Date: March 26thTime: 9:00 PMLocation: Cirque ArcanaIT ARRIVES….It arrives while you hold you
Date: March 26thTime: 9:00 PMLocation: Cirque ArcanaIT ARRIVES….It arrives while you hold your breath, in the space it takes to blink, the time it takes to swallow a heartful of good intentions for a mouthful of the bad. One day you look away, and when next you look back, it’s there, jutting out of the ground like the sore thumb of God – imposing, purple, swollen, and majestic. The circus has arrived in Verona, and it seems to have pulled all the stars down from the night to wear around its neck, a dazzling ring hovering above its velvet tops. But look closer – lean in, dear audience – and you will see that the stars have not been made into jewellery; they have taken a step down from their place in the firmament of their own volition, slinking into the foreground and craning their burning necks over the clouds so as to better watch the magic unfurling below them.Everyone is a guest tonight.For seven days the tents stood dark and unmoving in the light of day, the only detectable motion the stirring of its crowning flags in the breeze, with no singular body seen passing in or out of its flaps. At times this solitude was disrupted by curious locals and passersby who walked up the hill and through the grass to pass their hands over the thick velour of its exterior, peering curiously at its entrances as if they might open up. Though none were escorted away by thick-shouldered, broad-mouthed men with SECURITY emblazoned on the backs of their shirts and written across their foul expressions, all felt the impression that they were an intrusion, a hand jostling a locked door. Each left with a furrowed brow and an imprint on their countenance that they had stumbled upon something not yet meant to be seen. None came back to disrupt its grounds a second time, but some - the ones who dared to tiptoe close enough to press their ears to its walls - swore they heard something beating within it, steady and echoing, like a heartbeat.Every day it stood as a monolith on that hill, unmoving and enigmatic, providing no answers to the eyes that pressed upon its scope, and every night it lit up from the inside out. Like a paper lantern it became incandescent, aglow with a warm, churning light that circled and ebbed and exploded into pinpoints against the inside of the tent. Music and laughter and sounds that took the pitch of every inexplicable moment you’ve ever had poured forth from its arena, bubbling down the hill and into town.Still, no one came in or out.It was like this for seven days and seven nights, silent during the day and filled with galaxies during the night, the flaps of its entranceway pulled tight and never lifting so much as to let even a single eye look through. But on the seventh day, at the time when twilight breaks over the knee to true dusk, the curtains lifted - and out poured god and all his heavens.Carrying torches of brightly burning fire, jesters decked in amaranthine and black leotards drain out of the newly opened curtains. Music accompanies their maddened descent, a crank-box tune drowned out by their loud yips and hysterical cries of joy as they roll and leap down the hill in a show of acrobatics and bacchanalian impulse. They spill into the streets and usurp all they can: clad in full-face black and white masks, they are all the same and yet distinctly unique, seemingly a sea of madness until you can still one long enough to notice the disconcerting detail that has gone into making each one a one of a kind. The gender or age of these harlequins themselves is hard to estimate; though certainly the dips and swells of their costumes at times gives away the game, they speak few words and will not stay still long enough to answer questions. Yet they are all alike in their overwhelming eccentricity, the undeniable magic of their blinding similarity as they perch and howl on the edge of the Castelvecchio bridge and backflip in the middle of small cafe tables, stealing hats off of locals to perch on their own heads before dancing away into the shadows. They are everywhere: flitting through restaurants without permission on the tune of their mad laughter and gesturing hands, performing feats of acrobatics stacked on top of one another amidst moving gondolas, and knocking on doors. And no matter how fast or ferociously they run, those flames - burning so murderously they are nearly pearlescent - do not die, even as some toss them in the air as juggling batons.Just as you are sure you’ve seen the last of them, they seem to multiply, more and more flooding the streets with every passing minute. They are everywhere, and they all point in the same direction: to the circus.Perhaps it is their strange and otherness that entices, the manic way with which they move a carefully deployed marketing strategy to incite excitement, or maybe it is the lights at the top of the hill calling. No matter the reason, no matter the rhyme, the ascent to that majestic velvet castle in the distance is taken by crowds of people, forming a line flanked on either side by more twirling jesters hoisting their torches and pointing towards the entrance.There is no ticket stand nor any worn wood concession, instead beautiful girls with painted faces and cigarette boxes strapped over their shoulders take payment for entrance and offer various treats: liquor for the adults, shimmering galaxies in a bottle, and powdered sugar confections for children. The crowd shares a natural dispersing upon entering, groups of people with their necks dropped back turning into one of the numerous passageways that evolve once inside the main gates. No signs or instructions are left as to what may lead where, and each tunnel is hung with the same plush material as its exterior, in a purple dark enough to be called black. There are shifting, pinpricks of light hidden behind each row of fabric that move in such a way as to imitate the clearest of night skies, and this maze of starlight and mystery is as intoxicating as the flavour-changing drinks in each person’s hand.There is no right way, no wrong way. There is only forward, into this beautiful abyss of a place that seems to hold secrets like a melting candy under its tongue.And suddenly - all at once - in the same way this place arrived (with no explanation and great expectation), there is a beautiful woman in the center of the main stage. She blinks once, twice, three times; and waits for the din of voices around her to quiet. Perhaps in respect or awe or something else entirely, the world grows silent.“Dearest patrons.” Her voice rings into every corner and crevasse, painting each wall and collarbone with loveliness. She extends her hands in greeting, and in every tent and hallway her gesture echoes, a startling picture of her exact image broadcasted as the walls become makeshift screens. “We’re sorry to have kept you waiting for so long before welcoming you in our doors, but endure my pandering and take my word as truth when I say: it is us who have been waiting for you.” A cry of accord rises and paints the ceiling of the high tent, assent given from the ringmaster’s performers. “I am the creator and proprietor here, but a right-hand to your dreams and fantasies.” There’s an innuendo here, a slick tongue over lip of a pause while she allows those who understand to chuckle. “And as such, it is my absolute pleasure to welcome you all to the place of your imaginations – here, we aim not to defy expectation, but explanation. Welcome, my friends, to the Cirque Arcana.”Welcome to the circus! All characters have found their way to the circus tonight, feeling an inexplicable compulsion to join its revelry. All are welcome to explore the attractions, acts, and scenery as they please and move from tent to tent. Characters have also received a pass via an unorthodox method: a kiss placed on any visible part the body by a staff member, leaving a long-lasting silver lipstick mark that entitles them to food and drink without pay. In lieu of a task for this plot drop, we’ve brought something new to the table: you can unlock fun extras and advantages for your mob by working together to collect points and hit your designated quota. For this scene, the extras are as follows:Reach your mob’s first quota and win €500,000 in winnings from The Hearts Club. Reach the second quota and have characters from your mob selected to participate in Cirque Arcana acts. Reach the last quota to have any one character randomly selected to have their fortune told and receive a sneak peak of forthcoming events.Keep in mind that only one mob may win any extra, and that is whomever reaches their quota first. In this instance, points may be earned by starting threads pertaining to the text message missions we sent out via the main last week. If you did not ask for a mission/did not want one, don’t fret! You can complete a self para pertaining to the event and earn points. Each thread and/or self para is worth 5 points, and we have accounted for uneven numbers among our mobs to create staggering goals. They are as follows:CAPULETS: First quota 30 points. Second quota 45 points. Final quota 60 points.SPADES: First quota 10 points. Second quota is 20 points. Final quota is 30 points.MONTAGUES: First quota 30 points. Second quota is 45 points. Final quota is 60 points.NEUTRAL CHARACTERS: Get those bribes comin’! You may gift your collected points to anyone you choose. Donate your points to the mob that ends up winning and you’ll be eligible for the prizes as well!TO HAVE YOUR POINTS COUNTED YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR THREAD TO THE MAIN WITH A LINK TO A RESPONDED START, AS WELL AS COPY AND PASTING YOUR TEXT MISSION INTO IT. FOR SELF PARAS, PLEASE STILL SUBMIT THE LINK. IN ALL CASES, TITLE THE SUBMISSION “TASK COMPLETION - X POINTS TO MONTAGUES/CAPULETS/SPADES.”We ask that you please bear with us as we try out this new system. We know there may be a few hitches and that it isn’t perfect, but we want to give you guys something fun and new! This will be the first trial run and if you have feedback as to how to move forward with it in the future, we are open to suggestions.9:00 PM: Equestrian acrobatics. Two dozen white horses and six acrobats performing in tandem both on and off the animal’s backs.9:45 PM: High wire & strength. There are two types of people: those that look up, and those that look to the ground. This act caters to both, with a ballerina balancing high above on the high wire and a strongman below displaying feats of strength, telling a story to music of their star-crossed love.10:30 PM: Chair balancing & equilibristics. A true rabbit hole experience, where nothing is as it seems – or used as it should be. This performance features those with exceptional skill at stacking innumerous objects, balancing on rolling or tilting objects, and the creation of human columns.11:00 PM: Jesters. The very same black-and-purples fellows that brought everyone in and back and on stage! A mix of acrobatics and physical comedy, this is the rest period before the night’s more intense acts begin. Beware, however - the jesters have a very loose concept of personal space and crave time spent with the audience.12:00 PM AND ONWARDS: To be announced.SIDE TENTS REMAIN THE SAME!At the end of acts across all tents and even in the tunnels between them, confetti rains down. Stick out your tongue or hold out your palm and catch them to find they are edible, and come in unending flavours!Beverages (alcoholic and otherwise) are available to all, served by cigarette girls and boys in various costumes and painted faces. All cool drinks begin looking like this, but shift in colour and taste as time goes on. More traditionally, champagne, liquored coffee/hot chocolate and spiced wine are also served.Snacks are also available from the aforementioned staff if the confetti doesn’t fill you up, with options including paper bags filled with powdered donuts, macaroons, hot pretzels, and small bowls filled with whip cream and various fresh fruits. More substantial foods such as fried prawns and fillet mignon (both on a stick, both of outstanding quality) will be passed around.Jesters wander the grounds in and around the circus, and they have no rules - and certainly no respectable attitudes! Meant to entertain and tease in true jester fashion, they interact with all guests in any number of ways. -- source link
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