GHOST TRICK PART ONE: Festival Log!

[indigo_league]

Who: Everyone!
Where: Either Ecruteak City or Lavender Town; please mark your toplevel comments accordingly!
When: August 13th-15th
Summary: Celebrate O-bon at a festival near you! For details, see the infopost.
Rating: Will vary from thread to thread. Warn for common triggers if something comes up.
Log:

The streets are lined with NPC-run stalls for food, games, and the assorted tchotchkes of every summer festival you’ve ever seen in your animes! There’s Goldeen Scoop, heaping cones of Swirlix Candy, Test Your STRENGTH (there are two different machines for people and Pokémon; HM04 not required); basically, if you can think of it, it’s there. There will also be a yukata rental stall if you want to go full hog on the cultural side of things. Ecruteak boasts a small stage where the Kimono Girls give a short performance once every two hours; the festivities in Lavender Town are a little quieter, but they also have Haunter-shaped ice cream treats. When you lick them, they Lick you!

On the last evening (August 15th) of the festival in either location, there will be a large bonfire and traditional bon-odori dance in which everyone is welcome to participate. In Lavender Town only, they also set paper lamps afloat in the water past the cliffs.

The closer you get to midnight on the last night of the festival, the more ghosts pop up.

Again, please say which city your character's in and note what dates/times they're there in the header of or within your top--level comment to avoid confusion. Play nice and have fun!

Comments

Cloud Strife | Ecruteak

[notachocobo]

| August 13th |

[While Cloud had seen and attended his fair share of festivals--especially when he was younger and still living in Nibelheim--they hadn't been anything quite like this. There was so much going on and so much life and energy to everything! Most of the time he would have expected something horrible to be on the horizon, since that's just how it seemed to go most of the time, but...for some reason he found himself actually relaxing and just enjoying what there was to see.

They had arrived early in the morning and, after checking into wherever it was they had decided to stay, Cloud had been unable to help himself. With Buster and Gongaga in tow--as usual--the blonde had set out to explore the town a bit to get his bearings and once things started?

He's going to be checking out everything the festival has to offer.]

This..is a lot harder than it looks. [It's muttered to himself as he stares down at the Goldeens he'd been trying to scoop, Gongaga chirping happily from his spot beside the blonde, front paws resting on the edge of the booth as he tries to reach for the scoop with his tendrils. Cloud is quick to hold it up and away with a soft snort as Buster churrs softly from behind in annoyance.] I'm not sure you're allowed to try, buddy.


| August 14th |

[On the second day of the festivities Cloud can be found watching the shows going on, settled down with Gongaga in his lap, both of them munching on some treats that had been purchased. For once Buster is resting in his pokeball and, unbeknownst to Cloud, his meinfoo is out and running amuck.

Aka she's in the process of trying to steal things from people before darting back to her master. She hasn't strayed far from him but is definitely trying to keep out of sight of the blonde for the most part--but she won't hesitate to let out some loud noises if anyone grabs her.]


| August 15th |

[The night of the bonfire finds Cloud settled off to the side watching everyone dancing, a faint smile on his face as he does. Dancing really isn't his thing so he's doing his best to avoid it for now, content to just watch and enjoy the warmth of the fire.

Beside him, Gongaga has a tendril wrapped around Cloud's noibat Chaos and is attempting to make the other dance--the noibat looking thoroughly unimpressed--while his flabébé Aeris twirls about through the air with happy little noises.

Even if their master won't dance, his pokemon sure will!]


(Feel free to make up a prompt too! Someone needs to make Cloud dress us..;D)

[notachocobo]

[The Meinfoo immediately jumps back, poised in a fighting stance as she lets out a growl of her own, ears flat to her head as she preps herself for a fight.

Both growls are enough to catch Gongaga's attention though and the Sylveon chirps worriedly which prompts Cloud to glance over--

And immediately stand up with an armful of Sylveon.]

Materia!

[notachocobo]

[The Meinfoo huffs at the other pokemon as if mocking the other for calming like she had at it's master's command. So it shouldn't come as any surprise that as soon as Cloud scoops her up as well she starts to squirm in protest, kicking and flailing to try and get away.]

Sorry. I didn't realize she'd gotten out.

[Oh. Hey. It was the kid.

Tucking Materia under his arm while letting Gongaga hop down so he can go investigate Scarlet, Cloud frowns a bit.]

She didn't steal anything did she?

14th

[sneezelikeakitten]

[It's his Eevee that alerts Dipper to something trying to take something out of his bag. He turns around and is greeted with the weirdest weasel-mongoose-Bruce-Lee looking Pokémon. Uh...]

Hey! Don't take peoples stuff!

[Should he fight it? Tyrone might get his butt handed to him if Dipper tries to have them battle.]

[notachocobo]

[Materia growls in annoyance at having been spotted, having been unable to get what she wanted out of Dipper's bag.

This, of course, means a fight must happen and she starts to take a stance as her ears go back--

Only to be lifted into the air by a pair of pink tendrils as Gongaga chirps in a disappointed manner. The Meinfoo immediately starts to cry out in annoyance and squirm around but the Sylveon isn't phased, holding his captive until Cloud can get to them.]

Materia, I told you to stop--she didn't get anything did she?

[As he asks, Cloud scoops his Meinfoo out of Gongaga's tendrils, giving her a soft frown.]

[sneezelikeakitten]

[Oh! Seeing a Eeveelution makes Tyrone rather skittish and shy as he hides behind his trainers legs. Dipper checks his bag before shaking his head.]

No, it looks like everything is still in here.

[For being an organized kid, the inside of his bag looks like a tornado ran through it. At least he remembers what's in it.]

Does that Pokémon like to steal things?

[Because that is shady. Except the trainer doesn't look shady. Bad apple?]

[notachocobo]

[The Sylveon chirps at Tyrone when the other hides, ears perked in a happy manner as his tail starts to wag a bit. Don't be scared friend!]

Good.

[Disgruntled blonde is extremely disgruntled and it takes him a moment to get Materia under his arm, holding her there firmly so she doesn't manage to get free again.]

Unfortunately. It's a habit we're trying to break her of. That and breaking out of pokeballs.

[He doesn't blame the other for being suspicious. Seriously.]

I'm still trying to figure out this training thing too. It's a work in progress.

15th

[modulatingphases]

[Zack had spent the previous three days being all about the various festivities. Testing his strength, trying and repeatedly failing to catch an illusive Goldeen. Chasing after a certain pidgey who was doing everything in his power to live up to his name, and stumbling upon a new Shuppet friend who was currently refusing to leave her pokeball.

Which was why, surprisingly, he was perfectly content to sit at Cloud's side and watch the activities instead of taking part in them. Angel was curled upon his lap, tail moving in time with the beat of the music, making soft cooing noises as if attempting to sing along. Strife was off to the side, Chocobo and Genesis perched upon his back, swaying and twirling, stopping every so often to butt his head against Zack's side, as if trying to encourage him to join in.

He really needed to start catching less lively pokemon.]

Pretty nice night so far.

[notachocobo]

It's been a nice past couple of days. We got really lucky with the weather.

[The festival as a whole had gotten lucky though Cloud had to wonder if there was something else at work for that. Weren't there some pokemon that could control the weather or something like that?

Glancing at his companion, his smile becomes a bit more there while still staying soft, something that's rather common these days with Zack in the picture.]

I'm surprised you aren't out there with everyone else.

[modulatingphases]

It's nice seeing you coming out of your shell and enjoying yourself.

[Zack's own smile was bright, amusement dancing within his eyes as he turned his attention away from the sight before them. Light flickered across his features, making his hair appear even blacker against the surrounding darkness. Arms stretched out behind him, weight balanced upon them, every inch of him warm and comfortable. Sure, dancing would be pretty fun, but he was far too comfortable to actually have any desire to do so.]

I'm having a pretty good time right where I am. [Angel made a soft sound of approval, before sprawling a little more upon his lap.] Unless you feel up to trying it out with me.

[notachocobo]

[Cloud can't help but glance away, resisting the urge to reach up and rub at the back of his neck.]

...Having you here helps.

[Otherwise he probably wouldn't be near this relaxed. He doesn't mind Basch, at all. He actually finds the older man to be great company but they aren't from the same world and Cloud is just naturally a bit paranoid. So having Zack there helps him release some of that wariness; helps him enjoy the calm atmosphere of this world.

Which is why it doesn't take long for him to focus on Zack again, expression softening.]

Angels seems content, too. [Cloud can't help but grin a bit as he says it before the grin disappears and he stares blankly at Zack.] You want me to dance.

13

[pipers_son]

Awww, what's the harm?

[Joker, nosy as usual, is nearby with Angel the Mime Jr hanging onto the bottom of his yukata, and he grins down at Buster.]

I mean, so long as the scoops can be held, it's fine, yeah?

[It's not like he's a bastion of bad ideas or anything.]

[notachocobo]

[Cloud turns slightly to look at the person talking to him which gives Gongaga a chance to snag the scoop away with a delighted twill. The blonde frowns, the look borderline fond because he can't help it, and he doesn't attempt to get the scoop back just yet.]

I'm more worried about him trying to use his tendrils to catch one instead of the scoop.

[The Sylveon chirps merrily at both Cloud and Joker before propping itself up on the edge of the pool again to try and catch a fish. Buster's attention has gone to the newcomers now as Cloud just shakes his head and looks to them as well.]

We spoke once..didn't we?

[pipers_son]

Yup. About gyms and the like. Don’t think I introduced myself, but I’m Joker.

[He offers his hand, letting Angel waddle over to the game herself to triumphantly grab a paper scoop. She will be victorious.]

That’s Angel. We run the Eve’s Garden Circus, over in Goldenrod.

[notachocobo]

I'm Cloud. It's nice to meet you officially.

[The offered hand is taken, Cloud even going as far as to offer a ghost of a smile.]

This is Gongaga-- [Insert a merry chirp from the Sylveon before he becomes invested in what Angel's doing here.] --and that's Buster. [The Honedge just hums softly, drifting closer to the game to watch the going ons.]

13th

[anexcitableboy]

Yeah...hate to say it, but these games are all rigged.

[Jimmy ambles over with an apologetic grin, recognizing Cloud from the network. It's still so weird to him, to know all these people he's never met in person. He's not wearing a yukata, he took one look at the ties and one look at his hands and gave it up. Instead he's opted for a black t-shirt and jeans, his usual James Dean look.]

[He's not wearing his gloves, his fused, warped hands proudly out for anyone to see.]

We had games like this back home at the show. You're not supposed to win, just drop a lot of money on it!

[notachocobo]

[Cloud and Gongaga both turn to look at Jimmy, the blonde immediately recognizing the other from the network and offering up an easy smile in greeting.]

I had a feeling. We had a place back home that was like that--all the games rigged. And they definitely wanted all the money they could get.

[The Chocobo races had been a different story. Most of the time.

Finally giving the net over to his Sylveon, Cloud offers a hand to Jimmy in greeting.]

Jimmy, right?

[anexcitableboy]

Hey, carnies gotta make a living, too! Yeah, I'm Jimmy. Good to see you in person!

[He offers his hand with only a moment's hesitation. He hasn't met anybody here who gave one good god damn about his hands. What are the odds that's gonna change now?]

How you settling in?

[notachocobo]

[Cloud gives the other's hand a firm shake, his gaze never dropping and instead staying focused on Jimmy himself.]

Alright. It's been easier having people to travel with and help me get use to all of this.

[Letting go of the other's hand, Cloud shrugs a bit.]

It's all so different from where I'm from.

14th

[fehcatsap]

[Josuke notices almost immediately after the theft that something is missing - a half-empty bottle of styling gel. Not the most luxurious gel, no, but that's just what was available when he bought it. The Spritzee on his shoulder helpfully (and with no small degree of alarm) chirps and points out the thief.]

[notachocobo]

[Materia has no idea what it is that she stole but she wanted it so she took it and that's that.

The chirp from Josuke's spritzee has her clutching the bottle close and letting out a hiss before she's bolting back in the direction of her trainer, who only just now has realized she's gone and is attempting to find her when she slams into his legs.]

Materia what--

[Dammit.]

Where did you get that?

[fehcatsap]

Out of my damn pocket is where it got that.

[Josuke recognizes this guy from Neck Tentacle Love Story discussion, but he's. A lot more serious since his stuff got filched. Sorry, Cloud. It's not you.]

I'd like it back, if you don't mind.

[notachocobo]

[Cloud's gaze snapped up to the source of the voice and he recognized the other--but there would be time for that later.

Right now he can't help but frown slightly, giving his Meinfoo a sharp look suddenly.]

Give it back.

[An indignant squeak leaves Materia and she attempts to clutch the bottle closer only to have it suddenly pulled from her hands by Cloud's Honedge that had picked that time to break out of his pokeball.

The sword gives a metallic chur of a scolding before drifting over towards Josuke and offering the bottle to him. Cloud is quick to snag a pokeball off his belt and re-capture his Meinfoo for the time being, sighing softly.]

I'm sorry about that.