⇨ 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

[flashover]

"Dude."

Until now, Rin had just been sort of hanging around, listening, taking it all in. That letter really is... something. But the boy quickly takes notice of Yuya's tears and the blood dripping to the floor from his palms. Rin and Yuya may not be the closest of friends, but this was just getting awful.

So he, too, let's loose on Strange, immediately after he tries to apologize.

"If this is how you treat people that you consider your friends, I'd hate to see what you do to people you don't like! I may not know much, but I know we don't need your fair-weather ass with us on this mission, anyway! I don't care if you're the strongest magic guy ever."

[whattaprick]

That’s honestly something Lambert would like to know too, Strange. As Yuya can’t hold in his tears beside him, Strange continues to look like he’d like to bolt into a damn hole, and even Rin is provoked to speak up, Lambert’s cutting anger simmers down into something wearier. They’ve had this fight before. There are a lot of things he could bring up to illustrate how really fucking bad it’s gotten, like Strange spending the last few months convinced he needs to protect Ignatius from the Carnival and cultivating a friendship based on practically isolating the man, being willing to melt a chip right out of Rita’s head, to say nothing of the apparently repeated attempts to bargain off Steven’s person without his consent, but they’re all just details in the broad picture of ‘honestly, what the fucking hell, Strange.’

Before you become the one that would cull the unwanted growth from the garden, look to the fruits of your own making. Have they fed the hungry or merely made them sick?

Lambert’s head throbs.

“For one thing,” the witcher tells him, finally, “You really need to fucking work on your observational skills.”

[hippocarnival]

There's a flash of embarrassment when Rin speaks up and Yuya's reminded he's blowing up in the middle of the elysium. Again.

His knees buckle and he sinks to them, his hands unclenching as he presses them to his thighs. He still looks at Strange darkly, tears staining his face, but he brings his voice down quieter.

"You won't listen. You won't even listen if we say it hurts. You still haven't said you're sorry about hurting Steven! Is it really better if you can be that callous even if you do care?"

Because how can he believe Strange'a plea that he cares, that they matter, when he's so willing to push them aside? How can he take it when he's standing here so willing to rip into their wounds and throw them in the dirt to others?

[kingsroads]

Strange's deer in the headlights expression of sheer panic fades for a moment because uh...what? Out of all the things that Lambert could say, 'work on your observational skills' certainly isn't one of them that Strange expected.

(Rin, at least for the moment, is getting straight up ignored. Sorry dude, he doesn't know you from Adam.)

So, Strange looks over to Yuya, lightly worries and bites his lip for a moment, before deciding fuck it, and kneels down next to the kid. He's still worrying at the fabric tied around his wrist: eventually, it comes off. "I am sorry for bringing Steven into this. I spoke without thinking." There's a pause before he asks, "May I see your hand?"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks between the cloth and his hand before stubbornly tucking it closer to himself. No, Strange may not.

"Are you sorry? Because it's hard to believe that if you don't care why you have to be sorry. If--if you'll just do it again." His expression twists in frustration before he looks Strange square in the eye and poises to him the same question he aimed at the Rose Queen.

"Does it mean anything to you that you hurt someone so much that they only want you to leave them alone?"

[whattaprick]

Lambert remains quiet in this, keeping his arms crossed, one hand still holding the wadded up letter. Time to see if Strange is actually capable of listening to advice, although he isn’t holding out hope.

[kingsroads]

Strange knows that this is the moment of truth. So he pauses for a moment, biting the inside of his cheek in thought before answering.

"Of course it does. I know that I am a difficult person. And I know that there will be times when I accidentally hurt someone. We all do that." Almost instinctively, Strange looks over at Lambert before turning his attention back to Yuya. "But I do not want to be the sort of person to hurt someone so badly that they want nothing to do with me."

[hippocarnival]

"Well," Yuya bites his lip, starting slow because he knows what he has to say right now is harsh. "You already are."

Even Yuya feels too much pain right now trying to talk to him, having the future of their friendship crumbled. Has settled with himself that it might be better if he just... lets go. He's never felt this way before. Honestly, he hates it.

The damage has already been done, and it's gone too far for apologies that even Yuya has a hard time stomaching.

"So that means you have to change, right? When you're not the best person, you have to make yourself better. And you'll... you do that for people you really love, because you want to give them the best that you can."

[whattaprick]

Lambert is already pinchy faced, so the look Strange casts back at him really doesn’t make much of a difference. He’s not going to go on about not hurting people, because he’s not got a leg to stand on there. However, he will add, because he doesn’t think Yuya’s all on the mark there—

“But that doesn’t mean you get to use them as an excuse. It’s not really ‘better’ if it’s making only one of you happy, or you’re doing it in a way they don’t want.” Admittedly that wouldn’t stop him making choices that would make Childermass mad as hell, but you know...

A pause, and then he gambles: “You once told me you loved Arabella because she always called you on your shit. What would she say if she was here?”

[kingsroads]

There is something entirely hypocritical about Lambert saying that things are better if it's making only one of you happy. Strange can't help but give him an incredulous look. "That's rich, coming from the man who routinely makes those sorts of decisions."

Did Lambert even take anything from that fight they already had? Did he even internalize that by asking Strange to do things and treating him as more like 'a font of magic' and less 'an actual person', he was doing the things he's telling Strange not to do?

The statement has soured his mood a little and, slightly testily, Strange continues talking. "I have been trying to give you all the best I can. Do you want to die in the Wyldlands? The carnival needs allies. Wouldn't giving the best be securing some for you?"

[hippocarnival]

That's... not the response Yuya was expecting. He stares, no idea how respond at first. But he's been in the know best camp before, so he finds it.

"No, Mr. Strange." Yuya's voice shakes a little. "Is your best ignoring your friends when they tell you it hurts? Is it doing selfish things because you thinks it's best without talking to them about how they feel? Treating people like they don't matter? Doing everything yourself and not even caring about the consequences?"

Yuya puts his hand to his chest. "You know, I'm really the same way. I know how selfish I can be, and I want things to go my way. I pushed people when I was hurt. But I didn't want to be a person that hurt people instead of helping. And I'm trying really hard to be better because I think the kind people around me deserve to be treated kindly, too. Because I wanted to be a better person than that."

Yuya lets out a breath, his head drooping before be moved to push himself to stand up. He looks down at Strange with a mixture of resignation and sorrow. "You said you didn't want to be someone that hurts people so much they'd leave, but if this is your best... then how are you going to be anything else?"

[whattaprick]

In all honesty? Lambert's inclined to agree with Yuya, but he's hardly got the moral high ground here, does he. He won't interrupt, looking at the letter still crumpled in his grip.

Idly, he wonders if throwing it at the magician's head counts as assault. Instead, he brings his free hand up to his temple, rubbing at his forehead.

"Yeah, I wouldn't say writing your goodbyes in your own blood and giving someone a piece of your chest so they can summon you is your best, either." Well, he doesn't know the piece of mirror is from Strange's chest, but given the man's state of mind he wouldn't put it past him to think there's something poetic about it, like he's handing over a piece of his heart.

There are things worse than dying. Unfortunately, this is one of them.

[flashover]

"Oh god, is it written in his blood? Really? Dude..."

Well, since Rin doesn't have much of a horse in this race, he's just gonna.

Go. Over there.

Just in case whatever Strange has wrong with him is contagious.

[kingsroads]

"The mirror was from my wrist," Strange lamely clarifies, as if that somehow makes a difference. "And honestly, there's nothing wrong with blood, that's just how the magic works."

And thus everyone learns that Strange's tolerance for magic creepiness is a lot higher than most people's tolerance. Then again, dead mouse juice, this was already pretty well established.

"But Yuya's right: you are the same way. But you became a person that hurts yourself instead of others," Strange points out, as he gets to his feet. "I remember Polaris. That's a peak example of not caring about the consequences."

Yuya distributing his points and helping out everybody instead of helping himself? At least in Strange's mind, that's pure selfishness. Didn't he realize the situation, that people might not want to see him get hurt?

But he can tell that Yuya's trying. Just as Childermass tried earlier. So, quickly, Strange just tries to piece something out. Both of them have told him that he treats people like shit, that he talks over people and doesn't think of their thoughts. Okay, so why does he do that? Because people do things like self-martyring, accepting what they view as inevitable, and putting all their eggs in one basket, things which Strange just refuses to accept are the only options.

The Summer Court can always say no. Queens and kings can always disappoint you.

"You would have died if you kept that up," Strange points out, talking through his thoughts as he speaks. "Just as those going to the Wyldlands will die if we don't have alliances, I would have died alone in Polaris, and Ignatius could have died if I weren't with him in Eden. I don't want that to happen—or in my case, for that to happen again. Is that so wrong?"

[scientificist]

"Except to Steven, apparently," Herbert pipes up from one table over. He doesn't really have a horse in this race, he's just personally enjoying Strange getting dunked on. "And you do recall I stabilised him whilst you, were trapped inside a plate. Anyway I thought that was a, maudlin letter to Ignatius, is it a contract with him as well?"

[hippocarnival]

"Don't start!" Yuya snaps. "You said yourself you would have left us there! How much we were suffering wasn't important enough to you then so--so don't act like it is now!"

Yuya's shoulders shake with a new wash of rage. But he can't hold it as long as he did before, because... because Strange still won't acknowledge what he's actually saying. Because the truth is that how much Strange has hurt them doesn't matter. It's not even a consequence he's trying to convince him to avoid. It's already happened. He's already bruised, sorry, shamed that he put so much trust and faith and love in someone who couldn't ever return it. Who probably never really wanted to.

And Herbert's interjection only compounds that Yuya can't trust him. He's erasing the details to elevate himself, at the expense of someone else's efforts? Did he acknowledge what any of them could do?

"You're so convinced we won't we able to work with the Summer Queen. That we won't be able to get anyone to help. You won't listen to anything. If you're that worried about dying, then don't come! Stay in the Summerlands until we get back!"

Yuya takes a step back, blinking back tears before they fall. He sucks in a sharp breath. "I can't call us friends right now. And... and I need to focus on this because I want to see us succeed in getting the Summer Queen's help and changing things!"

[whattaprick]

Strange might be simplifying events there for the sake of brevity and to make a point, but Lambert can't help but wince at the historical revisionism, though he doesn't take Yuya's pronouncements with a whole lot of surprise.

"For someone who's more scared of being left alone than the Rose Queen is, you're doing everything you can to convince people to," the witcher says, bluntly. "You're not the hero of a prophecy anymore, Strange. Stop acting like one. And if you still care about Ignatius at all? Don't give him this letter. He really doesn't deserve to have to read it."

[kingsroads]

"That's not what I—" Strange starts, glaring over at Herbert before Yuya snaps at him. Strange remains quiet and listens. And for the first time in this whole conversation, it really hits home to Strange just how badly he fucked this up.

You can't change an entire world. You can't fix everything. Well yes, that might be true, but maybe he can fix this. Because as soon as Yuya says that he can't call them friends anymore, a little part of Strange just breaks inside. He wants to fix this friendship. But he also wants to stay alive? But he might die if he stays put.

One thing's certain: he can't fix it if he leaves. He can what-if about things all day, but it's a simple fact that he can't mend his bridges if the others aren't there. So, Strange does what he always does: makes an impulsive decision and latches hard onto it. He's sick of doubting himself anyway.

"If I don't listen to people, then fine! I'll just continue not listening! Because I am sorry for my actions and I want to make amends. So like it or not, you're not getting rid of me yet!" Strange snaps, as he goes to try and yank the letter from Lambert's grasp.

[hippocarnival]

"You're the worst!" That's the only response Yuya can dignify that with. So Strange can throw Yuya away, but he can't let him go when he wants to leave himself?

"You can't make amends if you don't listen." If that's even what it's about. If it's just that he doesn't want to be the loser here.

But Yuya can't have this whole conversation here. Can't desperately try to get Strange to understand and feel worse and worse for it. It hurts, but right now he just can't deal with fighting with Strange to be cared about.

He takes another step back, glancing around. He's aware just how much attention they're starting to get, and there's a swell of embarrassment as his face flushes. He can't keep doing this.

So he looks at Lambert once before he turns to march off to another corner of the throne room, quickly wiping his face in an attempt to compose himself along the way. And he leaves Strange without another word.

[whattaprick]

Unfortunately for Strange, Lambert's not inclined to let him have the letter back -- so, deftly sidestepping as Strange lunges forward, he crumples the papers tighter in his hand and lobs it away from him. His newfound strength is already pretty considerable, but the ball's barely begun arcing through the air before it vanishes in a little 'blip' of light. Having not given any particular direction to the spell besides away, the letter's going to pop out of a light fixture on the other side of the room, no doubt to make any fae or Carnival members in the vicinity uncomfortable by its mere presence, assuming nobody wisely nukes it on sight first.

With any luck, maybe he'll helpfully pass out between trying to search for it or writing a second one and they can finish the rest of this in piece. He can hope.

"Good talk," Lambert tells Strange, lazily. That's all he gets before the witcher pops away himself, in a flash of Creation-tinged magic and light, leaving Strange to either stew on his own inadequacies or blame them on others.

[kingsroads]

Well. Strange had no idea Lambert could do that. Strange blinks, a little surprised as Lambert teleports away. He makes a mental note to bug the hell out of Lambert later before Strange looks at Rin and Herbert, giving each of them a glare that pretty much implies 'don't you DARE start anything or mention this to anyone.' Not even a second later, he starts to storm off to go find wherever the hell Lambert put that letter.

Because Lambert's right: he really does need to get rid of the thing, if only due to the fact that the 'sorry I'm leaving' part doesn't really apply anymore.

[npcarnival]

Their conversation hasn't exactly been quiet or subtle, what with people dramatically crumpling to the ground, speaking loudly despite themselves, and stealing letters from each other. They have a number of fae onlookers, and while the Queen and Maiden seem to be trying to weather on regardless, some of the Court look baffled and amused.

Ignatius can't held but hear his name being said a few times, too, what with his mind in such a state of self conscious paranoia. It's not clear how much he heard, but when the people arguing start to break up, he buries his face in his hand like he's hoping that no one will look at him. Whether or not he knows what that was about, it's created a bit of a spectacle.

[scientificist]

Herbert absolutely doesn't respond to glares or really any sort of implied warning, especially not when he's feeling this smug.

"Is it that you're, unaware ink exists?" he asks, voice raised at Strange's turned back. "I have pens in storage. Pencils. Really, an assortment of writing implements that don't cause anaemia." He pulls a pen out of his pocket and brandishes it in the air. "I'm holding one right now!"