Blackthorn Bash

[bertall]

Who: FCAB & Company
Where: Blackthorn City
When: 12/24 - 12/31
Ratings: PG-13, will update if needed!
Summary: Holidays and birthdays and snow, oh my!
Log:



Throughout the week, Blackthorn's tourist influx seems to be doubled from all of the festivities. Even the mountain is bustling with noise near the base and at a few lodges scattered over the hills and while the main path is beaten down from visiting trainers and their Pokemon, the path that branches off towards a quiet little cabin remains relatively untouched save by those staying there.

There's plenty of snow of course, but halfway up the trail the path widens out in a series of Tyrantrum-shaped footprints to form a better path, and it circles around the cabin itself. Parked next to the cabin is the same mobile coffee shop that patrols around the region, and judging from the smoke billowing from the chimney of the cabin, it's occupied by the owners for what seems like the first time in a few months

Depending on the day and time, the inside of the cabin is either relatively busy, or it's a peaceful lull with Pokemon strewn out and sprawled around in various rooms. Some might be soaking up the warmth of the fire, or they might even be snuffling around the kitchen looking for something that may or may not have dropped on the floor.

Sometimes Bertolt isn't there, but that's fine - he'll be back at some point so until then, don't be afraid to make yourself at home!


_{[OOC; Feel free to mingle and toss up your own top levels if you want! Go wild my dudes]}

Comments

ARMIN; Sometime during the 29th

[bertall]

The nice thing about Arcanine is the built-in heater function that comes with being a fire-type and being covered in long, thick fur. It's especially nice when the wind decides to send a gentle gust their way, but on the plus side it's not a bad wind.

It could definitely be worse.

"Are you sure it's this way, Armin? I haven't seen anyone else since we passed that family sauna about twenty minutes ago, and I didn't even know that place existed."

Not until now, of course. Armin was the one with the map, so of course he was situated up front on Marcel's back while Bertolt took up the 'back seat' so to speak. Armin must know where he's going with it, right? He sure didn't say what was up here, so Bertolt's guess as to where he's going is as good as any.

[schachmeister]

The wind is already Quite Bad Enough in Armin's book, thank you very much. It turns out that when you spend most of your time on a warm island, even the smallest amount of winter weather becomes hard to deal with. Thankfully though, he had come prepared. The new Wailmer beanie he had gotten from Krieg is nestled on his head. His hands are tucked inside the Ravenclaw coloured gloves Mr Newt had given him once. Scarves peek out from around his neck and underneath his coat, he's wearing the new sweat Mabel knitted him. It's... quite the ensemble, but dang it, staying warm is far more important than staying fashionable.

"I'm sure it should be this way." He's holding the map against Marcel's back, trying to make sure the wind won't tug it out of his grip. Granted, this isn't the actual map he had received from Nephelis. That one is still safely back home. Instead, Armin had made a copy of the area around Blackthorn and the spot marked by the legendary cat. But still, losing it would be no bueno. "Everything else Nephelis marked on my map turned out to be incredible. I'm sure this will be too."

You know. When they find it. Which isn't as simple here, being that there is a huge absence of roads or landmarks to go by. But at least they have Marcel and they don't have to trudge through the thick snow.

"I think we need to go a little further north."

[bertall]

What on earth will he do if he comes across water types that thrive better in colder climates? At least Bertolt has plenty of warm coats he could loan Armin, even if they'd be a bit on the... larger side. But they're warm and comfortable. Especially if Bertolt talks to Archie for some extra help in the warmth department. That Darumaka of Jean's likes to help out, shhhhh.

"Hang on--" Bertolt hooks an arm around Armin's middle and leans back for a moment as Marcel sinks into the snow from a small dip in the ground to try and keep them steady, releasing him once they're all on level footing. Atta boy, Marcel. Atta boy. Once Marcel has his footing back, Bertolt gives his sides a gentle nudge with his heel to turn him northbound, and another to get him into a (hopefully) light trot. "That's the other legendary, isn't it? It's not like the ones who started that mess over near Mt. Mortar, right?"

Marcel gives an indignant little snort at that - it's something he won't forget anytime soon! They called themselves legendary when they were behaving like pups! Marcel is certain he has more legendary...ness in his little toe beans! All those books even say that he's a legendary!

"Are, uh... Are there any markers that'll show us when we've found it?"

wow. thanks for eating my tag Safari

[schachmeister]

No, absolutely not. Armin is not borrowing a coat from Bertolt. Not that the gesture isn't appreciated but, damnit, Bertolt is just too tall, okay? And Armin is... very much not. The last thing he wants to do is emphasise how little he has grown --damnit puberty, he had high hopes for you-- by wearing a coat he'd be swimming in. Maybe in an emergency, but certainly not just regularly.

"No. It's the one we had to free from that basement. And who organised the scavenger hunt for us." And nothing had gone wrong with that, so you know Nephelis is a good cat... god... thing.

"I... don't expect there to be." Armin turns himself around a bit, enough that he can peer over his shoulder at Bertolt. "I've only been able to visit a few places so far, but they were never really clearly marked. But I promise you, we'll know when we get there. It's... all of this stuff has been amazing. I expect this will be too."

You know. Whatever it is up there on that mountain. Maybe a cave with amazing ancient drawings? Another giant pokemon? The possibilities are endless!

Safari pls you are not made of lions

[bertall]

"It gave me something that belonged to my dad."

It wasn't anything flashy or full of secrets like Armin's map, but it was important to his father and thus important to Bertolt, too. He's still wary in regards to the big legendaries, but... If it was able to do that, then maybe it wasn't completely terrible, right? Bertolt wasn't sure. Whatever it was, Bertolt pushes it down in favor of keeping Marcel on track. Hold on tight Armin, because there's a log he has to hop over. "What sort of things did you find at the other places?"

Maybe there's a reoccurring theme that'll help them figure out what to look for!

[schachmeister]

"I think Nephelis really has our best interests at heart. Especially after we rescued it."

Armin won't ask to see what it is that Bertolt got. If Bertolt wants to talk about it, he'll be more than happy to! But he also doesn't want to pry. Something that belonged to a parent... that sounds very personal. Armin could understand if Bertolt wanted to keep that close to him and very guarded. After all, hadn't his father died when the Titans invaded, much like Carla had? And Bertolt likely hadn't had the time to grab anything before fleeing. Yes. It made those little pieces of home much more important.

"Well. There was this one mark on the map off the Whirl Islands. It was a strange one because it seemed to be like there was nothing there, you know? Just ocean. I was about ready to come back with diving equipment when night fell and I saw it." He cranes around again, bright-eyed and excited. "There was a humongous Starmie. Big as a house, probably. Its stone shone so brightly at the night sky that you could see it from the surface. It was incredible." A happy little sigh. "I took Mr Pines to see it too. I figured he'd really love to see something like that."

They are probably not going to find a giant Starmie here though.

JEAN; night of the 30th

[bertall]

Is there a better way to end the night than with some nice blankets, a warm fire, some popcorn and a good movie with your best friend?

...Okay, maybe good movie is a bit of a stretch here, because Bertolt's attention on the screen has been wavering for the last fifteen minutes. His interest piqued for a moment when the 'monsters' of the film finally appeared, but his curiosity ebbed into flat-out confusion as they chew away at the landscape. Was this how they were in the book? Bertolt hasn't read it himself, but Jean must've, right? Surely they didn't look like angry, flying meatballs in that.

Bertolt adjusts the bowl of popcorn between them so he can make himself more comfortable - almost leaning against Jean's shoulder in fact - and casts a quick glance in his direction once he settles.

"Did they ever say what they looked like in the book? This doesn't seem as scary as some of the other things that he's come up with."

[notvaljean]

"They didn't look like that!"

Jean is disgusted by these half-assed Langoliers. Disgusted. What were they thinking? The adaptation has been pretty good so far, but then these ridiculous bouncing balls came out, and now he's just annoyed.

"It was doing a good job up until this!" Jean gestures angrily at the TV, and the motion has him moving a little, so he's leaning against Bertolt's shoulder, both of their legs already hidden under the blanket Bertolt got him for Christmas. "This is so lame. The special effects are awful."

Says the kid who didn't even know what a tv was two years ago.

[bertall]

Two years is a lot of time to pick up on things at least.

Bertolt keeps watching him for a moment longer, and when he cracks a smile he can't help it. Hopefully the other movies aren't nearly as cheesy as this one is, but at least watching something that's bad is fun to do with someone else rather than watching it alone. "They make me think of the thing that cabinet game. It's the one where you're playing a Chingling and there's some Shuppet that chase you around a maze, only these ones have more teeth."

He grimaces a little though as they keep eating... well, everything, and Bertolt offers up a piece of popcorn to Jean. "You'd think there'd be more rubble with how they're chewing everything up. It's a little too clean, even for angry meatballs with too many teeth."

[notvaljean]

"Yeah! Yeah, they're like those things!" Jean sits up a little straighter, gesturing at the screen with one hand and shoving the other one into the popcorn bowl without looking. "He didn't really describe them in the book, but they were supposed to be scary, not... not meatballs."

Jean shoves some popcorn in his mouth. "No, see, it's supposed to be clean like that. That part's okay. They're eating the past, and it's all supposed to fall away into nothingness."

Bertolt should really read the book. It's not long!

[bertall]

"But if they're eating the past, wouldn't that mess up the future? Or, uh... The future of those people on the plane?"

Hell, not to mention the future of the guy screaming and running across the runway on the screen. Though in his case it might be for the best considering everything that he's done up to this point. It's strange how they passed the plane up completely though in favor of chasing the Toomy fellow though. Why eat everything else and ignore that? It was right there! "...I really don't envy him."

At least it might spur him into yoinking the book out of Jean's collection - he's still working his way through Misery. There's too many books and not enough time!

A GIFT

[schachmeister]

[On the 30th, the day of days, the day Bertolt entered this world of worlds, he's going to find a sizable package on the table, wrapped in left-over Christmas paper --sorry, it just seemed like a waste not to use it-- with a birthday card next to it. The card wishes him a Happy Birthday and has been signed by Armin, Jean, Sasha and Marco.

Bertolt is free to unwrap his gift in private --they all know how much he hates being in the centre of attention-- or wait for them to show up. If he does unwrap his gift though what he will find is this:

Inside the box is a mixer. Not just any mixer, a beast of a mixer. It's bright, it's red, it's the heavy dutiest of heavy duty kitchen appliances and it is all Bert's. It is here to help him take his cooking to the next level. And then a few levels more. And he better share the fruits of his labour with everybody else. It's only fair.]

OPEN: Action 12/28

[fuelthefire]

Krieg has made the cold hike up from Blackthorn accompanied by a Croconaw that is somehow both chunky and gangly all at once, his usual Blaziken shadow, and Dolly. Both of the larger pokemon are wearing scarves, while Dolly is tucked safely and warmly into his sweater, one of quite a few he received for Christmas. This one features a badass Santa Claus riding a fire-breathing Tyrantrum. Krieg and Murder Chicken are carrying a (mostly unnecessary) cooler between them.

Three guesses as to what's inside, and the first two don't count.

Once they're within earshot of the cozy cabin and the stationary moving coffee shop, Krieg calls out to announce their presence.

"WHO'S READY FOR A BARBEQUE?"

[schachmeister]

He also made the trip accompanied by one (1) coconut because if you are all heading for the same place, you might as well go together, right? Armin has two pokemon following him in his wake: his Piloswine Hannibal (who better to help on a cold long hike than a sturdy ice type) and his Camerupt Beatrice (she is basically a walking furnace to help keep them warm). Because Armin sure is finding that he has lost whatever little resistance he had for the cold after all that time on the sunny islands. It's a good thing everybody gave him those scarves and hats and gloves because he needs them.

When Krieg accounts their presence with a loud shout, Armin jumps helplessly. You'd think he'd be used to it by now. He knows Krieg and his Kriegian ways. And yet, it still takes him by surprise sometimes.

"I don't think this is good weather for a barbeque..." he trails off, sounding dubious. Aren't barbeques a warm weather thing?

[fuelthefire]

Ah, Armin....still so jumpy, even after all this time. Some things may never change, but that's okay. Krieg turns to look at his coconut human traveling buddy with a hidden grin. If he had a hand free - the one not occupied with his half of the cooler is cradled supportively under the round lump in his sweater - he'd reach over and ruffle Armin's hair.

"It's great weather for a barbecue! The colder the wind the bigger the fire!"

He'll show you, Armin, just you wait. You'll be a cold-weather bbq convert in no time!

[schachmeister]

At least these days his jumpiness isn't due to fear. He's just easily startled by sudden loud noises. And Krieg tends to make a lot of those.

Armin's expression remains dubious, his brows furrowed. "Unless the wind gets too strong and blows out the fire. Plus all the wood will be wet."

[fuelthefire]

He is full of sudden loud noises, it's true. Although, he's also not as full of them as he used to be. Is he getting more mellow in his old age? It's definitely a possibility.

"Pfff! That's nothing that can't be fixed with more fire!"

Apply enough fire to wet wood and it'll dry out eventually, whether it wants to or not.

"Even if the wood goes out, we'll still have the coals!"

Darumaka coals, specifically. 8)

yaaaaaaaas

[bertall]

Hey Krieg, heads up!

Well, there's no real reason to be alert, but as soon as he announces his arrival and a barbeque, Bertolt pokes his head out of the front door and stares for a good, long minute.




And snow be damned, he bolts out without his shoes to cross the yard. Better put that cooler down, because he's going in for a hug!

"Krieg! You're here!"

Omg Bert you precious bean ;u;

[fuelthefire]

Krieg sees that head poke out of the front door and grins a hidden grin. Then he stares a little nonplussed as Bertolt bolts outside to run to meet him. He's not used to being greeted with so much enthusiasm! Usually he's the one being embarrassingly happy about seeing someone else. Which, to be fair, he is embarrassingly happy to see Bert, and --

-- Oh, jeez. He sees what's happening just in time to slip the Darumaka safely out of his sweater and away of the crush zone before Bert all but barrels into him. He drops his half of the cooler, which prompts a squawk of surprise from Murder Chicken, and wraps that arm strongly around Bert to give the kid a good tight squeeze.

"Mnnahaha! Like I'm gonna miss your birthday!"

Once the hug has been completed, he withdraws just far enough to bend over, shove his shoulder into Bert's gut, hook his elbow behind Bert's knees, and heave Bert up over his shoulder like a barefooted sack of potatoes . Damn right he's noticed Bert's lack of shoes in this freezing hellscape of ice and snow. "I brought you a barbecue, not frostbite!"

And with that admonishment, he resumes his trek to the front porch as if carrying a gangly kid nearly as tall as he is over one shoulder is the most normal thing in the world.

l i e s

[bertall]

It's Bertolt's turn to squawk as he feels himself being hefted up like he weighs nothing - up and over a shoulder - and he squirms around so he can gain purchase on Krieg's back in order to try and look back over his own shoulder. It's been a long time since he's been hauled up like this, but there's no denying the thrill in it.

It's not every day someone his size is more or less manhandled so effortlessly!

"I'm not going to get frostbite!" Were it anyone else, Bertolt would've probably twisted himself free by now. But it's Krieg. Krieg is someone he can trust, and that may or may not be the reason why he still laughs. Awkward situation? Check. Cold, wet socks? Also check.

Someone who may as well be family here? Triple check.

"H-Here, at least--" Another squirm so he can get both of his hands free, and he lightly thumps Krieg's opposite shoulder. "If you're really going to carry me, at least let me have Dolly."

That way he'll have at least one hand free!

the most precious of beans!!!

[fuelthefire]

"Not now, you're not!" Because Krieg is carrying him and his unprotected feet are no longer in contact with the cold ground. Krieg just saved your toes, Bertolt. You're welcome.

Krieg isn't quite sure why Bert is offering to hold onto Dolly - the porch of the little cabin isn't that far away, and it's not like he needs a free hand to walk to it. Maybe he wants to feel helpful? So he passes Dolly back to Bertolt over his shoulder. The little Darumaka endures the transfer without a fuss. Bertolt's not going anywhere as long as Krieg is carrying him, so being held by Bert in this particular situation is basically just a different version of being held by Krieg.

"Are you staying warm out here, Big Guy?" Honestly, Krieg has his doubts that such a thing is possible, even with a generous application of fire. It's a testament to how much he likes Bert that he's even here at all in this frozen, wintery hell.

Behind them, Bertolt has a great view of Lockjaw doing his best to take over for Krieg as Murder Chicken's cooler-carrying partner. While the Croconaw is quite a big bigger than an average member of his species, he's still a good two feet shorter than MC, so the cooler is off-balance between them and progress is slow. Murder Chicken clearly doesn't mind, though, and is his usual cheerful, encouraging self regarding his new helper. This is what friendship and teamwork is all about, LC! They've got this!

action

[notvaljean]

The first things to come barreling out the door are Archibald Nigel Hot Shit Kirschtein, chattering wildly and bounding all over the place, occasionally leaving a nice hot coal poop in his wake, and Death Chicken, who sees his dad and squawks with excitement. They come charging down the path towards Krieg and his party, full tilt boogie, not caring one bit about coolers or knocking anyone over.

Jean is fairly close at their heels, although he had to pause to tug a pair of boots on.

"KRIEG!" Get over here, you; he was promised a hug and a noogie with his Christmas gifts, and he's here to lay claim to them.

action

[fuelthefire]

Archibald Nigel Hot Shit Kirschtein is going to have his work cut out for him if he thinks even his busy little ping-ponging butt is going to be enough to knock Krieg over. He's welcome to try, though. At any time when Krieg isn't holding Dolly.

Murder Chicken squawks loudly and proudly when he sees his beautiful son, and drops his half of the cooler to meet that charge halfway. Once in each other's space the Blaziken greetings commence, with a full-bodied chest bump, a few little excited embers, and lots of happy squawking.

"Hey, Sparky!" Krieg grins under his mask and drops his half of the cooler - it can sit on the ground for a minute, nothing's going to hurt it - to commence the human greetings. He gently pulls Dolly out from underneath his sweater and deftly transfers him to his shoulder, where the little guy reaches up to grip the straps keeping Krieg's mask in place. That leaves only one sweater and whatever Jean is wearing between Jean and that rock-hard eight-pack as Krieg pulls him into a not-quite-bonecrushing hug. "You staying warm?"

action

[notvaljean]

Can he try? Is that allowed? He'll be a good Darumaka and wait patiently for Big Hose Face to put Dolly down--Archie understands that Dolly is a little bit different than he is, and doesn't like to play rough or loud--and then can he try? Please please please?

Holy shit, that's a lot of abs. That is entirely too many abs, all squashed into Jean at once, but he's laughing too hard to care. He'll be jealous of them later. "Warm enough!" Jean tries to give as good as he gets, but he has a feeling his strongest hug is pretty weak and flabby to Krieg. "Ready for some barbecuing!"

Look, Archie is even helpfully dropping coal poops all around them, and chirping up cheerfully at Dolly. You want to make some poops too?

action

[fuelthefire]

He is definitely allowed! All Pokemon are allowed to throw down at pretty much any time! KRIEG WILL TAKE ALL COMERS!!! With that said, tough, if Krieg knew how considerate Archibald Nigel Hot Shit Kirschtein was (and is!) being of Dolly, he wouldn't even know what to do with himself he'd be so touched and happy.

Also hey now, Jean, you know what kind of abs Krieg is packing under that sweater, you knew what you were getting into by claiming this hug. Jean's got a respectable squeeze on him for someone so rail-thin and skinny. Definitely neither weak nor flabby! But in any case, once the bruising hug is concluded, Krieg just shifts his grip on Jean to a one-armed entrapment and goes to town with that hair mussing. Awww, yeah, now this is what that whole spirit of Christmas is all about! Sharing and caring.

"Good! I'll make the fire extra big!"

While the human antics are going on, Dolly hangs on carefully to Krieg's mask straps and stares down thoughtfully at Archie. He's used to his human being so rambunctious. It's a little weird to see someone who looks like him act that way. But Archie does seem nice, and he certainly is friendly. And...well, pooping is a pretty satisfying activity. Dolly can't poop now, though. It would get on Krieg, and he doesn't want to poop on Krieg.