[Open] Are you ready? Here we go!

[rollstoseduce]

Who: Everyone and their wallets
Where: Cianwood City
When: Evening of June 21st
Summary: It's an auction! Time to drop some money ~FOR CHARITY~
Rating: Let's say PG-13 just in case.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Alright, here is how this will work: each date/item/egg will have its own top-level! Please reply to it only once, every following comment should be replying to the last bidder, keeping it in one thread. Auctionees are welcome to threadjack with reactions from their characters, of course! Chat with the public, fight among yourselves, etc! I'll freeze the threads and call the winners the morning of June 29th, so you have a whole week to bid! And yes, everyone is absolutely welcome to make their own top levels for this little event, no matter if you are an auctionee, a bidder or just an observer, for the before, the during or the after event, everything goes. All top levels are ready now, so feel free to go ahead and post! :)


Enjoying the solstice festivities, everyone? Those who go for a walk on the beach a few steps away from the festival will notice that a corner of the Cianwood coast has been reserved for something else. Well, two something else, actually.

The first one is a charity booth with the Helping Hand logo on the tablecloth. Three NPC volunteers will be there since early in the morning, handing out pamphlets with tips and contact information, offering their guidance to any Team Rocket victims, and taking any extra donations people may have for them. There's a money box and everything!

The other one... well, is freaking huge. And hidden under a huge canvas cover, which doesn't come off until the festival is over. When the sun finally sets, a pink glow (that many may recognize as a Pokémon using its Psychic-powers) raises the canvas and throws it away, only to reveal...



We know, we know. Your eyes can't believe what they're seeing - it is, indeed, that beautiful. And you're allowed to take selfies on this lovely stage after the auction is over if you drop a little something in the donation box!

Speaking of the auction... the show is starting now. The lights are turned on and, after everyone has taken a sit on one of the hundreds of chairs that were decorated to match the theme, a soft tune starts playing from the speakers as a person makes their way upstage. It's Jaskier, wearing a blue outfit he's commissioned specially for the occasion together with sparkly jewelry and-- is that a bite mark on one of his shoulders? Yes, and a golden mic in his hands. If you've been wondering why Riegfried and Soy have chosen him to host, well, this probably answers that question.

A slow melody isn't being played just for the sake of it - the bard is, of course, singing along. A little something he's also written especially for today.

"♫ In the distance a lonely bell / tolls a solemn beat / for a weary stranger / who has lost a foothold / on life’s road that’s steep / but with a helping hand / they can get up to their feet again ♫"

The song isn't too long, but the message is clear as day. Just because Jaskier is determined to have some fun tonight and tease the hell out of bachelors and bachelorettes, it doesn't mean his wish to help isn't sincere. He just needs to be incredibly extra about it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to express my deepest gratitude to you for being here tonight. Team Rocket has had an impact in most of our lives - mayhap you've come because, like me, you've seen a loved one hurt by their nasty greedy hands. Or perhaps you were a victim yourself. Whatever the reason, you're here to help - with your coin, of course. But not only that: we shall also show Team Rocket that we refuse to be dragged down by their nefarious plans! Let's help, dear public, by not giving up! By keeping our spirits up! By having fun!" He grins as he raises a hand with as much flair as possible. "And to that I say: LET THE SHOW BEGIN!"

Show? What show? Jaskier, this isn't a show, what are you-- never mind. More lights are being turned on and the slow, sweet tune has changed into an upbeat, catchy song. Attendants will quickly notice that Jaskier won't be hosting this auction by himself: two of his Pokémon will be helping. Buttercup the yellow Florges -who is wearing the accesories from the prom contest- will walk in the auctionees arm in arm while keeping up her Petal Dance (because, as we all know, everyone has a secret desire to be in a shojo manga). If you win one of the date auctions, then Buttercup will throw one of her flowers at you. Keep it safe! Meanwhile, the one in charge of bringing and holding up the items and eggs will be Poppy the Swoobat, who is sporting a very cute bow on his fur. Bidders that win these auctions will be approached by this very affectionate bat so he can drop the items on their laps and heartstamp their cheeks as thanks.

Host ready! Participants ready! Wallets open! It's time for a~

BIDDING WAR

Comments

(frozen comment) Date Auction #14: Millenial Tree

[rollstoseduce]

"We've all heard of the expression aged like fine wine... but have you ever considered aged like a fine tree? Older than the land in which he was rooted, this man has taken the form of both tree and cookie, and has many a tale to charm your ears from his outstanding experiences as both. Let's welcome Millennial Tree!"

Thanks to Shadowmaru's help, MT is sporting a gorgeous green tunic. He's still calm and cheerful, just happy to be participating! He'll just say that he's glad this event is being run for a good cause, and he's happy to be able to be part of it. All the while, Jaskier looks at him with profound respect, internally sad over the lack of time to make Millenial Tree tell the audience one of his stories.

"You're bidding for a rather unique opportunity here, my dear public. Shall we? Starting at 1000...!"



ooc note on preferences: anything goes!

(frozen comment) Re: Date Auction #14: Millenial Tree

[fingersandteeth]

Most of the people that Steven has bid on for a date previously, he's done because they're friends or coworkers and he wants to help them out. But in MT's case? Well. He's quite the attractive older fellow. Even if he is a cookie.

"1200," he calls over.

(frozen comment)

[meteorman]

Oh no you don't.

"1600," Ford counters. For once there's an attractive man in his age range (technically), and this one is both an ancient nature spirit and a cookie person in his native dimension. No way is Ford Pines not going to shell out money for a chance to ask him questions about it.

Could he just do that normally? Absolutely. But this is for charity.

(frozen comment) i'm TOTALLY here for letting you win, so just lmk when ford's getting close to his money limit!!!

[fingersandteeth]

"2500," Steven replies promptly. Look, he gets it, Dr Pines. He does. Otherworlders skew younger. Attractive older men are a rare commodity. And the whole tree but also a cookie thing is kind of neat. And it's probably unfair for Steven to be bidding on a man when he actually does have a romantic partner again.

So. You know. He'll probably relinquish Millennium Tree Cookie to Ford at the end.

Just not without a fight.

(frozen comment)

[meteorman]

Well, hey, it doesn't have to be a romantic date. Being otherwise attached doesn't mean you can't take a nice tree man out to dinner or something. Ford certainly doesn't expect anything in the event that he wins, the theming of the whole event notwithstanding.

"5000."

Raising things by standard increments is for losers. A real Pines is a risk-taker. Besides, half the fun of an auction is the competition of it. You don't go to an auction hoping it'll just be a one-and-done sort of thing. Not unless you're incredibly boring.

(frozen comment)

[fingersandteeth]

Steven smiles. It's not a very nice smile. There's definitely teeth in that smile.

"10,000. Your move, Doctor."

(frozen comment)

[meteorman]

Oh buddy. You have made such a mistake that is going to be really good for this charity in the long run.

"20,000."

This is just a boxing match but it's numbers. This is all their relationship is now is finding new ways to do a friendly fight and like. If that's not friendship what is?

(frozen comment)

[fingersandteeth]

Honestly, that's the best kind of friendship.

"50,000," Steven counters, his smile only growing sharper. "I'm sure we'll have room for four at the table if you ask us nicely."

(frozen comment)

[hythlodaeus]

A man stands from the back, mostly because he wouldn't fit anywhere else. His voice carries forward, though spoken rather slowly for a heated auction.

"100,000."

(frozen comment) please do keep this going, you two (i'm intrigued to see how much higher it'll go)

[fingersandteeth]

Steven glances over his shoulder. "Huh," he says. He'd assumed that Hythlo had seduced Dirk by now and Dirk, being Dirk, would have demanded absolute fidelity to himself and to Emet...

... but it was entirely in character for Hythlodaeus to tweak the noses of both of them by bidding on a handsome man, knowing that Steven or Dr Pines would soon outbid him.

Well. Steven was fine with that.

"150,000," he adds, turning back to the front--but honestly, he's about at his limit.

(frozen comment)

[meteorman]

Alright. See, now that Ford is in it it's become a matter of principle, which means he is not going to let this go until probably after he should have already stopped bidding. It's fine, he's got a gym leader's salary, his bank account is doing pretty good all things considered.

"200,000."

It's fine! It's for charity!

(frozen comment)

[fingersandteeth]

Steven shakes his head. The man was gorgeous, but that was practically his entire Elite Four winnings. No threesome was worth this.

"I'm out," he says. "Good luck, Dr Pines."

(frozen comment)

[sassymaru]

"250,000."

He does not have this kind of money. He absolutely does not. But he's here to help his fellow nonhuman friend.

With more than just the outfits. Just to drive the price up.

(frozen comment)

[hythlodaeus]

"250,001," he says with a disgustingly smug aura.

Was that even a legal increment? He doesn't care.

(frozen comment)

[meteorman]

Oh, is this what we're doing now?

"250,002."

This is really stupid.

(frozen comment)

[sassymaru]

"250,003."

So incredibly stupid.

But when your boss is an 8 year old, do you really know any better.

(frozen comment)

[hythlodaeus]

"250,004. Plus this egg," he scoops a pokémon egg from his cowl and holds it aloft.

(frozen comment)

[fingersandteeth]

"What's inside the egg?" Steven calls over, curious despite himself.

(frozen comment)

[hythlodaeus]

"A goomy. A goomy with impeccable lineage," he states like he's announcing royalty.

(frozen comment)

[fingersandteeth]

"... I'm not sure Jaskier will take that," he points out, sensibly--as if any of them have any claim to being sensible at this point. "It's probably too late to add them to the auction."

(frozen comment)

[hythlodaeus]

He steps over and pats Steven on the back. Hush now.

(frozen comment) Not here; but actually he's off the side watching this

[amaure]

(frozen comment)

[meteorman]

Okay, now, that almost definitely isn't a legal bid. But, you know what, if we're going to start tacking things on then we're going to start tacking things on.

"300,000 and an egg with a hidden ability."

(frozen comment)

[hythlodaeus]

"This goomy will have Life Dew and Counter. It might even be shiny. Its father is. 300,001."

He steps closer to ford and turns to him, then extends a hand.

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Hythlodaeus, proprietor of Egglysium."

(frozen comment)

[meteorman]

A handshake in the middle of an ongoing battle is a hell of a vibe. Ford admires the moxie, actually. His grip is very firm, possibly because it's a full extra finger more powerful than normal and possibly because he's just like that when he gets competitive.

"Dr. Stanford Pines, leader of the Horizon Gym." And Ninetales Guy, but we don't talk about his meme presence online. "I can also throw in a shiny egg. Moses knows I'm drowning in both. 300,002."