bottlecaplogs | Flowey December Catch-All

[Flowey and Kris have been diligently avoiding each other since their last confrontation. But when Tenna finally finishes his new TV studio, both of themselves seem to find themselves there. Flowey, in particular, has arrived to be a hater.

When he spots Kris approaching, though, he turns with as menacing a grin as he can muster.] So you've come crawling back. Let me guess: you can't take waiting any longer, wondering what horrible thing I'm going to do to you. Isn't that it...?

[With how eager their soul was to make up with Noelle, they couldn't help but worry it'd act the same with Flowey... but their paths never seemed to cross. Maybe it doesn't want to aggravate him further, or maybe it just doesn't know where to look—whatever the reason for it, they're not going to complain. They don't want to see him. They don't want to think about it.

Flowey is the furthest thing from their mind when they come to the studio. Unfortunately, that just means they're completely blindsided when he suddenly approaches them. Their head snaps up from the signup list, a flicker of bewilderment before their expression hardens.]

... Already told Noelle. Don't care anymore.

[They force themselves to look away, back to focusing on the signup list they still can't read. They don't want to talk to him. They came here for a distraction, not this.]

Did you REALLY think that telling HER would ruin my plan? Of course you care. I felt it.

[His evil smile fades a little realizing 1. Kris can't see it, and 2. Kris isn't looking anyway. His eye drifts to the signup sheet.]

... Say. How about a game, pal? [He writes his name down using a vine. He writes Kris's down, too. Their choices don't matter.] Unless you're scared of being humiliated in front of a live studio audience.

[They keep their head stubbornly locked in place, refusing to give Flowey any of their attention. He's just trying to get a rise out of them—reacting will only tell him that he's right. If they can control nothing else about their actions, they can at least control this.

They're determined to keep giving him nothing... but his next proposal catches them off guard. A game. The quiet scratch of a pen. Mentions of a live studio audience. The fact that they're already here, in Tenna's studio, in front of what they can only assume is the sign-ups. It's not hard to figure out what he's alluding to.

... it's a stupid thing to fall for, but they break, turning their head slightly in his direction.]

Really good at games. [Despite the flatness of their tone, there's a certain confident edge to their words that could only come from someone controlled by the kind of sicko that resets the whole level every time they miss a note in a rhythm game. If they can only trust their soul with one thing, surely it's this.]

[Are they? Or is it?]

We'll see about that! Hee hee!

[A new employee- shocking that anyone signed up to work for this loser, Flowey thinks- comes to usher them to the green room. Another employee stops by with a glass of water for Kris and a sprinkle from the watering can for Flowey.

After they manage to get Flowey to stop biting the employee who watered him, they're on stage before a live studio audience! Although it's not as flashy or hi-tech as the studio Kris remembers- Tadbulbs shine down on the stage, a Grumpearl acts as a camera, a Loudred seems to amplify their voices- it's the first time Flowey's ever seen it. Reminds him of Mettaton, but... older.

Tenna asks them to enter their names, giving a sidelong glance at Kris. Unlike before, they have to write their names on a slate. Flowey quickly begins to write, a wicked smile on his face.]

[Even though it's cold, Flowey still has to keep himself busy! That's how he finds himself hopping along a forest trail with Eleanor, who he forced to carry the basket. (Though perhaps it's more of a group effort, given her flippers...)]

Keep an eye out for any mushrooms. It doesn't matter if they're poisonous. Those are useful, too!

Dare I ask how?

[ she isn't struggling that much with the basket, surprisingly. it's still noticeable that she is, but she seems to be getting the hang of her newfound brionne balancing abilities relatively quick. but, poisonous mushrooms? granted, she has only heard of such things in stories, but still. poison is a pretty standard concept, and an eve hypo may well be poison. ]

Hee hee... you really want to know? It's...

[Dramatic pause.]

... for medicines, obviously! The clinic knows how to make use of them WITHOUT killing anyone. Let's just not get them mixed up with the ones for eating, hee hee!

I'll defer to you for that, then. I wouldn't know the difference, unfortunately. I know you can't eat spotty ones, but that's it.

[ and that's not even considering if that's still true of this world. ] Why, are you looking to score some brownie points?

It can be a dog-eat-dog world out here, even if everything seems all friendly and cuddly on the surface. I've been working my stem off to get Guildmaster Ribombee to acknowledge me instead of write me off as a weak little seed. [He's more than willing to grumble. He still does think the world is beautiful, like they discussed... but he's not naive, even if he has the smallest shred of optimism left in him.]

[ dog eaters, huh? where's she heard that one before. ]

But the dog-eaters wear human-- er, Pokemon-- skin. So they look just like us. [ she pauses. ] You don't need to prove yourself to anyone, you know. It's not worth the stress.

[Her second comment makes him pause. If he wasn't working hard to prove himself, what would he be doing? He's come so far already. And he's just enough of a little contrarian to know about the sunk cost fallacy, but still.]

... interesting thing you said about dog-eaters. [Maybe that's easier to talk about.]

So I've been told, since I was a girl. [ she offers a shrug, moving ahead slightly to see if she can spot any mushrooms to point out. ] That's something my...

[ a pause. ] ...my mother used to tell me. I never believed in it, so I looked for myself. How could they be any different to me, I thought. And I was right - they weren't.

[He catches that hesitation around 'mother'. Interesting-- and not a sentiment too foreign to him.]

... They aren't. [Suddenly, he feels a certain weight on his back.] Smart of you to have figured that out so young.

[He seems a little awkward, then. He points out a few good mushrooms for her to pick.]

... What about a father?

It's complicated. [ the topic of subject delta is still pretty sore to her, even if it has been a little while. ] I never knew my "real" father, I don't think I ever had one.

[ she shuffles over to pick some of the mushrooms, tugging them out of the ground with her flippers, before shuffling back over. ]

I had a father of sorts, he was probably the closest I ever had. His name was Delta.

[This certainly feels like a complicated subject-- he should probably consider it a testament to the bond they formed during the blizzard that she's telling him at all.

Since she's opening up, he might as well offer a token of information also in kind.]

... yeah? Sounds like he was important to you. [He catches the use of past tense.] I had parents, once, but not anymore. They... haha. Let's just say they turned out to be 'dog eaters' of a sort, too.

That always seems to be the way of it.

[ that's what happened to her mother, after all. and so many before her. she's gone ahead a little bit, having a bit too much fun finding and grabbing mushrooms. like a scavenger hunt! ]

I'm sorry that... whatever happened, happened. [ she's not one to pry too much. she worries she's already said too much already, even without much context. ] Is that why you said you didn't want to go home?

Heh. That's part of it. My 'parents' stopped being my parents a long time ago. It's more that there's just no place for me in that world. [This is said very matter-of-factly.] At least here, I've got something to do. Things I can accomplish. [He picks another mushroom and sets it aside.]

... And don't think you have to pity me. I don't want it. Sometimes, this is just how things work out.

Most people don't take such things in stride. I probably wouldn't. [ she didn't, even. more mushrooms for the basket. ] Besides, if you've found purpose here then your family doesn't matter.

Oh, um. We're going to sort through them later, I'm guessing?

Yep! Hee hee! [... Somehow, that may not be 100% convincing.]

... Anyway, enough about all that! It's another beautiful Winter day! How are the new Guild accommodations?

Not bad, all things considered. I'd forgotten how much I missed sharing. [ having her own space was. never a good thing. ] The rooms, I mean.

[ she's dragging the basket over to a rather large bounty she's found all the while. ] Between you and me, yours is a bit nicer.

Obviously. I busted my stem to get mid-tier accommodations. [Even before that, he had to be the one to take initiative on the roofing project.] I guess if you ever get tired of all the roommates, you can come crash at my place. Sometimes. If you ask nicely!

I suppose you don't have an arse to bust. [ this is a comment made with zero forethought whatsoever. can seeds have butts? more at 3. ]

Would snacks suffice as a tried and true sleepover offering?

Pff-- ha! [That gets him, but 'arse' makes him laugh even more. He nearly drops all the mushrooms he's collected.]

Hee-- sure. I'll take snacks.

[ well, now that he's laughing she's got to laugh to! she's not even sure what they're laughing at! ]

Any preference on the snacks? A favourite berry I ought to know about, that sort of thing. [ eleanor scoots over to grab a mushroom that fell from his bundle. ] My bribe must be most perfect, or I shall never enter your lair.

Aw, shucks! Since you asked so nicely-- spicy stuff is great! Ever had spicy malasadas? A good Tamato Berry? Though I don't mind regular ol' sweet snacks, too. [All he does is eat hot chip and lie.] Got any favorites yet?

You know, I've never had spicy food before. [ she tilts her head to the side. ] Maybe I'll have to try it. But as far as favourites... maybe the hot pot will end up as that. Not really tried enough.

[ no spicy food and for what. girlish whimsy? ]

The more time you spend here, the more you'll get to try! [It's something, at least, to keep one's mind off of the endless paths in front of them.] I'll look forward to learning what your real preferences are... hee hee.

Heh, me too. [ it's a nice thing to focus on. ]

[So maybe he 'had fun' and failed to kill this kid once. Whatever. That just means he'll drag it out, like the good old days-- really get this kid to trust him, and then stab him in the back when he least expects it.

Right now, he'll make a useful tool for gathering moss. Flowey rides on his back, avoiding the cold snow.]

The good stuff is deeper in the forest. Don't worry, I have PLENTY of experience finding moss. [That's how he'll get away with poisoning Kris. (So he thinks, at least.)]

Edited 2025-12-11 00:33 (UTC)

[As far as people he thinks will kill him go, Flowey is still nowhere near that list. The Pokémon world has been pretty nice in that regard, everyone's been so...friendly and kind. It's...a welcoming change to what he's used to, he could get used to this peaceful stuff.

So Aegiomon's head is held high as he trots through the snow, heading for the forest in question. Occasionally a vine might pop out from his leaves to steady Flowey in case the terrain makes the ride a little bumpy.]

I'm really glad you wanted to do this with me, Flowey. I don't know anything about moss.

[He doesn't know anything about anything, but that's besides the point.]

So, uh...do you know why someone would want so much moss in the first place? I think it said something about taste, but people don't actually eat this stuff...right?

[He's spent time spying on Kris, trying to find a secret weakness... and observed them eating moss. Gross.] Normal people don't. [He'll leave it at that.]

[The forest is tranquil today under a fresh blanket of snow. Flowey is able to point out all the best moss, and they work on gathering it together. All seems well... until a big, mean Spearow swoops down and knocks Flowey off of Aegiomon's back with a powerful Peck. He goes tumbling away, cursing, pursued by the Spearow. This would be a great time for a brave new friend of his to save him.]

[It happens so fast. One minute, everything's fine and they're collecting a bunch of moss, being pals, making fun of someone's dietary needs. Next? B-Bird attack??? Specifically towards Flowey? Who could ever have beef with such a cute little guy like Flowey?!]

Hey, you jerk!! Leave him alone!!

[Aegiomon doesn't hesitate to step in to help his friend, galloping at full speed. Glaring, teeth bared, there's a fire in his eyes and....sparks at his hooves? Yup, those are definitely sparks, and Aegiomon doesn't seem to notice them, too focused on protecting his buddy. The sparks quickly rise up his legs, building higher and higher until they take over his whole body. What first looked like something that was about to be a simple Tackle has actually become a full-blown Wild Charge. Aegiomon slams his electrified body into the offending bird in hopes to fling it away, sliding to a stop to immediately check up on the tiny Sunkern.]

Flowey, Flowey! Are you okay?! [He lifts his head to check if the Spearow is still nearby, positioning himself over Flowey without really thinking.] Just stay behind me, I got you.

[The Wild Charge is incredibly powerful and very unexpected for the Spearow-- one second, it thinks it sees easy pickings, and the next, it's being hit with a Super Effective attack!

The Spearow flies up on a high branch and settles down to Roost. It picks out some of its charred feathers and heals off a bit of the damage. Although it's largely out of reach, it calls down to them: "Get out of my forest or I'm calling backup!"]

Uggghh... that was a stupid cheap shot from a stupid bird... [His first instinct, naturally, is vengeance. He admires that Aegiomon taught that Spearow a lesson!

... but then, uncharacteristically, he hesitates. He has dealt with Spearow before, and while they're usually nuisances alone, they're deadly if they gather in a big flock-- especially with Fearow.]

... maybe we should cut our losses.

[He's surprised by the words as soon as they leave his mouth. He could have told Aegiomon to charge and left him to be killed by the Spearow and Fearow... but he wants to be the one to kill him. Surely, that's it.]

Edited (forgot an important line i wanted to add) 2025-12-23 19:38 (UTC)

Flowey December Catch-All

IT'S! TV!! TIME!!! (with Kris)

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Holiday Hotpot (with Eleanor)

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ready to wrap?

works for me!

What Must Be, Moss Be (with Aegiomon)

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