victory_road | The Festival of Wishes!

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Claude feels bad for Dimitri, really. Of course a guy who has trouble not breaking things on a normal day would have problems not tearing a flimsy paper net that's meant to break on most occasions. (Claude is a clever man; he can see how these 'games of skill' are rigged not to have a glut of winners. Not active cheats, but close.) And Dimitri gets so distressed when he breaks things...especially now, when his Crest isn't active and there's nothing but his own natural strength to blame.

But it's so hard not to laugh at that comically desolate look on Dimitri's face. The surly Hawlucha in contrast just makes it worse.]

It's okay. [All right, so he's laughing a bit as he crouches down beside Dimitri.] How about I help you? First things first...let's try putting the net in the water rim first. That should keep the paper from ripping on the water's surface, right?

[Claude, how could you. Although at least Dimitri is at least somewhat used to teasing laughter. He still looks terribly heartbroken as Claude leans in close to him, but that is offset somewhat by the way he is pouting.]

Such success is easier said than done... But that will still - it is water, Claude.

[And the net is paper.]

[...Notably, he is still neatly obeying.]

Yes, but water has surface tension. Haven't you ever read about that before? Think of it like the difference between sticking your finger in the water and slapping the flat of your hand on the surface of it. The latter causes a lot more resistance, doesn't it? Surface tension will tear the paper faster than just getting it wet will. And the rim of the net is a lot sturdier than the paper.

[There does seem to be something in what Claude's saying, at least; this new approach does seem to have gotten Dimitri's net into the water without instantly tearing.]

[Has.... he read about surface... tension...]

No.

[Listen, let's just focus on fish again, okay? He's going back to focusing on fish, even as he nods along to Claude's words. He thinks he kind of understands it...]

Even so, can you explain how we are going to catch the Magikarp this way? Even if it is now slightly more sturdy, I wonder if it could still hold up a Magikarp...

[....But he's going to give it a go anyway, hold on, hold - should Magikarp be this fast]

I don't know, honestly. This game's new to me too, after all. But some people have done it, even since I began watching, so obviously it's possible. We just have to figure out the right approach. Think of it like strategy.

[Claude's hand moves to rest over Dimitri's, keeping him from moving the net through the water too fast trying to pursue a fleeting Magikarp.] I'll tell you one thing - I'm sure we couldn't catch them by chasing them around, even with a better net than this one. So probably part of the trick is to scoop one up when it ends up in a good position for scooping on its own. And I bet this net will rip if we move it too fast through the water, so...let's try slow movements, okay? Nice and easy.

Ah. Strategy. Certainly my greatest of strengths.

[Look at him, doing his sarcasm.]

[Still, far be it for Dimitri to ignore a pleasant feeling like Claude's hand on his, guiding him along through the water. He's fine with that. More than fine.]

Mm. I always did a bit better with other kinds of fishing, but you do have a point... [He's not going to say it was spear fishing, that'd be mean and traumatizing to the Magikarp.] Slow and easy movements...

I don't suppose we could corner a fish in water...

That's why you're lucky to have me with you, obviously.

But yeah, I can't see us cornering a fish when we have to go so much slower than they do. We just have to wait for our moment, I think...

[And, after a minute or so, their moment comes. A Magikarp, unconcerned by their slow movements, goes to swim past...and Claude promptly guides Dimitri's hand in a sideways scooping motion, trying to lift it out of the water.

The net rips anyway. Whether that's on Claude or Dimitri is hard to tell, though. Claude puffs out an exasperated breath.] Damn, so close. I still think the approach is sound, though...

I mean, they are Magikarp...

[It can't be that hard to corner them, right? They could manage it, right? As long as no one evolves right there in the water, which Dimitri imagines the stall owner would have had to account for, then they should be able to do it!]

[But ultimately, Dimitri is all for obeying his boyfriends, and Claude is no exception. Dimitri lets his hand be guided exactly as Claude wants it... even when that leads to a ripped net in the end.]

[A sigh, but he still hands over the money for another net. They're gonna do it!! They're gonna win a magikarp!]

Perhaps we kept the net in the water too long, for that time? I thought a slightly more proactive approach would be better...

[Claude laughs sheepishly.] Well, I know I stepped in offering my own advice, but now that I've failed, I guess it's only fair that we try it your way. [Never mind that he'd only stepped in because Dimitri was having trouble even getting the net into the water without it ripping. But maybe a combination of their techniques will work?]

Okay, you guide us this time.

The Festival of Wishes!

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