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Post by Farrah Whitaker on Aug 6, 2020 3:30:07 GMT
The river between Toploss and Aspermont was a good place to camp, especially for someone who wasn't used to roughing it out in the wilds. Relatively between the towns, it was in easy access if something happened... and being right by the riverbank away from people was incredibly peaceful. It was a good place for Farrah to relax. It was out of the public eye, away from the big cities... and an excellent place to train and bond with Decibel in a place he could really let loose!
That being said, Farrah was also not a morning person - though their Pokemon certainly didn't seem to care at the moment. Currently, the musician was sitting on a fairly large rock near their camp, a cup of plain tea in their hands. On the cookstove of their tiny fire was a kettle - supposedly full of the same indescribable tea of unknown origin. They were observing not the river, but the main road, eyes a little bleary, but otherwise mildly amused.
On the road was their Pokemon - a Galarian Zigzagoon by the name of Decibel, who was currently sprinting in unpredictable patterns back and forth across the road and into the grass. The only unfortunate was, at the pace the excitable Pokemon was going at, he was quite careless about anything... or anyone, he had the danger of running into.
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Post by Sai Tsumori on Aug 6, 2020 4:03:04 GMT
"Silver, for the last time, stop trying to eat your Pokeball" Came a tired voice obscured by some trees. Tiny, rapid footsteps were soon followed by a groan as Sai gave chase. Silver, their Aron was of the age where he thought anything and everything was food, sometimes even his human. His current fascination was chomping away at his Pokeball, which now sported more than just a few dents. Silver, knowing he was about to be pursued, Pokeball in maw, began scuttling forward, as fast as his little legs would take him. Sai swore under their breath, having to pick their pace up a bit as Silver disappeared into a thorny brush near the path. Upon hearing an odd thud, Sai bolted through the brush, ignoring the slight pain from the thorns, before blinking curiously at the Galarian Zigzagoon before them, and Silver, who'd managed to knock himself onto his back, and was flailing wildly.
"Oh...Hello there" |
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Post by Farrah Whitaker on Aug 6, 2020 7:04:35 GMT
Thump!
...That didn't sound good. Farrah looked up in time to realize they didn't quite see Decibel anymore. That woke them up quick. The musician hauled themselves to their feet with a sigh, setting their cup on the rock they vacated before meandering onto the path to look for their mischievous partner.
Decibel, meanwhile, was looking quite dazed from the collision with the Aron. If Pidgeys could metaphorically circle one's head, they certainly would be circling the Zigzagoon's at that moment. He startled at being acknowledged by the stranger, and immediately shuffled to his feet in a defensive position, eyes wary. "Ziiiii...." he responded.
By this time, Farrah had caught up - and stopped short at seeing another trainer, and their Pokemon. "Oh!" They said. "I'm so sorry, did he run into you?" The tiny raccoon Pokemon shuffled over to the musician's side and butted them in the calf. "I've been letting him go for exercise... didn't think he'd actually run into someone. Is, uh, your Pokemon alright...?" It didn't seem good to be stuck like that... or at least, that's what Farrah assumed.
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Post by Sai Tsumori on Aug 6, 2020 19:34:23 GMT
 Sai blinked, before tilting their head curiously at the Zigzagoon, before watching him run over to a trainer Sai had somehow managed to miss before. Trying to not look obvious as they assessed the situation, moving to put themself between Silver and this stranger. It took them a bit too long to realize they were being spoken to, before Sais head jerked a bit, coming back to the situation at hand.
"OH, uh..." They paused, looking over their shoulder at the thoroughly disgruntled Silver, flailing about. Suppressing a smile, Sai squatted down, gently picking up and righting the Aron, who was looking none too thrilled at the Zigzagoon a handful of feet away. Sai cleared their throat, looking back up at the stranger with a small smile.
"My apologies, Silver here isn't keen on looking where he's going. It was probably him who ran into your Zigzagoon... I should be the one asking if your Pokemon is okay. I know all too well how much his headbutts can hurt." They said, pausing to squint at Silver, who dramatically looked away with a huff, trying to not look like he was looking for his misplaced chewtoy.  |
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Post by Farrah Whitaker on Aug 6, 2020 22:37:28 GMT
"That makes two of 'em," Farrah chuckled, "Decibel here tears around without looking where he's goin' too. You aight, kiddo?" They looked down to Decibel, who was rubbing his cheek against their leg. "Zagzag," was his only reply before he turned his eyes to the Aron with a disgruntled look. Farrah nodded as if this were answer enough, before raising their eyebrows lightly, looking back to the other trainer. "You've been headbutt by this cute lil' tank? Are you okay?"
It looked like Farrah might have regretted saying that. It didn't come out right, they thought. Who asks that? Are you alright? Implying that they weren't or something was wrong, or they didn't know how to handle their own Pokemon? Yikes. "Uh," they scratched the back of their neck, "Sorry. That came out rude." Think, Farrah, how do you apologize to someone you've slighted... Uh. Uhh... "To make up for this whole lil' mishap - can I offer you all a cup of tea? My camp's just a lil' ways over, and the kettle's still hot. Or a lil' treat for your partner, as an apology for my own's wily behavior." The Pokemon - Silver, they said? - looked like a steel type... hopefully he liked spicy flavors - of course, if the other trainer wasn't too put off by their or Decibel's utter nonsense to accept, anyway. Farrah felt a bit silly for being so off the ball on socialization. Though, it was still early morning. They'd blame it on that.
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Post by Sai Tsumori on Aug 6, 2020 22:59:39 GMT
Sai watched the trainer and their Pokemon, a small smile tugging at the corner of their mouth at the display. They were completely unaware of the perceived rudeness, just tilting their head in obvious confusion at that, though they said nothing about it, knowing they weren't great with picking up signals.
Scooping up Silver, who'd managed to spot his Pokeball and was on his way to go chomp it some more, Sai stood up, carefully holding the disgruntled bundle of metal. "Oh uh...sure, if it's alright with you, I don't want to impose-" They started to say before Silver began squirming excitedly at the mention of a treat. Being careful not drop Silver, Sai snorted softly but nodded to the trainer, as they adjusted the excited Aron onto their hip.
"Sure, that sounds nice. I'm Sai by the way." |
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Post by Farrah Whitaker on Aug 6, 2020 23:14:29 GMT
Farrah's eyes crinkled in amusement at Silver's antics. It surely reminded them of Decibel, especially at mealtimes where he would really get bad cases of the Zoomies. "It's not a problem at all. Here, we're setup just over this way, a lil' off the path." They gestured to Sai to follow before turning to walk back the way they came. Decibel bounded forward, zipping across the road to where the lone tent and its cookfire were still sitting abandoned just off in the grass.
Tilting their head over their shoulder, Farrah nodded to Sai in acknowledgement as they walked, if Sai followed. "Nice to meet ya, Sai. My name's Farrah - and zip-zoom over there is Decibel." 'Zip-zoom' as it were, seemed to have already made it back to the tent before the two trainers, and he now sat perched on Farrah's guitar case, looking haughty as if he'd won a race. When they did reach the camp, Farrah would busy themselves for a moment getting another cup from their pack to pour tea for Sai, as well as a carefully sealed baggy with something red and cubed in it.
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Post by Sai Tsumori on Aug 6, 2020 23:35:19 GMT
Sai followed the duo keeping an eye out for their surroundings, just in case they needed to make a fast getaway. Nearly stumbling over their own feet, shooting Silver a quick squint as the Aron made a sound that seemed suspiciously like a snicker, Sai nodded dumbly to the back of this stranger, now Farrahs head.
'You know they can't see you right. Smooth.'
They mentally chastised themself, before looking over to the proud Zigzagoon, another small smile as they nodded to Decibel.
"You sure are fast little buddy, probably the fastest Pokemon i've ever seen." They said, before looking at the still squirming bundle they were holding. "I'll let you down, but you gotta behave Sil." They said sternly. "No eating anything unless Farrah gives it to you, okay?" They said with a nod, having a small staring contest with Silver, before, dramatically, Silver nodded his big head, and was rewarded by being set down on the ground, before immediately toddling to Farrah, big eyes locked onto the sealed baggy.
Sai chuckled weakly, rubbing the back of their head in a nervous tic. "Sorry about him, I swear I feed him."
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Post by Farrah Whitaker on Aug 7, 2020 1:06:10 GMT
Decibel seemed to preen even more at his speed being complimented, chest puffing out, while his tongue blepped from his mouth. Farrah rolled their eyes fondly at the zigzagoon, before pouring up the tea and handing it over to Sai, offering the younger trainer the rock they'd been sitting on earlier. "He sure is somethin' alright."
As Silver toddled over, Farrah couldn't help but smile. He was so precious... They crouched down and opened up the baggy, pulling out a couple of the red cubes and holding them out to the Aron. "Careful now, they're a bit... hot. Tamato berries, I think? Ridiculously hard to get ahold of, but absolutely worth it." They then also offered the baggy up to Sai. "They're also very much human-edible too, if ya like."
The musician laughed as well with Sai's apology for Silver. "Nah it ain't a problem. No harm in bein' excited for a treat, 'specially when all our usual fare's algae and mushrooms. I'd do the same thing in his... paws? Stubs?" Huh. Man Pokemon were weird. "You two been partners for long?"
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Post by Sai Tsumori on Aug 7, 2020 21:08:30 GMT
Sai chuckled softly at the Zigzagoons antics, before taking the cup with a small nod, giving the drink a hopefully not obvious sniff, knowing that some people found their habit more than a bit odd, and even rude some times. Taking a small sip, Sai watched Silver paw insistently at the baggy, before attempting to devour the berry, his small mouth only allowing to take little, but rapid chomps. Sai shook their head at the offer for a berry for themself, knowing just how rare true vegetables and fruit were.
"No, but thank you, it's more than enough that you're letting this little butthead have one." They said with a snicker that was hid behind the rim of the cup, glad Silver was too busy stuffing his face. "But as for your question, for a few weeks now...I think, I don't really keep track of days if I'm being honest." Sai said with a small wheeze of nervous laughter, rubbing the back of their head with their free hand. "Long enough for him to warm up to me, and by that I mean, enough time for him to try to eat everything I own." They said a bit exasperated, though with a fond smile, watching Silver make quite a mess with his food.
Casting their eyes back up to Farrah, Sai took another sip, before speaking again, "How about you and Decibel?"
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Post by Farrah Whitaker on Aug 8, 2020 2:25:44 GMT
Preoccupied with Silver's insistence for treats, Farrah did not notice Sai sniffing the tea at all - though it wouldn't have been much of an offense. As far as tea went, it was... incredibly plain. Did it's job to warm someone up, but wasn't a miracle blend of taste by any standard, unfortunate as it was. The musician was visibly amused at the rapid devouring of the berry cubes, and carefully set a few more out for Silver before leaning back to hand Decibel a couple. They then put the baggy away and retrieved their (much cooler, now) cup of tea to turn their full attention to Sai.
"Of course, it's the least I can do," they nodded. Farrah chuckled softly along with the younger trainer. Oh boy, they absolutely understood losing time. If Farrah could count the number of days they'd forgotten what week or day or hour it was just from being so absorbed in work... It was a good thing they were good at math. "Time feels like it's both stopped solid and bounded forwards all at once, with these fellas around. It's definitely sure somethin' not easy to keep track of these days. And he seems to be fond of ya, despite eatin' everythin' and the kitchen sink!" They shook their head in fondness at their Pokemon partner, who was happily ignoring the two trainers now in favor of very studiously and carefully nibbling his treat, trying to keep it hidden from the little Aron.
They pursed their lip in thought at Sai's return question, before humming thoughtfully as they took a long sip of their own tea. "Oh, hm.... the short answer - 'bout a week or two, now, I think?" Farrah's eyes softened, though, as they reached over to scratch Decibel on the head. "Long answer, prolly... about six years and a bit, now? A fa-" Oh, shoot. Did Sai know who Farrah was? Their music was widespread, but the younger trainer hadn't jumped them for an autograph or to meet them... and having the facade of anonymity was nice. Maybe they wouldn't admit the full truth to that story, for now. "A... fella gave me his pokeball at a big gatherin' in Sylvanport, years ago. I never knew why, but he's been with me, if not in the flesh, ever since. Sure glad they did. I love the lil' guy."
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Post by Sai Tsumori on Aug 8, 2020 3:17:06 GMT
Sai watched Farrah intently as they began answering their question, eyebrow quirking at their sudden pause, but saying nothing if it. Sai was a stranger to them, and knew it wasn't their job to pry, Arceus knew Sai had enough of their own secrets. They took another sip of the tea they'd been given, rather enjoying that there were no bold or bright flavors. Having grown up with little more than algae and artificial food, Sai didn't have much of a palette for anything stronger. They nodded along as Farrah spoke, before their eyebrows rose at the mention of Sylvanport.
"Wow. I've only heard about that place, and only a few times from my mother. I think she went their a few times when she was younger." They said, pondering how much they wanted to reveal to this still-very-much-stranger. They took another slow drink before continuing to speak. "I've never actually seen an ocean, if you can believe that, though I hope to at some point in my travels." They said with a small nod, watching as Silver, who'd managed to devour all the cubes he'd been given, and was now lazily teething (If Sai had to guess) on a rock he'd found.
"I was given Silver by my mother shortly before I left. He was still in his ball of course, but I think my grandpa, or maybe great-grandpa used Pokemon like him to help with mining. Silver here was the last little clutch they'd had I think."
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Post by Farrah Whitaker on Aug 8, 2020 7:00:37 GMT
"I'm not too surprised," Farrah smiled gently. "A lot of folks in our world have never left home before. This entire new generation of first-time Pokemon trainers is a pioneer expedition. It's shaken everything up and given so many opportunities that so many could only have ever dreamt of - ah, apologies. I try not to ramble." They hid their mouth behind their hand with an embarrassed laugh. Theoretically Farrah knew there was nothing wrong with their very significant investment into the wellbeing and growth of the people of Deprin... but that sort of talk wasn't for everyone, and Farrah certainly knew better than to ramble about interests others did not care for. "I hope you're able to see it, too. Hearin' about the ocean certainly doesn't do justice to actually seein' the real thing."
Farrah's eyebrows raised as they followed Sai's gaze down to Silver. A.... rock? It occurred to Farrah in that moment that despite their research into omnivorous or scavenger pokemon like Decibel, they certainly hadn't done enough research in general. It had never once occurred to the musician that rock-type pokemon, or... maybe ground type? Farrah wasn't sure - but it hadn't occurred that their diet might actually be rocks. They tilted their head back to Sai as the younger trainer continued their story. "Ah, a mining pokemon? He'll be quite the strong fella then, eventually. That's real sweet though - a family memento, both from a close relative and a lineage... Even in a short time I imagine the bond between you two is close."
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Post by Sai Tsumori on Aug 8, 2020 21:14:54 GMT
Sai listened intently as Farrah spoke, having had very little non-familial interaction with other people, taking a quick sip of their tea, before their nodding along. "Mhm. I've only seen pictures once or twice of what he might look like when he gets big, and I gotta say, I just hope he calms down some before then. I'd like to think we're pretty close, at least enough to where he would rather be out with me, than in his Pokeball." They said, with a bit of a deadpan expression. "He's eaten about 3 now, at this rate I won't be able to catch anything." They said with a small laugh, before finishing off their tea, moving to stand with a slight wince at the small handful of cracks and pops as they did.
"Oh, ow, ok." Before rubbing the back of their head, handing the cup back, "I uh, I should probably get out of your hair. Thank you for the tea, as well as feeding this lil critter here." They said fondly, tapping their thigh to call Silver over. "It was nice to meet you Farrah."
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Post by Farrah Whitaker on Aug 8, 2020 21:28:11 GMT
Farrah looked mildly surprised at the mention of Silver getting big. They were going to have to look up the type of Pokemon he was... from Sai's mention, it certainly sounded like he was going to get big. Like... really big. "Oh, wow, a Pokemon that's eaten a ball? Now that's a sight right there." Quietly, they wondered what would happen if a Pokemon happened to eat their own ball. How... would something like that even work? Did they release themselves? Was it that they could never be returned? Huh.
They winced at the painful sound of Sai's body crackling, accepting the cup back gently. "You alright? That sounded rough - and oh, it's not a worry! It's nice to have some company from a fellow new trainer once in a while. Y'all are very, very welcome." They stood up as well, setting aside the cups for a quick wash, and kicking some dirt over the fire to put it out. "It's been nice to meet you too, Sai. I hope we see one another around again - and I hope you get to see the ocean soon."
After Sai and Silver had departed, Farrah took a few minutes to wash out their cookware at the riverbank, with the unhelpful splashing of Decibel in the water, before packing up camp to head out too. They hoped they would run into the young trainer again, sometime. They seemed nice, and the musician hoped that they would grow into a magnificent trainer!
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