Prom 2023 - Back to the Falls!

[indigo_league]

What’s this? There’s glitter in the air. What’s this? There’s dresses everywhere.

Oh right. It’s Prom time.



From the afternoon on, on Friday the 7th of April, your characters will all be arriving at Tohjo Falls via the transport arranged for by Lance. He did end up borrowing a few of those Corviknights from the JKBA, but there are also several of you who will find themselves flown to the Falls by one of Lance’s Dragonites or Charizards. Please give them a poffin if you are able, they are all very good boys and girls.


Your characters will be set down on a tiled driveway (more like flyway, Ha) in front of an impressive-looking villa. Those who have been here before might note that the villa has gotten a bit of a renovation and an update. Turns out that when Team Rocket kidnaps you and keeps you captive in your own home for several weeks while wrecking the house and digging Arceus knows how many basements beneath the house, you might be entitled to some compensation.

And from the looks of things, Lance and co used that compensation to turn their little vacation home back into something where they can relax in peace.

After you arrive, you’ll be greeted by Lance or one of the other Elite Four members, who will give you a quick run-down. You are free to explore the house and surrounding area at your leisure. Please respect their privacy and do not go into any of the locked rooms. You’ll find your accommodations behind the house, so feel free to head there and unpack. Oh, and, there will be a little announcement later, so if you could be in the dining room for that, that’d be stellar.

Well, off you go!




WELCOME (BACK) TO THE FALLS

THE SIGHTS The Villa As mentioned by Lance and Co, parts of the villa are off-limits to guests. Not to worry, there is nothing nefarious hiding there this time. It's just that those rooms are the Elite Four's private quarters, and they'd rather not have people go through their underwear drawers! Other areas that are off-limits include the kitchen, but this is just for practical reasons; wouldn't want to get in the way of the cooks preparing lunch and dinner. Still, even with these off-limits areas, there is still plenty to see. Library On the upper floor, there is a decently sized Library for anyone who needs a bit of peace and quiet. The books within are part of the Elite Four's personal book collections. There are a lot of books related to each members' preferred Pokemon type, as well as a very sizeable collection of books on Pokemon Battling, strategies and counter-strategies, in addition to a good number of autobiographies from famous (former) gym leaders and Elite Four members. Their books aren't all business though! There is also plenty of fiction available, as well as non-fiction related to the Elite Four's personal hobbies. The books are not marked, so it's hard to tell which book belongs to which E4 member, so have fun trying to figure out who added the books on glassblowing to the collection, and to who the knitting books belong to. Gallery Also on the top floor is a gallery that contains the many prizes each Elite Four member has won over the years, as well as some interesting artefacts they've found during their lives. Ever wanted to see Lance's first badges? Or perhaps Bruno's weightlifting trophies? And wow, looks like Will participated in some contests back in the day! Okay, those things probably aren't worth hours of visiting, but there is also a collection of photos of various legendary pokemon, as well as some items related to them, such as a feather that is said to have belonged to Ho-oh, a scale that was left behind after Groudon and Kougre fought and could it be true? One of Hoopa's hoops itself? Fascinating! Dining Room Obviously where characters can dine. Unfortunately, the dining room itself is not big enough to fit all characters at once, so they've also set up some tables outside among the tents, and people are asked to check back if there is no space. When not in use to have dinner in, the room is left open and available to anyone who'd like to use it. Ball Room Now that prom night is finally here, your characters may enter in what was previously forbidden. Yes, beyond these doors lay a mysterious land of, uh... tables and a dance floor. Listen, there is only so many ways you can describe a ballroom, okay! There is a central floor where people may dance if they so desire, and around that spot, plenty of tables and chairs have been set up for you to rest your tired dancing feet at. Though there is no big dinner served at prom, there are staff flitting around with refreshments and canapes and, fitting the style of the villa, tapas. There are, of course, also flutes of champagne and wine and other adult drinks. Note the emphasise on adult, there. Don't expect to con these waiters into giving you something if you are underaged. (instead, try and find a trusted, untrustworthy adult friend. It's okay. We won't tell your mom. Pool Outside, of course, is the pool. This hasn't changed that much from previous visits here. It's... well... it's a pool! What more can we say? It's a good place to have some fun and play around, but if you are more into relaxation or perhaps even catching some rays, there's also plenty of space around the pool with plenty of deck chairs available to you. It is still only April, so to make sure nobody catches pneumonia in the pool, the water has been heated. Please do not heat the water further. You know what we are talking about! The Accomodations Those who have visited before may remember that the Villa doesn't exactly have enough bedrooms to house all promgoers. In fact, there have been years where you just kipped on the floor in the garage-like area. Maybe Lance is trying to match the standards set by previous organisers. Maybe there was a little extra money left over after the renovations to plurge, but this year, you won't be expected to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag! Instead, behind the Villa, beyond the pool area, there is a field of tents. And these aren't your basic little travelling tents. These tents look pretty luxurious. True, you will still be sharing them with a few others, but at least you'll be sleeping in something like a regular bed. There are also some chairs and benches dotted around the area, where you can sit and relax, as well as a few open tents that have tables and benches inside of them where one could eat breakfast or dinner. (And, of course, there are tents available too where you can take care of the, ah, less glamourous needs of the human body. No need to bring your own TP either, it will be provided!) The tents house four people each. If you, for whatever reason, want to cram more people inside, Lance will be a little startled but will allow it. If you try to grab a tent all to yourself, Lance will give you a very disappointed look. The Surroundings If your character isn't the type to hang out for hours by the pool or spend their entire Saturday already getting ready for prom, why not go exploring a bit? The area around Tohjo Falls is normally off-limits to people, after all. This might be your only chance to see it. (unless we come back again here next year) While exploring, your character has the option of trekking into the forests behind the villa or descending into the cave that houses the waterfalls this area has been named for. Wild pokemon can be found in each area, though please be careful! As few people visit this location, the pokemon here are very unused to humans. Please always bring a strong pokemon with you when you go exploring! And who knows, if you keep an eye out, you might run into an unfamiliar pokemon or two... Forest (lvl 20-45) Charjabug, Corvisquire, Venipede, Sizzlipede, Fletchinder, Greedent*, Whirlipede*, Nincada*, Flapple**, Appletun**, Talonflame**, Ninjask**, Shiinotic**, Sprigatito**, Centiskorch***, Vikavolt***, Corviknight***, Trevenant***, Scolipede*** Cave (lvl 20-45) Sandshrew, Woobat, Rolycoly, Noibat, Roggenrola, Aron*, Glimmet*, Sandslash*, Rhyhorn*, Carkol*, Noivern**, Swoobat**, Boldore**, Fuecoco**, Lairon***, Rhydon***, Glimora*** Falls (lvl 20-45) (Fishing/Surfing) Qwilfish, Staryu, Arrokuda, Wishiwashi, Finneon*, Skrelp*, Lumineon*, Relicanth*, Starmie**, Overqwill**, Quaxly**, Seadra**, Gyrados***, Barraskewda***, Dragalge***, Kingdra***

---

THE ANNOUNCEMENT


Once everybody has arrived and has been given some time to unpack, it's time for the announcement Lance has been teasing. What is this unique opportunity he mentioned? Will this have anything to do with prom itself? Has Lance conned us all into attending a Tupperware party?

In any case, you all gather in the dining room. The Elite Four is gathered at the front of the room, Lance taking the center stage. Will is standing next to him. For a moment Lance just glances out over the crowd, as if checking that everybody is here, before he clears his throat and begins.

"First of all, let me say that I am very happy to see you all here. It's been a few years since we last were able to greet you in our home, and here is to hoping things won't end as badly as last time.

But that is not what this announcement is about. Rather, there is going to be some changes within the Elite Four. Changes we'd like to make you a part of.

A few months ago, Will announced to us that he will be stepping down from his position as Elite Four member to--" Lance seems to pause for a moment, looking at Will, "--pursue opportunities elsewhere!

Of course, we cannot leave his spot unoccupied, so in the last few months, we've been hard at work vetting and narrowing down the choices for who will replace him. And finally, we've been able to narrow it down to just two remaining candidates. It's been a struggle, let me tell you! We've had so many qualified and incredible trainers who wanted to join us, but we believe we've found the best two.

And that is where you come in!

As I said, we have been able to narrow down the field to two final choices. And what I'd like to offer you this weekend, is an opportunity to take an active part in deciding who gets to be our newest member. You all, after all, have proven over the years that you not only care about pokemon, but you've also grown to care about this world, often helping us out when situations were dire. We believe you, as much as anyone, have a right to determine the future of this region.

In just a moment, I'd like to introduce you to our two final applicants. I can already assure you that they are both excellent trainers, and very skilled battlers, as well as individuals who we believe we can rely on in a bad situation. What we'd like if for you to cast the final vote on who takes over Will's position.

Throughout this weekend, they will make themselves available for questions. Please ask them anything you wish to know, and please also discuss the manner among yourself if you wish. Whichever person you choose, know that we already feel we could work and depend on either of them. At the end of this meeting, we'll distribute voting slips to everyone. These cannot be replaced, so please hold onto them, and once you've made your choice, please submit them to the vote box in front of the Ballroom before the start of the dance. Then, during the party on Sunday, we will reveal who will become our newest members.

Now, I've said quite enough, so let me introduce you to our two final applicants--"

The dining room doors open, and two figures stride in, walking to the front to join Lance and the other Elite Four members.




"Please welcome Bede from the Galar region and Malva from the Kalos Region"

---

Not sure what is going on? Why not check out our prom FAQ

Comments

[woofdad]

Listen. Prom is stressful as fuck, and Grant is sad as hell, so... even if it might be a bad idea. Escaping into the woods with marshmallows sounds like a great plan.

So, it barely takes him a moment of consideration before answering, "You know what? Sure. Let's go."

[nastyboy]

Excellent.

Juggling his massive s'mores haul in his arms, Dimitri wastes no time in just. going straight for the woods with complete disregard for any of the fancy stuff that's happening around here. "I brought different chocolates!" he says over his shoulder. "And marshmallows! If we are going to be here for some times, I thought some variety would be for the best."

And it's not like they can get down here themselves....

....Except where they can but it's fine.

"I wonder if we ran out, we could borrow some from their kitchens? I brought Gremlin. He is small."

And Gremlin knows how to commit crimes!

[woofdad]

Grant follows after Dimitri (and Truffle shuffles after him in turn), answering with a quiet, amused huff. "Good call... I dunno if sending Gremlin to, uh, borrow marshmallows would go over well, though? I mean, I know he can be pretty stealthy, but maybe we still probably shouldn't risk getting in trouble."

He's not quite depressed enough not to worry about that.

[nastyboy]

"Why is that, Grant?" Dimitri grins back at him, already seeing a way to perk him up a little bit. "Me and Dedue already have experience in breaking out of prison!" Or, you know, Dedue breaking him out of prison, listen, it's fine.

"We could show off for you! And it would likely be much easier than in Faerghus, even."

[woofdad]

That does the job, alright; Grant gives a startled laugh, like he's surprised at his own reaction. "Are-- are you sure that's a skill set you guys want to keep building up? Granted, yes, I'm-- I'm sure it'd be easier here."

Hopefully with no, uh... no permanently-joint-destroying torture involved.

[nastyboy]

"It would be easier here." Uh oh, now he's taking it seriously, and he waves around a bag of marshmallows. "We could truly hone our skills! Maybe I can get good at lockpicking!"

New skills! Like he needs more of that!

"I always thought I would break lockpicks... but then, I could always just break locks or doors down in most cases if I needed to make my way into someplace."

[woofdad]

Oh no.

"Uh... if you want to learn to pick locks, maybe-- I dunno, we could buy some padlocks to mess with?"

Enrichment for your feral boyfriend.

"Ah, yeah. That's a little more efficient in some cases, isn't it?" He's partially joking, but... also. Yeah, he guesses sometimes it probably actually is more efficient.

[nastyboy]

Truly, Grant takes such good care of his feral boyfriend by going along with nonsense like this. Dimitri's eye lights up. "Oh! I think they sold such things, at a store that someone showed me!"

Riz truly has unlocked a terrible monster, but that's fine.

The two of them come to a small clearing, and Dimitri wastes no time in setting down his mass of sweets. After all, now it's time to gather up what will make a fire for them. "It's certainly more efficient, but I have found it loses all the subtlety that a set of lockpicks would grant," Dimitri says. "I always admired Ashe for that reason - he was so talented at such things."

[woofdad]

"Yeah, there you go! They're pretty easy to find." Okay, thank God. Crisis averted, he thinks.

For now.

"Yeah, it... isn't exactly stealthy, huh." He smiles slightly at the mention of Ashe. "That guy's got a real range of skills, huh? It's really impressive."

[nastyboy]

Crisis averted until he's trying to break out of jail, Grant, but sure.

"Oh, Ashe is incredible," Dimitri confirms, smiling fondly as he starts to arrange the pile of sticks just so. It's important, to house the flame. "Knowledge of cooking, archery, literature, lockpicking... And yet, his quiet demeanor means that so many do not realize how incredible he is."

Hm. Dimitri looks up to Grant. "Much like you in that respect, I suppose."

[woofdad]

Grant blinks, and-- yeah, there's that nervous, embarrassed laugh before he can think about it. "That's-- I dunno if I'd say I'm at all comparable to him there, but thanks."

[nastyboy]

"You are doing exactly what I pointed out," Dimitri says, in the pleased sort of air of someone who knows he is super 100% correct on this matter. "You have an absolute wealth of knowledge and talents, Grant, even if you are not exactly as Ashe is. You would do well to have more pride in all you do!"

With that, he finally gets the first spark of a fire started, and starts to tend to it. "Just think of all your skills - if not for you, I would not know how I would have managed on my own when I first arrived here."

[woofdad]

"I'm not!" He huffs, too flustered to sound properly indignant.

"It's-- I mean, y'know, the stuff I know about is really, really normal where I'm from. It's-- it's just a matter of luck, 'n what world I come from. Ashe has a lot of skills that're specialized even in you guys' world, right? It's different!"

Definitely, definitely super different, and not at all Grant struggling to put a rational explanation to his reflexive reaction.

[nastyboy]

"Firing a bow is not considered specialized at all," Dimitri responds immediately, eye sparkling as he grins up at Grant from where he's building the fire. "Most people use it in Fodlan, even outside of war, for it is a far better hunting tool in most cases, save for boar hunting."

But you need a specialized lance for that and the love of the Goddess, or else it won't work.

"And cooking is not unusual at all. But you praised it readily, when you had Ashe's food. So what makes your skills so different, no matter how normal they seem?"

[woofdad]

"It's-- not? Well, okay, that... that makes sense, I guess." Given where they're from and all.

"But--! I mean. Mmb..." He buries his face in his hands for a moment, then tries again. "Okay, but-- he's also better at the stuff he does than I am at the stuff I can do. So... so there."

[nastyboy]

"That," Dimitri announces with a certain sense of finality, "is subjective." And then he grins, holding out a hand. "Now permit me the proper stick, Grant, so that we may begin the marshmallow piercing process."

[woofdad]

"I--" Alright. Okay, yeah, he's not getting anywhere with this, is he.

Grant gives a quiet snort of laughter, and, indeed, passes a stick to Dimitri. "Alright, fine. You win that one."

[nastyboy]

"Of course." Chuckling, Dimitri begins to spear marshmallow on some of the sturdier sticks that will not break with the weight of molten marshmallow.

"I know I am right, after all. Now come, sit. We are to relax ourselves!" As the fire grows, he pats the space besides him. "And there is no better way to relax than to sit around a warm fire. I am glad prom happens so early in the year - it is still cool enough for such things to be completely comfortable."

[woofdad]

Grant huffs quietly and sits down - letting himself, after a moment of consideration, scoot close enough for his shoulder to touch Dimitri's. "It is pretty nice timing... there's really nothing quite like sitting by a fire in this kind of weather, is there."

[nastyboy]

"Exactly!" Dimitri wastes no time in cuddling closer to Grant, smiling happily. "I like that, about travel. The conditions are no doubt rough, but... there are times when there is simply nothing like it." Turning his head, he kisses Grant on the cheek. "And I am glad to spend it with you, Grant."

[woofdad]

"Exactly - we get so many opportunities with all this that we just... wouldn't, otherwise."

He can't help a startled, sort of flustered laugh at that. "--Now, that isn't fair - but. The same to you."

[nastyboy]

"Of course it is fair," Dimitri says, and blinks in a way where he's almost certainly forgotten about his eyepatch. "You are my boyfriend, are you not? I thought I was permitted cheek kisses."

And he thinks they are both permitted this: sitting side by side, the warmth of the fire brightening cool early spring air, eating small treats from one another's hands.

These moments, Dimitri will always treasure.