Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 6, 2022 11:11:24 GMT 9
Was it kind of silly to do the catching tutorial after having already caught a handful of Pokemon? Probably.
Did Valentine care? Not really.
She wanted to knock out some of the tutorials already, take a bit of a breather from running around doing this and that and return to the fundamentals of the game... and get closer to getting her first Trainer star while she was at it, too.
Which is why, even though Valentine already had more Pokemon to her name than team slots to put them all in, Valentine approached the patch of tall grass near the laboratory, keeping an eye out for any wild Pokemon to be spotted there.
Before she found any wild Pokemon, however, Valentine first spotted a fellow Trainer standing near the tall grass waiting for the catching tutorial to get started.
"Hello there!" Valentine waved enthusiastically at the other Trainer. "What do you think will pop out of the tall grass this time? Anything exciting?"
Domino |
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 6, 2022 10:43:49 GMT 9
Valentine might have done a fair bit of wandering around in the game already, but she was still looking forward to this tutorial just the same. There was something fun about working together with other people to learn the ropes, and besides, this particular task involved helping somebody else out, which was always up her alley!
Valentine couldn't quite remember the name of the person she was supposed to be giving this package to, but that wasn't a big deal, right? She had the location of the recipient marked on her minimap, she'd listened to the professor give directions, it was fine. Probably.
And no, she hadn't peeked at the package yet. Looking at other people's stuff was rude, after all, right? Though the shape suggested a box of some sort, and it did seem a bit on the heavy side, so that rather narrowed down the options...
"Go three blocks north, then turn right." Valentine said, the words spoken primarily for her own benefit as she ran through the professor's directions again. "Go three blocks north, then turn right..."
Wait, did this street even go three blocks north from here?
It was fine. Valentine would be fine. Probably.
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 6, 2022 4:40:31 GMT 9
Oh yeah, this guy was definitely older than Logan, from his mention of both adulting and the "video game clubs" that Logan had only heard of from those a generation older than him. But that was only to be expected; most video game players were older than Logan by some amount, he knew. So Valentine just kept smiling and nodding.
"Oh yeah, it's not any big alien conspiracy or anything. It's just the right people with the right amount of money pouring it into the right technologies with the right employees." Logan had heard similar talk enough times from his mother to parrot it decently enough.
"It's amazing what kind of knowledge is out there these days... but the problem is, of course, there's all sorts of fake information out there, too. That's one thing the school systems could use to work on--teaching hasn't quite been able to keep up with how fast technology is moving, and it's suffering because of it."
That bit, Logan knew from personal experience. Teachers struggling to use their fancy new gadgets given to them by the school district, or firewalls on school computers that were both far too restrictive of actual educational context and far too easy for determined students to get past, or presentations on research that barely touched on all the possibilities made available by the Internet and focused mostly on "don't cite Wikipedia"... to say nothing of how they handled (or didn't handle) cyberbullying instances and other times when the boundary between school time and personal time were blurred by the Internet's presence... it was a mess, really, though he certainly didn't have any big solutions in mind.
Derk_TheJerk |
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 4, 2022 1:13:15 GMT 9
Valentine | Rowlet (400 HP) | Noibat (150 HP) | Sneasel (150 HP)
Valentine poked around the drinks in the cooler for a moment before grabbing an iced tea, taking a few sips from the drink as she listened to Orion's plan. It sounded simple enough, but that could well be deceiving. And as the old saying went, the best-laid plans of mice and men...
Upon hearing Finn's statement, Valentine nodded along and added, "The Yanma might not make it easy for us, but that's why we came here ready to fight, right?"
Valentine was a little nervous, truth be told, though she tried not to let it seep into her voice. But this was her first ever raid, and she knew vaguely how easily such battles could go wrong, how many missteps could unfold even in a plan as simple and straightforward as this one... still, she was here, and she certainly wasn't backing out now, even if the idea of climbing straight up the spire put a pit in her stomach, special climbing equipment notwithstanding.
{Spoiler}{BREAKDOWN}ROWLET (400/400 HP) Active
NOIBAT (150/150 HP) Active
SNEASEL (150/150 HP) Active
Drinking iced tea. |
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 1, 2022 11:37:22 GMT 9
If there was any irritation left in Diva's voice, Valentine, at least, didn't notice it in the slightest.
"They do look similar, don't they? So small... maybe we'll get the same species, despite the odds! I asked for a Fairy-type at the Rookery, I believe..."
The grin on Valentine's face only grew wider as the other woman explained the simple mechanics behind egg hatching in the game. "Oh, that's great to hear! That should be easy enough then! Though I'm not sure what you mean about my goal... there isn't a Breeder class, is there? I don't know that I'd even want to breed Pokemon, one egg at a time is plenty for me."
Logan, for his part, still hadn't entirely made up his mind about what classes to pursue, which was probably why that mention went over his head. Charmer was on his radar, sure, but it was only one of a few nice options that appealed to him... and in the back of his mind, he could hear his classmates making fun of him for being a cutesy pink Fairy-type trainer, even though he knew better than to breathe a word about this game to his peers at school in the first place...
diva |
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 1, 2022 5:28:44 GMT 9
"Yeah, I, uh... don't get out a ton myself, and that's certainly one reason why." Was that too personal to add? But then, what was friendship if not sharing personal details about your life? But how much would Logan's parents freak out if they found out he'd shared too much with some rando on the Internet? Gah, life was confusing!
"And technology certainly does make a big difference, both here..." Valentine did her best to show with a pointed head nod that she was indicating the in-game user interface that functioned like a built-in GPS, among many other functions. "And, y'know, elsewhere. Hard to image life without all this stuff, even though it wasn't even that long ago, really, y'know?"
Derk_TheJerk |
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 1, 2022 5:00:06 GMT 9
A Raid, huh? Open to everyone, apparently, or else Valentine doubted she'd have gotten an invite... she didn't know this guy from a hole in the wall, for starters, though his initial message certainly left an impression. Plus, no way someone as new to the game as her would get an invite if they weren't being handed out left and right.
On the one hand, raiding should've been the farthest thing from Valentine's mind right now. She'd just gotten back from another Shrine visit after almost whiting out at the hands of a wild Pokemon, after all. She could barely leave Briarbane without being put at risk, let alone take on a Raid at her level.
And yet... she'd been too new to join in the Noonlight Raid, but she envied the raiders the fun they had clearly had, and the fancy new class they had unlocked through... through the power of gay love, was it? (Never mind all that.) And if she was going to get to know other people around here--which she did, she really did want to get to make more friends--well, raiding was certainly one way to make new friends, finding new bonds strengthened by fighting alongside one another...
Valentine left it up to her Pokemon, in the end.
"What do you all say?"
A flurry of cheers, cries, and other ecstatic noises came back in response, and Valentine smiled, the decision made for her, at least in her own mind.
"Alright then... Nova, of course, you're coming along. And Puff, too." It was handy that her first two Pokemon caught were both Flying-type, and thus well able to take on the swarm of bugs that promised to attack them in this Raid. "And last but not least..."
Valentine's eyes circled her remaining team members before pointing at the newest one, the one that had sent her running to the Shrine recently in the first place, one so new she hadn't even named the Pokemon yet.
"You there, Sneasel. How do you feel about the name Grim? And about coming along with me?"
"Sounds like a plan!"
Valentine: Gardener Class Rowlet (Tank), Puff (Support), Sneasel (Sweeper) |
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 1, 2022 4:12:34 GMT 9
Another day, another shrine visit...
At least it was a new shrine this time, and from an encounter with a wild Pokemon in a new area, too. Having to navigate from shrine to shrine upon getting injured was certainly one way for Valentine to learn her way around the UNOVR map...
And at least she hadn't actually whited out yet. She'd come darned close a few times now, but every time some kind stranger had intervened and saved her from the worst happening. She wasn't on the realistic pain setting (she worried a bit that that was wussing out, but she figured there was no reason to put up with too much pain from something that was just a game, something that was supposed to be fun), but still, fainting wouldn't be any fun. But she couldn't rely on some kindly stranger to save her at the last minute every time.
As Valentine closed her eyes, her wordless prayer to the shrine was not just for the healing that she knew would come her way, but also for whatever Legendary Pokemon watched over the Shrine to help her grow stronger, to get to a point where she could fend for herself at last.
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 1, 2022 4:01:58 GMT 9
Valentine... could use to get a bit more of that confidence for herself, truth be told, whether it came through getting better at the game bit by bit or through some complicated self-image improvement shenanigans. But she wasn't going to outright say as much, even if she might be gawking at the stranger's smooth optimism.
"I guess we do indeed have this then!" Valentine said with a smile as the Sneasel went down, though she was pretty sure that her own new Pokemon's weak embers hadn't done the majority of the work in all reality, so she herself barely deserved to be taking any credit for it.
"And I appreciate your help. It may be a little Pokemon, but then, so are all of mine right about now!" Wait, had that comment even been meant for her, or for the stranger's Charcadet? Whatever, she was making light of it, it should be fine. Valentine's smile wasn't even all faked; it was easier to make jokes now that she wasn't in constant fear of whiting out, after all.
Tuesday |
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 1, 2022 2:18:07 GMT 9
Valentine was very, very grateful that the woman with cat ears had come seemingly out of nowhere to give her a hand with this battle. Who knew that Sneasel could hit this hard?
Come to think of it, first she struggled with that Purrloin she'd now caught, and now this Sneasel... maybe it was something about wild Dark-types packing an extra punch? It would kind of make sense... though having only fought two of them so far, it was hard to be sure...
Valentine turned towards the other woman with a shaky smile. "Thanks for the help. Rory, add some more embers of your own, would you? We've got to be close to finishing it off by now."
That last part was less based on any actual evidence than on wishful thinking on Valentine's part, but hey, it never hurt to be optimistic, right?
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 1, 2022 1:17:44 GMT 9
A glint of light, a flash of darkness, and the rustling proved to be a wild Pokemon after all, a Sneasel. Interesting little guys, they were... and Valentine wasn't opposed to having one on her team, if only she could catch it first...
Though her team was less than ideal for the battle that had to proceed. Nova and Puff were both doubly weak to Ice, Doctor Bones was weak to it as well... good thing she still had that Litleo she'd gotten from the Tower of Cats! Seems like fighting Mew was paying off after all, even if it had hurt her heart to attack such a cute Pokemon in the first place.
"Rory, use Ember!"
This time, as the Litleo let out a breath of fire, the light that surrounded the area was no mere fairy light or will-o-the-wisp, no eerie glow working to entrap her. No, this patch of light was on her side.
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Dec 1, 2022 0:47:31 GMT 9
There was a small light shimmering in the distance now, but Valentine wasn't sure if it was real. This place was known for fairy lights and will-o-the-wisps and such, after all. She was probably better off not following it, not getting her hopes up...
...but then she heard a noise, a rustling of leaves that might have just been the wind playing tricks on her but might have been the call of a wild Pokemon just waiting to be found, and Valentine gave up any pretense of being cautious and headed straight for the source of the noise, which proved to be in the same direction as that eerie glow...
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Nov 30, 2022 23:34:04 GMT 9
Valentine had never been to the Misty Timberland before, but now that she was in the middle of the woods, she wondered if she should have waited for a day that was less gloomy out. Though it might not have mattered, really, as what little sunlight there was peeking out through the clouds that dominated the sky today was mostly being blocked by the trees that towered far over her head. In a place this dark and foggy, though, Valentine would gladly take whatever little bit of light she could get.
Valentine shivered as a sudden breeze flew through the trees; yup, today was probably not the best day to check this place out, but she was here now nonetheless, and Valentine was dedicated to making the most of it just the same.
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Nov 30, 2022 7:22:26 GMT 9
A Pokemon cuter than Mew, huh? Valentine frowned a little (more of a pout, really) as she considered that prompt and its implications. Valentine was a fan of Mew, really, loved how a little pink puffball like it was one of the strongest and most versatile Pokemon out there, and she did think it was pretty cute on top of all that, too... and that prompt was so subjective! Usually these prompts were a bit more straightforward, either you qualified or you didn't, but how was she supposed to come up with an objective decision here?
Nova was pretty cute, too, but was the Rowlet really cuter than Mew, with those big eyes and pink cat face? Valentine wasn't sure, and the part of her that wanted to say Rowlet was cuter might have just been a combination of self-interest and personal bias towards her starter Pokemon. Puff, Kitkat, Rory, they were all fairly cute Pokemon too, but cuter than Mew? Who was to say? Not Valentine, that was for sure...
Then Valentine thought of the latest addition to her team, a Mystery Gift from the faraway continent of Paldea, and that frown on her face quickly turned into a wicked grin as she loosed her Paldean Wooper from his Poke Ball.
"Doctor Bones! Hit it with everything you've got!"
The Wooper followed through with an energetic Poison Tail, and Valentine's smile broke out into outright giggling at the sight of such a cute Pokemon attacking so fiercely.
[/blockquote][/div]
NEXT PROMPT: [Tower]jNbQ|3u71-100
1-100 |
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Valentine
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Soldier, Poet, King
Player Character
Posts: 186
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Logan Denman
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 60
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Post by Valentine on Nov 30, 2022 3:24:39 GMT 9
Valentine didn't so much as blink an eye at Derek's British-ism, but then, she'd heard weirder regionalisms over the years.
"Oh yeah, GPS is a godsend, I think I've got the path to and from school down but that's about it, and when we go travel I'm totally lost. Went down a random side street in Paris thinking I found a shortcut and my parents didn't find me for three hours."
Valentine smiled slightly at the memory. Logan had been fine in the end, he'd ended up ducking into an Internet cafe (which apparently they still had over in Europe, along with pay bathrooms) and frantically Googling directions back to the hotel, which was enough to ensure that a couple years down the line, the memory was a funny reminder of how directionally-challenged he was rather than anything even remotely traumatic.
He still didn't plan on taking a trip on his own until college, at least, though. God only knew how lost he'd wind up getting then.
Derk_TheJerk |
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