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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 Jan 6, 2022 23:07:55 GMT
"Not every salandit grows into a salazzle though.". Em commented knowingly, reaching for him to stroke his hair. The plane pitched and lurched, moving into a long, shallow descent making for an open strip on the platform itself. There was a flattened squeak, a bounce, and they rapidly began to slow until the vehicle came to a stop in a low shuttered building wide enough to accommodate it.
"We're here!". Lusamine declared gleefully, unbuckling as she rose. "Welcome to my humble organization! I hope you find your stay enjoyable, and Patience her treatments efficable."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 6, 2022 23:14:46 GMT
"I..." He sighs, before smiling. "I'll think on it, okay. We can talk about it once we've had some time to settle."
The landing is... not particularly his favorite part, but that's all soon forgotten when they disembark. "Whoa..." He stares around at everything. "You'd really never know you were on water. It's so... big. Just... everything." He knows that Lusamine is just being modest when she calls it humble. This 'organization' feels like it sprawls as much as half the city they just came from, at least to him.
He wouldn't even know where to start if he wanted to see anything. So he just stands there, gaping.
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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 Jan 7, 2022 22:19:46 GMT
Gathering their meager belongings from the plane, while Gustav went over a checklist and inspected the outside of the plane, their tour began in earnest. Outside of the hangar the air was humid but had begun to cool with the coming of evening.
"This is our primary landing zone, on a busy afternoon, Pokemon and a number of small aircraft will come and go. The majority of the subjects we bring in are rescued, endangered, or provide valuable insight into medical science. The foundation itself contains a number of full sized habitats. Science teams work in concert with tamers across Alola to tend the populations here. We are one of the smaller corporations, and tend to limit our scope to the immediate region."
She pressed a button on a wall, and it slid open from seemingly nothing. She stepped inside.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 7, 2022 22:31:27 GMT
"This is small?" Thel asks, wide-eyed. It feels bigger than any individual thing he's ever seen before. "I... I'm really glad that there's a place for Pokémon to go if they need somewhere. That's... I never thought that that's a thing that could have existed, but... it warms my heart to know that it does."
This is all... wow. "I have no trouble believing that they have what it takes to help you here..." he says to Patience. "It's all so... impressive. They clearly know what they're doing."
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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 Jan 10, 2022 19:24:25 GMT
"Absolutely." Lusamine answered in a flutey laugh. "Silph Co, Devon Corp, and other corporations are global entities. They provide products and conduct their business in almost every region. Rarely are they outcompeted to the point they move elsewhere." There was a knowing smile and a wink.
She explained elevators, as they descended into the compound. Patience marvelled at the use of pulleys and counterweights, clearly enjoying herself. When the doors opened again, they stepped out onto a suspended walkway with glass and metal railing overlooking grass, bushes, and trees. Oh so many Pokemon as well. It no longer smelled of the sea, but fields and forests surrounded by a building. The outdoors, indoors.
"We have multiple levels of habitat... The first five, or ten floors, all recreated to the best of our abilities. The Pokemon are left to their own devices, but we have handlers on site should one become restless or destructive."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 10, 2022 19:31:09 GMT
"I see..." Thel says, though he doesn't. Scale is a lost context to him, really.
Well, regional scale. Not things that he can see with his own eyes. He stops dead in his tracks as he sees the habitat before him. "Whoa... that's... that's impressive. How... how many Pokémon do you have here?"
He just wants to sit under a tree and enjoy the surroundings.
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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 Jan 10, 2022 20:46:02 GMT
"Several hundred in all, with the discoveries of Mega Evolution, Ultra Energy, and Dynamax, we coordinate with labs on the effects of these special energies on Pokemon. The first comes about from fragments of a meteor that approached earth during a cataclysmic event called the Delta Episode. The second, crystals that were deposited here when we received visitors from another dimension. Pokemon in proximity to these gateways or their crystals show unheard of strength. The last is unique to its own region, and seems incapable of asserting itself elsewhere, blessedly."
Thel can make out a number of Pokemon he recognizes, the most notable is a very underweight salandit. A small team seems to be doing everything in their power to coax it to eat anything. At a glance, he knows it to be male.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 10, 2022 20:55:54 GMT
"Wow... it really seems that there's no way you could even know a fraction of what the world has to offer..." Thel says. "I keep learning about more and more things, and it's just... ever expanding. I don't know how anyone could hope to learn everything about just one thing, let alone more than that."
Thel feels... very odd at seeing the Salandit. He can't really put a name to any of these feelings, but, it causes him to hesitate in his taking in of the surroundings.
"...Lusamine," he ventures, a little hesitantly. "Would it be okay if... I went to see about helping that Salandit over there? I... know a little bit about them, and, well... food is a big passion of mine. I just... I think I might be able to help."
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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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Post by Robot on Jan 10, 2022 21:23:06 GMT
"Hmm?". The woman looked up from the path ahead. "Ah... If you've any insight that would be appreciated. Apparently hunting has worsened significantly on the volcano, we've begun relocating social groups to other regions with ample food, but many of the males just stop eating entirely. It has put a heavy strain on the Alolan population."
Unlocking a low gate, the little group descended into the habitat, Patience stopping to consider every little piece of machinery built into the environment, but never leaving sight. Em settled a hand into the small of Thel's back.
"Oh, Miss Lusamine, to what do we owe the visit?" "I was touring with a guest and he made mention he has experience with Salandit. Could you leave some of your feed mix here, ane give him some room."
A container of some kind of chow was left behind, and the team attending the Pokemon gave Thel space. The food smelled strongly, and not at all pleasant.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 10, 2022 21:55:21 GMT
Thel feels really bad that his kin have been suffering. He may not be one of them anymore, but... he still lived that life, and he still has empathy for them. Their lives are hard enough as is.
The habitat is all the more impressive from the inside, really feeling like an outside. He could never tell that he's on the ocean. He feels a little self-conscious, having all this attention on him, but thankfully that doesn't last long as he's given space.
"Hello there," he says quietly, taking a seat on the ground in front of the Salandit. He gently reaches out mentally towards the lizard, just to reassure it that he's being honest. "I'm not here to hurt you, and I won't make you do anything that you don't want to do. I know that's not usual for you, but I just want to help you."
"That food doesn't smell particularly great, does it?" Thel asks, before pulling a snack out of his pack. "Spicy things have always been my favorite, if you'd like to try some." He breaks off a piece and eats it. "See? It's good. If you don't want to, that's okay, too. I understand."
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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 Jan 10, 2022 22:23:23 GMT
"I've told them again and again The High Lady needs it. I can't eat until She is satisfied." He pushes himself up onto his forelegs, visibly shaking with the effort just to look around. "If anyone saw... And the guilt... Knowing I ate first."
The Salandit sniffed at the morsel despite the protests, brow knit in consternation.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 10, 2022 23:10:20 GMT
"Well, they can't understand you," Thel says, quietly. "But I can. And I... was once where you are right now. So... I know exactly why you feel that way. Fail to do anything properly, and you'll be punished. You don't matter, only she does. None of that should be true, but..." He sighs. Start off slow, first. "Are you going to be any good if you die of starvation before bringing anything back? Just eat enough to regain your strength, okay?"
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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 Jan 10, 2022 23:27:13 GMT
"When we can't sate Her, she picks the heaviest of us to eat first... The rest have to watch so we learn to Obey." He shivers, a choked sob escaping him. "The High Lady wasn't like this before... She has even killed weaker sisters... She's always hungry... She must be fed, will be fed!" The Pokemon seems on the verge of panic and collapse both.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 10, 2022 23:40:59 GMT
"I... oh..." Thel says, momentarily speechless. He'd never seen that happen before. Examples were always more useful when they could talk... or were left on display.
"Well... I won't let that happen to you, okay? No matter what. I had a Lady trying to... well, it doesn't matter. The point is, I drove her away. I can stand up to them. So I'll protect you."
Okay, he doesn't strictly know if that's exactly true, if he could stand up to his own, but he's incensed right now. This is worse than treating others like toys, which is already bad enough. It's just treating them as food, with no care! It's one thing to have hunter and hunted, that's just a natural part of life. But to basically force your own kin to feed themselves to you? That's just monstrous.
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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 Jan 10, 2022 23:49:37 GMT
"...You? Stronger then the High Lady?" He considered Thel's soft expression, the insistance he would be safe, and the pain in his middle. "I'll... I'll eat.". He agreed finally. "Only because if she finds out, at least it will be over quick..."
The Salandit closes his eyes, and opens his mouth as though awaiting execution.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 10, 2022 23:55:09 GMT
Thel gives a smile. At least it's something. He gently feeds the lizard the snack in his hand, making sure to not go too fast. He knows exactly how uncomfortable too much food too quickly can be. "I have some more if you want it afterwards. So eat up."
"I should ask, brave little one. What's your name? Mine's Thel."
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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 Jan 11, 2022 0:07:35 GMT
The Salandit chews aggressively on the morsel, making content noises and swallowing perhaps all too quickly. "Luin." He answers eying Thel's hands without asking for more outright, such things are against etiquette and punishable after all. "Luin of Lae's clutch... Formerly of Lae's clutch."
There is the murmur of conversation among the handlers and scientists, watching Thel engage the Pokemon yet. Lusamine has again returned to her phone. Patience appears to be eavesdropping, and Em watches the Salandit with interest.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 11, 2022 0:14:30 GMT
"It's nice to meet you, Luin," Thel says, pulling another snack out of his bag. "And... understand, no matter what you do, I'm not going to punish you. I know it's hard, though. It took me a long time to get over that, someone who loved me an incredible amount, and the help of a lot of people. It's still hard in some ways to this day."
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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 Jan 11, 2022 20:42:42 GMT
"You understand what we say, and how we feel..." Luin ate earnestly now, taking bites between words. "Will you talk to the High Lady? Tell her the way she takes is wrong? The oldest Brothers talk of better times in hushed whispers... And though they weren't... Gentle, or kind, death to our own kin was rare."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 11, 2022 20:48:39 GMT
"I... can't promise that," Thel says, though internally he already knows that, however much he doesn't want to... he probably will. He can't leave them to suffer like this, whatever it takes. "I just got here, and... well, I don't know where she would be, or... well, I guess Lusamine did say that we could arrange to go to the islands."
He takes a deep breath and sighs. "It might take a few days, to get settled and everything here, but I'll see what I can do, okay? In the meantime, make sure to eat."
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