victory_road | GIVE ME PROM OR GIVE ME DEATH

So you’ve gotten on the ferry, piloted by a man loudly proclaiming himself to be Captain Garfield and won’t this be fun everybody? We’re going to a party! Hope you all like boundless enthusiasm for boating, because this guy and his trusty Rattata (who will be collecting everyone’s fees, pay up or you don’t get on!) sure do love this and want everyone to know it. Finally, through caves and up rivers, there it is, shining in the dim evening light: The Elite Four’s Mansion (and blessed freedom from Captain Garfield). It looks amazing! Bunk down for the night and get a good night’s sleep, because tomorrow? It’s party time.

KEY:

• BLUE areas are where the bulk of the party's events will be located! As you can see, the festivities will be taking place largely outdoors. Some of the landscaping is a little different than what longterm residents might remember-- again, this WAS the site of a pretty epic battle between Teams Aqua and Magma at one point! All the same, in two years, you’d think they’d have wrapped up most of the work… there’s a lot of large-ish dirt piles and general disarray in the grounds outside the main yard, although the main grounds are still tidied up and decked out pretty heavily for the garden party. There’s even a little gazebo set up where you can have pictures taken of you, your date, and/or your Pokemon! The gazebo smells a little like fresh paint and plywood, but the paint is at least probably dry! There’s also an indoor ballroom for the more fancy red-carpet dancing, but in general, most of the activity will be happening outside.

• GREEN areas are where guests will be staying overnight! Unfortunately, you'll be sleeping-bagging it up, since there's a limited number of bedrooms in this house and they all either belong to Claire, the rest of the Elite Four, or are reserved for guests who are regrettably way more important than you. That much is the same as always-- Bruno really doesn’t want anybody digging through his underwear drawer, guys. He never has.
All that said, the green areas are where you'll be given space to leave your possessions, claim some sleeping room, and generally crash for the night once the festivities do you in.

• RED areas are RESOUNDINGLY off-limits to guests! There’s a lot more blocked-off doorways than there were in the past, and if asked about them, the staff will inform you that the mansion is under heavy remodeling and to please move along! What do you want to look at a bunch of sawdust and exposed wiring for anyway! Stop being nosy!
For everybody’s safety, there will be some staff stationed near the various restricted areas to move people along and make sure nobody wanders where they shouldn’t.

• AREA A is the designated Indoor Ballroom area, for the people who prefer the classy elegance of a formal red-carpet gala over the more whimsy outdoor garden party atmosphere in the back. There's a big skylight and lots of space to move around! … But the hardwood floors are looking a little scuffed, and there doesn’t seem to be the usual array of tasteful artwork on the walls anymore, even though you can still tell where a lot of the frames used to be hanging. There are some red banners strung up over most of those empty spots, and although don’t quite match the decor and they’re a little on the cheap side, they certainly make it look like a sweet party! Overall, though, a little more upscale than the shenanigans going on outside, for the people who'd rather that kind of thing.

• AREA B, as some of the more bookish types will remember, is the Library/Gallery! A long-time favorite of visitors, it’s usually a nice haven for people who are a little partied-out but not ready for bed, or who just want to dig into the Elite Four’s personal collection of books and research. SADLY, this year it would seem the door is blocked off! Remodeling in there too, huh? What a shame. :(

• AREA C is...well, the Parking Lot. Normally it’s spotless (no cars!), but this year it looks like they didn’t really have time to clean up, as there seems to be a lot of litter lying around. But more importantly, this is where you take your Pokemon battles if you simply gotta get your battle on; keep it out and away from the house, please, and try not to make too much of a mess. Skirmishes, sorties, and sparring will be tolerated here and here alone. Don’t be that person, guys!

• AREA D … is the Elite Four’s trophy and commemoration room, and it too seems to be shut off to the public. :( Awwww.

For all other information about the Prom and the venue, head on over HERE!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[And the Thunder Wave hits. Maika grunts and cries out as the paralyzing pulse hits, grimacing as she tries to move and finds her tentacles limited. Ugh, that is distracting!]

Aaah! Maika, noo! C'mon, break through! Break it!

["Overcome it", she means, but it looks like you've got a free turn, Heather.]

_{[..... WELL HEATHER WAS GOING TO HAVE TRICIA USE "SIGNAL BEAM" FOR THAT SWEET, SWEET x4 TYPE ADVANTAGE, but... damn, man, she doesn't wanna whoop a kid that badly. :(]

[So instead, she tells the Manectric:]}

All right, girl!

Hit 'em with a Thunderbolt!

[I mean...she won't hold it against you...Inklings are terribly sore losers but less towards their opponents and more towards themselves.

The Thunderbolt hits, but Maika takes it and stays standing like a tentacled tank. Still, another good hit and it'll be curtains for her...time to break out the big guns.]

Aah! Noo! Pay 'em back - Payback!

[Maika shakes herself briefly, bracing against the paralysis, and out shoots the dark energy of a Payback! Does it hit?]

_{[SORRY THIDA IT'S A MATTER OF PRINCIPAL. Things look a little different once you're on the other side of the fence, even if Heather does feel like an overgrown kid most of the time.]

[The blow lands, making Tricia let out a sharp yelp and back up, but now Heather feels justified in calling a final blow.]}

You're almost there, girl!

One more Thunderbolt'll do it!

[Oh splat

Can Maika dodge this? She's gotta dodge it. Please dodge it...]

Maika, dodge it!

[...Yeah no she's trying but that paralysis has her hard]

_{[NO DICE-- the lightning hits, Maika is down for the count.]

[BUT!!!!]

[It's not like Tricia didn't sustain a considerable amount of damage in the battle herself, and it doesn't look like Heather's planning to withdraw her, judging by the nod she gives the Manectric once the Malamar topples.]}

Good job, Trish. Keep it comin'.

[DOWN SHE GOES, and Thida runs over, placing a gentle hand on the Malamar's head.]

Maika...aah, y'got beat...'s okey, y'did good.

[She withdraws her starter after a kind pat on the head, and takes a moment to think. Judd would be great - electric against electric - but he might just sit down and decide the battle's not worth his time. So that means next up is...]

Buru! Your turn!

[Thida sends out a Granbull and backs up as the pink dog barks, eyes glinting eagerly. Battle? She gets to battle? AW YEAH GOOD TIMES ARE GOING TO BE HAD HERE]

_{[GOOD TIMES, GOOD TIMES!]

[Heather nods appreciatively at Thida's next choice-- brawn over the brain! She has a feeling Tricia won't last long, but it seems fair to let her stay in the fight as long as she can.]}

All right, girl, start circlin'. Look for weak spots.

_{[The smaller of the two dogs starts to trot in a wide circle around Buru, red eyes never once leaving the Granbull. SCOPIN' OUT THA THREAT!]}

[The Granbull doesn't make it easy. She seems quite alert in addition to being excited, ears perked to listen to where Tricia might be headed when she slips out of sight. You're not making this Pokemon dizzy, nuh-uh.]

Mm...stay sharp, 'kay?

Gran...

_{[They can BOTH not make things easy-- Tricia's never been one NOT to take an opportunity to up her game!]

[Giving her legs a workout, she speeds up to a trot, then a lope. JUST CIRCLIN'. ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND AND...]}

[Yeesh, we're NOT falling for that! Buru closes her eyes when she senses Tricia speed up, ears perked. JUST TRY TO GET HER DIZZY]

_{[WELL THAT WON'T WORK so time for plan B, LUNGING SHARPLY at the Granbull once her eyes are shut!]}

[GUESS WHO HEARS YOU COMING

IT'S THE GRANBULL

Buru's eyes snap open as she leaps out of the way, tucking and rolling and letting her paws drag on the ground to bring herself to a stop once Tricia's missed. The Granbull grins. WE CAN PLAY THIS GAME ALL DAY FRIEND]

GIVE ME PROM OR GIVE ME DEATH

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