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The Indigo League ([personal profile] indigo_league) wrote in [community profile] victory_road2025-02-17 08:13 pm

Swinub Scurry

Who: Everyone!
When: February 21st-28th
Where: Blackthorn City
What: It's the Swinub Scurry!
OOC Info: here!


Race day dawns bright and early on the 21st. In Blackthorn City, residents are bustling before the Winter sun is fully risen, completing setup for the veritable sea of Swinub-themed stalls and decorations that has been sprouting up throughout the week. The extra advertising has sparked peoples’ competitive spirits, and there’s also an ocean of handmade posters and signs cheering on specific racers.

Understandably, the majority of signs are for locals… but if any characters showed up earlier in the week to sign up, and had their Pokemon out and about, they may have picked up some fans! Is that a cute handmade doodle of their Pokemon hanging off a nearby balcony?

Speaking of racers - anyone who’s stayed in the town since at least last night, or arrived sufficiently early in the morning, will be invited to a complimentary breakfast! It’s simple and traditional, but there’s plenty to go around - rice and miso soup for everyone, and a vast spread of side dishes, including pickled and cooked vegetables and deep fried tofu. This food may be shared with Pokemon, though there’s also lots of high-vitamin Pokemon food specifically available!

Race sign-ups remain open until noon, when racers will be expected to gather up at the starting line - coincidentally, right in front of the big main event stage. As they harness up their Pokemon and double-check their sleds and supplies, the organizing committee for the event will be giving a speech. 30 minutes later, a loud whistle from the committee lead heralds the start of the race, and everyone will be off!

(Glance to your right as you pull away from the crowded stage area - that’s definitely Gym Leader Clair watching!)

Out on the trail, racing trainers and Pokemon will quickly be struggling, but more with the wilderness than with each other! While trainers with less than six Pokemon harnessed up are allowed to bring a regular team to deal with wild Pokemon, trainer battles are off limits during the race. There’s more than enough to worry about as is!

(That’s not to say there aren’t one or two racers willing to stoop to sabotage, provided they see an opportunity where they think they won’t get caught.)

The trail is marked with red streamers on trees and rocks, but they’re few and far between, and there’s intermittent snow showers that make visibility low. Trainers were provided with a map at the race’s start, but this isn’t the city - you better hope you can interpret contour lines and similar-looking landmarks. It’s easy to get lost! These aren’t the nice, trampled-down paths of routes - trainers will find themselves having to dodge around trees, bounce over rocks, and cross frozen streams and rivers! Speaking of frozen rivers… careful, the slushy weather earlier in the month left some of those with a more fragile layer of ice than others…

On top of that, the wild Pokemon out here are higher in level than on the routes! Trainers will find themselves having to fend off large, dangerous Pokemon like Beartics, Lycanrocs, Cetitans, and Hisuian Braviarys.

And then there’s figuring out when to rest. Any veteran racer will tell you it’s a bad idea not to let your Pokemon have a break for at least a few hours, no matter how much stamina you think they have. Dealing with the wilderness takes a lot out of you. (Every race, there’s someone overconfident enough to think they can just keep going… who then ends up staggering into the finish well behind the pack, their Pokemon completely wiped.) But… do you push as far as possible before resting, and hope you can keep your lead? Or do you rest early, and hope to breeze past everyone else while they’re taking their break?

Back in town, the festivities will have kicked into full swing! Food stands abound - in particular, given the weather, there’s endless options for warm bowls - rice porridge (particularly in the mornings), ramen, udon, oden, stew… But for those who don’t want something soup-adjacent, they will find plenty of other treats, like mochi cakes grilled over a charcoal fire, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, with both savory and sweet varieties.

There’s stands with souvenirs and traditional crafts, too - do you want a textile with a Piloswine pattern? Of course you do. There’s lots of options for accessories for your Pokemon - woven collars and bandannas, scarves… and clothes for you too, if you’re so inclined! There’s little wooden and ceramic Swinub charms - rub their noses for luck - and various wood and papercraft objects. One particularly large stand seems to be doing a thriving business in traditional Spinarak silk soap!

On and around the main stage, there’s always something going on. During the day, there’s a constant stream of updates and commentary, with several large screens streaming video from race officials following the race on flying Pokemon. But there’s more: every day of the race has a few additional events on a small side stage, like a panel with former racers talking through their experiences, or a Pokemon performance.

As it begins to get dark, activity will slow down… but even in the wee hours of the night, the stage will stay open with the next shift of commentators, albeit with a much more sleepy, relaxed atmosphere. (Absolutely no loudspeakers, people are trying to sleep.) Some brave and selfless stalls will stay open all night with hot drinks, and tiny local bars so small they only seat a handful of guests offer a warm, friendly place to stop and relax well into the early hours of the morning. Even Blackthorn City’s onsen is kept open well into the night, offering a steamy soak to people and Pokemon alike.

In the early afternoon of the 22nd, the very fastest racers will start showing up at the finish line! They’ll be met with cheering, as will every racer that arrives afterward - it’s a Swinub Scurry tradition that every racer must be welcomed back enthusiastically, no matter how long it takes them. Yes, even in the middle of the night. (There’s a reason the finish line is located at the edge of the city.)

Trainers and Pokemon will be dragged back to the center of the festivities and brought inside to warm up and enjoy another complimentary meal. They’re expected to stick around the city until the race is officially over - they want their medal, right? - but they’re otherwise free to enjoy the celebration around town! They may have to suffer through occasional excited crowds when they’re recognized, though people will let characters go if they beg off by saying their Pokemon are tired or hungry. On the other hand, being recognized at stalls might mean getting offered some small treats and goodies on the house - particularly for those who performed well in the race!

Shortly after sunset on the 23rd, the race will finally come to a close when old man Junzo comes placidly trundling in with his full pack of Shuckle. The cheers for him are… lackluster, to say the least, but he seems entirely unbothered. At this point, all the racers will be called to the stage, with anyone who completed the race presented with a medal, anyone who participated offered the option of taking a Swinub egg (assuming they didn’t get caught cheating)... and the top three winners particularly hyped up and praised! Hope you wanted to be on TV?

But that doesn’t mean the festivities are over! While the intensity will ramp down over the week, and the stage and performances will have shut down after the 23rd, the stalls and extended local business hours won’t close down until the 28th.
calisugarfiend: A Super happy Cali waving to you in hello as fast as a little hummingbird (Default)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-03-09 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
If Sweet Sixteen could talk, it'd be along the lines of , "That and sheer dumb luck." as Cali is still liking the looks of Hisuian Zoroark, not minding that they hold grudges..horrible grudges as Cali responds, "Ah, okay, but it's hard to resist delicious chocolate, that's the best thing ever."

"Yeah, let's get ready to head on out of here." Cali agreed since she did make the promise, but not before turning around to wave goodbye to the Hisuian Zoroark goodbye, wherever that one may be hiding at.
outofsynth: (you can't go the distance)

[personal profile] outofsynth 2025-03-09 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Peller has yet to switch back to his regular form, seemingly entertained by Cali's reaction. On the plus side it's probably safer for her to be admiring him than the actual illusionist behind the forest.

While Rodeo keeps watch, Ice Age creates a similar set of steps to the ones she had before they set out, Rodeo motioning for everyone to get on board once they're formed. It's debatable whether Tenn really needs them, but he takes them anyway, Peller following close behind.

"You ready, Cali?" Min asks. The coasts seems clear, but they should probably still not chance the Hisuian Zoroark changing its mind.
calisugarfiend: A Super happy Cali waving to you in hello as fast as a little hummingbird (Default)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-03-09 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
It's probably for the best, otherwise Cali might have given the forest illusionist a silly nickname like 'Mousse' or something along those lines. Sweet Sixteen is just glad he gets to go back to the heated first aid stand soon as Cali carefully climbs up the ice stairs. It takes a bit for Cali to be carefully secured and comfortable on Red before she's good to go.

Been the little ball of sunshine she is, Cali happily responds to Min-Gi's question, "I'm ready whenever you are, Min."
outofsynth: (is it you)

[personal profile] outofsynth 2025-03-09 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
With everyone on board and his own Pokémon (sans Red) safely returned and stowed away, it's time to climb on board himself. It's a big load for her, and more of a struggle to take off than it usually is, but that's more the awkwardness of having three adults and two Pokémon on there. Sweet Sixteen doesn't make much difference, but the configuration of everyone else does add an additional challenge.

She 's okay once they're off the ground, but everyone might want to stay as tucked in as they can until they make it closer to the main hub of the event.
calisugarfiend: A Super happy Cali waving to you in hello as fast as a little hummingbird (Default)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-03-09 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Cali is holding on well for the flight back to the main hub of the event, Sweet Sixteen just burrowing deeper into the backpack as though that'll make him more secured. Cali would look below every now and then to check out the scene from above and to see how close they're getting to the festival grounds.

Cali does look a bit tempted to remove the mask to enjoy the air, especially now that she's no longer contagious. However, the ever so present force of habit lingered still like the scratch and sniff stickers.
outofsynth: (6198581)

[personal profile] outofsynth 2025-03-09 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
The journey back doesn't end up taking much longer than flying out had. It had been a heavier load for Red Eye, but she's strong and she hadn't had to reign herself in to make sure they didn't miss their rescuee.

Red crouches, head jolting now and then as she makes herself stay still enough for everyone to dismount. Min pats her once they are, throwing a few treats from a bag in his pockets into the snow for her to retrieve.

"It's a shame about the race, but I suppose we should thank you."

Neither of them look sincerely disappointed, but Min-Gi still offers a regretful smile.

"It's tough out there. You aren't the only ones."
calisugarfiend: A Super happy Cali waving to you in hello as fast as a little hummingbird (Default)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-03-09 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"It was a pretty rough environment, I hope you and your Pokemon have a great time during the festival though." Cali offered in condolence, not really picking up on that fact Tenn and Peller aren't all too disappointed about it.

It doesn't take Cali too long to remember something before getting her backpack and fishing the berries up. Much to annoyance of the little Apple Dragon, Cali goes to return the berries to Min-Gi, "I almost forgot, here are your berries back. Hopefully they got a good boost by Sweet Sixteen being in there with them."
outofsynth: (6200483)

[personal profile] outofsynth 2025-03-09 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Now safely back on the ground, it doesn't take long for Tenn and Peller to go on their way for a well earned rest.

Min is in less of a hurry. He still has a while left before his shift is over, and it's a good spot to relax Red Eye in and freshen her up in case they have to go out again. He shakes his head, waving her off as she tries to hand the berries back.

"Don't worry about it," he insists. "We have plenty."
calisugarfiend: Cali is curious! What could this mean? Also her hair is a shade of toothpaste blue! (Curious Cali)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-03-09 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Before Cali could even answer, Sweet Sixteen lets out a grody, gravelly little laugh as he makes room in the backpack nest to have the berries be placed back into the hoard. This little stinker, the moment he evolves, is absolutely going to be evicting Cali's things out of the backpack for his own little hoard.

Cali could only look on in confusion at Sweet Sixteen's reaction, "Min, you didn't have to do that. Thank you so much for the berries, I didn't even realize how much Sweet Sixteen would like them..."
outofsynth: (pic#15967093)

[personal profile] outofsynth 2025-03-10 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
"It's okay," Min assures her with a shrug. "When you've been here a while things like that aren't a big deal."

They've been lucky in some ways, but generally speaking... offworlders don't have too tough a time establishing themselves. He's sure Cali will get there, but in the meantime it doesn't hurt him to give up a few berries.

calisugarfiend: We have the first time look at Humanoid Cali without her Mask looking nervous. Please do not make her go out in public without her mask (HUMAN CALI)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-03-10 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
Sweet Sixteen got himself nice and cozy once again with the berries in the bag, smug and snuggly over his berries hoard. It was pretty true though, so far, Cali and Sweet Sixteen have been pretty lucky so far, but how long it'll last, it's yet to be seen. Cali, finally decided to take the mask off to breathe in the fresh air for a bit.

"Thanks Min, it's been a really awesome so far, so I can't wait to see what comes next with being in this world." Cali said pretty warmly, though looks a bit nervous having the mask off as this is the first for her going unmasked around others.
outofsynth: (the only thing that helps me)

[personal profile] outofsynth 2025-03-10 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Although the mask had seemed strange to Min at first he's already been accustomed to it. It seems funny now to see her without it, but he refrains from comment. Especially since she already seems uncertain.

"It's a great place," he tells her, being very fond of it by now. "If you're going to be stuck somewhere, there are definitely worse places to be."
calisugarfiend: Human Cali is smiling warmly (Smiling Human Cali)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-03-10 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Cali wouldn't blame Min-Gi either, the mask has effectively been her face this whole time. Well that and her human form essentially looks like a fairy type Pokemon was given free rein to design a human.

"I'm glad that I ended up here, this place is absolutely amazing. I know what you mean though, there are always worse places to be like Orion 23, that one is horrifying from what I heard." Cali's smile was finally visible and it's about as warm as the voice.

Edited (I made a better Human! Cali smiling Icon for it :D) 2025-03-11 05:17 (UTC)
outofsynth: (6200483)

[personal profile] outofsynth 2025-03-11 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
He wouldn't have said it without prompting, but since she did it's probably okay to laugh about it.

"Yeah. That place doesn't sound so great," Min agrees, giving Red a little pat.
calisugarfiend: Human Cali is smiling warmly (Smiling Human Cali)

[personal profile] calisugarfiend 2025-03-11 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
And it was as Cali joins along with laughing about, "Absolutely, it made Orion 34 look good in comparison."