Saint
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Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 22:35:57 GMT 9
The Water Gun lands, dousing the Nidoran, who immediately lets out a battle cry. It charges forwards, fast enough that it does end up tackling Gumball back with its sharp tooth in a Peck.
The popplio shakes himself, still grinning eagerly. To Saint’s relief, it doesn’t appear as if he got too injured, but it’s clear they’ll have to play it carefully. Gumball isn’t doing much damage at his level. “Stay still and wait for it to charge again,” Saint instructs, deciding to try luring it.
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Saint
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Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 22:32:57 GMT 9
A very familiar pokemon pops out of a burrow he hadn’t noticed. The Nidoran twitches its nose at him, before climbing out of its hidey hole and shaking out the dirt that had accumulated over its body.
Saint can’t help but find it cute, but from the looks of its red eyes, it seems to want a battle. “Hey, hey…” Gumball is wiggling in his grip, trying and quite successfully slipping his way to freedom.
Saint instead places him on the ground. “Okay, you can fight it.” He stops the popplio before he can dive into danger. “But you have to avoid touching it directly, okay? Use Water Gun to keep it from coming close. The little spikes on its body can poison you.”
Gumball salutes, and then gets into position.
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Saint
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Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 22:28:51 GMT 9
They set out on the steppes. Gumball looks restlessly around the new area, his eyes sparkling at the sight of lights in the distance. There are pokemon and trainers all around, all of them new, all of it exciting.
Saint clutches him a little tighter. He knows it’s important to his experience as a trainer, but he still doesn’t like the idea of facing pokemon his starter can't handle. Route 3 seems to be littered with electric types. He sees Mareep and various steel-type pokemon wander the distant patches, and is alarmed by the image of Gumball getting electrocuted.
He tries to step carefully, but isn't familiar enough with the route to recognize claimed territory.
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Saint
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Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 5:17:47 GMT 9
“A bad omen?” Mom gasps, hand on her heart. “Goodness dear, no! You’re my son, I would never. And even if you weren’t, I still considered raising you to be a great blessing.” She smiles, amused. “You certainly kept the days from growing dull.”
She seems to respect his desire to move on, though can’t help but chime in once the topic of their fathers resumes. “Your father wasn’t around much, but he provided us everything we ever needed. Why, I’d say he was always watching over us, in fact. Knew exactly what we needed before we even knew it. The man worked on an entirely different level.” Her eyes were shining with admiration.
Despite Nephilim’s attempts at alleviating the mood, Saint has gone completely rigid beside him. He is currently experiencing vivid—borderline violent—flashbacks of every school he had grown up in, and every Mass he's been made to endure. “I. I guess,” is what stumbles out of his mouth as Nephilim nudges him. “What about my dad? Was he as, uh… capable?”
Mom smiles kindly at him. “But of course. Honestly, I would consider both men to have been present in your lives, as distant as their hands may have been.” She cups her cheek with a hand, gazing away thoughtfully. “And I don’t think it would’ve been so bad, had we all lived together as a family. After all, Saint, your dad was already quite loyal to Nephilim’s father. He followed all of the man’s rules and orders to the letter.”
She claps her hands. “Oh, do finish your snacks! I think it’s about time I show you both your presents.” Giddily, she stands, and heads off to another room.
When the coast is clear, Saint twists in his seat, grabbing Nephilim’s arm and whispering furiously. “Are you an actual Nephilim?!” He’d been so thorough with exploring the character creation screen. If there was an option to be anything other than human, he would know! “Your dad is God. Literally God. And my dad is—some kind of—a member of the diocese, maybe.” He’s muttering furiously, seized by some kind of madness. “Saints are canonized by the reigning Pope, but they’re meant to be celibate. Does that mean she got with a pope? Is she weaving our backstories out of our aliases? What significance would that make? Why is God in a pokemon game?”
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 3:40:40 GMT 9
“Verai was nice, wasn’t he?” Saint hums, returning to the shrine. He’s in a better mood; the journey may have begun with a mud fight and some confusing NPC dialogue, but he’s just been taught how to befriend pokemon by a generous player, and Gumball made himself a new friend.
The popplio cheers, waving his flippers animatedly as he recounts their little adventure with charades. Saint chuckles as Gumball puts his flippers over his head, somehow curling his mouth into a perfect cat mouth. “Yes, Kitten was nice too. Maybe I could arrange a playdate for you when I see her trainer again.”
Gumball erupts into applause. It’s fast enough that Saint has to lean back, lest his nose get clapped into oblivion. Gumball is looking forward to the reunion, and maybe he’ll even meet this ‘Sprigatito’ fellow Kitten mentioned!
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 3:06:39 GMT 9
Some of the dried fruit is tossed to him, which Saint catches before listening to the rest of Verai’s lesson. The Vulpix is already chewing up the fruit Verai offered.
Wouldn't you rather go with someone who showed you kindness?"
Saint’s gaze softens. “I would.” He kneels down. The vulpix has already finished and is watching expectantly, tails wagging as it stares at remaining fruit in their hands.
Not wanting to push it too far, Saint places the fruit down on the ground, closer to them. He waits anxiously as the fox slowly approaches them.
Gumball cackles as Kitten’s paw baps him in the head. She had soft paws! He hops onto his tail, aiming to retaliate by bapping her head with his flipper. The clean-up is now a game of whack-a-mon.
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 2:49:34 GMT 9
“There’s a Vulpix?” He spots the little fox through the nearby bushes. Gumball confirms Verai’s instructions with a hearty salute, being placed back on the ground by Saint. The popplio hops along to sit by his sneezing pal, giggling at her and then mimicking her by sneezing some water onto the budding forest fire.
The Vulpix pops out of the bushes at the sight of water, hissing at the two trainer pokemon before turning eyes back to the two humans, tension leaving its body taut.
Saint tilts his head curiously at Verai. “You don’t have to fight them?” That’s a first. “I figured, since this is a pokemon game…” Intrigued, he approaches Verai to observe, careful not to take big steps. He didn’t want to alarm the Vulpix further.
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 2:11:40 GMT 9
Saint blushes, sinking a little in his collar. He just made his amateur status obvious. Of course, people can have cat ears. This is a game!
“I don’t know why I said that,” he mumbles distractedly. “I started off this game meeting a demigod, why did I…”
He shakes his head, returning to the conversation, and glad that Verai didn’t tease him further. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Saint.” His face scrunches a little, despite having chosen his name deliberately. He thought it would sound cool. Now that he’s actually introducing himself, it was kind of—
“You named your Litten, Kitten?” He glances over to the furball sneezing little embers, chuckling quietly. “That’s. Cute. That's a really cute name.” He raises his popplio. “This little troublemaker’s called Gumball.” He raises a brow, turning the popplio around to stare at his face. “Though I guess he wasn’t entirely a troublemaker? You played hero, Gummy?”
Gumball honks proudly despite the look of disbelief on his trainer’s face.
Meanwhile, an audience had come to peek in, curious eyes noting the strangers and their strange pokemon.
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 1:57:09 GMT 9
Saint bursts out of the bushes, his clothes in disarray and his hair now a literal bird’s nest after a relentless search. “Gumball!” He says, diving to sweep the popplio off the ground, who delights in being lifted, giggling up until he’s smushed against his trainer’s chest.
Saint gives him a little squeeze, before pulling away and pointing at him with a finger. “Never wander off like that again, do you hear me!?”
Gumball blinks at him, before bopping his head forwards, Saint’s finger poking his nose. Honk!
Saint has no idea what that means. He still melts with relief, stopping only when he finally takes notice of the company.
“Yes, he is,” his voice gets quieter. “And you…” A pause, and a very long stare. “You have. Cat ears?”
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 1:49:13 GMT 9
The shrine is gorgeous. Saint approaches the ancient tree, eyes wide at the aura it emits. The leaves look as if they’ve been burnished gold as light streams from above, and as he reaches close enough to peek at the branches, he’s dumbfounded by the sight of an honest to god Moltres nesting peacefully in the tree.
“Is that supposed to be here?” He can’t help but lament out loud. The legendary bird doesn’t stir, his voice too soft, his persona too unremarkable, but he thinks it impressive to have seen one at all.
“A pokemon like that isn’t usually encountered so early in pokemon games,” he explains to Gumball, who seems more interested in trying to touch one of the little glowing lights that drift down from the tree. A trick of the lighting?
Regardless, Saint carefully approaches the shrine, and left without instruction, tries to touch it. “Please heal Gumball,” he asks the tree.
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2023 1:11:50 GMT 9
Gumball winced, watching the collision and hearing the resulting bowling ball strike sound effect. Ooo, that had to hurt.
He hastily butt-scoots across the field, trying to lend aid. Where was his trainer when he needed him?
( Saint is currently wandering the forest on the verge of a conniption, trying to find his starter after looking away for 5 seconds and completely losing track of him. )
Once he’s close enough to aim at the Shroomish, Gumball lets loose a WATER GUN.
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 24, 2023 12:17:37 GMT 9
A fabulous counter! The Shroomish barely has time to breathe before it’s sent flying back to Gumball, his new friend apparently having—well, cat-like reflexes.
He wants to try too!
Planting his flippers on the ground, Gumball pulls the rest of his body back as if winding a baseball bat, before swinging hard at the incoming screaming Shroomish.
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 24, 2023 11:58:11 GMT 9
Gumball is prepared when Kitten launches at him. He ducks his head, and then throws, chucking Kitten in the air.
Behold!! His newest skill: Double bouncy head juggling.
It’s much trickier, but thankfully not one he has to maintain for long. One of the juggling balls hops off to land on her feet, while the other one—lightly singed—is now ready for the next phase of the game.
Gumball bunts it off his nose, starting the round with a honk! and sending the Shroomish careening towards Kitten.
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 24, 2023 11:45:09 GMT 9
As Kitten rounds the bend, a rustle of movement catches her eye!
<PUT ME DOWN!>
A shroomish comes popping out from behind some bushes. It flails, spinning in the air, before falling, and then being thrown back up in the air again.
A popplio giggles, bouncing the little mushroom on his head. Even as it tries to attack him, he simply chucks it harder, bunting it against the branches above to interrupt its attempts.
His eyes eventually catch sight of Kitten. He grins, waving a flipper exuberantly as he continues playing.
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Saint
•
Weekend Warrior
Round 2
Posts: 386
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Angelo Alvarez
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Saint on May 22, 2023 23:28:24 GMT 9
Saint stands at the border of the Professor’s base camp and the road leading down Route 3. He takes a while to just stare, taking in the very first route of his playthrough. It’s magnificent. And a little terrifying.
Gumball on the other hand, looks ecstatic. He’s holding him as usual, cradling him like a baby, which the popplio thankfully remains comfortable with. He figured he’d be doing this for a while, as Gumball didn’t possess legs. And also, if he put the little clown dog down, he would’ve either scooted or rolled across the electric minefield without hesitation.
“Ready, Gumball?” Saint asks softly, receiving a happy HONK of Gumball squeezing his pink clown nose in turn. They set off.
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