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

[its_dad_sanzo]

"You're not buying all your materials, are you?" That would be so many points, to keep Senku busy...

[10billionpercent]

"Nah, I collect what I can everywhere we visit and I have people helping me." Senku grinned. He's talked people into doing work for him, of all things.

"So for the coats, I bought a bolt of suede, but the inside." He flips his sleeve inside out a bit. "This is bear fur that we got from Inigo hunting bears. The leather strips for the ties are from some leather I picked up two missions ago, the toggles are made of bear bones and the waterproofing was done with bear fat."

[its_dad_sanzo]

A proper, pious, perfect Buddhist monk would have been horrified.

But not Koumyou, instead he's delighted at the ingenuity, "Oh! Bear fur, I bet that's super duper warm, well done!"

[10billionpercent]

A proper, pious, perfect Buddhist monk would've been told not to waste anything, because they had to eat.

"Yeah, it works perfectly. In my world typically we use a lot of deer since that's mostly what we have access to, but Inigo hunted some bears so this is what we've got."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Proper, pious, perfect Buddhist monks were absolute morons in Koumyou's opinion. Faced with having to kill to eat, they would try to fill their bellies with prayer. Just as they'd try to hold the dangers of the world at bay without lifting a hand to save themselves.

Sanzos didn't have that kind of luxury, even if he'd been inclined. But if he'd been inclined, he'd have also never become a Sanzo, who by definition must be ready to kill anything to protect the sutra.

Including their own hearts. Koumyou had failed at that one.

"I hadn't thought about that... these missions are always on planets? With resources?" Oh good, create another hoarder, why don't you.

[10billionpercent]

"So far!" Senku said with a pleased grin. "In fact, this was probably the one place with the least amount of visible materials, but that's okay, I kind of got talked into relaxing today."

[its_dad_sanzo]

It's an interesting idea, though. He has an arms band.

"...Well, relaxing is good, too."

[10billionpercent]

"I guess. I don't usually like that much, but I don't know, a date's not so bad." Senku hummed.

He might also be blushing a little bit.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Ohh?" Koumyou's actually a lot more interested in this topic than he would have been the last time they talked. It's great timing!

"Is this why you're picking out a scarf for someone? You're about to go on a date?"

Is that something one's supposed to do?

[10billionpercent]

"Well, it is for Gen, it's not really because of the date thing. I made him one of these coats too. I figured it would go, and besides I don't want him getting cold."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"--Ah. I've met Gen! Not long after I arrived here, we made fun of movies together," Koumyou's pleased to actually know someone being talked about, for once! "You two are a... couple?"

The uncertainty, here, is still not being sure what words to use in this category. That's the right one, right?

"...How nice! You should definitely get him a scarf, then. Maybe I should get one for Devero."

[10billionpercent]

"You could say that, yeah." Their relationship was complex enough as it was, but they were officially dating, for whatever that was worth. "Doesn't surprise me, the Mentalist talks to people all the time." He was a lot more chatty than Senku.

"You could. I picked purple because that's what he likes, but I don't know what Devero likes."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"I don't know either," Koumyou says with a laugh that might just be a touch self-depreciating. "I'm really not any good at this stuff."

He's terrible at it, or such is his own opinion. But Koumyou will poke through the displays of scarves anyway, just in case something jumps out at him. Since this is a thing you're supposed to do, apparently, so he'll at least try.

"Is mentalist a profession of some kind?"

[10billionpercent]

"Oh, well, me neither, but I make him things he likes and give him things and I make sure he's well provided for." That was part of dating right?

"Also, I tell him he's full of shit when he starts talking about things like astrology, which just amuses him."

Senku tilted his head at the question. "Ah, it was. He was like a magician, but he prefers to be called a mentalist for whatever reason. It's not his current job, but it became his nickname because..." Well, because Senku was a smartass.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Mn," Koumyou rifles through a few more scarves, then gives up on anything striking him as particularly 'Devero', and tucks his hands back into his sleeves. "Well, I'm not sure I'm much good for any of that unless he really likes paper airplanes."

It's pretty much all he knows how to make, and he doesn't even have the right paper for it. The big guy really needs to find someone better suited to all this.

But rather than dwell on that right now, the priest just turns his attention to the other part of the conversation. Gen! That's a safe topic! "...Because...?"

Just admit you're a smartass, Senku. Go ahead.

[10billionpercent]

"Ah, well, maybe he would like that." Senku couldn't help it, that was a big part of their relationship and the kind of thing he brought to the table.

"...Because...well..." He smirked slightly. "I thought it would annoy him."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"...And it backfired spectacularly?"

He's met Gen, he knows the guy is a fellow connoisseur of the trolling arts.

[10billionpercent]

"Without a doubt. I have all kinds of horrible nicknames for him. Menace. Trickster. Devious bastard.." Senku commented with a smirk.

Maybe they were both connoisseurs of the trolling arts.

"But he is my first experience in dating, so all I can do is treat this like a science experiment."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Well, at least you have a method to your madness," Koumyou points out, "I'm just bumbling my way along hoping to not make too big a mess of it all."

He's just as inexperienced! And clearly a lot more embarrassed about it. See: his cheeks coloring slightly, and his attempts to veer the conversation firmly in any other direction. Have mercy on an old man!

"Those nicknames don't sound that horrible to me. But I'm guessing that's not the real goal anyway."

[10billionpercent]

"No, it's really just to tease him." It was flirting, is what it was.

"Ah, well what I do is, gauge his reactions to various stimuli. He seems to enjoy hand holding, to a degree, but when I performed a magic trick to tease him he liked that significantly more because he kissed me."

Data collection was very important. "He always smiles when he gets me ranting, so I know he likes listening to me, he also enjoys stargazing with me and listening to me tell him about the stars. Those findings may strictly relate to Gen though."

Senku mused. "Tugging on the fringe of his hair usually means he reciprocates. I'm undecided if that's a good thing or not."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"...And you're not worried he'll get bored of the things you've figured out, and you won't be able to find more?"

Fine, if we're on this topic then we're on it.

[10billionpercent]

He blinked a few times. No, he hadn't considered that at all.

"I don't think so. He's not a boring guy and if he's looking for scientific information I can tell him things for years and years to come. Also, he likes the stars, we're intending on building a skylight in our eventual house."

Senku was saying those things as though those were normal friend conversations they'd had.

"If he did get bored then I would have to come up with some other way to entertain him." He considered that. "I don't know what I'd do next though. He did like my coin trick, maybe I could learn another magic trick."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"I don't think Devero's boring at all, I'm the problem in this equation," Koumyou laughs faintly, and glances away. "I'm an old man who only knows how to be a priest. So I'm bound to mess everything up, or just bore him. I don't think there's any avoiding it."

He sounds pretty certain of that, really. More than a touch resigned.

"It sounds like you have plenty to do with Gen for the foreseeable future. And knowing you," even though he only barely does, it's enough, "you'll find more long before it's ever a problem."

It doesn't take knowing the guy super well to know that much.

[10billionpercent]

"Well, I would think I'm pretty boring, but Gen doesn't think so, and so...it could be that Devero doesn't think that about you either." Senku observed with perhaps surprising insight.

"It's true that I'm all kinds of busy and that's my energy, but it probably hasn't all been good for Gen. I get distracted sometimes and usually work comes first. Apocalypse you know. But he says he's good with all of that." Senku waved his hand.

"I don't know, maybe you should talk to Devero about that kinda stuff. Sounds like feelings and I don't know anything about that."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"I will ask him if we can stop talking about it now."

Let's try the direct approach!