⇨ SPACE OLYMPICS

[ringleaders]

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.

Comments

[kingsroads]

And Strange can't help but laugh, in his normal, devil may care sort of tone. The conversation slips back to it's normal level of teasing as he matches 9S's cautious smile with a wide one of his own. Rita can try to set him on fire.

"She still hasn't figured out a way to deal with me when I turn to smoke," Strange points out. "And I don't think that form of mine is flammable." At least, he hopes that form of his isn't flammable. Christ, now that he's thinking about it, it's probably flammable. Still, Strange is keeping up the bravado as he gives 9S an ironic smile.

[dressedtothe]

"She'll find a way," 9S says firmly.

He has absolutely no doubt Rita will figure out something; after all, she was able to figure out so much of how to repair and maintain him despite the unfamiliar technology. Finding a way to get back at Strange seems rather simple in comparison.

"Do you really have to tease her?" 9S looks up at Strange. "She tries hard not to make it look like she cares, but she does."

[kingsroads]

"That's exactly why I tease her," Strange answers, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "She takes herself too seriously. There's nothing wrong with telling others that you care about something."

Says the person who wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn't even bother to hide his emotions. Strange and Rita are alike in a lot of ways but this is one very noticeable difference between the two.

[dressedtothe]

9S idly kicks at the ground. He's not sure why Rita doesn't like to show that she cares, though. He could understand why 2B didn't want to once he learned the truth. But Rita? Maybe it's just the way she is, just like how Strange is the sort to tease her.

It still doesn't mean he won't try to tell him not to, though!

"Well, yeah," he replies, dragging out the 'yeah' into a slight whine. "But if you tease her for it, won't she... I dunno, really not want to show her feelings?"

Still, Rita's fine just the way she is, whether she wants to show it or not; he already knows she cares.

[kingsroads]

Maybe. Or, if Strange teases her about it, she'll give in, stop digging her heels in, and stop being so stubborn about these things (that probably won't happen. Still, Strange can dream.) 9S's question only gets him a little shrug.

"I've no idea what Rita will or won't do. But considering she can give just as well as she can get, I don't see any reason to stop."

Unlike other members of the carnival, Rita doesn't cry at the first sign of confrontation and can sass back as well as Strange sasses her. There's really no need for him to stop teasing her in the first place!

[dressedtothe]

9S lets out a sigh. "There's no stopping you, huh? Just... don't tease her too much?"

Glancing Strange's paws -- is the alien race that Strange became the creators of the mechanical race he is? -- 9S can't help but notice the lack of thumbs. They really are cat paws, like Francis'...

"Aren't those a pain? How do you get anything done like that?"

[kingsroads]

"Badly, that's how." Strange misses his thumbs. He idly moves his fingers (pads?) around, looking down at them with a frown. "I can hold a pool cue, but I can't write like this."

He's figured out doors, food, and holding things, but there's a few things here and there that paws can't really do.

"The tail's just as awful. I've slammed it into doors plenty of times."

[dressedtothe]

"I find it's mostly a pain when I sit down. Seats aren't made for tails."

How do Lambert or Scout deal with it? It sucks! And he doesn't even have a big tail like them!

"Do you want a hand while we're out here?"

[ooc: We can tie it up here?]

[kingsroads]

"I'd love any help that you can give me," Strange admits, with a little smile. "Hopefully between the two of us, we'll be able to figure out tails and paws!"

[ ooc: works for me! ]