lostcarnival | ⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

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⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

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.

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"A play." Maybe Yuya's leaving hints so he knows it won't be taken poorly when they get there. He has a vague idea what the story is from asking the performers, although they aren't going to watch from a very traditional seating arrangement.

"I found a really good view." He points ahead, where the pathway curves and there walls open up to overlook the areas below with plenty of space between the arches.

"Oh-!" A play! Well, that seems like a good bit of fun for sure. Gongenzaka slowly follows, and looks about at the arches and decorations decorating the area as they enter. "...A good view indeed...is this what they have in place for balcony seating, Yuuya..?" He sounds at least a little surprised- he feels as if he shouldn't be, given where they are of course...

But he is, just a little.

"Kind of."

Yuya stops where the pathway bends, letting go of Gon's hand and turning around to gesture out the archway to the roof that extends to cover the room below it. "You first."

There is a stage visible from there, with floating lights giving it a glow so that it can be seen as the sun starts to set. Nobody's there yet, but other fae are sitting around in the grass in front of it, talking amongst themselves.

...Kind of? Gongenzaka almost mouths the words in question, but slowly follows and then moves farther as per Yuuya's request. It's quite a beautiful chamber- an equally beautiful overhang, and for a moment Gongenzaka's attentions are entirely stolen by that.

And then slowly he spies the stage, blinking. "Auh...! ...Yuuya, they are aware we will be watching from here, I hope..!" he exclaims, unable to keep awkward worries of 'illegal activities' from coming into things. (As if they would have to pay for this anyway..!)

"It's fine, Gongenzaka!" They're not aware but Yuya's pretty sure no one's going to care.

Once Gongenzaka is through the archway and onto the rooftop, Yuya follows him. He stops and turns at the opening to pick up some basket that's barely holding closed, before coming up to Gon's side.

"You should sit," he suggests, before moving to do just that.

"Auh, yes..!" The reply comes out a little quickly, but he means well, certainly. There is a bit of pacing around the room before he's even told to sit at all- but as he comes over to do just that and sees the basket, he finds his face heating up a little bit.

And sit, he does. "...Ah...Yuuya...what is in there..?"

Yuya smiles as he flips open the lid, pressing his hands carefully to a teapot inside before pulling it out. There's a couple cups as well and a haphazard assortment of biscuits and cookies.

"It's still warm." He balances the pot in one hand so that he can fill a cup before offering it to Gongenzaka. "Here--it's better to eat something while we watch, right? Since it'd be dinner time soon..."

Or was already dinner time, whatever.

Gongenzaka's expression certainly grows more and more elated, if at least intrigued, with what is all revealed. He honestly has to remind himself it's all happening before realizing Yuuya is offering him a cup right then, and he takes it in his metal hand without words.

They are, at least for a moment, caught in his mouth. "AUH- Y- Yes, of course, I-!"

...

"...Did you prepare all of this yourself..?"

Yuya shakes his head. "No, I asked one of the fae what tea was good, and then I took a bunch of snacks from one of the banquets."

He assumes Gongenzaka means the food? Now he's wondering if it should be more homemade next time, if he'd like that.

Yuya pours his own cup, then sets the teapot onto the roof and shoves a cookies whole into his mouth. He chews quite audibly as he looks down at the stage. His nerves have settled into some sort of buzzing in the back of his head, tolerable but almost ready to come bursting back out.

"Oh--they're dimming the lights. It'll probably start soon."

"Auh-" Not quite that. "I, the man Gongenzaka, did not mean literally, I assure you..! The mere set up of everything is already-"

The lights begin to dim as he speaks, and Gongenzaka hushes himself, already half taking a cookie as he looks toward the stage. "Auh..." His voice quieter, he whispers- "...Do you know what sort of show, they will be presenting..?"

"I think it's a heroic story?" Something that's not quite the flavor of the historical fantasy or poetry Gongenzaka's more likely to read, so much as a fairy tale... but it's probably as close as they can get, so he hopes he'll like it.

Yuya adjusts his position so he's facing the stage, and not quite touching Gongenzaka but sitting very close at his side. He cradles the tea in his hand, attentive as much out of his own interest in the play.

Despite the abundance of magic, the props seem to be minimal and it's a pretty simple stage. But the actor's voices carry as if they're right in front of them.

"A heroic tale..?" Certainly sounds interesting enough- Gongenzaka nods, and smiles, adjusting himself a bit so that he's sitting more comfortably by the other. As the play starts, he'll be sipping casually at his tea- as he gets drawn into the story and the music however, it is soon very quickly forgotten. His ears are perked toward the stage, and his eyes do not waver.

Yuya offers a smile before their attention is captured by the play. It's a bold and dramatic story, following the actions of a summer fae as she pursues a quest of dignity and honor, defending mortal worlds from winter fae and making a name for herself across the multiverse. It culimates into fending off an entire attack on the world she stands on, singlehandedly. She also picks up a couple lovers in a torrid romantic affair by the end of the story. The character dynamics are kind of soap opera-y, which probably isn't surprising from the fae.

Yuya's engrossed with the tale, but not quite as much as Gongenzaka. All through the performance he steals glances his way, smiling warmly as he gauges his reaction to it.

At the end of it Yuya claps, despite not being in the audience proper.

It's definitely not surprising, especially if he thinks about the sort of thing that appealed to the Ringmaster; given that the Summer Maiden and her ilk were friends with her, he figures they have to at least have slightly similar tastes in the show.

Gon is snapped from his almost trance-like state of attention by the sound of Yuuya's clapping, the larger one joining in the motion with a nod and a smile. A good show!!

Yuya grins wider, turning his attention up to Gongenzaka. "You liked it?"

He thought it was nice, of course, but he's really interested in Gongenzaka's impression. Yuya's doing this all for him, after all.

Gongenzaka nods eagerly, turning to Yuuya now. "Mn!! It was well done- despite so few props, and scenery, I, the man Gongenzaka, could envision what was being conveyed perfectly..!"

This may or may not have been magic. Who knows.

Yuya just grins wider. By this point, the sun has fallen enough that the stars are becoming visible--and briefly, Yuya thinks they frame Gongenzaka nicely with the dark sky.

He nods once, humming with confirmation. "I liked it, too, but I'm really glad that you did."

Blindly, he reaches for Gongenzaka's hand, trying to find it with his own. "What about the tea?"

"AH-" The blind fumbling catches him off guard, and he hurriedly moves his nearest hand so that Yuuya can take it without knocking anything over. "It was a wonderful tea, of course..!" he laughs softly, blinking. "...Yuuya- did you worry that I, the man Gongenzaka, would find it unpleasant?"

Frankly he'd be surprised if they couldn't make a decent tea here,

"I--" Well, kind of. Yuya averts his gaze sheepishly, his fingers tangling with Gongenzaka's.

"I just wanted to make sure I got it right." The date, making guesses of what Gongenzaka would like, trying to make it special. Strange talked him down from being such a perfectionist about it, but... that doesn't mean he stopped wanting better than good.

Gongenzaka leans down a bit, so that Yuuya can better see his face...and then, rather abruptly, Yuuya will probably not see anything at all as he's sandwiched in a massive hug.

~~Crunch.~~

"...It is more than 'right'," he assures the other, nuzzling him with a grin. "It was wonderful..! And is, still, wonderful!!"

Ok but air,

Yuya's gaze flickers up as Gongenzaka leans into his view--and then his choking is promptly muffled by Gon's shoulder as he's squished into the hug. He twitches helplessly for a second before he squirms enough to at least free his face before he suffocates.

"I'm--glad, Gongenzaka!" His smile is a little strained, but he gives up trying to push himself out of Gon's hold. He knows that won't go anywhere. Maybe he can distract him into loosening up a little.

Yuya tilts his head to press his lips to the side of Gongenzaka's.

Distractions will certainly be more effective- as soon as Yuuya's lips connect, Gongenzaka freezes a bit, turning automatically as he loosens his hold on the other. "Mnh- Yuuya-?" he starts, blinking.

Yuya sucks in a sharp breath when he can breath again, leaning back a little. When Gongenzaka turns back to him, Yuya offers a crooked, hesitant smile. "What... should I ask every time I'm about to kiss you?"

The distraction might be successful, but he doesn't know how he feels about that look.

"MNH!! That- of course not!" Gongenzaka protests, sputtering. "It is simply something I, the man Gongenzaka, am yet growing used to..!! That is all!!" PLEASE DON'T STOP DOING THE KISS THING,

"Oh." Yuya gives Gongenzaka a teasing look, leaning in closer to him again. "So what you're saying is I should kiss you more so you can get used to it, right?"

There are zero flaws in this logic.

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