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!]
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victory_road2019-04-18 11:19 pm
Rock Wall
She catches Alex's words after having checked her ropes, casting her a side glance. "What, the easy climbing surfaces, or the people telling you that's not how rappelling works in the first place?"
Coming from the teenager standing there in a gown even when it's not yet Prom Night it's probably a bit of an amusing statement. Sometimes luggage has accidents. And sometimes the only clothes you ended up having were formalwear, but it all works out, sort of.
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She'll glance over.
"Wait, are you climbing in gown?"
No judgement, just curiosity.
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A gown that's hiked up just enough to leave her legs free, but not enough to be indecent, even if she didn't have biking shorts on underneath.
"Fair enough. Most cities don't seem to appreciate people scaling the buildings, but I don't remember hearing anyone being locked away for it."
She adjusted her straps a last time, looking up at the wall. She's doing this barefoot, her heels kicked off and left to the side, because there have to be limits to the ridiculous things that happen in her life.
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She glances over at them but they seem disinterested. Maybe they've given up. Anyway, looking up at the wall again.
"I'm better at climbing actual rocks and things in nature, than buildings."
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"There's a little difference in how you have to think of scaling them," she says, picking a more difficult path up than she needs to: all the grips are right there, so why not? "Finding toeholds, fingerholds. Buildings have quite a few, some strong, some weak."
Nature's more organic, generally speaking, but learning to scale walls and buildings is as much help as the maneuver gear had been in making that happen quickly.
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"Did you do a lot of climbing where you're from?"
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"Yes and no." She reaches for another hand hold, shifting a foot and continuing to scale upward. "We had more of it in training than afterward, since speed meant we needed to rely on gear rather than haul ourselves up the sides of anything by hands and feet alone. What about you?"
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Alex meanwhile gets a yell to 'please stop jumping that far, you're not supposed to-' when she goes for another large jump. She just barely makes it but seems pleased and ignores them.
"You were in training? Like the military or something?"
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Annie is leaning back as she climbs upward, this part of the rock wall forcing her to hold that positioning. "I graduated out of military training, yes." Twice, if she's being technical, but there's two people who know that, and only one of those who understands, really. Her cover story has to be the one defining her life after eleven in order to protect the happiness of others, and she doesn't quite regret that. "About a month before I ended up here. I was part of the Military Police back home, which amounts to nothing in this place."
None of it is protected information. She's casual about speaking on any of it, because in all of it, there's nothing more to hide.
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"Yeah, long story but in my world I got stuck in another dimension where I'm basically going through the same night over and over pretty much for eternity. I only remember near the end of each loop. But I do a lot of climbing on the island and I've got no idea how many nights have gone by so possibly .....way too much climbing."
She's probably a bit too casual about the whole thing.
"Wow, that's intense."
Alex you don't even know....
"I guess you get a break here then?"
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Sounds like a different kind of nightmare. At least no one appeared to be eaten, or turned into creatures who could only exist to eat. Annie shifts and pulls herself up, clearing the overhang she'd been under.
"Mm. Not like the training or experience goes away, but you're right. Fewer politics and corrupt officials to deal with here." Not because she feels they don't exist here, but as part of the refugees, she's not allowed to be in positions where she'd have meaningful contact with anyone leaning that way.
She doesn't mind. It's the same no matter where people go, only the goals here seem to be less about eradicating human populations... these days.
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And there at least is some bitterness. She pulls herself up further.
"That must be nice. ...I'm trying to treat this entire thing as a nice break myself."
And she is trying, it's harder when you're not in the loop, constantly forgetting and regaining memories.
"But then again, my standards are pretty low for nice at this point. I get to keep my memories of a day and it's a win in my books. Also the ghosts here possess people less, which is nice."
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"I'll admit, fewer people end up dying or eaten here. Less starvation that I've noticed too. Mostly pokemon gifted reasons to have nightmares, considering what some of them are stated to be."
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Her life got really weird for a night, and then the night again....and again. It gives her a headache sometimes, trying to remember it.
"They don't seem to have any food shortages here. Wait...eaten? Are cannibals a big thing where you're from?"
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They're all cannibals, technically, but it's not something she figures is worth discussing in general. Knowing Eren is a Titan is one thing. Titan shifters, by extension, are another. Knowing that each Titan was originally human before they were forcibly altered into something nightmarish? That's only known factually by three people here, and only two people should have factually known as much.
"Ghosts were a metaphor back home. Didn't see a real one until I was here, just plenty of Titans."
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That stops her from climbing for a moment before pulling herself up another handhold.
"We...don't have anything like that back home."
And she's really glad they don't. She shakes her head slightly.
"The ghosts here seem different then any I've heard of. Even the stories from my world or the ones I met. Then again the ones I met...well they were dead. They'd been people who died at sea but then they somehow got trapped in another dimension and got trapped in a time loop. Eventually they just became one entity of many voices who don't remember their own names half the time. We called them, the Sunken."
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Still, she lifts up to rest her elbows on the top of the climbing wall as Alex speaks, turning over concepts and suppressing a shiver: dying at sea and getting trapped in another dimension is so plausible these days. Losing identity, never getting home? Those are the things of nightmares, and she has quite a few of those.
"How do you handle the Sunken?"
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Alex doesn't reply for a moment as she jumps another distance, slightly too far and just barely manages to grab a holding. This may be how she climbs a lot, as the person at the bottom just groans at this point.
"Ah...you can handle them at first by using a radio to drive them out of the people they possess. But that only works for a short period. If don't want them to take over you and the people you're with forever. Someone has to go into the dimension they're in and...uh close it behind them, trapping yourself in with them."
It's probably obvious but.
"That's what I did. I never fully remember until the end of the night when I do it again. But it's starting to get easier to remember. ....not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
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"Might depend on your state of mind when asking. Memory manipulation... doesn't strike me as all that great. Even if remembering is more horrifying and painful." Then again, brains forget certain things for their own sake. Like the pain of childbirth, she's heard, or the way she doesn't full process pain leading to severe injury to her body, back home.
"Remembering everything when you're cycling through it again and again, no way of stopping it? Sounds like one kind of hell."
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Alex will pull herself to the top. Victory and then lower herself slightly down so she doesn't have to look at the view of the ocean.
"Not everything just bits and pieces, like slowly growing...deja vu. Until the end and I don't even know the point where it restarts again."
She shrugs slightly waving down at the spotters.
"It's nice here though. I mean, I'll end up back there eventually and either way I'll be forgetting everything about this place. But for now I get to age, remember more then one night. Make new friends, get a job. All the boring or normal things I took for granted before I accidently opened a ghost doorway by playing around with a radio in a cave."
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Learning the trick of that for herself was a work in progress.
"Boring and normal are luxuries. Most people don't realise that... and it's good, I guess, that they never had to realise. That's a goal for most fighting, isn't it? The financial gains, but also the theory of peace. Fight so some other generation, some other population, can go with the flow and live better lives than you."
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Alex is really good at acting like everything is great, she usually means it. Usually.
"Yeah, that sounds about right. I'm not military but ....if I got my friends out and they get to have normal lives. I think I'm as okay with being stuck as I can be."
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"Yeah. For protecting the ones who matter, I'm as okay as I'll ever be with what life I had to live."
For her father's sake. To get back to the only person who has said in spite of everything, he loves her, and will love her, and the world that hates her is not hers to face alone.
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She looks up to the sky as well for a moment. It's sunny....that's always a good sign. She's so, so used to the night sky. Possibly memories.
"I will however try to enjoy the break as much as I can."
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"Race you down?" she asks, but she doesn't wait, turning around and starting to rappel down with years if experience guiding her faster than the spotters can take.
They won't let her near this again, but she's fine with that. Climbing in a gown was bothersome even when it was rucked up enough to allow for freedom of movement.
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