The voting round for the freestyle event had begun, Norman dawned his persona draped with a rather vampiric disguise for the Halloween event, rather the nervous almost uncertain gaze which laid on his features was replaced with a gaze of pure disinterest and annoyance sitting within his seat playing the part of a cold-hearted man. Leaning against his chair with the mask remaining before subtly snorting at the presence of his fellow voters (though admittedly, Norman had nothing against him the persona manufactured was not a man that got along well with others opposed to him entirely). Regardless the performances for each contestant appeared before his very eyes allowing him to judge with a swift, cold verdict with no mercy nor any favouritism.
Some of the costumes wore were fitting for the theme while others were… not inspired, and very little effort placed into them. His inner teacher felt a stab in his heart at the lack of creativity and care, but that was not the main event for the night. No… they came for the freestyling.
Honestly, Grimsley’s performance portraying the vampire just for the blood to be spill on the stage, like the famous of them all; Dracula being killed with a stake certain aroused the ground, inwardly worried that the man had been truly injured Norman pushed away those thoughts and recalled the manner in which the other, feeling captivated by the movements wondering with curiosity which might happen at the end.
“Very well done,” He whispered with silent approval marking down his vote quietly, eyes never straying from sight before switching his view to the next performers that appeared.
Agatha’s performance certainly held a beautiful, hypnotic essence unable to tear his gaze away hearing the music laying in the background watching her Pokemon move around, unable to place why but thoroughly enjoyed the creepiness from her and her team working in synch with one another in tandem with the music almost like a ballet. A frightening one hearing the tune continuing to echo through one ear and out, Norman continued to enjoy what was before his eyes.
Obviously, not able to say a word and refusing to show a hint of interest. The way her Pokemon appeared from the sludge and from the shadows was worth being praised over.
May’s performance was instantons one that many stared and hung on, that of the legendary Skeleton man and King of Halloween or rather the Queen of Halloween herself; Jack Skellington, the face paint beneath the darkness of the stage emphasised her nature whimsical and even playful with Shinx appearing almost as a carbon copy of the dog, Zero, dancing along with her bubbly and happily, the sense of adventure appeared on the stage.
The fall from above nearly had his heart jump out of his ribcage before calming himself down, the fact she managed to pull off such a feat both had been impressive and rather frightening. A perfect way to snag the audience’s attention.
The rest of the performances flew by one by one; Fabien’s singing had been truly heart-wrenching and Hinoko’s weaponry illusion had been interesting as well, Annalise and her mischievous Mareanie was... something to say the least, the look at the end was something to remember while Yuugetsu proved herself to be a rather strong contender in the long run. When the voting finally came around and all the performances were done, picking out of them all proved to be… difficult.
Norman admitted, his worry for Grimsley and Fabien remained, agreeing with the idea of a redo though casted his vote anyway.
“I must say, they were all well done and in acted,” His head nodded with his fake accent coming through before holding out his sheet. “For my vote, I am casting them for Grimsley, Hinoko and Agatha.”
A common expression from an critical mind.
Focus, an intense look that pins deep into
performance as a mentor for many. He
sought a sliver of magnificence with this
mix of armatures & professionals. Among
GHASTLY stories & VIBRANT performances,
Siebold hides his mouth with the back of his
hand, the aesthete judges by his OWN INTUITION.
Story after story, only few could accomplish
the feel that successfully strikes Siebold’s
fancy, his thirst for the ,macabre & uncanny.
Naturally, a story, with such themes would
have been a grand idea that introduced a
realm of creativity.
@ranseiuniter // vote 1
‘ There was a close selection. Though
problems were far and few between ,
a refusal to select a performance that
was barely even viewable. Though, HERE－
The beauty in eerie silence was delectable.
A foreign culture was always mysterious & this
expressed beautifully in an array of obscuring
phantoms and fog, with the tragic emotion of
sacrifice.
LOVELY
DREADFULLY
No cheap scares, a splendid performance that
satisfied the pallets of ones with premium
tastes. It may not been as bone-chilling as
more aggressive performances, but there was
a discovery of elegance in the ironic mixture
of dance & battle. ’
“The movements remind me that of the
alluring dance of the ghastly SENSU
oricorio.”
‘ Not to mention the combination of efforts
exhibited by the pokemon.Use of illusions
was typical in a festival dedicated to
the Halloween theme, though there was
a uniqueness of actual interaction
between misty warriors & those watching
in person. It was the optimal choice to
plant a heart-stopping mark into the
memory of the crowd. ’
@stageonmay // vote 2
‘ A contest performer who has had experience
with the stage before; this is obvious from
watching this performance. There had been
a theme here, dressed as well loved characters
and performing a a familiar tune.The meticulous
paint job on the pokemon was indeed a plus,
the adorned feigned patchwork on the
venasaur remained a highlight in costume
of choice.
Between piece & performance, there was
indeed little correlation besides the
aforementioned. Like a visual display at the
contests in Hoenn, what was placed on the
table was TECHNIQUE & BOND.
The continuous use of combinations
( as well as the expression of versatility
proven by the Beautifuly’s PSYCHIC ) paired
with any acts of trust between the contestant
& pokemon was the persistent show that had
been put on. Albeit, it seemed as if the
performance was all over the place from
time to time. '
“It felt like a modern painting with colors that
popped ( almost irritatingly so ). Like a
cartoon-ish experiential piece.“
@imbicilite // vote 3
‘ A MUSICAL NUMBER.
NO- it was ever much more than a mere
performance. Explosive emotion based
off retaliation. Something of it felt RAW,
PERSONAL. Perhaps, this was his own
mind imposing, as it almost RESONATED
with him. WHO WAS THIS ACTOR?
Either way, a daring performance that a tinge
of turbulence was felt with the risky ROCK
TOMB. Placing oneself in the forefront of
the performance, using pokemon as mere
SUPPORT for the show, it was reminiscent
of the actual showcase performances. The
fright came from shock factor solely, a
shame seeing the frills are in the few
moves among petals and flames. '
hikari corong, newcomer to the faire ( who isn’t 100% sure how she got in here or why she’s still here, but accepts the role of passing judgement of some kind anyway ) casts two of her votes for @stageonmay and @ranseiuniter.
“ You know--- ” She started, pondering aloud. “ All these were scary enough in themes and all, but it takes a special kinda creepy to give ya chills without overdoing it. I consider myself a kinda-sorta connoisseur of scary stuff, right? “ A ghost hunter, at that. She was looking for a lead when she stumbled upon the event, mostly by accident. Were any of these people genuinely possessed? Someone had mentioned something online, about a group of people doing terrifying stuff... but these all seemed like stage performances. With Pokémon. No actual paranormal activity seemed to be amiss. This is why you always needed to take internet reports with a grain of salt.
Anyway, consider “nuanced spooky” a genre she wanted to be considered an expert in: how to give someone the chills while revealing as little as possible. Sometimes the scariest things, in her opinion, left something to the imagination. And a lot of the performances she witnessed---the ones with blood, violence---those never struck her as scary in the least. Hikari tapped her chin a moment longer, as if she was lost in thought. Three votes max, but she wasn’t sure she was up to using all three.
“ That’s why I’m picking May and Hiroko. They’ve got like.. nuance to their performances, I think. There’s something really special about being able to pull that off, having that kinda vibe. “ Does she really understand what’s going on? It’s hard to say. Hikari looks around, and makes a final offer.
“ Also, does anyone here need, like, ghost hunting services? An exorcism, maybe? Some of y’all still look pretty messed up... I mean, I can’t really do an exorcism and definitely aren’t certified for it, but I’m definitely willin’ to try anything, for a good commission. I came here looking for a business opportunity, but I think the word going around the haunting reports corner of Reddit for what this event is may just be a tad bit misleading... “
Freestyle scores from Professional Coordinator Silica Lynne entering as a guest judge! Participants mentioned: @dracaelum-faerie & @stageonmay ; @heartists @allhalllows
“What a wild and varied set! It’ll be such a hard choice to narrow these terrifying teams down when all these performances are filled with absolute cutiiiiiees!”
Despite the over the top, her gaze had been intense throughout the entirety of the shows. There’s a lot going on right now behind the scenes, things she’d heard that was hard not to take into consideration. But she was, first and foremost, a performer. It was her job to maintain the hype of the stage for all who watched and not the drama beyond the curtain.
“What’s really important in performances with themes like these is to have flair without overdramatizing. Terror in a stage performance is no easy feat to claim I have to give my first vote to Annalise. Conceptually, the idea of sirens as more than just aqua eyecandy is always appealing nowadays. But literal maneaters? Can’t help but love that~! Tales of the sea are a common thing no matter the year, and I think it takes something special to pull off such a haunting performance. Lovely visuals, and an enrapturing story. The atmosphere set chills down my spine, and the execution... was to die for.”
Boo all you want. She’s not taking it back.
“Next, my second vote is going to May! Terrifying wasn’t particularly what came to mind when it came to this performance -- though I admit, that scream made me jump -- but there was a charm to it that I couldn’t help but latch on to! It was a nice change of pace, even while it fit the theme. The flow of their moves and how they maneuvered as one was rather captivating, and you have to give props for the costumework. I have a lot of respect for someone who takes their place on the stage and owns it! And fireworks always make for a dazzling finale!”
“So that’s that! And to the rest of you, everyone did a stellar job! Nice work, kiddos!”
The elite trainer thought carefully before making a decision. There were so many amazing performances that it would be hard to choose just a few, but he was prepared to vote fairly and without any biases.
“My first vote goes to May. It’s easy to see that she has experience in the performing arts, due to the precision and control she exerted over the stage. I could tell that in certain moments she was tense, but how could she not be? Some of her tricks were quite risky, and the fact that she managed to pull them off speaks volumes about her dedication. Of course, there was one part that could have been just a cheap scare, but it was a reference to the music, so it complemented her show rather than taking away from it.”
“Next would be Agatha. As expected of a Ghost-type expert, she managed to get everyone’s attention with an intimidating show while also catching us by surprise quite a few times, without relying on cheap scares to keep us on our toes. It’s not everyday that someone incorporates their Pokémon’s entrance into the stage as part of their performance! Finally, the choice in music was excellent, giving it an even more haunting vibe.”
“And last, but not least, would be Hiroko. While normally I’d be skeptic of a performance with low visibility, she somehow made it work. The attention to detail was easily the most impressive part: Each soldier looked real, and their armor was so detailed that it’s hard to believe it was made of ice. Her dance complemented it, being elegant and at the same time sharp, two traits that naturally draw the eye. It’s plain to see that Hiroko knew what she was doing the entire time, and there was so much going on that it’s hard to express how difficult that must be.”
Granted, they were out cold with a... cold (it was stupid, getting a cold just because they weren’t used to the cold), but they watched the official recordings alongside the footage they begged from their phantump. They even wrote notes on each showcase!
Kala glanced down at the aforementioned notes. The cover was worn, curling at the edges, ripped at the spine. ...maybe they shouldn’t have used their usual notebook for this. The fancy event deserved a nicer-looking notebook.
“Let’s see...” Kala mumbled, as they flipped page after page. “I’m voting for... this one was ‘pretty.’ This one was also ‘pretty.’ Oh, and this one too. And there’s this one... what did I write down for it? ....’Pretty.’”
Okay, so maybe they weren’t very good at taking notes.
Slamming their notebook shut and nearly tearing off the covers in the process, Kala began to pace. “This is fine, this is fine,” they told themself, “this is fine. I can still vote. I’ll go with the ones that nearly stopped my heart. That’s the point of the All Hallows’ Faire, right? To be scary? So...”
@dracaelum-faerie because now I can’t swim in the ocean even though I love it.
@imbicilite because that person shouldn’t even be conscious after that!
@grimastor because of cool action, blood, and HE DIED.
“My vote is for May. For one, she’s the only contestant who actually used a fire type Pokémon. Two, she used said fire type to almost perfection. If I were a scoring judge, I would’ve knocked down a few points for only using ONE fire type move, but lucky for her, fire spin is a good choice for a fire move, especially considering her only competition in that department is Fabien’s Will-O-Wisp that just lit up candles. Seeing as how Chandelure is a Pokémon that is pretty much what he was going for, it doesn’t really have the pizzazz fire attacks have to offer. Sure, May was a heavy favorite to get my vote as she’s been the only one nice to me while I’ve been here, but seriously! She’s the ONLY ONE to use a fire type! The others were just ASKING for me not to vote for them. So, May, here’s five points to you.”
Mentioned users: @dracaelum-faerie, @stageonmay, and @ranseiuniter
Up first in his sight was Annalise's Display, and this was one that terrified him first, in a good way. He would rate Yuugetsu's or Grimsley's, but it'd be unfair for him to have more than one friend at once... and the fact that both of them gave him more terror than Annalise's.
"I have to say, that despite her being so cute, I wouldn't expect her to have come up with this terrifying escapade.
For looks, I'd have to give it a high number at 23/30. The Ships and Hazy field were quite nicely put, and everyone's Costumes fit well. As for the actual act... I might even have a nightmare of being THAT Mirage Pirate.
For Complexity, it's a solid 26/30. Using Psychic Energy to manipulate the water to make it look like a stormy sea was an excellent touch. It truly made the appeal that much more haunting.
As for Originality, I'm going with 27/30. It's nothing like I've ever seen; and even if it was, she gives it a unique shock to it.
With 10 additional Points due to using her Theme, and 5 each for both Haze and Psychic... That adds up to 96 Points of a personal score, and a definite vote."
"Alright... next up is May. I have to say, what she referenced in her appeal happens to be one of my favorite movies, so there might be some bias.
Looks- I have to say, the Bias is likely here. A large quantity of 27/30 points is awarded for giving that display. It was almost like re-watching the movie all over again, if not given your creative twist onto it.
Complexity- This earns a 22/30. The usage of the moves flowed elegantly, and the Firework ending was a nice touch.
Originality- This one might tank her a bit; I'm only giving a 19/30 for her Appeal's originality. It's only mostly for it being referenced to an actual movie instead of something out of your own head. But, the way you did it was an interesting take on the classic.
Adding 5 points to each move of Scary Face and Psychic, that adds up to 78 Points, and my vote."
"Finally, we have Hiroko. To be honest, I haven't heard much about the region of Ransei, but I've heard it's like Reborn a bit; one area for every type of Pokémon. Where you come from doesn't matter, but your Appeal does.
Looks- I'd have to say this display earns 24/30 points. The wintery war theme is enough to give chills... both figuratively and literally. It seemed like something out of Johto, even; maybe your cultures are similar?
Complexity- This earns a Good chunk of 24/30 Points as well. Using all of your Pokémon's moves to make the scene was simply inspired.
Originality- I have to award 26/30 Here, for the war theme and the usage of the moves together. Honestly? It would be something to see if all of Ransei had this kind of talent.
Adding 10 due to her Theme appeal, and 5 each for Psychic and Shadow Ball, Your personal score from me adds up to 94 Points, and my third and final vote."
"...of course, My actual scores probably don't mean shit because of our 'wondrous, benevolent, altruistic hostess' has likely already selected who won without batting an eyelash."
