[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

[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]

[secrowtary]

Disastrous, yes. Humorous...perhaps. To some people. How many do you need?

[ He even feels sorry for 9S that he'll have to carry them. ]

Why would anyone want this, I can't fathom.

[ His hand goes to his own necktie before he realizes it. Hibiki would rather die than wear this. ]

[deem]

A dozen. [There's no masking his distaste because...really? Seriously? They looked pretty goofy to him] Maybe they're for people this buyer doesn't particularly like.

[But then why bother giving a gift to somebody one doesn't even care for?

Unless they're also some kind of middle-man and this is some complicated quest chain he needs to gripe about]

[secrowtary]

A. Dozen.

[ Whoever made this list—he'll find you and talk some sense into you...except not really, he doesn't have time for that.

There's certainly a dozen (or even two dozens) of these in the box. Hibiki will just put them back in place and close the box, so 9S won't have to look at them during his shopping quest. ]

What's next on the list?

[deem]

[9S hums and looks over his list, frowning at another word he doesn't recognize]

...Do you know what a zester is?

[How do you zest something? He feels like some of these things aren't actual items and just put on here to waste his time.

Is zester even a word?]

[secrowtary]

Oh, that's one easy. And actually useful.

[ That's why Hibiki doubts he'll find any zesters in the boxes, but he starts looking nonetheless. ]

It's used to scrape shreds of peel from citrus fruits. I see that you don't spend too much time in the kitchen.

[ To be fair, even if someone does they may never have seen it anyway... ]

[deem]

[He peers into boxes but doesn't touch, unsure whether he's allowed. Maybe it'd interfere with this guy's job if he did, although it seems like items are organized haphazardly]

No, I don't. Not unless I'm trying to make something, but that's not what I was made for.

[Crafting was within a Scanner's purview, but not cooking. Still, it doesn't stop him from trying]