bravenewworld | Light 'em up (The Calderan Day of Fire)

It's the morning of the 19th and it's clear even to the inexperienced traveler 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 they want. They are glad to explain the fascinating origins of the holiday or even talk shop about what they're planning to show off later in the night. It seems that not even the gloom and unease that might have rolled into town with Union has caused these people to falter with their grandest tradition.

Sometime close to noon is when things change. The natives all kind of stop what they're doing. The colored stalls start to close up and everyone looks tense. Those who visited last year might take this as their cue to get ready.

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

It's every person 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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Don't tell me you're actually afraid?

[It was easy to tell from the Venipede's body language, after all. He didn't need to be a Kindred Soul to see that.]

Just how high were you when you dove on me?

[ That was different. That was just falling from one thing. Now he's on top of a person on top of boxes, which is two things. That means it's scarier. (Somehow.)

But he has to be brave for Ken-chan, so Wormmon cracks open first one eye, then another, and scans the crowd. Is that - there! ] Veni pede pede!

[ Ken-chan is over in the direction where he's wiggling a nubby leg. But he's also trying to head out of town! They might not be able to catch up... ]

That's your trainer?!

[Waver peered off in the direction that the Venipede was wiggling toward, the disgust heavy in his voice.]

What kind of jerk just leave's his pokemon behind?

[This wasn't just Union's influence talking. This was practicality, this was ethics, this was proper manners-- all of which were violated here.]

I know it's not my business, but we're going to have a talk with that kid.

Venipede.

[ That makes Wormmon fret. He didn't mean to get Ken-chan in trouble, and he's also afraid of what Ken-chan might say or do to this nice man. But it's not his place to correct a human, either...

So he'll curl up into himself (as well as he can with Waver's head in the way) and worry privately. Oh dear. Oh dear, dear.

At least he'll be seeing Ken-chan soon.... ]

Get down here, [Waver said, plucking the little bug off his head and holding it firmly in his arms.]

I hope you don't get motion sick-- we're doing this the fast way.

[That is-- hop across town via teleport to get to the trainer before he left the city gates. There was quite a bit of ground to cover, but Waver had learned to be creative with his jumps.]

[ Motionsick? ] Ve--

[ But that's all the time Wormmon has to speak before they're whisked along by Teleport. In between jumps you can probably hear him squealing on your head, Waver. He's never done this before.

Ken, meanwhile, looks around. He came in his Mage robe, but...has he put enough distance between himself and the festival for his mask...? ]

[Nope. Not at all. Waver lands on a lamppost near the edge of town, and only barely manages to keep his balance before grabbing onto a nearby tree branch and looking down at the kid from his height.

A normal person would just teleport on down...but Waver knew he wasn't very intimidating to look upon. Let the kid squirm over needing to look up for now.]

Hey! [He called, scooping up the Venipede with his free hand for the kid to see.]

You left someone behind in a busy festival. If you didn't want to take him along, couldn't you have at least called a pokemon-sitter?

[ Hm?

Ken slips his mask back into his robe all the way - how fortunate he hadn't drawn it all the way out - and turns. For a moment, his eyes narrow. Is that person posed in that ridiculous manner on purpose? To intimidate him? Paltry. And ineffective, as well.

But temper won't solve this issue, so he breathes out and fully faces this, ah. Helpful soul. ] My apologies. He tagged along on his own, so I wasn't sure where to begin looking.

[ Or whether, says a quick glance to Wormmon. Wormmon looks on the verge of tears, though. Tears of joy. ] Veni....

[ Ken-chaaaan! At last! ]

Well, you don't just leave town if you don't know where your pokemon is!

[Seriously. No matter how many times he lost track of Orpheus, he couldn't imagine leaving the little Foongus behind. That was why he started having Orpheus wear those scarves with those calling cards-- so people could return the pokemon to him if anything happened.]

I don't know who taught you when you were younger, but they did a shitty job. Your friend here was very upset!

[ Then keep the little waste of carbon if you're so fond of it, why don't you. But Ken knows this isn't a place for him to vent his temper. Perfect humans don't do that, anyway. ] Helping him out was considerate of you.

[ Not going to thank you. Not going to admit he did anything wrong. Neutral courtesy is the best you'll get.

...that, and a careful assessment behind a bland smile. The equipment is odd, but something about you has him thinking "Sanctuary". But that's so strange. No one from Sanctuary would do....this. ]

[He's been in Union too long. Their optimism and nosy ways have infected his being as thoroughly as his Ranger's jacket fit upon his slender shoulders. There were still many tell-tale signs of his heritage, from his accent to his dour and painfully practical attitude-- but he was a self-taught Magus from the wrong side of Sanctuary. His hair had grown long enough to pull into a tiny ponytail, and he was clearly comfortable in Union fashions.

And he wasn't Analyzing every soul he stumbled upon, as life in Union had taught him that such things were an invasion of privacy.]

What, no 'thank you,' no apology to your friend?

[He sighed heavily, slowly growing more irritated by the second.]

Isn't all well that ends well?

[ And he smiles at Wormmon - to placate this know-it-all. ] Are you satisfied?

Pede! [ Wormmon jumps down to Ken-chan, affixing himself to the boy's front using String Shot. This is where he belongs. Ken-chan! Ken-chaaan, he was so scaaared....

Ken blinks and forces himself to keep smiling. This is too much closeness for him. Ugh. ]

[There was something about this kid that he really didn't like. He wasn't the empathic sort of Psychic-type, but there was something... phony about this kid.

And, if there was one thing he hated, it was phonies.]

If you're wandering through, Union's got a nice Habitat for you to leave your pokemon if you don't want them tagging along. Try that next time.

[It's far more humane than out right abandonment.]

Maybe I will. [ Ken smiles brightly. ] Enjoy the festival.

[ Wormmon waves a nub in gratitude. He'll thank the nice stranger even if Ken-chan is too busy thinking about amazing genius things to do so. ] Veni veni pede!

Light 'em up (The Calderan Day of Fire)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject