Nightrunner Channel [Day 170]

[whattaprick]

All right, nightrunners. I’ll keep this short. I want a map of this place and I want to know what might piss the Prince off that they aren’t warning us about. The fae have rules, doesn’t mean they’re not out to trick us into breaking them.

[ It’s not like that’s how the Ringmaster gets a fair amount of her labor or anything. Last thing they need is someone turning into a vase. ]

You see anyone starting shit, figure out how to shut it down without getting attention. The Prince is going to have people working for him too -- don’t get too cozy, they’re not here to do us any favors. Learn anything worth knowing, tell the rest of us.

Any questions?

Comments

[kingsroads]

Better, ever since Portland. There are multiple parts to an enchantment: the magic, the caster, and the effect itself. It's easy enough to pick out the magic, especially since I've experience with magic from both fae courts. As for the caster, give me a day or so and I'll be comfortable enough with the Prince's magic to recognize that.

It's the effect that's damned tricky. Unless I'm familiar with the make of the spell, it's hard to piece out what it consists of and how it works. So I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I could easily pick up the enchantment, but I couldn't tell you the effects or the composition of the spell itself.

[whattaprick]

[ What Lambert hears is mostly a really long way to answer sort off, but it's good enough to work with. ]

You ought to see if your scrying still works when we get there. [ He pauses to think... ] Can you tell if someone's using magic to listen or watch us?

[kingsroads]

In theory. In practice, as we'll be in the Prince's manor, if the Prince himself or one of his magicians casts the spell, they'd have the power of the threshold on their side making it easier to see us.

[ it's another really long way to answer 'sort of' ]

I don't know any warding spells, so that's right out.

[whattaprick]

Probably wouldn't do much good, unless it's a ward to keep people from leaving their rooms at night.

[ A legitimately tempting prospect, honestly. ]

Gotten any better at turning to smoke?

[kingsroads]

As a matter of fact, I have. I'll show you what all I can do sometime in person.

[whattaprick]

All right. Keep your knife on you, too. Shouldn't be a problem as long as we aren't flashing it around.

[ A beat, frowning. ]

You got any idea why a fae would want to live like a human?

[kingsroads]

It might simply be eccentricity mixed with power-lust. The dress code to surround themselves with beauty, the strict routines to bend everyone to his will, the aesthetic because it's something different. He might not want to live like a human, but if all the traits he wants his manor to showcase are human-ish, then what's the difference.

Alternatively, he's odd only to the Ringmaster. Back in my world, I visited a faerie ball. It was only for a brief moment, but the outfits I saw there weren't too different from English attire.

[whattaprick]

Might just be weird to the Wyld Fae. The Ringmaster said trying to look human was more of a sidhe thing ... which I'm guessing means the Courts.

Funny, though. If he likes that kind of thing, why isn't he in Arcadia with the rest of 'em?

[kingsroads]

I'd assume so. All the Court fae that I've seen were remarkably humanoid, after all.

But as for that question, obviously he must have left. The real question is what caused him to leave to begin with?

[whattaprick]

From the sound of it, the courts like ordering the Wyld Fae around. And if he's calling himself 'The Prince,' he probably doesn't like feeling like a servant.

[kingsroads]

And what better way to gain a semblance of respect than to steal yourself away in a castle full of servants who have no choice but to listen.

[ there's a small little pause, before Strange swaps the feed to private! ]
A semblance of respect, by the way, that I know how to give. I've already offered to help the carnival navigate etiquette and will use that to help glean information, but do not hesitate to use me should we deal with the Prince himself.

I know that my previous dealings with the fae have ranged from troublesome to disastrous, but in each of those times I've either had my judgement or memories impaired. It won't happen again.

private from here on out, assuming he got the gist of the dark tower nonsense by now

[whattaprick]

It better not. Between the Ringmaster, Nightshade, and the fuckhead who cursed you back home, you really don't need another faerie with a claim on your ass.

So since you know how all this shit works, exactly how pissed off am I gonna be while we're there?

works for me!

[kingsroads]

The fuckhead who cursed me back home should be dead. [ key word here is should be since a: Strange never saw the body and b: if the Ringmaster can revive herself, then it's possible the gentleman could revive himself.

As for Lambert's other question... ]

You'll most likely hate it. [ sorry! ] The hiearchy's what I'm most worried about. So many people come from worlds without a social order as stratified as mine is. Don't introduce yourself directly to the Prince--let either the Ringmaster or the Prince himself make the introductions. Once you have been introduced, then you could introduce myself or one of the other nightrunners to the man.

[whattaprick]

Considering a lot of things aren't what they 'should be,' I'm not holding my breath.

[ Said with the most sarcasm ever, which isn't really fair that Strange has to deal with it, but ... for better or worse, he's one of the people in the Carnival who get to see what's driving Lambert's frustration. Case in point: ]

Think I should just stick my head into a barrel of wine when we get there? Might be more painless than dealing with all of that crap.

[kingsroads]

Just stay quiet, stay out of the way, and make me do anything involving diplomacy or talking to people—half the time it makes sense to order your subordinate to do something in the first place. I can handle this.

[ He cannot handle this. But dammit, Strange is going to try. And there's a pause before, ]

It's...trying. Especially considering certain carnival members. But we can make it through this visit.

[whattaprick]

Get ready to do a lot of subordinating, then, Merlin. 'Least you taught me how to dance a waltz.

[ Strange probably has no idea what he's talking about, as many months ago and buried under mental influence as it was. ]

I hate this. [ No mincing words, no beating around the bush, nothing. ] I told you witchers avoid politics, right?

[kingsroads]

You did. But all we have to do is survive until the Ringmaster gets what she wants and then we can leave.

Although, Lam-san, when did I ever teach you how to waltz?

[ and here Strange is taking the use of Merlin as 'Lambert's teasing him about Tamaki's nickname for him' not 'Lambert's pointing out the fact that Strange pretty exclusively uses one alias.' ]

[whattaprick]

[ They're dead weight around her neck, Lambert doesn't say. If the Ringmaster was smart, she'd ditch them at the first sign of trouble and leave. Instead, because it's easier to focus on the stupid shit: ]

You forgot already? I'm hurt. Guess our time at the Celebration just didn't mean anything to you.

[kingsroads]

[ There's a confused pause...and then Strange puts together the dots and laughs, a bright and cheery sort of laugh. ]

That was you? Well then! Considering how you still remembered my lessons, I suppose that makes me an excellent teacher! Of course, if there is a ball, I'll put your skills to the test.

[whattaprick]

Fuck, do you really think there's going to be a ball?

[ He groans. It's not like Lambert hates the idea of a ball, it's just the idea of a ball on top of everything else this visit is. ]

[kingsroads]

It's entirely possible. What better way to show off your status, position, and power than throwing a lavish ball?

[ and now Strange is acutely aware that Lambert's going to murder someone before the week's out ffffffuck they are not going to survive this trip ]

There might not be a ball, though! If the estate's large enough, we might go hunting instead. To be honest, I'd prefer that—it's been ages since I've ridden.

[whattaprick]

Great. Guess I'm just going to have to pretend I'm Vesemir or Geralt then.

[ He just sounds so thrilled by the prospect, but honestly? the likeliest casualty of the week is probably going to be Lambert himself, when he finally decides to do what he said and drown his sorrows, literally. ]

I could deal with a hunt, so long as there aren't any fancy rules about those, too.

[kingsroads]

[ .....there will 100% be fancy rules about that, BUT STRANGE IS KEEPING THAT TO HIMSELF. ]

I know who Vesemir is, [ because Lambert's bitched about him to Strange before, ] but Geralt's another witcher, isn't he? Truth be told, you might be better off pretending to be me than either of those two.

[whattaprick]

I could, but then you'd see how stuck up you are and complain about me doing it wrong.

But yeah, he's another witcher. Him and Eskel were trained before I was -- last of the School of the Wolf.

[kingsroads]

I opened the doors in the mirrors and brought magic back to England: I've a reason to be stuck up.

[ it's said in a teasing tone of voice, however. ]

Still, if Geralt knows how to deal with etiquette, maintaining composure, and the inevitable nonsense other carnival members will put us through, then by all means, pretend to be Geralt.

[ there's a pause, before Strange starts talking again, like he's just realized something. ]

Before we dive into another round of your terrible impressions, I've a favor to ask you.