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.

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He's got to admit: the idea of getting a massage does sound relaxing, even if he's got no idea why mud or stones would sound relaxing (do they put the mud on you? what gives).

"When I do decide to have that spa day, you're coming along as well," said with a little smile of his own. "I wouldn't know where to start with all these treatments!"

"That's where I'm headed when I'm done here," Ash said, folding her arms on the side of the pool to look up at him. "Work myself tired here, then go get all the weariness and tension melted right out of me. So if you wanna go..."

Really, if she were pressed right now, Ash would like the company more than she'd like any specific activity. Most of the carnival seemed to have taken off for, ah, pursuits that didn't hold her interest, so this 'boring' swimming was a little lonely.

"I'd love to!" said almost instantly, right off the bat. For one, the more the merrier with regards to company. And second, it would be good to do something like this with someone who knows how it works already. Strange knows that if anybody was going to accidentally mess up spa day, it would probably be him.

Plus, it would be nice to do something here with someone. He's also uninterested in some of the pursuits that others are in, what with that whole being married thing, so even if it's just spa day with Ash, at least there'll be company.

"Of course, I don't want to rush you with your swimming. Take your time, I'm certain I can entertain myself until you're ready." Because yeah, he's still not swimming.

"Naw, I can always come back," Ash said, kicking her way over to the ladder. "And it's more fun with company anyway. Right now everyone else seems busy in more -- heavy pleasure?"

She tossed her head back as she climbed out of the pool, flipping water from her hair backwards in an arc. "Towel, towel..."

"Or, at least, the sort of pleasure that I doubt either of us would be interested in." Strange's problem is that he just wants to try everything, which is a bit of a problem when there are literally unlimited options.

But towels. There's a pause as he looks around, trying to spot one. Almost instantly, a faceless servant appears with an armful of towels. He offers one to Strange who takes it with a nod and a "Well thank you." Strange then offers that towel to Ash, seemingly unaware of just how quickly that servant showed up after they just thought of needing a towel.

"Here, this should help."

"Hey thanks!" Ash said, taking the towel to begin scrubbing herself off, without any grace or delicacy. She might have a lot going for her, but not those particular virtues in any real measure. "Don't get me wrong, there are a couple things here that I could get really into... but who needs to be here to get into them, right?"

She chuckled to herself as she slung the towel over her shoulder, drifting towards the changing rooms. "Just lemme get my stuff. You're gonna need to change when we get there, you know!"

Strange doesn't follow Ash towards the changing rooms, but he does yell after her, a bit confused, "Wait, change into what?"

You could give someone a massage without them changing clothes, couldn't you do that with the stone things as well? The mud...okay, maybe not the mud, but definitely the rocks and the massage! He doesn't really have any other clothes to change into—most of his clothes are the same 1800s style that he's currently wearing.

What, did he think she brought a bikini with her? When she'd wandered into the carnival all she'd had was the clothes on her back -- and the guitar, of course.

Speaking of said clothing, Ash wandered back out with it balled up under one arm and her guitar strapped on. The strap looked a bit uncomfortable in her current outfit, admittedly. "I bet I could talk them out of putting you in a Speedo."

"I've no idea what a Speedo is, but already I've a feeling I won't like it." After all, it's only taken a few days for Strange to discover that he doesn't really like most of the clothing options of the Celebration. Everything's a little too short and shows a little too much skin for his tastes. You can take a man out of the 1800s...

"Any help to keep me from wearing something ridiculous would be much appreciated."

It would be difficult for Ash to show more skin at the moment and still be considered 'clothed', so major points to him for managing to handle her presence. Though the way she was suddenly giggling into a hand might not reassure him in the slightest. "Are you suuuuure I'm the one you should be asking for help?"

Strange can't help but roll his eyes at Ash's giggles as he starts to tease her in return. "At least with you, I know that whatever you suggest, if I think it makes me look foolish then you're most likely suggesting it to make me look foolish in the first place!"

"Hey, you're starting to catch on!" She shifted slightly to bump him with a hip, not a flirtatious thing but more of a playful roughhouse. "I'm clearly gonna have to up my game to reverse psychology. Don't wear a Speedo, Strange, it's the most boring of swimsuits compared to anything else they could put you in!"

"The problem with reverse psychology is that I'm quite contrary."

He changes his voice up a bit, obviously doing an impression of someone as he mimics getting scolded. "'Mister Strange, I don't see why you'd do this bit of magic in the first place.' Well if there's no reason why I shouldn't do a bit of magic then of course I'm going to do it!"

It's also 100% apparent that Strange is awful at impressions.

"Ooh, well, that might make it a challenge for me then." Ash regarded him from the corner of her eyes, doing her very best to hide the sly smile that threatened to creep out. "But maybe it's for the best. You seem like the kind of person who'd have problems doing magic if they were really embarrassed, like if they were in some really tiny bathing suit."

"I think I'd be able to do enough magic to get myself covered. Perhaps I'd make a coat out of grass and leaves until I'm able to get some actual clothes."

Granted, that would still look pretty silly. But at least it would be a silly that kept him covered all the way. He can deal with slightly uncomfortable silly more than just being uncomfortable in the first place.

"What if there WERE no grass and leaves?" Ash asked with a curious glance. "You know, indoors and all. Would you conjure them or have to whip up something else?"

Then she imagined in the scarf-outfit Carly had made for her performances, and began giggling again.

Strange frowns, thinking things over in a bit of an over-dramatic manner. After a moment's pause, he gives Ash a smile of his own.

"Most indoors places have furniture. I'm sure I can conjure the lining off of a couch or chair to protect my dignity!"

Ooh, nice counter, and yet Ash could so easily demolish it. Her smile turns sweet and sunny, the better to prime him for the image she's about to put into his mind.

"What if it's wicker furniture?"

Yeah, he can't help but obviously wince at that because yeesh. The idea of wearing wicker anything just sounds uncomfortable as hell.

"I suppose I'll just have to blind everybody in the nearby area until I can get proper cover." It's said in such a comically matter-of-fact tone that it's hard to tell whether Strange is joking or not...except for the fact that the wince has turned into a small little smirk says that yeah, he's 100% joking.

"You sure have thought of every angle!" Ash bumped through the door to the spa, then turned neatly to catch it and hold it for him. The spa complex was at the moment close to empty -- it was, after all, one of the tamer offerings in this world, and a lot of long-time residents didn't even remember it was there. They pretty much had the run of the place.

As he enters the spa, Strange just straight up gets distracted by...well, everything. After all, there's so much here and so much he doesn't know about that when they pass by a massage chair or by someone getting a hot stone massage or one of those giant walls of nail polish, he just stops and looks for a moment before rushing to catch back up with Ash, stops and looks for a moment, rushes to catch up, and so on and so forth.

"This is...well, it's honestly something I never even thought existed!" Everything's so nice, clean, and bright. "Where does one even start with this?"

"Well! If you want pure relaxation and bliss, you need a massage," Ash said, pointing to the tables. "Hot stone treatments are great to really hit your sensitive spots and trigger points. If you want soothing coolness and healthy skin, mud baths. There's a sauna to sweat, I always loved that..." Actually, she was kind of glad he was here; she could very well get lost in getting pampered for way too long.

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⇨ THE CELEBRATION

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