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]

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.

[whattaprick]

And got incredibly cursed doing it. Hope the Prince doesn't see that as an insult.

[ What do the rules of England have to say about turning up with a curse on your head and bringing it under your host's roof??? But his question distracts him. ]

What is it?

[kingsroads]

Three separate fae already know my full name. I'd rather not a fourth know it as well.

[whattaprick]

I was going to ask you about that.

How important are names, really? I know they were for the faeries in Portland, but...

[kingsroads]

Very. In order for a spell to be properly effective, the target's full Christian name must be used. Any attempt at using epithets or descriptors might end up changing the magic. I can attest to that myself: a spell cast on me and a spell I cast both had unintended results because the target wasn't properly named.

[ there's a brief moment where Strange thinks 'oh God, I sound like Norrell' and kind of hates himself for thinking so. ]

Likewise, I've felt...something when a true fae's used my full name before. Assuming we don't piss them off to the point of no return, I doubt any of the fae would try to cast a spell just using partial names or titles. But I don't want to take that chance.

[ especially since yeah! He's cursed! And has absolutely no goddamn way how the Prince would interpret that. ]

[whattaprick]

[ Lambert's been glumly thinking he's turning more and more into Vesemir, so RIGHT THERE WITH YOU buddy. ]

Well, no one calls you by your full name anyway, so that's a start.

So what do you want people to call you instead? Merlin, like Tamaki does?

[kingsroads]

Probably. It's what I was called in the peninsula so I already respond to that.

The problem now is, if I explain this business with names to the entire carnival, that's another thing for people to worry themselves into a frenzy over.

[whattaprick]

What's a Christian name, anyway?

[kingsroads]

Your given name? I suppose that's another way of saying it. Strange is my family name, Jonathan is my Christian name.

[ and then it just now occurs to Strange that Lambert might not know what a Christian is to begin with. ]

There's a very long story as to how the term 'Christian name' came about in the first place but the long and short of it is religion.

[whattaprick]

So how does that work if you've only got the one name and no religion?

[kingsroads]

I honestly have no idea.

[ he's helping! ]

Perhaps I'll simply call you 'nightrider' for the duration instead--and 'sir' when the Prince is in earshot, of course.

[whattaprick]

Wouldn't do to let him think you actually listen to me or anything, right?

[kingsroads]

On the contrary, I might actually do so! You are my supervisor and we at least need to attempt something close to hierarchy while here.

[whattaprick]

What about around his servants, then?

[kingsroads]

They're going to gossip about us no matter what. We'll have enough trouble convincing everyone to be on their best behavior when the Prince is in the room, I'm halfway tempted to write off behaving when his servants are in the room as impossible.

[ that's not an answer, mostly because Strange kind of doesn't want to pretend that he actually listens to Lambert for the whole trip. ]