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victory_road2020-06-10 07:32 pm
worthallthis) wrote in victory_road2020-06-10 07:32 pm
Entry tags:
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.
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.
1. Route 31, late at 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.
no subject
What does make him crack open an eye, though, is the sudden stopping of her muttering, and her getting up. He doesn't look her direction yet, waiting to see if it's just a trip into the trees for a midnight bathroom break or something. When it clearly isn't (she tends to mutter during those, too, and she's not), he sits up and prods Grace, who is also already awake, and Fuzzle, who is not but who growls at him anyway.
They ease up to their feet to follow, Fuzzle tucked up against the Soldier's chest and Grace at his side.
no subject
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.
no subject
He's not afraid. Actually, really, for the first time in a while, he's not afraid. Entrapta might be in danger. That means he has to focus. Protect her. Maybe with pokemon help, maybe not. Grace bounds at his side, at least, so he knows he's got back-up.
no subject
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.
no subject
Grace growls, and that's not a sound he's heard before. It reminds him he has other options. "Get it," he tells the other pokemon, and Grace and Fuzzle launch enthusiastically at the whatever-it-is.
no subject
And as soon as the glowing lights are off Entrapta, she jerk violently with a sharp noise of surprise, that makes Leslie jump and fall off her head into the grass as Entrapta looks sharply up at the soldier.
"Oh, Winter!" She certainly doesn't sound upset, just surprised. And it turns to confuse when she looks around some more. "...where are we?"
no subject
Grace bares her teeth a little down at the pokemon in question, horn vibrating a little and humming like a tuning fork, and uses her superior weight to keep it down. "Absol."
no subject
...lights up. "Really? I wanna see it!" And she charges off after Grace, darting around the Absol to crouch down in front of it and examine the Pokemon she's caught: the Pumpkaboo looks very confused and scared and about to cry.
"Ohhhhhh, I've never seen this one before!" Her voice is an excited gasp, as she rips out her Pokedex to identify it, and a cheery voice rings from her 'gear: "Pumpkaboo: the pumpkin Pokemon. It is said to carry wandering spirits to the place where they belong so they can move on."
no subject
Since pokemon supposedly actually understand human speech, he will be having a Talk with it, if she keeps it. A talk with Grace and Fuzzle to either side and possibly his knife out. While Entrapta is busy doing something else.
no subject
She puts her gear away and pulls out a Pokeball, and bounces it off the Pumpkaboo's head - and in a bright flash, it gets sucked into the Pokeball, which rumbles a few times, before it goes completely still and she picks it up. "Look! Now she's contained and can't hurt anyone! So I can study her without being at risk, because we can just put her back in!"
no subject
Apparently he can't tell people no, but he can bossily fuss at them.
no subject
But before she stands up she gives Grace a pat on the head and a warm smile. "Thank you all for protecting me." And then she stands up, picking up Leslie to sit him on her head again, and grins at Winter. "So, which way is camp?"
no subject
The Soldier has to collect Fuzzle, who is clearly pouting because the fight was over so soon. He doesn't even bother saying, he just points after Grace, so Entrapta can start moving. He'll bring up the rear. In case there are more of them.
no subject
And thankfully, nothing decides to follow them on their way back to camp.