lostcarnival | ⇨ FOURTH WALL EVENT! (OPEN TO ALL)

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⇨ FOURTH WALL EVENT! (OPEN TO ALL)

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.

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After being in the Carnival for a while, it was indeed nice to see the respect and honor she was due as a Diamond, but it did interfere with the evening, and she had no wish to insult the Prince's hospitality by usurping the position he held here. Surely it was that, and not the haze he'd forced on everyone.

And so she extends a slim hand to the far broader gem before her, her tone and expression a touch more amused. "There is nothing to forgive, if I did not wish to be here, I would not be. Come." There were more imperative things, such as the music that seemed to call now that she was actually up and moving even if she hadn't intended to be. "I will not command you, but wouldn't it be pleasant to simply enjoy the music and the dance and forget who we are, what we are even for a little while?"

After all, it wasn't fusion. She could allow herself the joy of a dance with a gem in a pink dress.

Jasper looks up at her in confusion. Is it Blue Diamond–? Looking at her, there's no way it couldn't be. Jasper warily takes her hand and stands up again, managing somehow not to trip over her voluminous skirts.

"I'm not sure what you mean." The gruff response is almost automatic – her standard reaction to being told something by a significantly superior gem that doesn't make sense to her, or has implications she doesn't like, but which she's in no position to question.

Edited 2017-10-14 05:14 (UTC)

Poor dears. They weren't really cut for imagination. Amethysts were a little better at it given the right motivation..

Gently, gently. Not all of them can adapt. "If you wish to dance, there will be no repercussions this one time." And do something no lesser gem has ever done before: dance with a Diamond.

Had her court been here, perhaps she'd be obliged to shatter the quartz for the perceived offense. It certainly went against their carefully maintained hierarchies.

This kind of whimsy is absolutely nowhere to be found in Yellow Diamond's court, and Jasper remains utterly at a loss. Pink Diamond's was a different story, of course, but Jasper hasn't spent several thousand years there.

She glances over her shoulder uneasily.

"Do... you want to dance, ma'am?"

Blue Diamond's court wasn't particularly suited to the sort of gem Jasper was. Some of the other Jaspers perhaps, but then again.. they were flawed. This Jasper was widely regarded to be perfect.

"Yes." The conclusion is after a thoughtful pause. "I like this song." It's ... as hypnotic as the rest of them, frankly. They could be playing dubstep and still the urge would be there. "Don't you? Our host enjoys mimicking organic cultures, but it can be forgiven.. it's his party, after all."

Jasper takes a moment to consider this. "... Yes," she says at last, decisively. She hadn't really thought about the music; she'd been moving to it more or less unthinkingly, enjoying the dancing more for its rhythmic physical catharsis than out of appreciation for the music that's being played. But Blue Diamond is right: it's genuinely pleasing to listen to, especially now that she has permission from a gem authority figure to say so.

"Then, let us dance."

It's not her song. It certainly isn't Jasper's; matching the rhythm of the melody instead of the music that felt most right would at least prevent any true synchronization, and if Jasper is used to the lead, well she'll find it poached this time, as Blue gently leads the Quartz towards the center of the dance floor in a slow swirl of skirts.

And just as subtly work on guiding Jasper in a way that could turn the most ungainly and hopeless of creatures into something at least temporarily elegant. She was very good at this sort of manipulation, and though it might not be leading in the traditional sense, usually it left her partner certain at least half of it was their own doing. The best way to have it, surely.

"You are the Jasper Yellow's gems brag about, I believe." Though her voice is low, she's certain she'll be heard. Just not overheard by anyone else. "One of Earth's only perfect gems. I can see why they speak so highly of you."

She simply can't be left in Yellow's hands. ... Pink was going to need an entourage upon her return..

Jasper might be used to leading, but she wouldn't dream of it with a Diamond, and she's grateful for the guidance.

She tenses a little (or, more than she was tense already) when the subject changes to her provenance. She knows Blue Diamond kept the rest of them -- the ones that were left after the war, anyway -- and she really hopes that isn't going to come up. She hates thinking about the other Earth quartzes. Probably because they're all worthless.

But the praise is reassuring, even if on some level it rings more hollow than ever. She still can't fully remember what happened, before she was here, but she knows she failed again and that she's sure Yellow Diamond won't want her back after...

She pushes that to the back of her mind. She mustn't let any of this kind of weakness show in front of one of the Diamonds.

"Thank you," she says gruffly, dipping her head a little in deference and then aborting that movement when she remembers her hair is stacked like two feet high on top of her head and she doesn't want to make it fall over. "It is... an honour to serve in Yellow Diamond's court."

"Would you prefer to serve in your Diamond's court again?" It's so gently said, in between steps of some human dance to some human song imitated by the captured, enslaved and the fae. "Or does Yellow Diamond suit you just as well?"

Poach Jasper for her own Court? Never. She wouldn't know where to put the burly gem. Assigning her to the zoo, she's certain, wouldn't work out well at all.

The easy carefree compliance with the moment doesn't really prevent Blue from planning ahead any, she just can't get upset about any of it and why would she ever be upset with any of this?

Jasper hesitates. Not because she isn't sure of the answer to that – it is perhaps the only thing that she is still sure of – but because she doesn't know quite how to articulate that answer. What's acceptable to say.

She averts her eyes.

"Yellow Diamond is – a good leader and I'm lucky she judged me worthy of her court when we withdrew from Earth. But I was made for Pink Diamond."

A gem should be loyal to the diamond they were created for. But with that particular Diamond destroyed, it would be reasonable to just become content with what must be.

It is good that this is not so. The silence that follows Jasper's words as the song draws gradually to a close surely doesn't bode well.

At least until she speaks. "Good. She will need loyal gems, strong in both conviction and abilities for her guard and entourage when she returns." When she what? What? Blue's smile, for a moment, lacks the edge of sadness that's dogged her for so long. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the dance. Everything is going right.

Sure some of that is the poison the Prince hit them all with, but she was content with that too. "Consider this ball a tiny celebration in preparation for the real one coming.." Have fun! While she can! Because soon there is going to be so much work to do.

Jasper's eyes widen in confusion. Even through the hypnotic music of the ball, she can't help but react to this.

"What?" She stops dancing, even. "When she –– What do you mean?!"

That's not fury and fear and worry, but Blue's watching closely anyway.

Any sign of dissent. Anything that might put her plans to return that precious missing diamond back where she belonged.. could not be tolerated. When Jasper actually stops, Blue has no problem with getting her moving again, gently, always careful, in a slow spiral back towards the sidelines.

"Although we do not have the means to restore a shattered gem yet, this is not a restriction others have. It will merely take a little time. Far less time than we have already endured."

Jasper's jaw drops. Not all the way, just a little. She follows Blue Diamond's movements almost stumblingly, staring at her incredulously.

"Who... how..." Although, ultimately, neither of those things matter to her that much. "Please..."

"The Ringmaster. These.. 'fae' aren't as organic and helpless as they seem. It's wise to try to keep their favor, doing so is to our .. and your direct benefit." Even things like this dance.

This whole party in fact. Blue Diamond was willing to tolerate almost anything so long as it didn't jeopardize that final goal. And so far she was one of the few visitors from the Carnival who hasn't done something foolish..

Poor Jasper. She'd understand better in time. Maybe she'd even be offered a contract of her own! "Once I return from Homeworld, it should be .. just under a year, by Earth standard time. There's so much to prepare for!"

Aannd that'd probably be why her centuries of sorrow has dulled a bit. Maybe Jasper would have something precious to look forward to as well.

Jasper barely comprehends what Blue Diamond is telling her -- she hasn't gotten much of an idea of their hosts at all yet, for one thing, and also... Well, also Pink Diamond was shattered. If there was any way that could be changed, then surely in five thousand years it would have been?

But... also she's sure Blue Diamond wouldn't lie about this.

"What do you mean, once you return from Homeworld...?"

With the song ended and the band beginning to prep for another, Blue works on shepherding Jasper this time towards the sidelines, so perhaps she could find herself another partner, one a little less intimidating.

"I must return to begin preparations of course. No-one else knows yet. While I am here fulfilling my promise, once matters are set in motion others can begin seeing to a proper reception. And proper protection."

She understood that as much as gems were far advanced over many other societies, other societies could be advanced over even gems. Just because they couldn't help a broken gem now didn't mean they never would. But she's not leaving until this visit with the Prince was concluded, to do otherwise would be rude.

Jasper's brow creases. "Fulfilling your promise--? I don't -- I'm sorry ma'am I don't understand any of this."

But she desperately, desperately wants it to be true that it means Pink Diamond could come back.

There's a quiet sigh. "The Ringmaster may offer you a bargain. Something you desire, in exchange for a year of service." A year and a day. Why is Blue having to explain all of this? It wasn't her job!

But perhaps she shared a common affection with this Jasper. Unlike the other gems in this place. "My request was the restoration of Pink Diamond, and so I will ... be as a mere Pearl for that time. And so will you, if you accept her bargain."

She waves one hand slightly, almost dismissive. "And my request is seen as minor in comparison to what she has done for others." Granted, death is usually beyond the Ringmaster, but a shattered gem wasn't dead. "Jasper. If you choose to take her contract, you must maintain a cordial relationship at the least with this being. Obey her rules for the duration, and treat her as if she were a Diamond. It will be strange, but it will gain you what you wish for, whatever that may be."

It's a lot to take in. Especially now, with the Prince's haze on everyone. But there are important things, things that kept even a Diamond willing to bow to the authority of another. They could do what Blue and her 'sisters' could not. "Do you understand this?"

As Blue Diamond speaks, Jasper's forehead furrows more deeply in concentration and, still, confusion -- when Blue Diamond is finished, though, she nods immediately, almost without thinking about it.

"Yes, ma'am," she says, and she doesn't fully understand everything Blue Diamond has just told her, but she grasps that this Ringmaster needs to be treated with the utmost respect -- for the sake of her Diamond.

Edited 2017-10-16 02:48 (UTC)

"Keep it in mind. It will make more sense later." Surely it will. Jasper's here now which means one of the fae brought her here, which meant she was due for a contract or got kidnapped.

The latter doesn't trouble her. Wouldn't, even if it hadn't been for the Prince's drugs. She pats one of Jasper's burly forearms, her smile a little fond. "Until then, isn't it worth celebrating? You should go enjoy the rest of this party. Perhaps try 'food'. It is challenging."

Jasper has tried food before, back on Earth, when it was the Cool Gross-Out Activity all the Beta quartzes were doing -- when she still hadn't quite learned she needed to distance herself from the rest of them as much as she possibly could -- and she thinks she'll pass, but she's not about to say that to Blue Diamond, no matter how much she does things like smile and pat her on the arm. Instead she nods brusquely and takes a respectful step back.

"I... Thank you, Blue Diamond."

Even if she was generally considered kind and merciful for a diamond, she's still a diamond. There are just things that wouldn't be allowed, wouldn't even be thought of were the situation not what it was.

Things like dancing with a Jasper.

Or suggesting recreational activities instead of tending to her job. Which was ... difficult to think about at the moment. "You're welcome, Jasper. Please enjoy the evening."

Blue herself ... is going to try to find somewhere quietly out of the way to deposit the glass of wine a passing servant hands her.

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⇨ FOURTH WALL EVENT! (OPEN TO ALL)

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