Set in the original region of Arciel, Legends Rising is a route-inspired, but not strictly route-based, Pokemon roleplay. Pick a faction, pick a class, and strike out into the wild to take on the League, master Contest coordination, research the mysteries of Pokemon and Arciel, and much, much more. Will you be a classic trainer? A criminal? A farmer? Choose your destiny on Legends Rising.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 15, 2020 1:44:18 GMT
So right now, procuring specimens, finding space to work with, and getting her hands on some equipment were the biggest stumbling blocks in Fayne's way. The bad news was that this was basically every step involved in the research process. Elliot hummed, trying to ponder her dilemma. "Don't a lot of new researchers work with more experienced and well-equipped ones to start things off, anyway?" Elliot asked. "I mean, if every researcher was supposed to start things from scratch, there'd barely be any researchers, right? I'm sure the professor can at least let you use her equipment and lab, if your research and hers line up. And if they don't, she probably has enough connections to know someone who might be more interested." See? Just because you were starting fresh didn't mean you were starting alone!
If only Elliot knew that.
That said, roadblock #1 was finding the apartment? Elliot did a double take in response. She was already standing on a street corner holding boxes! How could someone as put-together as Fayne have gotten those two steps backwards? "I . . . I hope you mean that was the first roadblock, not is," Elliot said. "Like. You at least have a place in mind, right? A deal kind of worked out? Anything that means you won't be living out of a suitcase in a Pokemon Center's spare room for a few days?"
After all, that was apparently what Elliot was doing. "I mean, I was going to wi-" Elliot started, but the look in Fayne's eyes was enough to dissuade him from actually finishing that sentence. They had just started getting along! He didn't want her to get super angry at him again! "I was going to go from Pokemon Center to Pokemon Center, or rough it in a tent on the routes, until I did enough jobs and pulled together enough money to start looking for a more permanent place, you know? And I mean, sure. I don't have luggage. But I've got quite a bit packed in this bag, or at least enough to get started." Would it have been smarter to bring a full-on suitcase? Maybe. But Elliot was already hurting for spare hands, so his remaining ones were somewhat tied.
"Besides, that's part of why Centers offer lodging in the first place, right? Kinda hard to travel across the land, searching far and wide, when "far and wide" is, like, a few hours away from your home at most," Elliot pointed out. "I know it's not ideal. Especially not for the long term. Especially especially when I find something worth committing to full time, and can't afford to just wander around with no plan. But . . . when you're starting from Square 1, you gotta be ready to knuckle down and get through those hard parts.
Who knows? Maybe I'll end up finding my way sooner rather than later!" Oh, kid. If only you knew how much was waiting for you in your future.
Post by Fayne Abernathy on May 15, 2020 20:03:48 GMT
Fayne's eyes narrowed into angry slits when Elliot questioned her plan... or lack thereof. "I wanted to check out my options in person," she snapped. Whether she spoke the truth remained to be seen, and at this point, she wasn't going to admit that she had been overeager about coming to Arciel and had neglected making any plans before hopping on the ferry. Heck, she hadn't even taken the time to contact a taxi unless well after she'd stopped to converse with Elliot. She might have had grand plans for the far future, but that didn't mean that she knew what tomorrow or even what that very evening had in store. "I mean, I was thinking of crashing at a motel, but maybe staying at a Pokecenter would be best. Financially, at least." Big city Pokemon Centers tended to have cramped quarters, public restrooms, and less than ideal food options. But it was cheap, if not completely free, and it would be only be temporary.
But how long would she be looking for a place and would she really want to put up with living out of a Pokecenter for days or weeks? Then again, the alternative was pouring more money into a motel room. She was forced to reconsider the pros and cons, but she ultimately settled on her initial plan to find a motel or hotel that wouldn't completely drain her bank account. The idea of potentially having to share a bedroom with a stranger and the doorknobs probably not having locks turned her away from the idea. It wasn't that she feared for her own safety -- she knew she could take care of herself -- it was the idea that she'd be out all day exploring the city and looking for an apartment, and she'd have to leave her boxes and suitcases in the room with little to no insurance that people wouldn't snoop or steal. "I don't know. Pokecenters are fine and all. They're good rest stops, but..." Fayne's voice began to wander.
There were too many cons to elaborate on right now, so she instead reiterated what she'd already said, "It's a good rest stop." She hoped her words would drive home the fact that she wasn't looking to stay at a rest stop but instead something more stable and secure, like a hotel or motel room. When Elliot explained that he planned on staying at the Pokecenter for a while to clean up before getting his starter and hitting the road, camping and staying at centers along the way, Fayne's body relaxed somewhat. Her clenched jaw and tense shoulders eased up, and the glare she once wore on her face melted away. She was able to dish out criticism with ease, but when she was the one receiving feedback, she grew defensive and somewhat hostile. "Seems we're both just trying to find our footing here. It's a new experience for both of us," she said with a slight nod. "We're both young and we're bound to make mistakes. Where we'll sleep for the night is just the first roadblock of many." There was no longer acidity in her voice. Instead, she sounded inspired and hopeful!
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 21, 2020 1:43:15 GMT
"Well, yeah, I can get that! But usually you do that on a trip or something, right? Not with all your bags in hand. I mean, what happens if there aren't any open places? O-or if you can't afford one, and need to find a roommate on short notice?" The stammer started to slip back into his voice as Fayne's eyes narrowed into furious slits, but he wasn't going to let himself be silenced this time. Even as he shrank away, he looked towards her. "I'm just worried, that's all. You're going to be okay, right?" At least his words were coming from a place of concern, not one of judgment! He could only hope that'd smooth things over on his end.
Especially when Fayne had the same complaints on his own plan. She wanted a stable arrangement, yet she hadn't even put those first roots down yet. Elliot might've been flinging himself into an unstable situation, but it was an unstable situation he was intentionally getting himself into. Fayne was so much more structured, so much more organized, and so much less happy when things didn't go as planned. How would she react to having a few doors closed in her face? Would she be able to take it? Would she even be able to get home, if everything went wrong?
Briefly, he considered offering Fayne a place to stay if he was able to find one before she did. However, with how low the girl's opinion of Elliot seemed, he was fairly certain she'd take it as an insult and remove his kidneys.
That said, her voice was starting to shore up some. Maybe she wasn't as angry as he thought. Maybe she was just working through the answer some, and he mistook her focus for being pissed. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right," he said. "We're both gonna land on our feet. Even if we hit some stumbles along the way, we're gonna be on the way to greatness in no time!
Which way are you thinking of heading, once the journey gets going?"
Post by Fayne Abernathy on May 21, 2020 17:49:19 GMT
Fortunately for everyone involved, Elliot didn't voice any additional concerns or judgements he had regarding Fayne's current predicament. If he had, an argument or at least a severe case of cold shoulder would've been the only thing he got in return. The young researcher never claimed to be perfect, but if anyone had said anything regarding her poor preparations, she likely wouldn't have reacted very appropriately. It wasn't like she wouldn't have a place to stay for the night. There were plenty of Pokecenters, and who ever heard of a center with no vacancy? They had cots and sleeping bags for worst case scenarios, after all. It just meant that things would be awkward and less than ideal until she did eventually find an apartment to move into. Even when Elliot asked if she'd be alright, Fayne continued to glare, not answering and not sparing his emotions. It was none of his business, she concluded... even if she had been the one to bring it up.
Still, she couldn't stay mad at him. No one liked being told they were wrong or had been ignorant in their decision making, and goodness knew that had been exactly what she'd been doing to Elliot earlier in their conversation. They managed to move past it with some awkwardness when Fayne mentioned they would both have to overcome obstacles. It was her way of saying they'd both been unprepared in their own, unique ways, and they would both continue to make mistakes because neither had been on Pokemon adventures before. Such a sentiment made it feel like they were on an equal playing field and one novice trainer wasn't better than the other. Although she was still bothered by what Elliot now thought of her, Fayne said nothing else on the matter; she simply cast another glance at the road, impatiently waiting for the taxi that was due to arrive any minute now.
When Elliot asked where Fayne was planning on heading when she finally began her journey, he was met with a shrug. "I'm not very familiar with the region yet. I'll be honest, I've hardly even looked at a map." Her eyebrows knitted together as a silent warning for him not to say anything that could have been perceived as criticism. "Like I said, I came here for the mines, and if I remember correctly, Pine Town has lots of mines. But when I was looking up Professor Holly online, Ivy Town kept popping up. I guess it's a hub for research or something, so I might start there instead. I'm not totally sure yet." Fayne paused a moment as she considered returning the question, but she already knew the answer. He had no plans. He'd go wherever he felt like going. He had no plan.
All he knew for sure was that he was going to get an egg, so asking him questions about that would yield more diverse answers. It was an abrupt change of topic, and Fayne knew it, but there was no easy way to bridge the conversation. Not that she cared to do so anyway. "I know you don't know anything about your egg yet, but what type do you hope it is? Or is there a certain type you hope it's not?"
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Jun 3, 2020 0:04:51 GMT
"Those both seem like pretty good starting points," Elliot pointed out. "If it's all about research, Ivy might have better connections, resources, and maybe even a place to stay for you. But you seem like a really hands-on person, and I can't imagine you leaving your home and college just to go back to the books. So I'm pretty sure Pine's more suited to your interests. Though going to Pine before checking out what Ivy has to offer could be putting the cart before the horse . . . goodness, there are so many ways of going about this . . . " Having a plan was exhausting! This is why Elliot ran away from home before he could ramble himself into giving up. Now he just had to do or die. Much simpler. Much easier.
At the mention of the egg, Elliot immediately slipped into an answer. "Gr-" he started, but the word felt foreign in his mouth. He had to stop it before it came out, Sure, since he was just a boy, having a ground type like his dad and taking on the gyms by its side was his dream. Yet was that really what he wanted anymore? To just run a best-hits version of his father's journey? A father who was far less a part of his life in this day and age? A father who raised him with so much love, care, and affection, but could barely even think to spend the same effort on his beloved brother? He clenched his fist more tightly around his walking stick and let the word drop.
"Can't say I've really got anything I'm hoping for," he finally said, the stress of his indecision rolling off of his back. "I mean. Half the fun of this is the mystery anyway, right? It'd be killing the point if I came in with a bunch of hopes already. Then I'd just be kinda bummed I didn't get my choice. I mean, a Pokemon from Hoenn'd be nice, maybe. It'd help this all feel like home. But that's really all I can think of.
I know you mentioned fire types. If you do get your #1 pick, are you going right for Flareon? Or would you want to keep Eevee an Eevee while you two do your research?"
Post by Fayne Abernathy on Jun 9, 2020 19:30:13 GMT
Knowing that Elliot was struggling to figure out what Fayne ought to do first in her journey just as much as she had came as something of a relief. Both Pine Town and Ivy Town had things to offer for a novice petrologist, but Elliot ultimately hit the nail on the head by stating, "I can't imagine you leaving your home and college just to go back to the books." That was a big reason why she was thinking of heading south first, to have the opportunity to do hands-on field work. Then again, Pine Town was a mining town and that meant they probably didn't have much research equipment. She'd have to gather samples then take them to back to Birch City to use Professor Holly's equipment. Ideally, though, she'd be able to take the samples to Ivy Town where there were more research opportunities. Perhaps she ought to head north first then, find a research team in Ivy Town, then bring some gear down to Pine Town afterwards. Neither option seemed like the "wrong" one, but she'd still have to make a decision eventually. Perhaps Professor Holly could point her in the right direction.
In response to the egg question, Elliot replied with a growl or grunt... or what Fayne perceived to be one. She lifted an eyebrow and cocked her head to one side in confusion and curiosity, though she said nothing. Instead, she remained silent and waited for the boy to answer. His response was surprisingly grim. He didn't have anything to hope for? Fayne's jaw clenched and her shoulders stiffened, but when she saw Elliot breath a sigh of relief, her body instantly relaxed again. He explained that half the fun was not knowing, and if he got his hopes up about receiving a certain type then it would just set him up for disappointment if he didn't get that type. Fayne pressed her lips together and nodded. He had a fair point. And yet, he did say that getting one from Hoenn would be nice because it would remind him of his childhood, a sentiment that the young researcher did not share. Sure, a Skarmory, Magnemite, or Porygon would be nice, but she'd seen plenty of them over the course of her life and she preferred something a bit more mammalian.
It was Elliot's turn to ask a question, and he inquired about what Fayne would do if she had a Eevee. He wondered if she'd keep it an Eevee for research or if she'd evolve it to a Flareon because she liked fire types. "It really depends on what it wants. I mean, I'll need Eevees who are willing to evolve so I can study the levels of radiation required to make evolution possible, but I'm not in the business of testing on Pokemon who are against transformation." She paused before continuing. "A Flareon would be nice, but there are a number of things to consider. Party balancing, the Eevee's unique personality, their preferences..." She was starting to sound like a radical Pokemon rights activist. "I'm going to have a whole party of Eevee and Eevee evolutions before you know it," she laughed.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Jun 12, 2020 0:56:48 GMT
Elliot couldn't help but laugh along with the idea. "You've got a point there! If there's any Pokemon you could make a whole team out of, it's Eevee," he admitted. "And even if your Eevee's not into the form you were hoping for, I'm sure you could end up with every kind down the line.
You know. If you think you can handle an entire house full of Eevees." Now that was a mental image! That'd be, what? Nine Eevees, assuming no repeats? That'd be enough to make up a team and a half! And with Fayne probably wanting to study them all at once to compare what they're like, her lab would probably be all full up! Fayne certainly didn't seem like the crazy cat lady type, but anything was possible, right?
"Honestly, the whole idea of evolution's kinda wild, huh?" Elliot asked. "Like. Not even just stones. But the fact that a Pokemon and a trainer can agree not to evolve, even naturally. Isn't that so cool? Like, imagine if you knew you had a growth spurt coming up, and you had the option of just going 'mm, no thanks, I'm good.' Could you even imagine making that choice? What the heck would you even say to it?"
At this point, these rambles were getting increasingly hypothetical and strange. But, considering any prospective Pokemon Fayne recruited could very well face that dilemma, was it even that far-fetched? Even a Metapod or a Magikarp could choose to live its life in such a form!
Post by Fayne Abernathy on Jun 30, 2020 19:20:53 GMT
It's true. Fayne wasn't the standard image of a "crazy cat lady," but she had to admit that she loved the idea of having a house full of Eevees and Eevee evolutions. It could only be made better with some fire and dragon types mixed in too. She could see it now, all her Pokemon running around in the field out back of her private lab where she and a team of hand-selected researchers studied evolution stones and evolution radiation. Her eyes practically sparkled at the mental image. That would be the dream, but it was currently just a goal to work toward. After all, she didn't even have a starting Pokemon yet. She was still a long way away from making that a reality. One step at a time, she told herself.
"No, yeah. You've got a point," Fayne said with a slight smirk when Elliot compared evolving to having growth spurts. It wasn't the same, but the metaphor was as good as any. "If it was as easy as all that, though, I don't think Everstones would be as popular as they are. Stopping evolution can't be easy on the Pokemon. After all, it's their bodies' way of protecting itself by getting stronger and adapting. Their bodies are trying hard to make it happen." She shifted her weight. "For instance, Eevees living in a frozen wasteland will evolve into Glaceon to better survive the cold. If the Eevee stopped its own evolution because it's attached to its form then... well, it'd get what it wanted but it'd still struggle to stay warm." She paused a moment before finally adding, "But I guess it's different when they have a trainer. It's not so life-and-death anymore, you know? They have the comfort of Pokeballs, PCs, and homes."
TAG ▸Elliot Sunderland NOTES ▸ I was so distracted while writing this. Hopefully it's okay, though!
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
"Hey mom, I wrote you some soft songs. And tell dad I'm just fine. We had to choose, we made our moves, and now we gotta go." - ♪