victory_road

Entry tags:

Voice

As per usual, there's no video for Shrike's post, just the audio of what sounds like a kid.

"How long do people usually stay here?"

To his credit, though, while still shy about his appearance he's not nearly as nervous about talking to people as he once was. There's still a trace of it in his tone, to be sure, but his speech is no longer quite so hesitant as before.

"Is it a long time if someone's here for almost a year or more, or are most people here that long?"

And that's it for now. Though if anyone's in the vicinity of Azalea Town, they might catch a glimpse of the shy kid in a Togekiss hood as he goes about his daily routine.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh, um, I don't know?"

It hadn't really occurred to him to think of that, as Shrike doesn't have much of a concept of 'home' to return to. He's always been going from one thing to another, never really knowing how long each will last.

"But if I'll probably be here longer it'd be good to know that right?"

She isn't exactly relieved at that answer, considering the fact that it opens up a whole host of additional questions. But at least she doesn't have to worry about another child missing their home.

"It would be wise to prepare for, I think. Do you have appropriate travel supplies or accomodations?"

Shrike tends to have that affect on people when talking about personal subjects. Not that he realizes it, of course.

"Yeah, we're staying in Azalea Town right now and I make sure we get supplies before we travel."

"Good, then." Her voice sounds just a touch relieved! "Are you traveling with others, or is it just yourself and your Pokemon?"

"I've been traveling with Sandalphon."

And yes, it's still Shrike who makes sure they have the right supplies, not the millennia-old angel he travels with. Go figure.

"Of course. It sounds as if you are in good company, then."

Angel has only the vaguest of ideas as to who Sandalphon is. She's never spoken to him directly, but it's hard not to make note of otherworlders on the network or at various festivities.

But the young man doesn't seem to be too bothered by his choice of company, so she'll trust in that.

"It's good to not be alone on the road. This place may be far safer than any land I have come across, but I still would not risk it alone."

"Ah, traveling here is really easy! Even if you can't eat the berries..."

Which he sounds a little put out about.

"Even when there's not a road or path there's still lots of level open ground, and it's easy to buy lots of extra food and stuff in towns. And if you have Pokémon you're not really alone anyway..."

Shrike's used to having to travel alone. On foot. In the mountains. As far as he's concerned Johto is almost literally a walk in the park.

"I am glad to know you have found some comfort and ease in your circumstances then!" Angel could grumble about her own difficulties but... she won't do that to the poor kid.

"You know how to cook over a fire then? Or do you grab smaller, non-perishable items when you take to the road for longer periods of time?"

It hasn't all been easy for him. Goldenrod City still terrifies the kid with the sheer amount of people there. But as far as wilderness travel goes, Shrike finds it much easier than what he's used to.

"Um, I can make soup or stew..." That's probably putting it nicely, mostly he just knows to cut up food into chunks and put it in a pot of water to boil for a while. "But there's a lot of food here you can buy that stays good a long time, so it's easier just to get that."

"Both are very good options when it comes to eating on the road, I think." Angel can hardly judge any cooking mishaps, seeing as how she managed to absolutely ruin a pot of rice the last time she actively tried.

Which reminds her: "Have you thought about trying curry? It is somewhat similar to how you might cook soup or stew. Many people here swear by it, and I understand that even Pokemon enjoy it quite a bit."

Again her last attempt at making it had been disastrous but... Maybe Shrike will have better luck?

"What's curry?"

That'd be a no to trying it, then.

"Well... It's sort of - " She regrets this line of inquiry already. How does one define curry, beyond words like 'transcendent,' or anything else along those lines.

"It is not unlike a gravy of sorts? Only it contains far more spice and is mixed with Coconut Milk? Or whatever the equivalent would be here."

Do Exeggutors make milk? She hates this thought most of all.

"I don't know how to make gravy..."

Though he does at least know what that is. Probably. The definition of 'gravy' can vary from place to place, after all.

"I don't know what coconut milk is, either."

Oh no.

"I could probably find a few recipes and supplies at the store nearby. It should not be too much trouble for me to send one of my Pokemon your way for a delivery, if you would like! I am not currently traveling myself, so I have plenty to spare."

"Um."

To say Shrike is confused by the sudden shift from explaining what curry is to talking about sending things is putting it mildly. He knows he hadn't even asked that much, for one thing, just said he doesn't know much about those ingredients.

"You mean for making curry? There's stores here..."

He's still not used to people just offering to do nice things like that, so he's not sure what to do.

Unfortunately for Shrike, she wasn't called the Guardian Angel back on Pandora for nothing. Her default state, whether it be within this world or another, is to be helpful above all else. This condition only grows worse the younger the person in question is. She may not have access to the digital manifested resources of her home, but an Oricorio and a pocketbook full of money was a decent enough substitute.

"There are many other things you could be spending your money on. The last thing you should worry about is survival resources, not when there are others willing to lend their aid."

"Oh, I have money!"

He really Doesn't Get It. But he is perhaps a bit proud of the fact that he's been able to really earn money from a job, even if he's only allowed to work for limited hours.

"There's so many things you can buy here, and it's really easy, too!"

He's been here almost a year and he still marvels at how inexpensive so many things he'd normally consider luxuries are.

The excitement is almost contagious. Angel can't help but smile, evident if not by her expression given the current venue, then by the tone of her voice.

"It sounds like you are doing just fine for yourself then. I apologize for assuming otherwise!" She hesitates a moment, before adding. "I needed a lot of help when I started out. I still needed a lot of help even after a year or so. So I want to be sure everyone has that help, no matter where they are at within their journey."

Shrike's just not used to people wanting to help him, is the long and the short of it. Which makes it that much harder for him to accept help, let alone do so without doing or giving something in return.

"Oh. I don't think I really need much, though..."

Compared to where he was before coming to Johto, even a very simple, almost meager living here is practically a luxury, as far as he's concerned.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Voice

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject