By mid-month, the last of the winter snows have melted away; March has proven to hold true to the old adage, coming in blustering and brash like a lion and fading out much like the proverbial lamb, and by the time balloons and banners are hung in the town center, it’s clear the seasons have finally shifted for good. It’s still cool, of course, but just right — light sweater weather, no parkas needed.
Today, and for a good few days, it’s time to take in the sights. It’s time, after all, for the spring equinox, and with it, the Energy Festival. This special celebration takes place in time with the changing of the seasons — a time when energy is high in the air, released like a long-held breath after a trying winter; it's a time-honored tradition in the city where citizens gather together and welcome in the fresh new world that spring reveals. It's a little sweet, a little saccharine, and sometimes a little bit cheesy too, but that shouldn’t stop you from exploring the colorful celebration.
Come don your Sunday best, people. It’s a spring fling, and you’re invited.
Make your way down to the city center, and you’ll find plenty to entertain you. The whole downtown plaza has been decorated — with plenty of help from the Events Committee’s most recent hires and their dedicated volunteers, for which they’re very grateful, of course — in the colors of the season. Said colors being pastels, naturally, of every shade and hue imaginable. Banners are hung from trees and awnings alike, splashed with painted letters of buttercup yellow, seafoam green, gentle lilac, and even delicate pinks and baby blues perfect for all the newborns sure to come after a long winter. (Everyone knows what people get up to when they’re stuck at home in a blizzard. The city knows, and they are prepared.)
▸ Along the western edge of the plaza, there are plenty of food stalls to sample from. The city’s most popular restaurants are here to promote their seasonal menus, but for those that like a little variety, there’s also visiting vendors from cities near and far as well as local stands from citizens and volunteers alike offering homemade delicacies they’re looking forward to sharing with you.
▸ Not to be outdone, the Vinery has set up a wine-tasting station in the very center of the plaza; here, you can sample the vintages from the most recent harvest, along with some of their more popular selections… all for a very reasonable donation to the city’s charity drives. It may not sound very selfless, but a little liquid confidence never hurt anyone, right? Especially when the Vinery has graciously agreed to host the recently requested kissing booth — hosted entirely by volunteers on a rotating schedule, you’ll never know who you might see! (Or, maybe, who you might kiss if you volunteer instead!)
▸ On the more relaxed side of things, the southern edge of the plaza is home to a collection of blue and pink tents, each strung up with gently twinkling lights that seem to beckon in all that pass by. Peek inside, and you’ll find a group of local women, ranging in age from youthful tweens to elderly grandmothers, all seated in a circle surrounding a pile of the smallest hats, blankets, and one-piece suits that could only be worn by the tiniest of people. That’s right, folks. The citizens of Cadelle are sorting through item after donated item, hoping to find the perfect sets to create baby boxes for new parents in the city. If you’d like to help, pull up a chair — volunteers are never turned away, and helping hands are always in high demand.
If you venture past the city center and wander out towards the grassy shores of Blue Springs Pool, you might notice the perpetually busy members of the city’s Events Committee arranging a trio of sign-up tables, complete with endless paper-laden clipboards, stacks of freshly pressed white t-shirts, and boxes upon boxes of miscellaneous logo-branded accessories, ranging from terrycloth headbands and bracelets to impossibly small water bottles good for no more than one long drag. That’s right, y’all. It’s time for the city’s first Color Run, a modern take on the more formal Color Celebration that traditionally kicks off the spring Energy Festival.
▸ First things first: pick up one of the many (many) clipboards, and prepare to answer a million questions about your life. You can’t expect to take part in a physical activity without signing your life away on a few dozen waivers, can you? Try not to take too much offense at the range of questions asked — the city’s administration wasn’t sure who or what might sign up to participate, so feel free to leave things blank if you’re not sure. Or, alternatively, just give your best guess. Just don’t ask the poor event volunteer handing out pens what a FLDSMDFR is… because they don’t know either.
▸ Once you’ve signed up, get suited up! Pick up a complimentary Plain White T(-shirt) — available in a range of sizes from teen girl crop top to sumo sized “sharing shirts” — and don your favorite runners’ accessories. Whether you choose to stay contemporary casual or embrace the logo in full force, be sure to follow the volunteers’ instructions and keep all of your delicate items protected. Clear bags of all shapes and styles are available for purchase, because capitalism is still alive and well even in the multi-verse! (Don’t worry, all the proceeds still go to charity…)
▸ At noon on the dot, those that have signed to compete can meet their fellow runners at the starting line, where the sound of a shot flare (and likely a few startled screams) will signal the beginning of the race, along with your first dose of colored powder. Made up of a mix of colors from across the ROYGBIV, it’s a literal and figurative toss-up as to which ones will grace your skin… or your hair… or maybe even the inside of your mouth, if you’re not careful. Luckily, it’s non-toxic stuff. It just doesn’t taste very good, or, if we’re totally honest, like much of anything at all other than chalk and the vague hint of crayons. Don’t ask.
▸ For those that didn’t sign up, there’s still plenty of fun to be had. Volunteers will be passing out buckets of powder to all those who’d like to spectate, and there are plenty of spaces along the path of the 5K race to stand and greet runners with encouraging words and celebratory color bombs. Just try not to aim for their eyes, okay? Nobody needs to be blinded by the light or the bright colors in those buckets.
▸ By the end of the race, everyone from runners to spectators to even unsuspecting passersby who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time will be covered head-to-toe in brightly colored powder. It’s just inconvenient, a little silly, but nothing that can’t be cured with a quick dip in the nearby springs or a shower at home.
Of course, when has anything in this city ever been "just a little silly"? Much like the rain that fell for weeks, or the suddenly-appearing pool of water, or the ghosts ... well, there's something strange about this powder, too. Turns out, the events committee wasn't exactly sure where to obtain this stuff from when their newest recruits suggested the Color Run as a hip way to get people out and about in the nice weather, so they've harvested from a few plants that were (you guessed it) watered by all that infused magical rain. So that's a thing. Shouldn't be too bad, right?
Hahahahahaha. Hey, cuddlers, when has anything ever been "not too bad"? Never, that's when, because who likes things to be normal and boring when they could be weird and strange for everyone involved? Nobody, that's who!
True to form, the color powder from this month's Color Run is sure to have curious effects for your character! What effects specifically? We're leaving that up to you, the players, so that you can have the Most Fun Ever with this event. But, to help you out, we've got a few suggestions below! Feel free to play off these, or change them up, whatever floats your boat! Just keep our consent rules in mind, please!
▸ Red powder has a scent that some say reminds them of cherries — it's been known to stimulate feelings of hot-headedness, romanticism, or just plain lust!
▸ Orange powder, unsurprisingly, smells like oranges — a little too much might just make you magnetic, drawing in people close and far by the sheer power of your magnetism! (Do we mean charisma? Maybe. Maybe not.)
▸ Yellow powder features a burst of bright lemon scent — if it reminds you of sunshine, you're not alone! Those who don this sunny color will find themselves feeling more sunny themselves, with strong bursts of optimism and cheer paving the way for friendly greetings and impromptu hugs!
▸ Green powder comes with the unmistakable fragrance of melon — get it in your mouth, and you'll know without a doubt that green means go! Wearers have been known to enjoy bursts of superspeed, extra confidence, or even just brash recklessness... though we're still not convinced those aren't all the same thing.
So... that's a thing, innit! If you have any further questions specific to this event, we encourage you to ask away on our QUESTIONS COMMENT here in this post. If you have general questions, or prefer a more private venue, our GENERAL INBOX (and SCREENED INBOX) is always available for you. In addition, if you've got an idea for a future event, feel free to drop us a line at our EVENTS SUGGESTION POST.
Peace out, cuddlescouts! |
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cuddlecity2018-03-20 12:53 pm
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the truth is, whatever caroline had felt, it wasn't the same anymore. the crush mostly born of physical attraction had simply melted away over time, replaced instead by camraderie and friendship — and, perhaps more importantly, a trust that she hadn't quite shared with anyone else. not jumping into bed with him on the first date had been a surprise, because she'd certainly been willing, but she wouldn't change it now. in a way that she certainly hadn't expected, caroline had found something special in her friendship with derek. she felt like herself with him, and she wasn't willing to throw that away for something fleeting that she could very well find elsewhere. )
What was that for?
( if he's whispering, so is she. there's a stillness to the moment; speaking too loud might just shatter it. )
no subject
I'm glad you're okay. I was worried.
[ Which isn't a lie. It just also isn't the whole truth. Derek's not really sure what the goddamn truth is because his focus keeps moving back to the way her lips felt on his neck; the relief that hat flooded through him when his veins had started to go back from black to suggest that her pain had faded away and she was going to be okay. ]
...I should go find your ring...
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( which... wasn't entirely true. and it wasn't a lie, either. it was just something in that strange grey area, the one that made it a bit murky to determine why that was the answer that came to mind. she could manage on her own in the shade by now, sitting in peace while derek went out to find her ring. she wouldn't faint or fall over or get hurt just waiting. but, all the same, she didn't want him to go. she wanted him to stay here with her, in this small space, the scent of him washing over her like a warm blanket.
if her mind was a bit more focused, she might have paid notice to just how comforting that scent had become. almost like home, in a way. but her mind was still a bit fuzzy, so the thought flitted in and out without consequence. )
I'm sure someone's found it by now.
( so no reason to get up, right? )
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One of his hands smooths her hair down against the back of her head as she hides her face in the crook of his neck and he gives a soft sight, nodding. ]
That's kind of what I'm afraid of. What if somebody finds it and wanders off with it...?
[ His eyes open again and he looks out toward the path from which they'd come. There still is a lot of noise out there, but he can't tell if it's because people are feeling interrupted and are still looking for the ring or wondering what happened to the screaming girl or if it's just the crowd cheering for runners that are still running the path. ]
no subject
( in all fairness, the ring had been pretty ugly in her eyes when she'd first gotten it. the antique style certainly hadn't been something she would have picked out for herself, and even now, caroline wasn't sure she wouldn't prefer something a little more her century. but a witch's daylight ring wasn't something you could just pick up in-store or order online; whether she liked it or not, she was stuck with it for the time being. (and maybe, just maybe, it had grown on her a little too.)
his shift in attention is followed by a shift in the muscles of his neck; they move underneath her, and caroline cannot help but follow in reply, body adjusting to curl that much more snugly in place against him, her own breath skimming over the column of his throat as she does so. )
I wish Bonnie was here. There's probably some, like, witchy spell to make it come to you.
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So he stays still and lets her stay close, because if she feels more comfortable where she is with him, then he's happy to oblige his friend until she's feeling more herself.
His eyebrows lift a little at the mention of "witchy spell" mostly out of curiosity, but he chooses not to push on that. Instead, he takes a deep breath and lets it out softly before speaking. ]
Friend of yours from home, I take it?
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( but she's not here, so whatever lojack magic spell she might have employed certainly wasn't going to help her out now. caroline would have to find her ring for herself. )
You smell really good, is that weird?
( it's probably weirder that he tasted good, that she can still feel the lingering wanting of more on her tongue. )
no subject
I mean, I just ran half a marathon and I'm sweating like it's my job...
[ He grins a little. ]
So yeah, it's a little weird.