lostcarnival | ⇨ CAMPING GROUNDS

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⇨ CAMPING GROUNDS

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.

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Surprising no one, Strange is already getting close to yelling. Because Lambert doesn't want to be responsible for him? Oh that excuse is bullshit and Strange has had twenty four or so hours of mulling over Lambert's actions in the Athenaeum to figure out a theory as to just how bullshit it is. He's also had twenty four hours or so of Childermass, Rita, Gongenzaka, Syrlya, and numerous others chastising him for his actions so honestly? Strange is about to reach his boiling point. His fists are clenched, and Strange is literally steaming with anger.

"Don't lie to me," he hisses, as he jabs Lambert's chest with a clawed finger. "I know exactly why you want me off the team and it's the same reason why Zangetsu had to kill me and why you kissed me in the Athenaeum. You want me off the team because you don't want to see me hurt because you're in love with me."

At this point, the hand that isn't pointed in Lambert's direction spontaneously lights itself on fire. Strange 100% doesn't notice it and instead keeps yelling. "Not being a nightrider doesn't keep people safe, you know!"

Lambert’s about to come up with a response to that, he really is, and probably at volume too — just because Strange doesn’t like his reasons doesn’t mean they’re not his reasons, and if Strange doesn’t get that finger out his chest Lambert is going to bite it off — but then the magician comes out with, well, that, and it completely derails his train of thought.

For a pregnant moment or two, Lambert can only stare at Strange, not even hearing what he says next, brow knitting in perplexment. He can’t be serious. Then the witcher gets a good look at his face.

He is absolutely serious.

It’s that realization, more than anything else, that finally makes Lambert crack. Butcher takes a step back as the witcher suddenly doubles over in loud, raucous laughter that echoes around the clearing and spooks more than a handful of the local wildlife.

After about fifteen seconds of this, it’s plain that Lambert isn’t about to stop, even as his stomach hitches painfully and his eyes start to water, coming dangerously close to falling backwards.

This is only serving to make Strange angrier and angrier which means that he's setting more and more of himself on fire: a fun trick that he didn't know he could do until right now. Both fists are on fire and the fire in Strange's hair is slowly making it's way past the tips to set the rest of his head on fire.

Why's Lambert laughing?! This isn't funny! Strange has an entire list of reasons why Lambert was in love with him, starting with 'that conversation where Lambert literally asked Strange if he was fine with men dating other men', with 'that other conversation where Lambert said he fancied someone in the carnival' in the middle, and ending with 'Lambert outright kissing Strange.' This makes sense! And yet Lambert is laughing?

By the time second fifteen or so has rolled around, Strange has decided this has gone on long enough. With a gesture of his hand, the ground under Lambert's feet buckles and shifts. If Strange has his way, this'll knock the witcher on his ass. But if Lambert manages to remain upright, it should at least give him enough of a shock to stop laughing at him.

Strange, you asshole, your best friend (though it’s admittedly questionable if Lambert deserves the title at the moment) has a concussion. Defenseless as he is, Lambert can only yelp in alarm through laughter as he’s turned over and he falls onto his back, ankles still hooked over the log he was sitting on. At least the laughter seems to be dying down (with a wince, as he holds a hand to his stomach), but otherwise Lambert’s left grinning like a moron at the sky.

“And how,” he manages, finally, around gasps. “Did you come up with that?”

Sure, sure, Shima had also asked as much, but Shima also doesn’t know him as well as Strange theoretically should. Childermass was right, the man is impossibly thick.

That concussion is 100% Lambert's own damn fault, no mercy here. Strange is still seething, still intensely on fire, and still giving Lambert nothing but death glares. Just own up to it, you coward! Let him let you down gracefully, he'd be good at that! He's halfway through muttering a different spell when Lambert speaks and Strange cuts himself off.

Lambert's spared being drenched...for now, at least. Jury's still out on if this would last through the next five minutes.

"I'm certain you asked me about England's and my own tolerance of same sex relationships when I was high out of my mind for a reason. It must have been terribly inconvenient to you that I remembered the conversation. Add in the fact that you have a crush on someone at the carnival, that you'd take on a contract for my benefit, that you'd willingly settle in England despite giving off every impression that you loathe it, and that you kissed me, it makes the choice obvious."

There's an implied tone of 'you dipshit' throughout Strange's summation, as if he's pointing out to a child something intensely obvious. Because, at least in Strange's mind, this is intensely obvious. And that's just a few points! He can come up with more, he's got plenty of ammo and way too much egotism!

The witcher listens to all the reasons the magician is listing off with a moronic grin on his face. He can’t help it — he gets how Strange could have come to that conclusion, but that’s only because Strange is apparently incapable of seeing anything that doesn’t directly involve him. Lambert’s still incredibly pissed at Strange, but that doesn’t make how incredibly off the mark the supposedly intelligent magician is any less hilarious.

“Strange,” Lambert enunciates, slowly. “I’m not in love with you.”

The ‘you fucking moron’ may not be outright stated, but it sure is implied by his tone. And since everyone else, Childermass included, seems capable of picking up on it without Lambert ever saying it, he might as well put Strange out of his misery.

“I’m in love with Childermass.”

Strange's face goes through the whole range of expressions in ten or so seconds as he just gapes. Confused as to why Childermass, puzzlement as Strange puts together some of the pieces as to 'why Childermass', anger as Strange realizes that Lambert and Childermass must have been seeing each other for MONTHS without keeping him in the loop.

Those were not moon sleepovers.

He's intensely happy that Lambert has someone he loves and must be in a happy relationship if it's been going this long. This does not negate the fact that Jonathan Strange is going to murder Lambert in his sleep that he's gone for so long without knowing this and that he's made a damn fool of himself trying to set Lambert up with people despite the fact that he was already taken.

"You ass!" Strange yells, as he swings a punch at Lambert's face with a hand that is currently on fire. Whoops.

Lambert might be prone on the ground and his ribs complaining at every movement, but he’s not entirely helpless. A flick of his fingers brings a shield up for Strange’s flaming hand to crash into, and his tail whips out to grab a leg and try to yank him off balance, hoping to send him tumbling into the dirt beside Lambert.

Surprising everyone, Strange's reflexes leveled up a smidge during Iggy's training from hell. His hand connects with the shield with a small thud: after all, there's not much he can do there. But as Lambert's tail whips out, Strange turns himself into smoke. He floats to Lambert's side, away from the shield, resolidifies, then tries to kick Lambert in the ribs instead.

In Strange's defense, he has absolutely no idea that it's the ribs specifically that are busted to hell and back.

Lambert manages to put up an arm to shield his ribs and catch the blow, thankfully, but that absolutely isn’t changing the fact that he has to move quickly to do it and he hisses sharply, going pale as he grits his teeth.

Butcher, who’s been watching the proceedings with some confusion, immediately perks up alertly, pivoting to deliver a kick at the magician with rock-steady legs.

And the MVP of this fight goes to Butcher. The Pokemon's hooves connect with the back of Strange's leg. He falls to the ground, smack down in the dirt, partly on top of Lambert. Thankfully, Strange's hands and head aren't as flammable now so nothing's set on fire. There's a second or so where it looks like he's going to try and punch Lambert again before common sense and a healthy fear of being kicked in the head pop up.

So, Strange just scowls, like this is still all Lambert's fault and he's a complete moron (because it is and he is!!!)

"You should have told me," Strange grumbles, as he moves off of Lambert. "I thought we were friends."

“What part of ‘kicked across an arena’ did you miss?” Lambert wheezes, shoving Strange ... and spitefully extinguishing his hair with a wave of the hand and a puff of wind for good measure. Butcher looks like he’s getting ready to wind up again, but a gesture from the witcher makes him settle, prancing in place.

“We are friends, for some reason,” Lambert says tiredly. “He didn’t know how you’d take it, so he asked me not to say anything the first time we slept together. Then...”

Lambert trails off.

Strange's hair remains extinguished for all of two seconds. Then, it relights itself again. Strange doesn't bother getting up. Instead, he flops down on the ground next to Lambert, sulking still and staying out of range of Butcher.

"So I didn't know at first because Childermass is an idiot and you're a pushover." Guess what! He's still mad! "But there was still plenty of time for you to have told me afterwards."

Lambert’s quiet for a long moment, claws tracing the dirt beside him.

“I didn’t tell you because it was just sex, Strange,” he says, flushing slowly. There is no ‘just sex’ with Childermass, not anymore, and in retrospect it was obvious it hadn’t been 'just sex’ for a while.

“It took me a while to figure out.”

Just sex. If it was just sex, then Lambert wouldn't be blushing so much. If it was just sex, then Lambert wouldn't have asked Strange about England's attitude towards these sorts of things. His anger's abiding slightly as he looks over at Lambert with a frown, watching him as Strange pieces together a few more things.

"Have you ever been in love before this?" It's a question that comes out of nowhere, but it's important for Strange to ask. After all, here's Lambert, the man who prides himself on being a killer, who's said that most people view witchers as freaks, who's come from a world that seems intent on kicking him in the face whenever possible. It's a valid question and Strange is so worried that he knows what the answer is.

Ugh, he just had to ask that, didn’t he? Hopefully Strange is getting all his satisfaction out of making Lambert squirm (not literally, since that hurts) as he puts his arm over his face, muttering mutinously but honestly:

“No. Not like this.”

Edited 2018-06-14 02:17 (UTC)

And for like the first time during this whole conversation, Strange smiles. Trying to navigate awkward feelings, nights of thinking about that person, simply enjoying their company, finding that moment when you realize that you'll do so many stupid things for this person if it'll just make them laugh or make them smile? Been there, done that.

"Want any tips?"

“How to get rid of a True Fae’s curse would be a start.”

Yeah, sorry Strange, Lambert wasn’t going to let both of them wallow in the mush for too long. The witcher sighs.

“Don’t suppose that’s anything you learned about while you were with Ignatius, did you?”

Look, he’s trying to look on the bright side of this.

Strange shakes his head, realizes that since they're both lying in the dirt it might be hard for Lambert to see that, then clarifies. "No, it wasn't. I mostly learned new and exciting ways to kill people."

There's no venom in his tone as he describes Ignatius. It's just said in a matter of fact tone of voice, like he's describing a particularly boring movie he saw. Though, the fact that they're discussing Ignatius means that they're inevitably going to end up with more yelling. Can't they go back to the mushy stuff?

He pauses for a moment before continuing. "He told me about the Ringmaster and how she killed the Winter Queen."

“Great,” Lambert says, with no inflection. “I hope you’re ready to use those for the Carnival. Too bad Fae don’t need to breathe.”

Because if Strange is bent on staying a nightrunner? You can sure as hell bet Lambert’s making him use what he learned. No sense wasting it.

“Did he leave out the part where there’s a chance the Winter Maiden tricked her into it?” Lambert asks, with no surprise. Yeah Strange, everyone knows about the Winter Queen business.

"And what's your reasoning for that?" Because based on the frown on Strange's face, he's downright skeptical of Lambert's conspiracy theory. Interested and willing to hear it out, but amazingly skeptical.

“Aren’t you the one supposed to be good at politics, not me?” Lambert asks. “The Winter Queen dies at the hands of a nasty Beast. Terrible tragedy, but Winter needs a Queen. Luckily, the Winter Maiden is right there to take up the job, and rule Winter as she sees fit.”

Lambert pauses. “Except something doesn’t add up. Did Syrlya show you what he found in the library? The Summer Maiden and the Winter Maiden were working together to change the Courts... with the Great Beast. They were friends.

“So if the Winter Queen’s death was something they all planned together ... why is the Beast hiding from the court and the Summer Maiden in exile? Sounds like someone got greedy, doesn’t it?”

Lambert waves a hand. “I met the Beast when I was in Portland. She had a reputation for killing fae even then — the Winter’s Claw, or something. Guess that part turned out to be true to life. But if you met her... you’d wonder how she did it. She wasn’t exactly bright. And she lost badly when she attacked the Rose Queen’s gardens, and she couldn’t plan her way out of a box. Hard to believe she could take down a Queen without some help.”

Edited 2018-06-14 03:38 (UTC)

He doesn't fully believe this. In Strange's mind, this seems like a lot of reaching, of Lambert trying to find an answer to shift the blame off of the Ringmaster. But Strange isn't so certain that's what happened.

"Or the Ringmaster planned this herself to try and speed the process along, and the Summer Maiden went into exile since she was ashamed of the Ringmaster's actions. I did see Syrlya's story. And, from what I saw of it, I doubt the Summer Maiden has the capacity to even think of killing someone."

Strange read Syrlya's story: as soon as conflict was introduced or things moved even slightly towards violence, the Summer Maiden folded like a sheet of paper. And he remembers the general atmosphere of the Summerlands. Could the Summer Maiden plan an assassination attempt? He doubts it.

"Besides, I doubt there's much planning involved in eating someone." Because that's Strange's conspiracy theory as to what happened to the Winter Queen: she got ate. "You just need to be at the right place at the right time."

“Strange,” Lambert says, dead serious. “When at any point in the time you’ve known her has the Ringmaster really planned anything?”

Sorry, RM, but it’s true!

“The Count said that’s what she was accused of — killing and eating the Winter Queen. But if she did eat her ... what’d she do with all that power?” Because that’s what the Ringmaster’s feeding habits end up as — fuel for more.

“With all the power she had, she could have struck down at least one of the Courts she hated so much. Done more damage, hurt them more permanently. Instead, she just killed the Queen and ran? And how’d she even get into the Queen’s palace in the first place? We know fae are masters of their realms.” He frowns, then plunges on.

“There’s more to it. Frost was in the Athenaeum ... remember that asshole? He said he was a witness to all of it, because he served the old Queen directly. And he was a smug little shit about it too. If it wasn’t for the Elysium I think the Ringmaster would’ve been happy to eat him. You trust him to tell the truth? I don’t.”

He’s skipping over details as he rambles, leaving out important parts, but there’s the air of someone trying desperately to puzzle out the details and get a clear sense of the story here. With a soft wheeze, he forces himself to sit up, tail curling in agitation behind him.

“Maybe it doesn’t matter,” he admits. “The Ringmaster doesn’t seem to think it does, and maybe Winter doesn’t really care about the Queen either, and the truth is whatever people want it to be.”

Edited 2018-06-14 05:40 (UTC)

Strange still isn't certain about Lambert's theorizing. All in all, there's nothing behind this except gut feelings, outlines of people's personalities, and a whole bunch of hope. Is it really too hard to accept that what happened actually happened? The Ringmaster got impatient, took matters into her own hands without thinking it through all the way, and is paying the price for it.

"You've got a well thought out theory. But it's just that: a theory. If you want the Courts or the Ringmaster to believe you, then you'll need actual proof." And based on the frown on his face, Strange isn't entirely sure Lambert could find the proof in the first place. How do you find proof for something that happened eons ago?

"Even if you are right, then it won't change anything. We've already obtained one of the Miracles and it wouldn't surprise me if Eden is our next stop. If the Courts can't hunt us for the Ringmaster's actions against the Winter Queen, then they'll hunt us for our actions in gathering these weapons."

There's always going to be a way to scapegoat the Ringmaster and justify their attacks on her. Strange thought Lambert would have known that already.

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