Winter Faire

[voidtreckermods]

”Shortly arriving in World#5562102022. The dressing carriage is open for your convenience.” The announcement might be unexpected so late in the month, but soon enough further information arrives on their SCA’s.

World#5562102022: Home of the famous Winter Faire. Voidtreckers may spend the evening here. Please remember your Snowcoins. Enjoy.

The dressing carriage is open for characters to choose from an array of winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves. There are also ice skates in a variety of sizes and shapes, suitable for all passengers.

THE PLAZA

The Express comes to rest in a station roofed by sheets of ice. Streamers of light run up and along the arches overhead, sending flashes of colour through the structure at intervals. A wooden path leads through stands of sparkling trees to the faire proper.

The faire is a large one, mostly made up of a large market of wooden huts. The market is held outside; while it's dark when they arrive, there are floating lights twinkling in the darkness that illuminate the area. There is snow on the ground and a light flurry in the air, the perfect amount of snow to be atmospheric without anyone being too damp or cold.

There are both ice paths and ordinary wooden paths through the market. In the centre of the market there is a large ferris wheel, where guests can sit in glass bubbles filled with soft cushions and blankets as they view the snowy market from above.

THE ICE RINK

There are two large ice rinks, and ice paths weave through the market, with many of the eateries having 'ice gardens' where skaters can rest and drink before continuing their skating. Wooden railings run through the middle of the ice paths, both to form two one-way lanes, and to give new or wobbly skaters something to hold onto. 

There are benches at the entrance to the large ice rinks for people to change into their ice skates and cubbies for them to store their shoes; the ice paths connect to both rinks. There are also skate aids for those that need them, carved wooden animals to hold onto and push along the ice for balance. An animal that looks like a furred penguin dominates.

THE SLEDDING SLOPE

To the north of the market, there is a snowy field with a hill perfect for sledging, and sleds to borrow for any who want them. 

The whole field is deep with snow, with a well trodden path leading up the hill and sledding tracks leading down. To the side of the slope are snowpeople and snow animals, some better built than others, and plenty of snow to add to this collection.

THE WOODLAND ENCLOSURES

To the south there is a small woodland where a member of staff will allow guests through with warnings to be peaceful and not disturb the creatures. 

The trees are bare of leaves and white with snow, some with frost forming crystal snowflakes on the branches. There are indeed woodland creatures within the woodlands: deer, rabbits, strange white pompom-looking creatures. They are comfortable with people, and won't flee.

THE FERRIS WHEEL

In the centre of the market there is a large ferris wheel allowing guests to sit in glass bubbles filled with soft cushions and blankets as they view the snowy market from above. The ferris wheel moves slowly, allowing plenty of time to take in the view and enjoy the company, the soft seating, or both.

Bubbles can fit up to 6 people, though the attendants will allow groups from single guests up to six. The glass can be made one-way, so that guests cannot be viewed from outside.

THE MARKET

All the activities in the faire are free.  Everything in the market, from a mug of beer to a blown glass ornament costs one snowcoin, the snowflake tokens that passengers received on station day. Each passenger has ten to spend.

FOOD STALLS

The actual market sells drinks: hot chocolate, mulled wine, beer, spiced apple juice and cider amongst some more alien picks like a bright pink concoction that is delicious but very alcoholic; food: sausages, bread, cakes, roasted chestnuts, candied nuts, stroopwafel and a whole collection of unrecognisable but delicious things.

All are available to take out, though many of them also have a bar area where shoppers can sit, drink and people watch.

SHOPPING

The stalls don't sell much that would be considered useful, but are filled with trinkets, decorations, cute hats and other clothing, sweets, glassware, jewellery, toys… and much much more.

After a good few hours in the market, things are beginning to wind down and stalls start to close. The Voidtreckers will receive a message on their SCA telling them it is time to return to the Express. Once all passengers are on board the train will leave the ice-covered station and return back to the Void.

Comments

Senku Ishigami | OTA

[10billionpercent]

It had taken a few minutes really, to talk Senku into leaving the train. Part of the reason was because he didn't have a functioning SCA, and the other part was that well, festivals weren't his thing. Gen was very persuasive, and even sacrificed himself for the cause to prove it was safe. So. There Senku was, most often than not, holding hands with his boyfriend and unlike those who visited the dressing carriage, he had his own winter coat, one he'd constructed of black suede, red thread and completely lined with bear fur. It was perfectly situated for him, short sleeves and all, and was long enough to go mid-calf but perhaps most strange was that his legs were bare underneath, because he was wearing a kilt he sometimes wore around the train.

Sledding!

Senku was not big on winter sports, or physical activity of any kind naturally, but he at least seemed open to sledding since it involved somewhat less work than skating.

He'd line up with or without Gen, just to try it out.

Shopping

Naturally, he needed to get a gift for Gen, that was a given, and he was looking over some fluffy purple scarves at one of the stalls, humming curiously about which one might suit him the best.

"What do you think?" He asked, holding up one that was light purple and one that was dark purple, both accented at the ends with white tassels and a snowflake pattern.

Eating

He's content to look at the menu board, trying to decide what else to spend his coins on and whether or not he wants to get some kind of alcoholic drink. He isn't really sure he's feeling it.

Lying in the snow

Senku is just outright, flat on his back, looking up the sky, taking in the stars.

"I wonder what their story is..." He murmured.

[ Please note: Senku is still without an SCA. While he can be understood by others, he cannot understand anyone who does not speak Japanese, English or Russian. Hope you're ready to play charades...or ask Gen if he can borrow his SCA. Either one! ]

Convincing

[fun_thementalist]

Gen's wearing the wonderful coat that Senku had made him, snuggly and warm, with the dark slacks he'd bought and the boots issued by the train. Everything ... even finally getting answers ... well. They needed this. They all needed this. But especially Senku.

Looking at his dear friend and boyfriend, not breaking eye contract, he stepped outside of the train, walking backward - fashioned his SCA - and threw it at Senku.

Waited.

Nothing.

His grin was triumphant. "There, my darling. It's safe for you to come and explore this place with me, hm?"

[10billionpercent]

Senku fumbled a little bit catching the SCA but he managed and let out an amused snort. "You're lucky I caught that."

It was only logical, Gen was right there, perfectly fine, and so he jumped off the train and into the snow, offering Gen back his SCA.

"Where do you want to go?"

[fun_thementalist]

"If I'm relying on my luck, I always think it's fair to take a chance," Gen teased gently, and put his SCA back on once Senku handed it over.

Giving Senku a little wink, he reached for a hand.

"Well, let's see what's here? This whole place looks like an American winter greeting card, I admit. If there are buildings made of spearmint and candy canes ..." He was being a little ridiculous on purpose.

[10billionpercent]

He gave Gen his hand easily, unsurprisingly they were as bare as his arms, but for whatever reason that was what Senku liked to wear in the winter. He squeezed his hand slightly.

"What are you? Some kind of German child, destined to encounter a witch and end up as dinner?" He teased lightly, using a fairy tale reference of all things.

Sledding

[light_of_willpower]

"Oh good, I think you owe me some revenge? Feel up to a race?" Trunks was grinning, but it was entirely friendly as he spotted Senku waiting in line, like himself.

[10billionpercent]

"Yeah, sure, I'll race you to the bottom, no problem." Senku grinned, pointing in Trunks' direction, glad he was able to understand him to accept his challenge.

He was quite lucky on the level of people who spoke Japanese on the train.

[light_of_willpower]

And yet, if he told Trunks he was speaking 'Japanese', Trunks would have no clue what he meant. There was no place such as 'Japan' where he was from, so... Better not to mention it, and just enjoy that the two can communicate.

"Good. This'll be fun." Trunks moved over to come stand in line closer to Senku. Better to secure two sleds at the same time.

[10billionpercent]

"Yeah, should be alright. Even I'm coordinated enough to slide on a sled." Any attempts at snowboarding should quickly be dismissed. Really.

"Our Captain enjoys his winter sports, so last winter we made a nice hill like this."

shopping

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Dark," Koumyou doesn't even have to think about it, glancing over at Senku. "The contrast is better with the white, don't you think?"

Luckily for Senku, the priest speaks Japanese by default, if in a dialect heavily influenced by time in China.

[10billionpercent]

Dialects were fun, and quite interesting to learn about, although for the most part he'd understand. He hadn't considered too much about his own and how his own language had evolved, but he also didn't think much of that came through with the translation aids. It was fascinating.

"Hm, that's true, although he usually wears something closer to the lighter colour."

[its_dad_sanzo]

A word here and there would undoubtedly be lost to Senku, but context should be more than enough for him to figure it out. Especially since he himself knew multiple languages!

Koumyou just smiles, and shrugs, "I'm no fashion expert!" Surely not, in his Sanzo uniform as he is, and has been every day for twenty-three years until the train rudely dressed him up. "But the dark one wouldn't just blend in, right?"

[10billionpercent]

"Ah, no, here we're stuck in that hideous orange and the mix of things we've picked up but his winter coat is just like mine, since we made it, black." Senku explained, holding them both up to his coat.

"Neither one seems to blend in, but you're right, I think that the dark one seems more vibrant maybe."

Shopping

[namethattune]

Siebren looks down at the proffered scarves. "That depends entirely on the intended recipient. Who did you have in mind?"

Normally, when speaking with someone, Siebren defaults to English - Dutch is not a commonly learned second language, and it is easier to simply start with the more common language than to have to backtrack and start the conversation again.

Right now, however, he is speaking Dutch. He is absolutely making a point.

[10billionpercent]

Senku stared at him a moment, considering his words, but it wasn't because of what Siebren asked of course, he was trying to parse out potential meaning.

He hadn't gestured, he hadn't really done anything at all to help him understand.

What he's speaking is...Germanic, certainly, beyond that, he's got nothing. His brow was furrowed. His inflection, maybe, told him he was asking a question? Maybe.

"Uh. Okay. I didn't understand that. Just...Hm." He was considering some kind of potential solution. Unlike Siebren, he nearly always defaulted to Japanese since they had translators.

[namethattune]

"Oh, I am well aware. I highly doubt anyone else aboard the train speaks Dutch." Flat tone, perfect English, point made (hopefully).

Snow Angel

[pleple]

"The stars?" she responds in English. "Other than the usual?"

[10billionpercent]

He switched out of habit, but it probably wouldn't make a difference to how he was understood.

"Yeah, I mean, these aren't the same stars I'm usually looking at in the Northern Hemisphere, so I can't imagine they have the same legends and myths here."

[pleple]

"Ah." Ple Two had never been taught her own world's legends - names of constellations, without the backstory. "Intelligent life always looks for images and patterns, so I'm sure it's like that here, too."

Shopping

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre was also browsing the stalls, looking to see if there was anything he thought that his friends on the train would like. At the question, he looked over at Senku.

"It's very nice. For you or for a friend?"

Presuming he speaks Japanese or English

[10billionpercent]

"Ah, it's for the Mentalist." Senku explained. "It's the kind of thing he'd like, I think."

Quite likely. The show is Japanese, but the text on the computers is English

[gundamofthedesert]

"Oh, I see. Then I'm sure he would like that. I haven't met him myself, but since you know him, I'm sure it will be exactly what he would want."

Re: Senku Ishigami | OTA

[death_from_above]

(Gar speaks English, French, some Chinese, and knows about as many Japanese words as anyone with an Otaku twin might after watching endless anime with his brother. So he's more likely to know words like ghost, warrior, priestess, and princess than say... car, train, hello, thank you...)

shopping
"You'd rather a scarf to wear than knowing where to go to scarf down food?" he kidded. By default as Gar he spoke French. He didn't even think about it anymore, really.

[10billionpercent]

He stared at him a moment. "Ah, I didn't catch that." Senku explained, without actually explaining what the problem was.

[death_from_above]

"Pun on the word scarf. Don't worry, I'm just getting warmed up." he grinned.

(If it sounded like he was speaking English, Gar will switch without thinking about it, if it is Japanese, please let me know, so he can try to swap gears.)