[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]

[Jude seems pretty determined, and there's something endearing about him being so serious about a game. 9S simply nods and purchases more rings to pass over to him]

Just aim a bit further left than you think you should.

[One benefit of having a Scanner handy — he's got an eye for detail like few are liable to]

[talim]

Got it.

[ jude takes 9s' advice, and he does marginally better this time, getting five out of six. but four out of those five were the nearest, smallest bottles, meaning...

he can't afford more than a keychain or some other little knick knack. w o w .]

I... wanted to get you something a little better, but...

[ jude looks. sheepish. ]

Go ahead and pick one?

[deem]

...You wanted to get me something?

[But he already made gifts for him?

Really Jude this is more than 9S could expect, and it's plain on the half of his face someone can actually see]

But you already gave me gifts.

[talim]

So?

[ jude just blinks, wondering why that would be relevant at all. ]

[deem]

Don't you want anything?

[Jude, always giving him more than he deserves. His poor android heart can only take so much]

[talim]

I wanted to win you something more.

[deem]

Jude...

[Honestly, he's far too kind. But as 9S said, that's why he should look out for him]

Well...alright.

[After some consideration, 9S picks out a set of glow-in-the-dark bracelets. The prize is two of them, which means that once the vendor hands them over, he's offering one to Jude]

This one's yours.

[talim]

[ the bracelet is nothing more than glow-in-the-dark plastic, but the sincere sentiment behind it... jude sort of melts a little. he offers 9s a warm smile before accepting it and putting it right around a delicate wrist. ]

We match.

[ good job pointing out the obvious, but he's happy. ]

Do you want to give it a shot, too?

[deem]

[It's a slightly delayed process for 9S to get his own bracelet on, if only because he needs to remove a glove first, and then replace it afterward.

And then he's not satisfied with the face that his glove covers the little plastic band, so he fiddles with it until he's got the bracelet on over his glove.

That won't be tough to remove later, nope]

I could give it a try, although I'm not sure if I'll do any better.

[talim]

You're the one that gave me advice in the first place. Give yourself a little more credit.

[ he pats 9s on the back, encouraging. ]

[deem]

I guess I could give it a try...

[This vendor's sure enjoying his credits.

At least until 9S sizes up the distance and gets those hoops on the farthest bottles with mechanical precision]

...Huh, wasn't so bad.

[talim]

[ jude just sort of gawks. ]

Wasn't so bad? You set a high score!

[ even the vendor looks shocked. jude gestures to the wall of stuffed animals. he shouldn't be surprised — this is 9s, after all. ]

That means you can choose whatever prize you want.

[deem]

[9S shakes his head]

...Nope. Your turn to pick something.

[Jude had him choose a prize that he'd won, so it's only fair, isn't it? That's how he's looking at it, anyway]

[talim]

[ jude really has no reason to argue, so he just nods with a grateful smile. ]

— All right. I'll take...

[ he hums thoughtfully before deciding: instead of using 9s' high score to pick out one big prize, jude decides to choose two smaller ones, instead. identical teddy bears, one white with a silver ribbon around its neck and one light blue with the same ribbon in navy. ]

This one is yours.

[ flushing a little — what if 9s thinks he's childish? — he offers the blue bear to 9s. its color scheme resembles jude's outfit, and his own resembles 9s', too. ]

[deem]

[Accepting the bear with his free hand, since he's still got his gift bag, 9S looks it over. He thinks he knows what it's supposed to be, but he hasn't seen such an animal firsthand himself. Maybe they're more common in other regions.

With care, he places the bear in the same packaging that Jude's gifts had come in]

Thanks. I'll take good care of it.

[And this he says with a soft smile]

[talim]

I'm glad to hear it.

[ jude's smile is a mirror reflection of 9s'. ]

Well, we've got food down, and we've got games down. Do you want to find somewhere to sit and talk? There are supposed to be fireworks a little later on.

[deem]

All done with games?

[He feigns surprise]

But I wouldn't mind talking, if you're sure.

[talim]

You've already proven there's no challenge in it for you, so...

[ jude shrugs his shoulders and laughs. ]

C'mon. I'll find us a place.

[ he extends his free hand, holding the bear in the other. ]

[deem]

Who knows, maybe something would be.

[Although looking around, 9S isn't so sure what would be.

He takes Jude's hand in his, giving them a small swing]

I'll follow your lead then.

[talim]

[ jude thinks about finding them a nice spot outside the crowd, but it stretches so far he's not sure he can. then it occurs to him: the botanical garden. ]

I know a good spot.

[ he leads 9s by the hand, weaving between people until they're in front of the garden. it's all lit up with bright, white lights, casting a soft, comfortable glow over both of them, shadows dancing on jude's skin.

jude turns to 9s and smiles, squeezing his hand. ]

Well?

[deem]

[Excuse 9S as he takes a moment simply to record that for posterity. Jude in varied lighting is something to see]

Looks like we won't be alone here, but they might've made some changes for the holiday.

[What with the lights festooning the exterior]

[talim]

Yeah, it looks like they did some decorating. Shall we go inside? I'm sure we can find a quiet spot somewhere.

[deem]

We could do some scouting.

[Jude's got new goggles and everything]

[talim]

[ that's enough to make jude giggle. ]

So have I moved up from honorary Scanner to Scanner, then?

[deem]

Well, the human equivalent, maybe...

[Although humans still rank far above androids, so 9S isn't too sure why Jude fancies the idea so much]