public channel - D148 - fae jargon 101

[kingsroads]

If anyone, older member or newer arrival, wants information on... [ oh lord, this is going to take a while. Strange sighs slightly before obviously reading off a list of terms he's written down. ] Arcadia, the Rose Queen, Ignatius, Nightshade, the Count of Crows, Frost, the Summer Court, the Winter Court, how faerie court hierarchies work, the Wyld Fae, or the Beast, then I'll be happy to tell you what I know. I picked up some knowledge from my time in Portland and through conversations with the fae here and, for obvious reasons, don't want to bore all of you with far too many details and speculations at once.

[ There's a pause, partly to catch his friggen breath, before Strange continues talking. ]

I can at least explain Portland, though--for our new arrivals, of course. It's a city where the carnival was recently trapped for a month. Many members had their memories altered and believed they lived in the city for their entire lives. It was a...trying experience.

[ Understatement of the century. Strange sighs, like he's steeling himself for what he's going to say next. ]

Portland had it's own set of fae, some of whom I mentioned in my previous list. Plenty of the carnival members have ill-will towards those fae, who seemed determined to vex us and ruin our lives during that month. And despite the fact that we've left that world, I've a feeling that we'll see those fae again. Now that the Severing's removed, they can travel to different worlds the same way the Ringmaster can. And it wouldn't surprise me if some tried to reclaim what or who they believe they lost.

[ how dramatic! And quite possibly the worst way to end a broadcast as Strange just flips the radio off then and there. He has absolutely no clue how to best END the broadcast so not being cryptic is officially for chumps. ]

Comments

[hippocarnival]

That's not what I meant. [He grumbles a little, because after what Nightshade did he thinks that maybe Strange should stop meddling in completely random Fae at all. Not all of them were trustworthy, or safe.] You're not going to try summoning any more fae, are you?

[kingsroads]

I won't. [ And this, he says, 100% seriously. ] I gave my word that I wouldn't summon any more fae during my stay at the carnival and I intend to keep that. The only reason I summoned Nightshade was because I couldn't remember giving my word in the first place.

[hippocarnival]

That's good. [If it wasn't basically strike three, he'd be a lot less worried. But after what Nightshade did to him...] What made you so interested in fairies anyway?

[kingsroads]

They're an integral part of magic in my world. The Raven King, the man who helped bring magic to England, was raised in faerie. Likewise, magicians of old often had alliances with the fae or used faerie servants to help cast their magic. With the revival of English magic, my mentor sought to eradicate any mention of the Raven King or faeries from our methods. I disagreed.

[ An awkward pause before. ]

Though I still disagree with his reasoning, I can see it's merit now.

[ Something which he REALLY HATES TO ADMIT, b/c up yooooours Gilbert Norrell, this isn't Strange still being petty, not at all. ]

[hippocarnival]

[No wonder Strange seems to be Mr. Know It All for this stuff, if he's known about it that long. They weren't anything more than fiction in his world. The word 'servant' weighs a little more heavily to him, remembering what happened in Portland.]

There are nice fairies... [He relents. He's still got a good opinion of the Ringmaster after all.] But the bad ones are really dangerous, and pretending they're not there isn't going to make them go away. Right?

[So Strange running around driving himself crazy to talk to fairies was a horrible idea, but so was trying ignore their existence.] Maybe the problem is always trying to put each other in contracts and servitude, instead of getting along as people?

[kingsroads]

I'd say that's correct. [ After all, he gets along tremendously well with the Ringmaster...but also knows she's the exception to prove the rule.

Though that getting along thing...yeesh why is he dealing with so many idealists today. ]

Getting along, however, is harder than it seems. There aren't many examples of humans and faeries treating each other as equals to begin with. And because of that, any attempt at an alliance most likely involves both parties trying to one-up the other.

[hippocarnival]

But if we don't try and understand each other, nothing will change. [It'll just be cyclical conflict, and Yuya thinks that understanding someone's feelings does wonders for their ability to relate and co-exist.

There's a pause as he tries to find his words for this.] I don't think there needs to be any alliance or... trading, or proving ourselves. What if you just talked to them like you would anyone else? About things that they like and who they are, not just what they do.

[kingsroads]

A wonderful idea which again, would depend entirely on the fae one talks to. I know Nightshade wasn't the sort for idle conversation and I doubt the Rose Queen would be either.

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya lets out a huff of breath. A part of him wants to see if that bridge can't be smoothed out before the conflict escalates and his friends are hurt even worse, but he can guess how well that idea would go over with the rest of the carnival.

Still, maybe he can forge a better relationship with new fae that they run into. Maybe they'd also like not being approached like solutions to people's whims.]

What else can we do to make them leave us alone?

[kingsroads]

[ Thaaaaaat's a good question. ]

I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. I've a feeling they'll leave the carnival alone, but there aren't that many ways to extend something like that spell you used in Portland around individual people once they leave the carnival.

[hippocarnival]

So you think they'll follow the carnival and wait for us to leave? [Conniving. And likely.

He sighs.] My spell works for places, but I've never tried it on anything but buildings. I think it still needs some sort of fence to enter, and you can't enter people...

[kingsroads]

Well that depends. [ Oh lord, here we go. ] You can't physically enter people, but magic certainly can. With a few modifications of course, perhaps your spell could block magic as well?

[hippocarnival]

[Here comes the magic talk. Yuya's no good at keeping up with it, but this is different. This is something he can use to protect his friends, so he knows he needs to try harder.]

Maybe? I think I already block magic, because it--[He pauses, having at least enough sense to maybe not blab about Childermass's deal on the radio given how distasteful he found its association with the Winter Court.] Uh, it works on magic.

Would you be able to help me? Figure out how to modify the spell. [Strange knows a helluva lot more about magic than he does.]

[kingsroads]

[ There will always be the magic talk. ]

Certainly! I'll have to see the spell in action first, however, so I'll know what exactly we should do. What time works best for you?

[ Because of COURSE Yuya's giving a magic demonstration, why wouldn't he ]

[hippocarnival]

Uh... I guess any time is fine? I'm not doing any performances while we're in the Summerlands. I can take a break from practicing any time.

[kingsroads]

In that case, I'll bother you one evening after I perform. After all, that would probably be easiest.

[ and thus Yuya gets two people in his life who don't believe in using doors. ]

--> [action]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya is absolutely unaware how many people there really are that can just waltz in without using the door, and only one of them has any manners.

So when Strange decides to drop by Yuya isn't even looking up from his spot laying down on the couch, scrawling on a piece of paper with his duel disk propped against his legs to give himself a stable surface to write.]

[action]

[kingsroads]

[ Manners are for chumps!

Fortunately for Yuya, Strange travels via reflections. And the main mirror of Yuya's trailer is in the bathroom so this whole experience isn't as terrifying as it could be. However, this does mean that as he steps through the mirror, Strange just kind of awkwardly jumps to the ground, trying not to step on anything near the sink. He's gotten used to this, having appeared through the mirrors of like half the damn carnival, but accidents do happen. And this time, as Strange jumps to the floor with a small thud, his elbow knocks into a glass set near the sink. It falls to the floor, shattering into multiple pieces with an audible crash.

Strange...just remains quiet. Well. Oops. Maybe if he can quietly put the broken glass into the trash can, then nobody will notice? It's an awful plan, but one that might work...except for the fact that surprise, Yuya's actually in the trailer right now. ]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya stops and looks up towards the bathroom. Now the Tamaki has decided he doesn't need doors anymore, Yuya's gotten used to the sound of him coming in through other directions.

It usualy doesn't involve breaking things. He puts his paper and duel disk aside, rolling off the couch as he makes his way straight for the bathroom door.] Tamaki, are you okay--[He opens the door.

And that's definitely not Tamaki.] Uh.

[kingsroads]

[ Strange's attempt at a grand entrance has been absolutely ruined. As Yuya opens the door, Strange has finished putting the final pieces of broken glass gingerly in the garbage can. They just make eye contact for a moment before Strange straightens back up. ]

Really, you should keep the counter a bit cleaner. Imagine what would have happened if I knocked your toothbrush off! I think anyone would agree that'd be quite disgusting.

[ because this is somehow Yuya's fault and not due to Strange's inability to use the door like a normal human? Don't ask. ]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya gawks at Strange because, frankly, Strange doesn't belong in his bathroom. It's really alarming to find him crouched down, throwing their glass cup away, like he didn't just appear out of nowhere.

Of course, then he starts blaming the mess on Yuya and all of his surprise and the questions he's ready to ask get trampled by a bristling defensiveness.

He puts his hands on his hips.] You know there's a door. Maybe you should use that instead of breaking into someone's trailer!

[Really, Strange. It's a perfectly functional door!] How did you even get in here?

[kingsroads]

Through the mirror, [ Strange responds as if it's obvious, not yet realizing that Yuya's got no idea about his mirror trick. How else would he get into their trailer, keep up Yuya. Getting to his feet, Strange brushes some most likely imaginary dirt off of his hands as he tugs at his shirt-sleeves slightly. ]

So! Shall we start on analyzing your spell?

[ It's just asked like the whole 'surprise, I somehow came into your house via a mirror' thing is no big deal--because at least in Strange's mind, it isn't. ]

[hippocarnival]

What do you mean the mirror--[But Strange is already changing the topic, as if he didn't just break some of their things in the process of sneaking into the trailer. Not even an apology!

He stares down Strange with a irritation for a minute, before letting out a long breath and turning to walk back to the couch.]

You picked a good time. [He tries to say this casually.] I was just writing down everything I remembered about it!

[He sits on the couch with a bounce, gathering his duel disk and the paper so that Strange doesn't sit on them if he decides to sit down as well.]

[kingsroads]

[ He means through the mirror, Yuya, gosh get it straight.

Strange walks over to the couch...though he does give the duel disk a noticeably confused look because what the hell is that thing, Strange has zero clue what purpose it could serve. Still, now that there's space on the couch to sit down, Strange does so. ]

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, your spell does work in the carnival, correct?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya nods emphatically.] We tested it! It definitely works the same as before.

[Speaking of that--Yuya misses Strange's look as he sets the duel disk in his lap and skims over his notes.] It blocks them from an area. I guess because they can't get into a place they know they're not allowed in? If you feel strongly then the spell gets stronger, too, so it works better if you get more people casting it.

[Greater power of will and all that.] I guess being really good at magic could make it stronger, too.