Silly

Pierrot can't spell :c

To celebrate me reaching 15k subscribers on YouTube, I recently hosted a livestream where I played through the entirety of The Freak Circus and (try to) voice all of the characters! There were some good moments, confusing moments, and lots of me getting bullied actively by my own voice!

Thank you to everyone who joined the stream, it was a fantastic experience and I do hope to stream a lot more in the near future. If you want to be alerted whenever I go live in the future and you haven’t already done so, go follow me on twitch @ Darthsuki!

Hello everyone! This is the last batch of answers from the first AMA! It started before the Day 2 update was released, so after this I’ll begin posting the answers from the second AMA, which started after the update! (Just a reminder that questions are asked only on Patreon so I can make sure I’m able to answer everyone.) A few small announcements: next week, the latest comic about Pierrot’s classic outfit will be posted! It will most likely be shared on the new official blog, where all the official information about TFC will be gathered to give you an easier source of reference and help answer your questions, since I’ll have help moderating it! However, his ask box will only reopen next week, and there will be a few rules so that the moderators and I can better help answer your questions. I’ll also be reposting the official blog content here to help guide everyone to the right information! (As you may have noticed, my ask box on this blog is currently closed, because I’m no longer able to keep up with answering everyone.) The oficial TFC blog: https://www.tumblr.com/freakcircusofhorrors Português:

Olá Pessoal! Este é a última coletânea de respostas da primeira sessão do AMA! Ela começou antes do lançamento da atualização do Dia 2, então, depois disso, começarei a postar as respostas da segunda sessão, que começou após a atualização! (Só para lembrar que as perguntas são feitas apenas no Patreon, para que eu possa garantir que consiga responder a todos.)

Alguns pequenos avisos: na próxima semana, a nova história em quadrinhos sobre o traje clássico do Pierrot será publicada! Ela provavelmente será compartilhada no novo blog oficial, onde todas as informações oficiais sobre TFC serão reunidas para facilitar a consulta de informações e ajudar a responder às suas perguntas, já que terei ajuda na moderação!

No entanto, a askbox só será reaberta na próxima semana, e haverá algumas regras para que os moderadores e eu possamos ajudar melhor a responder às suas perguntas. Também republicarei o conteúdo do blog oficial aqui para ajudar a direcionar todos para as informações corretas!

(Como vocês devem ter notado, minhas asks neste blog estão temporariamente fechadas, pois não consigo mais responder a todos.) Blog oficial do TFC: https://www.tumblr.com/freakcircusofhorrors

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!

Pierrot

I don't know why it just popped into my mind to make this comic as you ask the circus members.

Just MC feigning innocent or not.

Without the text:

Now I’m told this isn’t an otome game for anyone, just a story he’s telling. And he’s right—it’s his story, one that’s blown up and loved by so many. He’s done nothing wrong; he’s been through so much and is utterly exhausted, he deserves to rest well.

Now about me: Why am I getting attacked just for voicing my opinion? Those comments might seem sharp to others, but even with the translator possibly toning down some of their harshness, I could still tell. I’ve tried my absolute best to explain gently and patiently that I wasn’t forcing anything. I’m a player too, and I truly love this game—why can’t I show my dedication and love? Why can’t I offer suggestions and speak my mind? I never tagged the official or forced them to take my advice. Yes, many people like my works, but that doesn’t mean I can’t voice my opinions or show my emotions.

You say Neko shouldn’t be denied the right to enjoy different fanworks just because he’s popular—what about me? Just because I’m not the official creator, do I have to shut my mouth and say nothing? Is my love not real? Are my emotions not real?

"If you don’t like it or can’t accept it, then don’t stay—this game isn’t for you."

Is this driving me away? Just because I don’t like one thing? Maybe it’s a translation issue, or maybe I’m overthinking and overwrought, but those words truly broke my heart. I’ve never loved a game this much. Yesterday, in the comments of that post, I even said Neko can create whatever he wants—whatever he wants, I’ll just avoid that part myself. No matter what endings he writes, they’ll be great; his storytelling and character writing are unparalleled, I adore them deeply, and I’ll keep loving this game no matter what.

But in the end, those words felt exactly like I’m being chased away. I just…

I’m sorry, I’ve been in a really bad place lately. Graduation pressure and the helplessness of my declining creative ability are weighing on me so heavily. Let me be alone and sort things out.

★2nd Edit ★ Neko mentioned there would be polyamorous endings, but never said the male leads would also develop romantic feelings for each other. I always thought their affections revolved around the MC—this part was never disclosed, which is why I’m so heartbroken.

★3rd Edit ★ What does this even mean? Wasn’t Pierrot’s entire character from the start supposed to only love the MC? If this plot is added, then what were all of Pierrot’s feelings for the MC up until now? Does this mean that if someone else is gentle to Pierrot later on, he will fall in love with them too? I’m literally going crazy…Honestly, before this, a lot of people asked me: “After the MC, if someone else is gentle to Pierrot or offers him help, will Pierrot fall in love with that person?” I always thought those people were just being insecure—until I read this. Now I realize their fears were valid, and I’m losing my mind too.

★4th Edit★ I’m truly, truly sorry!! I just found out from others why I was seen as an opponent. I only meant to reply to one comment under that post initially, but I couldn’t find the option to reply to it individually, so I had to reblog the original post directly. On top of that, my wording and tone came off as overly harsh, making people think I was pressuring Neko not to create such content and opposing this ship. I’m really sorry about this—it’s entirely my fault. I didn’t consider how much hurt this would cause or how you all would feel. I sincerely apologize, and I’ve fully realized my mistake... I won’t engage in these conflicts anymore. I just want to wait for the upcoming storyline, and I’m really looking forward to it. ＼＼\٩( 'ω' )و //／／

My only worry was that I’d be forced to see obvious shipping moments between Pierrot and Harlequin when playing the main story. If that won’t happen, then I’m totally relieved.(๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

Now I’m told this isn’t an otome game for anyone, just a story he’s telling. And he’s right—it’s his story, one that’s blown up and loved by so many. He’s done nothing wrong; he’s been through so much and is utterly exhausted, he deserves to rest well.

Now about me: Why am I getting attacked just for voicing my opinion? Those comments might seem sharp to others, but even with the translator possibly toning down some of their harshness, I could still tell. I’ve tried my absolute best to explain gently and patiently that I wasn’t forcing anything. I’m a player too, and I truly love this game—why can’t I show my dedication and love? Why can’t I offer suggestions and speak my mind? I never tagged the official or forced them to take my advice. Yes, many people like my works, but that doesn’t mean I can’t voice my opinions or show my emotions.

You say Neko shouldn’t be denied the right to enjoy different fanworks just because he’s popular—what about me? Just because I’m not the official creator, do I have to shut my mouth and say nothing? Is my love not real? Are my emotions not real?

"If you don’t like it or can’t accept it, then don’t stay—this game isn’t for you."

Is this driving me away? Just because I don’t like one thing? Maybe it’s a translation issue, or maybe I’m overthinking and overwrought, but those words truly broke my heart. I’ve never loved a game this much. Yesterday, in the comments of that post, I even said Neko can create whatever he wants—whatever he wants, I’ll just avoid that part myself. No matter what endings he writes, they’ll be great; his storytelling and character writing are unparalleled, I adore them deeply, and I’ll keep loving this game no matter what.

But in the end, those words felt exactly like I’m being chased away. I just…

I’m sorry, I’ve been in a really bad place lately. Graduation pressure and the helplessness of my declining creative ability are weighing on me so heavily. Let me be alone and sort things out.

★2nd Edit ★ Neko mentioned there would be polyamorous endings, but never said the male leads would also develop romantic feelings for each other. I always thought their affections revolved around the MC—this part was never disclosed, which is why I’m so heartbroken.

★3rd Edit ★ What does this even mean? Wasn’t Pierrot’s entire character from the start supposed to only love the MC? If this plot is added, then what were all of Pierrot’s feelings for the MC up until now? Does this mean that if someone else is gentle to Pierrot later on, he will fall in love with them too? I’m literally going crazy…Honestly, before this, a lot of people asked me: “After the MC, if someone else is gentle to Pierrot or offers him help, will Pierrot fall in love with that person?” I always thought those people were just being insecure—until I read this. Now I realize their fears were valid, and I’m losing my mind too.

★4th Edit★ I’m truly, truly sorry!! I just found out from others why I was seen as an opponent. I only meant to reply to one comment under that post initially, but I couldn’t find the option to reply to it individually, so I had to reblog the original post directly. On top of that, my wording and tone came off as overly harsh, making people think I was pressuring Neko not to create such content and opposing this ship. I’m really sorry about this—it’s entirely my fault. I didn’t consider how much hurt this would cause or how you all would feel. I sincerely apologize, and I’ve fully realized my mistake... I won’t engage in these conflicts anymore. I just want to wait for the upcoming storyline, and I’m really looking forward to it. ＼＼\٩( 'ω' )و //／／

My only worry was that I’d be forced to see obvious shipping moments between Pierrot and Harlequin when playing the main story. If that won’t happen, then I’m totally relieved.(๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

A nightmare? Or a strange visitor in the night…? So this is one of my special little dubs I made of The Freak Circus by Neko Bueno! This is Pierrot, who I'm kind of obsessing over, goodness. I love this game and can't wait for more!

You can find and play this lovely VN on itchio! Make sure to support the project!

Be sure to follow my socials for more voice acting endeavors!

My Website: https://erikrobertsmith.carrd.co/

My Socials:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/smittysmashva.bsky.social

Twitter: https://x.com/SmittySmashVA

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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.

Original Text: Archive of Our Own | Tumblr

Download the files here!