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

[nevercaught]

"Oh my friend," Jarlaxle says sympathetically. "That you would say such a thing... it does not sit easily in the mind. Come--let us ignore this test of courage. I will procure us food from the vendors and you will tell me of this Junkyard of yours."

[papacerberus]

Lupa just has no idea what to make of this sudden change. What did he say? What could this be that missing it seems so horrible to someone else?

"I--" Lupa nods finally. "Food is good. I am discovering new flavors and textures all the time here. But I should warn you that the Junkyard was... distressing, even to us that lived it."

[nevercaught]

"I was born and bred in Menzoberranzan, the City of Spiders," Jarlaxle declares. "I am well-used to disturbing people by telling them of the society I grew up in. I think I can bear talk of your Junkyard."

He pulls Lupa in the direction of the food vendors. "There is a stand that sells lovely fish-shaped buns, filled with sweet bean paste. You will like them."

[papacerberus]

Lupa cocks his head. "I cannot judge the accuracy of that because I know nothing about this City of Spiders, but I will trust your judgement for now."

And if it turns out to be disturbing to Jarlaxle, Lupa figures that he did give warning. Lupa flinches, just a little hitch instinctively concealed, when touched, but doesn't resist the pull. "I have not tried those; I will."

[nevercaught]

Jarlaxle lets go when he feels the flinch nonetheless.

"They are quite good," Jarlaxle tells him. "And not so startlingly sweet as some of the desserts of this plane. Not that those are not good--but they are very much sweeter than many of the ones in my home!"

[papacerberus]

Lupa is quietly grateful for it, although he's not acknowledging the flinch happened at the moment. This stranger is... kind. Probably. Lupa likes the new word, even if a part of him does not know how to relax and trust in kindness.

"I had not tasted sweet in the Junkyard. There were only rations, moldy rolls and rancid gravy. The rations tasted very similar to Oran Berries."

How does Lupa know that? Well, if mold and rancid still count as foodstuffs... why would someone balk at Berries that are supposed to taste bad?

[nevercaught]

Jarlaxle's visible eye goes wide for a brief moment. "You eat the Berries of this plane? More than once?"

He shakes his head. "These fish buns are far more pleasant than Berries, my friend. You will see."

[papacerberus]

"They staved off the Hunger, during the..." Lupa pauses for a moment, "weird weekend."

After a moment more, he admits almost sheepishly, "but only the Oran ones now. I don't have Iron Stomach like this, and the others had worse unpleasant side effects than the moldy rolls and rancid gravy of the Junkyard. But I will not be caught unaware the next weird weekend, so I eat."

Lupa's mouth quirks up a little. "Most things would be; I can only think of one thing worse."

[nevercaught]

"Dare I ask?" Jarlaxle says--then, with a frown, adds, "The way you speak of this Hunger, my friend, makes it seem much more significant a thing than a mere hollow stomach!"

TW: cannibalism mentions

[papacerberus]

"Much worse," Lupa finally admits after a long pause. His hand is over the black mark on his stomach. "It is never sated, never less than tearing pain that threatens to consume from the inside out. It is beyond words, beyond thought, even at the most contained. Even right after surrendering, even during, it is like that. It takes willpower and thought to control or resist it in that state. But resisting... It gets worse. The pain alone could be bearable. The weakness, even, as it burns one up and tears one down from the inside out could be bearable, alone. Perhaps even together, if it were only those physical things, it could be overcome. But the Hunger eats the mind too. It drives one to Madness, and only death can loosen its hold then. In the Madness, there is only the Hunger, destruction, devouring... And power, because there is no room for pain or weakness within the Hunger, only seeking more and more to burn brighter, hotter, faster. It would drive the Mad to devour the whole world, if only it could be reduced to pieces the physical form could swallow. There is no curse worse than the Hunger."

Although his eyes remain dry, there is so much sorrow and grief in his voice that eventually it cracks altogether and Lupa can't get any more words out. The last few sentences are a struggle.

Re: TW: cannibalism mentions

[nevercaught]

"Oh, my friend..." Jarlaxle's voice trails off, but he attempts to rally himself. "Well, there is food enough here to sate any hunger, so long as you are not still cursed. But there does not seem to be magic or psionics here that are not dependent on the creatures of this plane... so I hope that you have had respite here."

Re: TW: cannibalism mentions

[papacerberus]

"As long as the weird weekend has not returned, I am free. When it does..." Lupa swallows, "When it does, I will be prepared with the berries and the milk that helped."

He takes a deep breath. "It has been very peaceful here. It has also been very unfamiliar and confusing. I am grateful that you are willing to explain things and assist."

Re: TW: cannibalism mentions

[nevercaught]

"It is a pleasure," Jarlaxle insists. "I have only been here so long myself, but long enough to help with the transitions of others."

[papacerberus]

"You are also not from the Junkyard, and so can help with those things we were denied knowledge and experience of there. I have much to learn about the world outside the Junkyard, here or elsewhere." Lupa manages a small smile back.