⇨ FOURTH WALL EVENT! (OPEN TO ALL)

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone and the 4th Wall Visitors!
When: Day 175
Where: Heartstone Manor
What: THE 4TH WALL BALL BEGINS! This is where unapped visitors can post and roleplay. Please read the rules and setting info below. For more information and visuals refs, read this. Questions can be asked over here.
Warnings: Individually marked! Could be a lot of things.

THE GRAND BALL↴ Heartstone Manor is a giant, spooky castle floating in the middle of a twilight filled void. It is the home of a Wyld Fae calling himself The Prince - and despite his name, he is a bestial creature crammed into a gentleman's clothing, completely obsessed with replicating the ideals of old timey human society, much like the 1800's. The Prince and his many servants all dress in a manner appropriate to to the 1500's - 1800's, and decorum and beauty are held sacred above all else. All the workers of the carnival are currently staying there, in the hope of enabling a successful diplomatic venture between the Ringmaster and the Prince. The Grand Ball is being thrown by the Prince to honour these guests, but his manner of doing this is going to come as a bit of a surprise. THE RULES↴ Powers are all partially nerfed for 4th Wallers. They can be used in small to moderate ways for the sake of RP and narrative flavour, but 4th Wallers shouldn’t generally be using any powers in a super disruptive manner. No using powers for fighting with NPCs (yet), causing general chaos, or otherwise making your character a burden to the Prince. If they try, they’ll find themselves unable to do so. Your character isn’t sure how they got here but they think they’re okay with it. Your character won’t remember how they were captured by the Prince at the start of the ball. They’re just kind of here and in formal wear, and something tells them it’s probably fine to just enjoy the ball. They are wrong. In-game characters won’t initially remember how they all ended up at the ball either thanks to a temporary amnesia effect, but they will be able to be concerned about the fact that other people (possibly people they know) have shown up, and the fact that those other people are probably the Prince’s captives. Weren’t they doing something else at the castle before this, though? It’s hard to remember. This is all very confusing. 4th Wall character who aren’t apping in were possibly never the real deal in the first place. There are a mixture of genuine captives and spooky replications created with magic – this is to provide some flexibility regarding 4th wall character’s states in game, as well to allow more than one of each character to be played. If there are multiple people playing the same character, then whichever one has an app accepted will have been the real one. No doubles of in game characters. (Taken list here.) No AUs, no CRAUs, and nothing else besides characters that have full source canons or are original characters/fandom OCs with no bearing on the canon plot. If you tag in with a character who breaks these rules we reserve the right to remove them. THE SETUP: 4TH WALLERS↴ With incredibly foggy memories of their recent past, your character will find themselves at a grand ballroom dance, filled with a mixture of normal humans and odd looking humanoids that have strange features like wings, horns, tails, fur, and the like. They have vague memories of being dressed for the occasion, but are not sure by who or why. Most disturbingly, they will find that, at first at least, they don’t really care about the details. It seems like a pleasant event, doesn’t it? Why not enjoy it. This effect is definitely some kind of mind control, so you can feel free to have your characters be a bit confused and conflicted about it. Ultimately, they have been charmed to participate in the dance, so they will feel like riding the wave is the best thing to do even if that wouldn’t normally be their cup of tea. If your character has resistances to some forms of mind control, they are still overruled in this circumstance. They may discover people they recognize (castmates) or even duplicates of themselves (somehow?), and these can all be treated as canonly occurring and played out as such. This event is canon for Lost Carnival, so it should be played seriously and respectfully – not that silly shenanigans aren’t also bound to happen. All characters are required to dress in formal attire appropriate to a period area – specifically anywhere from the 1500s to 1800s. The Prince prefers if people are heteronormative in their clothing choices, but if you want you can probably get away with your ladies wearing suits or men wearing dresses as long as they look presentable otherwise. THE SETUP: MANOR GUESTS↴ You find yourself at the Grand Ball without really remembering how you got here. The last few days are a foggy blur, and though you can remember some of the important stuff you were dealing with, it will feel less important right at the start. Of course, as the night goes on, memories of how the carnival reached this event will become more and more clear – as well as the inevitable worry and stress that comes with it. For most people, there will have absolutely no memory of anything that happened after the morning of Day 175. Did the boating trip ever happen? Possibly not. Even as the night progresses, they will still have no recollection of how most of Day 175 went, which is probably disturbing. The Mod has contacted those that are exceptions to this privately to tell them what they will remember. The people lost to the Manor’s security earlier in the week will be here too, but not as guests. In fact, all of them will be dressed in the black attire of a Heartstone Manor servant and will seem pretty okay with that fact. There are parts of them that look changed – and their dispositions are definitely one of them. How else could they possibly be working for the Prince now? Updates to the event situation will be posted down in this section below. People can react to these posts as the circumstances change, and may new top levels based on them. It is possible to try to sneak away from the ball, but Manor Security will be trying to hunt you down. There is no mandatory outcome planed to this event, so character decisions can and will have a major effect in where the plot goes from here. THE ACCOMODATIONS↴ MUSIC AND DANCING: There will be music playing the whole night, and most of it is so good you feel practically compelled to dance to it. It's possible to resist, but why would you want to do that, you party pooper? FOOD AND DRINK: There are circle tables set up with fine silverware, and upon sitting down you will soon have a waiter come back to ask for an order. You can request basically any European cusine and it will be made for you. You will also be given drinks, most of which are alcohol, no matter your age. Fae don't care about children. BALCONY STARGAZING: There are balconies that are connected to the ballroom in multiple locations that you can step out onto to get some fresh air. You'll see the courtyard of the Manor down below you, but everything beyond that is black, as if the castle is floating within a twilight void. (Because it is.) One small change is that there are stars out tonight, probably added to the sky for the occasion. ALL NIGHT LONG: The ball will go on far into the early morning. Or, at least, until everyone fucks it up.

Comments

⇨ EVENT STATUS

[ringleaders]

Major plot updates will be posted to this header. Both players and 4th wallers are welcome to participate in plot events if they are inclined.

1) THUNDERSTORM

[ringleaders]

As of around 9:30PM, the starry sky will start to be overcast by grey storm clouds. It will begin to rain and thunder from that point on, only growing worse throughout the night. Flashes of lightning will be seen through the windows, even as the music plays on.

⇨ TAKING ACTION

[ringleaders]

If your character is taking action in a way relevant to the overall plot, this is where you can come and express your intent and receive mod feedback. This is basically like the investigation section on other logs but is more centered around player action than finding information.

[pipers_son]

Yeah, no doubt about it, Joker is looking for the Ringmaster. If she is there, they are probably and slightly less fucked.

Ashleigh Mischief | OC | LC Player

[amusicaladventure]

Food and Drink

[After so many meals here, Ash had meals down to a science, the very picture of politeness, in her elegant gown and with finest manners on display. Food has just come her way -- a fish dinner, of course, for she is after all a catgirl -- but the manners of the period they'd assumed meant she could certainly not hurry in the slightest. Small bites, dainty taps at the lip with napkins, every movement studied and structured. She had a very long way to go to polish off this meal, her table is wide-open, and despite her manners boredom and impatience shine like beacons in her eyes.]

[She'd be very grateful for the company.]

Music and Dancing

[Ash looks almost radiant in her fancy dress, a naturally beautiful girl in clothing that accentuates every facet of it. 'Almost' because she can't help her nature -- she moves just a little too fast and forcefully, too used to being a tomboy in jeans even after all the practice leading up to this. But never mind that -- she's on the prowl, looking for partners who want to enjoy this as much as she does. The music is in her blood and bone, driving her onward in delight. She wants to dance.]

U KNO WHAT

[fortuneglass]

[Why, Ash-if it's a dance you want, it's a dance you'll get. The Prince may be frowning at the idea of gown and gown swirling at the same time, but when Ash passes by, no amount of moving too fast and forceful can take Carly's thoughts away from everything else. Her light, if anything, seems to shine more brilliantly, and despite herself the woman finds that it is she who approaches Ash, words stuck in her throat.] Ah....

A...Ash! It's um....good to see you here?

[This is probably mandatory, what a poor choice of words! Curses!]

Q | Star Trek | 4th Waller

[punched_by_sisko]

[Oh, there's someone here just having the absolute time of his life with this dance. Humans? Fae? Anything else in between? Who cares! Dressed up in the most gaudy and foppish outfit one could find and the most ridiculous wig, this man is dancing like there's nobody's business.]

Isn't this exciting? All these people and fey and everything and everyone else just have a grand old time! I'm sure even that drawl brute would enjoy himself here so would everyone else, but that's a given. But, I am more interested in the fey here, honestly. Never seen them before, so here's a wonderful chance to see what they can do. But, I'm sure they're not as interesting as humanity.

[...who IS this guy?]

Re: Q | Star Trek | 4th Waller

[blamemysister]

I suppose it's to the standards. You look very much enthusiastic with the idea of a grand ball.

[There's another psuedo-deity on the field, a woman with long sparkling hair and a wonderful dress from the 1600s, her favorite era no less. Her memory is foggy about being here, but she remembers some things. Like how Q needs to be taken down a peg.]

Dennis MacField | YGO Arc V | 4th waller

[theshowmustgoon]

Wallflower? Not this person. The man in the absolutely glittering outfit could only be best described as a entertainer of sorts. In this get up, Dennis smiled, bowed and danced with the ballroom people as best as he could, even going so far as to meet up with old and new friends alike.

After all, that's what he was here for, right? There was nothing more lively than a dance that would lead to a good night. Many options are open tonight, as he waltzed with a lively step.

[hippocarnival]

"Dennis...?" Yuya's head is feeling foggy, but he's pretty sure Dennis wasn't someone who was supposed to be here? He stares out from near one of the food tables before he starts weaving through the crowd to approach him.

He's looking drained and dazed, his eyes sore--but he doesn't look at Dennis with distress so much as confusion. "Hey, you're uh--" This is a little awkward anyway since last he saw Dennis, he betrayed them all.

GONGENZAKA | OTA | GAME MUSE | YGO-ARC V

[betheman]

[Food, Drink, and Wallflowers]

[It's funny. He can't actually remember exactly what it was, that tore off his left arm during the Hunt. He knows that's where he lost it, of course-it'd be hard to forget that, but...well.

Suddenly Gongenzaka, left arm missing, but dressed to impress the host is...here. As the ball begins. He certainly doesn't plan on dancing just yet, granted-and at 9 feet tall, with four legs, most of the dancers don't really mind. But as Gongenzaka wanders the sidelines of the dance floor, he finds his thoughts....hazy. Fuzzy. Something is wrong here.

He takes a drink-somehow unable to care that what he's drinking is alcoholic-and wonders just what it is he's missing.]

[To the Stars for Guidance]

[He summons Marishi the minute he's on the balcony. It is a beautiful sky, certainly different from anything he can remember seeing here, but that's not what he's here for at all. He needs privacy. Fresh air as well, but mostly privacy, and the daemon blinks as she's summoned before her other half.]

Oh? she asks, purring. Isn't this rather risky?

A clouded mind, above all other things, is far more risky. Right now, Marishi, it seems we must talk. .....What do you recall about how we lost our arm?

[Marishi pauses-and indeed, her own left fore-limb is as vanished as Gongenzaka's single arm. She frowns, and...]

.....Something ate it, didn't they? ....I can remember people shouting but...

....But we cannot remember, despite such an incident being recent, and traumatic....

[This is....a bit troublesome. And they haven't even realized what's REALLY missing.]

Re: GONGENZAKA | OTA | GAME MUSE | YGO-ARC V

[theshowmustgoon]

[There's a man in the balcony, as well. Who is sitting there, flicking cards of a playing sort back and forth. They're normal trick cards this time, and he flicked one over to Gongenzaka to get his attention.]

Bonjourno, Gongenzaka~! [Said Dennis with a wink.]

REIRA | OTA | GAME MUSE | YGO-ARC V

[soft_focus]

[You may spot her as you finish your plate, but a servant is meant to go unnoticed, so it may be difficult. Reira is the master of remaining 'invisible'. She reads the emotions of the people around her as if they were bilboards in plain sight, carrying a basket with which to bustle away dirty dishes with ease. She gathers them before anyone's even noticed, and then it's off down the hall to the kitchen where they'll be replaced out.

It's one of the few things she can do, really. She's too small to be serving h'orderves, let alone drinks-3'8'' is just a bit too short for anything involving an approach to others.

But clean up is easy, and clean up can be done.

Reira moves with wide eyes, however-as though she feels she could be watched the whole time, and while she doesn't seem skittish, the expression she carries remains unchanging. Occasionally a small sparrow seems to take refuge in her bun-she doesn't notice, but the bird isn't always there, darting off the moment she begins work in fact.

Something is wrong-but Reira doesn't seem to notice, at least not with regard to herself. But occasionally she glances out and stares at the guests from the carnival, as if studying them.

Waiting for something to happen that she can tuck away in the back of her mind.

Don't mind her appearance, if you do catch sight though. It's just moonrock, growing off her skin-even forming a crystal flower at the side of her head.]

[criticallyfucked]

Well, Reira might be elusive to some, but to Foster, she's carrying a little undead homing device in her hair.

He has no trouble finding her out on the floor, slipping dirty dishes off the table with the same deft ease she filched a certain spyglass just a few weeks ago. But unlike most of the ball's guests, he's not muzzyheaded or looking to dance.

He's not all that obvious about it, even stepping up to the table as though he is, at last, interested in something to eat. Even bare-hooved, he's as finely dressed as any, his difficult blond hair pinned back in the neatest up-do anyone has ever managed. (Thanks, Taako.)

But though he barely glances at her, he is most definitely there for her.

SANS | LC PLAYER | THE WARDEN (???)

[osteothropy]

Sans is back, and a lot has changed in three days.

The most obvious difference is that now he's coming in ostensibly working for the enemy team - and apparently enjoying it?

It's the first time anyone will have seen him in non-illusion form since Day 172, and he's reentered in an impossibly nonchalant manner. He'll first be seen entering alongside a few members of the Manor's security team, a set of animated suits of armor that have been seen a few times during everyone's stay. He's decked out in a new black military uniform instead of the regular formal wear he'd been sporting before, and he has a sword on his hip despite the fact that Sans has never used a sword in his life. Even when he thought he was an angel, he'd used a scythe, and otherwise Sans has almost always rolled full mage in combat.

Yet, his clothing and entourage aren't the only things different. Alongside his regular faerie changes and the seven eyes he gained from Portland, his long tail has developed something resembling a scorpion's stinger on its end, coated with a layer of stone and sharp barbs that extend up his tail and into his uniform. In fact, rough stone seems to have overtaken his bones in multiple other places, most visibly on his hands and legs, as if the skeleton has become partially petrified.

Somehow, though, he doesn't seem upset at all about this turn of events. It makes it almost impossible to imagine where he's been this whole time, or what happened to him. The aspect of him now that speaks most clearly is the look he'll cast his former coworkers - a gaze of vague malevolence and scrutiny. He may be smiling, but there's nothing friendly about it.

Just don't step out of line, and maybe he won't have to show you how unfriendly he can be.

[espigeon]

"Beg pardon! I know you're on duty, but could I interest you in a cocktail weenie all the same?" Julien proffers a tray with tiny sausages speared by toothpicks. They almost certainly aren't called cocktail weenies, but this sounds funnier.

His smile is perfect, brightly subservient, but one of his palps is wipe, wipe, wiping the side of his face, and he's watching in all directions.

The Gentleman With the Thistledown Hair | Johnathan Strange |4th Wall

[thistlegentleman]

He may not recognize the castle, but The Gentleman is nothing but perfectly poised as he steps out onto the floor. That decor! That music! It is gorgeous. In fact, maybe a little too gorgeous. His beautiful face turns sour, just for a moment.

Music and Dancing: He will be doing this. A lot. And he'll be trying to compel humans that catch his eye to join him. That might not work here, which will only increase his irritation at the master of the castle. Does the lord of this place really need all the pretty people?

Food and Drink: He won't be doing this, but he'll be snatching up people who linger around the tables or those who try to be wallflowers.

"Aha! I have crossed oceans of time to be with you! Come dance!"

Sorry, he's not great at 'no.'

Stargazing: He won't be doing much of this but he'll be happy to tell you just how much better his own home, Lost Hope is. (It's not better.) Also it might be fun to reenact the time he threw his enemies' children over the castle walls, right now. Defenestration is romantic, right?

food & drink!

[kingsroads]

Strange is post-canon. This is going to suck.

He had been hanging around one of the drink tables, idly drinking a glass of wine, when he spotted a face he honestly never thought he'd see again (and then Strange promptly choked on the wine, necessitating a small coughing fit while he tried to regain his dignity).

Well, well, well. What on earth was he going to do about this? No matter what, he can't sit here and stare like an idiot, so Strange takes a worryingly large drink of wine, bucks up his courage, and walks over towards the Gentleman, giving the fae a polite little nod in the process.

"I must say. I didn't expect to see you here, for...various reasons."

Carnival changes are a thing, and Strange certainly looks different than what the Gentleman's probably expecting. He has short claws on all fingers and goldfish scales dot his hands and neck. Most notably, his eyes are covered entirely in a mirrored coating, pupil and all.

CARLY NAGISA | OTA | GAME MUSE | YGO 5Ds

[fortuneglass]

[Shall we Dance]

[She is the very Image of beauty, as she steps onto the dance floor. Realistically Carly should be panicking. The last time she had fragmented memory, it was because she'd just finished being puppetted around to sacrifice a few thousand souls to an ancient god. Yet Carly....

Carly cannot bring herself to fear, perhaps from some unconscious desire to simply allow herself to forget those days. She walks across the floor with an expression of cold serenity upon her face, unable to truly smile, but nonetheless accepting the occasional dance and dancing as best as her body somehow recalls to do.

Care to take this dance?]

[A moment of Reprieve]

Phew.... [Dancing is strenuous, and exhausting, and more importantly in all of these layers, Hot. Light streams off of her as she escapes to the balcony, making liberal use of the fan she brought with her as she attempts to stay cool.] What a nice night... [She finds herself thinking aloud, looking up to the stars.] It's so....

[....Ah. But wait a minute. How can it be so starry? She doesn't recall the sky ever being more than empty, while here....or is that right? Carly cuts herself short, and begins to frown, looking from star, to star, to shining star....

And...]

....wh...

...When did we come here....

dance time

[kingsroads]

Miss Nagisa!

[ In comparison to Carly, Strange is just a bundle of smiles. He feels amazing! When was the last time he felt so content? Certainly not Greysol, especially with that brief detour home in the middle. And certainly not during his time in the manor for...some reason. But here he's laughed, he's grinned, he feels so much like a weight's lifted off of his shoulders, it feels spectacular.

The glass and a half of wine in his system is helping manners. Strange isn't a lightweight, having drunk far too much during his useless bachelor alcoholic days, but the more alcohol he drinks, the better he feels all around. ]

I believe they're about to start a new song—may I have this dance?

Vivian | Paper Mario: TTYD | 4th waller

[shadefist]

[ As it happens, Vivian loves getting all dolled up for special occasions, and rarely has the chance to do so.

There is one persistent nagging thought bothering her, though, which she'll relay to whoever is nearest: ]

Do you suppose it matters that I don't actually have legs?

[mindofathief]

Dancing isn't just about your legs. It's about how your entire body moves.

[He's met plenty of friendly ghosts in Osohe, but never a purple one with hair that reminds him of Mixolydia. There's a first time for everything, he supposes.]

Hinawa | OTA

[sunflowerfields]

Food and drink

[Well, here we are at the ball. Only, Hinawa can't remember what she was just doing. That's concerning. Isn't it? Before she can think about it further, a servant whisks her off to a table and asks for her order. At the mention of food and drink, she realizes that she's starving. When did she eat last?

She glances over to another guest at the same table.]

It's, ah, a nice party, isn't it?

[She doesn't sound very sure at all.]

Stargazing

[As the night wears on, Hinawa can't shake the feeling that something isn't quite right here. In fact, she's only getting more and more uneasy, because the decadence and pageantry of the prince's ball is only reminding her of the Celebration. She finally takes a break on the balcony. If she spots someone from the carnival, she approaches them in a hushed tone.]

I don't feel good about this. Do you?

[If you're a fourth-waller, she'll give them a nervous smile.]

Are you a guest of the Prince's, too?

Food and Drink

[mindofathief]

[Duster looks up from his empty seat, where he has unfolded and refolded the cloth napkin to different geometric shapes. He never was good at small talk, but if it means having something to do--

His eyes widen.]

Hinawa?!

[But she died three years ago? He was there when Bronson told the bad news, he was there when they retrieved her body, he was there for the funeral, she can't be alive.]

Tyki Mikk | OTA | Game Muse | Heartstone Manor Servant

[prazerbutterfly]

There's an uncommon air about the man as he flows around the ballroom with tray in hand and a gentle smile on his face. For anyone that knows him well enough by now or even remembers running into him even once the uncomfortable way he is smiling might give off faint warning signs. It's never that gentle and always wide and cheerful. There is also the fact like he couldn't care to be anywhere else in the world. The strange serenity is unnerving.

His lax yet dandy style of attire has drastically changed to a very sharp, beautiful yet plain servant feel. He doesn't even seem like a noble or lord anymore. Even his usually messy hair has been brushed and is no longer hidden in a messy bun or pin at the back of his neck. His panther ears he had gained from his stay with the Ringmaster are fully visible without being hidden in the usually messy locks. It's flowing down his back between the new addition of very small and flightless manticore wings. They are red with a low shade of undertone purple and while useless and pointless they signify something far more sinister.

While he stays mostly near the Prince's side of the room in case he is called he is responsive to any hails or urgency from the guests. With a tray full of drinks he'll distribute them as he moves around to anyone that wants one. Upon finding a table to sit down he may be one of the servants walking over to place a napkin, hand over a drink or take their order.

He will step away from his duty to wander to the balcony to refresh drinks or accommodate a guest but only if they have a valid reason. Do take care not to waste his time. He's very busy and one may not like the result in the end. Tyki's charming self has all but vanished into a content and hateful person. Try not to cry when he honestly tells the Prince's guests what he thinks about him.

[ooc: Either prose or brackets. I will match format. Wildcards or other situations are welcomed. I am availble for plotting at mister_hyde, PM or Discord: Tyki Mikk#0824

If you would prefer me to tag your top levels instead go ahead and leave a small link in a comment to your top level.]

[kingsroads]

This is his third glass. By this point, the haze of the magic is feeding off the buzz of alcohol in a nasty feedback loop. Strange happily takes it from the servant offering, before he does a double-take. He recognizes that man! Messy hair and an added pair of ears can only do so much, he recognizes Tyki. And he's just so relieved to see him.

"There you are!" Strange responds, with a light laugh. "Honestly, where have you been? You've missed everything!" Though, if pressed, Strange wouldn't really be able to point out what that everything consisted of.

He's talking about this in such a light, breezy tone, as if Strange wasn't one of the ones worried about Tyki vanishing, as if Childermass didn't wake him up that morning, hissing at Strange under his breath to scry for Mister Mykk, the idiot's gone missing.

Jasper | Steven Universe | 4th wall

[stompadour]

Jasper is... having a ? good ? time ??? Or, well, as good a time as she ever has doing anything except Fighting Worthy Opponents. In the back of her mind she feels like maybe she was in the middle of something important, before she came here, but... it's hard to remember exactly what it was, and anyway, now she's at this dance, so it's not like she can just go and do whatever it was instead.

The only dances she's been at before have been one where she was a guard rather than a participant, but she is finding that she likes dancing with people. It feels good and it reminds her of things that made her feel good in the past. The main problem is that she has yet to develop the habit of asking first -- she will just grab you and pull you into it. Hope you like getting twirled by burly eight foot tall orange women in enormous pink dresses.

new phone who dis

[mirrortide]

Lapis is grabbed, and the first thing she does instinctively is freeze as she's twirled. The second thing she does is take stock of who has grabbed her after a few seconds of just simply not reacting. It's Jasper.

It's Jasper.

She freezes again, emotions running wild and rampant. Confusion, fear, anger. For the first few seconds, it's all Lapis can do to not retaliate violently. The only reason she doesn't is because of her fear for Steven and Peridot's well being.

It doesn't stop her from violently yanking her limbs back as hard as she can, as best she can considering that Jasper is a quartz, and she hisses low: "Let go of me. Right now."

Lambert | The Witcher | LC Player and OTA

[whattaprick]

[ Dance, Witcher, Dance ]

Perhaps you're standing off to the side of the dance floor appreciating the music. Or perhaps you're looking a bit lost, trying to get through the dance floor. Regardless of where you are or what you're doing, you'll suddenly find yourself accosted by a man with gold horns and tail, feathered hat precariously balanced on his head and dressed in velvet and braid.

"You aren't planning to stand there all night, are you?" The wolfish grin reveals a mouth full of sharp teeth, and his hand snaps out to tug you to the dance floor.

[ Smoke Break ]

Still, life can't be all dancing and banter. At some point, Lambert retires to one of the balconies, the ridiculous hat set on the railing, working his way through smoking a cigar and a tumbler of whiskey. Should someone join him there, he'll nod affably and wave his glass out at the panorama below them.

"Hell of a view, isn't it?"

[ Wildcard ]

Lambert's acting sociable and gregarious at this party, so he's fairly easy to catch elsewhere. As the night progresses, Lambert will slowly come to remember more ... but how that plays out remains to be seen.

dance time

[hurtcomfort]

Cole is just staring at Lambert's hat. The Winter Palace had so many wonderful hats, twirling, twisting, hats going all directions to match the masks over masks. But nothing, none of those hats he saw there, made Cole stop and stare as much as this hat does. Could hats even have that many feathers to begin with? Was it even a hat in the first place?

So that's what he's doing. Stopping and staring. And as soon as Lambert turns to look at the creepy kid who's been staring at him for the past few minutes, Cole will exclaim, with utter awe,

"You have a bird on your head!"

It is fuckin amazing.

THE PSIONIC || OTA || CARNIE

[dorkypantsuit]

[He has no idea how he got here, and he realizes it with a start. He looks himself over, looking for anything that will spark a memory, but nothing does. His clothes are fancy, but he doesn't remember putting them on. He can tell from the decor and the people around him they are still at the manor, but not how long they've been here or what he was doing before. He's been stressed for days, but this is an entirely new level of panic. He looks around him, desperately searching for familiar faces. He needs to find the other's and fast.]

PART 1

[Psi is walking as quickly as he can, even though he wants to run, through the crowd of people surrounding the food. If you are facing away from him, he puts a hand on your shoulder to turn you around. If you're trying to eat he will urge you to maybe think about if that's a good idea. He looks crazed, and he feels it, but he's sort of managing to keep it together. For Now.]

PART 2

[Maybe there's someone he hasn't found yet on the dance floor. Problem is going onto the dance floor just to frantically search for people is probably against the rules. So he's looking for someone to dance with, but even if you accept his offer, he's not the most attentive partner. Stepping on your feet, not even looking at your face, is he even listening to what you're saying? The answer is no, probably not.]

PART 3

[Or maybe there's something you'd like to bother him with.]

part 1!

[hurtcomfort]

[ The hurt burns.

Bright, blazing, I don't know where they are, I need to save them, I need to protect them. Who feels that strongly? Cole just kind of stops what he's doing, looking around until he finds who's hurting so much that he has to stop and see. It's that man with...gray skin and horns? He looks slightly like the Iron Bull, but smaller and skinnier.

But, he's hurting. So Cole goes to help. And Cole's quiet. So quiet that Psi might not even notice Cole until he's right next to him, looking over the alien with a frown. ]

It's alright. You've gotten out of worse things. The ones who are left will listen, the ones who are gone will be saved.

[ He says the words without knowing the context, picking up on the hurts and worries and panicked thoughts from the mind of Psi and the minds of others, but he says them reassuringly all the same. ]

Duster | Mother 3 | 4th Wall

[mindofathief]

[A man in a salmon pink suit stands to the side of the room. His shirt, bowtie, dress shoes, and accessories are fit for any fancy ball, but the main color is too dissonant for it to have been chosen with taste and any seriousness.

Duster spends some time checking out the outfits and chilling. He's been to giant parties before, nothing like this of course, but he feels totally okay with this. If someone takes a break and stands near him, he'll finally pipe up with a comment:]

Do you think they'll let me play with the orchestra?

[When dinner comes, a hint of worry comes to his face. What does one order at a fancy restaurant? This isn't like home, where he picks whatever is available. A backwater man doesn't know many big-city meals to pick from.]

...A cheeseburger? [His eyes dart around the table. Someone help.]

[eclipsingblade]

Don't order a cheeseburger.

[This helpful advice comes from exactly one table over, where a certain orange haired young man sits, before him on a dish what looks like someone's effort at a cheeseburger if they only had a vague idea of what that entailed.

It's a good attempt but it might not qualify as a cheeseburger.]

Simple seems to fry their brains a bit. Go fancy.

Julien Delacroix | OPEN | OC

[espigeon]

[Julien's a waiter in an archaic, classy outfit, and he's a good one with an easy smile and a knack for showing up just as you start looking for something. This is probably helped by how he's surrounded by eyes, appearing and disappearing on him and in the air around him, never further than arm's length. He does look a little different compared to how he was a few days ago. The backs of his hands are colorful, with dark nails and cyan fingers going to deeper blue, but he's also got what initially looks like tiny folded catlike forelegs framing his face, covered in blue fur. They're the pedipalps of some kind of enormous spider sprouting out of the sides of his face, and they're entirely mobile.

Julien's also an immense, horse-sized white-and-blue bird wearing a black collar, alternating posing in an impressively wrought cage and being let out to carry heavy trays on his back. He looks different too. The insides of his wings are cyan-and-darker-blue, with dark wingtips. The big squarish scales on the upper sides of his fingers and legs are cut, polished pink granite, gleaming in the light.

Only the palps on human-Julien's face seem to give away any sense of anxiety, wiping at his lips and face and pushing up his glasses. Otherwise he seems relaxed and cheerful, even if his ready smile rarely seems to touch his eyes.]

[tacosgay]

... Julien!

[Holy fuck. He's okay. He's back.

Taako grabs handfuls of his skirt to rush over to him, equal parts confused and relieved.]

Hey! Are you-- uh... are you okay? [... he can tell something is off before Julien even answers, but-- he decides not to call that out just yet.] Uh... that's... a cool new look you've got there.

Jonathan Strange | js&mn | ota!

[kingsroads]

errybody in the club got tipsy
Why was he ever worried about this place? It was wonderful! There were so many people here, so many people to chat with, great food, great drinks—it's the great drinks that Strange is focusing on. This is his second glass of wine and, considering how fast he went through the first one, it won't be the last. He can't remember the last time he had this much fun at a party!

His outfit covers up most of his fae changes. However, it can't hide his claws and small patches of fish scales on his hands. But perhaps the most notable thing is Strange's eyes: entirely covered by a mirrored coating, they reflect the lights of the ballroom, glistening with excitement as the magician chats up various people or asks others to dance.

Occasionally, Strange even demonstrates a little magic: a tendril of wine raises itself from one of the cups, flowing upwards for a few seconds before falling back into the glass with a little splash. "It's nothing, really," Strange explains, though he seems far too smug about that nothing, really. "Just a reworking of some magic I performed in the peninsula—scaled down with a few additions, of course."

balcony
But, as the night goes on, Strange's excitement fades, then grows, then fades again. It's during one of those lulls that he's on the balcony, drink in hand, as he looks at the void surrounding them. He enjoys the party, he desperately wants to have fun, but he still hates this. It reminds him too much of England and reminds him too much of the curse. He's oddly melancholy, considering how much fun he was having earlier.

As he hears footsteps approaching, Strange doesn't turn to look at whoever's approaching. Instead, he continues to stargaze as he starts conversation.

"It was kind of him to put out the stars this evening," Strange says, with a little frown. He can't help it: his tone is a bit flat and a bit bitter, more at himself than at whoever approached. "You'd almost think they were real."

balcony

[espigeon]

"Wasn't it, though?" Julien's got to be in there. He's got to work. His other half can't serve. But if he's attending someone out here, even if they're one of his old colleagues, it's fine, he's doing as he should. "Light makes the dark all the more beautiful. The Prince's aesthetic sense is amazing."

Yes. Yes, it's definitely better here than where he was before. Anything not to be back there in the hungry dark. Speaking of! "Have you tried the petit-fours, sir?"

Cole | Dragon Age | fourth wall!

[hurtcomfort]

panic! on the dancefloor
Ohhhh he doesn't like this. Cole doesn't know how he got here but he's not worried about that but he wants to dance but he doesn't know how. Everybody's happy and smiling, but it feels wrong. Happiness covers hurt but not like this. Or does it? Thoughts tumble around his head like they're falling down a mountain. He doesn't know what's real or what's this lovely feeling or why he wants to dance (but oh how he wants to dance!)

At least the outfit is familiar, a red dress uniform that looks oddly like what he wore at the Winter Palace. Unfortunately, it contrasts terribly with his oversized hat: a hat which Cole is doing his hardest to try and hide behind as he lingers on the sidelines like the world's most gangly wallflower.

"I don't understand," he mutters, in a low voice yet audible enough to hear, a little bit scared and more than a little bit confused. "Wings like beetles, the horns shouldn't be like that. It's a ball but it isn't. Too many, too smooth. I don't want to think but should I?"

All of this is just a smidge overwhelming.

he literally can't drink
Someone gave Cole a glass of wine. Not wanting to be rude, he accepted it. Of course, the problem now is that he doesn't drink. He can't drink, not like this, not now. But he doesn't want to set the glass down somewhere and get someone in trouble, because he knows that would get someone in trouble. They're happy but they're worried but they're scared? There's a filter over all the thoughts, over his thoughts, and Cole doesn't really know what to do with it.

But one thing he needs to do is get rid of this glass. So, screwing up his courage, he walks over to the nearest person (he doesn't like this, they're all looking at him, watching waiting eyes on his every action). "Hello," he quietly says. "Do you want this?"

This inevitably happens multiple times as multiple glasses of wine are pushed onto Cole. He'll approach anyone, no matter their age. Spirits apparently have trouble with things like the concept of a legal drinking age.

( ooc: though a lot of his more ridiculous powers are nerfed as per fourth wall rules, please take a look at Cole's permissions page for info about his empathy/telepathy/general creepiness! )

drink

[espigeon]

"If you don't, sure!" Julien collects a full glass off of the pale young man and sweeps along on his way. And then again. Possibly several times, always moving off again quickly. Busy busy! Gotta make a good impression on the new boss, lest he get... well, anyway, that's not going to happen!

But this is a lot of full wineglasses he's taken, and service isn't just giving and taking food, so this time he pauses. "If you don't like wine, we've got other things," he says, smiling into the depths of that cartwheel of a hat. "Fruit juice, tea, coffee. Barley water. Twilsey! Hot chocolate. Really, though - if you've got a cup of something already, they probably won't keep handing you drinks."

What a nice problem to have. The new pedipalps on either side of his smile twitch, as they've kept doing. He is confident that as he gets used to them they'll stop, this is fine. Everything's going well now.

Rita Mordio | Tales of Vesperia | Manor Guest, OTA, will match format

[anti_nonsense]

For the duration of the ball, Rita has been fitted in a teal gown, her hair neatly combed and adorned with a white flowery headpiece. The dress has been altered to allow room for her red-black feathered wings, and what looks like orange tattoos cover a portion of her arms in a seemingly abstract pattern. Her blastia, a red-jeweled choker, sits prominently on her neck.

(a: have this dance)

Contrary to what anyone who knows her would expect (except maybe Strange, her unlikely teacher), Rita dances competently – maybe even well, to the eyes of a layman – through the haze of the early evening. At least, for the waltzes. Because that's the only dance she knows.

Between dances, she loiters by a pillar at the edge of the dance floor, seemingly unoccupied and looking vaguely disinterested despite her active participation. The fog in her mind is just faintly beginning to lift, but she doesn't seem to suspect anything just yet. The music begins again; the next dance is a waltz. For those unskilled at dancing, Rita might look like a 'safe' partner who's capable enough to lead, but not so experienced that she'd have high expectations for others' dancing. Do you ask her...?

(b: unacquired taste)

When she tires of dancing, she sits at one of the tables and asks them to bring her something sweet. As she waits, she wears a look of apathy on her face. This is stupid. She doesn't even like dancing. Why the hell was she...

A servant passing by with refreshments leans over to offer her a beverage. She takes one of the glasses from the tray and drinks without thinking.

Her face immediately sours. Wincing, she struggles to choke it down without spitting it right back out. As much as she tries not to act like it, Rita is still essentially a child, and one who's never touched a glass of wine in her life, at that. Apparently, she didn't expect the staff to serve it to someone so obviously underage.

(c: wildcard!)

Feel free to reply with a different scenario than the above! If you want to plot something out, feel free to PM me at this journal, or hit me up on Plurk (pzue). As for what Rita will be up to...

Rita will spend much of the early evening on or near the dance floor, but as the night goes on, she'll slowly come to her senses and try to avoid the festivities as much as possible. She may also seek out people she knows once she has enough awareness to know that something's off, but it may take slightly longer for the mind-fogging effects to wear off for Rita than it might for those bigger or more resistant than her (which is probably most people).

A!

[hurtcomfort]

"Don't worry!" comes an encouraging yet quiet voice from right behind Rita. "You're doing wonderful."

When she turns to look, she'll see Cole, standing awkwardly beside her, wearing a combination of red dress uniform and big dumb floppy hat. She wasn't worried. This is stupid, dancing's stupid, I've got this under control, of course I can do it. But she also was. Only a few practices, eyes watching your every move, can't make mistakes, not here. He could feel both from her. But Cole might as well reminder Rita that she could do it. Helping a little was still helping.

Of course, what would help more is announcing your presence before starting a conversation. Cole still need a bit of work on that.

Princess Luna | MLP FIM Comics | Fourth Wall

[blamemysister]

A woman of medium height was in the middle of the room, shuffling around with a little raised eyebrow of amusement. Her mind was fogged but Luna rarely listened to the niggling voice in her mind that said things were amiss.

Instead, she was drinking, eating, dancing and stargazing.

It might be at the balcony where she remarks, "The stars are wrong. I usually put that one there." And she draws a line between the air to try and shuffle the stars.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"It may seem rather strange," Zecora commented from somewhere around Luna's waist, an amused smile on the zebra's face,
"But this sky is not yours to change."

2B / Automata / Fourthwaller

[kuudroid]

Dance offers

[The fact that there are clearly those who are not human in this room doesn't seem to faze 2B in the slightest. For a combat oriented android, 2B seems far more willing to stay on the sidelines than dance. Though her attire is a little different than what she's used to the only thing that has really changed is the length of her dress. For anyone familiar with 9S, 2B is likely easily spotted as another android, due to the fact she wears the same combat visor over her eyes as he does.

Also, her own Pod, Pod 042 is hovering near to her as well. After a small bit of time has passed, he speaks up.]

"Proposal: Unit 2B should find a dance partner."

[Well. 2B isn't about to dismiss a recommendation from her support unit. Also it seems like a fairly good idea? She extends a hand to the nearest person like she's seen others do.]

Would you like to dance?

Food and Drink

[Technically Androids only need water to sustain themselves. They don't need anything else to continue their existence.

2B also has never seen an actual dish made of cooked fish before. These fish are those which she's never even seen. Never fished up. She's curious.

There's also another fish on the table, in a rather delectable looking dish.

It's a mackerel. She's having a blindfolded stare down with a mackerel dish.]

Choose Your Own Adventure

[hit 2B up with whatever sweet prompts you want, she probably wont say no to anything unless your name is 9S]

preemptive rip in pieces

[dressedtothe]

[9S had previously been dancing with Rita when he'd spotted 2B from across the room. Of course, he'd dropped everything... including his dance with Rita, who will undoubtedly be mad about that.

But he can't bring himself to care. Not when 2B is here. It's probably against etiquette rules, but 9S calls out to her.]

2B!

[He approaches her at a jog, slowing down once he draws near. Notably, his eyes aren't covered, and Pod 153 is nowhere to be seen.]

What're you doing here?

Ichigo Kurosaki | Bleach | 4thWaller OTA

[eclipsingblade]

This isn't where he should be.

He knows it, there's a constant whisper in the back of his mind reminding him he should be somewhere else, doing something else, and wasn't something missing that was very important? but Ichigo Kurosaki is having a very hard time listening to that voice right now. Right now, he's tugging absently on the lapels of his new jacket that fit better than anything he'd worn before. He knew someone had made it for him and in a dim way he's grateful, but who or even when eludes him.

A lot of things elude him.

Dancing

Ichigo is NOT the best dance partner, and generally avoids it when he can, but every now and then there's just someone that seems irresistable - and whether that person is male or female doesn't seem to be much of an issue.

The music plays, and they must dance. He won't even ask - he'll just pull his hapless victim onto the dance floor.

Stargazing

It takes a while but Ichigo's lack of social butterfly-ness means he's snagged a drink and not so subtly fled to the general quiet, dark and presumed isolation of one of the many balconies, there to slump in a thoroughly unelegant fashion against the rail and stare at his glass of something fizzy and probably alcoholic with an expression of fixed determination.

He should be doing something else. Something important. Something ... More dancing?

No.

Maybe ... dinner? That might be it. He's supposed to be here after all, it's a party. "I hope they serve something I actually can recognize." The muttered words are not a slur against their host, PERISH THE THOUGHT, but the servants..

Food!

Unable to think of much European cuisine beyond 'Gimme a cheeseburger or something', seated properly at one of the tables, with as many forks and spoons and so on that comes with fine dining, Ichigo has been served ... what might be a servant's solid attempt at a cheeseburger. It is an artisinal cheeseburger, with the finest beef, a cheese that might be bleu, and greens that definitely aren't normally part of a burger, but whoever made it sure gave it their best.

By the way Ichigo's looking at it, fork in hand, he's not entirely sure it's actually a cheeseburger or something entirely different that he's unprepared to handle.

STARGAZING bc I need Marishi for this tbh

[otoko]

"I, the man Gongenzaka, doubt there will be much," Gongenzaka admits, and he walks out to the balcony without much thought for who he's speaking to. He's rather enormous, suffice to say, but peaceful all the same. His left arm, however, seems to be missing...

....Well, that's probably rude to stare at, so hopefully that won't happen. Actually, a few moments after walking out and looking down-

...Gongenzaka chokes. This person is the spitting image of- "Z-ZANGETSU!?"

Fortunately, someone with a clearer head is just beside him, and the three legged cheetah huffs. "Now, please, we're not colour blind-this is someone who resembles them, that's all."

"AuH....ahh..." He coughs. "...Forgive me for the outburst, sir. I, the man Gongenzaka, was merely...surprised." Ooops.

Susan | OTA

[wild_magic]

He may not remember the events leading up until now, but Susan does remember another party with dancing and festivities, one that went downhill quickly. It makes it harder to enjoy himself, although the music and food and even just everyone else being there put him at ease, even as he tries to puzzle it out, tugging on the ends of his sleeves (still so different from the simple tunic he's used to, and something this fancy is never something he'll be comfortable in). As long as he keeps his brother in sight everything should be okay, though... So maybe it's okay to have some fun.

dancing
Even for his age Susan is on the short side - it's his elven genes, his mother's side of the family showing through in his features. Finding a dancing partner just isn't going to be easy for him, even if he was so inclined.

But that doesn't stop him from standing nearby and watching the dancers, swaying to the music as he tries to make sure he can still see Lauren. And he probably wouldn't even object if someone did try to dance with him... Although who knows if he'd be any good at it.

eating

And what's the point of a party if you don't eat? Sure he's still on guard in case they suddenly get attacked, but he can still take some time to sit down and have some food. He doesn't even know what to ask for, honestly, only eating whatever a waiter will recommend for him. He's not quite sure about the drinks, though, only having had small amounts of alcohol before - although he isn't turning it down, either.

[mylastchance]

"Anything good?" he asks, coming to stand beside his brother as he looks at the food on the tables. He doesn't mind parties, but he is a bit on edge after what happened the last time he did any dancing.