⇨ 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

Karaoke

[fastestdraw]

"We-ell, none of 'em were ever sung where I'm from."

Look over your shoulder, fellow.

A centaur-skeleton's trotted up behind the apparent newcomer. He points to himself with a thumb on the word "I'm", all the while keeping his voice on the softer side but higher-pitched and lilted - in attempt at conveying friendliness and invitation. It might not be strictly necessary - with all the types who work at and visit the carnival, there's no need to assume anyone who'd gotten in deep enough for orientation will be all that shocked by anything they see - but still, pleasantness has its solid value, especially toward coworkers, new and otherwise!

"But you get to know 'em when you been riding with the carnival for a few years!

"Y'all looking for something particular, son?"

Ends that with a small head-tilt, and the turning of an index finger toward his chin.

[solaris9]

Another one?? Well, at least a skeleton-person isn't as eye-popping the second go around, but it's still new enough for Goku's gaze to linger in what might not exactly be the most polite manner.

He seems friendly enough, though and that's quite enough in Goku's book.

"Uh...not really, I guess?"

It's actually kind of hard to think up of song titles off the top of your head, and the list here is so extensive he doesn't even know where to begin.

"What do you like?"

[fastestdraw]

Easel guffaws - a straight-up "hyuk!" - and

"Well, the one I'm most partial to's already spoken for!" He points and taps a bony finger toward a title. "If y'all wanna take my recommendation anyway, better to wait about an hour, I reckon!"

Straightens back up and crosses his arms before bringing a hand up toward his chin and steadily tilting his head from side to side. He picks up the pace in his speech just a tad.

"But if y'all wanna get right to the singin'..."

Easel taps the side of his hat a couple of times - miming scratching his head.

"You wanna try something nice and easy, or you wanna make an impression with these here folks straight away?"

Insofar as karaoke-partying abilities go, natch.

[solaris9]

What a funny way of talking, Goku thinks. But he's enjoying hearing the 'y'alls' and the 'reckons,' as it reminds him of how out of this world he is right now. No longer in Shangri-la, that's for sure. What a bunch of stories he'll have to bring back to Sanzo and everyone!

He grins and thinks on the various options skeleton guy #2 lays out for him.

"Uh, how about the second option?"

Goku thinks about it for a moment and then adds: "Maybe you can sing along, too."

[fastestdraw]

His reply to the newcomer's first answer is an instantaneous "Sure thing!"

And - he's started floating toward an idea when the proposition comes in. Again, he chuckles a bit. "Now, that ain't a maybe - " He lifts an index finger. "That there's an 'absolutely'!

"After all..."

He leans in to flip through the songs, and then...

"It ain't what I'd ordinarily go for, but y'all are gonna need backup for this one."

He takes a moment to point nice and clearly to "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Indeed, a bit out of his own personal comfort zone, but after having had it a few times?

Yeah. If you want to be remembered at a karaoke party, it's certainly one to give a try.

[solaris9]

"Cool!" Goku says, clearly having no clue what he's just signed up for. A song is a song, right? Even if he doesn't know it, it should be easy enough to pick up after a verse or two.

He peers at the display when the guy points to it with his bony finger. Obviously it's a song he's never heard of, but it sounds kinda pretty?

"I can be your backup, then. Put it on!"

[fastestdraw]

Easel chuckles - gonna dive right on into it, eh?

"Aww-right, then!"

He admires your adventurousness, kid - even only in regards to a karaoke song! This oughta be fun - hopefully for both of them, even if only in retrospect, and if nothing else!

He gives a very quick point.

"Name's Easel, by the way! And guessin' y'all ain't never heard this one, neither, so I gotta say, when in doubt, just follow my cues and sing a lick higher than I do!"

And with that - he gets the song cued, takes the mic with a polite and gracious nod, and gives the new fellow a smooth beckoning wave.

Starts a capella, but he's heard it here enough times to have a pretty good read on when to sing the starting lyrics - in the very best higher-end tenor he can sustain (which sacrifices little faithfulness in pitch for the sake of the sustainability part):

"Is this the real liiiiife...?
Is this just fantasy...
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality!"

And he bends down just a tad - with another quick wave in to encourage the kid to at least give a shot at joining in on the next part! Open your eyes, look up to the skies, and see-ee-ee...!

[solaris9]

Yup, diving straight in. Goku picks up a microphone, still blithely unawares.

"I'm Goku! Nice to meetcha. And nope, never heard of this one!" But he's gonna give it a go anyway, let's do this!

The song starts -- or more like, Easel starts, as there's no music to go along with it. It's nice a slow at least, so Goku picks up around the second verse or so, carefully following along with the lyrics as they flit across the screen.

Cool song! he thinks to himself.

"I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
A little high, little low..."

He grins. This is a cinch!

[fastestdraw]

Easel manages to return with a "pleasure's all mine, sonny!" and hat-tip before the song starts off proper.

And, you know what? Easel grins along as the youngster (Goku - repeats it mentally to himself - Goku, right!) starts following along, regardless of whether or not he's going to be ready for it kicking off a bit more.

"Any way the wind blows
Doesn't really matter to me
To me..."

He nods nice and deep into that last note - for effect.

And... another section's starting - only fair for him to take point on it! He straightens out.

"Mama...
Just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled the trigger, now he's dead...!"

[solaris9]

Wow, these lyrics sound weirdly familiar! Maybe it's the whole pulling on someone and killing them dead. Suddenly, Goku misses Sanzo for some completely unrelated reason.

He thinks the song sounds real pretty, though. Very booming and full of feelings. He studies the screen carefully as he sings along:

"Mama, life had just begun,
But now I've gone and thrown it all away.

Mama, ooh,
Didn't mean to make you cry,
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow,
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters."

The lyrics take a break, and he grins at Easel.

"I like this song!"