lostcarnival | ⇨ 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

"Uh... well, as in about what it sounds like. Mushi were a kind of organism I used to study back home. Mostly harmless, but a few could have some pretty nasty effects under certain circumstances."

...Well, he didn't say they were bugs, at least.

Organisms could still mean bugs! He knows the definition!

"And they get riled up by sex and cause disease?! How do you even study that kind of thing?" He sinks down to hide some behind the back of his seat, not only looking worried but now very suspicious of this whole... thing. "You got a bunch of mushi diseases from that, huh? Is that it?"

And more quietly, this time to the girl currently looking between the two (puzzled as all hell), "Just look at him, I bet that's it... He definitely looks like a weirdo to study that way."

To which she whispers back (loudly, so not a good whisper at all), "But he's weird like that, why didn't he want to join us?"

Shima jerks his head around to look at her again, startled.

"Huh?! You're still on about that?!"

"Um. No, not necessarily." Ginko sighs and rubs at his forehead. "There are countless types of mushi, and very few of them actually have anything to do with sex; a small number just happen to. Studying mushi is a lot like studying any other type of organism that can cause disease."

Okay, not really. But also, it sure as hell isn't different in the way Shima is implying. Ginko scowls at him. "And, while I have gotten sick from my work before, I can assure you it wasn't from any of the kinds I was talking about."

...He's not even going to ask what they're whispering over there. One of his ears twitches a little in irritation.

"Okay, but—!" He has questions! Or had them, right up until the girl he's here with gives up with a big sigh. She's standing up to leave, stating loudly over both Ginko and the documentary that has since moved on to angler fish that they're both dull.

So she's leaving.

"H-hey! Wait! It's not... I'm not!" Shima turns to reach a hand out towards her (insert slo-mo noooooo despair vision here). "I'm not dullll and okay, there she goes." He drops his arm and heaves a sigh, leaning miserably on the back of his chair. "Well, gee, thanks a lot..."

"You're welcome."

Honestly what response did you expect, Shima. Ginko takes another sip of his drink. Now just to wait and see if he's actually going to be left alone now or not.

Oh no, Ginko. If he has to have his day ruined, so do you. Admittedly, there isn't much Shima can do to ruin Ginko's day, but his most obvious option is to stand up on his chair and hop over into the next row, rinse, repeat, until he's in weirdo deer man's row.

With a huge, melodramatic sigh, he flops down to sit right next to Ginko.

"So. What are we watchin' here, anyway? Is this the part where someone gets chomped by a shark?"

Congrats, Ginko, you've gained plus one movie buddy, the kind that will absolutely talk through it.

Well, yeah, it's gonna be kind of hard to ruin Ginko's day given what kind of a mood he was in to begin with.

But this is still not... great. Evidently it's happening, though. Ginko sighs and takes another gulp of alcohol before answering.

"No. Not sure there is a part where someone gets 'chomped' by a shark."

"Nah, there's always a part like that," Shima goes on. Just going to keep on talking over the movie, yep. "They'll cut away at any moment to talk about how sharks aren't actually dangerous or somethin' except for this one time, then do a dramatic re-enactment of someone getting themselves chomped and then there'll be blood everywhere!"

"That so." He's, like... halfway paying attention. Just kind of side-eyeing Shima here. "I take it you're some kind of expert, then?"

"Nope, not in the least," Shima admits with a shrug. Nah, man, he's just being purposefully obnoxious.

Wow. At least he admits it.

"Alright. In that case, how about you either find somewhere else to make bad decisions, or be quiet? Your choice."

Sorry, Shima, but he absolutely does not have the patience for this today.

Yeah, sometimes it pays to just be honest. Not usually, but sometimes.

"Well, I don't know. That depends, deer man. There anything you're gonna do to make me do either of those?"

...Unfortunately not having the patience for it doesn't mean he's actually gonna do anything about it.

"I think a better question is if you actually gain anything by doing this. Which I'm pretty sure you don't."

"I gain satisfaction in knowing I've made you as miserable as you've made me," Shima says way, way, way too cheerfully.

Usually, he would at least pretend to be polite or even generally nice, but the Celebration sure isn't helping him with that part of himself right now! Sorry, Ginko. He's here to stay (until he gets bored or falls asleep during the part about coral reef bleaching).

Ginko just kind of looks at Shima and raises his eyebrows. "So you think you're making me miserable."

He sure as hell isn't helping any, granted, but also: That's almost funny.

"Is this the part where you tell me you're always miserable and I act like I care?"

Don't worry, Ginko. You're wasting your time watching documentaries while the sickest party rages on all around you, so no hard guess there.

"Because I can! I'm actually really good at that!"

"No, actually, sometimes I'm even happy." Right, Ginko, everyone totally believes that.

"Y'know, that's another question - why don't you go back to trying to make bad decisions instead of hanging around here? Unless you actually consider pestering me to be higher priority."

⇨ THE CELEBRATION

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