⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 119 - Day 126
Where: The Summerlands
What: Ignatius and Gild portal everyone to the Summerlands, with hopes of appealing to the Summer Maiden for help. Meanwhile, the carnival gets the chance to relax in luxury as only tentatively welcome guests. Here is the location write up from the last time the carnival visited. Since then, of course, some things have changed.
Warnings: Nothing in particular.

THE SUN RISES↴ After taking the time to rest, Ignatius and Gild will be able to pool together their energy to portal the carnival (and the airship) to the Summerlands. Those still in Polaris will be left to their own devices for the moment as Gild intends to ask for the Summerlands aid in relocating them, hopefully as soon as possible. With the effort the carnival put into sorting things out in there, however, they should be fine on their own for a little while, at least. They will arrive in the flowery fields at the base of the mountains, and soon the Summer Fae will notice their presence. Since the last time they visited, however, the atmosphere has changed. ► YOUR ARRIVAL: As the Summer Fae discover the group's arrival, it will quickly become apparent that there is a tension present that wasn't there any of the other times the carnival has visited. The Summer Maiden comes to greet the group personally, with an entourage of armed Summer Fae. They are not at all aggressive unless provoked, but there is clearly a wariness that is new. They seem uncertain about Ignatius being here, and while Gild will be able to do a lot of the talking and smooth things over, the Summer Maiden will deflect having a serious conversation about affairs until the carnival has taken time to 'rest.' It's more likely that the Maiden needs a moment to think over this new information before dealing with it. ► SUMMER CITY: After the Summer Fae become aware of everyone's presence, and the initial uncertainties are accommodated, they will invite you into their city. There are stairs that lead up the sides of the mountains, but thankfully there are also magical means of getting up there as well. The Summer Fae will be willing to help workers with the injured as needed, offering herbal remedies and healing magic to those that want it. You'll also be invited to join them for dinner, but it feels like more of a formality, and no one is obligated to take them up on it. ► SUMMER PEOPLE: The fae here will do their best to entertain these new visitors - but it doesn't seem that much happens here besides day after day of peaceful meditation and relaxation. It is not uncommon to see Summer Fae spent days doing exactly the same thing, whether that be enjoying the weather, listening to music, or dancing - the day and night periods may be similar to earth, but when you don't need rest it can all blur together just the same. Some of the fae work on feats of agriculture or craftsmanship, and while there is no particularly need to work in this place, they take pride in the fact that they do. ► FAMILIAR FACES: One very different thing about the Summerlands this go around is that there appears to be a small settlement built at the base of the mountains, filled entirely with the former residents of the Manor. Alyss and Reyna will explain that they set up a place to live down there with the Summer Fae's help, and that the fae seems to be trying to remain hands off except when they are needed. The Manor folk overall seem to be doing well, though there is some tension regarding their place in the Summerlands - they are clearly seen as refugees, and while the Summer Fae do their best to help them, the arrival of the carnival and the request for even more help with refugee aid seems to be making things awkward. ► OF THINGS TO COME: The Summer Maiden will remain distant for the first few days, but according to Gild and based on personal observation, it will seem that the news that the Ringmaster has been taken and the idea that even more desperate mortals are requesting to come here are putting her at significant ill ease. She's not rude or dismissive, but she seems reluctant to address the situation head on, though she has said that she will hold a meeting with the carnival later in the week to discuss everything in more detail. None of them seem particularly angry or resentful, but they seem to regard the carnival as an ill portent of things to come.

Comments

[hippocarnival]

"I know!" Yuya calls over the incessant tugging of the fae, slowly leading him deeper into the floor and the crowd. He cranes his neck to keep his eyes on Gongenzaka. "I think--they really want to dance!"

The tugging stops for a moment as the two fae stop and finally turn their attention to Gon. Yuya teeters on his feet slightly before one of them disengages and runs for him.

"You come dance with us too!"

[betheman]

"HAAAAH!?" Well, this is going to suck. He can't really argue with anyone without making it awkward, so instead he just looks very flustered, and rather puffed up. "D- Me!? I, the man Gongenzaka, am not built for dancing you know!"

Says the gold medalist in space horse dancing.

[hippocarnival]

"Ridiculous! You have twice the legs for it."

It's a losing argument given the informality of the dance. The fae seems quite intent on getting herself a partner. Yuya's already a lost cause, and while Gongenzaka could reasonably free himself...

"You should join us!" Yuya's making that escape a little bit difficult.

[betheman]

"I-I, the man Gongenzaka, do not even know how I am meant to join..!" Of course, even as he says that, this fae no doubt has his hands easy, and he has little choice except to awkwardly follow with his feet somehow.

"AaaAAaauuuuh..."

[hippocarnival]

The dancing itself is pretty forgiving of simple and mismatched steps, at least, with many of them changing the actual style of their movements intermittently with the band's music. Despite the concerns for his size, the others seem to move quite effectively to give him room--provided he doesn't jump around too suddenly.

The fae that pulled him in floats up, bringing herself more to his eye level to dance in the air. A couple others join her, not including the one presently twirling around with Yuya.

[betheman]

Well, there are certainly no sudden movements from Gongenzaka..! If anything he's quite stiff, to the likely amusement of the fae pulling him around. Being surrounded by floating fae is....a little interesting?

...Intimidating??

"S-Surely I, the man Gongenzaka, am not so appealing a dance choice..." Wrong, such denial is adorably appealing.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya could tell him a thing or two about resistence only making the success more enticing, if he wasn't currently being made dizzy by a fae who wants to spin in far too many circles.

The fae in front of Gongenzaka only laughs and holds out her hand, like she's asking to dance together. "You are all our guests, and that makes you desirable in itself."

[betheman]

That, needless to say, gets a bunch of choking- though he does take the hand at least. "Th- I- I can certainly not deny this, I suppose..!!" Though, he does glance toward Yuuya, as if to ask for help.

From the one who needs help as well.

Mmm.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's pretty sure he's starting to experience vertigo.

It takes a minute before the grip on his hands is lose enough that he manages to pull himself free and stumbles Gongenzaka's direction. Given their height difference, the best he can do is press his hand to Gon's lower shoulder... hip... area as he stabilizes himself, blinking rapidly. He knew they could be hard to keep up with, not feeling the same exhaustion, but still...

He looks up, to see Gongenzaka currently caught in the middle of partners. And then just blurts out the first save he can think of. "We should dance, Gongenzaka!"

[betheman]

"AUH-" THIS IS YOUR IDEA OF A SAVE?! And yet, he can't deny that between Yuuya and the rapid whirlwind of excited fae, this is probably the best option.

He also can't deny the preference, and is blushing a tad. "Auhhh- Y-Yes!" he finally manages, coughing. "If we are to dance, then...together, should be how..!"

nailed it

[hippocarnival]

He would like to hear a better option!

"Y... yeah." Yuya steps back, looking up at Gongenzaka and offering his hand. It's from like, five feet below so Gongenzaka's going to have to figure out how the height difference is going to work.

At least Yuya's declaration gets the nearby fae to stop, and they look between each other before drifting back to give the boys some space... provided they're actually going to dance.

[betheman]

There's always a catch, isn't there. Gongenzaka coughs, and slowly moves to reach his arms down for the other, stooped a fair bit just to close the gap. It's going to be a very Awkward dance, short of any fae stepping in with some well placed charms just to fix all of this- but it's not like either of them plan to really ask, either. Just, erm...

Slow and tentative step to one side...ah...

[hippocarnival]

Gongenzaka's definitely got the greater struggle, and an amused smile starts to tug at Yuya's lips at he stoops down and Yuya reaches for his hands. Yuya will follow his lead with the slower pace, which is for the best since it still takes more stride for Yuya to keep up with his size anyway.

"You said you found people who danced with you at the ball, right?" It's not really a pleasant memory, but... it is the memory of Gongenzaka finding some way of pulling this off with others.

[betheman]

And...tiny step...right....left... "Mnh-" He was so focused in the motions, it took a moment to realize he was being asked something. "Auh! Yes, actually... ...in fact, I, the man Gongenzaka, believe one of them was Jasper..."

That really tall orange gem, actually. Huh.

"...A...admittedly, those whom I, the man Gongenzaka, danced with were...closer to my size..." Awkward.

[hippocarnival]

"And Connie, right?" She's a little closer to Yuya's size, so he can't help being a little curious how that went, now. He never asked Gongenzaka to dance, after all. "How'd that go?"

[betheman]

"Mn-! That is right, Connie as well..." Heck, he forgot that. "I... ..."

...huh.

"I, the man Gongenzaka, am rather amazed that we were able to..." Sadly, that whole ballroom fog makes it hard for him to remember clearly the events of the...well. Ball itself.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya shrugs a shoulder. "Maybe that'd be easier."

A waltz, that is, than trying to keep up with the spinning excitement around them. The song isn't too fast, after all. Yuya's pretty sure he remembers the steps, and there's something comforting in something practiced when there's so many eyes in the room.

[betheman]

"Even if it were easier, I, the man Gongenzaka, am glad that I shall remember this dance, with clarity..!" Ah, but as he says that, there they go starting the waltz...So he realizes what Yuuya meant.

Ahem. "....This is also easier."

Oop

[hippocarnival]

That's a step above Yuya who hasn't followed anything in the dancing after he was spun in fast circles. He moves to adjust his hands with Gongenzaka's, mimicking what he'd learned from the Prince's Manor... wow, months ago. It feels like ages have been passing, but the truth is he hasn't been gone a year. Gongenzaka, though...

He shifts onto his toes to try and close the massive height difference between them. It doesn't do a lot of good.

[betheman]

Boy it really doesn't. Gongenzaka himself is trying very awkwardly to lower himself on his forelimbs, at least enough that if he were not a 'taur', he would probably look a bit like any animal trying to belly crawl through a hole. As it is it makes it...a bit easier to shufflewaltz.

...

Shuffle shuffle.

[hippocarnival]

"So... we're taking dancing out of things to do together in the future," Yuya jokes lightly, honestly not sounding broken up about that. He's not against it, Gongenzaka just looks... so awkward. He can't imagine it's enjoyable at all like this.

[betheman]

"AUH- Th- That is not necessarily true..!" he sputters, even while shuffling. "It is odd, certainly, but, it isn't..." ...Not? Enjoyable?

He just needs to sort it all out, CLEARLY!

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's gaze drifts to Gon's awkwardly hunched back, thwn his bent legs, and then just... pats his arm consolingly.

It's okay buddy, he can tell this is awkward. "I don't really mind. We do plenty of other things together."

[betheman]

"Mnnh- But...!" No, he can't shorten the list of things to do! He mustn't..! He-

...He immediately stands, pulling Yuuya up with him- though he does stretch out a number of vines for added support first. "...What about, like this?" he questions, the idea coming swiftly. "...This is better, yes?"

Bet the fae are into that one, at least.

[hippocarnival]

"Whoa--" Yuya's grip tightens briefly, and then his feet just... dangle helplessly as he's up in the air in Gongenzaka's arms. Truthfully, the vines probably aren't even necessary given how thin Yuya is.

He laughs humorously and places his hand back on Gon's shoulder, deciding not to point out this means Yuya's not actually dancing anymore. "Yeah, that's fine."