Cirque Nocturne: Messages

( Delivery to Oliver )

[posted from the car on the way back to the Cirque, following the Symphony Ball]

I don't think I've ever felt so much like a princess in a story in my entire life. And people live like this, they do these things all the time? There were so many other parties talked about last night, I can't even imagine how people go to all of them. Or even most of them! It's insane.

Okay, so I'm seeing a bit of consternation and confusion when it comes to how to pay for the clothing one is supposed to wear to all these balls. I realize that we don't necessarily make money that enables us to expend thousands of dollars for just one outfit. But I also realize that I come from a more... privileged stand point than most of those here and that a combination of my "own" money, alongside a healthy portion I've divested from my father's accounts, could certainly help those here in achieving their ball gown dreams.

But this isn't a charity. I've grown somewhat accustomed to the trading/bartering economy. So come at me with your trades, whether it be for something mundane like art for my trailer or something a bit more arcane.

The Bank of Oliver is now open.

[Redheads]

Dear Many Red Riding Billy Goat Gruffs,

I want to take all of you to the balls. So, everyone pick one and I will escort you like the princesses you are... though I'm more of a pauper so... let's just make a splash at these haughty things, yeah?!


[Elia]

Mother's Milk Ball? Yes/Yes?

[Ariadna]

Can I claim your arm for the Confectioner's Ball?

Balls! In Vienna! Christmas markets! Ice skating! Time to break out all of my cute winter clothes and play tourist. Someone whose German is better than mine, do you want to tag along? Mine's conversational, at best. Issac, can I talk you into being my date for one of these shindigs? And possibly help me carry back all the shiny things I will inevitably buy?

[Maddy & Margo]
I was thinking today about the day that poppa came home from (I don't remember where?) and he brought us Ninja. She was so dumb and used to follow so close behind at your heels and her legs always seemed too short for her body.

Do you know a few times I let her sleep in my bed? I don't know if mom and dad actually knew and just let it slide, or if I actually got away with it.

She was such a good dog. I miss her.

So, Moscow has been pretty awesome. It's beautiful – every time I go out I end up feeling like I'm in a snow globe. Not that I've been going super far, because not speaking or understanding any Russian is a thing, but I hit the tourist traps.

That said, I'm seriously hoping for a beach soon.

Well. I'm pretty glad that's over, I have to say.

If anyone needs me, I'll be locked in my trailer til showtime. Fuck off unless you have doughnuts, booze, or are related to me.

[Margo + Mona]
Check in time, girls. Both of you doing OK? Physically, anyway?

I'm told that it's mandatory to make some kind of introduction here which is the only reason I'm doing it.

I'm Dante.

Now somebody point me in the direction of this 'feast'.

[Margo + Mona]
Oh my god. I'm sure I don't need to tell either of you, but when we get wherever we're going, for the love of God, stay inside. This place is crawling with all manner of dark things, I don't want anyone caught outside when they call the Hunt.

Happy Halloween!

It feels a bit strange, such a beautiful morning the day after so much un-beautiful. Sorry, I don’t have the right word. It’s a feeling though, does anyone else have it?

There’s a ghost tour at Hampton Court Palace today. I really want to go! Is anyone interested? If you carry a tiny piece of tree bark, I can hitch along. I’d be so grateful.

[Mona is pretty sure she's in a state of shock and that's why she can't move. She knew she needed go find someone, but she couldn't even stand up. Mona had tried to scream when she saw it but choked on her own breath and backed up into the wall behind her, and that was where she had remained; sitting on one side of the animal stalls near her shop and staring at the dead girl who lay on the other.]

There's...


There's a dead girl at the animal stalls.

I tried to- I can't- She's-


I don't know what to do.

Right. So. I've been a part of this merry band for almost two years. Seen a lot of strange things in my day. But I would say that finding the words 'From Hell' scrawled on a tent wall by the V&V tent, in what looks like fucking blood, is very high on my personal strange meter.

I know a lot of y'all can see in the dark but I've got flashlights for anybody that's still leery of shadow creatures or whatever is causing the screams. Not sure if it'll do much good, but I figure it can't hurt to have a little light handy.

I'm also willing to lend out ONE lightsaber, but I'm gonna need it back by tomorrow night or else my costume won't make a lick of sense. Added bonus: it has sound effects.

Did anyone ask for the mystery cries and screams of fear? I get that it's close to Halloween and we've got to keep up appearances but this is a bit much. Where are they even coming from?

So...do we have anyone who's specialty is reading objects? What's it called...psychometry? Something like that. Or anyone, really. Magic isn't my strong suit.

The best part about Halloween is getting to combine spooky things with downright adorable things. I've been keeping most of the small edibles light and friendly to even the smallest visitors to the cottage.
( Pictures of cakes and cupcakes under the cut )

[Posts a digital sketch of a dark figure looming by the Wishing Tree]

Has anyone lost their shadow? I'm only half-joking because I've seen it twice now. This strange silhouette just...lurking.

I got to go out shopping in London! Elia and some of the other girls took me along with them on their trip to the posh underwear shops. Elia even insisted on buying me one of the things! She's so nice :)

[She posts a selfie of herself wearing just the new piece, bolstered with a new sense of shamelessness and confidence brought on by her day with her amazing new supernatural co-workers. She regrets it thirty seconds later and deletes the photo, her cheeks burning. She hopes no one actually saw it, but some may have.]

I've started to feel settled in, at least a little. There's still so much to learn about and I feel like I'll never meet everyone who works here.

My tea shop is amazing. I can't believe I've gone from a little food van to... this incredible wonder that I've been gifted. In my downtime I can climb up on top of it through the window and suddenly I'm so high, and I can just put my earphones in and drink a cup of vanilla tea and everything feels wonderful. I've never felt more like I belong somewhere, especially somewhere that (I suppose by all rights when I'm only human) I shouldn't belong.

I'm so lucky, it's crazy.

So, thank you for the Rinkoff recommendation, because I have never had such amazing pastries in my life. I don't think regular donuts are ever going to do it for me again. I'm always going to need crodoughs.

In other news, I totally ordered one of these and I should probably not eat the whole thing by myself. Volunteers?