
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 ATTRACTIONSFIRST 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!]
Newt | Aliens | OTA
Swimming
It's not something she's done much off. So you can find her in the shallower parts of the pools. Practicing. She may be thinking about trying a water slides but she's not sure.
If she sees you at the pool she might pull you over to ask.
"Are the people screaming because the water slides hurt?"
Nido-King and Queen Ballroom
Newt isn't the best at dancing but hey, she has a nice dress from last year that she'll put back into use. You can find her dancing with her pokemon. Well "dancing" but hey, they look like they're having fun, so that's the important part.
Minigolf
"This is fun"
Newt is trying out this new game with an Absol next to her.
"I wonder if you get to keep the club if you win."
Around the Ship
Newt is ....investigating the ship to make sure there are areas to hide. You might also notice her storing away food. And trying to see if the ventilation shafts are things you can get into. Feel free to ask her about this. She's only hiding from the people in charge of the ship.
Random
If you have another idea of where you want to run into Newt, feel free. She'll be around most places.
Swimming
[Goodness, that was a question! Still, here's Britt with swimming trunks, having just gotten through one of the slides]
They scream because it's fun. That thing will hurt only if it's really dry.
[...he doesn't sound entirely certain, though]
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[She looks a bit doubtful at this. The sad thing is she might have known this at some point. It's just you hear so much terrified screaming and after a while it just turns into, screaming= bad.]
I thought people ...laughed if things were fun.
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[He points with his head to the nearest slide]
Go. Give it a try, you know you want to.
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[She thinks it over for a moment, because yeah did look like might be fun. The screaming part just kind of scared her.]
Okay. I'll try it.
[She's already dressed in a kids orange bathing suit, so she's good to go.]
Have you been on water slides before?
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[He was pointing some distance away, where he had left his Nidoran was before, but he wasn't there anymore. Whooops. OH well. He'll find it later]
U-Um, nevermind...anyway, it's not that big of a deal. Just jump in and let the thrill overtake you. Also scream if that makes it easier for you to have fun.
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Ballroom
And there is Newt! So, here he is, all fancied up in a white button-down shirt, orange tie loosened quite a bit and the sleeves rolled up past his elbows.
"Hey, Firefly! Having fun?"
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Newt waves. She's dancing with a Marowak who stops when she does.
"So far nothing's attacked yet."
So yes, Newt?
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"Pfff! So far so good, huh? You found all the good hiding spots already, right?"
Is it good to be encouraging this? Or not? Who knows?
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"I found some. Not many, I think they tried to use up all the space on here and they don't have very good vents. But that's okay."
She's fine. Totally fine.
"Last time I didn't think something could happen, so now I know really bad things can happen here, even if no one dies. So I won't be as surprised."
That's....good right?
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He only suggests 'after' instead of 'right now' because he's right here right now, so if something happens now, he can take care of her. Logic!
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Around the Ship
[Jinx and Ms. Fortune the Incinearoar were on their way to have some snacks and decide what to do next when they came across Newt trying to pry open one of the vents on the floor. Jinx looks amused and Ms. Fortune has her arms folded appraising the situation and deciding how a heroine like her should react.]
I'm not even sure you'd fit in that one.
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No. But you should always know where you can hide if something does happen. That way you don't have to spend time looking when it does.
....I think you're right about this vent though.
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Weren't you there before the ship set sail when they did the safety briefing? If there's trouble we're all supposed to go to the life boats. It wouldn't do you any good to hide out somewhere and then have the ship sink.
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I know that. But what if there's fighting and you need somewhere to hide so you don't get knocked out before you get to the lifeboats.
[She's actually making progress because before she would have said killed. She's finally starting to realize that won't happen here. Being knocked out and left on a sinking ship however...]
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But instead of hiding somewhere you might get stuck, I might recommend just focusing on getting to the life boats as fast as possible. You've got your pokemon to help you with that right? Who'd you bring with you?
Around the Ship
She doesn't question why Newt's looking. She's more guessing at what Newt's looking into, without thinking there isn't a reason. Proms are dangerous, according to this world's standards of dangerous. Annie knew to look for ways in and out since younger than Newt appears.
(Is that normal? No, probably not, but it was normal for her. Seems normal for this kid, too.)
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Newt will make a mental note of this new information.
"It probably won't help if the ship starts to sink but if we get attacked it might."
It's normal for her now. There are certain things that are almost impossible to unlearn.
"Were you at the last prom?"
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"No, I wasn't. Had people tell me about it though." She pauses. "What happened for you, if you were there?"
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She stops slightly.
"I ...hadn't been here for very long and so it really reminded me of home and I thought that everyone was going to die around me again so I hid. I'm- ....it's hard to remember. I don't think I was thinking about anything but surviving. I even refused to let my pokemon out because I didn't want them to die on me too."
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"You wanted to keep surviving. I don't think anyone would want to do all that alone, if they had a choice. Protecting your pokemon... isn't the only way of handling things, but I can imagine why it would seem that way, when you hadn't been here for long." Annie scratches at her cheek before letting her hand fall back down to her side. "Do you feel safe in this world these days?"
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Around the ship
[Which means she's not actually that surprised when she sees Newt stashing a snack behind a grate.]
It's a good thing there aren't traditional ants here or that would be covered by the time you got back to it.
[She been exploring the ship a little bit herself, with a Pikachu and a Braixen at her side, both of whom are regarding Newt with slightly more curiosity-- they've never gone hungry or lived in a prolonged dangerous situation a day in their lives, so they're NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE SANDWICH-HIDING IS ALL ABOUT.]
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That would be bad. I'd have to figure out how to hide it better.
[Newt meanwhile has her Arcanine next to her, who is more then used to this sort of behaviour in her charge.]
There's not many places to hide here but I suppose if the ship gets really badly attacked we'd have to escape it, not hide.
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[Heather, meanwhile, leans on the railing and nods.]
Yeah, no point staying on a sinking ship. S'why I brought a Water-type-- just in case.
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I only have a small water type.
[She may slightly regret that now.]
Actually a lot of the pokemon I have are fire types.
[Fire is good and safe and....not great out on the ocean.]
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