lostcarnival | ⇨ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[To that he sputters. Then of course the extra reptilian teen looks nothing less than absolutely indignant.]

It's Yugo...! And that was just one time!!!

[A very compelling argument, definitely the guy Rita is recalling from that beach in Wismuth.]

A likely story.

[Just one time that she caught him, but how many other times has he done something like that? Probably lots. She'll just assume lots.

But that's not really important right now, and Rita plans on trying this bike out no matter what, so...]

Anyway, since we're here... how about a little competition?

[His face almost screws up into something more on the side of a pout, though a lizard face doesn't really cut it for making complicated expressions. Upon the suggestion of a proper challenge however, Yugo does additionally perk up with interest.]

Yeah? I'm listening. We talking the normal sort of race... or are you putting up some stakes besides the thrill of who gets to eat the other's dust?

[Someone's already getting the banter started, it seems. Assuming Rita responds in kind.]

Edited 2018-04-26 04:20 (UTC)

Hmm. [Rita cups her chin as she thinks. She doesn't want to wager anything too valuable; she's never rode one of these before. But it wouldn't do to make it too boring, either.]

Did you know they give out consolation prizes to competitors who don't earn medals? I just got eliminated in my event, so if you beat me, I'll give you my prize.

[It's a crappy prize and she doesn't want it anyway, but he doesn't have to know that.]

[Sounds mysterious.]

Something small huh? Well then if you win, I might be able to offer something to match whatever it's worth to you.

[Maybe a pair of perfectly normal game dice at the minimum. Assuming that Yugo won't win a medal in the real race later on. ~~Of course he won't.~~]

That fair enough?

[So he won't specify a prize either...]

Fine by me. [She responds with an arrogant tone despite the low stakes and uncertain prizes.]

We'll do one lap around the track. First one to the finish line wins. Sound good?

[An official race would normally have more laps, but whatever. This is just a little friendly competition, and the track's pretty big, anyway.

Rita adjusts her helmet once more, then aligns the hoverbike and prepares the engine. The vehicle is still mostly unfamiliar to her... but she'll figure it out. Rita can figure anything out.]

You got it...!

[After flipping the helmet visor back down, Yugo does similar with his ride. He's not bothered by Rita's tone and extreme confidence, it's familiar in way that feels like a good thing. Then after a beat of time-]

So let's do this in- 3.. 2.. 1...!

[GOOOOO!!!!!]

[With a roar of its engine, Rita's bike takes off, accelerating rapidly. She's inexperienced, but she's off to a good start. Her bike seems to be steady as it zips down the course... but it's her opponent that she needs to worry about.]

[Indeed so. Yugo keeps his ride at a steady pace for most of the length of the track, aiming for it to just keep up with Rita as she tries to stay ahead. His actual racing experience boils down to attempting to reach a point on the track first for the first turn in a riding duel, but Yugo knows motorcycles.

So eventually, Yugo manages to pull ahead to the finish line for the victory. But it certainly still a close one. Like how most of his card games tend to turn out.]

[Rita puts up a good fight, and even manages to stay ahead of him at some points... but at the most crucial part of the race, just towards the end, he overtakes her and finishes just ahead.

Rita slides her bike to a stop, lowers it to the ground, then yanks off her helmet with an exasperated grunt.] Damn it! I almost had it!

[She told herself she wasn't going to care too much if she won or lost... but in the end, Rita's a sore loser, and the fact that she had the lead at any point in that race gave her a sense of false hope that was crushed as quickly as it emerged.]

[Yugo initially just sits back and observes, not entirely sure on how to handle the situation. But after using that moment to pull his helmet off he finally comes forward.]

Well. Yeah it was close. So I think that means you're pretty good at this already...!

[The compliment gives Rita pause, and she fumbles for a response.]

Y-yeah, well...

[Ugh. It's easier to deal with him when he's being a jerk.]

Whatever. I guess I owe you a prize.

[She hops off her bike and makes her way to the track's exit. Just past the barrier, she locates a sports bag she left there and slings it over her shoulders. Rita then returns to Yugo (meeting him either at his bike, or somewhere in between if he opted to follow), pulls something out of her bag, and holds it out to him.]

Here you go.

[It's a bottle of a questionable-looking blue liquid. The label claims it's 'milk', but that's even more questionable.]

Oh uh.. thanks..!

[Though Yugo understandably looks puzzled at the "milk" he's given. He opens up the bottle and sniffs at the stuff. Pondering over how safe it really is to drink.

... Curiosity wins out after a moment however. The teen flicks his long lizard tongue inside for a taste. It's creamy... and oily as he smacks his muzzle and would be frowning if his alien face was capable of it.]

It's... kinda alright? I think...?

[Rita just stares as she actually takes a sip of the sketchy beverage... though it's not all that obvious, with her lack of facial features.]

Seriously? [She doesn't quite conceal the surprise in her voice upon hearing it's all right, though.]

... Well, I guess that's good to hear. Pretty brave of you to just drink it, though... [She turns her head, her tone thoughtful.] You'd make a good test subject.

[Yugo is in the middle of re-screwing the bottle back closed when he hears that and sputters in shock, which quickly enough turns into something much more heated.]

Eh..?! What's that supposed to mean?! I'm not going to be anyone's test dummy!!

⇨ SPACE OLYMPICS

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