#its mostly pokemon haha

[ragnarokhound]

For the au ask game!

OKAY I wanted specifically to get to the pokemon au from the ask you sent, it's been cooking a bit so it's time to see what comes out of the oven, so... @azol-otl ty for the ask!

Crossover au's are all about the fused worldbuilding for me and speculating on how characters from universe A would fit into universe B heehee hoohoo - and for Batfam especially it's fun to think about the equivalent of their roles as vigilantes! What kind of people have the same level of celebrity, the same sideways seeking of justice?

Naturally this leads you to the gym leaders because a) it's the most fun and b) they are like. Quasi-law enforcement/educators/professional athletes depending on how you try to translate the innate child's perspective on the pokemon universe into something that makes sense as an adult lol ilu pokemon. [insert 'compels me though' gif here]

SO with this in mind, here's 5 fun facts (that are mostly backstory lmao) from a jaytim pokemon au I would write

I'm deeply ill about pokemon so this one goes under the cut lol:

Jason Todd used to be the Champion. He won the role after Dick Grayson quit a year or two before (Dick had been getting older and chafing under the League rules - meaning he'd been chafing under how Bruce ran the League) and was a fierce competitor who didn't believe in going easy on anyone. His Houndoom was a force to be reckoned with, and despite running a mostly Dark-type team, his Honchkrow cleaned up anyone thinking their Fighting-types could sweep. He looked after the League and Gotham with a cocky, self-assured attitude and the win record to back it up. .

Jason disappeared suddenly at the age of 15. Many assumed him dead, after a Rocket (Or whatever Gotham themed gang name we want to go with lol could be Team Joker) bombing in the area he'd last been seen, but he's officially declared missing. Bruce Wayne took back the duties of interim Champion as he once did for Dick Grayson, but he's not quite the mentor he once was. It's obvious he's grieving, and that he doesn't want to mentor any more twelve year olds. Dick signed up to be a Gym Leader shortly after this, returning from his trip about a year early to help out in the chaos following Jason's disappearance. .

Enter Tim Drake. Tim's gym challenge wasn't all that interesting in the circuit at first; he had a rocky start and had to retake a few gym challenges. He wasn't exactly sweeping on his first try every time like Jason had done. He didn't have the meteoric rise that caught the Champion's attention early, didn't get one-on-one mentorship or face-to-face meetings, cautionary advice and congratulations all rolled into one from Bruce Wayne himself - but Tim had patience and grit, and he paid attention. He was gunning for the Championship, and it wasn't just so he could prove himself. Team Rocket/Joker was still out there, and Bruce needed all the help he could get. He was always better for Gotham when he had a Robin. .

Dick had been nicknamed Robin for his all-Flying-type team and especially his Natu-then-Xatu; Jason followed up with his Murkrow-then-Honchkrow; Tim's Rookidee was one among many (Robin-esque pokemon were popularized by Dick and the trend remains through Tim's day) so he wasn't considered a possible Robin successor until it was a Corvisquire and he was about to face Dick Grayson himself, a badge away from Victory Road. By then, Tim and his team were a well-oiled machine (he runs mostly Steel-types lol but also Normal-types for the unexpected adaptability and the 'underestimate my rattata i dare you it's in the top peRCENTAGE--' of it all. FEAR.), and his loss-record had all but frozen while his win-record ticked higher and higher. .

Shit finally goes down about three years after Tim has become Champion and all but bullied Bruce into mentoring him (he basically said 'if you don't watch me, i'll go find Team Rocket/Joker on my own' and triggers all of Bruce's child endangerment traumas simultaneously) and the mysterious Rocket/Joker leader Red Hood shows up, bringing the gang out of the shadows in pursuit of a hidden agenda. Identity shenanigans and "wait is that a Houndoom? But he's only been using Ghost-types, it CAN'T be..." and heel-face turns abound. .

(BONUS FACT: Something something, Jason went into deep cover with Looker or whoever he is, that Interpol guy from X & Y (WAIT. LOOKER MIGHT ACTUALLY BE TALIA AL GHUL IN THIS AU HOHOHO), infiltrating the Rocket/Joker gang and going public as Red Hood is the first step in the last phase of the sting. Cue a million tense Jaytim interactions in which Tim is legitimately trying to take Red Hood down and Jason desperately tries to shake him so that he doesn't do anything that forces Jason to blow his cover. There is at least one 'tugged into a tight space to hide them both from the actual bad guys, "wait, did you just HELP me...?" "Think whatever you want, babybird"' interaction because I am a slut for the first sprinkles of a redemption arc that is rife with UST fufufu)

[candyredappledragon]

kieran everyone's sweetest favouritest little guy. ever.

what are your thoughts on each of the BB elite 4??

ah.. geez. i am not everyones favorite andnotthatsweet..

for the elite 4. they are really cool! drayton likes to poke fun at me at times whenever carmine isnt around but he is tough when it comes to battles. he gives good advice.. though rarely. lacey helps me try to get closer with my pokemon and helped me so much with the club. crispin is really fun to hang out at times, pretty passionate with cooking and eating spicy food...i had my tongue burnt multiple times oof. as for amarys she really looks out for me and checks up on me at times.

amarys and carmine are best friends obviously. she may seem cold and all but she is pretty caring. though sometimes she uh lectures me if i turn up late for meetings and skipping meals. i dont pay attention to time that well i admit......

since i am no longer champion i dont have to deal with leadership and all.. and to be honest i dont really want to be an elite member. dont think i would fit well anyway. the four know each other seemingly well and i barely know them that much. it would be rude of me if i just disrupt their placing they are most comfortable with.

i-i just have a hard time opening up with people is all to be honest..

[lunchboxart]

International Wren of Mystery~!

[moonreachingout]

mochizuki-ryoji -> moonreachingout

sorry for changing urls i fell like i do it too much haha 🥹

[doodlejoltik]

grass knot

[~4.5k words, read it here or on Ao3. tagged with Volo and Lance since they appear as prominent characters; Rei-centric]

Why is it that even the thought of confiding in Akari, his closest friend, makes something constrict in his chest, choking out the words?

Rei, caught in the stirrings of a new arc, tries to rise to its call, but trips over the past at every turn.

A full rewrite of that Mysterious Stones chapter where Volo first shows up, from Rei’s POV, plus a bit more. Written mostly before the Arceus Arc began.

(Setting expectations: a lot of this fic is just Rei Thinking About Stuff haha. Love getting into his head! His characterisation is a little bit different/more nuanced compared to the other Rei oneshot I wrote; hopefully you'll still be along for the ride if you've read that one!)

-

“Show me thy bond.” It echoes inside Rei’s skull, down to the very bone, the same as in his earliest memories. He nearly buckles under its weight, but it's a welcome feeling.

After so long without direction, this is a relief. Arceus has finally spoken.

The words fit perfectly with the half-remembered fragments Rei had received some weeks ago in the middle of the night. Why hadn't they been intelligible then? What makes now different? The sync stones ultimate are one factor, of course. Maybe Arceus draws power from them, which is strange to say of a deity, but from what he knows of the Plates, it might not be so far-fetched.

Prince Lear disperses the murmuring crowd; so, the audience all heard it too, not just those on the arena floor. Professor Bellis congratulates Bettie. Cynthia, Lance and Steven whisper among themselves. And his mind still whirls with new theories as they gather together.

What does Arceus want? 

‘Seek out all Pokemon’ had meant completing the Pokedex. At least, that’s what he’d assumed. Now, this time, Arceus likely means for them to showcase bonds with their Pokemon, given the context. But what does that actually entail?

Cynthia’s words cut above everyone else's. “Rei. Was that voice…?”

All eyes are on him. He breathes deeply, steeling himself, as the familiar weight of it settles in. Things are moving, now. 

“Yes. I'm certain. That was —”

“Indeed! That was a message from Arceus!”

His words catch in his throat. Off-balance, suddenly, as all his thoughts fall away, replaced by a swooping feeling he can't quite identify —

He whirls around.

Volo is here.

He takes a few steps back, an involuntary half-stumble, before remembering himself. 

Those flashes of movement he's been seeing, the feeling of being watched, a Togepi, unattended: they’re all now terrifyingly validated. He'd half thought them a product of his overactive mind.

“Excuse-moi, pardon me… but who are you?” Professor Bellis ventures. 

“I'm Volo — a humble merchant who loves history and mythology!” With that, he flashes a winning smile. Rei could laugh at the sheer audacity of it all, but his thoughts are still strewn across the dusty ground, scattered, and they slip from his grasp as he tries to gather them up. Whatever sense of gravity he’d felt upon hearing Arceus’ voice has completely lifted.

“But more importantly!” Volo continues. “When the arena shone brightly, I also heard that voice.” He brings his hand up to point at the air with enthusiastic emphasis, a gesture still so terribly familiar. Rei clenches his fists, feeling the nails dig into his skin. Not really out of anger. More as a reminder.

The last time he’d seen Volo had been. Well. Memorable. But that isn’t the image that smiles back at him now, tripping him up. He's in Gingko uniform again, complete with ridiculous oversized backpack, which Rei had thought discarded, up there on the peak. Apparently not. Had Volo returned later, still seething, to collect his things? The concept is strangely hilarious.

“I wonder… these sync stones ultimate… might they be some sort of test from Arceus? If we could show him that ‘bond’ he desires —”

“Sorry, test? Arceus?” Cynthia interrupts with a frown, holding a hand out. “What makes you say that?”

“Why, it's quite simple. Arceus' presence was summoned by these stones, in this exhibition, and he requests us to further show our bond. What else could he desire?” Volo says, gesturing widely. 

Rei finally pulls himself upright — scrapes his thoughts together into something resembling coherence. The initial shock has drained away, settling into a distant sort of apprehension. He watches silently. Volo’s not really saying anything too unreasonable, but where is this leading? 

There’s so much he doesn’t know. What has Volo been doing, all this time? How long has he been on Pasio? What does he hope to gain, approaching them like this?

He’ll let Volo continue, then. It's an opportunity for some of those questions to be answered.

(And it gives Rei time to think of what to say.)

“Well, put that way, that does make sense,” Steven nods along. “Should we organise for more trainers to try the stones, then?” 

“Oui, I would love to gather more data!” Professor Bellis answers. “However, the stones are still quite volatile. There is progress on this, yes, but for now, I would like to limit their use, capisci?” 

At this, Bettie speaks up. “Yeah, it was weird.” She runs a hand through her Pikachu’s fur, the mouse curled up lazily in her arms. Nobody in Hisui was quite that affectionate with their Pokemon. Certainly not Akari, though she'd grown closer with her own Pikachu over time. As for himself, Decidueye had been standoffish, averse to being carried even as a baby Rowlet. Well, actually — as his distracted mind digs deeper into memory, he recalls — there had been Volo and his Togepi. 

He casts that errant thought away, buries it deep once again. Bettie is still speaking.

“And it was like nothing was there, at first, and Pikachu and I had to concentrate really hard. And then — whoosh! Wow! Overwhelming,” she shifts Pikachu’s weight to one arm to gesture with emphasis, “and all at once.”

“And this is when Arceus spoke,” Lance asks. 

Bettie nods, now subdued. “It was a rush! I think you guys could handle it, but I dunno if everyone could.”

“If I may,” and all attention returns to Volo. “It seems the stones can currently be used by trainers with particularly powerful convictions, and bonds with their Pokemon,” he gestures with a smile to Bettie. She blushes. 

At the casual flattery, Rei can't help the small frown that twists onto his face. It seems innocent enough, but compliments and niceties can so easily mask true intent. 

Especially with Volo.

Volo continues. “Perhaps we might solve this by way of a tournament, of sorts. Allowing Arceus to witness our talent and dedication, with the victor bestowed the honour of using the stones! Of course, the winner of such a competition would have the fortitude necessary to handle such power.”

Well, taking that to its logical end… Volo wants to win, and be granted this ‘honour’ he so conveniently proposed. But why go to all this trouble? The stones appear out in the streets quite often — apparently, found even by preschoolers. Volo should have no trouble obtaining them.

Does he know something they don't?

“Bettie here led the first winning PML team, did she not?” At this, the girl in question smiles Mareepishly. “And that is why she was the one to demonstrate the stones, I presume,” Volo inclines his head towards the Champions.

Informed guess, or something more? He thinks back on half-seen, furtive movements, and wonders. 

“That's right,” Steven confirms. “Bettie is a shining example to us: a leader of the next generation. We decided there was no better choice.” 

“So you suggest we hold another tournament,” Lance says thoughtfully. “Well, there is precedent. Prince Lear,” he turns to the Prince, whom Rei had honestly half forgotten was there. “What do you think?”

Before Lear can reply, Volo reinserts himself into the conversation. “It would be a grand tournament, truly fitting of Pasio's reputation. Why, perhaps, the deity Arceus might even be compelled to descend —”

Ah. So that’s what he intends. “Aren't you getting ahead of yourself there?” Rei interrupts. He means to sound stern, but it comes out sounding more incredulous. Not at the idea itself, but at how brazenly it’s admitted.

“Perhaps,” Volo says with a careless shrug. He doesn’t acknowledge Rei any differently than the others, still maintaining their inadvertently shared ruse. “It's only speculation, of course, but it is exciting to think about!”

“Hmph! I believe I was the one being addressed,” Prince Lear declares, arms crossed. His red shades flash dangerously, eyes hidden under their glint. Directed at him, it's almost like the full glare of an Alpha Pokemon.

Rei’s face flushes with heat to the tips of his ears. Great time he picked to enter the discussion. He quietly ducks his head down; the Prince is in charge, here, after all. He'd rather not test his patience. 

Meanwhile, Volo just smiles, seemingly unfazed. 

There's a part of him that really wants to know how Volo does that. It's just — he's so confident. How can he be so sure that everything will work out in his favour?

“A grand tournament,” Prince Lear ponders, tapping his foot. “And what could be grander than the second Pokemon Masters League?”

“Indeed!” Volo beams. “I'm sure the audience would love to see the clash between a king and a deity, would they not?”

Lear's tapping stills. His guarded stance loosens; he's taken aback. Volo emphasised king, and oh, Lear's official title is Prince. Hm.

There's something more deliberate about it beyond just casual flattery. 

Lear uncrosses his arms and seems at a loss, for a moment, on where to put them before straightening up with his hands on hips. “Is that so?” He laughs. “I like the sound of that!” A pause, unnecessarily dramatic. Nobody breaks the silence, not even Volo. 

The Prince looks around with some satisfaction and continues. “Very well, then. The winning team of the second PML will be granted the honour of using the sync stones ultimate.” He grins, sharply, red shades flashing once again. “Which will include me, of course. Hahahahaha!”

“You have a real gift for making quick decisions!” Volo says cheerfully. The tension breaks. Chuckles arise from the rest of the group, and Rei can only stare in disbelief. That — that has to be mockery, right? But everyone else seems to take it as light teasing, even the quick-tempered Prince himself. 

Against his better judgement, his gaze catches Volo’s. 

He doesn't know what he expects to see: amusement? Satisfaction? Triumph? And there's some of that, but it's a wry, knowing sort of look, like a joke shared only between the two of them. 

Already the others are starting to animatedly discuss between themselves. Bettie makes a teasing comment to Lear, who scoffs. Professor Bellis says something about checking in on the sync stone technology. Cynthia, Lance and Steven form their own little group again, speaking in low tones, and he can't quite follow their discussion. 

It seems like he's the only one who notices Volo quietly slipping away, and he's got half a mind to do the same. 

Would it be incredibly ill-advised to follow him? Probably. But he still has questions. And it’s possible that Volo will let his guard down when they're alone. 

(Even to him, that seems incredibly optimistic. But there’s things between them that he himself would rather only unearth in private. Maybe Volo feels the same way. And even if not, perhaps he'll gloat, or tease playfully, and let on something of use hidden in the thorned barbs.)

It's not like he has much left to contribute here. Tournaments and competitions and organised displays are foreign to him. The Neo Champion Stadium had felt so different from the kind of battles he’s used to… which, in part, could be why he lost. 

He needs to train. If everything rests on the result of this tournament, he has to be ready. 

The group seems to be naturally dispersing, at least — Professor Bellis just excused herself — so he won't be missed. With some quick words, he, too, turns to leave. They can handle this part, and Rei will do his. 

Prince Lear had mentioned a winning team, and Pasio battles are generally three on three, from what he's seen. Who could he ask? There's Akari, of course. And the clan leaders, but it would feel strange to team up with only one and not the other. A little bit too reminiscent of another time. 

His steps carry him nearly to the edge of the arena.

Besides, he's getting ahead of himself. He still has to… well, he should explain everything to them. About Volo.

Even all these months later, it still aches. He had buried it all, hoping to let it rot away, to be free of that thorny mass of contradictory feelings that arose every time he dwelled on it. 

But the longer he waits, the more impossible it seems to explain — to explain not only the events of that fateful day, but also his own, confusing silence on the matter. Though he’s tried to plough the field, turn it all over and start anew, it still lies just beyond the surface, and a single misstep is all it takes to snarl him all over again. Why is it that even the thought of confiding in Akari, his closest friend, makes something constrict in his chest, choking out the words?

(Akari is unquestionably the one person he's closest to. But there was a time when that singular title wasn't so clear cut.)

There’s a sort of tunnel that leads out of the stadium, a long darkened archway that passes under the audience stands. He's about halfway through when he hears footsteps from behind, swift and purposeful strides. 

His breath catches, for a moment. But Volo left first, and the arena had been flat and wide, with no corners to lurk in. Besides, it's too loud. Clearly telegraphed.

Cynthia, maybe? 

He turns. The face that greets Rei is slightly less familiar. “Lance,” he acknowledges the Champion. 

“Rei,” Lance greets in turn, stopping a few paces away. Arms crossed, silhouetted against the light of the arena and framed by the tunnel’s dark, arching walls, his tall figure is — intimidating. 

He can’t help but wonder whether that's deliberate. 

“You left before I could ask,” Lance says, and there's a pause. “As someone who has prior experience with Arceus, what do you think of all this?”

A fair enough question. But the way it's said… sounds a little too carefully worded. Casual, but purposefully so.

What sort of answer does Lance expect? 

“It sounds reasonable enough,” he decides to say. As much as he hates to lend credence to Volo’s proposal, he can't think of anything better. It somehow seems to suit their needs perfectly, which he's sure is no accident. “Back in Hisui, I was told to seek out all Pokemon, so I helped with the Pokedex. In the same way, I guess this could help fulfil Arceus' new request.”

Lance nods along, but his brows furrow. “You sounded more sceptical, earlier,” he points out. 

Ah. Not really his intent, but… “That was about the more…” he casts about for the right word, “speculative part of it. I don't know if it would really call Arceus down, or anything like that.” Though honestly, he doesn't know that it won't.

“What do you think will happen, then?” Lance asks, with clear curiosity, and, well. He doesn't really have a good answer to that. 

“... I don't know,” he admits. “I never actually completed the Pokedex, so I'm not sure what happens after Arceus’ request is fulfilled.” He had been close, but there had still been so many minor tasks that needed finishing, things to busy himself with, to arrange and get in order before he had to face Giratina again. 

He hadn't been ready, yet. Maybe Arceus had grown impatient, and brought him here to confront his problems directly. Maybe it cared. Maybe it didn't. 

(Seeing Giratina with Cynthia had felt a little like he was the punchline of some divine comedy.)

Lance purses his lips and looks off into the distance, out of the stadium, past Rei. He wishes he could read the man’s expressions better; as it is, the set of his brows calls to mind Kamado, and everything else tangled up with it. 

Finally, Lance’s gaze turns directly to Rei once again, and he speaks. “That Volo… you two know each other.” 

It’s not a question, but even then, the expression of unguarded surprise he can’t hold back might be answer enough.

Lance has one hand on his hip, the other, at rest, is framed by the drape of his cape. He looks down at Rei as he states plainly, “His clothes aren’t of modern make, so the logical assumption would be that he’s from Hisui. Cynthia confirmed my suspicion. And, historically, Hisuian communities were few and quite tightly knit. It’s more likely than not.” 

He tries to keep his expression carefully neutral, as logic digs deeper, dangerously close to things unexplainable. And the earth is already recently disturbed, soft, friable. He can’t offer much resistance. “I've seen him around,” he concedes.

“But why did neither of you acknowledge the other?” Lance looks confused; frustrated, even. “Even a passing acquaintance would be notable, with both of you being here in the future.”

And here — this is familiar. The accusations. The questions he can’t answer. But it’s different; it’s not that he doesn’t know the answers. He just can’t seem to put them in an order that would make sense, to anyone else.

(Does he really understand, himself?)

But eyes are on him, and he needs to explain, in whatever unsatisfactory way he can. “Volo and I… it's complicated,” he laughs weakly, tugging at his scarf. “He genuinely does love history and mythology, you know. I guess I wouldn't be that surprised if he was right about Arceus.” All those times they’d pored over ruins together, Volo excitedly babbling on about whatever legend this one related to — there had to have been the seed of something real, something genuine, in that. 

It’s not really an answer. Lance can obviously tell, because he crosses his arms. 

“Is he bad news?” he asks bluntly. 

There’s no twisting his way out of this one.

Some of the panic he’s feeling must bubble up onto his face, because Lance’s expression softens, just a bit. The man sighs. “Look, Rei, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but us Champions need to have all the relevant information. This tournament, the stones,” he gestures around them, “affect everyone here on Pasio. So I’m sorry about involving myself in your business, but it's necessary. Should we be keeping an eye on Volo?” 

It’s obvious what the correct answer is. And every second he delays responding makes him seem all the more untrustworthy. He questions, a little hysterically, why this of all things is what he stubbornly roots himself for, risking this place he’s made for himself in another unfamiliar land. 

But his jaw works, and all that slips out of his throat, past the thorny tangle, is a “Maybe.” The most ground he can concede. “Volo’s… passionate about Arceus.” Which is perhaps the biggest understatement of both this century and the last. 

There's an expectant pause. He almost leaves it at that, but it seems it's too unfinished a sentiment for Lance. “He wants to be seen by it.”

“The same way you are?” Lance says sharply. Arceus, he picked up on that fast. Rei hopes he leaves it at that. A rivalry fallen apart, twisted into bitterness and jealousy, nothing more.

Nothing world-ending. 

It’s not like he doesn’t trust Cynthia, and by extension the other Champions. It’s just… he can deal with it himself. It’s what he was probably brought here to do, anyway. The thought of someone else turning him over, and finding him lacking — fighting his battles for him — makes him uneasy. 

“Yeah, something like that,” he answers, with a painful swallow. 

Besides, he hopes he can resolve this peacefully. He’d beaten Volo before, even after he’d flipped the rules of battle on their head. And this time Volo can’t upend the script; one good thing about tournaments, he supposes, is that the rules are rigorously upheld. A different sort of battleground.

He wants to laugh at that. Suppositions and wildly optimistic thoughts are his only foundation, and yet it’s enough for him to reject all possibility of outside help.

Then again, if he can’t even bring himself to tell Akari, what chance does he have of breaking that self-imposed silence, here, on less familiar ground?

Lance hums, assessing this. He uncrosses his arms. “If that friend of yours does anything drastic, tell us, alright?” he says. It’s said warmly, but there's something serious to it. An undertone. “Our job is to help out wherever we can, so don’t hesitate to reach out.”

Rei tries for a smile. “Understood.”  

Lance nods, and looks Rei up and down, though it's only a subtle flicker of his eyes. His gaze lingers on the scarf at Rei’s neck, which Rei realises he’s been fidgeting with unconsciously. He lets go with faint embarrassment, feeling caught out. 

The other man sighs. “You can go, you know?” There’s resignation in his voice. Maybe even something apologetic. In that moment, he seems more like Kamado than ever.

Rei doesn’t want to turn his back to him, but he wants to be here even less. So he nods, stiffly, and turns himself around, continuing the dark walk through the tunnel and out the stadium at a steady pace.

He doesn’t run.  

(But his hand hovers by his satchel, where Decidueye's Pokeball rests.)

It’s only when he’s walked for a good while, out into the harsh sunlight, through the town outskirts and to a more forested spot, that the tension drains from him. He sits at the base of a large tree, feeling a little lightheaded.

That was… an interrogation, to put it bluntly. And he can’t really fault Lance for it. To anyone, he's sure, his actions are confusing at best.

Unfortunately, he’s found that he’s less than clear headed when it comes to Volo. He turns over Lance’s final words. That friend of yours. It’s not surprising Lance phrased it that way; everything Rei had said had been carefully woven to lead him to that conclusion.

Except it hadn’t been misdirection, not fully. He does still think of Volo as his friend, despite everything.

He slumps backwards, against the trunk of the tree, feeling the rough bark dig against the base of his skull. 

What is he supposed to do with that?

Apparently, one of the worst days of his life isn’t enough to uproot over a year of growing camaraderie and budding friendship. Too many memories knot together, a stubborn tangle impossible to pick apart. He’s tried not to think about them too hard, but they tighten their hold once again, from where they lay dormant and buried.

Many of them have been forcibly recontextualised. He’s second guessed every helpful gift, every directly admiring word, every coincidental and fortunate appearance, as something deliberate and cultivated. But some of it, it seems, doesn't fit so neatly with that singular goal.

One day, they’d watched Togepi use Metronome for an hour, ostensibly for Rei’s surveying purposes. Important documentation of a seemingly random phenomenon, and all that. In actuality, they laughed the entire time, with no useful or coherent records to speak of, as the results became all the more improbable. 

They’d camped together, those last months, as the search for the Plates got wilder and more exciting. He knows Volo’s favoured way to build a camp-fire, and how he wakes up unreasonably early in the morning, and that he prefers sweet foods over savoury, unlike Rei himself. A hundred mundane familiarities shared, taking root in fallow ground.

Once, Volo had been his only friend in the entire world.

Is it surprising, then, that he can’t lay this friendship to rest so easily?

He wonders what it means, that the hand offered to him at his lowest point was the same one that always meant to drag him back down. And what it means that he still wants to reach for it.

Had any real feelings been sowed there, on Volo’s part? Or was the entire thing a carefully constructed weaving, an intricate field of grass knots laid around Rei, ready to catch him in their snare? 

He can’t quite strangle the hope that something of their friendship still exists, even if neglected and overgrown. And that’s the part that scares him.

He has Akari, and Adaman, and Irida. He has Professor Laventon and the Captain, though they’re far away. Then there’s the Wardens, more friendly faces: Mai, Sabi, Ingo, and all the others; there's Zisu and Pesselle and Beauregard and everyone else in Jubilife. New friends here on Pasio, too. 

He pulls out Decidueye’s Pokeball from his satchel, and rolls it around in his right hand. He has his beloved Starter.

He has friends. He has bonds.

Why can’t that be enough?

The Pokeball he’s holding isn't the original. He'd had to break that well-loved possession in two, and recapture Decidueye in this modern device. It's a distant echo of its predecessor, wooden grooves and clunky iron replaced by smooth metal and near imperceptible seams. The weight of it is all wrong. 

But despite that, it's still his partner, and that's what matters.

(The two broken halves sit in his satchel, too, carried on his person at all times. It's yet another thing he can't bring himself to let go of.)

He sighs, tracing formless shapes in the dirt. His hand finds one of the sparse clumps of grass that grow here, directly under this wide and mighty tree. Deprived of proper sun, it’s a miracle that there’s any at all. 

It seems more and more likely that he’ll end up looking for Volo on his own. To get answers: not only about the stones, and the tournament, and Volo’s intentions with Arceus, but also for his own ends. 

Maybe there’s still something there. A single glimpse of life in this scorched earth between them.

He doesn’t know what he’ll do then.

Where he sits, what little grass there is has grown long and ragged, as their leaves stretch and reach for the sun. He sets Decidueye’s ball down and plucks two long blades. With a few simple loops and twists, they’re deftly woven together into a knot. He considers it, looping it around his fingers; tightens it, pulling on both ends, until he can feel the entire construct threaten to snap from the force. He stops. 

The thing is, no matter if it was never meant to be real, deliberately sowed, intended ultimately for harvest — it’s all the same, to Rei. He wants to keep it alive. He’s hopeful. Naive. Selfish.

For a single, impossible moment, he wonders whether this is what Arceus meant by bonds all along. 

The knot goes in his satchel, where it will turn dry and brittle with time. But kept safe, unbroken, regardless. Maybe his future self will laugh at his sentimentality. Maybe, he won't remember why it’s there. 

Wouldn't that be for the best?

He tucks Decidueye’s ball away, with care, then hauls himself up, both hands braced against the dusty ground. There’s dirt under his fingernails. From under the tree’s darkened canopy, he squints into the afternoon sunlight.

There’s a lot that needs to be done. He needs to train for this tournament, for one. Learn more about modern battling. Pull together a team. With that, ask Akari, and perhaps Adaman or Irida. Confront Volo, somewhere in all of this. 

After that? Only Arceus knows.

One step at a time. 

He finds his footing, around gnarled roots. The grass crunches underfoot. And he steps into the light.

(So maybe I was just snared by the grass knots you laid in my path. But if I wove my own, would you fall for it too?)

[goomy-where-they-shouldnt-be]

HELLO!!!! ⭐(≧∇≦)/``🌙

I'm Aurora!!! She/her, I'm 19!!! I'm currently living in Unova, but I LOVE traveling!!! This is mostly a gimmick blog for my Goomy (Goober) but my posts will be infrequent, and I'll probably end up going radio silent for weeks at a time, so I apologize in advance!!!! ⭐(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞🌙

Some more info about me!!! ⭐(⌒∇⌒)🌙 I love space!!! I'm a big big space nerd, I love it so much!!! Ive got a lovely lovely boyfriend whome i adore with all my heart <333 I don't do pokemon battles, but I love hearing about people's stories with their pokemon and stuff!!! I love music!!! I'm not sure what else to put here, haha ⭐(*^▽^*)ゞ🌙

✨My Tags!!!!✨

#goomy where they shouldnt be [for my main tag!!!]

#goober the goomy [posts about Goober outside of the main tags!!!]

#aurora posting [personal posting tag!!! For my own thoughts and stuff!!!]

#rb bin [reblogs!!!]

#ask box [asks I get!!!]

All cw/tw tags will be labeled as "#tw/cw [blank]"!!!

✨PELIPPER MAIL IS ON!!!✨

//ooc!!!! Haiii its Mun @ghostspokebloggin again!!! This is a lighthearted gimmick blog, but with that being said: THINGS MIGHT GET META. I don't want to spoil anything, and if things DO get meta, I will start tagging things as unreality, however I try to keep things silly with her. She's a very lighthearted lady!!!

//ok that's all. Here's her playlist!!! :D

[ladylakebees]

I made this a little while back ago but I wanted to post this here so I have more room to explain my thoughts!!

Persona 5 Royal Characters as PKM Trainers, and why I chose their Mons:

OGERPON: This one I feel is fairly obvious, Ogerpon having multiple masks for different elements just screams wildcard.

MEW: Mew can use almost every single move of all types in existence, plus it can change its form into any Pokémon it battles...... yeah this is literally just a reference to Beneath the Mask. If the amount of legendaries/mythicals on this team bothers you, pretend this is a Ditto instead.

BLACEPHON: Outside of it being very jester-y just in looks, it's also Ghost type.... kinda like Arsene is of the Curse arcana. Also the fact that it explodes it's head to be able to rob people [of vitality] is just funny to me. Imagine the PTs exploded to distract Palace Rulers so that someone can steal the treasure.

SYLVEON: Sylveon is from the Eevee line, which can evolve into multiple different elements, which I feel is very wildcard-esqe, as well as the affection mechanic reminding me a bit of the confidant system. However I chose shiny Sylveon specifically because I thought it was funny to pretend Sylveon is his pseudo velvet assistant!

MEOWSCARADA: Meowscarada is Joker in pokemon form, I don't take criticism, thanks! .... but if you want more reasoning behind it, Meowscarada also doubles as his Morgana.

KELDEO: This one is a bit more out there, but. Hear me out. This is Goro Akechi's pokemon, his "Proof Of Justice," passed on after his death.

BOLTUND: I chose Boltund specifically because of Ryuji's golden retriever type personality, as well as invoking his elemental attribute!

CROBAT: Crobat is a rather menacing looking Pokémon..... that only evolves at maximum happiness. I think it fits Ryuji perfectly!

YANMEGA: Yanmega was chosen due to it being known for its speediness, and I thought it'd be a bit fun if Ryuji has a big dragonfly zipping ahead of him during track meets. (I know Boltund technically fits this as well, but I didn't really connect that dot until after making the team, haha)

OBSTAGOON: Obstagoon has a very punk-like appearance, and is known to taunt its opponents before using its signature Obstruct move. If you've played Royal, I just thought this Pokémon would make that One Scene in January make so much sense in the pokemon universe. Also the fact that it's abilities consist of Guts, Reckless, and Defiant was just too funny and too Ryuji to pass up.

TYRANITAR & POLIWRATH: I'll be honest, these two I put mostly to fill out the team, however I really do feel like these two are mons that Ryuji would enjoy having on his team!

LIEPARD: If you don't think this is the most Carmen-esqe Pokemon, I don't know what else to tell you.

TSAREENA: Tsareena I feel has a very model-esqe vibe to her! She'd be Ann's partner during photo shoots :)

HISUIAN SNEASLER: I know Sneasler is based off a weasel not a cat, but I feel like Sneasler is a pretty good representation of a sexy anime villainess Ann views herself as (aka Panther's inspiration)

MEGA BLAZIKEN: Representative of Ann's fire affinity!

LAPRAS: Lapras is known to be a very gentle and kind pokemon, which I feel fits Ann's position in the PTs as the "heart."

ALCREAMIE: Ann loves sweets, so Alcreamie is the PERFECT mon for her! I think she'd have the Ruby Swirl Alcreamie with strawberries specifically :)

KINGAMBIT: I feel like shiny Kingambit looks pretty close to what his PT outfit looks like, as well as being a good representative of Goemon!

ALOLAN NINETAILS: Beautiful and representative of Yusuke's ice affinity!

HISUIAN SAMUROTT: Yusuke's idea of rebellion is that of a samurai, which is what Samurott is based off of. I think the Hisuian form really embodies that vibe!

CLAWZITER: Lobster

MIENSHAO: Mienshao is a fighting type physical attacker, which I feel fits Yusuke's access to strong physical attacks.

ESPATHRA: You know that fuckass scarf Yusuke has? Yeah.

ARMAROUGE: Armarouge is a loyal warrior, who directly opposes Ceruledge. I feel it represents the PT's sense of justice really well. You'll also see later down why Makoto has this :)

MEGA LUCARIO: Lucario I feel represents Makoto's physical affinity as well as her aikido skills really well, I think he'd be her ace (hence the Mega!)

DREEPY & CYCLIZAR: I don't really know how to explain the Dreepy, but with the Cyclizar it's easier to see how I associate with Johanna! I guess this fits the Nuclear affinity as well, if you turn your head sideways.

NIDOQUEEN: Queen. Self explanatory I think!

PANGORO: it's Buchimaru!!!!!!!!!

STAKATAKA: I feel like this fits the vibe of Futaba's palace pretty well, especially the top floor of her pyramid (not the outside part)

XURKITREE & PORYGON-Z: These two are representative of Futaba's technical genius, with Xurkitree in reference to her abundance of technology, whereas Porygon-Z is in reference to her actual hacking abilities.

ORBEETLE: There was no other Pokémon I feel like represents Necronomicon, however dynamax Orbeetle I feel really encapsulates that alien sort of vibe Necronomicon has!

RUNEREGIS: Directly in reference to Futaba/Wakaba's "tomb."

TOXAPEX: A bit more on the subtle side, I feel like this represents Futaba's agoraphobia and unwillingness to leave her room at the beginning of the game (baneful bunker anyone?)

ARBOLIVA & POLITOED: Both mons are representative of her gardening prowess!

TINKATON: Small pink girl with big fucking weapon

SINISTEA: I chose the shiny version of Sinistea because it reminded me of Haru's AOA finisher! It can also represent her love for coffee, even if it's technically supposed to be tea.

GOTHITELLE: Partially representative of her affinity, but I specifically chose Gothitelle as a representation of Milady!

GALARIAN SLOWKING: Also representative of Haru's Psy affinity. I chose Galarian specifically 1) because I associate purples with Haru, but more importantly 2) the Shellder on Slowking's head is said to be infinitely more intelligent than the Kantonian's form, leading it to be able to control Slowking. Kinda like how Kunikazu Okumura controls the employees he views as robots—

CERULEDGE: Ceruledge is the embodiment of lingering malice of a fallen sword wielder, directly opposing Armarouge. This represents not only his rivalry with Makoto, but how his justice differs from the PTs. Also a very heavy handed nod to Loki :>

DECIDUEYE: Decidueye represents, obviously, Robin Hood. Also symbolic of his more easily digestible thoughts of justice (the less destructive path of taking down those who oppress the weak) .

MEOWSTIC: I'm not really sure how to explain that Meowstic gives me Detective type partner pokemon but. It does.

GLIMMORA: Glimmora within the game seems to be strangely connected to Area Zero, being found in both the Depths and Underdepths of AZ, yet also very rarely in caves above ground or within mountains. I kinda see this as a "hint" to Goro's deception, and his hidden knowledge of Mementos/the Metaverse.

HONCHKROW: Representative of his codename Crow :> I chose Honchkrow over Corviknight because I felt Ceruledge satisfied the dark knight vibe more than enough.

GARCHOMP: Needed to fill out his team, so I thought Garchomp would be a powerful and fitting addition! If you squint, you can see this as representative of Goro's physical attributes and affinity for Almighty skills!

ABSOL: A Pokémon that senses danger before it happens, leading it to mistakenly thought of as the bringer of omens; it is Kasumi's Pokemon that alerted her of the oncoming car that Sumire was running in front of.

SWANNA: Kasumi and Sumire have a sort of Swan Lake motif, with Sumire being the Black Swan of the two (too bad shiny swanna is not black :( )

GASTRODON: I just thought it was really cute how there is a pink and blue Gastrodon, sort of representative of the gymnastics uniform that the Yoshizawa siblings wear.

RIBOMBEE: Shiny Ribombee is directly representative of Kasumi's red ribbon. Can also be interpreted as representative of Sumire's Bless affinity.

FROSLASS: Froslass is said to be the soul and lingering regrets of a dead woman who's possessed an icicle. You can interpret this as either being Kasumi herself, or the narrative of Kasumi's death haunting Sumire.

HISUIAN LILLIGANT: There's no real confirmation that Lilligant is a dancer pokemon itself, however I personally feel it has the appearance of a gymnast/dancer, and it's feet being similar to dance shoes. It's signature ability being Victory Dance, as well as being known for its ability to jump high and gracefully are added bonuses :>

DARKRAI & CRESSELIA: These two pokemom are essentially the same; Pokémon who can control dreams. Cresselia is for what Maruki THINKS he is accomplishing, as well as being known for being great at healing techniques, whereas Darkrai is for what Maruki is ACTUALLY causing in terms of his goals.

JIRACHI: Jirachi is known as the "Wish Maker" Pokémon. I'd like to think Maruki encounters Jirachi when it's still asleep, and it doesn't awaken until he catches Hydrapple.

ZOROARK HISUI: Representative of the false reality itself, being the Illusion Pokemon. You could also kinda interpret it as the actual shadows within the Palace as well. However, I specifically chose Hisuian Zoroark for it's appearance of the embodiment of death, as a sort of nod to Maruki's grief over Rumi.

BLISSEY: Being a therapist, I thought Chansey would be a perfect mon for Maruki! However, I thought the evolved form, Blissey, being called the Happiness Pokémon, was too good to not have on his team. Representative also of his goal to achieve ultimate happiness for all.

HYDRAPPLE: Hydrapple is the representation of the forbidden apple from the Garden of Eden, also the name of Maruki's palace. Not only is it the forbidden apple, but also the serpent that tempts Eve into betraying God. Hydrapple is Maruki's ace.

-

Feel free to let me know what you think of my teams! I had fun making them and brianrotting about their place on the team :> I also made teams for Caroline/Justine, Lavenza, Sophia, and Zenkichi! Let me know if anyone is interested in seeing those as well ♪ヽ(´▽｀)/

[teshadraws]

System of a bunch of different pokémon (mostly) that literally (accidentally) writes pmd fic with a plural protagonist here. Plurality in the pokémon world is actually pretty interesting to think about. It's pretty common in that world for pokémon to be plural already, so it *might* be more understandable of a thing for most people.

That being said, if I got pmded into a spiritbomb bc I had DID I'd fucking lose it. I actually appreciate your answer as is. It's also plenty respectful imo if that's anything you're worried about.

I and my headmates (you can immediately tell I'm a host because I bitch out of saying "we") vary in species. Most likely it'd just be whoever was fronting at the time of the test would decide, so most likely the host. Maybe other systems that have any positive connection to their humanity would feel different, but I at least don't think there'd really be a pokémon that fit everyone. Trying that would absolutely do more harm than good. If mew/whoever had to figure something like that out it'd be really funny to like put it to a vote.

That being said if mew tried to split a system, that system would be so fucked. This is hard to explain but basically imagine you got transported into a new world but you left behind your ability to get out of bed in the morning and brush your teeth. How the system basically interacts with the world would be completely fractured and incomplete. Maybe others would feel different, but if I didn't have my headmates I wouldn't be able to manage anything about basic day to day life.

The one human body is already its own compromise, so any pokémon that made a number of headmates happy would be a huge step up. In a perfect world the system would be able to change their pokémon based on who's fronting, but I'm not sure if that'd feel like a genuine exploration of the compromise made living like this. It'd make good escapism, but idk. There are probably good stories to be had either way.

I forgot to have a point when I started writing it so I'm basically just rambling at you about the pmd implications of my child abuse disorder so. Do with that what you will

Mew making everybody vote for which body they’re going to be stuck in is kind of an amazing mental image, haha!

But thanks so much for weighing in on this!!! It’s super interesting hearing experienced thoughts on how a system might transfer over to the Pokemon world. I wonder if a Pokemon like zorua or ditto that could morph depending on who’s fronting would fit well for a good chunk of DID situations?

Regardless, I really appreciate it! I wasn’t thinking before about how badly splitting up a system would mess up their day-to-day functioning, but that makes total sense.

[waywardstation]

Given how small Phione Akari is, I‘m wondering if there is a certain familiarity in her hiding somewhere on him.

I‘m sure he often had one or the other Joltik crawling on him as well in Unova. It’s usually a little frustrating and he always used to scold Emmet to better watch his hatchlings but it’s something kinda familiar finding Akari in certain places in his coat.

If it’s not random Joltiks I can also see a certain familiarity between his Starter Pokemon crawling around him. The feeling is very different (going by the Litwick idea its warm and waxy instead of a wet balloon) But imagine how he feels a certain nostalgia having her on his person. But given the circumstances he has in the beginning how he’s still worried about Akari he might suppress the memories.

OHH I HADN’T THOUGHT OF THAT! For anyone that’s stuck with this blog long enough, I have entertained thoughts on how Ingo views Emmet’s possible joltik breeding tendencies before. Sometimes they would get a little out of hand and Ingo would find the newly-hatched joltiks in places around their apartment that they shouldn’t be, including probably on himself and his pokemon.

He would not be unfamiliar with the feeling of something on him, but phione are not staticky, and joltik are not damp (and Akari sticks around his shoulders mostly, compared to an excitable baby joltik that does everything it can to stay out of reach haha), so it would be a little different and he probably would not be able to make a connection at first, like you said. But it’s an interesting thought!!

[squidthesquidd]

masked au!!!! ok so i may actually turn this into a fic and a few comics because im a lil obsessed with it :DDD

heres some sketches of my Emmet design for it!

explaination in the readmore!!

So!! Basically, after Ingos disappearance, Emmet started to hate his reflection cus it reminded him of ingo, so he took to wearing a mask. Over time, that mask became a sort of comfort item for him so now he rarely ever takes it off, and can become very distressed when not wearing it.

Eventually, Emmet gets sent to hisui cus he fought god and arceus was like "This guy is so silly i'll send him to hisui too :)"

So then he falls from the sky in the middle of nowhere

he has no pokemon, no materials, but he still has his mask

after wandering for a very long time he straight up passes out from exhaustion, and later wakes up in a dark cave

turns out, a crap ton of previously undiscovered hisui joltiks and galvantula found him, and because of being shot out of a portal and weird magic, he is absolutely full of weird energy, so the bugs took a liking to him and brought him back to their cave :]

Hisui joltiks/galvantula are fire and ground types! joltiks are like little blocks of coal with legs and leave charcoal EVERYWHERE

Anyway, guess what is relatively close to this hidden cave full of spiders? haha yeah its the diamond clan

So basically, Emmet is just chilling with his new spider besties, recovering from almost dying, and some diamond clan discover the cave!! and they see Emmet and they're like "ah yes this guy is this massive spider’s warden. definitely" and Emmet just goes with it cus why not? they're the first people he sees so he wants to get on their good side

so stuff happens and Emmet is now kinda an "unofficial" member of the diamond clan. he gets a diamond tunic cus hes kinda another diamond warden, but also he kinda just chills in his cave most of the time and will only leave if he absolutely has to. he's still searching for Ingo, but everything is just wayyyyy to much so he's gonna hang out with his spiders

The whole “being sent to an ancient time” thing and just being so very mentally ill caused Emmet to become very reluctant to speak, so communication was a bit difficult since no one in the diamond clan knew modern sign language. There was also a language barrier, but Emmet is a quick learner and manage to learn the language pretty fast :D he mostly communicates in writing since there's still no sign language option

When first meeting people, they asked Emmet to take off his mask, which kinda made a bad first impression on him so he doesn't really like being around people now :/ but his annoyance with everyone around him kind of accidentally made him befriend melli, cus their both petty lil shits that don't like people much

Melli comes over to his cave and they shit talk people together, and Melli is actually one of the first people Emmet become comfortable talking to verbally because of this! they both think the other is annoying but they bond over it :]

literally this is the strangest relationship to ever come out of one of my aus. these two have never interacted ever. Why did I decide Melli was the one that Emmet should interact with?

these twinks are hanging out in a spider infested cave gossiping about people

Also!! Hisui joltiks absorb thermal energy instead of static energy, so Emmet is often very cold to the touch cus his bugs are stealing his body heat. This also makes him very tired a lot so you can often find him passed out in a pile of soot.

pls ask me questions about my au I want to talk about it so much

[skyedancer2006]

We are proud to formally introduce the Pokémon ScarVi Bridged Toxicity AU!! (huge thanks to @the-new-pokespe-futures for the name idea!!)

AU info under the cut! (Warning; its pretty long haha)

Background stuff first: Pecharunt uses they/it and can speak very limited English. We will be referring to the MC as Florian.

-☆★☆-

Pecharunt’s story is largely the same as in canon. They are a lonely pokemon who just wants to have a friend, but takes some less than moral approaches in doing so.

When Pecha first encountered the Loyal 3, they did not fully know what their Toxic Chains were capable of; they knew it granted power, but did not know about the controlling aspects of it. It was not until after they had chained the 3 against their wills and saw their reactions that Pecharunt realized what they could do. They prefer not to actively control people, and instead tend to leave them mostly alone or only passively influence them, unless necessary to defend themself or their chained. Pecha is not actively malicious in this AU, however, their actions still very much have a negative effect.

Many years later, after they go dormant in the wake of Ogerpon’s retaliation, Pecharunt is reawakened around the same time as the Loyal 3’s revivals. They wander Kitakami, and encounter Kieran after he runs from the confrontation with Florian where the Paldean catches Ogerpon.

The two talk and walk, and eventually it comes to Pecharunt offering Kieran a deal after hearing his situation. Pecharunt will give Kieran power in the form of a Toxic Chain, and in return Kieran will allow Pecharunt to remain with him and they will be “friends.” Kieran, in his desire for power to defeat Florian, eagerly accepts the deal and the chain.

Kieran’s willingness to become chained causes it to react much differently than it did with the 3 (who resisted its control). Rather than simply attaching itself to him, the chain became part of him; painfully burrowing under his skin and resting along his spine, with the end of it coming out like a tail of sorts. He can retract it, but it is very uncomfortable to do.

Over time, as Kieran embraces the chain’s effects, and him and Pecharunt grow closer, more and more physical changes develop, and they become more difficult and more uncomfortable to hide. Eventually, mental changes also develop, and Kieran sometimes finds himself feeling more Pokémon than human…

-☆★☆-

The main theme of the AU is a question: what is the border between human and nonhuman? What is the point at which someone is no longer considered to be “human?” Is it physical? Is it mental? Is it a mix? Or is it something else entirely? What does it mean to no longer be human and become something else? The AU’s name comes from Kieran being somewhere on that bridge between human and Pokémon; not truly on either side anymore.

It’s a complex idea that we have SO MANY thoughts about because of personal experiences, and a complex relationship with being “human.”

The ref sheet above is in the earlier stages of the AU, where Kieran’s physical changes haven’t become too drastic yet, and he is still mostly human. That will change though (still working on those designs)

The AU at the moment is mostly conceptual with little actual story. That may change, or it may not; story-writing isn’t exactly our strong suit. And some parts of the concept are still fluid (like Kieran and Pecharunt’s relationship being more genuinely friendly, or more toxic and deceptive).

Anyone who wants to write/draw something with the concept is free to, with credit of course! And questions are very much welcomed; we love talking about this!

We also have an ask/RP blog for the AU, @chained-champion, which follows a timeline where Kieran and Pecha are more genuine friends, and Kieran’s physical changes are still in the earlier stages, with minimal mental effects. That will change as the blog goes on though~

Thanks for reading this (very long) post! We have more planned for the AU (like working on designs for Kieran as the physical changes develop, and he becomes less and less human; very excited for those ones!)

[moose-from-animals]

hello hello this is a pinned post!!

take a doodle of me and my team for your time!

hi! im moose :) i used they/he pronouns mostly. maybe neos. thinking about it, will keep you posted.

yes like the animal from animals. no im not affiliated with that one cult in Johto my dads just a nerd. sigh.

i! am a 20 yr old college student, studying psychology and gerontology at blueberry academy. yes just that. no i do not study pokemon. just a guy. trying to be a therapist someday. no i will not therapist you over the internet.

this blog is most for me to ramble? i like to ramble and talk about my day. and i will have tags for stuff! those are under the cut

my pokemon are!!

Shiny Quilava - M - LVL 24 - Tavish

Deerling - F - LVL 21 - Ginger

Castform(Rainy) - M - LVL 15 - Derecho

i dont really battle, and Derecho is my ESP so like keep that in mind

//ooc under the cut

...whoops i did it again. its me!! again!!! but this time no shenanagins i promise its just me so i can ramble but also pokemon.

#moose rambles is for when i do a ramble

#moose reblogs is for when i do a reblog

#moose answers asks is for when i answer asks

#meals with moose is when i talk about what im eatin haha

#moose takes pictures is when i show pictures ive taken (mostly of my pokemon)

#moose sightings is for pictures of me!

#tavish(quilava) for Tavish stuff

#ginger(deerling) for Ginger stuff

#derecho(castform) for Derecho stuff

same as always no nsfw, dont be weird, and asks and pelipper mail are always open! but no pelipper mail pokemon please!! this blog is going to be super lowstakes, nothing crazy is going to happen i promise

also some lowkey worldbuilding

the number of pokemon you have is based on how much school u have got thru. like one after elementary, another after middle/junior high, third after highschool, and then most people dont do more than that unless theyre pro battlers. so moose has three because theyre in college (done with elementary, middle, and high)

[vickyvicarious]

I so badly need to play this hack rom of pokemon where you play through a pokemon version of the story of the dracula novel and where you kill him with the power of love and violence

Pfft, it would be really fun I admit.

okay now we got to pick the pokemon the other characters would be

Admittedly I'm not the best at this. Also confining it to the first couple generations (mostly 1-3), as that was what my dream was set in and also the ones I know best (though I still heavily consulted Serebii for this). But here's kind of what I'm thinking for the team...

Jonathan (THE): already assigned, with art and everything! Shiny Magikarp, later evolves into a white Gyarados. As a bonus, the Sapphire description reminds me of him in the castle too: "MAGIKARP is virtually useless in battle as it can only splash around. As a result, it is considered to be weak. However, it is actually a very hardy POKéMON that can survive in any body of water no matter how polluted it is."

Mina (POWER): Despite the name suggesting Fighting-type, I really wanted to do Psychic because that's what makes sense for her. I thought about the Gothita line but not only are they not present until Gen 5, but the descriptions don't fit her as well. I also liked the idea of the Ralts line particularly as Gardevoir has text about knowing the future and sacrificing itself for its trainer. But I think overall I prefer Eevee at the start (super adaptable and interested in lots of things)... and then teetering on the edge between Umbreon and Espeon near the later stages before finally evolving into Espeon just in time. We get the affection+daytime evolution which seems fitting for her, and again the description emphasizes Espeon's loyalty which also works well.

Jack (OF): Got so stuck on this one. I was drawn to mostly Electric or Bug types, but nothing stuck out to me as perfect. Venonat line is kind of fun. Nocturnal is a nod to his poor sleeping habits, big eyes because he's always looking and noticing stuff... Still not so sure on for him.

Arthur (LOVE): So I obviously want a dog. And I think Normal-type fits him. But there are no Normal-type dogs until gen 5. I thought about going with either a different type or an earlier dog pokemon, but honestly I think the Lillipup line works for Arthur too well so I'll break pattern and pick that. The whole line is about herding dogs who want to help keep other pokemon safe and I think that really suits him. Plus, moves such as Helping Hand where he boosts another pokemon's abilities, or Odor Sleuth that allow a Ghost-type to be hit with Normal/Fighting moves are perfect for him. That said, my second choice is Growlithe because they're also dogs who can have those moves, and are friendly/loyal with a good sense of smell that can pick up emotions. I just think the Fire-type and the Arcanine are a little less of an overall match.

Quincey (AND): He's generally quick to act and observant, so I was thinking some kind of bird for him, maybe. I like Ground-types for cowboy vibes but I think overall Pidgey line fits best for him. Quick, alert, large territory, beautiful plumage, a classic. I kind of feel like both he and Arthur would already be on their second evolution when you catch them, so he'd be a Pidgeotto already.

Van Helsing (VIOLENCE): The first thing I did was look up who can use Confusion or Supersonic, haha. I did consider Abra line but other than the super high intellect of Alakazam I don't think it fits best. And honestly... I know it's kind of a weird choice but weirdness itself feels fitting for him: I almost picked Lickitung. Abilities being Oblivious or Own Tempo works, the whole 'licking everything new to memorize it' kinda could go along with him having a million degress, and some of the moves work pretty well. Supersonic, Knock Off, Wrap, Disable, Refresh... I think overall I might lean towards Mr. Mime, though. Also an odd one, but the description mentions its ability to convince people of imaginary things which then become real and that seems fitting for him. Also the various Barrier/Light Screen type moves make sense for him always warding away vampires, and he's got Confusion and Double Slap too. Him being personally weak to Dark/Ghost types might make sense in some parts and make others more difficult, admittedly.

That's the best I've got for them all, at least! Feel free to suggest others if you like.

When you get them:

At the end:

[justices-blade]

☆ did someone say anniversary munday

from neffi!! thank you :D

celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is.

repost, don't reblog. only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing!

happy anniversary, TOA! here's to many more years spent together.

name: leo

pronouns: he/him

birthday: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

where are you from? what is your time zone? the states, but im in europe now and i aint plannin to leave, baybey. CEST!

how long is your roleplay experience? uhhh 13 years of which 11 were on tumblr. the passage of time is horrifying

how were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? deviantart sonic oc self inserts. dont say anything

how were you introduced to TOA? im an avid skimmer of the tellius tag on tumblr and saw toa crop up a few times in the past but the concept of fodlan as a setting fundamentally scared me for a good while because it was the only fe game i wasnt even remotely familiar with. then one winter holiday in 2022 i saw neffis leonardo crop up in the tag and i was like lmfao it would be fucking hilarious if i started writing edward again right and then i blacked out for the next 12 hours and suddenly im here.

do you have any pets? nope. i do want a rat a spider or a snake though. maybe a toad even

what is your favorite time of year and why? autumn... its the cusp of summer and autum weather rn actually and im freaking thriving

what is your IRL occupation? graphic design student (help)

some interests and things you like/enjoy? gaming and writing are the no-brainers, but i also love dnd, drawing and making cosplay. despite being easily scared i also really like horror. also frogs are eternal i love frogs forever and ever

what non-fire emblem games do you play? currently it's mostly warframe, elden ring and arknights with some enstars on the side HAHA maybe xiv'll suck me back in soon < his ass still hasnt played dawntrail

favorite pokemon type & pokemon: favorite type is ghost, but the charcadet line has RICOCHETED to the top of my favorite pokemon list over spiritombs throne LMFAO

tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself! i once wrote a poem based off of haurchefant greystone of ffxiv fame for korean school because i could not fucking think of anything else and i won a fucking award (minor) for a competition i didnt even know i was getting myself into????

i also inject frogs into any art assignments that i really dont want to do so i find the motivation to do them lmfao

how did you get into fire emblem? smash bros brawl baybey. i watched my friend play awakening for a bit but i only owned a wii (region locked. american. we were in europe) so i crawled to my dad all sopping wet and pathetic to ask if he could pretty please buy me por while he was on a business trip to i think LA. he brought back rd instead.

what fire emblem games have you played? hilariously exactly the same amount as last time (sorry) (gba, tellius, 3ds, engage)

first & favorite fire emblem games: radiant dawn all the way babyyyy

list your 5 favorite fire emblem characters across the series! chad leonardo edward limstella micaiah. yep

who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? can be any context and reason! leonardo showed his pretty face on the screen when i was 14 and it was over for me

any fire emblem crushes? 😳leonardo showed his pretty face on the screen when i was 14 and it was over for me.

jokes aside im not sure i do crushes but if we're talking about current i think pandreo applies

if you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first s support? who would you s support nowadays? - awakening: stahl or miriel - fates: hinata... or beruka - three houses: jeritza probably i am going to be so real - engage: pandreo.

favorite fire emblem class? are thieves meant to be a gimmick/utility class. yes. do i care? BOY OH BOY. rogue my beloved... (also i inevitably end up doting on at least one archer and anima mage)

if you were a fire emblem character, what would be your class and stats? would you be playable? weirdly magic-heavy thief i think. playable only if he likes your vibes. probably have to recruit him like cath. i'm not even that good i'm best used for meteor/bolting/bersesrk etc bait

if you were a three houses character, what would be your affiliation? golden deer!

if you were an officers academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent? boon in faith+axe, bane in riding+heavy armor, hidden talent in authority. no it does not mean i want to be in charge. but alas im reasonably good at it.

if you were an engage character, which nation would you originate from? i thought on elusia for a while but honestly i think its firene for me. i will never say no to citrus.

how do you pronounce TOA? 🤔toe-ah...

current TOA muses: edward, chad, denning

past TOA muses? its just been these three so far baybey

who was your first TOA muse? if you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? [gripping edward really hard as i hold him out towards the camera] this boy has lived in my brain rent fucking free for 11 years he is a vital part of my deciding whether i get fries with my burger order atp

do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? reiterating this from the last time i filled this out: little guys and pensive freaks. i also fundamentally like characters who experience internal conflict of interests between their morality and their loyalty/duty/other social trappings. its tasty!

do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could? i love digging deep into lore and piecing it together even if its not immediately evident and a bit fragmented (its the soulsborne enjoyer in me). BUT if i need to do this for a main or major character with a bajillion dialogue and context clues strewn across three playthroughs of a game and i could easily overlook things i would be a little too scared of getting soemthing wrong. "oh x loves orange juice" "WRONG x said as a one off in the middle of this heavy story segment that he hates orange juice and prefers strawberry milk actually" i would fucking die. i would die

what kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? UNRELIABLE NARRATION. shit you look at and go "hm that aint whats going on rn at all". love that shit. i try to not overuse it but i love when it becomes more evident midway through a scene. good stuff. i also love writing impulsive stupid responses and vividly descriptive scenes, but also i love writing affection and devotion in general, even if exceptionally gooey and cavity-inducing, even if ill-advised and misplaced. there's so much more i can add here but i love writing i love writing with people i love writing with y'all. love and peace.

and violence. i used to be scared of fight scenes but now i love thinking in those milliseconds between the violence. flurries and slurries of blood. can i rip more shit apart pretty please

do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man i hope i get to write this one day”? [stuffs my fist in my mouth and screams]

incredibly loosely speaking. i want edward to realise he's been a bit fucked up actually and have to sit in that thought instead of shrugging past it as usual. i want chad to sit with someone and just connect with them so they don't feel as alone (yes this has happened i just love when this happens). i want denning to forcibly feel an emotion, and whether they get better or worse from it might depend entirely on their company.

favorite TOA-related memories? sorry that i keep bringing up edwards 37.5 damage astra during the final fight of apollyon ouranos i just can't stop thinking about it. that's so much fucking damage. that said i loved banding together against the impossible and FUCKING WINNING

present or past tense? uhhh present < just had to go back to check

normal size text, small text, no preference? normal size is a bit easier for me to read, but i have no real preference

got any potential muse delusions to share? 😉 either you know my delusions or you don't . at any rate i don't think my rosters going to move anytime soon

[wolfhednn]

Celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is. Repost, don't reblog. Only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing! Happy anniversary, TOA! Here's to many more years spent together.

Name: rai

Pronouns: it's complicated so she/he take ur pick

Birthday (no year): may 17

Where are you from? What is your time zone? the states, east coast beast coast. (not rly its swampy here)

How long is your roleplay experience? i regularly lose count. 17 years now i think?

How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? neopets, p sure. at least i can't remember rping before that. warrior cats and gifteds rps on neopets were the one-night stands of my heart

How were you introduced to TOA? according to legend, ree was reported famously to have said "we could do it tho" and then i answered "yeah ig we could huh"

Do you have any pets? nah i've come to realize that im not very good at taking care of living things (including myself) and no lifeform should be subjected to that

What is your favorite time of year and why? i'm an autumn girlie, complete with the pumpkin spice. november specifically is my favorite time of year

What is your IRL occupation? i work at a community college writing center ob it's really rewarding to make a direct impact on other people's experiences

Some interests and things you like/enjoy? gacha games, reading, poetry, hearing the dank beat drop in a song and imagining some dramatic rp scene to go along with it

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play? honkai: star rail, granblue fantasy, pokemon, jrpgs, otomes, vn's in general, whatever games my friends want to stream for me while i grind granblue fantasy

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: raichu, and flying types

Tell us some fun facts and trivia about yourself! 3 stuffed animals have pride of place on my bed and they are a fennec fox named luhan, a red panda named shizi (persimmon in mandarin), and whale tartaglia

How did you get into Fire Emblem? was browsing the nearby gamestop in college shortly after fates came out, decided to pick it up on a whim because it looked up my alley. got hooked and blasted through the rest of the series in short order afterward

What Fire Emblem games have you played? everything except jugdral, but i've studied jugdral like i did ff7 back in the day in order to rp it

First & Favorite Fire Emblem games: fates as mentioned above. favorite depends on the metric jsdjgsk but, simplified, binding blade remains near and dear to my heart

List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series! i cannot do this i do not hold enough characters in my working memory at a time

Who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? Can be any context and reason! i think tsubaki. he was pretty and a pegasus knight, and i only liked him more as i actually saw more of his character HAHA

Any Fire Emblem crushes? huh. surprisingly, not really? was definitely expecting to have some for this one

If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays? 　　Awakening: lucina. and yes. always always 　　Fates: tsubaki, nishiki, and leo. and yes. 　　Three Houses: felix bc i liked his character and i always tend to s-support my faves just to see their lines. ambivalent now tbh im kinda roulette w 3h s-supports 　　Engage: gregory, mostly bc i'm also roulette w engage s-supports rather than any overt favoritism for gregory. maybe fogado?

Favorite Fire Emblem class? nomad ranger / bow knight

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable? i've been told i'd be mage into mage knight but wielding dark magic. magic nuke but kind of whatever everything else. lysithea but mounted i guess. if i'm somehow playable the circumstances must be EXTRAORDINARY because good luck peeling me away from my nice quiet life for your continental justice war no thanks

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? black eagles probably and i'd cringe abt it

If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent? reason and authority boon. gauntlet, heavy armor, flying bane. i don't rly think i'd have a budding talent in any of the rest

If you were an Engage character, which nation would you originate from? tbh i'd probably be from elusia

How do you pronounce TOA? individual letters

Current TOA muses: felix, caeldori, rosado

Past TOA muses? too fucking many yall. ugh lemme see. volug, sety, idunn, leif, yuri, kurthnaga, ephraim, lucius, etzel, nel, citrinne, nishiki

Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? will smith gestures at the grumpycat

Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? reckless boys with hearts of gold (felix, leif, zeiss, ephraim); perfectionistic dreamers (caeldori), charismatic cunning extroverts concealing a boatload of issues, somber cerebral sages (sety, etzel, kurthnaga arguably)

Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could? there's plenty of archetypes i don't gravitate toward, but i don't really wish i did either. so not really

What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? i like dramatic, fast-paced action scenes. i also like anything that explores complex topics and reveals how subjective the world really is, situations that challenge a character's views and beliefs and force them to reflect on what makes right or wrong

Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write this one day”? not really right now. i don't usually have rp wishlists like this because my enjoyment of a scene depends more on how effectively i feel it's being executed rather than just getting to do the specific scene by itself

Favorite TOA-related memories? probably running team mercy in lock&key? that was a really fulfilling experience

Present or past tense? present tense

Normal size text, small text, no preference? small text but idc what my partner uses

Got any potential muse delusions to share? i have muses falling out my pockets. lately i've been fistfighting the ilios in my head constantly. sometimes you just want to play a loser

[sparklingdemon]

The reversed Cody art and the April Fools event with Venusaur in Pokémon Monochrome have me thinking about what a hypothetical Eevee ghost would potentially be like (A huge surprise, coming from the user "bronzeeevee" LMAO)

If Venusaur is apathy, I was thinking maybe Eevee could be pure emotion, or something along the lines of that?

Lean into Eevee's evolution gimmick to have it be like Pikachu (Jolteon), Blastoise (Vaporeon), and Charizard (Flareon) all in one, switching between evolution forms seemingly on a dime?

(Putting some rough doodles I did for this idea below- hopefully it goes through, I am admittedly still getting used to tumblr XD)

Side note: The recent confrontation with Charizard has me on the EDGE OF MY SEAT. Even beyond just the confrontation itself and hoping we can fulfill Cody's wishes, the IMPLICATIONS of how the "real" Cody died all adding up... ohhh boy. Very good stuff, again I have to praise your dialogue skills and ability to set a suspenseful scene!

(side note #2: I have not been able to get the phrase "BAJALASTOISE BLAST" out of my head for the past several days LMAO)

oooo very fun! i like the idea of it! (makes me think of the pokemon adventures manga, where red's eevee did the exact same thing!)

i can imagine that unlike with the other ghosts, who know exactly what they want, eevee ghost has no idea what it wants to be, or what it wants from the situation, and is erratic and tormented because of it, haha. (a parallel to cody not knowing what to do with themself, and the audience themselves being indecisive abt what to do with cody)

flipping between emotions nearly instantly with no sense to it. goes from flareon angrily calling cody a dumpster fire before jolteon saying "haha i was just joking" and vaporeon like "i'm sorry please don't be mad at me". it probably would also try to argue with itself, making a point in an argument only to be like "AUGH! NO! YOU CAN'T SAY THAT!" it would be like if all of cody's players were wrapped up into the same pokemon, all at once. i love the ideas this concept is giving me, haha!

thank you! i'm really glad the charizard confrontation is giving its intended effect - even successfully defeating charizard won't come with its own fallout and drama, because she's cast suspicion onto cody… it's clear that cody's players are still (mostly) on cody's side, but it'll be interesting to watch cody try to damage-control the situation after this is over…

(not gonna lie the bajalastoise blast ask sent me too lmao)