farawayplace | In midst of a Summer Festival, yet again!

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In midst of a Summer Festival, yet again!

In the coastal city of Turnbloom yet again, the sun is bright and warm--but of course it's not the only place. All over Ultern everyone is enjoying the summer weather. Little by little, Ulternians and long-time Drifters alike have started to put out summer decorations throughout the start of August, which replaced the ones from Tanabata (if any had been left out to begin with).

There's a distinct sound of waves, and bustling of people nearby. Followed with the cool gentle breeze that carried the salty scent of the sea. Things seem to be at peace, as usual--or is it?

After all, there were always new Drifters popping in. Maybe today there just might be some new faces wandering through looking confused. Now's the time to step up and lend a helping hand. Icharibachoude, we're all brothers, as they say in Ultern!

Or heck, just feel free to enjoy the fun festivities filled with food and music.

That is, if you can--as behind the walls of houses in Ultern that day the familiar friendly faces all wake up with a surprise no one's expecting.

(🌺Ulsai! Happy anniversary everyone, and thank you so much for a whole year of time in Ultern! Please note NPCs will be popping up here and there! But for some reason they’re all different…? For any comments, concerns and questions head on over to the OOC post! Plot with your fellow players there as well!🌺)

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"Pff...ahaha!" Red tried, but a laugh came out. She will squat down more to be at eye level, rather than towering over Gold. "No need to be on edge, Kiddo--what's your name?"

She'll tilt her head a bit while smiling. M meanwhile looked surprised as the doughnut was snagged out of its hands.

"Mine's Red, by the way." There's a playful wink from her. "I'm not here to scold ya, promise. Are you still hungry?"

Gold munches on his doughnut and just stares at Red defiantly. But the lady doesn't seem to be angry with him, so maybe... she's one of those saps that will give away food for free. That'd be useful, so maybe Gold should play along.

"'m mphold," Gold says with his mouth full, slightly less tense, but still glaring suspiciously. "Hungwuh."

Yeah, nothing he says is going to make sense until he's chewed his food properly and swallowed, but he tried anyway, having no manners whatsoever.

"What's that? You said your name's Goldy?" She's cupping her ear with her hand to show she was trying to get a better listen on his muffled words. "Anyway, I'm not in a rush. Why don't you eat slow?"

She giggled.

"Do you like festivals? That's why I'm visiting today!"

Gold glares at her and chews quickly, before swallowing. He doesn't trust anybody who smiles that much. He doesn't understand what she's after.

"It's Gold," he spits out, and ignores her question completely. "Are you gonna rat me out or give me food?"

"Gold, huh? Hmmm still kinda like Goldy more!" Of course M will zip over to Red's side getting comfortable on her shoulder.

"Rat you out for what?" She feigns ignorance while putting an obviously confused face. "None of those doughnuts were stolen?"

Was she being too easy on Gold? Oh well! She then jabbed a thumb back towards the festival.

"They got a lot more food back at the festival. Have you had soba before?"

"Whatever," Gold says, keeping a wary eye on M when it moves.

He just glares distrustfully at Red at the feigned ignorance.

...But the implied promise of food does interest him a little, and he takes a moment to judge his chances here. She did lie and say he didn't steal food, so... maybe she's not the type to turn people in. But she could be lying to make him trust her... But she's kind of offering food...

Gold's stomach grumbles at the thought of soba. He's never had it, but he remembers the smell of it. Okay, that's it, he'll take whatever he can get from her, and then run away if things turn bad.

"No, I haven't," he finally replies.

Red was completely unfazed by any of tiny Gold's glares or general sour attitude. Been there, and totally done that. While he's mulling his options Red began to dig through her bag to pull out a straw hat--which she'll move to place on Gold's head.

"It's hot and sunny! You'll wanna keep cool." She'll comment while standing up and brushing her dress off. "Okay! Why don't we go have some soba? The kind they make here is different from the thin noodly ones back home but it's really good! It's one of my favorites, actually."

When Red moves to put the straw hat on him, Gold steps back. But he'll snatch up the hat and put it on his own head. No use turning down free clothes!

...He says nothing, just nods in response to the soba talk and follows her, but at a slight distance.

Red will just smile when Gold takes the hat instead. At least he's got it on him, that's what mattered. After all Ultern may be nice--but the hot sun without any sort of protection wasn't a good idea.

She'll then point straight ahead.

"Onwards to the Soba place! After that, is there anything you'd want to do? There's tons of snacks and games too at the festival! It only happens once a year, so you gotta have fun!"

What a weird lady, Gold thinks. He's stealing this hat later if he can.

"Games aren't useful," Gold says haughtily like he's explaining new information to Red. "You need food and water and clothes and shelter, and everything else comes after that."

Speaking of shelter, it suddenly occurs to Gold he's not sure where his house is. He glances around as he follows Red, wondering which way he turned to end up in this festival.

Red's looking at Gold for a moment before turning to face forward.

"Hmm, that might be true but you know," she's clasping her hands together while sighing happily. "Today's the only day where you can experience these sights, and food! Did you know winning the games here earns you a prize? Sometimes they're really cool! Maybe after we have soba you can try one or two!"

She then looked back to him with a smile.

"Whaddya say?" Of course she noticed Gold looking around, but decided not to pry. She didn't want to rile him up.

...The promise of possible prizes has Gold fidgeting with the rim of his hat a little as he glances around at the booths. Free things he could get... Maybe he doesn't need any plastic colorful thingies, but... They look kind of interesting. And if he's going to get food anyway, maybe after that, he could try the games... just a little bit?

"Hmm," he says, trying to look disinterested. "I guess if you pay I could try a game or two..."

He looks at a booth giving pinwheels as prizes a bit longer as they pass by it. They're colorful and pretty... No, he doesn't need one! He shakes his head and looks away.

"Where's the soba?" he asks demandingly.

"Ohoho, leave all the payment to big sister here!" Red of course was playing up her laugh. At his demands (which in Red's mind is the most adorable) she nodded and pointed up to one of the shops that had been set up.

"Hope you don't mind a sit in place! But I promise the soba's worth it!" She's making her way over to open the traditional slide in door--and will wait for Gold. The first thing the two will be able to pick up on, before looking inside is the aroma of the soba that wafted through out.

On the inside of the store there were already other patrons enjoying a bowl of soba and other side dishes they could order. It's full of chatter, and the sound of the TV that's playing right above them all.

That was enough to earn a grumble from Red's stomach as she placed a hand over it and gave an embarrassed laugh.

"Whoops looks like I went on too long without eating! Let's go in!"

Gold nods and smiles to himself at the sound of free food and games, hiding his face under the hat. If she's paying, he can indulge just a little.

He's surprised to find it seems to be an actual house they're going to. He was expecting to eat outside. It makes him hesitate a little - escaping is harder from within four walls. But the aroma wafting through the air is so delicious, his stomach grumbles. ...Fine, he'll risk it. But he doesn't want to step inside before Red, so he just stands there, waiting for her to go in first.

At her last comment, Gold gives Red a judging look.

"No you didn't," he scoffs, unimpressed. He can tell just from looking at her that she's been eating regularly. She's probably even eaten a full meal today! That's not too long at all by Gold's standards.

Red will stop noting Gold looking hesitant, and not entering the place before her. Oh, that's fair she figured he was wary. So, she'll step inside while gesturing for Gold.

"Do you want to sit at a table or up at the counter there? You can see the chef at work up there!" She nodded before she turned and heard Gold's comment on her. There's a smile--clearly not angry by Gold's remark even with that grumpy look he had on his face. "So you think! Anyway, c'mon let's pick a seat! I bet you're starving too!"

Gold will follow Red in, giving every person in the soba shop a distrustful look as he goes. The people are probably looking his way, too. It's not every day you see such an obviously malnourished street kid come in, wearing a big sunhat to boot. Though they all smile kindly and feel bad for Gold, the kid does not trust any of them and sticks close to Red.

At the question, Gold looks at the counter and the table, then huffs.

"The counter's too tall," he says grumpily. He's kind of annoyed at Red just smiling at his comment, and he glares at her. "What do you mean "too"? You're not starving, dumbass. You're just hungry. That's different."

The stares are no doubt doubled by the fact the obviously malnourished child is right next to their Champion but no one was about to blurt that when their concern immediately went to Gold. Red meanwhile will point to a table that's closer to the entrance.

"Then how about that seat?" She questioned. When Gold spoke up (obviously angry) M let's out a surprised chirp before swiftly moving to hide behind Red in an attempt to burrow itself in her hair. She gave a glance to her Victini and then to Gold.

"Sorry Goldy you're right. I'm hungry, and you're starving! So let's sit and order up!" Without waiting she's already making her way to the table ahe gestured to.

A table near the entrance, huh? That's good. Easy to escape from if he needs to. He nods.

"I'm not starving right now," Gold mutters, looking at the seats in the table they're going to sit in. "I ate something today." By which he means he's eaten at least two doughnuts today.

He'll walk around the table Red chose, looking over every chair, then clambers up to sit on the one that seems to have the clearest path to the door.

"Well I'm Great League levels of hungry." She nodded to herself but at least she won't put the blame on an obviously hungry child. Unlike Gold, Red won't think to inspect the table.

She'll just take one of the unoccupied seats while M continued to hide behind her. Red not minding will pull one of the menus out and passes it to Gold.

"Just point out the one you want okay? There should be pictures of the food!"

Gold nods, finding that phrase acceptable. He doesn't know what a Great League is, but it sounds big.

He'll take the menu and open it, poring over it, the sunhat still on his head.

"I can read," he says with annoyance, but there are some words he doesn't recognize on the list. Everything on the list looks good, though, and he ends up just pointing at a random picture, wanting to eat soon.

"I'll take this," he says, pointing at tempura soba.

"Wow took me ages to read any of it myself." Red nodded thinking back to her first days in Ultern about to cry at the lack of recognition of the language but! Pictures! Those were good.

"Okie dokie! Then let's order up! Hey Pops!" She'll turn away waving her hand to the chef. The chef catching sight of Red beams.

"Oh hello there Champion! What can I get ya?"

"One tempura soba large and a large Ultern soba also large!"

"Alright, coming right up!"

The chef will disappear from behind the counter presumably going to make their order. As he's doing so Red will turn back to Gold.

"Say are you thirsty? I was going to get some iced tea. What do you want?"

Gold just scoffs. Sure, there's a lot more words that he doesn't recognize than usual, but he's not going to admit that. (He hasn't figured out it's a different language yet.)

Champion? Gold's ears pick up the familiar word. Champion... like the strongest Pokemon Trainer? He eyes Red, looking at M hiding in her hair, too. So she's actually really strong... She could probably hurt Gold if she wanted to, but she hadn't, even though Gold stole from her. Why? He doesn't understand her.

"I dunno... Water," Gold mutters at the question, shrinking in his seat a little. It's not like he knows what drinks there are. And now that he knows Red's strong, he doesn't want to annoy her by asking too many questions.

"Water? Well, it is pretty hot outside." Red nodded, oblivious to how his reaction would be to her being a "champion". Not that she'd change her attitude all of a sudden even if she did know. M however's making small chirps, nuzzling further into Red's hair as she stands up from her seat. There's a chuckle, as she reached out and gave a reassuring pat to her Pokemon with one hand.

She'll walk over to where there's a water server and a pitcher full of iced tea for guests. She'll fill one cup with water for Gold, and one for herself before walking back to the table.

"Here you go!" She'll set Gold's drink down first, before settling back into her spot. "By the way Goldy, have you ever thought of becoming a trainer when you're older?"

Gold keeps his eyes on Red as she goes to get their drinks. A part of him reminds him this would be a good opportunity to run away if he needed to, but the promise of food keeps him here. There's no use in escaping right now. Only after eating. Well... She also promised to pay for games, so maybe he'll stay a little longer after eating, too...

At the question, Gold just stares at his glass of water, before shrugging.

"I dunno," he mumbles quietly. "Not really."

"For real?" She's reaching for her cup of tea before taking a sip. She'll look thoughtful. "I didn't think about being one either but my best friend kept going on and on about Pokemon but I guess it's hard not to when they're everywhere."

She chuckled to herself.

"Anyway, do you have any friends like that?" She was absolutely being nosy but if Gold didn't want to answer she wasn't going to keep prying.

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