⇨ CAMPING GROUNDS

[ringleaders]

Who: Everybody!
When: Day 64
Where: The Camping Grounds
What: While the Ringmaster attempts to purge the carnival of magical tracing spells and deal with the angry fire fae in her belly, everyone else is getting sent on an emergency camping trip with some unusual local fauna.
Warnings: Camping.

CRYPTIC CAMPGROUNDS↴ You're given about three hours to prepare, after the Ringmaster tells you her plans for the coming week. There is a vast selection of camping equipment at your disposal, and the means to take along enough food for the length of the stay. The wilderness of the planet you're left on is nearly idyllic, but some people just don't like the great outdoors. ► CRYPTOZOOLOGY: As it turns out, the carnival won't be alone here. There is a varied ecosystem of cryptids to be found as well, living in relative peace and mostly reacting to the newcomers with curiousity. More details can be found on the plotting post. You are free to NPC the cryptids as much as you need to, as long as you stick to the behaviours described. ► DREAMSHARING: There is a player plot going on which will allow characters to share dreams! These are specifically more dreams than nightmares, and the mushi-adept characters will be here to help. ► CHILLAX: There isn't any plot twist for this setting, so this is mostly an opportunity to decompress from the last plot and get ready for the future. The Ringmaster will show up occasionally to help with needed medical treatments and check on things, but won't stick around for long.

Comments

[hippocarnival]

That's enough invitation for Yuya to walk in completely, taking a walk around Victoria. He's careful, at least, not to step on anything.

Including the red jewel, that he stops in front of. That design is much more familiar, and his eyes widen before he grins.

"You're blastia, aren't you?" He kneels down to pick the red one up.

[anti_nonsense]

Rita meets Strange's gaze briefly, then looks away, her shoulders heaving and falling with an inaudible sigh of relief. With that stupid smile and his reply, she's gotten the confirmation she needed: he's himself again.

Part of her imagined she'd be throwing a punch at Strange the next time she saw his face, but looking at the state he's in now, it wouldn't be satisfying. For now...

"...Looks like you guys can handle this. I'll leave you to it," she says to the others, perhaps abruptly, before turning and walking away. They don't need any more hands to carry him to the medical tent, and anything she wants to say to him can be said later.

[soft_focus]

That at least makes it...a little easier to swallow. Even if she's slightly sore about it. Even Strange had questioned the idea, before giving her his advice after all.

So instead Reira simply nods- "Mnh...everyone seems to have problems running away when they have to," she decides. "...So if there's ways to make it easier, I want to have that at least. ...Even if it might not work," she adds, though she seems rather certain it Will.

[betheman]

The struggles of the multi-pet household. "Aaah, the pond is fairly expansive..." He blinks, looking at his pon. "Including this one.... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, have one.

"Though, I have been told that success by a certain number ensures a chance to fish for turtles instead." Exciting.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya manages to successfully not trip for once at Reira's observation, although he twitches just briefly.

Instead of dwelling on that, though, he looks up and nods to the beasts further out in the water. "Who are your new friends?"

He doesn't believe they talk or anything, but that doesn't mean Reira doesn't have things to say about them.

[hippocarnival]

"Turtles?" Yuya taps his chin. Turtles could live in the pond too, probably, but it'll definitely take more than two fish to get there.

"How many?" He leans back, holding his hands out for the pon and pot. "I can help, I'm good at this!"

Yuya is okay at this, but he's apparently extremely confident in his goldfish catching abilities in dreamland. Moreover, he wants to prove he can help Gongenzaka.

[soft_focus]

She's calling it like she sees it Yuuya. And the way she sees it is...well.

She ducks her head into the water just slightly, but when Yuuya doesn't address the matter, she lets it pass. No sense in asking about upsetting emotions. So-

"Mnh...they all live together in the water," she explains, looking from the pod to Yuuya. "They're very big, and very strong...even the babies are bigger than me," she adds, the beasts heads no doubt proving that for themselves.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya gives them a wave. "Yeah, I see that. They were playing with you, right?"

At least, that's what it looked like. The creatures probably don't have much concept of abstract magical practice.

[worldlyafflictions]

He automatically puts his hands up in a warding or placating gesture with a laugh the moment she flinches, doing his best to look harmless, only putting his hands down himself when she forces herself to relax.

He does take her answer as 'permission' to rifle through the notes though. "Compilations huh. Does seem like a good idea ta fill stuff in while we actually have a minute," he crouches down by the Silver Mirror ones first, lifting some of the pages curiously.

Tyki Mikk | OTA

[prazerbutterfly]

[Breakfast | Morning]

Anyone that knew Tyki Mikk well enough could say that he enjoyed sleeping in and lounging about whenever the mood and time presented itself. It's why it might be somewhat of a shock to note that Tyki often rose before the sun on performance week and worked hard throughout it. In a place like this without either of those factors present, he was free to get up whenever he chose to, late or early. The air was just so nice, refreshing and coarse in the morning just as much as it was in the evening, and he found himself rising a little earlier than expected for a pampered and spoiled noble.

Thanks to Rin's diligent lessons on cooking a decent breakfast, again influenced by being up at the crack of dawn with the cookhouse not open yet during performance week, Tyki had strove to at least pay attention to the basics and was in the mood to test out his progression. The luring smell of eggs and potatoes, seasoned with light salt and pepper instead of watery mush for once, might tantalize the nose of any passing stranger. He actually has an easier time at cooking over an open fire compared to a stove. He also hates how good he's gotten at peeling potatoes. It almost seems strange how neatly the campfire is placed, how controlled the fire is burning, or how evenly how everything is cooking. He's had years of practice after all of cooking outside in his hobo, his separate White Life, state with his travelling band of three friends. Of course, that's hard to see with the way he always plays the role of Lord Tyki Mikk.

So, whether it is the scent, the strange sight, or Tyki's cheerful grin etched on his face, there will be logs placed in a way that seems inviting. He'll even wave others over to come sample the breakfast, to fill the belly with food and the mind with conversation, "Come, come. Let me fix you a plate and give me your honest opinion!" It's not 5-star culinary degree but it is pretty good at this point. Also, there is coffee heated against the hot fire.

[Fishing/Swimming | All Day]

Apples were Tyki's favorite food besides fish. It's why after breakfast he'll make his way down to the water where he's set up his boat and two fishing poles. If there is something bigger lurking in the water, he doesn't seem all that bothered by it. Right now he wanted to relax with the ease of fishing. Other times, he'll dive right into the water for a bit of swim or a challenge of hand catching fish for a small workout. Unlike most in Victorian times, Tyki isn't wearing a shirt while in the water but his looser and more casual pants are rolled up to his knees. He hasn't really adapted to the swim trunks of the modern world just yet.

Without his performance water tank, he'll sometimes dip below the water for a long time. His Power to Choose helped in avoiding the water for a short time but occasionally he'll allow it to touch him, holding his breath for as long as he can in training for the more believable experience. It's refreshing and inviting.

Whether one catches him before he heads out into the water, as he's swimming or fishing, or catching him emerging from the water, he certainly doesn't mind the company.

[Stargazing | Evening]

All is peaceful at night, or as much as can be had with the carnival involved or the creatures lurking in the shadows. Before bed he'll clear the ground of rocks and obstacles and lay out a rather large blanket to comfortably lay on. It's times like this, when the world is quiet and company is scarce, when he actually misses his family. He often traveled alone when on a mission or an errand for his family.

There are snacks laid out, from ramen to chips, bagged popcorn, and other small junk food items from Wismuth. Jackalope jerky has also been smoking all day in the set up a little bit north from basic wood, long poles, and a tarp to smoke.

"I could get use to this," is the only thing he'll really say on occasion and mostly because he doesn't want to actually get use to it.

[Wildcard]

Want something else or have another prompt in mind? Come talk to me or hit me up on plurk or discord. Tyki can be found all around from lurking as himself or a cat, to dropping off dead fish to certain people, to taking Butcher for a ride, or generally taking a nap anywhere. I'm open as usual to just about anything!

Camping

[prazerbutterfly]

I'm afraid with the current mood of the Ringmaster right now that this is very much not a joke nor should you really stoke her ire.

[His voice and the fact he set down a bundle of things, including bound up pillows and a couple of blankets along with a bag of assorted snacks, is the only real indication that Tyki is there at all. He made no sound while approaching instead choosing to listen to Rhys complain as usual.]

We're here for a week or so. Who knows. May as well get comfortable.

Syrlya | OTA

[chronosynthesis]

[Day 67 | Returning]

Syrlya's disappearance from the carnival is fairly short from everyone else's perspective, though there's only one person he actually notified about leaving in the first place. He simply didn't appear at the camp site with the others until a few days later. Of course, a few days at the carnival was more like a few weeks for Syrlya, and he's more than a little disoriented when he finds himself among the tents in some strange forest and not in Tyria or the carnival proper.

He's a little evasive his first day back, bewildered, but he won't actually try to dodge anyone who comes up to him.

[Day 68+ | One with Nature]

Of course, leaving for a trip home right when the carnival was going to get locked out of the Ringmaster's realm means he doesn't have any actual camping equipment.

Which is fine! There's something comforting about the large foliage and soft glow of the forest, that reminds him much of the parts of home that don't leave him weary and traumatized. Rather than attempt to worm his way into any tents, Syrlya is instead often found moderately high in trees--a sturdy branch makes a good enough rest while he peels fruit from the trees and drops their cores carelessly to the ground below (try not to get hit). The trees he finds himself around seem especially plentiful, entirely because he encourages them to bare a little more fruit. Talking to plants has its perks.

[Wildcard]

For all miscellaneous dreams and camp adventures. A) other carnival members can find their way into his dreams, or he may walk into theirs. B) Syrlya will openly offer assistance to any carnival members who seem to be struggling to navigate the actual forest, aware that not everyone is used to roughing it in the wilderness.

[whattaprick]

"Yeah, it turns out dying is a lot of work," Lambert says, sarcastically. "Who would've thought?" He doesn't wince as Strange leans against him, though he does tense up. Celandine watches with bright gold eyes, tail lashing.

"Come on, you're well enough to talk, you're well enough to walk," he prompts, putting as much authority as he can in his voice as he shifts his grip so he's using one clawed hand to hold Strange up. "One foot in front of the other. Move it."

And provided Strange can semi-cooperate, he'll start to frog-march him to the medical tent.

evening!

[kingsroads]

It's at this point that Strange realizes well shit. He doesn't have a tent. So, he's been wandering around, looking at the various tents, trying to find someone who he can bum a blanket off of and who he can share a space with. For all of Strange's poncey upper classness, he has slept on some terrible surfaces before, most notably in the peninsula. And he's still tired enough that he thinks if he closes his eyes, he'll fall asleep.

The smell of jerky and smoked meat distracts him slightly as he wanders over towards Tyki. It's easy to spot Strange thanks to his new party trick called 'the ends of his hair are now permanently on fire'. It's less easy for Strange to spot Tyki, and he only realizes that Tyki's with the jerky smell until he's a few feet from the man.

"Ah," Strange simply remarks, as if he's surprised to see Tyki out here. "Hello there, Mister Mykk. Mind if I join you?" And without waiting for an answer, Strange sits down on the blanket as well, though he isn't laying down on it just yet.

There's something a bit different about Strange's posture. He sits up a little straighter, holds himself a little tenser, and seems like he's not relaxing as much as everybody else here. He's also wearing shorts and a loose cotton shirt, but that's mostly because Childermass is a shit and, to the best of Strange's knowledge, didn't bring him any trousers.

A

[prazerbutterfly]

It's dangerous to let one's guard down even in a place like this when it comes to the carnival. Tyki was never sure if a peaceful place like this was going to turn disastrous. May as well enjoy it now while it was possible. Yet Tyki can't help but be relaxed after a bite of his golden apple from the Ringmaster. He's a lot more mellow as a result once the high energy burned off.

It's why Rita might notice Tyki squatting down over one of her notes pinned to the ground with a rock, pouring over the information with his eye as much as he wants to pick it up. He's been known to be quiet and appear out of nowhere and with her guard down, it's even worse.

Rita was a hothead but a rather smart girl with a sharp intuition. It's no wonder he's looking at what she has to offer.

1

[prazerbutterfly]

"Well this is cozy," he says out of nowhere. Truth is, Tyki was 'floating' there in mid air, his Power to Choose rejecting the air underneath his feet and allowing him to walk on it. In his hand is a bottle of wine and two glasses. It's almost like he's had this planned for a while or something he's use to doing on a daily basis. Either way, it'll be accompanied with a cheerful expression and a sway of that bottle.

"Mind if I join you?" he asks with some impression the answer is going to be yes. If so, he's going to step on find a branch near hers, regardless if it is sturdy or not, and he'll use his power to cheat and lounge there as he pours the wine into two glasses without much hesitation.

Yuya | OTA

[hippocarnival]

[All Trip | Camptime Funtime]

Camping's not a completely foreign experience for Yuya, and he can appreciate a short time (short time) away from all modern amenities for the sake of appreciating good ol' mother nature. He'll just have to be careful of his battery life.

He's restless during their first arrival, and once he and Gongenzaka establish their own tent he wanders around the rest to offer anyone help who needs it.

The consequences of their last stop are a bit of a cloud hanging over, but as the days go on Yuya determines to make this a time to actually relax and find the good things in the carnival (and in the struggle). Throughout the week he'll invite anyone to: roasting smores on a fire, telling ghost stories, or any stories, or exploring parts of the nearby forest and ogling the animals. He also has the mind to actually grab his swimsuit before they're kicked out, and makes trips to the lake for swimming around.

[Day 66+ | In a Dream]

In a way, the Mushi are almost a relief to Yuya who struggles to sleep when he's miserable and stressed. It's some of the best rest he's had since the attacks in the Athenaeum, even when he hops from dream or dream. He's not terribly aware he's doing it, but it's happening, and he's likely to end up in anyone's head.

Or maybe it's his own dreams inviting company. To anyone wandering in, Yuya's dreams are often bright, colorful, vibrant in a way that's very reminiscent of Wismuth. A lot of it is the gently encouragement of the Mushi, but it's also simply an idealized interpretation of his experiences. Some dreams set themselves in a coastal city in modern Japan, full of sky scrapers and beach and that duel monsters game he likes to play. Others, however, are in situations very much made up and cobbled together from stories and memories.

[Day 68 | Closed to Gon and Yugo]

Everyone remembered to bring their duel disks before departing, and with Yuya in better spirits he and Yugo makes a valiant attempt at triggering the same mental synchronization as what occurred in the Friendship Cup. Far enough from the carnival to have place to use solid vision, Yuya sits to the side with Odd Eyes and watches Yugo and Gongenzaka duel, and duel... and duel... concentrating on his counterpart in some attempt to force them together. Often he looks down at Odd Eyes, expectantly waiting for the card to shine.

It doesn't. Eventually, he lets out an aggravated grumble and drops his head on his hand, slumping over. "Nothing's happening. Maybe that really was all Zarc..."

[Wildcard]

Yuya will be in a largely sulkly mood until day 67, when he'll start perking up. Anyone entering Yuya's dreams will get a unique story a la the Athenaeum, but feel free to say what kind you'd prefer!

[starseedling]

Or Lambert would be, anyway, if Steven wasn't getting in the way by coming right up to Strange and hugging his arms around his waist with a heavy sigh of relief. He laughs with just a touch of hysteria, like a pressure he's been holding onto since they were both trapped in the gardens together.

"Oh man," he says, sniffling a little. "We made it out. Both of us!"

Herbert West | OTA

[scientificist]

Camp Prep
The Ringmaster, although intelligent in other respects, has an incredibly awful concept of what counts as a vacation. Herbert, thankfully, has enough time to bring over everything he needs (medical supplies, clothing, the Noctus in its tank) but ends up placing them beside the large bag of the general tent he's been provided and digging through it with growing misery.

There are instructions included, yes, but they involve a great deal of heavy sheets, and poles, and dragging things around and laying things out and Herbert ends up aggravatedly struggling to jam some stakes into the ground before getting stuck fussing with the layout of the main tent, dragging it around over the footprint of the tent. It's hateful, and he's looking more and more wide-eyed and stressed as he goes, and the longer he's out here the more the insects are bothering him and he doesn't understand why anyone would ever enjoy this nonsense.

Herbert is a bad Canadian, probably.


The Med Tent?
Once it's finally set up, Herbert has a fairly minimalistic medical tent, but an absurdly large tent for one man. One half of the inner sleeping tent has an air mattress in it for himself and is therefore zipped closed, with the other half containing two cots and left open. There's a table folded open, with the Noctus and a pared down chemistry set, a few chairs, and other varied supplies stored as neatly as possible. There's an additional cot in the main area to serve as a sort of examination table, just in case.

Herbert is generally in the tent, with the fly netting always as zipped closed as possible to allow airflow, and prevent him from being bitten further. He's often sitting in a fabric folding chair, wings unfolded and slumped to either side of him, reading a book. At night, there are lanterns hanging from the roof of the tent he switches on until even he feels the need to sleep, at which point he shuts nearly all of the opaque curtains and doors save one of the doors, which he leaves somewhat accessible in case of emergency.


Moulting
It doesn't take too much travel to accidentally find Herbert in the forest. He's only a little bit away from the campsite, standing in front of a tree with blood streaked up the trunk of it not too far up. Herbert is contorting slightly, not particularly flexible but trying to reach his own wing. His feathers, such as they are, are various shades of grey but the blood is fairly dark and visible on them. For anyone in any way familiar with birds, it will be pretty immediately clear that Herbert's wings, charred by Ignatius' fire barrier, are not only bristling with pinfeathers, but additionally, Herbert has managed to snap a bloodfeather somehow.

"Damn idiot thing!" he hisses fervently, trying to lift his left arm up somehow, his left wing moving around as he reaches with his right arm to try and get at the bleeding tube located on the back of his wing. It's one of his secondaries, and thus more difficult to get his hands on: he can't just curve his wing around forward to get at it. Obviously, he's going to need some help. It seems to be a theme of this location.


Dream [cw: animal death unless you ask for me to exclude it]
In his dream, Herbert isn't in a forest, nor does he even have wings. Instead, you'll find yourself halfway down some stairs on the way down into a basement. It's fairly large, unfinished with small windows that have been covered up. There's various random storage on shelves around the room, a furnace, and a fridge--but most obvious is the large table set up in the centre.

A blue cloth has been thrown over it, and Herbert's general chemistry setup is laid out in the middle of it, along with various bottles and notebooks. Herbert himself is leaning over a microscope with a tray next to him that he hurriedly reaches and pulls a cloth over as soon as he hears the creak of someone's approach on the stairs.

"Dan," he says, conversationally, looking back at his microscope and absolutely not turning around, "I have a new theory you'll be glad to hear--I've solved our previous issue."

[anti_nonsense]

Fortunately, Rita doesn't mind too much if he looks through it. The first two pages are a summary Rita has written of the information found about the Mirror, while the subsequent pages are word-for-word copies of the texts their allies have found in the library.

"You might want to familiarize yourself with that, if you haven't already," Rita comments, her gaze drifting back to the notebook she's been writing in. "Could be our next stop."

[kingsroads]

As long as Steven's giving him a hug, Strange isn't moving. He's being held upright almost solely due to Lambert and Yuya so Strange isn't going to try and hug Steven back, but he does look down at Steven. That wide smile shifts to a gentle one as Strange lets himself get hugged.

Yuya and Lambert can deal for a moment. Sorry, buds!

"We made it out," Strange repeats. "After all, the carnival doesn't leave people behind."

Those few sentences were a lot more effort than Strange was expecting. He puts more weight on Lambert, shifting his position so Lambert's bearing a good portion of his weight.

Day 68 | Closed prompt

[bananaspeedrider]

[On Yugo's end throughout a series of back-to-back duels against a certain giant someone, at most he's able to luck out a single win against the impressively formidable Superheavy Samurai. "Heh. Well you got me again, you're pretty good!" Even with the intent behind doing so hanging in the background, it takes him some time to scope out that both his dragon partner and the Speedroids crash and stall upon hitting such a solid brick wall.

There's always room for a duelist to keep honing their skills anyway.

So after that many duels, Yugo's feeling just about mentally beat... and disappointed as well about not being a single step closer to syncing with Yuya. When the other makes that exasperated grumble, Yugo shifts his attention around toward him.]

Still not getting anything either huh?

[The teen pulls out Clear Wing's card after shutting his disk down to frown at it, but doesn't summon the dragon back into "pet" form yet. He did notice the dragon didn't act any differently than usual and almost wonders if both dragons are hiding something from the two of them. Was Yuya right about this whole thing being fruitless? What did Zarc have that they don't now?]

Tanyuu Karibusa | OTA

[fourthscribe]

Exploration | All trip

While others might be having trouble adjusting to wiling away spare hours with nothing but green surrounding them, this little respite is almost as good as the Summerlands for Tanyuu. The cool shade under the trees and the fresh scent of growing things is a welcome change from darkened halls filled with living words.\

(Not that she had disliked the Anatheum, but...)

She spends little time lingering around the campsite, instead taking long and winding treks through the woods. Bigfeet and Mothmen tail her curiously, but other than a few amused glances she pays them little mind. Instead her focus lays on the other sort of life here; stooping beside a paticularly colorful flowering bush, Tanyuu reaches out to inspect the iridescent leaves with one delicate claw. Haruki almost immediatley dives into the plant with happy squeaks and chirps, and Tanyuu laughs at his playful antics.

"Seems these are in quite good health, aren't they?"


Apothecary | D67-68

The vacation doesn't last long, unfortunately. With a fresh infestation cropping up, her unique services to the carnival are once again required. It's somewhat embarassing to be missing a key component to this particular type of mushi purge, but the lack is easily remedied by some foraging--and, of course, the preparation.

In the middle of her family's small circle of tents Tanyuu has set up a drying station of sorts--a smoldering fire lets off an oddly aromatic smoke while racks of carefully harvested leaves lay soaking in the low heat. By nightfall all of these will be ground to a fine powder and added to the purge mixture and a special incense to be set burning in small braziers around the campsite. Coiled up by the fire, Tanyuu works on an already dried batch with pestle and motar, seeming serene despite the minor emergency...at least, until a fresh and glowing bloom of kaoriyoroboki forces its way out of the soil nearby. Her antennae twitch, and she levels an exasperated look at the innocent-looking mushi.

"Really now."


Dreams | D66-68

In a house in the middle of a barren field of dry grasses, a young girl sits in front of a low table. Clad in a kimono with hakama and haori, she reads from a scroll that spills across the floor, looping over itself to the point that there seems to be no end to it. he room itself is dimly lit, but around her is a soft light that seems to come from no source--just enough to read by, while still giving the feeling of quiet solitude.

When the door is slid open, she blinks and looks up curiously. The text on the paper seems to react to the presence as well, shifting and moving as if anticipating something. She smiles, and gestures to a cushion on the other side of the table from her--the invitation is clear.

"Are you here to tell your story?"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya comes to an abrupt stop as Steven latches on. It is best to get Strange somewhere he can rest more stably as soon as possible, but hearing Steven's relief is enough for Yuya to relent himself, as least for a moment.

He smiles, leaning slightly in an attempt to follow Strange's weight in case he topples. He drapes his coat over his shoulder before reaching to ruffle Steven's hair, mindful of horns.

"Yeah," he agrees, and his heart feels so much lighter now than it has in days. Everything's going to be okay, for everyone. "How about we get Mr. Strange somewhere he can sit, and then you can hug him as much as you want."

He says, under the expectation Strange is not going to argue with Steven hugs.

[anti_nonsense]

"That's right!" the red-jeweled device proudly replies. "Most of us were broken before, but Rita took us in and fixed us up! Now we're a family."

Rita, still sitting with her book, pretends to ignore them, but her face flushes slightly.

"You're Rita's friend, right?" asks a blastia resembling a simple blue orb in a childish voice. "She never introduces us to her friends! It's no fair."