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.

insidescoop: (HEH?)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-05 09:05 am (UTC)(link)
"Operation...." Well the lyrics are certainly telling to a point. She nods though, slowly at first before it eventually clicks. "Oh!! That game! We do, we do~! ...Hooo, heck of a song, is there an equivalent here you think..?"
fingersandteeth: (smile)

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-05 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"To Andrew Bird? Yeah, actually, there is. Andrew Bird-type. I found versions of The Mysterious Production of Eggs and Fingerlings when I was at the used record shop by the Tower--I go there a lot after work to get vinyl albums for Jack, because I like to get him things, but I can't... I mean, it defeats the purpose to use his own money for that, you know? So I just use my wages for the receptions job for that. Which means I can't get him the kind of things he gets me... but, well, he likes music and he likes to cook, so I get him vinyl albums and stuff for cooking."

He's smiling fondly and abstractly, the way he always does when he talks about his boyfriend.
insidescoop: credit - alpha-graphics @ lj (Yeeeeeheheh)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-06 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hahhhhh not so far away from that then huh..." Bird-type....

"Mmnn. Well, you could try taking a few gyms on? I mean Goldenrod's is right there right? The prize money should be enough for something..."
fingersandteeth: (Default)

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-07 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm working on it," Steven says. "My, uh, first experiences battling others were. Well. Kind of disheartening. I just want to be sure I've got enough levels on my team before I go after Whitney."
insidescoop: credit - haptisms @ lj (Eheeeewhoops)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-07 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ooooh, did you try it early..." That. Never goes well, she knows that much. "Well, I've got all the Johto badges so...if you want, I can give you tips~!"
fingersandteeth: (Default)

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-07 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"I tried the double battles twice before I finally won one," Steven says gloomily. "But yeah. I'd appreciate some tips for Whitney."
Edited 2020-04-07 22:37 (UTC)
insidescoop: credit - alpha-graphics @ lj (Yeeeeeheheh)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-07 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"The double battles? Weren't those back when-" Oh no.

She grimaces. "Right. Well, in that case~! First of all, even though she's the Normal Gym, her pokemon are mostly mixed! Girafarig is also Psychic, and Clefable is also Fairy...but you know, since you have all those ghost pokemon, you might have an advantage~" she adds with a grin. "Because normal moves can't touch ghost pokemon! Of course, it works in the reverse, but I'm sure you've got pokemon with more than ghost moves right? Who's your strongest right now, where's their level at?"
fingersandteeth: (Default)

OH GOD DO I HAVE TO GO CHECK MY ROLL PLURKS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE EVERYONE WAS??? no i'll just guess

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-07 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. My second week here. I tried once more just after, uh, Jack and I got together and I finally managed to do it, but the first time was... pretty humiliating. And, well, on my regular team, Charley, Fangorn, and Fail Whale are all in the 30s or close to it as far as levels go. Charley's attacks are mostly Ghost-types, but she can do Psywave and Psybeam. Fangorn's half-grass, so he can do Branch Poke, Leech Seed, and Horn Leech. And Fail Whale's not even a ghost at all and he... mostly squashes things by jumping on them. It's more effective the smaller they are."
insidescoop: credit - alpha-graphics @ lj (Yeeeeeheheh)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-07 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hmmmm...I would say, give them about two, maybe three more weeks," she answers flatly. "Whitney's a little more...up there." Oof.

"Oh! But you know...if you have Violet's teleport, you could probably take Falkner...and if you do that," she adds conspiratorially, "You'll be able to use Fly for travel...it really cuts the time down," Carly chuckles.
fingersandteeth: (upfront)

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-07 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't, unfortunately," Steven says. "Every warp I've gotten is because I went somewhere via Ubird during a special event. So I've got a fair number of Kanto warps, but none here in Johto. Though doesn't Erika have it too?"
insidescoop: (MMMMMM...)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-07 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Carly grimaces. "Erika is on par with Morty...that's Worse than Whitney." She sighs.

"Listen...if you really, really want to just stick to UBird spots and warps, then you're going to have to give it a few weeks...that or catch something at least ten levels over what you have! That's just how it is, unless you take a road trip... I think Violet is about...Three and a half days away by ride though?" Carly continues to wince. "So..." Not really Steven's style.
fingersandteeth: (Default)

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-07 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeahhhh," Steven says, wincing. "Yeah, I'll just. Wait a little, I guess. Let Tyler try it first--he's in a bigger hurry to do his gyms anyway, what with that overleveled Machamp of his not listening to him."
insidescoop: (MMMMMM...)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-08 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Tyler has a Machamp that strong? ....Oh." Oh.

"...That." Ohhhhhh. Well.

"You should be fine at least, for a little...I mean, things did work out~! So at the very least, the seats are no longer on fire!"
fingersandteeth: (Default)

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-08 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah," Steven says. "Football is-- being almost as much of a pain as Tyler's bosses are. The only saving grace is that he decided it's his job to take care of Squee, that Stufful Tyler got from Mehitabel's egg. So he's not trying to fight Tyler--he's just refusing to fight anything else. We think getting some gym badges might help."
insidescoop: (well shoot)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-08 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"All things considered, the badges will help, but he should make sure to put effort into getting to know Football as a pokemon too, make sure he knows that. They're someone who would've gotten attached to another trainer before, so of course they're not going to want to fight for them! Proving your strength helps, but you need to try and befriend them!"
fingersandteeth: (Default)

NEVER MIND THE FIRST VERSION I MISREAD THIS

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-08 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"That does make sense, yeah," Steven says. "I mean, I got Acatl and Skeleton the same way and I did my best to befriend them right away. Of course, neither one was too high level at the time of the trade, which probably helped."
Edited 2020-04-08 23:32 (UTC)
insidescoop: credit - alpha-graphics @ lj (Yeeeeeheheh)

LMAO it's good

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-08 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh definitely~! But make sure he knows that- if Football seems to be sticking around because of a little baby stufful, that's probably an indication of their character too! The sort of thing they can get along over, and bond over..." She nods, and nods a few times.

"Like me and Kyusei~! ...Kyusei just likes naps, to be fair."
fingersandteeth: (Default)

Re: LMAO it's good

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-08 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"I suppose the circumstances of the trade... weren't really the best either," Steven muses out loud. "Football would have been out of his ball, you know, when it happened. Acatl and Skeleton weren't. It made things much simpler."

So, you know, they really do think they were traded. Football knows he was stolen.

"But yeah, good point about Football's character. I'll bring that up to him."
insidescoop: credit - haptisms @ lj (Eheeeewhoops)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-10 06:56 am (UTC)(link)
"Great~! You'll have to tell me how it goes, I don't know Tyler that well I admit... ...and honestly given where I'm located, I don't see that changing much, aha..." Oof.
fingersandteeth: (unsure)

he's actually wrong about 'decent guy' but TYLER'S NORMAL PERSON GAME IS TOO STRONG

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-10 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"I mean, he's here at the cook-out if you want to know him better," Steven says, with a shrug. "We're from the same world, you know? And he's-- probably a decent guy. Maybe not like you or Connie, but." Another shrug. "He does kind of like busting loose, though? Like, he kept up with me and Lydia that night we all went out, which I didn't expect and kind of delighted me to see." Seriously, Tyler just cold-cocking that security guard was glorious.

"Just... don't ever talk down to him, even accidentally? Or try to protect him from anything. He's a proud guy and he's got-- a few rage issues, I guess. And wait two days to approach him again if you do piss him off."
insidescoop: credit - haptisms @ lj (Eheeeewhoops)

ugly laughter

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-10 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh wow really?" Unexpected, that. Though she supposes for a while she had someone from her world that she'd never met...

Anyway. There's a bit of a wheezing laugh at the compliment. "N-nice to see I'm forming some kind of level of standards to live up to..?" She's not sure how to take that...ah.

"Noted though. That shouldn't be hard." Probably.
fingersandteeth: (Default)

ssshhhhhhhhhh

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-11 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, it's definitely the same world," Steven says. "Totally different parts of the world--I never met him until I got here--but the same world. And, uh, to be fair, it's not like you and Connie have a lot of competition in our particular social group when it comes to that kind of thing."

Which. Might say more about the kind of people who end up as Rockets than anything else.
insidescoop: (MMMMMM...)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2020-04-12 10:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Woaaaaaah... ..Uh. Thanks, though."

She thinks??
fingersandteeth: (Default)

they might be trailing off in this conversation, but. i do enjoy their long and rambling bullshit

[personal profile] fingersandteeth 2020-04-12 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
He shrugs. "De nada."