welcome to mayfield: day 4

[mayfield_mods]

[This carnival seems to be getting less and less maintained by the day. Your nerves aren't the only thing fallen apart: what were previously holes in the sky have expanded to cracks. What parts of the sky that haven't fallen into that strange, warping nothingness are full of brown smog-like clouds.

The carnival itself has become filthy, with trash and grease spots littered everywhere. The walls of the tents, wooden stands, and houses seem to be slightly melted, for lack of a better term. The holes of corrupted nothingness aren't confined to the sky anymore: pockets of nothing litter the carnival, shifting tears in the fabric of reality that hurt your eyes to look at.

A faint buzzing noise fills the air, making it difficult to concentrate. If you listen long enough, it starts to sound like voices. For your own sake, it's probably best not to listen to what they have to say.

You're also not alone here anymore, for those of you operating under the assumption that you ever really were. If you've been missing the friendly drones of Mayfield, fear no more, because scattered throughout the carnival are a few drone families seeing the sights, riding the rides and playing the games. Curiously, unlike the drones back home, these ones don't seem to notice you at all, acting as if you're not even there.

Also curiously: their features are warped nearly beyond recognition. Some are missing limbs or facial features; others appear to have had those features scrambled by Picasso's paintbrush, with mouths on their scalps or teeth on their fingers. Still other drones appear to be fused together at the wrist, or waist, or face. None of them seem to be any more aware of their deformity than they are of you.

...and yet, somehow, you can't shake the feeling that when you're not looking at them, they're looking at you.

New here? That's alright; your missing friends have had plenty of time to get acquainted, and they'll be happy to show you around. Just watch your step, because some of these old rides need some maintenance...]

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

Comments

[answerer_sword]

I feel something...but I am not sure whether or not it is just the fever.

[She shakes her head in an attempt to clear it.]

Do you also see cracks in the sky?

[waiting_for_the_worms]

Not just in the sky. Reality's coming apart all over this place.

[answerer_sword]

[She gives a bitter laugh.]

I must have jinxed us, talking about how this place might come apart along the seams.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

Looks like it's happening now. Hopefully when it finally all falls apart, it'll drop us back in Mayfield again.

[answerer_sword]

Or it will just destroy us along with this place.

[She bites her lip, trying not to cry at the thought of death. It is not her own death that terrifies her--it is the thought of all the people who she has failed.]

I'm sorry. I could not protect you or Tohsaka and return you two to Mayfield.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

All we can do is wait and see.

[Kariya frowns, putting his hand atop Bazett's.]

It's not your fault. You've got nothing to apologize for.

[answerer_sword]

I made a promise, Kariya. It is my fault for not keeping it.

[She should not have made her promises so lightly in such an impossible situation.]

Where is Tohsaka? Is he still alive, or has he been devoured by the cracks at this point?

[waiting_for_the_worms]

I haven't seen him since he arrived yesterday. He ate the carnival food before anyone warned him, so he wasn't in very good shape. I tried to help him out, but I'm the last person in the world he'd take advice from. Honestly, if he died out there, it'd be his own damn fault.

[answerer_sword]

[There is a loud smacking noise as Bazett facepalms.]

THAT DOLT! If he knew things were this dangerous, why would he not accept my aid? For the head of a great family he is...is...an unpragmatic FOOL!

[waiting_for_the_worms]

That's how he is. He'd sooner die for his worthless pride as a magus than do what's necessary to survive to see his family again.

[answerer_sword]

I should have shaken some sense into him. No, I should have knocked him out and restrained him to keep and better watch on him. Does he have no sense of responsibility? Even with the pride of a magus, does he not wish to live and pass on his great knowledge?

[waiting_for_the_worms]

Don't ask me. I'll never understand the way that man thinks. For all I know he refused my help just because it was me offering it.

[answerer_sword]

...Why? He clearly loves both of his daughters, and I know he wants to protect them. So why did he...even come here?

[Her fists clench. Any thoughts of apologizing for the previous day's outburst are gone.]

When I see him next, I am punching him.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

No complaints here.

[answerer_sword]

He seems to have regained at least a portion of his original powers. Perhaps...he can survive on his own?

[Believing that would make her feel less guilty about staying with Kariya when she needs to find and protect Tokiomi as well.]

[waiting_for_the_worms]

Well, he sounded pretty confident.

[answerer_sword]

From what I have seen, he might have the skills to fend off whatever hostile creatures he runs into. Since he has only been here one day, he runs no risk of starvation...

[At this point, she is just trying to rationalize.]

...But that still does not do any good if this fraying town will kill us all anyway.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

None of us can really do anything about that. We're just going to have to hold out long enough to see what happens.

[answerer_sword]

[She nods.]

No matter what happens, I will protect all of my allies who are still alive until the final second.

[Her voice shakes a little at this. He can probably see that she has all but given up at this point.]

[She hates every second of this. She hates not being able to protect others. She hates breaking her promises. She hates the idea of leaving her friends in Mayfield behind. She hates how, no matter what she does, in the end, she had no impact on this world.]

[She turns her back to Kariya and covers her face as the tears finally do make it out.]

[waiting_for_the_worms]

You've done plenty already.

[Kariya leans forward to pull Bazett into a hug. She may be too embarrassed to show him her tears, but she does deserve at least a little comfort.]

[answerer_sword]

[Her body tenses a bit, but she doesn't resist. She just does her best to try and wipe away the tears.]

[waiting_for_the_worms]

It's all right.

[answerer_sword]

[She gives a small nod.]

Thank you, Kariya.

...You're stronger than I thought.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

I'll take that as a compliment.

[answerer_sword]

[She takes one last deep breath.]

So, what do you suggest we do about this Church?