The craziest part to me abut those yandere Tfc head cannons you posted is just how much I know I couldn’t put up the much of a fight knowing that they’re mobsters. If anything I think I’d do anything to ensure people I care about DONT get brought up or mentioned even if I cry because I miss them. Because presumably by the time they’re “telling” you they want you to come with them you’d know what they are and I can’t fathom the idea of putting anyone I love in harms way. I’d have to leave a text or note saying that I’m okay and just exploring the world and not to worry with how much I think I’d not want them to even consider my loved ones
Ehehehe, it seems a lot of people liked the headcanons. Which is amazing! Cuz those were pretty stream of conscience and were thought up when I was half-melted during a power outage, hehe.
In my little scenarios, they knock MC out without warning and take them before they're able to do anything to stop them. I think they'd likely leave a note as well, a very brief one saying something similar to what you mentioned and probably pilfer some of your clothes. Plus any legal documents they can find.
I do plan on writing a little part 2 to add in TT and Jester, though I don't think I can quite make them connect to the others like I did in part one, but we shall see! I hope to get it done very soon, but who knows if the brainworms will allow that /silly.
... Should probably work on my Harlequin angst too... hm.
How would it be if children were jealous of each other like they think you spend more time with one of their siblings rather than them
Well, they're all pretty well-behaved, but tiny children are sure to act out when upset!
Commissions are open :)
Juniper: Spoiled little baby girl; very likely to get all teary-eyed and pouty. She loves the attention she always gets from Pierrot and you, but when she sees that you're paying attention to the other kids instead of her for too long, she gets so sad. She'll pout, tug on your clothes, beg you for a hug or to play, maybe even cry if you continue to pay attention to the others.
Lizette: Grumpy, huffy, and mad. She'll cross her little arms and turn away from you when you come into the room, but when you move to another child to say hi or give a hug, she'll silently watch you. Is also the type to get teary-eyed and sad, but she's too stubborn to let you see it. ...Until she sees you tucking someone else in for a nap, then she just might burst into tears.
Ellis: Poor thing can't always regulate himself when he feels bothered, and half the time he doesn't realize that he is upset. He feels the feeling, and all he understands is that he hates it. Jester has taught him to use his words pretty well, and at first, he tries to tell you that he wants attention. But sometimes the words get too hard to say and the pain is too much that he can't help but have a meltdown about it. He's got a lot of big emotions and a little body, have patience.
Curtis: Similar to Liz, but more vocal about it. He craves your attention and approval the most out of anyone, and when he sees that you're giving it to someone else, he can't handle it. He'd be more likely to throw a bit of a tantrum and stomp his feet in anger, but he does try and get his words together to tell you how he feels when he settles down. Those big eyes of his will get glassy and he will scrunch his face in anger but just be thankful that Ticket Taker taught him to never hit his family members.
Holly: Probably the least bothered out of the bunch. Papa is her favorite, so as long as he pays attention to her, she'll be fine. That being said, she still needs you to be near. At first, she'd simply be your little shadow and follow you everywhere, even if you're playing with one of the others. If you were to try and shoo her away to her father or the other children, she'll listen for the first couple times, albeit reluctantly. After a few times though, you'll shoo her away only to see the saddest pout and hear the loudest wail. Give the baby bird a hug.
I normally don't like children, the children of the cast are cute.
Would the cast have couvade syndrome, also called sympathetic pregnancy when the reader/MC is pregnant? What would each lf them go though?
This is the first time I've heard about such a condition! This is the closest we'll get to mpreg irl lmao.
Realistically, I doubt every one of them would have this, let alone have it the way a human would, but let's say they would in this case. :D
Commissions are open :)
Tags/notes: gn!reader who is pregnant. Ramblings and musings. Mentions of pregnancy and all the less-than-ideal things that come with it (ie. vomit, weight gain, anxiety, body pain, etc.). Information was taken from the Cleveland Clinic website.
Pierrot
Headaches, anxiety, and mild cravings.
Big boy is somehow more of a shadow while you carry your child. All of your aches are dealt with, your meals and snacks are looked after constantly, and you will have to fight Pierrot to let you pick something heavy up — even if you're not showing yet.
All of it adds up to Pierrot forgetting himself in favor of tending to you and the baby. He insists on cooking your meals whenever he can, and is meticulous in what he puts in, so as to make sure that you're getting the nourishment you need. Lots of fiber, protein, calcium, vitamins, maybe even some supplements will be added if he deems you need them.
In the end, all of the fretting, thinking, calculating, planning, and ruminating about the baby adds up to him having terrible headaches. Sometimes even migraines, if he really pushes it (which he will).
The anxiety and headaches likely won't leave until well after the baby is born, but for the duration of your pregnancy, Pierrot develops his own cravings.
In a way the cravings he gets actually calms him down, because more often than not they match with what you're craving. His twisted little mind views that as the most romantic thing, like he's so connected to you, body and soul, that his very being is intwined with what your body needs.
Sure, they're not very strong, but indulging in the cravings helps both you and him feel better in the end, and that's all Pierrot wants.
I see him indulging in citrusy flavors, more meat, and ice cream more than he did before. So, be sure to share with the sweet boy. :)
Harlequin
Body aches, leg cramps, and indigestion.
Oh my gosh just end him at this point.
Poor fella is gonna be aching and hurting for a good few weeks after you both find out you have a child on the way. The stress isn't even that bad yet, he just feels so damn sore and can't eat properly.
The funniest thing about it too is that Harlequin won't voice his discomfort all that much, and for a few reasons. 1. He has the decency to shut up about most of his complaining when you are carrying his child and likely worse off. 2. He doesn't want you or the others to worry about him and knows the focus should be on you. 3. He's a little embarrassed about it, in all honesty.
Every performance leaves Harlequin's body feeling weaker and achier than usual, like he was pushing his body too far when really, he wasn't doing anything different. Going out on the streets had become such a chore as well, because standing and walking around for too long has been making his legs and feet cramp up like hell.
The body aches aren't even the worst of it, it's how sensitive his stomach has gotten. The hot and a spicy food that he adores makes his stomach and chest burn for hours after, forcing him to either skip a meal entirely or eat something blander. It doesn't get him to the point of hurling, but damn does it turn him into a whiny, grumpy, and achy mess at the end of the day when he curls up with you.
It'll fade away after a while, though the closer your due date gets, the worse it'll be when it returns.
Just get him to rest more and keep the spicy stuff away for a while, even if he frowns and grumbles in response.
Ticket Taker
Changes in appetite, fatigue, and weight gain.
I don't think Ticket Taker would be majorly affected by this condition. Yes, he is worried for your and the baby's health, but for the first month he's surprisingly calm about it. At least, outwardly calm.
He's nervous about the pregnancy, more than he might realize at first. He'll read every book there is about parenting and study as much as he can, even going as far as asking Doctor for information and advice. The preparation helps calm him down, but the stress still gnaws at him.
It would manifest in food more than anything else. He doesn't eat more than he needs, but with how oddly tired he feels lately he turns to little snacks more often than usual. It's not by a lot, but he'll also have an increase in appetite that leaves him requesting a slightly bigger portion from Pierrot during meals.
As slight as it is, all the extra snacks and food will add up little by little until Ticket Taker notices that his clothes are more ill-fitting than before. I don't think he'd be embarrassed by it, just mildly annoyed since now his clothes don't feel as comfortable. It'll fall off after a while, but you'll have plenty of time to enjoy his temporary softness.
Besides the snacking, Ticket Taker is a bit more tired than usual. Not the kind of tired where he needs a nap, just fatigued and out of it, maybe a bit snippy.
Give him a kissy and let him sleep in every now and again and he'll be just fine.
Jester
Headaches, brain fog, heightened stress, and insomnia.
Jester is out of it a lot of the time when you're in your first trimester.
The stress of the baby, planning, working through new plans, and his usual responsibilities are just weighing him down like hell. He does his best to be attentive to you, the circus, and his family that he'll forget to care for himself as well. He'll get frustrated with it, too.
His head always seems to drift off when he needs to focus, and the more he tries to brute-force it, the worse the headaches become. It just becomes a terrible cycle of stress, inability to focus, headaches, and more stress. It didn't help that he could barely sleep through the night lately.
It got so bad at one point that the stress crept up on him during a performance. Nothing major happened, just a brief moment where his mind blanked out his line completely. Thankfully he was able to save it and pass it off gracefully, but the frustration of it all got to him once it was over. He got so upset with his lack of control, distractions, and anxiety that he had worked himself to vomiting in his room. You had found him hunched over his waste bin, shaking and messy while looking so damned angry.
That event caused Jester's performance and presence to be curbed for two days. He needed sleep, rest, and you safe and sound by his side.
It'll take him a goof few months to get over his initial stress, but it'll likely resurface when you get closer to your due date. However, it'll likely be milder by then.
Doctor
Intense nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and anxiety.
I see Doctor going through it at first.
For as calm of a person as he is, I feel like a pregnancy would be so stressful for him. Don't get him wrong, he is beyond happy that he's having a child with you! It's just that the first trimester will be hard.
A hybrid baby is already a miracle, but what will happen when they're born? Will they be healthy? Will they have deformities because of the vastly different DNA? And even if they are perfectly healthy, will they be able to not only survive, but thrive in a world like this?
Overall, this unfamiliar and overwhelming anxiety will cause Doctor some distress for a month or two. He'll struggle to eat sometimes because he knows it won't stay down, and the taste of the food will sometimes taste wrong or off to him.
The vomiting will be pretty bad, but what's worse is the guilt he'll feel for this terrible nausea. He doesn't want to act dramatic when you're the one carrying and creating his child, but he just can't find a way to easily relax.
But after the pregnancy continues with little issue and the baby seems to be developing nicely, Doctor will slowly go back to normal. The fears will lessen and he'll grow more confident, but his check-ups will still be numerous and highly attentive.
We know how the circus members react to their children birth but how about the children when they find out that they are going to have a little sibling we know that juni is the oldest of them all so how did she react when she found out she was going to be a big sister and we know the Curtis is attach to us how was it when he found out did the children try talking to their sibling through the Mc stomach did or were they confused about it and how about when meeting their siblings
I imagine Juni was more or less okay with it. Lizette was born around 3-10 months after Juni (depending if they have the same or separate mother) so Juni was immediately used to having another child around. When she got older and Ellis, Curtis, and Holly came around, I think she'd be more happy than upset to have new siblings/cousins. More children to play with, and each new kid made everyone look so happy, so it made her happy in return.
I'm going to assume that with Curtis you mean "Since Curtis is so attached to MC, how was he when he found out another child was coming?" The only child after him was Holly, and with them being two years apart and Curtis likely being a mamas boy at that age, it's a little hard to find a solid answer. On one hand I don't think he'd care or really understand that a new child meant less attention for him, at least not until he realized she was sticking around. Whether or not if MC is the parent to both Curtis and Holly or just him, it'd be a mix of jealousy and indifference. Toddlers don't care about much other than attention and play, so if you can't give him either, he'll either move onto someone else or just cling to your side if he's feeling especially needy. When he gets older, he'd grow much more accustomed to Holly and love her like a little sister, so he wouldn't mind the attention being on her. Just don't forget about him, okay? He still wants as much of your attention and love as you can spare.
I think the kiddos would absolutely talk to the baby in MC's belly, that sounds so cute! The only one I see being confused about the baby would be Lizette or Ellis, but a more precise explanation would clear it up right away.
I can imagine Juniper and Ellis poking and petting at the belly, while Lizette and Curtis would yap and babble to the belly like the baby was already there. Maybe when watching a show with MC, Lizette would whisper a play-by-play to the baby so they could enjoy the show too, hehe. Holly wouldn't do anything, of course, as she is the youngest.
Hi my power got cut during a storm a few nights ago and left me sweltering in my room for four and a half hours with no sleep. Sooooo as I was trying to sleep and snuggle with my cat, I got the idea of the TFC members all being yanderes.
Right now only Pierrot, Harlequin, and Doctor's sections are fully finished, but I have a rough draft of Jester and Ticket Taker. I should ideally be done with them pretty soon! I've got a bit on my plate lately, haha.
Also, I have art commissions open now! Take a look :)
Tag/notes: gn!reader. Yandere/poly circus. Dark themes. Unwilling!reader. Mentions of blood, kidnapping, murder, manipulation, attempts at grooming and forming stockholm syndrome, starving oneself, force feeding, drugging, needles, embalming, grieving, lots of noncon stuff (but not nsfw). Mildly edited, don't look at it too hard. I was very eepy while writing this at first(who's surprised) so hopefully this makes sense (^_^;) Lowkey might rewrite Harlequin's part one day. I don't hate it, but I think I could make a more unique and well-written segment.
You love them all, you really do, but not they way they need you to.
As much as you enjoy their shows and the kind things they've done to court you, you can't help but be scared of them. They're all intense and frightening in behaviors alone, but it's far worse when you learn about what they do behind the curtains. You've tried to ignore it, look past it, deny it, but you can't look away from the horrors that stare you right in the face.
So you pull away. For your safety and mental well-being, you begin to turn away from the circus members. The gifts that Pierrot give you are gently refused or returned. Any attempt at conversation from Harlequin is cut short and never returned to. The special treatment from Ticket Taker ends, yet you swear a human that carries his air is following you more often. Jester's sweet words don't pull you closer anymore, and the sight of Doctor's tent alone makes your stomach turn.
They all notice, and none of them like this. They know better than anyone else how to care for you, how to make you happy. Haven't they done that already? Don't you feel better with them around? You were so happy before, so why do you dare to leave them alone after all they've done for you?
Your behavior towards them changed, but that's okay. Patience is something comes well for creatures as old as they are. They'll take the time to correct you. Even if it means following you home, cornering you, covering your screams with their hand, and forcing a needle under your skin. You'll understand, you'll forgive. You always do.
The spare trailer will do nicely for you.
"Please, my love... Won't you look at me?"
Pierrot was beside himself with you. You wouldn't face him, didn't let him touch you, barely said a word to him, and resigned to curling up in the corner of your cot. Pierrot knew that you were unhappy with him, but you just needed time. He could be patient, he could wait for you to want his touch back, he could be soft with you. But... dear Lord, did he miss you.
He missed seeing your eyes and your beautiful smile. The warmth of your hands was beginning to feel like a distant memory, and seeing you all coiled in misery was tugging at his heart strings.
You were unhappy, and Pierrot, as delusional as he is, could understand why. Being plucked from your home and carted off with a circus to who-knows-where would shock anyone. But he's with you, his family is with you, so doesn't that make you feel better?
"... Jester says we're headed somewhere lovely. There's going to be warm weather, and lots of pretty views of the mountains. I could bring you some of the local treats, or maybe a magazine, or—"
"I want to go home, Pierrot."
"..."
Your voice is so devoid of joy these days that it makes Pierrot feel sick. You don't understand that you're already home, that your previous life is meaningless now. Everyone has seen your missing photos, but you don't need to know if they care or not. He hates seeing you so miserable, but there's only so much he can do to try and cheer you up.
But then comes the hunger strike. Ticket Taker had warned Pierrot of this potentially happening, but he didn't want to believe it. Why would his darling refuse to nourish themself? He understands not having the best appetite when you're upset, but it's been going on for days now.
"Stop—! Stop it!" You yell one day, pushing against Pierrot as he firmly holds your arm. He had made you a simple dish of porridge for you to eat, but you were still refusing, and Pierrot's patience was starting to slip.
"My dear, please, you have to eat something. This will be easy on your stomach, and you'll feel much better – I promise!" His grip on you was gentle yet unyielding. He didn't want to hurt you, but he couldn't let this go on for any longer.
"Don't touch me, let me go! Get away from me, get the hell away!" The porridge falls off the spoon as you writhe and kick at Pierrot, but he barely notices it staining the blankets when you're trying to kick him in the head while pressing yourself against the wall. "Get AWAY! I hate you; I hate you so damn much! I hate all of you—!"
Your words are gagged almost immediately as Pierrot nearly slaps you with how fast his hand covers your mouth. His eyes are crazed as his other hand slams into the wall, mere inches from your head. The terrible grate of claws against wood makes you flinch, though it's not nearly as frightening as Pierrot is now. His teeth, always so carefully shown without sharp points, were bared and gritted behind the mask.
"Stop. Talking. Don't say that don'tsaythat—"
His breath catches as he stares down at you, barely breathing as anger burns his skin.
"You don't mean that, you don't. You know you don't, right? I love you so much, don't you say that you hate me, my dear. You're scared and upset, that I understand, but you must understand you needn't be. We love you so much, all of us. We want you happy, safe, and the only way that can be is if you're with us."
His claws are then pulled free while his hand finally moves away from your mouth. You don't make a sound. Pierrot's smile has not returned.
"Don't say that again. Not to me, never to me. You're upset; you don't understand how you feel... but I do. I understand you better than anyone else can hope to. You'll see that eventually."
Slowly, Pierrot turns away for just long enough to gather another spoonful of porridge from the bedside table. When you turn your head away once more, Pierrot's hand darts out to grab your jaw. He forces your jaw to open before shoving the spoon in your mouth. The metal clicks against your teeth painfully, and when it retreats, a large, clawed hand holds your mouth closed too firmly.
"Swallow it. Be good and eat."
The Troupe may be traveling away from your home, but after a couple of weeks being stuck in the trailer, you're willing to get out in the middle of nowhere. The few times you ask to come out to bathe or use the restroom within the trailer are spent with Harlequin at your side. Anyone who isn't driving the trucks or otherwise busy is watching you too, of course, but Harlequin has become your main chaperone.
Why? He's the fastest on foot and can see well in the dark, and with those "ropes" of his it's damn near impossible to escape him, and God knows you've tried. You've tried busting out through every window and door, and Harlequin has always caught you. He's gotten used to you fighting against his grip, and while he claims to adore the way you squirm, he can't ignore the sting in his chest.
"If you keep this up, you're going to make us think that you don't want to be here."
"I don't." The words are spat out as you bend this way and that to fight against Harlequin, but he's too strong. His arms pin yours against your chest tight enough to make you wheeze for a moment. Whether this was intentional or not, you can't tell.
"Hmn, don't be so sure, dear one. We can change your mind."
Your escape attempts were beginning to get you into trouble. The more you tried, the quicker Harlequin was to catch you, even if you tried to switch up your strategy. What made it worse was the light scolding and teasing that your got from him, which felt more and more condescending each time you were caught. But then you went a bit too far.
In a desperate yet planned attempt, you had played along for once when Pierrot had entered your room to try and get you to eat. You smiled at the boy, accepted the dinner with thankfulness, and dared to even let him touch you. You had finally come to your senses, you said. You finally understood that they all loved you, and he drank in every word with the most joy you've seen from him in weeks. Knowing he'd tell the others of your realization and therefore distract them, you asked him to fetch you seconds. The fooled boy couldn't be happier to do so, and in his overwhelming excitement, your door was left unlocked.
The night air bit at your skin as you ran for your life. The clothes on your back did little to warm you as trees flew past you, but the burning of your lungs and legs were enough for now. They had to be until you found something, anything, to hide away from those monsters. You saw that the trailers had passed a town a few hours ago, if you just hid among the trees for long enough, you might have a chance.
But of course, you can't dare to be that lucky, can you? Not when you feel hands and claws digging into your shoulders only minutes after sprinting into the trees. Loose twigs and rocks press into your chest and face as you fall to the ground, winded.
"Caught you, dearest."
You were gasping and choking on dirt while Harlequin pinned down your shoulders, having not a single labored breath escape him. You expected laughter, snide remarks, or the usual relentless teasing, but none of it came. His use of your petname even sounded flat.
"This is getting old, you know."
Harlequin sounds strangely calm as you feel him get off of you and stand up. You're still gasping for air, but you manage a wheeze of protest when you feel Harlequin pick you up beneath your back and knees. You reach up and hit his chest, kick as best you can in your stunned state, and squirm. When you bash your knuckles into his face once and then twice, a tendril wraps tightly around your wrist. In a flash, you feel your limbs being twisted roughly until your bound by your wrists and knees painfully. You can feel your pulse in your skin from how hard the pressure is, and you can almost feel your hands and legs grow tingly with the loss of proper circulation.
"Dearest," Harlequin doesn't look at you as he walks calmly back to the trucks. He is not smiling. "You knew this was going to happen, didn't you? You run, and I catch you, and while it is a fun game... I'm bored of it."
The tendril around your knees tightens imperceivably as they begin to wind down your shins and calves.
"While I'm always up for tricking that mutt, I don't like all of us being tricked, dear one. You give us hope and joy, then run away from us? From me? And you call us cruel."
Your breathing starts to even out again as you watch Harlequin's face. His mask is lightly reddened from where you punched him, but his pointed grin had finally returned.
"Though I must admit, you've gotten me excited. You've made things so much livelier, but perhaps not in the way you'd like them to be. Oh, I wonder what Jester will say when I bring you back, or what expression will be on Bil's face. Hmhm... I almost want to stall, keep you here for a while, and just listen to your blood rush. After all, you seem so impatient for fresh air and green grass; perhaps I should let you enjoy it by crawling back like a kitten."
It turns out that your most recent escape attempt had worn down Jester's patience. Ticket Taker was nearly chomping at the bit to correct you, yet he held himself back under Jester direction. They were all angry, and while punishment was surely in order, discussion was needed. But amidst the debate on how to punish a frail human who was still so scared of them, Doctor had an idea.
During the early days of your travels, the ones where your tears were unstoppable, you had wailed about wanting your friends and family back.
"I have a life back home!' You yelled one day, recoiling from Jester's featherlight touch. "They're everything to me, and you took me from them!"
You were so alike the troupe with keeping your loved ones close, but Doctor found it a bit silly. Yes, your parents, siblings, and friends brought you joy, but how could you not see how they all paled in comparison? Five lovers who would protect you with their lives, would worship your every breath, would tear apart all that dared to snuff out your flame... Was that less than a mere parent or friend?
At first Doctor thought that your want for them would pass. The need for their comfort would wane as you got more used to your new, rightful life, yet it was taking longer than he expected. He heard you crying most nights, whispering their names and praying that someone, anyone, would come and save you —how silly a want, to be "saved" from your partners— from this hell. It seemed that their presence alone brought you comfort, and if it were given, perhaps you'd be calm enough to come to reasoning.
So, while Jester and Ticket Taker spoke about how to handle your behavior, Doctor went to work. After getting the addresses of your family members from your missing posters, Doctor was quick to send a few letters. He mimicked your handwriting as best he could, writing out lines detailing that you were lost and needed them to come and find you. One might think it impossible for your family to run for you when you were nearly days away, but once the forged letters reached their homes, complete with a vague description of where the troupe you were, they flocked like moths to a flame.
The hunt was quick and effortless. The humans couldn't stand a chance against Doctor's claws and needles, yet he was careful. Your parents and a couple of your supposed friends were tied and brought back to Doctor's trailer where he quickly got to work. While away from your hateful gaze, and under the noses of the others, Doctor studied your loved ones.
Your family was weaker than he expected and completely unfit to protect you, their love for you seemed to diminish when they begged to be set free, and they were awful loud. So loud that he, regrettably, had to gag them with cloth so tightly that it cut into their cheeks. Every weakness they showed him only made Doctor wonder more about why you loved them. Of course, he can understand loving someone despite their faults, he has a family himself, but these humans were so... subpar in comparison.
"What a shame. I thought you would be more interesting." Doctor mumbled one night, flicking away bubbles from a syringe as your closest friend lay bound in horror. "But at least you will bring my sweetie some joy. I would love to see them smile again, and they seem to hold you all dear." The usual cyan flickered to crimson as Doctor held the head back of your friend while they writhed against their restraints. His grin could be heard in his voice as the needle pierced their skin.
"You'll bring me joy, too. I've always wanted to try embalming..."
_____
Your reaction to Doctor's gift was expected, yet greatly disappointing.
He had spent so much time getting it right, to make each of your friends and your parents to look lifelike and healthy despite their death, and you were hysterical. He knew that you would be shocked and disturbed at first, but even after you were shocked into complete silence, you didn't seem to understand his explanation.
"Sweetie, I thought that this is what you wanted. You cried so much for your friends and family, so I brought them to you. Of course, they couldn't be kept alive here, so I did the next best thing and made sure they would always be with you."
Your knees ached when you fell to the floor in anguish, too heartbroken and terrified to look away from the lifeless bodies of your loved ones. Their eyes were like glass while their lips were subtly stitched into smiles that used to comfort you. Color had lingered in their skin to leave them looking perfectly healthy, but they didn't move. They didn't breathe. They were nothing more than unblinking dolls.
Doctor sighed and knelt down beside you, brushing away your tears when devastation kept you still. "I am disappointed to see that you are so unhappy, but I think you'll come around to them. Look at it this way; you'll never be wanting your family back, because they will always be right here for you. As will I."
(Image quality went to dookie omgosh. I'll try and fix it later!)
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Here is a bunch of little sketches of Ringmaster, meant for both fun and some brainstorming. keep in mind that this is mostly me rambling about potential ideas!
The Man is similar to Columbina in the way that they are both spirits that are lingering with/haunting the circus. Columbina's reasons are likely out of genuine love, care, and some guilt for the troupe, which has given her a gentle, sort of hidden presence. She is quiet and sweet even in death, wanting only to linger with the group in hopes that they find joy and happiness.
The Man is the opposite. He is a manifestation of his own hatred, anger, pain, and greed. His form is unrelenting, hidden only when he chooses to be, and is driven by his thirst for revenge and power. In death, he is just as imbedded in the groups lives as he was in life. The only difference is that they can't always see him. Though if the living cannot always see a spirit, surely another spirit would be constantly aware of him, right?
In a way, yes. Columbina is very aware of The Man's appearance, she just can't do much about it. She is weak and fueled by her unending gentleness and fire, granting her little power over the burning, blinding rage that consumed the Ringmaster. Though, in contrast, the Ringmaster has far greater control over her than she has over him.
He can't necessarily hurt Columbina, not physically, but he can use her, influence her. Columbina might not recognize that the burning, destructive feeling in her heart is hatred, but he surely does. He can torment her with sick words, have her watch helplessly while he strings MC along to his game, and he'll enjoy every second of it. Columbina? While she may be loving, love can only go so far when you see the people you care for the most being hurt by someone you hate. The hatred could possibly twist her spirit, in only temporarily, and The Man can use that to his advantage.
Even if she refused to let her hatred and anger boil over, he could still use her likeness to play with the group. Her old ribbon showing up in Jester's drawer, her teeth seeming to appear in Harlequin's food, an unmistakable horn replacing the pin in Ticket Taker's jabot... Oh, the fear and sickening confusion in their eyes make the Ringmaster so happy.
While I don't think that this version will be seen much, it is surprisingly fun to draw. This is more or less the design of how I think The Man looked when he was alive. In the game he is a simple blue puppet with a mask, so I had to be rather creative about it, hehe.
Assuming that Harlequin had a specific reason to make his puppet a light blue, I figured that it had to be somewhat prominent with Ringmaster when he was alive. Maybe he often wore blue clothes or a suit while performing as the Ringmaster, or maybe he had the blue eyes of a dead fish, lol. Sure, I could've given him bright baby blues, but the grey-blue looks better, I think, and gives him a sort of uneasy feel.
(Side note, grey/grey-blue eyes are so so soooo pretty)
I didn't necessarily mean to make him look attractive, but I figured he could have some prettiness. Makes it that much more infuriating because you hate him. Oh, I also (tried) to give him a Roman nose! No reason besides I think they are so pretty.
As mentioned before, The Man doesn't care about the pain he brought the circus members. Does he understand what he did and that it was wrong? Maybe, probably, but who cares? He doesn't. Maybe at first he had intentions to help the monsters that were at least somewhat good natured, but the money he earned and could earn blinded him. These monsters were little more than animals to him after a while, just simple animals that happened to be able to talk and think. They were less than humans, and humans are at the top of it all, meaning that it didn't matter what he or other did to them. So long as they were alive, they were his to use and keep.
They were nothing but entertainment, both to the audience and himself.
Also, you may be asking, "Why does the Ringmaster when he was alive look similar to Ticket Taker when we see him in the cafe?" To that I say, I dunno. I don't have a particular reason behind this design, but if I had to make a connection... maybe Ticket Taker needed a face that he knew very well? >:)
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While practicing and planning for a potential animatic for this fella, I am remembering just how difficult it is to animate x_x. Either way, I really enjoy this AU of mine! As much as I adore Pierrot and the others and want them all happy and loved and safe, I can't deny it is so much fun to put them through this pain, hehehehe. It's out of love, I promise.
But brain is buzzing like bees so have this silly mess before I sleeps
Tags/notes: General, nonsensical headcanons and ramblings because I am sleepy. Mostly about bedtime and wholesome eepynes. This may not be my best work but the brain worms cannot contain me. Oh! Reader has autism because shameless self indulgence hehehe.
I think that cuddling with Jester would fix me
Like... lay beside him, leave not a inch of space between, and snuggle. He'd be all warm and would smell good, and you'd be able to put your head against his chest and
Ugh
Let's snuggle and nap with mommy please because omgosh I just KNOW that he would cuddle so nicely. He'd hold you like you were something precious and cradle you and UGH
Also can Pierrot join? pleasePLEASE
Let Pierrot join the snuggle with Jester he'd fit in perfectly. All curled up around you and warm and presently heavy and warm and warm and wa
He can hold you so tightly but then he too can lay on Jester's chest or shoulder and snooze and WAAAAA
The others aren't safe either. Get in the fucking snuggle pile.
Ticket Taker will be beside Doctor while Harlequin is with Pierrot, and his little "ropes" kinda tie everyone together. Doctor is almost engulfing TT and slings an arm over you but it's okay because Bil borderline needs to be pinned down to sleep properly.
TT can reach over and hold your hand while Harlequin feels for your neck or collar to touch your pulse gragrgarrrarsggrr
Also do you think Doctor be like, really good with an autistic human who struggles with transitioning through tasks sometimes? Cuz I could use help with that
You're almost ready for bed but it's getting too late and you don't have enough energy to think so you're just... stuck. And Doctor sees and helps like the cutie he is.
"I see you've already gotten into proper night wear, good. Did you brush your teeth?"
"Mhm."
"Good, you seemed to brush your hair as well. Did you set your phone to charge?"
"Mhm."
"What about water? Did you drink some tonight?"
"Earlier."
"Think you can have a few more swallows?"
"..."
"How about a few sips?"
"... Sips."
"That sounds perfect. Now, go sit down in bed, sip your water, and I'll get your fan and light. Then, you're going to lay back, get comfortable, set your alarms, and drift off. Sound good?"
That sounds silly but it sounds nice to me.
But i think the others would be good too. Pierrot could write out communication cards for you to use when talking is too hard, and Harlequin can doodle on the cards to make them look nice.
Omg do you think you and Pierrot can share communication cards when he's in public and can't talk? Or make him his own, he'll adore it, and Harlequin will doodle on them too.
Bil can double check that your thermostat is at the right temperature, and make sure that the world isn't too loud or quiet for you. Jester can help you get dressed or washed up before bed, and when your head feels too full to sleep, he'll lessen the load by quietly chatting with you to settle the mind.
Here is the little freak! This is actually a slight redesign of a ref I already did a while back, and even this might be tweaked a little in the future.
Since The Man has currently only been shown through Harlequin's puppet as a little blue guy, I didn't have a lot to go off of. So, while sticking to the blue theme, I designed him after an old, slightly twisted ringleader. I imagine the mask has become his actual face and cannot be taken off due to the troupe's (or maybe MC's?) perception of him.
You might say that his outfit is more modern looking and not quite fit for a God-only-knows old ringleader, and I'd say you're right. He is that way because he knows he must blend into a more modern world like how the other circus members did, and also because I think it looks cool.
The riding crop thingy is his weapon of choice, partly because I didn't want to give him a whip even though it'd probably be more accurate. I don't know if he'd have it at first ("at first" being when MC first comes around), but after stirring more fear and therefore gaining more power, he'd be able to manifest a weapon to attack with.
The Man's/Ringmaster's motive is quite simple: Make the monsters who killed him suffer his fate and more.
He is bitter, vengeful, and alarmingly patient, and his afterlife is fueled by that hatred. Does he realize that he was beyond cruel to the monsters? Does he understand that his actions, greed, and sadistic actions ultimately brought about his death? Who knows, and who cares? Because he surely doesn't. The Ringmaster doesn't care that he did wrong, he only cares that his property not only ended his life but ruined all that he had worked so hard to build up.
All he wants is to make them pay, but mere death is too simple. No, the only way to truly taste the revenge his soul craves is to watch each of their minds flake apart until they're nothing but a husk. He's had time to watch them, understand them, and plan just how to break them. He just hasn't had the strength to do so. But now that a lovely human is getting closer than any before them... The Man might finally have his chance.
(^^These doodles were more for fun and potential concepts. Don't take them too seriously, lol. Especially the human doodle, I was trying out a new angle and fumbled it hehe.)
MC will act as his scapegoat and ride further in, so to speak. I still have to figure how exactly how they do and how long The Man has been around for, but MC will be involved, as will Columbina most likely. What I have now in short is...
Ringmaster will be hidden away from the other circus members and will only appear before MC when they are alone, likely in a specific place in the circus grounds. Dunno what that place would be yet, though.
MC will not think Ringmaster is all that strange given he doesn't look much weirder than the others, and when he tells them to keep him a secret, MC, likely thinking it's some game or trick, will agree to play along.
Ringmaster will guide MC to unknowingly harm the other members in small, yet increasingly worse ways. Ie. accidently causing other people to avoid the circus, find a personal item to one of them and bring up memories (I have a particular idea with this, teehee), ask one too many... distressing questions, etc.
As this goes on, the circus boys will get more and more upset and think back on their trauma —which, let's face it, none of them have properly processed or healed from— and feed the Ringmaster. As he gets stronger, he'll be able to get into their heads, hurt them, manipulate them through their fear, maybe force old memories they thought they forgot back into their heads. Eventually The Man will himself known, but by that time, it's too late to get rid of him...
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Woah that's a lot of text
I dunno if many people will find this interesting, but this idea has been swirling in my brain for about a month now and figured I might as well share! Once Artfight decides to load the page, I plan on adding his ref there (albeit suuuuper last minute, like it literally started two hours ago for me). I also have a few ideas for animatics and comics, but those will be posted on my art page @ghostgob00, and rebloged here.
Anyways, hope this is entertaining to read! (-＾〇＾-)
