The Day of Fire. [Calderan Summer Solstice OPEN log]

[expertonshutters]

It's the morning of the 21st and it's clear even to the inexperienced Unionite, Refugee, or Citadel resident that the city has a different air to it. If it wasn't the atmosphere that got them, then the stalls lining the streets would. Many people are still working on getting set up for the night festival, but the stalls that are complete are lining many corners and they are filled to the brim with bright colors. From afar, the streets look like someone threw a rainbow of paint across the city.

They haven't seen anything yet.

It's not yet time for the festivities so any visitors are free to wander the streets. The natives seem to be delighted if amused at all the people interested in the holiday and are happy to sell anyone as much colored powder as the want. Sometime close to noon is when things change. The natives all kind of stop what their doing. The colored stalls start to close up and everyone looks tense.

A long, rattling trumpet sound rings through the streets and that is when all hell breaks loose.

It's every man and pokemon for themselves. Have fun everyone.

[Ooc: Feel free to make your own top levels in addition to using the prompts below! Have fun guys!]

Comments

[aerialassault]

[And-- if Lucca is listening-- she'll hear a round of appreciative applause coming from the otherside of the previously empty fire pit.]

Whoa. That's a sweet trick you've got there!

[He thought he recognized that voice, but he wasn't sure. Time changes young people quickly. The bigger question was, did she recognize him even though he was absolutely covered in the colorful powder and had vanished for a long period of time?]

[sparkofgenius]

[Holy hell that's a voice she knows. And remembers too. It's...been a while. Way too long.]

Cliff?!

[aerialassault]

Lucca?!

[There was no denying it now-- he definitely knew that voice.

Except. There were more important things.]

When did you learn to throw fire like that?!

[sparkofgenius]

When I evolved last week?

[As if that's obvious. She stops throwing fire though, and several silver globes appear around Cliff, circling him. This is an old trick at least.]

And that's you, isn't it? Where the hell have you been? Dad's been worried sick.

[aerialassault]

[Oh, crap. He knew that look, and he knew that trick.

At this point, it was easier just to comply with the young woman.

Lifting his hands in the air in a gesture of innocence, Cliff took a few steps forward.]

I was out of town, [He replied, vaguely.] Kinda didn't have a lot of notice. How's the old man been doing?

[sparkofgenius]

Out of town, huh? For six months?

[She adjusts her glasses, and the alcohol flush to her skin vanishes.]

Cliff, he's been worried sick about you. Where have you been?

[aerialassault]

That's...a long story, Lucca.

[He ran a hand through his hair. If Lucca was observant, she might be able to notice that he has a few scares on his naked, color splattered upper body-- some newer than others. He looked away, not even sure how to begin this story at all...

--At that moment a newcomer, a Hawlucha who wasn't a part of Cliff's team all those months ago, swooped in and dropped to the ground, strategically placing itself between both of the humans conversing. The bird cast a meaningful glance at Cliff before adopting a fighting stance.

Cliff just groaned.]

Rio, this is a friend. Ya don't need to go vigilante here!

[He shook his head at the now quizzical look in the pokemon's eyes. Overprotective bird must have noticed his discomfort. Oops.]

[sparkofgenius]

[Lucca is most observant, and not at all bothered by the bird. She readjusts her glasses and glowers up at Cliff, completely ignoring the bird. It was just...it was a bird.]

I have a lot of time. But something tells me it's not a good story, and that I shouldn't force it out of you.

[Her finger snaps.]

Related to your new scars, yes or no? Beyond that, I won't pry. And if you need someone melted, you let me know. Or frozen, I can do that now too.

[aerialassault]

[He heaved a sigh-- and summoned up a wry grin for her while he patted the bird reassuringly on the head. See? This was totally a friend.]

You got it in one-- and don't think that I ain't gonna join you in bringing the beat down. Thing is...I don't think either of us can take an entire army. It's a little much for just two people.

[sparkofgenius]

That bad huh?

[And look, Lucca's smarter than that. You've been gone, you have scars...]

Gigas or Sanctuary? Who did it?

[aerialassault]

Why would Sanctuary do it?

[He cast her a confused look. The few weeks he had been back in town were spent normalizing and looking for people, he wasn't fully up on recent politics yet.]

Do the math. It was Gigas.

[sparkofgenius]

You...don't know yet, do you?

[Lucca shakes her head and finishes her drink.]

Hell's Bells, have you got a lot to catch up on.

[aerialassault]

[Cliff and the bird exchanged a look at her words.]

....Sounds nasty. [He relaxed his stance, comfortably folding his arms.] What's the short version? Or is that just a confusing mess?

[sparkofgenius]

Sanctuary's free. Union, Caldera, Refuge, and Citadel fought Gigas.

Turns out though? They were experimenting on captured Gigans, making them into these magical freaky abominations without free will. It was...pretty fucked up.

[aerialassault]

[He quietly cursed as he processed this new information.]

Dammit. Gigas has done more than their fair share of fucked up shit, but that's no excuse to go around and do the samn damn thing!

[The fact that Sanctuary, a city he had always seen as being a bunch of academics who were too busy with their books to fight, had even hit that level spoke volumes of the desperation they must have felt during their imposed isolation under Gigas' control.]

...I'm glad I got out. They took some good people away to a different place while I was there-- it was insane. I expected to find a mess when I got back, but nothing quite like that.

[sparkofgenius]

No.

[Lucca folds her arms, eyes hardening.]

It's no mess. Union's a good place, surprisingly so.

[aerialassault]

I've only heard stories about them so far. They're in the south, right? And they've really been making waves everywhere they go.

Honestly, I was figuring on checking them out after the holiday passed. The rumors really are true?

[sparkofgenius]

They're true. They came and saved Caldera when we needed the help, you know. And then Sanctuary, and Citadel too.

They're good people. I'm...living there, actually.

[aerialassault]

Really?

[That was new, but he wasn't terribly surprised that the maverick inventor would jump on something new and interesting.]

I had heard that they helped us from listening to the talk on the street since I got back. Glad that they showed up when they did too-- that whole thing wasn't looking to have a pretty end.

[Stories from the people who were there and clips from newspapers from all those months ago were the only clues that he had about what went down. Despite the casualties, he was grateful for their aid and that the odds had fallen in their favor.]

[sparkofgenius]

Of course I did. Cliff, there's a city from before the Cataclysm underneath theirs. How was I supposed to stay away!

[Nerd alert...]

I went over, I got someone there to sponsor my lab, and now I'm also a trainer too. Well...for more than just Gato.

[aerialassault]

Wow. You did all that-- [he snapped his fingers,] just like that? That sounds almost too easy.

[He shook his head, but he was grinning.]

These people from Union really are something else if they got you out of the workshop. Maybe the place really is worth checking out.

[sparkofgenius]

Well, it helps when you're me.

[That is to say: Smart, charming, and awesome.]

Where'd you pick up the Hawlucha?

[aerialassault]

I imagine that's the case with a lot of things for you.

[He chuckled. Man, had he missed this girl!

Cliff glanced over at Rio, who had by that point stepped aside to allow the two humans some space so they could catch up in peace.]

Running into the bird over there is a whole different story. She kinda stared following me on my way back-- I think a bad storm separated her from her friends or something. Can't figure out why she's so protective though, but most of the time she keeps it to hanging out in the shadows and looking scary unless directly provoked.

[A shrug, like he had already resigned himself to the situation.]

I can't find any of my old team though, so I'm not gonna complain too much. The company's kinda nice.

[sparkofgenius]

Maybe she imprinted? Or maybe she just likes having a big lug like you to perch on.

[She shrugs, amused more than anything.]

Sorry about Pancham though. I'm sure it'll turn up. That thing always did have a soft spot for you.

[There's an odd pause...and she taps her chin for a moment as if trying to work something out. It doesn't last long, though.]

Y'know...you could always come down to Union right? I do need helpers around, and you've never been the worst with machines. Mostly big guys to go out and get stuff for me, but also just an extra set of hands with the new business. And there's plenty of new species down that way to align with to rebuild your team.

[aerialassault]

[The Hawlucha's feathers ruffled slightly at the notion of being 'imprinted.' It was far too clinical and scientific for the nature of their relationship, thank you very much. She liked to consider it a 'partnership.'

...Not that Cliff was really aware of this. He still didn't fully get the Warp Band thing he had heard people talking about.]

Who, Rocky? [Cliff let out a soft chuckle, thinking of the fierce little Pancham.] Yeah, I know. Looking for him and a few other friends was why I decided to stop here first. Well, that and seeing how everything turned out.

[The offer earned her a curious look from the big man.] If that's a job offer I'm hearing? Then that's even more reason to head down to Union and see what's going on there. They sound interesting-- and they've gotta be if they let someone as crazy as you set up shop!