⇨ THE CELEBRATION

[ringleaders]

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.

Comments

Carly Nagisa (And Aslla Piscu!) | OTA

[insidescoop]

[DAY 60 | SCOUTING]

[It's her job even if they are here to relax, as far as Carly is concerned, so now that she's over her brief panic over possibly missing an 'ahead of the game' style outing (She did not. She did not miss one, and she probably got at least one eyeball to the face before realizing that)? It's time to do what she normally does.

Which means a whole day of wandering, seemingly lost. It doesn't take long before Carly realizes that her inky, pixel-streaking form is just a little too eye-catching here however; the patrons really want to see what those wings feel like, and maybe even see how much coverage that tail has~ So before she bursts into a pile of embarassed feathers, she naturally takes to a smaller, easier to maneuver and hide form.

Namely, the hummingbird. So if you see a palm-sized hummingbird with black and orange feathers hovering in the corner of your bar/cafe/mall? That's her.

Go on, give her a wave! She might be on the job, but she can spare a moment for you! (Probably)]

[DAY 61]

Ahhhhahahaha....it's really okay, I just need a coffee and I'll be fine~

[While it's hardly harassment, Carly just isn't assertive enough for the serving forces of the Celebration. Room Service in particular is speaking to Carly right now, and are very confused about her request. 'Are you sure that will be all?' they ask. 'We offer a great variety of lattes and espresso, and many flavor shots typically unavailable in other locations.'

The girl's brief pause and consideration is all it takes for them to continue listing such things off and suggest-they never DO leave the Coffee menu either, so kudos to them for catching that part. But...Oh...Hmmm-

The shadow at her feet stretches out almost lazily, dull violet eyes tracing the path of whoever happens to be walking by.]

....ask them if they have pre-bottled souls....

A-ASLLA!!! [YEAH THE SERVER ISN'T ADDRESSING THAT ONE-]

[DAY 62-64]

Hauuuuuuuhhh....I think I really needed this..~

[After her report is typed and handed in, Carly does well to avoid certain obvious vice-pits. The bars, the dance floors, the game rooms...she instead finds the spa again, opting to relax. It starts with a manicure, to help the ache of typing. Then they go for a pedicure, since one esthetician notes that she hasn't quite adjusted to caring for 'bird feet' too well ('But don't worry about a thing, we can take care of that easily'). And then it moves to a facial when they finally catch sight of the easily missed bags under her eyes...

Eventually she's somehow worked her way up to a large and intricate sort of hot-stone massage involving specific crystals that the estheticians swear up and down are 'perfectly aligned' to her currently 'unique' energy signature, and are meant specifically to draw out and balance it to ease away stress. She doesn't doubt they're right, either, but in the back of her mind she keeps asking herself...

Can it get any better than this?

The girl gives a sigh of relief no matter what treatment someone walks in on them in the middle of-and Aslla seems to try and creep toward that someone no matter who they are as well. Hey there friend, do you have good taste, or A Good Taste if you know what he means?]

d62 spa time

[spaghettimonster]

[With no familiar routines to structure his time, nothing productive to occupy himself with, Papyrus has given in to the atmosphere of the establishment. Today, he's trying out the 'full-day spa experience'. It's a little trickier for the host to work with him than most guests, given his complete lack of skin, nails, or even musculature. But he does have a spine, and there's ways to work with that.

The weight of the hot stones pushes him down into the welcoming cushion, and he sighs as well.

There's a tall, decorative divider between each guest's section of the room, offering the option of privacy to those who don't specifically come in together. But being in the same room gives friends the chance to talk even while they relax under the hosts' comforting hands.]

Wowie. I thought I would be bored, but this is... intense. Relaxing, but I'm awake too. Is this what spa days are supposed to feel like?

[fortuneglass]

[Bone therapy, bone therapy for all. Aslla Piscu seems to ebb curiously near the other's shadow for a bit, but manages to hold off, allowing Carly to instead join Papyrus in some conversation. It really is...very...] Hahhhh...I never knew, since this is my first time to one...but I think it must be...~

If it's just sleepy relaxing, you might as well just be at home in bed I think...but for a spa, you're supposed to come out of it even better than before right..?

[Wowwwwww they're really good despite the whole 'just rub rocks over your back' aspect.]

[spaghettimonster]

[It's like the heat is soaking into each and every joint, easing out tension he hadn't even noticed until it was gone.]

That makes sense! And, ah....

[The host's circling motion with the newest stone hits something just right. He sinks deeper into the cushion, feeling so carefree. Able to take on any challenge, but all the challenges are politely waiting until the end of the week. Papyrus hasn't felt this safe and secure in... a while.

His tail starts wagging back and forth, knocking off one of the lower stones, but he hardly notices.]

No wonder they're so highly recommended. All the benefits of a nap, but...

[insidescoop]

[It really is a safe place isn't it? Though, for her part, she's hoping no one trips over her wings...] But a lot more...

Do you do a lot of hard work too..? I normally do tailoring...I thought it just meant using my hands, but I ended up using a lot more muscles in Atlantis...! [she sighs, her voice half a mumble. Providing clothes for any of the carnival workers that still wanted them, getting costumes made together, getting set pieces done as well, in the case of pieces requiring fabric...

It was a wonder she slept at all..!]

[spaghettimonster]

[The masseuse patiently recovers the fallen stone, continuing their work with improbable patience. Never a complaint or a sigh or a sneeze, just perfectly fitting the space to fill wants and needs... Yes, this must be a safe place.

Papyrus looks up at the mention of tailoring, the seed of an idea taking root.]

Do I ever! Cleaning up after everybody... Janitorial work is not for the faint of heart! Or the frail of finger.

[At least his more demanding days come and go with the presence and absence of guests. Rare is the carnie party messy enough to rival a full day of outsiders littering. ]

[insidescoop]

[On Carly's end, there is the gentle suggestion to perhaps keep her face looking downward on the bench...but there is no further move to correct her position, the masseuse simply going back to work with her stones along the other's back. Unlike the limits of the skeleton, she's able to work a little more properly it seems, rolling the stones up and down to hit various locations.]

Hehhhhh, you mean you're on janitorial staff..? I didn't even know we had more than cinders for that..!

If you're doing all that work, that's really impressive you know...At least with my work, I can take a break when everyone has clothes...

[spaghettimonster]

Oh, I like the routine. Working hard every day... It's important work, and important to feel important! You could say that I'm the backbone of the operation.

[If she doesn't know he's a skeleton, that's fine. Stealth puns are the best puns, after all. Finely aged, punchlines sneaking up on the unsuspecting...]

But you're otherwise correct! The others are all cinders. I assist, and coordinate, and keep up their morale!

[Do the cinder spirits have morale, or care when he gives them encouragement? The world may never know.]

[insidescoop]

Hmmmmm...I wish wardrobe had more routine...

[She can see him, so she can definitely see the bones. And she giggles.] Backbone..~ You could even say that literally, that's a good one! [Actually...she blinks.] It sounds like something Sans would say, even...

[Hmmnnnnn...well anyway.] Hohh!! Even the morale!! You're dedicated!

Day 61

[pipers_son]

...Yeah, I don't think they got that on the menu.

[He swears, the things he runs into while he's on the way back to his own room...]

[Still, Joker slows, giving an amused glance to the current scene.]

Gettin' somethin' big there, eh, Carly?

[insidescoop]

I wasn't even going to try ordering that, that would just enable him!! [Because this is the biggest problem here, you see.

Carly sighs at any rate, ignoring the sad mumblings of her shadow.] All I wanted was a normal coffee with some sugar, but they keep telling me about all of these other options...! I just needed some caffeine to get through my report!!

[pipers_son]

Well, why don’t ya ask for the one with the most energy boost, then? Maybe there’s somethin’ even stronger than just the usual stuff~.

[insidescoop]

An energy boost..?

[Hmm. It's certainly worth a try, and she crosses her arms before turning back to the barista.] Well...what do you have that has the most caffeine in it, then?

[There is a very quick response to that, and a very eager display of a bag of beans that appears to be marked with various seals, bones, and warnings.] 'They say you'll never sleep again!'

[...................Carly takes a moment to consider this.]

...Maybe something half way there instead...

[pipers_son]

[Sorry, Carly, but he has to turn away, shoulders shaking from the force of how much he’s trying NOT to burst out laughing. That was not what he had been thinking of, but, well, maybe he should have expected it.]

Ya can’t say they ain’t prepared here, huh?

[insidescoop]

HEHHHHH definitely not... ...OH! [She does, however, add-] Um....If you can put some sort of berry flavor shot in actually, that would be really nice..~

...I don't even know if those exist, [she adds, scratching her cheek and turning to Joker.] But if they had this, they should have that, right?

[pipers_son]

[Having gained control of himself, Joker faces her again, nodding.]

I mean, why not? People put all sorts of things inta coffee nowadays, right?

[insidescoop]

Exactly..!!

And I've always had caramel shots, or chocolate, but I never saw a fruit one... [Which is an ABSOLUTE SHAME, as berries are-]

Here you go miss.

OHHH!! That fast?!

[Carly that was no faster than a Starbucks.]

day 60, let me know if this is okay! :o

[whattaprick]

[ The Nightrider's address had been pretty explicit, but Lambert's not sure what there is to report about here. It's some kind of enchantment or spell, that much anyone could recognize pretty readily, but he doesn't think five pages of notes about various refreshments are what Mari had in mind.

Not that it stops him from sitting his ass down at a bar and drinking his way through the menu, parchment and old-fashioned pen close to hand (conveniently left on his hotel table). He's halfway through his fifth drink when he spots the blur of orange and black out of the corner of his eye, and he absently touches at his medallion. It hums contentedly under his fingers -- magic of some kind, then? Not a doppler, or it wouldn't even pick it up, but ... ]

See something you like? [ He drawls, nudging his glass of alcohol towards the bird, raising a brow. ]

Works great!

[insidescoop]

Hmm?! [While she has hardly been writing down lists of refreshments offered at the Celebration, she has certainly been making some kind of catalog. Mostly it's of the Celebration's seeming limitlessness-notes of endless malls, gardens, bars, cafes, and so on, so on, are going to be filling her paper when she gets to typing, that's for sure. For now however, she turns to Lambert with a slight jump.

Now hold on, she swears she recognizes that voice... (Radio isn't always the best for that, though) ...if she doesn't clue in herself though, there's probably no mistaking the one that comes out from the bird's beak.] Oh!! Definitely not! I'm working, I shouldn't be drinking at a time like this!

That's for later! ...And even then, I'm not really sure I want to try it here, [she laughs uneasily, glancing at a few patrons.] ...I might not stop...

[whattaprick]

Why not mix work with pleasure when you can? [ Now that is definitely a familiar voice, even if he's only really heard it once or twice. Still, had rather thought the person attached to it would be more… Human shaped, but perhaps this isn't her real form at all? ]

One drink won't turn you into a lush. [ He comments instead, with a smirk. ] Unless you already are one. Or is that the demon's fault too?

[fortuneglass]

HEY!! [Now that's more than just rude, and Carly's feathers fluff.] I'm not worried about being a lush! And leave Aslla out of this! It's a matter of taking my job seriously!

Not to mention, [she chirps, darting around the bar a little,] You need to take a better look at some of these people! Something's seriously not right!

[whattaprick]

[ Lambert just keeps the shitty grin on his face, neither apologizing nor pressing the topic. After all, what she brings up after that is more interesting to talk about. ]

You mean the whole magic party, servants everywhere, and free-flowing vices thing might just be too good to be true? Say it isn't so. [ Anddd he'll take a drink from his glass, with a shrug. ]

Even if that's the case ... what are we supposed to do about it?

[insidescoop]

Well obviously there isn't going to be much to do about it..! This isn't really the first place we've been to where it's been sort of like that after all... [CoughMatrixCough

In any case, the bird gives a shrill sort of hissing whistle, likely a close attempt at sucking in a breath to calm herself down.] ...It's just a good idea to be more careful about things, because of that!

It's easy to lose yourself if you don't think about the risks!

[whattaprick]

[ Lose yourself, huh? If you asked Lambert, he'd say the idea holds a certain appeal to it. But he's nowhere near drunk enough to say such a thing to a relatively recent acquaintance he doesn't have the measure of. ]

Thanks for the warning. I'll keep that in mind.

[ Haha nope just kidding Carly, he's going to end up making some questionable decisions in the not so distant future! For now, though, he's still himself, even if it's just a pleasantly buzzed version of him. ]

What do you mean, it's not the first place?

[insidescoop]

[Somehow she doesn't believe you, and she can't put her talon finger on why. But she's hardly in any spot to argue over if someone is taking her seriously or not, so the bird just huffs a little before explaining.] Oh-!

I mean, it's not the first world where we couldn't just go in and 'fix' everything..! Even though it's really creepy...we probably wouldn't be able to pull these people out of whatever they're in without causing a lot of trouble...

More trouble than we can handle, definitely!