⇨ DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone out in the library.
When: Day 59
Where: The Athenaeum
What: Towards the end of the visit, we are visited by a series of worrisome NPCs, who may or may not be illusions. There will be at least 5 NPC toplevels posted overall, all happening in a similar time period ICly (in rough chronological order), so not everyone needs to be in every thread.
Warnings: Possibility of very real danger to anyone who participates. Remember that Sans has told everyone to travel in groups, so if you aren't, you'll probably get a scolding later.

TURNING THE PAGE↴ As the carnival continues to explore the Athenaeum in the pursuit of more information about the legendary Miracles, the tension is thick with the knowledge that the Summer Court could be in pursuit any day now. On Day 59, a series of threatening encounters will begin manifesting - but are they real, or an illusion?

Comments

[scientificist]

This is swiftly becoming Herbert's LEAST favourite stop the carnival has made. Absolutely awful. He has a very good memory and he absolutely knows where the pool was, and he was trying to explain that things just disappear here--

And then Jasper completely starts ignoring him to ask Strange questions instead, which is even worse than the whole pool thing. Alright, and possibly the fire man is concerning. At least he has an idea what's going on at this point: obviously, this man, and the previous woman, were both the fae that were announced previously, and Strange and Jasper are standing around talking to them like idiots instead of retreating. Typical.

"Why do we, care, exactly?" he interjects, lips tight.

[moonfang]

Zangetsu has been hanging out near the carnival itself. He hadn't yet found a group to accompany, and leaving the actual Carnival-parts unguarded seemed like a bad idea to him. He patrols the vaguely defined borders, his magic-sucking leech Pickles in an old soda bottle tied to his waist (just in case), when he senses something intense.

And hot.

He's felt it once before, back in Portland. Back then it was all chaos, the fiery energy being mixed up with the also present iciness of the Count of Crows. This time it was alone. ... Probably. Fae had a sort of... fuzzy quality to their reiatsu that Zangetsu chalked up to sheer power.

"ShhhhhhiiiiiiiiiIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTT."

It's not hard to find Ignatius; he's as much a physical beacon as he is a spiritual one. Zangetsu draws his sword and wishes, desperately, that Ichigo were here.

[npcarnival]

Ignatius sees all the mortals appearing around him, and casually slows to a stop. The first one to really catch his attention is Strange, mostly because he remembers him. He laughs, as if he's just remembered something funny.

"Ah, it's you! You're the little wizard the Nightshade was dragging around, back on Earth." He's greeting him more like an old schoolfellow than someone he was opposing sides of in a fight. Technically they'd been fighting on the same side at the time, but, you know. These things are not always so voluntary.

"I have a meeting to attend to, actually. Perhaps you could give me directions."

[fusionactuallysuitsher]

Yuzu's kinda regretting heading out. Oh, sure, she has company and she's made sure that she got her Tron Armor and blade with her just in case, but she's feeling a little over her head here. And hearing Zangetsu's cursing has just made it worse.

"Great, great, great..." Yuzu uttered, wincing as she stopped and watch the creature approach "Could not get any worse..."

She's staying silent - she's not willing to anger her yet.

[kingsroads]

Strange looks back at Jasper, about to say something...but then notices she has Herbert...and Zangetsu's here...and god, Yuzu's here as well? He suddenly finds himself slipping into responsibility mode which sucks and he hates it and he doubts Zangetsu or Jasper would protect Herbert and Yuzu who, to the best of Strange's knowledge, don't have any magic and look like perfect targets to be flash-fried.

There's a brief deer in the headlights look before he desperately tries to regain his composure and take charge of the situation like the bossy person he is. So, he gives Ignatius a little nod, trying play this whole situation calmly. Okay, what does he have at his disposal: messenger bag filled with paper, the blood contract quill, a normal quill, and a bottle of water. Awesome, he's got barely anything.

"Everyone, this is Ignatius: a very powerful fae of the Summer Court." Emphasis very pointed as Strange gives the assembled carnival members an expression that's pure 'don't start any shit.' "Ignatius, this is...a large amount of people, we'll save the introductions for later. Would you mind telling me more about this meeting? That way, I'll be happy to give you directions."

He does not know anything about a meeting.

[stompadour]

Under ordinary circumstances, that kind of look would be pretty much enough to quell Jasper. She's pretty easy to bring to heel if you know what you're doing and don't offend her by mistake.

Unfortunately, these are not ordinary circumstances, and she responds to the glance Strange shoots them all with narrowed eyes, her scowl twisting to bare some of her identical rectangular teeth and one of the weird upsetting pointy ones she has now.

"Yeah, and ask him whether he has anything to do with what just happened to Lapis Lazuli," she growls.

[moonfang]

Zangetsu keeps his sword drawn, but holds it in a neutral position, eyes narrowed at their visitor. But, thank whatever deity you pray to, he does not make a move. He's here on defense, after all.

"I know who he is," the Hollow mutters in Strange's general direction.

"Not much goin' on this way," he addresses Ignatius now, in his usual casual and friendly tone. But that's all he says. Strange can handle this, as long as it's talking.

[npcarnival]

"I was given a tip by a certain comrade," Ignatius explains, just as civil as Strange is being, since nobody has set him off. "Whom... maybe you know?" He casts Jasper a look, arching an eyebrow. "I'm looking for a small blue woman. Very interested in defecting."

He measures out the rough height of Lapis Lazuli with his hands. Then, he opens it up to the group.

"Sound familiar?"

[fusionactuallysuitsher]

"Defect-- WHAT?!" Yuzu yelped, shocked. Was someone here trying to leave? Why? What could have happened?

"Okay, maybe if you could explain a little bit? I mean, there's probably a few people here who might be that tall..."

[stompadour]

Jasper's grip tightens on Herbert's shoulder as Ignatius speaks. It'll probably leave bruises.

"What," she snarls.

[kingsroads]

Small blue woman, probably Lapis. Interested in defecting...well, that is new information. And information that, should he survive this encounter, Strange is going to narc to the Ringmaster.

Strange just continues talking over everybody, trying his hardest to keep the conversation going in a way that doesn't involve punches. "I'm afraid none of use have seen the blue person you're speaking of," he explains with a little shrug. Curiosity gets the best of him though, as Strange asks,

"How do you know she wants to defect?"

[scientificist]

As much as Herbert dislikes Strange, he gets it. This man who is literally on fire is dangerous. Thanks for the tip. He's still as polite as he ever gets when he speaks to Ignatius--albeit a bit strangled. Thanks, Jasper. Ow. Anyway, Strange's method is idiotic. Asking a question about someone he says he doesn't know? Nobody would fall for that, and what's more, he doubts Jasper will go along with it.

"You're too late," he says instead, before Ignatius can answer Strange. If that was Lapis defecting, earlier, she certainly put him through a great deal of aggravation for nothing. Seems odd, though. What with the completely disappearing underwater thing. "She's already gone. The meeting, I assume, is cancelled."

[stompadour]

Jasper's furious attention snaps back to Herbert.

"She can't be gone--"

[moonfang]

Zangetsu has absolutely no idea who they're talking about. Judging by the name Hebert gives, one of those weird rock people probably? He's never met her. But...

"Gone? Whaddya mean 'gone'?"

[scientificist]

Herbert makes a go at ducking out from under Jasper's hand, whether or not it works.

"I mean gone," he says, eyes wide and serious. "Dissolved away. Left." He cannot believe these people are going to try and have an actual conversation and ask him real questions in front of an enemy.

[stompadour]

(It does not work.)

[npcarnival]

Ignatius looks like he's a going to humor Strange's diversion, until Herbert just goes ahead and speaks up. It doesn't look like he's upset by the news, however. Mostly just curious.

"She dissolved, you say?" he asks, and lets that settle for a moment. "That's too bad. I was so looking forward to recruiting a traitorous welp."

He moves on like the discussion of Lapis was a passing fancy. He looks around, taking measure of everyone standing there.

"Anyway. While I have you here, I have a diplomatic suggestion."

[fusionactuallysuitsher]

"A diplomatic suggestion?" Yuzu asked, wary of what may happen. "I dunno; just a few moments ago, you were looking to help someone turn against us."

Someone who is going to get ratted on, no matter what, sorry, not sorry, Herbert.

[kingsroads]

Jonathan Strange, man with a creepyass contract quill burning a hole in his pocket, an intense desire to not see anybody here hurt, and a long litany of bad decisions with regards to the fae, looks over at Ignatius and takes the offer of a diplomatic suggestion like someone just offered him a chance at a winning lottery ticket.

"I don't know about the rest, but I'm interested," he answers.

[moonfang]

Zangetsu, thankfully, still says nothing, but his posture does relax a bit and he cants his ears forward. Can't hurt to hear a suggestion, can it?

[stompadour]

A little way behind and to the left of Strange's shoulder, Jasper growls like a dog. Lapis is objectively a traitorous whelp, but she's not into hearing it from someone this flippant about the whole affair, especially considering what Herbert just said --

She lowers her head to mutter to him through gritted teeth, not taking her eyes off Ignatius -- how she's going to deal with him will depend on what this offer is. Her hand on Herbert's poor, unfortunate shoulder is like a vice.

"You mean she was destabilised?"

[scientificist]

It could be worse. She could be holding his right wing.

"I have no idea what that means," he mutters back. This fae had better be actually making a suggestion rather than "suggestion" being a fun metaphor for an attack.

[npcarnival]

Ignatius extends his arms, ignoring Jasper's interrogation of Herbert. He doesn't care about any of that at the moment. Maybe he will later.

"I have no interest in killing the weak," he says. That probably means all of you. "If one of you offers yourself to me now, without a fight, I will spare the rest." He crosses his arms, as if this is a hella good offer.

[fusionactuallysuitsher]

What kind of offer was this?! Honestly, though, there's a part of Yuzu who's willing to go through this, despite the fact that she'd get Yuya and the others up in arms over being put in danger.

But, she had to wait - she isn't sure what the others will do.

[moonfang]

"Ehhh..." Zangetsu says, tilting his head and almost appearing to give it some thought. "Naaaah. I like where I am and the deal I've got. 'Sides. Summer Court aesthetic isn't really my thing."