lostcarnival | ⇨ WISMUTH

Who: Everyone!
When: S2:D6-D11
Where: Wismuth and the Carnival Grounds
What: The carnival enjoys a few days in Wismuth, a coastal city on this planet's version of the American east. However, there are a few things very unique about this version of the planet...
Warnings: The usual, wholesome fun.

PILLAR OF CREATION↴

Upon arriving, things in Wismuth will seem pretty peaceful. It's a massive city, with no shortage of things going on, but things like violent crime and homelessness are at an all time low. You can wander the streets without much scrutiny, presumed to just be tourists, and most people here come across as helpful and friendly.

► VIBRANCY: The main thing that sets this planet apart is its vibrancy - AKA, the raw creative energy its filled with, flowing from its status as a Pillar of Creation. There is no literal pillar, but Wismuth and its planet is a place where Creation's energy comes through strongest. As a result, everything here feels somehow more real, more intense in a way that's hard to put a finger on. Life is abundant, and its bleeds through in every sensation.

► ATTRACTIONS: There are plenty of things to see while going around the city. First and foremost, there is a lovely beach area bordering the ocean, and a number of tourist aimed attractions built around it. There are giant malls, movie theaters, live stage performances, museums and all kinds of other points of cultural interest. Anything you can do in a big city you can do here, but better.

► ALLOWANCES: The Ringmaster will be giving everyone a reasonable amount of local currency for a few days on the town. You can't make any massive acquisitions with it, but it's more than enough to eat out, see some shows, go to the beach, and whatever you like. You can feel free to pick up some casual supplies, like mundane clothing and souvenirs. There will be more given out later, after the performance week.

► PERFORMANCE: Performance week is starting early this time, after only a couple days of exploration. When the carnival has already been on vacation for a month, the Ringmaster figures they may as well get right to it, and then do more touring afterwards. Members of the local populace will find themselves in the carnival once performances begin, dazzled by the other worldly sights. Magic doesn't seem to exist here, despite the fact that it will flow easier for people bringing it from other worlds.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's amazing how quickly two words can tank the best laid plans. Lambert deflates a little with a sigh, shaking his head slightly.

"Don't mention it," he answers gruffly. Really don't mention it. This is the most conscious Steven's been since they got down from the moon, and he should probably leave him to his rest, but all the same, he hesitates briefly, looking him over. He isn't about to apologize again, and 'are you okay' is an incredibly stupid question to ask right now.

Instead, he says, "Are you going to be able to sleep like this?"

"I feel like I was already sleeping," he says, still a bit distant and dazed, but at least not as actively terrified. His expression is forlorn more than anything else. "What do you think the medics are going to do?"

He's wondering if this is something that can be fixed. He doesn't want his gem to be like this forever - more than any of his other changes, this one bothers him the most. There's just something not right about it.

"Don't think they can do much other than make sure you're still breathing," Lambert answers, straightforwardly.

"I don't know how much you heard, but the Ringmaster said it was like a change." And so far as he knows, nobody's been able to undo those -- though they do seem to just overwrite each other sometimes.

"Do you feel any different?"

That's both a relief and a discomfort. If it's a change that means it probably won't just go away... but at the same time, at least it makes it less of a confusing anomaly. The changes he's randomly gotten from the Ringmaster never really bothered him that much, but for some reason this one freaks him out a lot more.

"My heartbeat feels weird," he says. "And I feel kinda cold..." In contrast to the way his forehead still feels hot.

"I think..." he starts, his voice suddenly sinking. "I think this might end up making things even worse for me."

"The Ringmaster said the Rose was made by Summer and Winter. Maybe the magic's just ... settling." Those two opposing forces probably weren't meant to share the same body, after all. Are there fae who are a mixture of both courts, he wonders? But that's not really the point here, especially as Steven goes on.

"What do you mean?"

Steven wraps his arms around his stomach, becoming a bit emotional again. He's not crying, but there is a sense of deep fear to his words - something that might leak from him empathically, if only for a moment.

"I have the Rose Queen's magic in me because of our connection in Portland, and now... I have this, too..." He grips himself a bit more tightly, his tail thrashing uncomfortably. "What if it makes me stick out even more?"

There always has to be something, it feels like. Like he was born to be in danger.

Lambert considers that question, frowning slightly. He's bad with kids. The only child he'd really spent that much time with in the past had been Ciri, and she'd been unusual in more ways than one. 'Sticking out' is one way to describe being possessed by visions and channeling the Source...

That flicker of fear pushes at him again, but doesn't overtake him. It does make him frown, though, looking at Steven more closely.

"So what?" he asks. His tone isn't censure, just pragmatic and firm, projecting as much certainty as he can. "If it does, we'll find a way to deal with it. And if you're going to stick out anyway, if you can't change it ... why not learn to use it?"

He cocks his head. "As long as you keep thinking about it being not yours, as something that happened to you, that's all it will ever be. If you hate it, make it yours, and make it better."

So many things about himself have sometimes felt like things that happened to him, instead of anything that was his. His powers, his family, his enemies... most of that stuff was something that his mom had first, and he'd just inherited, for better or for worst. Especially around the time that he'd just been starting out, everything was 'Rose's shield', 'Rose's room', 'Rose's tears', and so many other things he'd gotten second hand.

He feels more secure about that aspect of himself that he used to, but that doesn't mean his current worries aren't building off of a familiar hurt. Except, this stuff... instead of trying to live up to what he'd thought was an overwhelmingly important legacy, it feels like trying to escape a terrifyingly bad one.

'Make it yours and make it better' speaks to so much of his struggle that it's hard to let it pass him by. He closes his eyes and laughs weakly, rubbing his cheek dry.

"You're right," he says, feeling relieved and a little bit helpless, all at once. "Sometimes it just feels like... the same stuff keeps happening to me. And I have to keep going anyway... it's really hard."

"You're surviving," Lambert answers, simply. He doesn't reach out to touch Steven, wary of triggering another cascade of tears, though the thought is there.

"Sometimes, that's all you need to do."

That's for the best, because Lambert offering any physical comfort at the moment would almost certainly make Steven emotional. With some people, the small things mean so much more.

It's hard to feel happy about 'just surviving', but at least that is something he is definitely accomplishing. He may be scared. He may not always be happy. But... at least he's still here. Right?

His response isn't particularly excited or happy, but it comes with a certain weight of responsibility. He hugs his shoulders, nodding solemnly.

"I think I can keep doing that."

"Good," Lambert says, not quite managing to hide his own relief that he hasn't made Steven start weeping again. But he's also not keen on sticking around longer than he has to, so--

"But right now, all you need to do is rest. Get some sleep, Steven."

Steven smiles a little again, nodding his head slowly. That's reassuring, coming from Lambert. Dozing off again feels easy.

"Okay," he says faintly, letting his heavy eyes falls closed, at least for the moment.

⇨ WISMUTH

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