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

Too short or too warm... "The style of dress here is quite different, although it makes sense for such hot weather," Dimitri agrees, although he has no idea if Fodlan and Shrike's homeland have much in common. The technology of Johto is new to them, yes, but that doesn't really mean much...

"Although I suppose I should ask, by too short, do you mean simply the style, or have you not found anything that fits?"

"It's really hot here."

Shrike had been living in the mountains prior to arriving in Johto, so he's not accustomed to this kind of heat. As is perhaps evidenced by how he reaches to wipe the sweat from his brow with his sleeve as he talks.

Though, Dimitri's question makes him pause, then self-consciously tug his hood further forward and tuck his hands back away out of sight again.

"I-- I don't like it when it's short."

His face isn't all he's keeping hidden from others' sight.

So perhaps scars, or something similar... That is what Dimitri thinks, at least, and the only way to know for certain would be to ask. Well, he won't do that, and certainly not in such a populated and public place. The more important thing is helping Shrike feel comfortable.

"I see," is all he says, nodding as he considers the dilemma carefully. "I can understand not wanting to be seen, but your health might suffer the more you are outside in such weather." So there has to be some sort of idea he can think of...

Oh! "Have you ever heard of a poncho?"

Much worse than scars, or so Shrike thinks. After all, any normal human could have mere scars. What he's hiding is something that clearly indicates something inhuman about him, a visible part of his fay heritage. Even if the marks look... different, since he came here, than they normally do.

But suffice it to say he's afraid of the reactions should anyone find out, especially anyone he's come to respect and like.

"A poncho?"

"That's right." Dimitri raises his hands, roughly gesturing how the shape would fall on his own form. "It's a cloak, of sorts, but without an opening or fastening on the front. You simply slide your head through, much like a shirt.

"Normally the fabrics can be a bit thick, but I have seen them made out of other material as well. I am positive that you could find one made of a thinner cloth, so that it would be cooler to wear, and that could mean wearing shorter sleeves underneath it. That way, you could still be covered, while not being so hot."

It's an idea, at any rate.

"Maybe. I don't know..."

It might work in theory. But then there's the problem of any time Shrike has to reach for something or otherwise use his hands or arms for anything not also under the poncho. Clearly he just needs to catch an ice type.

If it's only a maybe... Dimitri nods. "That's fine," he says gently. "It was just a thought I had. If you do not feel comfortable with it, then you do not have to go along with it." Being in the shade and having a cold drink should hopefully be enough to make up for it at least a little bit.

"But do let me know if you start to feel too warm, or dizzy, anything of that sort."

"It's always too warm here..."

Was that humor? Or maybe just a bit of complaining about yet another thing that's strange and new and different.

Whether it's a joke or not, it still has Dimitri chuckle. "Well, you have arrived in the warmer months. Once we start moving towards autumn and winter again, it will be a little more comfortable, I should think."

And yet when he thinks about winter in Johto, something about it makes him perk up. "And you will like winter here, I think! There are quite a few holidays spread throughout the season, and one in particular during the start where gifts are exchanged. A saint is involved, and makes sure all are appreciated."

Because that's one way to describe Santa Claus.

Autumn will definitely be nice. Winter, he'll need to get some proper winter clothes for, though. But that's something he can worry about later, thankfully. Besides, that sure is some interesting information Dimitri just mentioned.

"A... huh?"

He's not familiar with a celebration like that. And is definitely not sure what to make of the idea.

Ideally, he should accept the free gifts. Dimitri understands that he has spoken about a great deal of things, however, and so he pauses. "Is it the holiday itself that is throwing you off, or the mention of a saint?" Dimitri asks.

It occurs to him that not every culture would have the idea of such a role. It is something of a religious title, after all, and religions can be quite different.

"Um..."

It's not that all of it is entirely unfamiliar notions to him, exactly. More that there's a lack of equivalents for him to compare to.

"Holidays are... festivals?"

That's a good place to start. Not that Shrike's exactly participated in those, himself.

"They can be," Dimitri agrees. "Often, they are. Yet Christmas, the holiday in this world, is meant to be a little more intimate... as I understand it. They encourage spreading kindness and cheer to other people, and showing your appreciation to those important to you with gifts."

And of course... He smiles. "They love to string up brightly colored lights for the holiday as well. It is an incredible sight, at night amongst all the snow."

Shrike's never heard of a festival--holiday--quite like that. Though admittedly, he's not precisely well-versed in them, either. Just that there's festivals and feasts people have at certain times of year. He struggles a little to fully understand the appeal thanks to that lack of first-hand experience.

"I see..."

It might be interesting to see, he supposes, if he ends up staying here that long. But it's still hard for him to get excited about things that involve doing much with other people.

"I didn't know there was so much stuff here."

On top of everything to do with Pokémon, he means. It's very possible he's still feeling overwhelmed by it all.

Ah, is this too much? Then again, it can be a little hard to tell with Shrike, who prefers to keep things close to his chest - or at least that's how it seems to Dimitri.

"And it seems as though it is neverending," Dimitri agrees quietly. "We can talk about something else, if you like. For example.." He glances back out to the sea again, where all sorts of Pokemon are playing. "How are your Palien companions doing? Have you adjusted to being with them a bit more?"

Shrike simply isn't very used to relating to others. He's learning, but it's still hard at times, especially when there's a lot to take in. Not to mention, he's having to figure out how to express himself as he goes, too, now that there's actually a few people who apparently don't mind talking to him.

"I think they're all right? They seem a little stronger than before..."

That means he's doing it correctly, right? He's never cared for something else like this before, so he's not always sure if he's making mistakes or not.

So they are still slowly leveling up bit by bit... "That's good to hear," Dimitri says. At least he knows from experience that even if a Pokemon isn't a battler, then they can still get experience and build up their strength from exercise and play.

"If you use the Pokegear, it actually should help you see just how much progress they've made, actually. I didn't realize that for a long time."

"That's what the uh... pokédex is for, right? With all the numbers..."

He's probably pronouncing that last bit more like 'deck', he's still not the greatest at reading. And while he's apparently inquisitive enough to have explored some of the 'gear's functions, he still doesn't fully understand what all the labels and stats are supposed to mean.

"That's right. Most of them you honestly won't need to bother with, I think..." At least, Dimitri doesn't. "However, the level helps you keep track of their growth, and it can also show you the kind of abilities they may know."

Dimitri glances back to their bag of things, pondering if he should dig out his own Gear. "We could go over it, if you like. I am no expert, but maybe I could make it seem a little simpler to look at?"

"I know how to use it."

He just doesn't understand what some of the words and numbers mean. Some of it may as well be in a foreign language.

"I know you understand it," Dimitri says. "But some of the things can be a bit confusing, can't they? I didn't understand a great many things, until Chip was able to explain them to me."

Frankly, if Chip wasn't a child, and Dimitri wasn't terribly weak to kids, it's very possible he'd never remembered a single thing explained to him. He'd been in a state, then.

Being weak to kids would certainly explain his willingness to put up with Shrike's nonsense.

"Oh, uh, like why it says two kinds of 'attack'?"

And... other things. The kid has no frame of reference at all for understanding videogame-style stats.

"Two kinds of attack..." Dimitri murmurs it to himself as he digs through his bag, pulling out his Pokegear again. At least now he's finally become a little more used to the technology, and it's easy enough to pull up the Pokedex function.

"Oh - do you mean the 'Attack' and 'Special Attack'?"

"Yeah."

Though frankly, he only has a general idea what 'attack' and 'defense' mean in the first place, in this context. He just assumes that bigger numbers mean the pokémon is better at it.

Dimitri, in contrast, has a better idea of what 'attack' and 'defense' mean, just because he's a warrior and should have been a leader, so those things tend to come up... Especially during times of war, which Fodlan always seems to have at some point or another.

Even better, he's had Chip for over half a year, and Chip has been a wealth of information. So maybe there's a little bit of eagerness to Dimitri's voice as he passes on what information he's learned from the young child. "Attack means physical attacks - anything that may make contact with one's opponent. For example, 'Tackle' is affected by 'Attack'. Meanwhile, 'Special Attack' does not tend to make contact. They're often associated with a type - Grass, Electric, and so forth."

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