lostcarnival | ⇨ GAME START INTRO LOG!

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"A freak!?" He wouldn't want to be a freak, that doesn't sound good. "Just 'cause I can't rhyme!?"

That doesn't sound like a very nice place. But maybe the zebra language is that different from Japanese.

"I didn't even know zebras could talk before I came here... but I guess you just have a language I don't know."

It would be very strange, like a human -- well, she's not certain what would be culturally aberrant for a human. But there had to be something.

"Equestria had no humankind.
It still is hard to get in my mind.
But out there I have seen stranger stuff
So accepting you is not so tough."

Lots of things, but Tamaki isn't the person to ask for a list.

"Uh, thanks." He's glad he won't be found unacceptable by this zebra woman. "You really came from where there aren't humans? That's weird..."

It'd be like if earth didn't have zebras! Even though he's never actually seen a zebra in real life...

"Not a one to be found
In the sky or on the ground," Zecora confirmed.
"Meeting them was new and strange
But a pleasant, interesting change."

"I guess. Humans are okay, some of them."

Are they really interesting, though? Well, as interesting as a talking zebra is to someone who's never met one.

"Do you like being here?"

"I do indeed!
It was my greed
For experience
That brought me hence.
My choice was right
And remains a delight."

"Choice? You're not in debt?"

Tamaki just sort of assumed everyone wracked up a debt like he did.

Zecora shook her head. "I am not. I made a deal.
I did not accidentally steal.
The Ringmaster will pay if you choose
To sign up, and I had nothing to lose.
That is why I am still here--
I am beginning my third year."

"Three years..."

For someone who is only seventeen, that's a long time.

"But, she said I only have to work for one year - is that still true?"

"A year and a day
Will pay your way.
Unless you get
Yourself in more debt."

Which could be voluntarily accrued, of course, though Zecora didn't mention that. Give folks more time to prepare for their new lives, for the year. Let them see if it suited them.

"More debt!? I can't get more!"

He wonders what all could happen to get in debt. He played games for free and Mitsuki broke a mirror... are there other things?

"How do I not get in debt?"

"If you wish no more loss
Then incur no more debts with the boss."

Vague advice, but truthfully, Zecora couldn't predict what would actually be considered an indebting service from the Ringleader. Predictability was not a fae strength.

That was a vague answer and Tamaki doesn't understand those. Maybe she couldn't hear him? He'll try speaking louder.

"How do you not get debt?!" He practically yells the question.

Too patient by far to be ruffled by that volume, the zebra endured it, letting him get it out of his system that little bit.

"It is a far harder task.
Normally you must ask."

The rhyming thing is really starting to get tiring to understand, but Tamaki supposes he gets it now.

"I will. I won't get in any more debt!"

He has to get back home as soon as possible, after all.

Hey, most people thought it was delightful. She certainly wasn't going to stop, though; rhyming was Zecora's nature as much as stripeyness. Perhaps more so.

"If I may ask, what is your hurry?
Does something here cause you to worry?"

Tamaki is just bad enough at communication when people are speaking normally. It doesn't get any easier with rhyming thrown in the mix.

At the question, though, he looks a little hesitant, but sounds almost awed when he speaks.

"My sister is Tokyo."

Family. Zecora could understand that well enough.

"So long as you stay
It will not delay
The return
For which you yearn.
A year or ten,
You'll return when
You entered here.
So do not fear."

"I've waited that long already."

He'd really rather not delay his meeting any longer than he has to, but then again, he doesn't know where his sister is other than she's in Tokyo somewhere.

"They said no one will notice I'm gone?"

"Our time here is time apart.
When it ends -- back to the start." Zecora sketched one hoof in an arc.
"Otherwise I'd not be defending
Leaving those I spent time befriending."

⇨ GAME START INTRO LOG!

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