[center][h2][color=cornflowerblue][i][b]Ikkou[/b][/i][/color][/h2] [b]Location:[/b] Beryl Town, Mid-Festival [b]Interactions:[/b] Alex [@Enzayne][/center] [i]New beginnings. Potential. Possibility.[/i] The professor's words resonated with many people in the audience, some more than others. Ikkou, a newbie to the region, was definitely one those inspired. He'd stood off to one side of the crowd at one of the Institute's booths, giving him an awkward viewing angle, but it also let him easily slip out of the area ahead of the rush when all was said and done. [color=cornflowerblue]"What a speech! Right, Rinrin?"[/color] the young man said, smiling at the sentient bell floating beside him. He had one of the Pokémon's tassels caught between his thumb and forefinger, else she would have run off somewhere a while ago. The Chingling stopped her fluttering and looked back at her friend, enthusiastically nodding in agreement. As she did, she produced a happy, high-pitched ringing sound. They two of them had been lucky to arrive when they did, just in time for what appeared to be the opening ceremony. The road from Jasper to Beryl Town wasn't long, but in the interest of not running into any trouble right before the festival Ikkou had opted for public transport rather than walking. And with all of the excitement going around Starre, things had been pretty crowded and ran a little behind... but that was alright! He and Rinrin had made it after all. Plus they'd gotten to see a glimpse of the region's champion! They hadn't missed a thing - in fact it seemed like everything was just getting started. On that note, Ikkou shuffled over to the nearest egg booth. He'd already gotten a few things from the regular Institute booth, and gladly so. He'd bought his first Rotom Phone ever just before arriving in Starre, if it could be believed in this day and age, so the staff's help in installing the map and Pokédex apps was much appreciated. He'd also stuffed a paper map in his bag, just to have it. The feel of paper really just couldn't be beat in Ikkou's opinion. Once his turn at the egg booth came up he happily accepted the gift, quickly making space for the next person. [color=cornflowerblue]"How exciting,"[/color] Ikkou said to himself, pressing his ear to the dark shell. The egg was mostly black with some white spots shaped like... well, he wasn't really sure. Like bow ties, or Butterfree. He had no idea what was inside it, which he supposed was the whole appeal of this event. Rinrin, released from Ikkou's grip, floated over and landed on top of it. She peered down at it curiously and Ikkou smiled at her. [color=cornflowerblue]"I bet you can't wait to see who our new friend turns out to be."[/color] Rinrin trilled in excitement, jumping off of the egg and flying quick circles around Ikkou. [color=cornflowerblue]"That eager, huh? Honestly, me too. Now, we have a few more things to do... I can't hold onto you and the egg, so will you be okay? You won't fly off, right?"[/color] The Chingling nodded so hard that she flipped herself upside down and right side up again a few times. [color=cornflowerblue]"[i]Promise?[/i]"[/color] She hesitated, her wide mouth uncharacteristically closed as she swiveled in place and looked at everything around them. There were so many people, eggs, Pokémon, food, new sights and sounds... and she could see almost all of it with Ikkou, so she nodded again and floated up to sit in his hair. He felt her little feet tapping his head as she constantly moved around to take everything in (which also resulted in a lot of ringing that he was, fortunately, used to already), but as long as she was up there and not lost somewhere that was good enough for Ikkou. They swiftly found themselves in another line, the longest one yet. [i]It is really nice they're giving all this away,[/i] Ikkou thought. He glanced over to where he last saw the sponsor's, Morpheus, CEO, now engaged in conversation with a man with impressive hair. Even Ikkou had heard of their dream experiments back in Sinnoh, along with the dream science coming out of Unova. He'd always been curious about it, but... well, with his family basically running a non-profit, it went without saying that he'd never experienced it. The same would probably hold true while in Starre, but it still peaked his interest. Along with a ton of other things about the region. [i]Alright, after this... we'll take a look at everything we've got, figure out how to use the phone map, get something to eat... not necessarily in that order.[/i] Ikkou hummed gently as he mentally mapped out what he and Rinrin still had yet to do. [i]I wonder if Beryl Town has any kind of history pamphlets? Maybe the Institute building does. If the festival is really a hundred years old, I wonder how it got started... Oh, and we'll have to find Kazu! Even if she's been in Starre for a little while, there's no way she'd miss something like this... I hope.[/i] Finding one familiar face in a sea of strangers was easier said than done, but he kept an eye out anyway. His scan of the crowds, both in and out of line, led him to seeing some interesting looking people. Prospective trainers he was sure, the same as him. The thought made him smile softly. He noted that most people seemed to be following the same order than he had, so the lines for the Morpheus booths were filling out even more. Ikkou glanced at the people queuing behind him, and those already ahead. The person directly in front of him, a girl in a cap, seemed rather stiff - which Ikkou found odd given the jovial atmosphere of the festival. Reading the look on her face as nervousness Ikkou leaned a little closer to her, hoping to give her some peace of mind. [color=cornflowerblue]"Pokémon eggs are surprisingly tough. It's hard to break one by mistake,"[/color] he said. Someone leaving a clutch of unwanted eggs at the Foreign Building in Hearthome, whether from accidental 'compatibility' between two Pokémon or a breeder simply ending up with more than they'd needed, wasn't an uncommon occurrence. Which was why Ikkou knew from experience that they could easily survive being lugged around to all kinds of places. [color=cornflowerblue]"So if you were worried... well, you don't have to be."[/color] And, because it felt weird to just say that and nothing else, Ikkou shifted his own egg to a more comfortable spot in his arms and went on. [i]Ringringring.[/i] [color=cornflowerblue]"Just seemed like you might have needed to hear that. Ah, hopefully that wasn't rude of me."[/color] [i]Ringringring.[/i] [color=cornflowerblue]"...are you from the area? Seems like there are plenty of travelers here. Myself included."[/color] [i]Ringringring![/i] The Chingling had noticed that Ikkou was talking to someone, so she had also turned her attention to them, wiggling in place and making some noise.