⇨ GAME START INTRO LOG!

[ringleaders]

Who: EVERYONE!
When: NOW!
Where: Around the carnival grounds, and in the Cookhouse.
What: Carnival worker orientation, Ringmaster style.
Warnings: Alcohol consumption, maybe drugs. Other things?

BRAVE NEW WORLD↴ ► THE NEW: It doesn't matter when you entered the tent to discuss your new contract with the Ringmaster, you exit it beneath a blanket of stars. Pointedly alien stars at that - currently the carnival grounds are being treated to a show of shooting stars, and what appear to be unnaturally large and living green moons hanging just a bit too close. The carnival was bustling when you entered, but now it's in the latter stages of being shut down for the night. If you manage to find a clock, it states that it's around 8PM. Workers from during the day will be passing through the grounds, attending to various pieces of business. None of them will seem very surprised or concerned by the goings on, though some may be sympathetic enough to pause and answer your questions. If you put some effort into finding out how it became nighttime, you may discover that it's been anywhere from a few hours to 7 days since you originally signed your contract. Someone may explain to you that it was probably some kind of time bubble, meant to keep you out of the way until the Ringmaster had time to deal with you. Every few minutes another new person will pop out of the tent, looking just as confused and under the impression that they had only just finished discussing things with the Ringmaster. Weird. She passed you a note before you left. Opening it up, you'll see you've been assigned a trailer number, and been given the instructions to drop off any excess belongings and do what you can to get settled in. You have until exactly 9:36PM to do so, because that's when you'll be expected to attend what is listed only as "WORKER'S ORIENTATION". This is, perhaps, more abrupt than you were expecting - but what can you do? You're here for the long haul. ► THE OLD: If you've ever seen a mass recruitment before, then this is no surprise. People enter the tent when they're recruited, and then sometimes how up again days later when the Ringmaster is ready for them. She isn't a big fan of wasting her time on individual orientations when she's expecting a crowd. Maybe you're too jaded to all of this to care much, but you'll see the newbies wandering around, probably confused and maybe a bit lost. Maybe you're the kind whose is sympathetic enough to pause your role in clean up and give them some directions, and maybe a word of confidence. Maybe you'll just jeer at them, because you're some kind of asshole. Either way, you expect you'll have the chance to see them later tonight. Whether by world of mouth, radio, or written note, supervisors will be passing out the following message: all workers are to report to the Cookhouse at 9:36PM sharp for "orientation." If you are at all familiar with how things go around here, you probably have a good idea of what this implies. Mandatory Karaoke Night. MANDATORY KARAOKE NIGHT!!!↴ At 9:36PM, the main dining hall of the Cookhouse will be found heavily decorator with various coloured lights and at least one disco ball made of what is ostensibly high karat gems. There are a bunch of cushions and additional seating set up along with the usual tables, and at the head of the call there is a state set up - a karaoke stage. For veteran workers, this is no surprise. Karaoke nights are fairly frequent as activities go, even if they are not usually mandatory. Some of you probably have signature songs already prepared. The karaoke machine is set up with mostly karaoke tracks that would be popular in the 90's and 00's on the average modern earth, with a few that are more recent. It also has some other random stuff from other worlds that people rarely sing because they are confusing and in languages no one understands. Here is a big karaoke list for your inspiration! The more stereotypically karaoke the better. Beyond that, there is plenty of food and snacks that were prepared by the cooks earlier, as well as a bar set up for alcohol and other vices. The selection is, as most things in the carnival, eclectic. Music will be played in between if nobody is singing, and otherwise veterans are encouraged to bring along their own fun and show the newbies a good time. The Ringmaster does ask that vets attempt to be courteous to their new coworkers. It's just being a good host.

Comments

i

[pipers_son]

[Fortunately, for all his wings and antlers make him seem bigger, Joker practically gives off an air of easy going approachability. When he hears a voice directed at him, he glances up from a paper he's breezing through. Ah, fresh face, and he grins lazily.]

Think yer on the wrong side of the carnival for the trailers, mate, but I think I can steer ya back in the right direction. What's yer name?

[kagehira]

Hmm~...? ( He takes a long moment of hesitation, swallowing a bit as he reconsiders the choice. He definitely looks a little bit overwhelmed, but just give him a minute. He can't exactly turn around now, so he'll steel himself up a bit. ) Uhh, m-my name's Kagehira. I was recruited as a showman fer the carnival.

( He's a good, polite kid though! He offers up a tentative nod, looking up with mismatched eyes. ) I'd be grateful to ya to show me the way.

[pipers_son]

Kagehira…?

[And Joker brightens up immediately, beaming.]

Well then, yer one of mine! Ha, that certainly saves me half a bit of trouble.

[He offers his only good hand, gnarled and wooden but still perfectly functional.]

I’m Joker~. The Stage Manager, the Ringmaster probably mentioned me while goin’ over yer contract.

[kagehira]

( Oh, wow, that certainly is... a hand. Acting like the rest of his appearance isn't equally colourful, but for an instant, he can't help but stare, and the absent thought strikes him that wonders if this is how others feel when they see his eyes. With that, he makes a conscious effort not to, looking back up to meet Joker's eyes as he offers up his own hand, nodding along with his words. )

She did, it's nice to meet ya. ( And, give him a second with that handshake to bob into a bit of a bow. ) I'll be in yer care from now on.

( Can't have a shake in your voice when you meet your boss, especially not as a performer, so at least it seems like Mika's cleared that up. )

I guess showman is a pretty broad category, but I mostly do singin' and dancin', I dunno how that'll fit into somethin' like a carnival.

( As a consistent act, anyway, but you know. It's probably fine, or he wouldn't have this job. )

[pipers_son]

[With the new faces, for a lot of them, there’s a bit of staring you have to endure for the most part. Whether plain old human or something else entirely, there’s always something for them to find fascination with while they’re still new, and Joker’s gotten used to it. It helps that he’s had to deal with stares all his life for a variety of other reasons, so no reason to get worked up about it.]

[Still, the willingness to adapt is good, and he grins approvingly.]

Singin’ and dancin’, huh? As it happens, I know we signed up another fella who can do that sort of thing. How good are ya when it comes ta teamwork?

[kagehira]

( Teamwork? Well, admittedly, the idea of meeting up with a bunch of strangers and having to work out acts with them like he did with Shu is a bit... frightening? In the case that they could be pretty scary people. Well, it's not like Mika gets much of a choice though — he might be shy, but he is an idol after all. Luckily going to an actual idol training school gives someone a pretty passable resume, sort of. If he's lucky maybe they'll be nice people, like those girls from the underground stage. )

Back home, we're sorted into units an' tend to perform together. Me an' Mentor, we made up Valkyrie! ( And since Valkyrie was clearly the best unit at the school, he puffs up with a bit of pride here. ) So I can work with others, an' I'm pretty good at followin' instructions too. Mentor was real strict after all, see.

[pipers_son]

Oooh, that's good ta hear, then! It'll save me a bit of work, then.

[Getting antisocial types to work in a team is like herding cats, and while Joker isn't opposed to having to do it if he thinks it'll make a good act... The more time he has for himself and the other performers, the better.]

We'll get all of ya introduced tomorrow, then. No need ta worry about it tonight. Anyway, need ta find the trailers, isn't that right?

[kagehira]

If ya could~ ( He's still lugging all those stuffed animals he collected around, and is kind of looking forward to putting them down by now, really. He loves them and all, but eventually even some stuffed toys get tiring to carry around every which way you go to search for something.

Since the trailers have already been covered, Mika will follow along faithfully if Joker starts to lead the way. In the meantime, he'll fill the silence with a couple of questions. )

Hmm.... Ah, what kinda person's the other singer. Do ya know?

( From the sounds of things, he's a bit nervous about it. )

[pipers_son]

[And lead the way Joker does, with all the practice of someone who’s lived in a place for a couple of years. He doesn’t even need to pay much attention, and glances back at Mika at his question.]

Oh, he seems like a hard workin’ sort, or at least that what he told me. Name’s Mitsuki. Tomorrow will be a proper introduction for everyone, so ya can get ta know him then. Hear he broke somethin’ so he's gotta work that off, but I was encouragin’ him ta join even before that so that he could learn a few new tricks while workin’ here.