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

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!]

[nightyorb]

[Honestly, Riz really should've been the one avoiding the (near) collision here. And normally, he would be! Except his eye had fallen on some huge dude at one of the Origami tables, and his heart had panged. He could so easily imagine Gorgug in a similar position, bent low over a table not quite sized correctly, using those huge hands to fold something small and delicate and-- yeah, he'd been too distracted to pay attention to where he was going.]

It's fine. That was mostly on me anyway.

[crystalmaster]

This place really makes you think, doesn't it?

[Radley certainly has been thinking of home and friends, and Riz had looked quite occupied. Radley wouldn't be surprised if others have been thinking of home too.]

Shooting Gallery

[amaure]

[Well, Riz isn't the only one who fancies himself a nice gun, and while he's not looking to scratch any sort of gun-related itch himself, he does find himself in the general area out of curiosity. These little games are far from his purview, and he has no interest in the prizes (nor do either of his loves in any meaningful capacity), but what he does have interest in is Riz. Primarily because he's making for quite the scene even if that is far from his aim, though it would seem his aim is quite the problem.

It's good, rather quite good in fact.

So, while Riz is busying himself with that little shooting game, Emet-Selch makes his way over to him with a gait that isn't quite a sashay, for it is far too under performed, and yet it still holds that sort of energy. Look, there's some hip work in how he walks, but he's not so committed to it, and thus our description conundrum.

Standing off to the side, he eyes the pile of prizes for a moment, before looking to Riz, watching his movements however slight they may be. You see, he's taking in the perfect moment to speak up, right before Riz is about to pull the trigger so that he may alarm him and throw off his aim, which is exactly what he attempts as he leans in besides him:]

Well, well! Quite the marksman, aren't you? Though, I suppose, you are not much of a man. That arquebus was not simply for show, I see.

[He much rather remember what Riz was armed with during that memory, than what task he had to undergo within it.]

[nightyorb]

[Riz grits his teeth as his next shot goes slightly wide -- not so wide as to miss the target completely, but rather than nail it dead center, it merely clips the side. For many people, that still would be a good shot; for Riz, it's an underperformance.

And worse yet, it's an underperformance because of this dude.]

You are just begging me to shoot you in the face.

[amaure]

[His lips curl into a smirk.]

What, exactly, is stopping you?

[Does he actually want to be shot, or is he just calling Riz's bluff? At least he's stood back up and isn't leaning so close anymore, seeing as that served its purpose. Folding his arms over his chest, he merely cocks his head to the side as he awaits the answer.]

guns guns guns

[singlespacedad]

[Hell yes, guns.]

You're good.

[Mando has to wade through a pile of prizes to get to Riz's side, but there's no mistaking the pride in his voice. He didn't teach Riz to shoot, of course, but game recognises game, and Riz is damn good at this.]

Let's see how fast we can clear all the targets.

[Mando scoops up one of the free guns, much to the booth worker's horror, and takes aim.]

shots shots shots

[nightyorb]

[Riz cannot help the slight glow of pride at Mando's comment, a self-satisfied smile appearing on his face. Riz might doubt himself at times, but something he's never had cause to doubt is his ability to shoot.]

Okay, but look out. These guns are crap.

[Which is to be expected as these are just some carnival booth guns, but at the same time, Riz feels a level of professional distaste at how badly they are maintained. He'd never let his gun get this bad!]

[singlespacedad]

Shoddy maintenance.

[The attendant gets an extremely dirty look from Mando, which is extra impression given that he's wearing his helmet. Then it's off to the races, with Mando picking off the targets in rapid succession. Sorry, buddy, you've got TWO guys who know their way around firearms, and they're taking no prisoners.]

bang bang shooty shooty

[instrumentally]

[Rei is familiar with Riz. He helped investigate the break-in a few months ago. She is not, however, familiar with his marksmanship. She watches for a time, as she often finds herself doing. It is difficult to see over the pile of prizes that have spilled over the booth.

She gives the attendant some of her money. Takes up one of the guns. One that is not blocked by stuffed Teddiursa dolls. She breathes in and out. Focuses on the target. A leaping Magikarp on a metal plate. The mechanics whir and click under the booth.

She takes her shot. Hits the magikarp. The game plays a little chime. She does not smile. Just takes up aim again.

Riz, it seems, has company.]

[nightyorb]

[Riz doesn't immediately react to Rei's appearance. He notices her, certainly --from the corner of his eye, from the sounds of another person firing a gun, from the increased despair on the booth owner's face-- but he doesn't feel the need to comment when he is this deeply focused on his task.

It isn't until he's finished hitting a row of targets that he lowers the gun, cocking his head slightly to watch her shoot. And unlike some people (fuck you, Emet-Selch), he's polite enough to wait until after she has loosed her shot to speak up.]

You're good.

[Game recognises game!]

[instrumentally]

[Likewise, she will wait until he is finished his round until she replies.]

Are you the one who has been winning all of these prizes?

[She doesn't overtly react to the compliment. She is good because she must be. Still, it is good to be recognized at times. And this game is different from others she has played.]

gunnnns

[papacerberus]

[Someone Lupa recognizes! Doing an activity that Lupa is very familiar with. Of course he walks over, eyeing the prizes with mild confusion. Lupa waits until Riz has to take a moment to reload before speaking so as not to throw off Riz's aim.]

Hello again. You are very skilled.

[The attendant might start squawking a protest that dies when seeing the huge Houndoom coming up behind Lupa, but Lupa ignores it anyway to pick up one of the guns, run it through a safety check, frown, and then begin to dismantle and clean it. He does it with such speed and fluidity that there's no question he's been around guns for most (all) his life.]

Unfortunate that this training course has been supplied with substandard arms and set to such a low difficulty. Is there one with a higher difficulty rating?

[nightyorb]

[Riz huffs, the breath whistling out slightly between his teeth.]

Hah, I wish. Unfortunately, this is the best there is.

[What Riz wouldn't give for a proper gun range; just somewhere to really practise his skills again. But oh, no, we couldn't have proper guns in this world. That would be silly and dangerous. Now take this magical animal that can fucking cause earthquakes and be on your way.

Stupid world.]

It's not really a training course. This is just a game.

[papacerberus]

I suppose with the presence of Pokemon and their eagerness to defend even those who don't need that defense, such skills are less necessary...

[Lupa trails off with a frown. It's kind of nice? But at the same time makes the hackles that he doesn't actually physically have right now rise.]

I don't understand how practicing killing could be a game. Can you explain?

[To Lupa guns are weapons and what you do with weapons is kill. That it doesn't always result in death doesn't matter so much as death being the entire purpose of the weapon. Of course, he doesn't see anything odd with the idea of being rewarded for success at killing either...]

Other

[heartofalioness]

[Well, she's not a blonde elven Oracle, but Allura IS a space elf with fair hair and a not-British accent. And she's wearing a lovely yukata with some tasteful kanzashi in lieu of the badass denim jacket. Allura spots him while walking away from the open-air stage.]

Ah, evening, Riz!

[nightyorb]

[Riz, of course, is in his normal attire. Why change, when he's already wearing the most professional (and therefore best) thing? Though even he has had to adjust a bit for summer -- his jacket has been left at wherever he and Mando are staying, and his sleeves have neatly been rolled up to his elbows, showing off the mess of tattoos on his forearms.]

Oh, Allura! I figured I'd run into you here.

[heartofalioness]

Indeed. How did you enjoy the play?

[She thought it was really nice, given how similar it was to the myth of the Star Bridge she performed for the contest.]

[cuttingremark]

[Loki stands back, watching the young man for a few shots before approaching as silently as he can perception check. He waits until he seems like he's about to take another shot before speaking rather loudly, right next to him.]

You are quite proficient at this.

The dice gave me a 17

[nightyorb]

[Riz's senses aren't quite as sensitive in this body as they are in his regular one, but they are still sensitive enough to hear the click of a heel behind him just moments before the stranger speaks up. As a result, he's able to prepare himself enough that his shot still hits the target -- a bit more to the side than he would've liked, but a hit is a hit.

Riz lowers his gun, turning his head enough to give this guy the sort of wintering, judgemental stare the likes of which only a teenager can give.]

Wow. You must think you're such a comedian.

more than enough to perceive this loser

[cuttingremark]

[Loki holds up his hands in mock surrender, seemingly unaffected by the judgmental stare]

You seemed so absorbed in the task, I couldn't help myself.

[The Snorunt at his feet chitters as if trying to apologize for her trainer. He can be a lot sometimes.]

shooting gallery

[restlessdreamer]

[Astrid can hear the pip! pip! pip! of an airsoft gun despite being cooped up in a crowd; she is attuned to more substantial gunshots, but the rhythm is familiar.

She's eating a hot dog as she trots over to the stall. Carnival food is ridiculous and has more intense flavors than she's tasted in a very long time. Specifically this is her second hot dog, following after pickles, far too much cotton candy, and like three lemonades.

The sight of such a little guy being an absolute crackshot is surprising, but it doesn't take long to clock that he's not an actual child. Closer to her age, it seems.]

Damn, save some for the rest of us.

[Because yes, Astrid absolutely wants in on this particular stall. There are a few different spots to stand, and she claims one that's one off from Riz. Best to keep a bit of distance when there are guns involved.]

[nightyorb]

[Riz slightly misinterprets her words. Save some for the rest of us -- ah, she must be talking about the prizes that are piling up next to him. Which, honestly, Riz doesn't mean to hog. Frankly, he couldn't care less about these prizes. Maybe if there was another cool ninja sword with magic powers in the mix, but unfortunately, these are just your run-of-the-mill carnival rewards -- stuffed animals and toys.]

Oh, if you want the prizes, you can have them.

[restlessdreamer]

[Astrid shakes her head.]

Oh, no; I mean bullseyes.

[She grins and spins the pistol on her finger. Sure, she's showing off, but she's missed the feeling of a weapon in her hands; the little tingling threat of helplessness never leaves her mind, and hopefully being able to shoot something will put that fear to bed.]