⇨ 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

variss felbrush | supervisor (wardrobe manager) | open to all!

[yellbrush]

i. orientation, pre-alcohol

[ anyone who tries to stay near the walls is about to run into one of the most intimidating woman they've ever seen in their life.

she is at least seven feet tall. her brow is furled. she's covered in demonic parts, from a pair of leathery wings on her back to the rough hooves on her feet. and most importantly, she is wearing this sweatshirt, complete with neat slits for her wings to go through.

she's got a hunk of very lightly cooked meat in one hand, and a red plastic cup of alcohol gripped tightly in the other. don't judge - she's still on probation with actual glass.

if you linger too long in looking at her, she'll snap without looking over: ]

Out with it. What do you want?

ii. orientation, post-alcohol

[ the previously stoic woman is... well, still entirely stoic. she's sitting down on the ground now, glaring at anyone who dares to get near her - but hey, at least she's not actually yelling at anyone!

she's actually been strangely quiet for about fifteen minutes now, and anyone that's met her in the past might be able to notice something's up. when the next person on-stage finishes, she staggers to her feet, making her way to the stage and grabbing the microphone. she doesn't bother with a backing track - she just lifts it to her lips and starts singing the main melody of a song.

it's... not entirely unpleasant. her voice is rough, and she clearly wasn't a singer in this life or the last one, but at least she's mostly on key. the lyrics are all in some other language, and only those in the crowd with a grasp on darnassian are going to be able to work out just what she's singing.

she finally finishes. for a moment, she wavers on her feet. then she unceremoniously drops the microphone to the ground and stumbles off. when she reaches her previous position, she sits and clutches her head, her breathing ragged.

looks like variss isn't the greatest drunk. ]

post-alcohol because panda can handle (maybe)

[mistweaver]

[Wrong elf language, but Jou can actually fake it, so the Pandaren looks rather thoughtful. She heads to the bar and sniffs over a number of the available bottles, selecting one, and then steps over quietly to the--well, probably she was a night elf, once, but the Illidari don't seem to quibble about that these days, do they?

Considering Jou is Huojin, she doesn't want to say the wrong thing. So she just offers up the booze, giving a slight bow, wordless and respectful.

The alcohol? It's lighter, probably, than what Variss had been drinking, but still rather kicky. It probably won't make her more drunk, but the Celestials know the elf woman is there already.]

drunkbrush is a lot of elf to handle. are you really sure

[yellbrush]

[ with this much alcohol running through her, it's hard to focus her senses. the sounds of song, the lingering taste of whiskey, the scent of old cloth and sweat... and the voice within her on top of it all. it's overwhelming, to say the least.

but she's still fully capable of noticing when someone's approaching. she pulls away somewhat as jou sets the drink down, trying to figure out what it is she can sense in them, and only speaks when she's finally able to put a word from her memory to it. ]

...Pandaren. [ she's seen them before - ever so rarely, but she knows of them. ] You are Pandaren?

[ her voice is hoarse and low, but it's the least aggressive she's sounded in weeks. ]

Jou is nursing staff, she better be

[mistweaver]

[She bows again as the elf names her race, speaking softly, but not too softly. They're still at a rowdy party, after all.]

Hai, I am that. Jou Shan Aleflower at your service...such as it is. [She gives a little shrug at the last, and a rueful chuckle.]

You are...Illidari? [Unlike some, Jou does not speak the word with a sneer. Of course, she and her people had been told about Illidan, and Jou had seen Outland, but she had always been the type to think for herself. Thus what others simply told her is taken with a grain of salt. There is, at least, a modicum of respect, there. She does not know their sacrifices, as the Illidari say--but as one who thinks, she suspects.]

Post-alcohol

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Zecora has come equipped -- knowing full well the penchant some of the staff have for indulgence. As she approaches, she reaches into her pouch to bring out a small flask with her teeth. Luckily, she can talk around it perfectly well...]

I have something you should drink.
It will help you, I quite think.

[yellbrush]

[ her interactions with zecora have been fairly few apart from the vampire attack - even if her body doesn't heal at quite the level she's used to anymore, it's not slow by any means. still, she certainly is able to identify that unique energy approaching her, and she's certainly able to trust it'll be safe without too much hesitation.

she doesn't bother looking up. she just reaches out, holding out her hand expectantly. ]

Am I to drink it all?

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Yes indeed.
That best serves your need.

[Zecora places the flask in her hand carefully, then takes a step back to give her space. The brew couldn't do her any harm, but some had described it as feeling hot in their veins for a moment, and nopony likes being hovered over when they're letting a feeling like that pass.]

Re: variss felbrush | supervisor (wardrobe manager) | open to all!

[dorkypantsuit]

[The Psionic just grins wider at her angry comment.]

Are you trying to look intimidating?

[yellbrush]

I am intimidating.

[ is it possible to sound both intimidating and like a five-year-old? because that's kind of what variss is ending up with right now. ]

pre-alcohol

[waitingforplayer2]

[ It's hard not to stare, honestly. The woman's among the stranger people Chiaki's seen tonight, and there are a lot of them.

She averts her gaze quickly when she's snapped at, face growing warm. What does she even say to that? ]

Sorry. I didn't mean to be... Everything's just so strange here.

[yellbrush]

Get used to it. This place waits for no one.

[ she sizes up chiaki without ever looking towards her - her scent, the sound she makes, even the energy that comes from her. ]

You are a new hire, then?

ii

[fourthscribe]

[She has no idea what the song means. She could catch a few words in there, the few bits and pieces of darnassian that she's picked up from working alongside her supervisor, but...it's pretty obvious that whatever the contents, it's the product of her feeling fairly miserable.]

[And a miserable Variss did not make for a pleasant experience for anyone.]

[Tanyuu slithers over to just the edge of Variss's personal bubble with a glass in hand, and clears her throat to get the elf's attention.]

I have some water for you, if you would like.

[yellbrush]

[ variss lets tanyuu approach and make her presence known. even if the extra steps are mostly meaningless, she holds a certain level of respect for the attempt being made - especially given the person who's making it.

she doesn't respond vocally for a good few moments. but eventually, she reaches out, snatches the glass from tanyuu's hands, and takes a good long drink. she sets it down carefully by her side before speaking: ]

I can take care of myself.

[ well that's a real shitty way to say "thank you" variss ]

ii

[respired]

[ Koltira knows that song. It's one of the few he still remembers, in fact.

Mostly because it's about his people.

He stares at Variss as she sings, gripping his potent pink drink tightly. So tightly that spiderweb fractures shoot through the glass; if he applies any more pressure, the whole thing is liable to shatter and burst. When she finishes singing, he sets the drink down--none too gingerly, but at least it doesn't break--and stalks over to her.

She's clearly a night elf, but also clearly one of the Illidari, so-- ]

Bal'a dash.

A lovely song. Would that these people understood what it meant.

[yellbrush]

Sinu a'manore..

[ the words come as a nearly automatic response. they are reminders of a life years ago, both of the kaldorei she lived with and the sin'dorei which came to the temple. but as her senses finally focus, any nostalgia she might feel is drained away. ]

You reek of death. [ if that isn't enough accusation, her shoulders take care of the rest - drawing in tight, tensing as she braces herself against the ground. she'd felt his presence earlier, when he first made his contract, but this close it's almost overwhelming.

not the best way to introduce herself to her new roommate, but she's not exactly worried about first impressions. ]

pre-alcohol

[solaris9]

[ He's staring again. Skeleton people. Dead people. (And possibly cannibals). It's not like anywhere else he's ever been. Goku now encounters this very tall person with animal feet and wings. How very strange! But he finds it amazing, too. Wings! ]

Oh. I dunno. You look kinda cool, that's all. [ He grins. ]

[yellbrush]

[ that wasn't the reaction she was gunning for. she scowls at him, her wings twitching irritably along with her. ]

Very well. Have you seen enough yet?

pre-alcohol ...

[starpact]

[ he flinches at the harshness of her question, but quickly recovers. oh, felbrush. always with the yelling and the bullying. ]

Well, I didn't expect to see you again so soon! Haha...

[ it's a very weak laugh. in other words: he totally didn't listen when she warned him about, you know, gifts and payment and... whatever. honestly, he's already forgotten the specifics of it. ]

But it seems like... it could be worse?

[yellbrush]

[ listen, yelling and bullying is kind of her thing. and speaking of- she sees him flinch, but she's not quite ready to stop yet. she's got something important to say. ]

Yes. It could. [ and then, before he has any chance to take that as a kindness- ] You could have died when you ignored my words.

pre-alcohol!!

[cutcrease]

[ Junko, herself, has her own red cup. While she actually could've gotten a glass one, she's chosen the red one for her own stupid satisfaction. She may be tall (taller than she was before, anyway), but the woman who stands out against the wall is.... is....... Well, just dying for some good old, face to face interaction.

Except she waits just a little too long trying to think over the conversation and she's called out. Her smile spreads a little, fangs visible, as she invites herself over. ]

I just really like your sweater. It fits someone like you really well.

[ Part of her is being a dick and the other part is genuine!!!! She idly swishes her cup around, the liquid spilling out on the floor. ]

Anyway, why are you over by the wall, exactly? Shouldn't you be talking to the newbies or whatever? This IS a meet n' greet.

[yellbrush]

[ she doesn't respond too vocally to that. the biggest thing she has to go off is joker's words earlier, after all - she's got no idea what to make of all of this. but from what she's gathered, this satan figure is a being of power in the afterlife - one who is good at its job, and frightening to some.

there are worse comparisons to be made. ]

Very well. [ and with a nod, she lets junko say her piece, carefully keeping track of her with her senses - the girl's scent, the sound of liquor rushing and flowing onto the ground. once the other girl has finished, variss speaks up, almost dryly: ]

We were told not to scare them.

[ she can't be blamed for not interacting with others as long as she's following orders, right? ]

1! your designer is here please dont kill me

[kashuu]

( for being a sword who fights monsters just as intimidating as her, kashuu can handle this. though, since he doesn't know her, he might as well be ready just in case for what may happen. but let's move on to important matters shall we? it's that shirt that maes kashuu brow raise as he stares... out of all things, why? )

Well, like, I'm trying to understand what's up with that hideous getup?

( there he goes, telling it like it is to him which maybe he shouldn't talk like this to his boss.... rip. ) Those white lines on the sleeve just isn't cutting it, do you see what I mean?

she's not allowed to murder her workers. kashuu is lucky today

[yellbrush]

It was a challenge. Nothing more.

[ her scowl remains firmly in place as she speaks - but oddly, she doesn't seem particularly offended by kashuu's comment. at least, she's not any more offended than she always looks. ]

Make no mistake, were this intended as a costume, I would have burned it on the spot.

i!

[rescuee]

[ Jajo hadn't meant to stare — but of course, it'd been difficult not to. She's one of the tallest people he's seen here, even almost as tall as himself. She has horns — and hooves, even. (He doesn't have hooves anymore, just metal replacements, but there had been a time.) The blindfold had really topped it all off, enabling him to look for a few seconds longer than he might have allowed himself otherwise —

— And, of course, she catches him. He flinches immediately, and instinctively drops his gaze down into his own glass (so far untouched). ]

Oh. Well. Not much, at the moment. [ He better invent something, though, or else he'll just have been staring. So, after a frantic second or two: ] You just reminded me a little of a tundan. I may have been being nostalgic.

busts through all older tags, finally reaches this nerd

[yellbrush]

[ even if she cannot see with her eyes, she has many other ways to sense just what he means. the click of metal limbs against the ground, the life emanating off him as high as he stands, the horned figure she can perceive mere feet away... ]

Tundan. [ his people, she assumes. but she still presses for more, with: ] Am I to take offense at that?