Region of The West: A Quest Across Ryko

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(My appologies, I've been spending too much time on Gaiaonline.)
 
{ooc| Bumping, as I'm terribly afraid of it being bumped off... And Alter, you need to post...}
 
OOC: Yeah, I know...I've just been having terrible trouble getting posts together lately, and I've been having some trouble phrasing up this particular IC, sorry...-.-

IC:

{And get your little cat-neck wringed in the process, no doubt.} Hiro scoffed at Festival's comment, {Stay out of this, this is between me and Wilbur here.} he turned to the pig, {As for your...request, I can live with that, certainly.} he nodded towards the psychic type, managing something that almost looked like a smile, {It does you credit to request such, though.} he added, {Most would just retort with some lame treath. I'm certain that this arrangement will work just fine.}

Yikari's smile widened a bit as Amber let out a laugh at his tale, finally someone was contributing to lightening the mood around here! This turn for the better did not last long, though, as the girl soon proceeded to ask him about...Hiro? The boy briefly faultered from his usual instant answer routine. The way he had acquired Hiro, if that was the right term to use, was a bit of a sore spot for the boy, and even moreso for the Houndoom. He tried to catch the Houndoom's gaze, to, for once, ask for his advice, but it seemed to remain quite firmly on anything except for the boy's eyes, and Yikari, much like on previous times when the issue had come up, faced the nasty suspicion that there was something about the incident that the dark type didn't want to share but was clearly pondering. 'Still...' Yikari thought with an unusually bitter expression, briefly turning his attentino elsewhere to gather his thoughts, 'After all this time, he still wants him for a trainer instead of me?!' a usually very foreign feeling for the boy flared up inside him, jealousy, 'He'd rather have stayed, and-and...' he forced the last thought back, 'Stayed there to the end rather than come with me...I can understand why he would have thought that then, but I'm not like that anymore...am I? After all this time you'd think that he'd-'

Yikari cut himself off, suddenly becoming painfully aware of the fact that both Cynthia and Amber were still waiting for an explanation, and now probably weirded out as well.

"It's...a special story, Ambry-chan." he replied at last, switching his expression to an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, but...there's some history there that I'm not quite ready to share yet. Maybe another time. And besides, we can't stand about here talking all day, can we?" he continued, "We have a bank to robb and a letter to deliver, don't we? Let's go." with that, he set off in a careful imitation of his usual cheerful stride, but couldn't seem to find anything to say and so remained quite uncharacteristically quiet.
 
OOC: Where's Plushie at? Did school eat her too...? XD


Cynthia
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The blue-haired girl remained quiet and listened carefully as Yikari began to look, well, not prepared for that particular question. It was certainly suspicious, but that didn't mean it was something bad. Perhaps it was something sad and hard for him to talk about among such new people.

It was obvious that the boy didn't want to discuss it further, so Cynthia made a mental note not to mention it again if she could help it. She glanced curiously at Amber, wondering what she thought of Yikari's reaction. It was too rude to discuss with her though, so Cynthia just shrugged and turned to follow Yikari.

Wilbur frowned a little. He was suspicious of anyone who kept secrets, especially new people who talk with Cynthia.

"At least the weather seems pleasant today," Cynthia remarked to no one in particular, her mouth looking less melancholy and a little more like a smile.
 
Amber's eyes narrowed, scrutinising Yikari fiercely. "Well, if you say so." she said, in a bright airy voice that did not match her suspecting expression.
She glanced down at her vaporeon, who had given up on Hiro as a lost cause and was now padding around her feet, purring amiably. Amber felt a sudden rush of love for the feline, and bent down to pick her up. Festival mewed cheerfully, glad of this invitation for a cuddle. She clambered on to Amber's shoulder, her long finned tail curling around her trainer's shoulder comfortably.

Amber shrugged. "Deliver the letter.... Right. I don't know about you guys," she paused, shielding her eyes from the sun with one hand, "but I've never been to Ryko before, and I haven't even got a map. I've got no clue what this place is like..." she trailed off absently, and a smile curled her lips.
"Imagine!" she said suddenly, making a box with her thubms and forefingers and framing the horizon, "Thousands of miles of rapids, waterfalls, lagoons and lakes, just waiting to be explored!" Fesital raised her head, her eys glittering in excitement. No doubt, she too was seeing this great image Amber had conjured. "And mountains to climb, and caves to explore, and pokemon!" she clapped her hands together, and turned to Cynthia and Yikari excitedly.
 
"Lagoons and lakes, huh?" Yikari replied to Amber's comment, his cheerfulness and trademark smile soon returning now that the topic wasn't so awkward for him, "Heh, Marco would enjoy it, that's for sure. But myself..." his gaze grew slightly distant, "I'm more into meeting the people...just think of those millions of poor trainers, co-ordinators, officials, and ordinary people who have yet to experience the joys of the Arikawa line of quality products."

{Yea', dat's da' spirit, boss-man!} Hagure chimed in, {An' don' forget tha' pranks! Can't have a journey widout pranks!}

Hiro groaned as he heard this, and Yikari got the distinct impression that the Houndoom was rolling his eyes but didn't bother to check it.

"And just think of all the friends we'll make." Yikari added "Yes, I see grand things ahead of us..."

{And I foresee a lot of running.} Hiro remarked cynically, {Mostly caused by these 'new friends', no doubt.}

The boy didn't take any notice of this comment, however, turning to Cynthia instead.

"What do you hope to find, Cynthie-chan?" he added, although this was by no means only out of polite curiosity. The girl had certainly proven herself to be quite the...unusual person, and truthfully Yikari had no idea of what her idea of a good journey was, although by the looks of it it probably didn't involve precarious heights or anything of the sort.
 
OOC: Erm, sorry xoxkris, but Alter's right. I would consider any RP that is past page 3 to be one that is probably not accepting sign-ups. There are, of course, exceptions, but these are few and far between. ^-^


Cynthia
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While she was glad to see that Yikari was back to his cheery self, Cynthia was a little nervous at all of the talk of adventure. She shifted Wilbur around a bit as she thought of what kind of things she would like to gain or see on this trip. It was a good question, no doubt one that most would have rather normal answers to.

Well, then again, Amber and Yikari's answers weren't exactly... normal either. Not many people act as excited about absolutely everything such as Amber was talking like, nor do many enjoy the way Yikari makes friends. Cynthia settled on something.

"I, um, I guess I would really like to be able to, well, get over being afraid of things," she paused, "Like my f-fear of water. Or my my fear of heights... Or my fear of crowds. Or perhaps my fear of ghosts...." She trailed off, looking at Hagure nearby, a shiver going down her spine. She had left out her newest and worse fear though; her fear of electric pokemon.

"I think I have a lot of work to do," she said, still staring at the ghost pokemon, "There are more things I am afraid of, but to say them all would take an hour or so."

Wilbur chuckled, {I think you tried to make a joke Cynthia!}

"Huh? I was serious...," Cynthia said with a blank look, "Oh! I would also like to meet people, I suppose. My father always said that meeting new people would help me to, um, loosen up. At least that is what he says. That is why I journey about. You see I used to be afraid of bug pokemon, but I overcame it when I forced myself to train a Caterpie."

She thought of the little guy for a moment, a bit of pride swelling inside her.
 
Yikari chuckled at Cynthia's remark as well, although he cut it down at the point where she herself stated that she had been serious about it.

"Fears, huh?" the boy echoed as the girl finished her explanation, "Well don't you worry one bit, Cynthie-chan." he gave her a cheerful pat on the back, "Just stick around and we'll have those fears of yours conqured in no time."

{Yeah.} Hagure added to the girl in a low whisper, grinning in an almost demonic manner behind Yikari's back, {Exposure's tha' best remedy an' all...}

"What was that, Hagure-sama?" the boy asked politely.

{Oh, nuthin', boss-man.} the Haunter replied innocently, {Nuthin' at all...}

"That's what I thought." Yikari replied cheerfully, immediately turning back to Cynthia again, "Umm...Cynthie-chan..." he added after a while, his brow furrowing slightly as a flash of memory suddenly came to him, "...this fear of bugs you mentioned...does that include cute little Ariados too?" the tone of his voice was innocent, but there was a slightly guilty look in his eyes for those who knew to look for it, "You know...spiders not really being bugs and all?"
 
Amber's voice was horrified. "Afraid of water?" she glanced to her Vaporeon, who, on cue, gasped and put a paw to her mouth. "We'll get you over that, Cynthie-chan, just you wait!" She clapped her hands together, as if that finished it.

{ooc| that'll have to do.... we're kinda lost without Plushie, and I reeeeallly gotta get back to my homework.}
 
Strangely enough, Ernis had decided that it was best for him to keep silent. Following the group without much thought or care on where they were headed, continuing to hug the sleeping Remoraid in his arms. He didn't even know why he felt so... heavy all of a sudden. Behind him, his two pokemon gave each other worried looks, covering their mouths with either a fin or a branch. They knew better than to try and brighten up the situation. At least, not now.

Ernis had no use in commenting in on the conversation the others were having. Frankly, he had no idea on what they were discussing, too deep in his thoughts. It wasn't like they were keen on letting him join them anyway. It was always the same thing. No matter where he went, he'd meet the same type of people who'd shun him either way, it never mattered. It never would.

It always had to end this way. Just when he thought he was getting somewhere with making friends again, he should have known by now that there was little possibility of this happening. Especially to someone like him. Time and time again, people would tell him to get an attitude adjustment and change his view of life. The boy paid on heed to this rubbish. He didn't want to change the way he was, he was going to stay the same, even if it meant that he was going to end up hating himself. So, eventually... what was to happen to him?

Hope would've been helpful at a time like this.

".... Got no hope."
 
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OOC: Bumpy bump bump. XD I like this RP... hopefully Plushie can return... sometime. >.>


Cynthia
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"Really? Do you think so? I am a little better than I used to be. There was a time when I couldn't get on a boat without crying and such," Cynthia said calmly to Amber, she turned to Yikari though to answer his question, "Ah, yes, I am afraid of spiders too. Actually, arachnids in general. I'm not one to stick around when seeing any of them." She shivered. "It's funny you should mention Ariados...," she said to the boy, even though she looked like someone who had never thought anything was really very funny, "There was this one time when I, um, had a bad, erm, incident with Ariados. I don't really remember all of it though." She suddenly realized that they were both talking about her personal problems, and began feeling self-conscious. After all, what was more embarrassing than everyone knowing your faults?

Before she could think of that answer, she heard Ernis mumble something to himself. The sky blue-haired girl peered over to Ernis curiously. She didn't say anything though, for she didn't know the boy much at all, and it was already scary enough to keep herself talking to two people. Three people was just too much.
 
OOC: Yay! Ryko still lives! (Sort of, anyway. xD) Yish, it's a funneh RP and I don't want it to die either...please be back soon, Plushie. ;__;

IC:

"Ehh...yes, a funny coincidence indeed, Cynthie-chan." Yikari replied, putting on his most innocent smile, "Well don't you worry, before our adventure is over I'm sure that you'll be hugging and patting spiders with the best of them." he grinned, "They're really adorable little creatures when you get to know them."

'Incident with an Ariados...' the boy thought for himself, 'Surely it couldn't have been that time...'

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"But graaaaaaamps!"

"Sorry little dude, no can do." Hibiki Arikawa replied as he shook his head, the rapidly graying mane of what had once been black hair swaying back and forth as he did so until the old man caught it with a simple hand-motion and tied it up into a ponytail with absent-minded ease before proceeding with his morning warm-up routine. The room in which both he and his grandson were located in was obviously a dojo of some kind, with the simple but sturdy-looking wooden walls and furniture and the large training mat, teal in colour, dominating three quarters of the floor space, which only left a narrow strip of ordinary floor for the table of miscellaneous supplies and the sizeable cabinet of training weapons in the corner, "That little fella' might be docile in here where it's, huff, calm..." he performed a slow-motion kick to the side as he did this, "...and only people he knows are around." Hibiki proceeded doing the same motion in the opposite direction, his dark blue eyes not leaving the young Yikari for a second, "But if we take it out into the bright streets and all those crowds-huff-" he vigorously tightened the black belt holding his gi a good bit, "...he might get shocked and run for it. And that wouldn't be too cool for our homies on the streets. Ya' dig what I'm saying?"

The boy was still crouched in a corner of the room, affectionately patting a sizeable Ariados despite the fact that the arachnid was not only lethally poisonous but could probably have ripped a limb of by strength alone had it desired to, "But it has to be so boring to sit in here all day, gramps..." he persisted, brushing aside a strand of his dark brown hair which was getting over his eyes - he would really have to cut it at some point - "...couldn't I at least give it a little walk?"

"Not before nighttime, Yikz." his grandfather replied, starting out a complex series of moves and counter-moves, "And if you want to come along then, you'd best get your rear into gear, stop yammering and do some training with your old man, get what I'm saying?"

"Why grandpa...I didn't know you were old." Yikari replied with mock-innocence as he reluctantly got up and put the upper part of his gi over the white shirt he was wearing, attaching the white belt in a somewhat less fluent and elegant manner than Hibiki had, "Weren't you saying that you aren't a day over twenty?"

"Don't sass me, little grasshopper dude." his grandfather replied somewhat testily, "You're never a day older than you feel. I've just been twenty and holding for the last forty-seven years now." he let out a chuckle, "Now have you learned the fiteen first moves of the lock combo I taught ya' or what? Show me what you've got, Yikz."

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{...and we need to make Wilfred owe up 'bout what 'e's dun'.}

Yikari snapped back into the present at Hagure's conspiratory whispers, shaking his head slightly. 'Nonsense...there's no way even Cynthie-chan could have been afraid of cute little Ito...'

Somewhere in the more easily gullible part of his mind, he almost believed it, but the boy's attention was soon drawn elsewhere as he heard Ernis mumble something which didn't sound the least bit cheerful or even amusing. In fact, it seemed to be the polar opposite of cheerfulness, and Yikari was certainly not one to put up with such.

"Why Ernie-san..." he said, briefly walking over and placing a hand on the co-ordinator's shoulder, "...why the long face?"
 
Amber paused as Enris spoke. He had fallen so silent she hadn't even noticed him, and now he spoke, it was in a quiet, hopeless sort of way. She fell back a step, and threw a casual arm over his other shoulder. She winked at Yikari, as if to say, I'll handle this one. She had always been good at cheering people up - or so her mother had said. 'Oh Amby,' she used to exclaim, 'You do do bring a smile to everyone's faces in these troubled times!'
"Enris? You okay?" she asked the boy, her voice softening slightly.
Festival glanced up at her, and she and her trainer exchanged significant glances. Festival too slowed down, so she was walking behind Enris's pokemon.
{What's wrong with him?} she whispered to them, despite the fact the boy would not be able to understand.

Cynthia, too, was looking suddenly self-concious. She had lost the thread of conversation when Enris had spoken, so she didn't inquire. Probably scared again... she thought brusquely. Of course, I haven't always been brave...

For moment, she slipped back into the past. She was seven, standing in her father's office, her long hair tumbling down her back in beautiful, doll-like ringlets. It was silent, dark, and a thin layer of dust covered the furnishings. Her father was a kindly man, but ever so practical; his office was barred to his children. She used to stand in the doorway, watching him work. Hear it; the scratch of the pencil on the page. Smell it; soft shavings, graphite, soap eraser. It was a comfort, and always had been, to see him at his desk, brow furrowed in concentration. He was working. That's what Daddies do.
He had been gone three days then, but his office had not been used far longer, Amber remembered thinking. Dust in this quantity didn't settle in a week. Without her father, the room was haunting, menacing. The filing cabinet loomed, the walls were horribly close and it smelt... it smelt of death.
Daddy was gone, and Amber knew, in her little infantile mind she knew, he would not be coming back.

She shuddered, and brought her thoughts back to reality.
 
OOC:

Waaah, I'm so sorry for making y'all wait.. I shall whip up an IC in no time! It's like.. the least I can do to make it up for you guys keeping this alive.

*must get to work*



And now..


IC:


Oliver's eyes narrowed (for the upteenth time that day) as he watched the others talk, distracted from them only for a second as Piro's constant struggles to get down on the ground finally got to him, and he was forced to let the Espeon drop to the ground, where Piro immediately bathed in glorious freedom and perked up his ears so as to drop back into the current conversation. Apparently he hadn't missed much while he had been stuck in Oliver's arms.. now they all seemed to be wondering if something was wrong with that Sudowoodo's Trainer.

Oliver was less than curious, however, especially concerning Ernis' mood. What did he care if someone else was having a bad day? He had them all the time. Ernis would get over it eventually, and if his mood didn't let up, then they'd just buy him something so he'd cheer up and leave everyone alone for a while.

Ho-ho-ho, unusually cold-blooded today, aren't we, Olive-kun?

Oliver attempted to tune out his conscience mentally as he crossed his arms in irritation, proceeding to further block out his inner self by speaking out loud.

"So.. are we going to start making progress some time today? You know, maybe we could actually start looking for a map or something?" Oliver said with a sneer. It was really too bad that he couldn't just run away from them all.. no, then he would be all alone in unfamiliar territory. Travelling with these loons was unbelievably the safer option.

{Well, of course we could look for a map today, Skipper.} Piro commented, pausing in his eavesdropping. {It's just that no one knows where one obtains these, ahem, maps.} He finished with a flick of his tail.

"Well, okay then.. Maybe we should check the Pokemon Center and see if they have free maps. Is anyone who's listening up for that?" Oliver asked aloud, raising his eyebrows. He highly doubted that anyone had been listening to him at all..
 
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Ernis jumped back, snapping out of the trance he had been in earlier as he felt something rest itself on his shoulder, another slinging it's weight over him a moment later.

"W-What? !- Oh..."he screeched in an agitated tone, choosing to draw his voice to a softer volume as he realised it was just Yikari and Amber. The boy looked at his feet for a moment, erasing the thoughts from before as he gave the taller male and the girl a frown.

"Nothing's the matter. I just don't smile all the time, is all,"the boy said, the hand not on his Remoraid on his hip, trying his best to keep a level head. At least, not raise his voice. He didn't like the prospect of damaging his fragile vocal chords.
Yet, this made him start to think, the Coordinator was one who rarely thought. The little gears in his head which had gathered dust began to move, as he realised what they had asked him. Were they actually... caring for him?

{Ernie-ness is just in one of those bad moods he's always in, we all've gotten used to it.}Buu smiled at the Vaporeon, the 'all' in her statement referring to only herself, Chue and Rew.

{He always gets over them fastness though. No frettin'.}the Sudowoodo added, hugging the Feebas in her arms as she did so.

Meanwhile the boy was still pondering over the new question, anger and depress slowly fading away on its own.

"You're all being mean. Not letting the Grand Ernis Reanalds join your petty conversation."Ernis found himself talking in his signature, 'high and mighty' manner once more, crossing his arms lightly. Careful not to strangle the Remoraid in his arms.

"Ah, forgiven, forgiven."the boy added a few seconds later, waving one hand in the air in a 'I'll-let-you-off-this-time' tone of voice, mostly due to the fact that he was glad that he was returning to his normal, lovable self.

Behind him, the Sudowoodo and Feebas let out a sigh of relief.
 

Cynthia
---------------

"P-patting? And-and hugging?! I, um, I... can't really say 'I hope so' with all of my heart without it being a lie," she said, her eyes widening, "Oh... ahm, if they're really as adorable as you say then... maybe I will," Cynthia said in a rather high-pitched voice. She was picturing herself patting a ten-foot Ariados, with its huge fangs and spindly legs... not a welcoming picture at all. Those eyes did remind her of her old Butterfree's eyes, shiny and strange, but always kind and considerate.

She watched timidly as Ernis expressed his feelings, and she frowned a little at Oliver's comments. That boy didn't really seem very nice to her. Her ears perked up as Ernis had talked about not smiling. Cynthia shook her head and waited for him to end his words.

"Yes," she said to him in a quiet voice, "Y-you should continue to smile. Not smiling is something that people like me do. That's certainly n-not you at all Mr. Reanalds."

Wilbur, who had been enjoying the peace, suddenly glared at Hagure, {Now not that nonsense again! I'm not listening! I'm not listening!} He place his stumpy paws over the sides of his head, covering his teeny ears from all sound.
 
Yikari winked back to Amber as Ernis spoke up - the co-ordinator's words clearly proving that he was back to normal, "All yours..." he quickly mouthed with a mischievous grin, moving back from the scene.

"Ahh...most magnanimous of you, Ernie-san." he remarked in a mock-polite voice, bowing dramatically, "We are truly not worthy to stand by your glorious side. And Cynthie-chan is right. A good laugh lengthens your life, and we wouldn't want you to die young, would we?" he chuckled, turning around as Oliver finally spoke up.

"Huh?" he said, feigning ignorance even though he had clearly heard the boy's words, "Did you say something, Oliver-kun? I was too busy being an inattentive brat to hear you, but I believe that we should go ask around the pokémon center if anyone there would have a map. Wouldn't you agree?"

{Yes you are!} Hagure chanted gleefully at Wilbur's exclamation, beginning to spin around the Spoink in a disorientingly fast manner and retorting to every exclamation on que, {Yes you are! Yes you are! Yes you are!}
 
Amber looked at Enris curiously. She had expected him to mumble 'homesick', or 'frightened', or even 'hungry', and then she could have spouted some sort of kind and inspiring gibber-gabber and be done with it! It'd be a job well done, old chap, and that would be her good deed for the day completed.

She took her arm off Enris's shoulder and glanced to Oliver, who returned from...wherever he had been. "Yeah, we should find a pokemon center. Find out about the gyms in this region, and what not."

Festival peered at Hagure sceptically. {What does magmaminous mean?} she asked curiously, before adding, {why does your trainer speak so funky, Mr Ghosty?}
 
{Eh?} Hagure took a brief pause from tormenting Wilbur at Festival's question, scratching his spectral chin thoughtfully, {Dat's boss-talk wat' da' boss-man is talkin'. Das' wat' da' boss-man always does-} he paused abruptly, suddenly giving the Vapreon a suspicious stare, {Wat's wid' ya' askin'?!} he suddenly exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at the water type, {Ya' spyin' on da' boss-man, huh? HUH?! Are ya' in league wid' Wilfred?! Yah'! Dat's it, innit'?! Yer' in league wid' Wilfred! Owe up! We all know ya' dunnit!}

"Looks like Hagure-sama is reaching a grand conclusion." Yikari remarked, casting a sideward glance at the ranting Haunter "Might I suggest that we move on before the plot gets over-complicated?"
 
OOC: Poor Festival... now she gets to endure Hagure's 'paranoia' as well. XD


Cynthia
-----------------

{No I'm not! No I'm not!!} Wilbur squealed, continuing to cover his ears with his tiny, pudgy hands. Apparently he was not willing to give in yet. He stopped when he heard Hagure talk to someone else though, and looked down to see Amber's Vaporeon. For a moment he thought that Hagure would answer the question, but as the spook opened its mouth, any hope for that was erased. Suddenly it seemed silly that the pig had even considered that. {She is not in league with me you-- WAIT! I'm not listening!} he said, covering his ears once again.

"W-Wilbur! Calm yourself... they're only words... I think," Cynthia said timidly, wondering what in the world Hagure could be saying to make Wilbur so upset. She wasn't mad at the ghost, no, being mad at it opened the possibility of making Hagure mad, and Cynthia was afraid of angry people and pokemon. She especially shuddered to think of what a ghost could be like when angered.

She nodded to Amber and Yikari's words. "Um, yes, I agree," she said quietly, speaking but not really speaking to get noticed by anyone.
 
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