Johanna had been all too focused on rehearsing a new dance routine for her show to notice the approach of a trainer and his Pokémon.

And honestly she didn’t think much of it as a random Pikachu joined her in the cheerful dance. Only when the music came to a halt and the clearing of a throat announced the presence of another human there, did she realize a Pikachu hadn’t been the only new arrival.

A warm shade of red spread over her cheeks. “Oh, uh, sorry, yes, that’s right.”

She was so unaccustomed to these private challenges. As most of her challengers had taken their shot at fifteen minutes of fame.

“Well let’s get to it then, I’ve made you wait long enough, no?!” Embarrassed surprise exchanged with cheerful eagerness as she made her way to her side of the arena, and then summoned her two fighters. A Lucario and Aegislash.

“Well, first move goes to you.” She simply stated as both her Pokémon readied themselves.

While her introductory round didn’t go as intended, she was dead set on making the next round work in her favor.

Alas the next round was appetizers, the main ingredient being shrimp. While she hadn’t done much cooking ever, she did have an idea for a dish that was sure to be shrimply the best.

It was a simple dish named Bang Bang Shrimp. But it was sure to win over the hearts and minds of those there.

She began by preheating the oven to 400° before lining a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Quickly grabbing a shallow bowl, she began to stir together bread crumbs, oil, and garlic powder and seasoned it with salt and pepper.

In another shallow bowl, she whisked eggs. She then put flour in a third bowl. Using tongs, she dipped shrimp first in flour, then egg, then panko mixture, and transferred to the prepared baking sheet. Continue until all shrimp are coated.


She then allowed the whole thing to bake until the shrimps were crispy and golden.

While waiting, she began to make the BANG BANG SAUCE. First she grabbed a medium bowl, in it she whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, lime juice, and honey and season with salt.


When the shrimp were done, and taken out, she drizzled Bang Bang Sauce over shrimp and garnished with cilantro.

From there Isaac the Bewear took over, doing its best to prepare the food on the plate as best it could, unfortunately its movements were slow, perhaps too slow for the competition, but it had to be deliberate or risk breaking the plate like it would a child's spine.

Only then, when the dish was sent to serving did she realize that other contestants, in particular Ashley Shepard had picked the same dish. She could only pray that hers were the better of the two.



KE_0LGD4

MISSION: Steel Chef Cooking contest.
LOCATION: Lilycove City
PRIOR ROLLS
- 21
TOTAL
- 92

@tag

Johanna had cursed the day she accidentally mentioned to Ettie that she was going into another rift. Endangering a kid like that, no matter how skilled, didn’t seem right. But she knew that Ettie would follow with or without her supervision.

And so she allowed the Young girl with her on this expedition. As for the other person. She didn’t know him, but he seemed polite enough.

Introductions were in order, though it seemed Ettie and Nikita already knew each other. Still, Johanna beamed both man and Pokémon with a wide friendly smile as she said. “Oh no no, surely it is My pleasure to meet you. I am Johanna Joy.”

Anyhow, she would join Nikita in refusing Etties offer. She preferred Solid ground or the comforting arms of a Drifblim. And the latter was woefully lacking right now. Instead a Gengar walked by her side, wide grinned, while a Marshadow hid within her Shadows, still a bit unsure about its situation for now.

Nikita Sokolov Ettie

Food based Pokémon were always a bit weird to her. And Dascbun and its bread looking evolutionary line was no exception. Nevertheless a Swarm did warrant some looking at.

And so Johanna had arrived here, ready and willing to engage in combat with the Pokémon. And it didn’t take long before she found some troublemakers that needed dealing with.

And Claydol was all too eager to do it. Having not had a proper good wild battle in forever. Honestly it went to baking this Bread with such vigor that had Johanna not stopped it, the dough would’ve been charcoaled.

Either way, with the battle quickly over, she threw a Pokéball and hoped.

bluFYa1n

@tag

Johanna’s thoughts raced at the speed of light to figure out why Ruby was here.

The only conclusion she could think of was that Zev Harcourt had sent her as a reminder. But this time she wasn’t about to panic. This time she wouldn’t just go down without a fight like before.

Slowly she gained more and more of her composure, lost the deerling in headlight eyes, and even straightened her back as Ruby spoke.

She took a deep breath, before she spoke. “Thank you. Most of it was funded through my family’s fortune. Honestly, the only bit where the League got involved is the Battle Arena.” Her voice tried to carry some casualness to it, alas there was still an edge of tension to it.

“What brings you here? I doubt it was merely to say hello.”

LOCATION: Ever Grande City - Joyland

“Same here. I wonder what made them fall so suddenly.” Johanna mused. Admittedly she didn’t know if this was something they did on a regular basis.

Anyhow a question was posed to which she took a moment to ponder. “I’d personally go for a Cheri berry.” She would say. Before her attention was caught by the statement of the small kid by Aubre’s side.

Still holding the wild Minior in her arms, she would kneel down to get closer to eye-height with the kid as she asked. “Who is Mikky?” With a big friendly smile on her lips.

Johanna realized her mistake the moment the first word left the man's mouth. She tensed up. Something about him seemed familiar. As if it was a face she hadn’t seen in ages. Alas it did not seem like he recognized her.

Luckily it seemed he went along with her joke after all. And so she eased the sudden tension a bit. “You make a good point..” She acknowledged.

“But yeah, who are you looking for?”

Johanna gave Madeline an acknowledging nod at the smoking info.

As for the curfew, what Madeline said sounded reasonable. “She isn’t wrong about that.” Johanna jokingly commented.

An eyebrow raised when Madeline mentioned one teensy tiny thing. But before she spoke further the young woman moved to the balcony. Johanna was quick to follow. Letting her gaze fall down to the large backyard.

“Oh that doesn’t sound too bad.” Johanna agreed. If anything that was something she could set one of her Pokémon to. “Anything else while we are at it?” She sent a joking smile at Madeline’s direction.

When Isaac had invited her out on a little outing in Fortree, she hadn’t expected to find him sleeping in a tree.

Oh all the places he could fall asleep. Johanna sighed. He hadn’t even woken up when she arrived, and she hadn’t even been trying to hide her presence. Her casual attire very much made that apparent with its bright neon merch style. The TERAVOLT logo well worn by many a wash now.

She looked at her watch, for a moment wondering if she should just let him sleep. But the companion Pokémon of the day had other such thoughts.

The Omanyte wiggled its way down from her shoulder, then up the tree climbing sneakily until it found itself within range of Isaac’s face. Then it began to give the boy a good old facial massage, nose-tickling included.






LOCATION: Fortree City -> Route 120

For a moment Johanna was worried. She understood all too well how overwhelming it could be. But, she gave Ettie and her Pokémon time to adjust. And once they had, they all seemed all too eager to get started.

“It is a lot.” She nodded in agreement. “But luckily we have as much time as we want.”

“Is there anything here that you want to try, or do you just want to walk around and see the whole thing first?” Johanna asked.

OOC: Feel free to pick any generic Carnival rides and or games to visit in this area, if you want Ettie to immediately try stuff.
LOCATION: EVER GRANDE CITY -> JOYLAND
MISSION: VACATION TIME

Luckily for the nervous young man. He had wisely chosen to battle outside the show hours. And so he was spared the announcer’s jabs and the humongous audience that it so often attracted. Instead, those who watched were trainers from far and wide scouting the Gym for every edge they could find in hopes of improving their own chances.

It also meant that he got Johanna dressed in a more casual laid back attire. Even so, with her long blue hair, she fit right into the Jester’s theme with or without costume. But this wasn’t about her. No, a challenger stood in front of her. Small quiver in his smile, anxious grip on his Pokéball. He might’ve tried to hide it, but Johanna was all too familiar with what he experienced to not notice.

“First time?” She asked.

“Don’t worry I am sure you’ll do fine. Just focus on having fun, okay?” Johanna urged the trainer on as she summoned her two fighters, a Snorlax and a Tinkaton, both ready and eager to fight.

“I will let you have the first move.” Johanna stated.

“I am, and I sure hope you are too!” Johanna would reply. She was already dressed fancily for the occasion. “And I hope you don’t mind the audience.” A snicker escaped her before she lead the fellow Gym Leader to his entrance.

In the background they could hear the announcer riling up the Audience with such witty comments as.

“YOU KNOW HER, YOU LOVE HER. GIVE A WARM WELCOMING APPLAUSE FOR OUR DEAR JESTER QUEEN OF JOYLAND, JOHANNA JOY!”

And with that she pushed her way through the entrance walking to the battle arena waving at each and every member of the audience there.

Once she had taken her position in the trainer safety boxes. The light would dim in the arena as the announcer began once again. “AND IN THE OTHER CORNER, I AM SURE HE NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, IT'S OUR OWN AND BELOVED RUSTBURO GYM LEADER, CIAN ‘CIANNY DAY’ MAHAR.” The spotlight would immediately shine upon the exit from which Cian was sure to emerge, ready to follow him on his way.

Johanna sighed. Was that really the best he could come up with?

Once Both trainers were in position and Pokémon summoned, Johanna summoned an Aegislash and a Dragapult as her fighters. The Announcer would continue. “Now I am sure you both know the rules. But for those in the audience that doesn’t. The Rules are simple. The battle ends once both Pokémon are knocked out or the trainer yields. First move goes to the challenger…” He pretended to be thoughtful. “Yes I do believe that is all. So without further ado, let the battle begin.”

And with that the Announcer hurried off of the stage.