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#official pokemon food
cupcakedex · 5 months
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Quagsire and Clodsire ice pops by Nuancy2020!
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mirai-e-jump · 1 year
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銀座コージーコーナー「ポケモンコレクション」
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wildflowercryptid · 2 months
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@PokemonMasters : " Ready for some special Palentine’s Day #PokemonMastersArtwork? 🎨
The massively talented Shibire Katano drew this illustration detailing Victor’s Palentine’s Day outfit! ✨️💖
We’ve included both Japanese and English versions so you can enjoy all the fun notes for both! "
the pokemas twitter & instagram shared this super cute promo art of victor's palentine's day alt, i'd love to see them do more illustrations like this!
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Here are all my pokemikuween headcanons in one post 😭 😭 😭:
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Official Pairings
1. Miku + Meloetta
2. Miku + Rillaboom
3. Miku + Skeledirge
4. Miku + Primarina
5. Miku + Rotom
6. Miku + Chatot
7. Miku + Lapras
8. Miku + Aurorus
9. Miku + Flygon
10. Miku + Altaria
11. Miku + Jigglypuff
12. Miku + Kricketune
13. Miku + Toxtricity
14. Miku + Mismagius
15. Miku + Obstagoon
16. Miku + Jirachi
17. Miku + Sirfetch’d
18. Miku + Miraidon
My Fanon Pairings
19. Miku + Mew
20. Miku + Togepi
21. Miku + Torchic
22. Miku + Mudkip
23. Miku + Treeko
24. Miku + Skitty
25. Miku + Manaphy
26. Miku + Plusle and Minun
27. Miku + Pachirisu
28. Miku + Piplup
29. Miku + Snorlax
30. Miku + Eevee
31. Miku + Pikachu
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[photograph of Shardy's hand, displaying- proudly, as though it's some kind of trophy- a McDonphan's box of twenty McNuggets]
breakfast for glaceon on the basis that it may have actually saved my actual for real life last night. and it's not even my pokemon
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9823678 · 7 days
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【官方】新葉喵、呆火鱷和潤水鴨在《歡迎光臨!寶可夢咖啡店 ~拌拌繽紛趣~》登場!
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morgana-sfairytail · 9 months
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Relationship headcanons (ATSV) Hobie, Pavitr, Miles
These are the winners of the last poll and a new one is out :) so go check it out.
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Hobie Brown (Spider Punk)
So, my guy doesn't like labels. Okay.
He does like calling you his girl. That's also okay.
So does he call you his girlfriend? Heavens no. He says that your his and hopefully, he's yours.
(You agree)
Dates are so random sometimes to the point that if he ever brought you to a universe and you were pokemon, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN BE SURPRISED.
First date was a nice picnic on the rooftop, him playing some tunes on his guitar and talking about everything.
(If he says that he is spiderman/your a spidey) Definitely swings around the universe for fun things and adventures to happen. Miguel hates this with a passion.
(If you don't know he is Spider Punk/ your not a spidey or an MJ/Gwen Stacy) He usually comes into your room with scares or bruises and he'll say that it was just another fight between some old company. You may or may not believe him after a while so sooner or later he'll tell you.
(If you know but your not a spidey) You patch him up, give him comfort and if a Canon event happens, HOLD HIM. He tells you about the Spidey Society and how Miguel is a c**t. (British slang.)
In general domestic life, he can cook. Like simple food that is easy but taste delicious.
Will do dishes since he cooks the most in the household
Pretty good with kids due to Mayday being a mini him instead of a mini Peter. Chaotic when they're both in the house...
Cuddles are the best
He a lanky boi :] so more limbs to wrap around in the most unholy knot made by the Flying Dutchman from SpongeBob. (Please tell me you know the episode. If you don't. DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TIE A SHOE-)
Teaches you how to play guitar or some musical instrument you want to know.
He gets jealous once someone touches you. Not when they look but when they touch. He will straight up agree with whoever is flirting with you
Random guy: Ya know, your actually really pretty(handsome). So what are you doing here in the hood?
Y/N: I came here with my boyfriend, he's over there and coming this way!
Hobie: Hey mate (worst British slang of all time right now.), why are you all stand to attention?
Guy: Nothin' Hobs, I was just wonderin' why this pretty (handsome) person is here in the hood just sittin' on the lion's liar. You dragging them through this?
Hobie: Nah but I agree, ain't they a wonder of the world?
(NSFW THING)
Because of the spidey senses, he can tell when people are around or danger is approaching so he can (and will.) fuck you anywhere. Even on missions and you guys somehow never get caught. (Layla knows but she doesn't say a thing)
MILESSSSSS
N-n-nick na nick-nick-nick. Nickelodeon.
Stuttering mess when first dating like basically Wade at some points of this
First date NERVOUS WRECK LIKE THE TITANIC. He would take you to a 'fancy' restaurant (we talking like alley cats or something) and then after to his graffiti place.
You kind of just stare at him and everything around him because he starts to spray paint and he looks so much in his element that you start getting flustered. (The turns have been tabled...)
Nicknames like babe and baby are there. Some OG and random ones would be (i tried to find a way to translate english to Puerto Rican Spanish since its different from Spain's Spanish and other Spanish denominations. I couldn't so FIND A TRANSLATOR TO TRANSLATE THESE WORDS. PLEASE.)
Lil' bug, Lovely, and my honeybun are some that he says in his language(not all the time) (TRANSLATE)
Bubba, Short King (come on like compared to everybody else, he's pretty short. 5'8 is the official height.) and little spider are yours to him.
(If you know and a spidey) Swinging around the city and some races. (You win because he gets distracted from how graceful you are. He lands into a wall-)
If you know and aren't a spidey) you patch him up and everything. Like an MJ or Gwen Stacy would do :)
(If you don't know and you are NOT a spidey) You start to question why the heck is he limping and always late to your dates? You help him get better but still give a stern talking to him. You still love him so you can't be completely mad when he tells you why.
Domestic life, definitely plays music around the house and keeps things in an organized chaos. If he ever had kids, he needs at least one of them to look just like him.
Miles: "Come on, we could name them Miles Jr."
Y/N:
Miles: "Or maybe Y/N Jr?
Y/N:
Miles: "I'll be quiet now."
At least half of his songs are about you.
He gets jealous but in like a subtle way.
You can still tell like he will hold you tighter and try to look like the bigger man in front of the person and may day that he wants to get out of here.
Once you ask him if he is jealous, he'll pout. He will deny until found guilty based off of proof.
You show the proof and then he's like "Maybe I was..." mumbling-
He is like the best big Spooner and you don't know why. He puts low vibe music on and just holds you near his heart. (Don't even tell me that he will play iconic songs like "I don't want to set the world on fire" or "Can't Sleep Love" while he is saying sweet nothings in your ear and is rubbing your back and giving you kisses on the forehead ever so often please.)
(NSFW THING)
Jealousy can go two ways, up or down.
HE WILL GO DOWN ON YOU. This is not a drill like if you ignore him while he's trying to leave with you, he's gonna make sure everybody knows who you belong to.
Pavitr Prabhakar (India Spider-man. Also congrats to India winning Miss Universe 👏 ❤)
Ray of sunshine. I WILL REPEAT THIS EVERY TIME.
ahem-
Anyway, he thinks your an angel in disguise.
First date he was a little bit nervous but he was pretty confident to say the least.
Definitely a small chai place (I swear if you said Chai Tea.)
Y/N: "Do they have Chai Tea there as well?"
Pavitr: ...
Pavitr: "What. Did you say. To me?"
Y/N: Chai...Tea?
Pavitr: Chai means Tea! Do you think I would ask for some coffee coffee with cream cream?!
Y/N: "Sorry love. We cN go get some Tea Tea if you want."
Pavitr (mind): *This person is gonna be the death of me.*
And if (Miles) said the same thing, you would have you hands up in the air saying DON'T DO IT. JUST DON'T DO IT.
Cuddles are like...so nice. He may (or may not) let you touch his hair. He wants it to be p e r f e c t. Will hold you in any way shape or form. Mostly your head on his chest or vice versa.
DOMESTIC HEADCANON TIMEEE
He will cook and clean. Husband material. Dances around in the kitchen with you while either you are him are cooking.
If you ever have kids, specifically a daughter, he would dress up with her and would not give a fuck if you posted that picture to everyone in the spider society. Honestly, people would find that cute and not embarrassing to say the least.
Gets jealous quickly (surprisingly.)
Its more when someone at the shopping area (the Bazaar?) starts being rude to you and he (as spiderman) comes up and saves you. If you know, you just give him a cheeky grin that is written as "really though. Had to make a scene." If you don't know, you'll be shocked that Spiderman saved you.
(You know and spidey) Swings around Mubattan and some days with his Auntie because she loves you both. The spider society thinks you guys are thr cutest couple of all time and Miles and Gwen tease you guys about it. (You guys tease back saying that they're still not together-)
You know and aren't a spidey) Patches him up and if a Canon event does happen, your there for comfort and relief. He's still shaken up that he almost lost his loved ones.)
You don't know and aren't a spidey) You question everything and ask is his (I forgot her name Ithink it was claire?) friend what he has been up to. She doesn't know either so you'll just have to keep guessing. You still patch him up though and when he does confess it's like the stars aligned and you understand EVERYTHING.
(NSFW BIT)
The gift that keeps on giving. Most likely to be a switch (along with the other two bc like- duh.)
Is in it for your pleasure and it's only when you remind him that he's apart of this as well and needs to find his pleasure.
IVE BEEN ATALLING ON THIS ONE SO THIS WAS FOR THE FAV SPIDEY POLL AND YEAH. Idk about the ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny fanfic is happening cause like I had the inspiration to write it an now I have the title done.
IM NOT DEAD. JUST BEEN GONE AND MY ACTIVITY WENT TO 2 then 1.5 then 1 then 0.5 then 0 on the graph so- yeah
REQUEST ME THINGS IM OPEN!
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nekoanything · 3 months
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Me or her —- it’s up to you.
I believe that choosing these two leaders was something that everyone had a hard time with. (including me) because if you have to choose someone, you have to choose adaman or irida.
This scene is an important scene because choosing adaman or irida means choosing which legendary pokemon to catch first.
It's not very difficult to decide. if you want to catch dialga first choose adaman or if you want to catch palkia first choose irida but if I like both characters can I choose two 😂😂😂😂
I really like adaman's Japanese lines. I will translate these two people's lines. There is a comparison between the Japanese and English chapters.
I will start with irida first and adaman last.
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わたしだよね!(watashida yo ne!)
it’s me, right!
irida uses the pronoun 私 (watashi) written in kanji, わたし(watashi) written in hiragana.
**The writing method is different, but the reading and meaning are the same. It means I in Japanese. Mostly women use it to represent themselves**
バサギリを鎮めるとき (basagiri o shizumeru toki)
材料となる好物を持つてきたし (zairyo to naru kōbutsu o motsute kitashi)
ともにシズメダマをつくったよ!(tomoni shizumedama o tsukutta yo!)
We use favorite food ingredients as ingredients to calm basagiri(kleavor). We made this balm together!
**There's not much difference between irida's Japanese and English dialogue.**
バサギリ (basagiri) Japanese name for kleavor
シズメダマ (shizumedama) Japanese name for balm
The main characters Rei and Akari are called irida in Japanese with the ending さん(SAN).
The Japanese name for irida is カイ(kai). irida is always called カイさん(kai-san).
Irida in Japanese, the names of the main characters Rei and Akari always end in さん(SAN).
Rei's name in Japanese is テル(teru). Rei will be called テルさん(teru-san).
Akari's name in Japanese is ショウ(Shou). Akari will be called ショウさん(shou-san).
さん(san) means Mr. , Ms. , Mrs. or Miss and can be used with both first and last names , suffix which shows respect
This word is used to refer to the names of people who are not close to each other. This word is quite formal, such as a boss calling his subordinates. Or when they first met and they weren't close yet, etc. Normally, Japanese people call each other by their last names. The last name comes before the first name. But in the same company, there are many people with the same last name. Sometimes you have to call them by their first name or position or department. So that we will understand that it is the same person who is talking about this.
summarize
さん(san) = used to refer to someone who is older than you. , people who are not close friends, people who just met It's an official word.
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オレにするよな (ore ni suru yo na)
Choose me, right.
adaman uses the pronoun to refer to himself. オレ(ore) means "I" in Japanese. Mostly used by men in place of themselves (very impolite, used only with close friends). But it's a word that Japanese male teenagers like to use with their friends.)
あんたが吹いている (anta ga fuite iru)
カミナギのふえをゆずったのは誰だ? (kaminagi no fue o yuzutta no wa dareda?)
目の前にいる色男だぜ (me no mae ni iru iro otoko da ze)
Who was the first person to give you that Celestica Flute to play?
It's the handsome young man in front of you.
**There's not much difference between adaman's Japanese and English dialogue**
カミナギのふえ (kaminagi no fue) Japanese name for Celestica flute.
adaman calls the main character あんた(anta), meaning you (it's an informal word and should be used with people who are close to each other) Abbreviated from the word あなた(anata) meaning you (it's a formal word In general, you call people not close to. or people who don't know each other if necessary)
The main characters Rei and Akari are called adaman with the ending さん(SAN) in Japanese.
The name adaman in Japanese is セキ(seki). adaman is always called セキさん(seki-san).
adaman in Japanese, only the name of the main character is called without the ending.
Rei's name in Japanese is テル(teru). Rei will be called テル(teru).
Akari's name in Japanese is ショウ(shou). Akari will be called ショウ(shou).
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English uses strapping young man.
Japanese uses 色男(iro otoko).
The word "handsome" or "cool" is often used using the word いい男 (ii otoko), which has a rather broad meaning, meaning it can be both a handsome man, good looks, good taste, and may include social status such as a good family background and a good career. or have wealth, etc.
But adaman uses 色男(iro otoko), which is a synonym. It means the handsomeness, sexiness, charm that exists directly in that man. which comes from kabuki drama (Ancient dramas in which all actors are performed by men) are 二枚目(nimaime) , 色男 (iro otoko) , 男前 (otokomae)
**But I will only explain the word 色男 (iro otoko).**
色男 (iro otoko) handsome young man, fragrant young man, sexy guy
色男 (iro otoko) refers to a man who is handsome, good-looking, charming, sexy, and "flirtatious."
The word 色 (iro) in Japanese Often used to refer to the relationship between men and women. Or an affair, so if you talk about 色男(iro otoko) , it usually has the meaning of being a flirtatious man, a lascivious man.
summarize
色男 (iro otoko) = handsome, good-looking, charming, sexy, a charming man who is very attractive to women.
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seki-san is iro otoko.
I like that adaman knows himself to be a handsome, sexy guy.
(But he's really a handsome young man, so hot because he's an attractive person for both men and women.)
**He is a handsome, charming and sexy guy.**
**He's not a flirt. Don't misunderstand!!!!**
Who game developer came up with this role for adaman, I love it, dammit. 💯💯💯💯💯 💯💯💯💯💯
Can it be considered information? I don't know. But what I do know is that it's my personal preference. 😂😂😂
I wrote quite a long one. I hope you're not bored with me first. If I provide incomplete information or provide incorrect information you can tell me! or you can exchange ideas with me.
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adobe-outdesign · 6 months
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Wait, you haven’t done a review of regular pikachu? Will you?
Have you reviewed raichu?
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(Ironically I have literally reviewed every part of the Pikachu line except for Pikachu itself. Review links: Pichu, Raichu, Alolan Raichu, Pichu and Pikachu forms)
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Pikachu is such an iconic design that it's actually hard to approach it from a normal standpoint, given how heavily ingrained it is in both Pokemon as a brand and modern culture. I'm more of a Raichu person myself, but Pikachu is obviously a pretty great 'mon on its own.
Originally, the creators actually intended Clefairy to be the mascot, but I think they made the right choice in going with Pikachu instead. What makes Pikachu work is that it has simple but very clear visuals—those red cheeks and black-tipped ears pop instantly, to the point where only its head can be used as an icon and it will be recognizable. Clefairy doesn't really have a single visual element like that. Pikachu also manages to be cute but not to the point wherein you can't see this thing battling, which is an important balance that i don't think Clefairy achieves as much.
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In terms of said visuals, the lightning-bolt tail helps communicate the typing immediately and is a fun twist on a squirrel's tail (and yes, Pikachu is partially based off a squirrel, as confirmed by its designer Atsuko Nishida.) Likewise, the red cheek pouches pop instantly and play off of the idea of rodents storing food in their cheeks by having it store electricity instead. The brown stripes on its back help to fill the space in the backsprite and keep it from being too plain, and the little :3 face is always a winner as well.
Obviously I wouldn't actually change anything about the design, but if I were to be hyper nitpicky the way I usually am, the brown gradient at the base of the tail might've made more sense as a black tip, to match the ears. (Ironically, apparently a lot of people actually do misremember it being like this, though I'm not one of them). You could even make the brown back stripes black for contrast. But yeah, overall, very effective design even if it wasn't the face of the franchise.
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And no Pikachu review would be complete without talking about the OG fat Pikachu design. Originally Pikachu was supposed to be more of a mochi pastry than a rodent, and some of that roundness was retained in Pikachu's early designs. Over the years, it was slimmed down to make it easier to animate. (It also had a white underbelly, though I actually like dropping this, as it gives more of a sense of progression to Raichu.)
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While I do love the original design, I do think slimming it down a bit doesn't hurt anything, and making the tail shorter and wider makes it stand out more. I think sometimes it can get too slim in modern media, but the official art shown above feels like a good weight.
Thankfully, we get to have our cake and eat it too, as Pikachu's g-max design is a throwback to the original sprite. This is both a clever concept and feels appropriate for the g-max theme of "thing, but really big". There are a few obvious changes—most notably the tail, which has been lengthened far beyond what it originally was and is now all-white with a yellow outline, to look more lightning-y. It also has an extra stripe and bigger cheeks to better balance the space.
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I'm not sure making the tail white adds all that much, but making it longer makes it so the g-max clouds can swirl around it like a storm, and I think that's pretty neat.
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So overall, iconic Pokemon that deserves its status as series mascot. Don't think I need to say any more.
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omg-a-wild-td-fan · 11 months
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Total Drama Island 2023 Headcanons (Mall Jobs)
Priya is employee of the month every single month at her job, though she switches jobs practically every single month. She’s stellar at her job, whatever it may be, but gets bored doing the same tasks for too long. Especially if she believers there is opportunity for more growth or more challenges at a different job. Her most recent job is working at the Laser Tag Arena and Arcade in the mall, which allows her to both earn money and spend her breaks playing the best laser tag games imaginable. Sometimes she works multiple jobs at once, and can be seen in the Game Stop, the Cinnabon, and the H&M all in the same day.
Millie has an internship at the mall bookstore. They do not offer internships, but she gave a long, drawn-out explanation about why this generation needs to learn the value of working for experience instead of money, and the manager got bored enough to just agree. Instead of working, Millie lurks around the bookstore and judges her peers’ taste in books. 
Ripper has applied at every store in the mall at least once, and has been fired from at least half of the jobs he has tried (the other half he quit about a week in). His longest stints have been at the Game Stop (he got fired for yelling at a five year old girl- accusing her of being a ‘fake fan’ of Pokemon), the Hello Kitty Store (he quit after Chase saw him working the cash register), and the Spencer’s where he is currently on his last warning. If he makes one more dick joke to a customer who’s gone to browse in the back of the store, he’s officially going to be fired.
Damien works with Millie at the bookstore, but he actually gets paid. He keeps his head down at work, trying to avoid the drama that often erupts when a customer gets annoyed that Millie is following them around. He is just there to make money for college. 
Axel only visits the mall to hang out with Nichelle, she gets bored at every store in the place aside from the small hole in the wall shop that sells pocket knives amongst their usual stock of anime figurines and Funko Pops. She does have a notable love for the Cinnabon stall in the food court though.
Chase works at one of the kiosks in the mall that sells sunglasses and shittily made custom printed shirts. Any woman who walks past the kiosk becomes his newest temporary crush, and he constantly stops by Urban Outfitter’s to try to hit on Emma. He makes decent money from his job but is always somehow broke, primarily because he wastes every paycheck on overpriced clothing from the nearby shops that sell Supreme and Gucci merchandise.
Zee actually works nights at the McDonald’s down the street, but visits the mall during the day to hang around the food court with Emma. Occasionally, they’ll help out around the Urban Outfitters and Bowie will pay them in cash, soda, and weed. They also often skip work to hang out with Emma and generally loiter anywhere the vibes are chill enough. 
Scary Girl works at Hot Topic and has about an equal rate of getting customers to spend insane amounts of money versus scaring any customer away by being generally terrifying. She briefly worked at Claires but was fired after using the piercing gun inappropriately. She is not allowed within twenty feet of the Hello Kitty Store.
Caleb applied to work at the Game Stop but was rejected in part because he was considered to not adequately fit their atmosphere, so he instead ended up with a job at the local Abercrombie & Fitch- much to his chagrin. 90% of his job is to simply stand at the cash register by the door and look attractive to entice people in, he only stays at the job because they pay decently. When not at his job he’s browsing the titles at the Game Stop or running to get the high score at every game in the Arcade.
Nichelle got a job at the Hot Dog on a Stick to method act for an upcoming role. She’s trying her best to actually do the job, but all her star-struck co-workers refuse to let her lift a finger. She is incredibly grateful for the few customers that don’t recognize her, because she feels like she is able to live like a normal teenager for those brief moments. 
Julia has applied at the Urban Outfitters hundreds of times, but has been rejected more times than she can count, so she works at Forever 21 instead. She’s nice to her customers’ faces to maximize her commission, but talks shit about them to all of her coworkers once they’re out of earshot. She also talks shit about all of her coworkers to any customer that will listen. 
Bowie is the manager at the Urban Outfitters. He knows all the employee beef and makes sure to draft the schedule in a way that will maximize the amount of drama he gets to witness. He’s a chill, yet stern boss, and he takes his responsibilities very seriously. He only ever calls out once, after a crazy night with Raj, Wayne, Emma, and Nichelle. 
Wayne works at the Sports Authority, and is actually an amazing worker. He’s friendly, helpful, and a great team player. The only downside is that he is such a good team player and so aggressively helpful and kind, that he’s driven sales in the store to a screeching halt. If a customer shows up asking for hockey gear, Wayne immediately pulls out every promo code and coupon available to help them buy everything they need. While very nice and well-liked by the customers, Wayne is one more ‘Unofficial Surprise Free Giveaway’ from being fired. 
Raj works at the Dick’s Sporting Goods across the way from the Sports Authority, and he and Wayne have a friendly competition trying to get customers to come into their stores. However, Raj keeps getting distracted by Bowie coming to visit and keeps getting in trouble for giving him free stuff- his worst offense being when he gave Bowie about $300 worth of clothing because Bowie offhandedly said one of the on-sale jerseys was cute. 
Emma works at Urban Outfitters. She was originally rejected for not being “cool” enough, but Bowie pulled some strings to get her the job. Her sweet and bubbly personality makes her very popular among the customers, who often come in just to talk with her and Bowie. Unfortunately, Chase’s kiosk is in sight of the entrance of the store, and she has to take a break to calm down in the back everytime he catches her eye to wink at her. 
MK works at a tech kiosk that fixes phones and sells phone cases and other accessories. She views this job as beneath her because it’s super easy. She hangs out in the food court during her lunch break to pickpocket and sometimes goes to Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters to steal. Anytime Bowie catches her, he rolls his eyes and warns her not to do it again, and anytime Julia catches her, she threatens her life.
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prof-peach · 11 months
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How does a typical choosing event happen when a new trainer comes to Peach for their first Pokemon? Can someone adopt one of her rescue pokemon?
The island offers its sevices MOSTLY to older trainers, handing pokemon to kids has never really been the islands MO. It's not off the table, but also not the point of the facility, as many other more easily accessible locations cater to children. Most pokemon on Dotaku have pre-existing conditions, injuries, or behavioural ticks that need adjusting to, not all of course, but a good majority, so handing them to kids just isnt always so viable.
The island has two adoption days each month, scheduled where pokemon looking for a partner can dress up, staff usually get the resident groomers to give everyone a once over, and humans looking for mons are encouraged to come along for the day and take a peak. It is not very formal, a lot of games and events, food vendors and the likes. Staff work overtime to make sure people know about each pokemon, any really special or difficult mons will stick with one of the professors, and they'll explain their needs or personlaity type to interested parties. If nothing else its a very fun day out, where you get to meet a bunch of pokemon!
It's not a case of picking one out and being done with it, some pokemon require home visits before being OK'd for adoption, to make sure you have the right space and items in place to make for a good home. Other smaller pokemon can be adopted on the day, proven that you show a base level of knowledge for caring for living things. These tests are carried out by staff, be it a field worker, lab assistant, or a professor, and if you pass, you pay a small adoption fee, sign some papers, and the process is began. If you fail, you are given the option to reserve the pokemon, so no one else can come and adopt them, and return to take the test again once you are better prepared. This is usually only aplicable for up to a month. It gives people time to get ready for a new friend in their lives too.
Classes are offered to those looking to improve their level of care, and staff insist on these classes with some cases, especially children. in the case of a child finding a partner, we ask that parents come and discuss with us the quality of care that can be provided at home. Without an adult guardian, no child under the age of 16 can adopt from us, to spare pokemon any inadequate living conditions.
There is one golden rule that does dictate a lot of decisons made: Is the pokemon going to be happy?
If a pokemon does not like you, does not want to be adopted by you, is nervous about you, or shows any hesitation, their needs will come above and beyond that of the humans. We have no issue refusing an adoption based on a pokemons opinion, but people are welcomed to return, and try to form a stronger bond with an individual who is open to it.
Should you find a good match, pass our tests, and have adequate resources to care for a pokemon, then with some paperowork, youre free to leave with your buddy. Follow up visits will occur several times within the year to check see that each pokemon adopted out is happy and well cared for. You become an official member of the Dotaku labs clientel, can call for support, bring in any buddies for check ups, and our services are available to you should any illness or issue arise.
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cupcakedex · 9 months
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The Osaka Pokemon Center DX Cafe will feature an exclusive menu item, Meowth’s Shrimp and Avocado Chirashi Rice!
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queerdraws · 5 months
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⚔️👒 Zolu Playlist 👒⚔️
28 songs Full tracklist, selected lyrics, n writeup below cut
(Contains: The Happy Fits, PUFFY, Illuminati Hotties, Paramore, The Shins, The Orion Experience, Best Coast, Utada Hikaru, etc) (+a couple songs absorbed from ao's zolu playlist)
1. The Shins - Simple Song Mixed POV, Zoro being recruited by Luffy. ... You sure must be strong And you feel like an ocean being warmed by the Sun // My life in an upturned boat Marooned on a cliff You brought me a great big flood And you gave me a lift // I know that things can really get rough When you go it alone Don't go thinking you gotta be tough To bleed like a stone Could be there's nothing else in our lives so critical As this little hole?
2. Slow Pulp - Cramps Zoro POV, vibing with being a pirate, actually. realizing he's a lot like Luffy / they have a lot in common. Wants to protect his crew. Part of a family now. But also specifically drawn to Luffy, drawn along with Luffy. Has a nice confident, grungy, fighty vibe. ... Be a better lover, I know that I'm a runner Oh no, I think I've become her There's nothing better than being the protector Out of a routine, the only one I've ever seen I wanna be a foolproof machine There's nothing better, wanna be like Heather I'll take anything That you wanna give But I want everything Everything
3. PUFFY - Friends Forever Mixed POV, perfectly in sync. friends forever. big adventuring vibe. facing the world together. slight nod to whiskey peak. sidenote: it's really annoying to find this song on youtube without scooby doo noises playing over it (official music videos my beloathed...) the "pokemon and their trainers" (...gijinkas) video is the best one for my region at least. ... Just when I thought I had to make it alone You were right there by my side Making a stand holding my hand the way you do There to remind me of a "me and you" When I'm with you all my fear disappears Like if I reach, I touch the sky You've got my back, pick up my slack when I can't see But nothing picks me up like knowing we'll be Friends forever Face whatever Friends forever Yay! we're never gonna be apart You and me, we are so oddly the same The way we think, the way we play Right from the start, so off the charts, about this thing But we didn't know at first that we were making Friends forever Bound together Friends forever Yeah! We'll always be there Oh yes, there also can be times that get rough And all that can be said is "sorry" That we were wrong and said some meaningless stuff And we'll go on together, through any nasty weather Yeah
4. Illuminati Hotties - Sandwich Sharer Luffy POV - flippant & happy vibe. but also visceral, grungy, fighty. kissing. sharing food. "you thought i was bleeding but that's just my spit!!". ... Restarted kissing You said "I'm dreaming" I couldn't stop from laughing Cause it's the realest thing I ever did Taking our clothes off Painting on rooftops Sit back on shingles in the shade, I bare my teeth at future fake outs we had coming Drooling tomato sauce, to make it look legit You thought i was bleeding but that's just my spit Sandwich sharer Unprepared for What comes after this Take the big half I will bite back What you won't finish Until we're finished
5. The Happy Fits - Sailing Zoro POV oops catching feelings for a friend ... My body's achin' My ship's left the shore Your eyes are waiting My knees on the floor And it's been so long Since I had a friend And it's been so long Why can't we just pretend? And I feel your laughter Your warm, open stare And I'm chasing after Somethin' that isn't there
6. The Pillow Queens - Favourite idk just vibes "tell me i'm your favorite" + "i'm being so normal" ... i’ve got no reason to be feeling like you’re mine for the next four seasons let it die, let it die i can’t help hoping that you think i’m really nice want some brief hand holding on the sly, on the sly hey you can say it, i’m your favourite hey you can say it, i’m your favourite
7. The Beths - Warm Blood Luffy POV - Zoro is warm and good feelings. Not "you make me feel protected", but "you are a raincoat". Feels very Luffy. "you really get me" ... Nothing makes me feel like this Nothing makes me feel like this Nothing but you Nothing but you My head is hanging from the roof I'm floating all about the room Because of you Because of you I wanna bask in the rays of the way I feel right now (Ooh oooh) I wanna bask in the rays of the way I feel right now (Ooh warming up my blood) You are a raincoat, you are a zeppelin flight You are a bonfire burning a three dog night You are an isle of calm on a stormy sea You really get, you really get You really get me I wanna be here when you call Pick up the phone and I would fall in love with you In love with you
8. MONKEY MAJIK - Around the World Mixed POV. During timeskip. Counting down the days until we can see eachother again. We'll change the world, make it better, we're training to make that happen. sidenote: the mixed eng/jpn version of this song is my favorite and the one i'm referring to here ... Every night I look to the skies And wonder what we did Always a naive point of view that breaks us in the end If I could find the meaning of it all I’d take the chance Maybe in time We’ll walk the mile and change it if we can It’s now and always (How did we get this far,did we get this far now) Always (We’re making a brand new start, just a brand new start now) Always (Nothing will hold me down, never hold me down now) Always (Wave goodbye to me!) Around the world 新しいことに(with the power to) Around the world 踏み出す力で(step forward to something new) Around the world 世界は変わる(I'll change the world) But don’t run away ’cause if it’s not OK! I’ll change that world Into something better honey!
9. Natalie Holmes - Hideout Zoro POV, Luffy brings light to all those around him, reawakens ppls dreams and leads his crew in to a beautiful inspiring new life :') ... Under the stars, out in the elements If there's no room, there are no elephants When you speak the waves are radiant You've got a face that softens every muscle in my body I’ve never needed all these things to feel whole Something familiar in the love that you provide (And now) I’ve got an empty hideout cause I don't need to hide now The wind can blow out the candle, cause I'm certain I can't fall You've got a face that softens All of the glass I’ve trodden Now I’ve got an empty hideout I don’t need to hide now I don’t need to Something in your love makes everything light up We don’t say a word although we want to Your heart was on the line now suddenly it’s mine There’s something in your love Something in your love Something in your love, in you love
10. Daft Punk - Digital Love just vibes. dreaming. dancing together. having fun. ... Last night I had a dream about you In this dream I'm dancing right beside you And it looked like everyone was having fun The kind of feeling I've waited so long Don't stop, come a little closer As we jam the rhythm gets stronger There's nothing wrong with just a little little fun We were dancing all night long The time is right to put my arms around you You're feeling right, you wrap your arms around too But suddenly I feel the shining sun Before I knew it this dream was all gone Ooh, I don't know what to do About this dream and you I wish this dream comes true Ooh, I don't know what to do About this dream and you We'll make this dream come true Why don't you play the game? Why don't you play the game?
11. Mitski - Stay Soft Mostly just like the bridge "open up your heart like the gates of helllll". But feels more like Zoro POV (thirsty). And touches a little the communication issues these two have ... Fury, pure and silver You grip it tight inside Like a knife, it glints in your eye It's why I've arrived, your sex god Here to take you where You need to go, to where the dark remembers you Open up your heart Like the gates of Hell // I am facedown on my bed Still not quite awake yet Thinking of you, I tuck my hand under my weight Just tell me what you want to do Tell me what you want to burn away 'Cause I could be your stoker
12. Air Traffic Controller - You Know Me Mixed POV. You know me! Perfectly in tune. ... You know me You know everything about me now My heart is in your hands, and you know you could break it But wouldn't you rather make me sing like this? You know me I try to find some good in everything Since you came along, somehow this got easy 'Cause all you wanna do is please me, my love This could be a roller coaster But we're gonna make the most of it Whether on top, or we're going down, you know me You know me (I know you) And how I get when I'm uncomfortable If I'm too hot, or cold Tired, bored, or hungry I'm fine when you're around me, boy And you know me I've never been on time for anything I do apologize, I know it's such a bother I promise to try harder for you, girl, oh I will
13. The Orion Experience - Honeysuckle Kisses Luffy POV. Desires filed away in a very Luffy way "All I want is all my wishes, and I've love to have your honeysuckle kisses". Romance as an afterthought to the great big adventure. ... They say we're crazy, completely insane I don't give a damn, I think we're fascinating We keep it moving and riding this train They can stop and stare But I don't care Oh, they just can't see who we are You and I, yeah We belong to the stars No matter how they try They won't tear us apart All I want is all my wishes And I'd love to have your honeysuckle kisses All I need to fulfill my bliss is Is your honeysuckle, honeysuckle kisses That's what I want
14. The Happy Fits - Around and Around Zoro POV, Pre-relationship, unsure about what's happening due to poor communication. Things are coming to a boiling point. And also "I could see the world with you" - be by your side forever, go on adventures. Do you want that? Do I? Will you have me? ... I don't know what I'm seeing, when the world keeps spinning around my eyes I think I lost my meaning Just another day to survive And I can't keep thinking about it, keep thinking about it Can't be still anymore No, there's nothing so simple about it, nothing simple about it Can't be still anymore I can't be still anymore I can't be still anymore I'll go 'round and around Go 'round and around with you No, don't slow me down No, don't slow me down, will you? And I could see the world with you And I could see the world with you
15. Paramore - Proof Mixed POV, during timeskip. They're apart. Missing eachother. Believe in you, ride or die. So strong! They'll meet up again, even stronger than before. ... It's really hard I can't cry in your arms 'cause you're not here It's not your fault, and if it was, I wouldn't care My heart is bigger than the distance in between us I know it 'cause I feel it beating So strong, it'll knock you down So strong, so strong Over here I can count the miles away from where I wanna be I bet your skin is warm and that you're smiling Yeah, that's what I always loved the most about you So strong, come and knock me down Hey! Baby, if I'm half the man I say I am If I'm a woman with no fear just like I claim I am Then I'll believe in what you say There's nothing left for you to do The only proof that I need is you
16. Utada Hikaru - Chikai (aka zolu "wedding" song. Primarily Zoro POV, making oaths, matching rings, liking someone so much it makes you feel uncool, waaaaaaauughhhhghgh😭) ... I don’t know about fate But this time I have to accept that it exists // Today is a day without lies It's a perfect day for making an eternal vow Don't need pretty flowers or witnesses Let’s wear rings of the same color // What I say now isn't borrowed words It’s not a promise, it’s an oath I can’t go back to being a liar Let’s wear rings the color of the morning sun Let’s dance with our hearts pounding Let’s celebrate being alive in this moment // Kiss me once, kiss me twice Give yourself to me Let’s listen to sound of the sun rising, side by side Let’s swear to live our lives together
17. Best Coast - When I'm with You Mixed POV ... The world is lazy But you and me We're just crazy So, when I'm with you, I have fun Yeah, when I'm with you, I have fun // I hate sleeping alone
18. Gerard Way - No Shows Pre-relationship. Not wanting to be tied down, but also being drawn in to it anyway, idk. ... Been weeks I been living And your smiles are giving me All types of treble Weak knees I been given And those nights are making me Star-struck and metal Stay free, don't go 'Cause we don't need no Try to be living as your vice And can you be my type? 'Cause we need to be given a good life And can I be your type of metal? Stay free, don't go 'Cause we don't need no shows
19. VUKOVI - Colour Me In Mixed POV - Follow you anywhere, die for you, we're one together (you're mine you're mine you're mine!) ... All I am And even more I'll give it to you Couldn't count All the ways That I'd die for you We are one We are whole And I'll go with you Breathing out, breathing in And I loved you again // Where you go, oh, I'll follow Through our bodies in the dark We want it and it's perfect With you in my arms Where you go, oh, I'll follow Through our bodies in the dark You're mine You're mine You're mine Mine
20. Opus Orange - It's What I Do Mixed POV - just vibes. I feel like it describes them but can't explain it ... every time you look for me you know i think i might disappear every time i look for you i know the bright lights interfere ‘cause i’m not the kind that’s so easy to find when you’re looking for me you’re not the kind with the salt water eyes at the bottom of the sea so take my hand we are the blind leading the blind no i don’t have a plan so let’s go where the sea meets the sky now we're gonna float away everything i want to say to you gets washed away downstream everything i want to give to you is a shade of blue or green i’m not the kind to draw straight lines in the desert sand you’re not the kind with peace of mind and a gun in your hand
21. Illuminati Hotties - Toasting Primarily Luffy POV. Just vibes. Short and sweet, flippant and reckless. They cause descruction and just laugh it off, and move on. ... Toasting a Pop-Tart And thinking of you There's a lot I'd rather do Instead I'm biting my lip And I'm biting yours too 'Til the blood tastes like chocolate goo Our bodies Are twirling The kitchen is burning When we both choke down the ashes You mention you're bored I guess I could've toasted more
22. The Happy Fits - Sweet Things Mixed POV after the end of their journey, pirate king and worlds greatests swordsman continue sailing together forever ... So tell me three things, three words that you know about me I'll say, I'll say "won't you come with me, baby?" Nothing lasts forever It's only now or never Tell me sweet things, sweet things that you know about me I'll say, I'll say "won't you bury me, baby? Underneath our loving forever" Don't you take me, take me all the way and then erase me I could be the one if you stay here Underneath our loving forever So take me home Well you say that nothing matters Well you said that nothing mattered except when I'm here with you Does it feel right? (Does it feel right?)
23. The Black Keys - Go Narrator POV - The two boys growing old sailing together ... There comes a time, two hearts of gold Leave together, run forever on the open road They gotta go oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh They gotta go oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh In the winter time, when the day is long You're halfway there, the field is bare And the fire is gone Are you all alone? Are you feeling cold? Find your flame, call her name, and hit the road
24. PUFFY - Love so Pure Mixed POV - love so sure. two people perfectly suited for eachother from the start. mutual trust. soulmates. :) ... I was his from the momentthe we first met From our solo to duet, it took no time Call it fate Or just two hearts magnetized But I never felt so high Since he's been all mine We've got a love so pure, yes a love so sure The kind of love you hold so tight We've got a love so pure, yes a Love so sure The kind of love that lasts a girl for life! With a kiss I can't resist on turn away All I want is him to stay, it's paradise With out a word Nothing heard me say so much With a look or silent touch I know we'll bе all right
25. Tegan and Sara - BWU Mixed POV - don't need to follow conventions to prove their love. ... I love you I don't need a ring to Prove that you're worthy You're under my skin It's easy I don't need a lock to Prove that you trust me I walk the walk To be with you Just to be with you Oh, to be with you Just to be with you Save your first and last dance for me I don't need a white wedding Save your first and last born for me We don't need a white wedding All the girls I loved before Told me they signed up for more Save your first and last chance for me 'Cause I don't want a white wedding
26. IRONTOM - Partners Just what it says on the tin. They're partners. lol ... Partners, we're partners We're partners, we're partners
27. Ashley Eriksson - Arguably Mixed POV - idk, vibes ... Sometimes I wish I was talkin' to you 'Cause you know everybody that I do You would hear my story, and you would agree We are always right on, you and me And you can always count on my company On and on and on, endlessly We're all loving creatures of the same decree But we've got one up on them don't we? Don't we? Arguably, don't we?
28. Animal Collective - The Purple Bottle Luffy POV. Frantic. Explosive big feelings. Can't stop talking --about Zoro to other people, and to Zoro about anything (sometimes i'm talkitive and you're not talkitive, I know...). And idk, the vibes. "purple" as a metaphor for sensuality, feels playful and lovely. But the end of this song really drags on so it's at the end of the playlist lol. ... I've gotta big big big heart beat, yeah! I think you are the sweetest thing I wear a coat of feelings and they are loud I've been having good days Think we are the right age to start our own peculiar ways? With good friendly homes // Sometimes you're quiet and sometimes I'm quiet, (Hallelujah!) Sometimes I'm talkative and sometimes you're not talkative, I know // And my dear dear dear Khalana I talk too much about you Their ears are getting tired of me singing all the night through Lets just talk together You and me and me and you And if there's nothing much to say Well, silence is a bore. // Can I tell you that you are the purple in me? Can I call you just to hear you would you care? When I saw you put your purple finger on me There's a feeling in your bottle Found your bottle, found your heart Gives a feeling from your bottled little part
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Aaaand that's all of it! Thanks for reading :)
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pokemoncenter · 7 months
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An OOC game I've been thinking about lately for the Pokemon IRL community:
Obviously, if a site like Tumblr exists ICly, it is not solely populated by the character blogs. Other Tumblrs must exist- Ones that post food reecipes, ones that post various pet or Pokemon pictures, game promotion ones, official company branding ones, etc.
What sort of blogs that don't exist OOC do your characters ICly follow? What sort of reblogs would be there on your Tumblr if there was a full, populated website of Tumblr in this world?
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uncle-dusknoir · 6 months
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I'M HOLDING A HALLOWEEN PARTY
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i haven't been to any halloween thing in a long time so i thought i'd give it a shot.
uuuuh. made a gliscord server for it so people can text at each other during it too. so we have that. here
it'll be fun! i hope. i havent hosted a party before. it starts at 6 pm and goes until everyone leaves
Updated the link so it should last 7 days starting Oct 30th
OOC rules!
Most of Basil's rules are bendable, but some I am gonna enforce OOC as well. I'll go over them in order here with extra information!
It looks long, I promise it's a lot of silly stuff. Please read it, still, but I'm not gonna be glaring at everything you do. MOST important still is in red.
Please tag all posts for this event with the official tag: #basils bhalloween bash. The B in bhalloween is important.
Please be normal: The server/event is open to both kids and adults, though Basil isn't exactly fond of the idea of children coming. Nothing overtly NSFW, please!
Younger characters do not have to stay outside, nor do appropriately sized Pokemon. However, they must stay out of the wine.
Please don't do anything that dramatically changes the party- IE, destroying Basil's house- without permission. Best place to ask that is the Discord server linked above.
Skorna is free game to harass. She will be vaguley annoying during the party.
If you do bring any food/drinks, be sure to post about it! I'll make a potluck channel in the discord as well.
(Speaking of the discord, if you're in it, it'd be cool if you could add your posts about the event to the server's blog feed channel!)
basil will be annoying about nov 1st being her birthday. just warning you
Please don't actually harm any of Basil's Pokemon! Skorna and Thyme you can harass but nothing long-term. Pranks and goofs are fine.
Basil is allergic to fairy types. Fairy HYBRIDS are fine as long as they don't, like... shed. Or use any Fairy moves around her. though it would be a little funny
Keep the event low/drama stakes, please!
I don't want to fully ban legendaries, but I am VERY selective about which ones can come. Like- Hoopa is chill, but Kyogre isn't. Legendaries that stay in human disguises are cool, as well.
If there's anyone in attendance that would prefer not to interact with certain sapient Pokemon/Legendaries, please respect that! If you're one of those people, please be polite about it!
Let me know if you try and snoop around Basil's house. That's weird though lmao
The vote will be between Addams, halloween music, and horror movies :)
As for event date: Most posts should go up/be queued for Halloween itself! Feel free to do pre-RP and stuff like that- I'll have channels set up in the server for that as well.
That should be everything! Thank you :>
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teshamerkel · 9 months
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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Seekers of Soul
[Chapter 51]
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AO3 Link
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Tobias and Nia lead the crew of the Aqua Jet through the dungeon, fighting their way back home.
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With the group's formation for the dungeon officially decided, they quickly fall into a rhythm.
Each time they reach a patch of land the riders separate from the swimmers and line up as instructed. When they reach the next patch of water, they regroup. Tobias keeps a sharp eye out for ferals and directs them the best he can, and Nia follows suit from the back of the party, making sure they don’t get attacked from behind again. Tobias trusts Beck, Nori, and Cordelia to keep an eye out underwater for anything that might be lurking there.
Tobias is just glad that he knows dragon rage, because he’s certainly getting a lot of use out of it. The move wears him out quicker than everything else in his arsenal, but it’s powerful and—most importantly—effective against the many water types they come across.  
Considering how quickly everything could’ve gone sideways from the start, Tobias thinks it’s actually going pretty smoothly.
It would be going a lot smoother if Cordelia didn’t insist on attacking every feral they see and dragging the entire group into a fight. Tobias glares at the croconaw the first time she does it. The second time, he hisses for her to leave the ferals alone. After the third fight Cordelia starts for no reason, Tobias shoves past half their group to poke a finger into the croconaw’s chest.
“Would you stop attacking?!”
Cordelia crosses her arms. “This is dangerous territory—you said yourself that we need to keep moving to avoid getting ambushed. We should try to get the jump on them when we can.”
“They don’t need jumped! We need to avoid fights when we can!”
Cordelia doesn’t respond, but the set of her thick jaw and her narrowed eyes speak to how stupid she finds his argument.
Tobias throws up his arms. “Look—with a group this big, and an unknown dungeon? It’s idiotic to attack every ‘mon we see. We need to conserve energy.”
Cordelia growls. “If we don’t attack then they will. I could see that quagsire scheming!“
“He was asleep.”
“That’s what he wanted you to think!”
“Okay, okay, break it up,” Beck cuts in, physically stepping between them. He manages to look calm despite the tension in the air. “Delia? One stubborn ‘mon to another—listen to Tobias. He’s more experienced with navigating mystery dungeons. There’s no reason to go rarin’ for a fight if we don’t need to.”
Tobias shoots Cordelia a smug look under Beck’s arm. She wrinkles her snout.
“Y’know,” Nia cuts in. “I’m sure it’s not helping that we haven’t eaten. Why don’t we make a stop by the next set of stairs for a break?”
“All our food’s on the ship,” Ignatius grumbles.
“We have a few apples packed in our bag,” Tobias sighs. “We’ll have to make do with those.”
When they finally reach the next set of stairs, they make sure the room is clear of ferals before settling down by the exit for a quick getaway to the next floor.
They only have three apples packed to split between the eight of them, but Cordelia slices them into halves with her claws. Tobias gives her a look.
“I don’t need one, and the sableye doesn’t eat fruit. Right?”
The sableye jumps as everyone looks to him, then nods. “I-I’m not hungry anyways.”
Nia gives Cordelia a worried frown. “But won’t you get hungry? You need to keep your strength up.”
“She’s right, y’know,” Ignatius huffs, a cloud of smoke following the breath. “Stubborn girl.”
Cordelia pointedly ignores the torkoal and gets up with a grunt to patrol the hallways leading out of the room. Tobias is about to follow her and stuff his apple half down the stupid captain’s throat when Beck yanks him back down.
“What—“
“Save your breath. Not the first time Delia’s decided to be a martyr for the crew. If we haven’t been able to change her mind, you definitely won’t.”
Tobias wants to argue, but he glances at Cas and Nori, and even they have bitten into their apples with resigned expressions.
“That’s stupid,” Tobias growls, sitting down. He scorches his apple slice with a quick burst of fire before biting into the warmed fruit.
Beck shrugs. “Maybe. But she’s our captain for a reason. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
The apple makes the fatigue lapping at Tobias’ heels a bit less noticeable. They wrap up the snack quickly and move on to the next floor as soon as everyone is finished.
The next three floors are uneventful. Their formation works well for defending the group, and Tobias is grateful that only about half the ferals they run into are water types. His dragon rage is getting a lot more use and he feels himself draining quicker than usual, but he tries to keep moving forward at a steady pace.
They’re crossing another patch of grassy land when Tobias suddenly feels the ground underfoot shift with a distinct click. He looks down, panicked, at the faint square outline of a trap hidden beneath the grass.
Then the world spins and Tobias stumbles as he finds himself at the edge of a waterway notably different from his previous location. Beck, Ignatius, and little Cas stagger into being around him.
The back half of their group is nowhere to be seen.
“Great,” Tobias hisses.
“D-Delia?” Cas squeaks, looking around. He trips closer to Beck, looking up at the floatzel with wide eyes. “Where’d everyone else go?”
Beck looks to Tobias, brow furrowed.
Tobias sighs. “Probably a warp panel. There must be a psychic type on this floor who set it as a trap.”
“So the others..?”
“Should still be on this floor. We’ll just have to find them before moving on.”
Ignatius grumbles about his aching feet. Beck wordlessly scoops the torkoal up to carry him. Cas glues himself to the floatzel’s side.
Tobias nods, then turns to head down the grassy corridor, glad at least that they weren’t dropped into water this time. This is an annoying setback, but as long as they can reunite and keep moving, it’s nothing more.
Beck does a decent job warding off any ferals that approach from behind in Nia's absence, holding his own until Tobias can rush back to fling an ember or slash and take them out.
When they reach the next stretch of water, Beck ferries all three of them across with only a little strain. As soon as they touch shore Tobias hears something familiar.
Voices. The rustle of footsteps through grass, quiet but not as silent as most ferals tend to tread.
Tobias runs, following the noise down the hall, turning a corner and—
“Tobias!” Nia yelps, barely sidestepping him before they collide.
“Nia!” Tobias breathes, eyes flicking over her form before moving over her shoulder. He’s relieved to see her unhurt, but... “What happened to Cordelia and the sableye?”
Only Nori stands behind Nia, the golduck giving him a silent nod. Cas makes an excited chirp and runs to hug her leg.
“Cordelia ran off as soon as she noticed Cas warped somewhere else,” Nia says, giving Beck and Ignatius a strained smile over Tobias’ shoulder. “Carnelian panicked when we got attacked and bolted.”
Tobias curses under his breath. “This is why we don’t take escort missions.”
“Noted,” Nia says, voice edged with nervous laughter.
Another sound in the distance catches everyone’s attention. It sounds like…the rush of a water type move. Battle. It can’t be far.
Tobias and Nia exchange glances before heading for it. When they track down the room it’s coming from, they see Cordelia slamming into a bibarel with a powerful waterfall that knocks him hard into the wall of the dungeon. The bibarel slumps, unconscious.
Cordelia is breathing hard but turns with her formidable teeth bared when she hears footsteps. Then she falters, eyes skimming over the group before locking onto Cas. All at once, the tension outlining her body slackens.
“Oh, thank Kyogre.”
“Delia!” Cas sprints to her as fast as his little legs can carry him. Cordelia scoops him up and tucks him against her neck.
She looks back to the group, gaze skimming once more over each of them. “Just missing the sableye, then.”
Nia nods. “He got spooked. He can’t have gotten too far on his own, though.”
“Let’s hope not,” Cordelia mutters.
“Could just leave him,” Ignatius says, surprisingly casual.
Tobias and Nia both recoil from the suggestion. But where Nia looks horrified, Tobias’ face creases with anger.
“We aren’t leaving anyone!”
“We aren’t leaving the sableye,” Cordelia agrees, voice firm. She gives the torkoal a hard look. Ignatius shrugs, seemingly unbothered.
“Nori and I found the stairs back that way earlier,” Nia says, glancing over her shoulder. “So if we can find Carnelian quickly, we at least know where to go next.”
Tobias follows her gaze, trying to catalogue the general direction for later.
“I made a loop around that way,” Cordelia adds, pointing off in the opposite direction. “Didn’t see the little guy there.”
“He could be on the move,” Tobias mutters. But that still leaves a fourth hallway that no one seems to have traveled down yet. Might as well start there.
“This way. Back into formation,” Tobias says.
The group, clearly more tired than they were just a few floors ago, trudges back into order. Tobias takes a breath, then moves to lead them.
They run into two more ferals in the next few rooms—a parasect and a stunky that, luckily, don’t land any of their poison moves.
Then they hear a shrill, terrified shriek, just down the hall.
Tobias’ head snaps up. He bolts, hearing the rest of the group follow, moving loudly through the brush and puddles.
Tobias rounds the corner into a new room, and quickly takes in the picture in front of him.
They’ve found Carnelian. Unfortunately, the sableye has also found a massive crawdaunt. The large red water type is scarred, clearly an experienced fighter. It has the sableye pinned to the ground with one claw dwarfing his entire body. The other pincer is raised high, ready to finish him.
Type advantage or not, a blow like that could easily kill the frail ghost type. And they aren’t close enough to stop it.
If Nia weren’t at the back of the group, maybe she could use quick attack—
Or if Beck hadn’t frozen behind him with a choked breath—
Or if Tobias could—
If Tobias could—
Tobias wills the tired fire in his belly to burn hotter, desperation stoking it with a single quick breath. He braces himself. Molds his mouth into a whistle rather than the usual open mouthed breath of his ember.
Then he shoots a ball of flames lightning-quick across the room. It hits the crawdaunt in the back of the head and makes it flinch.
Tobias stares, panting, as the crawdaunt whips around with an angry chitter.
Did…did he just learn flame burst?
The crawdaunt abandons the cowering sableye and charges across the room. Tobias runs to meet it, opening up the entrance to the hall so Nia can step in to help.
The crawdaunt lunges, and Tobias rolls out of the way of its pincer. The crater it leaves in the dirt makes his heart skip a beat. They can't let themselves get hit by that.
Tobias darts in to try slashing at the feral. His claws barely scratch the crawdaunt’s tough carapace, almost bouncing off of it.
Tobias curses and steps back. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Beck hurrying over to scoop up Carnelian and carry the sableye out of harm’s way. Good.
The crawdaunt takes a breath and shoots out a jet of scalding water. It clips Tobias on the arm, and he hisses as he darts forward to roll under the crawdaunt’s tan underbelly and out the other side.
He has to use his dragon rage—it’s the only move in his arsenal that will even hurt this thing. But he can feel his dragon type energy running dangerously low, and knows he only has a few shots left. He was hoping to conserve them.
Guess he doesn’t have much of a choice.
Tobias inhales deep and releases a plume of purple flames that—finally—make the crawdaunt falter.
Right after, a blur of blue and black slams into the crawdaunt, right near the golden star topping its head. The force of the quick attack nearly manages to topple the water type, Nia rolling past it and clumsily back to her paws.
“About time,” he huffs.
“Sorry,” she pants. “Was dealing with something else.”
Tobias nods, eyeing the crawdaunt as it steadies itself. The quick attack seemed to do as little as his slash. Its hide must be tough—probably a higher defense than special defense.
“Water type?” Nia calls, dodging a heavy claw.
“Something else, too. Fighting, maybe? Or dark. Can’t remember.”
The crawdaunt is taking turns lunging at one of them and then the other. Tobias dodges and lashes out with a lick of purple flames that makes it stumble.
“It might be weaker to special attacks,” Tobias calls, cashing in on his guess.
Nia grunts as she deflects a claw with her aura staff. “Got it!”
Tobias knocks one of the crawdaunt’s legs out from under it with a swing of his tail, then skips back as it shoots another jet of water his way.
While it’s distracted, Nia forms a ball of aura in her paws and flings it into the crawdaunt’s side. It garbles something angrily and takes another swing at Nia that she barely dodges.
“Tough,” Nia huffs.
“No kidding.”
The two of them dart in and out to fight the water type. Tobias hears battling behind him too, where the rest of the group is, and hopes that Beck, Nori, and Cordelia can handle whatever attacked them. He and Nia have their hands full as is.
Nia finally gets knocked aside by one of the pincers. She wasn’t hit head-on, thankfully, but still hard enough to send her rolling across the grass.
“You all right?” Tobias shouts. He shoots another dragon rage at the crawdaunt, but his flames sputter. He’s almost out. Exhaustion drags heavy at his limbs.
Nia shakes her head, but it’s more of a grounding gesture than a no. She stumbles back to her paws, then braces herself. Tobias can see a glint of something in her eyes, and that makes him nervous.
Before he can worry about it too much, Nia darts forward with another quick attack, slamming hard into the crawdaunt. This time, the crawdaunt is sent skidding back. It’s a notable difference from the first time she hit it.
Tobias pauses, panting, and looks at Nia. The riolu is grinning with a victorious expression. Looks like she figured something out.
When the crawdaunt lumbers back to its feet, it’s visibly unsteady. Finally slowing down.
Nia and Tobias move forward to attack again. They both focus on quick, weaker moves to chip away at it while staying out of range.
Nia is the one to finish it, forming a much larger than usual sphere of bright blue aura in her paws. She shoots it at the crawdaunt, and it explodes against the water type with a flash of light.
The crawdaunt goes down, landing with a heavy rustle in the lush grass.
Tobias takes a moment to be sure it’s knocked out. Then, he slumps to the ground to catch his breath. Nia stumbles over and flops down beside him.
“What,” he gasps. “Was that about?”
Nia laughs. “I figured out work up!”
 Tobias blinks. “Really? From Cas?”
Nia nods, grinning.
Tobias snorts. “Cool. I think I learned flame burst.”
“New move buddies!” Nia cheers, falling over completely, clearly exhausted and half-loopy with adrenaline.
Tobias barks a laugh, weakly raising a fist. “New move buddies. Sure.”
Tobias finally remembers that they aren’t alone, and looks over to find the rest of their group. Luckily, they all seem to be in one piece, even if Cordelia is limping a bit and Beck is scuffed and muddy.
“Everyone all right?” Tobias asks.
“This one would be better if she would’ve eaten something,” Beck snorts, giving Cordelia an unimpressed look.
The croconaw curls her lip and gives him a glare in return.
“Carnelian?” Nia asks.
Tobias finally notices the sableye huddled up against the floatzel’s belly and shivering with fear. The ghost type jumps at the question, visibly shaking, but nods.
Cordelia whistles. She’s looking past them, at the crawdaunt they’d downed. “Nice work.”
“Thanks,” Nia huffs, struggling to her feet. She holds out a paw to help Tobias up after her.
He feels exhausted. Utterly drained. What he wouldn’t give to make a nest in the corner of the room and go to sleep right now.
“We’d better keep moving,” he says instead.
Everyone nods, clearly equally fatigued. They get back into order, and Tobias turns their group around to head back the way they came, to where Nia and Nori said they’d seen the stairs.
Tobias tries to avoid battles entirely on the following floors. They’re all tired and they can’t afford any real injuries. All conversation has petered out by this point, everyone just trying to conserve their breath.
They’re on the 19th floor—or maybe the 20th—when Tobias hears a barely-there rustle ahead, and freezes. The line stops behind him.
A little Pokemon stumbles out of the grass, squeaking a hiss when it notices their group. It’s a blue nidoran. A tiny one, no more than a baby. Its eyes are white and mindless, tiny barbs raised with poison.
Tobias can’t look away from the scratch across its side, bleeding sluggishly against pale blue skin. He doesn’t know if it was attacked or just injured by the environment. It wouldn’t take much to hurt something so fragile.
Tobias swallows against a lump in his throat. He has a soft spot for kids, so of course his first instinct is to help. But he can guess how it’ll react in its feral state. How it’ll spit and bite and poison anyone that comes near until it can wriggle free and flee in blind fear.
Could they take the nidoran kit along? Everything in him recoils at the thought of having to knock out a child, and he doesn’t even know when they’ll be able to get to the guild. What if he just makes it worse trying to relocate her?
A louder rustle of brush and a single heavy stomp is their only warning before a much larger, darker blue Pokemon emerges from the brush, towering over even Beck and Nori.
A nidoqueen.
Tobias tenses up now for an entirely different reason. He throws out an arm, hearing everyone behind him hold their breath. The silence is heavy.
The nidoqueen rumbles a low growl that Tobias can feel in his chest. She steps forward to plant herself between them and her child.
They’re at a standstill. Tobias is torn between anxiety that she’ll attack their already weakened group, and relief that the nidoran has anyone to defend her at all. Even relatively mindless, at least feral Pokemon seem to protect their young.
Slowly, the nidoqueen lowers her body. For a heart-stopping moment, Tobias thinks she’s preparing to charge. But then he hears the scratch of tiny claws on hard armor and sees the nidoran climb atop the nidoqueen’s back to settle between her plates. Now that she’s hunched over, Tobias spots a second purple lump already clinging to her: another nidoran.
Tobias wonders if any other kids got lost in this chaos. His chest squeezes.
The nidoqueen rises and turns as if to leave. Tobias steps forward, panicked.
That scratch on the nidoran, it…it’s nothing that would kill the kit on its own, but it’s only been an hour or two since the dungeon started. It could be weeks until their minds clear. What if it gets infected? What if she gets hurt more?
The nidoqueen’s head snaps back to him, thick teeth bared and accompanied by a warning growl.
“Tobias!” He hears Nia whisper-yell.
Tobias lowers his eyes and reaches slowly into their satchel. He feels around until he finds what he’s looking for. Then he crouches, slow. Slow. And gently rolls the oran berry forward so it stops just in front of the nidoqueen.
The nidoqueen hisses, hunching lower and flexing her claws. But then she pauses, sniffing the air. Her blank white gaze flicks down to the blue fruit and back up.
Tobias doesn’t dare move.
The nidoqueen reaches out to snatch the oran berry. She gives it one more sniff before gently biting into it to hold it in her mouth.
She glances at Tobias one more time. Her eyes are still blank, and there isn’t a shred of anything like gratitude or confusion present. Just primal wariness.
But she has the oran berry. Even at a baser level, she probably knows to feed it to her injured kit. It’s the best they can do.
The nidoqueen huffs and continues on through the grass. Her heavy steps quickly fade, and Tobias can feel the tension of the group follow.
Nia, who had apparently snuck closer to stand as Tobias’ backup, sighs. “I was really hoping we wouldn’t have to fight them.”
Tobias nods, trying to put the nidoran kit out of mind. “…Let’s keep moving.”
Nia must be able to tell where his mind is, because she reaches out to squeeze his hand before moving back to the tail of the group.
Tobias is just grateful his partner is enough of a bleeding heart to not get upset about his poor decision to waste their second-last oran berry. She probably would’ve done the same.
Or maybe she’s thinking about the same thing Tobias is. Thinking about how all of these Pokemon are only endangered because of the weakening dimensional border. How it’s only going to get worse from here. If that nidoran survives her time in the dungeon, she’ll die all the same if the border breaks entirely.
Tobias blows out a breath. Then, he forces his feet forward. He doesn’t have time to think about this right now.
Tobias enters an exhausted haze after that encounter. He still tries to pay attention as he leads the group through the dungeon, but he knows he isn’t as alert as usual, and they’re only 20 or so floors in. He tries not to think about what they’ll do if this dungeon is a freak incident and is a hundred floors deep. How they’ll survive. He tries not to think much at all, to conserve mental energy.
Once or twice, Beck and Nori step in when they run into another feral. Tobias knows he must look dead on his feet for them to do so, but he can’t find it in himself to be upset about the help. He’s stubborn, but not a total idiot.
He is enough of an idiot to not even realize they’re out of the dungeon at first.
He just starts walking after they warp, picking a direction. It takes a solid ten steps before he realizes he isn’t in a room, or a corridor. Half-convinced he’s hallucinating, Tobias blinks and looks behind him.
Everyone else seems similarly baffled, looking around with wide eyes. But no, the forest around them is open and unstructured. Natural. Tobias can hear the dull roar of the river nearby.
“Are…are we out?” Cas asks.
There’s a heavy silence before Nori nods.
Nearly all of them slump to the leaf-littered ground, a collective breath of tension leaving them. Tobias tilts his head back against the closest tree and just. Takes a moment.
They made it. He and Nia got the group through the dungeon safely. He didn’t realize how much pressure he’d felt to do so until it was lifted.
After what seems like barely a minute but is likely longer, Cordelia suggests they head back to the river.
“It’ll be the best way to navigate our way north,” she adds once she sees Tobias’ doubtful look. “We follow the river upstream, and we find civilization.”
Tobias, unfortunately, can’t argue with that. With a groan, he drags himself to his feet and trudges through the greenery of the forest beside Nia. Cordelia, even hungry and sporting a limp, can take charge out here. He’s too tired to fight her for the leadership position.
When they get to the river itself, all of the water types relax at the sight of the familiar waterway. As they take another moment to recharge, Cordelia crosses her arms with a thoughtful sound.
“What?” Nia asks.
“Just thinking.” The croconaw turns her head to scan Nori and Beck. “How’re you two feeling?”
Beck straightens. “All right. Little tired.”
Nori just gives her a nod.
Cordelia looks back out over the water. “The river is still high here, but it’s a bit calmer. How do we feel about swimming it?”
Tobias feels his face pale. “Swimming it?”
Cordelia snorts. “Not you, of course. We’d carry you, like we did in the dungeon.”
Tobias doesn’t feel very comfortable with the idea. Or comfortable at all. Whereas the water in the dungeon was relatively calm, this river is still surging quick and frothy and strong. He falls into that and he’s almost definitely dead unless one of the water types rescue him.
“We trusted you to cover us in the dungeon,” Cordelia says, voice confident but not antagonistic for once. “Trust us to get you back north.”
Tobias swallows. “Why can’t we just walk?”
“We could,” Cordelia snorts. “But we’d be moving twice as slow. And using more energy to boot, walking up and down the slopes and around brambles.”
“What about the boat?” Cas asks, voice small.
Cordelia sighs, ruffling the quaxly’s blue head feathers. “We’ll have to wait for the dungeon to pass and hope it makes it out in one piece. Nothing we can do about it as is.”
“Delia has a point,” Beck cuts in. “Water travel would be easier and quicker.”
“Really?” Nia asks. “Even if you have to swim with us on your back?”
“Yup,” Beck says with a wink. “We’re made for the water. We’ll just have to take breaks every few hours.”
“Nori?” Cordelia checks.
“I’m fine with that,” Nori says, quiet as usual.
Nia glances at Tobias, as if to question if he’s all right with this plan. He isn’t, and he knows that if he insisted on walking Nia would stick with him. The whole crew probably would, honestly, but it’s objectively the worse decision.
“Fine,” he mutters. “You’d better not drop me, though.”
“Or me,” Ignatius huffs.
Oh, right. Tobias is perversely glad that there’s at least one other fire type dealing with this less-than-ideal situation.
They move back into a similar formation as the one they used in the dungeon. Cas, of course, hops on Cordelia’s shoulder. Nia, Tobias, and Carnelian go with Beck. Ignatius, heavier than the three of them combined, crawls onto Nori’s back.
Then, with one last look around and an instruction to call for a break as soon as needed, they’re ready to go.
Cordelia leads the way, slipping silently into the dull roar of the river. Nori follows, Ignatius crouched low against her blue feathers.
Beck slinks into the water after them, cutting easily through the current. His tails spin and his body weaves gently side-to-side, and if Tobias didn’t feel so on-edge he’d admire how smoothly Beck is navigating such rough waters.
As is, Tobias scoots closer to the middle of Beck’s back, tail curled tightly around his middle. The water is so close, barely below the level he’s sitting on. Every few seconds, the river sprays high enough to mist painfully against Tobias’ skin.
“Here,” Nia says, offering Tobias his poncho from their satchel. He didn’t even hear her rustling through it.
“Thanks,” Tobias murmurs, pulling the leafy green garment over his head. While his heart slams against his chest still at the closeness of the water, he’s relieved to have the burning cool spray of the river gone.
Nia settles in, pressed against his side. Carnelian sits closer to Beck’s tails, curled around his backpack and dead silent.
“All right?” Nia whispers.
Tobias jerks a nod. He’s as all right as he’s going to get. At least it’s getting close to evening, so they probably won’t be able to travel too long before stopping for the night.
Nia reluctantly leaves Tobias alone to check on Carnelian. The sableye jumps when Nia addresses him, but nods as she asks if he’s all right.
“You didn’t get hurt earlier?”
Carnelian hesitates.
Nia frowns. “What hurts?”
Carnelian shakes his head. “I-I’m okay, I just—just a bit bruised. When I breathe.”
Nia glances at Tobias, concern clear on her face.
Tobias sighs but reaches into their satchel and pulls out the last oran berry to hand over.
“Will this help?” Nia asks, voice soft. “Or can you not eat it?”
Carnelian is surprised enough to actually meet Nia’s eyes with his own creepy gemstone ones. “I-I can eat it, but…I couldn’t take your berry—“
“We want you to have it,” Nia presses. “If it hurts to breathe, that means something’s wrong. Please?”
Carnelian crumbles under the riolu’s sad expression. Not that Tobias can blame him.
The sableye reaches out to take the oran berry with shaky claws, glancing at Nia and then Tobias once more before eating it in two large bites. Immediately after, Tobias can see a bit of the wire-sharp tension loosen from the ghost type’s posture.
“Thank you,” Carnelian says.
“No problem,” Nia returns, smiling warmly. “So it did help, right?”
“Y-Yes. Berries don’t have all the daily nutrients sableye need, since minerals are the main part of our diet. But the healing properties still work.”
“Cool!” Nia says, smiling earnestly. Tobias could guess that she has a hundred follow-up questions that she’s only holding back for the sake of Carnelian’s nervous nature.
The sableye gives her a shaky smile in return before looking away.
Tobias snorts and looks back out over the river. If he wasn’t so terrified of falling into the swift current, he could see how traveling upstream like this could actually be…relaxing. In the late afternoon sun, between the white currents, the river shimmers with reflected bits of light.  The trees on either side of the river cast long shadows, a warped mirror of the forest landscape. The dull roar of the water is constant enough to fade to something almost soothing.
Tobias can’t fully relax, but his tense muscles do loosen to something less stiff. As he starts to check back into the Pokemon around him, he notices Nia casting Beck hesitant looks. Every minute or so, her gaze moves back to his head, where his snout is half-submerged in the water. Her mouth opens then closes, as if to say something.
Finally, she speaks aloud. “Hey, Beck?”
The floatzel lifts his head to look back at them over his shoulder. “Yeah?”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Don’t see why not! We certainly have the time.”
Nia smiles at the comment, but she’s clearly distracted. She takes a few moments to gather her thoughts, dipping her paw into the water. “Earlier, when you got hit in the dungeon, you called me Hazel.”
Beck looks surprised at that, his smooth swimming stalling before picking up again. “Oh. Well, apologies for that! Hazel’s my mate, y’see. And you…remind me of her quite a bit.”
“I’m not upset or anything,” Nia says, waving her paws in front of her. “If anything I’m flattered. But I just…” Nia trails off, frowning. She’s clearly weighing a question in her mind.
“You said you live up north, closer to the guild,” Nia finally blurts. “Would you happen to live in Afon’s Cap?”
For the second time, Beck’s swimming falters as he blinks back at Nia, clearly surprised. “…That I do.”
That seems to be all the confirmation Nia needs. She beams, leaning forward into Beck’s space. “Then that means—are you Hazel’s husband? The raichu? Your daughter’s a pikachu named Margot, right? A-And your grandkids are Tommy and Theo?”
Beck grins back, equally delighted. “You know my family? How wonderful! How did you meet them?!”
Tobias would like to know, too, giving Nia a perplexed look. She said Afon’s Cap, right? When they went there, it was before they really restarted their team, when he was still being a major jerk.
Funny, how that feels like so long ago now.
Nia wanted to go there so bad to look for someone, a former human, and—
Hazel. Her name was Hazel. The psychic type raichu that Nia mailed a letter to asking for a human bed! Of course!
“Yeah! I went looking for her because—“
Tobias elbows Nia, and gives a pointed nod behind them at Carnelian’s quiet presence.
Nia falters, but then says, “W-Well, I wanted to ask her some questions. Advice, really. I’m from the same place she is!”
Beck’s eyes widen as he catches her meaning. “I had a feeling that was the case after you shook my paw so quickly! Picked up that fun little habit from Hazel.”
Nia giggles. Tobias vaguely recalls staring stupidly at Beck’s outstretched paw when they first met.
“She mentioned meeting a—“ Beck glances past them, at Carnelian. “A sweet young Pokemon looking for advice, but I never thought it would be you. What a coincidence! I can’t wait to tell her—she’ll be thrilled to know you’re out saving wayward crews like ours.”
“Tell her I said hi! Oh, and that Tobias and I worked out our issues!”
Tobias flushes at that comment, especially when Beck raises a wry brow in his direction.
“Ah, the troublemaking partner. You put Hazel in quite the mood for days, according to Mar.”
“Sorry,” Tobias huffs, sounding more petulant than repentant. He looks away, embarrassed.
Thankfully, Beck just chuckles and looks back to Nia. “You all come down and visit when you find the time, all right? The girls and my grandkids could always use more friends from outside the Cap.”
Nia, of course, seems thrilled at the thought, already chattering away about it. Tobias doesn’t say anything, instead turning his head to watch the river and the forested shoreline drift by in the approaching dusk.
It’s getting too dark for the water Pokemon to see properly in the water when they decide to pull off to shore. Beck drags himself onto the sandy riverside and collapses there.
Nia scrambles off his back to crouch by his head. “Are you okay?”
“Just tired,” he soothes, yawning.
Nia sits back, relieved, and watches Cordelia and Nori pull themselves onto land with equally fatigued movements.
“We’ll go look for food and wood to start a fire while you three catch your breath,” Tobias says.
Beck raises a paw to give her a thumbs-up. Nia laughs at the gesture and moves towards the treeline, beckoning Tobias after her.
“Can I come too?“ Cas asks, fluttering on their heels.
“Sure!”
“Well I’m stayin’ here,” Ignatius says, settling into the sand.
Tobias rolls his eyes, but grabs their satchel from where it had slipped off his shoulder. A few of their items spill out, and Tobias groans, probably more dramatically than he needs to.
Nia snickers. “Calm down. I’ve got it.”
She crouches to scoop up their wayward items, but pauses once she grabs one of their badges.
“What?” Tobias asks.
Nia doesn’t answer, but she does click their badge on. Tobias bends to see what’s caught her attention.
Oh. They’re in range of the guild now.
“Does that mean..?” Nia starts.
Tobias grins, feeling a relieved sort of exhaustion fall over him. He snatches the badge to look closer. Just to make sure.
They must’ve traveled farther north through that dungeon than they’d thought. They’re finally close enough to the guild for the psychics’ range to reach them.
“Hey!” Tobias calls, looking over at Cordelia’s crew.
The croconaw lifts her head, annoyed. “I thought you were going to find food.”
Tobias wiggles the badge in his hand. “We’ll do you one better. Anyone want a lift to the guild?”
That catches everyone’s attention.
“We’re close enough?” Nori asks.
Nia nods.
“Then what are you waiting for?!” Cordelia says. “Get over here!”
Even Tobias can’t find it in himself to get irritated with the croconaw. Not after the day they’ve had. Everyone gathers close together on the beach as Tobias and Nia prepare their badges to send out a pick-up request.
“All right. Ready?” Tobias asks.
"Make sure you’re touching one of us,” Nia adds. “Or each other. As long as there’s some connection, you should be fine.”
Tobias feels Nori’s cool, webbed hand land on his shoulder and Cas’ feathers against his leg. On three, Tobias and Nia send out their pickup request. The badge in Tobias’ hand glows, and he tightens his grip.
Then, in a flash of golden light, Tobias feels the familiar vertigo of psychic warping.
In an instant they’re back in a familiar room lit by the blue crystals from below the guild. The uneven wooden flooring underfoot is familiar, and the treelike architecture around them even more so.
A pair of abra look surprised to see them, staring at the extra six Pokemon they’ve brought along.
The left abra slumps, voice dry. “That explains the extra weight.”
The right one sighs. “Next time, please alert us if you’re bringing tagalongs.”
“Sorry,” Nia says, sheepish. “Actually, can you, um…show me how to do that?”
While the right abra does so, pointing at Nia’s badge with a claw, Tobias scans their party to make sure everyone made the journey. They did, and the other abra is already going through the usual guest spiel of marking down everyone’s names and species for the records, as well as telling Cordelia where to find the cafeteria and guest quarters.
For the first time since this morning, Tobias feels himself truly relax. Almost immediately, a wave of exhaustion follows. He cannot wait to go to sleep. And in their own soft nest! They haven’t been home in over a week, and there’s nothing like sleeping in your own nest.
When their group finally departs from the psychics’ quarters, they’re in high spirits. Cordelia is running her maw about food and Beck is laughing in response. Cas is looking around with wide eyes, and even Nori and Ignatius, the quietest of the crew, seem at ease.
“So,” Cordelia says, hands on her hips. “Riolu. Charmander. We don’t exactly have much to give you in thanks, considering the Aqua Jet is stranded at the moment. What say we waive your travel fee and let your guildmaster know you two deserve a heap of Seeker points or whatever your reward system is?”
Tobias snorts. Not a great deal, but better than nothing, he supposes. “Fine.”
“Are you heading out right away?” Nia asks, ears lowering.
Beck smiles and reaches out to put a paw on her head. “We’ll stay the night, but then we’ll probably head south. If we’ve gotta stick around somewhere for a few weeks to wait for the dungeon to pass, I want to see my family.”
“And we can at least take odd jobs around Afon’s Cap to earn some cash,” Cordelia adds.
“You’re welcome to join us if you’d like,” Beck offers.
Tobias can see that Nia wants to accept, but she shakes her head. “I…we have somewhere we need to be, unfortunately. Say hi to Hazel and everyone for me?”
Beck’s smile droops, but he doesn’t argue. “Will do. Just make sure you come visit in the future, all right? Hazel would love to talk to you again.”
Nia nods, brightening. “Of course! As soon as we can.”
“Good kid,” Beck says, pulling Nia into a hug. She goes willingly, burying her face in the floatzel’s fluffy chest.
When they part, Nia wipes at her eyes. “Are you sure you’ll be able to make it to Afon’s Cap all right on your own?”
Cordelia snorts. “We ain’t helpless, believe it or not. We’ll get directions and be just fine. It’s not far from here.”
“Thank you again,” Nori says, quiet voice commanding everyone’s attention. She offers them the barest hint of a smile. “For guiding us through the dungeon, and for the company.”
Cas gives them each a hug as well before the crew of the Aqua Jet heads off down the hall, waving their goodbyes and thanks.
“Come find us if you’re ever dying to get back on the water, Charmander!” Cordelia shouts.
Tobias rolls his eyes and turns back to Nia—
Only to realize that there’s still someone here, waiting for them to notice him.
“Oh!” Nia sniffs, wiping the last of tears out of her eyes. “Hey, Carnelian. Do you need something?”
Carnelian shuffles his feet and tugs at his backpack straps. Finally, he says, “Th-Thank you. For protecting me back in the dungeon.”
Nia exchanges a surprised look with Tobias. “Of course! It was no problem.”
“All part of the job,” Tobias adds.
Tobias is surprised when Carnelian shakes his head, voice adamant enough to lose its constant tremor. “No. To many, it’s not. Not for a ghost. I didn’t even hire you.”
Oh. Tobias gets what he means now, and suddenly he feels a hot bloom of shame in his chest for how suspicious and annoyed he’d felt about sableye for the first half of their trip. Ignatius’ lackadaisical suggestion to ditch the sableye in the dungeon comes back to him.
Nia’s ears pin, her eyes wide. “…I’m sorry. That you’ve, um…dealt with that before.”
Carnelian shakes his head, but his voice is back to its usual shaky warble. “I-I just wanted to thank you. And say that I don’t have much to offer, b-but if you ever need anything you think I can assist with, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Nia smiles. “Well, thank you. We appreciate it. Beck mentioned you’re working up north?”
Carnelian nods, something almost like excitement lifting his head. “Yes! I-I’m something of a researcher of rocks and minerals. I was called in to analyze unusual crystal formations found under the Silenfroar Mountains. I should be there for at least a few months.”
“If we ever need to, uh…learn about rocks?  Then we’ll keep you in mind,” Tobias says.
Nia elbows him for his awkward statement, and he gives her a pointed shrug. He wasn’t even trying to be snarky!
Nia gives Carnelian a smile. “We appreciate it, really. Safe travels north!”
Carnelian nods, a weak smile flickering across his face. Then he scurries off towards the guest quarters after the crew.
“He’s sweet,” Nia coos.
Tobias rolls his eyes. “He’s fine. A little nerdy.”
“I’m a little nerdy,” Nia counters, giving him a playful glare.
“Yeah, you are. Now. What first? Food? Sleep?”
Nia looks thoughtful. “…Maggie?”
Tobias stops. Thinks of his adoptive mother’s warm smile and relaxing scent. “Maggie. Definitely Maggie.”
The two of them move to take the stairs up to the medicinal floor, slowly for the sake of their exhausted bodies.
“You think she’d let us crash in her room tonight? Oh, but I guess Sage has our alcove now…”
Tobias scoffs. “Forget the alcove. Maggie would be thrilled if we camped out right next to her.”
Nia beams, picking up her pace for the next few steps and bouncing ahead. “Sleepover!”
“Only if she has food. No way am I going all the way down to the cafeteria and back up again.”
“When doesn’t Maggie have food?”
Tobias’ mouth twitches with a smile. “Fair point.”
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