Chapter 1: The Tower on the Cliff

Robin smiles as she shakes her head, following after the two with a smile. "Got it. Just remember, I'm here and I don't s'pose I could stop you. Plus, if an ugly face can stop a bullet, nice to know mine can attract at least a fist. Really makes a guy feel wanted, y'know."

She lapses into silence as she walks until the group comes across the mushroom field, whereupon her face lights up a little. "Well, if that ain't the cutest thing: mushroom bugs growing mushrooms," she says quietly before Vess reaches for a mushroom and the Paras object, stepping in front of her teammate and raising her hand. "Okay, let's all calm down, huh? We're not here to starve you, we're just exploring and we didn't know they were important to you. Can we just talk about this?"

Vess step backs and looks to Robin. "Vehemence wants a mushroom as a reward, and I'd rather not fight all of these. Do you have one of those still? She did lead us to them."

Vehemence looks at Robin and the offered mushroom, looks at the gathered Paras, looks back at Robin, and snatches the mushroom out of her hand, quickly chomping it down.

Robin smirks right back. "Sure thing. I find there's nothing like a bit of food to build bridges. Though probably shouldn't say that if we come to a river - my cooking's great, but I don't know if it's structurally sound."

With that, she squats down, to appear less threatening to the assembled Pokemon, and reaches into her pack. "Sorry about the false alarm, guys. Didn't mean to threaten you. Hey, any of you feel like having something besides mushrooms?" She pulls out one of the snacks she'd made back at the centre. "Just to make up for imposing, you know."

Robin gives the little thing an encouraging smile as he carefully hands the wrap over to the thin paras, making sure to keep himself as nonthreatening as possible as he lets it take the food in its claws. "It's okay, it won't bite. That's your job. Go ahead."

Robin giggles a little, endeared by the Paras's combination of cautiousness and eagerness. "There ya go. Nothing like a bit of variety in your diet, huh?" She looks over the little Paras, humming slightly. "Mind you, looks like you could use a bit more in the way of food. You ever been outside the mine? I'm no scientist, but a bit of sunlight might do you some good."

Robin chuckles. "Yeah, I can understand that. Staying down here, where it's familiar, where it's known, where it's safe. It's always scary, heading out from there. I know, believe me." He pauses, suppressing a twinge of memory even as he keeps his face unaffected and wistful. "But it can be worth it. I've been traveling for a while and I've seen new places, experienced new idea, met all kinds of new people," he doesn't mention what proportions of those people were marks he'd swindled. "You just... you never know what there is out there til you see it for yourself. Though, I'll be the first to admit," he gives a little pat on Rowan's head the little Cherubi strolls up to join him, "it's not something you wanna do alone. Still, if you can find yourself a few traveling partners... I'd say it's worth it."

Robin nods. "Well, I guess I can understand that. And, well, can't say for certain either way - I don't have your life and taste buds. And I'm sure these mushrooms are really damn good... assuming you can get any," he gives a smirk and a shrug, clearly showing he's not bothered by being denied a taste and not showing his hope that the statement might get the Paras thinking about how much mushroom they get, "buuut, well... I don't think you should ever rule out that things can be better." He reaches into his bag and pulls out one of the mushrooms they'd found earlier. "Don't worry, this ain't one of yours. It's from over that way, probably nowhere near as good as yours. At least, not now, but with a bit of work and help from the sun..."

He raises the mushroom to his nose and takes a deep sniff. Hmm, can be improved, but don't want to add too much or it might overwhelm it. Tarragon, I think, with a bit of rosemary under it.

Smiling, he breaks off a small chunk of the mushroom and reaches into one of the many pouches on his backpack, pulling out a couple of small jars. If there was one thing that had kept him sane throughout his often-deprived and starving existence, it was herbs. Used right, they could basically be flavor in a bottle, and not an expensive one at that.

And so, he takes a pinch of his chosen herbs and sprinkles them over the small chunk of mushroom, spending a few seconds rubbing them into the skin before presenting the finished product to the Paras. "Try that. Might be that an open mind ain't such a bad thing."

Robin smiles. "That's the spirit - we can find new tastes, bulk you up a bit and show the world the power of mushrooms. So," she pulls out a Poke ball and offers it to the Paras, not forcing it on it but presenting it the option, "how'd you like Aubrey for a name?"