The Ringmaster (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lordofthering) wrote2016-10-19 06:48 pm
lordofthering) wrote2016-10-19 06:48 pm
IC SUGGESTION BOX
A real suggestions box hanging outside of the Ringmaster's "office."
Slot takes paper letters and perhaps very small animals.
A real suggestions box hanging outside of the Ringmaster's "office."
Slot takes paper letters and perhaps very small animals.
[ Well, she's not wrong. In any of that, actually, though he could dispute the 'good man' part. He can always dispute that one. He won't, though, so he'll just take a damn compliment for once and, slowly, offer her a weak smile in return. ]
I daresay you might lose a Nightrider and a magician as well if I remained behind anyway, now that I think of it. [ And he won't thank her, not directly. It's a disinclination that lingers from all the way back in Portland, the original root of this damnable problem. ] Very well. If you're willing to keep me on regardless, I suppose a traveling carnival is more like to turn up a fix to this than staying in one place.
I daresay you might lose a Nightrider and a magician as well if I remained behind anyway, now that I think of it. [ And he won't thank her, not directly. It's a disinclination that lingers from all the way back in Portland, the original root of this damnable problem. ] Very well. If you're willing to keep me on regardless, I suppose a traveling carnival is more like to turn up a fix to this than staying in one place.
RADIO - very early D28. Like, a couple hours after the concert stuff wraps up.
spaghettimonster
2018-03-20 06:06 am (UTC)(link)
[The click and static of somebody else on the channel goes for a couple of seconds before anybody speaks.]
Uh... Hello, Ringmaster? It is... Papyrus. I have something to... talk to you. About. Privately?
[With any luck, his radio is only partly reactivated, and she's not getting this message, and he has an excuse not to have this conversation yet. Nyoo hoo hoo.]
Uh... Hello, Ringmaster? It is... Papyrus. I have something to... talk to you. About. Privately?
[With any luck, his radio is only partly reactivated, and she's not getting this message, and he has an excuse not to have this conversation yet. Nyoo hoo hoo.]
[As is her way, she shows up to wherever Papyrus is in person, with no warning.]
Papyrus! Good to have you back.
[She sounds enthusiastic to see him.]
What is it?
Papyrus! Good to have you back.
[She sounds enthusiastic to see him.]
What is it?
Edited 2018-03-20 15:46 (UTC)
[Where he is: a cranny on the mountain side by the springs, because he can get here faster than most people. And away, quickly, if he hears others coming up. Normally. Teleporters cheat.]
Oh my god!?!
[He forgot she could do that, and flails for a second as half his reflexes - especially the cat ones - insist he should jump away. Even once he recovers, he presses a hand to his chest like he should be feeling a heartbeat wildly hammering. Dang, Ringmaster.]
...Right! So. You may have noticed, the last couple weeks, that I had been... abducted. Snatched right from the concert with musical wiles. Taken away to be inculcated to a dreadful notion of needing to destroy the world... and then, unleashed like that?
And, a few days later, Sans found me. And, we fought, about it all, a rather personal debate I won't get into the details of!
...But it got violent. And... I didn't have my usual self-control.
[He glances at her to see her reaction so far, to see if she gets where he's getting at. And if she doesn't fill it in, then, he'll just have to spill the full beans.]
Oh my god!?!
[He forgot she could do that, and flails for a second as half his reflexes - especially the cat ones - insist he should jump away. Even once he recovers, he presses a hand to his chest like he should be feeling a heartbeat wildly hammering. Dang, Ringmaster.]
...Right! So. You may have noticed, the last couple weeks, that I had been... abducted. Snatched right from the concert with musical wiles. Taken away to be inculcated to a dreadful notion of needing to destroy the world... and then, unleashed like that?
And, a few days later, Sans found me. And, we fought, about it all, a rather personal debate I won't get into the details of!
...But it got violent. And... I didn't have my usual self-control.
[He glances at her to see her reaction so far, to see if she gets where he's getting at. And if she doesn't fill it in, then, he'll just have to spill the full beans.]
[She's regarding him levelly, and her reaction is not as extreme or put off as Papyrus may be expecting. She thinks she knows what this is about already.]
And... what happened?
[It's a gentle prompt. He should probably say it himself.]
And... what happened?
[It's a gentle prompt. He should probably say it himself.]
Edited 2018-03-20 16:28 (UTC)
[Papyrus fidgets his hands together, abashed and still a little unaccustomed to... this. Talking seriously and calmly about things, with a boss or adviser who doesn't brush things off with a bad joke or suplex him out of the blue because things are too serious.]
He... died.
[He frowns at himself, and shakes his head.]
Wait, that's not... taking enough responsibility.
I killed him. I...
...I even meant it. Kind of. And, while I remember now, he has an egg? It's still... I still hurt him, very badly, and that's against the rules. And you should know.
[Rather than find out from Joker, or Yuzu or Gongenzaka, or anybody else who's found out.]
He... died.
[He frowns at himself, and shakes his head.]
Wait, that's not... taking enough responsibility.
I killed him. I...
...I even meant it. Kind of. And, while I remember now, he has an egg? It's still... I still hurt him, very badly, and that's against the rules. And you should know.
[Rather than find out from Joker, or Yuzu or Gongenzaka, or anybody else who's found out.]
[The Ringmaster seats herself on some mountain rocks, gesturing for Papyrus to do the same. Her expression doesn't change much. She isn't surprised.]
I thought something might have happened between you two, when I noticed that his rebirth ritual had been triggered.
[And then, a question that might be unwelcome:]
Why did you want to kill him?
I thought something might have happened between you two, when I noticed that his rebirth ritual had been triggered.
[And then, a question that might be unwelcome:]
Why did you want to kill him?
[He does so, perching very lightly on a tall stone, tail tip-tapping nervously against it.]
W-Why did I...?
[The question isn't as unwelcome as all the rest of this business, and! on the brightside! It's practice, for if his brother asks the same thing. With that forced optimism in mind, he sighs.]
Well... He trapped me. Tricked me, and trapped me, and... attacked me, instead of even trying to hear me out. I was... scared.
W-Why did I...?
[The question isn't as unwelcome as all the rest of this business, and! on the brightside! It's practice, for if his brother asks the same thing. With that forced optimism in mind, he sighs.]
Well... He trapped me. Tricked me, and trapped me, and... attacked me, instead of even trying to hear me out. I was... scared.
I see.
[Which, like, fair enough. From Papyrus's perspective, his priorities had been skewed, and he was defending himself. Sans had been intense about tracking him down, and probably wouldn't be willing to let him slip away.]
I think, in his experience, talking things out never had much effect. I'm sure he could relate to what you were going through.
[She offers a little sigh as well.]
By that same logic, I'm almost certain he understood that you weren't yourself, or fully in control of your actions.
[Which, like, fair enough. From Papyrus's perspective, his priorities had been skewed, and he was defending himself. Sans had been intense about tracking him down, and probably wouldn't be willing to let him slip away.]
I think, in his experience, talking things out never had much effect. I'm sure he could relate to what you were going through.
[She offers a little sigh as well.]
By that same logic, I'm almost certain he understood that you weren't yourself, or fully in control of your actions.
[His tail stops tapping, and he considers - Sans' experiences. The Manor... Hell... and who knew what else, before Papyrus showed up. When it was him, but all twisted around.]
He knew what it was like... and rushed in, shutting me down, because he'd want the same?
[Sobering, but Papyrus sobers even further when he considers - even back in those times, Sans hadn't really attacked him. Oh, Sans hurt him with words and left, or attacked a group completely indiscriminately... But never targeted, personal, like Papyrus had. As though, even when convinced he needed to be violent and cruel, Sans had a degree of self-control left...]
A-Anyway, that's stuff me and Sans can talk about, when he's back! Or, not talk about it, as he tends to.
I called you to talk about my punishment..?
He knew what it was like... and rushed in, shutting me down, because he'd want the same?
[Sobering, but Papyrus sobers even further when he considers - even back in those times, Sans hadn't really attacked him. Oh, Sans hurt him with words and left, or attacked a group completely indiscriminately... But never targeted, personal, like Papyrus had. As though, even when convinced he needed to be violent and cruel, Sans had a degree of self-control left...]
A-Anyway, that's stuff me and Sans can talk about, when he's back! Or, not talk about it, as he tends to.
I called you to talk about my punishment..?
I feel like this conversation is punishment enough, on its own.
[She looks him over, arching an eyebrow. She does hope they actually talk about it. Both of them are very difficult, in their own ways.]
I'm not sure what you're looking for, Papyrus. I'm not going to punish you for something you were compelled to do by the Void, even if the consequences were terrible.
[She looks him over, arching an eyebrow. She does hope they actually talk about it. Both of them are very difficult, in their own ways.]
I'm not sure what you're looking for, Papyrus. I'm not going to punish you for something you were compelled to do by the Void, even if the consequences were terrible.
[As families do, some of those difficulties are habits of pushing too hard to be unlike the other's sort of difficulty. Reactions, of trying not to be what he dislikes.]
Oh... You're not?
[He's startled, and looks right back at her again.]
I thought... Not a punishment, but, an opportunity of self-reflection. Like running a gauntlet! One where the important thing is, not getting to the end, even though that's important too, but that you really try.
[Papyrus leans back, looks up at the sky.]
But... If that gauntlet, is instead a conversation? That's fine.
Oh... You're not?
[He's startled, and looks right back at her again.]
I thought... Not a punishment, but, an opportunity of self-reflection. Like running a gauntlet! One where the important thing is, not getting to the end, even though that's important too, but that you really try.
[Papyrus leans back, looks up at the sky.]
But... If that gauntlet, is instead a conversation? That's fine.
[She can't help but feel endeared by him, saying stuff like that. Its like when he asked to have cat feet out of solidarity. The Ringmaster is quiet for a few moments, and then:]
If self reflection is what you want... perhaps discussing your feelings would be advisable. You sounded like you'd had a bit of an epiphany a moment ago.
If self reflection is what you want... perhaps discussing your feelings would be advisable. You sounded like you'd had a bit of an epiphany a moment ago.
Urk. W-Well... I said I would! And I'm not a skeleton to go against his word. Which is, uh...
[He takes a minute to gather himself, staring up at those stars. They look a lot more real than the glowing crystals of the underground... But are they like the moon, here? Smaller and a lot closer than the 'real' ones are? Rita's book has a lot to say about real stars, and... and Sans has been here long enough he might know more about these. He should ask, later. They could talk up here, too.]
...Most days, I know myself very well. Even when what I know, is that I don't know something. And I know my magic just as intimately! Exactly the effect my magic would have... How much harm it could possibly do... How to pull back, to not do too much.
[Even with the situations he's found himself in, out here... Others are the ones to make the call, whether someone needs to die.]
But, I never thought about what would happen, if I was me, but... without that. Not minding hurting people. Because, I never want to hurt anybody! To... kill anybody. So I'm always pulling that last blow.
And... then... I didn't.
[He takes a minute to gather himself, staring up at those stars. They look a lot more real than the glowing crystals of the underground... But are they like the moon, here? Smaller and a lot closer than the 'real' ones are? Rita's book has a lot to say about real stars, and... and Sans has been here long enough he might know more about these. He should ask, later. They could talk up here, too.]
...Most days, I know myself very well. Even when what I know, is that I don't know something. And I know my magic just as intimately! Exactly the effect my magic would have... How much harm it could possibly do... How to pull back, to not do too much.
[Even with the situations he's found himself in, out here... Others are the ones to make the call, whether someone needs to die.]
But, I never thought about what would happen, if I was me, but... without that. Not minding hurting people. Because, I never want to hurt anybody! To... kill anybody. So I'm always pulling that last blow.
And... then... I didn't.
[She has some questions, but she wants to allow Papyrus to go over this thought, since that's what they're doing now. One thing she isn't sure of, though:]
Do you feel your actions as a Harbinger impact the person you were before and will be after? The Void is a force outside of your control.
Do you feel your actions as a Harbinger impact the person you were before and will be after? The Void is a force outside of your control.
Maybe?
[He isn't sure either, but he's sure he isn't sure, and tries to explain it.]
It's... like Portland, isn't it? Not exactly me, but not not me. Different, in ways I didn't choose to be...
[He isn't sure either, but he's sure he isn't sure, and tries to explain it.]
It's... like Portland, isn't it? Not exactly me, but not not me. Different, in ways I didn't choose to be...
[ In the span less than twenty-four hours, Lambert's life has gone from 'actually, pretty good' to 'actually, pretty shit.' Having made a cursory prowl of Zargon and the Olympic Spaceship -- and thrashed the hell out of a striking dummy in the latter -- he finds himself back in the Carnival just before sundown, lingering in the shadow of the Ringmaster's tent.
With a performance upcoming, he's pretty sure she's got a lot on her mind as it is, but he can't wait on this longer, so he'll stride right in. ]
What does it take to lift a fairy curse?
With a performance upcoming, he's pretty sure she's got a lot on her mind as it is, but he can't wait on this longer, so he'll stride right in. ]
What does it take to lift a fairy curse?
[She lifts her eyes from the book she's reading long enough to give him a look, before looking down again with a sigh.]
I see you spoke to Childermass.
I see you spoke to Childermass.
I did.
[ Taking that as invitation, he'll walk into the tent and step closer. He was so angry ... still is, it's not hard to read that. But it isn't directed at her. Just the world in general, as usual.
He'd thought he'd accepted it being unfair a long time ago. It's somehow surprising to realize there's still more to lose. Regardless, he's clearly making an effort to leash his own temper, though it makes his voice come out short and clipped. ]
He said you couldn't do anything for it, but considering how shitty he is at actually doing things for himself or actually giving a straight answer, I figured I'd ask you directly. [ A pause. ] How bad is it?
[ Taking that as invitation, he'll walk into the tent and step closer. He was so angry ... still is, it's not hard to read that. But it isn't directed at her. Just the world in general, as usual.
He'd thought he'd accepted it being unfair a long time ago. It's somehow surprising to realize there's still more to lose. Regardless, he's clearly making an effort to leash his own temper, though it makes his voice come out short and clipped. ]
He said you couldn't do anything for it, but considering how shitty he is at actually doing things for himself or actually giving a straight answer, I figured I'd ask you directly. [ A pause. ] How bad is it?
Edited 2018-03-23 15:23 (UTC)
[She closes her book as Lambert comes in, frowning in contemplation.]
The Rose Queen is a powerful sorceress, so it is done with the competence you'd expect. To our advantage is the fact that she is the sort who would prefer vengeance over simply eliminating a problem... it gives us time, and she likely wouldn't strike until the perfect moment.
That also makes it much worse if she actually succeeds, but. You know. Looking on the bright side.
The Rose Queen is a powerful sorceress, so it is done with the competence you'd expect. To our advantage is the fact that she is the sort who would prefer vengeance over simply eliminating a problem... it gives us time, and she likely wouldn't strike until the perfect moment.
That also makes it much worse if she actually succeeds, but. You know. Looking on the bright side.
He led you right to the heart of her realm, and he didn't think she'd go after him.
[ It comes out unbelievably bitter, roughly said in the same tone as one might say 'can you believe that fucking idiot,' because seriously, can you believe this RM? What a fucking idiot! But speaking of huge fucking idiots... ]
What about Strange's curse?
[ It comes out unbelievably bitter, roughly said in the same tone as one might say 'can you believe that fucking idiot,' because seriously, can you believe this RM? What a fucking idiot! But speaking of huge fucking idiots... ]
What about Strange's curse?
Edited 2018-03-23 15:33 (UTC)
[Honestly, she's with Lambert on that one. It really does defy logic. She would have gone off on Childermass about that herself if he hadn't been so immediately contrite.
The question leaves her confused.]
Huh? He's cursed? [Blink.] ...Oh. Right. That thing. What about it?
The question leaves her confused.]
Huh? He's cursed? [Blink.] ...Oh. Right. That thing. What about it?
If I survive the rest of my contract, I was thinking about signing on another year to get rid of it ... or at least sign a another year for a better shot at getting rid of it.
[ He shrugs, jerkily. ]
If that's not an option, though, I'm obviously going to have to think about something else.
[ He shrugs, jerkily. ]
If that's not an option, though, I'm obviously going to have to think about something else.
I could get rid of that. [She shrugs a shoulder.] It's not even done by a High Fae... just the ones from Strange's world. I'd be surprised that Strange wasn't doing that contract himself, if he was any less arrogant.
[ That ... makes Lambert relax, just a little. At least one of his friends has a solvable problem, and that's a relief. ]
I'm sure he'd rather think he could do it himself. [ Again: what an idiot. But there's an exasperated affection in his voice when he says that, though he's quick to sober up again. ]
Could Childermass's curse be transferred to someone else? Or the consequences deflected, somehow? [ He doesn't know the exact wording of the spell (because he'd stomped off before he could find out) but he assumes she knows what's relevant for that. ]
I'm sure he'd rather think he could do it himself. [ Again: what an idiot. But there's an exasperated affection in his voice when he says that, though he's quick to sober up again. ]
Could Childermass's curse be transferred to someone else? Or the consequences deflected, somehow? [ He doesn't know the exact wording of the spell (because he'd stomped off before he could find out) but he assumes she knows what's relevant for that. ]
Page 7 of 14