⇨ 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

[dontpokethat]

Ginko is not poisoned, does not need the cure, and has little interest in... hot tub parties or whatever to begin with.

He does, however, feel obligated to make sure none of these dumbasses drown, seeing as how he's pretty sure there's no way to actually deter them from making bad decisions here.

So he's just kind of sitting off to the side, wrapped up in his coat and scarf, frowning around a cigarette.

Does an irritable deer man count as a lifeguard? Probably not, but he's here and ready to pull anyone out that needs to be pulled out.

[criticallyfucked]

[Good news, Ginko: Foster is not the one you need to look out for here.

Not yet, anyway.

He's sunk himself deep into the bath to immerse the part of him that's petrified--his head tilted back to expose his throat, foamy green water up to his chin. He looks....... content.

Maybe a little.... too content?

But he isn't bleeding....

He is, however, glowing.]

[dontpokethat]

[That's... new.

Like, a lot about that is new. Foster not looking miserable and also the whole glowing thing. He doesn't seem to be in trouble or anything, but... hm.]

...You doing alright, Foster?

[That sure is a way of asking that.]

[criticallyfucked]

[Ginko earns a withering look, but really nothing harder than that; he doesn't even lose the smile.]

What do you think?

[Okay, it's a little sour, too. But even that is pretty mild, considering.]

[dontpokethat]

...Fair enough.

[Okay, time for the direct approach, which he really should have taken to begin with.]

Are you... glowing? Because that's new.

[criticallyfucked]

Ah. Yeah.

[He is doing that.]

Is that a problem?

[dontpokethat]

Nah. Don't be too disappointed. [He knows how much you love getting in trouble for crap, Foster.] I was just wondering if it was a new change you'd picked up or something.

[criticallyfucked]

[Foster laughs--an abrupt, too-loud, tone-deaf cackle.

Ginko's right, of course. When he stops, he makes a pensive sound, still regarding the man upside-down.]

Mmmm.

Have you actually fucked him yet?

[dontpokethat]

[Okay, see, between the sudden change of topic and the way Foster phrases the question--

It takes Ginko a shocked, halting moment to respond, just staring, wide-eyed, at Foster.]

Wh-- what?

[criticallyfucked]

[In Foster's rare defence, his train of thought was pretty linear, as far as his thoughts go.

It went something like this:

Afterglow -> Sex -> Talking to Ginko -> Mmmm -> So, About That]

Psi.

[dontpokethat]

[Okay, well, that is at least the person it would make the most sense for Foster to be asking about Ginko fucking. For... a few reasons.

That thought sends a twinge of guilt through him, but he tries to focus on answering. His voice drops to almost a whisper, and he glances uncomfortably at the others around them.]

I-- n-no, that-- why are you even asking that right now?

[criticallyfucked]

Is that a 'no?'

[That sounds like a no.

There's something just slightly contemptuous about the way he says it.]

[dontpokethat]

[Boy he sure does pick up on that contempt. Ginko's ears droop, just slightly. But he gives a slight, barely-visible nod, his mouth twisting into a frown.]

...It's a 'no'. So what?

[The phrasing might sound kind of defensive, but his tone comes across as just... tired, more than anything.

That might just be Ginko's voice, though.]

[pipers_son]

"Ginko~."

Uh oh. Look who's feeling the alcohol part of that poison cure? At least, it's either that or the spa that is responsible for the rosiness which has taken over Joker's still makeup-lacking face. With his wings, he probably shouldn't have twisted around in the hot tub at all, but he is, and so someone is probably getting a face full of wing. It's fine. With his arm crossed around the rim of the spa, he grins nice and wide over to the other man. It's a bit different than his usual (fake) smiles, but that is also probably the alcohol.

All of that is really unimportant right now, however. "Ya look better!"

[dontpokethat]

Oh boy time for Drunk Joker, Part Two. At least this time he's not crying in a tree, so that's an improvement. Now Ginko just has to worry about making sure he doesn't pass out in the hot tub and need to be hauled out before he drowns or something.

It's kind of nice to see him smiling for real, though. Even if it's just because he's drunk.

"Hey, Joker." He raises a hand in a small, probably unnecessary wave. "Guess that's probably because I'm feeling better. More time to rest since we've figured this cure out."

[pipers_son]

"Good." A long content sigh rushes out of him, adding a little more warmth to the cold snowy air. As if the steam wafting out from the water wasn't enough. "Good, because, ya were attractive, a bit, but that was shit, ya shouldn't be like that. Like shit." Did he let that slip out? It's fine. Joker figures it is, anyway. It's not as if he's been subtle that Ginko is more attractive than he thinks he is.

That's not really important, right now. Instead, slumped against the hot tub with his arm propped out awkwardly, he starts turning his wrist in circles in a slow awkward gesture. Hey. Hey.

C'mere.

[dontpokethat]

That... still sounds all kinds of incorrect, but this isn't the time to argue about Joker's bad taste. "Yeah, I don't much like being 'like shit'," he replies dryly.

Then he blinks, taking a moment to decipher that gesture before standing up with a sigh and walking over to kneel down next to the tub.

Does he even want to know what Joker considers so important.

[pipers_son]

Having Ginko come over from his world weary watch over a handful of dumbasses making a questionable life choice has Joker grin, lopsided and triumphant. Ha. Ha! He did it. Fondly, his wooden fingertips tap along the side of Ginko's jaw before curling up as softly as possible into that white hair of his. Joker's fingers are strange, hard wood that's twisted and warped in the strange natural way rather than anything handled by man, and they're still soft in a way that allows them to be gentle and flexible sometimes.

"Yer good," he mutters, the words slurring into each other ever so slightly. "Always- ya work hard. Yer always workin' hard. And bein' good ta people. S'good. Yer good. Ya deserve good stuff ta happen, and be sleepin'."

[dontpokethat]

Look, he can still watch over the handful of dumbasses from here, while listening to... whatever weird thing Joker has decided he needs to inform him of.

He is not, however, particularly expecting to be touched, though he maybe should have seen that coming. It's not even the odd texture of Joker's fingers that strikes him so much as the contact itself, and his heart makes a sudden, brief jump into his throat before settling back down where it's supposed to be.

"Uh-- thanks?" At a loss, he kind of... pats at the back of Joker's hand. "I, uh... I should be able to sleep more after this. So there's that."

Boy he is now very very aware of all the other people in the vicinity who are definitely seeing this.

[pipers_son]

In contrast, Joker is completely dismissive of all the people who might be watching. One of them is Tyki, who's perfectly fine, and another is Foster, who doesn't exist as far as he's concerned, and then there's Hinawa. Hinawa would understand, right? That Ginko is handsome, and deserves good things.

"Good," he mutters, decisively. "Ya deserve it. Ya were workin' so hard..." Regret knits his brow together, and his smile become almost self deprecating.

"M'sorry."

[dontpokethat]

See, Foster is the one Ginko is most concerned about. Though the fact that Hinawa is neither drunk nor on fake post-sex pills might make her presence a little more of an issue.

However, the shift in Joker's words and expression immediately distracts Ginko from worrying about other people watching. His ears flop down and back, and his hand stills on Joker's. "For what? You don't have anything to apologize for."

[pipers_son]

"Yeah I do." It leaves him in a sigh. At the same time, his expression starts to sink. The novelty of the cure had been entertaining, for a while, and seeing Ginko well rested had been nice, too, but... As always, in the end, it's hard to ignore everything weighing down on him.

"Made ya upset. Hurt ya. S'not a good thing, Ginko. Don't deserve that."

[dontpokethat]

Oh no. Ginko makes a mental note that Joker, when drunk, inevitably ends up miserable, no matter how cheerful he may start out.

"Hey-- that's not your fault, Joker. None of it was."

[pipers_son]

"Still," he mutters. Alcohol only makes stubbornness worse, as it turns out. "Doesn't matter. Still hurt ya." Still, if there's one thing that can be considered a positive out of all of this... Grimacing, Joker pulls his hand away and slides it up the bridges of his nose, covering his eyes.

Shit.

"...Don't wanna be here..." Eight minutes or something, right? That's how long he had to stay in the water? His leg feels a little more decent, but...

[dontpokethat]

It's pretty evident that arguing with him on that won't really get anywhere. So Ginko just gives a quiet hum of disagreement, and his tail thumps against the floor of the deck.

...Shit. "I think you need to stay in a few minutes longer, Joker. Do you think you can deal with that? ...Or do you feel sick?"

If he feels sick, it would probably be best to get him out now, given that he's drunk in a goddamn hot tub.