World Fair

[bravenewmods]

In the week of lead-up to the fair, the whole of Union had been ablaze with excited chatter, industrious preparations, and quite a fair number of new faces. People from all over the known world had begun to trickle in with the announcement, some representatives and workers from each invited civilization, some excited young trainers and travelers, hopeful prizewinners and showboaters, cooks, warriors, clothing designers, and of course a wide variety of Pokemon. You couldn’t look anywhere (even a trash can) without finding somebody new, and every single person was absolutely thrilled to be there.

The World’s Fair, hopefully the first of many, sprawled out across the Entertainment District. Large swathes of the area had been cordoned off for the event, stalls and tables, booths and small shelters set out and erected over the course of the week. Local workers and travelers dug in, working in shifts to get everything together on time. Voices sang out around the grounds, work chants accompanied by the beat of hammers and nails, with every soul pouring their hearts into their tasks. A busy time, certainly, and one fueled by a desire for harmony, profit, and to start off the idea with a bang.

There were, of course, a few noticeable exceptions. The open invitation to Gigas that the Council had so warmly extended had been accepted in due time. Those who numbered themselves amongst that great city were distinguishable by their less than friendly countenances and penchant for taking notes, no doubt analyzing the city of their enemies. One likely familiar face made her appearance partway through the week, disappearing quickly into a tent and remaining indoors for the rest of the preparations.

Come opening day, people had already begun lining up at the entrance, awaiting admission. The queue stretched for blocks and blocks, a serpentine loop of people and Pokemon all eager for a chance to see what this fair was all about. Like everything else surrounding the event, there was a certain buzz to it. Chatter filled the line, questions and queries hanging on everyone’s lips. Did you see that robot? What’s that smell? Did you see that Maxime de la Puffette was planning on unveiling her fall lineup here? Oh! Oh! And there are three idol groups! Risette may even make a performance! and there was another rumor that buzzed through the line as well. Gigas accepted the invitation. And so did some of those people from the Archipelago…

Once inside the grounds proper, a dizzying array of sights, sounds and smells assailed every visitor’s senses. Music blared, machines clinked and clanked, food sizzled on grills, exotic spices wafted down the paths, unusual Pokemon let out cries of surprise and delight, and people ooh and ahhhed. Technological wonders stood out on stages, concerts presented a variety of music in every style imaginable, there were whole areas set aside for nothing but eating and fashion, while martial artists, Pokemon and brawlers duked it out in the various arenas. And above it all, airborne Pokemon soared and wheeled, banking and turning as their riders and egos clashed in a competition of acrobatics and skill. All of this could really only mean one thing, and even if by chance you were a Crustle living under a literal rock, you couldn’t miss it.

An event like nothing held since the Cataclysm, and something wholly unique had begun today, and for one week only. The First World’s Fair!

[OOC: This post is open to all players throughout the next week. Feel free to tag around, start your own top levels, and generally have fun during the fair. Some new and familiar faces will be tagging around as well, and may tag into your threads!]

Comments

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna's turned up to this more out of idle curiosity than anything, but as it happens she has a couple of particularly rare Pokemon on hand. The first is a Ditto. A Ditto that seems completely incapable of staying in one shape for very long. The second Mikaboshi gets a look at a new Pokemon, it melds seamlessly into the other shape, grinning and doing a little dance.

The second, though, is considerably larger and more impressive. Kuina, the now fully evolved Salamence, peers down at the crowd around it's trainer. Craning her neck, she leans her head against Yuuna's shoulder, seemingly quite docile despite her fearsome appearance. Eventually though, she grows a little bit bored with being the center of attention and starts to try and make fun for herself while Trainer is distracted with Mikaboshi's antics...

By picking up random people gently in her teeth and setting them on her back for a ride! Nobody is exempt from this, so if you happen to get within reach...up you go!]

[untalented]

[Waver had a mouth full of fried shellos on a stick when he something latched onto his shoulders and hoisted him up....up...and up...!]

Wha-- whaaaaaaaaaat?!

[Dropping his food on top of some helpless sap on the ground, Waver had no chance to properly react when he was gently set atop the massive pokemon's back--

All he could do was hold tight as the pokemon took off. And scream.]

[rainsrespite]

[That reedy shriek draws Yuuna's attention away from Mikaboshi and she lets out a gasp. Holy crapballs! That was Waver!

Leaping into action, she jumps up and grabs hold of Kuina's foot, climbing up.]

Waver! Kuina! What the hell?!

[Powerful wings flap and start to go higher and higher.]

Don't tell me you asked her for a ride?!

[untalented]

[Waver just held onto the pokemon with all if his might, eyes squeezed shut to hold back his terrified tears.]

Why would I ask for a ride?! I was eating!

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna clambers up behind him and leans down, holding him tight.]

Well, relax! Enjoy yourself. Kuina's a little rambunctious, but she won't hurt you. Promise.

[Far below? Mikaboshi looks up, having borrowed the shape of a Golurk...and he just waves.]

[untalented]

[Her presence next to him, holding him stable for the ride, was more than welcome with the wind tangling his hair and their dizzying height above the festivities. Gulping down the ball of anxiety in his throat, he hesitantly peered down at everything.]

...Right, [He said quietly, his voice shaking in embarrassment.]

She came on quick. She's...big.

[Eloquence was not his strong point when he was flustered. :|]

[rainsrespite]

Kuina loves to fly.

[Yuuna rubs his shoulder reassuringly, and strokes the dragon's back lovingly. It's hard not to love her, she'd been such a sweet baby, and she was young still.]

She just gets excited around crowds, and bored. And they've been staring at her and Mikaboshi all morning.

[untalented]

Oh.

[He made a small, thoughtful sound, and hesitantly moved to pat Kuina's smooth scales with an open hand.]

The fair must have gotten to be too much, then. There's a lot of new people and a lot of new pokemon this week.

[rainsrespite]

Bingo. And she's the only Salamence I've ever seen. Though, Haruka's should evolve soon.

[Should, but it may not.]

[untalented]

[Waver nodded.]

You two came from the Pokemon showcase then. That makes sense. You do have some unusual team mates

[rainsrespite]

Only a few. I mean, most of them are fairly common...

[Excepting of course the dragons and Kaiju. All...5 of them.]

[untalented]

That doesn't make them any less big, Yuuna.

[Waver cast her a look. Her team was nothing short of impressive, to say the least; that alone would them excellent candidates for such a showcase.]

They also work well together, too. Getting that kind of cooperation takes skill.

[rainsrespite]

Heh.

[Her team was large. But she had quite a few small Pokemon too. Evidenced now by the Hawlucha that's come winging up beside Kuina. Ichijou squawks in greeting, barrel-rolling above them.]

I just got lucky. That's all. They're all motivated, and civic minded. That's on them, not me.

[outtahere]

What the hell!?

[Looks like Kuina's reeling in a wild Banzu, whose struggles to escape end abruptly once the Salamence starts taking off. He figures he could probably survive a higher fall than most people who can't use Iron Defense, but he'd really rather not test that theory.]

[rainsrespite]

[The big drake flaps powerful wings, tugging Banzu up onto her back. And the outburst prompts Yuuna to look up!]

Hell! Kuina!

[She starts to jump, trying to scramble up the dragon's back to call it down, but it's a bit too late. So she has to turn to the Ditto.]

Mikaboshi! Look at Kuina!

[It complies, and splorch! A Raichu with googly eyes turns into...a Salamence with googly eyes, much the crowd's delight.]

Hang on! I'll...try and calm her down!

[outtahere]

That'd be nice!

[He has no intention of letting go any time soon.

...That said, aside from this being unexpected and undesired at the moment, the view is becoming increasingly good.]

[rainsrespite]

[The clone dragon pulls up alongside Kuina, and Yuuna calls over to Banzu.]

She just gets excited around crowds, give her a minute and it'll calm down. she probably likes the way your shirt smells or something.

[outtahere]

Should've stopped by that booth selling Calderan clothes.

[He shifts around a bit, trying to make himself a bit more comfortable for however long this ride lasts.]

[rainsrespite]

Probably. At least it's summer.

[The fair fades away as the dragons head towards the Habitat Tower, and wheel around it cheerfully.]

Sorry, if she's making trouble. At least the view's nice.

[outtahere]

...It really is. I've got Erg but I never ride him this high. I should sometimes.

[rainsrespite]

You should. I...think that's part of the charm of having dragons for partners, honestly.

[outtahere]

Their charm can't be coming from their grasp of personal space, so it has to come from somewhere.

[rainsrespite]

That's just Kuina. She just likes making sure people see the sky.

[It was better than the first time she'd grabbed Yuuna. At least now they were below cloud level.]

Sorry about that. But at least it's not a total loss.

[outtahere]

I guess not. Hopefully she'll set me down near where she picked me up so I don't have to walk too far.

[rainsrespite]

Yeah, don't worry about that.

[She's already banking back anyway.]