indigo_events: (Default)
indigo_events ([personal profile] indigo_events) wrote in [community profile] victory_road2020-03-20 07:04 pm
Entry tags:

Po-ta-toes! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a... curry?

Who: Everybody! The Snorlax! The Munchlax! The Mystery Guests!
Where: Route 39
When: March 20th and 21st
Summary: Lets cook some curries.
Rating: General.
Log:


Early spring brings with it bright sunshine and slightly chilly air, green shoots of new grass poking up from the earth as farmers survey fields that have laid bare all winter. Across Johto and Kanto (and who knows where else?), windows and doors are thrown open to air out spaces closed up for the winter, the commencement of a mysterious rite known only as ‘spring cleaning.’

At MooMoo Ranch, it heralds an additional rite: the yearly tradition that precedes the tilling of those fields and the sowing of seeds:



THE GREAT CURRY COOKOUT

Let’s just be up front about this: the entirety of Route 38 smells absolutely amazing. Traditionally (you’re going to hear that word a lot here), the curries cooked up by the locals are made of whatever leftovers from the previous year’s harvest that may be found kicking around the various parlours and cellars, but because humans can’t eat the berries that Pokemon can, and because they want to eat too, and because once you let humans at a recipe, they can’t not experiment with it...

If you can imagine a curry, someone has either made it, is in the process of making it, or is preparing to make it right the heck now. There are some dishes that don’t seem too out of place: sausage curries, curries with tinned meat or beans added to the mix, mushroom curries, curries decorated so cutely that they flood your Poke-Instagram page, potato curries, herb-laden curries, spice-tastic curries, coconut curries, curries accompanied by savory burger steaks...these all at least seem like normal curry variants, right?

And then there’s the odd stuff. Curries topped with swirls of spaghetti, boiled-egg curries, instant-noodle curries loaded up next to curries topped with a medley of fried foods, toast slices resting on beds of curry, leeks grilled and whole on curries, apple curries, salad curries, curries with whole bones kept in them to add additional flavor, tropical curries with decorative flowers added on the side, cheese-covered curries, even...whipped cream curries…? Uh...sure, okay! There’s even the rare smoked Slowpoke Tail curry, the tail packages labeled with “CRUELTY-FREE SLOWPOKE TAIL” and seals of legal and bureaucratic approval. Dry, sweet, spicy, bitter, sour - you name it, there’s a curry for it!

It’s a little weird, though, right? All this curry, and, uh, all these Snorlax… and Munchlax… wait, actually, when did those start to show up?! Is this… safe??? The locals don’t seem surprised in the least, but there sure are a lot of them…. did they all really come down from the mountains?

Is this part of the tradition, too?!

Good question!

Lucky for YOU, any trainer (un?)fortunate enough to be caught standing still for one second too long by one of the elderly locals (or walks too close to one, or accepts a curry offering from one) will be treated to a retelling of the story behind both the Snorlax and the curry. Turns out, the salivating Snorlax and the just-as-hungry baby Munchlax are not just part of the tradition -- they’re the reason for it!

Long ago, in the day of so-and-so’s grandmother’s grandmother’s grandmother, the Snorlax and Munchlax were a downright menace. Every year, once the snows would start to melt, they’d start coming down from the mountains to the north in droves, descending upon the farms and fields just as that year’s planting began to sprout like a plague of very hungry caterpies, gobbling up everything in sight until nothing but barren earth remained. They even busted down fences and barns in their pursuit of fresh food! Proper menaces to society, right here.

At first, the farmers tried to battle the Snorlax, but it did not end well. Their Miltank and Tauros herds weren’t meant for battle, and Snorlax are as mighty as their appetites! Then one year, a young farm girl had an idea! (Depending on who's telling the story, it might have been a farm boy. Or just a farmer, gender unknown. It is always, mysteriously, someone in the teller's family tree.) Rather than trying to fight off the Snorlax, this mysterious individual suggested inviting them all to one big dinner. They could cook up all the leftovers from the last harvest, have a big feast out of it and feed the hungry Snorlax so they'd leave the seedlings alone.

And it worked! The Snorlax were happy, the fields were left alone and the fences and barns kept standing strong.

(Well, except that one year with ol’ man Gregory’s barn, but that had very little to do with the Snorlax, and far more to do with ol’ man Gregory’s fierce enjoyment of the special sake brewed by the monks of Sprout Tower, a very terrible bet, and one prized herd of Miltanks and really, if you don’t watch it, you might be stuck listening to that old tale as well.)

Obviously, since the current farms and fields are still intact and going strong, the feast not only worked, but held strong as a tradition. But hey! It’s a fun story, and the curry is good! And oh my ARCEUS, you have heard this story so many times from so many old farming folks you are so tired, please, you just wanted to find a bathroom, yes, thank you for the bowl of curry, you really must be going now-

Only… there’s something weird about this year’s gathering. Something unexpected.

In addition to the Snorlax and Munchlax lumbering down in droves for a good meal, another kind of Pokemon has emerged, lured by the delectable scents, and it’s not one that many folks have seen before. Keen-eyed trainers can spot them just about everywhere: lingering under the eaves of the roofs, peeking out from behind bushes and tree branches, but most of all, slowly drawing close to the source of all those delicious smells, their voices ringing out like clear little bells.

That’s right, Milcery are swarming!

Unfortunately, the Snorlax and Munchlax don’t seem too keen on sharing their special once-a-year treat. Hangry tempers are starting to flare up, the bubbling of many pots and pans joined by low grumbling as the Snorlax and Munchlax are starting to stake claim against these strange newcomers. In fact, someone should probably get out there and try and calm the situation down.

Which doesn’t mean take out your pokemon and start any battles! Anyone trying to do that will get a right scolding by one of those inescapable geriatric storytellers. Do you want to cause some sort of stampede here like what claimed ol’ man Gregory’s barn? No sir! (Who’s sir? We’re unclear.) There will be no battling here. Put on your best smile! Break out that cheery personality, and try to actually peacekeep. Or if that isn’t your thing, maybe try and help out with the cooking. With this many cooks around, there is always someone who needs an extra hand to peel some potatoes or dice some carrots, right? If you got a particular hankering, why not claim one of those may pots and pans for yourself and start preparing your own prized curry?

Because judging by the mass of Snorlax, Munchlax, and Milcery? We are going to need a bigger curry.

asmywitness: (Default)

[personal profile] asmywitness 2020-03-26 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
Tyler. I assume you're not from around here either, right?

From her spot on Tyler's shoulder, Isis disappears in a blink of purple energy - and reappears on the tip of the Aggron's helmet-like nose, still staring intently at it.
shiro2hero: (shit i can't believe that worked)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2020-03-27 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
Nope. But I've been here for years now.

He offers a slight smile. One that's probably meant to be apologetic. I know that's not what everyone wants to hear, though.

Kuro snorts. Pulling his head back to try and stare down his nose. It's not very effective.
asmywitness: (ok boomer)

[personal profile] asmywitness 2020-03-27 09:14 am (UTC)(link)
The apologetic smile gets a sparing glance, because he's typing when he sees the second message.

Not the first time I've been snatched away for a few years. I think I'll survive.

Isis seems rather smug that she's giving the Aggron difficulty, and pecks at his nose with a sharp tink tink sound.
Edited 2020-03-27 09:15 (UTC)
shiro2hero: (are we human or are we dancer)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2020-03-28 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
That sounds like a long story. Did you already get the whole introduction speech?

Or speeches. Essays. Whichever they were all doing now.

Kuro pulls his head back again, and... snorts. Or sneezes. Maybe it's a combination of both. Some sharp, jerking motion of his big head. Shoo bird.
asmywitness: (this pleases the tyler)

[personal profile] asmywitness 2020-03-29 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
I am FULL of stories, dude.

But yeah, my friend Steven found me when I first arrived and gave me a run-down. I've got a pretty good handle on the general concept now, if not as much Pokemon in general.


The bird refuses to move, and in fact hops higher up Kuro's head, out of sight of his eyes to sit directly above them. And peck there as well, notably louder.
shiro2hero: (I SAID STOW IT LANCE)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2020-03-29 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
You've got friends here? That's good to hear. It's always easier to adjust when you do.

There's more he wants to say, but the sight of the hopping bird catches his attention. And so does the Aggron's growl.

"You might want to stop," he warns the Natu. "He's patient, but he has a limit."
asmywitness: (are you talking to me)

[personal profile] asmywitness 2020-04-06 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I made him VERY quickly when I got here. Turns out we might be from the same world, different countries.

It's not the sound of the Aggron growling that gets his attention, but the flash of smugness from his tiny bird when Shiro turns to look at their Pokemon. Tyler just gives Isis a flat look, and a pointed thought. The bird's gaze flicks between the two humans, baleful at Shiro then flat at Tyler - and gives one last firm Peck to the Aggron before she teleports back onto Tyler's shoulder, looking prim and poised as Natu ever do.

Sorry about her. She likes to think she's in command all the time. He has to wonder if his brain is rubbing off on her.
Edited 2020-04-06 14:36 (UTC)
shiro2hero: (sure is a cow)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2020-04-07 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
Well hey. Always a good thing to find. This place has a weird way of doing that.

His expression stays composed, even when the bird glowers at him. Kuro chuffs, shaking his big head. Come on now, bird, be reasonable. He's just here to observe.

Though once the bird leaves his pokemon's head, Shiro's expression softens. Grateful.

It's all right. I have one like that too. Just - see if you can convince her bothering these big guys isn't a great idea.

Most of them have tempers.
asmywitness: (ok boomer)

[personal profile] asmywitness 2020-04-10 01:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Tyler just gives her some scritches, and sends amusement down the line to her. She shouldn't be harassing things bigger than her unless she knows she can beat them.

So like me, then. He sends that with a cheeky grin, though. Most of my Pokemon are a lot more patient than me, it's almost funny how striking the difference is between my focus team and myself.
shiro2hero: (right ok pretend to listen and look cool)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2020-04-12 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
They've all got a lot of personality, that's for sure.

He leans sideways a little, against the side of his Aggron. His head propped up on the big pokemon's shoulder.

You have a lot of characters on your team?
asmywitness: (Default)

[personal profile] asmywitness 2020-04-12 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
A lot of assholes. Isis looks down at his gear as he types that, and seems a bit more proud of herself. But they know how to listen to me, you know? It's nice knowing I've got a loyal team.
shiro2hero: (sure is a cow)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2020-04-12 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah - it's always nice. Having a group you can fall back on, when you need to.

To be perfectly honest, he'd have been lost several times over without his team.

But it's ... calmed down here recently. There shouldn't be too much to worry about.
asmywitness: (this pleases the tyler)

[personal profile] asmywitness 2020-04-21 01:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I could do with a bit of calm.

He sends that, then huffs wryly and adds: That's not necessarily true, though. I was in Goldenrod when that news about Rockets stealing some sportsball mascot went up. That's fucking ridiculous.
shiro2hero: (HAHA dad jokes are great)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2020-04-22 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
Fair enough -

Then again, what happened in Goldenrod didn't really compare to the big Legendary explosion a while back. But if that's the worst new arrivals are going to experience?

Fine with him.

Team Rocket does tend to make a mess of a lot of things.