victory_road | august catchall

a. To Open Water

[When the dust settles, Vash emerges from the cave of monsters and finally gets a chance to look around. His eyes settle on the miles of ocean, his ears process the roaring of the waves and the Pokemon breaking the surf. It’s a beautiful sight.

And it promptly overwhelms him. Seeing the ocean from the city, when there was plenty of dry land behind him? That’s one thing. But now the ocean is all around him. There’s no way to get away. He’s pinned down.

Oh boy.

Sorry to anyone else trying to leave the cave, but he is promptly shoving past and going back in to hide, thank you! He’ll deal with the dinosaurs. Maybe Walking Wake will appear again and whisk him away?

No? Dammit. Someone better help him.]

b. Dreams in the Waves

[By force or by gentle words, Vash is eventually convinced to head down to the beach proper. At least the sand is familiar — the great sand sea is the only “ocean” he’s ever known, after all. Carefully he’ll work his way closer. Then closer still. Eventually he tips one toe in. Then two. Then -

Well… Lumby’s always been a clumsy worm. And while Vash had thought that letting him out to enjoy the sand would be enough, it seems the Orthworm has gotten a little too… over-exuberant. As he twists and flails around, he draws too close to Vash and promptly knocks him face first into the surf.

Well. Guess he’ll die.]

c. In the Burning Fodder

[Eventually night settles onto the beach. The fear has abated, and now Vash has set himself up a comfortable camp. He’s not alone. Livio and his Pokemon are here, too. And more company doesn’t seem to be a bad thing, either. If Vash spots anyone coming by, he’ll frantically wave them over.]

We just put some food on! Come on, come have a bite!

d. wildcard

[Hit me with whatever you want, or plot with me at

ashtriferous]

[Well, at least Vash isn't going to drown or anything. Considering he is getting scruffed and hauled up to his feet moments after eating dirt. Sand? Sand.]

Y'think he does that stuff on purpose?

[A nod to Lumby. At first, Livio didn't think there was anything going on in there. But as time passes, he wonders whether the Orthworm is secretly an evil mastermind. He would have fit right in with Knives' crew.]

[Vash sputters and spits, hanging in the air like a scruffed wet cat. When he does get his feet under him, he fixes Livio with the most miserable of looks.]

Starting to think so.

[Lumby, meanwhile, stares into the middle distance.]

[He pats the hood back down before he lets go, like that'll fix the fact that Vash is soaked.]

Well, just forget that rascal a minute. You wanna walk around or somethin'? The water's pretty nice when bein' in it's yer choice.

Were you wanting a walk, or a swim? Because it sounds like you're lookin' to go for a swim.

[Lumby seems to perk up at this, but Vash shoots him a scolding look. Satisfied, Vash then turns to glance at the water, then back to Livio.]

Do you even know how?

[Lumby better watch his ass, before Livio gets a mind to wrassle him again.]

I sure don't! But I can still... wade, I think's the word? Or just sit in it, or somethin'!

Sure. Wading. We can do that...

[Or perhaps...

Vash holds back! And the moment Livio takes a step, he springs onto the larger man's back. He just a finger toward the sky!]

Okay! Onward!

[He shouldn't be surprised, at this point. But even if he is, a little, he doesn't flinch so much as turn his head to stare over his shoulder.]

Ain't a thomas, y'know. [But! He laughs it off and starts trudging, so there's that.] Y'afraid of somethin'? [His tone is soft, not at all teasing. Even if it seems really silly.]

Are you sure? You're kinda bulky like one!

[This is not said like a bad thing. In fact, he gives a borderline affectionate pat to one of Liv's biceps.]

Not afraid, though. You're just bigger than me! So now I've got a better view!

I'll just take that as a compliment.

[War flashbacks to Vash calling him wide last month.]

Hm... That so? Guess ya won't have a problem with this, then.

[The sentence isn't even all the way spoken before he turns toward the shore and just... lets them both fall backwards into the deeper water. Sorry, not sorry, Vash.]

Yeah, of course it -

[He cuts off with a very guttural, very terrified yelp. Said yelp immediately turns to burbling as they both splash and sink into the surf. Instinct kicks in just enough for him to kick and flail his way to the surface.]

Liv- Livio!! Get up here!!

[Livio's flailing is very minimal compared to Vash. He sits up, shoulders mostly above the water save when a slightly bigger wave rolls gently past him. Vash's reaction makes him feel maybe a little more guilty than it should.]

Shit, Vash, 'm sorry. Didn't think it'd really upset ya. Y'sure yer okay?

[Vash can only huff and puff at Livio a few times. When he realizes that Livio is serious, that he's actually concerned and thinks Vash is angry, and finds his shoulders quickly loosening back up. Yes, there's a tinge of fear there, but it's more focused toward the vast expanse on the horizon, rather than the water they're standing in now.

He can't really process how to explain that though. So instead of opening his mouth, he cups his hands beneath the water and proceeds to lift them. It's not an all encompassing wave of water, but it should be enough to douse Livio.]

Yeah, now I am!

[Now if you'll excuse him, he's going to attempt to run back to the shore.]

[The whiplash with this man. Livio is starting to see where Lumby gets it from. He sputters to get the splashed water out of his face and... you know what? Vash is gonna get a pokeball chucked square between his shoulders, relatively hard. Then there will be a stubborn, fat little bear cub sitting on him.]

Get his ass, Osita!

[There's a grunt as the Pokeball thwacks against his shoulders. He turns to shoot Livio an offended look, only to find himself face to face with the Teddiursa.

Naturally Vash proceeds to flop onto the ground. He wobbles back and forth in the shallow water, sputtering as he does.]

Oh no! You're getting me, Osita!

[Despite Vash's melodramatics and Livio's barking laughter, Osita... isn't doing anything, really. Maybe she digs her claws into Vash to keep herself latched on. Please stop moving. She does not want to get wet.]

's what ya deserve, troublemaker. Sic 'im, girl!

[She is not siccing anyone. She is staring blankly between both of them. And maybe at Lumbricus. Save her.]

[Lumbricus ambles closer to the water, only to slither away. No thank you. He's not weak to it, but it isn't his favorite thing.

Vash does yelp a little when those claws dig in, of course. But it at least gets him to stop flailing.]

Such a fierce creature! What have you been teaching her, Liv?

[Traitor. Useless. No wonder the humans can't stand you, you stupid worm.

Oh, well. At least her island is a little more stable now.]

Aw, she don't mean anythin' by it. It's just a bear hug!

[... She is grasping harder.]

Y-yeah! Bear hug!

[Boy howdy is he wincing! Those little claws are leaving marks, and the salt water is getting in them. Guess he's got no choice but to start wiggling toward land in hopes of her hopping off the S.S. Vash.]

[Salt in his wounds is a small price to pay for the honor of being her steed. Ingrate.

Livio also pulls himself through the surf to come pluck the Teddiursa from her victim. And now with a much sturdier perch, she eases right up. Even if he gives her a gentle scolding.]

Now, take it easy on poor Vash. He's sensitive, y'know. Like your papa bear.

[... Osita does not feel bad for Vash. She is definitely not looking down with a pout.]

Aw, don't go lookin' like that, sweetheart.

[He pushes himself back up to his feet, coat dripping and weighing an extra ten pounds. He shakes off like a dog, before reaching over to pat her little head.]

I'm not mad! We had fun, didn't we?

[Well, if she regretted it before, she sure as shit doesn't now that she's soaked after all. The berry she was saving for a snack later? She Flings it full force at his face.]

Hey! What'd I just say?! [Osita does not give a FUCK. Vash deserved it. He's lucky she can only hold one item at once!]

[Bullseye. She plunks him right in the forehead with a Pecha Berry. Between the shock and maybe just a little bit of his own dramatics, he flops right back into the water where he came from.

You killed him. He's dead.]

[Alright, that's enough "swimming" for one day. Livio fishes Vash up out of the water once more and carries both him and Osita to shore, setting them both down. The Teddiursa is getting nudged in the direction of Lumby. They deserve each other.]

Go on, git if yer gonna be like that, young lady!

[And as she trudges off all grumpy, Livio stoops to inspect poor Vash's head.]

Shit, Vash, sorry. Y'alright?

[Lumby has buried himself in the sand, thank you very much. only the top of his head and eyes are visible, but uh... he definitely THINKS he's hidden. He is sneaky. He is stealth. All will fear him.

Vash, meanwhile, only groans and... gargles? It kind of sounds like he has a mouthful of water. Which makes sense because he promptly spits it into Liv's face.

At least he's grinning afterward]

Reckon I'll be alright!

[Yeah, Osita is just gonna sit on Lumby's very exposed head. Sup, fellow troublemaker.

As for Livio... he flinches for a second at first, then just... blinks. and stares. For longer than is reasonable. And eventually, he just breathes out a defeated sigh and hangs his head.]

Yeah, I prob'ly deserved that.

Aw, don't say that.

[Still chuckling to himself, Vash sits up and orients himself so that his feet are still in the water.]

It's nice out here. Could get used to it.

[There's no point in arguing that -- Livio did throw an entire bear at Vash. Instead, he flops onto his back, similarly letting the tide wash up to him.]

Really is. Kinda miss the food in town, though.

Mm... Food.

[Is that his stomach growling? Absolutely.]

I'm sure we could rummage up something here, though! Worms might not be as plentiful - [A chuff from Lumby.] - but there's plenty of other stuff.

Maybe... Berries are a no-go fer sure. I dunno where we got the meat at the market from, though. And hell if I'm gonna try to hunt a Pokemon after the ass-whoopin' we got in those tunnels.

[Looks like it's whatever convenience store burritos they have shipped in to the tiny settlements here for the foreseeable future.]

Guess we'll have to find ourselves town before long. Though we can always trek back and camp on the beach if you want!

[Gas Station burritos are his shit what are you talking about Livio. That's a delicacy right there.]

[HE ISN'T COMPLAINING. Just dreaming of buffets...]

That sounds real nice, matter o' fact. So long as that ain't an issue for ya...? [Yeah, he still wants to figure out what Vash's issue with the ocean is. Mainly so he can avoid upsetting him again.]

Hm?

[Vash glances at Livio, then back out at the ocean. Oh, right. He scratches at the back of his head with a chuckle.]

It's not the water that bothers me, really! There's just so much of it. We're out in the middle of nowhere, too. Just makes me feel a little small.

It's... mighty different from a sand sea, fer certain. I get how you mean...

[Unlike Vash, apparently, it comforts him more than anything, though he doesn't quite know how to put that into words.]

Well, I'm in no rush either way. We can go or stay or whatever ya'd like.

At least sand is mostly solid beneath your feet. And you can feel the worms comin' ahead of time.

[Whatever lurks out there... He shudders at the mere idea of it.]

I'm happy on the shore, though. And I'm sure I'll get used to it soon enough in any case!

Not to mention y'can't drown in a couple inches'a sand.

[Livio is plenty content to stay right here until somebody moves him. Learning how to cope with a sunburn is going to be fun for him tonight!]

Right, well, 'til then, I promise I won't go tossin' you in there again.

Sounds like you've never been suffocated by quicksand.

[Which like. Neither has he, but that's beside the point.

... Not that he has one.]

I'll come 'round, I'm sure. And if not, there's always splashing. That's fair game! I've more than earned it at this point, too.

a; licking wounds: SEVEN ISLAND, Sevault Canyon, 8/7-8, immediately following lost world

[It’s a huge relief that everyone makes it out of that whole debacle… well, not unscathed, but alive and mostly well, with a couple of exceptions to the “mostly well.”

Livio isn’t dealing with broken bones or major blood loss, but he’s still pretty banged up, and… weirdly fascinated by this?

Catch him in or just outside the cave staring at his various cuts, burns, and bruises and making zero effort to treat them. He might even be poking at open wounds. No, his hands are not clean. He is covered in dirt and grime from the tussling. It’s probably fine.]

b; seawater: ANY ISLAND shore, 8/14-20

[So, Livio’s reaction to being surrounded by water on all sides is vastly different from Vash’s. He strolls right up to the shore, and hesitates for maybe a minute or two before deciding to take off his boots and dip his toes in. When that isn’t enough, he wades in farther, practically giddy at the feeling of being enveloped by the tide.

After that, well… What does one do with water but drink it?

It won’t be long before he drags himself back to the shore, all sense of wonder smothered by overwhelming nausea. He’s keeled over, clutching his stomach and groaning. Why has this heavenly land of green and blue betrayed him?]

c; rain: ANY ISLAND, 8/21-27

[If it wasn’t clear enough by now, this man has very little sense of self-preservation. That, or he’s just too fascinated by the Pokemon world to worry about it for longer than a couple of seconds. Maybe both.

When the sky finally opens up, he moves to stand in the rain and soak it all in. Yes, out in the open. Yes, even with the lightning.]

d; training up: ANY ISLAND, any time in August following lost world

[Upon arriving in Johto, Livio was one of those extremely opposed to having cute critters fight in his stead. Now, though, he’s learned a few things; namely, that Pokemon are far stronger than humans, that he is no longer next to invincible (and is actually very squishy, as any human is), and that he can’t do much of anything to protect his team or his friends from stronger opponents by himself.

Thankfully, his team are more relieved than anything that he’s finally getting the memo, and are more than willing to learn how to work with Livio. The biggest problem they’re facing now is the strength of the wild Pokemon around here. Most of his team are Grass, therefore strong against the various Water and Rock types, but they’re still rather underleveled.

If another person happens to pass nearby, they’ll get a big ol cowboy surrounded by cute little critters waving politely and calling out to them.]

Hey, ‘scuse me! Are ya a trainer? How ‘bout a friendly spar?

e; wildcard: literally whatever you want, hit me up

Edited 2023-08-15 01:43 (UTC)

august catchall

no subject

b. for let's go to the Beach, beetch

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

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