livinglot | TEST DRIVE MEME #7

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test drive meme

TEST DRIVE MEME #7

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Gongenzaka does not look like someone who can offer assistance to Blue Diamond on this case-he bears a centaur-like figure, and a mane of red maple and sakura, both things that would no doubt impede such efforts. And yet as his ears pick up upon the calm voice, he turns his head to answer.]

Hmm? [It takes but a moment to realize she speaks to the stars-Gongenzaka takes a moment more to stare toward her before speaking more clearly, and perhaps where many have heard redundancy, Blue Diamond will catch the antiquated humility of how he speaks.]

Miss-I, the man Gongenzaka, must ask; are you faring well, up there? ...The ride appears to have held its place longer than typical, and I, the man Gongenzaka, do not wish for a malfunction of equipment to cause any harm!

I am well for now, thank you.

[How nice, an organic being that obviously knows its place. As Gongenzaka speaks up, Blue turns to regard him with interest, a faint benign smile on her face. He's very UNUSUAL as far as she knew, but ... how many organic lifeforms was she really familiar with?]

This is not part of the purpose of this device, then? It's such a lovely view. Won't you join me? There's room, I think.

[She's got plenty of serenity for the moment to share; there were worse places to get stuck BY FAR.]

Auh, to an extent, it certainly is-I, the man Gongenzaka, have been told that the wheel holds itself in position for a short time to allow those in the seats the chance to interact with the stars; though, perhaps it is the fact that there are no others in the carriages at this time, that it stays where it is...

[He seems surprised by the suggestion-though he finds himself searching the base of the ride for something briefly in thought before he can respond. He is allowed to climb such devices in an emergency, as patrol... ...and searching reveals no controls to get HIM up there, so.] Hmm...

...Typically, to join you, I, the man Gongenzaka would require someone first bring the seat back down but...

...if allowed a moment, I could perhaps climb, [He decides, albeit offering an added warning.] ...However, it may shake your seat...

[It's such a lovely view of the sky and the carnival itself that Blue could appreciate this might actually be on purpose, because she's obviously gotten the best possible seat for such a view.

Such is the due owed a diamond.]

I am afraid I do not know how to work this primitive device, and can't assist with that. A little shaking is acceptable, I think. Mind the other organics as you come.

[After all squishing a person as he came up would really make Blue's current cup on the ferris wheel very messy once he arrived. Blood and goo and who knows what else!]

Of course! [Fortunately for everyone as he makes his way awkwardly up, the other cups are quite empty-also, he may have assumed she referred to his flowers. Simple matters, they are.

Gongenzaka climbs, and there is a slight dip and shake as he clambers into the cup, the fuchsia blossoms and leaves from his mane scattering somewhat as he does so-once somewhat settled into a seat (being 9 foot in height alone would no doubt make this cramped), he gives a slight bow.] My apologies for the mess; I, the man Gongenzaka, am not yet used to the plants covering my form...

[The rocking and shaking of the ride as something of Gongenzaka's inhuman form and size climbs it is weathered with a touch of amusement. Sure the entire thing could possibly collapse at ANY TIME but she would be fine.

He is a bit bigger than he looked from way down there, and Blue takes a moment to rearrange herself to allow for his considerable bulk, half politeness and half unwillingness to come into contact too much with all that peculiar stuff growing out of him.]

This is not your natural form?

[She reaches out as if to touch some of the flowers but hesitates before actually coming in contact. It's pretty, in a way.]

I did not realize the vegetation of this place was so invasive.. or parasitic. Is it uncomfortable?

Hmmm?! N-not at all, of course not! [It is rather unclear which statement he refers to until he goes on.]

Forgive me for the confusion, but the plants are assuredly not parasitic! ...Not are they uncomfortable, I assure you. They are merely...unexpected.

In working here, changes may occasionally occur due to the energy surrounding...Though they wear off quickly once the contract has been fulfilled I am told, I, the man Gongenzaka, simply failed to forsee the chance of one so extreme.

[There is a pause, as he misinterprets her 'nonreach'.] They are perfectly safe to touch-you need not worry, Miss.

[So he was something else. This place distorted the forms of those remaining, organic or ... otherwise, according to her fellow diamond. Would it affect her too?]

Have you spoken to anyone who's had this ... wear off, or only rumors?

[In her position, letting people think they'd be able to recover when in fact it was impossible was a reasonable thing to do, otherwise there might be a revolt.

Did she want her wish so badly that she would accept such a warping of her form?]

What do your species usually look like? Other .. 'mans'?

[He kept defining him that way, it had to be his species.]

Ahhh... [Hoo, darn. His ears flatten in embarrassment, and he coughs awkwardly into a fist.] There are those who have returned home and chosen to resume work here, though unfortunately, I, the man Gongenzaka, cannot offer exact whereabouts...

...A-as for the rest however, I, the man Gongenzaka, am human. What you hear, unfortunately...is a mistranslation. I, the man Gongenzaka, am speaking in what my language is considered to be politefully respectful-to show a lack of respect to even a stranger after all, is UNFORGIVABLE! [He proclaims, hurriedly quieting his voice.] ...unfortunately, despite the Ringmaster's efforts to harmonize the languages of many realms, it appears to be lost in translation...

But you have spoken to them yourself, or seen them with your own eyes?

[They weren't present now, of course. They never were. Why were eyewitnesses always so hard to find?

He ... looks nothing at all like a human, and she knew what those looked like, she had a dozen or two of them! They only had four limbs total, and didn't have ears shaped like that and much else.

How far did this corruption go?]

I .. see. My own language does not refer to the speaker directly in such fashion save in very specific circumstances, it is a bit archaic to hear.

[But now that she can understand why he's saying it that way, it sort of made sense. Gongenzaka must be his name, 'man' an identifier somewhere in his culture, possibly rank and status?]

[Technically He is saying 'This man'-a way if saying that he is nothing more than merely human, not greater than those around him, if at all.

It would probably seem quite obvious to a Diamond. But there is, at least, a shred of good news-] I, the man Gongenzaka, have not only spoken to them-I know them. And indeed, they returned to their normal state.

[Either that, or his best friend merged his soul with ANOTHER dragon, but...Well, details like that would just muddy everything for now. He gives a short nod.] I, the man Gongenzaka, shall admit...it is no longer common to hear where I am from as well. However, they are the teachings of my dojo, and my family. I, the man Gongenzaka, swore to never forsake them.

[Only obvious if her culture worked the same way. It doesn't.

She nods slightly, thinking more of corruption than language barriers. That one was far more the pressing concern. Her gaze turns upwards, to the countless stars that still seem well within reach.]

It is best to stay with what you are made for.

[Even if it meant odd language quirks.]

Since it seems I will be here for some time, I suppose I should prepare myself for corruption sooner or later as well.

[Well, obvious in the sense of things not being as important as diamonds at least. Not so obvious in the other senses.

It is a phrase that means something quite different in his mind, the idea of being born for something. Such things are left unknown to man, a thing to be discovered.

Certainly, they are not things predetermined, and as the thought of such a meaning is unthinkable, Gongenzaka nods.

And then blinks, apparently in alarm.] You have signed a contract yourself then?

I have. It seems a great wrong done a long time ago may be ... repairable, in time.

[Her smile then is terribly sad, but for once there's something strange behind it, something almost unfamiliar these days .. hope. Maybe things would finally work out. Maybe it would be right again. It's worth a mere year or two to find out, isn't it?]

A worthy enough cause for a bit of work and a little time. You yourself must have done so as well.

Is that so..? [A high request, though short of reviving the death, it is true indeed that the Ringmaster would consider nothing 'too high' in exchange for a year and a day.

Nothing too low, either. Someone in this place is working a year just to spend a day with the fae.

The expression on Blue's face seems...familiar, however, and Gongenzaka nods in understanding.] Aah, that I do. ...I, the man Gongenzaka, came here for only one reason-to make certain that I do not fail those who I care for. ...I failed them once...and I, the man Gonenzaka, cannot allow myself to do so again..! [he continues passionately, shaking his head.]

You are a guardian, then.

[Another survey this time, of his strange warped form. No, he did seem to have the frame for it under all the strangeness. Trading service to be certain he can do the job he was meant for, that was a noble thing. Better than most organics did she supposed.]

May you succeed then in your efforts. A protector who cannot protect is not much of one at all, but it seems there's ways to remedy that. I am glad.

[He chuckles, somewhat, and actually blushes a little.] I, the man Gongenzaka, take this as a compliment. It is an honor to be considered as such-and indeed, while I am here, I, the man Gongenzaka, act as a member of the 'Patrol', the defense and security to the Carnival!

At home however... [He pauses, thinking it over.] ...Officially, I am a duelist, and a student. ...To my friend, however, I wish nothing more than to be able to protect him as well as one truly called 'guardian'.

If the ruler of this place is capable of returning to me what is lost, then surely this too is within her grasp.

[There was no pattern yet to who was a guard and who wasn't it seemed, certainly he was the first quadruped she'd seen. Not having a comfortable and easy way to categorize all these beings was going to be a headache and a half.

Blue leans back a little in her seat, looking bemused. This was all going to take much getting used to.]

Do other members of your 'patrol' wear an identification of some sort? I imagine you all look very different, if this place changes forms so much.

[One should hope so, certainly. And he smiles, if at least long enough to ponder the question asked.

The smile as usual, must be replaced with more perplexity however, as he finds the answer.] Mmm, we do not, actually! More than likely, this is in part due to the nature of our patrol; if a patron is aware that they are being observed by a member of such law enforcement, they will no doubt be more careful in their actions...even if they intend ill toward what is around them.

To be unknown as such therefore means that we are more effective in catching such perpetrators in the act.

[Despite his size, he is astoundingly quiet when it comes to patrolling, as a matter of fact.] We are most certainly different however...the Warden, in particular, is skeletal in appearance.

[Literally. He is a Skeleton.]

If another runs into trouble, how will they know who to look for to protect them?

[Maybe organics had a way to tell that she wasn't picking up on. It could be instinct, even! Some little part of their squishy brains telling them which ones are safe to run to instead of run from.

That the head of law enforcement here is walking bones eludes her, she presumes he just means 'really thin'. Blue's encountered that before, and while still odd by way of organics at least it was recognizable.]

Unfortunately, beyond other employees calling for us, our best answer is to be nearby; this is why, however, it is called 'Patrol'. It is our duty to walk the entire grounds of the Carnival during our working hours, back and forth, in order to stop any such acts before they can even be committed.

[He does, however, give an encouraging smile.] Many of us who are not patrol however, are fortunately able to perform some form of 'damage control'-a method of stalling for time until those of us who bear experience and training are able to arrive. At the very least, I, the man Gongenzaka, am far swifter on my feet than some imagine!

[Or. Well. Anyone who actually knows him. RUNNING IS NOT STEADFAST....]

[That wins a brief smile again, a little less sad and a little more amused this time.]

With so many, it seems reasonable you'd be quick on them.

[Although gems did not generally prefer a quadrupedal form, she knew that for organics things on four legs or wings always outpaced things on two. Given his size and that possible speed, he was probably very effective at his job!

Whether the rest were as much remained to be seen.]

What sort of troubles arise here most commonly? I presumed most were here as I am, willingly, but if this is not so, are uprisings a danger?

Auh- I-I suppose so..! [He can't bring himself to say 'thank you' that would be rude.] It is a matter which I, the man Gongenzaka, certainly do my best to practice with.

...As for troubles...uprisings are surprisingly no issue, not at all. Most typically, what you are speaking of, is the matter of one who has entered a debt-those who have refused to offer proper payment to the carnival grounds, or have caused damage... ...The Ringmaster herself has used minor transformations as punishment for attempts to avoid such a debt, but truthfully, the carnival's own walls act as their own protection. Since acting against the property only incurs further debt, most attempt to flee instead.

...however, we are currently travelling through many dimensions and realms; the forest, as such, will not allow any to pass outside of it, instead leading them back here. ...Typically it is a matter of speaking to those who have become caught in such a state, as a result, [he admits with a cough,] Though...as I, the man Gongenzaka explained, the Ringmaster typically steps in as she feels necessary.

...There are, however, outside dangers occasionally. These are typically handled first by the Nightrider and Nightrunners-those who scout lands ahead, and act as an offensive force when necessary. ...We have only once in my time here, been attacked. ...It was dealt with with minimal loss, and was considered a rare event indeed.

[Also he was one of those losses so eh.]

[It's all useful knowledge in one form or another. That this place travels dimensions as well as worlds will of course have to be put to the test, but if the Ringmaster could mend a shattered diamond, then perhaps she could too move this entire carnival from place to place.]

It seems as if the Ringmaster is at least an efficient ruler.

[Which is no small compliment, coming from a diamond.]

Presumably had the surroundings not turned a person around they would not find themselves where they hoped to be regardless, if this is a location-travelling business. Had I my proper resources I could perhaps have offered a little by way of defense of this place or patrols until my time is up..

[She knew exactly the gems she would assign too, the Amethysts would be climbing the metaphorical walls with glee, she was certain of it.]

Ruler? [Kinda odd, but he decides after a moment, that it works.] ...Indeed, she is an impressive leader, as far as I, the man Gongenzaka, have seen.

You would be correct however-more than likely, they would be no place near their original home! It is quite alright though, [he insists.] With who we have, we should fare fine.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TEST DRIVE MEME #7

WHEEL PROMPT

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