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]

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."

[woofdad]

Grant raises his eyebrows, just incrementally. "Pretty sure most people are at risk of being flung. Don't... 'test of skill' kind of things usually involve some degree of risk, anyway?"

At least the ones that get paraded around as tests of skill, so far as he's aware.

[tokenelfcharacter]

"You should be skilled enough to believe you can get through the test."

So there.

Probably. Shush, Grant, stop making logical points, he's being snide here.

[woofdad]

Hmm.

Nope, sorry, Grant is apparently not dropping this yet. Reluctant as he might be to argue with people most of the time, this guy... kind of rubs him the wrong way? ...And also this is the kind of passive-aggressive nonsense argument that actually feels reasonably acceptable to him.

"How much overlap do you think there really is between what most people think they can do, and what they can actually do?"

[tokenelfcharacter]

It's fine, Grant. This guy rubs most people in this world the wrong way.

"In my experience, there is very little. They wildly overestimate their abilities. It leads to disaster."

Or just a little elf child falling out of a tree. Or going off on missions she shouldn't be ready for yet.

[woofdad]

"Exactly. So saying someone should be skilled enough to think they can get through it doesn't mean much, right?" Having hit about the limit of his own rudeness for the moment, he adds, "Besides, most people end up getting dislodged one way or another. The test is really about seeing how long you can stay put."

Unless you have Claude's ridiculous thigh strength, which Grant is not going to think about right now.

Anyway. He perks up, catching sight of a fairly vocal crowd up ahead, watching, clearly, some kind of spectacle. "--There! I think that's it."

[tokenelfcharacter]

"Just thinking they can achieve something is dangerous. It - "

He totally had more to say there. Something just to be contrary to this human. But there's the crowd. And a brief flash of a thrashing Pokemon. One he hasn't seen yet... and -

Something small and round bouncing up above the crowd's head.

"Oh no."

[woofdad]

Oh, Grant is all ready to ask him if nobody should ever think they can achieve anything, then - which is also just him being contrary. This guy is really just activating something in him, it's the worst.

But, of course, then Runaan cuts off, and Grant follows his attention up ahead to the corral, and...

He squints.

"Is... is that what it looks like?"

[tokenelfcharacter]

"That... looks very much like her."

Unless someone else has a Rowlet around here. Which could be anyone. It's not a super rare pokemon, right? But why would she be there of all places?

"I'll go to her - if they attempt to stop me - " He actually pauses. "Distract them."

Hey, that's better than I'll f*cking kill them.

[woofdad]

"R-right. Sure. I'll do my best." Yeah, you know what, he'll... he'll take it. Could be worse.

Not that he's sure... how to go about distracting people if it comes down to that, so he'll hope it doesn't.

[tokenelfcharacter]

He shoots Grant a brief, flat look. What that look is supposed to mean, who knows? Okay, maybe Rowlet knows, but that's not helpful right now. He just... disappears into the crowd - somehow.

Only to show himself on the far side of the bucking bronco corral. And of course, someone is going to try and intervene when this weirdo just flat out vaults the fence.

[woofdad]

He doesn't know what more you want from him, Runaan, his best is literally all he can do.

Aaand oh boy yeah there he goes. Grant hurries to put himself in the way, apologetic even in a rare moment where he straight-up uses his size to block someone off. "Sorry-- uh, sorry, he does need to... get in there."

Apologizing doesn't mean he's not very much getting in their way, though.

[tokenelfcharacter]

Well... that's something. A big guy blocking their path is definitely something. Better than Runaan getting rushed by very well-meaning officials while he collects his wayward owl.

While. You know.

Dodging a bucking bronco of a pokemon. He is straight up dancing around the cow. It'd be impressive if you didn't know he was such a jerk. Though, hopefully, it won't take long for him to grab Rowlet and... roll.

Under the fence.

[woofdad]

Grant can only be glad Runaan does what he needs to as quickly as he does, but also, he wishes it were a little faster. He's not a fan of taking advantage of his size like this on the best of days, and with every passing second he can feel an uncomfortable prickling at the back of his neck, a reaction to every pair of eyes on him and every protest from those he's keeping from intervening.

He startles a bit when Runaan returns, his faint distress probably audible in his voice: "Well?"

[tokenelfcharacter]

"It's done."

And a dazed Rowlet is cradled in his arms. Yes, you read that right. Cradled. Like a very small child. Someone has gone 100% into Dad Mode and shows no signs of emerging. He even turns away from an onlooker, to hide the pokemon from view.

"You ... " His jaw works. He's clearly trying to say something here. "You... made a formidable barricade."

Was that a compliment.

Did he just fucking compliment someone.