⇨ CONFLAGRATION

[ringleaders]

Who: The Ringmaster, Peridot, Amethyst, Shima, Tyki, Childermass and Ignatius.
When: Day 68
Where: THE CENTER OF THE (OTHER) MOON.
What: The Ringmaster has recruited the help of a not-so-elite group of carnival members to help her deal with the imprisoned Ignatius.
Warnings: Weird egg stuff.

THE FIERY ONE↴ When you meet up with the Ringmaster at the portal she's in her humanoid form, but that doesn't last long. After a brief period of waiting, she will take you back to the carnival grounds, still fresh and partially undefined from her rebuilding. It's familiar, but as if details have been left out - like a painting that's not finished yet. The sky isn't right, and and the forests are oddly barren. She'll assure you she simply isn't finished with it yet, but that this has taken precedence. Soon, she'll be turning into her dragon form and whisking you all away, up into the second moon. The flight happens almost instantaneously - first you see the carnival grounds, then the sandy oceans of the moon - then, you see nothing. It doesn't last for long, though. A ring of glowing stones light up the new space you're filling - a cavern carved out of the center of the moon itself. Unlike the moon with the Blue Rose, however, it isn't perfectly spherical, and gravity goes straight down. There is a rough, uneven floor you can walk on steadily, with boulders and rocks scattered about. The Ringmaster's current dragon form fills about half of it. In the center of the room there are two man-sized eggs. One glows brightly with an inner light, radiating heat. The other does as well, but less so. There's an impromptu nest of rocks around them, preventing them from falling over. The Ringmaster seems unsure of how to start. "So," she begins, uncertainly. She is till hunched over in dragon form. "This... is a bit complicated."

Comments

[periphrasing]

Mostly silent up to this point, Peridot glances from one egg back over to the next. Thinking too hard about the Ringmaster laying giant eggs is a little bit too much for her right now-- though during the explanation, she does cast a glance over to see what Amethyst's reaction to all this is, expecting it to be one of utter delight.

"It's an interesting solution," she says in a neutral tone, tapping her chin. "Don't the eggs usually take a while to hatch, though? Or can you summon him out of there at will...?"

[lordofthering]

"He's been in the egg since before I told everyone to go camping," she says. It had only taken her the one night to do the actual separating. "He's going to be hatching on his own any minute now, and he's going to be very upset."

[atouts]

"Hm," Childermass puts ever so eloquently, not that he leaves it at just going 'hm, wonderful', of course. "If that's the case, you may wish to give our guest a more comfortable setting to arrive into."

He looks around them, at the uneven stone floors and the craggy-faced dome of the chamber they're in.

"Because were it me, I would see a prison cell full of enemies."

[prazerbutterfly]

Tyki's been mostly quiet for the first few minutes as he gathers information and allows himself to fully take in the situation. Unlike others that might be keeping a good distance, Tyki lights his cigarette and exhales softly to clear his mind. Then he just strides forward to take a closer look at the eggs in question. He's not going to touch. He knows better than that but he does reach out to pat any part of the Ringmaster he can, "Neat. You did good."

At least in his opinion. It was a decent solution compared to just chaining him up somewhere and having to worry about him escaping and laying waste to dozens of them before the Ringmaster was able to interfere again, "Do you think he'll be just as worn out from hatching as most are?" His eyes flick over to Childermass, who always seems to pose a good point, and then to the others to confirm that. "It's not exactly cozy. Doesn't scream 'welcome'."

[lordofthering]

"I imagine he will be..." she starts, looking down at Tyki, glad that someone likes her idea. She's just baffled by the other part of it, though. She looks around the cavern helplessly.

"... What are you suggesting I add, exactly? It IS a prison, and adding a garnish to it isn't going to change that."

[atouts]

"He's a military man, Ringmaster. Adding a few comforts are never entirely lost of those."

England has spent more than enough time at war in his time, so he's dealt with those types. Usually lesser soldiers, but officers only have slightly fancier tastes. He waves idly around them, mostly the space around where Ignatius will be hatching.

"A comfortable chair or two, some decent brandy, a box of imported cigars, a... rug for color, I suppose. Things like that."

He could suggest a pool table or cards, only Ignatius would be lacking a constant companion to even play those with, on top of likely having no idea what to do with either of those.

[worldlyafflictions]

Shima, who had put his hands up with a smile when he was chided, then dutifully clasped them behind his back and put on an attentive expression to suppress his amusement as he listened to the Ringmaster's explanation, steps back from the egg when she mentions Ignatius is close to hatching. He does manage to sober now that they're getting more into the specifics, but he hadn't really realized how much the Ringmaster didn't really get 'people' things or he might have pushed on the peace offering thing.

"Garnish ain't really about disguising that it's a prison anyway, it's just giving him a little decency 'n stuff. Ya had a good start with thinking ta let him at least have his body ta himself."

[prazerbutterfly]

Unlike Shima, Tyki hasn't exactly backed away. It's a fae to be sure but he's use to being within the eyes of the public and the front of most things when it comes to a good con. He scratches at his chin in thought, rolling his cigarette to the side of his lips, and he considers the make up of the area again. "I get that it is a prison. If he's a military man no matter of comfort is going to change his reflection of that but if he's going to be here a while..."

Did fae get bored in the serious degree? He's sure they do if not trained to sit for days without any entertainment. "Better than a stomach and more spacious. Instantly that makes it more appealing but I would go a little mad in a place like this myself."

[lordofthering]

She huffs in mild frustration, though she understands what they are getting at. What is comforting to a Wyld Fae is clearly just different.

"Well, I don't want him to be in this place for long. He'd have to be exposed to people to ever understand us any better... It's just a matter of finding out what power he has left without his Heart and giving him some time to come to terms... So I suppose this could be more hospitable for those purposes."

She blows on the ground, and instead of leaving trails of fire, the touch of her breath spawns a field of grass, leveling out the floor as it goes. Then, after a moment of hesitation, she plops a red and orange rug on the grass like this is the Sims.

That's what you meant, right?

[periphrasing]

Peridot generally agrees with the sentiment that everyone else is mentioning, but she also doesn't have much better of an idea of what to add than the Ringmaster does.

She does have one suggestion, though.

"...You should add some sunflowers," she chimes in. There is no particular reason given. She just should!

[worldlyafflictions]

It's really tempting to bust out laughing inappropriately, but he figures he doesn't know the Ringmaster well enough to know how she'd react to that. So instead he plops himsef on the edge of the rug and puts his feet in the grass to test it out.

"I dunno if that's what the boss was picturing, but RM-san's show of hospitality might be enough ta get the thought across, depending on our guest I guess."

[atouts]

Okay, suggesting flowers gets a grimace out of Stoic McStoicson over here but he won't argue with it, just... give Peridot a funny look. Sunflowers? Why? Some people here have had enough with gardens, just saying.

"It's a start," he admits that much. Grass and a rug, better than rock.

[prazerbutterfly]

"I don't know if he'd like a few plants or not," he muses outloud, not that he's questioning Peridot for the idea. It's just, he's seen the Rose Queen and her fortress of flowers and thorns when they were rescuing Steven. He doesn't know if he'd find it comforting or not. "Sunflowers are gentle and nice though. Pleasing to the senses."

Ah, the Ringmaster really is impressive. The display of grass forming along with a rug makes him grin cheerfully, "We also don't want to overwhelm him if that is possible." He wondered if the Ringmaster even knew what Ignatius would like. The only impression of the Summer Fae other than the Rose Queen was the Summerlands where he had first began this trip through the carnival.

[lordofthering]

The Ringmaster starts thinking about chairs, but struggles to figure out any in her stores that would be appropriate - which is okay, because she suddenly has a better idea. In a similar matter to the rug, she makes a few gestures with her paw before plopping down an entire trailer at the other side of the room. It's a bit worn, but it's better than nothing.

Then, she blows on the grass again, causing sunflowers and a few other types of brightly coloured blossoms to grow. Not too many, just a bit around the edges to make the walls less dreary, she thinks. Then, she blows on the ceiling, leaving a smattering of sparkling, star-like lights attached to the stone.

"That will have to do for now," she says, hoping their ideas hold merit. "There is more I have to explain before he hatches." She opens the claws she was holding the other egg in, revealing that it has been severely reduced in size, now about the width of a chicken egg and glowing all the more brightly for it.

"I don't intend to keep this away from him forever," she says. "But I want it to be in more stable hands than just my own. I would like to entrust it to you, as a group, to keep safe. I've come to understand that I haven't always been around when I'm needed."

[worldlyafflictions]

Shima immediately looks at Peridot, since he knows she has a way to store and summon stuff.

[periphrasing]

The engineer glances around appreciatively at the accommodations that the Ringmaster has conjured up. Haha! There's sunflowers. She wins!

No time to revel in that small and extremely petty victory though. Peridot leans forward, boggling at now reduced egg for a moment, until the Ringmaster's explanation makes her look up sharply.

"You're giving it to us?" she repeats with surprise, which probably isn't a great look on someone who has just been entrusted with a huge responsibility but. Cut her some slack! This is a big deal! Shima's glance doesn't go unnoticed either, and she tilts her ears back nervously, looking back at him. "I mean-- It's not like I can just put it loose in my gauntlet-- I have other stuff in there, what if it breaks!?"

Just saying that out loud makes her realize just how little she understands about how the hammerspace enchantment works.

[lordofthering]

The Ringmaster looks at Peridot and then the egg. After a beat, she takes the egg between two of her claws and then hurls it at the ground. It bounces and then settles, completely unbroken.

"It won't break," she says. "It should be impossible to break, unless the enchantment has been offered the approval of at least three of you. Only then will it be allowed to shatter, releasing the Conflagration back to Ignatius."

[prazerbutterfly]

He whistles in appreciation for the amount of effort she was putting in and also for her taking a moment to listen to them. Even if none of it works and Ignatius finds it somewhat displeasing, it was worth it to know she was listening.

For a brief moment, he almost moves from his spot near Ignatius' egg to reach out and try to catch the suddenly thrown egg. Yet a part of him realizes the Ringmaster would likely not do something so foolish in this type of situation and there is a great deal of trust. The egg bounces along the ground and remains intact.

Alright, now his handsy self cannot help himself and he reaches down to scoop up the egg into his hand. "Accidents happen after all. The Ringmaster usually takes care to make things accommodating for us."

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst, who has been watching round-eyed and fascinated (Peridot was correct in her assumption that she'd see her grinning when she looked at her), pushes herself up onto her toes to look at the egg as Tyki picks it up. Then she drops back onto her heels and nudges Peridot with her elbow.

"You should take it, dude. It'd be safe in there -- beats stickin' it in my trailer with the rest of my junk."

[lordofthering]

The egg is a bit hot to the touch, but Tyki shouldn't have much trouble with it, at least. As the others discuss the best method to stash it, the other egg will start making itself a concern.

Suddenly a section of its jewel-like surface will shatter, as if thrown against something hard enough to crack stone - only the force is coming from inside. The light inside of it brightens and wavers as the cracks slowly extend.

"Best put it away, for now," the Ringmaster says. "He'll be out shortly."

[prazerbutterfly]

If Tyki was honest with the situation there a good handful here that could take the egg. Since it seemed to be a point at directing it towards a group effort there wasn't any real saying that it couldn't be passed off here and there.

Tyki was always anaylzing and anyone watching would notice how his eyes flick from each individual. Childermass was the best choice but Tyki already believed the man deserved a break. Peridot drew attention to herself being a bit of a hot head, plus her putting the egg with other 'stuff' that seemed to have more importance pushed her out of the high rankings, but her heart was in the right place. Shima could stand to grow up a little but from the stories he heard he did real good when push came to shove.

Then there was Amethyst, who while hesitant at first during the Rose Queen mission but had showed great potential. She seemed to have his own laid back style with a good heart that mostly likely had his vote of choice even with the junk that was mentioned. He's even leaning down to let her see the egg properly when she takes interest in it. Tyki didn't have much to do in the carnival nor was he a supervisor. He could take stock easily of his surrounding situation like Shima and could manage an inventory of items well. He already stored thousands of Tease within his own body, along with a few other things, and could hide something easily just about anywhere with his power.

It was a pretty rounded group in his opinion all capable of this task. But that has to wait and with a flick of his sleight of hand, the egg just disappears. He can hand it off to whoever later. "Yes, ma'am."

[atouts]

That she wanted them to hold onto Ignatius' heart — the egg — and decide, ultimately, when it should be returned, now that's the shocking part. Shocking enough that Childermass spends the discussion over it silent, observing the Ringmaster as well as the others here as they try and decide what to do with it. Yes, he could simply offer to hide it in his shadow, but that would not be a permanent answer.

But then the bigger egg is hatching and all that's left to do is to step back and hope Ignatius really isn't able to incinerate them all on arrival.

[npcarnival]

The shell of the egg is struck from the inside again and again. If the shell is as hard as it looks, he still must be pretty damn strong, even without his Heart. The Ringmaster watches patiently, one of her wings hovering cautiously over the heads of the assembled carnies.

Finally, one of the cracks opens enough that the inner light of the eggs leaks out, and a set of unexpectedly clawed red fingers emerge, gripping the edge of the shell and trying to force it aside. A grunt of exertion can be heard from inside as a section of shell breaks away, and steam rises from the interior.

From where they are standing they'll be able to see some familiar glowing red skin, as well as white hair fire. The rest is obscured by nebulous magical fluids and smoke.

The real question is if they want to talk to him before he's finished.

[worldlyafflictions]

OH boy. If anyone wants to approach the egg first, it's not going to be Shima, seeing as he's the squashiest mortal here at the moment. He's fine to let someone else hold the Conflagration egg too, seeing as Tyki also appears to have some kind of hammer space he wasn't aware of. He'll consider offering to put it somewhere after they see how Ignatius intends to receive them.

For now he pushes off the grass and backs up under the safety of the Ringmaster's wing, giving Ignatius plenty of space to get his bearings, whenever he fully emerges. He leaves his K'rik strapped to his back, though he rests a couple fingertips on it just for his own comfort's sake.

[periphrasing]

A little encouragement from Amethyst and that demonstration from the Ringmaster is enough to bolster Peridot's confidence; she's considering grabbing the egg herself and bubbling it for storage, just before shit starts popping off.

For now, she just makes a note that Tyki has it, and hopes that wherever he put it, the fae won't be able to sense it on him. They can discuss what to do with the heart after they get through this, once Ignatius is out of earshot.

For now, Peridot tenses and subtly curls her tail around Amethyst's ankle, watching the hatching with rapt attention. Her eyes flick to the hand...

"Uh. Did he always have claws like that?" She whispers to the rest of the group, sounding mildly concerned.