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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[Jasper doesn't say anything else as he backs off. That might make it look like she actually wants to talk more, which she doesn't.

She's curious about him, certainly, but as far as she's concerned he's still just a human visitor and therefore not worth much of her time. Maybe if he had some obvious connection to Rose Quartz, that would be another story.]

Well, ya certainly threw it with enough force, I’d say!

[Clearly he needs to be flustered all the time and then he’ll get them. Straightening up, Joker chuckles.]

I believe it’s six, sir, so just five more times, and you’ll be all set~. If ya keep up what ya did just now, should have yer prize in no time~.

[It probably says a lot about Childermass that even his drink is black, but Joker won’t mention it. A much more interesting subject has come up.]

Ha! No, it certainly ain’t near there anymore, sir, not in the regular means at any rate. Right now, I suppose ya could say we’re inbetween a lotta places. But now ain’t that a familiar name…

[Leaning back, Joker chuckles.]

Born in London, myself, but cor, if it hasn’t been some time since then. Traveled around a fair bit even before I came here!

Admission Fees

[It's not like he doesn't have money - or munny, as the case may be. It's that it's so meaningless to him that he's having a hard time supplying enough.]

Whaddaya mean, it's not enough? The sign says 1000, this is 1000!

[The shadow in the booth just continues to hold out a hand.]

Mirror Maze

[Axel's been stuck in this maze a while... and the reflections are mocking him. Some seem harmless, or even stupid, but others' comments are more biting, more cutting. He's tried the trick with his left hand, but the maze is now calling him a cheat, too. Seems it doesn't tolerate those kinds of techniques.

He doesn't even object to the reflections calling him a murderer, it's the ones that point out that he never could've felt anything for the ones he called friends that drive him up the wall. He's having a very hard time not punching a mirror to shards. Finally, he snaps.]

Just shut up already!

[He swings his arm back, calling for his chakrams. Someone stop him before he gets himself in trouble?]

Trying to Leaf

[... He's pretty sure he traveled in a straight line.

So how is he back here? Maybe he got turned around in the woods? He tries again, and again, and finally as a last ditch effort opens a corridor of darkness and steps through... Only to arrive back in front of the ticket booth, about 10 feet from where he started.]

What?

Wild Card

[Anything else you want to play!]

Edited (Forgot Wild Card) 2016-10-18 14:43 (UTC)

[Hey, putting people on the spot is the best test, alright? You can’t be shy when it comes to show business! Certainly easier than if they’re, say… a knife thrower. Much harder to see how that is right off the bat.]

[Joker listens to the display carefully, wooden fingers tapping along the metal of the ferris wheel seat and his head bobbing. When Mitsuki finishes, Joker hums.]

Idols like yerself usually work in groups, yeah?

[It’s never a dull time with the Doctor, and Joker follows him with only the barest of a trot. He’s sure he can keep track of him otherwise, and he’s proven fairly right when the Doctor goes tripping. Not stopping, Joker just leans down and scoops up the jar as he passes.]

Doin’ alright there, Doctor?

[People who are going to get their ass kicked: Joker]

[People who don’t care: Joker]

[The bit about gratitude does almost make him feel a bit bad about things, but, frankly, he doesn’t care for having a sword waved at him. He shrugs at the threat.]

Would ya rather I just tag along and save ya the trip?

[ Mitsuki's not shy, but he does like a chance to rehearse! With a knife thrower, they hit the target or they don't, and as a singer he either hits his performance or he doesn't. Not so different, in the end. ]

Mmm, normally, yeah. I can do a lot more than just sing, though, so I'm not looking to be some kind of solo act that way.

"Yeah, it's... a lot to process." Ginko grimaces a little. Things he does NOT particularly like about this job: That.

"But, yeah, this could've gone a lot worse. I'm just glad it was this one who got out this time and not one of the more difficult animals."

"That's for sure." He can't really blame those who left after the whole vampire thing, but it's clear enough that the current understaffing is taking its toll.

"...Yeah. Guess we'll just have to wait and see."

"Hah, yeah, that could..."

...

"Do animals get out a lot, here?"

"...Uh. Well." He rubs at the back of his neck. The wyrm follows his hand to the extent of its free length and flicks its tongue at his fingers.

"Not frequently, but... it happens. Especially since we're... a bit understaffed right now." Dealing with all these animals was a lot more manageable when he wasn't the only keeper in the carnival, but here he was. "Fortunately most of them aren't actually all that dangerous."

Don’t worry, I’m just wonderin’. Ya never know the kind of people we get as workers, so if yer used ta workin’ in a team, it’s good ta know in case we get others like ya.

But! [He taps his wooden fingers together, unable to really snap them.] I’ve liked what I’ve heard so far~. Certainly enough ta see what ya can do on the ground, and with a bit of practice.

Most of them.

Greg rubs over his face as the distress sits in, and he casts a hasty look around the gaming circle for Steven. Pleeeease let him still have Lion with him

"I think--I better go. Um, glad you found your guy! Have a good evening!"

[ Doctor starts shaking, his voice muffled by the grass until he rolls onto his back. He's in hysterics, face bright red as he gasps for breath between giggles. ]

Oh no! Oh NO! I'm laaa~te!

[ The wisp effect had caught up to at least one of his brains after all. ]

No--no, nothing fancy.

[Mari quickly lifts two hands--a matched pair, even--to forestall any ideas Tanyuu might be getting.]

This is already gonna be weird.

[She can laugh it off, but there's a small squirm of discomfort in her stomach anyway.

But! Too late to back out now! It's just hair. She knows that. She's the one making it weird.]

[WELP. It was going to happen sooner or later. Joker slows down, shaking his head in amusement.]

And yer gonna be later, Doctor, if ya keep that up.

Well crap. Ginko had legitimately been trying to be reassuring, but it sounds like he didn't do a great job.

"Uh... Right, thanks. You too."

♠ do your work

[For his routine, the magician that's been performing for the evening. Every bit of sleight of hand has been pulled; colorful handkerchiefs tied together pulled seemingly from no where, sawing an assistant seemingly in half, and pulling a critter from a hat -- though no his own.

But his heart is always with the cards.

A deck is in his hand, and he steps casually into the audience, walking in complete sureness of himself.

Until he spots you, and he smiles, his eyes obscured by the shadow of his hat. He fans out the cards and says:]

Pick a card, sweetheart.

♦ break time

[Away from the carnival in the yard, a blanket has been rolled out and Twisted Fate, it seems, has taken to napping. His fingers are folded together, his hat over his face, and he's snoozing.

Or so it seems.

As you get closer, Twisted Fate tips his hat up from his face, and he smiles sharply.]

Somethin' I can help you with, friend?

♣ wild card
[Choose your own adventure!]

[ Koltira doesn't typically like to take breaks, but the boss enforces them. So he dutifully, if irritably, obeys. When on these mandatory rest periods, Koltira will sometimes sit in the audience of the shows or whatever other goings-on--it's a way to do his job without actually doing it, to his mind.

He certainly doesn't expect to be singled out by any of the performers. He scowls as TF addresses him, both because of the endearment and because now everyone is looking. He wants to argue; to tell TF to go find someone else, but that wouldn't be a very good look for the carnival. ]

As you wish.

[ He grabs one at random, and then stares down at it, already feeling impatient with this. ]

[The smile Twisted Fate wears is far from warm; it is a smirk, assured, and smug as he looks down at Koltira, letting him take his time with his card.]

Memorize it, share with your neighbors.

Then do me a favor and rip up the card. Give me the pieces when your done.

[ Koltira bares his sharp teeth in return, albeit not too much, and not for too long. He's here willingly, here because he needs help. It behooves him not to cause trouble, however much he might want to.

He does rip up the card with especial violence, though. ]

Done.

[ He presses the remains into TF's hand, letting his own uncomfortably cool palm linger for a few seconds. ]

[The teeth just somehow make Fate's smile all the wider, as if it were possible. The magician seems far from bothered, watching how Koltira tears up the card with no delicacy.

What surprises him the coolness of his hand, though. Interesting.

Twisted Fate snaps out a new card which is clearly not from the deck -- it is red, vibrant, adorned with the design of a blade on it. The edges smolder, as if they are about to go into flames.]

Now then. As you can all see-- [He holds up the tattered remains of the card Koltira has torn up.] --this is destroyed. Now, I was considering mending it from these pieces, but that seems too easy.

Nah, let's make this harder.

[The pieces are held out, and Twisted Fate blows them off of his hand, just before he snaps out the red card with precision.

Midair, it impacts with the shredded pieces; in a small, theatrical explosion, the pieces are set aflame, dropping to the ground in ashes.]

You still remember your card, handsome?

[ Koltira takes the nickname as mockery, and his mood sours further. Public, we're in public ... for now.

He glances at the burning ashes, then back up to TF. ]

Perfectly so.

I'm counting on your good memory.

[He winks at Koltira, because that definitely helps the dead elf's mood.

Twisted Fate takes a step back and smoothly rolls his hat down his arm into his hand so that it lands up, exposing the inside to Koltira.

Inside is a card. The one that he chose, in fact.]

Is this your card?

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⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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Axel | Kingdom Hearts | Newbie

and now google will start suggesting more idol videos for me for like ten months :'D

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sorry :c

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how will I survive!!

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Twisted Fate | League of Legends | Veteran

work

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