⇨ 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

[dressedtothe]

[Which is worse: Silverwastes or Dry Top--]

You don't like the cold? I'd understand if you were annoyed about getting wet from the snow, but the cold is great!

[And here they are! 9S steps forward to open the door before entering the cabin himself. He's not sure about Cole -- the spirit can be frustratingly hard to detect at times -- but Rita certainly isn't here right now. There might be a slight lingering smell of weed, though.]

[dressedtothe]

"You know different worlds use different units of measurement for time, right?"

Nevemind that most of them happen to use the same unit.

But he can't help but let a little smugness seep into his voice when he adds, "But if you must know, it was the year 11945 AD back home when I joined the Carnival."

[dressedtothe]

[9S looks slightly skeptical.]

Bigger boots? But then they wouldn't fit my feet...

[Hm. While he's pondering that, 9S starts to actually skate, pushing off with one foot before placing the other one down. After all, that's what they're here for, isn't it? Skating.]

[dressedtothe]

"I see."

Unfortunately, magic isn't his area of expertise -- it isn't any android's area of expertise -- and he can't help but feel a little useless. Just like he had felt rather useless while the stone cure was being developed.

9S kicks at the snow, annoyed at himself. It quickly piles up into a small mound.

"There's a lot of other magic users around." Rita. Strange. Syrlya. Just to name a few. "Can they help?"

[dressedtothe]

9S isn't sure what to do. If it were someone else -- like Syrlya, or Cole -- he wouldn't hesitate to give them a reassuring pat, but Five is a human. It feels a little inappropriate, even if seeing her in distress pulls at his own feelings.

He shakes his head. "It's okay."

He's not sure how to deal with this. But he'll try.

"You can, um. Let it out, if that'll make you feel better. You look like you've had a rough time."

[espigeon]

[He doesn't sway, his body's really quite stable, but perhaps a glazed look can be read into his eyes.]

I kinda slammed my doses just 'cause it tasted kind of... it tastes bad. The cure tastes bad. I was thinking I had to take both at once, if I didn't it would just not go away, maybe? The symptoms.

...but you know, I've never had both of me drinking stuff. Maybe I should've stayed put.

[hurtcomfort]

9S wants a purpose. But the purpose he has hurts him so he can't use that purpose. So he needs a new purpose, but he still refuses to give up on his old purpose.

"Do you need a reason to be alive?" Cole explains, calm and quiet. He doesn't think 9S does. He can be alive for the sake of being alive, for breathing, beating, being. But 9S wants a purpose so Cole can advise on that.

"It's...hard. You won't know what you're doing for a while. But you look and talk and seek and search and then you'll know."

That's what happened with him after all. Battered and broken, something lost and confused, but the Cole became free, he became himself again—no, he became himself better.

[soft_focus]

Umnh... [WELL NOT NOW THAT SHE'S THINKING OF IT AGAIN.]

...I don't know, [She mutters, frowning. On the one hand the bike ride was still nice. On the other, now she's...thinking of that. Ew.]

[Closed to Lapis and Amethyst]

[periphrasing]

Still early into their stay here, it hasn't taken Peridot long to figure out that, this snow... You can build things with it. Not just tunnel under it, or carve out little caverns for yourself with it, but really, really BUILD. Snow sculptures, ice sculptures, plenty of carnival members have been making them. And in that moment of realization, a whole world of possibilities had opened up right before the engineer's eyes. And then she had drawn an important conclusion: She has the perfect partner in crime for mastering these snow arts.

Which is why she's standing in the doorway of the cabin now, shouting frantically for that someone's attention:

"Lapis! LAPIS!!!!!!!! I NEED YOU TO COME OUTSIDE WITH ME, RIGHT NOW!!"

[bananaspeedrider]

[Well that sure was smooth on his part (not). He pauses in thought on what to say or do, but distractions probably aren't much of a solution here.]

Do you... uh... wanna talk about it?

[soft_focus]

...Would you want to? [She asks immediately, before turning away.]

....Yuuya just didn't want me to mention Zarc when I talk about my contract.

...since it's 'his' story.

[bananaspeedrider]

[Zarc. The feelings that rise out of him upon that name being mentioned don't spike up as suddenly as Yugo's emotions tend to do.]

Well, he's not wrong there. People would ask questions that only we could answer. I don't know as much but I'm not against talking about that... jerk.

[soft_focus]

[BUDDY.] ....You know why I'm here...right? [she asks after a moment, frowning.]

[dirthena]

Far be it from Lavellan to avoid or look down upon those obviously less human than the rest -- her stature and her ears mark her as anything but, at least where she's from. But she still can't help the way her eyes widen at the newness of just how not human everyone here seems to be. She notices that someone has covered up his -- he can't be much older than a teenager, can he? -- his eyes, and wonders how he can see it at all.

"A bird," she supplies, rather unhelpfully. "Large and white, with a long neck." Considering this, Lavellan decides that perhaps that's not the best description if he can't see. "They make a startling sound, like they're full of nothing but rage -- a hiss. And they bite."

[bananaspeedrider]

[He stares at Reira and blinks. Nope he wasn't informed. Say hello again to his confusion.]

Why would I already know that? Unless you thought Yuya would tell me. But I never asked either.

Still Sick, ANY DAY, I GUESS

[periphrasing]

It's a conversation long overdue. Worried as Peridot was about Sans, things had been so hectic in the aftermath of everything that happened with the Prince that she just hasn't found the right time to sit down and talk to him properly. Well... Hasn't found the time, or maybe, she hasn't wanted to. She'd deny it if pressed, but hearing the mess that went down with his capture, and everything with his name being stolen had made her hesitant to just barge in on him. And then the hunt happened, and then she was so busy with organizing the search for a cure, and the few times she'd stopped by medical to greet Sans he'd been asleep...

Well. The time for excuses has long passed. Snow is great and all but Peridot's not really in the mood for slipping on ice or falling into snow drifts, so she makes her way to his cabin as a bat instead, flitting her way there after dark. She's pleased to see that the skeleton is already outside when she comes to call."

"Wow, you're finally awake for once!" the engineer snips sarcastically as she flutters down to land on the porch railing. It's a good-natured jab more than anything. "Good. So I didn't waste my time coming out here after all."

[soft_focus]

...Yuuya asked the Ringmaster to save me from Zarc, [Reira starts, tilting her head somewhat.] ....Do....you know why that was important, though..?

[kingsroads]

Strange is just utterly delighted. He's grinning like an idiot, looking over at Yuya with a wide and bright smile. Because look at that! He managed to cast the spell! Strange knew that Yuya could cast the spell and knew that he had it in him, so to see the spell like this, magic shining so brightly, is downright wonderful.

"I knew you could do it," Strange remarks, with a laugh of triumph, as he runs over towards Yuya, grinning all the while. "And that had your magic written all over it! Whatever you did to cast the spell, it's become yours."

The foundations were recognizeable but the framework, the details, that was a hundred percent Yuya's handiwork. Strange is just buzzing with excitement, hands at his side, as he inspects that barrier up close.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya laughs with sheer relief and joy. When Strange approaches the barrier Yuya moves forward to press his hands against it from the inside, as if proving it's there. It's a small shield, he'll need to keep practicing... but he's crossed the biggest hurdle, and he's so excited.

And Strange's faith makes his chest swell with pride, that he's proved it. "I used my pendulum. It always helps me focus."

[mirrortide]

Peridot clearly has it right. When your friend is already a mess of concealed anxiety, the best thing to do is shout frantically like something is seriously wrong! What could possibly go wrong with this?

There's a loud thumping as Lapis hits the floor (from her bed) when Peridot starts hollering for her, and then a few more subsequent thumps as she orients herself and books it towards Peridot, ready to defend her from...

Honestly, she has no idea, but her mind is running through a million different scenarios! None of them good!

"What is it? What's wrong? Are you okay? Is Steven okay? Did Jasper do something?"

[bananaspeedrider]

To be honest I... don't really remember anything past what happened with Yuri.

[He almost calls the fusion double by his usual choice of insult, but there's a kid here.]

There's just vague blurs at best.

[lonesomewanderer]

The woman, at least, bears some resemblance to spirits he has seen in the past although they didn't quite look so... flashy in appearance. It does give him pause as he looks her over, clearly not seeing her question as much of a priority as she did. Telling between fae and carnival workers that have been changed through their time here or came from realms with different standards of normality made for difficult first impressions.

At least the light coming from her was enhanced beautifully by the snow all around them.

"Yes," he answers eventually and plainly. "I prefer to feel the ground beneath my feet." What he could feel of it anyway through the snow and ice.

[lonesomewanderer]

At least Childermass is familiar even if neither bothered to introduce themselves. It was the type of acquaintance Solas could appreciate. The expression he instinctively makes at the reason why that area is avoided is clear. He would be avoiding it as well even if it meant camping out in the cold.

"It seems I am not the only one with a preference for solitude," he remarks with a slight shake of his head. The dangers of arriving after others had the chance to lay their roots where they pleased. "Fewer is more than I expected to be left."

So maybe his searching wouldn't be for naught.

[lonesomewanderer]

The footsteps approaching are of no surprise to him. He hears them, listens and waits to see if they are passing by or will make an attempt to approach him. It's with a small sigh that he hears them come closer and it isn't until he realizes how they belong to that his breath catches.

Of course, she would wander and find her way here. In search of him or something else? His gaze lingers on her for only a moment before he's focusing back on the snow falling. If she wanted to take the chance to end this, to stop him here and now, she would have done so before speaking. She is nothing if not competent.

"I have received similar warnings," he replies carefully. All ones he has ignored, among other ones. If she is attempting casual then he will not be the first to turn this into another round of questions. He's answered all he can.

[lonesomewanderer]

"So this was not an event held in honor of those newly arrived," he says with a touch of dry sarcasm. The feast happened to coincide with when he walked through the portal and he had wondered how many faces among them had signed contracts as recent as he had.

It seemed like a lot of food waste if they ate like this often, but Solas selects a pastry to hold onto for now as he looks over the sylvari. Unusual in appearance even by the standards he's seen set by the Carnival thus far.

"This is the first chance I have had to taste their hospitality. It seems our Ringmaster has a long-standing relationship with them."