⇨ 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

[dragonsattendant]

... Those are interesting eyes. So round ears aren't the only weird thing about humans, here...

At any rate, Medli doesn't share Steven's hype. "Up to us, huh... I'm not sure I like that. I'm... more of a follower than a leader, honestly..."

But, this is no time to feel sorry for herself. Medli nods, a determined expression on her face. "B-but I'll still give it my all!"

[starseedling]

"I bet there will be more experienced people to help you! Right?" He smiles encouragingly - he's a little intimidated personally, but not as much she seems to be. "I could help you, too! I'm just starting things here, but I've been doing performing stuff my whole life! The Ringmaster said I could help other people do their acts if I wanted..."

[dragonsattendant]

"Could you? I hate to ask, but I'll probably need it..." The thought crosses her. "It might be dangerous, though. Are you... are you able to defend yourself if you have to?"

[starseedling]

"Oh, yeah!" he says, perking up as if that question is particularly relevant to his skills. "I defend myself all the time! Just look at this- !"

With that, he whips out his shield, the weapon forming out of pink light from his gem and then hovering over his forearm magically.

[dragonsattendant]

Awestruck, Medli claps enthusiastically. "Wow, you must be quite the hero where you come from, Steven!"

This was a definite boost to her mood. "The... the best I can do is fly away if things go south, so having you around to be help will be really great!"

[starseedling]

He immediately goes pink at that compliment. He used to get really hyped up about the Crystal Gems being heroes and all that, but these days... well, the whole thing has felt less black and white, so being called a hero is kind of surprising but also kind of nice.

"You think so?" he says, betraying his own bashfulness at the comment. "Well... then I promise I'll protect you during your shows, so you don't have to worry about it, okay?" He smiles broadly. "Here, look, I can do this too!"

He lets his shield go, and steps a bit closer to her - and then summons up a pink orb barrier around the two of them, in a flourish of magic that looks like a flower.

"Defense is kind of my thing!"

[dragonsattendant]

To say that Medli was dazzled by this display was an understatement. She reaches out to touch the wall to confirm that it's solid.

"It sure is! If we work together, nothing will stand in our way!"

A pause.

"... although, it's less like blazing a trail and more like surviving. Hee hee..."