lostcarnival | ⇨ SPACE OLYMPICS

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⇨ SPACE OLYMPICS

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 30 - Day 44
Where: The carnival, Zargon, and Olympic Spaceship
What: Things return back to normal as the carnival performs for aliens of all sorts at the Space Olympics. Or at least, as normal as it can be when you've got an underfunded and falling-apart spaceship hovering over a deadly planet.
Warnings: Sports and people's inability to do them.

REACH FOR THE STARS↴

At first glance, the Space Olympics seem marvelous. Aliens from all over the universe, of all shapes and sizes have joined together in an intergalactic display of teamwork and sportmanship. What could be more inspiring than that? It's only when you hang around for a bit that you notice things aren't exactly in tip-top shape.

► OLYMPIC SPACESHIP: This is where most of the events are held. It's a massive spaceship spanning hundreds of miles and consisting of multiple floors. Teleportation discs and space public transport can take you anywhere on the spaceship in a blink of an eye. It has almost every amenity an athlete can think of: multiple gyms, practice arenas, saunas, etc. Likewise, there are plenty of things for civilians and spectators: merchandise stands, shopping malls, grocery stores, and television screens everywhere so people can watch the event. Shuttles to and from Zargon arrive on a regular basis.

► ZARGON: Facility wise, Zargon itself is less impressive than Olympic Spaceship. The carnival and the athlete's village comprise most of the habitable areas. Both are concealed underneath a large biodome, the main thing making the area livable. Enterprising Zargonites have set up stands that let people explore outside of the biodome. Rent a spacesuit and you too can enjoy Zargon's natural wonders, such as the distant red plateaus and the stunning solar winds. Just try and stay away from the toxic mold, naturally occurring pockets of hallucinogenic gas, and ten foot tall Zargon Death Flytrap.

► 1980s TRAINING MONTAGE: Since carnival members can only attempt to medal in one event, why not try different sports to see what that one event is? There's equipment for all sorts of sports: gymnastics, swimming, biathalon, snowboarding, etc. They've even somehow brought space horses up here for Space Dressage! There's also equipment for sports that carnival members might not have even known existed: Space Gymkata, Space Pooh Sticks, Space Limbo Skating, etc. The sky's the limit!

► A BIT OF A BUDGET SNAFU: The Space Olympics is kind of falling apart. After performance week, the carnival is drafted to help out and keep the Space Olympics running as smoothly as possible. This means fixing buildings, breaking up fights, helping in the kitchen, trying to sell merch, etc. If there's a feasible problem, the carnival members will be drafted to help fix it. The biggest problem of all is the multiple mechanical failures: artificial gravity stops working, temperatures on the ship rapidly shift from hot to cold, and the snow machines for Space Slopestyle won't turn off.

► PERFORMANCE: Performance week will start early this stop, to try and get everyone back into the swing of things after the chaos of Wismuth. Athletes from the village roam the carnival, taking in the sights and sounds. A lot of them haven't ever seen anything like the magic of the carnival and it's workers and will proceed to ask question after question about how all of this works: turns out that sci-fi and fantasy don't crossover as much as one would think. Still, don't be alarmed when you turn the corner and there's a Hutt trying his hand at test your strength.

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When it comes to spontaneous directional shifts, Gongenzaka seems to be...unfortunately good at ending up in the way of it. He's fairly large-even now, and how he appears at the moment is actually the cause of the next problem. Not only does it slam into him, but rather-

"KHHH- KOHHH-!"

"Oh-! Noboru, are you choking on something!?"

"KGMNH- That would- Imply this form- breathes, but-" Gongenzaka appears to be accompanied by some sort of 'alien cat'-which can no doubt be identified as his daemon at this point, but what's more key is that he's still going through the motions of someone who just swallowed a chunk of hotdog wrong. It takes a few more 'coughs', before the hacky sack comes launching back out the way it came...

Seemingly no different from before, except a little electrically charged as Gongenzaka himself shakes his head-a motion akin to a disgruntled horse.

"Hffhh..!"

"Well that was something..." The daemon-thing shakes her own head, peering toward 9S for now. "And what was that, anyway..!? Shouldn't you watch where you shoot those?"

Whoops!

At first, 9S doesn't feel too bad about the alien made toy slamming into another alien, but then he hears the 'alien's' name and that changes everything.

9S waits for a bit before gingerly picking up the hacky sack with his gloved hands. Electricity and androids haven't particularly gotten along, and even though he's no longer an android, he can't imagine it would bode particularly well for this mechanical alien body either.

"Sorry, sorry!" He doesn't sound sorry at all. But peering curiously at the alien, cat ears flicking, 9S asks, "You're from the Carnival, right?"

Names are power, or something along those lines, but naturally one can never apparently feel That Bad about harmless static choking that ends in zero injuries.

Then it's just funny. Gongenzaka for his part is still trying to clear his non-existent throat, so Marishi answers in his stead. "We are! It is Marishi and Gongenzaka Noboru, at your service~" she hums in reply, waving a paw. "I suppose we should have expected it to affect daemons..." The 'cat' inspects herself...looking even less suited to her partner than before, now.. "It really is a thorough cover, isn't it..!"

So it is Gongenzaka, like he thought. Though... who the hell's Marishi? He would have thought alien, but juding by her words, she's either a new member of the Carnival he hasn't met, or one of the daemons that still exist sometimes.

"I guess."

His ability to scan people is a little hampered by this form, but at least his hacking powers are still as potent as ever. Ugh. Can they leave yet?

9S makes a sour face as he kicks at the ground, grumpy. "I wonder why it isn't an illusion this time. Don't you find being something else weird?"

She'll probably explain herself at some point. Eventually. Maybe. They're more used to pointing out the daemon connection to people who weren't in Greysol after all.

Gongenzaka however shrugs-apparently finding his voice again. "There are times, where a glamor is insufficient for the location," he explains, voice sounding echoed and somewhat distant. "More commonly...this is when the environment is extremely different from what we can typically withstand, such as the depths of the ocean!"

"For this particular stop, I would assume it's because of the variety of extra-terrestrials..." Marishi notes, tapping her chin with a paw.

"Aaaauh- a glamor is still only an illusion after all...it would be quite the risk, if any species in particular saw through..."

"Not to mention, it's probably the easiest way for the Ringmaster to find a loophole so she can participate..." Marishi no-

He supposes, but his normal android body can already handle space travel without assistance. If anything, he feels a little more fragile being in this alien mechanical body...

Folding his arms, 9S grumbles, "I can't understand why she'd want to. It's not like you even get anything good out of it."

"She gets bragging rights."

There is a cough from Gongenzaka that says neither side of the duo really...finds that worth anything either, but. "A-Auuh... ...no doubt there is at least one competition here she would enjoy claiming full champion status over..."

Well, that's certainly a glorious prize. Sounds stupid.

"I don't know... most of the choices don't even sound like anything to be proud of having skill in. Do you know what Space Pooh-Sticks is?" He doesn't wait for an answer. "It's dropping a stick from once side of a bridge and running to the other side to see whose stick surfaces first."

The derision is clear in his voice, his hand gestures clearly indicating the unspoken, who even does that!?

That's the Ringmaster for you, 9S.

They stare for a bit as 9S complains however, trading looks.

"...It sounds a little like the races we had as a child," Marishi notes, sounding rather nostalgic.

"Auh, or at least, what we watched- they were with paper boats however, rather than sticks..."

"When all you have is a 'hammer', isn't that right~?" The pair trade a laugh of sorts, while Gongenzaka shakes his head.

"...It is a meeting of many, many cultures here," he notes. "...The fact that there are 'sports' which make little sense to us...it is unsurprising, after all! Even within the peoples of Earth, there is much between cultures that remains misunderstood."

9S brightens immediately. "It's similiar to something you used to do?"

The difference in demeanour is nearly palpable. Well, it can't be so bad if humans also do it. ...Though he still doesn't really understand.

"Why did you do it? What was the point?"

Hoo! That's an interest jump!

The pair blink, but answer all the same. "It is a child's game," Marishi notes. "The point is what you see."

"'Who will reach the end first'. Such things as children would have been races with hand-folded boats."

"Naturally, Noboru was too 'steadfast' to join in though, Mhmmhmhmhm!~"

"AUH-!!" He's been called out-!

He really doesn't understand... Humans sure are strange creatures.

Still... 9S tilts his head, cat ears twitching in confusion. "Um... so you didn't race? Even though you wanted to?"

"Hmnnnhhh...I, the man Gongenzaka, cannot say it is something I would wish to do now..."

There is a shrug. "But indeed, we exercised some restraint- that sort of high-excitement thing seemed against dojo teachings to us back then." Marishi grins however, chuckling. "Of course, looking back, it's at least clear to me that we were simply being too careful~"

9S' tail twitches from side to side, curious. He doesn't really know much about Gongenzaka, and he certainly doesn't know--

"What's a 'dojo teaching'?"

"The teachings of a dojo, natur-"

Marishi's mouth is promptly covered by Gongenzaka's palm, as he answers properly.

"A dojo is a form of school-it is a house of training, and practice, and in my own case, I, the man Gongenzaka, hail from a family who has maintained such a building for generations. The 'Gongenzaka Steadfast Dojo'; as such, there are a number of teachings with which I consider myself bound to, both as a student, and as its heir."

"Of course, back then, we perhaps interpreted some of the more 'loose' teachings rather rigidly..."

"A...Aaah... such is true..."

9S tilts his head from side to side, tail curling as he considers their response.

"Sooo, what were you training and practising? What are some of these teachings?" His tail sways from side to side as he grins. "Can I learn them?"

"Hm?" To that, both of them blink-it's the first time the question has actually been asked of them, in all their time. So... "A-Auuh...well..."

"Hmm...when it comes to the dueling aspect, that could be difficult-that would require a deck after all..." Not to mention interest and knowledge of the game, but-

Gongenzaka crosses his arms. "...When it comes to the moral teachings, and perhaps some matters of protection, and self defense..." He trails off, before nodding. "...The Steadfast Dojo is one which encourages the protection of the weak-the use of strength to aid those without it, a care and respect for those other than yourself-if indeed, you would like to try to learn some of the teachings, then..." Well...he seems a little unsure, but Marishi at least is quite for it.

"Well, I certainly can't see why we wouldn't at least try~! We are to teach one day as it is, so why shouldn't we agree if one asks?"

Sounds good so far.

"Yeah!" 9S pumps a fist. "Teach me!"

Why not? After all, he'd originally come to the Carnival to learn all about humans and their culture.

"Hmm..! Very well... ...Though, I, the man Gongenzaka, should take some time to actually prepare a lesson in that case..." he mutters, moving to tap his 'chin' only to remember he doesn't have one in this state.

His daemon nods, agreeing. "We will have to make a few adjustments, after all-and it has been some time since we helped with an 'introductory' lesson...but we could certainly call to give it a shot once we're away from this location I imagine."

The statement seems to jolt Gongenzaka's memory on something, and he chokes. "A-Auh...indeed, at the moment we are still quite busy with security after all..." Darn Aliens-

9S nods. "Take your time. When you're ready to teach, let me know."

He has plenty of time, after all...

Though if Gongenzaka is taking Security seriously, no harm in giving him a heads up. "Oh, but if you're keeping an eye out for trouble..." though really, all aliens are trouble, "let me know if you see anyone that, uh..."

Oh man. He had no trouble saying it to Syrlya, but is it rude if he says it to a human? Only one way to find out...

"...looks like human male genitals with tentacles."

"Hmm! Naturally!"

He is indeed taking it quite seriously however, and so the two give proper amount of pause to listen to 9S' warning. Though...when it comes, they're not really sure they heard it right.

Marishi, being the less polite, is the one blinking rapidly and stuck with her mouth slightly agape before the words can come. "...An alien that resembles...genitals??"

Ah. Gongenzaka coughs. "Th- I... I, the man Gongenzaka, presume you are particularly familiar with this particular species of alien, then..?"

Whoops. Sorry?

9S nods in confirmation. "They're our enemy. If they're around, they're going to be a real pain for the Carnival. Especially if they bring their machines with them."

"What an unfortunate appearance..." Marishi is muttering, but Gongenzaka focuses on what's important.

Namely this. "Aah, in that case, we shall commit the warning to memory..! You have our thanks; we shall not be caught unawares!"

~~not by peen-aliens anyway~~

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⇨ SPACE OLYMPICS

he has a 'hollow face' i had to-

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i'm weirdly excited, about this

:3c

oh boy we'll see how long this lasts...

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