⇨ 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

[prazerbutterfly]

Right, right.

[Tyki makes his way out and is in fact gone for quite a while. He loves to explore and the rich setting along with the potential of the water lets him eventually sink into a lazy manner. He had stopped to help a couple of other people settle in without invading their campsite, had taken precautions to ensure their sleep was restful by acquiring a few more items like a lantern for night time and a couple of extra sleeping bags in case they wanted to cushion where they would lay. Several hours pass into the mid-afternoon when Tyki finally returns with another bundle of things for the camp along with some fireword and kindling.

He's pushing aside the dirt on the ground and laying out a few stone. The wood is set aside and the kindling is settled in the middle of the pit.] Rhys, you still here?

[Whether Rhys is or isn't there, Tyki will find him.]

[whattaprick]

Lambert just stares back at Peridot, then looks down at himself, patting his chest down.

"I don't feel very imaginary." And then, though they'd just established Peridot's relative solidness, he leans forward and taps a claw square in the center of her gem. Tak-tak.

[seniorvicejanitor]

[rhys is...still there. he'd thought about exploring but thought better of it after awhile. instead, he tucked himself in the tent and tried to go to sleep to pass the time. he'd succeeded and was currently snoozing away, tiny snores drifting out through the thin walls of the tent. ]

[prazerbutterfly]

"That I can believe," Tyki says in affirmation. He's never sure what Strange ever intends but it is always fun to go along with it anyways. He knows Strange will figure out a way around setting his pillow on fire eventually.

There he goes, running off like a child that can't wait to unwrap a present from underneath a tree on Christmas morning. He smirks gently at the scene and then turns around to alert Rhys he'll be gone for a while. Hopefully the pup won't be too frightened alone at night.

Strange might hear sliding over anything else. It's a loud crack as he passes his body through a tree and separates it from trunk and base. It's an impossibly clean cut and he lifts it upwards above his head with a minor difficulty in balancing. Really, the biggest issue is bypassing it through other trees as the branches tangle and ensnare. It almost looks like a tree is walking by itself through the forest in general. Thankfully it isn't Coco and he'll emerge with it just like that through the treeline.

It should be impossible for someone like Tyki to carry something like that. Being a Noah has its perks. He sets it down somewhere near the water. Tyki allows portions of the base to slide into his hand and into the ground so it roots itself.

"This big enough?" he remarks regardless if Strange is finished or not.

[periphrasing]

Peridot makes an indignant noise and swats his hand away with both of her own. Touching a Gem's gem: Extremely rude and invasive!

"You haven't picked up any astral projection or dream walking abilities from the Ringmaster recently, have you?" she growls suspiciously, both hands now clasped over the center of her forehead. That seems like a stretch, but if this is the real Lambert that she's dealing with, she would really like to know...

[whattaprick]

“What do you think?” Childermass answers for Lambert, contentedly keeping his arm right where it is.

Lambert’s scowl, in the meantime, only deepens, and he steps away from Childermass. The changeling watches him go with no small amusement, eyes half-lidded.

“Does it matter? How do we wake up?”

[prazerbutterfly]

[Oh, how vulnerable Rhys is right now. It's hard not to further encourage himself into bad behavior and the compulsion to tease is seated deep within his thoughts right now. He moves down into the tent without unzipping it, using his Power to Choose to pass right through the door flap without disturbing it.

It's then that he crouches down next to Rhys and pokes at his cheek lightly. He's practically hovering over him with a wide grin.] Sleeping already? Wake up, wake up~

[hippocarnival]

Probably real. He raises a brow as Lambert pulls away. He knows, so it isn't like there's anything Lambert has to hide with him.

He shrugs. "I don't know, this doesn't usually happen when I dream. And mushi always make things weird."

He turns his attention to Childermass. "Are you real?"

[seniorvicejanitor]

[ at first, rhys thinks there's a bug on his cheek and he just bats at it to get it off. but when he still feels something above him, he opens his eyes and sees tyki above him, looming.

he's not proud of what he does next: he screams. ]

You can't sneak up on someone sleeping! I was trying to get my beauty rest!

[betheman]

Mnnnh...considering his own opinions, I, the man Gongenzaka, should agree with Yuugo, [the man remarks.] After all, if it were a matter of danger, he would have to believe so himself...or at the very least realize it, aah?

[betheman]

Well as much as Yuuya asked, he's still going to grumble as he hides his.

And then, rather swiftly cram vines in his ears. "AUH-!! No!! That does not change my opinion Yuuya..!" he insists, shining red. "We are not going to look at each other's wish..!"

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya looks mildly skeptical about that, but without a clear debate he just shrugs.] I don't know. I wasn't really aware when it started happening. It was just... the next moment I was dueling with Yugo.

[He waves Odd-Eyes a little.] We got to rethink this. Any ideas what else it might be?

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's eyebrows raise up into his bangs. Gongenzaka's more traditional than he is, but it's still kind of funny watching him get so flustered about it. Yuya doesn't put the same stake in the reality of it, but he supposes he won't disrespect Gon's privacy.

"This is really serious to you, huh? That must be a really important wish if you won't risk it for anything." He grins, just a little teasing as he leans over to nudge Gon with his arm.

Then he winks. "Maybe you'l get lucky and it'll come true tonight!"

[kingsroads]

The sound of foliage getting ripped apart is enough to make Strange pause for a moment. He frowns, looks behind him, and holy shit that is Tyki Mykk literally carrying a giant tree. Strange pauses for a moment and just stares. Because again. Giant tree. It's only when Tyki asks the question that Strange returns to his magic.

"To be honest, that's bigger than I was expecting," he answers, a little bit awestruck. "I've enchanted a large enough portion of the reflection that I think the tree can fit in it, but I'm honestly not sure."

This is a literal tree. How could Tyki lift up a literal tree like it's a simple package or a sack of potatoes? Was this his Power to Choose? No this couldn't be it, having the tree not touch you would mean that it would fall to the ground, right? Besides, Tyki's touching it in the first place. As he goes through the options, Strange at least asks a question. "How do you think it would be best to get the tree in the lake to begin with?"

[prazerbutterfly]

[Tyki grins kind of wide for a moment. There was something about screams that made his day a whole lot brighter. It brings him an eerie satisfaction.]

What? Did you want me to somehow tell you I was coming in while you were sleeping? You can sleep later. I believe you said you would hunt tonight, Mister Rhys. The sooner you do, the sooner I can cook it.

[pipers_son]

Holy sweet baby jesus in his bloody manger.

Doll screams, Feathers screams, and Joker yells because what the fuck. If anyone was having a nice rested sleep, well, they sure as hell aren't now. Then again, considering what Ginko and Tanyuu have had to say about the pale white plants cropping up about the place, that's probably a good thing.

Jolting backward, Joker almost falls onto his back before remembering he has a spare hand, and uses his left to clutch at his heart. As his vision adjusts to the darkness and the ringing in his ears fades, he blinks at the sight before him. "...Doll?"

[flashover]

[so. many. horned rabbits. It's a good thing they have some other protein sources, because these suckers are lean. But super tasty, too!

Rin is in the process of washing and sorting some fruit and berries from the forest when Lambert heads his way with his little donkey-pokémon. Pokémon are so great. SO GREAT. While he's around the tent, his Flygon Nosh is curled up and snoozing, and Kuro is... somewhere. The bats a short distance away react to Lambert's presence by chittering noisily for a moment before going back to sleep.

He smiles and waves to Lambert, then walks up to pet Butcher on the head and around the ears]

Well, they're the best meat we have around here, and people seem to like 'em, so-- Wagh!! [he's just noticed how many there are!] Where did you get all these?!

[prazerbutterfly]

"Is it?" he replies gently, looking over the size of the tree in general and then down towards where Strange has started his enchantment. He activates his power to choose and begins to ascend into the air. About halfway up he'll slide his arm right through it and severe the tree where it stands. It splits from the base and he'll grab onto a branch to try to sustain it so it doesn't land on Strange itself. Only when it hits the ground with a heavy thud will he size it up.

There is now a base of the tree stuck in the ground and the other upper half is now settled against it, "That should cut it down to size." He looks up at Strange's question when he lowers himself back down to the ground, grabbing branches as he goes to ensure it doesn't tip over right away, "I could give it a push but then the water might rise for a moment." That is if the reflection didn't work how he was considering it would.

[flashover]

[HE WILL NEVER CUT BACK ON THE MANGA. He found so many mega collections at the giant library and he'd been binging on them ever since he managed to bargain for them. Shounen and shoujou, both! IT'S FUN, OK, SHURA?

Rin is dressed similarly, with a sort of samurai flair to his outfit, complete with a pair of completely ridiculous geta. Kurikara looks more like a large, curved broadsword in this dream because bigger is Cooler. Kuro is there, too, sharing in the dream himself! But he is not a cat.

Oh no, Kuro is hot.

Rin just laughs and pauses at a level spot on the trail]

You're falling behind, Shura! We have to get the treasure so we can tame the dragon and rescue the princess and live happily ever after and stuff!

[Kuro chuckles goodnaturedly, patting Rin's head. Being taller than Rin is very good.]

[steadydollypegs]

Thank god, it's just Feathers and not something else sneaking up to impale her. He's just so much bigger now, and Doll isn't quite used to it just yet, so the sudden appearance of a giant bird was rather startling all things considered. That's the only relief Doll feels at this point, though, because now Joker knows she's there.

And now what's she supposed to say?

She looks up at Feathers and he's no help of course. And she's not going to fade into thin air, unfortunately, so she either has to walk away or talk to him. Ultimately, it comes down to what she thinks will make her feel better. Doll turns around to face Joker, struggling not to start crying again and failing.

"I had a nightmare I was killed. It felt so real..."

[pipers_son]

He is trying, bless his bird heart, because her protest has him pull back with a soft confused hoot. Joker laughs, leaning around the large bird. "Ah, that's my fault. I had ta groom him a lot when he was smaller, because it'd calm him down and make him happy. So he just does it now."

Quite pleased with himself, Feathers draws his eyes into a soft squint as if confirming the words.

"At any rate, want an escort back ta camp? Just so that nothin' gets any ideas."

owo hewwo??

[flashover]

[The most outstanding thing in the darkness is Nosh, standing guard in front of the tent with her wings spread wide and growling low in her throat. All around her are... eyes. Bright red eyes and shadowy shapes, chirping ominously. There's also some strange little white pants dudes hanging out nearby.

The sounds came from her, because as one of the shadowy mothmen comes close to the tent, Nosh shrieks and grabs it in her mouth and flings it as far as she can]

[pipers_son]

It really is her... Joker pushes himself up, wings flicking and fluttering for a little more balance. As Feathers catches his breath, one wing curled against his chest, Joker takes in the situation. For the last- god, too many days than he would have liked, they've been avoiding one another. Him, because he's been trying to settle his anxiety and take in surprisingly good sleep while he's been able to calm it all down before he could even dream of talking to her. And her, well... She's been angry. He knows that. He just didn't want to get angry right back.

But she's here, now, hanging about his tent, and a part of him wonders if it actually had anything to do with him. Maybe she was just passing by, sneaking out like kids do, or going to see someone else-

She's not. Not with the look on her face as she turns to him, and sure as hell not when she says those words. Immediately, Joker pushes himself forward, voice hitting that soft comforting lull of at one that comes so easily to him when it concerns family. "Oh, Doll, s'alright. C'mere, s'alright, ya aren't dead. A nightmare is all in yer head, alright? Yer here right now."

[steadydollypegs]

Doll turns and propels herself into Joker's arms. 'All in your head' seems to not be doing much to calm her down, but maybe clinging to Joker and crying for a little bit will do that.

"It felt real!" she insists into Joker's chest, shaking and crying openly. "I was cold, I could feel how cold I was. And when, when she impaled me I was struggling to breathe, it felt-- it felt like I wasn't me, but I was!"

[pipers_son]

A good thing he was prepared for that. Joker grunts at the impact, yet stays his ground against the weight of her. He carefully adjusts his wings, folding them around himself and her for a feathery cocoon. Outside, he can feel Feathers shuffle closer, his own wings adding to it. There's not much light, that way, but that's fine. It's fine. His right arm is light enough, filling with space with a shifting pastel glow.

"Can ya feel this, Doll?" he asks, pressing the gentle warmth of his hand to her cheek.