⇨ 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

alois trancy | veteran | open

[faking]

pre-orientation

[Alois' bad mood should be no big deal to anyone who sees him. The only odd thing about his scowl is how he's scowling—usually when he's angry, he'll glare at anyone and everyone who crosses his path, almost always for no good reason. Now, though, he's giving his feet such withering looks.

His feet are wearing a pair of long boots, which is even more common than his bad mood; they reach just below his knee, while his stockings raise even further. He's probably wearing shorts, but they're covered by the hem of his long coat. The coat is fancy, easily the costliest purchase he's made during his time with the Carnival: it's lavender, pleated, and lined with black fur. He looks very cozy, cloudy mood aside. Even cozier is the adorable scarf in which he has swaddled himself. It's pulled up around the lower half of his face, so it's hard to see, but... His cheeks—they're red? It isn't quite cold enough for it to be the weather, is it?

He's so busy glaring at his boots and huddling into this scarf that anyone who passes by him will startle him. He jumps, alarmed and off balance, before biting out with vitriol—] Well, what! I'm right here, you know!

[But, okay, so his bad moods are common, he's nasty a lot, but right now he doesn't seem angry so much as... embarrassed? What's his deal?]

karaoke 1

[He hasn't had a turn at the karaoke machine yet. The festivities are getting heated so he's taken off his lovely coat; now instead he sits in a button up blouse, and, with his mouth shut and his legs crossed, he looks very delicate and nice. He would look nicer, though, if his face weren't growing stormier by the second. His brows draw lower and lower, until...]

This is soooOOOO— [As he draws out his vowel, it gets louder and louder, though still kind of quashed by the performance (which just pisses him off more!). But he knows better than to rain on the Ringmaster's parade, and so he finishes very quietly:] Tacky.

karaoke 2

[Tacky or not, Alois did eventually get up there. He's just ended his turn, in fact. His song was a stirring rendition of—yes—Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You. (He has learned this song from a wealth of other karaoke nights.) Well, it's not quite stirring, perhaps. He really, really doesn't have the vocal range for it, not to mention he clearly got emotional early into the song, leaving him with a cracking, wavering voice. But God if he wasn't impassioned.

Now that he's through, he sits down, grabbing his coat from his seat and pulling it against his chest like a security blanket. He's holding his breath like he's trying not to cry.]

Karaoke 2

[pipers_son]

[The whole night has been busy, even not counting his cheerful deliverance of gifts for the newbies and his fellow supervisors. Orientation nights always are, honestly. Checking in on everyone, getting everything ready for the new faces, figuring out acts they can use now that they have a few more performers... Being the Stage Manager is a lot to do, especially now that they're getting back into business.]

[However, he's been trying to enjoy the night as best he's able, cheering on singers and reassuring new faces and enjoying the food Koel's cooks have gotten up. That latter bit particularly when Alois goes up, and Joker pays attention to the youth as he starts to sing. He's not particularly surprised when a strong start goes into something a bit more teary, and he's prepared by the time Alois comes down. As the blond buries himself against his coat, he might be able to pick out Joker coming through the crowd.]

[Once he's close enough, he leans over and nudges Alois in the shoulder gently with a tall glass of something honey-gold.]

Sounds like yer voice got a bit hurt up there. I hear this helps with that kind of thing.

[And it's not even alcoholic, just incredibly smooth. Joker doesn't want to add intoxication to the mix, after all.]

[faking]

[Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Or whatever way Alois wants to blaspheme. It doesn't matter: what matters is that Joker is here, with his language which feels weirdly like home, and his kindness which makes Alois want to crawl into a different skin. Most of the time Alois can tolerate these things because he's accustomed to a particular amount of emotional torment, but right now it's almost unbearable. Seriously, Alois almost can't handle it, because he's wearing the scarf, and the scarf is obviously from Joker, and Joker can see him wearing the scarf, and... it's really... embarrassing. Why is it embarrassing? Because Alois is being provided for like a kid? Well, he always talks about how he misses being spoiled, right? And isn't it true he can't do anything by himself? These thoughts are roiling around in his head, and he stares at the glass in Joker's hand, lips pursing into a tighter line.

He tries to tell himself that maybe it's okay. If Joker can see him wearing it, he'll know Alois likes it. Like that, Alois doesn't have to say thank you, right? ...

Alois snatches the glass out of Joker's hand and takes several moments to drain the entire thing in one go. He gasps a bit when he finally pulls away from the glass, trying not to hiccup, either tearfully or just from the exhaustion of taking such a long drink.

... ... And now he looks petulant, because that's what he does best.] I was expecting... cognac! [he lies, pretending to be haughty.]

[pipers_son]

[Joker allows the glass to be snatched from his fingertips easily, the wooden digits offering no resistance. It was a little odd, that first month, but he's since gotten used to the sensation in his strange arm. Besides, he was expecting that from Alois, much like the boast that follows it.]

[Chuckling, he takes a seat next to him- with a bit of distance, half for his wing space, half for Alois' sake.]

'Fraid ta say that I couldn't find much a that, but I wasn't exactly lookin'. It's a lot more fun ta watch everyone else have some spirit in 'em, after all.

[Even as he talks, he glances at Alois from the corner of his eyes, vivid pink catching the glitter of the gem-light. Still a little bit rough, from what Joker can tell... But not so rough that he can't pull himself together with that usual haughtiness. It used to bug Joker, just a little bit, but he's softened with time the longer he's humored him and realized how much of it is an act. While he's not from any kind of nobility like Alois never stops talking about, Joker knows well enough about masks, especially the kind you put up as a child.]

[Hell, that was nearly his whole childhood, when he thinks about it.]

[Anyway, he's wearing the scarf. He can't be in nearly enough of a bad enough mood if he's still keeping it, far as Joker reasons.]

[faking]

[The eye color, special, reminiscent of something Alois loves fiercely, is one of several things which make it difficult for him to make any eye contact with Joker. He doesn't complain or say anything rude when Joker takes a seat, but he crosses his legs and rests his empty hand—the one with his gold and ruby ring—atop his stockinged knee. He's raising the glass back to his lips even though it's empty, almost like he's hiding by speaking against its rim.] I don't know what's so fun about watching everyone else. [The way he says it is not quite angry. And despite his words, he's glancing in some other direction, eyeing groups of people or at least the spaces between them.

He's quiet now, a contemplative sort of quiet, which happens sometimes; often he is loud and garish in tone and turn of phrase, but there are times like this when he just thinks. In this way, his thoughts are usually dark, and sometimes he says them, and sometimes he doesn't. Right now, it's this:] What do you like about it? What do you like to see them do?

[pipers_son]

[For all his chatty nature, Joker does in fact know silence. It helps that the rest of the building is practically rocking off of its foundations with noise- chatter from people, occasional scuffles, whoever is trying to drive the rest of them deaf from on stage now.]

[If it was just them sitting outside, well, Joker knows what he'd be doing. Same old tune humming along his tongue as always: Tom, he was a piper's son...]

[He stirs out of his thoughts when Alois speaks, flashing a grin at him.]

I like seein' 'em just be.

[That's not clear at all and he knows it, as his laughter gives away before he quiets down. Resting his elbow along his knee, he leans forward and hums thoughtfully.]

I've got thirteen new faces workin' under me now... and I have ta get ta know 'em all real quick. Details, eh, that'll take time, but it's good ta have 'em all together like this. Now I can see how all of 'em act, who I can shuffle straight onta the stage and who I gotta look after. [He clicks his tongue.] For example...

[Straightening up, he starts to point individuals out.]

Skeleton with the afro? He's goin' inta the spotlight right quick, and he seems like the sort I can count on ta bring up the mood. Sour type hidin' in the corner, smokin'? Apparently a new magician, can already tell it's gonna be a bit tricky workin' with him, he's better for subtle things if how he acts is any way ta tell.

And apparently one of my beast tamers picked a fight with bleedin' Sans of all people, so I'm gonna have ta make sure he doesn't get his fool self killed.

[He leans back again, wings stretching out lazily a tad.]

Ya can learn a lot about a person, seein' how they land on their feet or what they do while bloody well drunk ta kingdom come.

[He thinks a lot about these things. He sort of has to. And anyway, he thinks Alois is smarter than he lets on sometime, lapsing into thought like that, so he doesn't mind talking about it.]

[faking]

[Alois follows along intently, absorbing this information with more voracity than any physical appetite he has. (He's usually a very light eater.) His eyes are directed to every individual Joker singles out. But as Joker finishes speaking, Alois stares at him, instead. He stares and stares—he might even be trying to practice what Joker has just told him.

Finally his concentration breaks, and the heat of his eyes and furrowed eyebrows lets up. He sinks in his seat, not very lordly, and hugs his coat more tightly while he looks out across the cacophonous crowd.]

I never know what anyone's thinking. [His voice only barely beats the music in volume.] It's ghastly... Whatever it is, it's probably bad.

[There's his patented pessimism, which has gotten markedly worse during his stay with the Carnival.

He really wants to ask, What have you learned about me? But that's too scary.]

pre-orientation

[fragileandsoft]

Oh--jeez, I'm sorry.

[ Greg wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to where he was going, either, which is a pretty bad idea when you're new to a space like this. For all he knows, bumping into people earns him another year of servitude.

Though, even as worked up as Greg is, his concern instantly piques as he looks at Alois. People don't get too worked up about brushing shoulders, usually. (Unless that does, in fact, net you a longer contract. It would make sense to get worked up then.) ]

Are you doing okay? I didn't mean to interrupt you or anything.

[faking]

[At hearing an apology that sounds nice and genuine, Alois' first instinct is to make fun of it and be a haughty brat—but he looks up and sees a man he doesn't know. His brows draw together, and then smooth out again. Then they smooth out completely, and he settles into the skin of someone more approachable, filing away his bad mood and bringing out his liar's pleasantries.]

Haven't seen you around, [he says softly, in lieu of a proper answer. He makes a point of not verbally accepting the apology.]

[fragileandsoft]

[ It makes sense to get caught off guard by a new face. Greg thinks nothing of it, aside from maybe awkward. He always feels awkward, though.]

Yeah... I'm new. Name's Greg Universe, I'm in engineering. Nice to meet you.

[faking]

[This information seems to change Alois' whole demeanor—and it might not even be totally feigned. His eyes light up like the crusting of gems which creep along his hands and wrists, and he clasps his hands at his chest, going up on his tiptoes.]

Oh! Is that really your name!

[fragileandsoft]

[Credit to Alois, that gets a smile out of Greg. Even after using it for his branding, he forgets how out there it might be to people.]

Wouldn't be much point in introducing myself with it, otherwise.

[faking]

[Greg isn't much to look at—sorry, Greg, but Alois has high standards and is a haughty teenager—but Alois is still quite delighted with this, and lowers from his tiptoes so he can rock on his heels excitedly.]

What a pretty name! Mister Gregory Universe. Well, Greg, I guess, if you want. But still!

[He nestles into his scarf, pleased, before straightening again and exclaiming,] Oh! I'm Alois Trancy. Earl Alois Trancy, that still matters, you know. At least in my opinion. My name is very pretty too, [and he says this because he postures himself as so prideful,] but in a different way from yours.

pre-orientation

[meanlook]

[The person on the other end of Alois's mighty wrath is someone who is so used to it he doesn't even flinch at the tone. He simply regards the blonde with what can best be described as exhaustion, reaching up to slip the hood of his sweatshirt off his head with a sigh.]

Have you been snapping at the newbies like tha -- what the hell are you wearing?

[Silver thought nothing his room mate could wear could possibly surprise him at this point. It seemed any venture out to do shopping resulted in some new weird garment entering their shared living space. This, however, seemed bizarre even for Trancy.]

[faking]

[Oh, of course, here comes Silver to ruin Alois' good mood. (—He's not even in a good mood?! But that's his first reaction.) Alois looks at Silver with critical eyes, nestling further into his new scarf.]

Nothing! [he snaps, and he sounds like he does whenever Silver genuinely hurts his feelings. But he immediately amends,] It's cute, right?

[meanlook]

It has eyes. That's not cute. It's creepy.

[The words are delivered in a way others may regard as too cold, but this is the dynamic they've established and Silver sees no reason to change it. Alois does something bizarre, he tells him it's bizarre, they squabble until someone gets tired or bored and walks off. It's not perfect, but it's theirs.]

[faking]

It's fucking adorable. [—Okay, Alois sounds way nastier than he usually does so early in a spat like this. He's red again, too, either from anger or from something he refuses to name or admit to.] Besides, you walk around with a giant piece of shit bat and other ridiculous fare. Who's creepy, exactly?

[meanlook]

My piece of shit bat actually serves a purpose, you loser. It actually helps me with work around here, for one thing. There is zero reason for a scarf to have eyes.

[Even as he's saying it, he's thinking how absolutely ridiculous is sounds.]

[faking]

Its function is being cute. [Alois says this slowly, like he's speaking to someone stupid.] The scarf, I mean. Obviously not your bat. People like cute things. People don't like shitty things. [He raises his chin, now bringing his blushing face out of the confines of the scarf, to let out one great and singular laugh:] Ha! Suppose that explains a lot about you!

karaoke 2

[dragonsattendant]

[ Medli applauds him enthusiastically when he's finished. She'd have applauded him regardless, mind, but something about his performance really speaks to her. And so she goes over to him once he's sitting down.

... he seems upset. It might not be the best time to say this, but it'd be weird if she waited, right? ]

Hi, um... I really liked your song! I can tell you really put your heart into it.

[faking]

[Go to hell, he might snap, or something else flaring and insecure, but he looks up at her, and she's someone he's never seen before. She's a girl, yeah, but she seems quite young—maybe? You never know in this godawful place, but she seems quite young, and she's earnest on top of it, and stuff like that hurts Alois' heart. So he deflates, even sighs audibly, and flutters his eyelashes a bit to try and compose himself.]

It's not much, you know, the heart. [He says it very gently for something so dismal.] But you're a nice girl, aren't you? What's your name?

[dragonsattendant]

[ She's been doing a lot of this tonight (and her back is starting to ache a little for it), but regardless she bows in greeting. ] I'm Medli, sir. And you?

[faking]

[For once—for the first time in probably a while—Alois is quite flattered, and this girl's propriety endears her to Alois immediately.]

A pretty name for a pretty girl, [he says charitably. In all actuality he finds her appearance strange; but he's seen stranger, during his time with the Carnival, so he's able to compliment her instead of recoiling. And there is something cute about whatever sort of creature she is.] I'm Alois. Alois Trancy. Well, Earl Alois Trancy, really, but nobody cares about titles here. Sad, right?

[He smiles boyishly, presumably harmless at least for her sake, with manicured teeth.]

[dragonsattendant]

[ She smiles back, somewhat shy. ] It's nice to meet you, Mr. Alois. [ What are surnames? ] I... might be a little ignorant about this, but what does being an Earl mean? Is it like royalty?

[faking]

[Oh, well, he can't find it in himself to be curt with her. If she were an adult, sure, he'd be mocking and crow his higher knowledge or whatever ridiculous thing, but a kid doesn't know that much, right? Alois didn't know the difference between an Earl and a Viscount and a Marquis when he was younger, to be sure. It's pretty complicated, and he had to spend a while learning.

It's probably dangerous for his heart, and he knows it, but he ends up going soft for the little ones, most of the time.]

Mm, not quite, love. An Earl is more like someone appointed by royalty. A man and a family who are entitled to special things, but not so many special things as the Queen. I have a household, you see, and I'm in charge of certain places.