lostcarnival | ⇨ 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

[By this point in their second productivity cycle, Yugo has been back into the swing of things. Digging holes, hauling fruit, and other laborious tasks keep his mind halfway off being hungry (he's been used to regular large meals for too long beforehand). He catches passing glimpses of Carly this time around...

Then later on after a good while into the day, he uses a "break" to spend towards finding her.]

.... Carly?

[He almost asks if she's alright, but nobody is in this place. Seeing those eyes shining back at him like some sort of animal is... interesting to say the least, but it doesn't make Yugo pause that long in coming up close to her.

Close enough that it'd be more than easy for her initiating the hug this time if she needs it.]

[If he's initiating that hug, she's going to be very briefly caught off guard. Staring with wide eyes at nothing, and then turning to Yuugo himself.] I-

[Well. There he is apparently.] ...Yuugo. ...Shouldn't you be working?

[If she doesn't move then he does anyway before letting go relatively quickly. His expression briefly twists into something sour at the question before returning to something that's far more downbeat and serious from his usual self.

Not that anyone in their right mind would have any semblance of a good mood while knowing they're nothing but lab rats for the Mother of Invention.]

I've been working. [Spoken like a true teenager as if the matter was about keeping their room clean.] ... What did they do?

...You should make sure you keep working, mn? [She says quietly, shuttering her eyes.]

....I had to take a trial, earlier. ...I'm....still recovering Yuugo. That's all.

.... I had a trial a few days ago. So, I don't think I'm going to tank this time.

[But upon being told that and able to take an unfortunate guess from it, Yugo's certainly at a loss on what to do or say. He remains as close to her side as possible for the moment.]

...Even so- [She adds calmly.] ...They probably won't give you enough to stay afloat if you do nothing at all, right?

I'm allowed to take a sec to see if you're okay or not...!

[The last thing he wants is to be pushed away exactly because he can't do anything. Everything about this place is just... frustrating. But his attempt to remain indignant about the matter is halfhearted at best.]

[Ah.... ...She turns.]

...I never said you couldn't do that... [She mutters.] Just...

[She doesn't want him to realize she's been cut down this harshly either...]

[The contrast between his sudden shouting and Carly merely turning away from him quietly gives him pause. Enough that he swallows his aimless upset, since he doesn't want Carly to think any of it is directed towards her.]

..... Guess I should get back to work or whatever.

[And he'll move to leave.]

....I... ...that would be best, [She says softly. And then-]

...Yuugo... ...if you can help it...even slightly...

...Don't sign up for those things, okay?

... Yeah. You can count on that.

[~~And then Yugo gets roped into a mandatory trial later on anyway. Whoops.~~]

⇨ POLARIS

Day 109 | Hi again Mom

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