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

[keep_surviving]

There's another pause before the Espurr nods and looks back at the toy. Its tiny paw reaches out again to grab at the leg of Walter's slacks as he tries to pass.

The Espurr tugs the material and points at the toy again, eyes unblinking and fixed on Walter.

[11121_assumption]

Walter halted, not expecting the grab. Now even little Pokemon were following him? He wasn't unnerved; he was used to an Espurr's wide-eyed staring; just a little confused. Was this a wild Espurr? If not then, where was it's trainer?

"...you want me to get it for you?"

[keep_surviving]

A brisk nod accompanied by some more insitant tugging seem to indicate Walter guessed correctly.

Its gaze has returned to the toy.

[11121_assumption]

"Do you have a trainer?" Doll pressed curiously, floating in between Petey and his much desired item.

Walter exhaled, looking around. Nobody was forthcoming to get the little Espurr. It...reminded him of himself when he was younger. Without a word, he approached the vendor and purchased the balloon the Pokemon had been pointing to. He knelt down to give it to Petey.

[keep_surviving]

Petey looked at Doll. It took the entire time Walter was away making the purchase before he spoke two singular words. "Yes. Mine."

The violet eyes stare at Walter and the prize. Slowly, an unseen force takes the balloon and holds it in the air beside the small Pokemon. Petey reaches out his paw once more to touch the side of Walter's face. The odd gesture meant as a thanks.

[11121_assumption]

Walter stood, unsure what to make of the gesture. He hadn't intended to lean down that close but well...it was a Psychic type. Petey could touch his face whenever with his powers, probably. He looked over to Doll who flipped rightside up and floated up to Walter. She mostly thought Petey was weird. Whatever. He'd gotten what he wanted.

Walter gave a single nod to Petey and turned to leave again, as Doll gave an eager cackle, spotting a stall she liked the look of.

[keep_surviving]

There's a small, soft thumping noise as the balloon is bounced up and down and Petey watches them leave.

Then the thumping noise starts to follow them.

Petey had decided to join.

[11121_assumption]

Well. This sure does bring back memories of the numerous times he's been followed by children in Team Rocket. Walter exhaled, letting Doll pull him over to a stall full of patterned fabrics and threads. She eagerly looked over the display, showing Walter particular ones she liked.

Source folded her arms, giving Petey a haughty look. She floated down to him. "Why don't you go to YOUR trainer then?"

[keep_surviving]

Petey doesn't reply. He just keeps bouncing his balloon and seems to become fixated on the flickering flame atop Source's head.

[11121_assumption]

Source huffed, flouncing off as best a candle can by returning to Walter's shoulder and turning away from Petey, pouting.
After some coaxing from Doll, Walter did purchase some fabric. Both for Doll's 'additions' to her own felt body, and for his own sewing. His feather jacket was progressing along, but...it was nice to be able to make things for himself. And these fabrics were soft and pretty, at least to him.

He continued to browse, now with a bag of his purchases and a still pouting Litwick on him.

[keep_surviving]

A harsh "Petey!" cut through the air and the shadow of a Murkrow can be seen flying overhead. A few passersby look up then continue on their own way.

The bird lands upon one of the stall beams, looking down at the Espurr before shouting out like a siren.

"Petey! Petey! Petey!"

Petey spares the Murkrow a single glance before he returns to watching Source's flame.

[11121_assumption]

Walter also took notice of the Murkrow. He noticed how it was focusing on the Espurr, shouting out a name. Source was also getting aggravated by Petey's constant watching, puffing out her cheeks. "Stop looking at me! Go to your trainer!"

Walter sighed out, mutely thanking the Holy Mother he hadn't brought Jennifer with him - she was very...jealous, when it came to others approaching him. He brought a hand around Source, speaking to her softly. "He will not be joining us. There is someone looking for him, they will be here soon." Source still pouted, flame flaring in annoyance. Doll floated up to the Murkrow, cackling. Oh, this could be good.

"Is the Espurr with you? Who's your trainer?"

[keep_surviving]

The Murkrow puffs his chest out in pleasure, proud he gets to be the one to introduce his trainer. He answers in Pokespeak. "My trainer is Diana. The most beautiful trainer." Well, Murkrows aren't known for their modesty.

Just then the large black head of a Luxray parts the crowd and scans round with its red and yellow eyes, before spotting Petey and giving him a scornful look.

Diana appears at his side. "Petey! About time."

She approaches the Espurr and crouches, waiting. Petey slowly turns himself around and reaches out to touch Diana's face.

There's a pause before he finally moves closer and rests his furry head against her cheek, which Diana seems to take as permission and lifts him up. Then she notices the balloon. "Where did you get that?"

"Walt! Walt!" Strut starts to chime and Diana looks up.

"Oh, hey Walt.

[11121_assumption]

Doll simply began to cackle. She didn't have any thoughts on human attractiveness. She's not into that, thanks Strut. She floated back to Walter as Diana appeared, catching a taste of negative thinking from him. An old trait from her Shuppet days.

Walter had stood back when Diana turned up to pick up her Pokemon. He hadn't recognised Strut. He had enough Murkrows to keep track of at home.

"Diana." He simply nodded to her, not revealing anything about Petey's recent actions or his own. He was also aware of how outnumbered he was; Source was too young to be effective in a confrontation and he only had Doll, in comparison to Diana's three.

[keep_surviving]

Strut flies down to alight atop Caine's head, much to the Luxray's displeasure. It growls and tries to snap at him, making the bird perch himself on Diana's shoulder and give Caine a haughty look. Caine huffs jealously and fixes his sights on Walter.

Diana ignores them and brushes the soft fur atop Petey head with her fingers, looking at the balloon again. "Did you get this for him?"

[11121_assumption]

"Yes." He also didn't know how to avoid answering a question yet. He directed his attention to his Pokemon instead, offering to hold Doll with a small gesture. The Banette accepted, happily basking in the strange energy flowing from Walter. He clearly felt a little cold towards this other trainer yet not enough to become hostile. But then, her trainer was strange in who he directed his anger towards.

[keep_surviving]

She places Petey back on the floor, where he begins bouncing the balloon again, while she digs into her pocket and pulls out some cash.

"Here." She holds it out to Walter. "Sorry, when he wants something he's pretty insistent about it."

[11121_assumption]

"There's no need to." He didn't reach to take it, only glancing at the money. Doll giggled from his arm. She truly liked her trainer...but she liked knowing his well hidden feelings too, especially when they were less than sunny. He didn't want to accept anything from Diana again.

[keep_surviving]

"You sure? I'm just paying you back." She lowers the hand with the money. Hell, if Walter wants to give her something for free, she won't argue too much.

Then a grin breaks out on her face. "Some birds told me your birthday was coming up."

[11121_assumption]

"...what."

Here's the thing; Walter hadn't told anyone his birthday. He hadn't even told his Pokemon! Wisdom knew because she had glimpsed through his life and had learned both his birthday and his date of death. He wasn't even certain of the date himself, given the circumstances he was born and discovered in. "Nobody knows my birthday."

[keep_surviving]

"So, your birthday isn't this weekend? Because that's what I was told."

[11121_assumption]

Walter blinked several times. "...It's around that time. I was never told the day and I never told anyone else about it."

It's highly, highly suspicious that Diana knew it was upcoming. What birds could have told- It's obvious when he realises who could have told her. "When did you speak to Wisdom?"

[keep_surviving]

"Well, it more like she spoke at me until she decided that she was done."

She smirks at the memory.

"Anyway, I need to get you something." Diana holds up her hands. "Nothing alive or soon to be alive, I promise. Think of it as a 'sorry-I-got-you-the-worst-gift-ever-last-time, present."

[11121_assumption]

Doll cackled again, feeling waves of distrust roll from Walter's stoic form. "I don't need anything." He needed to question Wisdom on why she spoke to Diana of all people about his birthday. And Jimmy. And who else she might have told. But he hadn't brought her with him today.

[keep_surviving]

Caine didn't like Doll's laughing and started lashing his tail back and forth, a low growl in his throat.

"That's debatable." Diana said, looking at Walter's outfit. "But think about this, I'm going to get you something, so wouldn't you feel better being there and picking what you want? Look how things turned out the last time I picked."