⇨ 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

[kingsroads]

"Queens can't do everything by themselves. The Winter Queen must have had retainers, servants, people who helped her in her day to day life. They might not know the ins and outs of how the Silver Mirror works, but they might have at least seen her use it. And honestly, with how little we know, I'll take any scrap of information."

Granted, he doesn't have any idea who those retainers and servants might be. Frost comes to mind but a: he doubts he can actually talk to Frost without summoning him or going straight to the Winter Court himself and b: Frost is a shit who most likely won't help at all. Still, they must have existed at some point. And hell, if there are still fae who know about the Blue Rose, then there might be some who know about the Silver Mirror.

[hippocarnival]

"Maybe..." Yuya rubs the back of his neck. "I don't think Childermass doesn't want you to learn more about the Silver Mirror, but if that's the case... it's dangerous to get any closer to the Winter Queen, right? And the people around her. I guess it's like that for Steven, too, because he can't talk to the Rose Queen about anything that happened when he touched the Rose."

Really, going back to the Athenaeum would probably be a better bet, if they haven't been totally banned from it. "It's probably too dangerous for any of us to try and get closer to the Winter Court right now, when the Winter Queen's been after the carnival. But maybe there's other places we can get answers about the mirror."

[kingsroads]

"The problem there is that I doubt we'll go to any of those other places any time soon. I suspect most of the carnival will want to save the Ringmaster, so off to the Wyldlands we'll go." And, based on Strange's little frown, he doesn't think that the Wyldlands will be of any use in figuring out more about the Mirror.

"And after that, if we save the Ringmaster...well, my year's almost up. I'm going home as soon as it passes."

There's not much of a window of time and Strange suspects that there won't be any time in the window where he can actually go ask someone himself. He's frowning a little, though it's more of a contemplative frown than a mad at the situation sort of frown.

[hippocarnival]

That's right. Yuya chews on his lip briefly. "I don't think we're going to the Winter Court anytime soon, either."

Not unless they're forced, anyway, so that stands to have the same problem. Unless Strange is planning on running off to the Winter Court on his own, but Yuya's going to hope he's not that reckless.

He perks up, then, turning on his heels to face Strange. "But you know, I still have almost another year before Gongenzaka's contract is over. Even if we leave, then, that's a lot of time I'll still be with the carnival. How about I keep looking into the mirror for you? And I'll make sure you get everything I learn."

If they manage to keep the Silver Mirror, and if they're still knee deep in fae business, Yuya thinks it's not a far stretch that there will be plenty of opportunity to understand it better when they're a little safer.

[kingsroads]

Strange is certainly not that reckless. Besides, he's not going to put the carnival in danger. Any dealings with the Winter Court that the carnival doesn't deal with, it will just be him doing it on his own, after he's left.

Yuya's statement takes him a little by surprise. Strange honestly looks a bit shocked, like he didn't expect Yuya to actually say something like this, before his expression settles into a smile. "You've got to promise not to put yourself in any risk," Strange quickly lectures. "You aren't going to get hurt on my account. But...yes, I think I'd like that."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya smiles back brightly, pleased that his suggestion is being taken well.

"I promise not to do anything dangerous or risky." Yuya puts a hand to his chest with the declaration. He's wary enough about the artifacts and concerned about continuing to fit in properly in his own world that he doesn't want to end up with any other weird, probably permanent alterations. And they have so many world-hopping friends, now, he has no doubt he'll be able to get all that information to Strange back home. Maybe he can even make a personal visit.

[kingsroads]

"Good," Strange says, with a little nod. His smile shifts a little as he gently starts teasing. "And you shouldn't do anything that Gongenzaka or the Ringmaster think dangerous or risky either. You're a good pupil and I adore our conversations, but I wouldn't put it past you to try and befriend a Winter Fae and get yourself into trouble that way."

Says the person who would also chat up a Winter Fae and get himself into trouble. Do as he says, not as he does.

[hippocarnival]

"Hey, I didn't get in trouble with Ignatius!" He pouts, but there's not a lot of fire behind it. He knows Strange is just teasing (as the one who has a significantly worse track record with the Fae).

"I'm going to stick close to people I can trust, so don't worry. I'm not giving up on going home at the end, either."

[kingsroads]

"Good," Strange explains, with a little nod. "I trust you, Yuya—hell, I trust you more than I trust half the carnival. If you say that you'll do this and you'll keep yourself out of trouble, then I've no reason to think otherwise."

Getting that promise out of him was the one thing that Strange was worried the most about. Yuya's a good kid, but Strange could easily see him running himself ragged or working too hard for the expense of others.

[hippocarnival]

It's not an off assumption, especially if Yuya's running ragged for someone he honestly worries about more than most people in the carnival. But he also has a lot of people to keep him in check, and he's at least a little less self destructive.

He laughs shyly, rubbing the back of his head. "I won't let you down."

His expression slips a little when he remembers something. "Uh--but if you're leaving at the end of this contract, does that mean you're not going to have the Ringmaster break your curse?"

Last he heard, the plan for that was another contract.

[kingsroads]

"What? Oh, she already broke it."

Did he forget to tell Yuya this? Shit, he probably forgot to tell Yuya this. In Strange's defense, he's had a completely bonkers past few weeks, he's allowed to forget a few things!

[hippocarnival]

"She did?!" Yuya mirrors Strange's surprise. "And she didn't ask for another contract?"

Well, if his time is almost up, she must not have. So he's free, and when he goes home he'll be able to be with Arabella proper.

"That's great, Mr. Strange!"

[kingsroads]

He can't help but smile, giving Yuya a wide grin as he continues talking. "She didn't. Admittedly, she was a little hesitant about the whole thing, but I figured there wasn't any harm in asking. When I return home, I'll return to Arabella."

And man alive is that the best feeling around. It's a little bit of happiness just lingering in Strange's chest. Because he will return home. And he will return to Arabella. There's just no doubt about it.

[hippocarnival]

Fae have a Thing about favors, so that only cements for Yuya that it was a big request, and that the Ringmaster really cares to have still done it. They definitely have to save her.

"That's good... it's been really hard with the carnival, but I'm glad there's still been good things coming out it." His voice is light with relief. "I guess I won't have to ask the Summer Maiden for help after all."

[kingsroads]

"Even if I didn't have the curse broken, I'd tell you to ask the Summer Maiden for help with the carnival as a whole, not just me." Strange frowns a little, looking down at his hands as he continues talking. "My magic is only grown since I arrived here. I might not have been able to break the curse when I first signed onto the carnival, but now? Who knows."

Lord knows the fae in Strange's world didn't plan for things like 'this one dude getting infected by powerful faerie artifact cooties.'

"Besides, everyone as a whole needs help more than I individually do."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's expression twists with bemusement. "But we also have everyone helping each other to get through this. Something that only hurts you is a little different."

It wouldn't be as many people's priority, especially in the short term with all the danger. And without the danger, there's nothing more urgent for Yuya to use it on anyway.

"And I want everyone to get through this and recover, but they're not all my teacher and a close friend, either." That's said with a pointed look.

[kingsroads]

Strange blinks a little as Yuya points out the fact that he's a friend. He blushes slightly, shaking his head a little.

"I know you do. But I can't go home until I survive all of this first," said with a vague hand gesture to all of the Summerland's everything.

[hippocarnival]

"I know that." Yuya raises a brow. They're all in the same situation there, after all. It wasn't exactly the point he was making, though. "And I think you will. We survived escaping the Moth of Invention, didn't we?"

[kingsroads]

"By the skin of our teeth," Strange sighs. He gets that Yuya's trying to be helpful and trying to reassure him, but Strange is still a bit adamant that Yuya focus on others (but mostly himself) instead of Strange. He takes a moment to think about if this is the argument he really wants to have right now...before deciding no, it isn't, and he backs down a little.

"I just worry that the next time, we won't be so lucky." Because in Strange's mind, that's the only reason they managed to survive that last fight.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's expression slips. They talked about this the last time, too. He's a little sad that Strange still thinks its luck.

"I don't think it's luck to have people that will come help us when we need it." That goes for Ignatius, too. It wasn't luck that Gild cared enough about him to keep an eye on him while he was in danger, so she'd know when to come. "I mean, we couldn't plan for what Creation was going to do, but everything else... we did that, together."

It's adamant, but as soon as Yuya says it his expression scrunches a little when something occurs to him. "You're part of the carnival. You're one of us too--you see that, right?"

[kingsroads]

Strange can't help but frown a little as he looks over at Yuya. He's not entirely sure what Yuya might be getting at. A moment later, his little frown shifts to a curious expression as Strange continues,

"Of course I'm part of the carnival. I'm stuck with all of you, aren't I?"

For all that he really doesn't want to be, here he is.

[hippocarnival]

That kind of phrasing is something Yuya would probably normally brush off with a joke. But he's just a little uncertain this time, when Strange seems to be pulling away--despite saying before how much he wanted to be a priority of someone here. Maybe Yuya didn't manage to breech the exact issue, after all.

"I don't think of it like that," he admits slowly, averting his gaze to the side. "Being stuck with everyone. We've dealt with a lot of awful things, and I want to go home but... there are still people here that are important to me. It's not just that we all happened to sign a contract with the Ringmaster, right? We've survived all of this together."

Yuya's not sure if he's saying what he's feeling right, either. There's so much they've all done together for each other that he sees.

[kingsroads]

It's obvious that Strange has a different view of things than Yuya does. He lightly bites his lip before he continues to talk.

"That's the thing," Strange admits, with a little frown. "We have survived all this so far but if I was given the chance to go home? I'd take it. No matter the consequences, no matter what happened to the rest of everyone, I'd take it."

He shifts, a little uncomfortably, before continuing. "If I was given the chance to go home, I'd have abandoned you all in Polaris."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya blinks rapidly, gripped by initial surprise as he stares at Strange. It's jarring, when for him Strange has always been kind and supportive.

Yuya shakes his head, leaning a little closer as he scrutinizes him. "Really? Would you? And not regret it? There's nothing as long as you've been here that matters enough that you'd protect it?"

Protect them, because what is the carnival but the people that made it up. His voice is challenging, because it's easier to disbelieve what Strange is saying as stress. That if really faced with it he'd pull through, because he cares. His focus is heavy, looking for any sign of uncertainty.

[kingsroads]

Almost instantly, Strange is paralyzed with indecision. He sees Yuya looking at him and his first instinct is just to run, because he doesn't want to have this conversation, he doesn't want to do something where he almost loses a friend again just because he tries to be honest and say what's on his mind. There's a brief moment where Strange just looks fucking terrified as he considers the merits of ending this conversation here and now.

But, he sticks it out, looking for all the world like he just does not want to be here.

"I'd regret part of my choices no matter what. And I'd protect people as long as I remain with the carnival. But I...we've almost died. We keep almost dying, for the past few months it's been a weekly occurrence. Hell, I already died once already! If everything is going to continue to try and kill me, then I'd rather they try and kill me after I returned to Arabella."