public channel, forward dated a smidge to the morning of d15

[kingsroads]

Months ago, during the Celebration, a few of us got together to talk about and compare the magic from our worlds. Well, it's been a while since then and we've certainly picked up more magicians, so why not revive that little discussion group?

[ he's phrasing it as a hypothetical but as Strange keeps barging on, there's nothing hypothetical about it: he is totally reviving that discussion group. ]

I've asked around and the smaller festival hall in the building closest to the carnival portal is available for our use. Anyone who's interested should meet there tonight, just after sundown, for an informal gathering to talk about magic. There will be space inside the festival hall and outside in the snow for anyone to demonstrate their techniques.

Likewise, anyone who wishes to learn about magic should come and visit as well. [ And there's a bit of a pause like Strange is trying his hardest to choose his words carefully. ] Magicians in the carnival have different types of magic drawing upon different techniques. While one school of thought might seem incomprehensible, another might seem as clear as day. This is a chance for those of us with magic to learn from each other and develop our skills and those of us who wish to learn magic to see what practice would best fit their needs.

[ There's a pause, because Strange has no idea how to end this. ] Sound off if you're coming, I suppose. Oh, and can someone bring snacks?

( ooc: this is an ic post about mage club, an idea floated around on the cr meme a while back. I'll put up a mingle log later in the week for the actual meeting itself. as for this post, feel free to threadjack around! )

Comments

[kingsroads]

[ aaaaaand then he gets the point. ]

One of the caravan members and I get along splendidly well. I'll ask her if she knows anyone who can help with food!

[ a pause before ]

I hope this criticism means you're attending.

[atouts]

Hmm. Maybe. [ That's closer to a yes than it sounds. ] And I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you've made friends with the caravan already.

[kingsroads]

Her name's Shimmer. She pointed out some...interesting information about certain members of the carnival.

[ looking at you, Mr. Super Winter ]

[atouts]

[ why does that sound so suspicious... ]

Such as?

[kingsroads]

Gossip that I've a feeling you wouldn't want me saying over a public channel.

[ IT'S ABOUT YOOOOOOOOOU, CHILDERMASS. ]

[atouts]

[ Yeah, he gets that immediately and there are several possibilities there. Which caravan worker was Shimmer? What did she know? ]

You may be right on that. Where are you?

[kingsroads]

Outside the market area. Shall I meet you somewhere or will you meet me there?

[atouts]

[ Anyway, while he is inevitably delayed by his conversation with a certain elf, Childermass does show up — out of the shadows — in the outside market area after the fact (and without ever actually answering). He'll just have to hope Strange hasn't wandered far. ]

[kingsroads]

[ Strange has been chatting with everybody, so he hasn't really wandered far from where he said he'd be. As he spots Childermass, he gives the other man a little nod. ]

Apparently, turning into a bird wasn't the only thing you brought back from Portland. The court changelings felt a distinctive Winter Court association from you.

[atouts]

[ And at the nod, he approaches and... can't help but look outright tired at what Strange has to say. That's the gossip? Of course. If the Summerland fae could sense it so easily, he supposes this should be no surprise. ]

Is that all? [ He asks that with a sigh. ] Yes, I know that. The fae in the Summerlands were kind enough to point it out to me.

[kingsroads]

[ wait what. He knew that already? What the heck? Strange just looks confused for a moment before he continues, ]

Who else knows?

[ and why, Strange pettily thinks, wasn't he told? Never mind the fact that 'hey, my soul got changed' is an awkward question to begin with... ]

[atouts]

[ This is going to turn into a 'why didn't you tell me' moments, Childermass just knows it, but he isn't going to bother lying about it. That's stupid. ]

The Ringmaster. [ That should be a given. ] Lambert knows to an extent. Rita, as well, since Pythia decided to be chatty with her.

[kingsroads]

[ There's a brief awkward pause while Strange just purses his lips in a frown. ]

I wish I learned about this from you instead of from someone else.

[ childermass is 100% correct, this is straight up a 'why didn't you tell me' moment. ]

[atouts]

[ Yeah, he's wishing that right now, too, pal, wishing real hard, but that won't change a damn thing. It also doesn't change the boiling anger he feels, knowing he's something to gossip about here as well. ]

Did it ever cross your mind that I didn't want anyone to know in the first place?

[kingsroads]

[ Strange starts to say something, but bites his words back before he says it. Because he's got a feeling pointing out that he's not just anyone might not work in this situation.

He's already apologized to Childermass once on the moon, let's not have it happen again. ]

If both the Summerlands fae and the caravan changelings were able to recognize your changed soul then I truly am sorry, but you might not be able to keep it a secret in the first place.

[atouts]

[ Strange has him there. If even changelings can tell, wouldn't it only be a matter of time before the rest of the carnival could? He's not even sure. He never asked that, he never even thought to, and so his anger just collapses and for the barest of moments he struggles to keep his composure.

Though he had made his peace with Pythia in the end, that had been more akin deciding it was pointless to hate himself. It didn't fix the root of the problem. He could still hate that, the Winter Court, the Count, that entire world and it's god awful spell. ]

Then what am I supposed to do? [ As much as he hates to admit it, he doesn't know. ] The Ringmaster can't fix it. She doesn't even know if it can be fixed.

[kingsroads]

[ If the Ringmaster can't fix it, then that truly is worrying. For all of Strange's 'let's throw magic at a problem until it's fixed', he knows that he is very much outclassed by certain fae, the Ringmaster being one of them. ]

If it can't be fixed, then perhaps it could be dulled. A spell to hide that essence or to make you seem more human. Perhaps a reworked version of the glamor spell that the Ringmaster uses....

[ Strange is just tossing out ideas for the sake of tossing out ideas but the slightly worried frown on his face tells Childermass that he doesn't really know either. ]

We must find something eventually.

[atouts]

I am human!

[ Comes a very un-Childermass-like outburst, anger with no real target rising back to the surface for... seconds, really, before he grits his teeth and steps back, turning away from Strange a little. His feathers are definitely ruffled, but it's probably not so funny right now, in this situation. People are looking. Caravan people, thank god, but that's still too many for him, especially if they're a pack of gossips.

He grits his teeth, taking a moment to settle down again, then adds, much more levelly, ]

Or I should be. Did you have business in the market? I'm not sure this is the best place for this...

[kingsroads]

[ But are they really? After all, all of them were changelings, turned by the Ringmaster's magic. And, at least in Portland Strange's mind, changelings weren't people.

Real Strange isn't entirely sure what he thinks about the matter. He lightly rubs the mirrored scratches on his wrists as he looks over at Childermass. ]

I don't. I picked it because this place was convenient to meet. Where shall we go?

[ Because of course they're continuing this conversation, why wouldn't they? ]

[atouts]

[ Childermass would argue the difference is permanence. Isn't that how it was meant to work, with the Ringmaster's magic and contracts? But that's neither here nor there, perhaps an argument for later in this conversation, so he waves off down a path leading away from the market. Like he can settle on any one spot, so they'll just wander. ]

Anywhere, just not here.

[ And it's that way that he'll start walking, this time over a well-worn path in the snow rather than out into the wilderness like the last time they met. At least they won't need to trudge through any snow drifts this time. ]

[kingsroads]

[ They won't need to trudge through snow drifts and, to everybody's surprise, Strange is actually rested. He manages to keep up with Childermass, matching his pace as they head away from the market.

Strange isn't the sort to let a good silence stay put so he just keeps yammering as they walk away. ]

We didn't talk about you too much. Truth be told, she was more interested in the mechanics of magic and the spell that changed us in Portland over you and Steven yourselves.

[ oh right, Steven. Does Childermass know about that? Should he be gossipping about Steven in the first place? Good job Strange, you're blabbing about a teenager. ]

[atouts]

[ Good. He doesn't have to feel bad about taking big, long steps, then (as if he would feel bad about it in any case).

But oh, he knows. He had left Steven out of his list of 'who knows' on the off-chance Strange questioned why even a child would get to know over the other magician himself, but if he knows already... Well, it doesn't faze him apart from drawing a slight frown out of him. ]

Even so, I will have to ask her not to go around mentioning it so off-handedly. I am sure this matter is a personal one for Steven as well.

[kingsroads]

Shimmer—that's her name, by the way—Shimmer had no idea this was personal to begin with. She simply noticed that the two of you had odd souls.

[ Shimmer probably doesn't need anybody to defend her but here comes Strange, defending her and their gossip anyway. Yes, it is a personal matter for Childermass and Steven. But what was the chance that any of the caravan members would realize it is a personal matter to begin with? ]

We talked about Portland, however, so she should understand why the subject is sensitive.

[atouts]

Let us hope so...

[ But it won't stop him from being wary. He took note of the court changelings here and immediately set about avoiding them. Maybe that wasn't the right way to go about it. ]

Though it is more than just an odd soul. The Summerland fae said I was faeblooded and the Ringmaster-- [ He will break off for a brief moment because it's still such an uncomfortable concept. Messed up soul, messed up blood, messed up... a lot of things, to be honest. He frowns and glowers straight ahead, but eventually does go on. ] She confirmed it. Enough that I may as well still be the Count's son.

[kingsroads]

[ And then Strange understands instantly why this is such a heavy topic for Childermass. It's not just 'my soul is odd', it's 'my soul is odd in a way that reminds me of a terrible period that I went through and a person that I'm not.' ]

I'm sorry to hear that, [ Strange murmurs, frowning slightly at the situation in general. ] I didn't know it was that extensive.