Autumn Festival (OPEN)

[stringmods]

Who: EVERYONE
Where: Virgo Ward
Summary: Autumn Festival Log! You're all invited!
Warnings: MELONS
Ahh Autumn. The time for harvest, and the normal national holiday that falls on the 24th and 25th. Demons? Angels? Magic? Well nothing's been put on pause, but even the Anoli need to relax once in a while...

With that free time, what's a newcomer like you to do?

Well Hinoto-Ri has much to offer! As they seem to be the only standing city in...well, anywhere, they've tried to merge and adapt as many festivals around the world as they can.

Ergo this Fall festival is a mixture of everything the world could offer. Corn on the cob, Pumpkins, Yaki Imo (Oven-Roasted Sweet Potatoes), Ramen stands, Falafel, caramelized apples...

A giant dragon is tied down in the middle of the waters. At night, you can see a few pixies hover close to it, keeping other monsters at bay. The streets have been decorated as well.

But most importantly, the upper Virgo Ward has been turned in a giant festival area...even more so than usual! Now the millions of stalls don't just try to sell things to you, they sell things to you thematically with this fall! Giant pumpkins and fresh produce made in Libra and Capricorn..did you know that Capicorn has an amazing giant apple orchid, protected by the office of Wands and Swords? Try out some free samples! One taste is enough to convince you that having Persona to irrigate the fields ass a crispness to the fruit..right? Winter outfits...hats are in this year! Listen to some of the new music groups, and get pumped for the upcoming movies!

There is giant mooncake in the middle of all the tents and stalls. Don't worry about the money! Everything's free today! It is a time for sharing and family and...

...being thankful for what you have. No matter how small it might be.

For a city of survivors, Hinoto-Ri is certainly trying to have a good time.

You should join them.

Comments

[independent_dollmaker]

1

Alice could probably handle the influx of information about what's just happened to her, OR she could handle being amidst a huge festival crowd. Both at once, though, is a bit much.

After just a few minutes of wandering the festival grounds, Alice decides that this is quite enough, and quietly excuses herself out towards the quieter fringes. There, she finds a bench to sit on while she lets the situation sink in. It seems serious, but, well... someone will probably take care of it. Just wait until those two get here.

Which is not to say that she's going to ignore the festival completely. Shanghai will come in handy here...




2

Out and about amidst the stalls and festivities is a doll! It seems to be moving about on its own, sometimes walking and sometimes floating as it drifts from sight to sight. Sometimes it tries to buy things, which is difficult since it doesn't seem to be capable of speech.

Every now and then, it leaves the grounds to meet up with a magician on a bench by the edge of the festival, before going back out again.

2

[misery_hates_company]

Hmm.

The doll is interesting. Some sort of familiar, perhaps? It doesn't seem intelligent.

She doesn't really pursue it, mind, but rather watches it dart around curiously. She'd dearly love to take a closer look at it, but if there was someone controlling it, it would no doubt be more trouble than its worth.

She continues vending her luck tonics, but eventually sort of wanders approximately where the doll is constantly heading. Hmm. A new face, it seems. She observes for now.

[independent_dollmaker]

At this particular moment, the doll is bringing some of that yaki imo back to its master. The magician thanks the inanimate object graciously, before sending it back out into the crowds with a flick of the wrist.

She does not seem to have noticed the witch observing her.

[misery_hates_company]

Ah. So that's the elusive puppetmaster. Interesting. "You must have quite a bit of magical talent, being able to send out familiars like that. Though you look a bit old to be playing with dolls," she says at last, unable to resist the last jab.

[independent_dollmaker]

Oh, it's an aloof meddler. Fortunately, Alice has lots of experience with those.

"Either praise my talent or accuse me of playing with dolls. Doing both is splitting hairs."

[misery_hates_company]

"Oh, but I like to have it all! Oh ho ho ho." She smirks. "You must be new here, hmm? Certainly didn't see you with everybody else. Enjoying the festival, all cooped up back here?"

[independent_dollmaker]

"I am." She pointedly ignores Misery's smirk. "It's easier to think from over here."

[misery_hates_company]

"Goodness! What's there to think about? It's a festival! Eat! Play! Enjoy. Simple enough." She floats slightly. "Or maybe you're just a bit of a wallflower, hmm?"

[independent_dollmaker]

"There's plenty to think about. Have you bothered to take a moment and contemplate why we were brought here?"

2

[travelingtheworlds]

Sasha can be quite prone to distraction, and the sight of a floating doll is enough to get her to stop what she's doing (sampling more food, no doubt) and follow it around. Eventually, the doll leads Sasha back to its source: Alice. She gives Alice a friendly wave before speaking.

"Hello! Is that little doll yours?"

[independent_dollmaker]

"Yes, I made her myself." Shanghai turns and gives a theatrical bow.

[travelingtheworlds]

"Oh! It's so cute!" Sasha couldn't help but giggle a little at the bow. "And useful, too. It's been going around the festival and getting things for you, hasn't it?"

[independent_dollmaker]

"That's right. This way, I don't need to get any deeper into the crowds myself."

[travelingtheworlds]

"I can understand that! It can get a bit claustrophobic in there from time to time." Sasha approached Alice and extended a hand in greeting. "My name's Sasha. What's yours?"

[independent_dollmaker]

"Alice. I've only just arrived." She isn't exactly a pro at social interactions, but she accepts the handshake nonetheless.

[travelingtheworlds]

"Nice to meet you, Alice! And what a day to arrive on, huh?" Sasha took a seat next to Alice on the bench. "Are you enjoying the festival? Or at least, what you can see of it?"

[independent_dollmaker]

Alice scoots over, partially to make room and partially because she prefers a bit of distance between herself and other people. "It's... nostalgic, I suppose."

2

[greyerrant]

A huge armored warrior watches the floating and walking doll with interest, trying to ascertain the mechanism it is using to move around. He watches it almost like a dog would watch something that doesn't look tasty, or threatening, mild bemusement suggested by the grey-plated knight Errant.

Re: 2

[independent_dollmaker]

Lousy space marine, you're making Shanghai nervous! Or you would be, if she was sentient, and not a remotely-controlled inanimate object with no free will.

After a while of being followed, the doll spins around to face the knight, adopting something vaguely reminiscent of a defensive stance. No weapons, though, so it looks like it's just supposed to mean "I'm on to you".

Re: 2

[captainofthe10th]

The marine makes no sudden moves, but his eye-click targeting cursors pulse red crosses over the doll. Now he looks more interested, though he still doesn't even twitch, beyond tracking the doll with little turns of his head as it flits around.

[independent_dollmaker]

Challenge accepted! Shanghai retreats, taking advantage of her small size to try and lose the huge knight in the crowd. Can he keep up?

[greyerrant]

He doesn't need to. He just moves through the crowd, locked onto her with a blink-click motion of his eyes, as the neural interface of his armor combines with his own reflexes to continue tracking her.

[independent_dollmaker]

Well, there's no way the doll could know that, is there? It looks like it's going to lead you right back to the mastermind.

[greyerrant]

Loken watches, and waits, like the silent wolf that he is.

[independent_dollmaker]

The silent wolf follows his prey until the doll reveals its true ulterior motives: Bringing some snacks to a girl on a bench. She gives it a pat on the head.

This is clearly some high-level heresy going on.