event: portal five | the carnival

[mayfield_mods]

The fifth portal is in the park, tucked away behind a cluster of trees; as usual, any drones walking past simply ignore it. The cheerful carnival that can be seen on other side of this portal may strike many of you as quite familiar.

The carnival doesn't seem to have changed much since the last time it was open. The street that had been behind the carnival has disappeared, but everything else remains the same, down to the sky looking like it's been completely deleted and replaced by a gaping hole of nothingness. Despite this area being the smallest and most enclosed environment so far outside of the blimp, there are plenty of places to begin your search, from the Ferris Wheel, to the funhouse, to the various rides and stands. Just make sure to avoid the large glitch holes that seem to be all over the place.

Oh, and you might want to speed this one up, because you're not alone here. The faceless drones from the blimp are having fun at the carnival as well, queuing up for the rides and playing the games. They'll ignore you for now, but they're not the only ones you have to worry about. Here and there, you may catch glimpses of hideous, mutated drones...and they don't seem very happy to see you.

Comments

[doofenstrudel]

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz was not to be left out of this investigation, no no. Sure, it had taken him a day or two extra to prepare himself... what a disappointment that the MarbleInator that he built was missing all those nice parts that Solaris had given him... but he had improvised. And miniaturized.

So there's a fellow in a labcoat with a silly-looking raygun in one hand strolling through the game stands, trying to see what there is to see.]

Bah, carnivals. I hate carnivals. You eat too much cotton candy and throw up on the rides and you spend thirty dollars trying to win a teddy bear....

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Um...

[Rapunzel comes up besides Heinz, not recognizing his voice at first, and looking at the odd gun with interest. Her own weapon, a frying pan, is in hand.]

That's not really the biggest thing you have to worry about here.

[omlettedufromage]

[Dexter was here too, couldn't find any of the other portals, but this one was ripe for investigation. Except that he shared Doof's hate for carnivals.]

Tell me about it. The carnival games are all rigged, the food is mediocre, and my sister always tricks me into going on the scary rides...It's like this place knows how much I hate carnivals!

And clowns. I hate clowns. Especially of the Mayfield variety. They probably are insane and want to kill us. And probably travel in groups.

The last thing this world needs is a posse of insane clowns.

[silvergoldengun]

I think they're quite fun, actually. [ Cue cheerful smile, which does not tell that he mostly go to carnivals for the sake of messing with people. ]

[sunnydwithagun]

(Needless to say, the hideous, mutated drones definitely catch Django off-guard. He's avoiding them moreso than the other drones. The carnival made him uneasy when it first appeared months ago and this was no different. The freak show was easily the most uncomfortable part of the carnival for him, so it only stands to reason that it's become much worse since then. Hesitantly, he can be seen making his way there, though can easily be spotted at any other part of the carnival.)

[doofenstrudel]

[There's a fellow in a lab coat weaving between the creepy drones, while pacing back and forth in front of the freak show. He seems pretty darned uncertain about going in. It's enclosed. Also, probably very scary.]

...alright, okay Heinz, how bad can it be? Ha ha, really, it's bad enough out here, it can't be any worse in... huh?

[He spots Django, coughs awkwardly, and stops with the muttering.]

Er... hello!

[emperor_cowboy]

[He should've stayed FAR away from this portal. ... But he was restless. Not only that... if it allowed him to avoid SOME of the towns inhabitants... then so be it!

He was surprised by the various faceless drones that surrounded the area, having fun as if they had always been there. He grit his teeth.

Something then occurred to him... now that he was no longer blind... what of the area he had explored before?... needless to say... he ventured forth.]

[doofenstrudel]

[There's a man in a lab coat weaving uneasily between the various faceless drones, making his way over to the ferris wheel. He's got some kind of silly-looking raygun in his hand, and he's rather fixated with the fact that there are far, far too many people here with no face.]

Alright... alright, this is creepy... you're creepy, and so're you, and... oh, it's a creepy couple, this is fantastic....

[Hey Hol, he's this close to accidentally bumping into you.]

[monk_of_keyfu]

[Key-Fu happened to be out at the park in his full costume today, Key rune on hand, vigorously training on trees.]

[In fact, he manages to enter the Carnival portal by accident, by trying to "wall kick" off of a tree trunk, resulting in a series of backflip-to-handstands that take him all the way through the portal.]

[In fact, he's still standing on his hands even as his head snaps to the left and right, taking in the change in scenery.]

Goodness! I appear to have time traveled to Topsy-Turvy Day!

[ra_ra_razputin]

[Well, that's certainly one way to investigate.]

See anything noteworthy?

[atent_dead]

[Granny steps through the portal with her broom in hand, hat on head and scowl on face. It's an even scowlier scowl than usual as she glares and everything with understandable suspicion]

What's this nonsense?

[gandere]

[ Finally, someone who gets it. Enjoy another grumping girl nearby. ]

That carnival. It's back again and this time full of irritating people.

[bloodsugar]

[...ah.

so, his rather unfortunate luck continues. Abel was... not pleased, to say the least, once his eyes settled on the scene before him. it wasn't very hard to read in the abrupt surprise and... anger in blue eyes, the grimace at his lips.

he would have died a happy man should he, at the end of his (long) life, never have had to see this wretched place again.

his hand has strayed rather abruptly to that of the small boy at his side, tugging him toward his side tightly in a manner that suggested he wouldn't be relinquishing his grip anytime soon. no... this time; he wouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past. he wouldn't be letting either of the precious people who followed him here out of his sight.

he wouldn't be allowing them so much as beyond arm's reach.

his free hand has strayed to his hip where he's unholstering the modified revolver without hesitation. it's clear to see through a glimpse through the crowd that this may not be a pleasant outing as the carnival may otherwise advertise. his eyes tilt toward Esther, then Cain, ensuring both of them are alright-- either of them had reason to be thoroughly disturbed by their location... before looking for a destination.

now the question becomes-- where? where will they find what they're looking for? please don't let him fail them again.]

[kinship]

[Cain is similarly dismayed by their sudden change in location, the scene in front of them all too familiar. He might not remember his death here, it had happened far too quickly, but the effects had lasted much longer than that brief instant.

He goes with Abel's tugging without complaint, nestled into his side cautiously. He was no coward, but he was smart enough to know when he needed protection. He was durable, not invincible, as Mayfield had happily proven to him time and again.]

...Why here?

[balzams]

[The familiar sight makes him feel sick in a way he can't quite describe. Almost instantly he turns on his heels to run back out the portal but something stops him. He was the one who had been so adamant about coming, who had gone on and on about being useful and finally taking action. On his pride, he couldn't back away now.

Hesitantly Latvia creeps through the crowds, feeling extremely vulnerable. If this really was the same carnival he half wonders if he can retrieve the shovel he left here but there's no way in hell he's going back to the tunnel of love. The faceless drones and the memories start to get a little too much and he ducks away, trying to find a quiet spot behind the funhouse where he can just sit by himself for a bit.

Stupid. Why did he ever think he could do this?]

[technophiling]

[Maybe following someone around when you're worried about them isn't the nicest things to do. But Estonia's not good at being a good big brother on most days, and the way things have been lately, he's extra nervous.

Latvia doesn't have much time alone, behind that funhouse, before Estonia comes around the corner after him.]

Hey, Latvia.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

[Rapunzel had entered the portal feeling ready for anything, but... She wasn't ready for this. Why was she back here, of all places? Wasn't once bad enough? There was some real trauma she associated with this place, and she'd just been getting over it. She wants to cry.

The fact that she instead just groans is a testament to how much she's grown in Mayfield. She's quickly off on the search for a familiar face, and from there can come a plan.]

[est33medpouncellor]

[Perhaps you'll run into an unfamiliar face and be alright with it?

Nepeta is... Not taking her entry to the carnival well. At all. You'll find her hiding under the ledge of a stall in fact, looking quite similar to what Rapunzel herself might have been doing if she hadn't been in Mayfield so long already.]

[recklessice]

[Enters the portal to ease his suspicion? Good plan. Knowing carnival is a place to spend his entire fun time? Good plan. Noticing the mutated drones watching him like a prey, and he doesn't care about them? Bad plan.

Here is Kaito who's likely trying to avoid them by hiding some place where the weird drones don't see him. Maybe the Ferris Wheel would be his ticket to escape.]

[silvergoldengun]

[ When Basco spot Kaito trying to hide by the ferris wheel, he tilt his head, glances towards the mutated drones - oh, he hadn't seen those before; or rather, not reallt looked - and chuckles. ]

I doubt that's the best place to hide at.

[adropofjupiter]

Huh. This looks waaaaaay too familiar, ze.

[Marisa looks around and holds her hand out to Arcueid as the witch hops up on her broom.]

Let's get an aerial look.

[tsukihime]

[Arcueid takes a cursory look around as well, planting her hands on her hips. For once Arcueid decided to NOT be an idiot and didn't don her Phantasmoon clothes. Not yet, anyway.]

It kinda does...except, y'know, no actual sky.

[She takes the hand, awkwardly hopping onto the broom as well. Broom travel is just weird...]

[beamiracle]

[Lion had felt a need to find out what was going on with these portals, and of course he'd dragged brought Tir along with him. The carnival was a familiar place, so Lion had figured it wouldn't be too bad to look around there...but after a minute or so, Lion isn't so sure this was a good idea.]

Well...this is certainly different from last time. [A major understatement, Lion realizes, but he's trying to press on and be brave despite regretting his decision to come here.]

[heavenfang]

That's... certainly one way of putting it. -Not that Tir would know, but Lion's expression said it all. Tir remained at his side, Heaven Fang shouldered and ready just in case.-

[notyetageneral]

[Tyve had the (mis)fortune of not being in Mayfield during the carnival, so there's no reaction of trauma as she slips into the portal and sees just where she is.]

So what you see is what you get. Hn.

[This is unexpected. She had anticipated that the initial view of a carnival was an illusion and that it would be something far worse once one went through. Though, this being Mayfield, there is always a degree of caution involved. Granted, going in alone isn't the most cautious action, but in every other regard, the soldier exercises excellent caution, with a rifle on her back, a sword at her side and a backpack with the essentials at the ready. The effect of military preparedness is a bit spoiled though by the fact that she could just as easily be mistaken for a housewife on a rampage in the blouse and skirt she's wearing.]

This certainly isn't suspicious looking at all. [She frowns and steps forward, nearly bumping into a person.] Oh, sor- [There's a sharp intake of breath and she pales slightly as she realizes there's many things wrong with the person, among which is the lack of a face. Even for someone who has seen all sorts of things on the battlefield, there's something just slightly more unsettling about something missing that should be there in the first place.

She slowly starts backing away, eyes scanning the area hoping she can spot someone who actually has a face.]

[guiding_starlight]

[ Dressed for potential fighting, Nanoha steps in the portal a short time after from Fate's arrival. The other woman with the long blonde hair is the close-combat specialist, after all. As dangerous as the sky looks, Nanoha isn't too eager to fly far.

Though one look around at the drones and the holes in the ground don't give her much incentive to stay on the ground, either. None of the few stories she had heard of this place can do the sight before her the proper, unsettling justice. ] ...this isn't at all what I expected.

[ Then she spots the Funhouse and points toward it with her staff. ] That was the entry point last time, right? I think that should be the first stop.

[thunderace]

[The entire area sends a chill down Fate's spine. She, too, had heard the stories... which meant she knows how dangerous this place can be. Not that you really needed to hear the stories to know that; just the current appearance made that clear.

Which is why she, too, is clad in her Barrier Jacket, Bardiche already in his default combat mode.]

That would be our best bet. It's also the most dangerous, without a doubt. [Not that she's trying to talk her friend out of it. She knows she could never do such a thing.]

[ra_ra_razputin]

[Raz seems strangely unperturbed about this latest development.]

Oh, boy, an evil carnival. Just what I always wanted.

[notyetageneral]

[Woah woah woah. What is this kid doing here? Now being thrust into here accidentally, Tyve could understand. But seeing as she can't recall anyone or anything pushing people into the portal, she can only assume Raz has entered on his own volition.]

You shouldn't be here. This is no place for a child. [She frowns a bit, shifting the rifle at her back a bit, side-eying a faceless patron that walks a little too close.]

[gandere]

[ Rin Tohsaka was the charge of Fuyuki City and therefore has taken the town of Mayfield up as a suitable replacement. Therefore, she really should have hopped into a portal on the first day. But no, instead she chose to wait and hold off on it in favor of what exactly? ]

This place is exactly the same as when it was in Mayfield! [ No longer was it full of the hysteria that she encountered when leading her father and uncle safely from it. ] A bit modified, but still the same in essence.

[ Being mad at drones in general (thanks for that, Tokiomi) left Rin more annoyed than anything for now. Wandering around, she'll be more interested in the glitched holes than any of the stands, focusing on them from a safe enough distance. During her investigation, she'll often stick her tongue or pull down the skin under her eye at the backs of the drones that are nearby.

Because she's so mature, you see. ]

[answerer_sword]

Tohsaka, be more careful around those things!

[Bazett is already tense from re-experiencing the carnival, so she ends up snapping at Tohsaka.]

[answerer_sword]

[Not this again. Bazett bites her lip and forces herself to take steps toward one of the prize stands. She still remembers the horrible week she spent there. She hopes that this place will not be as excited about ripping them to pieces.]

[emperor_cowboy]

[He may remember about running into her before... but if he does, he's not letting on as he's looking around the carnival grounds. As it is, he simply walks right on by...]

[omlettedufromage]

[Dexter's not too happy to find that the only portal he found goes directly to a carnival of some sort. Yes. This isn't what he expected, and he didn't even bother to bring his power armor. Luckily, he did come prepared with a set of home-made wrench-chucks. He thinks he's watched enough ninja movies and played enough Ninja-based video games to know how to use them! Those faceless drones aren't even making this any better.]

I've got a bad feeling about this...

[mayfield_mods]

[The memento has been found. The carnival is about to get a lot more dangerous.]

[silvergoldengun]

[ Basco only entered on a whim when he was on the way home from the shooting range, so he has his looking-a-little-like-a-saw gun CariBlaster loosely tilted against his shoulder, and he had been interested once he saw the weird portal.

He was, however, less amused when he saw the carnival; he wasn't very fond of the thing. Not that it showed on his face. There was only a mildly bored look on his face, as he shifted the gun to his other hand. ]

[mayfield_mods]

[The memento has been found. The carnival is about to get a lot more dangerous.]

[bitetodeath]

[ His first interest is in the trees. Of course it's in the trees. Of course he goes to take a nap. This is a boy who loves to nap, after all.

So he jumps up in one, and the moment he's settled, Hibird makes itself comfortable in his hair. With a content huff, Hibari close his eyes and prepares to sleep.

Allowed to sleep, however, he is not, because he feels weird presences and when he open his eyes, he spot one of the mutated drones. He sit up, and stare in silence at the drone for several moments, as if to measure the drone's strength. It doesn't really look very intimidating to him, and he isn't really interested, but if it's strong, he wouldn't want to miss out. ]

But if I ask it, it won't reply, will it?

[mayfield_mods]

[The memento has been found. The carnival is about to get a lot more dangerous.]

[mayfield_mods]

[The memento has been found.

Where there were only a few faceless drones before, hiding behind food stands and lurking in the shadows. Now there are literally hundreds.

They're swarming out of nowhere and trying to murder anyone in their path.]

[est33medpouncellor]

[WOW GOOD THING SHE HAS THESE RAKES- also where did rapunzel go ahh-]

33p-! [Nepeta is more or less reduced to instinct, and is actively lashing out at anything swarming with the rakes on her hands. Success is debatable really.]