Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 29, 2022 4:07:28 GMT 9
Genesis had a mostly-fake smile plastered on his face. He was glad that his initial foray into the Steppes had gone as well as it had, and that he was getting back out there searching for Pokemon, but... well, for someone who liked to think of himself as a lone wolf, Genesis sure was associating with people a lot.
And it wasn't as though he'd had to step in and offer that girl another trip to the Steppes after they'd both healed up, he just... had felt bad about it, somehow? Guilty, even though he had every reason to catch a spawn that he'd been hunting in the first place, especially when he hadn't been expecting even one person to join in the hunt, let alone two?
Whatever. It would all work out somehow. Maybe they really would find her another Ponyta, or maybe they'd find something new and exciting to catch in the Steppes instead. Heck, Genesis wouldn't be entirely opposed to getting a second Ponyta for their own, not with how surprisingly useful that cutesy Galar form could be...
"Don't worry too much. We all have to start somewhere, right? And I'm still pretty weak myself, honestly, but at least now we can be weak together." Genesis definitely wasn't happy about being a weakling either, but that's just what he got for not having joined in the fun earlier. The only way out now was through.
Maxine Mayfield
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 29, 2022 3:38:54 GMT 9
So... shrines, huh? Interesting lore for a healing mechanism, and not especially up Genesis' alley, but hey, he'd do what he had to to get healed.
"What kind of Pokemon is this shrine even for?" The words were spoken for their own benefit rather than for anyone to overhear them, and Genesis wasn't really expecting an answer as he paced back and forth, uncertain if there was something special he needed to be doing, some special way to word his request for the maximum possible benefit.
"Anyway, I got pretty banged up back there, so I could use a little healing right now, whoever it is that listens to this stuff. Please and thank you and all that."
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 29, 2022 3:19:53 GMT 9
Claiming Greavard and Hatenna!
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 29, 2022 0:20:52 GMT 9
Genesis had not been planning on getting assistance from any passersby, and he didn't entirely like the stranger's blunt tone and wicked grin, but he was at least self-aware enough to realize that given how new he was to all this battling stuff, he could use whatever help he could get.
"Not a problem." Genesis' tone was blunt as well, and a bit cold, though that was only partially intentional on his part. He made himself smile a bit as he added, "Two Water-types are better than one, after all."
It was a trite saying, but true nonetheless in this situation. With Arecibo letting loose another Bubble and the Totodile spraying a Water Gun in the air, not only was the wild Ponyta clearly outnumbered and overpowered, but the beauty of water glinting in the air amidst the strange lighting of the Steppes was increased at least twofold. Had that been properly studied before? Perhaps Genesis had another research subject on his hands...
King
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 28, 2022 11:38:17 GMT 9
There! That glint in the light, those hoofprints in the dirt... yes, it was a Ponyta in the flesh, tucked behind one of the iron spires that towered over the landscape of the Steppes.
Genesis took a few careful steps closer and let Arecibo out of his Poke Ball, having previously kept the Froakie inside due to not wanting the electricity that permeated the air here to harm the Water-type. A smile formed on Genesis' face as he realized that, while the Froakie's typing wasn't ideal for much of the Steppes, it would be perfect for taking down this wild Ponyta.
"Arecibo, use Bubble!"
The bubbles of water that Arecibo let out had a strange sort of beauty in the dim light of the Steppes, reflecting what light there was to be found there in glints of bright color.
King
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 28, 2022 11:08:40 GMT 9
That noise! Was it a wild Pokemon, or just the breeze blowing through the Steppes, or a distant roar of thunder? It was hard to tell, short as it had been, so Genesis turned every which way, observing their surroundings even more closely in the hopes of finding the source of the sound.
"Hello? He wasn't expecting anybody to return his cry, not really, but Genesis figured if it was a wild Pokemon, it might react to the sound of his voice if nothing else and reveal whatever hiding spot it was using now. And who knows, maybe it would be a person after all. Even lone wolves like him would encounter other people now and then, after all, even if they weren't exactly seeking out such opportunities.
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 28, 2022 6:12:45 GMT 9
Genesis has to think about his response for a moment, trying to think of a fancy description but having to admit defeat in the end.
"I guess we're just... two wolves, then. Plain and simple."
The birds keep heading in the same direction, with no reaction to the thunder audible from above, or from the... unusual glitch that suddenly took over the entire flock as if it were a single entity. It was hard to describe what was wrong with the birds now, how to convey the strangeness that took over their entire bodies, colors and shapes warping in ways that should not be... wrong was definitely a good way to put it. Genesis rubbed their eyes in the hopes that the action might make the vision before them settle into a more sensible form, but to no avail. Then they pointed at the birds and said in an uncertain tone... "Do you... see that?" It was an honest question. Genesis wasn't entirely certain that it wasn't him that had broken, here, rather than the world around him.
Finnegan Fjord
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 26, 2022 1:44:54 GMT 9
Coming to the Steppes, the third and final route discovered so far with the strong wild Pokemon befitting that status, with only one Pokemon in hand, hoping to catch another, was probably not Genesis' wisest move ever. Quite the contrary, in fact. But they were already in the area, and the wild Pokemon in the area were fascinating sorts, exactly the type of Pokemon that Genesis hoped to catch for further study down the line.
Besides, what was life without a little bit of risk now and then?
The electricity crackling through the air was enough to get Genesis buzzing as they paced back and forth and looked all around them in the hopes of spying a wild Pokemon that would soon become their own. It was only a matter of time...
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 25, 2022 10:24:18 GMT 9
Shiloh, at least, knew that Finn's initial question wasn't meant to be taken seriously, but even so, the temptation to over-analyze it proved too much to resist.
"I'd think a pack would need more than two members. Maybe if we could find a third lone wolf to join us, then we might qualify..."
As for the second question, Genesis just gave a distracted shake of the head in response, their eyes turned upwards as they focused more on the birds than on their conversation.
Honestly, the horror movie parallels hadn't even crossed their mind. Sure, they knew there was risk involved in following them, they knew the birds might turn on them, but they were stuck in the mindset of a naturalist, where the birds' unusual actions were a fascinating natural phenomenon that deserved to be observed rather than an ominous sign best avoided at all costs. Perhaps this would prove to be mere folly on their part, but only time would tell.
As such, Genesis didn't hesitate in the slightest, though they did vaguely note how the birds had slowed along with their own movement. Perhaps the birds were watching them as much as they were watching the birds... what a fascinating possibility...
Finnegan Fjord
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 22, 2022 0:51:02 GMT 9
Genesis... hadn't been out to the Steppes that much yet, truth be told. In fact, this was his first time visiting the area, though he hoped it would be the first of many such visits. But he felt a little awkward about actually admitting as much to somebody who was apparently a regular in the area, so he skirted around the issue instead.
"I don't know what it is, but something is definitely up with them. Worth investigating, at least."
At the mention by his conversation partner--"Finnegan Fjord", according to the name pop-up, a name that made Shiloh smile a little and remember some of her more fanciful attempts at unisex names upon discovering that she was nonbinary--of being a lone wolf, Genesis nodded appreciatively.
"I understand. I tend to be a lone wolf myself, but there is something to be said for strength in numbers when a situation can get dicey." Genesis returned Finn's smirk with one of his own and added, "I'll try not to slow you down too much."
Finnegan Fjord
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 17, 2022 11:24:36 GMT 9
Genesis wasn't afraid of exploring the world around them, not in the slightest bit. It was something they were used to at this point. They were used to the aftermath of a long exploration session, too--clothes covered in dirt and grime, patching up their new set of scrapes and bruises, needing a shower something fierce...
What was new to them, however, was dealing with how roaming far and wide would affect their Pokemon.
"You're pretty filthy, Arecibo, you know that?"
"I could say the same about you."
Genesis let out a soft laugh at that one. "You're not wrong, but showering's on my agenda for later tonight. You, on the other hand, need to get clean now, before you track that filth inside."
"I could just go back in my Poke Ball if that's your concern..."
"Bath time. Now."
Setting up the bath didn't take long, but Genesis quickly found out the hard way that when a Pokemon didn't want to go in the bath, getting them in there could be quite the struggle.
At least being a Swimmer meant that Genesis didn't end the day soaking wet because of this escapade... though they couldn't say the same about the bathroom floor...
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 17, 2022 11:10:26 GMT 9
The Steppes were as good a place for research as any, Genesis figured, with that strange sort of magnetism that seemed to permeate the entire area, generating all sorts of unusual effects in the process. Plus, Genesis still needed to get out there and get some more Pokemon under their belt--even with a Froakie by their side, they knew they were a bit of a lone wolf without any other members of their team, and even though they didn't much mind being a loner, there were practical difficulties to only having a single Pokemon partner as well. Like how the Froakie in question wasn't even literally by his side right now, because Genesis didn't want the frog Pokemon getting zapped by the electricity that filled the air, especially not when they didn't have any other Pokemon to use as back-ups.
Today, though, what caught their attention wasn't the electricity of the Steppes, but the way that a flock of bird Pokemon was acting. Sure, it was normal enough for birds to flock together, to the point where it was the basis of a commonplace idiom, but these birds barely had any personal space, flying just far apart enough that they didn't hit each other when flapping their wings. Plus, if it wasn't just Genesis' imagination, something about this particular flock of birds seemed off--their movements strangely angular, sharp, aggressive.
Just as they were planning out how best to chase after the birds without risking the whole flock attacking them in the process, Genesis heard a man nearby, a stranger, remark to himself on the strange actions of the birds, and Genesis' calculations quickly shifted. Maybe the other man would know more about the situation... or at least provide a good shield if the birds' aggression did turn their way.
"You're watching the birds too, then? They really are acting oddly today, aren't they?" Genesis did their best to make eye contact with the stranger, though meeting others' eyes had never exactly been there forte. "Should we go see where they're going together?"
Finnegan Fjord
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 17, 2022 5:26:31 GMT 9
Genesis had a few reasons to turn to the Birchwild Grove after they decided that they would need more Pokemon to their name than just their new Froakie. It was Route 1, after all, the first route that most new Trainers in the area would start their exploration in, and with wild Pokemon fairly weak, to the point that even those coming straight from the Professor's Lab probably wouldn't end up too overwhelmed. But more than that, there were the stories about fairy rings, about the fairies who were said to haunt those strange mushroom circles, about the odd effects that the Grove could have on people not prepared for otherworldly intervention.
Most of the fairy ring superstition was probably just that, of course. There was a perfectly natural explanation for mushrooms appearing in circles within the forest, even if it was largely ignored in favor of more fanciful explanations. But if even a small fraction of the stories were true, then there would be a lot left to learn from the Grove, notwithstanding its reputation as a sleepy starter location for new Trainers.
Genesis looked closely at the forest floor, searching for signs of either unusual mushroom placements or those who were said to reside in those mushroom circles... and was so focused on this search that it took them a moment to realize that the bush on the edge of the path had just caught fire.
They let out a short cry at the sight, embarrassingly enough, more out of being startled than anything else, but soon enough they regained their composure and stepped closer to the burning bush.
No Fire-types were visible in the vicinity of the bush, no lightning had struck, no flint or lighter was to be found nearby... was this a case of spontaneous combustion, then? That was one of the strange phenomena that had been noted in the Grove, though one that Genesis hadn't paid much attention to until it came to them rather than vice versa.
Genesis leaned in closer to the fire than was perhaps wise, but they didn't mind the stray embers landing on their skin. They had research to do here.
butterfly
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 16, 2022 5:53:56 GMT 9
"So, uh..."
Genesis wasn't good at this. "This" being connecting with his Pokemon. He'd never been the best at any of that stuff, really--socializing with people, hanging out with other people's Pokemon... but this was a Pokemon of his very own now, a partner that would be by his side through thick and thin, and they really needed to get to know each other, get closer to each other, get to a point where they could rely on each other when push comes to shove.
But how could they even start?
"...want some treats?"
"Sounds good."
Genesis noted darkly that his Froakie didn't sound especially enthusiastic about their little bonding moment either, didn't seem raring to go. Maybe that was for the best. At least they were already on the same wavelength, even if that wavelength is "how do I connect with this weird creature in front of me".
Genesis dug around in their pocket before opening their clenched fist in front of Arecibo to reveal a number of small, brightly-colored treats that they had bought just for this purpose.
"Do you have a favorite kind?"
Arecibo eyed the treats in Genesis' hand for a moment before responding. "Are the orange ones the spicy ones? I like spicy things."
"I wouldn't know, buddy, it's not like I've tasted one of these myself." Genesis let out a soft huff, but the grin on their face was building. "Maybe give an orange one a try, then, and report back?"
Quick as a whip, the Froakie grabbed an orange treat in his webbed hand and shoved it into his mouth, his eyes lighting up as he chewed it.
"Yeah, those are the spicy ones! I love them!"
"Alright, good to know. I'm sure there's more where that came from--or there will be if you play your cards right, anyway..."
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Genesis
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 158
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Shiloh Hayes
OOC Username: Haberdasher
Arena Points: 20
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Post by Genesis on Nov 16, 2022 5:19:50 GMT 9
A creepy new building that appeared seemingly out of nowhere overnight? Genesis was so there. Sure, it was something out of a horror movie, but horror movies had all kinds of fun impossible things going on, and so long as he could avoid becoming the victim of whatever the villain of this horror movie in the making was, there could be a lot to learn from investigating the ranch and learning all they could about the building.
In the dim afternoon light trickling in from behind the clouds, Genesis almost walked right past the other person near the ranch's entrance... though truth be told, that was less due to the poor lighting and more due to them being so busy thinking about what they might find inside the ranch that they weren't really paying attention to their surroundings.
Genesis shook his head as he tried to return his focus to the world around him. No use in ignoring reality for a bunch of idle daydreams.
"Hello there! Did you come here to check out the ranch as well?" Genesis made himself smile, though he didn't really feel like it. "Strange building, isn't it?"
Genesis wasn't the most social person, generally speaking, but they could see clearly enough how having another person there to help them along would be useful here. Strength in numbers, and all that. And after all, wasn't it always the ones who ran off on their own who died first in horror movies?
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