⇨ THE SUMMER COURT

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone in the Summer Maiden's entourage.
When: Day 129 - Day 131 (Subjectively experienced as only one day.)
Where: The Summer Court
What: The Summer Maiden returns to the Summer Court for the first time in eons, leading a posse of carnival workers and Summer Fae. The Summer Queen has initiated a peaceful Elysium for discussions to take place, with dozens of the Court in attendance, but the true tone of the negotiations has yet to be unearthed.
Warnings: Fae being bitches.

SUNSET OF AN ERA↴ The phase shift takes few minutes to complete, when it's time. The Summer Maiden gathers everyone together - her guard of Summerland Fae, and her carnival wards - and activates the spell to bring them to the Summer Court. It's been planned with the Summer Queen, she says, and they should have her cooperation. Nothing has been settled in terms of negotiations, but at the very least, the Queen was not willing to shut down the opportunity to see her daughter for the first time eons, along with her lesser children, Ignatius and Gild. The Summer Maiden has recommended that everyone dress formally and conduct themselves with respect, but she is not forcing anyone to do so. It simply seems like the best way to make an impression. When they arrive in the Summer Court, they are in a courtyard. The Maiden's light magic fades and they will see themselves in a garden of alien trees, with golden towers rising up around them in all directions. Two Summer Court fae are waiting for them at an ornate gate, but it isn't until the Summer Maiden has claimed her role as an adjudicator or the present Elysium that she breaks the barrier surrounding her party. She tells everyone that it is safe to go forth but to be cautious. There is no way of knowing what direction negotiations will take. The guard leads them in, and they will find themselves in a spacious and life-filled throne room, with massive trees that function and supporting pillars and the throne itself. A variety of True Fae that the carnival has never seen before are scattered around the room, waiting with a thick air of tension. As the Summer Maiden leads them in, she will announce herself to the Queen, and claim all those present as under her protection. The introductions are brief, and after the Maiden is done, the Queen will ask to speak with her privately. There is a clear nervousness beneath the Queen's veneer of control. As the Maiden joins her at the throne to speak about personal matters, everyone else is free to explore the throne room and mingle - if they dare. ► STICKING OUT: There are some notable reactions going on as the Maiden's entourage arrives. In general, the Court Fae respond strongly to Ignatius's presence - both the fact that he's turned up as an ally to the Maiden, and his curious magical transformation. Ignatius, for his part, holds back and tries to keep to himself, looking like he's trying to hide a significant amount of stress. To the Gilded Mark, there is a particular note of resentment, which she mostly seems to ignore and focuses on staying close to the carnival folk. The Starlight, the Whirling Rainbow, and a few other Summerland Fae have come along, and they all hold back as the Summer Maiden discusses things with the Queen privately. In general, the Court Fae eye the carnival with a mixture of curiousity and disgust. ► TOUGH CROWD: There are dozens of Summer Court Fae here that no one will have seen before. They mill about the room as if this is an uncomfortable formal engagement, eyeing up the Maiden's entourage an gossiping with one another. The opinions they hold of the situation vary wildly - some seem more of the attitude that the Court would be better off if the Summer Maiden were to die and be replaced, where others are openly optimistic and excited about the potential of reparations being made. You are free to make up/NPC any of these fae as long as they aren't doing anything radical, like trying to break the Elysium. Some of them will treat the visitors as threats, while others may even attempt to ask them questions about the situation. ► ACCOMMODATIONS: There is food and drink provided while negotiations endure. Normally you may want to be cautious about accepting this kind of thing, but given that it's part of Elysium, they are obligated to not harm any of those present. So, if you want, you will be able to enjoy faerie ales and other luxury foods that have the capability of being distractingly tantalizing to mortals with low self control. If you need some space, you are free to go back out to the courtyard where you arrived. There are few fae out there, but it is still covered by the Elysium. Take some time to settle in - this could take a while, and there's sure to be drama before it's over. Later on, there will be public discussion.

Comments

[hippocarnival]

Yuya tilts his head back, looking at Lambert sadly. It takes a second, but then Yuya leans into the hold with a sigh.

"Guess I am too." Feeling sorry, if only sorry for himself. He pulls the glass to his lips and takes a small sip--and then gags, his face twisting in disgust as he tilts the wine away from him. "Ugh, gross!"

[whattaprick]

Yuya’s reaction to the drink just makes Lambert laugh.

“You like it better when you’re older,” he tells Yuya. Mostly because coping via substance dependency is a very real thing, and realizing a lot of things are shitty is an event that occurs more frequently as an adult, admittedly, but he won’t outright say that.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya thrusts the glass back at Lambert. Take it, he doesn't want it anymore. "I don't think I should be drinking here, anyway."

It's not a party. They have business, need to make a good impression, and sway the Summer Court. Being drunk is definitely not conducive for that, and Yuya's a lightweight.

[whattaprick]

Lambert doesn’t take it back just yet, regarding Yuya thoughtfully.

“Keep it,” he suggests instead, with a shrug. “It’s useful to have a prop to keep your hands busy. And you might find someone who needs it more than you do.”

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks at Lambert incredulously. Is he just screwing around with him? This feels a little like screwing around with him. "Why?"

[whattaprick]

Lambert may not be able to offer Yuya any real insight or comfort about Strange’s behavior and choices, but if nothing else, he can certainly provide a distraction. Even if it feels a little like screwing around.

“If a fae feels like messing with you by giving you a drink, you can say no thanks, I’ve already got one,” he explains. “If you see a fae who doesn’t have a drink and doesn’t look like they wanna be here, you can ask them if they’d like a drink. Easy way to start a conversation.”

[hippocarnival]

Yuya blinks, lifting his head. That makes sense, actually, and after it clicks with Yuya he nods.

"Okay." He doesn't hold the drink much close, but at least he stops trying to push it onto Lambert.

"Um... thanks for checking up on me." He's not sure what to say beyond that when he just complained about Lambert's best friend. At least he didn't seem offended.

[whattaprick]

Lambert snorts. “Don’t thank me,” he says, tail lazily lashing. “It’s mostly self interest. The less of us there are in the room, the fewer there are of us for them to stare at and act superior to. I need backup out there.”

He reaches over to give Yuya a gentle poke in the ribs.

“Besides, you wanted to be here, didn’t you? Hiding in a courtyard the whole time because Strange is being an ass can’t possibly be all you were planning to do.”

[hippocarnival]

Yuya absently swats at his hand, missing. "No..."

'Being an ass' feels too light for the raw pain it's left him with. He'd like to be wrong, to be proven it is just Strange lashing out and he'd never really leave them like nothing. But he's not so naive to believe that in face of repeated evidence it's true.

He doesn't really want to deal with the hostility of the fae, either, but he did say he'd go. He can't back out now. So Yuya moves to stand up, steadying on his feet. "Are the Summer Maiden and Queen still talking?"

[whattaprick]

“They are,” Lambert affirms. “Seems like they’ll be at it a while longer, so we’ve got some time yet. It’s not too cheerful out there — got a lot of fae gossiping about Ignatius.”

[hippocarnival]

"Yeah... I guess they would," Yuya agrees, his tone full of sympathy. It can't be easy for him at all, especially without his family here. "I don't think he regrets it, but... it'd be nice if this could've been a little easier for him."

Well, that's why they'll just stand by his side, right? But Yuya knows they don't really replace his family and place in the Court... still, he seems to consider them worth defending. And Yuya won't turn away that kindness at all.

"He's still figuring out what he is, too."

[whattaprick]

“Somehow, I think it not being easy is part of the point,” Lambert shrugs. He’s less worried about Ignatius’s delicate feelings, but then again, it’s not as though he’s really been exposed to them. All that being said...

“He’s expected to speak later, so he’d better figure out what he is fast, or pretend he knows. It’s a tough crowd.”

[hippocarnival]

"He knows this crowd better than we do." So Yuya's sure he knows, especially when it comes to dealing with the Summer Queen.

"I'd say we could speak up to support him, but... it's really his side that's going to make ours believable to them." He drags his claws against the glass lightly. "I didn't think they were going to be this unhappy to see us."

[whattaprick]

Lambert blinks.

"Well, of course they're unhappy to see us. That's not much of a surprise, is it? The Maiden and the rest of the Summerlands split off for a reason." He drums his fingers against his thigh.

"We can't support Ignatius if he's not speaking himself." He glances at Yuya. "I'm surprised Strange isn't out there talking him up."

He'd certainly been happy enough to before. The one time it would actually come in handy...

[hippocarnival]

Yuya frowns, wanting to contest that wasn't exactly what he was getting at before his attention is drawn to Ignatius. He knew that Strange made an effort for him, and it was his and Rita's belief that drove Yuya to give him a chance. But Yuya's reminded of the things Strange said in Polaris.

There's nothing saying he didn't already talk to Ignatius. He's been kind of broody. Yuya wants to hope at least their friendship isn't totally misplaced, especially since he's still wearing the cape.

"Maybe I will..." Talk to Ignatius, when he's standing there all alone. Knock together some ideas or just keep each other from getting isolated in the tension.

[whattaprick]

Lambert, lacking the ability to read what's on Yuya's mind, misunderstands his response and smirks.

"Well, Ignatius certainly isn't going to be doing that himself, is he?" Bragging about himself, that is. "Maybe you should."