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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That's what I figured happened too which was why I was trying to find some kind sign or something and I found this town, and festival instead.

[He's shifting to cross his arms and nod. Yep, this sorta thing just happens! Gonna roll with it. At the mention of returning home and time remaining the same had him laugh as if Gold had told him a joke. He'll play it off as if he was reacting to the absurdity of the situation.]

Man this place is really out of wack! People are turning into kids, huh? I wonder why? You think something like Celebi might be involved? Haha! Wouldn't that be something!

That's so relatable. I showed up on the beach near here, a year ago. Actually, it was exactly a year ago! This same festival was going on and everything. What a coincidence.

[Man, there's something unsettling about the timing of that laugh. Gold keeps his poker face up and just smiles in response to it like he really was telling a joke and got a good response.]

Celebi? The little time-travel guy? Yeah, maybe!

[Gold laughs too. It's the forced, harsh laughter of someone thinking of something they're scared of and trying to laugh at it anyway. He hates the idea of the de-aging effect hitting him.]

Huh a whole year ago? That's pretty long. So how's it been living here?

[At least Ethan here sounded genuinely curious of what Gold thought of Ultern.

Meanwhile, he smiled and nodded about the Celebi question.]

Yep. That one!

[Upon hearing Gold's laugh Ethan kept up his smile. He's just a kid, he thinks while regarding Gold.]

Well, it ain't everyday people run into Celebi so it could just be something else. I wouldn't worry none about it.

[He gave a shrug.]

In fact I was thinking of going around and enjoying this festival more! You in?

It's been pretty chill, I guess. [Gold shrugs. He's got no interest in talking about the less chill parts.] People are nice, and there's good food, and festivals and stuff... It's a good place to get stuck in. Hey, you've got nothing you gotta do back home, do you? [The way Ethan laughed about being stuck left an impression, and Gold's pretty curious about it.]

Yeah, maybe it's just Ultern messing around. It's just a guy I know turned into a kid, and it's kinda weird, but it'll probably wear out by tomorrow, so whatever. [Gold keeps his smile up after he's done laughing, but honestly, whether it's Celebi or Ultern changes nothing. Whatever it is had better not mess with him.]

What, with you? I dunno, do you wanna give me more free food? [He asks playfully. He's still not sure he should be trusting Ethan, and he wants to go call Cam about him soon, but he's in no real hurry either.]

Yeah? That's cool.

[Ethan nodded. He wasn't about to press Gold for the nitty gritty. At Gold's question he blinked, and looked thoughtful for a brief moment.]

Nah, back home I was just traveling around on my own--looking around to find new Pokemon. I figure I might as well work on my Pokedex. I still had a lot of entries to fill out on it...but I guess that's on hold until I'm sent back home, huh?

[Ethan gave a nod in understanding.]

Yeah, that sounds real weird, at least ta me! I dunno how I'd feel if someone I knew was suddenly a different age.

[He'll then stretch, and fold his hands right behind his neck before grinning.]

You're still hungry? Hahaha! Dang, I got nothing going on so if you don't have anything, then why not? I wanna check out the other stalls anyway!

[He really was just going along with the flow. There was no way Ethan would know Gold's near(?) future plans to call Kam up.]

Huh...

[Gold just gives a non-committal noise. Ethan sounds so normal. Not like the guy Kam described who might've turned time back. He could still be lying, or maybe he's the un-trustworthy guy Kam didn't really describe at all in any ways that'd make it easy to tell him apart from any other guy that looked like Gold. Come to think of it, he really should've asked Kam more about that guy. Well, whatever. He's not going to assume everyone who looks like himself is evil.]

Yeah, it was pretty weird. He went from an adult to the same age as me, and he was still taller than me, too! [Gold is mildly offended by this.]

Sure, why not. I guess it's not every day you get to hang out with another you! [Gold shrugs with a grin. He's in no hurry, and it is neat meeting another him.] Let's go grab something to drink! I saw somebody carrying bubble tea with them, so they gotta sell that somewhere, right?

Don't ya worry! Everybody grows up at different speeds!

[Which wasn't wrong, anyway. Meanwhile Ethan looked puzzled at the mention of bubble tea.]

Bubble tea? What's that? Why's it called bubble tea?

[He seemed rather intrigued by this new drink.]

I feel like you said something like that already.

[Gold's starting to get a bit peeved by people saying that, honestly. He's not worried! He's just annoyed, that's all!

He smiles at the bubble tea question though.]

Oh, you haven't heard about it? They apparently put these things called "tapioca pearls" in iced tea, and then sip them through a straw. They look like bubbles so it's called bubble tea. I've never gotten to try it before though! I only heard about it here in Ultern, so I guess they don't have it in Johto. ...Hey, you're from Johto too, right? I've been assuming you're from the same place as me, but I guess I don't really know.

Did I? Whoops, my bad dude!

[He doesn't say anything more than that as he grinned.

Ethan will listen to Gold's explanation on bubble tea. He knew what tapioca were, but "tapioca pearls"? Inside iced tea?]

Huh, that sounds pretty unique...let's go find it! Now I wanna give it a try too! Life's too short not to!

[At Gold's next question he blinked a few times. He seemed genuinely surprised at what Gold stated, like he hadn't even considered they could both be from a different region altogether.]

Y'know what? I was assuming the same with you. It didn't cross my mind we could just be from different places. But yeah, I'm from Johto too!

Edited (whoops I sure do not reading comprehension) 2023-08-30 13:41 (UTC)

Yeah, let's go get that tea!

[He'll start walking, looking around for any stalls that look like they could have bubble tea.]

Yeah, I met one guy who knows another me, and he said that me's from Silent Town in the Nihon Region, so there's all kinds of worlds out there. Can't assume anything, I guess. Are you from New Bark Town too?

[Sweet, tea adventures! Ethan's following along as he's taking a look around his surroundings. The sure had some familiar foods lined up--yakisoba. Okonomiyaki, candied apples and cotton candy. Now where's the bubble tea? He wonders trying to find the type of thing Gold described to him.

...aw heck, some of those signs were straight up illegible for Ethan being written in Ulternian.]

Silent Town in the Nihon Region? What a name.

[If there was that big of a difference that made sense why Gold had been curious where he's from. At the next question, there's a nod.]

Yeah, born and raised there! Say--this other me-us? What was his name? Was it Ethan too? Just curious if we all got different names going on, y'know? It's cool if you didn't catch it though.

[By now, Gold can understand some of the Ulternian writing, but it's not helping him find bubble tea. He spots a stall that seems to be selling drinks, but they don't appear to have tapioca.]

Yeah, but when you think about it, New Bark Town is a pretty weird name too.

I dunno, it was one of the usual names. Ethan or Gold or something.

[Gold says it boredly, crossing his hands behind his neck. It's a lie, he knows the name was Gold, but he's kind of paranoid about sharing names lately.]

Hey, what was your family like? Just curious.

[Though he says that casually, he knows it might just be a pretty loaded question. It's definitely a loaded question for himself.]

Y'think?

[He's scratching his cheek at the mention of New Bark being a weird name.]

I dunno I'm far too used to that town name I'm not sure what I'd call it.

[~~Aside from Old Fart Town but you know.~~ Ethan will commit the two offered names to memory. To him it sounded like those two names were the most common--he might as well stick to them.]

Dang, here I thought my name's pretty unique! What a bummer. Oh, hm? My family? I mean, it's pretty normal. Ain't it the same for you?

[Maybe this guy just wanted to compare notes again? Might as well tell him something.]

Then again it might be different, huh? My home's pretty small, same with the family. It's just Mom and me.

Well, it sounds like a name of a town of puppies, you know? New Bark. Or is that just me?

[Gold listens to Ethan describe his normal family with some envy, and sighs.]

Yeah, it's definitely different. It's- [And Gold's breath hitches in his throat, unable to act as casual about it as he'd been trying to. He pauses, looking away, and takes a breath. Then he looks back at Ethan with an emotionless, wide smile, and talks with a cheerful tone.] It was just me and Mom back in New Bark Town, too! But that place isn't my home.

A town of puppies...pfft, haha! I like that!

[Ethan laughed, while placing a hand on his stomach. While it may not seem like it, he noticed Gold's reaction. He might be smiling still, but Gold's responses (his comment about his Mother hating him when questioning his name), about his home--ah, damn. Here he was trying to act normal when the other kid clearly wasn't doing alright. Should he push it? No, he's trying to put a brave front.

Instead, Ethan nodded while raising his hands up, and gave a dramatic siiigh.]

Who'd wanna stay in that dingy old town anyway, right? Why even give it such a cutesy name? There's barely any kids my age there--it's fulla old folks and adults.

[Gold grins at getting a laugh out of that.]

Huh, really? Never noticed that in my world, there's kids there too. Maybe it's different.

[Gold doesn't notice Ethan noticing his reaction, but he does note his description of New Bark Town fits with what Kam mentioned about it. A point in favor of this guy being from Kam's world.]

Hm? Oh, hey, that looks like bubble tea over there!

[His footsteps quicken as he points into the distance at a stall selling drinks with black pearls inside.]

I mean yeah there were kids where I'm from too but it was kinda few and far between. Plus we weren't all exactly close in age.

[His expression went from thoughtful to enthusiastic when Gold seemed to find the stall in question. Following along Ethan let's out a cheer.]

Awesome! Now let's see-

[The smile dropped as he finds himself staring at the hand written menu.]

Whoa, wait I didn't realize they have this many flavors of tea?! Let's see... I've only had green tea before. I guess I'll stick to that. How about you, Nugget?

Hmm... Well, I guess it's similar then. Never really mattered to me either way. [Gold says with a shrug.]

[He scans the menu as well. So many good choices... But at Ethan's comment, he gives a teasing grin.]

You've only had green tea? Wow, you really are from a town of old people. I'll take peach tea!

[The vendor nods with a smile and begins preparing their orders.]

[Ethan will let the conversation drop at that, as his attention was now more focused on the teas. Just as he's looking at the menu before turning to Gold. He'll laugh at his comment.]

Ahaha, yeah! I should try a new flavor next time around but for now this'll be fine!

Eh, green tea's fine too. Anyway, you're paying like you said, right?

Heh heh, 'course! Consider it thanks for humoring me for a bit.

[He'll start digging right into his hoodie to pull out an old fashioned looking wallet. Digging out the cash, Ethan will slap the amount he needed up near the register.]

There we go!

Thanks!

[Gold gives a genuine smile at that. Somebody buying him food (or a drink, in this case) is all right by him!

The vendor gives them both their bubble teas and takes the money. Transaction complete!]

Finally, I've got the bubble tea in my hands... [Gold says with a dramatic tone as he grabs his drink, admiring it. Now, how to go about drinking it?]

[Ethan's taking his tea and staring at it. Why did it look so...murky? He's looking it over up and down.]

Wait, did they put milk in this? Huh, never thought of drinking green tea with milk before. That's weird!

[Despite saying that he's grinning wide. Ethan too will study his cup realizing there's a plastic covering the top. Looking around the stall he'll notice there's a cup holding a set of colorful straws for the guests. Perking up he'll pick a red one while turning to Gold.]

I guess we just jab this straw through here, huh?

Whoa, really? My tea's got milk too, but I didn't think they'd do that with green tea too.

[Gold follows Ethan's example, grabbing a yellow straw.]

These are some big straws! I guess that's for drinking the tapioca.

[Putting the straw in, Gold tries to sip... then tries to sip harder to try and get a single pearl into his mouth.]

...Man, this is tough!

[Ethan's enthusiastically jabbing his straw in which resulted in some of the tea spilling on his hand. He's quick to lick the tea off without a second thought.]

Hey it doesn't taste bad! It's pretty sweet too.

[Of course he'll be wiping his hand against his own hoodie not even thinking. While he's doing that he's back to staring at the contents of his tea and then taking a sip. He's slurping until one of the tapioca catches him by surprise causing him to cough.]

Whoa- [cough cough] I drank a bit too fast...!

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