June Catch-All

[hundredeyesoni]

Who: Akira and quest partners
What: Quests, more to be added over the month
When: Throughout June
Warnings: Fog effects and Pokemon battles likely. Will add as needed.

Comments

[indifferentinferno]

He snorts humorlessly. From his experience, intelligence did nothing to offset foolishness. One of the smartest people he knew was also consistently the most idiotic.

Although this was the first time he heard of him being a doctor. That explained some things. He seemed to have a disposition for running into those. It also explained his earlier curiosity, to some extent. It made Flamebringer like him even less for his nosiness. He wanted nothing to do with being a toy for a medical researcher.

He follows Bigby's comment with a growl, "I am no one's henchman. And this isn't some leisurely stroll. It's a bounty. A mission." And a threat to eliminate. He wasn't interested in bringing along liabilities.

But all the same- his look is still one of disdain as he thinks, but he considers Bigby's argument. Whatever this fool was, he was large. Larger than both of them at the moment. And their foe was likely even larger than he was. The size advantage couldn't be understated. And if he was a researcher to boot, that might prove to their advantage on the field. He didn't like him. He would rather leave him out. But beggars couldn't be choosers. There was no promising they would find a better option amongst the throng. He could leave the social niceties to Bigby since the musbeast already seemed buddy enough with him. As long as he was left be, he could put up with it.

"Can you hold your own in a fight?" He asks Akira. "If you prove to be a problem, I won't be covering for you." His eyes narrow, "Our lack of information is a disadvantage already. If you can't help, we will be sending you back home and handling it ourselves." It wouldn't be ideal. But it would be safer than keeping a third eye out.

[hundredeyesoni]

Akira lets out a thoughtful hum as he presses a fist into his other hand, a familiar enough motion to crack his knuckles in either of his old forms, made fairly pointless with the claws he has now. Can he actually fight? It's as good a time as any to find out!

"I'm not too bad at it. But how about as a Slowking? I can tell I'm not as strong as most oni, anymore, so it sure would be helpful if the others were right that our patient's something weaker like a bear!"

There can't be any denying that he sounds confident, even if his words might not be the most reassuring. Even if he starts to appear sidetracked as well, and can't help making an attempt to pick Bigby up as he speaks. Of course on the surface he wants to learn more about Electric types just as he wants to learn everything about their bounty. But he's not so lacking in perception to miss that forcibly making himself some sort of package deal with the smaller Pokemon should increase his chances of being brought along further.

Whether successful or not, though,

"Any information we don't have, I'll find out for us as soon as we get there. Nobody can hide anything from me for long."

[wolfcut]

While not directed at him, Bigby still tilts his head in thought at Flamebringer’s question. It's good to ask outright, even if he doesn’t exactly agree with the Absol's approach as a starting point; at least Akira hardly seems phased by it, if at all. They each would have to hold their own out of necessity, there was no doubt about that, but information – that was a valuable thing to have against a foe that so few knew much about. Akira’s access to the Archives remains in the back of Bigby’s mind, knowing full well that the doctor has been wasting no time studying Pokémon to satiate his curiosity.

Suddenly, however, Bigby finds himself pulled out of his own head, his ears flicking at the mention of oni. He might not know any personally, but he's definitely familiar enough to shoot Akira curious look now. If he says a bear would be no match against his strength back home, the Morpeko can't help but believe it. “... I didn’t realize you were a yokai,” he starts, quieter this time, before turning back to Flamebringer. "Can't say much about Slowkings, but if he really is an oni, then we have nothing to worry about."

Other than the obvious, of which Bigby becomes the prime example when his attention is fully on Flamebringer. Guard down, he doesn't notice when Akira moves forward a little too closely, reacting only when he's abruptly lifted up from the ground. Hoisted by his arms, he's only able to kick his feet in protest. Bigby growls up at Akira, doing everything in his power not to cause a complete scene at the quest board.

"H-hey! What the hell are you thinking?" he huffs through his teeth, still trying to pull himself away. After a moment, though, he stops himself, ears lowering as he glances between the two others in defeat. No shot in hell would Flamebringer willingly offer him a ride to their bounty; this is going to be as good as it gets. He scowls, any semblance of niceties completely gone based on his tone. "Alright. Can we just get on with this already?"

Barring any last objections, it's off to the middle forest for the three of them, where the light of dawn will be quickly swallowed up by the dense foliage. For what it's worth, Bigby will eventually settle into Akira's arms, channeling all of his focus on the sounds and scents of their location instead of how fucking embarrassing it feels to be carried around like a child.

[indifferentinferno]

He glances at Bigby. He knew what an Oni was- or more, he new what an Oni was to him, but he sees the way Bigby's expression changes and that word 'yokai'... it seemed to be of more significance to him than it was to Flamebringer. Oni were strong of course- they had a natural genetic disposition towards strength and height compared to some other races- but not to the extent where he'd be easily impressed.

Still- If Bigby was so sure... Akira's own words were humble if nothing else, he wasn't looking to prove anymore than he had to. Which had its benefits and deficits, but he would take someone honest about their abilities any day over a boaster. But before he could express his final verdict, the Slowpoke is picking up his teammate without warning. Flamebringer blinks- completely caught off guard by the display of a lack of personal boundaries- Bigby obviously isn't happy, not that Flamebringer makes any move to help. He knows the musbeast can defend himself if need be-

And Bigby is right, Flamebringer remains, watching the display- Maybe even having the gall to look slightly amused by the whole ordeal.

"... Fine. This is acceptable." They would make better ground with Akira handling Bigby, and they needed to get moving. Akira was satisfactory enough. "Let's hope you can put those investigation skills to good use." Even if he might still harbor his own doubts about the other's combat skill, and personality, he was interested in seeing if he could, in fact, provide useful information.

... In his own way he'd already proven that he could, with the way he had observed and categorized Flamebringer upon their first meeting. He wouldn't mind pointing that at a common foe.

His expression grows even more amused. Ha, at least Bigby had his priorities enough in order not to cause a fuss. He's sympathetic to the manhandling, but not enough to intercede. "If we're prepared to depart, then lets not waste anymore time."

Flamebringer is taking point in their party. He's the most maneuverable at the moment, since Bigby is indisposed and Akira's general bulk, well, there's a reason he supposes his beast form is called 'slowking'. While Bigby might not like being carried, it does allow him to focus on sensations in a way Flamebringer physically can't. His own senses have changed slightly since arriving- smells are certainly sharper to him than they were normally, but Bigby was clearly in tune with his senses already. Better to leave him too it then.

He doesn't like anything about this already. The forest felt claustrophobic in a way that it shouldn't, the fog clinging to his fur once again, just like it did when he first arrived. So far there's no signs of their quarry, but he stays alert all the same.