Kazuki Hihara - 火原和樹 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
forsaintcecilia) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
victory_road2017-12-20 04:28 pm
forsaintcecilia) wrote in victory_road2017-12-20 04:28 pm
Kazuki and Co's Christmas Performance!
Who: Kazuki, his Pokemon, and YOU!
Where: Goldenrod City
When: Over the holiday season!
Summary: Kazuki and his musically inclined Pokemon are putting on a show for the holidays! Come and watch, say hello, and maybe leave him a nice Christmas tip!
Rating: Gen
Kazuki and his troupe had been preparing for this all month. Hours of practice, every day, brainstorming, critiques, and praise, slowly working on every little detail. It wasn't easy! Kazuki wasn't the best at concentrating his energy, even on the trumpet. And it was the first time he'd really ever taught anyone about music either, even though it was what he'd already decided he wanted to do with his life. So it was a good learning experience. And he couldn't be happier with the results!
He and his Pokemon were all dressed festively. He had a nice beige coat, plaid muffler and earmuffs, and a neat pair of slacks and shoes. His male Pokemon were wearing Santa hats, and his female Pokemon had ribbons with bells tied around their necks. He even had eensy tiny ones made for his Cutiefly, Puff, and his Chingling, Tin Tin. Everyone looked great. The atmosphere couldn't be any better.
Every hour, on the hour, Kazuki would begin by addressing whatever crowd he'd managed to gather, large or small.
"Happy Holidays, everyone!" he held his trumpet in one had, and waved with the other. "I hope you're all having a great time! Staying warm? Please, help yourself to some cocoa!"
Sticky, his Swirlix, had found a purpose here-- his coat was so magnificently sweet from all the treats he ate that it took just a few strands of his fur in a cup of bitter cocoa to make an excellent brew, and he was positively beaming to be of help. He sat at a small table of full cups and cried happily at everyone that took some. A sign read Sticky accepts tips in unwrapped candy and he was constantly chowing down on chocolates and candy canes that children were offering him.
"My friends and I have a little show for you today!" he gestured back at his performing Pokemon, Honky Tonk the Brionne, Xylo the Kricketune, and the aforementioned Tin Tin. "Please stop your busy days for a moment and have a listen, you'll feel better when you do! We're starting off with a fun favorite you'll all enjoy-- okay, everyone? A one, and a two..."
The first song was Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland. Here, Honky Tonk took on the main melody, while Kazuki provided an accompaniment, and Xylo filled things out with a mellow cello sound. Tin Tin rang out occasionally, and all four together put on one heck of a solid performance. Honky Tonk's dance was especially cute, and the audience applauded his flourishes and sashays.
When they finished, they all bowed, and Maestra the Furret went around with a basket in her paws, accepting tips from pleased listeners. Puff showered them in a sweet smelling golden pollen in thanks.
Their second song was Jingle Bells, where Tin Tin got to really show his stuff! He rang out loud and exuberant, and Maestra passed out toy bells for the children to play along with. Parents gave he most generous tips during this segment for entertaining their kids, tried and crabby from long days of shopping.
But for his last song, Kazuki respectfully called for quiet. While his first two songs were fun romps for he and his Pokemon to enjoy together, this was a song that meant something to him, personally.
Ave Maria
Xylo played a somber harp behind his trumpet, and Honky Tonk made gentle motions with his flippers, as though waltzing, but this song belonged to Kazuki. It wasn't his typical kind of song. It was soft and slow and gentle. It glowed, but rather like the tiny songs of the stars than the orchestra of the sun. He was reaching out. Not to the audience he had, but somewhere else, farther away. Home. Her.
The song of the trumpet reverberated in his heart, and he had to blink back a tear or two to finish smoothly. He slowly lowered the trumpet from his lips and bowed, and the crowd broke into somber applause. He bowed again, and again, in different directions, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
"Thank you, everyone, for listening."
His Pokemon stepped up to bow with him, and the applause grew more enthusiastic. Maestra ran around with the basket to collect the last of the tips.
"We'll be beginning again at the top of the hour, so if you missed anything, please hang around! Otherwise, again, Happy Holidays, and please have a safe trip home!"
Where: Goldenrod City
When: Over the holiday season!
Summary: Kazuki and his musically inclined Pokemon are putting on a show for the holidays! Come and watch, say hello, and maybe leave him a nice Christmas tip!
Rating: Gen
Kazuki and his troupe had been preparing for this all month. Hours of practice, every day, brainstorming, critiques, and praise, slowly working on every little detail. It wasn't easy! Kazuki wasn't the best at concentrating his energy, even on the trumpet. And it was the first time he'd really ever taught anyone about music either, even though it was what he'd already decided he wanted to do with his life. So it was a good learning experience. And he couldn't be happier with the results!
He and his Pokemon were all dressed festively. He had a nice beige coat, plaid muffler and earmuffs, and a neat pair of slacks and shoes. His male Pokemon were wearing Santa hats, and his female Pokemon had ribbons with bells tied around their necks. He even had eensy tiny ones made for his Cutiefly, Puff, and his Chingling, Tin Tin. Everyone looked great. The atmosphere couldn't be any better.
Every hour, on the hour, Kazuki would begin by addressing whatever crowd he'd managed to gather, large or small.
"Happy Holidays, everyone!" he held his trumpet in one had, and waved with the other. "I hope you're all having a great time! Staying warm? Please, help yourself to some cocoa!"
Sticky, his Swirlix, had found a purpose here-- his coat was so magnificently sweet from all the treats he ate that it took just a few strands of his fur in a cup of bitter cocoa to make an excellent brew, and he was positively beaming to be of help. He sat at a small table of full cups and cried happily at everyone that took some. A sign read Sticky accepts tips in unwrapped candy and he was constantly chowing down on chocolates and candy canes that children were offering him.
"My friends and I have a little show for you today!" he gestured back at his performing Pokemon, Honky Tonk the Brionne, Xylo the Kricketune, and the aforementioned Tin Tin. "Please stop your busy days for a moment and have a listen, you'll feel better when you do! We're starting off with a fun favorite you'll all enjoy-- okay, everyone? A one, and a two..."
The first song was Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland. Here, Honky Tonk took on the main melody, while Kazuki provided an accompaniment, and Xylo filled things out with a mellow cello sound. Tin Tin rang out occasionally, and all four together put on one heck of a solid performance. Honky Tonk's dance was especially cute, and the audience applauded his flourishes and sashays.
When they finished, they all bowed, and Maestra the Furret went around with a basket in her paws, accepting tips from pleased listeners. Puff showered them in a sweet smelling golden pollen in thanks.
Their second song was Jingle Bells, where Tin Tin got to really show his stuff! He rang out loud and exuberant, and Maestra passed out toy bells for the children to play along with. Parents gave he most generous tips during this segment for entertaining their kids, tried and crabby from long days of shopping.
But for his last song, Kazuki respectfully called for quiet. While his first two songs were fun romps for he and his Pokemon to enjoy together, this was a song that meant something to him, personally.
Ave Maria
Xylo played a somber harp behind his trumpet, and Honky Tonk made gentle motions with his flippers, as though waltzing, but this song belonged to Kazuki. It wasn't his typical kind of song. It was soft and slow and gentle. It glowed, but rather like the tiny songs of the stars than the orchestra of the sun. He was reaching out. Not to the audience he had, but somewhere else, farther away. Home. Her.
The song of the trumpet reverberated in his heart, and he had to blink back a tear or two to finish smoothly. He slowly lowered the trumpet from his lips and bowed, and the crowd broke into somber applause. He bowed again, and again, in different directions, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
"Thank you, everyone, for listening."
His Pokemon stepped up to bow with him, and the applause grew more enthusiastic. Maestra ran around with the basket to collect the last of the tips.
"We'll be beginning again at the top of the hour, so if you missed anything, please hang around! Otherwise, again, Happy Holidays, and please have a safe trip home!"
action;
He shouldn't be surprised that it's Kazuki, and lingers in the back of the crowd, only stepping forward a little to slip the Swirlix a candy cane. The songs are nice, and it's clear they've all been working hard, but nothing takes his breath away until that last one. When Kazuki is playing that last one, Jean can feel something in his chest move, something he hasn't felt before. Music isn't terribly common back home, and even here, he hasn't experienced much of it. Hearing something so beautiful strikes him right to the core.
He waits until the rest of the crowd disperses, then walks up. "Hey."
Hello, this is the first time they've met in person, and Jean hopes Kazuki recognizes him. "That was really great."
action;
Of course Kazuki recognizes him! Well, for one, he's just really good at faces and names, but he considers him a friend as well. He seems positively chuffed to see Jean, and puffed you his chest a little in pride-- Jean had told him that there isn't much music in his world, so Kazuki's performance may have been one of the first real ones Jean has ever seen. That's a really special opportunity!
"It's great to see you! Are you here for the Market?" since everyone else he knows have been popping in for the same reason, he assumes Jean is as well. "Thank you so much! Did you get to see the whole show, or just the end? We'll give it our all next hour if you didn't catch it all! Oh, or I'll take a request! I know all the popular songs!"
Woah there Kazuki, stop that whirlwind of a carousel before all the ponies fly off. Not everyone can keep up with your train of thought!
action;
Does Kazuki know Oh Christmas Tree? Because Jean can sing that one, but only in the hodgepodge German of his own world.
"I'm glad I ran into you, though. I have something for you." Jean fishes around inside his backpack (which is red and white and has eyes on it like a Voltorb, a birthday gift last year from Bertolt) until he finds what he's looking for and holds it out. "Here you go."
It's an egg. A Voltorb egg, to be precise.
"This is from Blitz and Donner."
action;
A Pokemon egg! Kazuki takes it into his arms carefully. Maestra spots it and runs up excitedly, abandoning her job of taking tips for a moment to get a better look.She loves new baby Pokemon!
"I don't know all your Pokemon-- who are Blitz and Donner?"
What kind of new friend would he be getting today?
action;
The odds are, Jean is wearing some article of clothing with a Voltorb or Electrode on it. He looks down at himself, and sure enough, he's wearing his Voltorb scarf today, and points out the Pokemon pattern on it. "These guys. Or, they were these guys, but then they evolved and their colors switched and they grew eyebrows."
An important distinction! The eyebrows greatly improve their facial expressions.
"They're an electric type and not very musical, but maybe you could use one that's good in a fight?"
action;
Understatement of the century, Kazuki.
action;
When Kazuki asks if they like to battle, Jean starts laughing. Like, throwing his head back, hooting like a loon laughing.
"Yes. They definitely like to battle." Jean manages to get control over himself, and wipes some tears out of his eyes. "If you're out camping, you won't be bothered by any wild Pokemon, if whoever is in this egg is anything like their dad."
Or mom. Or however Voltorbs reproduce. Whatever, this is one of Blitz's eggs so it's going to be a brawler.
action;
"That's good then! As long as they get along with everybody else... I could use someone to protect us when we go out traveling. Usually I just stock up on a ton of Repels, 'cause I don't really like hurting other Pokemon too much if we don't have to."
And Repels get expensive after awhile. He could use that extra money for other things, like maybe staying in better hotels.
action;
"Do you want to go grab something from a bakery?" Jean doesn't know if Kazuki needs to stay in this spot, or if he can wander around a little before his next set. "I, uh... I want to buy you a pastry or something."
He's not flirting! He just remembers how patient and kind Kazuki was to him during his nightmare, and wants to repay the favor.
action;
Thankfully for him Kazuki doesn't take it as such, an brightens up at the mention of pastries-- and so does Sticky. Even from far away at the cocoa stand, he heard, and jumped do and scrambled over to Kazuki to make his presence very much known. No way does his breeder get treats and he doesn't get some too!
"That sounds great! I've totally got time!" Even if he misses his next performance, well, that's okay. Friends are more important than more money. "But you're gonna have to get something for Sticky too."
Said Swirlix was drooling and chewing on the hem of Kazuki's pant leg in anticipation.
action;
"That's not a problem." Jean looks at Sticky and grins before reaching into his pocket and pulling out another candy cane. "Here, buddy, chew on this instead of that pant leg."
It's one of the nicest things about being in this world--besides the lack of titans and fighting for his life, of course--that Jean can actually afford the food he wants and has enough money to share with friends. Even now, after over a year here, the novelty still hasn't worn off.
"If you want, the rest of your crew can come too."
action;
All his Pokemon break into a scramble to bring down their little spot, and come back to him one by one when they finish to return to their Pokeballs. Sticky doesn't of course, because he's going to get more sugar!
"Where do you want to go? Is there somewhere good nearby?"
action;
But hey, if Kazuki would rather put them in their balls, that's fine too, and Jean waits patiently until everyone is rounded up. "I think there's a coffee shop over this way? It's the same as the one I work at in Sevii, so I know exactly what the good stuff is."
Right this way, Kazuki, let Jean lead you to the nearest Starmiebucks.
action;
Once they make their way to the nearest Starmiebucks, Kazuki can't help but laugh.
"You know how you said there are things from people's worlds that have funny Pokemon names here? Like Zubatman?" Kazuki points up at the green and white logo above the door-- not of the double-tailed mermaid like from home, but the aesthetic is extremely similar. "They have these at home! They're just called Starbucks."
action;
There isn't much here that's like home for Jean, and he likes it that way.
action;
Kazuki obviously doesn't need caffeine, so he's not hooked on coffee. But he does like some of the sweet drinks they sell here. You know, the ones that taste like a scented candle.
action;
For a kid who came from a world with scarce food resources, that kind of attitude is completely baffling.
"Do you like the sweet drinks or the more bitter ones? Because I've been experimenting and have some neat ideas."
action;
action;
No one has ever liked the Voltorb latte, but that hasn't kept Jean from trying to perfect it.
action;
action;
No, they're actually mostly assholes, but so is Jean, so he relates to their troubles.
"No, but that's a good idea!" Gonna try it with this one! "It's called a Voltorb latte because it's red and white!"
And also horrible and no one likes them. It also has that in common with Voltorbs.
Jean finishes his concoction and hands it to Kazuki with a flourish. "Here you go!"
action;
Okay, it's not repulsive, he's able to swallow it, but it's not that good. The blend of tea he used wasn't suited to be made into a latte, like chai or matcha. How to convey this without being rude?
"It's, um..." okay, come on Kazuki, think about how you give constructive criticism at orchestra club! "The presentation is really good! The red and white does look like a Voltorb. But I think I have an idea about how to make it taste better! Would you like to hear it?"
action;
"Sure." Jean leans his elbows on the counter, all ears. "It looks the way I want it to, but the taste still needs work."
action;
He stands still for a moment, chin in hand, looking over all of his options, before he grabs a clear cup and just goes for it.
"It has to be red and white, so..." he grabs the bottle of strawberry syrup, and squirts a thin layer of that at the bottom of the cup. Then he takes a blender half-full of vanilla frappe, and pours that on top, gently, so the red and white layers remain distinct. On the top of the frappe, he does his best to draw a Voltorb in strawberry syrup.
"There! What do you think? It looks like a Voltorb, and everyone likes vanilla and strawberry... Although it's not a latte anymore, it's a frappe. Did you really want there to be coffee in it?"
action;
"No, it's okay if it's a frappe." This just means Jean will have to work even harder at making a hot drink with a Voltorb theme! Kazuki has given him something to work towards! "I wonder if you could do the red layer on top..."
Excuse him, he's just going to be making another one, and reversing the order this time. Instead of drawing a Voltorb's body, he just draws their eyes with vanilla syrup, then holds the drink up for Kazuki's inspection. "What do you think?"
action;
"...Ah!" he perked up, and raised an index finger in sudden inspiration. "You know what would totally make this? You should sprinkle strawberry Pop Rocks on the top! They'll snap and crackle like electricity!"
action;
"Come on. We need to go find some Pop Rocks." Like, right now. This won't be complete until they have Pop Rocks.
Jean fumbles a Pokeball off his belt and out pops Polo the wrestle cat, who looks vaguely confused when Jean shoves some money into his hands. "Pay for our drinks and then wait here. Buy yourself something if you want, we'll be right back."
And now he's trying to drag poor Kazuki towards the door.
action;
Guess who's never seen an Incineroar before? Kazuki stares backwards at Polo until Jean drags him out the door, and they have their Pop Rocks adventure.
action!
He slides to a stop when he sees the setup, with the little Pokemon in their little hats and bells, and realizes it's gonna be a show.
There's no stopping it. The cheer of excitement McGucket gives sounds a little more like a scream than a cheer, but the thought is there, and the ear-to-ear grin is genuine. At least he'll be....an enthusiastic audience, clapping loudly and appreciatively after every song.
He stands still during the last one. It looks for all the world like he's zoned out, with his banjo held loosely in one hand, both arms dangling loosely from his shoulders, and his eyes going off in different directions -- or like someone's flipped an off switch, and he's in some kind of shutdown mode. Is he even listening? At least he's respectfully quiet?
After it's over, the trubbish with McGucket bumps himself against McGucket's knee.
"Trubbish?"
"Aw hush, it's nothin'." He pats the Pokemon with a bandaged hand.
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After Ave Maria and his farewell to the crowd, Kazuki finally takes attention of the crazy looking mountain man. With a smile! It isn't like McGucket is dangerous or anything, right?
"Hi there!" He waves gently. "Did you like our show? You really seemed enthusiastic about it!"
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When he's approached, the moment of melancholy that his bag buddy noticed and the little smile down at him vanish from McGucket's manner quicker than acetone on a hot plate. He jumps from foot to foot, then slaps his knee with his free hand.
"Hoo-ee! It's a Pokemon Christmas hootenanny!" he exclaims with delight, his accent giving the word Pokemon a deeply Southern twist. "I'm a musicalilly inclined man myself! Don't know where my musical spoons ran off to, but at least I got my banjo!" McGucket holds it up proudly.
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If he could get a few bars, he could figure out a way to work his trumpet into the melody!
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But he swings that banjo into place all the same and wiggles his fingers over the strings with an eager grin. "And-a-one, and-a-two, and-a--"
--and he launches into an up-tempo rendition of God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen, one of his bare feet tap-tap-tapping away on the cobblestones. Musically, it's very good -- and if this stranger with the green hair takes the main melody, McGucket can play the harmony.
...unfortunately, after the first verse, McGucket starts to sing. "God rest ye, scary metalmen, let nothing come this way! Remember frights and saviors was warned on Christmas Day! Please save us all from cyber-power while we all run away! Ohhhh, tiiiidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy! Oh, tidings of comfort and joooooy!"
He's fully committed to these words and doesn't seem to have noticed that they're wrong. Is he doing it on purpose? It doesn't look like it.
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...Or they were, until McGucket began to sing.
Were those... were those really the lyrics? The problem Kazuki has was that while he has played this song plenty of times, he's Japanese, and knows nothing about Christianity, so he hasn't ever properly heard the lyrics before. Is this a Christmas song, or something that he just happened to hear a lot around Christmas? Is it really about a robot invasion?
Kazuki's trumpet stutters for a second as his brain tries to process all these things as well as carry the melody. He manages pretty well, but it's obvious that suspicious about something.
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Nothin' like some nice, traditional carols to get'cha into the holiday spirit!
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"You're really good with the banjo!" Kazuki decides to compliment him instead, because hey, it was the truth! Might as well focus on the positives! "How long have you been playing? You were able to change from the melody to the accompaniment without any trouble at all!"
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"Thank you! I haven't been playing nearly as long," he decided to share. "I started in middle school, so I'm not as experienced, but it's what I really love to do!"
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"Location, eh?" he asks, in the tone of voice of someone who has just been given Ideas, and the wisdom of these Ideas is dubious. He breaks into a grin. "Of course! It's all about location! What good thinkin'!" McGucket does a quick, frenzied dance, and slaps his knee in delight.
"I gotta go. That hootenanny ain't going to plan itself! Hoo-ee!"
And with a wild whoop, McGucket takes off down the street, his Trubbish in tow.
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...And just like that, he's gone. That was one of the weirder encounters Kazuki's had in the Pokemon world.