⇨ 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

[exaomori]

Titles, not the often derogatory nicknames she usually came up with. Did she usually come up with those? Damn, she felt a little off today. It's not quite a relief to hear that the other two fae aren't bothered, but it's just soothing enough to get her to unfurl her fists, crossing her arms over her chest.

"A test?" She echoes, letting out a snort of her own. "What, testing our patience? She really must be bored if this is how she's gettin' her fun out of us."

So maybe there was nothing to worry about. But still... "Hope she isn't having too much fun with it. I wanna get a drink tonight."

[npcarnival]

"Why don't you try to find some out here?" the Torchbearer asks, laughing. "First time meeting the Summer Queen, you better drink first."

"You'll do no such thing," a new arrival says - it's a shorter fae with hair and eyes that seem to glow with a brilliant inner light. She is dressed in a deep red robe that hangs from one shoulder, and is carrying a tray with several bottles on top of it, as well as a few pieces of jewelry. Her voice is calm and soothing in nature, and your heart feels fond just looking at her.

"She's waiting for you now," she adds as she gets close, setting the tray on a nearby table. Which confuses you because... you were pretty sure you were waiting for her. Shit, are you late? Wait, you just remembered - you're missing your medallion! They won't let you in without it.

[exaomori]

It crosses her mind for just a bare second that the Torchbearer may not be the sort of friend who kept her best intentions in mind. But really, a little bit of alcohol could only help, and the thought is sorely tempting. If she was quick--

She's not quick enough, her plans interrupted by the arrival of the new fae. For a moment, she feels at a loss for words. Not just because she was denied the safety and comfort a little booze could provide in these conditions, but also because she almost felt bad for wanting it when there was someone like this woman coming to take her to the Summer Queen. Some who was being so nice to her when--wait, crap, that's why she didn't feel right. That medallion! Her hand flies to the spot she knows the medallion should have been kept on her. How could she forget?

"Ah, wait--I must have laid it somewhere..." There's just a bit of panic rising. First she was waiting on the Summer Queen, now the Summer Queen was waiting on her and she neither had the right amount of booze or the right accessories to see her. Shit!

[npcarnival]

"Is there something wrong?" asks the fae with the inner light. You know her title - the Incandescence. It's because she's incandescent, right? She looks up at you with patient eyes.

Meanwhile, the Gilded Mark is snickering at you.

[exaomori]

Wait, had she noticed? She has to tamp down on the urge to kick the Gilded Mark in the shin, but she can't stop herself from growling at at her. "If you knew--"

No. Take in a deep breath. She could do this. She might be lazy, but she was ultimately competent. She just had to keep her temper. "My medallion. I don't have it," she answers the Incandescence, looking to her and meeting her gaze. It isn't defiance, simply a matter of accepting that she screwed up. She should have noticed before it got this far. Though, really, what did that medallion look like? She can't remember it clearly.

[npcarnival]

"It's alright, my Fiery One," the Incandescence says. She reaches up to rest her hand on your jaw, guiding you down so that she can kiss your forehead. She touches your chest with a hand, and a beautiful golden medallion writes itself into existence - the intricate emblem of a sun in the center of your chest, and a chain extending up and around your neck. She pulls back and offers you a wry smile. "See? It's been here all along."

She steps back, and then gestures to the gates behind you. She lifts her arms in an elegant bow.

"Now go," she says. "The medallions will allow your entry to the throne room. Your Queen is waiting." Both the Torchbearer and the Gilded Mark are looking at you. Are you supposed to go first?

[exaomori]

Has she ever been touched like this, so kindly and tenderly? She can't recall a time like this before. Yuri, perhaps, but that had been so long ago, and it was hard to remember that now. Yuri was long dead and gone, and the Incandescence was right here in front of her. She swallows, feeling just a bit of a flush on her cheeks.

But then the Incandescence is moving away, and she knows she has to keep moving on. She can't put off meeting the Summer Queen, no matter how much she may want to linger here. The weight of the medallion around her neck is comforting, a solid reminder of what she's here for, and she lets her fingers trail over the emblem before dropping her hand back to her side.

Right. She can do this. Rolling her shoulders back, she can fake it until she makes it, taking the first step forward on her own. But before she takes a second step, she pauses, turning back to the Incandescence and murmuring softly.

"Thank you."

Now it's time to meet her fate. Or the Summer Queen. It may or may not be the same thing in the end.

[npcarnival]

The Incandescence only nods, her expression proud and content. The Torchbearer and the Gilded Mark nod to you as well, as you turn and pass through the doors.

The throne room is quiet when you enter. It seems even bigger than usual, somehow - and far more empty. All there is is you and the Summer Queen.

She is sitting at her throne, the light of Summer pouring in behind her. Yet, she doesn't seem to notice you. Despite the warmth of the medallion at your chest, and the lingering feeling of the Incandescence's kiss, a fear rises in your chest. The Summer Queen is both new and familiar to your eyes, and you are suddenly terrified of her looking at you.

'Why?' you think. You should be ready. You have the medallion, you have your makers' blessings. You have your training. You were created in the Queen's name, with a fragment of her very essence. So, why can't she see you?

You clench your fists, and claws that shouldn't be there cut against your skin. There's a hollowness in your chest that makes you feel so empty. How can you go on like this?

[exaomori]

for a moment, she's certain that she could do anything. She could conquer whatever stood in her way so long as the Incandescence looked at her like that.

But this?

This was not what she anticipated. The atmosphere of throne room is stifling for its emptiness, almost hard to breathe. What did she think was going to happen? She doesn't know, but anything would have been better than this. The barest glance at her would have been preferable. Anything other than being ignored. It had been like this with Shiro, struggling for his attention while he just passed her on to whoever would take her off of his hands.

She clears her throat, hoping something subtle would catch the Summer Queen's attention, tries to force her fists to relax. If subtle won't work--well, she's already thinking about what she might do next. Show off some of her training, do something rude? It didn't matter, so long as she was acknowledged. Anything was better than this.

[npcarnival]

Your will to move forward prompts an action that seems to come from muscle memory, and a surge of determination. You drop down onto one knee, crossing your arms over your chest. You call out.

"My Queen," you say, as boldly as you can, though your voice still shakes. "I'm sorry that I was late."

Her gaze falls upon you at last. There is something in her eyes that seems so old and so careworn, the years burdening her more than any other fae. Her brow creases with concern upon seeing you, as if sensing what is wrong inside.

"What happened to you?" she asks, and though there isn't judgment in her voice, there is worry, and disappointment. "Something is missing. How could this happen?"

[exaomori]

What happened? What had happened? She did everything she should have done. She trained her body and mind, she practiced and studied everything she would need to know to better serve the Summer Queen. What hadn't she done for her? Shouldn't the medallion be proof enough?

It stings; nothing had been enough for Shiro's favor, either.

"I'm afraid I don't understand, my Queen." She keeps her voice as strong as she can, though she can't keep the confused tremble out of her voice. Damn it, what was wrong with her? How could she return to the Incandescence after this?

[npcarnival]

The Summer Queen stands at her throne, looking down upon you. Her fears clearly extend to consequences beyond your own fate. She looks away, thinking, before eventually turning back to you.

"They can't know this is possible. It shouldn't be possible," she says, her hand clasped over her chest. "You must go, before you're seen. The balance must be kept, for the good of all Arcadia."

[exaomori]

Her heart is pounding heavy in her chest, its thumping ringing in her head as the Summer Queen looks away from her. What, what has she done wrong? Just what the hell is she missing?

It's when she's told to go that she feels her fear turn to rage. She had to go? Go where? And damn it, why? None of this made sense, and the damn Queen was being vague as she wanted. She rises to her feet in an instant, too angry to be scared.

"What are you sayin', you trying to tell me that something's wrong with me? I ain't here to play games!"

So fine, she didn't really know exactly why she was here to begin with, but she wasn't there to fool around.