Coastal Callings

"That could be it... humans are all so diverse and different in how they act, what they do, what rules there are. It's all so dizzying. So I could believe it. It saddens me, though, now that my eyes have opened to just this glimpse of the world and what it offers."

He lets the silence hang, just enjoying her company, before asking, "Are you wanting to go out and do anything? Search for a new friend? Or just go look at different foods? Or do you want to just sit and rest for awhile longer, since you looked to be walking all day, too. I'm happy just to rest and spend time with you."

"You already do, Em," he says, beaming. "I just worry too much about things in general. But just know that you've already made my life so much better and more positive. You don't need to change just because of me. Do things because you want to do them to make you happy."

He gently eases himself up, cupping Patience in hands. "Okay, girl," he says, quietly. "We're going to go out shopping and things now, so it's safest just to keep you in your ball right now. But I'll see you again at dinner. See you then."

Recalling the Joltik, and dusting off his dress, he asks Em, "Uh... where do you want to go explore? I don't really know this place, besides the tower, so... everywhere's new to me. So I'll follow your lead." Hope settles - a little awkwardly - on his head as he collects his things, gigging as she does so. He humours her for the moment, knowing that she'll get off when it comes tome to actually move. Being stuck to one spot means she can't actually investigate interesting things.

"Do you think maybe we could climb Mount Mortar together? I've been interested in seeing the sunset from a high place that isn't one of the towers since that first night we had together. The ghosts tend to stick to town, and the burned tower s...so... it should be safe." Em squeezed one of Thel's hands. "It would be a bit of a trek, but I think Happy gets lonely sometimes. He can't fight or play with the eevees at all, he's too rough."

---

The Gallade quirks a brow and smiles, before shifting its weight onto its back foot and drawing its arms in against its front. Despite its typically narrow frame, pectorals, biceps, triceps, and a whole host of other muscle groups swell impressively into being, and it shows them off, glistening in the sunlight. Gallade uses Bulk Up.

The silence from the girl as she concentrated was thick in the air, her eyes closed. After the moment of silence passed, Terra's eyes open with a glint in them. She wasn't sure if she could do as much damage as the tall pokemon, but she certainly was going to give it her best shot!

"Ha!" the human's voice is short in powerful as she slams her fist into the stone beneath her feet!

"I'll leave a message with the girls, so she doesn't have to worry and it saves us some time finding her. Let's go shopping for some food, and head out. I haven't been out of the city since we got here really, and I'd love to spend a day with you."

A brief discussion with the Kimono girls, a short but pleasant introduction of Thel, and a trip to the grocer for bread, some deli cuts, and fruit. The pair, properly prepared, head out Ecruteak's east gate for Mount Mortar. "Are you sure this isn't a trouble Thel? We could find something else."

---

Three thunderous cracks against stone echo out over the woods in all directions. A pause. The Gallade folds its hands together and offers the two girls a respectful bow. From where it was seated, it produces four items. Stepping forward, he offers a pair to each girl, a black belt, and a white headband with a red circle in the middle of it. There is a distant clarion call, in three different directions, in answer to the powerful strike.

(Receive a Focus Sash and an Expert Belt each.)

Muku looks around awkwardly. They hit a rock. Whoo? As her eyes scan the fields surrounding, fists in the air, she only half-heartedly raising her own in response. But, she still took the belt. The belt was nice, as was the sash. But she didn't really do the work so.

"Here, Mmip. Little lower and... There." She finishes tying the belt around the area just above her arms and tied in the back with a lovely bow that she didn't know how to make until she made it. That was an existential crisis waiting to happen, but you know what? She was proud of Mmip. "Good hit." She says, scratching her chin.

Not bad for an emergency ration.

"Up I can do," Thel says, laughing. "I know up. Though, this might have not been the best thing to wear if we're doing a lot of climbing." He looks at his dress. "I probably can't climb too well, either, with how much worse grip I have now."

"I've never seen a Kirlia," he says, looking at her, and giving a smile, "but I don't need to. You're beautiful and graceful just the way you are. You move like the wind, and your smile lights up the room." He squeezes her hand. "I love you just the way you are."

"They're mostly leg, with longer arms and sort of a skirt... they have a second horn, it makes them even more sensitive to other's emotions... " A shy smile overcomes her as Thel lavishes her with praise, the tips of her ears turning pink. "Love is a very strong word Thel... are you sure? It is.... or at least I like to think it is... a forever word. Something you can't take back once it's given..." The path upwards abruptly ends, and it seems there is no way to go but in, without backtracking or making for another route.

---

The four quadrupeds seem to banter and discuss among themselves for a moment, the mood amidst the collected becoming progressively less tense. Terra finds a small chip of the stone with a hint of that ore in it yet, and pockets it. When they have at last concluded their meeting, three of them group up as fellows, and the fourth mounts the hill. The proud singular horn and its bright mane of red hair proud and high as it ascends to where the girls wait and prepares itself. The Gallade steps down, giving the Pokemon room.

It greets Muku and Terra with a youthful, bright eyed cry, as though cheerfully introducing itself.

Muku instinctively hops back from the approaching Pokémon, unsure of it's intent in spite of being fairly sure that it wasn't going to hurt them. She didn't want to really have anything to do with them, but if they wanted something to do with her then, well. It couldn't be helped.

"The Pokémon probably want... Something." She sniffed. "Muku's met enough things today. I don't like meeting a whole lot of people, or Pokémon. But we can probably try to figure out what it wants, since it doesn't seem to want to fight us."

Other Pokémon. Wanting something and asking for them. What are they, round birds? Diplomacy was not a Starly strong suit, so she quietly hoped Terra would be able to take it from here.