⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME: SUMMERLANDS

[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 (and should) read the full premise here. Reserves and Applications are 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, 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 and Treasurer are currently open. Otherwise, we're pretty much down for anything, roles wise. CURRENT STOP↴ ⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS ⇦ The Summerlands are an idyllic realm inhabited by a population of former Summer Court fae. Generally speaking, they are a species of magical humanoids with pointed ears, unearthly beauty, sometimes wings, and a penchant for magic associated with the power of the sun and growth. They live a peaceful but uneventful existence here, under the leadership of their ruler, the Summer Maiden. The carnival is visiting here for a couple weeks to recuperate after some serious trouble caused by their last tour location, and for a few days of their stay the carnival grounds will be open, and newcomers/returning members will be drawn in for the festivities. While outside visitors will be restricted to the carnival grounds and will not be able to explore the rest of the Summerlands, there are a few common features the carnival's current location will add to the usual experience. ► THE SUMMER FAE: There will be a mix of randos from across the multiverse summoned in by the Ringmaster, but the majority of carnival visitors are the local summer fae. While not exactly aloof, the summer fae there tend to be somewhat uncomprehending of the problems most mortals face. While they do have a concept of ethics, it is hard to compare to that of most of the carnival's visitors, and their outlook on things tends towards that of a very neutral perspective. Rather than having much interest in war or politics, they are primarily focused on enjoying existence and the celebration of nature. ► THE SUMMER LANDSCAPE: Though the winding forests will still prevent outsiders from leaving the carnival grounds, the shining mountain peaks and architecture of the fae can be seen on the horizon. If you want a better look, the Ringmaster's advice is to sign on as a full member, for the reasonable price is a single year of your life. Those who app in during this TDM's run will be entering the game between Day 140 and onward - when signing your contract, you do not always leave the tent on the same day you entered. Sometimes the Ringmaster will create a time skip that causes you to emerge after festivities have wrapped up for convenience sake, so there is some flexibility as to when precisely you enter the game. 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. 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 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. ► TUNNEL OF "LOVE": A brand new attraction in the carnival, the Tunnel of Love is mostly what you'd expect from such a ride - two people sit in a boat together which journeys through some glitter filled caves, complete with mood music. Unfortunately, there is also something else in there with you... in the form a moody kraken living in the waters, who has very particular opinions about shipping, and may either stubbornly interfere with any attempted intimacy, or may politely encourage it. Or they may just generally be a dick if they're in no mood for either. The Ringmaster insists it is a romance expert. ► 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. ► 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! ► DUNK TANK: Sometimes acting like a dick will earn you the gentle reprimand of being sent to work in the Dunk Tank for the afternoon - you know that game where people throw balls at a target, and if they hit it you get dropped into the water? It's like that, only sometimes there are daunting (but harmless) critters in the water, or some other strange magical affects to spice things up. Hopefully, the visitors will have bad aim. ► 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

The Commander (Syrlya) | Guild Wars 2 | OTA

[chronosynthesis]

[Mirror Maze]

[He's lost. Syrlya doesn't consider himself directionally challenged, but here he is undoubtedly lost. Hasn't he passed by this corner before?

He's eying one of the reflections as it starts to distort, flattening out like some deflated balloon.

It just makes him walk faster, quickly turning another corner--straight into somebody else in the maze.] Ah, sorry!

[Wildcard]

[He then finds himself in the attention of a cindersprite, his arms full of boxes in lieu of any actual carnival worker to help it.]

Pardon me. [It stacks other box.] But if you would like my help, you really ought to tell me what it is we are doing.

[Another box. Syrlya looks over his shoulder for anyone who looks carnival-y enough to speak to this creature.] Is there anyone who actually works here?

wildcard

[osteothropy]

You're going to a carnival. What's the matter, never see one before?

[And hello, it's a skeleton, here to talk to you. Sans is bundled up in a hooded coat, but it's still pretty obvious to see that he's formed out of nothing but bone. He seems pretty chill about it, though.]

I wouldn't bother with those guys. They don't talk much.

mirror maze!

[kingsroads]

[ What a shock, the weirdo mirror-eyed guy hangs out in the mirror maze. Strange had been standing in front of one of the mirrors, examining the enchantments...which means that to onlookers, it seemed like he was just standing in front of one, muttering to himself. Needless to say, he wasn't expecting Syrlya to run into him either.

It doesn't bother him though, as he simply shakes his head. ]

There's nothing to be sorry about. It's easy to get turned around in this place if it's your first time visiting--it is your first time visiting, correct?

[ That appearance could easily mean this man is a veteran of the carnival...buuuut Strange had a lovely conversation with a seven foot tall inorganic blue woman who arrived here seven foot tall, inorganic, and blue, so he's finally learning to just accept odd looking people as perhaps having always looked odd. ]

Yuzu Hiragi | Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V (Early canon)

[fusionactuallysuitsher]

[Admission Fees]

"What?! Look, I'm sorry, there's no way I can part with this!"

Yuzu found herself at the front gates of the carnival, surprised at the place that just suddenly showed up. She'd REALLY should get back to the Maiami Tournament right now, but there was something... interesting about this place that she just had to check out. And now she's being told that she can't enter unless she paid for it... with the bracelet she owns

"This is really important to me and I just can't give it up so easily!" She quickly looked around before waving someone down. "Excuse me, can I have a bit of help here, please?"

[Gamer's Circle]

So many games to choose from here! Yuzu can't help but be awed at it! Oh, sure, they're not as exciting as Action Duels, but there's incredible charm to them! And the prizes, so many kinds to choose from?

"Oh, gosh, I shouldn't be here! And yet...!"

Her eyes dart from one side to the next before noticing one of those simple ring-tossing games and approaching it. "I guess one game shouldn't hurt..."

By the time you might notice her, she's probably on her sixth.

[Trying to Leaf]

Okay, need to get back to the Tournament and... not having good luck getting out of the forest. She seems more and more lost, especially since most of the exits tend to spit her back at the carnival.

"Okay, this is getting ridiculous here!" Yuzu said. "All I want is to get out and go home right now..."

She tensed in a panic as she felt her hair being messed with, her hairties being pulled off. She quickly turned around and snatched them back, even as her maroon hair fell loose. "Give me those!" she shouted. And her tensing turned into both panic and outright anger as she turned around and slammed a vine with her trademark large fan. "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING THOSE! That's it, I wanna go home and forget I even came here!"

And she's just going to get more and more lost and confused!

YUZUUUU (gamer's circle)

[hippocarnival]

Between performances, Yuya likes playing the carnival games. It kills time and they're fun, after all, and that's what a carnival is about.

The ring tossing games are on his current list, but as soon as he sees who's already playing he stops and stares. He rubs his eyes and blinks rapidly, as if she'll disappear as soon as his vision clears.

But she doesn't. "Yuzu?!"

Leafing | We saw this coming

[bananaspeedrider]

[When it comes to downtime off the job from being a daredevil performer, instead of holing up like some kind of hermit to tinker with their bike... earlier someone decided they wanted to do some target practice out here in the open. Well that's forgotten when they notice Yuzu because-]

RIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!

[Oh dear sweet god it's some kind of horrific half-lizard monster that wants to eat Yuzu. Nah just crush her in a hug.]

Leaf???Circles??? SOMEWHERE AFTER YUUYA-

[otoko]

[Gongenzaka has had a LOT to think about after their last 'location' suffice to say, and there is still more that he and Yuuya will have to talk to another regarding as well. It's not going to be a pleasant talk. It's not going to be pleasant at all, and the man sighs as he continues his patrol.

That is when he spies a shock of pink. Initially he pays it no mind-the colour is hardly odd in this place. But then he catches a glimpse of something else, and something that looks like a fan, and-] ...Y-YUZU?!

[Gongenzaka, As He Is Now, might not want to draw attention to himself...

...But alas. The 9 foot dog thing has just done that.]

Hibari Kyouya | KHR! | here to destroy everything

[disciplineking]

Admission Fees????????

Who needed admission fees when you could just hop and climb over the walls or whatever enclosed the space, like Hibari was currently doing. He didn't trust anyone but him embezzling money or whatever these jokers were trying, and if there was a carnival, there were going to be animals. And he wanted to see (and possibly set free) those animals.

Anyone dumb enough to ask him what the hell he was doing or 'get down from there' or heavens forbid stop him, was going to get a bladed tonfa to their neck.

Wildcard

Otherwise, one would find the teenager hovering around where the Menagerie was, trying to figure out the best way to get into it without actually paying money. He could just deck the people working there, but for once, he was using the common sense that this was a strange place and that would call too much attention to himself.

His own bird nestled in his hair as Hibari stared at the area. Anyone that wanted to come up to him was welcome to, but it was probably for the best to stay on guard.

Wildcard

[flipsummon]

Mieru was not especially interested in getting permission to enter the menagerie itself; she wanted to see as much of the carnival where she'd be working as possible, so watching the roving animals from a distance would satisfy her for now. And the young man stood out nearly as much as the "exotic exhibits" did. She walked up to Hibari, a curious gleam in her eye.

"You have the optimistic chickadee on the crown of your head, but attachment seems to be weighing you down a lot." Mieru tilted her head, blinked curiously. "Is something wrong, oniisan?"

Reira Akaba | Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V | NEWBIE

[soft_focus]

[(RE-)ADMISSION]

[Reira, rather soundly...has Skipped Admission. There's 'reasons' involved, and it's a little complicated, but as such-despite signing on for a contract not long ago-she's politely walking right toward the gates, finding the gate clerk, and handing something over. It looks like...a teddy bear?

The cinder sprite looks at it a moment, and hands it back. No. No, small one, you might need tickets for most of the rides and things but you sort of have a tab to work with right now-]

Um-! No, I need to pay-

[This light battle of gently nudging things back and forth goes on for...A while.]

[TUNNEL OF LOVE (FOR LOOKING FABULOUS)]

[Reira is rather clueless about the points of a tunnel of 'love' so it's no surprise that she's not only gotten on a boat (The cinders really couldn't care less about this nonsense, see), but is now kicking her feet as said boat takes off alone... ...It feels like a rather boring ride all things considered, though she looks up at the glitter filled ceiling with relative interest.

At least until something splashes beside her.] Umn-?

[And then at the other 'beside' her.] Mnh?

[And then... ....Yep she's looking at a rather large set of eyes as the resident kraken makes its presence, staring, staring at the empty seat, staring at the little 7 year old...

Eventually it seems to decide that what is Clearly necessary here is something involving hair, and the poor girl is blinking rather confusedly as tentacles start trying to make some sort of up-do with the silver locks.]

[WILDCARD]

[Reira will be coming in as a newbie under relatively unique circumstance, so she isn't trying to leave...but she is going to be wandering in attempt to familiarize, since she wouldn't be present on the grounds AT ALL until the contract was signed! All that's really important for now is that she's a 7 year old girl who looks like this despite the many hoodie icons, and from there you can hit me with anything! I'm good for plenty.]

Admission

[hippocarnival]

[Hopefully Reira doesn't startle too much when Yuya comes up from behind, reaching to stop the back and forth with the bear.] Don't worry about it, Reira. I'll handle it, so you don't need to pay for anything.

[He's so relieved to see Reira all right.]

Mieru Houchun | Yu-Gi-Oh! -V

[flipsummon]

Admission Fees

"The purple hue has always been associated with royalty, but it also carries melancholy feelings and doubts about the self..."

A girl walks past the entrance, looking a little troubled. There is a duel disk strapped to her arm, and she has laid five gemstones across its flat surface - blue, yellow, orange, green, and red; purple missing. Perhaps she gave one up as her entry fee?

Well, she is not lost forever; there is a crystal apple in her right hand, and at length she holds it high. A sight, distorts by the shiny object, catches her eye - it could be a game booth where it looks like she can win a purple prize; or maybe just a person who looks capable of dispensing such handy objects.

"Lo! There lies Mieru's destiny!" She runs in that direction, Mary Janes clicking.

Tunnel of Love

At length the carnival made it clear that Mieru's fate was here. She would spend the next year and a day in service, becoming stronger for the sake of her precious one, and when she came back to that suspended fortune game, her mancy would be so strong that she could pick the winning piece blindfolded. So Mieru might as well become familiar with Mieru's new temporary home. But this attraction is... she blanches when she sees it, and paces back and forth instead of getting in line.

"No... it's just not right to go through with someone besides darling..."

Tunnel of love

[hippocarnival]

It's like the sisters of fate are answering Mieru's thoughts, because Yuya was just making his way by with his hands in his pockets. It's hard not to recognize her.

"Mieru? Hey!" He waves, surprised.

Dorian Gray | Confessions of Dorian Gray | veteran

[sinterpiece]

tunnel of love
This is awful. Dorian loves it. He's looking at the Tunnel of Love with an expression of disbelief mixed with amazement, a wide grin, an 'I can't believe that crazy fairy lady actually MADE this' sort of smile. So sorry person standing next to him: you're getting dragged on this awful adventure as well. Literally dragged because guess what, attractive and English over here is just grabbing your hand to try and steer you towards the tunnel.

"Obviously we're going on this," said with a smirk. "I want to see if the Ringmaster's managed to put glitter in the water."

doing your work - wardrobe
What job did the Ringmaster shove off on this immortal party boy with over a hundred years experience being a fashion plate? Wardrobe. And the weirdest thing of all? He's actually taking this seriously. Dorian's commandeered a table in the wardrobe and has spread out various swatches of fabric, mixing and matching them as he takes notes and sketches out ideas for the performers' outfits.

He's assuming that anybody coming in is here for a fitting or a design consultation, no matter if they're actually performers or not. So sorry random person! When someone enters the wardrobe tent, Dorian looks up and regards them with a critical expression.

"Christ, she's let you all go to the dogs. Well, let's get this started."

wildcard - obligatory creepy immortality prompt
There's been an accident in the training grounds. Though he won't admit it, it's entirely Dorian's fault. This thing is new, he wanted to see what it was even if there was a sign up saying be careful, they're tinkering with some of the electronic bits. In retrospect, bad idea. He was reaching to fiddle with some sort of settings when someone bumped into him causing Dorian to bump into a nearby table, causing a toolbox to fall right on his hand, mangling it with a sickening thump and the crunch of bones breaking.

Good thing he's got a healing factor, isn't it. And so, Dorian's standing off to the side, biting his tongue as the process starts to work.

It's healing slowly--after all, the Ringmaster had to nerf some of the more ridiculous aspects of Dorian's healing factor. But his bones are obviously resetting themselves and his hand is moving from a mangled mess to an actual hand. And, based on the way that Dorian's got his teeth gritted, it hurts like hell.

"Enjoying the show?" Dorian snaps, with a glare at whoever's watching said creepy healing factor fix his hand.

( ooc: veteran cliff notes! Dorian joined the carnival, grew antennae, promptly threw a hissy fit, and signed on for another year to learn illusion magic which he uses to hide all his changes because he's vain and they're gross. Got sent to magical time-out for a while after the first vampire attack because like half the carnival died, now is not the time to be saying things like "well they should ENJOY their immortality!" and "when you look at it from a certain way, vampirism isn't THAT bad." )

OH BOY CREEPY IMMORTALITY-

[soft_focus]

Well. That is definitely a sight. Reira is probably the last one who should be anywhere near the training grounds, certainly while it's being manned by someone having this much of a struggle with things, but it does mean that she takes a moment to do the exact thing that Dorian seems to rather she not be doing right now. Which is staring, except now instead of at the hand it's at his face.

"UmH-!" Caught! Looking at something she was about to ask about the health of, even.

Actually on that note...as much as it's obviously recovering...Sllllloooowly, it doesn't look like a good time.

At all.

"...D... ...Do you need ice..?" Ice helps sore things, this is Fact, she Learned it.

Augustine Sycamore | Pokemon XY/XYZ (anime) | OTA

[megabond]

(OOC: Please note that I'm aiming for a newbie role in here.)

Admission Fees

[This has been the weirdest day he has even experienced so far. One minute, he was on his way to the ruin site and the next, he finds himself in front of a gate to some kind of a carnival. Of course, he decided to head to the ticket counter to try asking for directions. Instead, he finds himself being offered to enter the carnival with "anything of value" as his fee. In fact, the cashier is somehow interested in his Key Stone attached to his watch. Obviously, his only focus is to head to his destination rather go on a detour.]

What?! No, I won't sell my Key Stone just for a ticket to the carnival. I just want to know if you saw some ruins nearby.

[Unfortunately for him, he doesn't get any progress on his current task so far...]

Trying to Leaf

[Eventually, he decides to forge on rather on entering the carnival. Alexa is already waiting for him to arrive at the ruin site and he can't break that promise. But unfortunately, the more he walks through the dense forest, the less he can find any exit from the bushes.

What's even worst is that he finds himself being grabbed by some vines around him. And it doesn't help that his arms are also caught by the vines, which disables him to release his Garchomp to aid him. Guess you better help him out before he's plant food.]

Wildcard

[If he escapes from the vines, Sycamore will still end up in the carnival no matter where he goes. Right now, you may see him looking around the Gamer's Circle and wander around near the Big Top or the front gate, trying to find someone to ask about his current whereabouts.

Regardless, all he knows is that he's completely lost.]

Trying to Leaf

[stillremember]

[ Luckily for Sycamore, he wasn't the only one lost in the woods. Riza had also gotten turned around trying to leave the carnival, the crystal atop the chalice she carried casting an eerie green glow onto the nearby trees.

Seeing him struggle with the vines, she set the chalice down quickly, an icy mist surrounding her hand as she focused on the aggressive plants. A moment later there was a flash of white light and mist, and as it faded the plants were encased in ice. She hurried forward, taking the large hammer hanging from her belt and smashing it into the ice, trying to shatter the frozen foliage from ends grabbing Sycamore. ]

Are you alright?

Connie Maheswaran | Steven Universe | Newb

[sworntothesword]

[ Admission Fees ]

Anything of value?

[ Connie didn't have much. She didn't really have any money, maybe a book, a notebook- Steven's Mom's sword! It wasn't in her bag!]

Ohgodohgodohgod.

She upturned her bag, as if a giant pink sword as large as she was had just been overlooked in a side pocket or something. Bits and bobs scattered everywhere, including a treasured volume of Everblade: Rise of the Green Destiny that she'd had since she was seven years old. ]


[ Gamer's Circle ]

[ There it was! Rose's sword! It was sitting in the Prize rack of this carnival game! ]

Hey, that's mine!

[ Connie isn't totally gullible, she knows carnival games are super rigged! She read a book about it, once. But, she's confident that with this hidden knowledge, she can probably manage to outwit the outwitter!

It doesn't work so well, actually, and within the hour she's pretty much put up every single thing she owns short the clothes on her back. ]

One more throw! I'll pay anything!

[ She had to get Rose's sword back! ]


[ Love Boat ]

[ Steeeeeven? ]

[tacosgay]

[Aw, geez. Is that a fucking kid getting stuck in the same trap he did? Ordinarily, he would be busy in the cookhouse at the moment; the only reason he isn't there, honestly, is because he got a little too angry with the awful ways they were making him cook, and he snuck off, still clad in his work clothes. At least he'd taken off the hairnet, leaving his mass of blond curls loose beneath his pointed hat.

He watches her for a second, and then strolls over to her.]

Hey, uh, just a word of advice from somebody who knows: be careful with the games around here. And, whatever you do, don't try to use magic to cheat, because that doesn't end well for anybody.

hell lemon / steven universe

[objectivous]

((ooc: posting again after getting some helpful crit and canon reviewing! will also match format ✌️✌️✌️✌️))

actually it's about ethics in gem warfare

[after much deliberation, weighing the pros and cons of putting a year of her time into this carnival and a promise that she has doubts about, yellow diamond deigned to bless the pocket dimension with her presence. a year is an inconsequential amount of time to an immortal gem - especially one so powerful as a diamond - and when her allotted time is up, yellow fully intends to exploit it as much as she can. she's weighed the odds, she's already got three plans and twice as many back ups for what to do when the ringmaster approaches her with her quarry. rocks fall, a planet is conquered and yellow diamond reaps the rewards for homeworld. such is the way of the gem empire.

the giant, obnoxiously yellow woman had passed through the forest silently, broken a twig off one of the trees and done some faux magic on it to make it appear more valuable than it was and offered it as her admission fee. all the time she was silently observing, watching every inch of how the carnival worked. she finds it so below her that yellow diamond doesn't even bother to interact with most of what she's watching, only looking for exploitable weaknesses to mentally file away for later. eventually, she comes to the gamer's circle. drawn to it thinking it to be some kind of combat testing simulation - perhaps for reactions or ability to calculate weapon usage. none of it seems particularly challenging, but what could she expect from a lesser species? yellow will stand behind you to watch your attempt at the game; unflinching, barely moving, only making the occasional thoughtful noise. maybe if you win, she'll summon up a yellow pad and tap a few things in. the concept of carnival games is not something yellow finds hard to grasp or finds new, rather she's watching how the spirits rope in potential players. what she is doing and how she plans to use the information, she would assume is above the organic beings here.

then again, the machinations of the diamond authority usually are.]

wildcard

[hey can i get uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh some random scenario]

wildcard, this is dumb

[kingsroads]

[ Jonathan Strange thought he could attempt to befriend Coco the Exeggutor (long story) after their terrible first meeting. Jonathan Strange was dead fucking wrong.

There's a puddle a foot or so away from Yellow Diamond's feet. That puddle's still there but surprise, there's Strange magically appearing from it from out of effing nowhere because sometimes when trying to flee from a thirty-five foot tall murderbeast, you simply make do and have to travel between puddles instead of travel between mirrors. He's perfectly dry, soles of his feet excluded, but his coat's torn at the shoulder, there's leaves in his already messy hair, and his trousers are just covered in dirt.

Welcome to the carnival, Yellow Diamond, meet one of the resident trainwrecks. Swearing slightly to himself, Strange backs up, bumps into Yellow Diamond, then turns around almost instantly, regarding her with a confused frown. Another gem. And another of the tall ones. He's only had a few conversations with Blue Diamond but he enjoys her company so who knows, perhaps the tall yellow one might be a good conversationalist as well. Of course, Strange doesn't even realize that he's making the worst first impression in the history of first impressions, what with his freaky mirrored eyes, generally disheveled appearance, and slightly frantic demeanor as he slowly comes down from an adrenaline high. ]

New arrival, I assume? [ It's a rhetorical question because of course Yellow Diamond's a new arrival. ] I'd stay away from the forest, if I were you. There's a particularly murderous tree out and about and she's in a terrible mood.

Shia | Pita-Ten | Newbie!

[blanched]

[Mirror Maze]

[There's a very small, very confused lady wandering around in the mirror maze at this moment. This place is beautiful, and, at first, she found it fascinating, but... she's starting to get nervous, particularly since she hasn't been able to find an exit for some time.

She walks, her pace even despite her growing panic, occasionally reaching out with a small hand to touch the glass; one of the times that she does this, her reflection... changes, growing, shifting, a long, dark shape with long fangs and vivid red eyes--

Shia backs away, a hand curling at her chest, gazing up at it with wide, dark eyes...

... and then she backs right into another person, and she startles with a faint gasp, bowing even as she turns around to face them.]

I-- I'm sorry!


[Games]

[Shia is terrible at games. Bless her heart, she's trying so hard, but every ball she throws at the bottles behind the counter just kind of... bounces off of the platform they're sitting on. Her ordinarily deathly pale face is flushed pink in embarrassment, her little shoulders sinking.]

Ah-- oh, dear... and I'm nearly out of money...

Games

[small_reservations]

[The little demon has attracted attention from a couple of people, as she's nearly incurred a debt at a few different stalls, but now it looks like she's actually about to. Axel doesn't want to get involved, he's on patrol and not supposed to stop, but she looks like a kid, and somehow reminds him of someone, though he can't put his finger on who.

It's enough to make him stop, anyway.]

Is something wrong?

[Big fuckoff lizard-gazelle man here to ruin save the day. He smiles, careful not to show his sharp teeth. Can't do much about the horns, though. Or the kilt.]

Starflight | Wings of Fire | Newbie (will match formatting)

[petrifiedshadow]

I. Gamer’s Circle / Concessions

Starflight had never imagined a place like this. The closest would have been the party Queen Scarlet had thrown for her birthday, but Starflight hadn’t seen much of that since he was busy trying to escape. He remembered the light, the noise, the smell of food, that there were some scavengers there, but that was all, and that memory did nothing to prepare him for the colors and crowds of the carnival. After days trapped on the dreary NightWing island, it was a bit of a shock. He wasn’t sure if he’d stumbled through another secret animus passageway, or if this was all some sort of extremely bizarre dream.

Speaking of shockingly different from the Night Kingdom, something smelled amazing! Starflight greedily followed his nose and the smell of cooking meat until he found one of the food stands. He hasn’t had a proper meal in days, considering both the food shortages in the kingdom and the unpleasant manner in which most NightWings hunted. Unfortunately his only item of value, the dreamvisitor, had been taken as his entry fee, so he didn’t have anything of worth to purchase food. He could, theoretically, just reach out and grab any of these scavengers for a snack, but somehow it just didn’t seem like the right thing to do.

Instead he just stood in front of the booth looking miserable, his mouth watering and stomach growling. Perhaps some good samaritan would help him out.

II. The Menagerie

He kept expecting to wake up at any moment, but since he still hadn’t Starflight had continued to explore the carnival. His wandering had brought him to the Menagerie, a concept he hadn’t ever seen put into practice. He’d read that scavengers used to keep animals as pets, but it wasn’t a very popular idea for dragons. The only pets he’d ever seen were the sloths the RainWings kept, but they were not exactly your typical dragons to begin with.

The rickety path was a little unnerving, but Starflight wasn’t one to disobey the ominous “Stay on the Path” signs. The wooden path swayed under his weight, and as he took a step forward there was a sharp crack of wood. He jumped back though nothing seemed to have happened, but in his panic his wings shot out for balance, whacking the person behind him.

“Ah- Sorry! I didn’t meant to hit you,” he apologized in a rush, his head craning around to look over his shoulder, claws gripping the railing so tightly they were doubtless adding to the shaking.

III. Wild Card

Whatever you want.

its important to note he smells like a "bloated goat carcass stuffed with rotting fish"

[smellydragon]

You know what's great? What's really, really great? When you find someone who seems to be just like you! Or, rather, this other black dragon is a little off looking, what with the forelimbs and all, but he's not a wyvern! And that means that Starflight is A-Okay in Mikhail's books!

Also, it'd be nice to have another dragon around maybe? Or at least one that Zero doesn't make him fight... Oh! He should introduce himself instead of just staring, right? It's only polite!

"Hey! Hey!" He shouts, and promptly starts tromping over, because really what else is he supposed to do? "Hi! I'm Mikhail! It's nice to meet you! It's really nice!"

Pocket | Fool/The Serpent of Venice | ota!

[fuckstockings]

[A short, slender man stands at the admission booth, looking around with a mostly unimpressed look on his face. He's never seen electric lights or anything like the carnival attractions before, but he also doesn't seem very interested in it.]

Walk all the way through the woods, just to end up at this sodding place? [It's easy to overhear him; despite his small stature, he speaks very loudly, in a thick British accent.] I thought heaven would be a bit more... [He waves a hand in the air as though conjuring the words.] choirs singin' and nuns buggering angels and whatnot.

["This isn't heaven," the bored hand at the admission booth tells him.]

Really? Is that for the buggering nuns bit? Not even my best, you know.

["You'll need something of value to get in," the worker tells him, and the man gestures down at himself.]

Well, as you can see, I don't have so much as a scrap on me. [And this is true, as it would seem the man is entirely naked, not a bit of clothing from head to toe.] Would you be willing to take my soul? Never so much as disobeyed my mum in way of sinning.

["We don't want your soul."]

Okay, I admit, I've had the odd roll with a scullery maid and caused the occasional war but can you really hold that against me?

["Something of value."]

Oh toss! [He turns abruptly, giving a sweeping gesture of his arm as if he had something to flourish.] I'm going to the other place. Maybe they'll be more hospitable! Fire and brimstone is for everyone, right?

[And off he walks, back towards the woods.]

we shall revel in the fact that finding icons/picking pbs is friggen hard

[whiffofvirtue]

[ It's nighttime for this thread because Horst Cabal, friendly neighborhood vampire, straight up dies in the sun. He's taller than Pocket but equally slender, with short light brown hair. He's also wearing a suit that's a tad ostentatious and, hilariously enough, screams 'carnival showman.'

But most importantly, he's been watching this conversation between Pocket and the poor bugger working the admission booth from the shadows. Well then. How...interesting that the tiny man jumped right to the prospect of selling his soul. And considering that Horst himself is working for a carnival of the damned trying to collect souls? It's also worrying.

He at least should try to warn him. After all, the train for his carnival wasn't that far away (or was it? He honestly doesn't know how long he's been walking in the woods). And there's no way he's letting whoever this is sell his soul at the Cabal Brothers Carnival. Not when there's a big fun shiny distraction right here.

It seems like Horst appears out of nowhere as he puts his hand around Pocket's shoulder and attempts to forcibly steer the man back towards the carnival, trying to just ignore the fact that he's naked as the day he was born. ]

I'm sure the lovely people at the counter won't mind if you give them an IOU. [ In contrast to Pocket, Horst has a noticeable German accent. Giving the attendant a charismatic smile, fangs slightly visible to both the attendant and Pocket, he starts to try and bustle him back towards the carnival. ] After all, the first try's always free. See if you can win something, use that to pay them back later!

Zoe Baker | Resident Evil | OTA

[telephoning]

A. Admission Fees.

[She's... not sure whether to believe what she's seeing.

Initially, in fact, she didn't. She looked at it all - the bright, open landscape like it was a dream that she was being teased with but couldn't do more than walk into and through, with all-on-edge, cross-bearing determination.

But this is... different, a way fuller dream than anything she's seen this lucidly before. By the time she makes it to the admission gates, shes thinking less of why and more of what. Less of why she's seeing what she's seeing and, sucking her breath back into her lungs at the sights of the creatures around her, more of the thought that it's...

Some test of nerve. If not right now, then up ahead, and she's more helpless than she wishes she was to do anything other than meet it.

She... loosely files in the line.

Before she... pulls out of it, back, ambling, fishing in the pockets of her jeans with her back to the gates. There's not a whole lot she's not willing to give up - or wouldn't be willing to give up, but...

She's flat broke. Got nothing on her but the swamp-soggy clothes on her back.

There's her lighter, but that ain't currency...

And then -- a slight widening of her eyes, on a recognizing ah-ha...!

The old coins...

Someone happens to cross by her.

And she turns her face to them. Holding two coins up pinched between her index finger and thumb.]

'Scuse me...

[A voice like air through a thin, ill-welded burnished copper pipe. Her brow is suspiciously knit, initially.

And then she tosses her head to the side and back in for a moment, to adjust the hair over her eyes.

Her tone becomes milder yet clearer, but in a... weary, casual-yet-urgently-businesslike sort of way. Carrying something of a Southern drawl.]

Think these'll be worth anything, around here...?


B. Wildcard!

[I'll be at the ready to toss up another scenario - just tag on in and I'll roll something up gladly!]

A!

[fortuneglass]

[Carly is, suffice to say, a little distracted these days. There's a few reasons for it really, but none of them are reasons she's about to bring up to anyone just now, so instead the inky-black bird lady continues on her hovering way-only briefly turning when she realizes someone's speaking to her.

Black-sclera eyes blink to the young woman, and Carly looks to the coins.] Mnnn...Maybe? It really depends, actually..! If they're important to you, they definitely count!

Shiro Fujimoto | Blue Exorcist

[lionson]

"Admission Fees"

[Yeah, he's not about that at all. Especially since everything on his person is something he values and doesn't intend on giving up anytime soon.

So instead of using the front gate, Shiro is going to be circling around through the forest and entering from another direction. His thought process being that, once he's actually inside the carnival, there's no way for anyone to tell if he bought his way in or not. Plus he doesn't plan on playing around or anything, he's just staying around long enough to get some answers before going on his way. That totally justifies not paying his way in.

He is an upstanding role model don't doubt him. Or maybe do, and interrupt his attempts to sneak in?]


Gamer's Circle

[Shiro is parked at that water gun game and is considering his options as the spirit in front of him offers him 'credit' to play. Now, Shiro's not dumb, he's sure that there's some sort of catch here. But on the other hand, shooting stuff is His Thing, so he could just as easily game the system as the system tries to game him. And he's just cheeky enough to actually try it.]

I dunno, I'm not so great at these carnival games...

[It is totally a hustle, or his attempt at one. Are you going to interrupt him? Or sit back and watch the show?]


Wild Card

[Because Shiro is indeed a wild card.

Which means he has managed to climb up into one of the many trees around there to get a better view of the area. While he's up there, if anybody gets close, he's going to call out to them.]

Hey! Is there a 'lost and found' for missing kids or something?

[No, he is not going to specify that those 'missing kids' are teenagers. Why would he do that?]

WILDCARD...

[insidescoop]

[Yesssss...well. Carly was sort of perching in this tree in Bird Form to try and avoid everything, but it's hard to keep that up when someone climbs up and uses it to scope the place out. The bird gives an irritated chirrup that is no doubt ignored, and it isn't until she's shifted back that she's likely noticed.

All inky black, covered in glowing orange, the woman quickly casts aside her irritations.] Eh-?

You mean you lost children!?

Hinawa | MOTHER 3 | Veteran

[sunflowerfields]

A: Do your work

[Well, this one is pretty self-explanatory. Almost as soon as Hinawa reawakens in the Carnival, she's back to work like nothing ever happened. A savory scent wafts out of the kitchens if you're curious enough to investigate.]

Oh, hello! The stew's almost ready. Would you like to give it a taste test?

[She's all but thrusting the wooden spoon in your face, don't say no to mom.]

B: Dunk tank?

[Sometimes acting like a dick will get you sent to the dunk tank, and sometimes you get sent there entirely on accident. Hinawa finds herself shuffled onto the platform before she realizes what's going on.]

I'm supposed to sit here...? What do I do next- oh!

[As if on cue, a large, dark shadow swims under her. She stiffens.]

...I'd like to get down, please!

do your work!

[flashover]

[MOM. MOM IS BACK]

Uwah...! Miss Hinawa! You're back! I-- [omgjkdls there is stew in his face. He tastes it, then gives a big thumbs up] It's great!

Tyki Mikk | D.Gray-man | OTA

[prazerbutterfly]

[Gamer's Circle]

[Dress to the nines in his expensive noble's attire of a Victorian gentleman, Tyki could easily be picked as an equally easy target. He's got money so paying the admission fee was not an issue even if it was a little expensive. He's expecting a good show later on after he's had his fill of the festivities. Games weren't really his thing unless there was a higher stake to it. He loved to gamble and in his 'white' life as a hobo instead of a gentleman it was how he made his money. He can spot a conman from a mile away.

He's wearing a warm smile and nodding to a few passing by. He's currently on his best behavior and he's very much aware of those trying to lure him in to play a game. He hasn't exactly won a game yet despite trying to win something for Road. How dare he go to a carnival without his niece and not bring her something back. He can just hear the drawn out conversation right now.

He sighs as he feels the bills in his pocket. There's still plenty left and he's sure a few of them are cheating. Now it is just a matter of which one he can cheat himself.]

Oiya, which one next? [His voice is smooth and deceptively lost. He wants the most desperate for his attention or anyone passing by that can give him an advantage.]


[Wildcard]

[The scents that entice him gently lure him into the carnival's presence. From the smell of food, fresh fires, the summer air beyond the trees and the crisp pines that waft in the distance he's at a lost of where to go but simply forward. He's not expecting a carnival in the middle of all of it. It's delightful to the eyes and ears. Everyone is having a good time. After paying admission fees with money he very much has he could be found anywhere.

As a man who enjoys the pleasures of life from comfort to good food he wants to enjoy his time. It means lingering after the grand show to watch the clean up, the after performances or the normalcy of the crowd. He's definitely one to sample food that seems edible. The Ferris Wheel is a plus for its high view. He can even be found wandering for something to do outside of the tents or towards the backyard but he won't step further than the entrance out of courtesy unless he's invited in. He's not lost. He's simply curious.]

I SEE YOU DESH Gamer's circle

[chronosynthesis]

[Syrlya, meanwhile, genuinely is lost. Not in location, he knows quite well where he is. But the carnival is a little dizzying in its spanning complexity. When you aren't used to such dramatic celebrations, or anything more than dancing and drinking, it's easy to get overwhelmed with just how much there is to engage.

He just so happens to be drawn towards the same carnival booth Tyki is. Once he sees him, he gestures to the game.] Oh, you go first.

Riku || Kingdom Hearts

[darkaga]

[ TRYING TO LEAF ]

[ An amazing, huge, interesting, fantastic carnival spread out before him. So much seemed to be going on that it was hard to decide where to look first, let alone where to actually go first, but when it came down to it Riku knew exactly where to go:

the heck outta here, of course. He has STUFF TO DO.

As soon as he's absolutely sure this isn't some weird kind of dream (been there, done that) he turns right around and heads towards the forest, trying to replay how he got here in his head. As long as he tried to leave the exact way he came, he'd surely figure out how to get back.

Of course, as soon as he thought this the carnival came directly into his line of sight again. ]

What?!

[ No, no. He'd been POSITIVE that he had walked directly AWAY from it. Had he been so lost in thought he'd taken a wrong turn? A silly mistake to make- he needed to focus.

He turned around again.

This time he got a lot further (while making absolutely certain to walk in one direction) before the carnival came into view yet again, the lights extra bright from his time walking amongst the trees. Letting out a frustrated noise Riku turns again, but this time he runs into the forest...

...And it's not long before he's running right back at the carnival, hardly paying attention to anything other than the obnoxiously bright lights and most likely running right into some poor, unsuspecting passerby. ]



[ GAMER'S CIRCLE ]

[ Competition had always been a weakness of Riku's, but thankfully he's got more important things on his mind and the carnival games don't distract him at all. Not even a little. No, he's definitely not watching people playing some kind of water gun race, and he's definitely not thinking that giving it a try. DEFINITELY NOT.

...Well, it couldn't really hurt, since he's stuck here for the moment, anyway, right?]



[ WILD CARD - FERRIS WHEEL ]

[ Alright, leaving the usual way hadn't exactly worked, but Riku was nothing if not persistent. After wandering around the carnival looking for any sign of a way to get out Riku had come upon something that he hoped would be promising: A giant ferris wheel. He'd overheard some people mentioning how it was high enough to actually "touch the stars," and, well, he didn't have any better ideas yet so this one was going to have to do.

He headed over and informed the person heading the line that he'd need a ride, only for them to usher him towards a seat. Looks like they've been busy though, because there's already someone else in the seat next to his. ]

Trying to Leaf!!!!!!!

[destiny_key]

[Whatever he'd been expecting on his walk around the carnival, it wasn't getting literally run into. Of course, it's par for the course to be jostled in the crowd around here, but Sora's pretty sure this is the first time he's been actually knocked down by a patron.

But, it was probably an accident anyway, so he puts on a smile and gets to his feet, prepared to help out whoever it is.]

Oh, sorry about that! Are you-

[Sora finally looks up at the other party, and-

Oh. Oh.]

Riku?!

Hibiki Shikyoin ♔ Idol Time PriPara

[priforprince]

[ Admission Fees ]



And I'm telling you, I'm able to pay!

[ Hibiki doesn't really understand herself why she's so keen on entering this carnival she's discovered, but she also isn't questioning it. She is, however, questioning why this barker isn't accepting the inordinate number of very large bills she's pulling out of her wallet as "something of value." ]

State the fee clearly! Cost is of no object!

[ Mirror Maze ]

[ "Acting for me is an everyday occurrence. Tricking a country girl from the Palps--"

Hibiki shuts her eyes. She's not sure how this is happening, but she does know one thing: ]

What an incredibly tasteless display.

[ She keeps walking, ignoring a little girl who's running along the other side of the mirror, silver curls swaying, asking "Hey, you were scared, right? You were just scared! What kinda Prince can't take it when people lie to 'em? You're a coward! A scaredy-cat!" ]

Making even the sight of my own reflection unpalatable is the height of absurdity. I'll find my way out by instinct, and -

[ "That carelessness just gets you into trouble, pri!"

Every other image of Hibiki in the mirror house drops the teacups they were holding simultaneously. And they all, with the exception of the little girl - who mostly just looks confused - say the same thing. ]



UWAAAAAAH!

[ GAMER'S CIRCLE ]

[ If you're here to test your luck, you may find the spirits manning these booths looking as disgruntled as wisps of smoke can look. Their ire is directed a ways down, at the sound of rings flying perfectly onto a pole - no, a target being knocked down by a water gun - no, knives being thrown onto a dartboard in a rose pattern with one piercing the middle -



Smiling smugly, Hibiki moves on to the next booth. She is still facing away from the knife booth, which she'd attempted from that position. ] What's next?

[ Ah, it's a two-player game. Guess she's skipping that one unless there's anyone around...

Accepting this challenge, beneath her as it is, has proven to be most diverting. ]

[ TUNNEL OF LOVE ]



[ Hibiki is sitting, arms crossed, in this boat with you. She is not exactly encouraging the Proper Mood, because she is too busy frowning at the decor. Shabby. Too shabby, for a lofty concept such as -

She blinks when something ripples in the water, but dismisses it. There couldn't possibly be anything to worry about in here.

Not even when those ripples get closer. ]

Gamer's Circle

[steadydollypegs]

Blimey, ain't you got a steady hand!

[Here's a strange and androgynous human with small antlers, dragging a rolling trunk with a closed parasol over her shoulder. Doll's moving her wardrobe over to the changing tent, getting ready to go and perform, but she decided to swing through the circle just to see if she spotted anybody familiar. So far it seems clear.]

What're ya tryin' ta win, hm?

Yukio Okumura | Blue Exorcist | OTA

[reflash]

[ "Arrival Fees" | CLOSED TO CASTMATES | spoilers + concentrated teen angst ]

[A wish. A deal. A door closed and opened again that didn't lead out into a snowy alleyway but instead opened into a bustling, overwhelming world of light and color and potential.

He hands a few yen to the clerk, lets them take his guns and lock them away, wanders in. A demon's carnival isn't somewhere he should be, but it's not as if he should be anywhere. He doesn't play their games, doesn't eat their foods, just walks. He doesn't manage to clear his head.

This solves nothing, answers nothing, gives him nothing, and he wanders dazed until somehow he finds the Ringmaster. The demon at the center of all of this, a fae in the most traditional sense. A fae who wants to bargain, who wants his service and a stretch of his life in exchange for--

She can't defeat Satan, of course. But she can give him anything else he wants. A demon's power, strength beyond anything humans could ever reach, healing powers that seal up injuries faster than he can bandage them, everything he asked of Hachiro with none of the downsides. A year and a day is so much easier to give than what the snake wanted.

But there's a broken laptop and a trail of dead bodies and someone else's laughter in the back of his mind that remind him that even though power is what he wants right now it's not what he needs, that there's something immediate and pressing and that he can (he will) make another bargain with the fae later. Immunity to possession is what he asks for, and he'll willingly hand over a year and a day of his life to remove himself from Mephisto's schemes, from the shadow of Section 13 and whatever the hell Father Fujimoto was planning for him. He'll use the Ringmaster's power and he'll solve all of this, he'll fix everything.

And as he walks away he thinks I've won, I've won and doesn't realize he's laughing until the sound strains his cracked ribs and forces its way through the tightness in his throat and stings his eyes. He's won, but he's still so tired. He's won, but he's still the kind of person who hurts everyone who cares about him and who throws away his life for power.

No one stops him, no one tries to talk to him, and he's made it away from people before his knees hit the ground and he just barely catches himself with his good arm. This was a mistake. All of this was such a mistake.]

[ Gamer's Circle | OTA ]

[Shooting things... well, it hasn't really been helping Yukio's stress levels recently but it also hasn't been hurting. And with his own guns locked away somewhere thanks to the carnival-wide ban, he's taken up a spot in front of a tent (he doesn't want a prize, seeing someone having success will draw others to the booth, and other similar comments have been enough to secure him a place for a few minutes). And he's good, of course.

Admittedly, he's better with shooting games than anything else, and with his left arm in a sling he can't do anything that requires two hands, but you know sometimes your life falls apart and your brother and (dead) dad are also trapped in a fae carnival and you just have to waste a few hours tricking smoke creatures into giving you free plays of their carnival games.

Probably too many hours, honestly.]

OH BOY FAMILY FUN TIME

[lionson]

[It's funny how learning stuff can lead to more questions than answers. But you know what would be even funnier? If the one person who actually could answer Yukio's questions was right there at that carnival.

Because he is. And he's out doing his rounds, checking on performers between sets to make sure there's no injuries.

It's completely by chance that he happens to see someone making their way away from the crowd. Shiro doesn't initially see who it is, but that behavior is a bit suspicious, and Shiro decides to follow. It isn't until Yukio falls that Shiro finally makes his presence known, closing the gap between them quickly and moving to help Yukio stand up.]

Woah there, you didn't have too much to drink now, did you? We don't need you falling-

[His voice is cheerful at first, trying to make light of the situation to keep the other person calm. But as soon as he sees who it actually is and realizes that his other son is right there in front of him, whatever sentence he had been about to say just dies in his throat.

Hi there Yukio, long time no see.]