⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

[ringleaders]

WELCOME TO THE SHOW!↴ Or, more specifically, Lost Carnival's first 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 open October 5th at 12:01AM EST. Applications open October 7th at 12:01AM EST. You can apply as a newcomer or as a "veteran" character who has been in the carnival for up to three years. 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. Supervisor applications will start being processed a few days after apps open, and will be selected on a competitive basis. If you want a supervisor position, it is best to submit your application as close to the beginning of the application cycle as possible. If you don't get chosen for your desired supervisor position, you will be given time to rework your application to be a regular veteran, or to apply for a supervisor position that is not yet taken. Lost Carnival could use some additional moderation assistance! If you are interested, please let us know here. NEW RECRUITS↴ You gotta start somewhere, right? These prompts are for characters who are arriving in the carnival for the first time, and who are destined to sign a contract. How they go about that is up to you, but in the meantime they can enjoy the sights and sounds of something truly out of this world. Visitors to the carnival comes from many different worlds today, as the ringmaster casts out her recruitment lures. Will you become her most recent hire? ► ADMISSION FEES: After crossing into the carnival's realm and passing through the trees, most visitors will find themselves at the front gate - though not all choose to enter that way. If they enter legitimately, however, they will have to pass by a clerk who will trade admission and tickets for various attractions and rides in exchange for "anything of value." What is of value may seem highly subjective, and so some may struggle to produce payment at first, though in actuality the carnival will take anything from mundane currency to items of purely sentimental value. ► MIRROR MAZE: The mirror maze (pictured above) is a big attraction in the carnival, and stretches much further on the inside than it looks like it will on the outside. It's hard to get through, and what's more, after you've been in there for a while your reflections will start gaining a mind of their own - mostly in order to taunt and distract you with personal information. They don't know everything you know, but they know more than they should, and their mind games can be pretty hit or miss. ► GAMER'S CIRCLE: Almost all of the game booths are organized in a large ring around the Cookhouse, called Gamer's Circle. Your can play just about any carnival game you can imagine here, for a variety of prizes sometimes traditional, exotic, or outright magical. Dart tossing? Got it. That game with the water guns? Got it. Most of these booths are currently manned by humanoid spirits who look like they are made of smoke. If they can trick you into earning debt, they will. ► 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. ► 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? ► 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? ► 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

[pokepochette]

Why is it impossible?

_{[She's seen Some Shit okay. Nothing seems impossible anymore. Not for this kid.]}

Maybe we ended up here by accident...or magic!

[dorkypantsuit]

[Ψii laughs.]

I think you'd be the foreigner in this situation. But really, you shouldn't try to go through the woods, there's some pretty weird things hanging around out there. And you're definitely going to get lost.

FUCK I'M LAUGHING

[toogoodtoopure]

A-ah...y-yes?

[The reaction catches him off guard, but not entirely. Yuugi has had his fair share of experiences with fans, both negative and positive, and while it startles him considering he's been enjoying a nice little bit of anonymity since entering the carnival, he knew it might possibly be too good to be true. For a moment he looks a bit like a startled deer before he draws a hand up to scratch his cheek.]

Sorry, y-you took me by surprise, miss.

[And he manages to look a little sheepish to boot too.]

[cuckooed]

Its not just me. Its everyone who depends on you in this carnival, including the Ringmaster.

[She folds her arms.]

It is. That's why you always should be prepared, making sure things are in order, while you're awake.

[dorkypantsuit]

[He laughs again, pushing his hair out of his eyes, he has four of them.]

I can't give you money, but I can get you a free play at one of the games if you're interested.

[starseedling]

Steven beams, looking up at Greg and nodding in agreement before looking around again in anticipation of trying this place out.

"As long as we're careful!" he says, taking Greg's hand. You know, just in case, even though he isn't suspected anything askew at the moment. He knows Pearl would want them to be careful.

They start to wander, and Steven still finds himself thinking about lions.

"Did you know that mom had, like... seven lions? Back when they were still settling Beach City!"

[babbylon]

It has.

[Almost idly:]

Our world no longer exists.

[masterballer]

[For a moment, it almost seemed as if he might take her seriously...

... but with a snort he exploded into uncontrollable laughter, slapping a hand against his leg.]

Magic! Oh, oh man. That's adorable. Hahaha!

[starseedling]

Half alien! Alien from my mom, and human from my dad.

[He's relieved that Tamaki is taking that part pretty casually, at least.]

My dad is here with me today!

[ferlwin]

I should have no issues gathering most of that, the lettuce might be a bit of an issue however.

[Ferlwin frowns a moment as she recalled that most of the lettuce she'd spotted had gone to seed already, then blinks and laughs. She kept forgetting that she was no longer restricted in her magic as she once was.]

Actually, no it won't. I keep forgetting I can just make it grow to the right stage from seed. Shall I bring them by later tonight, or tomorrow morning before you start serving breakfast?

Admission Fees

[fortunesfavorite]

[ Kerub looking around wonderingly, partially at the carnival's exuberance, but mostly because he was trying to figure out how he got there. Of course, something as trivial as that wasn't going to bother him long. He was here, afterall, and might as well enjoy it. His short tail swished from side to side as he took it all in, wandering towards what seemed like the line to the entrance. He got into the queue, waiting for his turn to pay for entry.

Hearing sniffling, he leaned around to try and see the source was. The little girl in front of him was hardly taller than he was, and clearly upset. Overhearing her plight, he reached into his pocket to see if he had any change to spare. There was the jingle of coins. He had been doing pretty well for himself lately and had plenty of kamas, enough to be a little generous.]

Allow me!

[ He sauntered past her, tossing the handful of gold coins to the clerk, confident that it should be an appropriate amount, even though he didn't see a sign posted anywhere with the price for entry.]

IM SO GLAD also vague headcanon ahoy I guess what even are ygo timelines,,,

[fortuneglass]

[It probably doesn't help that Carly looks more like a duel monster than a human being by this point, but the girl's wings practically bounce as she tries to get through her surprise.] Y- You surprised me first..!! I didn't think this chance would come at all, especially after public appearances died down, and riding duels got more popular, and-

[And the girl is rambling on and on and...none of this likely makes sense at all, really. Eventually, if she goes uninterrupted however, she manages to end with one note in particular-] It's really incredible to meet you!!

[fourthscribe]

Since--?!

[Has he been here all night?! Tanyuu sighs gustily and pinches the bridge of her nose, praying she's wrong about this...]

Sans, what day was it when you went to sleep?

[osteothropy]

[This was a bad idea. And it's not the first time he's thought that, since he accepted this position.

He doesn't want to deal with this.]

So, why doesn't the Ringmaster look after it, then? She's the one that's some kind of cosmic super goddess, if you want a round the clock surveillance plan.

But hey, I know her plate's pretty full with harassing people from other dimensions, so who am I to judge?

[pokepochette]

Well do you have a better idea?

_{[No really, do you?]}

[anti_altruisms]

[ That's really all he needs to hear.

Archer considers the entrance once more before turning back to her. ]

What is your name?

[ It would be worthwhile, he thinks, to remember it in the future. ]

[fortuneglass]

[OOOooooOOOGH! This is just burning her up good!] It's your problem if it causes trouble for everyone here..! [she insists.] Because if it causes trouble, then it causes damage, and then you have to pay for it!! [...This is totally how it works, and she isn't stretching the truth at all.]

[fourthscribe]

Oh, no, they're only acquaintances of mine. But when you're taking care of someone's make up most days, you do hear a lot about their grievances.

[Her tail shifts slightly, the tip uncurling from the curled up mass for a moment before settling back into place.]

Trust me, if they weren't as good as they are our stage manager would roast them alive for acting out like that. There aren't too many divas among out performers for good reason!

[osteothropy]

[He winks.]

It was about a half hour ago. Ya really shouldn't believe all the hype, Tanyuu. A guy can only nap so hard.

[fortuneglass]

Ahhhh...

[Come to think, she didn't actually...Look.]

...What's the best time to go to the Dentist?

[dorkypantsuit]

The Ψiioniic pats Roman one more tine before he stands. He's smiling, he always enjoys a good pun.

"Well, you know I'm not one to criticize." he stresses the "sigh" sound in the word, smiling like he thinks he's super clever. "No trouble yet I hope."

[babbylon]

What are you, exactly?

[Not the most polite thing to ask of a complete stranger, but Gilgamesh wasn't known for his manners. He doesn't reach out to touch, yet, though that may soon follow, and either way it is enough enough to tell The Ψiioniic is being treated as though he's an exhibit on display. Even for the carnival, he's exotic, and Gilgamesh likes exotic.

He may in fact like it a little too much.]

An alien? A monster? Something once human, now deformed? Tell me.

[masterballer]

[Not in the least. Losing face in front of a child is not something he wants to do, however.]

Magic doesn't exist. Maybe it's all a dream, and you and this whole place are just a figment of my imagination.

[He stroked his chin with a thoughtful nod.]

Yeah. That makes way more sense!

Break Time

[pokepochette]

<sub>[The problem with being a pet owner, or in Bonnie's case a Pokemon owner, is that sometimes a Pokemon's instincts get the best of them. What Bonnie's realized during her short stay at the carnival thus far is that Dedenne is really fond of the sweet treats that are available. Right now the little mouse Pokemon's nose and stomach have him craving funnel cake and that's what he's determined to get, even if it means it has Bonnie chasing after him, screaming.

Unfortunately for Ginko, he won't be able to enjoy the piece of funnel cake hanging out of his mouth for very long before Dedenne climbs the fence he's leaning on and snatches it for himself. With a leap little paws grasp the piece of doughy goodness from Ginko's lips as Dedenne lands on the ground to scurry away. Not too far away though. Not far enough that when Bonnie finally arrives she can put two and two together and figure out what her Pokemon's done.]</sub>

Dedenne! Did you steal food again? You're not supposed to do that!

_{[The little mouse Pokemon is too busy being fat to feel remorseful just yet, however, as it gleefully shoves the pastry into its mouth.]}

petting zoo here we go

[dontpokethat]

[Oh dammit the animals are upset again. Ginko sighs and sets down the bucket of feed he'd been carrying. He heads for the petting zoo, his tail lashing back and forth. Is it really that hard for people to just not harass them?? He speaks up, loud enough for anyone at the petting zoo to hear clearly, before he rounds the corner so that he can actually see what's going on.]

Hey, please don't grab the animals or anything if they're trying to get away, alright? Don't need them getting ups--

[Ginko stops in his tracks as the petting zoo comes into view. That is kind of beyond harassment.]

--What the hell?