⇨ THE LUNAR SOLSTICE

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Winter Breaks: Day 6 - Day 25
Where: THE MOON
What: The carnival journeys to one of its moons to celebrate the Lunar Solstice. More information here.
Warnings: Winter fun.

MOON WALKING↴ The journey to the moon only takes a blink of an eye, but it leaves the carnival far away beneath you. The second moon can be seen on the peripheral, massive compared to its usual view. At least when the holidays start out, there will be no notable wildlife on the moon, though this is something you can talk to the Ringmaster about if you think it needs a change. It sounds like this is the first time she's used it in quite a while - it probably needs some dusting off! Claim your cabins, and proceed to... well, do whatever you want! There is no rush and little obligation, besides to enjoy yourself. For real, this time. She promises there will be no vampires. Or, at least, none that don't already work for the carnival. ► CABINS: Living arrangements are character choice for this event, and there are a variety of cabins of various sizes, mostly built to house 2-6 people, though you can fit more in if you squish. They are all made of wood and of a rustic design - no fancy modern furniture, here! Each building is housed with a fireplace and the needed amenities. You can pick up materials to cook with the private kitchens if you like. Theoretically, you could spend the whole holiday sequestered away, watching the snow fall. Some of them also have outdoor hot tubs available! ► ACTIVITIES: Activities are mostly going to be character driven, though there will be some large group games like bingo and maybe a poker tournament happening at some point in one of the festival halls. Otherwise, there is a lot to offer: skiing, snowboarding, hiking, ice sculpting, snowball fights - it goes on! If you'd like to run a winter activity, just let the mods know, and we will get the word out there for you. ► FEASTING: Every day isn't a full-out feast because that would get a bit unhealthy, but there will be a number of specific feast events over the holidays where everyone is encouraged to let out their inner hedonist and stuff themselves. There will be one big feast per week, with smaller but also delicious meals offered in between. The feast dates will be B12, B18, and B24. There's also plenty of alcohol available for anyone who wants it. ► SHOPPING: As mentioned in the planning post, there is a massive market being run by the World Walker Caravan! The Ringmaster has given everyone 1250 credits to spend on items, but there is a caveat - must spend at least 500 of those credits on gifts for other people. And it better be a good one, if you only buy one! (She will ask that you do not buy her presents, however. She appreciates the sentiment, but it seems sort of silly buying her things with her own money! If you'd like to gift her, please have it be something more personal or handmade, but you are not obligated to get her anything at all.) ► TREATMENTS: The beginning of the holidays will also be about the time that the emergency Medical Team will have finalized their treatments for the Prince's poisoning. Watch out for further information on that - and make sure to get treated if you are suffering from petrification or poison induced illness! The holidays will be a lot more fun that way.

Comments

1/2

[textsfromhotland]

[Alphys slams the door on their face]

2/2

[textsfromhotland]

[A half a second later it creaks open a little and she peers out.]

W-w-when did you get here?

[The human knows her name. They must be here to finish the job.]

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's very easy for Steven to pull into fawning. He offers him a wide smile as he comes closer, leaning to see what's got Steven's attention.

"Hey, Steven. Are you looking at that for you or someone else?" There's no judgement in Yuya's tone if it is for himself. He figures part of the gift giving season is making what you want known.

[anti_nonsense]

Oh, he did not just say that!

"Hey!" Setting the camera down, Rita jumps to her feet and takes a few stomps toward 9S. She knows she made a fool of herself back there. She knows it and she hates it. "You've got some nerve, bringing that up...!" She clenches a fist and for a moment, it looks like she's about to start a fight with him, but Cole's mumbling makes her pause and, tension fading, she turns to look at the spirit.

"Uh... Cole? You okay there?"

[brightspot]

Miko has a point. More than one. A metal surface that's not textured would be easy to slip off of. Even if it's a pain, snow might still be the safest. Even if it does break apart, well, there's only snow involved and snow doesn't hurt.

A lot of work, but when making the Biggest Ever of anything, one kind of has to expect that.

"Have you built a lot of... giant snowmen before?" She's guessing never this big, but. Miko's practiced this before, right?

[brightspot]

For the most part, she's just... Sort of given up on trying to sort through memories. Whatever memories surface, well that's fine, but she's whoever she is now, she's Five. Not Das, not Emily Kolburn. Five. And that's what matters. Who she's become since the memory block. Who she will become.

So, the mention of making new traditions sits pretty well with her, and, slowly, she feels a smile pull at her lips again. "We could do that."

With the part of the strand she's managed to finish, she lightly lays it over Cole's head (or, you know, big floppy hat), just to be silly. He's certainly not a tree, but apparently she's decorating him anyway.

[dressedtothe]

There's a brief but uncomfortable pause. The words used to fall so easily from his lips, but it's hard to feel the same enthusiasm for his work that he used to. Finding out what YoRHa did to him killed that enthusiasm, big time.

"I'm a Scanner, so my primary function is scouting enemy lines and supporting our war against the machine lifeforms. My secondary function is gathering information regarding the old world so we can better understand humans."

But he might not go back. He doesn't know. A part of him wants to. To return to what he knows. To return to his directive to serve mankind. A part of him wants to let them all rot.

(Except 2B, of course.)

"Us androids are created to serve mankind, so our aim is to win the war and prepare the Earth for humans to return to their homeland. Once that's done..." We'll enter a new age of peace. He'd been excited about the prospect of being jobless once. Now the thought is terrifying. "...I guess there won't be any need for androids."

[chronosynthesis]

[Syrlya watches his hands to mimic the gesture. It's simple, at least. He hasn't worked small components like this is a while, even if the object is very different.

He pauses when 9S does, though for very different reasons.] There are a lot of humans here, aren't there? I wonder why that is.

[Maybe the Ringmaster id's just partial to them? Or maybe they're just more likely to sign contacts.] I have never had to explain Sylvari as much as the carnival.

[wild_magic]

Susan brightens up at the suggestion, and he nods eagerly.

"Could you really? That would be awesome!"

[kingsroads]

"Oh, I don't mind doing as much magic," Strange cuts in, with a little smile. Because he doesn't: if there's one thing he loves, it's showing off and doing a whole bunch of magic. And he's certainly egotistical enough to think that he could build an entire ice maze just by using his own magic.

"But you're right: any input on the design of the thing would be greatly appreciated. Who else can we rope in to help make this a reality?"

[prazerbutterfly]

If you're innocent then I'm a saint, Joker.

[He'll do it in the morning when he's more sober. Right now he's just suddenly barking laughter.]

I've had far too much practice to get caught. They say one can loose their head over a woman.

[pipers_son]

"Ah..." As if he'd forgotten entirely, Joker kicks his leg through the water a couple of times before groping half-blind with his good hand. It's a little hard to tell, when one's fingers are made out of living wood, but...

"Good, I think. Oh, wait, yeah. That's skin. I think it's skin." A snort into the water. "Three sheets, who knows..."

[prazerbutterfly]

[It's better a kid is spared that kind of thing for now. They can learn of it later.]

Cool? I do admit it has a nice aesthetic and helps one fit in here. [Since everyone kind of ends up a bit of a freak depending on changes especially to world visits where others may seem normal.]

But just for my curiosity, I have to ask. Did you sign on willingly?

[pullingamiko]

The snowball doesn't quite reach her, and Miko lets out a burst of laughter. "Not quite, dude!"

She hops a little closer, though, before throwing her next snowball. Not much point to a snowball fight if your opponent can't hit you at all.

[dontpokethat]

Ginko snorts, and gently pushes Joker back upright. "C'mon. Sit on the edge of the tub, then we can check it out."

[pipers_son]

[Oh, he recognizes fidgeting behavior when he sees it. Joker is a kind soul and sober, however, so he keeps quiet.]

Well, no one drives here anyway. Just flies.

[A pointed stare at Julien's.... everything.]

GOT A DICE ROLL IN HERE

[otoko]

Item Purchased: Books x 10
Gift?: Yes
Total Item Cost: 100 -> 90
Credits Spent: Gongenzaka (90)
Additional Notes: Some trilogies, some mythologies, and more importantly, some CULINARITIES (coughPastaForPapcough)

Item Purchased: Movies x 2
Gift?: Yes
Total Item Cost: 40 -> 36
Credits Spent: Gongenzaka (36)
Additional Notes: One of these is meant to be a 'stand-alone movie' relating to the game purchase below, but if the roll for the game succeeds where this one doesn't, it can just be Another Magical-Girl-Robots Anime- (The other one is a Feel Good Racecar movie whose cover he misinterpreted oops)

Item Purchased: Video Game x 1
Gift?: Yes
Total Item Cost: 20 -> 18
Credits Spent: Gongenzaka (18)
Additional Notes: Gon is ABSOLUTELY trying to refind Alphys' Visual Novel Of Choice. If he fails a Luck Roll he'll find the next best thing...

AN INTERDIMENSIONAL KNOCK-OFF (which is to say, Some Other visual novel)

Item Purchased: T-Shirt x 4
Gift?: Yes
Total Item Cost: 60 -> 54
Credits Spent: Gongenzaka (54)
Additional Notes: Two of these are ~Matching Ones~...

Total Credits Spent: 800 - 198 = 602 Remaining

[pullingamiko]

Miko is briefly tempted to imitate that salute, but, given that she has no idea what it actually means, it's probably best for everyone when she settles for standing up straighter.

"Miko Nakadai! Nice to meet you - both of you!" Even if one of them is completely quiet. That's fine. "So-- if you're an android, that means you were probably made for something, right?"

[pullingamiko]

Really, there's only one way this can go - and so it does, with Miko jumping from the slope and basically slam-dunking the giant snowball over Papyrus's head. Still while screaming, of course.

Unfortunately for her, having misjudged how hard she needed to jump, her landing leaves something to be desired... meaning she ends up tumbling head-over-heels through the snow.

[whattaprick]

"Made to hit fast? Makes sense. Not much point in buying drugs from a world-traveling caravan if they're like something you could pick up anywhere else."

Lambert occupies the opposite end of the couch, putting the glass of water on the sidetable and cradling his tea in one hand. He'd pass it to Strange, but he has the distinct feeling the magician's about to get much less coordinated fast, and water splashing everywhere is just about the last thing he wants when the windows are open like this.

Still, for as much as he's anticipating having to peel Strange off the floor or deal with his prattling in a few minutes, he can admit walking around was a welcome break from being kept inside. He's been focused on the cure to the exception of all else, and the argument with Childermass -- if one can really call it that, as one-sided as it was -- only serving as encouragement to avoid people more. He's not sure whether he should be grateful that it happened after he'd already moved most of his setup to the moon, or annoyed that this means he'll have to inevitably ask him to move it back, and no telling if the magician still intends to avoid him then...

bropresents

[flashover]

Item Purchased: Targeting Helmet x 1 Purchased
Gift?: Yes
Total Item Cost: 225
Credits Spent: Rin (225)
Additional Notes: For Yukio

Item Purchased: Healing Draught x 1 Purchased
Gift?: Yes
Total Item Cost: 45
Credits Spent: Rin (45)
Additional Notes: For Yukio

Item Purchased: Sunlight Ambrosia x 1 Purchased
Gift?: Yes
Total Item Cost: 45
Credits Spent: Rin (45)
Additional Notes: For Yukio

[espigeon]

I don't drink and fly, Joker. That way leads madness.

[Pause.]

Did you know, I can't always see glass? If it's clean and the angles are right it looks like there's nothing there. That's embarrassing as fuck, you know.

[whattaprick]

Lambert throws his hands up, entirely exasperated and entirely oblivious to whatever convoluted train of thought Cole may be working on, or what secret ills he might be privy to. "Do you ever make any sense?"

They've only ever had two conversations, certainly, and one was when he was enchanted half out of his mind, and he's already thinking he'll be happy if he never has to speak to him again. Or at the very least, definitely not while he's sober, because Lambert's impression is that to cope with Cole without wanting to strangle him, he's going to need drink. Plenty of it.

"Find someone else to bother," he orders instead, impatient. The last thing he needs whenever Childermass materializes out of the shadows is to be arguing with ... whatever Cole is. Cole had said he was different, like Lambert, but the witcher can't see what's the same about them at all.

[atouts]

They can always hope for a more sensible Strange someday, one day, perhaps very far in the future. Today isn't that day, though, so. Oh well. Childermass just shrugs at the look of disbelief, then gives the other magician an unbelieving look of his own.

"What? You think I'll be kicking my feet up? Without a Treasurer? No. I'll be doing inventory," he states it outright and it's probably as dull as the word itself sounds. "Our latest trinket will hardly be the norm for me."

'Trinket', as if the word can eve be applied to the Blue Rose, but they're amongst other multiversal travelers. Even if they may be allies of the Ringmaster, he doesn't doubt they have a keen eye for profitable artifacts all on their own. They don't need any extra tips from him.

"But if you'd rather count how many potatoes we need to pick up before moving on while I take the stage again, by all means, let us trade off for the week."

[insidescoop]

Hmn....

....Well... [Ooof.] Well, we can work with that, I suppose. The next part that's important though is....making sure it's not somehow coming from her pocket, [Carly notes, grimacing.] ...I do buy a lot of things at other locations for reference.... ...so we could maybe piece something from that? Hmmm...