ringleaders: (Default)
Lost Carnival Mods ([personal profile] ringleaders) wrote in [community profile] livinglot2017-11-25 05:29 pm
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⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME: NO ONE'S HOME

WELCOME TO THE SHOW!

Or, more specifically, Lost Carnival's 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 (and should) read the full premise here.
  • Reserves and Applications are currently OPEN.
  • This month, applications can be for WILLING CHARACTERS ONLY. Meaning,
    the Ringmaster will only be taking newbies on if they are willing to sign a year contract for one of her rewards.
  • You can apply as a newcomer or as a "veteran" character who has been in the carnival for up to three years. In the case of veteran characters, you will need to come up with an explanation of why they haven't been around the carnival recently.
  • TDM threads can be used as game canon after the fact if both characters are accepted, the players agree to it, and it makes any sense contextually.
  • If you are interested in additional IC and OOC plot responsibilities, consider applying for a Supervisor position. Head Cook and Treasurer are currently open. Otherwise, we're pretty much down for anything, roles wise.


CURRENT STOP
NO ONE'S HOME

This winter break, things are a bit odd down in the carnival grounds. Reason being? Almost all of the workers are currently spending their vacation up on one of the carnival's two moons, enjoying the winter wonderland the Ringmaster created for them. This means that the actual carnival area is mostly abandoned, and in this case? Anyone turning up there is doing so by total mistake. Ostensibly the Ringmaster is enjoying the eggnog a bit too much.

This will only be happening for a day or two out of the holiday schedule, but during that time your character may find themselves arriving in a totally abandoned carnivval, which is not what anyone wants. They'll be left to wander alone until they encounter other visitors, or until someone from the carnival happens upon them while stopping at the grounds for whatever reason. All ther regular attractions apply, but they are unmanned by anything but the ghoulish spectres known as cinder sprites. Without the Ringmaster here, they won't even address you.

ABANDONED: The carnival is completely empty, and it's dark out, and, well... it's sort of spooky? None of the attractions will be running, though nothing is stopping you from wandering inside with the cinder sprites not paying much attention. It's entirely possible you could get into some trouble like that, or maybe you're just totally freaked out and desperate to find someone who can send you home.

WILLING CANDIDATES ONLY: For the most part, unless your character does something really dastardly, all applications this month must be from WILLING APPLICANTS ONLY. This means, once your character is eventually found, they must be willing to sign on with the carnival as a new hire for one of the Ringmaster's boons. No trickery this time around! Keep that in mind when applying.

MONSTERS LURKING: While all the workers are gone, there are a few beasts that have been left to roam while everyone else is on vacation. Along with the cinder sprites, there is also an Alolan Exeggutor that wanders the forest looking for someone to smash, and the tentacle monster that lives in the Tunnel of Love. There's also a Slenderman, but don't worry about him. He's got the intelligence of an above average dog, and probably just wants to play fetch.

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. 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 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.

TUNNEL OF "LOVE": A brand new attraction in the carnival, the Tunnel of Love is mostly what you'd expect from such a ride - two people sit in a boat together which journeys through some glitter filled caves, complete with mood music. Unfortunately, there is also something else in there with you... in the form a moody kraken living in the waters, who has very particular opinions about shipping, and may either stubbornly interfere with any attempted intimacy, or may politely encourage it. Or they may just generally be a dick if they're in no mood for either. The Ringmaster insists it is a romance expert.

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.

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.

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!

DUNK TANK: Sometimes acting like a dick will earn you the gentle reprimand of being sent to work in the Dunk Tank for the afternoon - you know that game where people throw balls at a target, and if they hit it you get dropped into the water? It's like that, only sometimes there are daunting (but harmless) critters in the water, or some other strange magical affects to spice things up. Hopefully, the visitors will have bad aim.

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!
shearmadness: (hmm)

Veteran app | Nui Harime | Kill La Kill

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-26 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
1. Abandoned

[It was supposed to be a simple errand. A simple errand to find out the fabric of one customer's dress and go acquire some for the carnival's costumes. The whole thing should have taken a few days, maximum. It took longer than intended, and at last Nui has returned, several large rolls of fabric sticking out of the oversized pink backpack she brought with her.]

Heeeeeey, where is everyone? Are you all playing hide and go seek?

[One never knows with the Ringmaster, after all. But after numerous attempts to find people, she's simply having no luck whatsoever.]

Ugh, this is so boring. I bet everyone's off doing something way more fun than walking around here.


3. Monsters Lurking

[The girl dressed all in pink walks through the forest with her backpack, still looking around for everyone. She's having no luck, but she's managing not to get completely disheartened. She's twirling an oddly shaped purple sword that looks something like half of a pair of gigantic scissors as she walks, and humming a little tune to herself.

In fact, she seems completely oblivious to to the Exeggutor sneaking up behind her to smash her. Maybe warn her or help her?
]

Veteran workers - Do your job

[Aside from her combative talents, Nui's always had a gift for sewing. She was the Grand Couturier of an international company while still a teenage girl, so it's not surprising that she's taken up a similar line of work here in the carnival.

She's got a few sketches of costume designs ready for the person with her, and a measuring tape handy.
]

Hmm...you know, I can't decide if I want to go with the sleeve frills or not. Which do you like better?
prazerbutterfly: (I don't....)

[personal profile] prazerbutterfly 2017-11-26 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
[He's pinged instantly by her appearance, what she was holding, and other factors. At first he seems excited if not mildly worried as his stride picks up and he makes his way towards it. It's only when she turns around does the pink umbrella become more clear and he features less Road. Even his excitement starts to die down relatively from disappointment.

Still, he is a gentleman and his finger will raise to point upwards towards one of the moons in the distance.
] Everyone is currently up there, Miss.

No one is really suppose to be down here.
shearmadness: (delight)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-26 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
But you are~! Yay for me! Walking around by myself trying to find everyone was boring.

[She knows that magic allows for faster transportation than would otherwise be possible, but she's glad she won't have to spend the remaining trip up to that moon alone. Nui is a social, chatty person.]

After all that effort to get plenty of fabric for gorgeous new costumes for everyone, it wouldn't be nice at all if everyone just ditched me.

[She points to one of the rolls of fabric, silky and predominantly dark blue with tiny white gems embedded in it. It looks reminiscent of a night sky.]

That one took extra persuasion to get.

[Withdrawing her purple scissor blade from the bag, she twirls it around with her free hand, giving Tyki an idea of what kind of "persuasion" might have been involved.]
prazerbutterfly: (zpost exo - annoyed dare you to test me)

[personal profile] prazerbutterfly 2017-11-26 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh wow, she's a bundle of sunshine just like Road. He has to really question for a moment why exactly she's happy but she does kind of say it outloud.]

Well then, little lady. If you don't mind my slow stride at the moment I suppose I can keep you company.

[But then the scissors just make him grin tiredly as he examines the fabric she's presenting with the utmost interest.] You worked here before?
shearmadness: (content)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-26 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, good. I was so bored and lonely.

[While she operates independently most of the time, she does enjoy being around people. Even if it's just to torment them.]

Yes! I'm the couturier! I design, sew...and when I'm not doing that, I get sent on errands. Sometimes they're fun and I get to play!

[Given that the scissor blade is about the length of a sword and has a sharp looking edge, Tyki gets three guesses as to what she's referring to when she says 'play' and the first two don't count.]
prazerbutterfly: (fiesty arencha)

[personal profile] prazerbutterfly 2017-11-26 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[He's still recovering so he's a little slow in walking. Normally he has a better appearance and posture. Right now he's worse for wear, worn, and half suffering. He just doesn't let it show as much as he probably should. Then again, he should be resting.]

Oh, you mean like a fancy tailor. Right now no one is really doing their jobs. The Ringmaster has sent everyone to the moon for a vacation. I am Tyki Mikk, one of her Magicians. [And conman but he'll leave that part out.]
shearmadness: (pleasant)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-26 08:21 pm (UTC)(link)
A fancy tailor and designer.

[She corrects pleasantly with a smile.]

I had plenty of experience with that back home. My family's business makes about ninety percent of the world's clothing!

[So that they can take over via alien life forms woven into the fabric of people's clothing, but shhhh.]

Do you like being a Magician, Mr. Mikk? Can you show me a neat trick?
prazerbutterfly: (sly)

[personal profile] prazerbutterfly 2017-11-26 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
We could certainly use more of those. I hear the Wardrobe manager doesn't have enough hands in her deck right now.

[The fact she has some manners goes over well with him and in turn he's prompted to use his own.]

That's rather impressive, Miss...? [He says politely as if to inquire her name.]

It keeps me entertained. I could if you have something on hand. Pick something that fits in your hand and hold it out to me. You'll get it back after I'm done.
shearmadness: (smile)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-27 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
With me back, Carly will be just fine!

[Not only is she able to be fast without compromising quality, she's also able to make copies of herself. The dopplegangers may be significantly weaker in combat than the original, but for tasks like sewing on a very tight deadline, they're extremely useful.]

I'm Nui Harime. Please just call me Nui!

[Dutifully, she takes off one of her heart shaped earrings and holds it out for the demonstration.]
prazerbutterfly: (zpost exo - ah ha)

[personal profile] prazerbutterfly 2017-11-28 03:09 pm (UTC)(link)
A pleasure to meet you Nui.

[He waits patiently for her to select something as his hand moves over hers and rests on top of it flatly. It's then that his other hand cradles her hand on top of his. He squeezes both for a moment with a faint hum before his top hand lifts to show the heart shaped earring is gone.]

How's that? [He says with his palms outwards so she can see he's not hiding it anywhere.]

shearmadness: (dismay)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-29 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Nui understands that sleight of hand is part and parcel of being a magician, and Tyki promised she'd have her earring back, so she's not concerned. Still, it's always enjoyable to see people's skills firsthand.]

Oh my gosh! You made it vanish! Where did it go?

[She might be overacting a bit for fun.]
prazerbutterfly: (now now)

[personal profile] prazerbutterfly 2017-11-29 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
[She's adorable already and it is not like the wonder of a child amazed at a trick. He presses both of his hands together then pries them apart to reveal her earring. Only then does he hold it out to her again.]

No where special. [Just into his body. He's not ever going to tell her.]
shearmadness: (arms crossed)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-12-01 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
[Nui lightly taps her forehead as if in thought.]

I can't even imagine how you did it, and I guess it's not very polite to ask you to reveal your secrets, hmm?

[Is she implying something with that forehead tap and emphasis on the word 'secrets'? Oh yes she is.]

Don't worry! I won't tell~

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insidescoop: (MMMMMM...)

VET PROMPT | YO Carly's a Full History Vet so I have image links below for your ref-!

[personal profile] insidescoop 2017-11-26 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
[[OOC - By the end of the Pre-Game stuff she'd have looked like this basically. That would be the version of Carly that Nui would have known. This is. Mostly key because now she looks like THIS aha-]]

[Is this a familiar face...or not? While they've certainly gotten re-introductions out of the way by now, the drastic shift between changes might still throw a few off, really. Carly manages to keep her rainbow-like glow down to a dull shine most of the time as long as she isn't too excited, so right now she's not casting too much interference on the design being shown. As the Wardrobe Manager though, everything gets to go through her....it puts a lot of pressure on her if she's honest with herself! But, the end of the day makes it worth it, right?

Carly looks over the sketches presented, tapping her chin.
] Hmnnnhhh....this is sort of tricky....if they're using certain spells for their act this time, the frills could get ruined in the process, but if they aren't, they'd really look better in this case....

[Hrmn. She squints, frowning.] They really need to tell us what they're doing sooner..!
shearmadness: (ick that is so last year)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-26 06:34 am (UTC)(link)
[Carly's new look reminds Nui a bit of her mother/creator. Given that her mother owned an international fashion company, it seems fitting that the Wardrobe Manager here is now sporting a glowing rainbow aura.]

Oh, tell me about it! It's like they think they're the only ones who have to plan things.

[Not like Nui doesn't do plenty of roaming and acting on whim when her work's all done.]
insidescoop: credit - haptisms @ lj (Eheeeewhoops)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2017-11-26 04:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[File that one under Unexpected Coincidences if it ever comes up, but for now at least, Carly is definitely not acting like Ragyo.

And thank goodness for that-
] I keep telling Joker to keep on that.... [But, in the end, Joker is practically managing a herd of cats. Ah well.] I suppose if we work with the sleeves properly, we can have a version with and without-I did just get a lot of fabric, actually, so we have some to spare for once~!

[It's so nice. Drowning in supplies.] ...Not to mention time and hands-it's been really rough without any tailors at all..! I'm glad you're back!!
shearmadness: (arms crossed)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-26 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yes, it's best for everyone if no one acts like Ragyo. Nui's rather fond of her, but Nui wasn't socialized normally in the slightest. Asking Nui to vouch for someone's sanity and decency is like asking a pickpocket to vouch for someone's honesty.]

Or if we wanted to save some extra fabric, I could leave the sleeves for last. I can chase people down and throw them into an affectionate headlock to convince them to tell us what they're doing if they procrastinate too much.

[She follows the Ringmaster's rules as far as not harming people, but causing some short-term discomfort in order to get her job done? That's fair game, as far as Nui sees it.]

If we're really short for time, I can make my cute little dopplegangers do some of the work! We can't have our models looking anything less than their best, after all!

[No matter how troublesome Nui might be at times, she was undeniably good at what she did.]
insidescoop: credit - alpha-graphics @ lj (HOLY WOWWWWW)

i just. realized this department is about to have a living/shapeshifting mannequin from the event...

[personal profile] insidescoop 2017-11-26 10:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[[OOC - THIS ENTIRE DEPARTMENT IS A GROWING MESS I LOVE IT]

Eh?! Headlock!? [She briefly jumps-but then if anything seems a bit more receptive to the plan.] Ohhhhh....something could actually get done in a decent time... [Really, if Carly just put more work into physical training, things would be easier around here.

That said-
] Dopplegan.....AHHH!!

Ehh!? I forgot you could do that..!! Is it really that easy..!?
shearmadness: (delight)

Bwahahahaha.

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-27 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
[Nui is all too happy to take the violent option, and headlocks are relatively tame, considering how stab-happy she can be. She won't disobey a direct rule from the Ringmaster. Bend, perhaps, but never outright disobedience.]

If they don't like it, it's their fault for not giving us proper notice~

[There is, after all, a very simple solution to avoiding being forcibly wrangled by a tiny pink terror.]

Oh, it's not hard at all! Wanna see?
fortuneglass: (:'3)

[personal profile] fortuneglass 2017-11-28 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
R-Right..! [For all that she doesn't sound entirely sure, Carly is (as always) easily swept into someone else's confidence. Which may or may not be good, right now, but hey, it's great for their department!

As it is, she nods.
] Definitely..! I've been trying to make fire constructs, but....... [She frowns.] ....Even though Energy fire doesn't burn, it's not very good at making solid shapes either...

[Alas-her fire magic will forever and always be better in battle.] ...So this is definitely a jump forward..! [Let's see those 'doubles'!]
shearmadness: (Default)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-28 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
[For all of her flaws and highly questionable morality, one cannot deny that Nui is effective at the things she does.]

By the way, I really like your new look! When did you get so colorful?

[It's familiar, and luckily for Carly, it's familiar in a way that inspires loyalty and an eagerness to please in Nui. Without further adieu, she raises a hand and out pop ten copies of Nui. They're all eagerly peeking around the room.]

Ta da~ They're nowhere near as strong as me, but for stuff like sewing and taking people's measurements, they'll do just fine.
insidescoop: credit - haptisms @ lj (>3>)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2017-11-28 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
OH~! You do? [You're not the only one to compliment it~ To be fair though, the last one was quite literally just dark. A true shame.] I'm glad~! It's a lot nicer to be like this I think, even if I had to make black-out curtains for the trailer, aha... Ah-!

It just sort of...happened though, I guess? My feathers already started turning white after we got back from another location, but other than that, I think I just...'overloaded'!

[She should probably explain that.] ...Do you remember my shadow from before, at all? [She asks, making sure nothing 'key' to the explanation has been forgotten. He wouldn't have been very 'forgettable', fortunately. A deep voiced grouch of a demon, blinking up from the woman's own shadow to provide a grumbling insult to the outside world occasionally...

....Curiously absent, at this time.

As it is.
] Ahhh~! If they've got your hands, then I know they will~! ..Ah.

.............I don't have to bring refreshments for Everyone though, do I..? [Raiding the kitchens seems to be a Big Drawback if that's the case, in her opinion. (One she'll take, mind...)]
shearmadness: (pleasant)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-28 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
It's beautiful.

[And exactly the sort of opulance that should be adorning the Wardrobe Manager, in Nui's not so humble opinion.]

Oh, you mean Mr. Grumpypants? I remember. Where did he go?

[Nui's shadow and reflection are just as prone to acting on whim as she has, and she's been with the carnival long enough that they've started moving on their own.]

They won't all need refreshments. If I pull them back in, you can just give me a bigger meal than normal when it's done.

[Regeneration or not, it is expending a lot of energy. Despite appearances to the contrary, her energy is not limitless.]
insidescoop: (MMMMMM...)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2017-11-28 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
Hoo! That works! [EXCELLENT.] It's easier to get a big meal ready, than spread everything out for a lot of people.... [In any case.

A slight cough-
] ............I asked the Ringmaster to do something I should have a...long, long time ago, [She sighs, crossing her arms.]

Aslla Piscu no longer exists! I absorbed all of his magic! [SHE A T E HIM]
shearmadness: (arms crossed)

[personal profile] shearmadness 2017-11-29 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Way less dishes to worry about, too!

[Because while Nui isn't lazy, that is a boring chore that she doesn't want to spend more time than absolutely necessary doing.]

Oh, that's great! High five!

[She holds her hand up. Is this an appropriate response? She doesn't know, but Nui's also not the sort to care about appropriateness. Carly seems relieved about it, in any case, and who could blame her? Who'd want that following them around all day?]

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Should we tie this off?

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Sounds good to me!

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