⇨ 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

[pokepochette]

Huh?

_{[The voice that comes from in front of her has her looking up from her feet, vision blurry as she spots the older boy before her. He seems to be around Clemont's age, if not a little younger. The blue eyes, blond hair (although neatly combed and not a mess like Clemont's) and friendly smile all remind her of him which makes her heart ache even more.]}

A sweetie?

[faking]

A little treat, that is to say. [He jams his hand into his coat pocket—his coat is lavender and lined with fur, very pretty, and he's wearing a scarf that looks like a bird... His clothing and otherwise fairness compliments the faerie magic about him; when he holds his hand out to the little girl, it's marked here and there with gemstones. He's self-conscious about that, but...

There are three little hard candies sitting in his palm.]

When I'm crying, I know I like to have something good. How about you?

[pokepochette]

_{[She sniffs as she nods in reply, blue eyes wide and wet while they focus on the candies being offered. He's not wrong. Sweet things are a good way to soothe the soul. Dedenne climbs her leg to settle on her knees to get a better look at what's being offered, but for once doesn't eagerly snatch the sweets for himself. They're not for him but his weepy owner (who'll probably share with him anyway).]}

Uh huh...I do.

[faking]

See? I knew it. You've a good head on your shoulders, don't you, love. [Alois laughs on a breath, a few quiet puffs, hand still held out, candy atop his palm.] Go on, then, there you are. Sweets for the sweet. Pop one into your mouth, and I'm sure you'll be able to show me a smile.

[pokepochette]

_{[He's charming, she realizes quickly, taking the sweets with a soft thank you. Unwrapping one she pops it in her mouth, setting the wrapper beside her. Dedenne squeaks up at her which she can't ignore, unwrapping one for him that he happily takes when offered. The last one she holds out back toward Alois. She was given three, after all, and there's three of them here. Might as well share all around, right?]}

You should have the last one.

[faking]

[Gently, gently, in a way he hasn't been for years, Alois exhales. He shuts his eyes for a moment, and then opens them up again, just enough to look at her while he smiles.] But I feel quite well today, [he says. There: he's already told her his first lie.] And a treat like this is for something sad. Why don't you keep it for later?

[pokepochette]

But I want to share it.

_{[She gets what he's saying, sure, but it doesn't sit right with her. There were three candies and there's three of them!]}

I got one, Dedenne got one, and you should get the last. Candies don't have to always be for sad times!

[faking]

[Of course she wants to share it. Of course. A very long time ago, Alois knew a little boy who would have shared as well. Of course, they were never able to have sweets together. Just bits of bread. Some apples. But the Macken brothers were always trying to feed each other.

...

Alois takes the candy back out of Bonnie's hand, between thumb and forefinger.]

Yes, you're a sweetie after all. [He unwraps the candy.] What's your name, love?

[pokepochette]

_{[Placated when he takes the candy back, Bonnie seems to settle down again, shoulders sagging as she rolls the candy around in her mouth. Sticking it in her cheek to speak again she answers, a bit more cheery than before, if only because she's been distracted from her sorrows for the moment being.]}

My name's Bonnie.

[faking]

[Alois drops the candy into his own mouth, graciously, and then sets his hands at his chin, grinning.]

Lovely to meet you, Bonnie lass. I'm Earl Alois Trancy, not that many care about that here. But for you, just Alois.

[pokepochette]

You're an Earl?!

_{[Yup, officially distracted. She actually knows what that is too, lucky you Alois.]}

Oh wow! You must be important!

[faking]

[Now he's grinning even brighter, charmed and charming, laughing softly through the line of his teeth.] Important back home, perhaps! I'm the master of my manor and all the lands with it. There's much to be done with a title like that.

[...Although Claude did most of that work...]

Here, I'm getting by like anyone else.

[pokepochette]

I'm not important back home...but my brother is! He's amazing!

_{[She's clearly a usually chatty one, which Alois is sure to pick up on.]}

He's the Pokemon gym leader of Lumiose city and he's also a genius!

[faking]

Now, now, [he says, and reaches forward to gently tap the tip of her nose with his index finger, just once.] I'm sure you're quite important, if your genius brother has any real sense about him. I'm afraid I don't know much about Pokemon—only a little. ["Crobat is creepy as fuck" is pretty much the peak of his knowledge.] Your little friend, there, I suppose he's one?

[pokepochette]

You know about Pokemon?

_{[Ah now that gets her to brighten, even if he said he only knows a 'little'. It's still better than nothing!]}

Uh huh! This is Dedenne! He's a Electric Fairy type Pokemon.

[faking]

I do, I do. This guy I met here— [Alois isn't going to dignify Silver with any elaboration.] —He's a cunt, but he has creatures like that, and I've heard a bit about them from time to time. Yours is much cuter than his, though. He's a little fairy, huh?

[pokepochette]

A cunt...what's that?

_{[Don't answer her. Better yet, try and watch your language around her. Wide, blue blinking eyes look up at Alois curiously. Do you really want to ruin someone as pure as her? Of course the need to know what the new word means is overshadowed once she realizes who he's talking about.]}

Oh, do you mean Silver? He has a Crobat! I love it! It's so sweet. I think Crobat is cute but you're right, Dedenne is so cute.

_{[The little creature chitters its name in reply, clearly chuffed at the compliment. Letting him crawl into her palms she holds him out for Alois to get a better look and acquainted.]}

Fairy and electric. Did you know dragons are afraid of fairies?

[faking]

A cunt is a... You know... [Alois doesn't seem perturbed at all; he's speaking quite casually, and he worries his lip, eyes skyward, considering his phrasing.] Someone really rotty... Just terrible... A complete and utter bother. Someone you don't like. That's right; if you don't like somebody, you call them a cunt. [He punctuates this with a sweet little smile, pleased with himself for explaining it properly. (So he thinks.) But...] And, yeah, it's Silver. You've met? I'm sure you can see what I mean.

[Never mind Crobat; it creeps Alois out. Anyway—] I'd suppose most things are afraid of fairies! But that's still amazing. A dragon, a dragon, I hadn't thought to wonder about them!

[pokepochette]

Yeah, I've met him...I don't think he's that much of a cunt though? He's just a bit tough, that's all. Besides, if he was really that terrible, his Golbat wouldn't have evolved into a Crobat! He said I could visit his trailer too if I got sad so...

_{[He can't be that cunty, Alois.]}

Dragons are afraid of fairies because they're weak against them.

[faking]

[As his chin settles against the tops of his knees, Alois exhales through his nose, and takes a moment to crunch through his hard candy. He's usually too impatient for hard candy in the first place, but now he's chewing on it because he's thinking really intensely. Frankly he doesn't get a shit about Golbats or Crobats or whatever the fuck, but...]

He can be okay, here and there, [Alois concedes reluctantly. If only for Bonnie's sake.] You know, his trailer is my trailer, too, so you can definitely come whenever. Don't feel like you have to be alone, all right? And you can teach me more about fairies and dragons.

[pokepochette]

Oh really? You live with him?

_{[Ah...so clearly the feeling of distaste is mutual, considering what Silver said briefly to her about his trailer mate.]}

I don't know that much though...I'm not a Pokemon expert like my brother.

[faking]

Unfortunately. [But he doesn't let his discontent ruin how sweet he is toward Bonnie; Alois is wrinkling his nose, but he's still endeared and syrupy.] You'll stay with someone, too, hopefully someone who treats you well. But you may always, always come and find me, and I will march to the animal pens and find some gobs of shit, and I'll use them to smother whomever is being unkindly toward you. So don't worry, all right? You'll be fine here.

[Okay. Okay, yeah, he's projecting really, really hard. He's self-aware enough to know it, too. But that doesn't mean he's stopping it...

Anyway, she's a good kid, and don't good kids deserve to be protected? It's a rarity, in Alois' opinion, so he supposes he should make it happen.

...]

You know more than me, I'm sure, so you've still a chance to be my tutor. How wonderful!