⇨ 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

[hippocarnival]

Undine... [Yuya tests the name, and then smiles. He didn't know Rita had such an interest in spirits. Yuya doesn't, exactly, but he does have a closeness with some.]

How'd you create her? [Did she find life because of them or was it something more artificial?]

campfire

[wild_magic]

[Susan wasn't looking for anything in particular as he wandered, but the sight of the campfire easily catches his attention. How could it not amidst all the snow? And as he's a curious child, he heads towards it when he sees it, giving a little smile to Tyki. He hasn't met him but he's still seen him around, and knows this man is one of the Carnival workers. Susan's cloak keeps him warm and hides his still-stone arm, but he still looks a little under the weather.]

Won't a fire melt all of the snow? It still looks nice, though.

a

[wild_magic]

The best time to deliver presents secretly, so people can wake up to a fun surprise, is in the middle of the night. Actually handing people presents doesn't quite seem like the way it's done, as far as Susan can tell, since every present he's gotten so far was simply left for him, so that seems to be the most fun way to do it.

Which means that when Strange ends up crossing the boy's path, it's as Susan is heading to other people's cabins, a few small packages floating along beside him magically. His cloak is pulled tightly around him, its hood up and covering his head, although if you look carefully you can see a small owl also nuzzled up under the hood with him.

Susan nods and smiles at the question. "Yeah, I really like the snow. It's fun."

[tacosgay]

[Rest assured, Connie, that you are not the only person spending on themselves. Taako is staring at a lot of very pretty things, and they are most definitely not for anyone else; in fact, that sword catches his eye, as well. It looks almost as boss as the sword he left back home!

Not that he'd ever use it, mind you; he just wants it to wear as decoration, to make himself look super cool. He can swordfight, of course, but why would he when he has magic that can incinerate stuff in the blink of an eye?

The tall elf wanders over to eye the sword more closely... and then he catches Connie looking at it, and he quirks an eyebrow, almost laughing as he speaks.]

Uhh, that's a little bit sharp for somebody your age, isn't it?

[pipers_son]

[If not for the wave of intoxication that has slammed into him and dragged him via a riptide of booze away from the shores of sobriety, Joker could confirm that, yes, that's exactly what it tastes like.]

[By the time he resurfaces to his senses, however, Tyki just downs the whole thing, and Joker bursts out cackling. Bad idea- he nearly tilts forward and, if not for his wings, he'd fall facefirst into the water.]

[So that was good planning there.]

That's one way ta do it!

[sworntothesword]

Oh, okay!

[ Connie is familiar with those kinds! She's less fond of american comics but there's a lot of japanese comics that she finds a good balance of action and also social commentary. Saber: The Legacy, for instance, really thoughtfully tackles the concepts of grey morality in how the main character's sword won't cut the flesh of an innocent. ]

I'll see if they have anything like that!

What about Gonganzaka? Do you know what anyone else likes?

[ She takes out a pen and paper and starts jotting down notes. ]

[sworntothesword]

Well, yes. But if I don't buy anything for me I can buy more things for other people.

[whattaprick]

Hope Strange enjoys the vague sensation of his nose hairs curling back, because whatever was in that beaker is certainly potent enough for it.

"Hey!" Lambert snaps, the indignation of seeing Strange straight up stick his finger into a work-in-progress overriding the temporary speechlessness when Childermass comes up. "Keep your hands out of that!" What is it about being around Strange that makes him suddenly have to be the responsible one? Needless to say, he's coming around to push the magician away from the table, surer on his feet now that he's actually had time to get used to walking around but still slower and clumsier than he otherwise would be.

"I'll go, but stop touching shit," he snaps, swatting at his hand before he can do anything like, say, put it in his mouth, which is absolutely the next logical step in Strange's mind, probably.

[sworntothesword]

Huh?

[ It takes her a second to process the assumptions in Taako's statement, since there are so many fallacies. For one, she's almost thirteen now, she's not a kid! ]

Historically, a Knight's page would start training in swordsmanship from the age of seven years old.

[ That would normally be with wooden swords, but the implication stood. ]

[sworntothesword]

Thanks! Being real is one of my most striking accomplishments.

[ Out of context it would sound sarcastic, but Connie's tone had such a genuine and unique tone that it was easy to take it as a lighthearted joke. ]

[espigeon]

[His big white tail shivers behind him, his bird body's nearly soundless equivalent to a laugh. Julien arches his neck, positioning his big head so that the suggestion of a smile that's always on his beak is a little more evident.]

I believe it! Authenticity is absolutely something to be sought out, and treasured when it's found.

So I see you appreciate swords too, huh? Aren't they cool?

[kingsroads]

At least with this point, there's a method to Strange's madness. If he keeps touching things and being a nuisance, then Lambert's either going to kick him out or drag him shopping himself. Either option will at least get him out of the trailer somewhat and keep him from huffing those alcohol fumes. So, as Lambert pushes him away from the table, Strange just smiles an ironic little smirk at the man.

"How long will it take you to get ready?" Strange asks, as he eyeballs one of the other beakers across the room. He's not doing anything yet, as Lambert's in the way, but he is looking at it in a suspicious manner.

And yeah, he was straight up going to put it in his mouth. And straight up does put the finger that he dipped in the beaker in his mouth, wincing slightly at the faint taste of alcohol still on his finger.

evening day 11 | closed

[wild_magic]

The bath earlier in the day had helped with the stone, and Susan was glad for it. Now he could actually use his arm properly again, and it helped him feel like things were finally improving. That didn't help feeling sick, though, and that meant the second part of the cure.

Susan knew Lauren wasn't too happy about that second part, given that Susan was, you know, thirteen, but Susan didn't mind. He wasn't too fond of the taste of alcohol when he'd had it before, but it was still a little fun to think about drinking that much, especially when it was something Lauren usually forbid him from doing. Which means that when Lauren decides it's time for him to drink it, Susan is a little excited, and he smiles at his brother.

"I'm ready!"

[tacosgay]

Yyyyeah, I mean, sure, I guess that's a thing, but like, there aren't any knights here, as far as I know? And that's an awfully fancy sword for somebody to be training with.

[Taako's from a high fantasy world, he's onto your shit.]

[sworntothesword]

Well, I'm not training with it, I'd be using it. I'm a patrol for the carnival, you know!

[ It's a big important job and she's needs a bit important fancy sharp sword! ]

[tacosgay]

Oh. Uhh. Whoopsie.

[Wow. Taako's not a terribly strong elf-- he's a wizard, okay-- but he could literally pick this kid up and throw her like a baseball if he wanted to get her out of the way. Is she seriously going to be put on patrol?

The fact that he's thinking that reads very, very clearly in the way he's sizing her up, an eyebrow raised.]

[kingsroads]

[ Strange just...kind of frowns at Syrlya. ]

Out of idle curiosity, how many humans have you met before the carnival? [ Because he knows Syrlya's not human. And knows various things about his world that aren't human. But it never really occurred to Strange that Syrlya's world might not have humans to BEGIN with. ]

[fortuneglass]

Wh-

We-well I mean, how would I be a challenge..!? Isn't the point of this game to hide what you're feeling through everything?!

[fortuneglass]

A-AAAH- Here! I mean here, with the carnival!!

I've always had at least one each day~

[fortuneglass]

Woaaaahh..... [She's a little lost in thought, and staring, before it occurs to her that she's been asked a question.] Ah, this? [She asks, jumping.] O-Oh!

This just happened after I got rid of Aslla Piscu, ahah....I'm just part light now~

[otoko]

"HnhhaHAHAHAa..!" It is a chuckle, by Gongenzaka's standards, but the sound is loud all the same as he follows the pair out, just in time to see the Syrax investigating the snow.

"Hmm! I, the man Gongenzaka, wonder if this is perhaps her first encounter with snow," he observes, nodding. "...An even greater experience for them..!"

[otoko]

[Gongenzaka looks to his friend, but after a moment, places his one hand upon the other's shoulder.

And he gives to him a smile, warmth back in his face.] Aah. That we are, Yuuya. So let us focus on moving forward with our friends here, and enjoying ourselves for now, hmn?

[anti_nonsense]

Good... He likes the gift. Rita hoped he'd find it useful.

But getting the spirit high still sounds like a very bad idea. "What makes you think I..." Rita begins to argue, but then seems to have a revelation, and instead mutters to herself, "Oh, I hadn't thought of that..."

Rita intends to study spirits, and here's a spirit who seems ready and willing to be a guinea pig in a highly unorthodox experiment. Has this ever been observed before? Certainly not anywhere on Terca Lumireis.

Looking between 9S and Cole, she sighs. "Fine... do it if you want to. But take it easy. Small quantities at a time." Rita has no firsthand experience with this, so she doesn't exactly know what constitutes a small or large quantity... but she'll try to set those ground rules, vague and meaningless as they may be. "And you don't need a lighter while I'm around."

[anti_nonsense]

That much is consistent with what he said before... but that's not the part that was bothering Rita.

"That's not the only thing you said, stupid..." she mumbles, her speech slightly slurred, but not consistently so. She doesn't deny that this is about the ball, because it totally is.

"Up until 2B showed up, you were carrying on like... like..."

[anti_nonsense]

I developed a formula to convert aer into a more stable form, to combat the issues that come from aer imbalance.

There was a... crystal [To keep the explanation simple, she opts not to use its proper name.] that I used as a core during this process, and when we carried out the conversion, it took on a new shape and became conscious.

It was an unexpected byproduct... or maybe something like... [she hesitates to use the word] a miracle.