⇨ 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

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She's very strange, the tall woman -- not even turning to look -- does she have eyes? Chiaki's ears swivel to listen to her. ]

Yeah... it's my first night. [ Unless she counts the time she was holed up with the Doctor. ]

I can get used to it. I just didn't expect to see things like this outside of video games.

[yellbrush]

Video...?

[ she shakes her head after a moment. it's unimportant, she's sure. ]

No matter. You will see worse. [ it's blunt, but there's a raw honesty to it. ] Steel yourself for what will come.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ Worse? But it's a carnival... ]

Fighting? ... Despair?

[yellbrush]

Performance.

[ ...is it a joke? it's REALLY not clear. at the very least, her poker face hasn't budged an inch. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ ... Okay it could be worse but still. ]

I'm just a gamer...

[yellbrush]

No. [ it's stated with an absolute, unerring conviction. she's really good at sounding like that, to be honest. ] You signed the contract, did you not?

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She nods. ] The Ringmaster said that I'd be working in the Gamer's Circle.

[yellbrush]

[ ...ah. so that's she meant by "gamer." she shakes her head lightly, her horns weighing the motion down. the misunderstanding is hers. but, still... ]

Even so, you will perform.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She actually did mean it in both senses. ]

I thought it'd just be... fixing the arcades, and things... I've never performed before, I don't think I can...

[yellbrush]

Then perhaps you should learn.

[ if it comes out sounding like a threat, that's just variss's voice. she's honestly trying to give advice here.

this is why she doesn't talk to the newcomers. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

Learn?

[ It's like a game, right? Sort of. Does she really have to? If she does, to survive here... she'd better learn fast, right? ]

How?

[yellbrush]

[ is this girl really asking her for advice? after all of this? it's not exactly familiar territory, but she can't help but respect that a little. ]

Watch your surroundings. [ it's a simple bit of advice, but one she knows too many ignore. ] You will be surrounded by others in your position. Learn what you can from them.

[waitingforplayer2]

I think it might be just me and Yuugi at the Gamer's Circle...

But... if Psii'll let me, I'll go to the performances, too. I... I want to do this right.

[yellbrush]

Good.

[ she raises her head to the other girl - a slight gesture, but one notably lacking in condescension or aggression. it's probably a relief after... you know, everything else. ]

Fight to stay afloat, and you might not drown.

[waitingforplayer2]

I'll do my best. ... -senpai.

[ In the absence of a name. ]

[yellbrush]

[ she almost catches the unspoken request for a name. but instead, her attention catches on something else, something far more pressing- ]

Senpai?

[ the word sounds almost alien coming from her lips. clearly, whatever this word is, it was out of the fae language's capacity to translate. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

Ah...

[ Mm, what's another word. She reaches for one. ]

"Mentor"...?

[yellbrush]

[ she audibly snorts at that. ]

I am not your mentor, girl. Consider that a blessing.

[waitingforplayer2]

... "Superior."

[ That's a better translation, really. ]