009 // dream event - what does the fox say?

[actsmagnificent]

Haruka's Dream

[ Look at Haruka. Now back to you. Now back to Haruka, now back to you. What's that she's wearing? That's right, it's a bright blue racing jumpsuit. Its durable expanses fill your vision as you stare across her broad shoulderblades.

Look down at yourself. You're wearing one too. The color depends on how much of a jerk your unconscious mind has decided to be, but that's hardly the most important thing right now, because a Bulbasaur off to one side has just fired off a Bullet Seed with a loud "pop" and now you find yourself lurching forward.

It's another day at the races. And you're on a Rhyhorn. ]

Vulpix's Dream

[ Throne rooms are hard to come by in these more enlightened times, but there's no mistaking this setting for anything else: the red carpet lined with flickering torches, culminating in a broad set of steps and a chair with an extremely luxurious cushion upon it, leaves little to the imagination. At the top of the steps, Haruka's Machoke and Spritzee flank the carpet, bowing deeply; on either side of the chair, a Mr. Mime fans the chair's occupant while Super Beauty the baby Rhyhorn stands still for once, a platter full of Berries resting atop her broad head. Oddest of all, Ferrari the Nidoran crouches in servility at the foot of the chair. Oh, his Queen! His marvelous Queen!

Atop the chair, the world's most beautiful Vulpix gives a dainty yawn. Mr. Mime selects a Berry for her and places it in her mouth. Life is so dull when you're the top at everything. ]

[[ooc: There's a trick to Vulpix's dream! Anyone who sets foot on the steps and beyond will find themselves madly in love with Vulpix and burning to swear fealty to her. Feel free to use her dream as a mingle post so unaffected people can deal with trying to get their brainwashed friends off the stairs. You can "fix" the dream by convincing Vulpix this setup is a bad idea, but....good luck. ]]

Comments

[actsmagnificent]

[ ........and a path is opening up for Kaido and his Rhyhorn as all the rocks suddenly have somewhere else to be in a hurry. The other Rhyhorn in the race make a break for it too, running off the track (or even in circles, unaware just how turned around they've gotten). Only Haruka remains immune, bolting straight ahead.

It's unclear whether she's even noticed yet. That will probably change soon. ]

[kaidont]

[Well, Kaido has absolutely no idea how to turn this off, so speeding off after you he is! He's gaining a little, though that probably won't last]

[actsmagnificent]

[ The next obstacle is a bridge. A very narrow bridge. Over water. Rhyhorn hate water, but they're also bad at steering themselves.

Good luck with your rampaging Rhyhorn, Kaido. It might be in for an unpleasant surprise unless you can rein it in a bit. ]

[kaidont]

[What the--ABORT, ABORT.

You'll hear a great screeching noise behind you, Haruka. On the bright side, he's no longer rampaging. On the downside, he got catapulted over Rhyhorn's head... but managed to hang on, so he's kind of sprawled across its face.

... let's try to get back on properly and cross that damn bridge]

[actsmagnificent]

[ That...was an interesting noise, yes. It's enough to make Haruka look backwards even with the bridge approaching. Oh. Huh. That's.

Huh.

Her own Rhyhorn lowers its head and charges the bridge to get this stupid thing over with, and Haruka calls back to Kaido. ] Steer with your legs.

[ Once your legs are, you know. Not on its face. ]

1/3

[kaidont]

[Yeah yeah he'll try.

He swings around the horn and manages to get himself back up. And now to get his mount to start running again...

...

...

Well. Headpats would work on him]

[kaidont]

[--woah it worked]

[kaidont]

[OKAY, time to cross that bridge. At least they're close enough that they're not at full speed yet, so they can more or less cross it without stampeding]

[actsmagnificent]

[ ....How about that. He managed it. A slow grin unfurls across Haruka's face. It might actually be worth noticing the competition this time.

--Nah. Pulling further ahead now! Just in time to have to climb up a mountain. Choose your footholds carefully. ]

[kaidont]

[... why is this race full of obstacles when it's designed for pokemon made for speed and prone to stampeding? HE'LL HAVE A WORD WITH THE MANAGER]

... you've got to be kidding.

[He'll try to climb once he reaches the mountain. And on one hand he is making progress (though not as fast as you) but on the other, he is unlodging a lot of rocks and that's making a lot of noise...]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Real Rhyhorn races have obstacles to show off creatures that have learned techniques above and beyond the norm for their species! This race, however.....well, it's Haruka's dream, so she doesn't seem to have registered that it's insane. But it's insane.

She's starting to get a suspicion, though. This mountain is steep, and her Rhyhorn is beginning to pant. ] What...

[kaidont]

[And that's Kaido's cue to slip and go down several metres down the slope in a mess of rhyhorn and pebbles]

[actsmagnificent]

[ This shouldn't be happening. There are never full mountains on a Rhyhorn racing track. Haruka's mount begins losing its grip, too, and before long Kaido will find that he's got company headed his way. Company that's gritting its teeth and playing with the reins, trying to get going the right direction again. ] Unsurmountable, huh....?

[ Is that a challenge, you stupid hill? And if so, is it one a Rhyhorn can physically accomplish...Haruka's stubborn, not stupid. ]

[kaidont]

The hell is with that track? This isn't a Vigoroth race.

[actsmagnificent]

This isn't normal. [ Haruka slows her Rhyhorn to give the obstacle further scrutiny. If they take a winding path around it instead of straight up, maybe....? ] It'll take improvisation.

[ Or well. She'll improvise. Whether you stay in this race is up to you. ]

[kaidont]

[Have you ever seen Kaido back down from a challenge?]

I say we smash our way through.

[Kaido that's not gonna work.

... although]

... maybe there's a tunnel somewhere.

[actsmagnificent]

I'll check this side. [ And/or look for a drill-shaped path up the mountain, Haruka's personal best guess about how to surmount this. A tunnel seems too convenient.

Now, if she had her Rhydon....But she can't race on him anymore. ]