[WORLD TWO | SUNSU FESTIVAL]

[spellbindmods]

Who: All coven members, and more!
Where: Anmung Tower and about a mile radius from the base of the tower!
When: Day 174
Open/Closed: Open to All

For those coven members who come from worlds with Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, etc., they'll likely recognize Sunsu as a version of similar holidays. While there aren't any religious over or under tones, there's snow falling, a high level of merriment and cheer all around. That isn't to say Sunsu isn't without a bit of meaning and lore. Certain stalls are focused on a minor history of Sunsu, a holiday stemming from the story of two lovers, Princess Xin and one of her ladies in waiting, who proved to the Princess' father that their love was worthy of marriage by blessing each other with a fabulous gift. Depending on your taste and place in life, Sunsu can be more romantic or more family-based. Sunsu is marketed as a holiday that focuses on blessing and giving to those that you cherish in life, and receiving a blessing or gift symbolizes uniting people together forever. Because of this meaning, there is a certain romanticized overtone to Sunsu, though of course others celebrate in their own way. It's a holiday of togetherness, and everyone in Shehui seems to be in on the holiday spirit. There aren't as many monitors around, the streets around Anmung tower are packed with families, newcomers and couples alike. Are you ready to get into the spirit of the season? A ▢ For some coven members, Sunsu is a day of work. This work may have actually started early in the morning, which is when the beginning of the Sunsu festival begins. Those who volunteered to work at the festival will be paid handsomely, but they'll have to work hard for it! One such job up for the taking is personal shopper which can be completed with the help of another person -- lucky you! This requires making your way through the streets of Shehui, looking for gifts and items that you're likely unfamiliar with. B ▢ Other volunteers are lucky enough to be stuck in stalls where there are at least chairs. Almost anything and everything is being sold in Shehui, and it's your job to push whatever goods you're being hired to peddle. The good news. You get 10-20% commission! The weirder or more ridiculous the item, the higher your commission! C ▢ Others may not even be working. You've been exceptionally naughty and decided to skip out on your Sunsu shopping until the last minute! Whether you're looking for a last minute gift for your Secret Sunsu recipients, or you're being a horrible friend and neglecting those you love until literally the last day, you've still got time to get some gifts!

As the day goes on, more and more festival decorations are going up -- which this may also be a job you've been roped into! With the sun falling steadily in the sky, the true beauty of Shehui can be seen as night creeps in. As per the request of the lottery winner, almost every structure in Shehui around the Anmung tower, including the famed structure, is illuminated with brilliant, twinkling lights in gold and red colors. Some areas are lit by different colors, like the nearby Huhu Coffee House that's building is wrapped in green lights, while Xi Park is filled with a soft pink variety on trees and fountains. Streamers and banners are hung everywhere, with some offering simple seasons greetings, while others are making passers by aware of sales and wares to be sold. D ▢ Sunsu is certainly a togetherness holiday, and everyone in the coven must have at least one friend or loved one they know in Shehui -- at least a casual acquaintance? There are a lot of things around Sunsu to do in groups or pairs (three ain't a crowd, here!), from stupid picture booths to horse-drawn carriage rides. Well, those creatures certainly look sort of like horses, if horses had four legs and two arms. In the spirit of togetherness, grab a friend or three and enjoy yourself. You've earned it, right? E ▢ Sunsu is a festival, and what's a festival without drinking? Drinking is actually a pastime that is popular at Sunsu, with local signboards discussing the historical significance of drinking in Shehui a long time ago. (If you're inclined to notice, all historical signboards have a sort of whimsical vagueness about them, as if they're discussing a myth or legend, not actual history). There are three types of traditional alcohol in Shehui that are made on Sunsu. One, a red concoction that is strong, reminiscent of a type of vodka. Two, a clear liquid that has a distinctly almond taste; akin to beer but with no fizz. Three, a pink, champagne-lite that is comparable to a wine cooler -- for you kids and lightweights out there. These drinks are also essentially handed out with very few stalls requiring you pay for them. Some stalls are extremely beer-focused, even promoting drinking contests with cash and gift prizes! F ▢ While not completely close to Anmung tower, Chips! is running a special promotion tonight! All games that aren't table gambling are completely free! If you're an introvert who just wants to DDR the night away, you're welcome to spend your night here, as pathetic as it may be. You're also welcome to escape the Anmung crowds, only to find yourself in a different type of mob inside Chips! -- it's better with a friend, though! G ▢ Closer to the base of Anmung tower, a festival game is taking place. Called XiXi, this game involves receiving a red envelope and finding a person who fits the criteria within that envelope. When you do, take the person to a table and receive a credit prize of 500 and a small basket of pastries and fruit. It's popular with children, but adults are allowed to get in on the fun too -- a lot of people treat it like a mixer. There's also no limit to how many times you can complete the challenge, as long as you don't use the same person twice! These criteria can be physical traits, more embarrassing personal qualifications...anything you can OOCly think of!

At midnight, the Sunsu event is supposed to culminate in a fireworks show -- and it does! To commemorate the day being over, fireworks of many different colors are being displayed all across Shehui, further illuminating the evening. It's almost as if it's truly daylight again, between the fireworks and Anmung tower. H ▢ In one more relaxing prompt, you're allowed to enjoy the fireworks. There are several parks that have set up watching points, including blankets on the ground and pre-made picnic baskets you can buy. After a busy day, whether working or playing, it's nice to be able to sit down and simply observe the night sky. I ▢ This doesn't last forever, though. About 15 minutes into the show, there's a disruption in the typical fireworks booming, instead replaced with a very large and ominous bang. These explosion sounds continue until there's a decidedly larger explosion sound that appears and feels a lot closer than the others. While there aren't any signs of fire or debris, the Sunsu festival is thrown into chaos. People are running, stores are closing immediately, and inner city speakers are announcing an emergency and for all residents to return to their homes immediately with escorts available if necessary. It's impossible to see what the source of the sound is here, but it's obviously abnormal. Will you help people in the panic? Where are those friends you've spent so much of the night with? What is going on? J ▢ Wildcard! Have another idea for a prompt? Try it out and tag around!

Comments

[deem]

Shopping for Str[A]ngers
[The list that 9S has been given is...extensive, to say the least. Some of the names listed on it are practically incomprehensible to him, and he tries to sound a few of them out as he walks, list generated on a screen hovering in front of his face. It's transparent at least, so he can avoid running into people.

It's just that he has no idea what he's looking for]

Maybe if they'd included an image, or a description...

[He frowns, stopping at a corner and scrolling through the list with idle taps at the screen he's projecting. Whatever in the world is a xylophone? It's certainly nothing that he's ever heard of. It must be related to sound in some way, he thinks, but then that's only if Earth's linguistic conventions apply]

A Horse of a [D]ifferent Color
[9S is skeptical about what, exactly, he's looking at. He's seen records of what horses are supposed to look like, though millennia of war with machines has guaranteed he has never seen one for himself. As such when presented with the prospect of a carriage ride, 9S circles around the vehicle and stares at the creature that's supposed to pull it]

How much weight can this thing pull? [He peers around the...horse-like thing...at the carriage driver] I'm...heavier than I look.

[Over twice what a boy of his size and apparent build ought to weigh, in point of fact. But most of them aren't made of various alloys and synthetic materials]

Here to Prov[I]de Support
[The panic swells in an instant, the distant pop of fireworks drowned out by an explosion that's soon followed by screams. People run about, trying to avoid a threat that they can't identify, and the panic does nothing for organization. People of various species rush this way and that, bumping into and knocking one another over.

A little girl drops her stuffed animal, some two-headed fluffy thing with large eyes, and when she halts to collect it someone nearly bowls her over. 9S is faster, scooping the child up with the inhuman grace all YoRHa possess, sidestepping an incredibly tall creature that lumbers by]

You could've been hurt, you kn—

[And then the child starts wailing in a high pitch that makes his auditory sensors thrum, far more shrill than a human voice is capable of, and 9S grimaces. What's he supposed to do now?]

[W]ildcard
[Have another idea? Hit me up here!]

a

[secrowtary]

[ The more jobs, the better—that might as well be Hibiki's motto for his whole stay in Shehui. Instead of being a personal shopper, he ended up in one of the stalls. It's truly impressive how much goods are there, most of them useless, of course. But maybe, just maybe, a few death glares will be enough to sell some stuff.

That's not how retail works, but...okay. ]

Hm? [ Oh, another weird item. Great. It's not the first one and definitely not the last for today. And there's a tag, too. ] A xylophone? What a weird name for an instrument. Who would want this anyway...

[ Time to put it away...when he notices someone standing nearby, in the corner. The downside of this stall isn't just the peculiar items, but the location is somehow weird as well. It's rather far from the other booths, but maybe it's not such a bad thing, in the end... ]

Excuse me, are you lost?

[ That person has been standing there for a while, so he might as well ask. ]

[deem]

[9S picks up the sound of that word he was grappling with, and it's enough to make him glance around for the source before he's spoken to. Recognizing the voice he'd heard just a moment ago, 9S steps closed to the booth]

Oh, no, I'm just...trying to find items I'm not familiar with.

[He taps a finger to the holographic screen that continues to hover in front of him, a list of various, seemingly random items displayed on it. Of course, it'll all read backwards for anybody he's facing]

I don't know if it was a good idea assigning us to find things we can't identify.

[secrowtary]

Why not have a look at these boxes, in that case? Some of them have tags.

[ He doubts it was a good idea as well, but there's not much to be done about that now when all the shopping lists are already assigned to them. ]

There's also a list of everything I need to sell today.

[ It's going to be fun, trying to match items and their names together. ]

[deem]

Huh...well, at least we'll be able to help each other out then.

[Though really, it sounds like locals would've made much more efficient work of the tasks they've been given]

You sure it's alright for me to look around?

[Before he just goes digging through these boxes]

[secrowtary]

I can't see why it wouldn't be alright. I'm supposed to sell this stuff, so if you find something you're looking for, it will be to the benefit of both sides.

[ Besides, helping each other isn't what holidays are about? ]

Please tell me that ridiculous neckties are on your list.

[ He's just found real treasure. Too bad it's too disgusting to hold in his hand for more than 5 seconds. It goes straight back to the box. ]

[deem]

[9S reviews his list, trailing his finger along it to mark his progress]

"Humorous holiday ties"... Did that thing look funny to you?

[It looks pretty weird to him, but so much around here does]

I

[stripartist]

[Well. That was not good. Yusuke was dazed for a moment by the explosion but he shakes it off quickly and starts looking around for anyone who needs help.

Like Nines, for instance. Yusuke's not good with small children either, to be honest, but he at least can step in and take the little girl away from the poor android and pick up her plushie in the same movement]

Here, is this better?

[deem]

[The child snatches at the toy with both hands and immediately presses it against her face, her trilling cries quelled for now. 9S can only puff out a sigh of relief]

Thanks, Yusuke.

[An artist and a life-saver, truly]

That pitch was giving me the strangest feedback.

[stripartist]

Small children. One of the many reasons I don't like them.

[Unless they're being cute and painting because then he gets excited about baby artists but generally speaking...]

We should get out of the way, maybe find her parents?

[deem]

[9S has dealt with children, but that mostly entailed being asked a series of seemingly random questions that eventually got awkward.

He casts a glance around, looking for anyone who resembles this alien child in the vicinity]

Yeah, we should...probably do that...

[Before this kid asks them how you make babies.

Please spare him from reliving that nightmare]

[stripartist]

[Especially because Yusuke would possibly answer them.

Yusuke doesn't see anyone around, so he looks to the little girl.]

Do you know where your parents were?

[deem]

[It's debatable whether this would be a mercy to 9S or a curse.

If they're lucky they don't have to find out, but the alien girl in Yusuke's arms joins them in glancing around before sniffling and shaking her head, burying her face in the stuffed toy again]

Guess we're going to have to search then.

wildcard

[talim]

[ jude isn't sure he's ever been to a festival; not like this, in any case. his hair is combed neatly again and his lab coat is back in his apartment. instead, he's wearing an older outfit he happened to keep around, along with a scarf to add a little extra warmth to it.

he invited 9s as soon as he heard about sunsu. another date. and to think that the festival celebrates romance in particular... well, just the idea makes jude warm all over. they've been on dates, of course, but this just feels like a special kind of date, something one of a kind.

he has the gifts he had made 9s prepared, too: a pink beanie, a thick, light pink scarf with a little kitten design sewn into it, and a pair of pink mittens. he had knit things for quite a few of his friends, but 9s' took the longest, because jude needed to get them just right, needed them to be perfect. he knew 9s would be happy if jude gave him mere scraps of yarn, but jude really wanted to surprise him. and perhaps his present won't be useful to 9s; he can regulate his body heat, after all, and he's been walking around in those shorts... in all seriousness, it's a ridiculous combo, but jude's gifts were made with all the care in the world.

so, when jude is all set, carrying his presents in a bag with a big red bow on it, jude jogs toward their designated meeting place, raising his free hand up and waving when he catches sight of 9s in the mob of festival goers. ]

Nines! Over here!

[deem]

[The gift 9S has prepared will perhaps seem more modest at a glance. The box he carries is small, fitting in the palm of his hand. Fortunately for him he was able to get a hold of a jewelry box because what he made fits inside quite well, but it's probably not very impressive to look at.

Still, 9S thinks that it's a considerable upgrade from Jude's original goggles and should be as convenient for him to keep on his person as the shield necklace. That ought to be good, right?

Not that he's quite sure how this holiday works, exactly...

9S is staring the box down speculatively for the umpteenth time this day when he hears Jude call him, and he's quick to pocket it before following that voice to its source]

...No "sexy side" today?

[He asks with a faint quirk of his lips]

[talim]

[ he knows 9s is teasing, and his growing smirk matches 9s', but jude still narrows his eyes. ]

Are you saying I don't look good? I spent a lot of time getting ready, you know—

[ ah. did he really just say that at loud? that's kind of something he wasn't planning on admitting... ]

[deem]

[9S hums, as though he's giving that some deep consideration.

Then he reaches up, brushing one stray lock of hair into its proper place]

I can't imagine when you wouldn't look good.

[Casual compliment delivered, 9S rocks back on his heels and glances around]

Sooo...where're we headed?

1/2

[talim]

[ oh.

jude flushes a brilliant shade of red. ]

I-I—

[ he can't think of an appropriate response to that, so instead he ducks his head in a meager attempt to hide how flustered he is and replies to 9s' question. ]

I figured we could just walk around and see what catches our interest. It looks like there's a lot going on.

First, though...

2/2

[talim]

[ jude uncovers the bag he's holding with a shy, almost nervous look. ]

This is for you.

[deem]

[The appearance of a parcel for him surprises 9S for a beat, despite being aware that this holiday involves giving gifts]

...For me?

[He echoes, and his tone betrays the fact that he didn't expect it at all.

Jude's already so generous with him as-is]

[i]'m late but i am here

[precedents]

[ it's funny how the explosion is the one thing that feels normal to her ever since their arrival shehui. there's a familiarity in the panic and chaos of the crowd around her: shrill screams and the banging of store fronts, the swell of the crowd as people rush to safety. her weapons materialize behind her in a burst of gold sparks and A2 takes to higher ground, travelling on the roof of stores as she scans the people below for anyone familiar.

it helps that the child's wailing is loud and shrill enough to get her attention. A2 drops down nearby and grits her teeth, scooping up the toy just in time to save it from getting stepped on. ]

Here, [ it's just loud enough to be heard above the crying as she places the toy in the child's waiting arms, who immediately quiets down just enough to spare 9S' auditory sensors. to him, she asks: ] You okay?

and later still due to sick

[deem]

[It's an assist that 9S doesn't think to expect among the flurry of panicked bodies, and yet there A2 is. With the same casual grace that 2B had (but not something he will acknowledge as exactly the same), A2 sweeps in and resolves the issue without any difficulty at all]

I'm not damaged.

[Although the pitch that alien child could reach certainly threatened it, and 9S knows he should do some recalibration to help prevent similar issues in the near future. For now he presses a palm over one ear to ensure nothing was structurally altered by that sound, though he knows better than to expect anything has.

Still, that hurt]

What about you?

no worries! take care of yourself first

[precedents]

[ with how close 9S is to the child, A2 has no doubts that he likely bore the brunt of that pain. but the child seems content to keep her face buried in the toy for now and A2 scans the area for somewhere they can head to, away from the crush of the crowd. ]

I'm fine. [ she rolls her shoulders briefly, something like a shrug. she nods towards the child in his arms, ] Is she lost?

[deem]

[9S glances around at the aliens rushing past them, frantic to escape whatever that explosion was as they are. The rushing seems fruitless, but there isn't much they can do to stop it, and so his focus lies elsewhere.

He sees no beings that resemble the one he's found, and so he looks back up at A2]

I think she must be. That'd explain that...sound.

[precedents]

[ it seems the aliens here aren't accustomed to things like explosions, unlike the ones from their earth. A2 doesn't really see anywhere else they can go, so she directs her gaze toward higher ground again. ]

Might have a better view up there.

[ at least they won't have to deal with the crowds and can probably find the child's parents easier. ]