A Faraway Place - NPC Account (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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farawayplace2023-07-07 02:48 pm
ulternnpc) wrote in farawayplace2023-07-07 02:48 pm
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[MINI EVENT] ☆T A N A B A T A☆
Those from the four regions of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh will be very familiar with the sight of bamboo stalks that are left outside decorated with colorful and sparkly paper decorations. There are people gathering around, helping one another put up paper amulet of varying colors to tie around the bamboo branches. On each amulet is a single wish that’s been handwritten by someone.
One can only hope that their wish will be heard…
At night, there’s a surprise to be found: an alternate colored Jirachi is out dressed in what’s clearly a handmade costume. Around its neck, is a colorful paper chain made of sparkly origami paper.
Not only has Jirachi come to grant wishes, Miniors are out and about bright and colorful. They’ll be dancing around seemingly trying to invite people to come join them in the festivities.
((OOC: Happy Tanabata! In the morning is a general mingle post. But as the evening sets in and Jirachi appears, it will start granting the wish written on your amulet whether big or small -- wealth, a long life, or maybe a way to return home. You're free to catch Miniors too, and there's a slightly better chance of encountering a shiny one as well. Just be careful of the ones still in their shell or you might just get a rather explosive surprise...
This event can take place at any town, so feel free to specify a location!))
[CW death; of course, I'm very happy with the reference, it all feels more connected that way!!]
When Volo asked, Lillie's small, sad smile looked a bit strained, before she turned shining eyes up at the sky, clasping her hands behind her back, as she proceeded to answer his question. She hoped that he would take it well. She truly started to appreciate how difficult a lesson it must have been for Professor Kukui to teach the class...
"... something like that. Mr. Volo. Do you believe in life after death and other worlds? ... it might be hard to see, since it doesn't always happen very close by and it... happens very quickly, but maybe try to follow a specific Minior with your eyes?"
Rather than only rising, some of them seemed to fade away, among the rising lights, there are smaller, scattering specks of light.
"... they're dying, Volo. Minior can't survive without their shells for long. From the moment they fell, they were nearing the end of their lifespan. After they lose their heavy shells, their cores last a short time, before—look, that blue Minior over there..."
One much closer and easier to see, floating near, with its ever-present smile, began to disintegrate, its body crumbling and scattering into light, which continued to rise into the night sky.
[ CW: death ]
Volo repeated what Lillie had just said, as though he needed to hear it in his own voice. He was no stranger to the idea of Pokémon dying (nor people, for that matter), and he knew that some were much more long-lived than others...but still, he had never encountered anything quite like the Minior.
He watched the Minior that Lillie had pointed out, feeling a painful lump rising in his throat as it became nothing more than ascending specks of light. Even after it was gone, Volo contined to stare after it, blinking away tears.
"Their time is so short! But, I suppose, it's only the time that we can see, here on the planet's surface. Perhaps it doesn't feel short to them at all. Legendary and long-lived Pokémon might think the same of us humans. And I do believe in other worlds, and in spirits..." Volo sniffed and wiped the sand from his hands before gently dabbing at his eyes. "But they're so beautiful! Miss Lillie, is there no way to save them? It seems that science can do such wonderful things these days!"
[ CW: death ]
"Perhaps... maybe, you're right," Lillie said, considering how short their lives must be to Legendaries who existed before even her land came to be... but they were full lives, rich with laughter and tears, even if they were only a blink of an eye to the stars which live for millenia.
"That's actually what I and Alice have been trying to do," she said, cheering up a little, sounding eager. "It's... back home, the only thing I could find in the books was that sometimes, a pokeball could save them, acting like a shell, you know?"
She released a Minior she had caught herself, a yellow one, and it smiled as it floated between them.
"See? I think this little one will live," Lillie said. "I was trying to encourage people to capture more of them, but Alice also used Potions and other items that assist healing, she found they could regenerate their shells! We tried a lot of different things..."
[ CW: death ]
It looked like there was some hope too! The thought of catching the Minior hadn't occurred to him, but...of course, why not, if they were Pokémon?
"So...I could catch one, too!? I would offer to catch more than one, but..." Volo paused to watch the Minior again, as though he was trying to count them. "I don't think I could take care of that many...but I could certainly catch one, at least!"
Volo's smile wavered as he began to think through the practicalities, though his brow remained creased with determination.
"Ah, but I have no spare Poké Balls, and I have never even used the modern ones. But I am quite determined to help, so I must get some and learn!"
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That was embarrassing... but, nevertheless!
They did order a bunch of pokeballs earlier, Lillie checked her bag to see if she still had any left on her...
"Here!"
It looked very small in the palm of her hand. "You press this button to return it to full size."
Just like that, with a light tap of the button, the ball expanded to easily fill her palm. She passed it to Volo. "Aim and throw."
[ finally replies to this! ]
Famous last words?
Volo's hand was shaking a little as he took the ball from Lillie with a small bow. It was the same size as the ones he carried, more or less, but it felt different in his hand. A bit lighter, maybe? The texture was smooth, nothing like rough Apricorn wood. It felt like it might fly faster and further than the standard Poké Balls he'd come to know in Hisui, and if so, that might affect his throw. But he would give it his best shot!
There were some Minior hovering around near the waterline further down the beach. Volo nodded in their direction and rolled his shoulders determinedly, like he was warming up for a fight.
"Let us go and get a Minior!"
He smiled brightly, but in the back of his mind, he was already thinking about how he could only choose one, and by doing so, he would be abandoning the others to their fate. Once again, he had to accept that he couldn't save the whole world; he would try not to think of it that way.
no subject
"I'll leave it to you!"
Lillie watched, hopefully.
no subject
Back in Hisui, Volo's usual capture technique was to aim for a Pokémon's back. Sneaky, some might have called it...but it usually resulted in a quick and successful catch, with no need for a battle. It was important to conserve your Pokémon's energy, after all. Maybe not so essential here, but even so, Volo would stick to what he knew.
Volo crouched down low, hoping that might help him avoid being seen, even though there was nothing to hide behind. Clutching the ball, he waited until the green Minior had spun around in the air, so that its back was turned. Then he made his throw - probably with more force than was needed, given the lighter weight of the modern Poké Ball, but it seemed to find its target perfectly.
Volo held his breath as the ball fell to the ground, landing heavily in the sand. The other Minior nearby scattered, perhaps to avoid a similar fate, though Volo wondered why. Would they rather perish than be caught?
Worried that the Poké Ball might get swept up in a wave and pulled out to sea, Volo rushed to grab it. It rattled in his hands for a few more seconds and then fell still. The red light on the front of the ball - a feature that Volo had never seen before - went out at the same time.
"I suppose that means it's done...?"
no subject
“Good job, Mr. Volo!” Lillie congratulated him, in a manner that was quite genuine, not saccharine. “You even hit your mark on the first try!”
Maybe that wasn’t such an accomplishment to other people (other than, perhaps, X), but Lillie was a very poor shot!
no subject
"Thank you, Miss Lillie! I don't claim to have many talents, but I do have a sound aim with a Poké Ball." He thought fondly of his Coinpur, left sleeping on his bed at the Pokémon Centre as he hadn't wanted to disturb her. "Seems I'm building up a collection here in Ultern! I should take it easy, I suppose...but this one felt very meaningful. I'm glad I could save even just one Minior."
It would be tough if he got drifted back to Hisui with a lot of extra mouths to feed, so he should probably be careful about adopting or catching too many Pokémon. But he didn't want to think about that for now.
no subject
Although she said it with a smile, her voice wavered towards the end.
He could be an honourary Ultra Guardian! Well, they're not dealing with Ultra Beasts, but...
"Thank you for all your help, Mr. Volo."
[ there he goes... ]
Clutching the ball in both hands, Volo gave Lillie a small bow.
"Enjoy your Tanabata celebrations! I shall continue to be at your service!"
[happy trails, Volo!]
"Thank you! You too, Mr. Volo!" she waved happily.
Snowy barked her own farewells, waving her tails.