I think I am officially Fandom Old. I am so worn out from the arguments on who's the top or the bottom (who cares), what is allowed to be written (anything you want, bejeebus), what is Problematic (I know, just tag it), what other people Should Do (they Should live their lives free of judgment). There isn't a Right Way to do things. Tag your stuff appropriately, don't read stuff you don't want to read, and leave other people (me) alone.
There is nothing quite like the freedom of having gone through all of the Discourse and come out the other side into the promised land of Not Giving A Fuck.
A bit of context: this comic takes place quite a long time ago. They were younger and still figuring out how to make things work in the circus. The first version of their outfits wasn’t comfortable, since their bodies are different, which led to the redesign and custom-made clothes for all of them after this incident.
Besides the outfit changes, you’ll also get a small spoiler about Pierrot’s rule!
Also! Thank you @destinysquaredfor helping me correct some poses and adjust a few things in the comic!
I wouldn't call it the 'best game ever made' or 'the greatest game of all time'— mostly because we tend to think of more traditional video games with that label (like Skyrim or Pokemon or Minecraft). It still is a game, of course— a visual novel!
In that regard I would call The Freak Circus more like a story, an interactive story that you are part of as the player. Stories can be complex, just as much as the characters within them. You can have really bad stories with hollow themes and one-dimensional characters, a pace that moves too quickly or slowly or plot points that make absolutely no sense.
But you can also have good stories— stories that have characters with their own feelings and perceptions and preferences, a compelling plot or world that immerses you, of conflicts and issues that feel organic and genuine as are the solutions to those issues. Sometimes good stories are messy. Sometimes they're painful. Often times, they bring out emotions from us because we can genuinely empathize with the characters and their pain, their joy, their anger.
And I would call The Freak Circus a really good story at its heart. Neko has done a fantastic job with telling a story about a group of traumatized individuals who have bonded with one another and have tried to make a life for themselves.... but that trauma has not healed. It is still there, still gripping each of them in different ways and severities. Grief is a horrible pain, one that I myself have experienced in many different ways (the loss of a family member, the loss of friendships, the loss of health or connection with people I've known), and it can do a lot of things to a person.
One could even say that grief is a theme of The Freak Circus, grief and autonomy and how they impact us and how we see the world and its peoples. How do you move forward when something horribly traumatic happens to you? When you've lost someone you've cared about? When you've been abused and starved?
All of the circus is grieving in some way or another, and all of them have some trauma with a sense of their own autonomy and their inherent right to it, to make decisions and have their own feelings on something.
And then there's you, the MC, the player character.
Through your actions and decisions, you can decide how this story may end— through the route that you follow, you can decide whether you fall for Pierrot, for Harlequin, for both of them at the same time or not at all. These are all separate routes, and each one handles these themes of grief and autonomy differently because these characters all have their own stories to tell and growth to go through.
If you happen to choose the route where you romance both Pierrot and Harlequin at the same time (a polyamorous route), they may also develop feelings for one another at same time. These feelings may have been there before, they also might not— these feelings may be romantic, but it’s up to the player on how they choose to interpret them.
If you don’t like the possibility that Pierrot and Harlequin could have romantic feelings for eachother AND you as the player character in that polyamorous route, then this game may not be the story for you.
There nothing wrong if that makes you uncomfortable and you choose to avoid it, you don’t need a reason to dislike it— but that possibility will be there in one of the four routes currently planned for the game. You as the MC choose how these character heal from their pain and trauma. How they grow and change as characters together and alone and with the MC.
Because this isn’t a dating game or an otome— it’s a visual novel. It’s a story, and it’s a damn good story at that. And your version of that story might be different from someone else’s and that’s okay. The fact that a possibility exists that two of these traumatized characters might find healing and forgiveness and romance in one another alongside the love and warmth of the MC at the same time in a polyamorous relationship is okay.
But if that possibility, the mere possibility genuinely upsets you, then I say with empathy, honesty and respect to your own mental health that you might need to go find another game that suits what you’re looking for.
My game is about many things, love, pain, suffering, differences, grief, hope, and trauma.
But above all, my game deals with dark themes. There are many triggers, and I have always made it very clear that it is intended for adults, a mature audience. I have been very explicit about many of the things that may happen throughout this journey. There are many different types of endings that I am planning.
There are bad endings, and very bad endings. There are endings for each character, and not all of them will necessarily be romantic. I will not promise anything to anyone, because my game is still in development. The script is not finished yet, and many things may change. Yes, there is an ending where the MC can be with both Harlequin and Pierrot at the same time, I have mentioned this several times, but I still have no certainty about how these things will play out. If this is something you cannot deal with, then perhaps my game is not for you.
This game is my circus tent. It is my world. And I will tell this story in the way that feels right to me. So don’t tie yourself to my circus, if you can’t handle the monsters, it will be better for both of us.
I'm staying away from Tumblr at the moment. There are many things I want to say, but my mind isn't in a good enough state to communicate them. Soon I'll have help dealing with Tumblr for The Freak Circus, because I can no longer handle it alone.
I found this game in the first time on a edit on tiktok and got curios, when i serch i was happy that i could play on my celphone (because i have no pc) i play and
I just got OBSESSED WITH IT, i love the characters(execpt harlequin, fuck him)(also, it's a joke!), i present the game to my friends, and now all of us are in love with this game, we are all brazilian btw and i was so happy to discover that the creator was brazilian and all the brazilian references on the game!
I don't khow what you are planning neko, but i sure will be as cool as already are being in the lore! And the lore? UFF I ABSOLUTE LOVE THE LORE and want to khow more!, everythig little thing! Because this is what happen when i get obssesed with some game or serie, i just don't pay the patreon because i have no money for my saddnes qwq
BUUUUT
Anyway, já to falando me deixando leva muito, sinto muito pela grande biblia
Anyway!
I really hope this fandom keep growing and got more reconezicion, it really deserve it!, and whatever neko are planning to do, i hope he be able to do so! Because i love everything about the game, and also neko get what he need to keep working on this amazing game! (Also pierrot is my favorite)
also
Poor colombina, she deserved so much more than that horrible fate ;-;
Well, i wanted to say more but i don't want to extend this more, also, my inglish is not the best so i sorey for that, love for you all and tudo de bom pro neko e que tenha muito sucesso com the freak circus!
thoughts on harlequin’s possible feelings for pierrot / greenapple / pierroquin
okkk so i wanted to make this analysis-type thing because i feel like i need more ppl to see harlequin x pierrot as more than just a joke/crackship bc based on official content so far i feel like it’s a plausible interpretation of the story that harlequin could have had or currently has some sort of one-sided feelings for pierrot (and if anyone wants to validate me for seeing this PLEASE DO IM FEELING CRAZY)
on the surface it can look like pierrot and harlequin hate each other, or that harlequin only messes with pierrot for the fun of it, but i can't help but feel like there’s something more complex between them. there’s a lot of reasons why so um idk how i’m gonna organize this but i’ll start with jester’s story, which of course is likely his own interpretation of what happened on that night (and also embellished for the audience), so it’s not the absolute truth but i'm assuming it's accurate for the most part:
harlequin watched the lovers, pierrot and columbina, and felt envy
but what was he envious of? whose attention did he want? it’s not clear. was he envious of what the two had (genuine and tender love)? was it columbina’s attention? or was it pierrot’s?
what was it that he wanted but couldn't have? again, i believe there could be multiple interpretations. it's possible that it could have been pierrot’s affection that he wanted, but pierrot’s eyes were on columbina instead. so he wanted to steal her away from him so the two couldn't be happy together.
maybe he even wanted to be involved in their happy relationship in some way because it's something he's never had, but didn't realize it or know how to communicate that properly, and so he attempts to ruin their relationship instead.
but in the end, harlequin never got what he wanted from either columbina or pierrot.
on that night, pierrot is barely conscious, and when he wakes, he sees harlequin tearing his beloved apart while smiling and laughing:
pierrot was probably….very furious with harlequin that night (i wouldn't be surprised if pierrot had wanted to kill him in that moment) and was still upset for a long while after that. even if harlequin tried to explain his reasons for what he did, would pierrot even listen to harlequin after he betrayed him like that?
i think that harlequin understood that pierrot couldn't forgive him or look at him the same way again after that (and maybe harlequin couldn't forgive himself either).
so harlequin got used to pierrot’s anger towards him, accepted that pierrot could only hate him after what he did. and harlequin has leaned into that, turning into the one who teases and antagonizes pierrot.
if harlequin truly only hated pierrot, why would he care so much about what pierrot does or who he is interested in? if harlequin only hated him and didn't care about him, wouldn't it make more sense to ignore him completely?
yet he doesn't leave pierrot alone. he pays attention to who pierrot is or isn't interested in in the pink tent. he always steals one of pierrot’s sweets, even though they're too sweet for him. he loves to mess with pierrot specifically, because he loves to see his angry reactions.
harlequin calls pierrot ‘irritating’ and says he ‘disgusts’ him, yet harlequin still cares for his attention enough to pursue someone (mc) specifically and (initially) only because pierrot is interested in them and harlequin wants to see pierrot ‘lose.’
whether he's aware of it or not, it seems like harlequin craves pierrot’s attention in any way he can get it, even if it’s his anger and disdain. harlequin has accepted that pierrot can only look at him in that way.
by now, harlequin has probably convinced himself that he doesn't need love, not tender love like the kind pierrot and columbina shared, because he believes it’s something he can never have (and especially not with pierrot).
but if pierrot looks at him with anger? it’s better than nothing, because pierrot’s eyes are still on him.
some other things i felt like mentioning:
apparently he followed pierrot at least once when pierrot came to “visit” mc at night, because he knows that pierrot “whispers passion” to them when they're asleep (stalking the stalker?? ok….)
he acts as if he and pierrot never got along and calls the idea “insignificant”:
by acting like it never happened, this could be him rejecting the idea that he ever felt any vulnerable emotions regarding pierrot or was involved with him in a friendly way. he acts like it doesn't matter, but if he cares enough to hide the fact that they used to get along (and saying it in such a seemingly bitter way), ironically it could imply that their friendship had meant something to him (and he's resentful of the fact)
if harlequin had ever craved pierrot’s love, such as when he watched pierrot and columbina and felt envious of their relationship, by now he’s probably so emotionally guarded that he’s convinced himself that he doesn't, that he only likes to tease pierrot for fun and to hurt him. harlequin might act like he doesn't really care about him, that he thinks pierrot is pitiful and disgusting, but still, he pretty clearly has some sort of fixation on him and being on the receiving end of his anger.
also not to mention the way harlequin touches pierrot’s clothes and looks at him it seems kind of uhh a bit Sus (case in point below) (what is he doing):
could the ship work/could pierrot like him back?
ok this is where the reaching/delusion has to happen because so far pierrot does seem to hate his ass most of the time (understandable for him honestly), not enough to kill harlequin of course, but enough to stab him 5 times without hesitation and get annoyed just saying his name/thinking about him. though there is the Fabled ending with both of them so that implies they’ll at least tolerate each other eventually. it could be more like pierrot > mc < harlequin, but honestly i hope that maybe mc could help pierrot and harlequin reconcile with each other and understand what happened between them and columbina, and then maybe eventually all three of them could be a triad AJAHSHDGKDJ it may not be very realistic but a queer can dream ok. i want them to be happy.
maybe one day pierrot would be able to see past harlequin’s Very Annoying surface and realize that there's a lonely, emotionally-starved creature beneath…? (but it would probably take a very long time.)
uh Yea i tried not to reach TOO much while writing this. but anyway i think the green one is possibly very gay (in a complicated fucked up way) for the red one and maybe he doesnt even know it. these monsters need help
Para los que me buscan estare maiormente en bluesky, reposteare algunos dibujos originalmente de twitter ahi y es ahi adonde enpezare a publicar nuevos dibujos y proyectos
"~ Imperfecto ~ (Eye x Cucurucho) " by gatitahl on Wattpad https://www.wattpad.com/story/357148380?utm_source=android&utm_medium=com.tumblr&utm_content=story_info&wp_page=story_details_button&wp_uname=Okypan
Cucurucho vuelve a la Isla Huevo para recuperar a los residentes que aún no habían llegado o se habían quedado en aquel...
[tweet from Writers Guild of America West @/wgawest that says, "The WGA and AMPTP have reached a tentative agreement. This was made possible by the enduring solidarity of WGA members and extraordinary support of our union siblings who stood with us for over 146 days. More details coming after contract language is finalized. #WGAStrike". Attached is an image of a crowded room, over which the text TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED is placed. end ID]
What does this mean for us now? -> Contract language is still being finished and the agreement must be voted upon by WGA membership before the contract is ratified. Look out for more news in the coming days.
Also, now is not the time to lessen your support, especially financially! Coming out of the work stoppage, WGA members will still need financial and moral support as they get back on their feet and look for employment again. The best way to support the union members is to donate to funds like the Entertainment Community Fund and the Green Envelope Grocery Aid, which will continue to provide grants.
So im planning on introducing to you guys the concept of LAU. For now I’ll give you guys these little images and then afterwords I can make a small comic which includes either Swifty, Snazzy or Siren showing some of the examples of how LAU works from different perspective.
FYI!! This is NOT just an Undertale thing. It’s open for all and everything. Works the same way as anything as well.
This is just a fun concept that I have been brainstorming for a while now I hope you enjoy!
In the Jobs
- By linking, I mean if to get to that other jobs, need to get to the one before it.
For example:
To become a Perk Manufacturer, you must first become a CIU assistant.
- To get to the high tier jobs you have to at least have a few years of residency at least one year and a good relationship with the guardians. Or anyone assosiated to them. Otherwise you can go through a camp that they host 3 times a year. And only SOME gets to join the higher tier jobs due to their job experience, efficiency, and dedication.
————–
Currency in LAU is called Bits (cause I’m unoriginal)
t 1 = $20
IMPORTANT notes!
- Perks in LAU are very very expensive so majority lives normally without any perks.
- The character can revert back to their old body when ever they want after turning into a Local CIU and getting their LCIU ID.
- Working as a C.A is a high risk due to the reason of some people in LAU wanting to experiment and learn how to access the outside world beyond LAU and into the multiverse. So there arent many C.A around.
- In LAU there aren’t only outside characters turned LCIU, majority of the residence in LAU are born within LAU. These people are just known as Locals. Cause again. I’m unoriginal.
