⇨ 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

Yuya | OTA

[hippocarnival]

[All Trip | Camptime Funtime]

Camping's not a completely foreign experience for Yuya, and he can appreciate a short time (short time) away from all modern amenities for the sake of appreciating good ol' mother nature. He'll just have to be careful of his battery life.

He's restless during their first arrival, and once he and Gongenzaka establish their own tent he wanders around the rest to offer anyone help who needs it.

The consequences of their last stop are a bit of a cloud hanging over, but as the days go on Yuya determines to make this a time to actually relax and find the good things in the carnival (and in the struggle). Throughout the week he'll invite anyone to: roasting smores on a fire, telling ghost stories, or any stories, or exploring parts of the nearby forest and ogling the animals. He also has the mind to actually grab his swimsuit before they're kicked out, and makes trips to the lake for swimming around.

[Day 66+ | In a Dream]

In a way, the Mushi are almost a relief to Yuya who struggles to sleep when he's miserable and stressed. It's some of the best rest he's had since the attacks in the Athenaeum, even when he hops from dream or dream. He's not terribly aware he's doing it, but it's happening, and he's likely to end up in anyone's head.

Or maybe it's his own dreams inviting company. To anyone wandering in, Yuya's dreams are often bright, colorful, vibrant in a way that's very reminiscent of Wismuth. A lot of it is the gently encouragement of the Mushi, but it's also simply an idealized interpretation of his experiences. Some dreams set themselves in a coastal city in modern Japan, full of sky scrapers and beach and that duel monsters game he likes to play. Others, however, are in situations very much made up and cobbled together from stories and memories.

[Day 68 | Closed to Gon and Yugo]

Everyone remembered to bring their duel disks before departing, and with Yuya in better spirits he and Yugo makes a valiant attempt at triggering the same mental synchronization as what occurred in the Friendship Cup. Far enough from the carnival to have place to use solid vision, Yuya sits to the side with Odd Eyes and watches Yugo and Gongenzaka duel, and duel... and duel... concentrating on his counterpart in some attempt to force them together. Often he looks down at Odd Eyes, expectantly waiting for the card to shine.

It doesn't. Eventually, he lets out an aggravated grumble and drops his head on his hand, slumping over. "Nothing's happening. Maybe that really was all Zarc..."

[Wildcard]

Yuya will be in a largely sulkly mood until day 67, when he'll start perking up. Anyone entering Yuya's dreams will get a unique story a la the Athenaeum, but feel free to say what kind you'd prefer!

Day 68 | Closed prompt

[bananaspeedrider]

[On Yugo's end throughout a series of back-to-back duels against a certain giant someone, at most he's able to luck out a single win against the impressively formidable Superheavy Samurai. "Heh. Well you got me again, you're pretty good!" Even with the intent behind doing so hanging in the background, it takes him some time to scope out that both his dragon partner and the Speedroids crash and stall upon hitting such a solid brick wall.

There's always room for a duelist to keep honing their skills anyway.

So after that many duels, Yugo's feeling just about mentally beat... and disappointed as well about not being a single step closer to syncing with Yuya. When the other makes that exasperated grumble, Yugo shifts his attention around toward him.]

Still not getting anything either huh?

[The teen pulls out Clear Wing's card after shutting his disk down to frown at it, but doesn't summon the dragon back into "pet" form yet. He did notice the dragon didn't act any differently than usual and almost wonders if both dragons are hiding something from the two of them. Was Yuya right about this whole thing being fruitless? What did Zarc have that they don't now?]

[betheman]

[Gongenzaka, suffice to say, is rather exhausted. After numerous duels, it's hard not to be. He stands, remaining steadfast of course- but he is tired, and rather exhausted, and very audibly panting.

Tongue and everything, in fact- being covered with fur makes sweating a challenge.] Hhahh...hahhh...there is...hah...still nothing then..hah..? [he manages, voice sounding fairly awkward when cut apart with breaths.]

[hippocarnival]

No. [Yuya frowns, glancing between them before grabbing one of the water bottles he brought from the cook tent and tossing it to Gongenzaka.]

Odd-Eyes always shined before it happened, but maybe it really was Zarc? [That the dragons shared their power with Zarc in a way that they aren't with Yuya and Yugo, now.

Maybe they're just being stubborn.] Maybe it's because you're not in trouble this time? You would've been sent underground if you lost in the Friendship Cup.

[bananaspeedrider]

I wasn't in that much trouble.

[Saying so may or may not be considered rude as far as the dragon's are concerned, but naturally Yugo's going to defend his own skill as a duelist.]

Course, there's no way for us to know if that idea's on the right track without giving anyone another heart attack.

[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?

[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?

[bananaspeedrider]

My ideas started and stopped at trying to duel and have our dragons do the rest. Guess we gotta find our own way of doing things if you're still down with this.

[Looking toward Gon for what should totally be obvious reasons-]

Hey Gongenzaka, maybe you have some ideas? You seem like the kind of guy who'd naturally be into this kind of stuff!

[betheman]

Hmn.... [For a moment, he seems to seriously be thinking things over in silence. At least, until he's called out directly.] MNH!?

What is that meant to mean..!? [He protests hurriedly.] To speak with Creation is not the same as linking thoughts with another..!!

Dreams

[textsfromhotland]

Yuya isn't the only one dreaming of Wismuth, which is how Alphys lands herself here without realizing she's invading. She flies in between skyscrapers on her staff until she spies the coast in the distance and zooms off towards it.

"I didn't think I'd g-get to see the ocean again this soon!"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya cranes his neck up from where he's leaning against a railing, squinting for the source of the sound. What was her name--oh.

"Alphys?" He stumbles a little in saying it, trying to remember, before raising his hand up to get her attention.

[textsfromhotland]

"Huh? Oh hey!" Alphys waves back. "Yuya, right? Did you come to look at the ocean, too? It's r-really something, huh?"

She doesn't seem at all aware that this isn't her own dream.

[hippocarnival]

"I guess so?" He probably wasn't going to come just to look at it. He doesn't feel worried enough to need to sit and think, so staying still doesn't seem like him.

"Or maybe I'll go shake around the walk. I bet the vendors are out."

He doesn't as impressed with the ocean itself.

[textsfromhotland]

"Oooh, you mean like, a walk on the boardwalk?" Alphys' eyes light up. "I've never done that before!"

She lands next to him and disappears her staff. "I w-wonder if there's any good food stalls!"

[hippocarnival]

"There was last time." But that might depend what day it is, too. Still, Yuya figures it can't hurt to go look. He leans off the railing. "Why don't we check it out?"

Yuya had luckily spent the time before performances exploring, so he has a pretty good memory of Wismuth. The parts he can't remember get filled with the closest alternatives he can remember from his home, being a coastal city as well.

Closed to Lambert

[hippocarnival]

Yuya doesn't notice the actual dream merging. One moment, the rail he's sitting on is overlooking the shore of his home city, the street bustling behind him, and the next half of Portland has been haphazardly meshed into it (including the cat cafe) and half the beach is rocks. The languages seem to alternate between English and Japanese depending on whose memory they're drawing from, and there's a lot of advertisements for some card game Lambert won't recognize alongside Portland's most popular movies at the time they left. Whatever he was initially doing roaming the streets if Portland, it seems to derail in finding Yuya.

Dream logic determines this is normal, so Yuya keeps popping crispy rice shrimp and seaweed flavored snacks into his mouth, glancing back briefly in some sort of sense that Lambert is approaching. His grin widens and he waves, holding the bag out in offering. "Hey! No work today?"

Because Lambert still works at that cat cafe, right...?

[whattaprick]

Lambert doesn't dream of Portland much, but in the way of dreams, he doesn't really question where he is or what he's doing there. He looks like the version of himself in Portland that Yuya recalls, sensible no-nonsense glasses and close-cropped hair, a twenty-five-year old artificially aged by the severity in his expression.

"I always have work," he corrects Yuya, with faint reproof. He has a life beyond the cat cafe, after all. There's a book tucked under his arm, and he's got a bookbag on his shoulder, obviously planning to head somewhere ... or coming back from somewhere. The dream makes it hard to tell. Lambert looks dubiously at the snack Yuya offers him, but hesitantly accepts, bringing it to his mouth with much more restraint than Yuya.

"Shouldn't you be in school?" That's the sort of thing kids Yuya's age do, right?

[hippocarnival]

Yuya makes a disagreeable face, turning back to the water as he shoves more snacks into his mouth. He doesn't want to have to deal with school in his dream, so he comes up with the most immediate and obvious excuse that isn't skipping class.

"It's Sunday." Not 'I'm currently on the run with an interdimensional carnival', no. It's Sunday.

Regardless, Yuya gestures right to all the books he's holding. "What's that?"

[whattaprick]

"This? " Now that Yuya's pointed it out, the book that was in Lambert's hand shifts from illegibility to being in focus.

"It's something for my thesis." He holds it up so Yuya can read the title: On the Breaking of Fairy Curses.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya grips the rail firmly to balance himself as he leans over to look at the cover. "Fairy curses... so your thesis is to help Childermass and Mr. Strange?"

Yuya looks up with a wide grin. That's really sweet, actually. He approves. "But if Mr. Strange lets the Ringmaster break it, we only have to worry about Childermass."

[whattaprick]

Lambert’s brow furrows a little. Was that what his thesis was about? Yuya seems certain, so it must be true. He adjusts his glasses and peers at Yuya over them.

“That’s a big ‘only,’” he says. “But if we can’t figure it out, he’ll never be able to go home again. So I have to try.”

[hippocarnival]

That makes Yuya pause, his expression slipping.

"What do you mean he'll never be able to go home?" Yuya furrows his brow, thinking back. That's not specifically what the curse was about, was it...? "Is the curse stopping him?"

[whattaprick]

“The Queen could find him,” Lambert says blinking. “His father could find him. And then England would be in danger, and everything he’s ever worked for.”

Lambert clutches the book tight. The title seems to shift before their eyes again: The Queen’s Miracles.

“Stupid idiot didn’t get himself protected when he asked for protection for Steven and Strange. Maybe we just need to ask the Starlight again.”

dream big shrug

[mylastchance]

Yuya might recognize Lauren in his dream tonight, where he stands with his carnival changes green skin and all. Even still, the people standing nearest Lauren are a mystery., one a tall thin dark haired dark skinned elven woman, the other an old balding white bearded man. The man is dressed in a long robe, and the woman in an old fashioned dress, both seem very interested in whatever Lauren is saying.

"So it's both plant and animal." says the old man, astounded. He's bent over and looking at a fox shaped from vines. The bounsweet Lauren calls Holly sits in the woman's arms looking content.

"She's so cute, I could just eat her up!" at those words the bounsweet starts to panic, flailing the woman's grip. Lauren is eager to rescue the pokemon from her.

"Nana! Don't say things like that, you'll scare her!"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya blinks slowly as all these people are present in front of him. He definitely only recognizes Lauren of the group. Maybe that's his family?

He glances around, not necessarily wanting to interrupt their moment butat yet. Instead he's taking in the scenery, gauging where he is.