livinglot | ⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME: WISMUTH

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test drive meme

⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME: WISMUTH

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.
Recruits can be either willing or tricked this month.
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↴

⇨ WISMUTH ⇦
Wismuth is a large coastal city on the east shore of what would usually be the United States. The world it's part of is an Earth variant, meaning that while some aspects may be different, overall it will contain a similar look and feel to Earth many are accustomed to, including some overlapping celebrities, corporations, and technologies. Its most notable feature is that this planet is a part of what is called a 'Pillar of Creation' - a focal point of Creation's energies in the multiverse. The effects of this feature are the only aspect of the setting that will be relevant for this testdrive, as recruits will be entirely within the carnival as opposed to out in the city.

► VIBRANCY OF CREATION: The immediate effects of this trait are that everything in Wismuth, and in the carnival because of its connection to Wismuth, is filled with an unusual sort of vibrancy - colours seem brighter, sounds seems to resonate more deeply, and all other physical sensations will strike visitors as oddly intense, including their own emotions. It's a subtle effect rather than anything that will be overtly disorientating, but it's almost as if everything is more "real" here than it is anywhere else. Obviously, the locals, whom are mostly just ordinary looking humans, have had plenty of time to grow accustomed to this. On the bright side, as a tourist, you have the opportunity to experiment with this sensation as a form of recreation.

Recruits from this month will be signing on with the carnival between Day 8 and Day 11 on the season calendar.

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!

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There is a small closed mouth smile now gracing his lips, not really a smirk, but in tandem with the amusement in his eyes; it suggested he might know something she didn't. He kept his knowledge to himself, for the time being anyway, the lady would learn that this circus was unlike others in due time. Like a child playing with fire, she would learn it burned if not treated with the respect it deserved.

"No doubt. Though, might I ask what you gave them at the front gate for admittance and the tickets to play here? I noticed that this circus seems to have a different method of payment than the usual."

Tyki personally loved the cookhouse but during performance week he spent little time there. It was on stage in one of the side tents, with all eyes on him, where he spent most of this evening time. There was much to offer but when he performed and word of mouth got around Gold would find lots of seats taken to see the magicians do their acts. It was the wonder of magic and what both had to offer that led crowds to come see them.

Strange had his literal smoke and mirrors. Tyki had his tricks. He was far more engaging with the audience with his performance starting with a golden light bathed over a water tank with no body within it. It's then that he'd descend from the ceiling in a sky walk over the audience and with his 'magic' he'd walk down from the air to the stage as if he was descending a flight of stairs.

From there he'd take to that water tank after engaging the audience with a warning that often hyped the crowd, usually about how long he could hold his breath. Bound and restrained he'd enter upside down and with small struggles he'd build that tension to the last minute before escaping in a grand reveal on top of the water tank itself.

He's soaking wet and wiping himself down with a towel as he bows to the audience. He catered to both those that came for the edge of their seat experience and his good looks while dripping wet. There was no real trick, no curtain thrown over the tank, no escape hatch. It was only those that could see his magic being performed that could see the trick.

Rip didn't have the foggiest idea of what might be amusing him, nor was she aware that she might be putting herself in debt to the very carnival she was visiting..Right now, her entire focus was having fun and enjoying herself without a single thought to consequences.

She really was a child playing with fire.. one she couldn't see yet.

"Hm? Oh! I usually vear a silver necklace...I zuppose it vas more zhan enough for payment to get in. Vhy do you ask?"

[Ah. His snoot. It is booped. He blinks at Shima, clearly confused]

Dude, what are you even on about?! ... Where's your other eye? [now it is Rin's turn to touch, as he pushes Shima's bangs away from his forehead] It's gone!!

[[...But a few additions happened recently, so I'll describe m here. TAG IS JUST GONNA GET KINDA PROSEY AS SUCH...]]

[If a guide is what Shura seeks, then a guide is what she shall receive. To a point, at least. The massive taur-like beast coming slowly from behind at a walk is perhaps nine foot-and aside from being fairly fur and plant covered, the canid-faced beast bears a set of near antler-like horns, nearly hidden in his mane.

Naturally, that means that when he speaks, it'll probably not be the horns that draw attention. If anything specific stands out, it would probably be either the left arm-replaced, it seems, by a robotic one-or his right eye-scared, and solid silver, in contrast to his other one.

He seems in relatively good, or at least calm spirits however, as he greets the other.] I, the man Gongenzaka, see you have wandered into our grounds, [He remarks, sounding quite like he would fit in with an old samurai film as one of the overly humble, overly traditional sorts. In line with such tradition, he gives a short bow of sorts in fact.]

....Or perhaps, you have been seeking to leave, instead?

[when Shura finds herself sneaking around the back of the cookhouse, she'll also find herself bumping into Rin, who is wearing a neat-looking apron, and carrying a large bag of garbage. He's also looking a bit odd... what with the snout and the bare, dragon-y feet. Not to mention the small, flightless bat wings on his back.

Eh...? Did she not recognize him?]

Shura-san? When did you get here?

Ew, I had a third eye??

[At least he had some slight warning about this but jeez this is. weird.]

"Curiosity. They accepted cash from me readily enough, but I did see others pay them with other trinkets. Usually, places like these aren't so open to taking anything of value one is willing to part with."

No doubt there were others who sought entry in other manners, unaware that they would pay in one way or the other for the entertainment to be found here. He had been more curious if the lady before him had been wise enough to actually pay for her admittance despite her apparent disregard for the property of the circus. Nice to see that while she had an almost childish ignorance of her situation here, she was at least not stupid nor a thief to steal her way inside and thus try to rob the circus of its fare.

"Why not try a different sort of game? One with an actual challenge to it? Since as you say, you have an advantage when it comes to sharpshooting."

"Ah...Vell, I didn't haf any cash on me. It vas zhe only ozher zhing I had. If they didn't, zhen it vouldn't have been much of an issue to sneak in."

She shrugged slightly. Who needed cash when you lived in the middle of a rain forest... on a zeppelin? Besides, Rip hardly followed the rules so when she did, at least they were the right one and even so, robbery was hardly something she indulged in. She had some sense of military honor at least!

"Zhat's a good idea! Now lets see, vhich ones are left zhat I haven't tried..."

She twirled around with a childish grin as she looked over the other booths before picking one. It was the one with the water riffles where the goal was to inflate the balloon as fast as possible. As with the darts, she was confidant her aim would be true enough to let her win more prizes!

With that in mind, Rip grinned and scooped up her prizes to head over to the new game. Whether her newest 'companion' followed or not was completely up to him.

[So.

There were demons in the forest. Or somethings or someones that made extensive contracts with a demon at the very least. That doesn't surprise Shura. She can feign vague indifference even when she's uneasy. As calm as this guy may be, she's still an intruder on someone else's territory.]

That's right, mister~

[Who was this guy? He's huge.]

I was on my way back, but it looks like the way out is a lil' longer than the way in.

[No, she doesn't recognize Rin at first. The Rin she saw a few hours ago was a little different. To begin with, he had shoes on.]

Rin?!

[She knows his voice; she remembers his eyes. But this wasn't real, this couldn't have happened in a few hours time. No, she had to take a few mental steps back, revise her initial assumption. Her has raises mid-air as if to touch him, but it stills. If she touched him and he was real, really real, what was she going to do? Shiro didn't tell her anything about this??]

Aauh, it is like that, [he admits casually, nodding.] ...Though, if you have been trying to leave...

...Did you perhaps not pay someone while within the Carnival itself?

[Straight to the point, there's typically...One Really Big reason that people suddenly can't leave.

They incurred a debt, and need to pay it.]

Are you askin' if I owe anyone anything?

[wait was he the carnival's collector?? Crap, did she do anything stupid??

... No. She would remember. She stayed away from the obvious temptations.]

I didn't take anything that wasn't mine to begin with, so no.

[She shouldn't owe anything. But crap, if she was dealing with demons, just breathing the same air was probably counting for something.]

Gold watched the performance with more appreciation for the subtle usage of actual magic done in plain sight and allowing the audience to believe it was stage magic. That is to say, slight of hand and illusion that they might eventually figure out how it was done. Once the show had finished and he noted the magician moving to depart, Gold left the area he'd been standing in heading toward the stage, ignoring and moving through the crowd until he finally left it to walk up to the magician himself.

"An impressive show. Not many are capable of actually defying gravity as you did." Not without wings to aid them at least.

[Yukio's changes are limited (he hasn't even been here a month yet), just a fae mark stretching across his face, covering the skin around both eyes with a faint pattern of blue flames.

When Shura sneaks into the medical tent, he's distracted enough with inventory that he doesn't notice her. The acquisitions team had done a good job gathering supplies (Yukio's deliberately disregarding how exactly they managed that) and the medical tent is finally starting to look respectable. He's packing up small first aid kits and recording what goes in each one.

Clearly, he isn't just passing through.]

[Collector, no. Security....yes, but the most he'll be doing here is using Words.

So he shakes his head.] No-I, the man Gongenzaka, am asking you if you failed to pay one of the game keepers, or perhaps even the gate keepers. Those who attempt to leave without, are unable to do so-it would be the easiest way to explain why you are stuck, in other words.

...Of course, if that is not the case, then things are perhaps....more complicated than expected, which would require asking the Ringmaster for answers.... [He scratches his cheek.] ....Though with that in mind, I, the man Gongenzaka, suppose the Ringmaster shall be getting involved regardless then...

[... Yukio? Here? Shura's eyes widen as she recognizes just who's in the tent. And what was he doing with that face paint?? He was too serious to let someone just put that on him.

Although he had completely blown her off when she had tried to question him about his eyes earlier, Shura isn't going to just leave him alone. When has she ever left him alone, anyway? Especially when she's still pissed at him, jeez.]

Hey, Four-eyes! I see you managed to escape your confinement~

[hello yukio were you expecting shura to show up right behind you unannounced have you missed this??]

"Then why are you here?" He asks softly with no hint of being startled or alarmed at her suddenly changed demeanor.

Yet he could understand such pride and passion. He felt that swelling thunder from within her as she talked about her unit and her mission. The carnival had problems with whisking people away and many were tricked into walking these paths. He knows what it is like to just suddenly wander through those woods and find this place. To get swept up with the ideas, the grandeur, and dazzling lights.

Tyki could see right into her soul. She wasn't human. Not even close. Wherever she was from didn't matter, nor did the titles one bared.

"Nothing more? So if it was swept all away what would you be?" He responds amusingly, "If these mirrors are lying, then maybe you should just shatter these 'truths'."

[He's way too serious for face paint, which makes the slightly shimmering blue mark even more abnormal than it might be on anyone else.

His eyes, at least, are still normal when he turns to look at her. No glowing blue, no slitted pupils, just a surprised expression as he takes in Shura. An expression that turns to confusion as she keeps talking.]

Confinement? [He was in the hospital for a little bit, but he'd been out for a few days before coming to the Carnival (and those injuries are completely healed now).]

More importantly, what are you doing here?

The towel was mostly for show as much as the water that touched him. In the final moments of his performance right before he emerged he would allow the water to briefly touch him in order to give that appearance he was in any danger the entire time. At someone approaching, as he heads off the stage towards the back, he'll offer a warm smile.

"Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it," he responds with a smooth tone. Though what really strikes him is the fact he's aware of 'defying gravity'. "From a world with magic, I take it?"

Gold noted the game she was headed to and gave a soft snort of amusement. Apparently, she had misunderstood what he'd meant by 'actual challenge'. He followed her and gestured toward the Skee Ball booth to the side of the current water gun one she was in front of.

"Why not try something that doesn't involve guns? Show me how well your aim is with a ball." He wondered how she'd do with a game where she wasn't actually throwing or shooting something but rolling it.

"Unless you don't think you'd be capable of winning at it. Then feel free to stick with the games that cater to your strengths."

"Zhis is nothing! A moment of fun before I carry out my task!"

That swelling anger of hers was a thunderstorm ready to be unleashed! If her heart still beat, it would be pounding in her chest as her sapphire eyes practically glowed in her anger from behind her wire rimmed glasses. Freckled cheeks were flushed as she turned away from him, not wanting to even think about what he was saying!

Yet when she did, the mirrors started mocking her again. What was she without her titles? What else was she other than a military dog~? Rip snarled at her own reflection. The mirrors had to be lying!

Yes...she needed to shatter them to get them to shut up! With vicious fangs bared that marked her as a vampire in her own world, she unleashed her anger on the closest mirror, shattering that one as well and not caring just how much glass embedded itself into her hands as she screamed and swore at her own reflections in very creative German.

She paused when he drew her attention to a different game than the one she was considering. A skee ball game? She frowned a little bit as she studied it.

The game didn't look that hard. All she had to do was roll the balls into the right target area's right? Easy!

"I can vin it, just vatch."

That pride and confidence was back again as she approached and set down her prizes.

After getting the balls, she started....and immediately realized that this game was slightly harder than it looked. It took the right amount of force to hit the target and well.. it took half the balls to figure out just what that force was.

Which meant, she wasn't exactly getting a winning score on her first try.

"Yes. I'm a practitioner of it, you could say. I'm also no stranger to allowing people to think I'm in danger when there isn't any." There's actual humor in both his eyes and voice as he says the last part. Though he suspects his taking an arrow to the chest to shock a would-be thief for his own amusement is slightly different than pretending to be in danger of drowning for a carnival show.

"Are you using a personal brand of magic or can someone else learn the secret behind your tricks?" It was the magic that had drawn his interest in the magician after all. Perhaps he could learn something new or at least of a new magic while he was here. A small side benefit one could say.

[This guy has a weird way of talking. If he wasn't a demon, then he had spent plenty of time with some.

But it wasn't a game or the front gate that snagged Shura. No, it was catching part of a show while snooping. Oops. But she won't be able to connect that together yet.]

This is the kinda place that looks to snag people up in petty debts, isn't it?

[She isn't accusing him, just being as straightforward as he was earlier. It's easier like that.]

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⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME: WISMUTH

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A | heads up- Gon is VERY change heavy-a picture links from 'changes' on his info...

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spoilers??

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spoilers...

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