[closed] while the snow falls all around me

[outbounds]

Who: Emmet, Laios, Ingo
What: Play Nice and Exploration: Blue, for now
When: various points in August
Where: Middle Forest, uncharted territory past the Southern Outpost at current
Warnings: Cold weather environmental hazards; to be added if they come up

play nice (for laios)

[ So the guilds are looking to expand! Makes sense. Makes sense if they're intending to scale up operations as the town expands past the immediate area that they've well and mapped out by now. If they are to continue on these tracks then of course they are going to need more members to avoid being spread too thin, possibly on a little more reliable of a basis than 'every other month when strange things start happening.'

That still doesn't mean they know who or what they're looking out for, exactly! What sort of roles the guilds need filled, if there's any specificity in traits or abilities they should be on the lookout for or if they just need to bolster numbers in general. At least that means they have free choice of where to head? ]

It's cleared up a lot here from how it used to be... [ Emmet notes, picking his way carefully across the earth. Every now and then he'll eye the ground a little dubiously, but whatever he's waiting for or expecting to happen never seems to. So, after each of these moments his ears just flick a little as if to dismiss them. ] But anyway. What sort of Pokémon do you want to run into, you think?

exploration: blue (for ingo)

[ Uncharted territory again! It's been a while since they last ventured forth into the unknown. This time ... they are probably more prepared for it? It's a scouting mission, once again, so there is no imminent peril or time pressure.

Being surrounded by trees is familiar enough. What isn't is the drop in temperatures, especially given the season. And soon enough the familiar sight of densely wooded forest begins to give way to thinner vegetation, the few trees remaining growing gnarled and stripped barren. Snow is starting to collect on the twisting branches.

Emmet's ears twitch a little as he tilts his head back to take a look up at the sky above. Snow, huh. Not hail, at least, and not storming, but... ]

Knew it was to be expected, but. I am Emmet. Suddenly I am glad for all this fur.

Comments

[dunchies]

[ His tail flicks, remembering the stories from the local residents, remebering the ominous thoughts from one particular quest: No, no, not again—

What kind of Pokémon were here first, exactly? It's something to chew on later, at least, when not in the middle of a fight. With Emmet safely in shadow, Laios keeps focus on the Archen. An excellent pivot in the air! He'd say as much too, if he wasn't focused on the oncoming attack now directed at him. There's no time to dodge with that speed. Instead, his fur begins to bristle with electricity. But, before he has a chance to unleash it, Emmet re-emerges with a note to consider. ]

—hn. [ He hesitates. The build up stalls. Discharge is a widespread move with only a chance of paralysis, that much he knows. The Archen flies right at him with no initial counter. While Laios stumbles back from the blow, he handles the hit well, enough to quickly snap back into action.

Unfortunately, the EDM trick he learned from Siffrin is not a viable move in these conditions, but it did help him figure out how to better hone in his energy. His nose twitches before he leaps right at the Archen, pinning the Pokémon down while he's still close. He lowers his head, going in not for Bite, but a Nuzzle. A smile crosses his face despite the Archen's obvious distress. (Such rough feathers... they really are a Rock-type.)

A bit distracted now, Laios doesn't manage to stop them from finally pulling away. They try to flutter back up — albeit a bit more awkwardly, a bit more slowly — shuddering all the while. ]

Did that—? [ With enough height and distance, they try for another Rock Slide this time. ] They're still going for it!

[outbounds]

Then we match them! [ Determined little thing, isn't it? Emmet can't help but grin a bit wider despite the fact that it's probably partially responsible for why the Archen is so spooked to begin with, but, well. It's charming; it's endearing. ] Dragon Claw from earlier— means they do have a decent amount of experience in battle!

[ A surprisingly high amount, actually, to still be unevolved. Personal preference, or something else? And they are on their own...?

(What happened to the rest of their flock?)

Emmet darts his way through the hail of stone in a way similar to Laios earlier, though he also doesn't quite manage to avoid all of it. As he does, his smile grows fanged, gaze sharpening while (is it a trick of the light?) the air around him seems to grow a bit darker. Specifically focusing on the moments of when it was responsible for a badly timed flinch, or when it'd missed at a critical juncture... Rock Slide is, perhaps, not known to always be the most reliable of moves, and there's enough remembered feeling there to fuel a burst of Spite. His eyes flash, the malicious energy briefly taking form with a faraway, echoing cackle that doesn't quite sound like anyone in particular. ]

Very well done so far, but! No more of that, little passenger!

[ If the intent is to try to fight despite the paralysis by staying at range, allow him to close off those particular tracks and limit their options! They appear daunted enough, between that and the worsening struggle to stay afloat, visibly steeling themselves with a deep breath —

and letting it plume out toward the two canines on the exhale in a stream of bright, blue-purple draconic flame. ]