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The City ([personal profile] citycenter) wrote in [community profile] citylogs2023-09-19 09:00 pm

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





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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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perfectdevil: (thirtysix)

[personal profile] perfectdevil 2023-09-22 08:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ Lestat isn't sure what inspired him to pick this human in particular -- perhaps the dark hair, he does have a penchant for dark hair, or perhaps it's the look in his eyes as he stares into the middle distance like that, thoughts of fate and inevitability permeating through the din of all the other mortal thoughts around them and catching Lestat's attention like a shark smelling blood. Whatever the reason, he's thoroughly pleased that he did when he acquiesces and follows him to the stand. ]

That's the point, I think. It's - ah, I think you say, bunny slopes? I have only fired a real gun before, never one like this one. What a strange idea, filling it with water.

[ His water pistol is in his hand, his stare unblinking and excitable as he regards his new companion with a smile, expectantly waiting for him to pick up his gun too. ]

If you are some kind of water shooting expert, you can teach me your craft.
appendages: (pic#16563269)

[personal profile] appendages 2023-09-23 10:31 am (UTC)(link)
[ bunny slopes, huh? he guesses it wasn't exactly wrong. he's not sure if this sort of thing needed such expertise, but to each their own. he wasn't about the discount this. if anything, yoshida was all too aware of the disparity of one man's excitement to another— sometimes other people and/or devils just aren't as into your prophecies. hence, he seems to play along for the most part. ]

So you've fired a real gun? [ concerning, maybe, but for all he knows there could easily be a valid explanation for all this.

he takes his own position before picking up the gun.
] The person who hits as close to the target first probably has the advantage. [ that said, he doesn't seem to take it all too seriously as he tilts his head, pressing the trigger a few times absently. ]
perfectdevil: (thirtysix)

[personal profile] perfectdevil 2023-09-24 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh yes, many times. I hunted with my dogs a lot in my youth. Though it's been a while since I last had a weapon in my hands, I'm sure the knack will return to me in due course.

[ Lestat nods at his instruction, lining up his gun, and watching out of the corner of his eye as his new friend tests his trigger finger. ]

Ah, I see!

[ Lestat says, childlike wonder transforming him to a seemingly much younger man with a strange kind of easiness to his movement as he comes a little closer as though trying to get a better look at Yoshida's gun, despite having an exact copy in his own hand. ]

It's a test of accuracy and resilience. The water only sprays out of the channel when you press the trigger, so we must continue to pump the trigger enough to produce the water, and we must keep our aim steady to hit the center of the target enough to fill the tank first. That seems right to me, don't you think?
appendages: (pic#16563309)

[personal profile] appendages 2023-09-26 08:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ hunting in his youth? that elicits a lot of different possibilities to yoshida. but, it was clear he probably wasn't someone who lived in a bustling city. maybe someone more in tune with nature? or perhaps, he lived somewhere a bit more remote, whether this was permanent or more seasonally. he seems to deliberate over this (even while knowing it probably didn't matter, and it seemed harmless enough), before he's caught by his explanation.

he seems to ponder on this.

until, he gives a slow, methodical nod.
] That's right. I guess you could call it that. [ he's not sure if resilience is measured in seconds, but sure. why not. he wasn't one to discount another's theory. ] Why don't you try it? I'll spot you. [ as if they're at the gym....

or doing anything remotely dangerous.
]
perfectdevil: (12)

[personal profile] perfectdevil 2023-09-30 10:45 am (UTC)(link)
[ Lestat can sense easily without needing to dip into the man's mind, that he is quite a thoughtful creature; not in kindness, but in the manner in which his brain seems to constantly be taking in and turning over the information he's supplied with. Of course, Lestat is accustomed to talking with humans enough that he isn't so foolish as to let too much slip, but it's interesting seeing what kind of conclusions this one comes to on his own. He'd been correct in his estimations that Lestat's living situation as a boy had been somewhat remote compared to inner city life, after all. ]

Spot me..? [ Lestat asks, a slight frown of confusion creasing ever so slightly between his eyebrows, even as he lines up his little pistol and takes aim. ] Is that some kind of back-seat role? Your intention is to see how I fair before you accept a challenge with me?

[ He doesn't seem to mind all that much, if that is the case. When he fires, his aim is reasonable; very easily and quickly he compensates for gravity and wind, correcting the angle until it's almost perfectly hitting the opening in the target. He has a little trouble maintaining his precision while also squeezing and releasing the trigger, but he soon picks it up with the help of his nigh perfect instincts. ]
appendages: (pic#16563330)

[personal profile] appendages 2023-10-05 10:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ it's clear the man before him was rather astute. he figured this game out easily enough, and seems just as keen to read between the lines. to be honest, it's not that he didn't believe in the stranger's abilities to grasp the concept, it was quite the opposite. if he had to give a reason why he said that, it might have had more to do with simply what he was accustomed to.

with denji, he was used to explaining, used to watching and observing... and maybe those habits sort of rubbed off on him. especially, in light of someone who may have shared that same flicker of curiosity. he gives a small nod, maybe as if to say "my bad."
] Hope it wasn't offensive, I just figured it'd make it a fairer match. [ once he's shown his skills— ]

But, seems it might have been unnecessary. [ so yoshida also gets ready beside him, as if already set to challenge him. or as much as he's capable of, as his shoulders still remain relatively slack and his posture relaxed. ]

Feeling confident now?
perfectdevil: (27)

[personal profile] perfectdevil 2023-10-05 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Lestat's laugh is loud like an organ in a church, a peal of sound cutting through all else. ]

No, no, it wasn't offensive! I'm a difficult man to insult.

[ It isn't that Lestat is used to people underestimating him or even wondering about his prowess - it's more that he's never had such an opportunity as this for a human to stand at his side and witness his true skill without Lestat intending on them never seeing the light of another day. It's almost novel to be sharing himself so freely like this now, and the realisation makes him slightly giddy. If only this man were a gossip (Lestat doubts it somehow) then he might end up the subject of some great rumour.

He aligns himself with the target again, taking much the same stance as his new partner, although Lestat's easy shoulder posture has an energy to it like a dog about to chase the rabbit on a racecourse. ]


Ah, mon ami, I always feel confident.
appendages: (pic#16563329)

[personal profile] appendages 2023-10-11 12:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, that sure is a relief.

[ he figures if he's to keep a relatively low profile, it'd be best not to butt heads with anyone without cause. even the smallest of transgressions had its way of coming back, didn't it? so he seems to relax further at the fact that just as the man's words suggested, he seemed awfully lighthearted in the face of this all. he supposed there was something that could be said about people who could genuinely enjoy the carnival for what it was...

as for what that is exactly... only time would tell. but, this match was a great start. hence, once he hears the chime, he's already beginning to aim. but, perhaps, temporarily distracted by his thoughts, or whatever else, he doesn't hit the target straight from his initial shot.
] Maybe you had every right to be confident. [ he says absently, but still fulfilling the task of filling up the container.

but, even a loss isn't entirely bad, thinks yoshida. he is curious about the prizes...
]
perfectdevil: (pic#16660777)

[personal profile] perfectdevil 2023-10-14 12:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Lestat is very much an all or nothing kind of guy; he either cares or he doesn't, and both have their merits in very different ways. Lestat caring about something means it has his full and insistent attention until he has what he wants, and then he covets it with an almost obsession-like intensity. The downside to this being that Lestat is also incredibly fickle, and so this adoration can leave him at the drop of a hat and turn his care to indifference. But that sometimes isn't the worst case scenario, because his aforementioned attention can sometimes be cloying, suffocating, and sometimes it's a welcome reprieve to have him move on to the next shiny thing that catches his eye.

He is this way with people, most prominently - any creature that might interest him enough to linger in his thoughts is likely to fall victim to him (sometimes in more ways than one - but he also shows the same intensity when it comes to a challenge.

All or nothing, indeed, Lestat uses every inch of preternatural skill in his arsenal to line up the spray and direct his line of fire perfectly upon the target. The fact that he can remain completely still, without the slightest twitch of movement and without any need to breathe to not disturb his aim, certainly helps; as does his better than perfect eyesight, and his precise hands. ]


Maybe I did! [ He crows, his little receptacle filling quickly, and only sparing his game partner a passing side-on glance before re-doubling his efforts to succeed. Perhaps if he'd been a sweet young man he'd have let him win, but Lestat isn't likely to insult a grown man by pandering to him in that way, vampiric powers or not.

Once he's clearly won, Lestat raises both arms in a victory pose before laying down his gun, and offering Yoshida one of his palms for a shake. ]


Bon jeu, my friend.