Earning her keep

[arceusstansme]

Who: Akari and any poor sod who crosses her path.
What: Akari is here to prove her worth to Bottlecap Bay. Whether you like it or not.
Where: Bottlecap Bay
When: Sometime during April (all of it)
Warnings: Swearing, the traumas:tm:



Some people (or, well, Pokémon) would take a day or two to adjust to having their bodies shaped into something new and thrown into a new location. Maybe take a moment to adjust to any weird dysmorphia about suddenly having no fingers or being a sentient bag of garbage (which, let's be real, isn't a change for some people.)

Akari on the other hand started to work. Someone needed a berry delivered from point A to point B without being eaten somewhere in the middle? Akari was on it. Needed someone to go tell their kid who was playing dangerously close to a ledge to stop it? Akari was already there. It didn't matter; it seemed like the moment someone looked mildly uncomfortable, the Cyndaquil was already there trying to fix an ill or find something.

It would be impressive if it seemed like she took a break. Or if she didn't seem like she was just sitting in traffic waiting for a light to turn as she listened to whatever someone needed. It was also obvious she was also trying to make sure the task was done 100 percent, even if she checked back in with the person like she was throwing a cigarette butt at them when she was done.

That was just the nature of her. Sometimes you might see her resting her feet for a second or two; other times you might see her waiting for someone or something to appear to give a message or deliver something. Or sometimes, she might stop and stare at you for a moment before asking if you needed help.

Comments

[offtracks]

That sounds like fun! We should do it!

[arceusstansme]

Alright, where do we start? I should get myself a backpack for all the things I will gather.

[A backpack her size would hold one berry.]

[offtracks]

Yes, they have those! I have one myself - I will have to fetch it. But perhaps we can find one for you first!

[In his experience, she'll probably need some help getting the thing on, at least at first.]

[arceusstansme]

Ingo, you're always the best.

[She said quite happily. Again, only four people she respects, and two of them always changes. Ingo is always on the list. He understands how to battle and is creative with how he battles, too. Although the Path of Solitude for Magikarp was mean.]

[offtracks]

Ah - ! Well, thank you! That is very kind!

[Let's go pick up that bag, then!]

[arceusstansme]

[She follows after Ingo, then she realizes something.]

Hey, hey. You should introduce me to your brother. So I can vibe check him.

[It's less vibe checking and more just wanting to see who this man that somehow stood out in Ingo's mind is. It's nice that Ingo found family, she never thought about if she had her own family that she left behind before she arrived in Hisui.]

We could battle.

[Girl, no. You only have normal type moves.]

[offtracks]

Ah! Yes, I should - he is also very interested in battling!

[Ingo is too, of course, but this seems like a good point in common between the two of them.]

I suppose I ought to mention...he has become a Zoroark.

[arceusstansme]

[She knew the story of Zoroarks. The Baneful Fox. She remembered at Lake Acuity going in and the Alpha Zoroark standing there, eyes glowing red.]

[She felt empathy for the Pokémon. The anger in her chest at the time from being escorted out still, despite Volo and Cyllene helping her.]

Does he hold grudges?

[She tried to keep her tone light-]

[offtracks]

Not that I am aware of!

[He's also trying to act like it's all just jokes! Even though he knows they ain't!]

[arceusstansme]

It would be good to know that, that's why I am here to vibe check. I know I'm a Cyndaquil because I am adorable.

[offtracks]

I am not sure why I am a Typhlosion! At first I thought it was because of my old partner, but Emmet says that was an entirely different Pokemon.

[arceusstansme]

[SHE THOUGHT IT WAS A TYPHLOSION TOO.]

What? Really? Spill!

[offtracks]

It was another ghost and fire-type, called a Chandelure! He says it looks like a chandelier...black with purple flames.

[He still doesn't feel like he can really picture it.]

[arceusstansme]

That sounds very 'Hot Topic' of you, Ingo.

[Were you an Emo boy Ingo? Did you listen to 'My Potion Romance' and 'Good Charmander'?]

Maybe we can find a book or ask around to see if anyone knows?

[offtracks]

Maybe so! I know that there are not any living around here, I have already looked. But perhaps there is a picture to be found!

[arceusstansme]

Alright, first bag, then book, then gathering.

[She was making her mental checklist.]

Wait, your brother is a Zoroark, couldn't he just, like, shapeshift into one?

[offtracks]

He has not really gotten the hang of doing that yet! Though he did mention that he would like to show me that way, when he does.

[arceusstansme]

Good on him for having a goal. But until then, we can find a book about it. Did he tell you anything else about your Pokémon back in Unova? I imagine you had more than one because you understand we can have up to six Pokémon to battle with.

[No one else seemed to understand that, except Volo, but like- she is over Volo!]

[offtracks]

He did! There was...well, they were all also Pokemon I have not heard of before, quite frankly. One of them was a dragon! Several steel-types as well.

[He must have always had a fondness for them! Even if he didn't really seek out either Probopass or Magnezone intentionally...]

[arceusstansme]

A dragon? Fun! Same with steel types. Looks like you are ready to get revenge if a fairy type brings down your dragon.

[offtracks]

Quite so!

[Not that any of that matters here and now...]

[arceusstansme]

[It's still fun to talk about!]

I am still so happy for you.

[She is serious about this!]

You deserved a dub.

[offtracks]

A dub?

[arceusstansme]

[Akari sometimes forgets that Arceus just didn't run a magnet over her memories like whatever happened to Ingo, while she couldn't remember personal details for some reason other things seemed to leak over.]

A win!

[offtracks]

Ah! Yes, indeed! There is no further need to try and cudgel my own memories!

[Not that he's...really remembered anything else, even with Emmet here. But it feels perhaps slightly less vital when Emmet can fill him in. Should he feel bad about that...?]