Open party log, as promised!

[gobblewonked]

Who: Fiddleford McGucket and anyone in Goldenrod who saw his post -- or hears the ruckus.
Where: The junkyard behind the Goldenrod magnet train station.
When: February 13th!
Summary: A WILD BIRTHDAY HOOTENANNY.
Rating: Moonshine.
Notes: Feel free to treat this like a mingle log and tag around!

When Fiddleford McGucket said party streamers, no one knew that what he meant was dozens and dozens of feet of plastic tape pulled out of old casettes and tied to any high-up piece of old rusty metal McGucket could find.

When Fiddleford McGucket said enough beans for everybody, no one could have known that there would be a bean can mountain over six feet tall piled precariously on a tarp.

When Fiddleford McGucket had said moonshine made from a Ribombee, it might have crossed some more fearful minds that he had meant that literally. Thankfully, he didn't. There are two jugs of the honeystuff going around, and if anyone who's obviously less than sixteen or so gets hold of one of them, they'll find the jar lifted out of their grip by a pair of dirty bandaged hands, possibly while McGucket himself is hanging upside-down above their heads from a garbage edifice. It's good, but don't drink too much of it. There's also nonalcoholic cider that's rather more plentiful. McGucket says it's made from apricorns, but no one is sure how he managed it. It tastes funny but it won't put hair on your chest, unless it does. It also looks not so different from that honeyshine. Be careful not to mix them up.

The banjo music, though, is exactly as promised.

The party is centered around a bonfire with a great big old pot hanging above it, full of cooking beans. The empty cans are being fed to McGucket's Trubbish and a wild one or two around. You might spot a Rattata or a spooked Pidove skittering out of a pile of trash, and McGucket himself has had to chase a Stunky away with his hat more than once.

But he greets every single party guest with a broad smile and a hearty handshake, and you're not leaving this party hungry if he can help it -- as long as you like beans.

Comments

[airhorn noise] GRANDPA'S HERE

[meteorman]

Taking the Magnet Train back from Kanto means that Ford can basically go immediately from the train to the party. He breezes in just a little bit after the party is officially underway. A lumpy package sticks out of the top of his shoulder bag.

He almost considered not coming. He's well aware that for Fiddleford he's something of a walking trigger, and the last thing he wants to do is complicate or even set back his friend's recovery. He saw a glimmer of the man he remembers in the coded conversation they had, but Fiddleford had made it clear then that he wasn't ready to really examine his own past yet. It probably would have been safest to keep his distance. And yet... birthdays are a big deal when you're a Pines. He never got to have a birthday with his brother before he got dragged here. He can't miss Fiddleford's birthday too.

"This is quite the setup," he says, without a hint of condescension. It is something to behold. And it's nice, and neutral, and if Fiddleford wants him to leave he will but he kind of hopes he'll be allowed to stay.

[gobblewonked]

The grin on Fiddleford's face only goes vacant for a moment. That's how long it takes him to 1) recognize Stanford Pines and 2) figure out how to handle it. Maybe one day he'll be able to look at Ford without feeling like the ground's shifted under his feet and traitorously thrown him off-balance, but for now, he still needs that it's him reaction time.

"Put it together myself!" Fiddleford announces merrily, approaching Ford with a grin. "With a little help from Buddy over there." He jerks a thumb at the Trubbish, who turns from where he's crunching an empty bean can and waves with a garbage arm. "Mind your manners, now! Don't you go chewin' with your mouth open. We've got company!" Fiddleford admonishes, and Buddy closes his maw a little sheepishly around the can, and swallows.

That done, Fiddleford turns from his beautiful beloved trash son back to Stanford, and holds out a hand to shake. "Good to see you! Please, make yourself at home! Pull up some rusty metal, get yourself some beans -- I got apricorn cider if you want it! Made it special for the little ones, but the batch turned out real nice!"

It's friendly, but it's acquaintance-friendly. No one watching this would think McGucket knew Ford Pines better than he knew anyone else at this party: it's the same approach he's made to all the other guests. However, Ford is welcome, and there's no sense of rejection in McGucket's manner.

[meteorman]

Buddy is a beautiful trash son, and Ford very much regrets not having his own Garbodor with him so they can't get introduced just yet. Later. It's fine.

The reception is also fine. It's as much as he could have hoped for: friendly, but not overly-so. If Fiddleford is convinced that they're being watched then he likely doesn't want to give anyone too much ammunition against him, and friends are ammunition. Ford knows that very well.

"To tell you the truth I'm more interested in that moonshine."

nerd party

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

Harry's walking around with his pokemon, a drampa. The guy on the gear suggested he'd bring some with him because wild pokemon? He's not really sure.

Either way, hey it's a guest he saw on a gear once.

"Oh. Hey ...Stanford Pines, wasn't it? Nice to see you again."

Look at him, he's being social. Heather would be proud.

NERD PARTY NERD PARTY

[meteorman]

"Oh! You too. It's unusual meeting people in person when I'm so accustomed to conversation almost entirely over the Pokégear."

It's like seeing a dog walk on its hind legs. Which he has seen before, and it's just as odd as advertised. He takes a good look at that Drampa, clearly intrigued.

"Is this handsome fellow with you?"

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

Why is Harry here? He's asking himself this a few times. But hey, birthday's are important and the guy went out of his way to throw a party and Harry wants to make sure that at least some of the guests are non pokemon. Also yes good, no children are getting moonshine.

He'll be off to the side, just watching things. Also actually trying some of the food.

"...the beans are actually pretty good."

[gobblewonked]

"Here! Have some more!"

McGucket appears out of nowhere with a ladle, and he dumps another pile of beans onto Harry's plate. He's pleased as punch to see a human being at his party, and to that end, he's playing host with great enthusiasm.

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

Random old men appearing from nowhere. Yup, this place is as strange as ever. Still though, it's the thought that counts. And the guy seems plenty enthusiastic.

"Thank you."

And true to his word he has his pokemon, Falkor next to him. It's a drampa that is enjoying being outside, even if it is a junkyard. Just looking around at everything.

"And happy birthday. I don't think I caught your name on the gear. I'm Harry Mason."

[notvaljean]

"Right?" Jean is halfway through his second plate of beans, and has finally worked up the guts to come talk to the real live author in their midst. "You're Harry Mason."

Smooth and subtle. Nailed it.

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

Totally nailed it. Harry glances over and hey, a face he recognizes.

He smiles.

"I am. You're Jean Kirschtein, right? "

[garbagechild]

No children are getting moonshine?

DON'T BE SO SURE OF THAT, HARRY.

Because while what's peeking curiously into the Ribombashine jug isn't... immediately discernable as a child at first glance, a closer look WILL IN FACT reveal it to be what looks like a ten-year-old with an absolutely out-of-control heavy metal hairdo and a ratty T-shirt that looks like it originally belonged to someone else but was shredded down to fit his gangly-but-small frame.

He sniffs the lip of the unattended drug and makes a face, but then dips a finger in to try and get a taste. NOT ALL BAD-SMELLING THINGS NECESSARILY TASTE BAD!

McGucket's been good about keeping booze out of the hands of the young'uns, but at this specific moment, Harry Mason happens to be closer.

WHAT DO?

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

WHAT DO? UH dad mode? That is WHAT DO.

Harry almost sighs but walks over to the strange looking child.

"Looking for cider?"

He's hoping it's a yes, but he knows better. Kids these days.

struts in here, Trubbish in tow

[notvaljean]

Jean arrives to the party accompanied by Eren the Trubbish, Blitz and Donner the Electrodes, and Gulliver the Klefki. The two Electrodes immediately set out to patrol the perimeter and make sure no one gets in who isn't supposed to be here, and Eren waddles next to Jean, trilling out Trubbiiiiiiiiish as he looks for Buddy. Jean lets him go, figuring he'll find the other trash bag on his own, and looks around the party himself before grinning.

"This is just like home!"

Meaning the roaring bonfire and the smell of beans is very familiar, almost nostalgic, and Jean saunters over to help himself to the food. If no one stops him, he's going to eat himself sick. Coming from a world plagued by starvation means that old habits about eating everything in sight die hard.

oh my gosh there are electric bouncers now I love it

[gobblewonked]

[Buddy can be found lying on his back next to the fire, rubbing his little trash stomach in contentment. Truuubbish, he calls, but can't get up. He waves at the stack of bean cans next to him. Please, Eren, he can't finish these alone. Help a brother out.

Fiddleford is enthoned on a pile of old rubber tires, playing his banjo with energy that's both frenzied and content at once. When he spots Jean, he breaks into a grin and waves at him -- with a foot, and without missing a note.]

electric bouncers to keep out the possum's sister's kids

[notvaljean]

[Hell yeah, Eren will help a brother out! He settles in right next to Buddy and gets to work, carefully licking the cans clean before popping them into his mouth and crunching away. Now this is a party!]

[Jean waves back at Fiddleford--using a hand, not a foot--and strolls over. He pulls two wrapped packages--one small and flat, the other significantly larger, and both wrapped in paper patterned with Trubbishes--out of his backpack, and sets them close to the old man. There you go, grandpa, have some birthday presents.]

[rediscover]

The thing about Anna is, she loves trash.

Metaphorically, but also literally, because she's taken a shine to basically every Trubbish she's ever met. There's something about them that's just irresistibly cute in her opinion. So as soon as she sees Eren, she's crouched down on the ground, letting out an excited squeal.

"Oooooh my gosh, hi there, little guy! Where's your person?" Glancing around this way and that.

She's...probably not going to steal this Pokémon and take him home with her? But like. Just to be safe. Jean should probably step up before she decides he's abandoned.

[notvaljean]

If she loves trash, then let Jean walk over and introduce himself and his Trubbish.

"His name is Eren." Eren is absolutely responding to the attention, lifting his stubby little trash flaps for a hug. Hopefully Anna doesn't mind getting some garbage juice leaked on her. "Do you like Trubbishes?"

In Jean's opinion, Trubbishes are great, but he knows they aren't for everyone.

a couple of hours into the party, close to sunset -- DANCING.

[gobblewonked]

The party's been going on for a while now, and both the sunshine and the moonshine are starting to get low. The bonfire is something to feel more and more grateful for; it's burning hot enough to keep the February chill at bay, as long as you keep in fairly close.

McGucket jumps to his feet. "Flapjacks and fiddlebanjos!" he cries, slapping his forehead. "I almost forgot! What kind of hoedown would this be without no dancin'?"

He scrambles off his comfy pile of tires and starts digging in a pile of old electronics, wheezing rapidly. A moment later, he's dragged out an old record player. Fiddleford pulls out his PokeGear and a long cord, and he plugs one end into the record player and the other into the Gear. Immediately, banjo music fills the junkyard.

With a wild laugh, McGucket leaps into a rapid dance.

If you don't join him, expect to get approached. If you don't already know how to dance proper-like, Fiddleford McGucket will teach you.

[garbagechild]

DANCIN!

Wrath isn't exactly great at dancing-- he's good at fighting, but despite what West Side Story would have you believe, the two don't have much in common unless you're very good.

But that's not going to stop him from joining in the fun!

When McGucket starts going hog wild, Wrath leaps in as well with a wild cry, leaping and cavorting like something out of Where the Wild Things Are. At his side, there is a Ditto who actually has a much better sense of rhythm than he does, but is mostly just.

Furiously undulating like a lava lamp on fast-forward.

Banjo music is so not Jelly's style, but it's the first chance he's gotten to get everybody looking at him this entire party, so if he has to boogie to banjo, so be it.

[notvaljean]

Hmmmmm... Gulliver the Klefki isn't sure about the whirlwind of hair and teeth that's spinning around, but he likes the moves of that Ditto. So he's just going to jangle right over to Jelly and start shaking his keys this way and that with him, adding some percussive jingling to the banjo cacophony.

[gobblewonked]

That jelly-lookin' feller sure is weird, but McGucket doesn't pay him no mind. Instead, he whirls around with Wrath, stomping his feet and hooting and having a grand old time. Ain't no wrong way to dance except not dancin' at all!

Buddy the Trubbish waddles up and starts tapping his little trash feet, pulling a pair of musical spoons out of his mouth. He practiced this! Let him show off!

time for princess to get crunk

[rediscover]

When Ford had told her he was going to a party in Goldenrod, and offered to let her tag along, Anna wasn't...quite sure what to expect, but whatever this is? This isn't it.

It's amazing.

They definitely don't do parties like this in Arendelle, and Anna is living for every second of it. The music! The cool, shiny streamers hanging from every surface! She lifts a hand as she passes, ruffling the cassette tape with her fingers, grinning.

And the moonshine—

Okay, to be fair, she was expecting this to be more like mead than...whatever it is. Which is apparent in the way she takes a huge gulp and immediately sputters, coughs, eyes tearing up. She feels like she just downed a mouthful of rubbing alcohol.

"Holy—wow, what is that?!"

omg Anna no

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

Harry notices the young woman. Okay old enough to drink but still.

He walks over.

"I think it's a type of moonshine. ....it's known for being a very strong drink. Are you alright?"

[rediscover]

She sticks her tongue out a couple of times, as if trying to air it out. That stuff burns, woof! When a man approaches her, she blinks up at him, chuckles, and takes a long at the jar in her hand.

"Oh, I'm fine! Moon...shine. That's a really nice name for something that tastes like...like paint thinner."

omg anna YES

[gobblewonked]

"Heheheheeeh!" The man of the hour waddles up to Anna, cackling. "It ain't no apricorn cider, that's for sure! Here!" McGucket hands Anna another jug, nearly identical to the one she just took a disastrous gulp out of, but with a much milder smell coming out of it. "Wash it down with some of this!" He laughs uproariously.