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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[While Yuya is immersing himself into that book, a familiar tiny shape pokes their head in from around one corner. Clear Wing huffs with satisfaction, then calls back to who would be none other than Yugo- since the two always stick close together. The synchro teen is carrying an unfamiliar book, holding it at a certain page in the absence of a bookmark.]

You found him eh?

[With poise, the dragon holds their head of high. Of course they did.]

Oi...! How's it going, Yuya?

[Yuya looks up when he hears the grunting, stopping short of opening the book he just pulled free from the shelf.] Oh... Clear Wing!

[He grins, and when Yugo rounds the corner he offers him a nod in greeting.] I'm okay. Getting kind of tired of reading, though.

[He's never done so much reading at once. It's making his eyes hurt.]

Yeah, I know the feeling.

[But it seems there was some reason that Yugo sought out the other because he comes up closer to show the page he was holding in the book. Which depicts a "lioness" dressed with furs and armor pieces, then a wine-skinned dragon decorated with crystal blue armor.

As the story goes, the two were pitted together in a noble contest of might. However- within their realm reigned the Snake King, who wished for the proud feline to be his most powerful pawn, especially if it would be at the expense of her opponent's life.

Perhaps it's refreshing to read that this is a tale where honor prevails. The text continues on with how the dragon despite the manipulated odds uses sheer luck and spiritual insight through a member of his brethren to seize victory.]

Anyway I wanted to ask what you thought of this that I found. The story feels completely new, but it kinda reminds me of something?

[Because Yugo can still kinda recognize that sort of vaguely cat-like monsters from anywhere, but especially either of his own dragon's forms.]

[Yuya reaches to take the book, squinting at the picture. He's not sure why the Scribe never seems to get the details quite right.]

Uh... it looks kind of like Clear Wing. This is one of your duels, isn't it? [The duel with Serena is always difficult to remember, because it feels more like recovering a dream than anything he actually witnessed.

He frowns a little, scratching his head.] You don't recognize it?

[Maybe the Scribe has certain tastes for making what they see be an arguably more interesting tale.]

Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon, instead of Clear Wing. But that's exactly what I was thinking...!

[Then Yugo pauses, still pondering over a certain element in the text.]

I never would've thought that someone was trying to rig that duel though. Were you watching it at the time?

[Yuya looks up at Yugo, offering the book back to him.] I don't know about that but Roget, the head of security, was really interested in Serena and Yuzu.

[So he'd believe it, if the other monster is supposed to be Serena's. Thst makes him wonder if he tried to rig any other duels...]

He had me locked up at the time, but... somehow, I think I still saw your duel. But it was kind of like I was dueling?

[Such a thing is obviously news to Yugo. His expression shifts into shock and then into a frown. Because with how the Security tended to run things back in the City, why would their boss be any less dirty?]

What exactly did that guy want from you, before he locked you up somewhere? What happened?

[Better late than never on feeling protective over Yuya.]

[Yuya shrugs a shoulder.] He wanted me to work with him and beat Jack. He said it was because he wanted to help the city, but... I think he just wanted to control it. And I wasn't going to let him have Yuzu!

[He looks defiant about that for a minute, before deflating a little. He didn't end up succeeding with that, anyway, but it's all in the past now.] So he locked me up until it was time to duel Crow. But we were kind of prisoners already, weren't we?

[What a slimeball indeed. And who even knows what Serena and Yuzu had to do with that guy's plans as far as Yugo is aware. That very last part catches him off guard again though.]

Eh? [But he does try to give it some serious thought.] ... Well it was better than a lot of things I had up to that point.

[That's right, Yugo grew up a lot like Crow did, didn't he? Yuya doesn't look totally convinced by it, but he won't disagree on the matter.] I guess... but I still didn't like being kept in those rooms.

[There was a lot of being stuck in prison in Synchro.]

Of course, I'd still think the carnival's been even better than that. All the... uh... crazy stuff aside. [So he's not insulted by the neutral opinion. Yugo finds his gaze moving to Clear Wing for a moment, who doesn't respond with anything more than reptilian stoicism.]

... But anyway you say you saw my duel with Serena like you were actually there or something?

Edited 2018-05-09 22:45 (UTC)

Yeah, it was really weird. [Yuya puts a hand to his head, brief hesitance in his expression.] It happened when you were during Sawatari, too. Odd-Eyes started shining, and suddenly it was like I was there... seeing what you were, I guess.

[He lowers his hand. Knowing they were the same person once helps it make sense, but having their consciousnesses linked so close is still strange to remember.] You didn't feel it at all?

I was feeling really pumped during those duels, like... as long as I kept my head in the game, it was a thrill no matter who won!

[In contrast to Yuya's hesitance, Yugo seems to get more animated about the topic.]

And I didn't really notice the first time, but it was pretty amazing how the crowd was cheering for both sides! I'm not all that great at making catchy catchphrases, but those duels... even when I was on the ropes- "the fun's only just begun", right?

[Wait a second.]

..... Is that your thing...?

Yeah, that's what I say! [Not only him, but it comes from his Dad.] Yuzu did too when she dueled Mr. Tokumatsu, too.

[And Sawatari takes it sometimes. He shakes his head.] When it started, it was like I couldn't focus on anything but your duel. Like... [His face scrunches up, struggling to find the way to explain it.] It felt like a dream. And when it was over, I woke up.

[That certainly explains to Yugo why Yuzu might've been doing what she did in that match.]

... Something about it apparently helped me out, if the Scribe's best guess is anything like what really happened.

[Clear Wing merely "lounges" on the taller's shoulder without offering any semblance of a answer, not that the spirit seems capable of speaking in plain words.]

Maybe if we looked into how to connect like that again, we could try to make it work the other way around? It's gotta be useful for something around here.

[Yuya blinks rapidly, staring at Yugo like he's grown two heads.] Wait, you actually want to do that again?

[Well, Yugo couldn't really feel it, and he never had a soul piggybacking inside him that could take over whenever they wanted (thanks Yuto), so it's probably not a surprise he can be so blase about it. Yuya wouldn't necessarily wish the experience on him.]

Well yeah! It's really cool...! And it'd be another way for us to watch each other's backs if we get the hang of it! Like being able to see if the other's in trouble or something...!

[Yugo's grinning, trying and failing to tamp down some of his enthusiasm. But maybe more is better for convincing Yuya that Yugo rarely, if ever, has second thought once settled on a decision.]

But you know... if you really don't wanna go forward on this, that's fine. It's your head after all! Two-way street.

Uh, you'd probably change your mind if it was the other way around. [He's just saying, suddenly losing physical and mental autonomy is kind of freaky.

Though, now that he thinks about it...] That hasn't been happening at all since Zarc was taken out, has it?

... Nah. But I haven't been getting into any riding duels since you got here, I think.

[But his expression does shift into a thoughtful one again.]

You think it came from him?

[That's true. Yuya's not sure if it's just dueling or something in general.

He fishes Odd-Eyes out of his pocket and furrows his brow at the card.] Maybe? At least, none of that stuff has been happening since Reira took him out of me.

You know... maybe it won't turn out as weird since he's not gonna be the one doing it this time.

[And upon saying that, Yugo rests his hand on Yuya's shoulder. It's good however that the other is being worried for the both of them.]

So... what do you say?

[Yuya looks uncertainly at Yugo.] I... guess we can see if we can still do it, but I don't know how it worked in the first place. I don't know how to trigger it if you're not dueling.

Alright...! [Is what Yugo initially responds with, pumping his other arm toward himself out of excitement.]

But really, we can figure this out no problem. Ask around... read more stuff... it'll pay off! You'll see.

Okay... [He's a little bewildered why Yugo's so into this.] Uh--have you found anything about the miracles yet?

[That is, after all, what they're in a magic library for to begin with.]

Hm? Nah I haven't found anything on those things.

[Not that Yugo feels particularly worried about it since they can still lean on other people having much more success. Teamwork makes the dream work.]

How does anyone find whatever they're looking for in this place? I bet there's more books here than anyone's seen in their whole lives, combined...!

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⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

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