⇨ 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

[solaris9]

"You're dead??"

Whoa. But how did that work? Goku's eyes widened. And he couldn't help but try to reach out and touch the guy on the arm, just to make sure he was still there.

"But you're walking and talking. And stuff. How come you're dead?"

[swordfishtrombones]

"Yes, I'm quite dead! The only thing keeping me alive is my soul, still tethered to his earth, I'm afraid!" Wow, he sounded awfully cheerful about that.

Predictably, Brook's arm felt... well, bony.

"I was wiped out many years ago, along with all of my friends. It was... quite painful." In fact, thinking about his fellows still made Brook want to tear up, so instead he turned back to Goku. "Have you ever heard of the 'Devil Fruit', young man?"

[solaris9]

That actually didn't sound completely weird! But Goku had seen some odd things with souls (was that the word for it?) back in Shangri-la. He knew a guy who could bring people back to life by yanking out the souls from dead people and pushing them into another dead person. He wasn't sure how all that worked, but anyway.

"Sorry about that," Goku said, feeling a little guilty about making the guy remember his own death and the deaths of his friends.

As for Devil Fruit: "And I dunno what that is. Is it tasty?"

[swordfishtrombones]

This seemed to make Brook forget all about his sadness. And whatever it was he was about to tell Goku, for that matter. He shuddered and clutched at his stomach and cravat, as if remembering something totally gross.

"Ugh! Blech! No. It's nasty. Indefensibly the worst fruit I've ever tasted."

[solaris9]

Gross, okay. Goku liked all sorts of fruits, so it was shame this one was so nasty. Even so, he'd like to try it for himself anyway...

"Why, you have some?"

He was the adventurous one, after all.

[swordfishtrombones]

Oh, right -- his story. "Yes, and it was totally disgusting! But it did give me the power to return from the dead. I was supposed to use that power to come back to life, but I got lost. Yohoho!"

Was that

funny...?

"By the time I found my body again, it was like this! Nothing but bones!"

[solaris9]

"Ooooooh."

Fruit that could bring you back from the dead! This sounded way better than the soul swapping thing. This way, you didn't need to kill someone else to come back.

"Well it's cool you got back anyway. What about your friends...?"

[swordfishtrombones]

"They're all dead. Eradicated, to a man. I buried them under the banner of the Rumbar Pirates."

WAY TO BE A DOWNER, GOKU.

"But they have a fine memorial now. It's in a peaceful spot, where you can hear the the birds in the morning. I'm sure they would have been happy to know their final resting place was somewhere filled with music."

[solaris9]

"Oh."

SORRY SORRY OH WOW. That sounded real awful. Goku had been hoping that this guy's friends had also eaten the Devil's Fruit and resurrected themselves, even as a skeletons.

Goku frowns guiltily.

"Sorry..." he said once again. "That does sound nice, though. The birds and all. I used to be friends with one."

It got him through a real hard time.

[swordfishtrombones]

"Really? How wonderful! One of my new crewmates is a reindeer -- he's the ship's doctor, as a matter of fact. Yohohoho!"

Everyone liked Chopper. What a stand-up guy. And/or deer. In any case, the change in subject seemed to do Brook good.

"What was this bird's name, if I may ask?"

[solaris9]

"Uh," Goku ducked his head a little, somewhat embarrassed.

"Birdie."

He was very young at the time okay? It seemed like the best name to him.

"But that's kinda cool, your reindeer doctor, I mean. I have a dragon that's also a Jeep."

Technically, Jeep was Hakkai's, but that was details. Or...really, Jeep was his own person. Dragon.

[swordfishtrombones]

"Oh, yeah? Well, Chopper-san is also a person! That is, a human! Sort of." Somehow, this was a competition to Brook, who was ready to go toe-to-toe on this new subject of Things People I Know Can Turn Into, But I Actually Had Nothing to Do With.

"It counts!"

[solaris9]

"Okay!" It counts, yes. Goku nods and nods. Dragons, reindeer, they're people too. Especially ones that can be other things, like doctors and cars. (It makes sense in Goku's mind, okay?)

Come to think, he's told him his bird's name and the guy told him his reindeer friend's name, but they haven't even introduced themselves yet.

"What's your name, by the way? I'm Goku."

[swordfishtrombones]

"Goku? Goku....? Sounds strangely familiar..." Brook mused, this was a meta moment. He gave a little bow and flourish -- it looked surprisingly elegant, considering its source was a skeleton in a frilly suit.

"My name is Brook. Of course, some people just call me 'Soul King'. Come see my show sometime, and you'll see why!"

[solaris9]

"Really...?"

He blinks curiously. Did Brook know someone else named Goku? How weird! Goku's the only Goku he's ever known. His name is very special to him, too.

"And it's nice to meetcha, Brook! Uh, what kinda show do you do?"

[swordfishtrombones]

"I throw concerts! I'm also fond of more intimate venues, but I don't think they kidnapped me to play in bars. Yohoho!" He sounded... weirdly at peace with this.

"Do you know any instruments, Mr. Goku?"

[solaris9]

"Uh...I dunno about instruments. I can sing?" Sort of. He can carry a tune. But he figures he ought to offer up something. They seem to have lots of shows and stuff here, so maybe he should pick up a talent?

"Did you say you were kidnapped...?"

[swordfishtrombones]

"Yes. A couple of Long-Armed fellows caught me and stuffed me in a cage to use as a sideshow attraction! That's how I got started in show business." This all sounded terrible, but Brook looked back fondly on those nice fellows who had stuffed him in that metal box.

They really weren't too bad when you got to know them......

"This place reminds me a little of that time. People crowding around, staring at you..."

[solaris9]

It did sound terrible. Goku has been kidnapped before too (or at least, thrown into a jail that he had to bust out of), so he knows all about that sort of thing. It doesn't seem to bother Brook so much, but maybe he's just not as upset anymore.

"Sorry about that," Goku says, apologizing to him for what seems like the hundredth time.

"I was in a cage for a long time, too. But no one came around to stare at me." It was a lot lonelier than that.

[swordfishtrombones]

"What? Really? That sounds super lonely!" It was bad enough, being kidnapped -- getting ignored in the bargain was adding insult to injury!

"So how'd you make good your escape, eh? Did it involve any exciting brawls?" From Brook's manner, he was hoping that the answer was 'yes'.

[solaris9]

"It kinda was. Lonely, I mean." But for a guy who'd been holed up in a cave by himself for 500 years, Goku certainly doesn't look that bad off. It's because the joy of being found and freed had taken over his years-long feelings of sadness and filled him up with something else instead.

He perks up when Brook asks about his escape.

"Haha, nope, no brawl. Even though I've been in lots of those since then. It was Sanzo who found me and let me out." Goku smiles brightly. It was the best day of his life, and it shows as he remembers. He could've sworn Sanzo was pure sunlight. The cave had been so dark and dank, compared to the warmth that radiated from Sanzo then.

[swordfishtrombones]

"Sanzo, is it? I hope you at least got to exact a little payback afterwards." If Goku's captors hadn't even bothered to let him out themselves -- goodness.

"Do you know, I haven't been in a single fight since I got here! Well, except for that one fellow who tried to kill me. But other than that, no one's even taken a swing!"

Can you imagine...?

"Maybe it's quiet for the moment because it's the off-season?"

[solaris9]

"Haha. I dunno who put me in there, so I couldn't really beat 'em up for it. Anyway, I might've done something bad to deserve it..." He shrugs. Goku hasn't really thought too much about who put him in there. He only remembers how cold and lonely it was, and even those memories seem to bother him less over time.

"...someone tried to kill you? Here? What happened?"

[swordfishtrombones]

Now Brook got all in a huff. "Why, I was just minding my own business, stuffing myself... er, partaking in some of the excellent food. That's when some whippersnapper came out of nowhere and started interrogating me!

"I started to tell him why I was here -- which was no mean feat, mind you, since he was an interrupter -- and then he pulled out a cudgel and tried to smash my face in! ...Though I don't have a face. Yohohoho!" Honestly, kids these days.

[solaris9]

"Whoa! Did this ... uh ... whipper-snapper know you? Why would he just attack you for no reason?"

At least, Goku assumes it's for no reason. Because Brook is such a nice guy (yes, he's already concluded this after just a short conversation!) he can't really imagine what he could've done to deserve getting his face (or non-face) bashed in!