⇨ 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

[wild_magic]

He nods a little, but doesn't move from his spot against Lauren.

"I don't think it is, though. I mean... It could be. But there's too many things right, aren't there?"

[mylastchance]

He shakes his head. He wants to believe Susan. Afterall, who would go through all this trouble for such a terrible lie. Still, he couldn't let himself believe it. They had so little of their parents left. Susan's bracelet was their Mothers, Lauren of course had his memories. This book wasn't even something his parents had owned, but it was about them. Their story.

"We can't even take it with us." he says, voice shaking

[wild_magic]

"...We could copy it? Like write the story down ourselves." After a minute he smiles up at him.

"Or, I could use my camera! We can take pictures of the whole story that way."

[mylastchance]

Something ugly rises up at the suggestion. If it's about Nana and Father it should belong to them and no one else. He recognizes the irrational feeling for what it is and takes a breath to push it aside. He forces a smile.

"Good idea. Would you get it?"

[wild_magic]

Of course he wants it, too. He wants this book about their parents, the family he doesn't remember, but the way this place works he doesn't think he can have it. Pictures are the next best thing.

"I already have it!" And he just has to dig in his pocket a moment before he pulls out the device and offers it to his brother.

[mylastchance]

Lauren nods, surprised to see Susan pull the device from his pocket. Really he'd been hoping for a moment to collect himself, but maybe it's better if Susan stays here with him.

He turns to face the book, breathing deeply.

"From the beginning?"

[wild_magic]

He nods after considering it.

"Yeah, that's the best. That way we can read it, too."

[mylastchance]

He nods. "Okay."

And so he opens the book and he starts reading, speaking the words aloud for Susan. Before turning each page he stops to let Susan take a picture.

The story starts with their mother as a teenager and the chosen bride for some god Lauren's never even heard of. It's hard to imagine for Lauren, the mother he loved being so suspicious and shut off from strangers.

[wild_magic]

Susan doesn't say it, but he appreciates Lauren reading it so he doesn't have to try and can just make sure the pictures come out okay.

Susan doesn't remember their mother well, but the story still gives him pause. At first he stays quiet, but soon enough he speaks up.

"I don't remember her saying anything like this."

[mylastchance]

He smiles. He sometimes wondered if Susan remembered anything of their mother, but it wasn't something they ever spoke of.

"Neither do I. If it's true she kept it hidden."

[wild_magic]

If Lauren had disagreed he would have assumed it was him misremembering. As it is though, he nods a little as he considers that.

"But why would she do that?"

[mylastchance]

Lauren thinks it over.

"She probably thought we were too young... Or maybe she wantwd to forget."

[wild_magic]

They definitely were too young. Susan isn't sure he can even remember her face, and his memories of their father are practically nonexistent. Still, though, it seems odd they wouldn't know, but he shakes it off.

"I guess that makes sense..."

[mylastchance]

Lauren smiles weakly before returning to reading. The story goes on to introduce their father and explain how Illora and he met. Lauren has to stop then, he doesn't know why, but reading about them like this is hard. It makes him want to see them more than anything has in a while.

[wild_magic]

Susan doesn't push him to continue, instead taking some time to look through the pictures he's taken to make sure they're all in order and everything, before he looks back to Lauren.

"Do you need to stop...? I can just take pictures without you reading."

[mylastchance]

He thinks about it a moment, before nodding. He does want to read it, and he wants to share it with Susan, but ot doesn't have to all be right away.

"I still miss them."

[wild_magic]

It's not really a surprising statement, if he thinks about it, but it catches Susan off-guard either way. His own memories of them are distant enough that he can't really consider any of them to be missing them in any way, but Lauren... Of course Lauren would. He was older, he remembers them. Where Susan's childhood memories are of the forest, of learning how to climb trees and learning about animals and hunting and tracking and foraging, Lauren's memories would be of their parents and their village. It's weird to think about how different they are sometimes, but now... Now it really does matter.

"...I know." He wishes he could say the same, but he can't.

[mylastchance]

It strikes him that Susan says 'I know,' and not 'me too.' The two responses are practically the same, but they aren't. It may just be the moment, the emotions of loss he feels, but it makes him linger on his brother.

He shouldn't ask, but he wants to know.

"Do you remember them?"

[wild_magic]

He hesitates before answering, the pause itself possibly enough of an answer to Lauren.

"I... I don't remember Father at all." That feels safer to say. He doesn't want to admit that his memories of their mother are barely even existent, when they're all he has left. Of course he won't lie to Lauren, though. That wouldn't help anything. But maybe Lauren won't press him.

[mylastchance]

It feels wrong, prying into his brother's memories like this. He stops, accepting Susan's answer for what it is without questioning him further.

"Do you wish you did?"

[wild_magic]

He shrugs after a minute.

"Kind of. You do, so it feels weird that I don't."

[mylastchance]

His brother's hesitance in answer makes him hesitant to ask. He pushes forward regardless.

"What do you mean?"

[wild_magic]

"Well... Most of the things we remember are the same. But that one isn't... Even though it's part of me, too. So it's like something is missing, that we should be able to share."

He knows that's silly, but still, it's how he feels.

[mylastchance]

Lauren nods. He'd always wondered how it felt to Susan, knowing there should be someone there who isn't. He knows the grief Susan feels likely isn't the same as his own, but still, it's there.

"I'm sorry."

[wild_magic]

He shakes his head a little with a small smile.

"No, it's okay. It isn't your fault." And it isn't his either... Probably.