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

[indigo_events]

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.

Comments

QUESTIONS AND FURTHER INFO

[indigo_league]

Just to clear up a few things already -- characters will have been able to see flyers going up for this particular event in every major poke centre, inn, and even some of the bigger stores all across Kanto, Johto, and the Islands. And just like before, some very enterprising young Bird catchers have been offering their UBIRD services again to fly people to Route 38 from just about anywhere.

The Snorlax that have come down from the mountains are between levels 20 and 40. The Munchlax accompanying them are between levels 5 and 15. The Milcery that have crashed this particular party range between level 15 and 35. All can be caught, but seeing as nobody can start a pokemon battle around here without being set upon by some local old farmer, you might need to use your charm and ability to make friends to get these particular pokemon to follow you.

Any other questions can be asked here and we will answer them as soon as possible.

Jane Crocker | OTA

[cyan_maid]

[Oh, this is just the kind of fun Jane likes to have. The weather is nice, for March, and there's all sorts of odd and unusual recipes being swapped and shared...and it's curry, of all things! Jane doesn't know curry well at all, but by gum she's jazzed to learn all about it! Even the weird ones. Whatever's available. Please, teach her.

She's brought Dinah and Deva with her, the two Pokemon warily eyeing each other as they help Jane by washing vegetables and somesuch. Neither of them get a knife today, because they're absolutely not allowed to have one within proximity of each other, but that's okay! Jane can make oodles of...vaguely curry-esque food with limited help.

She'll be cooking and mingling with anyone else who's cooking, excitedly asking for tips and tricks, noting them down, and...oh, wow, so those Milcery that are swarming? It seems like a flock of at least nine of them have decided to take up residence at her little camp, having been muscled out of the way by Snorlax and Munchlax who want the authentic curry experience.

By the end of the day you can absolutely bet she will bring them all home.]

JONATHAN JOESTAR | OTA

[standless]

[A QUIET FLIGHT | DIEGO]

The flight to route 38 is more eventful this time, and in others not so eventful at all. This time their ride is a massive Drifloon, handily equipped with a basket capable of carrying multiple people beneath. The trainer for the pokemon doesn't even have to be in the basket- they sit above, insisting that it'll make things more comfortable for the two below.

To be fair it's rather cramped (though he can only imagine how it would have been if it were anything like their last UBird experience), but that isn't what's making things any less comfortable than they could have been.

Rather... "Diego?" He can't ignore this, any longer. "...You have been...rather quiet, for the last little bit. ...Is something on your mind?"

Is something wrong?

[EASY-COOK-CURRY | OTA]

Jonathan's experience with cooking has entirely been at Diego's behest, what with only evergoing near the kitchens to steal away apples and things as a child (And perhaps to ask how things were going at any time after that age). To say that he can't cook would be a lie of course- ultimately he's managed to figure out how to properly grill skewered vegetables and mushrooms, and after they were able to stock up this stretched onward to whatever stored and preserved meats they could get from the stores.

They still don't know what the meats are, but he suspects it's better than these...Slowpoke tails?

Well, that's what he's being taught to cook with at any rate so here he is. Between the desperate rush to get enough curry out there for everyone, and his own determination to not be a useless lump on the side asking for seconds, he's pulled out one of the larger pots and offered to lend a hand.

Dicing the vegetables gets pretty easy pretty fast. So does preparing the potatoes. What's really taking some time to master is...

"Right...so...a teaspoon of the red spice then, or..." He blinks. "'Substitute; one cheri berry, no more than 1 per gallon'- Is that entirely safe?!"

It's fine, Probably.

It's totally fine, heck that pot can probably hold forty gallons let alone ten. (In the background, the farmer trying to teach Jonathan to cook says something about how he inherited it from his 'great-grandpappy from galar', where 'they cook for Everyone!'...before adding 'or at least one snorlax'.)

[Some Sugar, With Your Cream, | OTA]

"Phew..." Over all, Jonathan likes to think he's doing well with the curry making. He's got a bit of spice on his face that he's yet to notice, but he's doing Pretty Great by the second day.

He's finally sitting down with a bowl of a curry he made, even! And-

"...Oh?"

There is something white at the edge, like a bubble of cream or similar, somehow not spilling over. Abruptly, it gives a squeak and ducks behind the bowl- an act to which it takes all of Jonathan's control not to simply drop the curry. "OH-! Wait, no, it's alright..!"

So, if anyone wants to help coax a ball of cream out from behind a pile of curry ingredients.

...

That or stare at the grown man trying to coax a ball of cream out from behind a pile of curry ingredients...

[WILDCARD - (soft Chanting) CURRY! CURRY!]

johnny joestar | OTA

[joekid]

chow time.

[[ johnny is, despite what the few people that have spoken to him might believe, quite used to hoofin' it in the outdoors. once you've slept outside in the hell that is 'michigan during winter', you can't go much lower. that wasn't the biggest problem of his journey, admittedly.

his biggest issue was the food. the eating. that whole discussion.

he wasn't starving by any means. but he was certainly getting sick of the kinds of foods he was managing to get together during his days outdoors. the cities he had passed through were fine and had plenty to offer, but his funds were always too limited to splurge. all of this is to say, god, he was happy to see all this food. he had no idea what the meats used were, but he didn't care as long as the locals didn't seem upset about it. every boring story being flung at him was a small price to pay in order to eat something warm and filled with protein.

one can find him partaking in a delicious... he doesn't even know what kind he's eating at this point. mushroom and something. he doesn't care. om nom nom. ]]

farm livin'.

[[ after stuffing his face, johnny takes a minute to get away from all the hustle and bustle (he isn't about to play peacekeeper between some snorlax and milcery, absolutely not, one looks like a bear and the other is sentient whipped cream for god's sake) and just go look at moo moo farm. it's not a racing track, but there's something comforting about leaning against a fence and watching the cute wittle miltanks mill around the field. aaah, nature.

feel free to ruin his serenity! ]]

closed to jonathan joestar.

[[ well, finding him sure wasn't difficult. he recognizes the face immediately, but jesus, the guy is huge. johnny hesitates a moment before the approach. after all, his last conversation with diego was, once again, an actual garbage fire.

how much did jonathan know about that?

but then, johnny figures, there have been far worse predicaments to be in, and he had found himself in several throughout his life. jonathan might be big, but johnny had the advantage of past experience behind him, and he knew that if a situation got sour, he'd probably be able to high-tail it out of there. and so, he walks over. ]]

You're Jonathan, right?

CARLY NAGISA | OTA

[insidescoop]

[CURRY PREP | OTA]

It's the final day of the cookout, and Carly, perhaps to tragic end, has spent much of the time so far staring somewhat stressfully at her pokegear. Jolyne was kind of in a cave most of the week, so whether or not she gets here has been...up in the air.

A lot.

But ultimately, whatever message she got must have meant Something good, because Carly soon switches gears ENTIRELY.

After just a few minutes of reading a new message, she's busily working away at a curry, fending off (or feeding, after some deliberation) wild pokemon, clearing up a particular spot at the tables...

But...why?

"Eh?" Well a better question might be what makes her business yours, but- "What, what is it?"

[CURRY GALS | JOLYNE]

Well, the answer is soon enough going to be clear. Carly has everything ready- steamy good curry. Seats that are actually comfortable, instead of being old picnic bench. And...a pokeball and a candy? She's turned at least three curious munchlax away from the latter, but there's not a pokemon in sight on the wild end when the target of Carly's dedications- and affections, for that matter- finally arrives.

"Jolyne..!" she starts, before pausing with at least a somewhat frozen smile. The parka is gone!

The parka!! Is gone!! And- "You look nice..!!"

REALLY NICE!

[WILDCARD - It's curry time, for curry lovers.]

Krieg || OTA

[fuelthefire]

Heck yeah, heck yeah, it's cookout time! Of course Pokéland's resident Psycho has shown up to partake. Spring may barely have sprung and there may still be a lingering bite of winter chill in the air, but he's put his sweaters away for the year. No need to mess with those again until November, or December at the earliest, if he's really lucky. His pecs aren't on full display today, however, as he has donned an orange apron in keeping with the spirit of things. A one-eyed Darumaka sits peacefully in front of his cookfire, and an inquisitive Espeon prowls nearby to keep an eye on things.

1.) I LOVE TO WAIT FOR MY MEALS!
Krieg likes food, and he enjoys making food, and...wow, that sure is a big old pile of peppers he's chopping. Surely he's not going to put all of those in--oh. Oh, yeah, he did. He just slid what looks like the chopped corpses of five or six unidentified peppers into the curry pot with one smooth motion of his chopping knife. Looks like there's already some ground beef, onions, and spices simmering away in the bottom. After witnessing his apparent complete disregard for life and limb, are you brave enough to ask how he's doing? Or...what he's doing?

2.) SHARING IS CARING: HELLFIRE HALITOSIS EDITION
The spices have been toasted and the fifty-five alarm curry has been simmered to perfection. Krieg is equally happy offering to share with friends and strangers alike. Half the time, he doesn't even have to be asked; a bowl of curry is simply offered. The food itself is innocuous enough. It looks perfectly edible even if it smells a little...hot.

"Are you ready to breathe fire for real?"

He's...surely he's joking, right? Are you going to take him up on that?

At least a responsible human being (likely Maya or Angel) has supplied a crate of Moo Moo Milk - a dozen glass bottles filled with the stuff sit nearby, ready for the eventual palate emergency.

3.) HURT ME TILL YOU LOVE ME!
Krieg may be here for the cooking, but he is also ready to eat! He's absolutely wandering over to other cook stations, whether or not he knows the person working them, and peeking into the pot like some kind of towering shirtless muscle hobo.

"Is it ready yet?"

keith / ota

[marmoron]

A. Curry Cook Off
[For anyone wandering around the various cooking stations, they may or may not notice a rather pungent smell coming from this one particular pot. A look inside the pot of bubbling curry (if it could even be called that) would show a vaguely turmeric colored food substance that appears to have a gluey consistency. Empty packages of flour, instant ramen broth and hot sauce are strewn around.

What the hell happened here, you may be asking? Well. Shiro and Keith happened, that's what. Keith gives the concoction a stir, brow furrowing.]

Hey. Wanna try some and tell me what you think it's missing?

B. Accidents Happen...???
[At some point later in the day, Keith can be spotted crouching beside a Snorlax that, aside from apparently having fainted, is looking a distinctly sickly green around the face. The culprit? Well there's a half eaten bowl of curry on the ground.]

Uh... should I be calling a pokemon center?

C. Wildcard
[Feel free to hit me up with any other ideas!]

shiro | ota

[shiro2hero]

1) COOKING....
[Why is Shiro here. No, seriously. Shiro's inability to handle anything more complicated than toast in the kitchen is legendary among his friends. He has been banned from the kitchen, in fact. Who in their right mind let him attend a cooking festival?]

[Honestly, at this point in time, he has the look of a man who has stared death in the face. Or, at least, has not slept since that moment. He's aggressively stirring a pot of rice -- you know, like you shouldn't do when you're cooking rice. And, if questioned, will slowly look up from this mess and, while staring you dead in the eye, answer:]

I'm here because I've lost control of my life.


2) TASTING
[And later, you can find him wandering through the other tables and booths, idly browsing. He'll try a few bites if offered, but, really, he's just walking for the sake of walking.]

[... maybe he should lie down.]

[But no, he's going to keep walking laps around the grounds. Because, as he said. I've lost control of my life. Feel free to stop him and chat, though.]


3) wildcard
[Anything else? Hit me up.]

Shadowmaru | ota

[sassymaru]

A) Cooking | Shadowmaru
Do you require assistance?

[It's asked with a slight bow. Shadowmaru having strolled up to someone's table, dressed in all his purple finery. He extends a hand, as well. Either really hamming it all up, or maybe that's just how he is.]

I admit, cooking is not my strong suit. But should you need assistance with your preparations, I am happy to assist...


B) Peacekeeping | pokemon
[While their trainer is off making himself useful, several of Shadowmaru's pokemon are attempting to mediate between the Munchlax and Milcery. Namely... his Venipede. Angrily squeaking at the nearest Munchlax, flailing its little buggy limbs.]

[His Frogadier is trying to calm both sides down, while Venipede just keeps right on riling them up. Apparently looking for a fight.]

[If you or your pokemon is passing by, be prepared to be accosted by a Frogadier. Please help him. He's trying his best.]


wildcard;
[Anything else? Hit him up.]

Tyler Huang | OTA

[asmywitness]

A. Save him
Well, this is Tyler's first real big event that he's had a chance to join in, in his brief tenure as an Import. So he has to admit, it's a little bit exciting; especially when all the amazing smells hit him, as he steps out of the UBird. He's wearing black leggings threaded with white stars, and a grey turtle-neck under his peacoat today, and his hair is slicked back with product; he cleans up nice, and he knows it.

What he doesn't expect, though, is to be accosted by an elderly man: who grabs his arm and yanks him sideways, his mouth moving wildly at a pace Tyler can't follow, and there's a clear look of panic on his face as the old man tugs his unresisting body along, rambling about some history of curry that Tyler can't hear.

(Isis keeps sending him images of Miltank, as well. That's not helpful.)

B - Taste testing
Once he's managed to be extricated from the terrifying grip of elderly people, he's much more relaxed. And whenever he finds a plate of curry foisted onto himself, Tyler has no shame in trying it, even if it's been visibly half-eaten by its previous owner.

(He's gone without food before, and he refuses to do it again.)

He's quick to discover that the toast-on-curry and Slowpoke Tail curry are his favourites - the latter especially, it reminds him of pork belly - but he's not opposed to anything else that he might encounter. So it's very easy to find him sampling some of the really unusual curries, because why not.

C - Wildcard

It's surprisingly tricky to catch his attention, if you don't know him already. Hopefully his recent network post makes it more obvious - that was certainly a large part of the reason Tyler made it - but don't be offended if the young man ignores you.

The small Natu sitting on his shoulder certainly isn't. She stares like a beast.

Angel | OTA

[brokencode]

1

[Angel's cooking ability is limited, especially now that her memories have been dulled by over a year of sleep. Perhaps next year, she might partake in the festival. This year, however, she's wandering about trying everyone's curry. There are... a lot of flavors to be found here -- some more overwhelming than others (especially for someone who had very little exposure to real food growing up). Nevertheless, as long as your curry doesn't border on too spicy (and maybe even then -- depending on who you are), Angel will approach and request a small bowl.

Maybe you'll see her face tighten with surprise, or light up with delight. If there are hidden spices, her eyes might even start to water. No matter what, though, she'll swallow and offer a beaming smile.]

This is wonderful! [Your call whether or not she's giving you tauros poop.]

2

[A Fairy type pokemon? Don't mind if she does! Angel is absolutely enamored with the Milcery that begin to flock to the festival. She's taken to offering bites of curries that are a bit too far outside her palette to the creatures, and that's created a rather expansive flock around her. She makes sure everyone gets a bite, especially the smaller and shier clumps of goo.

If you're looking for a milky friend, feel free to ask her for help! She's not planning on catching any!]

Rose Quartz | OTA

[lifebloomsanew]

A - Snorlax Soothing

Goodness, those big Pokemon are certainly restless!

Rose has been watching the Snorlax. They certainly don't look like very patient creatures - surprising, since she's mostly seen them sleeping. And they're so big...almost as big as her. They could probably do a great deal of damage, if they got too angry. Who even knew what sort of abilities they had?

Well, Pokemon trainers with more knowledge, probably.

But Rose can only assume.

But surely a bit of diplomacy and distraction can help calm ruffled fur! Rose gathers up her pink flowing skirt and hustles over to a small cluster of Snorlax that are looking particularly agitated.

"Hello there, friend Snorlaxes!" She claps her hands together, pitching her voice loudly to get their attention. "What a lovely day for a cook out party! I'm sure you're very anxious to get to eating, and waiting for something we're so excited for is so hard, but maybe some entertainment will help the time fly by!"

Rose glances around and anyone who happens to be nearby is going to find themselves waved at and called over.

"Oh! Excuse me! Could you come here? The Snorlax want a show, won't you help me give them one?"


B - Curry

Rose has never had curry before.

She's only been human for two years, there's plenty of food she still hasn't gotten around to trying. Now there's a festival all about food, and once the cooking is done it's feasting time! She wants to try all of it! The Pokemon can't have all the fun...

And she's well on her way to at least attempting to meet that goal. Luckily she's built to eat - it takes a lot to fuel all those feet and pounds of woman. But even so, the selection and variety and sheer volume of offerings is overwhelming.

Which is why Rose can be found, wide eyed and indecisive, in the middle of a sea of curry.

"I can't even remember which direction I came from...what stand is next?"

C - Wildcard

[Any other ideas, go for it! Rose will be all over, and open to being roped into learning to cook!]

Handsome Jack | OTA

[thedifferencebetween]

Curry Cooking

It may surprise some people who know him, but Handsome Jack enjoys cooking. He's always found it a very soothing way to wind down a long day. And after casting a glance around at what the locals are working with....he knows he can do better. Nisha had loved curry, he used to make it for her when he went down to her place.

So he's taken over an empty cooking station, set Steven up as sous chef, and is well into simmering a sweet and creamy coconut milk curry sauce.

It actually smells pretty good.

"Aw shit, I think it needs more tomato paste in there. Here, taste this."

Whoever happens to be passing by will find a wooden spoon laden with sauce thrust at them.

Or, if you happen to wander by after Jack's done cooking, you'll find yourself being yelled at by a very energetic fifty something year old in a mask.

"Hey! Get over here, my curry's awesome! Put it in your face!"

Wildcard

[Hit me up with any prompt ideas! When not cooking, Jack will be wandering the festival with his grossly overweight Houndoom and his debutante Furfrou.]

[fingersandteeth]

Desperately Seeking Hawlucha

Okay. So here's the thing. After everything he went through at the hands of El Pecador in Arcadia, the thought of watching wrestling again leaves him cold... but that doesn't mean that the idea of luchador bird isn't objectively cool. And Steven's been reading up on Hawlucha. He knows you can find them on the routes leading up to Moomoo Farms.

It's just that he can't find them. And he's tried. God, he's tried. And yeah, fine, he's pretty much set for his Rocket quota now... but he just wanted a goddamn wrestlebird. Is that so much to ask.

So. You know. He might be going around seeing if anyone's got one to trade for one of his catches today... anyone want a Spoink, a Pineco, or a Gulpin? You'll be sparing them a future life of Pokemon crime!

Food Prep

Jack's the cook in this relationship. Not Steven. But he's perfectly capable of peeling potatoes and chopping vegetables. Opening cans of crushed tomatoes. Basically being a general sous chef for the boyfriend.

He's back on potatoes again and singing quietly to himself as he peels. "My dewey-eyed Disney bride what has tried... swapping your blood with formaldehyde..."

The little Mimikyu on his shoulder make a little chirp and he looks up. "Oh hey," he says. "I didn't see you there."

Wandering the Farm

Steven... probably isn't going to try to buy this Mudbray, despite what the farmer he's currently talking to believes. It's a cute pokemon, don't get him wrong, and it occurs to him that randomly buying a riding animal is very much in character with him being the indulged younger boyfriend of a very rich man... but he's looking around Moomoo farms with a very different intent in mind.

He's casing the joint.

Look. Cattle heists are a classic crime shenanigan. He's going to wait a couple months until the furor over Fuzzles dies down, but afterward? Well. He finds that he kind of likes masterminding heists.

So. You know. He's just wandering around. Examining the pens. He's just curious, you know? Nothing sinister going on at all.

Wildcard

[Anything else you want to do with Steven D? Hit me up!]

[cometkin]

Curry

Greg's a pretty okay campfire cook. He's certainly mostly taken over that duty when it comes to him and Rose, considering what her idea of appropriate flavor combinations are. And he even contributes a fairly mild sausage and potato (well, hot dog and fry bits) curry when the call goes out to prepare even more for the extra guests.

But really, he's here to eat. Greg samples from every curry stand he walks by, as long as it's on offer. Sure, sometimes it ends up a little hot for him--did that shirtless guy use some of Amethyst's fire salts?--but if he's learned one thing from all those years living on the road and in his van, it's this:

You never turn down free food. Ever.

Livestock

So if Greg and Rose are getting a wagon that's big enough for both of them, they're going to need someone to pull it. Two someones, probably. They've got Brayda, of course, but Greg's a big guy and Rose... she's a bonafide giant woman. They're gonna need two of her.

Luckily, this place seems to be where you're actually supposed to buy horses. And even more luckily, Rose has a bunch of money leftover from battling random trainers all along the road. So at some point in all this, Greg ends up talking to a farmer about a Mudbray of his own, before being escorted out to the paddock so that he can see which one of the little earth donkeys he wants to take home with him.

And you know. Maybe shoot the breeze with anyone else looking them over.

Later, he's trying to see if he can find the kid with the cow. He's got his mystery egg--an Apple Dragon Egg it turns out--and he's ready to make the trade.

Wildcard

[Want to do something with Greg that's not up here? Hit me up! Warning, he's probably going to have an aching stomach before this is all done. Too much curry...]

Korra | OTA

[bent_the_world]

Korra is here pretty much for one reason: to celebrate her birthday.

To that effect she's even wearing a pointed Pikachu party hat with the words 'BIRTHDAY GIRL!' printed on it. She doesn't normally bother doing much for her birthday - for years it was more a grim reminder than something to celebrate - but this year...

Her life is going really great here. She loves her job as a lifeguard, she loves her Pokemon, she loves her little house on the beach...that's getting a little bit bigger every week. She's been working on the addition that will make what's a shack a proper house. Because the final reason her life is going really great is Botan. And the fact that she's now living with her girlfriend - who, she can admit in her own mind, she's going to marry.

There's a lot going for her these days and why not celebrate her birthday? Especially when there's already a huge party being thrown...

So she'll be found all over the festival with her Arcanine, lending a hand with curry here and there, sampling all she can, showing off martial arts poses to try and distract the grumpy Pokemon waiting to eat - generally just enjoying herself.

And not missing an opportunity to point out that it is, indeed, her birthday.