EVENT: The Nights Were Humid, Still. (September 2023)

[citycenter]

THE NIGHTS WERE HUMID, STILL.

WE WERE DREAMING, WAITING FOR NIGHT. » THE PARK — INTRODUCTORY NOTES When District 3 opens up, subtle and silent at first, the most noticeable area is the large park. A mixture of open picnic fields and heavily wooded trails, the park offers an escape from the cityscapes for those who seek an oasis amongst nature. Benches and light posts dot the twisting paths, offering a moment's rest to anyone traversing the park for a leisurely stroll or running for… exercise. Unlike its smaller cousin to the south, this park is devoid of statues or monuments, instead more of a tribute to nature and the pursuit of its company. There are, however, several small playgrounds spread around the outer edges for anyone who seeks some playtime with their inner child. Speaking of your inner child, should you venture to the southern half of the park, you'll find a small carnival that appears to be abandoned. The rides and stalls all appear to be in decent condition despite lying still and silent; if you choose to hop the fence, you'll find that the cables running haphazardly over the grass are connected but powerless. No amount of effort to turn on the rides nor break into the games will prove fruitful, but the park at large has posters stapled to trees here and there advertising the opening of the fun fair very, very soon. For those who are brave enough to leave the paved walkways to venture deeper into nature, you may find hidden gems—a quiet pond covered in lilypads with a small dock to sit on and dip your feet into the green waters; a romantic pair of swings atop a small knoll overlooking a creek; a shortcut through the trees where even your footsteps are muted by the leaves and dappled sunlight barely reaches your face through the trees above. Here and there you'll find the woods open up to a secluded meadow where the grass is tall and the wildflowers grow thick. You may also find yourself imagining things just out of reach, like shadowy figures darting from bush to bush, predatory in nature. The phantom call of a crow may echo through the forest's canopy though, like the rest of the city, there is no wildlife to be seen nor heard otherwise. Was that the shout of a woman in the distance, or the cry of a fox? The longer time stretches on, the harder you'll find it is to make your way back out of the treeline, and the trees stretch far above to block out any hope of navigating back to the familiar buildings of the surrounding city. You might want to call for help—if you get find service for your device, that is. The new park is a permanent location that is open to residents 24/7 as there are no fences nor gates. It's larger than the one new City Hall and has more potential for exploring as well as different features from its cousin. For those that are familiar, it will evoke thoughts of New York's Central Park with its mixture of open areas contrasting with thick woods. Paved walkways, freshwater ponds, picnic areas, and a couple of playgrounds can all be found throughout the park. Along with these, residents may stumble upon other natural and man-made areas such as rocky outcrops, unmarked trails, bicycle paths, fountains, and other things typically found in large urban parks—minus the wildlife. It can be a romantic setting as easily as it can be a horrific one depending on the time of day as well as the company that you keep. JUMP TO TOP ↑ | ↓ JUMP TO COMMENTS THEN THE HEAT BROKE, THE NIGHT WAS CLEAR. » THE FAIR — RIDES & ATTRACTIONS At 6:00 PM City time on September 19th, the numerous light bulbs of the fun fair burst into blinding color simultaneously, lighting up the darkening sky as loud carnival music slowly churns to life from unseen speakers. The rides all spring into motion, operating on a strict schedule that will allow carnival-goers the time to get on the ride as well as stumble back off after they've had their fun. No one is running the rides that you can see, though they all have the typical podium with an array of buttons that could be used to start and stop the machinery that creaks and groans with age. If you'd like to see what it's like working as a rider operator, you're more than welcome—just make sure you're not making everyone sick. Due to the fair's small size, the rides are all fairly tame in size and speed. There's a merry-go-round with brightly painted horses to ride along with a handful of mermaids, sculpted hair permanently billowing in the wind. One section at the edge is dedicated to a massive stationary head, evocative of a ventriloquist's dummy, with its mouth gaping open for riders to sit inside, perched on the tongue-shaped bench. For the braver riders, a few other unnerving steeds await, such as a lion with blood dripping from its teeth and claws, a zebra with eight legs, an uncomfortably hairy tarantula, and a gray-skinned creature with its eyeless head split open into a massive mess of razor-sharp teeth. Though the merry-go-round spins at a leisurely pace, staying on if for too long is likely to induce a strange sense of dizziness even after disembarking and attempting to walk it off. The repetitive groan of the pipe organ rings in your ears, hardly helping your disorientation at all though you seek a quiet place to recuperate. Further along in the fair is a low building comprised of little more than a laminate floor, metal grating roof, and bright red railing that encloses all sides. Strewn about inside are bumper cars, big enough for two if you want to squish in together with a friend, but lacking seatbelts. As you run to find a car you like, you can hear the electricity begin to hum through the roof and spark with the bent antennae of each car as their motors awaken. Loud rock music drowns out the sound of squealing wheels as the drivers begin the arduous task of steering the bumper cars into each other. It's all fun and games at first, but it's easy for a little competition to turn into a grudge match. The last ride looks like a large metal bowl with steep sides painted dark blue and covered with stars, plantes, galaxies, and a comically simplistic spaceship. The archway standing just in front of the ride's entrance calls it "THE GRAVI-ATOR" with a disclaimer in small print about holding on tightly to personal belongings once on the ride. Stepping into the door cut out in one side, you'll find there are no straps nor seats—everyone should find themselves a comfortable place to lean, preferably in one of the spots that has padding on the walls, because soon the ride will begin to spin and everyone will be pinned down by centrifugal force. Though they may not be as thrilling as the mechanical rides, there are a few tamer attractions for those seeking a break from the bright lights and loud sounds of the carnival. A hall of mirrors stands to one side of the area, a gaping clown mouth serving as the entrance to the dark building. The laughter and screams from outside are quickly muffled as atmospheric music plays lowly while you try to navigate through a maze of mirrors, many of which distort your appearance. You may see flashes of people that you don't remember seeing come inside, oddly shaped and shadowy where the corners of two mirrors meet. Did you feel someone brush up against you? No, impossible in such tight corridors, but you should probably hurry along to the exit. There is also, of course, a tunnel of love, though it is a cheap imitation of one. Rather than sitting in a romantic gondola, those interested in going through will do so on foot—a rather daunting task considering that you'll be in the dark once you walk through the heart-shaped door and through the musty red curtains. Still, there's enough time to steal a kiss, or grasp blindly for a hand to hold if you're scared of the dark. Has your lover always had such cold, rough hands? It might be soothing in the muggy warmth you find inside, or maybe it's reason enough to find the way out on your own. Located in the southern half of the large park is a small fun fair that will open to the public the evening of September 19 with operating hours from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM City time. Before opening, none of the rides or games will be operational; however, there will be fliers advertising its opening all around the city on billboards and telephone poles, and adventurous characters are able to hop the fence and explore if they so desire. However, they will not be able to turn on any of the rides or games, and will not be able to break into the rides or booths under any circumstances. Upon opening, there will be a number of rides running themselves on a schedule that allows people time to get on, have some fun, and then get back off again. Though there's something unsettling about the music they play, or maybe how shaky they feel, there's no apparent danger anywhere. Residents are encouraged to enjoy themselves with a group of friends, or maybe a date, and experience all that the fun fair has to offer! The fair will not be open forever, though; its gates will close permanently at 11:00 PM on September 30 and all traces will disappear that night to leave a large, open field behind in the park. This is a good, ol' fashioned carnival designed to bring together groups of people for thrills and fun. Though there are no overt game mechanics at play, we encourage everyone to get creative and add their own flair to this month's event. If you have any questions about player plots you'd like to run, please revisit the Events & Interactions section of the F.A.Q. and drop us a comment on the mod contact for any additional questions. JUMP TO TOP ↑ | ↓ JUMP TO COMMENTS IT SEEMED AN HONOR TO HAVE A MOUTH. » THE FUN — GAMES & FOOD The majority of the fair is occupied by stalls full of fair games, their walls and awnings decorated in various themes to match. The shooting gallery is a scene from the American West, cowboys astride horses with a background of cacti and orange rocky mesas. The targets themselves are a variety of desert animals: vultures flying from the roof, lizards skittering along the ground, and coyotes chasing rabbits throughout the middle. A handful of rifles are waiting along the half wall in front, chained and bolted to the wooden surface to keep them from getting carried off, and an array of hats hang above them as prizes displayed for winners. There are the typical cowboy hats, then some pink and green ones, some multi-colored jester hats, and a few that look like uncomfortably realistic rubber masks of faces twisted into horrifying expressions. The next stall over is as different as can be imagined with psychedelic rainbows, glow-in-the-dark smiley faces, and paint splotches covering all surfaces. Inside is a grid of brightly colored balloons that rain silver glitter once they're popped. Cups of plastic darts lie in wait for those who wish to try their luck to pop five balloons in a row, though the observant will notice there are only four darts per cup. The sides are lined with prizes ranging from sticky fingers, slide whistles, and bouncy balls to an assortment of blow-up weapons such swords, hammers, maces, and frying pans. Another quintessential carnival game is ring toss, set up in an extra large stall with three open sides for groups to play together if they wish. The bottles are all uniform in size, shape, and their clear color, but if you get a good look at a few, some appear to have items floating inside of them, suspended in glowing liquid. Above, massive stuffed animals hang from every possible section of the ceiling. None of them look quite right, though, such as the smiling bear with an extra row of teeth or the goose with two heads at the end of one floppy neck. The dog is pretty cute, but it's missing an arm and a leg in a way that appears intentional, and that cat has its eyes sewn shut. Of course, no fair would be complete without food. There are plenty of stalls ready to serve, much like the restaurants in the city, where residents are welcome to swing by for some greasy grub. Corn dogs, fries, funnel cake, pizza, shaved ice, and fried junk food are all easy to find around the carnival. Spread amongst the stalls are popcorn machines playing cheerful music, carts with towering racks of bagged cotton candy, and poles planted in the ground with rainbow lollipops and candied apples sprouting from them. In one corner of the fair where the biggest concentration of food stalls can be found, there is an area of tables with umbrellas for anyone to sit and eat. Food at the fair adheres to it's own unique reset cycle and can be found replenished every evening at 6:00PM just in time for opening. Despite the potential for danger from the shooting gallery and balloon dart games, both are designed to be as harmless as possible—the bullets are rubber, and the darts are made of plastic. While they will still leave a bruise, there shouldn't be risk of blood loss. The shooting gallery guns are chained in place, unable to be stolen. Removing the darts from their stall will result in thiefs walking in a tight circle that always brings them back in hopes the darts will be restored to their rightful place. Though the food and games are free, the prizes are not—anyone who attempts to steal prizes without winning the games first will find themselves misplacing their items before leaving the carnival. If residents become aware of this phenomenon and try extra hard to focus on not losing their stolen prize, it will nevertheless slip from their hands and be lost—though a keen eye might see it back in its rightful place at the game stall. If you have the right temperament, this could become a game in and of itself! Additionally, if there are any fair games or foods that have not been explicitly mentioned above, players are welcome to assume they can be found. Nothing as extravagant as a theme park or amusement park will be present as all of the stalls are designed to be mobile—this is a traveling carnival, after all. Similarly, players are welcome to design their own brand of unsettling game prizes as long as none of them can be used as an actual weapon or to otherwise harm fellow fair-goers. JUMP TO TOP ↑ | ↓ JUMP TO COMMENTS WILDCARD. The city is by no means small, and there are plenty of things for you to see. There's no rush in exploring, so feel free to take your time looking around and peering into various nooks and crannies and alleyways—and don't worry, you're not very likely to find anything peering back. If none of the above prompts appeal, feel free to check out the Locations and Maps pages and write your own freestyle prompt using one or many of the available locations. This month's event headers come from "Midsummer" by Louise Gluck. JUMP TO TOP ↑

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Comments

DON QUIXOTE | LIMBUS COMPANY

[icanfixer]

a. the various misfortunes of don quixote, in which lady luck favors her in most ways save for winning prizes at the fair games

And... there!

[ except the ring flies off the bottle tip, or the bullet just doesn't strike true, there's a lot of fair games and don is failing just enough in all of them that she seems either downright unlucky or plain bad at games. ]

Oo~h! Verily, I had thought I had it that time! [ ugh. what's the point of... anyway, she's going to give a look around and--

you. ] Prithee! I wish to win a few prizes, but I am falling just short of my goal; perhaps thy hand will be better suited!

[ aka please win some games for her she's really not gonna be doing well. ]

b. the tale of young don quixote who finds herself in the house of mirrors, and the trouble it brings her

I have never seen myself at so many angles...

[ well, not necessarily true -- there had been the drones from k corp, but who's counting. anyway, she doesn't really Like all the faces of herself she sees (there's memories to it, there's the people she is and isn't and is and isn't and) but breaking glass wouldn't be good when she's lost as she is.

it is pretty fun to pass by people though and see them jump, even if she's jumpy herself. if she catches sight of you she's whirling with a fist ]

c. other moments of don quixote's free time at the carnival, which are not bound to any one person

[ mostly a wildcard. she's there literally every day from the moment it opens to the night it closes, and she's going to be very sad when it simply disappears the next. the junk food at the carnival is her favorite part, so she'll happily chow down on that no matter how bad it is for her.

if there is!!! anything else!!! just hmu through PM or sundrymunity and we'll be golden ]

b.

[unrequite]

Oof.

[ It's a good punch — no, an excellent punch, a well practiced strike — and Midnight, though he stays standing, winces a bit, sucking his lost breath back in.

He looks down at Miss Don. She, presumably, looks up at him. He makes a split second decision.

He suddenly staggers back, hits the mirror at his back and slides to the floor, hand clutched over a completely imaginary wound over his heart, the back of his other hand pressed in a faint over his forehead. ]

Oh! Oh! Alas, for I have been cruelly slain!

[ .... he's roleplaying now. ]

[icanfixer]

[ she does, in fact, look at him in clear surprise, and then that continues when her gaze lowers to him dramatically on the ground, mind taking a moment to register his antics as it switches from habitual survival to play, and don relaxes as she comes to kneel beside him, hands hovering. ]

Oh, thy poor fellow! Forgive this knight for her hand, for she had not meant to slay thee so -- how may I revive thee, so that we may traverse these halls together?!

[unrequite]

Oh, were there such a way. A grave quest to embark upon, to right the wrong of an innocent sin... Perhaps a walk to the exit of the maze, wherever it may lay, holds the key to my salvation? Indeed, yonder exit and the sweet embrace of the outdoors may be the only answer...

[ ... Midnight opens one eye. ]

Are you stuck in here as well?

[icanfixer]

That I am. I have yet to find a way out, and it feels as if I have been walking for far longer than I should have been -- it would not bother me much, if I did not have other things I wished to do. Such as--

[ mrrgrrgrgrrr... that's her stomach growling. don's cheeks redden just slightly, but she'll stand and hold out her hands. uppy time. ]

Such as eating. There is "fairy floss" with my name on it.

[unrequite]

[ Uppies! Midnight takes the proffered hand and hauls himself up. He sways a bit on his feet, but grins down at his little friend, motivated by the new quest. Hungry, huh? ]

Well, we'd best return you to some form of sustenance, at least. If I'd known this adventure would be so arduous, I'd have brought something with me...

[ He looks at the glass around them, then at the ground, narrowing his eyes. ]

It's a maze, right? Have you been following a wall?

[icanfixer]

[ staring blankly up at him

a wall... ]

N...Nay, I have simply been going as my heart directs.

[unrequite]

[ Midnight kind of cackles. A mwahahaha, if you will. ]

Your heart, huh? It's a good heart. Maybe it would have gotten you to the end.

[ Midnight shrugs, puts a hand on the wall... then offers his elbow. Only if she wants it! ]

Let's follow this wall for a bit. Come with me?

[icanfixer]

[ oh she loves that mwahahaha. she actually mwahahas herself it's funny. but she'll happily accept the elbow, midnight is a gentleman and she'll gratefully take the offer. ]

I thank thee for the compliment, for I know it to be true. Let us be off, my kind companion.

[ ... well. she thinks herself a good heart anyway, true or not -- there are darker depths to every sinner, don is just the most optimistic of them all about things. ]

Prithee, speak thy thoughts on this fair as a whole -- have thee found it fun? I certainly have, and I intend to return every day so long as I am able.

a

[fanstheflames]

Oh, you too?

[ Tsuruno winces sympathetically, eyes brimming with sheer understanding. She gets it, she truly does. ]

I've done three games so far and I'm not bragging, but I am kinda bragging because normally I'm really good at them, but I can't seem to get 'em this time! At all!

[icanfixer]

I would not call myself a "good shot", for I am wholy unused to guns and the like, but it would seem impossible that, between two people, there should be so much loss.

[ especially from someone who claims to be normally good... ]

I would reason that mine inexperience would be the cause, but even thou hath been having trouble...

[ hmmmm. she'll gesture to move onto another, they'll give it another shot. ]

[fanstheflames]

Yeah, I'm kinda wondering if something is up with these games...

[ And she is frowning, thoughtfully, even as she walks towards the next game stand. ]

I'm too athletic to be defeated by these things!!

[icanfixer]

[ ... feels just like the casino... this one is throwing a ball at the bottle towers, which seems like it should be easy enough for a pair of dexterous young women, and the prizes in all their disturbing glory are just. so perfect. ]

As am I! Why, if it was not so blatantly foul to do so, I would simply go behind the counter and win the game that way -- but it is unfair, and not something that a young lady bound by justice ought to do. We shall win them fair and square.

[ picking up a baseball... don'll hit the mark, but it seems only a few of the bottles are affected by it as they shudder and maybe two fall from their perch. it's the whole tower gone in three balls, says the sign, and the next two won't demolish the hard glasses either. ]

[fanstheflames]

Can I try next after you? I think as two young ladies bound by justice, we can definitely win this!

[ They can't. But it sure won't be for lack of gumption and enthusiasm. ]

[icanfixer]

Most certainly, dear ally! It pleases me to know there is yet another who carries the flame of goodness within her breast, and so once I have defeat this towering house of glass I shall allow thee the chance to do the same.

[ she says, and the results are as expected. don hums in dissatisfaction, but steps aside for tsuruno as the bottles seem to... reset themselves, i guess. ]

Truly, it cannot be that hard!

[fanstheflames]

Leave it to me! I'll avenge you!!

[ Well.

She tries, anyway. Tsuruno is an athletic young lady and her aim is steady and the force is doable--

And yet, she's only able to knock a few down and she stares down at her hands. ]

... I didn't avenge you!!

[icanfixer]

[ what!!!!!! is going on!!!!!!!!

no... a look at others who have the same issue, rarely winning one and then when they do throwing the rest of their time into it once again just to lose-- ]

Young Miss. Perhaps our minds may align on this thought, and I should like to know promptly if so. Do thee think that we are being unfairly taunted -- nay, unjustifiably punished for simply wishing to play, to win, and to gift our friends with stuffed animals that delight us so? That there is a greater, far more evil hand at work to keep us from doing so? Would thee not say that, as maidens of justice, we ought to right such wrongs?

[ ...

she might be a bit annoyed neither of them can win anything and wanting to take it out on a game or too but it's definitely on the basis of justice and not just using justice as an excuse, ]

a!!!!!!!

[gradenine]

[ don't mind roland, he's just munching on some fries rn ]

You shoulda known that these games are rigged. They aren't meant to be won, and if they are, it's all in the matter of luck.

[ munch, munch ]

You tried the shooting game yet?

[icanfixer]

[ don't just watch her why don't you help. ]

What foul villains they are...

[ she was right to destroy one of them. or she will be, when her and tsuruno get to it. ]

I have, somewhat, but I was not very good at it. Guns truly are difficult to wield -- and so I decided against trying again 'til I come with another who is a better shot.

[ they are fun though. they are fun... she shouldn't be trusted with them but they are fun. ]

[gradenine]

Mm, I don't blame you. Not everyone gets to wield a gun back at the City. The bullets are expensive as hell, and high-grade Fixers would know how to evade them.

[ like the blue reverb, for instance. he just shrugs. ]

At least the toy ones are guaranteed not to hurt anybody, so feel free to suck at shooting once you get around to it. Nobody's gonna judge.

[icanfixer]

[ badou's gonna make fun of her for not being able to shoot probably but that's good natured since he's the one she told they don't have guns. it's fine. he'll make it up to her with a lesson.

... oh this'll be good though-- she'll hook their arms together and start off towards one. ]

In that case, I shall have thee as my partner! Thine eyes shall see if the game is rigged as claimed, or if I am merely a poor shot as I suspect. Even a Grade 9 can do that much, no?

[gradenine]

Wait, partner--?

[ too late, he's getting dragged away towards a shooting game. not like roland has it in him to stop don anyway. ]

I guess I can do that. I'm just a Grade 9, so don't expect too much outta me when not everyone gets to use a gun back in the City, let alone hold one.

[icanfixer]

[ don is getting so much mileage out of dragging older men around lately. ]

Then it shall be our chance to experience that which we have never experienced before! Whilst we are here, though both of us eager to return to the City for different reasons, there is no harm in such thoughts. It is not as if we shall linger because of them, but rather because of the opposite.

[ probably. it's a philosophy she'd often told others, but more firmly believed herself in the past few weeks. after all, if, when they were returned home, they didn't... it's not like she'd remember the regret of not saying something, or doing something, but still. it puts an odd, heavy feeling in her chest, and she doesn't like it.

not present in her tone, gay as it is. ]

Oh, but do keep that between us, Sir Roland! The Red Gaze would surely scold me if he knew of mine intention to slack off even with such a sound reason! [ not a single bit of remorse about it in her words. ] Here we are!

[ more importantly, of course, here they are... the prizes look fairly okay. some of them vaguely normal, if odd, and others the patchwork creepy that reminds one of abnormalities. don's keeping an eye on him to see if he glances at any particularly long while looking for an interesting one herself. ]

[gradenine]

[ well, if she says so... there's no harm in trying out new things here at all, that's true. like how it's okay to eat the food here. so far roland hasn't suffered from any weird side effects... ]

Oh, nah, you can just tell the guy that I'm with you. Nothing wrong with learning how to shoot through silly games like this, right?

[ right. vergilius may be a killjoy most of the time, but he'll forever be a softie to roland. course, roland wouldn't wanna out him to someone as annoying as don right now either. ]

Anyway, let's see. [ they approach the shooting game and roland holds up a toy gun. ] These are harmless enough, so it's should be okay to go all out on the prizes. What prize are ya gonna get, Don?

[icanfixer]

[ weird how just telling verg that she's with roland immediately makes it okay. she's definitely not going to abuse that in the future. she's a good girl, after all. ]

Um~... Hmhm...

[ staring at them... gebura would want something practical, which is what none of these are... she has a lot of people she's brought to and wants to bring in the future too, so she can get stuff for them on their outings... maybe something for roland...? what would he like...

maybe the freaky egg monster that looks half scrambled with its yolk spilling a ghoulish red from its head... humpty-dumpty like. she'll point at it with her own gun beside him. ]

I think I shall aim for that one! And thyself?