[RIGHT][b][color=#588265]Courtyard | Shula Castle [/color][/b] [color=#b9ac14] ☽ ☾[/color]  [b][color=#588265]Interacting with: N/A[/color][/b]
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[COLOR=#f5fffa]Posted within Shula Castle's vast cliffside courtyard, The Marvelous Meloetta Minstrels—or the Three Ems, as they came to be known—were putting on the first of many performances for the festivities. Due largely to their troupe master's tireless but effective badgering of the officials, they had won the bid for prime entertainer in the prestigious Firebrand Tourney. It had been no easy feat, considering they were one of hundreds vying for the honor, and quite grueling work, but it paid incredibly well. They were to offer three days' worth of entertainment, bookending the events and feasts with opening and closing performances, with some more scattered in between during breaks and transitory periods. It was hours on end of dances and plays and songs.

And that wasn't including the troupe's actual main attraction: all the wealthy nobles gathered in one place.

Saiya peered through the curtains of their grand stage, scanning and assessing their audience as she waited for the current act to conclude. It was a smaller crowd, as most were still inside socializing and enjoying the feast, but even this was bigger than the usual, day-to-day ones they were accustomed to. Richer, too, judging from the expensive materials of their clothing. From the rare Krookodile and Feraligatr leather shoes, belts, and purses, to the myriad of exotic Pokémon fur skins and silk dresses—it was safe to say these people had more than enough to spare.

From where she stood, Saiya could spy her Captain already flitting about the distracted Atlans, into their pockets and satchels as one tiny Pokémon and out as another, loot in tow. Saiya knew how giddy he was today, with so many Pokémon around to mimic; it was more of a feast for him than the one inside the castle. She waited as he transformed into a Poochyena that an older, balding gentlemen had by his side then signaled for him to return with a discreet Fletchling call. Captain pretended to nuzzle at the old man's hand before gently biting at the golden bracelet that hung from his wrist, letting it fall into his snout. He ran back to the stage with the old man and his Pokémon none the wiser, mischief shining in the lavender flecks of his eyes.

Saiya welcomed Captain with a hug and pressed their foreheads together. [color=#6ccc82]"You were great out there, Cap!"[/color] she grinned, scratching behind his ears. Together, they packed up the day's haul to present to the troupe later in the evening, keeping a select few of their favorites for themselves. The curtains opened just as they finished storing everything, and the previous performer, a juggler doing a bit with his Machamp, beckoned her towards the stage. 

"You're up, Kisa-kiss!" He puckered his lips in jest and hurried her along.

[color=#6ccc82]"Yeah, yeah,"[/color] Saiya gave him a wink and blew him a kiss, her signature move to get the crowd riled up. 

Today's routine was an easy one she had mastered years ago, a crowd pleaser with its more risqué movements. As the troupe's band began playing music, accompanied by their Kricketots and Kricketunes, Saiya stepped onto the stage and basked in the round of applause that greeted her. Captain transformed back into a more familiar form then, to a Fletchling so he can fly up and watch from above.

Saiya kept an eye on the crowd as she danced, looking for potential tourney victors and eventual targets. It was foolish to steal the reward money directly from the city—that was a one-way ticket to rotting in a cell. Stealing from the winners, however, seemed quite doable.
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