⇨ 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

[betheman]

Hnnn... Agreed, then...

Perhaps while we rest, we can discuss what occurred during times you were 'synchronized', as it is put. There could be a clue into how we can succeed, that way.

[wild_magic]

A runt? Of course he wants to argue, since everyone always brushes him off as being a kid (and often as being even younger than he is, his half-elven heritage not helping there), but he knows that won't be a good way to convince anyone he's actually competent. So instead he bites it back, taking a moment to take a breath before responding.

"I want to be able to help the Carnival. To actually contribute, and to help make sure everyone can stay safe. Right now no one will let me. If I'm a nightrunner, I can actually help."

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya shoots Gongenzaka a flat look at he goes straight into a topic that Yuya would definitely define as 'still working, not a break at all'. But he'll still answer, as apparently the person most aware of what the hell that even was.]

Yugo didn't even realize it happened until he found a book in the Athenaeum. It just felt kind of like a dream to me, but I wasn't in control of myself at all.

[prazerbutterfly]

"So you keep mentioning. Even when we first met you mentioned how useful you are in the field. I've yet to see it." Not that he wants to mix business with pleasure right now.

"I do it because it is for my family. If that is any motivation at all. Without me doing my part my family could lose their reputation and thus any generous contributions or appraisal from anyone wishing to invite us into agreements, trades, and status. Otherwise I wouldn't bother either."

orz things have calmed down

[prazerbutterfly]

Noted. If I hear any screams I'll assume it is not you and won't come running.

[Not that he's really the type to play savior anyways. It just wasn't his style unless he was interested or had something to benefit.]

Well, if you don't you can prove me wrong.

[prazerbutterfly]

His tentacles grasp and snake upwards along the log the further it sinks in. He's using them mostly because if they get trapped he could easily de-summon them since they are mostly a subconscious spell instead of part of his body. They fold upwards near the top and when they become useless, he leans down and pushes the tree in the rest of the way.

It's an odd look and view from up above. Anything in the water usually had some movement but the tree was oddly still. He plays with his bottom lip gently as he examines it. There's a need to want to poke it but he doesn't, favoring instead a candy bon bon from his pocket and letting that drop into the water. The fish seem to be doing that all on their own as well providing him an interesting perspective.

When Strange joins him, his head tilts to the side with his usual grin, "Looks stable."

[scientificist]

Herbert hisses out a tight breath in response to the pain of Tanyuu's hand moving. This sucks and he hates it. He's not going to leave the tent again: as far as he's concerned, he is also a patient and other people are required to fetch things for him in this time of healing and moult. Closing his eyes briefly, he opens them again and nods slightly, lifting his other arm towards his face.

"Ready," he says, sounding strained, and shoves his sleeve in his mouth, breathing through his nose as evenly as he can manage.

[prazerbutterfly]

He rocks back on his heels from that straight up sitting position and plops back onto his ass with his legs crossing properly. He slaps a hand onto his knee for attention drawing alone and grins wide.

"I would never speak so ill of Mister Nines without him present," he begins with his grin widening even further, "Don't you know curiosity killed the cat? Yet the best advancements in research and study have been made on curiosity alone." Humans were always ready to sink their teeth into new and exciting ideas without worrying about the consequences.

"But since you are so perceptive, the answer is yes, I am speaking from experience."

[prazerbutterfly]

"Any good fisher, that houses that trade or hobby as a job, is usually found with kin. Their father, their son, their grandfather. Information and trade passed down from generation to generation. Taught with loving consideration. Fishing can be quite the bonding experience."

Now that the line is cast and the bait is set, Tyki leans back against the edge of the boat and props his feet up on the opposite side. "Humans adapt to their situation just as animals do. The difference is how information is processed and passed down. They improve, time and time again, until it is easier. Sturdier rods, better lines, better bait, easier techniques." Yet what was easier wasn't as fun.

[fourthscribe]

Her brow creases in sympathy, and she makes a mental note to check later if she has any herbal teas that might be helpful--or at least calming. But for now--

"One, two...three!"

She pulls the feather out with a swift, sharp tug, pulling her hands away from his wing once she does.

[scientificist]

Trying to keep his wing as still as he can, Herbert still ends up hunching both his wings and shoulders up as Tanyuu yanks out the injured feather, making a muffled and cut-off shriek into his arm. Wings are awful. If he thought there'd be a point in doing so, he'd ask the Ringmaster to undo these inconveniences. It could be worse, though. He's seen what happened to Foster when he asked specifically for changes. Better to just deal with them than potentially lose his hands.

"Mm," he hums eventually after removing his arm from his face to try and reach over and around his wing to feel for the damaged spot. Out of reach, still, even for just an investigative poke. "Does it still seem to be bleeding?" he asks eventually, still sounding slightly strained. His left wing is a throb on his back. There's blood matting his dark feathers so it's difficult to tell but it's not.

[fourthscribe]

"Let me see..."

Given permission, Tanyuu investigates the site once more, very carefully feeling around beneath the fragile feathers. Given all this trouble, the last thing she wants to do is carelessly cause even more pain.

"...it seems to have stopped, or at least slowed considerably. Difficult to tell with the old blood still there, though." She looks up at Herbert, eyebrows raising slightly. "I assume any further treatment should happen at your tent?"

Re: orz things have calmed down

[seniorvicejanitor]

You're all heart.

( rhys winces and turns towards the thick of the woods before starting forward. wasn't like he could avoid this. maybe he'd just grab some leaves and say he was becoming a vegetables. )

Don't blame me if no animals are out tonight.

[dressedtothe]

He's still not as adept at hacking human brains; it takes so long in comparison to machines. And... he's more used to being partnered up with 2B, who would cover him while he hacks the machines with more complicated attack barriers. The thought of 2B is enough to distact him just long enough for his reaction to the the ground tremour to be delayed, getting caught wrong-footed.

Stumbling, he finds himself getting kicked out of Strange's head once more. Damn it! As he quickly regains his footing, 9S folds his arms and explains in a peevish tone, "You can't focus on breaking the spell when you're busy casting something else, can you? If I can't directly stop someone from attacking us, I can probably redirect their efforts."

[prazerbutterfly]

Oh, they are out.

[After that he's quiet enough to follow behind Rhys at a reasonable distance not to be a complete creep. He's at least reaching distance if anything enough to snatch in case there was something hostile in these woods. Otherwise, his attitude comes off rather casual. He's waiting to be impressed by such a lanky man.]

[dressedtothe]

The cats sound exactly the same as they had before he interrupted their apparently riveting conversation. Not being able to understand them when Rita could sends a prick of irritation through him; he doesn't like being left out of a conversation!

But he blinks in surprise when Rita says she can't understand them anymore. "Weren't you talking with them a moment ago?"

He reaches for her hand.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

[dressedtothe]

Well, it makes sense. Of course humans would develop faster than animals; they're smarter and more capable of rapid learning.

9S doesn't get on the boat, though; he suspects he might be too heavy for that.

"A bonding experience...? You mean when they teach each other how to fish?" 9S rubs his chin. "2B and I used to talk while we fished, but I guess it's different because we didn't fish with a line or anything."

[prazerbutterfly]

"Mmhmm, usually passed down to the next of kin as a way of carrying on a legacy. There are entire hobbies centered around fishing and trips taken for fishing as well. Even in carnival I try to fish every other day when performance isn't in session. Early morning when the sun is first coming up. At home Wisely and I would often fish together. He's my nephew."

Tyki's grin turns mischievous as he looks over towards 9S. It's not hard to figure out who 2B is given how much 9S has mentioned before it was usually a solo mission or a paired one. "You mean that beautiful young woman you danced with at the Manor? Or was that someone else?" He might have been enthralled but he was certainly still paying attention.

[fortuneglass]

"Hnnn.." She looks him over a moment- still apparently not caring that Feathers may, in fact, send Joker to a chiropractor at some point. "It doesn't really count if it's his arms, don't you think? Hey, Feathers..! Feathers..!"

Oh now she tries for the bird's attentions-

[fortuneglass]

That's what camping is meant to be for after all- letting loose, having some fun, and for at lest a few nights, forgetting about the worries of the rest of the world. It's good to take that break- and with a shout of surprise and a chorus of laughter she moves up into the air with the other, giddy and giggling at the sudden shift. And then-

"HEEEH-!" They're on the ground.

There is a blinking pause, before she curls up into a fit of laughter. "Ksshfhf...HHHAHAHhaHAHA! Man, Yuusei..! For someone who doesn't think they can pull off dancing, you really had good ideas..~!" They're on the ground Carly. The ground.

[seniorvicejanitor]

( damn you, tyki.

rhys just sighs, stomps out into the woods like maybe his footfalls would scatter anything nearby and make it impossible to hunt. he knows he's said he could do this but does he actually wanna do this?

no.

under his breath, he starts saying: )

Here harmless, here here here. Come here and let me kill you.

[kingsroads]

Memorization is indeed pretty boring, but Strange would make a case that some forms of reading aren't boring. Strange is entirely in his element right now and will pretty much ramble on about magic until Susan wants the conversation to end. This man can talk for hours.

"Is Lauren's magic the same as yours? I've never seen him do any fire or transform himself into an animal the way you have."

[pipers_son]

Well, better late than never, or something. Feathers pauses from where he has one taloned foot up on Joker's pant leg and blinks over at her with a wide eyed hoo? Very gently, hoping not to get his bird's attention again, Joker leans down to try and unhook a talon.

Maybe he should have gotten a pokemon guaranteed less likely to break his spine...

[spaghettimonster]

Oh boy it sure does. They both know it. So it's a relief when 9S pushes forward with hypotheticals... instead of too-familiar particulars...

But less of a relief when those elaborations come out.

"S-So, you learned a little mind control, yourself?" It does sound like what happened in Wismuth. Forcing through somebody's will, into peoples' minds, and... changing them. He shudders, and focuses on the bottom line here. "And... You could stop people from hurting anybody?"

[bananaspeedrider]

[Yugo visibly goes into deep thought, as if racking his brains for some kind of clue. Because maybe if he could just remember something important on his own end...!]

You said it happened while I was dueling Sawatari too, yeah? We barely started in that one... and then the duel became the only thing on my mind right after I got Clear Wing out.