IC SUGGESTION BOX

[lordofthering]

A real suggestions box hanging outside of the Ringmaster's "office."
Slot takes paper letters and perhaps very small animals.

Comments

[lordofthering]

Mhn.

[She doesn't seem enthusiastic about discussing it.]

He seemed to be under the impression that he could force my actions.

[hippocarnival]

... Yeah, that sounds pretty mean. [But he can hear her tone, so he's not going to ask exactly what transpired between them--it sounds like it was more than just what they did to Ignatius.]

If you want to talk about it, I'll listen. [But he can at least extend a hand to her.] You know, you're one of us too.

[lordofthering]

That may be, but I'm also the one that everyone looks to for resolutions. And, debatably, the one responsible for every problem the carnival has had to date.

[She exhales, wearily.]

It's foolish to think I'm anything like you.

[She's clearly taking all of this pretty hard, but her tone is more grumpy and stubborn than heartbroken, at the moment.]

[hippocarnival]

... We have leaders, too. And we have people who hurt and use others like they're tools. And grudges, and we make mistakes. Everything you did--I bet someone else here would have made the same decision.

You feel happy, and angry, and you cry and laugh like we do. You're not that different. And you're not the only one right?

[Wasn't that part of the problem? That the Fae see people like Yuya as something different?

That's actually part of what he wanted to ask about, so he gets right into it.] Something made you change your mind, to see that we're people too, right? Like something changed the Summer Maiden's mind. What was it?

[lordofthering]

That's not entirely what I meant...

Our power is everything that's wrong with us - everything that makes us so much worse than any other species's cruelty. The things we can do... it amplifies whatever innate flaws sapient life has to begin with.

When you and the others are given the same unlimited control over someone, you begin to do the same thing. All you need is an excuse, a justification.

The only thing different about the Summer Maiden was that she understood that.

[hippocarnival]

So... if you say with the same power we do the same thing, doesn't that mean we really are alike?

[It doesn't sound like that refutes his point at all.] I know the amount of damage is different, but it doesn't change the way it feels. And if the Summer Maiden can understand that... we're people, and we have worth, then others can too.

When I talked to her, it sounded like she lost hope in Arcadia. But how else are we going to change anything? People will still get hurt as long as they think they're justified.

[lordofthering]

We could be the same, but we aren't right now. Even if you became a True Fae yourself, you'd have this memory of being powerless. Fae never experience that.

...Or at least, rarely. And if they do, it's usually at the hands of iron, or other fae. It has a different impact, psychologically.

[hippocarnival]

Ringmaster, what do you think humans are like in worlds where the Fae don't exist? [His tone is light, and openly curious.]

[lordofthering]

Well, fae exist everywhere so I assume you mean worlds yet untouched by fae... but much the same way they are anywhere else, I assume.

[hippocarnival]

[He laughs a little.] That's what I mean! You know, before I found the carnival I'd never met a Fae before. We don't have that kind of magic, but... you know the way Fae treat us, humans do to each other, too. Not every human is powerless.

[There's a pause, and a shifting sound as Yuya tries to figure out how to explain.] What I mean is, feeling like I'm powerless to stop other people, and like I'm powerless to stop the Fae isn't that different. I'm still scared, I still need help. Fae do that to each other too, don't they?

I don't mean we have all the same power, or even live the same way. But we do feel the same.

[lordofthering]

Maybe so.

It's easy to find myself putting mortals on a pedestal, wanting to believe they are different. To think that somewhere, someone has it right.

[hippocarnival]

I wish I could say we did. We're just doing our best, like you.

I think it's easy for us to feel the opposite about Fae, too. But you're not all bad, like we're not all good, and we'll probably understand each other easier if we start with what's similar instead of what's different.

I believe things really can change. For us and for you.

[Because living on the run has kind of got to suck.]