⇨ 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

[otokogi]

[ Ahhh, a laugh! Mitsuki's so pleased and still enjoying the lingering giddiness of performing, so he laughs too. ] Maybe later. I want to make sure everyone who wants a turn gets one.

[ Her answer isn't really a surprise (though she wouldn't be the first shy performer he's met, either) but the reply about the games is. ]

Like a dancing game? That's kind of like performing, if people are watching! That sounds like it'd be a fun place to work, too. You'll get to meet so many people.

[waitingforplayer2]

Oh, maybe there are dancing games! I've played some of them, they're really fun... I guess I wouldn't mind if people were watching then, I'd be too focused on it.

But... if there's anywhere I have to work at a circus, the games seem right for me. I really like them. [ She hesitates, but: ] I was called the, um... Super High School Level Gamer back home.

[otokogi]

Yeah, I like those too! I don't get to play a lot of arcade games but those ones are pretty fun.

[ Mitsuki listens, expecting some kind of nickname for sure but not that. It's... long, for a nickname. ]

Super High School Level Gamer, huh? You must've been really good, then. I don't know a lot of girls who are that good at video games, that's cool! You're literally getting to do what you love!

[ He doesn't know that many girls but that's a detail he'll just leave out for now. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

Well... hopefully I'll be good at it. It seems like there's a lot of different kinds of games in the Gamer's Circle.

[ They're kind of fascinating. ]

If you come over, we could play sometime! After I figure out how they work, at least...

[otokogi]

Yeah, there were lots of midway games when I was walking around earlier. Things with water guns and darts, stuff like that!

[ He kind of likes the idea of a midway with video games too, though. Much more modern! ]

Oh, of course! Hopefully they're not too complicated, but maybe there'll be someone there who can show you.

[waitingforplayer2]

If there isn't, figuring it out will be kind of like a game, too.

So... are you in the show?

[otokogi]

That's a good way to think of it.

Mmm... I'm not sure yet. I have an idea I want to talk to Joker about, but if that doesn't work out then I'll probably be in a sideshow.

[waitingforplayer2]

Oh...!

[ She doesn't know much about how many shows or sideshows there are. She tilts her head. ]

That sounds... interesting? [ Probably? ] Do you think she'll say yes?

[ To whatever it is. ]

[otokogi]

I think so! I don't think there's anything like it yet in the carnival, which is the most important part. It's a kind of sneak peek show, so the performers can come show off new parts of their act or just a quick preview, you know? And then I can interview them, because a lot of the time they don't get to talk during their acts! Especially if they're up on the trapeze or working with animals. Nobody gets to know them.

[ Which is important to him. Performers have to be people too, even if sometimes either they or the audience aren't strictly human. He looks a little sheepish when he's done talking--that was a lot to say. ]

Of course she might just get someone else to host it, but at least it'd happen!

[waitingforplayer2]

That's a really good idea. [ She grins. ] I think they'd really like that. I'll bet your audience would too.

She should give you a chance, too. It's your idea, anyway, right?

[otokogi]

[ His audience. What an amazing thought. He doesn't feel like he's earned it, but he can! The fact that she phrases it that way makes him glow a little, though. ]

I hope she will. She seems pretty reasonable. I just have to really sell it! And you'd come see it, right? Maybe you could even be in it, if you get a new game you want to show off.

[waitingforplayer2]

I'd come.

[ She laughs a little at the idea of her being in the show. ] And... maybe. I guess there was that time in The Wizard when everyone watched gamers play for the final battle... Do you really think people would like that?

[otokogi]

[ Mitsuki is visibly pleased to hear this. One committed audience member! And it's one he's already won over! ]

The Wizard...? Either way though, I do think they would! People like to watch other people having fun at things they're good at, that's all entertainment is. We get to have fun alongside them that way.