victory_road | The Festival of Wishes!

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

Have a seat, then.

[Once Dimitri is settled, Mando holds out the gun he's working on so he can see it.]

You take it apart first...

[And then he walks him through how to disassemble and clean a gun. Imagine this paragraph is full of a complete, well-researched description on how that's done and that I actually know a damn thing about the inner working of guns.]

Now you try.

[oh saints this is so much more complicated than polishing a lance]

[This is worse than putting together a trap, and Dimitri got very good at figuring out traps while he was living out on his own in barren wilderness for years on end. Still, he pays attention as best as he can, foregoing just about everything else happening around them.]

[And when it comes to the practical demonstration on his end...]

[Dimitri leans forward, clearly on edge but determined. Knight Shift the Purrserker sits by him, watching with those big ol' eyes. When it comes to the disassembling, Dimitri manages that well enough, and he seems to understand cleaning as well.]

[It is, predictably, when it comes to putting everything back together that he starts running into some issues.]

[There. are just so many parts. He thinks that goes there - wait, no, it's not fitting right, what did he miss? there is just so much-]

Ah...

[Honestly, Mando is pretty impressed with how far Dimitri got on his own. He's doing better than Mando did when he first disassembled a gun.]

You want to reattach the barrel first. That part.

[Mando points out the barrel, and then the next part Dimitri will need.]

They come together at the base.

[While Dimitri messes with that, Mando offers a hand to Knight Shift.]

Hello. Are you learning today too?

[What kind of Pokemon is this? Mando wants one immediately.]

[Dimitri has never handled a gun, but he has taken apart a good deal of things at this point in his life - traps, yes, but also small electronics and plumbing, the sorts of things he's learned upon arriving in this world and ended up apprenticing himself to a few handymen. Once you learn the idea of disassembly, well... You learn to see patterns, even in things very much separate from one another.]

[It's the putting everything back together part that is vexing, and Dimitri is beyond relieved when Mando offers instruction here.]

Oh - oh, yes, I see! Of course...

[Just gonna... make sure it all goes into place correctly...]

[While Dimitri tries to keep his tongue inside his mouth and not stick it out, Knight Shift moves those bright orange eyes of his from the guns to Mando, and makes a rattly sort of hiss that is all kinds of delighted.]

[Is he learning? Questionable from an armor cat that produces money! But he nonetheless reaches out with his own hand and the.... hardened... fur... okay so that might make shaking hands difficult, but he seems absolutely pleased at the idea of just lightly tapping the fur-dagger against Mando's own armor.]

[Yup, that's sure a clang! Another set of rattly hisses. Or is that purring? Pokemon are fucking weird.]

[Dimitri belatedly remembers to make an introduction.]

That... is Knight Shift. Ah, and I am Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd. I cannot recall if I said that before...

[No storage space for memories, he's trying to remember how he took apart this gun so he can put it together again now that he's got some guidance on that matter.]

[Mando is equally delighted by the little Wookie-looking Pokemon. He lets it tap at his armour, and makes a soft chuckling sound at the clanging noise.]

You're a good little Wookie, aren't you?

[Not a real Wookie, of course, but close enough. He nods at Dimitri's introduction.]

Nice to meet you, Knight Shift. And you too, Dimitri.

[He's not going to remember that full name, sorry.]

You can call me Mando.

[What - on earth is a wookie. Dimitri will wonder this later, when his mind is freed from gun maintenance learning. Later. Right now, his mouth is running mostly on automatic, not thinking about anything.]

[That's how you get his full name instead of him just. giving his first. It's a bad habit made all the worst in the circumstances.]

Mando. It is a pleasure - and an honor, that you took the time to teach us. Knight Shift must like you... The- armor, I believe.

[Clang clang clang]

[Is he.... satisfied now? Hard to tell. Galarian Meowth and their evolutions just look like that some time. But he seems pleased to leave that alone for now, instead turning to Dimitri and rummaging around his person until he pulls out Dimitri's Pokegear. A bit of careful button pushing, and he holds up the screen to show a picture of Dimitri during one of their travels. Notable, on account of this meaning that the Dimitri in the picture is wearing his full set of black armor.]

[Just give him a chance, and Mando will talk about Wookies. They're like Knight Shift, except much bigger and louder.]

A Pokemon with good taste, then.

[Mando holds still so Knight Shift can keep tapping, and ventures one hand out to touch the Pokemon's paw. He's delighted at how metallic Knight Shift's fur feels.]

[Then the Pokemon gets out the Pokegear and shows Mando a picture.]

Huh. That's some impressive armour.

[Having his taste be validated only has Knight Shift puff out his chest. Like it's his armor that he's showing off. Yes, yes, look at it, isn't it wonderful?]

[That's around the time that Dimitri finally snaps out of it, looking up towards Mando.]

Oh, so that is what he is showing you. [He'd been vaguely aware of Knight Shift stealing his Gear away from him, but, well, he'd been focused on the gun.] Yes, that is the armor that I arrived here in. It has managed to hold up rather well, considering that I could not see any blacksmiths for... Well, it was five years when I arrived here. Will soon be seven, I suppose.

[It's very wonderful, fearsome little Wookie cat.]

I couldn't find any armourers either.

[A grave oversight!]

You've been here for two years? [That seems like such a long time to Mando.] Doesn't anyone here ever go home?

If only I had any skill with it...

[That'd probably be some extra income right there. Or, more honestly, just Dimitri adding another hobby onto his already very hobby-filled life. ]

People do go home, but there is no rhyme or reason to it, as far as anyone else can tell. A lover of mine fell asleep, and his... mind, I suppose, returned to our homeland where he proceeded to live a few months before his physical body awoke.

He disappeared completely back home.... some months after that, and came back remembering nothing of his time here.

That's unpleasant.

[Thank you, Mando, for that extremely useful observation.]

Did he still know you, when he came back? He just didn't remember his time in this world?

Indeed.

[Like.... Yeah, sure can't really say much else there!]

Yes... He knew me, for we knew one another in our homeland before we arrived in this place. But it was as though his time here was... erased.

[Mando is quiet for a moment.]

I'm sorry.

[Because yeah, that would suck.]

Is he still here?

Ah, thank you.

[It's awkward, but what can you do? At least there is good news, and Dimitri perks up.]

Yes, he is here now, and adapted well to such a bizarre situation! It has been somewhat strange, but... I suppose no stranger than arriving here regardless.

Ah, in the meanwhile... [He gestures pitifully at where he's stalled in his gun efforts.] I think I am not putting a small part in the right place...?

[He thinks?????]

That's good. And yeah, probably no stranger than getting stranded in Pokemon world in the first place.

[Mando leans in to look at Dmitri's gun.]

You forgot the load the spring. [He points out the missing piece, and the place where it should go.] Otherwise, that's not a bad job.

Oh no -

[Shoot, of course he'd miss such an important thing, even for how tiny it is. Dimitri rushes to rectify his mistake.]

Taking something apart is far easier than putting it back together again...

That's the truth.

[Mando nods at the correction.]

Not bad at all for your first try, though. Want to try again?

Oh - are you certain? After all, it is a festival. I am sure there are plenty of things you would rather do and enjoy, then indulge me in my bit off nosiness.

It's fine.

[Mando sighs and shakes his head.]

This is the longest I've ever gone without having a gun on me. I'll be here all night cleaning them.

Really? You will not even try the variety of food that is available, or look into the various events?

[Mando are you okay]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Festival of Wishes!

why, Dimitri... are you a STRONG character?

PLEASE stop calling me out, dimitri even has black-armor-color-highlight outfit going on

hey, no judgment from my guy over here who never shows his eyes if he can help it

forever stuck at home

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