worthallthis: (looking around)
worthallthis ([personal profile] worthallthis) wrote in [community profile] victory_road2020-06-10 07:32 pm

Expanding Horizons (OTA Catchall)

Who: Bucky Barnes AKA the Winter Soldier, and OPEN
Where: Routes 30 and 31, then Violet City as of 6/12
When: June 9 - 16, next leg of the journey!
Summary: Traveling with friends and finally hitting the city! Because Buck needs more CR and he refuses to engage with the network...
Rating: PG-13 for the swearing again


I. On the Road; Routes 30 and 31, June 9 - 11

It’s a longer trip from Cherrygrove to Violet City, the next location on the map, but it’s not an unpleasant trip. There are eggs to carry-- and to collect, as a large bird pokemon drops some off for the Soldier and Entrapta a day out of Cherrygrove-- and new pokemon to marvel at. The device is actually really useful, and the Soldier is pretty sure he has both books memorized now, even if he keeps looking things up.

This is the new mission. It’s a better one than the last one. He might be starting to relax a little, but he’s still not sure how to smile.

The campfire is comfortable, though, as they sit around it and read, write, pet and groom pokemon, or talk. (Well. Mostly listen to Entrapta talk.) The Soldier discovers the radio, at which point he discovers that everyone can hear that weird music everywhere and it’s not just his brain being crazy, and at further point he discovers jazz. Which is the best thing ever, maybe even better than Grace (Sorry, doll.), and Entrapta and Link will have to make him change the station or turn it off when they get sick of it.


II. Catching, Take Two; Route 31, June 11

It takes the Soldier almost until they reach Violet City to try the pokeball thing again. This time, though, he crouches down next to the absolutely adorable little Espurr once Grace and the Starly (who is now a Starava, that was a fun experience) are sitting on her, and wave them off. And he offers the ball, instead of throwing it, silent but inviting.

He’s gonna let them choose, going forward. It only seems fair. Nobody should not be allowed to choose. (Not anymore.)


III. Townie Life; Violet City, June 12 - 16

It’s a nice little city. He keeps thinking the buildings should be a little taller. A slightly different style. Dirtier, maybe. But the feeling of more people around him feels right, and if he closes his eyes, listening and breathing in the smell, he almost feels at home.

He and Entrapta stay at the pokemon training center, because one, it’s the cheapest option besides camping out, and two, there’s shit to learn there. He can be found making notes in a new notebook before, during, and after lessons (And damn do we feel old, surrounded by all those teenagers.), pacing around the town itself in a kind of leisurely patrol, or sitting somewhere in the sun just taking in the sights.

Or chasing down pokemon babies. He’s got a handful of those.


IV. Babies; Violet City, June 12 - 16

Very young pokemon are difficult to keep track of, as it turns out. They’re like unruly children, who happen to be even smaller than regular children. And the Soldier has three of them to keep track of-- four, if Entrapta’s little Growlithe cub is in the mix. It’s like trying to keep track of the girls, only worse. (What girls?)

First, there’s the Skitty, Fuzzlebutt, who refuses to grow up yet, though not from lack of trying to get new experiences. Most of those experiences consist of biting, chewing on people’s shoes, and pouncing whatever pokemon he can find. He might be small for his type and age, but he makes up for it in energy and aggression.

Second, there’s the Rockruff, hatched on the road on the way to Violet City, who is much friendlier than Fuzzle but also much louder, and just as energetic. She keeps bounding up to people, barking, “Rockruff! Rockruff! Rock! Ruff! Ruff!” while the Soldier chases after her anxiously, apologizing.

Third, there’s little Stevie, a barely-hatched baby Absol who keeps tripping on his own over-sized paws and landing face-first into something pointy, or chasing after pidgies until they swarm him, or trying to keep up with the other two when he’s smaller and weaker and clearly a little runty. He stumbles over a passer-by’s feet or catches their pants leg or skirt to stop them from stepping in a puddle or to try and herd them this way or that or just in an excess of energy. The Soldier comes to collect him with a sigh and another apology.
stardiving: (9)

1. Route 30, June 9

[personal profile] stardiving 2020-06-11 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Backtracking to pick up new arrivals isn't exactly the best way to move forward with your own Pokemon adventure, but at least Estinien has the opportunity to meet new people.

Opportunity, yes, but left to his own devices he'd normally avoid people he doesn't know.

Unluckily for him, he has a very friendly Vulpix who, when seeing new and interesting people sitting around a fire near sunset, runs right up to them, flops down, and stares back over her shoulder at her equally white-haired, antisocial, exasperated trainer, who comes over to collect her.

"Mine apologies--Iceheart, come away from there." Quit bothering the nice people.
fearinahandfulof: (Worry)

IV

[personal profile] fearinahandfulof 2020-06-11 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Cassandra blinks as the Skitty attempts to pounce on her Type: Null, who merely stares downward at the small pokemon, impassive behind its heavy mask. Her own Skitty, Misty Malarkey, is currently gnawing on a twig, seemingly oblivious to the goings-on around her... although Bucky may notice that other people seem to be giving the other Skitty an uncommonly wide berth. "Is this one yours?" she asks Bucky.
stardiving: (7)

[personal profile] stardiving 2020-06-11 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
He does empathize with you on the being unable to hear thing--everything sounds like he's shoved cotton in his ears, and it feels weird looking in the mirror when something so fundamental as your ears have been physically changed. Oops.

Estinien approaches the circle of firelight carefully, calmly--he's aware he can be a little imposing, since he's nearly 7 feet tall in a world where folk the height of Elezen and Roegadyn aren't the norm.

He sighs, stopping a fair distance away. He had also intended to make camp for the night, sooner rather than later, but he doesn't necessarily want to do so around other people.

Iceheart yips and bats at the Skitty playfully, spitting a tiny cloud of snowy mist.

"She is of a mind to approach people on her own." Estinien sounds grumpy and annoyed by that, because it makes him actually have to deal with people.
fearinahandfulof: (Endangered)

[personal profile] fearinahandfulof 2020-06-11 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Fortunately for at least one side of this 'conflict,' Blade is over six feet tall, so Fuzzlebutt's aim is a bit short. Still, points for trying?

"Yes, they are," Cassandra replies, as Misty Malarkey suddenly stops chewing on the twig and somehow manages to bat it unerringly at the Rockruff despite not actually looking in her direction. Now it's Cassandra's turn to wince as she moves in the direction of her own Skitty. Misty Malarkey doesn't seem hostile, at least; if anything, that might have been her way of initiating play with the puppy, since she seems to be watching her expectantly. Whether the Rockruff realizes that, though, is another question.
fearinahandfulof: (Worry)

[personal profile] fearinahandfulof 2020-06-12 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
Blade is... not going to engage with that. It's spotted Grace walking towards them, and it's going to leave containing Fuzzlebutt to her for now.

Misty Malarkey actually seems disappointed at the lick on the nose; she'd thought the Rockruff would bat the stick back at her. She also seems a little nonplussed when Bucky grabs the other Absol. Cassandra watches her carefully, but she doesn't seem inclined to try to fight.

To Bucky, Cassandra says, "They do seem like a lot..."
stardiving: (5)

[personal profile] stardiving 2020-06-12 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
Estinien would be concerned for her, but Iceheart got herself into this all on her own, and despite her yelp, there's no harm done--Iceheart's tails are more fluff and ice crystals than actual flesh and bone, so Fuzzlebutt gets a mouthful of chill fur. She can get herself out of trouble if she wants to.

He notes the metal hand, and the rest of his arm--it's strange, it doesn't appear to be armor, it doesn't add enough bulk to his arm compared to the other side. Is it machina?

He doesn't know and he's not about to ask.

"Tis fine, if she is inclined she shall stop." With a shake of his head, he comes a bit closer, into the circle of firelight. "My name is Estinien. Would you and your companion mind over-much if I also made camp here for the night?"
lordofthefries: (Default)

Babies; Violet City, June 12

[personal profile] lordofthefries 2020-06-12 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
There's an easy way to deal with babies who misbehave and get into all sorts of trouble: food. Hilariously enough, it's also the same way to deal with a particular teenaged trainer who is traveling with a couple of her own babies.

There's her too stubborn to evolve standby Togepi, Omelette, and her level 65 Pichu, Sprinkles, who also isn't quite ready to evolve purely by choice because why evolve when you can stay a baby and get fed multiple times a day by an overly concerned for your stomach trainer? All three of them are sitting in the grass for a quick picnic lunch of sandwiches for the human and berries and poffins for the Pokemon. The spread is huge and more than enough for some guests so when the Rockruff bounces their way, Sprinkles is kind enough to roll a poffin its way.

"Eat up! She's got more!" Sprinkles chirps as he chomps own on his own snack and Sasha nods the puppy a hello. Omelette, on the other hand, is way too buy digging into the snack backpack to pay the Rockruff any attention.
Edited 2020-06-12 04:41 (UTC)
stardiving: (Default)

[personal profile] stardiving 2020-06-12 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
Estinien's own pointed ears indicate that he's also part of that 'ish'. He still thinks of himself as Elezen, of course, despite what this place seems to have to say about that.

He nods, and swings his pack down to the ground before sitting himself, watching Fuzzle and Iceheart at play. He's the type to...completely allow for comfortable silence, so good news, no awkward small talk.
firstonesexpert: (oOOOH)

1. Route 31, late at night

[personal profile] firstonesexpert 2020-06-12 07:26 am (UTC)(link)
It's not unusual for Entrapta to stay up ridiculously late. She had far too much fun engaging with all of the blueprints Egon had sent to her, and would often be awake well past midnight muttering to herself as she drew up fresh schematics in her notepad. She tried to be quiet, to give the others the courtesy of sleep, but often her muttering and self-approving noises would go on well into the night.

Except this time, when she looks up from her notes to think about what to add next, there's a pair of what looks like huge, glowing orange eyes staring directly at her. There's two much smaller glowing eyes directly above them, but Entrapta barely sees them - the larger ones hold her gaze like a trap, and without really thinking about it she finds herself moving to stand up and investigate it.
firstonesexpert: (Me and my Buddies)

[personal profile] firstonesexpert 2020-06-12 08:00 am (UTC)(link)
Nancy wakes up as well, with all the shuffling, and he's quick to tag along with Winter when he realises his trainer is gone. The poor Luxio's hackles are raised, and he's taking point in front of Winter despite how he keeps looking nervously back at the soldier.

At least Entrapta has Leslie on her - the Impidimp rarely strays far from her person, except to hang with Winter in a kind of exasperated solidarity. And right now he's dozing on her head, but waking up with the movement of her walking through the tall grass; and looking around in great confusion when he doesn't immediately see Winter.

Even in the dark it's not hard to spot the Impidimp - he's bright pink, first of all, but his eyes also do the orange cat thing in low enough light, and he's standing on Entrapta's head to grab a fistful of her ponytails in each hand and trying to tug her back, to no apparent avail.
Edited 2020-06-12 08:01 (UTC)
firstonesexpert: (polite stare)

[personal profile] firstonesexpert 2020-06-12 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
Entrapta doesn't seem to notice his approach, even when he manages to get right beside her - at which point Leslie is pulling back on her ponytails so hard that he's horizontal, but she seems entirely off in her own world.

This close, though, Soldier will also see the glowing orange lights, almost like candles floating at about Entrapta's chest height a few feet ahead of them; this close it's almost possible to make out the pinkish pumpkin they're hosted in. Those lights don't turn away, but the two smaller eyes above them do, looking at Soldier. There's also a surprised meep from somewhere in the gloom when it spots him.
fearinahandfulof: (Shock)

[personal profile] fearinahandfulof 2020-06-12 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Misty Malarkey studies the Rockruff thoughtfully, then bats a nearby stone at it - not hard enough to hit or hurt, but enough to emphasize the motion. Play?

"It's a lot to get used to," Cassandra says diplomatically, although truthfully she thinks she's had a relatively easy time of it. It does make her worry a bit about Blade, though, because while Cassandra's not sure what qualifies as 'normal' behavior for Type: Nulls, it does seem awfully withdrawn sometimes.
fearinahandfulof: (Heartbreak)

[personal profile] fearinahandfulof 2020-06-12 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Cassandra does have a few more Pokemon, but they're resting, and it seems cruel to just let the Magikarp flop around on land in any case.

The Rockruff's aim may not be the best, but Misty Malarkey is delighted nonetheless. Yes! Play!

Cassandra watches Misty Malarkey and the Rockruff for a moment before turning her attention back to the man and his question. "It's a Type: Null," she tells him. She raises a hand to carefully stroke Blade's mane, below the mask. "Someone told me SilphCo has an adoption center for them; according to the PokeGear, they were... made."

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