⇨ 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]

Herbert, naturally, doesn't really care about this argument that's happening. He doesn't see the point: he doubts they'll be listened to when it hasn't happened so far.

"Why do we have to be here at all--you've already made your mind up about the Ringmaster. Surely you can, argue with each other without our presence."

He tilts his chin up, eyes slightly shuttered, suddenly whimsical. "I'm a human, and a neuroscientist: this isn't my, Elysian Field."

[npcarnival]

The Count obviously couldn't care less about the Scribe, or about looking into this whole situation any more than the Winter Court already has. The crime was done eons ago. The time for debate has long since passed.

"We know that the Scribe is a personal ally of the Great Beast, and thus their testimony is invalid," the Count says, firm in his refusal to look into it any further. "We do simply what the Queen demands."

You'll note he doesn't say anything about justice, here.

[npcarnival]

Ignatius is looking at Peridot now, a mixture of incredulous and intrigued. She yells so loud, for something so small. Incredible.

"The wizard knew what he was bargaining for when he offered himself to me," Ignatius says, before looking over to Nightshade. "Pixie, do you know this little green one?"

[npcarnival]

The Counts gaze settles on Peridot with a sudden intensity, as if somehow his awareness of her has been turned from 'off' to 'on.'

"I know of her well enough. A criminal wielder of iron against her kin."

He looks her over, suspicion in his eyes.

"Were this not Elysium, I would see it fitting to string her up and punish her for her insolence."

[scientificist]

Herbert tilts his head back to look at the ceiling, and then slowly descends into a crouch, and then sitting on the floor. He imagines they're going to be here for a while and doesn't see a reason to continue to put effort into being actively ignored.

[whattaprick]

And as the Count’s gaze settles on Peridot and threatens her? Yeah, that’s Lambert’s cue to step forward with a snarl, bristling.

“Well she’s no kin of yours, so stuff it,” he snaps, having no idea what he’s talking about. He was, after all, thoroughly unconscious for that.

[lordofthering]

Privately, the Ringmaster grimaces. Yeah, that's not a good look.

[periphrasing]

...Hmm.

Well. She did want people to actually listen to her, SHE GUESSES. Careful what you wish for?

Actually, it feels strangely nice to be acknowledged as someone worth addressing. Even if the result of that acknowledgement is that is a bunch of high fae calling her out as a criminal and threatening to 'string her up'. Whatever that means.

It's to her benefit, at least, that this is not her first time sassing her so-called 'betters'. And the Count is nowhere near as terrifying to her as Yellow Diamond was.

"Uhm," Peridot starts, holding a claw up and peering past Lambert. She's trying to keep her voice level. "Also, in my defense, I'd spent a month thinking that I was human at the time? Plus I think we can all agree that Portland wasn't exactly a great time for any of us." Pause. "Oh, also you stole Childermass, and you were trying to murder all of us."

[npcarnival]

"Did someone say... criminal use of iron?"

It's at this point that another fae literally waltzes into the room, her seaweed hair spinning. She's approaching this meeting more like a roof party than an Elysium, as she folds herself against the side of the Count's throne opposite Ignatius.

A familiar blue gem is, indeed, strung around her neck. She is otherwise naked.

"That sounds exciting," she says airily.

[npcarnival]

"I see you've still neglected to dress yourself," the Count says with comparative dryness.

[npcarnival]

"I'm dressed," she says, gesturing at her neck. "I'm wearing... jewelry."

[scientificist]

Herbert immediately turns to look at Jasper and Peridot, face leaning sideways into his left hand propped on his knee.

[bananaspeedrider]

Yugo certainly stares for a tense moment. And despite being a teenage boy with interests he is not into what he's seeing.

[worldlyafflictions]

Ditto.

[lordofthering]

The Ringmaster puts a hand to her face, exhaling a gentle stream of fire. Alright. Focus.

"...Could you go ahead and bring in the Rose Queen, now?" she says, as weary as she is annoyed. "We all know it's going to happen."

[flashover]

Ditto... trio?? It's really, really hard not to stare. And for other things.

[stompadour]

Jasper has been listening in silence like she was told to, albeit with mounting impatience and irritation for this whole affair --

And then this new fae arrives, with Lapis Lazuli around her neck like a pendant.

She bristles like an angry tiger; her hair actively puffs up as her lower jaw begins to part to bare her sharp tusks.

"You," she snarls, stepping forward with fire in her eyes.

[scientificist]

"Jaaasper, crows will eat your nose," Herbert points out, projecting from the floor.

[whattaprick]

Lambert’s out of his depth here, and he really can’t see a way out. But as soon as the woman materializes with a blue jewel around her neck, he makes a grab for Peridot’s arm again, more forcefully this time. Not that he can stop her if she really tries to get away, though.

“What’s the point of all this?” he snaps, addressing the Count again. “You don’t actually want to cut a deal for the Rose, do you?”

Because if that’s all he wanted to do, all he had to do was bring in the Carnival workers and the fae of the Winter Court. This is just a farce.

[npcarnival]

"Oh, I would love to cut a deal for the Rose," he says. "Which has no bearing on my attempt's probability of being successful. You refuse to change sides from the Ringmaster. The Ringmaster refuses to cooperate with us. The Summer Court refuses to negotiate."

He leans back even more disinterestedly than before.

"This is the world I am accustomed to, but yet, when it is over I cannot be faulted for any lack of due diligence."

[npcarnival]

"We will not negotiate," a new arrival says, "because the Blue Rose is rightfully ours."

The Rose Queen enters from the far side of the room, her pace slow but unyielding. Tiny vines sprout up around her feet as she walks, stone turning into soil. She is calmer, now. Her work is not done, but there is an end in sight.

"It was from our holds that it was stolen in the first place... by yet another of the Wyld Fae's ilk. How much longer must we be expected to tolerate this indignity?"

[periphrasing]

Any sort of level-headed facade that Peridot was trying to maintain under questioning immediately goes flying out the window the second she sees who this newcomer is wearing around her neck.

"LAPIS!" It's a strangled, desperate cry; she tries to rush forward but fortunately, Lambert manages to stop her from getting too far. The relief she feels from finally laying eyes on her missing friend is fleeting, quickly overtaken by a blood boiling white-hot fury. That faerie is wearing her. Like she's nothing more than an inanimate object. Peridot's chest hurts knowing how terrified Lapis must be, if she's at all conscious and aware of her situation. The Engineer isn't exactly known for her cool-headed attitude, but even to those who have seen her in a rage before now, this is something on an entirely different level.

Self preservation is the only thing that keeps her from trying to wrench her arm out of Lambert's grip. Even still, she's... Barely holding back. She's literally radiating heat, and the floor beneath her claws starting to smoke a bit. When the Rose Queen enters, she only gets even angrier, and her horns look like they're starting to glow, too, which to anyone who has seen her transform before, is pretty obviously not a good sign.

[osteothropy]

Sans pushes himself up onto his haunches, a low rumbling growl going through his throat. It's his instinctive scolding of what he sees Peridot clearly working up to doing. Starting an attack is simply not an option.

Not if Peridot wants to get out of this alive.

[atouts]

Whereas Childermass suddenly has a much different worry. Sure, Peridot freaking out would suck, but Lambert has her. The arrival of the Rose Queen, however, has the magician stepping back to stand much closer to the Ringmaster now. He's already cursed, so she may not even care that he's there, but until he's sure, he'll just be... over here.

[npcarnival]

Childermass moving only seems to draw the Rose Queen's attention, as her red eyes cut towards him the moment he steps closer to his master. Her lip curls, exposing perfect teeth.

"And these... These creatures would be guilty even without their master's crimes. They have betrayed their oaths. They have broken into my home, and threatened my life. The Great Beast is a killer of fae, and she will kill again. Now, it seems clear her followers will happily aid her."

She gestures at Childermass with a hand, and looks to the Count.

"I have put my mark on this one. I will have it respected."