reconnaissance isn’t exactly the most glamorous of missions, especially under the glare of the hot sun, surrounded by tons of people with lots of noises coming from every which way, but it’s an important mission nonetheless, and must be taken seriously. even with that in mind, however, sehun finds it hard to concentrate, distracted by not only on all the sights and sounds and scents, but by the partner he’s chosen to go with, knowing he can depend on joohyun most of all, trusting her entirely with his life if anything went awry.
but it’s also because of her that he takes a little break from the mission, stopping in front of one of the game booths, enticed by the bright yellow of the chocobo stuffed toys lining the top, managing to win one after a few tries (damn their trickery!) and, with a triumphant grin, passes the giant prize onto her, momentarily forgetting all the complications that have formed between them.
the moment is quickly ended, though, when from the corner of his eye, he spots a piece of his past he hasn’t seen in years. the decade has aged him, but sehun is certain that the brown-haired soldier just down the way is joohyun’s older brother and his childhood best friend, and though he’s sure of it with every fiber of his being, the question forms on his lips, ultimately going unfinished. “joohyun, isn’t that...”
without waiting for a confirmation, he takes off in a run, nearly tackling the older male from behind in a great big bear hug that lifts the shorter off the ground. “it’s you, isn’t it?” he exclaims with joy. “it’s really you!” he pauses, confusion taking over him. “...why is your shirt wet?”
the closest feeling he’ll ever get to home is being around avalanche.
they’re his new home, really. since jeongguk technically doesn’t have one-- given a shabby room in a hostel by the nice old lady who runs it; it’s nice, it’s a roof over his head-- but it isn’t home. but avalanche? he’s never felt happier, never felt more at ease around a group of people.
even so-- no matter at home he feels, there’s something incredibly intimidating about the gunslinger next to him that makes him on edge. joohyun hasn’t done a single bad thing to him, and he’s not really afraid of her, doesn’t not want to be around her. but joohyun is just so...cool in everything she does.
her tugs at the braided bracelet around his wrist, tongue poking against the inside of his cheek. his staff crashes against his back gently with each step-- eyes flickering amidst all the carnival attractions. there’s laughter in his ears, music around them; he’s so nervous but his eyes catch something that has him pausing momentarily. he visibly perks up, excitement barely contained as he turns his head to look at avalanche member.
“joohyun-ssi, do you want to go over there?” he points over to a sign for a shooting range-- loaded with various prizes and objects to break or knock over for a small reward. “it looks really fun, and i--” he pauses, teeth worrying his lower lip. “...i want to try shooting a gun.”
it’s that time of year again, those three precious days she enjoys even more than her own birthday. not only is it a carnival celebrating those precious yellow chocobos, but most importantly, it’s a carnival celebrating the cutest creatures alive, the almighty moogle. so of course she’s going to be there, enjoying all the sights and sounds and activities and prizes, actually working toward winning them instead of just taking them when no one’s looking.
but there’s no way she’s going on her own. there’s so much more fun to be had when dragging someone else along, especially because that other person has two extra hands to help her carry around all her winnings. it’s just an added bonus that yeeun genuinely enjoys his company and looking after him, but those are emotions for another day (hopefully another day that will never come).
she’s taking steps behind him, hands placed on his back as she gently pushes him forward throughout the grounds of the carnival, eyes bright with wonder and joy. she looks at each attraction and activity, almost overwhelmed by everything, unable to decide on where to go first---that is, until she sees it: the battle square. as far as she’s concerned, it’s easy money, and with jeongguk by her side, it’d be even easier. “come on!” she says with excitement, grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him toward the battle simulator. “let’s go here first!”
minji noona had easily become one of his favorite hive members — which he supposes isn’t saying much when there’s only a handful of them but it is true that he’s warmed up to her more quickly than he had some of the other soldiers each time he rose a rank. his smile didn’t fade each time but he knew of the whispers behind his back and he knows it’s the same for her, that people talk of how quickly she’d been promoted but she works hard and he sees it firsthand whenever they train together. within months, she became a role model and inspiration to him. not to mention, it is nice that she’s pretty. he’d tell her to her face if it didn’t seem awkward. he’d learned the hard way growing up that sometimes compliments like that can be taken the wrong way.
“ hey noona, how ‘bout takin’ a break n’ tryin’ your hand at this game? maybe get on my level a bit, ” he jokes, brows lifting as he swings the hammer for whack-a-cactuar, angling it so his idiocy doesn’t pull the mallet free of its string. “ if you get past the second level, i’ll even help ya. ” it’s technically cheating, he knows, but all the kids did it. he definitely did when he was younger and it’s fun. part of him likens it to drumming anyway.
ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 12TH, all media outlets across gaia release the upcoming news of the MOOGLE-CHOCOBO CARNIVAL-- a yearly celebration amidst gaia citizens. everyone is invited to join in on the festivities, as they will be held within the entertainment districts! as the days pass until the event, various homes and businesses will begin to prepare for the festivities.
you will expect a variety of moogle street vendors selling snacks and food, some themed after our moogle and chocobo mascots, as well as various moogle market vendors giving out collectibles of the creatures as well. you will also find that the streets will be lined up with various chocobo’s from the nearby chocobo farm-- to be available for riding throughout the city for a small penny!
various activities will be lined up to occupy, such as:
chocobo riding
taking pictures with either a chocobo or a moogle
scavenger hunts, for either moogle dolls or chocobo dolls
whack-a-cactuar, similar to whack-a-mole, but with a cactuar instead
battle square, an battle simulator to win chocobo/moogle collectibles
riding the gondola through a small river that cycles around gaia’s entertainment district-- a must have for couples
it will be a three day event in character, lasting from april 19th - april 21st. each night will be the same, though april 21st will offer a fireworks show at night as an ending for our carnival. shinhwa militia will be stationed throughout the city each night, with mayor kim dongwook and shinhwa general choi ilwoo at the carnival’s hosts. third class soldiers will be stationed on the 19th, second class on the 20th, and first class on the 21st. all shinhwa hive members will be on call during the event, and if something occurs, they will be notified on their in-ear piece by general choi.
there is no fee to enter the carnival, as it’s opened to every person regardless of district or status. we hope you have a wonderful time!
more information below!
AVALANCHE MEMBERS – on the night of april 12th, hours after the announcement of the festival, ACE will call you all forward for a meeting at 7th heaven. she will explain that her and her team will infiltrate one of shinhwa’s pharmeceutical buildings within the business distrct on the night of the 21st. preparation leading up to the date will include various patrolling around the city, finding shinhwa soldier patrolling positions, as well as discovering options of entering the pharmeutical stronghold. any information found is helpful, and ace will encourage every member of avalanche, head team or not, to help in anyway they are able.
on the night of the 21st, while everyone is preparing for the firework show, ace and her team will use the diversion to infiltrate the building. her goal is to obtain a vial of shinhwa’s eos drug from one of the medical testing bays. she will encourage every member of her team to stay sharp and out of eyesight-- though if one is spotted, eliminate the target on sight. she will leave no argument on that. it’s a get in, grab the sample, get out sort of mission.
please note, any interactions with ace should be professional and focused.
however, once the medical testing bay is breached, a warning alarm will sound. ace will then instuct her team to find the eos sample, in one of the medicine cabinents, and leave promptly through hallways leading to a back entrance garage-- where ace will leave a timebomb for a diversion. you will have one minute and thirty seconds to leave the garage and exit into the rest of the city; this should be an easy task for the team, though if one member is injured during the eos obtainment, it may be a tad bit more difficult in the longrun. your meeting point is the ninth district-- but be wary of any soldiers or hive members, they will be looking for you.
HIVE MEMBERS – on the morning of april 12th, you will be given instructions by general choi to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity from the rising eco-terrorist group. any suspicious sightings should be reported and dealt with immediately-- either by arrest or extremeties; he does not delve into that details for those and continues to explain that leading up until the event, hive members will be told to be constantly patrolling and searching for anything against shinhwa. come the day of the carnival, hive members will be sent in various parts of the entertainment districts-- either in pairs or solo, depending on what you choose. an eye is to be kept out on all times, and any activity can be discussed through in-ear pieces shared with all of the hive members and the general, though the general will rarely listen in and contribute unless dire information needs to be given.
on the night of the 21st, hive members will be notified of the breach in one of their nearby pharmeutical strongholds in the business district. hive members are to immediately set off towards the district, and are told to intercept and apprehend those who are attempting to escape the building. the general tells you over the ear piece that the eco-terrorists are wanted dead or alive, and he expects results.
best of luck to the both of you!
WELCOME TO SPIRA’S OPENING EVENT! in character, the moogle-chocobo carnival will last a total of three days officially. out of character, you have until may 1st, 11:59PM to write for this event for experience points, though threads maybe continued afterwards if muse desires.
please tag any posts relating to this event with the tag srx:carnival. to be elligible for +300exp, please write a 300 word solo, or a four post thread with another muse. a follow up post will be posted after the event regarding extra details to conclude it. if you have any questions, be sure to let us know! have fun, and happy roleplaying!
it’s the second night of the carnival-- and minji watches idly around her, leaning her shoulder up against a lightpole a few paces away from a small drink vendor. she swirls a cup of chilled coffee, lifting the straw up to her mouth and sipping, her eyes flickering left and right. being on patrol for the most part has been...rather boring. there’s been nothing really to report, the in-ear silent other than a few comments between her teammates.
her tongue pokes the inside of her cheek, a light sigh leaving her. she wishes there was something to do, bored beyond belief. the lance on her back knocks against the pillar with a soft sound. her lips purse, shaking her head briefly; she goes through the various activities in her head. perhaps try for the scavenger hunt to bide her time, or maybe grab some actual food to eat? the carnival is something fun and exciting, with lots of things to offer-- but here minji is, too worried she’s going to set herself up for failure if she doesn’t dedicate every moment to shinhwa, as they expect.
her eyes briefly flicker to the side as she pushes off, only to still as a body moves jarringly close to her. her hands are quick, grabbing at the body as she steels herself upright in an attempt not to fall from the collision. her breath catches, before it’s tumbling out of her in concern. “sorry, sorry. i wasn’t paying attention.” she retracts her hands after a moment, but they hover uncertainly before lowering back down. “are you alright? i...ah, should have been paying more attention.”
she honestly doesn’t know how she’s managed to do it. for years, she’s tried to get kyungsoo to go with her to the annual moogle-chocobo carnival, hoping to get the ever gloomy and scruffy man out of the pawnshop, but every year, she’s been shot down. she has no idea what’s so different about this year, maybe he finally got fed up with her tactics, but whatever the reason, she’s glad that it’s finally happened.
it’s almost strange to see him out of the shady lighting of the pawn shop and out in the sunshine. he seems so out of place that it’s almost comical, but the sunlight should do him some good because for as much as they bicker, he’s the closest thing she’s got to a family now, much more than anything she’s ever actually had back at cosmo canyon, even with his grumpy ass and all of his nasty habits.
“hey, old man pawnshop, we should try to get you some home decor while we’re out here,” she says, eyes scanning the carnival grounds, immediately enticed by all the vibrancy and color. it’s not exactly screaming interior design, but a little personality in the form of a chocobo or moogle never hurt anyone. “seriously. your place is so depressing.”
