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!

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Amethyst snorts. "Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It's not your job to 'handle them' or whatever."

A pause. Then she sort of flops her arms over the edge of the machine like a cat and sticks her tongue out and grins and says, "You can handle me any time, tho."

[It's as Fran makes her way into the deeper parts of the maze, she finds that this has been one of her more regrettable choices. The images that follow her tell a story that she's still not ready to accept:

The many hers in the mirror are all carrying a knife that is covered in blood. What's more, is they're all wearing smiles that are far too happy with the dismembered bodies at their feet. The Fran who's not in the mirror is clutching onto a black cat, her expression very clearly that of a little girl who's very unhappy with this place. Stupid mirrors... stupid place...

She just wants to go home!]

Oh... hello. [One hand lightly tugs at the hem of her dress, and she gives a very small curtsy in greeting. Just like that, curiosity overrides her discomfort and unhappiness. Who is this person? Why is their reflection showing such a terrible thing?] Well, clearly the mirrors are determined to make us uncomfortable.

[If only the mirrors around her would just stop showing those things... But, more importantly, the mirrors around this stranger. She can't suppress the desire to comment on it.] The you in the mirrors doesn't look very good. What happened?

Is that right Roman? Have you been fraternising? You're lucky this isn't His Majesty's Service, they flog you for that. Or they make you walk the plank.

[Pressing a loud kiss to Roman's forehead, she stood up with a stretch, scratching around the trio of emeralds on her cheek. She was fair sure everything was alright, but still...]

See anything of note while Roman was a-sniffin'? Cor, don't tell me kids tried to scale the wheel again; the last bastard kicked me when I tried to get her down.

Yer just sayin' that 'cause ya haven't seen 'em before. Mentor's stages are already perfect — he's a genius, yanno? He was called the Sovereign of Yumenosaki, an' all. We don't need any help from outsiders or nothin' anyway, since this is Valkyrie business.

( He's going to neglect to mention that the title has since been usurped, but you know, inconsequential details. He's bristling slightly on the defensive after Joker's adequately shoved his foot in his mouth with that remark anyway. It's kind of hard to get on Mika's good side while implying that Shu's capable of organizing lives that are anything but perfect, so it's easy to tell from the way his expression becomes troubled that he's having some second thoughts about this. )

Ya sound awful intent on gettin' me to see this Ringleader person, but ya haven't said a thing about gettin' outta here. Nnha, are ya really tryin' to help? When ya keep talkin' like that it kinda reminds me a' the scary stories they tell 'bout carnivals an' people disappearin' at 'em.

( Or maybe Mika just consumes too much scary media, but you know, it's fine. This could be just the way to incur a debt anyway, if Joker's so inclined. )

I'm comin', I'm comin'!

( There's a bit of a laugh behind his voice as he allows himself to be pulled, evening out to go at a pace that she can find acceptable pretty quickly. Luckily it does seem to be the right direction, so he's happy to let her march them up to the front desks, only pointing out cute toys or rides here and there, (and absently, worrying about whether he has enough tickets for very long.) Luckily, it doesn't take long to clear the distance, and as they approach: )

So what's yer brother's name anyway? We oughta let 'em know who to be on the lookout for when he comes, yeah?

There's a chance it could just be a mass hallucination if it is something in the air.

[ And if two people count as a 'mass,' but that's beside the point. She's doing the same as he did, reaching toward the star! ]

See? It's right there.

His name's Clemont. He's got blond hair, just like me, and big round glasses!

_{[She shapes out a fake pair of spectacles using her fingers, holding them up to her eyes, as if it'll help him picture what he looks like better.]}

He's wearing a blue jumpsuit and has a big backpack on his back.

Oh boy he really can not have this conversation right now. He tries all the same, though, his mouth pulling into a grimace as he tries to keep a hold on the squirming animal in his arms while he thinks.

"Well, uh-- a few different types of creature. There's the legged serpent, but that's not too dangerous. There's the, uh-- the rat king-- ow, shit!"

Okay, yeah, he definitely could not keep track of answering Natsu's question and holding onto the rat thing at the same time, given that the giant rodent had just managed to squirm free enough to sink its teeth into Ginko's arm. It takes the opportunity to leap free with an angry screech, scrambling away. Ginko swears again and takes off after it, his tail lashing.

[...Huh. Interesting. Most indebted visitors at least seem interested in knowing what they're expected to do in return.]

...Sure. I don't see why not.

Ohh, now you've done it.

[ Greg gives the jab the benefit of the doubt, taking it as playful banter. This time, he takes an extra few seconds to stretch and shake his arms out. Yeah, now he's sure to get it at LEAST three feet off the ground! ]

Alllll right, see how you like... hrrp... [ Man this is a big hammer though ] ...THIS!

Maybe I don't feel like being civil.

[It's not as though she feels like they've done anything to earn it.]

Maybe it's the company I'm stuck with.

[Maybe being anything less than extremely stubborn on the matter makes it feel like she's giving in.]

Tch. When I can. [When no one's looking.]

Anything important deserves all the focus you can give it.

[She may be a little single-minded.]

[Elizabeth beams at him.] Thank you, Mr. Childermass! [So much more agreeable than Booker DeWitt ever had been.

She follows along.] No- I'm afraid I've only ever read about them. But I'd always wanted to see one. [she could only hope they had cotton candy. She loved cotton candy.]

Peridot doesn't even miss a beat, but that's only because the meaning flies over her head entirely.

"I can what now?" she asks distractedly, without even looking up, still fiddling away.

[Irene stares at him for a moment, still not sure how she imagined such a thing into existence, even a dream existence. Eventually though, she realizes that she's been staring long enough to border on being rude.]

Sorry, ah ... yes, it is my first time. It seems like a lovely place though.

[That was one word for it, at least. It was mostly strange, though somehow also alluring. She knows she has to enter and find out more.

So it is rather convenient that the centaur-thing offered to answer her questions.]

There are some things I was wondering about. Ah ... [She pauses, not sure if her next question will cause offence.] if I may ask, what exactly are you?

Fright night;
[There was a chilling sight in the mirror maze, though perhaps not so unexpected for a carnival setting -- a skeleton, rattling slowly through the mirrored corridors, his skull a macabre mask of death. Fog rose up from the maze floor, lending him a positively ghostly air.

Those who were deeper in the maze might not yet have caught sight of him -- but doubtless they could hear a ghostly voice raised in somber song.]

♫ Yohohoho... yohohoho... ♫

All skin and bones;
[As Brook continued through the maze, however, the images in the mirror began to change. At first, it was grotesqueries that leered back at him: distorted death's heads, ghoulishly grinning. Gradually, however, the faces that were reflected back in the mirror became that of a living man, with thick hair, sunglasses... a man that might have been Brook, if he still had flesh on his bones.]

Why, it's me! Look how much hair I had!

[There was a note of wonder to his voice, the tone of a man in the start of a thrall.]

Ah, that brings back memories. It's enough to make an old man cry.

...although I don't have tear ducts! Yo ho ho!

[Peridot rubs at the base of one horn, like she's nursing a headache. For some reason her instinct is still to try and reach out to Jasper whenever she gets the chance, even though she knows it's a futile and thankless task that always results in more or less the same thing.]

Why am I even bothering to try and reason with you?? This is such a waste of my time.

[It's... A rhetorical question, obviously, but. Really. She knows there's no point in trying to force Jasper to change her tune so why does she even keep trying?]

"... Haaaaaaandle me," clarifies Amethyst, wiggling her tail for emphasis. "I'm flirting, ya nerd."

"Something might've moved over there..." He crouches down to peer under the booth, but glances back up at Greg after a moment with a quiet snort.

"This one? Not particularly. I mean, it's got teeth and I guess it could bite, but it's not exactly a deadly threat."

I-

Right..! [She...Seems to understand...

...Though now she's staring at her hands and frowning.] I must be doing something wrong then...

[Sh-she's had her magic just as long, you know..!!]

[ After more than just the initial glance, he's sure, for a few puzzled seconds, that his new company is another tundan. But no... a closer look uncovers a few differences. Still, he's quick with a friendly smile, feeling a little nostalgic for home already. ]

I'd take that. [ He shuffles forward, his delicately slender, mechanical feet moving carefully to avoid kicking a hole in anything else. ] I can't help but feel that this attraction might've been built for smaller species...

Gotcha! ( And with that, he turns to the desk to describe the situation a little. Just enough to let them know about her brother coming by, her name, and his too, so that they can be called over the announcements when Clemont shows up (because, you know, of course he will.) With that out of the way, he can finally turn back to her, bending down with a smile. )

Now, Bonnie-chan, where do ya wanna go first!

John Childermass. [ Is the name he'll offer while taking the offered hand to shake. ] Hopefully I have not come at a bad time, Mr. Joker.

[ As in hopefully he won't have to wait out any shows, if it's the Ringleader who's in charge.

[ Alright, he'll admit that was a stupid question. ]

A fair point. [ He edges nearer, ducking carefully around a few treacherous walls, and studies the man ahead of him with a bright interest, noting in particular the ears and shade of his skin. He looks almost human... huh. ] Which way are you coming from? We might be able to rule that out.

[ He also saw that bit with the sword, and has the idea that while the people who run this place probably won't appreciate the few cracks he's left in his wake, they really won't appreciate straight up bashing up the mirrors. He'll just keep an eye on this guy for them. ]

[Sadly, it doesn't quite go up three feet. It almost goes two. Almost.]

Look at that. An improvement.

[Jasper just sounds bored. Humans are predictably unimpressive.]

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⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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And I See My Reflection

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Brook | One Piece

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