Companion Creature Gathering

[asyourleader]

WHO: Byakuya Twogami and OPEN
WHAT: Twogami's organised a gathering for the influx of unwitting new Pokémon parents (and some more experienced ones) to network and gather information.
WHEN: Early April
WHERE: Amberfall cafe event space
WARNINGS: Mostly cute things but possibly trauma in Twogami's TL



After posting to the network about his plans to host a gathering for everyone who'd suddenly been gifted with Pokémon eggs. That way, at least they could exchange some sort of information- and let their new companions make some friends and training buddies!

...and so, despite the restlessness in his mind, he grit his teeth and set about organising another party.

Twogami had carefully selected the back rooms of a stylish cafe in Amberfall for the event, with elegant curtains framing wide glass doors that opened up onto an outdoor seating area.

The larger of the rooms sported a wooden floor - easy for clean up, and well-maintained - and it was here that he had seen to the catering, with tables against two of the walls containing a multitude of buffet-style foods and drinks. Beside that, a wide selection of Pokémon and pet treats on a lower table, that's easier for the little ones to get to. There's plenty of places about the room to sit, eat and talk, with the tables just spread out enough for Pokémon to go running around.

The adjacent room has been set out as something of a quiet space, for those who might find themselves a little overwhelmed by the activities. There's beanbags, blankets and other soft furnishings, along with a table of information; Twogami had collected plenty of information about the new creatures they've found- some in physical books, others copies of his own notes that have been printed and set into ring-binders for anyone to take home with them.

The outside area was primarily set out for their new companion creatures to play and run around, with different types of toys and games to keep them amused- including a spacious inflatable pool and a marked off area for them to test out their battle abilities, should they choose!

[OOC: It's an open mingle, start your own TLs, tag around do whatever your heart desires~]

Comments

[roundandaround]

[Mecchan similarly shoots water into the air! This is fun! Hina just continues to perch on top of Karpje, squeaking contentedly.]

I'm sure Karpje-chan will meet new friends just like anyone! She's very friendly, and cute when you get to know her, too! And Water-types are kinda common, aren't they?

[urtitan]

Are they? I wouldn't know. Ah, I think Jean has a water type, but...

[How does she explain that they had a succession of bad experiences together that led to Jean's trust in her rapidly eroding?]

It's always good to meet new people, isn't it?

[roundandaround]

I think so too! There's always more, and they have exciting stories to tell. I wish Clavell-sensei had come to the party. He taught me all kinds of stuff about Water-types when I first met Mecchan.

[urtitan]

That would've been nice. He's such a lovely person! He helped me a lot with Karpje right after she hatched, too.

[He must be a busy person... if he hasn't been called home, but she doesn't want to mention that possibility.]

Does he also work at the Research Centre, do you know?

[roundandaround]

I think so! Neechan mentioned working with him once, but she's changed departments at least once, I'm pretty sure, so I dunno where he is.

[urtitan]

It's a big workplace, isn't it? It has to be one of the biggest buildings in Nightwake. I keep wondering if I should take up steady work, too, but I already feel so busy with the daily practice and training, and I want to still have time to swim with Karpje...

[Not to mention that Jade is a little needy, too!]

[roundandaround]

Eh? You don't have a job outside of questing? Huh, come to think of it, I never noticed you working anywhere. That makes sense.

[Mecchan babbles something from the pool.]

[urtitan]

[Rather than try to explain that her "day job" back home consisted of keeping fussy nobles appeased, ingesting endless reports from the Military Police and other organisations and allocating resources accordingly, all while battling her inherited will and trying to carve out some time for normal experiences with her loved ones, Frieda turns her attention to the Sobble.]

Hm? What are you saying, Mecchan?

[Karpje holds still, as if that'd help Mecchan talk...]

[roundandaround]

[Mecchan warbles and gestures vaguely, then scratches his head and pats Karpje. Rinku hums and thinks.]

Hm... Do you mean you still don't know what you wanna do? So you understand Frieda-chan?

[Mecchan nods! Hina squeaks happily, and Rinku pets them both before turning back to Frieda.]

They did these kids' activity books where one of the pages was what you want to be when you grow up. Mecchan wrote "evolve" for Hina-chan, and he didn't put anything for himself. I guess he isn't sure yet. ...I also don't know if evolving is a career, but she's still little.

[urtitan]

Hina is only one year old, right? I definitely didn't know what I wanted to grow up to be at that age, so she's ambitious!

[She laughs, reaching out to gently stroke Mecchan's head. He's her indecision buddy!]

How about you, Karpje? Do you want to evolve into a big sea monster?

[The Magikarp just stares at her with the same expression as always, then splashes with its fins multiple times.]

Is that a yes? Are you sure? You'll be too big to fit into ponds and fountains and inflatable pools like this anymore!

[Apparently, that gives the fish pause... the splashing stops.]

[roundandaround]

Almost! She turns one in June, we're gonna have a party and everything!

[Mecchan seems happy about the petting. When Karpje sounds nervous, though, he blows a few bubbles in solidarity.]

Hm... But if Karpje-chan does evolve to be huge, she'll still be able to fit in a big pond or a lake, and no one will try to eat her. And maybe she could swim up a waterfall! That sounds exciting, right?

[urtitan]

It does! But she'll also look really intimidating. Maybe people will be scared of her.

[She keeps stroking her pokémon's back. It is a tough choice! Some people might call it a no-brainer to go for the greater power, but there are downsides to no longer being (relatively) small and endearing.]

Don't feel pressured, Karpje. There's no rush for you to evolve. Actually, Rinku, what will Hina evolve into?

[If Rinku doesn't beat her to it, she'll pull up the Pokédex on her phone to check.]

Ah, continuity...

[roundandaround]

[Hina squeaks excitedly! If she could speak human languages, this would spoil the later realization in the TDM, but as it is, Frieda and Rinku will not be able to tell that Hina is happily declaring that she (thinks she) will evolve into Saya.

Rinku brings up Golbat on the app (pointed at Frieda, so Karpje and Mecchan can't see the screen to tell Hina she's wrong) and shows her, then flips to Crobat.]

She's got two evolutions! The first will happen as she gets stronger, and the second one says it happens with friendship. Which means once she evolves once, I bet the second will happen in no time!

Poor Hina... alas!

[urtitan]

Wow! She'll have eyes? She'll be all mouth in the middle stage!

[Pokémon are such strange creatures!]

[roundandaround]

[Rinku giggles.] Yeah! I think she's looking forward to being able to see just because everyone else in the house can? But maybe she just wants to get big! I hope it makes her happy either way.

[urtitan]

I hope so, too!

[She points at the Crobat entry.]

I don't know if she'll be strong enough to carry you on her back, but she'll be big enough in any case!

[roundandaround]

Yeah, if she gets that big! I bet she would. She's determined enough!

[Happy Zubat noises! Yeah, she'll be super strong!]

But even if she doesn't, it's fun to ride on Mop-chan too.

[urtitan]

That's true! If Karpje does evolve, she'll be big enough to carry all of us on her back, even if Hina and Mecchan both evolve too! How amazing would that be?

[The Magikarp splashes some more in excitement, and Frieda dotes on it.]

Don't get too excited! Take your time deciding. - I should find some more friends for her while she's still small and approachable.

[Granted, "small" is relative (and so is "approachable"... but compared to a Gyarados, most pokémon are.]

[roundandaround]

[Rinku puts away her phone and pets Karpje too.]

Yeah, I think you can do whatever you want in the future! That goes for all of you. Even if you wanna be a pro skateboarder or something! I dunno how you would do that, but still.

[urtitan]

[She laughs.]

The only one I can halfway imagine doing that is Mecchan - and he'd probably be scared, wouldn't you, Mecchan? Skateboards can go terribly fast!

[She would be scared to fall on her face trying that! But unlike Hina and Karpje, Mecchan at least has grippy hands!]

[roundandaround]

[Mecchan nods quickly. It sounds scary!]

That's true. Lots of people ride them in Solarpeak, so it always looks kinda fun, but my roller skates are already fun! But there's all kinds of careers, you guys have lots of time to pick. [Pet pet.] Hm... did you ever have something you wanted to grow up to be and then change your mind about?

[urtitan]

Me?

[She grimaces a little.]

Well... in my world, when you're born into a family like mine, there's only so much you can do.

[Immediately, she flushes with embarrassment over her own words - if any of the others from the Walls heard that, they'd be so offended! A noble acting like she has no options when the common people's lives are so much harder - that's certainly unbecoming. She hastily follows up:]

Somebody had to inherit the Founding Titan, and I-- I was the eldest. Besides, I thought I could do good with it.

[Right away, something inside her revolts against that turn of phrase - has she not made the most of her reign? The people of the Walls have lived peaceful lives, by and large.]

[roundandaround]

Huh...

[Rinku leans against Frieda and nuzzles her. The Pokémon look curious.]

I think you still can. You're a nice person, Frieda-chan, and you're doing your best even if things are harder for you. There's stuff that's hard for me too, and I still wanna measure up to the others!

[urtitan]

[Frieda puts an arm around Rinku and gives her a squeeze.]

Well, we're both doing our best, arent we? As are you guys.

[That last part was directed at the pokémon. Working on their communication skills is hard work, too! Karpje may not be doing that, but at the very least, the near-daily swims are increasing her endurance.]

[roundandaround]

[Rinku snuggles and makes happy noises. Hina nods, squeaking happily, and Mecchan gives a tentative nod too and pats Karpje.]

And here, every day is fun! Or at least most days. I guess the time I got kidnapped wasn't very fun, or the day the Doctor brought monsters into town, or the other time monsters got into town, or the time with the Faemoose, that was pretty scary... really scary, actually. But! But most days!