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

Rakka | Ecruteak

[charcoalfeather]

August 13th

[Rakka was feeling good; a day at the beach with friends, followed by a sudden burst of news on her pokegear, telling her that there was to be a festival held in Ecruteak, starting today! And she could fly there now. Frankly she was excited... even when the nature of the festival crept into focus the close it got.

A festival like this; centering around remembering your ancestors, and other loved ones that weren't around anymore. That fact alone was almost enough to question her desire to go. But. Food! And games, dancing, and possibly even her friends! If she went, she could enjoy it. And the more she thought about it, the more it just felt right.

Rakka didn't have the first clue what to wear to the party, so her usual sandals-and-sundress combo. Simply stylish - she would learn what exactly a "yukata" is later. Now, she found it fit to just wander, curiosity leads Rakka to stop by the Swirlix stand, and one or two of the games, and eventually to that area where the kimono girls are dancing. Most importantly, she's on the lookout for friends.... or anyone that looks like they're lost. She's only been here once and hey she gets it.

Her Pokemon also happen to be following her, most of the time. Or in the case of her Dodrio, Rakka's riding atop her through the festival to feel taller for a better view which incidentally makes her easier to spot.

> Approach?]

14th

[She's trying the STRENGTH game. She's actually going to attempt it.

....Or, rather, she's trying to do it. If she could actually life the mallet off the ground to test the machine - hoo boy - it would surely be a spectacle. Everyone would be surely be left floored by Rakka's skill, if the mallet would just... get off... the ground.

Her Pokemon aren't having much luck either, on the other side of things. All of her's are... unfortunately tiny just like their trainer. Chi (her pikachu), Kuu (the Togetic), and Bright (the Espurr) have already had a crack at it. Not much luck.]

H-hnnh... almost got it...!

[No, no she doesn't.]

15th

[The morning quickly slips into the evening with a fanfare of fire and drums. As the event begins, Rakka hangs to the sidelines, something about the bonfire and the performers was entracing. While the night is still young, Rakka even joins in, even if her dancing isn't quite as good at the others. It all meant for something, so she laughs and dances to the drumbeat.

Into the night, Rakka breaks away from the party. She doesn't make much commotion as she heads out, down a street and around a corner to a good-sized, well-kept pond seated on the right side of town. There, she kneels, and produces a pokeball. It's a minor thing to think about, but after such a long day Rakka made a special reminder to spend time with her Corsola. Now, she's got her chance.]

14th/Strength

[fehcatsap]

[Josuke had a mind to try this himself - but first he's going to wait for Rakka.]

Yeah, just a little more...

[...for about half a minute.]

...maybe a lot more.

[charcoalfeather]

Hnnnngh!!

[Get in line, Josuke. Because Rakka is going to own this game!

Either that or her arms are going to pop off.]

It... is it lifting, at all?

[fehcatsap]

[Josuke gets way down to take a closer look.]

...yeah, I don't think so.

[charcoalfeather]

Come on...! [Maybe if she just pulls harder, then-whoops, there goes her footing. Save it, save it- and down she goes on her ass.

The mallet remains both unimpressed, and unmoved. Rakka just stares at it for a good few seconds.]

...Mmmgh. What's wrong with this thing?

[fehcatsap]

Maybe nothing, and they just didn't expect this happening with anyone.

[Of course, this being what it was maybe the answer was "nothing, and they expected this to happen to everyone". Cheaters.]

It's not your fault; here - what do you say we swing it together?

[He extends a helping hand.]

[charcoalfeather]

You really want to give that a try?

[She's a little surprised, admittedly. Someone she doesn't know, out of the blue, questioning if they could both try the game together.

...Honestly, she could weigh her options. But what has she got to lose.]

O-okay, if you want to help!

[she actually sounds thankful... even if this is probably against the rules.]

[fehcatsap]

If I didn't want to help, I wouldn't have offered.

[That's just what he does - now, take the hammer and get into position.]

One... two...

[charcoalfeather]

...Three!

[Between the two of them, hopefully they can manage this. Right?

Remember to lift with your knees, Josuke. That's what Rakka's doing.]

[fehcatsap]

[Never skip leg day.]

[Anyway, they successfully strike the plate - the weight is rising...]

[charcoalfeather]

[Powerful Teen Strike! HAAAAA--!

There it goes, up and up, until...!

It almost reaches the bell, but falls short. And yet, Rakka is still positive elated about this stupid game.]

Whoa! Ah... almost!

[fehcatsap]

[Josuke, on the other hand... starts beaming as the weight rises and immediately changes tone when it starts falling.]

Aw, noooo! Dammit it was so close!

[charcoalfeather]

[Rakka looks back at Josuke and whoo that's a face. She's at least sympathetic to him.]

W-well, maybe we can try again?

[They were already breaking the rules. Was this a rule? It can't be, right? someone help these children.]

[fehcatsap]

[They're getting at least one angry glare that he can see.]

Doesn't look like it. We're gonna have to book it.

[All told the consequences probably wouldn't be that severe, but they wouldn't really get anything out of staying.]

[charcoalfeather]

B-book it? What- what do you mean by--

[Whoop, too late. Rakka's already being pushed along by her own Pokemon. Seems it's about time they moved on from this fruitless attempt.]

Okay! I guess we're going...

[fehcatsap]

[They break away pretty easily.]

Oof. Wasn't expecting things to go that way.

[charcoalfeather]

[Home free! Her Pokemon can finally stop pushing their trainer away from apparent harm.]

Well, we tried our best, didn't we? [Or is that not what you're talking about]

... I guess I was holding up the line.

14th - Strength Test

[in4apounding]

Rakka!

[Finally, a friend. Who was still here, and not horribly depressed, and remembered her. It felt like too long since she'd seen anyone in person.]

[And... my, that mallet looked heavy.]

...do you want help with that?

[charcoalfeather]

P-penny! [Hey, friend! She's been looking for folks like you!

Especially folks like you. Rakka's been concerned over Penny for a long time now.]

Ngh... I think, I got it. [no.] I hope.

[Her Pokemon have, frankly, given up. They're sitting over there by the stalls. Hi, Penny.]

[in4apounding]

If you're sure-

[She doesn't look very sure, but Penny's not going to stop her if she wants to keep trying.]

Is there a rule against two people trying at once?

[That seems like it should be a rule, but it can't hurt to ask. In the meantime, she gives a small wave to Rakka's Pokémon.]

[charcoalfeather]

[Rakka's been trying! So hard. for the last ten minutes now. Somehow, despite holding up the line, no one had found it in their hearts to tell her enough is enough yet. Yet.]

Nnngh! Ah... a rule? [She stops, briefly, to look back at Penny.] What do you mean, Penny?

[Rakka's Pokemon wave back!]

[in4apounding]

If you change your mind about wanting help.

[Would that be cheating? Maybe. But Rakka doesn't seem to be having much luck even moving the hammer, so who knows.]

[charcoalfeather]

[She's not. It's fine. It doesn't bother her. It doesn't bother her.

It bothers her. It bothers her a lot. And she's been trying to stay under the rules because she's a good kid!]

....Well, I guess it wouldn't be too bad if... you helped... please.