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

That makes him laugh, leaning back with shaking shoulderes. “Oh, my family comes in all shades!” he tells her cheerfully. “Maybe one day I’ll get ta introduce ya!” Or, preferably, not. He’d be fine with none of his family showing up, even if Atlantis and this stop have been nice so far. Sure, his heart aches for them- aches like the summer sun beats. But they don’t deserve more servitude for a fickle thing of the Fair Folk, not after what they’ve had to go through already. Best if he can just… shoulder the burden himself some more.

“Anyway, he’s in performance as well, so you’ll get ta see him soon enough.” He grins cheekly as he takes another sip of his drink. “Promise.”

"Sweeeet," Ash said, almost-but-not-quite singing the world -- with her, it was easy to tell the distinction, because nothing happened. "What's he do? Is it music? Do I have competition?" Her fist waved, but purely in play.

“Actually,” Joker says, eyes glimmering in the light of the place, “you’ll be most likely workin’ with ‘im! I suppose ya could call him a snake charmer…” And his head tilts to the head a bit. “But back home, he could dance with those snakes like no one’s business.”

Ash suppressed some filthy commentary about 'snake charming'. "Oh man, you think we could find like a really big one? That would be a show!"

“I mean, it’d definitely be better than anythin’!” Joker sets his drink down to tap his chin. “But we have ta find a place that has a giant snake first, and then get the Ringmaster ta agree ta it, and then make sure Ginko doesn’t break down cryin’ at the idea of tendin’ ta it.”

"Only one of those actually sounds like a problem." Ash was pretty sure that the Ringmaster would go along with anything if the consequences weren't blatant and direct, after all.

His grin is nowhere near subtle. “Is it Ginko cryin’?”

"Yuuuup. I mean honestly, everywhere we'd been? How hard would it be to find a giant snake? And then all we gotta do is say, 'hey boss we got a giant snake' and she'll be fine with it, I'd wager money on it."

“Well, that’s a good point…. But these last few stops have been pretty lackin’ on the giant snake front.” A dream world, the disaster that was the Matrix, Atlantis…. Well, maybe Atlantis. “But, ha, I don’t think I’ll take you up on that bet. I know when I’ll lose!”

Ash nodded in smug self-satisfaction. "So it's settled. Next stop we look for a giant snake." Apparently this was a thing that was going to happen? This was what happened when no one stopped Ash.

Well, if someone is going to stop Ash, it’s sure not going to be Joker. And, frankly, judging by the look on his face, someone might have to stop him too. “Giant snake lookout,” he agrees. “Wonder if we can get anyone else ta come along for help?”

"Are you kidding? In this crowd? I'm pretty sure all we have to do is say, 'Hey we're gonna go capture a giant snake' and we'll have to raffle off positions on the expedition to fairly assign them." After all, look at the crowd that had turned out to go harass a big crab!

"So Strange is guaranteed," he muses, because Strange is reliable when it comes to doing stupid reckless things like going after a giant crab or capturing a giant snake. That's settled. "We've got a few newcomers, right? Meet any of 'em, think they got that 'would hunt a giant snake' air ta themselves?"

"Hmm, maybe Fireboy." She meant Rin. "He seemed pretty -- well, teenaged-boy, which means a crazy and ridiculous assignment like this is right up his alley, right?"

"Fireboy?" Oh, that does sound like a nickname with a story attached to it. Joker grins in anticipation. "Sounds about right, but who's this now?"

"Rin, Rin. Started right before we got here, works in the cookhouse?" Really, Joker, Ash was a little disappointed -- she kind of expected him to know everybody in the carnival, even just by guessing who she'd applied the nickname too.

Hey, cut him some slack- you would be amazed at how many people could earn the nickname of Fire Boy. In fact, if not for age, Joker might put Childermass down for a candidate, for…. Unfortunate reasons. Thanks, Strange. Still, the name has him perk up- literally, ears up and everything. “Oh, that one! Haven’t had too much of a chance ta really chat with ‘im, but I’ve seen him about! Well, now I definitely know who ta go after next, ha ha!”

How many of them had just whipped up a big ol' ball of fire out of nowhere, huh? Ash stood by her nicknamery!

"Excellent," Ash said, steepling her fingers. "Soon we'll have a snake worth telling stories about."

"We better, if we're goin' through all this trouble." Laughing, Joker finished his drink and set it to the side, getting up.

"Well, I've been away from Snake for long enough, I think. See ya around?"

"You bet," she said, flittering a little wave at him with her fingers, then added a wink. "Call me if ya want me."

⇨ THE CELEBRATION

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