ARE YOU A POKÉMON MASTER?

[shinsengumi]

Welcome to this year's Pokémon Festival! Here, you can participate in many different activities and events, including battles, musicals, triathlons, films, breeder shows, and the coveted CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT. Please enjoy your stay!

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TOURNAMENT SIGN-UPS

[bloodbath]

[A hooded young man is slouching about near the tournament sign-ups, apparently waffling about whether or not to enter. His fingers curl into the ruff of an Absol standing at his side, the Pokémon looking as ragged and worn as the trainer does.]

[daughterofsand]

[As a gym leader Shai doesn't have to go through the trouble of signing up, but it's a formality she appreciates. Better not to separate herself from the habits of others too thoroughly. Nothing good lies down that path.

It's the Absol that gives her pause, though she directs her words toward the scruffy trainer he comes attached to.]

If you haven't prepared for this then you're only going to embarrass yourself. And your Pokémon.

[bloodbath]

[There's a twitch in the shadow of the cloak, and then a hard statement in a voice that's hoarse, doubtless from lack of use.]

I have prepared. We all have.

[The Absol gives a soft coo of agreement.]

[daughterofsand]

Then you do intend to enter.

[It had been hard to tell, skulking figures that they are. But the Absol has given confirmation, and Shai finds that more reassuring than anything the boy might have tried to say.]

Do you mean to win? Progress far enough and perhaps you'll make it to the championship level. Are you prepared for that as well?

[It's her place as a leader to be encouraging. It's simple curiosity that prompts her to goad him toward competition.]

[bloodbath]

I want to.

[He turns away from her, and looks towards the list of entrants once more. At the bottom, in thick lettering, is the sentence that confirms her statement: The winner of the Trainer's Tournament will be offered a position in the Champion's Tournament, fighting alongside the regional Gym Leaders and the Elite Four!

He repeats.]

I want to. Win and battle them all.

[It isn't quite true, but it's near enough. If the tournament doesn't see him battle his cousin, he'll challenge Leonel before the festival is through.]

POKÉMON MUSICAL STAGE

[warprofiteer]

[Somewhere in this unseemly rabble she has a husband. And how typical of him to have disappeared among the plebeians, pulled along on whatever fanciful whimsy has caught his attention. The fact that she knows him to be inordinately capable only makes his frivolousness all the more frustrating.

Riane pauses at the edge of one stage, caught by a jaunty melody that can surely only be a Pokémon Musical performance. It's not that she doesn't appreciate art, gracious no, but this sort of mass appeal is so very beneath her. Tsing is, if anything, even more discerning, and yet he seems to enjoy the spectacle of these absurd performances. Perhaps she'll find him here.]

[aetas]

[Fila looks forward to this event all year. There are no musicals near their small town—at the beginning of the line for serious trainers—and little of excite or interest otherwise. Malis came here with her, but the musicals don't fascinate her the way they do Fila and, before long, she found herself alone before the stage.

Well, relatively alone; the crowd presses excitedly on all sides as the music skirls about them and she feels threatened by the size of all of them. She squeezes her way out to one side, coming into open air near a beautiful woman with sharp eyes. Isn't she one of the Elite Four... ? Fila smiles politely at her, and clasps her hands together as she curtseys to hide their excited shaking.]

Aren't the musicals wonderful, m'am? They're my favourite event!

[warprofiteer]

[Tsing will suffer for this.]

Please, Miss Riane is fine. And I'm glad to hear you're enjoying them, dear! It's so important to me that everyone see the best that Pokémon have to offer, no matter where their talents lie. They're all valuable in our their ways. That's just one of the things that people and Pokémon have in common, don't you agree?

[What revolting sentimental drivel - if she simpers any more people will start mistaking her for Kristopher. But no one can possibly fault her manner; an unfortunate necessity of her position. Let the little girl remember her fondly, tell all her insignificant little friends about it. At least something good can come of this.]

[aetas]

Yes, that's just it! [She nods rapidly, rising to her tiptoes without meaning to.] It's like me, I'm not very tall or very good at fighting, but I can be useful in some way, even without that! Maybe one day I'll get to be on stage too...

[She looks wistfully back towards the stage and its performers, then bites her lip and looks to Riane again.] But you're very good at battling, Miss Riane, and everyone respects you for it. Me too!

OPEN COURTYARD

[contagion]

[Drael is always busiest when the festival comes around. He talks it up to the kids who call his gym home, he encourages them to participate where they feel most comfortable, and he lets himself loose for the few weeks leading up to it. Training is less intense, and battles are conducted for fun more than anything.

He has his full team here, but he's taking challenges left and right from trainers wanting to participate in one-on-one battles with the first Gym Leader. And why not? Maybe they'll even win a few. He doesn't have any proper battles until later on.

He grins and nods to the next challenger, beckoning them forward with a few fingers. Let them come!]

[costofpeace]

Ever the showman.

[From another, the words might have sounded complimentary, or at least well-humoured. Hassan makes very sure to keep any such connotation far from his tone.

Why it's fallen to him to pass messages along is anyone's guess. This is usually Kristopher's job, so far as he can tell, and yet here Hassan finds himself, running errands to try and compensate for Drael's worthless timekeeping. It's a fruitless task - no amount of reminding will see him respond to anything but his boyfriend's plaintive begging. He's not sure who to be more embarrassed for.

Hassan steps to Drael's side, making no move to interrupt the battle that seems about to commence but equally choosing to conduct his business immediately. Drael has made them all wait often enough, he'll not be doing so now as well.]

Doubtless you'll forget, but consider this a reminder. You need to be at the Leader's Lounge in two hours sharp, to announce commencement of the Trainers Tournament.

[contagion]

[It's Blaziken who takes to the field, claws raised with a triumphant crow. His Pokémon are as confident as he is, well-trained as they are, and not even Hassan's dour words can bring him down. The battle begins, and he turns to his fellow gym leader, his words casual.]

Yeah, I know. Plenty of time until then, though. You should try having some fun, Hassan. We only get this opportunity once a year.

[The words jog his memory, and after he directs Blaziken's next attack, a vicious kick to the opposing Granbull, he shrugs in Hassan's direction.] I was supposed to tell you when I saw you, Shryke's been looking for you. He doesn't want to be a bother if you're busy, though. You can probably find him.

[costofpeace]

[No sense in correcting the man, and yet Hassan very almost finds himself baited into response. He does have fun - that is to say, he enjoys himself. Adhering to policy has never once hindered that. A concept far removed from Drael's shortsighted understanding.

It's only Drael's secondary remarks that stifle his answer, Hassan swallowing back irritation in favour of the unexpected rush of far more positive emotion. His frown only barely wavers, however, and his voice remains gruff when he speaks - it really is no one else's business, after all.]

Probably. Do you know where he might be?

TOURNAMENT SQUARES

[contagion]

[He's finished being angry about it now. Completely finished. If she wants to fight all her fights dirty, then whatever. She can go on and get served her just rewards. He exhales sharply between his teeth, and crosses his arms over his chest. What is he going to do now? It's boring.]

[cordiality]

[Oh dear. Oh, dear dear dear. Drael can't have been happy with any of that. Kristopher doesn't have anything deliciously sweet to try and placate Drael's frustrations with, so instead he scampers over with a disarmingly sympathetic expression and two friendly hands on Drael's arm.]

I'm sorry, Drael. That was unkindly fought, wasn't it. We can still have a battle together if you like?

[contagion]

Hmph.

[Not impressed, Kristopher. No matter how cute you are. Not even offering another battle. Drael flicks a loose strand of Kris's hair, muttering.]

So I can beat you up good and easy, that's what you're saying? No thanks.

[cordiality]

Oh come on, Drael. Don't pout so.

[Even if that is exactly what Kris is doing now. How cruel of Drael to imply what he just did...!]

My Pokémon won't ever let another team win, not even yours. If you want to try and battle with me then you should be prepared to give it all you have, thank you!

TOURNAMENT SQUARES

[royaux]

[There had never been any real concern about Odette losing to Visvaldis, but Oberin's still glad to see the match won in her favour. She's an excellent trainer yet tends to fare poorly in their yearly match-ups; he doesn't think her lucky that the tournament bracket favoured her so, but rather that she has won her deserving place.

He waves her over when all the matches are finished.] You did well up there, Odette.

[royalwarden]

I hope you weren't expecting anything different.

[Her tone is teasing, largely at her own expense. It wouldn't be the first time she'd failed to progress beyond the first round, after all. Odette doesn't consider herself competitive, but it is a pleasant balm to move a little further this year.

Oberin, of course, never has to nurse such concerns. But being Oberin, he's doubtless hosting them anyway.]

So, what are your thoughts? Is anyone worrying you?

[royaux]

Of course not.

[He gives her a confident smile, honest. In regards to her question, he only nods a slight bit and indicates over Odette's shoulder.] Helene, as usual. Hassan seems in top form this year. Riane is always a danger. There are plenty to worry about, and all seem as likely as one another to continue.

[royalwarden]

If my good luck continues, perhaps I'll be free to eliminate Hassan for you. [With a small smile she adds;] Or even challenge Helene. I believe I would enjoy that chance.

But what about the newcomer? I have to say, he does worry me...

TOURNAMENT SQUARES

[daughterofsand]

[Losing to Hassan doesn't surprise her. Next time, though. She'll evade their expectations next time.

This time, though, it seems their mystery newcomer is the one set to surprise them all. If he'd beaten a gym leader at tournament level that alone might have turned some heads. But no, he'd decimated his opponent, leaving a flurry of rumour and speculation in his wake. And now, apparently, he intends to leave. Shai wouldn't usually have gotten involved in the effort to persuade him otherwise - certainly she wouldn't be doing so out of some instilled duty as a gym leader. For curiosity, though...]

I thought you were going to battle them all.

[She doesn't waste any time with greetings or congratulations. He seems the sort that both would be wasted on. Instead she folds her arms and stops at his side - not too close, mind, seems the sort not to appreciate that either.]

That's what you told me.

[bloodbath]

[He starts slightly, and his hand moves as though to grip a waist-high ruff that isn't present. He hadn't expected anyone to pay him any attention, though he supposes now that was short-sighted; he'd beaten Leonel soundly, and that was always going to arouse interest. He doesn't care what any of them think. They have no idea.

The same woman he'd spoken to near the sign-ups is the one speaking to him; he'd watched her lose her match and felt a twinge of disappointment. It might have been nice to battle her. Battle them all... He turns away.]

I was, but I don't want the attention. It doesn't suit me. [A pause.] I just needed to show him.

[daughterofsand]

Show him what, exactly?

[Him can only be Leonel, of course. There are rumours there as well, various different whispers of possible connections between them. Shai runs a hand through some loose strands of her hair, intending to say no more until she's coaxed something further out of him.]

[bloodbath]

That he's not the only one. [It isn't quite chewing his lips, as he stares towards some far off time and place, but when he returns, his gaze fixes firmly upon her, challenging her to gainsay him.] You don't have to be worth anything to be capable.