⇨ 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

REIRA | OTA

[soft_focus]

FIRST HALF OF EVENT | OTA

[soft_focus]

[Tent Rigging (CLOSED) | D64]

They did not have very long to pack, all things considered. They were given warning of course- grab what you need, clothing for at least a week, swimsuits, etc etc...Reira personally wondered how much Reiji would even have, but it then occurred to her that he could well swim about nude if he really wanted to take a dip in the first place. The benefits of lacking legs.

The lack of legs does not deter her from gaining a keen interest in one of the tents located in the pile of supplies however, scavenged apart not unlike the many beasts in the Manor's beneath. Everyone was claiming tents, hammocks, marshmallows, sleeping-bags...it is after grabbing her own rather cute sleeping bag that she spots something noted as a 'tree tent'- and, picking that up somewhat awkwardly while her sleeping back clunks against her backpack, she looks to her brother.

"...It says it's 'stealthy'," she notes, eyes somewhat wide with interest. She's brought quite a lot with her, at least as far as she can. Clothing, her teddy, a pillow...and some more unique objects that were gifted recently, including her horn from Yuzu. Yet another gift still chills her from where it rests in her pocket, but she's not decided if she should show her brother that or not just yet. It's not important right now. What's important is...

"...It also says 'Tree'. Can you camp in a tree?" She'd like to try. That sounds Really Neat.

[Do Not Feed The Mothmen | LATE D64]

The animals here are Very Friendly. This, Reira has discovered very quickly- while the jackalopes run away from the Eagle when her dear bird is around (And for good reason, as the bird does seem rather interested in them until scolded by her owner), they quickly warm up to her when she puts a few bits of apple in her palm- though one actually tries to snatch the entire thing.

It is not until perhaps her second or third run at feeding the wildlife- at which point it's well after dark- that the jackalopes abruptly bolt however.

And it does not take very long for Reira to realize why. It is smaller than the Eagle, certainly- and strangely difficult to make out its shape despite it standing right there- but nonetheless the small flying thing cocks its head and stretches toward the apple.

"Oh...You want food too?" The 'mothman' chitters, and Reira oblidges, breaking off a piece of apple to hand over. The bird-thing takes it, and flies off...

...And is quickly back with two more. "Eh..?" Reira starts to break off more bites of apple, and the other two are quick to take their own bites. A few others also swoop down- one actually manages to sway and land on her shoulders. Reira herself is swaying a bit too, supported only by the appearance of her daemon-the-bear, and-

"Ahh-!! Hey..! I don't have that much..."

'Mot!' 'Mott! Mott!'

"Feathered Ash-ones, LEAVE US-!"

'Motmott!' 'Mot!'

They do not appear to Care, At all.

[Wind Swimming | D65 - 71 ]

"aaAAAAAAHHHH-!" There is, without a doubt, a very strange sound coming from the nearby lake. Loud, bouncing, and without a doubt belonging to a child, and-

...And it's laughter.

Reira isn't one to laugh. Her smiles, while growing more wide with courage and perhaps strength the last few days, have typically been only that. She smiles, and little else. But as one of the water-beasts gives a splash, their somewhat song-like cries are joining in with the sound as the girl finds herself launched easily into the air... "HhHHAAAHAHAHAHAH-!" ...Squealing laughter swiftly blotted out each time as she passes back into the water. She fortunately has gills- breathing it means that the light sting upon re-entry is all there ever is, and the game she seems to have gotten caught in with the local pod is far more worth it in her opinion.

In theirs, too, it seems.

Of course, swimming isn't all she's doing. While up in the air, she occasionally finds herself closing her eyes. Focusing, for those few brief seconds, on the crisp chill of the air as she passes it. Back, and forth- Strange gave her the advice after all...so surely this would help, right?

It is something that she finds herself focusing on later as well, standing at the shore-line near the water. Her hands are clenched tightly- and rather than focus on the dirt between her toes, she focuses on that chill. On the passing breeze that seems to stick to her skin and go right through all at once, on the frigid metal in her palm as she holds her small gift from Foster. Wind....wind....just like the wind...

It would be so easy, if one didn't already speak to her out in the water with the lake beasts, to simply shock her to her senses right now.

[Alice in Candyland | D67 & 68]

"We are going to be terribly late, so so terribly late-!" Reira's dream is something of a fantastical paradise. A realm of nonsense, with various bits formed of licorice and sugar string on top of that. It's a wonder nothing has started sticking- or maybe that will happen, and she hasn't thought about it. Regardless, she speaks to a rabbit wearing her brother's scarf and glasses, while she herself seems to be wearing a big blue dress.

"Late for what though?" Reira wants to know, holding a teddy bear in her arms. "I didn't make any App....'Appointments'," she decides, feeling that word must be the right one.

"Well it doesn't worry what it is! We're just going to be late is all!"

"...Oh." She supposes, maybe, that makes sense, but the appearance of someone else no doubt causes her to keep questioning. "............Do you know what we're late for?"

[WILDCARD]

[Reira will, primarily, be mucking about the whole place. Trying to befriend animals, going swimming, climbing trees...she's naturally inclined to explore the place, so one can find her doing just about anything. Most often, she'll be practicing at her magic of course- it can also be assumed she's wandered into your muse's dream, if you want! Hit me up for plotting!]

Wind Swimming

[hippocarnival]

It takes Yuya a second to recognize Reira's voice, before remembering she's the only actual kid in the carnival. But laughter really isn't a common sound from her, and he's immediately curious what's going on.

He doesn't expect large aqua wildlife playing with her, but once he gets it he grins a little himself as he makes his way to the shore.

"Hey!" He cups his hands around his mouth as he calls out before waving his hand overhead. "What are you doing?!"

[soft_focus]

"Mblf..." Trying to speak while in the water somewhat does not go very well- and it takes her a bit to swim to shore. Perhaps worryingly, this would not be a fun and happy moment if gills were not involved.

Since they are however, it's just a very clumsy trek to get nearer to where Yuuya is. "Mnh-! I was practicing for the wind magic, and then they threw me in the air..! ...So we're still doing that..!"

She says, as the lake creatures in fact pause in their efforts. She's a bit too close to shore for them now after all.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya has a careful eye on her, but she isn't struggling and the creatures don't stop her from leaving, so he doesn't worry.

He moves right to the edge of the water, putting his hands on his knees as he leans over to look at Reira.

"Wind magic, huh?" Not the shield. "What's the wind magic gonna do?"

[soft_focus]

"It's going to mean I can turn to wind," she says plainly. He may now recognize this as the exact thing she mentioned wanting to do...a while ago, before she even started working on shields with Taako. Actually, shields with Taako was meant to be a diversion back then.

(It only partly worked, as one can see)

Once she's close enough to shore that she's standing, it's easier to speak- her head above the water by virtue of height alone now, the water doesn't muffle her words. "If I can do that, then I can't be hit by things, right?"

[hippocarnival]

Still on that, huh... "Unless they have magic that lets them hit wind... or turn you back."

It's not to discourage her, but magic as far as he's seen can do anything. And they can't take for granted if something works or not.

He crouches to her level, resting his arms over his knees. "Is that what you're worried about?"

[soft_focus]

Well. To that, Reira just frowns. "....There's more chances of that not happening," she protests with a grumble, staring at the other. Good thing they're both there to swim, apparently, or that would get kinda uncomfortable after he got out of the lake- no one likes wet cargo pants.

"...I don't like being hit by things," she replies. "...But I'm not strong enough to just fight things. ...So if I'm attacked, it's easier to just run away, in a way you can't be followed, or hit."

mothmen

[pipers_son]

Out of all the mothmen gathered, there's one Reira may notice in particular, partially because it's actually noticeable. This is because all of that deep blackness has been broken up by... leaves. Dark green but brilliant leaves stick oddly to the mothman. This hasn't stopped it from participating in the theft, however...

...But the blur of orange and green which bursts out from the trees after it might.

Some of the mothmen might go scattering as Feathers chases after his quarry, his outraged hoots sounding more than a little offended. From the more ground level brush, there's the sound of mild swearing, twigs breaking, and then Joker stumbles out from them. "Feathers, I told ya we have more-! Ah, Reira!"

...Oh no, poor Reira.

[soft_focus]

Poor Reira indeed. Being swarmed by great Mothmen was already bad enough- and then she's almost swarmed by the one who's covered in leaves. Except that one- not to mention all of the rest- quickly decide that Fleeing is the wiser decision when the mass of Orange and Green tears after it.

And, you know, plows into the small child it's no longer shorter than.

As one does. "Mgpf!" FEATHERS!

...Are in her face, they sure are. (But hey, you're big enough to give a kid a hug now Feathers! Imagine that!)

[pipers_son]

Oooooh boy. Joker lunges forward, nearly tripping over either his feet or plantlife, to try and grab his overly large bird. Reira is small, but she looks even smaller compared to Feathers now.

"Reira!" The mothmen are gone, so, well, he can ignore that. But he doesn't want the poor girl to be suffocated. "Are ya alright?"

At least Feathers is a good boy, as he flaps his wings and tries to step back. WHOOPS...

[soft_focus]

"Mmnnhhg- Bleh..." GOSH. That was far too many feathers, and Reira takes some time to shake herself from that shock before turning about in order to face Joker. "Umn...I'm ok, they didn't hurt me..."

"Charcoal annoyances..!" chimes in the daemon, who has shifted itself into the form of a marbled white and black fox now.

"...they're not that annoying..." (They were)

[pipers_son]

"They were just a bother, huh?" Amused, Joker rests his hand on Feathers' head to keep him from running off again. At least the bird is trying to reach over to lift stray feathers (and leaves, and things that are apparently both) from her head.

"They've been buggin' Feathers, too. They keep stealin' his food when he's not lookin'."

[soft_focus]

"They all wanted the apple I gave one," she pouts. "...The birds thought it was nice, but they still weren't listening..."

When Joker mentions that Feathers has been losing food to them however, she finds herself handing him the remaining apple. "Umn- you should have this then," she determines. "...Since they took your things."

Wildcard

[bananaspeedrider]

A certain someone's walking up to the stealthy tree tent with some sort of mysterious book in hand that only a few people in the carnival just so happen to know about- since it's not like Yugo brags about any his belongings aside from the D-Wheel or his deck. Of course, he doesn't really expect to have an easy time finding the kid, so the teen employs Clear Wing's help in making sure that at right tent he's...

"Oii...!! Reira!!"

... Shouting with just barely contained enthusiasm for her to come out and join him in whatever he must be up to. "You up there?"

[soft_focus]

The 'stealthy' tree tent, sadly, is about as stealthy as a brick. It's green, certainly, but the trees they're tied to are strange, alien, and in some spots glowing.

...So it's not hard to locate. Which is good, because it means it isn't difficult to make out the few thinks that had to hang off the stretched out cables holding the tent up in the air- a bathing suit and a towel, respectively.

It tells Yuugo this is the right spot- just as his, erm...calling tells her that he's out there.

Soon enough, the 'door' up top is being zipped down half way so that she can peek through. ".............Yeah."

Despite being shouted somewhat to carry over the distance, it sounds just as flat and matter-of-fact as it would one foot away somehow.

[bananaspeedrider]

Upon that response he seems even more pleased, if that's even possible. Though Clear Wing doesn't look like they want to bother showing anything close to his degree of emoting. Unless there happens to be a toy the dragon can play with.

"Great! I was wondering if you wanted to come down so we can get some more use out of this."

And Yugo waves a book in his hand- which if stared at for long enough, the blank wood grained cover might be familiar and must be what he's referring to.

[soft_focus]

Reira has a bit of trouble completely understanding what Yuugo is even talking about until she sees the book he's waving around- at which point the girl blinks, rather confused.

"Umnh- your picture book?" she asks, staring. "...But I already take lots of pictures..." And after all, if she has pictures of the Good Memories already, why on earth would she need that?

[bananaspeedrider]

"Hey you never know, you might see a moment you missed... or a moment you were a part of at another angle you never would've imagined."

With all of the life experience he has himself, it's not hard to be amazed at the album's magic. Though it would be the kid's memories he's offered to have them look through so...

"But if you don't want to see what else it brings out from you, I don't have a problem with that."

[soft_focus]

"Something I missed..?" At that, she nearly falls from the tent, but catches herself- she's quite surprised either way however. "Ah...Y-You mean it makes pictures of things you forgot..!?"

"Things you can't just think about..!?"

Candyland!!

[flashover]

Rin finds himself wandering in the space between dreams. He's never really been much of a lucid dreamer, so this whole thing is new to him. He knows that Ginko and Tanyuu said to be cautious, but... he had to sleep sometime! And he might as well have some fun while he's here.

The hazy world of dreams solidifies into something colorful and sweet, the ground soft and bouncy like marshmallows. Rin plucks a gumdrop from a bush and puts it in his mouth. He doesn't taste anything, but he knows it must be sweet and tasty! It's also then that he notices he has... paws? Huh. Ok.

Well, it IS a dream. And sometimes you aren't yourself in dreams.

Then a small, but familiar voice addresses him, and he turns, pointed ears on his head moving toward the voice. Ah! It's that girl! But... since when was she the same height as him?

"Late? Uhhh... Well, I don't know... but I have a feeling it's something important. Or maybe not important at all? I mean, how can you really trust a rabbit."

To Reira, Rin, has the appearance of an large but lithe house cat standing on its hind-paws, with black fur and brilliant blue stripes and eyes to match. He seems to have more of his usual lion-poof tail, though, instead of that of a normal domestic cat. A small swirling egg-shaped-and-sized orb of blue fire hovers in front of his chest.

[soft_focus]

That almost easter-egg type heart honestly has Reira rather distracted for a bit. Too distracted actually, and rather abruptly (as often occurs in dreams) Reira is right there, tilting her head around and all over to try and look at it.

"...Why do you have a magic egg?" Reira asks, apparently not really paying attention to the conversations now. "...Is it a candy egg? Is it cooking?" she wonders, blinking at the fire.

She only now realizes that yes, there were questions she was supposed to answer. "A lot of people say you can't trust rabbits. But rabbits are still nice, and mean well, I think." Or at least, this particular rabbit did.

"...Cats are nice too though," she adds, apparently hoping she hasn't been too rude.

[flashover]

"A magic... huh?" Rin looks down, seeing his Demon's heart floating in front of his chest. Aside from being vaguely egg shaped, it also seems to have a crown on it. What a nifty little artifact. "Oh! This! This isn't an egg. It's my heart. But it's on fire, so I guess it's always cookin'! Hehehe!"

Rin waves a paw dismissively.

"Rabbits are too flighty, you know? They can't focus very long! Anyway... what were we talkin' about?"

He got really distracted there for a moment.

[soft_focus]

"We were saying you were nice," Reira says, tilting her head at the heart. "...That's probably why your heart is on the outside then," the child decides with a nod. "There was a book, and it said that nice people have their hearts on their sleeves... ...So if your heart is all the way outside, and not even on a sleeve, you must be even nicer," she determines.

"I don't know if it's a good thing to be cooking though. You're supposed to cook dead things," Reira scolds. "You should try to not be dead."

[flashover]

"Oh. Well, thank you! I think I am nice. I... try to be, as much as possible..." Somehow, that simple, childish logic makes sense, and he nods affirmatively in response.

"Ah, but it's not really cooking. It's just on fire because... it is! I'm definitely alive. Definitely."