+ Somewhere a Grandiose Carnival Was Going on in the Sky +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: Everyone!
Where: The grounds of the Mansion
When: March 9-16
Rating: PG-13 (warn if you go higher)
Summary: The Red Queen has thrown a carnival for everyone!
The Story:


From Friday, March 9, through Friday, March 16, the gardens and grounds of the Mansion will be a sprawling a carnival. The masked, unspeaking vendors will be selling trinkets and running free game booths. Carnival rides, exhibits, and foods represent all of the various cultures of those currently residing in the Mansion.


Of particular note, and perhaps incongruously, everything is decorated with red hearts.

Use this log for any and all of your carnival needs!

Comments

BE AFRAID

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[ She thinks about that for a moment. Most people don't like pain, do they? ]

Oh, probably not, ahaha!

[ Okay, no more laughter. Her stomach isn't happy about it. She goes back to being a lump. ] A-Anyway. 'Sokay. I'm fine! I just, uh... [ How can she make this sound ladylike? ] Overindulged.

[ A pause. ]

So, do you think I'll get a bruise?

i tremble

[magatsugiru]

You have to be careful with carnival food. [ He says, and it sounds like he's trying to hold back a chuckle. ] It's a lot heavier than the stuff people eat day to day.

[ A bruise? She asks that like it's something she'd want. Haha, jeez. What a freak.

He considers going on his way-- it's hit and miss, whether talking to Monika will be worth it --but he didn't have anywhere better to be, really. And after all the hours of sleep she's stolen from him, she kinda owes him.

He moves to sit down beside her, on the grass. ]

Well, you might. Depends on how easily you bruise, and where I-- ah, stepped on you. You... don't sound that worried, though.

good

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Oh. Cool. Good to know, ahaha.

[ She's preoccupied with staring at the reddening mark on her leg, though. It's almost like she's trying to watch a bruise form in real time.

Then, out of nowhere, she reels back and punches the spot with all her might.

Monika winces on a smile at the newly blossoming pain. There, now it's practically guaranteed! ]

Don't worry about me! I'm fine!

[ Clearly. ]

[magatsugiru]

Whoa, hey!

[ Oh, she's clearly fine! And out of her mind. But at least she isn't boring, when she's like this. He prefers the crazy to her ditzy, innocent high schooler thing.

He reaches out to grab her wrist, since he has to make a token effort at keeping her from hurting herself, but his eyes drop to the already-forming bruise on her thigh. ]

Was that necessary? What do you need a bruise for? [ He makes a show of wincing. ] That looks like it really hurt...

... Um, hey, is there something bothering you? Are you really sure you're okay? [ She could be like some of those psych cases. ]

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[ Despite thinking she'd be used to it by now, getting touched still makes her jump. Monika stares at him for a while before laughing awkwardly and pulling her wrist back. ]

I told you, I'm fine! I'm just...curious, is all.

[ She looks away, absentmindedly rubbing her wrist. There are all sorts of weird sensations floating through her body right now. ]

I don't get out much. Let me live a little!

[magatsugiru]

[ Adachi's eyes flick up from her thigh to her face, watching her reactions. Briefly, he wonders what she would do if he pulled her wrist back. ]

If you say so. [ He's sitting quite close to her. It would be an easy thing, to brush his arm against hers'. ] So, you're curious about bruises. Or is it just pain?

I guess some people do get a thrill out of that sort of thing, but I never would have guessed you'd be someone like that.

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[ For once in her life, she looks a bit embarrassed. This is making her think of Yuri far too much.

Also, it's really hard to focus on annoying Adachi when he's so close and there's not a screen separating them. That, on top of the painfully full stomach, is really flustering her. ]

I never said I liked it! [ Her lips purse and she crosses her arms. ] Sometimes it's nice to know what pain really feels like. I may not get the chance again anytime soon.

[magatsugiru]

What, you've never scraped your knees or-- anything?

[ He would be inclined not to believe her, but it's usually her more reasonable statements that sound like bullshit. He doesn't get that sense here. ]

Huh. You know, most people wouldn't believe that. [ He says it as though he isn't including himself in most people. ] What else are you curious about?

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I have. Maybe? I don't know.

[ She drops her hands to her lap, gently poking at the nascent bruise as she contemplates her scattered memories. Each stab of pain feels strangely nice. And very real. Not like any of the pain she thought she knew before. ]

And, uh. Ahaha. Should I really be talking about this with a police officer?

[magatsugiru]

Huh? Curiosity's not a crime, and neither is talking... and even if you made a criminal confession, what could I do about it? There's no police force, and only one lawyer here.

[ He says it lightly, like he's kidding. ]

Hahaha, well. Of course, I'd do whatever I can... but if we're being realistic, that's not much.

So what else is on your mind?

[ You better be worth it, Monika. ]

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[ Ugh, this is making her feel dirty. Being reminded of her and her stupid knife collection, but also how good it felt when she gave in and tried it herself. Still, it sucked how much she seemed connected to that bitch afterwards. And that wasn't even real pain!

This could be. She gets the feeling he'd be into it, too. ]

Do you have a knife on you? Or something sharp?

[magatsugiru]

[ He raises an eyebrow, and for a moment it probably seems like he's going to say no. He reaches inside his coat after a few beats, though, to withdraw a tiny pocket knife. Its main attachment is a bottle-opener, but it will unfold into a very small blade. ]

You seem pretty troubled, Ms. Monika. You sure you wouldn't rather get back to the carnival? It might take your mind off it.

[ He drops the blade onto the grass between them. The out is simply insurance, to absolve himself of responsibility. ]

NOW IN R TERRITORY

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[ She rolls her eyes with a smirk, seeing through the act. ] Yeah, yeah, whatever.

[ Without much more hesitation, she picks it up and exposes the blade. For a while, all she does is stare at it. It's pretty unassuming, nothing special. But it means a lot to her right now.

A hungry smile forms on her lips.

Then she plunges the blade into the center of her bruise. ]

[magatsugiru]

[ His expression doesn't change, as he watches the blade plunge into her leg, eyes cold and mouth an unsmiling line. He'll need to take that knife back, once she's done with it. It counts as evidence, after all.

Not that there's any forensics department capable of analysing it, but better safe than sorry. ]

Careful, there. You have major arteries in your legs. You wouldn't want to go too far. [ He watches beads of blood well up around the edges of the blade. When he speaks, it's conversational, as if they were talking over coffee, and not self mutilation. ] You know, Monika, I'm curious too.

What kind of life does someone lead, where they never know any pain? A lot of people in this world would be pretty jealous of you, if they knew, you know.

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[ She doesn't speak immediately. She's watching the blood too, her eyes tracking its progress as it surrounds the knife then eventually trickles down her leg. It hurts. It hurts like hell. But the pain she thought she felt back home--here in Wonderland,too--is nothing in comparison to this. Who cares about arteries or blood or going too far when she actually feels real?

Monika keeps her grip on the knife, white-knuckled, not wanting to remove it yet. ]

You say that. [ She lifts her gaze to him, the green of her eyes sharing the same coldness. However, she's still smiling. ] But you don't know what I've been through.

My life isn't real. It never was. [ She shuts her eyes, breathing out softly as she slightly twists the knife. ] But this is.

[magatsugiru]

Is that so?

[ He doesn't sound like he's doubting her. Honestly, the longer he watches, the more he can't believe she actually did it. He didn't even have to do anything-- she was practically raring to carve chunks out of her own legs. Jeez. High schoolers these days are fucked up, haha. ]

The longer you spend living in it, the less appealing reality gets. The novelty... it doesn't last.

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[ She leans in close to his face, the smile disappearing. ] Try living in someone's fantasy world with no hope of escaping. Maybe then you'll think different.

[ After a few more seconds, she moves back and pulls the knife out, tossing it aside. The wound begins to bleed quite freely, but she makes no move to tend to it. It feels better that way. It gives her something to focus on as she waits for her stomach to settle, too. ]

Oh, and. Thanks. [ She smiles again, sarcastically. ] Not that I know where the knife came from, sir.

[magatsugiru]

Maybe so. [ He concedes, his own eyes narrowing when she enters his space. The tension is thick-- it wouldn't be ideal for him to hurt her directly, when he still knows so little about this place, and with Souji wandering around. But that doesn't mean he won't do it, if pressed.

Even if it's not ideal, it'd still be exciting.

The tension lifts, somewhat, when she pulls back. ]

Yeah. I should confiscate that. Wouldn't want anyone else getting hurt. [ He sits up on his knees, leaning across her to fish the knife out of the grass where she'd tossed it. As he pulls back, he glances down at her leg, bleeding profusely. Looks pretty deep. ]

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[ Monika's watching his movements closely. As much as she enjoys being a thorn in this guy's side, something's changed between them today. She can't quite place her finger on it, but whatever it is, it makes her hold her breath when he's so close. He's so unpredictable, so who knows what he'll do?

That sort of excitement thrills her. And it's something she hasn't felt with anyone else. ]

Heh. You're so diligent, sir. [ Smirk. ] Shame no one ever takes you seriously.

[magatsugiru]

[ Careful, Monika. Adachi hasn't tipped his entire hand, here, but his poker face has certainly slipped, and he's keenly aware of that fact. It was fun, though-- and if Monika delivers, he'll be happy to keep having his fun with her... ]

Well, I have you, don't I? [ He says, with a cheery return to his former demeanour. ] Yikes, though, this looks bad...

[ He bites his lip, all sympathy and concern now. ]

H-here, you're supposed to apply pressure-- [ This time, he pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket, pressing down hard on Monika's wound. ] You shouldn't lose too much blood.

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[ And there goes the unpredictability she was just thinking of.

Monika cries out, her leg jerking at the sudden and intense rush of pain. The balance of power between them has subtly shifted in his favor, and she does. not. like. it. It's a new type of pain, yes. But she didn't say he could cause it! That's her wound and her blood and her decision!!

(Yes, any other person would probably think more about how this was highly inappropriate, but she's more concerned with other things.) ]

H-Hey! Ow! I can do that on my own!

[magatsugiru]

Have you ever had a wound this deep? I know it hurts, but you really need to stop the bleeding.

[ He eases the pressure a little, satisfied with having gotten a reaction out of her. ]

Don't worry. It doesn't take long. [ It's good to have one over her, after all the headaches she's given him. It's nice when these things pay off. ] You'll be on your feet again in a few minutes.

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[ Her eyes narrow. She suddenly gets a fiery, murderous urge and wants to stab him so fucking bad right now. Her hand twitches as she seriously considers it, her brain deciding between his throat or his chest.

Probably throat. That way she won't have to account for a rib cage. ]

I don't care if it stops, you big jerk! [ She winces, and this only makes her angrier. ] Let it bleed!

[magatsugiru]

[ There's a flash of anger of his own, and he's tempted to give her something real to complain about. He wonders how chatty she'd be with his hands around her skinny neck. His expression darkens, and he withdraws. ]

You're the boss. [ He says, agreeable, apologetic. ] You know, I hear this sort of thing is pretty common among high schoolers. You should find someone to talk to. Sort yourself out, you know?

[ He starts to get back to his feet. He has some things to dispose of. ]

This whole thing isn't really my area of expertise.

Not here

[desbearingly]

[ Just shaking his head from in the bushes. You gross teenagers and pervy old cops taking advantage of dumb teenagers! ]