[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

[reckoner]

[ Both more and less familiar for Gaelio, this life. The timing of this world would lean him again into Fate, though he swings with the pendulum, with indecision. Though they had met on the beach with the purpose of grounding them for this transition, what transpired cast wider, longer the spell of salted air and the night's breeze.

He's noticed the air, too. It must be filtered, given the containment of the city, but without the chemical bite to it, the thinness of that recycling as known in space. They've better mastered it here, this facsimile of comfort and freedom. Here, he and they cycle through motions mundane and middle-class. Without grandeur, without luxury, if luxurious when held against the island. Without status, without names with meaning, without expectation and responsibility.

Without blood and duty and all that would weigh on his shoulders, borne with blade in hand.

Not truly without, but to resolve together on that shore and so soon fall into isolated routines here, it becomes a dream. An escape he should not have, solace that should not soothe, but soothes. His own betrayal in being unable to kill, set aside by the fancy of this ephemeral life. Drawing nearer and nearer, lingering longer. Until he waits for him, gift a solid weight in his pocket, against thigh.

Until even with Mikazuki, so hardly expressive, Gaelio feels deadened muscles lose enough of rigor mortis, warming back through time, or cutting into another time. Remembering an old, easy shape. Such that as he follows him, eyes low on the back of his head, he's more conscious of it -- how near he is to smiling.

Absurd, this. Absurd enough for that, for wonder, for the bemusement to keep lit in his eyes.

Gaelio accepts another glass of pink fizz on their way, sipping from it as they arrive at the stall, more people shuffling into place. He looks for a moment, attempting to gauge without asking the nature of this.

A different question while he gathers details, compiles a deduction. ]

Do you drink? I suppose you shouldn't.

[ How near, too, to levity in his tone, so long flattened. Speaking like this to this person highlights the ludicrousness of it, what should be, must be farce. Ein must be writhing within him, but before he can snap into disconnect, a dissociating break, an elbow jostles and humor secures.

It must be farce, which makes it funnier. Preservation in that. ]

Maybe mulled wine...

[deusex]

[ the brightness in gaelio's eyes, the lilt to his tone doesn't go unnoticed necessarily; it's a change from what mikazuki is used to from him, and it may show in the quick sideways glance of his eyes, the tilt of his head, curious, questioning.

mulled wine... well, it's not something that mikazuki has had before, either. nary an opportunity, something like that, almost a luxury in terms of the effort spent making. ]

Why shouldn't I?

[ idly posed question, the tone only half-interested in the typical way with him, like the pool of his interest is something so finite and therefore to be guarded jealously. they stay in line that diminishes in size little by little, progressing upwards. ]