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

[nastyboy]

Hawks! [Seeing the blond find them with no trouble has Dimitri perk up well enough to some degree, and he strides forward a bit to meet him. Tarasque clomps after him, still holding onto his cargo.] So these sort of things are common where you are from...

It truly is a delight to attend! I know that there have been similar festivals elsewhere, such in Ecruteak, but, similarly, I have not attended them very often.

[Because, uh, fuck Ecruteak]

I have tried not to indulge myself too much, at least not before I give you what you requested. Tarasque should... Ah.

[lord he's comin']

[just slowly and determinedly]

[he has the stubbiest little legs]

[feathersfly]

Yeah, there's usually a few festivals like this every year. I've never really attended one before, though...although I've worked security on the outside, you could say.

[When Dimitri looks back at Tarasque, Hawks leans so he can peer around Dimitri and see what he's looking at and - oh. Oh no, that's cute. What a determined little man.

Hawks grins, stepping around Dimitri and crouching down as he watches Tarasque's progress, holding out a beckoning hand.] C'mon, buddy, you're doing great! Are those for me?

[And he'll wait, perfectly patiently, for Tarasque to trundle up. Hawls may be too fast for his own good, but for a cute little pokémon? He's willing to take things slow for a change.]

[nastyboy]

[At least Tarasque is going as quick as he can! So, you know, that's a human walking speed, at least, right? And he gets there, lifting his head and creaking open those massive jaws of his to present the swords.]

Thank you, Tarasque. You did very good.

[It is very important to praise his Pokemon, especially one that was not originally his.]

[feathersfly]

[Before Hawks even takes the swords, he reaches out to pat Tarasque on the head.] Thanks, little guy! Love the outfit, by the way.

[Then, and only then, does he take the package from Tarasque's mouth. Even if Dimitri hadn't already indicated these are the result of Hawks' request - his swords - the shape of the package is pretty suggestive. He quickly unwraps them, wanting to get a look at them...even as he notes to himself, dismally, how heavy they are.

Of course, they were always going to be heavy. He'd known that requesting them. Nothing could possibly be as light as one of his feathers, made even lighter by the fact that his feathers move as he directs and hardly needed guidance from his hands at all - his swords could propel themselves, if they wanted. Wood thick enough to be sturdy, sturdy enough to serve as a sword...it was never going to even come close to what it's mimicking, in terms of ease of use.

But it is what it is, and Hawks will have to adapt to what he has. He can't help missing his feathers even more, feeling the difference, but this is probably the most reasonable substitute that can be devised. If they're too heavy for him, then he'll just have to get stronger. It's not like he's any stranger to intense training, either.]

[nastyboy]

[There's a soft little rattle of a noise from Tarasque, and Dimitri smiles down happily towards the Trapinch. He will have to reward him with some food later. For now...]

[He watches Hawks anxiously, waiting for any outwards indication of his feelings, before he decides that he is not inclined to waiting for much longer.]

I tried to make them as light as I could, but it was difficult to find a wood both light and sturdy. Will it be enough for your style?

[feathersfly]

I don't think anyone could have made them better. Obviously they're going to be a significant change, but that's not on you. It'll be on me to adjust to them.

[Hawks lifts one of them in his hand, turning it as he gazes down the length of the wooden blade. There's only a bit of embellishment on them - the handles look as though they've been worked to resemble feathers, carefully sanded to avoid any rough edges while also providing a much better grip than smooth wood would offer. It's a nice touch, and he smiles a little.]

It's going to take a lot of work on my end, I can tell you that for free. It's not just the weight, or that I can't control them with my mind - the fact that I can't fly while using them changes everything. My whole style has to change from the ground up.

[nastyboy]

I see... I suppose that is right. Even with the weight of the wings, how they move around your body, that would change quite a great deal when it comes to moving around and how you would fight.

[He resists the urge to reach up, touch beneath his eye patch. It's not at all the same thing, of course. And yet... He still had to adjust when suddenly the world on his right side went black. When his steps felt uneven, and things did not feel as far as they used to be.]

[If not for rage, and spite, and desperation... It's amazing, really, he survived after that.]

...I could speak with someone who is familiar with swords, if you would like. He is something of a master, and could help you adjust with a new style.

[feathersfly]

[Hawks brightens up at Dimitri's suggestion.] That'd be great, actually. Who did you have in mind?

[He doesn't know about what Dimitri is thinking, which is a shame, because he'd agree it's similar. Losing an eye, losing his wings...both of them had lost a fundamental part of their bodies that completely changed how they interact with the world, and indeed how they do a large number of things in their day-to-day life. There are plenty of differences, but just as many points of commonality.]