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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 7:04 am
Riley & Ivilon Panic. Riley and Clive's minds were in unison, filled with urgency and purpose as they jumped. Muscles strained as the quadrupeds leaped forward, pushing off the wood so hard that it splintered at the force. Clive was closest and landed first, the Vaporeon digging his front claws so deeply into the soil when he touched down that he felt the sickening sensation of the filthy moisture brushing against his paws. Still, there was little time to process it as he pulled his tail in and crouched low to the ground, just as the Solar Beam flared past, the heat of it causing Clive's scales to prickle. When he felt the air cool again he looked up, extricating his paws from the ground and quickly spinning around to reassess the situation.
Far across the water, the Venusaur bellowed, its eyes sharp with malice as it gazed across. The boardwalk was destroyed entirely, not even scraps of wood remained, only churning, brackish water that foamed angrily from the attack's disturbance. "Legends," Clive muttered hoarsely, eyes quickly shifting to a pair of figures on the right side of his vision. Ivilon was hovering anxiously over the water, his Psychic glowing around Riley, who was clinging desperately to the edge of the shore, body dangling just above the toxic water. "Riley!" The Vaporeon was at his friend's side in an instant, bowing his head to bite down on the scruff of the Espeon's neck and pulling with all his might. With the three of them working together, Riley was soon safely on the shore, his eyes wild with adrenaline as he turned back to stare at the Venusaur pacing the opposite shore.
"Ivilon... Clive..." The magician's voice was terribly hoarse as he looked between the two. "...Where's Keiran?"
The question was answered before either of the pair could react, by a frantic splashing and the emergence of a bedraggled Riolu from the purple water, his eyes sharing the same frantic wildness of Riley's before. Ivilon made a chime of alarm, golden eye flashing with concern. "He was on the other side of the blast," the Beldum said, voice aching with distress, "You were the only one I could reach."
"Son of an Arceus!" Clive swore, his ruff flaring up defensively at the sight of his friend doused in the vile water. It wasn't more than a moment before he was at Keiran's side. "Don't move." Water was already in his throat, and a moment later it was released, flowing in a steady stream onto the Riolu before him. After he'd cleansed Keiran's head, Clive raised his front paws to clean them off before moving to the rest of the Riolu's body, carefully and deliberately parting the fur once he'd dealt with its surface to clear the water from his friend's skin. He handled the front first, then the back, and when Keiran was able to stand he did the same for his friend's paws. He didn't stop until he was certain not a drop of the vile water remained, except where it was unavoidable from the moisture beneath their paws. "Does it feel like there's any left?" he asked, stepping back to circle the Riolu, eyes hunting for any remnants of the stuff. "For the love of Myths, K, never do that again if you can help it." The Vaporeon shuddered. Touching water like that wasn't something you could just "get rid of."
Ivilon and Riley had, of course, joined them by now, both looking slightly less shaken. It had taken a few moments, but the Venusaur had turned and disappeared back into the forest, apparently discouraged from his pursuit by the impassible gap between them. Ivilon pulled their bags to him, which he'd kept safe by his side throughout the entirety of the ordeal. The Beldum's silvery Psychic opened them up and extricated a pair of Pecha berries, floating them over to Keiran. "Eat both, to be sure." Ivilon's voice was cautious and concerned. "That should be enough to dispel the toxins from your system." When the berries were taken, Ivilon looked back to the bag and extricated an assortment of Sitrus berries, dispersing one to each member of the Team, himself included. "To keep our strength from leaving us," he murmured, raising his own berry to the small mouth hole beside his eye and squeezing it to allow the fluids to trickle down his throat. The skin would follow after. He looked among the three members of his Team and felt a sudden surge of relief. After all this, they were alright. He'd managed to help keep them safe, despite their rash actions back when Riley had reappeared. The Beldum was exhausted, and he hovered a bit higher than usual to keep his over-heated metal from disturbing the others, but he found that he was happy. They'd managed to work together as a Team, and that was exhilarating.
Riley consumed his berry quietly, feeling a surge of energy reinvigorate his tired limbs. The Espeon was beaten and bruised, but his eyes began to brighten again as the berry began to take effect. His throat still burned painfully, even from the cleansing juice that ran down it, but his Team was safe. His eyes widened as he recalled something and the magician removed his hat, which was still unscathed due to careful vigilance, much like his cloak. It was empty as usual, but he pulled out a large orange scarf from its depths before replacing it on his head. Smiling slightly at Clive's curious look, Riley took the scarf in his mouth and waved it once in front of his paws. Bowing his head to build momentum, he released the fabric, throwing it up in the air, and straightened up so he sat back on his hind paws, his front paws suddenly filled with a veritable bouquet of flowers. "Swamp orchids," his voice was a pained whisper, but he smiled in spite of it. "After I picked them our friend showed up out of the blue and started chasing me. I didn't take that many, and it didn't look like they were being cared for, but maybe that Venusaur didn't like that I disturbed them." He laughed, wincing at the pain that shot through his throat in spite of himself. "Sorry about that."
Clive
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 9:20 pm
Keiran Keiran squeezed his eyes shut just in time for the water to gush over his face and neck. He’d heard the Vaporeon’s order well enough to hold entirely still as the process continued, although he was still out of breath enough that he could feel the burning in his lungs as he resisted the urge to inhale. The tide over his head ended after another few moments and he gasped as he felt the air flooding in around his muzzle. He coughed weakly, sputtering as he tried to inhale through the droplets that slid down his face.
Clive gripped his front paws and pulled them sharply forward to continue scrubbing the poison from his fur. Keiran did his best to comply, though the initial shock of his situation had yet to wear off. He was silent, body drained of energy, and patiently allowed himself to be maneuvered like a newborn pup as his teammate continued washing him off. His skin was still prickling from the reminder of the danger he was in, but the attention felt particularly nice in the aftermath of such a stressful situation.
He stood when prompted, shivering slightly as Clive finished scrubbing down his legs. The sudden question jolted him back to reality and the Riolu had stop himself from blurting an immediate answer. It was fairly important that he actually thought about it, in this case. He could no longer feel the burning of poison against his skin, but he couldn’t be entirely sure. ”I think the worst of it is gone, but I think it may be wise of me to seek some… medical assistance later,” he admitted quietly, his nose wrinkling in distaste. He wasn’t fond of visiting healers; they tended to be very good at invading personal space.
Clive’s biting reply was more exasperated and relieved than he’d heard it in a while. He offered a sheepish, uneasy smile in return, unsure of how to pacify him. ”I’d rather hoped to avoid it the first time, if I’m quite honest.”
A pair of Pecha berries floated into the air before him, hovering at shoulder-height for a moment until he reached out to accept them by his now much cleaner paws. He gripped them by their leafy stems, just to be certain, and promptly plucked off the edible portions with his teeth. The leaves were discarded, leaving the Riolu to hum in appreciation of the warm, sweet juices that trickled down the back of his throat. Pecha berries were delicious, even if the Riolu generally preferred more bitter foods than this. The Sitrus berry was next to be dropped into his palms, although he didn’t enjoy it nearly to the same extent. Sitrus were much tougher fruits to eat.
Keiran murmured his quiet thanks, aware that the Beldum would easily hear his appreciation in their moment of quiet. He felt a flash of guilt as he realized that Ivilon had protected their belongings throughout everything. That was a lot of weight for one person to carry, even for someone whose psychic abilities were as finely-controlled as his were. He could feel a soft glimmer of understanding from him, but Keiran wasn’t entirely sure which of their emotions were being answered in that moment.
The Riolu’s blue eyes were much more open than they normally were, flooded with warmth, exhaustion and relief as his gaze flickered between his three weary teammates. He’d been frightened, angry, protective, alarmed, exhilarated, relieved, and full of dread all in a very short amount of time. Some of it could be discounted as situational stress, or related to the ever-lingering after effects of battle, but he knew better than to discredit all of those emotions. Whatever the reason he’d felt them, they still took a toll on his mental state.
He was swaying slightly, trying to keep his tired muscles from locking up after his narrow escape, but the glimmer of a soft smile was likely reassurance that he was not about to pass out. He just needed a moment, taking in the feeling of his friends’ auras as they stood together on the riverbank.
The hoarse whisper of Riley’s voice drew his attention as his tired captain pulled a vibrant scarf from his hat. The colour was bright and eccentric, and perhaps more reminiscent of the Espeon’s magic shows than a piece of mission equipment. He still waited with patience as Riley continued his spontaneous act. He was not let down as a bouquet burst into full blossom around his minty paws, and the captain was quick to explain with a smile as charming as ever.
There was no silky showmanship to his voice now, clearly strained from screaming, but the roughened tone only made the act more genuine and heartfelt than it had been before. Keiran felt something like laughed bubble up his own parched throat, and his shoulders started to shake. He chuckled quietly, the sounds of his rasping breath mixing with that of Riley’s as he raised a shaky paw to smooth against his forehead. The tears he’d denied himself sprang unbidden to his eyes, and he felt them start to slip across his cheeks in spite of the efforts he’d made to withhold them. ”My stars, Riley,” he murmured back. His voice was cracking from the weight of the emotion, but his tiny smile had yet to fade. ”Y-you nearly died over flowers. How do we even deserve you?”
His paws were over his face now, as though shielding himself from the mortification of just crying in front of someone. It wouldn’t be half as bad if it weren’t their entire team standing there, watching their two captains basically fall apart over a bouquet. He wasn’t even sure why he was crying, but it was remarkably cathartic in spite of the embarrassment. His stomach was in knots and he could feel himself trembling, but he couldn’t quite tell if it was from laughing or crying.
Keiran took a moment, forcing a slow and even breath through his mouth and nose as he allowed the calm to wash over him. He didn’t bother to wipe the tears away, figuring that it made little difference when he was already soaked through. ”…Ah. I apologize,” he admitted softly, unwilling to look them in the eyes.
"Thank you, Riley. For managing to grab them, I mean. I'm not sure how we're going to get back to the meeting point, if I'm entirely honest with you, but we'd be in a much worse position if you hadn't found those orchids you were attacked. You're too brave for your own good." His voice was exceptionally quiet, now, and he felt as though he'd frighten himself if he were to speak at a normal volume. Quiet was good; it was calming.
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 3:04 pm
Riley & Ivilon Riley shifted the bouquet to one paw and reached to the air, plucking the scarf from the air and wrapping it around the collection of stems neatly. He smiled slightly at the sound of Keiran's disbelief, but when he looked up his eyes widened with shock and concern. Keiran was...crying? The other two said nothing as the Espeon removed his hat with care, placing the bouquet so it rested against the silky interior, and left it suspended in the air with just a touch of Psychic energy. A few steps later and he was at his partner's side, pressing his head into the Riolu's shoulder and circling his body around him gently, the Espeon's cloak resting gently across the biped's soaked shoulders. "How do you deserve me?" Riley whispered, unable to speak louder even if he tried, "How do I deserve you?" He looked from his partner to the other members of his Team, heart full to bursting. "You and Clive came back for me, and Ivilon got us all here safely." He smiled to himself. "I couldn't be prouder to be on a Team with such dedicated, wonderful Pokemon as you."
As Keiran's sobbing began to slow, Riley stepped back to give him distance, though not without unhooking his cape from his neck and allowing his Psychic to raise it up so that it was draped securely around the Riolu. The sun was out but the water chilled the air--it was better that he had something to keep him from catching a cold on top of everything else. Clive and Ivilon watched the process and the Beldum's eye widened slightly as he felt a hint of emotion from the Vaporeon beside him. Clive's gaze was on the ground, but the brief, fierce moment of jealousy he'd sense echoed in Ivilon's senses like a shout. It reminded him of an earlier sensation he'd sensed from Keiran, and he filed it into the back of his mind. This group had a number of emotions that ran incredibly deep--what he was supposed to do with that information, Ivilon couldn't be certain.
"I'm glad I did," Riley returned, whispering in kind. "It's possible we could find them somewhere else but..." It would've taken too long to find the right conditions on this side of the river, especially when they were only halfway through with the list. He removed the flowers again and removed the scarf from around them in order to slip it back in his hat before replacing it. He placed the plants on the ground and began to cut through the stems with his claws, separating the blossoms.
"Hey Ivilon, do we have any honey with us?" The Beldum blinked and turned his attention to the Vaporeon beside him. "I think it'd help Riles with his throat."
Ivilon hummed thoughtfully, turning to sift through the bags. "Unfortunately it would not appear so," he replied, "Though I am pleased to report that all of our samples survived the incident." Including a set of the plants they'd been searching for before the Venusaur attacked, which he carefully bottled now that there was time. Before, he'd simply forced them inside for safe keeping, but it thankfully didn't seem to have done any harm. He removed another empty bottle as well, and hovered it over to Riley, who obliged him by placing the newly-cut orchids inside. "With that, I believe we have the entirety of the first set of items," Ivilon said, extricating the list from one of the satchels for examination.
Clive grimaced unhappily, clearly a bit ruffled that he couldn't tend to Riley as he would have liked. "I guess that means we need to find Aric, right?" His tone was considerably less than enthused.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a splash was heard from the water and a familiar figure emerged, dripping with purple water. Aric toddled out on his hind legs, benign smile gracing his features as it had before. "I believe I heard my name...? Yes. Yes my name." His eyes glossed over the members of the Team until they rested on Riley. Whether he knew that it hadn't been Riley who'd said his name or not was unclear, but the Espeon was the one he approached nonetheless. "You have called my name and I have come. It is some time before I expected. The sun has not yet reached its peak. Could it be that you are more prepared than I had hoped...?" His small eyes were locked on Riley's and it didn't seem he planned on looking away until he got an answer.
Riley shifted uneasily under the passive intensity of the Quagsire's gaze and he cleared his throat, wincing. "W--We have some things," he rasped, "My Teammates..." He tore his gaze from Aric's and looked at the others desperately. His voice hurt too much to explain things, but he knew that even if Aric didn't listen to the others they could show him.
Clive
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 4:21 pm
Keiran Keiran felt something warm and solid against his shoulder, and the Riolu froze. He widened his eyes behind his paws, feeling his heart flutter rapidly in his chest. Riley’s aura washed over him like the scent of honeysuckle, soft and sweet as the air in spring. He had always felt accepted by the Espeon, but he hadn’t realized the degree of care that Riley actually held for him. He hadn’t expected this kind of comfort in return; he wasn’t even sure that he needed it. Or deserved it, for that matter.
He recovered as Riley’s whispered words changed to a more familiar tone, watching as the Espeon exchanged pride-filled glances with the others. Of course he would. Keiran was the one who would feel particular emotions about that embrace, not Riley. Riley was doing as a captain should. There was a glimmer of disappointment that arose from that speech as much as there was an inevitable warmth. Still, perhaps it was for the better that Riley’s feelings were platonic.
Regardless of what Keiran felt, romance was something far from Riley’s mind, and even further from what he needed. He had a feeling that Clive would agree with him, although the Riolu hadn’t failed to pick up the stab of jealousy that burned through the Vaporeon’s aura. It was as obvious as Riley’s screaming, though not purposely broadcasted, and it wrenched at his heart to remember that he was not alone in his predicament. He suspected Clive was as aware of their situation as he was, but it was not something to be mentioned any time soon, not if he wanted to hold onto the friendship he held with him. There were too many unknown emotions wrapped into that mess, and Keiran had none of the skill required to navigate such a topic without touching a nerve.
Keiran pulled Riley’s cloak more tightly as it was dropped around his shoulders, standing in silent respect for his captain’s generosity. It was for the sole purpose of blocking the wind, to try and keep him from falling ill as a result of his untimely swim. They hadn’t brought blankets, as their secondary supplies were tucked away in a place outside the swamp, so it was particularly necessary in spite of the emotional significance. He was still kicking himself for not packing an emergency towel in at least one of their packs.
Shivering slightly against the wind, he tuned into the conversation shared between his companions. They were asking about honey. That wasn’t something he’d thought to bring at all. ”I didn’t pack any,” he admitted apologetically to the others. ”I should have been more thorough,” he continued, eyes bright with the resolve to improve. He could do little about it now, but he would certainly ensure that they had honey for future missions. Keiran hadn’t realized that yelling and screaming would end up being their primary source of communication.
Maybe they’d work on that, too. It would certainly save their vocal chords, if Ivilon had any in the first place.
He watched Riley continue separating orchid blossoms, but jumped with a start when he recognized the flash of erratic aura that cloaked their client. He didn’t have time to warn them; however, as the Quagsire himself was already dragging his flipper-like feet up the riverbank to where they stood. His fur prickled with intense unease as he realized that the water-type had been fully submerged in the same toxins that had been burning his skin only minutes ago. That Pokemon was engaged in new levels of insanity that Keiran wanted nothing to do with.
He winced as Riley attempted to explain, hearing the painful crack of his voice as the Espeon gestured to the rest of them to present their findings. The Quagsire would doubtless be unhappy about dealing with someone other than their captain, but they might be able to ease their way through the conversation nonetheless.
Keiran hurriedly accepted a bundle of supplies from Ivilon, setting them down on the ground before the Quagsire and arranging each one so that he could inspect their findings. There was more of them than he’d realized, and the newly-cut orchid blossoms only added to the list. ”We found the first half of your samples. These are from the far side of the riverbank, stretching up about thirty to forty feet from the water’s edge. The rest should be inland plants and fungi, so we’ll be returning with those this afternoon.” His voice was clipped, as though reading from a script that Riley had given him. The more rehearsed it sounded, perhaps the more likely their client was to listen to them or at least accept their presence.
The Quagsire stared through him, still speaking directly to Riley as though Keiran and Ivilon hadn’t spoken or moved at all. He examined the samples without answering Keiran in any way, turning each individual stalk over in his still-dripping hands as he stared down with beady eyes. He was intensely focused on each one, setting aside any samples that he seemed displeased with and tucking the rest back into their containers. The tossed samples were promptly swiped backward into the river, where they immediately shriveled and sank to the bottom.
Keiran’s stomach twisted in horror as he realized just what he’d jumped into. He could practically feel Clive’s skin crawling, if he was to judge from the amount of discomfort in his aura. ”Samples are adequate. I will accept these.” He looked directly back at Riley, seeming to stare him down as he spoke. ”Bring the rest by evening. Before sundown is best. Yes. You will call me from the water again before sundown.”
He was drawing all of the samples into a rough armload, holding them tight against his wet skin as he moved to waddle back along the river. Some of their samples weren’t waterproof, and Keiran could easily tell that he would lose the vast majority of them if they were to come in direct contact with the sludge that counted for water.
”Aric?” Keiran interrupted as politely as he could, holding out a wet paw to gesture for him to wait. The Quagsire stopped dead, twisting his head to face the Riolu. A shudder crossed his spine as he realized that Aric’s whole expression had changed in the instant he’d turned around. That wasn’t a dead stare, but something filled with much more malice than he’d been expecting. The water-type’s face smoothed very quickly, but Keiran was more than a little unsettled. ”The samples you need are on the other side of the river, correct?” He continued, hoping not to trigger any further disdain from their client by asking.
Aric was speaking to him directly, now, as though he’d never disliked speaking to someone other than Riley in the first place. ”Yes. It is correct. My samples are on the far side of the swamp. Yes.” His voice was impatient, as though answering a misbehaving child.
”Some of us don’t swim well,” he lied, the words spilling from his lips like silk. ”Is there a safer path we can use to travel back to the other shore?” He wasn’t terribly keen on asking, now, but to drop the conversation entirely seemed to be risking the integrity of their necks. The meaning of that expression wasn’t lost on him, and neither were the dangers presented by going for another swim.
Aric paused, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he glared back at Keiran. The Riolu didn’t budge, his expression continuing to be void of emotion. Then, after a few moments of blank staring between the two, Aric decided on an answer. ”The village has one. A bridge for crossing rivers. Do not speak with them. The villagers.” His voice was harder now, and Keiran simply nodded in response.
That was satisfactory enough, as Aric’s expression immediately lightened. He turned and continued walking away, disappearing into the grasses as Team Synchronicity watched him go.
There was silence for several minutes as Keiran gestured for quiet, and then, when he could no longer sense the lingering presence of their client- ”…That was interesting.”
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 10:22 am
Riley & Ivilon Ivilon provided Keiran with what he needed wordlessly, the Beldum's eye fixated on Aric for the entirety of the Quagsire's visit. Every motion was processed and collected, every word was analyzed for the meaning behind its tone. Aric's energy was still erratic and unpredictable, spiking wildly in response to strange things, like the way certain leaves were bent of the amount of dirt remaining in the roots. It was like an electrical shock coursing through him each time the Quagsire encountered something not to his liking, and the specimens would be promptly tossed to the side until he had finished. A flick of the tail later, the unacceptable plants were sent into the river without a thought, and Ivilon felt rather than saw Clive cringe back in horror at the speed with which the plants were devoured by the acid levels of the water beyond. He felt a spark of pity for the Vaporeon, but there was little time to dwell on it--Aric was speaking again, signaling his approval. A moment later he was wandering off again, arms filled with the bottles they'd spent so long filling.
It was to Ivilon's great surprise that Keiran spoke up suddenly, just as the Quagsire had reached the water's edge. The response was incredible. Ivilon had noticed the way Aric's emotions had seemed to lull to a placid contentment after he'd assessed their collection, and warmed further to something that the Beldum was tempted to call happiness when he reached the edge of the river. So unlike his companions, their client seemed to draw strength from the water. It seemed to bring him comfort, if that was the right word for it; all of the Psychic spikes grew subdued the closer he was to the water. Most likely that was why Ivilon hadn't noticed the Quagsire before he emerged from the water: Aric's energy hadn't grown erratic until he'd emerged to speak with them. Now Keiran had gotten between Aric and his sanctuary, and his energy flared up so wildly Ivilon feared for a moment that the Quagire would lash out at him for it. Fortunately the flare was gone as quickly as it came, and Aric's emotions leveled out to a static, annoyed impatience that didn't fade until Keiran acknowledged his instruction not to speak with the Pokemon of the village. When he turned and began to head the opposite direction, his demure nonchalance returned, and Ivilon watched Aric until he was no longer visible, noting the way his clumsy steps constantly drew him in a gentle weave closer to the river and then a bit further away until he vanished from view.
Clive waited through the silence impatiently, the Vaporeon's skin crawling with contempt as he stared darkly into the water where a number of their hard-earned samples had been discarded. Keiran's comment was met with a tch and a lashing of the Water Type's tail. "Interesting, right." The amount of venom his voice rivaled that in the swamp water. "There is something seriously wrong with that guy!" Unable to contain his nervous energy, Clive began to pace. "There's something seriously wrong with this place! We haven't met a normal Pokemon since we got here, and now there's a village!? Myths, I don't even want to know what the Pokemon who live there are like." As far as Clive was concerned, his fears had been confirmed: exposure to this toxic water clearly addled the minds of the Pokemon who lived there. Even the air reeked of the chemicals and toxins that churned in the swamp around them--there was no possible way to live in this place and avoid it.
"Peace Clive." Ivilon gave a gentle chime and hovered over to the agitated Vaporeon, dipping his head so it rested on his. "Calm your thoughts. Answers are not found when we let our fears control us." The Beldum's golden eye closed and he reached out to connect with Clive's fevered thoughts; a moment later a low, pure sound rang out from his body and a mental pulse was sent from Ivilon to his companion--a soothing wave of reassurance that helped suppress the churning anxiety that was keeping the Vaporeon from thinking straight. When it was finished, the Beldum pulled back, watching Clive closely. "How do you feel?"
"B-Better I think." Clive stared back at Ivilon, mild shock from the intimacy of the gesture still pressing at his mind. He'd never felt so close to another Pokemon before, aside from with Riley. Psychic bonds were something that weren't shared lightly, and for a moment the connection between his and Ivilon's minds had been so complete he'd felt like he knew the Beldum as well as he knew himself. The fact that Ivilon had trusted him that much... There were no doubts in the Vaporeon's mind about Riley and Keiran's recruit anymore. "Thank you Ivilon," he said, a smile spreading across his face. "I needed that."
Riley smiled slightly from across the way. He knew what Clive was feeling--Ivilon had done the same to him before, and it was quite unlike anything else. "Well," he whispered, "Now that we've dealt with Aric, we can focus on our plan for the rest of the samples." He pulled the list to himself with a gentle Psychic and beckoned his Teammates closer to examine it. "We're going to find this village first, and see if we can't find anything non-toxic to help my throat. Then we'll cross the bridge and figure out where to find these." His voice was barely audible over the sounds of the river, but at least it didn't hurt to speak at this volume. "I know you said we wouldn't speak with anyone Keiran, but I don't see any other way to fix my problem here. And if we're talking to them already, we may as well ask if they know where we can find some of this stuff."
"Before we just walk in and try chatting with the Pokemon of the village, don't you think we should scout the place out?" Clive was calmer now, but his outburst from before was clearly still on his mind. "Ar--ah--the client specifically mentioned that we shouldn't talk to them. With our luck right now I'm inclined to agree, even if that's coming from someone like him." If even someone mentally unstable didn't like to socialize with these people, then Clive wasn't anxious to chance it. The last thing they needed was another encounter like they'd had with the Venusaur.
Clive
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 12:27 pm
Keiran Keiran grimaced as Clive snapped back at him, though he wasn’t particularly surprised by the outburst. The situation was particularly stressful for his kind, knowing how spiritually and physically connected Vaporeon were with water. A swamp was murky, true, but it was not generally polluted. They were places of abundant plant life and purification of water.
His words would do little to calm him, however, and the Riolu stepped back to allow Ivilon better access to the overstressed water-type. Ivilon’s familiar voice echoed forth, hanging in the air like the song of a wind chime. Keiran could hear it, sense it, but it wasn’t intended for him. It was merely a pleasant sound in his ears as he felt a sense of peace slide over his companions. There was a moment of relief and easy companionship between Ivilon and Clive just then, and it brought ease to Keiran in turn as he recognized the start of an amicable working relationship. They were having a particularly rough time with this mission, for whatever reason, but there was certainly good coming out of it.
Riley, too, was pleased by this exchange. His shoulders were sloped in a more relaxed posture and his whispered voice sounded a little less strained than it had in the minutes prior. He addressed Keiran directly and the Riolu turned his attention sharply to their captain. He was unveiling the list, running across the remaining items with his paws and thinking aloud on their plans for the coming afternoon.
In spite of his promise to their client, Keiran nodded at Riley’s words. He’d trust the Espeon’s judgement over Aric’s any day, and he was certainly right that he would need something to ease his pain in the near future.
Clive disagreed, and Keiran’s ears twitched. It was something to think about, certainly. There was a risk in approaching strange Pokemon, particularly in groups large enough to form a cohesive community, but there was also the possibility that their client had alternative reasons for not approaching the village at all. It was certainly a gamble. Rocking slightly on his heels, he made a quiet humming noise. ”We can’t presume to know why he doesn’t want us to contact the village,” he began quietly, his blue eyes clouded with thought as he tried to strategize in a way that would protect his team without wasting critical daylight. ”If the research I did is credible, the villages in this area tend to be densely-populated. There will be a fair number of Pokemon in one place because of how dangerous the rest of the swamp is. I doubt we can do any significant scouting without looking suspicious or drawing attention to ourselves.”
He drew Riley’s cloak tighter on his shoulders as the breeze lifted the edges, chilling his sodden legs and stomach. It would have been warm, with the sunlight soaking into the darkness of his fur and cloak, but the wind had a tendency to pull the heat back out of his aching muscles. ”It might be best to approach the village in business terms and buy supplies from them. If gives us a motive to pass through the village, and an excuse if our client suspects us of betraying his promise.” His voice was very quiet, then, and hesitated just as Clive did. He didn’t want to breathe the Quagsire’s name, for fear that the water-type would draw himself out of the river again to join them.
”In any case, I am the only one to promise I wouldn’t speak. None of you agreed to his terms, and I’m hoping that we can use that loophole to our advantage,” Keiran noted slyly, a cunning smirk crossing his expression. ”I’d like to have a little more context about his relationship to the villagers, myself, but we need to be cautious about how we get our information. No one mention the specifics of what we’re doing, or who we’re working for. Only provide enough information to get what we need. The more they know, the less we’re getting out of the exchange.”
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 10:45 am
Riley & Ivilon A smile flitted across Riley's face in response to Keiran's own, and the Espeon winked at his partner jauntily. "Well played partner," he said, approval written across his features.
He looked back to Clive a moment later, smiling apologetically. "I think it's our best bet to head to the village for now," he murmured, "I know that it's risky, but we have to head there regardless." His forked tail swished absently behind him, betraying his own doubts about the situation. "The truth is we need to use that bridge, and they'll definitely notice us then. Since there's no way out of it, we may as well try to approach them directly. We need their help, and hopefully they'll give it to us if we're straight-forward about it. It'll be strictly business." The Espeon grinned, tilting his hat back to a careless angle. "And I've heard it said I'm a pretty good business 'mon."
Clive couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled to his throat, caught by surprise at the casual cockiness of the gesture. "Oh yes, unparalleled in this or any nation! The Magnificent Riley: master of dealing in cards and in bargains!"
Riley smirked, eyes bright with impish joy. "Don't think you know all my tricks, Clive." He slipped over to the Vaporeon's side, muzzle brushing against his friend's ear as his voice dropped to a low, silky tone. "Just give me a minute of your time. You'll be begging for more by the time I'm finished." The Espeon laughed, unable to keep a straight face at his own words. "You see, I'm very persuasive," he purred in the same dulcet tone. A moment later he'd dissolved into a fit of giggles so fierce he could hardly stand.
Clive heart began to pump again, faster than before. He'd been caught off guard by his friend's advances, and the warm suggestiveness of his tone had made the Vaporeon's paws go numb. He offered a grin in return, laughing perhaps too nervously in response. "Well then, color me convinced," he said lightly, relaxing back into easy nonchalance. "That said," he raised a paw to Riley's face, turning it towards him. "I can be persuasive too." The Vaporeon leaned in close, eyes locked on Riley's. "So, if you'll allow it, I'll gladly be your voice until we tend to that throat of yours."
Riley blinked, staring into the dark pools of Clive's eyes for a long moment. A playful grin spread across his face as he held the eye contact for longer than was necessary before speaking. "I'll leave it to you," he whispered, words like velvet. A moment later, he batted his friend's paw to the side and pressed his head into Clive's shoulder fondly. "Now come on, we should stop wasting time." With a skip in his step he lead onward, flicking his tail to indicate the others should follow. "The sooner we finish, the better for all of us."
As they fell into step behind their captain, Ivilon looked from Clive to Keiran and back again, processing the flow of their Psychic energy as they went. It was strange to see the way these three functioned around one another; two very distinctive bonds between the captain and his friends, bonds that held different textures depending on whose perspective they were viewed from. The only clear thing was that Riley was clearly missing the signals being sent to him, for one reason or the next. Perhaps it had to do with Era, but Ivilon couldn't shake the feeling there had to be something more to it than that. It was something to muse on for the walk, but soon enough the village came into view and his thoughts were pulled to more pressing matters. "Pokemon are waiting just ahead," he reported, sensing their wariness even at a distance. "It appears they aren't hostile, but there are three. A Raichu, Corphish, and Marill. Be alert." His circuits were on edge but analysis gave him clarity even in situations of tension like this.
"It's showtime," Clive murmured, raising a paw to adjust his bowtie.
A moment later, they reached a place where the grass cleared, and the trio Ivilon had mentioned stood conversing quietly ahead of them. The Raichu was the first to spot them and he hushed his companions, standing up to his full height. "Hey." It wasn't overtly hostile, but there was a tone of suspicion in his voice. "Who are you?"
Clive's wore an expression of light curiosity as he stepped forward, offering a good-natured smile to the strangers. "Good afternoon," he said, "My friends and I are travelers, passing through this place in search of novelties. We're performers by trade you see," he said, indicating the garments worn by the majority of them. "and we're always looking for fresh things to incorporate into our act." He smiled again, allowing some worry to sink into his expression. "Unfortunately we ran into some difficulty on our travels, and we're seeking a place to rest and some treatment for my partners' ailments. Would you be able to help us?" His voice was smooth and warm, the practiced town of a seasoned showman.
A soft gasp came from the side, and the Marill stepped forward, eyes on the still-wet Keiran. "Oh lands!" She looked to Clive with concern. "Don't tell me you tried to cross the water."
Clive's ears lowered sheepishly, and he ducked his head. "I wish I could say otherwise ma'am, but I cannot." He looked back to the others, allowing embarrassment to show. "We were attacked and had no other choice. Now we're on the wrong side of the river and don't know how to get back where we started."
The Marill clicked her tongue. "Boys, these kids need to be seen to." Her matronly, assertive tone made it clear which of the three ahead was really in charge. "Which ones of you got wet?" she asked. "I'll take you to get the help you need. The rest of you go along with Kelby. Sounds like you all could use a chance to relax and he'll be able to help you out, won't you dear?" The Raichu nodded, looking over at them and raising a paw to wave it slightly. Apparently he was Kelby. A half-smile settled on his face, as though he were caught off guard by being volunteered to help, but the tension had faded from his stance. The Marill looked back at the Corphish, still shaking her head. "The nerve of some people, attacking anyone they lay eyes on. Kine, I'll send Ferdinand and Shelly to join you, can you hold down the fort until then?"
The Corphish saluted. "Yes'm." He sounded little older than a boy.
"Right then, that's settled." The Marill looked back at them. "C'mon kids, don't dilly dally. The village is just ahead."
You want to go alone, or should I come with? I'm sure Clive and Ivilon would be fine on their own. Riley looked to Keiran for a response. He hadn't gotten wet but he was reluctant to leave his co-captain alone. These strangers seemed nice enough but after the Venusaur he was still wary of the Pokemon here.
Clive
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Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 7:51 am
Keiran Keiran stood quietly next to Ivilon, watching as Clive’s charisma seemed to double before their eyes. He was used to this, having seen Riley and Clive perform before, but it was still startling to hear his friendly tone shift to one of such charm. Clive was always genuine, and had been for as long as he’d known him, but there was a subtle shift in language when he was determined to make a good impression. Riley did the same, whether or not he realized it. The Espeon had always been a natural performer.
He twitched his ears slightly as the Marill approached him, eyes scanning his damp and spiky fur. She could tell she was assessing his condition, however swiftly she might have done so. She reminded him a little of Era, particularly when she took such a motherly tone about it all. He shook off the thought. Now was not the time to reminisce about family.
The Marill surveyed them and broadly asked which of them would need treatment. The Riolu offered a sheepish smile as he gestured with his paw. He, rather obviously, was one of the ones to fall into the river. A drop of water slid down the bridge of his nose as if to emphasize the thought.
He stepped closer to the Marill, dipping his head politely in greeting. ”Thank you, Ma’am. I appreciate this greatly,” he told her clearly, mimicking the charm and smile of his companions. He wasn’t as fluid with his speech as the other two, not being a true performer as they were, but it was certainly passable enough to show his appreciation to a stranger. Anything else could be passed off by his perpetual shivering, or perhaps the anxiety of having crossed a river of toxic sludge. He didn’t need to fake that.
Riley’s voice echoed in his head, and the Riolu glanced toward the Espeon out of the corner of his eyes. Truth be told, he very much wanted the Espeon’s company, but he wasn’t sure if that was fair to Ivilon and Clive. It wasn’t Clive’s first mission, he was sure. The Vaporeon had been in more significant situations than this, but it was certainly Ivilon’s first experience with their team. He was a little hesitant to abandon the Beldum entirely. Still, with the charm and logic of Clive, they could easily gather the necessary supplies for the afternoon ahead. The villagers appeared to be non-hostile so far, and both his teammates knew enough to continually re-assess their emotions and intentions. The thoughts bounced in his head as he mulled it over.
In but a second or two, he gestured for Riley to join him. ”Would you mind if my friend came with me?” he inquired innocently, eyes locked on the Marill as he introduced the approaching Espeon. ”His throat is giving him trouble, and I’d feel poorly about leaving his side when he’s unwell.” The softness of his voice was not entirely faked, though he wasn’t as worried about Clive about the state of Riley’s throat. It was more inconvenient than concerning, even if it was likely a little uncomfortable. He did miss the silken, playful tones of his captain’s voice.
The trip into the village was quiet and uneventful. The Marill ahead of them would stop to fuss if Keiran or Riley seemed to lag to far behind her, and she would kindly stop to warn them before they crossed any path with uneven footing. For the most part such concern was unnecessary to both the Riolu and his companion, having been through far worse than this, but the gesture was appreciated all the same. He wasn't keen on tripping into a pool of muck, particularly with the precious cloak around his shoulders. That, and he imagined that Riley and their Marill guide would each have a heart attack if their sodden companion were to trip into the toxic water again.
As they passed a thick wall of shrubs, a carefully-crafted stone wall met their gaze. The gaps were sealed with dried mud and mosses, the colours of which both seemed foreign to the area. Keiran, short as he was, could easily see over the wall from their place along the path. A cobblestone pathway led around the edge of the wall for several metres before the wall dipped down to produce an entrance way. He realized belatedly that it wasn't for keeping out Pokemon, but rather a method of keeping the waters at bay in case of flooding. The mosses were likely used for absorbing poison, and the cobblestone would allow for water to seep back away from the feet of passing villagers. His eyebrows lifted, impressed with the ingenuity and foresight it would have taken to craft it all.
The village beyond was made with the same stone as the wall and pathway, at least until a foot or two above ground level, and the structures above seemed all to be crafted from various types of wood. He was unsurprised that this, too, looked foreign to the swamp. Much of it was probably gathered from the hills beyond, rather than the swamp itself. Some of the older buildings appeared to be abandoned from their places next to the river, and he could see the additions to their stone wall built between the old and new. The village was built on varying levels, raised gardens carefully tended and bordered with mossy stones.
Several villagers stood in the gardens, up to their gloved wrists in fresh soil as they pulled weeds, and a number of children near the wall scattered closer to their homes as they caught sight of the strangers the Marill had guided into their midst. Keiran offered a gentle expression, but said nothing. He wasn't keen on engaging more people than necessary, and he reminded himself that he had to keep watch of where their guide was taking them.
They approached a modest house near the top of the hill, and the Marill gestured for them to stay at the edge of the house's garden. The plants here were different from the others, and Keiran recognized a couple of medicinal herbs in place of the vegetables other Pokemon were tending. He glanced at Riley to catch the Espeon's expression, silently pleased that they seemed to have a qualified doctor of some variety.
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 27, 2016 8:57 am
Riley & Ivilon
"Heavens child, what do you take me for?" The Marill put her hands on her hips disapprovingly. "I don't care what ails you, we'll see to it it's fixed up real nice, alright?" She glanced over at Riley. "You got some throat troubles young man?"
Riley cleared his throat. "Yes ma'am," he said, allowing the hoarseness to seep into his voice a little more than normal. "I haven't had much of a voice since after we were attacked."
His explanation was cut suddenly short as the Marill walked up to him and raised her paws up to his mouth. "Open." The Espeon did as instructed, shooting a bewildered look at Keiran beside him as the little mouse peered inside his throat. "Goodness, you got a faceful of something nasty, didn't you? It was some Grass Types who gave you trouble, hm?" She closed his mouth and patted him on the cheek. "Not to worry dear, we have what you need. Some of the Pokemon who live out on the swamp have an awful pollen they give off, makes your throat swell right up if you breathe too much of it. We'll get you and your friend all patched up. Now let's get moving you two. The sooner we get you seen to the better."
Riley found himself quite enjoying the company of the matronly Marill, although she did fuss over them a good deal. It was no surprise the Raichu and Corphish treated her the way they did, seeing the way she acted towards total strangers--that sort of kindness bred loyalty, which he recognized in the same way Keiran did. The moment of heartache aside, their surroundings were quite charming and adorably quaint. He didn't recognize the thoughtfulness that had gone into the design as Keiran did, but he did recognize the peacefulness of the place--it was a small sanctuary for Pokemon who lived near the swamp. He couldn't keep the smile from his face as he saw all the Pokemon about, despite the way they shied away from his and Keiran's unfamiliar faces; this place was so homey and nice, it was almost unbelievable that just beyond was a toxic wasteland filled with hostile Pokemon who'd almost killed them. Their client had been so concerned about this place, but Riley could sense deceit and it was absent from this village. What was it Aric had been so worried about?
"Kiya, I'm home~" The Marill called.
"Evy~!" A Whimsicott appeared as the door swung open and she rushed forward, wrapping the Marill in a hug. The Marill returned the gesture with a warm kiss on the cheek, smiling happily. "You're home so early!" The Whimsicott was very soft-spoken, but she had eyes only for the Marill. "Did something happen?"
"No, nothing like that." The Marill shook her head. "Some strangers showed up and they need a bit of a check-up. I told 'em we could help them and their friends out. Poor things got attacked out in the swamp."
Kiya looked up then, noticing Riley and Keiran for the first time, and blushed deeply before she could respond. "Oh...Hello there."
The Marill patted the Whimsicott's shoulder reassuringly. "There now. Kiya gets a little nervous around strangers." She winked at the pair. "But you won't find a better healer in town than my Kiya. She'll take good care of you boys while I go fetch someone to cover my shift." She explained the situation to the Whimsicott briefly, giving her a parting kiss before heading back to the town proper. "You do whatever she tells you boys, and you'll be right as rain in a jiffy."
Kiya clasped her hands together nervously, staring at Riley and Keiran uncertainly for a moment. Riley cleared his throat again and dipped his head. "It's good to meet you Kiya, thank you for agreeing to look after my friend and me."
"Oh you poor thing!" The Whimsicott gasped at the sound of his voice. "And your friend, soaked to the bone. Oh, where are my manners? I'm so sorry. Please, come inside. I just need to gather a few things." It seemed Kiya's anxieties were second to her dedication to her job.
She beckoned them through the door, and immediately disappeared into a back room where she could be heard rummaging around for one thing or another. She emerged with arms full of different jars "You, take a seat at the table. You, come out back with me." Her quiet voice from before was replaced with a crisp, business-like one, but it was far from unkind. The former comment was directed to Riley, the latter to Keiran. After setting a few of the jars down, she led the way through a back door and into the yard beyond.
Outside there was a sizeable metal tub beneath a spigot, and Kiya turned the water on, turning the temperature up until it steamed slightly. She opened one of the jars she had kept, and poured its oily contents into the tub as it began to fill. When the tub was about two-thirds full, she set down the jar and turned off the water before grabbing a long stick that sat next to the tub and mixing the liquids thoroughly. "There we go, just one last thing." She opened another jar and pulled out a small orb, which she opened and dropped into the tub. "Alright, set that cloak and ribbon of yours on the ground here and hop in," she told Keiran. "The water's Pecha infused so it will help heal your skin, and that orb attracts poison, so any excess will collect inside of it. Best not to touch it, alright? You just soak in here until you start to feel like yourself again. As for your clothes, I'll get them nice and clean for you after I look after your friend. Just give me a shout if you need me, or if you think you're finished." She waited to see that her instructions were followed before turning and disappearing inside.
Riley had been looking around the house while he waited, finding the inside to be just as delightful as the outside. Everything was tidy and kept in a specific place, and the walls and furniture were all soft, welcoming colors. He'd been busy studying the veritable garden of plants that were hung by the window when Kiya returned. "Sorry to keep you waiting," she said with a smile. "Your poor friend looked like he was freezing, and I didn't want the poison to settle in any further."
"That's quite--"
"Shh!" The Whimsicott rushed up to him and pressed a paw to his mouth, blushing a bit as she did so. "We can talk later, you don't need to hurt yourself." Riley nodded, and she smiled in relief. A moment later, she'd collected her other jars and began to make tea. In a matter of minutes, Kiya placed a bowl before the Espeon filled with a dark liquid. He bent down to taste it and felt warm all over as it trickled down his throat. It tasted of Pecha and Honey and something he'd never had before. The bitterness of some sort of medicine was there too, but it was hardly noticeable beneath the other flavors. The Whimsicott smiled, settling down into a chair for a moment. "Drink it all up, okay? We want to make sure the medicine can do its job."
~~~~~
"So, uh, you're performers?" Kelby had been leading Ivilon and Clive in silence for a while, the Raichu's eyes trained on the ground in front of him, but it seemed he'd finally found his voice. He'd beckoned them to follow him when the Marill had taken Riley and Keiran off in the opposite direction, but hadn't really given any indication of where they were headed or why the way was so different. Clive was a little on edge, but Ivilon had been monitoring the Raichu closely and he seemed well-meaning, if not entirely convinced they weren't enemies yet, much like Clive himself.
"That's right," Clive said, voice keeping his reservations well-hidden. "Magicians, as a matter of fact. Though some of us do other things."
"That's pretty cool," Kelby said, a touch of interest in his voice. "We've never really had any performing types stop by here. Most people avoid this place." His tail swished back and forth agitatedly.
Ivilon tilted his head slightly. "Are you looking to have more visitors around here?" he asked curiously.
Kelby shrugged his shoulders. "Dunno, I just think it's pretty sad that even now, the first time performers come to town, it isn't even because you meant to come here." The Raichu's ears drooped. "Doesn't seem right that the kids never get to see a magic show or anything just because they live here. Everyone worked really hard to make this a nice place to live in, because we couldn't go anywhere else, and it didn't make a difference. People still act like we're not here just 'cause of that swamp."
Ivilon and Clive exchanged a glance. "Well it's not that we were avoiding this place," the Vaporeon said a little begrudgingly, "It's just most performers have a lot of specialized stuff we have to bring with us that wouldn't really do well in a place like this. It's hard to bring a show anyplace with drastically different environments. Taking care of the tools of your trade is pretty important, you know? And we don't have the money to pay to make sure it can handle extreme environments."
Kelby sighed. "Yeah, I s'pose so. I just wish..."
He trailed off and Ivilon gave Clive a hard look. The Vaporeon looked away, but his heart wasn't in it. Legends, why did he have to be such a pushover? "Say, Kelby?" He hated himself for saying this. "Maybe once we've got what we came here for we can come back and do a show for you guys." The last thing he wanted to do was come back to this place, but the look on the Raichu's face... "It might not be the most extravagant, but it's the least we can do to thank you for helping us out."
The Raichu came to a sudden halt, and Ivilon and Clive both stopped short to keep from running into him. He turned around and the expression on his face was one no words could describe. "R-Really? You guys would be willing to do that?" He looked as though he couldn't believe his ears.
That cinched it. "Of course!" Clive said, with a dip of his head. "And a good showman never goes back on his word."
Kelby beamed at them and a moment later the pair were pulled into a hug. "Oh, I really can't thank you guys enough. You don't know how much this'll mean to everybody. They'll all be so excited!" His face was flushed with excitement, and it occurred to Ivilon suddenly that, much like the Corphish, Kelby wasn't much more than a kid himself. The Raichu drew himself up to his full height and smiled warmly, all pretense of wariness forgotten. "C'mon, we're almost there. We'll make sure you guys get everything you need." Sure enough, just ahead was another side entrance to the village, and Kelby led them on with a new spring in his step as they made their way into the general store.
Clive
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Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 9:47 am
Keiran Keiran stood in polite silence as the Whimsicott and Marill stood together, feeling somewhat out of place with the intimacy of their reunion. It was a similar feeling to spotting Era and Ethfael when they thought no one was looking, a feeling that he shouldn’t be watching or that he should find somewhere else to be. In this case, as least, there seemed no practical need. The Whimsicott’s whispered questions were answered as their Marill guide, apparently named Evy, introduced them.
The Riolu dipped his head in response to Kiya’s shy greeting, doing his best to look unintimidating. He wasn’t particularly successful, he thought, in spite of his small size. If anything, it was the appearance of a half-drowned Rattata that was more likely to endear him to the timid healer. He did wonder, if only for a moment, how such a shy person would be capable of the professional intimacy required of healers, but his worries were abated as she saw their state of health. He smiled in silent agreement with Riley, only deciding to add his own ”Thank you” as she ushered them into her home.
Keiran stepped through the doorframe behind his captain and watched as the Whimsicott bustled about. Her light, fluffy body allowed her to reach every shelf with practiced grace and she seemed to move much more quickly as she ran into a back room to rummage for various materials. The sound of closing wooden drawers and cabinets could be heard for a few moments, and then Kiya returned to their side with a multitude of different jars bundled up in her arms. How she carried them all with such short limbs, Keiran would never know, but it seemed they were hardly her first patients. She’d done this many times before.
He snapped to attention as she gave them brisk orders, holding a blank expression as he felt his pulse jump from the startling shift in attitude. Keiran wordlessly followed Kiya into the back room, sparing a glance in Riley’s direction as he slipped through a second doorway and out into the Whimsicott’s backyard. He stood there for a moment, and watching with curious eyes as the healer began to run the water for a bath, and then decidedly planted his sodden paws into a brand of sunlight that shone past the overhanging roof of the house. He was cold enough without standing in the shade for a while. The sunlight rained down on his head and shoulders, warming his skin and soothing the chill that had settled into his bones. It wasn’t much, but it was better now that he was out of the wind and shade.
Kiya’s ministrations at the side of the tub were curious in their own right. The professional side of him reminded him to keep track of what was added to his bath, but the softer and friendlier nature his friends had taught him reminded him instead that it wasn’t polite to suspect misdeeds. There was no indication of misgivings or a lack of kindness from Kiya, particularly when her aura was so focused and empathetic. He would have to place his faith in her for now, particularly when it came to the care of his captain. The sound of Riley’s raw throat was enough to make anyone wince, and the Whimsicott seemed particularly sympathetic to his plight.
Keiran nodded again as kiya instructed him to remove his cloak, although he hesitated when she asked the same of his ribbon. The fabric of each smelled strange to him now that they’d come into contact, however brief, with the river water. His ribbon was much worse for wear than Riley’s cloak, particularly since he’d been given a thorough shower from Clive before the beautiful shimmering fabric had been draped over his shoulders. The ribbon, equally beautiful, now seemed dull and unremarkable in comparison. He ignored the guilty ache in his heart as he unfastened it from his arm, setting it on top of the cloak that he’d carefully folded onto the stone tiles surrounding the bath.
Kiya seemed to wait expectantly, watching him with a critical eye, and he flushed with discomfort as he obeyed her orders. He’d forgotten what it felt like to be monitored this closely. The memories of those days were both comforting and disquieting, though certainly for different reasons.
He stepped up to the edge of the tub, paws placed carefully on the rim for balance, and gracefully stepped into the steaming water. Almost immediately he could see the swirls of ink-like fluid seeping from beneath his fur, settling into the glittering sheen of oily water he’d stepped into. The heat was wonderful, sinking much deeper into his body than the sunlight had, and he allowed himself the luxury of a comfortable sigh as he crossed his legs and sat in the water. It tingled and stung, to be so warm after his brisk swim, but it felt wonderful enough to be worth the pins and needles sensation that sunk into his paws.
Glancing up to thank Kiya for her efforts, he blinked and realized that she had already disappeared back inside the house. His ears twitched with embarrassment at not having thanked her properly, but he supposed that it would have to wait until she returned after his bath. This, he thought, was incredibly kind of her. This was the sort of generosity that deserved his gratitude, if not reward and compensation of some kind. He’d have to ask Riley for his thoughts later.
He decided quite quickly that it would be better to wash his face first, before too much of the poison from his fur had settled into the bath, and set about cupping bathwater in his paws to rub against his face. He was cautious not to get it near his mouth, nose and eyes, but he was certainly thorough at the base of his chin and neck. He was fully aware that poison might have splattered higher in his struggle to escape, and it was unlikely that even Clive could work all of it from his pelt. He would take advantage of the freshly-dosed bathwater while it was most effective, and spend a few minutes to settle into the warmth once he was through.
- - - - -
The general store was tended by a Pokemon who seemed quite out of place in the quaint little village, her shimmering scales marked with the bright splashes of colour that warned of her species’ true nature. A Seviper sat contentedly behind the front counter, basking in the sun. She was the only Poison-type in view, but seemed quite content in her choice of location. Whether she lived there or not was unknown to the approaching guild team, but the villagers seemed to pay her little mind as they continued about their business.
Her store was well-kept and the floor of her workspace clean. The front counter was high enough to keep out the curious customers, but her merchandise was carefully organized along the back shelves and having from the walls at the sides. A set of sturdy, sliding doors marked the front of the building, though both were tightly secured against the wall to allow the sunlight to act as the shop’s primary light source. The lanterns that hung from the ceiling seemed less frequently used, with the shop’s few cobwebs all centered around the base of each fixture. A single doorway led to the rest of the building, although it was barred off by a thickly-woven rope. That was likely for employees only.
The Seviper brightened at the sight of the approaching Raichu, curious, but the glittering expression in her eyes seemed only to be for the curious strangers that followed behind him. Fresh business was always good.
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 7:41 am
Riley & Ivilon Riley did as he was told and drank the cup of tea down to its dregs, feeling the medicine work its magic. It had felt painful and scratchy before, but with the help of the warm liquid that coated his throat it seemed as good as new. As he licked the final drops from his tea bowl, he raised his gaze back to the Whimsicott across from him and smiled. "You're a miracle-worker ma'am," he said, raising a paw to his hat. It didn't hurt to talk anymore, and there was only a hint of hoarseness in his inflection. The Espeon never realized how much he relied on his voice until moments like this, but they always brought on moments of humble appreciation. They were always tied to those who meant most to him too: his mother, Clive, Era, Keiran--all of them had been by his side through one sickness or another. And now he witnessed the marvel of medicine all over again--if it was administered with good intentions and a loving heart, it made a bond between patient and medic that would not be soon forgotten.
Kiya blushed at the sound of his voice, apparently not expecting the warmth in his tone. "O-Oh, no, nothing like that," the Whimsicott raised a paw to play with the cotton behind her ear nervously, "This sort of thing happens all the time, even with the Pokemon who live here. Every child has to learn for herself not to wander into the areas with dangerous spores, so I always have the remedy on hand. It's more common than you think." Kiya looked at him nervously now that the ease of a business relationship had vanished between them, and Riley smiled at her, causing her to turn pink. "I, um... More tea? You still have a bit of a rasp, it could help."
The Espeon laughed, a light and gentle sound. "Of course, I'd love that," he purred, pushing his bowl across the table to his hostess. As she hopped to her feet and rushed to steep another cup, Riley continued. "So your name is Kiya, right? May I call you that?" He turned around for confirmation and the Whimsicott looked back to nod uncertainly. "My name's Riley, and my friend you took outside is called Keiran," he told her, "We brought two other friends with us on our travels, but they managed to escape injury thank the Legends." He smiled. "We're a group of traveling performers, searching for oddities to add to our act, but like the Marill who helped us said we were attacked out in the swamp."
Despite Kiya's determined work over at the counter, she shot glances back at Riley as he told their story, apparently interested. She brightened at the mention of her mate, as Riley hoped she would. "You mean Evy?" The Whimsicott brought the bowl over, newly filled with tea. "Just let that steep for a bit before you drink it," she added.
"We never got her name," Riley said, nodding at her instruction. "We found her, and a Raichu, and a Corphish standing by the town outskirts by accident. We thought we spotted something that didn't look like the rest of the swampland and came to check it out." He grinned at her. "And am I glad we did."
Kiya nodded in agreement, still fiddling with her cotton. "Yes, that was Evy--she was on watch duty with Kelby and Kine. There have been a lot of strange incidents around here lately, so we've started to keep a watch outside the village so nothing too dangerous comes near." Clearly, Kiya was concerned about the idea. "The watch cycles through everyone in the village except the children. We get informed about our posting the day before." The Whimsicott dropped her gaze.
Riley's ears twitched at the mention of incidents, though his gaze remained sympathetic. "Has it been this way for long?" he asked. The information would be important to bring back to the Guild, but he had to be very careful in how he obtained it--a performer too interested in danger would be certain to raise a few suspicions.
Kiya didn't seem to think anything of it though, shaking her head morosely. "No, not for long. I haven't even had my first watch assignment yet." And she clearly wasn't looking forward to it. "It's just a precaution, but all the same..." The Whimsicott trailed off into silence for a moment before her eyes widened. "Oh, your friend! He must be nearly done by now." The Whimsicott hopped to her feet, shooting Riley an apologetic smile. "You can drink that while I finish up with him, alright? It should be ready by now."
When Kiya emerged in the back yard, she wore thick, pink, rubber gloves on her hands an a flustered look on her face. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting!" she said anxiously, placing the towels she carried on the ground opposite where the poison-soaked cape and ribbon rested. The Whimsicott peered into the tub and was apparently pleased with what she saw. "Hop on out for me please," she said, hopping up to reach into the water and pluck the orb from it, now filled with the same inky, purple substance Keiran had noticed coming off his fur. "Let's take a look and make sure you're all cleaned off." As Keiran stepped out, Kiya took great care in placing the orb out of their way, frowning at it thoughtfully. "Best not to touch those things with your bare hands," she informed him, "They're good for Poison Types and not much else, since they poison at the touch." Which also made them excellent weapons, but it was hard to imagine that thought crossed the gentle Whimsicott's mind.
When her Riolu patient came to stand beside her, Kiya looked him up and down with a careful eye. "Lie down flat for me," she told him, "It'll be fastest that way." As he followed her instructions she explained the process to him. "I'm going to check your skin and fur for any poison you missed, and treat any areas that are still irritated. Try to stay as still as you can for me, and I'll try to handle this as quickly as possible." The Whimsicott had another of the jars she brought out at her side, this one filled with something that might have been a lotion or a salve, and a towel and spray bottle in her hands. The process would be efficient, but also very thorough--Kiya didn't stop until she'd examined every inch of his body. The spray bottle and towel were used only a few times, to remove stubborn poison, then Keiran would be thoroughly dried by a separate towel before the Whimsicott applied the stuff from the jar. It felt thick and smelled sharply, but it would feel soothing to the skin. Once she'd finished with his back, Kiya would pause for only a moment to tell Keiran to roll over before repeating the process on his front. When they were face to face, the Whimsicott never looked him in the eye, except when examining the area right around them; a few words would be spoken to tell him to close his eyes when she treated his face, but otherwise the process was quiet and procedural.
When she'd finished at last, Kiya released a breath and removed her gloves, tossing them toward the poison orb before offering a hand to help Keiran to his feet. "There we are," she said, sounding rather proud of herself, "That poison shouldn't bother you any more." She glanced beyond the Riolu to where his garments still rested, and frowned thoughtfully. "Let's get you inside and make you some tea," she said, "Then I'll start on those."
Riley was waiting for the pair when they came back, his second bowl of tea finished and his eyes drifting lazily from this to that about the house. He brightened at the side of his partner and Kiya, attention sliding to the pair the moment they walked in. "Were you able to get it all out?" he asked, the question directed at either of the pair. His voice was back to its natural state, all trace of his ailment gone thanks to his medicine.
Kiya nodded. "I think so," she said happily. "I'm just going to make him a cleansing tea, in case he swallowed any unintentionally. You can have a seat wherever you like," she added, looking to Keiran with a smile. The Whimsicott was back to her counter a moment later, creating a concoction that smelled rather differently than Riley's tea, which she would serve to him in a mug when the time was right.
Riley watched his friend sit down with a smile, pleased to see him looking dry and healthy. "How are you feeling?" he asked, "Kiya's medicine is really something, huh?"
~~~~~
The first thing they saw when they made their way into the general store was its colorful owner, and Ivilon felt Clive's tension spike the moment she was in sight. The Beldum felt a twinge of nervousness course through him as he turned his gaze on the Vaporeon; though a stranger could never tell, Clive's relaxed gait had turned a a crisper, more guarded one, though it was flawlessly professional. It made Ivilon uneasy to see him this way, after all that he'd seen of Clive thus far it was hard to imagine what it was that made the Vaporeon so anxious suddenly. It was clear that he had an aversion to poison but Poison Types too? He was generally so amiable that Ivilon had difficulty linking the disconnect between this guarded Clive and the Clive who seemed to treat everyone as a friend; the Vaporeon and Kelby had been making amiable chit-chat on their way here, so it was clear he didn't suspect any malice from the villagers anymore, so what was it about this one?
"Sephia!" Kelby shot a smile at the snake, responding to the friendly glance she'd shot him prior, "Brought you some customers. They're performers from someplace far away. Trying to find a few supplies while Miss Evelyn gets their friends patched up."
For once, Clive didn't readily follow with an introduction, so Ivilon followed up Kelby's commentary a moment later than felt natural. "It is our pleasure to meet you," the Beldum said, "My name is Ivilon and this is--"
"Clive." The Vaporeon seemed to have returned to himself and shook his head slightly, flashing the Seviper a dazzling smile. "Forgive me, my mind was somewhere else." Ivilon shot him a look but Clive remained oblivious, willingly or otherwise. "Like Kelby and my friend were saying, we're performers in search of new wonderments for our act. We've traveled a long way, but were attacked as we made our way through the swamp. Fortunately we happened upon this place and everyone here has been most kind and understanding of our plight." Ivilon marveled at the way Clive spun the story--even through his tension, the way he spoke to you made you cling to his every word. "That said,"--Clive stepped up to the counter--"we're looking for anything that may help us on our journey through the swampland, since we'll have to travel back the way we came. Do you have any recommendations?"
Clive
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 9:05 am
Keiran Keiran looked up as Kiya returned, the Riolu now settled into what appeared to be a tub of clear, crystalline water. There were still some light swirls of inky darkness, particularly around the orb that floated by his side, but Keiran himself looked much cleaner and healthier than he had when he first arrived. The steam that had once floated from the surface of the bathwater had long since cooled, and the bath was becoming a less pleasant lukewarm. He eyed the towels she brought with some understandable gratitude.
She ordered him to exit the tub, and he did so, climbing cautiously out of the water and onto the cold flagstone. It sent a jolt of pain through the pads of his feet, and the Riolu resisted the urge to shuffle his paws for warmth. He had withstood more painful experiences than stepping on cold tiles, he mused.
Kiya’s warning to him was taken seriously, as the Riolu nodded at her words and eyed the inky dark globe with no small amount of suspicion. He recognized the true use of the ‘medicinal’ orb, suddenly relating its description to a particular weapon that he had once seen long ago. Kiya was right to warn against touching it, particularly now that he was away from the healing waters of his bath. That orb could very easily kill him, perhaps more quickly than the river could. ”I’ve heard of things like it,” he agreed quietly, his voice grave and quiet. Water dripped from his slick dark fur, falling to his feet with an emphasized splash.
The order came for him to lie flat, and he glanced dubiously at the ground. He wasn’t keen to lie on cold stone but he would obey if it was asked of him. Thankfully for Keiran, Kiya quickly resolved that problem before he could think twice about it. A thick, soft towel was spread across the stone and the Riolu descended to sit gracefully on top of it. He didn’t immediately settle onto his stomach, instead choosing to face the healer properly as she explained the procedure. He was still a little uncertain about healers, and unfortunately this situation was among the reasons why. It made him feel horribly uneasy to have someone so intimately close to him, and for the extended period of time that was required for a thorough examination it would be all the worse.
In spite of his discomfort, he obeyed her without question. He lay flat on his stomach, his head and shoulders held up only slightly as he propped himself slightly on his elbows to provide Kiya with better access to examine the back of his head and around his arms. The strange salve she applied to his skin was somewhat distressing and it stung his nostrils as though he’d tipped his muzzle directly into the jar. It felt wonderful against his skin, though, and he felt confident from her explanation that it was nothing but good for him. He was sprayed down a few times, which felt fairly odd, but he didn’t object to that either. Keiran was nothing if not obedient. When he rolled over, Keiran firmly kept his chin close to his chest, only shifting when Kiya’s small hands guided his muzzle up and away so that she could examine his neck. That process was fairly quick, due to their mutual discomfort, but it was only half as bad as having her examine his face. She was very close to him, and it made his fur prickle uncomfortably. It felt wonderful to have the salve rubbed into the tender skin, and perhaps more so to have tender touches brushed against his fur to check for damage and poison. That didn’t mean that it went against every comfortable social boundary he had.
He released a shaky breath just as Kiya did, relieved that she had pulled away and trying to gently smooth the now cleaned and treated fur on his arms. Thankfully he was still damp enough that his fur did not visibly prickle under her examination because he wasn’t sure how that would have gone over. He wasn’t in the mood to have his anxieties soothed by a stranger, particularly since she would and should not be made privy to the knowledge of why he was so deeply threatened by her touch. The memory of strong claws wrapped around his windpipe was not easily forgotten.
Keiran nodded again at her declaration, watching her slip off her rubber gloves. He accepted her hand up more out of manners than need, and followed her gaze to his sodden garments. The poison still leeched from the weave, pooling around the edges of the fabric and standing in stark contrast to the surrounding stone. Guilt stabbed at him again. ”Thank you,” he told her quietly, shoving aside his discomfort with the healer and following her back inside toward Riley.
When they arrived, the Espeon was sitting perkily on his stool, an empty bowl of tea settled in front of him on the table. His eyes were bright and his voice was all but smooth again. It was a voice like silk, even with the raspy edge that would take time to heal and fade. It eased his soul to hear him well again. He did not seem to mind as Kiya directed him toward a seat near his captain, and he sat conspicuously closer to Riley than he normally would. Riley would likely understand his unease, were he to explain it, but it wasn’t about to delve into that conversation today. It was only a memory, nothing more, and Kiya had done them a great favor in her work. ”She is very thorough,” he allowed himself to say, looking over his captain for any other signs of harm. ”I can only hope the tea smells better than the salve for my skin,” Keiran added, and the Riolu smoothed a couple stray tufts of spiked fur at his shoulder. In truth, the salve didn’t smell bad at all once it had dried some. The scent of it while fresh and moist was certainly not as pleasant, though.
He accepted the strange-smelling tea as it was deposited in front of him, looking much deeper in colour than Riley’s had. His was a strange, deep green instead of the shining gold of the honey mixture. It was almost blue around the edges, making it seem reminiscent of Riley’s fur. That thought sent an awkward flush across his face, and he was much relieved when she belatedly added some violet berries to further darken the mixture. She swirled it around for a moment, before bidding that he drink it all aside from the berries themselves, and left to tend to their clothing in the back yard.
”Anything new?” The Riolu’s gleaming aqua eyes blinked back to focus on Riley the moment Kiya had left. His voice much quieter than before. It was meant only for his ears, not Kiya’s, and he didn’t want to be overheard through a doorway. He was suspecting that Riley would have been collecting information while Keiran was otherwise distracted, since that seemed to be the way of their team. They were definitely good at weaving words. - - - - - The Seviper’s eyes and mouth seemed to narrow for a moment, eyes bright, and suddenly it was obvious that the curious snake was smiling. It might be a disconcerting movement to some, but it was a gesture of genuine welcome. Unlike many of the villagers, the coiled serpent had little to fear from most of the dangers the swamp could bring. She was very much at home here, though truthfully much more so in the safety of the village than in the murk outside of it.
”My dear,” she greeted Kelby in turn, lifting her torso with practiced grace and simply weaving her way over the counter to greet the Raichu. She brushed her scales gently against his arm in a sort of polite, serpentine hug. Her voice was surprisingly warm and thickly marked by an accent that was foreign even to the swamp dwellers. She appeared quite intelligent, but the accent revealed that she had difficulty with verbal speech. She sounded much older than Kelby, perhaps even older than the members of the guild team that stood on her doorstep, but the attentive tilt of her head revealed that she took the youngster’s words quite seriously. ”I see this,” she answered thoughtfully. She did not mistake the tension that had shaken the Vaporeon, but seemed to politely disregard it. Their hesitation was natural, she knew. Seviper were venomous, deadly predators in the right circumstances.
The smaller one spoke, and she twisted to listen appropriately. She had never seen a Beldum before, but the blinking eye marked obvious intelligence and he spoke with a strange metallic tone. He was a curious one, certainly. His Vaporeon friend recovered quickly, flashing her a dazzling smile that could only belong to a stage performer. They had not been lying, then, when they introduced themselves to Kelby and Evelyn.
”A tale most intriguing,” Sephia told the performers kindly, rising slightly to face them properly. ”I am Sephia, guard for village supplies. I am shopkeep, too, but only for passing strangers as yourselves.” The full length of her serpentine body was now coiled over the counter and onto their side of the room. She paused for a moment, considering as she looked over the travelers that Kelby had brought into her shop. They appeared dry and healthy enough, though a little worn, but Kelby and Clive had each said their companions were not as lucky. If they were attacked, that appeared to be closer to the root of their problems than the swamplands themselves. ”I have many things for which you will need. The swamplands are not safe without care taken,” she decided sagely.
”Pecha and Sitrus, certainly. Good for poisoning and fatigue, yes? Your kind are much vulnerable to such river sludge.” She seemed to wrinkle her nose slightly at the mention. ”Not clean poison, has killed many in manner unkind,” She sounded disgusted by the thought, a shudder passing along her lanky muscles. Her jewel-like scales shimmered in the light as she did so. Seviper were not a favourite to Clive, but perhaps there was beauty in them as well.
”Happier thoughts,” she dismissed quickly, banishing the darkness from her expression.
In a display of impressive strength, the serpent lifted near to her entire body length off of the floor. She pulled a thick-woven net from a hook on the ceiling, and drew carefully down to the height of her customers. She allowed the brim of the net to open slightly, along with the burlap lining that kept the contents safe within. The opening revealed numerous, broad golden seeds. They were shaped like pumpkin seeds, though not as round and a shining gold in colour. She pulled her long tail closer, behind exceptionally careful not to swing the bladed end too closely to anyone. Dipping the edge of her tail blade into the sack, she scooped several of the glistening seeds and offered it out for Clive and Ivilon to view. ”Beautiful, yes? When I say Pecha and Sitrus, I unfortunately cannot provide to you. Very scarce, must save for villagers’ medicine,” she explained apologetically, her silken accent dropping odd gaps between her words. ”These better for swamp travel, we call ‘heal seeds’. Eat like berries, purifies the body. Sow in ground, purifies the land. Will need two to cure ingestion of swamp water, as is very toxic. Damages mind. Water make pain, large amounts cause things to be heard or seen that not there. Heal seed prevent long-term damage.”
Sephia gave pause, letting her warnings soak in before she continued. ”Also good for migraine, sun blindness. General ails. Come from special sunflower. Village use often, easy to grow.” She regarded Ivilon and Clive closely for a moment, sliding some of the gleaming seeds onto the counter in front of them. She could see their interest, but felt as though she were missing something. She lifted herself again to replace the netted sack back onto its hook, far enough above the heads of her customers to be out of the way and not threatening to them.
”Cannot sell weapon, but have one other thing. Not cheap, very potent.” The Seviper lifted herself back over the counter and disappeared behind it for a moment. Only her glistening tail was visible as it rested atop the counter’s surface. It was becoming very obvious why the counter had smoothed edges, given the shopkeep’s mode of transportation. When her face rose back above counter-level, the snake held a brightly-coloured orb in her jaws. It felt oddly warm to the touch, and was bright blue like the sky. It gave off a strange aura, one that drove the user to hold it. She set it onto the counter, and curled her tail protectively around it to ward off such contact. She herself had only held it by the tips of her pointed teeth. ”Drought orb. Single use, very dangerous. Not for Vaporeon touch, yes? Will cause pain with skin contact. Metal one is safe.” She warned Clive immediately, eyes flashing to show that she was very serious. ”If dropped in river, will absorb water at fast rate. Effects temporary, orb not last. Good for escape.”
The Seviper did not offer the treasure lightly, for she had very few of them. The only other orb lay protected behind the desk, hidden by her smooth and colourful body. She would allow their purchase or trade for one of the two, but to ask for both would be a mistake. She refused to allow something so potent out of her shop without great care. If used wrongly, it was a weapon of significant power.
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 11:29 am
Riley & Ivilon Clive, are you there?
Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise? If I'd known to expect you I'd have had a speech prepared.
Well, if I'm not getting a speech, at least give me something.
But of course, mon capitan, what can I do for you?
How are things with you and Ivilon?
Going pretty well actually. Kelby's a good kid, we're just outside the general store now. Oh, and I may have promised him we'd do a performance for the kids here sometime in the near future.
Eager to come back, are we?
Ha ha. It was the quickest way to get him on our side. Besides Riles, you should've seen the guy's face.
Well, it's not the worst thing I guess. The Pokémon here have been great. There's a Whimsicott taking care of us and she's the sweetest thing. Apparently she's the mate of that Marill we met.
How's the throat?
Back to its usual splendor. The medicine worked wonders.
Marvelous! And Keiran?
Kiya said she'd be back with him in a little bit, so I figured I'd check in with you before they got back, make sure you were being treated just as well.
Well we'll find out in a minute. Like I said Kelby's great, but he's the only one we've met. ...Oh.
Oh?
I don't really like how this Seviper's looking at me.
Seviper?
Sephia I guess. She's the shopkeeper. I should deal with this.
Alright. See you soon then.
Riley snapped back to attention as he broke off the Psychic link with Clive. He'd listened silently to Keiran's question and finished his conversation, chuckling slightly at the Riolu's quip though his attention was divided. Fortunately, his conversation ended just as Keiran was served his tea, and Kiya softly excused herself to go handle the clothing Keiran had left behind, so he was able to give his partner his full attention again.
"Well, my voice is back for one," he said chipperly. He lowered his voice to match his partner's afterward, shifting to a more serious tone. "And Clive and Ivilon are in the process of collecting supplies as we speak." The Espeon's eyes were bright and attentive. "I learned that there have been some troubles around here recently, incidents as it were, and the group we met at the entrance to the village are members of a watch formed because of those. I didn't get to hear much about it, but it must be more than just mild trouble to make these friendly people go to such lengths. Riley frowned. "We should probably be on the lookout for anything that might be causing it," he added, "The mission takes precedence, obviously, but we owe it to these people, you know? If we find any signs of trouble we can report back and send some people to help out."
Riley allowed Keiran some time to drink his tea, the Espeon studying his own tea leaves thoughtfully. "You know, I've been a little bothered by something," he said after a moment. "Aric seemed pretty adamant that we shouldn't talk to anyone here. I know it might have been that he knew they were on guard and might attack us if we seemed hostile, but after the welcome we've received that seems pretty unwarranted. Even if they tried I doubt these people--at least the ones we've met--could do a lot of harm." His brow furrowed. "Earlier, before I lost my head, you were saying that something scared you about Aric." It was a painful thing to return to, but Riley was much more level now. "Something different than emotional disturbance--something that put you on the defensive. ...I think you need to tell me what you think of him now, before we group up and start working again. If you think there's reason to be concerned about our client, I need to know more about it, so I can try to sort this all out."
~~~~~
Clive didn't like Poison Types. They made his skin crawl and his water waver just to look at them, with the toxins lurking beneath their skin. The Seviper they'd just been introduced to was beautiful, with scales like jewels and an exotic beauty that many Pokemon would have found enticing, but Clive knew it was little more than a facade, a deceptive appearance brought on by nature to lure simple-minded Pokemon close enough for the kill. When it came to that kind of Pokemon, the brighter the colors, the deadlier the poison. The ones that looked normal weren't any less unsettling than the ones that positively dripped with the stuff--they were just clever enough not to show it. Those ones were most important to watch out for, because they were the ones who used their poisons with most finesse: there was no way a Pokemon like Sephia would make her move without careful intent, striking where it was most effective. She didn't seem hostile, but that didn't matter--one never could tell with that Type, and one wrong would lead to filthy impurities in his water that would leave him feeling the after-effects for weeks. So, the Vaporeon kept a careful distance from the Seviper, stepping back quickly when the snake slithered over the counter to greet Kelby. Clive averted his eyes when he saw the Raichu wrap his arms around her fondly, slightly sickened by the thought of those poison-ready scales brushing against the boy's fur.
Introductions aside, Clive watched Sephia move with politely interested eyes, though there wasn't a moment he took his eyes off the snake, afraid of what could happen if he did. He listened quietly to her whole pitch, ears twitching in acknowledgement of her rhetorical questions but otherwise respectfully quiet as she peddled her wares. She said a number of things in her strange accent, including a brief aside about the unpleasant qualities of the river water. Clive marked her reaction with some confusion, finding it peculiar that someone who the poison would fail to affect would still express displeasure at it. Her kind was suppose to thrive in that sort of stuff--they drew their energy from it--she was an odd creature if she held disdain for the very thing that empowered her. He didn't dwell on it too much though; the more he thought about the snake's peculiar nature, the more likely his mind was to wander to places he didn't want it to go. He did his best not to shudder at the incredible feats of strength Sephia demonstrated as she wove back and forth through her shop, even lifting herself almost straight up to balance on her tail when she brought the Heal Seeds down for them to examine.
As Clive fretted about the enormous, toxic creature trying to win them over, Ivilon admired her from where he hovered, golden gaze enraptured. Sephia was a marvel, a creature who'd adapted to her surroundings with skill and sophistication. She was a stunning example of her species, muscular and kempt and totally at ease in her own skin; it would be breath-taking to behold, if the Beldum had any breath to take. Instead, he watched her work, not with the closeness of Clive but with the patience of an art critic viewing a painting. When she brought down the seeds for them to examine, Ivilon turned his eye on them appreciatively, hovering up to view the seeds that were laid out on the counter. "These should be most useful," the Beldum said, humming approvingly as his mind whirred through its knowledge banks, registering the many useful qualities of these seeds. He'd heard of Heal Seeds before but never seen them--they were expensive back near the Guild, but here they were apparently in abundance. No wonder they were able to grow other things here, if these Heal Seeds purified the natural as well as the biological as Sephia claimed. "I think these will be quite helpful to us on our travels," he said, looking up to meet the snake's gaze with gratitude.
Clive appreciated the seeds for what they were, but in the end they weren't as incredible as Ivilon was making them out to be. They'd packed ample supplies, and while purchasing some of these seeds would be prudent, it wasn't as though they were singularly remarkable. A cure-all was good, and something to combat the effects of the water was also, but he was less impressed with the ingenuity than his companion--Heal Seeds were something of a rarity, but not anything he felt was a necessity. Apparently Sephia picked up on his skepticism however, because she produced something else shortly after, a glimmering blue orb that she held in her mouth, highlighting her glimmering fangs that clenched it from either side. The moment he saw the orb, Clive shrank back, instinct repelling him from the odd heat that came off it: when Sephia explained what it was shortly after, he was glad he did. "You don't have to tell me twice," Clive said, a little less jovially than usual as he stared at the orb. He didn't like the thing at all, but after what had already happened it didn't seem like something they could go without.
Clearing his throat, Clive stepped a bit closer, trying to ignore the eerie feeling brought on by the sphere that now rested on the counter, held in place by the serpent's tail. "Your stock doesn't disappoint!" The Vaporeon said, his voice warming with his approval. "After what we've been through already, I think these could be just what we need, don't you agree Ivilon?"
The Beldum nodded, eye bright with caution as he too felt the power of the orb. "Yes, it all seems most prudent to see us back," he said quietly. Ivilon was concerned about the idea of the Drought Orb on Clive's behalf, but the Beldum knew the harm it could do was far outweighed by the potential usefulness of the item.
"Then we're agreed!" Clive beamed at Sephia. "We'll take the Orb and the Heal Seeds, however many you deem reasonable for a trip of..." The Vaporeon paused, calculating for a moment. "Well, it took us about a week to make it here from the last town we performed in. I'm not exactly sure how far it was, since we got turned around once or twice, but does that give you a good amount to estimate?" He was being generous with the time so she'd be generous with the seeds--it would be a useful thing to have one or two left over for growing when they returned to the Guild, so he wasn't taking chances. "Do you prefer coin or trade, friend? We're only traveling performers, but we'll offer what we can as payment." he asked. Ivilon was still carrying the packs and they had the means for either. If she asked for coin, the proper amount would be supplied to her in short order; if it was a trade she wanted however, Clive would have to get a bit craftier.
Kelby looked on from the side of the desk, pleased that everyone was getting something from this exchange. He raised a brow at the sight of Sephia's Orb offering but said nothing aloud, simply watching the strangers' reactions quietly. The Seviper was way better with strangers than he was, that was for sure, but that's why she was the salesmon and he was just a bystander here.
Clive
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Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 7:36 pm
Keiran Keiran frowned at his captain. He wasn’t the most sympathetic of Pokemon, but he was concerned about what incidents Kiya had been unwilling to mention. Clearly there was an outside problem if they had to set up watches each day to keep themselves safe, but it was a problem well-known to them if they were still willing to bring strangers into the depths of their village.
This was a quiet, almost peaceful place. From what he’d seen so far, the only muscle on the villagers seemed to be in their legs and shoulders from their farming and carpentry. They weren’t seasoned warriors, and it certainly seemed like they didn’t know much about fighting if they hadn’t noticed the oddly-defined muscle tone of the ‘performers’ they’d welcomed in. Sure, acrobats might build the kind of muscle they had, but Keiran in particular was not built like a performer. He idly wished to have Riley’s cloak back to hide his figure, though he supposed that he could pass for a hired hand to carry belongings.
He nodded in agreement with Riley. ”They must know more about this than what they’ve told us, if they’re willing to help us,” he murmured seriously, echoing his thoughts. ”Think about it. If they didn’t know what they were looking for, they’d never have let us pass the village border. They’re watching for something else, even if we don’t know what it is yet. The best we can do is guess what it isn’t, and keep an attentive eye on our way out. I can guess that it isn’t the Venusaur or problems with the river, since they said this was a recent problem. They seemed far too calm, too… prepared, about the trouble that we ran into for it to be a new concern.”
Keiran’s dark paws clutched at his teacup as he savoured the strange liquid that tipped down the back of his throat. It was a strange taste, but he was used to that. More than anything, he was just pleased to have a drink of tea. It felt calming and natural to the Riolu, and it reminded him a lot of home. He didn’t imagine that Ethfael would appreciate the bitter tang to this particular brew, though. A medicinal remedy wasn’t exactly ripe with fresh flavor. Either that, or it was a little too ripe.
”I have to agree. Some of these Pokemon might never have held a weapon in their lifetime before now. Even if they have done wrong of some sort, they’re not a physical threat and they seem amiable enough that we can trust their guidance for now. None of their auras are even remotely suspicious.”
His aqua eyes flickered back to watch Riley as the Espeon examined his own teacup a little too closely. He was surprised to hear the admission of curiousity from the psychic’s mouth, given how upsetting the conversation had been to him earlier, but he did his best to maintain a neutral expression. It wouldn’t do to imply a particular opinion about it before he understood the full context of Riley’s concerns. Triggering an anxiety attack now would do poorly for their reputation with the villagers, and it would certainly do nothing good for Riley’s mood and wellbeing. Protectiveness swelled in his belly.
With that in mind, he hesitated only a moment. It was enough to take the last sip of medicinal tea and take a steadying breath. ”Whatever I say now, understand that it’s not the same as the emotional trauma you’ve been through. I’ve never been good with words, but it’s hard to describe just how distinct it is from what I see in someone like you or Clive. Your aura has its own identity; there are parts of it that show pain or stress in the right circumstance, but it is one cohesive aura. Think of it like… changes in colour, rather than being ‘broken’.”
“Aric’s aura doesn’t do that. It’s not just different colours; it’s actively rearranging itself. Breaking, even. There are gaps where there shouldn’t be. It’s like trying to glue broken glass together, where the edges are still sharp if you run your hand over it and you can still see the lines even after the glue dries. It doesn’t exactly hurt, not like it would to watch someone cry or sympathize with someone’s anger. It just feels like I’m trying to take in too much at once. It’s overwhelming and empty all at the same time.”
The Riolu lifted a paw to his forehead, dropping his head down for a moment as he struggled to remember the exact sensation. His eyes squeezed shut. ”I’m sorry. This is hard to describe. We don’t have words to describe a lot of this because aura isn’t a language. It’s like trying to explain how pain feels to someone who’s never been hurt.”
There was a glimmer of reluctance and shame in his eyes as he looked at Riley now, realizing that to fully explain Aric’s condition he would have to admit to some of the atrocities he’d witnessed before they’d met. That was a sensitive subject on the best of days, but it seemed even worse to talk about during a mission. ”I’ve only ever met one person like Aric. I saw him before, and I saw him after. We were both kids at the time, just starting our training. He wasn’t really cut out for fighting, maybe even less than I was, but everyone in our tribe was groomed for battle whether we wanted it or not. It was more mental conditioning than anything else, to break us down and build us back up into the kind of warrior they wanted. Rory took it harder than the rest of us.”
“I don’t… know what happened on his first trip out, but when they brought him back he was covered in filth and screaming like the world was about to end. He was just completely broken. Sometimes we could calm him down, but it never lasted long. He was paranoid and volatile, and his mood would switch at the drop of a hat. It was only a matter of time. Just when we thought he might be getting better, he tried to kill his own mentor. I remember mine telling me to hide before he went to help. I didn’t dare disobey him.” The tension in the room was palpable at this point, and Keiran’s eyes slowly opened to stare at his paws. His fingers had wound themselves together, knuckles clenched tight as he forced himself not to hunch his shoulders. ”I don’t think they knew what else to do. It scared a lot of us at the time, that maybe it could happen to us or that our mentors would have to kill the rest of us if someone else broke the way Rory did. My mentor kept a very close eye on me after that, but looking back I think he was just protecting me.”
Keiran risked a glance up at his captain, hoping that he hadn’t said too much. Not all of his life before now had been bad, even if it had been substantially different from the upbringing of Riley and the rest of MistMelody. That didn’t mean he was eager to talk about it, especially when it came to the less pleasant memories. ”I don’t know what’s wrong with Aric, but I can’t look him in the eyes without seeing Rory instead. I just want to get through with this so that we can get back to the guild. They’ll send someone else to deal with him, however they want to do that,” he admitted guiltily.
- - - - -
Sephia took note of the admiration from the curious silver being who floated at her side. He was a Steel-type, and thus entirely immune to her poison. Perhaps that was why he was so enraptured, if he felt he had nothing to fear. Still, she was not one to shun an admirer, and the lithe Seviper shifted her coiled body just so to allow a shimmer of light across her colourful scales. The two of them in the same room was really quite the sight, like two living gemstones.
The Seviper smiled back, though the expression was more evident in the corners of her eyes than it was her fanged mouth. Gratitude and appreciation was certainly refreshing after the mistrust in the Vaporeon’s gaze. She did, however, approve of his caution with the Drought Orb.
Now it was just a matter of business. ”A week’s journey is long distance by foot. Two Seed for each dose, and extra dose for every day in swamp. Is only day’s journey if you take the North route, but I hear you take bridge? Is three days if continue straight from bridge. Is twelve seeds each for swamp, and perhaps emergency dose each for rest of journey.” Her calculations were expert, as she knew the landscape and her wares equally well.
”Sounds like much for traveler. If pay for Seed in swamp, I provide rest free. Handsome friend quite convincing.” Her eyes flickered to Ivilon at this, with her flirtatious quip only half in jest. She had no intention of keeping in touch, particularly when the finned Vaporeon still looked at her with such distaste, but the Beldum was pleasant on the ears and eyes for the time that he was here.
The offer was generous, especially by her standards. ”Payment in gold and trade both. Take gold normally, but cannot leave village to exchange for goods. So need mixed pay. If have foreign herbs, coffee or wood, trade good price. Many things not grow in village.”
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 10:43 am
Riley & Ivilon Riley's kept his gaze fixed on his teacup as Keiran spoke, as though it were the only thing existing in his world. Returning to difficult subjects wasn't something he excelled at, the small, cloying memory of his breakdown flitted at his mind's edge like a moth's shadow, but he used his cup as an anchor, keeping him level. He was safe here, and he wasn't being put on trial yet: that would come later, when their business was finished. He kept his vigil throughout Keiran's entire speech, about his past, about the differences in auras, and said nothing, processing all of it at his own pace. When the Riolu shifted to speaking of his past however, Riley looked up to meet his friend's teal eyes, a soft expression of sympathy on his face. He knew the way Keiran struggled with tales from his life before, and he'd known this conversation would be hard for the both of them, but that didn't mean he had to be cold about it. "I'm sorry," Riley said, his voice low and ringing with empathy. "That sounds like it was a frightening time. I'd be wary too, if I'd encountered something like that in my past." The Espeon's tail flicked over for a moment to slide along Keiran's side with a featherlight touch, and then it was gone.
Emotional history aside, Riley always found it interesting to listen to Keiran talk about aura. The idea was something totally different from Psychic, so fluid and ethereal. Thinking about seeing emotions--actually seeing them in color and motion--it intrigued him. The Espeon knew aura was like a second sight to Keiran; he'd even experienced it himself at one point. A memory washed over him of that day, the way the Riolu he'd never have known would one day be his partner had almost been lost to the depths of a Cresselia's dreamworld. He'd experienced something then, and Era with him--something like aura; it prompted a soft sound of acknowledgment from the Espeon however, though he didn't look at his partner. "I understand, a little bit." The assertion wasn't entirely convincing, but it was a start, and an indication that he was trying to work through the puzzle that had been set before him.
"I can't really comprehend it, you're right, but I have an idea of it." Riley's forked tail brushed against the ground anxiously. "The thing that makes him different is that his baseline isn't made right." The Espeon sounded very somber. Riley, despite the assurances of the others, had long assumed his own emotional foundation was built slanted--how else could he have ended up the way he was today? It was generally agreed among the members of Team MistMelody that Erinn was one of that sort--something about the Paras was just so far from the norm that he didn't function the way normal Pokemon did. In a hollow place in Riley's heart, he had begun to believe himself to be the same way. "But this is a little different." Saying the words aloud helped Riley to keep his mind from turning to darker places. "Aric's baseline isn't just misshapen, it's like it was broken, then repaired the wrong way, and it keeps breaking and mending and changing without a sense of control?" He was trying to understand, with all the mental fortitude he had. "And because it's his aura we can't do anything to help because that's...well that's his very essence, right?" It was grim. Legends it was so very, very grim.
Riley clenched his teeth hard enough to hurt before he released the tension with a deep sigh. The Espeon allowed himself to slouch, tipping his hat back with a touch of Psychic. "How do we get ourselves into these things, huh?" He glanced over at Keiran with a glimmer of a weary smile. "I can't really say what the best thing to do for it is," he said honestly, "but it's probably better for us to follow through with the request, like you said." Riley stood and bowed low to the ground, stretching his lithe figure to its fullest extent; it wasn't often the Espeon's full form was on display like this, and he felt a bit naked without it, but the way his fur looked in the early afternoon light was a sight to behold. "That said, we should probably head out soon. Figure out where the bridge is and get back to business." He frowned in the direction Kiya had disappeared a while before. "I don't know how long it'll be before she's finished, but sitting around like this makes me antsy."
A peak out the door would reveal Kiya hard at work over the tub, a determined expression on her face as she worked at Riley's cape with the same attention to detail she'd paid Keiran's body. Beside her, a certain ribbon was laid flat on the stones, drying in the sun--all the poison stains were gone from it, and though it bore the signs of having been worn for many-a-mission, it seemed to have regained a bit of the luster it had before. Riley whistled lowly, clearly impressed. "I swear, she must have magic hands." The Espeon turned back to his partner, tail swishing idly. "Looks like we still have a bit though. Any idea what we should--?"
"Well, look who's still here!" The door was hardly opened before a familiar Marill poked her head into the house, toddling inside. "How you boys holding up?"
Riley smiled. "Right as rain, ma'am. Kiya's a wonder."
The Marill nodded, taking the compliment in stride. "That's my Kiya." Glancing at the pair of empty cups on the table, the Marill plucked them up without a thought and wandered over to the sink, glancing out back as she did so. "Looks like your fancy outfits have got her almost beside herself," the Marill chuckled. "Well, a bit of refreshment can't hurt while we wait, can it boys?" When she turned back to face them, she held a plate of biscuits in her paws, with a small bowl of honey in the middle with a spoon for serving. "C'mon, help yourself," she said, placing it on the table, "We can chat 'til Kiya's finished and then we'll get you back with your friends." The hospitable Marill grabbed one for herself and split it in two, drizzling honey over the bread and chewing it happily.
"Don't mind if I do!" Riley plucked a biscuit in his mouth and set it down carefully, pulling the spoon over with his Psychic to drizzle honey over top of it, then replacing it where it belonged. "Mmm," the Espeon's mouth watered at the sweet and salty and savory flavor. "Did you make these?"
"Sure did." The Marill was pleased. "They're something of a favorite with the kids, so I always have some ready. Plus Kiya has a bit of a sweet tooth." She laughed heartily and smiled. "It looks like she did right by you boys, I'm awfully glad to see it. The dear can be pretty shy, but it never gets in the way of her work." The Marill smiled fondly. "At any rate, did I ever introduce myself proper? I don't believe I did. Name's Evelyn, glad to meet you."
"Not as glad as we are to meet you! I'm Riley and this is Keiran. We're indebted to you for what you've done for us." Riley tipped his hat. "I was just talking to my friend about coming back sometime to put on a show for you folks, to show our appreciation for all you've done." Although that would be news to Keiran.
Evelyn looked as though she'd been struck by lightning, but her face quickly burst into a brilliant smile. "I reckon that'd be the nicest thing," she said warmly, "Our kids have never even heard of performers like you. I think that'd be awful sweet of you."
Riley beamed back, dipping his head. "Of course. We'd be happy to do it after all you've done." He raised his paw and made a grasping motion, plucking a card seemingly from thin air. "For you ma'am, my personal information. If you ever need to reach us just send a Flying Type there and we'll get the message." It looked for all the world like a playing card--the ace of spades to be precise--but when held close the design was found to be ornately shaped letters that were all connected by one line, rather than a simple design.
The Marill's eyes widened with surprise and delight, and she took the card like it was a precious gem. "Well I'll be," she grinned. "I'm sure I speak for everybody when I say we can't wait!"
~~~~~
Clive nodded. "Yes, we'll be taking the bridge," he said, more than a little unsettled that she knew that...somehow. News traveled like wildfire through this town if she'd found that out--he'd only mentioned it to Kelby in passing conversation, and maybe Riley and Keiran had done the same? Either way, it meant someone had overheard the news and carried it all through the town, so fast it beat him and Ivilon to Sephia's shop. "We came from the other side of the swamp, and only made it over here by means of a barely functional boardwalk. One of our companions ended up falling into the water, and two of us just barely avoided the same. It seems safest to use a secure travel method when going back, so we don't risk anything like that happening again." She seemed to share a similar distaste for the water, however odd that was, so surely she'd appreciate their precautions.
Sephia's quip at Ivilon was met with a brief but intense look from Clive to the Beldum. There was the slight pang of offense at not being selected as the handsome one of the pair, but the compliment was coming from a Poison Type, so the jealousy was short-lived: what troubled Clive far more was the thought that the Seviper would prompt any sort reaction at all from the unusual Beldum. For better or for worse, Ivilon's golden eye rose up to meet Sephia's brief glance and there was a hint of humor in his gaze. "You're too kind," he said modestly, quiet and genuine in tone, "I'm flattered to receive such compliments from a marvelous creature like yourself."
Clive felt something twist in the pit of his stomach. It could have been worse but this was bad enough. "And you're most generous," he said, pleasant surprise and appreciation layering his tone. "Allow us to make it worth your while. There are a few things we have. Oddities, to be sure, but ones that may appeal to you." The Vaporeon beckoned Ivilon down and the Beldum complied, allowing Clive to rummage through the bag for a few things. A small leather pouch was removed and set on the ground; followed by a squat bottle of white liquid, corked tightly at the top; and a few herbs Keiran had packed into neat, individual bundles.
A set of coins were plucked from the purse and placed on the counter, followed by the other offerings. "Herbs we have," he said brightly, "For fever, for fatigue, for upset stomach, for chills, for dizziness." He indicated each specific set as he named it. "These are rather bitter, or bland at best, but quite effective." Keiran was practical above many other things. Unlike Era, who would often mix in sweet-tasting things to counter-act the unpleasant taste of medicinal herbs, with Keiran they were taken straight; it was technically more practical, but when he joined the team, Clive planned to sneak in a bit of sweetness. "And this is something rather special," he said, tapping the glass bottle lightly with a claw so that it rang softly. "A delicacy in many places, we happen to be good friends with a supplier. They call it MooMoo Milk. It's highly nutritious, and much better-tasting than the herbs." Clive chuckled. "Unfortunately, it's non-replenishable, but it's long lasting and can help with recovery from serious illness or wounds. It enhances the body's natural healing process, you see. There are maybe...four doses in this bottle? Are you interested?"
"MooMoo Milk?" Kelby perked up from the back, toddling forward to look at the things they'd produced. "Isn't that just stuff from storybooks?"
Clive laughed again. "Oh no my friend, it's very real." He winked at the Raichu friendily. "Maybe we'll bring some more when we come back, hm?"
Clive
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