⇨ 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

[pipers_son]

It's nice to listen to Ginko when his voice is all quiet like that, not in the least because it makes it at least a little harder for other people to hear them. Joker feels like he could use the privacy right about now, even with his cheek smooshed against his arm.

"People." His expression twists a little. Not in distaste, but discomfort. "Thought it wouldn't be as bad. Still bad, 'tho. Bugger me."

[dontpokethat]

Ginko would point out that that doesn't make going off on his own a better idea, but knowing Joker... if he's going to be miserable one way or another, he'd probably rather be miserable on his own.

Unfortunately, they both know from experience that's a bad idea - besides which, Joker still has to wait for the cure to finish working on his leg.

"You've just got to hold it together for a few more minutes. You can go home right away after that, alright?"

[pipers_son]

"Yeah, yeah." A certain sort of sullenness weighs the words down, dulls something in his eyes, but some of his face is still obscured by his own arm. Probably for the better. At least this way, he doesn't have to work so much on keeping his face happy.

Which wouldn't work anyway, considering how drunk he feels, but okay.

"I told ya I'm sorry, right?"

[dontpokethat]

Ginko sets his hands on the deck behind him and leans back a bit to put weight on his arms, making sure once again that he can keep track of everyone in the tub. This close, he notes that there's definitely some spilled spa water soaking into his pants and gloves, which will definitely be a problem in a few minutes. Oh well.

That actually gets a smile. "You did. You didn't need to, but you did say it."

[pipers_son]

"Yeah, I do." It certainly can't be comfortable, the way he rests his face against his arm as he stretches it out to Ginko, but this is what he's committed to. At least it reveals more of his face, brows drawn together tightly and his eyes brighter than usual- perhaps with that quietly burning sincerity that Ginko by now knows is a lot less common in Joker's expressions than he usually lets people see. "'Cuz yer important. And good. And ya stuck around."

Stuck around when a lot of people wouldn't, even at the small amount of things that Joker confessed, and Joker would never have blamed anyone even if it hurt. But Ginko's stayed.

Right after that, however, his face screws up in distaste. "Ah.... Fuck. Ginko. Fuck. S'just remembered somethin'."

[dontpokethat]

"I... I appreciate that you think that." More so than he really knows how to express. "But you still haven't done anything you need to apologize to me for."

He frowns, and his ears lift slightly. "...What? If it's about Psi, I doubt he's gonna mind me making sure you don't drown."

[pipers_son]

"No. No. I mean, s'bad too..." His eyes squint shut, and there is probably a real worry that he might slip into unconsciousness before he forces them open again.

"Ginko. M'face."

You know. That little problem up there.

[dontpokethat]

...Oh.

Oh.

"Uh..." Ginko considers that for a few moments. He's pretty sure Joker can't hold his breath for eight minutes, and having him just... bob up and down would be kind of stupid. "We could pour water over it, I guess, but that would... take a while."

Hmm.

"...Is there something around here you could breathe through?"

[pipers_son]

"My mouth," is the completely unhelpful answer. There's nothing around here and they both know it.

A moment later sees the arrival of an answer that is.... debatably better. "Should just hold my hair..."

[dontpokethat]

Ginko is considering just running off to get a straw, honestly - but he's not sure he can leave these guys alone for that long. Dammit.

Joker's first answer is, of course, completely useless. The second... takes him a moment to process.

"...your hair?"

[pipers_son]

It's only going to get worse before it gets better. At least he's being a productive drunk instead of one crying, blood or not. His hand makes some sort of vague gesture.

"Just keep me in place, cheek in the water. S'fine."

[dontpokethat]

"So, you want me to... hold your hair and angle your head so that your cheek is submerged, but you can still breathe."

He can think of so many ways this could go wrong, but he also can't think of a better approach. Except the straw thing, but, again, that would mean leaving. And also trusting Joker to remember to breathe through the straw and not like... hold it in his mouth and then breathe through his nose or something.

[pipers_son]

"Yeah." Except, the sound of it comes out more like "yeh". So, you know. Drunk words. It's fine. "Dun got any better words, y'know?"

Ideas. He meant ideas. Oh, that alcohol is something.

[dontpokethat]

At least Ginko can basically decipher what Joker is trying to say. Probably helps that he's had some practice in that regard.

"...Alright. But honestly, I think this will work better if I hold onto your actual head and not just your hair."

It also seems less likely to end up hurting Joker's scalp.

[pipers_son]

"Wait..." A couple of blinks, and he's squinting over at Ginko. "....Are ya comin' in here with us?"

Or, well. With him. Sure, Ginko's arms could maybe be long enough to do it from over the rim of the tub, but getting in seems a lot easier.

[dontpokethat]

"Definitely not." That comes with absolutely no hesitation. He's not petrified, he doesn't need it, there is not enough money in the world to convince him to step into that. Or to choose between getting his clothes soaked with slime water in this weather, or stripping down to his underwear in front of four people.

He does pull off his gloves and coat, but then just rolls up the sleeves of his turtleneck up to his elbows. "If I lie down by the side of the tub, I should be able to reach well enough."

[pipers_son]

Oh. Is he disappointed or not? Joker isn't entirely sure, although, if he had to guess, he'd blame the booze for making this as confusing as it is. Instead, a bit distracted, he watches as the coat slides away from Ginko's shoulders and those sleeves get rolled up.

Ginko has always been incredibly attractive, but it feels really noticeable here for some reason. That's also probably the booze.

"Should I twist my wings outta the way?" This would seem like a difficult thing to do, for anyone with normal wings, but Joker, well. That flexibility counts for every part of him, even if it looks incredibly worrying and strange when applied to wings.

[dontpokethat]

Ginko, unsurprisingly, seems entirely unaware of Joker's dilemma. He folds up his coat and sets it down in front of him, so the front of his shirt won't end up getting soaked through, and shifts from sitting to kneeling.

"Hm. If you turn to the side some, that should get them out of the way... which would be more comfortable for you?"

[pipers_son]

"Whatever keeps 'em out of the goop." Shifting a bit, he does his best to raise his wings straight up. Sure would be a shame if Foster got hit with one of those on the way. Tyki is.... probably fine. This is fine.

"Can ya think about cleanin' it out of the feathers...? I'd rather break 'em."

[dontpokethat]

"I'm sure there'd be a way to wash it out. But, yeah, keeping them out entirely would probably be best."

Ginko gets situated, lying down next to the tub so that he can hold onto Joker's head. "Ready? Just start lowering your head down when you are, and I'll make sure you don't go under."

[pipers_son]

Surprisingly for someone who is atrociously drunk, Joker is patient and still as Ginko slides his fingers and palms around his head. A part of it is helped by the fact that Joker isn't a rambunctious sort of drunk. The other is that-

"Yer hands are so nice," he mutters, eyes drooping shut slowly and his lashes brushing against his cheeks. "What the bleedin' hell, Ginko. Why're ya so nice everywhere..."

Aaaaaaaaand then he starts to slump into the goo.

[dontpokethat]

Ginko definitely appreciates the lack of unnecessary movement. Neither of them needs this to get MORE difficult than it's already doing to be.

...Okay, well, that's. He's still not moving around at least, but that's... how does he respond to that?

It's actually almost worse than when Joker was trying to "prove" Ginko's attractiveness to him before, pulling out one carefully-polished comparison after another as easily as breathing. This time is just kind of... spontaneous. Blunt, simple, but there's no doubts to be had about his sincerity.

It still seems kind of ridiculous that someone who looks like Joker would ever think something like that about him. He's makeup-less, drunk, and sitting in a tub of slime, and he still looks better than Ginko ever has in his life.

...Who even let him have eyelashes that long, honestly.

Then Ginko notices Joker slipping. He makes a startled noise and shifts his hold so he can push Joker up some without hurting him. "--Alright, there we go. Just, uh... just try and stay up."

He'll just... not comment on what Joker said. It's fine.

[pipers_son]

Fortunately for Ginko, the same intoxication which caused those words to slip right on out is what keeps Joker from really focusing on the lack of reaction he's getting. Instead, he just grunts as he's rearranged, and fumbles a little as he braces his arm against the outside of the tub. Or, well, tries to. It's a bit of a struggle.

"Shi- sorry. S'difficult. God..." His eyes open up just a sliver again. "What was in that swill?"

[dontpokethat]

"You don't want to know. Rest assured, though, it was very alcoholic." Thanks for that, Lambert.

He sets a hand on Joker's arm to keep it steadied against the tub, and... dammit now he's. Weirdly hyperaware of his own hands. THANKS, JOKER. At least he, once again, has him arranged with his cheek in the water and the rest of his face out. "There we go. Comfortable?"

That's at least halfway a joke.

[pipers_son]

Thanks a whole bunch, Lambert. That's exactly what they all needed.

Unaware of Ginko's problems, Joker allows himself to be manhandled with no fuss. Instead, there's just a dry snort. "As much as ever. We know I've been in worse." His mouth tries to stretch into one of his usual smiles but it doesn't quite reach it. Not with the way his brow crumples together, or his eyes shine with a lot of things best left unsaid.

His whole life has been 'worse'.