⇨ 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

[hurtcomfort]

With a little nod, Cole starts walking towards a busier looking area of the moon. It won't be too long before they reach the market, but long enough that it might be a bit awkward if Cole remained silent all the while. People like it when you talk. That's something he figured out.

"Do all birds like you run red?"

Not all birds have that red spot. But do all birds like Anghel have that red spot?

[hurtcomfort]

"Sure?"

What he's going to do with Reira's picture, he's not sure yet. He has a trailer now, maybe he can put it on the walls there! People do that, they take their space and make it their own. This might be the first step. Now that he's thinking about it, Cole's getting more into it, as he nods at Reira's question.

"Can you use the camera to take a picture of yourself or should I do it?"

[hurtcomfort]

Cole has no idea what Lambert's doing with the teabag. As such, he stays and watches, curiosity winning out. This means that he doesn't realize Lambert's making a tiny projectile until he chucks that teabag and the soppy, wet bag of leaf bits hits Cole smack in the face.

And then, he's visible. It's like Lambert blinked or looked away for a second, because Cole wasn't there and then he was. But this time, he's got a teabag right on his face before it falls, landing in a position where it's just sort of lying in the folds of his shirt. With a little frown, Cole picks up the teabag, looks at it, looks at Lambert, then looks back at the teabag.

"I should throw this away?" It's a statement but there's a little questioning tone in Cole's voice because hey Lambert, what the fuck???

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya moves to get to his feet just before Reira starts shoving him forward. Not that it's going very far, and first he turns around to look at her with a raised brow.] Uh, okay.

[He stuffs his hands in his pockets, letting her take the lead to her trailer.]

[flashover]

Why must you always take everything so personally, Yukio? Geez.

Another indignant huff. "But cough syrup has alcohol in it! What's the big deal?"

Why does Rin know that about cough syrup?

... Probably Shima. Or, definitely Shima. That seems like a very Shima thing to know.

[reflash]

“Not enough to affect you.” How does Rin even know that. How does he know that but apparently not anything else about the mind-altering effects of too much cough syrup. Why is Yukio’s life like this.

He’s about three seconds from doing something he’ll regret later, like... taking a swig of the alcohol just to... spite Rin, or prove a point, or some other kind of inarticulate (but stressed and petty) reason.

“On the other hand, this is some kind of magical, mood-altering alcohol.”

[lonesomewanderer]

"I would not insult you to underestimate you so," he scoffs. He knew what she was capable of, he had seen it in his travels with the Inquisition. What had drawn him to her would be what could cause his downfall. Underestimating her would be a mistake, it was why he had refused to share more of his plan. The more she knew, the easier it would be for her to succeed.

His head is held high as he meets her gaze. "If you are finished, I would prefer to continue my walk alone."

[flashover]

"I'm just sayin'..." Rin says with a shrug and a sigh. He's just saying that alcohol is a known component of SOME medicines! It's not THAT far-fetched an idea. But he can also recognize a losing battle when he sees one, so he just waves it off.

"Do whatever you want with it, then, spotty-moleface chicken. Give it to someone else if you want. It's yours, now."

With that matter settled, Rin starts tearing into the bag Yukio gave him! PRESENTS!

[soft_focus]

[Good good, into the cabin then-

It's toasty and warm-and decently sized, fortunately, or Foster would have been quite handily screwed after his....changes. They won't talk about those. Regardless, right now it's just nice and dark other than the warm crackle of the fireplace, its light glinting on something glass in the distance that's been presently covered gently with a blanket.

Reira stops pushing however, at least long enough to close the door. In the meantime, Yuuya can probably see a few remains of scattered paints and things, most of them on the coffee table.]

[soft_focus]

Honestly, she doesn't know either. An equal trade just seems like common courtesy, especially with a surprise! (But maybe he can put it on a wall. Yay!)

Reira considers that question for a moment though. Should she take it, or...Hmm. "...I think you should," she decides, passing it carefully to him. "Because I took your picture, right? ...Just look through the little hole, so that you know what you should see on the picture...and then when you're ready, you hit the button here," she explains, pointing.

"...You have to hold that for until the paper is done coming out though."

[prazerbutterfly]

He snorts with a rather amused expression as she continues to stun him with her very limber movements and other various poses. Dear lord, she's going to make some gentleman happy one day with how flexible she is.

But right now she is this sweet girl that needs to stop this immediately before he starts laughing too hard, "Oi, okay, okay. You're a rough lady." Going to grab a glass now and pour her that water before setting it down in front of her, "Drink up."

[betheman]

Really, the chances of any more than perhaps 3 people at most within the grounds even thinking such a term could exist, would be....Just as low, so it's a fortunate matter indeed. The joke, certainly, earns a laugh.

"Ahaah! Well! If you find yourself with fangs as well, simply hope they are not quite as long as my own then! It took quite some time to adapt, in this case," he chuckles, the relatively long incisors practically gleaming.

[betheman]

[That is a rather quiet 'sure', and Yuuya's feelings are as transparent as a pane of frosted glass. Gongenzaka pauses in his work at merely carving the snow-pillar, a softer gaze upon his friend.]

...I, the man Gongenzaka....have been rather unfair, in that regard, haven't I, [He admits quietly.]

...Though I can give my word... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, have shamefully proven that my word is not enough... [That much he understands. That much tells him he can't risk such things again.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya bites his lip to hold in a laugh as she insistently shoves him inside. His attention ends up finding its way to the scattered paints, and he approached them out of curiosity to see what's up.] Are you making something?

[soft_focus]

AH-!

[ANNNND She's immediately running over to try and spin him around. It's tricky, what with her being 3'8'' and spindly and all.] No, you have to turn around now!!

[Rude!! Why would you immediately gravitate toward her PROJECTS!! (Because they've got glitter and eyecatching shenanigans Reira, it's magical paint stains.]

[pullingamiko]

Fortunately, Yukio likely won't need to worry about anything like that from Miko. He might, however, need to worry about being bombarded with questions.

"That thing's from the market, right? When did you get it? Have you done stuff with knives like that before?"

[hippocarnival]

[Reira absolutely can't spin him around on her own, but he plays along anyway and goes completely rigged before awkwardly turning on his heels.] I didn't see anything!

[soft_focus]

Good! [YEAH. ...Uh. ...Well, she decides, she can't Not give him his gift Now then...otherwise this will just be awkward. So, quickly,
she runs back toward the glass thing while Yuuya's looking away, gently reaching in to pull something out from beneath the cover, and hurriedly grabs a card on the table. It's sort of crudely painted, and she never got her full message written on it but...it'll do. Remembering to be happy like he had been in that duel with this monster is the important part after all.

So she goes back to being just behind Yuuya, and-]

Ok!

....You can turn around now, but it has to be slow.

[And once he has, before he can speak-] Umnh....

H...Happy Solstice..!

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya purses his lips for a moment, using his thumb to poke eye holes into the snowman.] I guess I can't completely blame you.

[For being unfair. Yuya still hasn't proven he can handle taking on the burden as well. He too can say whatever he wants, but until he's actually stronger...

Yuya's been unfair, too. Getting angry at Gongenzaka when he hasn't done anything to prove he can handle himself.

He starts to engrave a smile on the snowman next, his gaze flicking up to Gon.]

Hey. [His hands settle on the base of the snowman and he offers am earnest smile.] It just means I need to make sure you don't get lost, right? But you won't lose me, either.

[He won't... well, okay, he might still be reckless. But he doesn't want to be a martyr and just sacrifice himself. He wants to protect Gongenzaka, and Yuzu, and everyone else, and that takes more than throwing himself in front of the danger for as many times as they can afford to resurrect him.

Keep moving forward. That's what he'll do.] If we can't promise to stay out of trouble, let's promise that.

[Promise to keep each other here. To make it home, all of them, no matter what.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya closes his eyes with a smile, waiting patiently (mostly patiently) for Reira's instruction. When she finally lets him turn around he spins on his heels, opening his eyes and looking down--

... What is that in her hand? Not the card, the other things.] Oh! Those are for me?

[soft_focus]

[There is, quietly, a little squeak as the tiny thing wakes a little. It gives a croak sound that almost seems mixed with a chirp, slowly blinking its tiny eyes as the throat blows out and sinks back down with the sound.]

Yeah! ...This is...a Snufflewomp. ....It seemed like the kind of pet that you would like, because it's small, and pink, and the store person says they like 'flowers and sunbathing'.

....So it's a nice friend, that you can have here. [Instead of, you know, a T-Rex. Or a Chain-Chomp. Or a lot of things.]

[hippocarnival]

[It's a... frog-thing? He's not sure why he evokes the image of 'small and pink', though.

He crouches down and cups his hands to form a base to take the critter. He's only ever had cats and dogs, and it looks pretty fragile. Isn't it going to need a tank or something? And what does it even eating.]

Uh--thanks!

[criticallyfucked]

What he and I got up to at the manor.

[The ghost of Foster's previous smile still hasn't completely faded.]

It wasn't even my idea, which is what I thought interesting about it.

[dontpokethat]

What... you got up to.

[What the hell does that mean? It could be any number of things, and--

Well, that's not strictly true. Because the longer he thinks over the past few minutes, the more Ginko realizes there is one particularly likely explanation. But it is absolutely not one that he wants to assume if he hasn't gotten absolute confirmation.]

...Just tell me what happened.

[The fact that he already knows probably shows in his voice.]

[criticallyfucked]

[See icon.

Just... imagine this man laughing so hard he drools into his Reagent green hot tub cocktail.]