⇨ 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

[nevergained]

[Score. Frisk beams and tells another.]

What did one ocean say to the other ocean?

[Even if she's heard this one, they're still good for a giggle.]

[insidescoop]

[The screaming is internal, silent, yet roaring-

But also this is too much!! Too much!! She can't take it-

...Well, actually, she doesn't have anything out she supposes...] Mnnhhhh...if you say so... [She finally relents, floating inside.] But, but you really should head up for a break yourself, if you 'just finished' in here, you know-!!

[anti_nonsense]

"I told you," Rita says, sounding a bit too tired to enunciate her words properly. "Humans are stupid. So... looking up to them makes you stupid, too."

Slouching back against the chair, she slowly sinks toward the ground. "That's just logic," she adds in a mumble, seemingly unaware of how ridiculous she looks.

lmfff I guess we fade off here then Oh Boy

[insidescoop]

Excellent~! Let's get started~!

[This can only go Great and Terrible and nothing in between-]

[insidescoop]

It's definitely an attitude Carly can appreciate-both the matter of boundaries and, well...learning more. If there was anyone in the carnival who would speak it praises, it was her-which means she has a smile quickly returning, a nod accompanying it.

"Well, I can't say how different it would be from your home...but I can definitely answer other questions about the Carnival~! I've been working here for a few years after all...I'm actually one of the supervisors! ....though that's just wardrobe..." She probably has more info than just Clothes, though. Probably.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya sets the sled in place, digging his heels into the snow to keep it still under him so Cole can get on.

He tilts his head back, grinning at Cole. "Is this your first time playing in the snow?"

He assumes it's not the first time Cole has seen snow. Snow's a common thing, right?

[otoko]

[It is, without a doubt, a Very good thing that Gongenzaka is drunk. In this state, it actually takes a moment to even realize what Junko has said. Most of his focus is on the snow pelting his side, short yelps of some sort given as he turns to face his quarry.

That's right, it goes both ways. Regardless-the first statement isn't quite hitting in the way it would before, which means that he can fortunately just laugh-a loud and warm laugh that is immediately followed by the repulsor charging and aiming at the snow.] HAHAAAA!

Trophy, you say? I, the man Gongenzaka....would beg to differ..!

Let our battle begin then! [He laughs, and the snow blasts.]

[otoko]

AUH-? [Well, that's a mild shock. Gongenzaka actually jumps, turning mid snow-blast at the sound of a click. Give him a few moments to realize what's happened, however-he's...quite hammered, thanks to that cure.]

....Pictures?

[NAILED IT.]

[otoko]

Aah, that is the impression which I received... ....At the very least, Sans was certainly...clear about what to be wary of, [He mutters, frowning a touch. What a Mess....and Sans wasn't even actually that clear about the history! Just that Flowey needed some potential supervision.]

BARRIERS bc i still dk what yuuya's gonna get from gon rip

[otoko]

[Gongenzaka is woefully stuck on what to get his friend, but he has been doing relatively well to keep that from interfering with the holiday. It's the 16th day-and supposedly they have at least another week up here, so he's hoping that...Something appears, at least.

If it comes to it, he has been taking notes at least. He is a little surprised to see what Yuuya is doing however. Snowball, barrier, snowball, barrier... ...and fortunately for them both, has the sense to wait, at least until the other waves.

More importantly, until the barrier isn't the main source of focus. Well...perhaps he can 'edit' his back up plan, in this case...? (No, Extra Protection Still Necessary.)] Mnh, Yuuya..! [He greets, trotting over.] I, the man Gongenzaka...see that you have been practicing something?

[What is the Something, tho...]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya looks over in the middle of forming another snowball. He straightens up and grins and waves to Gongenzaka as he approaches.] Gongenzaka, hi! I learned a spell from Mr. Strange.

[It's been a couple days, but he's still really excited about it.] It's a barrier--but I want to make it bigger and stronger as quickly as possible, so I'm practicing casting it. Let me show you!

[He doesn't even wait for an answer, bouncing back a few feet before he holds his hands out and the dome pops up after a couple seconds. It's a two-foot radius, so not as sizable as he wants it to be... but it is solid.]

[wild_magic]

[You know what, it isn't what he was expecting at all, but Susan is definitely okay with this. Maybe if it's both of them they'll somehow manage to make it not Terrible.]

16th

[wilt]

[ Flowey is in his backpack, warm and comfortable, as another change seems to be coming over him. Little buds of horns seem to be growing out of his flat, flat face, not unlike a goat's. Reira is carrying him to a spot of secret gift surprises-- I mean, a place to meet with Frisk and play in the snow for a while.

He didn't think about the cold until he felt a sweater warm him again. Now, he never takes it off-- ever. Not even to wash. What? He's a flower. There's nothing that could give him BO.

He stops himself from saying 'me and Frisk got something plaaaanned' before he realizes that would ruin the whole surprise. He asked Frisk to act like the bird was their pet until the big reveal. ]

Let's hurry! C'mon, I'm impatient! [ To see the look on her face, he supposes. ]

[wilt]

Feel the snow around you-- when it's packed into a ball, it feels like-- a ball of sand? That's how it breaks apart, but less heavy.

That's why I'm not afraid to go all out!

[ ALL THESE TENDRILS HAVE SOMEHOW MADE ALL THESE SNOWBALLS? ]

[nevergained]

[And Frisk is waiting around with said bird in tow. It's pretty patient, all things considered and everything is good so far.

It's also standing on the child's head, but whatever. It's not like Frisk's never stacked things there before. Bridge flowers, hotdogs....now they can add a bird to the mix.

Hopefully Flowey's friend likes the gift, and it's the least they could do to pay back the flower's generosity in buying them Petal. Once Frisk catches sight of the pair, they'll wave them over.]

Hey guys, over here!

[soft_focus]

[It'll be the only child head she can perch on, certainly. Frisk is made of far more DETERMINED stuff than Reira after all. But hey, the thought is what counts. Reira can certainly tell that Flowey is, for lack of the accurate term for the emotionally compromised, excited, however. She adjusts the straps of the flower pot backpack occasionally, but otherwise says nothing as she wheels the thing she drove in on. She had insisted on practicing with the strange Noah bike Yuugo gave her...

Go figure, Yuugo had taken so long to deliver it because he was installing a clip. They moved no faster than twenty clicks an hour.

Still faster than walking in snow, to be fair.] I'm going, I'm going...! [She protests, and her attention moves to Frisk as they approach. ...Well. That sure is....a bird.]

Hmnnghhh...you got another pet, Frisk..? [The Leefi was hard to miss, ok.] Um....I hope whoever you get to stay with in the trailers is ok with that...

[Oh, dear, dear clueless child...]

[dressedtothe]

9S' expression immediately twists onto a scowl. "We're nothing like the machine lifeforms! The machines don't have feelings. Their circuits aren't capable of complex thought and emotion."

But he knows that isn't quite true. Simone... Pascal and his village... Adam and Eve... What does it mean?

No, there's no meaning to anything they do. He has to believe that.

Calming down after his outburst, 9S answers the second question. "We'll enter a new age of peace," he says brightly, though his next words are slightly dampened, "There... won't be any need for soldiers like us."

He knows. He'd been looking forward to that not so long ago. Now that prospect feels like an existential nightmare... If androids would even be maintained after their roles are completed.

[wilt]

It's not Frisk's pet.

[ Anticipation... haha, okay, his anticipation is out there right in the open now. Reira might figure out Frisk's surprise a second before she's supposed to because of this dumb flower and his empathy problems. He leans over the backpack and turns to face it. ]

Gee, it kinda looks like... [ He mock puts a leaf over his mouth. ] The last good pet from the bestiary!

I wonder who it belongs to, if not Frisk?

[nevergained]

[You do you Flowey and your empathy. Frisk meanwhile is rocking the pokerface like a boss.]

I think they think my head belongs to them.

[Which is kind of true. Apparently the head of small children are comfortable, or it's a bird that just doesn't care.

But they'll wait until Reira makes her guess before saying anything else.]

[dirthena]

If he missed her, why did he leave? Lavellan knows the answers as well as anyone, knows that whatever he says will not ease the ache of her heart, the way he took everything out from under her the third time he left. Solas has always loved his causes, that has never been something she's doubted; it's just a shame this final one is one she cannot let him have. Cannot let him succeed. Letting Thedas burn to ease his guilt and bring back magic -- she would want both those things, but not at this cost. As if Solas can stand to pay it once more.

But they both know this, and speaking of it more will only walk them around in circles. "Fitting indeed. It never snowed much up by the Waking Sea and Wycombe; just a thin layer of it when it did that melted by midday." And she doubts, if Arlathan was ever near the forest, that it would have been something Solas saw often in his younger years. Then again, Skyhold was his at some point.

A smaller smile, and a shake of her head -- tinged with sadness. "Haven's snow always had the ability to make things look new overnight, before we all kicked up the mud and the dirt underneath." A luxury not afforded to them here, she knew. There would be no fresh start for them.

[hurtcomfort]

Lambert doesn't remind Cole of the Inquisitor. A different person who goes by the Commander reminds Cole of the Inquisitor. But, as he's got trouble with words and doesn't realize that you should specify these things when you're talking about multiple people, Cole is blissfully unaware that he might have goofed something up.

Thankfully, the clarification's going to be unintentionally cleared up as Cole answers the question.

"Lambert has a bit of magic. The Commander has more." Cole hasn't actually seen either of their magics in action, but he knows. It's things they talk about or worry about, small little frets that linger in the mind.

"A lot of people have magic here." Pause. "They'll tell you about it." A lot of people won't friggen shut up about their magic here.

[nevergained]

Flowey's...

[Frisk can't shove everything Flowey did under a rug. He did a lot of bad things and he was the one who had killed them the most out of everyone in the Underground. And all they had was his say-so about being Asriel. Frisk hasn't seen the best ending. They don't know what happens there.

But...he was trying. That had to count for something.]

I think you might want to talk to him too if you're worried, sir.

[soft_focus]

[The poker face certainly serves Frisk well-it's hard to be suspicious, when you're busy feeling...well, more casual things.

But Flowey might as well be a red light in the snow, which is the only reason she doesn't immediately frown at him to say what do you mean, 'only good one'. She does frown, mind, but only for a moment. A moment spent briefly wondering if it's his. It wouldn't surprise her, after all-he could totally fly that way. And yet, that anticipation, that strange...excitment he seems to give off, has her slowly look back at the bird to tilt her head.

The eagle, typically, tilts theirs back, to a more extreme extent. If it isn't...theirs, then...

Oh.

Oh-! Slowly, Reira begins to react.] Ah...aaaaaaAAAAAA- [Like a slowly rising scream, though it never sounds like more than a rather loud gasp. Oh-!!!] You got me the bird..!?

[....It's almost as big as her, you guys!!! She can't carry that! (And it sure can't carry more than say, Frisk's head)]

[pipers_son]

[...]

Julien, have ya flown inta windows while drunk?

[wilt]

Frisk got you the bird!

[ He announces it like he got her the bird... flowey, please... ]

And I got Frisk the Leefi. [ He gestures to a bush nearby, subtly covered in snow, chewing on some grass. ] It's a trifecta of present giving, except there's no real trifecta because I bought my own alien monkey.

[ He seems so proud... now they have a pet club, too! ]