⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #2

[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 Acquisitioner are currently open. 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 (NEW): 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? (NEW): 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

Barry Pruitt | OC

[tautness]

gamer's circle
[ The problem with the 'shoot the water guns into the target to try and win a prize' game is that you need multiple people. And Barry kind of wants this stuffed animal that is undoubtedly a reference to a pop culture thing that he doesn't get (what the fuck's a Pokemon, Barry doesn't know, but look at that adorable turtle thing.)

The barker's minimal help in getting people over, so Barry just screws up his courage to do the thing that he really doesn't want to do in the first place...talk to people.

So surprise! There's a pale, skinny, terrified looking man in his twenties who's lightly tapping you on the shoulder. ]

Uh, do you want to play? I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to, it'd, um, just be nice.

[ his expression is pure "oh my god this is such a bad idea" ]

not your wheelhouse
[ Oh my God he is going to die.

He's stuck here with a person he doesn't know (that's awful) in a ferris wheel (that's also awful) that's stuck at the highest point (THIS IS THE MOST AWFUL OF ALL). Barry's spent the past ten minutes in a state of near panic because what if the wheel breaks, I mean it's already broken to begin with, he doesn't know how he'll take it if he goes plummeting to the ground from here, I mean he has no idea how vampires survive getting smushed, this is awful and horrible and he is going to die.

Needless to say, he's a bit close to hyperventilating as he looks over the edge of the ferris wheel, gets a little bit queasy, then just shrinks back into his seat, making himself look like a tiny ball as much as possible. Less impact = less of his bones to break? Maybe? ]

They are working on this, right? [ he asks, for like the fifth time in the past five minutes. ]

[veinglory]

[His ride companion seems similarly worried, his brow furrowed as he tries to look anywhere BUT down. He's a stout chap with a gray complexion and perhaps most oddly, a Colonial era powdered wig.]

In theory, yes!

[His voice cracks, noticeably. Why did he get on this ride again, in spite of it always seeming to do this?]

[tautness]

[ with their powers combined, they are two useless, panicky lumps of flesh...one of whom is about to get more panicky. ]

Wait, what do you mean in theory? That's not an answer! [ pause ] Well, um, it is an answer but that's not a good answer!

[veinglory]

[Gottlieb waves his hands apologetically, a nervous smile on his face.]

Please sir, do try and remain calm! This ride has a tendency to do this, but it worked out fine last time it happened, I am sure we will be safe!

[tautness]

Last time?

[ Barry can't help but squeak as he just grabs onto the seat of the ferris wheel for his dear life. ]

[veinglory]

[For his part, the vampire at least seems to feel bad he can't be of any comfort to Barry.]

The Ringmaster would not allow you and I to be harmed... I think. No, no. I am sure. Sure! I mean, I am the only clown. What is a circus without a clown?

[tautness]

It'd be a pretty rubbish circus, [ Barry mutters, with a little frown as he thinks. After all, don't all circuses have clowns?

But then again, what kind of circus just has ONE clown? There's a pause and a frown before, ]

So, um, is there a hiring freeze or something?

[veinglory]

No, quite the opposite! She seems quite eager to accept as many workers as she can.

[tautness]

Then how come there's only one clown? [ Barry pauses to think, momentarily distracted from SUDDEN DEATH AT THE HANDS OF A FERRIS WHEEL as he idly frowns. ]

Because, erm, it seems that working at a fair would be a good job for people who are just out of clown school or something like that. Right?

[ He is a clown = obviously he went to clown school. ]

(Gamer's Circle!)

[empty_vessel]

Jimmy is taking bite #4 out of his sandwich when Barry goes scouting for people to help him play the water gun game. "You.. *mrph* Sorry. Caught me with my mouth full." He swallows, recoiling again at the intensity of the heat and wiping away a tear. "Wow." Knocking back the last of the milk and dropping the bottle into a trash can.

He looks up then, following to where Barry's indicating. "Oh. The water game over there. You need another player? Sure." Jimmy smiles before standing, carefully wrapping the last bit of sandwich in the paper before tucking it into his pocket. A quick brushoff of his suit jacket before picking up his coat and nodding. "Lead on."

[tautness]

[ Barry watches with a bit mind disgust as Jimmy finishes off the sandwich. It's nothing personal, of course. But, well...he's watching someone eat. That's kind of gross. Especially since Barry hasn't had to eat in over thirty years, he knows that logically speaking chewing looks like that, but does chewing really look like that?

Anyway, Barry heads on over to the water game, hoping that Jimmy's actually following. ]

I don't know if you've played this before, but it's just one of those shoot the water into the moving target to try and fill something up the fastest kind of games. [ pause ] It's probably rigged anyway.

[empty_vessel]

"Probably. Only one way to find out though, right?" Jimmy heads after Barry, looking up at the lights and rows of stuffed animals hanging from cords.

"Nope, I've never played one of these before but..." A glance over at the row of targets, plastic pictures of cats with open mouths and small pressure sensors reading 'SHOOT HERE' and then down the line of water guns. ".... It looks easy enough to figure out. Can we start with just two, or do we need three?"

[tautness]

[ Once they get there, Barry casts his eyes up at the blue turtle Pokemon thing. You will be his, tiny weirdly adorable turtle.

Oh, and the other guy's asking a question, better answer it! ]

Oh! Um, the barker said that just two would work. Ideally he'd prefer more cause, you know, money, but two'll work.

[empty_vessel]

Jimmy nods, handing over his entry fee and selecting one of the water guns. He lifts #4 out of it's resting post and gives it a few 'dry-fire' squeezes (the water hasn't been turned on yet) before nodding. "This one seems pretty good." And the coat gets folded over the seat next to him as he waits for Barry to sit down.

Once the game starts, Jimmy will try to subtly throw the game. Aiming for the edges of the plastic so the sensor doesn't go down all the way and letting Barry's little figure cross the finish line first.

[tautness]

[ As he hands over the entry fee, Barry casts one last glance at the turtle thing. Soon, my friend. And then, the game starts

Barry...does not notice in the slightest that Jimmy's throwing the game. He's just bound and determined to win that turtle thing that he's only paying attention to making certain that his spray of water sticks as close to the target as possible. So, when he wins, Barry lets out a wild yelp of joy...that he promptly gets embarrassed about. ]

Oh, um, wow, where'd that come from? [ said with an awkward little laugh, please do not judge him and his happiness over a turtle. When the barker asks what he wants, Barry sheepishly responds, ]

Erm, the blue turtle thing, please.

[empty_vessel]

Jimmy laughs too, Barry's elation at winning is contagious. "No, no. It's alright. Don't worry about it." So it was the... Pokemon? That's what those things are called, right? Jimmy couldn't have named whatever it was if his life depended on it, but he was pretty sure it was one of them.

"Congratulations on the win." He smiles again as the stuffed animal is handed over, happy to have helped.

[Oh my god I am so sorry this took so long to get back to you!]

[tautness]

[ Barry can't name it either, but tiny squishy turtle thing! You are now his. As the barker hands over the turtle, Barry gives is a tentative squeeze and yep, it is as squishable as he imagined. ]

Thanks, [ said with the smallest smile. There's an awkward pause before, ] Oh, uh, I'm Barry.

not ur wheelhouse

[friendsnotfood]

[ It's just Barry's luck that, not only is he stuck, but he is stuck with a troll. Thankfully, Toska is just really tall rather than really wide when it comes to being troll-size, but the rest of him -- the claws, the teeth, the horns -- are probably the parts that might make this worrisome. Being stuck up here, being stuck up here with a definite carnivore.

He isn't freaking out, though, so that's a plus. ]

Hmm. Maybe? Are you sure this isn't part of the ride? [ Toska wouldn't know. He's never been on one of these before! Oh well. Time to lean over the edge really far and take a look around. ] I wonder if they'll make us climb back down...

[tautness]

[ SWEET FRICKEN JESUS this guy is going to fall over the side and then he will fall and then Barry will be stuck here on this metal machine of death all alone and there'll probably be an inquiry because those always happen when people die and he'll be stuck up here even longer while there's this inquiry so HOW ABOUT WE DON'T DO THAT, TOSKA.

Of course, Barry's internal monologue of panic manifests as a blank yet terrified expression. Almost under his breath, he manages to squeak out, ]

Um...do you mind sitting down please? You're, uh, well, you might fall.

[friendsnotfood]

[ How about he rocks the boat instead? Or, in this case, the ferris wheel carriage their in. It's not something he does on purpose, but what happens when someone big tries to move around something they shouldn't really be moving around in.

So, no, he doesn't sit down. He turns to look at Barry. ]

You think so? [ He peers back down at the ground far, far below. ] I bet I could catch myself on something before I hit the ground.

[tautness]

[ DON'T MIND BARRY JUST GRIPPING THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT FOR DEAR LIFE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. ]

Yeah, you'd hit one of the other cars and then break your spine. You can't really catch things if you're falling.

[ He's stating like it's obvious, but there's a hint of a question in Barry's voice. You CAN'T catch things if you're falling, right? ]

[friendsnotfood]

What? No way. I would definitely flip over and grab onto something.

[ STILL LEANING OVER THE EDGE, STILL DOING THE THING.

He apparently isn't picking up on how terrified poor Barry is, alas. ]

Like the next carriage down. I would just grab that and then climb back up.

[tautness]

[ HE IS GOING TO FALL OVER AND DIE and look, Barry knows that he should tell poor Toska about the falling over and die thing but sorry buddy, he's in too bad a panic right now. ]

You can catch things that easily? A lot of people...uh, they can't.

[friendsnotfood]

Yeah, but a lot of people aren't me! [ Also Barry probably means a lot of squishy humans. Maybe? Who knows. ] Watch!

[ Toska, proceeding to grasp the railing with both hands and put a foot up on the same railing, preparing to clamber over. ]

[tautness]

[ Yeah, sorry Toska, because Barry just lets out a very undignified and very high pitched shriek. ]

Don't do that! Uh, get down from there right now, please!