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

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre was surprised to hear that, raising an eyebrow. "Sense dark pathways? Like connections between worlds?"

[melodiouspacifist]

"Ah, right...look, it's like..." He seemed to be considering how to explain it.

"There's paths everywhere, that people don't see. Usually they're wide open. They connect everything like a web, you know? But something is blocking the exits."

Demyx wasn't sure he was explaining things well. "Okay, maybe it's better to show you. If you promise not to touch it." It wouldn't seriously hurt, Quatre, he didn't think, but he didn't want to go losing him or something and having him end up in a bad situation. It wouldn't be cool with anyone, he was betting.

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre stood back up from trying to tempt over a small fuzzy creature, listening to what Demyx told him with curiosity. At the offer to show him, his eyes went wide for a moment then a smiled.

"Yes, I would like to see that. I promise, no touching."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Okay cool." Demyx put his hand behind him to open up a darkness portal, and then pointed.

"I'll be behind you."

With that, Demyx stepped into the portal and it vanished with a bit of a dark flutter.

The portal would open a few moments later behind Quatre and Demyx would emerge again.

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre stayed perfectly still as Demyx stepped back and reached back, creating that portal behind him. Quatre watched in surprise as he stepped into the portal and disappeared...

Only for the portal to open again and Demyx to emerge as he had said, behind him.

"That's amazing!"

[melodiouspacifist]

"Uh, yeah I guess so." He smiled a little sheepishly. "It's just a skill I have. So there's dark corridors everywhere and usually I can use them to go to other worlds but these ones are all blocked from that."

[gundamofthedesert]

"Oh..." Quatre thought about that for a moment. "Perhaps the train is contributing to that? So you can't leave the train behind?"

[melodiouspacifist]

"Ah yeah probably, if I was gonna guess, but I'm not the kind of guy who can figure that stuff out." Demyx admitted, shaking his head.

"But look, at least it's not all bad or anything. For now at least, it's okay, I just had things to do."

[gundamofthedesert]

"I'm not either. I'm good with computers and technological things, not things like that."

He nodded his head. "I think a lot of people had things that the train separated them from. I'm Quatre. Quatre Raberba Winner."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Oh man, I can't do any of that." Demyx said with a laugh. "I can barely use the phone I have. It's like...I know how to push the one button to call my friend, but that's it."

He nodded, he was getting that, at least. He grinned and tipped two fingers at him from his forehead in greeting. "I'm Demyx!"

[gundamofthedesert]

"Well, if you ever need some help, I am happy to." It was the one thing that he was able to do for people here who did not have the same technology that he was used to back home.

"Nice to meet you, Demyx."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Yeah? I'll try and remember that. I can't think of anything I don't really know right now, I guess. Someone showed me the computer things on the room walls? I promise not to touch that." He said with a chuckle. That would be a disaster.

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre chuckled. "I'm sure there must be safe and not easily disturbed." Since there were so many on this train who didn't have that sort of thing, making it so completely open was dangerous and could cause problems with those who would just keep pushing buttons. "But still good to not push too many buttons on computer devices either way."

[melodiouspacifist]

"It all looks way too complicated for me. My friend is good at them but I'm totally lost." Demyx said with a helpless shrug. "I just don't want to break anything. People get mad if you do that." He knew that much.

[gundamofthedesert]

"Yes, that is sometimes the case, especially when someone wants to use it right then. Unfortunately, they can get rather impatient. What sort of things do you enjoy doing?"

[melodiouspacifist]

"I like to play my sitar." Demyx said confidently, because that at least, was a constant.

[gundamofthedesert]

"Really? That sounds nice. I'd like to hear you play sometime. I play the violin myself."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Oh hey, the violin would be fun. I haven't had the chance to play any of the other stringed instruments but I really like my sitar."

Demyx grinned. "Course you can listen to me, I love an audience."

[gundamofthedesert]

"I enjoy it. I agree though. I have always enjoyed listening to other string instruments, but I have never played anything other than violin."

He smiled. "Thank you. I'd appreciate that. If you would like to try playing a violin, I do have mine from home."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Oh wow, that's...really nice." Demyx said, looking genuinely surprised. "I would but...If it's anything like my sitar, are you sure? I'm not sure I could let other people touch Arpeggio, I mean..." He wouldn't even really consider it normally.

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre nodded his head. "I am sure. You are a string player as well and you understand."

Besides, he was sure that he could request another violin from the train if he had to.

[melodiouspacifist]

"That would be great, yeah." Demyx offered a bright smile.

"I uh, well I'll think about it? Letting you touch Arpeggio. It's just complicated because it's tied to my heart, I think. It's not like a regular instrument." Demyx explained a little bit. He cared a lot about what could potentially happen to his sitar.

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre smiled. "That's fine. I understand completely."

He wouldn't be offended at all if Demyx told him 'no'. Especially since he had offered to let him try his violin just because he had sounded interested in it. No condition attached to it.