⇨ 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

Natsu Dragneel | OTA

[dragnerd]

i. Not As Planned

[ When Natsu had first spoken to the Ringmaster about his contract, he'd been fully prepared to roll up his sleeves and help out, maybe lend a hand with repairs or something and be on his way. It's no relief to him to come out and see an unfamiliar night sky overhead, with the knowledge that he's not going to be leaving the carnival anytime soon - and what's worse, he's not even doing what he's best at!! He should have gotten a scouting position. So what if he uses real magic? Doesn't everybody?

He's a little huffy as he patrols the carnival grounds, but after some night air and maybe just a touch of magic, the dragonslayer finds himself roaming in earnest, meandering between tents as they go down and trailers lit by tenants new and old.

Hmm. Maybe he should check his out, too. Which one was it again? Did he get a note or something to tell him which it was? If he did, he doesn't remember it. ]

Uhm.

[ Maybe he should just...open one? ]

ii. Party Hard

[ THIS is orientation? Oh heck yeah. Natsu is so worked up he can barely stay put; in fact, he doesn't. Instead he's weaving his way among the carnival's employees, trying to avoid causing anybody too much trouble and gunning for a better spot to watch everyone sing...and maybe weasel out of singing himself. He doesn't know any of these songs, and he definitely isn't a great singer.

He thinks he's doing a pretty good job, 'til he feels someone prod him from behind. Did he get caught? Maybe he should just act natural, pretend he already did it. ]

Huh? What's up?

[ The greeting is, of course, accompanied by a turn. It's rude to talk to someone without facing them, after all! ]

i

[puddingemote]

[Tamaki jumps when the door of his trailer suddenly opens. At first he thought it was Mitsuki, but it's not - it's some new, strange guy.

He jumps up, coming forward to stop the guy in case he's a bad intruder.]

Hey!

[dragnerd]

Woah, sorry!

[ That must mean this isn't it. Natsu takes a step back, hands aloft. ]

Guess I opened the wrong trailer.

[ He smiles apologetically. Please don't be mad... ]

[puddingemote]

Eh? Are you lost?

[This guy doesn't seem dangerous, so Tamaki relaxes a little.]

This is me and Mikki's trailer.

[dragnerd]

Yeah, looks that way. I thought my trailer would be around here somewhere.

[ He laughs. ] Guess I was wrong, huh?

[puddingemote]

Yeah. This is fourteen. [Just in case Natsu cared about the trailer number.] What did the paper say?

[He is referring to the paper that had his trailer number on it.]

[dragnerd]

The what?

[ So there was one. Crap. ]

[puddingemote]

The paper. The Ringmaster gave it to me.

[Maybe she didn't give this guy one? Or maybe he's irresponsible and lost it. Tsk tsk.]

ii

[pipers_son]

[Well, Joker can appreciate a bit of politeness, and grins as Natsu turns to face him. Hard to miss the Stage Manager, with his wings managing to give him a bit of room. Not much, but hey.]

Looks like yer enjoyin' the show, eh?

[dragnerd]

Oh, yeah! [ He grins. ] This music is nothing like what I hear at the guild.

[ In all honesty, Natsu doesn't entirely want to think about that music. Gajeel is a lot of things, but a talented musician is not one of them. ]

Hey, wait a minute. Aren't you the Stage Manager?

[pipers_son]

Yup! [Joker laughs, gesturing to himself.] At yer service! We talked over the little talkin’ box. Feel free ta just call me Joker- I ain’t such a stiff that I’ll insist on titles all the time.

[dragnerd]

Oh cool! Joker, then! That's a pretty cool name. Like you were born for the carnival, huh?

[ Is that even possible? Maybe not in Natsu's world, but it's still really cool. ]

[pipers_son]

Ha ha yep~! And I was in a circus before this one, too, so it seems I’m always destined for them, ha!

[IT’S TOTALLY NOT LIKE HE NAMED HIMSELF OR ANYTHING…]

party

[wild_magic]

[It's a bit later in the night, and Susan is trying to find people who don't seem too busy... This guy looks like he isn't doing much, so it couldn't hurt to talk to him.]

Well... I'm just trying to find people who know things about skeletons. Do you know anything...?

[dragnerd]

Skeletons, huh? [ That's kinda creepy...Natsu just barely manages to stop himself from saying as much. ] What do you mean? Far as I know they don't really do a lot.

[ Well, except for in stories. Skeletons up and walking around and stuff? No thanks. Demons and monsters, he can handle, but skeletons and zombies are just...gross. ]

[wild_magic]

Well, there's a few around here! I'm trying to figure out what they like, though... I don't know a lot about them.

[dragnerd]

Huh?! I thought those were just, like, costumes or something.

[ Natsu's observational skills at their finest...maybe with just a touch of denial. If they're really skeletons, then maybe at least they can be friendly? Unless the reason this kid is trying to figure this out is because he has to appease them or something...spooky. ]

Then, uh, I dunno. I've never met a skeleton before. [ He ponders the idea for a few seconds. ] D'ya think they use magic?

[wild_magic]

I don't know... I don't know anything about skeletons! But they can do things like talk and stuff, so I don't see why they couldn't.

[dragnerd]

Hmm. Maybe get 'em something to wear? The skeletons I've seen always have some kinda jewelry on.

[ Literally Natsu's only experience with skeletons is from picture books. You know, the ones with dragons. ]

[wild_magic]

That's a good idea... They must like it if they wear it a lot.

[dragnerd]

Right? Now we just gotta find some!

[wild_magic]

Hm... Maybe someone around here has some they don't need any more. Or I could make some!

[dragnerd]

Woah! You can make jewelry? That's pretty cool, little dude!

[ Natsu nods, making up his mind. ] Alright! If you need any help, just ask me!

[wild_magic]

Well, I've never done it before, but it can't be that hard, right?

[dragnerd]

I mean, I guess not! There wouldn't be so much of it if nobody could make it!

[ He pauses to think for a second. ]

What kinda jewelry are you gonna make? Skeletons can't do piercings, so that just leaves necklaces and rings, right?