Inbox for victory_road

[bigsadwolf]

Leave Legosi a message, or a video, or an egg sandwich or something.

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DOG TIME DOG TIME DOG TIME

[demonpuppy]

[Chip has not been idle waiting for Legosi to reach Cherrygrove. They've spent nearly the whole week trying to track down the Absolute Best Partner they possibly could for Legosi, spending a not insubstantial amount of time attempting to figure out the Platonic Ideal of Dog.]

[...mostly they decided that fluffiness is vital, but. You know.]

[Regardless, once they get the call from Legosi they head right on over through the teleporters--a hair too fast, given their queasy expression, but their arms and pockets are full of puppo and they immediately start looking around for Legosi.]

DOG TIMEEE

[bigsadwolf]

[The trip had been...long. Arduous. It had taken Legosi the full week he spent walking just to finally start to get used to missing his tail, and even then he felt like he was walking with two left feet sometimes. But strangely enough, the time out on the routes with few people and fresh air of the forest had done wonders to calm his nerves, at least initially. Of course that meant being jumped by trainers and Pokemon alike was it's own kind of stressful, but he's managed...namely in the form of some new friends he's picked up along the way.

He isn't surprised to find that many types of bugs live in the forest, but he hadn't expected to encounter so many that would want to stay with him. So, by the time he made it to Cherrygrove he'd added three new members to his Buneary-only team: A Dewpider, Surskit, and Heracross.

All bugs. It's fine.

He's had some time to have the nurses explain how Centers work to him, but more than anything he's relieved to have somewhere indoors to stay for a few days. He hasn't forgotten Chip, though, and decides to call them over while his Pokemon are being healed after the long journey. They'll see him sitting on a bench across the room, hunched over with his arms folded across his knees. When he notices Chip arrive (he'd seen a few people teleport in by now, but it's no less surprising each time), he forces himself to sit up slightly in the hopes he seems a bit less...imposing, raising one of his hands a little in greeting.]

There you are. Hello.

[demonpuppy]

Oh! Hi, Legosi!

[Chip doesn't seem at all intimidated, grinning widely and running over with an incredibly shaggy Poochyena in their arms and a Salandit and Pikachu on either shoulder. The first, of course, is immediately dropped into his lap with not a whit of preamble.]

Can you hold her for a sec, I gotta get everyone else out!

[bigsadwolf]

Wha-

[He starts to open his mouth to speak, but before he can there is just...suddenly a puppy in his lap. It causes him to go rigid, perfectly still as if he's afraid moving will frighten her as Chip makes to tend to their other Pokemon. Whether Legosi decides to finally move on his own or not doesn't matter, because the decision to make a greeting is made for him.

Namely, when the Poochyena immediately turns around in his lap so she can put her paws up on his chest, more or less forcing Legosi to carefully lay his hands against her sides so she won't slip off as she starts to sniff at his collar.]

I- ...h...hello...

[She's so small, so furry...]

[demonpuppy]

[Chip doesn't pay this momentous occasion any mind, busy as they are digging out the four other Pokeballs they have on them.]

Come out, everyone!

[And with that call and a toss into the air, four more dogs pop out to crowd around Legosi with great interest. Two of them are the Lycanroc that Legosi saw before, and the others are two fire types--an Arcanine that is a truly fluffy example of his species and a little Houndour that hides shyly behind the rest of the pack's legs. Chip turns back around proudly, hands on their hips and beaming.]

This is everyone! You saw Precious and Joey before, but this is Rex and Pit!

[bigsadwolf]

[And just like that, there are...canines. Canines everywhere. It is, in short, overwhelming...and at first the most Legosi can do is remain seated where he is on the soft bench with the Poochyena getting increasingly curious about his interesting smell while the Lycanroc pair and Arcanine have no problem getting up close and personal.

Like when he saw Precious on the Gear, it immediately triggers something viscerally instinctive in him that hadn't gone away despite his body physically changing. And while these Pokemon may not be familiar to Legosi in the same way his friends might, it's the first canine interaction he's really had since this whole experience began. He's seen rabbits, bugs, even living plants, but...

He shifts forward, suddenly sliding off the bench entirely onto his knees on the linoleum. He's tall enough that he's still more-or-less at eye level with the tallest of the group, and with one hand still holding the Poochyena securely in his lap, he reaches his other out and lets it burrow into Rex's fluffy mane. It's easier for the Pokemon to crowd around him in this way, and for him to offer the same greeting in kind.

Namely, by sniffing them. Which might seem...really fucking weird??? But it's happening, Legosi trying his best to keep contact with all of them that are receptive to it.]

Ah...ah...Rex, Precious...

[His throat flexes, and for a wild instance he's afraid that he might start crying. He doesn't, but he can feel it threatening to come with a heated burn at the back of his eyes.]

[audio]

[lightningfang]

[Because Legosi seems to prefer it that way!]

Um. It's me.

My friend... we are going to the, um, "prom." Want to know if you go. Or need a place to stay. There.

[bigsadwolf]

[He does! Bless you, Razor. He'll eventually get into using video like a normal person, he's just...nervous. Best to just stick with what seems easiest, he's bad enough at just texting people.

Still, it's a bit of a surprise to hear from him. He'd only just this morning gotten an invite to it himself, which was even more surprising. What kind of people invite strangers to a big party, much less something labeled as a "prom"? Like yes, it wouldn't be the first he's been to, but the last one he'd attended was...intense. He doubts this will be like that, but...]

I hadn't decided yet...I don't know if I could afford anything nice to wear if I did go.

[BUT...he would like to meet Razor, now that he thinks about it. A fellow wolf...or the closest he will come to that.]

Do you think I should?

[lightningfang]

[The concept of "formalwear" or even of dressing up in general is so outside of Razor's purview that he completely ignores it. Wait, unless...]

You... don't have clothes? [He's pretty sure Legosi had clothes in the brief video the other day...]

... Maybe. Big places with humans... not so great. But, there is lots to do outside. Running, laying in sun, 'mons to meet...

[bigsadwolf]

Oh, no- I mean...I have clothes. They just aren't...nice clothes.

[They're nice enough? But not nice enough for a prom, and Legosi is thinking like...highschool prom, that sort of thing. He doubts most people would be coming up wearing t-shirts and jeans.]

I will be honest, I'm...not sure how interactive I would be, but before I came here I had been trying to be more social.

[He'd been doing well, it's just hard when you're dealing with so much else on top of everything.]

But...I would like to meet you, if you will be there.

[lightningfang]

[Ohhh. So, more like everyone else's clothes, probably. Not the "rags" and "scraps" and "oh my Arceus what is that" that Razor wears.]

I understand. Me too, I think... [It's a lot harder here, though, with so many areas concentrated with people.]

Yes. We can meet.

[bigsadwolf]

[If Legosi's tail were a part of him anymore, it would definitely be wagging. There was something else Razor mentioned, though...]

You also mentioned...a place to stay?

[lightningfang]

Oh... Yes. My friend, she gets her own den. So am I. So, if you want, I have space. [Maybe it'll be less lonely like that?]

[bigsadwolf]

[On one hand, having a room to himself would just make sense. He's been alone for the most part so far, other than when Chip came to see him once he reached Cherrygrove. On the other...going to a party entirely alone is a bit sad. And he's only enjoyed the time he's been spending with his neighbors at the apartment complex...

In the end, he decides not to think on it too deeply.]

In that case, I wouldn't mind...assuming your friend doesn't mind.

[lightningfang]

Oh, doesn't mind. Already asked. Hope we are near her, but, we can... "hang on." [That's how that goes, right? He's pretty sure...] And, if human building is scary, I know best spots outside.

[demonpuppy]

[Bold of you to assume that a dog ever refuses an affection. ...well, okay, some might, but certainly not these ones. Joey and Pit seem a bit surprised by the sniffing, but Rex returns the gesture with enthusiasm, and Precious attempts to do that weird lick-in-the-mouth thing--sorry for the awkward, Legosi. Tails are wagging, and Pit comes forward to put his paws up on Legosi to get a better sniff himself, same as the little Poochyena.]

[Chip, meanwhile, is a bit squished into the middle of this, but it doesn't stop them from catching that distressed-adjacent look on Legosi's face. They make a nervous sound in the back of their throat, briefly attempting to reach for Legosi before thinking better and hugging onto Rex instead.]

A-are you okay? Is something--?

[bigsadwolf]

[There he goes again, making things awkward...Legosi doesn't seem to mind the licking, though he won't lick Precious back. That's beyond the scope of what he seems willing to do, though the rest- the sniffing and the close contact- is welcome. It's a strange sensation to have these feral canines putting their paws on him, he will admit, but it's not something he's unhappy with either.

Legosi nods quickly, some of his grey hair falling past his eyes as he lets the others explore and get familiar with his scent. He unfortunately can't pick up the nuances of their scents that he used to be able to- much less be able to file them away for later use- but that likely won't matter here.]

Everything is alright. ...thank you for bringing your pack to meet me, Chip. And for this little one, too.

[He's referring to the Poochyena, who is occasionally yipping up at Legosi when SHE is not getting the most attention >| ]

[bigsadwolf]

[Speaking to Razor leaves Legosi wondering more and more just what wolves are like, exactly, where he is from. If they find buildings to be scary...]

That sounds good. I do like being outside...and I've been enjoying finding new types of bugs here that don't exist back home. Or, "Pokemon", anyway. I'm hoping there will be some at this party, too.

[lightningfang]

Bug 'mons... What kind? Maybe you can meet Jinx 'mons. Jasper, Sterling, Freeze-a... [His recollection of their names gets worse as he speaks.] Um, they are like spider, bee, and cricket!

[bigsadwolf]

Right now, I have Pokemon that resemble a spider, pond-skipper, and hercules beetle. I would like to meet these other ones as well. I like all sorts of insects, but I think beetles are my favorite.

[Ah, there's that odd sensation in his spine again...the urge to wag a tail that no longer exists.]

[lightningfang]

Beetles? Why? [It's an innocent question! Razor's never given them, or most bugs, a second thought, so he's curious about what their appeal is.]

[bigsadwolf]

It is hard for me to explain with words...

[He's not terribly good with them, you see.]

The best way to understand, I think, is to take the time to watch them for yourself. They are surprisingly intricate creatures...they aren't as intelligent, but they can do things you wouldn't expect without seeing it for yourself. They live, breed, and fight to survive the same as anyone else.

And...I have found they make very good listeners.

[demonpuppy]

[Chip smiles back, relieved, and hugs Rex a little bit tighter. Might as well get comfortable, since it doesn't seem like their Paliens will be moving any time soon.]

Well, I--I didn't want to leave you being lonely or anything...!

[bigsadwolf]

[Yeah, Legosi is actually sitting on the floor now as he pets Chip's dog friends. He doesn't seem to care if people are staring at him, either.]

It will make travel a lot more exciting, that is for sure.

[In more ways than he realizes just now, even.]

My other Pokemon are being taken care of by the nurses right now, so they can come meet her later...mm. I will have to think of a good name.

[lightningfang]

[Razor understands! He starts to nod, but realizes at a certain point that Legosi... can't see him. Ugh, words really are hard.

He sort of gets it, though. Or at least he tries to. Most humans don't try to understand wolves, after all. It's similar enough.]

They listen...? Do they talk also?

[bigsadwolf]

They don't. Insects cannot speak in my world. To tell you the truth, I am not sure how much they do understand...but they're still important to me anyway.

[And even if they're not sentient and serve as a food source above all else for most carnivores, that won't detract from their importance to Legosi.]

It is more that they make for a good...stand in, when you want to be alone.

[demonpuppy]

[Better than being stared at for biting your own dad, my guy.]

Yeah--oh, I can help if you want! I'm the best at names!!

[And with that beaming face you can tell they absolutely mean it.]

[bigsadwolf]

[Legosi seems charmed by that, nodding.]

Oh? What sorts of names do you usually come up with for yours?

[demonpuppy]

The best ones, duh!!

[They just said so! As an example, Chip reaches into their shirt and pulls out a Salandit, who wiggles around happily and croaks a greeting.]

See, this is Lazzo, he was my starter! And this is Espie! [Here Chip indicates the Pikachu riding on their shoulder, who waves with a cheerful 'Chaa~'.] --oh, you can't tell right now, but she's really an Espcheep.

[bigsadwolf]

[Legosi gasps a little, mainly because he had no idea that Salandit was even in there...but he will wave slightly at them both, first to Lazzo, then to Espie.]

Oh, those are very nice names. Wha-

[Chip, as talkative as ever, never ceases to be able to cause Legosi's thoughts to halt immediately and have to shift to asking more questions.]

An...'Espcheep'?

Delivery, June 26

[heartofalioness]

Sometime after the festival, Legosi will be visited by a delivery Pidgey, bearing an envelope and a friendship bracelet woven in steel gray and a pale pink not unlike the markings on Allura's cheekbones.

Dear Legosi,

I woke up with this under my pillow last night. Keith tells me it’s a “friendship bracelet,” and I have a feeling this one belongs to you. Your generosity when I first arrived in this world still warms my heart, and I sincerely hope I can one day repay the favor to you.

Thank You For Your Friendship,
Allura