livinglot | ⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

_{[Okaaay...so maybe this wasn't a Pokemon she was talking to...which was weird! What was an ecaflip then?]}

Pokemon! You know, like Dedenne! _{[The little mouse squeaks its name when it's called.]} There are lots of different kinds too! Bug Pokemon, cat Pokemon, bird Pokemon...dragon Pokemon! I know a meowth that talks so...I thought maybe you'd be like him.

Edited 2016-10-01 05:09 (UTC)

[WHAT THE FUCK DESU

HOW DID SHE EVEN GET A BIKE

WHY WAS THAT THERE

WHY IS ANY OF THIS HAPPENING

@#$%]

You are too slow!

[Which will now be worsened by the fact he's spitting fireballs at her from the sky. Yes, fireballs. All part of the game, all part of the illusion that he gives a damn.]

[Public appearances? Well it was true that he'd taken a bit of a break from dueling since Atem left but he didn't think it had been that long. Sometimes it's best to let people ramble, so he waits patiently for her to finish before he smiles slightly, cheeks flushing. Some of it makes no sense at all, so he just shrugs it off as rumors being circulated.]

Well, it's always nice to meet fans I guess.

[Even in obscure places like this. Wait--]

Riding duels?

Goodness--!

[IT'S RAINING FIREBALLS. However, she, the country of Vietnam, has rode a motorbike through the worst traffic ever at home. Strangely, dodging fireballs doesn't seem to be a problem. Or at least, it shouldn't be anyway as she skids and slides.]

You are certainly not making it easier for me to go faster! [But if he's distracted by her, then that means he's not going to go faster himself. WHOOP she dodges a fireball by ducking--oh wait!]

N-no, we need to go right! [She's pointing to the side before he misses their turn for them to head to the cookhouse.]

You'll forgive me if I thought you too busy sleeping to have done so.

[She's hardly phased by the coldness.]

Since you're going to continue to be Warden, you can't sleep on the job like this. You have to be prepared for anything to happen. Even the smallest contingency.

When was the last time you held any kind of muster?

Edited 2016-10-01 05:12 (UTC)

Hmmm.

[Well that didn't sound like a bad thing, though he wasn't clear on what she meant. Maybe pokemon was a job.

He didn't mull over it much longer because Dedenne's squeak drew his attention, and Kerub's face lit up with a huge grin.]

Oh! Aren't you cute!

[He cooed, leaning over to scratch Dedenne on the head. Kerub had a soft spot for cute furry critters.]

Dedenne! You're going to get fat!

_{[Scooping up Dedenne, who is still rather pleased with himself, shoving the last bite of cake into his little mouth, Bonnie turns to apologize, only to find herself fixated on the man's appearance.]}

I'm sorry! Uh...woahhh...! Your costume is really neat!

_{[Sorry buddy. She hasn't realized people with additional non-human features are a thing yet.]}

Huh, me?

[ He looks a tad confused for a second, not completely registering what's being asked of him. He glances to the water guns, to Yuugi, and back to the water guns. ]

Sure, why not? You just need a boost or something, right?

[ Natsu was really itching to play himself, but it's not like he can just ignore somebody when they ask for his help. ]

[Yuugi takes a bit of notice about how long it takes the guy to decide, and the expressions that flicker on his face, used to paying attention to his opponents and people that overlooked him. There seems to be an internal struggle before he's got an answer, and grins before shaking his head.]

No, nothing that extreme. I'm, ah, just a bit shorter than the booth is all.

[If Jou were here, he'd probably insist on like an arm throne or something...]

Um...hmm...

Thinking back, it was something round, dark green and speckled white. We thought it might have been an egg of some sort, but it could have been something along the lines of a coconut too, given how thick the shell was.

[Yako bends and rummages in a drawer, before tossing Vietnam a paper medical mask.]

That's as good as we have right now. If something happens, let me know right away.

_{[Dedenne seems a bit unsure, seeing as this not!Pokemon is a cat and all, but Bonnie doesn't seem to be afraid so...It's Fine. And feels nice! No sparks flying for now.]}

Isn't he? This is Dedenne! He's an Electric-Fairy type Pokemon!

( He may not be a passerby, but Mika certainly counts as someone startled by the sudden increase in volume. The hair on the back of his neck bristles, brows drawn together almost apologetically on behalf of the clerk, but a moment of hesitance passes before he decides to act. It's a little bit frightening for a guy like that to raise his voice, but it's holding up the line, and Mika already has his eyes caught by some of the stuffed animals further in, and that's enough for him to interfere. )

Aren't they just tryin' to say anything's fine? Even if ya only have a li'l on ya, it's like name yer own price, yanno.

Nnah... It's gotta be somewhere around here...

( The kid that Joker's pulled aside seems to have thoroughly enjoyed himself at the carnival while he was there, carrying at least three different stuffed animals in his attempt to leave, though from the looks of things, this is hardly his first. Still, he hasn't entirely given up, and while Mika appears to whip his head around more out of fear than relief, his expression softens somewhat once he's had time to process the words. In fact, he seems overjoyed. )

Really? Thank ya kindly! ( He takes a moment to look around, followed by some especially nervous fidgeting. ) I was tryin' to find the way back, but I'm no good at directions an' stuff, ya see? But Mentor'll be real mad with me if I don't come home tonight. Do ya happen to know how to get back from here?

Nha!? Money?

( To be honest, Mika was already inwardly bristling from the approach alone, and now with such an outright question he isn't entirely sure what to do with himself. Though, well, there isn't really much he can do; he hasn't got any money on him anyway, or at least, nothing that he can really afford to spare, so he shakes his head ruefully. )

Nn, I couldn't give ya anything even if I wanted to. Since I'm poor, after all. Don't ya got anything of value?

_{[Bonnie isn't paying attention, but that doesn't mean Dedenne isn't. In fact it spotted the strange, skeletonesque dog creature thing (and let's be honest here, smelt it) long before it had decided to be rude and sniff about Bonnie's pochette. Jumpy and Not Happy with having his space encroached upon, the little mouse Pokemon begins to make a fuss, squirming out of the side bag to hop to the floor and send out a few warning sparks.]}

Huh, Dedenne what are you-? Woah! What are you?!

_{[Ghost Pokemon maybe? Or maybe not a Pokemon at all?]}

Hey Dedenne leave it alone!

Really. I'd love to hear what it is, then.

[Well, at least he doesn't sound especially angry? Just... annoyed and frustrated. And very tired. And maybe a little nervous, but at least this guy doesn't seem particularly malevolent.

All the same, he does have a giant snake tail instead of legs and did just kill one of the goats Ginko is supposed to be looking after. Ginko stays where he is, his fingers curled uncertainly by his sides, and looks Kadin over in uncertain silence.]

//Mirror Maze

Kerubim had entered the maze expecting it to be a simple, enjoyable diversion before getting back to the carnival. It couldn't be more difficult that any of the myriad of dungeons he had completed in his life. Even the minotauroro's labyrinth had been child's play for someone with his luck.

But after smacking his face on another mirror, his mood had gone from bemusement to frustration remarkably quickly. Even he had to admit luck alone wasn't going to get him out of this. Now he was prowling through the maze with one hand on the right wall, accompanied by a low-pitched squeal as his gloves dragged across the smooth surface.

Making yet another turn into yet another mirrored hall, he finally lost his temper, smacking the wall next to him with his fist.

"MEOW! Doesn't this place ever end?!"

//Gamer's Circle

Kerubim had, surprisingly enough, not partaken of any of the games. Not to say he hadn't spent the majority of his time in the carnival wandering through the Gamer's Circle. Games of chance and skill everywhere you looked, it was an ecaflip's Dream! He had merely been sizing up his options, noting which games would be a an easy win, which were clearly rigged, which had the most lucrative prizes.

He was drawn to one of the ball drop games, a tall pegged board with slots at the bottom, one of which promised a jackpot that would automatically win the best prize option, though it was surrounded by slots yielding only the lowest of points. Kerubim watched for a while, unimpressed by those attempting the game who continued to win only meagre points. After one patron lost for a fourth time in a row, he scoffed.

"Pssh. Idiots. Even a kitten could win this game."

//Wild Card

[Feel free to post your own idea! I'm open to anything.]

Edited 2016-10-01 05:55 (UTC)

An electric-fairy type?

[ Kerubim scratched his chin, thinking.]

Some sort of monster classification? It's not one I've ever heard, but I am confident an ecaflip is not a pokemon.

[He shrugged.]

Who would be able to define ecaflip as any one type, after all?

"Okay, so," he starts, like it's obviously going to be a bit of a tale. "You know how I did that play about Mayor Dewey's ancestor who founded Beach City? And how he had this friend named Buddy?"

He raises his hands in a form of illustrative storytelling.

"It turns out, he wrote this book all about crazy gem stuff! Because Pearl accidentally gave him a map of stuff to stay away from, but then he just went to explore all of it instead! And he drew all these pictures in his journals."

He grins up at Greg.

"Connie and I found it in the library! And, like, in one of his stories he met mom, in the desert, and she had all these lions with her? He had no idea why so... I guess I don't either?"

Kinda, yeah.

_{[Well they were 'Pocket Monsters' so he's not really wrong.]}

What is an ecaflip then?

An ecaflip is, you know....an ecaflip?

[ Kerubim gestures vaguely as he tries to define something he has never once questioned in his life.]

They worship the god Ecaflip, one of the Twelve gods, and look like me mostly. They like games and cards and snappers.

[He scratched the back of his head, giving her a somewhat harried grin.]

And we can all talk.

_{[She still doesn't really get it, but if he's not a talking Pokemon and a ecaflip...cat creature, she can deal with that! Giving him a smile she straightens up in her usually cheerful way.]}

I like games too! I'm Bonnie, and well, you already know Dedenne now. What's your name?

_{[An ecaflip should have a name, right?]}

WORKING

[Jasper performs tasks as one of the carnival's mercenaries, but that's not always a full time job. Some stops don't require that service at all. In the meanwhile, a large orange woman with a gem for a nose (plus a few other carnival given additions) can be found standing outside a game of "Test Your Strength".

She leans casually on a large wooden mallet, but she'll be glad to lend it to anyone who wants to give it a go - provided they hand over tickets first, of course. The gem doesn't see any need to yell to get anyone's attention. Her very presence should take care of that.]

BREAK TIME

[Something people generally wouldn't expect to find someone of Jasper's size and build doing on break is hunkering over a handful of papers, studying them intently. But that's exactly what she's doing now. Who has time to take a break when they've just succeeded in doing something she's been trying to do for over a year now?

A brute like her should be stuck bashing things with her head or her fists for the rest of their existence, but she's had an opportunity now. That's what she has to believe this is - an opportunity to improve herself rather than a step against the grain. She does this for the benefit of Homeworld, so that when she returns she can get rid of whatever gem specks are left on Earth for the glory of the Diamonds.

It isn't completely self-serving. She's better than that.

She holds her hands apart, and an arc of electrical energy surges between them causing a bright grin to spread across her face. However, this is abruptly followed by widened eyes and a bit of harsh coughing.

Anyone who might have caught her in this moment will be shot a glare.]

Don't you have something better to do?

WILDCARD - AFTER THE PREVIOUS PROMPTS

[The carnival had already caused Jasper's usually hulking form to be smaller than usual - closer to that of an average human in height - but there's something else off about it now. It might be hard for anyone to place their finger on.

What's easy to notice is that her face is covered with a bright and colorful mask with a great big smile painted across the front. It's entirely unfitting but she doesn't seem inclined to take it off.

She can be found back at the Test Your Strength attraction or skulking in the carnival's background.]

Edited 2016-10-01 06:30 (UTC)

Kerubim Crepin, greatest adventurer in the World of Twelve. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bonnie.

And Dedenne too.

[He leaned over to give the pokemon an affectionate pat. It was so soft!]

Did you say you were looking for your brother?

[He looks out the corner of his eye at the comment, pausing as he adjusted his grip on the water gun. He had been about to give up and consider the game rigged, but the advice on adjusting his position makes him pause. Yuugi considers it, nods his thanks and then shifts on the little box helping with his height.

Aim and...]

Hah! Finally!

[He gives a little cheer as the water hits its target, turning to look at Archer with beaming smile.]

Hey, thanks. That was getting a bit frustrating. These kinds of games aren't usually my thing.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 20 of 98

⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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I have no fucking clue especially now that DSOD has fucked with canon

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entrance!

leaf!

circle!

Work It

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Kerubim Crepin | Dofus: Treasures of Kerubim | Newbie

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Jasper | Steven Universe | Veteran | open

fixing the name variation here, sorry

gamer's circle of course