The Festival of Wishes!

[indigo_league]

Who: Everyone!
Where: Pewter City!
When: June 24th
Summary: It's time to celebrate the Festival of Wishes!


Pewter City is one of those towns that doesn't draw a lot of attention. It's nice and has that museum, but it never seems to be the scene of much excitement.

But today, that's different. Because today, Pewter City has been doffed up to the nines, with visitors arriving from everywhere to celebrate the Festival of Wishes. The skies are crowded with uBIRDs flying in people from all over Johto and Kanto. The streets are filled with cheerful noises and many in the crowd have come in their finest yukata and kimono, adding splashes of colour to what might otherwise be a drab crowd. And if you'd like to try out one of these beautiful garments yourself, there are plenty of nearby shops offering rentals for the visiting crowds.

Stalls have gone up all over town, most hawking various forms of street food: Takoyaki, Yakisoba, Kaarage and many others! And for those looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, there's plenty of shaved ice, chocolate-covered bananas and Taiyaki to go around. Hopefully, you brought an empty stomach, because it would be a shame to miss out on all these yummy goodies.

But it isn't just food stalls that dot the streets. A wide variety of festival games are also available. From shooting galleries to ring toss to small lottery games -- whatever you might be in the mood for can be found here. Stuffed animals and sweets are the most common prizes to be won, but who knows, perhaps if you get very lucky, you might even win an Evolution Stone.

And, of course, no festival would be complete without a Test of Courage. Are you brave? Is fear something you only know from the dictionary? Then why not prove it? Why not enter Pewter City most haunted dwelling (usually just an office building) and show your mettle to your friends or even that special someone? Who knows, you might even earn a kiss if you protect them from the many horrors that dwell within (AKA, volunteers in costumes, a few ghost pokemon, and so many 'creepy' paper mache props)

There are also various stalls dedicated to traditional arts and crafts. From Calligraphy to Origami, if you have an interest in these matters, you'd do well to check them out. And you can do more than just buy some nice decorative pieces for your home, or a cute little origami figure of your favourite pokemon partner; many of the stalls also offer visitors the chance to try their own hand at these traditional skills. Are you the type of person who is always looking to learn a new skill? Or have you perhaps mastered these skills already and do you want to show off? Why not come over here and spend some time?

(Who knows, you might even impress someone special!)

And once night has fully fallen, the skies will light up, not just with the light of the stars and the moon, but with the many bright colours of fireworks! If you aren't completely tired out yet from all the festival games, why not sit down, relax, (maybe drink a beer if you are old enough) and enjoy the beautiful spectacle happening above you.


---


But all of that cheer doesn't really answer the big question -- what is the Festival of Wishes?

Keen eyes (and not so keen eyes, really, they are everywhere) will be able to spot various decorations shaped like the pokemon Jirachi dotting the stalls everywhere. From small plush toys to folded origami figures, Jirachi's cheerful face can be found everywhere. There even is a theatre performance explaining the whole tale, but for those too busy stuffing their faces to partake in (ugh) culture, it all comes down to this: Jirachi is the Wish Pokemon. During the festival, people write down their wishes, hoping that Jirachi might fulfil them.

Of course, there is never a guarantee Jirachi will be around. It's been known to sleep a lot. But why not give it a try? It can't hurt, right?

Comments

Wish Tree!

[indigo_league]

At the centre of the festival of wishes is the wish tree -- or wish bamboo to be more exact!

One of Pewter City's squares has been taken over by numerous pots of bamboo stalks. The pots are all different, creating a rainbow of colour. But what is the same is that each stalk of bamboo is decorated with fluttering strips of paper. And a closer look shows that these strips aren't just paper decorations -- each of them has been inscribed with a wish; from the small and childish wishes ("I want to eat a million candies!") to the sweetly poignant ones ("I hope my husband recovers quickly."), it looks like all the residents of Pewter City and the many festival visitors have transcribed their inner desires and have committed them to Jirachi.

Nearby attendants are armed with many more strips of paper and pens, offering them to anyone who has yet to add one of their own wishes to the trees. Why not give it a go? Who knows, maybe Jirachi really is listening.


---

Whether large or small, greedy or generous, we encourage you to submit a single wish per character. It could be for an item, big or small, or it could be for something less substantial, something impossible even. What may happen to your character's wish is in Jirachi's hands.

[prayreturn]

It takes a while for Minfilia to decide on how she phases her wish. Her desire in this world - she dare not ask for anything that would change her own star. (For she is learning, slowly, that she is a little ignorant.) But could she truly be selfish, and wish for something for herself? Even now, she errs.

Written in firm letters - the sort that show the person who wrote them writes a lot - is a simple wish. She need not take the time of a God, explaining her situation. No, she would simply ask for one thing, and hope that Jirachi was kind enough to listen.

"I wish to be strong enough to feel safe."

Theatre Performance

[indigo_league]

Those who are curious about the origins of this holiday would do well to visit the open-air stage, where the famous Kimono Girls will be giving two performances (one early in the afternoon, and one later in the evening) where they will bring to life the story that gave rise to this festival.

And it goes a bit like this.

A long time ago, back before Johto and Kanto even existed, there were two young lovers -- a beautiful and smart girl from a rich, well-off family, and a kind but poor Mareep shepherd from a neighbouring village. The two had met by accident (or was it fate) and immediately love had blossomed between them.

However, despite the love that clearly existed between them, their families did not approve. The girl's family believe this shepherd boy to be too poor for their daughter, while the boy's family worried that this girl could never be hardworking enough to adjust to a shepherd's wife's life.

At first, their families tried to forbid the young lovers from meeting, however, meet they did -- in the fields and in the forest, near to the streams and in the shadow of the mountains, everywhere did the young lovers find happiness together. This angered their families until finally, they separated them, and both families moved far away, believing that distance would put an end to their silly love.

But love is not so easily ended.

The girl, desperate to see her beloved shepherd once more, saddled her Stantler and rode out into the night, with only her heart to guide her to her beloved. At the same time, the shepherd boy left behind his flock of Mareep, and accompanied only by his trusty old Herdier, he too tried to find the missing half of his heart. Both travelled for many days and nights, guided only by the stars until finally, the twinkling of a bright star guided them back together.

Almost back together!

For one last barrier laid between them -- a large gorge separated the two lovers, too broad to be leapt across by any pokemon, while vicious winds ensured that even the strongest of birds would not be able to help them across. They had come so far, and come so close, but now it seemed that this most final of obstacles would keep them apart forever.

Unable to do much more, separated and each trapped on a side, the young lovers could do no more than wish upon those bright stars that had brought them together. For seven days and seven nights, they wished and hoped for something that could bring them together.

And on the seventh night, something answered their wishes.

The bright star that had shone in the sky grew brighter and brighter, larger and larger, until it was no longer a star but instead the pokemon Jirachi! And from its bed in the sky, it had heard their wishes, and it knew it had to help.

Floating down, Jirachi appeared before the two lovers, and with a gesture of its paw, it called forth hundreds of nearby bird pokemon, who beat their wings in unison until they could quell the howling winds. Then with another gesture, the earth beneath their feet started to rumble as hundreds and hundreds of Diglet came to Jirachi's aid, working together to fill the gorge, so the two lovers could finally embrace. And with their wishes fulfilled, Jirachi disappeared again to find other people and pokemon in need of its help.

And this is why we hold this festival, to honor Jirachi who helps fulfil wishes where it can, and to hope that maybe one day, our own wish might be fulfilled.

Riz Gukgak | OTA

[nightyorb]

Shooting Gallery

[These guns aren't really proper guns, nowhere near as strong as his arquebus and pretty shittily taken care of to boot, but this is the closest Riz has been to a gun in months and godfuck, he's gonna take advantage of it.

Which is to say that Riz can be found hanging out at one of the shooting galleries. He's standing on a crate so he can properly reach over the counter, and he's hitting targets practically without fail. A large pile of stuffed animals and other miscellaneous prizes is building up on the counter next to him, but Riz doesn't actually care about that. He's not doing this for the prizes. He isn't even sure what he is going to do with all that junk after this. All he cares about is getting to shoot a gun again, and making sure he hasn't gone too rusty.

And if the proprietor of the booth is watching him in silent horror as he slowly cleans out their booth, well, Riz don't care about that.]

Other

[When Riz isn't being the scourge of shooting galleries anywhere, he can be found wandering the crowds, scoping out the area, just to make sure nobody is using the opportunity to commit any crimes. The festival itself doesn't super interest him, the crowds are a bit too thick for his liking, and the concept of writing down his wish and tying it to a tree makes him roll his eyes, but at least the food is plentiful.

Feel free to bump into him (very possibly literally, he's great at getting underfoot) while he wanders the premises, regarding many of the offered activities with dubious judgement.

(And he is absolutely not thinking for a minute about how Kristen and Fig would probably love that theatre show cause they are both hopeless romantics at heart. Or about how Fabian would probably get super into the dancing. Or about how great it would be to have Gorgug here so he could perch on his shoulders and stay clear of the throng of people, and god, he misses Adaine and being able to point all the glaring, logical inconsistencies in the play.

But anyway. He is super not thinking about that.)]

Other

[crystalmaster]

[Radley does indeed almost bump into him, so involved is he in thinking of how everything reminds him of home. But he catches himself in time.]

Oh hey, sorry about that.

[His Pokemon chorus greetings!]

Bruno Bucciarati | OTA except where indicated otherwise

[nellacerniera]

Throughout the Day
[After so much time spent in Viridian Forest recently, arriving to Pewter just in time for this festival has been a damn blessing, thanks. He's rented a yukata for the day and can be found wandering around--sometimes with the rest of his travel group, sometimes without, often with food in hand. His Skitty and his newly hatched Alolan Vulpix are out of their balls today, and despite Bucciarati's best attempts, it's entirely possible either of them are getting underfoot.

He checks out the wish tree and makes sure to add his own, and makes sure to catch one of the performances, but he passes the test of courage right up.

... It's kind of nice to just enjoy himself.]

Games
[Bucciarati was, very honestly, intending to give the games a pass--he's pretty sure carnival games are the same across worlds (that is to say rigged), but when he realized there was a chance of getting an evolution stone... well. Okay, he had to give it an honest try, for his Pokémon, if nothing else.

However, he is passing the lottery-type games right up--the more or less skill-based games are one thing, but something based purely on luck? Nah. Not happening. Honestly? It's probably likely that someone's gonna run into him or have to duck around him as he decides which of the games to try...]

Arts and Crafts
[No matter how much he wants to, he definitely shouldn't get any of the decorative calligraphy pieces--he's on the road! He doesn't have anywhere to put those!--but it's not going to stop him from checking these stalls out. If a stall's proprietor has a business card so he can look into them later... he's just going to casually tuck that away. Just in case. At any rate, Bucciarati allows himself to get talked into giving it a try himself. As it turns out, he's actually pretty good at calligraphy!

... Origami, however, is a completely different story. He settles in to give that a try, and as the time passes... it's just abundantly clear he's not very good at this, no matter how much he tries. The poor attempts at Slowpoke, Skitty, and Shuppet start stacking up... The proprietor of this stall looks amused. Someone please take pity on him.]

Fireworks - Closed to Abbacchio
[As the day winds down, a spectacular fireworks show starts. Bucciarati's since returned the yukata he'd rented, which was the main reason for his hurrying off. It doesn't take long for him to track down Abbacchio again, however, and he has a couple of beers in hand when he does. One of which he's holding out.]

Do you want to go find someplace to sit down and watch the fireworks?

Arts and Crafts

[crystalmaster]

[While Radley is working on his origami Pokemon, he sees Bruno come to the booth too and start trying it out. He winces sympathetically at the sad attempts. Radley hasn't done too terrible a job on the Eevee, but when he attempts an Espurr he becomes a bit flummoxed.]

This papercrafting is something else. It's sure a lot harder than they make it look!

Radley | OTA

[crystalmaster]

[Radley loves other cultures and is fascinated by how this festival is so steeped in something very similar to Japanese culture. He had never expected to get the chance to participate in something that feels so very much like home, and he's soaking up every bit of it. He had to hitch a ride to get here, as his Rookidee hasn't evolved enough to carry him around. And since he has more than six Pokemon, he tries to switch out some of them from time to time so they can all enjoy this.

Evie is a constant presence, of course, unable to bear being far from him, and she trots along happily at his side or runs over to say Hi to possible new friends! He spends a lot of time chasing her to the various people, laughing and apologizing.

The other Pokemon seem to be enjoying things too. They all take in one of the theatre performances, and he plans to come to the other one with the rest of his Pokemon. The food is delicious and the midway is nice. He's not much for the rides, but he plays some of the games just to challenge himself and maybe to win some prizes for his Pokemon. Aside from the food, he likes the crafting booths the most and works on trying to make a origami Eevee while his Pokemon watch in fascination.

He wishes everyone he loves from back home could be here. Scotch would love it so much! They had talked sometimes about doing a festival similar to this, based on the Japanese festival. Maybe if he gets back home, they will.

But he doesn't want to think about that, since his Pokemon wouldn't be going with him. He wishes there was a way to be with everyone he loves.]

Jane Crocker | OTA

[cyan_maid]

[It's been a long while since there was a nice summer festival like this. At least, one that Jane could attend and rent one of those yukata for. And, well, this is actually really nice? Colorful paper on bamboo trees, street stalls with food and games, and a generally hopeful atmosphere? It's infectious, it really is.

She spends some time at the festival games, Dinah by her side chomping down on a fresh taiyaki (they were both quite impressed with the method of making them, it must be said) as Jane tries the ring toss games, a lottery or two...she only gets little prizes like sweets or pretty paper fans, but she puts each one away with the same kind of care. After all, when you want to bring home a little souvenir for each of your whole horde of Pokemon, you've got to accumulate them somehow, right?

The same mindset is what leads Jane to the traditional arts and crafts stalls, where she spends a good amount of time watching and learning, trying her own hand at some things...her various attempts at origami don't turn out too bad! And they're not all Pikachu, but this is really the only form of anything she really seems to be able to master.

Fireworks towards the end of the night draw her attention, and you can find her on the edge of Pewter City, closer to where one of the routes begins, to sit and take in the sight. Her ever-present Audino has dozed off and leans against her, seemingly unbothered by the booms and crackles - she must be tired - though Jane herself is wide awake, drinking some water and relishing the moment. Care to relax with her?]

Fireworks

[crystalmaster]

[Radley likes fireworks too, another reminder of home. He's looking for a nice place to relax and watch them, while Evie dances around at his feet. He hopes his Rookidee isn't afraid of fireworks. His Ralts seems curious but shy, sticking close by him and clutching his pant leg.]

Hi. Is this spot available?

[He smiles at Jane. They both live in Goldenrod, so he's hoped to have a chance to visit with her more.]

G'raha Tia | OTA

[gachatia]

[Y'all, this nerd would have shown up at this event no matter what - G'rhyf is here, somewhere, and so is he, and why would he not go on an adventure to a city he's never seen with someone he cares about? The cool cultural significance to the festival is just a plus.

So that does mean, yes, G'raha Tia attends both of the Theatre Performances, watching with rapt attention, nearly short of taking notes on the whole thing. His study of drama and plays is wholly within the realm of Allagan literature, so Johto and Kanto tradition is completely new to him, and the first time he's swept up in the artistry of the performance, the costumes, the props. The second time the story holds sway in his mind, and in a completely unromantic way, he wonders about the influence of the culture of this world on the structure and elements of the story.

(Prime dumbass here, he is.)

But there's time in between that! And holy cow, he wants to do everything, all the things. The traditional crafts are a wonder, and he is nearly insufferable trying to learn each and every craft as well as he can. For his sake, at least, his hands are quite deft, and he doesn't fumble terribly through them. Feel free to be annoyed with his fussing and skill, if you like, or maybe he could help you if you're struggling?

The food stalls are an entire different experience. The smells and sounds of each and every festival treat has him internally vibrating, and he soon finds himself with one of everything he can carry to share with his Pokemon - and you, if you're looking at him funny. Once one armload is gone between himself and his Pokemon friends, he goes back and gets a whole bunch of new stuff. It's not spoiling your dinner if you're sharing between yourself and at least three other beings!]

Food stalls

[crystalmaster]

[Radley can't help but catch sight of G'raha Tia off and on throughout the day, and the sheer enthusiasm and excitement for everything is so endearing and reminds Radley of a dear friend. So he can't help but continue to observe whenever he sees the other, and finally he decides to go say Hi.]

You remind me of my friend Scotch.

[He smiles.]

That's a compliment, by the way. I miss him a lot. He'd be going all over this place just like you are.

[fortuna_tenax]

( today's companions: )

prologue. closed to the dads and izuku

( it's... a miracle this hadn't happened sooner, all things considered- izuku publicly confessed to a third of the off-worlders at prom, after all. but she made a comment about meeting her boyfriend at the festival, and there'd been a whole house-wide tizzy so she inhaled, shot izuku a text saying her family wanted to meet him before they went off and did their own thing and now she's waiting at an outdoor restaurant with all of the dads, ranger in her lap and allium hanging off her shoulder, waiting for izuku to find them. they're pretty hard to miss, all things considered. idly, jinx is nibbling on takoyaki. )

I think he'll be here soon.

ii. closed to izuku

( so. we have had familial introductions. now it's time for date night, by which i mean eventually she'll drag izuku off by the arm laughing, because it's probably going to go alright. )

Man! I've never been to anything like this before- like, there was carnigals and stuff back home, but. You know. Bad luck. I wasn't really allowed to go anywhere near them.

( girl- )

What first?

iii. wildcard for uh. not date shenanigans. sorry everyone she's focused.

( she's here with a goal of Spend Time With Boyfriend but that doesn't mean she can't say hi? )

A - Dimitri's turn

[nastyboy]

[On the bright side, Dimitri already knows Izuku quite well enough, so this is really just a formality more than anything... and, listen, maybe he's just really hype to know that Jinx is dating a nice young man that he personally knows already!!! It works out!]

Oh, there is no rush! With how much is happening, and this potentially being a new city for so many, it is understandable if one gets lost.

[sassymaru]

CARNIVAL GAMES
[Oh of course Shadowmaru is here with style. A rental? Please. He had this yukata already. Matching sandals? Check. The only thing he had to do was put his hair up. Of course he already had the accessory.]

[And here he is. Standing in front of the Ring Toss booth. He looks as smug and confident as ever. He would have done something like a goldfish / magikarp dip, but that involves water and fish and potentially getting his outfit wet. So here he is.]

Which prize should I select, do you think?

[With that? Shadowmaru winds up... and just chucks those poor rings like they're shuriken. Yeah, he's going to hit the pegs.]

MOST HAUNTED HOUSE
Ah... I wonder how frightening it truly is.

[Ghost pokemon hardly sound like a bad idea, after all. His small army of dogs - Growlithe, Rockruff, Electrike - are looking back and forth from the building to their trainer and back. On his shoulder, his Oricorio looks completely unbothered.]

I believe we shall give it a try. Care to join?


FIREWORKS
[By the end of the festivities, the BP unit has taken a seat to watch the finale. He's got a shaved ice, some taiyaki for his pokemon, and a fan. He's settled a bit apart from the rest of the folks watching, his eyes scanning the skies for the first bursts of color.]

[However, he won't say no to company. He might even offer to share the fan, or the shaved ice, if you're lucky.]

Most Haunted House

[crystalmaster]

[Radley hadn't planned to try the haunted house at all, not for possible fear but just because it wasn't his thing without his friends there. He figured going might make him long even more for them to be there, especially Scotch, who loved that sort of thing. But ... with a companion, he might be willing to do it.]

Sure, I'm game.

minfilia warde | ota!

[prayreturn]

[ After arriving - and making sure she was allowed to give the uBird some treats - Minfilia can't help but settle in to the festivities. That these people feel so open to celebrating their gods makes her feel all warm inside. It makes some of her feelings fall away, her fears and worries, if only for a little.

This world is a beautiful place.

Minfilia decides it's okay to rent one of the beautiful gowns, as well! She should spoil herself more. She truly should.

She cannot help but be drawn to the street food, however - it reminds her of food she's heard of! And so, she is taking a bit of each, and sharing it with her Pokemon. It's town! Her entire team can be out! (Her Snover is continuing his map.) Yet, she spends most of her time simply roaming from stall to stall, taking in the history and importance of this event.

She can also be found at the origami stalls, attempting to remember the way to create some oragami she'd learned from her home! It's... going okay. But with every attempt, she is improving!

Also, you can bump into her at the theatre performances - she goes multiple times, to appreciate their story. To learn it by heart, so that she can carry it forward. A sleepy God who can make miracles happen... what a beautiful story.

By the time of the fireworks, Minfilia is a little tired. But she's leaning against a wall to watch them, nursing a drink in her hands, deep in thought. She wonders if these Gods truly are watching.

She hopes they are. ]

Theatre Performances

[crystalmaster]

[Radley smiles to see Minfilia, and to see her having enjoyed the performance so much.]

It's a nice story. They really did a good job bringing it to life.

[shiro2hero]

ARRIVAL
So when Shiro first turns up, he... doesn't look like he belongs here. He looks more like he should be looking for Margarita-vill or something. Plus shorts. And sandals - don't worry, he isn't wearing socks with those sandals. He's arrived with his Umbreon and Marowak. Both of which are looking at him with utmost skepticism.

"What?"

The pokemon shake their heads.

Moments later, he can be seen being dragged by not only those two pokemon, but his Aggron. More moments later, he turns up with a makeover. Shiro does not look entirely thrilled, though his pokemon look incredibly pleased.

GAMES
It's just darts. How hard can it be? Judging from the scowl on Shiro's face, very difficult. The individual manning the booth is trying to get him to quit while he's... well. Not ahead, but - before he throws too hard and breaks the dartboard.

"No, hang on - hang on, I got this."

He does not got this. Later on, though, he can be found at one of those TEST YOUR STRENGTH games. Except it looks kind of... Weird. Shiro looks at his pokemon, grins, and steps forward. Oh, he's so going to win this one. It's not even fair.

CRAFTS
It honestly seems like the artistic skill bypassed most of Team Voltron. And Shiro is no different. So help him, he is trying. His finished product doesn't really look bad. Just not entirely what he was going for. He even looks proud of himself for the little Pikachu face.

"What do you think?" he'll ask the nearest person, holding it up. "Not bad, yeah?"

Don't tell him what his Marowak just so happens to be working on next to him.

FIREWORKS
Finally, as everything winds down, Shiro collects his pokemon, and several over-sized plates of noodles, heading over to watch the fireworks. He's leaned up against his Aggron, Umbreon and Marowak on either side. They're all in good moods, relaxed, and more than open to company for the fireworks.

It's been a good day.

Crafts

[crystalmaster]

Hey, that's really cute.

[Evie loves the Eevee Radley made! Elliott the Espurr is turning the origami Espurr around in his paws. It didn't come out as well. But he likes that Radley tried.]

[insidegalra]

General "around the festival" prompt
Thace and quite a few of his Pokemon have dressed up for the occasion. Thace ends up in a bright pink fading to leaf green yukata (with green leaves and pink flowers decorating the sleeves and bottom hem respectively) that's probably Shaymin themed because Vruli the tiny Exploud liked that one best and wanted to match with dad! Vruli has also opted to decorate Thace's head and two of her horns with matching flower crowns! They are a very festive pair.

Shiny Meowstic Athvrix has opted for just a yellow and teal obi tied in a festive bow obviously meant to emulate Jirachi itself. Alolan Ninetales Acxa has put a rainbow of bows around her tails, and pinned a flower to the fur under her ear. Then there's Flareon Vonir who's decided to wear what is probably a child-sized haori in black and gold, with the sleeves tied up with a bright red bow so they don't tangle her paws. The last two of his Pokemon companions (Vrig the Aegislash, and a tiny Goomy) aren't wearing anything, but Thace has opted to exchange his usual harness/sling to carry them in for a festively colored one depicting stars and nebulae on a dark background.

For most of the festival, Thace can be spotted walking around with these six as his companions, taking in the sights, indulging his Pokemon in treats (nibbling a little bit of everything himself), and generally having a fun time. He even watches the theater performance twice!

He can occasionally be found walking back and forth between his hotel and the festival either to deliver gifts (there are... a lot) there for safe keeping, or to take one of his other family members to experience a particular sight.

Games! ...in which Thace unintentionally becomes a cautionary tale for games attendants everywhere
The games Thace chooses to play can often be foretold by excited "Loud! Loud! Exploud!" because Vruli wants the prizes! Most of the stuffed animals, she seems intent on giving to Thace's family members, or people she knows Thace likes spending time with, but the sweets are hers. And she loves watching her dad win the games! All the games!

Thace is happy to spend money until he gets the prize Vruli wants on the games of chance, of course, but he's got so much (often hard won and long practiced, true) advantage at many of the games of skill that attendants start looking worried when he approaches a game stall on Vruli's encouragements.

Darts and balloons? No problem for Thace. He even gets one dart stuck so deeply into the cork board that the attendant has to ask Thace to pull it back out. Test your strength to ring the bell? Rung! The Seel racing game with the water guns? Every time first place, although Thace does give his prize to any child playing against him...resulting in him having to play quite a few more times than he'd intended to get the prize Vruli wanted. He's quietly asked to leave and not come back when words gets out among the children attending that the really tall man will give you his prize if you race against him!

The ring toss is the only one that seems to give him some trouble, but after several rounds Thace gets the hang of the aerodynamics of the rings and Thace ends up walking away with the almost life-size Gengar and Corviknight plushes that Vruli wanted. He looks ridiculous trying to carry both of them away.

But the shooting gallery? That frazzled attendant just kind of moans in horrified realization when Thace picks up the gun and gets two bullseyes as quick as one can squeeze the trigger. Thace ends up handing over several more rounds worth of entry money but only taking the one prize as apology to the poor attendant.

Arts and crafts (and gifts!)
Thace is much less an unintended menace and more a very welcome guest over in this area of the festival. He is enamored by everything! He asks lots of questions, and returns to purchase armloads full of gifts for family and friends several times.

But he spends the most time getting lessons in the origami, flower arranging, and calligraphy stalls, and going over the processes again and again until he's sure he's got it perfect. Not as many people get his own hand-made attempts as gifts as purchased ones, but a few do, and he spends the last bit of time before the fireworks tracking down any people he knows might be here and giving them the gifts he's gotten.

Games

[crystalmaster]

[Radley sees some of the success at the games and nods, impressed.]

You're really good at these.

Dimitri - OTA

[nastyboy]

A - Yukata

[Dimitri may still be somewhat lacking in his understanding of the many aspects to Kanto and Johto's culture, but he does his best to learn when he can. And it has come to his attention that traditional Kantonian wear is encouraged during festivals such as these! Fortunately, there are plenty of stalls even at the festival where one can remedy this issue...]

[Dimitri already was recommended a nice navy blue outfit for himself, so that's taken care of. And yet anyone passing by certain stalls may find themselves waved down.]

Oh, excuse me, but do you believe you could spare a moment for a second opinion?

[He has two Raticate with him - Hob and Cofgodas aka his contest-winning Raticate - already dressed up in a pair of matching Octillery-themed and Inkay-themed yukata carefully tailored to fit their not-so-little rat bodies... but there is just so much selection, and there are clearly a couple more yukata on a tiny rack nearby that are being tried out.]

B - Food Stall time

[Dimitri has found he has something of a fondness for the foods which can be found at festivals. There's just something about the texture of fried food crunching in his mouth, or how it feels to hold something on a stick, or the pleasant smells which fill the air and almost make him imagine he can taste again... It's nice.]

[What's not so nice might be that he's brought Laurel with him in an effort to bond more with her. The problem here is that Laurel is a Swanna, or at least certainly appears to be one.]

[The problem is that Laurel has a tendency to be... reserved. That's the nice word for it! And she is possibly adjusting to a place with so many people in it! So if you are waiting in the same line at a stall as Dimitri is, well...]

[This Swanna is eyeing you. And, uh. slowly reaching out with her long neck towards you....?]

[Dimitri has his hand on her back, but he hasn't noticed what she's doing yet. This is probably fine.]

C - Calligraphy

[Or, well. Ink is sure involved!]

[If you go over to the calligraphy stall, you may find Dimitri and Gabby the Miltank, dressed up in her own little cotton-candy blue yukata. They are seated together in front of a little table and, uh.]

[They're trying their best.]

[Gabby's best means foregoing the paintbrush entirely, instead thinking carefully each time before she presses an ink-covered hoof down onto the paper. This is just looking like cow spots...?]

[Dimitri, in contrast, seems to be hesitating at his own awkward attempts at calligraphy. He thought he would have a handle on this - his handwriting is nice, as expected of a person who was going to be king - but somehow the paintbrush is just... throwing him off a lot. He's only partially done, and his lines don't seem as smooth or confident as he wishes.]

I feel I am doing this wrong...

D - Wildcard

[Go wild]

Individual Threads

[nastyboy]

[Planned out for specific people]

Mando | OTA

[singlespacedad]

Shooting Galleries

If you took better care of them, I wouldn't need to be here!

[These poor, poor carnival workers. Mando has discovered the shooting galleries, and immediately got excited about having his hands on a gun again, only to find out that these guns are filthy, unbalanced, and generally uncared for. To him, this is practically like watching someone kick a puppy out into the cold rain.]

[He's set himself up at one of the booths, commandeering all the guns--hope no one wanted to play this particular game, at least for the time being--and is hard at work disassembling and cleaning them. He brushes off any interference from the carnival worker without looking up from what he's doing.]

You should be ashamed of yourself, letting them get this way.

Arts and Crafts

[Once all the guns in the vicinity have been lovingly cleaned and recalibrated, Mando has found his way to the arts and crafts booths. Calligraphy isn't for him, but the origami booths caught his eye. He's currently trying to fold a frog, with minimal success. It would probably be easier if he took his gloves off, but that would be admitting defeat.]

[papacerberus]

You are correct; the condition is life-threateningly poor.

[Mando probably walked past this guy staring at one of the other shooting galleries on his way to confiscate the weapons. Said guy has now gathered all the other attendants of the other shooting galleries (his very large Houndoom has one scruffed by the back of the shirt) with their guns and brought them over. None of the attendants look particularly thrilled or willing but there's a Growlithe and a Furfrou running herd to prevent escape help usher the new students over and none of them seem bold enough to challenge this dude and his pack of canine Pokemon.]

But if they aren't instructed on how to properly care for their guns, the guns will end up in this condition again. Now watch; I will do it slowly at first.

[Except his 'slow' at running a safety check and dismantling the gun is... probably somebody else's personal speed record. This guy knows his way around guns like he's lived and breathed them his whole life, if nothing else.]

Marik Ishtar | OTA

[thetombkeeper]

Food Stalls

[Marik, clad in a deep purple yukata, has bought...a lot of food. Way more he can actively eat. Even his Yamask, Chenzira, is munching away at some mochi daintily. His Spinarak, Layla, is gnawing away at a taiyaki, looking somewhat indignit. (She could have caught the food herself. This isn't real fish...)

He wants to try everything though! A lot of these he recognizes from his time in Domino City so it's nice that they're somewhat familiar to him. Marik breaks a piece of his own taiyaki and holds it out to Chenzira.]

Here, try this one. I think you'll like the bean paste.

[There's plenty of room at the table and plenty of room for others to join, should they feel so inclined.]


Fireworks

[With his two pokemon companions, the Egyptian has picked a somewhat tucked away spot to watch the fireworks. This is something entirely new for him. The sounds are startling, powerful, but somehow majestic at the same time. The lights are more beautiful than the stars in the night sky. It's breathtaking, really.

He watches the display, a look of awe and melancholy to his eyes.]

Food Stalls

[crystalmaster]

[Radley sees Marik and goes over.]

Hi! This place is really something, isn't it? It's so much like home.

[His Pokemon warble and hop up to the table.]

[ourstosee]

[Aymeric had all but insisted on visiting Pewter City for this event. Not that he met much resistance, of course, but still. He'd had precious little time to observe, let alone partake in Hingan and Doman culture, even after things had begun to settle between the Empire and their allies from Othard. Given the similar culture within this world, then, he can't help but be enthused about engaging with a festival of this degree.

Naturally the first thing he does upon arriving is attempt to dress the part. It's not so simple as renting the Yukata, however. He spends far too much time speaking with the shopkeeper about the traditional methods of wear, cultural faux pas to avoid, and the historical significance of it all. Though the shopkeep seems to have a good attitude about it all, maybe someone should save the poor fellow before Aymeric talks their ear off?

Once he's inevitably fully dressed and dragged off, Aymeric finds himself equally enamored by the festival proper. He makes a point of trying most of the food, finding it vastly different to what he's used to in Ishgard. The Takoyaki certainly draws his attention, given his partner's love for squid. Octopus balls, thus, should be very similar he thinks!

... in the end he's a bit put off by the chewy texture of the meat, and ends up passing the remainder of his Takoyaki to Estinien, wherever he might be. Or maybe a lucky stranger will end up with a stick or two if he can't track the Dragoon down.

Childish as the crafts and games might occasionally be, Aymeric seems to take them very seriously. His brows pinch with focus as he tries to patiently fold origami, or if he focuses too hard on the skill of a game. The end results are mixed, ultimately -- though Aymeric does come away with a handful of plush prizes, his attempts at origami are abysmal at best. He'll do his best to hide his attempts away, should anyone come to look.

When the night finally arrives, however, Aymeric is quick to find a spot in the grass, ready for the fireworks. He pours a cup of sake for whoever might join him, then holds the bottle out.]

I believe it is traditional that you pour for me? And I cannot think of a better way to enjoy the coming display than with a proper drink.

dressup

[psionicmolotov]

I am beginning to see a pattern here, [ Kimmuriel says dryly as Aymeric is mid-sentence, taking advantage of the rental store's relative privacy to do his hair up more tightly so it can be kept off the back of his neck. He's dressed tidily in a yukata more for practicality than anything else; his other sets of clothing are too dark for summer's sweltering heat. ] Is fashion a hobby of yours, or is it the cultural learning you prefer?

Kazuki Hihara | OTA

[forsaintcecilia]

[Attending a festival that was obviously an analogue for tanabata was a bit bittersweet for Kazuki, as it reminded him so much of home. Mostly, it reminded him of the times he'd spent with his friendgroup, hanging out together at events like this, having antics of their own, making fun where they could find it... So he was a little sad to be here alone. But that didn't mean he couldn't make the best of it.]

[He had fun picking out his yukata, at least! The pattern and cut (with long sleeves) was one the feminine side, but the obi was tied in the masculine way, and he thought it suited him pretty well. He also pinned his hair back with an orange hibiscus barrette to complete the look.]

[You can find him basically everywhere. He'll definitely be eating way too much food, mainly sweets, and participating in the various prize games, although he's not particularly skilled at any of them... Maybe you could help him out with something? And he'll be staying until nightfall so he can see the fireworks.]

[There's also a pretty good chance you'll catch him trying to decide what to wish for, as it took him a really long time to decide what to write. He even looks a bit troubled about it at times. Perhaps you could ask him a penny for his thoughts?]

[If there's anything else you'd want him for, I'm sure he'd be happy to have the company.]

Re: Kazuki Hihara | OTA

[crystalmaster]

[Radley eventually spots him at the games and goes over.

"Hey!" [He greets with a smile.

[Evie warbles enthusiastically.]

Mirabel Madrigal | ota

[nonmagical]

[Yukata]

[Mirabel has been eyeing the beautiful yukatas that everyone is wearing, and feels a bit awkward that she doesn't have one herself. She stops in one of the rental shops, and picks out one that's suited just for her. She walks out proudly, doing a little twirl in it.]

Well, what do you think?

[Festival Food]

[This is all food that Mirabel's never tried before, and it does smell good... but she's busy trying to reel in her new Midnight Form Lycanroc that evolved earlier in the month. The Lycanroc seems to keep snagging food from different booths, and when Mirabel notices...]

Ladrillo! I think we're supposed to pay for that, put that back!

[She's not sure if the food is free or not, but she didn't raise her Rockruff to be a thief!]

[Arts and Crafts]

Does it go like this? Or... this?

[She's folding origami, but her crane doesn't quite look right. She picks up a new, different colored piece of paper and tries again.]

Did the fold go like this...?

[Fireworks]

[Fireworks are familiar for Mirabel, so she finds a grassy hill to plop under and happily watches the show.]

Festival Food

[crystalmaster]

[Radley sees her and goes over with a sympathetic wince, seeing the Lycanroc swiping something.]

Uh oh. Does he do that a lot?

Hubert von Vestra | OTA

[pegasinister]

[Well, Hubert had decided to come mostly for the chance to catch some Kanto pokemon with free transport- but he was already here so he decided to investigate the shows and stalls for a bit. As the Minister of the Imperial Household his house occasionally was in charge of festivals and holidays, and recently he had done so at the end of the war. So there was much to learn about foreign traditions here.

He finds the Tests of Courage pathetic and not at all scary. So instead of bothering with the cheap spooks he occasionally does his classic creepy laugh at just the right time to startle other guests. Gotta get your kicks somewhere, right?

Later he sends a lot of the evening at the Games, trying to win a Dusk Stone- it's a simple shooting game, and while he doesn't know guns his aim is actually pretty amazing? Comes with that Talent in Bows. He has a pile of stuffed pokemon growing next to him, getting more and more frustrated at not getting the big prize.]

Tests of Courage

[crystalmaster]

[Radley had agreed to go through the haunted house with a friend, and he's rather startled by the laugh. Somehow it seems out of place with how mild the place has been overall.]

What the ... ?! ... Oh, is someone being a wiseguy?

[He speaks mildly, and now he's kind of amused. He can definitely picture some of his friends doing something like that to liven things up.]

Loki Odinson| OTA

[cuttingremark]

[In general, Loki can be found wandering the different stalls and games with a rather nervous looking Snorunt in his arms. He carries himself with a tall, confident air, but doesn't seem unapproachable.]

Food

[Two shaved ices are procured, a red cherry one for himself and a blue raspberry one for his Snorunt, Snjókorn. Ødelegger the Esper is also out of his ball right now, holding a taiyaki with a thousand yard stare.]

Is it...not to your taste?

[Ødelegger turns to look at Loki before taking a large bite of the fish-shaped pastry's head.]

..I'll take that as a positive reaction. [It probably is as he does continue eating it.]

Games
[Loki spends most of his time at the ring toss game, attempting to win a Dawn Stone. He has very good aim...with throwing knives.

Another ring bounces to a less than optimal target. The attendant grabs another stuffed Pokémon and goes to hand it to Loki. If looks could kill, the glare the former god gives the man would have ended him before he knew what hit him. He slowly puts the stuffed Charizard back in it's place.

Snjókorn stands at Loki's feet, hugging a small Plusle plushy and trembling slightly less than she normally would be when not in her trainer's arms.]

Arts and Crafts
[The origami does catch Loki's interest. He seems to pick it up rather fast as well, and is soon surrounded by a menagerie of various paper creatures. ]

Now if only I had my magic...[Ah the mayhem he could cause with this tiny group of paper animals! If only he could animate them.

Snjókorn chitters next to him. She's wearing a green folded hat.]

Would you like another adornment? This crown would look quite handsome on you. Perhaps one for Ødelegger as well...

Fireworks.

[Loki's found a nice patch of grassy hill to lay down and watch the fireworks. Espurr sits by his head, Snorunt cuddled up under the arm not supporting his head. Both are wearing their origami headwear from earlier, Snjókorn hugging the Plusle plush between her body and Loki's

He lets out a wistful sigh as the lights explode above them.]

Arts and Crafts

[thetombkeeper]

[Marik happens to be passing by the crafting tables as Loki speaks and aforementioned crown grabs his attention because... honestly he'd do the same thing.

He stops and offers a smile, his Yamask hanging over his shoulder as he tries to inspect the crown himself. It looks very nice!]

You made all of those yourself? You caught in quick.

Zuke, OTA

[zukeini]

[Zuke came here all dressed in a yukata and was walking side to side with his bandmates getting street food: an excited shiny Toxtricity who was shoveling kaarage in her maw, a Rillaboom eating a handful of chocolate bananas, and a Gardevior eating a snowcone politely. Following behind was a Slowbro, who was eating some takoyaki. Zuke wasn't eating anything yet as he was too eager to see people again in a party setting.

Apparently money was decent enough now that his crew got treats. Everyone was happy.

You could also find Zuke playing some games. Particularly ring toss. But he was just here for fun...or perhaps a giant stuffed animal.

Zuke was all over arts and crafts, making waaaay too much origami. it was soothing for him. But seriously, he was a madman for detail on them.

He stayed for fireworks, but wanted to especially spend those times with people he deemed romantically special...]

Street Food

[crystalmaster]

[Radley is about to go over when Evie runs out ahead of him and warbles at Zuke and company. Chuckling, Radley follows with the others.]

Hi! It's pretty fun here, isn't it?

[Isla the Eevee goes on two legs in greeting.]

Sandalphon | OTA

[dejabrewed]

i. yukata?

[ yukata and kimono were at least familiar to sandalphon, given that his captain often tried to make him wear one (with little success) during the summer months. it was to the point that they called him wearing his swimsuit a success. but now, he wasn't so sure. so spot him in the many racks, trying to identify which one may look the best on him, but... ]

Ugh. Could any of this get any more complicated? [ picking needs to be easier! then again, he wouldn't let it be easy. ]

ii. street food

[ now food? food was a tricky little thing. adjusting to eating was something he really didn't want to do, but had to in order to survive. as he started to eat more and more, however, the flavors that people brought was almost irresistible to ignore. catch the angel exploring the yakisoba, okonomiyaki, and kaarage stands, eager to try anything he could get his hands on.

of course, he knew this would come with a bunch of needed exercise and training, but he just couldn't get enough! he wanted more! ]

iii. games and crafts

[ the angel finds himself exploring the festival, eyeing each and every prize. if he's going to play anything, the prize better be worth his time. he spends some time working his way through the shooting galleries and the ring toss, if only to gain himself some plushies to give away. however, he finds himself having a lot more fun with the shooting galleries than he once thought.

over by the traditional arts and crafts, the angel is seen scribbling characters he didn't fully understand, but it was the brushstrokes that calligraphy created that intrigued him. writing was one of sandalphon's silent hobbies, and since calligraphy was essentially creating art from writing? it was right up his alley, sign him up. ]

I 💕

[fatefulprince]

[ well, it's very useful that Sandalphon is dating someone who has some semblance of familiarity with yukata and kimono! garments like these were a traditional part of the kingdom where his mother is from, Hoshido. of course Corrin has told Sandalphon all about his past life in the kingdoms, and he already had a kimono on. but he can see Sandalphon's growing frustration and smiles warmly to reassure him. ]

I think the complicated part is that you're far too handsome and you'll look good in anything. [ Corrin, how cheesy can you get? clearly the answer is 'very'! he can't resist combing his fingers through the racks of clothes, a few blue and brown coloured ones catching his eye. ]

The brown ones are coffee coloured and would match your hair ... but a striking blue would contrast it instead and remind me of your association with the Sky Realm. I wonder if there are any wing patterned ones ... [ is he overthinking this? maybe. but if it's for Sandalphon, it must be perfect. ]

Iwaizumi Hajime | Haikyuu!! | OTA

[toughlovin]

1) Street Food:
[So maybe it wasn't home, but this festival was as close as they'd ever come so far. Even the food was the same! The yukata he wore was almost identical to one he owned at home. It was all so painfully familiar that Iwaizumi had been forced to stop for a while and give himself a minute.

But now he was at those stalls and eating that food. The takoyaki was amazing and now he was sat on a bench crunching on some shaved ice with melon flavoured syrup. And he was in heaven. Or as close to it as possible.]

... Suppose bagging a bunch of these foods'd be in bad taste. Heh, guess I'll just have to eat my fill.

[He chuckled to himself and monched on another spoonful of deliciously flavoured ice.]


2) Test of Courage:
[Haunted houses weren't really his thing... But after being teased, Iwaizumi had just stormed right in.

Now he had regrets.]

How scary can it be...?

[His voice echoed. If someone is beside him, they might find Iwaizumi suddenly a smidge closer. Not that he'd ever admit he did it...]


3) Arts and Crafts:
[Iwaizumi isn't really the artsy type, but he'll have a go for a laugh. Which is why you might find him at a little pottery stall, hunched over a blob of clay with a little dull knife in hand trying to make... something. What is it? Iwaizumi knows. That's all that matters.

And when not there maybe you'll find him picking through some decorative figures looking for something in particular. Whether a gift for a 'certain someone', or just for himself. He's open to suggestions.]


4) Fireworks:
[The sky was dark. Iwaizumi had found a little spot to put down a blanket and dropped himself down on it.

He sat with a beer in hand and his eyes on the skies, waiting for them to light up.]

Should be soon, right? They said around this time?


[WILDCARD] Have another idea? Want to plot something out? Catch me on JustAnotherUsername | Theo#4816 ]

Kimmuriel | OTA

[psionicmolotov]

A. Arts and crafts
[ Kimmuriel, dressed in a dark yukata by sheer necessity of his own travel clothes not being any good for summer weather, is mostly preoccupied with things he can sit and do with his hands. He can be found quietly and patiently working away at origami or calligraphy, apparently in a world of his own. His hands are steady, and make up for his clear lack of experience; he's clearly happy to sit and practice for long stretches of time, only snapping out of his apparent trance when his body reminds him he has to stretch or risk cramping.

For that reason, he can occasionally be seen taking a break - sheltering beneath a stall and glaring irritably at the sunlight, or just stretching his hands and arms. ]

B. Festival games
[ Kimmuriel drifts along, amusing himself for a while with the various games on offer. He's not tyrannically good at them, but he is persistent.

He's not much for the prizes, though his Pokemon keep a few for themselves. So occasionally, you might be stopped by a stranger who just like...hands you a plush or trinket or something equally festival-gaudy, and then turns around and leaves?? ]

C. Fireworks
[ When the night falls, the fireworks are vastly preferable; they might be lights, but they're far away and more importantly, the temperature has dropped somewhat. It's still warm, but it's a more comfortable warmth that he's used to without the scorching light of the sun. ]

Wasting smokepowder for entertainment is certainly a choice...I suppose in a more peaceable plane, it would see little use in martial application. [ He's mostly just thinking aloud. ] Though I would like to examine a few. [ There's clearly something more complicated going on in the fireworks, and he would Like To See It. ]

D. Wildcard

[ It's way too hot and for most of the day way too bright so Kimmuriel will be sheltering whenever possible and occasionally complaining about it. He'll be lurking around looking mildly like he's wilting, whoops.

This is a catchall for anything else not covered here! Do whatever, it's fine by me. ]

A

[nellacerniera]

[Honestly, it's kind of fascinating watching Kimmuriel work. Whenever Bucciarati's taken breaks from his own attempts at origami and calligraphy, he's spent them watching Kimmuriel.

At some point, when the other is taking a break--]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone work with such an impressive amount of focus before.

Jarlaxle Baenre | OTA

[nevercaught]

Foodstalls
Jarlaxle... honestly, he looks like he just came from a pride parade. Does he know what a pride parade is? No. Would he be absolutely overjoyed to take part in one. Oh yes.

Really, he's pleased as punch by the heat. It's been a long time since he lived somewhere that the temperature was conducive to the kind of outfits he used to wear back in Menzoberranzan. Observers will see before them a willowy, dark-skinned man well into middle-age, dressed in brightly colored leather hotpants, a sleeveless leather vest which has been more or less laced onto him, golden gladiator sandals, and a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses covering a single visible eye, the other obscured by his ever-present eyepatch. A wide-brimmed hat with a long feather is perched on his shaved head.

Currently, he's gleefully purchasing some festival treat from a vendor--perhaps it's a chocolate banana or perhaps it's a taiyaki--but then Jarlaxle notices that he's being watched and is all too happy to call out to whoever is watching him, "Would you like one too? I've coin to spare today."

Festival Games
Jarlaxle has extremely good reflexes and is not above peeling back his eyepatch momentarily if he thinks having both eyes revealed will help him aim better when participating in carnival games--after all, the magic of it is gone on this plane and he continues to wear it mainly as an affectation.

He's very interested in the shooting gallery, examining the rifle quite thoroughly. "These seem quite unlike Lantanese flintlocks," he observes. "Not only is the barrel far longer, but they do not seem to use smokepowder, for you would otherwise be able to smell it on the gun. How interesting..."

Test of Courage
Jarlaxle makes his base in a haunted ruin in Luskan. He is a seasoned adventurer that has encountered demons, liches, and monsters alike. He really doubts he will be afraid of this Test of Courage--but it might be an enjoyable prospect to escort someone else through, he thinks.

"Are you going in?" he says to someone else eyeing the so-called haunted dwelling. "If you wish a companion for the test, I offer myself. I do not doubt that there will be little in there I have not faced before."

Wildcard

[Don't see anything you want? Ping me at obiisama and we'll figure something out together.]

Courage (Is Lupa going to punch someone out just out of instinct?....probably)

[papacerberus]

Lupa has been eyeing the sign for a couple minutes, surrounded by his dogs. "I do not doubt my own courage, or finding what I fear inside. But I wonder if there is a reason to take this test?"

For all the weirdness of his armor (yes, that's a thong), it still clearly is armor, and he carries himself with that coiled tensions that most traumatized soldiers tend to carry. He's also looking at Jarlaxle with a very open and trusting expression at odds with the rest.