𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮

For I have chosen to defile you right on the altar, right in front of Him.

[𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮 @InviteeNoailles]

@AMESFOLLES Oh, good evening! How exciting it is to see some lovely faces. Would you mind telling me the attractions you are anticipating the most from the circus? :)

[𝓜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙮 𝓡𝙚𝙞𝙖𝙨 @ThrowerMalloy]

[UNVERIFIED] @JesterVhurn as Ames Folles’s Jester. Farewell. You won’t be missed.

[𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮 @InviteeNoailles]

@JesterVhurn Jujur takut.

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

"So! What did you think of our little performance? HAHAHAHA! Ah! And don't forget to enjoy the feast we've painstakingly prepared, especially for our guests! Our next attraction will be even more... 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗦!" He stomped one foot before clapping loudly, gesturing insistently for the audience to applaud alongside him.

"Thank you! Thank you! HAHAHA!"

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen!"

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

Yet beneath the thin fabric of his shirt, dark bruises stained his abdomen where the Jester's kicks had landed. Fresh blood slowly seeped beneath the waistband of his trousers, trickling onto the stage in tiny crimson droplets.

However, the Lion's expression never wavered. As though pain itself were nothing more than a magic trick, or perhaps another part of the act.

"See? He's perfectly fine, isn't he? HAHAHAHAHA!" The Jester burst into laughter once again, his voice carrying the peculiar insistence of someone expecting everyone else to laugh with him.

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

"LION! OH, LION! SHOW YOURSELF!" The mechanism’s cog whirred back to life. The left section slid neatly into place before locking together with the remaining pieces in a solid clack.

The cabinet door swung open.

Out stepped the white Lion, completely intact, still wearing that impossibly cheerful grin.

"Haiii! I'm still alive!" He called brightly, waving towards the audience, smiling as though nothing had happened.

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

Without warning, the Jester lifted his leg high into the air before driving his foot violently into the trapped Lion's abdomen.

𝙏𝙃𝙐𝘿.ᐟ
𝙏𝙃𝙐𝘿.ᐟ
𝙏𝙃𝙐𝘿.ᐟ

Each brutal impact was answered by a muffled groan of unbearable pain. Beneath the white fur, bruises rapidly darkened into deep shades of blue and purple, leaving horrific marks beneath the Lion's clothing.

"ALIVE?! ARE YOU STILL ALIVE? ANSWER ME! ANSWER! ANSWER! HAHAHAHAHA!" The Jester shrieked hysterically before delivering one final kick so powerful that the cabinet itself groaned beneath the force.

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

He wandered over to the middle section of the divided cabinet and casually opened its small door.

Inside lay only the Lion's midsection. His stomach still rose and fell with shallow breaths, twitching faintly as though life stubbornly refused to leave him.

The Jester reached inside, poking the bloodied mass of white fur several times before letting out a disappointed sigh.

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬.

The platform where the white Lion stood suddenly lurched upwards. From beneath the stage rose a towering wooden cabinet nearly two metres tall.

"This little magic trick is wonderfully simple! And all of you, dear guests, shall decide how it unfolds! HAHAHA!" The Jester snapped his fingers, then as though responding to a magical spell, the cabinet door swung open by itself.

Startled, the Lion stumbled backwards before tumbling helplessly into the narrow compartment.

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

"BUTTTT... our most distinguished gueeeeests!" The Jester deliberately dragged out every syllable with theatrical flair, "A Circus would never be complete, nor nearly as exciting, without a performance, would it? HAHAHAHA!"

His orange eyes shifted towards the Lion in a silent signal. Without hesitation, the Lion dropped onto all fours and bounded towards the centre of the hall like a predator newly released from its cage.

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

"Ah, so... tonight we have quite the selection prepared. Foie Gras, Escargot... there's even Boeuf Bourguignon topped with caviar. And of course, for desserts, Crème Brûlée, Macarons, Soufflé..." The Lion introduced each luxurious French delicacy one by one briefly.

After all... surely the guests were far more interested in the dishes themselves than how they had been prepared.

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

"HAHAHAH! ARE YOU CONFUSED? CURIOUS, AREN'T YOU? WELCOME TO OUR 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧 BANQUET HALL!" Throwing both arms wide, the Jester greeted the audience with boundless enthusiasm, his booming voice reverberating throughout the chamber.

"Now, now! This is simply one of our traditions before we unveil our truly spectacular performances! After all, who would want to watch a grand show on an empty stomach? HAHA!"

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

Night had fully descended upon Goussainville, shrouding the entire Circus in suffocating darkness as biting chill slowly crept into the bone.

Just as promised, the invitees had gathered once more. Yet the sight awaiting them was not another performance stage or extreme spectacles, but an extravagant banquet table stretching opulently.

[🎪 @AMESFOLLES]

⠀
𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋, 𝟐𝟎:𝟎𝟎.
⠀

[𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮 @InviteeNoailles]

@InviteeLavinia It has been going very well, Lavinia, thank you for asking. How about yours, my dear?

[𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮 @InviteeNoailles]

Good evening~ For some reasons I haven’t got the chance to speak more with other invitees. Maybe I spent too much time admiring the surroundings instead of communicating with other people…

[𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮 @InviteeNoailles]

@InviteeMihail The whole circus itself, Mihail! And the people, I suppose. Everyone seems so nice and lovely!

[𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮 @InviteeNoailles]

@InviteeHayes Ah, homesickness is highly understandable, Iver. Is there any food or an activity that would bring you some comfort, perhaps?

[𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮 @InviteeNoailles]

@AcrobatTheo Hmmm, saya percaya tidak ada yang tidak mungkin, Theo. :)

[𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮 @InviteeNoailles]

@InviteeHayes Oh, yes, I am enjoying it so far. How about you, Iver? :)

[𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮 @InviteeNoailles]

@InviteeMihail Saya dukung untuk marah ya, Mihail.

[𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓮 @InviteeNoailles]

@AcrobatTheo Yours too, Theo? :)