⇨ 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

[dressedtothe]

[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.

[chronosynthesis]

[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?

[dressedtothe]

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.

[chronosynthesis]

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?

[dressedtothe]

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.

[chronosynthesis]

[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.]

[dressedtothe]

[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.

[chronosynthesis]

[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.

[dressedtothe]

[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 >

[chronosynthesis]

[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.

[dressedtothe]

[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.]

[chronosynthesis]

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.]

[dressedtothe]

[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.

[chronosynthesis]

[He offers the joint to 9S as the coughing starts to subside. When he turns back to him, it's with every intention of questioning how much 9S knows about this--and then he sniffs it. His face scrunches up as he breathes it in again. That scent is familiar...]

So, this is really your first time using this? [He raises a brow.]

[dressedtothe]

[Uh oh. Busted. His next words come out in a distinct whine of someone who's been caught red-handed.]

I never said I hadn't tried it.

[Just implied it.]

[chronosynthesis]

[And Syrlya just gives him a slight smirk.] You absolutely said you hadn't tried it.

['We' hadn't tried it, but that absolutely implicates 9S as well.] What happened the last time?

[dressedtothe]

[Lies!!1! But 9S takes the joint.]

Ummm, well I got really relaxed...

[He wasn't lying about that, at least.]

...So I ended up laughing a lot and lying down on the floor.

[Pod 153 has a recording of it, even! Let's not mention that Cole was totally wigging out during that time, shall we? So he'll just, take a hit of the joint, breathing in the smoke before exhaling a myriad of colours.]

[chronosynthesis]

[Syrlya gives 9S an amused look, but he's also paying attention to how he smoke it without choking so that he manages better when he takes the joint next.

Syrlya takes a slow inhale, pausing to watch the colors from the smoke before he says anything again.] Should we find a more comfortable place to be if you're going to find your way to the floor regardless?

[dressedtothe]

Hey, I won't fall over this time!

[He's absolutely going to fall over.

9S does remember it taking a while for him to start feeling the effects -- which is so weird compared to the drugs he's sampled prior -- but maybe Syrlya would be affected differently? He is a plant of some kind...]

How do you feel?

[chronosynthesis]

[Syrlya does seem to be more relaxed than he usually is, his shoulders slumping more as he props his chin on his hand and takes another smoke before he offers is back to 9S.

He shrugs, blankly slowly as he stares out into space.] Not bad. I suppose you were right about the relaxant...

[dressedtothe]

[Well, he's not gonna say no to another smoke; last time, Rita took the joint away from him before he could finish it! 9S takes another puff of the joint, exhaling a long stream of smoke that almost seems serpentine in nature, if it wasn't bright pink and blue.

9S lets out a burst of laughter that lasts seconds longer than usual.]

Of course! I wouldn't be a very good Scanner if the information I reported back was wrong.

[He holds out the joint for Syrlya, but his knees are bending as he slowly sinks towards the floor. Sitting seems like a better idea than standing.]

[chronosynthesis]

[Syrlya laughs at that, probably a little too long... but it might still be going because 9S is slipping to the floor, just like he said he wasn't going to.

Syrlya takes the joints, fumbling a bit, but before he takes another hit he grabs the edge of the table and leans over to watch 9S go down.] What did you say about--whoa.

[He stops, suddenly, the mirth slipping from his face as he stares forward blankly in confusion. His vision is almost literally swimming, like some sort of distant mirage out of the corners of his eyes. He blinks rapidly to try and clear it, but to no avail.]

[dressedtothe]

[Well, he's not lying down... yet. Oh man, at least Syrlya seems to appreciate the weed more than Cole did. At least until his expression slips. 9S prompts, his voice not quite able to convey the thin sliver of worry that manages to make it through the haze of the drugs.]

Say about what?

[He adds, sagely--]

You should sit down.

[chronosynthesis]

I am sitting. [Although he does right himself, blinking rapidly in an attempt to resolve his vision. It only makes things worse and even wavier in the distance.]

It's blurry. [He says it dully.] No, that isn't quite right. It's a desert.

[dressedtothe]

Sit more.

[And to demonstrate what he means by that, 9S flops backwards, lying flat on his back. The coloured smoke swirls above him. Last time he thought they were snakes. He knows better know.]

A desert?

[9S lets out a laugh.]

It can't be a desert. There's no sand!