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

[Kazuki takes the cotton candy without even thinking, popping some in his mouth. Like he'd ever refuse food being handed to him!]

Hmm... I don't think I could ever see Claude being taken advantage of, though. He's too smart to let someone run him into the ground. He does strike me as the kind of guy that's always got a hustle going, though.

It is less being taken advantage of, and more that I fear... not nearly enough people truly recognize his talents, and his virtues, of which there are many.

But I suppose that is besides the point, and I am rather detracting from your paper folding. I do not suppose you could teach me how to make these little cranes as well?

Oh... [Kazuki remembers the memory he shared with Claude some time ago, where he was being chased by some bullies for being Almyran. Maybe because of that, people in Fodlan think he's no good?] Yeah, he does kind of have the odds stacked against him where you're from. But here in the Pokemon world, I think everyone knows how capable he is!

Sure, I'll teach you! It's easier than I make it look, promise. First, you've got to start with a square piece of paper, like this...

Ha, well, it is quite a different situation all around... But enough of that, really.

[Or else they'll start getting into depressing politics talk, and no one needs that. Instead, Dimitri sets a few drinks down from his dubwool friend's carry on platter so that they have something to sip on while working on the cranes, and takes a paper like this.]

It seems like all of these little figures start with the same kind of paper...

[Trust me, Kazuki doesn't want to get into Depressing Politics either. Mostly because he feels like all he can do is pretend he really understands when the topic is brought up, and that makes him feel more helpless than anything. So he happily turns subjects towards something lighter.]

Yeah! The pretty patterns on the paper is kind of half of the art. [He begins to slowly go through the steps, fold-by-fold.] When you fold it, make sure you really press the seam down so it lies flat, and the paper remembers that shape.

I feel as though the patterns might be a bit confusing..

[How... do you see where you've folded. There's so much color-]

Can you fold paper too hard?

Oh, it's hard for you to see? Maybe it'd be easier with plain paper? [Kazuki didn't take into account that only having one working eye might make the patterns harder to discern correctly.] The crane will still be pretty either way.

--And no, I don't think you can fold too hard, as long as you don't rip anything.

Edited 2022-08-26 02:24 (UTC)

No, the patterns must surely make it more appealing for the recipients... I will manage, I suppose. As long as I remember where all the folds go correctly...

[He'll be fine. He'll probably be fine.]

How many are there left to make, when I interrupted you?

I'm sure you can do it, just take it slow!

Uhh-- I dunno! A lot? A thousand ends up being a lot more than you think.

Of course... Of course. You do not have to worry on that. For such delicate matters, I always do my best to be slow, although such endeavors sometimes do not seem to help much...

[Stupid... terrible super strength... Although Dimitri supposes that doesn't really matter too much here.]

[Kazuki just watches Dimitri, thinking... This happened fairly often when they interacted with each other, didn't it? He wanted to help in a deeper, more intrinsic manner, but Dimitri's problems were beyond his ability to do so. He had so many experiences and circumstances that Kazuki would never truly be able to understand.]

[He didn't like the distance this created, but he felt like he had no means to bridge the gap.]

Take a deep breath, okay? Try to relax? It's okay even if you rip it, there's plenty of paper.

Hm? Oh!

[Dimitri pulls his hands away almost promptly, shaking his head a bit as he tries to draw himself back into the present moment.]

Was the tension in my fingers truly that obvious?

Oh, no! It's not like that. Sorry, I was just trying to help.

Oh, no, I appreciate it. [Dimitri chuckles a little bit, a tad self-deprecating.] Sometimes... I do not know my own body.

I appreciate someone else having an eye kept out for me... especially out of care, like you, Kazuki.

[Kazuki had his own chuckle, although without the self-deprecation]

That's kinda my thing now! I liked to help people back home too, but it's more like a real occupation here. Y'know with the Silver Horn.

You're more than just another guest, though.

And for that, I'm rather honored. Anyone would be, to earn your friendship, you know. You are truly more incredible than I sometimes think you do know.

[Well! Back to folding!]

Have you ever thought of pursuing more education, in this place?

Nobody needs to earn anything from me... [Kazuki blushes, sincerely. He'd never been good at accepting such personal praise.] I'm really not! I'm just another doofus...

I think about it sometimes, but I worry that I won't be able to keep up. I barely made it into the academy I went to back home, you know?

You are sweet, and hardworking, and incredibly attentive, Kazuki. [Dimitri shakes his head.] And the world is all the better for a man like you to exist in it, whatever world that may be.

And so I am sure you could manage academy life, if you desired it. But only then, of course. I wish not to push you towards something undesirable. And, ah, of course... [Dimitri sighs.] Running a business on your own must surely take up so much of your time as well...

Okay, okay! [Kazuki bowed his head and thrust his hands out in front of him, palms forward, in a universal gesture for STOP.] I get it! I promise! Thank you!

[It sounded more like pleading than an actual 'thank you,' but that was only because he was so flustered. Kazuki was probably beet red at this point.]

Nobody where I'm from says things so plainly like that...

[Oh, well, that's sure a response! Dimitri pauses in his paper folding, blinking up at Kazuki.]

Oh? It is the only proper thing to do, you know. If it were to me, then I would say a great deal more.

[But that apparently gives Kazuki heart attacks, so,]

How do people normally compliment others, then, in your homeland?

It's kind of... [In his head, he's saying chotto, which in Japanese is somehow considered a complete sentence all on its own, expecting the listener to infer the unspoken meaning. But Kazuki knows he has to do better than that.] There are rules, you know? It's considered rude to bring attention to someone, or to be someone that stands out, even in a good way. When someone does compliment you, you have to say something like, that's not true, or, I'm really not... Or something like that. If you just agree with someone, it means you're full of yourself. Even if someone is giving you a gift, it's polite to decline a couple of times first.

I don't really like that things are that way. There are plenty of times where I don't do all that correctly, and I know people think I'm dumb because of it. But... I think that's just who I am. So I'm okay with being thought of like that.

[It was hard being a sincerely warm, loving person in a culture that was built upon mountains of subtleties. He often wanted desperately to be nothing but honest with all of his big emotions (it felt like all of them were big sometimes!) but had beaten it into himself that that honesty could be burdensome. It wasn't about him. It was about the wellbeing of the group.]

So... I guess people just don't compliment each other much? Not to their faces, anyways. You can say nice stuff about someone to someone else, but they'll probably never hear it.

I see...

[Dimitri falls silent for another moment as he chews over that idea, going back to folding cranes as best as he can. It's not something entirely foreign, he has to admit.]

That sort of overly careful consideration over every word from your mouth... The proper ways you are expected to give compliments, or receive them... It reminds me a little bit of the court in Faerghus, to be quite honest.

I found that rather frustrating as well, although I did for most of the under and double talk which was so prevalent. I understand that some things are necessary, especially as positions and responsibilities become greater...

But we should be able to say how much we like another person freely, without those words being chained by expectations and insults.

I do not think you are stupid at all, Kazuki.

Yeah. You probably know what it's like then, right? It's not exactly the same, it's not like there's a load of pressure on me or anything, but... The only time I really felt like I was letting my true feelings out was when I was playing the trumpet. I think that's why it spoke to me so much.

[A strange expression befalls him-- at first, he seems very happy, but it quickly twists a bit into something like pain.]

...I think you're the first person that's ever said that to me.

Indeed. It can be suffocating, to be in the position where your heart has to remain locked away, even when you feel it is for the better... I was fortunate that I had, at least on occasion, people I could bare it to.

[Even if Dedue still held between them the wall of vassal and prince once upon a time, they were still united in their anger, their need for revenge against those who had harmed them. Even where so many different people from different countries, no small amount of who held important positions, in Garreg Mach at least he could still confess to Byleth on occasion.]

[These things are small, but at least they offer something.]

[For now, Dimitri just finishes up his little crane, and places it by Kazuki's hand.]

Then it needs to be said all the more.

...Yeah. Yeah, it is kind of... Like that.

[Kazuki had to think back-- had he ever truly spoken to anyone of his heart? He could only think of Yunoki, who told him how his feelings could hurt others. He'd always believed those words. That was why he'd never told Kahoko about his love, even after years of friendship.]

[These days, he wasn't really sure what to believe anymore.]

Could I keep this one? Just... as a reminder?

The Festival of Wishes!

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