Yes... I made this art... no, I will not tell you why I did. I shouldn't have to. I wrote headcanons about this, so you should know; and if you don't, then you have not read my headcanons🙃.
These are what I think their eggs look like.
I added Pierrot and Columbina because some people headcanon that they also lay eggs, too. I don't follow this headcanon, but I decided to draw it just to complete the whole cast of characters in the circus.
Ticket Taker
Jester
Harlequin
Doctor
Pierrot
Columbina
This will probably trigger fanfiction writers to start writing weird shit... that's what I'm fucking hoping for, its been pretty slow with the TFC Headcanons lately.
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Hi, this post is quite long and I combined 3 versions of the story told by the casts together + my own interpretations. Please don't hesitate to tell me if I missed something 🙏
⭐️ The Harlequin's puppet show
Okay so I'm gonna start from the Harlequin's show. This tragedy starts from here.
The monsters accepted the deal given by humans to feed them, I don't know what the details are beside that.
But after that it shows, "They applauded their pain". Of course it's an unfair deal. The shows they did were dangerous and harmful, but it's still better than surviving on their own. Or so they thought. They think they had a choice, but in reality, they don't at the moment they agreed to this scam.
Harlequin says while the monsters rotted in their cages, swallowed by the dark. So there are many cages, they are being locked away from each other. After that there are some dialogs.
Jester: "What if we became human"
Harlequin: "We could eat as much as we want"
Pierrot: "No one would hurt us ever again"
Columbina: "I can feed you, grow strong, become human and build a home for us"
It looks like they think them being humans can fulfill their other wishes. Now what do monsters have to do in order to become human? In this setting, it seems like you are what you eat. They have to eat humans in order to become humans. If I remember correctly Neko said that human flesh sustain them the "most". I believe this sustain is not about hunger because it was mentioned that the monsters can eat normal food like any human do as well. If this is about how they can sustain their human-like appearances. Then there should be something else that could sustain them too, just not as effective as human flesh. That something else is most likely the monster with human-like characteristics.
The text here is pink, I think it can be implied that Columbina was the one who realized what they need as a sacrifice, in order to be humans for Jester's suggestion. She is willing to be a sacrifice for her family, in order to make her hopes and dreams come true as well.
Everyone use the word "us" for their wishes, so it's not a personal wish but they are being considerate for their whole family. Pink columbine flower means platonic/ familial love, faith, hope, foolishness (the shape of flower looks like a jester hat). Maybe the Jester chose to play the role of the Jester because of this. I think these flower language explain her character well. She most likely see everyone in familial way. She got mistreated by humans for quite some times, likely with harsh comments and sexually implied ways, even though her family protected her. I personally think she doesn't want any romantic love at that point because of these bad experiences.
I know this is from the Harlequin's pov but I see how he placed himself in the middle, and not facing anyone. (It seems to me that Harlequin feels like he doesn't belong there.)
But also the Jester's puppet is so suspiciously close to him compared to Pierrot, like he is whispering into Harlequin's ear. (Connect this to other versions of the story later)
Now look at the order and the wording used. For Pierrot and Harlequin's comments, they sounded more like answers to Jester's "what-if we become human". But from Columbina's line where she is the last one to speak, at least to me, sounds like a dying wish. It's a wish you entrust to someone else. When she says this, she is facing the Jester and Harlequin, so I think they were the one who got entrusted with her wish. (I'm not sure if Pierrot heard this, it seems like he passed out after he spoke) But there was no comments coming from the Doctor and Ticket Taker puppets, so they might not know about this "plan".
According to the story from TT's mirror. The sequence of them getting put in jail is Pierrot -> Jester -> Harlequin -> Columbina -> Ticket Taker & Doctor.
Columbina was seen talking to Harlequin when the scene went dark, so it means she got put in jail before the last two. TT and Doctor got put in jail later, so they didn't heard the previous conversation about the plan. Leading to them being shocked after Harlequin killed Columbina while asking "Why... did you do that?".
Next is the dialogues from Harlequin + TT's mirror story + Jester
From every version of the story told by casts, Columbina was looking towards Pierrot's direction, she is telling Pierrot that Harlequin wasn't laughing. (Also in what I see, Jester really really love his family. Of course he is so sorry about what he did. There's no way that he is not sorry 😭)
These scenes, I personally think it didn't really happen. But the casts were in distressed so they just imagined things on their own.
Have you heard this quote that says "If you are a Jester then I'm willing to be your fool"? I think this is why Harlequin refers to those darlings in pink as "the fools", because they are devoted to following the Jester's will just like how Columbina willingly sacrifice for his idea. But Columbina didn't only do it for Jester, she did it for everyone's sake including hers. Columbina already knows about all of that and she is still willingly choose to do it. To me, she is the wise fool who knows what she's doing.
I don't know if Neko referenced from this or not, but it was from Lord of Mysteries.
Do you know of "The Fool's Gambit"? It is referring to "The Fool's Mate" in chess. This is a quickest checkmate in 2 moves. It is a reckless, high-risk, irrational, and self-sacrifice strategy done by Klein Moretti (the protagonist). With the famous quote
"I won't lose too much, just myself. There are always some things that are more important than others"
To highlight ultimate self-sacrifice, meaning the sacrifice is a worthy price to protect the others, loved ones, or achieve a higher purpose. I think that's what Columbina decided to do.
She knows that their fate was cursed. If the end is inevitable then she'd rather choose how it ends. Also, I think she was the one who asked Harlequin to do it. Because his poison seems to be able to ease the pain/ has sedating effect, so her death would be a gentle one.
Then she regretted it, she didn't think the outcomes would be like this. She just wished for her family's happiness. So she think that she should have listened to him. To me there's 2 possibilities
Listen to the ring master, so he wouldn't harm her family
Listen to the Jester's other plan
I think it's most likely be the first one, because Jester said " We have no choice". He couldn't think of other plan either at that moment.
IDK what exactly can Harlequin's poison does but from secret scene here, Harlequin used his poison to stop Pierrot from going on a rampage. So having Harlequin be the one who did it made the sacrifice less painful.
⭐️ The Ticket Taker's mirror
Jester: I will, feed him.
Harlequin: ... Wait.
This one is, well I think Harlequin was going to suggest something else like let's go together or that he be the one to feed Pierrot instead of Jester. (Maybe he's secretly hoping that Pierrot will look at him if he save him like this) But Jester was reckless and got caught, followed by Harlequin.
What is saving someone? To put the end to their pain is one way to put it. If living is painful then ending it might be a way to "save". Her sacrifice can make them "become human" and make the previous wishes mentioned come true.
This scene, where Harlequin says "she is the weakest". What is "weakest" to the monster? To me, my answer is "resembles a human the most".
From how the Jester say no claws and almost no fangs. That's the main difference between Columbina and other monsters. To be or not to be. Columbina's answer is not to be. She chose not to be ended by humans' hands. "I don't want to die", in what manner? Is this a whole sentence or there was something more that got twisted? To someone, dying is being forgotten. That's why she chose to entrust her family to tell her story to the world, so she won't be forgotten and always live in their memories.
When they were being in jail, Harlequin is the closest one to Jester. This is my personal guess, Jester is referenced after Baphomet with hypnotic ability. If Jester really do have hypnotic ability that is similar to code geass where you have to look into the user's eyes then maybe he can't use it on anyone else because they're too far away. The other one located closest to Jester was Pierrot but he seems to be unconscious. Jester's ability most likely couldn't be use on someone unconscious because they can't look into Jester's eyes. Also, it couldn't be used on himself either, if he can then he'd already be already out of jail. Jester also said "I can't move. ■■■■■ is alive?" So Harlequin, who's still conscious had to do it instead of Jester, with Jester doing something to reinforce Harlequin's strength, resulting in him being able to break out of the jail. Or else they'll be all dead without any of their wish being fulfilled. They really had no choice.
⭐️ The Jester's stage play
Nameless doesn't mean that they don't have names, it means they are hideous creatures, loathed by the world.
I think this stage play is referenced after Hamlet. The "poison is his hand" is from the weapon Claudius gave to Laertes (Ophelia's brother) for revenge. When Hamlet is about to die from poison, his close friend, Horatio was going to join him in death. But Hamlet asks Horatio to tell his story to the world. That's what stopped Horatio from committing suicide and keep his promise to Hamlet. I do see parallel in this stage play where
Harlequin is playing the role of Laertes (Ophelia's brother).
Columbina as Hamlet.
Pierrot as Ophelia (Hamlet's love interest).
Jester as Claudius (Hamlet's uncle).
Ticket taker as Horatio (Hamlet's close friend), witnesses to this tragedy.
Doctor as the Guard -> I'm not,sure about this lol, but he isn't saying anything so his role is watching, I guess?
The flower is his hand resembles a red pansies to me.
And from Ophelia's Bouquet:
"There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.
Pray you, love, remember.
And there is pansies, that’s for thoughts ...
There’s fennel for you, and columbines.
There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me.
We may call it “herb of grace” o' Sundays.
- Oh, you must wear your rue with a difference.
There’s a daisy. I would give you some violets,
But they withered all when my father died."
Pansies that Ophelia described can mean many things, but in this case it's red. So I'd like to think it symbolize passionate love, remembrance, admiration, "I am thinking of you". But Columbina on stage play didn't say anything back nor extend her hand to receive that flower that represents "romantic love", in the same time, she is not looking away as well. I think she sees Pierrot as a family member and love him in her own ways.
From Hamlet: It was given out by Claudius that a serpent had stung him (the previous king). But it turns out that the serpent was actually Claudius himself.
Now look at the narrator, it's the Jester himself too was the one who said "A monster with venom in his voice and in his hands" to describe the Harlequin it is similar to the words that were used to describe the culprit by Claudius. I interpret this is Jester believes he is the evil mastermind behind it. He was the one who made the Harlequin use the poisoned weapon (his claws) on Columbina. All the blames should be on him instead of Harlequin. But Pierrot already saw it so he can't make any excuses for Harlequin. Then when Columbina is dying, she asked all of her family to live on and tell this stories to the world just like what Hamlet did to Horatio. This is what makes the casts tell their stories in the circus, each in their own point of view. As a way to mourn and as to keep their promise. TT resembles Horatio's role the most, for he is the one who promised he would make a true report, as one that was privy to all the circumstances. If you combine this with "I just wanted to tell someone, Obrigada" from Columbina in TT's mirror then it's clear that this was Columbina's wish for her whole family to keep living on in her stead.
(Pic from wikipedia lol)
This is my interpretation on this whole stage play. As I said before that I believe the Jester is referenced after a Baphomet, they also represent balance, equilibrium, duality. The performers' white&black socks should symbolize duality. Duality is when contrast between two contradicting aspects at the same time. For example: light&dark, love&hate, hope&despair, etc. Harlequin probably feel really guilty about it, but in the same time he also feel at ease when he finally have Pierrot's eyes on him and not on Columbina anymore, even though he doesn't want to do it. Then in Baphomet's figure, they usually comes with white moon (chesed) together with black moon (geburah) to signify equilibrium. There is only white moon (full moon) in the Jester's show, indicating that the story is unbalanced. You have to combine it with black moon (moonless night) in order to reach equilibrium (the balanced truth).
Thank you again for reading! I'm so high on caffeine. To anyone who reach this point, you deserve a shining crown 👑✨️
Separate Thoughts: So I'm replaying the hidden scenes specifically from the tent of mirrors of Columbina's mirror and we see her reflection. There is discussion f that was her or TicTak's reflection of her.
(btw how i see the mirrors of TicTak's tent are they are the reflections of the circus crew of how TicTak's sees them. They are his reflections of them. This thought is important to understand more of my thoughts under the cut, I promise.)
Moonless Nights Thoughts:
There is always some truth in the stories, we know this. From Harley's, from Bobo's and from the mirror.
We all know how it goes by now, so they started outside then end up in the cages inside.
Pierrot was the first to be put up for the night, then Bobo, Harley, Doctor, then TicTak and Columbina. There is difference between them and Columbina - they are in cages and Columbina is chained. This could be for easier transport later, a normal thing, or a combo, but it can be assumed that just like the circus crew, the humans of their past also did not see Columbina as a threat. She might've been truly defenseless.
This is TicTak's representation of that night.
We see from the view of a spectator(behind Columbina) which makes sense because WE WERE PULLED INTO THE FUCKING MIRROR.
He pulled you in if you let him. It's his favorite mirror, but you have the option of ignoring it. (I love him so fucking much.) But he couldn't tell you anything, but she could.
(After all, You saw something you shouldn't have, but you still came back. You listened and came back - here's your fucking reward from TicTak.)
He is telling you his side, by using Columbina's reflection because he already warned you too; mirrors sometimes say more than they should.
They are the same color - This is TicTak's side.
It is the same for Harley's and Bobo's.
We already know there are some truth in each story. We have 3 out of 5 now.
--
Pierrot was labeled as a problem. I would not be surprised if the reason why he has the rule to be silent is because it is safer for him to be silent. He is not weak and he is dangerous; and he gets murderous. Harley commented on it when he gave us his ticket the first time. That might have been part of the reason why he was labeled a problem, he spoke out in rage. It is a way to keep him in check.
--
Pierrot is laying in the cage in a pool of his own blood at this point.
Bobo was going to feed Pierrot, but Harley stopped him. How? There are two thoughts - Bobo was going to give himself up or use his influence to get a human of the circus to come closer to feed Pierrot. It is safer to assume the second because during this time, they were being put away and Bobo couldn't move. Harley stopped Bobo because more than one was coming in. From that, they lost their chance. All the humans left for the night and well....
We know what occured that night.
Also... Columbina - I wonder if she was referring to Harley or Bobo or both about not being sorry. You can always do something and feel guilt, but not feel the slightest bit sorry about the action. Especially if it was necessary... like for survival or influence about a choice you would choose anyway.
The beef Ticket Taker might have with MC’s boss, Nathanial.
Because he took Carol as one of his personal Fools and was planning on taking MC themselves — but, because of Pierrot’s ticket, his pink ticket either got swapped or went to waste if MC refused to take it during their shift.
And with Nathanial getting some new hires? Well. Imagine if Ticket Taker went again and decided to give out a ticket or confronted one of the new hires afterwards while they’re not on the clock. (It would be too suspicious after all. MC knows what he looks like in his human disguise, but doesn’t know it was actually him. Only the player and other circus members know that they’re the same person).
Neko said that our boss has an “interesting past,” after all…and, either in the same AMA or in a different one, (can’t remember atm), Ticket Taker mentioned that there was a child who saw what happened in one of the tents. The “he” pronoun was used, so could it have been Nathanial possibly? Is he being petty about what happened back then?
Because while it is funny to think that, what if it’s on sight with our poor Nate.
Did Nate make Ticket Taker the most awful double espresso or what???
Never mind about the doomed friendship Pierrot and Harlequin have/had. Or Jester being the one pulling the strings here with controlling the Fools. Or the theory about Doctor having Columbina’s skeleton or parts of her somewhere in his tent.
I need to know the history behind Ticket Taker and Nathanial.
What is their shared lore, if they have it.
I’m so invested here.
(Nate is just like “hey could I have my employee back please” while looking over towards Carol and Ticket Taker gaslights him saying something like “that’s not your employee, dear guest. Please direct yourself towards the exit since you seem a little lost here” while actively ignoring whatever MC is up to in the background lol)
The black tickets are 100% for other monsters to buy. It's gotta be, because when you check out the black tent, literally everyone is coverd from head to toe, except for one guy who they are staring at (he is also mostly covered except for his eyes, so he may just have eyes that can pass as human).
Not completely sure on the full function of the black tent, but my guess is it's probably (1) a spot other, non circus related, monsters can chill for a bit and chat/mingle without human eyes on them.
(2) Food. Humans as food specifically, like fools who have outlived their usefulness.
(3) Trading goods/services. This one is mainly because the file name for the image is called "special clients". So it could be anything from getting food (human or otherwise), to monsters potentially dropping in to see Doctor (as we currently have zero idea how the monster side of simply existing is like, who knows what their health care is like. For all we know, our bird man could be the only one anywhere nearby who has any medical experience. As a monster going to a human doctor would be an absolute disaster.)
Makes me wonder~ I absolutely love digging my fingers into the nitty-gritty of world building stuff, and I'm starving for info on the monster side of this world. I'm licking up crumbs, lol. There's so many little things I've noticed in the art for the game, that I may or may not make posts for. Like how Harlequin's "monster form" absolutely has digitigrade legs and hooves based on one of the glitching images. And in that same image, Jester has crazy long arms, hands, and fingers.
Silly little autism brain likes finding things.
Editing to add: It very well is, most likely, a black market for monsters.
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Has anyone tapped into the idea that maybe Pierrot has more control over his shadow than we think he does? I mean like, in his tent when he’s dancing his shadow moves opposite like a dance partner. I know that’s not a lot to go off of but it does make me wonder if maybe there’s more to explore there. Perhaps he can control his shadow, maybe even attach it to MC and that’s why it seems when we are exploring the circus he’s always somehow near even when he’s in the middle of his act.
I’d love to see some more theories about this! If anyone has any please let me know!!
So, ive gotten into playing The Freak Circus and I have a theory thats been rattling around in my brain, I'm not sure if anyone else has said thus before so please forgive me, but I want to ask the community for their thoughts on this theory.
Do you think the circus members were teenagers when they were under the ringmaster's care?
I keep thinking about Columbina and how she is portrayed/spoken of as innocent, as well as niave. The wording makes me think of how someone would speak of a child, or maybe a childhood friend that died during childhood.
If my theory is true, I think that adds an extra layer to the circus members trauma. They were kids who were taken advantage of and put in cages. Pierrot lost his teenage sweetheart, Harlequin had to make a choice between dying or killing, and Columbina, that poor baby...
Have yall noticed that the audience in the freak Circus? Like how they comment about the show, the blood, all that and more will I don't think there are human. Psychopaths ,sociopath or something like because who in there right mind would say such things out loud maybe they don't realise it's real but at the same time it feels like the audience has watched the shows multiple Times then it leads on.
Maybe they are Monsters? In disguise and watching the shows. That could explain a lot but there might be some humans as well in the crowd. Maybe the ones who are commenting are Monsters and the humans are just silent because their scared speechless and think it's fake or they are killed later.
