Battle Convention!

[indigo_league]

Early Saturday morning, the doors of one of the largest --if not the largest-- convention centres in Viridian City open to welcome everybody to this years Battle Convention.

Spread out across several floors, and the battling fields outside, the Battle Convention is the place to be for anyone with an interest in pokemon battling. Whether you are a hardcore battler trying to hone your craft even further, or a newcomer to the battling scene hoping to learn, the Battle Convention has things of interest to everybody. It's promising to be a busy event, with trainers attending from all over Johto and Kanto. Famous battlers and gym leaders alike can be spotted in the crowds, hosting workshops or even entering in the tournaments.





The Tournament Ground

Outside of the convention centre, stands have been erected around at least a dozen Pokemon battle fields. This is where the various Tournaments will be held. Throughout the weekend, three tournaments will be held here. There is the Otherworlder Battle Tournament, a separate tournament for native Elite Four Champions, and a third Li'l Champs tournament for trainers under the age of ten.

Viewing the various battles is absolutely free, and could be a good source of insight into battle strategies employed by some of the best battlers in the region. Or, if you are attending the Li'l Champs tournament -- a most adorable insight into the dedication and friendship between young children and their first Pokemon.

Due to the number of battles, at any given time, various battles will be ongoing. The Li'l Champs tournament will be held on Sunday, while both the Otherworlder battle tournament and the Elite Four Champions battle tournament will have most of their preliminary matches held on Saturday, with the finale few matches on Sunday.

So, if you are done shopping (or maybe just ran out of money) and there aren't any workshops catching your eye, why not come down to the Tournament Grounds and catch a few battles?

First Floor

The first floor of the Convention Centre has been reserved entirely for various workshops and battle demonstrations. In essence, whatever topic related to battling you might be interested in -- whether it is using certain moves or items, battle strategies, or even demonstrations on why you should be adding X type to your roster -- you'll probably find someone here willing to talk about it. Even breeders might find something of interest here, as there are a few people giving workshops on how to breed pokemon for battle-minded customers.

Schedules are available so you won't miss anything you are interested in. Some of these workshops might only be given once, while others are repeated a few times throughout the convention, so make sure to check your schedule!

And among the crowd giving demonstration and workshops, you might even find a few familiar faces -- yes, members of the Aurora League have also been given the chance to speak about any battle topics near to their heart. Why not check out what they have to say?

Second Floor

The second floor of the Convention Centre has been reserved for the important business of commerce. Have some money to burn? Want that sweet serotonin boost of buying a thing? Maybe you deserve a little treat after winning (or losing) your battle. If so, head on up here.

Spread across various rooms, the Battle Convention dealers have everything that could be of interest to a trainer. There is, frankly, far too much to list here individually, so please accept this rough list of what your characters can find here.

Held Items -- it is possible to buy held items here, however the vast majority of them are pretty rare, so sellers will only sell you one of each. Buying several different held items is fine, but you won't find anyone willing to sell you five Amulet coins. The only exception is for held items that also double as evolutionary items. Those can be freely bought in any quantity. TMs -- It is also possible (though might require some searching across various dealers) to buy any kind of single-use TM here. The same rules apply as with Held Items -- TMs that are currently available in stores can be bought at any quantity; TMs outside of that are limited to one per person. Eggs -- There is also a small group of professional breeders present where you can order eggs with egg moves. The eggs themselves will be delivered to you in the days after the tournament. There is no limit on the amount of egg moves you can request for your egg, but there is a hefty price tag involved! These are professional breeders, so expect a base price of 6000p per egg, with 1000p per requested egg move. Training Equipment -- it's also possible to buy all manner of training equipment for your pokemon. From weights to training bags to agility aids -- if you can think of something that could help you train your pokemon in a more efficient manner, you can find it here. And the bigger items can be delivered to where you are staying, so you won't have to carry around a giant Wailord Training Bag. Odds and Ends -- In addition to all this very focused battle stuff, you'll also be able to find general pokemon items, such a wide variety of Pokeballs, Evolutionary Items, Vitamins and Potions and such. All of these will be sold for the same price as in stores.

However in addition to all of these items, the Silph Co. Booth is drawing a lot of attention. There is an announcement that they will be unveiling something truly special on Sunday, so all of Saturday is awash in rumours and guesses. There is talk that whatever they will be unveiling will be one of the prices in the tournament, though who knows if that is true. When Sunday finally comes, there is a huge crowd around the booth, watching as Silph Co. unveils

EXP-Share, the newest held item to make your training a little easier.

The EXP-Share, which will go on sale in the department stores after this weekend, is a new type of held item. Once given to a Pokemon, this Pokemon will receive EXP during battles, even while not battling itself. Have a Pokemon that is difficult to train like Magikarp? Did you just hatch a new Pokemon, but you are in an area where the wild Pokemon are too high in level for them to train against? Why not give them an EXP-Share and have them comfortably gain EXP without risking them in battle.

Battle Convention attendants can get an early start on buying an EXP-Share, though they are limited to one per customer. The price is 40,000p.

Third Floor

This is where you can go if you need a little break from all the hustle and bustle downstairs. Various food vendors and sit-down places have been set up here, allowing characters to grab a meal or something to drink, rest a little, or even go strategise for upcoming tournament battles.

As always with these type of events UBIRDS will be available to fly characters to Viridian City and back to where they were staying afterwards.

Comments

Aurora League Workshops

[indigo_league]

Please only top level here if you are an Aurora League member, giving a workshop or battle demonstration

Fletcher Gym's Workshop - Pokemon Natures, Movesets, and You!

[cyan_maid]

[Jane gets to hold this workshop only the one time, 8am on Saturday morning, and when people get there they'll find she's actually gone out of her way to do something a bit nice for her guests - namely, she and her gym trainers have worked for the past few days to provide a humble selection of baked goods, made both in-gym (their kitchen is actually functional, after all) and sourced from local Goldenrod City businesses, with cards advertising who made what. (The bagels from Blitzle's Bagel Bazaar are the closest thing you'll get to NYC bagels in a whole other world, and come highly recommended!)

Of course, the mini-buffet is just a hook to get people in the door as well as a kind gesture for folks who are less than early birds. Jane's primary workshop focus is on the influence of a Pokemon's nature on the best moves it can use!]

...There's been some studies on how the personality of a Pokemon corresponds to its battle strengths, but I find in-person examples to illustrate the point much better. To that end, I'd like to introduce you to my partner, Dinah!

[Oh of course she's focusing her workshop on her Audino.

To be fair, the meat of the discussion makes an interesting point - a Pokemon who is more Adamant in nature tends to hit harder with physical Attacks rather than Special Attacks, so to make use of that strength, it's good to find moves a Pokemon can learn that play into that while, of course, working with various types. Dinah gets to illustrate her various array of Punch moves compared to things like Dazzling Gleam - considering she's not Mega Evolved for the presentation, there's no STAB to take into account, and thus her moves are on fairly equal footing to each other, so people can gauge the difference with their own eyes.

She'll take questions or chat at the end of her presentation, and implore that people take some food out with them - heavens know she and her girls can't eat it all themselves - so have fun, get you some free food, and see if you can't get some reading material suggestions on this interesting subject! Jane would love to help! :B]

[foolishwren]

A: Maybe Ghosts Are Kind of Cool, I Guess. (immediately after Heather's Round 1 battle, closed to Shoto)

Even after leaving the brightly-lit battlefield, Heather still feels lightheaded. The last time one of her battles was such a big, crowd-dazzling spectacle had honestly been when she'd taken on the Elite Four in the first place. She'd nearly forgotten the exhilaration, the rush of victory when crowds of strangers were cheering you on.

That's the part of being a public figure that she doesn't really mind.

BUT... before any of the requisite glory-basking, there's something she needs to do.

"Hey!"

Jogging after the boy who she'd just faced in the arena, she waves a lanky arm to get his attention. Because, uh, that was one hell of a close match and there had been more than one occasion where she'd been actively anticipating a loss. Heather might be a sore winner with her closest friends (it's one of her favorite ways to be obnoxious), but as a professional, she's more than happy to give respect where it's due.

"You almost had me there, dude. Great battle!"

B: All My Homies Hate Trick Room (after Heather's Round 2 battle, open to all!)

Ughh.

UGGGGHHHHHH.

It isn't that Heather really thought she was going to take this tournament by storm-- or even, if she was honest, make it all the way to the finals.

But losing in Round 2? To that guy?

And it had been so close, too...

With freeze-frames (n... no pun intended...) of that final moment of the battle, in which her Flygon had been FROZEN IN A BLOCK OF ICE mid-divebomb at Dirk's last Pokemon, still blinking on and off in her mind like annoying pop-up ads, Heather has climbed to the convention center's third floor to drown her sorrows in overpriced pumpkaboo-spice lattes and chocolate croissants. After, of course, healing her Pokemon-- who are in varying stages of disappointment, themselves.

Razz the Infernape is the most visibly frustrated of the two (poor Dayglo is in her ball on account of a 3rd-story level of a building not being the ideal environment for a Lanturn), crunching on a bag of almonds with her sharp teeth and occasionally grumbling darkly. Meanwhile, Cicada the Flygon is perched next to Heather with his long neck drooping down towards the table in an upside-down 'U'-- stuck to his head is one of those little hand-warming packs, bequeathed to him by one of the Joys with instructions to wear it until the lingering shivers from being Frozen departed, to stave off a headcold.

When the first eager fan approaches their table, it's all Heather can do to internalize a groan and put on a sporting smile for them-- but when they excitedly show her a blurry photo of Razz nailing Dirk's Arctovish right in the noggin with a Headbutt attack and start gushing about how many memes there already were on the network about that particular part of the battle, the smile gets more genuine. Five Headbutts Heather? She could learn to live with that nickname...

C: Get In Loser We're Going Shopping (the second floor on Sunday between finale battles, open to all!)

You know the nice part of getting knocked out of the tournament early? Being able to go on a SHOPPING SPREE instead of spending every waking moment strategizing.

Not that she hasn't enjoyed watching the other battles, of course-- but you know what, she barely ever splurges these days and why NOT spoil her Pokemon a little rotten by grabbing a bunch of goodies? Especially with the justification of FOR N E X T T I M E... (insert ominous thunderclap, evil laughter, et al. She plans on lasting a lot longer if there's ever another tournament like this).

SO, Heather and some of her various safe-to-trust-in-a-crowd Pokemon can be spotted browsing the booths in the marketplace, buying up held items and as many TMs as she, Wolf, and Val can carry. She seems to be in much better spirits than she'd been the previous day after her loss to Dirk, but...

Wait a minute, where the hell did she get that MASSIVE black eye from?

D: Wildcard!

(WHATEVER AND WHENEVER ELSE YOU DESIRE... maybe she's in the stands during YOUR battle, or you're bumping into each other in the hotel hallways at 3 AM. Or maybe you're helping her figure out what the heck she'll even do for her Aurora League workshop, since she now has all that free time. GO NUTS.)

C.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley is shopping with some of his Pokemon. All those he brought are safe to be out and are either happily looking at everything or clinging to his leg, in Cosmo's case. He sees Heather and goes over.]

Hey, that was some really impressive battling you did ... what happened to your eye?!

[He stares in concern.]

[soupguy]

Shopping
[Boober can be found looking at a variety of wares, but it's a spot where evolution stones are being held that he keeps coming back to. And not alone, either-- He's let Traveler the Hisuian Growlithe out of her Pokeball, but rather than have any insight when he shows her the fire stone he's thinking of buying, she wants to play.

The stony pup may bound over and start jumping up on people to initiate a game of tag, and Boober is sure to be close behind when it happens, attempting (fruitlessly) to pull her away.]

I'm sorry about her...! Trav, no!

Between Rounds 2 & 3
[He's not battling, but Boober feels so stressed. It's not just the nerves that Riz will lose - although that does have him eating a whole lot of popcorn - it's all the action. The sights and sounds of battle are very different from the revelries of his home, and that's already often too much for him. So, after the second round, he's extra-jumpy as he navigates the first floor, yelping when he bumps into others as he attempts to simply find a place to rest.]

Wildcard
Have something else in mind? Feel free to go with any other ideas, or message me to plan a thread!

Shopping.

[behindblueskin]

[Is there another Growlithe running around being a complete goofus with the other customers? Then let her be joined by Fukiran and do utterly doggy-like stuff together while their trainers chase after them.]

FUKIRAN!

[Why let just one puppy get in trouble when you can have two?]

[behindblueskin]

1a: Outside Viridian [but also in town].

Is Keldor gonna take this opportunity to catch himself some 'mons, rather than skip out?

Steve Austin says "Gimme a hell yeah!".

So if you're not at the centre enjoying all the presentations, the shopping, the chow, etc., then maybe you might be willing to join Keldor in some pokemon catching.

In fact, Keldor just happened across a Falinks, and is trying to catch it.

Can always use a Fighting type.

1b: Outside Viridian [but also in town].

This one's simple.

Keldor and his 'mons are out and about enjoying Viridian City, its sights and its food.

Actually, they're doing that in a little park not far from the centre itself.

It's a good day for that.

2: Second Floor.

Keldor is a prince. And princes do not cry. But the price of that EXP Share is making him want to. By the time he's done enough battling to earn enough money to buy one to train up a Magikarp, it'd have enough experience through switch out-style battling to evolve into a Gyarados anyways.

But damn. He'd really love to get it.

Might have to settle for something cheaper. :'C

3: First Floor.

So many useful lectures and presentations; so little time.

But you can be sure Keldor's attending every one he can, provided they don't overlap.

And taking notes.

Keldor is a studious type, and will never turn down an opportunity to learn something that could be useful down the road.

4: The tournament.

Keldor didn't enter the tournament; he didn't think he had enough battle experience to enter. But he's there in the stands with his pokemon [current line up is here], watching every battle he can.

Studying others to learn their strategies will help him develop his own.

Best way to learn is doing, but watching is a second best method.

Second Floor

[crystalmaster]

[Radley was highly curious about the Silph Co. announcement and came to check it out once it was revealed. It's not something he would really need, but it is definitely impressive.]

Wow, that's really cool. That could help a lot of Trainers ... only the ones who would probably need it most won't be able to afford it.

[He frowns a bit.]

shiro | ota

[shiro2hero]

1) POST BATTLE(s)
First win has him elated. Of course, he's sought out his opponent first. To congratulated them on how hard they fought. On their strategy. But he can then be found in whatever sort of green room/waiting area, applying potions and remedies to his pokemon. And looking bright-eyed, delighted about the whole thing. He'll even strike up conversation with his fellow competitors. Don't mind his Gallade pulling faces - that's just Blue being Blue.

And then after the loss, not... entirely defeated. Sure, he's disappointed, but that was a great match. If Riz is around, he should expect to be congratulated. Shiro, though, will shrug off condolences or anything close to that. It's fine! He's disappointed, sure, but it was a good fight. A good learning experience. He just has to finish healing up his team, if you want to help?

2) SHOPPING
There's not a whole lot Shiro needs here, frankly. He's pretty well-set up, in terms of everything. He has plenty of pokemon, he has them all as trained as they need to be - the ones who like battling, anyway. But... thinking about it, he really does need to start burying himself more in gym planning, doesn't he?

So, tailed by his Incineroar, he can be found browsing the training gear. The muscle-cat has a punching bag draped over her shoulder, and a regular shopping bag (reusable!) in one hand. Shiro's also got a couple bags at his feet, while browsing what look like weight sets for smaller pokemon.

3) RESTING UP
Coming onto the third floor, you can find him in one of two ways.

One, surrounded by his pokemon, tucked into a corner. His Aggron, Incineroar, Gengar, Marowak, Gallade and Umbreon are all sitting in a circle with him, while Shiro very carefully observes a pizza set in the middle of them. It's actually kind of adorable, even if he's adding some... odd things to said pizza. Metal shavings, berries, various powders... it becomes obvious this is for Pokemon consumption, though, as he starts dividing the slices up among the team. Just don't try to snag some for yourself, you may not like the taste...

Or Two... late evening, after his Workshop, you will find Shiro absolutely sacked out. Not in a chair. Not on a footstool. He's on the floor.

It'd be weird if it weren't for the fact his enormous Aggron is also snoozing. Curled up around him with its tail tucked under his head in a makeshift pillow. They tried, they really did, to make it to the hotel room. But Shiro wasn't kidding when he said Mega Evolution took a lot out of you...

> team voltorb ice cream party

[shiro2hero]

[Well, none of them won. That's disappointing, to say the least. For his part, Shiro's gotten over it. Riz was a great opponent, it was a really challenging battle. And it was all in fun. Sure, his competitive streak is massively annoyed, but he can deal with that later. All of it was a much-needed distraction from loss.]

[And in the end, that's what he needed, more than a win.]

[The others, though? Probably not so much. Especially Keith.]

Come on. Both of you. [Is all he says when he finds both Keith and Allura. Managing to keep a straight face is a difficult task, and somehow, Shiro manages.] Follow me.

[What a better way to drown your sorrows than the ice cream parlor he found the other day...]

[blue_ice]

studying up

Kaiba arrives at the convention with his two badges pinned to a silver scarf. He doesn't usually display them publicly, but in this setting? He's here to learn from the champions and experts who've come before him...and maybe find some less experienced trainers on his level to battle with outside.

He takes notes at every workshop of interest, and at every match. His hand's always flying over the paper, to the point that it seems he isn't reacting to the ups and downs of each match. He's too busy trying to keep track of all the move combos he sees!

"I'm going to need a couple hundred thousand for TMs alone. The strategy avenues with all those available moves..."

shopping time

Kaiba now has two badges under his belt, and he's fairly successful on the routes and with Pay Day, but his income is still far below his former standard of living. He's standing off to one side of the sales floor with his notebook, with an Alolan Raichu floating beside him.

"We should get Sunny Day to increase Zephyra's options and shut down water opponents."

Raichu responds with a very indignant huff and gently headbutts him the static energy sending his hair flying in every direction. He blinks at her.

"Is this how you argue for Electric Terrain?" Raichu responds with a giggle. He shakes his head and turns back to the vendors, continuing his search.

for an old....friend? (closed to atem/marik???)

After his long shopping trip, Kaiba has a large bag tucked under his arm. He's searching high and low for a specific person who shouldn't be hard to find, and his Hisuian Goodra is trailing behind him with a gentle smile on his face.

He's walking with his head held high (more than usual) and a solid bounce in his step. He's ready to reconnect with his greatest rival.

Shopping Time

[crystalmaster]

Radley has been shopping with his Pokemon. They are excited and jumping around, pointing at things they like. He chuckles, seeing Seto's adventure.

"They really are like kids, aren't they?" he says.

Sion | Open

[dreamsofahero]

Shopping

There's definitely... a lot to buy here. Other than possibly hunting down a few particularly rare TMs or or items, though, Sion's spending some time giving the various Pokémon training equipment a good look over. If you happen to pass by at the right moment, you might even hear him muttering to himself as he peruses the offerings.

"Perhaps something like this for the gym..."


Workshop Watching

Of course, when he's not giving his own demonstration, Sion's taking a moment to see what others have to offer. Is he attending the same one you are? Or perhaps even watching yours? It's quite possible!

Feel free to pester the actual gym leader about his thoughts on the presentation.


Wildcard

Got another idea? Feel free to hit me up in Discord (AC#7235) or PM! Or just toss your brilliant tag here, that works too.

Shopping

[outofsynth]

Having been to a few workshops now, Min is perusing the available TMs. He can't afford much right now, but it never hurts to look and get an idea of prices for when he does. It's unexpected to see Sion there. The people who run the workshops seem like they're pretty big deals in the Poké World, so it's strange to see him walking around the stalls like a normal person.

He realises immediately what a ridiculous thought that is, and after a minute or two manages to buck up enough to talk to him.

"Uh, hey... I really liked the workshop you did earlier. It gave me a lot of ideas for my Vulpix. Especially if she does evolve."

[nellacerniera]

Shopping Date (closed to Abbacchio)
[Some might not think of this as much of a date, but frankly, it's enough for Bucciarati. And... honestly, it's kind of nice?]

... I know the bulk of our spending is probably going to be on TMs--and at least a Pay Day TM will, well, pay for itself--but I definitely want to look over the evolutionary items and see what those Breeders may have available as well...

Tournament Grounds
[Bucciarati did not, actually, enter the Otherworlder tournament--it was a tempting thought, but ultimately, he'd rather cheer on the people he knew who'd entered and watch the various strategies on display (and take notes).

After the various battles, the people he knows who entered will find Bucciarati approaching them afterward to either congratulate them or offer his condolences.]

Workshops and Demonstrations
[This is actually where the bulk of Bucciarati's time is being spent, going off to this workshop or that demonstration, with notebook and pen in hand. Always more to learn, after all.

When he's not doing that (or watching tournament battles, or shopping...), he's found an out of the way place to park himself to study the schedule some more, marking up his provided schedule with a vengeance as he figures out what else he wants to check out...]

Wildcard
[Got an idea that isn't something listed here? Hit me up!]

[orangesmith]

[When Bruno finds Narancia after his part in the tourney, he'll find him being set upon by his Houndoom and Type: Null, both the Pokémon trying to get him out of his grumpy mood post loss. It...seems to be working, if only because Narancia is now too distracted by their antics to be grumpy about losing.]

Hey, you guys- [It seems that Narancia hasn't noticed Bruno yet, his attention on trying to extricate himself from the two overeager Pokémon as they circle him like a pair of overgrown puppies.]

ota | will match format!

[sassymaru]

1) SHOPPING
[Well, this isn't exactly what he was hoping for, in terms of shopping experience. As always, he's done up for the big event. Freshly dyed hair, styled neatly. And something "simple" from his vast closet. Okay, it's simple by Shadowmaru standards.]

[His pokemon follow at his heels - a pair of Growlithe (one Kanto, one Hisui), Electrike, and... Whirlipede? That's not a dog. But he doesn't appear to notice too much, too busy pouring over TMs and Held Items.]

These are all meant for battles, aren't they?


2) LOUNGING
[How better to spend a battle competition than relaxing with a smoothie and watching people? Certainly you can't do better. Not even actually battling! His pokemon have little drinks of their own, in bowls, though, since they're dogs and all.]

[Except for his bug. The Whirlipede. Who has taken it upon itself to enter its own battle competition. Before Shadowmaru can stop it, it rolls right up to the nearest other pokemon and squares up. Bouncing in place. Fight me!]

Please ignore it - I should have it contained, I apologize.


3) wildcard
[Anything else? Shadowmaru won't be participating in the tournament, but he's around the other attractions!]

2

[outofsynth]

[Unfortunately the Pancham it's squared up against is far too ready to take up the challenge. Min-Gi had brought him along to give them chance to bond since he hasn't long caught him. He's starting to regret it. For such a little panda, he sure is good at getting himself in trouble.]

Blitz, no! We're not here to battle.

[He picks him up physically to be safe, much to Blitz's obvious annoyance.]

It's fine. I guess the tournament gets them riled up.

Harry | Open

[phoenixwiz]

Tournament Grounds
(Let’s be honest: There is no way Harry would survive the Otherworlder Tournament with how underprepared his team is compared to several teams he has seen so far. But he does get to watch several of the matches and see what kind of strategies they have in store.)

Workshops and Demonstrations
(This is where he has spent most of his team: taking part of workshops, writing down notes, and learning about each strategy, tip, and situation at hand. If he is not window shopping or seeing matches, he could be seen at the third floor reading notes and relaxing with his team.)

Shopping (or ‘Why is this EXP Share too pricey?’)
(As much as he likes to check out the stalls and the offers, it was the EXP Share that got his attention, but probably not for the reasons Silph Co. have in mind. The introduction price is enough to make him stare at it in complete shock and uncertainty. He may been earning money from Pokémon Center work, Trainer battles, and Violet and Ron’s Pay Day, but the price is giving him second thoughts of even trying to buy one.

Apologies in advance if you see a completely stunned young man who is still trying to understand the prices these things are being sold at.)

Shopping

[crystalmaster]

Radley isn't surprised to see Harry's reaction to the EXP Share.

"That really is out of this world, isn't it?"

Minfilia Warde | ota

[prayreturn]

[ post-losing, saturday ]

[ Minfilia Warde knew she was not going to win. Still, after her loss, she's. Still looking quite pleased. Talking to herself, but also to her upset-looking female Meowstic who looked close to having a tantrum. ]

Perhaps there's a way to paralyze Ground-types... or to use other status effects to stall them. Or perhaps I should have used other members of my team...

[ Feel free to talk to her! She just looks a little shaken. ] I'll just need to be better. It's not your fault, Alisaie.

[ Later, she's still up in the third floor, drafting up plans for battles... but hasn't she been eliminated? Prod her about that? ]

[ around the center, saturday and sunday ]

[ Oh! Minfilia has been curious about so many items! So perhaps she's picking up the last battle item from that store you want, your hands meeting. Or perhaps she's stopping you and asking why you're buying what you're buying. Because she seems to be getting a bit full-on in getting her battling even better. Her male Meowstic - not the one who competed - is following, with a paper list filled with items, with many different paw marks on it.

Minfilia also spends a lot of time watching the Lil Champs tourney! You could see her kneeling and talking to little trainers, asking them about their starter and what they like about it? She almost looks in her zone, being kind and listening and chuckling a little when a kid talks about how cool their Charmander is gonna be it's a dragon.
Join her in her :3c at kids! They remind her of new adventurers. ]

[fragile in viridian at the pond, sunday evening ]

[ It's only when she gets outside, Sunday afternoon - pointedly avoiding the finals - that Minfilia lets herself let her emotions out. She is shaken, having finally learned a truth she could barely handle. (The fact that Emet-Selch was Solus, and thus that Garlemald was a thrall of Ascian creation. That everything was more complex then she thought. Alongside knowing what fate awaited her, it was. A Lot.)

Thus, why she's not in the Tournament Grounds or anywhere in the Convention Centre. No, she's past the Cut Tree of Viridian, sitting by the pond. Letting her hair down, messily just. Looking to the skies. There's an odd hollowness to her eyes. ]

I need a distraction.

[ Before she's fully consumed by, well. despair. Note that unless she knows and trusts you, she won't tell you what's going on. ]

post losing!

[grice]

[ the third round was intense— as were plenty of the battles, but he certainly had to see jean's battle. that ended, but with falco pondering plenty of things. especially when he sees the young woman once he's left the bleachers, falco ends up bolting up to her. or. trying to. he has to weave through some people, and plenty of groups and crowding. he's a short boy and doesn't have a habit of pushing or rudeness to get by. to help at least keep her within range, falco propels his pidgeotto to her. pecker flies in front of her and seems pretty insistent on keeping her from going any further.

he finally manages to squeeze by and catch up when the traffic smooths down. ]

Miss Minfilia? Miss—

Vinegar Doppio | OTA

[epitaffio]

A. Coping (After Doppio's first-round match)

[Doppio's expression sinks as those stupid little rocks wear at the very last bit of stamina his Pokémon had left. He doesn't say anything, and though he does give Jean a handshake, he's quick to leave the tournament grounds without another word.

He's not going back inside the convention centre, either. From the looks of it, he's making a beeline straight for the Pokémon Centre, crestfallen. He greets nobody on the way, doesn't spare anybody more than a glance (and, as he distances himself from the tournament grounds, the colour of said glances may seem just a little bit off).

Right now, Vinegar Doppio wants to go away.]

B. Third-floor downtime

[Despite everything, Doppio hasn't left yet. That isn't to say he's in the mood to think about battles, though, which is why he's up here. Now that his Pokémon are feeling refreshed, he's sharing snacks with them, sitting in a circle with the exact team he brought to this tournament with such high hopes - Cristina the Morpeko, Connie the Cinderace and Scarabella the Heracross.

Cristina seems to be getting restless, though. She squeaks in protest as Doppio tries to give her a handful of seeds.]

I know you're running out, but you've gotta hold on, okay? We can't start making trouble here. Just... let the others finish eating and - [She slaps the seeds out of Doppio's hand; he groans.] Look-- that's what I'm trying to say, if you want different ones, you just have to wait and then I'll go with you!

[Cristina the Morpeko can't believe what an idiot her trainer is sometimes. Though it may not be just him - chances are any human who can't understand Pokémon would be struggling with this. Maybe that makes them all idiots, then...]

C. Wildcard

[Go nuts!]

Third Floor~

[thetombkeeper]

[Marik had seen the match. Saw how Doppio just up and left without a word. He knew better than to go chasing after him right then and there. Best to let him cool off first. That what he would want anyways.

So when he sees the other up on the third floor, he decides to approach him.

From the front, mind you. The last thing he needs is Doppio feeling threatened. His Goomy rushes over to the group before he can stop him though. NEW FRIENDS.]

Oba! You get-

[Siiigh. Too late. Oba's trying to make friends and vibrates happily. Marik, although mildly annoyed, offers a small smile to Doppio. Chenzira just looks between the two.]

Hey. It's been a while. How're you... holding up?

[Probably not the topic Doppio wants to talk about but it deserves mentioning. Despite the loss, Marik still thinks he did a great job at his battle.]

Marik Ishtar | OTA

[thetombkeeper]

First Floor -

[Marik spends a good amount of time attached to Kaiba's side, particularly when they're watching matches. The rest of the time he's walking around, checking out various workshops to better his understanding of battling and just watching the interactions between all the different people here.

Chenzira, his Yamask, is perched on his shoulder, Usi, his Haunter, floating close behind. Oba, his Goomy, is either on his other shoulder, on his head, or zipping around his trainer excitedly.

And maybe too excitedly at other trainers. Hello, new people!]


Second Floor -

[Thanks to his and Kaiba's Meowth, the Egyptian has managed to save up a very generous helping of money - and he plans on spending a lot. Gifts, treats, vitamins, and a couple of Everstones for his "babies."

He can be found crouching in front of Chen and Oba, gifting them with the Everstones, or "window shopping" at the various stands. Catch him at the right time and he might be willing to buy others something as well.

That EXP Share sure is tempting... If not just for the bragging rights.]


Third Floor -

[When not shopping his heart or watching the matches, the Egyptian can be found chilling at a table with his three aforementioned mains, chatting with them and having them try different foods.

No smoothie for you, Chen. At least not a full sized one. You don't need to get hiccups again.]


Wildcard -

[Want to meet him outside the tournament or something completely different? I'm down for anything!]

First Floor

[outofsynth]

[Min-Gi's been trying cram in as many workshops as he can. Apparently this kind of event is rare, and new as he is he has a lot to learn. It's between workshops he spots the familiar face. He hesitates at first, wondering if it's weird to just walk over to someone you you've only spoken to once, and not even in person.

He had seemed friendly, though, and Min is definitely in need of friends. He approaches, raising a friendly hand while the Plusle that had been up on his shoulder hops down to join the Goomy in zipping around.]

Hey! It was Marik, right?

Abbacchio | Mostly OTA

[ripetuto]

Shopping - OTA

[He's less actively shopping right now and more just window-shopping, looking around to see if he can find anything of any actual use to him right now (how in the fuck did he get so many 'mons the require items to evolve). Only two of his team is out right now, neither of them particularly keen on going into their balls, and you might be forgiven if you only see the Hisuian Growlithe and don't notice the Sinistea perched on his head.

Abbacchio's given up on trying to get her to stop sitting up there for now. It's just not worth it.

As they wander, eventually the Sinistea jumps off Abbacchio's head and floats over to a table selling various teapots. Abbacchio follows, already dreading what's about to happen.]

You're not evolving yet, and these are all Cracked.

[Camomilla promptly starts to argue and bonk Abbacchio with her saucer. There is a Chipped Pot in here somewhere she knows it!! Abbacchio just ignores her...while promptly humoring her and looking through the teapots. Damn teacups.]

The Tournament - OTA

[Abbacchio's there watching, mostly for Narancia and Emporio but also to see what moves people seem to use the most and what typing those moves have. He's even taking notes!

He's a breeder. If he can figure that sort of thing out, maybe he can charge more or something. He's seen the prices of those eggs people are selling here!

While he's doing that, his Hisuian Growlithe is enjoying himself. Every time there's cheering, he tilts his head back and howls. This is fun!]

Resting - Closed to CR

[At some point, Abbacchio's just done. He retreats to the third floor and finds a place away from everyone else to just chill.]

Resting

[nellacerniera]

[Understandably done, given the crowd. Bucciarati needs a break, too!

Although, when he comes over with his Riolu at his heels, it's with drinks and food for the both of them.]

Here.

[shiningkindness]

The Tournament Ground

[ Fluttershy still isn't much for battling Pokemon, but she does know a few people who are participating in the tournament and promised to cheer for them. And those who might catch her might be surprised that Fluttershy, who is usually soft-spoken, is cheering quite loudly and excitedly along with the crowd.

There are definitely a lot of people watching, though, and while she's able to sit and watch just fine when there's a match going on, in between matches she does need a bit of a breather, and between rounds she goes to find a less occupied space to collect herself.

She can't lie, though, it all is a bit exciting. ]

Shopping

[ Fluttershy still isn't really much into battling herself, but she does understand that it's necessary at times. Especially after their time in Hisui, when it had been more difficult to avoid and the Pokemon hadn't been as open to listening as they are now.

So when she has time she heads up to the second floor to look at the items that are being sold. She's still pretty unfamiliar with competitive battling, though, so she mostly looks at the Odds and Ends and can't help looking at the different Eggs that are available. She even considers some of the TMs, though she wouldn't even really know which ones to get. ]

Wildcard

(( Have something else in mind? Go for it, or feel free to hit me up at usamichan13 to plan something out! ))

Tournament.

[behindblueskin]

[A cheering young teenage girl is going to get someone's attention, and that's why Nami, Fukiran and Shidosanda floats, trots and rolls respectively over to Fluttershy to see what the excitement's all about.

She seems like the friendly type, and they're sure that Keldor's too busy watching [and studying] the matches to notice that half his team decided to go on a walkabout to meet some of the other spectators out here today.

Heck, by the time he does, they'll be on their way back.

If they ... don't get ... too distracted by a girl ... who can talk to pokemon..?]

Shrike | Oopen

[fayblood]

[I. Watching the Tourney]

Even though he's far too shy to have participated himself, Shrike is fascinated by the tournament. He's watching every possible match he can, his attention riveted as he mentally notes the different strategies and tactics used.

Really, his attention is so focused he's probably not paying much mind to his surroundings, meaning should he turn and find someone next to or behind him who wasn't there before, that person might be greeted by a startled yelp. Have fun with that.


[II. Workshops!]

When there's not a match going on, Shrike does manage to brave the crowds enough to check out some of the workshops and demos. Or at least, that's his intent. Being rather smaller than his actual age and insisting on wearing a hood out in public means he's struggling a bit to get a good view on some of the more popular ones.

"I can't see..."


[III. Shopping Time]

To saw Shrike is awed by the selection is probably an understatement. He doesn't even know where to begin looking, there's so much stuff here. And a lot of it possibly useful, too.

Still, the most useful item is, unfortunately, also the most expensive. Yes, he's definitely eyeing that exp share, and no, he doesn't really have the cash to afford it. He's still a kid, after all, he's limited in the number of hours he can work in a given day!

So, that means he's pretty much stuck just staring slightly wistfully at all the amazing things he can't buy.


[IV. Quiet Time]

Most of the time, however, Shrike can be found upstairs in a nice, quiet corner of one of the lounges. He's still not good at dealing with crowds, so it helps to be able to get away from them a bit.

Not that he's just lounging around, though. Should you approach, he'll probably be busily working on something. Perhaps looking up Pokémon an moves on his 'gear, or slowly making his way through reading a book. Maybe even very carefully and painstakingly writing things in a cheap notebook. Whatever it is though, he seems pretty absorbed in it...


[Wildcard]

Got another idea? Feel free to hit me up in Discord (AC#7235) or PM! Or just toss your brilliant tag here, that works too.

Workshops

[nellacerniera]

[Oh, hey, he remembers this kid. Bucciarati takes a glance around and noting the empty seat in front of him...]

Ah, would you like to swap seats with me, then? If that would make it a bit easier.

[neverbreaks]

The Tournament Ground

[ Luisa is still rather annoyed at herself for missing the chance to sign up for the tournament, but she's also a bit relieved, especially as she watches those who are participating. There is a lot going on, and she does her best to take notes but she knows that this is definitely out of her league.

But it's also a good opportunity to see how these kinds of battles work, especially with coming up with ideas for strategizing for gym matches. So she's watching intently, learning as much as she can from the matches. ]

Workshops

[ Luisa had also heard about the workshops that were being provided, and was curious about attending a few of those as well. The Aurora League workshops especially, since they were given by other offworlders who were good enough to create gyms of their own.

But the problem was trying to have time for everything. There were certainly some things that were scheduled at the same time, which is a bit frustrating trying to choose which to attend. She studies the guide in her hands, then sighs. ]

I know there's no way to see everything, but I feel like I'm still gonna miss a lot no matter what I see.

Shopping

[ Luisa doesn't have too much money on her, at least not enough that she felt comfortable spending, but she can't help checking out the second floor anyway. It couldn't hurt to at least look, right?

Most things are definitely out of her price range, but it's still fun to see everything that was being offered. She finds herself lingering around the training equipment in particular. It's very tempting, but she also knows that some of the equipment is too big to be carrying around. And she and Mirabel don't really have a place yet... ]

Wildcard

(( Have something else in mind? Go for it, or feel free to hit me up at usamichan13 to plan something out! ))

Workshops

[outofsynth]

[Min-Gi's been having a similar problem. There's just so much. It's impossible not to miss out on stuff he wants to, and if he overpacks his schedule even within physical limits he's sure to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information.]

I know the feeling. I knew this was going to be big, but this is even more than I imagined.

Princess Allura | Voltron: Legendary Defender

[heartofalioness]

A. Some Legends Are Told, Some Turn to Dust or to Gold (Saturday, Pe-Tournament)

Aside from a very brief excursion for breakfast, Allura’s mostly been on standby in the locker room the convention, trying to stay calm, review moves and abilities in her head and out loud to her Pokémon, possibly going through a few martial drills to burn off adrenaline. Maybe pop in and say hi the locker room, or maybe you’re lucky enough to catch her while she’s walking around the convention center. She could probably use some conversation to settle her nerves.


B. And Just One Mistake Is All It Will Take (Saturday, After Round Two)

Maybe she’d gotten cocky, being able to take out Hubert in the first round. Maybe she’s just gotten cocky over all, thinking that six badges and a third-place contest ribbon would be enough for her to actually do well in this tournament, so the darker thoughts say. In a bittersweet way, having her friends from home not do any better or worse helps, but not by much; at least she doesn’t have to worry about giving congratulations tinged with envy, or being whiny when she achieved more than someone.

So, she tries to walk around a bit aimlessly, give her three Pokémon a pick-me-up or two because *they* did well at least. She’ll be easy to spot and try not to look too down in the mouth when approached; a princess is supposed to be gracious in defeat. But maybe she could use some encouragement, or a chance to vent.


C. Remember Me For Centuries (Sunday)

Well... one upside to losing it that it gives Allura more time to relax and enjoy the rest of the convention. (And between Shiro treating them to ice cream and Riku making it all the way to the finals, the sting’s lessened quite a bit already.) She’ll be much more chipper, eager to examine different items and especially tutors for her Hisuian mons, pick up tips to do better next time she battles. And hey, she wouldn’t mind helping someone make a purchase if they’re a little low on cash.


D. Doo Doo Doo Doo, Doo-Doo Doo Doo (Wildcard)

[[Got something in mind not listed in the prompts? Hit me up on Plurk or PM Allura's journal!]]

A. because I like to bully my own characters

[smallshot]

[Gabi didn't have any notes, because her plan was very simple. It was attack with the strongest moves as quickly as possible. So there she was, sitting in the locker room and clenching her little fists. Vibrating.

Then she noticed the lady moving.]

...Who are you?

falco grice (aot) | ota!

[grice]

on hand:

TOURNAMENT GROUNDS
[ one may find falco watching the first tournament rounds with his current team taking up spots on the bleachers; he's here for one thing and shouts, with waving props and foam and everything he could to speak one name during this match: ]

GO, GABI!!

[ the boy yells words of encouragement during most of the match despite the tremendous difference in battle experience, and when it's over by a landslide— he's clapping for both of them anyway. ]

FIRST & SECOND FLOORS
[ falco's a busy bee— he attends as many workshops as humanly possible, little flipbook in hand and a pidgeotto perched upon his shoulder. the bird will give anyone who stares a second too long a death glare, but falco, sweetly smiling into his notes as he hops from one presentation to the next barely notices his friend being . . . hm! relatively possessive! he tries to always get a front row, especially during the breeders discourse. oh, he is there, and so attentive! so absolutely enthralled! he easily leans over during a break to ask you questions, curious and bright about sharing notes and experiences.

what one may notice the most is that he's eagerly giving his contact information out to those who take the time to give him attention (it's hard not to give an excited kid a bit of your time, come on, tell the truth). name, pokegear number and all. do you want something specific, with a specific egg move? he'll breed it for you, or try his best to! he's an aspiring breeder, and will even offer what remains of the first few batches of eggs he's bred at a fair price, if one is interested. he currently has the following eggs that he'll gladly deliver right on the spot (if you don't mind waiting for him to retrieve them from his PC):

MIMIKYU
EGG MOVES: wood hammer, splash, astonish, scratch, copycat, shadow sneak, double team, baby-doll eyes, play rough, phantom force, dark pulse, destiny bond, curse, shadow ball, hex, payback
AVAILABILITY: 5 4


SNUBBULL (A)
EGG MOVES: tackle, tail whip, charm, scary face, ice fang, thunder fang, fire fang, close combat, heal bell, earthquake, shadow ball, sludge bomb, double team, work up
AVAILABILITY: 5 3

SNUBBULL (B)
EGG MOVES: tackle, tail whip, charm, scary face, ice fang, thunder fang, fire fang, strength, rock smash, close combat, water pulse, return, dig, earthquake, focus punch, swagger, confide
AVAILABILITY: 3


eggs will be first come, first serve! ]

@smallshot, before event!

[grice]

[ falco has traveled far and wide the entire month to get to viridian city before anyone else, and he surely feels a sense of pride after emerging tired, aching and definitely messy from the thick overgrowth shrouding viridian forest the night before. he made it the entire way. he made it before her.

he went on his own little adventure that made him feel accomplished. he learned more, did more, and who knew? perhaps the distance was a good thing. he had even felt like he grew more. falco takes the rest of the night to find a hotel, take a hot shower, eat and rest, because the next day was a big day. he could hardly wait— but falco could also sleep very, very quickly. his limbs felt like anchors underneath the blankets, and he slept warm beneath them.

the next morning, energized and excited beyond belief, falco jumps to his feet, readies himself, looks his best and springs to the convention center. he doesn’t know when she’d get there, or how (he’s heard about UBirds and partially hates the idea that he walked without entirely needing to walk, but— oh, well. it was the growth and experience that counted the most). he just new that he’d look consistently.

some time has passed, he hasn’t given up scanning his eyes around even if it’s been minutes or hours, but when he finally spots her, the skip his heart gives is no different than the last time he saw her face. no, it’s stronger. it feels like it could just pounce right out of his mouth.

falco doesn’t waste time— his lips break into a grin, and his arms outstretched as he bolts for her. ]

GABI!!

Min-Gi Park | OTA

[outofsynth]

Second Floor

[Min-Gi spends a lot more time on the second floor than he should given his limited finances, but he figures it's good to learn what's available and try to work out what might help in future.

Most of the TMs he looks at aren't so tempting. The ones he thinks he'll need are available already in other Marts, and most of those wouldn't be useful to him just yet. The eggs, though... the eggs are far too tempting.

He can be found poring through the lists with a conflicted expression. He could afford one, but then he'd definitely need to pick up another job (ugh) before he could afford to travel again.]

Now I get why everyone was crowding around that Amulet Coin stall...

Third Floor

[After the workshops and battles he does attend, Min can be found drinking coffee or having a light snack up on the third floor. Both frequently seem to end up largely untouched as he focusses instead on what's in front of him.

He has two small notebooks. One he's reading from, and another he's writing into after using the PokéGear to look up whatever he'd written down in the first one. It's a Process, and not exactly a practical one by the looks of it.]

Third Floor

[crystalmaster]

[Radley comes upon Min-Gi eventually.]

Hi. Taking down notes about all of this?

Geddoe | Open

[lightningbearer]

[I. Workshops]

On the one hand, Geddoe's not really big on social stuff. On the other hand, he does very much appreciate the value of information. Meaning that even if many of the workshops probably aren't of particular interest to him, it's probably worthwhile to at least pause and listen in on the occasion.

Hopefully he's not blocking your view as he just stands there stoically.


[II. Browsing]

There is something to be said about having so many things conveniently gathered in one place, rather than having to hunt them down across different cities, if they're even stocked anywhere at all. And while Geddoe's not a particularly competitive sort of trainer, he does see keeping his team in good shape with versatile moves as important.

That he can probably only afford a handful of TMs right now is beside the point, he can just prioritize the hard to find ones, or something.

"Hmm...."

Then again, he might be here a while if he keeps thinking it over like this.


[III. Beer is Better]

Of course, Geddoe only has so much interest in the convention itself, and once that's exhausted for the time being, you can probably find him taking a break at the nearest bar or similar establishment. Basically, if it has inexpensive booze, that's a good place to start looking for him. Care to join him?


[Wildcard]

Got another idea? Feel free to hit me up in Discord (AC#7235) or PM! Or just toss your brilliant tag here, that works too.

Beer is better

[1stclasspuppy]

Zack has been walking around the Battle Convention with shockingly only two of his pokemon this time. It was really crowded and while he wanted his usual team out and about with him he only had Grim on his shoulder like usual and his new furfrou with him, Poodelightful. The furfrou was prancing at his side, sporting her fresh new haircut as Zack looked around the convention, getting a few gifts here and there for some friends.

He was getting pretty tired by the time they all left and as they walked around Veridian he spotted a familiar face in a bar, well a familiar eyepatch really. He headed over to the window he spotted what he thought was Geddoe and seeing him there he waved with the bags he was holding in his hand before heading on in, his furfrou following behind him.

"Hey Geddoe! Good to see you pal!" He smiled, putting his stuff down on a nearby seat before taking the one next to Geddoe and sitting on it. He held his hand out to him, knowing by know that Geddoe sadly wasn't a hugging guy so a handshake should be fine. "Did you get to go to the the convention?"

Cecil Harvey | OTA

[paladinlost]

Post-loss TM shopping

[Now, Cecil and his team have been battling for over a literal decade. Losing is part of life! It would have been nice to keep going, but Emporio's victory was well-deserved, and Cecil wishes him nothing for the best for the rest of the tournament.

But! There's no point in losing if you don't learn from it, and if you don't at least attempt to find counters against the strategy that beat you. And as it happens, Cecil can afford counters, as long as they're available.

Thus, a man and his Clefable are having a lively discussion near an elevator on the second floor.]

Now, Rosie, I can buy you as many status-preventing moves as you wish, but that'll hardly compensate for your lower speed.

[Fable clefclef clefable faaaaaaa!]

Yes, well. That's not your ability, there's nothing we can do about that.

[Don't hesitate to ask them to move if they're in the way, really. They won't mind.]


Egg purchase

Yes, madam, I am being entirely serious.

[And Cecil does, indeed, look serious as he speaks to a particular seller. The woman in question is holding up a paper list, with a confused yet hopeful look on her face.]

I'd like all seventeen options, please. Are you certain you cannot transmit tutor and TM moves to the child? I'd not mind paying extra for those, if they're available.

[This is one breeder's very lucky day, apparently. But which species is he buying?]


Other?

[If you'd like to meet Cecil in other circumstances, go right ahead! He'll be all over the place throughout the weekend, he's not actually glued to the second floor.]

Egg purchase

[dreamsofahero]

"Now, and here I thought you didn't need any more eggs..."

Of course, Sion can't resist the opportunity to tease!

Jean Kirstein | OTA

[angewiesen]

1. During the Otherworlder Tournament

This is what Jean is here for, so he's taking it very seriously. Because, well, he wants to win! He doesn't expect to, but he's still gonna give it his best effort.

First round, he's mainly just psyching himself up. Since he can't really learn anything about his opponent, he can only try to do his best while thinking on his feet. To try and keep his head from spiraling, he'll talk to other contestants and maybe try to have a conversation about basic strategy. Who knows, maybe he'll end up fighting against them later on?

After the first round, he's all business. He'll be studying the videos of his next matchup's previous rounds with detailed care, making handwritten notes about the Pokemon that show up, all the moves they used, the possible held item (if he saw it) and general comments about the particular strategies shown. He's fully absorbed in this, but he'll be willing to talk shop if interrupted. Having a sounding board might help him think outside the box a bit. He'd also never mind being congratulated on his wins either!

2. After the Otherworlder Tournament!

Honestly, he's kind of baffled by the end result. He was confident. He was good. But he didn't know he was this good.

Jean can be found outside the arena that was used for the Otherworlder battles, hanging out with his three huge, intimidating Pokemon. Tusk the Mamoswine is taking the world's chillest nap, her four stocky legs all splayed out in a sploot, and Trio the Hydreigon is full of scrappy energy, looking incredibly smug and proud about her performance.

The star of the show though, was definitely Finn the Gyarados. She was a steady, reliable defensive core, and her use of Dragon Dance and the Expert Belt carried several of their matches. And out of Jean's team, she was the biggest weirdo. She desperately wanted to be a lap-Pokemon. And after her incredible performance, Jean was more than inclined to indulge her. He was getting covered in superficial scratches from her sharp scales, but he didn't try at all to fend her off as she tried to cuddle with him, and begged for him to scratch her around the crest and whiskers.

Jean will talk to literally any passerby that wants a word with him. He's halfway between being shocked and being totally smug about his relative victory. Sure, he wanted to win first, but third? Third was acceptable. Third was not too shabby. Especially when first and second were held by well known Aurora League champions. Out of all his prizes, the invitation from the Elite Four was definitely his favorite. He might get it framed.

And he was gonna use that multi-use Taunt TM on every Pokemon in his roster that could learn it.

3. Wildcard! Feel free to create a topic!

Yuzu Hiiragi | Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V

[songstressedout]

[1] Shopping (pre-battles)

[ Yuzu has trained hard for this tournament, she's done everything she could possibly do. She has a strategy, her team is ready, and most of all... she has her friends cheering her from the side.

At least, that's how it was supposed to be.

Instead, just a few days before the tournament, her friends were suddenly... gone. Without a single trace, both Yuya and Gongenzaka were gone. She sent out her Pokemon, of course. She had her flying Pokemon scour the area relentlessly, but then she checked her PC box... to see the Pokemon of her friends inside.

That... that hurt. It hurt more than she let on. It hurt more than she even realizes right now.

She's trying to just... focus on the tournament. Get her mind off of the fact that she's alone again, completely on her own, nobody from home with her and just... shop around. Grab a few TMs. Get something to eat. Relax and get into a good mindset for battling. ]

I-It's fine... they're still with me, just... in my heart, yeah... I'll win this... s-so when I see them again, I...

[ ...she hasn't touched her food. ]

[2] A Battle That She Can't Lose (After her Round 1 Battle against Corrin)

[ She lost.

She lost, and she knows why. It's not because her strategy was bad. It's not because of her Pokemon. It's not even because of who she was battling either. No, she knows why she lost.

It was because of herself. She's certain that her Pokemon must have noticed it too once the battle started. Yuzu was panicked, paranoid the entire time. Inwardly she was second-guessing every command, which meant that commands came out slower. When she noticed this, she tried to fix it... but that only resulted in her getting more reckless and brash.

Eventually, she wasn't even following a strategy anymore. She was just battling frantically. It was pathetic, at least to herself.

Looking back at it now, after the fact, she knows she could have done better. Maybe she might have still lost, but she still could have done better!! She knows she could have!! She... she could have...

She wants to see them... she wants to see her friends. She wants to be frustrated and whine about how close she came and how hard she tried. She wants to hear them tell her that she'll just have to try again next time.

But as she makes her way outside of the building, her team in-hand after being healed after the battle... ]

Damn it...!

[ The dam breaks, and it all comes rushing out in tears that Yuzu is trying hard to hold back... and failing miserably at. The pain from being separated from her friends so suddenly again. The rush of loneliness. The pain in her chest at it all, her frustration at losing in the first freaking round of this tournament... and now the frustration at how pathetic she is right now, crying about something like this.

Ah... no wonder she was so off her game. Who knew that bottling up all of the negative emotions is unhealthy for you? ]

Wildcard!

[ So, I misunderstood the assignment when we were submitting strategies, and as a result Yuzu lost in the first round... and somewhat recently, both of Yuzu's castmates have decided to they have to drop.

And so I saw the perfect opportunity for angst.

Still, if both of these are two heavy for you, feel free to plot with me at OddEyes. We'll figure something out. ]

2

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba's taken this moment to head out to the pond, giving the water-dwellers of his team a chance to play. He's enjoyed watching matches and attending lessons so far, and learned a lot from everyone's efforts...

...but wait, what's this? Kingyoku the Goodra stops playing in the shallows and stands up, his antennae twitching. There's someone who needs his help! He strides over to a trainer he's seen from afar. She's sad, and he needs to help!

So, uh. There's a goopy dragon extending his arms for you, Yuzu. He lets out a soft noise of concern.

Kaiba, meanwhile, will look over his shoulder to watch but keep a distance for now. One of the battlers he'd watched with interest... He'll let King handle this first. ]

[insidegalra]

Thace spends most of his time that he's not giving his workshop (or watching other workshops), Thace is watching tournament battles and taking notes eagerly with several of his Pokemon, including the Tournament team of tiny Exploud, Alolan Ninetales, and Aegislash around him. Why yes, Thace avoids keeping his Pokemon in their balls unless absolutely necessary. He's very focused, but will spare a small smile and willingly converse with anyone who sits near him.

Shopping~~
Much of the time he isn't in the above two places, he can be found in the convention center itself, browsing the wares! He's not particularly interested in the Exp. Share (already got a prototype after all) but definitely doing a lot of research on different TMs and held items! He'll give a nod in greeting and a smile to anyone who approaches! So does the little Happiny snuggled in a sling across his chest!

Third floor
Thace can also be found eating and working on strategies with his team on the third floor. If you have something sweet, his tiny Exploud is eyeing it with interest.

"Vruli, we have plenty of sweet poffins and candies over here."

[outofsynth]

[Min-Gi is busy watching the battle, occasionally jotting down his own notes when something happens that he thinks might be worth knowing later.

His Plusle is eagerly cheering on both sides, taking great pleasure from every twist and turn that takes place in the match. His Alolan Vulpix, however, is paying little attention. Instead she's staring intently at the Ninetales, clearly in awe.]