TEST DRIVE MEME #6

[ringleaders]

WELCOME TO THE SHOW!↴ Or, more specifically, Lost Carnival's test drive meme! This is an opportunity to try out your characters in the setting before you apply, or to put together samples for characters you've never played before. There are going to be options for both new arrivals and veteran characters. Before we get started, let's lay down some details: You can read the full premise here. Reserves and Applications are both currently OPEN. You can apply as a newcomer or as a "veteran" character who has been in the carnival for up to three years. In the case of veteran characters, you will need to come up with an explanation of why they haven't been around the carnival recently. TDM threads can be used as game canon after the fact if both characters are accepted and the players agree to it. If you are interested in additional IC and OOC plot responsibilities, consider applying for a Supervisor position. Treasurer, and Wardrobe Manager are currently open. More roles that currently need filling are listed here! NEW RECRUITS↴ You gotta start somewhere, right? These prompts are for characters who are arriving in the carnival for the first time, and who are destined to sign a contract. How they go about that is up to you, but in the meantime they can enjoy the sights and sounds of something truly out of this world. Visitors to the carnival comes from many different worlds today, as the ringmaster casts out her recruitment lures. Will you become her most recent hire? ► ADMISSION FEES: After crossing into the carnival's realm and passing through the trees, most visitors will find themselves at the front gate - though not all choose to enter that way. If they enter legitimately, however, they will have to pass by a clerk who will trade admission and tickets for various attractions and rides in exchange for "anything of value." What is of value may seem highly subjective, and so some may struggle to produce payment at first, though in actuality the carnival will take anything from mundane currency to items of purely sentimental value. ► MIRROR MAZE: The mirror maze (pictured above) is a big attraction in the carnival, and stretches much further on the inside than it looks like it will on the outside. It's hard to get through, and what's more, after you've been in there for a while your reflections will start gaining a mind of their own - mostly in order to taunt and distract you with personal information. They don't know everything you know, but they know more than they should, and their mind games can be pretty hit or miss. ► GAMER'S CIRCLE: Almost all of the game booths are organized in a large ring around the Cookhouse, called Gamer's Circle. Your can play just about any carnival game you can imagine here, for a variety of prizes sometimes traditional, exotic, or outright magical. Dart tossing? Got it. That game with the water guns? Got it. Most of these booths are currently manned by humanoid spirits who look like they are made of smoke. If they can trick you into earning debt, they will. ► NOT YOUR WHEELHOUSE: Sometimes, even magical ferris wheels get stuck. The carnival's particular wheel is enchanted to create a particular out of this world experience - as you pass along the top, you feel as if they are so close to the sky that you can interact with the stars like baubles hanging above your head. Of course, the novelty probably wears off when the wheel is broken and you've been stuck enjoying the light show with some stranger for the last half hour. How are you going to pass the time? ► TRYING TO LEAF: No matter where you came from, you seemingly emerged from a forest. Obviously, to get back home you should be able to go back in the same direction, right? It turns out you can't. Worse, trying too hard to get through the wood will result in you getting lost, or turned back to the carnival. The trees here are not normal, and are varying levels of alien, including things like trees with glowing fruit or orange flowers that constantly burn like candles. ► WILD CARD: Anything else you can imagine in this setting! There are a lot of possibilities and you're free to explore them. Check out the rest of the game info or the locations page for additional inspiration. Want to make a starter with your character experiencing their first theoretical change? Go for it! VETERAN WORKERS↴ These prompts are tailored to the carnival's existing employees, the veterans. Odds are they've been here from somewhere between a few months and three years already, and know their way around the block. For them, this is just business as usual - and depending on their attitude towards their job, they may or may not contribute to a few people accidentally getting themselves a contract. Whatever you do, though, don't warn visitors away from the carnival - the ringmaster hates losing business like that. ► DO YOUR WORK: This one's pretty simple - just have your character doing whatever you'd like to have their job be! There is a big list of ideas over here, and you could use this to try things out with a character you intend to be a new arrival, as well. ► WILL O' WISPS: The ringmaster's will o' wisps have gotten free, and she's asked that everyone keep and eye out and help her reclaim them regardless of their official jobs. Wisps are small creatures that burn both hot and cold and comes in a few different variations of the same basic theme. Handling them physically (or psionically, or magically, for that matter) is difficult due to their near intangible nature. Touching and being around them can result in confusion and a sensation similar to being comfortably drunk. ► BREAK TIME: Whatever you were doing, it's break time! It's time for you to relax however you see fit. Do you enjoy some of the carnival attractions yourself, or is that old by now? Do you hang out in the Cookhouse to get a snack? Do you take a nap? Yolo, baby! ► RIDDLE GAME: For a bit of fun, the ringmaster has left a variety of locked chests around the worker areas of the carnival, each with instructions and a riddle written on their lids. The chest will accept three guesses from each worker before refusing to respond to them any further. If you guess the right answer, the chest will open and you will be rewarded with some manner of fun magical knick knack. If you've run out of guesses, maybe you can conspire with someone else and promise to split the prize? ► CAPTURE THE... EGG?: The Ringmaster likes to keep things exciting for her employees, and this time she's devices a game that mixes an Easter egg hunt with capture the flag. She's hidden various metallic "eggs" around the carnival that chime like bells when people get near, and divided participants into three teams (red, blue, yellow of course.) The carnival has been divided into three zones, and the objective is to gather as many eggs as possible for your team (three points for gold, two for silver, one for copper.) However, when you are in a zone that doesn't belong to your team, if they can snatch off your team flag they can take you to "jail" and confiscate any eggs you may be holding for their team. When in doubt, bullshit the rules! This is a prompt, after all. ► WILD CARD: Anything else you can imagine in this setting! There are a lot of possibilities and you're free to explore them. Check out the rest of the game info or the locations page for additional inspiration. Want to do a performance? Hang out in the Backyard? Choose whatever appeals!

Comments

Yuya Sakaki | Yugioh Arc V | Newcomer

[hippocarnival]

[Gamer's Circle]

[Yuya's stopped at a ball toss game, with rings of various colors and sizes lined up for prizes. He has three chances to get something good.

Yuya juggles the ball in one hand and stares with hard concentration, before reeling his arm back and tossing it underhand to a small ring in the corner. It bounces and teeters on the edge for an unnaturally long moment.] Come on...

[Then topples outside tree ring to the floor.] Augh!


[Not Your Wheelhouse]

[The view is brilliant. It reminds him off some of his favorite action fields. But being stuck in a cramped ferris cart at the top while the operator assured them there was no need to panic... well, tree moment couldn't do the view any justice.

He shifts impatiently in his seat and leans against the window--before glancing to the person next to him to see how they're faring.]

GAMER'S CIRCLE

[otoko]

[Unlike Yuuya, Gongenzaka has been here...a while. Perhaps not as long as his changes suggest mind-that, in fact, is entirely the fault of a fairly inconvenient thing called Death. (Good thing his contract was Insurance, more or less)

He has however been here long enough, as per his desire to learn something that could make up for the failure that was his loss to the 'Battle Beast'. Does that shadow over his eyes look sort of like BB's actually? ...Nahhhh.

For the time being, Gongenzaka has acted as a member of the Patrol team to that end. And all chaotic incidents of recent days aside, he quite enjoys it-there is a sense of keeping the peace, making sure things are right without going too far, not to mention the chance to meet...

New...

Gongenzaka's more beast-like limbs betray him, as he stops in his tracks at the sound of a familiar voice. His ears perk immediately, and even his tail seems to quiver just a bit, a hair away from full on wagging. It can't be, he's sure-

And yet...And yet...] Y...Yuuya..?

[That shade of red, with those goggles?

It's absolutely him!

And now (Rest in pieces, Yuuya's spine) a far larger Gongenzaka is bounding over with just as much excitement as expected from someone who hasn't seen their best friend in a number of months.] YUUUUUYAAAAAAA-!!!

[It may be an idea to duck.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya stops in the middle of his next throw at the calling of his name. That voice is so familiar, and he's almost in as much disbelief that Gongenzaka is here as well. He turns around to verify his suspicions (or hopes) and is greeted with--what somehow is and isn't Gongenzaka.

His face even through the changes is so clear, but he can't look past the ears and tail and claws. So when Gongenzaka rushes him he screams. Every nerve in his body screams to evade as if it's some nightmare, but he isn't fast enough before he's pulled into that crushing embrace.]

G--Gongenzaka?!

[otoko]

[Is he...Crying?

It's Gongenzaka of course he's crying

Well, whether Yuuya's back is in better, or worse condition, the 'dogtaur' seems wholly oblivious to that fact. For now all that matters is the pleasant surprise of seeing a friend a good six months earlier than expected, even if recent habits have some fur stuck to the other's face. You may need a lint brush later, friend-] To see you here, after so much time, when it was so certain that it would be far longer still before such an event...

I, the man Gongenzaka, could not be happier..! [...Yyyyep it's definitely Him. As much as Yuuya is 'freed' of the hug for the sake of Gongenzaka wiping his eyes dry, one hand-one very furred and clawed one-is still on the other's shoulder as he grins, the tail now wagging back and forth as if it were Kilo or Watt sitting before the other.] Truly, things are turning for the better..! [he begins, before pausing.

Now that he thinks about it....this carnival doesn't exactly appear before anyone, does it?] ...though...

...How exactly did you find this place..?

[hippocarnival]

[The claws are, in a word, terrifying. But Gongenzaka is so... himself that Yuya loses his edge quickly. Sure, his friend is now some sort of hulking beast person, but he's still his friend.]

What do you mean? It was... [On the other side of a door. In retrospect, that was the first suspicious thing.] just there. Wait, what about you? What happened?

[betheman]

[Geeze Yuuya, and he thought he slipped? Gongenzaka can't really hide the light frown developing as his friend's train of thought floats about, but in the end it does lighten...

Albeight for a sheepish glance to the side.] A....Auh. That...

I, the man Gongenzaka, have been employed herefor a time...as such, given the exposure to other realms... [And then dying, and having his soul stuffed in an egg-] ....I have picked up certain changes....

[A cough, as he adds,] Though of course, these things are due to reverse once I am finished here!

[.....if he wants, at least.] ....it is such with all of the employees.

[hippocarnival]

[Please don't return to Maiami City like that.]

You work here? At a carnival? [Gongenzaka isn't quite as much of an Entertainment Duelist, but...

He looks incredulous.] But why? Isn't that... doesn't it feel weird? Does it hurt?

[otoko]

Yes, as 'patrol'. [.....okay that's more fitting. Gongenzaka's ears flick somewhat anxiously at the question however, and he almost needs to force himself to answer.] It is...

...Has been, in many ways, most certainly. ...however.

...I, the man Gongaka, came here specically to train..! Therefore, I have determined it better to adapt to what comes, rather than grow anxious!

[Shame Yuuya wasn't here when the first changes hit, because boy was Gon assuredly not taking those with grace back then.

...as it is, he shakes his head and smiles.] ....I, the man Gongenzaka, can say without a doubt however, that I am unharmed.

[hippocarnival]

[Well... all right. He'll take his word for it. If Gongenzaka says he came here willingly then it can't be all that bad, right?

So he smiles and, with his guard down, lifts the ball with intent to continue playing the game.] What kind of training is it? [He winds his arm back.] Why does a carnival need patrol when it--[Where did Gongenzaka say he had been again?

Wait.

The ball ricochets off the rings again as Yuya blinks up at Gongenzaka again.] "Other realms" besides the four dimensions? That isn't from crossing the dimensions, is it?!

[otoko]

That...it's difficult to explain. When I, the man Gongenzaka arrived here, it was following a duel; when it was discovered that time at home would not pass while here, I therefore chose to use at least one year for training myself to be of greater use to the others. [Which can be taken in any number of ways, really.

But Gongenzaka nods-Yuuya's guess is right on the dot!] Correct! In fact, the four dimensions are considered one realm in itself...! When the Carnival visits other realms, they are places far different from our own...places without duel monsters, even!

[hippocarnival]

It... doesn't? [He rubs the back of his head. He never was good at science, trying to wrap his head around quantum physics is a struggle.] I thought four dimensions was enough... how long have you been here?

[otoko]

Not even a little! [Took him a bit to figure out himself, he'll admit.]

It's easier to handle than it sounds! [He laughs all the same.] If anything, because of how unfamiliar each location is, it is somehow less confusing than the four dimensions!

...that said...in terms of working time, I, the man Gongenzaka, have been here for approximately 7 or so months.

[hippocarnival]

What?! There's no way you've been gone that long!

[Because his time no longer aligns to their world's, of course. But Yuya only half grasps that.] ... What duel was it? I never saw you disappear.

[otoko]

...Even if it were something to register, you shouldn't have-it was after you moved on from our duel with the 'Battle Beast' of Academia...

[But...well, truthfully, he can't help but laugh. After all, if there were ever any better proof-] I, the man Gongenzaka have to say however...if ever there were doubts as to time freezing where we came from, there are none now!! But then...

...exactly what was it that you were doing last, in that case..?

Makes up a canonpoint on the spot lmao

[hippocarnival]

I was... [Just witnessing the carding of his father. Full of blind rage that he would have ruined Yuri if when he wasn't falling from the high pillar he kept... falling, falling, right in front of the carnival.

He starts suddenly, as if shaken from a dream--not that it was quite a trance so much as such a jarring, overwhelming change of pace that he'd completely lost his direction.] That just happened! Jack and Sawatari were with you, but we still haven't saved Yuzu, and--!

LMFAO the struggle tbh- (I mean it wouldn't be a bad point in carnival context to be fair...)

[betheman]

[[OOC - Though now I'm wondering how a Post Zarc Fight Yuuya would go oh no]]

[Gongenzaka has the sneakiest suspicion that there is something he is missing here-but...well, it isn't as if he can read minds, and it isn't as if questioning the other would get him any answers.

So.. ...He goes with it for now, nodding in understanding.] Then we are, more or less, from the same moment...

The Carnival's gates appeared before us through the exit to the field-when the three of us went in, we initially only did so for medical attention; we were able to recover somewhat, as we felt it would be best to return to Academia with proper strength.

...It was when we left the gates that we realized no time had passed however... ...that was when I, the man Gongenzaka, chose to go back in, [he says almost grimly.] ...

....we...did not exactly find time for games back then however...

[!!! What's with that accusing tone!!]

[hippocarnival]

((Yuya: I can't revive as Zarc again and destroy the world again if I never go home.))

[Yuya might, in far better circumstances, argue that there is always time for games. But sure, Gongenzaka is probably right there, so he deflates even further.] I guess not.

[He swallows, raw. Then he squares his shoulders and looks up at Gongenzaka with as much conviction as he can muster--shaken as it is by what happened to his father.] I have to go back and save Yuzu. Not just her, I have to stop Academia before they hurt anyone else.

[otoko]

[[ True Story]]

[Games are a distraction-they're the sort of thing Yuuya would distract himself with, and that much he understands. But it is as Yuuya acknowledges-a distraction that he hopefully paid for because HOOBOY leaving will be awkward otherwise.] I, the man Gongenzaka, understand this completely.

Though, while you are here... [He trails off. It seems selfish to ask the other to stay longer-yet did he not just finish explaining the matters of time? How it wouldn't pass? It was why he himself was here after all...so, even though it would be 'distraction'...]

...While I, the man Gongenzaka, did not find time before, perhaps we could at least share a game now?

[He's been around enough to know how this game works! (Even if he. Never really plays them. He's gonna lose so bad isn't he)]

[hippocarnival]

Uh--[Yuya blinks, leaning back a bit.] If... you want?

[He's a little puzzled, and he wonders if Gongenzaka is going somewhere with this... but if it's true that it's been months since he's stayed here, separated from everyone, maybe he's also just lonely.]

Yeah! If you believe in this, I will too. [He takes the last ball and offers it to Gongenzaka.] And when you finish training you'll be there, right?

Since this looks like it's wrapping up I should ask now-

[otoko]

[[OOC - Do you have a plurk or discord? I'd love to trade, this was fun!!]]

[Not going anywhere, actually-it really is just...wanting to spend some time with his friend again.

Now that his 'revival token' is gone after all, there's a nagging feeling that should something happen, it could well be the last time they do see each other after all. He takes the ball, and takes aim-] Aah, of course! I, the man Gongenzaka, will return with full force-we'll save Yuzu, as well as all the others!

[Others being...Serena. He supposes in hindsight that Shun's sister might be there too? But mostly Serena and Yuzu are important here.

The ball is thrown...and!

Oho, a score!] .............Ah.

[...Didn't expect that!]

[hippocarnival]

((I have a plurk! It's monochromic.))

[Yuya smiles at Gongenzaka's assurance. All hope isn't lost as long as he has his friends with him.

... He's still going to beat Yuri black and blue tho.]

Hey, you got it in! All right! [Yuya pumps his fist in the air.] Do you still get a prize if you work here?

[otoko]

[[Great! I'll add you in a second then-mine's 'usagisquared'!]]

Hahahahahaaa!! [JUST ABSORB YURI INTO YOUR SOUL IT'S FINE YUUYA NOTHING CAN POSSIBLY GO WRONG

Gongenzaka's laughter is clearly touched with confusion-he's still astounded he hit the mark, honestly-but it is genuine at the least, and he shakes his head.] I can't be sure..! I, the man Gongenzaka, haven't actually played most of these games, [he admits with a nervous cough.] ...For the most part, I was focused on training... ...that, or at the least visiting the other locations we've come upon...

[...he has a snubbull now.......................]

[hippocarnival]

You earned it, so even if it's my prize you should have it. Pick something! [He points to the display of toys and stuffins along the back wall.]

'we seem to be wrapping up' I say as we trail off onto another tangent

[betheman]

Auuhhh.... [............Come to think...

Looking at the wall of prizes, maybe this was why he didn't often play...

If between the two of them, they'd hit all the targets, it'd be a 'nicer' and a little more fae-appropriate prize. With only one though, it's a standard minor toy of some sort; which to be fair in both cases wouldn't be something he's really into, but at least the upper tier would have been neat for Yuuya! (Maybe Yuuya would like a weird cindersprite toy though who knows-)] ....Hmmnnnn....

[....Cindersprite it is. ....] ....Suzu might like this...

Re: 'we seem to be wrapping up' I say as we trail off onto another tangent

[hippocarnival]

[The options were a little limited... Yuya appraises the simple ball of fluff.] Well, if you don't want it... but maybe we can play one more time and win something better. For Yuzu.