⇨ 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

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh, on the other hand, just takes it as a sign to press himself upon Jajo. Quite literally. And unfortunately for his new friend, Jajo's appearance falls under the category of exotic, which Gilgamesh tended to take special interest in... perhaps a bit too much interest, even.]

I know the way. Come.

[Gilgamesh abandons his post and starts heading in what appears to be some random direction. Maybe it's towards the trailers and maybe it's not, but Jajo's no coward, is he?]

[rescuee]

[ Jajo wishes he could be surprised that Gilgamesh would completely ignore the nonverbal request. He had struck him as that type of a person. Not really that unfamiliar to him, actually.

He breathes a little easier when the man turns and starts heading away, but doesn't quite head after him. Instead he pauses, glancing at the booth. ]

Are you going to leave this unmanned?

[babbylon]

Do you know a thing or two about men...?

[He's also going to ignore the literal request, because that's just the sort of person he is.]

[rescuee]

[ That gets a pause all over again, then a blink. Then finally a stare, somewhere between bewildered and emphatically flat, at Gilgamesh. This isn't how the course of a normal conversation goes, at all. Clearly this man operates on a different set of rules.

With lips pressed tight: ] Apparently so. [ A sigh. ] Lead on.

[babbylon]

[Oh? Getting annoyed so soon? So much for that bubbling sense of enthusiasm. Gilgamesh just pitches a grin at him, undeterred as ever.]

I am beginning to get the impression that humans are slightly beyond your area of expertise.

[rescuee]

[ This strikes him as another odd, inexplicable turn of conversation — until, in being about to admit Gilgamesh is right, he has a realization. He'd assumed the guy wasn't human, but hang on, what does he even know about humans? Not much. Maybe there's some phase of life where they look like him.

So he watches him with a sudden disconcerted interest, looking a little more closely than he had before. ]

Wait, are you... you aren't human, are you?

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh hums, clearly amused by his obliviousness.]

I both am and am not. So proclaimed by the gods, "Gilgamesh shall be one-third human, and two-thirds divine."

[rescuee]

[ A thoughtful frown draws into place, and as he considers that with a hand gone to his chin, he has to admit: ] I'm not... sure what that means.

[ divinity what??? ]

[babbylon]

I've been told the math can be slightly confusing.

[Womp-womp.]

[rescuee]

[ Ah, look, that little annoyed twist is back in his brow and the thinness of his almost-smile again. this fuckin dick. ]

As a hyperwave magnetician, I think I can follow the fractal part of it just fine.

[babbylon]

A hyperwave what?

[You definitely lost him. But he definitely looks interested, so he's probably safe to reply without fear of too much sarcasm.]

[rescuee]

[ Whoa, is this what smugness feels like? He doesn't get this very often. He's over it a few seconds later when he ops to actually be helpful and clarify, though. ]

I'm a scientist. [ And then, losing what little wind was left in his sails: ] Or... I was. I suppose now I'm to be an animal trainer and a patch.

[ That second part like he's not too familiar with the word, patch, wtf does that even entail as a job? ]

[babbylon]

[Good enough. Gilgamesh decides to return the favor, easing back on his condescension slightly and giving a straight answer for once.]

A "patch" refers to a patching up of relations between unhappy guests and the carnival. You are a diplomat, essentially, acting on the Ringmaster's behalf.

[rescuee]

[ What an unexpectedly helpful answer. He's only momentarily surprised by it, then nods, and even adds a half a smile. ]

That does make sense. I can see why it would have been picked for me. [ not to brag or anything but he's diplomatic as hell, thanks. A beat, then: ] Thank you.

[babbylon]

My, what a braggart in our midst.

[But the fact that it gets a grin out Gilgamesh rather a snarl of derision might just mean they are indeed getting along nicely. And, fortunately for Jajo, Gilgamesh has actually kept his word: the trailer park now lies just ahead. Maybe his obedience came at a price.

And that price was personal amusement.]

Your domicile should be found next to the others. Those reserved for supervisors are further north.

[Because he can't help himself:]

Mine is clearly the best. For the best, by the best, as to be expected.

[rescuee]

[ He's about to backpedal and defend himself there, until he catches Gilgamesh's grin. Oh. Well. Maybe that wasn't a rebuke after all. He'll uncomfortably live with it, then.

He turns his attention forward with perking ears as the trailers come into sight, which is a nice surprise. He'd half been resigned to finding himself even more lost than he'd been before. ]

Much obliged, Gilgamesh. [ That with an appreciative dip of his head. ] I'm sure, if I ever need to visit you, I'll know straight away which one is yours. I'm certain it stands out.

[babbylon]

Oh? You weren't going to visit me now? Or later tonight?

[Three guesses what he means by this.]

[rescuee]

[ It takes him a second to catch the implication, through no fault of Gilgamesh's. It's still hard for him to believe that anyone could be that forward. Once he's got it he strives not to react, but his bright green freckles do darken a little to blend in with the rest of his skin. ]

I wouldn't expect you to have the time to do any hosting. You've got so many new arrivals to welcome with your booth, don't you?

[babbylon]

I have plenty of time, depending upon the nature of my guests.

[Gilgamesh laughs at the sheepish look his new friend has donned. It takes some effort, but he manages to pat Jajo on the shoulder. It's an affable gesture and, perhaps fortunately for his withering dignity, seems to have lost the suggestiveness lingering from moments prior.]

Well, do drop by whenever you'd like. Consider it an open invitation, hm?

[Emphasis on open. Gilgamesh gives a little wave of goodbye.]

I shall be seeing you around. I look forward to witnessing your... exploits.

[What does that even mean? In Gilgamesh's case, maybe it's best not to know.]

[rescuee]

[ Gilgamesh shifts again so suddenly that Jajo is left wondering if he'd imagined the implications in the first place, and feeling foolish for having gotten embarrassed at all. His freckles return to the usual brightness as he recovers from his version of a blush, and he even manages a smile. ]

I'll keep it in mind. Thank you. [ Whether he'll actually take him up on it is the real question here, but anything is possible. His smile grows a little more wry when he adds: ] And I'm sure I'll look forward to yours.

[ Whatever they are, he's sure they'll be interesting if nothing else. And since he knows when he's been dismissed he takes a quick, respectful step backward before turning to show himself to the main batch of trailers to find his. ]