welcome to mayfield: day 3

[mayfield_mods]

[Those who wake up in the town on the third day will soon notice that something's definitely off. The cracks in the sky are appearing more frequently and lasting for minutes at a time, and there's a strange white fog drifting over the clouds.

For those who've just arrived, welcome to our new little town! We're sure you're glad to see your missing friends again; nothing to worry about here, they've just been too busy enjoying the upgraded carnival to go back home. Any bleeding limbs or serious wounds you may spot are obviously just a sign of how much fun they've been having.]

OOC: If your character damages or affects the carnival or town in a noticeable and normally permanent way, please comment here.

Comments

[truffulacide]

It really isn't, but... I guess common sense isn't a strong point in these stories. Maybe it was destiny.

[he shrugs against her.]

Did they fight over her?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

[She scrunches up her nose. Destiny is something she is familiar with, of course, but has never given much thought.]

I guess, maybe.

And oh, yes, they did. See... Arcite was freed, but banished from the kingdom. Palamon was jealous, though, and feared he'd return for Emily. But Arcite was jealous of Palamon, because he could still see Emily.

Eventually, Arcite's heartache made him so sickly that he could go back to the kingdom, and by then, Palamon had escaped the tower. They both looked for Emily and found each other, and they got into a huge fight.

[truffulacide]

[now it's getting good. logic dictates that this is the part where there'd be swords and blood and all kinds of nasty stuff. he leans forward.]

And then what happened?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Oh, it would have been a disaster, but Thesues came along and said they'd have to have a proper war over Emily, and he'd provide the soldier. Which I think is incredibly unfair, because Emily didn't want to marry either of them. But I think Thesues just wanted to get them both killed, maybe.

Emily wished to not have to marry, or if she did, to marry the man who loved her best. Palamon wished to get to be with his love. And Arcite wished to win.

Well, the war was fought, with swords and shields and bows and arrows and-- Well, everything. People lost limbs and even their heads! It had to end eventually, though, and while both men survived, it was Arcite's army who won.

[truffulacide]

[he makes a blanching noise from the back of his throat.] Just like that? Sheesh, talk about a letdown. Aren't stories like this supposed to end with both of the guys learning a big lesson about themselves and realizing that fighting is bad? That's sending out a bad message to kids.

[these are the only kind of stories he's used to, so.]

Well, let me guess: Emily hated his guts, right? There's only one kind of ending a story like this can have.

[namely a monumentally depressing one.]

[hairflyingheartpounding]

I wasn't done!

[She shakes her head, stifling laughter. It's amazing that she can be happy right now, and even more amazing that she doesn't realize that. Instead, she gently nuzzles Once-ler's shoulder, trying to remember the rest of the story.]

...Well, actually, Arcite's horse fell on him right after he won; he died.

Emily was pretty upset, but Arcite told her that she should marry Palamon, for he was honest, true, wise, and humble.

They were both sad about Arcite for a long time, but eventually they remembered that death was part of life, and they actually ended up very happy together!

...It's not the best love story.

[truffulacide]

[dot dot dot]

...No, it really wasn't. If I was in the throes of depression and you told me that, I'd probably feel worse.

[he glowers down at his feet, thinking about it.]

All that trouble over one person. I suppose it's true, what they say about guys; if you want to get one to do something incredibly stupid, just bring a girl into picture.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Heh.... Yeah. Sorry about that. Next time I'll pick a better story.

[She shrugs and sits up a bit.]

But, um... At least it was a good distraction?