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Post by DataNinja on Mar 1, 2020 2:43:51 GMT
"Hey!" Evelyn protests. "No, I wanted to prove that I would surpass him! My lineage is important, but I'm strong because of how it's shaped me! Not just because of a name. It's a strong family line is all! I want people to know exactly who they are dealing with!"
"Don't know if there'll be much in Fortree, Kai," Ruby says, off-handedly.
"Oh?" Ayah asks, "What's it like?"
"It's all trees, and casual, and a pretty laid-back natural atmosphere," she says. "At least from what I've heard. Lilycove is the big fancy city. Fortree's biggest claim to fame besides vacationing is just the Gym. People there don't really connect much with the outside world."
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Post by Robot on Mar 1, 2020 10:28:14 GMT
Theo smiles cattishly at Evelyn as she gets defensive, seeming to genuinely enjoy the rise he is getting out of her. "Don't need to know yer parenthood to know you are a handful Ev." He chuckled softly and listened in on Ruby's explanation of Fortree.
"Sounds perfect. Be a good place to unwind without media pressure."
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Post by seraphflonne on Mar 1, 2020 21:33:39 GMT
"Well, if that's the case I'll be fine then. Probably need to stock up on Pokeballs still though..." Kai pulls up his bag and starts rifling through it, letting out a sigh as he realizes.
"Yeah, I'm out of Pokeballs. Used my last one on that Castform."
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Post by DataNinja on Mar 1, 2020 23:48:21 GMT
Evelyn gives a peeved look at Theo, shaking her head, while Ruby gives a small smile. "He's got your number, all right."
"Probably... good that we just get some rest," Ayah says, looking to try and defuse things. "Now that everything's dry, and we've burned off energy. Sound good?"
"I dunno," Evelyn says, though her tone is more mock-injured than real. "I think Theo needs to apologize first. Really, what happened to all your gallantry?" She winks.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Mar 2, 2020 11:35:56 GMT
"Oh you know, just flaunting a bit." He snorted, still smiling. "Besides, you're the only one that wants to be treated like a Princess. Ayah prefers small gestures, and Ruby doesn't like being on a pedestal. You'll have to beat an apology out of me."
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Post by DataNinja on Mar 2, 2020 17:27:20 GMT
"Hey, I don't want to be treated like a princess," Evelyn protests. "Just with some respect. And," she adds, slyly, "I thought I did beat you. Several times."
"What, you never had childhood dreams of being a princess, ever?" Ayah asks, flushing, and seemingly trying to divert the conversation away from discussions of flirtations.
"Nah," Evelyn says. "All they ever do is get kidnapped, or sit around, or have awful parents, or whatever. I always preferred the knights who got to go off on cool adventures and live happily ever after with the princess."
"Ah. Guess it was just me, then."
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Post by seraphflonne on Mar 3, 2020 0:52:15 GMT
"Dressing up nice, never wanting for anything, having an almost guaranteed handsome man coming to sweep you off your feet... I can get the appeal of it." Kai says a bit offhandedly, not entirely paying attention to what he was saying as he fixed his bag's contents back into place.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Mar 3, 2020 12:37:00 GMT
"Fine, fine, you got me. I apologize." Theodore rolled his eyes, before turning his attention back on Ayah, then with some surprise on Kai. There was a pause as he seemed to weigh some conflicting thoughts in his head, taking a single deep breath, he gave Kai's shoulder a squeeze. "If you dress up nice for you, you'll find the right man to carry you away from the altar someday."
There was clear stiltedness and confusion in his tone, but his message was clearly supportive before he retreated to Ayah's side. "Only childhood dreams?" He asked in a low tone, a bit of that playfulness sneaking back in.
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Post by DataNinja on Mar 3, 2020 18:13:29 GMT
"Thank you," Evelyn says, sticking her tongue out. "See, was that so hard?"
"Well, yeah," Ayah says, laughing. "I mean, do you honestly think that I still believe you can just become a princess? Give me some credit, Theo, I know it's something that you're born into. And it's not like there are any left around."
"The last one formally abolished was in Kalos, about two hundred years ago," Ruby says, helpfully. "They still use the noble system to rank battlers, but it stops before you hit royalty, so, no, you cannot become a battle princess there. Galar still has something, technically, but it's just a formality. Nobody actually holds any high titles, and there's nobody of a rank to give any of those titles out. So... it's just a social limbo with the same practical effects."
Ayah gives her a stare, to which Ruby replies defensively, "What? Can't a girl know stuff?" The blue-haired girl just grins. "Look... in a lot of those places, nobility is tied in with the battling system. It was all done from a purely historical context. Not out of any fantasy!"
"Sure, sure," Ayah says, putting an arm around Ruby, before laughing. "Okay, let's go get some food."
The group is able to use some limited cooking facility in the Institute, before having to semi-awkwardly bunk in the same area as each other. All the cots are separate, but it's really the first time they've all been in the same room sleeping together. At least Evelyn doesn't make a big deal out of it. There's definitely a different feeling to it all than being in a Center.
Early in the morning is getting up, training, and heading the rest of the way to Fortree. A city which basically jumps out at them and says "surprise!" a few hours later when they actually approach the forest ahead. Because, unlike the other cities... it's pretty much built on and into the trees. So the buildings are all camouflaged, there are rope and wooden walkways everywhere, and there's pretty much not any obvious building on the ground, besides the Pokémon center, built into a giant tree. There're a handful of people inside it.
"This is... definitely not what I expected," Ayah says, as they walk into the center. "I, uh, hope nobody's afraid of heights..."
"I mean, it'll only be like, what, one day you'd have to deal with it?" Evelyn says, shrugging. "Get in, beat the Gym today, get out tomorrow?"
"Sorry to eavesdrop," a woman who looks like she's just getting her Pokémon back from being healed says, "but you'll have to put your plans off at least a day. Tuesdays are the days that Robin goes and flies Pokémon with kids. So, you'll have to wait for tomorrow."
"It's great that she does that," her friend next to her grumbles, "but maybe the time would be better spent, I dunno, getting to be more than an excuse for a Gym Leader? Like... seriously, has she ever won a battle? The Gym's a joke here." The second woman shakes her head. "Well, at least you all should have no issues getting your badges. Nepotism at its finest."
"It's not that bad, Marie... she's won enough. Just not as many as most. She's just trying too hard to follow her mother exactly. There's definitely skill, she just doesn't have the same passion for birds. I'm sure she'd be better if she switched to something else, but the people don't want that."
"The League should step in, is all I'm saying. It's meant to be a test, after all. It's just a joke now."
"Anyways," the first woman sighs, grinning. "The point is, I fure you should just know before you walk all the way over there. Good luck with your battle. And enjoy Fortree! I suggest the Treehouse restaurant for dinner one night. It's excellent."
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Post by seraphflonne on Mar 4, 2020 0:31:54 GMT
Kai had felt pretty confused about what Theo said the other day, but it very easily was all gone by the next day. Training up his team, setting out to Fortree, and just being in the treetop city in general was definitely enough to keep even the thoughts of asking what that was about yesterday firmly gone.
"This place is pretty cool, think I still prefer the volcano myself!" Is his input to Ayah before the new faces start talking to them. He kind of understands a little about gym leader and passion, not a whole lot but his current situation had curbed his enthusiasm about fire quite a bit. He gives the one telling them the details a nod. "Thanks for the tips, I'm sure we can find a lot to do here, even if I think it will mostly be exploring. A bit more meaning to climbing trees here than elsewhere, eheh."
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Post by Robot on Mar 4, 2020 12:04:13 GMT
"The heart wants what the heart wants." Theo insisted with great tenderness. "You shouldn't let facts or reality cloud your dreams and keep you from your fantasies." There was an ethereal quality to his expression in that moment, distant and infinitely deep, but it was brief in its passing.
"A nice dress and a debonair partner who wants to look after you could be enough." He winks.
Listening with interest to the two on about the gym leader, then Kai, Theo scratched the back of his head. "We'll have to find more than a meal if we want to get through an entire day. While I ain't scared of nothing, ah trip over my own feet enough them bridges might be a problem still."
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Post by DataNinja on Mar 4, 2020 17:40:32 GMT
"I'm sure you'll be fine," Evelyn laughs. "Just grab onto the ropes. I'm sure they've had clumsy people here before, and have made sure you won't die from it."
"I can try and keep you steady..." Ayah says, a little quietly, flushing some.
"So, there was talk of shopping," Ruby muses. "Do we want to also go and look to meet this Gym Leader beforehand? Or just go sightseeing? Or what?"
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Post by seraphflonne on Mar 4, 2020 18:11:39 GMT
"Why not all of the above?" Kai gave a dumb grin as he looked upward at one of the bridges, trying to see if he could spot any of the shops from down below. He definitely needed to go shopping. "Shopping for sure, I'd like to see if we can get lucky and meet up with the Gym Leader, it's always nice to know what you're up against and all. And I mean, we definitely should go sightseeing regardless, it's like... a quarter of the fun of our journey after all!"
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Post by Robot on Mar 5, 2020 2:21:21 GMT
"Wouldn't mind that one bit, Ayah." Theo smiled warmly. "I'm good just seeing where the day takes us, if that's all about cause that's what Kai wants, then it's settled."
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Post by DataNinja on Mar 5, 2020 3:06:17 GMT
The group heads out, exploring the city some. The necessities are all available, if a little awkward to get to - going up and down rope ladders and stairs winding around trees, just to get to the shop visible across the way. And the directions never seem to be quite that intuitive - it always seems like it takes two or three times to get to exactly where one wants to get to.
It does lead to some more interesting shops in the meantime, though. One that's dedicated to securing your home against Bug Pokémon sneaking in. A wood-and-rope shop, for maintaining your bridges, ladders, and walkways, and making sure that you can get out of your house in the morning. Shops selling clothing with far less substance than elsewhere - a warm breeze is constantly wafting through the treetops, and there's plenty of shade, so covering up isn't really an issue. Evelyn seems to take a liking to that last shop in particular, even if she's obviously disappointed in the far smaller selection of swimsuits compared to any costal city, giving Ayah an easy out of trying to buy any.
After the shopping, and some lunch at a little food stand high up in the trees, the group does their best to try and find the Gym Leader, eventually - after asking for some directions - coming to a platform overlooking a clearing on the edges of the city. A little way away from the stairwell spiralling down is a collection of people - mostly children, with several seated on Pokémon who're flying about. Most of the adults are just watching, but one (presumably the gym leader) is helping people onto and off of birds. There are some standard-looking birds, fluffy ones, some metal ones like Evelyn and Cole have...
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Post by seraphflonne on Mar 5, 2020 21:19:10 GMT
Kai made sure to finally get some Pokeballs, also grabbing a few healing items for being on the road. After that he actually joins Evelyn of clothes shopping, considering changing it up a little bit. He bought a few things but wasn't entirely sure if he was going to wear it, but he might try them out later.
"Oh, neat. So think the lady with the birds is the Gym Leader?" He stands back to watch, a bit curious about the act of riding bird Pokemon. It seemed pretty fun, and he has been wondering if any of his own Pokemon would be up to it.
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Post by Robot on Mar 6, 2020 2:29:24 GMT
"That's the one by my understanding. Must be rough, going along with what people expect of you instead of what yer passionate about. Don't envy her. She's making them kids happy fine, but if her heart ain't into the whole birds thing, what's she to do?"
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Post by DataNinja on Mar 6, 2020 6:01:25 GMT
"Sometimes you just end up falling into expectations," Ayah says. "Wasn't that you, Theo? Trying to live up to expectations, even if those expectation were your own."
"Well, I imagine that with a town around, and a reputation now, we're not going to be able to change her mind," Evelyn says, shrugging, "so let's head on down, see what we can see, and all that. No point lollygagging around up here!" She laughs, before she begins running down the spiralling stairwell towards the ground.
Ruby sighs and smiles, before following. "At least she's getting her energy out, so maybe we won't get woken up at dawn just to challenge the Gym."
Closing the gap, the woman with the birds seems to be a tall, slender person, with purple-blue hair tied back in a ponytail. She doesn't really pay any attention to the new arrivals, watching the birds in the sky with children on them, until Evelyn clears her throat and asks "Uh, hi, are you Robin?"
"Oh!" The woman says, turning around, "Sorry! Didn't see you there. Yes, yes I am. What can I do for you? Here to fly?"
"Uh," Evelyn says, awkwardly, clearly not quite having thought through to this part, "We were mostly just coming to meet you before challenging the Gym tomorrow."
"Oh, okay," Robin says, nodding. "Well... I do birds." She laughs. "It's no secret. Following in my mother's footsteps."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Mar 6, 2020 12:46:21 GMT
"Keeping on yerself about yer own spectations is different. Even if it wasn't right, no one else picked my path for me, and I was free."
On introduction to Robin, Theo offered her a tip of his hat and watched the birds coming and going. She was doing good with birds, they weren't stealing harvests or harassing Combee. The folk around here seemed to be having fun too. "You like doing birds?" He asked plainly, though there was still a skeptical undertone.
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Post by seraphflonne on Mar 6, 2020 22:30:25 GMT
Kai chuckled at the enthusiasm, though wasn't far behind Evelyn, giving a simple follow me motion back to the group. He didn't pipe up at first, kind of interested in what others would say about it all, though he couldn't help muttering "Hey, I wanted to fly..."
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