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

"Oh, phew..." She has to sigh in relief about that. Partly because trying to remember who DOES have leafy changes is...challenging.

"Hnnn....tall and strong... ...well, the same can be said on my part...we have too much in common, in our new partners..!" she huffs, pouting.

Oh boy! Joker can't help but laugh at that, because it's a little bit funny, which is good since he'd needed that. This place doesn't really lend itself well to cheer and the like. Laughter is a good measure for how screwed they all are.

"Then we clearly have pretty similar taste! Maybe I should ask ya for date ideas~." If they ever manage to get out of here for that to be relevant, but, hey.

"Do you really think that...?" she laughs- but then again, in their own way... ...Yuusei and Ginko Are rather similar...

...In their own way....

"Hey, y'never know." And, well, this might be giving the game away, but- "Does yers like nature too?"

"Mmmmm..." She has to give that one some honest thought, squinting.

"...They can appreciate it at least but... ...They're definitely more for machines..."

"Ah, then the exact opposite." Machines, machines... Then- "So they were under Peridot's lot, right?" At least, that's just what he would expect. Then again, what area someone worked in doesn't mean that was the only thing they could do. He's a good example of that sort of thing, after all, considering how any areas he bounced around in before finally settling in Performance.

"Mnnnh! I'm not answering that unless you want to say which supervisor your boyfriend is under! That's only fair after all."

"Awwwww!" Joker whines, shortly after making a small raspberry. Well, this will definitely give it away, but alright then. "If we're bein' recent, he's under yers!"

"Me?!" Oh! That's...

...A really small number of people then, which means-

"...OH!!! Ginko!! It's Ginko then, it has to be!!" she exclaims, before pausing to add-

"...Mine does work under Peridot. On that note."

Yep, and that's done it. Joker laughs a little bit more at how full of energy her exclamation is. He would have thought it was obvious a question or two ago, but, then, he might very well be biased considering things. Either way, that's something.

"Ding ding, ya got it right~." He shifts his head to wink over at her. "I'm quite pleased ta say that we've been managin' well enough, against all odds." You know, odds like both of them being complete shitshows in their own ways, and all the disasters that the carnival (if it can even still be called that) goes through on a regular basis.

"Still, if he's with Peridot... Then that would be Yuusei, right?" It's not like their groups are the largest around, after all.

"Oh~! I'm really happy for you then!" She cheers, before abruptly breaking into a coughing fit.

"AHAH- Ahe...it is..." She laughs a little, flames and light both flaring up a pink sort of hue. "...I guess as soon as we note the departments, it becomes obvious huh..."

"Ha ha, and likewise ta ya." It's a reassurance, in some ways, that it doesn't matter what kind of absolute bullshit they all stumble into, from this to every other bad situation they've had to get involved in... Even with all of that, they can still forge connections with other people.

Even him, which he has to admit is a surprise.

The way she turns pink is pretty adorable, however, and he grins a little more. "It sure does. Why else do ya think I was playin' coy with my hints so much? Ginko is a really easy guy ta give away!"

"Hauuuhhh, now that you put it like that, he really is... ...AH-" She sputters, choking. "B-But..! I can say the same about Yuusei..! They're both pretty obvious in their own right!"

"I don't know. There are an awful lot of nerds in our troupe~." Is he enjoying this a little too obviously? Ssshh, don't worry about it. At least it seems to be working in getting her mind off of their predicament, even if only temporarily.

"Besides, somethin' about the journey and not the destination, right? I think that's a sayin' from somewhere or another. Don't ask me where. We've been ta too many places." He gives an overdramatic sigh. "If only we could've gone ta somewhere with a nice park... I meant ta surprise Ginko with a date actually done on purpose."

"Hahaaaaa...I think they'd be given away as more than 'nerds'..." She's thinkin about how green Ginko is, sorry,

"Mnh....well, we're...going to get out of here right?" Carly finds herself insisting quietly, her smile only half its usual strength. "...So...you'll definitely get that sort of date...and I'll be able to think about..."

...Well. About having one herself. Hopefully.

"Nah, I think it's the nerds bit." And definitely not how green Ginko is or his long ass tail and his adorable little hooves.

But all the joking has to be placed to the side for one moment, and Joker pauses for a split second. It'd be a lie to say he has any confidence in it. However, sometimes, lies are the things which people need to believe in if they want to keep going.

So, liar that he is, he says, "Of course we're gettin' out. For one thing, most of us are too bleedin' stupid ta give up, and we know that for a fact." See: the Prince's mansion, which was a lesson in all of them stupid-ing their way into a problem and then bullshitting it out in various ways. He's not entirely sure it's a positive, honestly. "So ya better think hard on what kind of date ta surprise him with."

That is certainly fair, and a thing she'll nod to.

Nod, and then burst into a fit of snorting giggles because, heck, they sure are too dumb to give up.

But Carly smiles...and seems to agree. "...I guess I should, then. ... ...thanks, Joker."

From the bunk, he pulls a hand out from behind his head and waggles it over at her.

"I'm glad my chattin' can be of some use," he drawls. "Now ya might wanna get some rest. Bein' stupid takes a lot of energy, apparently. Who knew, right?"

"Ah-" Yes they have a strict sleep schedule here huh. "...Right," she coughs, moving to get into her own bunk. "...Goodnight, Joker."

⇨ POLARIS

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