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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They wait for at least a moment of silence before interrupting- both of them. Gongenzaka's typical instinct after all would be to wrap Yuuya in his arms immediately, and simply not let go for a good ten minutes. But his daemon being present has helped to curb that plan.

That would be just a bit Too much right now- at least immediately. So Marishi arrives first, with Gongenzaka immediately beside her. "Yuuya... ...we overheard what happened just now," she begins, clearly having trouble with words herself. Gongenzaka for his part has his eyes shut and his face screwed in a way that prepares for tears- only barely holding them back. "...There isn't much we can say, but..." Slowly, she steps aside to allow Gongenzaka to lower himself closer to the group. Marishi keeps her distance- for fairly obvious reasons, given the presence of the others- but Gongenzaka takes a moment before he can so much as choke.

"...Yuuya," he finally starts- but then (as Marishi chokes something that sounds rather like 'NOBORU-!') instead of words, Yuuya is abruptly being pulled tightly into a great hug, Gongenzaka's face rubbing against the other's head as he finally lets at least a few tears free.

He'll try his best not to break your spine, but frankly, he really thinks a hug is in order.

Yuya winces. "I thought we were close."

But he was wrong. Steven's explanation only confirms that Strange's kind words mean nothing, and he looks at him sadly before putting his hand on his shoulder. "It's not right what he did."

Steven probably knows that, but maybe the assurance than Strange was definitely in the wrong would help. "And you don't deserve that..."

That sympathy hangs for a moment, before Marishi speaks up and he looks to her. It doesn't surprise him Gongenzaka was paying attention. He's about to say something to Gongenzaka directly, understanding why Marishi is hanging back--and then trapped and muffled in fur as he's grabbed.

"Mmph--!"

Rin continues to listen closely, nodding.

"Yeah, I can tell that Strange... well, he pretends like he wants friends, but really all he wants are tools... people he can use. I know types like that-- ah, but they're usual, you know, demons."

Oops. Suddenly a Gon is here, and Yuya gets swept up.

"Ahhh? Oh, I want in on this!!"

So Rin hops on Gon's back and throws his arms around him too.

"Steven! Get in on it!"

Steven's ears fold back, though he watches Yuya get squished with a faint little smile. Ultimately, he raises one of his hands politely and shakes his head.

"That's okay," he says, watching Gon's desperate embrace. "I don't know if I'm up for... Um... That, right now."

"G-oh-!" Yes, neither is Gon himself give how he jolts when Rin joins in. "Nh- what-! I was intending to offer comfort..!" He protests, lightening the hold on Yuuya in the meantime. "This is a serious, and hurtful incident..!"

Not that he's moving to move Rin but, anyway.

He looks to Steven, clearing his throat. "...I, the man Gongenzaka, should wish to offer the same to you, of course..." But not only is Steven free to refuse he...already has, best he can tell. Aww.

Yuuya tolerates his inability to breathe for a few seconds before he braces his arm against Gon to try and wedge some distance in the embrace.

Aww. His clowning attempts didn't work as well as he'd hoped. Regardless, he gives Steven a bright smile. He then gives Gon a pat of apology before sliding off his back. He turns a little red and rubs the back of his head, his secretary bird feathers pinned back.

"I thought it might cheer everyone up, is all! Oh well. Even brilliant minds like mine can fail at spar of the moment plans!"

Spur. Spur of the moment.

"It's spur," mutters Marishi, leaving the others to it.

Gongenzaka for his part goes a bit back and forth between quiet, small tears, and simply holding Yuuya tight...though he does at least make an effort to hold Less tight when it's clear the other is fairly wheezy about it.

Eventually, he does speak though.

"...I, the man Gongenzaka...know that it is but a motion, and unrelated to what occurred, but..."

...

"...If it has helped, even somewhat, to lighten your spirit, that will mean I, the man Gongenzaka, have not failed you in making myself stand by, before."

Yuya's not really feeling the clinging, either, and when he has the room his posture deflates a little.

"It's fine. It's better we didn't make a bigger scene than we did." They had enough eyes on them as it is.

There is a nod. "A...auuh. Given everything earlier, especially, and with the expectation to speak with the Queen later...I..."

There is another choke. "E...even so, I..." He pulls back, ears pinning downward as well. The hug is...

Clearly not helping. He looks down, silent as his daemon now worriedly looks to them as well. "...."

...For a few moments, he does not appear to do anything. Until anxiously, he looks back to Yuuya- around the same moment there is an equally anxious prod at his soul.

...if he'll take it, it's mostly just more hugfeeling. Just. Without the bonecrushing part that Yuuya could do without. He just wants to help a little, at least!! (Doing nothing is unacceptable-!)

"...We shall...all come through from this, despite what failings have been experienced...shall we not?" He offers, looking as well to Steven and Rin with that.

Yuya leans back, sinking heavily in the chair and out of Gongenzaka's embrace. He knows he's trying, so Yuya controls the direction a little and reaches to take Gon's hand--the one that's still flesh--in both of his.

The weight on his soul it's a private experience between them, but Yuya accepts it and allows his own feelings to quell, just a little, and anchors himself with his friends.

He nods once. "Even if Mr. Strange doesn't believe in us... I still do. I still believe in this. We won't go to save the Ringmaster just to die."

“Forget about Strange. I believe in us! And I think almost everyone else does, too. Lambert-san, Childermass-san...” Rin says with the kind of certainty that only teenagers can have, “We’re going to rescue the Ringmaster and that’s just all there is to it! There’s no way the Summer Queen will say no once she knows the kind of crazy stuff Winter has been up to... I believe that with all my heart!”

"It's just not for the Ringmaster, either," Steven says softly, sympathize with Yuya's current disposition. He doesn't really want to make any more scenes, either. "If we do this... Maybe we could change a lot of things. Maybe the Summer Court could learn to be better, with all of the Maiden's followers here. They wouldn't even be talking right now, if we hadn't tried."

"Isn't that more important than all this other stuff?" he asks, looking around them. Who even could have imagined being somewhere like this? The Diamonds used to be the biggest thing he could think of, but not anymore.

Yuya ducks his head sheepishly. It should be more important than their internal drama. But having just completely lost faith in a person he looked up to and believed, and lost a friendship that had been precious to him, it's hard to take comfort in it.

"Yeah, of course it is." Yuya forces the best smile he can. "That's why we wanted to come in the first place. We'll never make it happen if we don't try, right?"

Edited 2019-01-09 02:16 (UTC)

Gongenzaka gives a firm nod, the connection to Yuuya briefly flaring with determination and optimism alike. "Aaauh, indeed it is..! And right now, I, the man Gongenzaka, have full confidence that we shall encourage a change- perhaps it will not necessarily be the change we specifically desire...but as things are now, with what little I, the man Gongenzaka, have seen from the Summer Queen thus far..."

He pauses for a moment, but as his daemon nods at the side, he continues. "What comes, will come for the better. We shall do much more than simply save the Ringmaster. What we have seen here, from those we seek aid from...I truly feel things shall move for the better."

It's not that Steven is judging Yuya for being upset over small things, so much as this is his own way to cope with and rationalize his own suffering. It's easier to push through what's hard now when he's thinking about it in terms of what they could accomplish. Otherwise, remembering the ways that he's changed and the trauma he's accumulated would feel awfully bleak.

But if he could take these steps that so few others could... then it could be worth it. All of it.

"I think I have to get used to this sort of stuff, anyway," Steven says, with the slightest amount of airy hysteria.

Yuya's maybe just become too numb to the suffering, unable to figure out if his own is deserved or not. This, at least, he thinks he probably made the right decision not to stay.

Yuya rests Gon's hand in his lap as he holds onto his, closing his eyes and breathing deep. "I hope. I'm not going to stop working for that yet."

He opens his eyes, looking between Rin and Steven. And he pauses, blinking at the latter. "Get used to it?"

"Amethyst just told me that the evil space queen my mom was fighting actually was my mom the whole time. And she was just... fighting herself, to try to protect Earth while still pretending to rule it? I think?"

He exhales wearily.

"My real mom, I mean. Not the Rose Queen." He stares out at the room of intimidating, powerful, and detached fae, thinking about his future. "So... I think my life is going to be like this no matter where I am. I guess being related to magical tyrants is kind of my thing, now."

"I've definitely got my hopes up! After all, no one would have ever thought we could track down and find two out of three miracles. It's gonna be hard as hell, and some of us might get really hurt... but I think we can change things."

He's confident in that, and he's willing to put it all on the line for that hope.

He blinks, looking at Steven. Then, he offers a sympathetic smile.

"... Maaa, well... maybe we can figure that out together, then? It sounds about as hard as trying to breach the gap between humans and demons..."

Having high profile parents suuuucks.

"Auh..." Oh. Well, that's certainly news from Steven, that. For a moment they merely blink, Rin's own remark filling the void.

"...Oh dear." The cheetah is the one who speaks first in the end. "...at least it sounds as though she...wanted the earth to be safe rather than conquered?" Marishi offers, grimacing.

It's an expression shared by Gongenzaka. "...it is certainly not a wise method, but... ...Hmn. That is not the point, all the same." He shakes himself, and then nods. "I...believe I understand, what you are saying." Somewhat, anyway. The gist is there, and the gist is that it sucks, suddenly finding out that Both of your moms have something to do with mass conquest. "...I, the man Gongenzaka, can say at least this. ...For all that I do not know, or understand, I shall always have an ear open to you, should you need to speak of what worries you in this."

"Or anything, really," Marishi chirps. "...Frankly, all of us need to talk about our stresses more," she huffs- likely a commentary on her own main 'self'. "...At least with someone we trust."

"Aauh."

"... Oh." Yuya knows enough of Steven's life to be left a little speechless. "Steven..."

He pauses, pursing his lips before looking around the room in hopes of spotting the gems. They're probably somewhere. "I'm sorry. But you know, even if you're related to them..."

He offers him a wide smile. "You're Steven, and you're a great person. Not like that at all, and that's not all to you either."

He manages to smile regardless. It makes him feel bashful, having all three of them reacting at once. He doesn't want to make himself the center of attention, it just added a strange weight to everything going on here, tonight.

"I know," he says, gratefully. "But thanks... It just... has me thinking about what I'm going to be doing after this. And what everybody else will be doing, too." His contract is almost over, whether or not the Ringmaster is saved. If this attempt doesn't work, will they keep going? Will they try something else? Or will they give up?

"Things are going to change, but... all this stuff we've done is going to stay with us, too. It's kinda scary."

"... Yeah, it is." Yuya nods slowly, looking up at Gongenzaka pointedly. There's just the slightest, quiet squeezing of his hand. "But not everything we're taking with us is bad. We definitely won't be the same as when we came here, but... that doesn't mean we're worse off."

It's normal to change. Maybe not change things on a multiversal scale, but... that's really what growing up is. As exciting as it is terrifying.

There is a slight cough (and more of a chuckle from the daemon), as Gongenzaka's face seems to go a bit red while he looks to the side.

He does squeeze Yuuya's hand back, gently though.

"Such is how change works," Marishi purrs, Gongenzaka continuing in her stead.

"It would not be true change, without everything else from before remaining on our hearts. ...What is important," he emphasizes with a smile, "Is making certain to pursue what is right from there on though..!" They've got this.

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⇨ THE SUMMER COURT

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