public channel; forward-dated a hair to day 67

[kingsroads]

[ There's a bit of a pause before Strange starts talking, as if he's not entirely certain what he's going to say. He sounds a bit tired, but awake enough to hold a conversation. ]

For those of you who didn't already know, I'm not dead anymore. [ pause. ] Which, I suppose, is obvious as I'm talking to the radio, but the point stands.

I'd like to speak directly to the Ringmaster, Syrlya, and Zangetsu, if possible. As for everybody else, can you please fill me in on what happened from the time I left with Ignatius to now? Don't spare any details, this will be written down for posterity's sake.

[ fun fact: Strange has ABSOLUTELY ZERO CLUE about the various levels of trainwreck that the fae party in the library + rescue missions + torture session were. ]

Finally, odd question, but did anyone bring any flameproof fabric?

Comments

[kingsroads]

Lambert! Childermass, please drag Lambert with you, I need to yell at him as well.

[atouts]

You slept through the open season for yelling at him, I'm afraid. [ Or remained egged through? Whatever. ] Similarly to yourself, he, too, doesn't need to be running around.

[ Ignoring the fact that Childermass can just go from shadow to shadow, so there'd be very little running involved. ]

[whattaprick]

[ Turns out half-carrying your recently dead BFF's ass really takes it out of you, huh? Anyway, since it's not directly into the radio, the response is still faint but tinged with unmistakable scorn: ]

--aép arse.

[kingsroads]

He was well enough to watch me hatch, [ Strange briefly complains. ]

But fine. I can wait until he's awake.

[atouts]

He thought he was. There's a difference.

[ Because he thought wrong.

Regardless, he's leaving the tent and it really does only take a minute. In one shadow, out the next, stepping straight out into the medical tent. He's a little more casually dressed than usual, lacking cravat and vest, but that's about it. ]

[kingsroads]

[ thankfully, someone hosed Strange down. He's a tired mess, but at least he's sitting up and at least he's not covered in egg gunk.

When Strange sees Childermass, he gives the fellow magician a grin. Look at Strange, he's perfectly fine and not a slightly traumatised ball of conflicting emotions! Nope, he is trying to seem like he's aokay, because then the inevitable 'you're a bonehead' talk will go so much smoother. ]

I go from being a soldier to camping trips in the woods. This is the peninsula all over again!

[atouts]

[ From being a soldier to...? Immediately, that has Childermass frowning, because why would he ever do anything but frown? Still, he crosses the few steps it takes to go from where he had arrived to standing over Strange, hands settling on his hips so that he's standing in a way that definitely screams 'yes, he is here to judge you'. ]

You haven't been a soldier since the peninsula, Mr. Strange. [ Nightrunner business aside, that's more mercenary work than real soldiering. ] So I believe you are mistaken.

[kingsroads]

[ And now it's Strange's turn to frown. Of course he was a soldier, that's why Ignatius put him through—ah. Wait. Ignatius. Childermass doesn't know about what he experienced in Ignatius's realm.

There's a moment where Strange looks over Childermass and mulls his options. On the one hand, he probably should tell Childermass just what Ignatius wanted him for and did with him. On the other hand, that'll just invite more worry and more concern over Strange's mental state. And really, Strange can think of so many ways this conversation can go sour once the 'look, he's not that bad, he didn't horrifically torture me' point gets brought up. It's decided: Childermass doesn't need to know for now.

It'll probably come out later anyway. These things usually do. ]

Perhaps, [ Strange simply responds, before he changes the topic. ] I know you're here to yell at me, so we might as well get it over with.

[atouts]

[ It would only feed into the same thing he has to say now, to be completely honest. He could yell, he could tell off, scold, he could do a lot of things, but in the end, no, he just stares down at Strange for a drawn-out minute, an entire sixty seconds of saying nothing at all to that, to Strange telling him to just get on with it, like it's expected.

The man's grown too used to this, to him trying to talk sense into his mad schemes, and every time, it's for nothing. It's all wasted energy, wasted breath, so what he says instead is said without a hint of anger. ]

I sent Zangetsu to kill you because I already knew the others would not be able to manage it. If even death has not been enough to make you reflect upon your own actions in any useful way, I have nothing left to say to you, Mr. Strange.

[kingsroads]

[ Of course it's expected. When has Childermass even slightly approved of any idea Strange has? It's always no, Mister Strange, using the mirror is a stupid decision. No, Mister Strange, there's nothing you can do to help. Strange knew that as soon as Childermass entered the room, he'd berate him for his actions, and probably lay blame at Strange's feet for factors he couldn't control. ]

Of course I've reflected on my actions, [ Strange responds, as he narrows his eyes at Childermass. ] I had a plan. And, if I knew then what I know now, I'd shift aspects of the plan. But it's hardly my fault that I didn't know Lambert would be as stupidly bloodthirsty as he was and Rita would be as damn impulsive as she was.

[atouts]

Regardless of whether I agree or not with their actions, you don't really have a right to judge them, do you?

[ Because he really, really doesn't have a leg to stand on here, as far as Childermass is concerned. ]

This was a situation of your own making. You threw yourself away to our enemy knowing all too well how dangerous of a man you are. Knowing what you do now, would you have done differently, as you say? Or would you still have gone with Ignatius?

[kingsroads]

I threw myself away to the enemy knowing I could withstand whatever torture they put me through. If I had known now what I knew then... [ And Strange pauses for a moment. ]

I would have let Miss Hiragi offer herself instead.

[ Hot damn, is he ashamed to admit that! But it's the truth. He went into this situation thinking that Ignatius would be as bad as Nightshade was. Considering that, from Strange's perspective, he was only a fraction as terrible as Nightshade? That meant others could and would have survived. The experience would have probably fucked poor Yuzu up seven ways to Sunday, but she wouldn't be tortured. She'd make it out alive. And she'd be a hell of a lot easier to take down than he was.

Strange awkwardly rubs at the mirrored scratches around his wrist as he deliberately doesn't make eye contact with Childermass. ]

[atouts]

[ Well, that actually surprises Childermass, giving him pause to furrow his brow thoughtfully, and then finally turn to take a seat at the foot of the cot. Considering the Ringmaster ejected all of them from the carnival hastily, there isn't much for chairs out here... ]

Looks like you did learn something. [ Yes, throwing someone else on the literal pyre definitely isn't something Strange will be proud of considering, but the other magician thinks very differently. ] You would have given away everything we were working for. He looked through it, didn't he? Your memory? And with how rabid you are about the mirror... The rest that were taken weren't so keen on knowing everything about it, but you, you were the biggest threat.

[ Though after saying as much, he'll give a quiet scoff and look away. ]

Not that I'm much better. I offered to exchange it all if the Count could see the lot of you returned.

[kingsroads]

[ And there Childermass goes, bringing up what he knows, as if Strange's only use to the carnival and to Childermass himself is being a font of information obtained by incessant nosiness. Strange is about to say something and about to straight up call out Childermass on that point...when it's Childermass's turn to surprise Strange.

It's intensely odd to see (what Strange interprets as) Childermass outright admitting he cares about people. Strange remains quiet for a few seconds before he finally says something, still awkwardly rubbing his wrists. ]

Was this in the Elysium? I'm afraid I don't know much about what happened there.

[atouts]

[ He cares a whole damn lot but, yeah, outright admitting it isn't something he likes to do. ]

The Elysium? [ Childermass looks up again, wondering just who told Strange that much. Still, there's no harm in filling him in on that part of this entire mess. ] It's when one of the high fae declares a neutral ground. Summer and Winter can meet there with no worry of a fight since the one who calls it... hm... I suppose he's duty-bound to uphold the peace so long as he wills it.

[ As for what happened there, he sits up straighter on the cot's edge and continues, adding, ]

The Count of Crows called one to discuss what was going on with the rest of the Court faeries, we just happened to stumble into it. He was there the entire time, the one who had turned all the shadows in the library against us, blocking paths or changing where they end up.

[kingsroads]

[ Syrlya's a bro. Admittedly, he's a bro who has very little context on things, but he's a bro nonetheless.

Strange leans in a little, listening as Childermass explains things. He nods a little at the explanation—Strange only knew a little bit about the shadows being odd, but the Count causing it makes a lot of sense. Still, there's a big worrying spot in Childermass's explanation. ]

Did the Rose Queen show up?

[ Because Strange knows she kidnapped Steven, ergo she was in the area, ergo she might have shown up. And considering that Strange knows Childermass is cursed...well, he's suddenly a bit more concerned about all of this. ]

[atouts]

They all did. The Rose Queen, Ignatius, Frost, Nightshade, and one other faerie... Winter Court, from what I could tell. The one who took Lapis Lazuli and Jasper.

[ He just said it was a meeting place for peaceful faerie negotiations, so of course, they all showed up. ]

[kingsroads]

[ There is no delicate way to say 'did she try and hurt you because of your curse.' So Strange pauses, mulls things over for a second, before awkwardly asking, ]

And did she try to do anything to you?

[ Obviously it couldn't have been too bad as Childermass is upright, not kidnapped, and not dead, but Strange still worries. ]

[atouts]

[ He survived, sure, but Strange has every right to worry. There's a pause, a grimace like he'd rather not say but he will. ]

She promised the Count her aid if he turned me over to her. He had no real interest in reclaiming me up until that point, it would seem.

[kingsroads]

How could he turn you over in the first place? You don't have a contract with him. [ and then, the obvious answer strikes Strange. ] It's the faeblood thing, isn't it.

[ It truly sucks to be Childermass. ]

[atouts]

It is. [ Amazing how he doesn't sound all that thrilled about that, huh? ] My memory must have faded enough that I did not remember that was... possible before, but... it is.

[kingsroads]

And now we're matched for fae we have to worry about, [ Strange points out. It's not like he's gloating or rubbing it in Childermass's face. It's just that Strange has to worry about Ignatius and Nightshade, while Childermass has to worry about the Count and the Rose Queen.

Because that whole faeblood thing has quickly become an even bigger point of concern. ]

Obviously, you weren't turned over to either of them. Who do I have to thank for keeping you safe?

[atouts]

Okumura and Shima both. [ There's a second or two of a pause, as Childermass recalls, right, there's two Okumuras now. ] Rin Okumura, I mean. Mr. Okumura used the fire from the other's demon to take me out. Surprising no one, I can't exactly take orders if I am not conscious to do so.

[ And he apparently survived that, so good show, everyone. In any case, he looks down again, leaning over some to rest his arms on his knees and clasp his hands between. ]

Do you think... [ Strange isn't the best person to run ideas by, honestly, but they are from the same England, magicians both. It gives his opinion some value, at least. ] If I asked the Ringmaster to deliver the book's translation key to Mr. Segundus, that she would do so?

[kingsroads]

You might have to sign another contract for it, [ Strange points out. He knows the Ringmaster likes Childermass, but her goodwill can only go so far in the face of fae nonsense. ] But I think she would.

[ he can read between the lines: if Childermass wants the Ringmaster to deliver the key to Segundus, then he believes he might not be able to do it himself. ]

I might sign another contract myself, [ Strange admits, ] if I can't find a way to break my curse in the next few months or so.

[ Strange is slowly realizing that he's fucked seven ways to Sunday. But if he can get Norrell back to England before the other magician even has a chance to touch all of Strange's mess, then all the better. ]

[atouts]

Could be who ends up with the key at the end doesn't matter that much to her.

[ The prize of all this was the key itself, not where it goes. Even so, it's a miserable thought, that he won't even get to translate the Raven King's words, and his shoulders sag as he carries out a staring contest with the ground. Not that Strange's words don't earn a sour laugh, albeit a quiet one. ]

Oh, now you're considering it, are you? [ It's only a good idea if he comes to the conclusion alone, apparently. ] Though I imagine it'd be for the best. I know Lambert had planned to do it for you but now it isn't even certain whether or not the Ringmaster will care to keep him on at all.