Week 4.

[azumods]

WEEK 4 Backtracking may not seem like an ideal situation, especially not given the situation on Sunday morning, but it isn't without reason or merit; after all, Lake Valor is within a reasonable distance, and perhaps more importantly, there's reason to believe that something may be there. Whether it's one of the Guardians you seek or something else entirely has yet to be seen; there's only one way to know for sure, however. So back onto Route 213 it is; you should reach Route 214 by Tuesday afternoon, and the entrance to Lake Valor by Thursday night; you may want to wait to explore the lakefront proper during the morning, however. Who knows what you may run into... You've seen at least some reasons to not give up hope as you left Pastoria; for the time being, let that hope give you strength. CURRENT LOCATION: ROUTE 214 POKEMON AVAILABLE: PLAINS/FOREST / MOUNTAINS/ELEVATED AREAS SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY [OOC: Welcome to week four of Azume; feel free to make as many top levels as you'd like and tag out to other characters! This post is for all of your interactions this week... at least until the weekend. Don't forget that a write-up is due next weekend!]

Comments

[hyruglyphics]

[ The eye relaxes a little, but Zelda and Miphanus seem to nod in unison??? ]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Oh...

[He's not sure what to make of that.]

W...well, that's what playing football feels like, sometimes. It's pretty intense.

[hyruglyphics]

So it seems. [ She sounds amused, at least? ]

Your enthusiasm seems to be infectious - Monta and Miphanus both are taken with it.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Aha...well, if Miphanus ever wants to play a game with Monta and Vee, I wouldn't mind...

[Even if...it doesn't look they can catch anything.]

I guess they'd make a good lineman instead of a receiver, though...

[hyruglyphics]

Both they and I would need to know more of the game, but would you like that...?

[ Miphanus looks... I mean, as curious as an eye can look. It widens at least? ]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Uh, well...the more the merrier, if they wanna! Football's a team sport, anyway, and you need different types of people-or, uh, Pokemon, I guess-to play different positions...

[He thinks the Beldum wants to play? Maybe? Vee's coming back with the stick now, so that's a chance to see if they really do want to join.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ The Beldum is totally willing to try...! ... Ignoring it doesn't have hands! But yeah, it looks interested and floats in such a way as to imply that. Mostly. ]

Oh yes?

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Oh, uh...great!

[Honestly, if any Pokemon is starting to show interest in anything, he'd be happy to encourage it.]

Um...since you don't have anything to really catch it with, though, I think you should try something different...

[Give him a second.]

Maybe you could play a lineman or a field position like a linebacker - they try to stop the offensive players from catching the ball or running down the field...so you could try to stop Monta and Vee from catching the stick?

[hyruglyphics]

[ I mean, it only sort of follows, but it seems to acknowledge that with the eye, and then starts floating as fast it as it manage over in that direction!! ]

... Thank you for humoring them.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Huh? I-it's nothing...I mean, if they're interested in something, we should encourage that, right?

[He laughs softly.]

Besides, you said it. These pass routes...they're for avoiding obstacles. Having someone to go up against is gonna help Monta and Vee too, I think...

[hyruglyphics]

... Then let us be organized about it! So Miphanus you're to intercept the stick?!

[ IS that it.... ]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Sena nods rapidly.]

Either knock the stick aside so they can't catch it, or tackle one of them...actually, since we don't want anyone to get hurt too badly right now, maybe just touch them...like in touch football. Those rules, if you get touched it counts as hitting the ground, so it's safer.

[After all, tackling is apparently an actual Pokemon move that causes actual damage and they don't want to go that far when they're trying to travel, right?]

Simple enough, right?

[hyruglyphics]

[ She claps her hands together, but does Miphanus understand!

... Maybe! It's a little hard to tell, actually!

But still! ]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Okay, um...

[This might be a good chance to see what Vee and Monta have learned, actually. He tugs the stick out of Vee's mouth, then motions with it so that all three Pokemon can see.]

So, uh, to keep things fair, I don't think I'll make Vee and Monta follow a specific pass route, 'cause Miphanus doesn't know them...instead, I'm going to throw the stick that way, and Vee, Monta? You guys pick the pass route you think can get you past Miphanus. Miphanus, your job is to stop them from getting the stick...either you knock the stick away, or you touch Monta or Vee...you win instead.

[After saying all that in what seems like a confident, experienced way, like he came up with that after doing several practice sessions and knows how it works...he grins sheepishly and rubs the back of his head.]

D...does that sound okay?

[hyruglyphics]

[ Miphanus looks to Zelda...

But then She nods! ] I think that makes sense, yes! So they need to play interference!

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Uh-huh!

[He nods in relief, glad that they understand.]

Alright, so...ready?

[He waits for the Pokemon to give him a signal that they're ready to go, then throws the stick as hard as he can in a high arc in Miphanus' direction. It's pretty clear that he's no quarterback, the pass is him just throwing the stick as hard and far as he can.

Vee takes a rather straightforward route, a simple slanting run that's easy for anyone to predict. After all, she just needs to catch the stick right? Slant is easy and doesn't require a lot of strategic thought. Monta, on the other hand, decides to go for a zig-zagging route instead, with lots of sharp, sudden turns. It's awfully similar to Sena's running, actually, but he's clearly still following a route to where the stick's going to land, somewhere behind Miphanus.

It's anyone's ball stick game now.]

[hyruglyphics]

Miphanus, I know you are capable...

[ Zelda says, almost to herself and Sena given the ... you know, soft voice here. Still, the Beldum seems to consider this situation, sees how they're running... Should it try to go for the stick?

Oh wait, it doesn't have enough time to think! So let's jet over to try to touch out the Eevee! It seems like an easy target! It can float, after all. ]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Football is all about snap decisions, after all!

Vee doesn't think to react to Miphanus zooming over until it's too late. The Beldum manages to catch her just as Vee is about to jump for the stick, and it taps her mid-stride. Vee immediately drops to her feet and looks over at the Beldum blankly, acknowledging her catch.

Monta's still running after the stick, though. He might be a bit harder to catch.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ Yeah a lot harder. After all this is a battle of a floating base speed 30 vs running base speed 61 even before natures and abilities and -

Well, mostly it's just the zig zag.

Still!! It tries, running in a straight line to get closer to Monta!! ]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Since it's going in a straight line, it does manage to gain more ground than Monta running in a zig-zag. Monta doesn't think to avoid Miphanus at first, not experienced in avoiding someone else along with catching the stick, so he jumps to grab it without paying attention to the Beldum.

The result is that Monta does catch the stick with an outstretched paw, but then gets tackled by Miphanus mid-air and drops it.]

[hyruglyphics]

Oh-! Oh, Miphanus, you did it!

[ SMILE. She smiles, and even claps for her companion. They really managed it! The Beldum looks a little apologetic at Monta for a moment (and wary at the fire on its butt) but then reaches out to ... nudge the stick. With its eye. ]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Sena himself winces at the tackle, but he can't help but grin a bit when Monta gets up disconsolately. It's such a familiar sight.]

That's a failed pass, it seems...Nice work. [A giggle.] Maybe they're a natural. Although now that the stick's hit the ground, it doesn't count...

[Also...please don't poke out your eye, Miphanus.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ Well it has steel eyelids it'll probably be okay.

But. ]

I think they simply followed instruction well! Good work!

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Yeah, definitely. It was a really good first run. [And then calling out to the Pokemon.] Good try, guys! Come back!

[Monta still looks a little sour, although it does seem to be a good enough sport to help Miphanus pick up the stick. And uh...put it on the top of its body, like Miphanus is some sort of carrying tray. Huh.

meanwhile vee is just plodding back like she does.]

[hyruglyphics]

Yes, please return, Miphanus!

[ Miphanus makes an almost curious beep at that, and... well. this stick is not metal. It can't be magnetized? So ... carefully trying to balance it is go. it's hard? But it shall try. ]