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

[brokencode]

[Why Angel had even bothered entering the Adventure Park, she didn't know. It was clear from just a few scant steps inside that this place existed far outside her comfort zone. Climbing would be too much for her weak muscles, and the adrenaline rush from the zipline would surely kill her.

Still though, she lingered beneath the ride, eyes wide and curious. Dare you approach the siren and encourage her to take a risk?]

[alltoblame]

[Ed is mostly just exploring, curious to see everything that's around - even if he's not going to bother with it, himself. So, he can't help but notice the girl seeming extremely out of place as she wanders the park, herself.]

You look a little overwhelmed.

[He offers a reassuring smile, as a ponyta stepped up beside him.]

[brokencode]

[Though she started a little at the young man's voice, by the time she turned around, the uneasiness had faded. She flashed him a small, if slightly awkward, smile, before quickly shaking her head.]

I think overwhelmed would be putting it far too mildly. This is... I think it might be just a little bit too much for me.

[Perhaps several months ago, the flaming horse might have made her step back, or at least hesitate. But she'd met friends with similar creatures, and as such she couldn't help but extend a gentle hand, to offer pets if the horse was so willing.]

[alltoblame]

I've never seen anything like it, myself.

[Ed grinned as she approached, the delighted creature stepping forward for some positive attention. He does love making new friends!]

I just thought I'd take a look around, but... This part's a lot different from the rest of the festival, isn't it?

[He waves a hand in indication as he speaks, the one holding a cup of whatever he's drinking. The pokemon meanwhile is nuzzling the girl's hand eagerly, pawing at the ground as if he never gets so much positive attention.]

[brokencode]

It is. I expected the more traditional aspects, but this... [Then again, this was the place that regularly held dances (ones uncorrupted by criminal influence, no less!), ones that historically had been held in bizarre places such as the moon. This world was nothing if not an odd blend of the traditional and the outlandish.]

This is a lot to take in. Still, I am happy that there are people here to enjoy it.

[Angel ran a thumb over the space between the horse's eyes, rubbing a small circle against the coat. The enthusiasm was certainly welcome, and greeted by a delighted, bubbling laugh from the siren.]

[a_sin_for_him]

[Considering she's a professional trapeze artist, it isn't surprising that Lust's wandered to investigate the Adventure Park. Sans Timothy, of course, as her gentleman has a great fear of heights.]

[But she spots a familiar face, contemplating the ziplines very cautiously.]

Going to give it a try?

[brokencode]

Me? [Angel turned, facing Lust knowingly. She knew the sound of the woman's voice, and could easily make a number of guesses as to why she was present at the park. She'd mentioned being part of the circus at one point, after all.]

I don't think I'm nearly brave enough to try something like this.

[a_sin_for_him]

Yes, you. It's perfectly safe. There's a harness.

[Lust gestures in the direction of the zip lines, watching Angel with a mild and amiable expression.]

It's quite the thrill. It feels like flying.

[brokencode]

Harnesses can break. [Accidents could happen. As pleasant as flying sounded, crashing and burning like Icarus was a far less exciting thought.]

Can multiple people go at once?

[a_sin_for_him]

It's perfectly safe. The park has never had a single harness accident in all my time of being here.

[Besides, with Pokemon on hand, it's unlikely any sort of highly improbably mishap would result in anything worth writing home over.]

I'm...not certain, actually.

[brokencode]

[That was comforting, even if Angel couldn't actually ride with anyone. Lust had been there a long time, after all. If nothing else, Angel knew the woman wouldn't lie to her, especially not when it was a matter of safety]

Maybe I'll try it then. If it is as safe as you say.

[a_sin_for_him]

I can go ahead of you, if you'd like, and you can watch me.

[Lust has found that often helps put people at ease, watching someone else do something beforehand.]

It really is fun.

[schachmeister]

Are you thinking of giving it a shot?

[Since arriving in Azalea, Armin had been keeping an eye out for Angel. He had been a little surprised to find a few people had seen her head to the adventure park --that didn't really seem like a thing she would be interested in--, but right now, he's glad he checked it out anyway.]

[brokencode]

[Sorry, Armin, but for the time being, your question is being ignored. Rather than answer him, Angel turned to that all-to-familiar voice, making no secret of hiding her delighted grin. She crossed the distance between them, throwing her arms around the young man without so much as asking -- this was what friends did, right?]

Armin! I am so happy you're here.

[schachmeister]

It's good to see you again!

[When Angel goes in for the hug, Armin doesn't dodge it. It's easy to be affectionate with Angel, and somehow she had quickly joined the ranks of Mikasa and Eren.]

I know it hasn't actually been that long since we last saw each other, but I'm still glad we got to meet up again. I got something for you too.

[Just let him get it from his bag.]

[brokencode]

Armin, you shouldn't have.

[While it might have been customary to be modest, when Angel spoke, she meant it. She felt guilty, having gifts heaped upon her, especially when she hadn't thought if it in turn. Not to mention the fact that it was getting to be a bit difficult, hefting around all of the lovely gifts her friends had purchased for her.

Nevertheless, she was eager to see what had caught Armin's eye. If nothing else, she enjoyed the fact that she was thought of so often.

[schachmeister]

It's really just a small thing.

[This time Angel doesn't have to worry about ending up with another big stuffed plush she'll have to make Krieg carry around. This will be one gift she can easily carry herself.

Thankfully, Armin is fairly fastidious and it is easy enough for him to find what he is looking for in his back. Soon, he's presenting Angel with a small paper bag, covered with the logo of the Cerulean City Aquarium gift shop. And inside, she's going to find a simple and small keychain with a little stuffed Corsola hanging from it.]

See, I've got one too.

[He indicates his bag, which now has a small, equally stuffed wailmer keychain hanging from it. Also from the Cerulean City Aquarium gift shop.]

[brokencode]

[It isn't like she made Krieg carry everything around. Just... almost everything.

But Armin was right, the Corsola, which was removed from its bag extremely carefully, was small enough for Angel to carry with her everywhere. Already she could see it hanging from her backpack, and though somewhere in the back of her mind, she worried about it being exposed to the elements, there was no doubt in her mind that this was the perfect gift.]

It looks just like Amber used to. [A pause.] We match, don't we? Sort of, at least.

[schachmeister]

We do. I actually wasn't sure what your favourite kind of water pokemon is, but I thought that you might like this one because it looks rather adorable.

[And it is pink and Angel likes pink, doesn't she? Or, at least, that is the impression Armin had gotten.]

They are actually really fascinating. I saw some in the aquarium. It said that they continue to shed and regrow the coral on their bodies throughout their entire life. There's even places where people live on top of coral islands created by giant herds of corsola.

[brokencode]

You know I... don't think I have too many water types. [Or any, when she thought about it. She'd have to double check the typing of all her creatures, but she got the feeling that she was short on this particular front. That would have to change sooner or later, though, if she had any hope of standing up to the gyms in the later areas.]

I think Corsola would be a perfect Pokemon though. I... might have to find one, at some point.

[The image Armin conjured up was a breathtaking one. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she found herself considering how much she enjoyed that trait of his. He was so well-read that he seemed to be able to easily entertain her with tales.]

I would very much like to visit a place like that, I think.

[schachmeister]

Me too. Ryner says though, that despite the fact that there are other regions out there, we can only visit these two.

[Armin frowns a little. It's not that he has exactly discovered everything there is to discover in Johto and Kanto. There is still plenty he has to see, but even with that in mind, the idea that there are more places out there, more areas to discover that are nevertheless cut off from him. Nope. That doesn't sit right with him at all.]

[brokencode]

Perhaps there will still be opportunities? Dave once said that the cat-creature we met at prom took everyone to the moon!

[Angel had hope that her words would prove true. If the legendary creatures were popping up more and more often, then perhaps so too would they bring adventure. Maybe somewhere out there, a water legendary would bring them to a Corsola island?]

[schachmeister]

Maybe. Ryner did say they got a chance to visit Kalos once. It's just-- I'd rather be able to travel there on my own power whenever I wanted to. Not wait for something like that.

[Of course, he wouldn't say no to a legendary pokemon adventure like that, but he also has his ways. And Armin's way includes wanting to be in control of everything he can do, wanting to be the one to decide where and when he travels without any taboos or being forbidden to.]

[brokencode]

Then I really, truly hope you find your way into a much bigger adventure, Armin.

[Angel could understand where Armin was coming from, if in a slightly odd way. A cage was a cage, no matter how big. She didn't like the idea of being trapped here after having seen all there was to see.]

[schachmeister]

Me too.

[But Angel shouldn't have to worry about him. He's Armin, after all. He won't do anything too rashly.]

So, were you thinking of giving it a try?

[Armin gives a small nod upwards at the ziplines.]

The lines, I mean.

[He had seen her interest before!]