[PUBLIC CHANNEL] RINGMASTER'S EIGHTH ADDRESS (D30)

[lordofthering]

[Around the start of the new performance week, the Ringmaster will light up everyone's radios with an important message. Or, rather, some important musing.]

Hello, this is the Ringmaster speaking. I say that for the benefit of any new arrivals - everyone else surely recognizes my voice, by now. The rest of this may leave you in the dust as it will be touching on some carnival history, but you can may questions if you want to get up to date.

So, I spent a lot of time thinking when the lot of you were busy with that Pillar drama. As most are aware, a couple months ago we went on a mission to retrieve an extremely powerful artifact called the Blue Rose, which we have been using to defend the carnival from faerie threats. Which, seems successful so far, given that Nightshade didn't dare enter the grounds the entire time we were there! A victory, indeed.

It got me thinking, though... the Blue Rose actually comes as a set. As I've explained to a few of you, the Blue Rose is an organism created by the first Queens of Arcadia. Only three artifacts of its kind exist, as far as I know, and I fairly sure that none of them are actually in faerie hands.

So, I thought... what if we were somehow able to get the other two? Not only would that be enough to ward off the Courts completely, it would go a long way to defending us against any of the other nonsense we come across! Perhaps we could even go back to business as usual, for a while...

Anyway, in an attempt to be more forthcoming, I am presenting this idea to you for general 'work shopping' purposes. I know that the Blue Rose was a big hassle to get, but we know so much more now than we did then! I think it's worth a second look.

Comments

[espigeon]

[They kind of are. Switching to speaking in Angelic would help, but this doesn't really feel like something that needs to be secret, not yet.]

You or me? Because, 'yes'.

Wow is it weird to say I want to go to Heaven, thank you certain people back home for tainting that phrase, but also, fuck 'em because from what I remember Heaven wouldn't care about most of that stuff aaaand I'm rambling.

I do and I don't, I'm a lot firmer on not wanting to be enemies with them and also not wanting to go beard the Adversary.

[pipers_son]

[Yeah, it's a little bit of rambling, but Joker won't call him out on it. He does let out a breath that's audible through the radio, however.]

Ya don't have ta get involved. Just wanted ta make that clear. I mean, I know I'm not yer supervisor, but the point remains. I'm gonna be here for a long while if things go the best case scenario, so, well, I'm interested in havin' less disaster like this previous year...

But, ha... I know most people don't settle in for as long as I plan ta. Ya can just finish up yer first contract, and be done with it. No one would blame ya.

[espigeon]

I know. I'm not sure what I want for the future, but it's not indefinite time here. There are people I love that I will get back to. I'm here for them, but even if I just went on extended vacation today and never filled my contract, that's not a death sentence for them.

But I'd blame me. While I'm here I want to help. There's a lot I can't do or not well but there's also a lot I can, and there's ways in which I'm risking less than other people. I mean, dying sucked not going to lie, but Champions die all the-

[He realizes what he's saying and makes an exasperated noise.] I mean, multi-bodied Champions get used to losing one or several, that's half the point in being like this.

[pipers_son]

[Sounds like a long story... Joker will do him a favor and not bring it up on the radio. Instead, he gives a quiet laugh that doesn't have much energy in it.]

Ha... Yer a good one, Jules.

[espigeon]

[Julien laughs more emphatically.]

I'm full of hot air and overconfidence! In an attempt to counteract my own seeds of cynicism I fill myself with the belief that it'll all turn out right in the end if this and that happen! If that looks like good, well, cool, but it's purely self-centered I assure you.

[Whenever he's not optimistic or can't climb back to that point, whenever he really and truly crashes, it's bad. There are people back home who'll haul him out of that, Julien's had enough experience with them to believe in it, but they aren't here. If the going gets too rough here people aren't going to be there for him like those would, and why would they?]

So that's my opinion.

[pipers_son]

Hey, better ta be full of hot air than other options, right?

[Like, you know... a demon. Or venom. Or stone.]

Well, I guess all we can do is see what other folk say and what the Ringmaster decides ta do.

[espigeon]

So you're saying I'm not full of shit? Awesome.

[Sadly, he can't hear the bracket text.]

Yup. I'm pretty sure no matter what, there will be tears, but hopefully we'll be alive to shed them.

[pipers_son]

We apparently have a habit of this sort of nonsense anyway, right?

[espigeon]

Of what? Tears? Living? Shit? That sounds like everyone. We just get more colorful and dramatic than a lot of them.

How about you?

[pipers_son]

I was thinkin' survivin' nonsense we have no expectations of actually survivin', but all that too.

And how about me what?

[espigeon]

You’ve got a point there.

Hmm, well, I could use my other self’s ability to mimic voices, I’m really good at that, but it’s probably a bit too je ne sais qua, snippy. Are you not sure about this?

[pipers_son]

Oh, that? I'm fine. Besides, I'm a supervisor, and I plan ta be in things for a while yet. Like I said, I have more reason ta be interested in security like this.

[The last year has been.... rough. He's not sure if he can stand going through all of it again.]

[espigeon]

I feel like if I say upsetting things are gonna happen you'll quote me back. And I've got que sera sera-type things I could say, but, skipping them and going to "If you see something I could help with, let me know" might be more expedient.

[pipers_son]

Heh. I'll be sure ta. And don't be afraid ta say the same for me. I mean, I am a supervisor. Watchin' over the rest of ya is the least I can do, even if I'm not like Sans or Lambert.

[espigeon]

Can't you like teleport? That's pretty extra.

[pipers_son]

I can charm stuff that lets a bloke teleport.... but I can't do it myself.

Yet.