xistentia | LATE SUMMER FAIR (NSFW DESSERTS)

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LATE SUMMER FAIR (NSFW DESSERTS)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I still think that's malarkey," she can't help but come back with. Her new age hippie self is all about freedoms of expression and love. "Why would you ever want to hide the fact that you're in love?"

What an absolute hypocrite. She didn't always used to think this way, honestly, but... Ever since she saw the light of love and being loved in return, well. It changed her tune rather fast.

"You've never kissed anyone before?" It's not mocking, not judgmental. Just curious.

"You do not need to be kissing to show that you're in love," Era says simply. She has seen the love in people's eyes as they walk with their bonded, or the tender way they hold hands. Casual touches made to seem intimate merely because of the clear emotion behind them. In a world where violence is so commonplace it is something Era enjoys seeing, if only to remind her of what she fights for.

"Not in memory, no."

"But if you want to, that should be your business and no one should make you feel like you can't."

Rose isn't budging on this. But there are more important things, honestly, than disagreeing on whether or not public displays of affection are acceptable. Like the fact that Era has never even been kissed before. Even before Eudio, Rose had enjoyed a drunken make-out here or there. She had fled before it got any more serious every time but still.

"No kidding?" Then, perhaps a bit insensitively, "Why not?"

"There is no one who says they cannot. It is just how things are, of their own volition. My world is not like yours, and as such it is not your place to judge my people for their choices. A chaste kiss or fond embrace are good enough displays for most, and if they aren't then there is no one stopping them from whatever else there may be."

Era will not budge on this either. It is her home and she will defend its society and culture from the judgment of those who don't aim to understand it. Chaste kisses, warm embraces, holding hands... These are all common enough, but anything beyond the chaste has its time and place outside of the public eye, where there are no interruptions and less chance of danger lurking nearby.

"I have had no interest, nor the time between aiding those in need and saving Eorzea."

"Well, I'm not 'most people' and I'm not from your world either so maybe think about that before telling someone what they're doing is better left in brothels or alleyways," she can't help but snap back.

If she were a meaner person, she'd say it's no wonder Era's never been kissed with her attitude either but- She's not, so she doesn't. Even if the thought crosses her mind. Besides, it does sound like Era's priorities elsewhere. For a long time, Rose's had too. Survival had been her only concern for a good while.

"No interest at all though, huh? No one ever caught your fancy?" Because even before she came to Eudio, she'd always appreciated people with good looks. Wondered what it might be like to kiss their lips and allow herself to be touched by them.

"You are putting words in my mouth." Her tail twitches in agitation. Era doesn't understand why Rose is so adamant to say her people's behaviour is wrong. And what good does it do to take it out on her anyway? It isn't as though Era would be able to change anything. "I have never said that it is better, or that it is a shameful thing to show one's love. I have just explained the way things are in my home, and all you do is criticize them.

"The ways of your home are strange to me but I have not judged them. Nor have I ever judged anyone for expressing their love publicly."

Era tries to place what she's feeling right now and eventually comes to the realization that she is hurt by what Rose has been saying. She had trusted the woman and this feels like a breech of that trust.

"Our worlds are different, and neither of them are wrong. My world is antiquated compared to most. To judge it based on the ways of a 'modern' society like on Earth is unjust."

She can feel her voice wavering but continues regardless: "Because I have considered you a friend I will ask you to drop this subject. Neither of us is going to change our minds, and nothing you can say to me will be changing Eorzea.

"And no - I have never understood the appeal of kissing, nor had the time to try. I am not opposed to it, but saving Eorzea has always been my focus."

"But you have," she corrects, not willing to just let it slide. "Realize that saying what I'm doing is for 'brothels' and 'alleyways' is kind of offensive. I'm not from your world, so it's not fair to tell me how things are where you're from like that's the only way."

Or, at least, that's how she perceived it. But Era says she isn't judging, despite how judgmental it had initially come off to Rose, and so she sighs. "I know that's probably not what you meant, but... Most people don't take kindly to being compared to the equivalent of what sounds like a prostitute in other worlds, I guess. But, yeah, fine. I'll drop it now."

Last word Lucy though, apparently.

"You can't save the world and kiss people too?"

"I said it was generally left to those places, to my knowledge, but I am sorry if you interpreted it otherwise. I meant no offense, I have no issue with what people do as long as it's not harmful to others."

She shrugs.

"My free time is spent training, aiding others in various ways, collecting currencies to purchase more stalwart equipment, hunting bounties... I rarely have time to rest, let alone consider such things."

... Maybe she had interpreted it incorrectly but. As long as they can move past it without further issue then she's not going to keep harping on it. Agree to disagree, maybe.

"Wow, you do have a pretty busy schedule. Still! Sounds like you probably get around to a lot of places then. No one from home you fancy, like, at all? I find that hard to believe."

"I have found many others beautiful or handsome, but in the same way one would acknowledge the beauty of a flower. It was not until the prison world gave me new perspective that I realized what attraction was."

So, no - not really ever. She was always kept pretty busy with defying death with fellow adventurers, befriending the Beast Tribes, slaying Primals, liberating cities... Too much idle time has left her with too many idle thoughts. Though she must admit that not all of them have been unwelcome.

It's... Rose can't say the concept is entirely foreign to her. Before Eudio and even in its beginnings, she could definitely appreciate aesthetically pleasing people. But she'd never allowed herself to feel anything for them. There were more important things to worry about, like. Surviving. So, to an extent, she does get it.

But she'd also felt so unhappy that way, she realized, once she got a taste of what love had to offer. What she'd been missing all that time. Don't even get her started on her first orgasm and how she couldn't believe that's what she'd claimed to not care about for years.

"Oh? So you do have a new perspective on it now though?"

Era supposes one could say she has a new perspective. Not much has changed on her views on physical intimacy so far, but she does appreciate the idea of physical closeness that doesn't involve healing or maiming more than she used to.

"Somewhat," she shrugs. "I understand the difference between a friend and something more now."

Oh. Ohohoho. That's... interesting. Rose doesn't want to pry, but also. She absolutely does.

"So, like, you got a crush on someone and realize it now?" Since that's what it sounds like what Era's saying, anyway. "Point them out for me?" 'Them' because look, Rosie's bisexual. She's not about to assume the scaled woman's gender preference.

"A crush?"

This... isn't a word she's heard used in this context before. "I'm unfamiliar with this slang."

"Right, I forget," she says, more to herself than to Era. The terminology of her day and age - slang, yes - is sometimes a bit different. Eudio had a bunch of people from around the same time. Vanyel had been pretty used to her slang, too, before long so.

"When you crush on someone, it means you like them. In a romantic way! Infatuation, I think, is the closest word to it."

"So an attraction beyond friendship..." She wonders how 'crush' relates to these particular feelings and eventually settles on it being similar to a crushing weight.

"Then yes, I suppose it would be accurate to say I have a crush."

Rose isn't actually sure, honestly, but she wouldn't call that comparison wrong either. It did feel like a weight in her chest when it came to her feelings for Vanyel. Not unpleasant, not always, but something she had noticed she was carrying around.

"On who? Are they here or back home?" She's invested now, Era.

"...Emmy," she turns to her conspicuous daemon with a sigh. "I'm sure you took photographs. Show one to Rose, please."

Emeraldd's immediate acquiescence should have been Era's first warning, but no - she trusted her companion not to show anything embarrassing. Which admittedly it doesn't do, but...

"Emmy!" Era squeaks in shock at the footage of her and Aymeric on the beach. Specifically while her back was turned as Aymeric removed his shirt.

As much as she would like to admire... This is a breach of trust, and she would much rather see it in person anyway. So she is quick to close her eyes. "Emmy, delete that this instant.” Era's vehemence is likely surprising to those who don't know her, but she is not always soft-spoken.

"Woah," breathes Rose, immediately interested. She knows that this is her friend's man, but. Dayum. That's a really tall, really fine, really shirtless man before her eyes. Of course she's going to be all about it.

"I can't blame you for crushing on that," the woman continues, shameless. "I'd climb that guy like a tree." But Era doesn't have to worry because, well. She respects other people's relationships, whatever they might be. Understands not everyone is into the new age hippie poly thing.

Era doesn't quite understand what Rose means by 'climb like a tree', but given her friend's nature - as well as their initial topic of conversation - she can only assume it's something sexual. She doesn't dwell on it though, because she's far too busy blushing like crazy and giving her daemon a dirty look. For all that it seems unrepentant, Emeraldd does eventually wilt under the gaze.

"He is quite handsome, yes."

It is absolutely something sexual, yes. She doesn't figure Era will catch the reference, however, and is thankfully right. It seems to go over the woman's head, for the most part. Which is good because it only dawned on her after the fact that was probably not a thing she should say about the man her friend is interested in.

"Super handsome," she corrects, which. Oops. She's doing it again. "Does he know how you feel?" That seems... maybe safer. Maybe.

"Yes, his people are rather proud of that fact."

Era had never met nor seen pictures of the Archbishop when he was younger, but imagines that Ishgard would be relieved regardless that they have a young, handsome, and kind leader to guide them.

"I have not mentioned it to him."

"I definitely would be too if our president any world leaders where I'm from were that hot." Canada had a pretty fine prime minister for a time there. That was about as close as earth ever got to hotties ruling any section of the world. Some people said Russia's ruler was handsome too, but... He'd always been a little too old and salty-seeming for Rosie's tastes.

"Wait, what," she adds almost immediately, like the concept of not telling him is a foreign one. It's not, actually, the woman knows all about safeguarding feelings and pretending they're not there at all. But Aymeric is also really really really hot. So: "Why not?"

She'd never heard of the term 'president' before, but given the context it's easy enough to figure out.

"Things are fine as they are," Era answers simply. "So why should I?"

And really, for all that people laud the differences between friendship and romance Era still has trouble deciding if it would be worth risking such a dynamic change with Aymeric. Their friendship is one of her most treasured things. The thought of ruining it somehow is utterly unbearable.

How strange to hear the very words she'd thought many times over in Eudio spoken aloud. Things are fine as they are, she thought when her and Vanyel were keeping things casual. When both of them danced around the fact that maybe there was more to their relationship than just having a good time. So why should I? Her mind had supplied several reasons for why she shouldn't and not enough for why she should; it drove her to run away, thinking it'd be better that way if she just tried to stomp out the feelings at the source and never talk to him again or hurt him so bad he'd never want to talk to her again.

"They might be fine now," she starts, a bit more careful with her words than before. "But that could change." They'd talked about this, a little bit. "Though, I don't know. Why settle for less when you can have more?" A pause. "Also, the whole point of being here is kind of like Eudio. Making connections, often intimate ones. He might find someone else he likes. Would you mind that?"

LATE SUMMER FAIR (NSFW DESSERTS)

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