lostcarnival | ⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

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⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

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.

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"From mermaids to magical girls, huh?" A drink. A drink would be great. It had been long enough since she had gotten trashed at the Space Olympics for her to forget any potential promises she might have made to never get that trashed again. What else was she supposed to do here, enjoy a good book?

"I guess it doesn't get too borin' here. Don't know if I like that or not, but guess it could be a lot worse." And with these artifacts they were supposed to be looking for... Well, Shura had her priorities. She'd figure something out if it got too intense.

"We had a vacation one time," Strange explains, with an expression on his face that's pure 'I can't believe this shit happened either.' He leans in, like he's going to tell Shura a secret or impart some hot gossip. "The Ringmaster stopped the carnival at a world that was a party. Food, drink, dancing, anything you can think of to have fun, that world had it. Naturally, vampires crashed a ball that was being held and kidnapped members of the carnival."

It's all said in a tone of voice that implies Strange is being serious, the carnival can't even go a week without something bad happening in some way, shape, or form.

"So yes, it never gets boring here. Our second vacation didn't have any problems like that, though. Any trouble people got up to was their own damn fault.

Was this guy a talker? He sure looked like it. And if he had been here a while, well then maybe Shura can get some information out of him. He seemed friendly enough, so surely he won't mind if she pulls up a chair and sits with him. Because vampires crashing a party and kidnapping carnival members? Rin didn't mention that.

"How generous of her to take everyone on vacation~ Lots of employers back home won't do that, y'know. Sounds like you've been around for a while to remember all of that, huh."

Strange is more than just a talker, he's a talker to the point where it's hard to shut him up. As Shura pulls up a chair, he gives her a nod and an expression that's pure 'be my guest'. After all, he doesn't mind the company.

"I've been here for seven or so months," Strange explains, with a little nod. "Of course, I purposefully contracted with the Ringmaster, so I have a different opinion than those who didn't—what are you here for, by the way? A contract or an accident?"

In time, she might regret taking a seat. But she wanted details that weren't from the perspective of a teenage boy, and so far this was her best bet. She leans in, resting her elbow on the table and idly motioning with her hand as she speaks.

"Aah, well, an accident, but it's working out okay, I guess. It ain't like I'm not used to working for someone like the Ringmaster. But seven months? Aah, you ain't missin' home or nothin'?"

"Of course I miss home," Strange answers. There's a bit of a wistful smile in his voice as he moves a hand up ostensibly to push some hair out of his face, purposefully to show Shura his wedding ring. "I'm married. Even one month away from my wife is too long."

And circumstances beyond Strange's control have made it so that it's been even longer than his seven month stay here since he's last seen his wife. Still, Shura doesn't need to know that much.

"What about you? Is there something or someone you miss most?"

Don't be such a weird nerd-husband-type person, Shura doesn't know what to do with those. Shura nods in acknowledgment when he shows off his wedding ring, hoping that's all he wants her to do.

"Aah, you're that kinda guy, huh? Nice for your wife, I guess." Especially since they were supposed to be returned to the same point in time they came from. "But me? Eh, there ain't much waiting for me back home."

Which isn't untrue. Rin and Yukio were at the carnival, so the people she cared for were right there with her.

Sorry Shura, Strange is a sap. At her statement, though, he can't help but frown. Not much waiting for her? Well that's...a little disappointing. Come on Shura, be more receptive to Strange's slightly blatant attempts at getting information!

"I said someone or something, you know. Everybody's got something from home they miss."

Unfortunately, Strange's attempts at prying are just enough off the mark that Shura can easily slip around them.

"Nyaha, I ain't the sentimental type!" Which is again, not untrue. It was rare that she liked much of anything enough to form any kind of attachment.

But since he seems so shocked, she'll throw him a bone. "But I guess if there's something I miss, it's this beer they had back home. It was pretty refreshing after a long day of work~"

"You know, I'm not surprised to hear that," Strange teases. "I heard a bit about you in the Space Olympics."

Granted, mostly what he heard was 'holy shit, Drunk Obstacle Course is a thing' and then Strange looking it up to see just how drunk obstacle course was a thing. Thankfully, he didn't hear anything bad.

Just mentioning the Space Olympics is enough to trigger a grimace on Shura's face, remembering her horrific hangover the next day. She passed out after she was so kindly escorted to her tent and didn't move an inch until the next morning. But the hangover--she's had rough mornings before, but never that bad before.

"Ugh, I never wanna drink alien booze again. I thought I was gonna die!"

Strange can't help it: he gives Shura a grin as she mentions the hangover. Yeah, he's got some experience with drinking magical booze, getting fucked up, and absolutely regretting it in the morning.

"Have you tried fae booze yet? It's just as potent, but some of the magical effects make the hangover almost worth it."

Almost worth it because in the end, it is still an intensely horrible hangover and coffee can only do so much.

"Nah, haven't had the chance to try that stuff." She's heard about it, snippits here and there.

"The effects though--y'mean somethin' physical or somethin' more surreal?" Because for all that she may have sworn off drinking for a whole week, she's not exactly opposed to experimenting just a little. Why not?

"Something more physical than expected. There's a drink, Sunshine Ambrosia. Just the tiniest sip of it is enough to warm your body like you're sitting next to a fire. It goes down smoothly as well—barely even a kick!" Based on his tone of voice, it's obvious Strange loves the stuff. After all, he drunk like three bottles of it during the carnival's last vacation stop.

"I don't have any more on me, though," Strange admits, with a frown. Still, it's something for both of them to look out for.

Sunshine Ambrosia--Shura's pretty sure she's had a cocktail by that name before, but it probably didn't have the same effects. She certainly wasn't going to use that same fond tone to describe most drinks back home.

"Aah, tellin' me all about that kind of thing to tease me or somethin'?" Shura purses her lips out in a pout. "So mean! You'll just have to treat me to something nice to make up for it~"

She's a playful, pouty alcoholic and the more Strange talks with Shura, the more convinced she'd be a perfect fit for Lambert. Now how to actually broach the subject and find a way to set the two of them up.

Because of course Strange can't leave well enough alone. No, he's got to get his nose in everyone's business.

"I'll try to find something you like. Of course, I doubt I'll be able to do that in a library." Strange gestures to the books as he continues talking. "No restaurants, no dances, nothing even remotely close to what most people would consider 'nice.'"

Edited 2018-05-16 13:48 (UTC)

That sounds like a terrible idea that can only backfire on Strange. But hope springs eternal for nosy married men who just want others to experience the same degree of marital bliss.

"I'm you can do some research on it while you're here ♥! But, really, there's something you can help me out with in the meanwhile if you're feelin' generous~"

"And what do you need help with?" Because of course he's feeling generous, most of the time Strange feels generous to begin with. Besides, Shura's relatively new and Strange adores any sort of situation where he looks amazing, smart, competent, or all of the above. Heck yeah he'll help her out!

Only time can tell just how much Shura might abuse this in the future.

"Since you've been here for a bit, you're prolly familiar with a lot of the others here, right? There's someone I wanna check in on." She pauses, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear. "His name is Okumura Rin--he works in the kitchen. He's my student back home, and I wanna make sure he hasn't forgotten to mention anything to me, y'know?"

Considering that Strange never shuts up and is perfectly comfortable with gossip, Shura's found herself a worthy shittalking ally. He raises an eyebrow at her request but doesn't really seem to find anything wrong or objectionable with it.

"I'm afraid I don't know Okumura as well as some of the others so I can't tell you much about him specifically. But I can definitely verify something that he told you about this place or our coworkers, if you want."

Which is mostly the reason why he's perfectly fine dishing dirt on Rin and possibly throwing him under the bus. After all, he barely knows the guy.

"The problem is that he hasn't told me much. He compared this place to a vacation, but then he mentioned that some people got kidnapped by vampires a minute later." She sighs, crossing her arms over her chest.

"He's a good kid, but he's stupid sometimes. He won't tell me things if he thinks it'll get him into trouble, y'know? Makes it a pain tryin' to figure out what's on his mind."

Strange looks downright baffled at the fact that Rin compared this place to a vacation. What? No! He's been here long enough for multiple kidnappings, one alternate universe, and like so much crazy shit with the fae. If he's trying to downplay the insanity of the carnival, there's a better way to do it than comparing it to a vacation.

"If that's the case, I'd hate to see the sort of vacations they have in your world. This place is dangerous."

Strange is falling more towards the 'Rin's stupid' side of things.

"Maybe a vacation from his problems back home." Shura replies flatly. There's just a slight twitch in her eye. Getting to hang out in a place where he didn't have to confront the things going on with his brother was probably pretty close to a vacation for him.

"He mighta been tryin' to keep me from gettin' worried. Kinda a shock to come in and see him with a snout, y'know?"

But mostly, he's stupid.

"I hate to say this, but you have every right to be worried," Strange admits, with a frown. No matter what Rin told Shura or how he was trying to keep her from worrying, she needed to know the truth. Unfortunately, the truth sucks.

"This place is dangerous. At various times, carnival members have been enthralled, attacked, kidnapped, or put through other dangerous forms of magic. And that's not counting the changes one goes through by the mere proximity to fae magic." Strange reaches up to lightly tap a clawed finger on one of his eyes: they're mirror coated, and the claw makes a soft 'click' sound as the nail taps the mirror.

"It doesn't help that the Ringmaster isn't exactly the most upfront with regards to the dangers we face."

"I figured that out pretty quickly." She guessed it wasn't so simple from the start. There were likely reasons why the Ringmaster had been so comfortable tricking mortals into contracts. Even well-meaning Fae had a skewed morality that didn't usually bode well for humans.

"Honestly, my boss back home ain't much different, so that much I'm used to." Shura holds back a flinch when Strange touch his eye. That was something else, even if it might be useful.

"I heard that the changes don't last once ya get home, but it still doesn't sit right."

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kingsroads - 2018-05-19 14:31 (UTC) - Expand

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