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victory_road2024-09-01 10:07 am
loopsiedaisy) wrote in victory_road2024-09-01 10:07 am
[action + text]
Who: Loop + You
What: 5 prompts because I have no self-control. Get stolen from by a wild Buizel, help Loop figure out the 24-hour PokeMart, witness some Ghost Pokemon pretending to be a human people, or hang out in Ecruteak's theater district! And a network post.
Where: Route 32, Violet City, Ecruteak City
When: Varies, starting in late August & throughout September. (Feel free to tag in later in the month IRL!)
Warnings: Nothing yet, but mind the general warnings in Loop's permissions!
[Route 32, late August]
[Whoever you are, whatever reason you're somewhere around Route 32... you're about to fall prey to a criminal. Maybe you sat down for a moment and felt little paws digging around in your bag; maybe you paused on the road to watch a wild Pokemon or to answer a battle challenge and abruptly there was a nose snuffling in your pocket; maybe you straight up had a sandwich in your hand that got drive-by snatched. Whatever it is, something got taken - probably a snack, but if you didn't have any food on you, maybe something crinkly that seems like a snack bag to a wild Pokemon.]
[The Buizel immediately takes off down the road racing away from its latest victim, dodging any Pokemon they had out. It skids to turn around a corner, paws wheeling furiously and throwing up dust -]
[- and is abruptly tackled from the bushes by someone letting out a victorious "ha!" sound!]
[The Buizel squirms for a few moments, but gives up and goes limp when Loop lifts it by the scruff.]
Hang on... this isn't mine. [Loop tugs on the thing in its mouth.]
[The Buizel blinks innocently. It does not let go of whatever it's holding.]
[Violet City, September 1]
[It is very early in the morning at a little 24-hour PokeMart on the outskirts of the city. Loop is standing in front of an aisle full of different bags of Pokemon food. They're holding a Buizel tightly to their front, their arm underneath the Buizel's front legs, because Alfinse just can't be trusted like that. (Luckily the Buizel recently stuffed itself on berries and seems content to just hang around.)]
[The Pokemon Loop is actually addressing, however, is their Beldum.] It can't be right to just keep feeding you human food.
[There is no way a flying metal brick has the same nutritional needs as they do, even if Orrery has seemed fine so far. Alfinse can probably stick with fish and berries and things, sure, but...]
[Unfortunately, there are a lot of options here and Loop has no idea how to pick. Professor's Diet, recommended by 10/10 Pokemon Professors! Abra-Kadabra, with Guaranteed Truly Magical Coat Results - okay probably not that one. Meowth Mix! Bounsweet's Bounty! Special Skitty! Breeder's Pedigree (98% of breeders agree it results in more shinies)! Purekachu Wellness Gourmet Organic Elite Maxxx (VALUE PACK, THREE TIMES THE FOOD FOR JUST TWICE THE PRICE)!]
[Loop looks helplessly at Orrery.] Is there anything that looks right for... metal Pokemon? [They guess??]
[The Beldum's attitude is basically one big "¯\_(ツ)_/¯". She knows she was fed one of these when she was in Elm's lab, but she has no clue what bag it came in, and besides she's fine with berries and jerky and any particularly tasty-looking rocks.]
[Seeing someone else in the store, Orrery zips up to them, floating to stare directly into their eye(s) with her own. Can you help her trainer??]
[Ecruteak City A, between September 10-14]
[It's the middle of the night and Loop is outside because: they were helping with the temple restoration for some meals and a place to sleep, woke up inside and thought they were somewhere else dark and temple-like, and had one (1) whole entire panic attack.]
[They are absolutely not going to admit this to anyone, and they didn't want to wake their dozing Pokemon. But there's also no way they're getting back to sleep now!]
[So, perhaps unwisely, while it's currently in between thunderstorms, they've decided to go on a Pokemon-less walk... and happened to trip over something interesting.]
[It's one of Ecruteak's teahouses, long since closed for the night - and there's practically a crowd of Ghost Pokemon in front. It looks like... they're taking advantage of the gap between storms to imitate one of the tea ceremonies offered to tourists? There's a bunch of Poltchageists and Sinisteas floating in neat little arrangements, and a variety of Gastly, Drifloon, and even a few Shuppets filling in for the tourists. The "tea ceremony" is being led by a single Banette, which is giggling to itself and exaggeratedly miming preparing tea. It seems to have stolen some of the utensils from inside!]
[Loop is watching the group from behind a row of bushes - if they spot someone else walking along at this weird hour, they'll put their finger to their mouth in a clear "shhh" gesture, then motion the person over. Come check this shit out.]
[Ecruteak City B, mid-September] [Probably after the event?? We'll figure something out]
[So here's the thing. Loop picked up a week-long gig helping out at one of Ecruteak's theaters, replacing one of the stage crew rookies who's out sick. Turns out the newest rookie also has to go around hanging up and giving out flyers.]
[If Loop can get enough people to come buy a ticket they were promised free admission along with their wages. To a whole second play.]
[They think they're... a tiny bit excited about this, which is not an emotion they've felt in an upsettingly long time! Unfortunately, this emotion seems to have brought friends: they are remembering just how bad self-consciousness and anxiety can be when they're not numbed by other stuff. They're trying to power through but stars is it hard.]
[If they notice anyone looking in their direction for long enough, they hesitate for a moment, then force a smile and wave a flyer.] Hello, stranger! Interested in seeing a play?
[Alternatively, closer to evening, someone might see them struggling along the street with a giant stack of prop and costume boxes. They have definitely bitten off more than they can chew - they have a smaller box under each arm, squished against their side, and one of those slips free and tumbles to the ground. They curse under their breath, turn a full 90 degrees so they can see it with their single eye, and give it a baleful look. How are they supposed to pick that up when their hands are so full??]
[Orrery, still following Loop faithfully, drifts close to the ground. She tries to nudge the box along, but it's getting caught on the gaps between cobblestone pavers... ]
[Text, late September] [OOCly this one's for Scar but other characters are very welcome to respond too!]
[They'd been here for at least a month before someone kindly showed them the network setting on their PokeGear. Even so, it's several more weeks before they finally make their first post:]
Orrery and Fleuirk keep bothering me for more battles, but almost all the trainers around here are kids. It feels... weird to be fighting kids constantly?? And having them offer me money?
[OR ONCE IN A WHILE LOSING TO KIDS AND GETTING YOUR MONEY TAKEN... EMBARRASSING...]
Is there anyone around with some Pokemon who want a sparring partner? Who is. An adult.
[After a bit of a pause there's a followup comment clarifying:]
I'm in Ecruteak City.
[Wildcard for September!]
Talk to me @![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
stocke or by DM, happy to plot something else! :> Also happy to switch from brackets to prose if anyone wants.
What: 5 prompts because I have no self-control. Get stolen from by a wild Buizel, help Loop figure out the 24-hour PokeMart, witness some Ghost Pokemon pretending to be a human people, or hang out in Ecruteak's theater district! And a network post.
Where: Route 32, Violet City, Ecruteak City
When: Varies, starting in late August & throughout September. (Feel free to tag in later in the month IRL!)
Warnings: Nothing yet, but mind the general warnings in Loop's permissions!
[Route 32, late August]
[Whoever you are, whatever reason you're somewhere around Route 32... you're about to fall prey to a criminal. Maybe you sat down for a moment and felt little paws digging around in your bag; maybe you paused on the road to watch a wild Pokemon or to answer a battle challenge and abruptly there was a nose snuffling in your pocket; maybe you straight up had a sandwich in your hand that got drive-by snatched. Whatever it is, something got taken - probably a snack, but if you didn't have any food on you, maybe something crinkly that seems like a snack bag to a wild Pokemon.]
[The Buizel immediately takes off down the road racing away from its latest victim, dodging any Pokemon they had out. It skids to turn around a corner, paws wheeling furiously and throwing up dust -]
[- and is abruptly tackled from the bushes by someone letting out a victorious "ha!" sound!]
[The Buizel squirms for a few moments, but gives up and goes limp when Loop lifts it by the scruff.]
Hang on... this isn't mine. [Loop tugs on the thing in its mouth.]
[The Buizel blinks innocently. It does not let go of whatever it's holding.]
[Violet City, September 1]
[It is very early in the morning at a little 24-hour PokeMart on the outskirts of the city. Loop is standing in front of an aisle full of different bags of Pokemon food. They're holding a Buizel tightly to their front, their arm underneath the Buizel's front legs, because Alfinse just can't be trusted like that. (Luckily the Buizel recently stuffed itself on berries and seems content to just hang around.)]
[The Pokemon Loop is actually addressing, however, is their Beldum.] It can't be right to just keep feeding you human food.
[There is no way a flying metal brick has the same nutritional needs as they do, even if Orrery has seemed fine so far. Alfinse can probably stick with fish and berries and things, sure, but...]
[Unfortunately, there are a lot of options here and Loop has no idea how to pick. Professor's Diet, recommended by 10/10 Pokemon Professors! Abra-Kadabra, with Guaranteed Truly Magical Coat Results - okay probably not that one. Meowth Mix! Bounsweet's Bounty! Special Skitty! Breeder's Pedigree (98% of breeders agree it results in more shinies)! Purekachu Wellness Gourmet Organic Elite Maxxx (VALUE PACK, THREE TIMES THE FOOD FOR JUST TWICE THE PRICE)!]
[Loop looks helplessly at Orrery.] Is there anything that looks right for... metal Pokemon? [They guess??]
[The Beldum's attitude is basically one big "¯\_(ツ)_/¯". She knows she was fed one of these when she was in Elm's lab, but she has no clue what bag it came in, and besides she's fine with berries and jerky and any particularly tasty-looking rocks.]
[Seeing someone else in the store, Orrery zips up to them, floating to stare directly into their eye(s) with her own. Can you help her trainer??]
[Ecruteak City A, between September 10-14]
[It's the middle of the night and Loop is outside because: they were helping with the temple restoration for some meals and a place to sleep, woke up inside and thought they were somewhere else dark and temple-like, and had one (1) whole entire panic attack.]
[They are absolutely not going to admit this to anyone, and they didn't want to wake their dozing Pokemon. But there's also no way they're getting back to sleep now!]
[So, perhaps unwisely, while it's currently in between thunderstorms, they've decided to go on a Pokemon-less walk... and happened to trip over something interesting.]
[It's one of Ecruteak's teahouses, long since closed for the night - and there's practically a crowd of Ghost Pokemon in front. It looks like... they're taking advantage of the gap between storms to imitate one of the tea ceremonies offered to tourists? There's a bunch of Poltchageists and Sinisteas floating in neat little arrangements, and a variety of Gastly, Drifloon, and even a few Shuppets filling in for the tourists. The "tea ceremony" is being led by a single Banette, which is giggling to itself and exaggeratedly miming preparing tea. It seems to have stolen some of the utensils from inside!]
[Loop is watching the group from behind a row of bushes - if they spot someone else walking along at this weird hour, they'll put their finger to their mouth in a clear "shhh" gesture, then motion the person over. Come check this shit out.]
[Ecruteak City B, mid-September] [Probably after the event?? We'll figure something out]
[So here's the thing. Loop picked up a week-long gig helping out at one of Ecruteak's theaters, replacing one of the stage crew rookies who's out sick. Turns out the newest rookie also has to go around hanging up and giving out flyers.]
[If Loop can get enough people to come buy a ticket they were promised free admission along with their wages. To a whole second play.]
[They think they're... a tiny bit excited about this, which is not an emotion they've felt in an upsettingly long time! Unfortunately, this emotion seems to have brought friends: they are remembering just how bad self-consciousness and anxiety can be when they're not numbed by other stuff. They're trying to power through but stars is it hard.]
[If they notice anyone looking in their direction for long enough, they hesitate for a moment, then force a smile and wave a flyer.] Hello, stranger! Interested in seeing a play?
[Alternatively, closer to evening, someone might see them struggling along the street with a giant stack of prop and costume boxes. They have definitely bitten off more than they can chew - they have a smaller box under each arm, squished against their side, and one of those slips free and tumbles to the ground. They curse under their breath, turn a full 90 degrees so they can see it with their single eye, and give it a baleful look. How are they supposed to pick that up when their hands are so full??]
[Orrery, still following Loop faithfully, drifts close to the ground. She tries to nudge the box along, but it's getting caught on the gaps between cobblestone pavers... ]
[Text, late September] [OOCly this one's for Scar but other characters are very welcome to respond too!]
[They'd been here for at least a month before someone kindly showed them the network setting on their PokeGear. Even so, it's several more weeks before they finally make their first post:]
Orrery and Fleuirk keep bothering me for more battles, but almost all the trainers around here are kids. It feels... weird to be fighting kids constantly?? And having them offer me money?
[OR ONCE IN A WHILE LOSING TO KIDS AND GETTING YOUR MONEY TAKEN... EMBARRASSING...]
Is there anyone around with some Pokemon who want a sparring partner? Who is. An adult.
[After a bit of a pause there's a followup comment clarifying:]
I'm in Ecruteak City.
[Wildcard for September!]
Talk to me @
Violet City
[The little Beldum floating up in front of him catches him by surprise--they're not a particularly common Pokemon.]
Woah--uhhh. [HEY THERE, LITTLE...METAL THING. Why is it staring at him like that??] Do you...want something?
no subject
[Clearly this is the right person to advise her trainer on Pokemon food.]
[She beeps at Envy and his Floragato, then heads back toward Loop, glancing behind herself to make sure they're following.]
no subject
[Right towards...The Wizard over there. Who does seem to be having a confused staring contest with the Pokemon kibble.]
Nice hat. This is your little metal guy, right?
[Orrery has officially summoned one (1) Dubiously Helpful Punk.]
no subject
[...oh no. Did Orrery bring them a human.]
[
Only technically.]Um. Yes, that's Orrery.
I'm trying to figure out what metal guys are supposed to eat, and I think... she wants me to ask you? [They give Orrery a look of Betrayal. Asking for help instead of struggling solo? Sounds extremely fake.]
[Orrery appears unrepentant.]
no subject
Only technically!][Envy notes that little betrayed glance. Hmmm! Inchresting.]
Oh?
Well, you're in luck, I've been in this world for ages and I know all about these guys now.
[He actually has zero clue what Beldum eat or if they even eat at all (do they have mouths??) but that isn't going to stop him from looking 1000% confident about this, with one hand on his hip and the other gesturing with his half an ice cream bar. Thistle copies him.]
Name's Envy, this is Thistle.
no subject
...nice to meet you! [Envy? What a weird name. Though they guess they have no room to talk.]
[Astute (or more like, bare minimum) observers may notice: Loop never actually shared their name, even though they introduced Orrery. They don't seem to be trying to be rude or standoffish, really - they don't even hide their grin at seeing Thistle copying Envy, because that's adorable - but it's. A noticeable gap.]
[...moving on!! In the hopes of not being pressed on it!!]
So, what do you feed a flying metal brick?
[Orrery beeps. That's her!]
no subject
[Although he guesses that Scar never actually offered an alias, either.]
[FILING THAT AWAY....]
Likewise, oh great and powerful wizard.
[He's grinning as he turns on his heel to give Orrery a look, humming to himself as he taps his chin. Hmm, what would be funniest...he doesn't want to actually hurt it, and the little thing seems talkative enough to blow his cover if he says something she wouldn't like. But maybe he can get her to play along if he leads in with something fun? The fact that she came to get his help while he and Thistle were eating ice cream says something.]
Well, rocks are usually a hit. You have rock candy wherever you're from?
no subject
[Loop's tone is slightly dubious. Listen, they're a prankster themselves - they know when someone's pulling their leg!]
[Probably. Maybe. They're pretty sure. They have to admit they don't know Pokemon.]
She has been eating rocks... but I'm not sure candy counts as food?
[Orrery, however, is turning a pleading eye on Loop. She wants to try sugar rocks...]
no subject
[Now that he's getting going, he speaks with complete confidence.]
For people, maybe. But sugar is energy, and Pokemon eat all kinds of candies as vitamins. There's some kinds that even raise levels. You could ask the cashier about Rare Candy if you don't believe me.
no subject
[Loop's dubious expression is starting to look a bit more unsure...]
[Hold on. Something Envy said feels weird.]
[Loop rewinds the conversation in their head, and trips over a word.]
...colors?
no subject
[He's all ready to keep it up, but the next question trips him up too, and the confident showman act falters.]
...yyyeah?
Red, green, blue, they're all different flavors. [He recovers enough to smirk again.] The red ones are best, though.
[Envy is, perhaps, biased in favor of red rocks.]
no subject
[There were those books their stardust found, they remember, about weird shades that people used to be able to see, but...]
[Now they're even more confused.]
Wait, so are those colors or flavors?
no subject
Those are colors.
[Does this guy not know what colors are, or flavors? Time to start fishing.]
Except for blue raspberry, that one's both. No such thing as a blue raspberry, even in this world.
no subject
[Yes. They definitely would know what color a raspberry is.]
[...aw, heck it.] How can you tell?
no subject
Looking at 'em, usually.
[Big very friendly grin.]
Hey, what color would you say my hair is? Out of curiosity.
no subject
[And how are they supposed to answer that, is Envy just using those two words interchangeably?]
Um. Dark, right? It's almost lightless, but not quite... [Read: it's almost pure black, but it's just a little bit lighter.]
[...]
It's not "blue" is it.
no subject
[Envy's eyes light up. There is absolutely nobody else around to act as his self control right now. The single, beleaguered metaphorical shoulder angel he's grown in the past decade is immediately overwhelmed by five shoulder devils all delightedly screeching PLAY A DUMB TRICK ON THIS RANDOM STRANGER DO IT]
Nah, it's green.
[He will throw Loop that one bone of correct information because green is his favorite color. With a grin, he points to the floor, which is yellow.]
That's what blue is.
[And then taps a bright red label on one of the bags of Poke-food.] And this one's yellow. So...you just see things in shades of light and dark?
no subject
But those look the same... [More under their breath than directed at Envy. They're talking about the floor and label - both are equally bright, even though the label is far more saturated, and to Loop the shade looks entirely identical. Telling colors apart to name them isn't happening here.]
...yes? [You know. Like a normal person!] Are you... seeing things in colors?
[Not disbelieving this time, exactly, as much as... it seems like that should be a bigger deal??]
All the time??
no subject
Yeah, all the time, always have.
The towns here are all named after colors, too. Can anybody where you're from see them?
[He's assuming that it can't just be this guy, or they'd surely at least have heard the words before.]
no subject
People used to be able to, I guess. A really long time ago.
[So maybe it makes sense that some other people can (still?) see colors, but until now it straight up didn't occur to them. Colors just ain't natural.]
[There's a little bit more they could say here... but they are very much not thinking about any of that!!
Envy has not built this social link enough yet to unlock this conversation.]