Pokemon - Monday, December 02, 2002, 6:55 PM --------------------------------------------

One semi-nice day, Soki has a conversation with Peppy. Full of surprises!

 A trio of Clefairy sings   *        *          *    *
   Christmas carols for *      *        *                         *            
         you on:                    *          *        *       *
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       \ /  `'  ''  \  / \ /  `'_ ''  \  / \`   `^_ ^'   '//       * 
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   | _ // _ \ | |/ /  /<>\ | |\\  //| | | | | |   \\  |  _  |
   ||   ||_|| | |\ \  ||_  | | \\// | | | \_/ | ||_|| | | | | ()
   ||   \___/ |_| \_\ \__/ |_|  \/  |_| \_____/ \___/ |_| |_|   
             
                         Pokemon Evolutions
                  http://www.byte-me.org/pokemush
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Pokemon Haven: Assisi Farm

dd> To call this area a 'farm' is really overstating it. While there is a barn and a fenced in area, there are no tilled lands, and the fence has a number of places without rails, allowing anything inside it to just walk right out. Both the barn and the small farmhouse look to be in good repair, the door of the former open at the moment.

Obvious exits:
North <N> leads to Overgrown Lands - Route 11: Off the Route.

Soki has connected.

Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west, along with the wind. The sunlight on the snow is dazzling, and it gleams on the ice. In the forest, blowing snow drifts against the trunks of the trees. While at the coast, the sea is bright but cruel and cold looking in the sunlight, the waves gentle and the whitecaps small.

Beautiful. The snow lines the ground as far as the eye can see, though that's not such an impressive distance - the sunlight reflecting off of the snow greatly hinders vision. Still, the weather is unarguably better than it's been in past weeks, where there would be so much sleet and snow tumbling from the sky that would find its way into eyes and *completely* blind the watcher. Though he's never been a fan of cold, Peppy is definitely grateful for today. His body remains inside the barn, resting upon his fuzzy rump, but he's leaned forward so that his muzzle is out in the cold, sniffing here and there, just in case maybe a Rattata will come stumbling along. That, or he's just enjoying the blue sky and the sunlight, as his gently wagging tail suggests.

Soki is completely inside the barn, unlike Peppy, sitting to himself, eyes closed. By simple outside physical observations, there is a notable difference in the gap between him and the nearest pokemon and the size of the gap between most pokemon in the barn and the ones nearest him. Those in tune with the psychic laws governing existence might detect a growing mental rift between Soki and those around him, but those people are few and far between. This Sandslash doesn't care either way; so long as he's left to himself. If anything could be said of Soki by his behavior these past weeks, it's that something is on his mind, and something big.

Peppy is about as far from "psychic" as you can get, so needless to say he detects absolutely nothing as he sits there, over and over again looking as far as he can into the distance, turning his head to the side and blinking as the sunlight on the snow blinds him, then looking back again, almost as if he draws some amusement from giving himself pain. Strange puppy. He's got a smile on his face, at least - perhaps he's been cooped up for too long in this barn, and he's just looking for a hint of a Rattata out in the snow. He doesn't seem to be having any success, however. Retreating his head back into the barn, he steals a quick glance over at his mate and puppies, making sure that they're still asleep, before getting up to his paws and turning himself around, making a wide circle, his tail bashing into the barn wall as he does so. <All they like to do is sleep,> the Growlithe mumbles as he watches the other pokemon in the barn. Ironic that he should sleep as much as if not more than any one of them...

No sleep for this warrior! He's painfully aware of nigh-everything in the barn. Whether or not it's comprehensible is a different matter, but but so far as noises and motions, he can tell what's going on. Accordingly, his mind jumps to thoughts of the irony of the Growlithe's statement, which causes, in turn, the rest of his mind that is trying to ponder something serious to yell at the other part for goofing off. The first part complains that it never gets to have any fun and the other part returns that fun is not the point. At last Soki growls (though very low), opens his eyes, and admits defeat for the day. He just can't concentrate with all these people around!

They're almost all asleep, and the ones who aren't seem to be getting there, from the Pidgeys perched on the top of the building to the larger pokemon bunched up in the far corner. One, however, isn't. The Growlithe's green eyes flicker to the Sandslash, who, surprise of surprises, reacts to his statement. Peppy remains still for a couple moments, just sort of peering at Soki like he's never seen a ground-type before. The pup takes a gradual step forward, sniffs the air, and takes another step. It's probably not enough for Soki to become concerned over, especially since the look on the dog's face is anything but angry or fearsome - curious at worst, friendly at best. <I...> Standing there, still except for his slowly cocking head, Peppy woofs gently so as to not disturb the other pokemon. <I've met you, haven't I?>

Will Santa's route be extra long this year? Better save! (Saving)

With his mind not quite set on the task of memory, Soki too takes a few moments to recognize Peppy. However, the markings and general stature soon ring a bell, and Soki says, <Yes.> After a moment's pause, he elaborates, <We met on a human road. I had my cubone friend fetch a Rattata for you. I believe that you were going to seek this farm for shelter, correct? For you and your mate?> It appears that Soki's deduced Aurora's identity, though that would hardly be a stretch of cognitive processes. When someone sleeps "in the same bed" as someone else and has children with them, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that the two are mates.

As amusing as it may be for Peppy to answer "<No, we're just friends!>", he's a naturally very truthful Growlithe. Sure, a little proud, as is evidenced by the puffing of his chest as Soki mentions "mate", but truthful. <Yeah! She liked the Rattata a lot. She always does.> And Peppy sways back and forth for a moment, this dumb little grin present on his face as his bushy white tail swishes back and forth. Right, left, right, left, center. The vapid look on Peppy's face diminishes as his furry eyebrows narrow, and, cocking his head once more, the Growlithe asks, <... You were coming here, too?> Dangit - he would have asked for directions.

Soki nods, though slowly. <Yes, but by necessity. We came here because there's food and shelter for us here, something we really don't get at the Base. I can stand it, but the Team doesn't have the same stamina.> After saying this, Soki seems distressed. It's not as though he feels like he's insulted the Team, because it's a valid assessment of their skills. Soki's trained for endurance, they haven't, and there's no shame in it. No, it's something else, and whatever it is, it's visible on his face that it's an issue. Issue enough to break Soki from conversation to think about it, at least.

Purple, gold, and vermillion clouds grace the western sky as the sun descends toward the west.

Peppy's face seems to drop a little bit as Soki's mood declines. He opens his jaws to speak (probably to ask what the heck a "base" is), but decides against it and snaps it shut. Submissively or nervously, either one, the Growlithe turns his head down and to the side, his ear flickering, the top of his nose pressed against the side of his fuzzy red-orange side belly. After thinking about it for a bit (or maybe just waiting for Soki to collect his thoughts?), the pup glances back up at Soki, though his head itself stays in the same position. <You look like you have a lot of stamina, though.> Wow, a semi-long word Peppy knows. Stamina. <Why do you say you don't have it?>

Oh, goodie, a distraction. Though it really isn't his fault, Soki hates to think that he's not thinking about what he's supposed to be thinking about. It's the kind of thing Zenny used to scold him for; faulting himself for things beyond his control. Well, it would be rude to fail to answer, so Soki will prevent himself from kicking himself later over a fault that would be his fault. <No. I do. My teammates don't. They just can't stand the cold for as long as I can. That's okay, though. I've trained for it, and they haven't, simple as that.> Rather than going back to his ponderings, Soki stays attentive. Peppy might have more questions and he'll get them out of the way as soon as possible.

Something Soki says seriously interests the Growlithe. His head whips up into a more alert (and, funnily enough, more comfortable) position, his eyes having to peer up slightly to keep looking at the ground pokemon's face. <But you don't need training!> woofs the pup, perhaps a little too loudly, as one of the Pidgeys on the rafters squawks an annoyed, <Hush, mutt! We're trying to sleep!> She is met with a series of chirps of agreement, all of which succeed in quieting the pup considerably. Half-growling, half-whimpering, the pup woofs, <I hardly ever went out into the snow when I...> Quick pause. Picking up as though it was only a stumble, he continues. <And I did fine for a few days!> Yes. A few days. A fire-type pokemon with a big fluffy coat for a few days. Gotta love Peppy's attention to logic.

Soki shakes his head, fighting to keep pity out of the emotion conveyed. As per the Pidgey's request, he lowers his voice (even though the command wasn't directed at him). <You don't understand,> Soki says, <I'm a ground type. I don't do well in the snow; it hurts. But I can stand to be out there for a great deal of time at a stretch, and travelling to boot. I haven't attempted it, but if need be I would guess that I could survive about a week out there, before I really had to apply my inner power to it.> Apparently Zenny's old "inner power" teachings still apply in Soki's mind. They appear to be working for him, anyway.

The fair weather clouds in the west turn purple, gold, and vermillion as the sun sets. The snow, in shadow, looks blue. A cold wind blows from the west.

Though Peppy doesn't verbally reply, he closes his eyes for a second or two, nodding his head back and forth in understanding. It's not a particularly difficult fact, and it's one most people would have already concluded, but the Growlithe treats it as brand new information he never considered before. Ground types can't survive snow well! Shocking! Revolutionary! Peppy is silent for a few moments more, perhaps absorbing as much as he can of what the ground-type just told him... before he finally opens his mouth. <How come they can't, though?> It's an innocent enough enquiry, and he could probably figure out the answer if he put forth even a little thought into it, but thought and Peppy don't exactly mix.

For once, Soki is at a loss for words. That's only partly because he doesn't know the answer; what truly shocks him is that he's wondered this himself. Imagine that! Soki and Peppy thinking on the same level. <That's a good question,> the Sandslash says at last, <And one that I honestly can't answer. If anything, I'd say the inner power in my body and the spiritual force in the snow is in opposition, but that's a stretch of the imagination. Seriously, I've no clue.> And that disturbs him. Greatly.

The orange-red sun sinks below the western horizon, leaving a darkening tapestry of purple and red-gold clouds behind it.

To heck with "Ground types die in blizzards". Peppy thinking on the same level as Soki? Peppy thinking at -all-? Darwin nothing, this is what's really going to horrify people. The Growlithe's face brightens up slightly when Soki concedes that the fuzzy pokemon actually had a good question - Peppy's never actually heard that compliment before, and judging by his fiercely wagging tail and his slightly more panting breaths (yeah, he's pretty excited), he likes it. His tongue is sucked back into his mouth and his proud grin turns back into a confused, cross look as Soki continues speaking. <... What's spritul? ... And imagashun?> What was that about Peppy thinking on the same level as Soki, again?

There is a long moment's pause as Soki attempts to form words in his mind that would properly convey the ideas to the Growlithe that sits before him. These are not ideas that come easily, nor take well to simplification. At long last, Soki comes up with the perfect answer to both of them, summing up his feelings tidily while still explaining something: <Don't worry yourself over it, it's complicated.> There. Unless Peppy needs to know what "complicated" means, Soki's in the clear.

Blump. Peppy plops down on his haunches, a frown evident on his face as he watches Soki think. The cross look increases even further when Soki tells him what "imagination" and "spiritual" are - complicated. Complicated, at least, is a word Peppy knows, and, hesitantly, the pup nods his head. <... I'm not very good at complicated things,> he admits following his nod, <But...> Ding! <But Aurora really is! She's really, really smart! Do you think she'll know what spitul...> "Bulbbaaa bulb!" "Hooooooorn rhyhorn!" More quietly: <... and iminatin mean? Will she tell me?>

Soki makes a major shift in position via shrugging. <I don't know. I can't exactly read her mind and tell you how much she knows. She might, if she's smart. She might not, because there are things even really smart people don't know. Like I just said, I really don't know.> How is it that people like Peppy, in their own lack of cranial fullness, make you feel like you're missing all the questions you ought to be answering immediately? It annoys the tar out of Soki.

Will Santa's route be extra long this year? Better save! (Saving)

This time, Peppy's response of agreement is verbal, not restricted merely to nodding and smiling. "Lithe..." he barks softly, something of an "<Oh>". There's a few moments of silence from the Growlithe as he turns his head to the side, eyes going over the still-snoozing pokemon before eventually settling back on Soki. <... I bet she does know, because she's really smart.> He just had to get the last word in, huh? His tone almost carries something of an indignation, something of a "You better not deny it, either!" Could it be? Peppy acting... remotely offensive? Aggressive? Driven by testosterone-based jealousy and overprotection of his mate? Boy, this has been just an evening full of shockers.

Soki nods wholeheartedly, not feeling threatened but possibly using a touch of condescension. <The world needs more smart pokemon, I think,> he answers. Is that a slight? Hopefully not. In any case, Soki seems to sense that the conversation is winding down, and notes that accordingly. <You know, I hate to break off a spirited conversation like this, but I really need to think about some stuff... important stuff. Would you mind if we talked more later?>

Brindled clouds conceal a few patches of starlit sky.

If Soki's attempt was to insult Peppy, the Growlithe doesn't catch it; he only nods his head enthusiastically in mindless agreement, tail wagging, eyes squeezing shut. He opens his mouth, undoubtedly to say something about how his puppies are going to be really smart because their mom's Aurora, obviously ignoring the double-edged saber, but refrains from speaking when Soki suggests stopping the conversation. <... Oh, right!> Bink! Up to his paws Peppy jumps, instantly turning to the side so as to look over at the door and simply look over to the left to see the Sandslash. <... I'm looking for Rattatas for Aurora!> While staying inside. Is this pure stupidity, or halfway intelligent?

Soki nods enthusiastically. <Great!> he says, immediately being yelled at by a Pidgey who still hasn't gotton any sleep. Oops. Lowering his voice a bit, Soki still retains the enthusiasm as he says, <You do that. I'll stay here and keep an eye on everyone. Go get 'em!> With that, Soki heads back for his "nest" and returns to his thoughts. If that yarn didn't get Peppy enthused (and his mind, therefore, off of Soki), then this Sandslash is out of ammunition.

Seeing as how Peppy already was pretty excited about getting food (mm!), Soki's cheerleading breaches the threshold, and with little more than a quick, <Thanks! Bye!> Peppy kicks off of the ground, th-thump th-thump th-thumping over to the barn door and coming to a stumbling halt, coming -this- close to slipping head over paws and crashing into the snow. Rightening himself right back in the position adopted before his conversation with Soki began, Peppy begins the ritual once again. Peer into the snow, squint, turn, blink, peer, and so forth. He probably won't find anything before the sun goes down, and perhaps he even realizes this - but that doesn't seem to stop him from trying.