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

[psionicmolotov]

[ He glances over at the stranger's interjection. ]

From what I have seen of them, merely a handful of some of these creatures would be more than enough for any defense. The humans here hardly need weaponry at all.

[ Kimmuriel's Absol, still reluctant to be away from him, yawns sleepily in his lap. He has no inclination to move and disturb it, despite it shedding on his clothing. ]

I am curious about it myself, [ he admits. ] Some of the creations in this world are truly complex. I would enjoy trying to replicate such mysteries.

[cuttingremark]

Makes you wonder if it's always been like this. A society completely without conflict seems improbable.

[Loki takes a seat on the grass a respectable distance from the other, letting go of Snorunt so she can settle onto his lap. Like Absol, she doesn't seem to want to leave her trainer, but she does chitter a timid hello to the other pokemon.]

Most of the technology seems in line with what I am familiar with, if a little primitive. These pokeballs, though, are fascinating. I wish I could parse their inner workings.

[psionicmolotov]

They seem to conduct mock battles for entertainment, but it is true I have seen little conflict between humans. Perhaps it is these creatures that take up all their time.

[ The Absol stretches out his front paws, flopping unceremoniously as he stares inquisitively at the newcomer. He squeakily growls in response, tail wagging briefly as a sign of something like approval. He has just met you but he is Tentatively Okay With You, strange Pokemon. ]

They are certainly interesting devices. They behave much like bags of holding or portable holes, except more conductive to the wellbeing of the creature held inside. [ He tilts his head a bit, thinking now that this stranger has gotten him started on the topic. ] I cannot help but think that it is some odd property of the materials that make them - they were once entirely hand-crafted, and the craft still survives.

[cuttingremark]

That would be an interesting line of study. Creating a dimensionally displaced method of storage is a common test for mages where I am from.

I am terribly sorry, my manners have escaped. me. I am Loki of Asgard.

[psionicmolotov]

[ So he also comes from a world with magic...interesting. ] An intriguing choice of test. The mages I am most familiar with have rather more painful ones, which have always seemed pointless to me.

I am Kimmuriel. [ The rest of his name and debatable title, like house name and group affiliation, is Something He Doesn't Care About Explaining Right Now so he simply omits it. ] Is Asgard a family name, or is it a place?

[cuttingremark]

A place. My family name would be Odinson. [Maybe. He still hasn't decided if he likes it, but that's a lot to dump on a stranger.]

Though now you have me intrigued about these tests. Why would they need to be painful in the first place?

[psionicmolotov]

[ Complicated feelings about family, doesn't everyone have those? They do if you're a drow at least. He'd understand if such a sentiment was expressed. Sometimes it just isn't a stranger's business.

He inclines his head in a small nod, to acknowledge it. Otherwise, unless Loki wants to elaborate more about Asgard, he doesn't seem to feel inclined to ask. ]

They do it to test the concentration needed to cast spells. [ You know, normal things. ] So I have heard. I am no wizard, nor do I intend to be one.

[cuttingremark]

I suppose that makes sense, pain does make it hard to concentrate. Still, it seems like there would be better ways.

[He relaxes a bit more, gazing up at the colorful explosions above them.]

It is good to meet someone else who has at least a passing familiarity with the arcane arts, even if you never studied it yourself.

[psionicmolotov]

There probably are, [ Kimmuriel agrees readily with at least that much. ] It is the traditional way of teaching, but that does not mean it is a good one.

Many of these humans have no experience with magic at all, so I have heard. Their worlds are entirely devoid of it. It is a strange thing.

You are a wizard yourself, then. Do you have a specialty?

[cuttingremark]

Most on Earth were unaware of the existance of magic until a few years ago despite it's prevalence in the wider universe.

I was versed in many forms of magic, but my specialty was illusions.

[psionicmolotov]

Ah. An illusionist, then. [ He just sort of accepts it, without judgement. Magic isn't his specialty, and he generally holds it at arm's length, but he doesn't have a particular opinion on it either. ] It seems that even across worlds, that is a constant.

Earth. [ He pronounces the name slowly, sounding out the syllables. His rolling accent is a bit more obvious. ] Is that where you resided before you came here? [ The man sounds familiar with it, after all. Enough to speak of its inhabitants. ]

[cuttingremark]

No, I was raised on Asgard. Earth is one of the Nine Realms Asgard watches over. To us it is known as Midgard, but it seems most don't know that name.

What was your home called?

[psionicmolotov]

So Asgard is connected to nine other realms. Interesting. [ A little familiar, in some senses, in the way that planes on his own world interlock, but...not that much. ]

My world is called Toril. Despite its position in a wider universe, and perhaps some similarities to the latter in magical ability, I do not think it bears links to either the world of Earth or Asgard. [ He's aware enough of planar and space travel to understand that Toril is just one world, out of a potential many among the stars, but finding them is a different thing entirely. ]

[cuttingremark]

No, I don't think so either. I've certainly never heard of it. [And if they did exist in the same galaxy, Loki thinks he would at least recognize the name. Especially if there were unique arcane practices.]