The Cultural Fair!

[wise_maiden]

Who: Everyone's invited!
What: The Cultural Fair
When: June 5th- 12th - admittedly dates are sort of nebulous - set up could have begun as early as the 5th, but given the event recently, more days could have been taken to do it and for people to involve themselves, so it probably "officially" starts a little later (by the 8th at the very least, though work can go on throughout it) - feel free to use your judgement/have fun!
Where: All around the town square!
Summary: Here.
Rating: ... who knows?!



Notes: Booths can be labeled as separate comments! Just put [booth name] or something in the subject line so people can find top level comments easier.

Work probably started for it on the 5th-7/8th for labor purposes, though feel free to use dates to your advantage here! (Even if characters slapdash something at the last minute, it would be fun to see! It would even be encouraged after the crazy from the last event - kind of a way to get back in touch with themselves.)

CHARACTERS ARE WELCOME TO TAG THE LOG FOR INTERACTING WITH OTHERS, NOT JUST BOOTHS, SO FEEL FREE TO TAG IN! Also a character who might not know what's going on is welcome to walk by and question it! And so forth. (Helios and Ikki made posts in regard to it and there have been art club posters around, so anyone could have noticed those as well!)

I'll leave descriptions up to you all as there isn't much that is too uniform about the displays, as everyone is encouraged to be creative about their presentations and how hard the characters worked isn't something I could define for each of you. Just keep in mind that this takes place in the plaza, there shouldn't be an issue with blocking traffic (there may be ropes up to try and keep pathways clear, however!), though it may branch around various points of the square depending on where someone wants a booth located / the number of actual participants. The square will also have a lot of brightly colored signs and decorations indicating what is going on!



For ideas/reference on how it was handled last time, feel free to look through here! There's no official signup, so go forth!

Comments

England Booth

[250mhzwabl]

[England the banner above one of the booths reads, with a flourishing subtitle of across the multiverse. In all honesty, the booth is more of a long table, manned by two figures. The centre of the table holds things that both parties have agrees are undeniably English, to the point where they might raise serious questions about how any alternate-universe analogue without them could actually call itself England. There's a pot of black tea that will be periodically refilled throughout the evening, of course, and a plate of scones, both open to anyone who wishes to partake. Jack's cricket bat and a few balls rest there, along with a little booklet with the title "Rules of Cricket" (which, upon opening, is empty save for a first page that reads If you don't know already, you have no hope of comprehending it in a few minutes. You're very welcome to amuse yourself hitting balls with the bat, though.) There is also a poster with the cheery title WORDS MEAN THINGS, and a helpful side-by-side listing of both common things with completely different names and common words that mean two different things.

Each side of the table is set up for its inhabitants' personal version of England. Max Woodville, on the left side of the table, has on display both local (to York) and world maps, the latter with fairly non-conventional borders and a frankly monolithic Commonwealth. He also has a small pile of what look like magazines, some light cake-like confections resplendent with fruit and creme, a list titled The Sidhe Survival Guide, and a handful of charms.

Jack Holden's side, on the other side, is fairly basic. There is a hand-written booklet titled Excerpts from the Survivor's Cookbook by one Eugene Woods, a placard with illustrations of edible vegetation in the region, and little foxhole radio with a little antenna strung up to an empty can mounted at the highest point of the booth. It would be working, if he'd thought far enough ahead to build a decent transmitter, but it's a sound demonstration model. There's also, laid out on the ground beside his end of the table, a backpack full of basic survival gear suited toward a damp and generally chilly climate, with each item labeled with a little scrap of paper. He is prepared to tell any and all small children that he is a hobbyist in electronics with an interest in backpacking, too. It's not . . . completely a lie.]


[OOC: This is a joint post for Jack and Max - feel free to specify if you'd like just one or both of them in your thread.]

either one!

[osoreirimasu]

[Japan hadn't been back in Luceti long enough to acquaint himself with the current schedule of events, but when he hears about the Cultural Fair, he can't help himself but go. He spent most of the day perusing the many booths of the worlds he was familiar with, but when he sees a familiar name, he has to stop.

He almost expected to see a blond man with bushy eyebrows behind the table, despite how unrealistic that was. Instead, he sees two men, both relatively normal and a pot of tea.

And scones.

Japan stops just a few feet from the booth, staring at the plate like it might get up and kill him at any moment.]

[250mhzwabl]

[Jack just looks back and forth for a moment. Horrified man. Scones. Horrified man. Scones.

. . . yeah, it makes absolutely no sense. So he opts for leaning closer to Max, addressing him in a stage whisper.]

Do you think he figured out that a Canadian actually made them?

[abjurer]

[Max has a frown of consternation on his face at the almost terrified look on the guy's face and when Jack moves, he leans in as well, eyeing the guy warily.]

I dunno. Perhaps. Maybe he found out it's not authentic Cornish clotted cream?

[osoreirimasu]

[He can hear them whispering and the strange glances in his direction force his eyes from the plate of scones to the men behind the table. When he realises he's being rude, Japan jumps slightly and stands straighter, bowing from the waist.]

I-I'm sorry. I've just never seen them that colour.

[Aka, not black and burned beyond recognition.]

[250mhzwabl]

Really? Huh. Scones must be different in your world.

[Or country. Jack realizes that he has no idea what's done with scones outside of Britain, America, and Canada. But with an easy shrug, he smiles, inviting the stranger closer with a gesture.]

Come and try one, won't you? The tea's still hot, and we have strawberry preserves.

[abjurer]

[The colour? Max glances over at the scones, frowning slightly. They look normal colour. Like normal baked cake-thing colour.]

They must be different. I don't think I've ever seen a scone another colour.

We also have clotted cream. And whipped cream for heathens.

Both

[z_jay]

[And then there was Eugene who was as close to an honorary British guy as he could get without actually being born there, or doing anything other than writing about their pop-up culinary scene. Not many people were from Canada and in a way he didn't want to think of Canada as home after the grey plague earned him a new one. He had, however, contributed the scones and the Faerie Cakes, under the genuine tutelage of the real deals sitting next to him. His own space he was content to leave a mystery for now, but next year he was definitely making poutine. Though he was a bit busy looking through the recipe book and thumbing through to make sure that the final draft did not, in fact, have typos.]

Maybe we really should have consulted Maxine twice about these mushroom references? I'm still just not quite sure about... a few, or maybe one.

[Eventually he would wander to check out the other booths, but for now he was content to sit here and watch]

Re: Both

[abjurer]

[He had definitely appreciated Eugene's help in making the cakes, even if some of the ingredients had earnt him raised eyebrows and okay, yeah, some of the ingredients just plain hadn't existed. He'd had to improvise. Who knew that Luceti wouldn't have unfettered access to food from Faerie?

He's been off to get some drinks and returns, setting down a cup of tea next to Eugene and peers over his shoulder.]

That one looks a little like a galley-trap mushroom. They grow in rings and if you walk into the rings on the wrong night you get stuck there. Nasty things. Make you dance until you bleed.

[z_jay]

[Glancing sidelong at Max first before giving him a more concrete look, he wondered if they'd have even made it through the zom apocalypse with those kind of traps. oh, but tea, he took the cup and had a sip, keeping it light since it was nice and hot]

Dancing until you bleed-- depends on your partner, might not be so long. Right, Jack?

[Grins over at his hapless companion, then looks pointedly at his shoes]

[250mhzwabl]

[Jack looks up from his library-loaned novel, lifting an eyebrow pointedly (and with more than a bit of a frown) at Eugene.]

Listen, I told you, the foxtrot is the work of the devil.

[He re-crosses his feet, right trainer conspicuously marked LEFT along the side, craning his head to look at Max.]

And you, sir, have a strange way of making the zombie apocalypse seem pastorally simple.

[abjurer]

[Max just grins at the two of them, and shrugs as he goes to sit back down.]

Hey, they're called Faerie Rings for a reason. Some things you just don't mess with.

[z_jay]

It's not the work of the devil, it's a good rhythm.

[Emphatic about this, he looked at Max for support in this matter. With his luck, Max couldn't dance, either.]

One thing you shouldn't mess with, Max, is Jack's sock arrangement. The one time I wear mismatched socks before Abel, the one time and he goes all fashionista on me. Unbelievable, right?

[Middle of the zom apocalypse and color coordination was a matter of life and death, who knew?]

Both! >:3

[folklorist]

[ Helios is taking a break from his own booth to have a look around at a few of the others that have been setup. So naturally he is going to visit Max's and Jack's booth. Two little dragons will be following on either side of him as he comes up to the booth. His green eyes will take in all the current confections and worldly charms that are set out. ]

I'm glad you both could make it! Those scones and cakes look positively delicious. [ He'll look at the sidhe survival guide along with the cakes. There's a wry smirk on his lips as he looks back at Max. ] The sidhe survival guide?

Re: Both! >:3

[abjurer]

[Max positively beams when he spots Helios heading over. He stoops to greet the dragons, breaking up one of the cakes to give them both half, before going over to Helios's side.]

The cakes took a bit of work since the ingredients back home aren't exactly from the human realm. [He smiles back, slightly embarrassed and nods.]

Yeah. I figured I could write down a few helpful rules. Don't eat their food, don't insult them, don't accept favours or gifts...

[folklorist]

[ That tasty cake will be devoured in an instant with happy chirps and squeaks to follow. Luminair and Maggir approve of those sidhe cakes Max. Helios' warm smile spreads even wider as he looks back at Max and then the booth again. ]

Really? That's fascinating. I never thought to try making anything like that before. You'll have to teach me how to make them. They smell delicious by the way. [ Helios lets out a pensive hum. ]

Ah, yes, those rules. Quite important if you're going into their realm. I always found their culture and society fascinating to be honest. Despite them trying to mold and fit themselves into human society in my world, the sidhe are always a bit...easier to spot. They're always the most beautiful in the room or have the nicest of clothing and apparel. But that is simply their way of life, you can't really do much about it.

[abjurer]

[He can't help but grin at the happy chirps from the dragons and he takes a few moments to pet them properly before turning his attention back to Helios.]

There's a bakery back home that makes them. Imported grain from Faerie, a kind we don't have. These ones... we had to improvise a little. Eugene helped. You should try one.

[He gives a wry smile at the response to the rules and nods.]

Oh, they're definitely like that. Beautiful, graceful, dangerous. Less blending in in my world in a lot of cases though.

[folklorist]

[ Tummy rubs and pettings accounted for the dragons will take the time to go gallivanting off around the booth Jack and Max have setup. Helios has a wide smile on his face as he watches briefly before he turns his attentions to Max. ]

Quite the exotic bakery, hm? I hope these don't have any of the powers latent within sidhe food, aside from being delicious. [ And he'll help himself to one a pleased noise escaping his lips as he does so. His green eyes are alight with approval and earnest delight. ]

They're wonderful Max! You should look into having them sold at the bakery. I-I mean they could always try new things after all!

[250mhzwabl]

[The dragons make their way toward Jack, who is at work with paper and a pen mapping out safe drinking water instructions. He grins as he stoops to greet each of them, peering up wryly in turn at Max and Helios.]

Are you sure they don't have any of those powers? It sounds as if they're about to get my partner sold off into cake-baking servitude.

Either, Both, Dealer's Choice?

[handing]

[Although Pepper approaches more for the pair manning the booth rather than the display itself, she will take her time looking over the various items and displays. The book in particular earns a grin, and she raises an eyebrow once she's read the very thorough instructions.]

You know, the American booth is giving actual lessons on our national passtime.

[Because it warrants a little teasing, at least.]

[250mhzwabl]

[Folding his hands on the table, Jack gives Pepper his best level face. He then arches his eyebrow, drawling in his best dry, blue-blooded, Oxford dean voice.]

My dear, we at the England table believe in complete honesty. It's simply unfair to expect a foreigner to grasp cricket in a single day.

[abjurer]

[Max has to try hard to not snicker at Jack's reaction to that, hiding his smile behind his hands.]

Yeah, I mean, it would be like asking a newbie to start playing Wimbledon variation Mornington Crescent right off the bat. You have to work up to these things.

[250mhzwabl]

[Jack drops the voice and the affect - or that affect, at least - looking at Max with deliberate curiosity.]

Pepper's part of the New York contingent, though, and I think the New York subway was approved for play a few years ago. Provided all moves fall within the Manchester Criteria, of course.

[abjurer]

[Max looks back, raising an eyebrow.]

Different worlds remember? I'm pretty sure New York doesn't even have a child's league where I'm from. But Manchester Criteria does sound reasonable. You'll have to fill me in on how they work the Knightsbridge rules into it sometime.

[handing]

[Pepper looks from one man to the other during the exchange, patiently waiting for a break in the conversation to chime in again.]

This is a little like listening to Tony in stereo. Just with English accents and less technical jargon.