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

Ice Skating

[melodiouspacifist]

At the time that Reno was hustling the denizens of this world, he was watching with a bit of a grin, arms draped behind him over the railing. He slouched a little bit more.

He was waiting, patiently, to be noticed. When Reno got around to him, he straightened a bit, while seeming to lean heavier against the railing.

"Oh, I don't know, I'm pretty fast." Demyx said in a bit of a gentle tone, as one skate slid a bit, his other leg wobbling.

He was totally going to win that coin.

[theturksway]

Reno chuckled briefly. "Sure you are, kid."

Despite his cocksure response, the redhead eyed Demyx carefully anyway. It looked less like gauging his opponent and more like contemplating his options though. He was avoiding conflict with the train passengers and conning them out of their coin might not be a good thing. However, the other did seem interested and willing even knowing the terms of the game.

He leaned forward at the hip a bit, keeping perfect balance on his skates despite the strange angle. "Maybe you ought to sit this one out. I wouldn't want to ruin your first fun trip out of the train."

Demyx wasn't the only manipulative little shit in the conversation. Reno liked to press buttons whether for the game or the job.

[melodiouspacifist]

Reno might like to press buttons, but so did Demyx. It wasn't like he wasn't used to that anyway.

"Oh, I could sit this one out, if you're scared and all." Demyx responded cheerfully.

"I understand!"

[theturksway]

Ooo, well played. Reno's smile turned into a shark's grin.

"Cute game," the Turk said. "So, let's have it, yo. Let's see what you've got. I don't mind losing a spare coin--if you can back up those words and show me a good time."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Ha, let's see if I can." Demyx said, straightening up, no there are no wobbles happening now, he's fairly confident on a pair of skates.

"And, go!" He tipped two fingers from his forehead in Reno's direction and took off, he's not just confident, he's quick too.

[theturksway]

Reno was used to the gesture--from giving it himself on occasion. He shook his head with another grin and took off after Demyx.

He was pretty fast, too. Speed and agility were his top assets. He didn't break out the lightning to catch up to Demyx just yet. It was a matter of testing his own abilities and if he could come out on top as is.

[melodiouspacifist]

It was kind of fun messing with Reno, but that paled a bit to getting to skate around at a high rate of speed. He had stamina, that was certain, and he had kicked off first which gave him the smallest of head starts.

He was quick, quicker than a lot of people, but he was also going nearly as quick as he could out of the gate.

Demyx weaved easily around someone else who was in theire way, as though it was no trouble at all to alter the course of his direction.

[theturksway]

Reno followed suit, sweeping around the person in the way without much change to his pace, though he certainly had a better opportunity to dodge around being slightly behind and seeing it coming from further back. If it bothered him that they were blazing past others with little concern then--yeah, no, he just straight up wasn't bothered in the least. Not under consideration at all. They were just amusing obstacles to him.

After a few more opportunities to duck and weave through the crowd with Demyx's moves alerting him to potential hazards before they became such to him, Reno began to catch up to the blonde.

[melodiouspacifist]

Demyx was all too comfortable in the front, thank you Reno, he wasn't going to give up that easily.

He glanced over his shoulder to see where he was, and he smirked. Okay he still had the lead.

Wait...he was catching up.

He huffed a little bit and tried to kick up a bit more speed, but Demyx had gone hard from the start, he didn't really have room to get much faster.

[theturksway]

This was definitely the most exhilarating race Reno had held so far. He'd seen plenty of people think they were fast run the makeshift course only to discover Reno had been playing them all along and zipped past them at the end. They had been fun, sure, but not that exciting.

Demyx clearly was accustomed to speed, had it for real, and knew how to use it. It felt a little like racing against himself, Reno thought. That made it interesting.

And while Reno had been racing for some time now what people didn't really know him for was his stamina. It's what kept him going even when he got the shit kicked out of him sometimes. At least long enough for his partner to come to the rescue, not that he would admit to that out loud. Part of it was just sheer stubbornness turned into determination and another part was just being damn good at his job. He wouldn't let himself be any other way.

It meant he kept going, kept pushing himself even as he saw Demyx try to do the same. He closed the gap even more as he took a different direction from Demyx to avoid another set of market goers and slung shot back around in close to his opponent. The end was going to be pretty close...

[melodiouspacifist]

The makeshift course had an end point, otherwise, what kind of a race would it be?

Reno was hot on his tail at the end there and even though Demyx pushed, without cheating, he came up just a little bit short.

He skidded to a stop, kicking up a bit of slush and catching his breath with a little giggle. That had been fun. Exhilarating.

He could be a brat, but he wouldn't. Reno had at least shown him some real competition, even though he'd lost in the end, it was worth giving up a coin on that alone.

He held up a coin between two fingers and offered it to Reno.