Hello, Neko! Thank you so much for creating this game. It's amazing♡ So, the question is: How did the circus performers meet each other? Were they born and raised together, or did their paths gradually cross?
Hello! x3
None of them were born together or even near each other at a certain point in their lives, they gradually found each other and ended up settling in a temporary place. When they finally felt comfortable staying together, the man arrived.
You’ll soon see more about how some of them met in some of the AMA answers!
His name is lich, lich possesses a secondary persona of jingle that manifests through a harrowing physical transformation. Standing at a staggering 290cm, this form is a direct inheritance from his father’s side—a dark, ancestral lineage that is purely predatory. His true nature is inherently violent; during a single lapse in control, he massacred 87 people during one of his own shows. The only catalyst for this horrific shift is prolonged exposure to darkness; if he remains without light for too long, his human psyche shatters, allowing the towering monster to take command.
Only Jester and Doctor are aware of this incident, keeping the truth hidden from the rest of the crew to protect Jingle's secret. There was one terrifying instance where Jester was nearly killed when Lich suddenly turned, but Doctor managed to pin him down. It took an agonizingly high dosage of sedatives to finally suppress his massive, 290cm frame and force the transformation to recede.
Jingle lives with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), meaning his "other self" is a distinct, violent altar that takes complete control during a switch. Because of this, he suffers from total dissociative amnesia; he has no memory of his actions, his towering 290cm frame, or the massacre of the 87 victims once he reverts to his host state.
(I hate his father for forcing his mom to produce 💔)
Power and Control in The Freak Circus + Columbina Theorization
This post is personal analysis of the overarching theme of power/control within the story of TFC (sorry, y'all, I had Columbina brainworms and needed to get this typed out since a lot of it has to do with my queen... I apologize if it's a little all over the place), as well as some slight theorization regarding the history of the characters and Columbina's death.
TW: Discussion and mention of SA, human trafficking, discrimination, objectification, dehumanization, and femicide. Please do not read if these topics upset you!
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So, we see from the very first day of the game that the monsters had their autonomy stripped from them by humans, specifically the human man (whom I will refer to as "ring leader"), who takes advantage of their poor circumstances and offers them a place at his circus in exchange for food. The ring leader knew he had some innate power over the monsters, and he used this power to potentially coerce the monsters into working for him, resulting in the control he had over the cast.
At the circus, the monsters are treated incredibly poorly. They were kept in cages, and their food rations – which were the only thing the ring leader had promised them when he asked them to join his circus – were made smaller and smaller, resulting in them growing too weak to fight back. They were promised they would receive something as payment for their service (i.e., food), and then that was taken away from them (in real life, human trafficking is defined by the use of force, fraud, and/or coercion; in this case, what the ring leader did to the monsters would be fraud, and it would eventually become force).
Since we now have three different versions of Columbina's death, as of December 2025, I will be analyzing each scene one by one to piece together what we already have regarding lore, starting with Harlequin's puppet show.
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Harlequin's Tent:
We are shown by Harlequin during his performance on Day 1 that the monsters were not able to flee from or leave the circus because they were all physically too weak and malnourished to do so (they were trapped, and because of that, they no longer had control over their own lives/wellbeing/fate). However, they eventually regain their freedom by killing, and most likely eating, the ring leader who had been responsible for their imprisonment and unjust treatment.
However, to achieve this in the first place, they had to violate the autonomy of one of their own – Columbina, who I must note was also the only woman-identifying member of the group (Brazil, the country in which the characters originate, also has high femicide rates). Columbina additionally had the identity of "angel" thrust upon her by Harlequin in his story, presumably against her will, just to make her death seem like a sacrifice rather than what it truly was – betrayal and murder.
Harlequin also frames Columbina in this scene as a willing sacrifice, wanting them to eat her so they could become human and build a home for all of them. However, the text right after this narration is Columbina pleading with them as she says, "Please, no!", followed by the text below:
Jester: "We have no choice." – The purple text seems to be almost dejected, like this wasn't something any of them wanted to do, but instead just something they had to do. The way it's worded almost takes away any accountability from them and the actions they had to take as a result of their circumstances.
Harlequin: "She is the weakest of us." – The green text highlights the clear power difference/imbalance between Columbina and the rest of the monsters, her physical weakness making her a prime target for what they have to do because she will not be able to fight back.
Ticket Taker: "You will give us the strength to go on." – The white text comes off, to me at least, as trying to comfort Columbina so she knows her death will not be in vain, and that she will be helping them all with her "sacrifice."
Columbina: "PLEASE HELP ME, I DON'T WANT TO DIE." – The pink text highlights that she did not want to die, and that her death was not something she wanted to happen, nor something she consented to. She was killed, and we do not know who she was calling out to in her final moments for aid.
I find it interesting, too, how in Harlequin's play, only he, Jester, and the Ticket Taker comment on the murder and consumption of Columbina, especially since these are the three characters who have been confirmed not to be virgins by the creator. As someone who works with survivors of SA/stalking/human trafficking and as a survivor myself, I just find this particular scene (and Columbina's story as a whole) so chilling because, statistically, most harm-doers are people you know/are close with. Sometimes, they're even people who experienced violence themselves and no longer want to feel powerless, going so far as to violate the autonomy of another.
Now, in no way am I saying that this scene is directly related to or implying SA, but I just found it interesting to take note of, especially considering that Pierrot and The Doctor have no lines of dialogue during this entire scene. They were simply bystanders from Harlequin's perspective, despite them being the two largest members of the circus, and Pierrot being the strongest in terms of physical strength.
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Ticket Taker's Tent:
TT's tent is incredibly interesting as its main theme is to "not trust what you see", and yet, we see a very different tale compared to both Harlequin's and Jester's retellings presented in the mirror at the end of the hall, which TT states is "his favorite." Placing your trust in someone inherently gives them a lot of power over a situation, especially since, if they break your trust, you're in a worse situation than they are. TT puts the MC in a position where they're inherently at a disadvantage (they're in his tent at the circus he helps run), and to make it through his tent, they have to trust what he tells them during their interactions.
Now, in TT's tent, we get to see mirrors for each of the different circus members, with their reflections either interacting directly with or speaking directly to the MC. At the pink mirror, we see who we can presume is Columbina, given the pink eyes and the subsequent scene if you choose to stay and listen to her tale.
In this retelling, we learn that Columbina didn't look as "monstrous" as her companions, and because of this, she was frequently leered at by the humans who found her to be pretty despite "being one of them (a monster)." However, Pierrot was always around to protect her, and presumably the other circus members, due to his large size and immense strength. Because Pierrot acted as a barrier – as something that prevented them from getting what they wanted (i.e., "a problem") – the humans somehow managed to harm him, leaving him physically unable to protect the others (i.e., taking away his power).
We then cut to a scene of everyone trapped inside different cages – everyone except Columbina, who is sitting on the ground in the middle; we can assume this was because the humans did not view her as any kind of a threat, so they felt no need to restrict her the same way they felt the need to do so with the others. She says she is scared of them (the humans) trying to touch her again, and she asks Harlequin if he will "save" her, which he seems confused by.
After this, we overhear the humans talking about their plans; they'll leave the others to starve, and they'll find a use for Columbina. The humans were planning on isolating her completely from her support system (the other monsters), which is a tactic used by abusers against their victims, so the victim feels as though they can only rely on the person abusing them.
This, to me, can also be representative of how some individuals in real life tend to fetishize other groups of people, which is another way of dehumanizing them (the humans don't respect the monsters, but they find themselves viewing Columbina as an exception to their biases/prejudices, potentially knowing that she is the weakest and targeting her specifically to "tame"). I feel like they were planning on trafficking Columbina, as well, and we can presume what kind of trafficking they were planning on doing based on how they talked about her and the fact that Columbina mentioned they had tried to touch her before ("she'll be useful for something"). We also know Brazil has experienced a rise in human trafficking cases, particularly regarding women [1].
Jester then seems to be surprised that Pierrot is alive and hasn't succumbed to his injuries right before Harlequin breaks out of his cage, and he mentions the fact that Columbina is the weakest among them once more. However, instead of crying or begging for her life, she simply tells Harlequin, "Thank you." Pierrot directly talks in this scene, as well, saying "No... no... no...". Harlequin then laughs with tears in his eyes before telling everyone to eat after biting into Columbina's neck.
Jester: "Sorry, [Harlequin]." – Why was Jester apologizing to Harlequin? Was what happened something Jester had mentioned at some point? Was Columbina's death not done in a spur-of-the-moment situation, but rather, planned, or at least talked about beforehand?
Columbina: "No, he wasn't..." – Columbina states that Jester wasn't sorry, but what wasn't he sorry for, exactly? This line brings up a lot of questions.
Now, the story told by the Columbina in TT's Tent shows Harlequin's actions, while most likely not intentionally by him, as merciful – that by killing and eating her, she would not have to endure further abuse by the humans. After this, Columbina thanks the MC for listening, and you leave the tent after not having blinked or moved for quite some time.
This story is completely different from what we have seen from the other characters, and since it's confirmed that everyone remembers what happened differently to cope with her death, I find it so interesting how TT's depiction of the event shows Columbina's death as almost peaceful. I'm a huge sucker for the theory that TT had a paternal relationship with Columbina (based on the screenshot of him kissing her forehead while she was dying/being eaten, his symbol being a teardrop, him being in charge of the pink tent, and the fact he is the oldest among the group; if you're interested in this theory, check out @hexserath's blog under the tag #grievingfathertheory), so it would make sense for his character to view her death not as violent, but as something better for her than the potential abuse she would have had to endure while the rest of them were left to rot.
However, while the Columbina in the mirror could have potentially been her spirit talking with the MC, and while I do enjoy this concept, I do not think that is the case. The reason I say this is because of the easter egg and other flashes of dialogue from her character. In the easter egg, if the MC chooses to name themselves "Columbina", it shows scenes of her violent death, with her text reading, "We are not the same, you and I. I didn't want to, but our fate was cursed. I should have listened to him. It was my fault." (Keep this last line in mind for later.)
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Pink Tent Intermission:
Before we get to Jester's tent, I wanted to talk about the "fools" of the circus. So, we know that the characters cared deeply for Columbina, with all of them being depicted crying in one scene or another over her death. However, I do find it strange that pink – the color that represents Columbina herself (even if we see two different shades of pink for her used throughout the game; one that is more saturated, and one that is more pastel, which we see in Jester's performance) – was chosen for the purpose it was eventually given at the circus. We know that pink tickets are given to people who will either be used as dolls for performances or advertising (i.e., Carol, the unpleasant woman from the café, other "fools") or as a source of food for the circus members (as shown in the bad end on Day 1 regarding the MC's fate).
While them wanting to have Columbina and her memory remain a crucial part of the circus makes sense, especially since her death resulted in them being able to become human and create the circus as their new home, I do find it almost cruel that the pink tickets are given to people who are "sacrifces" that are used for their bodies in one way or another (either as meat for the circus members to consume, or as mindless dolls to be used in the different performances or tents).
Given that we can assume that Columbina was frequently a target of unwanted advances, both from humans and her own kin alike (i.e., Harlequin), and was a victim of abuse just as much as the rest of the cast was, it feels almost... distateful to me that her violent death is memorialized in such a way by the circus. Though, perhaps the monsters simply grieve and mourn differently than humans, which wouldn't be a stretch considering Jester's comments about how love is perceived in the valley where they once lived.
It's also strange to me that those dressed in pink are called "fools", which Harlequin talks about in Day 2, especially considering that fool is something demeaning you would call another person who you would consider to be unintelligent or naive. I find Columbina saying "it was my fault" in her scene in the naming easter egg to be something to note, and it makes me wonder if Columbina was the one who first made contact with the humans and, because of her naivety, was coerced or tricked into making a deal with the ring leader that resulted in the poor conditions she and her companions then were forced to endure. This would make sense why those who wear pink at the circus are deemed "fools" to mirror Columbina's own naive actions.
Harlequin mentions in his play that the man who asked the monsters to work for him would give them food in return for their services. Perhaps the monsters were experiencing famine in the valley, and Columbina believed the human man would be able to help them. This is just a theory for right now, though, at least until more information is revealed throughout the story.
To tie this little rant back to power and control, I desperately want to know how the circus chooses those who receive pink tickets. Since we know Carol is currently at the circus as a fool, it makes me wonder how she ended up there – was she kidnapped, or was she invited to the circus much like the MC was? We know from the brief interaction between the MC and Boss that Carol has a turbulent home life, so did this make her a target for the circus? In real life, most predators tend to find victims who don't have many people to rely on or other traits that make someone an "easy" target, so it's not too far of a stretch. This also makes me wonder why the MC was given a pink ticket, too. Did TT know the MC lives alone, or was there something inherently apparent about the MC that made them seem like a prime target (i.e., naivety)? Here's an interesting post/theory regarding the fools, particularly in reference to TT!
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Jester's Tent:
In Jester's play on Day 2, we get to see the events Harlequin depicted in his puppet show as something almost completely different. For one, Jester uses the human fools as actors, resulting in the death of the one woman actor, who was assigned to play Columbina, at the hands of the actor meant to represent Harlequin. So far, we have seen Jester and Pierrot directly killing people in their performances, which I think is another important thing to note for the future; I don't have much more to say about this at the current moment, but I do find it quite interesting that this is the case (Harlequin uses puppets, The Doctor doesn't kill anyone on-screen during his tent sequence, and Ticket Taker has no one else in the tent while we're there).
Jester's story focuses on Columbina and Pierrot's relationship ("forbidden love") rather than their prior interactions with humans/the history of the circus. In his play, he highlights how Columbina was "delicate, with no claws, almost no fangs," and how Pierrot would be incredibly gentle, going so far as to hide his claws (the monstrous aspects of himself), so as not to accidentally harm her. However, Harlequin, who is described as The Poison by Jester, shows great envy towards the two and their relationship. He seems to wish that Columbina would look at him in the same way she does Pierrot, and that he would become angry whenever she "slipped away from his attempts at seduction."
Jester notes that Columbina's heart "beat differently" for Harlequin (which could have been from fear of him, since she states that "something inside of you scares me" when talking with him). However, in this moment of rejection and heartbreak, Harlequin kills Columbina, which Pierrot ends up stumbling upon. Her final words are "Please... Please don't [Harlequin]." This is followed by the following lines of dialogue:
Ticket Taker: "Why... did you do that?" – Blue text (not white, which is interesting given that TT seems to switch between white and blue text, with the white text being used for him on Day 1 during Harlequin's performance). This is the same dialogue we have seen in previous moments from him that expresses a feeling of shock because of Harlequin's actions.
Harlequin: "Someone had to do it, obviously." – Green text; new dialogue that was not shown in any other scene regarding this moment. Harlequin states that someone had to do it (murder), and that Columbina's death was an obvious choice; he comes off as almost callous and cruel.
Pierrot: "No... no... no..." – Yellow text with the same dialogue we have seen in a similar scene from TT's Tent. Once again shows how much emotional turmoil this caused Pierrot, especially since he didn't have the power to protect Columbina in this moment.
Jester finishes his performance by stating, "Because in the valley of monsters, love is just another way to devour each other." This is something that could certainly be a cultural difference between their species and humans, though it could have just been the culture of monsters living within the valley, since they had been forgotten and left to starve, making food and hunger something important to them. After this, we get the text, "We have no choice.", in purple, with Jester once again reiterating they didn't have a choice regarding the actions they took toward Columbina. Were they forced to do it, or did they simply believe there were no other routes they could take, given their physical weakness/loss of power?
Now, Jester's story is interesting because Harlequin's murder of Columbina is painted to be done because of jealousy, not out of mercy (as depicted by TT) or as something that needed to be done so they could be free (as depicted by Harlequin, who also called Columbina an "angel" for her sacrifice). I really enjoy Harlequin's character, but it's clear that he is depicted in Jester's retelling of the events as being selfish, greedy, and envious, resulting in him killing someone he cared for in a fit of anger (or to purposefully harm Pierrot, similar to the idea "if I can't have her, no one can"). This particular retelling is a bit unnerving compared to the others, showing Harlequin's seeming entitlement to Columbina, her love, and her affections, despite her not wanting to have that kind of relationship with him. This is very frequently a reason behind a lot of harm done to women by men who feel wronged or slighted by the woman not reciprocating the feelings they believe they deserve.
After his show, Jester's final words to the MC are that, if they try to run, they will be found; he wants the MC to know how powerless they are in the current situation, and he seems to have no problem making them aware of it. We know that Jester is the only member of the cast who fully hates humans, and that he is the appointed leader of the circus (we do not know the full details behind why at this point in time, but being a leader is a very high position of power).
The fact that he can control another person's mind, turning them into "dolls", is quite concerning. Calling someone a "doll" is clear objectification and dehumanization in this case, and since Jester's ability leaves people unable to move or act of their own free will, it takes away from them all of their autonomy and choice. Pierrot even tells the MC to not speak or move after putting a mask over their face and telling them to simply act like a doll, which indicates to me that this is how humans under Jester's influence act when not being given direct orders (which, later in the mentioned scene with Pierrot, results in Harlequin coming in and immediately taking advantage of the situation, saying "I must be really lucky today!" when he sees the MC chained to the bed).
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...So, yeah. This was my big, long braindump because I'm very interested in the truth behind my beloved Columbina's death (and I'm very passionate about discussing the inappropriate amount of violence that women face across the world). Let me know your thoughts on my nonsense haha! I tried to compile/analyze all of the retellings of this particular event from the characters so far. It's really interesting to me that we haven't seen what happened from Pierrot's or The Doctor's POVs yet, and I'm very curious to see if we will.
On that note... surprise!!!
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Bonus Pierrot Analysis:
Pierrot calls the player "my sweet angel" (the same mioniker/theme that is tied to Columbina) at the end of Day 1 if you eat the circus food or his cake, likening you to his deceased lover (who we know he felt drawn to because she was kind and gentle with him, as told by Jester). He then says, while you're passed out, "Don't make me devour you, too."
The next day, when the MC wakes up, Pierrot tells them that there were other eyes "trying to devour" them (that specific word is used again by Pierrot, and it's the same word used by Jester during his performance), and that you "looked like prey" while passed out – highlighting his desire to keep you safe and under his watch, but also noting that he does view you, to some degree, as prey/helpless/weak (he seems to be aware that he is a predator/much stronger than you). He then mentions that you were breathing slowly and you weren't moving, saying, "it was like... like you were going to disappear forever, like..." (like Columbina?) before quickly stating he would never hurt you "like that" (murder? assault?).
We know that Pierrot's main color is yellow (his eyes, his text), and yet, he's forced to wear red. Red symbolizes love and passion, but it is also a color closely associated with anger. We also know that Pierrot was assigned this color by Jester as a punishment (red also being the color used for the humans who harmed the cast). Now, this brings up the question – did Pierrot hurt Columbina in some way, or was he more involved in her death than he remembers? Sometimes people black out in moments of intense anger, so could that be a potential reason? In the Commedia dell'arte, the character Columbina cheats on her husband Pierrot with Harlequin, so do the characters' inspirations/historical origins play a major role in TFC?
For right now, though, there are not enough clues pointing to Pierrot potentially being the one who killed Columbina when compared to Harlequin, who is depicted in all the stories as being the one behind her death. All we have is Pierrot mentioning not wanting to devour the MC "too", but this could simply be because he was fed part of Columbina by the other members of the circus to get his strength up after being attacked/injured. Though, in Jester's play, Pierrot says, "I'll find a way to be together forever..." before it cuts to a shot of an open mouth with sharp teeth moving towards the camera after Columbina is killed, implying that Pierrot ate her remains willingly so the two could be together even after her death.
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...Man, I really do love lore analysis. If anyone is interested, I could do an analysis of the mirrors in the Ticket Taker's tent (because his tent was so, so cool).
I think that Ticket Taker is projecting his grief over Columbina onto Jester
I have personally found Ticket Taker’s deep devotion to Jester very odd and unsettling. At one point I even thought that Jester heavily manipulated Ticket Taker during his grief. Since he was likely the most affected by Columbina’s death. I say this because TT knew Columbina the longest and even nursed her back to health after she was likely neglected by her family (which, he may similarly see with Carol and her family dynamic). Also, remember, TT’s symbol is a teardrop, which represents grief; this vulnerability can be seen as exploitable. But I think the ‘devotion’ he has for Jester may derive from something else.
Yes, a big part of TT’s devotion likely stems from Jester’s leadership after her death. As everyone was grieving Columbina, Jester took initiative. That point has been made abundantly clear.
But there has to be something more. I personally believe that Ticket Taker is a deeply passionate individual. From the way he talks about Jester, it's clear that he can eloquently express his feelings in a remarkably vivid way. Passion stems from strong emotions, and despite the cold exterior we see from TT, those emotions seem to run deep.
One particularly strong emotion is love. Apart from how profitable love can be, why else might TT like Valentine’s day? Is it because he’s perhaps romantic himself? Is it nostalgia? Or does it simply remind him of someone?
Here are some main reasons why I believe that Ticket Taker is projecting onto Jester:
TT’s design is theatrical. It isn’t just meant to convey formality. From his outfit to his dramatic mask, every aspect of his appearance reflects that. He appreciates musicals and theatre, which likely influences his persona. I’ve discussed this before, but the reason I bring it up is because theatre is likely significant to his identity.
Think about the way he performs. I believe those reflections/illusions come from his own movements and his “acting” of the other characters. They stem not only from said ‘acting’, but from his memories as well.
I am convinced that he and Columbina would attend theatres together, and perhaps Columbina herself had a passion for acting, singing, or dancing.
If you’re familiar with my other theories, you know that I believe Ticket Taker is a walking memorial for Columbina. He has accepted that as his identity, carrying the burden of grief so that her memory can live on. That is why he is remarkably dedicated. Because he is dedicated to her.
But who else is he dedicated to? Jester.
Jester is the only one TT seems to attend theaters with and they share a mutual appreciation for many things. They have commonalities. Jester is not the only character TT has common traits with, but they stand out specifically. Jester could also be his social outlet, since he doesn’t seem to spend as much time with the others (aside from when they’re all joined together for things like meals or meetings).
Masculinity, Femininity, and Androgyny
Ticket Taker and Columbina are represented by the colors blue and pink. Columbina is coquettish or feminine. Ticket Taker is traditionally masculine. And Jester is androgynous.
Referring back to the contrast color image, androgyny can be perceived as somewhat of an intersection between masculinity and femininity.
One reason why I believe Columbina was coquette is not only because of the color pink but also with how Carol (Imaginably TT’s main fool) is presented.
In this frame, Carol is standing properly, looking more ‘soft’ compared to the other fools. She represents Ticket Taker’s ‘sweet and innocent’ view of Columbina. This image that he has is an idealized version of Columbina.
Here are a few reasons why I believe that Ticket Taker resembles ‘traditional masculinity.’ He falls into the ‘old-fashion man’ trope, particularly one that you’d expect an older, traditional man to have (which is also a reason why I think he and Harlequin don’t get along. TT can be seen as representing tradition, while Harlequin can represent new-gen youth).
This ‘traditional masculinity’ can be demonstrated in many things he does. He handles finances, serves as one of the organizers of the troupe, he also seems to have some sort of authority in the troupe (or at least is seen as one by Pierrot in particular). TT also values control and order (and may even view himself as the one responsible for delivering them).
Some of his dialogue can also be interpreted as reflecting traits/attitudes traditionally associated with masculinity or at least authority.
For example, he sounds like a strict father here.
I don’t think I need to speak too deeply about Jester’s androgyny. His tunic and pants are more masculine but is balanced by his heels boots, gloves, and hair.
Also, if you look at Jester’s purple directly under the light, it looks more pinkish. I suspect TT’s abilities involves lighting also so that may be something.
Ticket Taker’s Idealization of Jester
Ticket Taker does not simply see Jester as a colleague or a friend, he puts him on a pedestal. Quite dramatically at that. He even goes to the odd extent to call Jester a god. This is idealization and is likely a coping mechanism to account for the presence he no longer has. Columbina can be considered an anchor of sorts in Ticket Taker’s life. She created structure in his day-to-day, gave him purpose, and was likely crucial to his comfortable routine.
But he also idealized her. In the Tent of Mirrors, Columbina’s mirror is his favorite. It is also the largest mirror in the row and looms the tallest. But here is an additional detail: her mirror is significantly taller and larger than his own mirror. Yes, it is tallest in comparison to all the mirrors, but especially his. I believe this is to show his idealization and therefore him putting her on a rather intense pedestal.
Idealization is not healthy.
And here, Ticket Taker idealizes Jester, going as far as to compare him to a god.
I don’t believe that he sees Jester at the same intensity and passion as he does for Columbina. His affection for her is unadulterated and absolute. No one comes close to her place. He practically lives for her as an extension. This was likely a way for him to console himself over the fact that he couldn't take her place.
So essentially, Jester is ‘close enough’ to resembling Columbina. Purple is close to pink. Purple is close to blue. He is an intersection and a balance. Which may also explain why Ticket Taker is so protective of Jester.
He protects Jester similarly to how he protects Carol, who many (including myself) believe is someone he also projects Columbina onto.
In essence, Jester’s androgyny aligns with Ticket Taker’s representation of masculinity; he also acts as a counterbalance to Columbina’s absence of femininity in Ticket Taker’s life. However, said balance is not as strong as how Columbina’s feminity matched with it, but it is similar. Since androgyny is not just femininity.
Columbina is irreplaceable to Ticket Taker. No one will ever replace her. There can only be a projection of what she was onto someone else.
This may be a reason why Ticket Taker and Jester are able to ‘work in remarkable harmony.’
However, androgyny does not need to relate to binary masculine and feminine concepts so there’s that to consider also.
Jester is a character who intrigues me and whom I don't quite understand. At first, I was almost certain he would end up being the "villain," who had precisely manipulated everything to remain in command, as the leader, gaining everyone's trust and reverence, especially that of the strongest (Pierrot), and turning Harlequin into the "scapegoat." Especially because of what we see in Columbine's mirror (which I'm still not clear on—is it her as a ghostly presence or the TT version of the story? I thought it was the latter, but most people seem to treat it as "the Columbine version," so now I don't know, haha, I'm confused).
That comma is just too suspicious… many think it refers to Jester saying he would give Pierrot his own flesh to feed him, but with the comma there, it seems more like he's giving an order? Although it could also be that, being weak, the comma means he's taking a moment to speak because it's difficult for him (but wouldn't it be more appropriate to use (…) in that case? idk)
Then… the fact that when Harlequin kills Columbina, he only says
Everyone else seems affected, shocked, reacting as if they hadn't expected it…but not Jester. He's calmer…as if he already knew it was going to happen.
But what made me doubt him the most and believe for a long time that he was definitely going to be "the bad guy" was when Jester apologized to Harlequin…I mean, why would he apologize to him?
I couldn't help but think that Jester (if he has the ability to control minds) had used this ability to control Harlequin and thus carry out his plan (1. Because he, himself could no longer move, and/or 2. This way, all the blame would fall on Harlequin, Pierrot's hatred would be directed at him, and Jester could retain/gain Pierrot's respect and loyalty, who, as I mentioned, is the strongest member of the group and therefore extremely convenient).
And the final nail in the coffin of my theory was Columbina saying the following:
I thought she obviously meant that Jester didn't feel bad about what he had done, that the forgiveness he asked Harlequin for wasn't sincere…
But now I have another theory… I've started to see Jester differently. Where I firmly believed that Jester would end up being a villain like Mother Gothel/Rika from Mystic Messenger, I think he might be more like Triton from The Little Mermaid or Lucifer from Obey Me xd hahaha okay let me explain.
Do I still think Jester is a manipulator? Yes, but I'm no longer 100% sure he does it with the intentions I initially thought. After certain comments Neko has made about Jester's character and the way he relates to his "family," I think he truly loves them in his own way, that his manipulation isn't intended to harm them (and if it did, it would be unintentional), but rather that he seeks to protect them in his own way, or in the way he believes is right (being aware that this is forged by years of abuse, which obviously makes him biased). While what I mentioned above about Jester manipulating Harlequin to devour Columbine might have happened, I don't believe he did it to make Harlequin the only culprit so he could be free of blame in the eyes of the others and take command, gaining the complete devotion and blind loyalty of the other members, damn it! Now I even think the only reason Harlequin took on the role of villain was because Jester truly couldn't move back then… I think that perhaps if things had been different, either 1. As many others have mentioned, he would have let Pierrot devour him (perhaps so that he would gain strength and, being the strongest, could save the others?) or 2. He would have taken on the villain role that Harlequin did, being the one who sacrificed Columbine (heck, now I even think that maybe there wasn't any use of mind control abilities; perhaps Jester and Harlequin, before being locked up, talked about possible ways to escape… and Harlequin, seeing that Jester (and the others) were no longer able to move (but he could), decided to take the only option he saw as viable at that moment).
So, what did Columbina mean when she said “He wasn’t”? I think maybe she wasn't responding to Jester, but to Pierrot.
Because these are the previous dialogues.
Columbina's first "No" comes after Pierrot asks, "Why are you smiling?"
And then we cut to Harley's crazy laughter (which, if you ask me, starts like when you're about to write a sob, but I don't know, haha).
And then Columbina continues with, "He wasn't."
I think Columbina was actually answering Pierrot, saying, "No. He wasn't smiling (he was crying)."
So, if this were the case, why would Jester be asking Harlequin for forgiveness?
Because Jester knew that Harlequin had been cornered into making the most difficult decision of all, to bear the heaviest burden of guilt (and perhaps the original plan was for Jester to "sacrifice" himself in some way (either feeding Pierrot or him being the one killing Columbina), but now, being unable to move, that role had to be taken by Harlequin; perhaps that's why he asked for forgiveness, because he somehow felt he had failed him and had left him no other option but being the one who carried all the blame).
And... honestly, I don't know what I'm trying to say with all this other than that I'm very confused about Jester's character, lol.
I don't know what his true intentions are; maybe both interpretations I made of him are wrong, but who knows... only time will tell.
I really want to believe that this second version I have of him is the closest to reality :c I think it would break Pierrot's heart (and TT's and Doctor's too xd maybe) if it were any other way. Besides, Harlequin, being the youngest and yet making his own decision without any kind of manipulation or mind control to take on the role of villain in order to save everyone else (yes, even Columbina; maybe at that moment that was the only way to fulfill her request to save her) and carrying all that hatred and guilt of his own free will, would have more weight for me, it would be more cruel and painful, and that fascinates me xd
Well, these are just my theories?? Observations? Analysis? I honestly have no idea what this is… and I also have no idea if anyone actually made it this far, but if you did, thank you, you deserve a prize (for wasting your time on this pointless nonsense I just made up xd). Here's a lollipop (it's not drugged, I swear :3)
Thanks for reading this far. It's the first time I've done something like this, so I think it's all over the place xd. I hope it's understandable enough since I'm using a translator…
And if you want to leave your opinion, I'm really interested in how other people perceive or understand the character of Jester. Maybe that will help me understand him better, haha, because this guy really confuses me, and I have no idea how to write him.
Do you think at the start pierrot was actually dressed as a pierrot and he was chosen for the role because he refused to talk to the other members after the incident and the crying makeup was used to hide his tears.
In my heart he had long luscious hair showing off I promise you.
I feel like thats the reason he doesnt talk much either, cause hes used to giving silent treatment.
I would cry too on days end honestly if my crush got eaten and I had to eat them too.
Okay let’s fr do a realistic assessment of how Ticket Taker will more than likely treat MC as a partner (don’t take this too seriously tho, I could be wrong lol):
He would be possessive, protective, and still be manipulative. That’s a key feature of his personality that we can’t forget. He would be soft in certain moments when it’s between the two of you but outside of that he will likely be cold (but keep an eye out for you).
Ticket Taker can switch pretty quickly. So he may be moody one minute but soft in the next. He might use this to subtly manipulate you to keep you close, eager for more, and dependent on him. I think he likes dependency to some degree. It gives him control over you but he also seems to express his affections through action. So being in a provider-like role is what he’s used to and how he shows his love.
Despite his hard exterior he would be very devoted and passionate, though his tendencies are strategic and manipulation-based. That might be how he’s able to express romantic love also. Or knows how to. It’s probably just how he is in general. I’m not saying he’s never going to be lovey dovey or clingy, but I don’t think you should expect a Pierrot romance or the whole “gentleman” schtick often associated with him.
Dominate-coded characters like him show affection through attention. He is an ambitious and busy man who has likely dedicated many if not most parts of himself to honoring her. He is older, time is valuable (and money!). He works through schedules so he will likely incorporate you into said schedule to make time for you (which is cute bc that means you get undivided time w him hehe).
He likely has some form of attachment issues from Columbina’s death (assuming his persona is rooted and defined in grief) so he may not be the most emotionally regulated (even though he “seems” to be calm). I don’t think when it comes to profound emotions he knows how to deal well with them completely and we may over-inflate his perceived “stability.” But, as I said, I could be wrong.
Trust seems to be a key component in his value framework. Instead of being excessively lovey like Pierrot might be, he will likely mark you as a “exception” of sorts and follow accordingly. He would trust you which seems to be an extremely difficult thing to earn from him. Keep that in mind. He would also expect you to trust him (if that wasn’t obvious from his tent lol). He may test you. Use guilt-tripping tactics, etc. It’s all about keeping you his and in love with him. Just not in the healthiest ways. I don’t think he (like the others) are healthy lovers.
I think Ticket Taker would do something questionable (perhaps crossing some boundaries) but frame it as him knowing what’s best for you, “This is because I love you.” Making decisions for you, stuff like that.
I think affection for him is intertwined with control. Control seems to be at the center of a good bit of his intentions and actions. It seems to just be how he is. He talks about control, trust, and obedience A LOT. Hard values for him it seems. I think he is also self-sacrificing.
But here’s a bit of a lighter note:
I think he would find particular beauty in his lover’s eyes. He’s talked about eyes at least three times in game so far and is noted to be an observer. Well, that makes sense considering that eyes and observation can be associated with control. Staring can be an unspoken way of exerting dominance. That’s likely why he doesn’t like being observed himself.
Eyes are also the “windows to the soul.” They’re reflective, like mirrors. So it’s likely how he best reads people.
I also like to imagine that when he’s in love with someone he would stare at them often. Likely savoring your smile, the way your hair tucks behind your ear, the way you breathe. Things like that. Which is funny considering how his eyes seem to work. You wouldn’t even be able to tell he’s staring sometimes!
I personally really want to listen to his heartbeat. I think monsters show intimacy that way. I feel like even his heartbeat would try and be controlled lol (but maybe when we’re around it beats like crazy 👀)
I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT MASKS AND MAKEUP IN THE CIRCUS (and as for how these masks work with all these face expressions)
(I think someone has already said something similar, but I don't really read many theories, so I apologize in advance tehee~)
ANYWAY!
As you may have noticed, some of the circus members have black "spots" on certain parts of their faces.
For example, Pierrot has a black spot on the back of his head (yes i know it's a wound where his hair was pulled out, but anyway...)
Harlequin also has similar black marks:
And in the day two, Harlequin makes it clear that on their faces are not makeup, is it masks:
This suggests that circus members use white makeup to cover their necks and the areas closest to them (and Harlequin is just a lazy asshole who doesn't want to cover his fat double chin)
This idea was also inspired by Neko's answer to someone's question.
It mentioned that they uses a lot of makeup in the circus (but I couldn't find this answer from Neko no matter how hard I tried).
It could also mean that their skin is actually black under their makeup on the neck (or that it's not skin at all...)
I also have another theory about how the masks and emotions on it work's!
(It's probably not worth thinking too deeply about this, as it can be attributed to the author's style and game conventions. It would be boring to watch characters with the same facial expressions, but it's late, so you'll have to read my ramblings he-he)
Have you even watched the movie "The Mask" starring Jim Carrey?
Do you see where I'm going with this?
I think the "mechanism" of circus artists masks may be similar (not in terms of changing their personalities when they put them on).
Initially, when you hold the mask in your hands, it feels solid and more like a piece of wood, but once you put it on, it "melts" and becomes a part of your face, allowing you to mimic and express the emotions of the person wearing the mask.
I mean...
since there are monsters with magic??? in this novel, why wouldn't there be a "magical artifact" in the form of a mask that captures your facial expressions?
