route_1065 | 8th Act - Happy Anniversary, Eve's Garden Circus!

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8th Act - Happy Anniversary, Eve's Garden Circus!

Who: Come one and all!
Where: Goldenrod
When: The weekend through the 15th to the 18th
Summary: The Eve's Garden Circus is celebrating its first anniversary!
Rating: PG
Log:

You know what's better than a regular birthday? The birthday of a circus.

Throughout the streets of Goldenrod, folks will find all sorts of colorful characters and Pokemon about. Fliers and the like have been regular eve since the Circus started up a year ago, but the advertising is in full force today just to make it EXTRA apparent that today is the day. Another hint is all the air traffic in the skies- various Flying-type Pokemon that make up the Circus' transportation service. Who knows? Maybe you're one of those using it today!

And of course, who can miss the colorful spectacle that is the circus itself? Past the entrance gate (which will let you onto the circus grounds for a miniscule fee) are dozens and dozens of stalls and little tents. Looming over them is the main tent itself, a monstrosity of bright welcoming colors. There are all sorts of things amongst their ranks, but it's generally fairly easy to find what you're looking for as Pidgey of a feather flock together and all that... From games of all sorts like the usual carnival games to more of a retro arcade, to a set of shops with local crafts and maybe something from the foreign trainers.... Of course, there's also all sorts of food stalls and even shacks for more filling stuff.

There's even a Litleo hunt going on today! Catch one, win a prize!

With all that alone, you could probably keep busy for most of the day! But surely you aren't forgetting the Big Act?

Yep, the big acts in the Big Top. Times are posted both at the front gate, on fliers you can pick up here and there, and by the entrance to the large tent. For each day, there will be three shows! Better hope you can snag a ticket before they get sold out... Although maybe you'll get lucky for the next show. Or the next day....

Either way, it promises to be a fun weekend!

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[It looks like a giant Litwick has decided to come take a seat next to Kaneki.

Or at least that's what it looks like for a split second until a voice says:] There you are! I got this for you.

[Then the Litwick is set out onto the table away from the food and it's revealed to actually be Maka behind the curtain. Kali, her Houndoom, jumps up on the bench next to Maka and just stares at Kaneki with utter disinterest.]

Ah--be careful not to fill up on stall food. Joker told us to save room for dinner.

[The sudden appearance of the Pokemon in the corner of Kaneki's eye actually causes him to jerk a little and nearby fumble his chopsticks. Before he can start questioning the existence of mammoth Litwick, however, he recognizes Maka's voice and relaxes, laughing weakly.]

O-oh, right...don't worry, I will.

[The food he's got is pretty light anyway, and it looked more appealing than popcorn or something.

He lays the chopsticks across the bowl for a moment with his other free hand still holding his book open. Rikki is still eating but now her eyes are very firmly on Maka, watching her with a gaze that can only be described as steely.]

You really got this for me? What game did you win it from?

The test your strength one.

[She just

says that so casually.]

I think the carnie is scared of me, though, so I didn't try for another one.

[Shrug!]

So, what are you reading?

[Scared?...Maka why would...actually, he just decides not to ask.]

Don...Quilladin. I haven't gotten very far yet, though.

[She just played the game, it's not her fault the carnie can't handle a tiny girl with a hammer!!]

Oh, I read that one, it's a classic! It sounds similar to the story of a famous hero in my own world, too, now that I think of it.

A lot of books here seem to be like that, don't they? ..I mean, the last book I had been reading was The Phantump of the Opera.

Yeah, and the Shelgon Holmes series. I knew he was a famous detective, but I never knew that accounts were written about him like that.

I haven't been able to find one of my favorite books, though, Dark Side of the Moon. I found Dark Side of the Lunatone, but...it was an album. Weird.

[Oh wow, so everything is switched up here, then.]

...did you still like it, or was it changed too much?

Ummmm...I don't know a whole lot about music, but the content was pretty similar to what Dark Side of the Moon the book was about, so...yes?

[It was an actual trip and she's still not sure what she experienced.]

It's about all the levels of a man's descent into insanity, so it's pretty impressive that music managed to reflect that.

Wow...you'll have to let me know if you ever can find that book. I would like to read it.

[It sounds a lot like The Black Goat's Egg, actually...]

I'll keep an eye out for it myself. Maybe the bookstore will have it, one day...or something close that isn't music.

It's funny, one of the songs in there was a poem spread out through the chapters of the book. That's actually what inspired me to take up poetry when I was younger. I wonder if somehow the person behind that album knew about the book and made it as a tribute, it's way too similar to be a coincidence.

I hope one of us can find it. It sounds silly, but it's one of my favorite books. It kinda...kept me grounded as I was growing up, if that makes sense.

I don't think that's silly at all. I know of plenty of books that can do that. Only the best ones can touch you personally, right?

[He lowers his hand to smooth out the pages of the book while he talks.]

There's this author back home that's one of my favorites, Takatsuki Sen. Just about everything she writes manages to resonate with me somehow...they're just really good.

Aha, no pressure or anything! I don't know how I'm going to live up to that in my own writing!

[She's just teasing, evident by the smile.]

What's your favorite by her?

Oh, "The Black Goat's Egg", no question.

[Because that's not a strange book title at all.]

[Nope, sounds normal to her.]

Huh...sounds like something that I'd be able to find back home. What's it about?

It's a horror story.

[He begins, folding his arms on the picnic table.]

About a female serial killer known as "The Black Goat", but the protagonist is her son, hence "The Black Goat's Egg". He realizes how wicked the things his mother does are, but when he does he starts to see the same tendencies to do terrible things in himself. The narrative follows his mental state as he goes through dealing with that. It's really interesting.

[He explains it and Maka is struck with a very strong sense of "this is familiar."

Of course it is, it's near identical to someone she knows. Maka, her friends, the people affected by Crona, they've lived this story.

It's very strange how much similarities she's been finding between Kaneki's tastes and literature of her world in this conversation. It's almost like he's actually from her world and neither of them realized it. The same stumbling, stuttering, unsure figure...plus in the dream world he had that eyepatch, yet it's not present here. Why is that?]

It does sound interesting.

[There might be more to her draw to Kaneki besides his shared interests, an actual reason why she so strongly feels the need to be sure he's comfortable and happy around her. How he's so quickly become a dear friend, he already was in another life--another place, another person.]

I'll bet I can find it for you. I've gotten pretty good with searching out rare books, even if I haven't been able to find Dark Side of the Moon for myself.

[He is not Crona, though, and she shouldn't let that color her perception of this friend. It's not fair to him.]

[Kaneki's life back home may be more familiar to Maka than he even realizes...but as it stands, it's something he's been working to keep under wraps with the people he's met. This place has given him a chance to start over, after all. Here, he could almost pretend that that part of his life was just...gone. At least for a little while...]

You really think it might be here?

[That would be really surprising, since he's sure that the author is still back in Tokyo...at least, as far as he knows.]

There's no harm in looking, right?

[At least, she looks like she doesn't mind poking around books to find a specific one anyway.]

It's like a mystery to solve in itself! The "finding of the rare goat's egg," eheh.

[He laughs a little at that, nodding while propping his chin up in one hand.]

That's true. Who knows, maybe the author herself might even show up one day...I'm sure a place like this would give her a lot of inspiration.

Gosh...I don't know what I'd do if a favorite author of mine showed up here...I'd probably explode or something.

[Or something, Kali just gives her A Look. Unlike her Meowstic back in Olivine, the Houndoom does not share Maka's passion for literature.]

If she writes horror...yeah, she'd probably get a lot of inspiration from these Pokemon. A lot of scary things happen with them just by their nature.

[There was an Incident before she arrived that she never got the details on, something about Shedinja stealing souls, and that's just one thing. People say her world is messed up, Maka generally thinks this world is a little more so with its candy-coated peacefulness covering up the horror.]

Before you got their autograph?

[He teases with a short, nervous laugh. Haaa that was dumb, MOVING ON...

Honestly though, Kaneki's pretty okay with the lack of horror around every turn, here. Even with how ominous a lot of Pokemon species around here tend to be, it's a nice change of pace.]

Knowing my luck, yeah, that's probably exactly how it would go.

[The track record of "nice things happening but later blowing up in her face and going bad" is strong and persistent.

It's a good-natured sort of comment though and she just smiles.]

...Oh, uh, I forgot to introduce you--[meaning to her Houndoom companion that is, yes, still cautiously watching Kaneki and his entourage.] This is Kali, she was my starter the first time I came here. Kali--[whuff]--this is my friend, Kaneki Ken.

[Well the Pokemon is giving an admirable effort at pretending to care instead of judging Kaneki as a total weenie by sight, at least.]

[He might resent that if he had a case to argue against being a total weenie. Honestly, the Houndoom is...a little intimidating to look at, which is why when Maka addresses her directly he sits up a bit straighter, nodding a little in her direction.]

Ah...hi there, Kali. This is uh...my starter, Rikki.

[He says to the Houndoom, and the Zangoose perched on the table lifts her head from her bowl long enough to just stare at Kali for a moment before going right back to eating.]

[Kali is what happens when you leave your dog for two years and they end up heading a pack of similar dogs. It's not exactly the cuddliest or most heartwarming scenario, but she whuffs in acknowledgement of the greeting anyway.

Maka just sighs.]

I told you, she's always like this with people I know. It's nothing personal.

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