Castle Prom 2020

[indigo_league]

After arriving in Cerulean City and riding in one of a fleet of Cerulean Cape Shuckle Shuttle buses for an hour or so, the trees break and the road snakes along sea cliffs. In the distance, all can see a grand building rising up into sight, and excitement bubbles up within each and every heart as this year's mysterious, grandiose Prom location draws ever closer...




Welcome to the castle!

Their duo of hosts stand ready to welcome the characters when they arrive, assuring them that their luggage will be taken care of, and inviting them for a special tour of the castle, or would they rather first see their rooms, or perhaps even have a bite to eat? The choice is up to them.

THE CASTLE SIGHTS The Outer Courtyard For those wishing to get a breath of fresh air or looking for a place to perhaps engage in a little battling, look no further than the courtyard. Nestled safely within castle walls, the courtyard has been given a thorough renovation. The stones gleam like they have never gleamed before; a large fountain (certainly too new to have belonged to the original castle) stands at the center of the courtyard, the water gently cascading down over the marble figures of two nondescript and crowned humans, one holding a sword, the other a shield; wide-open doors welcome characters further into the castle. The Stables To the west lie the stables. Anyone interested in taking a ride along the cliff trails (or guests who just wants to see the horse Pokemon) is welcome to enter. The comforting smell of hay and wood hangs in the air, though any persons expecting to find familiar faces like Rapidash, Mudbray or Zebstrika is going to come off rather surprised. Instead what they will find are snow-white, proud-looking equines. Their long, pastel-colored manes and tails have been brushed to perfection, occasionally adorned with braids and white flowers. Long, violet colored horns jut out from their foreheads, a spiralling pure white groove running along their length. Long fetlocks drift along the ground, rather like delicate pink clouds, almost giving the Pokemon the appearance of being stabled on air rather than something so common as hay. Yes, anyone who has not yet had the pleasure of being able to admire the beauty and grace of the Galar Rapidash can look and ride their fill here. While the stable hands cannot allow anyone to actually keep one of the magnificent horses themselves no matter how much a guest is willing to pay, whenever their bosses aren’t looking, they certainly prove willing to provide characters with a Galarian Ponyta egg for a small price. (Limited to one per character) The Kitchens To the east lie the kitchens, and what kitchens they are! At all hours, characters will be able to smell the delicious aroma of a variety of sumptuous meals being prepared. In the mornings, the scent of fresh bread and breakfast fills the air, changing to the scent of pastries and later on more filling dishes as the day continues on, and fresh pots of tea are always on hand. Officially, the guests are asked not to enter the kitchen, as to not to disturb the many cooks working there. Unofficially, there are not exactly any guards, so if you really wanted to sneak in, you probably won’t get stopped. The Dining Room Adjacent to the kitchens awaits a large dining room. Tables have been set up in long rows with plenty of room for all with some to spare, and once someone sits down, almost as if by magic, they will soon find one of the waitstaff at their side, presenting them with an extensive menu. Order as much (or as little) as you like! The chefs will have it ready for you in a flash. The Ball Room The old castle ballroom has been done up to the nines, reflecting nothing but glory and splendor. Some delicate little tables and chairs stand at the sides of the room, for anyone who needs a quick break for their feet, but most of the polished marble floor is intended for dancing. There is a small chamber orchestra playing in a corner to provide everybody with only the classiest of tunes (though they do take requests for more modern music) and neatly dressed waitstaff with an uncanny ability to tell who is and isn't underaged flit through the crowd like black butterflies, making sure no glass goes unfilled. The Inner Courtyard The doors of the ballroom open wide onto a second, smaller courtyard at the back of the castle. Unlike the Outer courtyard, which was all stone, this smaller, Inner Courtyard is dominated by plants. The gardeners have done their very best to dress up the inner courtyard with plants and flowers of any kind - so many plants, in fact, that there is no room for battling out here. But if you wanted to take a breath of fresh air, wander around and look at the plants, or perhaps even try and find some of the small, secluded nooks created by the plant cover, you are more than welcome. In between the lovely smelling blooms, characters will also be able to find bushes and small trees laden with unfamiliar berries! Small cards in the soil will explain exactly what kinds of berries they are and what effect they have, and characters are invited to pluck a few berries if they want. Just don’t get too greedy! The new available berries are: Apicot, Salac, Ganlon, Petaya, Liechi, Lansat, Custap The Library Situated on the second floor is the castle's splendid library, a welcome respite for those less inclined to dance and frolic. Whatever books originally filled these weighty shelves are long gone, but their hosts have spared no effort in making reading material available to their guests. Among the shelves, guests will be able to find many books on the Galar region's history and myths. Some of these tales are already known over in this region (Who doesn't know the tale of the wise King Arthur and his oval table?) but there are also many more obscure and unknown fables and tales; the truly inquisitive may even be able to find some material on the two crowned fellows depicted in the main courtyard's fountain. It's almost as if Prom's esteemed hosts shipped over their whole personal library. They may, in fact, have shipped over their whole personal library. Pull up one of the plush armchairs, grab a book, and make yourself comfortable by the roaring fire! There's more to read here than you can finish in a lifetime! The Bedrooms Upstairs, guests will find all manner of bedrooms to choose from, from smaller rooms meant for a single person, to large ones for couples, to even larger ones for characters that would like to spend the night with a few friends. One thing holds true for them all: these rooms are seriously extravagant. Decked out in the finest of antique furniture like large canopy beds, solid wooden chairs, tapestries, and rugs, the decor brings to mind bygone centuries. There are even hearths in every room that can be used to light a small fire; while the rooms are all wired for electricity, unfortunately, central heating was a bit outside of the realm of possibility. The Tower Not all of the towers have undergone restoration, but the grandest, largest of them has. It will take some real stamina to climb all these stairs, but if they do, characters will be rewarded with two things: First of all, their two hosts have seen fit to create a small miniature museum inside the Tower’s chambers. Paintings, tapestries, and artefacts have been brought over from the Galar region to be put on display. All the artefacts brought over depict moments from Galar’s rich history, including paintings of ancient kings and queens, an actual knight’s armour, chalices, swords tucked in velvet under lock and key, and richly woven tapestries that for some reason seem to depict knights battling giant Slugma. If you still have energy after the climb to get here, you can continue on to the very top of the tower. From the tower’s high vantage point, it seems the entire Kanto region is on display in the incredible view. The ocean stretches out along the horizon, but closer to home, characters will be able to behold wild forests and cliffs, the green lush routes of Cerulean Cape itself and at night, millions and millions of stars twinkling up overhead. And all the rest... Beyond those sparkling rooms and done up corridors lies... the rest of the castle. The parts of the castle not quite done with their renovations are roped off, but nothing is stopping guests from exploring if they so wish - especially if they are interested in finding those rumored lost treasures or traps. While the rest of the castle shines, these parts of the castle feel almost haunted. Dust and derelict dominates the rooms, old broken furniture covered in dingy white sheets and creaking doors adding to the atmosphere. Did the eyes of that painting just move? Why is there a weird draft coming from that wall? What was that strange ominous creak coming from behind you? Are there any dungeons? Wait, did you just hear someone crying in a far off room? Jeez, no wonder they say this place is haunted. The Rocky Beach The main attraction outside of the castle, besides the hiking and riding paths, is a small stretch of rocky shoreline accessible just outside the main courtyard and down a surprisingly sturdy set of stone stairs. While it's a crummy place to lay out and get some sun, it is littered with bits of detritus from the sea. Shells, whole or broken, peek out between smooth pebbles and the rare piece of sea glass, and at low tide clumps of seaweed lay draped over the craggier outcroppings. Nothing is stopping you from fishing or poking around in the shallows for Pokemon, but you're more likely to find an interesting souvenir than a new friend...

---

AVAILABLE POKEMON Naturally, this wouldn't be a Pokemon Prom without some Pokemon to catch! All catchable Pokemon range between the levels of 10 to 30. The Pokemon in the castle mostly haunt the unfinished section, but feel free to have the occasional encounter in the renovated sections too! Castle Impidimp; Gastly; Haunter; Litwick; Lampent; Duskull; Shuppet; Sinistea; Misdreavus; Honedge; Doublade**; Dusclops**; Polteageist***; Gengar***; Courtyard Butterfree; Cutiefly; Ribombee; Beautiful; Vivillion; Rocky Shore Binacle; Staryu; Wimpod; Frillish; Krabby; Kingler**; Jellicent**; Slowking***; During the characters' stay, they might suddenly find their room a mess, as if a small tornado went through their luggage. They might even find themselves missing some incidental items or articles of clothing, nothing necessarily valuable or significant, but it sure is weird. This is... probably the work of the castle's Pokemon, right?

---

TREASURE HUNTING While your shuttle bus slowly trundles towards the castle, the driver will regale his riders with local stories and legends, chief among those the legend of the castle itself. You see, the castle was built by a relative of Bill (you know, the Pokemon storage system inventor?), but no one has lived in it for years and years because it is haunted. No, not haunted by Ghost types. That would be rather common and hardly worthy of note, wouldn't it? No, the castle is haunted by the ghost of Bill's great-great-great-uncle, and rumor has it that he is so possessive of the castle and its contents that he will kill all who enter. You see, even when he was alive, this man's enormous hoard of wealth was only outmatched by his enormous amount of paranoia. He was so paranoid that others would come to steal his wealth that he built his castle high upon the cliffs where no one could approach it undetected. But that wasn't enough to settle his fears! He started to hide his multitude of treasures all around the castle, and he built many traps and secret passages to protect them. It's said he was so fiercely protective of his money that he refused to leave the property even after his death, and his spirit still haunts the castle to this day. Many who have tried to find his treasures have disappeared. That is what the rumors say, at least. In any case, feel free to explore those abandoned halls and ruins for these supposed long-lost treasures. Better check for hidden rooms and passages behind old bookcases, trap doors covered by thick dust-riddled carpets, and perhaps even a hidden vault or two in the castle basements. Players are free to go absolutely wild in coming up with secret passages and hidden secrets for their characters to find. Now, as for the treasures characters can find during these explorations, they can broadly be divided up into two categories. The first category of treasures are common treasures. These are small, fairly common items that can be sold after prom for a small amount of Pokedollars each (think 100-200p), or they can be kept as a memento. Generally, these are small items that could easily fit inside a character's pocket and won't necessarily be well hidden. Characters are allowed to find as many of these common treasures as they want. Examples of common treasures would be items like pieces of antique silverware, broken mirrors, small figurines, old books damaged by the passage of time (but perhaps still readable in some places), or parts of worn and threadbare tapestry. The second category of treasures are rare treasures. These are properly hidden items that can either sell for quite a bit of Pokedollars after prom (think 5000-6000p), or can be used in-game. In order to allow of an element of surprise, every character that wants to participate in finding some rare treasure is allowed to comment once to a special RNG comment to find out exactly what they will find. Each treasure will consist out of somewhere between two and four items, the exact number of which will be left up to chance. For any questions, please refer back to the previous OOC post.

Comments

TREASURE HUNTING GACHA

[indigo_league]

Please submit your request for a rare treasure roll here!

did someone say DUNGEON?

[thestrongsilenttype]

You know Link is going to be exploring.

SATURDAY'S GRAND EVENT...

[indigo_league]

As Prom rolls smoothly on, with flutes of champagne and various non-alcoholic sparkling drinks flowing endlessly from bottles and dancing that sweeps the ballroom, there's a moment when the lights begin to dim. Sordward and Shielbert appear, cutting two imposing figures--albeit mostly because of their hair--and politely excuse themselves through to the center of the ballroom, where a part of floor begins to rise, forming a small, circular stage. (Geez, what didn't these guys have installed here?) Behind Sordward come two of the castle staff, carrying between them an ornate chest, heavy as it's placed center stage with a solid thud. All lights in the room continues to darken until only a spotlight remains, trained on on the celebrity brothers and their unusual chest. As if on cue, the musicians go silent.

"Dear and honored guests!" exclaims Sordward. "My younger brother and I wish to thank you once again for attending this most opportunitious of events!"

"And for permitting us to host it for all of you," adds Shielbert.

"Too true, too true..." Sordward claps once, and in the gesture pulls a key from the inside of his jacket sleeve as Shielbert lays a hand atop the ornate chest. "During your time here, surely you have been able to experience all of the best of the culture of our home, the Galar region, but there is one experience, and one alone, that normally could not be replicated. However! Today that changes!"

"We wish for you to feast your eyes on a grand tradition that has dazzled and delighted our countryment for thousands of years!" Shieldbert says. He keeps an eye on the key in his elder brother's hand. "We have toiled to bring the necessary materials to this very spot, and with what is contained within this chest, you shall be the first of all regions outside of our own..."

"To witness..." Sordward says, marrying key to lock and turning it, and he speaks in tandem with Sheildbert as the lid is raised-

"THE PHENOMENON OF DYNAMAX!"

~*~

Down below, in the known basement catacombs of the castle, there is a rumbling as threads of purple electricity spark and jolt throughout, like the reverberation of guitar strings...

~*~

Those closest to the circular stage can see that the contents of the chest...well, they are most unusual. There's a single Pokemon within, blearily waking up and looking about itself in bewilderment, an old-timey bra perched on its head. Sordward and Shieldbert are dead silent, stony still, for a lengthy and palpable fifteen seconds.

And then...



"SWEET ARCEUS! WHAT'S HAPPENED?!"

"THE WISHING STONES WE WORKED SO HARD TO AMASS AND SMUGGLE THROUGH INTER-REGION CUSTOMS...THEY'RE GONE!!"

"BUT IF THEY AREN'T HERE IN THIS CHEST...BROTHER, IF POKEMON COME INTO CONTACT WITH THEM UNAWARES-"

And that's when everyone can feel the floor beneath their feet rumble and shake, and some Pokemon spread throughout the castle begin to glow...and grow.

Prom never can just be a nice formal party, can it?

[Please check the updated FAQ for more information on this new development!]

BASEMENT - TOXTRICITY

[indigo_league]

Jane Crocker | Homestuck | OTA

[cyan_maid]

[Jane has not once been dissuaded from attending Prom. Catastrophy? Shenanigans? Actually Haunted and Mysterious locations? It's like someone catered this year's event specifically to her! Nothing could keep her away.

At least this time she thought to bring a wider array of a team with her, you know, just in case. Dinah is here of course, as well as August, Madeline, and Dart...and...Deva?!

Looks like someone snuck that Pokeball in while Jane wasn't looking. Hoo boy...Dinah's gonna be pissed.

Arriving on Friday brings with it some polite exploration of where guests are allowed to go. She takes her Primarina down to the Rocky Shore to enjoy the low tide, picking her way across the pebbly sand and helping Madeline collect mostly intact shells. The Inner Courtyard is where she traipses about with her shiny Delphox, the good fox boy wanting his Mom to hold his arm as they look curiously at the unfamiliar berries. She might take one of each, to see if she can grow her own at home to use for baking projects. It's a worthy endeavor, right? The Library finds her with her Bisharp, now highly attached to this young woman as she not-so-secretively attempts to find one of those cool bookshelf passages by "casually" pulling out conspicuous books. He's watching her like a sentinel, gently pushing back books when she doesn't quite shelve them all the way. And at meals in the Dining Room? God. She's got an Audino on one side and her surprise stowaway Indeedee on the other, staring each other down as Jane sits a little too straight and tries to order something for the three of them to nibble on.

Please feel free to join/bother/cajole her at any of these locations!

Saturday, though...at least, before the party, Jane's going to do some sleuthing. If you are anywhere in those dusty, sectioned-off parts of the castle, chances are you'll find Jane, quietly and carefully poking and prodding all things that seem odd and weird. Want to help her figure out if there's a secret door hidden in the wall, or any old keys to something locked underneath the moth-eaten furniture? She's not hunting for big treasures, but rather for the thrill of the experience, so if you both do find something, she may let you have it!

It's when the actual party starts that you'll see Jane again in the Ballroom, and oh is she ready to party. She'll dance with whomever would like to dance, or with her Pokemon, or by herself - maybe that's how you end up seeing her, or perhaps you find her tucked into a corner with a glass of sparkling cider, eyes glittering with excitement as she watches prom unfold, expecting the unexpected at any moment. It's not every day you get to do this in a castle, after all!]

Library

[brokencode]

[The journey to the castle wasn't particularly arduous, but Angel's long dormant form still isn't quite what it used to be. After the shuttle ride, Angel found herself feeling a little weak and a lot nauseated. She'd settled into the library for its ambiance, tucked into a too large chair. She'd intended to read a book for awhile, long enough to steady herself.

Instead she'd fallen asleep.

Now, she blinked blearily to herself, watching as faces both familiar and unfamiliar explored their surroundings. She looked to the book in her lap -- thankfully having avoided crumpling pages -- and gave up on it for the time being. She returned to the shelf where she had plucked it from and --

Oh.]

Um. [She has to lean around the Pokemon to get a look at the young woman exploring.] Do you mind if I put this back?

Flayn | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | OTA

[cethflayn]

[A ball! A real ball, at a castle, with lots of people and dancing! Oh, you couldn't keep Flayn away if you tried! She's only ever gotten to dance with other people once before in her whole life, and she would very much like to do so again.

Friday is, of course, the day of arrival and the day for exploring. Flayn eagerly takes to the grounds, seeming to find herself fitting right in with the ambiance of an old castle like she herself is its feckless princess. The Stables see a lot of her time on this day, as she is entranced by the Galarian Rapidash, eventually becoming friendly with one of them that lets her stroke its coat and insists she brush its hair. Surprisingly, she's not bad at stable duty, which is probably how the stable hands take so well to her. (Still, she ends up paying full price for that special Ponyta egg, but the staff were quite happy to sell it to her - such a pure and chipper young maiden will give this Ponyta a good and loving home.) Her later expedition to the Tower and Library are well received. She marvels openly at the art and artifacts on display in the Tower, and takes the time to go to the very top to gaze out upon the loveliest view she has seen in some time. In the Library, she gets to work ferreting out myths and legends of the romantic and sweeping kind, and definitely falls asleep that night with in a cozy armchair surrounded by books, in a way that she hadn't done in years. It's...nice. This whole place is so very, very nice.

Please feel free to join/bother/cajole her at any of these locations!

On Saturday, Flayn only emerges for meals in the Dining Room (where you can easily find her getting her fill of apple pastries with her Chikorita, Macha) before the prom officially begins. But then? Oh, she is a ready for anything in the Ballroom, and she will calmly approach you and ask if you'd like to dance if you're not doing anything or with anyone, even if she doesn't know who you are. This is, after all, an occasion to dance, and dance they must!]

time to play with ponies (Stables)

[brokencode]

[Flayn isn't the only one enamored by the colorful horses. Though it's the first Rapidash variant she's seen, she's familiar with its younger counterpart at least. She'd made fast friends with Krieg's Cloud Pony, though she couldn't have begun to imagine what it might look like when it grew up.

It's hard to imagine spending time with just one of these creatures, though. She approaches each Rapidash on their own time, sweet talking stable hands into giving her treats and offering them to each creature. She cards her fingers through every mane, committing the feeling of the strands to her memory.

She hesitates as she approaches woman and horse, though. As much as she wants to love every Rapidash, she's hardly the type to barge in on someone else's moment. Instead, she clears her throat, waits a moment, and then holds the remaining sugar cubes out to her remaining partner.]

You don't seem to need any help but... I had a few extra, if you'd like?

Angel | Borderlands | OTA

[brokencode]

[Johto and Kanto are chock full of the types of surroundings that Angel knows she'd never be able to find on Pandora. At this point, she should stop being so surprised at it all. Yet this castle, a building ripped straight out of the storybooks she'd clung to as a child, still manages to take her breath away.

Though weary from the shuttle and quick to settle into a room for herself (one not far from Krieg, Maya and -- if he can be convinced -- Armin), she doesn't let the fatigue slow her down. You might catch her sleeping in the library though, between rounds of flitting about picking up and quickly thumbing through books. She makes notes on spare pieces of paper as she goes -- books to show Maya and Armin later.

'Dora isn't far behind her. The sylveon hasn't been far from her since she arrived, really.


Later in the day, once she's rested up, Angel makes her way to the Stables. She stands not far from the entry for a long few moments. Her eyes are wide, perhaps even watering, as she stares at the fleet of Rapidash. If the castle felt like a storybook, then surely these were creatures straight from her younger counterpart's dreams. She manages to talk the stablehands out of treats and she spends plenty of time befriending each of the creatures.

Sleep doesn't come easy for her that night -- between the excitement and her own insomnia, she's up late roaming the halls. Though it starts out as a fun jaunt, as the night wears on, she starts to get jumpy. Better not scare her, though it's not like her twig limbs can do much damage. The Lucario following dutifully after her, though, is a different story.

Once rest takes her, she sleeps into the early morning. Aside from a quick bite of breakfast, she spends most of the day getting ready with her companions. When she finally approaches the ball, she has been dressed to the nines, thanks to Lust. She throws herself into the dance as quickly as she can. With this (third) new life of hers, she's determined not to miss out. That means grabbing friends, strangers and even fathers alike and pulling them out for a dance (within reason, of course).

When she does sit, she munches on snacks and studies her surroundings with a pleasant smile. She meets the eyes of anyone who passes by with a polite wave.

[schachmeister]

[Armin ought to start heading towards bed. He'll just make one final lap around a few of the halls, just to make sure everything is still okay. Not that he has seen any sign of trouble just yet, but he knows better than to relax completely. Just because you can't see the Prom Trouble yet, doesn't mean it isn't out there. Waiting.

And well. Honestly, even if he is definitely checking the halls for signs of trouble, at the same time, he cannot help but be somewhat fascinated with the castle around him. He's never been in a place like this. Oh, his world has castles, certainly, but those are the domain of the rich and noble, and Armin is just a poor boy from a border town. Though really, probably even the finest, most grand castle back in his world wouldn't have been able to measure up to this place. It is decadent to the point of absurdity. It's impressive, sure, but do people really like living like this?

Even though the torches on the walls (electric ones, but ingeniously designed to look like candles) bathe these halls in enough light, he's got his trusty flashlight (a gift from Dipper) at the ready. Dipper would've loved this place. Honestly, Armin is pretty sure he would've been off the bus and searching for the supposed ghosts haunting this place before the vehicle would've stopped. It's a pity he couldn't have seen it.

Though speaking of ghosts -- Armin isn't really a believer in them. Ghost pokemon, yes; but not the 'old spirits haunting a castle' kind. For the most part, his brain is too logical for that. But after an afternoon of being regaled with the many ghost stories about this castle, and the night falling dark on the castle, and these long empty hallways and-- wait. Are those footsteps?

Armin's brain isn't a believer in ghosts, but his heart doesn't seem to have gotten that message, starting to beat more quickly in his chest. His throat, also a traitor, goes a bit dry as he continues down the hall, heading towards an intersection, the faint footsteps becoming louder and louder and--]

AH!

[One of Armin's hands goes to his chest, nearly dropping his flashlight as he gives Angel an awkward, embarrassed smile. Whoops. So much for being a proper Elite Four Champion, ready to defeat all manner of Prom Trouble.]

Angel. God, sorry. You startled me.

Jolyne Cujoh | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure | OTA

[strings_theory]

Courtyard

[Most people would go to their room first or go take a tour of the castle. Jolyne, though? Jolyne had made a promise to herself and she was willing to see it through. Which is exactly why she's sitting on the edge of the fountain, Demon the sylveon sitting next to her with a harness and leash on, and there's a nice quickly made sign in front of them.

Which says "wanna fight? Friendly fights only, no, I don't mean the Pokemon".

At least she's in her normal clothing for now and not destroying her fancy ones?]

Stables

[This was probably the last place she should have been, but she can't help but be curious at what kind of horses two rich fuckers would have brought along with them. And she certainly isn't disappointed when she gets a look at this snooty-ass unicorns. They look almost the same as her Countess does, just less fire and more... whatever the fuck this cotton candy bullshit is.

Though, knowing one of her travelling companions, she does start getting an idea...

And is absolutely waving down one of the poor stable hands the second she overhears a deal going down.]

How much was that for one of their eggs? I'm gonna guess they're compatible with the other horses around this damn place. [Eventually studding one of these things out? Oh hell yes.]

Ball room

[When she heard a prom, she hadn't expected a grand castle decked out to the nines like this. Which might be why she feels a little under dressed in her choice of attire. Of course she doesn't seem to have a problem with how little it covers and she's seeming pretty comfortable in her own skin.

While on her own she's merely wandering about the area looking mostly bored, with one of her Pokemon trailing at her side. Which is either sylveon, leavanny, appletun, houndoom, furfrou, or slowking.

Alternatively she might be hanging all over her poor girlfriend who actually knows how to dress for a fancy event unlike Jolyne.

Pick your poison, either version is awful.]

Bedrooms, closed to Carly

[Oh hell yeah, an option to share a gorgeous expensive expansive room with her girlfriend without the risk of being barged in on? Of course she'd jumped at the opportunity and she's huffing softly to herself as she plops down to stretch out on the bed in her normal clothes, letting her luggage having been set off to the side.]

Baaaaabe~ You need to feel this bed, it's fucking wonderful. [Not that literally anything is softer than her sleeping bag, the point still absolutely stands.]

A wandering Romeo

[You know that sylveon from before on the leash and harness? At some point during all this mess he's managed to get the harness off of himself and get to wandering. Demon is, quite frankly, a pokemon that thinks he's a lot more suave than he thinks he is and absolutely would compare himself to Romeo if he knew who that was and wasn't a Pokemon.

Hopefully any other wandering Pokemon steer real clear of him or shove him away from him before he starts to get any ideas.]

of course he's at the stables

[joekid]

[[ he thought he got rid of you, jolyne, what are you doing here?

johnny looks up from the stable he's peering into. he was absolutely captivated by the rapidash, they were so different than the ones he had seen before. he didn't even consider asking about buying an egg, he hadn't raised one of those yet.

but, now that he's heard jolyne yell it across the stables... hmm. he pushes off the stable door and makes his way over to them. ]]

If you have 'em, make that two. [[ not even really a question at this point, he's sure he can scrape up enough money... somehow... he raises a brow at his kinda-sorta-not-really-friend-and-also-cousin. ]] You need another one, Jolyne? [[ not that he wouldn't have an entire team of them if he had the chance. ]]

Shiro | OTA

[shiro2hero]

LIBRARY | any time
[It's probably good these weirdos brought all the books. There's a lot to read here. A lot to lose himself in. Somehow, he's managed to fit his Aggron in here with him, and the big pokemon is curled around the chair he's chosen. Soaking in the fire's warmth.]

[Approaching individuals get a raise of the horned head, and a long, considering look before the Aggron deigns to let them come near.]

[Or... maybe you're there when the local dorito has managed to finally fall asleep. In that case, the Aggron flat out growls. A low sound more felt than heard. A Marowak also pops up from the other side of the chair, waving frantically at the nearby human.]

[SHHHH!!]


BALLROOM | party
[Just as promised, he's there to supervise. And nothing more. His Gallade pressed him into wearing a suit, but, it looks like he got it at the poke'thrift store. His back is to a wall, and Haunter the Gengar - yes we know - is hovering in his shadow, occasionally pulling faces. Just trying to lighten the general mood in this particular corner of the ballroom.]

[Why did he come? He should have listened to Armin. He could have stayed out of this. The others could handle this. But -- he'd told Keith he wouldn't run away anymore. He'd promised. And leaving them to handle whatever might go wrong this time doesn't sit well. It feels too much like running.]

[Dancing may not be in the cards, but hey. If you want to chat, that may be a good distraction.]


TOWER | night
[It seems pretty deserted up here tonight. Maybe he shouldn't be here alone. But the stars are beautiful. And it's so quiet. Like the party is a thousand miles away, and no one's around to worry. The last thing he's wanted to do since this was announced is drag everyone into his mood. Up here alone is perfect, really.]

[He has no telescope, but he's leaning up against the railing surrounding the tower, looking out over the night. As per usual with this particular prom, one of his pokemon is in constant attendance. This time it's an Incineroar, sitting on her haunches at his side, and leaning heavily into him.]

Should've brought the telescope. Right?

[The big cat just chuffs, hopefully in agreement.]


HAUNTED?? PASSAGES | any time
[Okay, what better way to shake the blues than exploring the unused tunnels? It's possibly creepy, it's away from the festivities, and it's an adventure. Get some supplies, in case they get lost, keep your 'gear on you for the same reason. Bring your pokemon.]

[And anyone else who might want to go.]

All right. We ready for this? Flashlights? Everyone got their pokemon?


wildcard;
[Anything else? Let me know and I'll oblige!]

tower.

[joekid]

[[ there's only so much socializing johnny can take before he gets sick of it and hightails it out of there. he was wondering what the view was like from up in the tower, anyway, and it seemed like it'd be a great place to just breathe.

unfortunately, in terms of breathing: the walk up the tower is hell. but after a certain point, he's too far up to go back. sunk cost and all that jazz. and he figures it'd be pathetic to just give up, or something like that. it's a little painful on his legs after awhile, but he makes it.

and he's... not alone. ]] Oh, shit. [[ he's so polite! ]] Didn't think anyone would be up here, sorry.

Newt | Aliens | OTA

[sleepallthewayhome]

Around/Anywhere
[Newt will be checking as much of the castle as she can. So if you see a small girl looking around like she's making notes of all the exits in a room or courtyard or stables, that's her. She's got a small group of pokemon with her as she goes.]

Tower
[Newt has been running around the entire castle so clearly she's going to go to the top at some point. After getting to the top however she will stop to get her breath back look at the view. Probably get really close to that edge. Don't worry, there is an Arcanine watching her closely.]

Passages
[Newt is exploring/looking for good places to hide if an emergency comes up. This seems like the best place to go and after discovering a secret room by pushing a stone in a wall, she is secret room/passage hunting as well. You might come across her talking to a Luxray as they explore.]

I bet this place has lot more secret rooms... I wonder how many.

Ballroom
[Despite all the exploring, Newt is still going to show up for the party. Free food is free food. She's even got a brand new dress for the party and attempted to combed her hair after running around for so long. You can find her off to the side with an Arcanine or dancing with a Lucario.]

Wildcard
[Let me know if you want to do anything else!]

Passages!

[seacub]

[What comes around the corner can best be described as a 'parallel encounter'. Like coming to a funhouse mirror, or a spot the difference. Dressed in his usual baseball gear, Emporio comes around accompanied by...

Another Luxray!] I wonder who said that...It sounds like it was over-

Here?

Grrmn!

[There's a huff from his own Luxray, as Emporio sees Newt and blinks within the tunnel.] ...I guess that proves the passage has two doors...

Maya | Borderlands | OTA

[notyourgoddess]

Library
[Oh wow, who could have ever expected to find Maya here? She's going to be here for a while too. Looking over books, making notes, just reading. If you're looking for her there's a good chance she's here. Her pokemon are also here, most of them looking through books themselves or just hovering.]

Tower
[However she's also looking around the place as well and can be found either at the top or looking at the artifacts from Galar. There is a Blipbug that is on her shoulder and studying all of these closely.]

Passages
[Did someone say haunted and treasure? That sounds like a quest alright. You can find Maya and her team either getting ready to go look through the place. Or while they're searching through passages already.]

Ballroom
[Someone managed to get her out the library and she's here to party. She's dressed up and even has new make up thanks to Lust's assistance. Mostly off to the side for the moment but she can be talked into dancing.]

Wildcard
[Let me know if you want anything else!]

Re: Maya | Borderlands | OTA

[fingersandteeth]

[At some point during the night, Steven wanders into her general vicinity, although his attention is not exactly on her at the moment--it's on Jack and Angel, who are currently talking. He's frowning a little as he watches them from afar.

He is, if it matters, dressed in an all-black suit--well, almost all black. The pocket square is a familiar obnoxious shade of golden yellow.

Eventually, he looks away--and that's when he sees Maya.]

Oh. Hey.

Rose Quartz | OTA

[lifebloomsanew]

A - Inner Courtyard

It's no surprise that Rose gravitates to the flora filled inner courtyard. All of the castle is breathtaking, really, but this little shrine to nature speaks to her deeply. And it's nice to take some quiet time.

She's sitting nestled into an archway of vines and greenery, her Wooloo and Doofy the Bidoof playing some sort of complicated, made up game with pebbles in front of her. The two are nosing pebbles this way and that, occasionally jumping over one another or hiding a brightly colored pebble for the other to find. Rose doesn't understand the rules, but she's delighted by the pair's antics all the same. She claps her hands for a particularly athletic jump performed by the Bidoof, laughing loudly in the quiet of the courtyard.

B - The Ballroom

Rose has been looking forward to this particular part of prom since the invitation arrived. This is only her second, but everything about the big dance thrills her. There are no strict rules, no designated positions and activities, no rote and mechanical sense to it all...

It was just a free expression of dancing and joy, everyone dressed up and dancing however they wanted, whenever, with whomever. And Rose among them, dressed in a gown covered in flowers with matching flowers twined through her hair. While she's of course attending with her husband, she's eager to dance with just about everyone. And she's very hard to miss....


C - Exploring The Castle/Treasure Hunting

When a curious and eager individual is presented with an ancient (by local standards) castle to explore, what else is she going to do? So many hallways and old rooms to investigate, so many marvels of human architecture to wonder at....

So many eerie little places, it turns out. On multiple occasions, Rose runs from an old un-renovated room in pursuit of something she's sure she saw out of the corner of her eye.

D - Wildcard

[Anything else! Want to do a thing but there's no appropriate starter? Hit me with it! Rose will be all over!]

[

B

[sleepallthewayhome]

Nothing too bad has happened yet, so Newt is able to enjoy the party with only a few double checking of the exits. When she sees Rose she'll run over, her Arcanine following behind her.

"Hi, Rose! I really like your dress!"

Fancy dresses are still pretty new to her, even for two years of being here. She's got her new fire dress though.

Lust | OTA - 1 Closed Prompt

[a_sin_for_him]

A - Prom Prep! - Closed to Allura, Angel, and Maya

While this is hardly Lust's first prom - not even close - it still offers a new experience. Rather than locking herself away in whatever bathroom or dressing room arrangement was available to prepare herself as usual, she's invited...friends, she supposes, to the lavish suite she and Tim are in. Taking over the sitting room, it's a flurry of hair and powder brushes and jewelry that's entirely unlike anything Lust has experienced.

And of course Lust has had a plate of cheeses and fruit and toasted bits of bread, as well as a bottle of very mild wine. She's rather certain these are traditional for this sort of thing, as far as the television has told her.


B - Shoreline

There's something about the sea at night. While Lust has little desire to venture into it for recreation or pleasure, she enjoys the sight of it and the natural splendor of the sea in motion. And she can't resist the image of walking along this stony beach in her weekend splendor.

Kir and Baby, her Espeon and Sylveon respectively, run ahead of her, chasing one another and the lapping waves as Lust follows behind.

Occasionally sneaking a cigarette while she's (or so she assumes) alone.


C - The Dance

This is the main event.

Lust times it specifically, wanting to make an entrance. She's dressed to the nines, beloved Timothy back at her side... she wants to be seen. She feels good tonight.

And she's in a particularly social mood this evening, moving from cluster of guests to cluster of guests lightly and easily, greeting and chatting a bit with everyone she knows. And anyone she doesn't, should they seem amenable to conversation.


D - Exploring

The allure of old rooms and dark secrets is too much for Lust to resist. The main festivities themselves are only one evening, after all, there's plenty of time to poke around in the old parts of the castle.

Dressed for the activity in a rare pair of pants and a comfortable sweater to keep out the draft, she can be found sorting through old items or pressing at stones in the wall in case of secret passages, her shiny Houndoom at her side.


Wildcard

[Any other ideas, go for it!]

Prom prep

[lioness_rampant]

Allura sits on one of the room's lush settees in a silk robe, her damp hair up in a towel to dry. Her dress is hanging up nearby, and all her makeup and accessories are in a bag she's brought along. The invitation to get ready together with a handful of other ladies had been an unexpected but welcome proposition, and they chatter together as they all get ready.

"I'm still not sure what to do with my hair," she admits, gently smoothing moisturizer up her neck and onto her face. "It doesn't seem right to leave it loose on such an occasion. I have a tiara to match my gown... perhaps if I braid part of it up, that would look good?" Not that Keith would think it looked bad regardless of how she did it, but the effort is important.

Allura | Voltron: Legendary Defender

[lioness_rampant]

[ Allura is entirely too thrilled to be here. It's nothing like her castle, but it's not too shabby, either. It isn't nostalgic as she'd hoping, but she isn't disappointed. This is a new experience, and in some ways it reminds her of other worlds she's visited.

After arriving with Keith, she settles in as quickly as possible to go exploring afterwards. She's easy to spot with her striking white hair and her pastel aesthetic--don't be afraid to say hello. ]

Outer Courtyard
[ Allura isn't looking for a fight, but she's always interested in watching other people battle. Though she's a seasoned trainer at this point, she's always willing and eager to learn new techniques and ways to battle. Three of her pokemon are with her now: Trigel the Pachirisu, perched on her shoulder; Isille the Vivillon, hitching a ride on Allura's back; and Hot Pockets the shiny Audino, hugging close to Allura's side. Hot Pockets has her paw nestled in Allura's hand in a very endearing way.

Maybe come for a chat, or watch a few battles together? She might even be willing to fight if you ask her. ]


Inner Courtyard
[ You'll find Allura crouching here, reading the plaques on the berry bushes and picking a few for her team. Or you might find her seated, dozing under the boughs of the tall flowering plants while her Vivillon mingles with the others in the garden. ]


Beach
[ Of course she was going to give her Milotic, Moonlight, a chance to come out and play. Moonlight splashes and dives in the water as Allura picks through the pebbles on the beach. She has a pocketful of shells and shiny stones, and even a piece of translucent turquoise sea glass. Her Altaria circles overhead, squawking indignantly when Moonlight splashes him. ]


Ballroom
[ She has put hours of effort into looking perfect this evening. Her gown and matching accessories all glitter with hundreds of sparkling beads and rhinestones, but the fabric is sheer enough that the striped markings on her skin are visible if and when they glow. It's a bit more risque than her usual look, but it's a special occasion and she has someone she wants to impress.

When she isn't dancing with Keith, she might be found chatting with her newfound friends or sipping from a champagne flute. If approached, she'll gladly dance with most anyone who asks. ]


Wildcard
[ Hit me up my dudes. ]

ballroom with a small twist

[marmoron]

Prom could not be further from being Keith's scene, but he's here nonetheless, dressed up nice and fancy for the occasion. Given the opportunity to poke around inside a castle that had previously been closed off, it'd actually been fairly easy to forget about the party part of this, but now that the evening has rolled around and people are gathering in the ballroom, it's starting to sink in just how out of place he feels right about now.

It's a feeling that is exponentially exaggerated when he spots Allura approaching. In that dress. If you were to ask him just what the heck is going through his mind, he wouldn't be able to answer, but he quickly ducks around the corner and flattens himself against the wall next to a coat of armor.

This sure is going great already, huh.]

Armin Arlert | Attack On Titan

[schachmeister]

Dining room.

[Saturday morning finds Armin sitting in the dining room, having staked out a small section of the long table and covered it with books. Are you supposed to take those from the library? Maybe yes, maybe no, but it is clear Armin has. He's got one book open in front of him, propped up against a breadbasket. Three more books rest at his elbow, haphazardly stacked together. There is a plate of breakfast somewhere in between all these books, though it is going very much ignored. In fact, the hand with which Armin is holding the scone he's been eating has been meaninglessly hovering somewhere between his plate and face for the last few minutes as he remains absorbed in his book.

Someone might want to tell the kid to actually eat.]


Rocky Beach.

[The castle is a sight to see, and one you could probably explore for weeks and not see all of it, but Armin wouldn't be Armin if he didn't also take a peek at the rocky little beach. It's nothing like the warm, sand-strewn beaches of home, but it is a beach nonetheless.

Currently, Armin is squatting at the edge of the water, a container of something at his side, and his hand to about five Krabbies. Armin has been worried and fairly serious all throughout his stay at prom, still convinced that trouble is lurking right around the corner, but right now he's absolutely relaxed, smiling even as the bright orange crabs poke at his hand with their claws.]

You like that, don't you? Hold on, there is enough for everybody.

[Armin digs out some cubes of something out of the container, spreading them out on his palm again, before offering them to his new little crab harem.]

Beach

[thestrongsilenttype]

[ Link might not know much about this world yet, but there are some things that are obvious, even to him. Having been loaned a giant crab to help keep him safe over the weekend, it just seems logical to take him down to the water, so that's what he does.

It shouldn't be a surprise to see the very same person who loaned him said crab there at the waterfront with even more crabs. Champion the Rockruff dashes forward, tail wagging with interest to meet the water pokemon, while Link raises a hand in greeting as Bastian shuffles along with him. ]

Hey.

Dirk Strider | Homestuck Epilogues | OTA

[uber_marionettist]

1. Short for Promenade, Not Promethean

[The first surprise is likely seeing Dirk at prom at all. The second is that he's wearing long sleeves, even if the blazer those sleeves are on is patterned with unicorns and magenta roses. The shirt underneath matches that particular shade.

The third is that he's with someone.

He's with...

John Egbert?

John looks a little more natural in his suit, even if he did choose lime green to add some colour instead of something more tasteful, like red. But it's not clear in what way Dirk's with John. There are no obvious clues either way--no interlocked arms or air of romance, and Dirk's stoicism is as usual. On the other hand, there is a lot of quiet, apparently private conversation, John leaning down to hear Dirk's lowered voice and conversing in relatively similar tones.

They do appear to actually be here for intended purposes, or at least John is. He's got a plate of canapés, which he's sharing with his gigantic Type: NULL,a massive beast topping out at exactly John's 6'3". It's wearing a lime green bowtie.

And Dirk.... uh. Well, he sure is physically present, anyway.]

2. Always by Erasure 5 hour version

[At some point, Dirk and John must have parted ways. Probably the point where it became clear that Dirk's next three or four hours were going to be spent in the stable. Watching the Rapidash. Petting the Rapidash's soft, velveteen noses; their proud and majestic necks; their silky locks and noble polls. Being nudged and leaned on by a loose Rapidash of very strange colour.

Agonising over the selection of eggs.

Arguing... with the stable hands....

....sitting on the ground and leaning against stall doors with an egg in his lap or cradled in his arms...

Yeah, he's totally besotted.

For those don't know Dirk, he's mostly just in the way. For those who do know Dirk... well, his state of enraptured bliss should come as no surprise. The fact that this stable full of thousand+ pound psychic steeds isn't trying to trample him to death, on the other hand....

Could this be... the power of love???]

1 (though god I desperately want to tag him with Flayn for 2)

[cyan_maid]

[John.

John.

So is this where you've been for the past...days??? Days plural because you were not home for their shared birthday and the cake Jane made is back home in the freezer, untouched, and took a bit of work to assemble. (Yes, she did make a cake and ice cream cake. It does not look nearly as nice as the picture because ice cream is tricky to work with, but by gum she had all that time and she was going to make it.) To be honest, she hadn't been ready with a present outside of "Hey, today's our day, anything special you want to do?" because she wasn't sure what to get John, but the thought counts, right? And this is where he's been?????

This doesn't make a lot of sense, given Dirk and John's...recent history, or what iota she knows of it. And it kind of stings a little (even through a snark ceasefire) that Dirk brought a date to his first Prom and Jane's never had one date the entire time she's gone to one of these and. Well. There will always be a part of Jane that is petty in regards to things like that, who will smart a little when it's in her face. And the audacity for Dirk to have John as his date, of all people! If it was anyone else, it probably wouldn't bother her at all!

So while you're being physically present, Dirk, you probably notice that there's someone watching you two. A someone who downs a non-alcoholic sparkling cider before being handed another by a passing waiter.

At...least it's non-alcoholic?]

Link | Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

[thestrongsilenttype]

Stables
[ Of course Link makes a beeline for the stables almost as soon as they arrive. He wasn't quite sure what he was expecting, but the Rapidash are incredibly beautiful, and they seem to respond quite positively to him--probably because he has treats for them.

You might find him with a Rapidash leaning out of its stall to nuzzle him as he pats its neck. If you catch him like this, he'll smile sheepishly. ]

They like it when you pay attention to them.


Dining Rall
[ Look, he's a hungry boy, okay? At any and every meal, you'll find him devouring a truly impressive amount of food for a person of his size, but at this point he's still got the mindset that his next meal is never guaranteed. At some point, however, he'll push his plate away and lean back in his seat, looking quite content. That's when he'll amiably chat with the people sitting around him, though he'll admit not to being a great conversationalist--especially with his memory being what it is. ]


The Tower
[ If you manage to make it to the very highest part of the tower, you might find Link there. He's gazing out across the horizon, almost like he's looking for some landmark that doesn't exist. ]

This world really is beautiful.


Everywhere else
[ He's not used to sitting still, okay? You'll find him roaming through the halls, sneaking down into the cellars, poking around in roped-off areas. He's just curious, okay? That vase was already broken! ]


Wildcard
[ Come at me. ]

STABLES

[seacub]

[Emporio is admittedly here less for the rapidash and more for the one he expected to find here. He still hasn't found Johnny of course- evidently the jockey didn't spend all day with horses- but he's distracted by the fact that he's being spoken to. Nicely, even.

It takes getting used to- outside people he introduced himself to first, getting spoken to outside a crowd normally involved 'Hey! How did a kid get here!'

But that said.] ....They do? I thought most animals liked being left alone... [He doesn't sound disbelieving- if anything he sounds curious. And well...he doesn't exactly have experience with 'horses'.]

johnny joestar | jojo's bizarre adventure (steel ball run) | OTA

[joekid]

stables. (day)

[[ the second johnny arrived and knew there were stables, he made a beeline for it. why mingle with folks when he can look at horses? or, rather, horse-like creatures? unicorns? whatever one might call a galarian rapidash.

he hangs out for quite awhile, even having a little back and forth with jolyne before finding his way to a bench. it seems that johnny managed to get his hands on... an egg? what could be in there? he seems pretty pleased with having it, though. he must be thinking of names already! ]]

shoreline. (early evening)

[[ circumstances force johnny to leave the stables (most likely, the looks of stablehands that are wondering why this guy is spending ALL DAY at the stables), and he finds himself at the shoreline.

he looks... contemplative. his pokemon are out, a chance to run around before johnny figures he needs to go back to the castle, but he isn't paying them a ton of mind. he's sitting on a grassy patch, rubbing the back of his calves and staring out towards the water.

he looks approachable! feel free to do so! ]]

dining room. (evening)

[[ seems that johnny is going to have a quick cup of tea before heading to bed! how quaint. as he sips his tea, he glances at his fingernails. that's a weird habit, wonder what's up with that? feel free to ask! ]]

prom.

[[ johnny hasn't been to a formal dance since he was probably 16. he hadn't actually danced at one since he was 12. to put it simply: johnny looks a little out of place. he also looks like a complete jackass, but that's not especially unusual, given his normal outfit consists of star-spangled shoepants. at least he has a nice white button up on under the top...

he's taking his sweet time drinking whatever he can get his hands on and being a wallflower. he had plenty of time to be in the spotlight a handful of years ago, he isn't feeling it right now... but maybe you can convince him? maybe. good luck! ]]

wait no i mean DINING ROOM

[standless]

[Aaaah. Tea time.

Jonathan wasn't exactly looking hard for Johnny, but by the time he finds the other there is a certain look of relief that says he was at least looking earlier- he definitely didn't expect to see him now after all.] Ah- Johnny! [As it stands, that means a greeting is in order, and so he comes over to join him with his own cup.]

I had been told you came along to this, but I hadn't been able to catch sight of you to extend any greetings...

[He pauses, noting the other's attention on...fingernails?] ...Did you get something caught in your fingers by chance?

Spinel | Steven Universe | ota

[bendyandthepinkmachine]

[Stables]

[Of course, Spinel doesn't fully understand the idea behind a prom - but she's all about party! And the change of scenery was nice considering she'd just finished up her Rocket training. It doesn't take her long to start exploring, and one of the places she finds is the stables.

Spinel doesn't know much about Earth animals, Pokemon she knows even less. But the Galarian Rapidash looks so majestic she can't look away from it. She curiously reaches up to touch its snout, and it gives a loud snort in response.]

Whoops. Bet you don't like that from a total stranger, huh?

[Courtyard]

[Hahaha whoops. She found this place by accident. Normally, she loves gardens - or at least she did, at one time. The plants, the eerie quiet, none of it brings back good memories. There's a sick feeling in her stomach. She turns to her Vulpix, Zorua, and Stufful who've been following her around on her exploring adventures.]

Let's find another place to play, okay?

[Kitchen]

[It's not like Spinel's never tried food before. She has, and she's like it. But it was never a necessary thing for a gem to eat. When she wakes up early in the morning, she's starving. A human body needs to eat, was a thing she learned. And having to eat is already an inconvenience to her.

She gets up, in her PJs, and wanders in the direction of food. The scent of bread practically makes her drool, and makes the noise in her stomach even louder. She wants whatever is in that kitchen!

Anyone can find Spinel about to sneak in to grab some fresh-baked bread while no one's looking.]

[Dancing]

[And for the main event, Spinel spends some time getting ready. She's dressed up in a pink dress that she had help picking out from some helpful Rockets.

She's no wallflower, walking right up to people who look like they don't have anyone to dance with.]

Hiya! Looking for a dance partner?

kitchen

[cometkin]

[Greg's actually about to enter the dining room when he sees her. And even though she's human now, he still recognizes her.]

... Spinel?

[Oh man. Does Rose know she's here?]

Shadowmaru | ota

[sassymaru]

GENERAL | various locations
[Shadowmaru is going to explore. He's elated at the idea of roaming around a castle. Poking into all the corners. Looking it up and down. You can find him peering through the library, or the kitchens or even the courtyard. He's proceeded by a wiggling, delighted Growlithe.]

[No matter where you find him, once he realizes he's not alone, he will shoot the other person a bright grin. You'd swear he was sparkling too.]

How elaborate an estate! Tell me, have you seen the sleeping quarters yet? Or anything of note?

[Tell him more.]


BALLROOM | dancing
[Shadowmaru has a way of making appearances. He enjoys making appearances. So much so, he has obtained at least two different party outfits. He can be caught in the ballroom, either dancing, or parked on the edge of a seat near the dance floor, waiting patiently. Poised perfectly.]

[Both outfits are covered liberally in some manner of sparkly thing. One is a purple suit. The other, borrowed from a space princess, is a purple gown. His hair is a flowing purple as well, down to his shoulders. He looks like a walking glitterbomb and is super pleased by all this. Anyone walking up to him has an equal chance of either outfit.]

Good evening. May I have this dance?


THE BEACH | brooding
[You can't have a vista by the sea without a little seaside staring. Watching the waves as the sun slowly sinks toward the horizon. He's even found a rock to perch on. Gazing glumly into the evening light. He has enjoyed himself, to be sure. But...]

[Would he have done more, if someone else were present?]

[If you ignore the dweeb up on the rock, you may be accosted by a Venipede, chattering and wiggling and pushing a little index card toward your character:]

FITE PLS ???

[Well, at least it's asking for a battle this time.]


wildcard;
[Anything else? Feel free to choose your own adventure.]

[schachmeister]

It's lovely, isn't it?

[It's a beach. Of course, Armin is going to be found there. That huge expensive ballroom with the orchestra and people dancing isn't really his sort of scene. Down here, on the rocky shore, with the wet ocean wind toying ever so slightly with his hair and the sound of waves breaking on the rocks, he feels much more at home.]

The sunset, I mean.

Runaan | ota.....

[tokenelfcharacter]

The Courtyard
[Listen. Listen. Literally the only reason he's here is because his Rowlet tricked him into it. Pushing him along until he somehow ended up here. Or maybe even coercing the Jennies into releasing him directly into the castle from jail. It doesn't matter - he's here, and it's Rowlet's fault. But she's just a little creature, she didn't know any better, he decides.]

[... and that's why he's camping in the courtyard. In one of those little hidden nooks, using a bench for a bed, the interlaced canopy of vines overhead serving as a perfectly good roof.]

[But that's not to say no one will barge into this secluded spot. Maybe you heard the Rowlet. Or maybe you smelled smoke-- yeah. There's a tiny campfire there too. Don't worry, he's being very careful to only use it on a patch of stone paving.]

[Please intrude on this "camp".]


The Kitchens
[In addition to camping in the garden, he's taking advantage of the open invitation to raid the kitchens. At night. In the dark. Stuffing dried foods and non-perishables into a bag, tossing fresh food to his Rowlet.]

[... Who really isn't okay with this. But hey, there's no guards, and it's not technically illegal, so...]

[If anyone comes in for a midnight snack, the pokemon will be too busy chowing to throw up an alarm to her trainer.]


The Passages
... That is not an animal.

[You may hear that voice, somewhere down a distant, "haunted" passageway. It sounds absolutely skeptical, too. Something hoots softly in reply.]

It can't be.

[Investigating the voices shows it to be not ghosts, but an elf and his Rowlet, staring down a hovering Honedge. Waving its tassel menacingly at the pair while Runaan debates whether or not this is actually a pokemon.]

[> FIGHT? > CAPTURE? > INTERRUPT?]

Passages

[sleepallthewayhome]

[And to the side a secret door opens in a nearby wall and Newt walks out with a Lucario, like this is totally normal then stops. Oh hey pokemon fight.]

Sorry, I didn't know where this would come out. Are you catching the pokemon?

Steve Palchuk | Tales of Arcadia

[breakyourlife]

Outer Courtyard

[Out in the courtyard, Steve is taking advantage of the space to do a little training. He's flanked by Bessie the Miltank along with his Donphan, Ellie. Before them, looking attentive, are two of his rookie Pokémon. His Flapple and shiny Clauncher are both still level 1, but seem keen to change that. Steve looks... serious? Maybe? Or perhaps more like he's trying too hard give that impression. Which is to say he's wearing sunglasses and standing unnaturally tall as he holds out an Earth Badge.]

You see this? These guys earned this by taking on an Elite team. They're the best of the best, and if you listen right, you can be too.

[Later, it seems despite his initial speech, he's leaving most of the training up to his Pokémon. Or one Pokémon. Steve's chilled out on the edge of the fountain, Bessie on the ground next to him. She is praising the younger Pokémon every now and then, but Ellie's the one putting in the most effort by a long shot. She doesn't share moves with either one of them, but still seems to have plenty to say to them. She tweaks their form with her trunk frequently, and tries to demonstrate what she can for them.]

The Ballroom

[Well. This is not at all what he'd been picturing. The decor is stuffy. The waitstuff are stuffy. Even the music is stuffy. Steve is decidedly not dressed for the occasion, wearing exactly the same type of clothes he wears any old day. In his defense, no one at Arcadia Oaks High dresses up at school dances, so this is different for him. Sure, people talked about it on the network, and it probably did say on the invitation, but who really expected him to pay attention to detail like that?

He's clearly bored, stood to the side with a glass of non-alcoholic cider, but at least his Donphan's enjoying the night. Ellie is swaying quite happily, trunk waving in time to the music. A shiny Clauncher sits staunchly on her back, hardly moving no matter how enthusiastic the Donphan's movements are.

Occasionally, when someone requests a more upbeat, modern song, he joins in with enthusiasm much to Ellie's obvious delight.]

Bedrooms / Secret Passages

[The bedrooms are a quiet place, assuming you have a single room or any roommates are off elsewhere. They're the perfect place to unwind and relax away from everything else the castle has to offer. Or so you'd think.

From behind the ornate fireplace comes a strange, scraping sound followed by a faint rattle. Then silence. For a minute, there's nothing. Almost as if the noise was simply down to imagination, or some part of the age old castle settling. Just when it seems as though there's nothing else to hear there's a loud THUD from behind the fire, as though something's trying to break in.

THUD

THUD

THUD

THUDTHUDTHUD

Then, just as abruptly as the thumping started, it ends. A muffled voice calls out from behind the wall.]

Hello?

[Or perhaps the bedroom's empty. The noises echo down the dark corridor of the castle's secret passageways just as easily as they do through the fireplace, if not more so. The passage the noise seems to be coming from is dark, but dusty. Judging by the spores, it definitely seems as though someone's been through there recently despite the blackness.]

Secret Bedroom Passage

[asmywitness]

[The only reason Tyler notices the thudding behind his roaring fireplace is because his Natu and Houndoom both look towards it sharply; Isis sends him a sharp psychic ping of alert while Dexter stands up and growls.

Tyler frowns deeply, as he stands up, and moves silently towards the fireplace to check the thumping out. He's pretty sure he sees one of the fancy decorative wall sconce things jiggle as the thumping occurs, and now that he's focused he can see the logs in the fireplace juddering gently with the hits.

Alright, smart-ass. Let's see what we've got. He reaches up and pulls on the wall sconce - which will make the fireplace and about two feet of stone around it jerk, extremely haltingly, around in a circle to open up and reveal the passage.]

Tyler Huang | OTA

[asmywitness]

Ballroom

When Lydia comes sweeping down the stairs in her gorgeous silvery dress and a grand show, Tyler is on her arm as her hot boytoy accessory; his own suit is a glorious red brocade with black contrast and gold highlights, and while the Natu on his shoulder is ever-present and wearing a bowtie made of the same brocade, he also has his Houndoom, Dexter, walking proud and smug by his side, in a mirrored contrast to the Liepard on Lydia's free side. They are going for this Power Couple aesthetic hard-core for people who are only coming together so they're not alone, and it really fucking works.

He doesn't spend the whole night by her side, although a fair amount of it does get dedicated to her draping herself over him in frankly unnecessary displays of utter romance (or, more accurately, absolutely over-the-top PDA). When he gets the chance, he mostly keeps to himself, wandering the ballroom and occasionally letting himself be harassed by a waiter and getting something bubbly pressed into his hand. Isis and Dexter stay by his side at all times, looking very formal and proper. Dexter doesn't even try and lunge for the food tables, though he does get uncomfortably close to anything left on the edge of a table.


The Tower

...so maybe he cheated and got Isis to help teleport him up the flights of stairs. This was a good plan, right up until they got to the very top of the tower and the post-teleport nausea hit in full swing. Tyler has to take a few long moments to lean against the parapets, looking a bit green around the gills, and wait for the nausea to pass before he can actually take in the frankly stunning view from up here.

He walks back down when he's got his fill. It's much easier, and he can enjoy lingering in the museum, examining the suits of armour and tapestries with a clearly scrutinous eye (and luckily no one can tell it's because he's wondering how to make them fit in his suitcase, rather than just appreciating the art. It's multitasking).


The Library

This is his favourite room, though. Pretty much whenever he's not in the bedroom or at Lydia's beck and call (or when he's actively ignoring her because he needs a break), he takes time to explore the library, and sit at a table with several books stacked beside him as he pours through them with more intensity than most people who know him will have seen. Isis is resting on top of the pile, still wearing the red brocade bowtie (and actually nipping at anyone who might try and take it off, Tyler included) and eyes half-focused and half-shut, as she takes a well-earned nap.

It's probably notable that all the books he picks are mythical stories or fairy tales.

Re: Tyler Huang | OTA

[fingersandteeth]

It's not like Steven can criticize him. He's got some occult tomes of his own on the table next to his armchair.

Thinking of bringing any of those home? he texts Tyler at some point. He'd try asking via Isis, but she's sleeping.

Kazuki OTA

[forsaintcecilia]

Team:


Kitchens:

While guest weren’t technically allowed in the kitchen, Kazuki (along with Sticky) and been able to schmooze his way in with a smile and a few compliments. Since this whole soirée was taking place in a Galarian/European castle, he figured that a lot of patisserie in that style would be going on, and he couldn’t deny Sticky the opportunity to see some professionals at work. Honestly, having a Slurpuff with him helped him to get in in the first place—A couple of the bakers there already had a Slurpuff or Alcremie working alongside them, and it was considered good luck to have them in the kitchen.

They started off watching the bread baker first, since traditional breads were one thing that Kazuki’s didn’t have a whole lot of experience with. Japanese breads tended to be very soft and fluffy, with subtle flavors and perfect presentation. The loaves the bakers here made were crusty, hearty and sometimes sour. They let Kazuki try his hand with kneading the dough, and Sticky watched with rapt attention, trying to memorize this lesson for experiments in their own home kitchen later.

The sweets were a little more familiar to the both of them, but seeing professionals work was still something different. Their hands were so steady and precise, yet they worked quickly. Their presentations weren’t as perfectionistic as Japanese sweets, but there was something to them that were more wholesome and appealing, like something your grandmother might have made for you. The whole process from start to finish was fascinating, and Sticky was having the time of his life.

Was anyone else trying to sneak in the kitchens? Kazuki and Sticky were busy practicing making frosting roses on parchment with spare buttercream the chef had let them use, and they’d be happy to share their space with anyone else who might be interested.

Ballroom:

Kazuki can be found one of two places in the Ballroom (while wearing this outfit, with a pair of dark wash dress jeans), on the dance floor or the with the orchestra.

Between songs, he and his Kricketune chat with the small chamber orchestra. It’s mostly shop talk, since he has a permanent job with a recording studio in Lavender Town, and time for Xylo to work on mastering his craft. He brought his trumpet too, in hopes of striking up a bit of impromptu collaboration. Most of the musicians are actually kind of flattered, since they’re usually totally ignored by the guests.

A chair gets pulled up for him, and he sits down to join the rest for a couple of rounds. It’s a testament to his excellent ear when he doesn’t need any sheet music to keep up with the other musicians. Xylo performs just as well. As the night goes on, the music dissolves into more and more jazzy improvisation. Kazuki looks like he’s having a blast.

He spends just as much time on the dance floor, more than happy to oblige anyone who asks with a dance, or a conversation over a glass of champagne. He’s very comfortable in his skin at these kinds of parties.

Inner Courtyard:

Since Kazuki expected the castle of have a garden, he brought his two resident florists, Azuma the Sensu Oricorio and Puff the Ribombee, to take in the sights with him. They tended the garden back at their house, as well as the berry bushes, and he thought they’d enjoy seeing such a well cultivated and neatly trimmed courtyard.

He wandered about slowly with Azuma on his shoulder and Puff flying out before him, chatting with them about this and that, and occasionally chatting with a few of the gardeners on duty about their craft. They happily let him pick a few of the rare berries and gave him some tips on how to plant then and grow his own crop. He could only pay attention so well, since this was a bit out of his sphere of experience, but his Pokemon were smart cookies and caught on quickly.

Anyone want to chill with him?

Wildcard:

Feel free to request any sort of moment with Kazuki!

Keith / OTA

[marmoron]

Library (?!)
[While people are innocently minding their own business and trying to read in the library, Keith likewise has a book in his hands about the legendary pokemon of the Galar region. His two pokemon, a Dragapult and Haunter, are busy chasing around two tiny Dreepy. But of course, when that stops being entertaining for them, they take it upon themselves to hide intangibly in the bookshelves to spook people passing by.

Spotting this, Keith gets up:]

Knock it off, guys--

[But in his haste to make his way over quickly, he elbows a marble bust of a prominent Galarian figure which seems to cause one of the bookshelves to swivel and reveal a space big enough for two people to squeeze through.]

Woah....

Dungeons
[Because of course Keith wasn't going to stay out of the restricted areas of the castle.As soon as he's managed to ditch the sparse security, he's jumping right over a rope cordoning off an abandoned stairwell. Unlike the areas that've been renovated, the air in here is colder and mustier, as if all the joy has been drained from the area. But that's impossible right?

Just as impossible as the faint sobbing noise that seems to be coming from down stairs.]

Hello?

[His voice echoes down the stairs, but there is no answer.]

Is someone down there? Do you need help?

[No reply still. But Keith's not exactly deterred here. Knife in hand, he starts heading down, comfortably oblivious to the fact that maybe it is him that will need help.]

Library

[lioness_rampant]

[ Allura hadn't been trying to hunt Keith down, or anything like that. They both had places they wanted to explore in the castle, and had agreed to split up earlier. The fact that she'd stumbled across him in the library is a coincidence, but it seems her timing is fortuitous, since turns the corner just as the bookshelf swings open.

Gasping softly in surprise, she hurries over before he can dive in headlong. There's no point in asking if he's going in, because of course he is. Instead, she says: ]

You're not going in without me.

Jean OTA

[angewiesen]

Team:


Dining room:
Jean comes to the Dining Room because, duh, he’s hungry. But the wait staff immediately makes him feel uncomfortable and out of sorts. The way that they were immediately at his side, giving him a menu, waiting at his beck and call— He’s never been treated like royalty before, and he can’t say he likes it at all.

He stares at the selection in apparent confusion. None of these foods are familiar to him. Some of it is in a language he doesn’t understand. For shit’s sake, he just wants a sandwich or something! He casts a sour glance over his shoulder at the waiter that’s still there, and it makes him feel like an idiot.

Is anyone brave enough to try and offer him a hand here?

Ballroom:
And wouldn’t you guess, Jean’s just as out of sorts on the dance floor.

He’s wearing something not totally formal (the brown version) but it was what he was most comfortable in. Buying the clothes was an experience he’d rather not repeat. Once he admitted he didn’t really know what he was doing at the shop he picked out, a bunch of the female employees swarmed him with suggestions, and while their obvious interest in his good looks was an excellent ego boost, trying on outfit after outfit was exhausting…

He stands along the darkened wall with a half-touched drink in his hand, unable to work his face out of its resting scowl. He was never taught how to dance ballroom style, and he wasn’t familiar with the type of music being played either. This is even worse than Shiro’s wedding… Why was he even here again?

At least the Kirlia at his side seemed to be enjoying himself, feeding off of the positive emotions of others in the room, dancing in slow circles to the music, pausing occasionally to study the moves the people on the floor were making to mimic them with astounding precision.

Tower:
Once he’d had enough of the ballroom (which admittedly wasn’t long at all) Jean decided to have a stroll instead. The castle itself, when quiet and dark, was a locale Jean didn’t mind. It reminded him a bit of the castles inside the Walls, but at a larger scale. Always drawn to high places, he wandered towards the tower, with an obedient Dusk Lycanroc tagging along at his heels.

Climbing the stairs in the absolute quiet was a calming exercise. Jean stopped occasionally to look at a particular painting or tapestry, or examine a suit of armor. There were bookshelves here and there to him to peruse, although the topics were a bit too heavy for him to delve in for more than a short, curious glance.

At the very top of the tower was a small observatory, with a telescope pointed out a window towards the stars and a large chart spread out on a table. All of the constellations were named after Pokemon of legend, only a few of which he was familiar with. He could make out some of them in the stars outside the parapets. For the first time since arriving here, he felt totally relaxed. He’d sleep in the comfy armchair up here if he hadn’t already been assigned a room.

He wouldn’t be against some company right now.

Exploring:
The dark corners and unfinished halls of the castle eventually piqued his interest. With his Rapidash at his side (who served as an excellent walking torch) he delved into the mysterious ruins. Ghost-Type Pokemon were abound, but they didn’t bother him. He wasn’t a superstitious person, and his own team as more than capable of picking off a few stray Gastly.

It was interesting to step into the past of another world, in a place that looked so much like his own. Hundreds of years from now, is this what the castles of Paradis would look like? Dusty old corridors full of forgotten memories and neglected history? It seemed inevitable, now that he knew the rest of the world had long outgrown the trappings of the era the Walls were stuck in. He found himself in a strangely somber, melancholic mood as he pondered the flight of time’s arrow.

Wildcard:

Feel free to suggest a scenario if you’d like!

Connie Maheswaran | OTA

[conniemaheswaran]

Ballroom
[OOC: Connie is wearing the outfit from this art.]

While Connie has come a long, long, long way from the antisocial hermitude she imposed on herself when she was eleven, social gatherings remain something of a mystery to her. She understood the principle, of course: meet people! Talk! Eat! Dance! Have fun! It was simple in theory. And in practice, once she could get up the nerve to actually jump in.

But it felt... different, when things were so formal and fancy. The stuffiest party she'd ever been to was Garnet's wedding, and even that was basically a backyard BBQ where everybody dressed up nice in comparison. Was she just supposed to walk up to total strangers and ask to dance? Okay, yes, that was exactly what she was supposed to do, but-

Having finally had enough of her trainer spreading roots by the wall, Naga the Dragonite takes her by the hand and yanks her onto the dance floor. Connie's surprised for a moment, flailing before Naga clumsily begins dancing to the rhythm. Connie's stunned for a moment, then she laughs and begins waltzing with her dragon.

They dance for a whole song before Naga does a (surprisingly well-executed twirl) and hands her off to the closest dancer, much to Connie's surprise. She lets out a small yelp before falling into the rhythm with her newfound partner, smiling sheepishly. "Er. Sorry about that. Naga can get... pushy, sometimes."

Library
After she's had her fill of dancing, Connie retreats to the library. It's an old routine, and one she's familiar with like the back of her hand: socialize, get tired, find an escape route, and sneak off to somewhere quiet to recharge her batteries. That's how lunch went most days at school—heck, the librarians there saw her so often they started letting her eat near their precious YA novels.

Connie takes to the castle's library like a suburban mom on her cheat day takes to the free samples section of her local PokéCostco: rounding up as many books as she can, reading a few pages, passing judgment, and either making a note to get an eBook later if possible or discarding the volume entirely. (The former vastly outnumbers the latter.) But after a solid two hours of searching, a particularly hefty tome has finally caught Connie's eye enough for her to sit down and read it then and there, curling up by the fireplace and sipping some tea as she pages through it.

Then a red-clawed paw reaches over her shoulder, snatches it, and scampers into the shelves. Apparently, somebody thinks Connie hasn't been paying enough attention to him lately. (As if he didn't sneak into her party disguised as Cú Chulainn.) Connie just sits there for a few seconds, stunned. Then she leaps to her feet and begins sprinting after Arsène. "You little- c'mon, help me find him!"

Treasure Hunting (With Akane)
Connie loves the idea of a dungeon crawl. Creeping through ruined history, finding ancient treasures, dancing through dangerous trap... it's the kind of experience she's always dreamed of. Which is why she and Akane are trawling through the more decrepit areas of the castle looking for artifacts of its previous owner's life.

Akane, meanwhile, is significantly less enthusiastic about this expedition. Primarily because of all of the ghost Pokémon that are hanging about. They hang close together, Connie doing her best to keep Akane calm while they explore.

Connie steps on a pressure plate and stops in place as she hears something click. She promptly un-stops when an arrow flies over her head. "LET'S GO LET'S GO LET'S GO!" Pulling Akane along, Connie sprints through the trapped hallway, flicking her wrists and snapping her fingers to command the swords on her back to use their various protective moves as they run. After an extremely tense thirty seconds, they escape, Connie overcompensates as she attempts to brake, tumbles over, and falls flat on her face in front of another explorer, pulling down Akane with her.

"Um. Hi!"

Pokémon Shenanigans
Both Artemis the Gallade and Arsène the Zoroark are horrendous flirts with female Pokémon in their respective egg groups, so look out for these two ladykillers on the prowl. Chandrahas the Aegislash, Calesvol, Caladbolg, Caledfwlch, and Caliburn the Doublades are all strapped to Connie's back like actual swords for most of the night and won't make trouble, while Naga the Dragonite alternates between tearing it up on the dance floor, brooding in corners, and flying throughout the castle.

Tower
Sometimes, the starry night sky and a beautiful landscape is all it takes for somebody to be content. And so Connie is standing at the very top of the tower, gazing out at Kanto with a dreamy expression. She's completely alone up here; not even the Aegislash and pair of Doublades that have been strapped to her back all night are there.

Except for whoever just came up the stairs, of course.

Tower

[uber_marionettist]

A few hours after he first discovered the stables and summarily lost all track of time, Dirk tromps steadily up flight after flight of stairs, making no effort to ignore the parallel memory of making his way up another winding flight as part of another timeline, another self, another story.

But his purpose this time isn't nearly so final. He's looking for John Egbert.

Knowing what little he does about John, he's expecting that starting with the loftiest points of this sprawling mansionspace is as good a strategy as any.

He is not expecting Connie Maheswaran.

He freezes, but either she hasn't noticed him--

Or she just isn't worried about it.

Whoever just came up the stairs isn't as entrancing as the view, stretching out before her under an endless, (un?)familiar night sky.

He still has a chance to back up and make good his exit.

He hesitates. Dawdles a second longer on the verge, teetering on the precipice of turning his back. Of abandoning another dead end, another wasted timeline, another doomed effort. He has until she turns around...

And he has years of experience--lifetimes, even.

It's as easy as cutting off his own head.

Still, he doesn't move.

Is it the chore of trudging back down all those fucking stairs? Or is it the combined high of his various discoveries over the course of the night, the fucked up conversation with Jane? Maybe he just doesn't want to trudge back down all those fucking stairs. Maybe he's just so fucking tired.

But nah. None of those would have provided any excuse for this.

Almost none of them. The breathtaking plated horse armour and the three hours of unicorn indulgence probably aren't encouraging the kind of decision making that requires stoic self-denial.

He takes one step forward.

"Sup."