TEST DRIVE MEME #7

[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, but will be CLOSING ON MAY 31ST! There is an upcoming game event that is going to make new arrivals during that period impractical. 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, the players agree to it, and it makes any sense contextually. If you are interested in additional IC and OOC plot responsibilities, consider applying for a Supervisor position. Head Cook, Aquisitioner, and Wardrobe Manager are currently open. Otherwise, we're pretty much down for anything, roles wise. 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

RIDDLE TIME

[betheman]

[Sir, you are about to perform a Very large security offense, and Gongenzaka is going to have to step in-all leaves and fur and height, he trots up behind the other with narrowed eyes and crossed arms, a low growl in his words.]

I, the man Gongenzaka, am going to need you to step away from the box... [Ah look who it is. Someone who sounds like an older geezer than any old geezer Ever.]

[moonfang]

Ah?

[wow. Your super old timey talk is enough to get him to actually acknowledge you. Good job, Gogenzaka. The ball of energy vanishes with an innocent-sounding "vwip" noise.

He's tall, and planty, but Zangetsu isn't the least bit intimidated. He narrows his eyes]

Buzz off, gramps, I got business with this box.

[betheman]

G-GR-

I AM NOT OLD!!! [Ahhh look at those bushes...Bush. They're fluffing up like an angry cat.] And I, the man Gongenzaka, now have business with you! As a member of the Patrol, I cannot tolerate deliberate attempts at property damage!

[moonfang]

[Zangetsu barks out an incredulous laugh] Pfffft! You? You're on Patrol? That crazy strong Ringmaster lady must be just normal crazy, too. [he brandishes his sword, then leans on it] You don't want to fight me, gramps. You will lose. So unless you got the magic password for the box, this is your last chance to get out of my sights.

[betheman]

Regardless of who would lose in combat, do you wish to draw her ire in turn then?

[....That one's a fair point.]

[moonfang]

Gck....!

[that actually gives him pause. She was strong enough to extract him, harmlessly, from Ichigo. Strong enough to give him his own stable form. Strong enough to afford him this opportunity to train and get stronger outside of his own timeline. She was sure strong enough to take that all away. Or worse... destroy him completely, and leave Ichigo helpless.

He makes a sound that's half growl, half thoughtful hum before folding his arms into the long, belled sleeves of his kimono]

.... D'ya really think it'd piss her off that much?

[betheman]

Considering how she likes things, absolutely; the death of anyone within the grounds, let alone an employee, is the most grave offense you can commit, quite possibly!

You would end up one of those, [he adds dryly, jabbing a thumb to one of the nearby Cinder spirits.]

...As it is, when it comes to property damage, you would incur debt; hardly something worth taking over such a 'box'..!

[moonfang]

Hnnnnnnnrgh. Whaddabout... leavin' you almost dead? As for debt, like I give a shit! The more time I get to spend here, the better! [he huffs, pouting in a way most unbecoming of a soul-destroying sword spirit] Whatever.

[betheman]

She would very much seek you out as the perpetrator and punish you accordingly; once again, I, the man Gongenzaka, insist it is not worth the trouble. [Also.]

Debt is only one option. She could turn you into an animal instead.

[He pauses.] ....Such as a mouse.

[moonfang]

[another look of shock and surprise.]

You....! You asshole!! You're RUINING ALL MY FUN! What's the point of having my own body if I can't DO WHAT I WANT?!

[otoko]

NH-

What is the meaning of 'fun' if your idea of it is excessive violence!?

[moonfang]

I'm a sword, ya dumb fuck. My entire existence is based around fighting, violence, destruction! It's what runs in my veins!

[.... sure is talky and human shaped for a sword.]

[otoko]

[There is a pause. And then, without so much as batting an eye-] Aah, I see.

And are you literally a sword, in this moment then? Or is this your excuse for being unable to control your impulses?

[moonfang]

... Obviously not right this moment. As a sword, I can't be heard by anyone. And that's no fun. I'm just saying -- I am what I am! Just like you're a... plant. Dog. Horse.

[otoko]

If you are what you are, then you will understand when I, the man Gongenzaka, thus continue to insist that you can probably restrain yourself when it comes to boxes then.

[So there.]

[moonfang]

[he mutters] I could, but that's no fun.... [a pause] Would you QUIT talkin' like that?! The fuck, man are you some kind of renaissance reenactor? I bet you write in kanji, too. Ya putz.

[otoko]

MNH-!?

[Well if there were ever a trigger point, Zangetsu sure found it.] Th-

THIS IS HOW I, THE MAN GONGENZAKA, WAS TAUGHT TO SPEAK! It is called showing respect for those around you! I will not forsake my dojo's teachings!

[moonfang]

[Zangetsu nearly falls over laughing]

Oh my fuckin GOD! Respect?! It just makes you sound like a pompous old asshole! Gyahahahah!!

[betheman]

[EXCUSE YOU IT IS THE OPPOSITE OF POMPOUS-] NNHH!?

IT SOUNDS LIKE NEITHER OF THOSE THINGS..!

[moonfang]

[Only people that WANT other people to think they're respectful and therefore are actually pompous talk like that!!

... or, well, that's this kid's train of thought]

Jeeeeee-ZUS. I knew a guy who's was well over a thousand years old and even HE didn't talk as oldschool as you!! Pahahaha! Haaa... he's dead now.

[otoko]

.....our entire dojo speaks with this dialect....

[also.] .....1000 years?

[moonfang]

An entire dojo of old farts.

[ayep. He nods]

Yama-jii, the Captain Commander of the 13 Court Guard Squads, and supposedly the strongest Shinigami in history. [Zangetsu frowns] ... But he died like a bitch at the hands of the Quincy King. Which is why I'm here. I'm not leaving it to chance -- my master and I will kill that guy, even if we have to get extradimensional help.

[betheman]

Do not disrespect the Gongenzaka dojo..!! [SERIOUSLY- And....]

Hmmm? ....If he holds such a rank, would it not make more sense for him to speak from such a place, rather than one of humility..? [Doing otherwise, in what SOUNDS like a military situation, would more than likely cause those beneath him to think him as less than impressive a leader after all...

...Hmm. That said. He gives credit where it is due, and bows.] ....Matters of death aside, it would seem that we are here for not so different reasons then.

I, the man Gongenzaka, am here to train, no more, no less.

[moonfang]

Ffft. Train? You? What the hell are you training for? An eating contest? You're so weak I could crush you without even lifting a finger. [he speaks the words like he's saying the sky is blue and water is wet] Despite your appearance, your soul is as human as they come!

[otoko]

[Excuse you he has a sixpack-

Gongenzaka manages to remain astonishingly calm under the retorts however, merely frowning.] Aaah, that I am-I, the man Gongenzaka, am as human as all those in my own world.

And as such, our lives are frail-and I, the man Gongenzaka, have already risked the life of my greatest friend once before.

...I broke my dojo's teachings...and still, I, the man Gongenzaka, failed to truly protect him! My actions were UNFORGIVABLE! Therefore, I, the man Gongenzaka train in my ability to duel alongside him and protect him from whatever future disaster may arise..!

[there is nothing about this guy that isn't extra as all hell, is there]