Soulfast Mingle

[bravenewmods]

Who: EVERYONE
What: Soulfast
When: During Soul Fast
Where: All over Union, but particularly Ninetales' Vale, people's homes, etc.
Summary: The Celebrations of Soulfast Begin!


It's that time of year again, and all throughout Union and in particular the Ninetales Vale, celebrations are beginning. A festival celebrating the passage of another year, of remembering and honoring the dead, and of placating particularly violent spirits has begun. Soulfasting, an old Union tradition, is one of the most popular holidays celebrated, with the Ninetales Vale being overrun with people of all ages.

Children scamper through the streets of the Vale in masks and costumes, begging for candy, while surly teenagers do the same and occasionally play pranks, and adults celebrate in a variety of fashions. Elaborate, highly fashionable costumes are all the rage, and even the nobility slips out into the Vale for a bit of fun. It's not exactly a popular destination most of the year, given the high concentrations of Dark and Ghost-types but during the festival it's most definitely in vogue and teeming with people all happy to help revitalize the area for a week.

The sounds of music drift through the air, celebratory tunes, dirges, jigs, and tunes for all ages. From the Kurain school on it's hill overlooking most of the Vale, a pipe organ solemnly plays out traditional tunes, and is surprisingly cheery for a ghost school. Across the neighborhood on another hill, Hikawa Shrine has it's doors wide open to welcome visitors, with decorations of all sorts set out.

Games are set up at both locations, including Apple Bobbing, Ducklett Pond raffles, and Pin the Scroll on the Spiritomb, though there are others set up all over the Vale's plazas. Skeeball, Target Shooting, Bell-and-Hammer games, and perhaps most strangely a “Whack-the-Diglett” that's been possessed by one of the local ghosts to give the little wooden Digletts faces all hideously angry ones. Eating contests, Pokemon Battle Circles, a Haunted House (with real ghosts!) and dozens and dozens of fortune telling stands all further add to a carnival atmosphere that even the dead can enjoy!

Lanterns and faux Spinarak webs hang from every lamppost and awning, and food stalls line the streets as vendors ply their wares. Food from all over is available, and it all seems to come together around a central square between the two hills. A stage has been set up, with musicians from all over the known world called in to show their stuff. There are dance tunes from Caldera, Union Pop and Jazz songs at work, setting crowds on fire. Sanctuary has sent a full orchestra to play various classical pieces, while Citadel's famous woodwinds and tribal drums surprise and delight. And towards the end of the day, a band from Glacier comes on stage. Their music starts out slow and ambient, but after a few sets they set up electric guitars and the gloves come off. A folk metal concert, complete with an armored warrior-woman doing the vocals and several of the soldiers from the battle weeks prior (some still bandaged) backing her up. It might be a bit shocking, but some of the youth are definitely getting into it...

And then night falls, and the party atmosphere becomes a little quieter. Plays, family meals, Ghost-story tellings, and more subdued activities become the norm though there's still a contingent of rowdies at the heart of the celebration. It's then that the ghosts really come out to play, slipping through walls to greet relatives or tease revelers. For the most part they seem friendly but not always. As usual, some specters of ill-repute have slipped in among the friendly ones, and they're making trouble. Good thing you have a Warp Band to call an exorcist, right?

((OOC: This is a general mingle log, feel free to put up your own top levels and tag around! Welcome to Soulfasting, everyone! We hope you enjoy!))

Comments

nighttime!

[actsmagnificent]

Haruka is attending, not performing in, a play. It seems to be a play for children - something about a naughty Pumpkaboo who learns that he'll never grow big and strong if he doesn't play nice with the other Pumpkaboo in the Pumpkaboo patch - but she isn't watching the play itself. Instead, she's got her arms crossed and her eyes focused on a patch of shadow behind the children.

Is it just her, or is that dark bit wavering even when there isn't any light to make it do that?

PARTY HARD (PARTY HATING EVERYBODY)

[empireofmymind]

Humble, self-effacing boy genius Ken Ichijouji is above carnival games. But if people feel compelled to put themselves in his way, it's only polite to oblige them, is it not? This absolutely must be the logic he has employed thus far. This is the rational explanation for why such a mature young man should end up with more carnival prizes than he can hold.

Why he appears to be looking for a trash can, though, is anybody's guess. As is why he's followed by a Wurmple and a Ledyba, each holding up prizes. Trainer! You left these!

.....There is also, on the complete opposite side of the Vale, a Venipede holding a stuffed Drifloon and looking on the verge of tears. Again. Again. He lost Ken-chan again.

[underwearfortomorrow]

[Day!]

[There's a new face walking around the streets of the festival- or rather, he's an old face that many might not have met before he left. He's dressed colorfully in a number of fabrics and patterns with a bag slung over his shoulder that looks like it's seen some wear and tear. He definitely looks like a traveller, but he walks the streets like he calls them home.]

[He's also clearly Enlightened with a number of draconic features from the scales on his hands and face to the large folded wings on his back. He looks over the stands with a smile and occasionally chats to the Talonflame on his arm or the giddy, bouncy Pumpkaboo that floats around them.]

Stay close Eclair, we'll find a stand with some snacks soon, I promise-

[Pause, no giggle or teasing remark. He looks around and realizes she's already floated off. Hina sighs]

Eclair?! A-Ah- don't wander off I said...!

[There he go.]

[Nighttime!]

[Eiji's been home and changed into a bit more appropriate attire. He's wearing Shrine robes with a mask positioned to the side of his face so he can still properly see. When he's not helping at the Hikawa Shrine, he's wandering the streets sitting in on ghost stories and telling some of his own.]

[It's much quieter now, but he knows that that was the time to not let your guard down. Being a member of the Vale has taught him that much. Still, he's not apposed to conversation. Feel free to approach him.]

[redpaladin]

[Huh. There wasn't anything quite like this in Caldera for obvious reasons, but this sure was interesting. He's well- he wasn't going to dress up but some nudging from a few people and pokemon led him to wearing something vaguely festive.]

[Keith was happily browsing the carnival games until he came across the whack-a-diglett that people were shying away from. Huh, it couldn't be THAT hard.]

[Of course the spirit spends the time fucking with him from having angry faces to mocking ones as it eludes him with every hit.]

Oh, come on!

[Keith honestly could have put it down and walked away by now, but he's not someone to let a challenge go. People are starting to gather with interest, now to see if he's successful or how long it takes him to rage quit the game.]

[conquerorofwaves]

Sinbad was dressed like a pirate, because of course he'll dress up as a pirate. The rest of his pokemon had tiny masks and even costumes to go with, becoming a jolly crew of scurvy bilge raticates.

His group can be seen all over, from body surfing during the Glacier set to bargaining for sweets, or surrounded by a group of children asking for stories. Or later on, he's waiting as Ja'far started arguing with a Klefki over something or another - probably keys it needs to give back.

Daylight.

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna's not really feeling Soulfasting this year. Not with Merrill still not feeling well, anyway. It'd been something of a tradition for them to go together, but with the events of spring still marring her love's social interests she'd not pressed.

However that doesn't mean she's not going to go. It wouldn't be right to completely miss the holiday, and it was fine. Merrill would probably come out some at night, anyway, at least for dinner, so she could do daytime things. Like...checking out the games.

Maybe you got unlucky, roped into her hitting up a game, or maybe it's an eating contest, either way, she grins and claps you on the shoulder.]

Let's get to it, shall we?