lostcarnival | ⇨ GAME START INTRO LOG!

Entry tags:

⇨ GAME START INTRO LOG!

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[After ages of karaoke nights, Joker thinks he has a fairly decent memory for the songs they have. This particular singer, well, she’s come up more than a few times, and he’s relieved for that. As the music kicks up, he chuckles and leans into the mic.]

You with the sad eyes~
Don’t be discouraged~
Oh I realize~
It’s hard ta take courage~

[Whoops. Still a bit hard to get his accent out of things entirely. Oh well, it’s yet to bother anyone, and he winks down to the girl he’s singing with.]

In a world full of people~
Ya can lose sight of it all~
And the darkness inside of ya~
Can make ya feel so small~

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you!

[ She turns to Joker with a follow-up tease that she does the moment she sings the last sentence, smiling as she gleefully gets into the role, her own accent learned to be reduced. At this time, she does find his antlers endearing, awe-inspiring, and even finding his slit eyes unique. ]

So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

[ As Yukine sings the last word, she doesn't notice her own eyes change color for an instant, turning into a bright copper, faeish magic threatening to emerge from her to change her. ]

[In contrast, Joker doesn't miss that flicker of change, and he does his best to keep a reaction off his face. Some people take to the carnival's magic faster than others... He just hope it doesn't happen on stage and that there's a freakout.]

[Maybe it's good he's here to start with, if he can help calm it down before anything happens.]

[But for the time being, he keeps singing, bobbing from side to side cheerily.]

Show me a smile then,
Don't be unhappy, can't remember
When I last saw you laughin'~

[Wings hugged tight to his back so he doesn't accidentally smack someone, Joker gives a little spin just for fun.]

If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I'll be there!

[ Even with her changes, Yukine has no clue why is Joker looking at her in intrigue, and instead just assumes he is getting into the role as much as she is.

She holds Joker's hand for his spin, continuing her chorus, ]

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you!

[ Soon, Yukine's bobs with Joker become harder to control, not quite realizing the creeping shift of balance from the extra inch of height she slowly gains. She regains her balance by standing still, now holding his hands to hold themselves still.

And in a world of irony, Yukine's irises remain in that copper color, ]

So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

[ Sensing Joker easier to speak to up close, not knowing why, she leans forward to fake-whisper, microphone in hand, her extra centimeters of height turning noticeable. ]

Can't remember, when I last saw you laugh.

[Well, he has one good hand to keep her up on her feet once he notices she’s a bit wobbling, and he keeps smiling- stave off the probably inevitable panic if he keeps acting like everything is normal.]

[Thank god the song comes to an end, the veterans in the crowd probably having seen enough ridiculous nonsense enough in their lives, and Joker gives a whistle as he bows.]

Thank ya, everyone~. Round of applause for the lovely lady!

[He starts to lead the way for her off the stage- it seems like she’ll need it with the sudden height boost. That’s always dizzying.]

[ Yukine laughs! She waves her hand in thanks, actually having had the fun of her life and completely ignorant of what was happening to her, smiling widely as she descends beside Joker, and still struggling with her own new height.

So far, she had only realized she didn't need to look AS up to Joker as before. ]

I'm really sorry for that out there. I don't know what happened. [ She bows to him in an apology. ] I lost my balance somehow. I wonder if something was pushing me, or...

[ Yukine notices an odd glint of copper on the reflection of her empty glass, which Yukine notices, moves at the same time as her head does. ]

Nnnoooo problem there, miss!

[Hastily, he starts to guide her along through the crowd. Damage control time, although to what extent, he’s not sure yet.]

There’s actually somethin’ it just occurred ta me someone should talk with ya about when it comes ta workin’ here…. I’m Joker, by the by. Stage Manager.

[ Yukine slowly turns back to Joker, then at the crowds that kept looking at her even as she descended. She lifted her glass for a moment for a better look, until she was gestured to move on.

She smiles, and bows again, struggling somewhat with her balance. ]

It is nice to meet you, Joker-sama. It was really fun singing with you, and I look forward to work with you. [ She looks up. ] I was wondering about that... What is it about working here?

Ha, well….

[And yup, there’s the kitchen, the best bet they’ll get for any sort of private conversation and with hopefully some reflective surfaces. Koel will understand. Joker certainly hopes Koel will understand.]

There ain’t really any other way ta put it, but this place is, as ya mighta guessed, more than a little magical. And most folks who stay for long, well, things start happenin’ and… changin’. Body-wise. The good news is that it’s usually nothin’ too major…

[ The revelation, even thought the change is noticeable by the tightening of her lip as she then looks down. ]

I do not mean to be rude, but something told me about this place. [ She then looks up. ] Very few veterans don't look entirely different.

[ Even a friend of hers grew feline ears, from what she noticed. ]

Well…. Some of it is the Ringmaster’s whims, statin’ it plainly. [He scratches the back of his neck and shrugs.] But most of the time, it’s because yer gettin’ involved with the carnival. Ah, learnin’ magic, I think…. That makes changes happen. And, well, in my case-

[He stretches out his wings and laughs.]

Got these ta, ah, celebrate my promotion ta stage manager. But if yer just here ta work off a debt real quick, it ain’t likely ta be a problem.

[ Yukine's eyes widen in wonder the moment he spreads his wings, admiring them for what he became not due to this world, but in part... thanks to it.

As Joker mentions the changes happening due to involvement with the carnival, and especially learning magic, she looks down. ]

I made a contract to learn magic.

...Ah.

[WELP. Letting his wings settle again, he lets out a small whistle.]

I guess it can’t be helped, then. The best ya can do is just take things as they come. Wish I could tell ya what ta expect, but… Fae magic, ta my understandin’, is a wee bit unpredictable in how it’ll change ya.

[ Yukine pouts, ever so slightly as she comes to understand what will inevitably happen to her, trying to be comforted by his presence, and yet...

... those copper eyes remained on her, both looking at her and coming from her. She would change a lot. She couldn't help but wonder if she would recognize herself by the time this was finished. ]

I will try.

[ Then, she held his hand. ]

And thank you, for letting me brave, even if only for a moment.

Hm?

[A befuddled blink gets directed down to their joined hands before he chuckles, shrugging his shoulders.]

Ah, it ain’t anythin’ ta be thanked for. Someone’s gotta look after all ya new arrivals, eh?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

⇨ GAME START INTRO LOG!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject