[ OPEN ] CULTURAL FESTIVAL

[coastal]

Who: Anyone and everyone! Yes, even you.
When: IC Date: 6/9 || OOC Date: 3/20
Where: Centered in CERES Academy but spilling out into the streets!
What: It's all fun and games until someone chokes on cotton candy or gets a black eye from jousting. The player plot of the cultural festival!
Rating/Warning: Totally PG, family-approved fun! Please poke me if this changes.

Flyers have been up for the past two weeks, students have been all atwitter (whether this is good or bad chatter is up in the air), outside help has been enlisted by a bunch of weird adults and finally the day has dawned upon us.

The cultural festival is here.

And it looks like stepping into an alternate dimension of Cerealia, a far cry from the Hunger Games that many had to endure just days ago - and maybe that's the whole damn point. Wander around, have some greasy comfort food, and win a stuffed animal to muffle your tears into or something. It's all gonna be okay.

I » PREGAME-FESTIVAL Let's back up a little bit. Set-up for the festival was intended to begin at 8 PM the night before to allow all groups an hour - maybe even two! - to set up their booths so that everything could be pristine and ready. . . . . Of course that didn't happen. So here you are, in the gym of the school where it looks like a crafts store went to die. Don't slip on the glitter glue! Don't touch that feather boa, the drama club might need it! Is that a soccer ball while everyone else is trying to prepare? Do you want to die? The clock continues to tick later and later, a groan coming from everyone in the room when it strikes 3 AM, but there's nonetheless an air of dedication here. Everyone's working - are you? - and this seems like a great time for caffeine overdose and some late night confessions.


II » WELCOME Whether it was through hard work or sheer dumb luck, the festival is underway!! There are sounds of yelling, students competing for patrons - "Care to have your fortune read?" or "Check out this kickass magician!" - or cries of defeat - "That balloon game was impossible - how am I going to get my McCeres plushie now?!" and "What's up with that scavenger hunt?" - You can already hear the sizzle of deliciously greasy food in the distance mixed in with whatever terribly Teen Pop mix they've got playing in the background. It's a little hard not to feel excited! Or... maybe it is, given the fact that you might not have wanted to end up here in the first place?! But the festival is spilling out into the streets! Pushy teenagers and teachers alike might've just tried to corral you in here like cattle to a brightly-colored, teeny bopper slaughter....

But if you look like you're not at all interested in having fun, this may be the time when a snowball smacks you right in the back of the head, suddenly implanting the idea of.... fun?


III » INFLATABLE HELL Whether you were running after reading some horrible gossip about you or getting way into playing the part of a fleeing criminal in the mock trial, you've found yourself in what every single carnival needs and deserves: a bounce house. But wait - that's not all?! Apparently this is some kind of inflatable course from hell as you realize that once you enter, there's even more waiting for you. Yes, that's right, welcome to the squishiest obstacle course of your life. When you make it to the end, you still have one last task: joust for your honor against the person that you've ended up with or break out your intense sumo knowledge for the exact same thing. The student overseeing this area just nods solemnly with an air of 17-year-old sage wisdom. "There can only be one."


IV » ANIME FOOD So that's what you're here for. Well congratulations friend, they've got every sort of carnival contraption or festival delight and dish - apparently this is where the culture can be found! But... but oh god, what's that? The hell is that?! Apparently there's an eating competition for these heart attacks if you really wanna try your luck.

Also hey - is this cotton candy really sticky to anyone else? Careful, don't reach too close to that other person or you just might end up stuck together...?!


V » AFTERPARTY So... where were you after the school festival officially concluded? Were you in the middle of a food coma? Were you trying to steal a giant sumo suit before they could be closed down? Were you caught on the ice of the frozen swimming pool? Drowning under the weight of discount flowers? Hopefully, you're not caught up in the craziness of a cleaning crew turned cleaning competition... or are you?

Either way, there's no way that this party is going to end with a fizzle.... but rather with a bang! Literally. The sky is lit up with a sudden firework, followed by another and anotherandanotherandanother-- except don't those... seem to be a little close? They're deafeningly loud and blindingly beautiful and perhaps that what covers up Lili's distressed screech of, "Those weren't authorized!" Hopefully all the little sparks extinguish in the air before they get too close... Kindly help make sure nothing catches on fire? Stand there and actually enjoy the show? Start a lawsuit for your sudden bout of blindness and deafness? Your move.


VI » WILDCARD ME UP For the record, there is a medical tent for anyone who gets a little too violent excited during the events. And besides all the festivities mentioned here, there's also the typical bunch of carnival games and prizes, too. Maybe even a maid cafe. Also hey, is that smell of something burning... normal? Do we have a fire on our hands?! Or is there some other type of carnival gimmick that you really love but didn't get written up here? Feel free to make it right on up! Have fun, everyone!

Comments

[erythristic]

[her reflex is noticed - touchy subject, miss?]

And what sort of festival would this be? This is the first I've heard of it.

[coastal]

[More like Lili's just incompetent and emotionally stunted--]

A type of cultural festival. [She relaxes a bit then, finding an explanation to be familiar enough.] The school wanted to put something together where different organizations would be able to hold booths, sell different foods, and otherwise give cause to a celebration.

[A beat.]

Are you new here? The simple reason behind this is that people need something to lift their spirits right now.

[erythristic]

That bad, huh.

[that doesn't answer Lili's question, but the very decided way she pushes up her glasses says she's come to a snap conclusion, the type you make in the middle of the night like the resolution to finish homework, or take up a new sport, or cook an entire four course meal, because you can.]

I may not be a part of this school, nor might I know anyone here, but if it's organization and assistance you need, then I don't see a reason why I shouldn't offer my own skills to you, miss...?

[coastal]

[ . . . well that's definitely rather sudden. Lili gives her name at the prompt easily though-]

Lili. That was a quick offer. Who are you? Do you have a reason why you wish to assist or are you merely bored?

[Though admittedly as long as Grell proves to be competent, Lili won't complain.]

[erythristic]

More that I'm here already and your troops are in need of some support. But the name is Grell, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lili.

[also, it might be a soft spot for the children she sees in the bunch. they should be in bed, safe and warm, not conscripted into service.]

[coastal]

[Alas, the children must work too in order to make sure this all goes off without a hitch and Lili just shakes her head slowly.]

Lili. Just Lili.

[Don't mind her being quietly adamant about it.]

Well - if you truly wish to assist, I won't stop you. There's still... much work to be done.

[aaaand there she goes, dipping into vaguely exasperated]

[erythristic]

Just tell me where I can be best placed, and I'll do what I can.

[whatever that might end up being...she's not sure how she'll explain coming home to Bellamy with glitter on her clothes, but this is more fun than staring at the ceiling.]

[coastal]

Are you well-versed in decor? How is your taste in aesthetics?

[It's Kashuu's domain really, as far as Lili's concerned, but she has a feeling that given how much red the two of them wear, it'd still manage to be mostly on the same level?!]

[erythristic]

I believe my style is "tasteful, but eye catching and vibrant."

[she's capable of some restraint! but you can't tell her she can't put red in it...it's attention grabbing and that's what you want, right?]

[coastal]

[ . . . . ah. There's a soft noise coming from her. Is that a laugh???

No... can't be....]

That sounds perfect. Then I'll be entrusting some section of the decorations to you since the person that I asked can't be expected to do all of them anymore.

[erythristic]

[that's a laugh. but Grell will be kind and not point it out.]

Very well. Do we have a theme to follow? Beyond just it meant to be cheering to souls to see.

[coastal]

[ . . . . well.]

Vibrant? I admit I've never been to a cultural long enough to observe the decorations... Since it's a festival meant to celebrate the different cultures of the colony, it's fine if they don't follow a theme as long as everything looks presentable.

[erythristic]

That's easy enough then. I won't let you down, Lili.

[so don't mind her gliding away to try to find where tissue paper, tape, and feathers are...it'll work out, she promises.]

[coastal]

See to it that you don't.

[ . . . bossy little thing, isn't she.

Regardless, she's wandering off to take care of other things - but not for too long. She'll only have left Grell for thirty minutes before she wanders back in her direction, curious about what kind of talent she managed to pick up.]

And how is your work going?

[erythristic]

[when she comes, Grell's sitting down at a table, having collected some elements and used them to create bright fluffy flowers made of paper, with a few birds in the mix. it may be cheating to secretly draw magic in them to keep them together rather than purely crafting them, but they look nice and that's what counts.]

So far, well enough. I thought that some of these could go near the signs you're displaying to catch the eye and draw people to read them, and then others could simply be affixed and scattered where they would add some brightness.

[coastal]

[ . . . oh wow.

Lili blinks and the words are out of her mouth before she can help them.]

You are good at this.

[Don't sound so surprised?! How rude....]

[erythristic]

It's unladylike to boast of talents one doesn't possess.

[which is the Grell way to say that Lili should have never doubted her.]

This is the extent of what I can make with these, although I also intend to see if others need assistance with their tasks that might require steadier hands than they possess.

[coastal]

[ . . . Mm, well-]

I can't ask you to say that long, though. You should be able to enjoy the festival tomorrow alongside everyone else.