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

[flatteries]

[ He really needs to stop accidentally planting things into Della's head.

Because it's making his face very red right about now. ]

It's.. well.. erm, it's especially nice on his part! But.. that's just b-.. because Roland is nice in general! [ Really, Inigo, do you think he wouldn't treat you better than other people, considering you're practically his kid now? ] I mean, I bet he's always nice around you too, Della!

[sos_pilot]

Oh, sure, he's nice, but he doesn't hand over super cute little magic friends or give me amazing magic items!

... Well, one time he let me borrow a weapon, but that was mostly to prevent me from punching a robot, and to make up for shooting my foot.

[ Half-shrug. Not the same. No biggie. ]

[flatteries]

See!

[ CLEARLY THE SAME.

Also, he has so many questions about what she just said. But Inigo is slowly getting used to the fact that any story that comes from Della being wild, so he isn't going to start on that right now. ]

He's doing it for you too! And you're not going to claim he has some special feelings for you, are you?

[sos_pilot]

No, I won't deny it. But that's only because everyone has special feelings for me.

[ A bit of smug, a bit of smarm, but hey, Della's not lacking in confidence when it comes to making friends. ]

[flatteries]

[ Friendship is definitely not the brand of special Inigo was thinking of.

Which is why his cheeks are definitely red now. ]

W-Wait, what?! Everyone?! [ DELLA, WHAT KIND OF HAREM DO YOU HAVE? ]

[sos_pilot]

Of course! Don't you have special feelings for me?

[ what we have here is a failure to communicate. ]

[flatteries]

[ . . . . . . . .

How is he going to get himself out of this one gracefully. (The answer is, obviously: not at all.) ]

I.. erm, well.. I-I think you're very nice, Della! You seem like a great person! But I.. uh, well.. I-I believe you should reserve those special feelings for a specific person!

[ Says the guy who uses flirting with every girl when he first meets them as a coping method. ]

[sos_pilot]

[ Della blinks, but thankfully for everyone involved, it finally clicks for her.

... And she bursts out laughing, a hand on her gut. ]

Inigooo! When I was going on about special feelings, I didn't mean it that way!

[flatteries]

W-Wait, what?!

[ He's definitely still flustered. Because, let's face it, Inigo always is. ]

What other kind of special feelings are there?!

[sos_pilot]

Well, for starters, the special feelings I have for you are friendship, and... definite parent-vibes.

[ She knows when she's in the Found Family trope.]

[flatteries]

[ Uh oh, there's the p-word. Maybe Inigo's fluster would have slowly faded otherwise, but with those vibes being added at the end of the statement, this blush on his cheeks is here to stay. ]

F-For me? [ He sucks in a breath, trying to downplay it, play it cool, but it obviously isn't working with that pink hue still on his face. ]

Hey, Della, you can't just tell anyone that kind of thing! You're going to make your sons jealous!

[ With the way she's just adopting the entire train's kid population. ]

[sos_pilot]

[ Dawww, he's so cute. If he were closer, she'd be pinching those big pink cheeks of his. ]

Aw, they'd be cool with it! I pretty much treat their best friend Webby like one of my own too. And I bet they'd love to have you as a big brother to look up to!

[flatteries]

Look.. up to? Me?

[ This is getting Wild.

But Inigo may or may not be imagining it already. Look, he has a big sister, he knows how it works when you look up to a big sibling! Having cute little siblings who look up to him...

.. sounds kind of nice. ]

W-Well.. Then I'll make sure to treat them that way, if they ever show up here! Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep them safe!

[sos_pilot]

I know I can count on you, Inigo.

[ Pause. Cupping her beak. Come to think of it... ]

... I think we forgot what we were talking about in the first place.

[flatteries]

You were trying to look for gifts! [ HE DIDN'T FORGET.

Those two braincells are really being put to work here, but he sure didn't forget. ]

Come on, let's go take a look around the faire to see if we can find anything neat.

[sos_pilot]

Right! Let's get gift hunting, and you keep my head focused!