[ORP] Midsummer Fair

[BlackFireKitsune]

Since PokeCon had been cut short due to Rocket interference, the Pokemon League worked together with the city of Camphoreon to prepare a fair a couple weeks later. Advertisements had been placed around the island, alerting the general public to its date, times, and location, and encouraging people to attend for the food, the rides, the games, the vendors -- and the speech that the League would give later in the afternoon.

The day of the summer fair soon arrived. A few fluffy clouds rolled lazily across the otherwise empty sky, as the sun shone brightly down on the ground below. While it was hot, it wasn't unbearably so. All in all, it was a beautiful summer day. Plenty of attendees thought so, as the fair grounds began to fill quickly. Placed just south of the city, it sprawled across a large grassy field that bordered on a wide stretch of beach, with the main road near the opposite side - though not too close, of course, for safety reasons. Within the fair itself, a plethora of activities and vendors awaited guests: Rides, typical fair games, merchandise vendors (those who attended PokeCon would recognize several of them), and a myriad of food vendors were spread throughout the main grounds, while along the strip of beach were various other games such as beach volleyball and scavenger hunts for younger visitors, hula hoop contests, sand castle building contests, and even a spot a ways down that had been roped off as a battle field, complete with a portable healing machine to heal pokemon. A number of people were swimming or laying on towels on the sand not far off, just enjoying the sounds and atmosphere without the busy crowds within the fair itself. A DJ had even been hired for the event, with a full booth set up between the two halves of the fair - a few signs hung around his area showed that he took requests.

A vast number of plainclothes police - made obvious by the well-trained Growlithes and Arcanines that walked with them - circled and milled about the fair to ensure a peaceful event. Various members of the League joined in as well, with their own powerful teams. It appeared that, while this was an open event, any interferences or attacks like before would not be tolerated, and would be swiftly dealt with.

Previous advertisements, as well as various signs spread around the fair announced a small schedule of sorts for the fair: A speech would be made by the Pokemon League in the late afternoon, and fireworks would be launched after sunset. Before all of that though, attendees would be able to do whatever they wished.

Entry to the fair itself was completely free, and on top of that, each attendee was given a voucher for a free meal that they could redeem at any point during the day; said meal included an entree, a drink, and a dessert, all of the guest's choosing. More was available for purchase if anyone was still hungry, as were pretzels and various other snack foods. Popcorn and water, however, were completely free, and guests could get as much as they could consume (or carry home). The various rides and standard games scattered around the main section of the fair required money before they could be enjoyed, while the games and contests on the beach did not.

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((A few notes:
- This ORP is open to anyone! Keep in mind that if you do wish your Rocket(s) to attend, five Rockets were arrested recently and the police/League won't hesitate to arrest more.
- This will be open for at least a week or two (possibly more), depending; the speech will happen after about a week, and towards the end of the two weeks the fireworks will begin and the ORP will end soon after that - just so you guys have an idea of how long this will last and what will happen when!
- Your characters are free to enter or leave whenever they wish! They don't have to stay for the fireworks if they don't have to - or they don't have to come until right before the fireworks if they don't wish to.

And one final note: Have fun!))  

[Gwennythe]

Every event she'd gone to, so far, bar the Flower Festival, had ended up being ruined by Team Rocket, but Henrietta still enjoyed the idea of fetes and fairs and events.

The girl was a little less 'gung-ho' about things, maybe, but she was still herself- still an enthusiastic trainer- and besides, it would be totally unfair not to bring Gummy and Winglet along to something where there were chances for awesome battles, games, and awesome food.
Also, she was sure that friends would be at such an event, and she was beginning to get a real idea for how beneficial having other trainers around could be; having a group of people to trust anyway. She liked the idea, and looked forward, to potentially hanging out with people.

With Gummy at her heels, the young trainer had made a bee-line for the popcorn; everything else looked awesomely fun, but once she had popcorn she'd be able to enjoy -everything- without needing to stop for snacks and stuff.  

[Gwennythe]

If anything was a kick to get him to start his travels, finally, than this had to be it!

Several of the trees, and buildings, in Sandalwood had found themselves hosts to posters announcing this event, and he'd even found one posted in one of his favourite haunts.

Lin had immediately shown Jeeves and pointed it out and explained it, but the Snivy, who currently sat atop his shoulder, refused to entirely embrace the experience yet.
A regal 'fete', like the ones he'd spotted on period dramas and had heard of from the occasional glimpse of open-air theater while they were busking, would have been quite civilized and acceptable.
Jeeves wasn't entirely sure about this kind of event though; it did not look like something with jam-making and stiffly played sports as he might have imagined.
Lin seemed excited about it, though, so the Snivy was prepared to humour him and try and have fun.

The two of them were currently browsing the myriad of snack vendors, marveling at the odd, and in some cases, in Lin's opinion, exotic, foods.
His expression, wide eyed, appreciative awe, matched an earlier expression of awe at seeing city buildings that weren't trees... Though, of course, there was hunger, appetite, mixed into the expression this time.
"Ooh! We should get some of that... and that... and that..." He pointed out something brown and sweet, something orange and cold and something green to the skeptical looking grass type.
These did not look quite like the berries the Snivy was sometimes fond of...  

[BlackPidgeot]

Having heard about this little fair, it really sounded like fun, thus Emil decided to go. All by his lonesome. ... Well not completely lonesome. He did have his Pokemon along with him.

In his arms the blonde boy carried Danish, the Igglybuff looking around with big shining eyes at all the lights and attractions and people milling about. There was so much to do, so much to see! It was almost overwhelming!

Also, there was a Pidgey perched on each of the boy's shoulders. Both of them sporting interesting markings, but they looked identical.

Coming to a stop, Emil took a moment to look around. "Wow, what she should we do first?"

"Iggly!" Danish squealed happily, and pointed enthusiastically towards a balloon vendor.  

[Tori Honoo]

(Anyone that gave their number to Dove I guess)

Though a little hesitant about another event so soon after the Rocket attack on the Convention, Dove found herself making her way into the fairgrounds, Lovey trailing behind her at an easy pace, and what appeared to be a Budew sitting high on her shoulder, swiveling every so often to look at something new. She had been assured by the news that this event would be heavily policed, and though still slightly skeptical, she decided to enjoy it as best she could-- and attempt, in a new setting, to embrace the new situations she had to live with.

In a pair of shorts that hit a little higher than midthigh, and a flowing sheer top that did little to hide the deep scars on her sides if one were to actually look, the girl passed through the crowds, pausing here and there to look at the wares, sample the food, and offer a quick greeting to the somewhat familiar pokeball salesmen from the PokeCon, before she stood near the center of the fair, listening to the upbeat songs that rang from the DJ's platform as she sent out a text to the others to see if they would attend as well.  

[Tori Honoo]

(Henrietta and anyone else? )

Jace, upon first hearing about the news of the League's fair, had been quite beside himself, nearly bouncing as he had counted down the minutes until he was allowed out of the house to make his way to the large festival-- Chester in tow and on watch, of course.

The young trainer had all but burst as he was allowed through the set up gates, and his eyes began to wander over everything around him, unable to stick to one thing for too long. There was so much to do!!! "What's first, Chester? Should we do rides, or-- Hey! We could battle someone! Look!" he exclaimed, pointing in the direction of the area designated for battling.

The charmander pointed in the opposite direction, hoping to draw his young boy's attention to the vendors, away from the makeshift arena.

Fortunately, though Jace gave a heavy sigh and was about to object, the fire type had directed his focus toward a familiar face, and pokemon, and with a bright smile, the boy all but ran toward Henrietta, Gummy, and the popcorn vendor. "Hey! You did come!" He had wondered if the other trainers he would met would be there, since they had been at PokeCon too... which he had luckily--though not so much at the time-- been picked up from just after catching a glimpse of the elites at the table. While he had wanted to hear what they had to say... he couldn't help but be glad his mom had made him leave.  

[Catzandbirdz]

Alba was in need of a mood lifter. That wasn't why he went to the fair, though.

Spook the Chingling cooed worriedly from her human's shoulder. He'd been in a foul mood ever since the evening of the PokeCon, when their young friend and roommate didn't show up with the returning Rockets. It wasn't like Al to be hot headed or short tempered. It was why several Rockets who he normally worked with had taken to avoiding him and his pointed glares. He'd even gone to Harvard's office as soon as she'd returned to HQ days later, wanting some sort of assurance that this would be FIXED and the arrested Rockets would be brought HOME.

He hadn't left happy.

And now he was here, in plain clothes and a baseball cap, at this fair. If the League was planning to speak later, he had every intention of hearing it. He patted Spook on the side, taking a deep breath to relax his own nerves. Festivals were supposed to be fun. It wasn't fair to her if he stayed moody the whole time. "Hey." The large bell turned to look at him a little better. "Popcorn first?"

Spook's eyes widened in surprise, followed by a wide grin of glee. "Ching!" Alba chuckled and followed after her at a steady stroll as she made a beeline in the direction of the free snack food.

--------------------

Reggie squeaked as she narrowly avoided being run over by a group of children. Noise and large crowds were just not the place for someone like her. But free popcorn and water? How could a girl pass up something like that?

Checking that a water bottle was secured in her frayed messenger bag, and the buttery snack was indeed still safe in the small paper bag (and mourning the loss of two kernels from the recent dodging), the brightly dressed trainer set out to explore the events surrounding her.  

[Blood_Goddess]

So a League exclusive event failed, and ended in disaster, so they gave up on that entirely end went for more of a open event, since in the end, WHAT WAS THE POINT?
Ah, but she was in the mood to see some pokemon, get a look at the watchful faces, wondering how many of them would be expecting a terrorist attack, since it had become the norm at many of the League events.

The tall women stood with her attention on some pokemon battles going on in designated arias, long arms crossed over her chest, with a finger tapping lightly on the bend of her arm.
with her feet shoulders length apart she appear to be settling in for a long stay, perfectly content watching the battles.
She wasn't alone though, a large red and white striped Serperior sitting up tall next to her, with a good length of his body wrapped around her from behind.
"If they can catch that left lean on the Sandshrew they can use it to win." She spoke to the pokemon pointing out. "do you see it?"
DS leaned forward a little, narrowing his eyes before he flicked a tongue out an nodded.
"You know what to do with that, right?"
she asked, tilting her head to look at her partner pokemon, The snake twisted his head around, darting around to the left side and completing a full circle, bringing a smirk to the women's lips.
"Perfect."  

[Akira Midoriyama]

Ray

A young lady, not as tall as the silver-haired one, stood nearby. She wore a summer dress and a brown ponytail, fanning her face with a feathered fan in the sunshine as she watched the stranger talk to her pokemon. Finally, after a few minutes, she approached the woman and her Serperior.

"Excuse me," she said in a light voice. "But you wouldn't happen to be that pokemon's trainer, would you...?" She gestured to the red-and-white grass-type.  

[Gwennythe]

Dove and then Jace, Alba(maybe?) and others near the popcorn

{hi am vending fair. am getting pop cornea.} Would be the terribly misspelled, perhaps slightly auto-corrected, response-text that Dove would receive from Henrietta's pokégear.
She shifted her back of popcorn onto her shoulder after sending the text, and then heard someone calling something.
The girl looked up to see Jace stopping after running toward her, and her mouth split into a grin.
"Hey! We totally did! This kinda thing is what we live for! It's awesome! Did you see the arenas?! And all the pokémon?! Hey look there's a Chingling!" She pointed at Spook, beaming, and then pointed at Chester "And you! Hi Chester! Have ya both battled yet?! Man you look awesome together! Real trainers!"
She'd been feeling off, still, but seeing her young friend was enough to push that completely from her mind for the time being anyway.  

[Blood_Goddess]

Young Women

It took a second to register that she was being spoken too, but as soon as she had she glanced over to the women in the summer dress.
A wide grin spreading over her strong jawline.
"What Double Stripe? I sure hope so" she said, looking at the grass type "Or there is some kind of horrible mix up,"  

[Akira Midoriyama]

Ray

The young woman giggled. "I'm not sure you could mix up this cutie with another pokemon." She leaned forward with her hands clasped near her knees, folding her fan and purse as she held them together. "Double Stripe, is it? So well-trained." Her smile faded as she straightened back up. "It's a shame not all Serperior are. Mine won't listen to a word I say. How in the world do you do it?" She looked to Ray with dark brown eyes.  

[Gwennythe]

Wandering through the fair, from the snack vendors outward

With armfuls of snacks, now, and Jeeves still looking non-plussed as he rode on the boy's shoulder, Lin turned his attention to the rest of the fair.
He /really/ needed to find some place to sit and eat this stuff... and his attention turned upward.

Well those awnings wouldn't do at all... Sure they /looked/ kinda 'hammock-y' but he doubted they wouldn't break under him.
Wow. Open areas were really hard work; he supposed he might even have to sit on the floor...
"You pull us right up there if you see a good place to sit, okay?" He told Jeeves, and received a sharp nod along with a 'Snii' in response.
The boy was wandering along, not really looking where he was going, through the middle of the fair while he frowned upward, from awning to awning.  

[Blood_Goddess]

Young Lady

"Yeeaah it would be a bit hard to, and if I did, what kind of trainer would I be?" Glancing over to Double Stripe she gave the pokemon a wink, who flicked his tongue back at her playfully.

"Ah, well for one, I don't really have him well trained, so much as we have a mutual understanding and respect." A knotched eyebrow arched over widening eyes.
"you've got a Serperior on you're team too then? how long?"  

[BlackPidgeot]

"Put that away! It's inappropriate and you'll get caught."

"What? I can do whatever the hell I want and I'm tired of following rules."

"Stop pointing that at me."

"You're such a baby, Flynn. Geez. Fine, I'll put it away. Are you happy?"

"Somewhat. You've been in enough trouble already, and there's police everywhere. Must you be so careless?"

Yuri heaved a long dramatic sigh as he put his sword in a safe place and proceeded to walk with Flynn through the crowd.

"I swear, if I had a mom she'd probably sound just like you."

Flynn just sighed and walked with Yuri through the fair grounds. After a moment he tried to change the subject.

"I haven't actually attended a fair like this in years."

"Yeah, it's been a while hasn't it?" Yuri agreed.

The two then decided to stop at a vendor, and eventually both of them continued walking, this time each of them carrying some pink cotton candy.