Fandom Pokémon: Lifeblood

[GojiBean]

(This RP is between myself, GojiBean, and spacepirate Please do not ask to join or post in this thread. Thank you!)
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The grass sizzled between her feet as her face drained of color...

Josephine's gaze locked with a pair of glowing golden eyes as the waving purple/blue flames of Ponyta's mane flickered violently like a campfire squirted with gasoline. Her head was lowered to shoulder height. He front legs spread just outside shoulder width. Her rear left leg scraped the ground. And her tail flicked about behind her as her teeth bared and a low grumble was emitted from her throat.

"E-easy girl." Her voice quivered.

Ponyta's eyes flared with light as she unleashed an angry whinny and lurched her head forward.

"I just want to check your coat. It's a sign of your health." She said, fighting to maintain a calm inflection.

Ponyta took two steps back and growled, and Josephine released a sigh as she brought up the Poké Ball and recalled the fire horse.

"Another failure." She whispered, standing and brushing herself off.

"One day... One day soon I'll gain your trust. I promise." She said giving the top of the ball a light stroke with her fingertip.

Placing the ball in her hip pouch, Josephine looked ahead down the road leading towards home. Living in a house just inside the Celadon City limits had its advantages. Plenty of open space. Clear skies. Less noise from the city proper. And not a lot of car or foot traffic to worry about. But on the other side of the coin it took longer to reach the Pokémon Center, Poké Mart, and anything else she needed while trying to care for Ponyta. Unfolding a flyer from her pouch, she read the words "Pokémon Gym Leader's Challenge!" aloud and sighed.

"When she's ready." She whispered.

Folding the flyer and tucking it safely in her pouch, she made her way down the road back towards the city. Back towards home.

 

[spacepirate]

Being assigned to catalogue the mycelial networks of the plains around Celadon city was a bit of a pain, certainly, but there was a price to pay for any field expedition. Despite having a rather generous stipend provided to him every week, it was only under the condition that he carried out some vital research in addition to his "experiments". It was fine with Davis- he certainly didn't mind providing extra data. Besides, according to what he'd read online, there had been a lot of unexplained creature sightings off the Kanto coasts for years and years.

He'd just breeze through the assignments, then get into the juicy stuff!

The best part about having a grass type, the researcher thought to himself, was that he didn't need to spend too much of his stipend on food. Ever since he was younger, Davis only ate a bit anyways, and as a cottonee, Floofles got much of its nutrients from sunlight, water, and some good old air. He supposed that was what the pokemon was doing now, flitting in and out of his field of vision as its owner scribbled distractedly in his notebook.

This was actually his first time in Kanto- he'd never had much reason to visit before. Unova was large enough, and whenever his family went on vacation, Alola was a lot closer and more touristy. So far, he noticed that the region had a strange sense of harmony to it. Even Celadon city, populated as it was, seemed to brim with purpose and order- the streets were picked clean of any debris, and even the game corner seemed far more civilized than the betting houses of Nimbasa. He'd attended classes in the big city back in Unova, and it was hard to be a pedestrian there- everyone pushed and shoved and generally did whatever they could to retain their personal bubbles. Despite the streets being similarly packed in Celadon, he hadn't so much as been brushed up against!

It was a nice change of pace.

Presently, he called Floofles back to him. "Don't get too excited, partner. I don't want a repeat of last week, where I had to untangle your wool from some pokey tree branches." He traced his fingers over the scratch marks on his arms, mementos of that particular misadventure. "If you get stuck this time, you're on your own." It was an empty threat, but one that the pokemon couldn't ignore- it let out a small impish cry in return. "Well, we should start heading back soon, anyways. We've only been here a short while, and I'm still not really sure what the number for emergency services are. Just in case," he reassured the grass type, petting its white wool affectionately, as the creature seemed to pay him no heed.

 

[GojiBean]

As she returned to the city proper and looked around, Josephine took notice of the fact that everyone was preparing for the upcoming Flower Festival which would take place in about three days. A small smile graced her lips as she thought about it, and she gripped her fan a little more tightly as she thought about what kind of dance she'd be doing this time.

"'Ey! Josephine, my girl!" Came a thundering male voice from just down the road to her right.

"Oh!" She started. "Gurt. You scared me." She said with a chuckle.

Gurt was a large man standing about 6' 5" and weighing almost 320 pounds. He wasn't 'fat,' per se. But he was hefty. And his thick, long beard and long curly hair that fell just above his mid-back made him look far more disheveled than he actually was.

"Ha! Sorry girl. How's the dance coming?"

"Well I uh... I haven't created one yet."

Hurt's blue eyes widened.

"What?! Girl, I know you're a talented dancer but this is cutting it close, even for you."

"I know. I just... Well..." Her fingertips caressed the bulge in her pouch where Ponyta's Poke Ball sat. "I've been a bit preoccupied of late."

"Well, ya should probably get on that dance soon. We're all lookin' forward to it. And the shop's countin' on ya. So don't let us down, 'kay?"

"I won't, Gurt. I'll work extra hard to make a dance in time for the festival."

"A'ight girl. Take care!" He said while taking several long, heavy footsteps in the other direction.

Josephine sighed in relief and watched after him until he vanished around a corner down the road.

Indeed, Josephine's dance with her fan was a major attraction for a small shop Gurt's family ran during the Flower Festival each year. The shop itself was in a spot that was mostly hidden from the rest of the festivities. So Josephine's dance on the street corner in sight of said festivities was one of the only ways they could do business. Particularly with foreigners and tourists of the region who didn't know the shop existed.

Nevertheless, she did have other priorities to attend to. Ponyta was the perfect test of her studies in Pokemon Mental and Emotional Therapy, and it was off to a very rocky start. While it was only the first time Ponyta had actually lashed out at her with an attack, she had a bad feeling it wouldn't be the last.

Josephine took a moment to stop in front of a large fountain with a statue of Vileplume in the center and closed her eyes to listen to the water in an effort to calm her heart and mind.

spacepirate

 

[spacepirate]

The road back to Celadon was sprinkled with the most delicate blossoms that Davis had ever seen, and he could imagine them squishing beneath his boots. It was nice to just take a walk like this, under a warm sky, cottonee bobbing in the breeze not too far away. The researcher had missed days like this- it seemed like since he'd enrolled, life had been so chaotic. Oftentimes, he'd stay inside the laboratory or study all day, writing reports and reviewing findings. Before he'd come to Kanto, when was the last time he'd felt the sun on his back? Were he at the PRI, he'd never be finished with all the day's tasks, even after long after the sun had set.

No, he reminded himself, no, he was exactly where he was meant to be. Those giant chthonic creatures weren't going to surface themselves, now would they?

Well, if they were planning on it, Davis would actually lose his mind- he couldn't help but snort at the thought of having gone to great lengths to prove their existence, only for the damn things to reveal themselves. At that point, he'd simply have to change professions from professor to poacher. That way, he could keep the coffee mug his mother had gifted him his last birthday, the nice ceramic one with a large 'P' on it, for professor.

While he had the licensing to keep Floofles out of its ball even within city limits, Davis decided to err on the cautious side. "Time for a rest, you fantastic furball, you. I'll call you out when it's time to eat," he endeared the grass type, activating its pokeball and securing it tightly to his belt holster. The man paused in front of a shop window, frowning at the disheveled gentleman that stared back. Davs combed a hand through his alabaster hair, getting a few stray locs under control, and dusting his coat for any dirt. Once he was aptly satisfied, he turned his attention to the many posters lying about, hung across telephone poles. They were advertising something called the Flower Festival, a holiday they most certainly did not have in Unova.

"It's happening soon," he mused. "I suppose I'll have to check it out, seeing as I'm already in town and it would be a waste not to."

 

[GojiBean]

At the Pokemon Center, Josephine stood near the front desk as she waited for the lead nurse to return. Tapping her finger nervously on the table-top, she shifted her weight and glanced around the room hoping to find something to distract or settle her nerves.

There was a child playing with an Oddish while his parents watched with Poke Ball in hand; a common sight in this town for families with Pokemon Trainer families. There was a man reading the flyers on the wall about the festival, about the Gym and its leader Erika, etc. There was a couple having a quiet but seemingly tense conversation near the front entrance, and Josephine quickly looked away from that and over to a nearby window where a Taillow was perched and pecking at some bread crumbs left behind by someone who'd been eating a sandwich there earlier.

A few moments later, the lead nurse returned and met Josephine's gaze.

"So, how is she?"

The nurse gave her an apologetic smile as she placed the Poke Ball on the table and slid it over towards Josephine.

"That bad?" She asked, taking the Poke Ball back and placing it in her pouch.

"I'm afraid so. I've never seen a Pokemon so terrified of human touch before. But given the scars on her side... I guess I can't say that it's really that shocking she's like this now."

Josephine's eyes lowered as she released a quiet sigh.

"I understand. Thank you, nurse."

"Of course. Please have a wonderful rest of your day."

Josephine offered a weak smile and departed the Center. Once back outside, she held Ponyta's Poke Ball in her hands and went to sit on a bench nearby to think.

"Ponyta. A fire horse Pokemon. Natural temperament: skittish, yet amiable. Preferred foods: grass and other small broad-leafed plants." She muttered quietly while gently stroking the Poke Ball with her fingertip.

"Victim of egregious abuse." She began with heavy eyes. "Long scars on the left side indicative of either a whip, blade, or both. Sensitivity near the lower left jaw indicative of either a wound that didn't heal properly, or a wound still in healing. Extreme avoidance of touch; even went so far as to launch an Ember at me earlier when I got too close." She whispered.

She calmly smiled and pulled the Poke Ball tight to her chest.

"But a ray of light... She responds to my voice and hasn't tried to run away. Maybe she's afraid to. But even so, it's a start."

She stood up, keeping the Poke Ball to her chest hoping against hope that Ponyta could hear her heart beat.

"This is why I'm here, Ponyta. If I can help you recover, it'll validate everything I've gone through and everything I've studied for. My destiny is to help mentally and emotionally damaged and unstable Pokemon the world over... And it all starts with you."

She brought the ball up to her lips and kissed it softly before placing it into her pouch and walking with renewed energy towards the Poke Mart.

spacepirate (tagging just to make sure that notifications come through, lol)

 

[spacepirate]

Although he'd promised the cottonee some dinner, Davis loved how much cheaper fertilizer was than kibble or other specialty pokemon foods. They couldn't very well eat human food, especially the processed chips, meats, and even frozen veggies that were so popular in ordinary supermarkets. Not many ordinary folk knew that, but it was something that any trainer would be remiss to neglect- one of his colleagues, actually, a certain Barnabas Kale was currently completing his thesis on pokemon nutrition. Kale was a few years more experienced than he in the ways of the PRI, and none too pleased that the newcomer with strange ideas was selected for field research over some of the more conventional candidates.

"If you're headed to Kanto anyways," the bespectacled researcher requested rather flippantly of him, "I would ever so appreciate if you could track the nutrient consumption of your partner cottonee while you're there. The region has a more stable climate than here at the institute, as well as more rainfall in the semi-tropical areas. In fact, if you could perhaps monitor the pokemon's carbon-to-oxygen emissions rate as well as the quantity and specifications of the fertilizer you intend to apply to its exterior, I could perhaps use your data to develop-"

Needless to say, Davis was very well aware that his colleague had little interest in deep sea diving, or supporting his own requests of utilizing institute funds to charter a submarine, so he'd decided to tune him out.

He did need fertilizer, though, so the white-haired researcher meandered on past a local pokemart without so much as batting an eye. Traditionally, Celadon city had an affinity for grass types on account of the local pokemon gym having been dedicated to the type for many generations. As battling was of little interest to him, he had little knowledge of the gym traditions in this region- in Unova, for example, he knew that gyms not only served as arenas for public gym challenges and league battles, but also as rehabilitation centers for particularly dangerous domesticated pokemon, or even those that had been rescued from smuggling and poaching rings. Illegal battling was a seedy problem in the large urban centers of his home region, and in his time hosting the curiosity podcast Unova Unknown, he'd actually spent a significant amount of time detailing the recuperation process.

While far from ordinary hospitals, Unovan gym trainers, when not engaging with challengers, spent a lot of their time assisting in the re-socialization of abused creatures. It was still a rudimentary practice despite all their best intentions, however, with the majority of gym trainers in the region unable to face the dangerous emotions- and indeed, firepower!- of a pokemon scorned.

Davis found it all terribly tragic. There were entire storage vaults in Unovan gyms dedicated to the preservation of extremely troublesome pokemon- there was talk from some radical fringe movements to put them down, as one might have done in the dark ages, but such fatalistic talk often had no place in polite conversation. He did, however, appreciate that gym leaders tended to be not only combat experts, but pokemon type specialists who knew the best way to care for their given affinity.

Finding a particularly vibrant flower shop to pick up the supplies he needed, Davis ran through the rest of the day over his head- he could afford to sightsee once he'd obtained all that he needed. Celadon city seemed much safer than he was told. The PRI had told him to be extremely careful of Team Rocket, the main criminal power that had a strong foothold in the Tohjo peninsula, but he hadn't seen any evidence of a hair misplaced.

Then again, perhaps he simply wasn't looking hard enough...

 

[GojiBean]

"Anything else we can do for you, ma'am?" Asked a young male cashier with a slight rose tint in his cheeks.

"No. That's all. Thank you very much." She replied with a smile and a light bow.

"Sure thing. Please come again!" He said eagerly.

Josephine chuckled and left the Poke Mart. As she entered the sun-bathed streets, she sighed softly.

"Okay... Time to see if I was right." She whispered while feeling the Poke Ball in her pouch.

Walking out the way she'd come and back to the same field they were in earlier, Josephine knelt down and brought out a new feeding bowl she'd purchased and filled it with fresh Kanto SB (Small Broad) Leaves. If her research was correct, this was Ponyta's favorite meal. However, anything could happen with an abuse victim. But she pressed on and, once the bowl was filled, she backed away by about fifteen feet and sat down on her knees traditional style.

She took a deep breath and held the Poke Ball in her hand.

"Here we go."

She kissed the Ball and released Ponyta near the feeding bowl.

The Alonan fire-horse shook her body and quickly looked around in a frantic manner. When she spun and spotted Josephine she backed away and nearly stepped on the feeding bowl. Ponyta's eyes flickered with light as her purple/blue mane flared up and her stand lowered as it had done before her first Ember attack. However, her nose suddenly twitched. Looking down and behind her, she spotted the bowl and leaves. Her mane slowly relaxed and the light in her eyes faded. But it wasn't so easy. She looked back at Josephine who sat calmly with a soft smile.

"It's all right." She cooed softly while gesturing towards the bowl. "It's for you."

Ponyta didn't break eye contact. She held Josephine's gaze for a long, long time refusing to budge. But as Josephine looked at Ponyta's scarred side and her ribs, visible from lack of proper nutrition which she and the Pokemon Centers hadn't yet managed to correct, she began to feel a tightness in her chest as her heart rate spiked. Ponyta seemed to sense this as her mane began to stand on end again.

Josephine, not ready to accept this development, calmly took in a deep breath and exhaled to slow her heart rate. When she was satisfied, she smiled again.

"It's all right, Ponyta." She cooed. "I'm not moving from this spot. Please, eat. You're hungry, right?"

Ponyta growled softly and backed up a few steps. And even though it wasn't surprising in the sense that it could happen, Josephine was still somewhat shocked to see Ponyta actually walking sideways to position herself behind the bowl as she lowered her head to begin eating. But as Ponyta realized she couldn't eat and watch Josephine at the same time while standing, she knelt down and sat in front of the bowl so she could keep her head more level and her eyes on the human seated before her.

But she was eating. And Josephine's heart soared as she brought her hands up, fingertips together over her mouth.

Yes! She thought. Baby steps, Josephine. Baby steps. She's finally eating!

By the time she finished the thought, Ponyta had emptied the bowl and was already back on her feet.

"Would you like more?" She asked as she began reaching for her backpack which had the food bag in it.

Ponyta's eyes flared and she leaped forward neighing loudly and scraping the ground with one of her hooves. Her mane flared wildly and Josephine knew an attack was coming. She retracted her hands and put them out in front of herself to show they were empty, and Ponyta held back from attacking her. But that menacing glare and a low growl from her throat remained constant.

"It's okay... The bag has food in it." She said calmly.

Ponyta wouldn't yield. And Josephine released a sigh.

"Okay. We're done for the day."

Josephine recalled Ponyta to her Poke Ball and let out a puffy-cheek breath.

"Well, it's progress. She ate something with me present, and that's a step in the right direction."

Josephine stood up with a smile and a nod and kissed Ponyta's Poke Ball before safely tucking it away and going back into town. She needed a rest herself.

 

[spacepirate]

Getting back to the hotel wasn't bad at all. Once he'd started doing more long-term research, like temperature collections over a period of time, or evaluating the effectiveness of possible testing ground sites, David would be given more permanent quarters, but seeing as he was just running a few menial tasks in preparation for his travels, such arrangements were hardly necessary. Still, he thought, squeezing into the tiny bathroom with some effort, he wished he could splurge a bit more on less cramped bedrooms, but the stipend only went so far. And to think, he was one of the lucky ones! Most of the poor sods at the PRI were horribly introverted, and even a tad socially awkward, so it more likely than not that they'd never really be able to get even a quarter of the funding that the passionate white-haired young man had obtained.

Then again, Davis supposed that new breeding techniques and/or revolutionizing infant healthcare using the regenerative tissues of viscous pokemon simply didn't hold the same societal importance as discovering the cause of mutant gigantism.

As he turned the hot water on as to shower, Davis kept thinking back to the flyers he'd seen earlier that day promoting the Flower Festival. Truthfully, he'd never been one for blossoms and botany. Honestly, flowers just smelled like water to him and seemed as functional as your average street weed. Were they pretty? Sure, but Davis was the kind of guy who loved to walk along the shores of a rocky beach and pick out shiny and smooth pebbles from the rough to keep in a display case in his room, so his definition of 'pretty' was quite literally worthless. For some reason, though, he couldn't stop imagining the festivities- it was likely that there were going to be bellossom-shaped cookies, maybe cherubi-scented pies and teas, and of course, flower arrangements of all kinds.

Of all things, he certainly hoped that there weren't too many people with pollen allergies in the city- tomorrow would be a special kind of distortion realm for those folks, and the cryptozoologist didn't envy them even a smidge.

Besides all that, he'd heard that in Kanto, they practiced a special kind of floral arrangement called ikebana. The Unovan inside of him wanted to scream that there were only so many ways you could put cut flower heads into a vase and call it art, but the curious researcher longed to understand what exactly made the practice so unique. One of his colleagues was from the region, and upon learning he was to be in Celadon this time of year, absolutely behooved him to at least go to see the dancing and music played near the town square. He certainly hoped there wouldn't be trouble, at least.

For as peaceful as things had been so far, Davis knew all too well that there had been an influx of terrorist attacks worldwide, and things didn't seem to be getting any better, even with the passage of time.

 

[GojiBean]

3 Days Later

Now arriving at the Eve of the Flower Festival, Celadon City was more alive and bustling with activity than at almost any other time in the year. The only contender for more activity, of course, being the excitement of gathering to watch the live broadcasts for the finale of the Pokemon League Championships where the world's "Most Powerful Pokemon Trainer" would be decided from amongst 1,000 of the world's best and brightest who qualified the year prior and participated over the 6-month stretch leading up to said event.

But today in Celadon, it was all about flowers.

All through the streets nylon lines, with flowers instead of flags, were strung between building corners, over windows and doorways, and from business signs and light poles. Large floats with Grass-Type Pokemon sculptures and animatronic figures were in their final stages of being painted, with real flowers either attached to or grown from specially installed pots inside so they could peek out through a tiny hole and fly their brilliant colors. The streets began to line with wooden stalls, all decorated of course with flowers along the support beams and little flower banners hung from overhead to allow their fragrance to grace the exchanges of goods and services on the day.

Artists with paintings, sculptures, pottery, charcoal and pastel, pencil and pen, and all manner of crafts were setting up their stations to showcase their artwork which was temporarily hidden behind florally adorned blankets so the final reveals would be a surprise for their aspiring customers. Music groups and solo performers staked their claim to various places throughout the central square and around the large fountain at the heart of Celadon while preparing their instruments, makeshift stages, attire, and even rehearsing their performances in prep for the big day. Pokemon Trainers who focused on Grass-Type Pokemon also gathered as performers alongside their Pokemon and were practicing their skits, songs, and performances with great enthusiasm.

And of course, one couldn't go more than ten feet without seeing another display of ikebana. Beautiful pots, boxes, metal wire casings, ornate glass containers, etc filled with beautifully arranged plants from around the Kanto region. And in rare cases, maybe one in every fifteen to twenty displays, one could see floral arrangements with flowers from various regions which were blooming in this lovely warm summer season. Ranging from the tiniest of geraniums and tulips to the most demonstratively large and exotic species such as Rafflesia arnoldii, and everything in between, were all on display throughout the city.

And then, as was the case every year, the attire of the city reflected the occasion. Yukatas and Kimonos with floral patterns dominated everywhere one looked. Even the market vendors were wearing floral designs all the way to their socks and caps. Some of the more eccentric of Pokemon Trainers as well had their Pokemon dressed in little specially made floral clothing. One such example Josephine saw as she made her way to Gurt's shop was a little Bellsprout waring a Victreebel Happi Coat which made her chuckle.

Josephine herself wore her orange/yellow Kimono with a white shoulder "guard" addition as well as two green strips of cloth hung from her obi to give her a traditional, yet still exotic look apart from most others who wore more simplistic and old-school versions of similar design.

"Oi, Josephine!" Called Gurt as she rounded the corner to his shop.

"Hi Gurt!"

Gurt, as well as his wife, Mage, who was a stocky but not overweight woman about Josephine's height with puffy black hair and a kindly face, walked up to meet her.

"Greetings, Josephine. How've you been?" Mage asked.

"I've been very well, thank you." She replied with a bow.

"So, how's the dance?"

Mage elbowed his stomach.

"Hun, business later. I haven't seen the girl in an age."

Josephine chuckled as the pair began a mild but amiable argument about what was more important, greeting her or talking about the dance. Josephine knew to stay out of it, as it always resolved itself peacefully. And in most instances, Mage's decision won out. And, sure enough, today was no different. Gurt eventually relented with a huff and walked into the shop while Mage remained to speak with her.

"What's it been?"

"About ten months, I think."

"Goodness. Almost a year and you haven't aged a day."

"Well, I'm only twenty-three. So I would hope not." Josephine said with a giggle.

Mage giggled as well and waved her inside.

"Apologies for my husband's rather rude welcome."

Josephine could only chuckle behind her hand.

"All right hun. You can ask about the dance now."

"Finally!" Gurt bellowed.

"So, how's it comin'?"

Josephine smiled.

"I've found the perfect music to go with the dance I made the other day. So if you'd like I-"

"Don't keep us in suspense, girl! Showtime!"

Josephine's mouth was still agape as Mage again elbowed Gurt in the stomach.

"She was about to offer that you dolt!"

Another argument again ending peacefully as Josephine watched happily.

Such a lovely couple. She thought.

Finally, the room settled and Gurt ended up sitting in a chair as Mage cleared the floor for her.

"All right dear. Please, proceed." She said as she sat down.

Josephine walked over to the pair's computer, which was hooked up to a pair of speakers in the ceiling that allowed them to play music playlists for customers throughout the day. After using a USB stick to upload the song to the computer, she set it to play and began her dance. Both Gurt and Mage watched in silence. And by the time the music faded out with Josephine's final bow, both were clapping and Gurt, unsurprisingly, was in tears clapping extra hard.

For all his size and bulk, he was a tremendous softie for such things.

"That was beautiful, dear." Mage chirpped happily.

"Forget the rest of the crap in town! That'll bring everyone to our shop!" Gurt bellowed with a sniffle as he wiped his tears.

Josephine blushed and smiled with a bow.

"Thank you both so much! I'm so happy you enjoyed it!"

The pair invited Josephine to spend the night, which she happily accepted. Tomorrow the festival would begin. And Josephine would perform her dance a total of twelve times. Once at the top of every hour from noon to midnight which would coincide perfectly with the ending of the Flower Festival.

With any luck, it would be a night to remember.

 

[spacepirate]

For all the data he'd relayed back to the Institute, Davis was having an awful time dealing with the politics and parades of managing a budget- something that, for all his commitment and dedication to truth-seeking he'd built up over the years, was a rather large blind spot for him. Perhaps it was a little naive, but he'd sincerely hoped that once the money was promised to him, he would be free to spend it as he wished. At the most, he'd expected to just have everything carefully catalogued and reported, so there wasn't any possibility of accusing him of spending it on personal frivolousness. And besides, it wasn't like he wanted to do anything too expensive- chartering a submarine wasn't all to hard, was it?

"For the last time, Gilder, I said no. You may bring it up again with the rest of the research and ethics board, but as it stands, chartering an entire expedition by yourself, in Kanto no less, where they have rather stringent regulations on this sort of thing, is out of the question! If you continue to go against your approved assignment, we'll have no choice to revoke your grant- and that's just at the minimum! Don't even get me started on the consequences you'll be sure to face if you're gutsy enough to return after the ordeal." For all the antagonism in his words, the exasperated voice on the other side of his computer screen was none other than Professor McLear, one of his staunchest supporters and mentors at the Institute.

McLear was an older man, with dark graying hair and a severe face that appeared even more sullen over the video call, though perhaps that could be due to the researcher's inability to understand proper lighting and background dressing. Not that it mattered, really- he was talking to Davis as a personal call more than anything else, although he could never seem to leave work out of everyday conversations. Behind the professor was the messy bookshelf, filled to the brim with biological volumes, and Davis had chatted with him in that very study for so many hours that he could smell the old leather seats and tentacool-ink wells on sight alone.

"But professor, I told the board my primary motivation to coming here was to research the existence of colossal pokemon-like creatures. I never said that I wouldn't roll up my sleeves and do a bit of field work," he protested, eyes darting in between his screen and Floofles, who was bouncing around the outdoor table, squeaking all the while. The duo stuck out like a pair of sore thumbs in the festive city, ready for tomorrow's big event. While the majority of folks were dressed in colorful, traditional wear, Davis had on his rather ordinary buttoned shirt and jeans.

"Yes," the professor agreed, "but you primarily argued that Kanto would have valuable archeological texts on the history of such phenomenons, as well as ocean research centers dedicated to the monitoring of any anomalies. Your research was approved on those grounds- those very inexpensive grounds, Gilder!" Davis fought the urge to roll his amber eyes, instead staring upwards at the floral-and-ivy displays hanging outside the cafe. He sipped disinterestedly at the coffee he'd ordered- some kind of special blend in honor of the festival tomorrow with belue berries and locally-sourced honey.

It tasted just awful- if Floofles wasn't already pepped up and bubbling, he'd offer the rest of the subpar beverage to his partner.

"Professor, please! I already looked into a private company that allows submarine rentals. Everything's included in the memo I sent you- pilot prices, insurance, the proposed route we take through the deep trenches surrounding Cinnabar Island and-"

"Gilder, I said no! Do you want your candidacy to be stripped from you?" the much older man rubbed his forehead tiredly with his thumb and forefinger. "I tell the other board members about your saving graces- the soil and atmospheric data you're willing to carry out, your connections with the various media channels. But you need to work with me here, you hear me? Just... stick to your original proposal. Carry out the research you said you would, mingle with the local intellectuals and make us look good there so we can do future studies."

"But I-"

"I'm counting on you, Gilder. You've a lot riding on your shoulders, but all you need to do is not stray from the beaten path."

"But, professor, I really think that-"

"I have to go. We'll chat again in a few days, and for the love of Arceus, get all this submarine talk out of your head. There's loads of research to be done on dry land, above sea level." Before he could so much as groan, the window closed, ending the call. Visibly deflated, Davis rubbed at the back of his neck, debating his options. More than anything, he felt like cursing, but Celadon was such a polite place, and what with all the decorations in place, he felt it was even more inappropriate.

At least he'd done enough work so far that he could afford to take a small break for the festival tomorrow. Davis wasn't originally planning on staying, since he wanted to hurry up and get to Cinnabar and talk to the submarine people in person, but since it would take awhile for his motion to pass- if it passed, he reminded himself glumly- there was no rush to leave. It wasn't like the libraries or research centers he planned to visit in the region were going anywhere- they were only vaguely expecting his visit any time within the next few months. Besides, when was the next time he would ever be in this city during a festival? It should be enough to distract him from his dilemmas.

It was nice to get out for calls, the researcher thought to himself as he packed his gear and alerted Floofles of their soon departure. The hotel room was so awfully stuffy, and the rare plants he'd seen along the way lifted his spirits quite a bit.

Still, discussing Institute business in public, broad daylight no less, had its drawbacks, including those that Davis was hardly aware of.

 

[GojiBean]

It was finally upon them. The Flower Festival.

And, to the shock of many tourists, the morning hours were incredibly quiet. Barely anyone was out and about until about 10am which was when the city finally began to wake up and the streets began to fill with people. The festival would begin promptly at 12pm. And everyone took their respective positions. Vendors to their stalls and respective buildings. Performers to their stages and carpets. The Police, just in case, taking to specific areas to keep an eye out for any unruly or dangerous behavior or activity.

And Josephine took her position at the street corner next to Gurt's shop with Mage standing by to click "Play" for her music selection so she could begin her first dance of the day.

"You ready Josephine?" She asked.

Josephine nodded and removed her fan from her Obi to prepare for the dance.

"Break a leg, dear."

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock

5 minutes left.

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock

1 Minute.

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock

Aaaaaaaand...

Time.

As the clock struck 12pm, the Flower Festival began with a series of fireworks which exploded in the skies in a myriad of floral patterns and colors. Orchids. Roses. Even a Venus Fly Trap. The fireworks continued for a solid 2 minutes before settling, and the festivities began in earnest. Blankets were ripped away uncovering the goods and artwork which had previously remained a mystery. Music was cued all throughout the city. Performances of song, dance, magic, Pokemon partner skits, and more sought to entertain. Food was passed out in tiny entrees and offered as full course meals at restaurants. And everywhere one looked there were flowers on display and for sale.

Mage clicked "Play," and Josephine's first dance of the day began on her little street corner just South of the central plaza where the bulk of festivities were taking place.

 

[spacepirate]

Of all the things Davis had made sure to prepare for in case of an emergency during the festival, being allergic to streetfood wasn't even an afterthought. Seeing as how he was a sniffling and crying mess after finishing some kind of special festival-variety dango ball kabob, though, that was a fatal mistake. Yes, he would die here, rotting away under the falling petals of a thousand flowers and joyous merrymaking- bury him alongside the hydrangeas, for they were his mother's favorite! Alright, maybe he had a penchant for the overdramatic when it came to accidentally consuming uniquely poisonous substances, but he was an explorer first and researcher second. To hell with science! If he was allergic to... what did the confectionary contain, anyways? Tropius fruit extract?

Well, no matter. He made a mental note to never try the amazingly aromatic treats at fair stands again, a promise he was most certainly going to break.

Through watery eyes, the young man could still enjoy the festivities. As a grass type, Floofles was having the time of its life frolicking through the air, drifting this way and that, nipping at flowerbuds and knocking over small display cases, then flitting away as fast as it could. Such a troublesome grass type... perhaps he should have kept the cottonee in its ball, but there were so many people around anyways. Surely there was no harm for it to get into some harmless fun during a festival? Back at the Institute, the pokemon was known for causing a ruckus by knocking over displays and squeezing into places that it didn't belong, but it had never really done anything too cruel.

Once the fireworks began to crackle overhead, Davis and his partner were both drawn to the art in the sky. It must have taken some extraordinary coordination to pull off such complex shapes, he thought to himself, amazed by the way the flares seemed to mimic flowers in bloom. They seemed to really value natural beauty here, which was a far cry from the ultra-sleek mega-modern abstractions of aestheticism that Unova prized. The change was certainly welcome, though- seeing it just brought him so very much excitement.

Amongst the fire show, he barely noticed the cottonee squealing and scrambling in fear, scurrying off to a shelter from the noise.

After the show had ended, Davis finally realized something was amiss. "Floofles?" he called, the sound carrying only slightly over the crowd. "Floofles!" he called again, stepping through the crowd gently but with purpose in each movement. The roads were packed with bodies and kiosks, making it no easy task. He caught small specks of the pokemon as it darted over and through the crowd, finally slipping into a slightly-parted window of what appeared to be a storefront. Great. It was fine letting Floofles run wild here in the open, but there was no way his stipend had enough to cover entire shelves of broken merchandise!

Now, where was the entrance?

Even in his rush, Davis couldn't help but pause when he saw a small crowd of onlookers, watching a performance of some sort. They weren't too far from the main festival pavilion, so it wasn't too surprising, but what really caught his attention was the green-haired grace starring in the solo spectacle. The music was typical to this region, something with traditional string and wind instruments he'd likely never heard of, gentle and carried by the winds. The woman's kimono was elegant and complicated- he never understood how so many people could wear them so easily, let alone dance in the damn things! Sniffling still from his allergies, Davis watched on, bewitched.

"It really is enough to make a man cry, isn't it?" asked a spectator to his right, apparently nodding in his direction. Well, this was embarrassing. The researcher was quick to lift his collar and wipe off any moisture from his face- no need to draw any more attention to himself while he quickly fetched his pokemon.

 

[GojiBean]

Every twist of her wrist. Every shift of her feet. Every smile. Every slow opening and closing of her eyes. Every motion from head to toe was practiced and precise. Deliberate in its presentation. Unconscious in its execution.

When her dance finally came to an end, she gave a bow to the crowd and finally opened her amber brown eyes to greet the faces of the onlookers.

"Thank you so much for watching! Please, enjoy a moment's respite at Gurt's Gallery and Restaurant!" She asked, gesturing to the open and waiting doors leading inside.

A little girl ran up to her and tugged at her Kimono just below the Obi.

"Hi lady!"

Josephine smiled.

"Why, hello there."

"Your Kimono is so pretty!" The girl cried, looking at the color and floral pattern.

"Thank you very much. Yours is pretty too." She offered back, gesturing to the beautiful blue/purple coloration of the girl's own Kimono.

"Thanks! Who made yours? My mommy made mine!"

"A dear friend made this Kimono for me. And it's my favorite."

"Yay! Mine's my favorite too!"

The girl's mother swiftly broke through the crowd and ushered the girl away after apologizing to Josephine for the inconvenience. Josephine smiled and waved it off as nothing, and looked around the crowd before her eyes fell upon a tall and rather handsome young man with white hair. He seemed to be sniffling, so she approached him with a smile.

"Greetings, sir. Are you in need of a tissue?" She asked.

 

[spacepirate]

Alright Davis, he thought to himself, sniffling back allergic snot, you can do this. Floofles may have disappeared into a nearby store, but the cottonee was a curious creature. If luck was on his side- and clearly it wasn't, if the tropius-fruit treat was anything to go off of- if he had any luck left at all, his partner would be too preoccupied with gazing at the different shiny objects to do much harm. He just needed to move quickly. Tactics and strategy were absolutely of the essence! He'd never really been one for elaborate planning, not when it came to actual search-and-rescue operations, so he was at a bit of a loss, but if he was responsible for paying back thousands of credit worth of product, he'd be returning to the Institute a failure! Bye-bye stipend, if that turned out to be the case!

Perfect! The crowd seemed to be dispersing, he could just enter the store- oh arceus, did that dancer just say that the store was a gallery and restaurant combo? What kind of sociopathic entrepreneur would even think to combine two different business models with such high potential for mischief and mayhem? Oh, if he didn't get to the bottom of this quickly...

In his mind's eye, Davis could see Floofles cackling maniacally as it pushed over thousands and thousands of dollars worth of sculptures- maybe glass sculptures! On top of that, it had a thing for munching on desserts, so if the restaurant had any kind of cakes or sweets it had for sale, Floofles would be drawn to the confectionaries like dustox to a flame! This was a code-red bona fide emergency!

Okay, he just had to quickly step up and-

"Wha-?" he stammered stupidly, too engrossed in his issues to notice the very picture of spring serenity until she was inches away, saying something about a tissue. Great. Now if he wiped his snot all over his shirt, he'd definitely disgust the green-haired beauty. It wasn't his priority to impress her, obviously- finding Floofles was! Sure, he'd never seen anyone dance quite like that, and he was really touched that she seemed concerned enough to offer him a tissue, but he was about to lose everything! Even if it was just a ploy to get him to enter the store, it was a pretty considerate one, and not anything that Davis could really be mad at. In fact, if his cottonee hadn't run so quickly-

Maybe that was it!

Davis took a moment to grin sheepishly, averting his gaze to the ground so as to not embarrass himself any further. For a moment, he considered telling the woman the truth, that he lost his cottonee and was on the search to get him back from the store, but the researcher felt as though that particular information would best be left proprietary for now. "Yes, thank you. I would very much appreciate that." Well, darn. That wasn't exactly the most urgent response he could have given, now was it? "Your dance was amazing, by the way. I've never seen anything like it- we had a few performers from Kanto put on smaller-scale events where I grew up, but those were more prop-heavy." Alright, Davis, he thought to himself, you can stop babbling whenever you best feel suited to it.

 

[GojiBean]

Curios.

That was the best word for the situation. While Josephine wasn't a doctor or any kind of psychologist, it didn't take someone with an advanced degree to see the wheels turning in the eyes of one with such an active mind as this. From the eyes shifting this way and that to his body language. All of it told the same story. His mind let fly with hundreds of thoughts a minute. But what about? And for what urgent matter? Was it urgent? Could it be he was worried about something? Perhaps he didn't want to be seen crying after a dance? Gurt was sometimes like that and would hide his tears by quickly wiping them away saying he got something in his eye or that he was experiencing some pollen allergies (even though he had no such allergies to speak of).

Nevertheless, he took her offer for a tissue gracefully which made her smile. Perhaps she was wrong about his mind racing? Surely if he answered so calmly it was her imagination.

"I'm very happy you enjoyed my performance." She said with a smile and a tiny pink flush in her cheeks.

Josephine couldn't help but notice he was taller than she initially thought. Somehow walking up to someone of his height versus seeing them in the crowd were two very different things even when one had a good reference to go by. He was taller than most men in Kanto. Gurt would be a rare exception. But for the most part men in Kanto averaged a height of about 5' 10". This young man was clearly several inches taller than that.

"May I ask which region you hail from? I'm afraid I'm not well educated in identifying clothing or other points of unique interest to the various cultures of each." She said with a subtly sheepish tone.

 

[spacepirate]

“Oh, I’m from the Unova region,” the researcher was quick to offer, nonchalantly slipping his hands into his pockets. “Though I doubt our clothing or mannerisms would be too distinctive. I mean, I’m my cottonee might be a dead giveaway, but it’s not here with me right now, and besides, I didn’t even get him until I left for the Institute...” It wasn’t until after he’d finished that sentence that the researcher blushed a bit, clearly embarrassed to have babbled and overshared. Privacy had never really been one of his strong suits- Davis was honest enough with himself to admit as much.

Hell, he ran a podcast for several years just because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut about conspiracies and oddball theories. Ungentlemanly as he was acting, this was nothing for him!

Plus, as far as secrecy went, he didn’t reveal that he was on the search for gigantic aquatic dragons, but that wasn’t really proprietary information anyways. If he told someone, there wouldn’t really be any consequences other than said person likely thinking he belonged in a therapy session and not a funded expedition. There was another thing he mentioned, though- the missing Pokémon! Darn, he was trying to keep that under wraps just in case, but he’d been disarmed by her soft gaze! This woman gave off such a gentle aura that Davis nearly forgot what had drawn him into the area in the first place! Well, he supposed if she asked about it, the skitty was out of the sack.

“But, uh, enough about me. Do you mind if I take a look inside your store?” Well, gallery and gourmet restaurants, he supposed, but he didn’t want to sound like too much of an egghead.

 

[GojiBean]

Curious indeed.

"Unova." She half whispered, more to herself than in reply to him.

She chuckled a bit when he said the Unova Region's clothing and mannerisms wouldn't be too distinctive. She would have disagreed if she knew more about the region as she was usually pretty attentive to cultural differences and could find them in some of the most obscure places if given the chance. Still, hearing about his origin and the existence of a Cottonee companion caught her interest.

Cottonee. A Grass slash Fairy type Pokemon. Light weight means it can float through the air with the wind or leap and float a distance at will like astronauts on the moon. Primary diet consists of sunlight via photosynthesis. Secondary consumption methods include Pokemon Food loaded with supplementary nutrients befitting a body geared towards photosynthesis. Standard temperament is calm submissive when alone and calm assertive in large groups. Family groups or mating gatherings will stand together against predators or intruders to the perceived territory. She thought.

She wasn't sure how long she was lost in those thoughts. But when she began snapping out of it he was speaking again and inquiring about Gurt's store.

"Of, of course! Please, do go on inside. The proprietor and his wife will be happy to see any new faces coming through. I hope you enjoy!" She said with a bow at the waist.

Her next dance wasn't for another hour. But she had a blanket and pillow set down so she could rest between performances and have nice sit-down talks with the other customers if they so desired. So she began to turn and prepare to have a nice sit for a few minutes. Standing all day during the festival would not be practical, after all, given her footwear being traditional wooden Geta.

 

[spacepirate]

The bow caught him off guard a bit, and it only served to remind Davis how little he actually had interacted with any of the locals. People didn't exactly bow where he came from- they did that polite form of head nod that meant you acknowledged another person, but it was never really anything respectful beyond the whole initial 'I see you' kind of mutual interaction. Bowing felt... more antiquated and formal somehow, and if he was being completely honest, it was a little bit uncomfortable, but he knew how important it was to show reverence and its derivatives in these parts of the world, so the white haired-researcher could do little but attempt to bow in return to the gentle-voiced dancer.

Hands stuck stubbornly in his pockets and neck too stiff to appear natural, the Unovan was clearly a stranger to the custom, but saw little other choice. Perhaps a stronger man would have stuck to his own values and refused to adapt, but he wasn't even thinking about the moral authenticity of such an action at the moment- the only thing that really mattered was finding that cottonee before it wrecked any havoc!

"Thank you again for the tissue, miss. Good luck with the rest of your dancing." Good luck, eh? Did that make sense to wish someone? He'd never been one for theater, really, and had the strange feeling that if he told the woman to 'break a leg', it might come across the wrong way. Well, nevermind that- with a final affirmative grunt, the man was already on his way through the establishment's doorways, scanning the shelves and dining tables for any trace of the offending grass type.

The store was certainly nicer than he thought it would be. It seemed like all the streets in Celadon were so tightly packed, and Davis had only assumed that the interior of the shops would be similarly cramped, but it was far more spacious on the inside and smelled of herb-baked loaves of bread. Wow, he wasn't feeling particularly peckish, especially after the absolute disaster of his previous allergic reaction, but someone in this restaurant and gallery combo certainly knew their way around a pile of dough and some plants!

Davis perked frantically, head craning over to a space beyond the dining hall, in what he only hoped was the kitchen and not the gallery portion, as he heard both shouts of shock and a clattering crash. Oh, Arceus- maybe he should just cut his losses and flee the scene of the crime, and let Floofles face the punishments alone! Surely that was the more logical choice if anything had gone wrong? Instead of doing the smart thing, though, he found himself headed toward the noise, compelled by concern for his partner.

 

[GojiBean]

Crash!

"Get it!" Gurt yelled.

"Wait, little one! Don't go-wait-no!" Mage called.

Crash!!

"Damn you ya little-"

"Honey! Don't! Jus try and guide it ou-NO! That's the burner top!"

Smash!

Gurt and Mage ran into each other trying to reach Cottonee who was happily yeeting itself across the kitchen while using plates, glasses, hanging utensils, pots, and the stove countertop just inches away from the burners to do so.

"You okay hon-"

"Just wait'll I get my hands on it!" Gurt interrupted.

"Honey, no!" She growled as she yanked him down by his lapel.

"It's just a little Cottonee. It's more delicate than you realize. Just try to guide it out the window or out into the entryway."

"If we guide it out there it'll start ruining the paintings on the walls!"

"No choice. We can't let it stay here in the kitchen or it'll burn itself!"

"Not our problem!"

"If it belongs to someone then we'd be liable for that, nimrod!" She growled loudly .

Gurt growled back but couldn't argue as Mage let go of his lapel, and then quickly fixed what she's just ruffled so he'd look presentable.

"Now, just calm down and let's try working together to guide the little thing outside."

"Fine."

Cottonee, by some miracle, had been sitting on top of a now empty shelf which once held three white plates which had since shattered on the floor watching the pair curiously. As the two of them began to try and arrange a formation to force it one way, it happily chirped and jumped off shelf and onto Gurt's head slipping between his reaching hands. Giving a tiny tap with its feet, it went sailing over Gurt's massive frame, its head just barely caressing the ceiling, over towards the sink where it landed on the faucet.

"Okay, hun. It's by the window. Now if we can just..." Mage began as they creeped forward.

"Just a lil' closer." Gurt whispered.

Cottonee slowly and happily swayed back and forth on the faucet as they drew nearer with the open window behind it.

"Now!" Mage called.

The pair leaped towards Cottonee who, once again, slipped through their fingers by leaping forward and gently bouncing itself off of Mage's shoulder. Mage and her husband, however, rammed into each other and fell against the cabinets with Gurt's elbow hitting the corner and sending a wave of Nope! through his funny bone and up his arm.

"Gagh! Little!" He exclaimed.

Cottonee, by this time, was floating away while facing the pair before turning mid-air to look where it was going. It was heading straight for the open door to the entrance and gallery where...

 

[spacepirate]

It didn't take long to locate the grass-type fibers of mischief and mayhem. I knew this was going to happen, Davis chided himself as he stepped as agilely as he could between shelves and concerned patrons, I knew that Floofles wasn't ready for a festival and took him anyways. The researcher only hoped that in the path of destruction, there was some hope for salvation of any kind... Arceus knew he didn't have the funding to entirely cover the damage to a store's infrastructure, but despite what the others at the institute would wear, he knew that his cottonee was no terrorist. It was just a curious pokemon that loved to wedge itself into small spaces and push things off of high places! Well, he recalled, there was indeed that one time that the grass type thought it would be hilarious to worm into the piping beneath the main residential hall and ruined the plumbing.

Everyone in the institute had to shower in the lab buildings for at least a few weeks- it was all Davis could do to convince them not to turn the pokemon into a throw pillow! Or, more specifically, the stuffing within one.

Davis found his partner in the gallery, following the clamor of shattered plates and pained shouts. He could only hope that they were people shouting in frustration, and that the cottonee didn't entirely lose its mind enough to attack someone. The odds of that were low, he imagined, but anything was possible, especially with how overstimulated the little floater clearly must have been!

The gallery room segued into what he imagined was either a kitchen or extended dining area, and if he wasn't so frantically searing for Floofles, maybe he would have had time to enjoy the paintings hung on the walls or even the few sculptures and arrangements sitting atop display cases. It seemed that there was a variety of styles, from more traditional calligraphy works to more realistic oil paintings. Were the shopkeepers also professional artists, or was this a showcase of local talent? It sort of reminded him of the street fairs that would attract tourists by the docks of his hometown- just ordinary people attempting to ekk a living.

"You!" He gasped at Floofles, who flitted peacefully through the air, without a care in the world, entirely too pleased with itself for a pokemon that had caused as much chaos as it had. Cottonee hummed a happy tune at seeing its partner, but otherwise showed no remorse for all the pain and suffering it had wrought. For a moment, Davis considered just sidestepping the situation and walking away. How would he find the colossal megafauna if he was in jail? But one look at Floofles erased any such delusions, and the man sighed before pressing the recall feature on his pokeball, attempting to store his partner before it caused any more issues.

 

[GojiBean]

Gurt and Mage stumbled out of the kitchen bumping into each other as they approached Davis and his mischievous friend. Gurt was red in the face with frustration while Mage was simply tired.

"Oh my... Thank you dear." She said breathlessly.

"That thing tore apart my kitchen!" Gurt bellowed.

"Oh shut it, hun." Mage said while elbowing him in the stomach.

"Apologies for my husband's outburst, dear. Is that your Cottonee?" She asked.

spacepirate

 

[spacepirate]

The very pokeball seemed to teem with guilty heat. It was entirely in Davis' own head, of course- the engineering behind the pokeball capsule system had been honed carefully over many decades and by the world's absolute brightest minds, but he could barely lift his gaze to stare the two shopkeepers in the eye. How awful of him, he thought, being too embarrassed and ashamed to even properly address the two small business owners he'd so terribly inconvenienced. Perhaps he was part of the reason that Unovans had such a lackluster reputation as disrespectful tourists. It was somehow even worse that he unofficially represented the Institute as well, at least if he elected to reveal that much about himself.

It was at moments like this that Davis truly wished that he'd worked on his Kantonian bow. A bow, he thought, might make his apologies seem that much more sincere.

"It is, and I'm just terribly sorry. It's... a bit of a troubled pokemon, and I knew the risks of having something with that many behavioral issues out and about, but I just lost track of it. I... would be happy? To pay for any damages, of course..." Well, happy wasn't quite the right word, since he only had so much grant money, but what else was the young researcher to do? Authorities and possible criminal charges aside, he just felt incredibly guilty, especially since the couple didn't at all seem like they deserved the sweat they'd worked up.

 

[GojiBean]

"Oh, don't worry about the dishes, dear." Mage replied, giving a wave of her hand.

"Whaddya mean don't-"

BAM!

Mage's elbow connected with Gurt's gut causing him to let out a deep "Oomph!" and bend over to catch his breath.

"Don't mind my idiot husband. We can replace the dishes easily enough. They day after the festival their prices drop to an almost year-round low."

Gurt straightened up, mostly, and rubbed his stomach while giving his wife a sideways glare which she happily ignored.

Moments later...

"Is everything all right? I heard Gurt yelling about something." Josephine said as she walked up next to Davis.

"Ah, Josephine. Never you mind, dear. You know how my husband gets when things happen unexpectedly." Mage giggled.

Josephine couldn't help but smile and chuckle with her while Gurt frowned with a huff and walked into the kitchen to start cleaning.

"Ah, I remember you." She said, turning to him. "Have you been able to sample the food or take in the gallery's artwork?"

 

[spacepirate]

At the new developments, Davis couldn’t help but release a breath he wasn’t even entirely sure he’d been holding. For a moment there, it had seemed as if he would have lost everything due to his cottonee’s mischievous streak and his own negligence. At that moment, his life flashed before his eyes- having to return to the Institute a failure, being written off as not only a loon but also the researcher who’d lost thousands of dollars trashing a local art gallery! Alright, so he might have technically survived the onslaught, but what kind of life had the white-haired young man led outside of his passions? There was little to speak of.

And yet, while he knew he should feel relieved beyond measure, it just didn’t feel right for him to leave without dealing with any of the consequences at all. Sure, no one looked seriously harmed, and for that he thanked his good fortune, but there was no doubt that his grass and fairy type menace had caused quite a stir, and it seemed like the morally reprehensible course of action to just ignore all that. Wait a minute, he realized, wasn’t this region known for its conventions? What if they expected him to do them a favor in return and had only dismissed his concerns verbally, as was the cultural norm? Aw, if only he’d cared half as much about learning the sociology of a place as he did their oceanic ridges!

“Well, I might not have much,” he spoke truthfully, “but I just feel so awkward about the way my Pokémon behaved, I think I really should insist that-“ Before he was quite able to finish his thought, though, the serene dancer from earlier seemed to float in from Arceus-knows-where. Oh, he admonished, clearly she’d walked in from the outside, where they’d just chatted a few minutes ago. Really utilizing that higher education, Davis, aren’t you?

“Oh, hello again, miss,” he address politely, but clearly still frazzled by the recent events. It was so unlike him to actually feel responsible for his antics, and yet he couldn’t feel as though he was taking advantage of the situation by just letting bygones be bygones. He’d hardly noticed that in the commotion he must have told the dancer his name, for even if she’d told him earlier, try as he might, it was nearly impossible to remember hers. “And, eh, not quite. See, my cottonee got into some trouble in the kitchen, I’m pretty sure, and I think I should really do something to help clean up, at least...” if not for their sake, than for his! His conscience would make it difficult to ignore this one.