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bakerstreet2025-05-29 11:09 am
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Normally, lots of purple prose about the fun of an amusement park would go here! Maybe the flavor text would muse about the long lines and the hot summer sun, the dangers of heatstroke; maybe the flavor text would talk about love blossoming on a stuck ferris wheel, a merry go round, a meet cute between someone stuck in a mascot costume and a park goer. Something along those lines.
But something has gone wrong and maybe you ended up in the wrong place, at the wrong time...
You arrived at the park! It looks like a normal park, at least at first, and you're all set to make the best of your day when...
A 🎡 Oh no! That one guy you were pretty sure was just a really devoted cosplayer turns out to actually be none other than the Death Duke himself, here from the dark side of the moon to conquer it for the sake of the Dark Empire! Fortunately, a band of spandex-clad sentai heroes are bound to leap into action any second now, defeat the enemies, send the Death Duke packing, and hopefully leave you enough time to get a few rides in before you gotta go.
B 🎡 Oh no! You finally reached the front of the line for that one thing you really wanted, and then everyone started fainting and crystals emerged from their bodies! You know what this means: the evil witch Nevelia is releasing the soul crystals and stealing everyone's futures so they can find the princess and do the thing and envelop the world in everlasting darkness! Only the heroes, the Sparkling Heroine(s), Valkyrie [insert color here] can save the day! Don't get your soul crystal stolen!
C 🎡 Oh no! You've lost your friend in the crowds and you have no idea how you're gonna find them...but that's the least of your troubles now. A car slammed into the ferris wheel. Explosions! Some robot is talking about the dark side of the moon and assimilating the earth (or whatever planet this takes place on) and turning it into a hivemind for some plot that'll be explained in the next 2 comic book issues and 4 crossover series. Fortunately, you know there's hope: the Magistrate is going to show up sooner or later, or maybe heroes from the Watchtower, or perhaps someone's gonna speed in on a motorcycle any second now, do some sick parkour, and beat up that robot...any second now...
You arrived at the park! Except...what happened to all the people?
A 🎡 The park is in ruins! Mold and moss and vines are growing over everything. The roller coaster is crumbling, and the horses of the carousel are staring at you with rotted, judgmental eyes. But how can this be? You checked Yelp and it got rave reviews as recent as last week. What's worse, a fog is rolling in and you're starting to hear voices in the gloom...
B 🎡 You expected a nice amusement park, and maybe it looks like you're getting one? But the employees look...off, somehow. And if you've got supernatural powers they're screaming at you to just turn around and go home. (Maybe you do. Maybe you don't. Maybe you do, but you can't.) Regardless, watch out! The second you walk through some threshold or eat some food, you might find yourself accidentally spirited away to the other side of the mirror, to the other side of the world, and you'll have to play games and be careful about your name to get back home.
C 🎡 You're at the park, and then a ferris wheel seat falls from the sky and hits you on the head. There's screaming. Everything goes black.
...you're at the park, but something feels wrong. Fortunately, there's some helpful expository NPC over there who explains the premise to you: you are now dead, and now need to navigate the Amusement Park of the Damned to return to life. Or maybe you ended up isekaied and are in a fantasy world, managing a fantasy amusement park, and need to revitalize it with your super cheat skills? Whatever the case may be: welcome to your new life.
You arrived at the park! It's such a nice day- wait, what's that sound?
A 🎡 It's a nice day! The sun is shining, the children laughing- and then there's a crackle on the loudspeakers. A mysterious voice introduces themselves as Null, the mastermind of the game you are about to play. You have seven hours. There are three bombs. You cannot escape. If anyone passes through the gates, the bombs will go off. The only way to live is by finding the five keys, and go do some color matching, and figure out who the traitor is, as well as the identity of Null, and do you have the brains for this? If you're lucky, a young detective will be stuck in the park with you.
B 🎡 You're chilling on a bench, just basking in the ambiance- and then there's a scream! A dead body was found, the killer vanishing in the crowds with a bloodied knife and possibly some psychic powers. And maybe you want to practice staying in your lane, not your circus, not your monkeys, but for some reason you're involved. Maybe you're the plucky junior detective, or maybe people think you're the killer! Regardless, the only way of returning to your peaceful life is to play elaborate games of cat and mouse with any involved cops, track down the true killer, and unveil the conspiracy!
C 🎡 You're stuffing your face full of food when you're handed a thing. A box, perhaps. Or a small device. Or maybe three vials of some mysterious liquid. The person who handed it to you - someone you may or may not know - says a few cryptic things to you and vanishes. They might die shortly in a way that underscores the dramatic, tense stakes involved in this.
But you'll learn a truth soon enough: the thing you were just handed? That thing? It might not just be a thing, it might be a plot coupon that the fate of the world hinges on, and a lot of people might be really interested in getting it from you. Probably not in a good, they'll offer you a fair market value sort of way, either. In a bad way that'll lead you to being the dead body in Prompt B if you're not careful.
You arrived at the park! And you're a free spirit, not constrained by prompts- maybe you're the Death Duke, maybe you're the mastermind, maybe you're the ghost sucking people into a new world.
Wildcard 🎡 Come up with something else. Who needs prompts when you have creativity?
Cassie Cage | Mortal Kombat | OTA
Pinoko | Black Jack | OTA, het for shipping
and other chapters sadly never animated.))Anemone | Eureka Seven
Idk either straightforward magical girl or someone else is in the way
Anyway, that's when there was a scream. And on one hand, Moon had been reminding herself that this not her circus and not her monkeys, she's uninvolved...]
Did they really have to pick now?
[Unfortunately she's still a hero of some kind, even if she's on vacation - Moon's running to the source of the screaming.]
idk i throw magical girl tropes into a soup and see what comes out
She sits on top of a broken airplane ride, legs dangling over the side of a jet as she looks down on the fleeing guests. ]
Don't leave so soon! Where's the fun in that?
oh god I've been doing the walk of tag shame all this week
She aims with her toy gun (or what appears to be a toy gun) and shoots.
A portal opens up right fucking next to Anemone. Yes, we're working with portals now. A glowing portal. Moon on one side, Anemone on the other. And Moon grabs the nearest thing and chucks it at her head.]
What's the big idea? Some of us were enjoying ourselves! Isn't there an easier way of getting attention if you really want it?
it's all good!
Who's attention-seeking?!
[ Anemone puffs up defensively. That isn't what this is about! (No, Moon is onto something). ]
This is Nevelia's park now! I'm collecting the fee and whoever you are, you're about to be next!
[ One of her creatures extends its tendrils to try and grab Moon. Portals go both ways, right? ]
texas ― arknights
Pauline Bonheur | Original Character
Character info and permissions here.]
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[Pauline had been absolutely thrilled when she won that theme park ticket. She didn't even remember entering a contest or anything! It would have been nice if she had recieved more than one so she could have brought a friend, but it was what it was.
Currently, however, Pauline found herself regretting this whole thing more and more. Upon arriving, she found a dilapidated heap, overgrown with weeds and vines, the various attractions covered with rust and grime their lights flickering with a musty scent hanging in the air. She thought that maybe this was part of it, that they had perhaps sent out these tickets as some sort of special event.
That was before she found the gates firmly locked when she tried to leave.
She calls out, her voice wavering a little, as she turns her head at every squeak or groan. There has to be someone else here, right? Would that be a good thing...?]
Hello...? Helloooo?? What's going on here...?
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[Nirei isn't sure how long he's been at the park. He thinks it's only been a few minutes, ten at most, but every unsettling noise he hears from his hiding spot makes him feel like it's been hours. It doesn't help that he's already exhausted from overthinking and the panic attack he had when he first got here.
Then the sound of someone's voice injects a burst of adrenaline into his body, wakes him from the daze he'd fallen into after shutting down.
It could be a trap, he thinks. This place seems like it would be full of those. But if it isn't, if it's someone else as scared as he is...
He scrubs a hand against his face and takes a deep breath, then steps out from the nook hidden by vines and leaves.]
Who's there...?
[He spots Pauline in the distance — Was the entrance always that far? He was sure it was right next to his hiding spot when he first got here. — then hesitantly approaches her. For all he knows, she might be a hallucination.]
I don't know what's going on here either, but, um. Hi? What's your name? How did you get here?
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I-I'm Pauline. I, um, I won a ticket but I was the only one that got off the shuttle bus...
[She looks over him for a brief moment. He seems normal enough, but in a situation like this...]
Um, and you?
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Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you...I'm Nirei—uh, I guess you can call me Akihiko? Either name's fine. I also got a ticket, let me just...
[Nirei digs through his jacket pocket and takes out a small notebook, then takes out the ticket from between its pages and shows it to Pauline. It's an exact copy of the one she won, just with a different number.]
Do you, uh, wanna stick together? I feel like we're both freaked out and judging each other, but I really don't wanna be alone here.
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Yeah, I think sticking together would like, be for the best. I'm just relieved I ran into another person. I-I mean, it's a bad situation and I'm not like, happy that you're stuck here, but...you know?
[Her shoulders slump as she takes another look around.]
Do you think anyone is actually here running the place or what?
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[He wants to sound reassuring, like he usually tries to be for others, but his voice comes out weak and strained. There's a similar pit forming in his own stomach, a well of fear that's getting heavier the longer he looks at their tickets and what they could possibly represent.
Nirei forces himself to look away, to look at Pauline then out at the park as she does.]
I don't...I don't know. If there's someone else here, if they're expecting us for some reason...
[The ticket feels heavy in his hand. He clenches a fist around it, crumpling it, instead of looking at it again.]
I'm not sure if that's better than if we were all...alone...here...
[Nirei squints at the distance as his words trail off. There's something there that he's sure wasn't when he first got here.
It's a ticket booth with a sign that says Welcome! in big, bright letters above the window. He can't see anyone operating it, but the lights are on.]
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I mean, someone must be expecting us, right? They sent us these tickets...and it can't be anyone we know since we didn't know each other until now, I guess...
[Why did she say that?! The very idea just makes the whole thing worse! Some unknown strangers lure two teens to an abandoned theme park! Isn't this how documentaries start?! She reaches up and begins nervously fiddling with her ponytail.]
But why us? Was it random...?
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I kind of hope it's random...is that bad? It doesn't make this any less scary, but I'd rather be in the wrong place at the wrong time than... [He makes a vague hand gesture at their surroundings.] Chosen by whoever did this.
[The closer they get, the more unsettled Nirei feels. Unlike the other structures, the lights of the ticket booth aren't flickering. They're strong and bright, almost hard to look at. It's just as grimy and damaged as everything else, though. The windows are cracked, the paint is discolored and peeling, and the door is missing.
Despite his obvious fear, he takes a larger step at some point so he's walking in front of Pauline in case he needs to shield her from something.]
...should we get a stick or is that too paranoid?
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[She goes quiet for a moment. Maybe she should try keeping her horrible thoughts to herself. When he starts walking in front of her, she walks just a little faster to try and walk beside him. Was she walking too slow before? She doesn't want to be dead weight if something happens.]
...No, yeah, a stick or something might be a good idea, actually...
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I would, uh...I'd really rather not imagine that. I'd get it if I was rich or famous, but I'm from a small town so... [He focuses on the ground and starts looking around for a long enough stick or at least a rock to toss at the booth.] You get what I mean.
[When he notices her walking faster, he waves a hand at her in what he hopes is a reassuring gesture.]
Hey, you don't have to do that. I'm not leaving you behind, it's just in case something jumps out, okay? I'm no good in a fight, but I can at least buy you some time to run.
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Wha- I mean, I know we just met but if something happens, I can't just like, abandon you, you know? If we split up, we'll just be at square one again, right? It would be safer to stick together, wouldn't it?
[She spots a ragged looking push broom, leaning against a decrepit drink stall.]
Oh! That might work, right?
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That's...um. Thanks. And sorry. You're right, we should avoid having to split up.
[He follows her gaze towards the broom.]
That'll work great, good job!
[He quickly jogs over it, thankful to have a reason to leave the awkward air behind. It's dusty all over and the handle feels grimy, but it feels sturdy enough for a few solid hits despite how decrepit it looks. Nirei holds it in both hands in front of him as he walks back to Pauline and the booth.
After a moment's thought, he offers her the broom. He knows firsthand how it is to feel like dead weight in a serious situation, so he'd rather not make her feel that way. At least, not more than he already has.]
Do you uh...want to knock on it? I don't mind either way.
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Oh, uh...y-yeah. Yeah, I can do it. It's like, no sweat.
[She cringes a little as she takes the broom from him. The feeling of thick layers of grime and dirt from who knows how long ago makes her shudder, despite her best efforts. Carefully, she uses the head of the broom to gently tap on the booth. A vague rattling sound comes from within.
Pauline looks to Akihiko nervously.]
((ooc: sorry for the late response. Had a chaotic week!))
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There's no one here...but there's boxes and stuff? [He looks back at Pauline and gestures at the missing door.] ...I'm gonna take a look inside.
[He walks around the booth, slowly and carefully, then looks through the doorway. The rattling is louder from where he's standing, and he presses a hand against one ear as he winces. It's not so loud he needs to yell to be heard, but it's grating to listen to.]
Ugh, I'm not sure what's making the noise, but there's some storage boxes, a chair...and pamphlets?
[He takes a step inside, just one in case he needs to run out again, and reaches for the stack of pamphlets and takes one. The paper is, oddly enough, sturdy and new instead of old and falling apart. It feels like the same paper their tickets are made of.]
...it's a map of the park. [Nirei sucks in a breath and lets it out in a shaky, disbelieving laugh.] There are other exits!
((ooc: It's okay! You can take months and I'll still backtag lol but I do hope things are less chaotic for you so you can relax!))
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Are you, like, serious?! We can totally get out of here!!
[She laughs as well, clapping excitedly.]
Let's get going! The sooner we get out of this creepzone the better...!
Satoko Kusagakure | Ninkoro