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]

You can curl up in the bottom of a closet. That's not so bad.

[a_gentle_boy]

Mm...

[Lucas doesn't look too happy at the thought.]

Well. We can try and make it more comfortable. ...Come on in.

[spitefulvitae]

What? I'm not going to make you sleep in the closet...

[She laughs a little, and moves to come in. As she comes closer, Lucas might be able to detect a scent of rot and mildew wafting from her.]

Oh. I'm Natalie Waters, by the way. What's your name?

[a_gentle_boy]

I'm Lucas. It's nice to meet you, Miss Natalie.

[If Lucas smells that... unusual stench, he doesn't comment on it. His nose may wrinkle briefly as she passes through the doorway, though he'll turn around quickly.]

Be careful. Some of the floorboards are gone.

[spitefulvitae]

It's nice to meet you too, Lucas.

[In she goes, and she looks surprised at the state of the house. Bare, with torn-up floorboards...?]

Eesh. I can see how the closet would be a better option...

[a_gentle_boy]

...It's not very welcoming, is it? The last time we were in a strange town, all of the houses were well-furnished, but it's almost like...

Maybe this is how Mayfield first started or something.

[spitefulvitae]

...a proto-Mayfield. The first generation. The first try. The beta version.

[She runs her fingertips lightly along the wall, considering these things.]

When was the last time that you were in a strange town?

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas pauses to think for a moment.]

It must have been the Russian one. There was a different town on April Fools' Day last year, but I didn't see it.

[spitefulvitae]

Westport? Someone I know has mentioned Westport. He didn't explain very much, though.

[a_gentle_boy]

No, Westport was two years ago.

[Lucas will walk over to the stairs and sit on one of the steps.]

These were all different things. ...I would show you, but I don't have any of my notes with me right now.

[spitefulvitae]

Two years... [She stops following for a moment, staring at the walls. That long? Years still seemed like a significant period of time to her.

She soon comes to join Lucas on the steps. Her hands fold in her lap as she sits there.]

Maybe when we get back to the right town. I think there's a lot about this place that I still don't know.

[a_gentle_boy]

Aha... I don't know if anyone really knows that much about Mayfield. But I can definitely show you what I have.

[Lucas leans back a little bit.]

It's always a little exciting to have an opportunity like this. To be able to find something out. I mean, it's terrifying, but...

[spitefulvitae]

If it's been around for two years, and if people have been keeping notes, that's something. I know that Ilsa keeps notes and records...

[She smiles a little, looking over to him.]

It is, isn't it? Both. Terror and excitement are rarely far apart. And knowledge and power doesn't come without risk.

[a_gentle_boy]

Well. I'm mostly excited at the thought of being a step closer to getting home. But that, too.

[spitefulvitae]

Home... of course...

[Her voice grows softer. When was the last time she had desired to go home? All of her thoughts were occupied with survival and picking this town's secrets apart. Home was... what did home hold, other than more struggle and uncertainty?

This was a strange and uncomfortable realization.]

...you miss your home, do you?

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas resists the urge to say something like 'if there's a home to go back to'. It always invited a lot of messy questions he didn't really want to answer. He'll simply nod.]

There are a lot of people I've been waiting a long time to see again.

[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.]