⇨ 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

[anti_nonsense]

"Sure sounds simpler, at least." Rita's brow furrows as she studies the color-changing fabric. Is there a pattern here...? The colors seem random, and most of them aren't great colors to begin with. Who designs this stuff?

"But... isn't that kind of an everyday thing, just eating with people?" Around here it is, anyway, and Rita's pretty sure it's what people who live with families normally do.

[atouts]

Someone with a funny taste in color, possibly.

"Well, yes," he tentatively agrees, looking up from the fabrics to shrug at her. Like, yeah, she's not wrong, not exactly. "But they're typically bigger meals, more people involved. It's not entirely unlike the feast days they have planned up here on the moon."

Albeit smaller than a magical carnival crowd. Not necessarily less rowdy, though.

[anti_nonsense]

"A feast, huh..." Well, as far as festivities go, that's not too bad. Even the Prince's stupid, stuffy events at least had decent food. She can only hope the social climate in Childermass's world isn't that insufferable...

Come to think of it... she hasn't had a chance to talk with Childermass in a while. This might be a good chance to bring that up again... as difficult as it might be for Rita.

"Hey... remember when you said you could help me with flying?" Rita doesn't look at Childermass, but instead keeps her eyes fixed on the fabrics. Her pride won't allow her to look him in the eyes while asking this. "Is that offer still on the table?"

[atouts]

Well, considering the people he has in mind are his fellow servants finishing off leftovers and wine in the kitchen after hours, not insufferable at all. Provided you didn't mind terrible gossip, that is. So, infinitely better than anything at the manor. That question, though, that has Childermass raising his eyebrows.

"Ah, yes, I do." It's not an offer easily forgotten, considering how odd it felt to offer to teach anyone how to fly. He straightens up from perusing cloth. "Of course it is."

[anti_nonsense]

"Good." Rita glances back at him, then quickly returns her gaze to the wares. "I can fly, just to be clear." She did, in fact, back in the manor... but she froze. Not just once, but twice. If she hadn't, she wouldn't have been captured.

"I just... need to do better," she adds through gritted teeth.

[atouts]

"I see," Childermass neither agrees nor disagrees with her, not really. He just accepts what she's said, though if she actually can fly already, he supposes he'll find out soon enough. "It should mostly be a matter of practice, then. When would you be able to show me how much you already know?"

No point in treading lightly for the sake of Rita's ego. Either fly or don't, but he can only help if she's actually planning on stretching her wings and crashing a few times.

[anti_nonsense]

Rita shrugs, attempting to act aloof. "We're on vacation. I'm not exactly on a schedule here." In other words: any time. "The sooner, the better."

Her injuries have almost completely healed, and they're in a safe realm with lots of wide space. This might be the best opportunity she'll have to practice for a while.

[atouts]

"Is that so?" Childermass doesn't really ask so much as just states the words since he isn't actually waiting for an answer. "Even right now?"

Though that part, that's the real question.

"Unless you're still in the middle of scouring the marketplace, that is..."

[anti_nonsense]

There's a flicker of hesitation, but Rita pushes it aside and nods. "Yeah, even now." She didn't expect him to suggest now, but Rita never lets a challenge go unanswered. She said she was ready, so damn it, she'll prove it. "The market will still be here when I get back," she adds, stepping away from the stall with her arms folded.

[atouts]

"Alright then. Let's go find some open space," Childermass says, stepping away from the stall as well. He'll nod in one direction and lead the way, seeking the quickest way out of the marketplace.

"Though as we go... Tell me, what do you already know how to do? What do you have the most practice at?"

[anti_nonsense]

Rita hasn't thought much about the various aspects of flying, and it takes a few seconds of thinking before she answers.

"I don't know... taking off from the ground, short distance flying, using wings to direct myself while employing levitation magic, that sort of thing." Said levitation magic has served as her training wheels, in a sense, giving her a safety cushion should she fail to stay steady in the air. It even saved her, once.

[atouts]

"Have you practiced landing at all yet?"

Which is, as far as Childermass is concerned, even more important than taking off. While levitation magic is undoubtedly useful, they might want to move away from depending on it. It isn't something he'll say out loud, however, knowing how attached Rita is to her own magic.