[ There are a lot of things people need to do right now: help the Prince's servants get resettled, get started on figuring out who can work on a cure for the petrification, deal with the trauma of dying in a hopefully healthy and non-self-destructive way, show the new people the ropes of what the Carnival has to work with.

Instead, in the morning of the second day since the Prince was defeated, anyone on the radio gets this: ]

So, I've been wondering.

[ The Nightrider's voice, for those who recognize it, has definitely been better. It's a low, hoarse rasp, and the pause at the end is not just for effect, but to actually catch his breath. ]

Just how old is everyone here, anyway? Here, I'll start. I'm ... pretty sure I'm almost sixty. [ A beat. ] ... Maybe.

[ Why did anyone let this man have his radio back again? ]

[ ooc; Lambert's flat on his back in the medical tent for this, feel free to bug him in person and threadjack each other at will. ]

[Way too much shit has been happening lately, from Julien's call on the radio to San's disappearance to the whole uneasy mess that was the Prince's little hunting excursion. What can Joker even do? He's the Stage Manager; this is out of his jurisdiction.]

[According to Lambert and Childermass, however, he can at least do this.]

Hello, folks. This is yer Stage Manager again, with a little reminder. We are guests here. So try ta follow the rules that have been set in place, alright? This includes at dinner, and at curfew.

I know we're all real curious, half of ya probably never even been in a castle before, but it bears repeatin'-

[And he very suddenly drops his warm and thick accent, going for something that almost sounds proper and is, thus, weird as hell coming out of Joker's mouth.]

Don't break the rules or curfew.

[Aaaaaand then it's back again.]

If yer havin' any trouble with anythin' or have questions, I'm available right now. Yer free ta come find me, over in the library. Have a good night, everyone.

[And for the love of god, don't do something stupid. He knows that's a lot to ask for, but please.]

[Sans is blue.]
[Lambert is dark red.]

( [ Supervisors’ Channel ] )

[ Public Channel ]

[ Lambert’s voice is terse, and irritable: ]

Our next stop’s called Heartstone Manor. We’re going to go over some ground rules to make everyone's life, especially mine, a lot easier.

[Sans is also here.]

The RM has already covered a lot of this in her announcement, but it is officially our jobs to make sure that it sinks in. Dealt with True Fae before? Then you know this isn’t a joke. Yes, your fashion sense and table etiquette are now a matter of life and death. This is me, Sans, telling you to take this seriously. Hopefully that means something to you.

To summarize the gist of what was said, here are some basic RULES. The Nightrider and I will be watching. So, even if the Prince doesn’t catch you, we will.

[Sans recites “The Rules” like he’s just whipped out a pair of reading glasses and is quoting them from an official document:]

DO:

• Follow the daily schedule
• Follow dress code
• Be polite to The Prince and his servants
• Keep your radio on you

DON’T:

• Whine about everything
• Seed rebellion or talk about rules breaking on the network
• Make any deals or promises to other fae servants
• Lay any hard disses on The Prince, ever, under any circumstances
• Don’t sweat the small stuff: this is gunna grate on a lot of us, so just focus on the end goal… which is not dying

Don’t mess it up.

That, too.

[ And now for something unrelated to Pokemon, faeries, and even Greysol, delivered in his more or less constant deadpan, as if this news, in particular, is somehow as exciting as watching paint dry. ]

If you are a carnival worker who has been given an extra job under the Acquisitioner, I would highly suggest answering this as soon as you possibly can. Failing that, I will come find you.

[ Definitely not a threat... right? It doesn't sound like one, honestly, but considering he can show up anywhere that has enough shadows in it, well... ]

For the rest of you, and assuming there are some who are new among you, this is John Childermass. I've been promoted from magician to a supervisory role. If you are in need of something being collected for you that the carnival is currently unable to provide, submit a request through your supervisor.

If you are lacking in one, we can work something else out. [ And here, there's a pause. A very, very short one, but one nonetheless. ] Assuming, of course, that you aren't a blatant troublemaker or asking for anything ridiculous.

[ That's all, folks. You are now free to continue on with your day. ]

If anyone, older member or newer arrival, wants information on... [ oh lord, this is going to take a while. Strange sighs slightly before obviously reading off a list of terms he's written down. ] Arcadia, the Rose Queen, Ignatius, Nightshade, the Count of Crows, Frost, the Summer Court, the Winter Court, how faerie court hierarchies work, the Wyld Fae, or the Beast, then I'll be happy to tell you what I know. I picked up some knowledge from my time in Portland and through conversations with the fae here and, for obvious reasons, don't want to bore all of you with far too many details and speculations at once.

[ There's a pause, partly to catch his friggen breath, before Strange continues talking. ]

I can at least explain Portland, though--for our new arrivals, of course. It's a city where the carnival was recently trapped for a month. Many members had their memories altered and believed they lived in the city for their entire lives. It was a...trying experience.

[ Understatement of the century. Strange sighs, like he's steeling himself for what he's going to say next. ]

Portland had it's own set of fae, some of whom I mentioned in my previous list. Plenty of the carnival members have ill-will towards those fae, who seemed determined to vex us and ruin our lives during that month. And despite the fact that we've left that world, I've a feeling that we'll see those fae again. Now that the Severing's removed, they can travel to different worlds the same way the Ringmaster can. And it wouldn't surprise me if some tried to reclaim what or who they believe they lost.

[ how dramatic! And quite possibly the worst way to end a broadcast as Strange just flips the radio off then and there. He has absolutely no clue how to best END the broadcast so not being cryptic is officially for chumps. ]

[This message will go out about fifteen minutes after arriving in the carnival, while everyone is still waking up and recovering. The Ringmaster sounds far more subdued than normal - like maybe she's tired, or sick, or perhaps just sad.]

That... wasn't what I expected to happen.

[There is a long pause, and then she sighs.]

I imagine you all have some questions. I don't have time to address all of them now, but I can attempt the most important one. Who you were there isn't who you are now. It isn't a creature entirely separate from you, either. They are a reflection of your identity - they are who you could be. Who you could have been. The reality of circumstance and choice is too complex to figure out all the factors that changed you, but in the end, it doesn't really matter.

Use these memories to guide you, not to demean you. Allow them to inform your future, but not rule it. You are, as ever, all of what you choose to be.


Please be polite to our hosts. She didn't know know I was coming. Bye for now.

[He feels like shit, but he is still a supervisor...]

Mandatory check-in.

Name, department, and health status.

Hi! Um, I'm Marinette!

I guess I'll be here... For a while.

[A long long while.]

Um, is there anyway to shorten the length of time you might be contracted for? You know, like if there's something really really important you might need to get back to?

Well, let me know.

[Rather abruptly she ends the message.]

Helloooo everyone! It's one of your friendly resident tailors here, with important news for performers!

Namely that if you're performing you're going to need to wear something!! Yet suddenly I'm hearing that there's at least one last minute act going on!? Whoever you are, you need to get fitted, hurry up, hurry up!

Oh!! On that note though, obviously not everyone who needs clothes will be performing~ So if you haven't gotten yourself re-fitted for things since growing new changes, and you need some alterations, just come by the tailor's tent!~

Or, um, if you're just new as a whole, I guess we can talk about a wardrobe..? Really though, you might be better off just getting clothes from the islands at this point...

[There's a crackle, and then a new voice is coming over the radio. She sounds pleasant, and happy to be here, though there's a bit of an edge to it, like she might be stressed out about something.]

Hello, everyone. Since a lot of you are out exploring these islands, I thought this would be the easiest way to introduce myself to those of you I don't know. I'm Elsa. I've been with the Carnival for just a little over two years now, and, well, I'm also your new Treasurer.

If any of you are part of the treasury division, you can contact me through the treasury's channel. Or you can use 144.95613 to reach just me.

I'm looking forward to meeting you all. Thank you.

[That might have sounded a tad over-practiced, but she did it.]