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
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... Sorry. [He doesn't know why he's sorry. He just is.]
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It still seems...odd, to forget details such as why it was taken in the first place....
[Not that there's much they can do about it, mind, but any way.] Well. Perhaps we should concern ourselves with this later. What brings you out here, Yuuya?
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[He finally lowers his hand, his gaze drifting to the loose fabric of his shirt. How did things get this dangerous?
He shakes his head.] But you're worse off.
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....Such a thing is more 'Yuugo's' type of action... ....All the same Yuuya, take in as much air as you need. It's certainly a beautiful evening, for now. [Even as he says that, he wonders-wasn't it always 'twilight' here? Empty? Wasn't that JUST what he had been thinking of? ....Strange....
But Yuuya's upset distracts him.] Please-I, the man Gongenzaka, am certain the Ringmaster can help to restore this injury once we're safely at the Carnival again. More than that, there is no pain at the moment! So there is nothing to worry for, Yuuya.
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Of course I'm going to worry! How many times since joining the ccarnival have you been maimed?
[It's death and cracked, burned skin, and blood and distantly, he remembers the gore of the stadium tearing down while his dragons screeched.
This isn't what he thought he'd see on his friend. His best friend. They were 14, they lived so normally until...]
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....Yuuya, [Marishi starts-and her tone is soft, and breaking, crumbling as Gongenzaka's thoughts are.
And Gongenzaka himself thinks....and counts....
The fact that he must count, however, is already a sign that it is so many times, too many times, and so he places his hand-his only hand-upon Yuuya's shoulder.] ....I, the man Gongenzaka.... ...Am truly sorry, to blind myself to that. [Of course he would worry, this isn't something anyone doesn't worry for. To tell someone not to worry...]
....To tell you not to worry about such a thing....
....It would be hypocritical of us. ....Yet what else can we hope for, but peace of mind for you at the least.... [She approaches the teen, rubbing against his side before Gongenzaka moves to hug his friend close.
Somehow he can remember a bit more of when he lost that arm.
Enough to remember a shout, and fired arrows....]
....There is not much that I, the man Gongenzaka, can promise to you, [He admits quietly.] ....But I can promise that as much as I can, you will never see such a thing happen to myself, or anyone else, again.
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He blinks rapidly, sucking in a sharp breath to force back tears.] You protect people. That's what you do. [He doesn't for a moment really believe Gongenzaka won't put himself between danger and someone else who's vulnerable. That's just who he is, that's why he's friends with Yuya, it's why Yuya looks up to him, wants to be as strong as him.
But the truth is--] We go so many places that are dangerous, and you're not the strongest person here anymore! You can't keep acting like you are!
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....It was never intended to be an act of who was the strongest in a fight...we know our strength, and yet...
....You are right, [He says quietly.] ....I, the man Gongenzaka.....cannot bear to see you at the other end of harm, if I could help it.
...But we can't just let you take that blow as well..! [the cheetah cries.] If it had been you there, instead of Noboru..!
[They are silent. Both of them are.
Both of them know that it would have been far easier for whatever attacked them to cause Yuuya's demise, rather than amputation.]
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Know that, compared to Gongenzaka, he looks so weak.
The silence hangs heavy between them for a moment, emotion welling up and bubbling in Yuya's throat as he watches his friend. He opens his mouth and a croaked sound escapes it... and then everything else does, all at once.]
Then maybe you wouldn't be missing an arm! [He lunges forward, suddenly, anger and grief competing within him as he grabs Gongenzaka's sleeves--pulling against the half-empty one.] Maybe you wouldn't look like this, if you--if you--
[He digs his fingers in, turning his face down.] You said I get in too much danger, but look at yourself! Don't you care?
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[Right now, he feels that weak. Certainly, being overprotective was an issue after a time-but it was something he himself had tried to excise as well, to cut out for the other's sake. But this wasn't overprotection any more, was it? This was....different. Accidental incidents and incidents of flat attack, they had stacked and stacked and stacked and....
And tears flow from his eyes, rivers moving downward without the ridiculous or comical undertones that always seemed to find their way there whenever something happened.
Marishi cries with him. But the tears are silent.]
What.... ....What would you have us DO, [she weeps, speaking where he cannot.] Leave you..!? Abandon...kh....
...We care infinitely, Yuuya. ....But the idea of such a thing happening to you-it is as abhorent as you find the idea of it now; and it is for the sake of a friend who would have our positions switched, that we cannot....Kh....We could never simply turn away and ignore the danger in front of us both..!
We would never forgive ourselves, [Marishi adds, voice barely a whisper.] .............We can't forgive ourselves now, for that matter...
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But Gongenzaka cares too much. It rips his heart in two, clinging to his anger, at Gongenzaka, at himself--and the way his friend's adoration makes his chest swell, that he's that dedicated to him. What could Yuya give him in return, if he can't protect him too?
He's glad he's looking down, when he can't keep the tears back anymore as he just stares at the floor in grief.]
I'd forgive you. [If Gongenzaka didn't take the hit, for once. His fingers twist in the fabric of Gon's shirt.] You're my best friend, but you don't have to die for me! I don't want you to--[He stops on a heavy breath.] You have to make it back home too!
[He couldn't do anything but watch.
He's never seen Gon taken so far down before the carnival. He was always supposed to be the strongest, most steadfast and--when he's not, what if Yuya loses him...?]
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They would die for him. They would absolutely die for him, but the problem is that Yuuya knows that, and fears it.
Rightfully so. The pair are quiet. And cautiously....Marishi starts.]
........As we said... ....As you said, we can't guarantee we will not encounter such dangers in our life in the future....
....Not even as we do our best to avoid them, it should seem, [Gongenzaka whispers.] But....
.........................There.... ....We can't just leave you if something happens in front of us, you know that..! But....There is one thing. ....Which perhaps, could...compromise, between us.
....If you are so certain...that you would rather shoulder risk, than I, [Gongenzaka states, his voice broken and unbalanced despite typical steadiness.] ...Then I, the man Gongenzaka....
....Perhaps, what we can ask of the Ringmaster, is what we asked for ourselves.
...She can conduct a spell-something to make certain that if anything were to happen....Anything, [he insists,] .....You would return.
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But he'd do the same for Gongenzaka. That's the problem, how much they care to keep the other safe at the expense of themselves.
It's a compromise, but one that hurts Gongenzaka to consider and it makes Yuya guilty. He bites his lip because he knows how selfish he's being about his feelings, to be willing to hurt Gongenzaka the same way. But...]
I just want to protect you too. [He looks up, taking a heavy breath to keep his voice steady.] That's why I wanted to get stronger. So I could be reliable for you and Yuzu.
[Now Gon wasn't his strongest friend. Now was that hypothetical moment Gon needed him, and he still couldn't.]
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....It was the reason we wished to train here, was it not? [Marishi chuckles-but the laugh is strained, as she attempts to bring some cheer back to them both.] Then....
....Once we have left this place, once we have found some peace... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, shall ask the Ringmaster for the spell to be performed.
.....We can only pray you never have need for it, Yuuya.
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If Gon can't stay safe, then Yuya will give his all to make sure he makes it out alive. Unharmed.] It's only fair, right? We have to take care of each other.
[He offers a wavering smile, squeezing Gon's arm briefly.
Then he lets go and leand forward to throw his arms around Gongenzaka, squeezing tight.] You've done so much for me, so don't be so surprised I want to return the favor, okay?
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Aauh.... I.... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, would be unable to expect anything less, at this point..!
It seems we're both hopeless like that, aren't we?
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Hopeless isn't the word he wants to use. It's too defeated, weak, complacent. It's not how she means it, but Yuya still shakes his head when he hears it.]
I wouldn't change it. [Because it's really not that he wants Gongenzaka to care less, to do less... he's just failed to be strong enough to do the same for him, and now the stakes are higher. He could have lost his best friend.
He's going to change that, now. If dueling can't protect his friends, he'll find another way.]
this feels like a good place to end,,,wueh
[This is probably what it means, to be (idiots) friends.]