welcome to mayfield: day 1

[mayfield_mods]

[As you step out of the funhouse, blinking against the strong sunlight, it may seem at first that you've wound up back where you started. The carnival with all of its joys and wonders still stands, the Ferris Wheel looming majestically over Mayfield...

...except, did it always look that new and shiny? And it's not the only thing that got a makeover either; it seems like everything in the carnival has been fixed up from its previously rundown state. Fresh coats of paint gleam from every stand and every ride, and there isn't a spot of rust or a broken board anywhere in sight. At the entrance of the carnival hangs a large banner that reads:

Welcome to Mayfield - the Happiest Town on Earth!

Just how long were you exploring the funhouse for, anyway?

And as you start taking in the changes, you may notice one other minor difference: there are no drones to be found anywhere. It seems like the only other living beings in this place are your fellow townspeople who also entered the funhouse...well, that and the large, vicious looking rats that scurry around from place to place. But don't worry, there aren't that many of them and they only come out at night! So go ahead and enjoy having the carnival all to yourselves; after all, with all those minor safety issues fixed up, what could possibly go wrong?

The back exit of the carnival leads to a small street with four standard Mayfield houses and its church at the end. Attempting to leave the carnival via the entrance (although we can't imagine why you would) will only wind up looping you to the end of this street. Where the rest of Mayfield has gone, well...who can say?]

OOC and extra information about this town can be found here - please read it before you start tagging! Remember, only those in the first group should be in this post!

Comments

[spitefulvitae]

[She smiles when she hears that. She's become a bit bad at smiling in recent years, and it doesn't reach her eyes, but it's still a smile.]

You're very lucky to have people to hope to see. Hope is a powerful thing.

[a_gentle_boy]

[He agrees. But he'll glance up at her, curious.]

...Don't you have anyone, Miss Natalie?

[spitefulvitae]

[She should have expected that question to be turned on her... Still. An answer wasn't immediately at the ready.]

...there are some people that need me. And others that have expectations of me. But... no. The only one I want to see is Father.

[Her gaze goes to the street, and she watches one of the large rats scuttle down the street. It made for a nice distraction.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh.

[Lucas nods a little.]

...That's it, too. Most of the people at home... needed me. I'm not sure if they liked or wanted to be with me very much. Not anymore, I don't think. ...It's nice to be needed, but after a while, it gets a little hard.

[spitefulvitae]

Being needed is often more trouble than its worth. And it's a poor substitute for being loved. But to be loved... that's rare.

[She looks back to Lucas, her expression faintly curious. But what to ask?]

...Although you seem like a pleasant enough young man. Should I expect otherwise once I've gotten to know you?

[Natalie smiles very slightly. But it's a serious question, as far as she's concerned.]