A Reckoning...

[strangerpeople]

[You are dead.

Where you awaken is not of your cabin on the train but rather firm earth, the skies above you being nothing but an inky blackness as for as you can see. And yet throughout the darkness, you are surrounded by soft lighting and peculiar music playing all around you. When your senses become less muddled, you will notice that the music playing is upbeat and joyful almost. But let's face it, you are probably thinking this is some sort of creepy hell that you got yourself into after biting the bullet.

It all depends if you find circuses to be such a place because that is where you find yourself. The setting feels more antique than what you may assume a circus to look like, more Victorian themed than what one can be called. First the sound picks up and then you can smell something delectable in the air, catching popped corn and fried sweets and maybe something to drink? It's more than likely here.

Going down the main way, you can see some classic carnival games such as skee ball, ring toss, balloon popping if you are inclined to try and take your mind of the fact that you didn't have a choice in coming here. But despite the joyous air of the circus, there are not many people here that can help you out...or are there?


Lost souls just like yourself who met with the same horrible fate...perhaps an accord can be struck. After all, it looks like you will be here for awhile.]


((OOC: Map for reference.))

Comments

WEEK 3

[strangerpeople]

[Welcome The Rose and The Alphabet.

But there seems to be something else that comes along with the new Strangers to this strange deadland: from the dark ocean rises up new islands that definitely not there when you last looked. For our newcomers, they will be very familiar to you: one being a laboratory and the other hosts a rather nice looking mansion in the middle of it.

Explore as you will, Strangers and get to know your new comrades. You may need it.]

[awitchdidit]

[Well.]

[Well well well.]

[Of all the deaths Beatrice has experienced, that was certainly the most...concerning. But she's here now, and Purgatorio in this land appears to be...a circus.]

A dead end two weeks in. Tsk, tsk. It's a good thing Battler wasn't here to see that after all.

But really, a circus? The Witch of this land is making me look downright well-adjusted.

...

You going to come out yet, Victoria Misericordia? I believe I caught a glimpse of you before my eyes boiled, but it's impolite to keep your guests waiting even after you've killed them.

[She sighs, pats herself down to see if she can find her pipe, then starts wandering. Maybe there's cotton candy.]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus is standing at the edge of the carnival, peering at the new islands that appeared. After that fight with the monster last week, he's been on the lookout for anything new. Still, from behind, his figure might look quite familiar to Beatrice...]

1/2

[awitchdidit]

You!

[After a moment of shock, she storms right up to him.]

[awitchdidit]

[And that's going to be all the warning Franciscus gets before she grabs him by the shoulder, spins him around, and throws a right hook worthy of a demoniacal boxing match between man and goat at his face.]

Bastard!

[silvertongueheir]

Do I- [And that's all he manages to get out before her fist hits him in the face, sending him crashing to the ground with a surprised yell, rubbing his cheek. Beatrice might notice his eyes are gray instead of blue, or the lack of the One-Winged Eagle on his suit collar here.]

What-what exactly was that about? [This rates quite high on his list of "inexplicable things that have happened to me."]

[alwaysgonnatry]

[ She really hadn't expected that more people were going to show up, honestly. So when she spots Beatrice, there's a small bit of shock before she moves forwards to greet her with a smile. ]

Hey there! I know this is gonna sound crazy, but you weren't part of some weird game before you showed up here, were you?

[ Akko really hopes not but with new people arriving it didn't make her feel happy at the prospect and what it could mean. ]

[awitchdidit]

[Oh, someone friendly. And not dressed as a clown, in either the literal or Battler sense. That's a good sign.]

My dear, my existence is weird games. I suppose you were another contestant, and not part of the Empress's staff?

[alwaysgonnatry]

The Empress? I've never even heard of that person before now so I'm gonna go with the other one since that's how I ended up here.

[ Something about this lady gave off this air of sophistication and she wasn't even sure why. Maybe it was how she spoke. ]

[hexposition]

[A gentle voice pipes up from behind Beatrice.]

"The Witch of this land?" I hardly know if I count as the witch, but I can promise at least that I had nothing to do with this. I find the whole thing rather unsettling, myself.

[If Beatrice turns to look, she'll see a somewhat meek-looking girl in glasses, somewhere in her late teens, with a pair of black skeletal wings extending from her shoulder blades.]

And if there is a "Victoria Misericordia" among us, I have not caught sight of her.

[awitchdidit]

[Beatrice turns to address her, and raises an eyebrow. Aesthetic as fuck, lady.]

Ahaha, I'll settle for "a" witch, if you can help explain what's going on.

Perhaps to be more general, I was expecting to meet the mastermind of the game I was part of before arriving - something that I understand is a common background here? She was supposedly an immortal sorceress, and I fully expected her to keep my spirit hanging around after shuffling me off the mortal coil.

[It's what she'd do, after all.]

[hexposition]

[She didn't ask for these, and she'd gladly give them to you if she could!]

Hehe, well. I think I can do that.

I was a part of a horrible game before arriving here, as well. Motivated to kill each other week after week, and then forced to find and execute the guilty in trial. I suppose that sounds similar?

As far as I can tell, we all woke up here once we passed on from our games. I do not believe the masterminds of such actually appear here, though. I am not even certain they know of this place's existence.

For the best. Our masterminds were quite foul.

[notthebreakman]

[Proto Man didn't really expect to wake up again after... well. Looks like his father was right after all--Robot Masters really do have souls.

Too bad he probably won't be able to share that scientific discovery anytime soon. Oh well.

Once Proto takes stock of his surroundings, there's one thought that runs through his head:]

Please tell me The Devil's Carnival wasn't really an accurate depiction of the afterlife.

[icanhearscreams]

[There's a young man staring at him. The metal all over him - it's -]

[... No. No, it's fine. A robot, but...]

You were caught up in a 'game' too?

[notthebreakman]

[Oh, so he isn't alone here. That's something of a relief, that he won't have to spend the beginning of his afterlife with only his murderer for company.

But what this young man says...]

...Yes, I was. You weren't on the Vespertine, were you?

[icanhearscreams]

N... o? I have no idea what you're talking about. We were in a mansion.

[hexposition]

[A soft voice pipes up from behind him.]

This isn't what I had learned from all my studies, either, and yet here we are.

[She comes around so that he doesn't have to turn to face her. She looks to be in her late teens, with glasses and a gentle smile... and, perhaps most worryingly, a pair of black skeletal wings extending from her shoulder blades.

They kind of look out of place on her, really.

She offers him a hand up, if he wants it.]

[notthebreakman]

[Considering that Proto was just on a train with a walking, talking corgi and an empty suit with a television for a head, a girl with odd skeleton wings really isn't enough to phase him at this point.

He'll accept her hand up, though.]

So what exactly is "here," in that case?

[awitchdidit]

[Eventually, of course, they'll run into each other again.]

Proto Man.

[She folds her arms, before thinking the better of it and dropping them to her sides.]

You'll be happy to know justice was served, I'm sure. If you'd like a free shot in revenge, you're welcome to it. I think we're past the point where it matters.

[notthebreakman]

[It was only a matter of time, really.]

Beatrice.

[His own body language is guarded, but not overtly hostile.]

I'm relieved that no one else had to die for you, but at the same time... I'm sorry you couldn't save your husband. I don't hate you enough to want to attack you, either. You were caught and punished for killing me. I'd say that settles the score.

EXPLORING

[strangerpeople]

[You got those new islands that popped up this week and a boat to go along with it. Wanna do some exploring?

However, it would be wise to bring the people who might be familiar with those landmarks with you.]

[notthebreakman]

[When Proto Man first saw the islands, he froze up in disbelief for several seconds. After that motive, to see the lab where he... where Doctor Light had...]

We're going. Now.

[He had to see for himself. Even if it resulted in disappointment, he had to know.]

[alwaysgonnatry]

Sure! I'll come with you!

[ She looks over to where Jun happens to be and waves at him. ]

Hey, Jun! Wanna come along and check out an island?

[awitchdidit]

[Beatrice has only actually seen her old home from the outside a handful of times, but she can still recognize the silhouette, even from this distance.]

...if anyone not going with Proto Man wants to investigate a spooky murder island with the resident spooky witch, I'll take a party. Otherwise, I suppose it can wait.

[Read: she wants to go but she ain't rowing that distance herself.]

[7_0_7]

[707 has just been lurking, but the appearance of new islands is not something to be ignored, so hey. He still has a flying car.]

Did someone say party?