lostcarnival | ⇨ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yuya shakes his head with a wry smile. "I didn't mean right now." He knows she's busy, and probably stressed. Actually, maybe someone should check up on her? If she was so upset she was crying, she's could probably use a little reassurance.

Yuya stuffs the last bit of toasted marshmallow in his mouth. "I guess we're going after the mirror after this. What do you think Eden's going to be like?"

Strange's expression lights up with excitement. He's got a theory about what Eden's like and he'll happily share it with Yuya.

"The information that we found says that Lilith took the Silver Mirror from the Winter Queen to a realm of Beasts. Childermass's text said something about 'Mankind being anathema' and the Beasts creating the perfect world." Strange is lecturing now, though he doesn't realize it. "Ergo, if we'll want to slip into Eden and steal the Silver Mirror, we shouldn't look like your typical human.

I think Eden's going to be full of animals. And, in order to better fit in, we'll need to be animals ourselves." He grins, proud of this theory, before Strange admits, "Of course, there are a few holes in it. The designation of 'beast', for one."

That much Yuya knew from the conversation on the radio, but he just nods in response.

"We probably don't count like this." He points to himself. "But I kind of hope we can convince Lilith to give it to us, instead of just stealing it... and I hope they don't treat the animals like the Prince."

It doesn't sound like the paradise they hope for, but that doesn't mean it's desolate. It could just be normal, but with wildlife instead of people.

"Considering she stole it in the first place, we'll probably have to steal it back." Strange isn't too certain about the whole 'maybe she'll give it nicely to us' idea and the small little frown on his face shows. Still, he's not going to outright crush Yuya's dream as not feasible, so he continues talking.

"Though, I've no idea how she would treat the animals. You'd think that if it were a paradise, she'd treat them nicely but we've no idea what Lilith considers paradise-worthy."

That's the concern, isn't it? Good intentions don't mean good actions, and Yuya knows how wayward someone's ideal of the world can be. He just doesn't want another horrific, traumatizing endeavor trying to get the Silver Mirror, too. With murder.

"But maybe we could avoid making another enemy somewhere..." He rubs the back of his neck.

"I can only hope," Strange sighs, little frown on his face. Because while he's become kind of worryingly comfortable with the idea of murder as a way to get things done, he'd still prefer other options.

"No matter what, I'm certain we'll come out of this on top," he chimes in, giving Yuya a small smile. This is partly out of optimism, partly out of egotism. Strange really wants to see that mirror, so he's not even going to consider the possibility that they won't get it. "Preferably with the Ringmaster eating fewer people this time around."

"Uh--yeah." Yuya honestly tries not to think about the eating people thing the Ringmaster does.

He's not sure they have the option to not get the mirror, either, with the Courts after it and the Ringmaster's head now. But that's a thought for another day. They're supposed to be taking the moment to recover, not worrying about the future and what all of this means for them.

He stabs his stick into the ground before offering Strange the rest of the bag.

Strange doesn't take the bag, but takes a few more marshmallows for himself. Putting one in his mouth, he looks over at the campfire. Or, more accurately, what remains of their terribly built campfire.

"I should put this out," he explains through a mouth full of marshmallow. "That is, unless you want to sit and talk a bit more."

No matter if it's putting the fire out or relighting it, it would be better for Strange to do it standing up. Getting to his feet, Strange shoves the other marshmallows in his mouth before vaguely gesturing for Yuya to back away from the fire pit.

Yuya rolls the bag closed before getting to his feet and stepping back as well, giving Strange the room to deal with the pit. He looks up at the sky, gauging the time.

"I wouldn't mind talking, but we can always do that at the camp site." It's starting to hit evening, so it's probably time to say goodbye to their pit anyway. Especially before nosy critters start to show up. "You know, if you have anything you want to get off your mind."

And for a moment, Strange hesitates. Because he's got so many things on his mind, what with the giant trainwreck that has been the past few weeks of his life. He pauses for a moment, as if contemplating whether or not he wants to say something...before he turns his attention back to the pit.

"I'm just happy to be back," he simply responds. With a wave of his hand, the lingering embers on the fire snuff themselves out. Strange starts to mutter a different spell as the pit starts to fill itself back in, dirt from the sides spilling on top of what remains of the fire. He's keeping the earth benches, though. They're nice benches.

Yuya waits out Strange's pause with a quiet look. He's almost waiting for something, but he isn't surprised by what he hears instead.

"Me too," he responds after a moment, smiling warmly. Then, with the pit put out, he turns to start walking back to the campsite together.

⇨ CAMPING GROUNDS

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