The Contest Spectacular!

[indigo_events]

Who: Everyone attending the Contest Spectacular! (For more information about this event, check out the info post here!)
Where: Celadon City
When: January 18-20
Log:

It’s finally here… the Contest Spectacular! The whole city of Celadon has been bustling ever since the preparations for the contest began, but now with the addition of all the contestants, their friends, and the general crowds, the town is downright packed. Hotel rooms booked en masse (good luck getting into that big fancy one near the casino-- thank Arceus there's plenty of others!), the Center stuffed with younger trainers who are short on cash but couldn't pass up the opportunity to see the first ever Pokemon Contest in this region, and generally even more foot traffic than usual.

But nowhere is it moreso than in Celadon Center, where massive, colorful tents have been erected. Pink, orange, yellow, green, and blue! There's no missing what they're for-- enormous banners advertising the Contest Spectacular fly from every corner. The streets surrounding the square are packed as well-- food carts and merch stands line the sidewalks, eager to snag a bit of the glory. Teeny tiny portions of hoity-toity restaurant food usually too expensive to buy are being hawked to passersby right alongside Pokeblocks and Poffins of varying quality, in case your Pokemon need a treat (or a little extra oomph before the show starts!). In addition to the stands selling gobs of Hoenn contest celebrity memorabilia (contest nerds might recognize figures such as Contest Idol Lisia and her Altaria, Ali, featured quite prominently!), Celadon City's many fashion boutiques and clothing lines have gotten first dibs on available space, so any contestants still looking for an outfit for themselves or their Pokemon is in luck, because there’s absolutely everything you could imagine for sale if you find the right stall. Opportunistic photographers (some official, some... not) have also swooped in to set up booths with rentable costumes and fun backgrounds, for anyone who isn't performing but wants some cute souvenir pictures of their Pokemon being a contest star anyway.

But of course, for eager audiences and contestants alike, the real attraction lays within the tents themselves. Audience members will have to wait in line for the shows to officially begin at noon on Friday, but for those who entered the contest themselves, well, that's another story entirely!

Stages of all kinds have been arranged to suit most every type of act that’s been submitted, from the more traditional wooden stages to huge tanks to little fields (the oodles of hardworking staff making all of this possible are making good use of moves like Grassy Terrain!), and the Contest Hosts’ voices can be heard presenting acts and cracking jokes about said acts almost all day long.

After registering but before checking into their lodgings (prepaid rooms at the ritzy Celadon Hotel! Lucky you!), contestants and their Pokemon will be shown behind the scenes and made familiar with all the utilities at their disposal-- small refreshments, makeup stalls, a selection of props to make use of (although, as the harried-looking staff will tell them, bringing your own unique items is really the best way to stand out!), lights, camera, and of course action! Unsurprisingly, the entire back workings of the Contest is a flurry of activity-- it's a lot of people, Pokemon, and equipment to manage; and in true, bombastic Hoenn style, there are bright lights and flashy colors everywhere you look! But contestants will still find that no matter how busy or frantic they are, the staff will still find time to help them out with special requests or technical requirements for the act. It is, after all, their job!

But ultimately, the act is on you and your Pokemon. Don't get stage fright now-- the curtain's going up any minute!

~*~

[IMPORTANT: Please submit your contest entries here! For all other activities, feel free to make your own top-levels!]

Comments

CONTEST ENTRIES

[indigo_league]

Everyone entering the Contest Spectacular, please reply to this comment with your entry using the template provided!

<b>Contest Category:</b> Cute, Cool, Clever, Tough, or Beauty <b>Trainer:</b> Character's Name <b>Pokemon:</b> "Pokemon's Name" (Pokemon's Species) <b>Move:</b> List your chosen move! <b>Costume:</b> In 100 to 500 words, describe your duo's outfits! <b>Act:</b> In 100 to 1,000 words, describe your duo's act! Include information about any props or special equipment they might be using!

hello naughty trainers it's time for Punch Grandpa

[meteorman]

Contest Category: Tough
Trainer: Stanford Pines
Pokemon: "Douglas" (Abomasnow)
Move: Wood Hammer

Costume: Some contestants may have piled on the layers and fiddly finery, but Ford has decided that in his case the opposite is probably best. When you're showing off physical skill and raw power, you don't want what you're wearing to get in the way.

His outfit is simple: black combat boots (new and shiny, unlike the permanently-muddy brown ones he normally wears), forest green cargo pants and a white tank top. That's right: for the first time ever Ford has publicly ditched his heavy coat and thick turtleneck. The tattoos on his neck, arms and shoulders that he usually keeps studiously hidden are on full display. They're a mix of cosmic and fantastical imagery with a good bit of nerd shit thrown in for good measure (he's been getting the ones he has Regrets^TM about covered up with newer, better art, but there's nothing to regret about nerd shit). For those especially eagle-eyed viewers he also has all sixteen badges worked into his sleeves, though only twelve of them are currently in full color. The ones he has yet to earn are outline-only.

Where there aren't tattoos there are scars. It's a gamble showing them off like this but if no one in this world so far has batted an eye at his extra fingers then they likely won't be too taken aback by some old wounds. Mainly there are healed over bullet and stab marks, though a few are long and wicked enough that they may have come from claws.

On his hands he wears a pair of black hand wraps (the kind boxers wear) with red sweat bands around the wrists for the added color. These are the crux of the thing, and they match the red and black wrappings on his Abomasnow's arms just like his pants match the green parts of her body. Douglas herself isn't too dressed up: there simply isn't much clothing made that would fit an Abomasnow, and she's striking enough in simple attire anyway in Ford's opinion. It helps that she's a little bigger than a regular Abomasnow, clocking in at just a little over eight feet tall. Aside from the wraps on her hands there is also red and black cloth wrapped tightly around the outcroppings on her back and more red just shy of the end of her tail for the pop of color. The straight edges of her coat have been strategically cut into more jagged shapes to give her a sharper, rougher look, and the fur around her eyes has been dabbed with black makeup.

Act: Like their outfits, the stage is simple: wooden and bare save for their single prop, which is a large free-standing punching bag (generously donated by a local Celadon gym, just about the only place one can find a punching bag big enough for an Abomasnow). Its base is black and its main body is blue: it is, albeit minimalistically, meant to invoke a Wobbuffet. Douglas's Snow Warning adds a stark ambience: dark clouds gather above the stage so that the light shining on it from the stage lights is transformed into a steely gray. Little flurries of snow occasionally waft down.

Douglas positions herself in front of the punching bag while Ford stands a ways back so as not to get in her way. She shakes herself out, cracks the neck that is presumably hidden under all that fluff, and lifts her arms. She isn't nervous and neither is Ford. Really this is no different than the training they've been doing on their own for months, except that here she's punching a real punching bag instead of a tree or the side of a cliff.

"Alright, Douglas. Wood Hammer!"

Douglas's left hand glows with a green light that after a moment resolves itself into the shape of a tree stump. It's like a shining, bright green glove, and that's exactly how she intends to use it. But just using the move isn't enough -- she has to know how to hit, and that's where Ford comes in. He directs her, cross, cross, jab jab jab, hook, and each punch connects flawlessly.

But boxing isn't a one-handed sport. If you walked into a ring with just one glove you'd be laughed right back out of it again.

"Doubletime!"

This is a command Douglas clearly knows, because she nods and squares her shoulders. Her other hand begins to glow as well, and with a roar that's half exertion and half showmanship she manifests a second stump. This, too, is something they have been working on since long before this Contest was announced. It's just a lucky happenstance that this is the perfect venue in which to take it for a public test drive.

The punches come faster now, but Douglas keeps up with the shouted commands easily. She has a rhythm that comes with practice and though her breathing is heavy (and visible in the cold from her ability-induced weather), her eyes are bright. She has a big body to move and is slow by nature, so this kind of speed and precision is something it's taken work to achieve. The punching bag wobbles, scooting by miniscule increments across the stage. It wasn't positioned square in the middle to begin with and now it becomes obvious why: it was always meant to move.

Moving a punching bag across an entire stage would probably be impressive enough, but there's a more explosive finish planned because Stanford Pines is incapable of not pushing things just about as far as he can push them.

"Ready?"

Douglas huffs and pounds her two stump gloves together. Damn straight she is ready.

"Then the gloves are coming off!" He hooks one hand into the red band on his left wrist and pulls it off. That portion of his hand wrap is now bare, and set into the wrist is the mega evolution keystone he absolutely refused to wear as a chunky bracelet. Finally it's been reset into a form that's more suited to him. Douglas shakes out her fur and the corresponding Abomasite that hangs on a chain around her neck glints in the stage lights.

He begins to call punches again and this time he mirrors her motions. Jab, jab, cross, cross, uppercut, and as they move in sync she glows with a brilliant light. The weather from her Snow Warning grows in intensity, blowing cold air across the stage. Her form stretches and grows until with that final uppercut she stands as a Mega Abomasnow, an impressive ten feet tall. The shoots on her back have exploded into tiered spears of ice and in the process have ripped the fabric wrapped around them. In the wind the strips of tattered red and black fabric wave like the standards of an army making a final stand.

Alright. This is it. Big finish.

"Sweep!"

Her legs are shorter now and ill-equipped, but she doesn't need her legs for this. Instead she whirls and her thick, solid tail connects with the bottom of the punching bag and throws it off balance. It swings backward, then momentum carries it forward again. She completes the turn just in time for another uppercut as the bag lurches forward, knocking it up and into the air. She jumps to follow it, raises both glowing arms, and brings them down again just as Ford commands her to "Finish it!"

There is a tremendous flurry of snow and a resounding crash, then another as Douglas lands again. The wind blows the stage clear to reveal the punching bag on its side, outer casing ruptured, pouring its innards onto the wood. She turns to the audience, rears back to raise both arms, and roars.

Her evolution, her Wood Hammer gloves and the hail fade as she lowers her arms again. Her heavy breathing ruffles the fur above her mouth. She's glowing, or at least glowing as much as a giant fluffy tree yeti can. Nailed it.

jesus christmas this was so much

[guiltyeyes]

Contest Category: Cute
Trainer: Mari Ohara
Pokemon: Spinel | Staryu
Move: Water Gun so much water gun because staryus know nOTHING ELSE

Costume: Mari and Spinel are decked out in somewhat similar garbs-- mermaid-esque but to make up for the Staryu's lack of a body, Mari has done it up with flowing ribbons which match the top and her "tail". Around its arms are pearl-like beads and little charms similar to the ones in her hair. The flutter and sweep with each flip it will make while it shows off its acrobatics to Mari's song.

Stars with varying colors of glitter have been stuck onto each of Spinel's arms and up Mari's shoulders. She did her best with her Staryu's lack of a face as a canvas by simply glittering it up and making sure it had all the possible adornments she could manage. There might be some shiny stars in the contests and the audience, but it's very, very hard to beat the glittering between the two of them.

Act: [ She holds her Staryu close in her arms to her chest with its gem glowing the faintest of dim reds which fade on and off slowly.

She appears to be the center of the show but that simply isn't the case, as all will see in a minute when the music begins to bubble up in rising, elegant tones. This prompts the gem to glow a little lighter and with the crescendo, Spinel is raised up and up over Mari's head like a beacon cast over its audience. The music bursts into a poppy tune as Mari throws the starfish up in the air, allowing it to do many cartwheels above with Water Gun sprays. THAT STARYU IS READY TO GO!! ]

♫ Watch as the curtains open! Hey, everybody! Welcome~! ♫ [ It lands perfectly on one of her palms on one leg-- and this isn't a small or light Pokemon, showing the strength of itself and its trainer. ] ♫ Now's the time to play! ♫ [ Spinel spins in her open palm before launching itself in the air for her to do a pirouette under. Another perfect catch follows. ]

[ She turns on her toe, surprised to see it on the ground, summoning itself up with another Water Gun to almost meet her eyes with its gem glowing yellow. ]

[ The puddles are no issue as she hops through them, mimicking Spinel's lead in the dance in a hop-hop in a big circle with his Water Gun jumps. ] ♫ As we splash and dance around! To the ocean's favorite song! There is a party about to begin~ ♫ [ They both turn toward their audience-- Mari blows a kiss and Spinel's gem turns pink. ] ♫ Won't you come along~? ♡ ♫

[ The hand by her mouth suddenly covers her lips in mock surprise as the Staryu cartwheels a big circle around her that she turns with to follow while in the middle of. ]

[ It approaches again and she leans to the side as if to listen to it ] ♫ Could it have been something magical in our afternoon tea? OH--!! ♫ [ Promptly, she is squirted in the ear with some water. Damp hair and all, she giggles out her next lines as rehearsed from Spinel's playful "secret" telling antics. ]

[ She holds out her arms, allowing Spinel to launch itself into them and make her twirl around once she catches him for a hug-- ] ♫ It'll be okay~! [ She punctuates her lyric with a big ol' smooch to its gem.

She tosses it up again, allowing it to Water Gun its way off of one of her hands and hold itself high in the air while she makes a careful turn. ]

[ Swapping hands, she turns in the opposite direction, showcasing how well Spinel is in the dexterity department through all this. It doesn't miss a beat, nor does it waver in the water pressure it is using. ]

[ When it allows the Water Gun to subside again, it cartwheels through the air and allows her to catch it again. She spins on a toe and while her skirts are soaked, it looks just as pretty as a real mermaid. When she stops, she widens her eyes, speaking right to the Pokemon. ]

[ Spinel spits a little bit of water at her again in a playful reply. ]

[ A gasp as she faces her audience, dropping the creature like a deadweight but grinning all the while when it catches itself as rehearsed, letting out a huge water sport in front of her that she proceeds to walk through soaking wet in the process. Her fingers tap her lips and she blows another kiss. ]

♫ When you are not around, oh I miss you! ♫

[ She places her hands over her heart, twirling about on a foot once in the water puddle and flipping her hair. Spinel leaps through the air forming an arch of water over its trainer. ]

[ Spinel uses the vast amount of water it has strewn across the stage for more arm to arm hopping, its gem dazzling in the lights while it uses its trainer as something to merely have as a prop for its acrobatics and gymnastics. It sparkles bright yellow on the word 'fantasy', making Mari's golden eyes light up. ]

[ She gasps with a pink sparkling gem allowing her to touch with an open palm-- Only briefly, as Spinel retreats and leaves her feigning abandonment for the sake of the performance, flitting away in a tumble through its own puddles. ]

[ She winks right at Spinel for it doing all the right things like they practiced and then some as they approach the finally of the act. Over her head it goes again but in an arch in the other direction; Mari's arm reaches up, following the whole thing but not being able to reach it. ]

[ Spinel hovers before her with its gem glowing in a rainbow-ish flicker for her to reach out. Her grasp falls intentionally short as it launches itself high, HIGH into the air for the finale. ]

[ Here they go-- Spinel appears to fall from the sky to do a bellyflop, caught just in time! ]

♫ Not another day will I push my love away!! ♡ ♫

[ And with that lyric, she hugs it to her chest and finishes her dance with some rushing through the puddles and spinning. She stops in a graceful pose that places her cheek to one of Spinel's arms while the lights fade, leaving only its gem red and pulsing like a heartbeat...

The music closes and she opens her eyes up to grin at the audience. ]

Thank you very muuuuch~!!

[ She curtsies and sets Spinel down to let it bow like a proper creature before they glide across the stage in all its... soaked glory. ]

Sing me a song~

[rambling_runner]

Contest Category: Beauty
Trainer: Ash Fox
Pokemon: "Scuabtuinne" (Lapras)
Move: Perish Song

Costume: Ash and Scuabtuinne's outfits are quite simple looking; Ash's logic being that Scuabtuinne is beautiful, and trying to doll her up too much would take away from their performance. That and he isn't the main focus, so he just needs to fit the mood and theme they're going for with her appeal.

Scuabtuinne is wearing a flower crown, made of water lilies and water hawthorns, brought from the shores of Olivine, with seaweed tying it all together securely. Another ring of water flowers is tied loosely around the base of her neck. Her shell has been delicately tended to by Ash, painting white celtic swirls over it in harmony with the shape and ridges it naturally has. As a finishing touch, a very small amount of soft green moss has been selectively added to her back; it doesn't cover up her old scars but flows with them to make it seem like the moss is natural and grew appropriately with her old injuries, and along wih the swirls painted on.

Ash himself is dressed to match her. For clothing, he's chosen a pair of well-made, weathered cloth trousers, tied around his waist with a strip of fabric decorated with celtic knots. Up top he's not wearing a shirt, but instead has a deep green cloak that comes down to his waist that is held together with a round, patterned pin over his left shoulder. The cloak has an ornate hem, decorated with celtic swirls just like Scuabtuinne's shell, and stylised waves. His visible left arm is also painted in those patterns, from his wrist up and over the curve of his shoulder, using white ink that stood out against the tanned colour of his skin. He's barefooted in addition to being shirtless.
Much like Scuabtuinne, his finery is in the painted patterns over his skin and natural 'jewellery'. A headband of flowers and seaweed, very much like the one she's wearing, sits on his head, where his wetted hair lies flat (for once). Another braid of flowers is tied around one of his ankles and there's a thread around his neck, forming a necklace with a vibrant pink conch shell as the pendent resting on his chest, over the cloak. He's brought his accoustic guitar with him, it's wooden look and burned in pattern adding to the natural aesthetic.

Act: The stage is set! There's a large pool of water with hidden depths that aren't on display to the audience. It's decorated with several rocks like hexagonal pillars around the edges and mood lighting; not overly harsh or in bright spotlights but with a softer kind of light, allowing the water to ripple and reflect off the tent walls.

Ash walked towards the pool, guitar in hand. and called out. "Scuabtuinne!" The water rose and parted and there she was, water rolling off her as she faced her trainer, clearly still a little self-conscious. He reached out and touched her neck, murmuring supportively. She nodded, her nerves eased as she listened to him. Ash stepped into the pool, taking a seat on one of the rocks placed along the edge for this appeal, and began to strum. The guitar played a soft, gentle song, almost like a lullaby, and Scuabtuinne turned to face the audience. She began to sing, matching the guitar's tone but with more complexity and depth. Despite her initial shyness her voice is steady and powerful, giving her all to the song.

As she sang, the water began to churn around her. Slowly it rose, rising out of the tank and lifting Scuabtuinne up slightly, before rising up over her and encasing her in a tank of pure water. Under the water her body floated and she shifted her weight as she pleased, more nimble in her element and spreading her flippers as she sang. Her flower crown and necklace swayed and lifted in the water, weightless. (Ash was safe on his rock, unconcerned about the rising tide as he continued to play the guitar for his Lapras, and none of it spilled towards the audience).

Under the water, her voice was transformed. It was still soft and powerful, but now far more ominous. It sounded deeper, more otherworldly, the shifting of the water adding to the song she sang. Her eyes glowed white and the water darkened, twisting around her as if pulled by a tide. She gazed out to the audience, the song reaching for them from the waters. For a moment, it might feel like she's singing words - not words that could be understood or translated, but words that certainly meant something.

As the song reached it's end, the water began to be absorbed into her body through her Water Absorb ability, the 'tank' around her disappearing and bringing the pool back to it's usual water level. Ash stopped playing, hand held over the strings to silence them. Scuabtuinne, resting on top of the water again, closed her glowing eyes and sang the last few notes - what sounded like a promise, a dreadful, heartfelt promise - before opening them again, now back to normal. Ash slid from his rock and took off his guitar, walking to stand beside her with a bright smile. Together, they gave the audience a bow - before Scuabtuinne immediately swam to Ash and nuzzled into his chest, hiding her face shyly now that the performance was done.

(This is the closest match to what I had in mind for the song performed, although Scuabtuinne doesn't use lyrics...for the most part!)

[cyan_maid]

Contest Category: Beauty
Trainer: Jane Crocker
Pokemon: "Dinah" (Audino)
Move: Heal Pulse

Costume: Jane decided to go "simple and elegant" for her performance costume, and is wearing a champagne colored dress, the bottom layer stopping just at the knee while strapless and sleeveless, and a top layer over it of lace that comes up to give the dress "sleeves". It would look like this, specifically. She has on a pair of matching low-heeled shoes, lace gloves that end at the wrist, stud pink pearl earrings, and a pink pearl necklace. Her makeup is subtle, and it gives her a maturity that matches the dignity with which she carries herself onstage. She's also wearing a bracelet on her left wrist with a Key Stone in place.

Dinah, at first, does not seem nearly as adorned. Her fur has been groomed impeccably, yes, and she sports a pink pearl bracelet on each wrist, but that's all one sees at first glance until they see the lace "choker" around her neck - and the Audinite set in the center. That's right - the naturally fae-like appearance of Mega Audino will be incorporated into the "costume" and the act.

Act: The lights on stage slowly fade on, revealing a keyboard wrapped in a curtain of lace, as two figures enter from opposite sides - Jane on one, steps measured and hands folded in front of her, and Dinah on the other, somewhat outwardly curious about the audience and the setup of the stage, but reining it in for now. When Jane reaches the keyboard and Dinah stands a few feet away, the pair curtsy to each other in respect.

"Are you ready, Dinah?" Jane asks.

"Au-di-no!" Dinah nods, and Jane smiles.

"Oh, you're so right-" Her right hand finds the keys and plinks out the beginning of a song, while her left hand reaches up, revealing the Key Stone set in her bracelet. The audience holds its breath. "We can't forget that, can we?"

Dinah begins to spin, slowly, as the glow and power of Mega Evolution surrounds her - and she's doing so in time with the music. Her ears perk up, her fur lightens and extends to form something coat-like, and a tuft of fur with feelers appears on her chest, almost as if by magic. When finished, she lets out a triumphant trill, and Jane pauses the music to let it ring out as the audience gasps and applauds. Only when they settle down does Jane speak again.

"Now...would you mind showing everyone your Heal Pulse?"

The Pokemon nods, and the song starts up again. The tune is slow and graceful at first, and so is Dinah, sending out a halo of Heal Pulse with every fourth beat as she spins, sways, and hops to the music. But there's much more to the Heal Pulse than just that - as the song begins to pick up speed, the move begins to eminate from the tuft of fur on Dinah's chest as she concentrates it into shapes, stars and hearts and flowers that grow and float out into the audience, dispersing into sparkling pinks that fill the audience with a rejuvinating energy. Both trainer and Pokemon look to be in their element, united by the music and focused solely on the performance, and when the song finally reaches its end, Dinah lets out one more call as she sends out a last burst of Heal Pulse. Both Jane and Dinah are breathing hard and smiling as the applause roars in, taking a moment to curtsey to each other, then to the audience, before Dinah takes Jane's hand and excitedly half-drags her trainer off the stage. Jane's shout of surprise quickly becomes a laugh, and she grins and waves to the audience as they depart.

[a_sin_for_him]

Contest Category: Tough
Trainer: Lust
Pokemon: "Amoz" (Houndoom)
Move: Fire Fang

Costume:

Lust is aware of expectations and reputation. Including her own. She's told very few people what she's doing, assuming she'll be looked for in the 'cute' or 'beauty' categories.

Instead, she's out in the 'Tough' category. Utilizing Amoz's mega-evolution stone, their costuming plays to the Pokemon's natural design. Around his neck is a black leather collar, detailed in a silver flame pattern. Black leather plating extends from the collar down over the natural bone growth over Amoz's chest, with the same silver flame scrollwork. A matching black leather helmet, with openings for his horns, is on the large Pokemon's head. While not a complete 'costume' exactly, Amoz's natural bone armor has been accented with futher black leather and silver flame decoration in bands and cuffs. He gives the impression of some great war beast on the dawn of battle.

Lust herself is also in black leather 'armor'. Knee-high heelless boots and form fitting pants display her legs in ways they're rarely seen. The tops of her boots end in sinuous strips that mimic flames, as though the leather is dissolving into fire. Her top is half tunic, half corset, the hem and neckline similarly calling to mind dancing licks of fire. The neckline is low, showing her oroborous. Great shoulder plates, spiked and in the same sort of design as Amoz's, jut up from Lust's shoulders. Black leather gloves cover her arms to above her shoulders. The same scrolling fire accents her outfit, along the outsides of her pants, over her bust. Her hair is pulled into a sleek, tightly woven side braid. Around her brow is a black leather and silver circlet with wings of flame at either temple. Her makeup is dark and severe, lips red and shadow the dark gray of fire smoke.

The theme of this act is in no way left to the imagination.

Act:

The pair emerges onto a stage that's already prepared to the sound of heavy drum music. Cloth, hay-stuffed targets are set up in something of a circle. They give a vague impression of a person-shape, but lack any sort of detail or limbs, just sacks stuffed and tied in two places - a division of 'head', 'torso', and 'legs'. Both move with purpose, Lust's shoulders drawn back and her chin lifted. Amoz struts ahead of her, tossing his head and his tail, snorting in anticipation. Lust strides behind him, no sensual or playful movements in her walk today. She's all business, giving the appearance of a soldier entering a duel. They take their positions on the stage, Amoz in the center of the loose circle of targets and Lust at the edge.

She raises one hand, palm out, as she drops into a battle crouch.

"Amoz!" Lust flicks the thumb of her upraised hand over her palm and a small lick of fire shoots out from her glove. "Yere es!" She closes her fist over the harmless spray of flame, extinguishing it. As her fingers snap close, Amoz leaps into action.

He lowers himself into a crouch similar to his trainer's, then bursts out of it in a roar of flame. He twists and leaps, a disciplined elegance to his movements that matches the pounding of the drums. He strikes the targets with horns and paws, kicking and lashing out as commanded. As wild and manic as the movements seem, they aren't the unrestrained leaps of an animal in battle, they're precise steps, paws hitting the stage in time with the heaviest drum beat. As feirce and frightening as Amoz's movements are, it's more a dance than anything else, even as he attacks the targets. At the height of his leaps, he tosses back his head and utilizes Fire Fang, spitting impressive looking bursts of flame into the air. The same is repeated when he lands.

Lust moves just outside the circle, using hand and body signals that look like martial arts movements. The two are in perfect sync, Lust leaping and kicking in time with Amoz, striking at the air with her hands, guiding the Pokemon but keeping the focus on him. As the dance intensifies, Amoz's attention turns to the targets. Weaving between them in an elegant formation, he refrains from burning any targets until he's leapt around and over and between them, displaying his raw strength and agility. At Lust's command, a thrusting of her opened palm, Amoz twists and jumps and lands in the middle of the circle, eyes blazing. He darts his front half forward, then back, hind feet pounding along with the drums.

Then he gathers his flames and produces an extended Fire Fang, shooting upwards and backflipping to land and whip his head around, missles of flames licking each of the eight targets as he whirls on one hind foot. The effect of the Fire Fang while in a twisting motion makes the licks of fire seem to be dancing themselves, spinning out of him in a blazing spiral. By the time he completes his rotation, the circle of targets is on fire. The drums are racing to their climax now, and Lust gives one further command, standing ramrod straight and holding one fist above her head.

"Gada es!"

As the targets burn and the drums reach what has to be their fiercest, Amoz strikes a standing pose, throws back his head, and lets loose another large Fire Fang, straight up, a fountain of fire lighting the stage before flickering out as it falls and the music crashes to an end.

Both trainer and Pokemon take a bow before exiting.

Second hand embarrassment for myself.

[seeingeyesteward]

Contest Category: Beauty
Trainer: Ignis Scientia
Pokemon: "Dahlia" (Audino)
Move: Misty Terrain
Costume: Ignis is wearing a very sharp, hand tailored tuxedo with long tails and pink accents to match his Audino. It’s straight forward, much like Ignis. He has his hair styled down, sweeping over his scarred eye in a homage to the ‘character’ he’s playing. Dahlia is wearing a pink gown that flows nicely around her petite body. She has a crown of flowers around her head, pinned neatly behind her ears so it doesn’t fall.
Act: Ignis walks Dahlia to the center stage, where she brushes herself off gently and hands her glasses off to her trainer. They had practiced very hard, since there would be a lot of sound and Dahlia would have trouble seeing and Ignis wouldn’t be able to see at all. It wasn’t as if Oleander could join them after all.
In Ignis’s hands is a violin, which he’d been a bit out of practice before finding some private time. Dahlia was so excited about the contest, he had to put the time in. Dahlia uses Misty Terrain, setting up the atmosphere as Ignis draws the bow across the strings to start the song.
Though she couldn’t sing the words she sang the notes, little hands held before her chest as she walks cautiously through the newly misted terrain. Ignis was walking in a mirror to her, still playing, her searching and just missing him here and there.
As the song continues Dahlia begins to twirl and dance, the gown kicking up the mist so it swirls around her as she becomes more of the focus. Little petals are carefully fluffed from her sleeves as she dances and as it reaches the crescendo she turns as the mist splits. Ignis is there, and they circle one another. Dahlia still clearly chasing after him, just missing him, Ignis even stepping over her but they were getting closer.
Finally at the last note of her song she grasps the tails of his coat and and belts it hard. Ignis turns to her as the bow draws off the strings the same time her note ends and the lights drop.

[thenightsky]

Contest Category: Cool
Trainer: Noctis Lucis Caelum
Pokemon: "Quay" (Popplio)
Move: Echoed Voice

Costume:
Noctis and Quay made sure to go all out for their performance, the Popplio having been totally in charge of costuming as well as the performance itself.

With the help of some Pokemon safe paint, Quay's tail/fins have been painted with streaks of black and hot pink, some of her normal blue showing through in outlines of the pink lightning bolts decorating her sides. Her fore-fins are painted black as well though only about a third of the way down where it seems to taper off into the blue. Cover the majority of the blue, though, are hot pink fishnets stretched over her fins, the same color as the lightning bolts on her flanks. Underneath the fringe around her neck, which has been painted pink stars and skull + crossbones all over it, are black pointed shoulder pads that jut out from underneath it. The last addition to her costume is a bright pink skull and crossbones over her left eye that's outlined in black against the blue of her fur.

The skull and crossbones motif was inspired by Noctis who is wearing his normal outfit from home with a few new additions. The skull and crossbones design on his shirt is much the same though many of the skulls have been outlined in a hot pink to match Quay's choice in colors. His black glove is in place and on the opposite wrist is a pink fishnet glove like his Popplio's. The bottoms of his boots are the same hot pink and there is a lightning bolt in Popplio blue on the side of each. His hair is more mussed than usual and streaked with pink and blue against the black of his hair. The final addition is a lightning bolt over his right eye to match the bolts decorating Quay.

Act:
The stage is dark when they first take it, Noct sticking close to Quay as her nerves get the best of her. He gets her center stage and up onto a platform that has a microphone sitting before it, ribbons tangled around it that are barely visible in the dark. He whispers something to her and then moves back to stand behind her a few feet, lifting a hand in the air and waiting. There's another moment of silence before the music starts and the lights go up then swing to the sides, the rays of pink and blue swinging across the audience in time with the music.

"Echoed Voice, Quay~!" Noct's arm comes down to point at her as she pushes herself up on her back fins, holding the mic with one of her front flippers, as she breaks into the song, her voice echoing and growing as the move takes effect.

Only Pokemon watching will be able to understand the words but the humans present will practically feel the music as her words flow with the beat, the little Popplio putting her all into it as her trainer rocks out on air guitar behind her. At certain points their movements would sync up in practiced choreography and another call of "Echoed Voice!" will have her voice growing louder and stronger as she does a spin and slashes downward with a flipper as if she was playing a guitar as well.

As the end of the song approaches only the beat of the drum plays with her words and behind her Noctis urges everyone to clap along, Quay embolden by his support and the support of the people getting into it. The end of the song approaches and Quay throws her head back as Noctis calls out a new command and a burst of bubbles speeds upwards and showers over the stage and the front row as Quay strikes a final pose, flipper thrust upward as she dips the mic with the other, her pose matched by Noctis who has a fist thrust upwards.

A moment later the shy little Popplio seems to realize what just happened and with an excited and terrified squeak darts to Noctis who scoops her up, waving to the crowd as they exit.

team rocket, please come collect your grunt before he burns the place down

[gobblewonked]

Contest Category: Clever
Trainer: Fiddleford McGucket
Pokemon: "Buddy" (Trubbish)
Move: Rain Dance

Costume: Fiddleford McGucket is wearing a robot. It’s made of junkyard parts, and its edges aren’t the smoothest, but he threw it together in an afternoon, so give him a break. A bulbous body sits atop two chicken-legs, if chickens were ten feet tall and made of scrap metal (think an AT-ST), and crude pincer arms nearly as long as the legs extend from the sides of the body. It’s got speakers mounted in its sides. The top is open, and McGucket can be seen sitting inside in his usual overalls, hatless, nestled amid about a dozen levers and buttons and pedals. (His beard is wrapped around one of them. It’s probably best not to ask how he’s doing that.) The top part of his beard has been waxed into a Villain Mustache.

Buddy the Trubbish is also in a costume: between his little trash-bag ear-flaps is McGucket’s hat, and a pair of overalls made for him covers the squat bottom third of his body. He looks real excited to be here. Clutched in one of his little trash arms is a pair of musical spoons – that are really just two spoons stolen from a kitchen and taped together.

Act: Buckle yourselves in, it's gonna be a wild ride.

After McGucket and Buddy’s names are announced, there is a long moment of silence. The crowd begins to murmur, wondering what’s going on, and why the stage is still empty.

Then, from behind the curtain, comes a screech of mic feedback. It’s awful, but mercifully brief.

“Sorry, sorry,” comes the voice of McGucket, amplified by the speakers he’s built into the robot. He clears his throat and begins again.

“Ladies an’ gentlefolks!” McGucket crows from backstage into the microphone, and his voice booms out into the crowd. “Yeeheehoo, have we got a show for you! Now, some of you may have heard of this fella before. Tales of his darin’ deeds and heroical hoop-dee-doo get whispered round campfires far and wide! He’s got a song in his heart and musical spoons in his hand, and he wanders the land rightin’ wrongs, savin’ innocent Pokemons, and kissing babies! Why? I don’t know! Sometimes a baby just needs kissin’, I guess!”

What on earth is happening.

“Anyway, here he is: the Poke-man, the legend, the one and only Toot-toot McBumbersnazzle!” Then, in a whisper the mic still pics up: “Go on, just like we practiced! You’re gonna do great!”

From behind the stage, McGucket uses his robot’s arms to gently launch Buddy into the air. The trash Pokemon sails over the curtain and lands neatly on his feet in the center of the stage. He clacks the spoons together a few times and strikes a pose as an upbeat banjo riff plays from backstage.

“Trubbish!”

The audience applause—scattered, polite and more than a little confused—falls away when they hear a boom. Boom. Boom.

The curtain falls away to reveal the source: McGucket’s giant robot, with ponderous echoing steps, is bearing down on Buddy, pacing with the same deliberate unstoppability you usually see on monsters in horror movies. Buddy’s trash arms fly up to his cheeks as his face becomes an oh! of horror as McGucket, driving the robot with his feet alone, plays a frightening, ominous tune on his banjo.

Once the robot reaches center stage, McGucket laughs, shrill and grating, and the claw-arms make a flexing motion. “Gyeh heh heh, well, I’ll be! If it ain’t a crowd of unsuspectin’ horn-swogglers!” The robot leans out over the crowd, menacing. “We’re gonna make this nice and easy! You hand over your Poke-wallets, and I won’t blow you all to smitheroons!”

It takes Buddy a moment, but he remembers his line. He flings himself between the robot and the audience, courageously throwing his garbage arms wide: if this robot wants to get to the audience, it’s going to have to go through Toot-toot McBumbersnazzle.

“Trubbish!” he growls, heroically. McGucket plays the heroic riff from his initial entrance to underscore the heroism.

“Bumbersnazzle,” McGucket growls back. “I should have known you’d try to get in the way of my plans! This is the end for you!” McGucket hollers, bringing one claw-arm back in a wind-up to a punch.

Then, Buddy coughs, like a cat with a hairball. He coughs again, and this time, he spits up a banana peel. Just in time, he throws that banana peel in front of one of McGucket’s robot-feet. Deliberately, McGucket’s robot steps on it, and whup! Down the robot goes, falling onto its back.

“Aaagh! I’ve been off-balanceified!” McGucket yells from his seat in the robot, still playing a banjo accompaniment. “This is it! This is the end! But if I go down, then so do you!”

Whoosh. Flamethrowers, their nozzles cleverly concealed in boxes that just look like backstage junk, shoot eight-foot jets of fire into the air behind McGucket. It’s some pretty impressive pyrotechnics, but – is it really safe having those go off inside a tent?

No. The answer is no. The stage is catching fire. The crowd pulls on each other’s sleeves and murmurs: is this part of the show? Should they get out of here?

“Trubbish.” Buddy holds up a trash arm. It’s okay, y’all. Stay calm. He’s got this.

Then, he shuts his eyes, and solemnly, he begins to play the musical spoons. It turns from a slow rhythm to a quick jig that would fit right in at any hoedown. As he performs Rain Dance, rain begins to fall, putting out the fires and sending up great clouds of steam. It’s great – except the rain’s a little stinky, and everything it falls on looks like it’s got a kind of a film on it. ...maybe you shouldn’t touch it.

"Well, I'll be! He’s saved the day again!” McGucket cries from the fallen robot, grinning broadly. “Three cheers for Toot-toot McBumbersnazzle!” Buddy waves merrily at the audience.

By this time, security has made it to the stage. They grab McGucket under the arms and haul him away from the robot, banjo and all, and a pair of Machamps pick up the robot and carry it offstage. Buddy waves at the slightly-shaken crowd one more time and bounces his way offstage, proud of a job well done.

The PA system crackles. “We apologize for this incident,” one of the judges says. “We’d like to call a brief intermission while our cleanup crew sanitizes the stage. Please exit the area in an orderly fashion while we review Fiddleford McGucket's qualification to participate in this contest in light of his reckless endangerment of humans and Pokemon."

He's...probably going to be disqualified.

[badluckbabe]

Contest Category: Cool
Trainer: Jinx
Pokemon: “Miss Fortune" (Incineroar)
Move: Darkest Lariat

Costume: Miss Fortune’s thick and shiny coat of white and orange fur pops against the slick black Suit Jacket, costume tailored for the muscular feline by her trainer. A pair of dark glasses rests on the end of her muzzle allowing just a glimpse of her fiery eyes. A classy and simple black tie runs down the front of her broad grey chest. Finally a pair of spats rest over her hind paws, because she is a classy girl.

Her trainers costume blends well with hers. A black dress with orange highlights, and a belt that glimmers with fake stones that look similar to the flaming waistband all Incineroar sport. Her gloves are a darker shade of blood orange to evoke a similar match to Miss Fortunes paws. Peeking out from her fluttering skirt that ends just below her hips are white and orange striped stockings and dance flats.

Act:

The music starts and only Jinx can be seen at first, hips swaying gently to the rhythm. Just when it starts to seem like something might be wrong a shadow darts in front of the spotlights. From the rafters a massive form flips and tumbles speeding right for Jinx. Those in the front row might catch sight of her breath hitching as she braces herself for what looks to be a crushing blow.

WHAM! 

The incineroar narrowly misses crushing her trainer flat as Jinx does a quick spin. Now completely obscured from view by her massive partner Jinx has effectively vanished. Miss Fortune rises up and looks to the left theatrically, while Jinx peeks out from behind her back on the right. As Miss Fortune twists to the right Jinx appears on her left.

With surprising agility Miss fortune suddenly bends at the knees and flips backwards landing behind Jinx who strikes a pose, arms spread to the left and right. Miss Fortune wastes no time in scooping her up and tossing her into the air as if she weighed no more then a baton.

Jinx spins in the air, her skirt flailing out and belt glittering giving the appearance that her waist is a fire and her skirt the smoke coming off it. As she plummets back to the stage Miss Fortune snags her out of the air inches before impact, and twirls her before letting her trainer light on her feet. Jinx continues to spin faster and faster till she gracefully slides to a knee and smirks up at Miss Fortune.

Miss Fortune knows what to do next, the big finale to their little dance. Her paws shift with a lightness one wouldn’t expect from someone so big and she springs over Jinx, racing for the edge of the stage. Just when it looks like she’s going to go racing off the side she spins smoothly, skidding to a stop at the edge of the orchestra pit.

With a running start that she clears in three powerful bounds, Jinx barely has time to brace herself against the floor as Miss Fortune plants a foot on her back and uses her trainer to springboard into the air. If you’re still watching Jinx at this point you’ll see the pain and determination in her eyes as she barely manages to keep from getting flattened.

“Darkest Lariat!”

And Miss Fortune begins to spin. Embers and sparks flying off her waist, turning into a spiral of flames following her journey upwards in a coil of heat that the audience can feel.

At the hight of her leap she is halfway between the stage and the floor, spinning like a top sending embers drifting through the air like fireflies. But of course Gravity will do what it must and she falls back through the coiling flames she’s created scattering them like confetti as she lands just like how she started, practically onto of Jinx who gracefully backflips out of the way.

As the smoke settles into a knee high cloud around Miss Fortune, she pushes her sunglasses up the bridge of her muzzle and folds her arms acting as if it was all no big deal. Jinx appears on her shoulder with a coy smile and the music ends.

Participates in the Cool contest, uses the Beauty icon.

[paladinlost]

Contest Category: Cool
Trainer: Cecil Harvey
Pokemon: "Eblan" (Greninja)
Move: Fling

Costume: For her act, Eblan needs only two accessories: a black headband placed over her eyes thick enough to completely block her vision, and a set of long beaded bracelets on her wrists and forearms. The bracelets have red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet glass beads; each color is of a different size and weight, and the beads make a pleasant clinking noise when they touch.

Cecil wears a simple black suit with tie and dress shoes and his usual matching cosmetics, nothing fancy; however, the same glass beads are loosely threaded in his hair. He also holds the props necessary for the act, and thus wears white gloves to avoid smudging them with fingerprints.

Act: The act begins when Cecil enters the stage bearing seven glass jars. The first, he leaves on the ground in the left back corner of the stage. The second, he places on a table in the front right corner. The third he manages to hang from the second light fixture to the left, about two meters off the ground. The fourth he offers to a little girl in the front row. The fifth he gives to a woman in the rightmost seat of the fifth row. The sixth, to a very tall man at the back of the audience. The seventh he keeps for himself as he returns to the center of the stage.

Enter Eblan, stage right. Her eyes are already bandaged, but she finds her way to her trainer without issues. She turns to face the audience, bows.

That is when the music starts.

Immediately she grabs at two of her bracelets, rips them off, flings all the beads in the air. She grabs each one before it touches the ground, and flings them all the jars; none miss their mark. The moment the last one hits its target, she removes two more bracelets and keeps going, her pace increasing with each round. When she runs out of bracelets, after nearly a minute and a half, she turns towards Cecil. He bows his head slightly to allow her to grab the beads threaded in his hair. They, too, are flung into the jars as the music dies down.

Once that is over, Cecil returns to collect all seven jars and sets them on the table. Each contains a single color of beads, with no other accidentally mixed in. With that, both Pokémon and trainer bow.

I wrote this on my phone so I hope its less than a 1000 lol

[borschtkot]

Contest Category: Clever
Trainer: Yuri Plisetsky
Pokemon: "Potya” (Glameow)
Move: Play Rough
Costume: Yuri has on skin tight pants with good flexibility and comfortable flat sneakers. He’s wearing a loose tank top that hangs loosely around his frame. A few necklaces, simple enough and spiked bracelets.
Potya’s collar has silver studs with lace and a sporty little leather jacket to her kitty elbows.
Act: [To the tune of Caravan Palace - Lone Digger]

The song opens to the 2 of them walking out from opposite ends. Yuri tosses a small fragile egg to Potya who catches it on her head. She rolls it down along her back in a stretch then lifts her butt so it rolls back, down one leg to be caught in her paw. She produces a marker from her jacket and makes it with a P. As this is happening, Yuri is marking another egg with a Y, showing it to the crowd before closing it into a deactivated Pokeball and sets it in the middle, forward a bit.
The egg is balanced between Potya’s ears as trainer and Glameow stand next to each other. They match each other’s steps, Potya sitting up on her back legs to better imitate the movements. Some nice, basic easy steps, passing across the Pokeball here and there which was left alone for now.
Then the chorus hit. Potya flips the egg back and it is caught in her twirly tail which she whips about to keep up momentum and maintain the egg. At the same time she’s leaping up onto Yuri’s leg as he pirouettes across the stage, shifting herself forward and back as he balances himself out.
She turns to scramble up his back as he bend’s forward and she does a winding twirl up the leg he lifts straight up into the air in a vertical split. Her tail flicks the egg up into the air and she catches it on her nose before the next bridge.
Which Yuri continues the movement of his leg, hands planting on the ground as he lits his other off, Potya balancing the egg as she walks across the length, then over, climbing up Yuri’s other side until she was on his shoulder. She tosses the egg up and jumps down, rolling onto her back to catch it with her back paws. She kicks it into the air a few times, before sending it back up into the air and rolling over, tail over head to get back up.
She and Yuri both moved forward in another few fast twirls, positioning her to catch the egg again in her tail. She gives it a little whip, sending it rolling across the stage and she gives it a chase, between Yuri’s legs. She bats it back around, where Yuri was kneelnig with his palm flat enough for the egg to bounce onto it and Potya continues batting it up onto his shoulder, across to the other end, until She was balanced on his opposite hand.
The instrumental takes and he tosses her now into the air, and she poses mid air, the egg flying up, just off her. Balanced on ear, tail, paw, nose. Different poses as she’s tossed, doing little somersaults and twirls.
The last she does a flip so she lands away from Yuri and he reaches out to catch the egg-- And misses. It splats onto the ground.
Potya doesn’t pay any mind, trotting to the Pokeball, still where it was, untouched and taps the button. Out pops the P egg and she sits proudly in front of it as behind her Yuri picks up a bit of shell that is very clearly marked with a Y.

[charcoalfeather]

Contest Category: Cute
Trainer: Rakka
Pokemon: "Kaen" (Alolan Vulpix)
Move: Powder snow

Costume: For the sake of her act, Rakka's taken a very winter-appropriate approach to her costume, and is overall trying to go for that look with her and Kaen.

She wears a special white coat, sleeves pulled up to her elbows. Along with that, she has a long, long scarf made to look like a Furret wrapped around her neck, with matching fingerless gloves on her hands and black, shiny winter boots. She chose to get her hair done up in a tight bun for this, held in place by a couple hair clips styled after the Glacier Badge of Johto.

Kaen is more sparsely dressed, with the fur atop his head combed back into a neat coiffe. He's been groomed from head to toe, and a red ribbon is tied into a cute little bow around his neck.

Act: The stage has been set up simply with a raised platform in the center, winding stairs wrapping around it. The intro is fairly simple, with Rakka and Kaen entering from either side and meeting together in the middle where Rakka waves to the audience.

"Hello, everyone! I hope you're all ready to chill out with us."

She giggles as Kaen jumps around her, quickly taking the position they trained for at the center of the stage while Rakka backs up a couple steps.

"Okay, Kaen. Powder snow!"

The little fox raises his head up, and up, until he's looking up into the sky above the stage, and opens his mouth. A strong gust of cold air and volumes of snow come flying up into the sky, only to start raining down on the stage, Rakka and Kaen, and even the audience if they're close enough. By the time Kaen finishes, the stage has been coated in a fine layer of pure white snow. Rakka quickly joins him again.

"Wow, n-ice job, Kaen! With great powder comes great responsibility I guess."

Yes, that is how it's going to be. And the young Pokemon is all too eager to get to the next part of the act, which starts as Rakka bends down to gather some of the snow into her hands. "With all of this, we could make some amazing snowmen, or maybe our very own Avalugg, or even-"

As they trained, Kaen once again uses the Powder Snow move, but he makes it smaller, more percise, so focused that when he does it, he manages to fire a single snowball out of his mouth... that his Rakka square in the face.

For a beat, both of them are frozen, Rakka calmly wiping the show from her face to reveal the grin hidden underneath. She lifts her own snowball. "Taking the frost shot at me, huh?" She tosses her snowball at him with not that much force, but he still easily side steps it, wagging his many curled tails in anticipation.

And now the real battle has started, and it's about time where the music finally kicks in. A jaunty tune for two friends having some simple fun that turned into a test of skills. And puns, of course. The two of them square off on opposite sides of the stage and Rakka immediately gets to work on making more ammo for herself, while Kaen continues to do what he does best: fire snowballs out of his mouth. "Vul!!"

"Ack! Alp! I'm under attack!"

It continues like this, they dart back and forth trading blows, Rakka with an arm-full of snowballs, throwing them not-too-hard at Kaen who enjoys simply pelting his trainer with them. It's neither a serious match or mostly an act. It's a game, one that they both know how to play. Rakka knows how to throw just so that she doesn't hit him, and he knows better then to lob the hard snowballs at her. Those are for hitting the snow and sending up puffs of glittering snowflakes.

The main event comes fast. Rakka's supplies are running low, so she hurries on up to the raised platform. At that signal, Kaen stays on the ground floor, circling around the platform and following her with more snowballs. She lets out a short laugh as she reaches the top, looking down at him. With one last snowball clutched in her hands, she raises it.

"Icy you! Now I have the high ground, and it's time for you to- wha!"

In mock surprise, Rakka "slips" and basically hops off the platform, arms flapping in suspense as she falls. But Kaen is ready for it, the most important part of their rehearsals. He turns his head up at her, like he did before, forming a flurry of chill wind so strong that it blows up to Rakka and slows her descent. For a moment, she even seems to float as she's lowered down.

"...Oh, thank goodness! I thaw-t that would be-"

That is, until Kaen spins around and redirects the flow of the air. That small change causes Rakka to flip over and cancel the wind out entirely, sending her to fall... a foot or so, right into a snowbank nestled at the bottom of the platform. It's a soft landing, like all the snow on stage, and sends up a small cloud of flakes.

As everything settles, Rakka sits up in the snow, face covered in the white powder and still wearing a smile. Kaen hurried over and hoped up onto his trainer's head. It was a simple matter to lean down just enough to brush the snow from her face with his tail. All better! The most impressive part of the act was over, now it was time for the punchline.

"...I guess there's snow way to beat an Ice Pokemon in a snowball fight."

Nailed it. Exit stage left.

Ash Fox / OTA!

[rambling_runner]

[ Browsing the stalls ]

Truthfully, Ash didn't feel really comfortable in the posh hotel where they'd been given rooms so he was spending a lot more time out and about, taking in the city itself. So of course Ash was checking out the stalls. It was a wonder, just how many vendors actually reminded him of some of the things he'd seen back home - the native american jewellery carved from wood and bone, t-shirts printed with various sayings or jokes on them, crystals meant to help with mood or health...and there was one that immediately drew him in. One that was advertising and selling celtic styled clothing. Some of it wasn't quite right or felt off, but some of it was amazingly spot on. It was so strange to find this tiny piece of his heritage here, in Johto.

So feel free to stop by him and say hello, or to catch him as he checks out the other vendors too!

[ After their performance! ]

Ash was so proud of Scuabtuinne. He didn't care if she didn't win, she had nailed that performance and had a great time with it. She hadn't even been shy in moving once covered by water, letting people see her shell! The pair of them had retired to a quieter area backstage, with another pool for her to rest in.

Ash was still in his performance outfit, petting Scuabtuinne and gently cleaning her shell of the moss and paint he'd applied for the show. And of course, keeping an eye on the TV so he could see the other appeals. While praising Scuabtuinne about how she'd done of course.
"You were amazing out there Scuabtuinne! You didn't show any stage fright at all!" Scuabtuinne ducked her head with a bashful cry, nuzzling into Ash affectionately.

[ (and if none of these suit you, hit me up with another scenario!) ]

after the performance!

[guiltyeyes]

[ Of course Mari has been a good sport and peeking at the other shows whenever she can. She and Spinel have been done for a while now and it was time to do some more poking around and meeting the other performers and whatnot. She has to congratulate and cheer on absolutely everyone.

That and she has been dreadfully lonely since coming to Kanto and finding out that nobody really starts off there. She is just this fortunate to have a big social gathering.

She spots the fellow by the pool with his PRECIOUS Loch Ness Monster she saw finish up a bit ago. ]

Ciao!! [ She calls, scuttling up in her mermaid get-up with her Staryu hugged to her chest. ]

Oh my gosh, I am so happy I found the two of you. [ Positively enraptured, her eyes are all starry. ] That was such a beautiful performance! Have you two done this before? Your Lapras is divine!

mari ohara | ota!!

[guiltyeyes]

[ Post-performance, Mari and Spinel can be found sitting by one of the little pools meant for keeping Water-types comfortable and cozy while they wait in pre and post production. Spinel splashes about, shaking the ribbons from its arms while Mari sits with her chin on her hand and giggles all bubbly-like.

Her toes peek out from the many skirts of her mermaid dress and brush along the water under the ledge. ]

Don't make a mess, Spinel. You might have an encore...! [ She playfully splashes water at the starfish, prompting it to duck under the water. ] You silly thing~ [ Mari looks over her shoulder and throws up her hand to the nearest passerby in a way. ]

Hi there~~ Thank you for coming to see the show! If you're going on, break a leg~!

[thenightsky]

[Having just finished with their set, both Noctis and Quay were still hyped from the music and the dancing though the Popplio was also being her usual shy self. She had been happily squeaking at Noctis as she retold the story to him only to let out a louder squeak when they were called out to.

Noct paused as she squirmed in his arms and hid her face in her fins, grinning gently at her before waving at Mari.]

Just finished, actually. We saw your act early! It was really awesome!

Jane Crocker | OTA

[cyan_maid]

[After her performance, Jane is exhausted from the nerves and jitters that come with appearing on stage, but she's also positively glowing - it may not have been the fanciest or best performance, but the sheer exhiliration of the connection she'd felt between herself and Dinah was incredible. The Mega Evolution having worn off, Dinah sticks by her side, tired but still curious about all the fuss and fun going on around the contest tents, so that's where Jane is - still dressed up, going from stall to stall and actually taking a look at some of the Contest Idol merchandise for sale. She doesn't know any of the names or faces, but it's kind of interesting to see it all. Are you intrigued by it, too?

It's also likely you'll see her peeking in on some of the performances - having already gone on, she can still sneak backstage and watch you and your partner have your time in the spotlight. Whatever sort of performance you put on, she looks like she enjoyed it, and will applaud when you return after all is said and done.

Lastly, for the few days of the Contest Spectacular, you'll definitely find Jane at the Celedon Hotel in the evenings. If she's not in her room she's in the lobby with a map of the city spread out before her, making a note of things and places she wants to see before setting back off to Johto; that sure does look like the Celedon Gym circled in red, among other things. Looks like someone's going to stick around in Kanto for a bit. Maybe you should suggest some places she needs to see?]

After Performance!

[rambling_runner]

Being groups in the 'Beauty' appeals, Ash got to see Jane backstage after her performance. He had watched it over the television they had set up so people could check out what was happening on stage as they prepared or dressed down after their appeals, and he recognised Jane. He had briefly met her at the warehouse with Dinah, in Goldenrod! They hadn't had much of a chance to really chat there but he was more than keen to say hello to her again.

Ash has finished cleaning up Scuabtuinne's shell and had finally put a shirt on (thank God) when he saw Jane, and waved over to her.
"Hey! That was an awesome performance!"

Thida | OTA

[agent3]

[The actual concept of the Pokemon Contests is...a little strange, if Thida will admit, but if there is one thing Inklings as a species love, it's competitions. While she has no plans to perform, that doesn't mean she can't watch - and watch she does, though she soon begins leaning towards the Cool and Tough performances for how much more action-oriented they are. While it's nothing like Turf War, it does get her adrenaline going, and if she sees a friend performing down there? She's going to cheer extra hard.

When not watching the performances, Thida can most often be found at some of the various photo booth stalls. Getting pictures taken with your Pokemon with such interesting setups with costumes and the like sounds like a lot of fun, and can be fun! But when some of your most rough, tough, and rumble-looking Pokemon just can't seem to sit still or sit too still, it makes it really difficult to get a workable shot. Still, she's doing her best, which is why you might see her Granbull goofing off in a pair of sunglasses, or her Luxray napping on top of her when she tried to pretend he was leaping through a hoop. It's all pretty silly. Maybe you'd like to take pity on the girl and help her prop up her team into something presentable?]

Sorry I'm late!

[rambling_runner]

Ash had performed earlier in the day and changed his outfit to something more everyday...although he left the green cloak on to combat the slight chill in the breeze. It still evidently made him look a little outlandish, but the fierce Raichu at his side was fantastic at helping his get through the crowds, snapping her tail like a whip to get people and Pokemon moving out the way.

When he saw Thida, trying to get a good pose, he smiled and made his way to her. "Hey Thida! Getting a picture?" An Tintreach hopped onto his shoulder, so she could better see who he was talking to.

Cecil Harvey | OTA

[paladinlost]

THROUGHOUT THE EVENT

[Got a broken prop, a ripped shirt, a missing button? You're in luck! Cecil had the bright idea to bring his sewing kit and a few other things along today. He'll happy help you fix the issue for free!

...As long as it can be fixed by glue, thread, safety pins or an alarming amount of duct tape, that is. Like that wobbly chair he's repairing backstage.]


AFTER CECIL'S ACT

[Finally, it's over and done. Cecil's plan is now to drop his props off back home, rest for an hour or two, and enjoy the rest of the festivities. It is the only plan that pleases his whole team, the best plan possible.

The problem is, there is no place in that plan for accidentally walking into someone, dropping two jars' worth of glass beads, nearly slipping on one of said beads, and trying to pick them all up without causing more accidents.

As he tries to find them all, he calls out to anyone who comes too close.]

Please don't walk here for a moment, I've almost picked them all up!

Re: Cecil Harvey | OTA

[pikapikajankenpo]

[Cecil looked like he needed help, as Yayoi approached him. She had declined the contest, but had watched the contest with excited eyes. It reminded her of some of the more flashy precure back home.

Stooping down, she picked up a bead or three.]

Need some help Cecil?

Stanford Pines | OTA

[meteorman]

[A. Throughout the Event]

[Ford has a unique reaction to crowds. The crush of people isn't always his favorite (so much to keep track of, so many potential threats to assess), but often it means safety in anonymity. On worlds a lot more dangerous than this one he used to be able to blend himself into a crowd to the point of invisibility, and sometimes that meant the difference between staying free and winding up in yet another space jail.

Often the best way to deal with crowds is to distract himself with other things. He peruses the many booths with interest. He's not really one for merch but his Pokémon are: at her insistence, he does wind up buying Vixen Sharp-Ears a genuine imitation Hoenn contest ribbon (catch him waiting with strained patience as she imperiously inspects the ones on display, trying to find the Perfect One).

Occasionally someone (usually someone younger) recognizes him as 'Ninetales guy' and demands to know if he brought the Ninetales. If it were just up to him he'd probably rebuff them, but all the attention has finally broken Mr. Fox of his Misty-induced depressive slump and Ford simply can't deny him that.]

Yes, I have indeed brought the Ninetales.

[Fantastic Mr. Fox pops out of his Pokéball and immediately begins to preen. He has no idea the meme is kind of at his expense, and Ford intends for it to stay that way. If you're close enough, Mr. Fox might just assume you are also a loyal fan and obligingly lean his head on over. Go on. You can pet him and his Famous Mane. He's here. His trainer brought him, you see.]

[B. After His Act]

[Backstage, Ford busies himself removing Douglas's costume. The ripped strips of fabric on her back go first -- those are ruined, and he sets them aside. Maybe someone else will be able to re-purpose them. Then it's time to unwrap her tail, and then her arms.]

You did very well.

Aboma! Abomasnoooow.

[Douglas puffs up her fur. If he wasn't unwrapping her arm she'd probably be flexing it. She enjoyed her vacation in the PC but really what she's here for is beating things into the dirt.]

Yes, yes, I'll be getting you more battles soon enough.

[He can also be found later still outside the tents. Douglas is big enough that she doesn't often get to hang about in human settlements: they're just not made for her. Since this is taking place almost entirely outdoors or in tents with high ceilings, she can finally tromp about at her ease and she is having a blast watching all the other people and Pokémon mill about or perform their own appeals.]

[C. For Orion]

[When Ford doesn't want to have to deal with his incorrigible foxes, he swaps them out for his incorrigible puppies. Lawrence Talbot behaves well enough, but every time he turns around Warg has slipped away and is trying to steal some food or bite the fringe of someone's scarf or dig a hole in a nice landscaping feature. This time she slips away to find someone who looks like they might give her food (since stealing it hasn't been going well for her). She puts on her biggest, brightest puppy dog eyes and delicately paws at Orion's leg. She's just a pathetic little puppy, please give her delicious treats?]

[D. Wildcard!]

[Other ideas? Hit me up on plurk or just drop 'em here.]

B;

[bertall]

<sub>[Hey. Hey, Ford.

Don't mind that little mud-covered Trapinch running up to Douglas after the shows and chirping his little heart out, okay? And totally don't mind Doodle's mud-covered trainer in that matching suit, because he just wants to hide. Big tents were great for that, right? Right?]</sub>

...I'm never doing that again.

_{[Now that the excitement has worn off, Bertolt just wants to Hide. Hiding with a big giant furry Pokemon and her trainer is the best idea in these trying times.]}

Vanitas | OTA

[bleedingunversed]

[After his act]

Yeah you were the biggest, baddest thing out there.

[Vanitas was seated backstage, Scrapper the Houndoom underneath his chair seemingly asleep while Undertaker the Ribombee flutters in front of his trainer, chatting up a storm about how absolutely awesome he was.

To be honest, Vanitas doesn't expect the little guy to win but it was pretty badass and he's proud of his Ribombee so fight him.

He grins as Undertaker recreates a particular move he pulled, fighting down a laugh as he props an elbow on his knee and rests his chin in his hand.]

Definitely a memorable one. You should use that next gym battle.


[Browsing Around]

[After it's all said and done Vanitas heads outside to explore a bit, still in his tailored suit with Scrapper trotting along at his side and Undertaker perched on his shoulder. He has a third Pokemon with him, a newer addition to the crew, the Buneary seated on Scrapper's back and trying his best to be invisible.

Every now and then they'll pause at a booth to see what's available, Vanitas allowing Undertaker to flit about as his Houndoom stands guard.

They can be found wandering through a lot of the clothing stalls, especially, Vanitas very clearly keeping an eye out for certain things. Things a certain blonde might like.]


[Wildcard!]

[Hit me with anything!]

[After his act]

[keep_surviving]

Hey Vanni!

[While he's sat, Vanitas has Diana's arms wrapped around him from behind in a tight hug as she nuzzles his hair. Because what is personal space when it comes to Vanitas?]

I saw you on stage, lil bro. I'm so proud of you!

Rakka | OTA

[charcoalfeather]

[After her act]

[Backstage, Rakka's busily still brushing snow off her coat. While Kaen finds it easier to just hop around and leave a trail of it everywhere like the good Ice type he is.]

H-hey, slow down. I still need to- [She tries to hurry after him, but pauses, expression scrunching up...] Ah-choo!

[she sniffles, loudly. But it's enough to get Kaen to come back, sniffing at her concernedly.]

Mm... At least we did well? I think... Ah-choo!

[Around]

[Rakka had never been to Celadon City, let alone the Kanto region in itself. And as far as introductions to the region went, she wasn't complaining!

In Glie, Rakka couldn't have stood out more in a crowd like this. But after a couple years of living in this world, she could blend in with the best of them, which also means she has a tendency to just... turn up at around the event, Kaen in tow or riding in her arms. Both of them can be quite quiet... or maybe everything else is just so loud.

Either way, she peruses the booths and carts with as much interest as a girl with money to burn can have. She can be caught once or twice at the boutiques, or buying a Contest Idol Lisia figure for memorabilia's sake. But it's the food carts that line the street that really pull her interest. With a full wallet, her and Kaen can eat like royalty as they make their way down through it.]

[Wildcard]

[Go nuts!]

After the Act

[in4apounding]

Rakka! You were amazing!

[Is Penny supposed to be backstage if she's not performing herself? Too bad, she's here anyway.]

...Are you all right?

Elsa | OTA

[frozenfractalsallaround]

[Elsa still can't believe that went as well as it did. Once she saw how excited Skadi was being on stage, Elsa herself really.. well, let it go. The entire time she had been so nervous Skadi's evolution, but when she'd witnessed it happen, a lot of that nervousness had disappeared.

This was meant to be.

Now that the performance is over, she'll be busy fawning over her.]

Look at you, you're stunning.

[Elsa is busy combing her fur, marveling at how long and beautiful it is. She just can't get over it, every time she thinks about it she gets a little choked up. She's come so far from the small little Vulpix she had met on the first day.

Elsa a sniffs a little and Skadi presses her snout to Elsa's cheek gently.]

I'm not crying, it's fine. I'm fine.

[rediscover]

[After Elsa's performance, Anna sprints backstage to find her sister; she's already gone, which is lucky because when Skadi threw that crown? Yeah, it kind of thunked Anna right on the forehead, and she's got the shiner to prove it. Still, she retrieved the Crown Frickin Jewels of Arendelle so she could return them to...Skadi, she guesses. But first of all and more importantly:]

Elsa! That was amazing...! And Skadi, woah, you look incredible! I had no idea you guys were planning that!

Kazuki OTA

[forsaintcecilia]

[Feel free to find Kazuki anywhere and everywhere! He's going to be out enjoying the contests both before and after his own act, in his costume, along with Honky Tonk. And just Honky Tonk. Today is his special day, so Kazuki didn't bring his other Pokemon with him. They could have their fun the other days over this weekend.]

After the act, as Ash has just tidied up Scuabtuinne?

[rambling_runner]

Ash had changed and cleaned up Scuabtuinne, his Lapras. But he was reluctant to immediately head out of the tent, given there was no way to really keep her out with him in the bustle of Celadon. Or in Celadon in general, since she was very much a water based creature. So he was lingering, feeding her a Puff when he spotted Kazuki and Honky Tonk. He waved the pair over.

"Hey! You just performed, right? It was really cool! No wait, I gotta say it was cute cos, the categories and all." He offered a sheepish smile for his rambling, while Scuabtuinne greeted them both with a more shy call, swimming to put her bulk behind Ash.

[ OOC: sorry just tried to come up with something that'd work! ]

Old Man McGucket | OTA

[gobblewonked]

Immediately after his show

[After being hauled off by Security, Old Man McGucket and his Trubbish have been placed in a small area surrounded by low barriers. There are Machamp guards standing by the metal gate, but the barriers are basically just low portable fences, so he's easy to see and talk to.

Fondly, McGucket pats Buddy on the head. ]

Aw, don't mind them none. We did our best, and we had fun! That's what really matters, not the property damage!

[He takes his hat back off the beaming Trubbish and sets it back on his own head.]

The day after his performance:

[Congratulations, you've just been robbed by a Purrloin. Maybe it's a piece of jewelry, maybe it's a TM, maybe it's just a shiny rock: this Purrloin has a drive, okay? Anyway, this Purrloin doesn't belong to McGucket. He's escaped an owner who dresses him in bowties and photographs him for hours. However, McGucket sees the theft happen and points.]

I don't believe my eyes! That pussycat's a-makin' off with your valuables!

POKENAPPING FOR TEAM ROCKET

[Beware, trainers: Team Rocket is at it again. There's a Drifblim floating through the festival that doesn't seem to have a trainer. It seems a little lost, actually. But look out: if it hovers over a small to medium sized Pokemon or a Pokeball of any kind, its bottom will open up, and snap! The poor Pokemon is snapped up like the last slice of apple pie.

OOC: Up to you how you want to play this! If you have a Pokemon you want to get rid of, McGucket can keep it! If you want to fight him, dismantle his Drifligiblebot, and rescue your Pokemon, I'm also down! And if you want a different kind of Poke-napping or to handwave any of these happening, just shoot me a PM!]

After the show, may Cosmos have mercy

[paladinlost]

Well, it certainly was a... unique performance, full of energy and creativity.

[So speaks a fellow competitor leaning against one of the barriers. His left arm looks like it got a little too close to both the fire and the rain, and his face looks like he's not sure this is a good idea.]

How much practice did it take you to avoid causing greater damage?

A little late.

[seeingeyesteward]

Perusing the Shops

Perhaps we can pick up that technical machine somewhere in the stalls.

[ He speaks low, aside to Dahlia. His hand was wrapped around the scarf on Caelum who had taken over leading duties for the time being since Oleander was still upset about their run-in with Ash. The poor Meowstic didn't know what to do and asked to be left alone for a little while.

The Audino by his side was still wearing her dress, her glasses back on her face. She was glad to be getting the opportunity to help Ignis out though a little sad that Oleander was upset. Still, today wasn't going to get dampened!! ]


(You can run into Ignis walking around, just remember he can't see at the moment and with all the noise you might startle him.)

[paladinlost]

[It's Dahlia who catches Cecil's eye first, one stall away. A longer look brings a specific act to mind, and he smiles.]

My, it's not often that I see a young lady dressed so prettily in these parts.

[The beads in his hair clink softly as he approaches. He also makes sure his steps are louder than usual, before he offers the Audino a bow.]

Especially one with such a magnificent singing voice. You must have both practiced that act for hours.

[That last question is addressed to the whole group, of course.]