bravenewworld | Eighth Station - Hair-Raising Entanglements [Action/Video]

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Eighth Station - Hair-Raising Entanglements [Action/Video]

[Action - Rolling Plains]

[Having grown up in a tall city like Union, seeing something as sprawling with space as the Rolling Plains is a wonderful thing for Right. The clear skies above, the beautiful meadows all around, and so many new (to him) Pokemon to meet and learn about! Especially those that are large enough to ride on, and aren't Rock types.

And after much convincing - and actual use of the bonding beam - Right finds himself sitting on top of a still-nervous Bouffalant. His other two new friends are with him as well - a Spinarak on his head, and a Buneary plopped down in front of him who's sniffing that lovely big tuff of hair. His full attention, however, is on the bovine Pokemon as he comfortingly patted the Pokemon's front flanks.]

See? Nothing to be scared about. I'm not gonna eat you; just ride you when I get tired of walking all over the place. And the same can be said for all my friends back in Union--

[Unfortunately, it's just around that moment that the Buneary couldn't resist the urge any longer. He simply must chew on that lovely fro of wonderful hair! *Nibble-nibble-chomp!*

And as soon as the Bouffalant felt and heard that, she immediately started bucking all over the place, bellowing about how she's going to be eaten and oh my Gods getoffmegetoffmegetoffme!!

...maybe Right needs someone to help calm the poor thing down, before he gets bucked off of her.]

Video
[A little later, Right's face pops up on the Warp Band network, looking rather torn.]

Hey, guys! Um, quick question. Have you ever had to deal with a Pokemon who's got an irrational fear? Any kind fear? The reason why I'm asking is that, well...

[The feed shifts to show a certain Bouffalant cowering in fear...behind a skinny little tree.]

I think Betsy doesn't like being around humans - she thinks that we all want to eat her, which is kinda crazy. You don't eat the Pokemon you wanna be friends with. But I really wanna bring her home and show her that there's humans who don't wanna eat her. [A sigh.] It's terrible enough that she's gonna have to live in the Habitat instead of at the theater, but I don't want her cooped up in there all the time. So, any help on that point would be great.

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Grandma said this: "A bond is a deep connection that can never be broken. Even when apart, heart and heart are still connected." There's nothing wrong with taking your time to convince her. In fact time may exactly be what she needs.

[ Tendou nods sagely, pointing to the heavens on the video. ]

That said, if she's still alive and uneaten, it's not likely that she's ever going to be eaten. Nobody bonds with a Pokemon to eat them. I'm not sure that'll ever convince anyone that's panicking, though.

Well, I don't mind taking some time to help her get over it, and you got some good points...

But I was actually making progress until someone decided that her hair was tasty. [Cue glare at the innocent-looking Buneary munching on some Berries.]

You can neither predict the instincts of Pokemon and children, nor begrudge them for it. [ Tendou nods sagely, dropping more wisdom even though he has no children and only one Pokemon, because of course he is. ]

There's a trick you can use though. My grandmother used it to keep the tribe's tagalong Houndours from chewing through all our stuff. Just cover whatever you want to keep unchewed in bitter berry juice. It'll keep everything right out.

If it was normal stuff, yeah, that might work. But she likes hair, and I dunno if either of us really want juice-soaked hair...

What's the opposite of perfume? Bad-smelling and tasting things are not my stock in trade, but go with one of those.

I suppose I can try that...

Do that. I'm sure it'll work. [ Of course he is. It's Tendou. ]

I'll see if it does work, then, if you're that certain.

[Right then grins.] Thanks.

You're welcome. I'm nothing if not helpful.

[ Really, Tendou, so humble. ]

Dude, that's because she's supposed to be food.

[He's just saying. The boy from Citadel has grown up on meat from Bouffalant, and that's a tasty meal sitting there behind that tree.]

That fear's not really all that irrational.

[Right looks horrified upon hearing that.] You don't eat your friends! That's terrible and gross!

Where else are you gunna get meat from? Are you a vegetarian or something?

[Yosuke is making assumptions here!]

Well, no, but...she's a friend. You don't turn friends into meals!

I guess you can let that one slide.

[He also, would not turn his friend into a meal.]

I wouldn't take her to Citadel, someone might try to sell her at a market if she wanders off. Bouffalant are pretty tasty. Just looking at her is making me kinda hungry.

I definitely won't take her there, if I ever visit that place someday.

And you're not allowed near her, either!

Hey, woah! I didn't say I was going to eat her!

But you said that looking at her makes you hungry!

Yeah, but that doesn't mean I was going to try to eat her!

How was I supposed to know that?!

I dunno, cuz she's clearly your pokémon?

[Admittedly Yosuke has been kind of rude excuse him]

I'd totally make a sandwich out of her if she didn't already belong to someone.

Dude, I like meat, but I don't look at a Pokemon and think "dinner!"

Hey, man. When you gotta hunt for your food, it sorta sticks with you the rest of your life.

But I guess if you bring her back to Union or something, and let her meet people, that might help.

Oh nooo. Have you tried acclimating her slowly with people you know won't scare her, or is she just scared of everybody?

I think she's just scared of all humans. Normally, they'd listen to me because I'm a Kindred, but this time I had to use the beam to even get her to listen to me.

Oh no. [So much :C]

Do you want me to come and try to help?

If you don't mind!

It's a bit of a travel, though, since we're still on the Plains.

[She taps her finger against her lower lip thoughtfully.]

I can't remember the last time I was out there. It'll be fun! Give me a bit to close down the shop.

Okay! I'll see you soon, then!

[He beams with relief. Yaaaay, help from a friend.]

[She makes a peace sign with her hand and leaves the feed running while she closes up the shop, leaving a sign and a few less-than-perfect sweets out. The sign reads "Take One! Sorry for closing early. ❤" She then packs a few snacks for Right and his Pokemon just out of view of the feed, and picks it up again.]

It shouldn't take me too long to get there, it might be best to console her while you wait.

I'll do what I can. And thanks again, Honoka.

[Right appreciates her coming over, even if she wasn't bringing any snacks with her. Having a second Kindred Soul might help draw out the poor Bouffalant...

But first, he's going to try and get her to not be so scared first. ...Tall order, that one.]

No problem! Talking to them is all I can do, so if I can help, I'd like to.

[It probably doesn't take her long to get there, assuming that her lack of breath when she arrives means she sprinted (it does). She's smiling when she slows, just in view, and approaches slower so as not to further spook the Bouffalant.]

[Right hardly notices her being out of breath. Instead of just waiting, he's started talking to Betsy again. Not to lure her out, but just to try and get her used to the idea of being around a human that doesn't want to eat her.

So far...she's only stopped shaking in fear, but is still hiding behind that skinny tree.

Right's face brightens as soon as he spots Honoka.] Oh, Honoka! Glad you can make it.

[Honoka's smile matches Right's, and she waves, nodding in greeting. Her attention quickly moves to Betsy, and she has to laugh a little. What a silly creature, hiding behind a tree that does nothing to actually hide her.]

It's Betsy, isn't it?

[Upon hearing her approach, though, the Bouffalant starts shaking again.] Oh, nonono! Not another human...

It's alright, Betsy! This is Honoka, my friend. She's like me.

[The Bouffalant's shaking lessens as she slowly raises her head to warily look at the newcomer.]

[Fairly immediately upon Betsy's distressed words, Honoka settles to sit on her knees on the ground, making no further attempts to approach her. She smooths her hands on her skirt for a moment and then raises on, waving.]

Hello, Betsy. My name is Honoka.

[She glances to Right, and pats the ground next to her, indicating for him to come sit.]

It might be best to let her come to us.

Well, if you think so... [Right moves to sit right next to her, twirling a bit of grass in his hands.]

[Betsy slowly pokes her head around the tree.] H-Honoka...you do feel similar to Right... You're not gonna eat me, are you?

[She nods, and maybe shifts her weight a little to lean on him. Because why not.]

[She smiles at Betsy, broadly but pointedly without teeth. She shakes her head, and holds out a hand toward the Bouffalant.]

No, silly! I would never eat you. Any friend of Right's is a friend of mine.

Yeah; we don't eat our friends. [Right smiles and nods encouragingly.

Betsy looks between the two for a few moments, but eventually sticks her head out further.] F-Friends?

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Eighth Station - Hair-Raising Entanglements [Action/Video]

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