victory_road | July catch-all log

[As they had agreed, Armin had sent Newt the exact time and place for them to meet: just outside of Mahogany town where the road towards the Lake of Rage starts. It’s a pretty visible spot, so she shouldn’t have any problems spotting him. He’s got Phobos with him, of course. The little Eevee is currently left outside of his ball and curled up in Armin’s arms, so he can slowly get used to Newt once he meets her. Armin had prepared him for this meeting and what was to come, of course, but he wanted to give him all the time he could.

Phobos isn’t the only thing he has with him though. In addition to the Eevee, Armin also has a bag standing at his feet, full of freshly purchased snacks and drinks, fit for both Pokemon and humans. This is one trade that shouldn’t be rushed, and if they are going to spend some time on this, they might as well have lunch, right? A little picnic to get both Pokemon nice and relaxed.

Or well, that had been his reasoning, at least.]

[Newt had debated on what pokemon to bring with her. She was obviously bringing the Poliwag but said poliwag was staying in her pokeball for the time being. But her own team, she wanted to bring one of them as well. It had to be one of her calmer ones. Despite his recent change of behavior she wasn't bringing Jonesy for example.

So in the end she decided to bring the one that made the most sense. Ripley, being a Growlithe might be larger then say, Casey or some of the the others. But Ripely was also with her almost constantly. And was the one who looked after the others the most. She was good with nervous pokemon....and little girls.

Still, when they get closer to where she sees Armin, she gets off Ripley's back and walks next to her over to where the older boy is standing. Her own bag around her shoulder.]

Hello.

[It might have been hard to tell on just the gear, but Newt is rather small for her age. Which is why Ripley tends to look bigger. However she's been here for almost half a year so she's no longer semi feral or malnourished looking. Her voice is still as quiet as ever though.]

[She is small, but then, so is Armin. Taller than her, obviously, but pretty small for a (nearly) adult male. And with a slightly scrawny build that still hints at a past where food wasn't as abundant as here. But, like her, the time here has also done a lot of good for him. He's filled out a little and the time in the sun has given him a healthy tan.]

Hi. [He shifts a little, and while the Eevee in his arms stiffens a little at the appearance of the Growlithe, he doesn't bolt.] Uhm. I thought we might as well eat a bit while we trade our Pokemon.

[That is Armin explaining the bag of food at his feed. And also him trying to make conversation.]

Okay. I have the Poliwag, I thought you should probably name her.

[Newt nods and pulls out a pokeball from her pocket and holds it in her hand. Ripley meanwhile sits down next to her her, slightly to the side. Newt pats her head.]

I brought Ripley too because she's always with me, and I thought it would be good for Phobos to meet her first. She's used to pokemon that are nervous and also people who are nervous.

[Ripley probably kept her sane the first few days. And with that Newt will let a Poliwag out of the pokeball.

The Poliwag looks around and then over at Newt who smiles slightly.]

This is the nice man that is going to look after you. I think you'll fit better with his team, and you don't have to see Jonesy again either. I am really sorry about that.

[The Poliwag is now looking over at you Armin.]

[Yes, naming her will be good. Though honestly, Armin wouldn't have minded it if Newt had thought up a name for her. Naming isn't really his strongest suit. He spends a lot of time over-thinking the names he gives his pokemon, making it a pretty slow process.]

Hi.

[That is to the Poliwag. He'd hold out a hand to her, but he also doesn't want to let go of Phobos just yet, not with this many new impressions here.]

My name is Armin. I'm not sure what Newt told you about me, but I really like Water Pokemon of any kind. I have a lot of them back home who I can introduce you to if you want. [A small smile.] And no Shinxes.

[The Poliwag, looks back at Newt and then toddles over to where Armin is. Accepted! Newt smiles more.]

See, I told you he'd be nice.....um, do I give you her pokeball and we trade like that, or do they switch ones?

[She's never traded a pokemon before so, not quite sure.]

[Armin smiles down at the Poliwag. Hello beautiful new child of his.]

I think we exchange pokeballs.

[That seems the most logical to him.]

How about we find somewhere to sit down. We can sort everything out then.

Okay, that makes sense.

[She'll look around. Then point to under a tree.]

What about there?

[Armin glances over to where she points, before nodding.]

That looks good.

[It does. Quiet, out of the way, and with a bit of shade. It will be perfect for trading their pokemon and having some lunch.]

[Sounds like a plan. Newt will walk over, with Ripley following behind her. When they sit down, Ripley sits to the edge by Newt, to keep an eye on the surrounding area. Having judged Armin as not a threat.]

Here's her ball.

[After sitting down Newt will pass over the pokeball for the Poliwag. This pokemon is less nervous, just slightly grumpy at the moment so passing it over now isn't that big of a deal.]

[Armin finds a spot on the grass to sit down too. Phobos remains on his knees for now, but he is peering at Newt with some interest. The fact that it is just the two of them, and two other pokemon helps. There isn't enough of a crowd to really get him nervous.]

Thank you. I'll hand you Phobos' ball too. Ah, you'll have to remove my mark though.

[Armin is talking about the small AA written just next to the pokeball's catch. He's always travelled or stayed with other people in this world, and well, it is pretty easy to mix up pokeballs. To prevent that from happening, Armin made sure to mark all of his with his initials, and he'll do the same to the Poliwag's pokeball later.]

[Newt looks over at Phobos and offers a smile before looking back over at Armin.]

Mark? Why do you mark your pokeballs?

[Newt, living/travelling by herself isn't sure why you'd mark pokeballs.]

It's so I won't mix them up with my friends' pokeballs. When I was first brought here, so were some of my friends, so we travelled together. And now I live together with several other people.

[How many?? who knows.]

With so many people, it's easy to mix up pokeballs. So I started marking mine with my initials, see?

[He turns Phobos' pokeball in his hands so she can see the small neat letters.]

Oh, that makes sense.

I just travel with my pokemon. So I don't have to worry about getting them mixed up with other peoples.

You've never had anyone to travel with?

[Armin starts unpacking the food he has brought. Which turns out to be fairly straightforward: a few bottles of water, some sandwiches he bought, and a couple of donuts and treats for the pokemon.]

[Yes, food. Newt may have been here for a while but food you don't have to scavenge or eat from old packages is still nearly magical to her.]

People?

No. I had a few people say I could stay with them, like Credence, when he was here. They were nice and Credence as my friend, but I know they said that because I'm a kid. But I want to travel and earn badges.

If my friends from home were here. I'd travel with them.

[She honestly can't imagine a situation where she wouldn't latch onto them the moment they arrived.]

But I don't want to get my hopes up. So I'm fine with just being with my pokemon and talking to people on the gear and meeting people in person sometimes. That's happened a few times.

I always wanted to travel too when I was young.

[As if, at the grand old age of seventeen, he is old now. But still, when he was Newt's age, he would've jumped at the opportunity to travel and befriend pokemon, so he can understand why she does it.

Setting out everything he bought, he then gives her a nod.]

Feel free to take whatever you'd like.

[Phobos, who has been laying by Armin's knees while they talked, has slowly been getting over his initial shyness and nerves, lifting his head, and leaning forward just a bit to take a sniff of Newt. His movements are cautious though, as if he's ready to jump back at a moment's notice.]

[She nods slightly. The idea of travelling back home is complicated. She used to like the idea of exploring the moon more, but an unknown area on said moon had brought ....well aliens. And everything else...even earth was too far off. Here it's easier and the monsters less deadly and less community destroying.]

Okay.

[Newt notices Phobos and makes sure not to make any sudden movements. She's all too aware of how he's acting and how he might act if startled. So she'll just take some food and pass some back to Ripley who is making sure they're safe but will have time for food.

She glances over at Phobos, carefully then back to Armin.]

I like him. He reminds me of me. I was even more scared of things when the marines found me. Ripley tried to grab me but I was in the vents and she had to chase after me and drag me out.

[She was also semi feral and mute at that point but you know. Details.]

Edited 2018-07-25 23:05 (UTC)

[Hey, she went semi-feral and mute, Armin went catatonic with fear when he first faced the Titans. It just happens.

Armin gently strokes his fingers down Phobos' back, trying to give him some support as he grows more comfortable with the situation.]

He is very sweet.

[And an awesome cuddler in bed.]

When they found you? Were you lost?

[She finishes what she's eating before having a drink of water and replying.]

Lost? No. They were just sent from Earth to look for survivors. I'd been living in the vents for weeks by then. I knew where more places were than they did. I wanted to avoid them though because I knew they were going to die. Everyone else did.

[Has another drink of water before passing Ripley over a snack.]

The monsters in my world like to kill people, or worse.

[Even during the height of summer, the air is always just that bit more cool and crisp here in Blackthorn.

Armin gladly breathes it in as he steps out of the poke-centre, looking as ready as he can for a hike in the mountains. To be honest, when he had first read about this Oakie Brown, he had been very unsure on how he was ever going to find someone who spends most of her time living in the mountains, but thankfully, Sasha had offered her help. Armin had seen enough of her tracking skills during their training days to know that if there is anyone who is going to be able to find this woman, it is Sasha.

Still, Armin made sure to be prepared. His bag is packed with everyone one could need in the forest for a few days: food, fresh changes of clothing: a sleeping bag. Even with Sasha's skills, it might take them a while to find her, and Armin wants to leave nothing to chance.

Heading towards where he agreed to meet up with her, he raises his hand with a smile when he spots a familiar shape, breaking out into a jog.]

Sasha!

[That air is what Sasha likes the best about Blackthorn. Sure, it's farther away from the bigger cities than any other town, but it reminds her of home, of better days, where all she had to do to center herself was look up and watch the mountains.

But that's then and this is now and Sasha's at the meeting spot rocking on her heels, hands looped around the straps of her backpack. Her father and the military trained her well, so her bag's pack just as well as Armin's, with the addition of a first aid kit. It wouldn't do if one of them fell and skinned their knees.

She smiles back as she moves to meet him halfway, glad to see one of her oldest buds. It's been a while since they've hung out together and without Shadis breathing down their necks.]

Ready to go? Do you have to use the bathroom first?

[You know, always smart to go before you actually go, Armin!]

I don't think anyone has asked me that in about ten years...

[Not since Carla died.]

You don't need to be worried in that regard. I took care of everything.

[And then he hurries to add, because really, he has no intention of talking more about the state of his bladder:]

I brought some Pokemon I thought might be useful while we are in the forest, but I thought it might be best to keep them in their balls. I don't want them making a mess of any tracks there might be.

It's never too late to ask if you have to go pee, Armin!

[Sure, they can be like bears and go in the woods, but they have other people to hunt down. The less stops they make, the faster they can find Oakie.

She nods at his mention of Pokemon, patting the side of her backpack.]

I did too. I left Omelette at home and brought Jean and a few other strong ones. I'm hoping we don't run into any weird trainers because I'm here for the hunt, not training. [Speaking of the hunt, Sasha turns on her heel and points northwards.] All right, let's go! While we still have daylight!

[Peeing is not something they need to talk about! You know, like trauma and self-worth issues!]

Right, I'll follow your lead.

[Armin brought a few of his flying pokemon, in case they want to canvas things from the air. Of course, depending on which area of the forest Oakie is in, that might not actually prove to be a viable option. If she is deep within the trees, Webby and Amelia won't be able to see anything. And while Webby might consent to flying through the forest, Armin knows that Amelia will do no such thing. She might get pine needles or resin stuck to her feathers, no thank you, sir.]

[Ah, so that's what that therapy business is for!

With a nod, Sasha begins picking through the woods where everything looks relatively unremarkable. Sure there's a few tame Pokemon that cross their path, a couple that keep their distance as they curiously watch the humans pass by, but nothing is screaming THE PERSON YOU ARE LOOKING FOR HAS BEEN HERE to her.]

I wonder how far in she is. I'm not seeing anything out of place yet.

[It would help if they had aerial coverage, but the last thing they need is tiring out a Pokemon before they found much of anything.]

It sounds like she really values her privacy, so she is probably a lot further in. A lot of people must come into this part of the forest while training pokemon.

[Though honestly, if something had been out of place, Armin wouldn't have been able to tell. Everything just looks like twigs, leaves, and trees to him. He has no idea how Sasha does it.]

Should I... keep my eyes open for anything in particular?

Edited (armin does in fact have two eyes.) 2018-08-03 21:11 (UTC)

You mean she's a hermit.

[Sasha giggles because even in her old village, deep in the mountains, there was an old hermit lady who lived on her own. She wasn't as cool sounding as Oakie Brown the Dragon Trainer, but she did grown some tasty tomatoes.]

Look for footprints, overturned rocks, plants that look out place... like that!

[She points over to their left to a bush that doesn't quite fit with the rest of them. It looks the same as the rest to the untrained eye, but there's a clear sign to her eyes that it's a berry bush that's been fiddled with.]

Someone was here. Foraging, it looks like. [Sasha crouches by the bush and holds out the end of a branch to Armin.] See how the tips of the branch are still in shape? If it was an animal... er, Pokemon they wouldn't be that careful about taking off the berries. Fingers do this, not teeth. Someone was being careful not to damage the bush so the berries would grow back.

[Armin jumps a little, his eyes going to where Sasha points but... he can't really see it. It definitely looks the same to the untrained eye. It isn't until Sasha crouches by the bush and starts pointing out the little things that Armin starts seeing the stuff Sasha already noticed from feet away. And in the back of his mind he knows that if Sasha hadn't been pointing it out to him, he would've completely overlooked it.]

Sasha, that's amazing.

[His voice is soft and awed as he stands next to her, his hands on his knees, peering down at the twigs Sasha is indicating.]

I never even noticed anything like that.

[Armin likes to think he has a good eye for detail but in this sort of environment, Sasha has him completely beat.]

July catch-all log

Armin & Newt - Pokemon trading

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Armin & Sasha - Hunting down an old woman

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