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

[pkemeter]

[Cherrygrove! Why, that's halfway across the continent! The Lapras pod seem intrigued. He should tell them about his trainer. They seem quite interesting. Denver, meanwhile, frowns lightly and tries to turn the conversation to something else. What kind of horror stories are they talking about? The leader of the Lapras lets out a sad huff. Stories about trainers that only care about the power of their Pokémon and refuse to properly care for them. A lot of trainers seek out Lapras only because they're rare while not caring at all for the Lapras, themselves. You know, there are stories that if humans are cruel to their Pokémon, they get turned into Pokémon as punishment by the gods? The Lapras pauses for a moment, then lets out a clicking noise that can be equated to a laugh. Just kidding, that's just an old myth! Denver looks deeply uncomfortable.]

[neverstudied]

[More about his trainer? Alfred glances at Denver, and begins to speak, choosing his words carefully. Now, bear in mind, he hasn't known his trainer for very long, but he's very observant in these matters, and he's paid close attention. Alfred also made it a priority to speak with his fellow Pokemon on the team and get their own opinions and observations. Some are more... judgemental than others, but he's come to quite a few conclusions that he feels are accurate.

His trainer genuinely cares, first of all, though he does try to hide it. He tries to give off an air of flippancy and nonchalance, but it's quite transparent- a few of his fellow Pokemon have been through some traumatic incidents prior to their capture, and he has worked diligently to try to help them through it.

He can be a bit reckless, more with himself than his Pokemon. He spends his money unwisely, but nearly everything he's bought has been for his Pokemon- oftentimes letting them buy stuff for themselves. One of his Pokemon is an artist, and he allows her to buy all the supplies she wants.

He dislikes it when his kindness is brought to light, and often tries to pretend he acts for selfish reasons, but most of his Pokemon have figured out the truth by now. It'd be hard to miss, considering the way he treats his partners.

In short- he's a fine trainer. Wouldn't you agree, Denver? Alfred looks up at him, his eyes twinkling.]

[pkemeter]

[Oh! How interesting. Trainers have just as many facets as Pokémon, which is always fascinating to hear about! The Lapras nod amongst each other and murmur in agreement, peering over at Alfred. They then turn to Denver expectantly. Denver stares daggers at Alfred before turning to face the other Lapras, a gentle expression on his face while trying to contain his sheer exasperation. He sort of just wants this conversation to end, already. There's no way that he's going to accurately describe Egon in any sense--the man hardly has any redeeming qualities in his eyes. He...agrees. Sure. As for his trainer, he...is a man of academics and science. Completely dedicated to his research on Pokémon. He pampers his Pokémon extensively with riches beyond their imagination to ensure their happiness. A gentleman of class and distinguished manners. Yes, he's outright lying about most of these points, but it's not like these Lapras are going to see him again, nor are they going to actually see--] Denver! Where are you? [Oh, God. Denver pretends not to hear Egon, still gazing serenely at the surface of the water and barely containing his rage.]

[neverstudied]

[Alfred sighs a little as Denver gives his spiel- he had hoped the boy would think about what he said, but of course, that sort of behavior can't be fixed so easily by a few words. He'll just have to keep trying.

... Oh, dear. His antennae go up at the sound of Egon's voice, though he doesn't otherwise react, schooling his expression into a neutral one. The Remoraid around him appear to notice his sudden concern, however, and eye him curiously.]

[pkemeter]

[The Lapras don't notice Egon calling out--Denver hasn't given his name, after all, and they have no reason to suspect that he's calling out to these two wonderful individuals. Denver clears his throat. Perhaps he could show them a nice place where they can request food from the chefs on board, yes? The Lapras seem to be delighted by this suggestion and agree, chittering among themselves. Egon's head pokes over the side of the ship as he stares down at the pod of Lapras.] There you are. Quick, I'll need some of your scales to compare to a sample I found earlier. [A pause.] Or Alfred's. Maybe both, just in case. [Denver seems to be rather uncomfortable right now as he continues to ignore Egon. Maybe if he just pretends he's not there, he'll go away...but Egon seems unusually persistent about this. He stands there, waving down at Alfred and Denver. The leader of the pod tilts his head to the side. Is that not your trainer?]

[neverstudied]

[Well!

Alfred briefly considers claiming that this is his trainer, to spare Denver the stress, but unlike Denver he's capable of looking ahead and seeing how that might backfire. He settles for drifting closer so Egon can get his sample- and whispering to the school of Remoraid to check out the Lapras pod.

Several of them peel off of him, obedient and curious, to nibble lightly at the fins and scales of the wild Lapras.]

[pkemeter]

[It doesn't take long for the Lapras pod to notice their new companions, and a majority of them shriek and try to swim away from them. A few of them don't seem to mind being cleaned, but hurry after their companions to assist them in their distress. Either way, they've put some distance between themselves and the boat, in which Denver takes the opportunity to duck out of sight behind a lifeboat. Egon follows after him, reaching down with a petri dish to scrape off a few scales from Denver's head.] Thank you. [And with that, Egon disappears again, probably off to do something poorly planned regarding science. Denver remains silent for a few moments, not looking at Alfred. He lets out a low, frustrated huff--he didn't have to do that.]

[neverstudied]

[Alfred looks concerned once the Lapras start to react, and calls out apologies to the retreating pod- not claiming any responsibility for it, of course. Several Remoraid continue to follow the pod, though a few return to Alfred's side. He didn't have to, no, but it would've been quite depressing to watch Denver flounder for an explanation. Or worse- continue to ignore Egon and dig himself a bigger hole. He says all this quite casually and politely- not at all upset, but more like a parental figure gently admonishing a child for refusing to share on the playground.]

[pkemeter]

[Denver lets out a disgruntled noise, glancing back towards the retreating pod of Lapras growing smaller and smaller in the distance. He feels somewhat guilty of having lied like that, but what else could he have done? Told them that his trainer is a terrible, embarrassing individual with no sense of class or dignity? He would be a laughing stock. And the fact that Alfred had to bail him out of his own lies.... Ugh. He grumbles out that he wouldn't have to lie if his trainer had just been a better, more respectable individual.]

[neverstudied]

[You're sure there's no redeeming qualities to him? Is he truly as bad as the type of people who seek out Lapras purely for their rarity, or who mistreat their Pokemon? Alfred's antennae wiggle thoughtfully. He considers saying more, but he knows Denver weill reject whatever advice he tries to give in this regard. For now, he swims up to the side of the boat again, catching the attention of the chef's once more, and gratefully accepts another piece of food.]

[pkemeter]

[Denver grumbles a bit more, but considers Alfred's question. He glances back over his shoulder at where the Lapras once were. Maybe not as bad as those trainers, no--don't give him that look! But he's...odd. And scatterbrained. He seems to spend most of his time doing poorly thought out experiments with his partners and causing his own demise. Speaking of his partners, the people he associates with are almost equally embarrassing to even acknowledge. There's a pause. With a great amount of reluctance, Denver continues, staring up at the ship. He supposes...that his intellect is to be admired, and perhaps his tenacity, but how can a human supposedly so dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge be so stupid?]

[neverstudied]

[So he's odd, and foolish, and embarrassing. But he's also a genius, a truly clever individual who hasn't sacrificed human decency for the pursuit of knowledge. He still cares deeply for others, no matter how difficult it is for him to show it. He's flawed. He's human. And he's yours.]

[pkemeter]

[Denver just scoffs, tilting his head up. Don't be ridiculous. Just because a Ducklett can swim doesn't mean you congratulate it for doing what it's supposed to do. This Lapras still has a long way to go....]