victory_road | come alive, come alive

come alive, come alive - spring is here!

Who: Everybody!
Where: Ilex Forest
When: March 14th
Summary: Come one, come all to the newest contest hosted by Riegfried and Soy. Today's theme: springtime and nature!

The sun is shining brightly and the weather is surprisingly fair–perfect for an outdoor contest spectacular! Spring is finally around the corner, and with it comes budding trees and the first fresh green leaves in many months. Just a short walk away from the edge of the Ilex Forest is a clearing where the contest is being set up, and boy, have Riegfried and Soy gone all out. This is one of the few contests to take place outdoors, after all.

The contest grounds have been set up so that the ‘stage’–in this case, a wide, clear patch of ground designated for performances–is at the center of everything. Despite the thick trees of Ilex Forest, this singular patch of grass seems to have a natural spotlight cast upon it, which makes it perfect for people’s attention to be drawn to it. Foldable chairs have been placed in concentric circles around the area, so the audience can get a nice 360 degree view of your performance.

Next to the stage is a private, portable dressing room where contestants can go get ready. All manner of costumes have been provided, if you don’t mind the fact that most of them are quite ostentatious. There is also a treasure trove of decorative props that you can weave into your performance.

Further into the trees, market stalls and concessions have been set up for your enjoyment. Local craftspeople seem to be selling all manner of trinkets and baubles, many of which are Celebi themed. You can also buy all manner of specialty PokéBalls–hey, we are near Azalea Town, after all. There are workshops where you can pay local crafters to walk you through making something with your own two hands, such as your own clay bowl, or a birdhouse, or a floral arrangement, or heck, even forging a tiny, decorative metal broach! (Results may vary based on individual skill.)

The food stalls seem to be mostly street food that you might see at an outdoor market–things that you can easily carry with you and eat on the go. Yakitori skewers, takoyaki, mochi, sandwiches, meat patties, hand pies, and kebabs are among some of the selections. Yum!

If you’d like to get away from all the hubbub, you can pay a visit to the Ilex Forest Shrine for some quiet contemplation. Riegfried and Soy were careful to set up far enough away so the shrine would not be disturbed. A few townspeople have left some offerings–perhaps you’d like to, as well. They say it grants you good luck and wards off evil spirits.

Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?

[Don't forget to view the contest FAQ here!]

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Keith came in after them. He'd sort of passed the place by a bit quickly on his first trip through Ilex forest, determined to just get to the next gym. He and Allura tended to be pretty goal oriented. But, they had some time now for him to really appreciate it for what it was. So, he'd come in this direction to see what it was about.

He gave a quiet wave to Kuro where the massive Aggron was resting near Shiro. Keith had "Little" Red with him this time around. He'd taken to calling Shiro's Red, "Big" Red, because of having evolved all the way to Incineroar, while his own starter had decided to stay a Torracat. He liked being small enough to carry and cuddle on people.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Nah, go for it."

He offers a brief grin, before scooting over a bit where he's kneeling. Kuro does too, craning his head over his trainer to sniff at "Little Red". Listen, he takes after Shiro - he has a need to look out for smaller Pokemon. He knows this one, but he has to say hello!

"Wishing for anything in particular?"

Shiro even holds out one of the offerings he'd brought. A little bundle of berries. Just in case Keith wants to leave it.

Keith looked contemplative for a moment, definitely considering something pretty deep, but he took a breath before giving a small shrug.

"I don't know," he said, finally settling down next to Shiro. "I don't know." He considered back to the last time they'd done wishes, and the pair of plushies from Jirachi. "I had some ideas, but..." He shrugged. "Some of them are things for back home, and I don't think that's really even possible."

He did glance over and take the offered berries, even if only to look them over as he considered his options.

"That's okay. I don't think making a wish is necessary."

It's probably just encouraged while you meditate at the shrine or something. He exhales, turning back to the structure.

"It's probably not possible," he admits, after a while. "But hey, with those weird weekends, you never know." Or there were more general things. Like good luck. Like people close to you sticking around - getting through tough times. That sort of thing.

"Yeah... I guess."

As much as Hunk was a good sounding board, part of Keith wished he could tell Shiro what was going on, to be honest, but he knew that might not be a good idea. The whole future knowledge thing and all that. While he was pretty sure it wouldn't really affect anything, he was also pretty sure Shiro didn't need to know the news Keith had. He took a deep breath, an idea coming to him along those lines, though.

"Hm." He got up again, moving closer, and then placed the berries with the rest of the offerings before coming back to settle again. It was worth a try...

He's just going to sit back with his Aggron, and watch. He'd figured out a long time ago that you didn't push Keith if you wanted him to do something. Nudge, maybe. Pushing? Nah. This isn't something they have to do, either.

It just might be nice to try. A little extra luck never hurt.

"Think it's like birthday wishes?" he says after a moment more. "Don't tell someone your wish, or else it won't come true?"

Keith made an amused sounding snort through his nose at the suggestion, but then... yeah. That was a good excuse.

"Yeah... maybe." He managed a small smile at the idea. "Can't risk it, right? Gotta keep it a secret." His smile was a little sad, but he seemed content to let that go.

"How long have you been out here?"

"Just maybe don't blow out shrine candles."

He grins, teasing. There's no big sad reason for him to be out here, so he may as well just joke around. It was quiet, peaceful, and hey, a little luck couldn't ever hurt.

"Maybe a half hour?"

Keith shook his head. "Nah... I know not to do that."

Half an hour wasn't long.

"I'm not getting in the way or anything, am I?"

"In the way?"

He shakes his head, amusement still on his face. "No, not at all. What would you be interrupting?"

"I don't know... wishmaking?" He shrugged, but then chuckled. "That or... I heard a rumor there's some legendary Pokémon that hangs out around this area. I don't know if you were trying to see it or something."

"If people could interrupt wish making, we wouldn't have birthday parties, man."

But it's said lighthearted, Shiro still smiling. Only to shake his head in regards to the legendary.

"After that prom with the birds? I'll pass. I've seen the Fire Moltres before, and that was more than enough of an experience for me."

"I ran into that weird dark Zapdos... it wanted to race us. So..." Keith shrugged. "I guess I impressed it enough." The giant emu that it was... just as aggressive once it got close to the end of the race and thought it might lose to someone.

"This one, though... I think it's a small one. Someone called it 'celery'?" No, Keith. Celebi.

As for the birthday wishes thing, he kind of let that slide for now. His own wishes had been kind of emotional lately, so he hadn't been thinking about birthday wishes... not that he'd made one in a long time.

"Good. Maybe they won't come back."

Those things were the worst. The "real" Moltres was better by a mile. But maybe he's a little biased. That Moltres did save their lives back on the beach that year. And hadn't asked for anything.

He's about to start ruminating on that. About to go down that road. Fortunately, Keith decides to botch the name of the legendary pokemon here.

"... Celery?" There's an incredulous, almost laugh, in the question.

"....."

Keith frowned a bit.

"Cel-... whatever it is. You know what I mean."

He wasn't pouting. You were pouting.

"Celery."

He's trying so hard to keep a straight face. To not laugh. Keith won't take that very well. He knows.

But Celery...?

Yeah, Shiro has to turn his head away and bite down on his lip. He's trying!!

Keith grumbled.

"I know it's not 'celery', okay? That's just the first thing that came to mind."

"Okay, okay... sorry, I - I know it's not that funny."

But you caught him off guard, bro.

Keith huffed a bit, giving Shiro a bit of a stinkeye before staring off into the woods again.

"Yeah..." Look! He was bad with names, okay? Ugh. He shifted awkwardly, adjusting the leg he'd injured his ankle on during Snorunt month. Almost healed... but not quite there, yet, so he was still stuck in the brace for a bit, and it was making it hard to sit cross-legged. "Whatever it's called, I've heard its not that bad... or aggressive... like some of them."

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come alive, come alive - spring is here!

Shrine

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