❥ WEEK ONE

[stalledrevolution]

WEEK ONE

24 Troupe Remaining

THE CURTAINS RISE

Rise and shine, it's another beautiful day in God's garden! Let's start our week with a soothing Bible verse, shall we?

❝Indeed,
under the law almost everything
is purified with blood, and
without the shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness of sins.❞
—Hebrews 9:22

How wonderful.

Those of you who are hungry have probably learned to head over to the Café Terrace for the menu there, or the Kitchens if you're the sort who likes to cook. Or, you know, just chomp into your fellow troupe member, why not?

It's a bustling day within the inverted tower, and the sun shines bright, despite being arguably just part of the sky box. The Extras swarm you lot with interest and treat you all like something you're probably not (or something that might be uncomfortably true). While you may still find yourself settling into your new life here, the Power That Is seems to have more productive ideas in mind...

weekly épreuve: intimité

Sunday was your rest day, but it's Monday now, so it's time to be put to work! As you wrap up your morning routines and figure out what to do with yourselves, each character will find a new letter in their hands with a familiar wax seal rose signet. This will be your weekly task.

The letter is from the Dramaturge, and it has been uniquely penned to each individual in flowing script. The letter details the following: as a sinner meant to prove themselves worthy of not being punished for having a wish (distinct from being worthy of their wish, which requires murder), each member of the Troupe has been given a trial to undergo. Completion of the trial is mandatory, and failure to do so will be treated as the equivalent of attempting to break off your engagement with Father, and Father would not take kindly to that.

This week's task is described in the letter as such:

❥

Characters must share a period of intimacy with one another, either in private or public; whichever provokes stronger emotions from the characters involved. While Father had different ideas in mind, in the Dramaturge's version of the task, any type of strong emotion will do.

❥

To initiate intimacy, a character must reach into the other one's chest and draw out a stem with a tightly-closed rose bud on it (in the character's—whose chest it came from—color).

❥

The character that draws the rose is the "Prince." The character who has their rose drawn from their sheath is the "Bride." The Prince must place the bud in the Bride's rose in the Bride's hair to begin the task. Doing this to mark the beginning of the task is mandatory, or the task will not count.

❥

The Dramaturge reassures you that the process of having something drawn from your chest feels quite pleasant, though how much and in what way depends on the person.

❥

The characters must then engage in some form of intimacy—hanging out, holding hands, cuddling, sharing private information, hanging out alone, kissing, reading books together, or literally anything whether platonic or romantic—for a long enough time that it invokes some kind of feeling in each person. The more strongly a character feels, positive or negative, the more their rose will begin to bloom.

❥

Each character's rose will bloom at different rates (player-determined). To participate in the task, a character must either draw a rose from someone's chest or have a rose drawn from their chest.

❥

The Dramaturge states that, in her tweaked version of the task, there are no fidelity requirements (you can swap around partners), nor requirements that pairs must be male and female, as Father had intended. You can repeat the task to help other people, or leave your partner after your rose has bloomed but not assist them with drawing theirs. The Dramaturge suggests you do as you like.

Additionally, the Dramaturge adds that every Wednesday he will host an optional social activity. He notes that this activity will be oriented toward helping Troupe members get to know each other and discover who has their secret, so they can become whole again.

( OOC: Welcome to Week One! The weekly task turn-in will be taking place of event turn-ins, and submitting evidence of participation (one tag from you and one tag from your thread partner—2 comments total!—in either a public thread or PC) will net you a reward. Each person must submit their own thread to get a participation prize. You can submit your task thread here by Friday, 1 PM EST. If you have any questions, please feel free to hit us up in the questions channel or start a ticket! )

Monday ღ Tuesday ღ Wednesday ღ Thursday

navigation locations dorms proposals pcs curfew & turn-ins dramaturge contact top-levels only

CODE BY

Comments

MONDAY

[stalledrevolution]

DAILY GOSSIP

[stalledrevolution]

DAILY GOSSIP

SCENE: All throughout campus, within the inverted tower

TROUPE members (that's you!) hear the EXTRAS abuzz. The EXTRAS eye every TROUPE member as they pass, stage-whispering to one another with judgmental titillation. Similar versions of the following conversation are heard throughout the tower:

Did you hear? Did you hear!? About the guy with the eyepatch...

The one with blue hair? Or the redhead?

Aren't they all redheads?

Anyway, listen to this! I heard he was raised by a panda! And it must have been a super smart panda, because it taught him how to read!

And if that wasn't cute enough, I heard they travel the world together... He even calls it grandpa. Isn't that sooooo cute?

That's just a rumor. I mean, people can't be raised by pandas!

But we have a Professor who's an apple. He's even British. Can't we have a guy who was raised by a panda who sleeps like twelve hours a day?

You know what, I bet he's in a secret sleeping club or something. We've got that scary teacher who's always just passing out everywhere! I almost tripped over him sleeping in the middle of the hallway once!

You think it's a sleeping club? I figured the eyepatch guy was always napping because he tired himself out reading so much. Doesn't that teacher also do literature or something?

You think it's books that make you tired?

Or maybe... books get you possessed by demons.

I remember that lit teacher! I've seen his head turn 180 degrees, like an owl!

Eek! So the eyepatch guy's possessed, too! He doesn't sound so cute to me anymore...

Okay, but that's different! He's good-looking. I'd let a guy get away with plenty if he's hot, has money (I don't know if he has any, but probably), has a cool car (ditto) . . . most importantly, if he's a red-headed demon prince with an eyepatch who's set to inherit the hells!

The creepy teacher gets freaked out if he even gets a tiny little peek at a cat. Like they're haunted or something! As a grade-A cat-lover, that's a huge no! I'll compromise on some morals, but not that!

Also, most importantly, I bet he's broke. He looks broke.

Heehee! Be patient for me, my demon prince! I'm on my way!

Wait, but isn't he...

Oh, she's gone.

RUMOR BOARD

[stalledrevolution]

ON AIR (click to expand!)

SCENE: All throughout campus, blaring through the intercoms

TROUPE MEMBERS (that's you!) hear a cute chime over the intercoms (which exist everywhere and anywhere, from crypt to chapel), signalling the start of an announcement. The EXTRAS have been hard at work supporting the local rumor mill today, and now it's on the campus news!

He~lloooooooooo, everyone! Can you hear me? Can you? Can you?

We've got something cra~zy scandalacious today, straight from the source (or thereabouts)!

That's right, that's right! The Troupe got up to so much necking in the Grand Theatre on Saturday! Can you believe your ears!?

I wasn't lucky enough to see it, but my sister's friend's cousin's brother was one of the Extras serving food there, and you wouldn't believe the things they got up to! Not just this, no— but also that!

Wow! Not even just this? But also that!?

Yep, yep! Exactly, exactly! And you know what makes it even juicier?

What!? What is it!?!

They were told not to, first! By Father!!

Wow!! But, you know... If I was told not to do something, I'd try and do it right away!

I'd start to wonder why exactly that rule is there, especially if it sounds more like a test!

I'd try and start to skirt around it...

... and then I'd get busted!

That's the problem with people who make rules! They're usually tough enough to enforce them!

Have you tried getting rid of the person making the rules?

I know how, but I can't! They're holding my daughter hostage!

You have a daughter?

Spiritually. But if that weren't a problem, I'd totally be able to free all of us! We'd be able to neck whenever and whomever we wanted! Ah, well.

Okay, so let's just kill her. Conceptually. Problem solved!

That's the worstttttt answer you could've said to me! Forget I ever confided in you!

[fullswingkiss]

1. Forums - UN: prodigalsin

Doesn't our dearest betrothed have just the most interesting ideas for making us celebrate our fidelity to Him? Keeping His hands to Himself until the wedding bells chime 💒💒💒 but that won't stop Him from asking for a show, will it? 💗

But far be it from me to deny His will. He asks for a garden to rival that of Eden, sprouting from the depths of our very beings? I shall gladly oblige 💓

Calling forward all men who feel within them a need that they have yet to satisfy, who long for a firm hand to pull out their hidden potential and make their flower bloom to the fullest 🌹



💌 P.S. Discretion is key. Surely you would not kiss and tell? 💌

P.P.S. Extras need not apply.

[ He does not feel nearly as enthusiastic about the task or 'Father' as this post may make it seem, but... well, the solicitation is genuine. ]

2. Rose Garden

[ Ainosuke is much more true to his real mood as he wanders up to the rose garden. Surrounded by flowers that fill him with an aching sense of nostalgia for a past he longs to burn, with a view over the whole of his new home, this purgatory. He stands too close to the ledge, beholding the scenery with a pensive expression. All the love poured into him all his life, and this is where it led him... Divine punishment at the end of the road, as he'd always feared.

The sin of wishing, huh....? It feels odd, and there is something inside him that twists up whenever he tries to reach out for it. He's incomplete. Even his wish--

Should somebody approach him during his quiet contemplation, he'll turn to glance at them. ]

Do you believe your wish is worth punishment?

2. Costumerie

[ But one thing is certain: no matter how much he's bent himself to the point of breaking, it had not been able to spare him this punishment. It had still led him right here, a sinner to be punished and shunned, in a world in which he's unknown to everybody. The lack of recognition is a boon that Ainosuke is coming to understand only bit by bit - there are no TV cameras or tabloids here, not in a world beyond the making of mortals. God has already seen him and declared him unworthy, and would do so again, no matter what he wears.

His hair is still tightly combed back as he wanders through the costumerie, but the outfits he's looking at do not feel at all in keeping with his usual tightly controlled appearance, all tailored suits and formality. Currently, he's holding up a sparkling revue suit to his body, taking a few dance steps with it as though he were in a ballroom. He is humming his own musical accompaniment. ]

2.

[ohiganbana]

[ roses are far from raikou's favorite flower, but in the absence of other fields, they're better than nothing. he might be doing his own version of reflection which is essentially patrolling around the school, but who's to judge? ]

Can you really call it a wish if it isn't?

costumerie

[heartstringless]

[His demeanor might not give it away, but P has a tendency towards dramatic flair himself, if the moment is right: and what is more suited towards drama than procuring the right fit?

As Ainosuke wanders past one rack of costumes—bright, well-crafted, and detailed—Pinocchio suddenly sticks his head out from between two glittery coats. He's wearing a masquerade ball mask, floofed up with an arrangement of blue feathers along its top. It's clear it's him, though, from his silvery hair and everything else, tbh; he's not trying to hide who he is, he's just. Here. Digging around.]

You'd really sparkle under the stage lights with that one.

[Hi.]

forum...

[hiban]

[ un: jr. ]
>> Wow.

1, un: monSOLO

[impacter]

My, someone's feeling daring. (*´∇｀*)

You're aware the entire school can see this, correct?

1

[ohrlyeh]

why are the letters big and glittery like that

rose garden;

[hjadningavig]

[ Flowers are not things without meaning to Dainsleif; though, roses are not the ones that stir memories or feelings within his heart. All the same, a garden is a garden, even if it might be one constructed inside a cage, of which is upon them for that they are all sinners.

For 'apparently' holding a wish. It rankles.

But, for some reason when such a question is asked, Dainsleif gives pause, if only for a second. ]

Worth punishment? No. Not for a so-called god to judge.

[ Nothing ever changes, even with a foreign god. They seem all the same, in the end, meting out punishments irrespective of it being deserving or not. He doesn't hold back his condemnation in his tone whatsoever. ]

But, what of you? Do you believe your wish is worth punishment? To be consigned to damnation that thinks so clearly little of the lives beneath them?

2.

[aspirings]

[Tsukasa finds himself exploring the costumerie himself, and honestly enjoying every moment of it; as the sort of person who, for a long time, made his own costumes, it's incredible to look at these.

They're so... real, after all.

But it's quiet enough in here that he picks up on the humming, coming closer out of curiosity. It's.... er, quite the song to dance to, especially with a sparkly costume like that, but Tsukasa's not about to interrupt a performance, even a personal one.

He'll wait!]

costumerie

[trollophoroi]

[ Fandaniel has been lurking through the costumes. It isn't without cause. He's wondering what kind of nonsense he can force the "students" to wear in whatever skit he makes them put on for class next, though he'll pause in his search to watch Ainosuke from behind a row of poofy pastel dresses. A little humming, a little dancing; surely this is a private moment.

It'd be polite to leave without a word, but he is nothing if not a nosy irritant. ]

Would you not prefer a real dance partner to sweep through the halls in such an illustrious outfit? Or are you merely shopping about for something new to wear?

[ A question he proposes as he ducks through the dresses to appear, dressed in his own dapper teacher outfit, although thanks to yesterday's happenings, he's had to add a patch of gauze taped to the side of his neck to cover up Don's not-so-little bitemark. ]

forum post

[physalia]

[A bit after everyone's ears have been thoroughly assaulted comes a post from sirenscall. Surely she can't be the only one who's noticed the...familiarity of the Extras' posts. Seeing as how gossiping words have little meaning, she is unbothered and ruminating.

Who's heard of nightshade?]

Could I trouble some of you to lend me your aid? It'll take but a moment. Don't fret--it has nothing to do with "that."

Please share a benign falsehood about yourself if you wish. For it to be both benign and false is essential for the results to be intact. You may also want to discuss these subjects with one another or ask questions.

To start, I'll lead with two. Only one student may receive full marks in my course. I can only write the number 7 backwards.

Your time is greatly appreciated. Take care now.

Cordially Yours,
Cantarella Fisalia

[I WILL TOPLEVEL PROPERLY LATER, but I had a vision of this post getting traction and also I'm guy who can't write toplevels and need more time, so I'll leave the post on its lonesome.

THAT SAID, for anyone who wants a quick and dirty in-person wildcard, she can be found this morning at the cafe terrace, drinking but plateless.]

[liliaofthevalley]

[Lilia is in fact used to wearing makeup daily at school, so not only does he look slick in his princely high schooler outfit, but he'll have a nice dusty rose eyeshadow to go with it. Likewise, his nails are freshly repainted - for those who cared to notice, they were formerly painted black. Now? They're a rather fetching pink.

As with most people I assume, he can be found in an assortment of places!]

A. Café Terrace

[He is here for breakfast a bit later in the morning, around 9AM or so, munching his way through lunch and scrolling through his phone like it's the morning newspaper. That said, he's quick to set it aside when he sees someone approach, waving cheerily.]

Good morning! Feel free to join me if you like.

B. Practice Rooms

[Characters who check out the practice rooms may hear someone fucking around... with a bass guitar. Further investigation will reveal Lilia jamming away in one of the small rooms. Why can you hear him? Well... he also seems to have dragged a bunch of instruments in, to the point where the door can barely close.]

That was fun - alright, which one next?

[Pawing through the collection of instruments and picking up a... hurdy-gurdy? It's a fancy looking piece, but that doesn't stop him from immediately pushing buttons to see what happens. This one sounds... less good. But he's learning quickly!

Hopefully you weren't looking to play something, because he's hogging So Many Instruments in here.]

C. Rose Garden

[He finishes out the day here, blatantly watching people as they go about their own schedules in the various fixed locations. He doesn't seem to be spying on anyone in particular, if it's any consolation - for the most part, he's just lazing around and people watching.]

Hmm? Are you here to watch the show, too?

D. Wildcard!

[Poke me on discord or DM me and we can do a bespoke tl just for you /o/ Alternately, come at me for PCs!]

TUESDAY

[stalledrevolution]

DAILY GOSSIP

[stalledrevolution]

DAILY GOSSIP

 

Okay, so you know how we heard all about the Troupe going all out on a neck-a-palooza on Saturday? I have a theory— So my friend's ex's brother's teacher's wife's brother's son in the Good Eats and Acting track was also serving food, there? And he said the necking was actually super freaky! Like, there was blood!

And then I got thinking... Our Troupe this time is like, crazy super suspicious, right? Like, they're definitely wild and crazy and evil, right? Like, you totally heard about that guy who like, drinks the blood of his enemies, right!? And that was way before the Necking Incident! He just does that regularly!

Okay, wait, I've heard about that guy too. Isn't he just, like, cringe? He probably spread that rumor himself because he's still like, fourteen inside, and thinks it's cool.

Okay, but the way he squats in churches, though? All sacrilegiously?

No way, you're right... He really is evil...

Come to think of it, I heard Ms. Fisalia only passes one person out of her whole entire class, which is totally evil. And that that class clown guy, Pinocchio or something? He's secretly a spider who drinks people's innards!? And Professor Solomon literally hangs out with the Devil!

You know what? I bet the blood-drinker guy acts cringe so we don't take him seriously, so he can go around malevolently all he wants and no one would even suspect him! Like, I heard he stabbed a friend of his in the back, but I totally brushed it off because I was like, "Him? No way!" But I totally fell into his evil schemes! He even studies lit— the demon-summoning track!

See? The facts line up! And that's not even getting that guy who killed twenty people all at once!

Okay, hold on, I feel like we should definitely get into that one.

It's crazy. I heard he got lit on fire, and he didn't even die. He just got scarier. Even worse, his expression didn't even change? Like he didn't feel anything at all. It's like he exists just to kill. Soooo freaky.

Are you sure that's really a Troupe member? That sounds like, like... a ten foot demon from Hell. No way Father would let someone like that in here.

Hmmm, I dunno. I think he slid under the radar because he's like, three feet tall. Four? Something like that.

You're kidding.

It's so serious. When I heard all this, I went to take a little peeksie, and I couldn't find him for ages! You know why? Because I couldn't see him under all these regular-sized people! He's tiny.

Buuuut, now that you mention it, it's true that Father wouldn't let anyone too crazy in here. And I was also reading on the forums that some stuff that seems evil and weird is actually just like, cultural difference. And Father does tell us to respect different cultures.

Is ripping people's throats out a cultural difference...?

Hmmm, maybe?

[pomo]

[ There is an APPLe roaming the area--pretty much in most public spaces that aren't dormitories. But is it really an apple? There is a small trail of sparkles underneath the sheet as the "ghost" floats around the campus. ]

A) task option

[ APPLe is here to help out with the task, especially for the people who seem to be less inclined. He doesn't think there needs to be another... mess of salsa, so he's here to prevent that from happening aka if you have a hard time thinking of a reason for your character to do the task, this toplevel is for you or if you just want to i'm not the boss of you.

So this little "ghost" seems to be diving right towards your character with a stringy equally ghostly-looking arm from under the sheet, but stops at a respectable distance first. ]

Allow me to [ hic ] help you.

B) the gen option

[ There is a "ghost" floating around campus. Will it scare you first? Or will you reverse the roles? Either way, it seems to be a little "wobbly" considering how it usually floats. There might even be a surprise under the sheet apart from a floating apple. ]

[fouettee]

café terrace

[As she tended to do, Annette had chosen for herself a solitary egg table with which to eat her meal. Though, at present, she seems less focused on her food and more on the phone that they arrived with. She turns it over in her hand, opening and closing it in a way that suggests she's really never handled one of these things before--only to look embarrassed whenever anyone wanders close.]

Good day...

[She clearly assumes anyone will just continue on to another table, but won't at all oppose if someone decides to slide in and join her.]

studio

[Tucked away in a corner, Annette can be found knitting! It looks like she's just gotten started, a pile of different colors of yarn beside her, and occasionally looks up to stop and observe someone else in their artistic endeavors. Maybe that includes you, or maybe she's just caught you scrounging for supplies.]

Are you a fan of the arts?

wildcard

[Open to other starters and weekly task partners! Please dm me on discord at ddsapphire if you'd like a PC--I'm happy to set one up for us!]

WEDNESDAY

[stalledrevolution]

DAILY GOSSIP

[stalledrevolution]

DAILY GOSSIP

 

So? Which side are you on?

Huh? Side?

You know! The great debate! Is the Troupe super evil, or just culturally evil? Are they dark, misunderstood princes, or haggish, evil witches!?

Aren't both options evil? —But, sure, I'll bite! First of all, I think not liking pink is a pretty malevolent trait, so write that down.

Uh-huh, uh-huh.

And you know who posted that very same thing about hating pink? A girl on the run from the government!

They say her boyfriend's been missing for years. Why? Because he's totally on the run, too— or he got got. She's still writing him letters, but he's never written back... or so they say. Even his parents haven't heard from him, not even a little bit.

I bet her being a criminal's why people won't ever help her when she needs it— like, I heard she's totally banned from the infirmary. Not that I've ever checked, but I heard it.

You think she's in cahoots with that other girl who had issues with the government? The super h— Um, I mean, super athletic Stage Fighting professor? I heard she was a huge enemy of the government, but not anymore. I heard there was even this huge incident with some kind of fire...

Maybe arson was what she did to get away with it! And now she's helping Ms. Flowers get away with her crimes!

Oh, my gosh! I totally heard about that! She almost lost her arm once, right? No way it wasn't cuz she was on the run.

Okay, so we're at two and two for "super evil," and not doing too hot for "not evil."

Yeah, it's pretty tough to have faith. Like, going against any kind of ultimate authority is fundamentally super evil. That's what Father always teaches us.

Wait, but I did hear something good about flowers girl! She took a guy out with a steel folding chair once. Just beat him right over the head!

Wait, that's super cool. Do you think she'd teach me how to do that? Like, in a government-sanctioned way.

If she does, then maybe that's how you know she's a good person? Honestly, I've heard a ton of girls say good stuff about that teacher, too... Like, she's super reliable, always looks out for them... Signs their merchandise of her...

I always did think it was weird how a former enemy of the government had a fanclub, but maybe it just makes her super badass?

Being cool is totally a point in favor of being good.

Yeah, so actually, maybe the Troupe is filled with princes after all?

EVENT

[stalledrevolution]

THE NIGHT OF THE BALL

❤︎

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED...

Wednesday's social event comes in the evening, 6 PM on the dot, but it's preceded by a another hand-written invitation sealed with that familiar rose signet in the AM, and a flurry of gossip from the Extras. This evening social is be an exclusive, invite-only Ball for Troupe members and only the most privileged Extras, set to happen upon a stage erected for this night alone. Wow! For those inclined to dress up for the event, they can find all sorts of fancy attire and more in the Grand Theatre's costumerie.

As Wednesday morning rolls into evening, Troupe members will overhear no less than several dozen Extra friend groups erupt into drama after one member received an invitation but not the rest, or over an invited Extra being unwilling to let a friend sneak into the Ball under their name. Bullies take up arms against meeker Extras with invitations, and the hierarchy of Queen Bees rearranges itself within hours based on invitational pedigree. Ah, youth.

❤︎

NOS DOIGTS DÉLICATEMENT ENTRELACES

The Ball is to be held in the the Dance Hall, and the Dance Hall is quite easy to get to: there is now a button on the elevator that says, well, dance hall, and it'll be available from 5:45 PM 'til midnight. Staying in the Hall a moment longer than midnight will see you meeting pitch black darkness, then sloshing water at your feet, as you find yourself Backstage. Those who did not dress up will find themselves dressed up upon arrival. It's a costume change!

The Hall itself looks a royal manor from the outside, and is even fantastically grander from the inside. Dreamy pastels compliment the curtain of night at the windows as Extras above and below mingle along the galleries and the floor. At the head of the Hall the high school and college music ensembles play light, loving melodies to find a prince or princess to.

In the air is a gentle drift of lights, like fireflies; at the ceiling, candles that float and sway with the music. And you'll always find a spare balcony open for a private conversation; the balloons tied off to the lush flower pots there occasionally escape. The sky twinkles with stars and a gentle wave of balloons alike, above rolling fields of jasmines below— the lover's flower, their scent intoxicatingly sweet.

Tables are set out with French delicacies far too good for a mere school event, and while there's more than enough non-alcoholic drinks about, from soda to juice to sparkling water, there's alcohol free for anyone to take. The few Extra staff in attendance tut-tut the underage for attempting a drink, but they're a little too lost in their own tipsy dances to stop anyone from trying.

The game of the night is twenty questions, and an Extra who isn't trying to steal a dance with you, an illustrious Troupe member, will drag you into a game. In their invitation, Sika Madu has encouraged this game as an ice-breaker for children (high school) and older children (college and teacher) and Lovecrafts alike, but they've said they won't interfere if there are other games the Troupe would like to set up amongst themselves.

The rest of the manor is accessible, but uninteresting: there are generic, fancy rooms; fancy, empty kitchens; libraries with blank books; et cetera. It's all a backdrop for the Dance Hall.

Individuals can come and go whenever they'd like, as often as they'd like, until the elevators stop running. No props or food can be taken out of the Hall. Have fun!

THURSDAY

[stalledrevolution]

DAILY GOSSIP

[stalledrevolution]

DAILY GOSSIP

The subject of today's rumors might find them the focus of greater judgmental and titillated scrutiny than usual...

Did you hear? Did you hear? They announced the Dancing King and Queen of last night's ball! I didn't get to go, but I hard all about it! The King and Queen, oooh... The sparks were off the charts!

I heard, I heard! It was the knight couple, right!? They make me sick, in a good way! Every time I see him go off about knightly conduct in his soft, emo way and her go about chivalrous justice all full of sunshine has me soooooo!!!

The tragic knight... He finally became a king... And, like, he super deserves it, you know? His life is just so sad! Did you hear his older brother became a sinner? That's, like, the worst thing you can be! But our tragic knight didn't lose his way... Sniff...

And talking about kicking him when he's down! He's from a place cursed by the gods— sorry, I mean just God! There's just the one! And his whole home fell into like, the darkness...

But, you know what, I hear all the pain in his heart is soothed when he looks into our chivalrous knight's beautiful eyes, because they shine like the stars...

Thoughhhh, you know, I heard those aren't her real eyes.

Huh? Then where'd she get them from?

No clue. But it's still romantic! Like, okay, get this: she hates water. Like, really really hates it. I heard one time, she nearly fell into a river and looked like she wanted to throw up? Honestly, I wonder why— but the point is, you know what her handsome knight did for her?

He wrapped her up in his cloak so she didn't have to see it! And then he pulled her close against his chest, and he murmured, "Don't worry, my little kitten... ℑ 𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔭𝔯𝔬𝔱𝔢𝔠𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲..." —Allegedly.

He'd never let the truest, final light of his life fall into the dark like all the rest of the good in his life... or fall into a river.

...

What? What's wrong?

I dunno. The Dancing King seems fine, here, but I just have this super bad feeling about the girl. Like... I heard... she might not even really be a knight of justice. Like... Her stories are so far-fetched... really blood-thirsty...

She just doesn't have the vibe of a knight. She's got the vibe of a killer who'd off anyone, even her friends or family. And I don't even think what she goes by is even her real name.

Hmmm... While you're not wrong... Is it bad if that feels like it makes them an even better couple?

We have this sad, tall, dark, and handsome guy who, despite it all, remains loyal to his path as a knight... And this peppy, tiny, eye-stealer-serial-killer-probably masquerading as a knight... Ooooh, do you think he could fix her?

Well, when you put it like that... Instead of fixing her, do you think... We could get our first Dancing King and Dancing Queen who die tearfully in each other's arms in the rain, swords run through each other's chests... romantically?

RUMOR BOARD

[stalledrevolution]

ON AIR

Today, the Broadcasting Committee seems to be... acting? It seems to be some kind of news they're broadcasting, but, like a portion of Monday's broadcast, it seems to be a bit of a skit.

Sizzle sizzle... Sizzle sizzle...

Aye, lass, that's a mighty fine smell you got there! Could smell it all the way across town, and it's gotten me belly mighty rumbly!

Oh, this? This is Prince Lilia's home-cooked meal! Only the luckiest have the privilege to taste it— myself among them!

Well, I'll be! I've heard tales of such splendor, but never did I think I could encourage the legend itself while still upon this Hell-rotted Earth!

Sweet lass, might you grant a poor sinner the magnificent blessing of Lilia Vanrouge's home-cooked meal?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.............. Here.

What's this? You've given me but a scrap! Hardly even a morsel!

You sort of give me the vibe you weren't really loved as a child, so you'll take any scrap of kindness you can get and treat it like a big deal. Why should I do more than the bare minimum when it gets me your gratitude and a bigger portion of Prince Lilia Vanrouge's home-cooked meal?

Ahaha! Well, you've certainly got me there! G'day, last, and I'm in your debt!

... Ohohoho? What's this? Could this be the scent of the legend himself, Lilia's home-cooked meal, all the rage among high society?

Yep, sure is! Here; have some!

Oh, my! You've given me such a large portion! You hardly have any for yourself, don't you?

Well, I can tell I can't get away with cheaping out on you, and the reward for being nice to you is pretty big. I'd say it's worth the price.

Ohohoho. Well, aren't you quite the shrewd girl.

Well, it's a dog eat dog world out there... and sometimes, the dogs are desperate for Lilia Vanrouge's super tasty and delicious cooking! If you haven't had any, I sure wouldn't want to be you!

[liliaofthevalley]

[Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lilia can be found in the home ec room today surrounded by Extras! They're clearly cajoling him to cook something.]

Very well, if you insist...

[Even if he's acting coy, it's clear he's enjoying himself.]

What shall we cook? Pot-au-feu? Sure, let's go with that!

[He says as much, but the ingredients he's collecting are... not exactly what you'd expect to see in this recipe...

Are those cayenne peppers????]