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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Tanyuu comes around behind Ginko and Herbert both at that point, one set of eyes locked nervously onto the Rose Queen's parade of pique. This does not bode well at all, especially given the instability of the fae in question.

"In theory it should, but it's our word against the rest of the Court's. No one really wants to admit to having earned the bite after kicking a pet dog." She puts a steadying hand on Ginko's shoulder, for her sake as much as his.

"The Rose," she hisses at Lambert, "is mine." She turns back to Syrlya, not reaching to touch or strike him but looking like she's really like to. "This changeling is mine! The Winter Court has taken what was mine and turned it into... this!"

She gestures at all of Syrlya in disgust.

"I can sense my power within it, even now... I demand to take back what is mine!"

Syrlya shifts on his feet, folding his arms lightly as he considers how to respond to that.

"I am connected to the Blue Rose now, but I recall that it originates from the very first of the fae Queens and is not your creation. Its power is its own." He looks sidelong to the Summer Maiden and Queen for confirmation, although he knows he doesn't need it. "You were given responsibility of its care, of course, before losing it... but can you claim that your ownership of it is greater than the Queen herself? The Maiden?"

Edited 2019-01-03 06:43 (UTC)

“This isn’t the Athenaeum,” Lambert adds on, in a measured, thoughtful tone. “You can’t just make another deal with the Count of Crows to get your hands on a single changeling.”

Maybe. Possibly. Lambert has no idea if the bloodbond counts as violence ... but perhaps it must. The Count had dropped the Elysium before he tried controlling Childermass, and he’s not sure if the Summer Queen’s aware of the details of what the Queen did there. If that was something considered within her right to choose as the leader of the mission chasing the Rose, or if bargaining with Winter was never part of what she had the authority to do.

“What was it you said then? ‘Give me him and I’ll cooperate with your plans,’ wasn’t it? Sorry we couldn’t let making promises to Winter work out for you.”

Edited 2019-01-03 07:36 (UTC)

Strange had been quiet, mulling things over with a little frown. He knows what he wants to do and what the ideal scenario he'd like them all to walk away from...it just involves trying to find a way to get them there.

"Why worry about one changeling when there's an opportunity to get the Rose back itself?" he calls out, watching the Rose Queen all the while. "You do know what happened to the Beast, don't you?"

Rin leans against the tree, snaking his tail around to wrap around Steven's wrist reassuringly. He's very happy Peribat and Amesnake are there, though -- if things go south, hopefully they can whisk him away while Rin distracts. Or, you know, tries to. He knows the Starlight did something to help with that, too -- her help is the only reason the Rose Queen hasn't sniffed the poor kid out yet.

"I don't think this is how anyone wanted this to go..." he glances over at the Summer Maiden and the Queen, "Including those guys!"

"Strange!" Rita hisses, raising her voice for the first time since this began. She'd been hoping to stay on the sidelines, preferably being ignored, but he's getting awfully close to crossing a line that Rita can't bring herself to tolerate. "Don't entice her with things that aren't on the table."

Lambert's glance skips back over to Rita when she speaks. With any luck, the Rose Queen will exert the same selective attention she's always exercised up til now, and focus instead on Strange and Syrlya. He'll still make a quick, short hand gesture at her across the room, one other militia members may recognize -- like they're running a scouting mission in the field instead of picking and prying at a dangerous fae's buttons.

Steady. There isn't a reason to freak out yet, not until they see how the fae respond -- to Syrlya's pointed invoking of fae authority, Lambert's questioning the Rose Queen's undivided loyalty to the Summer Court, and Strange's own question.

Of course, if the Rose Queen doesn't know about the Beast's fate, it's questionable whether that's because she didn't care to absorb that information or someone judged it unwise to tell her.

The moment Strange makes that suggestion he stiffens- but for now both he and Marishi hold their tongues. The air is heavy enough, and speech is not their strength as they have painfully discovered. Though he does give a small nod to the daemon to send her nearer to Syrlya for now.

He has to agree with Rita though- not only because that really isn't (shouldn't!) be up for grabs...but how would Strange even deliver?? He tries not to think of what would happen if an Official bite at an impossible deal comes, instead focusing on his grip on Yuuya's shoulder, and on trying to give Steven some encouragement from afar.

There are a lot of semi-antagonistic things being said to her from all directions, which mostly just makes her more frustrated and aggressive.

"The Rose was mine before this Queen was ever created!" she snaps. "This Summer Queen has never even seen its form!"

The Rose Queen then turns to the crowd at large.

"Why am I being made to tolerate thieves? They've stolen the Rose and they've stolen my child - and they've hidden away a traitor to which I have delivered a curse of retribution! I will not be deceived!"

She looks over to glare at Strange in particular.

Yuya pulls against Gongenzaka's hold, now enough to escape it but enough to shake it as he stands straighter.

"We didn't steal Steven! He left you, because you hurt and used him." His shoulders tremble a little, and maybe that was too outspoken. But the Rose Queen's continued disregard of Steven's welfare still angers him. He hasn't seen him since she came in, so Yuya can only assume he's hiding. Someone should stand up.

Her little bat heart skips a beat when the Rose Queen confronts Syrlya, and again when Strange speaks up about the rose. Just, in general, this is all just extremely nerve-wracking to listen to, and also infuriating? Peridot's glad Yuya speaks up, because she's practically vibrating on the spot listening to the Rose Queen whine about what a victim she is in all this.

"Yeah, we didn't steal her child, she stole OUR Steven!" the bat hisses fiercely. Not that anyone other than the Tree Gang can hear her.

Strange succeeds at keeping his composure as the Rose Queen glares at him. He took Ignatius's words to heart all that time ago, he's been working on training his will and hiding his emotions, so the feeling of sheer panic that bubbles up stays pushed down in his chest and his expression remains a composed neutral.

"Believe me, I want nothing more than to return the Rose to you." Because it's obvious to him that the fruits of the Ringmaster's plan to get the Miracles were four traumatized people and absolutely nothing else. Likewise, give the crazy person what she wants, maybe she'll stop being so insistent on the other two.

And, before other people can remind her again about Steven or, even worse, Childermass, Strange just keeps on talking. "An expedition is going to the Wyldlands to retrieve the Great Beast from the Huntsman's captivity. If you join, the Great Beast will be in your debt. And I'm certain that she can part with a Miracle or something of equal value as repayment."

Edited 2019-01-04 01:34 (UTC)

Rita answers Lambert's gesture with a resentful look, but she holds her tongue while the Rose Queen continues her ranting. What prompts her to break her silence is, once again, Strange.

"Obviously, we can't make any promises on the Ringmaster's behalf," she forcefully interjects, taking a step forward and shooting the magician a sharp glare. "And it would be awfully stupid to suggest anything specific."

She's got plenty to say about the Steven issue too, but the others seem to have that covered.

"Indeed," Marishi adds as the closer 'half' to the Rose Queen, her focus on Strange as her tail lashes. "As well, we cannot speak for how, and when, pursuing the Huntsman will go just yet, given our current situation," she growls, leaving the reason unspoken. They certainly hope it doesn't have to be stated aloud, but if someone else has to fill the blanks anyway, they can. "So- should we not allow the Summer Queen and Summer Maiden to have their discussion without interruption, right now?"

It would be so nice if it was that easy.

Back with Yuuya, Gongenzaka doesn't tighten his grip immediately- but he does give Yuuya an assuring squeeze once he starts trembling, even as his own face tightens as well. It will be fine- she can't hurt them. ...He hopes, anyway.

Lambert’s gaze is directed out into the crowd of fae and their would-be allies, gauging their reactions to the Rose Queen’s pronouncement more than her reaction to Strange’s would-be bargain, though there’s a grimace of distaste in his expression. There’s a lot of conditionals to Strange’s statement, and he’s certain it sounds too much like bargaining when she thinks she deserves to merely take.

Marishi’s call for a return to negotiations is a welcome suggestion, considering the present atmosphere, but watching the Rose Queen’s paranoia and hysteria, the witcher can’t help running his tongue along his fangs, thinking something over while other people take over the yelling, for once. Thinking of soft spots, wondering if it will help or harm to give them a right sharp poke or not.

Edited 2019-01-04 02:25 (UTC)

Childermass is just going to drink his wine from way over here next to Gild and absolutely not say anything along the lines of 'remember when I said how certain people shouldn't come to this'. That would just be silly.

Amethyst tightens her coils around the tree trunk (sorry, Peridot's bat toes) and hisses; the end of her tail drapes over Steven's shoulder, partially as a gesture of reassurance in the face of all this but also because she's slightly worried he might not stay put.

The Rose Queen again looks like she wants to slap Yuya, but she doesn't. Instead, she snarls and turns on Strange, his offer apparently just making her more infuriated.

"You idiot," she snaps. "If you think there is anything that equals the Rose's worth, you are a fool. It's worth more than the Great Beast - it's worth more any fae! It's certainly worth more than all of you! Or even the Queen!"

It's then that Ignatius steps forward, glancing at Strange and then setting his sights purely on the Rose Queen. This is the first he's spoken up publicly in the entire meeting.

"Rose Queen," he says, "I implore you to listen. The Blue Rose doesn't have to define you any more than any other creature it has touched. It is an artifact of our people, and has value to every fae that lives. Surely, you can agree that to have it safe and alive is more important than who is made its keeper?"

The Rose Queen makes a pained sound, turning to Ignatius, tears at the edges of her eyes. She rushes towards him, picking up her dress in her hands, until she is close enough to get right in his face.

"What could you understand? I trusted you. You betrayed me for these... these beasts! And you've become one of them... mocking the essence of the Rose with... with whatever you are now! It's impossible! The Rose was unique, born of the pristine power and beauty of the Queens of Light and Darkness... and now... this? You tell me that Winter had recreated it in a butcher shop?" She puts her hands to her face.

"They gave it to me, me..." she says miserably. "I was to care for it, but it was taken... Nothing is ever mine..."

Strange manages to keep his composure as the Rose Queen snaps at him. It's only when she rushes at Ignatius that he visibly tenses, the flames of his hair flare up, he clenches his fists, and he has to calm himself down from doing something rash.

And the next response is...interesting. The flames simmer down a little as Strange listens. Other people can try to calm her down or try to explore the root of her problems. The carnival still needs allies if they're going to the Wyldlands, Strange is still continuing on his strategy of trying to make that happen.

"They could only recreate the Rose because they had access to your son-access given to Winter by the Huntsman." It feels wrong to describe Steven as hers, but here he is, saying it anyway in as measured a tone he can possibly use. "They mutilated him."

With the Rose Queen’s attention off the changelings and the waterworks beginning, Lambert’s course of action is decided. He straightens up, looking at Strange and Rita, then Syrlya, and shakes his head. The Queen’s proven to be singularly irritable whenever Strange has spoken to her, so perhaps it’s best to try and get him back out of her radar, if he’ll even listen.

“There’ll be time for her to hear about that later, Strange,” he says, pointedly. “And it shouldn’t be from you.”

Beau, still trailing along in the group that accompanied the Rose Queen into the Throne room, glances at the others who haven't drifted off. For all people have been hissing at Strange to stop saying things he can't back up and stop making promises he can't keep, his reckless approach is getting results.

What the hell. In for a copper, in for a gold.

"Like he's saying. If you want someone to blame for your troubles, it's not some ragtag group of... changelings?" Beau tilts her head, thinking. "Is that the word? Yeah, changelings, who showed up like... a couple years ago. Your troubles - and your enemies - go back a lot longer than that. So how about we don't make any hasty choices, make sure we have all the facts before rushing into anything."

She shrugs, pointedly nonchalant. "I mean, it's been how long? You might as well do it right, at this point."

Yuya frowns as he watches the Rose Queen crack with more vulnerability than he's ever seen her. He feels a pang of sympathy for her, looking so lost, but... she isn't someone he even knows how to approach, right now. Especially when the person she hurt so much is hiding because of everything.

When Strange goes on, Yuya's face scrunches in distaste. But he shakes his head and puts aside his feelings on needling her vulnerability. He pulls out of Gongenzaka's grip to approach the Rose Queen and Ignatius. Some things need to be cleared first.

"The Mother of Invention didn't change Ignatius. That was Creation." The Mother of Invention tried, sure, but his new domain and powers and everything was very much Creation's doing. Is it worse than simply being Winter's abuse?

"And we only took the Rose, and the Silver Mirror to protect ourselves. From the Courts, and the fae after us. We've been scared of you." He looks straight at the Rose Queen, though it wouldn't be wrong to say they were afraid of Ignatius once, too.

He wrings his hands together, his attention turning to the Summer Queen and Maiden for a moment. "The Ringmaster didn't want to start a fight. She doesn't want a war. She just wanted to take the carnival places and keep us safe. She didn't need them for any other reason! And all of us, we're not just here to save her and leave--we're here because we want to change things between us and the fae. Between the Courts! There has to be a better way than... all of this, right?"

It's a good thing that Amethyst has her tail on Steven's shoulder, because for a moment it feels like he's edging forward, like he wants to do something. Say something. Anything. Tears have started rolling down his cheeks, an empathic reaction to the Rose Queen's misery. He can't help but sense it in her. Despite everything, they're still connected, and the tears flow like a force outside his body, as they had with Blue Diamond.

He stops himself, leaning against the trunk of the tree so that he's clinging to it with his arms, sinking down as the feelings overwhelm him. He just... wants things to be right between them, somehow. He doesn't know if it's even possible.

He can't seem to make himself stop caring.

Peridot's running through a weird gauntlet of emotions herself, though she's luckily without the hefty mom related baggage which plagues Steven. For her part, she's quickly growing more angry than scared; where she was shivering against the tree a few minutes ago, she's now digging into the bark with her claws, fur bristling while she grinds her teeth. She's irritated with Strange for a laundry list of reasons, she's irritated with everyone else for giving up so much information so freely... She's ESPECIALLY irritated with the Queen and the Maiden for not intervening like a pair of leaders should--

"I can think of numerous treasured belongings that I would be willing to give up right this second just to be able to go over there and bite her REALLY HARD without consequences," she growls, unswayed by the fae's tears. She hasn't noticed the way Steven is taking this, just yet.

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