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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 25, 2021 3:06:43 GMT
The bird does finally pick up and eat the berry at its feet, continuing to speak while doing so, considering westward. "Cianwood is closest, but then I will need to rest a full day before we attempt the next. Moving long distances unnoticed is very tiring." The bird then turns east, wings fanning out. "Your friends arrived safely in Goldenrod. My child is with them still."
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Post by birdy51 on Jan 25, 2021 3:49:27 GMT
"It's not a problem. Cianwood will probably work. Just need to find winter clothes or borrow one of Miranda's coats. Rat probably needs at least a day of rest or two anyways. He wasn't fainted but... Well. Moltres didn't really hold back."
A small pause sneaks it's way into the conversation. Idly, her hand reaches down to give rat a scratch on the ear. She was glad that her friends were ok. Terra was tough and Kursz was big. But something was nagging at her. She bites her lip and says, "I hope it's alright that I kinda... Passed off your kid onto Kursz. It's not that like, I didn't like them or that I don't like you, but it was sort of like, ya know. Right? Kursz isn't really the best at meeting new partners. He's brave, but he's also kind of a coward. I don't know if he'd ask any other Pokémon to join him unless somebody else suggested it first."
"Heck, there was this one time, this one time when I was with Omega and we were kinda of just hanging out with Kursz. And I said like, 'Kursz, you really ought to catch something'. And he was all nervous and stuff, but we took him near some water, and he found this big dopy looking fish with red scales and this real funny dumb looking face. The fish that Pidgeottos love so much that they just kinda snatch em out of the water. You know the ones, the fish that's dumb and keep getting caught because they jump too close to the sun. They're almost stupider than Pidgeys, which is terrifying. Anyways, he was happy. And that made me happy. He treats his Pokemon well, so I bet your child is doing alright. I get the feeling they are going to be good friends. They both seem empathetic, if that's the right word?"
She pauses. Thinks it over. "Empathetic. I uh, I think that's the right word."
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 25, 2021 4:12:51 GMT
"It is fine." Moochbird replied. "Contact helps keep us grounded in the now. There is so much to see. Too much to see, at all times. Takes us further and further from where we should be. Sometimes we fail to eat, and simply die. Having someone to look after them means they won't struggle to live. They can take breaks from the Sight. We already said our goodbyes. When you are ready, we can go."
And when Muku declared she was ready, they did. Cianwood was in a bad way. The town itself had attempted a makeshift seawall against the rising tide. It held, for now, but several of the buildings very near the shoreline had been boarded off and abandoned after being reinforced as best they could.
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Post by birdy51 on Jan 26, 2021 13:52:00 GMT
"Yeah. You know, I don't think I ever really thought about it, but maybe I kind of got the wrong idea about this whole training thing. As a Starly I mean. We only ever saw it as loss; losses we couldn't afford when one of our flock got taken away. But there are a lot of trainers out there who treat their Pokemon with respect; like Chuck or the ladies in the Kimono. So, even if it was bad for us, it could have been good for them too."
Pursing her lips, her eyes are cast down to the growing puddles on the lip of the rocky crags. "Course, then there are also trainers who pull this shit, so maybe I'll reserve judgement until I get a bigger picture. I'm ready to go whe-"
-ZOoop-
Before the words could completely leave her mouth, she was back in Cianwood. She pauses just a moment for that familiar sensation of vertigo to retreat as she scans her surroundings. Things were looking pretty bad. Really bad. Water was objectively bad, but it was really bad now that it was attempting to swallow the town. It was going to be hard resting tonight. "I'm probably going to go to the Pokémon Center first." She says. "Check up on Nurse Joy, drop off Rat, and then see if I can find Chuck and Miranda. Maybe if I'm lucky, they'll just be there too. Chuck's kind of a big deal. I'll meet up on the ridge when you've rested. Ok? Ok."
And with that final nod, she hitches up her coat against the howling wind and dashes to the Pokémon Center. Time to check in...
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Member
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Post by Robot on Jan 26, 2021 19:08:06 GMT
Moochbird makes for the trees, moving low along the ground and with very little flapping. It was genuinely kind of eerie. It disappears into the woods around the time Muku rounds the corner to enter the Pokemon center sopping wet.
"Welcome to the Cianwo-.". There was a flicker of recognition, the flare of delicate nostrils and a tensing of all the muscles situated behind the Nurse's desk. "You have a lot of nerve setting foot here after lifting my breakfast.". She exhales sharply, the usual saccharine act the joys gave giving way to a stern wall of unyielding muscles.
"Chuck and I had it out over it already, steal from me again and I will bend you in ways you aren't supposed to be. How can I help you?". The smile was back, and dangerous.
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Post by birdy51 on Jan 26, 2021 20:20:23 GMT
"Ok, to be fair. I did not lift the muffin. Kursz lifted the muffin, because he is a good bad influence on me." Muku postulates, holding her finger in front of her with a huff. "And secondly, sorry. It's been stressful lately. It's always stressful lately, and I'm trying to find better ways of coping than panic beeping or petty acts of criminal behavior, but until then a few more muffins might just always go missing because you know what, they are muffins and they are delicious. If you didn't want extra muffins stolen, then you shouldn't bake them so well, so sorry, not sorry, but probably still sorry because wow that face."
She stops herself and looks at Joy carefully. Nothing that she had just said had helped the situation whatsoever. Before she could get taken to the mat, she continues, "Ok. Anyways. Changing the subject. Yeah. We've- Me and my partners, are trying to look into this whole rain thing. It involves birds, and I'm just gonna leave it at that. Anyways. Rat and I went up against a strong Pokémon. We won, but Rat's all kinds of injured because our opponent really didn't hold anything back. And now, I need to get my coat washed because a dead guy wore it and find cold weather clothes before tomorrow's tomorrow. And not only that but like... Is everything ok? Why is it so quiet around 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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 26, 2021 21:01:33 GMT
"No sea or air travel means no trainers.". Joy answered firmly. "The islanders are putting their everything into keeping our town afloat, and I am here to pickup the pieces when one of them breaks under the stress they are putting on their bodies.". Joy rose and rounded the desk, giving Muku a once over. "You don't look like you are in the best shape either. Old burns, electrical and non. There's something unsettling about you that wasn't there before too."
Joy gave the small of Muku's back a push. "Coat washing and shopping can wait. Let's give you a once over and look at your Rat."
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Post by birdy51 on Jan 26, 2021 22:21:20 GMT
"Hey, hey. No need to push." Muku pouts. "I'm sure I do have some things to be checked out; I did do a LOT today and some of it involved ghosts that stabbed and slash. But I don't think I've been shocked except for like that one time, what seems like a lot of day cycles ago. That time that lady tazed me? That sure was a thing. If I see her again, I'm gonna have to beat her up and down the road a bit."
She pauses. Realizes the low-high key amount of pain she was in. Wow. This all suddenly felt, very, very bad.
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 26, 2021 22:42:00 GMT
Muku is helped out of her jacket on a padded table, the coat left to hang on a doorpeg. Joy started examining the gashes, burns, punctures and bruises along Muku's toned body. "Well.". She managed, finding Rat to be in a far sorrier state. "You both have been through a lot. Sit still and you will be flying right again in no time."
Two hours of numbing balms, stitches, firm massage, some light stretching, and a spinal adjustment and Muku was good to go. Rat needed more time, and seemed particularly displeased that one of the strikes had broken his jaw. That was where food went!
"You can eat what you need to eat, and sleep if you need. The stuff doesn't leave here. Coat can be washed in the laundry room. Might be able to just find a waterproofing spray for it here in town."
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Post by birdy51 on Jan 26, 2021 23:44:53 GMT
"I think the coat might already be waterproof-ish? Or at least, someone tried to a long, long time ago." She says, running her hand down the old coats rough, but still sheeny covering. Instinctively, she had to figure it was maybe whale oiled at some point. Or at least, maybe that was what Talon was suggesting. That or she had gone crazy after all of the physical therapy that had been induced upon her.
Regardless, she wasn't about to hunt whales. No matter how much Terra despised them.
After seeing to the washing and de-corpsifying of her new outer wear, she sets out to the mart to try and find such a spray. Still also needed to check in on Chuck. But she didn't mind putting that one off; at least for a little bit.
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 27, 2021 0:10:42 GMT
Muku does find such a spray, in a regular and deluxe variety. The stock standard is impressively cheap, makes fabrics water resistant and comes in a rocket can. Does not smell very good. The Deluxe is 3000 Pyen and is called STORMPROOF THE RAIN OBLITERATOR. BOASTING POWDERED SHARDS AND THE LIGHT THAT BURNS THE SKY ITSELF. It waterproofs while protecting against actual attack.
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Post by birdy51 on Jan 27, 2021 0:35:47 GMT
One can was cheap and smelled of aerosol. The other can was not cheap and also smelled of aerosol. Both were probably bad for the environment. But Muku was beyond such petty concerns and those to buy the most expensive option without too much of a second thought. If she were going to happen upon lots of watery enemies, the kind that liked to summon bad fish from the depths of ocean to drown the world, then maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to absolutely coat her jacket and hat in this stuff.
Adding such a bottle to her basket, she then quickly looks for options of the more 'winter' variety. It wasn't like she could just grow a floofy coat overnight, no. She was probably going to have to find something a bit more furry. Which was a weird thought. Because bird.
It disturbed her.
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Member
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Post by Robot on Jan 27, 2021 18:52:54 GMT
Muku finds a set of thermal wear to put under things like pirate coats, thick socks, sturdy boots and gloves among what is available in the shop.
(Waterproof Spray DX - 15 DR vs Water Attacks. 2xDaily as a Free Action Interrupt. After activating Waterproof Spray DX, target takes +5 Damage from Electric and Fire for 5 Rounds.)
(Thermal Wear - Accessory - Reduces All Freeze effect ranges by 2, and increases saves to escape a freeze effect by +2. 15 DR vs. Icy Wind, Powder Snow, and Blizzard. - 6k PYen)
(Winter Boots - As Normal)
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Post by birdy51 on Jan 27, 2021 20:52:24 GMT
Muku buys everything, a true impulse shopper with no control over her actions. Gloves, boots, a cute sweater with a tiny bird design; it all goes into the basket. Not the Pidgey sweater. That goes onto the floor. The world could be burning, but Pidgeys would still be awful. Now they were floor Pidgeys, and she didn't care who was watching her.
And that's that. After purchasing everything, she no longer had any money to her name.
It was time to return. Return to the house that Chuck had built.
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 27, 2021 21:20:39 GMT
The house that chuck built stood as it always did. Muku could see Miranda flitting about the kitchen, walking along the impromptu rock wall that now hemmed the ocean away from the town. No doubt Gunshow's rippling pecs were involved in this. His handprints were on the stone.
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Post by birdy51 on Jan 27, 2021 21:42:02 GMT
Muku glares at the stones for longer than she ought. She could imagine them flexing, muscles dripping with sweat. Stone sweat. It was a horrifying thought and she wished to be cleared of it immediately.
But once she got over her horror, she lingered outside of the door longer than she would have expected. Last time she left Chuck's, it wasn't exactly under the very best of circumstances. They probably weren't going like, be mad. Maybe. Was rejection something that humans got mad over? That was a stupid thought. Yes, the answer to that question was yes.
So maybe she shouldn't knock. It wasn't that far from the Pokémon Center. She'd still get a warm bed there. Nobody gave her half a mind while she was there. Leaving was an option. Leaving was always an option. Staying here wasn't the only option she had.
What did she actually want though? Did she want a family? Well. Maybe. But even then, it was humans who did this to her, humans who hurt her, who put her in cages. So could she REALLY trust them? Really trust any of them? The thought was bold, maybe irrational, but wholly her own. But. But! Maybe it wasn't that. They weren't THOSE humans. Being scared of them was like being scared of all birds, when so many birds were so very different. She could come into a situation with her own set of fears and prejudices, but unless she resolved them then they would continue to rule and bind her. But what if that was what was keeping her safe? Distance wasn't a bad thing, right?
Muku rubs her temples and groans quietly in the rain. She'd been pacing back and forth without realizing it. The spray, kindly applied in the bike lot, was quickly approaching it's upper limit of use. Maybe if she hadn't of threatened those sea Pidgeys with it, then this wouldn't be a problem. No, no! That wasn't her problem. Her problem was the same as it always had been. She was overthinking this. Overthinking everything.
With a huff, she strides to the kitchen window and gives it a pair of loud knocks. As soon as Miranda turns around, she's shouting, "Hey. Hey! It's me. Muku. Bird girl. Starly, I don't know. Can I come in?"
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 27, 2021 21:56:12 GMT
If Miranda was a bird, she was probably one of the kinds that stares a lot. Like the giant sea gulpers or the Moochbird. At least that was the look she gave Muku. The look of surprise when you pecked someone that didn't see it coming. Blackbird surprise looks.
The door was opened, and Muku ushered inside. Strangely, Miranda put her wings... No, arms, around Muku. The way Staravia would nestlings when it got cold, or when owls were around to quiet the beeping. "You are safe.". Was all the woman managed, not a question or an assurance. A pleased statement. A realization.
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Post by birdy51 on Jan 28, 2021 0:58:50 GMT
Muku didn't resist. Too tired, frankly.
Besides it was not as if it were unpleasant. She wraps her own arms around Miranda's waist and gives a firm squeeze. Not for her own satisfaction, but that of mutual comfort and reassurance. This was ok. "'Course I'm safe. I used be a Pokémon, right? We fight right? We fight, and we live. Part of our dna. Whatever... That is."
The young girl pulls back and reaches up to awkwardly remove her hat, before shaking her coat lightly as she pulls it onto a nearby coat rack. "Sorry for ah. There wasn't much in the way of... Whatever you use to communicate where we were going. Terra's not with me, but she's with Kursz, so I think that she's probably alright. Wouldn't be surprised if you hear from in her a day or two from some other... Weird place." She pauses, for once at a little loss for words before adding, "Ah... You alright? You seem a bit... Distressed?"
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 28, 2021 1:53:25 GMT
"Just a little less now that I have some idea what became of you two.". Miranda made for the kitchen where the smell of cooking fish mixed with something heady and heavy. "Come eat, hopefully Chuck will be home soon.". It hadn't been a question. She stirred a pot of something white and bubbling with pieces of fish in it.
"The whole town is doing what it can against the winds and the tides, the rain too. The wives are cooking and mending almost around the clock, while the men break their bodies on stone and build a wall to keep the water out. We have lost two buildings already. Chuck is pushing his limits for when he was in good health."
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Post by birdy51 on Jan 28, 2021 20:27:58 GMT
"I hadn't realized that ocean could be so... Destructive." Muku mutters. Sitting down to eat suddenly didn't seem quite so appetizing, even when the food smelt so good. "I'm tapped tonight, but maybe I can go out and help them tomorrow. It sounds like it's been really, really bad. But after that, I have to get traveling again."
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