IC RADIO CONTACT

[starseedling]

✆CHANNEL FREQUENCY: 123.78383
DESCRIPTION: Steven will be fairly quick to answer, on average, but it's also entirely possible that he'll forget his radio or get distracted from answering.

✉MAIL BOX LOCATION: Mailbox on Door
DESCRIPTION: It's wooden and a little crooked but Steven is gradually covering it in sequins and jewels.

Comments

[kingsroads]

Obviously Strange looks like the normal human that he looked like in Portland but, at the same time, there's obvious differences both in changes (mirrored eyes, a patch of scales on his neck and hands, and new mirror-coated scratch marks around his wrists) but also in his attire (despite the fact that he's been in the carnival for a few months, Strange still defaults to something vaguely 1810s.) He's at least gotten some sleep, though his limbs are still scratched up and his chest still worryingly sore.

Still, that's why people wore long-sleeves. Strange is peeling the shell off a hard-boiled egg when Steven sits down--said egg soon gets sat down on a nearby plate. He gives Steven a smile of his own as the boy approaches, one where Strange is just trying his hardest to seem gentle and kind.

"I am." And then he pauses for a moment because is this Steven just beating around the bush or Steven having forgotten entirely? "And what I wanted to talk about is the fae. Again, if you don't want to talk about this now, we can talk about it another time."

[starseedling]

It's almost certainly just him beating around the bush, based on his total lack of surprise when Strange explains the subject of conversation again. It just feels helplessly foreboding to even say the words, right now. Like acknowledging what they're talking about is acknowledging everything that happened to him.

"It's... It's okay," Steven says, though he's obviously a little bit hesitant despite his own assurances. He's more nervous about this than he wants to admit. Whatever important information that Strange has to share with him is probably bad.

"I... should probably know about it." As reluctant as he sounds, he's sincere in that, at least.

[kingsroads]

"I don't know if this is good news or bad news, just...news." There's a pause, before Strange continues. "Back in Alola, the carnival was frozen over for a day or so. Well, that was the work of a faerie named Frost that I accidentally summoned. During our conversation, I learned that Frost knew of the Ringmaster. Well, when I was talking with Nightshade in Portland, she also told me that she knew of Frost and at least knew a little about the Ringmaster."

Granted, what Nightshade told him mostly boiled down to 'we know the Beast isn't from this world, you moron' but hey, still counts. There's a small frown on Strange's face as he talks because honestly, he's got no idea just what this information means. It isn't exactly a battle plan or anything that could be useful, but more of a statement of facts.

"I don't really know what to make of this, aside from the fact that all the fae we've encountered so far seemingly know each other. But, especially considering that they now have access to other realms, I wouldn't be surprised if we ran into the Portland fae again."

[starseedling]

Steven isn't sure he understands. So... the fae know each other? What difference does that make, though? If they're all from the same place... how many fae are there, anyway?

He has to roll that around in his mind a little, unsure of what he's supposed to take away from it.

"Do... you mean you think that the fae we met there will follow us?" he asks, looking wary about that possibility.

[kingsroads]

"I don't know," Strange admits, with a frown. "But unlike other places we've stopped, it is a possibility. Especially since the Severing's gone and they'll be able to travel again."

He's only got scraps of the whole 'fae landing places to colonize the planet' sort of narrative, but even the scraps are worrying.

And truth be told, Strange isn't entirely sure what to take away from it either, just that the thought of potentially seeing the Portland fae again makes his stomach churn in ways he never thought possible.