[video]

[funsnofun]

[The video comes from inside Mt. Moon, and features a very resigned-looking Boober who has, apparently, tucked himself into a little cranny in cave walls. He's just sitting there, crossed-legged, with a Carbink in his lap.]

You know, I liked this at first. Not... Not being here, in general, but this mountain. It's homey, and I found some beautiful stones. Real honeys.

[He doesn't sound happy about any of that, though, and he doesn't waste any more time in getting to why that is:] Then, when we were setting up camp for the night, some kind of rock-monster Pokemon stole them, and I-I don't know what I was thinking, but I started to chase it, but then it just ate the rocks! I don't know why.

I mean, I guess it just eats... rocks? Because then it tried to go after this lil thing. [Boober idly fluffs up the soft mane around Carbink's neck.] My team was able to help with that, and um.

I think Carbink's going to be coming with me now. Which is nice, it is...

[Of course, that's assuming he ever leaves his new-found hiding spot.]

I'm not sure what to call it yet, though.

Comments

VIDEO

[standless]

[Sorry, but Jonathan is still a bit hung up on one important part-]

The pokemon attempted to eat the poor fellow!?

[funsnofun]

Uh-huh.

I mean, I guess it has to eat something. Creatures eat other creatures all the time, but...

I don't know, it just didn't seem fair.

[standless]

I quite thoroughly agree- they could have been perfectly content with the rocks themselves from what you've said after all!

[funsnofun]

Yeah! I guess that's what bothered me, too. It didn't have to hurt anyone, it had already eaten all the rocks I'd collected.

[A wistful sigh.]

They really were nice ones, too.

[standless]

It sounds like quite the impressive loss. Just what sorts of stones had you managed to discover where you are?

[funsnofun]

Oh... Well, I don't know the names of rocks, so much. But there was a smooth, flat one that was bright red. And a really spiky purple one, and one that was just plain colors but almost a perfect sphere! That one was my favorite.

video;

[machismost]

[ Squint. ]

The rock-monster you're talking about, did it look like it had gems for eyes?

[funsnofun]

[He nods.]

Big red ones. It was very creepy.

[machismost]

Yeah... that sounds like a Sableye. They can be pretty creepy, but that may be because they're part Ghost and Dark type.... One of the reasons I even have one myself was it kept following me around when I was in some caves a while back.

[ One might get the hint it's not one of his favorites. ]

They eat rocks and gem stones, so that's probably why it went after your stash and then your friend there. Mine used to try to chow down on my Onix's tail while she was napping.

Are you... stuck there?

[funsnofun]

You have one as part of your team? That sounds awful... [He shudders at the very idea.] You're brave for keeping it around.

[Although, he can't help wondering if the mentioned Onix appreciates it very much, brave or not.]

Huh? Oh, no, I'm not stuck. I just...

[He's aware enough that this is going to sound weird to feel embarrassed, but at the same time, he doesn't feel like what he's doing is actually something to be ashamed of. It's a weird feeling.]

I needed a hidey hole.

video

[lifebloomsanew]

Oh Pokemon eat all kinds of things! But it was very good of you to help your new little friend.

[funsnofun]

Oh... Well, thank you, but--

I didn't do anything but throw a Pokeball. In fact, I was scared the whole time Curdle and En Croute were fighting that thing.

[lifebloomsanew]

That's alright that you were scared, you still did a very kind thing. You helped someone.

Not everyone would.

[funsnofun]

[Boober shrugs, but there is the slightest hint of a smile on his face.]

I guess so... Thank you.

[He's not adverse to praise, by any means, but he's more used to getting it for his cooking, or his laundry work! This is more like-- Praise for who he is, not what he's good at, and that's a little awkward, honestly. Especially when he's been feeling like such a dead weight and just a mess since he got here.

So he's going to shift the attention off of himself.]

I like your hair. [Which, he genuinely does! Boober may not be like most fraggles, but he still appreciates color.]

[lifebloomsanew]

Thank you very much. I like it, too.

What's your name? I'm Rose.

video

[epitaffio]

Wait, you found a rock that eats rocks...?

[Is he hearing this right, is this for real or has he just found a new prospective member of the Legendary Seekers--]

[funsnofun]

No, not exactly. Rocks here aren't ever that lively.

It was a Pokemon with rocks on its body. At least, I assume. And it was trying to eat Carbink, [He pats the top of the Pokemon's head.] who's a Pokemon who has rocks for a body.

[epitaffio]

[Doppio does not look particularly enlightened, but he nods, nevertheless.]

I'm not sure what you mean with that first part... but I think I get the rest! So the first one isn't a rock, it just has rocks on it. And the other one's your friend now?

[funsnofun]

Oh... It's just that it's different where I'm from, with rocks. Even the ones that weren't creatures sometimes still did things, like Belching Boulder.

But yes, you're right. This li'l one is staying with me. [He fluffs Carbink's mane again.] What would you name it?

[epitaffio]

[Oh. Weird Other World stuff. He's not sure how a Belching Boulder would work, anatomically speaking, if it's exactly what it sounds like! But anyway...]

Me? Let me think...

[Well, it looks kind of like a crystal! So...]

How about Cristallino?

Action

[gobetween]

[While Boober has been busy talking to others, Gobo has been off elsewhere in the caves. It could have been called restless exploring while his partner was otherwise occupied, but it went a little deeper than that.

Where that was was revealed as he walked his way back. Though he had a flashlight, having his Morellul- situated on top of his head -lighting his way instead just seemed... better? Probably the softer edge to the tiny mushroom's glow. He found Boober, mostly because he'd been right where he left him, and waited until a lull in the conversations before approaching.

Kneeling nearby, he glanced up at him, while holding a bandana-wrapped bundle in his arms with some mild difficulty.]

Hey there, how're you guys hanging in there?

[funsnofun]

[Boober's immediate reaction is a scoff, even if part of him feels badly right after. On the one hand, it feels a little patronizing, but on the other-- He knows Gobo's just trying to help. As is typical for Boober, the negative is what's closer to the surface, and thus, what gets expressed for now, in an agitated mutter.]

Well, it's not like anything's really changed, so... [He sighs and shakes his head. Voicing the buried appreciation he feels for Gobo checking in may be beyond Boober at the moment, but he can at least bring himself to draw the focus off the worst of the situation-- Though even that isn't easy.] How was exploring?

[gobetween]

[Honestly, Boober's little bit of attitude there didn't even phase him. It meant everything was pretty normal as it goes right now. So instead he just moves to sit cross-legged in front of him, carefully putting down his bundle and unwrapping it.]

Well, I felt bad about... y'know. So I got you, and your new little buddy here, some new rocks. And- and I can find more too, if you want. Can even help you carry them since, heh, they do get kinda heavy once you have enough of them, eh.

[As he talked he laid out his different finds. Some of them were just rocks, albeit in interesting shapes or with assorted strips of color. But others were more distinct; a few chunks of quartz, one or two granite, and others beyond description.]

[funsnofun]

[That- That was not what Boober expected to happen. He knows Gobo is someone who looks out for his friends, sure, but Boober's pessimism left him certain Gobo was just going to try and get him out of the hidey hole and on to more adventure, more fun. It's easy for him to overlook how much Gobo, along with the rest of their friends, has come ot accept him. And then there's moments like this, where it's impossible to miss it.

Boober gently shoos the newly-named Cristallino out of his lap, and when the Carbink floats out into the open area by Gobo, Boober part-way follows them, leaning out to look at what Gobo's brought him. Occasionally, he'll reach out and touch one with a reverence worth of the perfect blue rollie. There's a while of this before, finally, he lifts his head towards Gobo. He opens his mouth silently a few times before finding his words.]

You looked for these instead of exploring?

[gobetween]

[Gobo watched the two of them, with Carbink getting a smile when they floated close by. He was so involved in watching the Pokemon that for a moment, he hardly realized Boober was talking. Then he blinked and glanced back, right about the time the words sunk in.]

Huh? Oh-ohh, kinda? I mean, finding the rocks was a little bit of exploring on its own so I guess it was one and the same.

[A little laugh, while he raised his arm and had Morellul climb onto it with all the care of an owner and their parrot.]

Wasn't too hard with you around was it, eh? [A happy little chirrup in response.] Anyway, I hope you like 'em, Boober. I tried to find some real interesting ones.