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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2019 1:40:59 GMT
"It's... I dunno," Randy says. "It's up to the individual. I can't tell you how to live your life. If you're not sure, I'd say to not go for it. You can never go back. You'll be an outcast, feared or hated. You won't be 'normal' anymore. Even if you're still the same person. It's not painful, though. Sore for the next few days as things start to first change. But it's just like growth spurts. A sign of, well, growing."
"One thing that I've found," Jasmine adds, idly, "it's always those who feel like there's a hole in their lives. Something that's missing. Those are the ones who I've seen bond most. Though, not everyone recognizes it until they look. I don't claim to be an expert, but, that's what I've seen. So, if you're on the edge, look inside yourself. See if there's an emptiness inside you." She shrugs. "Or don't. I'm not your mom."
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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 Oct 14, 2019 1:50:56 GMT
"A hole." Beatrice repeats thoughtfully. "There is, but it's more like a question I can't put to words, that won't be answered. Worlds and experiences out of reach that I have no context for, just being me. Thank you for your honesty, and Maddie for your generosity. I know it can't exactly be easy to trust, the way people treat you, but you gave me the chance to show I'm not like that too. It means a lot."
It was a lot to think on, but she didn't have the time nor the quiet to consider it in the moment. "Maddie was going to take us looking for Wailmer, if you fancy hanging out at the beach, or maybe having a swim. I think I've exhausted what was on my mind for today."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2019 2:05:12 GMT
"You think I'd turn down a swim with other people about?" Jasmine asks, laughing. "You just need to say 'water', and I'm in."
"I'm good, myself," Randy says. "Sand and water do not go well with these feathers. So, I'll be off, if you don't mind. Or even if you do. Got stuff to do." He brushes himself off, before flaring his wing arms, and taking to the skies.
"Ah, tactful as ever," Maddie mutters. "You want to come with?" she asks Ann, to which a small shake of the head is the only response. "Alright, well, stay safe."
The four leave Ann sitting on the rock as they head over and up the coast towards the beach.
"Everyone seems so... sad," Rainbow says, on the way.
"If you're happy," Maddie says, "you really don't want to risk rocking the boat. As they said, it's not exactly something you can undo."
"It all comes and goes," Jasmine says. "Generally depending on how much people-time you've had recently. Being around people who care, doing stuff you love, without remembering that it's what causes fear and hatred... it's a blast. for me, everything just tends to drift away in the water."
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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 Oct 14, 2019 2:18:41 GMT
"Pioneers of any movement, for whatever reason, are often met with skepticism, distrust, ridicule, and so on. What is catalogued, regulated, and hated now will become so commonplace eventually that everyone will be doing it without batting an eye." She kept pace with the girls. "How do they check your affinity anyway? Some kind of scanner?". Fishing for her Pokemon, she released Solenoid and Silica, as soon as they reached the beach grasses interspersed with Sand, so the Pokemon could explore and relax. The ghost had been particularly sullen, and she wasn't really sure why.
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2019 2:34:52 GMT
"Scanner and blood test," Maddie says. "Scanner'd probably be enough on its own, from what I've heard, but they do want to make sure that there's not a false positive... always better to have two points of data. I dunno what happens if there's rejection, but... probably not great."
When they get to the beach, Jasmine takes off her top, revealing many more pink scales on her body, as well as what seems like a purple seashell-bra. and jumps into the water in her shorts. "Ahhhhhh…" she sighs, "C'mon in, it's great."
"Uh, I'm good..." Rainbow says, looking like she can't decide if she wants to dip her feet in to the surf or not, making glances out at the Pokémon in the distance.
Silica seems to take up a position in the middle of the beach, setting and keeping an eye out for... whatever, while Solenoid floats around, occasionally zapping things and peering at the results.
The beach itself is nice, with long stretches of sand, and not many large rocks until further up north. It's open to a fairly large stretch of ocean, with no islands nearby. The group's the only one around, with not another soul to be seen. Just some (sadly, non-wailmer) Pokémon playing farther out in the sea.
"Ah, this is nice," Maddie says. "Just the sound of waves, smell of fresh ocean air, and a nice sun beating down. I'm not as much one for swimming, but it's nice."
"Think we'll see a Wailmer here?" Rainbow walks over to ask Bea. "What do they look like?"
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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 Oct 14, 2019 2:44:31 GMT
"Solenoid, don't wander too far." She calls to the Magnemite. "If you can't see me it's too far." Silica seemed content to go back to predating, and it clicked that he must be sullen over the lost meal. Best to leave him to his own devices for a bit.
"They are absolutely enormous, bigger then probably any other Pokemon you have ever seen Rainbow, it would be really hard to miss. At any rate, I am going to go see what I can see with Jasmine out on the water. If you wanted to have a fly around, a big round patch of blue with a huge smiling face is what you are hunting for."
Removing her bag, coat, shirt, and shorts, Beatrice had similarly come prepared with her modest swimsuit. "Maddie, do you mind watching my bag for a little bit? I will try not to be too long out there."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2019 2:58:11 GMT
"Sure, sure," Maddie says, leaning back against a large chunk of driftwood and settling in. "I'm happy to just sit here."
"I'll see what I can," Rainbow says, "but, I don't really want to go too far. In case... something happens, really. I'm not a good fighter." She flutters off, keeping high above the waves.
Jasmine seems to enjoy just swimming underneath the water, not bothering to come up for air. She's clearly at home in it, darting around until-
"Gotcha!" she says, jumping up behind Bea and laughing, clamping her arms around the girl's waist, having quickly zipped around behind. Bea can tell from the way that they feel that the seashells Jasmine is 'wearing' are probably more along the lines of an exoskeleton or something.
"Perfect, I needed to catch some lunch, and all the fish are swimming away," she laughs, starting to pull Bea down, before releasing her and adding, "joking, joking. I am kinda hungry, though. Forgot to pack a lunch."
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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 Oct 14, 2019 3:18:40 GMT
A little nervous at first, the joke might not have been the best received but the contact is something she hadn't realized she had wanted. Beatrice didn't go out of her way to hug, or be hugged by anyone. Being held like that while treading water gave an impression of safety. "You startled me Jasmine..." She giggled a little in spite of herself. "If you want, I can have Solenoid help you catch some fish, or there's always snacks in my bag."
What Pokemon was pink and had fishlike behaviors but a shell? The world was such a diverse place. "I like your seashells..." She stammered politely.
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2019 3:31:52 GMT
"I know," she says, winking, "the point was to startle you." The girl grins. "Would have been wasted if you weren't."
"Ah, might take you up on the snacks offer later, but it's not that bad now," she says, "and as much as fish tastes good, I do want to cook it first. It's just always a battle between eating and getting out of the water." She laughs, before blushing a bit at the seashell comment, saying, "Oh, uh, thanks. I'll admit, I'm still not exactly... used to them. Feels weird, compared to before. But, uh, a lot better in the water." She giggles a little awkwardly.
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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 Oct 14, 2019 3:50:03 GMT
"It's really fascinating how most water Pokemon are fully amphibious despite having gills, is it harder for you to breathe on land now?" After Jasmine answered she turned back towards the shore.
"Solenoid!" Beatrice called to the floating sphere, waving it out over the water. "I'm going to do some diving, come swim with me! I'll teach you how to make a battery later with some pocket change, a sponge and some chemicals, it'll be a treat for submerging since none of our friends really care for it."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2019 4:44:03 GMT
"Nah, not that I've noticed," Jasmine says. "It's the difference between moving your arms and legs. You don't exactly try and punch something when you go to kick a ball, do you?" She chuckles.
Solenoid, with some cajoling, eventually comes out to over the water. But absolutely refuses to go in it. It seems very happy to stay floating right where it is, thank you very much.
"Uh... maybe don't try to get the thing that can shock us with a stray discharge into the water, thanks?" Jasmine ventures, a little nervously.
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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 Oct 14, 2019 10:11:19 GMT
"Sorry, just a bit nervous without a Pokemon close by, and it's the only one I have that might have tried. It's good to know at any rate, with how much water travel Hoenn has.". She considered the lone sandcastle on the beach, sitting low and squat, motionless but seemingly content. Couldn't really be helped, she supposed. Maddie and Jasmine were close by if anything happened.
"Come on, you wanted to swim so let's dive and look for Pokemon. Solenoid can watch from up here." With a big, gasping inhale, she awkwardly rolled over in place and disappeared under the water.
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2019 16:31:04 GMT
"Eh, the shallows are pretty safe," Jasmine says, "as long as you don't go around annoying the Pokémon around." She punctuates her statement with repeatedly poking Bea and grinning.
"Besides, if things get too uppity, I can always give 'em a blast." She gives a quick flick of her wrist, and a jet of water arcs out before hitting the surface of the water a little ways off, startling a fish with the splash.
It's rather difficult to see underwater, coupled with the whole 'not breathing' thing, so Bea isn't able to stay under for that long. She does see an eely-fish thing squirming along the ground, but, unfortunately, nothing Wailmer sized. Not that they could have probably hidden around here anyways.
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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 Oct 14, 2019 16:40:34 GMT
Surfacing again, she gasps and blinks salt water from her eyes. Less chemical but just as painful as chlorinated water really, probably more so in the short run. "The shallow water is too silty for me to see anything anyway, hopefully Rainbow is having better luck." Bea smiles shyly. "Guess the only fish I'm catching today is you Jasmine." Doggie paddling could not hope to keep up with the altered, though Beatrice did playfully give chase for a time until she was tired and started back towards the beach, laughing breathlessly.
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2019 17:34:53 GMT
"Only way you're catching me is with a nice dinner or something," Jasmine says, laughing, before gracefully swimming away, carefully keeping juuust out of reach, only just barely occasionally getting into range of letting Bea get to brush up against her scales before flitting away.
It's not that long before Rainbow comes flitting back, staying away from both Solenoid and the waves, hovering above. "No, didn't see anything, sorry. Everything's all so small. And a lot of it's angry looking. Not rideable at all. Maybe we need to look elsewhere?"
"Ah, is playtime over?" Jasmine asks, mock-pouting. "Shame. I enjoy the company. Always better with another person."
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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 Oct 14, 2019 17:47:47 GMT
"I don't have anything on me, so maybe next time." Beatrice crawls on shore before standing properly and brushing sand off of her, taking a moment to breathe. "Seems that way Rainbow, we might want to wait on that trip till I'm a bit stronger anyway, but there's always swimming it as an option since there's nothing else. Not sure what sort of rush you're in." Scratching the back of her neck, she squinted skyward. "I know it's important, but for now, we'll just have to have patience or make that sacrifice."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2019 17:54:54 GMT
"I have, well, all the time in the world," Rainbow says, "but I feel bad about dragging you all into this. I just wish that we could find the ride that we need, and it could be over and done with."
"I can always support swimming anywhere," Jasmine says, "but, hey, don't need to rush into things. Just take life at a pace that works for you. If things aren't making you happy, change what things you're doing."
"Besides," Maddie adds. "It's just been one day. And you both seem stressed. Why not just take a bit of time, and just... relax here. Don't worry about re-challenging the Gym today, don't worry about finding a whale, just... take some time for a you 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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Post by Robot on Oct 14, 2019 18:14:05 GMT
"Maddie seems to have the right of it, taking a minute to relax and breathe, grow stronger, make new friends, meditate, observe. It's all worthwhile even if it isn't upwardly mobile." Fishing a towel from her bag, Beatrice scrubbed the sand and wet from her, working it from her hair as best as she could manage. "There is a saying that science is preparedness for the unexpected, so we'll just be ready for when an opportunity presents itself. We can do lunch, I might venture up a route to look for more partners, maybe setup a nice place to camp. I wouldn't want to put Maddie out a second day in a row."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2019 19:49:03 GMT
"You're putting too much thought into relaxing, girl," Maddie says, laughing. "Just enjoy the warm sand, the sea breeze, all that good stuff. And it's no big deal. If you can put up with my mess, I can house you a bit."
"But, you mentioned lunch...?" Jasmine interjects.
During lunch, Rainbow looks to notice something in the water. "Oh, oh, I think I see a wailmer out there!"
There is indeed a large sea creature in the water, but it's not a whale. It looks to be a long-necked blue finned-serpent-thing with a grey shell. And it does appear to be drifting towards the land.
"That's not a wailmer, sweetie," Jasmine says, "Wailmer are more ball-shaped."
"Oh..." Rainbow says, dejected. "Oops. It was big, so I thought it might be it."
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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 Oct 14, 2019 21:25:17 GMT
"It still might be an opportunity, and not one I will be lax in exploring." Bea stood, neatly wrapping what was left of her sandwich. "Excuse me a moment ladies, I'm off to learn what I can learn." With a grin and a wink, she gave them a little wave and turned to approach the incoming... Could it be called a dinosaur? "Always questions."
When she was at last in range, she checked the large Pokemon with her Dex.
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