lostcarnival | ⇨ THE SUMMER COURT

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⇨ THE SUMMER COURT

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.

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Strange doesn't move. Instead, he lets Childermass grab onto his shoulders and moves his arms to help support him and keep him upright. He should be triumphant and gloating about this. After all, he did break a spell placed on Childermass by the Raven King, something that is more terrifying the more Strange thinks about it. But that's just it: he broke a spell placed on Childermass by the Raven King. And though Strange wishes he had an answer as to why the man would do something like that, the fact of the matter is he doesn't.

"I know you might not come back to England," Strange murmurs, because this isn't the sort of thing one screams to a courtyard. "If you do not, I understand. But I shall still try my hardest to find the man again and learn why he did this."

Because as he told Lambert all those weeks ago, this is unfair. If anyone deserves the memory of even just seeing the Raven King, it is Childermass.

So much going through his mind, every answer he could give to that, every reason he could just start yelling and causing a scene, or perhaps just break down and cry, but the first thing he hangs onto is that he needs to sit down. He really needs to sit down.

"Bench," is how that request comes out as. Not very sharp but he's not feeling that way right now. He can pry a hand off of Strange's shoulder to wave towards some ridiculously ornate (also golden) bench to one side of the courtyard. "I need to sit down. This is..." That trails off into a sad laugh. "He's never coming back, is he? Not for good. Not ever."

Bench? What the hell does he—oh, bench. As Childermass waves towards the bench, Strange understands. He's not entirely sure just how stable Childermass is on his feet right now, so he still remains close to the man, letting him hold onto Strange or use him for as much leverage as needed, as Strange starts to guide Childermass towards the bench.

And then Childermass vocalizes that worry. And how Strange wants to say that he's being ridiculous, of course the Raven King would be coming back, Strange saw him and remembered it, after all. But then again, had the carnival not happened, it's not like Strange would have the opportunity to tell the rest of England that he saw the Raven King.

He falters for a moment before admitting, "I don't know."

"Nor do I," Childermass says with a sigh as they reach the bench. While he did need help to get there, he can take over and get himself seated just fine. It mostly entails slumping down on it, as if suddenly exhausted. Even if the revelation alone wasn't overwhelming, he's never exactly gotten on well with magic not his own. There's already a headache budding its way up through his skull from it.

He remains slumped over where he sat, head bowed and propping himself up with elbows on his knees.

"I... I am still going back," he finally assures Strange of that. "I decided that before. What else would I even do? That's my only purpose, isn't it? Why should a king want to associate with a servant, anyhow. That's how it's always been. So long as I get the job done."

While Childermass is responding with a depressive episode, the more Strange thinks on this and dwells on Childermass's situation, the angrier he becomes. How dare the Raven King treat Childermass this way! He deserved better!

"Stop with that talk of being a servant," Strange says, even though it's technically true. "Would the Raven King trust any random servant of his with his book? Of course not! It ended up in your lap, ergo you're more than just a servant to him, ergo you deserve so much better than what you've been given."

"He certainly trusted a drunk with it," Childermass scoffs, thoughts briefly going to Vinculus. Another poor madman who deserved better, perhaps, though he still made it seem so simple, as if it never bothered him. He gives his head a shake and straightens up, looking at Strange again.

"But we'll never know, will we? He's gone again, taking everything he knew with him apart from whatever he wrote over that damnable prophecy of his."

"I could always try to summon him again," Strange points out, with a little frown. "I've gotten stronger since the last time."

He says that, despite the fact that they both know the truth. Summoning doesn't necessarily mean answering. But this is Strange desperately trying to find an answer and trying to find something he can do about this.

"Though you're right. Until we find him again, we'll never know."

There isn't a whole lot Strange can do to make this right. They've both been dragged out to sea by John Uskglass and his prophecy, it seems. Though it's on that note that Childermass breathes out a sigh and slumps again, this time back against the bench.

"It's fine," he says, sounding very much like it is absolutely not fine. "You can't fix everything, Strange. It isn't even a problem of your own making." For once, shocking as that is to all. "Assuming I'm not eaten by Wyld fae, who knows. Could be I live long enough to ask him myself one day... or punch him. Perhaps both."

Edited 2019-01-01 03:42 (UTC)

"Yes, but I want to fix this!" Strange snaps. There's no anger in his voice, just sheer desperation and annoyance at the whole situation. "You deserve better than what life has given you. What's the use of my magic if I can't give that to you?"

Then again, it's not like he could break the curse by himself. Or leave this place. Or do much of anything that's been useful to the carnival lately. The flames of his hair briefly flare up in annoyance before settling back down to their normal, matchstick sized level.

"Well, everyone deserves better, don't they, Mr. Strange?" Childermass replies to that after a long pause where he just looks at Strange, a bit startled now at the outburst. He gestures towards the other side of the bench. "Sit down."

If he'll even take orders like that from anyone anymore. Regardless, he'll try to carry on.

"I didn't tell you how steep a hill I have ahead of me because I thought I deserved better. From the Raven King, perhaps, and that is... difficult. It is. But I am the man I am because of what I've survived. Most of it without magic, you know. My earliest inkling that I even had magic was my cards and those certainly didn't find me work or fill my plate."

Strange looks over at Childermass...and does take a seat, sitting down on the other side of his fellow magician. He's listening, though there is a bit of a small frown on Strange's face. He's only just now piecing out just how difficult Childermass's life must have been, thanks to this conversation as well as Childermass's earlier outburst at him.

A part of Strange wants to point out that really, how on Earth was he supposed to know what Childermass survived, the man never talked about himself. But, then again, Strange never asked.

"Everyone deserves better but not everyone has been put through as much hardship as you have," Strange counters, frowning a little. He's trying to temper his mood but it's obvious that this whole Raven King business (and Childermass's reaction to it) still rubs him the wrong way. "Admittedly, a fair amount of that is my fault, and I truly am sorry for making your life more difficult, whether intentionally or not."

"You're right. There are people who've been put through far worse," Childermass points out instead. Yes, he could have had a better life, but look at where he's ended up. A magician, even if it'll be a fight to claim what's his right. Still, he sighs. "Look. I... yes, you've been difficult at times but it's not as if I don't try and understand why, and I haven't been much help."

He looks over rather than looks away when he reaches this, something he'd already had on his mind before their visit to the Summer Court. If they're here, trying to make some small amount of amends, now's as good a time as any.

"First I was treating you like glass, then I was keeping secrets from you. I should have told you more, sooner."

Well this was a little unexpected. Strange's face doesn't do anything to hide the fact that Childermass is apologizing to him. Shock and surprise are plainly visible before his expression shifts to a small smile instead.

"Thank you," he says, still a little shocked. "And I am sorry if I became needlessly difficult at the revelation of some secrets which, as you both have rightfully pointed out, were never my business. I...I do not do well with loneliness, even if it is only perceived." Says the dude who went bugfuck crazy when his wife died. Strange quickly amends, "But that is not an approval of my actions, just an explanation."

Childermass gives a kind of half-hearted shrug.

"I know," he says, if only to assure Strange he isn't going to take it as an excuse. "But you are his dearest friend. Asking him to keep secrets was unkind to the both of you, no matter how scared or worried about it I was."

It is very obvious that Strange never really expected to ever be apologized to and certainly never expected Childermass or Lambert to vocalize anything along the lines of 'hey, we messed up that whole secret dating thing a little bit.' The more Childermass explains, the more Strange's expression shifts to relieved.

So he wasn't mad or out of line to think that those two handled it poorly. Thank goodness.

"Thank you," Strange says again, despite the fact that he literally just said it a few seconds ago. And then to keep things from getting too sappy and too emotional, Strange changes the mood with a little joke: his expression shifts to something pretty dang cheeky. "Though I still think you worried too much about this. I've torn down the mirrors and brought magic back to England—the government and new magicians will have many more things to worry about than who's sleeping with whom."

Any good humor Childermass may have gained flickers some at that, expression growing serious again as Strange jokes about everyone having more to worry about all the sudden. It's this, again. Strange not taking the danger seriously and it's tiring. He won't yell at him, though. He isn't about to take back his apology or anything like that but—

"No, Mr. Strange. I believe there will always be a few people out there looking for an excuse to see myself or Lambert hang."

Maybe not immediately for Lambert but, really, just give people enough time to meet him.

Edited 2019-01-06 23:24 (UTC)

"And do you think I would let them do so?" Strange remarks, with a quizzical frown. He gestures with one hand as he talks. "I broke a spell that was cast by the Raven King himself. If I wanted to rescue you from the gallows, who could stop me?"

It's not phrased in Strange's usual mocking or lighthearted tone of voice. This is an honest question from a man who's still trying to wrap his head around how powerful he is. Even if one of the new magicians were a match for him before his stay at the carnival, none of them would have the power of a Miracle in their body. And even then, it would take a while for them to learn magic the way he had.

It's somehow wonderful, intoxicating, and damn scary all at the same time.

"Didn't I just tell you that magic can't fix everything?" Childermass asks, frowning right back at Strange. "Assuming you are even there to save us, we then have to leave England. There wouldn't really be any other place we might go, either, since it would be public knowledge, so I suppose we'd have to leave the entirety of our world behind as well..."

He isn't sure Strange is grasping the gravity of the situation such a romance is putting both the other magician and the witcher in. Their England isn't as open-minded as Strange himself appears to be. All the magic in the world can't change that.

"You may not like it, Strange, but we won't get to live a life like you and Mrs. Strange. What Lambert and I are is considered criminal. The only things that will change about those laws will be adding ways to successfully imprison a magician so he can't magic himself away."

Edited 2019-01-07 00:03 (UTC)

It's pretty obvious that Strange doesn't like this answer. Yes, he knows that their England isn't open-minded. Yes, he knows of all the trouble that Childermass and Lambert could get into should their relationship be discovered. But dammit, he doesn't want to accept that!

"I'm certain both of you will make close friends in England who aren't me. Hell, Lambert will probably find someone closer. I simply don't want what happened with me to repeat with someone else." Even if this hypothetical person isn't as open-minded as Strange, there still would be the crushing feeling of trust being broken and feeling like they matter less than they actually do.

"Besides, the two of you deserve happiness," Strange sighs. "There must be something I can do to help you obtain it."

"If he finds someone to be closer to than he is with you, that would mean he's left me," Childermass points out blandly. "Seeing how witchers aren't exactly known for making friends and I haven't a single person back in England that I would claim as such."

Acquaintances, allies, enemies, people who share a complete indifference towards such relationships. Those, sure, but he wouldn't call Vinculus a friend. Mr. Segundus and Mr. Honeyfoot would have thrown him out of Starecross if he hadn't been so insistent. The rest of Mr. Norrell's staff would, perhaps, be the closest.

"And even if they were friends..." He sags back against the bench some as if tired of having to explain this again and again. "Strange, you can't change an entire world for two people. We'll find happiness where we can, but England isn't the carnival. I am not going to risk Lambert's life for someone who might accept it."

Yes, but he wants to change an entire world for two people. He changed an entire world to help bring back one person, why can't he do the same for two? It might be fruitless, but it at least would be him making an attempt.

"The more you describe your life in England, the less it seems you want to go back," Strange jokes. There's a small pause before he seriously admits, "You don't have to come back if you don't want to. The other magicians and myself can finish what you started. You and Lambert can find your happiness elsewhere."

Sure, he'd be lonely. Strange would be terribly lonely if the two of them left, he'll readily admit that. But if being in England would make Childermass and Lambert miserable, then it would be better for them if they were not in England.

"With what I know now, well..." Childermass won't deny it. A part of him feels like packing up shop and resettling on a different world. That isn't all of him, though. "My life has been very different from yours, that's true. There have been struggles but I don't hate it. I still love England. I still love the north."

He straightens up some, mustering his resolve.

"If I let my fears and a few bad things that have happened drive me away forever am I truly an English magician at all? I've already decided to go back. I won't abandon my cause, I'll just shift it to aiding magic in England and not in some vain hope of the Raven King returning." And here he'll offer a small smile, at least, as he adds, "Besides, there are southern magicians now. Do you really think I would abandon you to dealing with them alone?"

There's something about what he says that makes Strange frown a little in thought. Because that's partly what he's doing, isn't it. Letting fears drive him away forever. But if that were so, then why would so many people enable that, why would they say that leaving for the Summerlands was alright for him to do?

One thing's for certain, he's got a lot to think about during the negotiations. Still, Strange manages to push his worries down and give Childermass a smile of his own. "Can you imagine? Some magician from Cornwall telling us how to run things."

The regional shittalking pauses for a moment as Strange continues talking, in a moment of pure honesty. "I suspect I'll disappoint you again in the future because let us be frank, it's to be expected. But before that happens, I want to thank you for all that you've done for myself and for England as a whole. I am in your debt. And trust me, magician: whatever you want me to do to further your cause or lend legitimacy to your beliefs, you only have to say the word and I will do so."

It may have more to do with people having no desire to drag others into danger than Strange probably thinks it does. It's not as though Childermass can order him to the Wyldlands, seeing how it's clear the other magician will carry on refusing him as a supervisor. Of course, he can't explain that rationale if the question is left unasked.

Though his smile will falter some, he won't let it fade out entirely when Strange admits he suspects he'll disappoint again. Really, Childermass wouldn't be surprised by it. Just tired.

"I would very much like if you didn't, but... I'm not really your boss anymore, anyway," he says outright, though it's in a resigned way. He knows better. "I can only hope that I'll still be around to hold you to that in the future."

Strange can't help but laugh a little as Childermass remarks that really, dude, don't do it. But, as Childermass so lovingly informed him earlier, both of them are aware that Jonathan Strange has a looooong list of terrible qualities. That disappointment thing is happening and at least both of them are aware of it.

"I agree. England would be lesser without you, John Childermass. Do try to come back in one piece."

Edited 2019-01-08 02:17 (UTC)

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⇨ THE SUMMER COURT

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