bottlecaplogs | [Closed] Quest: Play Nice

Entry tags:

[Closed] Quest: Play Nice

Who: Noelle & Shoka
What: Looking for Pokemon to recruit
Where: The Middle Forest
When: Mid/Late August
Warnings: Pokemon battling (violence/injury), likely references to death and disassociation

Come follow me into the dark

[It's Noelle's first trip into the Middle Forest, and she can't imagine how horrible it was before the fog receded. Even now, a light haze blocks most sunlight and she keeps tripping over bones that litter the ground. Every time she comes across one, she can't help but freeze in terror, stopping their progress completely.

Be brave, she keeps telling herself. Shoka is with you. But there's a sense of unease that won't go away, a perpetual chill that tells her she's making another mistake.

It's Noelle's first trip into the Middle Forest, but she doesn't feel like it is. Logically, she knows she's never been here. But in her heart, she feels as if she's ventured into the dark unknown beyond the boundaries of her 'normal' world once and never been the same for it.

After almost tripping off a cliff, Noelle opts to stay close to Shoka. How funny of her to cling to something arguably more scary than a little fog and old bones. But Shoka is... the good kind of scary.]

S-sorry if I'm slowing you down. This must be nothing to you, fahaha...

[... It's Noelle's first trip into the Middle Forest, and she's glad she's not alone.]

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... No, I think, um. I'll be okay if we're together. I feel braver with you, fahaha.

[She takes in all the information with a thoughtful nod. She's not going to badmouth A.B.A. Bounty quests sound too scary to even think about...]

Shoka... I've been thinking. I'm sorry if this isn't something you want to discuss, but... [She hesitates. Her voice sounds small.]

... did you really die?

Oh... [Braver with her... Shoka really can't imagine why, but it makes her heart (or whatever she has) flutter a little all the same.] W—well, good for you.

[Again, she waits until Noelle is back at her side before shuffling onward. The sudden question doesn't even make her pause.]

Yep. Not here though, if that's why you're asking.

S-sorry, I know that's not just the type of thing you can ask about! I just... I, um...

[She never figures out how to elaborate.] ... well, I'm glad you're back.

[Generally blasé about her own death, Shoka doesn't mind being asked about it. She expects it, really, after she mentioned it to Noelle so casually in their first meeting.

That last sentence is less expected. It isn't her first time hearing it, but it settles in her mind differently now than it did in the times before—jarringly, wrongly. It makes her think of Firepaw, lost in a deep sleep, and of savage claws tearing into flesh. Well, that makes one of us, she thinks but doesn't say.]

Thanks...

[Noelle is already beside her, ready to continue on, but Shoka remains stationary, lifting her eyes to meet Noelle's.]

... Listen. You don't—

[She doesn't manage to finish that sentence. Her eyes wander past Noelle then, drawn to a flash of movement gliding over the trees in the distance.]

Hang on. What the hell is that?

[It's a bird, she thinks at first—a dark blue bird with a long, forked tail—fluttering in quick, graceful figure eights through the air. A swallow? It looks about as big as Swellow was...

Whatever it is, it's definitely a Pokémon, and their first potential recruit.]

[She tenses up as Shoka's eyes meet her own-- not out of primal fear of the strange human-like eyes that Mimikyu has, but for another reason.

She remains frozen in place as the strange Pokemon swoops around, almost... laughing? She shrieks as it circles around her once- it's all teeth and no eyes, some kind of bat- and then swoops back up into the sky.]

H-hello? A-are you friendly? We just... we just want to talk...

[The Zubat does a little flip in the air and swoops back down, but it miscalculates and crashes directly into Shoka.

Noelle moves before she knows what she's doing.]

S-stay away from her!

[At least there was no ice this time-- instead, she throws every once of strength into a Tackle that lands with some kind of sick crunch. The Zubat lets out a deafening shriek at point-blank range. Noelle's head is ringing as she steps back, breathing heavily, looking around in terror.]

Shoka, we... we have to get out of here! It's a swarm! They're everywhere! [She lowers her head again, looking directly at Shoka with terror in her eyes.] Wh-what did you do with Shoka?!

[Shoka might have the presence of mind to realize Noelle doesn't have hers. She was hit with a Supersonic, and from the sound of it, she's seeing enemies everywhere-- including Shoka herself.]

[As the unfamiliar Pokémon cheerily glides its way around them, Shoka places herself between it and Noelle, watching it warily but keeping her claws sheathed. It... doesn't seem to be listening, but they're supposed to be negotiating, so she lets Noelle take the lead, only chiming in to confirm:]

Right. What she said—

[Just as she's finishing that sentence, the Zubat makes a swift, graceless dive—directly into her face. Shoka staggers backward with a muffled yelp.]

What the hell—?! Get off'a me!

[It's hard to tell if that was meant to be an attack or not, because it doesn't hurt; Shoka's reaction is more surprised than anything else. Even so, a battle has clearly already been initiated. Before she can really make sense of what's happening, she hears Noelle shouting (for her?), then the Zubat also shrieking, and looks up to find—with a pang of alarm—that Noelle is looking right at her, eyes wild with terror.

The word swarm prompts Shoka to look up and around. There's still just the one Zubat, hovering above her and seemingly having a laugh at Noelle's expense.]

It's literally not?

[That last question Noelle asks startles Shoka into remembering: she's seen this before, hasn't she? It happened to Ren, too, when they fought the Swoobat. Noelle is just confused.

(At least, she really hopes that's all it is.)]

H-hey. Take it easy, okay? [Noelle looks like she might charge any second—at Shoka, not the Zubat. That's okay, Shoka thinks; if it happens, she can take it. She tries to keep her voice even and her sentences simple when she continues,] There's only one. And I'm right here.

[Trying to take advantage of her distraction, the Zubat swoops down again, fangs bared. Shoka evades with a Double Team, leaving the Zubat to tumble straight through one of her illusions. Unfortunately for Noelle, now the swarm looks even bigger, with several Shoka doubles (Zubat doubles, to her perception) lined up and ready to fight.

Through her confusion, however, she might notice that two of the Zubat appear to be fighting each other, one tearing the other out of the air when it starts to flutter too close to Noelle.]

[Enemies all around her. Her body aches-- from her own tackle, or did the enemy hurt her, and why are there so many of them? Thoughts slip through her fingers like snowflakes. And yet...

... she hears her voice.]

Shoka...

[The world spins. Focus, Noelle. She doesn't know where anyone else is, but she can feel the grass beneath her. She tenses her legs so she doesn't topple over. It feels like energy bleeds out into the ground.

All around Shoka, the grass grows, wildflowers bloom, the air smells cleaner. Noelle managed to use Grassy Terrain.

While she's distracted, the Zubat swoops in and quickly bites her with Leech Life. Noelle cries out in pain and anger. The healing effect of Grassy Terrain soothes the wound, but doesn't close it.]

It... hurts...

[Shoka is trying to shake off the flinch from an Astonish attack when she feels a rush of energy coursing through her—almost like a second wind. Blades of grass brush against her shadows, growing taller right before her eyes; vibrant flowers blossom out of nowhere, sprouting up through cracks in the bones strewn across the ground.

Unfortunately for them, the Zubat apparently felt the very same thing. Shoka looks back in bewilderment and finds that the origin of that energy pulsing through the earth seems to be Noelle—just in time to see the Zubat swoop down and take a bite out of her.]

Noelle—!

[A shadow slices through the grass; Shoka emerges from it in front of Noelle and claws at the Zubat with a snarl, sending it tumbling back through the air.]

Hey! If it's a fight you want, I'll give you one!

[Twisting artfully mid-fall, the Zubat dives in for another Leech Life. Shoka stands her ground between it and Noelle, bristling. Without her noticing, tendrils of shadow reach out from her form and coil around Noelle's hooves, carrying with them a subtle chill.

This... wasn't supposed to happen. Noelle was supposed to be on Friendly Negotiator duty. Shoka is the battler, not her. What was she even thinking, leaping into the fray like that? Is she stupid?

No. Shoka is the stupid one, getting caught off guard like that. She messed up, and now Noelle's hurt because of her. It keeps happening. If only she could...

Without thinking, she holds her hands out before herself—and a shimmering, blue barrier materializes out of thin air: Protect. The Zubat's Leech Life bounces right off it, leaving it to bite down on nothing. It looks about as startled as Shoka herself is, fluttering there in visible confusion, for a moment too stunned to try another move.

Before the barrier can fade completely, choosing not to question it, Shoka takes the opportunity to look back at Noelle and assess the damage.]

Noelle—you okay?

[The next thing she knows, shadows are coiling around her hooves like shackles. A chill runs down her spine. They're so gross, she thinks, unable to repress a primal disgust response. She closes her eyes, her body wracked with shivering. They're so gross, they're so gross, they're so...

From the dark, a shine of light. One of the Zubats in the swarm bounces off some kind of shimmering barrier. The Zubat who summoned the shield looks back at her--

It's like seeing three images overlapped at once: a Zubat, a Mimikyu, a human girl with the Mimikyu's eyes. Her mind splinters, trying to make sense of it. ... gross, they're so gross, they're so...

The chill sets in. It feels like stepping out into a brisk winter morning, when the world is untouched with fresh snow. It feels like fear, but like in a horror movie, something that wouldn't really hurt her. It feels like Shoka.

... nice? It feels... kind of... nice?]

I... [She blinks. It's a Mimikyu- Shoka- guarding her. Zubat is on the ground.] I'm okay. Shoka, you... [You saved me, she wants to say.

But she doesn't get the chance. Zubat is up again, making shrill sounds like cackling. Is it having... fun?]

It... I don't think it's trying to hurt us! Shoka, I think it's playing! [If that is the case, she knows she overreacted majorly. There will be time to apologize and hopefully smooth things out later. First, they need to make it out of this battle- or game.]

[Eyes meeting Noelle's, Shoka exhales a short sigh of relief.]

Good. We've got this...!

[She says it breathlessly, like she's trying to convince herself of that, too, because she barely has any idea what's happening. The bat Pokémon is just as alien to her as the move she just used. Speaking of which, the barrier is dissipating and Zubat is taking to the air again, prompting her to bristle and hiss.

Noelle's observation stops her short. Shoka did notice that the Zubat seemed to be having fun—at their expense. As for it not trying to hurt them...]

Uh, did you already forget that it bit you, or...?

[Still, she does see it: the laugh on the creature's mouth, the exuberance in its unrestrained, swooping movements. It's really getting a kick out of this, isn't it? She can't blame it for that. After all, she's always loved battling herself—back in the UG and here in the Bay (even if it's harder to enjoy it quite so freely now, with the fear of losing control lurking behind every move).

Then again, is it the battle that Zubat's enjoying so much, or is it them? It seems to be waiting expectantly for their next move, watching them without eyes.]

Fine. If you wanna play, then let's play.

[Minutes fly by in a blur; one moment, all is still, and the next there's a flurry of dizzying movement. The next time the Zubat dives to attack, Shoka meets it with a brutal swing of her tail-stick. Play Rough doesn't seem to do much damage before the Zubat retaliates with a Poison Fang—but that's just fine, she figures; after all, they can't recruit a Pokémon that's completely incapacitated.

Wood Hammer shouldn't do much either, considering Zubat's (likely) Flying typing... But that energy still pulsing through the earth from Noelle's move remains with her. It's even in her tail-stick, she realizes with a flash of alarm; only when she's swinging her Wood Hammer does she notice that it, too, is growing, with tiny branches (complete with tiny, budding leaves) reaching out from the grooves in the wood. On contact, the Zubat goes flying like a struck baseball with a high-pitched, drawn out squeal.

Shoka can't help it; even as the pain of the recoil radiates up her arm, she has to laugh.]

Deuces, dummy!

[Now she's having fun, too, her split-second terror vanishing the instant Zubat comes fluttering weakly back for more. In a last-ditch effort to turn the tides, it gives another piercing screech: Supersonic.

Mockingly, Shoka screeches right back at it. She's only playing around, teasing like she always does, but the sound that comes out of her is a perfect, crystal-clear imitation. Unbeknownst to her, she's used another new move: Copycat. Though the Zubat's Supersonic falls on deaf ears, Shoka's hits its mark; the Zubat stiffens in midair, flitters backward, then performs a dramatic, upward loop... before plummeting straight to the ground, head-first.]

The hell—?

[Zubat hurt itself in its confusion!]

[She's so... cool. And tough, too. These must be more of those 'sick powers' she bragged about! It finally seems like Shoka's having fun as well.

... She must like to fight. She imagines Shoka looming over her, slapping her tail-stick in her hand like a paddle, a wicked smile in those eyes--

Wait, what is she fantasizing about?????]

Th-that's amazing! You must've reflected its attack back at it! [That's not quite the case, but it's close enough.] You're really expanding your defensive capabilities, Shoka!

[For her. It's for the quest, but a selfish part of her thinks that Shoka is protecting her. A knight in shining armor... or a creepy-cute disguise, at least.

Zubat tries to flap its wings again, but only succeeds in dragging itself across the ground. It releases a strange laugh, apparently finding its situation hilarious. This battle is as good as over.]

Shoka, are you okay? [She runs back over, examining the holes in the disguise left by Poison Fang.] You're hurt...

[She doesn't actually know if it hurts or not, but it looks painful. She wishes she could cast a healing spell, or mend the disguise... but she can't really do much sewing without opposable thumbs. She settles for keeping her focus on the Grassy Terrain, the soothing sensation like a balm to any wounds Shoka may have.

As a consequence, a little lily blooms from her tail-stick. Noelle flushes and looks away, embarrassed.] I, uh... didn't know it would do that. Sorry.

[She turns her attention to the Zubat, who's just watching them (echolocating them?) curiously now. Gingerly, she approaches with a small smile on her face.] Umm, you really fought well! Are you okay? Is the Grassy Terrain helping?

[The confusion seems to be wearing off... or maybe the Zubat is enjoying it? Either way, it seems content.]

I guess? [Sounds like as good an explanation as any. As the adrenaline starts to fade, she allows herself a small chuckle.] Same to you... I've never even seen that move before.

[But the way it worked—benefiting Noelle, Shoka, and Zubat—reminds her of a conversation she had with Akira once about terrain moves. Before she can think on it too deeply, Noelle is beside her again, hovering close and fussing over her as that same healing aura washes over them both. She's about to assure Noelle that it will take way more than that to keep her down, but something about Noelle's closeness and the gentle energy coursing between them makes the words snag in her throat.

Noelle... looks good like that, wreathed in flowers and sparkling air. In her element, almost.

A single, white lily sprouts from the curve of Shoka's (now unusually branchy) tail-stick. Flinching, she draws it close and averts her own eyes.]

N-no big... [Her gaze doesn't stay away for long, however.] Wh—what about you? You sure you're okay? That hit you took looked pretty nasty... [A pause, then, before she works up the courage to add,] Thanks, by the way... For... having my back. Even though you really didn't have to do that.

[She's the more experienced battler, after all, and Zubat wasn't even a real threat! But she does feel—a little better now, somehow. Looked after. Even if it's undeserved.

Speaking of Zubat, they're sitting mostly upright now (though they are swaying a bit in place, apparently still dizzy), their huge ears twisting this way and that. There's also a wide, toothy grin on their face. Little creep. What the hell are they smiling like that for?!

Thankfully, Noelle speaks up first before she can that question out loud. In reply, Zubat raises a wing up to their forehead and performs a clumsy, affirmative salute that nearly knocks them back over.]

Well... good. The confusion'll probably wear off in a bit. Sorry not sorry.

[Said in the tone of someone who has stopped caring about negotiation and recruitment. It's not like there's a chance Zubat will come along with them after that shitshow, after all...

Unless, maybe, if Noelle asks...?]

[Only when Noelle finally slows down a little does she realize the Leech Life left vampire-esque bite marks on her neck. The Grassy Terrain has numbed the pain to a dull throb, so it wound up fading into the background.] I'm okay...! If it scars over, it will make for a cool one, right? Haha. [Man, Kris would be jealous!

She turns her attention back to Zubat.] Are you sure you're okay? You can come back with us to the clinic in Bottlecap Bay if you want. It's a nice place! You might like it there, I think.

[The Zubat seems to think this over, turning its head between the two of them. It still has that silly grin on its face. "If everyone there gets along as well as you two, it must be a great place, keheheh!"]

Huh??? I mean, um... [... She and Shoka are friends, right? She can say that? It's nice that she's made a friend. Shoka can be a little rough around the edges, but Noelle knows she's actually really nice.

... and she kind of likes that first part.]

[Shoka's gaze falls on Noelle's neck. Seeing the puncture wounds, she feels a spike of alarm, then guilt, but Noelle just laughs it off. Shoka breathes out an almost-laugh of her own—half-amusement, half-disbelief. It seems that Noelle's tougher than she gave her credit for (that, or her aversion to upsetting anyone is just that strong—or both). A cool scar, huh?]

Not gonna lie—it would be pretty sick... [Shoka means it, and might be staring a little—but the guilt and concern still lingers. Noelle took that hit trying to protect her, when Shoka was supposed to be the one taking the lead on battles... and when Shoka hardly deserves it, having been standoffish and distant lately at best.] Buuut let's get it looked at by the clinic docs back in town before you get too attached, okay?

[They're both distracted by Zubat again, then. Its assessment of her and Noelle leaves her blinking in surprise, first at Zubat, then at Noelle. Shoka's been distant without explanation, hardly friendly... But they did make a pretty good team just now, didn't they?

As Noelle is trying to stammer through a reply, Shoka speaks up.] They do, for the most part. We all... try to look out for each other, y'know? [Her eyes move from Noelle to Zubat.] And everyone's free to live how they want there...

[Or at least it felt that way to her. Despite her sharp edges, her consistent shirking of duties, and the fact that she'd been dropped in from an entirely different world, Bottlecap Bay had accepted her, much in the same way Shibuya had before it. She'd been ready to disappear for good, but still she managed to find reasons to keep going, a mentor in Mightyena, and maybe-friends all around her—even if it's been easy to forget that lately.]

[But she doesn't get the chance to continue that pitch. She's barely even started when Zubat very suddenly interrupts her to announce, "I'm sold, keheh!"]

... Seriously? [That's all it took?!] You're really out of it, aren't you?

[Then again, maybe Zubat is just like this. It looks like they were already convinced, even before the confusion set in.]

Edited 2025-09-13 22:49 (UTC)

Um, she means we're glad to have you! [Noelle gives an awkward laugh. Then, she turns to Shoka.] We did it!

[Honestly, things got pretty scary there for a minute... but she had no doubt that she could figure this out if she were with Shoka. Her devastatingly low confidence grows just a tiny bit.

After a little bit longer, Zubat is able to fly again, and Noelle lets Shoka lead the way back to town. Noelle takes the opportunity to talk to her a little more.]

Shoka, um... you were going to say something earlier, weren't you? You said something like... "Listen, you don't..."

[As they start the trek back into town, Shoka allows herself a small laugh at the events of the day.] Talk about anticlimactic...

[When Noelle speaks up, calling her out on that abandoned sentence, she startles, just a bit.]

Huh? Oh...

[I don't remember, she could say, or maybe, It was nothing. But truthfully she does remember, and it feels like she owes Noelle a little more than that, after everything. Almost timidly, she starts to fidget with one ear of her disguise as she starts her hesitant answer.]

I was gonna say... you don't have to be so nice to me. [Her tone is light and nonchalant, but there's the smallest hint of shame to it, like she'd be wearing a slightly pained smile if she still had a mouth.] I know I piss people off. And when I'm not pissing 'em off, I'm usually finding some way to freak them out instead. So I guess... if I'm doing that, you don't have to keep it to yourself. I can handle it.

[Noelle realizes she's stopped walking. She blinks... then catches up to Shoka. She can't hold her hand, but she does look her intently in her real eyes.]

Shoka, what are you talking about? I mean... sure, you scared me a few times. And sometimes you're kinda sarcastic? But I like that you speak your mind! I... I'm really not good at it. And I get scared really easily. And I'm kind of a wimp...

[Agh, she shouldn't be getting down on herself. This is about Shoka!! She redoubles her efforts!]

But you've really been nice to me! When I first got here, I was so confused and disoriented... I don't think I could have managed. But you were there for me, even after I froze you! And when you scare me, I kind of... like it? I mean... [She backpedals a little.] It reminds me of how my neighbor used to play pranks on me, so it's kind of nostalgic. And it's cool seeing you use your ghost powers! I guess it's like... I don't mind being scared if it's by you. Because you would never really hurt me. You protected me today, and I feel safe around you...

[What was it Shoka called her? A 'motormouth'? Noelle feels her face heating up.] I'll, um. I'll shut up now.

[From nearby, Zubat goes "Awww...". Noelle gives them a death glare.]

[Shoka stares back, her eyes doubtful, but wide with surprise. Beholden, almost... Up until Noelle keeps going and fidgeting with one ear just isn't enough. Averting her gaze, Shoka tugs compulsively down on both ears, forcing her disguise-head into a bow that obscures her real eyes. She apparently isn't used to hearing so many good things said about her. Still, she manages a snort of amusement.]

Are you kidding? You were so far from a wimp today. And we bagged our new party member, right? So give yourself a little more credit, would ya?

[Her tail swings once left, then right like a metronome, waving its extra branches. The single flower, still proudly in bloom, doesn't lose a single one of its petals. Distantly, she wonders if it's here to stay.

Her voice shrinks in her throat.] If you're really sure about all that, then... Thanks. It—means a lot to me. Really.

[And that's enough feelings talk for her, apparently, because she immediately follows that up by teasing:]

Guess I should make it a point to freak you out more often, then.

Only if you're okay with me getting you back, fahaha!

[Relief washes over her that Shoka seemed to believe her words. Not that she was lying, but-- that could have gone a lot worse. This time, blabbing paid off!

Her words imply that she's about to prank Shoka immediately, but... she can't do something like tickle her- like her sister did to her when she was young- without fingers. And tripping her feels too mean.

Instead, she falls a little behind in step for a minute. When Shoka turns around, she does a little leap forward.]

BOO!

I'd like to see you try!

[She means it, but she also doesn't really expect Noelle to try right now. So when Noelle slows, she turns around, a touch concerned—and then springs several inches up into the air like a startled cat, her shadows standing on end.]

What the hell—?!

Gotcha! [She can't help but burst out laughing. Her costume looks more like a mouse, but she jumped in the air like a cat!

... That might have been dangerous, actually, if Shoka had lashed out in surprise. Fortunately, that didn't happen.]

[When she lands, Shoka looks a bit like a sea urchin half-wrapped in a pillow case. She... can't believe that actually got her that bad. Definitely one for the cringe compilation.

Faintly embarrassed, she huffs—and then she hears Noelle laughing. It's not an unkind sound. It's... kind of nice, actually. A ripple of pale color passes through her form, like static across an old TV screen, before her shadows smooth themselves out again.]

Yeah, yeah, ya got me... Fair's fair and all. But you are so gonna regret that.

O-okay! I mean, um? I'll look forward to it...? [What is she saying??

... Well, it might not be so bad if it's Shoka. She prances the rest of the way back to town, clearly very happy despite the injuries.]

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[Closed] Quest: Play Nice

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