lostcarnival | ⇨ THE LUNAR SOLSTICE

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⇨ THE LUNAR SOLSTICE

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I wanted to thank you for helping me earlier, so I bought you something from the Caravan.

[9S reaches back into the bag he almost always has at his back, fingers undoing the zip with practised ease.]

I wasn't sure if it would be rude to give a plant to you since you're a sylvari and all, but the vendor said that it's a great relaxant.

[Not quite what the vendor said. But 9S pulls a small bag free and holds it up for Syrlya to take. Yep, the clear bag sure is full faerie weed.]

I figure we all could use more relaxing after... everything.

Oh, thank you. [A relaxant? Syrlya raises a brow, but he takes the bag anyway and inspects the contents.]

Some sort of herb? Is it something you steep, or...? [He looks to 9S expectantly. Please explain what he's even supposed to do with this.]

I was told you smoke it.

[9S' expression is bright eyed and cheerful, watching Syrlya's expression intently.]

If you want to try it now, I can show you how.

So you know how to use it, but you haven't used it yourself? [That's what it sounds like, and Syrlya raises a brow skeptically. He has no reason to doubt 9S's intentions, but why would 9S hedge around himself?]

[Uhhh... Well...]

We have records of humans using this sort of thing.

[Well that part's true enough.]

We just never tried because it wasn't available and the environment's too messed up to grow it. Besides, we're not biological, so it might not even do anything for us.

Well, why don't you show me how it works, and we can try it together? [It's pretty questionable whether it'll effect 9S at all, but if it doesn't work then there's no harm done, right? He can apparently eat, after all.]

My cabin is a little full, however, so it would be better to do this elsewhere.

[Oh boy. It's too late to come clean and tell Syrlya that he actually has tried the weed.

...But admittedly, he wouldn't mind trying it again.]

What about mine? There's only three of us staying there.

If they do not mind, that is far less people to disturb. [And a lot better than sitting in the cold fucking snow for it. He gestures for 9S to lead the way.]

[Well then! He'll certainly lead the way; the nice thing about being a Scanner is that he's never lost, not matter where he may end up. Always having an internal map is handy that way.]

Sure, it's this way.

[He turns to trudge back the way he'd come. Luckily, the cabin isn't far, but 9S can't help but complain--]

This snow is a real pain to walk through. I thought the desert was bad, but at least sliding down the dunes was fun.

[Ah, yes, all the sand. Guess what he doesn't miss from the Silverwastes: it's that.

Actually, he doesn't miss much from the Silverwastes in general.] I would prefer the snow if it wasn't so cold. At least it isn't liable to fly into your face or clothes.

[But it is cold, so frankly both options kind of suck.]

[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.]

Can you even feel the cold? [Does 9S have a sense of touch at all? Surely he has to, but he sure doesn't mind his frame being exposed if he does.

Syrlya sniffs as they enter the cabin, making a face despite himself. Pungent.]

[They really should have opened the windows to get all the smell out, but that would also let the cold in. And not everyone in the cabin likes the cold.]

Pod, bring me a lighter.

[As the little robot flies off, 9S stretches his arms.]

Sure I do. But heat is something that should be diverted away from mechanical systems. Usually a lot of energy is expended keeping them cool. For me, the cold actually takes a load off my cooling system so I don't have to expend as much energy doing the same things.

[Syrlya just disregards the mechanical part of that explanation, which makes it a little easier to understand. Expending energy, right. His body doesn't take well to heat.]

It is the opposite for me. [He scrapes snow off his boots, just outside the door before he closes it behind them. Ah, warmth.] It makes me joints feel stiff and I have to expend even more energy.

[He sniffs again.] What is that smell?

Edited 2017-12-06 18:11 (UTC)

Oh. You must really hate this weather then, huh?

[Damn, he was hoping Syrlya wouldn't notice!

Casually.]

Incense.

[Weed counts as an incense, right??]

It ended up smelling weird so we tried to get rid of the stink.

I see. [That's going to be a huge fucking lie as soon as they light this stuff up.

He looks the bag over before setting on the table, and leaning against the furniture.] So how does this work?

Have you ever smoked before?

[Wait, he's a plant person.]

Though I guess it wouldn't be a good idea for you to get near flames. Have you at least seen someone smoke? Because this is kind of like that, except we have to make the tube first.

[Syrlya considers correcting 9S, he's really not much more flammable than a human is... but it's not that important.

He regards the package with more curiosity.] With paper, or a pipe? [Does it matter? The plant is in the same state regardless.]

[9S holds up the paper he bought, answering the question neatly, before setting it on the nearby table. There's a plate right next to it.]

I've never seen it done with a pipe before. If that was something humans did, we don't have records of it.

[He gestures to the plate.]

Pour some out on there. We'll need to break it up a bit.

[Syrlya tips the bag over and shakes it, pouring a little less than half the contents onto the plate. Well, if it's too much they can put it back in.

He starts crushing the leaves further between his fingers.] I would imagine much of that history has been lost due to the destruction of everything.

[When the leaves are sufficiently crushed, 9S takes one of the papers he'd bought and starts rolling the joint using the paper and crushed weed.

He might have done this before?]

It's true there aren't a lot of records left. But with so many humans here, or people who come from worlds with humans, I can always ask. I never had the chance speak to the humans from home directly.

[9S trails off, silent. He'd been so excited to learn about and from humans when he arrived, but now knowing what he does about the situation at home... he might not even be going back to stay, once he's done what he needs to do in the Carnival.

Pod 153 returns, lighter in one of its four clawed hands.]

< Lighter obtained >

[Syrlya watches his hands to mimic the gesture. It's simple, at least. He hasn't worked small components like this is a while, even if the object is very different.

He pauses when 9S does, though for very different reasons.] There are a lot of humans here, aren't there? I wonder why that is.

[Maybe the Ringmaster id's just partial to them? Or maybe they're just more likely to sign contacts.] I have never had to explain Sylvari as much as the carnival.

[While Syrlya speaks, 9S continues to roll the joint, letting out a snort of laughter.]

You too, huh? A couple of people here get it, but most people don't know what an android is either. Though I suppose the comparison isn't quite the same, since everyone back home is some kind of android. It'd be weirder if you weren't one of us.

[9S holds the joint up to inspect his work. This one is a bit more tightly packed than the one he gave Cole, so maybe it'll be a bit stronger?]

Alright, it's done. [He offers the joint to Syrlya.] It's your gift, so you get first dibs.

[Pod 153 will be more than happy to assist with lighting duties under instruction, since it still has the lighter clutched in one clawed hand.]

We've become accepted enough in Tyria that I rarely had to field these questions. [He takes the joint and reaches up to ignite it with the lighter Pod is holding.] At least no one means any harm...

[As far as he can tell. He gives the joint a thoughtful look before he puts it to his lips, sucking a breath in--and then proceeds to choke, turning his head away to cough out the sudden irritation in his throat.]

[Pod 153 helpfully flicks the lighter, the small flame lighting the joint. But when Syrlya starts coughing...]

Careful! You'll want to keep inhaling after you remove the tube. That should prevent the smoke from aggravating your throat.

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