( OPEN ) i wanna be the very best . . .

[thunderwave]

Who: Lance (thunderwave) & YOU.
What: Open log for August!
Where: All over The World!
When: The month of August!
Content Warnings: None as of yet!

[ the world has changed, again. it seems to happen constantly, wherever this place is. lance still hasn't totally figured it out, by now . . . but upon finding new locations, he is going to check them out! with his big dorky looking dragon buddy. ]

(A) Lemon Cello Church

[ cake is something dragonite understands, and so while lance is exploring the church and taking in the beautiful architecture, the dragon-type pokemon is intent on the cake. his big snout snuffles the display case, and through some careful maneuvering, dragonite figures out how to get around to the back of it, ducking his head into the case itself to attempt to see if the lemon-flavored cake is . . . well, real.

it smells real. and lance looks summarily occupied, and while dragonite typically isn't one to cause a great amount of mischief, the cake is definitely the best looking thing he has seen since arriving to this chaotic nightmare. and so just when dragonite is about to take a bite -- ]

Dragonite!

[ lance's barked voice echoes throughout the church, and the dragon-type jerks his head upward, accidentally hitting his head on the case, and he lets out a disgruntled grumble as lance looks disapproving, gesturing a bit. ]

We have no idea what type of place this is, you can't just eat it.

---

(B) Mandatory Chicken Prompt

[ lance can also be found wandering around to explore the local fauna that seems to be changing every day . . . he's seen a few creatures that look an awful lot like smeargle, which is a bit odd. and lance is sitting on the shores of the lake on a nearby rock, resting his elbows on his knees as he watches the surface of the water, curious.

those magikarp have caught his attention, and lance wants to see if he can train one.

dragonite can be found lying on the sores of the lake, eyes closed. not sleeping, but . . . sunbathing? if there were such thing as sunshine. the wind is a bit bothersome, but lance doesn't seem to mind, eyes still trained on the water . . . or, at least, until a weird naked flying-type waddles by, walking on what appears to be human hands, clucking along.

lance opens his mouth, then closes it, his eyes following the weird creature. dragonite seems entirely unbothered. and the dragon master opens his mouth again before: ]

. . . what?

[ what in the actual fuck is that thing. ]

---

(C) Wildcard

This post serves as my open log for Lance for the month of August! Reach out to me if you would like something specific or if your character would like to talk to Lance. This post can serve the purpose of an "IC contact" for Lance for the month. You can truly find him (and Dragonite!!!!) everywhere. Make up your own prompt, go wild. I will roll with whatever.

Comments

(CLOSED TO: Blue)

[thunderwave]

[ he's really not trying to purposefully seek out blue . . . or maybe he is. but after the conversation with oak, it's hard not to let himself be concerned or worried. particularly when he knows blue would seek out his grandfather (or whoever the hell this guy was) if he knew he was here.

so, dragonite and lance are just sort of on a lazy scouting mission. you know, if they happen to find blue, that would be fantastic. and, sure enough, they do . . . by mt. silver, of all places.

lance supposes he shouldn't be surprised, but given there's at least seven other locations which are way more entertaining and less traumatizing, he is.

at any rate, they land some distance away, and walks closer, hands in his pockets. trying to figure out how to approach the situation without sparking a fight. and as he approaches, lance still doesn't really know how to start the conversation, other than slowing to a stop near blue, and ultimately settles on: ]

How are you?

[ he doesn't offer specifics, or anything like that, leaving blue the room to say something, or nothing at all. they have just arrived in a bizarre new world, so maybe lance is asking about that.

but it's pretty clear from the expression on his face that he isn't. ]

[halloflamer]

[A very long time ago Blue had come to develop his own habits and ways to protect himself mentally, emotionally, from the feelings he'd repressed about his family dynamics. A lack of nurturing, a lack of interpersonal relation. How he saw his own place in the family, and what he felt about his grandfather, all of it was an intricate tangle that had layered over itself in the many years since.... he became alone.]

[Blue, indeed, found his grandfather. And while it didn't go as catastrophically as Lance perhaps imagined it could have, it was.....]

[Different. It was a very different experience than what Blue is used to with his grandfather, and he hadn't been emotionally prepared for it. In an entirely different way than he was usually guarded, when it came to interacting with him.]

[It had been very oddly peaceful. And he can't put a name to exactly why he'd sat on the lakeshore and cried afterward, but he was glad that it had all happened when he was alone, and Red wasn't with him, and no one else had found him. So, like usual, only Eevee knew, and only Eevee was there to comfort him. But he preferred it that way.]

[When Lance finds him, it's a time after that- ...if 'time' even had a meaning here; Blue had at last started to become suspicious of how much he felt had 'happened' since arriving in this strange place. He had come to generally hang around Mt. Silver, because Red generally hung around Mt. Silver, and Blue wasn't comfortable with straying too far from him for too long. Perhaps it was self-explanatory. And it wasn't like Blue had much elsewhere to run away to that felt any more comforting.]

[...It helped that the bar was there, too.]

...What's with that face? [He immediately asks, instead of greeting Lance. He's propped up on a rocky, shallow cliff on the side of the mountain path, with a blank book he'd picked out of one of the strange buildings and a pencil from the bar.]

[thunderwave]

[ a soft 'hrm' escapes before lance glances around, pushing himself up onto a nearby rock to sit. dragonite finds space somewhere behind lance, to lay down too. to wait, presumably, for what is sure to be a long conversation.

or, well. maybe not. blue could choose to just not engage.

at any rate, blue asked a question, and lance ignores it much like blue ignored his own, watching the winding path of mt. silver for a moment in thought. ]

What are you writing?

[ at least lance sounds legitimately curious, glancing toward the blank book and pencil, resting his knees on his elbows as he makes himself comfortable. ]

Or have you not started yet?

[halloflamer]

'm not.

[A stubborn reply amongst stubborn unanswered questions. The both of them were used to this tit for tat dance of a guessing game- what Blue feels like addressing, what Lance feels like letting him get away with.]

[With Lance now settled next to him, it's easier for him to lean over and see the rudimentary beginnings of a sketch of some kind- there's a flock of those strange Pidgey pecking about in the grasses not too far from them, and Blue's been picking away at an awkward, half-formed drawing as he watches them.]

[He cracks a grin- kind of wry, and self-deprecating, as he feels Lance's eyes on it.] ...It's kinda messed-up looking, huh? I've never been very good at this kind of.... artsy stuff.

[thunderwave]

[ it is a little awkward looking, but far be it for lance to judge. he’s never really bothered learning the art or drawing, and so lance has no idea if he’s personally any good. ]

It doesn’t look that bad to me.

[ as lance inclines his head toward the bizarre pidgey. ]

You, of all people, should be able to get a closer look.

[ pidgey are fairly easy to train, but blue has a powerful bond with his pidgeot. getting to know these regional types should be a piece of cake, for him. ]

I’m surprised you don’t have one following you around yet.

[halloflamer]

Hmmm.

[And no, that's not exactly high praise coming from Lance, who Blue frankly assumes doesn't have a creative bone in his body, but.... He'll take it at half-value, at least. He pauses in his drawing to engage the conversation a little more, even though he's still suspicious of Lance's intentions.]

Oh, I've got a whole flock. The ones that roost over the bar love me.

[And he grins a little pridefully at that. Because that's right, he was practically a Pidgey expert!! It was too bad Pidgeot hadn't been able to adopt all the little fellows.... Though Blue suspects he'd mostly be crotchety and annoyed with them.] All you need is some food and they're all over you.

[thunderwave]

[ of course he does. and lance shifts his attention toward the weird little pidgey-like creatures, curious. he's never really trained other types of pokemon aside from dragons, which are . . . difficult, to say the least. you need a bit more than food to coax them into working alongside you.

still, that isn't to say training other types of pokemon isn't also difficult. and blue has a gyarados, so he's clearly capable of training anything if he wants to. ]

I wonder if food will work on the Magikarp.

[ thoughtfully.

behind him, dragonite snorts to himself in what suspiciously sounds like a dragon-like laugh, and lance ignores it, because fuck you, buddy!!!! ]

They aren't exactly inclined to peaceful co-existence with humans, here.

[halloflamer]

Heheh, I wonder-- what do you think they'd do if they caught you? If the answer is 'eat you', then probably!

[But if it was a matter of territory, well.... That'd be a straight battle, wouldn't it. But they couldn't do a whole lot as they were, besides maybe a Dragon Tail on Dragonite's part and a Headbutt from Eevee, so they might as well leave them be. When Blue'd been told about the weird Magikarp, he had to see for himself- but he didn't stick around too long, given the warnings.]

If you're gonna try it, don't look at me to help you recover your missing fingers!

[Cheerfully, Blue continues scribbling away, filling in the feathers of one of the Pidgeys' wings.]

[thunderwave]

I haven't lost any fingers yet, and I don't intend to lose any now.

[ dratini are way more inclined to bite your fingers off than magikarp, thank you very much, no matter how cute those little blue worms look.

but as he watches blue continue to fill in the drawing, he frowns to himself before shifting his attention back to the pidgey in the field below them. he supposes he could continue to beat around the bush and avoid the conversation, but that would do no good to either of them. ]

Have you spoken to him yet?

[ even if he hasn't, there are only so many people here. blue had to know by now, that oak is here. ]

[crystaltower]

It would appear to be some manner of chicken.

[Not quite as interesting to the Exarch as Lance’s companion is, however, which is what caught his attention as he wandered near the lake, and the reason he was close enough to overhear.

Finding it troublesome to keep his hood up in the wind, he’s let it rest around his shoulders, allowing anyone to see his furry, feline ears. When the wind catches his robe, his fluffy tail can be seen as well.]

It doesn’t seem particularly concerned by our presence, does it?

[thunderwave]

[ lance looks over at the newcomer, his eyes flickering to the ears only once before returning his gaze to the . . . chicken, was that what this young man had called it? ]

Not as such.

[ dragonite lifts his head to look at the chicken-creature, huffing to himself as he glances toward exarch, just to make sure he's safe! but sensing no anxiety or trouble from lance, the dragon-type resumes his nap. or nap-like state, anyway. ]

-- what did you call it, a chicken? It's species is familiar to you?

[crystaltower]

I have little experience with them, but they are commonly raised for both meat and eggs. They... don’t normally quite look like that, however.

For one thing, a chicken ordinarily has feathers... and if I am not mistaken that particular bird’s feet looked remarkably akin to human hands.

[He lifts his own hand up - the left, the one not made of crystal - to examine it. Yes, it did indeed have human hands for feet. How strange!]

[thunderwave]

Interesting.

[ a chicken . . . ]

It seems quite a few beings from our worlds have been taken here and mashed together with something else. Perhaps that's the explanation for the Pidgey . . .

[ not a regional variant, but a . . . mish-mash? at any rate: ]

Calling them a "chicken" versus "nameless Bird-type Pokemon" sounds better, so I think I'll settle on that, for now.

[ warmly enough, as he turns his full attention back to exarch. ]

I am Lance, by the way -- do you have a name?

[crystaltower]

Most refer to me only by the title of 'Exarch'. You're welcome to call me as you please, though the title has grown familiar over the years.

[He cast aside his identity long ago. There's currently only one person who knows his name, and even they only call him by title.]

So you are another who knows 'Pokemon' by 'types'. The terminology remains strange to me... we would think of chickens as 'cloudkin'. Your companion, as 'scalekin'.

[thunderwave]

It's a pleasure to meet you, then, Exarch.

[ easily enough, though lance almost wants to question the title. does he not have a name, then? it would almost be like someone calling lance champion instead of . . . well, lance. and some people do, he supposes, but he prefers his name.

. . . at any rate: ]

. . . scalekin and cloudkin -- I see.

[ narrator: he did not see. ]

I can see the logic behind that particular naming convention, I guess, but there are Pokemon that are not Dragons that also have scales, like Goldeen.

[ water-types are friends, too!! ]

[crystaltower]

Many wavekin also have scales. It is simply a matter of whether they dwell in or near water...

[Dragons... hm. He tilts his head slightly and takes another look at Dragonite, which really doesn't quite look like a dragon. Almost, but not quite.]

In truth I did not think your companion a dragon at first glance. Though I have little experience with them, I am familiar with many tales -

[He hesitates, as suddenly he recalls that dragons do not exist in Norvrandt, and giving hints that he is actually not from Norvrandt is something he has long tried to avoid. The slip is surely inconsequential here, where people are from lands so far departed from either, but...]

Tales of myth and legend, yet fascinating nonetheless.

I had not thought dragons could be quite so... rounded.

[thunderwave]

[ that . . . makes somewhat more sense, though the type system in pokemon is a bit more literal than that. flying-types and poison-types and dragon-types are all radically different, but can share some similarities. some poison-types can fly, after all.

. . . at any rate, lance blinks at being told dragonite is not a dragon (and is also round), before he glances at his partner, who looks equally puzzled. ]

Ah -- well, I can assure you that he's mostly muscle.

[ he's not fat he's just big boned!!! ]

And Dragonite's evolutionary line is actually one of the oldest Dragon-types in existence. They were almost hunted and over-fished to extinction, but few people at home don't know what a Dragonite is, even if they have never met one.

[ mostly thanks to lance being so famous, but, whatever. ]

What do dragons look like, at home? Or in your legends, rather.

[ tell him everything. ]

b

[starshower]

[If Lance looks a little closer, he'll see that this creature is carrying something in its beak: a small dish towel that drags along on the ground between its feet as it waddles quickly across its field of vision, its featherless arms spread on either side of its round body as if it's trying to run away from something.

He won't need to wait much longer to find out that... it is.

Tifa emerges from behind a tree, quiet and unaware of Lance and Dragonite even being there. She's trying to sneak up on it, and as soon as it pauses, its feet slapping against the ground as it turns to check if she's still behind it, she leaps out from her hiding spot and tries to grab it, but it manages to slip through her hands yet again. It drops an egg and runs, still clutching her dish rag.

She rolls her head back to stare frustratingly up at the sky, and it's only when she deflates that she notices Lance, and... Ah.

She waves.]

[thunderwave]

[ the scene that unfolds before him causes his eyebrows to arch slightly, though he does, at least, recognize the young woman chasing after . . . whatever that thing is. ]

Ah, Tifa.

[ easily enough, as he pushes himself up onto his feet. dragonite, too, lifts his head to look at tifa, the dragon-type's expression brightening at recognizing a familiar face. ]

Do you need help?

[ because, you know, he does have a big dragon who will happily chase a weird chicken dick for a dish rag. ]

[starshower]

[It is a bit of a strange scene, even Tifa knows, and it feels especially awkward when she reaches down and picks up the egg—first of many, she's sure. She gives up her pursuit of the creature for now, listening as the slapping of its hand-feet begins to fade as it puts more distance between itself and her.]

If you've got one to spare... Those little guys are quick!

[Agile. And it doesn't help that she's always doing her best to not harm any of them, so she's always careful when she approaches and tries to grab it...]

What exactly are they?

[Asked as if Lance would know. They must be Pokemon, right???]

[thunderwave]

[ without a word, lance inclines his head toward the . . . weird little pokemon, and dragonite immediately lifts his head to look in his direction before his gaze follows the chicken. and the dragon-type, very clearly, has an expression of are you kidding me? before he sighs, spreading his wings to flap once, before he darts after the chicken to fetch tifa's towel.

( dragonite might be in a sour mood because lance wouldn't let him eat cake, don't mind him. )

and while dragonite does that, lance says: ]

I am actually not sure.

[ with a shrug of his shoulders, a slight frown appearing. ]

I have never seen something like that before; it is unlike any Pokemon I have ever seen.

[starshower]

[Bless Dragonite. Maybe Tifa will sneak him a piece of cake later for his help...

For now, she watches as the dragon takes off after it. The chicken is nowhere in her own field of vision, having hidden itself within a thick bush of purple leaves near the ground, but she'll leave that up to the flying expert.]

Do you think it might be one? Maybe the other guys brought it with them...

[Red? Likely not. Blue? Raihan? Put them both down as maybes.]

[thunderwave]

Ah, I've traveled to most of the regions of the world, but have never experienced a Pokemon that looked like that.

[ though he admittedly hasn't been to alola . . . maybe the little weird flying-type was an alolan creature. he makes a mental note to ask red and blue later, though the other thing that tifa says strikes a chord: ]

Oh, do you mean the other trainers?

[ immediately interested, now. ]

I think I can say, with utmost certainty, that they didn't bring that to wherever we are. Though Blue might catch it regardless.

[ he does like flying-types. ]

[starshower]

[Tifa folds her arms.

The fact that neither of them know what that thing is helps no one, but she doesn't fault Lance for it at all. She's never seen anything quite like it in her life—she's pretty sure she'd remember it if she did—and she hopes she never has to again. The hands for feet, the skinless faces, the weird way it clucks when it stalks her with its beady eyes... or threatens to peck her when she gets too close.]

Well, let's hope he does. He was good with the Pidgeys on the roof, so if there's anyone who could stop them from stealing from my bar, it's him.

[She is putting her utmost faith in that. Mental note to introduce Blue to these things later.

But as she does just that, the noise of the creature's feet returns, as it sneaks up behind where Lance is perched to peck at him from behind!]

[thunderwave]

[ it is rare that lance actually pokes fun at blue (or red, or really anyone). mostly because navigating poking fun at blue is a minefield on the best day. he's rather sensitive for such a blustering personality.

that being said, lance has full faith he can, you know, deal with it. ]

I would recommend him in a heartbeat.

[ warmly, seemingly not noticing (or really caring) that the weird flying-type is sneaking up on him. ]

He is, by far, the most qualified person to deal with that particular problem. He is one of the most decorated Champions that Kanto has produced, and has the temperament necessary to handle whatever problem is put in his path. You --

[ but there's a sudden scuffle, as dragonite suddenly returns to snatch the weird chicken and drag it backwards away from lance, and lance blinks before glancing over his shoulder, arching his eyebrows as dragonite lifts the chicken into the air, grumbling in disapproval as he shakes the flying-type a little, to finally free tifa's dish towel from its weird grasp. ]

You are a little slower than usual.

[ observantly, as lance looks up at dragonite, his brow furrowed, and dragonite huffs to himself before (delicately) dropping the weird chicken thing back on the ground, as lance stoops to collect the dish rag. ]