⇨ 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

[pipers_son]

....Why does he not have a good feeling about it.

Pursing his lips, Joker glances up at her uneasily. "What's the request?" he asks, because he wants to know exactly how screwed all of them are. If she's not happy about it, no matter his complicated feelings on her, then he doubts any of the rest of them will be either.

[ringleaders]

"He wants me to marry him," she finally admits, like a great weight from her chest, though she raises her hands helplessly as if it's all a big joke. It certainly feels like one.

[pipers_son]

"What the hell" is really the only proper response here, so it's what Joker says, voice still hushed. It'd be funny, if all the rest of them weren't involved. Then, once he's gotten over that initial shock-

"But he's a borin' sadistic git!"

[ringleaders]

"Obviously!" she says. "But there's no one else of my... status, I suppose, that is similarly distant from Arcadia. He had left long before I ever did... I always thought he was ridiculous."

"Yet, I'm sure he would have scorned me, back in the day."

Not that he hasn't been scorning her plenty this week.

[pipers_son]

"Cor, he really is obsessed with times like mine," Joker mutters, not impressed. His England had a lot of issues, and he's seeing parts of it be played out all over again with the Prince. What this would mean for the Carnival, for the rest of them in the future... He doesn't like it.

"What are the harder or more complicated ways? That's just the simplest, right?"

[ringleaders]

She obviously doesn't like it either, for reasons beyond him being a repulsive loser.

"Well, I suppose the other main option is beating him up and taking his stuff."

[pipers_son]

That is a horrible idea, and Joker hopes it raised eyebrow at her sends that message across. Not one he disagrees with, necessarily, but not one that they can easily-

....Wait.

"He has ta have a weakness," he mutters, hand curling at his chin. "There has ta be a reason the curfew was enforced like that, and besides that he's just a control freak like that. Do ya think he would notice if people tried ta leave the party?"

[ringleaders]

"There is a reason. That reason was to give you plenty of opportunities to take the bait and break his rules. Which you did," she says, her voice a cold burn. "The more strict the rules, the easier it is to punish for them. So, yes, he will absolutely notice if people leave the party. Unless they have ways of going unseen."

[pipers_son]

"Teach me how to go invisible," is the immediate and absolutely predictable response. After a second, Joker waves his hand through the air in annoyance. "Jaoel knew how ta do it, although that was a bit different, I think."

You know, the angel version of him who had his life together.

"At this rate, ya might already be gettin' married ta get back our idiots who got caught. Is there worse that can happen at this point?"

[ringleaders]

She gives him an exasperated look.

"I can't help you! Not until I'm sure that diplomacy is out the window. If he catches wind that I'm aiding you lot, he could kill his captives immediately!"

[pipers_son]

Oh. That gets his attention, and Joker's gaze sharpens a little.

"So if we want ta do anythin', it's on our own time, is what yer sayin'?"

[ringleaders]

"Yes," she says, glancing at him from the side even as her face is turned forward. "If helping out was plausible, don't you think I would have been doing it from the start? Don't you think I would have saved Sans and the others already?"

[pipers_son]

"With all due respect," he says, narrowing his eyes at her, "you've never been particularly clear with what goes on in yer head, so that's why I had ta come and find ya myself." Reining in his temper from the whole thing, he hisses out a breath from between his teeth. "We are havin' a discussion on what my job entails after all this... But for now-"

And he jerks his head to the side to show the mark on his face. "Can ya tell me what the hell this is?"

[ringleaders]

She looks at it and then pulls back a little in alarm, too distracted by that reveal to be offended at the first part.

"Eckh! Who did that?" she askes, slightly alarmed.

[pipers_son]

"Sans," is the blunt answer. After a pause, Joker frowns slightly. "I was laughin' and he didn't like that."

They were being complete douchebags to each other about their very similar issues, but whatever.

"Think his sword is a bit special."

[ringleaders]

The Ringmaster stares at his for a moment, before groaning like that's the most cringeworthy things she's ever heard.

"Ugh! Of course he'd give one of his stupid fangs to Sans of all people! That's like setting a whisp on fire and slapping its ass!"

Whatever that means.

[pipers_son]

Yeah, uh, what the hell does that mean? Joker has questions.

"Mind explainin' more plainly?" he asks, not bothering to not seem annoyed. "This won't grow, will it?" He has shit to do that involves not being petrified.

[ringleaders]

She takes his face in her hands and runs her thumb over the stone portion. She ponders it for a moment and then lets go.

"I don't think so. He must have barely marked you. It's a blade made from a manticore fang - it's a poison that turns people to stone. I could remove it, when I have more time."

"If he had struck any deeper, though, it could have caused a much wider area of infection."

[pipers_son]

Manticore suddenly explains a whole lot about some of the things he's seen on some certain people, and Joker visibly grits his teeth before relaxing. No time for that.

"So it's just an ugly bit of stone on me, then?" He can handle that. He's handled worse, often while in the Ringmaster's employment.

[ringleaders]

"Yes," she says. "Though, if it weren't for the presence of significant magical aid, such as myself, then you'd be stuck with it forever."

[pipers_son]

Joker would like to think that Zecora could figure out something, but now's not the time to really question the Ringmaster, especially considering the situation they're in. For now, he simply says, "Well, I suppose I'm lucky, then."

With that said, he takes a step back and gives a proper bow. "I'll take my leave for now, then. Want me ta harass Tyki inta bringin' ya drinks and the like?" Spoilers, he might do that anyway just to give the guy work to do.

[ringleaders]

Her look turns grim as she turns from him, back out to face the sky, as the rain grows thicker.

"No. The last thing I want it to talk to him right now."

[pipers_son]

"Right." There's a pause before Joker reaches over to awkwardly pat her arm, and then he's off.

Time to make more questionable life choices.