⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 47 - Day 58 ish
Where: The Athenaeum
What: The carnival arrives at book world. First week, they'll be performing for magical manifestations of book characters. Second week, it's time to hunt (for books, in the library.) Around Day 58 some stuff will occur.
Warnings: Reading is mandatory.

FAERIE TALES↴ Though the carnival will be performing for its guests in the first week, they are welcome to search the Athenaeum while they are off duty during that time. The manifestations of story characters will be out in full force during performance week, with animals, people, objects, and even locations growing out from various tales. Most are distracting at worst, and will be curious to check out the carnival. Some, however, can be as dangerous as they were in their stories of origin. You know what to do. ► IT'S TIME TO ROLEPLAY: The best way to deal with book ghosts is to follow their narrative to its logical conclusion - turn the tables, work the story so it ends in your favour! Naturalistic and narratively satisfying plotting will have the manifestations following your lead. However, push too hard and introduce too many plot holes, inconsistencies, or illogical plot twists, and they will reject your reality utterly, becoming quite aggressive in the process. You can also use your natural abilities and powers to fight them in a traditional sense, but in the Ringmaster's experience, it's best to fight reality benders by bending reality right back at them. If you aren't careful, it's possible to be dragged fully into a story's reality, and then things get really messed up. ► IT'S ALSO TIME TO READ: The carnival came here for a purpose, and that purpose is to research. Specifically, the Ringmaster is looking for information on the Queen's Miracles - the set of ancient fae artifacts that the Blue Rose is one of. The carnival needs these artifacts to defend itself, but nobody knows where they've been for thousands of years. That's what the books are for. However, nothing is stopping you from pursuing knowledge for personal reasons. The halls are open to your perusal, and only your heart can guide you to the book you truly seek. Check the plot post to see what's allowed, and sign up to find plot info or other important game information below.

Comments

[npcarnival]

That's apparently a matter of taste. Abruptly, that cold wind will pick up, slapping Joker towards the ground as the woman simultaneously make the movement to grab his shirt in her hand.

"I'm not in the mood for your games, pixie," she says.

[pipers_son]

Shit- He tries to move with the wind, although it does nothing for the impact that shakes through his legs as he hits the ground. As much as he'd like to think he can't be caught so easily, he's tugged in before he can even think twice about it.

Well. Shit.

"I'm not a pixie," he points out calmly over the sound of his heart in his ears. "And I can't give ya control. So we're both not gettin' what we want."

[npcarnival]

Now, now Joker. You really need to play by the rules, or you won't get anywhere at all. She carries on, seeming to ignore most of what he says that doesn't fit with her version of reality.

"You're a fool if you think that you could stop me," she says, still holding him.

[pipers_son]

Yeah, he's starting to pick up that she's stopped paying him any mind... and that he wasn't doing shit all besides looking at some books before she came into the picture. That has him settle a little bit, a slow breath slipping out of him. Right. Just more stories to twist.

"Oh, maybe," he agrees, voice airy and light. "But are ya familiar with gamblin' at all, m lady? Jokers and fools are the cards which upset the game the most~."

[npcarnival]

She snorts, in a way that is both a sneer but also an acquiesce. She still keeps hold, but more loosely, as she leans away.

"Perhaps. Why do you think I put up with your clownery at all? You have your uses, but I'd advise against viewing me as yet another game piece."

[pipers_son]

Breathing space. Excellent. His grin becomes a little more relaxed as she puts some distance between them, no matter how minuscule. Less threatening, really.

"Well, I'm glad the lady finds my clownery useful at all," he says. "But we're all game pieces when it comes ta life, from pixie ta royalty. How does my lady see the game endin'?"

[npcarnival]

She finally lets go, pulling away and staring moodily into the bookshelf, as if she sees right through it.

"Once I take the throne," she says softly, "there will be no more need for deception."

[pipers_son]

Freedom... and yet, he stays right in the cage of conversation that he's found himself in, reaching up to straighten out his shirt. Perhaps it would be a good idea to leave... but perhaps this story could be interesting to figure out, too.

"Deception from who?" he asks, before adding, "If a simple pixie is permitted ta know."

[npcarnival]

"You needn't play ignorant," she says, though without the sharpness she was using earlier. "You know the others would not necessarily agree with the severity of my goals."

[pipers_son]

Good, good... So this role is at least not completely hated, so long as he plays it right. The problem is he's playing along blind... but he's not dead yet. Joker considers that good luck on his part.

"Well, severity is part of yer charm," he says before quickly adding, "and part of yer nature. But then what ideas do they have that are better?" There's a dismissive edge to it, as if he doesn't believe there's necessarily any better alternative from these mysterious other parties... but he is a bit curious where this story goes. What politics are in play? Even if it's only fictional, it's something fun to figure out. He's really too much a storyteller, that's his problem...

[npcarnival]

"The Summer Maiden wants to keep violence to a minimum. That's something she's remained firm on," she says. "Though, I argue that taking the throne via a decisive, if brutal, conquest would save the most lives in the long run. Her patience is becoming her weakness. She imagines time we don't have."

She rolls a shoulder, becoming more dismissive and uncertain.

"The Beast and the Wyld Folk have little inner direction. I am inevitably going to be competing for the Great Beast's attention every step of the way, so long as my goals remain separate from the Summer Fae."

[pipers_son]

If there's any part of him that he's still struggling to smooth in with his usual poker face, then it would have to be his ears. They don't flick straight up, but there is a slight twitch that has his earrings sway. Hopefully she doesn't notice that...

"Little direction is still some direction," he says. "So that means there's still some way ta give ourselves an advantage, isn't there?"

[npcarnival]

"As long as I can ensure the Great Beast's cooperation, I have the power I need on my side. She has the pull, but none of the strategy. Not to mention... it will prevent me from having to besmirch my own position..." She still doesn't look at him, distracted. "...if the Wyld Fae do the dirty work for us."

[pipers_son]

"And we have a strategy for ensuring her cooperation?" he asks, curious how this little political story may play out. It's a shame getting involved in the fae is so disastrous... Their politics are interesting when viewed from the outside.

Pity he apparently doesn't have that advantage for real.

[npcarnival]

She clicks her teeth in distaste, looking at Joker out of the corner of her eye.

"I don't need a strategy for that... She wants this as much as we do. I just have to show her the way."

[pipers_son]

All he does is grin to her- it's the most he can do really. At least that doesn't seem out of place for a 'pixie'. "I'll be interested ta see the route ya take her down! And I shouldn't have ta say that others will be, too."