lostcarnival | ⇨ CONFLAGRATION

Entry tags:

⇨ CONFLAGRATION

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."

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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."

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."

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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

Edited 2018-06-13 19:12 (UTC)

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.

All Peridot's question gets from Childermass in response is the usual shrug, which is entirely unhelpful. For his own part, he's simply waiting, watching, as ever, from a safe distance away. Hands folded behind his back, he's retreated to the typical 'sure does look bored in the face of this nonsense' expression that most here should be familiar enough with. It isn't necessarily true, but it's always safer to present no reaction whatsoever in his own opinion.

Waiting, watching, wondering if they actually should have added 'clothing' to the list they gave the Ringmaster just before...

He seems oblivious to the presence of the others at first, too preoccupied with the oppressive walls of... whatever this is, to observe anything beyond it. All he knows is that he's been trapped for what feels like a long time already, and that at some point after being eaten things shifted, and ended up like this.

The fact that he can move at all is some desperately needed respite, but the more he does move the more he realizes something is wrong. It's a feeling that goes beyond just that of atrophied muscles and exhausted nausea. There is something primal about him that's changed, and the absence feels worse than the hole in his chest he had earlier.

He breaks out of the top of the egg, wretching. There's enough space now for the rest of his body to start slipping out, and enough for him to just start to notice the things that are different. The claws on his hands and feet, the way his fiery hair grows all the way down his back like a mane instead of just atop his head. The speckles of scale-like patterns on his shoulders, the ridges on his head, and most obviously... the tail that slips out after him, tangling around his legs.

He vomits something molten into the grass, setting a patch of it aflame. He's clearly lost a bunch of weight from the process - still muscular, but less so than before. There's too much going on for him to absorb all at once, and a feeling of falling apart fills his head more than anything else.

He has no idea what's going on. The possibility of this had never once occurred to him in the entirety of his life.

He looks up towards the giant wing above them and he has to admit it is a little reassuring to have her there. He looks back at Childermass and his usual expression then down towards the others that have backed away. He takes a look over to see if anyone else is near him up front but then decides it is fine if no one is.

He doesn't feel a sense of danger. This isn't what he expected. The detailed description he received of Ignatius is on point but there are a lot of differences. Peridot's question makes more sense now and he side eyes the Ringmaster again. Such a clever woman but this has to be upsetting.

He knows it was for him. For many. Even as Ignatius sets the patch of grass on fire, Tyki's voice is smooth and calm, "Take it slow. Easy and slow. Take a deep breath while you're at it."

Tyki's words, unfortunately, mostly just have the effect of forcefully drawing Ignatius's attention towards the fact that he isn't alone. He tries to stand up immediately, unwilling to hunch over like that when he has an audience. However, he barely has the strength to pull it off, his feet awkwardly staggered as his eyes settle on Tyki, and then on the Ringmaster.

"What have you done to me?" he roars, his voice shaken with genuine horror and confusion. He wobbles down to his knees shortly after, having to set down a hand to support himself. The other hand goes up to his chest, like he's feeling for something that isn't there - like he willing to try to tear his way in to see what's gone wrong.

The Ringmaster visibly flinches as Ignatius turns on her, hunching her shoulders and lowering that wing enough to shield the others from a potential attack. Yet, nothing comes, and she's finding herself shaken in a different way. She wants to explain, but...

"Ignatius. It's... It's not like that," she tries, but her own belief in her words is lacking.

What has she done?

Amethyst peers at him wide-eyed around the bottom of the Ringmaster's wing. "Uuhh... is he OK? You just took the fire, right...?" That said, she's realising she doesn't actually know what that means in practice. Her hand goes unconsciously to her gem.

"She's done the only thing she could do, given what has happened."

Childermass steps in (although not literally, as he only takes a step or two forward, no intention of putting himself within some angry general's reach).

Edited 2018-06-14 01:28 (UTC)

When the Ringmaster flinches and gives her hesitant reply, it makes it abundantly clear why she needed support for this. Well, she'd wanted to know what Shima could do, and Shima happens to have been building experience when it comes to talking to reluctant targets. And he figures if they want Ignatius to listen they need to meet at least some of his expectations so he doesn't feel completely out of grip, and the best way to do that is not to be too gentle.

He glances up at the Ringmaster before reaching for her wing, patting it in a vaguely comforting way as he gestures his request for her to lower it enough around them so they can see over it.

"So yeah, try not ta freak out or anything, but since our Ringmaster here doesn't actually want ya dead, ya've had your heart sealed inta another vessel. Not unheard of where I'm from, actually. Doesn't seem like a mercy from looking at ya, but it ain't gone, just somewhere ya can't get at it for now since we're keeping ya prisoner."

Edited 2018-06-14 02:08 (UTC)

Peridot is watching this whole situation unfold with an increasing amount of fear. Ignatius is a mess, and yet somehow he makes for an intimidating presence even without access to his domain. And all of that doesn't even begin to touch on the strangeness of the changes he appears to have developed from the ordeal he just went through. That's what disturbs her on a level that she can't even really begin to explain. It's one thing for a non-fae to be affected in such a way, but to see another high fae go through this...? She wonders if there is even a precedent for this in their society.

Through all this, it's tempting to hang back and keep her silence, but... she's also keenly aware that the Ringmaster brought her here to help. She needs to be courageous.

She tries to think of what Steven would do, and after Shima speaks up, she takes a step forward to stand next to Childermass, making a placating hand gesture towards Ignatius. "M-maybe you should sit down..."

"She didn't do this in a twisted way. Not as punishment or to torment," he says with some mild understanding. There wasn't much else to it. The Ringmaster seemed reluctant to kill. He glances back at the others attempting to explain. It's the truth and a good start.

He wants to offer his hand to help him to his feet but there is a part of him that understands Ignatius might want to stand on his own two feet right now. With this fae, compared to a few others, he's not really all that afraid or hesitant. Ignatius didn't attack right away despite being upset. So instead he squats down to get on his level, watching him with an neutral expression, as Ignatius seems to struggle to get onto his feet, "Or I can help you to your feet if you need it. None of us are here to hurt you. This is your choice. No one will make you do anything unpleasant. Not like before." To which he means with Lambert, Rita, or Syrlya.

What Shima is saying actually sort of makes sense to him - at least what he can comprehend through the rising hysteria inside of him. It's not as simple as just separating him from his power source, it's separating him from a part of himself. The sheer reality of it is enough to rock his foundations, let alone the fact that he's apparently had his form mutilated with bestial traits.

"Then you should have killed me," he says, his voice frenetic with panic, his hand outstretched as he looks at the changes to his body. "I don't want your mercy - do you even understand what you've done?" He looks at Tyki like a cornered animal. "Stay away from me."

He'd be better off dead - better that than made like this, so disgraced by what they did to him that he'd barely know how to return home before.

It's the thought of home now that threatens to break him.

Okay so clearly being soft and soothing isn't actually helpful angle to take here. Good to know.

Different tactic, then. The more Ignatius speaks, the more he's starting to remind her of a wounded and desperate Jasper... Which, weirdly enough? Makes him a bit easier for her to speak to with confidence.

"I don't," Peridot says bluntly. Understand, she means. She cocks her head slightly, watching the fae carefully. There's nothing hostile or cruel in her tone; just simple curiosity "Maybe you'd care to explain...?"

Edited 2018-06-14 02:47 (UTC)

He doesn't really want to explain - not to the mortals. He isn't even sure if he has the words for it, since it's something he's never experienced or anticipated could be done to a High Fae.

It was bad enough when they'd so soundly bested him with powers he didn't comprehend. Now this... this is worse. Death seems far preferable to even being recovered by the Summer Court like this. What would they even do with him? What would the Summer Queen do?

Instead of explaining, he just sinks back down to his knees, bracing his arms against the floor and staring at the space between them.

"Why do you want me alive?"

"Hmm, yes, if only anyone here could empathize with being altered so against their will," Childermass says to the complete and utter lack of response to Peridot. He knows the Ringmaster brought them here to help but if he won't accept kindness, well.

"Though the difference here would seem to be that we want you alive simply because we have no desire to see you dead, much less so to keep you here, trapped, forever. Perhaps that is something we, on our own part, will not be able to make you understand for once."

Because the High Fae seem to think they know mortals so well, so well that it's easy to dismiss them, not even try. Ignatius might be different, but Childermass is doubtful.

Hmm, alright then. So much for that. He was only really being considerate given how the situation seemed so familiar. Instead of he just nods along to Ignatius request with a faint gesture of his hand, "Alright."

He breathes in, rolls back on his heels and scoots back away from Ignatius. He knows that cornered look. His question is a good one and his eyes turn towards him, "The Ringmaster wants you alive, and that is all that matters to me. None of us really want you dead either."

He flops onto his side, his tail lazily swaying against the grass as he breathes in his cigarette and snorts, "Right, right. None of us understand that at all."

"Actually..." Shima glances at the Ringmaster here again, possibly just to let her know he knows what he's doing, "I'm sure some wouldn't mind too much ta see ya dead, but there's no point if she doesn't want it."

He lets himself past the Ringmaster's wing now, casual but careful not to be within easy reach of the fae.

"The thing is, the Carnival can't be free unless something that's never been done happens, right? Ya just got unlucky enough that when ya underestimated the people who called ya out, ya ended up part of something impossible. It's all gonna be different, and unpleasant as hell, actually, but you'll live."

Ignatius's gaze turns to settle on each of the people speaking in turn, lingering on Shima for the longest. He wobbles down to the ground, sitting on his butt instead of crouching on his knees - his tail flops uselessly, without the muscle definition or strength to do anything else.

Nothing they say will change how doomed he already is, but maybe he at least understands what they are intending - even if he can confidently say it isn't any mercy. After the things he's been experiencing, he's not sure what mercy really is anymore.

"I don't know how you'll do that," he says. "It's not really... about you. Only what you represent."

He sounds hopeless, but at least he's responding to them directly this time.

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