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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[He's not sure why, but Sora feels a bit guilty at the disappointment in Terra's eyes. He's never met an adult keyblade wielder before (besides King Mickey). In his head, he knows it's not his fault, the circumstances he was put under, but still...

To the side, Roxas continues to taunt him silently.]

Um... I don't have a Master. I taught myself to use the Keyblade.

[It's this stupid maze, he's sure of it. Sora's not usually this doubtful of himself, but this whole day has been weird, even for him.

He goes back to smiling cheerfully. It'll be fine once they get out of the maze.]

Sometimes Master Yen Sid or King Mickey will give me tips, but I've been mostly on my own.

[Lars jumps when he hears the sudden and nearby echoing of Sora's voice, letting a starrled, shrill little yell. Turns out they were just the corner from each other—the corner which Lars peaks his head passed to scowl at Sora, thereafter stepping forward.]

Sheesh, you always run around talkin' to yourself like that? You scared the hell outta me!!

[Lars is privately a little relieved, though—he's been lost quite some time now, and being alone was really starting to work on his nerves.]

[Sora sheepishly grins, and rubs the back of his head. He didn't know he was near anyone else, and honestly, this guy had startled him a bit, too.]

S-sorry! I didn't know anyone else was in here. You're the first person I've seen.

[This guy doesn't look super happy to see him, but Sora will take what he can get right now, honestly.]

[it's ok. it's not super often that Lars is happy to see anyone.]

Yeah, well, that's cuz this is a crappy attraction.

[Lars gestures to his distorted reflection, also vaguely sinister; his proportions are elongated and sharp at the edges; its eyes are fixed on Lars, which he doesn't notice when he looks away to look at Sora mid gesture.]
Only kids would find this kinda thing fun, and even then, not for very long.

[Well this guy has an attitude, that's for sure. He vaguely reminds Sora of someone else, but with more cussing.

Honestly, this guys reflection doesn't surprise him.]

I dunno, I thought it was kinda fun. Until I got lost, I mean.

[Sora grins widely. Maybe this dude is just upset at being lost? It would make sense, and in which case, it was all the more reason to be nice.]

You're lost too, right? Maybe we can help each other out of here.

[Whether he's feeling disappointed or not it's not directed at Sora personally but rather Terra himself, and it goes right over his head if Sora feels guilty. He's a bit...detached from mortal plights, as it were. Terra, instead, looks slightly surprised - though, to be honest, he shouldn't be. The only other viable Master was dead (thanks to him), and he didn't know what had become of Aqua.

His stomach churns again and he stifles it down for paying more attention to the names that Sora gives.]

Master Yen Sid is a wise man. I'm not so sure about his pupil, but last I knew Mickey wasn't a king yet.

[Much less in the position to give someone tips. Then again, he hadn't really interacted with the mouse much - that had been more Ven and Aqua to his knowledge. Terra's tail curls in thought, wondering what the boy's form was like in battle if he was self taught like he said.]

[Maybe it's just him, but the maze feels like it's getting denser. Does that mean they're near the exit?

He keeps his eyes on Terra, just in case. Sora really doesn't fancy getting lost again.]

Well, I mean, he's been a king for as long as I've known him... Although, I think Queen Minnie does more of the 'ruling' stuff.

[How long had Terra been here, anyway? Three years, he'd said? But he was pretty sure Mickey had been king for longer than that... Something wasn't adding up here.]

Master Yen Sid has been really helpful, though. It always seems like he knows everything, and he gave us our Mark of Mastery exam.

"Better than the alternative, man," she said, reaching out to give him a pat on the head. Normally she wouldn't get that touchy, but she was pretty sure he was up for it between his earlier comment and that look he'd shot the toy. "How 'bout we go see if they've got work for you? I bet a place this big has SOMETHING you can do for sure!"

"Maybe..." Seariadn leaned into that pat on the head just a little, since it was some of the very rare positive contact he'd ever gotten.

The way he perks up at her question is almost instant, and he sounds so hopeful, even if there is a bit of cautious disbelief to his voice. "You... you'd really do that? Go with me?" He wondered if having her come would help at all, but then again, even if it didn't, at least he would have company for a bit.

"I'm not slacking! This is my break! God!"

He flares out his dinky little wings in attempt to make himself larger and therefor MORE RIGHT.

"Sure, you bet! You sounds like you could use the support."

She tugged her hand away from his head, but only so she could offer it to him. Help him up out of that corner and get him moving!

There was just a flicker of disappointment on his face when she pulled her hand away, only to perk up and eagerly take hold of her hand. "Thank you, thank you very much!"

Seariadn would go with her easily enough, even if it might take a bit of coaxing to go near anywhere with more than one or two people. He's not really shy, it's just a little overwhelming being around a lot of people... The odd looks some people give him as they pass by don't seem to help his confidence much either.

1. Admission Fees:

This was ridiculous. Since when was there a circus-thingy in Regent's park? He certainly would have heard of it. Or actually heard it set up, since it wasn't too far from Baker Street. Mysterious happenings were his forte, however, and he was immediately interested. It was definitely not...how should he say...ordinary.

Which was exciting, he thought.

He was having trouble trying to figure out what his payment should be. Irritated at the fact that he wasn't exactly getting through to this person, he dug in his pocket and pulled out one of Lestrade's old ID's that he had stolen when he was being irritating.

It wasn't like Lestrade's good name was in any danger, nor would Scotland Yard be thick enough to fall for someone trying to sneak in, so he figured it would do.

2. Wildcard:

Sherlock was still not exactly on board with this whole 'magic' thing. As much as he'd seen already, he still approached it from a very scientific point of view. Different types of energy not yet documented by proper peer-reviewed research...okay. He could deal with that.

What he couldn't deal with, at least at the moment, was the fact that being in this ridiculous circus came with side effects. Clearly an offshoot of the human body being exposed to whatever this energy field was.

He certainly wasn't pleased, when he looked in the mirror that morning, to see that his canines had grown an entire centimeter each, enough to poke slightly out of his mouth even when it was closed. It was like some horrid low-budget vampire movie. And what was worse, that his nails seemed to have gone in on the joke. They were a dark honeyed color, curved wickedly into points that stuck out a couple centimeters from each fingertip. Unlike human nails, they were thick, like a large cat's.

This debt thing was getting worse all the time.

Sherlock was in a foul mood when he left his trailer, shoving his hands inside his pockets, his gray coat flapping angrily behind him. He could feel the stupid fangs in his mouth, his tongue kept hitting them, and when he spoke, he lisped a little. Probably with time, that would go away, but sounding, as well as looking ridiculous, was enough to put him in a sulk for eternity.

Edited 2016-11-18 16:03 (UTC)

"What kind of favors?" ... Says Emily.

[He tucks himself under a wing as they move through the gates. It's not like they'd fit together otherwise, and he doesn't want to get separated from Joker again... or let him out of his sight. He's not losing his family. Not again.]

[~~Pretty much exactly that. They're even both good at kidnapping children.~~]

Maybe. I've not exactly got the funds to go back in...

[They charged him all but an arm and a leg to get in the first time.]

Looking less and less like I have a choice, though.

As someone with much larger wings, Joker doesn’t seem too impressed. At least, chuckling into his hand isn’t usually a sign of it. “I think at least half my statement still applies. Don’t ya got better places ta be?”

Ha…. I’d been hopin’ ta make it a surprise for ya and the rest of the first tier members, but…

[Well. More like he’d hoped that this kind of situation would never happen where he’d have to see them in the carnival, knowing the implications of that.]

...It’s a solid deal. If I keep up the good work, she’ll be able ta get all of us outta England. Get somewhere nice where we won’t have ta worry about anythin’.

Well, there are worse places ta get stuck in for a while, wouldn’t ya say?

[Not that he’s saying Axel would get stuck in it for a year or anything ha ha…]

Roman's tail flicks by his ankles and he stares long and hard at his winged coworker. It's hard to tell if he's trying to think up an insult or a lie or simply waiting on him to get bored and flutter off somewhere else.

But eventually a blabbermouth like Roman can't stand the silence.

"This popcorn c-cart is actually my grandmother under a terrible curse and I'm keeping her company you insensitive prick."

Hilariously enough, Joker is pretty sure that’s a valid punishment in the carnival…. But he’d remember something like that happening. The Ringmaster is showy like that. So instead he hums, making a show of pacing around the popcorn machine and looking it up and down. “So ya regularly nap on top of yer grandmother?”

[keeping out of range might not be so easy if it came to that, as Mitsunari's insanely fast. Still, a good idea.]

[brow raise, not sure that's the name real's name, but he's heard stranger ones, so why not]

[and this man is professing to help him after all, so might as well introduce himself] My name is Mitsunari Ishida.

[The end of his tail twitches at the mention of the Mark of Mastery, pausing altogether. Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that he had been facing his own. Then, cautiously;]

I suppose that would only be appropriate, if he's the last Master.

[He doesn't know what's happened to Aqua over the years, after all, and part of him is beginning to realize just where he recognizes Sora from. That island, the one that he'd been on before the carnival had picked him up, the boy that he'd seen.]

You said "us"?

[Oops. Sometimes Sora forgets that not everyone knows everything he knows.]

Oh, yeah. Me and my friend Riku took the test together.

I, uh... didn't pass, though. Just Riku passed.

[He grins widely. Of course he's disappointed, but Riku deserved it the most, in his opinion. He wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for him.]

Mitsunari Ishida…

[For all the flippancy he radiates, Joker is making an attempt to very carefully pronounce the name. His accent has always been thick, he knows, so he has to take extra care with foreign names.]

That’s, ah- no not oriental- Japanese, yeah?

[he just nods]

[and then mutters] A foreigner? Well, no matter.

[he's now just going to go back to the circus and see if there's any way to leave for home from there]

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⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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Sherlock Holmes | Sherlock (BBC) | Newb

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this is so late I have no excuse

Nah, you're fine XD

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