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.
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ringleaders) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
lostcarnival2017-10-13 06:00 pm
no subject
"....He is our roommate," Gongenzaka admits with a slight grunt. Something else seems...important here, something about that name but he can't quite put his finger on it, and thus passes on it for now. Perhaps in a better state, he'd immediately try and recall if and where he'd heard it....but for now, that isn't happening. "It would appear many unexpected guests have come for the dance," Gongenzaka notes, nodding.
"Indeed-and here I thought it would be mere employees.... ...I almost wonder if the Prince is showing off~"
The pair both take a moment to look to the hand, and in a moment Gongenzaka is clasping it in a large, paw-like one, giving a firm shake and fanged smile. "Gongenzaka Noboru! Pleased to meet you, Kurosaki!"
"How interesting that we now know two with such a name~"
no subject
Right now he just has an enormous paw to grasp instead and somehow this seems reasonably normal. "Your roommate, huh?"
There is a tiny, tiny touch of skepticism, because how could something like that even be possible?
"Your cat can talk, you know." It might be obvious but it's definitely one of the things that's penetrating the fog of acceptance right now. Can he talk to the cat? Would it be rude?
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He can't completely recall the exact reason why he's wondering it, but it's Actually his Arm. Still. Marishi huffs immediately at the remark about herself, fur bristling. "'Cat'!?" she hisses, Gongenzaka chuckling as the tables are finally turned upon themselves.
"HAHAHAHHAAAA-!"
"I am his soul! Have some tact!"
"We are no longer in Greysol after all, Marishi.... ...it is only natural that this is what another would assume!"
"I am far more than some slinking animal, Noboru..."
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He'd offer advice but he's still certain that's not what's actually going on, and besides, a cheetah is hissing at him. It should possibly be intimidating. At the declaration that the cat is his soul, Ichigo gives Gon a surprisingly sober, measuring look, then the cheetah, then back.
That's also not how it works. "Souls must be pretty different where you're from." He knows what they're like where he's from, he had to fight them alarmingly frequently. "Never seen one act independent of its body before."
no subject
"Though to be fair, he will not get what he asked for if the contract is broken... ...so I, the man Gongenzaka, would imagine there is little choice." As it is, he chuckles. "That is because souls do not typically move independent from the body..!"
"Greysol is an interesting place....the people there were born with their souls in tangible form at their sides; in order to fit in while our Carnival visited, a spell was cast to do the same for ourselves."
"...Naturally, being able to speak with a part of oneself aloud....it has many advantages," the man continues, nodding to Marishi.
"Frankly I'm just pleased Zangetsu opted to leave things as they were when we left that place," Marishi adds on that topic, Gongenzaka grimacing.
"I...Indeed...in a sense, he was already a 'daemon' himself, so I, the man Gongenzaka, cannot say that the spell worked well on him...." His shirts....have so many holes.... That said. "...You speak as though you know Zangetsu, however."
"Indeed-just how would that be, then?"
no subject
"Sounds a little like something else." But if that's how they did it in .. 'greysol'. Maybe the spiritual world operated a little oddly. "It's gotta make having a dance harder out there." There, he'll just give into it for a moment, and nod towards the ongoing ball, because that's what really mattered, it was easier.
The question isn't how he knows Zangetsu, but how they know Zangetsu. "He's my sword. Most people don't know he's a he though, I'm kinda going to want to know how you do." Remember that 'roommates' thing?
It's hard to think.
no subject
"It's only a spell; Noboru can pull myself back within easily, after all."
"....Dancing is already difficult, with four legs however," Gongenzaka mutters, briefly moving to cross his arms only to recall that one is missing. As it is, the man stares at Ichigo. "...........Considering it is how they were referred to, it was largely assumption."
"He certainly hasn't corrected us, at least...." But hold on. Both of them stiffen, as if shocked by something. 'His sword'....Ah.
"....He did mention he was a weapon..."
"...I wonder if we should let him know..."
no subject
He is so not here to be thinking about spirituality. He's here to dance and eat things he can't quite recognize and continue his futile hunt for something that isn't alcoholic to drink that also doesn't gain him odd looks from the servants! "..Mm. It'd take practice." He leans back and to the side just a bit to scrutinize Gon's form again. Four legs, heavy body. Not really made for grace and speed, and that's what dancing is about most of the time. "Try a waltz."
This matter of other people holding conversations with Zangetsu should be more alarming than it is, but it doesn't really ... sink in.
"Don't tell him anything, he doesn't deserve-- Wait." Then he holds up a hand. "When you say 'Zangetsu'. Do you mean an all white asshole with yellow eyes or a tall skinny old man with sunglasses on?"
no subject
"Strangely," Gongenzaka coughs, "It is the missing arm which creates more difficulties...." Which is believable, admittedly. There's always that awkward pause as someone determines what to do with that other arm, where to put it, and oh, the whole 'the partner is nine feet and may be able to step on them if they move wrong'.
It's a balance.
Also, the alcohol avoidance is truly futile-Gongenzaka's even wound up sipping the wine so far!
".....I, the man Gongenzaka, speak of the pale one who has your face, a ravenous appetite, and poor manners."
"As well as the tendency to eat anything no one else wants. ...Which I suppose came in handy, given what our homicide detective left in the fridge...."
".....He is also fond of dogs, and cats." Just a bit of trivia, if it wasn't obviously That Guy. Though who knows if Ichigo knew that bit.
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This eating thing is a bit new, but it sort of made sense. Hollows were typified by hunger. "Sorry about the arm. Don't have a lot of advice on that." He knew someone who would but frankly this place didn't need multiple hollows running around in it, even if the idea of Grimmjow in a suit was an amusing one.
"..Both of 'em like animals." It's almost absently said as he pushes himself off the balcony's rail, to peer into the dance hall. But he's not really intent on going anywhere, it's quieter and cooler out here. "Plants too."
He wasn't generally overly talkative. Even the calm that the Prince's control applied didn't change that, but he was certain this sort of social interaction required it. One shiny fancy shoe's toe kicks at the balcony's floor lightly. "He's not supposed to be running around by himself. I'll fix that." Somehow. How do you put your zanpakuto back anyway?
no subject
"He is for now, as a matter of fact. Contracts with the Ringmaster are certainly odd....but if Zangetsu found his way to the Carnival, then that means the universe itself allowed him to take form."
"More than that, whatever trouble he'd be up to in your own realm, he's quite incapable of it here."
"....Beyond that, I highly doubt the Ringmaster would appreciate you stealing him away in the middle of his year."
no subject
If that guess was 'none', it's time for a prize!
Ichigo wasn't going anywhere, he simply wanted to look, but the paw resting on his shoulder earns a glance. "I don't really care about what the 'universe' allows or what some ringmaster wants."
It doesn't process as a problem, therefore it isn't.
no subject
"....Not to mention, Zangetsu himself...." Ahhhhh. But they both sigh. "....At the very least-watch what you fight him over here."
"Indeed. The host will not appreciate it....and those of us already here are on thin ice as it is."
"It would be best not to test The Prince's patience."
no subject
He is not exaggerating, by his tone. "It'd be a shame to ruin the party. There's a lot more dancing to do."
Things that shouldn't actually matter with all of this going on: whether or not it would wreck the party. And yet what does he seem more concerned about at least by bearing and voice? The party.
Whatever the hell the Prince has everyone smoking, the new guests might have it a bit worse than the Carnival's vistors.
no subject
"Indeed, he managed to do rather well leaving it at your arm despite being more than dedicated to that 'hunting' event the Prince had going on, didn't he?"
"Aauh he d-" ............And now he realizes what he's remembered. Gongenzaka's eyes widen, and he chokes, abruptly moving to storm past Ichigo himself. "HE WAS THE ONE WHO DID IT..!!"
"How on earth did we forget that..!? We've managed safe spars in the past, and we forget this!?"
What a mess, evidently.
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And then it slides towards ..arms? Ichigo's gaze moves to where Gon should hypothetically have a second ... sssixth? Arm, and there was just a shoulder. Speaking of things not controlled.
"..." Zangetsu ate this guy's arm. And the cat's apparently, maybe so they matched. That was ... weird, but sort of what he expected out of the hollow. Never out of the old man, but the hollow..
And it looks like Gon's going to go confront him over it. This is ordinarily something he should interfere with, but Ichigo simply observes for several moments as Gon storms for the balcony's exit, and then raises his not entirely wanted glass of bubbly booze. "Have fun, Gongenzaka."
His zanpakuto was eating people. He's really going to have to do something about that.. later. After the ball.