Homecoming carnival! (backdated to Week 6 Friday)

[wrnpcs]

[There seems to be a festive atmosphere all throughout Garden. Why? Because it's the Homecoming Carnival! The Garden Festival Committee have been hard at work all morning and when 1300 hours strikes, it's finally open for everyone to enjoy.

The directory has been reprogrammed slightly:
It also has a piece of paper stuck underneath:
Kissing booth: Turn around
Food booths: Around 1F main circle
Triple Triad: 2F bridge
Carnival games: Front gate area
Chocobo rides: Road to Garden

Each stall/booth has free, more elaborate maps:


Have fun, Garden!]

Each attraction has its own thread. We've listed the people running shifts in the top comments as a reminder to those who signed up; feel free to make your character a thread for their shift even if you missed OOC signups.

Characters have different shifts which allow for everyone to enjoy other parts of the carnival as well instead of being stuck manning a booth the whole night. For the dunk tank, kissing booth, food booths, and talent quest it's best to leave your character's name in the subject of their comment to start off their thread indicating their shift/time onstage.

Proceeds will be split between further events and building and furnishing a student lounge for fun stuff, so most attractions cost money:
Kissing booth: 2 gil per kiss
Chocobo rides: 5 gil per person
Carnival games (archery, throwing/shooting X at Y, water gun race, whack a mole, skee ball, Ring the Bell, etc): 1 gil per game
Face painting: 2 gil per person
Food stalls: Snow cones 3 gil, cotton candy 3 gil, and funnel cake 5 gil; "food from your home world" up to individual characters
Dunk tank: 5 gil for 3 balls, 10 gil for 10 balls
Fortune telling: 3 gil per reading
Marriage booth: 5 gil a couple
Balloon animals: 3 gil an animal

Comments

goldfish scooping!

[bunnypassingby]

Step right up for goldfish scooping!

[Look, Mikuru's even (sadly unintentionally) making it easier for you: She keeps feeding the goldfish when she doesn't get any takers.]

[elementofloyalty]

Ooh, hey! I should totally get a fish or two to keep Tank company!

[Rainbow plops down near the booth, leaning over to peer at the goldfish. Which one would make a good pet...]

[bunnypassingby]

[Mikuru smiles - finally, a customer! - and readies a scoop. They're made of thin paper this year, not the gauze they've used in previous years.] I'm sure they'd like some friends! Usually people only manage to catch one.

[elementofloyalty]

Other people aren't me.

[She takes the scoop in her teeth, then drops down to hover just above the water, watching hawklike for the perfect fish to catch with the perfect scoop.]

[bunnypassingby]

That's true!

[All the same, she waits nearby with the feed, ready to bait the fish if needed. It's more out of habit (that born from sympathy) than out of any doubt in Rainbow personally.]

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow's method of catching a fish is... unorthodox, to say the least. Rather than gently scooping the fish out, being careful not to break the thin paper -- she surges forward like a striking heron, flipping the fish out of the water by sheer force. She quickly scoops up a plastic bag, then darts underneath it to catch it in the water before it can fall.]

Oh yeah! Welcome to the family, little guy!

[bunnypassingby]

[The suddenness of that rush makes Mikuru jump, but once she sees Rainbow catch the fish, she smiles proudly.] Well done! What are you going to name him? ... Or her... I'm not really sure how you tell with fish.

[elementofloyalty]

Oh... I dunno yet. I gotta see what he's like. And I gotta get another one, give him some company. This isn't done yet!

[bunnypassingby]

[Mikuru eyes the remaining fish, somewhat concerned that there won't be any left for the others (she hasn't even broken the scoop!), then nods slowly, and prepares another bag.]

[elementofloyalty]

[In a rainbow blur, Rainbow Dash is holding another bag with another fish in it, grinning wickedly.] Aww yeah! Who's the best fish-catcher in Garden?

[bunnypassingby]

So far, it looks like you! I volunteer at or at least go to this booth every year and I've never seen anyone catch more than one. [Often people catch none. Like herself.]

[elementofloyalty]

Two's enough for me though! [She grins happily, one fish-bag tucked under each foreleg.]

[bunnypassingby]

[There may be a tinge of relief to Mikuru's smile.] I'm sure they'll be very happy with you and [what was the name she mentioned earlier? oh, yes:] Tank.

/so laaate I'm sorry

[om_nom_namur]

Wow, them li'l shits really took a shine t' y', Girlie. How much y' been feedin' 'em?

no worries!

[bunnypassingby]

[Mikuru glances down into the water, self conscious, then gives an embarrassed giggle.] Probably too much, to be honest...

[om_nom_namur]

[Namur laughs, squats by the pool and dips his hand in. The fish swarm around his fingers.]

Eh, these're marked for death anyway. Nothin' wrong with givin' 'em a feast 'fore they go.

[bunnypassingby]

[Her eyes widen.] What do you mean, 'marked for death'?

[om_nom_namur]

Most a these li'l shits're gonna go belly up 'fore the end a the carnival. Water's too warm right now, but if y' move it out a the sunlight it'll get too cold too fast. Ain't got 'nuff oxygen in it either. They'll prob'ly start suffocatin' by mornin'. Ones that get scooped, what y' puttin' 'em in? Li'l bag with a bit a water, right? While whoever scooped 'em wanders 'round the rest a the carnival bouncin' an' bumpin' 'em 'round, assumin' they don't jus' leave 'em at some game somewhere. 'S a lotta stress for their systems. Ain't necessarily a heart attack goin' t' kill 'em but close 'nuff.

[Namur lifts his hand out and flicks the extra water off his fingertips.]

Even if these weren't dyin' here, they're called feeder fish. People farm 'em by the hundreds a thousands an' sell 'em cheap t' those that keep bigger fish. Maybe they'd a had 'nother couple days a life 'fore they got nabbed up by a predator, but that's 'bout it. Born t' die, 's their whole purpose. Make the most a it, though. 'S why they keep eatin' every time y' feed 'em. Bet y' could teach 'em a few simple games t' play while y' wait for people t' come scoop. Swirl yer finger 'round the edge a the pool, see what they do.

[bunnypassingby]

[Mumbled:] I've been telling people who scoop them to get them into something bigger right away...

[The thought of the fish being born to die saddens her, and she frowns into the water as she dips her finger in.]

[om_nom_namur]

Sheheh, I'm sure y' did, Sweetheart.

[A few of the goldfish swim up to investigate her finger. If she begins swirling it in large circles, they'll follow, more and more joining the game.]

Ain't nothin' wrong with a short life if y' live it good, right? Better'n a longass life full a nothin', anyway.

[bunnypassingby]

[She starts trailing her finger in ever widening loops through the water, curious about the fish following her. But then, it must be boring in there.]

Yeah, I think I agree with you... I think it's important to give your life meaning, too.

[Mikuru looks down at the fish with a wistful smile.] I wish I knew what these guys would want to do with their lives.

[om_nom_namur]

[Namur sighs quietly. He's setting himself up to have to deal with a loooot of stupid.]

Fishfolk an' merfolk can talk t' fish, y' know. These guys're pretty damn simple, but I'll ask one if y' want.

[bunnypassingby]

[Her eyes widen in surprise.] That would be great! Thank you!

[om_nom_namur]

A'ight, gimme a second. 'S been awhile since I tried talkin' t' anythin' this tiny. Usually yellin' at sharks 'n' shit like that, sheheheh. Okay.

[Namur takes a breath, tries to think in the simplest of terms. He hopes they're at least smart enough to understand the concept of "me" and "you". Reaching in, he slips his finger over one of the larger ones' dorsal fin.]

Hey, come talk. [Then he moves his finger over and taps it on the surface.] Here.

[The fish complies, swimming away from the main group and splashing at the surface where Namur indicated.]

Good, y' understand that. Jump for me.

[The fish does, then turns and if a fish could show a quizzical expression, that would be the look it gives Namur.]

Sheheheh sorry Sweetheart, jus' wanted t' show her y' could. She's got a question she wants t' ask y' but she ain't a mermaid, so she don't know how t' make her words reach y'. I'm gonna ask for her, got it?

[The little fish's mouth opens and closes a few times, and Namur sits back on his heels, laughing. He knocks the side of Mikuru's arm with the back of his hand, then points down at the little fish.]

She's surprised t' learn y' ain't a mindless thing made a food.

[bunnypassingby]

[Mikuru watches in fascination, beaming in wonder when the fish jumps, then she blinks when Namur knocks her. The translation makes her smile and then even giggle in recognition.] Yeah, I guess I can see how she got that idea.