victory_road | The Contest Spectacular!

The Contest Spectacular!

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!]

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

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.

Edited 2018-01-18 08:54 (UTC)

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. ]

Edited 2018-01-18 09:59 (UTC)

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!)

[ 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!) ]

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.

Edited 2018-01-18 15:55 (UTC)

[ 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~!

[ 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!

[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?]

"No, we haven't!" Ash smiled brightly to Mari. It's a good thing she called before she came over, since her energy would've intimidated Scuabtuinne. As it is the Lapras blushed, ducking slightly behind him. Ash stroked her neck. "Aw, don't be shy. You've got a fan!"

"Thanks. man, I just..kinda threw together what I thought might work to be honest." Ash admitted, ruffling his hair a little. "I'm Ash by the way! And this divine beauty is Scuabtuinne." Scuabtuinne emerged from behind Ash with a soft cry, still blushing at the term 'divine beauty'.

[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?]

"I'm Mari!" She greeted him with a little curtsy the best that she could manage with Spinel in her arms. The Staryu hopped out thusly to try spying on the shying Lapras. It was cautious too, don't worry.

"She's something else. I've never seen one of these up-close before..." She leaned a little in the direction of the pool and offered out a gentle hand for her to sniff or whatever it was that water dinosaurs did. "Don't be afraid of little ol' Mari. She loved your show..."

Her lips hopped up again before she looked back up to Ash.

"You guys are a real team. You didn't do too bad yourself." Almost a swoon, "We kind of wanted to do something a little more flashy but Spinel only knows so many moves right now. He's still a baby. If he could spit fire or do some pyrotechnics, that would have been bombastic~ I think his Water Gun routine was ace."

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!"

"It was super acrobatic! I thought it was pretty flash, given how he threw himself about." Ash grinned. Yeah, he'd been watching several of the other appeals and had caught some of the 'Cute' contest too. Honestly he loved all of them so far and hoped that there's be another contest like this in the future; he knew several of his other Pokemon had wanted to take part too.

"Yeah...she's the only one of her kind I've ever seen. Here-" Ash slipped Mari a berry, whispering to her. "She loves food, so if you give her something she won't be as nervous." Scuabtuinne didn't notice the pass over, leaning down to check out Spinel. "Actually, I've never seen a Spinel before either! Is he the one you started out with?"

"He LOVES to jump and show off in the water. He's a little diva himself. Just like his Mama~" She flipped her hair before flashing him a cute little wink. With the offered berry, she tried yet again with the kind hand toward Scuabtuinne-- and Spinel. Spinel was luckily more interested in making a friend.

"I started with him, yeah. He's a Staryu. We're hoping for the grand prize so maybe we can afford the stone we need to evolve him! Or at least get enough money." A beat, "I've only been here a little over a week or two."

"Oh wow! I've been here a little while....shit, nearly a year." There's a thought. he hadn't realised how long it had been, but he had arrived in Johto in February last year. "So Spinel evolves using a stone? I've got a Pokemon I evolved with a stone but I didn't bring her with me, since she can be a bit of a show off and I didn't want her causing trouble." An Tintreach is not for the fainthearted.

Scuabtuinne perked up at the sight of the berry, paddling a little closer and taking it from Mari, giving her a melodic 'thank you'. She leaned down, lowering herself a little so she could see Spinel better. Hello.

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.

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.

[You can bet that she'd watched Ash's before he went on, too, definitely impressed by his and his Lapras' entire performance, down to the tiny details. So when he waves to her and tells her she was awesome? She looks very surprised. Dinah, however, knows she's being praised and beams.]

Goodness, thank you! That's an incredible compliment coming from you, considering what we did wasn't nearly as impressive...

"Hey it was! I loved the song you used. And I've never seen a Pokemon change form and then shift back!" What is Mega Evolution. Ash has been able to mega evolve his Lucario for months but have never actually realised it or tried to use it.

From behind him, Scuabtuinne echos Ash's sentiments. She really loved watching it!

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.

Edited 2018-01-18 21:02 (UTC)

"Ash! Scubatuinne!"

Noctis and Quay had finished performing and had finally made their way to the backstage area to get cleaned up and watch some of the other acts. Neither of them had bothered to get out of costume just yet though Quay was back to being her shy self as she sat in Noct's arms, face hidden in her flippers.

She can't believe she did that oh my gosh what if it was terrible?!

"You guys were awesome! We didn't get to say so beforehand but seriously, guys, that was great!" Noct praised as he reached the pool, sinking down to sit beside Ash as he gave the Lapras a warm smile. "You're a natural, Scuabtuinne."

[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!

"Dude, your act was amazing as well! I didn't know you were gonna go glam rock for it!" Seriously the moment he saw Noctis in the makeup he had laughed both, just at the images in his head (thank you Ziggy Stardust) and that Noctis was rocking it so well with Quay. He turned to Quay and gave her a big smile too. "Speaking of naturals, where have you been hiding that kind of performance, huh?"

He was done with cleaning up Scuabtuinne at least, but had only just started washing the make-up off his arm.

Scuabtuinne blushed at the praise, bashfully lowering her head. To Quay she spoke softly, giving her a gentle nuzzle to encourage her. "I think you were amazing." Of course, both of them had immediately tried to hide behind their trainers after their performances were done so she understood the sudden rush of pushed back nerves.

Noct can't help but laugh almost sheepishly.

"It was all Quay's idea. She picked out the colors, what we're wearing--everything," he explained, grinning down at the Popplio who looked rather sheepish herself.

At least until Scuabtuinne nuzzled her. Almost immediately Quay melted and returned the gesture, smiling warmly at her fellow Pokemon. "I think you were pretty amazing too!" she said softly ~~in a Fluttershy voice~~, clapping her flippers together. "Your voice is so beautiful!"

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Page 1 of 15

The Contest Spectacular!

CONTEST ENTRIES

hello naughty trainers it's time for Punch Grandpa

jesus christmas this was so much

Sing me a song~

Ash Fox / OTA!

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mari ohara | ota!!

after the performance!

Jane Crocker | OTA

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Thida | OTA

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After Performance!

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Second hand embarrassment for myself.

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After the performance

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