⇨ 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

[wilt]

[ Two vines emerge from the ice, despite not breaking it. More magic...? Weird. ]

I got loads of these, no worries!

[wilt]

[ VINES.

So many vines. Very thick vines. They do look like they can immobilize someone out of control and throw them out of the carnival, easily. ]

I... was begotten by a woeful curse? I was never a flower before, no!

[dressedtothe]

"I..." 9S' voice falters for a moment. "I didn't realise how different things could be until I came here. Back home, we were disposable, you know?"

Of course Cole doesn't know, unless he's managed to peer into those memories, too. Memories of self-destruct protocols to prevent the machines from extracting data from them if a mission goes bad. Memories of how they're just deployed into new bodies whenever they die. And his realisation that he was killed over and over again, his memory wiped, born anew.

"Me... 2B... We didn't matter. As long as we did our part in ending the war." Glory to mankind. "We're the same as every other 9S and 2B model before us. The only difference is our memories."

As long as humanity can return to Earth, it doesn't matter how many YoRHa were sacrificed for it; unlike the androids before them, YoRHa can come back after death. As long as the Bunker was safe, then they could die as many times as needed on the field. What value does the life of a YoRHa android have then, when they were essentially immortal as long as the Bunker stood? Even he mercilessly killed Rita, knowing she would come back.

(He didn't feel guilt then, but he feels it now even though that had been the only feasible choice laid out before them.)

He never realised how cold and clinical YoRHa truly was until he came to the Carnival, where people actually give a damn about what he thinks and feels. Where people were willing to put in the time and effort for him, without obligation. If only 2B were here to see this for herself...

[espigeon]

Julien's spent 754 credits and has 496 remaining

Item Purchased: Cloak of Spiderclimb
Gift?: No
Total Item Cost: 350
Credits Spent: Julien (350)
Additional Notes: It's getting retailored a bit, a drawstring put in, so it can be worn by either body fairly comfortably.

[dressedtothe]

[Sounds kind of dumb. The last time he slid around on something it was in a desert. He was shaking sand out of his boots -- and other places -- for days.

But he really wants to understand why Yuya, a human, would find this enjoyable.]

Oh alright. [Twist his arm, will you?] Be right back!

[He'd seen where people got their skates, so 9S runs off with a lot more enthusiasm his words would suggest. It's not long before 9S is back and putting on the skates.]

[espigeon]

He smiled lopsidedly at her, unwilling to let on how frustrating his continued weakness is to him.

"I'm all right. Little bit poisoned, but if I don't run around it's not a big deal. The sudden change in temperature and all just doesn't agree with my head, you know? I can still show you some stuff."

[dressedtothe]

Huh? 9S only gives Rita a look of confusion.

"Why not? I mean, yeah, okay, I should've explained where I was going," oh right he did say he'd explain, but he never really did... except he sort of kind of did when he told Rita about the things 2B had said when they both woke up...? "but I don't understand why this is a big deal."

Why is she getting so flustered talking about this???

[espigeon]

[Whoops. Julien resumes being aware of personal space, his tail not just shivering but shaking behind him. That's the equivalent of laughing, from this body. All the feathers on his head and neck are puffed out and soft looking.]

Oh good! There's always normal hot water anyway. Which you might still need, I think you may end up coming out with sparkles or line a sheen or something? I wonder if it's good for skin!

As long as they don't get sore, right? It's not like you'll be falling asleep in there.

[betheman]

....Because what you are hearing as 'man' is what means 'human'.

[....Yes, this does make it difficult.] More importantly, it is not a matter of clarification..!

Changes occur here-that is no secret. But how I, the man Gongenzaka speak, is not a way to notify in such form! It is how respect is shown to my family, and to their traditions..! It is how I, the man Gongenzaka, was taught to respect those around me!

...And it is easy enough, for me to correct one who assumes, regardless.

[hippocarnival]

Uh... if you want to? Are they really your friends if you don't talk to them...?

[Sounds more like acquaintances, and courtesy gifts are a thing but not a thing it's occurring to him to explain.

He balances the bag in his arms again.] If you buy gifts based on the things your friends like, it'll always be the right gift.

[hippocarnival]

That's amazing. Are you going to bring more spirits to life? [Randomly bringing life into the world should probably be mildly concerning. Yuya knows the reason it should be concerning, but he still looks excited anyway.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya just raises a brow as 9S walks off... but when he returns, his expression is passively pleased again.

He waits for 9S to get his skates on before holding out his hand to help him onto the ice.] Be careful getting on, it's really slippery.

[hippocarnival]

[Oh, vines. That makes sense, since it's a flower. He supposes that's what Gongenzaka could do now, but forming an actual arm will be a lot different.

He tilts his head, looking Flowey over again. This is probably who Reira told the story of Zarc to, though he's still not sure entirely why.]

So you're new to the carnival, right? I'm Yuya.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya moves to close the door behind her, gesturing her forward. Make yourself at home, kid.

"Do you have to take it with anything, like food or water?" He's not entirely sure what the cure is, and he's even less sure Reira knows basic medical practice. But surely they'd tell her, just like they told her she'd be tired and need supervision.

[chronosynthesis]

[Sure, they'll go with that reason.] That sounds like the entire range of age possible.

[But this seems to be a sore topic for Strange, the age thing, so maybe they should move on from it.] How are you recovering from everything?

[Because really, everyone is recovering. If not physically, mentally.]

[chronosynthesis]

[A curse... Syrlya is just even more glad that transformation curses are such an unheard of rarity in Tyria. Between the servants and flowey, not having hands or the ability to speak would be difficult.]

Is there a way to undo your curse?

[chronosynthesis]

[That means absolutely nothing to him, so he looks blank for a moment before nodding.]

And Aslla Piscu is...?

[chronosynthesis]

Oh, thank you. [A relaxant? Syrlya raises a brow, but he takes the bag anyway and inspects the contents.]

Some sort of herb? Is it something you steep, or...? [He looks to 9S expectantly. Please explain what he's even supposed to do with this.]

[chronosynthesis]

"Well, it wasn't just me. But thank you." He's pretty pleased about that success. Given everything else, they could really have used it. And nobody but the Prince died after they got the rose! "Hopefully it will do exactly what she wanted it for."

And no less for all the nonsense they had to go through. "How are you faring?"

[wild_magic]

Hm... [It all sounds a bit complicated. He's never really had friends before, so how does he know if they're a friend? Maybe he should just buy things for everybody he knows. Or for nobody.]

I guess that makes sense. I don't know everything they like though, but I can probably guess... They can always give it back if they don't like it.

[wild_magic]

[He smiles at that.]

That's nice. Me and my brother have a fire at home a lot of the time, too. So it's nice, and comforting. I guess it's the same thing for other people too.

[soft_focus]

"He said 'eating food might help with the effects', but I'm not really hungry..." It's odd.

"Mostly I just have to drink it though," she continues. Well. Making herself at home right now means very carefully tucking the pillow case under itself and resting it near a chair, before pausing to glance at....a tarp-covered thing at the side? That's kinda weird.

Whatever. She holds her bottle. "He had to make sure it was the right dose.... ...it smells a little like what a lot of adults here were drinking in the dining hall though," she adds, sniffing under the cap a bit before closing it up. The distinct smell of..............................alcohol. Is there.

It's alcohol, half the cure is Beer.

[anti_nonsense]

[Yuya's enthusiasm is encouraging. Rita expects her intentions to be met with a lot of opposition back home, but... it looks like some people can see the good in what she's doing.] Yeah. A lot more, in fact. That crystal I mentioned... it's actually the same thing blastia cores are made from.

[She holds a hand up to her neck, where her blastia is.] Maybe this one can become a spirit, too...

[crimsonfallenangel]

"That burden has not yet been placed upon me." In other words, Anghel hasn't decided who to buy presents for yet. He hadn't thought of obtaining an object that could be used for the benefit of others, though. He continues in a thoughtful tone, "That might indeed fulfill the instruction of the Purveyor. Zephyr Herbalist! Please accept this blessing!"

He then freezes, suddenly remembering that he hasn't got anything to give away just yet. "...After I have obtained one," he quickly adds.

[crimsonfallenangel]

!

Anghel straightens up as quickly he can, though the effect is ruined by the way he's still panting after running after Flowey for so long. His attention is fully focused on the door and whoever will open it.]