HtH139 – The Fantastic Festival Of Festivities
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Underground poke-tournament is a go!
"This way, this way! The tournament is being held in the basement!"
A girl on roller skates speeds past the Echoes Chamber, leading another batch of chattering guests, carrying with them their small, white take-out boxes. The whirring wheels has Fredrika peeking out at the well-dressed girl, her large striped coat flying behind her like a cape.
"Master, we should go now!" Fredrika chirps, pointing at the back of the guests descending the stairs into the basement.
It was not like the tournament hosts actually needed ushers for this event. The large glowing neon signs that look like they were re-purposed street advertisements made the basement entrance really hard to miss from the front door.
Ayano is flattening her empty take-out box, marveling at how little oil stains the inside of the box. Some time before, there had been a pair of loud cheers heard from the kitchen, followed by really quick scampering downstairs.
It would seem that Madi-san is busy, still.
"Let's go then, wouldn't want to be a bother to the other contestants."
The path down to the basement had been well-decorated for the event! A line of posters featuring many a familiar face are plastered on both sides of this path. Ayano stops in front of poster of one particular poster; a blonde girl wearing a cute white sundress, pulling on her large hat in the wind. By her side is a cute white fox with six tails leaping upwards.
"Ah...? How did Madi-san manage to get Val-sama to cosplay for this event...?"
Fredrika is tugging at her master's jacket sleeve, trying to get her to budge, "Lillxe cosplayers are aplenty at events like this, if you cut your hair short, you could do an Erxka cosplay next time! For now, we really gotta go!"
It was rather well thought out that the line of posters end on an open door. Ayano can spy many, many more rooms in the basement, but tonight, this basement room is the only one open and lit brightly. Fast jazzy music that makes children yearn for electroswing passes out of the room, which seems to be a former bar re-purposed for this event.
"...? An Olympic pool? No, that's not right. That's a battle court." Ayano tilts her head, squinting at the oddity in the room.
A large battle court has been erected in the middle of this red-carpeted and well-furbished room. Regal teak walls are accented with gold leaf, which makes the raised white-marble battle court seem rather out of place, like the organizers had taken a swimming pool from somewhere and poured concrete over it. At the very end of the room is what seems to be a mini-bar converted into a makeshift DJ's table. A blue-haired girl is presiding over the sound mixer there, the back of the bar covered with what seems to be covered with neatly folded bundles of cloth.
"T-shirts...?"
Just when Ayano was about to take a closer look, she hears the sound of skates rolling leisurely along the sides of the battle court.
"Excuse me!" The girl swivels, skidding to a smiling stop before the new guests. "Aha! Piaccta has seen you two at the front door! Please, sign this and have a look-see at our tournament rules! Thank you!" The energetic girl holds out a small clipboard with a table of sixteen names, it appears that Fredrika is the last competitor to arrive.
As Fredrika and her little blue bird is skimming through the pictured sheets of paper, Ayano cannot help but find her eyes on this girl's manner of dress. Her bright and cheerful demeanor fits strangely well with the sharp black vest and loose inner shirt. A gold chain hangs off her brown belt onto her white shorts, showing off her well-toned legs. Rollers have been attached to her running shoes, which are adorned with green leaves.
Distracting herself from the awkwardness while Fredrika is nibbling on the fountain pen, Ayano chats up this bright young girl,
"Piaccta, was it? What are you doing for this event?"
"Piaccta is Referee No.1 of Theatre House Delaroux!"
"A referee? What exactly do you do at this event?"
"The referee's job is make sure everyone plays fair! And---"
Piaccta swipes her hand across the air in a cheerful manner towards the mini-bar,
"--- ensures the collection of debts after our event!"
Erm, what?
Ayano was sure that she must have heard the last line wrong over the orchestral jazz that was playing.
Then, she spies one of the guests walk past in a white shirt, a cool Chxrizxrd wearing black shades printed on it...
Great-grans! They're selling MERCH at this event!!!
Mistrál's face brightens considerably when our local skater girl hands in the complete list of names at the mini-bar.
Right on time too, and not a minute too late.
"Good time-keeping is good event hosting!"
House had just sidled into the side of the announcer's desk, having done a victory lap with the chef and had a quick-washup, she hands a poke-ball shaped microphone to our blue-haired host.
She turns a knob on the sound mixing panel down, the jazzy fey-like music slowly winds down...
Chattering anticipation builds in the room...
Then!
She overturns a separate glass panel with a red button underneath, tapping down with the bottom of her microphone!
[BOOM! BOOM! SPARKLES!]
Small fireworks go off at the side-ramp leading to the battle stage!
Overhead, golden sparkles descend from the rafters like golden rain to a great pop from the audience!
The battle court turns into a glittering spectacle, and audacious and amazing rock music begins to play!
"Friends, acquaintances and all, the Fantastic Festival of Festivities is about to begin!"
We are trying something different! This is a simul-posting at the same time as the Scribblehub release! Go check out the entire series at this link!
