bottlecaplogs | JUNE CATCH-ALL

Entry tags:

JUNE CATCH-ALL

Who: Flowey, Shoka, Possibly YOU!
What: A meeting, a reunion
Where: Oran Berries Spire and Training Grounds
When: Nebulously June
Warnings: Added as needed. Likely discussion of nightmare coma.

a. do or do not (for flowey)

[This body frustrates him more than he'd care to admit, as if Dark Heart is in the habit of admitting to anything. It's small and fallible and, what's more, doesn't have the capabilities of power that he's used to. All in all, it's made him rather disinclined from trying. What few quests he's taken on have been ones he can coast, watch the others do the heavy lifting while he reaps the rewards. Any effort toward bettering himself physically feels like admitting defeat, that this is all he can ever be. Dark Heart has been sticking to observing the other Pokemon as they train, watching as if above it all (god willing).

Today is different. Today he's trying-- a deeply embarrassing, shameful venture. To exert oneself is to prove that you care, just enough, and that's something no one should see. Dark Heart is practicing under cover of night, trying to land a heavy blow as consistently as possible. If he does this enough, it might just look like this came easily to him.

So it perhaps vexes him to go from Watcher to Watched. By the time Dark Heart realizes he's not alone, he's fallen face-first into the dirt.]

You-- [Cough, spit--] show yourself!

b. a familiar face (for shoka)

[If anyone's been spending a great deal of time near Dark Heart the past month, they might be shocked to realize that his bed is empty. Some Pokemon might not care (good for them), but other Pokemon just seem to give a shit after all, don't they? Funny!

Maybe said Pokemon is there to witness Dark Heart stumble back into his den, shaky on his feet. Or, perhaps, they would find him stumbling down the hallway, leaning against the wall for balance. No matter how you slice it, that Nickit is awake.]

wildcard.
[a placeholder for those nebulously interested in threading with daaark heaaart this month! feel free to dm me here or pp me

liveralone]

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Hee hee... what, you think I'm the suspicious one? You're the weirdo training in the middle of the night. [This, of course, ignores the fact that he's also alone out in the training grounds at night.] Or did you think that nobody would watch you back?

[A Sunkern- small for its species, but otherwise average- hops out of the shadows. He's wearing a smile, clearly laughing at Dark Heart's current state.] Aww. Cranky because you fell down in the dirt? No wonder you're out here at this hour, trying to hide this shameful display!

[Dark Heart may have seen him before-- he's a newcomer who immediately threw himself into training nearly every moment that he can. Usually, Sunkerns try to limit their movement to save nutrients and build up energy for evolution... but this one has been throwing himself against training dummies again and again like he has something to prove.

To his credit, his abilities have improved, albeit only somewhat. He's clearly learned how to put down roots again with Ingrain, and his Absorb isn't half-bad. He's still, of course, just a Sunkern. Weak. Pathetic, even in this new body, as if the universe thinks he's some kind of cosmic joke.]

[Hey! No one's supposed to be able to read him for filth-- that's his thing! Vulnerable as he's feeling right now, Dark Heart can't even do much more about it than sputter.

This Sunkern. He's seen him here and there, sure, but re-gaining his bearings after his month-long slumber is proving to be slow. Dark Heart likes to make a good first impression, present himself a certain way. This? Not what he had planned.

Dark Heart shakes the dirt off of his fur, gritting his teeth.]

Cranky because of this irritating noise I'm hearing.

Aww, that's too bad! I'm sure you'll get used to the sound of your own voice eventually! Personally, I would've cut off those big stupid ears if I were you, but it looks like you couldn't cut through a wet sheet of paper!

[That's one of the worst parts about being him: not only is he good at being annoying and cruel, but he enjoys it. He likes figuring out how to press people's buttons. He likes tearing off masks and revealing what he thinks is the bitter truth underneath.

He's already in for a penny, now-- might as well go in for a pound.] Tell you what. How about a friendly sparring match? If you win, I'll say sorry. And when I win... hee hee. Maybe I'll just keep you pinned in the dirt until everyone comes to laugh at you come daybreak...?

[By the look on the Nickit's face, the way his hackles raise, it doesn't look like it'll be exceptionally "friendly" of a match. Now, will it be good or showcase any skill? Any power? That's yet to be seen.]

If I win, you'll be saying more than sorry.

[An open-ended request on purpose, more room to massage the details later. Right now Dark Heart is closing the distance between them, pacing over.]

Sound like a deal?

[Because he's coming over to cash it in right now!!!]

Ha ha... Deal, idiot.

[It's almost as if Dark Heart's pulse quickens for a moment. Flowey's staring at him with an infuriating, mocking smile.]

Here's your first battle tip, little buddy: just give up and run into the bullets!

[Without further ado, Flowey fires a Leech Seed barrage in Dark Heart's direction.]

[Oh! He doesn't like how that feels at all. Fortunately, his irritation is stronger. Dark Heart drops to the ground to just barely dodge the Leech Seed. It's a pretty pathetic scurry as he rights himself again, sidestepping to move around Flowey rather than right toward him.]

Ha... is that the best you can do?

[Says the guy whose voice is a little shakey.]

Hee hee... I've heard that you call yourself some kind of demon, but you're pretty pathetic. Go ahead-- it's your turn! Take your best shot. I dare you.

[Flowey seems to be rooting himself in place with Ingrain; it'll be hard for him to dodge if Dark Heart attacks now. He's just sitting there with that twisted smirk, laughing.

Internally, Flowey's not as calm as he seems. He doesn't get any do-overs if this goes wrong. A part of that is terrifying, but also-- finally, some excitement. He can only take so much playing nice.]

[Dark Heart barks a laugh, skidding to a stop.]

Don't gotta tell me twice!

[And he's barrelling at Flowey with a glint in his eye. It's way more active than he'd like to be, but he'd like to wipe the smirk off this weed's face even more. Dark Heart leaps for that smug grin of his, whacking him in the face with a well-placed Tail Whip.

Maybe he stumbles as he skids away on the landing. He hopes that Flowey is caught enough off-guard by the attack to see it.]

[He is caught off-guard-- he had been expecting far worse. His smug grin is replaced by a second, smugger grin as Ingrain heals any damage that Dark Heart did.

Though he doesn't realize it, the attack still served its intended purpose; his defenses are down.] Was that it? Aww, you're just so pathetic that it's adorable. Maybe everyone oughta call you 'sweetheart' instead!

[Using Growth, Flowey takes in energy and begins to physically grow-- only an inch or two, but he does his best to loom menacingly. (As menacing as a Sunkern can seem, at least which isn't much.)]

[Ingrain's effects are bothersome to him. No one enjoys having their hard work undone, however pathetic it might be. The new look is concerning too, yes, but Dark Heart is more concerned with wiping the floor with this thing. The question is if this body can do it.

"Sweetheart"-- Hah!]

If that's what you want!

[He's going to use what little advantage he has to lunge at Flowey, hoping that a well-timed Quick Attack will wipe the smirk off his face.]

[Dark Heart moves fast-- way faster than he thought. The Quick Attack hits him square in the chest. The little bit of recovery he gets from Ingrain helps, but the damage that's been done has him on edge.] Not as pathetic as you look...!

[He tries to leech some health back-- but instead of Absorb, his desperation to win has him use his first Mega Drain.]

[As Dark Heart painstakingly makes his way down the hallway, shaky and unsteady, someone uncharitably comments:]

Walk much?

[It's Shoka, shuffling over to investigate (and help, though her usual mocking tone doesn't make that intention obvious). She seems not to recognize him at first—or, more accurately, she assumes it can't be him and must be some other Nickit, because he's been gone for so long, asleep with no sign of waking. The same as A.B.A is, too, now. Unknown disease, might be contagious; limited visits only. No one told her that there was any change or any real hope for either of them.

As she closes the distance between them, wondering if the guy just got back from a particularly tough quest or is just drunk or something, she suddenly realizes: it's not just any Nickit. The ears of her disguise perk straight upright in shock.]

Wait... Dork Heart? [It is, unless she's seeing things (again)! Why didn't anyone tell her?!] What the—? You're here! When did you—? You... [She doesn't know where to start. You're better now? You were passed out this whole time?] You look like hell.

Bwuh?

[He does, in fact, look like hell. Sure he's awake but at what cost? Dark Heart's head is spinning but all in all he's feeling better than he was before, those first moments when he woke up. Now it's just about gaining his bearings, getting used to this body he's never gotten used to.

Dark Heart turns to face her fully. Oh, it's--]

Shoka? [He looks her over, but mostly just at the edges of her disguise. Focusing is hard, but he's getting there. Dark Heart looks up.] What are you talking about?

You, dummy. And how you look like you've been passed the hell out for like a month? [Was it only a month, or was it longer?] Yeesh... You're still really out of it, aren't you?

[Should he even be here? Maybe he should still be at the Pokéclinic, getting another checkup and making sure he can at least walk... But he's been there long enough, she's decided, and he's already here anyway. She might as well get him to the dens.]

Ugh. Okay, just... [She shuffles closer, hesitantly, to offer him some support. It's awkward, especially considering how small she is, but the head of her disguise at least gives her some additional height and something soft to help keep him upright if he stumbles.] Lean against me or something, all right? Promise I won't let you eat floor.

[The fact that it takes Dark Heart as long as it does to even think of a reply is evidence enough that he is still out of it. From that point of realization, the silence is intentional. All of the questions at the front of his mind feel silly to voice, so he pretends not to have them at all.

Dark Heart does as he's told, leaning against Shoka for support. He's not sure how it will feel, given that her disguise often has an unsteady quality to it, but it feels solid enough.]

Promises, promises.

[Her disguise yields a bit under his weight, but shows no sign of collapsing. However, she does also snake out an arm to hold one of her ghostly hands at his front, just in case he shows any sign of tipping forward as they start to walk (or shuffle, rather, in her case).]

What, you think I can't manage getting your scrawny ass to the dens? How much of a weakling do you think I am?

[It's naturally slow-going, since she isn't large or strong enough to really carry him... But she's trying her best!]

No. [Honestly she could probably take him out, not that he'd ever say that.] I just think you'd get a kick out of it.

[Is it more or less funny that he looks like a wadded up piece of paper right now?]

Oh. [She snorts, then giggles.] Pfft—no, yeah, fair. I totally would. Bet you'd crumple like a soda can.

[... But she must either be lying or this moment must be an exception, because she shows no intention of dropping him. When passersby glance their way, she even shoots them a glare as if to say, The hell are you lookin' at? Keep walking.

Eventually, she'll manage to get Dark Heart to a den, then into the bed she remembers being unofficially his. There, she does drop him—gently.]

Okay. Easy—

[Or... at least she tries to be gentle about it. If his legs give out while she's trying to maneuver him into bed and he ends up just flopping gracelessly, unsupported, into it, she didn't mean it.]

See? Told ya.

[He doesn't even seem to notice the passersby, a testament to his exhaustion. Dark Heart is usually so vigilant of who's nearby, who to steer clear of, who's an easy mark. All he can seem to focus on is the movement of Shoka's body beneath her disguise, of the effort it must take to hold him up.

Why do people keep doing this? Don't they know he won't do anything for them?

When they make it to the den, he makes a loud "oof" as she drops him on his bed. Perhaps dramatic, but it is a shock. He glowers up at Shoka.]

Satisfied?

[The sound he makes seems to give Shoka a brief jolt; she stiffens, eyes wide and claws up before herself, as if to reach for him again or at least apologize... But he seems fine, in fact, so she relaxes, snickering.]

Pff! Come on, I didn't drop you that hard, you big baby.

[At his question, she pauses, looking him over in tense silence, before:]

... Nope. Not satisfied. Do you honestly think you can just show up again out of nowhere and not talk about what happened? Or did you really not realize how long you were out for? [And furthermore:] Also, do you need food or whatever?

[Didn't drop him that hard? Who's the one that's being tossed around again? Dark Heart squints at her, all menacing and eeeeevil (read: pathetic).]

"Show up"? [He sounds as clueless as he looks, which doesn't sit well with him.] What are you talking about?

[Oh, right. Food. He'll get there, but he doesn't acknowledge the question.]

[Shoka stares at him for a moment—and then she sighs.] You again, dum-dum...

[She'll take that as a yes, he didn't realize how long he was out for. Maybe she should try a different tactic, then...]

Okay. What's the last thing you remember?

This again... I'm guessing you mean before I took a little nap?

[Ugh, he's been here before. Having to answer annoying questions like that, paw through his memory for something there or something that once was. However, Dark Heart looks like he's giving it sincere thought even if he is annoyed by it. If it were someone else he might not be so charitable.

Isn't he so nice?]

Nothing special. Rain, mostly. You annoying me over the Grumpearl.

[Near as this player can tell some of the last memories before his nightmare coma were Shoka dealing out psychic meme damage.]

Edited 2025-07-17 03:51 (UTC)

[It's exhausting lately. He would have rather slept through this half of the month, thanks. Getting into a scuffle with a weed, fighting some more with a giant angry bear in the woods-- it's a lot of action for a guy like him who's used to sitting back and watching things transpire around him, getting someone else to do his dirty work. He took the brunt of an attack for someone else for fuck's sake. Who is he anymore?

Speaking of which, he's stumbling back from the infirmary. That wound from Ursaluna isn't going to heal itself, but he looks rather silly with a bandage wrapped around his middle. At least he can look silly on his own without anyone bothering him. All the other Oran Berries are stumbling around elsewhere.

Except, maybe, some weird rat lying in his bed.

Who the fuck is this guy?]

... Don't you look real cozy.

[Beetlejuice opens one bright magenta eye and rolls it upward to spy...a fox thing. ]

[ He's instantly hit with mixed feelings. The first is annoyance because this guy is probably gonna make a huge stink about what pile of dead grass he decides to lay in. The second is relief. Something familiar. SomeONE familiar.]

Why yes, thanks for asking.

Must be n--

[Oh. Oh he knows that rat.]

You? [Dark Heart gives him a rapid once-over.] Where did you come from?

[He makes it a point to know what's going on, and this guy was a flash in the pan. Here and gone. When did he crawl into the Guild? Through the window?]

[It quickly becomes apparent that he is not going to get back to sleep, so Beetlejuice sits up and smooths the fur on his head back with a paw.]

I was doing some soul-searching in the woods. You know, real deep stuff.

It's a good place for that. Might wanna head back before it's too dark.

[Because there's no way he can actually live here, right?]

No, no, you see I have to share my wisdoms with the rest of the pokeymans now.

[He waves a paw.]

Things like, if a tree falls in the forest and no one's around, does it make a sound? It does. The other trees laugh at it. Also don't wipe your ass with poison ivy.

[Ooh, so he's an idiot!]

Ooh, so you're knowledgeable! [Dark Heart sighs, shaking his head. The picture of crestfallen.] Pokemon here don't value talents like that. Only a guild like Lum cares about intelligence.

There's no chance for me to make it into Lum, I've been here too long... [He glances up, as if he's had an idea.] Maybe for you, though. You could still have a shot. I think I saw their guild leader in the hall, come to think.

[One ear slowly lifts as Dark Heart lays on his false praise. Beetlejuice can be gullible, but he's not that gullible.]

Too late for that, pal, that shaggy dog already begged me to join Oran.

[Frowning SO loudly. Okay pivot--]

Oh, yeah? Sure she wasn't just feeling sorry for you?

[Gives him a long, meaningful once-over. If he weren't so annoyed he might pity the guy.]

[His ears flip backward.]

Whyyyyyy are you so investeeeeeed, do you like me or something?

[Dark Heart's ears flip back at the same time as he balks at BJ. It's usually a show of being on the same wavelength-- liking each other-- that has two people mirroring each others body language. This is not such a situation.... Unless--]

Wh-- NO! I don't "like" you! I don't "like" anything!!

[ Delighted that he's struck some kind of nerve, he puts his front paws behind his head and starts doing a weird "dance".]

YOu don't like aaaanything? Are you suuuure?

Yes I'm sure!!

Oh! Well in that case, you won't mind me taking your bed. You didn't like it after all.

[He flops down into it and gets COZY.]

You knew--

[Dark Heart takes a beat to balk before he fucking lunges onto the bed. Are his eyes red??]

Get out!

[Honestly, Beetlejuice just assumed, because why else would he have said something to him?]

[ He's on his back when Dark Heart pounces, so he throws up all four paws in defense. ]

MAKE ME!

I... was here--

[Dark Heart does that thing foxes do where they leap really high in the air and pounce. He poised to stick rhe landing on guy's soft underbelly.]

FIRST!

--OOF!

[Dark Heart moves faster than he can in his exhausted, wilderness-starved state, so he isn't able to scratch him in the face before his paws land on his stomach. He does try to bite him on the nose though. ]

Finders keepers, losers suck!

Ow!

[He reels back from that bite, ears flopping as he frantically shakes it off.]

I invented finders keepers! I found it first, loser!

[Now he's trying to shove the guy off. Unfortunately he's more agile than he is strong.]

[He flips himself upright and spreads his paws out so that each one is on opposite corners of the bed. Dark Heart is bigger than him, but he's stubborn as hell. There's probably a perfectly good bed on the other side of the room, but he's got a bad mood to take out on someone and it just happens to be Dark Heart. ]

Kiss my weasel ass, nerd!

You... first!

[FUCK IT-- TAIL WHIP]

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JUNE CATCH-ALL

do or do not

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a familiar face

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meanwhile back at oran

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