⇨ 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]

Strange has a new least favorite thing: people for whom magic 'just happens.' This happened with Steven as well and that irritated Strange to no end. These things don't 'just happen.' There has to be some sort of rule or pattern or something behind Susan's magic to make it work.

"Well then, how exactly is it different?"

[flashover]

[Rin looks up at Yukio, and seeing the changes in his brother seems to cause an imperceptible shift in his own appearance. Now bearing softer, younger versions of his own carnival changes, he gives a sort of sad smile on his short draconic muzzle]

... We could go back to the place. But it wouldn't... be the same.

[this feeling of warmth and belonging, it wouldn't be there.]

[kingsroads]

Strange's courtship basically entailed his wife trying to find a way to make Strange hold down a job and actually care about something other than her. While his and Arabella's courtship was fun in some regards, it was exasperating for Arabella in others.

His expression shifts slightly as Shura mentions a wager. Hell, why not? This is just a simple game. He's certain that whatever Shura wants him to wager, the thing that might be lost most is his dignity. And really, that's flown out the window a while back.

"That all depends on what the wager is. Have anything in mind?"

[flashover]

[Kuro just laughs at Shura and keeps making his way up the mountain path. He doesn't want you anyway, Shura. Damaged goods, thanks Hachiro. ]

Oh whatever, it doesn't really matter, right? If the dragon shows up early, we'll just have to move faster!

[Plan? What plan? Was there a plan? Rin was not made aware of any plan. But the screech gets his attention, and he draws his sword] Crap!

[a huge winged shadow passes over them. Kuro pulls his weapons of choice, a pair of short swords, and frizzes his tails]

Rin!! We're in trouble now, nya!

We're not in trouble! Maybe it hasn't spotted us?

[flashover]

[YAAASSSS Donkey ears!! So soft and amazing. Unfortunately, Rin doesn't have any fruit on him, but he can tell that Butcher is looking for a snack. He'll get to that in a moment.

Rin takes the bound carcasses]

Oh yeah? He's been helping Kuro and Nosh keep the Mothmen outta the goods, too. He's a good boy! Except for the... killing all the rabbits. [Rin takes them into the tent and comes back out with two native root vegetables. They have their mildly luminescent greenery attached, and the roots themselves look like a mix of a yam and a carrot, but in a bright shade of purple. He offers one to Butcher] Here you go! I dug up a bunch of these, they're really tasty.

[flashover]

[The mothmen turn to look at her. One of them uses the distraction to grab a bag of fruit from the tent and flee. Nosh growls and sends a ferocious beam of energy from her mouth at the fleeing cryptid.

That Dragon Pulse attack misses, but the blinding light is enough to send the rest of the creatures running... including the nightcrawlers. But they just trip and wiggle on the ground]

[worldlyafflictions]

"Eh, should I?"

He looks around again, some lucidness settling on him as the weirdness gets stronger and it starts to feel less logical that he'd be on a boat somewhere with Lambert of all people.

"Uh, I guess I don't actually know where I am...?"

[wild_magic]

"Um..." He has to think about that one for a long moment. It would help if he had a better understanding of how others on his world do magic, but he did go to magic school for a whole week so he definitely knows a little bit.

"So, there's just magic everywhere, in our world. And anyone can use it to do things if they learn the way to do it, but they have to learn how because I guess, they can't just like... Feel it? So they have to memorize it or pray or something." It's sort of a disjointed explanation, and he knows it, but he only has a vague grasp on how magic is supposed to work, so it's the best he can do.

"But I can just make it do what I want. Ever since I was a baby, I could do it."

[betheman]

At least there are leaves to ruffle. It's sort of like ruffling his hair. Sort of.

Most of his hair is leaves anyway at this point (that, or fur). "Auh...is that so... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, have tried...once or twice..." He trails off some as he follows Shura, finding it curiously difficult to think of the last time he made cookies.

Actually for some reason- "...Perhaps it was a cake..?" Something light and fluffy... (Or were those Pancakes???)

[stillwinningthehardway]

Scout flicks the spaded tip of her tail. "I didn't think the library was entirely safe, but this is the pattern. Maybe it'll collapse soon, but not while everyone's shifted out of the carnival."

Before the current run of misfortune, while serving out her first contract in those days when there had been more people in the Carnival, she'd heard about bad stops here and there that were followed by mellow stops. Scout doesn't really have a timeline of anything earlier than the bird stop, but she'd worked with people who'd been in the Carnival for years. Sometimes things went wrong, even before the vampires and the other fae showed up, even if that had been a smaller definition of things going wrong.

"Anyway I have my cloak of shadows, Papyrus. You don't need to worry about me," she adds wearily.

let's maybe call this dayyyy 70? assume they've been too distracted to talk

[whattaprick]

Lambert takes a moment or two to chew the mouthful he's on, swallowing before he answers.

"Not much. Going to see about getting back into shape, now that I've healed up enough to do more than nap." He hasn't, really, but he isn't going to tear any stitches or rebreak any bones here, and he's well enough to start feeling restless.

"What about you?"

[whattaprick]

Baker still doesn't seem to quite know what to make of Syrlya, but he knows what an extended hand means and he barks once before he trots over, tail wagging, to give the Sylvari a good sniffing-over. In the way that dogs do, that also means sticking his nose in all sorts of places, and it's that which Lambert walks back in on, holding two bottles.

"Looks like you're getting along with Baker." t's not faerie ale, alas, but it is his own homebrewed hooch, and the witcher passes the bottle to Syrlya before settling down with a grimace.

Sounds good o7

[hippocarnival]

"There's a lot of room to run around and do that." Climb some trees, for however long they'll be camping, he doesn't recall the Ringmaster specifying that. But he understands wanting to be active especially after extended bedrest.

"I'm doing better. I didn't really get hurt when we went to save Steven anyway, and the Kaoriyoroboki make it really easy to sleep." Maybe too easy. But it's better than sitting up because his mind won't settle.

He looks at Lambert curiously. "Actually... I think one was about you."

[seniorvicejanitor]

[ well, that was a drag. ]

So, if I had just the cards, I'd be pretty weak. I'd have to challenge a bad guy to a game of cards and hope this murdersome, awful, disgusting creature likes dumb games?

sorry for the delay

[prazerbutterfly]

I know you are but I'm going to come anyways. Just in case there is something bigger out there wanting our meal.

[Because he knows how to flatter an ego while offering reassurance at the same time. It's just something he doesn't do often. He's already walking as he points towards the treeline.] That way I don't have to run in last minute if you start screaming for help.

no worries, hope you're feeling better!

[seniorvicejanitor]

I would not scream for help.

[ he would stare wide eyed and then he'd run and then maybe he'd sceram. ]

You think I need a babysitter.

[prazerbutterfly]

His nose wrinkles at the smell. Either Ginko is smoking something cheap or it is some sort of other inhalant. Hmm, maybe he is a drugged out workaholic and the issue is worse than he thought. Or maybe it is something else entirely. His curiosity wins out, "You know, I have faerie weed if you want something stronger than whatever cheap substance you are using." Look, this is his subtle way of asking.

He snorts gently at him speaking of foxes or monkeys. Those were small enough not to be a bother unless one was particularly vicious. His tone drops to a more serious one, "What I'm asking is, do you know how to fight and would you want to learn? It's getting dangerous here. More than usual."

[betheman]

[Gongenzaka's look is absolutely dry.] Considering the chances of anyone beyond my own realm being interested in a duel, sir, I, the man Gongenzaka, would not recommend seeking out Duel Monsters as a method of combat.

Particularly since they have no interest in causing actual, physical harm.

[seniorvicejanitor]

Okay, I have to ask. I have to!

[ because he'd been wondering about it ever since meeting this guy. he has to know or he's going to go out of his head. ]

Why 'the man'? What does that mean?

the woes of phrases that just. Don't. Translate to English tbh

[betheman]

...Aah...

[And now he simply groans, and deflates a bit- ears drooping not unlike a miserable dog.] That...is 'mistranslation,' [He laments- not exactly a common matter, where the Ringmaster's magic is concerned.

But it happens!] 'Kono otoko no Gongenzaka', [He forces out, looking quite focused as he does so.] It is Japanese- a form of address meant to express humility, and equal status among others, [He continues with a nod.] ...It is also a manner of speech which I, the man Gongenzaka, was raised to respect, and speak with, so as to show respect to others around myself.

It is not...simply 'the man', [He coughs, shaking himself.] There have been enough 'jokes' about that... [He's gotten tired of said jokes.]

[whattaprick]

Supposed to be, yeah. While the Ringmaster does whatever she's doing to the Carnival back there.

[ Kicked out while mom cleans house, that's them. ]

Wouldn't get too comfortable though. We're probably heading somewhere dangerous next, so you might as well spend time getting ready for it.

[seniorvicejanitor]

[ you were such a comfort, lambert. really. such a comfort. ]

Oh.

Super.

I can't wait.

Re: the woes of phrases that just. Don't. Translate to English tbh

[seniorvicejanitor]

[ well, rhys was learning a lot today, wasn't he? too bad he'd gotten an explanation for that because he might have fallen into calling himself the man if he wasn't careful.

he can hear jack's laughter in his head and internally shushes him. he could be the man if he wanted to be! ]

We don't have anything like that where I'm from. Sir and madame and I guess mister and miss might be close but yeah, nothing exactly like that.

[ but he was from an insane planet in an insane part of space. ]

I'm not going to joke about it.

[betheman]

[This is, quite completely, more than he could have ever asked for.

If he had known what Rhys' info thing said, he would probably insist that Rhys was the cooler one now, entirely for what he's said just now. He hurriedly nods his head in gratitude, holding back a few over-emotional tears.

Not a lot of people realize that if he cries it's because he's moved, and not sad, so he's made a conscious effort to keep that under control.] ...Thank you, [he says honestly, smiling.] It means much, that you would tell me this now- you have my complete gratitude..!

[Seriously he's gotten like. Two 'manliness' t-shirts, this means the world Rhys.]

[pipers_son]

"Hey, don't-" Joker doesn't have time to answer either question, on the basis that Feathers suddenly pushes forward with a trill of offense. Immediately, his wings spread out, ready for a little hop... a big hop...

Rather ineffectually, Joker flails one arm at him and tries to edge away. "Feathers, no! I've told ya that ya don't fit anymore!"