STATUS:
To those I RP with, I haven't dropped off of the face of the earth, just had a mental health crash but am recovering. Now to catch up on posting.
7 mos ago
Current
To those I RP with, I haven't dropped off of the face of the earth, just had a mental health crash but am recovering. Now to catch up on posting.
7
likes
7 mos ago
The worst thing about mental illness is you have to look after yourself a disgusting amount. I know it's the only way to actually be in a fit state to look out for others, but it still feels wrong.
4
likes
8 mos ago
Emeth: Then I'll be that friend who's the opposite kind of annoying, whispering "Do it, you know you want to..."
5
likes
8 mos ago
Judging by the Internet's definitions of introversion and extraversion, you'd think everyone's either an extreme hermit or a party animal with no in between.
6
likes
9 mos ago
Krystal: All part and parcel of the job.
4
likes
Bio
A frazzled British thirtysomething cat mum with something of a tea addiction.
I like a wide range of RP genres, but have two absolute favourites: Pokemon and magical girls. (If someone manages to combine the two, I'll be VERY happy!) I post fairly regularly, but sometimes shit mental health days crop up - if that causes any delays, I'll try to resume posting ASAP.
Sophia shielded her eyes and stumbled, yelping as she landed on her bruised knees. When she felt that energy burst fade, she looked over. This time, she couldn't have disguised her reaction even if she'd wanted to. A joyous laugh bubbled from her at the sight of the Combusken standing in the Torchic's place.
"Wow, Roadrunner, look at you!" she said, staring in awe. She knew she wasn't supposed to act like this. It should have infuriated her that Oscar had evolved a Pokemon first, right after beating a gym before her, no less. Yet that utter delight on the faces of both trainer and Pokemon, the way the Fire type examined his new form, Lacey's excited squeal as she bounced over... There was no way not to be happy for Oscar and his new Combusken.
As Amber and Rachel rushed over, followed by a much more cool-headed Vivianne, Sophia stood up and leaned against a wall. Of course, Oscar just had to go and act all high and mighty again while pretending to be humble, but Sophia wasn't going to ruin this moment. Not when she knew deep down how much it meant to him, and why.
"Ok, you've made it clear what you think of my family," she mumbled. "But... It seems we both have a few reasons to train up like this. Come on, admit it."
She closed her eyes, pushing through the exhaustion to send a thought to Oscar. "You've proven yourself to Kushala. But you might..." She sagged, continuing nonetheless. "You might want to return him... He may not..." Waves of lightheadedness threatened to pull her under. She fought harder, a bead of sweat trickling down her face. "Not be ready to hear..."
She sank to her hands and knees, body trembling, breathing ragged. Clarus flew over to her, letting her hold on for support as she tried to stand up. Raising her head towards Oscar, she spoke the conventional way, the rest of the message a whisper.
As soon as the glow dimmed to reveal the Combusken, Amber headed over and whipped out her notebook. "That's got to be quite something, to have your starter evolve," she commented with a fascinated grin, studying the Fire type and taking down notes. It would be quite a while until her Kabuto evolved, but the thought that the little Rock type would some day be a magnificent living relic with spikes and scythes... It was staggering, to say the least.
She pointed her Pokedex at Roadrunner, reading the information. "Ten kicks per second? Sounds like that may be just a tad exaggerated... Then again, maybe not, given how hyped up he gets. Just like Aeshna, really, it'd be interesting to compare them."
In the corner of her vision, she saw a figure hunch over, then slump to the floor. "Sophia!" She dashed over, crouching next to the psychic, who seemed to have pushed past her limits yet again. "Sophia, please, you've got to give yourself a break from time to time. Let's go sit down somewhere."
When Sophia muttered something about another reason, Amber could guess what it was. The same thing they'd been talking about back in the ambulance.
As usual, Jess didn't know what to say. If she suddenly agreed with Roxy, it would make the anchor look even more like some kind of bully in her mother's eyes. If she kept refusing, it could start an argument, and make Roxy seem suspicious anyway. Thankfully - if all this encouragement could even be considered a good thing - her mom spoke first.
"It's your choice at the end of the day," she reminded them, "but it's something I recommend. Jess, I know your dad and I have always taught you to stand on your own two feet, but there's no shame in accepting help if it'd truly do you good." The warmth of her tone couldn't hide her true feelings, at least not from Jess. The tightening grip of worry, the distrust that sharpened whenever she looked at Roxy, the way it seemed she tried to convince herself it was just a matter of stubbornness on her daughter's part.
"I know..." Jess glanced from her mom to the card, then back. "Well I guess it can't hurt, and thanks, though I'm sure it's all going to be ok."
It wasn't going to be ok. The watchers all around, listening in on the conversation, were proof of that.
Before the incident with the Jangmo-o, Sophia had imagined what Oscar's gym battle might be like, the look on his face after finding himself on the receiving end of a total smackdown. This wasn't how she'd pictured things to turn out, particularly her own reaction.
Throughout the entire battle, she craned forward. She shouldn't feel like this. She shouldn't be so... so hopeful, not for someone who'd spoken badly about her family. If that smug know-it-all won, not only would he have gotten a badge before her, he'd use it as another excuse to preach at her and everyone. So why, besides for the dragon, did she want this? Why did that comforting warmth spread through her as he referred to her as a friend? Why was she ignoring her parents' teachings by supporting him instead of trying to outdo him?
Just as the Munchlax looked to be turning the odds around - nearly making Sophia tear her frills by gripping too hard - Roadrunner dealt the deciding blow. Despite herself, Sophia felt a grin of relief spread over her face. Don't let him see that, she told herself, trying to calm down at least on the outside, although Oscar's attention was on the badge and TM selection presented to him.
Once he'd chosen, she stood up, advancing with slow and unsteady footsteps as Lacey scampered behind and Clarus floated by her side. "You know..." she said, pausing to take a deep breath. How would she word this in a way that wouldn't go to his head? "Don't you go and rub this in my face, but just to tell you... You did great." A little smile brightened her features. "And... Congratulations."
She tilted her head, looking at the baby dragon. "You see?" she said. "I told you he's a good trainer."
That was when she felt something. Despite her abilities not being at their best, an energy flare thrummed at the edge of her consciousness. "Huh?" She turned to the source of the aura, Roadrunner, who hunched and tensed to his trainer's distress. "Roadrunner! What's going on?" She crouched, trying to tune into him as much as she could. That pulsing sensation welled, ready to spread... Realisation hit. Her eyes widened.
"Oscar..." She stared up at her rival, her friend, or however she'd grown to think of him. "Nothing's wrong with him. If this is what I think, it's a good thing."
Deneb had been standing there, staring at the Gym’s entrance for quite a while. For what reason, barely anyone would know. With an expressionless face, no one truly understood just what it was the child was intending to do...Edea, however, didn’t care. She knew her trainer wanted to challenge the gym, but she didn’t care about whether or not he was nervous, he was taking forever! So she had to do what had to be done: She pushed him in.
Pokémon only have four moves to use in battle, but that didn’t mean they were unable to do anything related. Take for instance, Tackle. With what she’d learned Edea should not know that move, and yet here she was, charging through the Gym doors with Deneb on her front as the target.
Lan had expected more of Rheese's group to challenge him before the day was out, but quite a different person burst into the arena - or rather, was pushed in by a Maractus, the Pokemon clearly much more enthusiastic about a gym battle than the trainer was. The monk stood up and bowed his head, facing the challenger, a child with desert robes and an expressionless stare.
Students leaned forward, anticipating another battle, but Lan remained where he was. "If you're ready," he said gently, "then take your place." Maybe the child was nervous, maybe he just wasn't interested in battling, or maybe he was thinking through a strategy - with that blank expression, it was difficult to tell what he was planning on.
Deneb stood up from the sudden tackle his pokemon had given him, and then stared at the Gym leader for a moment. He turned to Edea, who shook her head and pointed toward their opponent. Deneb nodded and lifted his arm. From a hidden pocket in his sleeve, a pokeball rolled into his hand, and then grew to normal size. He tossed it forward, and from it came the Helioptile that he had caught before.
"Gym Leader..."
Deneb's voice was like his expression, almost nonexistent. It was monotone, and off-putting to the normal person.
"We challenge you."
Challengers were usually more passionate than this, especially trainers as young as this boy, but Lan gave a nod of acceptance. Holding up a Pokeball of his own, he pressed the button. "Furfrou, begin." The poodle Pokemon appeared, sizing up the opponent.
"Start with Toxic." At Lan's command, the Furfrou leapt forward and shook, poisonous spores flying from its thick coat of fur and settling all over the Helioptile.
Deneb showed no reaction to the starting move, but Helioptile started panicking, trying to brush off the spores that hit it, and blow away the ones that had yet to land. It only made things worse for itself as it flailed about, catching more. It began to feel the poison working. It felt drained...
"Helioptile."
Suddenly the pokemon stopped and looked at its trainer. It wasn't a calming sight to look at the expressionless boy, but it did realign its attention, and allowed it to focus.
"Charge."
It suffered through the sting of the poison, and began to charge up enough for electric sparks to come off of it.
"Not a bad opening strategy," Lan said as the Helioptile began charging electricity. Even if this boy seemed rather blase about Pokemon battles, at least it meant he could keep a level head throughout them, an important skill for a trainer.
"Furfrou." The monk turned his attention back to his canine Pokemon, who remained in fighting stance, undeterred by the sparks. "Secret Power."
Despite the Helioptile's increased resistance to special attacks, the energy blast swept it back.
"Thundershock."
Despite the blast of energy slamming right into it, Helioptile weathered it. Following its trainer's command, it released the charged electrical power in the form of a strengthened thundershock.
The dog skidded back with a yelp, twitching and swaying, but had enough strength to follow its trainer's command and retaliate with another Secret Power. At first, it seemed as if the energy blasts and the poison might be enough to wear the Helioptile down. One more Thundershock, though, was all it took for the Furfrou to collapse.
Lan recalled the fainted Pokemon, then held out another Pokeball. "Munchlax." At the press of a button, the chubby teal Pokemon appeared in the Furfrou's place. The challenger had already proven himself capable of countering special moves. Now to see if he could do the same for physical ones.
Helioptile was not doing so good. All it could do was take down one pokemon that wasn't even going for it directly. The poison was taking a huge toll on its body, but it managed to at least attempt to take on the Munchlax with a tail whip. Being a wild pokemon yet to be truly tamed, it did this of its own volition, rather than the direction of his trainer, and this was bad idea, as the munchlax only hit it once with a Chip Away to knock it out cold. Deneb showed no emotion as he returned the pokemon. Truthfully, he was concerned and thankful for its efforts, but he could not show this in any physical way.
He looked to Edea, who was hopping in place, ready to rumble. He nodded, and she jumped in, a grin on her own face.
"Cotton Guard."
Immediately, Edea began dancing about in some strange, chaotically random way, but from her body, a fluffy substance quickly puffed out...
"Chip Away," Lan commmanded, but the cotton covering the Maractus softened the blow from the Munchlax. Recalling the Pokemon for now, Lan looked across the arena at Deneb.
"I see you're prepared for energy and physical attacks alike," he commented, "even if your Pokemon do need to be trained to wait for commands." He took another Pokeball and let out a Doduo, its two sets of eyes fixed on the Maractus.
"Aerial Ace." Rushing forward in a blur, the bird jabbed with both its beaks at the Grass type.
On any normal occasion attacks like Peck would be super effective against grass-types like Edea. It still was in this case, but whatever damage the man had been expecting to inflict upon her was greatly lessened by the cotton. This was was the way Deneb and Edea fought: Nullification. Whether it was minimizing injuries sustained from the incoming attacks or simply reversing the damage, Edea and Deneb had prepared to create a strategy with what they had. Deneb in particular needed to do this. He had no aspirations to pursue a title. He simply needs something that would help him, and Edea was going to help him whether he wants her help or not.
"Cotton Guard again."
Edea complied, and even more fluffy material sprouted from her, creating a sort of soft armor that one could sleep on as if it was a pillow.
The cotton absorbed most of the otherwise super effective attack. Even though he was losing, Lan couldn't help but smile a little. This was the technique he often used with his Furfrou, nullifying damage and then wearing the opponent down. Strategy was an important thing to use, for seasoned and beginner trainers alike.
"Use another Aerial Ace," he called. The Doduo charged again, raising its heads as if to try and pierce through all that fluffy armour.
As it may prove to show, Deneb isn’t always in control over his Pokémon during battles. For the most part, he directs what move and when, but there will always be a few moments where his team acts on their own. Sometimes it’s out of excitement, sometimes it’s out of necessity. This time is the former.
Edea is spontaneous, excitable, prone to overreaction, and hyperactive most of the time. It would be lying, however, to say that she couldn’t be sadistic at times. This is such a time. A gleam was in her eyes, hidden within the fluff of her defense, her body’s needles began to harden and stick out. She was preparing a Spiky Shield, in order to prove just how fruitless physical attacks can be against her.
Deneb saw the gleam in her eyes, and trusted her judgement. Edea usually has good ideas, so he’ll let her do what she wants for now.
Lan watched as the Maractus acted independently of her trainer, jutting out needles through the cotton shield. Instead of doing any damage to the Grass type, the Doduo squawked and reeled back.
"Getting your Pokemon to listen is something you still need to work on," the monk advised, "but that's another useful defensive technique."
What the boy needed to learn, though, was that the technique wouldn't always be reliable. Knowing that Spiky Shield was likely to fail if used in succession, Lan gave the command for another Aerial Ace.
Deneb watched as Edea took another hit from the bird Pokémon. There was nothing else left to do but the strategy that they’ve relied on up to this point.
"Edea."
Edea kept her focus on blocking any other attack that might happen to her, but listened for her trainer.
"Heal."
The Maractus adopted a devious grin, before pointing her arm toward the bird. Her eyes glinted and looked as if they flowed as a sort of energy shot forth and connected with her target. She planned to drain it if it’s energy, and take it for herself.
An attack such as Mega Drain would usually do little damage to a Flying type, but as soon as it hit, the Doduo stumbled, heads drooping. It stood up to the move just enough to strike back as Lan commanded, but the next energy wave proved too much. The bird tottered on its long legs, then collapsed.
Recalling the fainted Pokemon, Lan sent out his last team member still capable of battling. "Munchlax. Your turn again." The much physically tougher Normal type waddled forward, ready to resume fighting.
That was to be expected. At this point, Deneb figured that munchlax and Doduo wouldn’t be able to do much to Edea that can’t be reversed, so all he was thinking about was how to make this go a little faster...so he told Edea to use Growth once. It didn’t do much normally, but it would do enough.
"It is time for this to end."
The Munchlax looked up as Edea grew to twice her regular size. Even though both Lan and his Pokemon kept their usual level-headed focus, the outcome was clear from the moment the Maractus raised her arms, draining green orbs of light from the Normal type's body. Not even eating a Sitrus Berry in between attacks was enough for Munchlax to withstand the enhanced Mega Drain moves. He tottered backwards, then crumpled to the ground.
As the referee announced Deneb the winner, Lan calmly returned Munchlax and approached the victorious trainer. Despite his loss, he smiled, handing over a badge.
"You already know some techniques that will take you far if you build on them," he said, "although I advise that you train your Pokemon to listen to you, and that you don't rely too much on high levels, particularly of a single one. Nonetheless, consider this badge earned, as well as a TM of your choice."
He went and picked out four discs from a storage box, then presented them to Deneb, the names and effects written on the cases. Hidden Power, Double Team, Swagger, and Round.
Edea ran over to Deneb, and grabbed her maracas. She began to celebrate her victory as her trainer listened to the Gym Leader. The words of wisdom were appreciated, but that appreciation was not shown. Instead, Deneb spoke in response.
“If it will provide me the money I need, then I will use your advice.”
With that, he took the TM Round and made to leave.
As soon as Sophia entered the arena, she stopped in her tracks, nearly causing Amber to crash into her. She stared as the trainer in front of her - that kid who couldn't be any older than twelve - coolly accepted a badge, then headed towards the exit.
"What? B-But how?" she blurted. A freaking CHILD had done what she couldn't. A tremor rippled through her, not just from anger, but a sense of utter helplessness like water closing in over her head. She recalled her mother's words from the first day... as well as Oscar's from just now, and the surreal seeming chain of events. Letting her own Pokemon go berserk. That crazed Aerodactyl. Rheese lying unconscious. Hammer's threats. The swarm of bats. She should be the most able out of everyone to deal with all this... and to help. As well as letting her family down, was she going to let everyone else down?
A hand - Amber's - settled on her shoulder, the fossil enthusiast leading her to the spectator's seats as the other two women followed. Sophia wanted to pull away. She shouldn't need comfort. She shouldn't need to be treated like a kid. She cringed, but didn't shrink from the gesture. Instead, she trudged to the nearest chair and flopped down into it, waiting for Oscar to appear and start his challenge.
Leaning forward, she gripped the ruffles of her skirt, not from frustration this time. More like... tension? Of course the Jangmo-o's wellbeing rested on the outcome, but were there other reasons why it mattered? Why couldn't she feel the same resentment towards Oscar that she'd felt towards the kid? Fantoccino wasn't even out, but Sophia remained aware of the feelings that he'd brought to her attention, that grew keener by the second.
"Time for that smartass to back up all those words of wisdom," she muttered, "and... I'm sure he can."
A shudder of guilt ran through Gabrielle as she glanced at Simone, who gave a mutter of "I'm ok." Her own hearing had become sensitive enough, and an Audino's was apparently even sharper. This had slipped her mind earlier, the thought that she may have hurt someone not even having occurred to her.
"Alright, alright, I'll keep it down," she mumbled. "But how do you overcome the difficulties?"
This body was probably something she'd be able to get used to. At least she was still pretty... Although what did that matter when she was no longer in the public eye, she couldn't help thinking as she kept trying to clean her fur. The main difficulty wasn't the new form, but the lifestyle and family she'd been forced to leave behind.
Jess hadn't expected much of a reply, but Roxy's near-silence didn't exactly ease the awkwardness of the situation. Once she'd ordered a ham and mushroom calzone pizza, she waited, keeping her head bowed so as not to look at the watchers.
"You sure you're alright there? I thought you'd tuck right in," her mom asked, gesturing towards the bowl of complementary olives the waitress had left.
"Mom, it's fine," Jess replied, sticking a toothpick into an olive, pretending to be hungrier than she was. "I'd just rather not eat too much before the main course." As she looked up at her mom, she couldn't help noticing how the restaurant's light emphasised the sunkenness of her cheeks, the dark circles under her eyes showing through makeup. It didn't take empathic senses to know she and Roxy weren't the only ones under strain. No way would she give her mother anything more to deal with.
"If you say so..." The unconvinced reply made Jess cringe. "Which brings me to something the two of you might be interested in."
Jess' stomach clenched like a stress ball as her mother reached into her bag and placed a business card on the table. "Oh, Mom..."
Her mom leaned in, lowering her voice as she spoke. "I know things can sometimes be... difficult between an empath and an anchor when they first meet. There's a great deal for both to adapt to, and I've been doing some research on the issue you've been having. Her gaze switched to Roxy. "The crack in your shield, as you put it. So, I thought this counselling service might be something to consider. They're one of the best around for helping newly matched people."
Jess stared blankly at the card, heart sinking as her mind raced for a response. "Thanks, but... It's all ok," she finally answered. "We just need time to get used to this, that's all."
This was nothing even the best professionals could fix. This was nothing either of them could talk about to anyone. Yet by refusing, had she cast Roxy in a less than favourable light?
Sophia's glare sharpened as she took back the TM. "Suit yourself," she muttered. "This isn't the time to argue anyway, and..." She glanced at the Pokemon accompanying Oscar, then faced him again. She was about to completely disregard what he'd said, but there was something she had to make clear.
This wouldn't be easy, since this guy was neither a psychic, nor a close friend. And of course they weren't close. They barely even got along. Just because he believed in her, and reassured her she wasn't alone, and they'd confided in each other, and promised to help each other, and... and those fears and hopes for him had just been brought to light by her Shuppet... That surely didn't mean... Clearing those thoughts from her mind, Sophia focused on just one and projected it to Oscar.
"And there are certain things your Pokemon don't need to hear, not right now."
She grimaced as a wave of dizziness swept over her. Oscar had said to think of her powers as muscles... This felt like using a muscle that had been pushed to its limits. Still, she remained standing. She wasn't going to send Oscar into overprotective mode. That was the last thing either of them needed.
"Ah! Just in time!" Rachel called as she rushed in. She beamed at Oscar, handing him three Oran berries.
"Thought you might want these, if you don't already have any berries," she said. "They'll instantly restore a small amount of energy to a Pokemon. And you, feel free to take some too, for when you need them." As she gave Sophia three of the same berries, she noticed the girl's hand shaking.
"Let's go take a seat and watch," she suggested before turning back to Oscar. "Best of luck for the battle! I'm sure you'll do a great job of inspiring the Jangmo-o, how's he doing?"
Gabrielle sighed. "So we're supposed to trust the dregs of society? Some lesson." As she spoke, though, she couldn't help recalling what the ghost had said, not just about her distrust but about her tone. Like that had been something to blame her for. She'd had somewhere important to be, after all.
The meal, at least, turned out to be just what she needed. Better even than the food at the dinner parties she'd grown up with, although she wasn't going to admit this. Of course, everything had its downside, and at several intervals she scowled and muttered, dabbing soup, sauce or soft cheese from her wrist fur with a napkin.
Once she'd finished the cheesecake, she went back to trying to clean the accumulated traces of all three courses from the fluff, to no avail. She groaned and flung the stained napkin to her plate. "How on earth do you even get used to being a Pokemon anyway?"
A frazzled British thirtysomething cat mum with something of a tea addiction.
I like a wide range of RP genres, but have two absolute favourites: Pokemon and magical girls. (If someone manages to combine the two, I'll be VERY happy!) I post fairly regularly, but sometimes shit mental health days crop up - if that causes any delays, I'll try to resume posting ASAP.
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;">A frazzled British thirtysomething cat mum with something of a tea addiction. <br><br>I like a wide range of RP genres, but have two absolute favourites: Pokemon and magical girls. (If someone manages to combine the two, I'll be VERY happy!) I post fairly regularly, but sometimes shit mental health days crop up - if that causes any delays, I'll try to resume posting ASAP.</div>
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