uncertain about that. That would be because he himself derailed the final battle.] It was the fusion dimension invading all the others, trying to merge them into one. The Professor's their leader, but I ended up at the carnival in the middle of stopping him?

[He gestures.] I mean, they were separating again, but I don't know if he's going to try again when I go back.

Well if he does, I'm confident you'll find a way to stop him.

[ Because of course he would. Yuya's a good kid and, more importantly, willing to throw himself into dangerously stupid situations to solve a problem (looking at you, Portland). As Strange is also willing to throw himself into dangerously stupid situations to solve a problem, he's confident that whatever method Yuya comes up with, he'll manage to succeed at. ]

[Yuya smiles at that. Zarc would be gone next time, and they'd know the truth, and Yuya's shown some of Academia already how much better peace is... so when Strange says that, it doesn't feel so hollow. They'd have a better chance next time.]

Thanks. [He folds his arms back over his knees. He shifts, thoughtful and a moment.] Um... but the carnival's a little scarier now, because I can't deal with the fae the way we dealt with Academia. It's like I'm back at square one.

That's what your magic lessons will be for, [ Strange explains, with a little smile. Because of course magic will solve any fae problems, magic solves all of the problems. Yuya may be back at square one but at least in Strange's mind, he's got the tools to go beyond that. ]

And if your magic won't be able to solve it, then we'll combine it with mine and Childermass's and all the other magicians of the carnival until we come up with a solution.

[ what an amazingly overconfident statement from an amazingly overconfident man. ]

[It's incredibly overconfident, but does Yuya know better? ... Well, he might get an idea the next day when Strange has a huge argument with the gems over it, but for now it inspires Yuya and he grins wide.]

Yeah! I've never really had a private tutor before, how does that work?

[Is it just like a classroom except with one student? Strange did say he was going to create a lesson plan.]

[ It's not his fault the gems are dumb. As for how it works... ]

Now that everything's gone back to normal, we should come up with a regular meeting time and place. I will assign readings, of course, though not as many as my mentor assigned me. I'm more a fan of practical experience to begin with. [ This is partly because Strange only has a handful of books to begin with, partly because all of Strange's really impressive magic he did without the aid of books. ]

What sort of magic do you wish to learn in the first place? Specific spells or effects, for instance.

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