⇨ 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

[whattaprick]

“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.”

[kingsroads]

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.

[whattaprick]

“I don’t expect it to change them,” Lambert snorts, looking at Strange. “Why do you think we took Ignatius? They’d chase us either way, find another reason to call us monsters. Might as well try to take whatever advantage we can get while we’re at it. Protecting ourselves isn’t always going to be pretty —getting the Rose fucking wasn’t.”

He’s absolutely bracing to be yelled at again, but maybe at least Strange can understand now—

“The Ringmaster could run and hide forever, Strange. She already has. I don’t want that.”

[kingsroads]

Strange understands his reasoning a little bit. But he really doesn't believe that Lambert had any sort of plan when he took Ignatius. When has Lambert ever planned anything? Or at least, anything more complex than 'find a way to hurt it.'

"I think you took Ignatius because you realized you couldn't stab your way out of this," Strange simply explains, as he frowns in Lambert's direction. "It'd have been better if you ran: you've only made things worse this way."

It's harsh but in Strange's mind, it's the truth. It's a lot easier to hide from a fae and pretend you're dead when there's an entire multiverse to look through, not when he's literally on your doorstep.

[whattaprick]

“The plan was for Rita to use the Athenaeum’s magic to fight Ignatius, win you back fair and square, and get out of there.” All too obviously, that didn’t work. “He knew we wanted you more than what Rita was worth to him, so he wouldn’t take it. So, we improvised.”

Bet Ignatius really regrets that now.

“I didn’t expect holding him down to work as well as it did,” Lambert shrugs. “If he’d looked like he was breaking out? Yeah, I would have cut and run. For once, we had the advantage over a fae. If it had been Nightshade or anyone else, I would’ve done the same thing.” Lambert pauses, amends more honestly: “All right, I would have tried a lot harder to kill Nightshade. Point is, I thought he’d be useful, alive or dead.”

[kingsroads]

"But you didn't think of the aftermath." It's said as a fact. Because in Strange's mind, Lambert didn't think of the aftermath at all. He just did this because he could, not because it was a tactical decision.

"There's only a handful of High Fae in the entire multiverse—only a few thousand. That's enough that if one of their number goes missing or worse, dies, they'll notice. The Summer Fae already loathe us due to the Ringmaster's actions against the Queen and the fact that we have the Blue Rose. And now that you've tortured one of their generals, I doubt it will be long before the Queen decides enough is enough and sends the entire force of the Court to kill us."

[whattaprick]

Lambert shrugs.

“I knew there’d be consequences. I wanted to do something different. Too bad you weren’t around to tell me that was stupid, right?”

You know, on account of being dead.

[kingsroads]

"I'd have thought it would be obvious that torturing and binding someone was a stupid decision," Strange snaps back.

Unconsciously, his hand goes to his wrists as he rubs the mirrored scratches.

[whattaprick]

The small tell has Lambert gritting his teeth all over again.

“Seems like it works out for them well enough,” he snaps back. “So what else did he do besides teach you better ways to kill people? Did he have a good rummage through your head too? I’d say you should get captured by the Rose Queen too so you can say which Summer Fae is the best at torture, but I think we can just ask Steven!”

[kingsroads]

The flames in Strange's hair start to burn brighter as these idiots go right back to yelling at each other. He sits up from where he's lying on the ground, mostly so he can glare at Lambert better.

"Do you even care about what he did, or are you looking for an excuse to justify your actions?"

[whattaprick]

“Of course I care!” Lambert bellows, startling Butcher again, who looks like he’s wondering if he should be stomping on Strange again.

“But you’re clearly fine, right? Fine enough to tell me you’re going to quit if I do something you don’t like.”

[kingsroads]

"You bound him, Lambert. I can't let myself get comfortable with that."

At least in Strange's mind, that carries a much heavier implication than just something he doesn't like. He doesn't like the training course, and yet he still does it. But binding someone like that is beyond the pale.

[whattaprick]

“We restrained him from killing us,” Lambert snarls. “Or would you rather he burned Rita and Syrlya to the bone?” ... Do Sylvari even have bones? Doesn’t matter.

The witcher shoves an arm at Strange, tugging a bandage back to reveal ugly, healing (and peculiarly somewhat scaly skin).

“Obviously, I should have bound you too!”

[kingsroads]

Strange doesn't move as Lambert shoves his arm in his face. He winces slightly, but he doesn't look away, forcing himself to stand his ground and not let Lambert's horrible looking wound distract him.

"And then what? Would you have hurt me like you hurt Ignatius? What's your justification for that?"

[whattaprick]

“He’s our enemy! He’ll always be our enemy because of what he is and what he was made for! He said as much himself!” Lambert gesticulates.

“Obviously, you forgot that too!”

[kingsroads]

"Well he isn't mine!" And then all of Strange's issues with regards to Ignatius start to come pouring out. At the same time, one of his fists sets itself on fire again.

"I can't see the only person in this damn carnival who actually respects me as an enemy!"

Lambert's going to punch him for this but fuck it. He's already asked the Ringmaster if he could see Ignatius at some point, might as well get all this over and dealt with before that happens.

[whattaprick]

“That’s it? That’s all it takes? He sets you on the rest of us and would kill us if he could and he’s not your enemy because he respects you?”

Lambert’s voice is thick with disbelief. He can’t believe this — wait, yes he can.

“Then maybe you should get out of the nightrunners, after all.”

[kingsroads]

It's a bit more than just that but as soon as Lambert opens his mouth, Strange knows it's futile to even try. Instead, he holds his ground, clenches his fists, and glares in Lambert's general direction.

"Of course you wouldn't understand," Strange mutters, almost under his breath. When he speaks again, it's at full voice as he continues to stare down Lambert. "I said I'd leave the nightrunners only if you hurt someone like that again. Until then, you're stuck with me."

[whattaprick]

“You’re the greatest magician in England, Strange,” Lambert says, plainly. “History will remember your name forever. You’ll have all the respect anyone could ask for. So no, I don’t understand. Just because we don’t think your shit is gold doesn’t mean you’re not getting respect here.”

Painfully, beckoning Butcher over so he can use him as support to get back to standing, Lambert uses the Mudbray to get back on his feet.

“You want to keep working under me? Fine, then here’s an order: you’re not going out on any more missions.”

[kingsroads]

But they're not in England, are they. And, thanks to his conversation with the Ringmaster, Strange has to acknowledge the fact that he might not ever see England again. Not that he's telling Lambert that, however, because the theme of the hour is 'not addressing the elephant in the room.'

"Not once have you acknowledged any of my decisions have a hint of merit. And on top of that, you lie to me for months!" Yeah, he hasn't forgotten about Childermass and he's still kind of mad about that. "What about that is respect?"

Strange doesn't say anything about Lambert's 'don't go on missions' order, mostly because he doesn't think it'll stick.

[whattaprick]

“What, am I supposed to tell you ‘good job’ after everything you do? Which decisions am I supposed to acknowledge, exactly?” Lambert asks testily.

“It’s not my fault you’re blind. If you stopped thinking about yourself and realized people have lives that don’t revolve around you for five seconds, maybe you would have realized it.”

[kingsroads]

"Or you could have simply told me." Because seriously dude, there were plenty of places and times to do so! Strange isn't buying Lambert's excuses at all.

"As for my first point, every idea I bring up or every action I take is immediately attacked as stupid or foolish. The mirror, Ignatius, contracts, and so forth. Hell, you even talked over my points about the Summer Maiden barely ten minutes ago!"

[whattaprick]

“Maybe I didn’t want to,” Lambert snaps back. “Maybe I liked having some privacy.”

“Those decisions were stupid and foolish. You’d think so yourself if anyone but you made them, wouldn’t you?” He waves a hand. “How long have you felt this way? Stewing and stewing about not getting the respect you think you’re owed? Pretty sure Yuya respects you. But I guess that doesn’t count compared to Ignatius calling you a good boy.”

[kingsroads]

"But you don't," said as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Childermass doesn't. The Ringmaster—" Well. The Ringmaster might. A week ago, he would have said she didn't but she at least entertained the idea of Strange talking to Ignatius. The Ringmaster might respect him a little bit.

"It doesn't matter," Strange says, as he changes the subject. "You won't listen to me anyway."

[whattaprick]

“I would die for you, Strange. I almost did. Isn’t that enough?” Lambert isn’t going to comment on respect Childermass may or may not have for him, but he is turning away.

“I’m serious. You’re not going out as nightrunner anymore, and I’m telling the rest of the nightrunners the same.”

With that, he starts walking away.