⇨ 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

[betheman]

"A...auhhh..." He's still holding the other's shoulders, though more loosely now. "...I...Is that so..."

They were roommates, so he's not sure how great a sign that is... "...I, the man Gongenzaka, suppose his own amusement would not have helped..."

[hippocarnival]

Maybe Yuya just knows Gon that much better.

He moves to pat Gon's arm, but stops when he focuses on his face and... it's kind of weird. So he just drops his hand awkwardly. "I don't think he'll hurt your reputation or anything. I'm more worried about your body..."

[betheman]

Ah, yes. This is probably super weird when he thinks about it, and for a moment, Gongenzaka has to stare at Zangetsu's dumb chalk-white arms for a bit as well.

Releasing Yuuya's shoulders, now...

Anyway. His- "...My...body? ...S-surely he would not do anything that would sufficiently injure it..!" Gongenzaka protests, only to pause. "...I...think...?"

oh no

[hippocarnival]

Yuya is doubtful.

"Because he's never sufficiently injured it before?" Gongenzaka's wellbeing is definitely not something Yuya trusts Zangetsu with.

"Come on, it's better if we find him sooner."

[betheman]

"Yuuya," he growls warningly, narrowing his eyes. "We have been through that- recall as well that Zangetsu himself was so upset about that incident that he removed his own limbs until I, the man Gongenzaka, had replaced it."

But, he does agree. "To find him sooner rather than later is indeed the preference, however.."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya crosses his arms stubbornly. "He's the reason you got a bunch of piercings and a tattoo while drunk."

Which doesn't do anything to improve Yuya's opinion even if he hasn't eaten anything else recently. He looks smat Gon expectantly, assuming he's going to soul search before they go.

[betheman]

"Mnhhhh...th- That still is not significant harm..!" Upsetting in the long run, certainly, but it's not...Harm right?

Anyway, with crossed arms he starts to focus- the aura he typically gives off coming off of Zangetsu's body, hilariously enough. "Hnnn....he should be...." Aha.

"This direction," he determines with a nod as he looks toward where they need to go.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks between Gongenzaka and the direction he indicates, before grabbing for his arm and starting to head right in that direction without another word.

[betheman]

Off they go then- it's a bit alarming to actually be tugged off like this, more alarming that it's...well, possible, but off they go!

"Auh...on the topic of Zangetsu...did he indicate what exactly he intended to do with my body, for at least the current moment..?"

[hippocarnival]

"Eat cakes and run into trees." And does Yuya trust it to end there? Nah. "Your hair was a mess when I found him."

[betheman]

He drags his hands down his face. "Aaaaaaauhh....of course...He can eat perfectly well within this false body of his, yet he must gorge himself anyway..!"

Apparently running into trees doesn't register as an issue. Possibly because he likens it to just body checking for training.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya is pretty sure the running into trees is going to be less 'body checking' and more 'concussion'.

He releases his hold on Gon's wrist, expression sour. "He keeps disrespecting you! Your body isn't his to do whatever he wants with!"

[betheman]

"Mnh-" That's enough to stumble a bit AGAIN. Yeesh-

Sputtering, he turns. "Auh- I, the man Gongenzaka, am well aware of that, Yuuya..! Do you presume I intend to let him get away with this without consequence??"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks over his shoulder. "It bothers you too, right? If you tell him to stop it then he should be listening!"

At least he assumes Gongenzaka is putting his foot down. Yuya's always seen him having far more self respect between the two of them.

[betheman]

"Yuuya," he persists, his voice firm. "This shall be the first, and only time it occurs at all- can you not be assured of that?" Honestly since every other time Something happened, one or both of them were 'indisposed' somehow, this is standing out in regard to Incidents.

So it's a little insulting that Yuuya is implying he won't handle it.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya stops, spinning on his heels. He doesn't consider the arm eating 'indisposed' but since Gongenzaka's forgiven that then he's going to let it go.

He puts his hands on his hips. "You know, he knew something wasn't right in Shabon? When you were split in half. You definitely weren't in your right mind and he still got you drunk! And now he's running around with your body just because he saw it there!"

And giving Gongenzaka no indication where he even is! Yuya's not impressed with this style of friendship.

[betheman]

"Aah, and we have both sworn not to drink again. It was a foolish act on both of our parts- this, we both understand."

Or they will until Zangetsu whines and decides they should drink Anyway.

But hey.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya is going to demand to be there next time he tries underage drinking.

But he doesn't exactly look convinced. "That's not the problem. You were only half yourself, you weren't thinking straight! Did he even apologize for it?"

[betheman]

"Of course!" He huffs. "He scarcely remembered all that we did together...but he apologized quite thoroughly for the alcohol, and any pain that resulted..."

Naturally he forgot about the other things. Like tattoos. And piercings.

[hippocarnival]

"But if he knew something was wrong, he shouldn't have been trying to do reckless stuff like drinking with you anyway! That's not making sure you're okay."

That's where Yuya's concern is. Not in the result, but in the intentions that caused it to begin with. "He's really careless with you... does that not bother you?"

[betheman]

"It is indeed upsetting..." he manages, sighing. It's pretty clear this is entering something of a lecture- odd as it is to be on this end of such a thing. "...However, he also learns, even if only a little, from what occurs. If Zangetsu did not appear to learn at all, or prove himself capable of care... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, would without mercy, sever our ties.

"...That is not the case, however." At the end of the day, Zangetsu's kind of a jerk, and definitely messed up, but he still cares about things.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's not convinced. He shouldn't have to learn every single specific thing not to do to Gongenzaka--he should learn to treat him with respect as a person.

His shoulders sink as is expression drops. "He needs to learn better than this."

But Yuya can't confront Zangetsu for Gon, not unless he asked. So he turns back around to continue searching.

[betheman]

"Aaauh, and I, the man Gongenzaka, do not disagree with that," he insists, blinking. "...Do you feel that I have not shown that..?" he eventually asks, genuinely worried now.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's expression twists before he sighs. "No, it's not you... it's just that he did it again and you deserve better. You're supposed to be his friend, not his--his plaything!"

There, that puts into words what about this bothers Yuya so much. That Gon might be something fun more than an actual person.

[betheman]

"...." That's an unexpected response- one that honestly has Gon...confused.

"...Again?" Since when was he losing his body that often!? (Is his thinking, at least, except-) "Y-Yuuya...you are not including the times where we were both otherwise inhibited...are you?"

here he is admitting he may or may not have gotten super drunk As A Pair,