Testrun Meme - March & April

[bravenewmods]

TESTRUN MEME

1) With spring fast approaching, Pokémon contests have become more prevalent, and stages have been cropping up all over Union. An open mic competition is being held in the park, and a trio of Jigglypuffs can be found taking the stage. Needless to say, they probably won't be a fan favorite...

2) Refuge has opened its gates to the people of Union, Caldera and Citadel, in the most hospitable way they feel possible: A party. Some have come to explore the expansive underground city, but mostly, word has spread about how Refuge's brews are on point. They don't seem to discriminate on age, either.

3) The great tree in Citadel is blooming a myriad of colors. The people are celebrating with a great festival among the various tribes that call Citadel and the surrounding area its home. This involves flower arranging, lots of meat, and, of course, a tournament to prove one's meddle in battle.

4) The city of Caldera is starting a major production project and they need workers. The forges are constantly going day and night and the pay's good, but it's hot, hard work that'll leave you tired and achy to say the least.

5) Wildcard! Come up with a prompt!

Comments

[missleadingquestions]

Oh, sure. If I keep finding more of these, I might consider relocating.

[She says, halfway through some-kind-of-meat on a stick. Not that she cares which. (Morgan would be so mad, and that's just more fuel to Maya's consumer fire.)

Grinning, she bumps Pearl gently with her elbow.]

What's your favourite thing so far?

[pearltergeist]

Mystic Maya! We can't simply move the entire channelling school! [ she says it in mock-shock, although there's a note to her tone that says that she's not entirely sure if Maya's one hundred percent joking... ] Although, I guess it would actually be quite good for our publicity if we branched out elsewhere...?

[ pearly no. ]

--Oh! Err, I suppose I've really been admiring the flower arranging? It must take a lot of skill and training to make something that elegant.

[missleadingquestions]

I don't think the Citadel has much business for us. Don't worry, Pearly.

[She giggles a little, patting Pearl's shoulder.]

Though... The meat is pretty nice. I mean, we could try and find custome-- anyway.

[Maya looks toward one of the displays, shrugging. Flowers aren't her thing and pollen isn't fun, but the arrangements are beautiful, and Pearly likes them.]

Yeah... Those are pretty nice! Those ones are daisies, right?

[no. No they are not.]

[pearltergeist]

[ Pearl grins weakly at the shoulder pat - so it really was just a joke, huh? - but then gives her cousin an odd look. ] Mystic Maya... were you about to suggest that we provide spirit channelling services in exchange for food...?

[ Mystic Maya plz. Pearl laughs, small and delicate, shaking her head as she follows Maya's gaze towards the display. ]

Ummm... I'm sorry, but not at all. In fact, I think that those are zinnia flowers! They do look a little bit like orange daisies, though, huh?

3

[feelingplummy]

[If you're hearing the Imperial March right now, you're just imagining things. Really. We promise. It certainly has nothing with a... well, scientific looking fellow nearby. He doesn't seem impressed. If you're good with details, you might notice that his right arm seems... well. It seems... weaker, than the other. But there's so many sights and sounds and smells going around, so maybe ultimately it doesn't matter, or maybe it gets lost in the shuffle. Both are possible, though nobody's worked out the ratio just yet.]

What exactly do you mean? The flowers? [... is that a scoff...?] They're merely trying to attract other animals... Pokemon, of course, [almost forgot] to carry their seeds around for them through bright colors and pleasant smells.

[Not much of a romantic, is he?]

[pearltergeist]

[ Pearl turns in surprise at the comment, a small "oh--!" on her lips as her eyes land on the man nearby, looking him up and down with a frown. ]

Oh... erm, I was really just thinking out loud about the entire festival, sir, but I do like the flowers. Even if that's the reason why, don't you think it's still moving? After all, that just means that there will be even more flowers spread all over the world, right?

[missleadingquestions]

Of course not!

[Now, if she'd done that, she'd get in trouble with more than just Morgan.]

Aaand I knew that. I was just testing you. You and your excellent knowledge of flowers.

[Instead of 'all flowers are daisies and roses and sunflowers' Maya Fey.]

Zinnias... Yeah. And what about the ones next to them?

[pearltergeist]

Oh, but my knowledge isn't that complete! I just read about the subject in a book once, when I noticed how many different flowers we had growing near the Winding Way.

Hmm... [ she frowns at the flowers for a moment, racking her memory. ] Oh, those are white camellias! I've never seen ones this big before.

[feelingplummy]

What use is a flower? [ut oh. brace yourselves.] We can make poison with them, and medicines that in the right dosage are poisonous, of course, and eat them, if there's a food shortage. Hohoho, which risks poisoning, if done incorrectly, or with the wrong sort of plant.... [he sounds a little too happy about this, doesn't he.]

But a flower alone... what purpose does it serve, aside from the propagation of its species? [Is he being a smart ass or is he actually asking: round one. there may be many rounds of this.]

[pearltergeist]

[ ... wow, this man seems a little pre-occupied with poison, doesn't he? Pearl can feel her nerves set on edge - they might be in public, but she's so far from home...!

as much as it shames her, she can't help but think of the Pokemon attuned to her warp band, but for now she just stares at him intently. ]

... I don't mean any offence, but I think that that's really quite a sad way to see things. For one thing, flowers make a lot of people very happy, and... and don't you think there's something wonderful about something as fragile as a flower being able to carry on living just because it can?

[ gosh. did she even ask for this man's opinion? even if he isn't dangerous, he is certainly rude! ]

5a

[conquerorofwaves]

[As someone who isn't around here, he doesn't quite grasp the significance of the shrine to the local populace, but he can sense this calming aura around it, and it made him insanely curious.

So this day, he started to climb on the exterior, stopping mid-climb when he heard someone coming, freezing for a moment before he scrambles on top of the structure]

Ah! I didn't expect anyone else to come here today, hello!

[pearltergeist]

[ Pearl stops short on hearing the voice, looking around her for its source before she finally spots the strange-looking person atop the shrine itself. her hand flies to her mouth - she's not sure if it's wrong exactly, but should he really be climbing up there...?! her espurr gazes at him balefully from behind Pearl's legs, while the drifloon floats his way up to the top of the shrine, bobbing about in circles and making curious cooing noises. ]

Oh, how do you do! Erm, I hate to be rude, but are you sure you should be up there?

[feelingplummy]

[just a little bit. A smidgen, you might say.]

No. [ask a question, get an answer. not a particularly long one, though, is it.] Why do you? [it just doesn't make sense.]

[he's almost stuck shaking his head. as for why he came over, well, who can say?]

[pearltergeist]

[ Pearl struggles with how to answer this for a moment. she can understand not being fond of flowers, but this person's approach...? ]

... I simply think that life is very precious, no matter what form it takes. A lot of people from Union believe the same thing.

[ being a spirit medium, and part-ghost type herself, has made her keenly aware of this. the barrier between life and death is so thin at times that even life itself is a small miracle. ]

[feelingplummy]

[What does he care what a lot of people think? What a silly reason. But hmm.]

Life is life. It will proceed without our interference, I'm sure. [Very sure.] What is there to believe about it?

[You die. That's the end.]

[conquerorofwaves]

[He glances down... since she had said that, it probably wasn't a good idea to be up there for too long. Sinbad listens on the drifloon, using his kindred soul ability to figure out what it's saying]

Oh - right. Just give me a moment.

[With that he walks to the edge, scanning his surroundings before stepping some paces before, and took a running leap, jumping off of the shrine, and into a nearby tree, landing on an overhanging branch]

Sorry about that, I never seen a building quite like this before, and I was curious about why it just... feels so calm here.

[pearltergeist]

Oh my!

[ wow! that was some very impressive footwork, and Pearl can't help admiring his form as he lands on the branch. ]

Oh no, please don't be sorry about being curious! To tell the truth, I am not entirely sure why myself, but there is a lot of peculiar energy surrounding the shrine, I think. I have heard rumours that people who were thought to be dead or lost have reappeared here, so this must be a place where spiritual energies gather strongly.

[pearltergeist]

Lots of things! [ she wrinkles her nose, fighting the urge to roll her sleeves up and put her hands on her hips. ] If you don't mind me saying so, sir, you're being very rude, questioning me like this. We haven't even been introduced to one another yet!

[feelingplummy]

Oh? [... oh, right. That is a thing.] Hohoho, let's get that straightened out! I am Dr. Shuu Iwamine. And now if you tell me your name, we can continue.

[Well, on the plus side, at least he's stopped his Deep Thoughts for the moment. That's... some kind of victory, right?]

gdi pearl you're so cute

[missleadingquestions]

...We have a book about that?

[Shrug.]

Camellias, huh? I kinda like those better.

[Crossing her arms, she asks--]

So, you really like doing stuff like this?

[pearltergeist]

My name is Pearl Fey. How do you do, Dr. Iwamine?

[ Pearl gives a small bow, though her voice lacks any of the warmth she would usually have on making someone's acquaintance. ]

it is her secret power

[pearltergeist]

Oh, no! I was curious, so I borrowed one from the library.

[ Pearl blushes a little and nods, bashful but earnest. ] Oh, well, yes, I do...! After all, flowers are so beautiful. You know that I have never had any real skill with arts or crafts, but perhaps flower arranging is different?

[missleadingquestions]

Hey, all that matters is you tried.

[Often. And failed. Often. Poor Pearl and her crafting troubles.

But Maya's not going to dwell on that, because teasing Pearl is like a crime, okay.]

Why don't you work with Kika and Apple when we get back home? I bet they'd love your help in the garden, y'know.

[feelingplummy]

Hohohoho, everything's proceeding well, at least. [...what kind of everything is he talking about. More importantly, do you even want to know?]

You wouldn't like to help me with a little experiment, would you? It's bound to be much more rewarding than this celebration of pollen and wasting time, and you might even pick up a few things! Hohoho, not permanently, of course. Unless you'd like to keep them, I'm sure that can be arranged...

[Maybe it really is best not to ask.]

[pearltergeist]

Oh!! Do you truly think they wouldn't mind?