livinglot | ⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME: NO ONE'S HOME

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test drive meme

⇨ 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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?

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.]

[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.]

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?

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.

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.]

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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[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~

[He kinks a brow lightly at the emphasis and gesture towards his forehead. He shouldn't over think things and yet the possible subtle hint it there. Still, he doesn't confirm or deny what she may know or be able to see.

He doesn't put it past a lot of people here to be able to sense/scan him.]

How courteous, Nui. I was heading towards my trailer. Shall we?

[She'll give him credit for only showing a mild reaction. Someone more volatile and reactionary would have demanded to know what she meant by that and given her plenty of ammunition to toy with them later.]

Let's go. Do you have any juice or pop? I'm thirsty from all my hard work.

[She resheathes her scissor blade and looks around the trailers.]

Which one's yours?

I do have apple juice. [This man loves apples like no tomorrow.

He wears an excellent poker face and while he does have his usual quirks and conceptions on how people hint and talk, he won't comment unless it is warranted. There was no need to feed unnecessary information.]

Number 11. [It's on the far end closer to the supervisors grove and he'll start to walk a little slow in that direction.]

Yay!

[Nui isn't particular about what sort of juice, as long as it's not grapefruit juice. She just wants something sweet to quench her thirst.

She skips along, occasionally going up ahead of him and then returning back. Despite all her talk of heard work, it's evident that she's still got plenty of energy to spare.]

Oh gosh, I've been gone so long that I bet my rooming assignment got changed.

[She sighs for a moment. Moving was a pain, but hopefully all her stuff just got moved over without her having to do it.]

Oh well. Can't do anything about that.

I wouldn't doubt that. I have already had two trailer mates as it is.

[It's not a far walk but with Tyki slow going it takes a little longer. Eventually they'll run into Tyki's trailer. He'll open the door and gesture for her to enter like a proper gentleman. He may not be in his own world with proper standards but he kept to his usual mannerisms.] After you.

[It does take some consideration as he hefts himself up the tiny stairs and closes the door behind him. Then he stoop down towards the tiny refrigerator he's kind of grown to love and pull out a juice for her.] Here.

As long as they have good personal hygiene, it's fine. If they don't...ew.

[Nui can deal with plenty of different sorts of people, but someone who doesn't bathe often? Oh hell no. She will throw the unhygienic roommate into the shower with their clothes on if necessary.

She takes the juice with a little nod.]

Thank you!

[She allows herself one big gulp of juice before she sips in a more slow and dainty manner. She has been raised with manners (that she selectively employs).]

I have been quite fascinated by the concept of a hot shower or a bath you don't have to run water for hours to get the right temperature. I can't see how that wouldn't be appreciated at least for a daily ritual.

[Because loves a hot shower and there were always the hot springs as well he's recently indulged in.

So the little lady has manners.] Most welcomed.

Oh my gosh! You came from a world where you had to try for that long to have a nice hot shower?!

[This time, her dramatic gasp isn't even exaggerated. Hours just to enjoy a good hot shower or bath? That sounds like a lot of effort and boredom.]

I never realized how lucky I was. The showers here are a lot like the ones from home.

Well, I usually let a servant know what time I would prefer a bath and then expect them to follow through. But yes, sometimes it would take quite a while.

[He's here mostly for a change of shirt and he'll lightly step into the bathroom with the door partially closed as not to strip in front of a lady. When he emerges he'll look a little more fresh and the wings he's hiding pinned under his shirt are straining against it. In truth he hadn't actually visited a tailor to get them all remodeled yet because for the first two weeks he had spent hiding them. His power does activate and those wings break through without tearing but that does leave the shirt somewhat fused to them and they twitch uncomfortably for a moment until he gets use to the sensation.]

I absolutely love them.

[Well, that's interesting. There was no sound of fabric tearing, and yet there the wings are. Nui has to wonder if that had anything to do with the way he made her earring disappear, but she knows he won't reveal his secret. She won't ask him to. It's much more interesting to try and figure it out for herself.]

You should stop by to visit when I'm all settled in. It won't take me long at all to fix your shirts so that there's two thin holes for your wings to poke out of.

[Which prompts her next question.]

Are they new?

I should swing by the wardrobe department anyways to have them all fitted. I don't have many clothes but the ones I wear a lot need to be tailored anyways.

[Not to mention his hat could use a little sprucing with the way his ears sometimes conflicted with it. He did like wearing it. He just didn't know how well anyone could tailor a hat. Usually that required an actual hatter.

She might notice a small tone shift when he speaks even if still cheerful.] Yes. About a week.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME: NO ONE'S HOME

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