⇨ 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

[rescuee]

[ Jajo, large guy that he is, by necessity spends a lot of time eating. And the more he travels, the more he discovers he's really interested in exciting new foreign foods. This pastry currently ranks the top of the list of things he's excited about, and he's gotten as far as opening his mouth  — before it vanishes.

He stares for a few seconds at his empty metal hand, bewildered, but it doesn't take him more than a few seconds more to discover the culprit. There's an instant where he looks peeved, but then, with a sigh, letting it go looks exactly like his chosen course of action. He drops his now-empty hand back to his side, disappointment written clearly across his features, and his wide shoulders slump in defeat.

Maybe the tray he got it from is still going around, he'll just go find that... ]

[motivenotfound]

[Mari pops the purloined pastry into her mouth, eyes closed in a way that anticipates satisfaction. And the pastry does satisfy--it's flaky, rich, a little sweet but mostly umami. It's even still warm! She could probably have gotten another one without resorting to petty larceny, but that implies she's going to act her age, and frankly, that just isn't very effective these days.

What's less satisfactory is the way this guy just... lets her do it. Not that she wants to pick a fight, but this is just sad.]

....

[She turns and faces the... she doesn't know, demon or whatever, studying him silently.]

[rescuee]

[ His gaze finds hers as he realizes she hasn't just moved on, and the irritation comes back again. This time it doesn't show across his face, over which he pulls a small, somewhat thin smile. ]

I'm sorry. [ Of course he'd apologize for having his pasty stolen. ] I hadn't realized that one was spoken for.

[ It's very, very slightly pointed, the most subtle call out. ]

[motivenotfound]

[...ah.

The corners of Mari's mouth turn up mischievously, the first hint that maybe this was what she'd wanted all along.]

Oh, how subtle...

You should know you're gonna have to be quicker than that around here, though.

[rescuee]

[ Is this just the way this place goes? Cram food into your mouth or it's your fault when someone takes it? He holds in a sigh and pushes away his irritation to the best of his ability. So be it, then. ]

Apparently. I'll keep it in mind for next time. [ next time he's scarfing it as soon as he picks it up. He casts a glance around, already looking for his second chance. ] Any other tips I should bear in mind?