lostcarnival | ⇨ DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS

Of course it would. Though he does at least catch onto what Joker is even doing- which means that since he's still rather out in the open, and Right There, he might as well try and get back into the conversation himself.

...Much as he hates to. Gongenzaka does not take a step, glancing briefly toward what options are more readily available to the two remaining only to take a deep breath and close his eyes-

...And snap his eyes open with a scowl. "Will we now?" he questions, words biting right back. "And what, Madam, do you feel will have us do so?"

Maybe he should have summoned his daemon after all, as he had considered before the Queen spoke.

She was always somehow better with words, than he.

His tail lashes behind him at the tip and he has to curl it backwards with a bit of a tuck to avoid showing any more emotion. He hates this. He truly does. Again, Joker was throwing himself into a sitaution but he understands how tied his hands are.

His fingers twitch at his side and he reaches out to grasp the back of Joker's attire with a slight pull. In truth, he was letting a Tease slip from his fingers and into the grooves of his fingers in case he needed to track him later.

He then bows gently, his hand resting against his chest, "If you need anything while you are attending to the lady, I will be right here, my lord." Address Joker as if he was just a common servant. He's a conman, he may as well play a part. It just means he isn't going to leave his side unless he has to.

But he does step back to give them some space in order to listen to Joker as well. He'd rather they escape through that hole.

Lauren doesn't protest being shoved aside, moving instead to cast another spell as the first fails to prove useful. This time he calls for ice and sleet. Cold could kill plants. Perhaps it could also slow down this woman and her army? Though unfortunately since Joker is near the queen it means he will be caught in the storm too.

Things are definitely not going well in there, and so when Susan hears Lauren again cast a spell he just pushes past the pokemon (sorry Feathers) to go back in, although he doesn't say anything yet, instead just landing behind the others. Unlike his brother, he can actually read the situation, and so he knows he shouldn't do anything, not yet, but if he isn't there, he can't even try to help if there's a chance.

This means landing. This means doing something he really doesn't want to do. Still, as with so many other things in his life, Joker does it, feet landing gracefully onto the rose covered ground while his wings tuck against his back. Every instinct in his head is yelling at him what a stupid idea this is.... and yet he still bows his head, exposing his neck to her as he presses his lips daintily against her knuckles.

Her demands aren't unexpected, honestly, and yet his mind is racing as he straightens up again. He can't agree to these terms, can't let the others be taken-

But even his word quick mind can't speak before the temperature in the room suddenly drops. Looking around quickly, it's not what he's expecting, but that only makes it worse. Swearing at Lauren in his head, Joker makes a quick decision. He needs her to view him favorably, so immediately his wings spread open again, curling around the Rose Queen to shield her even slightly from the sudden hail. It's unnecessary for a creature like her, he knows-

But that's "chivalry" for you. Useless, sometimes painful, but it will hopefully look good.

The hail will fall. It strikes the Queen, and it strikes Joker's wings, and though some aspect of it faintly stings, she remains standing as if she is being bathed in gentle rain.

Her control doesn't make her fury any less complete, however. As she senses the source of the spell, several root-like vines will emerge from the earth, wrapping around Lauren's legs.

Before even a moment more can pass, he is sucked beneath the earth.

Gongenzaka is a man of his word. He does not like the Rose Queen. He does not like anything she stands for. At all. He especially doesn't like what she's pulling here, but suddenly Lauren has cast something, and he can see something in the air, and his body moves entirely on instinct. "No-!"

At the end of the day, he is also 'Steadfast', and the last time he was in a fight like this, well...

He wasn't. He has been behind the wall defending, he has been mounting the attack against an already fighting foe, but as it stands right now they had not yet fought- which means his mind isn't quite set on that, it's set on 'something is happening, and it could HURT EVERYONE'.

From the outstretched arm, the repulsor fails to launch- a ghost of muscle memory from the consequences of last time. But his vines do move, if at least to try and make some sort of awkward umbrella for...Joker? The Queen? They're sort of both there, but it's a motion he makes without thought.

The thought that comes after is to stare with relatively wide eyes, while quietly thinking 'Oh.'

If it wasn't such a dire situation, he'd feel rather silly.

Instead, it feels rather like something far worse just happened, much as he's yet to turn to look.

He's ready to back down, ready to move backwards out of Joker's and the Rose Queen's way. Ready to protect these kids like Joker wanted to. But that all changes in a heartbeat, his fingers twitching around the Tease sliding into his hand and he snaps it upwards with a pull outwards.

He pours his Dark matter into it, transforming it into a shield and he snaps forward like a good servant, jumping from one spot to another in a matter of seconds. It's not a particularly large shield but it'll take that cold damage and keep it off Joker. He might take the resulting splash from it if there is any but he was far durable than the human now behind him. He's not protecting the Rose Queen.

His eyes snap towards Lauren, narrowed in anger. This is considered an attack on Joker but thankfully he doesn't have to deal with the mess. Lauren's wrapped by those beautiful looking vines and when he's dragged under, Tyki relaxes.

"Ah, that's a shame."

Susan's eyes widen as his brother is grabbed and dragged underground. But, he can't attack her, he knows he can't, not after the Prince, but he can't just let her take Lauren or hurt him or anything, not after last time, he has to help!

Which leads to him running forward, closer to her, a pleading expression on his face.

"Please, give him back, I can help you!!" He doesn't even really know what she wants, but he'd do anything to save Lauren.

"Susan, shut your mouth." It's a sharp snap, perhaps a little tight from what bits of ice had gotten him, but he's better than he might otherwise have been.

Part of that is probably because Lauren is now apparently in the ground, instead of causing anymore trouble. Well. It's a little dark to admit, but that's almost a plus. Still, as he straightens up and tries to shake the ice from his wings, Joker has to admit he can't let that pass completely unchallenged. He glances around, taking note of everyone else. So it's only Lauren, and Feathers is making no progress on their exit... Dammit.

He's going to have to keep talking.

"I would wish to give you my gravest apologies," he says, continuing on as if he hadn't said anything to Susan at all. "These children are all talk but in the end utterly useless, as you can see for yourself. Yet they are mine, as I am the Stage Manager of the carnival. May I punish both brothers before you, properly? I wish to make up for their atrocious lack of discipline." If he can just get Lauren out of the ground... He'll bash the boy's head in, but he'll be alive. That's the important thing.

The Rose Queen is happy to ignore Susan, also. Maybe with time, that could be crafted into something of use, but she's already quite booked up for those kinds of endeavors. She is favouring those that obey from the start.

Her head tilts slightly, showing her doubt. It's convenient to use candied words to get your way. She wants to see where that diplomatic streak ends.

"You have another child in your keep," she says. "One that I care for deeply. I want to see him."

She puts outs her hand again. She refuses to play games.

"Offer your services, and I will have you do these things for me, and more."

Gongenzaka is...admittedly still rather frozen. His vines only slowly retract, his body half crouched thanks to the position he was in as he launched forward.

It almost looks like bowing.

It is far, far from what he himself would consider a bow, however. His tension is getting him nowhere though-and he is recognizing that. And how could he require such a crutch? Such a blatant, obvious crutch as dividing himself in two, two differing parts, to simply clear his head. What would Marishi-ten do?

What would he, in another frame of mind, do?

His ears bend back, and his head is dipped low-his eyes cast to the Queen's feet.

But he says nothing. Not even a word this time, listening instead to Joker. This is a trap.

Most absolutely a trap. And he fears for how they can even hope to get out of this, this far down into the 'hole'. 'What would Marishi do?'

She would wait, and so would he. So they will.

The shield dissipates but a servant does not linger at his master's side. He takes a step away, frowning at the entire situation. This should have gone down without a hitch. They should have kept moving without question. They had stalled too long, taken in by a weeping kid and pretty words of comfort.

He looks down again at where Lauren has disappeared to and lets his ears cant back towards the conversation behind him. Joker's going to do something stupid and he doesn't know how he is going to tell Doll this time. Maybe he won't. Maybe he'll linger instead.

He wants a cigarette, something pleasurable, something to entice. There was a solid truth in the matter that one could never save everyone and Lauren had made his choice.

Susan does shut up at Joker's words, although it's more out of shock at everything he says than out of any inclination to listen to him. He knows he's trying to negotiate here, he knows what's going on, but they don't have time for that, not when they need to save Lauren. He needs his brother. But apparently it doesn't matter, he's being ignored, and so instead he falls back once again, to where Lauren was taken under, before trying to at least see if he can dig him out. He knows it's useless, especially since there's magic involved, but what else can he do?

Pushing through the thorns brings back old memories, ones from another life. He'd done this once before, he thinks. Twice before. Three times before. That sounds right. It had only been the third time that he actually succeeded.

He hopes he has it right this time.

As they finally break through the last layer of vines, he knows there's no time to spare. He can feel the emotions in the next room - emotions of feeling trapped, of feeling desperate. He can't bring himself to wait to make sure Yuya and Hinawa are following. He kind of wishes they wouldn't. But, he knows they both feel like he does. He can feel that, too.

Nobody wants to leave without the others. How can it be that something so kind can bring so much danger?

The others will see Steven when he runs into the room, emerging from the entrance on the far side. They'll see him before she does, his clothing torn and skin faintly etched. In the past, she would have been able to sense his mere proximity. Now, he knows it won't be until the moment that he reveals himself. It's almost empowering.

"Don't!" he calls out, his fists balled at his sides. "Don't do it."

Yuya muscles his way through right behind Steven. The scratches sting, but it's a pain he's already numb to in the face of the Rose Queen here, facing the rest of them down. It was hard to make out much, getting closer, but every sound he couldn't decipher was a worst possible scenario.

He stops, a little struck to hear the deal, looking between the Queen and Joker until Steven speaks up. It's then Yuya recalls Portland, Steven scared and escaping his Mom, and his recent admission about the ward.

Yuya rushes forward to stand between him and the Rose Queen, as if he can block her view of him. His grip on his staff tightens but he doesn't speak up, because Steven's already said what he's thinking.

Hinawa is not far behind the boys, in a haze of fear as every part of her dreads getting any closer to that awful woman. She stands next to Yuya, shoulder to shoulder to better hide Steven from sight.

She dares not speak.

Another child, huh.... Yeah. Joker knows who that is. And he knows exactly how dangerous it is to take what's being offered to him. So he can't accept, but he can't spurn her, so what can he do?

There are a few different excuses on the tip of his tongue, ones he's desperately hoping will work, when a familiar voice suddenly bursts through the room and Joker feels his heart stop. His expression freezes at nearly the exact same time, and he could curse out nearly every god he's ever heard of because what did he say!?

It's then that his brain starts responding instead of his emotions, and he realizes just how late the Rose Queen is on reacting.

Oh. Oh.

Fortunate, really, that his wings keep his cloak in the middle when they're positioned like this. It means he can fold his hands behind his back just enough to jab his blade past some of his feathers, hoping Tyki or Gongenzaka gets the idea. After all, they're the only ones with sense with Susan as he is and Lauren indisposed. But Feathers needs help, and they all need a way out...

Which means him leaving will be the hardest, second only to Steven, but hell with it.

"Now isn't that something, my lady?" he asks, putting his acting mask back on. He can work this, he thinks. If nothing else, he can buy them a little more time.

It's not until after Steven is spoken that she reacts to his presence. The others approaching don't seem to concern her - just more changelings running about. She isn't threatened or interested. That one figure, though, the one that is just beyond her senses...

She turns, her long white curls whirling along with her like a halo of light. For the first time since her appearance, she looks truly overcome. There is genuine sentimentality here, despite all her cruelty.

And yet, when she looks, she sees Yuya and Hinawa standing in her way. It inspires another violent flash of anger, and she extends her blades threateningly.

"Get out of the way," she says, walking in their direction. "Let me see him."

On one hand, he can appreciate what Hinawa and Yuya are doing.

On the other hand, the Rose Queen has some very sharp blades, and he has no doubt how much better a swordswoman she is then any of them are fighters.

Immediately, he hurries alongside her, not daring to touch but hoping his presence might get through anyway. "Now, far be it from me to get in your way," he says hastily, "but don't you think something is suspicious, my lady?"

Shit. "S- Yuuya-!" he half shouts, head jolting up toward the others. It's fortunate that he catches himself so fast, really; being able to locate Steven is probably a bad sign, and as long as Steven is hidden, well.

Joker is hurrying, but Gongenzaka finds an idea coming to mind...and follows. He follows, and from behind the Queen does his best to jerk his head toward the various leaves and flowers of his tail and mane. Use it, he mentally screams. He's practically a wall, so take advantage, and-

He turns his eyes to the Rose Queen, swallowing. This is not going to go well he imagines.

When the Rose Queen turns her gaze on them, Hinawa's blood runs cold. In an instant they've earned the ire of an extremely powerful foe, and in another instant they could both be dead.

At the same time, though, she saw that other look on the queen's face. She knows that feeling, that overwhelming desire to wrap your arms around your child and protect them from everything that's wrong and bad in the world. And when there's something standing in the way between you and your baby, well...

She understands.

But she can't let the Rose Queen get to Steven, so she stands firm, and places a hand on Yuya's shoulder to keep him close to her. She's almost relieved when Joker jumps in to try and grab her attention, but only at first. The Rose Queen wants her child- any distractions can't possibly last.

Impulse is telling him to save his own skin though he's never ran from a fight. Nothing has ever really been like this but he's felt mortal blows before. Dying didn't frightening him but he'd rather not be enthralled for any length of time. If death was the end result then so be it. His family would just never understand.

It's why he's stepping away again towards the area Feather's is working on. He doesn't even need Joker's cue anymore towards action. He's fishing the pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and lighting one with a strike of his match. Then he's going to glance up at Feathers and summon a Tease into his hand. If the bird isn't causing alarm then certain Dark Matter won't either. It's explosive but time for subtly is over. It's why Dark Matter will gather around his hand, wrist, and arm before firing off towards the hole Feather's is making.

The last time they ran into a big and important fae, the Ringmaster gave Papyrus some simple instructions: keep quiet, stay out of sight. She'd said he was a big personality and fae... tended not to like that. Everything he saw around the Manor confirmed it.

So the moment the Rose Queen shows up, Papyrus goes quiet and lingers off to the side. He listens, watches, looks for signs of an escape route. Keeps a hand on his radio, because if things break out or more people get pulled under, he wants to call out that that's what's happening so people like Lambert and Sans know what to look for.

And, maybe most of all, he focuses on where the bird is digging and tries to get a hold of Lauren's soul, difficult as it is when the human's out of sight and there's all that dirt between them. Because if Papyrus can, he'll ping him blue and pull him up the moment that hole is big enough - the Rose lady probably won't give him time to climb out.

Steven has a plan in mind when he stepped out into the open, but now that it's actually in action... it's not really going how he intended, at all. He'd wanted the others to clear away so that he could hold her attention, so that maybe they'd have time to escape.

Right now... they're all just putting themselves in more danger by trying to put themselves between them.

He's torn between actions. One is to stay hiding, and let them do whatever they're trying to do - to try to shield him from her at the potential cost of their lives. The other is to push ahead with his own plan, regardless of their intent. He can't really see what's going on past Yuya and Hinawa, but he can feel the Rose Queen approaching.

He forces down the panic rising in his chest, and puts his hands between Yuya and Hinawa, using his considerable strength to push them out of the way. He steadies his voice to speak.

"D-Don't get in my way," he says, more forcefully than is characteristic. "I... want to see my mom."

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