⇨ 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

[periphrasing]

"But what?" Peridot prompts her, frowning. She's reluctant to say anything else until Amethyst clarifies what she's getting at.

[drrdrrdrr]

"But..." Amethyst shifts uncomfortably, rubbing the back of her neck with one hand. "I dunno, I mean... like you said, it's complicated, right?"

[periphrasing]

Well that doesn't clear things up at all.

"I always assumed we were engaged in something of a so-called 'romantic' relationship," Peridot says carefully. Her tail is betraying her anxiety, partaking in a slow, nervous swish, that rustles the bed sheets every few seconds or so. "Are we... Not? Was I incorrect in drawing that conclusion?"

[drrdrrdrr]

Boy. Amethyst wants to sink directly into the hotel bed.

"I... no, but..." She pushes a hand through her hair. This isn't how she imagined this would go? In her head, when she'd lurched up to the door, and in the hours preceding, she'd been thinking she'd admit what had happened and Peridot would... reject her, one way or the other - either she'd be so disgusted she wouldn't want anything to do with Amethyst any more, or it would turn out she didn't care because it wasn't that kind of relationship. And then on some nasty, sick level it would be a relief, and Amethyst would let herself sink back into partying her nasty, sick brains out until she forgot about all of this.

That's how this was supposed to go.

She stares at the floor. "I kinda thought you'd be mad about this."

[periphrasing]

"I'm not... mad, I'm confused," says Peridot, although she sounds a little bit irked when she says that. "Am I supposed to be mad? Earth inhabitants usually only keep one exclusive partner, right? But... I don't think I care about that."

She puts a hand to her forehead, wincing. "I'm... not very good at this human relationship thing," she says, in a completely out of character display of humility.

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst blinks up at her. Then she laughs, confused and ashamed and... well, mostly confused, dropping her gaze back to the floor.

"Yeah," she says, "Earth stuff is pretty dumb, huh."

[periphrasing]

"I don't think it's that dumb," Peridot murmurs in meek disagreement, with the tone of someone who just had their favorite video game insulted in front of them but doesn't want to defend it openly for fear of having their taste judged. "At least... this. Us. It isn't."

[drrdrrdrr]

"..."

Amethyst finally lifts her head to look at Peridot for more than a brief, nervous moment.

"You don't think so? I mean... I'm not very good at it either."

[periphrasing]

"Of course not!" Peridot says, looking back up at her and blushing furiously. "I mean, there are some things that I wish we would do differently, but..."

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst looks away with a wan smile. "What, like getting freaky with strangers on party world?"

[periphrasing]

"No, like... Like..." She huffs wordlessly, flicking an ear, frustrated by her own inability to articulate any of this. "Like establishing a certain logic, or rules. I don't know."

[drrdrrdrr]

"Oh..."

Rules. Boy. Amethyst is visibly uneasy at that prospect, pulling her knees up to her chest and curling her tail around her feet.

"I don't do so good with logic 'n rules, P-pod."

[periphrasing]

"Gh... bu... hhhh," Peridot grunts, folding her ears back. She's holding her claws up close to her chest, fidgeting anxiously. "I... Don't know how to act without them," she admits. "It's stressful sometimes! Not being able to talk about what we have because you don't want to define it or whatever."

[drrdrrdrr]

"Yeah." Amethyst sinks down a little further. "Maybe we shouldn't... maybe it's just not gonna work."

[periphrasing]

"What-- No!" The green gem gasps, and then shakes her head defiantly, her features all scrunched up. "We can make it work, it's fine! Just... Forget I said anything about rules, okay? It's not that important."

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst sinks her hands into her hair. "Peridot, no... Look, I just – I'm no good at this stuff and you're just gonna get – hurt or whatever... I thought if we didn't say it was anything then maybe you wouldn't, but..."

[periphrasing]

"I'm going to - Rrrrgh -" The sounds she makes is animalistic, a frustrated and feral sounding growl that shows off a good number of her sharp teeth, and she full on turns around in her spot on the bed, tail thwap-ing the mattress agitatedly. Pumpkin, who has been sprawled out snoozing at the head of the bed through this whole conversation, gets startled awake and shrinks back against the pillows with a soft whine, all too suddenly aware of the tension in the room.

"I'm getting hurt right now, so there, problem solved! Nothing to fix!" Peridot argues.

[drrdrrdrr]

"That's what I'm saying!" says Amethyst, digging her fingers in in frustration. "It's just gonna be like this, I'm just gonna mess it up!"

[periphrasing]

"This is literally the first time this has happened!" Peridot exclaims loudly, throwing her hands up. "Amethyst I don't normally say this to you of all people but you're being a real clod about this!"

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst looks up at her in miserable surprise.

"... You don't get it, the whole reason I didn't wanna... put a label on it or whatever – if we call it something, then I'm gonna suck at it. But if we don't then it sucks for you anyway! So – so –" Her face kind of creases up. "So what's the point!"

[periphrasing]

"What's the--" Peridot sits there, shoulders sagging, and stares at Amethyst in shock and disbelief. "I... value your company, and your friendship, and..."

Ugh. She's still not always the best at articulating feelings. Especially under duress.

She stares at her fidgeting claws, mumbling: "I don't... want to..." Lose that. But she trails off, unable to finish the thought out loud.

[drrdrrdrr]

"I do too," says Amethyst miserably. She's literally crying at this point, it's bad. "You're, like, the best. You're so smart, and cute, and weird, and – and–" And she doesn't want to screw up getting to be with her so it's easier and less scary to just not, but she can't finish that sentence out loud because on some level she knows that's super dumb and not at all in line with the devil-may-care attitude she likes to project??

[periphrasing]

"Amethyst," Peridot says quietly, desperate and utterly uncertain of what action to take here. She doesn't think she's ever seen the other gem this upset before now? Not like this, anyway.

Gingerly, she reaches a hand out and rests it on her thigh, because she hasn't a clue what else to do. Maybe if she just... shows solidarity in this moment, it'll get through to her, and everything will be fine.

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst blinks soggily at Peridot, and then she sniffs, and then she puts her hand on Peridot's hand and says, "'msorry,"

and then she throws up on the floor.

[mirrortide]

And right then is the perfect time for Lapis to emerge from the bathroom, which she has redecorated to suit her and Peridots tastes more. Which is to say it's completely and utterly destroyed by any normal person standard.

She was also sort of eavesdropping up until this point, but whatever. She looks to Peridot and then to Amethyst and then to the barf on the floor.

"I'm not cleaning that."