wing_attack | IC; Pokegear Contact Post

"Uh. It's Tobias. Leave a message."

Only... kind of? Like dogs are still dogs, it's just that the happy smiling playful ones kind of inherited a bit of that essence? I don't know, I barely understand it myself. Wolves were definitely an Earth thing before they got here.

... But a lot of stuff is aliens in my world, surprisingly. Like broccoli. Broccoli isn't originally from Earth, apparently. I kind of just stopped thinking about that kind of stuff because when you have giant bladed lizard people, giant cannibalistic centipedes, and parasitic mind-controlling slugs around, space dogs and space broccoli are kind of the least of your concerns.

...

[So her Snorunt isn't the only thing shaking now. Ashley continue to follow but all of this is a little um. She hit lizard people and just hopped on the train to Nopeville, population her, perpetually, at faster and faster speeds, which just leaves her pretty breathless and stammering:]

I-is...that so? Oh. Um. I can see, how it wouldn't be something you'd- um, think about, no-nnoo, not at all.

... The lizard people are actually kind of nice when they're acting on their own and not being controlled. The... free ones that are our allies actually see me as some kind of... savior? Like some kind of bird-based Moses. They named the first free Hork-Bajir born on Earth after me. Her name's Toby.

She's... really smart. Most Hork-Bajir are kind of like kids in terms of thinking. Not that they're stupid, just... more gathering bark and less contemplating the mysteries of the universe. But every few generations a 'seer' is born, more on the level of a human or other... complicated-thinking species. She's one of them. Her... oh, what was it. Great-grandfather, I think? He was one, too.

[There's a kind of basic disconnect going on here. She hears what he's saying and about their true natures, but. Well, she's still the same girl who jumps at a whatever goes bump in the night, for justified reasons now, so she follows along and nods stiffly.]

She sounds... It all sounds almost unbelievable. Your life's...so different from- most things out there.

Yeah...

[He looks over and smiles at her a bit.]

It's not that other people can't have unbelievable, extraordinary lives, too. I think... maybe just living peacefully is kind of amazing.

I mean, look at this place. Even with all of the weird... people go about their daily lives. Isn't that what everyone in stories are trying to protect?

[She tries a weak smile back.]

I'm really, really, really into a boring, peaceful live, to be honest.

... Yeah. Hey, if you... never mind.

['If you ever need to talk...' But she knows that already. He's curious, but... well. He doesn't want to push her. How long had it taken him to warm up to people, to tell them?]

... What kind of Pokemon do you think Gandalf would have if he ever showed up here?

[Blink. Ashley stares for a moment, and...]

A Psychic-type. I don't know them all well enough yet, but definitely a Psychic-type. Are there any wizards? ...Oh, or maybe it would be one to compliment the hobbits. Something that never grows but, but's still strong. So...a Normal-type? Or Ground, because- Hobbit holes.

Yeah. Maybe a Sandile or something. They're like desert crocodiles. Maybe a Fennekin for him? It's a Fire type that grows into a Fire/Psychic type and uses a stick like a wamd.

Is...that so? The guy I'm traveling with started with a Fennekin... Huh, I look forward to seeing that.

Yeah. ... Sometimes when I'm bored or can't sleep I just look up random Pokemon. There's enough of them around that it's at least something to do.

I can understand that. If there's nothing to do, why not... Oh, is this the place?

[Little café, good for brunch.]

Oh! Yeah, it is.

[He leads her in and sits down,grabbing a menu.]

Anyway yeah. ... I don't really mind studying that kind of stuff, since it's at least a subject that's pretty immediately relevant.

[Follows his lead; let's see, what's good for a celebratory brunch...?]

I don't blame you for thinking like that- I'm pretty...well, I like studying most things, anyway.

I was mostly an English class kind of student... when I got a teacher that actually let us discuss stuff, at least. I guess maybe they do that more as you get older, but I never made it out of middle school.

Edited Date: 2016-04-24 09:41 pm (UTC)

[Yikes; she keeps herself from wincing, only just.]

Oh, well. Yeah, me too. English and classes like it, but cultural studies aren't that bad, you know?

Yeah. I just can't really keep math in my head that well. I'm not a numbers person, I'm more of a visual person, I guess.

[Ooh, burgers sound good...]

Oh, yeah, no, fuck math.

[...idle f-bomb over brunch, good job]

I'm okay at it? But I've gotta study really hard. I won't shed any tears once that requirement is out of my way.

Yeah I... college isn't an option for me, I guess? Some of those classes last more than two hours and I don't really want to have to take a break midway to demorph and remorph in the bathroom or something. I mean I could probably get whatever requirement waived now, but I don't... really want to.

[He shrugs. There's not really a lot he wants to do.]

My current game plan at home is to find a nice national park or something I can grab some territory in that people won't bug me too much. But hey, if we ever get interdimensional mail set up or something, you could tell me how classes are going at home for you?

[It's something. Half a joke. Maybe.]

What's college actually like, anyway? I mean, I guess most movies aren't... really accurate.

[The more he talks, the sadder she feels; he looks like a human to her, he is a human, so even though she knows he's been a bird, she can't help but picture this kid living out in the woods somewhere and...

Her eyes are on the menu. Her face behind it. When she sets it down, she's chased away the worried expression.]

Some of them are, a little. But we do not have near as much free time as it's made out. Um... I guess it depends for everyone. I'm not really super-involved in a lot of clubs or anything, but I have friends whose social lives are full up with them. Really, it's...

[A sigh.]

Kind of like here, in a way? In the hotels. Living on your own. Trying to be an adult. Obligations and business and... I don't know. I like it. It's tough sometimes...and I bite off more than I can chew with classes. But I like it.

[More than high school...? Hm. Things were simpler in high school though. Only due to the timing of events.]

[He said something depressing again, didn't he? He keeps putting his foot in his mouth. ... Or maybe his talon in his beak.]

... It... sounds nice. To have a place where you can be with people or on your own as much as you want. And when you're on your own you're not really alone. Like at college, there's people in the dorms or on campus, right? And it's kind of... halfway between being a kid and an adult.

Adults don't have classes and homework and social clubs in the same way, right? But you still have responsibilities, you're still figuring things out... like this place. Because it's safe, and you're never really alone since you have your Pokemon with you, but you still have to handle things like bills and travel and feeding too many mouths that are picky on which brand of Pokechow they like.

[Because Nacho, really? Why do you have to be such a picky bird? ... Though he can't blame him, he was picky about his meat at home, too, when he could afford to be.]

[She nods; to the dorms, to it being halfway.]

Like...this place. With less traveling and training and... [More ties to their homes...] A lot. Maybe it'll make good practice for when I've graduated.