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 6, 2020 3:36:39 GMT
Elliot smiled at Andrew's thumbs up, returning it with one of his own. "Glad to hear!" he chirped, noting the amused yet patient nod Andrew gave towards the sleepy Reverb. "And, hey. We can totally wait for Reverb to get some more snooze time in. After all, not like we have any place we need to be-"
Elliot blinked. He paled. And then, in a panic, he dove for his backpack. Whatever he saw on the other end of the phone must have been bad, because it left Echo wailing and crumpling to the ground. "Oh god oh no oh crap," Elliot whimpered under his breath. He fumbled with his phone so much that he was practically juggling it the whole time. Nevertheless, he finally managed to get a secure grip on it, fingers flying at thirty miles an hour as he began texting up a storm. Sweat gathered at his brow, and with each second he kept muttering "Please go through, please go through . . ." By now Echo had recovered, teleporting to his side and gently setting a hand on his leg. All Elliot could bring himself to do was hold her closer, continuing to text up a storm with his free hand. He could text faster with one hand than many people could with two! It was equal parts impressive and terrifying.
Yet for the time being, with a knit brow, a guilty frown, and a heavy heart, Elliot's worries were waiting in limbo. He turned to Andrew, smiling sheepishly. "Actually, I think moving along might be a smart idea. I may've left someone at home a little bit worried about me," he admitted. How did his phone even get muted like that? He always made sure he had his notifications availabl-
Oh. Right. A lot of Pokemon had been playing with his phone recently.
Yeah, heading home ASAP sounded like a really good idea!
Andrew's smile would perk up a little more, as Elliot smiled back; visibly relaxed at the other trainer's response. Waiting around for Reverb didn't sound too bad; they could chill, take some time to wake up a little more, maybe fix up some breakfast... Kneeling down, he'd arrange a couple leaves to carefully tuck Reverb in - supposing that if they were gonna be here for awhile, that he'd make sure that the little Gothita was nice and comfy. He'd then go and retrieve his bag, looking around inside to see if there was anything that they could use for a nice and easy breakfast...
... Or, at least, that was until Elliot suddenly cut himself off, and began to pale. Andrew, initially, would be quite bewildered as he watched Elliot dive for the backpack and dig out his phone; this bewilderment only increasing at Echo's wailing and crumpling, and Elliot's panicked murmuring...! Slowly but surely, he'd near Elliot - briefly wondering whether he could use his aura, to try and help calm the young man down, but... Would that be too much? Would that be stepping over any boundaries? It was hard to say, exactly; and so Andrew only hoped that Elliot would be able to calm down soon...
Inari, visibly concerned, seemed to immediately go to Elliot's side; a gentle and inquiring whine escaping her, as she snuggled up to him, on the opposite side from Echo, in hopes that she'd be able to figure out how to calm him back down. Larimar, too, would tilt his head a little - making a soft squeak - though remained where he was, unsure of what exactly to do.
Thankfully though, Elliot's frenzied typing and worrying seemed to die down - the young man finally standing fully, and turning his attentions back to Andrew, to explain the situation. Andrew would be unable to help a slightly owlish blink, but nodded in understanding; figuring that it'd be best if they didn't worry this somebody, whoever they were, any longer. "I, uhm.." He'd glance down to Reverb - briefly wondering whether they should wake him up or not - before murmuring "... Maybe h-he could get s-some rest, in, uhm... In his p-pokeball..?"
It was as good of an idea as any, he figured...!
Regardless of how Elliot decided to handle Reverb though, Andrew would get straight to work helping pack things back up - so that they could head back on the road, as soon as possible.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 7, 2020 21:53:49 GMT
Elliot's focus was pretty much locked on his phone. If Andrew was hoping for more answers, he was going to have to wait for Elliot to finish. Echo looked towards him and Inari as they shot him worried looks, shrugging in an almost exaggerated fashion. The poor thing had no idea what had worked her trainer up so much! She whined a little as well before flopping against Elliot. Yet white she initially seemed content to faceplant against him, whining in despair, after a few seconds she began to quiet down.
Sure enough, the expression on Elliot's face was changing. While he was still deep in focus, his brow had softened, his eyes had relaxed, and his shocked gape had given way to a small, somewhat guilty frown. This, too, softened, a fear tears of relief gathering at Elliot's eyes as he allowed himself a fragile smile. One he was finished, he hugged the phone close to his chest. "I'm sorry, big sis. I love you," he whispered. A gentle sigh escaped his mouth, and with that the tension rolled right out of his shoulders. Slowly, his eyes fluttered back open, a calm setting over them. As if to show everything had been okay in the end, he gently stroked Inari's hair. "Thanks for worrying about me there."
He turned back to Andrew, his usual smile returning. "Okay! Good news, when I told her why I called, she said it was all okay. She even offered that if you need a place to stay, you can crash with her too!" Elliot said. "Levy's really the best. She's a total sweetheart, and way more of a dork than you'd expect. But I get it if you're not feeling up to meeting so many new people at once, let alone flat-out moving in with them for a while.
Still, if you're in ever in need of a place to say, I'll make sure to let her know, okay?" Gushing about his surrogate big sis meant Elliot's smile was brighter and more energetic than usual, but the patience and understanding behind his eyes never changed. "Still, even if we set everything straight, maybe I shouldn't take too long getting home. Sorry, Reverb, but I think you're gonna have to stop at 39 of those 40 winks." Elliot smiled at the Gothita, noting Andrew's suggestion. "Oh! Good idea. Let me give that a shot, Andrew," he said, taking Reverb's Pokeball and reaching his finger towards the recall button.
Before he could, Echo charged up, hoisting Reverb over her head. She toddled down the route without further ado, the Gothita managing to stay awake against all the odds. "I'm starting to wonder if I should even question this anymore," Elliot admitted. "But, hey. Whatever works for them works for them, right?" He turned to follow after Echo and Reverb, his Pokemon gathering to follow on his heels. "Guess that's our cue to get moving too, eh, Andrew?" he asked, tone warm with the slightest hint of cheekiness behind it.
That said, going fast didn't mean they were rushing through the day! It was beautiful out. The grass still shimmered with morning dew, the sky was still flush with the pink of the dawn, and the cries of drowsy Pokemon drifted through the air. How could he not enjoy the day, even if it needed to end so soon?
As Elliot began to slowly but surely relax, Andrew and the others would relax as well; relieved that there didn't seem to be anything hugely or immediately wrong. Inari in particular would rest her head on Elliot's knee, happily wagging her tails and tilting her head into the other trainer's touch as he stroked her head - briefly craning her neck, so that she could lick Elliot's palm in return. Once he was done petting her, Inari would stand up to briefly nuzzle Elliot - as if to say 'of course, I care about you.' in response - before trotting back over to Andrew's side.
As Elliot explained the situation to Andrew - albeit he was a little confused initially, due to Elliot (likely unintentionally) omitting some of the context, such as who 'she' was - the young man would eventually begin to nod in understanding as the puzzle pieces fell into place. So Levy was someone that Elliot's been staying with, as of late, and he had forgot to let her know where he was before? The notion of meeting another person was a little nervewracking, but... He'd still nod in response; supposing that having the option to be able to come and crash at her place would be nice. It was also, admittedly, quite endearing seeing just how bright and energetic Elliot seemed to get over Levy - he really did care about her, huh...?
In any case though, it seemed that the next plan in the works would be to start heading to Bass City posthaste; which Andrew was already on, helping pack up the camping equipment. Meanwhile though, would be Reverb - the question as to how they'd handle the sleepy Gothita, which Andrew had suggested to carry Reverb in his pokeball so that he could keep getting some shuteye. However.... It seemed that that wouldn't happen; for before Elliot could even recall or rouse Reverb, Echo would suddenly charge on in - hefting Reverb up, and toddling down the route...!
Andrew, watching the psychic duo, would be a little dumbfounded at first as to how Reverb was able to stay asleep despite everything; though... Elliot's slightly cheeky remark would get a gentle laugh out of the young man; nodding as he slung on his messenger bag, and followed after the assembled group; Inari and Larimar both at his heels. While he was, admittedly, still a little shy at the idea of going to a big bustling city like Bass City... There was a certain vibe in the air, a certain energy, that had him feeling excited and giddy to get a move on at the same time...!
And as they walked, it wasn't as though the day wasn't just as beautiful to greet them; the plants shimmering with morning dew clinging to every leaf and blade and grass, the sky cast in different shades of soft yellows and pinks - almost as though the coming dawn had set the sky ablaze - to pair with the soft blues of morning, and the calls of both nocturnal pokemon getting to sleep, and more diurnal pokemon starting to stir and awaken. Even if they couldn't enjoy the sights and sounds for long, it'd still be a little while longer before they hit Bass City, right? So why not take in the sights as they moved?
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 9, 2020 1:28:04 GMT
As Inari licked Elliot's palm he couldn't help but giggle. "You're a real good Pokemon, Inari," he said, giving one more ruffle of her hair for good measure. With his team's situation squared away, his peace made with Levy, and an exceptionally beautiful day outside, how could he not be happy? There was practically a skip in his step as he made his way down the route, and he giggled with delight as the spring breeze teased at his hair.
"Ever been outside like this, Andrew?" Elliot asked, turning back towards Andrew as he walked. For a second he actually started walking backwards while talking! A quick hitch in his steps, however, convinced him that this was an awful idea and he should stop. Nevertheless, he continued to peek over his shoulder as he walked, slowing his pace some. "Up so early, it's like the rest of the world hasn't even finished waking up yet? It might be a pain in the butt getting up that early, but, sheesh. It is so worth it.
Y'know. It's almost a shame we're heading to Bass instead of Cedar. The beaches at this time of the day are breathtaking." Did Andrew live close enough to the beaches to check them out like this? Heck, he was pretty pale looking. Could he even go out on the beach safely? Oh well. Andrew'd be able to speak for himself on that point. "Not that Bass isn't fantastic either, of course. Being right by the waterways, there are so many different sights and places to eat. It can be a little bit noisy at times, though, and even late at night the city doesn't sleep. It might be a bit of an adjustment at first, but there are quieter places to stay there, too. So it isn't all chaos.
Honestly, if the region outside of Birch and Ash is this cool, it just makes me even more excited to see the rest of it!"
Inari would respond to Elliot with a yip and a wag of her tail - pleased at the attention and praising, and happy that the young man was in a far better mood now. In fact, his mood was positively wonderful now, if the way that he was giggling with delight and skipping along was anything to imply...! Inari and Larimar couldn't help but pick up on this mood; the two bouncing alongside Andrew, as the lot of them made their way down the road.
As Elliot asked Andrew whether he'd been outside like this, up so early, well... The young man would be quiet, thinking it over and wondering back to the last time he's been up at this time of day. Though, a sheepish hue would soon cross over his face - prompting his cheeks to flush shyly - as the only time that came to mind was, well... "... I've... N-not been outside at t-this time; but I've, uhm.... B-been up at this time of day." That aforementioned sheepishness growing, if the nervous grin that Andrew and growing flush had was anything to imply, the young man would continue "B-but, well... U-usually, it's, uhm... Only during, uh, all-nighters."
Being unbound from any social obligations or responsibilities beyond keeping up on homeschooling and keeping up on chores, Andrew's sleep schedule, back home, tended to... Wander a little. And he also was prone to staying up when he gets carried away with something - be it a shiny new game, a sewing or craft project, or even studying or browsing the web...! Bless Inari though, for she tended to try hard to make sure he was at least getting enough sleep.
As Andrew listened to Elliot talk about Bass and Cedar though, he'd nod along quietly; not sure if he could comment, given that he hadn't been to Bass yet, so he wouldn't be able to compare the two to each other. Not to mention that he didn't typically go to the beach a lot, given his social anxiety causing him to stay cooped up at home more often than not. But... Glancing out over the horizon, in the direction of the beaches that ran along Route 2, he wondered; maybe he could stop by the beaches, when he started heading back south...?
... Yeah. That sounded nice.
And he couldn't help a nod of agreement at wanting to see the rest of Arciel; even with the ups and downs of yesterday, being able to travel alongside Elliot was... An experience, for sure. A refreshing experience.
Before long though, the tallest buildings of Bass City would begin to crest over the horizon and come into view; a sign that they were almost there. If they kept at this pace, they'd likely be able to reach the city before much longer...! Inari's ears and tails would perk a bit at seeing this; barking to Andrew, as though to inform him that she could see the city, as she ran ahead a short pace...!
Andrew, relaxed and endeared, would laugh gently; clicking his tongue to call Inari back, and bending down to ruffle her fur. The hustle and bustle of Bass City did seem a bit intimidating, but he felt... Pretty ready, overall, to face it head-on. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 10, 2020 18:41:35 GMT
Andrew might have been nervous about admitting this fact, but Elliot simply shot him an understanding smile. He may never have been up this early, but he was no stranger to getting carried away when he was into something! "Oh, goodness, I know that feeling," he admitted without a shred of embarrassment. "There was one time I was working on a cosplay and the details just weren't coming together right. I knew if I tried to sleep I'd just be thinking on it all night, so I forced myself to push through until it was all done. I'm not usually up that late, but I totally let myself get a little bit carried away on the weekends."
He sighed a little, stretching out his back as he looked up at the sun. "Of course, usually when I'm up this early it's to finish up some unfinished work, or catch a show I wouldn't want to miss otherwise. I've never been up this early just to go outside. But I think it's the kind of thing I could really get used to!" he chirped. Come to think of it, this was the most he had been outside since his leg injury, wasn't it? He was an active, sporty kid back then, but ever since the injury his interests took a shift towards the indoors. How much had he been missing out? Was it due to insecurity? Or had he simply lost his reason to go out? Maybe it was a combination of both, and the journey had given him both his reason and the strength to pursue it.
Every time he thought he had found everything he needed to thank Echo for, he always found something new. This little cutie really did change his life, didn't she?
Sure enough, the beautiful, clear skies were soon filled by the Bass City skyline. It was the most impressive one that Elliot had seen since Mauville, but this wasn't even the best view he had gotten of it! "I'm almost sad we didn't push through the night to get here," Elliot admitted. "The skyline might be beautiful at this time of the day, but trust me. It's nothing compared to seeing it at night. Seeing these buildings lit up like giant Christmas trees is really like nothing else. But, hey. The good thing about going on a journey is that you'll have plenty of chances to hunt for sights like that, right? Different times. Different weathers. Even different days entirely! Just because you've been somewhere before doesn't mean you've seen everything it has to offer.
Though I probably should stop walking back and forth between the same two routes over and over again. I gotta stretch my legs sometimes," Elliot admitted, chuckling nervously. Nevertheless, his journey sure was rewarding for someone that hadn't moved much. His team was growing stronger every day, he was meeting new friends at every twist and turn, and his confidence was soaring at all-time highs.
Elliot would respond quite easily about how he was able to relate to Andrew, on their lack of a proper sleep schedule; and with how confidently the young man admitted it, without seemingly any embarrassment, well... Andrew couldn't help but smile a little more confidently, himself, at knowing that he wasn't the odd one out in this. However, something else that Elliot mentioned would have him tilting his head curiously; blinking a bit. "... Y-you... Do cosplay?" He'd prompt in question; his tone still as shy as ever, yet also sounding surprisingly intrigued and interested. He had always been curious about cosplay - and he had always toyed around with accessories and props as a way to practice his handiwork, but... He'd never actually gone anywhere with doing cosplay, given his initial fears of leaving home, and his social anxiety.
As Elliot mentioned this all being a thing that he could really get used to, though, Andrew would be unable to help a light laugh at the young man's enthusiasm; nodding in agreement. His sleep schedule would probably still be a bit all over the place, but going to bed with the sunset and awakening to sunrises like these... It was very pleasant, honestly; and Andrew wondered what other sunrises would bring, if each one was going to be as pretty as the sunrise they were seeing now.
Even Inari and Larimar couldn't help but share in agreeing with Elliot, making affirming yips and squeaks of their own! The morning sun felt nice on their furl not too hot for either of them, but not too cold either. And being up so early, meant that there was a lot of time for activities before the sun begun setting again...!
As Bass City's skyline came into view, Andrew couldn't help but be awed - realizing just how tall some of the buildings were, even from this far off. After being used to the comparatively quaint little Cedar Town, Bass City was impressive; and it only led him to wonder, just how big Plum City would end up being, if Andrew decided to head out that way...! He'd nod along to Elliot's words - agreeing that, indeed, this wouldn't be the first tim ehe'd get to see Bass City like this; and that he was sure to get plenty of glimpses of it, from the rides between the islands and the city.
The Meowth atop Andrew's head, though, would crack an eye open at noting that they were beginning to near the city. The feline would stretch his limbs, yawn widely, and sit up on his little perch - giving the city a look over... Before deciding to hop down from Andrew's perch, and waltzing off with a flick of his tail - as if he was waving farewell with his tail. These humans were interesting, but the city was too many humans, y'know?
Andrew blinking a bit, would reach atop his now-vacant head - as if having grown unused to the Meowth not being up there - but... He'd smile, and wave to the feline as he left; Inari and Larimar barking their own byes to the wild pokemon.
... At least, until the Meowth glanced over his shoulder at Echo, smirked smugly, and blew one last raspberry at her.
Last Edit: May 11, 2020 3:43:05 GMT by Andrew Wynn
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 11, 2020 22:58:01 GMT
Andrew had regarded much of what Elliot had to say with quiet patience and consideration. Yet when Elliot mentioned cosplay, it seemed that consideration gave way to full-blown interest. The wonder and curiosity in his tone were palpable, and Elliot found it hard not to smile in response. "That's right!" Elliot chirped, Andrew's own enthusiasm feeding into his own. "It's nothing fancy or anything. I usually just buy outfits for characters I like online. Usually I get them as duos for my big brother and I.
Lately, though, I've actually been working with making my own! I've never, like, full-on tailored an outfit for myself yet. But I've had practice with modifying sizes, whipping up simple accessories, and changing cheaper clothes to look more costume-worthy. You'd be surprised how much work you can get out of a nice, simple base, without even needing to break the bank for it! If you actually want to see an example of what I worked with, check out Echo's hoodie." Echo turned to face Andrew, tilting her head and smiling coquettishly. It was so adorable that it'd be easy to forget that she was hoisting Reverb high above her head. "I wrapped Echo up in my hoodie to keep her warm while she was still in the egg. She imprinted on it so hard that she kinda went and claimed it as her own. It's a lot swimmier on her than it was on me, even with the adjustments I made to it. But I'm pretty proud of the job I did!"
Would he make accessories for the rest of his Pokemon like that one of these days? Maybe if the time was right. Most of his Pokemon didn't seem too interested in the concept. Was it the fact that Ralts were already kind of humanlike? The natural empathy and emotional resonance that Ralts possessed? Or did Echo just want a damn hoodie? Whatever the case, none of the rest of Team Elliot seemed too interested, and even Echo seemed content with her single hoodie. Would Elliot ever have the chance to practice his art again?
The interest in Elliot's voice hinted that the time might be sooner rather than later.
"Have you ever given it a try? It could make a good all-nighter, if you're looking for a new way to spend one of those," Elliot asked. A mischievous grin eased its way onto Elliot's face; was he teasing Andrew, or teasing himself?
Regardless, the Meowth pretty much had his fill of the group by now. Elliot grinned at it as it lazily waltzed away. "Til next time," Elliot said, giving it a casual wave of his own. The rest of his team gave their own chirps, cheers, and waves, seeing to it that the cat was given a fond farewell. Even Echo shot the cat a wave on their way out!
At least, of course, until it hit Echo with another raspberry. She stomped her feet in frustration, taking a few steps to follow the Meowth and return fire with a few raspberries of her own. Yet despite her best attempts, it was clear that she had lost the war.
Bass City was oh so close now. At least she could drown her out sorrows there!
Elliot's increase in enthusiasm would prompt a shy but visibly invested smile; it seemed that the subject of cosplaying and tailoring had caught Andrew's interest for sure. Already it was nice enough that Elliot was such a patient and kindly friend; but on top of it, they were finding that they had shared interests...! As a result, he'd nod along with a noticeable enthusiasm of his own, as Elliot responded and explained his own experience with cosplaying, as well as with modifying outfits.
Though, the mention of Elliot having an older brother also made him curious. He recalled Elliot having mentioned a brother before, back when they had met Breeder Mack, though he never had gotten a proper chance to really consider it until now... What kind of older brother, did Elliot have? Were they anywhere near as pleasant and kind as Elliot is? He wouldn't ask - he didn't want to pry into someone else's personal business, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to be introduced to any additional people anytime soon or not - but... It was still a curious thought. And besides, he was more curious about Elliot's cosplays and tailoring, after all!
As Echo briefly smiled to Andrew with a coquettish look, Andrew chuckled and smiled back; kneeling down to gently pat the young Ralts' head and lightly ruffle her hair, whilst being careful to not disturb Reverb. (Though he was still amazed that the little Gothita was still fast asleep..!) "... You.. Did r-really, uhm, good, with the h-hoodie..." He'd murmur to Elliot, smiling up to him shyly but genuinely. He could barely tell that it had originally been made for humans before; Elliot could've said that it was made specially for smaller humanlike pokemon like Echo and he would've believed him. "The, uhm, s-stitching, especially, is really good..."
Inari and Larimar, too, both seemed pretty impressed upon realizing the hoodie was Elliot's handiwork; the duo coming up to get a better look at Echo. Larimar in particular would look Echo up and down, squeaking softly in contemplation... Before turning to Andrew, and making an insistent bark...! Perhaps Elliot's pokemon weren't interested in the concept of accessorizing, but Larimar certainly was; he wanted to know the art of fashion! He wanted to make his debut on the stage even more glorious than it already would be - for the sheer fact that it was he, Larimar, that was going to star upon it - with none other than the pefect accessories!
This would make Elliot's teasing question even more amusing to Andrew; the young man scratching his cheek a bit, as he thought over his response. "W-well..." Glancing over to Larimar, as he found his words, the shy trainer would be unable to help a soft chuckle; musing out loud, with humor "I... s-suppose that I won't g-get much of a choice, with, u-uhm, Larimar here..." He'd smile gently to the diva of a spheal; kneeling down to pat Larimar on the head, to which the little seal would attempt to puff his chest in a rather smug fashion. Yes; pamper him! Adore him! He is ready to become glory incarnate...!
Inari couldn't help a slight roll of her eyes, but would still smile. Accessories didn't sound like a bad idea to her, if she was honest; if Andrew was going to make some anyways, she wouldn't mind trying some on. Still though... She couldn't help but wonder, though whether Larimar's round body wouldn't make accessorizing difficult at all; there was a chance that things might just fall right off of him...!
In any case, the Meowth would seemingly have had enough of everyone; and with that, would decide to leave, but not without one last raspberry at Echo - which she tried to retort with her own raspberries, as the feline disappeared into the tall grass..! Even though she had lost the sassing war though, Inari would be there to reassure the Ralts; patting her on the back with her bushy tails. There there; maybe next time, Echo would be able to out-sass someone.
Andrew, too, would offer Echo a pat on the shoulder - mentioning softly "D-don't mind him, Echo... Some people, or... uhm... Pokemon, I g-guess, only want to get a r-reaction out of you..." There's a reason why it's a rule of the internet, to not feed the trolls, after all. And the less attention you give them, in most cases? The better. Though, it really was a thought, just how varied Pokemon could be in personality, just like humans were.
But in any case, Bass City would begin to near; looming over them. Andrew, admittedly, couldn't help a slight antsiness at the sight of it; starting to play with the drawstrings of his hoodie, as he stared up at the tall buildings... There was going to be a lot of people, a lot of noise, a lot of hustle and bustle; certainly more than Cedar Town, and certainly far more than what they had dealt with on the Route. Would... Would he be ready for this?
Inari seemed to be able to easily notice Andrew's apprehension, however; and to reassure him, she would rub up against his hip and nuzzle his hand. Her tails would wag slowly and calmly, and she would even give the back of Andrew's palm a brief lick, as if to emphasize that everything would be okay. Larimar, too, seemed to pick up on Inari's behavior now, and would move to the opposite side of Andrew; nuzzling him, and posing with a valiant squeak! Have no fear, father; it is by his hand, or, uhm, Flipper, that he shall ward off any and all threats that may frighten you!
The gestures would both briefly surprise Andrew from his thoughts, prompting the young man to jump a bit; though... He'd glance down to Inari - meeting her gaze - and then to Larimar; noticing what they both were doing to try and reassure him. At this, Andrew would smile softly, gently, and would reach down to pet Inari's and Larimar's heads. "Thank you, both of you..." He'd whisper softly; letting out a sigh as he did. "I... I'll be okay." Yeah. He could do this. He could handle this.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 13, 2020 23:39:47 GMT
"Aw, thank you!" Elliot chirped, blushing softly. By now he had already gotten his fair share of compliments and kind words from Andrew, but this was one aimed at a brand-new skill. He was already starting to take pride in it, but his own pride and the approval of others were two completely different things! He rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he thought about how much work it took to pull this off. "It took a few tries to get right. Thankfully, with Echo being so much smaller than me, I had a lot of material to work with. And when you're on a journey like this, you really have nothing but spare time to work with. It's really pretty fortunate we're doing this now while we're young, you know?" It was ironic, with them starting later than expected, but that didn't change the fact that in the grand scheme of things they were still pretty young!
If Andrew was right, that spare time was going to really come in handy! Elliot smiled as Andrew knelt down to pamper his diva of a Spheal. Larimar seemed super into the idea, and even Inari seemed to have her curiosity piqued. "And it seems like you've got an audience, too," Elliot pointed out, a mischievous grin on his face. "I'd ask if you have any ideas in mind. But frankly, sit Larimar down at a computer and you should have enough ideas for the rest of your lifetime. I don't think he'd be the type to settle for one." He shot the Spheal a good-natured smile. If anything, that ribbing was more compliment than taunt, anyway. So much inspiration lurked behind those beady little eyes!
As Elliot built Larimar up, Andrew took the time to comfort Echo. She let out a humph, making a show of turning away from the Meowth, but didn't take long to shyly peer up at Andrew. He was right. She really shouldn't let herself get that worked up, even when it was from a mysterious stranger that showed up, won out of the blue, and disappeared. She was totally better than he was, and no amount of annoying tongue-noises would change that fact! She perked up, shooting Andrew a soft smile and snuggling his leg.
It wasn't long before Larimar and Inari joined the snuggle, albeit for different reasons. With Bass City looming overhead, it seemed like Andrew was starting to hesitate. When faced with the looming skyline, the sound of distant chatter, and his own insecurities, though, this was understandable. Everything along the route had been leading up to this moment, almost like the final boss of a long video game. Would he have the strength to take that last step forward?
Elliot believed so.
He gently set a hand on Andrew's shoulder, shooting him a soft smile. "You've come so far today, Andrew," he reassured, eyes warm and voice gentle. "You're going to be better than okay on this journey. You, Inari, Larimar . . . even your new Clauncher buddy. You're all going to do great." He looked towards the city, slowly drawing his hand back. "Just think. Once you've made it through here, even more routes like this await you. So many more breathtaking sights. So many more Pokemon friends. And so many more memories to treasure.
Elliot's mischievous grin seemed to mean that the young man had something up his sleeve, more often than not; Andrew was quick to learn this, over the course of their little journey across Route 2. Though, it seemed that Elliot was less scheming, and more simply teasing; gently ribbing on Larimar, and his desire for accessorizing. Andrew couldn't help but chuckle lightly at this - Larimar really did seem like the type to want to pick every single accessory or idea that suited him, after all - and would glance down to Larimar. He'd speak softly to Larimar, murmuring in questioning "How's that, uhm, s-sound..? Do you think Elliot's, w-well, g-got it pretty on the nose...?" with a wry smile.
Larimar, at first, would squeak sharply - as if surprised that Elliot had more or less called him out here. Though, the smile from the young man was enough to signal that this was all just a light tease and compliment, and the Spheal's eyes would light up at this. He'd nod eagerly - both confirming Elliot's guess, and also affirming Andrew's question - before tilting his nose up in his usual smug fashion. Give him all the accessories, all the clothes; he'll make anything that Andrew puts on him work - one way or another - mark his words...!
Inari, meanwhile, could only chuckle; shaking her head a little, her tails wagging slowly and contentedly. Larimar was a dork, she'd decided - but she found it all quite endearing, if she was honest.
As Echo shyly peered up in his direction though, Andrew would return it with a gentle and patient smile; reaching down to pat her back in a reassuring gesture. It seemed that his words were enough to get her to perk back up though, if the way that she'd come up to snuggle his leg was anything to imply..! Andrew was initially surprised, but he'd laugh a bit and pat her head; gently cooing "Atta girl... Don't let other people r-rile you up, alright? Kill em with, well, kindness, a-as they say..."
Though - even that being said - he, admittedly, also didn't want Echo to get so angry at that Meowth, to the point of throwing Reverb at him. Andrew wasn't sure if this was something that'd actually happen; but given that Echo's been a bit throw-happy with the Gothita as of late, he wasn't about to underestimate just how throw-happy she could get in the future! Best make sure that she doesn't start making a habit of throwing others - Gothitas or otherwise - ahead of time, right?
In the meantime though, there was his hesitance - which had prompted everyone to come up to him, and comfort him. When Elliot approached and set a hand on his shoulder, Andrew would jolt a little; startled by the contact, while he was lost in his own thoughts. He'd blink a bit owlishly, glancing to Elliot, but... Upon seeing it was just him, Andrew was quick to relax; taking in a deep breath, exhaling, and... Nodding a bit, though he wasn't sure if he was just nodding in understanding to Elliot, or if he was nodding to affirm the young man's words to himself. He's gotten this far; he could do this...
... Slowly, Andrew would stand up from his crouched position; casting Elliot a gentle and shy smile. "I... I-I'm okay." He'd murmur - nodding once more - before glancing ahead to Bass City. Yeah, this... This wouldn't be so bad. He'd take in a deep breath to soothe his nerves, before walking forward once more; ready to go.
Last Edit: May 14, 2020 6:49:00 GMT by Andrew Wynn
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