⇨ 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]

"Wh-"

Well that's about the worst thing to continue with. If he hadn't split in half before, he likely would this time! "What do you mean by that..!?" Sure, Yuuya said it's not a bad thing but...It's Yuuya! Of course he would..!

"Does it seem as if...I, the man Gongenzaka, am not acting as myself?!"

Considering the singing was because people egged him into it, and the 'suave gestures' really weren't and were just Gon trying hard, and Yuuya being easy to win over...

Well.

[hippocarnival]

"N--no!" Yuya's fingers dig a little as his grip tightens in defensiveness, but he has the sense to let go quickly and pull his hands back. "You're unmistakable, you definitely haven't stopped acting like yourself!"

He scratches the back of his head, averting his gaze as his head spins trying to come up with a way to explain it. "It's just... I've started learning new things about you lately. I guess I took being your best friend for granted."

It was easy to assume he knew everything when they were close, as if Gongenzaka didn't have hidden sides to him. After all, his other best friend he grew up side by side since infancy, so there's an unmatched degree of familiarity that he couldn't make up in three years.

He absently tangles his fingers together. "But I like seeing it, the Gongenzaka that sings and likes tongue piercings."

He looks up, sticking his own tongue out playfully. "And I want to get to know the part of you I haven't seen yet. I'm okay with surprises."

[betheman]

"Auh-" There is a lot of startled sounds going between the two, considering this was a peaceful date. But as things settle back into one holding silence as the other explains, it hopefully means the entire matter will return to peace again.

Gongenzaka blinks, and blinks slowly- and even as he blushes, he finds himself making stammering excuses. "A-Auh...well...singing, itself, was only recent, due to the Carnival itself, but...ah-" He chokes a bit as he spots Yuuya's stuck out tongue, before giving a laugh that seems caught between a cough. "W-Well! Then I, the man Gongenzaka, shall have to see if there is ever such a surprise again, I suppose..!" Though, he himself sort of hopes no, he's not sure his heart could take it otherwise!

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's more expectant that he'll discover new things about Gongenzaka. Next time, he'l try and look for it himself. His thoughts start to carry his focus away with it, so he loses a little touch with everything except Gon in front of him.

Yuya reaches to grab Gongenzaka's hand in both of his as he stammers, looking up at him with a smile full of affection. This time, he doesn't say anything to fill in the silence.

and now we fade out...

[betheman]

His hand is taken, and the stammering quiets. With silence, there can be more silence- a comfortable sort, between them in the fading light around them. So in the silence, Gongenzaka sighs, and settles for a softer and more natural smile.

...

And of course, moves to spend the next bit of it holding Yuuya close. Watch your back there, buddy. This is dates with Gon.