⇨ 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

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.]

[yellbrush]

[ without another world, variss uncorks the flask and drinks it down. there is a burning sensation, for a moment, but it's not even worth considering. she has felt far, far worse before, after all. a frown crosses her face as she waits for it to pass, and once it finally has- ]

There. [ she tosses the flask back to the zebra - underhand and surprisingly gently, given her reputation. ] And what is my price?

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[That is a good way to toss a thing to a being that has to catch it in her mouth. Which she does, quite handily, then tucks the flask away back into her cloak -- likely to join several others. She knows how this night goes.]

As always, my price takes no great wealth.
Simply be mindful of your health.

[The happiest doctor is one whose services aren't needed, of course.]

[yellbrush]

[ she scowls at that, clearly displeased with the mandate. she didn't get this far in life by using patience or caution, after all - she's much more of a "engage first and ask questions if you're alive afterwards" type. but the doctor's done her a favor yet again, and so variss reluctantly nods her assent. ]

It will be done.

[ she supposes that means water, doesn't it. ]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[No, it means in general!]

[Zecora regards her for a moment longer. She knows little about the woman save that she is not human and some of her changes predate her arrival here -- the sort of thing any doctor needs to know.]

Forgive the comment, but I think
You are different when you drink.

[yellbrush]

[ that gets a scowl out of variss. even if it was meant kindly, it hits a little too close to home. ]

...you are mistaken. [ she bristles as she says it, sitting up to gain at least a little height in the exchange. ] I am myself. Nothing more.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Height is a relatively easy thing to gain, given that Zecora's head tends to be chest-high or so on a standing human. Though her sitting makes it a different matter.]

[Still, she takes no offense to the bristling, continuing to smile warmly.

Of course you are, but with many sides.
When one turns forward, another hides.
Now you can tell me not to ask
But tending to people is my task.
And understanding your action
Gives my efforts traction.

[yellbrush]

[ she sorts out what the zebra is taking - a quicker ordeal than it would have been were she still drunk - and shakes her head with a furious scowl. ]

You could not possibly understand what drives me.

[ sorry, zecora. she's a drama queen regardless of what she's drunk that night. ]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[As if this bothers the zebra. Drama rolls off her, unable to find purchase. Or at least, this drama does.]

An easy statement to sell
When you will not even tell.

[yellbrush]

My sacrifices are my own to know, doctor.

[ she tries to spit it out - make it sound as accusatory as she can. as it is, it just kind of sounds like a grown woman throwing a drama fit. ]

Pray, for your world's sake, you never have to find them out.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[The words roll off Zecora without finding a scrap of purchase, and her expression doesn't change in the slightest.]

It's bad mojo to hold that inside.
Why not talk? What is to hide?