Spring Fling

[bravenewmods]

For those who fear the encroaching flowers herald events of a slightly more urgent nature, perhaps it isn't really paranoia so much as sensibility.

Two days after they first appear, every single flower in Union blooms overnight. The sight is incredible - the entire city is blanketed in rainbow waves of color, and the scent of the flowers themselves is quite fragrant. The strange pink blossoms are particularly attractive.

For many of the residents of Union, however, the flowers may not be the first thing on their minds as things go a bit chaotic.

1. Enlightened with a Bug, Fairy, or Grass typing will become subject to extreme emotion swings. Primarily, the emotions will be positive, like overwhelming ecstasy, a sensation of giddiness, and a desire to spread cheer amongst their friends. These Enlightened may also suffer from confusion, an excessive amount of energy, and general loopiness. When not in sunlight, they'll swing towards the negative end of the emotional spectrum.

2. Bug, Grass, and Fairy type Pokémon have taken it upon themselves to settle into this new paradise, with the Bug types descending in swarms from above, and the Grass and Fairy types wandering in through the gates whenever the guards aren't looking. Though not violent, they'll be generally insensitive to the trouble they cause for the humans and will react negatively to anyone or anything harming the flowers.

3. Other strange Pokémon have also wandered into Union and while most appreciate the gentle sunlight, a few of the more mischievous have decided that the city could use some more variety. Each individual Castform may alter the weather between sun, rain, and hail within a certain area of the city ranging about two blocks. If Castform is creating Rain or Hail, Fairy, Bug, and Grass Enlightened will respond in a negative manner.

4. Allergies will be more fun to deal with than ever.

5. Finally, the following event Pokémon will be temporarily available to be bonded with as an extra bonus for this week. Please respond in the Map and Wild Pokemon post as per the usual to claim these. The level range is 5-8.

Castform
Petilil
Cherubi
Combee
Venonat
Flabébé
Jigglypuff

This event will end on April 13th. You may use this post as an IC mingle or make your own entries as you wish. If your character is a Fairy/Bug/Grass Enlightened and you prefer not to play the effects, you may opt-out.

Comments

open // near residential district

[withcourage]

[Union is beautiful today! So much color, so many flowers, and everyone seems happy! Well, lots of people seem happy, anyway. There are a lot of new pokemon, too, and Aster is incredibly curious about the phenomenon--not that he has any idea what could have caused it yet.]

[As he looks around the area, his Purrloin, Braea, hops onto his shoulder and dumps a collected mass of pollen on top of his head! This causes him to sneeze and look over accusingly at the pokemon.]

Braea! First there were those bizarre weather changes every few minutes, and now you...

[He sighs.]

[ourlegends]

[ Meanwhile, dude, your travel partner is just over here, miserable. Why? Allergies. She's totally not doing well. But she's out here with you because TAKING A WALK IS APPARENTLY BETTER THAN STAYING INSIDE?

Of course, Braea dumping all that pollen on Aster isn't helping. Cue a very loud sneeze from poor Hilda. ]

Braea ...

[withcourage]

[Pff, at this point staying inside might have been a better idea! Aster glances at Hilda.]

Are you doing okay, Hilda?

[He tries to brush some of the pollen out of his hair but ends up making himself to sneeze even more! Yay!]

It's not my fault you guys sneeze from that stuff!

[The Purrloin begins to clean himself from the icky pollen.]

[ourlegends]

[ And there she goes, sneezing again from the excess pollen. ]

Allergies are miserable things ... but I guess I could be worse off.

[ Sniffle. Oliver is out and in her lap. He's worried about her. ]

Do you feel okay?

[ She looks down at him and smiles, petting his head. ]

I'll be okay, this just happens sometimes.

[withcourage]

[Aster hurriedly says a quick apology after realizing that his action must have caused the next sneeze.]

That's definitely true. A little pollen hasn't killed anybody, to the best of my knowledge! Besides, at least there's all of these flowers to enjoy!~

[Personally, he thinks seeing them is worth the sneezing and sniffles, though he definitely would not stay outside for an extended period of time if he ended up sneezing every minute.]

[ourlegends]

[ She liked Aster a lot. He was always really optimistic about things, and it was a great sort of energy to be around. Especially seeing as Hilda was really hard on herself at times. She couldn't help but smile as Aster started talking about the flowers. ]

They are really nice ... even if they do cause me to sneeze every other minute of the day.

[ She stretches a little. ]

Getting out for a bit is better than staying inside, too.

[withcourage]

[I think optimistic is an understatement in his case!]

Really, I just wonder how they all got here in the first place. It isn't normal to see flowers just pop up like this overnight, after all. All the pokemon suddenly showing up is strange, too. I can't say I mind too much. Still, I don't thi-

[He sneezes again.]

-think I could stay out here for too long with this pollen everywhere.

[ourlegends]

[ It didn't take much longer until she was sneezing again, herself. She sniffles again. ]

Y-Yeah. It's nice and all, but I don't think I'll have much brains left if I keep sneezing them out. Not that I have a lot of brains to begin with ... I'm more worried about your brains, Aster.

Y-You're sneezing your brains out?!

[ Oliver seemed to definitely not like this idea. He was panicking a little. Hilda laughed a bit to reassure him. ]

It's okay, it's okay! It's just an expression, Oliver! We're not actually sneezing our brains out.

[withcourage]

[Aster let out a hearty laugh at Oliver's comment.]

We'll be fine, Oliver! It's more of a nuisance than anything, really. I'm sure the world won't be deprived of my genius yet!

[He glances sidelong at the other trainer and crosses his arms.]

But, you know, Hilda, I think you're a lot smarter than you think you are!

[ourlegends]

[ Hilda sniffles, bringing out her handkerchief and trying to wipe her nose. Her words are a little muffled by the handkerchief as she speaks again. ]

Nah, m'pretty dumb.

[ She has no problem saying it. Sam, who is also nearby, is sighing and headbutting Hilda's leg. ]

Stop saying that. You're really not dumb at all.

You're biased, Sam.

I've known you for how long, now?

I'unno, ten years or somethin'.

[withcourage]

[He shakes his head.] I definitely wouldn't say that! I haven't known you long, but you're definitely not an idiot, trust me on that! Just believe in yourself and do your best!

Besides. You probably haven't done as stupid of things as this guy here.

[ourlegends]

Is that so, Braea? What kinds of stupid things has Aster done? Tell me, tell me!

[ There's a grin on her face now. She had no problem calling herself stupid, really, because she wasn't able to live up to the standards her Dad had set years before she was old enough to realize what standards were. It was always fun to learn of stupid things her friends had done, though. ]

[withcourage]

This one time after we bonded, he went into the Verdant Forest--not far in because he's too chicken to go dee-

Hey! I'm not "too chicken!" Just...

Whatever you say. Anyway, we went into the forest because he wanted to see if he could study some of the pokemon there. It started getting late, and we were getting hungry. By the time we were able to get his attention to feed us... Well, he didn't bring any food! None! We were gone for hours, and he didn't even think to bring necessary supplies!

[Aster's cheeks color a little bit in embarrassment.]

H-hey, that was only the one time! And besides, I got us home, at least.

Somehow. I'm amazed you managed to do that in the dark without my help, but I guess you gotta have some things you can do on your own.

[The young researcher makes a face at the Purrloin.]

[bravenewhelpers]

[Ahh, daytime, what better time to be sleeping? That's what the Pokemon your bond to meet is doing, sleeping. They must be nocturnal.

If you listen very carefully you'll here the sound of snoring form a close by tree..]

[withcourage]

[Aster's interest is thoroughly piqued by the sound of snoring! Braea doesn't seem to care as much, though. The blonde zeros in to the tree which the noise is coming from and looks to his Purrloin.]

Hey, Braea, do you think you could go check out that noise? I'm not exactly great at climbing trees.

[The dark-type pokemon groans and mutters under its breath, but begins climbing up the tree to figure out what the source was!]

[bravenewhelpers]

Veno.... nat... Veno... nat.... [It seems to be snoring away up until sudden Purrloin!] Venonat..!!!

[The bug-type screeches! Hopping over the cats head and down the branch -- frantic.]

[withcourage]

[Aster notices this and blinks. He didn't mean to scare the poor thing! ...Did Braea do something to startle it? He wouldn't put it past her.]

Hey, wait a moment, little guy. I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to startle you.

[Aster looks pointedly up at the Purrloin who now was looking down from the tree.]

Braea, you should apologize, as well!

Why? It's not my fault that it's startled eas-

Braea...

[The Purrloin sighs.]

Ugh, fine. I'm sorry, too.

[Her apology doesn't sound very sincere.]

[bravenewhelpers]

[That human...?] 'Y-You... you can talk?'

[It finds within the ends of the tress flush limbs. Sounding terrified but also extremely tired.]

[withcourage]

[Aster flashes a grin and nods.]

Well, everything can talk--it's just a matter whether we understand each other or not! Either way, yes, I can understand you! Are you doing okay? As an apology, would you maybe like for me to find a place for you to rest in peace? I really didn't mean to disturb you, after all.

[bravenewhelpers]

[... The Venonat waddles out after letting him finish, a nervous smile if humans are able to tell when bug-types are pleased.] 'S-sorry, I get really scared.. s-sure, I can't see all that well right now.. s-so that would be nice, i-if you don't mind..' [The tree it was using was competently disturbed now after all, they'll need to find a new one.]

[withcourage]

Would you like for me to carry you? If you're tired, then at least you wouldn't have to walk or anything!

[Braea hops down from the tree and weaves in between the trainer's legs to stand on the opposite side of him from the Venonat.]

Let's think... I know a few remotes areas of town at this time of day that are nearby. Those might work. I'd even let you rest inside my home if you'd like, but I'd guess you probably wouldn't be comfortable with that. Hmm...

[bravenewhelpers]

N-No.. thank you! I can walk.. [Letting a human carry them doesn't seem all that wise for the timid Venonat.]

W-We like hollow trees and dark places.. [It's eyes flutter in the sunlight.] Easier to see in the dark..

[withcourage]

[Aster thinks for a few moments and nods to himself.]

All right, I think I know the perfect spot! This way!

[He starts off in the other direction with a cheerful smile on his face, waving for the pokemon to follow him. He would then head a few minute's walk away where there were more trees and less noise. There would be a few more shady places, too.]

[bravenewhelpers]

[Wow.. hey, this is a pretty nice place.. Venonat didn't even realize a place like this was around.] 'Whow!

This spot is amazing!' [TI seems not all humans are bad people.. this one seems really nice. The bug type looks back to the feline that still hovers around Aster..] 'A-are you.. a human that houses Pokemon?' [Still rather daunting that they can communicate in the first place.]

[withcourage]

[He chuckles.]

I thought you might like it!~ It's a place I've come before when I want a good, quiet place to sort through my notes.

[As the Venonat look over, Braea stares back, unblinking.]

Huh...I guess you could say that. I have a couple that live with me, but they're family to me. Any pokemon I'd ever have would be, I'd think.

[A thought occurs to him, but he doesn't want to push it.]

Is there a reason you ask, little guy?