⇨ 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

Roman Gulliver | OC | GARBAGE NEWBIE

[neighborofthebeast]

"BREAK" TIME

Roman was always brains, not brawn and mucking stalls, hauling wheelbarrows of wood shavings, holding ladders, and heavy buckets of whatever it was that the weird toybox of creatures ate had plumb tuckered him out. And it was only his third day on the job!

It wasn't technically break time yet, but Roman more or less lived by squeezing in, out of, and around technicalities. The little demon was curled up not unlike a cat on top of a wheeled popcorn stand. Surely nobody would think to look UP for somebody with wings so small he could hardly fly.

Roman slept ungracefully, acne-scarred face smushed against the wagon's top, glasses askew, long forked tongue all but hanging out. When he'd settled to nap, he'd carefully coiled his tail up underneath him, but slowly and surly it unfurled and flopped over one side of the cart's decorative top.


DO YOUR WORK

"Wow, you did it, good job," said Roman with all the enthusiasm of someone congratulating another person on taking a shit. He handed over the colorful bear to the patron and moved his eyes up to greet the next person in line. Were they a legit customer? Were they a shil? He didn't know or care. Nothing had made him care. Yet.

"Roll up, roll up, hit a balloon, win a prize."


WILD CARD

Be my guest! He does lots of dogsbody work around the circus and can be found doing (or avoiding doing) a great number of things! He also loves junkfood so it's possible to find him hanging around the concessions.


((OOC: Will reply in prose or brackets, your choice!))

"BREAK" TIME

[dontpokethat]

Look, Ginko gets that not everyone is exceptionally well-suited to the Labor department. Which is why his immediate response to this whole situation is more one of concern than annoyance... but, honestly, he would still appreciate it if Roman would make more of an effort.

Ginko reached up to tug gently at Roman's tail. "Hey. If you want to sleep, I'd suggest heading to your trailer instead."

[neighborofthebeast]

HOW!!!

HOW DID SOMEONE FIND HIS INCREDIBLE HIDING PLACE?!?

With a snort and a hiss, Roman yanked his tail from Ginko's grasp--luckily not standing his little poison barbs on end until he was properly arched up in the classic Halloween cat pose and glaring down at the antlered man. He'd....had he seen Ginko around before? Yes. Yes, that second day when he was mucking.

It wasn't often he met another man with horns but he couldn't geek out about that kinship right now because he was too busy feeling personally attacked since it felt better than feeling guilty.

"I'm not going back there! Leamme alone!"

[dontpokethat]

It occurs to Ginko that, yeah, just grabbing this demon kid's tail may not have been the best idea, but whatever. He didn't get poisoned this time, anyway.

"Why not?" Ginko tucks his hands into his pockets, his tail flicking back and forth. "I can't imagine it's comfortable up there."

[neighborofthebeast]

When his TERRIFYING DEMON POSE did not strike any fear into this strange fuzzy man, he turned on a hoof and hopped down, fully expecting to just skulk away. The only people Roman cared about sucking up to were teachers and the Ringmaster. He didn't have time for this!

"Whatever!"

[dontpokethat]

Oh wow was this really happening. Incredible.

Ginko frowned, one scaly ear giving an irritated twitch. For better or worse, though, he didn't actually move. "You know, if it was a mistake, you can just say so. Either way, though, I should hope you're either planning to take your break somewhere more suitable or get back to work."

You know. Depending on which you're supposed to be doing.

[neighborofthebeast]

What was this guy's deal?

Roman paused in his very dignified exit and whirled around, his own goaty ears pressed flat to his skull.

"Why do you c-care? Just go away!" A flush was working its way into his cheeks. This whole place was scary and he hated being right back on the bottom when he felt like he'd carved out a pretty good little career for himself back on earth. He couldn't let Ginko see that he was worked up so he blew out a smoky little puff. "What are you even supposed to be?"

"""break""" time

[fourthscribe]

She wouldn't have noticed Roman up there if not for the tail suddenly swinging down into her face. She blinks in surprise, reeling back slightly and looking up at the curled-up lump of teenager resting on top of the popcorn machine.

Another one like this, huh?

Sighing, Tanyuu lifts herself higher up on her tail to be leaning over Roman, and reaches out with her pipe to tap him firmly right between the eyes.

"There are better places to be taking your break, you know."

[neighborofthebeast]

"G'yeugh! Nhhh!" Roman's face scrunches up and tries to fold in on himself to get away from the tap, his world rapidly coming into focus.

UGH HE'S HEARD THAT BEFORE!

The little demon slits open his eyes and tries his best to look unimpressed and bored only to let out another surprised squawk because he did not expect to see anybody at eye-level up here. HIs wings unfurled, making him look like some sort of humped over little goblin.

This was the longest lady he had ever seen in his entire life.

"Yeah well...I like. THIS one!"

SO THERE.

[fourthscribe]

The pipe slides back into her haori, and she folds her arms with a disapproving frown. The posturing doesn't phaze her at all--he's hardly the most frightening thing she's ever seen.

"Well, you're going to have to move. It's not good for customers to see you napping wherever you please."

[neighborofthebeast]

"There aren't even any back here right now."

Roman slowly sits up more like a normal person than an upset cornered rabbit or something. His ears flick backward as he takes his time to really take this lady in. Has he seen her before? It seems as though he can't turn a corner without seeing a new thing. It's been a long few days.

"What is the deal with you people?"

[fourthscribe]

"Not right now, but that can change quickly."

She leans back as Roman pushes himself up, considering him for a long moment before she replies.

"Well, for one I would rather not see people suffer for their own stupidity."

[neighborofthebeast]

The snake woman is rewarded with a slow blink.

"How thoughtful of you. How many more one-liners until you earn your halo?"

Machi Tobaye | Veteran

[liedtoyou]

Machi might have been a shill. He was definitely not a customer.

Which was probably for the better, because honestly, who knew if Machi was even capable of aiming at anything through his sunglasses' dark tint. His round face was speckled with orange and white scales, a trailing frill of fins from each of his arms, like a fancy goldfish.

"Probably you should try for more happy sounding." You know. If you don't want to get in trouble.

Or you could keep sounding like your soul had vacated your body. But don't say he didn't warn you.

[neighborofthebeast]

Roman squinted at the fishboy from behind his own glasses and didn't say anything for a minute that stretched a mile.

"What the hell. Are you like...eight? What kind of establishment is that bitch running here?"

[liedtoyou]

"No."

Machi's entire demeanour shifts instantly, morphing from laid back, almost carefree, to hard and unyielding like a stone.

Then a second later he laughs at Roman.

"--stupid."

Of course, he isn't clarifying how old he is. Maybe he is eight.

[neighborofthebeast]

Roman's ears spring up at the sudden declaration but soon they fall back when he's laughed at. The demon props an elbow on the game counter, leaning over it to inspect Machi's scales. He reminded him of someone.

"Eight hundred then. Got it, gramps. Now move, it's somebody else's t-turn."

[liedtoyou]

Machi looks behind him, just a glance. His finned ears stick out through his blonde hair, but there's no visible change in expression that can be seen. Not with the sunglasses, anyway.

He turns back to Roman.

"Okay." Fine. "Give me thing."

He gestures at the darts, having no actual correct word for the object.

"I try game. If lose, I leave. If win...." Actually, what does he want? Not a stuffed bear, that's for sure.

[neighborofthebeast]

Roman promptly handed over five things. They were darts, luckily. He got the idea.

"You get to pick a price same as everyone else. No senior discount."

The demon moved aside, folding his arms and leaning back on his tail like a cartoon kangaroo.

"Go for it."

break time, because roman probably deserves this

[pipers_son]

Unfortunately for Roman, the veterans of the circus look all over. Sometime it's up, because some people never get tired of the sky here or because all sorts of weird nonsense makes them wary. And then sometimes... It's down.

Because there are an annoying number of people here who have wings.

Then again, maybe it's just Joker who adds to that annoying part, as Roman will soon learn. The stage manager had seen him from above and, while it's not his area to be bossy in... That doesn't mean Joker stops his own curiosity and petty amusement as he lands not too far away to grab some popcorn...

And start tossing it up there with a barely restrained grin.

He wonders how much he can get in the little guy's hair before he notices. Or stops him.

sorry for the delay!

[neighborofthebeast]

Two or three fluffy kernels land in his hair. The boy doesn't stir. He's plumb tuckered out. However a fourth one lands just close enough to his face that his instincts take over. He sniffs a couple of times in his sleep and a long forked tongue darts out to snatch it up.

Ever try to eat something really really dry in your sleep?

"Hkkk! Pphht! Guh!" Roman sat bolt upright, heels hooked over the edge of the cart, and started to cough and spit.

[pipers_son]

And everything went better than expected.

No, really- Joker bursts out into unpleasant sniggers as the demon jolts upright, popping a few pieces of popcorn into his own mouth as well. He was expecting to make a little bit of a mess, not for anything to get eaten, but he’ll take it. “Go down the wrong hole?”

[neighborofthebeast]

ROman hacked and coughed like a cat trying to hork up a hairball. When he'd finally freed up his windpipe, he glowered upward with tears in the corners of his eyes.

"That wasn't funny! I could have died! Then you would feel BAD!"

[pipers_son]

“Nah, not really.” Resting his weight on one leg and a hand on his hip, Joker grins at the offended little demon. “Besides, yer fine now, ain’t ya? It’s yer own fault for slackin’ on the job where just about anyone can see ya~.”

[neighborofthebeast]

"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.