[PUBLIC CHANNEL] RINGMASTER'S ELEVENTH ADDRESS (D72)

[lordofthering]

[The radios will glow green as the Ringmaster begins a broadcast.]

Welcome back to the carnival, everyone. Things may look the same as before, but I assure you, there is no stone that has been left unturned or tree that hasn't been uprooted. We'll have no more stalkers from here on out.

There are a few things of relevance that I have to tell you about. Firstly, Ignatius is no longer in the moon. Instead, he's been relocated to a small island in the middle of the lake. He can't leave it, and you aren't allowed to visit it without my permission. If you do, and he wounds you, you can consider it your own fault.

In a related matter, I've decided to invest my magical energies into granting each of you a ressurection egg, as we clearly can't anticipate any peaceful resolutions from this. If you don't know what that means, it's essentially a ritual spell I'll need your help in completing - once it's done, it will bring you back to life if you happen to perish, but only once. Also, you will have to be in the egg long enough to regrow and hatch. This is no small favour on my part, and it won't work unless your soul can make it back to the egg.

Thirdly, after calling in several favours, I think the location of Eden is almost within view. A few allies will be joining us over the next week and giving us more information. Until then, carry on about your business, as there are some new things you'll have to get used to.

We're going to be organizing the Supervisor guided departments differently from now on. I have explained the details to the Supervisors, and they can fill you in on what will be expected of you. There will not be only six categories: Militia, Acquisitions, Engineering, Management, Administration, and Medical.

Supervisors, feel free to sound off with what group you are leading and what it is for.

Comments

[kingsroads]

[ an intensely frustrated pause before, ]

You said you trusted me. You might not trust me to be a Nightrider but please trust me on this. I know what I'm doing. All I want is just one conversation, so we can set things straight and I can know what my expectations are.

[whattaprick]

It's not me you have to convince. I'm just telling you why you don't sound so convincing.

[ a.k.a. please sound a little less like you're stanning the shit out of Ignatius, buddy, it's really making Lambert wish he hadn't said that ever again. ]

Besides, if we're talking about people who need to talk to him, you aren't the one who should be first in line.

[kingsroads]

There is no way in hell the Ringmaster is letting you talk to Ignatius.

[ swing and a miss on who Strange thinks Lambert's talking about. ]

[whattaprick]

[ That is so off target Lambert isn't going to even bother acknowledging it, so he's going to go on like Strange never interjected: ]

I think Rita should see him.

[ A beat. ]

But that's not up to me.

[kingsroads]

[ and now it's Strange's turn to deliberately be quiet! partly because he's got a feeling this is directed more towards the Ringmaster than him (& also wants to hear what she's going to say), partly because he knows he's already dug his hole deeper than he thought it was going to be, he had better shut up for the moment. ]

[lordofthering]

[Well if he's waiting for the Ringmaster to reply to Lambert, he's out of luck. She's not even going to open a discussion with him on the topic.]

[kingsroads]

[ so like five fuckin minutes pass before, ]

Oh good Lord, are you two still not talking to each other?

[whattaprick]

[ Hey guess who isn’t answering that either? Not this guy! Sorry, Strange! ]

[kingsroads]

[ and then five more minutes pass. ]

And you call me childish? I at least apologize when I'm in the wrong.

Lambert, the Ringmaster's sorry that she broke your ribs. Ringmaster, Lambert's sorry for torturing Ignatius and bringing this problem right to your doorstep. You both acknowledge you could have done better.

There we go, now I've done the hard work, both of you can continue from there.

[ Strange is going to find some fucking alcohol ]

[whattaprick]

I’m not sorry for that, so don’t put words in my mouth.

[ Lambert’s voice is steady, but there’s a tinge of impatience to it. ]

[kingsroads]

Then tell the Ringmaster what you are sorry for. You know how to apologize, it isn't hard.

[whattaprick]

It’s got nothing to do with you. So drop it.

[kingsroads]

[ Strange sighs. ]

Fine. But my point stands. You'll have to work together to keep the carnival safe and this childish stubbornness can only last so long.

[whattaprick]

[ That’s rich, coming from Jonathan “Manbaby” Strange. ]

I know my job, Strange.

Drop. It.

[kingsroads]

[ he drops it! But will eventually pick it back up later, let's be real. ]

[anti_nonsense]

... Me?

[Oh hey, guess who’s been listening to this drama. Rita didn’t expect her name to come up like this, though.]

[whattaprick]

Don’t want to?

[anti_nonsense]

No... I do want to talk to him.

I just didn’t expect anyone else to suggest it first.

[whattaprick]

Out of all of us, you’d have the most to say to him.

[ He only caught a glimpse of her life through that paper, but it was enough. He knows what a lifetime of resentment and anger feel like. ]

... Have you thought about what you would, if you could?

[anti_nonsense]

Of course. I’ve thought about it and rethought it again and again.

...I don’t know if anything I say to him will change anything, though.

[whattaprick]

Probably not. At the end of the day, words are only worth so much... and if we’re keeping him stuck here, whatever we say is just air.

But Strange has a point. About setting the record straight, knowing what to expect. He never had your memories before. It’s up to you.

[ Both to decide on whether she wants to see him, and accordingly advocate for her right to do so. If this conversation makes anything obvious, he still in the doghouse and his opinion worth about as much. ]

[anti_nonsense]

True...

The situation he’s in now is similar to what he put me through, before... I wonder if he realizes that.

[whattaprick]

How so?

[anti_nonsense]

He’s been abducted. Changed. Imprisoned by a strange enemy. Doesn’t know if he has a home to return to anymore.

In a way, it’s the perfect revenge.

[whattaprick]

Somehow, I doubt he sees it that way.