bottlecaplogs | October Catchall! (a Mix of Open and Closed)

Oh! That makes a lot of sense to them. Siffrin nods. There must be a blacksmith (or blacksmiths), if there were metal tools! Maybe not a lot of blacksmiths, since most stuff around the Bay that can be made of wood instead is, but...

"Let's forge ahead to the Spire, then!"

They pick up the pace a little bit, bounding ahead. Maybe the Oran Berries have a front desk that they've missed before, like the Cheri Berries do?

(Dolly's mental song probably isn't entirely off of what goes on down in the Spire tunnels...)

In Dolly's mind, it was a logical conclusion. If there's tools, then there had to be blacksmiths here crafting or repairing them. Let's see if there are fabled blacksmith Pokemon in Bottlecap Bay!

"Definitely, let's solder on over to the Spire! I've been curious what it's like since hearing the name."

Oh, the pace is picking up a bit? Here comes Dolly switching over to this little hop skip motion to keep up...okay that is pretty adorable with the short legs. What was the Oran Berry front desk like? Dolly was sure going to find out pretty soon!

(Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to the Spire we go~)

The answer is: there doesn't appear to be a front desk, actually...

Siffrin scans the walls of the main above-ground building, looking for a desk at both sides - they've always kind of rushed through before. They're pretty sure they'd remember seeing a desk anyway, but their memory is terrible...

No desks, though, they were right the first time! And it doesn't look like there's anyone around right now, either, though Siffrin's definitely seen Pokemon in this room before. There's only the ribbons and mementos on the walls.

Hmm. "I guess we keep going down, then...?"

Were there large rooms off to the sides, when they made their way down to the lower levels to visit people? They feel like there were... Siffrin glances behind themself, then leans to check outside the Spire's door. Where did A.B.A go? She would be able to tell them if there's a tool storage area or blacksmith in here, she lives here.

...oh, there she is, in a heated argument with a Decidueye about keys. She doesn't look like she's going to be amenable to interruptions. Hmm. That might take a while, perhaps they should keep going anyway and circle back to her if they actually find the Klefki...

Woah...no desk? Then again, Oran Berry seems to be the party guild where anarchy reigns. This makes sense to Dolly a little bit, maybe they should ask the Guild Master..?

"That's a good idea, maybe we'll run into the Guild Master? She might know where the Blacksmiths might be at."

Back to following Siffrin along the Spiral's interior, oh hey...what did happen to A.B.A? Oh..Oh dear Mac Lir she's off picking an argument over the Klefki. What exactly did this Klefki do to get this much attention? Was it the supermodel of the Pokemon world?

Dolly was more than happy to leave A.B.A be with the great Klefki argument, it was such a thing to witness. Maybe if they're both super lucky, that Klefki will show up?

Well at least, that's the best Dolly could hope for if Klefki was feeling particularly eager to meet up with A.B.A. That's really the only thing Dolly can best hope for anyways.

"I wonder if it's looking for A.B.A too?"

Siffrin opens their mouth, then closes it. They... get the feeling the Klefki is going to be nowhere near as excited, to put it mildly....... which isn't stopping them from doing this, because they care about A.B.A's opinion more, but.

...no comment! Going down the spiral instead!

There's a dining hall, that's definitely not where tools are stored... another hallway where all the doors seem to be locked, that might be right but they're not going to have any luck without someone with keys (heh heh) to let them in...

Alright, further down, then. Uh oh. Here's where the tunnels branching off the main spiral start to get really confusing. So easy to get lost! But... there is a distant ringing sound, like metal being smacked against something. Sounds promising! They just have to find the room it's coming from...

Deeper and deeper still, down the Spiral they go to look for a maybe Blacksmith shop for a Klefki that possibly deeply offended A.B.A or not...it was really hard to say!

Following Siffrin's lead, Dolly goes along towards the metallic smacking sound. It had been some time since she last heard or even smelled a blacksmith shop, it was oddly nostalgic. Humans really do speed through progression in some pretty shocking rates, Dolly was just there for the ride.

"Think that's where the Blacksmith is?" It was less of a question and more of a reaffirmation for Dolly to make sure that was the correct assumption. It really has been a long time.

Yep, here comes that bitter and sandy aftertaste that comes with saying time once again.

"It must be, right...?"

Siffrin trots down the tunnel, their ear twitching as the sound gets louder. But they never actually get all the way there, because right as they're passing by, a door along the hallway opens - and Klefki comes out.

Siffrin freezes, one paw raised, apparently completely taken aback by how easy this was.

Klefki jumpscare surprise was a thing after all as Dolly popcorn bounces a bit from the sudden appearance! Yep, Dolly was starting to see why this A.B.A person was wanting to hunt this one down!

"Sweet Mac Lir! Okay...Klefki found...now what?"

Dolly glances over to Siffrin for whatever idea they had with dealing with the Klefki..Dolly is learning she did not care much for Klefki.

Siffrin meets eyes with Dolly for a second, then seems to realize that this is probably going to be on them. They bounce a single step closer to Klefki.

"Um! Hello. We... met on the wagon at Skull Town...?" Belatedly, they're suddenly afraid this isn't the same Klefki. Would be really embarrassing if it weren't! Their tail starts twitching nervously.

Fortunately for Siffrin's anxiety, the Klekfi does seem to recognize them. "Oh. It's you."

A pause. "...what did you want?"

Siffrin's tail resumes twitching, after having temporarily stopped. "Oh! ...we have a friend outside who wants to meet you?"

What a wonderful omen for how this interaction with Klefki was going to be! Dolly's eyes met with Siffrin's for a moment, concerns about how Klefki was going to react.

"Yes, our good friend over there would love to meet up with you. She seemed to have taken a shine to you it would seem."

Yep, Dolly's nervous punning is kicking in, hoping it would convince Klefki that there's nothing a miss here with good ol' A.B.A hunting the key based Pokemon down.

This definitely was a wonderful step in the right direction, most certainly is! Dolly's ribbon feelers even goes to direct Kleki's eye line (at least assuming Klefki has eyes of some kind) towards where A.B.A was.

For a few moments Klefki seems confused... and then narrows their... eyes(? extra keyholes?)

"Is your friend the tall Pokemon that's fixated on keys?"

Uh oh. They've heard of her. They've probably been deliberately avoiding her. Siffrin doesn't manage to hide whatever expression they make fast enough, and the Klefki hunches its keyring.

"Absolutely not! I don't want to know what she'd do to me!"

"I'm sure it'd be fine...? A.B.A. is nice..." Siffrin suggests weakly.

Oh right, fae have to tell the truth no matter what...shit, "She's been so motivated and determined to meet you. It'd break A.B.A's heart to hear that though."

Dolly definitely is going to do her best in convincing the already uneasy Klefki...maybe twirling the flesh bows might help? That seems to be a soothing thing right? RIGHT?

"Could you please come visit A.B.A with us? I'm sure she's much more pleasant than what she's acting at the moment."

One more try to reason before calming flesh bows are brought out.

"Maybe she should have her heart broken," Klefki comments darkly. Then they make an alarmed sound, keys jingling and then standing out in all directions. Siffrin follows Klefki's gaze behind themself - oh, A.B.A's catching up to the three of them!

Klefki instantly darts off into one of the supply rooms, dodging Siffrin's instinctual attempt to get in the way. There's a clatter of wood, some rustling sounds, and then silence.

Oh... Siffrin gives Dolly a resigned look and leads the way into the supply room.

It's big! Lots of stored wood, mostly in some kind of processed form - lumber, dowels, things like that - and lots of stone... do you want big old blocks, or finely milled gravel? There's piles of both. There's also some fabric, rolled carefully and kept in the driest corner so it doesn't go moldy. There's no metal, it must be locked up somewhere else...

There's no other doors out, at least. So Klefki must be in here somewhere. Where did they go?

RUN AWAY KLEFKI! Okay...maybe A.B.A is a bit too eager for Klefki's liking and what in the Stellar Sea was that noise it made!? Awfulness that was to Dolly's ears for sure!

Maybe Klefki did deserve the A.B.A affection after all for that one..

Dolly looks at the resigned Siffrin and understood in her shocked state, they both were going to have to go after that rather salty Klefki. Sorry Klefki, a job is a job! Hopefully Klefki will understand her hunting them down, right?

It'll be considered even payment for the ear disturbance from earlier that's for sure as Dolly followed Siffrin into the supply room...is this now an eye spy game?

"Should we look along the small spaces? Klefki could fit into there pretty well if they're hiding."

That would make sense, right? Siffrin nods.

"There were a lot of wood sounds, so maybe they're near something like that?" And since they made noises at all, probably near something that looks disturbed...

Unfortunately, most of the room looks disturbed. It's pretty well-organized in terms of similar things being stored together, but Pokemon paws aren't all good at keeping things neatly stacked. A lot are in messy piles.

Siffrin heads off along one side of the room, squinting into little gaps in the wooden piles with their ears perked. They try sniffing the air once, but Klefki... mostly just smells of metal... and with the entire room smelling of materials, including metal, they can't pin the Pokemon down to any part of the room.

"That makes sense, they were pretty hasty with the fleeing..." Dolly looks over the pretty well disturbed room. Clearly, Klefki was in the anti-A.B.A brigade of sorts and wasn't going to give in without a fight or at least be as much of a nuisance as possible. Oh well, time for Klefki to stop whining and get abducted by the very quirky Silvally.

Following Siffrin's lead, Dolly goes sniffing along the wood piles, trying to pick out a metallic scent that Klefki likely had. Dolly was definitely thanking her lucky stars and the Stellar Sea that she was in a form where sniffing like this was socially normal.

Ears were being kept peeled for that infernal clattering sound that wretched little gremlin made beforehand....Dolly isn't going to forget that one for a very long time.

Unknowingly and on its own, the ribbon feelers on Dolly's body dangled low and twirled a bit, acting like a lure in a way...maybe just maybe it'll coax the booger out.

Either the two search quietly for long enough that Klefki decides to check that they've left, or Dolly's ribbon feeler lure works. Whatever it is, the Pokemon peeks their head out from a wood pile.

Nearly right in front of Siffrin's face.

Siffrin makes a wordless but audible exclamation (kind of like a "!!") and pounces. Klefki just barely dodges their paws and goes skidding out, diving into a mound of fired clay bricks next - but this pile has gaps that are plenty easy enough for Dolly to reach into with her ribbons. And now they know where Klefki is.

OH! There's that little key of ~~agony~~ happiness! Dolly goes to carefully stalk over there with her ribbon feelers at the ready. There is a trained and patient focused look on Dolly's face as she gently extends the ribbon feeler towards the Klefki.

Completely calming, definitely soothing and so totally not a thing of nightmares the ribbon feeler coming towards the Klefki for the grabbing.

Come on Klefki, don't you want to be held by the ~~flesh bows~~ pretty ribbon of calmness? Its so welcoming and pretty to look at too!

Siffrin circles the brick pile - they don't trust that Klefki won't jump out of another gap.

As it turns out, though, that's not necessary; while Klefki seems to be planning to do exactly that, they don't realize how far in Dolly's ribbons can reach. They're not even looking in her direction, so they're completely taken off guard when she grabs them.

"Hey!! Let go of me!"

Klefki squirms, but... there's really not a lot of squirming that a keyring can do. They're kind of just rotating in Dolly's grip.

Maybe when the Grumpig brothers fly, but Dolly isn't letting that Klefki go right away. No, this is the passive anger of a fae in action, just smiling away with that firm but gentle hold. What the worst that'll happen to Kleki? Get told how much A.B.A adores the little critter? They'll be fine.

"Oh, don't worry, I'll let you go once we see A.B.A shortly."

Dolly's attention returns to Siffrin, her mood brightens a bit for them as she holds up the dreadful Klefki.

"I think we're good to return to A.B.A with Klefki now."

October Catchall! (a Mix of Open and Closed)

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We're off to kidnap Klefki~ The Wonderful Klefki for A.B.A~

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My brain decided to read that as 'Then out jumped a SKELETON!' for no reason ;_;

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