farawayplace | EVENT: Harvesting Bonds Festival (CLOSING)

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EVENT: Harvesting Bonds Festival (CLOSING)

As the sun is beginning to set, a crowd gathers around Gilterrace's town plaza, some of them holding their freshly harvested goods from their fields. One by one, they pile them in front of a small shrine and fold their hands together as they begin to chant.

"May you bless our offerings as we wish for another bountiful harvest to come."

Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, Calyrex has been watching them at a distance with a look of intrigue. He too would like to bring happiness to these people, knowing they have worked hard for this. And clearly offering a more bountiful harvest is just what he's good at!

After a moment of deliberation, the legendary Pokemon hovers over the food pile while glowing in a gentle blue light, and starts doing a little jig. And with a wave of his left hand, all of the fruits and vegetables around Gilterrace start growing until they are twice larger than their usual size.

As the crowd cheers and rejoices, the strums of the sanshin could be heard and playing a very cheery yet familiar tune to some of the drifted out there. This also draws in many Pokemon, wild or not, joining amongst the crowd, though there is a noticably fair amount of Ghost-types gathering as well. And with Calyrex dancing along to the music, they all soon start to sway their arms from side to side as they dance alongside the King of Bountiful Harvests.

Much like with the summer festival, it is a sign that today's festivities is drawing to a close. And they will keep dancing until the music finally stops the moment the night falls.

(🌺 This marks the end of the event! Feel free to join in the partying, make friends with ghosts, or get a free enlarged produce to take home! 🌺)

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He liked Elena a lot. "I'd like to catch a Furret someday too..."

She's so comforting and gentle!

"I could do that, it sounds like fun. Never been to a sleepover," Trip said with a smile. "Ultern's the name of this place, right? It's funny, I never heard of it or even seen it on a map before! I heard them say something Drifted, but I didn't really get an explanation. They looked a little sad..."

"You should! But I guess you gotta travel outside of Unova to find one, huh?" Gold says. "Not that you'll find a Furret better than Elena anywhere!"

Elena's flustered by that, and rubs her head against Trip's shoulder to hide her shy smile.

When Gold hears what Trip says, he keeps his smile up, but hates that he has to be the one to explain what's going on.

"Yeah, that's um, the thing about Ultern region! It's like... Ah, I dunno how to explain it..." Gold's stalling. "Um, I showed up here out of the blue one day, while I was trying to go somewhere else. And so did a lot of other people! From other regions, and even other worlds... The people who live in Ultern call that Drifting. People drift here from everywhere. And..." He has to say nobody knows how to leave Ultern. He can't bring himself to say it. "And yeah! It's like that!"

Gold cringes at his own cowardliness internally. On the outside, he keeps up a somewhat awkward smile.

Trip nodded, but feeling Elena nestle closer into him, he turned to watch her instead, stroking her head and back a few times, trying to comfort her, even giving a few awkward little pats.

Trip then looked back to Gold in his uncomfortable, hesitating explanation and felt he was omitting something, but was too shy to ask what. He did, however, look a bit suspicious.

"... okay."

A brief, suspicious pause, then:

"... did someone bring us here?"

Is this a mass kidnapping or something?

Elena smiles at Trip, patting him and trying to reassure him that she's not upset or anything, she's just too happy and blushes easily! Though she is a bit worried about how Gold and Trip's conversation seems to be going, but tries not to show that.

Gold knew an incomplete explanation wasn't going to cut it. Trip was smart, he's already noticing something's off. All Gold is doing is putting the inevitable off. Still, probably better to say it gently than bluntly.

"I dunno, to be honest. Nobody knows why it's happening," Gold says, crossing his arms and frowning in thought. "I went looking for people who might be behind it the first days after I got here, but never found anybody. So either they're hiding really well, or it's just a mystery pheno... phenomunom?" That sounds like about the right word.

"So, yeah... nobody knows why it's happening, and... nobody knows how to go back, either." Gold swallows, his throat feeling a bit dry, then says, a bit stronger: "But that doesn't mean it's impossible, just that nobody's found a way yet! Or maybe the people who did find a way to go back left without telling anyone else!" He's trying to convince himself, too.

"Phenomenom!" Trip corrected.

~~Little did they know, they were both wrong.~~

He listened carefully to the explanation otherwise, with a serious look, then, gathering Elena up (she didn't mind being carried, right?) to try and support her better and hold her close, Trip walked over to Gold.

"You're right, we just have to keep looking! We'll figure a way out... it's like a mystery. I'm sure if we all work together, we'll get something done!"

Optimistic and perfectly earnest!

"Yeah, that's it!" Gold says, clueless.

Elena doesn't mind being carried at all! She leans on Trip's shoulder to make it easier to carry her.

"That's right!" Gold says, relieved that he managed to avoid making Trip sad. "With so many different people drifting into Ultern, there's no way we'll fail!"

"...But anyway, it's getting late, so we should head to the place I'm staying. It's Professor Banyan's house, so I guess I should ask him if you can stay over, but it's probably fine anyway..." Gold starts looking around as he leads Trip along. "If you see a guy in a weird-looking green costume, that's probably him."

((ooc: should I ask professor Banyan to join the thread?))

((That'd be fine and a nice way to bring this to a close, getting settled. Please do! ^^))

Elena was so cute... he couldn't help smiling.

Trip nodded and kept an eye out for someone matching that description and followed Gold, holding his hand not to get separeated.

Not too long after, just at the exit of Gilterrace was the strangely green-colored costumed man from earlier. He still held the sanshin that he was playing from before, but it looked like he was about to leave town.

"..."

The kid who wanted to pet Murkrow, loved Gold's wizard costume, and was charmed by all the dancing Ghost types, ducked behind Gold's leg, clinging to his hand still.

"... that cucumber's creepy!"

Ah, there's that awful costume. Gold's strangely relieved to see it, after not having met Banyan at all during the festival.

"Yeah, I know right? The guy wearing it is a good guy though," Gold says, squeezing Trip's hand a little, and waves at Professor Banyan. "Hey, Pro- uh," he pauses, remembering the Professor wanted him to call him Uncle Beni, but still goes for: "Professor Banyan! Heey!"

The Murkrows that had been following them, unfortunately, aren't too fond of the costume either. Sitting on nearby roofs and trees, they caw in chorus and flap their wings, and one even swoops down to try and peck it. Hope the costume's not too thin!

"Hey! Quit that, you guys!" Gold calls out to the Murkrows, but they seem to agitated to listen right now.

"Waaah!" Lil' Yago cried out as he tried to cover his costume with only one arm. Already the Murkrows had pecked and torn out much of the top part that tufts of his red hair are peeking out of one of the large tears.

"Come on now, we're all friends here yeah?" Lil' Yago tried to reason with these now agitated Murkrows, and started strumming with his sanshin as he played a cheerful melody in hopes of calming the Murkrows down.

It's so jaunty, that the music in combination with the tufts of hair sticking out, completely took the edge off and Trip let go of Gold's hand, giggling a little at the sight.

But, the Murkrow's beaks were sharp and they were really tearing into that costume! He stopped laughing, feeling a bit bad, and turned very seriously to Elena. "What attacks does Elena know...? If they're going to hurt him, we're going to have to fight them off!"

This was going bad! Gold panics a little, not sure what to do. But Professor Banyan was playing a melody...? It seemed like some of the Murkrows were hearing it and calming down, but some were still attacking. He has to do something! Trip is counting on him!

"Um, uh, Elena! Use... Quick Attack?" he says, uncertain.

Elena meets Gold's eyes, and shakes her head. Fighting isn't the answer here, she thinks.

"No? Okay, then I'm counting on you!" Gold says, nodding. He trusts his Pokemon.

And Elena steps forward, and slams her tail loudly against the ground while letting out a shout, getting the Murkrows' attention. She scolds them in Pokemon language, saying something along the lines of "(You're here to have fun at the festival, not to cause trouble, aren't you?)" The Murkrows cease their attacks, cawing in low, apologetic tones.

Elena smiles. And then, she begins to dance to the tune of Banyan's melody, a dance she'd learned in Ecruteak City. The Murkrows join in, landing on the ground and hopping to the tune the best they can in a show of peace and apology.

Gold watches this happen, not sure what to say, so he just laughs, relieved, and starts clapping to the rhythm.

Lil' Yago too let out a hearty laugh, feeling absolutely relieved now that the Murkrows have calmed down. He took a moment to finish the song, and after one final strum of his sanshin, the costumed man started to cheerfully applaud at his dancing audience.

"Wonderful! Thanks for the amazing after-party, friends!"

If the cartoony-looking face on his costume weren't in the way, Gold and Trip would've seen him beaming at the Murkrows by now.

"But woah look at the time! Lil Yago needs a bit of shut-eye right now. Until we meet again!"

After bidding farewell at the Murkrows, he then turned to Gold and Trip. And most especially Trip, as this is his first time seeing him.

"Now who do we have here, Gold?" Lil Yago tilted his head, "A new friend of yours?"

Trip was perplexed. Gold was Elena’s master, shouldn’t she obey him…? Was she poorly trained?
But some kind of communication passed between Gold and Elena; rather than just being stubborn, she solved it her own way.

She must be very special! But, Trip couldn’t help wondering if that attitude caused trouble for Gold…

When ‘Lil Yago turned to him, Trip clung some more to Gold, but tried his best to speak with him, mustering up his courage.

“… um, my name’s Trip, Professor, sir.”

Gold and Elena wave goodbye to the Murkrows. Now that they were gone, it felt a bit wistful, like the party was really starting to end. But that's just how it goes. Gold pats Elena on the back.

"Nice thinking, Elena," he says. Elena chirrups happily in return, and goes back to stand next to Trip, to encourage him to talk bravely.

"Yeah, Trip just got drifted here, uh, Professor," Gold says. "He doesn't have anywhere to stay so, um, if it's okay could he stay at your place, just for tonight? Please?" His voice lowers in volume as he keeps speaking, timid. After Professor Banyan gave him a place to stay, he feels bad imposing any more, so he doesn't dare to ask for anything more than one night's stay for Trip. "And, um, then we could figure out where he could go after that..."

Gold's face is practically completely hidden underneath his witch hat by now. Asking for anything from a parental figure is uncomfortable for him, even though he's certain Professor Banyan will be fine with this. Elena looks up at him, worried, thinking maybe she should be giving courage to Gold instead of Trip right now.

Banyan behind his costume's face smiled to Trip--not that anyone could see. As if to make up for that he strikes a silly pose as he spoke.

"Ulsai, Trip! I'm Lil Yago--or Banyan the Pokemon Professor of this region." He lowered his arms and turned to Gold. Upon hearing the young trainer's request, he definitely had no way of seeing the gentle look Banyan wore. He'll strum his sanshin once more--mostly as a gesture to help encourage Gold to look up.

"Now, how can I say no to letting a friend of yours stay over?" He tilted his head. "It's been a long day for everyone, I'm sure the two of you are tired after a big party."

Plus he wasn't about to send a young boy off on his own in an unknown land. What would his parents think? That and it didn't seem like Trip had any Pokemon with him. That just wouldn't do!

"Heck, if ya want Trip yer more than welcome to stay as long as ya want!"

Trip made a face at how the Professor spoke. He should respect him, because a Professor’s a respectable thing, isn’t it? But his manner of speaking…

“… sounds like a hick.”

He still looked very, very unsure and wary.

“Shouldn’t a professor know how to talk more… I don’t know, smarter? More proper? It’s one thing if you don’t know any better, but as an educated person…” he said, with a very severe look on his face. “… why would you continue to talk like that?”

You can’t undo the outcome of that upbringing in a day, I’m afraid!

Gold lets out a little breath of relief. It's not like he thought Professor Banyan would kick Trip to the curb or anything, but things long ingrained are hard to unlearn.

"Thanks, Professor," Gold says. Now that he thinks about it, he really should've expected Banyan would let Trip stay for longer. He's that kind of a person, after all.

But then Trip talks, and Gold has to hold his laughter, because... that's kind of funny. Mean, but funny! It reminds him of the kinds of things he used to tell people, back when he was more likely to try and get on people's nerves. He manages not to laugh or smile, and ends up with a sort of amused cringing expression. Well, since Trip reminds him of himself, he figures he knows how to handle this.

"Wow, that's brave of you, Trip!" Gold says with a mock astonishment. "Insulting a guy who's gonna give you a place to stay! Well, he's probably too nice to kick you out over that, so I guess you're lucky. Right?" The last word is aimed at Professor Banyan. Though Gold keeps a mostly serious tone when he speaks to Trip, he gives Banyan a smile, trying to keep it light-hearted while hopefully scaring Trip a little bit, just to make him regret his words.

At Trip's comment towards his way of speaking did Banyan blink in surprise. No one had ever brought it up before--but who would really given how his accent was the norm in Ultern. Of course it doesn't last given Trip's questions, and Gold's response. Instead the Professor chuckled.

"Now, now." His tone was casual, and just as jovial as it has been thus far. "Trip here's just a curious lil' fella ain't he?"

There's an exaggerated tilt of his head, given how he was still in his costume. It was necessary to indicate how he was through his body language, clearly.

"The world's a big, big place. There's all kinds a words, and ways people express themselves Trip. Don't ya forget that." He's grinning wide which unfortunately wasn't visible from under his suit.

Trip felt embarrassed by Gold's words and even a little scared he might not get a place to stay! So, it had the intended effect of making him nervous and regretful, Professor Banyan's laugh making him less uneasy.

Trip quietly nodded. "I understand..."

At least Gold was right and the Professor's too nice to kick him out for bad behaviour!

"Can I, um, do something to make it up to you?"

Maybe he should help out somehow! He didn't really know what he could help with, exactly, but...

Gold pats Trip on the back, proud of him (and himself too!) for dealing with that so maturely. He nods along with what Banyan's saying, showing his agreement even if he's got nothing to add.

"We should probably start heading back, huh?" he says. It's getting late, and it's a long way back to Banyan's house from here, and with Trip coming along, it's going to take a while longer. If it was just Gold, he'd just Fly there, but carrying Trip while hanging onto a Togetic would probably be dangerous. "We can keep talking along the way."

"We can figure things out together!" Banyan said to Trip. He then turned to give Gold a nod in approval. It was getting dark, and he didn't want the kids to walk without a better look of their surroundings even with the lights of the decorations brightening the area more than usual.

Without much thought, he'll hold his hands out.

"Heck I can carry ya! It had to have been a long journey for ya, right Trip?" He questioned.

Trip nodded. It was a lot of walking and it was getting dark. At Banyan's outstretched hands, he turned to look at Gold for a moment, pouting a little. He kind of would rather Gold carry him than Banyan, but maybe that'd be too hard for Gold, since he isn't as big. He was too shy to actually say it anyway, gave it a little more thought, then...

"I can walk! Let's just hold hands."

He can be carried if he's too tired and sleepy (which will likely happen a little further along the way, he might lean too much on him and start to nod off, even while walking), but for now, he's going to do his best! He wanted to be strong, after all.

"Alright!" Gold says, offering his hand. He's privately kind of happy to be chosen over Banyan, even if it's no big surprise Trip is more comfortable with him.

Once Trip does get sleepy along the way, Gold does his absolute best to carry him on his back. Though Gold's kind of on the small side for his age, he can manage to carry one kid as small as Trip. He may need some help from Banyan and Elena to support him, but he'll stubbornly carry Trip himself all the way to the house!

(Works for me! Anyway here's my closer haha)

ulternprofessor - 2022-12-30 17:41 (UTC) - Expand

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EVENT: Harvesting Bonds Festival (CLOSING)

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[SORRY, Banyan... I guess Banyan-Trip-Gold'd be a good order, then?]

[Works for me! Also, sorry, Banyan!]

he can take it-

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[I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize I missed my turn AND sorry for… Trip being Trip]

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now it's my turn to apologize the tag got buried in my inbox oops!!!

[it happens!!]

[yeah, no problem!]

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[this looks like a good place to wrap up! ^^]

[yeah, agreed! this'll be my last tag]

(Works for me! Anyway here's my closer haha)