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

[bladeofnymeia]

[Firoza had just been taking some sun, really. Taking a breather, letting the wind hit her face for once...let's say Akari approaches from the left, because after a moment, Firoza notices her presence, eyes prickling on her, and she hastily pulls a blue bandana from around her neck over her snout.]

Erm, help? No...I'm well, thank you. Did you need some help?

[Just turn the question around on ya there.]

[arceusstansme]

Not at all!

[She said, trying to place her nubby little nub arms on her waist.]

I figured since I just came here, I should really work on everyone's quality of life. Like, have you seen the buildings here?

[You know, Akari isn't going to take offense to the sudden bandana over snout with Firoza.]

Like, you know, people get comfortable and let everything get gross. So I am fixing that.

[The Cyndaquil sounds like a teenager, shouldn't she be hanging out in front of clothiers talking about who is the hottest gladiator on the bloodsands?]

[seacub]

And you know what?? Who can blame Akari for assuming a tiny cubone needs help, if the cubone isn't wearing the skull. Peeled. Peeled cubone, that's what this is, and sure the skull is hanging on his back like a morbid backpack but that isn't where cubone helmets go.

They go on heads.

Clearly, something is wrong, even as the little scarred up cubone says- "Oh. Uh...not really? I'm just looking for someone who does hat orders, I should be fine."

[arceusstansme]

A Cubone without its skull on? That is weird and creepy. Stop being peeled.

"You thought of wearing your natural hat?" She questioned, gesturing vaguely at the skull.

"Like, I am looking for a hat or a bandana or something. I don't like having a breeze on my everything."

[seacub]

"Huh?"

Give him a second.

"Oh- no, it's not for me...I'm scoping out the options so I can recommend a place to my roommate." Anasui cannot be trusted to socialize, he simply cannot.

Anyway. "...And...the helmet is kind of heavy? And honestly really vision limiting, so I try not to wear it if I'm in town..."

Ahh, but that aside, he does gesture to the place he was considering walking in on just now. "If you're looking for stufd though, we could go together? I at least know where most of the stores are..."

Just a matter of if they can tailor a weird hat, in his case.

[arceusstansme]

"Yeah, but it's kinda weird to see a Cubone with that off. Not going to lie." Unnatural!

"Thanks, I should take a moment and get dressed, look at me, I look stupid. But cute. Separate categories, not same." Like Ingo, who looked like her starter first partner Pokémon now, which only made her want to call him stupid cute.

"We can go together, shopping trip. We can look fresh."

[seacub]

"So I've been told," he grumbles quietly, looking away as he does so. "Not like it isn't weirder to have people assume it was your mom..."

Not even the right bone for that!

"Mnh..." He looks Akari over. Honestly, he can see the 'cute' part, maybe. But... "...You kind of remind me of a shrew?"

He tilts his head. "....The snout and eyes mostly... ...I wonder if you'd be able to sense things the same way shrews can. They're really good with their smell and hearing, which helps for foraging," he rambles, nodding to himself.

And then of course the kid realizes he's rambling. "U-uh, anyway. Let's go inside...I'm not really sure about getting anything for myself, I didn't really think about clothes that much back home..."

[arceusstansme]

"I am so not a shrew."

Akari doesn't know what a shrew is. But also, he is right. In both the animal and the Shakespearian way. She is a shrew.

"I am a Cyndaquil." Obviously.

"And like, you're not sure? You're naked. Like, we all look like morons running around without pants when we know what those are. Except for the guy who would lick his own butt, but like, he is the exception, not the rule."

Sorry Firepaw.

"Also, nothing is cuter than a Pokémon in a hat."

[seacub]

"I mean, I didn't say you were one... ...just that the pokemon you are looks a lot like it. We didn't have pokemon where I lived, just normal, non powered animals..."

He is fortunately, despite being baby, pretty well versed in cutting remarks. Anasui (and the rest of prison) raised him well(???)

"...Most of the citizens don't wear clothes either? I mean, clothes were really made for humans to protect themselves in the first place," that and societal modesty he supposes, "So it's really not that strange as a pokemon!"

Really though, he just doesn't know what he'd wear.

[arceusstansme]

"Oh, you're from the freakish place with no Pokémon."

Which Akari has been made aware of, and it still boggles her. Like, how do they survive without powers? Not even a simple shock or something to cause a flinch to survive. That is so weird.

"I wear clothes because they look cute and make me look cuter."

Humble, isn't she? But also, as soon as she could, she did get rid of the potato shoes and put on some proper ones.

"I know you need clothes thick enough to survive being attacked and stuff, but also, it's nice to walk into town and people being like 'Who is she? This beauty queen?' and guess what, it's me. Like, boys need the chance to dress up. We're going shopping, we're going to make you look fresh and you'll understand."

[seacub]

Primarily the power of pepper spray.

And g- "Yeah. ...I think most of us here are in that situation actually."

Mmm, he does consider that, though. "Oh! I mean, if you want to dress up, you should! I was just... ...I mean, to reiterate, I really mean it when I say I never thought about it. Being seen was...kind of the opposite of what I wanted..."

[arceusstansme]

"Why so?"

Traumatic backstory? Please, spill the tea. She tries to look a little concerned.

"You should think about it now. Yeah, the skull bag makes you stand out, but in a morbid way. You don't want to be known as the creepy kid who hangs out in graveyards and steal bones or something."

[offtracks]

[Ingo, quite frankly, spends a lot of his days doing something similar. He's got a more relaxed pace about it, but he also knows the value of proving your worth early on. Not everyone in the Pearl Clan was as willing to accept him without question as Irida.

Presumably he's someone she wouldn't approach for help - that's not really something he's ever needed from her, unless battling in an attempt to regain memories counts - but he does wander over at some point when neither of them is on a job.]

You seem to be keeping busy already! I have seen you all over town today!

[dripdrive]

Much like Akari, Anasui is new and also quick to adapt to the situation at hand. However, very much unlike her, he is far less willing to help out. Yes, he's been volunteering at the medical center, but he's been just doing his fair share, not bustling for yet another task.

Thankfully, he's done for the day. Good. His headache is getting worse. The Espathra stops outside the clinic, and closes his eyes, as if that will settle his throbbing headache.

No such luck. However, when he opens them, he will notice Akari. The long-necked Pokemon turns to Akari and scowls.

"... Help? Do I look like I need help?" Someone is cranky~

[arceusstansme]

[It is obvious though she is happy to see Ingo approach as she happily scurries around him like an excited child.]

Yeah. You know me, total 'A' type personality. Got to get the folks here to know who they can call on when they need help.

[arceusstansme]

And she isn't scared to call him out on it.

"Grouchy, do you like- need me to go get you a berry because you're not yourself when hungry?"

She doesn't back down at the scowl, either, there are people she respects more with more intense resting bitch faces and Anasui isn't on the list.

But also, Akari, you're a foot and a half tall, the Espathra could probably punt you over a house (she dares you).

"Need me to find a blanket so you can take a nap?"

[seacub]

"I just didn't want to die."

NORMAL THINGS.

But, anyway, he scratches his head. "...well...I keep the helmet because it's at least good for protection when I need it... ...but I still really don't know where I'd start for anything else..."

[arceusstansme]

"Well, like, yeah. Join the club. Not dying is pretty cool."

She looks the Cubone up and down, and going by the voice-

"You're like what? 10? Let's get you a mascot shirt. Everyone loves mascot shirts. Also, a hat remembers 90 percent of fashion is how you accessorize."

[seacub]

"Twelve, actually."

Beat.

"...I think? It was hard to estimate."

There's a lot to unpack there, but hey, mascot shirts! "...Do you think they have mascot shirts here..?"

He's not acknowledging hats. No!!! He won't!

[arceusstansme]

"Yeah, age estimations kinda stink. When Cyllene met me, she was like 'You look 15.' and I was like, 'A'ight, cool.'"

So Akari is not going to worry about the age guessing because she has been there.

"Yeah, I will bet a berry we will find at least three shirts with a Pikachu on it. Everyone loves a Pikachu."

[seacub]

To that, he just nods.

"...It's probably a lot harder right now, huh. Do pokemon actually age the way humans do..?"

Hmm. Hmmmmmm.

....Hmmmmmmmm. "............what kind of berry?"

Look he has to know if he'll enjoy the berry on a sucker's bet.

[arceusstansme]

Akari thinks for a moment, "Pecha."

She knows even if she looses the bet, she could probably find Ingo with a Pecha berry someplace close by she could bum off him. Plus, Pecha berries were nice.

"And previously being humans would add into that confusion too. Like, I would assume one level per year of life, but here we are."

[seacub]

A sweet berry!

That should be fine, as long as it isn't sour. He just nods.

And then blinks. "Leve- Oh, right. I think I heard those mentioned... ...how do you even measure 'level'?"

[arceusstansme]

"Like, it's kinda obvious, especially as you figure out 'moves'." She explained.

"Or like, where they are with their evolution. Like Ingo is a Typhlosion, so he is level 36 at least."

[seacub]

"Huh..."

Huhhhhhh...

He ponders this.

"....What would you say about a Cubone that doesn't have ground moves?"

The answer in fact depends on how well Emporio can throw.