☆ Victory Celebration! ☆

[pipers_son]

Who ☆ Space Gold Medalist Steven Universe, and everyone who wants to come in the Carnival!
Where ☆ Carnival Grounds, the Cookhouse
What ☆ Surprising many a person, someone in the carnival has actually won a gold medal- Steven Universe in professional wrestling! So it's time to throw a surprise party for the carnival's latest star!
When ☆ Some time after the medal announcements
Notes ☆ This is a mingle log, so feel free to make your own top levels and tag around. Joker went around asking the other supervisors to tell their own underlings about how this was being set up, so feel free to handwave your character coming over to help cook or decorate, or even include it as a prompt!


Feathers the Dartrix, for the last few hours, has had to do a Very Important Job.

He knows it's important because Joker stressed it to him very clearly and carefully, using simple words for a tiny bird. The Very Important Job has been to distract one Steven Universe. It's been a little hard, admittedly! Feathers likes to think of himself as quite intelligent, but he also likes Steven very much! He is very bright, and friendly, and pets his feathers just right, and forgave him when he grabbed a Peppercat. (Feathers is, admittedly, a little confused on why that was a bad thing, because that was just a new Pokemon Steven had, right? And everyone knows that when Pokemon faint in a battle, people just randomly lose consciousness and wake up in a PokeCenter.) So sometimes he has to remind himself not to let Steven go back to the carnival just yet.

Yet he has finally succeeded! It has taken a lot of work (and mostly a note from Joker that was attached to his neck asking Steven to show Feathers around), but Feathers is feeling confident when they finally return to the carnival. A certain whistle had flickered through Steven's radio- the sign that it was okay to come back.

So it's with a puffed up proud chest that Feathers leads Steven to the cookhouse, flapping his wings excitedly and doing his best to herd the boy with head-cuddles to his legs. As the pair approach the cookhouse, it's uncharacteristically dark. Quite a rare occurrence, honestly, even now that the old Head Cook has long since retired. Even without the older woman's presence, there's usually some light or another on within its depths. Sometimes it's just for sake of ease. Often it's because sleeping patterns in the Carnival vary, with some members never really sleeping at all but still liking a nice snack or the open quietness of the cookhouse at night. That will probably be the first sign to Steven that something is up...

But Feathers is insistent. He was given very clear and simple instructions! By Joker, his beloved larger and antlered bird. So he continues to nudge Steven closer to the front doors, hopping excitedly around the youth. As the door is finally opened into the dark....

Lights flash on, flooding the cookhouse with visibility once more, and-

"CONGRATULATIONS, STEVEN!"



It's a party! And everyone better have cheered that out as Joker told them to, or else, well, he'll be doing it on his own, and that will just be awkward for everyone. With a big banner stretched out congratulating Steven for his gold medal win, balloons and confetti everywhere, and all sorts of other decorations livening the place up, it's a pretty great place to be! Probably better than some parts of the space station and cabins down on the planet are looking, honestly.... although that's not saying much.

Part of what's helping to brighten the atmosphere? The large karaoke equipment all set up! Veterans of the Carnival, and those who joined at the start of the last working year during the dreamland stop, will recognize it quite well. It's still functioning as well as ever, and will gladly blare out quite a few selection of songs.... although more than a few of them are rather dated, unless Acquisitions has been adding to it when no one has been looking. Considering most of the songs seem to be from early 2000s and before, they probably would have done everyone a favor. Or maybe, considering it's karaoke, it's never really a favor to anyone...

Food has also been set up for everyone, but especially the winner! In honor of Steven's victory, a large and multi-layered chocolate cake has been baked expertly for the occasion. Due to such short notice (Joker decided to do this literally today), it isn't going to be winning any medals itself in the "looks" department.... but it doesn't need fancy looks. It's plenty delicious on its own, sweet and perfectly soft. Joker may only have one hand, but he's still plenty proficient in the kitchen. (Especially when he can harass other people into helping him with cooking.)

Along with the victory cake, there's also plenty of other food, enough for everyone in the carnival to at least have a little bit of everything! For anyone who's familiar with Joker's own homeworld and time, they've perhaps noticed that he's purposefully stayed away from anything that might remind anyone of their time in the Prince's manor. Instead, he's stepped outside his usual. That means people will be able to find various curries available, along with warm bread and various meats and grilled vegetables skewered on sticks. Don't hurt yourselves with them. And that's just what Joker has made for everyone. Others have also been encouraged to bring some food to the party, especially if they think Steven would like it!

It's not the fanciest party anyone in the carnival has likely been to.... but it doesn't need to be. Perhaps, considering their experiences with parties, it shouldn't be. That's perfectly fine.

As long as everyone has fun and relaxes, it's more than fine.

Comments

[pipers_son]

A - Party Planning

[As the person springing this onto everyone last minute, Joker is at least willing to take responsibility for it, so he can be found hard at work in the kitchen. It wouldn't be fair to get the cooks onto all of this, unless they want to, so he's taken it upon himself... and whoever he can rope into this as well. Hey, it's all fair, right?]

[Anyone walking into the kitchen will have Joker looking over, grinning and with some vegetables spread out in front of him.]

Hey there! Think ya could give me a hand?

[Besides being in the kitchen, he also occasionally ducks out to see how the people he's asked to help decorate are coming along. He'll manage all this himself if he has to, but he appreciates the help]

B - Party Time, with bird

[Feathers is feeling pretty good about what he's managed to accomplish today! So he has no shame in waddling up to people, pulling at their pants legs, and looking up expectantly... at whatever food they might have.]

[At least Joker intervenes immediately, laughing a little as he steps closer.]

Sorry about him! Guess he thinks he deserves a reward. Well, he does, but he shouldn't be botherin' other people for that.

[singinghuntress]

[Amusingly, one of the people he roped into this particular task in the kitchen just happened to be one of the resident vampires.]

You realize zhat vatever you're cooking, I cannot taste it.

[Even with that being said, she was already moving to help him chop vegetables, something Rip really had no problem doing as she started to cut up carrots and whatever else he needed for the time being.]

[pipers_son]

Ha. Trust me, I know better than ya think.

[Having gone through a portion of his life having to deal with that.... Yeah, he has personal experience with it. Still, he grins as she starts to chop some things.]

All I really need is just someone ta steady things for me. I have some trouble with it, for some unknown reason.

[That totally has nothing to do with the empty space that is his right side.]

[singinghuntress]

[In other words, it had everything to do with the empty space at his side.]

Do you? Zhen I zuppose vorking vith you on food von't be much of an issue if ve can make someone else be zhe taste test dummy.

[She might be smirking slightly as she chopped.What could she say? Rip was precise with her knife movements.]

[pipers_son]

Well, I've invited a few people over~.

[There's a pause as he slides a bell pepper over to her hands, mindful of his fingers. Regardless that it's wood, he still bleeds red, he's found. And it still hurts like a fucker.]

Includin' Tyki, so I'm sure I can get some food in 'im.

b

[exaomori]

[What's this little bird creature pulling at the laces on Shura's boots? She can easily guess what it wants; she's been around enough critters to recognize the way it's looking at her plate of grilled meat.

It's good that Joker is quick to intervene, since Shura was probably going to give the poor thing more than he expected.]

Ah, he's yours? He's cute ♥

[Which just means Shura wants to harass him...]

[pipers_son]

[Cute, and intelligent enough to recognize a compliment when he hears one. Feathers puffs up in pleasure and tries to increase how cute his big ol' eyes are. Please, give him the food.]

[Shaking his head, Joker tries to nudge him away.]

Yeah, I picked 'im up in a stop not that long ago. He was a lot smaller when I first found 'im, tho.

[exaomori]

A lot smaller, huh~? You must be feedin' him pretty well for him to grow big like this.

[What a good little show this creature's putting on. It's just all the more tempting to tease it. But Shura's just decent enough to not get into it when his master (Well, his something) just told him no. So fine, she'll just tease him indirectly, taking a bite off of one of the skewers and shewing it, taking a moment and savoring the flavor of the meat just to annoy the little bird.]

Mm~, this is good. Didja make it, or did you have someone else in the cookhouse do it?

[pipers_son]

Nah, animals just get like that where he's from. They call it, ah, evolution? They'll have one form, and then suddenly change inta somethin' different. I think he's supposed ta become even bigger...

[Which is sure going to be fun, considering Feathers' tendency to perch on his shoulder. It's already tough enough with the bird being as big as he is now...]

[The bird in question who is watching with clear and intense longing as delicious food is devoured right in front of him. How could you do this. He's a good bird. He doesn't deserve this.]

And yeah, I made some of it, like what yer eatin' now. It's a bit tricky, but I've had some people help me out, so I managed just fine. I figured it wouldn't be fair ta the cookin' staff ta be forced ta make all this on my whim.

b

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya's been playing keep away with his plate of chocolate cake as Feathers peers on, eager. He's relieved when he sees Joker coming to intervene as he moves the plate his over his head.]

Joker! It's okay. [He chuckles in response, regarding the Pokemon again.] Is it okay for him to have chocolate?

[Yuya's mostly owned cats and dogs, which would make giving them some of this cake a huge 'no', and he's hedging on the side of caution when he doesn't know Pokemon diets so well.]

[pipers_son]

Ah.... Y'know what, I'm not sure.

[Crouching down, he tries to coax the bird up onto his arm and then back to his shoulder. Feathers is three feet tall by this point; keeping him on his shoulder is starting to be impractical. Well, it was impractical since a while ago. Still, he knows that the bird likes it, so he's hoping that maintains true even in the face of chocolate.]

It would've been a bad idea over in my England, but this isn't exactly a regular bird, ha...

[hippocarnival]

Let's not risk it. Sorry, Feathers! [But he doesn't want to chance getting the bird sick... or worse. While Joker coaxes him away, Yuya lowers his plate to the other side of him so he can keep eating.] Seeds would be a better treat, right?

[Or is that the usual? Maybe there's a such thing as dessert seeds. Exceptionally high quality ones?]

[pipers_son]

More like meat.

[Reaching over for a skewer full of it and other things, Joker grins as his bird swivels around with attention fully snagged. There they go- ]

And veggies, sometimes.

A

[dressedtothe]

[9S has little interest in attending a celebration party for a (half) alien, but Lambert had told him that Joker's the one organising. So... 9S at least makes the effort to help the guy out, even if he intends to stay far away from Steven and the other gems (if they show up).

So he's actively looking for Joker when he calls out to him. Walking over, 9S surveys what Joker has in front of him.]

Sure. What do you want me to do?

[pipers_son]

[While some of the vegetables are pretty common to most versions of earth, there are a few that are.... very distinctly otherworldly. Slightly odd shapes, colors that aren't common on them, that sort of thing. The carnival picks up all sorts.]

[Joker is used to it by now, gesturing to the nearest one.]

I just need someone ta help keep these steady while I chop. Nothin' too difficult, unless a wanna learn how ta cook.

[dressedtothe]

[He's never seen anything like what the Carnival has picked up... but then again, most of the ingredients the cooks use he's unfamiliar with. Androids aren't exactly good at cooking and it doesn't help when a lot of plant and animal life died out on Earth.

He doesn't need to cook, but humans need food.

9S bobs his head in a nod and steps forward to help out.]

Sure, I'll learn. Some androids at home can cook, but it's hard to tell if they cook the way humans did.

[pipers_son]

[Once it looks like 9S has a solid grip, Joker gets right to things. It's a bit strange to rely on someone else for this kind of thing, because it means he has to adjust his weight a little differently to help ensure the knife goes through cleanly. Still, Joker has had to do this kind of thing before, so he's not unused to it.]

[Which is a good thing, because that bit of trivia has him glancing over to 9S in curiosity.]

Oh? Well, can ya describe it ta me?

A

[crimsonfallenangel]

[Anghel's decided to pitch in by bringing cooked fish for the party. (Joker may remember Anghel mentioning the "Silver Beings".) He sets it down on a nearby counter.]

What is it that you require, Arcane Seeker?

[pipers_son]

[Cooked fish are always a welcome addition, and Joker grins brightly when he sees them.]

Aw, ya brought somethin'~. I'm sure it'll warm Steven's heart ta see.

In the meanwhile- [Ah, giant bird, right.] Do ya think ya could bring me some of the skewers? Not sure if you've been in the kitchen much before...

[crimsonfallenangel]

Those in need of my aid have called me to the House of Nourishment in another time and place.

[Anghel finds the skewers easily. His efforts to fetch them quickly cause him to knock other items near the skewers to the floor, forcing Anghel to stop and pick them up before returning and dutifully handing over the skewers.]

[pipers_son]

[Knocking a few things over isn't the worst mess that has happened in the cookhouse before. Joker would like to even say that the great gingerbread castle undertaking would rank pretty high, bu the's also sure that's a bluff. So he keeps himself occupied and patient until Anghel returns. With a grateful nod, he accepts the skewers.]

Sounds interestin'! Would ya mind regailin' me with a few tales of those times?

[Even something that's not much seems like it would be interesting with the point of view Anghel goes with.]

A, time for the Latest Tag-In

[pullingamiko]

[Miko was... totally definitely not just sneaking in to grab a snack. Totally.

Okay she was but that's pretty much forgotten when she sees someone else in here who theoretically shouldn't be, but he's... working? Huh.]

Uh... Sure? With what?

[pipers_son]

Curry!

[Ta da~.]

So I need ya ta fetch me a pan from one of the cupboards, if ya don't mind.

[pullingamiko]

[...Y'know, this isn't why she came here, but it sounds like it might be fun so why not.]

Cool - hang on.

[It takes some searching to find one, since she doesn't really know the kitchen layout, but it's not long before she's bounding up to Joker with a pan in one hand.] This one work? Why're you making curry, anyway?

[pipers_son]

[Putting down the knife he was using, Joker accepts the pan and turns it a little to gauge its depth.]

Yeah, this should do just fine~. Anyway! [Twisting around on his feet lightly, he bounces over to the stove.] I'm celebratin' somethin' Steven did! I guess ya didn't hear?