bottlecaplogs | Dolly's February and March Catchall~

Good grief, poor Dolly is hiding big time at the Archives, burying herself in research or crafts at this point really to avoid talking about what happened with the Grumpearls (she still has hers banished to the Poffin jar.)

Perhaps you remember a particularly helpful primordial fish in a grand museum? Either that or you may have had a visitor in your own dream that seems incredibly similar to someone you know? Either that or you're just bored and the weird merging of crafts n' research as drawn your attention.

Whichever the case, hey Dolly, you have company coming your way!

It was no secret, Dolly wasn't a fighter at all, she really wasn't the kind to battle. Alas, the fates as she put it was a hideous lot with a humor to match as she trotted along side Parvati towards the harbor where the Luvdiscs were attacking.

It'd be a bit away till they'd reach the harbor, so perhaps a little conversation should pass the time?

"So, you wanna talk about potentially building a printing press? I think that was something we had in mind last month during the foraging job?"

"What, like, where to put it?"

Parvati's geared up for a lot of squishing, by contrast. "I was thinking like, the post office? The Archives would be good if we made more than one. But I ain't wanting to make it an exclusive thing." She shrugs. "The materials wouldn't be difficult, I think I have some leftovers." She doesn't want to go and murder more Corviknights right now. And, in turn, she doesn't particularly want to give Polteageist another thing to leer over other guilds as a coveted exclusivity.

She actually knows how printing presses work, unlike the water pump which took a lot of brain wracking and a month to just get designed. So hopefully, drawing it up and getting the idea approved by the post office wouldn't take much time. "Why, you have anythin' in mind?"

"Absolutely and exactly. I have to agree with you about having the printing press being something of open access to anyone that needs it. The Post office is a good pick or if the crafting club has a building, we could station it there as well until more can be made."

Dolly...yeah she really isn't looking much like she could fight worth a lick of anything really. She was, however, ready to brainstorm some ideas and potentials for the printing press as well as some usage for it. There are definitely a few (try many) ideas Dolly has so far for it.

"I do, think we could make a mini prototype printing press as a visual aid and something to demonstrate with when we bring up the idea?"

"I mean. The clubs don't have specific buildings to my knowledge." She tilts her head awkwardly. She's just been doing her pottery for her plants wherever they decide to meet up. "I was thinking the post office for like, ease of access and stuff? Besides, giving it to a club would defeat the purpose of it being somethin' everyone can use? So." A shrug.

She adjusts her hammer's position on her shoulder, flexing slightly. "I mean, I'm sure somebody around here would know what it is. The Pokemon here are refugees from a place with humans." And considering how essential printing as a general concept is to human communications, it's not too out-there. "It's not too different to hand printing, anyroad."

"That's a good point, though I thought the hobby clubs were opened to everyone? In any case, I'm fully opened to having it at the post office." Well that was news to Dolly about the clubs, she believed they had been opened to everyone. Oh well, new information to take note of for future references.

There's a bit of a stretch from Dolly before she resumes walking along, she was still getting used to the four legs instead of two deal. Hmmm...okay that's a good point and Dolly wasn't sure what phase in time where printing presses were common place or not. "You made a good point, they likely had seen them before."

"There's that and the mini would make handling tablets easier for us that are smaller than most."

"Didn't say they weren't." It's moreso the fact that it could be monopolised by the club, and the last thing Parvati wants is the horrors of capitalism to spread quite that badly. By her own hand no less. Nope.

"I doubt the folks using the tablets would wanna give up writing it by hand, they get funny about it." Well, most of them anyway. "I just figured it'd make paper a lot easier for folks who can't write. I was talkin' about it with Laios, he can't write with those paws. Being able to print posters with it would probably make life a lot easier - more quests, too." Not that printing on clay would be impossible, mind. She can't imagine it'd be difficult. "You ever used one before?"

"Hmmm...we'd have to figure how to do interchangeable letters then for that one then. Do you think Mightyena would allow us to have some metal ore to make some casts with?" Dolly's back to thinking about it as...having no thumbs are not fun, at all. It was a blessing Dolly had the ribbon feelers that she could use for manipulating objects with and write.

"Another option if we aren't able to get the metal for it would possibly be using clay, but that would have to be remade regularly due to lifespan and potential frequent usages."

Parvati can't help but snort. "Letters are interchangeable anyway. They'd be a real useless invention if they could only print one thing over and over." She gestures vaguely with her free hand. "You lay 'em out on the paper and then press down with the machinery." Or roll it out, depending on the type.

"I made the pump in the Oran tunnels out of Corviknight bones, you know. It's got metallic properties. Hammer's made out of it too." She flexes it again for emphasis. She's probably got spares of it lying about, the number of them she took out was. Excessive in hindsight. "We could probably make the letters out of like, wood. Or somethin'." Enlist some people to help with the carving - plus the whole postcard making angle she'd discussed with Laios before.

"I had no clue about the Corviknight bones being made of metal, I think we should go ahead and use that then for the castings." A pause for thought before bringing it up, "I love wood carvings, we have a few Pokemon that could utilize their claws for potential carved printing blocks, I feel like it's something Mayaka would enjoy."

Oh here comes the harbor! Goodness, they really weren't joking about the Luvdiscs attacking and....why are they fixated on attractions? Well that sure is a weird reason...

"Well, they're not metal exactly and I'd really rather--" she's cut off before she can finish. Wood carvings. Right. "Yeah. I ain't too familiar with the process of that, but I'm sure others'd be happy to step in and help."

Parvati looks up when she finally hears all of the Luvdiscs yelling. "Oh, yikes." Love is in the air? Wrong! Hydro Pump! And pretty bad, too. She's not surprised, but the frequency with which entire packs of wild Pokemon go berserk like this begins to beg concern within her. "I'll take the front."

"Sweet Mac Lir!" Time to dodge the attacks with these heart shaped weirdos.

Love is a lie from these fish, there is only VIOLENCE AND WOE! Yeah no, there's absolutely no visible way of talking this one out. "Right, I'll have your side then! I can get the weaponized iridescence up and going.." Peace very much was not an option with these fish despite the heart shapes...

((CW for Memory Loss and Auditory Hallucinations!!))

Having to defend themselves to gather info? CHECK!

Ominous Shadows and flickers of ribbons leading the group deeper into the woods? DOUBLE CHECK!

Now for eerie ringing sounds in the forest....

Definitely what a horror they outpour when the ringing started out in the woods. This bodes well, so totally well, no fear here! Deep breath in, deep breath out, get that light screen up. All good now, it's working...for now....

Over the course of the dread beast called time, it seemed to finally get to Dolly as she starts wandering off course...Dolly get back here! You're too small and snatchable to be wandering on your own!

Edited (grammar attack and needing the CW!) 2026-02-15 18:37 (UTC)

Even when he's as prepared as can be, Cedric can't help but be nervous. He's no stranger to fights, but even with magic he has often been overpowered by enemies - what's stopping that from happening again, when this seems more intimidating than your average Pokémon? Overall, he stays quiet in order to desperately concentrate on something other than that infernal ringing.

That is, until he notices Dolly trailing away from them, taking the Light Screen with her. Shield aside, this is very unlike someone who's usually so good at communicating what she's doing, so he frantically flaps to catch up with her.

"Dolly, where are you going?! We have to stick together or else we'll all get lost!"

The thing about Siffrin is: while they've also been getting affected, they are very familiar with forgetting things, sometimes outright mid-conversation. And they still can't help but try to hide it - out of habit, out of the urge to not be a problem...

In any case, up until now - particularly shielded behind Dolly's Light Screen - they've been managing okay. When in doubt, go along with what everyone else is doing until you figure out what's going on! It does mean they've been been fluctuating in how helpful they're being, taking the lead more actively some times than others, but (they hope) not too noticeably.

It's been getting worse, though. As Dolly starts to wander off, taking away the protection of her Light Screen, they shake their head, ears folded back. Then they bound to catch up to her and Cedric, reflexively.

What were they doing again - oh, right, tracking a Pokemon. They can still see those weird streamers through the forest's shadows, they just need to focus on those.

"Hey, gingersnap - it's to the right."

Dolly stops in mid trot and looks up innocently with the wide Sylveon eyes at Cedric and Siffrin, confused by that.

"I thought it was this way? Weren't we supposed to turn here?"

How odd...how strange. Backing up, Dolly goes to return to the main group of Siffrin and Cedric. There's a moment of Dolly shaking her head a bit, her ears feel off like they've been popped suddenly. Oh well, she's ready and rearing to continue to do...what were they doing again?

...Oh right..track a Pokemon...? Doesn't sound correct...maybe it's the musician, Prince?

Yep, going with that! It felt right..maybe? It's fine, definitely fine, no worries about Dolly here! "Which direction are we going again?"

He stares in disbelief. Why does she seem so out of it? She wasn't like this moments before, what's changed?

Siffrin's statement encourages him to point with a wing for emphasis as he flies ahead to guide her. "Yes, right! Right is right! Can't you see the streamers? We've been following them this whole time!"

Or perhaps her own personal streamers are distracting her? But why?

"Did you not sleep well this morning?"

...streamers? Oh, those streamers. What were they doing following the streamers - no, right, they're tracking a Pokemon.

Siffrin shakes their head again, more noticeably this time. This is weird. This isn't the part of the woods that's usually the most confusing, right...? This is the part of the woods with the anger-inducing... mushrooms...

A patch of which Dolly is right about to walk through while returning to the two of them. Siffrin makes a startled sound that's almost a "wait" but not quite, but they just can't think of a warning that won't take too long to say aloud. So out of instinct they dart toward Dolly, dodging around the mushroom patch and yanking her off the ground by the looser fur at the back of her neck and shoulders.

They don't exactly make a habit of scruffing people, or even of much physical contact, so they overestimate how heavy Dolly will be and nearly overbalance by putting too much force into it. Fortunately, even with their own disorientation, they still have their sense of balance and manage to stay on their feet.

But having a mouthful of fur does mean they can't actually explain themself. "Mmph."

Up goes a Dolly in the scruff, a soft 'eep' sound coming out of her from being startled. Upside, Dolly is saved from the dread rage mushrooms! She is such a tiny Sylveon though as she gets carried back to the group.

Deep breath in...deep breath out...there we go, Dolly is getting herself grounded from the surprise scruffing. She looks up to Cedric though to finally answer him.

"I don't think anyone has slept well ever since the Grumpearl malfunction...that wasn't very ideal to go through. I still have the pearl imprisoned in the Poffin jar."

Dolly was definitely planning on treating herself to either PokePuffs to Poffins once this was completed...whatever this was anyways...Oh right hunting a musician in the woods.

Dolly's "Eep!" causes him to turn around and see... well. Sylveon are scruffable, he supposes, but it still feels strange witnessing it in the flesh. It's a bit unorthodox, but he's silently grateful for Siffrin taking such initiative.

The mention of the Grumpearls, however, makes him flap more aggressively. "Oh, don't remind me! What a mess! Had to clean up my whole bed after the last one!"

Is it just him, or is the ringing getting louder? That's probably why he raises his voice as he adds, "L-let's keep going! I can see the streamers now, just follow my lead so we stick together!"

"Mmph," Siffrin responds. Which seems to be them agreeing.

They trot after Cedric readily enough, though it shortly becomes more and more evident that after every burst of ringing they're slowing, looking around in confusion - and then catching sight of Cedric and racing to catch up, trying to act as if there's nothing wrong.

...it's probably most noticeable to Dolly, still being carried, but then again - is she actually going to remember that in between ringing sounds herself?

The ringing continues to grow. Finally, one round of it breaks through Dolly's Light Screen enough that Siffrin outright stops, letting go of her. They fold their ears down, wincing, and squint their eyes shut. When the ringing settles and Siffrin opens their working eye again, their gaze darts between Dolly and Cedric, confused.

What were they doing...? Are they supposed to be staying here with Dolly, or following Cedric?

Woah what was going on with Siffrin? Dolly between noticing and forgetting, wasn't paying attention as the Light Screen breaks....DOWN GOES DOLLY! She tumbles a bit from the sudden drop before looking up...

Wait, why was there an awful ringing sound!? Is this an Edgar Allan Poe interpretation gone wrong!? Dolly wished the sound cancelling head phones were here as she starts trying to cover her ears to make it stop. Make it stop, make it stop, make it stop....

Soon as the nightmare fuel sound settles...Dolly looks between Siffrin and Cedric, completely confused....What were they supposed to do again??

Sweet Mac Lir, her ears were ringing big time...So much ringing...

"...Are we supposed to stay here or go somewhere else?"

Cedric has been muttering to himself to try and ignore the ringing - but he can't ignore that noise he just heard, so he stops again, turns around, and-

Wait, why did Siffrin drop Dolly? Why is her Light Screen gone?

And why are neither of them moving?

"But, you two were just following m- oh, what's wrong with you both? You're acting like you've completely forgotten why we're here in the first place!"

Siffrin... refrains from flinching this time, out of practice. They teeter between the urge to be apologetic (but don't say sorry, they're not supposed to say sorry, they're just supposed to do better) and the urge to get defensive and bite back at Cedric with a distraction.

"We're..."

Their eye catches on a fluttering streamer. Right! See, they do remember why they're here!

"- following streamers." (Why...?)

The bells ring again, even more loudly, and Siffrin braces themself against it. But as the sound ends, their expression goes confused all over again.

"....I thought it was a rogue musician?"

And...damn it here comes those bells again! Hahahahaha! Dolly definitely is wanting her PokePuffs after this is done! What a terrible Edgar Allan Poe loving musician this was! Does the old poet and gothic romantic writer injustice!

Once the ringing was over...Dolly was back to square one of forgetting what they were doing, following the streamers. Clearly it was a rogue pop idol of some kind in the woods, maybe hunting them all for sport.

Curses and drats with a side of tinnitus, this was not a very fun trip to the forest at all and Dolly had no clue why as she looks right back at her two teammates.

At this rate, Dolly might as well accidentally learn Baby Doll Eyes..

"Were we about to head back?"

Edited (typo :x) 2026-02-17 05:09 (UTC)

Dolly's February and March Catchall~

Good Morning, Starshine~ (Post Dreamshare and Opened to all)

Tough Luv (Closed to Parvati)

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How They Clang, and Clash, and Roar! (Ringing Risk closed to Siffrin and Cedric :3c)

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delivers the Dolly scruffing

The Dolly has been Scruffed!

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