⇨ POLARIS

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Days 102 - 109
Where: Polaris
What: With the Ringmaster kidnapped and the rest of the carnival imprisoned, characters find themselves at the mercy of a Winter Fae called the Mother of Invention.
Warnings: Graphic experimentation in places.

TRIALS & TRIBULATION↴ After a day of cleansing and processing, where all the belongings and attire of their old lives are stripped away and replaced with something newer and more form fitting, the former members of the carnival will find themselves let loose into the Farm for the first time. A sizable green area, filled with orchards growing inorganic looking fruits and field ready for tending, the Farm is where they will be spending their days for the forseeable future. Food and drink are no longer needed, and so every day is an endless cycle of work. Technicians are seen only when necessary, and when being taken from your place of work to your lonesome cells at night. Every day, there are new postings on the "Production Board", where various dire sound scientific trials ask for subjects. The majority won't be forced, at least not yet, but the system is at work to push its participants to the brink and force their hand. After all, volunteers make the best subjects. ► PRODUCTIVITY: As explained elsewhere, characters will be forced to compete to attain enough Productivity Point to be considered Satisfactory. There are literally not enough points to go around for everyone to attain this, which means that at least some people will be deemed "Below Expectations" by the end of the first four-day cycle. What this means has yet to be discovered, but the Technicians have grimly warned against it. Productivity involves many tasks, including orchard picking, tilling, planting, harvesting, watering, maintenance, and more. Any task you can think of that would take place on a plantation is applicable here. Beyond that, the Production Board awaits you, offering precious Productivity Points in exchange for your cooperation. How you become Satisfactory is up to you, but it's every person for themselves. Only one person can turn in the credit for harvesting or preparing fields, and while you can certainly try to help others by letting them take credit for your work, it's a sure fire way to fall behind the herd, especially if you are already in a low Classification. Fruits and fields will miraculously grow overnight, and will be ready for a new day when you are. You've been told not to eat anything you harvest, but right now you aren't hungry anyway. ► POLARIS BY NIGHT: During the night, you are left alone to your thoughts and maybe an annoying roommate. Solo or in pairs, the entire night will be spent in small sleep pods, as shown on the locations post. Is it possible to sneak out? It doesn't seem like it is, but who is to say? The real question is if you want to dare to try. There is one hour of rest before and after seven hours of darkness. Even if you don't usually have to sleep, you'll find yourself oddly weary and inclined to rest. Supernaturally, almost. ► PARTICIPATION: Sometimes participation in experimental trials is manditory, sometimes it isn't. You are free to handwave your character having been pulled aside for minor examinations, such as blood tests or aura scans. Each time, you will be pulled into a separate part of the station and analyzed by a Technician and heavily automated machinery. Anymore more complex than basic check-up level tests will be posted about in a section called "TRIALS" in the body of the post below.

Comments

103

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's really disoriented as he's shuffled out of medical attention and to the farm to start working, having only half listened to the very basic and vague instructions from one of the technicians. Physically, he's probably fine now. Emotionally...

It's hard to process. It's surreal. One moment he was in a hazy state of not quite dying, his body being used against his will before he slowly faded out. The next, he finds out they're with one of the Winter Fae, the Ringmaster's gone, Ignatius is gone, and they'll be kept here (trapped here) for the indefinite future.

There's no argument from him as the shock settles in. He's barely attentive in the interview, and then when he's nudged to the farm he just stands there for a moment. Staring out. He can see other members of the carnival tilling, gathering in the distance, and it starts to weigh a gravity of truth in him that he's not quite ready to accept.

It's only when he catches Gongenzaka's form start to disappear in the fruit grove that he finally moves forward, following. He goes until he's a couple feet behind him, watching with a slightly vacant expression as Gongenzaka starts pulling down fruit from the trees.

He takes a shaky breath, and then finally forces his voice out. "Gongenzaka."

[betheman]

"Mnh-!"

He didn't hear him coming. Well- perhaps he did. He knew someone was there, and he certainly...smelled something, but what he smelled was unclear. They were all sterilized and put in the same sort of suit...

And the scents blur together as a result.

It's not until he hears Yuuya's voice- He startles, almost dropping his basket, but otherwise managing to keep his composure.

Enough to keep still for a few moments at least.

"Y...Yuuya..." He knew he was alive. He knew he was going to be okay, but...

Somehow he has the presence of mind to set his basket down, running over to pull the other close. "YUUYA..!"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's pulled into Gongenzaka's arms without struggle, but without the presence of mind to really return it at first.

And then he starts to cry, failing to blink back tears before his attempts of holding himself together dissolve into sobbing. Gongenzaka's always had a way to ground him, and that's usually a good thing. But right now it's only proving that all this is real.

He really doesn't have the sense to do anything but cry, but eventually he manages to fumble to at least scramble to cling back. It's hard to get a grip, though, and his attempts ultimately fail.

[betheman]

Gongenzaka's grip is nearly crushing, as if he's afraid to let go. And for a good moment he doesn't let go at all, curling even his forelegs around the other as he falls to the ground. "You are alright," he assures him, repeatedly. "...You are alive, you are alright...We shall not fail here, Yuuya, it is alright..."

This is worrying however, when he thinks about it. He didn't see him around yesterday which means...

"...It must have taken them some time, to clear your system," he murmurs quietly.

[hippocarnival]

The most response Gongenzaka gets at first is uneven hiccups as Yuya chokes on his sobbing. It did take some time, and physically he's probably fine. But they're never going home, and if he lets that thought consume him he'll never be able to move on.

"Y--yeah," he finally forces out, shivering. He breathes deep, again and again, trying to pull himself together. He buries his face in the crook of Gongenzaka's neck, but the suit is just cold and it isn't very comforting.

"It's not all right."

[betheman]

"Yuuya..." It comes out somewhat a growl- a warning perhaps, though a very ineffective one. It's hard to emphasize thinking positive given the situation after all.

"...We shall not simply sit and damn ourselves," he murmurs quietly. "At the very least, some of the others stand a chance to use higher rankings to find a path out..." 'Chance', at least. If any of them were to become those...'Deltas', as they're called, would it make much difference?

He'd rather hope 'yes'.

[hippocarnival]

"How?" It sounds so empty to Yuya. Normally, he's the one trying to have hope, but right now trying to believe in it just feels like an empty platitude. "The Ringmaster's gone. And Ignatius, and we're trapped here and nobody else is going to come for us!"

Who would? Who else even could? What's happening back home--are things going to move on without them? Will they just go missing, leaving Yuzu and their families to mourn them?

[betheman]

Well, now the hug is ending, because otherwise he can't show Yuuya his expression of absolute lack of amusment. He's not impressed with that way of thinking. Especially not when...well.

"Hmm? And is that meant to mean it impossible, Yuuya?" He growls, rather lowly. "Indeed, the Ringmaster has sprung us from danger countless times...but how many times has it been those of us here who led the way? Who brought things to its end, almost entirely at that?" He's keeping hope. Not because he has overconfidence, perhaps but...

"Think to yourself, Yuuya. How much have we done- without the Ringmaster's direct aid, for that matter?"

It's actually a lot.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks up at Gongenzaka, with a posture and expression slack with devastation and hopelessness.

"... Against the Fae?" The Athenaeum gave them power, but when were they successful without her before? His mind doesn't grasp at specifics even with Gongenzaka's prompting, because all he can feel is the weight of failure.

[betheman]

"Aauh. Against the Fae," he repeats, huffing. "...Perhaps it was not the 'Mother of Invention', but we have encountered those outside of Portland, those who did not have such advantages as the Ringmaster, or realms of magic, who made their escape...have we not?" Well, Shimmer and Scald DID escape the Mother of Invention, but he doesn't have that info. He just knows about that 'Moss' girl apparently having escaped the Huntsman.

"Yuuya. Even within the Manor, it was we who acted first. Some of us suffered for it- but the end result was, in fact, that we bested the Prince. ...Should we act with caution rather than recklessness here..." He trails off.

And adds. "...It is not about defeating them, after all. It is about escaping. With Ignatius, preferably," he adds quietly.

[hippocarnival]

"... They did." Yuya knows individuals have escaped, but it's hard to believe right now. "I'm sorry."

He just doesn't feel strong enough, to suck it up and hold his head high. Right now, everything's been pulled out from under him. It's like he's lot it all--all except Gongenzaka.

He looks down and away, shameful about being so weak when he's made such a deal about being stronger.

[betheman]

Gongenzaka blinks. "...Sorry?" Ahhhh geeze. He pulls the boy somewhat close again, enough for the hug to be there, and the comfort, while leaving space to talk.

"...You are right to be fearful," he murmurs quietly. "...It is not a thing for you to apologize for. You were poisoned while we were taken, as well... ...So you would not have seen all that occurred, for that matter. ...It is difficult, to remember that power is not the only deciding matter in these places," Gongenzaka acknowledges.

"...But we shall pull through. Aah?"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya wants to believe they will. The alternative is harrowing, and normally he's so good at holding onto that optimism. Now, though... it's just so much.

So the most response he manages is to nod against Gongenzaka as he's pulled close, circling his arms as much around him as he can manage, as tightly as he can. For a moment, he wraps himself in the feeling of being protected and he feels so small.

"You and... Mr. Strange came to save me, right?" He remembers them most distinctly. "Who else was there?"

[betheman]

"Aah, that we did. Sans, as well as Joker, were also there," Gongenzaka explains...though he does not say much about. That. "Syrlya helped with the escape itself...but those two were the ones to come for the rescue."

[hippocarnival]

Maybe he should thank all of them. That Fae surely would have killed and eaten him, and the memory sends another frightful shudder down his spine. He flexes his fingers, reminding himself that he's in possession of his limbs again.

He mumbles a thanks that might not even be terribly audible. He knows he doesn't need to, because Gongenzaka would always come for him no matter what. But still, he's grateful. He's always been grateful.

[betheman]

It's worrisome, seeing Yuuya like this. He knows it's not as simple as saying 'it'll be alright'. There is still the time between, and the time between is, well...

Rough.

Already, he can imagine what a missing day is going to do. He thinks back to the board listing a 'trial' earlier, and considers that quietly as he stands.

He won't leave yet, he's fairly certain there's some time before that closes up but...

"...Saah, Yuuya," he starts, offering his hand to the boy. "...Why don't we work together, for a time. I, the man Gongenzaka, have already begun to harvest their 'fruits'...so for now, let us play along just for a short time. Hm? We can talk to another, as we go."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya leans back a little as Gon rises, looking down at his hand as he offers it up. Everything feels the same, but he's drawn back to the confession they made in Shabon. When Yuya shed his worries, then, this wasn't what he imagined was going to follow.

He takes Gon's hand hesitantly at first, but after a second he threads their fingers and holds on tightly to anchor himself.

"Yeah." Just play along, because it isn't like they can rebel against it anyway. This might be the rest of their lives, so they have to do it. "I can do that."

[betheman]

"Mnh." And, to further help to take Yuuya's mind off things...

"Saah. I, the man Gongenzaka, shall lift you to the higher branches then- ready?"

DISTRACTION TIME.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks up, briefly confused at the offer. "Uh--sure?"

His mind hasn't exactly been on what they're actually doing. It hasn't even occurred to him they need to gather fruit, or why he'd need help getting up there (he doesn't, but that's not the point).

[betheman]

Awesome. Gongenzaka moves to wrap his arms around the other's waist, lifting him up- and then, moving yet higher by rearing on his hind legs again.

"Hmn! It should be fairly easy to gather the fruit from here now, then." Just don't look down Yuuya, it's like.

12 feet or so to the ground.

[hippocarnival]

"Whoa!" Yuya's shaken more by the speed they rise as Gongenzaka hoists him up, legs dangling as he grips Gon's shoulders--a for support. Yuya looks around, confused, before he looks back at him.

An amused smile starts to reach his face, silent without the usual laughter but it's obvious that something's broken through the weight in his chest.

"Thanks." He reaches for one of the fruit, plucking it from the branches.

[betheman]

"Hmm! They do not seem to bruise either, these fruits...so you can simply throw them from here!"

MAKE IT A GAME! That's the idea, at least. "...Do you think you can get it into the basket, from here?" he asks, grinning.

[hippocarnival]

"Um..." Yuya leans over a bit and squints at the basket. He pulls his arm back, pausing as he gets an intuitive sense of the distance and then throws. It lands right inside.

"I got it!" There's a faint note of excitement when he succeeds, already reaching for another fruit.

[betheman]

"Hmm! Exactly..! More over, you have both hands free, yes?" Well. If he doesn't mind losing that bit of security against falling anyway.

But he won't drop him! So it's fine, right.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya reaches out with both his hands without hesitance. Gonenzaka won't drop him. Yuya trusts him with his life, and he only proved that when he saved him.

His hands fumble at the memory, but he tries to push past it as he focuses on chucking fruits into the basket. When one side of the tree starts to get bare, he gently guides Gongenzaka to move to a more plentiful side.

At this rate, they'll get the basket filled in little time.