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 should be reacting and yet he was not. Joker could just feel the way he was gripping that fabric a little harder with a faint twitch to his fingertips. Even if he's not allowed to let it be known he wants to.
"You should know as well as anyone that I play to favor and my hand is always loaded with the best results." He's not showing emotion just yet as Joker starts showing his hand as well, "Extremely. The Prince offered me a better hand and I took it. I enjoy nothing more right now."
no subject
"Oh," he hums, eyebrows raising up, "is that what this is? Well, it wouldn't be the first deal with Fair Folk that any of us have made, I suppose." Even as he's saying it, however, Joker leans in. His chest leans further into that dangerous hand, a silent challenge, a quiet dare. The words that leave his mouth next come in a murmur. "So I guess it wasn't somethin' more forced on ya, then. Somethin' stuck in yer head without yer say-so, twistin' ya up inside. Hm?"
Maybe he's wrong. Joker would like to be wrong. Yet even now, with his breath back to normal in his throat, he can't help but be so damn sure of this being Celebration. Of it being Hell, down in the dark and heat, copper filling his nose. No matter how much he tries, the memories bear down on him heavier than concrete.
no subject
There's pause and the look on Tyki's face seems unchanged by his eyes flick back and forth across Joker's face as he listens. He worked in the carnival before. He got caught. The prince had arrived and after five long days and barely any sleep and practically no food he gave in. He longed to serve the prince now. He almost reveled in the fact that he got to. His mind is rationalizing every moment. It was his fault he got caught and his fault the Prince too control.
"Yes, that's exactly it. The prince gave me an offer... " He's getting more angry than he should right now. Even his smile is disappearing.
no subject
Well, this is probably a horrible idea, but who better to test how far he can push and if his words mean anything?
(Anyone. Probably literally anyone. There is a giant fucking bird he could talk to.)
Yet here he is, tilting his head to the side with those sharp pink eyes watching the other man. Faintly, in the back of his mind, he wonders if he looks as strange as he feels devoid of all the things that usually make him so recognizable. Hair drawn back tight, no longer able to slide against his shoulders and back. Ears with nothing but tiny pinpricks along them, which isn't enough to make noise like the clink of earrings. Even his face feels too bare. It's stupid to think that any one of those would help make his case further, but, still. It'd help him feel more confident as he courts death, or worse.
no subject
The other was being a cocky little shit and he wasn't going to take it anymore.
"Shut up," he commands as his hand gives a hard shove of Joker's chest. It's enough to push him back off the railing he was against given how rough and hard he could be when he barely held back his own strength. He had wings. He could fly and pick himself back up. It's the only reason why he does it at all. He wanted it to be made very clear that he could and would kill him if he had the option.
no subject
Clearly, he realizes as the railing digs into his wings and stone grinds against feathers, he's underestimated how infuriating he's been.
Then the passing second of discomfort is gone and air is rushing against his feathers, his hair, tugging at his clothes, and he's left staring at the bottom of the balcony. His first instinct is, indeed, to flare out his wings, and they twitch almost as if to do so.... but Joker bites down on it. Instead, he keeps them folded right at his back, and stares right above to where Tyki is.
Fine. See how much he really wants him dead, then.
no subject
He's the enemy and he's not opening his wings. He shouldn't care and yet the damned fool was not opening his stupid wings. His hands are on the railing now and he doesn't realize how many steps he's taken forward to watch in satisfaction? No that isn't right. He's getting angrier by the second at this not going the way he planned. Those gloves grip tighter the further he falls and before he can stop himself there is a foot up on the railing. He's pushing himself over it in an instant. He falls fast and hard with the assistance of his power. It activates just as hard to reject the air under his feet as handfuls of Joker's coat are snatched up in both of his hands.
They are shaking in a fitful manner with a tight almost ripping grip. Where is he again? What is he doing?! Expressions from rage, confusion and concern dance over his face and he hates it.
no subject
The next, his whole body jerks, gravity tugging his lower half down without stopping and the force of which drives all breath from his lungs. It's such a sudden change of force that he's dazed from it all. A good few blinks are required before reality orients itself properly and he can look up at the face that's not too far from his own. Brilliant pink eyes are wide as Joker looks up into those of the man he'd hoped would move but hadn't been sure would.
But he's here. Right there, holding his coat tightly, an absolute firestorm of emotions tearing across him.
With all of him hanging there in midair... Joker smiles. Wide and bright and glad.
"Cheers, Tyki Mikk."
no subject
Still, he can't drop him. He's not allowed to kill. This is, no was, his friend. He's breathing a little hard as the sheer momentum of the situation and the rage of confusion catches up to him. It's like his entire brain has paused as he fights to rationalize the situation. He's angry yet his face is reading of sheer panic and confusion like a child needing to be consoled that what he did was right.
"Don't think.... that this proves anything." he breathes out harshly, "I simply cannot let you die."
no subject
Probably, at any rate. Fae magic is a powerful and dreadful thing, exactly as all the stories ever said. Still, this wouldn't be the first time Joker has deluded himself with a fairy tale of his own. Tyki didn't rescue him because of any orders he might have been given.
Still, that's enough, he thinks, and Joker reaches up to press his hand against the curve of Tyki's face. With a hand made of wood, the gesture is even more delicate and gentle than it would be anyway. "Let's get back up there, yeah?" Somewhere Tyki can put his feet on solid ground and not look like so much shit.
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Yet he seems to calm at Joker's touch, his usual temperance and cheerful tones lost in the sudden position he's in, and they lift rather silently as Tyki's back is no longer awkwardly bent from the mere fact he can't bend his upper back at all.
Except when they reach the top to the point that Tyki can rest his feet on the balcony Joker will find himself roughly dropped onto the stone marble. Still shaking fingers grasp a napkin from his hanging pocket and he'll wipe his cheek as if mildy disgusted to be touched, "That's enough..."
no subject
Perhaps it's even more than that, however. Even as his wings flare out to help him regain his balance, keeping him from sprawling against the ground at the sudden drop, Joker is still smiling. Straightening up, he smooths out his jacket. "Yeah," he says, casually agreeable for all that his grin is absurdly pleased. "I think it is." For all that this means that the Prince's magic isn't perfect, that there are cracks... It had taken Joker risking his life to see it for himself. Frankly, he's not sure how much further he could push when that's toeing the line as it is.
Still, it's enough for him and he steps forward again to let his hand rest gently and fleetingly against Tyki's arm. "But I'll be back," he promises, the glow of the party inside haloing around him and somehow making his already vivid pink eyes all the brighter in the shadow. "Wait for me, won't ya?" And with that, he's turning away again. Waking up in the middle of something so horrifically similar to Celebration... That'd shaken him, honestly. He'd wanted to run away, or curl into himself until he was nothing.
But this isn't Celebration, for all the similarities. He can still do something. There's still that chance.
So, with wings tucking in again, his shoulders held up straight, Joker dives back into the ball and smiles one last time to Tyki over his shoulder.