Beginner RP: CowboyJake (Botanic Gardens)

NBP #5

Mud drenches every bit of Babbs' side from where she'd tried to at least partially turn away from the flinging mud. It's as if a whole side of her and her parka have been painted in dark, fertile earth. As the rain beats down, it begins to slowly spot and streak the mud away.

"I'm alright, sonny," she calls as she wipes mud from around her left eye with her clean right hand. The parka hadn't quite been able to protect her face. She washes her hands in the rain to try to obtain some semblance of cleanliness, but not too urgently--if there's one thing Babbs has learned, it's that dirt was just part of the job here. "I'm not hurt, just got my skin moisturized by a mudbath, yeah? Arceus knows I needed it!" comes the good-natured joke. Watery blue eyes turn toward Jake and his Pokemon, and she can't help but feel her heart warm a little at seeing the bond the two share. Fondly, she thinks of her own Pokemon, and remembers when she was that young with Nana.

The mood sobers, however, as attentions turn to the wounded creature who had caused it all. As the Trainer and his Pokemon approach, Babbs notices that the clouds that had whisked in above are less dark, now. Sure enough, the downpour begins to soften just enough to let Jake be heard over the rain. The sun will return soon.

Small Budew barely even notices them nearing until his voice rises over the rain. Beady eyes swoop upward to rest upon him, wary at first, but then as the Trainer's tone and lowered stature registers, the tension seeps slowly from his body. The Budew gives a small chirrup of defeat, but also of relative hope. It rolls weakly from where it rests on the bottom of its bulb to its tiny feet.

Sluggishly, but still with attempted heart, the budding creature manages a slow twirl, one that ends with the tip of its bud resting upon the Pokeball's center. Just before the ball consumes him, he shoots a hard look at Mark--perhaps there wouldn't be too hard of feelings, but the Poliwag had invoked a spark of rivalry. The Budew would best him, someday! There's a flash of red light, brilliant and blinding and all too familiar, and then the Pokeball falls with a splat into the mud. It doesn't shake. After a few moments, it clicks.​

Budew / M / Sassy / [CAPTURED!]​

The rain finally peters out as the ball clicks, but the clouds are slower to move out. World around them sits still beneath a plain of dark gray. In the distance, golden light can be seen beginning to wash the land behind them. Slowly, bits of that light begin to creep through the shifting. Shafts of light begin to strike from the heavens and down into the area around them, the first of them cascading straight onto the Parkball where it rests in the mud.

Babbs looks up and smiles. "Guess it was just a bit of a quick front." She watches as the rainclouds race ahead of them. "Good job, kid." Her gaze swipes out to the vibrant, plant-filled landscape around her. It's quiet in the nearby parts of the Gardens as the world only just begins to raise its head, wondering if it's over.

They're not quite cleansed of the mud on their parkas, and Babbs not quite clean of the mud on her face. She surveys the nearby area with sharp eyes and spots the glimmering of a pond about forty yards away. Ancient woman nods toward it. "Let's wash up there so I can get 'em clean and dryin' up." She heads toward it, waiting to remove her pack until she had a dry spot she could set it on. Then, she wriggles out of the bright yellow parka--the twin to the dark blue one she'd entrusted to him. She begins to wash it in the small, glimmering pond.

"You lookin' for anything else here, Jake?" she asks quietly, making idle conversation as she works, and hopefully as he does the same! "That rain'll soak every bit of the Gardens deeper in. A lott'a stuff just hides from it, so pickings might be a bit slim. We could head across here and head back on a different route if you'd like; critters will just now be coming out after the rain."​

Encounter Stats:
n/a​

Trainer Stats:

Spoiler

Jake Aldenberg at the Botanical Gardens!
Remaining Encounters: 2
Environment: The brief downpour has raced away ahead of them. It'll still be muddy trekking from here if they choose to go forward!
Pokemon Encountered: Cherubi, Sunkern, Budew
Pokemon Captured: Budew M Sassy

Items: Park Ball x2, Energy Powder x1, Lava Cookie x1, Pokedoll x1

MCR: 0 characters
Total: 29,805 characters

Pokemon Stats:

Spoiler

Mark / Poliwag / M / Mild / Water Absorb / 68%
EMs: TM Rest


Sara / Duskull / F / Hardy / Levitate / 62%
EMs: TM Trick Room

 

And that, it seemed, was that. A third member of his crew. Jake grinned from ear to ear, pulling out a sticker sheet and affixing one in the shape of a flower to his newly occupied Ball. Mark, for his part, was trying very, very hard not to look smug. "Hey, don't get cocky, Mark. You both have plenty of growing to do. In the meantime, I think you're gonna have to share your corner for tonight." It's only after that reply that the Trainer realized just what a mess he looked, and just how uncomfortable mud in your boots can be. Squinting up towards the clearing rain while he wiped muck off of his... well, everything, he turned back to the Ranger accompanying him.

Following her to the small pond, he dunked his poncho a couple of times in the clear water to get it looking presentable again. "Actually, Babbs, I'm sorry, but what time is it right now? Two? Three? I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to stick around for too much longer, it's a pretty long way back, and my guys..." Jake motioned silently towards Mark, who was already clearly only still awake through supreme force of will. Hefting the half-dozing tadpole back into his arms, he smiled and nodded once more. "I gotta say, though, this was fantastic, you know. Thanks again for rangering for us! Oh, wait, hang on, you're gonna want this jacket back."

 

NBP #6

Babbs looks up to him, listening as they wash the ponchos. Gaze follows his voice to his tadpole companion as he mentions him. A warm smile tugs across her features, droopy jowls raising as she does so.

"That's quite alright, sonny," she warbles back at him, heaving herself with a soft groan to her feet. She gently takes the poncho from him and pairs it with her own, then hooks them to the top of her massive pack, so they'll begin to dry in the sun as they walk back. Squinting blue eyes sweep to the Poliwag once more. Fondly, she reaches a wrinkled hand out to give him a soothing pat. His Pokemon had worked hard today, and deserved the rest--that much was certain!

She looks out to where they'd came. Then, she reaches within the flap of her kimono to pull out a light blue Pokeball. It releases a graceful creature, one crafted of clouds. Duchess the Altaria alights upon the earth with a cheerful trill, slender neck craning small head to look at the three.

"Duchess here will get you back safely and comfortably. I'll walk; I like the scenery." For a few moments, she stares at Jake contemplatively. "You're a good kid. Take care of your Pokemon; they love you very much." Tone is warm, motherly, shining with the same light that beams from her smile. "Don't get in too much trouble."

Soon, they all disembark--Babbs, on foot, with gnarled cane striking the damp earth, and Jake, upon a cloud, with his companions. ​

RUN COMPLETED!​

Trainer Stats:

Spoiler

Jake Aldenberg at the Botanical Gardens!
Remaining Encounters: 2
Environment: The run has ended!
Pokemon Encountered: Cherubi, Sunkern, Budew
Pokemon Captured: Budew M Sassy

Items: Park Ball x2, Energy Powder x1, Lava Cookie x1, Pokedoll x1

MCR: 1,319 characters
Total: 30,104 characters

Pokemon Stats:

Spoiler

Mark / Poliwag / M / Mild / Water Absorb / 68%
EMs: TM Rest


Sara / Duskull / F / Hardy / Levitate / 62%
EMs: TM Trick Room