⇨ 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

[kagehira]

Hehe, I'm glad ya get along so well then~! Yer lucky to have one so cute.

( Ah yes, but nothing like this back and forth confusion. Honestly, it's time to get to the source of this all. )

Huh? Yanno, like cartoons on TV. Don't ya have those? Hey, where are ya from, anyway?

[pokepochette]

Oh yeah, we have cartoons!

_{[Not that she's had much time to watch cartoons lately, considering all the traveling she's done.]}

I'm from Kalos.

[kagehira]

Nnha, I dunno that place either... It doesn't sound like somewhere in Japan...

( So she's visiting, maybe? Well, in any case, he offers out a hand to her. )

How 'bout we go look around for yer parents? I'm sure they must be real worried about ya by now.

( And if they just happen to have their eyes caught by something cute along the way, well, that's probably fine too. )

[pokepochette]

_{[Japan? She's never heard about that either. Then again she can't be expected to know every region in the world! Maybe Clemont would know where Japan is though.]}

My dad is still in Lumiose City. I was travelling with my brother but then we got separated in the forest because Dedenne ran off. I was looking for my brother and found this place instead.

_{[This guy is right though - Clemont is probably very, very worried.]}

[kagehira]

So he's not here with ya? That's no good...

( Kind of throws a wrench in the plans of looking for him, and somehow, going back out into those woods with no clue where he is does not sound like such a good idea. )

Then how 'bout we let the people by the entrance know yer here so if he comes, he can call for ya. Then if ya wanna play any games while we wait, I can try an' help ya pay for 'em.

[pokepochette]

Ah really? Okay!

_{[That has her smiling, sunny and bright eyed up at him. Not all hope was lost! Clemont would probably find her in a few hours, and letting the people at the front know who to keep an eye out for was a good idea. Until then why not have some fun?]}

Oh, what's your name? I'm Bonnie!

[kagehira]

Yeah, 's no good to leave ya all by yer lonesome, right?

( His smile is much brighter now, mismatched eyes sparkling when she takes to the idea. Well, even if he gets back to Shu a little late now, at least it's for good reason. He seems to stumble on what to say for his name for a moment, but after it's passed, he sheepishly admits to it. )

Mika Kagehira. Nice to meet ya, Bonnie-chan! Now let's let 'em know where ya are so we can see the games.

[fragileandsoft]

Sounds like a lucky day to stumble onto this kinda event, then.

[ Probably, maybe. In truth, everything about this place feels pretty off to Greg. Then again he's always been paranoid about magic. He'll suck it up for his kid; it's just for one day. ]

I dunno anyone who doesn't like games. Whatcha have in mind?

[fragileandsoft]

[ Something about that grin gives Greg the willies.

Buuuut there's no point getting fussy about a simple Strength game. It's not like he was exactly expecting to hit the bell even on normal human standard. ]

Ahh, what the hey. I've been needing motivation to hit the weights.

[ SWING DAT HAMMER YEAHHHHH ]

[fragileandsoft]

What little luck that remains on Greg's side keeps him from hitting his head on the way down. The wind is pretty effectively knocked out of him, though; it takes a few extra seconds of disorientation and wheezing before Greg manages another, even shakier thumbs up.

"I... 've had w-worse..."

Look, see, if he can make light of it that means it's okay, please do not panic on his account or he'll start feeling bad for real.

[leglesspariah]

[Despite the fact that Kadin had watched him approach and knew the touch was coming, he can't stop the automatic flinch his tail makes in response. His muscles contract, the tightly balled portion managing to shrink even more, and the rest bending into a nervous curve. But Kadin gets a hold of himself very quickly, and stretches back out, cooperatively presenting himself to this stranger.

Kadin has rarely, (not never, but rarely), been as anxious as he is right now. The air of entitlement, the fascination with his shameful eating habits, the lack of respect or understanding of boundaries. Kadin knows a bully when he sees one, and this man is a perfect storm.

He wants to leave, wants to make a break for it and find somewhere to hide, but he fights down that urge. Denying Asim's backhanded praise and false compromises had always been the worse of two wrong choices. So he breathes in long through his nose, and lets his discomfort show in the form of embarrassment and humility.]

...Thank you. No one has ever said that to me before.

[It could explain his nervousness, and hopefully it would make his compliment that much more effective in this man's eyes.]

[cuckooed]

I'm sure we can figure out something. I doubt the Ringmaster would mind too much. Some of the plants that we've encountered could certainly add flavor to the carnival, hm?

[...

That was a joke, yes]

[leglesspariah]

[Kadin actually perks up at the mention of a debt. That phrasing sounds like he was going to be offered an alternative way to pay for the goat, which he is more than willing to do. And if he was going to effectively pay for the damages he's caused, maybe he would even be allowed...

Kadin shifts slightly back towards his kill.]

Does this mean I can eat the goat?

[leglesspariah]

It's not so much what they have me eating as it is how often I have to. It's exhausting.

Irene | Original Character | Newbie

[la_serieuse]

[Irene isn't sure what drew her to the carnival. Of course, there's so little that she is sure of these days. One of those few things is that she doesn't have much money left and probably shouldn't be spending it needlessly. But even knowing that, she still ended up here.

She is at the admission gates when she hears a horse coming her way and fast. She looks in the direction of the sound, expecting to see that one of the animals has gotten loose. Instead, she sees what at first appears to be a centaur, though that can't be right. At least, Irene doesn't think it can be. But as the figure gets closer, she has to admit this is what it is. Not only that, while the top half may be human, it is also a skeleton.

At this point, Irene decides this must all be a dream. But it is such a vivid dream that she might as well enjoy it, before she had to wake and return to deal with her reality.

The centaur greets her and she manages a smile.]

Hello.

Do Your Work

[starseedling]

[Steven is there at the right time and place for Saskia's shilling pitch, his big pink lion in tow. He pauses in surprise as he's being addressed, before smiling and practically leaping in at the offer.]

Oh... okay!

[He laughs, and offers the worker at the balloon dart some tickets.]

If she's done, I wanna try.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

My home before I showed up here
Was Equestria, or at least quite near.

[The Everfree Forest is nominally part of that country, but it always played by its own rules -- or at least it had in the thousand years since the princesses had abandoned their castle within it.]

America is a human home.
Where I am from no humans roam.

[starseedling]

Steven laughs, sidling up against his dad cheerfully. It's nice to have something silly and non-ominous to talk about with regards to his mom. He misses back when Greg could just tell him stories about her and their relationship without everything being underlined with so much controversy and pain.

Maybe that's just growing up, though.

"I think checking out the actual Gems is what really made you one of a kind." He's trying really hard to just relax today, but sometimes everything still manages to feel loaded. "I know, because I'm one of a kind, too."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[The zebra tilts her head slightly, confused if not surprised. The universe is a very large place with many possibilities, as the carnival itself had driven home.]

Willingly, despite my fears
I have contracted here two years.

[starseedling]

Um... I dunno! I think it's good, so far. Magic can be good or bad, it kind of just depends on who is doing it, you know?

[He finally gets back up onto his feet at this point, shrugging lightly.]

Doing Your Work

[starseedling]

With all the excitement of the carnival itself, Steven has only just noticed how impressive the trees in and around it are. His attention has focused on taking in how unearthly they are just in time to see some kind of satyr woman heal a tree with magic. With music, even.

It gets him so excited that he forgets that the woman is a total strange. The moment she breaks from her tune, he's right on her.

"You healed the tree!" he announces excitedly, eyes sparkling. "Did you do it with you music?"

Healing. Trees. Music. It's all stuff he can sort of do too, and that is enough to make him want to talk to her.

[kitchenfistfirechaosstyle]

[It's hard to tell what changes Champloo has endured in his time here, given that he's a demon to begin with. ]

My only regret is for those who did not realize what they were ordering. If I can cook them some comfort food, and at the same time find new and exotic ingredients to prepare, then how can I complain?

[cutcrease]

[ There's a small twitch in her features, so slight it might be hard for the ordinary person to catch it. She might even taste a little bile, if she overreacts hard enough. She decides that Byakuran is getting on her nerves today. Even if he doesn't know whether he's doing it or not, just the word 'hope' makes her mumble obscenities under her breath. ]

You know what's annoying? [ She raises her brows. ] When people don't know how to accept a good offer even if it's right in front of their face.

[ She throws the knife behind her casually, striking yet another hole through the tent with the sheer force. ]

Even worse? When they waste my time.

[sunflowerfields]

[She's surprised to hear a child's voice coming from this character. If it really is a child in costume, that explains a lot- clearly, they want to do a good job! And who is she to deny that?]

Oh, well, now that you mention it, I am a bit hungry. Would you mind taking me some place where I can find a good meal?

[She smiles warmly and holds out her hand.]

[ferlwin]

Ferlwin just grins and leaves the cherry where he left it, clearly not bothered if he wishes to keep it for himself. There were more where it came from after all. She was a bit jealous that he could eat whatever he wished from the carnival, but she didn't let it get to her. After all, it was hardly his fault that tools of iron or steel were used to prepare a lot of it.

"I try not to think of that..." She shivered and grimaced, clearly bothered by the thought of vampires.

"... but I have no doubt you'll find someone spectacular."