lostcarnival | ⇨ SAY UNCLE

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⇨ SAY UNCLE

Who: Everyone who isn't in jail!
When: Day 175, 11:30PM onward.
Where: The Realm that used to contain Heartstone Manor.
What: Team carnival has gotten what they came for, but in the meantime they have lost what they came with. With his ace in the hole gone, the Prince is tearing apart the Heartstone Manor and reshaping it into an impregnable fortress to lock away his new most precious commodities - the Ringmaster's captured followers. Welcome to a hostage situation, this could take a while.
Warnings: Violence, and etc.

AFTER THE BALL↴

Around 11:30PM is when everything starts changing - and for most in Heartstone Manor, the triggers will have remained unseen. In the ongoing thunderstorm it was easy to miss, and the Prince losing control over his realm only occured before a small group of workers intent on saving the carnival from a terrible fate. An ancient High Fae artifact called the Blue Rose was stolen from the Prince, and in reaction he is being forced to abandon his plans of controlling the Ringmaster, instead trying to hide away in his realm for the purposes of saving his own skin.

His main bartering chip? The workers that he's been capturing up to this point. He knows that, unlike himself, the Ringmaster cares about mortals, and especially about the ones who follow her. He's willing to bet that she won't allow them to die for the sake of her own convenience, and he's right. Now that the Blue Rose is the carnival's, she's intent to take back what was stolen from her, as well as the lives of all the servants that the Prince has been stealing away for eons. By whatever means necessary.

► SPLIT THE EARTH: Characters all across the Manor will be treated with initial tremours that will soon escalate into a full-fledged earthquake, capable of collapsing buildings and rending the earth. The cause of this is simple: the Prince is using his powers of elemental earth to reshape his realm into something more suited to protect him. Specifically, he is changing what was a manor house into a fortress meant to defend, and allowing the rest to collapse into ruin. The Manor is still nothing but a castle floating in a void - as the earth breaks apart, it will be nothing but an endless freefall between the floating chunks of debris. Over the next twelve house that earthen debris will be reshaping and solidifying into a new layout, but having to be there while it happens is one hell of a ride!

► BREAK THE ILLUSION: It's as the world starts shaking that the last of the Prince's spell over the minds of his guests will begin to fade away. However, it may wear off more slowly than is helpful in an emergency earthquake situation. The ballroom trance may linger even as lives are threatened, and it will take a pointed effort to make sure that everyone gets out of the Manor's collapse safely. At the same time, the illusionary guests will begin to fade and disappear. The ones that remain are the ones that are real, but it may be a bit painful to realize which ones were simply a lie to begin with.

► SAVE WHO YOU CAN: Despite being knocked out by a surprisingly massive blast from the Prince's magic crystal, the Ringmaster will manage to gather herself up eventually. When she does, the last of the storm will finally come to an end. She'll be doing what she can to try to gather up both servants of the Prince and all of her workers, but it'll be impossible to get to all of them first. A large portion of the servants have undoubtedly been stolen away by the Prince into his newly built fortress, but with the effort of carnival members new and old, they can still save as many as possible. Of course, those held in the Prince's most secure prisons will remain out of reach... for now.

► WAKE THE SUN: As the worst of the earthquakes stop and the new islands of floating land begin to settle, the clouds from the thunderstorm will finally pass, as the Ringmaster seems to summon up a sun to light the realm for the first time since the carnival's arrival. In reality it's sometime in the early, early morning by the Manor's schedule, but whatever! It's easier to not die when the sun is out, don't you think? The Prince's security and gargoyle soldiers are still out and about, and they're clearly interested in capturing as many hostages as possible.

► SIGN A CONTRACT: This is when the Ringmaster will be taking those that were summoned to the Prince's ball aside to offer them contracts in order to free them from the Prince's influence. She'll do her best to explain that the only way to wipe out his control is to take on a new 'master', but they can take some time to think about it if necessary. The truth is, of course, that until they officially sign onto the Ringmaster's camp, there will still be the chance that the Prince will be able to control them.

► WALK THE RUINS: One Day 176 things will have settled completely, with the land now forming a massive fortress on the far side of several large floating islands. The ruins of the old buildings will scatter those islands, forming towers that will swiftly gain small colonies of gargoyles, ready to swoop down and attack carnival members. Further complicating matters is the fact that the rending of the landscape has resulted in bursting open the underground prisons that the Prince had been keeping his most bestial servants, which mean all kinds of mortals long since twisted into the forms of giant spiders, scorpions, monstrous beasts, and other terrifying creatures will now be running amock on the islands, desperate for food. Try not to hold it against them - they didn't ask to be this way.

► REGROUP: While the Ringmaster doesn't want everyone to just run back home (if they do that, the Prince will undoubtedly make them unable to enter again, or at least take over the landscape more fully) she will manage to open a portal back to the carnival in the afternoon of Day 176, formed between two freshly grown trees. This means that carnival members will be able to fetch new clothing, supplies, weapons, and whatever they need to prepare for the battle ahead. Right now, the chaos is still unfolding, but the battle to save the Prince's captives is still ahead.

[OOC: Gargoyles and transformed servants from the underbelly can be NPC'd from this point onward. Gargoyles are the Prince's most deadly servants made of extremely durable rock and bearing scorpion tails with venom that can turn bodies into stone. They want to grab anyone they can, trap them, and then fly them off to the Prince's dungeons as collateral. Don't let them!

Transformed servants are the beasts who were freed from the underground prison they were left in to rot. They are servants that were transformed into monsters by the Prince, and most of them have been driven insane with bestial hunger from months and years of starvation and atmospheric poison. The Ringmaster is interested in helping them, to see if there is way they can be changed back, so if you have the heart nonlethal methods are most appreciated.]

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[ Even if she hadn't spoken up to announce her intent, his aura gives the slightest little ping of danger - a warning that danger is imminent, even if the attack isn't the kind of thing he has to worry about terribly. Gods know he's taken worse hits from far more menacing weapons than a knife. The question isn't whether or not he can handle it, but rather how he will.

He could let her connect once or twice, let her see it's futile before he counters - no, no. Never show a card you don't have to. She already knew about his legs, he didn't need to telegraph any other abilities. He could break her arm, or her wrist, or both really - but if she's under the same contract as he is, that might put him in a bad spot. Better to avoid that.

Simple it is, then.

It takes less than a second. His movements are precise, but there's no visible effort to what he does - it seems like it's for the millionth time that he shifts back as she lunges forward, twisting his body to lash one foot up to connect with the tip of the knife. Either it would be wrenched from her hand or it would snap in two from the impact, but either way the attack is sent off-course. Not that she'll have long to register that fact, his body still spinning like a tornado to strike out a second time with his other leg to sweep hers out from under her, and the moment her back hits the ground he's whipping a leg down to press the underside of his mechanized knee to the vulnerable flesh of her throat.

And he's pressing down.

Hard. ]

Sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Speak up! I'm all ears.

[ He declares, continuing to put pressure on her windpipe, assuring that conversation will be enormously difficult. ]

[ The knife shatters in her hand. Her aiming was precise, he was just too strong.

That moment makes the rest of the indignity-- getting swept out from underneath her feet to having the greatest insult of all-- Mercury's fucking knee, in the clothes she picked out for him, against her neck...!

Her face is completely blank. ]

[ That fairytale land wasn't an AI program like they'd been inventing at Hope's Peak. It was really real. She thought the brainwashing was for-certain a cue of an AI program. That this was a set up that was meant to reboot her, because she was unkillable, so the best thing they could do was lock her inside her own mind.

But he's proving, right now, that she's very killable! Easily! This world isn't a lie and neither are its monsters, its characters with powers-- all data Junko cannot analyze because it's not from her own, predictable world...! ]

[ As long as she presses and presses and presses against this world, she will never be bored again! ]

Holy shit... if you actually go through with it, I'd still die happy!

I could see the movement of your legs but not their capacity! I could read your motions and try to land hits but whatever you have-- prosthetics, right?? No, it's something stronger, better, and you're just a human and it's just your legs!

[ She's choking through this, but her expression is absolutely lurid. At the very least, this cuts down on her word count significantly. ]

I can't... analyze you...! I'm willing to bet I can't analyze anything for certain here! Oh my god, oh my god!

[ ~~I'm glad canon gives me a gif for this~~ ]

Is this what seeing television in color after a life in gray feels like? A world that can no longer be boring? [ Panting, trying to breathe, so on-- ] My gut instincts are always right-- you're really fucking cute! Press-- [ gasp ] A little harder? H- haa ha... I'm just joking, you've got that down pat... jeez, what do I even say...?

I promise I'm dangerous... maybe not in this way anymore... but if you want to raise Hell here, all I need is some time to scope it out and for e- everyone to come back. I'm the ultimate... Despair and Analyst... I can predict any scenario down to a second... even right now, I'm... predicting something regarding you.

Haa... haa... don't worry, it's not a weapon...

[ This is the part when the begging starts. The crying, the gasping, the clawing-at-his-leg-to-make-him-stop. Not that it usually helped, but it was goddamn hilarious to watch people who had been high and mighty become reduced to something so quivering and pathetic. He wondered how that face would look on her, amongst all the others.

And yet she becomes anything but that. If anything it almost seems like the very real risk of death and her own failure is turning her on, and that makes less than zero sense. Who in their right mind would find this precarious situation so enticing?

Well, maybe he answered his own question. She's nowhere near being in any sort of "right mind". Maybe it would be doing everyone a favor to just crush her throat and watch her asphyxiate, and yet... there's one more thing they have in common. They hate boring things, and she's sure as hell interesting.

He presses down a little harder for one second, two, three, as if threatening to really go through with it - but swings his leg up and away from her a moment later, rolling to his feet to stretch lazily, as if he hadn't just nearly committed murder in broad daylight. ]

You're the Ultimate Chatterbox, is what you are. I've never heard someone blab on and on like that while they're choking. People usually try to save their oxygen.

[ ... But something she'd said has him curious, and he doesn't bother trying not to indulge in it: ]

So, that prediction. What was it, exactly?

[ She gasps for air, sitting up from the spot she was pinned, with a sweet smile on her face. His knee forced tears out of her eye, and she wipes them and flicks them dramatically, closing her eyes with a happy sigh while fixing him with the most content, if delirious smile. ]

This one you won't want to hear. It's like... finding a birthday gift before you get it. It makes you excited, but you ruined the surprise before you got there, and it makes you soooo impatient--

[ Her breathing steadies where there was sure to be a bruise on her neck. She shouldn't have called him cute, she should've called him hot.

Actually-- ]

We must be pretty similar. Even while we were brainwashed, we gravitated towards each other. All we had were our personalities and none of the memories... that's pretty interesting, don't you think?

[ Junko's subtle as a brick but she doesn't care, fixing her clothes and wiping dust of them. If only he had crushed her windpipe while all the doctors were out on the field! ]

Want to stick around with me? I promise, it's worth it if you hate idling around waiting for the carnage back there to get done with.

[ He's quiet for a moment - before the biggest eye-roll you ever did see, shaking his head with a heaved sigh. ]

Oh, please don't tell me you're spouting some "love at first sight" crap. Of course we were drawn to each other - we're hot. That's kind of how that tends to work.

[ I mean he ain't wrong.

His hands rest on his hips - seriously, she was starting to talk too much. It was fine when the things she was saying tickled his fancy, but if she's about to go all soulmate on him he's less than interested.

Her offer earns a quirked eyebrow. He does hate waiting, maybe more than anything in the world, but he's not sold just yet. ]

I guess that depends what you've got in mind, Junky.

[ She looks horridly disgusted at his insinuation, actually leaning back and making a face a la icon. ]

Don't fucking insult me with that garbage! I get that broken piece of knife and really shove it where it hurts--!

I was more talking about how competitive we were, not the fluttery eyes bullshit. That's what was interesting.

[ Junko's so revolted by the idea of making someone think she was spouting soulmate stuff that she literally changes a personality just to get away from it. Amazingly, she doesn't comment on Junky, she'll save that for later. ]

I'm SAYING if we're being indentured servants to some goddamn ringleader, then we should make our own fun while the cat's away. Holding a knee to my throat is cute and all, but I wanna see what you can REALLY do. And in turn, I'll show you the real meaning of Ultimate Analyst!

Edited 2017-11-07 01:26 (UTC)

"Ultimate Analyst."

[ She likes that phrase a lot, and he lets it play off his tongue once, punctuating each word with a crisp "t" as if toying with the words and the ideas they convey. ]

If you're so good at figuring people out, then shouldn't you already know what I'll say?

[ Which begs the question: will he say what she predicts, or will he intentionally try to say something beyond her prediction? Or will that be too much hassle, and he'll just admit if she's right? Or is he going to just not answer her at all? ]

Come on, show me what you've got. Take the words out of my mouth before I even say 'em.

Boo... I hate having to do that for new and exciting people. I mean, I have to, but it makes things so dull.

Okay, word for word.

[ Well, first, you get treated to this look, and then what comes out next-- is almost a deadly accurate impression of Mercury's voice, just having the tint of coming from a woman. ]

"You wanna see what I can really do and then pretend you analyzed all of it? Sounds like a shitty analyst to me. Sounds like you're trying to pull a stupid magic trick to convince me you're special. I'm only here for one thing: Getting out of my shithole of a world before it collapses on itself, and even though I signed a contract with the Ringmaster, I don't have any intention of bending the knee. I'm here to kill two things: time and boredom. If there's anything I hate, it's boredom.

Did you know? I killed my dad because I was bored of taking his shit. Sure, I was mad, too. But it was also dull as fuck. I joined up with some woman I didn't even know because I was so ready to get out of a boring fucking life.

So show me you're not boring. If I'm going to be interested in you at all, you better prove to me right now you're not boring."

[ The piece of knife that broke off with so much force flings against a rubber trampoline set up at the other side of camp.

It flies back avoiding every obstacle that would've slowed it down, either grazing Mercury's cheek or showing off the light of his aura, which Junkie also doesn't know about.

She catches it between her perfectly sharp red nails, like lightning. ]

[ Under ordinary circumstances he would have known that shard was coming - aura acts as a forcefield and a warning system, after all. He could have dipped his head to the side to avoid it, or maybe he wouldn't have so it could scrape against his aura just to make sure she knows that she doesn't have a chance of hurting him. That he's miles above her. That her Ultimate Anything is still bottom-tier compared to what he's got.

But then she mentions his dad.

And he sure hell wasn't ready for that out of the blue.

Mercury prides himself on being unflappable - like mercury itself, he molds to the shape he needs to in order to move forward, and nothing fazes him along the way. But no one straight up talks about his father anymore, not even Cinder, and so Junko will be treated first to a look of genuine surprise as it makes its way across his expression, his body growing tense, a hot flame of indignation rising from his core but overshadowed momentarily by the weight of confusion--

All of which means his focus is lost, and his aura is less than focused.

The bite of metal against his cheek snaps him out of it, and she'll be blessed with the sight of the groove it leaves against his skin bleeding for only an instant before, like magic, it closes up almost as quickly as it was sliced open.

He takes a step forward.

Another.

A third, right into her personal space, and while the voice he speaks with is calm and deliberate there is murder in his eyes. ]

You talk way too much.

[ He might have used less words if he were the one speaking, but her sentiments are spot-on. Mostly, at least - on the night of patricide he was definitely motivated more by unholy rage than anything else, but that was one speck in an otherwise immaculate performance.

She wasn't boring. That was true. He still kind of wants to see what her body looks like as a corpse, though. ]

Let's say some of what you blabbed was actually true. How'd you know?

You asked for it.

I just do. That's why I told you it was going to be boring to tell you this instead of finding it out for myself. There are cues everywhere. Signs, glances, everything. At the very least, is it satisfying if I say you were difficult to put together? Because of your different world. I had to dig for what would cut you beneath the skin.

We’re alike in a few nice ways, but one way in particular. I hate boredom. I hate it so much that I destroyed the capability for boredom to exist in my world… at least, I hope. This place snatched me before I cemented my legacy.

[ She also gets close — real close — to him, like they were at the ball, with one arm thrown over his shoulder and hanging off behind him, their faces just far apart to see the other and not blur their vision. Junko was proving what she meant at the ball, and probably what he meant. It’s not soulmates, it’s not even hotness or sexiness or whatever. It’s because this proximity and their games weren't boring. Feeling out of tune heartbeats against each other’s chests, so up close and personal that you can’t fix your attention anywhere else.

Because it’s boring if she doesn’t invade his personal bubble.
Because her modesty is boring.
Because he just proved he could easily kill her without her out-predicting him, and he looks like he will, so staying a reasonable distance is boring. ]

A place where I exist is never boring. I will never be content with a placid, dreamy world like the one back there, even in all of its chaos now. I think if we stick together, we can make a lot of fun.

Maybe it’s a hunch or maybe it’s because I’m the ultimate analyst. Whatever it is, I'm done predicting you. You're interesting enough to not want to dig again.

That short enough for you?

[ He doesn't like being read. He doesn't like the idea of being predictable because there's literally nothing worse. He's never met someone who can read others with that kind of accuracy, and right away he's considering the possibility that she's actually capable of reading minds. It wouldn't be the strangest thing he'd ever encountered, and it'd explain how she knew details that he was sure he'd never let slip.

Was she actually from Remnant herself? It's not like it's impossible.

But does it really matter in the end?

He leans in close enough to knock his forehead into hers none-too-gently, his voice lowered to a venomous snarl. If he were a beast, she would do best to guard her throat before he ripped it out with his teeth. ]

You better not ever do that again. I don't want you in my head. I buried that shit for a reason, don't ever drag it out if you know what's good for you. Say one more word about any of that, and I'm going to kill you.

Got it?

[ Did she irk the merc?? ]

[ nope ]

Psyche! Please, keep trying.

[ There's still death in his eyes, but the grin that makes it to his lips is somehow darker. ]

You've told me a bit about how you operate, Junky. Big mistake. Now I know to throw out fake signals and false flags when you're around - I bet you even believed me a second ago, didn't you? "Grr, stay out of my head, I'm so angry".

I did! Because I promised not to read you anymore. I thought 'ooh, scary, he's the big, tough type to ask for something he doesn't want the answer to, even when it comes with a full disclaimer! Now~He's~Going~To~Kill~Me~'

[ She giggles, and she thinks the death in his eyes and his horrible, throat-ripping grin is a handsome look. That's why she's not moving away just yet. She's still keen on the idea of seducing him! However, It dawns on her that she might not have to change anything about herself if she decides seduce him or not. Not because she’s digging anymore, but because the mutual fascination is strong enough now that they’re in a deadlock.

...? That's weird...? He might find himself interested in her whether or not she caters her personality around him. Only the future will tell! ]

But I just love it when a man looks like he's gonna kill me. Yangires are hot and in season!

[ It helps her, slightly, that's she's kind of hot. More than kind of, really, but when it comes to really holding his attention looks don't mean too much. Sure, when he's looking for someone to spend a night with and then never speak to again looks are the key factor, but that's not exactly what's going on here. She's piqued his curiosity - that, more than anything, keeps her safe from his violent tendencies for now.

... Well, the lethal ones, at least.

That being said.

The most important question. ]

What the hell is a... "yangry"?

Oh, it's a yandere, but without the 'dere'.

[ Pops on her glasses for this, actually. ]

A yangire is someone who can best be described as an unstable hobbyist murderer, often framed as very attractive. Yandere, what I just referred to, refers to a stalker with the same tendencies, but in love with someone. Allow me to demonstrate the difference.

Yandere.

[ Gestures to her face. ]

Yangire.

[ Gestures to her face. ]

Do you get off on warping your face as much as possible? I've never seen someone so determined to wear a different expression every ten seconds.

... No, hold on.

Every five seconds seems like a better estimate.

[ he's already moved on from the topic at hand... ]

⇨ SAY UNCLE

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