It's time for the solstice!

[indigo_events]

Who: Everyone attending the Azalea festival!

Where: Azalea town and surrounding woods

When: June 21st

Summary: Celebi's come out, so it's time to throw a party in its honor!

Log:

It's Midsummer! Traditional festivities in Azalea are all in full swing, and this year even bigger and better than ever, thanks to the influx of curious tourists and Legendary Seekers drawn by the rumors in hopes of catching a glimpse of the elusive Celebi. Everyone in Azalea is putting out their finest, and the whole town is decked out with flowers in vases and pots, colorful streamers, and bright awnings under which vendors hawk their wares.

The fun doesn't stop there, however. Those time disturbances that have been popping up all over the place? They've become at once more localized and more benign. Flowers open quickly and stay in bloom without fading, a blissful moment seems to stretch into eternity, somehow you've managed to sample the food of a dozen different booths and it still is barely mid-morning. It's like a perfect moment somehow drawn out, suspended in time to savor as long as possible. Those who have a particularly fun few minutes may even find them repeated a few times!

Which perhaps should be no surprise, given that Celebi itself has come out to play! If you're lucky and paying close attention, you might even catch a glimpse of it flitting about from one place to another throughout the town and the nearby forest. It certainly isn't shy, though it is moving quite quickly and doing anything but staying in one place. Anybody who might attempt to catch or challenge it to a battle isn’t going to get anywhere at all—and stubborn trainers might find themselves stuck in a time loop for a few hours. There's simply so much to see and do, after all! Strangely enough, if any of the Legend Seekers are around, Celebi never seems to be anywhere to be found.

Eventually, though, the long day will come to an end, and the festivities with it. By morning, all the hubbub will be gone, and Celebi with it. But not quite without a trace: anyone who came to Azalea Town to participate in the festival will find in their belongings a single fossil as a parting gift from the Time Travel Pokémon.

Comments

[notmyrealname]

Angel?

[Cissnei had been wandering through the area that housed the Shrine, curious to see what she may encounter as she went, when her Riolu perked up in her arms and pointed over towards something. The young woman had paused, her Absol stopping at her side, looking over in the direction and spotting a familiar face.

One that was clearly not having a good time at the moment.

She didn't hesitate to make her way over which is where she is now, standing a couple feet in front of Angel. Her Riolu was now perched on her Absol's back, leaving her hands free so she could reach out, not quite touching but ready to do so if Angel made it clear it was okay.]

Are you alright?

[brokencode]

[Angel was grateful that Cissnei hadn't made contact with her. Though her senses were steadily returning, it was clear to her that she was on edge, and likely wouldn't have reacted to her touch all that well. As it was, it took her a substantial chunk of seconds for her to even steady herself enough to speak.]

Sorry, I -- [She looked around, place a palm against the tree as if it might ground her.]

I thought I heard something. Something that... really should not be here.

[notmyrealname]

You don't have to apologize. Things have been a little off for awhile now.

[She, herself, hadn't experienced anything too out of the ordinary but that doesn't mean she isn't well aware that strange things have been happening.

Tilting her head, Cissei looks the other young woman over again, frowning just the slightest bit in a concerned manner.]

Do you need to sit down?

[brokencode]

[The siren was quick to shake her head. Rest might have done her some good, but the last thing she wanted was to get caught in the crossfire of a hallucinated gun fight. Again. It brought back unpleasant enough memories the first time.]

No, no. On the contrary, I think we should get moving.

[If nothing else, she was comforted by the fact that she wasn't the only one experiencing strange things.]

[notmyrealname]

[Cissnei nodded, motioning back towards where the festival is.]

Someplace with more of a hustle and bustle or would you rather stay someplace quiet?

[She had every intention of sticking close until she was sure Angel was alright considering how shaken the young woman had seemed just now. Better safe than sorry.]

[brokencode]

On a normal day, Angel might have leapt upon the opportunity for peace and quiet. Today was different, however. Quiet had brought both those nostalgic and horrific sounds. Being at peace had immediately set her on edge. Perhaps what she needed most was the opposite of all that.

If nothing else, it might keep whatever caused the sounds at bay. Or drown them out.]

There is plenty to see at the festival. I... would hate to lose out on that opportunity.

[notmyrealname]

It would be a shame. It is quite the festival.

[Cissnei offered Angel a smile.]

When was the last time you ate something? There's a few booths that have some really good treats for sale. I'll treat you to something; it has been awhile since we last spoke, after all.

[brokencode]

Food would be good. Food at the festival.

[Angel's eyes darted toward the path. She had wanted to get moving, but now she feared what the path might remind her of next. The last thing she wanted was to see the Control Core around her, to feel trapped in a place she wanted nothing more than to forget.

But even if Cissnei couldn't protect her from her memories, or whatever it was causing this mess, Angel knew she wasn't alone. Moreover, she knew that Cissnei wasn't from the same place she was. If they were together, at least Angel would have a grounding point.]

Are you ready to go?

[notmyrealname]

[Cissnei had seen people act similarly to this and most of the time it was because they were haunted by something they'd seen in the field. Something they'd encountered on a mission. She wasn't sure how true that was to what Angel was experiencing but taking it slow and making sure to just be there for the other young woman would still work.]

Of course.

[With a smile she takes a few steps forward, waiting for Angel to follow suit before continuing down the path.]

There are some rather ridiculous Pokemon shaped desserts that I wanted to try, care to indulge with me?

[brokencode]

[Desserts certainly got her attention, were a distracting enough concept for her to perk up and push her thoughts toward the back of her head. She jogged to catch up with Cissnei, then slowed her pace to something of a brisk walk.]

Dessert sounds perfect, actually. It's my favorite meal, actually.

[Her smile came off as only a little strained. It was a well-known fact that Angel tended to covet her desserts, and as long as she was moving, she could forget about whatever she did or didn't hear only a few minutes previous.]

[notmyrealname]

A good choice in favorites. I knew I liked you for a reason, Angel.

[Cissnei returns the smile with one of her own, taking it all in stride because while it was obvious Angel's was strained she wanted to make the young woman feel as comfortable as possible.]

I never got a chance to try many desserts back home. I was always too busy with work but some of my coworkers had a habit of sneaking things into the barracks.

[brokencode]

[A timid but genuine smile crept over Angel's lips, and with it came a faint wave of heat over her cheeks. Ten months, and she still wasn't entirely used to casual companionship. Similar phrases from some of her friends might have felt normal by now, but she and Cissnei had only met once.

It was still a bit odd to her, when she really thought about it, that people could be so nice. Perhaps, though, it was the fresh memory of Pandora that was distorting her thinking, or the fact that she had met with her father earlier in the day.

Either way, she tried to shake the awkwardness from her bones, and focus on what was otherwise a pleasant moment with a nice woman. She didn't need to think about where she had been previously -- not anymore and certainly not for a long time now.]

You have had ice cream before though, correct?

[notmyrealname]

[Cissnei had never really been the type to engage with others in a friendly manner. It was generally more professional or for a reason when she did. But Zack had changed that and being here for several months had helped that along. So despite having known Angel for a very, very short time, she was still rather fond of the other young woman.

There was just something about her that Cissnei found rather charming.]

I have, though I have a feeling this place has more flavors then we did back home. It seems like a lot of the flavors are based off the berries that grow here? That we can eat, I mean.

[brokencode]

Yes, exactly! [There had been a few unique flavors, or so others had told her. For Angel, though, even the most basic of flavors were mindblowing. Her quest to try ever flavor continued even here, especially in a place where berries were a bit more bountiful.]

The festival didn't seem to have anything special though, I noticed that earlier. But I am sure they have plenty of other treats. We can look around, perhaps try something new together?

[Once again, her love of both sugary treats and the ability to eat what she wanted was making her friends. At least she'd stopped being surprised by it.]

[notmyrealname]

I'd like that, quite a bit. [Cissnei smiles warmly at Angel, arms tucked behind her back as she walks now.] I have to admit, I haven't been too adventurous with food since I got here so now is as good a time as any to start.

[Instinct had kept her from spending money on things that weren't absolutely necessary and while a treat definitely wasn't something she'd normally indulge in...

It was rather necessary now, in her opinion.]

[brokencode]

I suppose that makes you slightly better than I am. [Angel spoke with a hefty amount of amusement in her voice, surprising herself. She attributed it to Cissnei's relaxed posture. If she could be at ease, then maybe Angel could too.]

I never really got to explore much of anything back home. Food, shopping, it was all really new to me. I am still getting used to it, to be honest.

[It was why she struggled to carry around all of her things on the road. After sitting idle for the winter months, she had accumulated just a bit too much non-essential stuff.]

[notmyrealname]

[She can't help but snort, grinning as she shakes her head.]

Hardly. It just means I haven't let myself relax enough and just enjoy what's around me.

[Which is very true. Thankfully Korra was helping to change that.]

It's a rather interesting experience, having the freedom to do whatever you want, I mean. In my line of work, free time is pretty non-existent. I've never even been to a beach just for pleasure.