Purple Flower Event - [PTS]

The festival had been in full swing for at least a full day before Vhan wandered through, sticking to the edges of the crowds and people watching for the first few hours.

“Vahn!” a voice rang out from the distance, a distinct voice amongst the several dozens of people floating around in the immediate vicinity to Vahn. Far too familiar, it was most certainly the voice of the same one woman he had been spending large amounts of time with, searching the library endlessly for books on this and that, happy to at least know there was someone else with an interest in books almost as large as his. Turning around, a smile already on his face, Vahn caught sight of the woman in question. Juliette, with her little son, Aiden, in her arms, of course. He was never far off from her at any circumstances. Unless, of course, she would ask Vahn to watch over him for a directed amount of time, “Vahn, I’m glad to see you!”

She was attired completely different from her normal black T-shirt and short beige shorts under the custom designed lab coat she had for herself. Instead, choosing to wear a light colored dress with her hair up.

“Ah, Juliette,” he smiled as she approached him. Bending a little in the knees so that he could be leveled with Aiden, Vahn ruffled his hair, “And hello to you too, Little Man.”

Juliette laughed as Aiden reached up for Vahn, still in awe over how big the man was over himself.

“How have you liked the festival so far? I’ve gotten lost at every turn,” his blue-haired friend sheepishly admitted, scratching the back of her head, “Without my guide, Aiden and I have really been on an adventure.”

Scratching his cheek at that comment, Vahn couldn’t help but to chuckle.

“Your guide? I’d say you’re doing fine on your own. You’ve found me, haven’t you?”

The mother laughed once again. Something he had started seeing more and more often as she got accustomed to life here in Ivywood

“I suppose. Though, it’s more like Aiden found you. He kept tugging me in this direction,” she hiked him up once, getting his attention as well, “If I didn’t know any better, I would say he’s got a Vahn tracker up in his cute, little head.”

Juliette shook her head, switching her weight from one leg to the next.

“Well, actually, I just saw a new tent being put up past here, a few yards away,” she explained, “An elegant purple tent draped high. Apparently, an idol is the master of that tent, challenging festival goers to various card games and matching wits, the like.”

Now that she mentioned it, he had, in fact, seen a tent finishing up with it’s final touches as he ventured out far enough into the festival grounds. Maybe that was the one she meant.

“I… Well, I figured someone like you… You know, someone intelligent and fun, would appreciate a friendly card game,” she scratched her cheek, looking downwards, a little embarrassed, “With the opportunity to win one of those prize flowers too, of course! A-and some sort of Pokéball too. If that interests you, I mean, aha…”

Juliette had this thing about getting nervous when she thought she was speaking too much or felt that she said something somewhat strange. She started speaking fast and anxiously, something that always made Vahn chuckle a little. Placing his arm on her shoulder, he smiled, “How about I go check this tent out? Sounds good to you?”

Approaching the tent, it was just as Juliette had described it and suddenly he was a little nervous at meeting an idol.  

“Hello? Excuse me?”

“Hey~! Have a seat~” the woman in the tent spoke with a bubbly voice and gestured for him to sit. “I’m Akiko, and we’re gonna play a card game, alright~? Choose anything you like!”  

Vahn made himself comfortable as he sat across from the woman, smiling. "A card game? and I get to pick?" Akiko nodded enthusiastically as she handed him the deck of cards.

Shuffling it a few times as he thought, Vahn finally cut the deck with a chuckle, dealing out half the cards and reaching over to place them into her outstretched hand. "Well, nothing could be simpler than 'Slap Jack' could it? Ready?"

The game started a bit slowly, as it usually did, with each player finding their rhythm with the other as they placed their cards face up in a pile between them. Before they had gotten too far into their hands, the first Jack was placed, both of them slamming their palms flat onto the stack of cards.

"Aha, this one is mine~" Akiko said, shuffling her prize into her hand with a playful smirk.

Vahn tilted his head slightly and leaned forward just a bit more. She was quick. He'd have to pay closer attention.

"Alright, alright, don't get cocky." he said with a laugh "I'm just rusty is all~"

The round began again, this time they both hit a good stride right away, cards slipped from their hands in a flurry, both of them focused on the task at hand.

A two, a ten, six, seven, three, nine, Jack!

Vahns hand shot forward, to his amazement, he was too slow yet again. Akiko glanced up at him teasingly “How about now? Still rusty~?”

This may have been the closest Vahn had been to actually pouting in years, not only was she beating him at a game he enjoyed quite a bit, she was beating him soundly and he hadn’t even been able to hold his own yet!

Glancing down at his hand, Vahn realized he was running low on cards already. “Okay, that’s it.”
He said with finality, as if just saying that was going to turn the tables. Rolling up his sleeves he pushed his loose ponytail back over his shoulder to get it out of the way. She laughed at his sudden flare of determination and shuffled her hand. “You’re gonna have to do a little better~” there was a song on her voice and Vahn had to laugh. She was enjoying this, and admittedly, so was he. It had been far too long since he’d enjoyed a card game with another person.

“Heh, quit your ribbing and let’s go again.”

Again they hit their strides early on, placing card after card, red, black, red. Vahn and Akiko found themselves grinning in anticipation until finally, another Jack!

This time when he looked, Vahn had his hand on the cards first. Grinning he picked up his prize, increasing his hand exponentially. He made a point not to gloat as he shuffled his hand again.

The next round was his also, then the next, until Akiko finally ran out of cards to play.

Straightening out cards, Vahn handed the deck back with a smile. “Well, it looks like this game is mine, thank you for an enjoyable match, it’s been years since I played.”