starsand | 【MINGLE】 August Mingle

August Mingle

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welcome to august

July may turn to August, but the summer heat remains. Wind and Water spirits do their part to cool civilians with cool breezes and refreshing rain showers, while standing fans remain more popular than AC units as a means of beating the heat. All sorts of shops and food stands are popping up around the city, which offer refreshing cold drinks and ice creams for the low low cost of 'thank you.' It's the final stretch before the hot summer begins cooling into autumn.

It's also a time of appreciation for Fallen Stars. The Wonderment Talent Show was a great success and the amusement park is here to stay! The civilians are stunned by yet another miracle brought about by these amazing visitors from another world. They shower the Fallen Stars in small gifts and appreciation all month. The general atmosphere of the city is hopeful and excited, with a teasing question being passed around: "What kind of miracles will the Fallen Stars bring about next?

ARRIVAL

Arrivals happen a little differently than usual this month. Normally, a 'Fallen Star' would simply blink and end up in the city of Starsand. Their sudden appearance does not surprise the natives, who instead flock with concern and empathy for the other worlder's situation. Natives usually offer free food, clothing, and other resources to the new arrivals. They will even direct them to free housing options and help them learn the lore of the city.

But this month is a bit different. When people arrive in Starsand, they are flocked by the natives. The native population is extra excited to see them and extra excited to help them. New arrivals this month may find themselves receiving extravagant gifts, buffets worth of food, and high-end housing. The reason? Natives eagerly tell them that Fallen Stars are bringers of miracles. They can do amazing things that change fate, so everyone in town is eager to support them however they can..!

CLEAN THE TRAIN

Speaking of the Fallen Stars and their miracles.

Recently, some of the Fallen Stars discovered that there used to be a train on the lowest level of the city. Hidden deep in the forest and trapped on old, rusted train tracks sleeps the once proud Starrider Express. It is a black steam engine with purple streaks and it's also... rusted, covered in plantlife, and neglected. This train could once leave the city and take people to distant locations, but it has not been able to move in years. It requires a combination of faith magic and tlc in order to get it moving again.

That's where the Fallen Stars come in! The train's tiny kami has requested help in cleaning her train and spreading the word about it! For the first half of August, Fallen Stars are being asked to come down to the first level and help with this project. Weeding, painting, greasing, oiling, decorating... So much is needed in order to get the train ready to move again! But once her train can move, the little kami has promised to help the Fallen Stars with their future travels!

Check here for a Starnet Discussion re: What to do!

THE JOB FAIR

August also marks the last month of summer vacation for students living in Starsand City. Saint's Crossing Academy is a K-12 school located on the top level of the city and they are opening enrollment for Fallen Stars. In order to get the word out, the city has decided to hold a job faire at the top level's marketplace. Fallen Stars will be able to learn about the school, employment opportunities, and even take business classes in order to open their own business in the city.

Visiting the stalls has a few perks too. For one, people can try on every company's uniform using spirit magic. how exciting wow. Visiting stalls will also produce extra Starling this month, which can be exchanged for treats or luxury items. Including things like pool toys, fancy swimsuits, and loads of sunscreen. But why would that be important..?

NOTE: This prompt is being used to check interest in opening a proper school/SoL portion to the sandbox!

WONDERMENT WATERPARK

To celebrate Wonderment Amusement Park being a permanent establishment, the park's spirits are trying something new... a waterpark! Half of the park is now being used for water-based attractions. Some are simply water-driven rides, but there are whole pools and many waterslides. There is even a lazy river that drifts around the park. At night, the pools are able to stay open thanks to the fish shaped spirits that swim through the water and glow like stars.

While basic swimsuits are freely provided, fancier ones can be obtained using Starling. There are plenty of floaties and other water toys to rent or purchase, all of which can be customized using Starling.

COOL DOWN w/ CURSED ICE CREAM

Partially because of how grateful they are and partially because it's hot as heck, civilians are offering a lot of free ice cream this month. Everything from popsicles to ice cream cones to parfaits; If it's cold and refreshing, then someone is probably offering it for free! After all that the Fallen Stars did in the last month, this is the least that they can do.

All treats are made quickly and efficiently thanks to spirit magic. This doesn't just apply to ice cream, but to all foods and products sold in Starsand City. Usually this just means that things are made easier to obtain and scarcity isn't such an issue... But it also gives room for mischievous spirit to be, well. Themselves. Thinking that it's a way to show their appreciation, some of the spirits are adding a bit of extra magic to the free snacks. They think that a little prank will make the Fallen Stars happy!

If yelled at or called out, then the spirits will always back off and reverse the effects... but otherwise, the effects last until they 'melt' in the heat. The best way to get them to go away quickly is to make yourself hot again.

The pranks include...

For Popsicles: Check your popsicle stick and pray that it says "good fortune!" Eating a popsicle will cause the fortune at the end of the stick to come true. That might mean incredible luck or a terrible curse. Bad luck won't endanger anyone's life, but it may manifest in the form of comical spirit pranks.
For Ice Cream: There are many flavors of ice cream and many effects to go with it! Fallen Stars who eat flavored ice cream may sometimes experience a physical change: This might be a new hair colour, animal ears, or height changes. This is not an age changing prompt!
For Parfaits: Parfaits require that you sit at a table and they're easy to share... Which is great, because the cursed parfait will force you to sit at your table until you share it with someone. The spirits will write the rules of their silly game on a cookie that sits under the first bite of whipped cream: Share Me or Stay With Me. Once the whole parfait is eaten by at least two people, the curse will be broken and you can leave your chair again. Until then: You and the chair are glued in front of the table!
For Freezie Pops: Ice pops will give some Fallen Stars really persistent brain freeze. This prompt isn't fun and the spirits show a lot of concern when it happens! The best way to cure the brain freeze is with warm hearted friendliness: Holding hands, chatting, and getting to know someone will cause it to fade faster. Otherwise, it can last up to a whole miserable half-hour!
For Iced Lemonade: A mood changing treat. It's supposed to make the Fallen Stars who drink it feel sweet, cheerful and confident! But sometimes it turns out too sour and they end up grumpy instead. While it won't inflict depression, it can cause a 'sour mood.' Bah Humbug.

... As always, spirits are not trying to get anyone killed or injured! If anyone seems to be in serious physical or mental danger, then a stronger spirit will always step it to reverse the prank.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No, but I've seen it on TV! I know exactly what you're talking about!

[ Well, she's seen it in anime. Reality might be a little bit different than Monster Slayer Academia. ]

Where do I sign up?

I guess it would be at whoever's shrine? There's a lot of Kami, with lots of different powers! Like the Kami of Games just ran a big scavenger-bingo-thing for everyone. And the Kami of Creativity is this paint skeleton who's always helping people out. Maybe you should think about what's the most important for you to work in?

I guess so... The Kami of Sin does sound pretty sweet, but if it's about forgiving sins I guess that's kind of against my whole MO...

[ Eda always said sinning was winning, after all... ]

I'll think about it! But at least I know where to start!

Great! Don't worry, there's probably something for everyone. I mean, look at even just this job fair. It looks like everyone in Starsand City showed up, practically. Wait, did everyone? I wonder if it's literally everyone. Or at least every job. It'd be kind of weird for the garbage truck to be recruiting here, but on the other hand, they have to recruit somewhere?

Yeah, you'd think so...

[ Luz nods along, hand on her chin, clearly considering. ]

Maybe we should go check! Better to hit up all the stalls with a buddy, and I need to get out of my head anyways. I mean... if that's alright with you, Miss...?

Velda Egan! [She picks up her broom and moves to leave the stall with her.] Sure, I can do that. Besides! It'd be nice to see everybody and what all businesses are looking out, especially with all these new people. What's your name?

Luz Noceda!

[ She glances down at the broom, her eyes wide and curious. ]

You tend to take that around with you everywhere?

[ She kinda figured it was for shrine cleaning duties or something, but if she's bringing it with, then maybe not? ]

I mean, if I need it. Back home, sometimes people get weird about flying on a broom, but if it works, it works, right? Besides, it's not like I could afford some fancy carriage even if I wanted one.

[ At that, Luz's eyes light up. ]

You ride a broom? Like a witch? Oh my gosh, are you a witch?!

Oh! Uh, yes. It's not really a secret here, magic being out in the open and all. Are you?

Yeah! I mean, well. Sort of. I don't think I can really do the kind of magic I learned here. ...Say, where are you from?

Uh... New Jersey? But there's a lot of different Earths, apparently. It's one of those big spacetime mysteries everything here seems to revolve around.

Oh.

[ That obviously wasn't the answer she was expecting. ]

...Cool. I mean, I'm from Connecticut. That's not, like. Where I learned magic from, though.

It's kind of a secret thing, on my Earth. So I figure it's probably not the same as yours. Whole hidden wizard society, since all the magical creatures disappeared and people were getting hunted and burned and stuff in the olden days? That's what they say, anyway. I don't exactly have this exciting other world or anything, sorry. Or wait, should I say that? Is it exciting? The kids who grew up normal think it's exciting.

Uhhh, well. My earth doesn't have any magic. At least, not that I know about? This... actually isn't my first time ending up in another world.

[ She laughs weakly, trying to play it off - like any mention of the Boiling Isles doesn't feel like a knife to her gut. ]

Whoa, really? I guess that's why you seemed surprised at the whole Earth thing. How'd you get there last time?

Oh, you know... magic suitcase door, the usual...

[ She's averting her eyes and smiling weakly. She's dying to talk about anything else. Can they talk about anything else? ]

[Velda may not be all that great at picking up on subtext sometimes, but she blinks a few times and looks around.]

Do you see any booths that look fun? I guess there's all kinds of jobs around here. Water treatment plant doesn't look exciting, even if they are giving out candy...

Hey, I'm always down for some free candy.

[ That statement is accompanied by some patent Luz Noceda finger guns. ]

I'm mostly here to check out the school. I don't know if most places around here would actually hire someone my age.

I guess that makes sense. Probably just part-time jobs, if anything. At least they give Fallen Stars places to live, so we don't have to scramble.

【MINGLE】 August Mingle

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