lostcarnival | ⇨ POLARIS

Entry tags:

⇨ POLARIS

Who: Everyone!
When: Days 102 - 109
Where: Polaris
What: With the Ringmaster kidnapped and the rest of the carnival imprisoned, characters find themselves at the mercy of a Winter Fae called the Mother of Invention.
Warnings: Graphic experimentation in places.

TRIALS & TRIBULATION↴

After a day of cleansing and processing, where all the belongings and attire of their old lives are stripped away and replaced with something newer and more form fitting, the former members of the carnival will find themselves let loose into the Farm for the first time. A sizable green area, filled with orchards growing inorganic looking fruits and field ready for tending, the Farm is where they will be spending their days for the forseeable future.

Food and drink are no longer needed, and so every day is an endless cycle of work. Technicians are seen only when necessary, and when being taken from your place of work to your lonesome cells at night. Every day, there are new postings on the "Production Board", where various dire sound scientific trials ask for subjects. The majority won't be forced, at least not yet, but the system is at work to push its participants to the brink and force their hand.

After all, volunteers make the best subjects.

► PRODUCTIVITY: As explained elsewhere, characters will be forced to compete to attain enough Productivity Point to be considered Satisfactory. There are literally not enough points to go around for everyone to attain this, which means that at least some people will be deemed "Below Expectations" by the end of the first four-day cycle. What this means has yet to be discovered, but the Technicians have grimly warned against it.

Productivity involves many tasks, including orchard picking, tilling, planting, harvesting, watering, maintenance, and more. Any task you can think of that would take place on a plantation is applicable here. Beyond that, the Production Board awaits you, offering precious Productivity Points in exchange for your cooperation. How you become Satisfactory is up to you, but it's every person for themselves. Only one person can turn in the credit for harvesting or preparing fields, and while you can certainly try to help others by letting them take credit for your work, it's a sure fire way to fall behind the herd, especially if you are already in a low Classification.

Fruits and fields will miraculously grow overnight, and will be ready for a new day when you are. You've been told not to eat anything you harvest, but right now you aren't hungry anyway.

► POLARIS BY NIGHT: During the night, you are left alone to your thoughts and maybe an annoying roommate. Solo or in pairs, the entire night will be spent in small sleep pods, as shown on the locations post. Is it possible to sneak out? It doesn't seem like it is, but who is to say? The real question is if you want to dare to try. There is one hour of rest before and after seven hours of darkness. Even if you don't usually have to sleep, you'll find yourself oddly weary and inclined to rest. Supernaturally, almost.

► PARTICIPATION: Sometimes participation in experimental trials is manditory, sometimes it isn't. You are free to handwave your character having been pulled aside for minor examinations, such as blood tests or aura scans. Each time, you will be pulled into a separate part of the station and analyzed by a Technician and heavily automated machinery. Anymore more complex than basic check-up level tests will be posted about in a section called "TRIALS" in the body of the post below.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"One arm isn't really...A pair of wings though, neh..?" Carly offers weakly, holding herself close and fidgeting on the spot. It's far cry from her usual exuberance and confidence, the woman simply biting her lip. "...The fire- ...Oh!" she gasps, caught off guard. "...Right, the new fire... ...Well...it isn't burning anything, I don't think...so that's good, right..? Since it's on...everything..."

Well, everything that was feathered in addition to her head, anyway. As it is.

"...Is there a bunk you want?"

"There ain't." Either one would be equal levels of uncomfortable for him, honestly. Joker knows that much. It's kind of amazing how much he had taken for granted, back in the Carnival. Even when shit had been going badly, he'd been able to at least sleep well enough.

But that doesn't really matter right now.

"...Do ya wanna talk? I mean, somethin' that isn't just the small chatter."

"Talking would be great-!" she blurts, sounding half-way like she's ready to cry. And then of course she goes silent again, taking a seat at the edge of one of the bunks. "I... ....I can't make myself think of what to say, though.."

Well, that's an easy enough thing to make happen, just... In two different ways. "Want me ta try misery or somethin' light hearted until ya can figure out the words?" He might as well make the offer, after all. She can pick her poison, and they can fuck up in that direction.

"...If we talk about miserable matters I'll probably just be unable to say anything more from there..." But Carly chews her lip, and sighs. "...But if we go with something light hearted, and go to the worst from there it'll happen anyway, so perhaps we should start with the 'worst' anyway..."

"Bite the bullet first, right?" That might not be how that saying goes, but Joker is so exhausted that, well, can anyone blame him for fucking up on his sayings a tad? He tries to guide her to sit down in one of the only spaces where either of them can sit.

"Then... What's got ya feelin' most hopeless?" Hey, she said 'the worst'.

"...It seems the best option..."

Ahhh, but it doesn't make it sting any less, and Carly winces.

"...How do we save the Ringmaster, after this? ...We don't know where she is...what's happened to her... ...She can't be dead, but..."

She simply can't, as far as Carly is concerned.

She could actually totally be dead, honestly, but Joker knows better than to say that. He isn't a complete asshole... or dumb enough to harass Carly after that time she almost burned his hand off. Her head is still on fire, after all, and he's not going to risk it.

"Well," he says patiently, tired brain working to give a suitable answer. "I think we're skippin' a few steps there, right?" A lot of steps which he wouldn't even bother to say out loud, not here. "Ya would need ta know things, first. Think these technicians would answer?"

Definitely don't say that.

At least her fire isn't hot.

And he's right as it is- they're skipping a few steps. So....

She snorts. "...No. ...They won't be answering anything, I can tell that already..."

"Ha. That probably ain't wrong." They're not people to them, after all. They might even be less than people. They're just resources, potentially useful, nothing lost if they're not.

Still... "We don't get much freedom besides askin' questions," he points out. "We don't have a lot goin' for us right now, besides stubbornness." Somehow, their lot always has stubbornness. Joker thinks it might get them all killed, but, hey. It's not like he can talk.

Oiii oiii.

That seems to bring some life back at least- a wry smile, half forced half not, as Carly raises a brow. "...You're going to annoy them into submission, Joker?"

You would, she seems to be saying. You would.

That actually hadn't been his plan, but, hey, if it makes her grin... Joker manages a slightly more successful grin.

"Wanna watch when I try?" he offers. "I mean, they can't do much worse ta me than they would in a trial, right?"

Ooooof. Well the smile still remains, at least. "I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that...but I guess it's better than nothing, like you said..!"

Hey, it's true. That's the problem with horrific scientists and doctors, Joker figures. Their tests and their punishments all end up to be the same thing. When it's like that, well, how much teeth is really left to it? Not that he'd really want to test any of it, of course.... But still.

He knows it's not the most reassuring train of thought to go about, but it works for him.

"So one step at a time, right? Every place hasa certain way it works. Once ya get used ta that, it ain't so hard." Hopefully that won't mean them backstabbing each other too soon.... "Just think of it that way."

Carly takes a deep breath...and gives a deep sigh.

And then nods, despite the weak smile. "Right... ...One step at a time..."

There is a pause- and then, nervously she adds- "...So... ...The good points now, right?"

They covered the bad...

Oh. Hm. Right. They need to think of some good points, now. There's not really a lot of that, but... Joker tilts his head back, glad that the rooms are at least big enough for his antlers to not catch on anything.

"Oh," he says after a second, deciding, fuck it, why not. "I'm datin' now, so that's somethin' good, I suppose. I mean, for a while now, I guess."

"Eh?" Oh! Well, Carly beams immediately. "Really~ Ah... ...I think...I might be, as well?" Congratulations all around.

"N-not for 'a while', mind you but..." ...

She pauses. "...Who is it~?"

"Oooooh, romance is in the air~." It's really not, and all of this no doubt happened before things really got bad... but, hey. Whatever helps lighten the situation, right?

And it's not like Joker is really too opposed to telling her about his romance life, not when they're in this kind of situation. Yet even as he opens his mouth, something strikes him, and he pauses.

"How about this- we'll play a guessin' game." Raising his right hand, he snaps his fingers together, just with a faint chiming noise instead of a proper snap. He's gotten used to it at this point. At least, mostly used to it. "We'll start sharin' hints about who our loves are, goin' one after the other, until we either figure it out or we go ta sleep. How about that?"

A nice cleanser... One that might be able to get them through a little bit of this cold and lonely night.

"Or it was in Shabon at least...." she chuckles, an oddly dry edge in her tone.

That's probably because her new boyfriend was split almost the whole time though. But...she blinks at Joker, wondering for a moment if it'll even be that hard. "Eh, really? ...well..." Hmm. "...I guess that works... ...You first?" she tries, still staring.

"Hmm, well then, let's see, let's see~..." Joker turn away from her, carefully looking over his bunk to see just how he's going to squeeze in. He already knows, technically, but it never hurts to see if he gets a better idea of how. Wing space like his doesn't really lend itself well to these sort of sleeping arrangements... It's a good thing he's so flexible.

As he starts to make his way in, he finally offers something over his shoulder."Then, he's a really nice strong type~."

That is definitely something suggestive in his tone.

Either she's missed the suggestive tones, or she's deliberately ignoring it.

There is a Very large chance it's the latter.

"....That could be anyone who has ever worked labor or security close to our age..." she mutters, pouting.

"Mnhhh...well, in my case then..." Let's see, let's see...Aha.

"He's very handy!"

Because he technically has six! ~~Even if four are normally feet.~~

It's really probably for the better that she ignores it, although a little bit of risque chatter helps lighten the air, Joker has found. It's a whole realm of things to tease and make fun of. For now, he just wiggles into his bunk and laughs.

"Oh, I'm sure he is!" he says, sing-song. He could say worse there, but he won't. "Then, I guess that could also be labor... Or, ah, cookin' or engineerin', maybe?" His wings shift while he thinks over his next hint. He can't be too obvious or else the game won't last at all...

"Then, I guess mine isn't as flashy as me." There aren't many people as flashy as Joker, admittedly, but, hey. It's a hint.

"Oof..! I could say the same you know..! We'll never get anywhere if we're that vague!"

Joker's cackle bounces throughout the room. "That's the point! It won't be fun if it's done too quick!" Resting one cheek against a fist, he winks at her and sticks out a little of his tongue. "Then I'll be generous. We mighta gone on a date in Wismuth, before things went bad, so he's been around at least that long. Is that better for ya?"

Calling it a date is a little generous, considering they'd both been oblivious, but...

"There's too obvious but there's too vague, you know..." Ahhh and there's the wink. Cue more pouting.

She considers this next clue however. "Ah, now that's better..! Hnnn...people still here from then... ...well...on my end, they're fairly new in comparison... We left Wismuth, before they came..!"

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