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"

---

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Comments

4

[dreamsofahero]

"Is that so? He strikes me as the more trustworthy of the two, actually."

Is he going to spell out precisely why he thinks that? You'll just have to ask and see if you can find out.

[4play]

"Really? How come?

He gives him a curious look, not even having to feign his surprise. IV honestly doesn't care either way, but it's also true that he thinks that Bede is doing a terrible job marketing himself.

"...and if you tell me something about that rude kid being just more honest I'll toss you in the pool."

[dreamsofahero]

"Ah, but isn't that an inherent part of being trustworthy?"

Yes, Sion's teasing, he has to when given an opening like that.

"Bede may be brash but his responses are straightforward and primarily focus on himself. Malva doesn't miss an opportunity to also criticize her opponent, however, even if subtly. And while I don't know about you, in my experience such things are usually deliberate and calculated.

"Besides, Bede's roughness is the sort one might grow out of, but those who make a practice of manipulating others' perceptions rarely change their ways."

He would know, he's quite the liar, himself.

[4play]

"Khe! Only if you consider being "honest" and "just calling things as they are" valid excuses for being an ass to others as well~ " His smile is sharp as he shakes his head, the steely glint and the curve of his eyes giving away that IV has seen his own share of heated battles already. He isn't feeling confrontational right now, but push the right buttons and this teen will be the kind of trouble one'd usually only expect on the battlefield. Definitely not in a world where most conflicts are solved with *card games*.

But then, IV also knows how to use real weapons as well, no matter how archaic those skills are viewed as. One doesn't become a Hunter by being satisfied by doing things in halves.

IV's expression mellows out quickly as he inclines his head in thought. "You think so? I was thinking she might be doing it for the same reasons Bede keeps tooting his own horn -- they both are competitive trainers who vie for the same spot." He sighs. "So we have a tactic of dominating with power versus pointing out how you are different from the other options, and thus being 'special' and worthy of being kept in mind... I guess it makes sense that she'd be good with words, though.

From what I gathered Malva is - or used to be - a reporter besides being a pokemon trainer," he shrugs again. "setting ourself off from the masses is probably second nature to her."

[dreamsofahero]

"Those things don't contradict each other. That someone is honest and trustworthy doesn't mean they cannot also be unpleasant, just as how someone being dishonest and manipulative doesn't mean they cannot also be genuinely kind at times. Judging someone solely based on personal feelings without consideration for their other merits and competencies can lead to unwise decisions, sometimes disastrously so."

Besides, Sion's used to dealing with far more unpleasant people, Bede is downright nice by comparison.

"And of course she is. Both of them have all the incentive they need to try to influence people's choice. But there is a stark difference in the tactics they employ to do so."

[4play]

IV just shrugs his shoulders in a way that neither agrees nor disagrees. "A good point. But I tend to go with my gut feeling and Ockham's Razor in such cases - 'when it talks like a duck, walks like a duck and looks like a duck... " You know."

Sometimes an asshole is just that - an asshole. But all things aside IV knows that he can trust his gut feelings about people. He is a good people reader. He needs to be, both as a Duelist of the caliber he has reached, as a secret Numbers Hunter who is chasing down things that possess and manipulate whoever touches them, and as his father's secret assassin. But more importantly...

"If we are going to judge people for making their decisions based on such whims, then we might have to exclude nearly all of the Prom goers from the voting. Some are just openly voting for their own benefits in mind."

The last part the other said has him smirking playfully, though.

"You mean intimidation and brute force against finesse? I dunno, I might be inclined to pick the scalpel over the stone age club. Looking at their behaviors alone, I'd definitely rather lose to her than to him. She'd at least leave my feeling of self-worth intact. That's also a job of the Elite Four, isn't it? Helping other trainers to grow?"

[dreamsofahero]

Gut feelings are all fine and good, but Sion's had to learn to be a very keen judge of character, himself. He never would have survived his childhood if he hadn't learned how to judge a person's trustworthiness, or had been unwilling to put up with occasional unpleasantness.

"I don't know about that, actually. While it's true that the Indigo League gyms seem designed to help teach trainers how to handle various types of Pokemon and their matchups, the Elite Four are more a challenge to overcome. A final exam, if you will, rather than a test. And one that's intended by design to be grueling, at that."

He would know, he was the first otherworlder to take on and pass that challenge.

[4play]

"A test meant for your skills, not your mental health, considering that plenty of the challengers are kids, I'd say." IV shrugs.

"But I'm also new here. I don't really know much about how these things are run. Maybe I'm assuming that all this is has far greater consequences than it actually has."

[dreamsofahero]

"Oh, I can assure you that if you think there is no mental component you're sorely mistaken. Strategy isn't just a matter of thinking of the correct matchups, but also keeping your head in the heat of the moment, especially in the face of unexpected setbacks."

Especially when one challenged them before their exact teams were widely known.

"Though I can't speak to how many kids actually make it so far, in any case."

[4play]

"That's not what we are talking about, though. That's just part of any competitive sport or match."

IV gives Sion a good once-over, trying to take his rough measure. The first impressions he gets are adult, experience, yet still affable... A lot like many of the more experienced Duelists he's encountered during his career. This could go either way.

"What I'm worried about is the before and after of a match. Theres ways to be defeated that can make you just want to gear up and try again, and then there's the other way." His expression falls for a moment, eyes turning dark. "...crush a person's efforts, especially at something that they love and are proud of, the right way, and they'll never be able to even look at that same thing again.

Sorry if that doesn't make much sense, but I've seen it happen. I wouldn't want to be responsible for enabling even a chance for something like that."

What a bold-faced lie, offered with the most sincere words and body language. The trick to IV being able to judge his own favorite ways of venting that harshly is because he knows - what he does is reprehensible. Worse than that, because he preferably targets his own fans, people who have made the mistake to look and place their trust into him. And yet, remorse is scarce and far in between.

His eyes turn sad with the thoughts of what kind of person he has let himself be twisted into (still placing the blame on others?), before he looks up and shoots his conversation partner a weak smile.

"Have you been here for long?"

[dreamsofahero]

"Ah, but to properly do that requires either a person have, by sheer chance, exactly the right kind of attitude without knowing it... Or simply be manipulative by nature."

Which circles back to Sion's point about trustworthiness. Not that Sion seriously suspects Malva of ill intent--no more than any of the locals, anyway--but a manipulative liar tends to recognize potential for his own kind. The difference with Sion, of course, being that he's very genuinely a kindhearted person underneath any fronts he might put up out of necessity.

... Which is arguably terribly convenient, as being free to act more his true self without pretenses here tends to make it easier for others to underestimate him at first glance.

"I suppose that depends on your definition of 'long', but it's been over a decade now, in my case."

1/2

[4play]

"I don't want to risk that off-chance either." He shakes his head. He has seen it happen, even when IV himself wasn't involved. If the trainers here have a sense of pride and love for their monsters that are similar to Duelists and their relationships with their Decks...

"Maybe I'm projecting too much from back home into it. But I also didn't like the way he described his attitude toward his mentor and the gym he already has back home."

2/2

[4play]

And then Sion lets that bombshell drop. IV sputters, stares at him, shakes his head, and then sputters some more.

"OVER A DECADE!??! I can impossibly wait that long! My brothers will be dead!"

[dreamsofahero]

Sometimes, Sion might gently tease someone for their shocked reaction, or otherwise joke to lighten the impact. Not in a case like this, however, his expression immediately sobering.

"Based on accounts both from people who've come here, returned home, then been brought here again, as well as cases where multiple people are brought from different points in time in the same world, no time passes while you are here. Or at least, you will be returned to the exact moment you left, such that it would be as if you were never gone.

"A good thing," he continues, his tone level, almost quiet, but very serious, "as my own world would be gone by now if I were absent so long."

Not just friends or loved ones, literally his entire world is on a time limit, and he's one of the components to possibly changing that.

[4play]

"Hopefully not literally, although I guess might be gone now too, if things went down the nasty route while I wasn't around."

Theoretically speaking, of course. And it's also not like IV would have any way to still influence things back home, with the state he had been in before he arrived here and all. Still, the idea that he might end up accidentally abandoning his little brother both smarts and scares him the most.

It's easier to just think of all this like a prolonged fever dream or some absurd brain activity while in a coma-like state than to worry too much, so that's what he usually tries to do.

[dreamsofahero]

"I suppose that depends on whether you consider the end and remaking of the world to be 'literally' or not."

Yes, he's absolutely serious. No, he doesn't normally advertise this fact, but you know what? He's now been stuck here for longer than he honestly expected to live, so he's starting to lose some of his inhibitions against mentioning these things.

"But by all accounts, everyone is returned to the moment they left, anyway. So while you may miss those who aren't here, you needn't worry about something happening in your absence."