⇨ 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

[dontpokethat]

He really does appreciate not being snuck up on, actually. It would suck to have the calm ruined like that.

That gets a bit more of a smile, and a small hum of agreement. "Don't suppose you'd mind talking a while, then? Unless you've got somewhere you'd rather be."

[prazerbutterfly]

"No, I wouldn't mind at all. I'm sure Strange hasn't fallen asleep yet and Rhys might been too spooked to sleep just yet." The new pup didn't seem to like anything around him when it came to this camping trip. A lot of people were wrapped up in their drama or studying notes to really enjoy the place.

He looks for a place to sit that isn't right next to Ginko to give him a little space. Tucking down, he'll let his tail sway off to the side.

[dontpokethat]

Ginko gives a quiet hum, looking upward at the sky again. He appreciates the distance, really, even if he doesn't comment on it; he likes Tyki alright, but they're not exactly close enough yet for Ginko to be comfortable being very... well, close.

"Rhys is one of the newer guys, right? He having trouble settling in?"

[prazerbutterfly]

It's the fact he's making an effort that expresses more than anything else. He's not set on entirely respecting his boundaries seeing as he might stalk here and there. Ginko was just kind of boring in some way as a result and didn't get that treatment often.

"He's a businessman, he says," Tyki says as he implies otherwise, "Not use to the outdoors. A little overwhelmed maybe."

[dontpokethat]

"Too bad." Too bad, because that means he can't appreciate how incredible this place is - which Ginko is sure he would if he weren't so thrown off, because who wouldn't? "Here's hoping he'll be able to adjust."

He lets out a breath and reaches into his pocket, pulling out his wooden cigarette box a moment later. "Personally, I'm just glad to stay somewhere a little closer to what I'm used to. ...Even if the wildlife is different."

[prazerbutterfly]

"It's been fun," he will admit to look after the pup. "Despite his ability to survive a lot of mishaps." According to him.

"Better than carriages and long stretches of road. I forget sometimes that wandering in this type of area can do wonders for the heart." He looks down towards the wooden cigarette box with a raised brow but says nothing. Fingers raise to idly play against his own bottom lip and his question is rather sudden, "Did you ever have to fight the wildlife, Mister Ginko?"

[dontpokethat]

Ginko slides the box open and pulls out a brown paper-wrapped cigarette - then, after a moment of thought, just leans forward and lights it on the fire. No need to bother with his lighter under the circumstances. Gradually, the cigarette starts to give off a sharp, bitter-smelling smoke, largely unlike that of tobacco.

He sits up and just... looks at Tyki for a couple moments as he processes that question. "...Uh, depends on what you mean by that. Had to keep monkeys or foxes out of my supplies sometimes, and, of course, there were mushi and insects to deal with, but I don't recall ever... fighting a bear, or anything like that."

[prazerbutterfly]

His nose wrinkles at the smell. Either Ginko is smoking something cheap or it is some sort of other inhalant. Hmm, maybe he is a drugged out workaholic and the issue is worse than he thought. Or maybe it is something else entirely. His curiosity wins out, "You know, I have faerie weed if you want something stronger than whatever cheap substance you are using." Look, this is his subtle way of asking.

He snorts gently at him speaking of foxes or monkeys. Those were small enough not to be a bother unless one was particularly vicious. His tone drops to a more serious one, "What I'm asking is, do you know how to fight and would you want to learn? It's getting dangerous here. More than usual."

[dontpokethat]

"...What?" Ginko blinks and takes a moment to process that before giving a quick shake of his head. "--Oh, no. Uh, thanks, but that's not what this is. It's mushi repellent; it keeps them from gathering around me quite so much."

Then he hesitates, considering Tyki's suggestion. He's... never had much interest in fighting, nor any desire to learn how. But... Tyki is right. He might need it soon.

"...I don't. But that might be a good idea."

[prazerbutterfly]

May as well call him out on his problems if he has any mostly cause Ginko doesn't share to anyone at all. Yet, it breeds more interesting information, "That explains why you smoke just as much as I do. Except I do it for the pleasure of it." No, Ginko. He's never going to stop using that word and making it weird.

His tail swishes happily, at the end, behind him all of a sudden and he grins wide as arms tuck behind his head and he falls off the seat he's on to the ground with a plop, "Good, then we'll start first thing in the morning. A little after the sun comes up."

[dontpokethat]

He gives a quiet hum of confirmation, and... opts to try and ignore Tyki's phrasing decisions this time. That's not really what's important here.

It's... all pretty sudden. But, then, he guesses the carnival's recent plunge into danger was pretty sudden, as well. So he gives a quiet sigh, watching Tyki flop back, before turning back to the fire with a nod. "...Sure. Guess in that case I shouldn't stay up too much longer after all, huh."

[prazerbutterfly]

It's honestly the best way to handle Tyki's long stretch of an endurance race to friendship. Ignore it.

His eyes are upwards towards the starlight above with his legs hooked over where he was sitting before. It's absolutely clear and beautiful. It would be a shame to waste. "It's your choice. Out here where rules don't apply and there is nothing but nature around you, you're free to stay up late or not."

[dontpokethat]

Ginko lets out a quiet snort. "Rules aren't what I'm concerned about. If I'm supposed to be learning how to fight early in the morning, I'd rather not be running low on sleep."

It wasn't like there was anyone telling him when to go to sleep back in Japan, either; he just knew he needed to be able to get up early enough to make progress before the sun got too high in the sky.

[prazerbutterfly]

He sneers playfully even if he's not looking at Ginko anymore. His voice is nothing but cheery, "I suppose if you want to take this seriously. I won't break your nose or anything on accident nor hit you that hard."

That kind of training comes later when he makes Ginko take it too seriously. "Also, wear clothes you don't mind getting wet in~"

wanna wrap this one up soon?

[dontpokethat]

"That's appreciated." Even if he's reserving judgment on if he actually believes it.

He raises his eyebrows slightly, not actually looking away from the fire. "Not sure I like the sound of that, but. Got it."

hell no. I mean, okay. probably a good spot

[prazerbutterfly]

"It'll be more along the lines of you hitting me. At least this time around," he responds, adding no comfort to the situation. Ginko agreed to this after all.

He stretches out much like a cat, with ears bent back and tail lashing gently. It's then that he's up on his feet again with a small pop of his back. Sleeping on the ground was fun and all but he's ready to sink into something more plush and his tent was a mess of stolen sleeping bags and pillows, "Tomorrow then."