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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[ ah. it's not often that ilyas encounters things larger than him out of the blue, and the sight of jajo over his shoulder gives him a jolt. whew. his wary surprise quickly fixes itself into a grin. there's no reason to be on edge at a carnival, probably. ]

I know I don't seem like I'd be the best shot, but! [ he taps the side of his head with the ring. do you think he can't make it just because he doesn't have depth perception? come on. ] I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

mirror maze

[ conceptually, ilyas hadn't found anything wrong with the mirror maze. sure, it seemed like a wasteful use of glass-- but maybe, the carnival comes from a place where things weren't so strict. he could give that a pass.

however, in practice? the first few minutes were an uneventful sort of confusing, but now he swears he can see things moving in the background. never if he looks too close, or straight at them; but every time he turns, out of the corner of his eye? it's the 'realest' manifestation of his problems he's ever encountered, and it puts him more on edge than he can ever recall being.

ilyas stumbles aimlessly through the maze now, often putting a hand on the nearest mirror for the reassurance of solidity. for the lack of illusion, though that's unconfirmed... ]

Sorry, I just thought I saw-- [ he mutters mostly for his own benefit, regardless of whether or not there's somebody there. ] Sorry.

[ this place infuriates her.

it's not that the mirrors have vexed her. it's easy enough to let her other senses guide her through this place - the sound of footsteps, her outstretched hand against the wall, the sensation of living beings tracing their own paths. but for each step she takes, the demon's voice grows stronger, echoing from the mirrors. is it power you crave? join us! the mirrors take on their own glow as they call to her thoughts, and her hand drops from them as she tries to focus.

if you truly want this to stop, you simply need shatter the mirrors.

she is stationary when she hears the timid voice from nearby, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. variss forces herself to look in the newcomer's direction before calling out- ]

Speak your mind, if you must speak.

[ her voice is rough, irritation dripping from every word. she's not in a mood for socialization - then again, that's nothing new. ]

Edited 2016-10-13 21:02 (UTC)

[ his head snaps up at the sound of such a relatively aggressive address. despite the roughness, the presence of another person is reassuring, in that it means the carnival is still close by-- and thus, so are places less unsettling and more familiar. unfortunately, the choice of company presented to him now is less than ideal. these things do have a way of working out, though. ]

Well, I just... [ he pauses in a way directly contrary to ms. felbrush's request, voice faltering. ] I don't think there's much to be said-- ah, but you're lost, too?

[ swiftly, he veers into an area where he can show some confidence: not himself alone. ] It's a bit difficult to tell where they intend you to go, isn't it?

[ she scowls as he trails off, but begrudgingly lets him finish speaking. while he does, she scans over the area, finding the pathway that leads to him before stalking down it. ]

That's the point. [ his voice is picking up, at least. though maybe that's just her drawing closer. ] It's a diversion for fools who have nothing worth doing.

[ she turns the last corner, and finally she is plainly visible. her hair is shock white and unkempt, her skin violet; she wears a ragged cloth around her eyes, and purple sigils shine across the visible parts of her skin. most notable are the demonic traits she has come to possess - two ram's horns twisting out of her skull, hooves and digitigrade legs, a tuft of fur around her neck and shoulder - and the bone warblades hanging from her back. ]

And you are the lost one. [ she jerks her head back the way she came. ] Follow me.

Edited 2016-10-13 21:30 (UTC)

[But I'd love to continue the thread. /ooc.]

[frowns, looking almost ready to grit his teeth or scream or cut something, if this continues.

But for now, his voice is, for him, almost calm] I shall, the moment you begin to make sense.

[ yikes. by his measure, his newfound friend has seen far better days than now, and it's hard not to flinch at the sight of her. ilyas has heard of demons in stories, and has seen their influence on the land, but face to face? the lack of direct hostility is a plus; the rest isn't. ]

I suppose you'd know? [ hmm. the blindfold is possibly the most suspicious part, but he also thinks it might rude to ask. he hovers on the verge on mentioning it for an extended moment, but ultimately drops the idea. instead: ] Pardon me for noting, but you don't seem like much of the diversion type.

[Cat ears, that's interesting but it's not like Wirt hadn't seen weird things before. It'd be rude to think about it or bring it up though.]

I...okay. You just look like. Maybe you could use a little help.

[ Oh good, his new friend, whoever it is, doesn't stay in the (usually inevitable) startled phase for long. That's nice. His smile goes a little humoring, but of course he won't be one to contest that. Not out loud, anyway. ]

I think there may be more to it than just your aim, is all I mean.

[ he tilts his head, not quite following the implied portion of what jajo's trying to tell him. ]

I don't see what else it could be. The game is rather straightforward, isn't it? [ toss ring, acquire prize... there's not a third step there that he can think of. ]

[ she doesn't bother to answer his first question past a grunt, but his second point actually gets a snort of amusement out of her. she doesn't turn to face him as she traces her steps backward, speaking instead to their general surroundings: ]

No, I am not. [ her voice, rough as it is, softens somewhat as she continues speaking. ~~it's probably been gathering rust in the shed for a year now whoops~~ ] This is the path I have been forced to follow - employment.

[ how does she manage to make "employment" sound like an ancient curse? a year of working in a carnival, that's how. ]

[ Okay, well here is kind of a low stakes conundrum. He doesn't want this guy to lose money, but he doesn't want to outright accuse the guy (thing of smoke) running it of cheating. He debates it for a few seconds with a mild frown. ]

Well... I suppose it is. If you really think you're up to it, by all means, I'm sure this proprietor would appreciate the business.

[ Would appreciate his money, but you know, whatever. He takes a step back, to give him a little more space for, presumably, getting started. ]

Edited 2016-10-13 22:34 (UTC)

Oh, I didn't realize maze guides were in such demand.

[ that is, probably not her actual job, but it's kind of funny to imagine. isn't it? he follows without much direct question, though. if nothing else, she moves with confidence, and that's better than what he currently has access to. ]

[ ... huh. well, okay. if this stranger is that noncommittal about it, ilyas definitely doesn't see the problem.

a bit of gold and some unfortunate tosses later, he's left frowning with nothing but a lighter purse. he steals a mildly suspicious glance back at jajo. ] Have you already tried?

[ ...Wait what? ]

I--I mind, though! If anybody's holding anybody up, it should be the other way around, shouldn't it?

[ In his heart he really believes this is the chivalrous thing to do. She seems nice, he can't go climbing all over some nice girl he just met! ]

I'd lift you up if you wanted, though.

[ was that... serious? a joke?? a sick burn??? she honestly can't tell. she frowns for a moment, turns a corner, and says about four seconds too late: ]

As long as we get people like you, they are.

[ nice. nailed it, felbrush. covered your bases and everything. ]

Edited 2016-10-13 22:58 (UTC)

Fools who likes diversions, right? [ unlike her retort, his comes right away; it's almost as if the conversation is flowing naturally.

almost. ilyas falls back into uneasy silence once his attention shifts to the mirrors again, occasionally tapping on them as they go. still solid... ]

[ Shintaro hears that tone so often that it doesn't even register as offensive anymore (plus in general everything Aomine does offends him). For example, challenging him without properly answering his question. Sure, he could look, but Aomine's the one working. Supposedly.

Instead, he turns to face the booth, already assessing the distance to the hoop. It's much closer than he's used to shooting but the midway is too cramped for him to get far enough away. He'll have to make do. ]

Yes, I've got it, basic mathematics is beyond you, not me.

[ With that, he tips his hand up and shoots... and it bangs off the back of the rim, arcing up and away.

Well. That could've gone better. ]

[ He feels a little guiltier every time he pays for another round; but what's worse, insisting he can't do it, or letting him waste money? He still hasn't decided by the time the question is posed. ]

Well, no. But I've watched it played. [ He holds out one large, metal hand for one of the rings. ] May I see that?

Fools afraid of mirrors.

[ this time she does turn back - slowing her pace down, staring in his general direction. ]

Do you fear what you see?

[ the prosthetic gives him slight pause, but otherwise, ilyas has no problem handing it over. ]

I suppose it wouldn't hurt if I paid for the round. [ you know, since someone's presuming, already. ] Do your best!

[ He doesn't, in fact, do his best. Instead he holds the colorful ring up, first eying it, then eying the nearest bottle. After a long while spent scrutinzing, he nods and hands it back over again. ]

They don't fit over the tops of the bottles.

[ He's not completely confident of it, you can only be so certain after eyeballing something, but he's Pretty Damn Sure. ]

[ when he hears her footsteps stop, so does he. ilyas continues staring into his own reflection; there's nothing unusual about it at all. ]

I don't know if afraid is the right word-- [ hmm. ] Do you even see anything at all?

What? [ his brow furrows as he takes the ring back, squinting down at it. ] That can't be right. Excuse me--

[ ilyas turns towards the smoke-thing operating the booth, waving the ring at it in an effort to be particularly attention-grabbing. ] Yes, hello-- I think there might be a problem with the game, here. I'm not sure if you were aware?

[ Oh god, is he — oh god. Jajo jerks like he might try and stop him, but of course by then it's too late, and he's summoned the attention of the wisp. He clears his throat and steps quickly back, half turning to look unengaged. There are limits to these things, and accusing a business-wisp of unfair practices is not something he's quite up to. So, see, these guys at the ringtoss here are totally unrelated, Jajo doesn't even know this guy.

You're on your own, buddy. ]

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⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

gamer's circle

ilyas sachairin | original | newbie~

remember that time i forgot to grab icons at lunch. remember

they should really serve icons at burgerville

hi i'd like some yukon gold 100x100 and a gifshake

I won't app this app session (I will the sec the next app session begins), coz rl things happened.

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