~02

[tinytactician]

[Action]

[((Dated to post-cave exploration))

Tiny recluse is still tiny, but not so reclusive -- especially not now that he has a new friend to visit and care for (new friend is a Steelix named Gertrude, fyi). Armin thinks it rude to leave his buddy all alone in the Habitats all the time, so an escape attempt has been performed!

Granted, his grandfather has been extra-busy with council-y business in the wake of the ore crisis, so it wasn't that hard for Armin and Meredith to sneak out. But still, they're free! They're out! He should be feeling very proud of himself, walking along the streets like a normal civilian. He should be all but skipping along the sidewalk, perhaps whistling a cheery tune.

Except he's not. Because, as it turns out, bonding with an enormous Pokemon sort of leaves you drained, mentally, physically and emotionally, and Armin doesn't have much emotion strength to spare. So he's sort of creeping along the street, frowning, radiating a tangible -- literally; if any passers-by aren't psychically prepared, his emotions are going to bleed over onto them -- aura of discomfort, nausea and exhaustion.

This also means that if anyone with a particularly potent emotional state passes by, it's going to hit Armin like a ton of bricks. Case in point: the loving couple who sidesteps boy and Ralts, drawing an uncharacteristic scowl from both.]

Ug. Indecent.

Comments

[tinytactician]

[Armin's inner soundtrack is basically "The Sound of Silence" right now, so it comes as a surprise to him when he's addressed. His loose grip on his Ralts companion tightens as he gives a start and automatically leans away from Sora. How do you people, exactly?

Okay? Of course he's okay. Why wouldn't he be -- oh. Oh, right, the whole emotion-bleed thing. That...might be upsetting some people. Unfortunately, Armin's still too tired to rein it in fully, though he does make a concentrated effort to smile and think of nice things instead.]

I'm fine. Thank you for aski--

[He breaks off suddenly when he notices the Shinx peeking from over Sora's shoulder, eyes widening a little. Suddenly the fake smile is genuine, and he steps forward eagerly.] Oh! Hello there! It's nice to meet you! I've read all about your family, but I've never had a chance to meet any face-to-face!

[Someone is better at talking to Pokemon than people, obvs.]

[heartstorage]

[He was about to point out that Armin seemed to be the opposite of fine, but he's cut off by Armin completely changing his tone when he talks to Simba. At first, he's completely confused until he realizes the kid is not talking to him at all but to Simba.]

[Which Simba definitely loves the attention. He tries to climb out of the backpack to get a better view of this person addressing him, making a sound that sounds like he's greeting Armin as well since Armin clearly has good taste]

[Sora meanwhile is here, very confused]

There's...books about Simba's family? [glancing over at his companion- YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOU WERE FAMOUS DUDE WTH]

[tinytactician]

[Armin's friend Meredith waves one blob-like arm appendage at Simba, making a soft happy chirpy sound. Hello, fellow Pokemon, isn't it nice to be us?

With a sheepish laugh, Armin shakes his head, quickly.] Oh, no, no, no, I meant -- I mean Shinxes as a whole. It just seems impolite to say "your kind", though, so I use the word "family". It's more respectful.

[heartstorage]

- Oh! I see. I never really thought about that.

[Simba was Simba to Sora, he never really thought about that stuff with him. Simba was conversing and totally agreeing that it was awesome to be them and that attention is great and la de dah- he's a prideful little thing like lions cubs tend to be]

Well, his name's Simba. I dunno about the rest of the Shinxes, but he's pretty friendly if you wanna talk to him! Just be careful if he starts glowing.

[tinytactician]

[Already in a much better mood, Armin smiles cheerily, his entire projected emotion switching from gloom to open, warm friendliness. Meredith is reaching out both hands now, little white body turning warm with happiness under the pleasant emotions.] Simba? Pleased to meet, you, Simba.

[Give him a second...] Oh! Oh, and I'm Armin, sorry, forgot my manners. [This is finally addressed to Sora, albeit with a sheepish look.]

[heartstorage]

[he feels that switch, and it's a relief. Not only for him, but he doesn't want this guy to be in such pain. Simba purrs very contently at Armin, returning the sentiment. Sora laughs]

Here. [He takes off the backpack and lowers it to the ground, helping Simba out of it. Simba shakes his fur a bit before walking over to Armin now that he doesn't have a person in the way!] That's okay. I'm Sora, nice to meetcha.

[tinytactician]

[Armin hunches down, sitting on his heels and letting his Ralts friend down, so it can walk over and climb onto Sora's shoe with a soft humming sound and a little pulse of friendliness as a greeting.]

Pleasure's all mine. Oh, this is Meredith. Meredith doesn't talk much. [This is said with a very cautious, respectful pat on Simba's head.]

[heartstorage]

[He'll smile at Meredith climbing on his shoe, returning her pulse with a wave]

Hey Meredith! Nice to meetcha too! I haven't seen many Ralts before.

[Simba accepts the pat, though of course like any cat, tries to move his head around that hand to get more petting out of it in the way HE wants. But Sora was right in that he was friendly.]

Where were you guys headed? Simba and I were gonna try to get out to train.

[tinytactician]

[Meredith shows their appreciation of Sora's friendliness by untying his shoes, then hugging his leg with a happy chirpy sound. You've been accepted, Sora~

Armin obediently adjusts his petting the way Simba wants, because he's accommodating like that. He'll even add some ear-scritches, if they're wanted.] Ah, we were on our way to visit our friend Gertrude, at the Habitats. Where were you headed to train?

[heartstorage]

[....Well I guess it's better than Fai's Pokemon showing affection by setitng that shoe on fire, so he'll take it! He'll reach down and pat Meredith on the head very lightly]

[Yes good, you are trainable human he likes that and starts purring.]

A Pokemon friend, huh? That's cool. [And he gives a little casual shrug] Well, if we can get past the gate, I'm hoping we can check out the canyon! A friend said it was cool, and maybe Simba can practice his pouncing and roaring there.

[And you know, maybe accidentally start a stampede, kill Mufasa- that sorta thing]

[tinytactician]

[Meredith is a very polite Pokemon and only shows affection through hugs, pats, chirpy sounds and occasionally by pulling on hair, because hair is impractical and only useful for getting attention.

When Simba starts purring, it looks like Christmas has come early for Armin, who eagerly keeps up the scritchy-scratching, tired fingers be damned.]

Mmmm-hmm, we met recently. Gertrude is a Steelix, so she can't come stay in my house. But it's important to visit often.

[Have a mildly concerned look -- plz stay away from Jeremy Irons!lions, Sora.] The canyon? Isn't that dangerous?

[heartstorage]

[And Simba is very happy with that. Yes good little human. Keep that up]

- A Steelix!? Whoa- you bonded with one of those?!

[SURPRISED since man those things are effing huge and dangerous looking]

[But maybe he has good intentions! Except Sora seems less than concerned] Probably, but how else are we gonna get strong?

[tinytactician]

[Armin blushes a little, reaching out to gently detach Meredith from Sora's leg, before the Ralts tries to steal his shoelaces.]

It was...sort of an accident. I mean, I met her accidentally.

[Have a bit of a lineface.] By...practicing someplace safe?

[heartstorage]

[he frowns]

How do you accidentally meet a Steelix? [He's pretty sure those things would stand out here in the city by a lot]

[And he shakes his head] But that only gets you so far! You can't ever really improve unless you're willing to risk something! And if I want to make it in the rangers, well, I should at least know how to handle the basic dangers out there.

[tinytactician]

Well, a couple of them were coming down the cave passage and we got stuck in between them. [Armin is very...calm about this. Because going on cave expeditions is an everyday thing.]

...ah. You want to be a Ranger. That makes sense.

[heartstorage]

In the cave passage? ...Oh! Were you helping with the iron?

[he grins and nods] Yep! I really wanna be one.

[tinytactician]

I...well, I was trying to, yes. We didn't get very far because of the Steelixes.

[Armin smiles a little, sort of sadly.] I have many friends who want to do that as well. It's very brave of you.

[heartstorage]

[Okay, that makes more sense. Still, to think he managed to bond with one is intense...!]

[But he can pick up on the sadness, and he frowns a little]

Really? But you don't wanna join with them?

[tinytactician]

[Armin shakes his head rapidly -- too quickly, really.]

No, not me. I'll be a Historian.

[heartstorage]

A Historian?

[Really? Not that he's judging but]

[Really? Why?]

[tinytactician]

[Have a scowlyface.] Historian is a very reputable and safe career to have!

[heartstorage]

....You went and befriended a wild 30 foot steel Pokemon but you say you wanna be a Historian 'cause it's safe?

[Da fuq man.]

[tinytactician]

I told you, meeting Gertrude was purely incidental!

[Yeah not only did he bond with a Steelix, he named it Gertrude.]

[heartstorage]

[Gertrude. Sora's not really buying the whole thing since Armin was in the caverns in the first place, but he backs off a little]

Alright, alright.

It's not really my thing, but if being a Historian's what your heart wants- then you should follow it!

[tinytactician]

[Armin's defensiveness drops, replaced by confusion.]

...what my heart wants? What do you mean?