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

[bertall]

That was different from performing in front of a bunch of people. _{[Much different - he doesn't have Shadis breathing down his neck (which was a terrifying thought by itself), and he doesn't have to worry about his life being on the line in some cases.]}

This is something Doodle wanted to do when he found out about it, but I'm... Gods, I'm terrified of this. I'm better at shooting a gun than I am dancing or singing.

_{[A beat, and he groans a little and covers his face with the crook of his arm while he's still on the floor.]}

...If I'm ever roped into this again, I think I'm just going to bring my Machoke.

[guiltyeyes]

[ Hoisting herself to her feet, the girl offers out her hand. ]

C'mon, Bertolt. I know you're worried, but I promise that it's thrilling.

I can go down to the audience and watch. You've got one person who is definitely in your corner.

[bertall]

But what if something goes wrong?

_{[He hesitates, then reluctantly takes her hand to pull himself up. He's even more of a mess now, but that's nothing a little spit and elbow grease can't fix, right?]}

What if I step on him?

[guiltyeyes]

[ Spit and elbow grease COULD work, but Mari takes it upon herself to dust him off and fix his collar and whatnot.

She just has to reach. A lot. And get on her toes. ]

That's silly to think about. Don't get all What-Iffy now on me. All you can do is your best and what you practiced.

Don't you trust me?

[bertall]

<sub>[To his credit he tries to bend down when he can, but it's an awful strain on his back. Being over six and a half feet is Not A Good Time most of the time.

But he has practice thanks to knowing Historia, so there's... that.]</sub>

But he's so small--

_{[Ow, that was his hair. Okay, he's fine, he's fine.]}

A-And I think so...? I, uh... This stuff has never been easy for me. Even gym battles have been hard when people start watching.

[guiltyeyes]

[ Childishly, Mari huffs and rolls her eyes. ]

Hush-- [ With no warning, she pushes a finger to his lips. ] Cut it out. It gets easier with practice. Sometimes you need a kick in the butt to move it along.

So I'll be your kick in the butt.

Not literally.

[bertall]

I--

<sub>[Oh.

Oh.

He's-- Yeah, okay, he's shutting up. But it's not stopping him from giving her A Look. Look at him, Mari. He's a nervous wreck. He is large but not in charge and what does he even do?]</sub>

[guiltyeyes]

[ She sees this. ]

There. Now, let's go find Doodle and get you ready for the stage, hm? [ She hops onto her toes once again, replacing her finger with her lips for a single peck of a kiss before bouncing back onto her heels. ]

Mmkay~?

[bertall]

Ok--

<sub>[Oh. That--

That happened.

That happened, and for a moment, Bertolt's brain shorts out. What--]</sub>

Uh...

_{[Is that boy talk for 'okay'? It's boy talk for 'okay'.]}

[guiltyeyes]

[ Cue a bright smile like she didn't just do something that would make a person uncomfortable and she takes him by the hand with a pull. ]

Where'd he run off to do you think? Do I need a shovel...? Or--

[ With her free hand, she palms about under a tier of her skirt for a Pokeball. ] Spinel, you stay right there and don't move until Mama gets back! C'mon out, Diamond~

[ Out from the ball pops a Very Large Furfrou with a white diamond spot under one of its eyes. ]

This is Diamond. Maybe he can give us a hand. Do you have his ball or anything that he can get a scent on?

[bertall]

<sub>[He lets her lead him without a fuss, bringing his free hand up to touch his lips with his fingertips. That... That just happened, and he's still mentally trying to reboot. It wasn't his first, but it was his first with a girl.

He even looks back over his shoulder to give Spinel a Look of his own, as if trying to ask if that really-really just happened or if his mind went off on its own.

No... No, that's silly. It definitely, totally, really-really happened.

And she's... talking to him? Yeah, she's talking to him, and Bertolt just stares for a few moments before he drops his hand and fumbles at his pocket to retrieve Doodle's ball.]</sub>

S-Sorry, uh... Y-Yeah... Here. _{[It's definitely seen some better days, but that's what happens when a Trapinch tries to 'eat' it.]}

everything is going wrong

[guiltyeyes]

[ Spinel doesn't have a face but it saw it ALL, man.

Is it jealous? Maybe. That's its mom!!! ]

Okie dokie~ Diamond, we've gotta find a bug thing. It might be underground. [ The Furfrou-- thoroughly unimpressed with that ball --gives it a sniff and then sets his nose to the ground. Now they wait and see if he'll do anything. ]

... Well, go on! Find it! Dig... Do dog stuff...

[ He is not, in fact, doing dog stuff. ]

... PLEASE?

and perfect

[bertall]

_{[At least he's only a Staryu and not a Tyrantrum. That day had been pretty awkward. And the ones following that. Why do Pokemon have to stare so much?]}

H-How long have, uh...

_{[Come on, Bert. Use your words. Don't trip up over them now.]}

H-Have you had him for very long? M-Maybe he's not used to doing things?

[guiltyeyes]

[ Mari puffs out her cheeks and then draws her lips into a wry line. ]

Er... Just a couple of days... Right before we got here. [ Diamond paws at the ground but does no actual searching or anywhat. ]

Spinel doesn't even have a nose.

You don't have any Pokemon who KNOW Doodle...? Maybe... Uh. [ HECK. ]

[bertall]

They're back in my room at the hotel I managed to get into. I've got Marcel back there too, but I didn't bring him here because, uh...

<sub>[Big dog. Big dog and all of the dirt and whatnot off the streets in his fur and on his paws...

Not to mention his tendencies to spit a little fire if he gets super excited.]</sub>

W-Well, he's... Marcel.

_{[Worrying at his lip a little, Bertolt ducks his head down.]}

There's my Aggron too, but he wanted to stay in and sleep. Though I don't think Doodle could've gotten too far, I mean he's... pretty small. A-And if a Trapinch falls over on its back, it has a really hard time getting back up.

[guiltyeyes]

[ Every pre-showtime thing that could go wrong is going wrong.

Keep calm, Mari. No reason to pop a blood vessel. Bert's having enough of that in the first place. ]

Okay, okay! Let's not panic anymore. [ that's a tall order ] Put our thinking-caps on. Diamooonnnnd...! [ The poodle turns its head to give his trainer and the tall fellow a Look. ] Find the little buggy guy so Bertolt can do his show and I'll give you a nice brushing when we get back to the hotel.

Pretty please...!

[ In resignation, Diamond chuffs at the air and then sets his nose to the ground again. Annnd off he starts to pad. ]

Ah!! Let's go, let's go! [ The girl gives Bertolt's arm a MIGHTY PULL. ]

[bertall]

<sub>[It's Murphy's Law, clearly! Let's all find someone named Murphy and blame them.

Bertolt's about to add in a plea of his own, but then he's nearly tripping over his own feet as Mari starts to pull him along. Okay, do not fall and make an even bigger fool of yourself, Bert! Just jog and keep up!]</sub>

D-Does he have him?

_{[He doesn't recognize this area yet, but the scents wafting through the air point all signs to the buffet tables.]}

[guiltyeyes]

[ She's so determined that she would drag him across the ground if he fell anyway.

They buffet tables are where the poodle is off to and once he reaches one, he paws at the ground. ]

Does he like food?

[bertall]

_{[Just grab his ankles and haul ass. It's the only way.]}

That's... honestly how I met him. He ended up inside of my backpack and ate nearly all of the food I brought with me, plus an Everstone.

_{[He's not sure how a Trapinch got all the way into the forest from the desert, but Doodle was his from that day on.]}

He'd probably eat an entire grocery store if he could.

[guiltyeyes]

A friend of mine would like him. She could eat a whole grocery store too. [ And yet Hanamaru never gains weight by some small miracle. ]

I dunno if I should ask how he ate a rock.

[ Diamond is sticking his head under the table cloths, yipping and growling all the way until he gets a hit. ]

... I don't want Diamond to eat him.

[bertall]

They've got jaws strong enough to crush boulders, but... I'm not sure either. I never, uh... found it, if you know what I mean.

<sub>[Eventually, there's a sharp half-squeal half-squawk and a series of frantic clicks, followed by a sharp snap.

Doodle doesn't bite Diamond directly, but he is going to hold tight to some loose fur. He was given a frighten! What is this big hairy thing!?]</sub>

[guiltyeyes]

Well, I--

[ Oh, none of that sounded good. ]

Diamond?? [ With all the yelp of an alarmed mother, Mari squeaks for her poodle. Her poodle emerges with a very On-Trend hairclip on one of his ears.

He is UNHAPPY but returns to his trainer and her friend with a defeated GRRRR... ]

Hey~ Lookit that! Good boy, Diamond!!!

[ yet Diamond is Not Impressed at all. He marches right over to Bertolt and sits down.

BARK. ]

[bertall]

<sub>[Oh.

Oh, gods. It's Doodle versus Galliard all over again.

Though at least his Tyrantrum had thicker fur-slash-feathers on his bottom jaw and under all of that was some pretty thick skin. Poor Diamond only had fur.]</sub>

O-Oh.

<sub>[HE'S SORRY, DIAMOND... Here, let him just sort of.

Grab Doodle and pry his jaws apart. Come on, drop it. Let go. Open--]</sub>

S-Sorry, he... uh... H-He must've gotten scared.

[guiltyeyes]

[ If Diamond's coat wasn't LIKE a diamond, they would have more problems.

Mari pulls her hands to her chest to let Bertolt pry the bug off of her dog. Good Lord. ]

I'm just happy Diamond didn't try to eat him. Good boy, Diamond. Just give Doodle's dad a second here...

[ Diamond looks like he could care less, shaking his head a few times to try coaxing Doodle off. ]

[bertall]

He's been inside of a Tyrantrum's mouth before. Whatever Diamond could've done wouldn't have bothered him any.

<sub>[Doodle, come on.

Kneeling down to tuck Doodle under his arm properly, he's able to use both hands to pry at his jaws. One, two, three-- There!]</sub>

C-Can I make it up to him somehow?