victory_road | Beach fun for beach bums

Entry tags:

Beach fun for beach bums

Who: Everybody!
Where: Cianwood!
When: June 21st, all day.
Summary: Come to Cianwood today to celebrate the solstice, participate in a race and maybe even get a date??

June 21st. The solstice. The longest day of the year. Practically half the year gone already, which frankly, seems rather insane. It seems like only yesterday you were all fighting to save Christmas with Santa, and yet, that was almost six months ago! How can that be? We just don't know. Time is a force even more mysterious than pokemon evolution.

In any case, Cianwood has gone all out to make this solstice a great big celebration. The beach is awash with bright-coloured umbrellas and stands, selling everything a visitor might need to make this into one hell of a day (and, let's be real, also a lot of things you don't need, but hey, who doesn't want a nice souvenir?) Rental stands have everything from surfboards to huge inner tubes for rent for those who want to stay at the surface of the water, as well as snorkelling equipment for those who won't mind taking a peek below the surface. On a cleared stretch of beach, a small Sand Castle Contest is being organised. The prize won't be anything fancy (just a token little reward, really) but why not enter? Don't worry, there are separate prizes for kids and adults. Meanwhile, large piles of wood have been stacked here and there, waiting for evening to fall so the bonfires can be lit.

One particular section of the beach is a riot of different smells, with various restaurants and other establishments having set up stands to sell you all the very best. It doesn't matter what you are in the mood for, because you won't have any trouble finding it here! Want some BBQ? It's there; several Sizzlepede keeping those coals nice and hot while the cooks chuck everything that can vaguely be chucked onto those grills. Would you rather cool down with some ice cream? No problem; just as long as you can actually make a choice from all those different flavours available. Has the summer sun put you in a fruit mood? Watermelons (whole and cut), strawberries, cherries, papaya -- it's too much to name!

Or do you maybe just want a drink? It's important to keep hydrated, you know! Juice, water, mocktails and cocktails, everything that you could possibly want to stave off the heat is there. There is even coffee and teas available for those who need their daily worship at the Church of Caffeine. Just don't overheat on them!

And, of course, there is the race.

It looks like the first-ever SEMPER race has drawn quite the crowd. And where there is a crowd, there are more souvenir stands. Why not buy a flag or two to cheer on your pokemon? Or maybe you should buy an 'I ran the SEMPER race and all I got was this lousy t-shirt' for your pokemon to commemorate the occasion. They sell them in all sorts of sizes.

And then there is that mystery section of beach, currently cordoned off with ropes and screens. Signs let everybody know that this is where the Helping Hand auction will be taking place later tonight, but if you had hoped to get an early peek at the decorations or items up for auction, you will be sorely disappointed. Be patient and wait like everybody else is.

So come all and enjoy the beach. Participate in a race maybe, and pull your wallets for tonight's charity event. After all, who knows when disaster might strike again? Better enjoy things while you can!

ooc: The Charity Auction will have its own log, which will be posted later tonight. Should there be any questions, please use the event info post to ask them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Shrike is still pretty uncomfortable with the idea of being at any kind of large, social gathering. Not to mention, he lacks enough Pokémon to compete in the race, and certainly doesn't have enough money to even think of bidding on anything in the auction, charity or no. And unlike prom, this event didn't come with a direct invitation that would feel rude to turn down.

But, even so, there's a couple of people he's met--maybe even started to get to know a little--that he figures are likely to be here and, well. Shrike maybe, possibly, wants to talk to them again just a little. It's kind of a strange and new feeling for him.

Which is why he's now found himself at the beach, looking around to spot someone he recognizes when Dimitri happens to spot and speak to him first.

"Oh. Um, I don't know..."

He's definitely not dressed for swimming. Leaving aside the fact that he'd never heard of swimwear before arriving in Johto, Shrike's still keeping himself fully covered, hooded cloak and all. What a strange kid.

Listen, Dimitri has met plenty of strange people so far. If Shrike wants to keep his hood on, then he can do that and it's fine. For now, he gestures to the towels set up besides him - a polycule of five plus child plus friends means there's a lot of space.

"Then you can sit, if you'd like. I don't plan on swimming for the time being." He's still trying to decide on some things in his head, after all. "Have you thought about learning? To swim, I mean."

"I can swim."

He knows how, more or less. Even if it's largely consisted of simply brute forcing his way through the water. It's just hard to do while wearing a cloak and pants and long sleeves and all that.

"... There's a lot of people here."

Shrike is just very unsure of being seen by so many, is all. Even if going out in the water does look like it'd be fun.

Dimitri nods, leaning forward a bit with his arms resting upon his knees. "There are," he agrees mildly, because he thinks he can see the problem here. "Are you worried about them seeing you in such a busy part of the beach?"

Because that's what it seems like, but, well... He doesn't want to assume too much on something like this.

"... Yeah."

Shrike's still very uncomfortable with the idea of anyone getting a good look at him. Finding out Dimitri possessed similarly freakish strength had been one thing, but at the end of the day even Dimitri at least still looks like a normal human. A somewhat battle-scarred one, but still.

It'd take a lot to convince Shrike to willingly take off his hood in front of anyone. Or even mention more specifically why he won't, for that matter.

Dimitri, as it turns out, has no interest in asking exactly why Shrike has such issues. As far as he's concerned, if it is a problem or something Shrike wants to tell him, then he will tell him. If it isn't, he trusts that the boy has good cause for that.

For now... Dimitri thinks to his Pokemon, and looks out at the beach thoughtfully. "If there were not people, would you like to swim?" he asks. "Or, at least, if you knew they were not looking at you, would that help in any way whatsoever?"

"Umm..."

He'd definitely be fine if there's no one around, he's snuck onto a beach after hours to do exactly that a time or two since he's gotten here, but the second part of the suggestion he's never thought about before.

"I don't know. I mean, maybe if no one's around, but..."

How can he be sure nobody sees him otherwise?

Well, anyone would be uncertain with that kind of vague suggestion, Dimitri supposes. "I have two large water Paliens," he says. "Karimala, a Lapras, and Grindy, a Kingler. I was thinking that, with them and perhaps some others, they could help block the way for anyone looking over at you."

His gaze turns away again, looking over the beach area. After living in Olivine a little while, even if not a great deal, he thinks he has a bit of understanding of this place now...

"And there are parts of the beach away from all the commotion... I cannot promise they will be completely barren, but there would be less people, I think. Many here want to be near the stalls, and the auction site."

That's certainly an idea, and one Shrike's never thought of before, but, even so... Well, he's not sure what to think of the suggestion. It seems a bit risky, or something. Besides, it wouldn't just be in the water, but also going to and from it on the beach, as obviously he'd need to leave his clothes somewhere they wouldn't get wet.

"I don't know..."

There's no point in rushing a decision like this, so Dimitri stays silent and lets Shrike think it over. If it's something he's so uncomfortable about, then the decision should ultimately be in his hands. At the uncertain answer, Dimitri nods.

"That's fine, if you are not sure. But if there is something you would like to do on a nice day like this... then I would like to help you achieve it, if possible. Everyone deserves to have a chance to take what happiness this place offers." He knows just how cruel other places can be, after all... Having come from the middle of war himself.

Shrike probably wouldn't be able to get over his shyness enough to actually enjoy something like swimming right now, anyway. Not to mention, he sees no problem with sneaking onto the beach by himself after hours, anyway.

"Umm..." Dimitri's offer is very generous, to be sure. Much more so than Shrike feels entitled to. "It's fine. I just wanted to talk to you again."

Nothing too big, or hopefully not. But surely Dimitri hadn't thought that such a shy kid would knowingly come to such a busy place just for the beach...

Well, there is an auction, and the gym is open no matter when, of course... Dimitri isn't prideful enough to think that someone would come to a place just for him, at least not in Johto. Here, he's not really anyone, which is quite a relief.

So he blinks at the information he's given. "Oh? Is there something in particular you wanted to talk about?"

He hasn't been here nearly long enough to have money to spare on the auction. The gym... well, that's not an unreasonable assumption, but as it happens Shrike's still getting used to the notion of Pokemon battles in general, let alone gym matches.

On the other hand, it had occurred to Shrike that if he wanted to see someone he'd met at the 'prom' again, a good place to look would be a similar event. There were a few such people he's keeping an eye out for, but Dimitri in particular had left the biggest impression.

"Um..." Putting his thoughts into words is something Shrike is woefully inexperienced at, so he struggles a bit to explain. "Before, it was... nice. When we talked. So it'd be nice to talk again?" A pause. "I-if that's all right..."

"Oh!" Dimitri's expression lights up, eye bright. "It is more than all right. In that case, you should sit down underneath the shade." He gestures to the umbrellas that have been set up, and the towels spread beneath them. More then enough to keep one off of the hot sand.

"Would you like some water as well? It is important to have that, even though there are many vendors here with all sorts of delicious food and drink." Even if sodas and energy drinks aren't familiar to Dimitri's time, even he knows that wine isn't an exact replacement for water.

Well, that's certainly a reassuring response. Even if Shrike still feels a little unsure. Approaching someone just for a friendly chat and no more is kind of new to him, after all.

He does, however, sit down as directed, and it's probably obvious from his posture that it's a relief to be out of the sun. He's definitely not used to dealing with so much heat, and the fact that he dislikes the idea of anyone getting a good look at his face--or anything else, for that matter--doesn't help with that at all.

"Oh, uh, I can buy some myself..."

He did more or less take Dimitri's earlier advice with regards to finding a job he could do. And he has a particular aversion against feeling indebted to people, if he can help it.

So a gentle refusal, then. This feels faintly familiar to what happened at Riegfried and Soy's home... Well, Dimitri won't push on the matter. At least, not for now. Certain other people, like Ashe, know how stubborn he can get.

That can be a future matter. Dimitri nods, smiling. "Then it sounds as though you have managed to get your finances somewhat handled... That's reassuring to hear. May I ask what sort of jobs or tasks you have taken on?"

Shrike has a difficult time accepting gifts or favors he feels he didn't earn, as Dimitri might be noticing. He probably still feels vaguely indebted from before, too, though without any means to pay it back, there's not much point bringing it up. This may or may not get him into trouble at some point if his perceived sense of indebtedness keeps accumulating.

But that's a topic for another time, if ever. For now, he's being asked a very different kind of question, and one he certainly doesn't mind answering.

"Oh, I'm helping fixing things. Sometimes building things. I don't know how to use the tools. but I can carry stuff and hold it where it's supposed to go. Or take it out." In other words, he found a handyman in need of an assistant. Work that generally doesn't require interacting with a lot of people, and those he does thankfully don't insist he remove his hood.

"Oh, so you have also taken on that kind of job." A bit of pleasure sparks in Dimitri at that. Of course it's something very different than what he does with his own woodworking skills, but still. It's nice to have someone else who makes things, and being a handyman is also something Dimitri does on occasion.

"Perhaps the longer you stay on as an assistant, your employer will start explaining the different tools, and how to use them. They may seem complicated at first, but it is not too hard once you adjust. You seem to be quite the good listener, so I'm certain you will do well."

"I guess so..."

He's not as strong here as he is normally, but he still gets a little nervous whenever trying to pry something open or be forceful in putting things together. And while some of the tools are straightforward and sturdy-looking enough, there's others he'd worry about handling. Or about somehow using too much force when using them and breaking something else.

That, and he's not at all sure how to respond to the compliment.

"There's a lot of stuff I don't know, too... Ah, like people here get water from pipes instead of wells and pumps! They keep the water in big towers so that it comes out on its own, which I guess makes sense since if a river's flowing fast enough the water can go up and over things too..."

Apparently he's really impressed by indoor plumbing. Who knew Shrike was such a nerd at heart?

"I know! Isn't is incredible?" Dimitri leans a little closer, smiling wide. So many people here are used to the technological wonders that Johto offers up, so it's always a delight to be with someone else who really appreciates them. Sylvain and Felix and Claude have adjusted far too quickly, in Dimitri's opinion.

"Have you learned about microwaves yet? I always find those fascinating, and how quickly they warm up food again with no need to fuss about it! And that there is so much fresh produce, even during the dead of winter, is fantastic."

"Those are those weird boxes, right?" Shrike's seen them, but is still perhaps a little apprehensive about using one himself. What if he did it wrong? Would it break the thing, or maybe ruin and waste the food?

Though before he can dwell much on that, Dimitri's mentioned something he hasn't been around long enough to know for himself.

"There is?" He sounds very surprised by that. "How do they--is it something to do with the... refrigerators?"

"The very same," Dimitri agrees. Honestly, they're foreign to him still as well, and he has.... you know... maybe definitely fried some foods to crisps. Once or twice. He's learned now, of course, but once bitten and all that...

That's not important. Or, well, it is important, but can go after Dimitri's excitement about grocery stores, and he smiles at Shrike's tone. It sounds incredible, if one hasn't seen it in action, he knows, and the full impact doesn't quite hit during summer. After all, summer is filled with fruits and vegetables that come into season - apricots, basil, all sorts of things.

"I believe the refrigerators and other ways to control temperature no doubt help in some ways. Still, there are other ways that they grow them so that they do well, like in greenhouses, I imagine! Have you ever gotten a chance to visit one of those before?"

"Green houses?"

Shrike has no idea what those are, and is most certainly getting an initial mental image of... houses that are painted green. Or something along those lines.

"No, I don't know what those are."

"Well, they are structures built specifically to encourage the growth of plants." For a moment, Dimitri ponders if he should look up examples on the Pokegear. Would that work?

...Hm. Maybe it would be better for him if Gremlin were out.

Well, it's not a difficult concept to survey, at least. "Generally, it is a small building, built mostly out of glass. Other material is mostly used as a frame, so that there is little to obstruct sunlight coming in. It leads to quite the warm environment, which many plants quite appreciate. Even back in my land, they were used to occasionally help with making sure that a household could help keep itself alive even during cooler months.

"Of course, usually they were for nobility because of how expensive glass was... but here, they are much more plentiful, and the different technology no doubt makes it much easier to keep plants blooming and bearing fruit."

"I see..."

He can kind of picture that. Though it does admittedly sound pretty extravagant.

"Maybe nobles have those, but I don't know." In the world he's from, that is. "But it seems like everyone here is wealthy..."

The sheer amount of, well, everything continues to amaze him.

C - Going with the assumption they continued to have a good talk in their 4th wall thread?

yeah!

:D Enjoy being one of the first people this shy kid's willing to approach, Dimitri~

:D

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