[ 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

[carcinoma]

[ maybe she's part of the team in charge of the festival, if she's determined to stay until the end? though that gives him more incentive to finish up. lop shifts to properly take up his broom, tucking the end of it against his shoulder so he can still sweep even with his one arm.

it looks like he's ready to resume work, but he can't quite mask the way his ears cant back nervously at lili's question. ]

Ah. I suppose so.

[ a watery laugh as he tries to think of a good way to word his thoughts. ]

Well ... it's more that I'm abnormal, even for a Rabbit. Although I guess details like that are kind of trivial in a place like this. So I guess you're right that that kind of thing's not good to say.

[ his words trail off a little awkwardly at the end, there. he might have said too much, especially when she said something so kind. ]

[coastal]

[Oh....

It's like watching an animal's reaction. Lili blinks, thinking of how the animals that she's encountered would have their ears move to express how they feel. Honestly... it almost makes her want to be more gentle so that she doesn't make Lop nervous.]

Oh... I see, I wouldn't have known, you're correct.

[ . . . ]

You don't have to answer if you don't want to - but is... abnormal seen as a bad thing where you're from?

[carcinoma]

Um. It's -- nothing that interesting, I'm afraid. So please stop me if this gets dull to listen to, but ...

[ he smiles weakly, still half-heartedly sweeping up even as he answers. ]

I guess being 'abnormal' isn't inherently bad. But I'm, um, sick. It's why I look like I have horns, and my face is a little strange ...

-- ah, it only affects Rabbits, of course! So it's not dangerous at all to humans, or to anyone else. But it makes it a little difficult for other Rabbits to be around me.

[coastal]

[That surprises her a little bit and she sits up straighter before standing up completely, looking him over then. It's not dangerous to humans, right? So there's no reason for her to be wary-]

You're sick?

Do you know with what? Have you tried the medicine of this place?

[ANIMALS SHOULD BE HEALTHY AND HAPPY - Lili he's not actually a small little bunny, you realize that, right?]

[carcinoma]

I-it's not a big deal!

[ lop reflexively waves his hand to try and dismiss the subject, and ends up dropping the broom. ah, the troubles of only having one arm ... quickly bending down to pick it back up, he fidgets for a moment. ]

Or rather, it's a bit of a complicated issue. And it's not anything urgent in the meantime. If the only problem I have is that I look a little different, I can't complain. I'm sure there are others who have it a lot worse.

[ he's clearly starting to look a little troubled by the subject when he looks back to lili and forces a smile. he's never really had a silver tongue, but he makes a valiant attempt to smoothly change the subject: ]

Sorry, this is an awfully dreary subject. I can't imagine it's the best note to end such a lovely day on. The festival today was wonderful, wasn't it?

[coastal]

[ . . . well. It's an attempt. It's only successful because Lili is an easily flustered and embarrassed type of person, given the right words so that's what has her surprised. A pleasant kind of surprised even as a blush rises to her cheeks at the praise.]

You... You think so?

[ . . . ]

W-Well, that's... If you're certain that it's not urgent! But you should always make sure to take care of yourself, understand? I won't press if you don't want to talk about it but I won't forget either.