i'm in best friend love with you

[brocrux]

Who: Dirk Strider, Jane Crocker, Roxy Lalonde & Anyone nearby
Where: Cherrygrove City, Route 29, Route 30
When: Aug 27th to Now
Summary: Catch-All Alpha Party: training, bonding, figuring out the pokéconomy, etc.
Rating: T for teenagers dropping F-bombs



At VARIOUS TIMES/DAYS, any one of them can be found alone or together around CHERRYGROVE. They're gathering their bearings, plotting their next moves and enjoying the novelty of being in a town that has actual people in it. It's small enough to not be overwhelming but large enough to be exciting.

They can be found taking in the novelty of the STORES and possibly making purchases, exploring the SMALL ROCKY BEACH or enjoying the food at the local DINER (and possibly even working there?). They are staying at the INN. Dirk booked the three of them the SAME ROOM but at least it's of reasonable size and has more than one bed.

IN THE EARLY MORNINGS, on one of the SURROUNDING ROUTES, is where to go for TRAINING the Pokemon in their party. It's an intense training. They'll have all the levels. All of them.

Comments

Jane Crocker | Prompts Within

[cyan_maid]

[August 31st - INN, Closed to Dirk and Roxy]

[It's early morning. It's quiet in their shared room, the only noise the soft breath of sleeping friends and, in some cases (like Dinah the Audino's insistent cuddling at night) Pokemon. But Jane's not asleep. Something's woken her up - a subtle cracking noise, a glow of light. In place of her strangely obtained egg from before, there's a small, sparkling fox, and she's absolutely amazed.]

...Guys? Guys, wake up - wake up, I...I have a new Pokemon?

[Sept 2nd - DINER, OTA]

[Fuck this job fuck this job so hard with a rusty rake. Jane had been more than willing to work for some hard-earned Pokedollars, now that the three of them seemed to settle into a Cherrygrove groove, but being a waitress is just too much. The pay is abysmal (even with the generous tips her guests leave her with, either charmed by her polite bearing or feeling sorry for her harried appearance), her feet feel numb, and there's a snot-nosed Youngster with his Sentret in the corner window booth that keeps touching the stupid Maid outfit skirt of her uniform. She might just punch him if he does it again. She might just. And this is only her first day.

Someone please come save her.]

[September 5th - ROUTE 30, OTA]

[Today there is training to be done! And lots of it! Jane's got Dinah, Poirot, and August out, and is leading them in stretches. She'll train Marnie back in town in the water later - for now she'll focus on these three. Feel free to ask her if stretches really help with training, or to challenge her to a battle! Anyone from her roster is raring to go!]

august 31st.

[brocrux]

Hm?

[ Dirk picks his head up from where it had been completely pressed into a pillow and blearily looks at her before turning his eyes to ...a tiny sparkly fox. Huh. That's super interesting. He should investigate its appearance further. But then his eyelids droop and his head lulls back down into the pillow and he goes back to sl-

-Wait. No. He sits up. ]

Was that from the egg?

[cyan_maid]

No? Yes?? I...

[Jane looks up at Dirk as the little fox makes a tiny Fen! and just. Straight up crawls into her lap and curls up.]

Is this for real, or have I finally gone bonkers? This...it's a mammal! And it came out of an egg!!

[voidedgoddess]

[Roxy rolls over, still more asleep than awake. She blinks a few times before focusing on the fox. Aww.]

In it's defense, most of my cats came from slime. It's the miracle of life, Janey. Embrace it. [Technically, they were all made from slime.]

[cyan_maid]

[Aeugh geez not the slime]

Somehow I was under the impression that mammals go through "the miracle of life" quite differently. [Still, her hands rest on the little fox and scratch it softly behind the ears. It leans into her touch. Aww.] But why does he sparkle? I've seen some sparkling Pokemon, but...

[brocrux]

I like to think pokémon have been genetically engineered to not follow every component of known biology, mammalian or otherwise.

[ Dirk's insistent he force himself completely awake now, so he's already got the shades on and is moving close to Jane to get a good look at this thing. ]

Fuck if I know what that sparkling is about. It's a shitty vampire?

[voidedgoddess]

[Guess it's time to wake up. She sits up and stretches. Newborn Pokémon is totes worth getting out of bed for. In a moment.]

Don't those only sparkle in the sun or some bullshit? It could just be a characteristic of the species.

[cyan_maid]

[Jane rolls her eyes. Fuck it, she'll figure out what's up with this AND where meat comes from here, see that she won't.]

Whatever he is, he is utterly failing to be a proper shitty vampire. Last I heard, they were not nearly as adorable as this.

[The fox looks at Dirk out of the corners of his eyes, almost like a dog looking at someone that way, but it doesn't move to be on guard, or investigate. These scritches feel way too good.]

[brocrux]

Shit, Roxy. I think you're right. It was only in the sun. [ God, those vampires were shitty.

Dirk points his gear at it, utilizing the pokédex and scrolling through the information it pulls up. This is so useful. ]

It's a fire fox that eats twigs. The ears function as ventilation.

[voidedgoddess]

Twigs? That's weird. [But everything isn't.]

Nothing about sparkling? [She gets up and moves closer.] Hello, cutie!

[cyan_maid]

[Oh duh, she should've taken her 'gear out to check what it was. Guess little foxes are just that distracting.

The creature perks its head up now, turning to look at Roxy too, and looking for all the world so very confused. What is anything that's being said right now? It yawns and flops back, rolling onto its side to paw at Jane's hands. Hey, don't stop, Mom, your pets are nice.]

A fire fox? That's...wow! That's really convenient! I had so wanted a fire type. [A pause.] Wouldn't the poor thing get splinters in its gums if I let it eat twigs?

[brocrux]

Yes, how strange the fox that controls fire eats twigs. [ Not even phased. ] Nothing about sparkling. It could be residual from its birth because it pulverized the egg into a fine sparkling dust. Pokemon afterbirth.

[ He reads a bit more. There isn't a lot outside of a few statistics and the random bit about the twigs. ] It probably has tough gums and uses it as kindling. [ Like a portable fireplace and the ears are the chimneys. He holds the gear up next to the pokemon pawing at Jane's hands, comparing it to the pokedex picture of a fennekin ]

Jade said the off-color ones are "shiny" so I guess that might have something to do with looking like it rolled around in pixie dust. The guy's a lot darker, see?

[voidedgoddess]

Shiny, sparkly, makes sense. I do like the gray.

Are there pictures of the other shiny Pokémon, too? [She could just grab her gear off the table, but Dirk already has his.]

[voidedgoddess]

[Aug 27 - for Dirk and Jane]

[After three days of battling wild Pokémon and camping out, Roxy is ready to shower, sleep in an actual bed, and, most importantly, see her friends. She is literally attempting to herd cats. Sorta. Gastrell, her Skitty, darts around her feet and a pair of Espurrs follow behind. Locasta has gathered up a bouquet during the trip and Momba will stare down pretty much anyone who tries to approach either of them.]

[When she does find her friends, Roxy will fling herself at whoever is nearest.]

I have missed you so much!

[As if it hasn’t just been three days from her perspective. It’s been forever.]

SORRY THIS IS LATE i was tryin to think of a good tag

[cyan_maid]

Roxy!!!

[Yes, that clinging is very much appreciated by Jane, who hugs back just as tight, practically bouncing on her heels. Her Audino, Dinah, is trailing along behind, and chirps cheerily towards the cats following this new human. Hello!]

Are you alright? You're probably hungry - we should go get something to eat and then go back to the inn, oh gosh, it's really nice there and very cheap, and-

[Someone stop her, she's just so happy]

surprise. this is a 3way

[brocrux]

No shit. You're going to hug her hard enough for her insides to squeeze out like a toothpaste tube.

[ Ha. Ha. Jane got the tight hug. ...No, he'll probably get one. Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, it's fine. He's so fucking relieved she's in one piece, not that he doubted she would be for a second but seeing her in person as opposed to talking through a screen is always such an insurmountably relieving thing. He slouches, lets out a little breath. His girls. Yes. Good. He hasn't seen Roxy in months from his perspective and it was honestly terrifying. ]

Jane. [ Ehem. Dirk to the rescue. Jane, calm down - thinks the hypocrite because "Are you alright?" "Are you tired?" and "Are you hungry?" are questions he literally would have asked in the most awkward way possible if Jane wasn't excitedly talking already. Also the inn is fucking incredible.

Jane's Audino is joined by Dirk's Mime Jr, Anne, who is holding hands with a Meowth that Anne introducing after herself. Hello cats, this is also a cat. ]

[voidedgoddess]

[Dirk is definitely next...just not yet. She's going to hug Jane a little bit longer.]

I'm awesome! This place is amazing. And I could eat. [As good as "Mom"'s lunch was, it wasn't enough for three days. ] What's the inn like? Is there room service? [Can they order stuff to their room? Is it like the movies?]

[Locasta gives everyone a flower. Even Dirk, because he totally needs one. Momba attempts to glare at them, but that doesn't really work with the dead eye stare thing. Gastrell...has no concept of personal space. Hope you don't mind, Dinah.]

[cyan_maid]

[Or they could just pull Dirk into the hug? That is also an option. It would be easier if he came just a bit closer though.]

Then we are definitely going to get food! And it's a really sweet little place - I'm not sure about room service, but we can always ask!

[Dinah doesn't mind! THIS IS A NEW FRIEND IT'S FRIENDSHIP TO NOT HAVE PERSONAL SPACE CONCEPTS.]

[brocrux]

[ Dirk moves closer, then stares down at the pokemon offering a flower and leans down slightly to take it. He half-mutters a thanks and lacks a front pocket at the moment to stick it in so he ends up putting it behind an ear. Irony. ]

I think the inn is also a spa. They'll at least serve us those little vegetable slices you're supposed to put on your eyes. [ Can you eat those? ]

[ They should have room service. That was one of the first things he did when he got here - but that was back in Goldenrod. All he got was an orange juice but it was still an experience. Roxy would love it. ]

[voidedgoddess]

[Close enough. Roxy reaches out and pulls Dirk in. Welcome to the hug!]

A spa?! That might be better than room service. [So many new experience.]

[cyan_maid]

[Get in this hug pile gosh darnit]

Pfft, those are supposed to go on your eyes for a reason, you know! But we can definitely try both. I know I've never been to a spa before!

[By the time she was old enough to like the idea of relaxing and refreshing, she was being grounded for her own good.]

[brocrux]

[ Shit. He has no choice now. He breached the hug zone. Dirk puts his arms around them both after a second. Sup. ]

And spa is already two votes in. How could one refuse trying activity that apparently involves submerging yourself in mud while your face is covered in suspiciously green goop? I would suggest the thing that involves food be the priority on this to-do list.

[ You know, before Roxy passes out or something. Mom's lunch doesn't do shit. ]

[voidedgoddess]

[Food is a great idea, but to do that she'd have to let go. Eventually she pulls away, but links arms with both of them and begins to pull them in the general direction of who fucking knows what.]

Wait, I have no clue where to eat. Where to?

[cyan_maid]

[Never fear! Jane has actually been to this town once before to have a general idea of where food can be had.]

I think there's a diner down this road? I didn't try it, but you cannot go wrong with a diner.

[brocrux]

[ And being pulled along this road towards the food place. ]

That sounds like a jinx of a statement that could lead to hilarious shenanigans where things go horribly wrong with a diner.