bottlecaplogs | november catchall

[ Emmet has been ahead of Ingo in the rankings for a little while now! This cannot stand! Or, at least, Ingo can't stand losing without at least making a serious effort!

So, he'll be spending a fair amount of time on simple quests around the city this month. The Typhlosion has taken to wearing a black hat, shaped like his old one but far newer, but he's still foregoing his scarf. At least for a Hisuian fire-type, it's not that cold just yet. He ambles along, half-searching for loose fur from the shedding populace, and half-looking for someone to brush properly. ]

I am available to tend to your fur, if you would like! I am working on collecting it for the winter.

[ He'll also be out searching for materials for Parvati's pump. It's an exciting project! He may have moved out of the lower chambers already, but Ingo remembers the damp and cold of the beginner Oran quarters well. He's happy to help with anything that can improve their lot!

As it stands now, he's leaving the easier pickings to other questers, instead digging about in the dirt for stones containing iron ore. ]

I have heard that Corviknight feathers can be found around here as well!

[ Ingo has always kept some extra supplies - first in the shared entry-level quarters, and now in the more private chamber he shares with Emmet. Before, it was only a small amount, but the pile has been steadily growing as the weather chills. This month, he seems to be going into overdrive about it; he can often be found carrying large bundles of dried fruit or plants (or meat, though he keeps these packages wrapped out of politeness) through the halls. Some of these go to his own store; quite a few also go into the kitchens. It's...maybe a little too much.

Still, he continues busying himself with it, never offering any sort of explanation. Though if anybody seems particularly interested, he does offer: ]

I can teach you how to make this yourself, if you would like!

Of course, the weather Ingo was trying so hard to prepare for does eventually come. This is when he can be found wandering the tunnels, checking in on everyone else!

Do you have enough food set by?

[ He's got enough that he can probably share!

Otherwise, he spends a fair amount of time in the lower levels, where the stones are cold and often damp. It's unpleasant. It's especially unpleasant for him as a fire-type, but that's also why he's uniquely suited to help in this way. So he'll go down and lay in chambers where others might be trying to relax, lighting the flames around his neck to start radiating heat.

He doesn't always announce himself, while he's doing this. Being snowed in is starting to get to him a bit; often, he just curls up and dozes off regardless of the actual time. What else is there to do? ]

[ Having taken a nasty Bite while fighting some Arctibax with Shoka, Ingo has ended up in the clinic for the first time for a few months now! The Forest seemed to have it out for him, but he's had better luck since they forged through it. He supposes it was about time something like this happened.

Still, it isn't so bad! Only a Bite, and not even from a Dark-type! He's laying stretched out along a bed, one foreleg bandaged up, but he's quite awake and in good spirits! He still appreciates any visitors, though! ]

Ah, hello! I am quite alright, do not worry!

[ By the time Emmet returned to their shared lodgings, whenever he did so on the night of the festival, Ingo was curled up tightly and fast asleep. Or pretending to be asleep. It comes out the same either way.

Afterwards, he's just gone on as if none of it ever happened. Maybe he's a little quiet, but that's not unreasonable. A lot of things have happened, haven't they? He's just very, very eager to get out of Skull Town and make the trip back to the Bay for the rest of the winter. The business with Froslass bothers him, now that his head is more clear...he hasn't said much about that, either, but he's packed to go very early on the day of their planned departure. He'll wait with his bags for the rest of the caravan to gather, turned away from town to peer into the shadows of the forest. Strange, to find himself so eager now to go in there... ]

[ It is surprisingly difficult to pin down Ingo for a serious conversation. Not as soon as Emmet would like, anyway, the Typhlosion well asleep by the time he'd returned, and then distant thereafter. It always seems like there is something for them to do, or it is never a good time, other people around, something.

And then it comes time to return to the bay for the time being. Has he let Ingo avoid this for that long? ... Should he just leave it be? Sure it has not been an issue yet, but ...

Well. They will see. ]

I am Emmet. You are verrrrry ready to go, it looks like. [ he says, practically trotting up with his own bags ready. ] You know. Some people are not even going to be awake for a while yet?

[ Not avoiding anyone, are we? ]

It is always best to set out early!

[ He used to sleep in late, when he could, back in Unova. Not that he knows that now, of course. Ingo still wouldn't call himself a morning person exactly; you just don't have that many options when you live in a tent.

It's been nice to lie in here, when he can. But he hasn't lost the ability to make an early start yet! ]

And I am quite ready to leave this outpost. It has seemed quite ill-fated, between Malamar and Lady Froslass. [ ... ] Froslass.

[ Ugh. Did that habit get that ingrained? Ingo's fairly sure she is no longer compelling him, but... ]

Has it really been so bad? ... We will probably have to return. You know. Further exploration past what tracks have already been traveled.

[ Much more practical to set out from this station than the bay. Still. Froslass was ... Froslass certainly was something, but in the end, there was not truly ill intent, nor was the bay or outpost truly harmed as a whole? On an individual level, though, there are a good number of them who ...

Emmet shakes his head a little. Mm. Complicated. He isn't sure how he feels about it all either. But picking a fight with the entire native ghost population ... that seems pretty ill-advised. ]

How have you been doing? It has been hard to find the chance to talk, it seems like.

[ This is not an accusation, but it is direct. ]

This is no time of year to begin new expeditions!

[ They should have a few months to hunker down in the Bay before they need to worry about anything more. A few months of rest, if indeed the depths of winter can be considered restful. Ingo thinks that should do him some good. He's been tired, lately. ]

I am well enough, though I am sure I will be tired this evening. And yourself?

Not now, sure. But eventually. You know.

[ It is not like they will avoid the outpost forever. He tilts his head before continuing. ]

I am Emmet. I am fine. You, however. 'Well enough' does not mean one-hundred percent operating capacity. Not even close.

Talk to me?

[ There's barely anyone else awake yet, maybe a couple of fellow early birds. They have time and space both. ]

Ah, just a bit tired. It is quite early still.

[ This is not untrue! But as far as Ingo's concerned, there's nothing else that they need to discuss! ]

And whose fault is that?

[ Lightly. It really is just meant to be teasing— who, exactly, is the one that got up early enough that it pulled Emmet out of his own slumber, hm? ]

... You have been quiet lately. Usually that means you are just thinking about things. But you have been quiet for a while now.

[ Whatever the reason, he's been keeping things to himself, which... mmm. Maybe he isn't thinking about it at all, or maybe he's thinking too hard on it. And Emmet knows, from personal experience, how mulling on the same things over and over...

Well. No need to drag that up. ]

Talk. I will listen?

I could not sleep!

[ Too excited to leave? Or just...well, it doesn't matter. Except that now Emmet is choosing to try and make him talk about things.

That's fine. There's surely something to discuss. ]

Hm. Well. I will have to start preparing for the winter when we return - it's already quite late in the season for it, though I think that the Guild stores should make up for much of it.

But you ... do not wish to be a burden or strain on those stores? [ he is guessing, based on some of the other things he's noticed Ingo Skwovetting away, other little habits. ] Is that what it is?

[ Because preparing, when the stores seem fine ... or maybe Emmet is just not a good gauge of this? ]

Yes, of course! Those are for those who cannot provide for themselves!

[ He can, so he should! ]

Okay...

[ All right, that's probably a valid concern ... Ingo would know and Emmet wouldn't, here. Which means Emmet should also pitch in when they get back, right?

But also. ]

That cannot be all that has been bothering you, though.

I would not say that it is bothering me! Merely something to be mindful of!

[ Very mindful, granted. But it's winter! It happens every year! ]

Right. But something that is 'merely' something to be mindful of. I do not think it would have distracted you this much.

[ Therefore: ]

So there is something else still.

No, no, not at all! I am sorry if I have been quiet!

[ Clearly he needs to get over himself! Move on! All of that! ]

It ... isn't something you need to be sorry about?

[ But all right. He'll just come right out with it; he's never been good with gentle or subtle. ]

... Ingo. I will be clear. You have been distant since the festival ended. I do not think the timing is a coincidence.

So ... what is wrong?

Nothing is wrong!

[ How could anything be wrong? Everything that happened that night was entirely correct. Ingo did the right thing by leaving; Emmet did the right thing by spending that precious time with his brother. He has no business being bothered about any of it!

Even if he did, it'd be unbearably petty. The other Ingo is gone now. He doesn't want to admit something so mean-spirited to Emmet. He doesn't want to fight either, so he aims for conciliatory: ]

I apologize, Emmet. I will try and do better.

Why are you apologizing? You have done nothing wrong. You are not being judged. It is not about having to do better.

[ Is. Is Ingo worried about not getting a good grade in brotherhood, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve? ]

I am just worried. Even minor misalignments may lead to bigger trouble further down the line. ... is it something you think you cannot tell me?

It has clearly upset you! Of course I will try to fix it!

[ He's not even sure how to address the other question. Admitting that much is basically the same as just spilling his guts about how awful he is outright! So he is ignoring it to focus on the other bit! ]

Acting like nothing is wrong is not fixing it.

[ He'd know! ]

It is also— not about me. Should not be. Mmm. It does not sound to me like you are conducting proper maintenance on yourself. But I do not want for the only reason that you would do that to be because of me...?

[ He is not sure that he said that right, but... sure, he's worried, but it shouldn't matter whether he's upset or not— he would like for Ingo to think to take care of himself for himself? Like, what if something happened to Emmet? ]

[ Ingo cocks his head slightly. He feels like he's been taking care of himself reasonably well, in spite of everything? Feeling sorry for himself does not keep him from doing that. ]

I suppose I have not been sleeping as well as I might, but I am sure that will settle itself in time!

november catchall

quests! (woolly gathering and parvati's quest)

winter is coming (oran berries) (cw: probable discussion of past food insecurity)

snowed in (oran berry hq)

clinic (post-Shoka quest)

post-festival (backdated to Skull Town, for Emmet)

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