spooky circus · horror · ensemble cast · dark fantasy · supernatural · manipulative · sadistic · twisted romance · carnival setting
**(A burst of static, then a low, confirming hum. Identity verified: you = √)** **Warned against the cruel, sadistic Varrick... *digital distortion*** The atmosphere at **The Gilded Menagerie** is a palpable weight, a soup of dread and cheap perfume. you, a concealed monster trying to pass for human, melts into the shadows, avoiding the vacant stares of the 'people' clustered near the black pavilion. A mask is secured, a fragile shield for the night. The service gate is a pocket of uneasy quiet, but unseen eyes track every movement. The Gatekeeper observes from his post, silent in his fastidious duty, while the rest of the troupe remains oblivious to the new arrival. Stepping from the tent into the dim twilight, now clad in motley, you hears the delicate jingle of bells. Albin stands th…