Contents:
Strife
Patch
Obvious exits:
North <N> leads to Cinnabar Island: PokeMart.
Out <O> leads to Cinnabar Island: Boardwalk.

A light rain falls from a grey sky. It's cool and there's a mild wind from the east. In the forest, raindrops patter against the fresh leaves, and glisten like silver beads on their bright green surfaces. The wet tree trunks have darkened from grey to brown. While at the coast, rain pitters lightly on the deep grey ocean, and the waves are small.

It's raining outside. Do you know where your Growlithe is? Fortunately, Patch does - inside the Pokemon Center, Peppy curiously peers out the windows of the uncrowded area. He's only on two paws, but that's because he's leaning against one of the chairs and looking out. Eep. Cute. His tail wags, not only because the rain pittering on the glass is fun to look at, but also because... da da! He's not out in it!

You know who is out in it? A man in dark clothing with his hands buried deep in his pockets walks in the rain. "I have not seen him for days," Strife mutters. "I hope..." he begins, but shakes his head. "Talking to one's self is a sure sign of insanity," the man finally mutters with a growl. He moves on, not realizing the puppy he's thinking about is quite close by, only inside a building.

Patch, meanwhile, is preparing for the journey back to Celadon, getting a few supplies from the Pokemon Center, an umbrella, etc. Hopefully if she keeps the umbrella over Peppy, he won't get wet. Maybe it's not such a good idea to have him out if they're going on a ferry, but, hey...

Peppy doesn't seem to notice Strife enter, too intent on not only concentrating on the lovely little rain outside, but also partially on Patch. <When are we gonna get back home?> The pup asks, peering over and behind him (but not in the direction of the now-entering Strife). This isn't as hard when you're standing on two paws, that's for sure! <Tonight?> It's part-question, part-hope.

Strife glances in the window as he passes, too dark to be noticed, but Peppy's quite colourful in the room. He tilts his head, and enters the Pokemon center, looking at the pup as he opens the door. He seems.. confused. Heh.

Patch looks over at Peppy and nods. "Tonight! I think we've stayed here long enough. I know -you- have." She grins as she turns back to her preparations, not noticing the man entering and looking at her Growlithe. Meanwhile, Rosie the Pikachu is hopping around a bit as usual, though since she's been doing just that most of the day her energy is actually down a little.

Tonight! Ahh, just the word sends a little chill of joy down the pup's spine. Now he'll get to see that Sandshrew, and Kato, and that mean Cubone that insulted him again! Turning his head back to the window, Peppy arfs a quiet, cheerful little "Lithe!". Mm. Water's not that bad, when it's really light, and when you're inside...

Strife raises his hat a bit to get a clearer look at Peppy, but when Patch begins talking he looks over to her. His hands lower to his sides as he begins to ask, "Peppy?"

Rosie wanders over to Strife and looks up at him with a cute expression on her face. After a few moments, she tugs on the hem of his jacket. <Hi! Do you know Peppy? I haven't seen you before, but you must be nice if you know him!> Patch looks up again, blinking when she sees the man. "Um...hi?"

Ahh! The rain is so gentle, so calm, so... "Growl!" The pup barks surprised, practically falling off the chair. His front paws, not exactly used to doing so, can just barely keep him balanced. WIth a frantic gesture, the Growlithe glances in Strife's direction... and his front paws give way. He bumps his cheek on the chair, and is now on all fours. He doesn't seem to notice. <You're... that man...> He whimpers quietly. That man. Specific. He's pretty much oblivious to Patch and Rosie now.

The man sighs. Well, it's obvious now that it's Peppy. Then the man feels the tug of a Pikachu, and he looks down to it. Unfortunatly, although he understands Growlithe, he doesn't know a word of Pikachu. So the man just peers at Rosie, and then looks to Patch with a is-this-your-Pikachu? look on his face. He asks an entirly different question. "You are that.. Patch?"

Patch sweatdrops. Okay, this guy who seems to know her Growlithe also knows her name. "Erm...yes, my name's Patch. And those two are my Pokemon. Do I...know you from somewhere?" She can't quite figure out if she's seen him before or not. She's seen so many people. Rosie hops up on the chair next to Peppy so she can get a better look at this new person.

The Growlithe just peers at Strife, chin relaxed a bit. Yep. That's gotta be... 'the man'. Still looking at Strife, the canine hops off of the chair, and begins strolling towards him. Slowly. Surely. As if not even sure he's doing so. Oo, spooky!

Strife shakes his head. "I do not believe so, but only you could answer that if you did," the man states dryly, his glance going back to Peppy. "I saw your posters, and I know Peppy," he half-explains, pocketing his hands. He doesn't say a word more than that, though, suddenly hit with a few serious thoughts.

A Katerwaul slinks closer, bright eyes all ablaze ... so whisper a prayer and start that save! (Saving)

Patch nods thoughtfully. "I'm sure glad I put up those posters. If I hadn't, I probably would never have found Peppy all the way over here. Have you been with him at all while he's been on Cinnabar?"

Plopping on his rump a couple feet away from Strife, Peppy glances up at Strife. Oblivious to Strife talking, oblivious to Patch talking. What he's doing isn't exactly obvious, but. <Do... did...> He pauses for a moment, glancing at the ground. And feeling sort of mature. <Why did you help me?> He asks, peering at the ground. It's an odd question, because the Growlithe probably would've expected help from the next human who came along.

Strife nods a bit, his eyes getting a bit sad. "Yes," he answers, glancing at the pup. "I checked on him every day to make sure he was alright," the man mutters, a bit embarrased at his care. But when Peppy asks his question, the man coughs a bit. And looks down at the ground. "I..." he begins to say, and then sighs and ignores the question, moving on. "He was doing very well, although most of the time did not notice me. I came a few days ago, planning to.. take him back home.. but he was missing." His eyes go up to Patch and they read I-was-worried before he looks down again and straightens up. "I am glad you found him."

Patch smiles a bit. "You took care of him? That's so nice of you. I really owe you something for that, but I don't know how I can repay you..." She pauses in thought for a moment before continuing. "Well, Peppy told me that he got carried off by a Charizard, but I don't know how he would've escaped. Do you know anything about it?" Rosie looks at Peppy. <He helped you because he's a really nice man!> she says innocently and cheerfully.

Peppy may not be the smartest Growlithe on the block, but he can take a hint as obvious as this one. Strife doesn't want to answer the question, but for whatever reason, Peppy can't imagine. Were he a human, and were Strife a lost Pokemon, he'd want to say, 'Yes, I helped your Growlithe! I'd appreciate payment in burgers!'. How odd that Strife seems to want... almost... nothing. For now, the pup stays silent, listening as the man and the dog's trainer speak. His ear twitches at the mentioning of 'Charizard', although he's actually not sure if that's what the Pokemon was. Something like that. He grins slightly at Rosie, but doesn't reply.

Strife shakes his head at Patch. "You owe me nothing," he mutters. When she gets to the line about the Charizard, the man blinks. "I was headed towards this island to find a Charizard, but was unable to locate it. I did not know how you were seperated, I never... asked." The man shrugs a bit, looking at Peppy again. It looks like the man is really struggling to stay even. "So, I suppose you will be taking him back to his and your home?" Strife asks.

Patch nods. "We're planning to head back to Celadon tonight." She pauses and looks at the man. "So, you don't live around here? Where -do- you live? You said you came here looking for a Charizard..." Rosie blinkblinks. <What's a Charizard?>

Is Strife done yet? Has he stopped talking? Close enough. "Gr... Growl... lithe... growl..." He tries to say something to Strife, but it comes out as a gargled mess that doesn't really translate into anything but <Um, err, uh...>. Quietly, the pup looks to the side. He tries to reply to Rosie, but he's still all choked up and stuff. What's he trying to say that's making him so... nervous? So scared? So... *weird*?

Strife answers Patch, "I do not live anywhere." Simple enough answer. But his attention is diverted by Peppy's hopeless mumblings, and he looks down at the pup, quirking an eyebrow. "Are you quite alright?" he asks quietly and evenly.

Patch looks a little uneasy from Strife's answer. "Oh...I see. Well, thanks for all your help!" She glances down at her confused-looking Growlithe. "Peppy? What's wrong?" Rosie peers at him too. <Oh...you don't know what a Charizard is? It's okay.>

Maybe he's choking on air or something. Maybe he's sick. Or maybe he's just nervous. <I'm fine,> He manages quietly. With a curious, innocent little glance, he peers up at Strife. Opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it... and quietly whimpers, <I... you... th... thank you for... uh, helping me.> He would scratch the back of his neck in nervousness if his paws would go back that far. Patch is not heard, nor is Rosie's adorable comment. It's just him n' Strife. <I'll... try... to sleep less. And... not... get food for free anymore...> The word's 'hunt', but he's long since forgot it. Why is he choking up? Love and/or respect for Strife? Maybe he's just scared to give up some sleep and food.

Strife's taken aback. "Er," he says, stepping back a step. "Of course. Keep trying," he tells the dog, his eyebrows raising. The man shakes his head a bit, and looks at Patch. "You've got quite the Growlithe there," he tells Patch, his tone lightened a bit. "To let you know."

Patch blinks at Peppy, looking fully perplexed now after he's said what he has to say. She glances from him to Strife and back to him. Is this really Peppy? Could it be a stray Growlithe that she accidentally picked up? But no, he has the snowflake collar. "Well..." She hesitates and grins a bit. "Thanks," she says to Strife. "It sounds like he's made improvements since you've been with him."

Quite the Growlithe? A compliment. Affection. Love. From someone not his trainer. It's amazing how much something like that can really perk up one's spirit. With a small, modest little grin, and a brushy tail wag, Peppy would probably give Strife a nice little lick on the cheek were he not standing up. Well, maybe if Patch wasn't there, too. The Growlithe glances around to peer at Patch with a little look of confusion. He then glances at Choochoo, a slightly worried look on his face. <Rosie? What are... im...imparovmunts?> Yep. That's Peppy all right.

Strife looks down. "It was fully him, I assure you. I just suggested to him to try his hardest at what he does, and take inititive." He glances to Peppy. "Improvements. Patch implies you have bettered yourself." Hrm. That probably doesn't help much. Strife continues a bit awkwardly, "I am sorry I did not try to find you sooner," he says to Patch. "I am sure you were very worried."

Patch nods to confirm Strife's definition of the word. "Oh, don't worry about it. I was extremely worried, but it's all right, since he seems to have come out of the experience a better Pokemon. I'm proud of him." She smiles, and so does the little Pikachu.

Bettered himself? Um. <Thanks!> The puppy barks rather cheerfully to Patch, although he still isn't quite clear on what she meant. Maybe eating burgers and sleeping a lot is... bad? And not sleeping so much is an imparovmunt? Whatever it is, it's a compliment, and that invokes a tail wag. So so the 'I'm proud of him.' comments and the smile from Rosie. It feels so great to be the star of attention (unless you're skating at the Snowflake Festival).

Strife frowns. Despite the happy reunion, the man doesn't seem lifted much. He forces a half-smile, but it turns out to just neutralize the expression on his face once again. "I probably should go," he says to Patch. "But keep taking good care of Peppy. Do that to thank me." He looks at Patch, judging her reaction, but somehow knowing she probably already takes the best care of the Growlithe she can give.

Patch gazes at the man thoughtfully for a few moments. "You two seem to have become pretty attached to each other..." she says slowly, thinking. "Since you, um, don't live anywhere, you're welcome to drop by Celadon anytime to come see Peppy. Would you like that?"

Peppy glances up at Strife quietly, letting off one more tail wag. And an innocent statement that only Peppy could phrase. <When we meet again, I'll make *sure* I'm not sleeping.> Sigh. Dumb. But cute. He feels pretty positive he'll meet the man again. With a little glance to the side, with a little "Growlithe!" of agreement to Patch, the fuzzy Pokemon seems to think that Strife visiting Celadon is a good idea. <We live in a *big* house,> he arfs happily, as if that helps even moderately.

Strife smirks a bit, although it's mostly an empty smirk. It's obvious this man is quite the odd one, and awkward in social situations at that. "I will be sure to visit, although I do not get out that far too often." He coughs a bit, and nods.

Patch nods. "I'm sure Peppy will be happy to see you again when you come by," she says, smiling. Rosie nodnods in agreement. <Yay! We'll get to meet the nice man again soon! Won't that be great, Peppy?>

No reply. Good thing or bad thing? A little look of worry crosses Peppy's face a bit, and his once-wagging tail now seems to droop a bit. It wags right back up as Rosie's optimistic voices echoes into the pup's furry ears, and she receives an enthusiastic nod. <I can't wait.> Peppy grins quietly. <Maybe he can come have dinner.> Then, he flinches a bit, and glances up at Strife. Oops. He's supposed to hunt, not eat dinner like that... um...

Strife nods slowly, ehing softly. He nods at Peppy. "Perhaps," he mutters. Then he addresses the entire group, even the Pikachu. "Until later." The man raises his hand halfway up in a slight wave. Then, as suddenly as he entered, he turns to exit. He lowers his hat down to shield him from the rain as he walks outside, pocketing his hands and sighing a bit more.