⇨ 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

[fortuneglass]

B...But, but... [Carly's done an unfortunately good job of not getting buzzed, herself.

Maybe it would have been better otherwise. The girl sighs, just about everything on her drooping toward the ground-including her head.] There's so many too...

[pipers_son]

Joker’s boisterous laughter actually makes it a little hard to hear Kerubim for a second, and it’s debatable for a hot second if he’s heard the feline at all. Soon, however, he accepts his handkerchief back, using it to dab at his eyes carefully for the tears that have gathered there. It wouldn’t do to ruin his makeup and, alas, wooden fingers aren’t exactly gentle on the face.

“Well, ya won’t hear any arguments from me on that end,” he says, tucking the bit of cloth back in his pocket. “Hey, I don’t suppose ya would be interested in a job, would ya?”

[pipers_son]

Hastily chewing and swallowing down what he’s got in his mouth, Joker picks up the cherry and gives an impressed whistle. To just think, he’d never see something like this if he was still stuck in England. He can think of more than a few folks he’s talked with who’d stare at it in blatant envy. After turning it over a few times, he winks over to her. “Well, until we see the trees doin’ that work on their own, I think I’ll keep this little beauty all for myself.”
His words are almost a direct contrast to his action, which is to simply leave the cherry besides him where she’s free to snatch it back for her bag if she likes. He still has his bag of obnoxiously sugary food to eat, after all, and a question to wave off.

“Ah, it is as it is, y’know. The Ringleader is gettin’ a bit anxious ‘tho, I think. We’re still a bit low on good help after, well, y’know.” The vampire event. “Me, especially, I’ll have ta keep an eye out for new talent for the ring. I’m sure I’ll figure it out.”

[fortuneglass]

Ehhh...well! [Time, yes. Also worlds. Like the world of dead.

But let's not go there. She laughs awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head.] ...I actually don't know Yuusei, ahahahahah...!

I know one of his friends though! So it's... [...Boyfriend.. ..? ...they never really dated though, as much as they confessed before she died...]

I'm a friend of a friend of Yuusei's..! It's like that!

[pipers_son]

[Innocently, he holds up his hand with the fingers spread out.]

I ain’t lyin’! I’m just sayin’ the carnival’s schedule runs… a bit different ta most times. It’s not stoppin’ time, just sorta leavin’ it be. Our owner, why, she’s a pretty talented lady, she could get ya back home no trouble at all.

In fact… Even better, she could help ya bring somethin’ back for yer mentor that I bet would make him real happy. What’s yer mentor teach, if ya don’t mind me askin’?

[pipers_son]

[Woe to poor Gottlieb, because boy has Joker heard that kind of delighted squeal before, and he knows exactly how to respond to it. Making sure to keep his head up so that no one gets bashed in with antlers, he sweeps into a low bow.]

Well, that ain’t a problem at all. Joker, at yer service, and it’d be my honor ta give ya a few pointers if it’d please ya.

[pipers_son]

Nah, it won’t…

[Except there’s a but on the tip of his tongue as he tilts his head to the side consideringly.]

When ya say “can’t”, is that the same as a “don’t want to”, if ya don’t mind me bein’ nosy?

[pipers_son]

Still, for stock ta be this low…

[Scratching at the base of his antlers, he finally gives a shrug and lightens up again.]

Ah well. At least everyone is well fed, ain’t they? And besides, there’s far dirtier kitchens ta work in. The worst ya get is a little bit of a surprise in yer fortune cookie, so ta speak.

[You know, growing antlers or wings, no big.]

[pipers_son]

[Ah. Not unusual, that, but Joker actually straightens up a bit.]

Ah, I see. Need ta see the owner then, sir?

[And is he going to have to make Sans do his job for once? Just for safety’s sake.]

[pipers_son]

[Well, that’s an easy answer. Sort of.]

Can’t ya tell? It’s the carnival~. Don’t tell me you’ve never been ta one!

[pipers_son]

Well, I never!

[Cue dramatic gasp and a dainty press of his fingers to his chest.]

Ya opened one of yer eyes at all! Yer still well, ain’t ya, Sans? I don’t need ta get one of the nurses, do I?

[pipers_son]

[Going over, he takes a look at the ones she’s inspecting at the moment.]

Like plants a lot, do ya, Miss?

[pipers_son]

...Demon? Elemental spirits? Some other thing I ain’t met yet?

[Fortunately, Joker doesn’t seem to be too insulted, just laughing and shrugging.]

This place sees a whole lotta different people, mate, so I don’t take any chances.

[With that said, he flicks through a few frequencies with his thumb before finding the one he wants.]

Heyo! Could we get someone down over ta the Gamer’s Circle? We got a dragon here who doesn’t exactly have thumbs, so things are a bit tricky. Thank ya kindly~.

[Clicking it off, he tosses a lazy grin Spyro’s way.]

They’ll be here in a tick.

[pipers_son]

Yeah, that’s easy ta do in this place.

[Hell…. It’s just a kid. Joker always feel the most guilty when it’s a kid in this place, although he’s learned now that coming here is usually for a reason. If it was an adult, he could con him no problem, but… No. Whistling out a breath, Joker scratches the back of his neck.]

I think yer best bet would be ta go back ta the carnival and wait it out. After a while- [Whenever they’ve gotten enough workers, although he doesn’t say that.] -the path should show up again.

[pipers_son]

[Like herding cats in this place, he swears. Still, he doesn’t seem to be particularly bothered by the response, just coming to a stop and resting gnarled wooden knuckles on his hip.]

A bit different I would think, although I had the blessed luck ta not run into any when my old troupe was travelin’. Those ones’d lead ya straight into trouble. Hers seem a bit less of a bother. How about yerself? They a familiar sight for ya?

[veinglory]

[Oh, this guy's got his number, alright. He nods energetically to the offer, giving a little bow of his own in return. It's only proper, right?]

By all means! This is so exciting!

[He points at the banana wearing the Rastafarian hat eagerly.]

That is the colorful fellow I had my eye on! Do you think it would be very difficult for a novice such as myself to obtain?

[dorkypantsuit]

[Ψii smiles, walking over to the game jockey.]

You like cats?

[atouts]

[ Hopefully not. ]

That I do. I have something I would like to discuss with them.

[leglesspariah]

[He sips at his potion, tail rippling with the discomfort occasionally as she talks. She's definitely taking his mind off it though. Despite all the lead up, her conclusion catches him off guard. Maybe the punishment was harsh in comparison to the damage he'd done to carnival property, but he can't in good consciousness say he doesn't deserve what's happening to him here. This wasn't just a debt he was paying off, this was penance for his sins. This was the ultimate result of the choice that cut him from The Weaver's threads.

Forced to redo again and again the actions he regretted, fitting is the best word he can think of.

He closes his eyes for too long to just be blinking, then with a sigh opens them again. There's a faint, sad smile on his face, and idly his finger traces along the edge of one of his scales.]

I appreciate the thought, but this is what I deserve.

[dorkypantsuit]

Just one.

[He frowns, staring hard at the chest as he keeps thinking. These kind's of riddles were usually tricks, plays on words. So what was another word for a door? A passage, an entrance, an exit? When was a door not an entrance, or when was an entrance not a door, that could be another way to think of it. Well when it was stuck, if it couldn't close, if it opened to something that wasn't a room.]

Riddles are all tricks right? Just a weird way of wording things? So what if the door didn't close or open? Can you think of anything like that, besides it being locked?

[dorkypantsuit]

You don't have to pay money to get in. You just have to share something with the vendor.

[His eyes wander to the mouse on her head.]

Does Dedenne know any tricks? I bet a small performance would be enough.

[sweatysometimes]

"It really is. Which is why I'm not sure how I missed getting here," Pidge replies with an uncertain shift of her shoulders. She nods, then moves to move off next to Keith, eyes glancing up and down the line of tents and games and rides.

"It gives me the willies."

[pokepochette]

Tricks?

_{[Good question. Dedenne's far smarter than your typical normal mouse and so she's never had to teach him your usual run of the mill tricks. The little Pokemon squeaks, looking down at her curiously. What was she going to get him to do?]}

Um, he knows how to battle!

[riveres]

[Oscar just acknowledges that maybe he's that kind of spectator. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) The act keeps doing with more death-defying stunts that reaches it's apex with them occasionally giving gravity the middle finger.

The audience claps at the pair when it's done and Oscar can't help not hiding his smile. This is what he's worked so hard for after all.]

[babbylon]

[Now that ground rules have been established, Gilgamesh has no desire for bloodshed, at least not immediately. He does, however, push his luck a bit too far, reaching up—though not by much, in this world he's gained a few inches on Archer—and tracing the tip of his finger about the man's lips.

It is a simple gesture but one that nevertheless implies Archer will once again have his hands full with Gilgamesh's schemes.]

Move along, then, little Archer.

[For the average person, it might be disconcerting to face down such a large, menacing creature... yet in this case it's likely just annoying.]

I am certain we will be seeing each other soon enough.