LATE SUMMER FAIR (NSFW DESSERTS)

[spoofer]

Characters: Ensemble cast, any/all characters of Xistentia!
Summary: The slow transition from summer leads to a fair, complete with whacky treats and activities from other holidays and festivals from around the Multiverse.
Date(s): August 26-September 2
Warnings/Notes: None, please mark your subject headers with content.

Late Summer Fair

I play my part and you play your game

Welcome to Xistentia's first fair, F.A.T.E.S.' excuse to mingle. The setup appears overnight on the edge of town, a nonsensical mash of themes and places from the multiverse. Haunted house and circus tent, facepainting, ferris wheel and carousel, game stands that seem to self-operate, dozens of empty shopfronts, self-regenerating popcorn stands. Pretty soon, however, the people start to come, bringing their own goods and wares. The population of Xistentia is 333, which is more than enough people to fill a fair.

As far as fair food goes, there are penis-shaped waffles^[NSFW] in various flavors, two-sticked popsicles for sharing with a partner, turkey legs, fried dough, cookies as big as your head, fried fish, fried lizards, glutinous fruits, and lembas.

And let's not forget, there is an abundance of alcohol everywhere. Beer, wine, you name it.

But of course, let's not forget the games. Many of them are low-key and prizes vary from the ability to change your daemon's color to any other natural hue, to free food, horrible writing pens, and stuffed animals. Games vary from whack-a-mole to bobbing for apples. Everything is free to eat, drink, and play, barring some excuses for barter with some of your friendly neighborhood natives.

Some games, however, are less casual if not necessarily more costly. The contests of finesse and strength come with special prizes from F.A.T.E.S. and...

THE WINNERS ARE

Note that the "prizes" do not stack. Runner-up winners will not get multiple of the same type of prize, and those who experience a critical failure won't suffer particularly severe consequences. If your character receives a dream or a "unique item," you will receive a reply to your comment on the mod announcement with more information.

Contests of Finesse

DARTS
First Place	Vanyel Greyjoy	The ability to "say just the right thing" once this week
Still Good	Era, Alec, Nico, Vex, Rosie, Aymeric, Jace, Amanda, Zeke, Kavinsky, Janus	Emotional intuition boost
Yikes	Magnus, Barclay	Daemons totally lose filter and start saying the most awkward shit
RING TOSS
First Place	Jace Wayland and Magnus Lightwood-Bane	The ability to "say just the right thing" once this week
Still Good	Era, Alec, Nico, Vex, Rosie, Vanyel, Rafaello, Amanda, Zeke, Barclay, and Janus	Emotional intuition boost
Yikes	Aymeric and Kavinsky	Daemons totally lose filter and start saying the most awkward shit
ARCHERY
First Place	Alec Lightwood-Bane	The ability to "say just the right thing" once this week
Still Good	Nico, Vex, Aymeric, Zeke, Magnus, Kavinsky, and Janus	Unique items
Yikes	Rosie and Barclay	Uncooperative powers (very minor, non-dangerous incidents) and accurate memory of silly dreams
SPARRING
First Place	Kavinsky	The ability to "say just the right thing" once this week
Still Good	Era, Nico, Vex, Rosie, Aymeric, Rafaello, Zeke, Barclay and Janus	Emotional intuition boost
Yikes	Alec, Vanyel, Jace, and Magnus	Daemons totally lose filter and start saying the most awkward shit

Contests of Strength

ARM WRESTLING
First Place	Ezekiel	Precognitive dream later that night
Still Good	Era, Alec, Nico, Rosie, Aymeric, Vanyel, Rafaello, Magnus, Kavinsky and Janus	Unique items
Yikes	Vex and Jace	Uncooperative powers (very minor, non-dangerous incidents) and accurate memory of silly dreams
HIGH STRIKE
First Place	Era	Precognitive dream later that night
Still Good	Alec, Nico, Vex, Jace, Zeke, Magnus, Kavinsky and Janus	Unique items
Yikes	Rosie and Aymeric	Uncooperative powers (very minor, non-dangerous incidents) and accurate memory of silly dreams

See also detailed dice roll information for: darts, ring toss, arm wrestling, high strike, and archery.

Kissing Booth

And what would a fair be, without a kissing booth?

Just like the rest of the fair, the odd thing is that there is of course no payment required.

Instead, a large and lovely lantern hangs behind the booth. It seems to glow a little brighter every time a kiss is transacted. It's hard to know exactly what this means, but considering that emotional intimacy lights the streets of the city, one might guess that F.A.T.E.S. is saving up this particular energy for something special.

But until then, it's a good excuse to make out.

Comments

Era Ra ☘ OTA

[astralera]

☘ FAIR FOOD

It isn't a widely-known fact that Era is somewhat of a glutton, but for someone so tiny she certainly manages it. When a tart or a boiled egg before a fight can mean the difference between life or death, one tends to develop an even greater appreciation for food no matter how strange it may seem.

Many of the fair foods aren't altogether unfamiliar to her - she loves cookies, and the ones she finds here look the same as the ones back home. Except they are bigger than her face and it is wonderful. Two are quickly placed into her inventory (a tiny bag that has no right being able to hold even a portion of those cookies let alone two) while the other Era picks apart and eats as she moves to the next food stall.

It is her personal goal to try at least one of everything by the end of the night (except beverages), and stow away extras of the best ones while she does so.

☘ GAMES

Perhaps she shouldn't have eaten quite so much before participating in these games, but they are just that - games - and so she doesn't care if she performs at her best or not. A stomach full of delicious food is more than worth the possibility of a slower reaction time when her life is not on the line.

Though her luck tonight does seem to be quite horrible irregardless of her appetite; the odd strangely balanced dart, the rings she tosses suddenly going off course, or her bowstring coming loose after a good start. It makes things more challenging which is always welcome fun to her, but in the heat of the moment had been rather frustrating. Era does a good job of making up the differences her bad luck caused though, which she'll count as a personal victory.

Era is not one to talk much and so offers polite smiles and nods at all of her fellow competitors, and quiet congratulations to the other victors. It was likely as much of a surprise to the other participants as it was to her that she won the High Strike challenge. There were others who had a great deal more physical strength than her (as she experience during the arm wrestling and sparring) after all, and she was the smallest of them by far in stature.

It was enjoyable overall, and she liked seeing the other competitors' skills. The one who claimed victory in archery was quite good. Aymeric also did very well... Maybe she'll ask him to train with her the next time she works on her archery? She has been so focused on magic that she has let her physical skills suffer over the past few moons.

In any case, there is much more to do at the fair before the night is done.

☘ RIDES/WILDCARD

[ gotta try all the rides. need for speed. and carousels. and those spinny death trap things. and ferris wheels. and haunted houses. and a circus?! let's go. idk what to prose for this section starter so this is all you get. ]

{{froakie / Era Ra#4916}}

Fair Food

[cantseame]

Ah, yes. Someone who could match his culinary curiosity when it came to trying new things. It might do to try a little bit of everything, right? He can't help but give a little taste to everything, and perhaps stashing something away for later. Though it's in this general rummaging and hullabaloo that he sees Era. It takes him a moment to register, but then he remembers.

Chocobo Lady! Maybe he should offer a little friendly advice. After all, he's been too cooped up in his magic and research to get out, something he desperately wants to change.

"Be sure to pace yourself! There's so much to try, and we have all night after all!" He calls out to her with a warm mirthful tone in his voice.

[astralera]

Era is startled by the address - it's not a voice she recognizes nor a face she's familiar with when she turns around to see who called to her. Her cheeks are distended with the large chunk of cookie she had been assaulting so she can't offer a greeting immediately in return beyond a wave of acknowledgement, and a shrug in reply to his suggestion. She's never had a problem with pacing before, but she'll also make sure to keep it in mind here.

[cantseame]

Well, now that he's gotten a good look at her, she's certainly interesting. Her hair is obscuring her ears, but he has to wonder if those bone, or perhaps scale decorations coming from her hair must be some kind of decoration. Cultural, perhaps? Either way he can see she's a little busy with her own meal, but he's rather eager to get meeting people. Find out more and perhaps put his magic to good use.

But that's all far off. For now, it's a night to relax and have fun, and he's feeling mighty hungry. There'll be plenty of time to figure that out later.

Though in all this time he might've been staring somewhat awkwardly without realizing it.

[astralera]

Having spent more than a handful of moons being stared at as though she were some kind of exotic animal or monster (dragon half-breed was the most common accusation), Era is a strange mix of hyper-aware and desensitized to the stares. Desensitized by passersby staring and whispering yes, but hyper-aware of when one who is trying to converse with her is distracted by her 'abnormal' appendages.

It had gotten better once more Au Ra refugees began to trickle in to Eorzea, but old habits die hard. As the young man seems distracted by her horns Era shifts her tail to a less noticeable angle; against her side and mostly hidden by the fabric of her obi.

"Is aught amiss?"

[cantseame]

Farraige was never too subtle when something caught his interest. Thinking it little more than decoration, he motions to the horns on her head. "Are those some decoration from your culture? I was curious if you were wearing them to celebrate something tied to your homeland." He asks, probably not realizing there are times that his wizardly wisdom gives way to a slight lack of observational skills.

Will he figure out a way to throw away the shovel for the hole he's starting to dig himself? Who knows.

[astralera]

Era has to remind herself that there is only one other person here from her home, and that at least this young man is asking instead of simply assuming and moving on. She represses a sigh and keeps her face a polite mask even as her tail flicks with subtle irritation.

"They are not decoration."

The simplest way to elaborate is to simply tuck one of the longer strands of her hair behind her horn to show that it indeed stems from her head where one might find the average being's ears.

locked to Aymeric

[astralera]

Perhaps she should have forgone eating thirds of everything she could find, if only to avoid the way her stomach feels at the moment, but she has never had this problem before and hadn't expected it start tonight. Era can't recall ever truly feeling sick though imagines that this can't be too far from it. Regardless, she can't quite find it in herself to regret any of it - the food was delicious and fun, and surprisingly enough lead to her gaining some... knowledge. The games were enjoyable despite her horrid luck, and seeing Aymeric's skill with a bow in a friendly competition rather than a strained situation was more delightful than Era would like to admit.

Speaking of Aymeric, she had split away from him rather early on in the evening to explore and had not seen much of him outside of the competitions despite his height. With the night coming to a close Era wants his company, for if there is any one person she would trust with her safety while she is not in top form, it is be her dear Lord Commander.

[remarkablymodest]

Aymeric has never attended a faire. He had heard of the Moonfire festivities before, of course, but there was never time to peruse the event for himself. The people of Ishgard that traveled to Costa del Sol, however, told him how he absolutely should go. This is different, he figures already, but the same in principle. Fun festivities to end the summer on a high note before Autumn's chill takes hold. And he's quite enjoying himself, honestly, in shows of good sportsmanship. It helps to build a little bit of camaraderie among the others like himself and Era here to save their worlds.

Thinking of Era, he hasn't seen the Au Ra for a while. So he goes looking for as everything is starting to wind down. He doesn't like what he finds, however. "My friend," he says, quickening his pace to bridge the distance between them sooner. "Are you well?" It's a silly question, actually, because she looks extremely unwell in this moment. More green than anything and last he checked her face shouldn't be a similar shade to her carbuncle.

[astralera]

It makes sense that Aymeric would find her first - not only is he unfairly tall, he also doesn't have the handicap of a rebelling stomach to hold him back. While she would like to answer in the positive (yes, I am well) Era can only let her tail droop so low that it touches the ground and curl in on herself as she shakes her head in the negative.

"My stomach is displeased."

[remarkablymodest]

The man tilts his head at her uncomfortable posture, the way she clutches her stomach. She's in pain, that much is clear. Then she explains and... Well, the way she had been eating nearly everything in sight hadn't escaped him but she seemed to know what she was doing. Maybe he should have kept a more careful eye, just in case.

"The food of this realm is foreign to us, it's to be expected some of it wouldn't agree with you," he says, reaching out a hand for her to use to stabilize herself if she'd like. "Perhaps we should cease the festivities for the evening. My apartment is closer than your dwelling, I believe, so you can rest there until you feel better."

Maybe they could even find something in her inventory to help? If it isn't full up on the greasy fair food that had done this to her in the first place anyway.

[astralera]

"I have eaten all manner of strange things without ill effect before..." Though admittedly there are at least twenty unaccounted summers of her life that may have held memory of a similar occurrence. And this is an entirely different universe - not just a differing world.

So Era can't help but sigh and acquiesce, knowing that Aymeric is more than likely correct. Just because something has never happened to her in memory doesn't mean it isn't possible for it to happen in Xistentia. It's frustrating, but at least it is only her stomach that is upset rather than a true sickness.

One hand she keeps pressed to her abdomen (the slightest bit distended from the sheer amount of food she shoveled down, but thankfully it's impossible to tell due to her obi) in an attempt to mitigate the pain with her aether. The other she reaches out to take the one Aymeric has offered her. She pauses just before touching his hand, hesitating for a moment before taking the plunge and twining their fingers together the best she can despite the diminutive size of her own compared to his.

Era's expression is unreadable beyond the slightest twinge of discomfort from her stomach; stoic as she can manage whilst simultaneously blushing enough to rival the fires of Sohm Al.

Just. Ignore her inner turmoil at such a brazen display of intimacy, dearest friend.

[remarkablymodest]

Yeah, Era, there's a huge lapse in your memory where this possibly could have happened before. Which honestly concerns Aymeric sometimes, but... He's not about to try and pry into that part of her life she doesn't know about or potentially understand. Besides, she's still Era no matter what she might or might not be familiar about regarding her past.

The way his heart flutters in his chest at the simple lace of her fingers in-between his is something he does his best to hide. There's a slight pink that tinges his own cheeks at the affectionate gesture, but he knows it's likely due to comfort and familiarity more than anything in this moment. He's happy to reassure his friend that everything will be alright despite her stomach's protests; in fact, he smiles at the woman despite how awful she undoubtedly feels in a reflexive 'it's alright' gesture.

"Come, let's head to my dwelling and see if we can't soothe your stomachache," he says, gently beginning to lead the woman away from the fair by their clasped hands.

[astralera]

It's an easy enough fact to forget with how learned and skilled Era is at most things. Sometimes it slips even her own mind that she has lost so many memories, until something occurs that reminds her. Mostly she just doesn't dwell on it - the present is more than enough for her. Whatever her past consisted of is in the past.

The matching blush on Aymeric's face goes unnoticed, though the smile he gives her does not. Era cannot help but smile reflexively in return, nodding her head in agreement at his suggestion and allowing herself to be led to her friend's apartment.

[remarkablymodest]

Then it's settled! They'll go back to his place. It seems a little bit forward of him, maybe, to suggest such a thing but... In this case, he supposes it's alright. Era is unwell and he wouldn't feel right letting her return to her makeshift woodland home in such a state. Honestly, he doesn't feel right letting her return to the campsite more often than not but that's... It's been her choice and he wants to respect that.

"If you need any more assitance, just let me know," he's quick to say, since. He doesn't want to assume that Era needs to be carried, but he's defintiely not opposed to it. It's not like it would be difficult. He imagines only her pride would truly take a hit at the gesture.

[astralera]

For every one of Aymeric's steps Era must take two. Normally this would be of no consequence, but tonight it roils her stomach in a way that causes her steps to stutter frequently, leaving her tugging on her friend's hand unwillingly as she lags behind.

Finally it all comes to a head and Era is left dropping Aymeric's hand as though electrocuted, rushing to some nearby bushes to preserve at least a bit of dignity as she vomits. Ew. At least her hair is too short to cause any issue. Emeraldd hangs out by her elbow rather protectively, guiding her with its glow.

fair food;

[memoryguardian]

"Do tell me you're planning on brushing your teeth as thoroughly as possible tonight," comes a likely unfamiliar voice. When Era looks to the source of it, she'll find one very colorful avian lady giving quite the look of disapproval. Toothiana has been trying (and failing) to keep her displeasure at the sugary treats quiet. But she just can't stand idly by anymore as she watches this woman eat tooth-rotting dessert after another.

[astralera]

An angry looking mostly-green feathered woman...

So of course Era's first instinct is to ready a ninjutsu in self-defence, though she's alert enough to hold back from using it until she has had a few seconds to judge the danger. Or lack thereof, apparently.

She lets her hands fall back down to her sides, leaving one to linger near her obi where one of her daggers was stashed earlier. This being may not be a threat currently, but given Garuda's temperament Era would rather play it safe.

"My teeth are in fine health," she responds shortly. It's true too. Because for all that Eorzea is behind Earth in advancements people still like to keep their teeth clean.

[memoryguardian]

The defensive maneuver doesn't go unnoticed. Toothiana refrains from saying anything about, however, because she can understand some alarm at someone like herself. She isn't... a very common species for most people, she's finding out. Even in her own world, she was the last of her kind.

Thankfully, Janus and others have made her a feel a bit more accepted since arrival. Still, she's more than aware that won't be the case with most individuals.

"They won't be, if you keep up eating sugary treats like that without brushing and flossing properly." Dental hygiene is so important.

[astralera]

Unfortunately Era would likely be less discomfited by Toothiana's appearance if there wasn't anything similar in her world, given her history with feathered beings. But the strange woman gives no further indication of threat beyond tone, and so Era slowly relaxes her posture again.

"I don't see how it is any of your concern. Though I also see no reason not to say that I take fine care of my teeth."

[memoryguardian]

"It's my only concern," she all but interjects. "I'm the Tooth Fairy! It's my responsibility to make sure people are taking good care of their teeth, young or old."

[astralera]

"A faerie?"

She supposes it's not impossible, given that Vex looks nothing like her own faerie companion. Still, it's enough to raise her brow at. Then furrow them - "That is a rather specific task."

[memoryguardian]

"Yes, the Tooth Fairy." Since, y'know, she's not just your regular old fairy! Actually. "Well, that's more of a title based on my appearance. My actual kind are called the Sisters of Flight! We're not true fairies at all, but- Details."

She can't help but smile at how odd Era finds the specificity of her job. "It's a bit of a long story, actually, how this came to be my responsibility. I love my job though and someone's got to do it, so who better but me?"

lowkey worrying she rips out teeth

[astralera]

Era nods along, supposing that makes more sense. Though why there would be a faerie - Sister of Flight or no - collecting teeth is beyond her. Especially when she isn't quite sure what the woman's job is.

"...You collect the teeth that have... fallen out?"

omg era pls, why do people keep assuming this. janus mentioned it too

[memoryguardian]

"Yes, that's correct! I collect children's baby teeth after they fall out to give room for their adult to grow in." Which is hopefully a little less unnerving. "I used to give them gems for them but now most children seem content with quarters or shiny coins."

A lot has changed in eight centuries. And in some ways, a lot has remained the same. For better or for worse.

"Those teeth hold the most important memories of childhood! And it's my responsibility as the Guardian of Memories to protect them."