⇨ 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

[kingsroads]

"You're welcome," Strange simply responds. And it's this song's turn to come to a close as he steps back and gives Carly a little nod, followed almost instantly by a sheepish smile.

"I don't know how to wake someone up from a dream," Strange admits. "The last time someone intruded on my dream, I yelled at him until he woke up. Perhaps we should just continue dancing until one of us wakes up instead?"

Strange might not pick up on some social cues and he might be dumb as a bag of hammers, but even he knows that you don't yell at people after a heartfelt conversation.

[wild_magic]

Susan easily lands with his lion reflexes, turning with his tail swishing behind him. But like this he can't think as well, only able to use his lion senses and instincts and thinking instead, and so he doesn't know exactly what just happened, only that he's disappeared. He sniffs the air, trying to track his "prey", but all that he can smell is the smoke. He could change back but it would be a waste of a spell, and so for now he stays a mountain lion, stalking the area to try and find him.

[wild_magic]

Books and writings aren't something that Susan knows a lot about, but he still thinks it's a pretty impressive amount of notes and stuff from just one person. He looks back to all of the stacks before back to Rita with a grin.

"Wow... This must have taken you forever." It would for him, at least.

[atouts]

"Yes, well, our Nightrider is far more emotional than some other people," is what Childermass has to say to that, which is to say that Lambert is a massive sap. He does have to give Strange a bit of a sideways look at what else he has to say, though. Be gentle? Really?

"And gentle doesn't typically figure into it..." Even if that's hardly true, although he does suspect Strange means emotionally gentle. "Not that you stand much to suggest anything of the like. It sounds as if you've traded Lambert in for a High Fae as a friend."

[kingsroads]

Well that lovely moment lasted all of fifteen seconds. Strange goes from mildly hopeful that this conversation can finish without any more yelling to utterly annoyed that nope, this conversation is going to have more yelling.

"It's not my fault Lambert's an ass," Strange grumbles, as he looks away from Childermass. Because their dumb fight was a good 2/3 Lambert's fault and that's the story Strange is sticking with. "Are you even interested in my opinion on the matter or do you just want to scold me for my terrible choices?"

[atouts]

"You're both an ass."

No one else in this entire carnival can even disagree with Childermass on that, just try and find someone. That said, Childermass also isn't so single-minded about this disaster that he won't give Strange his chance. He sits up straighter and looks expectantly at the other magician.

"I would like to hear it, actually," he says. Without the entire carnival trying to argue over a radio channel, it might be easier. "Because I am well aware of what the court fae do to those they take and I've yet to meet one willing to defend their master."

[kingsroads]

Strange is still a bit worried that this is all going to explode on him, but if Childermass wants to listen, then Strange will talk.

"After we made the bargain, he turned me to ash and reformed me in the Rose Queen's gardens. And then for ten or so minutes, we talked. He explained to me why the Summer Court was looking for the Ringmaster in the first place—something which, if I'm remembering correctly what everyone told me, the Ringmaster only confirmed after the Courts told everybody that."

What with being brainwashed and dying and then getting into so many dumb fights, Strange hasn't had enough time to be as angry about that as he should. At least Ignatius was open enough with him to tell Strange one of the reasons why the carnival was pursuing the Ringmaster. If the courts hadn't shown up, she might not have ever told them.

"Yes, he enthralled me. And yes, there were aspects of my stay with him that I'd rather not relive. But I don't think he did them out of some sadistic pleasure." He's trying to keep his tone as deliberately neutral as possible, but a little bit of disbelief slips through anyway. Considering that the vast majority of the fae they've encountered seem to be assholes for the sake of being assholes, the fact that Ignatius was even slightly decent left a huge impression on Strange.

[atouts]

"That she killed the Winter Queen? Yes, that is common knowledge by now," Childermass says and he could add a few points, but that isn't what they're focusing on right now or, at least, it isn't what he's focusing on. Ignatius isn't sadistic. So that he isn't as awful as Nightshade makes him somehow better?

He doesn't scoff, so there's that.

"I see." There's a pause, ever so slight, before he adds, "Did you know the Count rescued the three sisters? The ones from Portland. Swept them away from their terrible lives. At least, that is how they would tell it."

His three sisters, technically, but it grates on him to claim even that much.

[whattaprick]

Wait, what? That actually makes Lambert stop walking, turning slowly to round on Syrlya and stare at him for a long moment, considering.

And then: "This is the kind of story that's going to need a lot of drinks, isn't it?"

[whattaprick]

Lambert's expression twists even more.

"Visiting, huh? Doesn't seem like the sort of thing you'd need a changeling around for. What was he doing, making sure you got your exercise? Give the Rose Queen's kid a playmate? How thoughtful. Guess he really is as nice as Strange seems to think he is."

He is, of course, being utterly sarcastic.

[kingsroads]

Strange doesn't know why Childermass is shifting the conversation away from Ignatius. However, considering that this sounds like an easy way to shift to 'and then the Count fucked them over just like how Ignatius will fuck you over,' Strange is almost instantly wary. He doesn't know where this is going, but he knows he probably won't like it.

"I didn't," he answers. "The Jonathan Strange of Portland wasn't too keen on learning about your childhood."

Like, this much is obvious, Childermass. Of course he didn't know that, Portland Strange was a douche.

[kingsroads]

It's a very boring standoff for a few moments before Strange turns human and solid, a few feet from Susan. He doesn't know how well or how fast a mountain lion can move: he probably hasn't seen one actually move in the first place, just a taxidermied one. So, he's working on best guesses here.

The mountain lion looks like it has good enough reflexes, so Strange doesn't try the rumble the earth trick again. Instead, he calls back the wind and gestures for a gust of it to shoot in Susan's direction. And again, Strange doesn't know how strong a mountain lion actually is, so he's pulling his punches even more. The wind is strong, but Susan can certainly push through it.

[atouts]

"And all in all, I suppose their lives under his command weren't all that terrible, though plenty of my memories of those days are a little hazy, I do admit."

It could easily go that way, but Childermass knows that, too. This is a delicate topic and he'll need to choose what he says a little more wisely than what's been said before, in anger. He's still upset. He's worried. None of that really seems to matter to Strange.

"Provided they never disagreed with him, of course. He required loyalty above all else." Because seriously, who cares whatever else the kids get up to so long as they do what they're told. "Now, the Count is no Ignatius, that much I know. Even the Ringmaster feels that way, that Ignatius is, at least, honorable, but as far as being sadistic goes? The Count isn't, either. That man never does anything without a purpose and 'for pleasure' doesn't factor into it. Knowing that, should it change how I feel about him?"

[kingsroads]

Strange is still on the defensive, like he expects the conversation to go south or for Childermass to start berating him for his choices. He's tense, and listens to Childermass's explanation with a frown. He understands what Childermass is trying to do. Not being sadistic isn't enough for most people to make a defense of someone, it's just a basic measure of human decency.

"I am not trying to discredit your feelings towards the Count," Strange carefully starts, "but what was he like to your sisters? Were they just tools for him to use? Or did he actually care about them? And I am not saying Ignatius cares about me," Strange quickly interjects, before any assumptions can be made, "but we got along well enough before I was enthralled."

Almost under his breath, while looking off to the side, Strange admits, "He said he respected my choices."

[atouts]

It really does come down to that. 'He didn't brutalize me as badly as this other one' isn't a very solid defense.

"I doubt that man is capable of caring about anyone," Childermass answers, "But if you needlessly break your tools, what's the use of having them in the first place? He invested time in all of us, but no, not out of care. If you did well, you were rewarded. If you did poorly, punished."

And that 'he respected my choices' is Strange's next defense does bring a scowl to Childermass's face, but he'll smooth it away, lest the man think he's judging him (even if he is, he really is).

"He's a general, Strange. He needs to be able to command troops and their loyalty to get his job done. Of course you got along well. Considering he got a new toy soldier out of this whole mess, that may have been the high point of his day."

[dressedtothe]

9S waits for Rita's breathing to draw slow and relaxed as she slips away into sleep. He resists the urge to brush the hair away from her face or grasping her hand -- Would that wake her? He's not sure -- and settles for getting started instead, the usual ring of light appearing around his wrist.

Pod 153 is still activated, a precaution in case something goes awry.

He doesn't know what to expect, not really, but he's not afraid as he hacks Rita and sends his consciousness into her head...

[kingsroads]

It's not a solid defense, but it's one of the few attempts at a defense Strange has. He knows that 'I've got a different feeling about him than the other fae' and 'just trust me, okay' are shitty defenses and yet Strange is worried that he's going to have to fall back on those.

"This all would have been different if Lambert didn't almost kill the man," Strange grumbles, more for the sake of grumbling than anything else. Because as much as Strange wishes they could, they can't go back and change Lambert's dumbass decision.

"Why are you asking me these things to begin with?" he snaps. "I know I made a mistake. If I had the means to, I'd go back and stop myself from making that agreement. And I realize that Ignatius enthralled me to the point where I almost killed Lambert—I'm not defending that! But you said yourself, he's a general. And all the things he did to me were simply the result of Ignatius acting like one."

[prazerbutterfly]

"Then would it work further out?" he asks with some thought into all of this while still taking in exactly what part of the lake Strange might have already prepped. The water is still enough for now but he was right, that could change any minute.

There's a flood of magic at his back as two long tentacles emerge with practiced ease. Strange will notice them much longer and thicker than before. They grasp around the trunk of the tree for stabilization as he turns it ever so slightly to angle it towards the water. They are listening to him without any hint of resistance. Even the spines flex to grasp and grip at the bark. "What's wrong? Don't want to trapeze across it while it is sinking into your reflection?" He looks down at the edge of the water and starts to walk into it, except he doesn't, instead walking on top of it.

oh papyrus you sweet summer child...

[dressedtothe]

Whoa! He wasn't expecting Papyrus to get it, especially after his initial tangent. Papyrus has never struck him as particularly intelligent, though the skeleton is certainly well meaning enough.

"Yeah, actually. Hacking lets me get through firewalls. People don't have firewalls in the digital sense." 9S waves a hand as he continues. "But people have wills, the capacity for autonomy. So for you biological beings, your will serves as one component of your firewall. If you don't have any other defences, " like Strange and his spellbreaking, "then that's the only protection you have."

And it isn't enough.

[atouts]

"Can you blame us for being worried? You're defending a man who considers you to be property," Childermass says, shrugging as he does. "Those who remember how that feels are going to be wary of that, even angry to hear it. Every time someone speaks poorly of Ignatius, you're there to pick a fight. It's not natural, Strange. He barely had you for two days."

[prazerbutterfly]

Good man. I'll be expecting a decent show.

[He says with every bit of intention of implying that he was in fact coming with Rhys to watch this fiasco. Not to mention, he wasn't going to let Rhys come back empty-handed simply because he did intend on eating more than berries or the rubbish that laid around.]

You lead and I'll follow. I'll stay back if I have to in order to keep out of the way.

[kingsroads]

"He considers me to be a soldier," Strange rebuts, even if he's not entirely certain that's true. He'll have to ask Ignatius about that and, well, who knows if he'll get that chance.

"And I'm defending a man who was tortured. Aside from a few exceptions, it seems a lot of the carnival is fine with that fact."

There's no comment on the two days thing. Strange is still trying to figure out how to reconcile his awful training montage spirit quest that seemed like it went on for an eternity with the fact that at most, it probably went on for a few hours. And Lord knows if he mentions said awful training montage spirit quest, it could be another point for Childermass and the rest to press him on.

[chronosynthesis]

"So use that regret to drive you to do better the next time. Better yourself." There's no judgement when he says it. He knows he's made his share of mistakes, made more. It's a balance between not letting them hold him back and not forgetting him, and he's found making them productive is better than dwelling.

Syrlya's already told Strange where he thinks he went wrong. Maybe he'll take it to heart (maybe he'l jusy be convinced to let someone else suffer instead).

[chronosynthesis]

"I will try not to drain your supply." Mostly because he really shouldn't drink himself into a stupor, even if he kind of wants to.

[chronosynthesis]

"I hope so." He hasn't actually been present enough to gauge if it is, but this is probably more for the Ringmaster's benefit anyway.

He grabs the branch to swing himself down, closer to the ground before landing opposite of Hinawa. "Do they still have you feeding everyone?"