Day at the races!

[indigo_league]

Who: Everyone!
Where: Moo Moo Farms
When: Saturday, March 20th
Summary:



The day is as lovely as you can expect any early spring day to be. You'll need a coat, yes, and there is a bit of a breeze, but the sun shines happily onto the wooden buildings that make up the Moo Moo Farms where we have all gathered today.

The various farm workers have worked hard to make their farm presentable to the public. Cheerful banners hang between the various sheds, stables and barns, which all have been given a bit of a cleaning (and perhaps a new coat of paint here and there). Of course, it is still a farm, so perhaps don't wear your very best shoes, but as far as farms go, it's been made as neat as can be.

And while the main draws of the day may be releasing the Miltank herd out onto the pasture again after a long winter inside -- whimsically called 'Cow Ballet' on the info sign -- and the Great Tauros Race, Moo Moo Farms has set up various little events and booths to entertain their guests, and perhaps teach them a thing or two about farm life.

A large information sign stands at the gate to the farm, letting visitors know what sort of events are taking place, as well as where and when these are happening. The two big ones -- the Miltank Ballet and the Tauros Race -- are spaced in such a way that people can easily attend both, and most of the other little events are available throughout the entire day.

The Miltank Ballet will be taking place at 1PM over by the big barn. There is little you can do to participate in this (unless you are a cow?), but if you want to watch some ecstatic Miltank dance through the mud and grass after a long winter inside, you should definitely come check this out.

The Tauros Race will start at 4PM (sign ups close at 3PM) and anyone who wants to help give the Tauros a good round of exercise is encouraged and welcome to sign up. There is, according to the sign, a small mystery prize to be won, but surely we are all here because we want to help some cooped up Tauros, right?

In addition to those two big events, two paddocks have been made ready where visitors can test themselves against a Bucking Bronco -- that's his name, Bronco the Bouffalant -- to see how long they can last in the saddle. Due to safety concerns, participants for this event will need to be 16+. For the children, there is a separate rodeo in which they can ride Vaquero the Dubwool, who, for all his seemingly wild behaviour, is actually a very well trained Dubwool who'll make sure no harm comes to the kids.

Of course, while people are free to bring their own food, the Moo Moo Farms have also set up a wide variety of booths where people can buy anything from fresh Moo Moo Milk and milkshakes to freshly made cheese and bread, and oh, is that apple pie? That most certainly is apple pie, as well as various other homey pastries. And as the day goes on, and people might start craving something a little less sweet and more filling, a booth opens up selling various curries. Don't worry, there won't be any Snorlax you need to share with this time!

And for anyone who has found themselves wanting and craving a bovine of their own after all these cute sights, you are in luck! Amidst the various booths, there is also one run by two cheery farm girls, advertising a sale on eggs! All the eggs that are normally available from the Moo Moo Farms can be bought at a whopping 50% discount. Mind that this is only on the purchase price of the egg itself. The price for any additional egg-moves remains the same.

There are also some other, smaller things set up, such a station where you can learn about milking a Miltank and a barrel where you can bob for apples, and even a horseshoe toss game. Most of these are definitely aimed towards teaching and entertaining little kids, but nobody will stop you if you decide to muscle past a row of Youngsters to claim the apple bobbing barrel.

Comments

[tokenelfcharacter]

Don't worry, Grant, no one in their right mind would let him near sharp objects in this world. Not with so many humans around. Arceus won't stand for it.

"Do they." He's absolutely trying not to sound curious. But animals have always been a weakness. "I am not familiar with... cows. They do not exist in our country."

There's probably magical buffalo or something.

[woofdad]

"Really? They're, uh..." He looks around thoughtfully, trying to think of... how to describe a cow. "Kinda like Miltanks, but huge, quadrupedal, and not so... pink? Their udders are smaller too, and they tend to be more... rectangular than round. So maybe... somewhere in between a Miltank and Tauros. ...Possibly closer to the latter."

[tokenelfcharacter]

"You... have rectangular... farm animals."

We're sorry Grant. Can you hear the disbelief in that voice? It's pretty thick. Like, thick enough to cut with a knife. He's pretty sure this human is joking. Or somehow pulling his leg.

[woofdad]

"I mean..." Grant fumbles a little bit, gesturing with his hands. "They're not literally rectangular. It's just, if you look at 'em from the side, their torsos are kind of rectangle-ish. Like, the... the distance from their backs to bellies is the same all the way from their shoulders to hips, except for the udder. And their shoulders and hips are sort of... angular, too."

Well. There he goes. You're learning about cows, Runaan.

[tokenelfcharacter]

It's not a terrible description, honestly. It's pretty spot-on for a normal cow. And yet, the elf is just sort of staring at Grant like he's sprouted horns of his own. Even Honedge sort of pokes up a bit to watch the gesturing.

"You ... paint an interesting image." No, really. "Yet it still sounds as if you have walking blocks for farm animals."

[woofdad]

"I mean, they just... uh..." Grant fumbles to swing his backpack off one shoulder so he can dig through it and... ah, yep, as he thought, he still had his breeder's notebook and pencil in here. This is... super not what those are for, but it's probably fine.

After a few moments of scratching, he angles it to show Runaan. "They're kinda shaped like this."



He did his best.

[tokenelfcharacter]

Those white brows just climb higher. Ah - those. The slow, dull creatures in human fields. Right, they were rather rectangular, weren't they? He had sincerely never given them more than a fleeting thought. They were never important to missions.

Honedge waves its tassel at Grant - Good work! - because of course his pokemon are more personable than Runaan himself.

"You... were serious." Funny - a sincere human. "Those, yes. I have seen those. Briefly."

[woofdad]

Thank you, Honedge, at least someone appreciates his attempt.

"I was!" There's a truly bizarre triumph to showing someone he doesn't even like that much, and who obviously doesn't like him, that he knows what a cow looks like. "Good, I'm glad it's, uh... recognizable. D'you see what I mean now?"

[tokenelfcharacter]

He doesn't answer for a few moments. Looking from the page to the Miltank in the field. Then back again. Of course, there's obvious differences. The round versus the rectangular. It's clear to anyone with eyes in their heads. But he has to at least pretend it's a hard choice to make.

"Yes. They are far more... orb shaped."

Nailed it. He totally nailed this whole casual conversation with someone else thing.

[woofdad]

Good... good job, Runaan, you're doing great.

Which is to say, the discomfort of this whole interaction is only just now starting to creep back into Grant's awareness. He nods, a slightly awkward cast creeping into his expression. He'll just... put his notebook away and look at the Miltanks again. "Yep. They are."

They're both very, very good at this.

[tokenelfcharacter]

"Very well then."

He'll just uh. Go back to watching the cows, too. Because... that was a conversation, right? They're great at this. At least he seems content to just watch the frolicking cows in silence -

Then looks down. And around his feet. Several times. The look on his face goes from aloof and distant to ... well. The look of a concerned parent.

"Owl?"

[woofdad]

Grant glances over again when he hears that one word - and immediately recognizes that look. Oh no.

Almost on reflex, he straightens up and looks around the area, searching for, he assumes, the round little bird he vaguely remembers seeing on the Gear's video feed. "Is that your-- the owl Pokemon? When did you last see her?"

[tokenelfcharacter]

Once again, Rowlet comes to the rescue - sort of. In a weird way. Runaan hasn't stopped slowly scanning the area. His eyes flicking everywhere. But not finding anything.

"Yes. The little green one." That's definitely the Distracted Parent voice. "She was here a moment ago. When the cows were freed."

[woofdad]

"Okay-- she can't have gone far, then." Well, okay, unless he considers that she can probably fly, but he hasn't really gotten the impression she'd be inclined to fly away from her trainer.

He looks around to locate his own child, and... alright, good, there they are near Dimitri. "Alright... kid's with my boyfriend for the moment, so I can meet them back here after your Pokemon's back with you... D'you know if there's anything around here that would be likely to get her attention?"

[tokenelfcharacter]

Rowlet isn't the sort to leave her trainer alone in public for more than a few moments if she can help it. Bad things happen when she does.

His eyes flick to Grant for a moment, processing. Kid - his kid? The human has a child. Interesting knowledge. But not any he can make use of. Owl is more important.

"She isn't so irresponsible as to wander off. Not without good reason. Or unless she were forced."

[woofdad]

Yeah sometimes they have those, Runaan

"Alright. What might she consider 'good reason'? Let's start there." He stands up a bit straighter, peering out over the farm as if hoping to just... glimpse that round little owl and have the problem solved. Not that he actually expects it to be that easy.

[tokenelfcharacter]

... Typically, she ventures out on her own when her trainer is doing something stupid. But that doesn't help right now, does it?

"Danger, most likely."

If there was something, or someone, in trouble. But there doesn't seem to be that issue currently.

[woofdad]

"...Hm. Right." Yeah, not a lot of possibilities there. Unless...

"...Any chance she might be at the rodeo?"

[tokenelfcharacter]

His eyes narrow. There's a flicker of confusion there, even as he tries to smooth it over.

"Rodeo?"

[woofdad]

Grant nods, giving no sign of judgment, once again; honestly, that's one of the less surprising concepts he's had to explain recently. ...Or even in the last couple minutes.

"It's a... test of skill kinda thing. Seeing how long you can stay on a large animal that's trying to buck you off... this one in particular doesn't seem to actually be dangerous, but there's always the chance of accidents, and I can see how someone would see it as dangerous to those involved anyway, you know?"

[tokenelfcharacter]

"I see. A test of skill and strength."

It might attract one of his pokemon. It makes sense. They've been raised by him - it would attract Rayla too. He nods, once.

"Then let's not waste more time here. Where is this rodeo?"

[woofdad]

"Just this way." With a final glance confirming that Chip is with Dimitri, Grant steps away from the fence to lead Runaan toward the Bouffalant rodeo, keeping an eye out as he goes for the Rowlet. It doesn't seem like a lot to go on, but... it's a start, y'knkow?

[tokenelfcharacter]

He follows after, determinedly. Basically marching alongside Grant. Thankfully, his uh. Default Scowl Expression kind of makes people give them a wide berth. Thank Arceus for Resting Bitch Face.

"She is normally more responsible than this."

[woofdad]

Well... at least they're making good time.

"Maybe she glimpsed someone getting flung off and thought they were in trouble?" It's his best guess so far, with what little he knows of this Pokemon.

[tokenelfcharacter]

"It's possible."

He wishes he could discourage her from rushing to the aid of humans. But she never seemed to understand why the difference was so important.

"If they are at risk for being flung, they should not have been attempting the challenge."