⇨ 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

[soft_focus]

Yeah! ...it's really bright, with lots of stars, like Solid Vision makes, [she notes, before pausing to consider Yuuya's statement.]

....It does?

[otoko]

[ OH!!! The nerve!! The sting!!] NGMH-!

Y-YOU ASK HER FIRST..?! When I, the man Gongenzaka, am right here!?!

[otoko]

"Hmrn..in this case, I, the man Gongenzaka, wonder how much was the fault of any victims, I shall admit..." Still. He coughs.

"Patrol! It is my only job while here."

[otoko]

[The pets are accepted! A lot, actually, and she is snuggling for more.

But hey.] hmm...it is a good question. I, the man Gongenzaka, wouldn't think she would go to any likely dangerous realms...But one can never be certain where we shall arrive either...

[kingsroads]

The idea of him getting high, taking drugs, being this version of himself in England is enough to make Strange grin like a madman. What an attack on the respectability of English magic! What an affront on everything Norrell was trying to make magic become! It's a grand idea until Strange realizes that no, it really isn't.

"I did this in Venice," Strange answers, the most coherently he's been in this entire conversation. "After I thought Arabella dead, I wanted to make myself mad in order to see a faerie and entreat one to bring her back. I tried powders and potions and plants until I found the secret to real madness."

And that right there explains so much. No, this isn't something he did all the time back home. This was just the actions of a desperate man, willing to try anything and break himself in new and exciting ways to bring his wife back from the dead. Strange slumps to the side again, staring off at nothing. He attempts to rest his head on Lambert's shoulder but just misses entirely and plop, there goes his head, right in Lambert's lap. This is hilarious and Strange badly represses a giggle. Though, he thinks he knows what Lambert's next question will be so, through the giggles, Strange continues.

"I didn't have anyone to stop me in Venice. And if I did, I'm not sure if they even would."

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya gives Gon a completely unapologetic smile.] You said she was getting antsy, right? I bet she needs to have some fun.

But you can always help too! [He winks.]

[hippocarnival]

Well, yeah! [He grins, amused, and moves to pay her shoulder.] I don't know if this is something you've really done before... but I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. You can make a lot of better memories now.

[scientificist]

See, this is why he needs actual files on these people. Is Tyki actually not cold and he's going to be totally fine? Or does he just think he's fine due to dilating blood vessels and he's going to die of hypothermia if Herbert doesn't help him? He stares into the middle distance for a bit in reaction to the name mangling before crouching down.

"You should...get inside," he suggests. "Put your clothes on in your cabin."

[whattaprick]

It's a sad, quiet sort of admission, one that even keeps Lambert from rolling his eyes as they once again get to Strange's favorite topic -- his wife. However, Lambert can't help wincing as Strange's head lands in his lap, because even under layers of kimono and cloth, guess what? He's literally rock-hard, and he hopes the stupid giggle isn't a symptom of a concussion and shakes his head.

"People do the stupidest things for love," he tells Strange. Brave and admirable in their own way, yes, but mostly? Mostly stupid. He sounds more fond than excoriating for a change, so that ought to be a pleasant surprise. There are few constants in the world, but Strange being an absolute idiot for Arabella is one of them.

"Besides, what do you mean there was nobody to stop you? You had to have some friends to save you from yourself." Strange can't have been as much of a friendless loser as Lambert was. Magicians seemed, if not particularly rooted in reality, at least more popular than witchers and even Lambert had someone who'd mark his absence.

[kingsroads]

Strange rolls over to look at Lambert. He's not moving his head from the other man's lap, not because it's particularly comfy (spoilers: it isn't!) but because he feels like his head is full of rocks and if he tries to move it, all the rocks will fall out. Which obviously isn't good, though Strange isn't entirely sure why it's not good.

"I had some friends eventually." There was Flora. Wonderful Flora, who didn't abandon him even after he was cursed, who he trusted to play her part perfectly and she did. But she only showed up later, after he was already on the road to ruin. "But not in the beginning. I was a fugitive surrounded by vile rumors who fled to the continenet. What few friends I had wouldn't dare associate with me."

Surprise, turns out he was just as much a friendless loser as Lambert was. It's all said in a bit of a matter of fact tone as Strange blinks rapidly, trying to see if that'll turn the shade of pink he sees everything as back to that lovely purple it was earlier.

[lonesomewanderer]

Something specific that she does not want to speak about with someone she barely knows. He may have better luck asking another who has been around longer or Cole if he's sensed anything. Curiosity always got the better of him at some point.

"I am impressed that the fae have found a way to bring that to the surface," he remarks. "Where I am from, it can be quite difficult if one does not show an innate talent for it."

[lonesomewanderer]

He shakes his head. She didn't know what was lost. How painful it was to look at what the People had become and know that he had been the catalyst to it all. That was his burden to bear and no matter what else he saw, nothing would change that. He had to undo what he could, see what could be rebuilt in the ashes and death he'd create. The cost would be great, but he had to try.

And facing her, in the end, would tear him apart.

"No, you proved that you are different. I have met no others that have rivaled you." In her eagerness to learn or acceptance of the harsh truths that their history held.

[lonesomewanderer]

Magical, but not mechanical. He is from a world far removed from technological advances like that.

The android could pout all he wanted. Solas was unmoved. He simply stares the other man down and nods. He would be that way and he'd leave it to Cole to share what the spirit wished to. Cole had a far more flattering view of him that Solas thought he deserved, but no matter what slipped out there was nothing 9S could do to change what Solas had planned for Thedas.

"I am certain I will," Solas returns dismissively. If they were both friends to Cole then he had no doubt of that.

[lonesomewanderer]

As if Solas minds how Childermass obtained this cabin seeing as he stood to benefit from it. Seclusion was always preferred.

Solas turns his attention to the cabin door and--

And to the rather large beast that is greeting Childermass. The man hadn't been kidding when he said it was different than an ordinary dog. Friendly enough it seemed though Solas always felt an odd kinship with wolves. He stands to the side as he watches the friendly greeting and gestures towards the door.

"He is larger than I anticipated," Solas remarks and continues in a light, dry tease, "Are you certain there is room for all three of us?"

[lonesomewanderer]

"Why would I fear them?" And the rhetorical question is filled with pride. He knows his own value and skill. "I am what they call a Dreamer mage and I am an expert in the Fade. I have found there is much to learn from them is one keeps an open mind and is willing to listen."

So no, he has no fear of becoming possessed. He handled himself just fine walking among spirits and often preferred them for company.

[lonesomewanderer]

"Even here?" he asks, brow raised.

He knows his hurt and thoughts must shine like a beacon to Cole. In the end, it doesn't really matter to Solas how the spirit finds him. The radio is carried out of necessity and not because Solas prefers it in any way.

[prazerbutterfly]

Maybe some people don't like to know someone has a shareable file on them for everyone to look at when needed. If Herbert wanted to learn anything he'd just have to ask. There is maybe one person who knows anything about him in more intense detail and a scattered few that know bits and pieces. Then again, there is no guarantee that Tyki will spill everything.

"Aww, are you worried about me, Heeeeerbert?" It's a shame he won't make it back to his cabin from here.

[atouts]

"It'll have to wait," Childermass replies, which he's sure is immensely disappointing, but too bad, suckers. "I haven't drunk anywhere near enough to put that monstrosity on just yet."

And with that in mind, he'll take a drink from his mug. Not a big one, mind, because Strange had warned him before about just how easy this damn ambrosia goes down and even a small taste of it tells him just how true that is. It's almost too tempting to finish what little he poured in and reach for more, if only for the warming effect.

Speaking of which, he wrinkles his nose somewhat at that and looks down into the mug, as if looking at the drink will somehow reveal any mysteries.

[scientificist]

If Herbert had files, he certainly wouldn't tell anyone involved. Nor would he ask: it's worked poorly so far and he doesn't trust patients to accurately self-report.

"I'm...responsible for your well-being," he settles on. "It would, reflect poorly on the Cure Team if someone died during the healing process, I'm sure you can agree." He is absolutely not helping Tyki put his pants on. That would be the last straw.

[whattaprick]

The witcher takes this in far poorer humor than Strange.

"If rumors were enough to keep them away then they were pretty shitty friends," Lambert says sharply, which poor Strange and his head full of rocks probably aren't going to appreciate it.

Of course, for Lambert who barely has social stature to lose in the first place, friendship is more precious than reputation. For the rare, precious few that Lambert counts his friends, there are few things he wouldn't do, and he certainly wasn't going to let a stupid thing like rumors keep him away from one who needed him. Even if they didn't ask for it -- especially if they didn't ask for it.

"England's full of some fucking stupid rules."

[whattaprick]

"Spoilsport," Lambert says, sighing and making a show of looking put-upon. "Get drunk faster, then, or you're not going to appreciate these either." And with that, he nudges the two paper bags across the table, one for each of them, grin turning distinctly wicked.

The gifts don't require any complicated unwrapping, just opening the bag and peeking inside. For Strange, there's a shirt folded on top of a gray sweater with "ASK ME ABOUT THE PENINSULA" lavishly embroidered in dark purple thread on it. Touching it, it's easy to feel a thicker shape under the fabric; when the hem is flipped up, it reveals a felt appliqué of the peninsula (clearly imitated from one of Strange's strategy books, embroidery marking the topography and all) sewn on the inside. The effect is basically like one of the children's shirts at the caravan, which is probably where Lambert got the idea in the first place.

Childermass's gift is no less ridiculous, though the shirt is at least in a color he's more likely to wear. The sweater under that, however, is not. It's a deep wine red, against which Strange's drawing of Baker from before he evolved has been embroidered in bright, metallic threads the color of the dog's fur. A black bird -- it could be a raven or crow -- flutters over it, outlined in silver thread to stand out against the dark sweater, and the shifting light gives it the illusion of movement.

At the very least, the material the sweaters are made out of is soft and warm to the touch, and the quality of the embroidery makes it pretty obvious it isn't Lambert's work -- but it doesn't change the fact that, well, he spent money (even if it technically wasn't even his own money) on some incredibly silly clothes.

[kingsroads]

Strange frowns, trying to piece out a reply through the rocks banging together in his head. Some of his friends at least tried. Grant, bless him, was the one who actually gave a bit of a shit about Strange and tried to understand his actions. But it was different in England. And Strange has a feeling Lambert doesn't know just how terrible those rumors were.

He's not arguing the fact that England's full of dumb rules, though. Lambert's right in that part.

"You weren't there for the rumors. There were rumors of the black magic I cast in the peninsula. Rumors that I was the one who killed Arabella." There's something tremendously funny about that to Strange. He starts to giggle again, biting down on the inside of his lip to keep from outright laughing. Because him, killing Arabella? How ridiculous. "I don't think they wanted me to know but what I didn't hear, the darkness whispered to me."

[nevergained]

[Probably. She did leave the front gate open so that any curious, Determined child could walk in.]

It reminds me of a place back home.

[If filled with humans, Monsters and everything in-between.]

I don't know why they'd want to miss it, but I guess if it makes them happy...?

[nevergained]

[Frisk is happy to keep it up! Even if the voice in the back of their mind grumbles about it.]

I guess the only way is to be ready for it.

[They could FIGHT but nothing good ever came of that. So maybe they had to check their SAVEs to see what was up with that and then try to prepare other ways to help.]

[prazerbutterfly]

He's learned over the many years of doing dirty things for information that people when properly motivated could dig up just about anything. In his world, telling secrets got you killed. Here, things are much more relaxed. So he would understand how people might not tell the truth.

"You mean it is your job," he corrects him. He would go on about how he got himself into this mess but right now he wasn't that somber. "Though it wouldn't be your job anymore if I suddenly died from your slime." It's okay, he's gotten his pants on at least, even if not zipped up quite yet, and now he was fondling around for his shirt.