⇨ 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

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.

Re: Pidge | OTA

[sweatysometimes]

Pidge glances up at Psionic as he sits down next to her and frowns.

"It's my computer." She takes another sip from her drink and goes back to working with the device.

Re: Pidge | OTA

[dorkypantsuit]

"Woah, it's so blocky!" He's never seen any computer quite to this shape or size. It's kind of amazing really. He sets his drink down, leaning in closer to take a loot at it.

"What are you doing on it?"

Re: Pidge | OTA

[sweatysometimes]

"I'm trying to see if I can pick up any signals--" She points towards the small satellite dish she's set up on the table next to it.

"SO I can see if I can get in touch with my friends. Or find my Lion." It hasn't quite sunk in yet that magic might make both of those a bit untenable.

Re: Pidge | OTA

[dorkypantsuit]

"Oh! Oh, yeah, that won't work here." As much as he wants to ask about the lion, his attention is drawn to the dish first. It clicks in his head she must be talking about radio waves or something similar, but of course such things couldn't travel through dimensions.

"I mean, you're not even in the same universe as your home anymore so, it's almost definitely impossible to reach them like this."

Re: Pidge | OTA

[sweatysometimes]

"So we're talking alternate universes now? Like, parallel unvierses?" Pidge seems a little put off by the suggestion, but it's not like it's any more unbelievable than magical robot lions, right?

"Great." She slumps back in her seat, staring at the error message on the screen with a grim-faced huff.

Re: Pidge | OTA

[dorkypantsuit]

"No, no, not alternate, just different. Like, each plane holds a different universe where creatures live out a unique existence." He gestures with his hands as he talks, holding them out flat to demonstrate how the places don't touch apparently.

"If you know anything about theoretical physics we are basically travelling through the 10th dimension. So, anything is possible." He says this with a smile, as though it is very exciting to hear, and to him, it is, but then he shrugs.

"But people who can navigate the 10th dimension are pretty rare even in a realm of infinite possibility so I really don't think you'll pick up any signals."

Re: Pidge | OTA

[sweatysometimes]

"Great." Pidge seems to accept the explanation. She's not super well versed on theoretical physics, but even if she were apparently that's not how things work. She slumps back so she can stare at her computer, mind working. There had to be a way of getting a message to her friends, right?

[swordfishtrombones]

Roomieees!

[The door burst open and a skeleton came in, one that was so tall he had to duck just to get in the door.]

Yohohoho! Looks like it's just us-ies in here! Pleased to make your acquaintance; I am "Dead All-Bones" Brook! Also known as "Humming" Brook! But you can also just call me... Brook!

...ies!

[sweatysometimes]

[ Pidge let out a strangled yelp and jumped backwards as a skeleton suddenly, uh. Appears. A skeleton with a lot of hair. This day just got even weirder. ]

Uh. I'm PIdge. Pidge Gunderson. Nice... to meet you?

[swordfishtrombones]

Pidge?

[He nodded approvingly.]

Yes, good! That's short and simple to remember. Well, it looks like we'll be living together for a while, so...

[He took out a few rolled-up posters and began plastering them over the bunk. Suddenly, he paused.]

Oh! I forgot to ask! Which bunk is yours?

[sweatysometimes]

[ Pidge watched in silence as her new roommate began to set up his posters. Blinks at his questions. She lifts a hand to point at the bunk where her things have been piled. ]

Ah, that's mine there.

[ This might be awkward. But she dealt with sharing space with guys before. Plus he's kind of a skeleton. ]

Ah...

[ She trails off. How do you even ask about this kind of thing? "Have you always been skeletal?" ]

[swordfishtrombones]

Yes?

[If he had eyelids, he would have blinked. As it was, he somehow managed to blush as he patted his afro.]

Oh, you're wondering about my hair? Yohoho, I know it's a bit old-fashioned, but I'm quite attached to it.

[sweatysometimes]

[ Pidge has seen a lot of weird stuff over the last few days but somehow this manages to be one of the weirdest. She blinks right back. ]

Oh. Not the hair. I was actually wondering why you were, um. A skeleton?

[swordfishtrombones]

Eh?!

[For some reason, the question seemed to surprise him. The truth was, every once in a while it just slipped his mind that he was a skeleton. ]

Oh, that. You see... I'm dead. Yes, the only thing left of me is this pile of bones...

[What was he doing, fishing for sympathy]

[sweatysometimes]

[ Today is just getting weirder and weirder. ]

You're dead. And you're still a walking, talking skeleton? That...

This shouldn't be possible.

[waitingforplayer2]

Nothing?

[ Drawn by the computer, Chiaki looks over her shoulder. ] Hmm... no internet, huh?

[sweatysometimes]

[ Pidge glances up at Chiaki, then leans back in her chair with a sigh. ]

I can't get anything close to a signal.

[ She gestures at her setup--what looks like a small satellite dish and a few other devices strung together to plug into her computer. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ It's a pretty impressive setup. Chiaki usually just uses the wifi. ]

Mm... do you have any games on there?

[sweatysometimes]

[ When you're in space, you gotta improvise. Also when you're listening for alien signals. ]

A few. None I wanna play right now, though.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ Game source: get! She has her handheld console, but that's it, here.

She hesitates for a little bit before awkwardly asking: ] ... Which ones?

[sweatysometimes]

Oh, uh.

[ Not a question she'd been expecting. ]

Mostly puzzle games. A couple adventure, like you know, the retro point-and-click kind? And then some strategy stuff, like Civilization.

[waitingforplayer2]

Yeah, like The Secret of Monkey Island? Oh, and Civilization is really good too... you can spend hours with it.

[ She's gonna sit next to Pidge now to look over her shoulder at the computer. ] Hmm, I guess you can't play any games with online multiplayer, but that still gives you a lot of options.

[sweatysometimes]

Something like that, but that one is pretty retro, even for me.

[ Pidge smiles, then shakes her head. ]

Pretty sure there's no internet around her to connect to, unfortunately. Otherwise multiplayer sounds like a good idea.