[Juni Savage]

“Ah, Groudamnit…” Juni winced as she looked at the bright white phone screen before her. Her bank account’s numbers stretched out across the top of it judgmentally. A slow groan escaped from her as she set the phone down on her chest and took in some slow, even breaths. This was fine. This was fine. It wasn’t like she wasn’t used to this. It wasn’t like she hadn’t expected this. Even when a post-doc’s salary was a little higher than a pre-doc’s, it wasn’t like she didn’t expect to struggle. But somehow, it made her embarrassed anyways. Just do what you always do, Juni. Just get a quick job, get paid, pay bills, and go back to regular life. This mantra repeated itself in her head a couple more times and only served to embarrass her more. 

Getting up, getting food, getting dressed, she waved Derby bye before heading out and down the streets to the ferry. Bass had more quick job opportunities than Ivy as far as she had seen, and right then, Juni didn’t need a lot, just needed it fast. So there she was riding the ferry with a few other people that early morning to get into Bass at a reasonable time. Stepping off the boat, she browed a few shops, asking who needed what, before finally selecting a Pokemon washing job. It seemed simple enough, and her beat up t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers could afford to get wet.

Stashing her coat in a locker offered to her, Juni walked into the washing room where….“Oh.... my Groudon….” Juni breathed as she stared up at the Gyarados, eyes huge, pupils small. Awkwardly, she adjusted her glasses. She should have asked what she was supposed to be washing. She should have asked. She should have asked. Ack she should have asked. 

---

Andrew Wynn , Words: 238 , _54a080xp_

Your posts are required to be at least 150 words in length to be considered a "post" for this job. You'll need to post at least three times per character to complete this job. Gyarados (very hard)

Reward: Gyarados would be 250 Pen; plus 1 level per your post for a Pokemon of your choice (max 5 levels per Pokemon per job). For each double of the minimum, receive an additional 100 Pen and 1 rare candy. Random events will also add more rewards.

[Andrew Wynn]

Another day, another pokemon to wash, it seemed. Andrew had taken up a habit of doing these jobs every so often, ever since he started staying with Levy and Elliot for the time he was here in Bass; and if he was honest, even washing pokemon was a messy job, it was an enjoyable job as well. He loved spending time with pokemon, he loved being able to get to know them - and getting to see a happy familiar face among the different beasties he helped wash up was a treat! It also helped that this job was also one that he was able to do on his own, typically; meaning that he didn't usually have to deal with socializing with people beyond picking up the job, which was always a relief for his anxiety.

It was a shame, then, that today would be a little bit different.

Already, seeing a Gyarados in the washing room was a surprise; Andrew nearly tripping over his own feet as he gawked a bit at the massive serpent. Even Inari and Larimar - the latter of whom was here to be his little helper - were both a bit startled, the duo letting out a squawk-like bark in unison! However... Seeing that there was another person in the room as well, Andrew couldn't help but stiffen; his anxiety already causing his gut to twist a little, at seeing that he wasn't going to be alone in this job.

It was only when Inari tugged lightly at the edge of his shirt that the young man would snap out of his daze, glancing back to the Gyarados, and... ".. R-right.." He'd murmur softly, setting his bag on a nearby chair at the edge of the room - which Inari curled up around the legs of - and slowly approaching the giant serpent. Maybe... Maybe if he just focused on the job, he won't even notice the other woman was here. Larimar, meanwhile, would hop along at his heels; not rolling like most spheal do, it seemed. The young Spheal was nervous about getting so close to such a massive pokemon, but... Larimar trusted that Andrew would, hopefully, know what he was doing...!

Knowing that typical Gyarados were quite moody and ornery pokemon, Andrew decided that - first things first - was to make a good impression on the massive beast. Taking in a deep breath to try and calm himself, he'd reach out with his aura; attempting to send soothing vibes about the room, to help keep the Gyarados calm. They were subtle - but hopefully, they'd be enough. Maintaining the channeling, Andrew offered the water-type a gentle smile; reaching up to carefully stroke along their side - so that they knew where he was.

"H-hey there..." He'd murmur to the Gyarados with a soft and gentle tone; trying to avoid stuttering or stammering too much, like he was prone to around other people. "Let's get you a-all washed up, uhm..." Briefly, he'd look the serpent up and down; wondering if letting the Gyarados have control of the pace would help set them in a better mood. Deciding that that was the safer route, he'd glance up to the Gyarados, and ask "Do you h-have any preferences, on where we start..?"

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WC: 538
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[yuukz]

Nothing happened!

All rolls were passed.

Andrew Wynn Juni Savage

For about a minute that felt like an eternity, the Gyrados stared at both of you... before seem to snort in a "well, looks like you're not half bad" way. Ornery as it is, the Gyrados lowered its head at each of you, trying to gauge you and your reaction more carefully before offering its tail. Whether this is a sign of trust, or just a test, no one really know... But at the very least it's not offended by your mere presence.

[Juni Savage]

The combined cries of other Pokemon jolted Juni from her brief stint of awe. Shaking her head and looking towards the smaller Pokemon, she noticed the human they were with. He looked… stiff, and Juni would immediately misinterpret this to be recognition of the Gyarados they were being asked to wash. “Yeah me too, kid,” Juni muttered back. In another situation, she might have introduced herself and said something more substantial, but right then, it was best to just wash this thing and be done….

First things first with whatever his name was talking to the Gyarados, Juni eyeballed the Gyarados as she slowly walked around to the wall with the various cleaning utensils and soaps to use. As she got over there, she started going through them, never quite turning her back entirely to the Gyarados or Andrew for that matter. Opening a few drawers and looking at a few things resting on the wall, though, Juni hummed.

Hmmm…Was this a pool brush? Juni squinted at the long pole ending in a wide mouth and bristles. Running her hand along the bristles, however, she found it was much softer than the traditional scraper brushes. If she had to guess, it was for large Pokemon like this. Grabbing two of them and a few bars of soap, she made her way around again watching the Gyarados offer its tail. Well, that was one place to start. “Here,” she offered one of the large brushes and a soap bar to the kid before walking around to get the faucet and the hose attached to it going. Water, brush, soap. That was probably enough.

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[Andrew Wynn]

Upon being presented the brush and soap, Andrew would jump a bit - glancing in the older woman's direction, and accepting the offered tools with a stiff nod and a nervous murmur "Ah... T..thank you..." Turning his attention back to the Gyarados and Larimar, Andrew would already be thinking as to how to handle this; trying to distract himself from the other person in the room. "Uhm... L-Larimar, can you get a couple of water guns going for me?" He'd request, extending the brush to the Spheal.

Larimar, knowing what Andrew wanted, would squeak in affirmative; first using a Water Gun to wet the brush, and then aiming a Water Gun up in the air, to let the droplets rain down on the Gyarados' tail! Sure, this also meant that Andrew was getting wet - but he didn't seem to mind it all that much; instead working on sudsing up the brush, so that he could start scrubbing down the Gyarados' tail!

(Larimar, meanwhile, would be monologuing in squeaks in the background about how useful he is, to which Inari would simply sigh and shake her head.)

Starting at the very end of the tail, Andrew would be very careful and gentle - being mindful of the fin at the very end of it, to make sure that he didn't accidentally hurt the Gyarados. Bit by bit, he'd slowly work his way up towards the main portion of the tail, scrubbing at the scales with the sudsed up brush. "How does this, u-uhm, feel..?" He'd ask the Gyarados with a gentle smile; hopeful that this was to the leviathan's liking. Whereas Juni just wanted to get this over with, Andrew somewhat hoped that he could get on the Gyarados' good side. Even an ornery pokemon like this Gyarados could be befriended, one way or another, right?

---

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[bone]

Nothing happened!

All rolls were passed.

Andrew Wynn Juni Savage

The fact that the Gyarados' gaping, fangorious maw and intense, pointed eyes are still on display may make this cleaning job intimidating, but it just seems to have a case of Resting Gyarados Face.  It sighs in relief as it rolls its tail back and forth, making sure you have access to every nook and cranny.

Ooh, are those some old fight scars?  Be careful!  One wrong move of the brush and this could hurt!

[Juni Savage]

Juni hesitated momentarily looking from the boy up to the Gyarados and back again. As the Gyarados seemed to otherwise relax, Juni did as well… marginally. She wouldn’t take her eyes off of it, but she wasn’t as afraid it would just start flailing about.

Grabbing the hose and walking around, Juni started a little further away from Andrew, kind of in the middle of the Gyarados. Holding the hose over and letting the water stream down the scales arch and drop down onto the scales, she sighed softly before twisting it around, filling the brush with water, and lathering in some soap as well. At least the soap smelled nice, kind of a soft and mild fragrance. She was never super fond of anything that was too strongly scented unless it was a candle, and even then it was hit and miss.

Once she was reasonably sure that was enough suds, Juni lifted the sweeper brush up and carefully started brushing the Gyarados’s now wet scales— trying not to brush too roughly or anything even as her hands and the brush itself by extension trembled a little.

---

Words: 200

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[Andrew Wynn]

As the Gyarados relaxed, Andrew couldn't help relaxing as well; continuing to scrub the brush over the mighty beast's scales. So far so good, he was past the more fragile fin portion of the tail and was now scrubbing away at the scales; smiling gently as the Gyarados carefully moved its tail back and forth, so that he could scrub every little bit of it. Larimar, meanwhile, would go to sit by Inari - not wanting to linger by the massive pokemon any longer than necessary.

As Andrew scrubbed along though, he'd soon note the presence of scars, and old looking ones at that. Andrew would be very mindful and careful of these spots; not wanting to scrub too hard and accidentally hurt the Gyarados. As he continued to wash the leviathan's tail though, he couldn't help but gently speak; a warm smile on his face. "Look at you..." He'd gently coo, starting to relax and half-forget that Juni was even here. "Such a big guy... I bet you, uhm, have a lot of stories behind those scars..."

If only a Gyarados could talk - he'd love to spend time learning more about the sorts of battles it must've gotten into, to earn these scars. Without any way for them to share in its stories though, Andrew could only continue to scrub along; watching to make sure that the Gyarados was (hopefully) still in a good mood all the while.

---

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[Jenesis]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Juni Savage

With your trembling fingers, the only effect the brush has on the Gyarados is to tickle it. It starts snorting uncontrollably and slapping its tail up and down in the water, splashing it all over you.

Nothing happened!

All rolls were passed.

Andrew Wynn

You manage to avoid scrubbing any of the Gyarados's scars. Good job.

[Juni Savage]

Juni was vaguely aware of the boy talking to the Gyarados, but right then, most of her focus and attention was on not freaking out. She was fine. She was fine. It wasn’t like she bought in to all the fear mongering that came with Gyarados (Despite knowing what they could do and oh yeah she heard they really could start a series of tornados and tsunamis??? Lord Groudon…) She was fi—

Splash.

So lost in her own concentration was Juni that she hadn’t even registered the Gyarados’s snorting as anything other than intimidation. She wouldn’t grasp that its wriggling was due to ticklishness. Instead, the splash of water (and the subsequent smaller splashes) would come as a complete shock, and a sharp yelp escaped from her as she backed up, slipped, and immediately hit the cool tiles of the washroom butt first. Ow. Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow. “OW,” Juni practically yelled if only to avoid swearing in front of what she registered as a child. "Son of a.... bagal...!!!" 

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Words: 179
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[Andrew Wynn]

So far so good - Andrew would let out a sigh of relief, as he managed to suds up the tail proper without irritating any of the Gyarados' scars. Glancing over the Gyarados' body, he was about to gauge where to go next, but...

... Before he knew it, the Gyarados would suddenly begin to laugh; snorting repeatedly, and slapping its tail in the water; splashing him on top of splashing Juni! Yelping a little in surprise, the young man would take a step back and cover his face to avoid the sudsy water getting in his eyes - though he wouldn't slip the same way Juni did; her own yelled 'ow' making him jump yet again..!

Growing anxious once more, Andrew would carefully peek around the Gyarados as he begun to scrub at the spots that Juni missed. First, he'd murmur to her a shy and gentle "A... are you, uhm, o-okay...?" However, when Juni proceeded to exclaim 'son of a bagal', Andrew couldn't help but make a bewildered expression; . "B... Bagal...?"

Was that even a word? It sounded like 'bagel', but...

---

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[Jenesis]

Nothing happened!

All rolls were passed.

Juni Savage & Andrew Wynn

Fortunately, after its snorting fit of laughter, the Gyarados has managed to calm down.

One of the dockworkers, having heard the shouting, runs in and asks if anyone is injured. Upon seeing that it's just water, they leave you alone again.

[Juni Savage]

Eyes scrunched together, Juni took in some slow, deep breaths. She was fine. She was fine. If she’d hit her back or her head, she would not be but. But she was fine. This was fine. It could be worse. As that tiny shy voice hit her ears, Juni glanced sideways to Andrew again and stared at him with a look that just read: ‘yeah maybe not’. “Better than bitch,” she answered his bewildered question before slapping a hand over her mouth and then raising it to cover her brow and eyes. “Oh Groudamnit….” Well. She’d tried.

Her attention shifted to some dock workers who were quick to come over. Once the dock workers were sure it was just water, they helped Juni up and asked if she needed anything. As much as she wanted to retort with something, Juni couldn’t actually find the words and decided to just be grateful to them rather than snippy at them. She gave her thanks instead and grabbed the brush again and looking up at the Gyarados slowly. At least she felt a little less intimidated by it, somehow. Maybe knowing it was ticklish brought it down a few pegs in her fear notebook. 

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[Andrew Wynn]

As Juni, quite casually, cursed after having been trying so hard to be PG for Andrew, the young man would blink a bit owlishly, but... He wouldn't argue with her logic or point out that he wasn't a little kid, or that he's heard and read far worse on the online games he sometimes plays. It wasn't like this was a big deal for him anyways, and it probably didn't help that he lacked the confidence to speak up - even if had been a big deal for him - in the grand scheme of things.

He'd, instead, simply nod a bit stiffly; returning to work, and listening as one of the dockworkers came over to check on Juni, and to confirm that everything was okay. When the dockworker briefly asked him a couple of questions, Andrew would only quietly nod in response; eyes locked on the brush, as he continued scrubbing.

The middle and tail portions of the Gyarados appeared to be sufficiently sudsed up, in any case; and so Andrew would begin working his way towards the front end of the leviathan. Once this portion was nice and scrubbed, then it'd probably come time to rinse off the Gyarados; which he would enlist Larimar's help for, much like with before.

---

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[yuukz]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Juni Savage

Oh, look at that, your attempt to be PG-13 actually amuses the Gyarados as it made several snort/laughing sounds... Bad thing though? It's now deciding that while the first one is good enough at his job, you fall short to met its standard in washing, at least for the meantime. Immediately it blasted a small sized Hydro Pump at your face! Whether it hits your or not, it'll just laugh more, as if being a little kid who just found their antics humorous.

Nothing happened!

All rolls were passed.

Andrew Wynn

Barely passable,  but at least your'e not the one who the Gyarados sprayed with Hydro Cannon! The Gyarados tried to be unfazed, but it might enjoyed your thorough cleaning.