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theelmemeium2023-03-11 01:47 am
shiftmanager) wrote in theelmemeium2023-03-11 01:47 am
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME #2
Welcome to the second test drive of
theelysium! Test drive threads may be considered game canon if all participants wish to maintain the CR developed here.
The game is invite-only, closed to friends of the moderators and those invited by current players. Current players may submit invitations at any time. If you are interested in joining the game but do not know anyone involved, you may reach out to the mod team to request an invitation for the current app round.
If you have any questions about the setting, here are some links to the game's premise and setting information pages.
Thank you for playing! We're excited to have you.
ARRIVAL
When you came to, you were mid-conversation with someone you've never seen before, nodding along to instructions that seem to evaporate into the air after they're spoken aloud. You've been welcomed into the industry, given your ID and uniform, and escorted to the back of house. It seemed natural then to just go along with it, to be cordial and pleasant, no matter how insincere it might have been.
They asked you to sit for a while and gather your bearings, and so you sit. The rest settles slowly as you adjust and find the rest of yourself returning. At least the couches are soft.
The room is dark, lit only by a rotating set of colored lights that move across a determined track, bathing the collected employees in bright shades of blue, pink, and violet. Some tables are internally lit in fluorescent shades, surrounding everything in a hazy glow. Distantly, a thumping vibration shakes the southmost wall, indicating something terribly noisy on the other side.
But at the north, a wall panel springs to life, revealing a mustached man who smiles at them warmly. They can try to interject, but it seems to be a prerecorded message; he doesn't pause or acknowledge them in the slightest as he welcomes them.
"The Elysium is proud of how well the new employees have been settling in! The service has maintained its impeccable reputation, and early performance reviews are returning with high marks. Things are already improving greatly now that they've weeded out the bad seeds with the last round of firings. And after the things they tried, good riddance to all of them.
"But for now, onwards and upwards! The interior design folks should be just about done clearing out the last of the Valentine's stuff, so that should be the last chocolate heart anyone has to stomach for a while. We've got the requests in for next month, and it sounds like the High Roller wants to see his kid have a good time for her birthday. It’ll get busy pretty soon, so we’ve brought on some more staff to help out. We’ll hold on to the good ones and get rid of the rest. Hope you all still fit into your old prom dresses."
They asked you to sit for a while and gather your bearings, and so you sit. The rest settles slowly as you adjust and find the rest of yourself returning. At least the couches are soft.The room is dark, lit only by a rotating set of colored lights that move across a determined track, bathing the collected employees in bright shades of blue, pink, and violet. Some tables are internally lit in fluorescent shades, surrounding everything in a hazy glow. Distantly, a thumping vibration shakes the southmost wall, indicating something terribly noisy on the other side.
But at the north, a wall panel springs to life, revealing a mustached man who smiles at them warmly. They can try to interject, but it seems to be a prerecorded message; he doesn't pause or acknowledge them in the slightest as he welcomes them.
"The Elysium is proud of how well the new employees have been settling in! The service has maintained its impeccable reputation, and early performance reviews are returning with high marks. Things are already improving greatly now that they've weeded out the bad seeds with the last round of firings. And after the things they tried, good riddance to all of them. "But for now, onwards and upwards! The interior design folks should be just about done clearing out the last of the Valentine's stuff, so that should be the last chocolate heart anyone has to stomach for a while. We've got the requests in for next month, and it sounds like the High Roller wants to see his kid have a good time for her birthday. It’ll get busy pretty soon, so we’ve brought on some more staff to help out. We’ll hold on to the good ones and get rid of the rest. Hope you all still fit into your old prom dresses."
WORKING THE EVENT FLOOR
This time around, the Elysium's resources are dedicated to a massive sweet sixteen celebration. Event spaces are fully decked out with balloons and banquet tables full of candies and sweets, which are all arranged to be bite-sized without risk of ruining anyone's makeup. There are enormous piles of presents stacked everywhere, as requested by the guest of honor.
The Birthday Girl herself can be kind of a handful. Clubs will regularly find themselves tasked with acting as her bodyguard, a fairly standard affair. The trouble is that she’s a shapeshifter and regularly uses that talent to escape discipline or reproach. She might have been a petite brunette at the start of your shift, but by the end of things you may find yourself chasing after a blonde unicorn who’s impulsively decided to go for a gallop through the lobby. She’s prone to obsessing over something for a short while before discarding it in favor of the next distraction, which might prove beneficial to anyone who happens to be on her security team. Even if you don’t have a particular use for that solid-gold charm bracelet she tried to throw in the trash, there’s probably a buyer out there somewhere. Consider it a tip for having to spend an entire day listening to a spoiled rich girl complain about her first world problems. However, it might be best to donate it to one of your co-workers as an apology after the Birthday Girl has ripped up a deck of cards while denying she lost or disrupted a soulful ballad while yelling about how bored she was. At times, she even seems drunk – How did she even get access to tequila?? Keeping her away from the adult-only spaces might turn into a full-time job on its own.
For some reason, the high roller seemed concerned that their event might yield a low turnout. In an effort to stack the odds in favor of success, the resort has invited some extra guests from a number of other places and times. As a result, the event spaces seem particularly packed with bodies, creating a heavier-than-usual demand for service, particularly when it comes to the Spades and Hearts. Is it worth the time it takes to explain to the man in the powdered wig that he doesn’t need to worry about whether the British are coming? Perhaps your time will be better spent making sure that the waist-high green people stop trying to eat the poker chips. They say that the Squid People like to do simultaneous six-armed shots; best of luck to the bartenders tasked with keeping up with the wide variance of body types and needs. And that’s not even getting started with trying to clean up after the slimy trails left behind by the giant slugs.
Most of the guests have never met the Birthday Girl herself, but all of them seem convinced that she's the greatest friend who deserves absolutely all of this. It's something that some employees might experience firsthand, because any off-duty employee who steps into an event space will find themselves abruptly joining the guestlist. Whatever they were wearing before is suddenly replaced with a gown or suit more suitable for a teenager looking to dance the night away. It might be disorienting for some of the elders, if it didn’t come along with the brightness that comes from suddenly reliving a bygone youth, transformed back to the mentality they had at the age of sixteen. Their bodies might be the same, but they'll shed all that emotional growth and maturity that makes old people boring. If you were a preppy teen, live a little and come celebrate! If you were more of a goth, no one will judge you for stomping around sulking as you take advantage of the free food and spend the next three hours complaining about conformists. The important thing is to get people together having their version of a good time. If you get so caught up that you forget to sleep before your next shift, that's a problem for the future.
Diamonds will face different challenges as they do their best to please guests along this theme. Many of them will be regulated to performing generic pop music and birthday standards, trying to lead line dances and inspire audience participation. Barkers and cigarette girls might have a harder time switching tactics to appeal to a party full of people behaving like raunchy teens. Those who normally play classical music will find themselves booed and jeered, and anyone who dresses with a high hemline or a low neckline will find that the level of catcalling is more aggressive than usual. Maybe that’s what you want, though. It sounds like the tips will be nice throughout this event, at least. The adult-only workers might have it easier, but they might want to check passcards for everyone’s real ages every now and again. With everything going on, it’s a little hard to tell who might be cheating the system.
This time around, the Elysium's resources are dedicated to a massive sweet sixteen celebration. Event spaces are fully decked out with balloons and banquet tables full of candies and sweets, which are all arranged to be bite-sized without risk of ruining anyone's makeup. There are enormous piles of presents stacked everywhere, as requested by the guest of honor.The Birthday Girl herself can be kind of a handful. Clubs will regularly find themselves tasked with acting as her bodyguard, a fairly standard affair. The trouble is that she’s a shapeshifter and regularly uses that talent to escape discipline or reproach. She might have been a petite brunette at the start of your shift, but by the end of things you may find yourself chasing after a blonde unicorn who’s impulsively decided to go for a gallop through the lobby. She’s prone to obsessing over something for a short while before discarding it in favor of the next distraction, which might prove beneficial to anyone who happens to be on her security team. Even if you don’t have a particular use for that solid-gold charm bracelet she tried to throw in the trash, there’s probably a buyer out there somewhere. Consider it a tip for having to spend an entire day listening to a spoiled rich girl complain about her first world problems. However, it might be best to donate it to one of your co-workers as an apology after the Birthday Girl has ripped up a deck of cards while denying she lost or disrupted a soulful ballad while yelling about how bored she was. At times, she even seems drunk – How did she even get access to tequila?? Keeping her away from the adult-only spaces might turn into a full-time job on its own.
For some reason, the high roller seemed concerned that their event might yield a low turnout. In an effort to stack the odds in favor of success, the resort has invited some extra guests from a number of other places and times. As a result, the event spaces seem particularly packed with bodies, creating a heavier-than-usual demand for service, particularly when it comes to the Spades and Hearts. Is it worth the time it takes to explain to the man in the powdered wig that he doesn’t need to worry about whether the British are coming? Perhaps your time will be better spent making sure that the waist-high green people stop trying to eat the poker chips. They say that the Squid People like to do simultaneous six-armed shots; best of luck to the bartenders tasked with keeping up with the wide variance of body types and needs. And that’s not even getting started with trying to clean up after the slimy trails left behind by the giant slugs.
Most of the guests have never met the Birthday Girl herself, but all of them seem convinced that she's the greatest friend who deserves absolutely all of this. It's something that some employees might experience firsthand, because any off-duty employee who steps into an event space will find themselves abruptly joining the guestlist. Whatever they were wearing before is suddenly replaced with a gown or suit more suitable for a teenager looking to dance the night away. It might be disorienting for some of the elders, if it didn’t come along with the brightness that comes from suddenly reliving a bygone youth, transformed back to the mentality they had at the age of sixteen. Their bodies might be the same, but they'll shed all that emotional growth and maturity that makes old people boring. If you were a preppy teen, live a little and come celebrate! If you were more of a goth, no one will judge you for stomping around sulking as you take advantage of the free food and spend the next three hours complaining about conformists. The important thing is to get people together having their version of a good time. If you get so caught up that you forget to sleep before your next shift, that's a problem for the future.Diamonds will face different challenges as they do their best to please guests along this theme. Many of them will be regulated to performing generic pop music and birthday standards, trying to lead line dances and inspire audience participation. Barkers and cigarette girls might have a harder time switching tactics to appeal to a party full of people behaving like raunchy teens. Those who normally play classical music will find themselves booed and jeered, and anyone who dresses with a high hemline or a low neckline will find that the level of catcalling is more aggressive than usual. Maybe that’s what you want, though. It sounds like the tips will be nice throughout this event, at least. The adult-only workers might have it easier, but they might want to check passcards for everyone’s real ages every now and again. With everything going on, it’s a little hard to tell who might be cheating the system.
FEATURED GAME: PIÑATAS AND PONIES
What’s a birthday party without some fun on the side? Staff members running the featured games will take a role of either Pony or Handler, assigned independently of one’s normal suit affiliation. Ponies are stuffed into enormous piñata mascot outfits, hunched over and awkwardly ambling with limited sight, all to appeal to the Birthday Girl and her throngs of guests. Handlers are there to act as festively-dressed organizers, charged with keeping order while the ponies and guests interact. Part of these shifts require intense trust between employees; ponies are awfully vulnerable in those outfits, especially when the more chaotic games get going!
On a rotating schedule, Pony/Handler pairs will be called upon to facilitate a number of services. Pony Rides are available to guests who request them. Handlers will help boost up a guest and allow them a casual ride upon a pony’s bright pastel back. This serves as a fun distraction as much as it can become a transportation service. Party shoes hurt, after all! As the party goes on past a week, some guests feel more entitled to demand rides to carry them even short distances.
When not being used as beasts of burden, they are the centerpiece of a running game. During a round of Pin the Tail on the Piñata, guests take turns being blindfolded and sent towards the pony with a long paper mache tail and the intent to attach the tail to the mascot costume. Unfortunately, getting it to fit properly means that the tail piece is fitted with a fairly substantial spike at the end. But it’s fine! There’s no way a guest can get at the person inside the costume even if they miss the cushioned rear end. Probably. Nobody’s actually had a chance to test it before things went live. But it’s most likely safe for employees. Guess everyone will find out at the same time. And hey, maybe if they damage a pony outfit enough, candy might pop out. Fun for the whole family!
Over in the adult spaces, some of the folks on staff have been modifying the costumes to get into ponyplay, but that’s to be expected with those types. They’re always finding a way to have a different kind of fun. (And is that the Birthday Girl trying on a harness?? She shouldn’t even be allowed in that area! Someone should probably do something about that.)
On a rotating schedule, Pony/Handler pairs will be called upon to facilitate a number of services. Pony Rides are available to guests who request them. Handlers will help boost up a guest and allow them a casual ride upon a pony’s bright pastel back. This serves as a fun distraction as much as it can become a transportation service. Party shoes hurt, after all! As the party goes on past a week, some guests feel more entitled to demand rides to carry them even short distances. When not being used as beasts of burden, they are the centerpiece of a running game. During a round of Pin the Tail on the Piñata, guests take turns being blindfolded and sent towards the pony with a long paper mache tail and the intent to attach the tail to the mascot costume. Unfortunately, getting it to fit properly means that the tail piece is fitted with a fairly substantial spike at the end. But it’s fine! There’s no way a guest can get at the person inside the costume even if they miss the cushioned rear end. Probably. Nobody’s actually had a chance to test it before things went live. But it’s most likely safe for employees. Guess everyone will find out at the same time. And hey, maybe if they damage a pony outfit enough, candy might pop out. Fun for the whole family!
Over in the adult spaces, some of the folks on staff have been modifying the costumes to get into ponyplay, but that’s to be expected with those types. They’re always finding a way to have a different kind of fun. (And is that the Birthday Girl trying on a harness?? She shouldn’t even be allowed in that area! Someone should probably do something about that.)
OOC
And here's our first event, ready to kick off March with a little celebration and perhaps a few hijinks. If you have questions, feel free to direct them here.
And if you think this game might be a good fit for some friends, invitations are now open for the upcoming app round.
And if you think this game might be a good fit for some friends, invitations are now open for the upcoming app round.
zari tarazi | dctv | open
This is pretty much her worst nightmare. She's stuck in some contract and feels compelled to play along. Truth be told, Zari can't be sure this isn't a bad dream. How did she go from Charlie's show to this? Did they not defeat the Fates as completely as she thought?
It hardly matters. She needs to play along until something does make sense or a rescue comes. That means throwing the best pop show that Dragon Girl can throw together at a moment's notice. Unsurprisingly for those who know her, it looks meticulously planned. In some ways it is. She's reusing dance numbers for songs that are just close enough to the ones she produced back home as a teen or copied back in the day for a fun Catchat video.
It is not like the crowd knows that, do they? She's giving it her all. She invites guests on the stage and lets them sing with her. Zari will even pull in fellow workers into a dance number to get a laugh out of the partygoers when they either fail or succeed at copying her moves. Ultimately she does whatever she needs to keep the energy of the party going. She makes a living as an influencer so this is second nature to her. Inside, she's very much screaming.
off-duty
Eventually, Zari pulls away for a much-needed break. She's focusing on hydrating and trying to get a feel for what exactly is happening here. She does her best to appear bored. Her eyes seem to be following everything if you care enough to notice.
on-duty
Weird Casino coming in a close second.
Fortunately, as part of the Hearts crew, she gets to keep moving, doing random odd jobs. She thinks that maybe if she can get herself transferred to Clubs, she might be able to get into the security systems and figure out what is going on here. Maybe that's why she wasn't put on Clubs in the first place. Isn't that suspicious.
As she's bringing up a fresh tray of desserts to long stretch of options - one of which she is definitely going to steal and shove in her face - but she almost drops them when she looks to the stage and sees ... herself? Singing? In public? Not conjured by some kind of Bollywood fever dream?
All she's supposed to do is deposit the tray and retreat, but she can't. She's frozen in place, watching the other Zari as she does her thing - and does it well - and she's starting to wonder if this is her punishment for breaking the timeline. Being really, really confused for the rest of eternity.
Then Other Zari actually makes eye contact, and that seems to zap her back into moving, and she hurries towards the table and tries to escape before she winds up breaking the timeline any more than she already has.
no subject
Zari is a professional. She continues on while watching someone she cares for dearly once again leave her sight. It won't be permanent this time. She won't allow it.
Wherever Tomaz ends up next, her other self will appear out of nowhere in costume. She locks arms with her and leads her away from whatever she is doing. This is totally natural. "You know that was really rude earlier. What kind of big sister bails before the finale? I could have choked up there." She pouts in Zari's direction. Her sharp gaze tells a different story. Play along. "Take a break with me? I'm totally over this scene. I need to recharge with my favorite Zari." She has the audacity to wink at her.
no subject
Or at least she hopes.
Once they're alone, however, she leans in closer, confused. "Have we met before?" Is there a time travel problem afoot? Should she be waiting for the Legends to come in and save the day?
no subject
The influencer quickly reigns it in and explains evenly. "You're my ancestor. I'm the version of you who doesn't have to give everything up to save Behrad." She withdraws the physical contact and pinches the bridge of her nose. She's seeing how her assumptions could quickly lead to some really unfortunate problems. "Do you even remember Behrad dying or am I about to majorly freak you out? Because spoilers: he comes back."
no subject
Wait. Behrad's alive. Behrad's alive?
Zari's hands shake slightly as she turns to face herself more, trying to take in and process all the details. "The last thing I remember is Heyworld, and Nate coming back to life, then - "
She gestures around them to indicate the casino itself.
"Does ... did it work? Is Behrad really okay?"
no subject
"It works. Behrad is okay. He's living his best life as Legend and a superhero. He's dancing with his latest bad girl crush at Charlie's concert as we speak..." Her lips quirk off to the side. Right. She was with someone before arriving in this nightmare. "Or at least he will until John notices I'm gone and does his whole schtick about how he doomed me to disappear under mysterious circumstances." The influencer rolls her eyes. "I'm sure you remember how dramatic he can be."
no subject
But then Fancy Zari keeps talking and ...
"I'm sorry. Do you mean John Constantine?"
She did not see that one coming.
off-duty
He slides up to Zari while she's drinking. He's noticed that she's trying to look bored, but the operative word is "trying". There's a sharp intelligence in her eyes, which follow everyone in turn, and it makes her look more observant than bored.
"Looking for somebody special?" he asks casually, glancing around the room, his gaze resting meaningfully on whatever or whoever she was looking at last.
Realizing he must have forgotten his manners, he turns his attention back to her and reaches out a hand for her to shake.
"Lalo Salamanca. It's a pleasure. I'd be happy to show you around, if you've got a minute."
no subject
"There is a special someone I am hoping to find," she answers coyly. Another version of herself. Zari is nothing if not willing and happy to let people draw their own conclusions. "But, I could use a tour." She accepts the hand offered to her, shaking gently. "Shall we?" Zari raises her brow as if challenging him to give his best.
no subject
He's intrigued when she says she's looking for somebody special. "Oh?" he says. "Who is it? Maybe I could help find them!" Why not, right? Not like he has anything better to do.
When she says she could use a tour, though, the beam goes all the way up to his eyes. The gentleness of her shake is charming, but it's the raise of her brow that really gets him going. He loves a challenge.
"Ay!"
He gestures. His eyes gleam.
"This way."
no subject
"Funny story... she actually has the same face as me." Zari cutely frames her face with both hands and gives a winning smile. "It's my twin sister. She's the tomboy, I'm the girly girl. Total cliche." She drops both hands in a dismissive wave. "She bailed on my show earlier. I totally want to call her out on it."
no subject
Feel free to slap him anytime, Zari.
"Twins, eh? You don't say! Would you believe I have two cousins who are twins? Nice guys!"
As they talk, he leads her away from the auditorium, out into the wider casino area, towards one of the many gaming tables.
His eyes glint. "You ever gamble?" he asks her. "Can be fun!"