estoria | [ OPEN ] CULTURAL FESTIVAL

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[ OPEN ] CULTURAL FESTIVAL

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 » PRE~~GAME~~-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!

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[ Yeah, Giorno's not going to believe that for a moment. Her lie is as transparent as a window pane but Giorno's also polite enough not to call her out on it. Not directly at least. Instead he'll tilt his head to the side while his hands are crosses across his chest loosely. ]

It must be hard managing all of this on your own, unless that is, you have people helping you.

[ It's not really supposed to be reprimanding. He can understand why she wouldn't want to ask him for help if something was going wrong—he was just another person who was here supposed to be enjoying themselves.

But...still. ]

[Still indeed.

Lili's eyes narrow vaguely at that because it sounds a little bit like reprimanding - but at the same time she's not sure what to do about it. She's not interested in getting in a fight but she's incredibly attuned to the possibility of being lectured as well?! What is a girl to do?]

I have enough people. It's none of your concern - you should just move on and try some of the food.

[ Well that certainly spoke in volumes to Giorno.

This would be the ideal moment to brush her off and allow her to go running around in a panic while something was surely going down as a result of all of the people here, but Giorno didn't want to do that. Instead he looks at her a little bit longer before deciding something. ]

I'm unfamiliar with these sort of festivals. My school didn't do many of these despite our student population. [ He offers a hand towards her. ]

Could you perhaps help me decide on what is good?

[ . . . . oh? Oh. Uh.]

One moment.

[She's just going to turn and speak into her headset again, something about "You have been spared. You have thirty minutes to fix the situation." and then turning back to Gio as if she wasn't close to threatening someone's life right then and there.

Ahem.]

.... What are your interests? We've amassed quite a few different types of events here, especially with help from the local community. I'm sure there's something you'd like!

[ If he was going to say something or even noticed it, he doesn't show it. His expression remained rather the same and indifferent towards the threats over her headphones. Seemed legit, etc etc. (Also it might best not to ask questions whenever he heard questionable things said to others over comm like that.)

Though on the matter of her question, Giorno will withdraw his hand and shove it into his pocket. What kind of things he liked? That really wasn't...what he wanted to do. ]

I can enjoy various number of things—what do things do you enjoy? Is there something here that is your favorite?

[ . . . . oh.

Lili blinks at the question, tilting her head ever so slightly. What does she like? Pretty things. Small animals. Delicious food. Those are her basic interests....]

There's... a group selling discount flowers not too far from here. [Though she recognizes a moment later that he's a boy?! Probably someone who doesn't have an interest in things like that - not unless they're Kashuu.] Or... the food stalls are very well-equipped to handle whatever you'd like.

An acquaintance of mine is also here as a magician and he's very skilled....

[Fumbling fumbling ????]

[ Hmmm..... ]

Of those you mentioned, is one of them closer to where we are now? I'm not too hungry but when was the last time you've eaten?

[ He's not even being too subtle about what he's doing anymore, or at least, that's what Giorno figures as he looks around to scope out all of the things that she mentioned. Her fumbling was really more concerning to him than anything else.

It almost sounded as if she had no intention of checking anything out herself. ]

[ . . . well. No, she really didn't. Lili had too many things to be concerned with. This was the first time to even carve out thirty minutes of her time to do something besides running around and making sure nothing was set on fire.

Yet even if he's not subtle, Lili's not sure why he's asking. Poor oblivious girl.]

You're not hungry? Then we can go to see the flowers, if you're not opposed.

[ Given how she didn't answer his question about food, he isn't about to ask her again. If there's anything Giorno disliked it was repeating himself so he allows it to go unanswered. Though he'll make the plan to look at the food available to them after they looked at flowers. ]

I'm fine with seeing flowers. [ He'll find it in the chaos and start to walk that way, making sure she's following too, of course. ]

[Lili nods easily enough at that. Okay, flowers it is then! She has no trouble with keeping up, rather used to running through these crowds now.]

Good!

I know someone who works at the store that's providing them - they should be rather helpful indeed. But are you sure there's nothing else you want to see? I believe there's also things like an obstacle course if that's what you like?

Is that something you'd like as well?

[ Come on Lili, the reason why Giorno keeps asking you about everything is that he sees a girl who is trying so hard to keep everything together and not enjoying anything herself. Clearly she should take time to enjoy this... He's putting up repeating himself for her!

But he's working hard given the last time they saw one another they had to deal with blood thirsty NPCs who were after their heads. Not exactly the most cheerful of places to meet someone, and while the first impression was loss, he doesn't want her to associate that time with him. ]

[ . . . . . . Gio, you're so pure.

Except Lili's still oblivious. In fact, she's even just going to ask him straight up-]

Why are you asking me again? I've already told you. If you don't like any of my suggestions, you should just offer some of your own, you know.

[Not meant meanly, even though she definitely could've said that in a nicer way?!

But... it doesn't occur to her to look for things to enjoy in the festival. Even now she thinks this break is so that she can help him find something to do so that he can enjoy his time?! Ah, how hopeless...]

[ Well if she was going to be straight-forward about, there was no reason for Giorno not to follow suit so he stops mid-step and turns around to face her. His expression isn't annoyed, well, not truly. Repeating himself and having it not get through to her was sort of a sore point. ]

Have you not figured it out yet?

[ He'll put a hand onto his hip and look at her. Hopefully this won't cause a scene but even if it does then there's no helping it. ]

I ask you because it matters to me. This is for you.

[Honestly Gio, you need to be blunt with Lili - . . . except that might be treading into the territory of too blunt?! She's blinking in surprise at that, standing up a little straighter because those are... honestly pretty kind words! He's already preoccupied with doing something for her? And that.. matters to him for some reason?

But Lili, in true tsundere fashion, will be reacting to this surprise with a healthy amount of indignation and blushing.]

Wh-What?

You don't even know me... why would something like this matter to you? That doesn't make sense!

[ Are you ready for another little speech? You're going to get one....sorry....... ]

When we first met you said you didn't want to be protected because you didn't want anyone to spill blood for you nor did you want to attack me. You wanted to be left alone. Yet, you trusted me enough to follow my lead to leaving that place despite the peril that we were both in. [ Other events pending... ]

Then here and now, you have not once thought about how to enjoy what you've created others for yourself. Even though I have asked you many times—my concerns for you ended up being useless. That sort of thinking is selfless and kind. [ Giorno looks at Lili directly not bothered by the way she's sputtering or blushing. His hand is over his chest again as he speaks. Earnest. ]

That is why I want to do this for you.

[ . . . . that. That was definitely a speech.

That was a speech that she wasn't expecting and one that manages to totally embarrass her to her core. As Gio kept speaking, there was definitely a full body blush going on with Lili. Up her neck, filling up her face, all the way down to her hands that are absolutely coming up to cover her face because oh my gooooood.

Oh my gooooooood.]

S-Stop, stop, stop...!

Forget that I asked, that's so - that's so embarrassing! How can you say things like that?! You don't even know me....!

[ Giorno relaxes his stance once he finishes talking and is a bit apologetic to see how flustered she got from his words. It hadn't been his intent to make her that flustered. However, she did ask and he was just answering her as he would. (In true Jojo fashion because how is doing anything normally, amiright.) ]

I simply said the truth. [ Because that is what matters?? He'll spare her any more embarrassing words because honestly he could read her actions well enough. A well meaning girl who was not the most forthcoming with her real feelings... ]

I didn't mean to make you embarrassed. Sorry.

[A-Aaaaahhhhhh!!

No, she's still not okay.]

You should be sorry! You're a stranger to me - you don't get to make judgments of my character like that!

[LILI, THEY'RE REALLY NICE JUDGMENTS.]

[ On the one hand he sees where she's going on the other hand... ]

Are you afraid to look in the mirror then?

[ This may be a really far reach, but he's going to say it anyway. Obviously he didn't want to fluster her more than he already has but—it was really obvious to him.

He could have probably held off though. (Probably. Should have. Would have...) ]

What on earth are you talking about now?

[As far as she's concerned, Gio is speaking in riddles.

#STOPGIO2K16]

[ Sorry Lili, but Giorno doesn't know when to quit. It's sort of a family trait. ]

Pardon me for saying this, but the judgments I made were obvious to me. [ And there's more he'd make but clearly she get embarrassed hearing about herself so he doesn't. ] Besides, I didn't say anything that wasn't the truth.

[ Or rude. ]

Regardless, I don't recall asking for your opinion!

[Or at least, not... such a detailed, well thought out opinion? C'mon Gio, you can't expect a tsun to be able to compute that kind of heartfelt declaration from someone that she's only met once before.]

Everything you said was just relative to what you think... s-so, keep your unnecessary spouting to yourself!

Then I'll stay with you until you notice it.

[ Giorno what are you doing? There's a time and a place for something like this and honestly this might be a little too brazen even for him. However he is a man of his word and isn't going to take it back. ]

Or until I've been proven wrong. You're right in saying that it was relative to what I think, and I'll apologize for that.

[YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY FORWARD.]

You'll do what? [Except it's clear that she heard him the first time because-] No, I'll allow no such thing! We're going to find something for you to invest your time into and then we will go our separate ways!

[ SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA BE THAT FORWARD OKAY.

But her reaction is pretty expected given everything that he's seen of her thus far, so it doesn't faze Giorno too badly. Instead he'll give her a thoughtful look and considers his options. Of course he enjoyed his time alone and there was an actual objective to coming here he wanted to achieve however— ]

But what if spending time with you is what I want to invest my time in?

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