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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 13, 2020 13:12:17 GMT
Bliss casts a sideways glance at the Corsola. Ugly thing. She supposed it could stay, the pink made her greens stand out more. The Tsareena moved to help Thel find a dry place to sit, and continued to gently stroke his cheek, making a soothing coo. Corsola had stopped shivering and crying, content to rest against the boy's palm, perhaps not entirely understanding what was going on.
"It is what you choose to make of it.". Aliana finally spoke up from some distance behind Thel. "That Mareanie will wake eventually and find something else to eat, going about its life however it chooses. It is an invasive species here in Johto, no natural predators.". Folding her hands against her hips she continued. "That Corsola would have died painfully and slowly. Eaten alive. It had no tomorrow before you came along."
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 13, 2020 19:02:00 GMT
"It's... it's not right, though, for me to make the choice. Of who lives and who dies," Thel says, trying to regain his composure. "I know someone will die, that's how the world works, but... I-I shouldn't be the one to decide if it be this one," he gestures to the Corsola, "another one like this who is consumed in its stead. Or the, uh, Mareanie itself, if it can't find any more food. It's just... it shouldn't be my place to choose for them..."
He stands up, giving Bliss' head-petals a ruffle. "I... I'm sorry, Aliana," he says, starting with a nervous giggle and breaking out into involuntary laughter. "This has been an awful first impression. I'm not usually like this."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 14, 2020 14:14:51 GMT
"You don't think so? Not when Mareanie was brought here by humans in the first place?". Aliana took a seat and crossed her legs. "Corsola breed and grow quite slowly. Mareanie evolve into a Pokemon called Tocapex which are prolific. This Mareanie with enough food would have made more, and more. Eventually killing its entire food source. Then as a population they would have starved."
Aliana made a dismissive gesture. "That is something the Pokemon rangers look at though. The Mareanie doesn't know it is somewhere with no predators, and it will be overwhelmingly successful. With nothing to mitigate the population now, except humans. The Corsola can't change how it is either. You made a decision because you are capable of higher thought, not necessarily higher emotion."
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 14, 2020 15:39:44 GMT
"O-oh..." Thel says. This is... something entirely new to him. "But... I didn't know that at the time. It could have been something else, not like that, and... and I wouldn't have know the difference." He hangs his head. "And that's the problem. I... I just leap in without really knowing anything. The decision wasn't guided by higher thought."
He looks over at Aliana, and gives a smile. "I appreciate you trying to give me the benefit of the doubt. But... I can't pretend to be what I'm not. I don't know anything close to what you do, and most of my decisions are guided by emotion. It... would be wrong to claim otherwise. To make me out to be better than I am. I was just... lucky here. I hope you don't think less of me for that..."
Is that... how all humans should be, he wonders. Being able to just... know things and think through what's the smartest course of action? ...does this mark him as not being truly human? Not by how he acts, but... fundamentally how he thinks?
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 16, 2020 12:55:25 GMT
"Do you think it's wrong to be guided by your feelings? You don't actively go trampling others for benefit to yourself. The Corsola is thankful, happy, and safe. Would you have protected it from humans? From environmental harms? You haven't made habit of disrupting the natural order of predator prey, so the odd moment when you might step in is your choice to make. The impact will be so miniscule in the long run it isn't worth fretting over." The girl explained, but watched Thel with an even, gauging expression.
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 16, 2020 15:28:22 GMT
"I... I don't know," Thel admits, wiping his face. "Ah... well, shoot, that's a mess," he comments, distracted by the bit of smearing of makeup, and needing to get a cloth out from his bag. "Need to get that all cleaned up again..."
"Uh, sorry. I... don't think it's wrong to be guided by my emotions, but... I guess it's just the going in and acting," he says. "It feels... different, I don't know. Than doing something for another person. I guess... fundamentally there's not really anything different about them. It just feels wrong to come into their lives to make changes. Humans live at a much larger scale. It just feels... intrusive, to go into the lives of those who might not really have any context for you. I don't know."
"That... that's how I feel, I guess," he laughs. "A big, jumbled mess that probably doesn't even make sense. I guess I just worry too much, about the smallest things. And in the big picture... it matters less than I think it does. Thanks, Aliana. I feel better now."
"And how are you feeling?" he leans down to ask the Corsola. "Do you need to go to the Pokémon Center? Or just want me to put you elsewhere here? Away from that thing." He turns to Bliss. "I know you probably won't admit it, but I'm sure that poison hurts. We should go get that healed up."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 18, 2020 10:34:27 GMT
Standing, Aliana brushed grit from the backs of her thighs. She seemed genuinely contemplative about the expressed view on interference. Bliss batted her lashes, curling against Thel's leg and making a small pained noise, almost a mock swoon.
The Corsola, giving a rocking wiggle, regrows the ruined stalks before the boy's very eyes. The sight elicits a giggle from the girl. "Pokemon are more durable then you know, but in time you will figure out your place in the world."
Moving back into the tide pool,the Pokemon returns with something in its mouth, offering it to Thel. With the speed it moves, it seems it won't get far from the predator on its own.
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 18, 2020 16:10:41 GMT
Thel laughs at Bliss' over-dramatization, before giving her a pet on the head and back. He completely freezes, mouth agape, though, when the Corsola just... regrows. "I... I've never seen a Pokémon do that before."
"Well, uh, I guess you don't need me to take you somewhere to heal, little one," he says, laughing, before bending down to see what it has for him. "Thank you. You don't need to give me anything, though. It was my pleasure to help out." He considers the situation here. "Here, I can move you away from here. So you don't need to be anywhere near it when it wakes up. Just let me know which direction you want to go."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 21, 2020 0:07:38 GMT
Thel receives a King's Rock.
Corsola gestures out to deeper water and makes a little squeaking noise. Bliss, too tired to argue otherwise, disappears into her Pokeball with a sigh.
"Corsola is one of a number of Water-Types that can recover with impressive speed, one of only two I can think of that can actually physically regenerate as part of that process. The world of Pokemon is definitively amazing no matter what your walk of life or interest, that's probably why we're all drawn to it so readily."
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 21, 2020 7:01:35 GMT
"I certainly learn so many new things about it even daily sometimes," Thel agrees, emphatically. "I don't think I could ever see all there is to see. I just... keep finding out things I could never have even thought possible."
"Thank you, little one," he says, accepting the stone, and putting it in his bag. "I will make sure to treasure the gift you've given me."
He looks out at the water, where the Corsola's stubby little arm is gesturing, before shuddering. "Ugh. I hate the ocean. It's so cold, and wet, and deep, and it just feels like it'd take you away and never bring you back..." He glances at the Mareanie's prone form, before taking a deep breath, and putting his bag and stuff on the dry area near Aliana.
"Well, my makeup is ruined already from crying, so what's even more having to change and things..." He grumbles and sighs. Can he not go one day without something making him get clothes wet? With his stuff, shoes and socks at least safe and dry, he begins wading out toward where the Corsola'd pointed, gingerly trying to not go too deep. And hoping it's good before the waves reach his skirt.
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 22, 2020 1:12:14 GMT
Thel is able to go a surprising distance into the surf, the gradient of the beach is quite shallow for a good ways from shore. Setting the Corsola down where the water will help it out to see, it turns itself to face him with a smile, before jetting off into deeper water with a stream of bubbles, till it is completely out of sight. In the distance, just over the horizon, a thunderhead has gathered over the far shore, and a distant boom echoes across the water.
"Interesting." Aliana comments with a little smile, her attention is on Thel's bag, however, and not the storm on the horizon.
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 22, 2020 1:17:40 GMT
"Best of luck, little one," he says, smiling, before jumping at the sound of thunder. That is definitely his cue to get out of there. He hurries back to shore, towards Aliana.
"Sorry that the day didn't... quite go as planned here," he says, nervously chuckling, retrieving his school stuff. "I don't know if you'd mind if we just... headed back right now? I'd rather not be out in the storm, and... it would probably be best if I changed out of these clothes. Sorry that that's... cutting things short." He flushes. "I haven't exactly been making a good first impression here."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 22, 2020 1:29:17 GMT
"I'd say for a Pokemon you're doing incredibly well." Aliana shrugged, folding her hands in her lap, and watching the boy passively for a moment before getting to her feet. "I'm not particularly looking to get rained on either, so let's head inside. You can have a hot shower, or at least scrub your makeup off, and I'll bring you something to eat in your room while you unwind for the day."
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 22, 2020 1:32:02 GMT
"W-what?" he stammers, asking. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 22, 2020 1:37:55 GMT
"You are completely out of your element, and I think you're doing a fine job of it?" Aliana's brow quirked. "What did you think I said?" Though the girl did look genuinely confused at Thel's reaction after a moment or two, he got the distinct sense that she knew.
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 22, 2020 2:03:12 GMT
"I... I don't know," he says, confused. "I kind of got nervous, and didn't really hear that clearly. I guess I... just didn't expect to hear anything good..." What's with him today? He got all flustered and fainted before, and he keeps seeing and hearing things that aren't happening.
He shakes his head and lets out a laugh. "Today's just been a mess in some ways. Well... it feels like a lot of ways. But... you know what? I've enjoyed it just the same. So much that I'm not used to, but I feel like over the next little bit, I'll feel a lot better about it all. Thanks for sticking by me throughout it all."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 23, 2020 16:26:28 GMT
"Sometimes that is all you can do, is make light of a difficult situation and move on with your life. I didn't agree to be your mentor lightly, but I don't regret the choice at all. This has been a really good day." There was another distant peal of thunder, though it almost sounded like a snarl.
"Yeah... probably better we head inside. Your Tsareena will need to be looked at, Mareanie toxins are no joke."
It was an otherwise uneventful afternoon. As promised, Aliana brought Thel some food in his room, and with the door open the pair lounged and spoke after he had time to clean up a little. There was no sense on another round of makeup this late in the evening, so plain faced would have to do.
"So if you have such conflicting thoughts about Pokemon, why become a trainer at all? I know there are a few people that eschew them entirely, but they are pretty rare."
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 23, 2020 16:52:30 GMT
"Thank you," he says, smiling. "That means a lot, coming from someone like you." There's still the bit of nagging warning from before, of the word weirdness, but he puts it out of his head. He's probably just tired. It's been one heck of a day compared to most, after all, trying to keep everything straight. He's probably just worrying now that Whitney and Jasmine had emphasized to keep it quiet.
He feels much better after getting Bliss healed and getting changed into dry clothes. The weather may be fairly warm, but ocean water isn't a fun kind. Hopefully he isn't making a habit of getting soaked in it. Calling out Hope for company, he enjoys the food and conversation with Aliana, cute bug on his shoulder.
"It's... a complicated relationship with being a Trainer. I became one, because it was suggested that that would be a good way for me to learn independence, valuable skills, and just... travel and find out where I might fit in life," he says, enjoying the food. "And... it's definitely been good for me in that way. I was kind of a mess after leaving my family. I've found friends, both human and Pokémon, by being a Trainer. I've grown as a person, and found places like this."
He shrugs, before he gives Hope a pat and apologizes for unbalancing the shoulder bug. "So... I have a lot of mixed feelings. I don't regret going on this journey, though. I'd probably be in a bad spot without it. But... it's the battling part that often gets to me. They put themselves in harms way for me. And... I know they understand that was the case when they agreed to come with me, but... it still feels bad to do. Especially for sport, rather than necessity. I take care of them how I can, and try and give them the credit people try and give me - really, they're the ones doing all the work."
"I guess that's the crux of it all. I don't like hurting my friends. Or others. So that makes me feel kind of weird about things. I know they like winning, but... it feels bad to me to ask them to do it in the first place. It's kind of the same problem I had with the Mareanie. I just feel bad to step into their lives and try and dictate anything beyond just... being friendly and kind to them."
"I like Pokémon. I like my friends. And I'm glad I could meet them. I never would have done so if I weren't a Trainer. They've helped me out so many times. I just... don't like feeling like I'm not respecting the lives that I touch." He gives a small smile. "I'd like to think that I'm working towards trying to do that. For everyone, humans and Pokémon. I'm just a mess about it sometimes. Anyways... hopefully that made sense, and it wasn't just an incomprehensible ramble. Sometimes words get away from me."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 24, 2020 2:56:57 GMT
"When it boils down to it, Pokemon have their own goals and desires, their own social hierarchy. Some of them like to fight, some of them like to play, some of them are genuinely helpful and good natured towards people. Machoke actively go out of their way to assist moving heavy things about because they relish the exercise. Ideally, you find a Pokemon that best accentuates your own views and desires." Aliana explained.
"It does you no good to capture something that revels in combat and being a proud alpha, if you intend to groom it for show and pamper it. Likewise, trying to get a Musharna or a Snorlax to do something other then sleep or eat is counterproductive. Getting to know a potential partner first, is probably the best way. Keep in mind, that good friends will fight for your happiness, and if anything is wrong they'll talk to you about it."
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 24, 2020 3:18:50 GMT
"Yeah," he nods. "I want to make sure all my friends know what they're getting into. That they're able to leave at any time. I don't want to keep them in a life that makes them miserable. That they know there'll be fighting... but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it. They know, I hope, that I'd fight how I could for them, too... but I can't help in Gyms or whatever. The socially accepted fights. Not that I'm really good at either type of fighting." He laughs. Ah, that was always Muku's forte.
"What about you?" he asks, curiously. "What kinds of Pokémon do you find match yourself best? I know you mentioned a Druddigon before, but... I really don't know much about what kind of Pokémon that is."
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