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

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry is just going to watch Lucas as he swings the rope. He's never seen someone try and do a lasso throw so he's just going to watch curiously.]

[a_gentle_boy]

I'm going to aim for... that.

[Lucas will nod towards one of the little stone decorations jutting out from the side.]

OK. ...Here goes!

[He builds up some speed as he rears back... squints... aims... and throws -- !

Wow that was like twenty feet short. The rope drops unceremoniously back to the ground.]

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry is watching with anticipation, he has a feeling Lucas can do this As he watches, Lucas throws it and....misses completely. Henry will try and smile reassuringly.]

Give it another try.

[a_gentle_boy]

Hnn.

[Lucas makes a small sound of disappointment before trotting over to retrieve the other end of the rope. He'll walk back a few more paces this time.]

Maybe I should give it a running start.

[Lucas coughs a little to mask the embarrassed flush on his cheeks before squinting up at the mark again. One more time. The boy sets the lasso a-twirling... and when it's revolving at the right speed, begins to dash forward.]

Hah!

[A jump off the ground! Lucas manages a pretty good height before he sends the end of the lasso spinning up into the sky. ...This time, it smacks straight into the side of the church without reaching the full height of the throw. Bad timing.]

...Maybe there are clues in the grass we haven't found. Or dirt. We haven't looked at all the dirt yet.

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry watches Lucas try for a second time. As Lucas takes his running start and swinging the rope, Henry's sure Lucas will get it this time...but he doesn't Henry frowns a little disappointed the rope didn't get on the roof.

He goes to get the rope again for Lucas to try once more....but from the sound of it the blond has given up.]

Come on Lucas, you can do it. Just one more try, okay?

[He's offering the rope to him.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[Glowing a muted crimson color now, Lucas takes the rope and nods a little.]

...One last time, then. I'll give it my best.

[Up goes the rope and round goes the lasso. The boy backs up a good fifty feet this time while keeping it going at a steady pace. There probably wasn't even anything interesting up there, but... Lucas takes off running.]

Now!

[Jump! Lucas bounds into the sky. Double jump! ...Wait what. A flash of PSI underneath his feet as Lucas somehow seems to get a solid hold in the air to jump again. A good seven or eight feet up in the air... Toss!]

Mmph...

[He lands with a thump as the rope soars upwards... It's definitely going a lot higher than his previous two attempts, but that doesn't mean his aim is any better. Higher and higher it goes... The rope actually overshoots the stone protrusion by a few feet before beginning to fall back down.]

Ah... I think it's...

[...Going to miss. As it descends, the noose brushes against the stone protrusion but doesn't catch entirely. It hangs for a moment or two, but begins to slide away soon en -- ]

We're too close to give up!

[Lucas raises a hand and a burst of green light surges upward to lash against the rope. The noose slides back. ...It catches.]

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry is watching in anticipation as Lucas does this one last go at getting the rope on the roof.

But he's watching amazed at what he see's. Lucas is glowing and well, he was before but this time Lucas is just soaring in the air. Henry's mouth drops as he continues to watch and the attempt.

When the rope leaves Lucas's hand, Henry crosses his fingers, watching. Come on, come on...and the rope is going to miss. Henry frowns as he see's the rope beginning to slip.

But with Lucas's power the rope is pushed up and catches on the roof.

This comes with a very loud cheer and clapping from Henry.]

You did it, Lucas! You did it! I knew you could!

[a_gentle_boy]

Ahaha...

[Lucas sits on his rear for a few moments looking embarrassed.]

I think I've got to train a little more. I've gotten pretty lazy sitting around in Mayfield all day...

[theboywiththebook]

Well all that matters right now is that you did it. Now lets go explore he roof.

[Henry, no that's dangerous, why you so reckless?]

[a_gentle_boy]

Right, let's go!

[Lucas doesn't seem to think it's a bad idea, anyway. ...He considers that he should have tied some knots up and down the length of the rope to help with the grip, but it's not like he's never climbed ridiculous lengths of rope before.]

Do you know how to climb, Henry?

[theboywiththebook]

[Well that would have been good, because Henry probably doesn't know how to climb a rope.]

Not really...sorry.

[a_gentle_boy]

Hm...

It should be alright. We're both pretty light, and it's not too hard. You'll be tired by the time you get to the top, but...

Ah, I'll just show you. And let me know if you think you'd rather not.

[Lucas will tug on the rope a few times just to make sure it's stable before beginning to demonstrate.]

OK. So first, reach up with your arms and jump. Wrap your feet around the bottom so it's like you're standing.

[He will demonstrate.]

From here, all you have to do is to keep moving your legs up and standing again. Like this.

[Clutching the rope with his hands, Lucas wil swing his knees up to his chest, get a steady foothold with his feet, and then stand, ascending a few feet or so.]

If you don't want to get rope burn, you can wrap your hands in something. Maybe your shirt.

Do you want to try?

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry listens intently to Lucas's explanation. After all he needs to know how to climb this thing after all.

He watches Lucas show him what to do and nods.]

Okay I think I can do it.

[He will go into his bag and pull out a pair of socks to stick his hands in them. Grabbing hold of the rope, he starts shimmying up after Lucas.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas will pause for a moment or two as he watches Henry.]

...Maybe you should go above me so I can help you if you lose your balance.

[theboywiththebook]

I'm okay! I should be fine.

[He's still pulling himself up behind Lucas. As now Henry's directly below him.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Mm...

[Fwoosh. Henry will find a strange cyan bubble of some sort encircling him quickly before it fades away.]

I don't want you to hurt yourself if you fall. I'm going to start moving again; it might be shaky. We'll go slow!

[Lucas himself is regretting not protecting his hands, but he could always keep on healing himself.]

[theboywiththebook]

[What's with all the shininess? Henry's just going to be confused and awestruck at this little performance.]

Thanks, Lucas. You gotta teach me how to do what you do. [if Henry can do it.] Okay.

[Time to start going slow.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[Sadly, PSI was not exactly transferable, as Lucas has tried a few times. He'll let that be for now in favor of methodically working up the rope, though. He keeps an eye on Henry the whole time.

He'll pause when they're about halfway there... ]

Are you doing alright, Henry? We're almost there.

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry's a bit out of breath but he keeps climbing up.]

I'm okay! I can keep going!

[a_gentle_boy]

[In keeping with tradition, Lucas's pants should begin to droop at some point and reveal his underwear whereupon he will scramble in horror to cover himself but luckily, his shorts were well-fitted.

Up and up they go! Lucas will pause every once in a while to take a breather and to make sure Henry is alright.]

Just a little more...!

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry doesn't want to see Lucas's underwear, stop falling down Lucas's pants.

They were almost there, Henry could see the top. Why couldn't ladders be collapsible? Or better yet, why couldn't they have the hatter's hat? It might have had lots of pocket room for one.]

Almost there!

[a_gentle_boy]

Got it!

[And Lucas grasps the edge of the roof, takes a few moments to collect a last burst of strength, and scrambles on. ...The roof is flat for a little bit before sloping, thankfully.

He'll reach down to help Henry up.]

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry reaches the top, grasping Lucas's hand and pulling himself onto the roof as well. Henry collapses on the roof, taking a couple of breaths in. His arms are burning but at least his hands didn't suffer. Pulling the socks from his hands he shoves them back into his bag.]

We made it...

[Henry is going to stand up and look to Lucas.]

Even if we don't find anything up here, we can at least see the whole place.

[a_gentle_boy]

[After pulling Henry up, Lucas will scootch a little to the side. He discreetly places his own thoroughly chapped and hands behind his back and summons up a bit of healing.]

Yeah, that's right. We can --

[His gaze turns out back beyond the church. Lucas squints.]

-- See, um. ...Everything.

[As with the view from the Ferris wheel, fog probably obscures everything they aren't meant to see as well.]

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry doesn't seem to notice poor Lucas's hands. As he gets up to look in the direction Lucas is looking, a puzzled expression comes to Henry's face.]

What's with all that fog?