⇨ 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

Chiaki || new || OTA

[waitingforplayer2]

First Stage: To the Cookhouse!

As soon as Chiaki leaves the tent, she feels like she's on a timer. Even if there's ninety minutes to kill, what if she doesn't find it in time?

So she'll be sprinting through the Carnival, without much regard for where she's going - and between all the cables needed to keep tents up, and people moving every which way, Chiaki's a collision waiting to happen - either with you, or with the ground, if she trips on a cable.

Second Stage: Mandatory Fun

She arrives way too early, so it's a good thing her Game Girl still has a charge. Chiaki immediately takes up residence in a dark corner of the Cookhouse and starts playing through Gala Omega again, trying not to think too much about her situation.

She'll remain there during prep and as the Orientation proper starts, unless she's pulled away -- by the light of her handheld console, she's pretty easy to find.

Third Stage: Nutritious Lives

About halfway through the night she realizes that she's starving. She'll slowly make her way through the crowd and start putting together a plate of food. She's pulled her torn hoodie down tight over her head, new cat ears flat against her hair.

There's something vaguely hypnotic about the singers on stage the closer she gets, though, and she'll linger to watch. Making no move towards the stage, but none away from it, either.

third stage!

[otokogi]

[ Mitsuki is not the sexiest idol to ever grace the stage but that's when he's sober. He's not really any sexier when he's had a few drinks but he is a little braver in his fan service. His song choices have gotten a little bit bolder, too.

He moves to the edge of the stage and offers a wink to the shy looking girl who's definitely watching. ]

My sister looks cute in her braces and boots, a handful of grease in her hair!

[waitingforplayer2]

[ Chiaki's gotten a little more into watching as the night's continued, even tapping her foot a little.

... That one's looking at her.

A quick blush and she ducks her head, fiddling with her game console. But she's looking back up at him again before she knows it, the ghost of a smile on her face. ]

[otokogi]

[ Aaaaah, it's working!! It's Mitsuki's favorite thing about performing, connecting with someone in the audience. Sure, it's not his music, but that doesn't really change very much. He looks away for a little bit just so it doesn't get creepy and because he's got an entire room to work, but he definitely makes sure to look back, especially when he realizes she's smiling now. ]

Gonna set this dance alight, cuz Saturday night's the night I like, Saturday night's all right, all right, all right!

[ On the last three phrases he even dances toward her a bit. Come on... ]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ He's looking away just long enough for her to get comfortable again, go back to foot-tapping, maybe sway a little back and forth and hum the mildly familiar tune--

And then he's turned back towards her. Ah. Caught in the act.

Her face goes warm but she doesn't look away this time, waiting to see what he'll do. ]

first stage

[kagehira]

( Mika's in a similar situation, but he... actually got directions. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, for her,) Nanami wasn't going completely the wrong direction; coming from the side sure does mean that it wasn't easy for Mika to see her flying at him. Naturally, this ends up with them crashing into one another, and Mika's bony self is so light he actually ends up toppled over completely. It actually takes him a moment before he's able to properly process this. )

Ngah?! Huh, whassat fo — ( Oh wait, no, that's a girl, a pretty disoriented looking one too. ) Um, are ya okay?

[waitingforplayer2]

Ah...!

[ The crash sends Chiaki to the floor, too, wincing as she gets back onto her feet. Is that ankle sprained? No, it's fine. Probably. ]

I'm sorry!! Are you all right? [ She holds a hand out to help him back up. ]

[kagehira]

I'm fine!

( Luckily, the fact that he's allergic to short sleeves saved him from even any minor scrapes and such. He accepts her hand gratefully, smiling sheepishly all the while )

Thank ya~ Where were ya headin' in such a hurry, anyway?

[waitingforplayer2]

The cookhouse! Is that where you're going, too?

Second Stage

[coinsforlockerrooms]

[ It had been a long day, Yukine knew. For this reason, she tried to smile for everyone, both willing and unwilling, and serving everyone the most food she could, and allow them to be happy. This was where she felt at home, where she had fun, reminiscent of the bar where her brother used to be. She had even sung a round!

Now... as she sees Chiaki, she realizes it hadn't been that easy for everyone. In the middle of everything, Chiaki was here because she was alive.

Slowly, almost merging herself back in the shadows and yet continuing to work, Yukine brought a plate of the food she had made alongside her supervisor, leaving a plate close to Chiaki. ]

Hello, Chiaki-chan. [ She smiles, ] are you hungry?

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She's startled a little out of her focus on the game. It's still early, so she's been pretty reclusive. Yukine's still one of the only friendly faces she knows here. ]

Oh... I guess so. [ Her stomach rumbles when she sees the food -- a few appetizers, but it's the most food she's seen in a really long time. She hesitantly reaches out to tkae it. ]

Thank you... were you working back there?

[coinsforlockerrooms]

Hn! I work here in concessions, now. Miss Babic arranged for all the people she could get to cook for today. She allows us to take a break in the reunion, but I want everyone to enjoy themselves or relax just as well. I used to do this back home, too.

[ Which is why Yukine isn't pulling Chiaki out from her corner. She understood well that some people just needed their space. She kneels down to offer her food. ]

Would you like me to bring something else, Chiaki-chan?

[waitingforplayer2]

Oh, Miss Babic! I helped her a little, earlier... I got here a while ago.

[ Way early, in fact -- this is what came from being nervous that she'd miss things. ]

Mm... this is fine. Thanks, Yukine...

2nd

[dorkypantsuit]

[Suddenly a Psionic.]

Hey, what's your name?

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She jumps several inches in the air. Onscreen, her ship blows up, and she hits pause before the stranger can do any more damage to her high score.

Her heart's going a mile a minute again. ]

... Ch-Chiaki Nanami.

[dorkypantsuit]

[He peers over her shoulder, looking at her device.]

Chiaki, huh?

[Wait a minute...]

Chiaki? Hey, I think you're working under me then!

Hi, I'm the Psionic!

third stage

[wild_magic]

As the night draws on, Susan is on a mission, and anyone who seems not too busy and semi-approachable becomes a target of his questions. He approaches when she's collecting food, honestly not sure if she'll be of any help but wanting answers.

"Do you know anything about skeletons?"

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She jumps a few inches in the air, some of her pastries landing on the table again. She's starting to think that keeping her ears all cooped up is impeding her ability to tell if somebody's coming. But then again, she's been jumpy all night, so maybe not. ]

Um... I saw one walking around, earlier. He showed me how to get here.

[wild_magic]

But you don't know anything else...? [Because he's already asked all of the skeletons he's seen, except for the one he can't ask.]

third stage!!

[cutcrease]

[ It wasn't hard for Junko to catch sight of Chiaki. As soon as she caught sight, she thinks she might've laughed. Or choked, maybe had a little heartburn.. Depends. She's waited enough, she reasons, when she finally decides to approach her.

Well, lurk behind her as she stares at the singers, really. Junko's been here long enough to have tired of these performances thirty times over, so nothing fascinates her about these people anymore. But, but-- ]

--But, with your cat ears you should've already heard me skulking around, right?

[ She has her own changes-- claws and fangs, taller, scaly, but still just as despair-inducing as she was before. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ Once again, Chiaki hears someone before they approach, and the voice chills her to the bone. She hopes she's dreaming-- no, she knows she must be, because it just became a nightmare.

She turns slowly, the singing and the crowd falling away from her perception as she does. And there she is -- Junko doesn't have the strangest changes of anybody she's seen tonight, but they enhance her, they make her more demonic. More nightmarish-- more despairing.

She can't breathe. She feels like she's being choked. She doesn't even know what she'd say if her tongue or windpipe were working.

All she can see is Junko's grin, a thousand times, from a thousand screens. And she can't even scream. ]

[cutcrease]

[ Junko wiggles her fingers, extending them towards the girl ( as her eyes widen with fascination and pure joy. She looks down at Nanami, drooling just the teensiest bit as she drinks in her despair. While her expression is pure happiness-- ] Nekomimi-chan..... [ --her voice is suddenly deadpan, even as her claws dig into Nanami's shoulder once she finally places a hand on her.

She feels like she needs to thank the Ringmaster later for giving her this wonderful gift of despair. ]

Where were you taken from, I wonder.......... to look at your beloved underclassman with such unbridled despair, to be paralyzed from simply looking at the blonde beauty. [ She stops to wipe her mouth with her free hand, gaze intensifying the more she opens her mouth. ] I wonder. Where it is you're from.

You're dead.

Aren't you?

second stage!

[puddingemote]

[Tamaki is loaded down with food, but he stops on his way to a table when he notices the telltale lights of someone playing a video game. Wandering closer out of curiosity, he speaks up.]

What game is that?

[He stretches his neck so he can see.]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She startles a little, surprised to be approached from her dark corner. Then she turns it towards him. Spaceships fly towards each other, and she's still controlling one of them, despite the screen being turned mostly away from her. ]

Gala Omega.

[puddingemote]

Whoa, you're good!

[He looks impressed that she can still play without looking right at the screen. He's nowhere near that good.]

I've never heard of that. Is it new?