⇨ 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

Day 6 - end of week? gift giving.

[wilt]

Sans-
[ Fortunately, Sans doesn't have to receive the anti-gravity capsules in person. He hides them in his trailer's mailbox, assuming he'll go back and get them at least once. He doesn't sign a name, because then these would just go in the trash. He attaches a small note so he can assume it's from one of his closer friends.

'For when you just wanna float off from doing your job.'

He skitters off quickly. ]

Papyrus, also answering his message, so closer to the 6th.

Hey--

[ Smile...s? ]

You said you wanted me to help redecorate, right? Well, there were tons of swords in the market, but I mean, as arm-y as I am now-- [ tendrils wiggling in the air. also a very bad pun. ] I don't have any use for them, and they were expensive... so I got you something to customize with.

It's... back home already. Remember when I made fun of you for your car bed? Well, no, you don't. Anyway, I got you an upgrade.

Reira, probably a day or two later in the week.

[ He tried to wait for Christmas. He really did, but there's a certain greediness about gift giving that you want to lob your present in someone's face right away, especially if it's really good. so he's carrying a packages while he adjusts to his new tendrils, because he can't clip with something in hand.

It's two little packages wrapped up in soft wrapping paper. He presses a tendril to it and it begins to play a tune and his own nervousness starts to fade. Maybe he should'a gotten two of these, but he didn't want to chance the price. ]

figure like the 7th? so they've had time to do the customizing

[spaghettimonster]

Oh my god! Really?! [Papyrus claps his hands to his face, eyes and smile wide.]

I don't remember you making fun of my bed, but I'm sure you only made fun of it... because you saw how cool it was, and wanted it for yourself!

[He winks and smiles a knowing smile; it would look uncannily like his brother if they looked anything alike.]

How cunning of you, getting me another... that's in the same home, where you can admire it any day you like.

[wilt]

Yep-- that's it, exactly.

[ there's like a literal mantra going off in his head that's 'don't be mean don't be mean don't be mean' ]

Why don't we go check it out? It's back in our trailer.

[ Pauses, to add emphasis. ]

You... wanted me to decorate it after all, didn't you?

[spaghettimonster]

Yeah, I do!

[And part of that decor is going to be... cool race car aesthetics? How wonderful.]

I thought you would decorate for yourself, rather than decorate through gifts for me... but I accept it! Let's go check it out!

[Maybe this calls for an exchange of decorative gifts.]

[wilt]

Trust me, you don't want my brand. I would've bought a ton of those low-quality swords and hung them up everywhere.

[ He clips through the ground, heading back towards the portal, popping up a short distance away.

Scuttling with all these new vines is... weird. He thinks it makes him look kinda gross, and not in the badass kind of way. Just in the non-threatening 'ew' way. ]

But who knows, maybe I'll buy some! Just come look at yours. I worked too hard on it to wait.

[spaghettimonster]

Swords, huh? That would be a sharp look...!

[Papyrus snickers at his own joke, softly Nyeh heh hehing as he follows along.

The flower's much too small to look like Onion-san, if that's a comfort.]

[wilt]

[ He can't be THAT anime...

Anyway, here's the trailer. Flowey absolutely threw out their bunkbeds. They're sitting outside.

Welp.

He climbs up the trailer and opens it, waiting for Papyrus to get in to reveal...

A car. Shell. Car shell. Car Shell Bed.

Painstakingly, Flowey used the mundane paint to cover it red, then carefully shaded the details on... he had to constantly reference what a real car looked like, so it's not total garbage (several resets are enough to teach you how to draw minimally), but the open part of the Shell Bed looks like the front view mirror, the rest of it looks like a car.

There you go, buddy. It's not enough to apologize for all of his resets, but... it's a start??? ]

[spaghettimonster]

[Papyrus pauses to consider the outdoor bunkbeds.

Coolbone, the crystal-studded Marowak who Papyrus trains, didn't want to visit the moon today. And now he's living large, curled up on top of the bunkbed, enjoying sun and bed at the same time.

With that witnessed, he follows Flowey in to the trailer... and gasps.]

Oh my god!

[It's not a convertible like his last car bed, and it's a good deal rounder... but it's got lights! It's got red! It's... a gift!]

You said you worked on it? Does that mean you did the painting..?? It's beautiful!

[wilt]

Yeah. The extra arms helped. [ He doesn't sound as enthusiastic... because he has standards and he knows his painting is, at best, eighth grade and at worst 'office party birthday cake', so he's not too happy but who was he going to ask? Who could he trust not to tell? ]

We'll repaint it. For now, I just needed it to look like a car.

[ Clearly: He Knows it's not the best paint job. ]

Apparently people really wanted these, so... I hope you like it.

[spaghettimonster]

Extra arms...? [Isn't the phrase for people coming by to help, 'extra hands', or 'lending a hand'? Maybe the saying's changed since the first time Flowey was alive.]

Well, it looks like a car! Not a convertible, but, I think, most cars have tops. So that's fine!! It adds to the authenticity!

[Papyrus finds himself laying the enthusiasm on a little thicker than usual, because... this was done as a gift! And everything he's saying is true!! There's other, less kind but equally true things he could say... but his flowery friend doesn't seem very happy, and outright says he wants to see Papyrus happy. A big display of emotion can be the first of his gifts in turn!]

And now that you've put in such a solid base... we can revise it together! Along with the rest of the place.

icon not accurate 1/2

[wilt]

[ Oh thank god, now someone with actual talent can paint over the damn thi--

What is this he feels...? It's overwhelming. Something that would've taken several resets to even attempt, and not a single one that would have ever worked. Papyrus has been changed by this circus, no doubt, with what he just told him. The feeling is familiar and not, because Flowey only had a makeshift prop of the original before.

He's amazed that Papyrus has come so far.

He's amazed that he could let himself become this way.

He's so proud Papyrus verbally acknowledged his paint job is shit, despite the fact that Flowey is his friend. ]

[wilt]

Yeah! I already put down the base layer, so it's up to someone else to make it look like a real convertible.

[ He seems perfectly content. Yup, yup. ]

[spaghettimonster]

[Who knew that all he needed to do to teach Flowey pride... was gently acknowledge the imperfection of his artwork?? Someone has learned a lot this day.

In truth, Papyrus still struggles with just saying things like that. Even though he'll say that he values honesty... It's still easier to give others pleasant, friendly, comforting words. Less chance of hurting them, or at least of hearing that they're annoyed. Maybe it's the combo of friendship, and grief, and reconnection have gotten him this far.]

Who needs someone else? I've seen cars with my very own eyes!

[He means that literally; multiple destinations had cars, sure, but in one of them he was human and had eyes of his very own. Not the silly exaggerated sprite elements he's shown as a skeleton.]

With my expert descriptions, we can do all manner of finishing touches...! Just as soon as I decide on a style.

[wilt]

Well, no one would know what you want more than you, right?

... I'm totally broke, so I can't buy more paint.

[ Flowey, what have you overspent... on... ]

But at least I got Reira the most perfect gift that NO ONE can beat.

[soft_focus]

[What with it being only Day 8, Reira's still slightly ill from Basement Poisoning. She's been as active as she can be for it, but it isn't hard to notice that the girl has to dip inside for a nap a fair number of times. Early on Day 7, she's not even dipping outside that much though. Just holing up with her paints, trying to get various cards made up.

But now....something feels a little odd, as she steps outside for a break, and it doesn't take long to find the something odd. No doubt Flowey figures out she's coming long before the gift can spoil itself though. But she approaches-]

....Asriel? [...........What's going on here?]

[wilt]

Hey, so-- Gyftmas. I always hated waiting for that day, but at the same time, waiting was really fun, it was an entire month of anticipation-- but these are gifts that shouldn't wait, given your...

[ Condition? Is that rude? Oh well, it's the only word he can think of. ] Your condition...!

[ He passes the locket to the furthest tendril from Reira so she can't sense it, or at least he'll try, and passes the lightly-wrapped sweater first. ]

I'm saving the best for last, of course! But this is great too, naturally.

[soft_focus]

Christmas? [Uh. What.] Umn.... ....The Ringmaster said it was 'Solstice' didn't she? ...What's Christmas? [She asks, before only then noticing the wrapped things. Fortunately for Flowey, Reira can't sense anything like powers or calming side effects. She senses emotions from living things, and that's it-but as she takes the package offered, she blinks.] It's.........

...For me? [And what does he mean by best for last???]

[wilt]

-- Er, Gyftmas. Let me explain later, okay? For now, the proof is in the name! And yeah, open it! They're both for you!

[soft_focus]

[Flowey.] .................Gyft...mas..?

[What. Well, she starts to open it anyway. Big one first, since it was handed over fir-] Oh!

...It's got stripes like my shirt..!!

[SWEATER... She beams.] ....It's really soft too. ...It's softer than the sweater I got before...

[wilt]

Yeah. I figured you'd be cold out here, so you needed a kid's sweater to keep you warm. That was pretty obvious.

[ Trying to remain snooty to keep away the good feelings of her liking her present. ]

Anyway, this one-- it's just a trinket.

[ He passes the locket wrapped in thin paper her way. She might be able to feel calm through it, but much stronger once she's opened it. ]

Y'know.

[soft_focus]

[Too bad Flowey. She is smiling, and pulling this sweater on right now.] ......................it's really warm.... [She decides, holding her face with the sleeves.] ....'n soft....

[Yes well, anyway, she apparently has another thing to open up. Carefully, she takes the package in her hand, blinking at it. Something does feel....odd, but-

The paper is opened, and her eyes briefly widen as they fall upon the locket. It is when she touches the metal however-when she holds it carefully to try and look at it more clearly-that something changes. The metal vibrates just slightly, and music begins to play, and............]

................it's.............. ....it's making a feeling... [How does she explain that? How does she take that, or...or anything? It's happening, that's all there is to it, and....]

...........it's even making a song... [It's a very nice song, for that matter.]

[wilt]

[ Yeah okay, kinship, saudade, and affirmation work together to make a bittersweet feeling. ]

That's my family crest. That way if I ever leave here, you'll have something that was a part of the real me. I had... the metalworkers make it just right. Hahaha, you wouldn't believe the haggling I had to do...! A musical metal to start with, then a soothing enchantment that never wears off...

Because...

You can't learn and control them all yet, either.

Neither can I. But I can learn. I've been learning. You've helped a lot... so fair's fair. You should get one of the best feelings someone should have.

[soft_focus]

You.... [...............This is different from the 'bone'. Papyrus could make those easy. He made the one he gave her 'special', of course, but it was still something that could come as second nature, she was certain. This was different. Not because it had to be made by someone else, not because it was an item at all, but because of everything there, and Reira finds herself shaking as she realizes those things. First-it carries the symbol of who Asriel is. Second, it plays music, stores photos, but most importantly....

Those things combined, those things he had to ask for, were all for an important reason, and it's making tears well up at her eyes as she looks to the flower.] Y....you did that....for me..?

[wilt]

Ah...! They didn't put the wrong feeling into it, did they?! I'll sue--

[ And then he calms down and acknowledges her words... well-- ] Yeah.

I... wanted to keep it at first, of course, but I wanted to give it to you more because I had it made for you and you need something to keep you leveled-- you don't have it as easy as me, learning all these feelings. Even now, I feel something tugging at me, a feeling I can't name but I know is coming.

You deserve an anchor. It's hard feeling for everyone else, the way you do.

[soft_focus]

But..-! But it's important for you..! [She starts, stuttering a little.] ....It's... [.........Calming. Still calming, enough that she can manage to get her breath back already, even if she's still crying.

She doesn't ask for a hug this time-it's easy to forget, at this point, simply fumbling to her knees in the snow to get close enough to put her arms around the flower's stem. She'll probably get some tears on him, but.] Th....thank you.

....And.... ....I hope you can get that feeling out, [She adds, sniffling.]