⇨ HEARTSTONE MANOR

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 170 - Day ???
Where: Heartstone Manor
What: The carnival arrives at the Heartstone Manor. Do your best to play along, and try not to get too far ahead of the schedule with threading if you can avoid it, in case something that would affect your character happens early on.
Warnings: Individually marked! Could be a lot of things.

BEAUTIES AND THE BEAST↴ When the carnival arrives at the Manor, everyone will be taken into the Throne Room to greet the Prince for the first time. He will be lounging on his throne, and will take a look at the guests that the Ringmaster has brought before eventually dismissing everyone so that he can talk to her alone. After that, they will be given a brief tour of the Manor by some of the servants, and then brought to their rooms to start picking out clothes for tomorrow. On the first night they will be permitted to wear regular clothes, but starting the next morning the dress code will be enforced. There will be a number of servants helping guests with clothing, and making alterations to suit the non-humanoid features they may have. The tailors work with fabric by hand, but their stitching is impossibly quick and accurate, with changes being made to complex clothing at unbelievable speed. Some guests may note while working with them that one of the seamstresses has wooden mannequin-esque hands instead of human ones, and another has two sets of arms. The arms are one of the most obviously inhuman traits that they'll see while first touring the building. Come the morning of Day 171, the daily routine will begin. ⇨ THE DAILY SCHEDULE ⇦ ► FIVE MEALS A DAY: Between breakfast, lunch, tea, supper, and evening drinks, the meals you are required to attend are frequent and long. Each meal (except drinks and tea) will have multiple rounds, and use all of the fancy cutlery. It will be difficult to keep up for those that are untrained. The food will vary greatly, but will generally to be palatable to those that are into whatever kind of food it might be. Some of them are odd delicacies that are very much an acquired taste, however. People who cannot eat will be given a pass once the Ringmaster explains it, but will be looked down on for it. ► DAILY ACTIVITIES: There are scheduled activities for every morning and afternoon, and everyone is required to attend. Descriptions of each activity are provided on the "Event Descriptions" tab of the spreadsheet linked up above. There is only one hour of free time scheduled per day, after supper, and beyond that the servants will almost constantly have you on the go. The Prince and Ringmaster will not be present for most of the activities, but they will be there for every meal. If you character refuses to follow the schedule or makes a huge mess out of proceedings, make sure to report it here. ► AFTER CURFEW: At 11PM, everyone is expected to return to their quarters and spend the rest of the night there. Wandering after curfew is unacceptable by the Prince's rules, and if you do it there will be the chance of discover. Based on your character's stealth abilities, there will be dice rolling to determine if they are discovered or not, and by whom. Make sure you report any after curfew activity to the mod post here. This can also take place as an investigation if they are actually looking for something instead of just farting around. ► ROOM AND BOARD: The servants will remain upbeat for most of the time the guests are here, unless something is done to provoke them. They will be present at every activity, and there will be a variety of different individuals. One frequently spotted character will be the butler, a man with dark hair and small, sharp horns. He seems to be the main organizer of things. ► ODDITIES: Even beyond the obvious, there is something off about the Manor. Doors, windows, and other household objects will sometimes move seemingly without cause, and other times there will be banging sounds in the walls, or mysterious voices heard at a distance. It feels like you're being haunted. If you have a moment to wander the corridors, then you'll sometimes see open doors abruptly slam shut the moment you lay eyes on them, and wall sconces turn off or on. It's weird, man. ► THE HUNT: The Hunt activity will have its own event post, and some sign ups for those that will participate meaningfully. There will be some dice rolling to determine who hunts the most impressive game, and rewards handed out accordingly. Before that post goes up, however, you can do some investigations for the start of the event, if your character is interested in looking into the specifics of the contest and overall context. MAKE SURE THAT ALL DECORUM VIOLATIONS ARE REPORTED HERE.

Comments

Gongenzaka | OTA | spoilers turns out i too, am a square

[betheman]

OTA | DAY 171- MORNING 173

[betheman]

[Nothing Gets By THEMAN]

[Pass the Slipper, go figure, is somewhat awkward when you're as large as Gongenzaka presently is. Not for the ones passing the slipper of course-if anything they might as well start tossing it like a football (not that they are, hopefully, since that would get a few frowns REALLY FAST), since Gongenzaka can hardly even glance backward with his mane of branches in the way. He'd have to turn around-which is against the rules-so instead he has his arms peacefully crossed as he waits. Slipper is passed slipper is passed...

And....]

HMM! [And he's opened his eyes! Now time to guess....] ...Hmmmmmm...

[A Moment of Pause]

[When the horses are brought out, he can feel his heart drop. Oh. Now here's something he can't do. Rather fortunately, the servants assure him immediately (he has quite the readable face it turns out, though having had a few meals with someone by now, he suspects he knows Why) that there is NOTHING to worry about.

He'll just have to ride himself.] Auh! I see...then, what shall I, the man Gongenzaka-

[A few of the others are already getting ready to perform on the courses. The servants gesture over, and the taur feels his stomach turn again.

Ah. If he's riding himself, he needs to go through the same obstacles.]

Mnnnhhnnnh.... [Well... Off he trots then..! Hopefully he can manage some of these!]

[WILDCARD]

[HIT ME]

A moment of pause

[dressedtothe]

[Luckily for 9S, the horses can easily take 9S' android weight. And luckily for him, he already has some experience in four legged animal riding. Riding wild moose bareback isn't quite the same as riding a horse with a saddle, but it's similar enough that 9S has no trouble staying on horseback and does a reasonable job of controlling the horse.

Still, as Gongenzaka starts on the obstacle course, he'll find his path to the nearest obstacle course cut off as 9S and his horse pulls up in front of Gon and jumps the hurdle.]

[betheman]

NNHHHAUUUH!! [OI!! To say that Gongenzaka is fumbling when that happens is an understatement, truly. The taur's hooves slide, his paws scrambling as he backs away from the hurdle he'd been charging.] T-Take your turn properly, please..!!!

[The please is entirely a matter of formality HE WAS ABOUT TO JUMP DON'T DO THAT]

[dressedtothe]

[Whoops! But 9S and his horse clear the jump easily, landing deftly on the dirt behind. Grinning, he calls back--]

Sorry!

[He doesn't sound sorry at all. But he guides his horse out of the way for Gongenzaka to take his turn.]

Here. It's all yours.

[otoko]

Rhmnnnn.... [He recoginzes that tone from MANY, but nonetheless, he nods and takes his charge.] I, the man Gongenzaka, am glad to see I do not need to ask twice in any case.... [Anddd OVER HE GOES! ...Stumbling on the landing a bit, but shaking it off all the same.]

Hmmmff..! ...This is something Yuuya would do, more than anything... [He grumbles, trying to pace in place while he gets his bearings all the same.]

[dressedtothe]

[9S eases his horse to pull up beside Gongenzaka with a laugh.]

Yeah!

[9S looks around, but he can't immediately spot the acrobat in question.]

Do you think he'd do flips off the horse's back, too?

[otoko]

Mmmh!? Flips!? [Gongenzaka asks, jolting with alarm.] ...Hmmm... ....Honestly, I, the man Gongenzaka, would not put it past him... ...He has certainly flipped from more dangerous objects, and such wild motion suits his dueling technique..

[dressedtothe]

Oh, he can fight?

[Somehow, Yuya doesn't strike him as the sort. But then again, Strange hadn't struck him as a soldier, but...]

So your name's Gongenzaka, right?

[What a weird way of introducing yourself, though. Maybe it doesn't sound as weird if he said it himself. 9S lets go of the reins with one of his hand and dips himself in a shallow bow, hand pressed against his chest.]

I, the android 9S, am pleased to make your acquaintance!

[...Yeah nope that still sounds weird.]

[otoko]

Correct, Noboru Gongenzaka..! [He begins, while shaking his head.] I refer to duel monsters, however. It is...a sport, using holographic cards, and-

[And hold that thought, he needs to grimace and explain A Thing.] I, the man Gongenzaka, am not announcing a state of being... ....the manner with which I speak is not entirely translated between us; how I, the man Gongenzaka, refer to myself is a matter of politeness... ...a matter of humility, [he adds, nodding-and from there, bowing in greeting himself.] ...It is no literal matter-you need not burden yourself with making it such.

[At the least, he doesn't sound annoyed in any way-merely a little ashamed, and concerned. This is far from the first and no doubt far from the last he's going to be explaining it, he just hopes that it can make more sense one day.]

[dressedtothe]

Hmmm... [He doesn't really get it, but...] If you say so.

[He'd like to enquire more about this "duel monsters", but they can't dilly dally for too long while on the course. 9S returns his hand to the reins and grins.]

Are you ready for jump number two?

[otoko]

Hmm! Naturally! [Gongenzaka huffs, already charging.] I, the man Gongenzaka, shall not be bested by a mere hurdle in my path!!!

[You tell those jumps, Gon.]

Pre-Pause

[espigeon]

[Speaking of riding yourself... Julien's been spending his free periods with himself, staging this whole performance of man and beloved soul-linked animal companion for servants who range from indifferent to charmed. He's out of the stall now, a bitless bridle on his head with the reins loose in his hand.]

I don't know, boy. Yeah you can fly but you're super not a horse. Running's not gonna go great and I'd just be cheating, at the jumps. I do know how to ride, a bit.

[He makes a deep grunty bird sound and nudges himself. This act feels ridiculous but it is good being together again. Being in two places at once for so long is a slow but present strain. He doesn't know how the elder champions manage, and they end up doing it with more and more bodies.]

Hey, Gongenzaka! You're a weird situation, I'm a weird situation. Should I go out with my buddy here or pick something with hooves?

[otoko]

[Well, this is...certainly an odd thing to watch. Gongenzaka half fails to realize he's being addressed in fact, before rather abruptly shaking his head free of clouded thoughts and trotting over.] Auuuh...w...well, I, the man Gongenzaka, suppose that is up to you both, is it not..?

...I imagine if it seems to be frowned upon, using a horse would be the greater idea...

riding lessons

[dorkypantsuit]

[Psi watches Gongenzaka take off, with a whistle and a catcall. He's seated awkwardly on his own horse, clearly uncomfortable, but attempting to get the hang of this horse riding thing nonetheless.]

Gongenzaka, show 'em how it's done!

[betheman]

AUH!?! Th-This is not a course that I, the man Gongenzaka, tend to take..! [he protests, but he grinds his teeth and takes off all the same. With a steady gallop, he heads for the first set of jumps, clearing them by the skin of the teeth in at least one case, but doing it nonetheless.]

KHH-hhh!!

[dorkypantsuit]

[The Psionic laughs, shouting and cheering as he watches Gongenzaka make his way through the course. He's actually a little bit impressed at how well he does. Without having to worry about controlling a horse though, maybe it was easier? Psi didn't have a clue. He could fucking fly, why would he ever care about making an animal jump over something?]

Wooooo!

[He tries to nudge his horse to follow Gon, but it doesn't seem to listen. At all. So he'll just have to shout from here.]

[otoko]

[Gongenzaka is running the course as best he can, but he does pause just slightly as he catches a glance of his current roommate in the manor.] AUH-! Psiionic! [He calls out, continuing the track.]

Are you not also participating..?

[dorkypantsuit]

[He looks his horse over again, flicking the reins and kicking it's flank trying somehow to urge it forward, but it doesn't budge.]

Think my horse might be broken, or something!

[otoko]

A horse is not broken! [Gongenzaka scoffs.] If anything, they may well be testing you!

[Or stubborn. Real stubborn.]

[dorkypantsuit]

[He looks down at his horse and then back over to Gon.]

How can you tell?

[otoko]

Hmm!?

...A living thing cannot be 'broken', is how!! [GOSH!]

[dorkypantsuit]

I meant how can I tell if it's a test!

[He says with a laugh.]

[otoko]

N-AUH!!! [Well, that certainly catches him off guard, but he's quick to at least try to pull himself back together.]

W-Well obviously it is..!! After all, why else would we be put through these various 'events'..!!

OTA | EVENING 173 - MORNING 174

[betheman]

[It's a Loss]

[Well, the Hunts have come and gone, which means attempting to get back into the swing of...things. There's really no swing at all, and Gongenzaka is honestly still a bit shaken up about what he DID on the hunt. Forfeits, no doubt, is something the servants expect will...loosen them all up again, though while waiting for the judge to grab an item, he finds his ears twitching. And then... ...Ah.]

MMM!! That's mine-! [SHOOT AND IT'S ONE OF SUZU'S BOWS.....]

[SAILING, SAILING...]

[Oh God. This is worse than the bikes.]

MMNNHH....HHAUHHHH-

[One wouldn't take him for being water-scared, and normally he ISN'T, but with that whole emphasis on image for the sake of not dying horribly or whatever, he's naturally gotten himself nervous. They're all in paddleboats, and with a guy this big, his boat? Is going to be massive, but probably not entirely massive. His paws and hooves shake as he gets in, and just taking that step makes it tip back and forth almost dangerously.]

NHHHHHH...

[And now he's got to get offshore. Eep.]

[WILDCARD]

[YOU KNOW THE DRILL]