In midst of a Summer Festival, yet again!

[ulternnpc]

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!🌺)

Comments

[domeinion]

Really? I'd love to see! [She brightens and looks around.] Especially at festivals. Sometimes people will make novelty food for these kinds of things, after all, right?

[ulternnpc]

Yes, we absolutely should!

[Red's clasping her hands together in excitement.]

I bet they have one shaped like Pokemon! Ooh, now I'm pumped up thinking about it! Let's go find the ice cream vendor together!

[domeinion]

Of course!

[Alice walks in a circle and then starts down one of the aisles of booths.]

My dad would've really liked this. I could have sworn he kept the lactase enzyme supplement industry running singlehandedly with how he always used to go out for ice cream with us whenever I visited, even though he was lactose intolerant. [She laughs, even with the... many Bill Issues.] His Zigzagoon always got excited about going out.

[ulternnpc]

[Red will watch, while briefly contemplating whether she had to follow Alice's footsteps exactly. Oh, but it seemed she was already walking ahead. She'll quickly power walk after her.]

Ooh, so I guess that was his favorite dessert? [She'll laugh at the thought of Zigzagoon getting excited for ice cream.]

That takes me back! I remember when my Mom would always take us out for ice cream when we did good on our school work. A little celebration after some hard work. I remember thinking I could eat two scoops but I'd be so full after just one, haha!

[domeinion]

Right? [Alice laughs.] Oh -- does that mean you had siblings? It was always just me. Well, and the Pokémon. Dad always had some Eevee hanging around the lab.

[ulternnpc]

Mmhmm! A little brother--and while he's not my brother, Green too.

[She'll wave a dismissive hand.]

To be fair I did always barge into his place too so we're both even on how many times we'd spend at one another's house growing up.

[She will perk up at the mention hearing about Alice's life.]

Wow, was your Dad a Pokemon Professor? That's so cool!

[domeinion]

[Alice shakes her head. Her smile looks sad, but she pushes it down.]

No, he was a PC admin. He just really liked Eevee.

[Oh, hey, a topic that's not depressing!]

So he's Green where you're from? So was mine -- well, for a while. It's a long story, but he remembered being called Blue -- you see, my world was essentially reconstructed from a diverging point and then rebuilt with some effort to restore as much of the original state as possible while preserving those who needed to remain as they were to survive -- oh, right, I did just say I'd skip past the complicated explanation, didn't I? Well, anyway, he's going by Blue again now. I wonder what leads to those common variables?

[ulternnpc]

[Red wasn't dense by any stretch of the word. She caught that look on Alice's face. But she doesn't push it. Not when the topic of Green-Blue (teal?) came up.]

...huh! You sure know complicated stuff! Both smart and pretty! What goals.

[She beamed before thinking on Green.]

Veeeery weird. It's almost like he likes us so much he has to spread himself thin throughout the worlds.

...pfft haha! Can you imagine? We better not tell him that though! He'll either get mad or think we're flattering him!

[domeinion]

[Alice bursts into laughs and shakes her head.] That's true enough! And I'm sure he's far from the only universal constant. There are all kinds of people who seem similar in some ways between variants, even if they each still have things that set them apart.

[ulternnpc]

That's true! I mean look at you, and look at me. We may look a like, and have the looks but our lives seem pretty different.

I can't even imagine growing up without my little brother for one.

[domeinion]

And nobody here's heard of a lot of things that were familiar where I'm from, or big parts of my life. Is it like that for you?

[ulternnpc]

Absolutely! I mean, for me everything was shockingly new! From the Pokemon! To all the different battle styles! I felt totally left behind more than when Green kept going ahead of me during our journey back in Kanto.

[domeinion]

That's true enough. But even then, I love learning all these new things that everyone introduces me to. It's a sense of constant discovery!

[ulternnpc]

Yes! Yes I agree!

[Red's giggling.]

That's why I wanted--and I still do, to aim for the top! I want my Pokemon and I to become strong, and shine bright!

[domeinion]

Than I hope you can! It's the kind of dream you chase forever, isn't it?

[ulternnpc]

Thanks a ton! It means a lot coming from you, heheh! Yeah it is something I can just chase forever if I wanted. In fact being here in Ultern really lit up my motivation to become even stronger since, before...it was just Green, you know? Who motivated me to go forward.

Not that he's not a great challenge and all- [She'll lean in and whisper the next part.] Don't tell him I said that!

[Then, Red giggled while going back to talking normally.]

But only having one goal in mind, and one challenger isn't fun! I was just amazed...by all the types of trainers and Pokemon that end up here. There really is a lot of me to learn out here, and back home too.

[domeinion]

Battling was always a secondary thing for me. Studying was more important, and finding a way to stop my dad, back then. But you know... I think that just makes this all the more valuable! Everyone gains something here. Something for their dreams, even when they're away from home.

[ulternnpc]

Hmm, hmm. Studying is important! How else would people get to know more about Pokemon, right?

[She does have a sympathetic look over to Alice at the mention of stopping her dad. It doesn't last when Alice continued, as Red nodded along.]

You're right! This place is great when it comes to chasing your dreams! I know I learned a lot battlewise thanks to all the trainers that wind up here.

[domeinion]

Oh, did you watch the tournament I held for Dome-tide? We got so many strong trainers! It was a lot of fun to organize.

[ulternnpc]

I was there but I did disguise myself since I didn't want to draw attention away from the tournament.

[There's a giggle from Red.]

I know Ulternians would have wanted my signature if they realized I was in the crowd.

[domeinion]

You must be popular here! Well, you have been around a long time, and you must be a good trainer with how dedicated you are.

[ulternnpc]

Heh heh~! You could say that! Of course, I won't give you spoilers and tell you just how popular I am!

[She'll playfully wink.]

But don't you worry, when the time's right I'm sure you'll know.

[domeinion]

When you put it like that, I can't wait2 see. Dome knows I love a good discovery!