lostcarnival | ⇨ THE CELEBRATION

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⇨ THE CELEBRATION

Who: Everyone, especially YOU.
When: Day 60 - Day 65
Where: The Celebration
What: The carnival workers are invited to spend the week within the realm of the Celebration, the grounds of a party that has been going on for centuries. Accommodations are luxurious, but those with keen instincts might notice something off about this whole arrangement... (Questions can go to the original setting post!)
Warnings: Booze, drugs, sex, and everything in between.

THE CELEBRATION↴

If you observe that the layout of the Celebration grounds seem inconsistent, then you would be correct. In reality, what lies at the end of each corridor depends largely on what the guests of the Celebration want at the time - if a few people find themselves craving a drink, a bar may appear. If a group finds themselves wanting to dance, a club will open up. This goes on at all hours of the night, and given how many dedicated partiers fill the building, the services are well used. It isn't instantaneous, and the Host has to consciously decide to provide that service, but the changes are fast none-the-less.

► ROOMS: Each trailer pair will be assigned a room to themselves - whether or not it has two double beds or a single king sized bed seems essentially random. Hopefully you aren't too sensitive about keeping that space to yourself. The curtains at the far side of the room don't actually lead outside, but instead to a walk-in closet filled with the Host's best guesses at the type of clothing you might like. They may not hit the nail on the head, but at the very least all the clothing will be in your size. The styles could be just about anything, from any universe, but they do tend to average out to clothing that is Earth-ish. Either that, or clothing that looks like they are meant for elves from a high fantasy novel to wear.

► SHOPPING: If none of your pre-picked outfits tickle your fancy, plenty of boutiques and clothing shops can also be found around the grounds - whatever you're thinking of, you'll probably be able to find a shop appropriate for it eventually. Though, maybe it doesn't really count as shopping if you don't have to pay for any of the things you take back to your room with you? Unfortunately, from the sounds of it, you won't be allowed to drag all of your haul back to the carnival with you, so you better enjoy it while you can.

► DINING: There is no daily schedule to follow, after you arrive. You are free to attend the dining room whenever you wish, and will be seated at large round tables with whoever else may be around at the time, and can either order from the menu or most dishes you may think of off the top of your head. If you don't like the fine dining experience, there are also a selection of smaller cafes and eateries that open and close at varying times of day - and, of course, you can always call for room service.

► ENTERTAINMENT: There is plenty of live music around the grounds (not that you can ever seem to remember who the performers were afterwards) whether it comes to harp music while you eat or a full set of DJs in the club you found. If you are inclined to look for them, you may also find some cozy lounges with big screen TVs, and access to a multi-universal quantity of films. What's there or isn't there is unpredictable, but if you come from a standard variety of Earth you probably recognize some of them.

► SUBSTANCES: You don't have to be coy about it - just ask one of your servers, and you'll be able to get whatever kind of vices you might be craving. Drugs, alcohol, ice cream... it's all good. If this sounds like a nightmare for potential addicts, you would be correct. It's not uncommon to see people clearly over-indulging in certain locations, though guests are usually escorted back to their rooms if they take ill - only to see them back at it again the next day.

► SPA DAY: If you'd like to take a swim, pools of various aesthetics are easy to find. So are hot tubs, and saunas, and Host servants who are willing to give you a massage or manicure. If the party crowd isn't your scene, there are plenty of more low-key opportunities to indulge.

► GREENSPACE: There is one park area on the grounds, which appears to be constructed on the rooftops of other parts of the complex. While there are trees and greenery, there is no real sky that you can see - only the illusion of one. It may start to occur to you over time that no window or rooftop actually leads to any kind of outdoors. The Celebration really is there only thing here.

These are really just examples, and you can get creative with what kind of services you find offered while here, when it comes to generally mundane comforts. It really feels like the Host wants to win you over, as if you staying just a little longer has some sort of intrinsic appeal.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dang. That guy is really good at this game.

Tamaki, of course, showed up to the arcade as soon as he knew there was one. All the games are new and interesting, and he doesn't even have to pay for them! (Hopefully he won't end up in a year-long contract this time, either.) But he's stopped on his way to play a puzzle game to watch Lambert's performance against the dummy.

"Aren't you gonna take the tickets?" he asks when the round ends.

"The what?" Lambert glances over at Tamaki, brow raised. The exertion's pretty physical, the training dummy taking all he can throw at it and then some.

"You mean these?" He tugs the strip of tickets off the floor, tearing it away from the machine in the process, then just kind of stands there awkwardly clutching it. Someone didn't get an explanation of how this kind of thing works, obviously.

Tamaki nods in response, then half turns and gestures behind himself in the vague direction of the exchange booth.

"You take the tickets over there for prizes."

Did this guy not know that? Must be someone who's not from Earth. Or at least, not present day Earth.

Like the way he holds the game's sword in his hand -- like he's planning to do serious damage with it -- wasn't enough of a hint. He glances between the tickets and the prize booth with a touch of skepticism, lips quirked.

"Not really something I've tried before." He'd missed out on that part of the carnival when he arrived ... but this guy is a lot more lucid than anyone else he's seen here so far. "Seems kind of pointless when they just give you what you want for free. Did you come with the carnival?"

"Yeah."

That's about all he has to say in response to the question about the carnival. Lambert has a good point about the prizes being free, but Tamaki can still see some reason to do things this way, however flimsy it may be.

"Some of the big things take more tickets. You still have to be good, or work hard to get them."

You just don't have to waste money doing it.

Lambert considers the tickets in his hand for a few more moments, then grins, shoving them into his jacket pocket. A few tumble out, but there's plenty left.

"Better hang onto these until I see something I want, then." And he nods at the game. "This one's getting boring, though. You see any other good ones around?"

Tamaki gives a nod at his wise decision to hang on to the tickets before looking around the arcade.

"I like the puzzle games." There are simpler and more familiar ones here, like games where you shoot bubbles of the same color together to pop them or games where you line up similar blocks to break them before the time runs out. Then there are more immersive VR games like none Tamaki has ever seen.

"They have some shooting games, too."

"Shooting? Like with a crossbow?" Lambert perks up at that. Sure, he's no amazingly skilled archer, but he considers himself a fair shot as long as a target is in relatively close range. And he's pretty sure that there won't be any forktails or manticores swooping down at him here, so whatever's there must be easy enough.

... That also probably gives an indication of the level of technology he's used to. He'd given up deciphering some of the other modern games, but shooting is familiar, like the sword.

A crossbow shooting game would be pretty rad. However, it's not quite what Tamaki means.

"No, like a gun." He wonders if this guy even knows what a gun is. When were guns invented? Heck if Tamaki knows.

"Do you know? It's like," he holds up his hand in a finger gun, "bang!"

Maybe it would be easier to just show Lambert this than try to pantomime it. It's not like Tamaki has ever held a real gun in his life or knows how to fire one, after all. The closest he's ever gotten is a prop gun for a television show.

"No idea what you're talking about," Lambert shakes his head, lack of comprehension clear. Sorry Tamaki, no dice. "If you show me one, I'm sure I can figure it out."

He's seen a few different games he didn't understand here, some clearly meant for more than one person, regardless of him not understanding how they work.

"Are you some kind of expert on these?"

"I've played some before, but Chia-chan is the expert at video games."

Tamaki leads the way towards some of the shooters, picking one that involves shooting army men that pop up (there are some with zombies, but Tamaki deliberately avoids them; zombies are scary). It's a two player, with two fake guns to use.

He holds one up. "This is a gun."

Lambert takes the other fake gun and turns it over in his hand, not really seeing what the big deal is; the confusion is obvious enough, speaking for itself.

"I don't see how you--" He drops the gun in surprise when he pulls the trigger, the action setting off a ratatat of noise and lighting upp. He grabs it before it can clatter to the floor, then looks at Tamaki, frowning.

"This is supposed to be a weapon?"

"It's just for a game." He moves it around as if something about it makes it obviously fake to someone who's never seen a gun before. "Real guns are a lot scarier."

After his experiences with the agents in the Matrix, Tamaki is content to never encounter another real gun. But fakes ones aren't so bad, as they're obviously plastic.

It had felt too light and flimsy in his hands to be a real weapon, so that and Tamaki's comment make him wonder about what the real thing is like. But he figures out how to hold it, mostly from watching the other guy and the simulated men on the screen, and he gives Tamaki a quick nod.

"I think I got the hang of it. Wanna take it for a test run?"

"Yeah."

Tamaki pushes the buttons to indicate to the game that there's two players and hit start. A short intro video plays, and then Tamaki and Lambert are loose to shoot at the encroaching enemies on screen.

Tamaki takes aim and shoots. He's not bad at this type of game, but it's not what he's best at, either. It's fun to him anyway.

It's still weird to handle a weapon with no real weight or recoil, but after he gets into the swing of things -- and figures out how the reloading works, watching Tamaki -- he starts to be more consistent about killing their virtual enemies, which die with a lot less gore than he's used to. He gets hit a few times, which is annoying until he finds out how to duck behind cover, but by the end of it he's laughing.

"That was stupid," he declares loudly, turning to Tamaki and smirking. "But fun. Guess that's the whole point." Like most of the things here. The game prompts them to start another round, and while he's tempted, his curiosity's shifted to his companion.

"Guess I never actually introduced myself, did I?"

Tamaki is laughing, too. The game might be stupid, but if they're having a good time playing it then it doesn't really matter. It's fun to play with someone and not by himself, no matter what the game is.

"No." And he didn't, either. He can just hear the voice of his duet partner in his ear, scolding him for his rudeness.

"I'm Tamaki Yotsuba. I'm an acrobat in the Carnival."

"Lambert," he'll nod, acknowledging the introduction. "I'm help the doctor and the nightrider, mostly." Calling himself a 'nurse' still sounds too hilarious to him, so he won't say it ... but that's what he is.

"Haven't seen you perform yet, but I haven't been with the Carnival long." He smirks. "Feels like cheating, having a vacation before I've really gotten started."

He shrugs off the fact that Lambert hasn't seen him perform yet. It's been since before Atlantis that he did a real acrobatic show, anyway, though he has been practicing.

"It's lucky. I had to start right away." Though he doesn't sound as grouchy about it as the words imply. Really, he likes being an acrobat, and learning new tricks from Joker.

"Zeco-san is nice, though. It's kinda weird since she's a zebra..."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

⇨ THE CELEBRATION

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