⇨ 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]

"I haven't searched for a damn thing," drawls Herbert, and finally pushes upwards to stand, wincing as he does. "Aside from knowledge. A way to be left alone to my, work--must I stay here for this, judgement?"

[stompadour]

"I don't care about any of this except retrieving Lapis Lazuli," Jasper growls.

[periphrasing]

"Is it really so hard for you to accept that what primarily drives us is self-preservation?" Peridot adds, swishing her tail angrily. "We just want you AND the Rose Queen to leave us alone."

[stompadour]

Jasper scoffs pointedly. Self preservation is for losers and nerds.

Of course, that said, as long as those are the Carnival's goals she does care about them, in that broadly speaking she wants to see Blue Diamond's orders carried out and her own Diamond restored, but -- right now? Just getting Lapis back is pretty much where she's at.

[npcarnival]

"Self-preservation could be considered evading justice, considering your master," the Count says, coolly. "You should know by now that, as her property, you will be held accountable for her crimes."

[atouts]

Being called ingenuine is fair but that doesn't mean it doesn't ruffle his feathers (literally). Childermass takes a step towards the throne but doesn't go much farther than that, instead just glowering at the Count.

"And just what are her crimes? Flying off to play circus while the rest of you quarrel over worlds that aren't yours?"

[flashover]

Rin still has a hand clapped over his mouth, but he nods vehemently at Childermass' explanation. YEAH! TAKE THAT!

[scientificist]

The Count receives the most dead-eyed stare from Herbert. Is he fucking serious. Then he smiles, coldly.

"And why bother asking us at all--ask the Ringmaster!" The stare returns. "She's, clearly who you'd prefer to talk to."

[whattaprick]

Actually, as far as the Courts are concerned, the Ringmaster must have a hell of a record, but if no one else is bringing up the Ringmaster publicly stating she's fought the Courts before, Lambert's not going to contribute to the discussion -- just waits and sees what the Count has to say.

[npcarnival]

The Count sits up in his chair, straightening his back. His bored look subtly sharpens, as if his words must bear more weight than they have in the rest of the conversation.

"The Great Beast, now called the Ringmaster, is singlehandedly responsible for the murder and consumption of the Queen of the Winter Court."

[worldlyafflictions]

"..."







"Was it a fair fight?"

[flashover]

Gasp!

Wait, no.

Now that Rin thinks about it, that's not that weird at all.

[periphrasing]

Peridot is shocked, and then. Promptly isn't. Given the Ringmaster's track record, this news isn't really that surprising.

She opens her mouth and almost tells Shima to shut up again, but.

"...Actually, that's a good question." Pause. "I mean for all we know, she might have deserved it."

[scientificist]

Over near the back of the area, Herbert has begun to giggle, high and weird.

CONSUMED.

WHAT?

DOES SHE DO THIS OFTEN?

IS THIS A FAE THING?

the fact that his life is weirder NOW is really kind of incredible

[atouts]

Thanks, Ringmaster, that would have been nice to know. That gives him pause, if only for a very brief moment before the comments of others filter through...

"It doesn't usually matter to loyal subjects whether she deserved it or not."

Childermass still has royalty in his country. People who hate them would still be mad if some freaky foreign dragon ate them.

[stompadour]

Jasper's eyes have narrowed.

"No," she says. "It doesn't." Ultimately she doesn't care about fae politics. Her and Blue Diamond's bargain is with the Ringmaster.

But this doesn't sit too well with her.

[osteothropy]

Sans sinks down lower to the ground, his sense of ill ease having taken a violent spike. He's not super surprised, no. It seems like it fits. The weirdest thing is that, after all this time, he's almost certain that it was somehow justified in the grand scheme of things.

But that doesn't really matter, on this level. Justice or not, they are all in so much more trouble than he'd thought.

[periphrasing]

"Mmmgh... No, you're right," Peridot groans apologetically at Childermass. "Dammit... Why can't she just be up front with us about these things?"

[npcarnival]

The Count is still for what feels like a long time after that announcement, tensely watching the carnival members banter about it in what he considers to be a frivolous manner. It's insulting, to say the least.

Finally, he eases back into a more relaxed pose, leaning on the arm of the throne.

"You must realize now that this is the most severe of crimes," he says. "And that 'self-preservation' is likely not her only goal."

At least, in the eyes of the Courts it isn't.

[whattaprick]

Lambert doesn't visibly seem perturbed by the revelation, just considers it, weighs it against the information he knows, and accepts it as fact. Yeah, that roughly explains the level of screwed they are, but on the other hand...

They're still here, not talking, not directly vaporized. It doesn't really answer what the Count wants out of them, but...

"Maybe the Great Beast got fed up of being treated like one," he pauses. "What'd she do to Summer?"

Might as well try for straight answers, if the Count feels like giving them.

[atouts]

Childermass will yield the court to Lambert, for now, looking his way rather than at the Count.

[scientificist]

Herbert puts his hands in his trouser pockets, arguably for support, but also to do the volume down, radio switch on thing he's done once already and is starting to perfect.

As stupid as this is, he supposes the Carnival should know.

"The Ringmaster ate the Winter Queen?" he repeats, perhaps slightly playing up his bemusement. "How were we meant to know this exactly?"

[periphrasing]

Retraction: The more Peridot thinks on this, the more upset she actually feels. This whole time she'd been thinking that the courts were only after them because of what happened in Portland, and because of Steven, but it turns out that the reality is so much more serious than that. She feels duped. This whole time she's been putting herself AND her friends closer to realer danger than she could have ever possibly imagined. And for what?

She's exhausted. This situation is starting to feel increasingly hopeless. She looks wearily up at the count, ears drooping, and adds to Lambert and Herbert's queries: "And what do you expect us to do about any of this? It's like you said, we're just her property."

For the first time in a while, that sentiment actually feels real.

[npcarnival]

"What you know is immaterial, ultimately," he says. "I am merely telling you the facts. I may ask you questions now, but only to determine your willingness to forsake this futile cause. In this world, the servants of a fae are given little consideration. If you intend to separate yourself from this, I am offering you a way out."

His tone is far from compassionate, but that doesn't mean he isn't telling the truth.

"You could receive better care elsewhere, in exchange for your cooperation. In the end, it will make little difference to us."

[atouts]

And that's where Childermass cuts in again, turning back towards the Count in a sharp movement, taloned fingers curling up into fists at his side. That offer... What he says is about as cold as the Count's own words, if somewhat more bitter.

"If you mean that they should go with you, I can tell them right now that your idea of better care is lacking."