GET YOUR TOWELS READY, IT'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN

[indigo_events]

Wingulls wheel and dive in the salty springtime air of Olivine City's harbor, as white as the gleaming sides of the ship moored directly below. The S.S. Aqua isn't an infrequent visitor in the slightest, but this time it's for a very special occasion! Colorful banners stream from the sides, each one proudly declaring the word PROM in glittery font.

The boarding starts around noon on Friday, and the sight of the huge ship alone is enough to get many people and Pokemon swept up in the party atmosphere. The captain is even there when the ramp is rolled out, wanting to welcome each otherworlder onto the boat personally with a hearty handshake and (mentioning he's a renowned 'people reader'), a recommendation on what part of the cruise he thinks they'll like best based solely on a glance. Weirdly enough, guests might find that he's usually right!

Unsurprisingly, it takes a good long while for everyone to get on board and accounted for, which leaves each guest with plenty of time to find their rooms, dump their luggage, let their Pokemon out to stretch their legs a little, and finally head back to the deck to wave goodbye to the harbor as the SS Aqua heads out onto the open water.

IT'S FINALLY HERE, THE BEST TIME OF YEAR!


For the next three days until it makes its way back to shore on Monday, the lucky cruisegoers can live it up as much as they want. And, as the captain boasts over the announcement system once things are underway, the S.S. Aqua and its staff truly are the hosts with the most-- not even Gorgeous Resort has as much variety as this!

THE ATTRACTIONS

FIRST OF ALL, THE ROOMS!

Each room is fitted with either one or two king-sized beds, making them perfect to share with partners or friends, along with a wide-screen TV, dimmable lights, and fancy bathrooms. With little soaps that have "Please Steal Us!" printed into them.

Depending on whether they're exterior or interior rooms, they may or may not have porthole windows and balconies on the outside.

Check out the "Mood" channel on your TVs, you won't be disappointed.

GET YOUR SWIM ON @ THE WATER PARK

Possibly the first thing about the ship that most people notice (because it's noticeable from a mile away) are the set of pools and waterslides (proudly titled the Winged Mirage Pools) on the very top deck. It's about as wild as it gets while staying within the acceptable safety level for being pools on top of a huge boat. Each pool has its own set of waterslides that turn and twist to your heart’s content, so be mindful of your fellow guests rushing out to drop in on the fun!

Lifeguards are stationed and well-equipped to keep watch over patrons, and will do their best to keep the pools’ populations separated according to the ship’s rules. It would be unsafe, after all, for a small Pokemon to be bowled over by a group of rowdy folks playing water volleyball, or some similar incident.

The Articuno Pool is limited to human swimmers only! It has a small cold-water jaccuzi on the side, and the mosaic tile laid down looks quite similar to deep arctic ice. Pokemon are allowed in the vicinity of the pool but not within the pool itself.

The Zapdos Pool is special pool just for small to medium sized Pokemon to enjoy! It is staggered in two “tiers” and features greenery and water properly calibrated to suit even the pickiest sea Pokemon’s taste. Humans are allowed to supervise their Pokemon, but are asked to not interfere with the many Lifeguard Starmie on duty.

The Moltres Pool, flanked by two warm jacuzzis, is where people and small Pokemon are allowed to swim together! The water is calibrated carefully to be safe for all swimmers, and while it is expected for swimmers to get a little rowdy, Pokemon larger than their trainers are asked to refrain from cannon-balling, for the safety of everyone around them.

IT'S NOT PROM WITHOUT DANCING!

For the main dancing action, you’ll want to go to the Nido-King and Queen Ballroom. There, you can get down and funky with friends and your roster alike in your nicest prom duds to tunes spun out by a live DJ, who will happily and eagerly take your song requests. Don’t be shy, bust out those moves you’ve been holding onto all year!

For those of you who might prefer an all-night techno thump to your dancing, the Porygon2 Discotheque will keep you up and about long into the wee hours of the morning. Featuring actual Porygon2 assisting their DJ trainer, you’ll have their ill mixes and projected lights guiding you into perpetual party heaven.

AND IT'S NOT A PARTY WITHOUT FOOD AND DRINK!

Food is plentiful on board, nowhere more so than Wailord’s Bounty, a buffet operating round the clock to make sure all guests have the chance to fill their plates with delicious morsels whenever they want. While there’s plenty to go around for people and Pokemon, cruise staff do ask that Munchlax and Snorlax are not brought into the buffet. There have been... incidents.

For those looking for fine dining in the evening, look no further than The Mother-of-Clamperl. Slightly fancier than the other areas of the cruise, guests are expected to be dressed somewhat nicely. No showing up in flip-flops! Wear a dress shirt and have some champagne!

Somewhere in between on the fanciness spectrum, The Shiny Corsola may look like a gaudy bar, but lurking in that sparkly, shimmery haven is a smooth nightlife scene with all of the fancy liquor and exquisite jazz you could ever want. The jazz is live, by the way - the Jazzypuffs play an ever-rotating set for your listening pleasure, setting the mood for a sweet, sexy, relaxing night away from the hustle and bustle of cruise life.

AS FOR NON-AQUATIC RECREATION...

The Radical Croconaw Cove is the dope place to chill for preteen and teen promgoers, ya dig? Chock full of tubular snacks and stocked with retro video games that are the bomb-diggety, this is the off-the-hook zone to get your chill on! There’s also some board games too, for you tabletop nerds who want to squeeze a session in.

If you’re after live entertainment, Sudowoodo Centerstage has all your needs covered. Live comedy? Check. Sketches and skits performed by an ever-rotating cast of human and Pokemon actors fresh from Unova’s Pokemon Musical stage? Check! Opportunities for open mic performances by guests? Oh, honey, that box is done CHECKED! That’s right, guests of all species are encouraged to come on up and belt out that Lady Gardevoir cover that’s been stuck in their head, or perform in any other way! the only limitation is that guests are asked to keep Pokemon moves involved to non-destructive ones. After all, this is a cruise ship, not a Contest! And renovating a ship stage can be pricey.

While Goldenrod and Celadon have their Game Corners, the SS Aqua has the Mystery Egg Arcade, welcoming all ages to come and earn technicolor tickets via timing, chance, sharp eyes, and steady hands! Your first twenty tokens are complimentary, the rest shockingly reasonable in price (the equivalent of twenty-five cents per token), and the prizes you can glean are, while not the usual battle items or rare Pokemon, still very nice! Everything from well-made toys to good quality candies to the usual arcade bits and bobs like whoopie cushions and harmonicas, tiny parachute plastic figurines and paper finger traps...it’s all here, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg in tickets to win it, either!

For those looking for more intellectually stimulating pursuits, the Mantine Maritime Library offers a decent selection of reading materials, all seafaring in nature. From glossy photo spreads of underwater expeditions to reproductions of nautical journals from early sailors in Johto and Kanto history, this place has...well, not everything, but enough to whet your academic appetite.

What cruise ship is complete without an awesome rock wall to climb? Shuckle’s Challenge is specifically for humans, and any Pokemon that can’t learn Rock Climb or similar moves. It’s a test of ability and will, and the top of the rock wall offers a grand prize - the most spectacular view of the open sea on the entire ship.

Colorful and cheerful, Phanpy’s Putting Green is exactly the kind of kid friendly minigolf experience you could come to expect from the Pokemon world. Springy green turf adorned with figurines and obstacles depicting various baby Pokemon in play, it’s a hit with little children as much as it’s amusing for all ages to play a round or two together.

No ship is complete without a place to get in some rigorous physical activity, and The Rink is the perfect place to do so! Fitted with colored spotlights, this arena is fitted with all sorts of sports stuff that shifts throughout the day. For a few hours, it’s a basketball court, then, poof! It shifts to tennis, or racketball, or even a roller skating rink! And in the evening, it is of course open to Pokemon battles! Feel like hosting an impromptu tourney in your friend group with your best partners? This is the place to do it!

...And oh, don’t worry. We didn’t forget the most essential cruise amenity of all. Shuffle board courts can be found where you least expect them, and are always maintained by at least one friendly-looking elderly staff member willing to show you or your Pokemon the ropes. It’d be criminal not to make sure everyone has access to this timeless and treasured activity!

AND ONCE YOU'RE DONE PARTYING HARD...

Rejuvination is the core to the SS Aqua’s Max Revive Spa Center. Equipped with saunas, mineral soaks, and fancy mud masks, you’ll feel like a new ‘Mon once you emerge from their pampering. There’s even a special Trainer and Pokemon massage package for those of you who would like to try and improve your bond with one of your partners. Does it work? Only one way to find out...

While they may not have a specific name, the outdoor deck lounges can be found most everywhere on the outer decks, offering peaceful views of the ocean and any land in the distance that the ship might pass. These decks are awesome places to work on your tan or read a book or chat with a friend without disturbing others or being disturbed, and hold wonderfully atmospheric aesthetics for anyone looking to spot breaching sea Pokemon or take pictures.

[Feel free to toplevel to your heart's content! For more information about the event, check the infopost over here!]

Comments

Jane Crocker | Homestuck | OTA

[cyan_maid]

[So, while Prom seems to be REALLY HIGH MAINTENANCE AND EXCITING literally every time Jane has attended, she's actually hoping it'll be chill and low-key this year, especially since it's on a cruise ship? She's never actually cruised before, it's a little exciting. Though, to avoid being a stereotypical first-timer, she's taking things slow.

While the Moltres Pool is bound to be mobbed with people swimming with their Pokemon, Jane can't help but be among them, at least in the morning with Dinah the Audino. She helps her partner get used to the feeling of water all around her, fits her carefully into an SS Aqua inner tube, pushes her around gently...and Dinah looks pretty overjoyed with the special attention, though she gets the hang of kicking her feet soon enough and bobs over to lots of other Pokemon to make friends. Jane is always behind, though, poolside-ready and giggling all the while. This is fun! This is silly! This is not in a million years what she thought nineteen would be like, and it's pretty amazing.

Phanpy's Putting Green is...criminally cute. Absurdly cute. It's under arrest for cuteness overload, and the only way to reduce the sentence is with Jane playing a round. It's kind of odd to see her guiding not Dinah, but Dart the Bisharp through the holes, showing him how to hold the club and what it means when you get the ball in the hole with one hit. He seems...a bit chilly towards her, as usual, but he is actually trying - still, if you're hit by a ball he sends astray, it'll be Jane coming over to apologize, looking much more concerned than her passive Pokemon for your well-being.

Barring any of these, Jane spends a lot of time on the outdoor deck lounges, doing some considerable reading. A stack of pulpy detective novels beside her, she's nose-deep in some mystery shenanigans when a Primarina breaks the waves, and Jane looks up and beams, waving to it. It's hers, actually - it's Madeline, swimming along with the larger water types and more than happy to say hello to anyone around, and Jane could not look more proud of her girl. Look at her leap, look at her go!

And, of course, prom itself in the Nido-King and Queen Ballroom is not ignored. Classy as ever with Dinah in a blue jacket to match, Jane dances with her Pokemon, and they make quite a pair, even if Jane's footwork is more swing and Dinah's just following around for the ride. Feel like cutting in?]

Moltres Pool

[neverstudied]

[Something is lurking underwater in the pool. It looks kinda like a beach ball, but it's moving with purpose, searching for a target.

There! An Audio in an inner tube. The figure moves in closer, closer...

And a pair of hands scoop it out of the water.]

C'mere, you ankle-biter.

[Camille the Solosis wriggles in Venkman's grasp, defiantly burbling. Why do you have to ruin her fun!!! She wasn't gonna really hurt her, just bite her tail a little, maybe bowl her over...]

[cyan_maid]

Au?

[Dinah sort of swish-turns in her tube to look at this new development, and she sort of smiles and waves at both Solosis and Venkman. Hello! How is water? It's good, right?]

just realized i spelled Audino as Audio in my last tag. shes just a soundwave now

[neverstudied]

[Camille wriggles some more. No!!! Her plan has been foiled, she's been spotted, she has to go undercover again, this is the worst.

Venkman gently puts a hand over Camille's mouth to stop her angry baby babbling. She's not old enough for psychic speech, so it shuts her up.

Yeah, uh, we're good. Sorry for the trouble-

[He yelps as Camille bites down on his fingers, loosening his grip in the process. She splashes back in the water with a triumphant burble.]

lol it's cool, typos happen :B

[cyan_maid]

[!!! Dinah chirps in shock, and turns, waving an arm to get the attention of Jane, who emerges from the water, having felt the need to dunk her head in.]

Oh my - Dinah, what's wrong?

[Swim swim swim - oh dear, what happened?]

Are you alright, sir?

[neverstudied]

[Venkman doesn't hear her at first, too busy dunking his own head in the water in search of the bastard orb. Unfortunately, she's nowhere in sight- Camille's a fast swimmer, and there's a lot of people and Pokemon in the pool. He comes back up for air just in time to hear Jane's question.]

Yeah, I'm fine, just gotta find that little nuisance again before she gets us kicked out.

[He doesn't sound truly angry- just exasperated. The bite didn't even break skin- she doesn't even have teeth, after all- he was more surprised than hurt.]

Can you keep an eye out for a Solosis- she's green and round, and keeps trying to mess with people.

[cyan_maid]

Hmm, a trouble-making Solosis, huh? I'll keep my eyes peeled.

[Dinah pitter-patter swims over to Jane, arms dangling over the inner tube to trail in the water. She's looking down, though, as if also on the hunt for this other Pokemon.]

And who should I ask for if I happen to find her?

[neverstudied]

Thanks. She's not strong enough to use a lot of moves, yet, but she's a biter. And she's already tried knocking people overboard. Peter Venkman. Doctor Peter Venkman. [It is very important for him to clarify that whenever possible, because out of all the Ghostbusters he looks the least like he should have a PhD, let alone two. Meanwhile, Camille is searching for a new target, keeping close to the bottom and staring up at all the people and Pokemon having a good time above her. Does Jane happen to have any more Pokemon in the pool?]

[cyan_maid]

Doctor Venkman it is, then.

[Why does that sound familiar? Surely he's not a Ghostbuster or anything. :B

She does! A little ways away, a Leafeon named Ramsay is paddling around, watching his girl with mild interest and not paying attention to anything underwater. This is just a refreshing swim, la dee da...]

[neverstudied]

[He nods, distracted- he's still looking around for any signs of the Solosis.]

Mhm. And, uh, what's your name?

[Surely not! Though he wouldn't mind being recognized.

!!! New target. Camille swims up a little higher, a little closer, so she can get a better idea of where to attack. Ok, the plan is to swim up, bite him on the tail, drag him down, and...

Well, she'll figure that part out later. It's fine.

Camille rushes forward, ready to bite!]

Outdoor Deck Lounges

[thegreenhornet]

[Britt leans on the railway, stares out at the sea, and comments, without sounding like he cares that much:]

You know, won't they have to stop swimming sooner or later and then they will be left behind because we're on a ship that's constantly moving?

[Britt, this is a cruise, not a raceboat. Also, don't rain on their parade]

[cyan_maid]

Probably. But maybe they have a big procession going on. Some of them hang on to each other and sleep, and they take turns or something.

[It's probably nice to even be in the ocean for a lot of them, Jane thinks - Madeline herself can only get in there when they can visit Goldenrod's rocky shore.]

And if there's a problem, we can always recall our own Pokemon.

[thegreenhornet]

The balls can recall the Pokemon from this far away?

[Those red beams have quite the reach!]

[cyan_maid]

It seems that they do! It's...probably got to do with being able to see a Pokemon. I don't know if it works if you can't see them.

[thegreenhornet]

...so if you close your eyes, it doesn't work?

[It's a stupid conclusion, but hey, it was never said Britt was a genius]

[cyan_maid]

I was assuming more along the lines of trying to recall them from another room while out of your potential line of sight.

Ballroom

[isleavepossible]

[Alex actually dressed up for the thing. She's still kind of off to the side but she'll notice Jane and come over. She's got an Evee with a teal bowtie following her as the only one who wanted to come.]

I like your dress.

[cyan_maid]

Thanks! I like yours, too!

[Dinah parts from Jane to offer her hand to Alex's Eevee, asking the other Pokemon to dance. Jane similarly offers her hand.]

Want to dance?

[isleavepossible]

Thanks. I decided to spiffy up for once and it seemed like a good enough reason.

[The Eevee will nod and take the other pokemon's hand. Anna will dance, dancing is fun!]

Dance? Sure, sounds like fun.

[And Alex will take Jane's hand because hey, she didn't get to go to her own prom.]

I'm probably not the best at dancing though. Just FYI.

[cyan_maid]

Oh, I can't do anything but old timey stuff - comparatively, we should be fine.

[Dance time!!!!!! Time to enjoy some cute as heck dresses and have some fun! Dinah, on the other hand, is very gentle with Anna because she is small Pokemon, but it's just. It's adorable.]

[isleavepossible]

[Anna is small so that's good. Alex meanwhile laughs as they start to dance.]

I guess we'll find out.

All of my dancing skills come from the time honoured trial by fires known as school dances. A lot less fancier then this.

[cyan_maid]

Oh gosh, actual school dances...I was actually saving all of mine up to go to real high school senior prom, you know? So I didn't go to Homecoming or any Sadie Hawkins situation...

[But here? In this world? There's a blowout fancy prom every year, for everyone!]

[isleavepossible]

Oh yeah, that one. I was ....I think I was going to go to that one. We were going to go dress-

[Give her a moment, she's got some conflicting memories of a conversation that both has and hasn't happened yet. Small shake of the head, go away stupid memories.]

...yeah I was probably going to go. I guess this one will have to make up for it. But yeah, school dances. They were very much over hyped. I think the most exciting one was the time Ren almost got caught with his 'special brownies' and ended up hiding in a broom closet while I distracted a teacher.

[This world has a prom she can actually go to, and not just ...possibly go to, think she went to, go to and forget? ....her timelines are complicated.]

[cyan_maid]

Gracious! How did he think he'd get away with such confections?!

[Jane knows what a Pot Brownie is thank you very much]

[isleavepossible]

I have no idea. He's been my best friend since we were tiny kids and I don't even understand how his logic works sometimes.

....he means well though. He just doesn't always think things through before he does them. Or says things. ...or eats things.