April Catch-All

[loopsiedaisy]

Who: Siffrin and Laios, Guilmon, Courier Six, Firoza. (And maybe more later!)
What: Navigating the Canopy and quests.
Where: Canopy, cliffs, and the forest.
When: Throughout April.
Warnings: Siffrin's usual warnings may come up, but nothing else specific yet.

Comments

For Laios

[loopsiedaisy]

[It is late at night. Siffrin is trying to navigate a particularly narrow vine bridge. They're a little bit lost: they know more or less where they're headed, to get back to the platform where there's a bed assigned to them... but they've gotten turned around in the maze of bridges. Every time they think they've gotten closer it turns out they're at a dead end platform.]

[It's also been drizzling, on and off. The walkways and vines are all wet, and they're having to be really careful about where they put their paws. Because of this, they don't notice Laios until they nearly walk right into him.]

[Looking up directly into the chest of a dog twice their size makes them react, instinctively; Siffrin folds their ears down, hisses, and jumps back. And, of course, promptly slips - their left two paws land on nothing but empty air, they smack into the "handrail" vine and slip underneath, and suddenly they're holding on to the walkway by nothing more than one wedged back paw.]

[UM.]

[dunchies]

[ Admittedly, Laios was still finding himself half-turned around the Canopy. It would become intuitive eventually, so his guildmates have said; but, with his focus solely on balancing with four feet that were definitely not made for climbing, the layout had yet to stick. Just wanting to sleep turned every night into another adventure.

The rain tonight is just an added bonus for his troubles. While mindful of the now-sleek walkways, he pauses every once in a while, unable to stop the instinct to shake off however much water accumulated on his fur. As waterdrops and electro-sparks fly off him, he closes his eyes, oblivious to the fact that he wasn't the only one trying to get to bed. The sudden hiss makes him jolt back, eyes now wide-open just in time to witness the Shinx fall over in front of him. ]

—hey!

[ He tries to jump forward over the railing of vines, paws outstretched like hands until he remembers again that he doesn't exactly have those anymore. But it's too late; his back legs struggle to pull him back up, quickly losing traction against gravity. He tumbles over next, taking some of the vines with him as a few snap and wrap around his body like cords. Once the whole series of unfortunate events finally stops, it takes a minute for his heart to start again. The vines precariously sway with Laios tangled up in them, and rather than look below, he looks at poor Siffrin dangling by a literal paw.]

Um. [ He's read your mind, Siffrin. ] I think we're stuck. [ Either he's trying (poorly) to diffuse the situation or it hasn't fully sunk in yet. ]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Siffrin flinches at the sound of snapping greenery. They try to swing themself back and forth to snag another vine, then immediately stop when they feel their wedged foot start to slip - instead, they clench their eyes shut and go tense, waiting for the bridge to unwind entirely and send everyone tumbling to the forest floor.]

[When the noise fades away and they're still dangling, Siffrin cautiously cracks open their good eye.]

You think??

[Okay, okay, Siffrin, calm down. This isn't the dog's fault, you fell first. Take a deep breath in, let it out... pheeew.]

[Their heart's still racing, but they feel a bit calmer. Alright. Now what?]

[The logical thing to do here would be to yell for help. But Siffrin doesn't want another person to see that they messed up and slipped. And... would anyone even hear them over the rain? It sounds like it's intensifying. So instead...]

Hey. Can you tell how stable you are, right now? [They should probably figure that out before either of them try to do... well, anything, really.]

[On the bright side (teehee!), Shinxes start to glow when they're in danger. As the two dangle, Siffrin's fur slowly begins to illuminate their surroundings.]

[dunchies]

... Sorry. I know. [ Laios deflates, sounding like a child being reprimanded for using can I instead of may I. If he had just paused a quick second sooner, he could have kept himself from falling, he thinks, but too late for that now. Surely they couldn't be the first this has happened to. There had to be a way to get out of this, but the lack of thumbs was going to make it all the more difficult. Then, his ears twitch as the rain starts to hit harder. Of course. ]

My lower body and left arm are pretty snagged. [ He tries to wriggle slightly to adjust himself, but the creaking above keeps him from moving much more. For now, he's very much just a dog awkwardly stuck in a precarious baby swing. ] I don't think the vines are going to give for now unless the bridge goes.

[ The sudden light emanating from Siffrin catches him a bit off-guard before he can ask about how they're feeling. He squints, going slightly off-topic instead. ] What is that? What're you doing?

[loopsiedaisy]

[This is new!! It's not that Siffrin hasn't been in danger before, but this is the first time it's happened since they recovered from being fog-sick. Apparently their body was conserving its energy.]

Um. Glowing?? [Apparently??]

[They wriggle again, alarmed and trying to figure out where on their body the glowing is coming from. (The answer is: all of it.) And also again, they have to stop abruptly as soon as their foot starts to slip.]

[Okay, if they don't figure this out in the next minute or so, they are going to fall. Worrying about the glowing in a second! Priorities! At least it makes it easier to actually pick out vines from the dark surroundings, and easier to tell which ones are close.]

[Siffrin finds the nearest sturdy-looking vine - definitely out of reach - and resignedly tracks the length of it down to where the end dangles near Laios's right forepaw.]

[Their shoulders hunch up awkwardly, but they do ask:] Can you reach that vine? To your right? [And pull it closer?]

[dunchies]

Ah. So cool... [ He stares, maybe for a bit too long. Fully distracted now, he muses over the monsters in his mental catalogue to find one with a similar ability, as if there aren't more pressing matters first. ] Like a defense mechanism. Maybe even some sort of distress call. [ Seeing Siffrin struggle and almost slip snaps him out of it, though. Startled at first, he lets out a sigh in relief, glancing at the vine in question. ]

Y-yeah, I think I can— [ He leans himself toward his right, brows furrowing when he finds it just barely out of reach. ] —ugh.

[ The vines wrapped around him start to sway again. He works quickly to nip at few of them, just enough to loosen their pull, before trying again. With a bit more mobility this time, he reaches with his free arm, awkwardly wrapping it around the vine and leaning back. For good measure, he bites down on it once it's close enough for more stability, grimacing at the taste as he looks back up at the Shinx. ]

Mmf? [ Now really isn't the time to be talking, so instead he looks back and forth between Siffrin and the vine, hoping this is what they had in mind in the first place. ]

[loopsiedaisy]

[...what? What is he talking about?]

[Okay, no, no, focus. Siffrin very carefully stretches out a paw, trying to move the back half of their body as little as possible, and just barely snags the vine with their claws. They tug it closer, transferring over their other forepaw, then the dangling back one, and then -]

[Freeing their wedged paw relieves pressure, letting blood go rushing back in, and abruptly it is extremely painful. Siffrin yelps involuntary, their grip on the vine loosening. They catch it again before they just drop, but they're sent sliding down, claws not having a chance to dig in as much as they should.]

[There's several much less sturdy vines in the way, ones that wouldn't have held them up if they just fell right onto them - but sliding down, like this, only makes them tangled. They jerk to a halt practically right over Laios's head, now equally caught.]

[...really?]

Urgh. [At least their paw is free. And they're not dangling vertically anymore.]

[A second or two later, Siffrin's eye widens, and then they're squirming around to flip themself over inside the vines. All of that didn't knock Laios loose, right? Or - yank out his teeth, or something? Can they see?] Are you okay?

For Guilmon (A Shell-fish Request)

[loopsiedaisy]

[This feels like it shouldn't be a quest. Or, well, clearly it is one, but it feels like it maybe shouldn't be on the board? Siffrin's gotten the feeling that the little bay city of Pokemon is balanced precariously among its surroundings, and needs people gathering supplies or fighting back the forest. In comparison, just going to get some views of the ocean for a Numel... it's kind of making them feel guilty, like they're not working hard enough.]

[But they were told at the clinic to take it easier, to start, so something simple and relaxing it is! (Little do they know.)]

[Getting several views from the beach itself was easy enough, as was one from the top of the cliffs - Siffrin and Guilmon just had to make their way up to the Oran Berry base. But now Siffrin is peering over the edge of the cliff.]

[The Numel enthusiastically requested a better view from partway down, of the surf crashing against the cliffside. The trouble is: there's no actual path.]

I think we can make it down this way...? It'll be easier than climbing up from the beach.

[guilmon]

[Hmm... It's tricky! Guilmon was told he should be careful about water. He gives a passing glance to the fire at the tip of his tail.

Fortunately, Guilmon does have claws. He looks down a t them, thoughtful.]

What if Guilmon digs? I could make a window! Or we could try climbing down the rocks, maybe...

[loopsiedaisy]

[Siffrin's already started to take some very cautious steps down the face of the cliff, feeling out if they can actually make it down by balancing on outcrops. Only their back paw and tail are still up above the edge.]

[Verdict so far: maybe! But they're going to have to turn around and go down backwards at some point. This is the least steep section, and it's still very steep. They feel like they're trying to be a mountain goat.]

[Siffrin looks over their right shoulder when they hear Guilmon.] I'm not sure the Oran Berries will let us dig holes in their walls.

[They did see some windows, looking up from the beach. And the logical thing to do here would be to just go ask one of the Oran Berries if they can borrow a fancy windowed room for a few minutes.]

[But Siffrin, being Siffrin... feels like it'd be easier to climb down the cliff.]

[guilmon]

Oh yeah... We don't wanna make Mightyena mad.

[He wiggles his claws a few more times, then f ollows along.]

Well, Guilmon can still use his claws and climb that way. That won't make as many holes!

[But he'll wait until that's necessary...

But he's also bigger than Siffrin, which presents its own issues. At least he's bipedal!]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Sounds like a plan!] We probably don't have to go exactly halfway down, anyway. It's just to get a better view, right?

[Siffrin resumes picking their way down, tongue sticking out of the corner of their mouth as they concentrate. For a minute or two, it's pretty manageable; having a slinky cat spine helps a lot.]

[Then they come to a spot where they'll have to make a jump down to a tiny ledge - the incline here is basically just vertical. Siffrin squints, trying to calculate the distance, moving their head side to side. Then they leap.]

[...yeah, that lack of depth perception? Oof. They overshoot, with an alarmed yelp, and it's only by really twisting in the area that they grab the edge of the ledge with their front paws. Their back legs dig into the cliffside, scraping against rock.]

[It takes a hot minute for them to drag themself onto the platform. Whoof! They let out a relieved breath, then call up,] Careful here!

[guilmon]

Wah, that was close!

[That was a very close call, and Guilmon very carefully makes his way over. He could just jump down, but... hmmm.

He doesn't wanna accidentally bump into Siffrin when he's bigger. So, just to be extra safe, he digs his claws into the rocky wall and tries climbing his way down a bit before he makes the drop.]

Do you think this is low enough?

[That was dangerous, so it might be good to start here...]

For Courier Six (Mush To Be Done)

[loopsiedaisy]

[When Siffrin was signing up to be paired on basically any quest and with pretty much anyone who was around, they were not expecting their partner to be a giant dragon. This means they spent the first couple of minutes heading to the forest mostly silent, just eyeing Courier Six with astonished fascination. While trying to hide that that's what they were doing. (Mostly successfully, unless Perrin is very perceptive!)]

[It's only belatedly they realize that even if they don't get caught staring, they're being rude. They should probably introduce themself.]

Oh, um. My name's Siffrin. You can use they/them pronouns for me... or he/him. [It's weird, they definitely remember using both sets of pronouns, and the second pair doesn't feel wrong exactly... but it feels very rusty. Have they not used he/him for a while? Why not?]

[Siffrin abruptly realizes that in their rush to fix the lack of introduction, they autopiloted to doing it like they would have back in Vaugarde. Whoops! Sharing pronouns doesn't seem to be a thing Pokemon do here. You're just supposed to guess, they think? It's weird, but they've been trying to go along with that and fit in...]

[Their gaze slides away from Courier Six, the tip of their tail twitching in an unconscious expression of feeling awkward.]

cw: gender ignorance

[shotinhead]

[ Funnily enough, Perrin is not very perceptive. PE 3, baby. But he was a looming Dragonite, tall for his species, who almost seemed to be trying to stand even taller.

It was not that Perrin meant to loom. But he kept his good eye focused, eying up the other - noticing that one of their eyes was different. Not sealed shut with scarring like his own, but not all injuries were physically like his. But when he spoke - in his smooth voice - he seemed oddly calm for a moment, as he looked down. ]

Oh, yeah. My name's Courier Six, and--

[ Before, a beat, averting his own gaze. ]

Wait. Uh-- pronouns? Y'give 'em t'me instead of... [ well, gender? Because Perrin, too, had noticed it was hard to tell a Pokemons' gender by just seeing them, or listening to their voice. Then again, he was the Dragonite walking around with what, to those who knew them, would know were top surgery scars. ]

[loopsiedaisy]

Instead of...?

[It takes Siffrin a long few moments to understand what Perrin is asking, but then their scrambled mess of memories dredges up a whisper about some of the more isolated places they traveled to. Maybe Courier Six comes from somewhere like that.]

Oh, um. Instead of gender?

There's so many cultures out there with different genders, and they don't always have one that matches yours. [Especially in another language.] Or. Other ones think gender is too personal to share with strangers. [And a lot don't even line up genders and pronouns one specific way, like Vaugarde! But one thing at a time.]

So if you're traveling, [or in a location where a lot of cultures interact,] it's just... easier? To tell people which pronouns to use.

[Siffrin did notice the top surgery scars, but Courier Six has some other surgical-looking scars, and Siffrin's used to people using Body Craft - which doesn't always leave signs behind. So they can't really draw a conclusion from those.]

[The Shinx sniffs the air, trying to pick up the scent of mushrooms. They want somewhere damp, they know, but everywhere in the forest is damp. The easiest spots directly under the Canopy have already been picked clean, so the two of them will have to do some searching.]

[shotinhead]

[ It is not often that Courier Six is silenced into deep thought. Usually, if such happened, it was a dangerous thing. From what people see as a dangerous person. Perhaps he'd be thinking about how to take out people, or choosing to do the wrong (or right) thing.

But this time, he was thinking over what he'd learned back home. When he'd been taught he didn't need to be a girl, so he'd become a boy. It hadn't quite felt right, either, but-- there's more genders? Not just guys and girls?

He tries to hide his amazement, his shock, and his deep thoughts under a laugh. Courier Six tried to shake his head. ] Well, guess I'm, uh. He/him? F'now.

[ For now was said a bit quieter. Because he had more thoughts to have about it, and concerns about if he can even do such at this age. He clearly looks like he wants to ask more, but... well.

His focus is now on foraging, beginning to flap his wings to push plantlife around slightly. ]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Siffrin watches Courier Six out of the corner of their eye, also thoughtful. Whatever conclusions they're drawing, though, they don't comment on them.]

He/him it is! Nice to meet you, Courier Six.

[It really is nice to get a proper introduction. They don't have to worry they're messing up someone's pronouns and people aren't correcting them out of politeness.]

[Speaking of foraging: Siffrin circles the shadier trees they come across, sticking their head under roots and inspecting dark little alcoves. It's Courier Six's flapping wings that finally uncover something, though - a flash of several lumps of a lighter shade, underneath a mass of undergrowth that's getting blown back and forth.]

[Siffrin dives into the tangle, wriggling their way through the branches of some shrubs, and determinedly starts digging. It's not long before the Shinx is tossing mushrooms out to where Perrin can grab them.]

[shotinhead]

[ It's good. And Perrin is slowly wondering how much he can ask - but then again, it might lead to questions about his home which he can't joke though.

Later. After mushrooms. As they're tossed to him, Siffrin would be able to notice a flash of a serious look in his eye. Like he's had to check over mushrooms before. There's a soft sniff, before he scratches at one, checking under the skin of the mushroom. ]

[ [survival:] ] Yeah, these look healthy. If somebody eats too many, though, they might get a slight tingle. 'course, that's only a risk for the small Pokemon here. Somethin' like you, I guess. I mean, that's what I've read up on.

It's sorta helpful havin' the Lum Archives to study.

For Firoza (Less is Spore)

[loopsiedaisy]

[Siffrin, miraculously, did catch the warning about bringing a facial covering to collect those spores! Their solution was borrowing a bandanna from someone in town, which is all well and good, but...]

[They head to the edge of the forest early, carrying the bandanna in their teeth, and planning to use the extra time to figure out how to tie it onto their face. Unfortunately, Shinx limbs really aren't meant to maneuver like that around the back of their head. And they don't have thumbs! They hate not having thumbs! If they still had thumbs this would be easy! But the ends of the bandanna keep slipping out of their paws, or getting caught on their claws when they try to shove them into a knot, and -]

[When Firoza shows up, they give her a resigned look. They feel embarrassed to ask for help with this aloud, but they visibly need it.]

[bladeofnymeia]

[Siffrin is new, and Firoza doesn't know them well - but she does like doing quests. And lately, she's been wearing her own face covering anyway, because of...reasons.

Don't worry about it.

Anyway, she was already prepared to go out and get some spores for Doctor Denne, who she has a lot of respect for already, so the person she's going out there with being unknown to her? Hey, that's just another opportunity to make a friend.

As she approaches and takes in the resigned expression on Siffrin's face, her eyes soften in empathy and she tilts her head.]

I could try tying that on for you if you wish.

[She's gotten a lot better with fine motor skills with her paw hands! It's totally fine, nothing bad could happen.]

[loopsiedaisy]

Um. [They nod, gaze sliding to the side awkwardly. Firoza is a little bit smaller than they are - something that's still a novel experience to them! - so they crouch down so she can reach easier.]

[Nothing bad at all! At least, if she's facing Siffrin, all her barbs would be pointed away?]

[For now. :)]

[Siffrin will stiffen up slightly when she gets within their personal space, but they won't object. They're just... tense.]

[bladeofnymeia]

[It's okay! She's getting better doing things with these paws. So much better. And she appreciates that he comes down a bit to her level.

Thankfully she keeps her balance on her rear paws, so it only takes like half a minute to get that securely around his snoot.]

There we go...! Much better. Very safe now.

[loopsiedaisy]

[Siffrin untenses slowly as Firoza backs off. They stand and shake their fur out - except for their head, they're worried the bandanna will slip off if they shake that too hard.]

...thank you. [They don't meet her eyes until after they say that. It's still kind of humiliating they couldn't manage it themself. Oh well.]

[Firoza is one of the ones who was already here before Siffrin showed up, right...? They're pretty sure they've heard that around the guild.]

Have you seen those spores and mushrooms before? I don't want to mix them up with the normal kind.

[bladeofnymeia]

You're welcome.

[She says it naturally, without any airs or pretense. Help freely given and all that.]

I've seen a fair few mushrooms here before...enough to know which ones are edible and which are not. And which are Pokemon. But these particular spores, I have only been given a description of. Still...we can steer clear of what we know they aren't, and should find what they are.