⇨ 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

[hippocarnival]

"In Shabondamashii--" Wait, did he say something in the farm? Yuya's mind blanks as he scrambles to recall that much.

It keeps him frozen even longer, still not bringing himself any closer to Gon.

[betheman]

They certainly didn't say anything of much import in the Farm, but it was a question worth asking given that Yuuya seems worried about...Something that was said already. Apparently a few smooches aren't enough to confirm something.

So he gives a quick peck to 'answer'. Quick, largely because this is still kind of a weird motion that he doesn't often think about, and also, snout.

[hippocarnival]

Oh. Yuya's face flushes as he pulls back a little like he's surprised he didn't make the first move. Not because he doesn't expect Gon to be capable, but because it was s thread of worry he was having a hard time articulating himself.

It was just weird to context the confession in their current situation, like it doesn't quite belong in the gravity of it. That had been something that made Yuya feel lighter than air.

Yuya fumbles abashed. "Thanks."

Really fumbles.

[betheman]

Believe him, he is still stunned, and still not quite sure he did that. But he did.

Boy howdy he did. His face is still absolutely red, and he laughs more than a little bit nervously as well. "It seemed...perhaps the easiest way to remind you of the answer," he admits, still chuckling awkwardly.

[hippocarnival]

"I know it's not the most important thing right now..." Not the specifics of their feelings for each other, when the depth of it is something they've always known. But something bothered him about leaving it like that, and when Gongenzaka wanted to hold their usual peace in the moment, despite being trapped...

Well, it ate at his thoughts a little. His mind is much more turbulent, but seeing how bright Gon is after that clears it a little. He's getting good at distracting Yuya, too.

He worries over his lip briefly. "Sorry about causing so much trouble."

[betheman]

"Yuuya." Gongenzaka uses one finger to brush some of the other's hair aside, before holding him closer. Idly, his forelimbs are trying to get the blanket over the rest of him. He might as well get comfortable in here, regardless of if Yuuya leaves or not.

"For the moment, it is absolutely the most important thing."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's face flushes, flustering as the tables are so solidly turned. Normally he's the one making Gongenzaka react like this.

He presses his forehead against Gon's shoulder as if it'll help his steady himself. "You're so calm, even though..."

Even though they're prisoners, even though he's certain things will only get worse. He doesn't need to point it out, because Gongenzaka is steadfast... but when this feels so much worse than any other time, it still amazes him.

[betheman]

Spoilers- he's not calm at all. He's just very, very good at keeping composure for the sake of others.

...Which might not be the best thing, but still. "Auh- I- In my defense Yuuya," he laughs a little nervously, "I, the man Gongenzaka, have spent much of my time in here following breathing exercises, meditating..."

Because what else was he gonna do right.

[hippocarnival]

"I don't think that'd even work for most people in this situation." Certainly not Yuya, who was never good at it to begin with. Absently, his fingers curl a little tighter against Gongenzaka.

"... I'm scared." He admits quietly. "I'm terrified... if we won't make it out in time. Together."

[betheman]

"A-Auhh...That is unfortunately true," He admits, a somewhat broken laugh escaping as he admits it. It is hard to remain entirely serious when one's mind is suddenly filled with the numerous people who he's tried teaching....and watched fall asleep.

"...but Yuuya," he reminds the other, nuzzling their face. "...Regardless of what happens, and how it happens... I, the man Gongenzaka, swear to you- I will not leave this place without you. It is a promise I kept in Shabon, and one that I shall keep forever after."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's expression twists into a wry smile as his head tilts to make room for Gon's nuzzling.

"I know you won't. You broke your promise to leave." Maybe his feelings didn't come through clearly enough, but Gon knows Yuya just as well. He knows better.

He shifts up, enough to be able to look at Gongenzaka properly. "But... I'm glad you did."

[betheman]

"MNH-" Suffice to say that gets a bit of a wince. But...

"...I, the man Gongenzaka, am glad that you feel that way," he sniffs, after a moment to take in Yuuya's words. "...I know...I had made that promise, but after all... ...If there is a chance, I cannot ignore it, can I?"

[hippocarnival]

"I... it would have been worse if you did." Yuya's gaze drifts down and he shudders, recalling too viscerally that moment. His voice is a little more strained when he speaks again.

"I guess I should have more faith in you, right? I just--I don't want to lose you."

Especially not now. Not after everything.

[betheman]

"Faith in each other is key, neh..?" Gongenzaka whispers, closing his eyes at least partly. "...You were strong- and if our positions had been changed, I, the man Gongenzaka, have no doubt you would have found a way to reclaim me as well."

It just. Might have been more tricky since one of the two is a pack horse more or less.

"...I do not wish to lose you either, Yuuya."

[hippocarnival]

He'll come to realize the following week that he's at risk of getting torn from Gon anyway as he slips up. Right now, though, he just wants to bury himself in the security of being together. They have at least that much.

He wouldn't say he was strong, though, and he averts his gaze. "I was scared. I couldn't do anything, not even when..." When she used him as bait.

[betheman]

"You were poisoned," he remarks softly. "...With a poison that affected even your control. Fear, was natural...is natural," he adds, swallowing. "...I, the man Gongenzaka, suspect she intended to do much more..."

[hippocarnival]

"Well, they were hunting." That makes it pretty clear what else she was planning to do. "I didn't... think she'd use me to--"

He covers his mouth with a choked sound, finding himself reluctant to say it.

[betheman]

"....As bait," he speaks quietly. "....Those of us within the Carnival are close to another- even those of us from separate realms... ...She would no doubt have tried it with anyone."

[hippocarnival]

"I was stupid. She grabbed me, I didn't even think she was part of the hunt." He shudders, curling a little tighter on himself. The hard part is remembering it. What felt like forever walking against his will, seeing them, wondering when his slipping consciousness was going to die...

He hides his face in his hand, failing to control his breathing.

[betheman]

"Yuuya," he speaks, searching for one of the boy's hands with his own. He squeezes it gently, and tries to ground the other somehow. "...If such a thing were allowed to happen, then it means she intended to appear as a victim as it were... ....you are not the only one, who would fall for such a play. ...There is a reason they work," he says softly.

"You are here, now, Yuuya. You are no longer held by her poison, aah?"

[hippocarnival]

"It's not, it's not in me anymore..." He mumbles it like a mantra, but it's obvious with the weakness in his tone that the pain runs so much deeper than that. It had been terrifying in a way that's hard to him to articulate but rocks through his own body and leaves tears in his eyes.

[betheman]

"...And it will not be, ever again, understand?" Gongenzaka assures him. "Never again. Aah?"

[hippocarnival]

Objectively he understands it, but it doesn't make him feel any calmer.

He just nods wordlessly after a stretch of silence, his face still buried in his hand and his shoulders tense. He's at least trying to calm himself down, but it's harder than it's ever been before. He's never felt that helpless, even by Zarc.

[betheman]

There is not much more that words can convey, and so Gongenzaka simply holds the other close- not so much that Yuuya could not move if he desired of course- but close enough to have that comfort there.

But they need to sleep.

And sleep, Gongenzaka soon does.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya, unfortunately, doesn't sleep so easily. He can feel the magic weigh on his mind, but whenever he gets close a jolt of anxiety shakes him back to his senses. He tries, at least, to not disturb Gongenzaka too much, even while he tucks himself as close to him as he can.