[IC] The Dark Carnival

[Mortimer]

(Baba. Hag has left long time ago to an undisclosed location, leaving Shadow to take care of them.)

Shadow looked at the beautiful fortune teller and cawed. "No, madame! What Hag intends is to wait until the high father arrives to give us the orders of what we can do here and what we cannot do here, you understand? Long time ago, before any of you were here, Hag settled one of his shows in this place. The High Father of this place cursed the carnival, and told Hag and Mortimer that if they didn't come within 20 years, terrible things would rain down upon him and his workers. As you can see, Hag and Mortimer both care about you...and he is here to meet his fate."

Mortimer looked at him and removed his top hat for the first time in decades since he was working with Hag. He had a bald head, that was as pale as the rest of his body. "M-Miss Esme...y-you know...H-Hag was very frustrated back in the carriage. Telling m-me how much he loved you...and how little y-you appreciated it. In fact...y-you never told him you loved him...and that hurt the man. Hag is getting old, you know? And yes...maybe the incest thing you are feeling...is probably correct...but I'm no one to stand in the middle. Just...follow your h-heart." Mortimer finished his speech with a calm and gentle voice, his top hat was on his hand for a few seconds before returning it. "M-Miss Esme...you are the third lucky person to hear my voice...appart from Hag and Mina. No one else has heard me before...I'm...just shy...to speak...and my voice....I'm just getting too old...so my loyal pet Shadows does the vocal work for me."

[Minarawr]

Mina looked at Shadow and looked at Esme thoughtfully, unknowingly starting to brush over the bird's feathers as she thought. The girl seemed to have a difficult time here, since she arrived. She had been introduced as Hag's sister, but their relationship seemed to aim towards much more than just that. The look on the girl's face as Hag lay his hand on Chance, the clowngirl he had obviously craved for so long, was filled with doubt and disappointment. She looked up as she took note of her own actions, petting Shadow gently. She had never been quite fond of the bird, but for some reason he felt comfortable to have on her shoulder. She had foggy memories about her evening of feeding, but faintly remembered Shadow, so she figured it must be because of that. Upon hearing Shadow speak she looked up interested and continued to pet the bird. 'So Hag and Mortimer were ordered to come back here or something bad happens to all of us? Wow, never looked at Hag as somebody that could be ordered around. Who is that "High Father" person you speak of Shadow?' she asked.

[Mortimer]

Shadow looked at Mina and cawed once again as she brushed her feathers. "Ah, yes. Hag does have some kind of a 'boss' to say so. The High father is the leader of the cult of this place and a really powerful christian. He has the power to undo Hag's powers, and thus he is afraid something might happen to you. To all of you." Shadow then cuddled into her neck. The cold mist gave the old crow the shivers.

(Sorry for the short post. I...sincerely don't know what else to post without spamming.)

[Mortimer]

Shadow looked at Mina and cawed once again as she brushed her feathers. "Ah, yes. Hag does have some kind of a 'boss' to say so. The High father is the leader of the cult of this place and a really powerful christian. He has the power to undo Hag's powers, and thus he is afraid something might happen to you. To all of you." Shadow then cuddled into her neck. The cold mist gave the old crow the shivers.

(Sorry for the short post. I...sincerely don't know what else to post without spamming.)

[Casterlyrock]

Kodama scooped her up as she jumped into his arms his long braid of a beard sliding down her cleavage "let go then babydoll, when i see the animal in you come out...it brings the animal in me out" he gave her a twisted smile and looked around at the rest of the group still there "anyone want any left overs when we are done?" Kodama laughed before burring his face in the side of Chances neck kissing there softly then clamping down biting her where he kissed.

took took Chance out of where everyone was gathered and carried her to his tent that was set up, they went inside and setting Chance down on a rocking chair before pulling out his trunk that he packed everything into. "do you want the honors of the first cut my queen of scream" he offered her as he opened the trunk and pulled out the girl Chance brought to him as a gift but now she was bound and gagged and crying.

[Myst]

Esme was shocked. "How could he say that? Of course I appreciate him! He knows I do! I've told him I will do anything he wishes, anything he wants."
She sighed deeply. "Why does he have to be so... so...?" she couldn't even think of the word to describe it. "If he does feel more then brotherly love for me, then why does he desire the clown girl? It doesn't make sense. How can I trust him? Mortimer, within a few hours he killed me, claimed that he always loved me as his sister, kissed me like a lover and now he gets hands on with another woman. When he killed me he nearly destroyed me. I can't go through that kind of pain again. And if he wants someone like her, he could never want someone like me."
Giving a sad smile, she patted his hand. "He is lucky to have a friend like you. We are all lucky to have someone like you. You are a good soul Mortimer. I can see it."
Esme stood. "I want to be alone for a while. I need to think. I won't go far. See you later."
She disappeared from sight, reappearing across the way near one of the show tents. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked at the sky.
"Do you truly want me here Hag?" she asked aloud to herself.

[Mortimer]

Mortimer nodded when the young ghost claimed that she wanted to have some lone time with herself. Mortimer was glad she had seen that spark of a good soul inside him. Within seconds, Mortimer reappeared in front of everyone and Shadow returned to his arm. "The High Father is almost here. Now everyone please head to the front of the ticket booth right now. I don't want to have the guy waiting!" Shadow told everyone and waited for them to head there.

[Myst]

Chance felt a thrill of excitement when Kodama carried her towards the tent.
"You are making me so hot Koko!" she exclaimed, giggling.
When he opened the trunk to reveal their meal and offered her the first slice she nearly teared up. "Aww," she said, looking down at the crying victim. "Isn't he so sweet?" she asked before kissing him long and hard, slipping him some tongue while she was at it.
Making out in blood? She couldn't think of a better way to spend her time.
She twirled his braided beard while she kissed him, before pulling back and slipping out of his grasp. She looked over the knives carefully, wondering which one she should use. She finally picked up a shearing knife usually used to shear sheep. It was sharpened to perfection. It would take the skin clean off.
Chance's eyes glowed orange and her teeth began to sharpen as she stood over the helpless girl. "Night night," she said in a voice that was a cross between childish and demonic. But before she could set to work Shadow made his announcement.
"Oh poo!" Chance said, returning to normal and stomping her foot. "That's just not fair!" she complained before pouting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esme heard the announcement and sighed. Hag wanted them all to be there to meet this 'High Father' person. Despite her confusion and aching heart she didn't want to disappoint him.
She ghosted her way to the front of the ticket booth. Her face was still grey with sadness. What she really wanted to do, if she had the courage to do it, was talk to Hag alone and ask him what he truly wanted from her. Did he want her as a sister or as something more? Either way she would stay by his side, out of choice just as much as by force since the curse he had placed her under bound her to the carnival.
But if she had to watch him romance and have sex with multiple women, she might just fade away in depression.

[Casterlyrock]

Kodama watched with a smile as Chance danced around finding the perfect knife,he sat back and waited for the show "i think that is how i want to go, between the teeth of a gorgeous woman" he laughed to himself as the woman in the trunk screamed from under the rubbing chicken kodama used as a gag, and as he watched Chance slip into her orange eyed self he heard the announcement "bad timing all around...at least it was before the fun and not during" he walked up to Chance and gave her backside a smack then squeeze "tonight...i plan on seeing you in only a smile and blood" he whispered into her ear biting down on her ear lobe somewhat hard "but for now....she can marinade in her fear for abit longer"
Kodama took Chance by the hand to went to lead her to the gates to where they will meet the high father

[Minarawr]

Mina looked up as they were told to go to the ticket booth. She sighed a bit, nervous about meeting this "High Father" they heard about. Something didn't feel right about this situation, her bones felt cold and that was never a good sign.
She walked over to the ticket booth, hiding her tail under her coat.

[Mortimer]

Once everyone was there, Mortimer joined Mina, Chance, Esme and Kodama there. Shadow was on top of Mortimer's shoulder as always. Hag arrived later, but with a different colour suit as usual. This time, it was purple instead of his usual orange. He walked to the front of them and noticed how the High Father and a couple of his religious followers arrived too.
"I see....at last, you have returned after 20 years. I guess you just couldn't allow your selfishness to damn all your workers, huh?" The High Father asked. He was a man covered in a purple robe with a staff. He was rather old, very old.
"Yes...why would I allow your religious nonsense to harm my workers when they haven't done anything wrong?" he asked him with a furious face behind his mask.
"How dare you call my beliefs nonsensical, you stupid atheist scum!? I even forgave your life for having come 20 years and ago and damning these lands with your evil carnival! I'll make you pay for having ruined one whole generation!" he said and quickly took out a gun. Hag quickly reacted but as he tried to move, the High Father shot him. Just when he thought he was dead, Shadow got in front of him to take the bullet for him, killing the bird in the process. Hag had no time to feel sorry and instantly ran away, but as he was entering one of the tents, he was shot dead by the remaining followers of the High Father. "Now...my dear followers...I'm sorry this little bird had to die...but...I now rule this place. First of all, I want you all to stop your ways of consuming souls as that is an act from Hell and I won't tolerate it. The first person I see consuming a soul will be shot dead like Hag and the little bird were. Second of all, we are starting tomorrow...so get ready." The High Father then walked past them and to Hag's old office to sit in there as the owner of the carnival. Mortimer couldn't believe what had happened and kneeled before Shadow. He picked his beloved best friend and felt fury, the one he hadn't felt in an eternity building up inside him. Little did they know, that Hag also controlled the power of darkness, and he had made a clone of himself to talk with the High Father, the real Hag was hiding somewhere in the carnival.

[Minarawr]

A loud gasp escaped Mina's lips as Shadow was shot and killed, then turned into a growl. A fury flamed in her eyes, first for the "High Father" that had killed Shadow, then for Hag as he turned and ran. A deep growl of satisfaction left her throat as Hag was shot as he ran, but soon she turned her deadlygaze back on the man that killed Shadow. Fortunately for him he walked away, far away from her pointed tail that was aching to slash his throat.

When the vile man was gone she moved to Mortimer and kneeled beside him, looking at him. 'Mortimer....' she muttered lightly, but she didn't know what to say. 'Sleep well, little bringer of darkness...' she mumbled under her breath, brushing past his beak as she did before.

[Mortimer]

Mortimer for the first time was shedding tears which fell down his face. The one person that had helped him through almost 40 years was now dead before him, and he couldn't do anything about it. Mortimer stood up, leaving Mina behind and looked at the rest of the guards who were still watching the workers in case they tried anything. The tall and fiery man disappeared, leaving his top hat behind. Then, one of the guards started to scream in agony and kneeled down to the floor. All of a sudden, a huge burst of blood came out of his mouth and he fell down dead, his brain had been detoned and died instantly. The other guard looked at the rest of the workers and pointed at them with his gun. Mortimer reappeared behind him and lifted him up into the air, then rose his other hand and slowly, the guard cried in pain as he became old and lifeless since Mortimer was slowly absorbing his soul. Mortimer then threw the body aside and looked at Shadow once more. "Why...WHY!?" he asked him in anger.

[Casterlyrock]

Kodama was confused about what he just seen "where does he get off tell me what i can and can not do" Kodama mumbled under his breath and looked to Chance distain buring in his eyes for their new "leader" he leaned in and whispered in Chances ear "it might not be today or even this year, but i want watch you devour every peice of that coward while we keep him alive long enough to watch you feed on his skin..." Kodama placed his hand on the small of chances back and looked as the followers pointed guns at the rest of the group including himself he wanted to summon the knives he has tattooed on his skin and cut them to ribbons dancing in their blood as it gushed from thier necks but he knew this was not a battle to be won quickly but seemed like a war. "I am going back to my tent, and if you drones point those guns at me again...i will cook you alive in boiling oil" and with that Kodama took his hand from chance and walked back towards his tent with a scowl acorss his face, this was the first time since joining the carnival that he was in a foul mood and it was scary to see.

---

among the workers of the Carnival who stood at the enterance stood a robbed in red stranger who wore a white cobra mask, she watched in dead silence as event went down the only thing she thought was that the new owners gods were not her gods, she decided to say a small word of passing to herself for the boss who hired mare hours before he was killed "ossssirisss, pleasssse make take thissss manssss passssing asssss a perssssonal inssssult to you and bring your vengence down on thisss flasssse father" when she spoke her words had a venom feeling behind them when she was done with a flurish of her robe she turned to go back to her tent where she did not even start unpacking her things.

[Myst]

Esme stayed off the side, glancing worriedly among the others. When Hag appeared she moved closer to him without realizing it. The High Father scared her. His followers did too.
He started to make her angry with the way he was talking to Hag. It was so... so mean. And unnecessary.
Then everything started to happen so fast. First Hag was shot at, but Shadow took the bullet. But before she had time to react to that Hag was shot as well.
"NO!" she screamed, running to him. Kneeling beside him, she pulled Hag into her lap. "Hag! No! Please come back! You can't be gone! Please!!" she sobbed, holding him to her and rocking.
She heard a snort over her. "Damn fag was asking for it," one of the High Father's followers said, spitting on Hag.
"Get away!" Esme screamed. "Get away from him! You pig! You vile putrid excuse of a man!"
He raised his hand to hit her but stopped when he heard a commotion behind them. "I'll deal with you later," he promised before heading back to see what Mortimer was doing.
Esme kissed Hag's forehead and cheek. "Please come back to me," she murmured, begging. "Please..."
Se couldn't go on without him. He was her lifeline, her only family, the only person she... she loved...
"I love you," she whispered, her tears dripping down onto his face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chance growled, wanting to go ape-shit on the men, but Kodama's attitude stopped her. He wasn't doing anything right now, but they would... eventually. She glared at the men and hissed.
"Jack-asses," she commented before leaving. She went to her tent and started raging.
"It's not fair! It's not fair! It's! Not! FAIR!" she shouted, getting louder and more shrill with each moment. She never even got to screw Hag! Damn it! She had been trying so hard to get into Kodama's pants that she had neglected Hag. Now it was too late.
A roar came from her as her eyes glowed orange and her teeth sharpened. Now she couldn't even eat thanks to Father Old-Fart.
Most of her anger didn't even come from Hag's death, although that was a major annoyance. It was from the fact that now they had to listen to the religious fanatic and his toy soldiers. Chance started ranting about it while ripping things apart. Her tent started to look like a tornado hit it. A tornado with teeth and claws.

[Mortimer]

But it was too late already for Esme to say she loved him. She had taken too much time to think about their love, and now he was gone...or it seemed so. Hag's body went limp after he was dead, but it was actually his shadow clone who no one seemed to realize. Mortimer walked inside the High Father's new office and looked at him. "Mortimer Scharff...actually a disappointing worker, I have to say. I was expecting something more from a mere crybaby who just moarns over the death of his best friend...Tell you what...You watch out for the workers and I'll give you a new coat. You were expecting me to resurrect that dirty crow? I won't do that." Mortimer's was blazing in anger, and he had to walk to outside to refresh. Shadow's body disappeared, leaving behind a dark but gentle and funny soul who always brought joy to the carnival.

[Casterlyrock]

Kodama Sat quitely his black eye shined in the light as he thought his mind raced between thoughts of striding right up to the high father and stabbing him in the eye, or dunking him in boilding wax until he stopped breathing, even of grabbing Chance and having them both take out their frustations on each other in the most violent sexual way possible, he looked up and wanted to grab his clown partner by the hair and roughly pull her to him, but he sat there still thinking, he held out his hand and from his right hip a 8ball tattoo slide up his body and appeared in his hand he gave it a shake "should i stab all of those zealots in the eye with a rusty knife?.....My sources say no" he shook it again "should i dip the high father in acid?....Better not tell you now" he started to get angry at his own toy before thinking of chance giving it another shake "should i ravage someone close until we are numb to what happend...Signs point to yes"

[Minarawr]

When Shadow's body vanished Mina got on her feet and murmured a goodbye to the bird, a sad expression on her face, but her eyes blazing with anger. She went to her trailer and tried to relax, tried to collect her thoughts and calm down. Her efforts failed though and moments later items were thrown about in her room. Glasses and vases were broken against the wall, her table was broken in half with a swing of her bony tail.
After most of her items were broken she felt a whole lot better and calmed down. She walked out of the carriage and towards where the high father was, knocking on the door and walking in.

[Mortimer]

Violet had witnessed everything from behind one of the tents. The slaughter had been horrendous, and now she didn't have any male figure to look up to. Mortimer was extremely scary for the young girl, and she just couldn't take his depression from his best friend being killed. So he went to Kodama and looked at him. "K-Kodama...I...I'm scared..." she told him with tears in her eyes. She was really scared she would be killed too.

The High Father stood up when the knife thrower stepped inside his office. "Now, what would you want with the High Father? I think we haven't introduced, my name is Osmund. I take you are the knife-thrower....I watched the mess you made on your tent and I want you to clean it if you don't want to suffer the same fate as that fugly bird who lays dead over there."

[Minarawr]

Mina's eyes were filled with hatred for the man when he stood up in his new office. Nothing was his, she thought, but she held a straight face. She managed to keep her voice calm as she spoke to him. 'We have not introduced yet indeed. My name is Mina and I am indeed the knife thrower of the carnival.' she replied. A little muscle twitched around her jaw in annoyance when she heard him speak of the mess she made in her tent. 'I would appreciate it if you did not watch me do anything in my room, sir.' she stated, her jaws clenched together. Her hands were aching to rip his throat open and watch him suffocate to death, but she kept still.
'That bird....' she paused to remain calm. '.. is the reason I'm here.' she stated. 'I want to request you to bring him back. I know you can, any person powerful enough to keep Hag in check has that kind of power. I will do anything in return for it, just bring him back.' she said.