⇨ 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

Jasper | Steven Universe | Veteran | open

[missionfail]

WORKING

[Jasper performs tasks as one of the carnival's mercenaries, but that's not always a full time job. Some stops don't require that service at all. In the meanwhile, a large orange woman with a gem for a nose (plus a few other carnival given additions) can be found standing outside a game of "Test Your Strength".

She leans casually on a large wooden mallet, but she'll be glad to lend it to anyone who wants to give it a go - provided they hand over tickets first, of course. The gem doesn't see any need to yell to get anyone's attention. Her very presence should take care of that.]

BREAK TIME

[Something people generally wouldn't expect to find someone of Jasper's size and build doing on break is hunkering over a handful of papers, studying them intently. But that's exactly what she's doing now. Who has time to take a break when they've just succeeded in doing something she's been trying to do for over a year now?

A brute like her should be stuck bashing things with her head or her fists for the rest of their existence, but she's had an opportunity now. That's what she has to believe this is - an opportunity to improve herself rather than a step against the grain. She does this for the benefit of Homeworld, so that when she returns she can get rid of whatever gem specks are left on Earth for the glory of the Diamonds.

It isn't completely self-serving. She's better than that.

She holds her hands apart, and an arc of electrical energy surges between them causing a bright grin to spread across her face. However, this is abruptly followed by widened eyes and a bit of harsh coughing.

Anyone who might have caught her in this moment will be shot a glare.]

Don't you have something better to do?

WILDCARD - AFTER THE PREVIOUS PROMPTS

[The carnival had already caused Jasper's usually hulking form to be smaller than usual - closer to that of an average human in height - but there's something else off about it now. It might be hard for anyone to place their finger on.

What's easy to notice is that her face is covered with a bright and colorful mask with a great big smile painted across the front. It's entirely unfitting but she doesn't seem inclined to take it off.

She can be found back at the Test Your Strength attraction or skulking in the carnival's background.]

[fragileandsoft]

[Of all the strange, surreal, unexpected things at this fair, running into the gem who kidnapped and harassed his son and friends is perhaps the most unbelievable of all.

But, since Greg never met Jasper in person, the incredulity of the situation never dawns on him. All he sees is another technicolor carnival worker manning a fun game where he can show off what's left of his muscles. Everything is pleasant and fun and only slightly weird.]

Now here's a classic! [ He rubs his hands together. This is gonna be a disaster, and he knows it. ] How many tickets?

[missionfail]

[Jasper doesn't recognize this man at all. Lapis hadn't even made any mention of him in her interrogation before their return to Earth, and if she had it's highly likely the larger gem would have forgotten about it long ago in its irrelevance. Right now all she sees is a customer, and her job is to handle them rather than scare them away.

She holds up two fingers, then holds out her hand.

The mallet slips downward but doesn't hit the ground. She's now gripping it with her foot - which is actually another hand, ape-like in appearance.]

[fragileandsoft]

[ He hands the tickets over readily, but looks contemplatively at her foot-grasp a moment before taking the mallet. It's less that he's staring, and more that it's causing him to rethink. ]

This thing is at least kinda calibrated for humans, right? [ He shifts his grip on the hammer, testing the weight, and gives the gem a wry grin. ] I dunno if I'm in the same weight bracket as... I dunno, an orc, or something.

Test Your Strength!

[smellslikebarbecue]

[Large Orange and Fluffy, meet Small Purple and Scaly.]

Hey bub! So do I have to use the mallet to do this thing? Or can I try something different?

[Spyro's got the tickets, but he can't exactly use the mallet to play. #Quadruped Problems.]

[missionfail]

I'd try a different booth.

[The strength test is based around using the mallet, after all. There are rules to some of these things, otherwise how is she supposed to fairly reward prizes for semi-rigged games?]

Aren't you a little small for this anyway?

[Her tail flicks in restrained amusement.]

[smellslikebarbecue]

[WOW. No one asked you, Jasper.]

Doubt it. Aren't you a little too tall to be hitting below the belt?

[Spyro jerks his head to one side.]

C'mon, step aside. I'll show you and this strength test who's boss.

SCOUTS AND MERCS ARE BOTH NIGHTRIDER FOLKS SO TIME TO FIGURE OUT COWORKER CR

[fortuneglass]

[As a scout, Carly doesn't tend to interact very much with the mercenaries under the Nightrider. The last time she did, it was during the Vampire War.

And that wasn't exactly a time to socialize. What she DOES know of Jasper from that however, is that she is Very Grumpy. Or at least, it seemed that way.

Kinda reminds her of a guy though...

But after a number of hours of chasing wisps and slicing up her straw tongue drinking soda, the sight of the merc practicing what she's fairly certain is magic is...well.

She jumps, coughing and sputtering once she's noticed.] AAHHH- Ah, well! I was just getting energy back, it's really tiring chasing after wisps all day, especially when I'm a bird, so it's really nothing..!!

[She should. Maybe stop while she's ahead. The girl coughs.] ...Was that lightning..?

[missionfail]

No.

[Jasper breathes in slowly, a shuddering breath. That's fine. It's just a shift in her physical changes again. Gems typically use some sort of lungs in their form anyway, if only because creating sound to speak with is so much easier when working lungs through a vocal system. The act of breathing isn't unusual for her.

Feeling the inner workings of her body demand it of her is. She does her best to go on and ignore it.]

It's electricity. I'm not a storm cloud.

[Semantics. And some would beg to differ.]

[fortuneglass]

Ah...hahahaaaa... [Gee Wizz Jasper you sure can kill a grin!

But Carly is determined! Nervous as the laugh is, she's right back to it!] W-well, when it comes to magic, sometimes it's called 'lightning' anyway right?! In video games, and in books, and I bet even that place with all the wizards..!

...I didn't know you could do that though! It's really neat!

WORKING

[drrdrrdrr]

[After nearly two year, it's hard to still view Jasper as a threat. They don't exactly get along, but at this point she's just another grumpy coworker, more or less.

Amethyst's wandering around on a break when she spots the big gem attending the Test Your Strength game... Her strength increase in exchange for another year of carnival service is still extremely recent, her thicker, pawlike hands a testament to this, and she figures, hey, why not?

She ambles over with a shit-eating grin on her face.]

Hey, wanna let me have a try?

[missionfail]

[At the sight of Amethyst, Jasper's expression immediately dulls into the most unamused stare. She lets the mallet lean against the fence behind her, crossing her arms over her chest.]

No. There are customers on the way.

[There are no customers walking anywhere near this attraction.]

[None.]

[drrdrrdrr]

[Amethyst looks over her shoulder to confirm that there are indeed zero customers interested in swinging the hammer. She rolls her eyes dramatically.] Aw, come on. [She makes to reach past Jasper to just grab the hammer.]

Break time.

[peridork]

[To be fair, normally Peridot avoids crossing paths with Jasper unless their jobs both call for it, but uhh... it's kind of hard to ignore the other gem sitting over there and kicking up an electrical storm between her mitts like that. Peridot stops dead in her tracks to watch, transfixed, eyes wide.

...When she's addressed though, she jolts in surprise... and promptly swivels her pointed ears back in anger, sharp teeth flashing in an offended grimace.]

N-No--! [Blast it. Why the stammering. She swallows and tries again, putting on her best defiant scowl and folding her arms over her chest.] I'm on my break! I can go wherever I want.

[missionfail]

[At recognizing who it is, the annoyance Jasper feels becomes a little more familiar. In a way it's welcome, but she isn't going to tell Peridot that. The green gem might be one of the last people she wants knowing about any new apparent additions to her physical changes, but at least she doesn't have to deal with some random newcomer.]

The whole rebel thing is getting old, you know.

[Fancy metal bending powers or no, and her own reduction in size aside, Jasper's sure she could still crush Peridot with one hand if she really wanted to.

She gets the papers in order, clearing her throat as she does her best to keep her breathing light to hide the fact that she's lost the ability to stop it.]

RESPONDS WITH MY ICON-LESS ALT ACCOUNT BC DW is drunk I guess??

[periphrasing]

I'll have you know that I'm perfectly within standard employee protocol! There's nothing rebellious about walking through a public space.

[Peridot frowns, squinting suspiciously at the papers. Her nose wrinkles.] What are you doing, anyway?

BREAK TIME

[cuckooed]

Not at the moment.

[Koel leans against a post, the ghost of a smile on her face.]

Practicing?

[missionfail]

[Jasper looks mildly disgusted by the visitor, if only because she still isn't familiar with or used to the concept of aging when it comes to humans. (The last time she'd been on earth they hadn't typically lived as long as they did now.) The idea of becoming weaker the longer one is alive is frankly one that would terrify her if she was in a similar position.

She schools her expression back into one of annoyed neutrality.]

Yeah. And I'd like a little privacy, if you don't mind.

[cuckooed]

You picked a bad spot then.

[Her head motions towards the pathway that inevitably comes by where the Gem is.]

Its almost lunch time. People will be coming this way any moment, you know.

Break Time

[dorkypantsuit]

Well, yeah.

[Ψii offers with a smile and a shrug, but he continues to watch her none the less.]

But I'm pretty sure you do to, so.

[missionfail]

I'm on break.

[So technically there isn't anything better she could be doing right now. Working on this is better than lazing around.]

If you're not then get back to work.

[dorkypantsuit]

Lucky for you I'm on break too.

[Smile.]

So, what you working on.

break time

[faking]

Haven't anything better at all, actually, [says Alois, smiling like the sun—pleasant intent, sure, but there's something scalding about him. Basically, it's his habit to hang around being a brat. It's hard for most anyone to know what he's thinking, even if they've known him for the entire eight months he's been here... He's just too two-faced. So, right now, he's either beaming at Jasper, or mocking her.

Let's make it a little more apparent:]

I've been waiting my entire life to stand here, in this singular moment, and watch you cough our your Martian lungs. [He's convinced she's from Mars.]

[missionfail]

My... what?

[There isn't even any life worth mentioning on Mars currently. It had been deemed unfit to be a suitable host for a gem colony but could be used for additional resources if necessary.

Typical human, only able to make comparisons to things within their own solar system.]

Go bother someone else, Trampsy.

[faking]

[A boy from Earth's 1889 doesn't have much point of reference for space—Martian is the best he can come up with. And he's highly skeptical of Jasper to this day.

More to the point, though, right now he's angry. It's hard to tell what pisses him off more: the bastardization of his name, or the stab at his chastity. Both of those things are very personal to him.] You're such a bitch, [he says, going for simple insults at first. He says it really frankly, too.] You started it, being cross straight away when I was minding my own business. You shouldn't pick on people, it's rude.