⇨ 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

[moonfang]

What a feeling. What a completely unique and interesting feeling! It felt like electric butterflies in his body, enough of a buzz and flutter to distract from the ever present gaping wound in his chest. As Zangetsu enters the tent, he looks at the menagerie, a few with "SOLD" signs dangling from their cages and containers.

Including what might be the most beautiful long haired cat, just old enough to not be called a kitten anymore, that Zangetsu could ever conceive of. Fluffy and wonderful with a dilute snowshoe coat and sapphire blue eyes. But it isn't just a young cat -- it's a young cat with large, feathered wings. The syrax chirp-purrs more and kneads the ground.

"You..." Zangetsu points to the syrax, then looks at Gongenzaka, "You bought me a cat? A cat with wings?! You.. you remembered what I said?!"

[otoko]

"N-Naturally..!!" he protests loudly, looking almost insulted by the question. "Did you think that I, the man Gongenzaka, would not listen..!" That aside-he gestures to some forms. "There is only one step required-they request that the new owner be the one to sign and swear to take care of them," he notes, beaming.

"....Though perhaps, you should get to know them a little for a few moments first?" he laughs, the cat in question stretching those wings a little.

[moonfang]

"Nobody ever listens to me!" he declares just as loudly, amazed that there was someone here who actually cared about the things he liked and wanted. AMAZED, truly!

Zangetsu looks at the papers, then puts his hand up to the carrier for the syrax to smell. It sniffs him, then rubs against the carrier wall, purring even more loudly. The smile on Zangetsu's face could split him from ear to ear, and this time it's a happy, bright thing, though perhaps borderline manic. For once, the chatty Hollow is at a loss for words. In silence, he takes the papers and skims them quickly, then signs his name in scribbly kanji across the bottom of the paper. In the spaces that ask for initials, he draws a crescent moon with a line bisecting it.

[otoko]

"HAuh!? No-" Before he can even finish his protest, he's watching as Zangetsu blitzes through more cat meeting, and more importantly reading and signing papers. And it occurs to him....how his chats with Zangetsu's partner have gone, before all this. Gongenzaka stares for a moment, but smiles a bit softly, nodding.

"Well-what is important now, is the bond you are about to carve, is it not? When I, the man Gongenzaka, saw them...I knew for certain, that they would be someone you would enjoy playing with! With wings, no doubt they will be more than able to take to the skies, after all!" HIGHER JUMPING! LONGER POUNCING!

DIVE BOMBS

[moonfang]

DIVE BOMBS!! The best little partner a Hollow could ask for.

"I'm... I..." he mutters, still really unable to put his thoughts into words. He reads the paper over again.

'Species; Syrax
Sex; Female
Color; Blue cream bicolor
Age; ~ 10 mo'

The stall owner seems charmed by the Hollow boy's speechlessness, and takes the papers and stamps them. Then, one of the papers, presumably Zangetsu's copy, is taped to the carrier.

"All paid for and settled," they say, handing the carrier with its precious cargo to Zangetsu, "She's yours!"

[otoko]

If Gongenzaka could cross his arms, he would be. As it is, he rests his lone hand on his hip, still beaming.

"....Shall we allow her some air, Zangetsu?" he asks, nodding.

[moonfang]

Zangetsu is just so overcome, he has no words. He peeks into the carrier and a bright blue eye looks back at him. The syrax paws at the carrier and mewls curiously.

Finally, a question he could answer simply. "Oh hell yes."

Zangetsu holds the carrier to his chest and dashes back out into the snow. He selects a nearby area not in the marketplace, but on well-packed down snow. He sets the carrier down and opens the door.

The syrax is actually a bit timid, confronted with something new! She peeks out of the carrier and sniffs the snow, then touches it with a paw.

"You'll be alright," Zangetsu coos at the creature, "You have such fluffy fur!"

[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..!"

[moonfang]

"I think it might be... She doesn't seem to know what it is," Zangetsu muses as the syrax goes back into the safety of the carrier. He sits down on the ground in front of the carrier and extends his hand out to her, then pats the snow. "I hadn't seen snow before either! But it's not bad. It's fun!"

The syrax does seem interested in exploring, and eventually her curiosity wins out over her apprehension. She walks out of the carrier into the snow and, once she realizes it's just cold and not dangerous, she notices a few snowflakes blowing in the air and begins to chase them. Zangetsu laughs delightedly.

[otoko]

"Hahaaaah! There we are..!" Gongenzaka laughs, watching the cat begin to play. "That did not take long at all..! Things should go well, then..!"

[moonfang]

"She's a brave little thing! Hehehe!" Zangetsu grabs a handful of loose snow and throws it up in the air, giving the cat more to chase. "This is... an awesome gift, Gon. Thanks. Really!"

He's... never actually gotten a gift before? It feels him with such wonderful, bright feelings. Hm... so that explains why people like to GET gifts. But why did people also like to give them?

Well, he knows that reciprocation of gifts is often expected, per human social rules. It would have to be something of similar value, or more! He has much to think about.

Including a name for this cat.

"Hmm... I have to think of a name for her."

[otoko]

It's....a good feeling, watching Zangetsu enjoy this. It's a feeling of calm, even, and peace-Gongenzaka remains quiet as the sword throws snow for the cat, and does nothing more than smile in reply to the 'thanks'. It was the least he could do, after all. He knew it would be something that the other would enjoy. ...Perhaps something that most would overlook, even.

"Aaah, that you do, don't you," he notes, as the topic of names arises. "Though, you do have time, as well-time, certainly, to find a name that suits her best!"