OTA ツJune Event☽ CARNIVAL

[ultravires]

Who: Everyone!
When: Month of June (whenever)
Where: Kauto: Region II: Ellguana Fields.
What: Carnival!
Warnings: Please warn appropriately on subjects, thanks.

Illguana Fields Carnival The Ellguana Farms is hosting a carnival this month. There are rides, food, shows, and experiences surely to be had by all! Most importantly this is a great occasion to come together and meet new people, to learn of each other, to branch out and broaden your horizons! Perhaps most importantly this is a great opportunity to reminiscence on worlds of your past and to learn through the cumulative efforts of those come before you. The carnival will have various components of technology and diverse themes to facilitate an excellent experience enhanced by the sheer will of hard working inhabitants coming together to celebrate diversity!

☾ Rides ☽ The rides were something Ardyn can imagine as fun and attractive for those who were easily captivated by bright lights and adventure! Although he would have find more fun flying around with his own power, he could appreciate the allure of being strapped into a mechanical machine and carried through a series of spins and gravity defying lifts. The lines were evidence enough of many people who have come to the rides for one reason or another; the bright lights or that daring feeling of being at the mercy of machinery. He stood in line, his partner for the ride was tight against his chest. A prized teddy bear that he won at the coin toss booth. He was quite fond of the stuffed bear, the brown animal had an uncharacteristically large square head and a much smaller body. It reminded him of a moogle.

☾ Food ☽ Ardyn has been assured that one of the main events at any carnival should be the food. The rides, the games, the fun lights and vibrant characters were great, but give the crowd something wonderful to eat and they'll be sure to come back for it again and again. In fact, he was guaranteed that the food would stick to memory more than a show or ride! Naturally, with the hype he'd been described, he would have to try the carnival food. With so many booths, however, he was finding it difficult where to sample first. To receive further direction he decided to ask the next person he would come next to. "If you would be so kind as to direct me to a food booth, perhaps your finest recommendation?"

☾ Games ☽ There were various booths set up with all kinds of entertainment. Some games required skill in fine motor skills, others strength, and most of them required simple luck. Ardyn had played most of the games, some he had lost (which he was delightfully frustrated about) and some of the games he had won a prize, though he was finding the fun in the game to be even more rewarding then the obligatory prize at the end of a win.

☾ Shows ☽ Freak Shows seemed a bit derogatory in his opinion, however, having been at this function for quite a few days already he found himself educated in the culture of the carnival life. There was a sense of unity amongst the workers and so called Freaks, it left an impression of genuine homeostasis amongst the workers. Everyone had their part in bringing this carnival together and there did not seem to be any bad blood causing tension between one man to another. Be it the bearded woman, the ticket accountant, the pinheads, or lizard man, they all seemed to get along and look after one another while gaining a profit for all. He found that quite interesting, especially here in the worlds where humans were not the only species of people here. Ardyn was in line for a show of sword-swallowing and fire blowing. It sounded dangerous and exciting.

[ ooc; hello! Ardyn's taken up the position as an event organizer, which just basically means I'll be posting a log each month of some local even in which everyone is absolutely invited to!! This month's event is the Ellguana Carnival. Please enjoy! You can reply to any of these prompts or create your own, and/or make a top thread OTA/CLOSED to CR etc! You don't have to respond to Ardyn at all in any of the prompts! Additionally, you may see an instafeed on his mobile page re: events!]

Comments

OTA ☢ FOOD☽

[full_of_bad_ideas]

Isaac was not shy about his haul of food, in fact, he had to spread it out over a full table of four before he was able to dig in. Various people already passed him by and glanced at the empty seats before moving along with their own private haul of food. He assumed they were looking for a place to sit and he would have offered them that place at his table but they, so far, scurried away before he could swallow and offer. He probably looked like he was waiting for three other people, with the amount of food he's got. It wasn't likely he was going to eat it all, but he hasn't had this sort of food presented to him yet here and he was going to take advantage.

He slowly picked at his fried pickles, then he took a bite of his funnel cake, then next he had a small messy bite of lamb, then a drink of his lemonade, and he moved again across the table to take a bite from his tray of nachos, the slice of pizza, and then next was potato wedges.

This was a good scene for him, he thought idly while he snacked from his many purchases, there were a lot of people here laughing and smiling, shouting and dancing. It gave him some peace to be around the general feeling there. It definitely kept his mind out from folding into itself, that's for sure. Too many distractions to keep him here and in the now.

hi :D

[switchcircuit]

The food stands were terribly busy and she didn't know what to pick out. Some of the words were familiar (cake was cake even in her world), but most of it she could only guess at what she might like. She finally chose some soda, and an order of fish and chips and was amazed at just how greasy it looked as she wandered around looking for a place to sit.

There was a man by himself at the only empty table although it looked like he might be waiting for some friends with the amount of food he had setting out. Red looked around and still didn't see any other openings, so she decided to intrude as politely as she could. "Excuse me," she said almost too softly to hear, still unsure of her own voice.

"May I sit here? I can leave if you have friends coming." Red gave him a small, hopeful smile.

what's up babe

[full_of_bad_ideas]

Isaac snorted over his bite. He had a few crumbs flecking down from his bottom lip to his chin. He lowered his hand from his mouth, cheese from the nacho chip coated his forefinger. He swallowed before he gestured to the seat she was nearest to. After a swig of his drink he huffed. "No, I don't mind it at all.. please sit.. I actually, am not waiting for anyone." He fessed up before he sniffed and picked up a napkin to wipe at his mouth and clean up some of the cheese left on his finger. "It's pretty crowded.. but, nobody wanted to sit with me.. I think I intimidate them.. with my mighty appetite." He chuckled and looked over to her grease soaked food. "What do you have there?"

oh u kno, talking to dirty old men

[switchcircuit]

"Fish, supposedly," Red joked back with a small smile as she settled herself down to sit. She was wearing a yellow summer dress with a pair of matching sandals, and as usual her short red hair was an organized mess of red waves.

She took a bite of one of the chips, a barely-less-greasy french fry that was so salty it made her eyes crinkle for a second. Red grinned across the table at the stranger. "You've an array, so I think that makes you the expert. What do you recommend here? Do you have a favorite?"

Keeps his heart pump'n. Cute dress~

[full_of_bad_ideas]

Isaac snorted and shook his head. He looked across his spread and lifted up the nacho tray and moved it toward her to offer her some from it. "The cheese on these .. it has a kick to it, but I like it." He waited for her to pick from it or decline before he set the tray down and gestured to the rest of his food. "Help yourself.. I think the thing I like the least is that I'm indecisive.. it's all great." He gave her half a grin.

She was fairly good looking. He didn't need long to make that assertion. Her hair was a vibrant red, she was fit, and her yellow dress was cute on her. She was very attractive and Isaac was glad to have the company, so far she seemed nice too, which was great!

OTA + Closed, happy to switch to brackets if you prefer

[nyxus]

o t a

i. rides

On Eos there were carnivals and fireworks, spectacular tourist spots with scenery, all that. Even in the city of Insomnia they had many wonderful attractions and celebrations. Nyx never really participated in any of them. He had been too involved in the Galahd militia and then the Kingsglaive. Thanks to the Empire (ironic given who had organized this thing), this was Nyx's first time at something like this. And the first thing he wanted to do was going on the first scary looking ride he could get in line for.

It was a huge pillar with spokes coming out of the top, at the end of each was a cluster of seats. As the spokes rode up and down the pillar, they spun around the center, and the clusters spun crazily around as well. It was like to make people vomit, Nyx thought as he stared up at it, and he had a large grin on his face. Finally it was his turn and he gladly gave up a few tickets and walked up the platform to strap himself into one of the seats. He looked over at the brave soul next to him with that grin still on his face. "Nervous?"

ii. wildcard

Nyx would spend the whole day at the event, spending more money than he probably should. He visited the food booths several times for drinks or snacks, stayed at several game booths until he mastered the trick and could win a prize to give to hopeful looking kids nearby, and went on every single ride at least once.

:::

c l o s e d to Ardyn
"I didn't think this was what you meant by an event organizer," Nyx said finally. They were standing in between two game booths, Ardyn with his ridiculous teddy bear in one arm, and Nyx with a ridiculously large soda cup in one hand. He looked over at the man and he sighed, then he grinned. "I've got to hand it to you. I'm impressed. I was expecting some low-key jazz night at an exclusive club or something, not... this."

Nyx took a sip from the straw of his cup and watched some of the people walking by. Everyone looked happy, and like they were having a good time. "This is probably what people needed right now, with the... with everything going on," he said more somberly. The Savrii were still enacting some crazy anti-Ingress philosophies that had made life difficult for a lot of people.

[ultravires]

"Resilience at it's finest." Ardyn mused along with Nyx. "Not only do we persevere we also celebrate our life.. with such occasions." He looked from Nyx to the many that pushed through the crowd, nearly all with smiles and laughter. This was a good place to distract oneself of their troubles. Ardyn returned his eyes to Nyx. "As far as this low-key jazz night... that is in the works for next month. You are, of course, invited.." He had a grin to his lips, he was somewhat fond of the idea that Nyx thought he was boring.

[nyxus]

Of course he was going to have the jazz night. Nyx smirked over at the other man, his eyes lingering a few seconds too long, then his gaze dropped down to the bear. Part of him wished he had a camera to get a photograph of this moment. Not that he had anyone here who could appreciate how funny it was, but still..

Then again, there was no telling who might show up from Eos. Were that to come to pass Nyx would have a lot more to explain than Ardyn holding a teddy bear. He looked ahead again, taking a longer gulp of his soda pop.

"You got a name for him yet?" Nyx asked, glancing over again.

[ultravires]

Ardyn proudly held his bear. He found it quite adorable and he looked to the brown plush with affection before he shrugged one shoulder. "Hm.. I suppose something to remember this occasion--Ellguana, perhaps? I'm not too sure." He then glanced to Nyx before he looked ahead with a soft grin to his lips. He had a curious feeling to his chest, it almost made him anxious, excited and he knew it had everything to do with the other. Their relationship was developing pleasingly each and every interaction for the better. He was sure Nyx felt the same. In a way, Nyx had become quite the conquest. Someone Ardyn had began to feel more than the initial convenience for; admiration was slowly budding in his heart.

If such a thing was possible. Ardyn mused whether or not his heart returned to him--although it must have, as he had referred back to the initial medical examination he spent some time in. This world brought him back in so many ways, why couldn't this be one way as well? It fascinated him and almost frightened him.

[nyxus]

"Ellguana? Really?" That was a terrible name for a cuddly little teddy bear! "I don't think so. Let me see that." Nyx twisted his torso so that he could put the large cup down on the top of a crate behind them. He then reached out and looked to Ardyn, expecting him to hand it over. Once he did, Nyx took his time holding the bear up to inspect his cute face, then he gave the head and one of the ears a little pet.

"No, I think... something more cute. Like, Cotton Candy or Balloons— you know, something carnival related but cuddly, like him. A cuddly bear should have a cuddly name."

Nyx pet the bear once more before handing him back to Ardyn with a smile at the man. It was absurdly adorable how the man liked the toy so much. Nyx approved.

ii

[frostedplum]

Mei had been thrilled to hear about a carnival and she's having a great time walking around, riding the rides, and eating food. The games are intriguing, but she's pretty sure they're all rigged, so she stands back from one, watching people play as she chows down on some curly fries.

When Nyx wins and hands over his prize to a child, she grins and waits until he's free before she approaches.

"I didn't think people could actually win these sorts of games."

[nyxus]

Nyx recognizes her immediately and he grins just as immediately. "Hey, Mei!" The comment has him laughing, and he affects an exaggerated air of over-confidence. "Well, for most people yes, but I'm no ordinary person. I'm an expert in these things! I can win any one of them." Nyx gives her a wink while he walks closer, and then he leans in closer to whisper. "Just don't mind the dozen failures at each stand that it took me first."

He laughs softly at that and motions behind him where the game stand is. "You should give it a shot. Even if you don't win, it's fun trying."

[frostedplum]

She listens closely as he whispers, dissolving into giggles at what he says. That sounds more like the experience she's expecting with these games, but at least he's proven they can be won. But surely he's really talented at stuff like this as well! How long would it take someone like her to win? She really needs to work on her aiming. It's why her endothermic blaster's primary fire is a spray of ice. Can't really mess that up.

"Me?" Mei looks over at the booth. "What am I meant to do to win?"

[nyxus]

"It's a points game. Come on, I'll show you." Nyx gives her one of his easy smiles and motions her to follow him back closer to the games stand. There's something close to a kiddie swimming pool on a table, with little plastic animals floating around in an eternal stream.

"Hey, we'll take another round," he calls to the gamesman who comes over to collect one senc from Nyx, and in return he's given five small rings. He addresses Mei again pointing as he speaks.

"You toss the rings and try to get them to land over the head of one of the animals. Depending on the color, you get a different amount of points. You get a ticket for every point you earn, and these toys have different ticket prices. See?" Nyx pointed out the color grid on the back of the stand. Gold was worth ten points, silver animals worth five, green worth two and the yellow animals worth a lousy one point. Nyx hands the rings to Mei. "Give it your best shot!"

OTA

[handofrapture]

food
It isn’t a perfect match, but this setting has enough in common with a previously visited world that the Big Sister has a rough idea of how things work. Those are clowns, those are games, and that is cotton candy. On the circus planet, a man had given her the confection free of charge. Here, there is a price. Unfortunately, the Big Sister has no idea what that price might be. Or how to pay it. She squints at the vendor’s price board, trying to guess decipher the squirming symbols.

She isn’t bothering to move out of the way of other foot traffic, so if you’re similarly distracted, you might find yourself bumping into a rather imposing seven-foot tall teenager who, a moment earlier, had been studying the menu of a snack vendor with intense concentration.

games
At first glance, the Big Sister doesn’t look very strong. She’s tall, sure, but her height also highlights her too-thin frame. Perhaps that’s why the employee running the game doesn’t look all that expectant when he hands her the bat. The object of the game is simple. Hit the clown-shaped dummy as hard as you can and get a prize if you hit hard enough. It looks alluringly easy—not to mention this booth offers a stuffed dolphin as one of the prizes, and the Big Sister is sure her Little Sisters would appreciate the novelty of the toy.

She isn’t used to using a bludgeoning weapon like this, but she has every confidence in her own strength. Which is why it’s a shock when she hits the dummy with everything she has—and the strength meter behind it only rises to halfway.

“Oh, nice try,” says the employee running the game. “That’s enough for a small prize.” He begins to reach for a drawer full of plastic finger puppets.

The Big Sister growls and points at the stuffed dolphin. That’s the one she wants, thank you very much. When the man ignores her, her growl increases in volume, a sound like scraping metal just audible underneath. She takes a menacing step forward, drawing herself up to full height. She does not drop the bat.

Perhaps someone should intervene before things get out of hand.

OTA

[patchricide]

Rides

There are many pleasant-looking rides at this carnival. The ones that a parent might take a young child on, the ones that life you slowly into the yawning sky, the ones that move just fast enough to enjoy the rush of the cool evening air. Ones that spin and flip, that you can already imagine yourself laughing in delight as gravity vanishes just long enough for you to bounce in your seat.

And then there was the big one. The ride that carries you up too high, at an uncomfortably steep incline, and then drops your car screaming down the tracks at a speed faster than gravity alone can account for. The one with whips and turns and loop-de-loops and passengers stumbling bruised out of the gates.

Allura does not appear to be much of a thrill junkie, walking around the carnival in that demurely elegant dress of hers and taking in the attractions with a quiet appreciation. But truth be told, that's just for the sake of keeping up appearances. She looks around cautiously to see if anyone she knows might see her -- and then, deciding the coast is clear, she joins the line for that big rollercoaster.


Games

There's really not much in the way of prizes that interest her. A giant stuffed dinosaur here, a neon green fox there. Nothing that looks like it cost more to make than the admission fee for the game.

But she's brought you over to look around, because who cares about winning anyway? It's all about having fun isn't it? Ring toss, popping balloons with darts, knocking down bottles... a man offers to guess her age, and she shows him mercy and declines the offer.

Something unexpected does grab her attention, though. They have a set of photo props -- those boards that depict a cartoonish scene, where people can stick their heads into the holes and have their photos taken. It's not hard to guess which one in particular has caught her attention -- it's one of a circus scene, including a clown and lion pair. Some of the others include a pirate and mermaid, a selection of farm animals, and a knight fighting a fire-breathing dragon.

"Come on, let's get our pictures taken!" Allura's tugging you over by the sleeve.


Wildcard

Any other scene you'd like!

rides

[shiro2hero]

He's not really sure if this was a good idea. Or if there were something else he could be doing with his time -- training the others, making sure Darin didn't blow a hole in roof again, trying to piece together his attempt at fixing the timeline. Something.

But the others were pretty adamant he not do that kind of thing all of the time. So, here he was. Hands shoved in his pockets, wandering the sudden fairgrounds like it's back on Earth again. Like being a kid again -- human again -- and --

That's Allura.

Ducking into a line for a roller coaster. He slowly tracks his gaze upward, looking the coaster over himself. Honestly, he's not sure why it's surprising, knowing her. Hopefully, she won't mind if he eases in a space or two behind.

"Ever been on one before?"

[patchricide]

"Ah-?" She turns suddenly. She doesn't mind the company, but it looks like it caught her by surprise.

"Oh! No, not quite like this." Though it's not such a hard concept that she can't grasp it by watching. Take a seat, strap in, and enjoy the wild, screaming fun.

And besides that... "It does remind me of some other things I have been on. You remember the castle's transport to the lions' hangar, don't you?"

[shiro2hero]

His expression is briefly, apologetically, sheepish. Oops. Sorry to startle you.

But then it shifts, once again looking back up at the ride.

"How could I forget?" A grin, something fond and almost nostalgic, even if they haven't really been gone that long. That said -- "You mind if I join you?"

[patchricide]

"Of course not. The more the merrier, as they say."

Fortunately, friendship trumps keeping her regal image. So, with an... unusual expression, she casually points towards one part of the line.

"But I do have one condition. I think I would like to ride in the front seats. It looks like more people are lining up for those, but... that just means it's more fun, doesn't it?"

She smiles pleadingly.

Games and Pictures

[forgeabettertomorrow]

It doesn't take much to get Darin's attention, especially if the word 'carnival' was involved. He loved fairs and festivals back home; where else could you get such rich food and drink and pretty much have a public party? Naturally, Darin didn't need much incentive to check this carnival out.

He was shocked to find not only great food and drink, but so many other attractions his world would have never known! Rides! Games and tests of skill! Prizes! Like the child this sort of attraction was made for, he started bouncing around from site to site, dropping sencs on anything his heart fancied.

Allura must have spotted him by the water pistol shooting gallery. He'd already won a decent haul of prizes, which he had slung over his back in a makeshift netted backpack, and was doing his best to win what looked like a giant neon glow-in-the-dark alien (ironic?) when her proclamation of getting their picture taken combined with tugging on his arm startled him.

He immediately whipped around and shot her in the face with water. Point blank.

[patchricide]

It sounded as though she attempted to say something else after that. Of course, whatever it was that she was trying to say was drowned out, since the pistol was designed to keep firing a continuous stream of water. Which was appropriate, in a way, but regardless.

A split second later, her reflexes kicked in, and she held up her hands to block the water. Away from her face, at any rate. So, while it splashed all over her dress and the ground around her, at least she was about to cry out:

"Put that thing down!!"

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Finally, he realizes who he's shooting and, after a few extra seconds of leaning on the trigger, stops shooting and points the gun barrel up.

There's a bit of a knowing grin on his face. He really did shoot her accidentally, but she probably knows that his reflexes are a bit faster than the rate at which he responded.

"Geez, Princess! You startled me! Don't you know you're not supposed to sneak up on someone with a gun?"

Despite the fact that he may have squirted her more than was necessary, he sets the gun down and quickly pulls a towel with a ridiculous mascot on it from his pack of winnings. At least he's equally quick to offer her a remedy.

"Seriously though, sorry about that. You alright?"

[patchricide]

She buries her face in the towel. "I should be fine, as long as it was just water in that gun of yours."

It's not nearly enough to dry her off entirely. But let's face it -- if she rubbed her hair with a towel, it would fluff up everywhere. Best to let the sun help the situation.

When she pulls away from the towel, she seems to scrutinize the character printed on the fabric. "Wait, where did you--?" And then she looks over all of Darin's various winnings.

"Darin, did you win all of these?"

[forgeabettertomorrow]

"Yeah, that's a really good idea. It'll take some weight off of--"

... ... ...

"Wait...wait hold on a second. I take it back. I know that smile. That's the smile of someone who's going to do something that's going to give me a headache."

"You're not seriously considering...?"