⇨ 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

variss felbrush | supervisor (wardrobe manager) | open to all!

[yellbrush]

i. orientation, pre-alcohol

[ anyone who tries to stay near the walls is about to run into one of the most intimidating woman they've ever seen in their life.

she is at least seven feet tall. her brow is furled. she's covered in demonic parts, from a pair of leathery wings on her back to the rough hooves on her feet. and most importantly, she is wearing this sweatshirt, complete with neat slits for her wings to go through.

she's got a hunk of very lightly cooked meat in one hand, and a red plastic cup of alcohol gripped tightly in the other. don't judge - she's still on probation with actual glass.

if you linger too long in looking at her, she'll snap without looking over: ]

Out with it. What do you want?

ii. orientation, post-alcohol

[ the previously stoic woman is... well, still entirely stoic. she's sitting down on the ground now, glaring at anyone who dares to get near her - but hey, at least she's not actually yelling at anyone!

she's actually been strangely quiet for about fifteen minutes now, and anyone that's met her in the past might be able to notice something's up. when the next person on-stage finishes, she staggers to her feet, making her way to the stage and grabbing the microphone. she doesn't bother with a backing track - she just lifts it to her lips and starts singing the main melody of a song.

it's... not entirely unpleasant. her voice is rough, and she clearly wasn't a singer in this life or the last one, but at least she's mostly on key. the lyrics are all in some other language, and only those in the crowd with a grasp on darnassian are going to be able to work out just what she's singing.

she finally finishes. for a moment, she wavers on her feet. then she unceremoniously drops the microphone to the ground and stumbles off. when she reaches her previous position, she sits and clutches her head, her breathing ragged.

looks like variss isn't the greatest drunk. ]

post-alcohol because panda can handle (maybe)

[mistweaver]

[Wrong elf language, but Jou can actually fake it, so the Pandaren looks rather thoughtful. She heads to the bar and sniffs over a number of the available bottles, selecting one, and then steps over quietly to the--well, probably she was a night elf, once, but the Illidari don't seem to quibble about that these days, do they?

Considering Jou is Huojin, she doesn't want to say the wrong thing. So she just offers up the booze, giving a slight bow, wordless and respectful.

The alcohol? It's lighter, probably, than what Variss had been drinking, but still rather kicky. It probably won't make her more drunk, but the Celestials know the elf woman is there already.]

Post-alcohol

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Zecora has come equipped -- knowing full well the penchant some of the staff have for indulgence. As she approaches, she reaches into her pouch to bring out a small flask with her teeth. Luckily, she can talk around it perfectly well...]

I have something you should drink.
It will help you, I quite think.

Re: variss felbrush | supervisor (wardrobe manager) | open to all!

[dorkypantsuit]

[The Psionic just grins wider at her angry comment.]

Are you trying to look intimidating?

pre-alcohol

[waitingforplayer2]

[ It's hard not to stare, honestly. The woman's among the stranger people Chiaki's seen tonight, and there are a lot of them.

She averts her gaze quickly when she's snapped at, face growing warm. What does she even say to that? ]

Sorry. I didn't mean to be... Everything's just so strange here.

ii

[fourthscribe]

[She has no idea what the song means. She could catch a few words in there, the few bits and pieces of darnassian that she's picked up from working alongside her supervisor, but...it's pretty obvious that whatever the contents, it's the product of her feeling fairly miserable.]

[And a miserable Variss did not make for a pleasant experience for anyone.]

[Tanyuu slithers over to just the edge of Variss's personal bubble with a glass in hand, and clears her throat to get the elf's attention.]

I have some water for you, if you would like.

ii

[respired]

[ Koltira knows that song. It's one of the few he still remembers, in fact.

Mostly because it's about his people.

He stares at Variss as she sings, gripping his potent pink drink tightly. So tightly that spiderweb fractures shoot through the glass; if he applies any more pressure, the whole thing is liable to shatter and burst. When she finishes singing, he sets the drink down--none too gingerly, but at least it doesn't break--and stalks over to her.

She's clearly a night elf, but also clearly one of the Illidari, so-- ]

Bal'a dash.

A lovely song. Would that these people understood what it meant.

pre-alcohol

[solaris9]

[ He's staring again. Skeleton people. Dead people. (And possibly cannibals). It's not like anywhere else he's ever been. Goku now encounters this very tall person with animal feet and wings. How very strange! But he finds it amazing, too. Wings! ]

Oh. I dunno. You look kinda cool, that's all. [ He grins. ]

Medli | OTA

[dragonsattendant]

Brave New World

[ Well, once Medli's all squared away, the next thing to do is figure out what to do with the interlude before the worker's orientation.

She never knew what to do with her free time. Maybe some exercise would put her mind at ease.

If you don't find her aimlessly wandering (and fidgeting with her hands something fierce), you might find her testing out her flight capabilities. Unlike some veterans here, her wings are not only natural but where her arms normally are instead of on her back.

But even with the added lift under her wings from her contract, a sudden gust will bring her crashing to the ground right by someone else. Possibly into them. Oops. The Rito girl scrambles to her feet, and bows deeply. ]

I'm- I'm sorry! You're not hurt, are you?

Orientation

[ This... doesn't seem like the kind of orientation she was expecting. Medli's a little annoyed, honestly. They should be taking their jobs seriously!

Some food and drink later, she's accepted that this is the way it's going to be, and she'll make the best of it. Once the stage is clear, and no one seems to be making a move towards it, she'll take initiative and fly over to stand on it.

Introductions were in order! She bows to her audience (regardless of how many they may number) and begins to speak. ]

So... hello, everyone! I'm- My name's Medli, and I'm going to be your new beast tamer! Exciting, huh?

[ A short, awkward silence. The girl fidgets. ]

... But! Enough about me. Well, it might be mandatory to do this, but Rito women can't really sing like the men do, so, um...

[ She reaches into her hammerspace bag, and pulls out her harp. The musically inclined may note that the harp is actually a lyre, but the game calls it a harp and that's what I'm sticking with. ]

But I can play this! I know it's not my job, but I've practiced it a lot. I hope I sound okay!

Well, here goes...

[ She takes a deep breath. Her attention is now fully on her harp, and she begins to play. ]

brave new world

[linkedpenumbra]

[It wasn't much of a shock for nighttime to greet Shadow's eyes after his session with the Ringmaster, since daylight wasn't something his body could tolerate. And the amount of time that actually passed between his arrival and now doesn't matter much in his mind either.

With more than enough free time before that orientation nonsense, here he is floating along, minding his own business for the most part until that wind sends the bird girl head over heels into the dirt. Shadow's not hurt, he's just watching for a moment.

.... Just so you know, that gale wasn't him.]

Heh, surely you're a lot better than that at flying around here!

[The crash was amusing at least, if the smirk on Shadow's face is any indication. Once again, he totally had nothing to do with this.]

Ginko | Veteran | OTA

[dontpokethat]

Pre-Orientation

That is a lot of new people with no idea of what's going on. And, as it happens, Ginko is absolutely the type to try and help out. Every so often, if any distressed-looking newbies happen to be passing close enough by, he'll pause in his work to call out to them.

"Hey. You lost?"

Karaoke

Mandatory karaoke night still has to be one of the worst ideas Ginko has ever heard of.

He won't say the worst, because that's categorically untrue, but he feels pretty comfortable calling it one of the worst.

Which is why he's sticking to the corners and edges of the room, trying really hard to ignore everything that's happening onstage in the hopes that he can avoid ending up there. Honestly, he'll only leave his SAFE ZONE for the purpose of grabbing a snack or drink before navigating his way back through the crowd, nudging carefully past those in his way. "'Scuse me. Sorry."

Karaoke

[drrdrrdrr]

Unfortunately getting up in the snack zone puts you at high risk of running into people like Amethyst.

"GINKO MY MAAAN!" She claps him on the back with one of her big ol paw hands. The other one is holding just, like, an uncontained heap of cheese puffs. 'Holding' is kind of generous, honestly? It's more like they're just sort of on top of her palm. They would definitely go everywhere if somebody jostled her. She grins broadly. "You gonna sing anything? You should sing something."

koltira deathweaver | new

[respired]

the new;

[ Koltira leaves the ringmaster's tent with a forbidding expression on his face, though it's not due to anything that's just transpired. It's simply how he looks: eyes bright and cold with lichfire, jaw set, spine rigid. An ornate greatsword, its blade inscribed with shifting runes, glows darkly on his back. His dreadplate armor gleams in the moonlight as he walks; it looks heavy, but his strides are long-legged and swift. He carries the note crumpled in one fist, and he seems to be considering what to do next.

He does not regret the contract--not yet, anyway. A death knight accomplishes every task in the most efficient way possible. The Legion is the greatest threat Azeroth has ever faced, and Koltira knows enough of magic to know that this Ringmaster is powerful, perhaps legendary. If she will render aid as promised, he will serve. Perhaps not gladly--Koltira doesn't look like he's ever been glad about anything in his unlife--but he will serve.

He stalks through the now dark carnival, trying to find the assigned trailer. Not to drop anything off--the armor is enchanted and he is wearing it--but just to see where he's expected to stay. If someone comes near, he'll ask: ]

You. A moment.

[ His voice is oddly smooth and sultry, despite his cold countenance. There is a reverberation to it, though, an odd, haunted distortion. Like someone speaking from the depths of a ravine: it is a voice full of ethereal echoes. ]

orientation;

[ Koltira Deathweaver does not sing.

He can, of course, and once did. But that was decades past. Quite literally another life.

He's not going to pass up any chance at free booze, though. Koltira lingers by the bar, drinking steadily. He's not even sure what he's got in his hand--he'd asked for the strongest thing the bartender could mix. It's bright pink and it burns, so he isn't complaining. Anything that makes him feel warm, even for a second, is worth coming back to.

He stares balefully at the proceedings as he keeps on putting away his fire water.

If anyone tries to nudge him towards the stage, he will respond with a firm, icy 'No.'

Maybe after a few more of these drinks. ]

orientation

[rescuee]

[ Everything in this place is new and, frankly, pretty exciting. The people are interesting and varied, the singing ranges from impressive to something a little (a lot) less than that, the food is wonderful — he assumes the drinks must be too, but so far it's just a theory.

He decides he has an in when he spots a man standing by himself at the bar, and eases in next to him — at a respectable distance, of course. ]

How is it? [ That, if Koltira looks over, is with a nod to his drink. ]

Yuugi Mutou | rolls in 3 hours late with starbucks

[toogoodtoopure]

trailer park

[Drop anything off at the assigned trailer and then meet for orientation. Seems easy enough, and at least the trailers are numbered. Yuugi leaves his backpack on the bottom bunk, though after a moment of hesitation he takes his deck holster out of his bag and slides it on around his waist, buckling it, and then places the backpack at the head of the bed, hidden out of the way for now. With the puzzle box and Atem's deck inside, he doesn't want to risk losing either, and with the amount of toys that he won at the gamer's circle, they cover the backpack pretty easily.

After letting himself get a bit settled, still a bit disoriented from the time distortion, Yuugi shakes it off and steps out of the trailer, closing the door behind him. It's on to orientation.

But not before bumping into someone.]

Ah! I'm sorry...!


karaoke

[Yuugi sits at the back, a little awed as he watches other people sing. When he thought about orientation, he thought it might just be like the first day of class or something like that. Nope. Inconspicuously, he toys with the note that the Ringmaster had given him, slowly turning it into an origami fortune telling game, though he doesn't have a pen or anything to write on it.

Eventually, pressured maybe by you, he sighs and reluctantly concedes, though he insists that he doesn't really have that good of a singing voice. There's a good range of songs, though, and he picks one that's slightly familiar.]

We both lie silently still in the dead of the night...


closed to Chiaki

[After that little embarrassment, Yuugi excuses himself from the stage, blushing furiously and wringing his hands in his shirt. Crap. He really let that go. He knew he was holding a lot in after Atem's departure but not that much. With a sigh, he sits down near a girl about his age, not really paying much attention, and fishes his deck from his holster, shuffling to calm his nerves before he realizes that he actually sat down near someone.

Shit. What to say.

Cheeks burning red, he leans back a little in his seat, looking at her.]

Ah...are you new too?

trailer park!

[sweatysometimes]

[ Pidge is... well, 'in a bad mood' is probably the wrong way of putting it. Sulking might be better. This whole having to work for a year to pay off a dumb carnival ticket thing is really crimping her goals. Those being find her friends, find her family. Even if what she's being told about the passage of time is true, she's not a patient person in this regard. Strolling through the rows of trailers and lost in her own thoughts, she very nearly bumps into the other diminutive teenager. Yuugi handles the rest. ]

Ah, uh. No problem--I'm just trying to get my bearings around here. Wasn't paying attention to where I was going.

Jasper | Steven Universe | Veteran | open

[missionfail]

i'm sorry, were you looking for a friendly face?

[Jasper helps out with new arrivals because it's not productive if she isn't. This is her job for now, and she's willing to honor her agreement. That doesn't mean she's necessarily going to be nice about it. Most of her aid is given with a certain mechanical detachment. Need to find a specific trailer or area? She'll point you in the right direction with as few words as possible.

She'll appreciate it more if the person she's helping isn't a pest. In that case, she might even answer a question or two.]

you can lead a gem to karaoke

[But you can't make her sing.

What she will be doing is carefully picking at items on the food table. Eating is still a new concept to her, and one she has very mixed feelings about. On the one hand, some of it tastes really good. On the other, she'll eventually have to expel it all.

Disgusting.

She finally sits with a large bowl of ice cream at the back of the crowd. The gem still often wears a mask over the top half of her face to hide the fact that she has a normal nose. The stone that should be there is tucked away under her shirt.

Approach at your own risk.]

karaoke

[pipers_son]

[Well, Joker can't say he's surprised, but he's certainly amused as he stops by the gruff Gem.]

Well, that's one way ta take care of dinner, eh?

[Sorry, did she not want conversation? Too late, Joker is here, and everyone knows what a nosy social butterfly he is.]

Jou Shan Aleflower | Newbie | Open

[mistweaver]

the new

[Pandaren faces aren't usually given to worry. They're a friendly, open people, and Jou Shan epitomizes her race--save now, her brow is furrowed and while she doesn't look terribly upset, she's also not cheery as is normal.

Still, she'd made an error, and she'd set it right. Jou took the time to scan her paper, brow furrowing again--the letters are a bit different, and so she needs to take a moment to make sure she's got everything right.

Well, she'd best drop off her backpack at her trailer, because she doesn't want to be late...]


orientation

[Jou Shan...has no idea what she's doing, but she's going to karaoke anyway. She'd heard of it before, but she'd never had a chance to do it. Why? Mostly because she hung around the wrong type of people.

Still, nervousness has her too antsy to sit still, so when her turn comes around, not only is she going to sing a little song by the Foundations, she's going to dance along like a nerd, too.

Maybe this is really why they accepted her to the circus? Everyone needs a little comic relief in downtime, after all...]

[waitingforplayer2]

The panda dancing onstage is enough to set Chiaki giggling again. She's settled a little closer to the stage this far into the night, and wonder of wonders -- she's starting to enjoy herself a little bit.

There are many worse things.

Tanyuu Karibusa | Veteran | OTA

[fourthscribe]

The New and The Old

[It's hard to not have some sympathy for the new recruits, and Tanyuu's job is, thankfully, one that gives her a little bit more free time in the later hours than others. Make-up and hair don't need to be touched up after the last performances (other than a few significant cases, but those know where her trailer is), so when she hears that the newbies have started to pop out of the tent's strange time bubble she heads over to the area.]

[Anyone that seems a bit lost will find a naga slithering up beside them with a kind smile, though she doesn't invade anyone's personal bubble. (Unlike certain supervisors that could be named.)]

Do you need any help?

Karaoke Night

[Tanyuu's always been a bit too shy to get up on the stage herself. She enjoys listening to the songs, and laughs at some of the more ridiculous performances, but it takes getting her tipsy and a lot of nudging to urge her up onto the stage. And with 25 feet of thick tail, reaching any level of drunk takes either magic ale or a lot of sake.]

[Thus far tonight she's managed to avoid both, lounging across a few large bean bags pulled close to a table with what looks like at least two meals worth of meat. She's laughing and tapping her fingers along to whatever travesty is happening on stage, though you might notice a few scattered locks of bright purple in her otherwise entirely black hair. Maybe she's been experimenting with dyes?]

Karaoke Night

[waitingforplayer2]

[ It's another strange person -- though, somehow, not even the first naga Chiaki's seen tonight. She hadn't expected to see a single one, much less two.

Chiaki's sitting and watching the singing, for the most part, but every so often she'll glance over at the naga with a bit of wonder in her eyes.

When she next returns from the food table, she quietly places an extra plate of meat snacks on Tanyuu's and attempts to scuttle away unnoticed. ]

Hinawa | Newbie

[sunflowerfields]

A: A sad mom

Hinawa was pulled away to the kitchen before she really had a chance to look around, and it isn't until the mandatory fun 'worker orientation' begins that she feels like she can catch her breath just a little. Of course, without the hustle and bustle, she can be alone with her thoughts for a moment, and her thoughts immediately go to the boys. The strange woman promised her they were safe. That terrible creature wouldn't touch them. All she had to do in return was work. She had no reason to doubt that the woman wouldn't uphold her end of the bargain, and for the sake of the boys, she would keep her promise, too.

Still, an entire year before she could see their faces again. She missed them already.

For the time being, she sits alone, looking downcast. She's not exactly in the mood for fun.

B: Sings a sad song

At some point she ends up on stage. She had been on her way to refill someone's drink, but instead she's faced with this bizarre contraption and a list of songs she's never even heard of. Feeling even more out of place than ever, she gives whoever pushed her up here a confused look. Just sing one you do know! They hiss unhelpfully, and wander off. She wasn't much of a singer, in her opinion, but she did know a few songs, including one that matched her mood at the moment.

A sad song

[coinsforlockerrooms]

[ Yukine does what she had learned was the most important to anyone facing grief that needed to come out by force: Listen.

She knew grief. Everyone had it, with troubles of their own, and ways of coping it. She knew the perils and fears of being so far away from home, and realizing you would not see neither your friends, nor your family, nor anything you had ever known for a full year.

As Hinawa finishes, Yukine is waiting for her, with a glass of water on a tray, and a forlorn expression that, for the first time in the night, Yukine revealed for somebody else. ]

Pidge | OTA

[sweatysometimes]

Moving In

To be fair, Pidge doesn't really have a lot to move into the trailer she's supposed to be sharing with... someone. Her computer, her bag with her single change of clothing. Paladin armor, bayard... Not much else. Stacking her things neatly in her rather barren bedroom, she lets out a sigh. She'd just been getting used to thinking of the castle as home and here she was thrown into the deep end again. She takes a moment longer to stare at the bed, then heads back out into the main room to stand in the doorway and look up and down the line of trailers. She grimaces.

"Dad would be so disappointed if he knew I was a carnie," she mutters more to herself, than to anyone else. Turning back into the trailer, she grabs a roll of masking tape and steps abck out into the porch. bending, she tears a strip off and begins scribbling her last name onto it. Better get settled in, Pidge.

2. Fun is mandatory

Pidge is not having the mandated amount of fun. She's shoved herself into a corner and is listening to the music with a grim little set to her jaw. She might have to work here for the next year, but no one can make her enjoy it! On the other hand, it's kinda nice to eat something that's not green space goo, right? Because she's totally nursing a bottle of soda in between poking at her computer in an attempt to bring her communications online. She taps at the keys, grimacing each time the uplink beeps in error. No service out here, Pidge. Sorry.

3. Wild card!

Re: Pidge | OTA

[dorkypantsuit]

"Whats that?" Psionic asks before sitting down next to Pidge rather abruptly. There's a drink in his hand, but it definitely isn't soda.

Susan ~ New

[wild_magic]

brave new world; locked to Lauren

[Well then. When they finally step out of the tent, it's nighttime, and Susan is a bit confused by that. But he's still thinking about what's happened, what he accidentally got them into this time, and he looks down at the note in his hand as he hopes Lauren isn't too mad at him. He looks up at his brother after a minute.]

Did you get the same one? [He's assuming his note is the same, but confirmation would be nice. That way they can go there together and he can stop feeling a little bad.]

orientation; open

[Parties aren't something Susan has ever really been to; this many people in one place, all mingling and singing and talking, it could easily be a bit overwhelming. But for Susan, it's actually exciting, and it isn't long at all before he ends up leaving Lauren behind to wander around excitedly once again and look at just about everything and everyone.

Eventually, though, after picking up some food of some kind to eat, he ends up close to the stage, watching all of the people who go up to perform with a look of wonder on his face. He isn't sure how this machine works or anything, but he hasn't really seen a performance like this before and he's enjoying himself, clapping loudly after each person, no matter how good or bad they were.]

[mylastchance]

[He's staring at the paper too, lost in thought until Susan says that. He looks to his brother, before glancing back to his paper again.]

Number 17?

[starseedling]

► BRAVE NEW WORLD (JUMPING WAY TOO HIGH)
"Whoa..."

The sky is stunning, from the first moment Steven steps outside. Simultaneously awe inspiring and terrifying, just like the whole concept of space has been to him lately. He's seen a lot more of it than he thought he would at an early age, but this is the first time it's been something truly alien - despite what Jasper and the Gem Empire might have wanted for him.

Somehow, that's when he realizes it. This isn't just about protecting his dad - or, it doesn't have to be. Maybe for just a little while - for a year and a day, exactly - he can be free of all of that. He doesn't have to worry about what will happen to the Earth, or his home. He doesn't have to worry about what will happen to Jasper, Bismuth, or Lapis, or the rest of the Crystal Gems. The looming war that's been on his mind for what seems like forever is so far away from them as to be meaningless.

And when he's done here he can go back to it, without having missed a thing. Without having left anyone alone. The lack of responsibility is almost shaking. He swallows hard, trying to hold in this sudden and dizzying wave of emotion, but he can't.

He starts running, and he jumps. And he doesn't come back down.

"WHOOO!" he yells as loud as he can, spinning slowly through the air as if he's jumping on a surface even more forgiving than the moon. He hangs in the air, untouched by gravity, laughing and drifting, and eventually crying, just a little. Just a couple tears, that he rubs away as he giggles.

He doesn't know if he'll ever come down.


► MANDATORY KARAOKE (MAKING THE BEST OF IT)
The only thing he has to do now is make sure his dad is okay. If he can do that... maybe he and his dad could be free to just be happy, if only for a little while!

He practically vaults into the room, almost taking off into the air again with an excited skip, and flipping across the floor in a slow motion cartwheel before eventually finding his footing again. Then he's into everything, looking at everything, and checking out all of the food especially. Then, as soon as he's confirmed that something is great, he brings it right back to his dad to show off, to try to prove that there's something good about all of this.

At the very least, he can show his dad he's having a good time, so maybe the guilt he knows he must be feeling will go away.

"Hi, I'm Steven Universe!"

There's a good chance that if you end up standing anywhere near him for too long that he'll end up talking to you - introducing himself, and asking any polite questions that he can think of. Everyone looks so weird. Did they all come here like this? The universe is so much bigger than he ever imagined!

"I never thought orientation would involve singing!"

Brave New World

[pipers_son]

Fun fact: the carnival actually employs a few assholes with wings and who, coincidentally, use those wings way too often.

Joker's used to it, now, and doesn't go careening into other people or buildings at all anymore. Once you get into the air enough, you start to learn the little things that come with sharing that airspace with other people. It's just that.... Usually those other people also have wings, and thus can be seen coming.

They don't usually just bounce straight up into the air.

The good news? No midair collision! Joker merely goes flapping back at the sudden blur of a child that pops up in front of him, a wordless exclamation on his lips. Once he realize what's going on, however, he starts to laugh a bit.

"Well, and a hello to you too!"

NONA1 | OC | NEW

[nowingsyet]

01: BRAVE NEW WORLD

[She feels it. The pull of the stars, (Glorious as they are, shining with a light she has never seen before, times like this she wishes her wings were installed to she could get a better look.) the magick thick in the air. It's almost too much to take at once, her sensors working overtime looking and touching and feeling and reacting to everything.

People that might see this will she a young woman shaking a bit and smoking out her mouth looking as if she's about to pass out.]

02: THE TRAILER

[After receiving her gift in the mailbox, NONA1 opens up the trailer. It's a nice place, the decor reminds of humans and their 'bohemian' style or the homes of silvers. Eclectic but still warm. Two beds are there, and NONA1 naturally finds herself drawn to the bed near the window with a view into the grass and the flowers dotting it.]

03: ORIENTATION

[One could ask how she managed to get into a a glow in the dark dress resembling the sky outside, large boots and see-though tights, fixing her hair in a complex style, and managing to do her makeup matching that of her dress in only an hour and thirty minutes.

The answer is, she's not really human in any sense of the word. Right now she's fully enjoying the orientation, dancing gracefully to the music somehow even with the huge boots on.]

04: KARAOKE

[NONA1 adores singing, even though she recognizes almost none of the songs on the karaoke machine, human music is truly very vast. She starts with something simple, bouncy. Her voice is like a bird, soft and graceful. But when a lyric comes up that hits her close to her metal heart, she belts in out.]

Some boys take a beautiful girl
And hide her away from the rest of the world
I want to be the one to walk in the sun!

05: WILDCARD

[Got something else for NONA1? Hit me up!]

2

[fastestdraw]

[Easel doesn't spend much time in the trailer. He doesn't sleep there - not much space for it or use for a bed for a guy who's a horse from the waist down - and so he mostly only passes by it to check the mail, clean up, and keep a few things stored. NONA1 might or might not have noticed the few effects of another inhabitant on a couple of simple shelves on her entrance: some folded clothes, a couple of cowboy hats, a photograph of a woman with antlike antennae in a little circular frame. That isn't all that's in here, but the one other item of note in here isn't kept out in the open.

Still, he thought it only right to make a point of passing by to see if he could catch the new co-occupant, greet 'em, settle 'em in - or start getting an idea of who they are based on what they've moved in with, if they turned out to be too quick for him.

Looks like his timing was on the dot, though.

A young lady, huh? If she's in the right trailer, strikes him as potentially not a hundred percent ideal for reasons of possible awkwardness, even with the frequency with which she'll probably be the only one in here, but!

That depends on her, and in general, nothing a little greeting and chat oughtn't be able to sort out.

He tips his hat, voice restrained but chirpy - better make his presence known first of all; the door opening and his hoofsteps might've already given it away, but he's not trying to be sneaky, let's still make that perfectly clear!]

Evening, ma'am!

[His accent is as thick as a brick wall knocked over and measured horizontally - "may-yom".]

The Doctor | Veteran | OTA

[trustme]

Pre-orientation

[ Life at the carnival is very much what you make of it. There are a large number of kind veterans who will answer the newcomers' questions but there are also a few less than friendly veterans who would make a terrible first impression. Doctor is here hoping to make sure first impressions are more of the positive sort.

Doctor drags a collapsible chair out to a spot a few paces away from where the newbies pour out post-contract with some fliers in his lap and a few blankets tossed over the back of the chair. Between talks he taps his foot impatiently and reads a comic book he had bought from the interdimensional shopping mall. ]

Karaoke Night (Okay but seriously someone had to sing this song.)

[ Doctor sits on the edge of his seat most of the event, more than just a little willing to jump up and join in duets but always hesitating for a split second first, looking energetically around at the new faces and grinning, hoping one of them will volunteer first. Somewhere in the middle of the event he takes the stage on his own and puts on "the usual song." Judging by the accurate air piano, air drums, and air guitar moves, he knows at least a bit about music. ]

Just a small town girl
Living in a lonely world
She took the midnight train
going anywhere~ ♫

Sing!

[ He holds the microphone out towards the audience. Has he done this at every orientation? ...Maybe. ]

pre-orientation

[solaris9]

[ And out stumbles one such newbie, looking somewhat confused and maybe a little dejected. Goku is usually the cheerful sort, but the idea that he won't be seeing Sanzo and the rest of them for a year is kind of sobering. This trip into the hidden carnival in the woods has turned into something a lot more involved than he expected.

The first thing he comes upon after leaving the tent is a guy, sitting there in a chair reading a book. Is he just hanging out, or is he waiting for someone? ]

How come you're sitting there?

Spyro | Newbie | OTA

[smellslikebarbecue]

KARAOKE, MINGLING

[This is one dragon who can appreciate a good party. Sure, the quality of some of the singing leaves a lot to be desired, but there's food and music, and that's good enough for Spyro. He has to take care that the taller folk don't accidentally step on his tail, but he can be found mingling here and there, generally being outgoing and greeting his new coworkers with a friendly grin. You may see him sidle up, wearing a cool pair of sunglasses perched jauntily on his snout, head bobbing slightly to the music while someone warbles off-key up on stage.]

Hey, y'know, for a place that kind of tricked a lot of us into working here, these carnival guys really know how to throw a welcome party.

KARAOKE, ON STAGE

[It doesn't take much to get Spyro to agree to go up on stage. He's a pretty easy going little guy!

...He's having some second thoughts about the song selection he made, though. He'd picked it because the title sounded appropriate for a dragon, but as the prompts for the lyrics pop up, his eyebrows keep raising further and further. This... This is a love song. He's been TRICKED!]

[He makes it through the first half or so of the song before he's forced to stop.] Kiss me...? Aw geez... Yeah that's it, I'm not throwing myself any deeper into this one. I don't do this gushy stuff.

[He turns to the crowd.] Hey! Anyone else wanna give this one a shot? I've got the special effects covered. [A snort, and a little puff of flame exudes from his snout. GREAT BALLS OF FIRE.]

mingling

[dragonsattendant]

[ Medli nods in agreement. ] I wasn't tricked or anything, though. I think. But I wasn't expecting everything to be so... upbeat!

[ It vaguely registers with the Rito girl that she's talking to what looks like a dragon. But it would be rude to make assumptions.

plus, he's kind of... small. ]

Peridot | Veteran | OTA

[periphrasing]

NEW ARRIVALS

Seeing all these new recruits actually has Peridot in a pretty darn good mood. A bigger team to work with means a more efficient carnival, and also? More people to boss around.

Plus, if there's one thing Peridot loves? It's showing off her superior knowledge at every available opportunity. And man does she have superior knowledge of the carnival, compared to these newbies. She's been here over a year already, and fancies that she knows her way around like an old pro should. If you've got questions or need directions, flag her down. She'll gladly answer, with a slightly patronizing grin on that cheeky little face of hers.

MEET YOUR NEW BOSS (for the Engineering crew)
Ah yes. Orientation. The moment Peridot has been waiting for. She still doesn't quite understand the ringmaster's methods, but they seem to work, so...

It's not her job to worry about that, anyway. Her job is to introduce herself to all of her new underlings. As the Carnival's head Engineer, she'll need to get to know each and everyone of them more closely if she's going to effectively integrate them into the team, and she wants to get started on that process immediately.

Fortunately, she has a tool to help lure the newest members of her flock right to her. Yes, there certainly cannot be any doubt of who the Engineer is in this crowd of carnies. Not with the extremely clever sweatshirt that Peridot is boasting over her old Diamond uniform. She makes sure to stay in plain sight near the snack tables, knowing that's likely where any employees of the organic persuasion are likely to head first.

WILDCARD
Feel free to tag in with your own option for general party mingling or whatever you like! Make fun of her sweatshirt, offer her food and watch her get kind of offended, convince her to get up on stage and take a crack at singing.... it's all up to you.

s'up boss lady

[anti_altruisms]

[ The sweater she's wearing is...certainly distinctive. Archer eyes is from across the room for a short while before he decides to approach. If she's a supervisor or a coworker, they should probably talk, right?

He doesn't look much like a repairman in his armor and red coat, but hey - appearances aren't everything. ]

I take it you work in engineering?

Papyrus | Newbie | OTA

[spaghettimonster]

Brave New World: The New

[Papyrus leaves the Ringmaster's tent full of resolve and hope that even he had been struggling to hold onto, back home. With this promise to work a year, though...

He notices that the strange brightness from before has gone away, looks around, and glances up. He freezes in place a few steps out from the tent, staring up at the star-filled sky.

Sure, he'd passed through Waterfall and seen enough of his brother's old sci fi things to recognize a starry sky when it was in front of him. But if he'd ever heard that they moved so quickly, or that there were big bright circles in it, he'd forgotten it. And this sight is marvelous.]

W-wowie...


Karientation

[Having orientation be a singing part makes a certain kind of sense. They're supposed to be performers (and assistants) after all! This just gets them in the spirit of it!!!

And boy, is it some kind of spirit. There's were so many people around, and while they aren't all smiling the awestruck smiles of the people attending the carnival... almost none of them seemed as numbingly sad as people back home. Even though many of them look perfectly normal, with fur and claws and even a few unfamiliar skeletons in the mix! Or at least human-looking. It's a really comforting change of pace, seeing people who could be walking down the streets of New Home, with genuine smiles.

Being mandatory karaoke, of course he has to show his willingness to sing. Even if he doesn't really know... any of these songs? Mettaton isn't listed as an artist for any of them. How strange. But a particular title catches his attention, and Papyrus waits almost impatiently to sing a song about a hard-working scientist's dancing creation. It's energetic!]

Karientation

[dragonsattendant]

[ Meanwhile, Medli is not even surprised to see Stalfos anymore. She just applauds the newcomer's song, and is even dancing to it! ... if you can call shuffling in place dancing, anyway. ]

Bonnie | Newbie | OTA

[pokepochette]

Pre Orientation

<sub>[It's all fun and games, or rather it had been, that is, until Bonnie realized she wouldn't be going home anytime soon. At first she'd thought it was a joke, but no matter how much of a tantrum she threw or how many tears she cried the answer was the same. The job she'd been assigned didn't seem so terrible, but that wasn't what was so upsetting.

It's hard for her to decide on what the worst part of being indebted is, but after an hour or so of sitting in her trailer in tears it's not hard to come to a decision. A year seems like eons to someone her age. As far as she's concerned, she'd been told she'd never see Clemont again forever. It's terrifying to think of, knowing she'd be without him or anyone she really knows. Who would help her with her laundry? Who would keep her company at night when she was scared? Who would cook her favourite dishes? Who could she depend on now, for anything?

It's with Dedenne that Bonnie finds herself outside her new home, the little mouse Pokemon at her feet, unsure of what to do to cheer his trainer up. Knees hugged tight to her chest, Dedenne squeaks his name up at her, distraught as she sniffles, eyes wet and puffy. Maybe things wouldn't be so terrible after all...but right now? Her life might as well be over.]</sub>

KARAOKE

<sub>[Under any other circumstance, Bonnie would've been the first to jump at the opportunity to do karaoke. Right now, however, singing is the last thing she wants to partake in.

It's a blessing and a curse, in a way, that Dedenne is as fixated on tasty treats as he is. Hunting for the gluttonous Pokemon has become a distraction of sorts from her woes as she makes her way crawling under tables and sneaking around to look for him. Whether you spot Dedenne snatching a bite or piece of whatever it is you've decided to snack on or see Bonnie looking for him first crawling under your table, it's hard to miss either of the two.]</sub>

Karaoke

[dorkypantsuit]

[It's the mouse he recognizes first, but of course he sees Bonnie soon after crawling after the little guy. He laughs, just a little, but stiffles it before using his psionics to pull Dedenne back towards his caretaker.]

Bonnie?