[Public Channel] Day 69 morning : news about Iggy

[worldlyafflictions]

[Honestly, it isn't his fault he doesn't have hammer space or fancy magic to use for hiding stuff. Tyki didn't have to suggest he should contribute some other way like he had something to make up for when the topic of assuring the rest of the Carnival that the situation was under control came up; any one of them could have done that! But in the end there wasn't a graceful way to weasel out of it, so here Shima is, sighing and clicking his radio on to the public channel once they'd made it back to camp and had some rest.

The aggressive cheer in his voice poorly disguises the put upon tone to his announcement.]

Mooorning everybody~

Shima again. I'm sure some of ya've been wondering what's been up with that fae that our last team captured 'n got the Ringmaster ta eat. Well, good news, she's fine now 'n the eating was temporary.

Iggy-san is doing less hot, but he's alive 'n we've got him inside, uh... I guess it was a beach moon? Not sure how that works. But yeah, for whatever reason, since I fit the Ringmaster's criteria for a person suitable ta bring along for a chat with him, here's a first hand account that his powers have been stripped and he's successfully contained 'n not leaving the Carnival for a while.

Take a sigh of relief, or brace yourselves. Whichever!

Comments

[worldlyafflictions]

Nobody got around ta mentioning you, if that's what you're curious about.

[This jab is completely unnecessary but he can't help it]

[kingsroads]

That's not what I'm curious about. [ okay, he is kind of curious about that and Strange quickly changes the conversation so he can stop lying. ] I simply want to know if you all ever managed to get past the whole 'stuck in the moon' problem—that's a thing she does, by the way. The Blue Rose is kept in the center of the other moon.

[ which raises another question in Strange's mind: now that both moons are full, where the hell's the Mirror going to go? ]

[worldlyafflictions]

I mean... She wants ta expose him ta more people here eventually, so I'm sure it'll get solved at some point, but it's been like a day max since he woke up without most of his powers. It's not gonna be like, tomorrow. What're ya so hyped ta get him out again for, didn't he mind-control ya a bunch?

[kingsroads]

I'm just curious. So sue me that I'm worried about the person who was tortured.

[worldlyafflictions]

Hey hey, chill a little, Strange-san. Ya aren't the only one worried, promise. Actually he didn't really appreciate the concern much. He seems like the type who'd think the torture makes more sense 'n is easier ta cope with.

[kingsroads]

[ There's a pause while Strange mulls things over. ]

In between Lambert's actions, the Ringmaster killing the Winter Queen, and the fact that we've got a fae-killing weapon locked up in the moon, he's probably expecting the torture. It's damn hard to adjust when you're not expecting people to be nice to you.

[whattaprick]

He's loyal to his Queen. I don't get it, but I'm pretty sure he thinks just breathing the same air as us is treason.

[kingsroads]

Out of curiosity, have you ever felt any semblance of pride in your nation?

[ it's a genuine question. because Mr. 100% Ready To Go To War, Fuck You Napoleon can understand a bit of that feeling. ]

[whattaprick]

You're joking, right?

The Northern Realms are a bunch of backbiting assholes starting shitty wars over even shittier pieces of land that they say they've got a better right to because their grandfathers pissed on it first. Doesn't matter what side you're on -- your fields get torn and trampled up all the same. And who do you think's gonna be expected to give up what food they have to feed these wars?

So no, Strange, I don't have any pride in my nation, not that they'd even consider me part of it anymore.

[kingsroads]

Then of course you wouldn't know how he feels. [ said as if it's the most obvious thing. ]

When I was in the peninsula, I saw men who were willing to push themselves through hell to serve their country. Hell, that's part of the reason I joined in the first place. And even now, though they haven't seen him for ages, some Northerners and magicians still place their faith in John Uskglass.

Why would you be willing to listen to someone who's taken you from the most important thing in your mind, someone or something that helps define your identity?

[whattaprick]

I never claimed I did. I don't want to know what it feels like to have so much blind faith in a leader that sends her people across universes to conquer worlds and remake them the way she thinks they ought to be.

Are you talking about him, or talking about yourself?

[kingsroads]

I wrote an entire book to try and bring the Raven King back into relevance, [ Strange points out, as if it's obvious. ] I don't have as much faith as some, but I do know what it's like to put your faith in a leader.

[ he's talking about both. ]

[whattaprick]

A leader you've never even met or seen. You might as well be putting your faith in a god.

[ Lambert's not scoffing, but his tone is singularly unimpressed. ]

Would anyone even recognize the Raven King now, if they saw him?

[kingsroads]

Well I would, [ Strange points out, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. And he can't hide the little bit of awe and excitement in his voice as he continues, ]

I've seen him before. It was just for a second, but he acknowledged me.

[whattaprick]

You sure you didn't just put something weird in your mouth again? You were mad.

[kingsroads]

I'm positive. [ and, based on Strange's tone, he 100% believes what he's saying. ]

When Norrell and I summoned the Raven King, he appeared for a brief moment. I was perfectly sane then, thank you very much, and managed to catch his eye before he left.

[worldlyafflictions]

I think they worked out some of the Ringmaster's intentions when it comes ta those things, not that it helped much with the 'I'd rather be tortured' vibes.

Ah well, he probably thinks the attempts at being considerate were actually condescending so far, so it probably depends where it's coming from. Maybe you'll have your chance a little later, huh? Just try not ta get tempted ta do something bad when ya see him!

[kingsroads]

That makes sense. I don't know much about the Wyld Fae, but everything I've read has given me the impression that the Court fae look down on them. The Ringmaster being considerate to Ignatius is probably like...like a day laborer trying to talk up to and comfort a member of the landed gentry.

[ wait, that analogy might suck. ] Does your world even have nobility in the first place?

[worldlyafflictions]

Mostly just the rich 'n famous, but I get the gist! Don't think it was ranks stuff exactly that was rubbing him wrong, he seems ta mind more if someone's the type ta carry out their jobs well. Mighta just been he wasn't feeling too generous towards people keeping him prisoner 'n all the niceness just looks fake from that perspective.

[kingsroads]

I don't think it's the 'ranks stuff', more of the Wyld Fae stuff. I simply couldn't think of a good way to explain it. [ but Strange knows this is just going to go into jargon, so he shifts the topic a bit. ]

I suppose what matters is that he was willing to talk in the first place. [ pause, before, ] Did anybody else see him or was it just the Ringmaster and you?

[ as someone had to get Shima to the moon ]

[worldlyafflictions]

Can't really say... [He pauses here, thinking] But makes sense that'd she'd at least pick a sample of different people ta see what he responds to best? It'd be pretty weird if it were just me, I've only been here like two months. I got permission ta give everybody an update but I'm not sure if anybody else is gonna speak up about seeing him.

[All pretty much true.]

[kingsroads]

[ That's a whole lot of words that don't tell him all that much, so Strange takes a moment to parse through what Shima's saying. ]

So there were other people, but you won't tell me who they are.

[worldlyafflictions]

Or wouldn't tell ya if I knew!

[kingsroads]

[ you shit. ]

I suppose I'll have to ask around, then!

[atouts]

[ Guess who's getting real tired of listening to Strange pry about his apparently beloved fae master. If you guessed Childermass, you'd be so right. ]

I have also seen him and all you need to know are that he's miserable but alive and that I will oppose any motion you make to be allowed to visit him.

[ Not that it'll matter much if the Ringmaster allows it, it's just he'll lodge complaints and prepare for the possible 'I told you so' scenario later. ]