⇨ 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

[dirthena]

( Lavellan isn't sure that it can get worse from the way things are at the moment -- but she's learned long ago not to tempt fate. Well, not directly at any rate. The sly comments are still her way of coping, and fate can go sort itself out. )

I will, Cole. ( There's the temptation there to tell him to worry about other people and not her, because the ache in her chest isn't one that he can magically fix by creating a smell or doing a small kindness. But it's Cole, and she doubts that will shake him. ) What about a tour? You've been here long enough to show me around, haven't you?

[hurtcomfort]

[ That won't shake him in the slightest. Sometimes, the small acts of kindness are needed as much as the large ones. If he can remind Lavellan of the song she likes, or a person she misses, then of course he'll do that. It can still help.

But a tour. He can certainly do that! Cole nods a little, before looking out at the snow. ]

We should go to the cabins first. [ wait a moment. ] Do you have somewhere to stay?

[dirthena]

( And that is one of the reasons she so adores Cole -- his compassion is something she has always admired, as she never seemed to be capable of the depths that he is. Of course, she is not a spirit of it, and she assumes that helps, but still -- it was nice to know that someone cared, even about the smallest things. )

I-- ( Uh. ) No, I don't believe I was assigned anywhere.

[hurtcomfort]

You should room with me, [ Just said with a complete lack of hesitation. ] I don't think Rita or 9S will mind! I don't use my bed anyway.

[ Never mind the fact that he hasn't yet asked Rita or 9S about this, this is absolutely no problem in Cole's mind. They'd say yes, right? Hopefully? Of course they would! ]

[dirthena]

I wouldn't want to impose, but if it would be alright with them, I don't see why not.

( lavellan: probably should be more aware of boundaries when it comes to cole, but as she has done nothing but encourage his cole-ness, absolutely isn't. and she'd like to meet his friends, as she's mostly glad he has some. )

[hurtcomfort]

[ cole: believes boundaries are for losers. As such, he's just so stoked about the idea of Lavellan meeting his friends and there's a small little smile on his face. ]

I'll ask them later. I don't think they'll mind. They're curious about me. The words don't work right when I say them, but maybe you'll do better.

[ Lavellan will certainly explain the concept of spirits better than Cole can. ]

[dirthena]

( With that smile, how is she supposed to tell him to think about it? )

I'll do what I can. Although I do understand their curiosity.

( Mostly because everyone is curious about Cole at some point in their lives, including Solas and Varric. )

[hurtcomfort]

Everyone seems to be curious, [ Cole grumbles, unintentionally picking up on Lavellan's thoughts. ]

It's better now that I know what I am.

[ Before, when Cole didn't know what he was, spirit or human, alive or dead, it was a bit of a clusterfuck. ]

[dirthena]

I very much doubt you're anything like they've seen before. Just as you were with the Inquisition.

( Not that it doesn't mean they shouldn't pry him with questions when he doesn't want to give the answers, but she feels as if explaining it might ease any remaining discomfort he has.

But she's happy to hear that what she did helped him, in some way. In a world where everything else is crumbling, that at least remains a good thing. At least her identity crisis wouldn't leak to him. )

Good, I'm glad.

[hurtcomfort]

[ Her identity crisis is leaking to him somewhat. Because she's not the herald here. She's not the Inquisitor here. And that hurt and worry pricks at the back of Lavellan's mind which pricks at the back of Cole's. I'm going to have to find a new role for myself.

It's always hard. Especially when one's role isn't as flexible. Compassion will always be needed. An Inquisitor might not.

So, Cole fixes Lavellan with a small frown before he goes ahead to ask, ]

Do you know who you are?

[dirthena]

( Lavellan opens her mouth to respond that of course she does, she's-- and the words die in her mouth when faced down by his stare and his gaze. Lying to Cole is impossible, as so many of those random snatches of conversation with Solas revealed in retrospect.

But it isn't something she wants to face, is ready to face. The way she is nothing here, not Inquisitor, not Herald, not even First of her clan. So she settles for the simplest answer she can give. )

I am Lavellan. ( It's just whoever that is that's up in the air. ) Whatever else I might be will come in time.

( That is said with far less conviction. )

[hurtcomfort]

[ Cole can spot that lack of conviction from a mile away. So he gives Lavellan a little frown, a tiny 'if you say so' sort of frown. She knows she's Lavellan. But who is Lavellan when put in a new situation? With nothing to compare herself to or define herself by? ]

As long as you think that and remember that, it's good. It's easier for you to find the you if you don't worry too much.

[dirthena]

( Thankful that Cole doesn't push further for the moment, Lavellan lets a small sigh escape her, her shoulders relaxing. She doesn't know the answer, and realizing that she doesn't know the answer isn't going to make her feel any less like her entire world is falling apart, crumbling. It would have been hard enough to deal with when she had two hands, now -- after everything -- it almost feels impossible. )

You would be the one speaking from experience. ( If only it was going to be that easy for her. ) Thank you, Cole. For everything.

( She hadn't gotten to say that to him before he left, and she feels as if she should. Just once. For his compassion and help both in Thedas and here, for simply being Cole. )

[hurtcomfort]

[ Cole looks a little surprised. For everything? Well. Alright then. That's honestly quite lovely. And so, he smiles a little, giving Lavellan a tiny little nod. ]

I should be thanking you.

[ After all, she was the one who helped so much. She let Cole be Cole, helping him pieceout who he was and what his place in the world it. He can't be grateful enough for her help in him figuring that out. After all, he's so much happier now than he was when they first met. ]

[dirthena]

( Should he? Lavellan doesn't know, but she reaches out to squeeze his shoulder again, relief and kindness flooding her face. At least Cole is here, helping, and in the end that means more than anything she can say -- that he should so easily find his purpose again. )

We can thank each other. But now -- tour, Cole, and I'd like to meet your friends.

[hurtcomfort]

[ And at that, Cole's smile just gets a little bigger. Because he does have friends here and he loves them already and obviously his friends are going to like his other friends, right? Hopefully? ]

We might find them on the tour. Cabins first, then market, then the kitchen.

[ He doesn't eat. But other people do. So, Cole knows where it is. ]

[dirthena]

( Lavellan hopes so, at least. Cole had friends, yes, but they were her and Solas and Varric -- and she wonders if they were enough, sometimes. After all -- Cole might be a spirit, but he still took the form of a young man. She and the rest of them, well, they were hardly that young anymore. )

Market -- they've got one of those as well?

( And she's thankful that Cole knows she needs to eat. Much appreciated, buddy. )

[hurtcomfort]

On the moon they do. Not in the carnival.

[ There's a pause because oh yes, Lavellan's new! She might not know this just yet! ]

We're to buy gifts for other people. It's because it's a holiday. [ just said in a matter of fact tone like Lavellan might not know what a holiday is in the first place. Though it doesn't take long for Cole to realize one of the problems: Lavellan doesn't really know people here. Who would she buy gifts for?

It doesn't cross Cole's mind that someone might give him a present. ]

Do you want suggestions?

[dirthena]

( a holiday with gifts. there were similar holidays among the dalish, but they hardly occurred in the winter. or, for that matter, when one was on the moon.

she's still trying to adjust to that part, too. )

For gifts? Go ahead, Cole.

( as she makes a note to get him something. armor or weapons would be traditional at this point, lavellan thinks -- and surely if she was to be a scout, someone would have some sort of knife for sale. )

[hurtcomfort]

Healing potions.

[ just said in a matter of fact tone of voice. ] Everybody worries about everybody else and tries to help but very few people know those magic or skills. A potion could help no matter what.

[dirthena]

( The nature of the gift takes her by surprise, and she laughs. )

Turns out giving people healing potions is something I've got practice in, so I think I can manage that. ( it wouldn't be difficult at all. Her mind is already thinking of gifts for cole, although she doesn't give him any specifics, in case he can pick up on that. It would be hard to keep it a surprise from him, but she'll try. ) It's strange there's not many people here who know healing.

( Herself included. Spirit healing, hah -- she'd had no talent for it when she was younger, and now it seems almost impossible to think of having any skill in it at all. )

[hurtcomfort]

Some have excuses. Some worlds have no magic. [ Something which honestly unnerves Cole a bit. As a being that's kind of magic to begin with, what would he be like in their worlds? ]

It is strange, though. People can learn. Why haven't they?

[ Is it just because they didn't know they could learn? Or they thought other magic was more important? ]

[dirthena]

Some don't have any at all? ( That's a thought Lavellan finds impossible -- although perhaps not improbable. It's such an important, vital part of her world and her life that imagining it without it? Not worth it. Would never be worth it.

But his comment makes her smile, slightly. )

If they're like me, it's most likely they've no skill in it. If that doesn't matter here, then--

( Then she's going to have to come up with reasons why she'd rather leave it to other people. )

[hurtcomfort]

[ Cole nods. Yep, some worlds don't have any magic. It's something he's noticed, picking up on the worries and insecurities of those from that sort of world. I don't know what to do about this, I don't have any experience, how can I ever learn this stuff, and so on and so forth.

Though, at Lavellan's smile, Cole can't help but smile a little as well, a tiny little awkward smile. ]

I don't really know how magic works. Not like you or Solas. So I don't know what matters or not. I just know that there aren't as many as there should be.

[dirthena]

( As if there was anything not awkward about Cole to begin with, but Lavellan has long since stopped to see that in the face of his compassion. Something she wished her other companions would, in time, but with Cole returning to the Fade that much was unlikely. )

I'll see what I can learn while I'm here. ( And she gives him a nod, the lines on her face relaxing some. ) It's good to know you're here and well, Cole. If I'm to spend a year and a day here, the company is much appreciated.