Week 7.

[azumods]

WEEK 7 After a week of nothing but snow, it's likely that the city is a welcome sight. The city proper is likewise blanketed in snow, but it's far shallower here, easily walked through; it's soft and powdery and unlikely to cause you to slip, the kind of snow small children and Pokémon might enjoy playing in if they're the sort to enjoy that kind of thing. And if they were capable of enjoying much, in the case of the children. That said, the people here are still in the mildly improved state you witnessed in Eterna; it isn't much, but it is improvement, and the world around you continues to change in other, smaller ways as well, so it isn't all for naught. The wild Pokémon here, however, seem to be experiencing something a little...different from what you've been seeing so far - specifically, the Shellos here seem a little hostile toward one another. Snowpoint City is separate from and parallel to the giant mountain you passed last week, and it's populated by both the blue and pink varieties; the different sorts...don't seem to like each other much. It isn't all-out warfare or anything, but there are definitely skirmishes and mounting tensions happening in slug culture here. Mediate if you choose, or just enjoy your time in the city. You've earned it, after last week. CURRENT LOCATION: SNOWPOINT CITY POKEMON AVAILABLE: WITHIN CITIES SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY [OOC: Welcome to week seven 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 this weekend!]

Comments

MONDAY

[azumods]

[fatalstrikes]

[Yuri isn't exactly fond of the cold. He suffered in silence on the routes because some people had it way worse than he did, and he's been lucky enough not to get sick. He's never been so relieved to be in a city and he spent almost all of yesterday in the Pokémon Center warming up.

But now that he's warmed up, he can't stand being bored and there isn't much to do in the Center. So! That's why he's out in the freezing cold again, bundled up in a jacket. He's got all of his Pokémon out with him today and they're all watching a particularly large group of Shellos. They seem to have drawn some sort of boundary line here and the pink and blue slugs are just sort of... staring each other down from across it, as if daring the others to set foot in their territory.]

My bet's on the pink slugs. What do you guys think?

[Rukeno doesn't seem to have much of an opinion, but he's watching with slightly more interest than the sword. Roc, on the other hand...

Well, she's just going to throw rocks at the slugs, because what else are you gonna do when you see an army of slugs, not pick a fight???]

Roc— Oh come on...

[Unsurprisingly, the Shellos turn their attention on her and that is how Roc ended up getting the slugs to ally against a common threat.

In the evening you can find Yuri back in the Pokémon Center. He's actually sitting at a table like a normal person instead of on the floor, and he's got a book open in front of him. It might look like he's studying again, but if you get a glimpse of the pages... well, they're definitely not Pokémon. It looks like sketches of monsters, along with handwritten information on them. You're free to join him if you'd like, he never minds the company.]

evening

[redbellion]

[ the other tables are taken, and while keith prefers to be alone, chairs are more comfortable than the floor, and he can concentrate on his reading better that way. he has a book that zelda loaned to him in his hand, and his shinx and his houndour are trailing along behind him. he approaches the table yuri's at and puts his hand on top of the chair across from the other boy. ]

Mind if I sit here?

evening

[semistableman]

[That doesn't look like a book on Pokemon. At least, he doesn't think so. Though maybe that means it's something Yuri has gotten from one of the boxes full of their things-- after all, even if Bucky hasn't been given anything all that useful, that doesn't mean that some people couldn't be more lucky.]

What're you reading?

Sheilos;

[ventulus]

[ He walks in a little late on Attack of the Sheilos here, but that sure is a thing that is happening. It really looks like the Pokemon have started to sort of become more and more lively in the wild... ]

...What even happened?

Slugs!!

[anythingforyou]

[...Oh dear god, this looks like a mess.

Camilla was admittedly going to come out and train off of the slugs herself, but seeing them pile on poor Roc like this...well, she'll do her best to hide an expression of amusement while she and Arion walk over to Yuri.]

It seems that you're having a few troubles. I didn't think they could ever be unified over anything before.

[Look at them go.]

I don't suppose you'll be needing any assistance...?

Shellos

[eudaimonikos]

[But, lo! An attack from the flank! Against the pink Shellos, at least, Cat Janet has definitely run up out of somewhere to start attacking the pink Shellos contingent specifically.

Michael comes along behind her a few minutes later, having followed at his own pace.]

.....are you just fighting all of the slugs? Because Cat Janet picked a side, we're on the blue team now.

evening

[thunderwolf]

[Curiosity's getting the best of Eustace tonight (the slight case of cabin fever might be the reason for that), so he can't help but peer over Yuri's shoulder to check out what he's studying.

Huh.]

I'm gonna guess those aren't Pokemon.

[Way to out yourself hovering around, Eustace.

It's interesting, though. Those don't quite fit the look of most Pokemon he's come across. If they aren't Pokemon, where'd the book come from? Pretty much every book he's seen is about Pokemon.]

Slugz

[hyruglyphics]

I had been thinking the blue ones were likely more adapted to the climate, but both of them have returned to the ocean at different times, so perhaps both of them are... well, evenly matched. I do wonder why they are competing.

[ Or at least that's.

her thoughts with her Metang behind her. Miphanus is interested in the slugs, but also in why Roc wants to fight them all that seems weird. But either way, she stands next to Yuri and the Scyther (neat) and the sword of course huh. ]

[enjoymyatelier]

[...well, Kayneth would stay in the Center all day if he could, but like... he's got a bunch of weird creatures with him now? And as he's out today, he's really thinking about his relationship to these things. Like, really thinking about it. Especially when he finds himself in a shop looking for winter-y clothes for his Pokemon and trying to find a balaclava he can fit over his dang Budew and maybe cut a hole in for its little bud.

The Pokemon he didn't even seek out but just followed him around. He's trying one on it now to see if it'll even work before it... clicks to him.]

...Christ almighty, what am I doing with my life.

[...

He still gets said balaclava, a scarf for Huginn and a hat for Antonia. There go all his savings.

After that, he's going to head back to the Pokemon Center, but he's still more outside than he wants to be, because Velasquez got an idea in his head and now his more spiritually awake Pokemon are collaborating with him to build a snowman outside the Center, with... erm... Antonia wrapped up in a little winter hat as the head. She's spherical and not complaining about it, so Kayneth is just going to leave them to it, playing the part of a cold, bored chaperone making sure the kids don't get hypothermia or anything.]

shop

[niceoppai]

[Chelsea looks at the assortment and laughs a little.]

I dunno, making sure nobody freezes to death? That's kinda important.

shop

[semistableman]

[That's really cute? Damn. He should buy some winter clothes for his own Pokemon.]

Looks like you're making sure your companions are going to be warm while we're here to me.

Pokemon Center;

[ventulus]

Hey, Kayneth!

[ Ventus is coming up in the snow now and peering over at the blond and his partners, watching the snowman happen. ]

Wow, did you give tell them to start building a snowman? It looks pretty cool already!

[redbellion]

[ it's morning, and keith's up early as always. he's planning on hitting up some of the residents for some odd jobs again, but his pokemon get sidetracked by the shellos war. the shellos war is really weird, keith thinks, because it doesn't seem like they're really attacking each other. they just keep on having stare-offs, and his shinx and houndour are just watching from the sidelines. keith has his arms folded across his chest as he watches the slug shenanigans take place, and he raises an eyebrow. ]

Should we...be trying to help...?

[ he doesn't even know what's happening.

after spectating the showdown, keith heads to the residential area to find some jobs to take on for some extra cash. he emerges with a munchlax in his arms, wrapped up inside of his jacket, and he heads over to the pokemon center to give it some warmth. the munchlax jumps out of his jacket and sits in front of him while blue paws at him gently, wanting to play. keith has a smile on his face--a stark contrast to how he was just a few days ago--like he's enjoying watching this little interaction take place. ]

sluggins

[nightcure]

... It seems like they're having a territorial dispute.

[ Noctis's Glameow is very interested, and she starts to walk over-- ]

Lepidia, no.

Pokemon Center

[anythingforyou]

[Oh, now isn't that precious...Camilla was just walking in to get her darlings all settled in, but she catches sight of Keith with his new little friend and smiles.]

Your darling partners are so cute. They look like they'll be fast friends.

[anythingforyou]

[Camilla's pretty used to the weather here, by now. It's really like the worst of the winter season in Nohr, except...all the time, really. It just means she has to bundle up a bit more, but it doesn't mean she can't get any sort of work done.

Which is what she's doing in the morning; Camilla seems to have found some work to do in the Poke Mart, and seems to be cleaning up and stocking shelves for a little extra pocket change. It's easy enough work, if a tad mindless; if Camilla were like the people here seem to be, maybe that'd be a good thing. It's certainly keeping her busy, though, but if you need help finding stuff, she'll do what she can to help.

Her Pokemon, of course, are outside for the time being; it's a little lonely without their trainer there, but they don't want to disturb her work. It'll take a while for her to be done, but they do happen to see Kayneth and his little squad making their own fun, and well...

It gives them an idea.

It's the evening that sees Camilla back at the Center. Mostly just cooking, but the main difference here is that Arion and Haar seem to be busying themselves outside of the door and communicating amongst themselves. While she will gladly be making some dinner for anyone, it doesn't seem like she'll be there for too long, if the two Pokemon have anything to say about it.

And, like everything Arion does, he's about the least subtle thing in the world when he finally strikes. One might see him rush into the kitchen, and then rush out with a ladel that Camilla was using; Haar's quickly following behind Arion, and Camilla's rushing to them as fast as she can. Once the stove is turned off, of course.]

Haar, Arion, get back here this instant!

[They eventually lead her outside, and off to one of the sides of town; by the time Camilla catches up to them, she's a little more than haggard, and she takes a moment to see what all of the fuss was about.

...If the large snowballs made there are any indication, Arion and Haar have been quite busy. Arion drops the ladel in the snow and starts to tug on Camilla's pant leg to usher her over, earning an exasperated noise from Camilla.]

...I do suppose we haven't had much time to play together since we started traveling, have we?

[Arion gives a bit of a grunt of confirmation at that, earning a smile from Camilla as she pets his head.]

Well, alright. Let's play a little bit, hm? I could teach you two how to make wonderful snowmen...

Pokemart

[greydients]

[After her adventure at the Jedi temple, Rey has realized that if she's going to train her Pokemon, she should invest in some more supplies - it's not long before you've got a customer, Camilla.]

Oh! Hi Camilla.

[Is it obvious Rey did not expect to see you stocking the shelves? It's pretty obvious.]

Are you working here?

Morning

[eudaimonikos]

Working retail now, Camilla?

[Yes, he probably came here for something specific, but he can stop to poke fun first!]

Evening

[takestheblame]

That means you make snowmen often?

[Kiryu was outside when things unfolded. He didn't think much of it when they went inside the Pokemon Center and left the snowballs outside, but when they run back out with the ladle Kiryu looks up.

Turns out everything was two Pokemon wanting to play with their trainer. Kiryu's own Pokemon don't seem like the type to play much -- at least the ones he has so far -- although Daigo is looking with curiosity, as if he hasn't decided to approach but is seriously considering it]

Evening

[radiantflame]

...Snowmen?

[What is this 'fun' you speak of?]

[hyruglyphics]

[ Oh that's cute.

... That's cute and Zelda was going to laugh it off until Miphanus showed an interest in this and decided to butt in. Or well, asked Zelda for permission to and she said, ]

Oh, go on then.

[ and so the Metang floats over and asks the two, ]

"What are you three doing?"

[ In the form of... beeps and grindy sounds. That said, Zelda comes over after, waving to announce her entrance then. ]

I hope we are not interrupting anything serious.

[greydients]

[Rey seems to have finally acclimatized to the general temperature of northern Sinnoh, although she's thanking whatever lucky stars she's got that they weren't unfortunate enough to have to travel up here in winter. Snowpoint City is...nice, she supposes, but it doesn't take long for her to start missing the greenery of the ones down south. Regardless of her feelings, however, they have a job to do.

...do they?

Their encounter with Jupiter had been as disturbing as the one with Saturn, but in a different way; Rey had been expecting the woman to show similar sentiments to her associate, so the fact that she just seemed so...satisfied with everything made her slightly ill. Not to mention her lies about Cynthia. Surely the group wouldn't take them at face value? How could they possibly trust Jupiter's words over those of the person who has helped them the most?

It doesn't take long for Rey's general frustration with the events of the weekend to send her storming out of the Pokemon Center. Hopefully some exercise will calm her down.

During the morning, you can find her outside Snowpoint Temple, running her hand down the ice sealing the door. Even though there doesn't seem to be anything overly interesting about the temple, Rey appears absolutely fascinated.]

...do you think it is one, Golett?

[Golett, who clearly has no idea what she's talking about, just shrugs.

In the afternoon and into the evening, her focus has returned back to her Pokemon; they're in the enclave east of the Pokemon Center, staring down a wild Houndour. Her Riolu is braced in a fighting pose, and there seems to be something more focused about his general demeanour - his eyes never leave his opponent.]

Force Palm, Riolu!

[They've obviously been practicing; Riolu's strike is sharp and true, and the wild Houndour is knocked back into the woods from the force of the blow.]

That's it! You're doing wonderful!

morning

[redbellion]

[ the temple's very intriguing to keith as well, and he's walking up to it while rey runs her hand down the ice. he stands back for a while, trying to figure it out, but...he has nothing.

so when he hears her speak, he can't help but be a little curious. ]

Think it's what, exactly?

morning

[enjoymyatelier]

[Well, Kayneth couldn't help checking that shit out himself, because holy shit, dude. Even if there's no way to get in, it's still interesting.

And Rey's also saying something interesting!]

What does it look like to you?