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

[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.

[sassymaru]

If it's nothing more than ghost pokemon, surely it can't be terrible.

[His Oricorio nods. Yes, she agrees. Being partial ghost type and all.]

[crystalmaster]

If it's pretty mild, I can imagine my friend Scotch coming up with ideas to make it spookier. He loves this kind of thing.

[sassymaru]

Scotch...? As in... the tape?

haunted house

[singlespacedad]

It can't be too bad. Nothing here is.

[Mando isn't nearly as nicely dressed as Shadowmaru--and he never will be, why even try to compete?--but he is carrying a small armload of plushies from the shooting gallery. He starts offering them to Shadowmaru's dogs as chew toys, keeping an extra garish, 90s neon Lisa Frank nightmare one aside for Oberon.]

[The one accessory he is wearing today is a shiny Dragonair, who has draped herself over his shoulders like a living pink scarf. She lifts her head to examine Shadowmaru, then blinks her eyes before winding off Mando and onto Shadowmaru's shoulders.]

Noodle! No!

[sassymaru]

Mm, you have a valid point. But! Perhaps it will be entertaining enough.

[Those dogs are elated with the gifts. Wiggling and chewing like the puppies they are. Only Electrike is gentle with his, carrying it around with utmost dignity, like it's some kind of trophy. There's a few too many people here for Oberon's comfort, but Shadowmaru will let him out later.]

- Ah!

[He's startled, momentarily, by the Dragonair, but regains his composure. His Oricorio is less than thrilled, squawking and fluffing her feathers angrily.]

No, no - nothing to worry about. She actually matches quite nicely.

[singlespacedad]

[ S i g h ]

Noodle, we talked about this.

[The Dragonair is completely unrepentant, coiling languidly over Shadowmaru's shoulders. She shifts to show off her shiniest, prettiest scales in the best light, and ignores the indignant bird chattering at her. She is clearly the most beautiful Pokemon here, so she gets precedent!]

We're going to have to work harder on obedience.

[Mando's got a rebel on his hands.]

You're right, though. She does match.

[sassymaru]

[Fine!! If that's how it's going to be, then Akuma the Oricorio is going to take the same approach. Landing on Mando's head. Take that, Noodle.]

Of course, of course, but truly, I can accept a lovely scarf.

[Especially if Noodle accepts pets.]

No outfits for yourself?

Games

[nastyboy]

You should lose.

Mononoke... No.

[That would be Dimitri and.... Dimitri? No, not quite. The absolutely normal looking Dimitri is dressed in a simple navy blue patterned yukata; nothing fancy here.]

[He is just also holding onto the arm of someone that could be his mimic but distinctly.... isn't. The red markings around this fake Dimitri's eye, the slightly pointed and chipped ears, and the bright yellow eye kind of mark him as much.]

[Also, he's absolutely wearing a pure white yukata that is folded in not exactly the recommended way, on account of being how you would dress up a corpse.]

[Hisuian Zoroark have issues, is all that can be said here.]

[But while Mononoke-masquerading-as-Dimitri just sulkily glares, Dimitri looks on in admiration at Shadowmaru's skills.]

It seems as though you could have your pick of more than one thing, with skill such as that. Although I imagine you will have to travel back home with it all, won't you?

[sassymaru]

[Shadowmaru doesn't turn to address the scornful Mononoke right away. Instead, he tosses his head, flippantly, beforehand. Got to show off how much you just don't care, right?]

Come now, there will be -

[But when he turns, ready to flash his smug smile, there uh. There sure is a guy dressed up like someone who should be buried. Just standing there. His casual, calm facade drops like a brick. His Oricorio - the Sensu sort - gasps, wing to her chest in dramatic shock.]

Sir. You... cannot wear the yukata in that fashion...

[Did he just go pale? He sure did.]

[nastyboy]

[Oh dear. Dimitri glances from the shock on Shadowmaru's face, as that of his companion, and then looks back to Mononoke. Mononoke, who is just radiating smugness.]

[A sigh.]

What is he doing now? Is there something inappropriate in his manner? I am unfamiliar with this manner of dress, you see.

[He just put on his own yukata because that was how the person at the store said to do it, but he hadn't really viewed any flaw with Mononoke dressing up like this. Like putting your swords on your right or left, right?]

[He should have known better. Really.]

[sassymaru]

He's dressed himself as a corpse.

[And boy if Shadowmaru doesn't sound utterly scandalized by it. You'd think Mononoke was wearing a shirt with a middle finger or something obscene, from the way he's reacting. Covering his face with one hand, the other gesturing wildly in the Zorua's direction.]

You may be unfamiliar, and hardly at fault, but he, clearly is well aware of what he's done. And it is vulgar.

[It's okay, Dimitri, he's appalled at your pokemon, not you.]

Carnival Games

[fearinahandfulof]

[Cassandra is... not in a yukata or kimono. She wouldn't know where to begin to find one that looks good on her, much less to wear it. She's currently studying the ring toss game, mentally calculating how hard she needs to throw the rings to get them where she wants them.]

That... depends on what you like, doesn't it?

[sassymaru]

Mm, yes. I suppose that's the simple answer, isn't it.

[Yeah he's just. Decimating the ring toss game. The poor game runner has given up.]

But what if I were to ask for recommendations?

[fearinahandfulof]

[She considers.]

Are they for you or for someone else?

[sassymaru]

[Shadowmaru laughs, warmly, delighted.]

For anyone, I suppose! Given how many are likely to be won.

Haunted House (I had to)

[questioneverything]

[Romelle stared at the sign, Shadowmaru's words not quite sinking in right away. But then it registered, and she almost choked.]

You want to go in?

[sassymaru]

[He just kind of blinks. His Oricorio looks at Romelle like she's just asked if the sky is blue.]

... Yes?

Is that not the point of the experience?

[questioneverything]

But... it's haunted. Why would you want to go somewhere haunted?

[Romelle is confused. Why are humans so weird?]

[sassymaru]

My dear friend. The only thing haunting this place will be ghost pokemon. Truly nothing to fear, hm?

[They're all pretty chill - get it?]

Most Haunted House

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

[Shinobu has actually been through it once, but he, er... might have given a few suggestions to the Pokémon inside when no one else was looking. Only in the context of the haunted house itself, though - he's pretty sure they can manage to be terrifying on their own outside of one.]

Probably not as frightening as they want to be.

[sassymaru]

Alas, you may be correct.

[And Shadowmaru turns with what he feels is a winning smile. He even offers up a slight bow.]

Shall we?

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

Not that they won't try.

[It is a fairly winning smile, and Shinobu is able to offer one of his own in response.]

Of course.

[sassymaru]

Well, I'm certain they've done their best.

[He steps forward, toward the entrance.]

We'll have to scream to let them know we appreciate their efforts, regardless of true fear.