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

[smileslie]

[Although she had much more intimate contact with fans long ago, there's something far nicer about Arthur's platonic affection. Maybe because it isn't asking for more, or perhaps because he's not glancing over her shoulder for Brian. Whatever the reason, it really is more appreciated than Mandy thinks she could really explain with words. So she just smiles]

Well, thank you darling. Honestly, I think something of a communal wardrobe wouldn't be an awful idea.

[it's the way she lived for a long time, swiping the boys' lipsticks and jackets, knowing they were raiding her earrings and scarves at the same time. It feels weird to be wearing peacock-bright colors now, but she can't deny she misses it, and that feeling of sharing small things.

Her grin broadens as she rests her chin on her hand, while still not propping up her chest the way she had for the people who actually wanted her lips] Mm, quite. There was a gorgeous blonde girl named Rose. I might have to talk to her later.

[Something in her stomach still twists at not hiding pronouns or changing names--the time when she'd been able to do that safely nearly everywhere she went had been so brief that it's hard to believe it wasn't a dream sometimes. But she does her very best not to show it, the memory of that fear that she knows Arthur knows and hardly needs to be put in words. So instead, she arches a brow] And what about you?

[tangleofgarlands]

Really? I'd love that.

[Part of him can't quite believe it, despite the evidence right in front of him--he's wearing one of her scarves, loosely tied around his throat, and she looks better in his earrings than he ever did. Still, there's that giddy grin again, and he glances away for a moment with a huff of laughter and a distinct warmth to his face.]

You should, although I'll be surprised if she's the only person you reel in, though. You look amazin'.

[That small, pointed look speaks volumes more than the four words she spoke, and he feels the flush on his face deepen even as he gives himself away by looking over his shoulder at a different booth.]

I haven't worked up the nerve to kiss him yet. His name's Will, and he rescued me a while back when I fell in a ditch and busted my ankle. [He turns back to Mandy with a helpless, self-defeating smile.] And he plays guitar.

[smileslie]

You say that now. Wait until the scarves and boas start breeding and eat only left shoes.

[but she still sounds pleased herself; she doesn't know why that was something she'd missed, having a messed up closet never been sure who had bought what, but that colorful chaos had been a piece of the new sort of life she'd built for herself, making the ridiculous buildings they stayed in feel like homes.

She's glad she put on makeup now, since it covers the flush she feels warming her face] Flatterer. I'm rusty, and I know it quite well. And unless appearances are even more deceiving than I'm used to, I'm quite sure I'm probably the oldest person signed up for this business.

[But her self-depreciation can only go so far, because then Mandy follows that quick glance and a lifetime ago she would have snorted with laughter and just shoved Arthur towards the boy. That's what she did, dragging people into the deep end. She's still not certain really how either she or Brian got away with it without getting slapped more often.

Now, her whole face crinkles in the kind of smile that never would have made the cover of a magazine even with her jewel toned lips since it reveals the lines on her face, but it's also real]

Well, it's impossible not to be wound up by a cute boy with a guitar. Isn't that the entire reason you boys get them in the first place?

[Then, in a move that even she's surprised by, she touches his hand--light enough that anyone even standing right by them might not notice--and drops most of the sparkling mask that in all honesty is still exhausting, looking surprisingly serious for just a moment] Go on. Worst thing that happens is he turns you down and you know he's got positively no taste and also needs to get his eyes checked.

[tangleofgarlands]

It's always the bloody left shoe, isn't it? Unless it's a left sock.

[His own memories of sharing clothes and makeup and accessories are bright and shimmering, maybe a little rosy with nostalgia, but it had meant for the first time not having to hide his things, not having to sneak out in a jacket too warm for the weather. It had been his first experience with true freedom, and if he's honest with himself, it's something he's missed desperately. The promise of common ground makes it feel almost like he's home.]

It's not a bad thing, that you're older than most of us. It just means you've lived longer. Personally, I've been enjoying your perspective.

[Even when it makes him squirm, self-conscious, at the knowing glance she gives him. His heart picks up speed at the same time that she touches his hand, and for a moment he feels as though he's known her for years already.

He can't hold back a giggle, but at least his palms aren't sweating every time she looks at him anymore, and for a brief moment he winds their fingers together and squeezes. The moment passes by, and he glances back over at Will again.]

I wouldn't know why he got it, but he certainly knows how to use it. [Then, realizing how that sounded, his ears go hot and he looks away again.] I think I might need a drink first.

[smileslie]

[it's hard not to bark a laugh at that, to not tell him how many people she's outlived and will outlive because no one else gives a single shit about them. But that's the kind of thing she's trying to just think about at night on her own, and makes a concerted effort to shove back under the bed like the proverbial monster it feels like now because there are still beautiful people to kiss and Arthur who's still...whatever he had been, before the first time she recalls seeing him, before the world had completely washed away everything she and Brian had done and was left more bleached than her damn hair]

As surreal as that is to hear, it's not unappreciated. Doesn't change the fact that I am having dreadful flashbacks of saying 'don't trust anyone over thirty' and being entirely serious.

[it takes biting her lip quite hard to hold back her laughter at that, even if it would be with him, because she almost remembers being that way, seeing someone across a room and thinking they were too beautiful to go near. But the shift of his hand--that passing moment of real connection, as light and fleeting as it is--sucks the majority of the amusement away. As much as she would have desperately wanted another person to look to at his age to make these things easier, she is still entirely sure she isn't the one to be looking to. But people like him--like them--worked with what they had because it had to be enough.

She sucks in a soft breath, before levelling her gaze]

One piece of advice is that I actually think isn't total rubbish; the ones you need some liquid courage for are generally worth it. You should be at least a little nervous before the first time you kiss someone. Also, don't worry about being a blithering idiot too much. Even if he's not--rock star caliber, usually a boy like that, who carries an instrument around? They're delighted if they can make you forget your own name. It's embarrassing, but the vast majority of the time worth the couple minutes you'll be wanting to go find a cave to hide in for the rest of your life.

[was she actually admitting she'd been a total twit around--well, maybe not Brian, of course not Brian, but anyone? She would have wanted to die from that, not long ago. Yet another reason this was all so damn surreal]

So, the sooner you get the embarrassing parts out of the way, the sooner you can get to finding out what else he knows what do with his hands.