(10) looks like freedom but it feels like death

[natural_set]

[Action, Park]

[It is surprisingly easy to avoid your problems by avoiding people. After the whole zombie event, well... seeing his closest human friend get eaten can really do a number on a person. Sleeping outside is something N is good at already, anyway, and there's no doubt in his mind that his supposed "wife" knows where he is. Hell, Ryo might even know. Still, the park is where he feels most comfortable, and with his Pokémon friends with him, it's easy not to feel lonely. It's hard not being able to hear them, but they seem to understand him well enough, which is a decent substitute.

Luckily, there's an abundance of benches, shady trees, and grass to lie down on, so he hasn't been wanting for sleeping locations. Of course he returns "home" to check in, clean himself up, and meet drone requirements, but anyone who spends much time at the park will notice that a certain curly-haired man seems to be spending an awful lot of time there.]

Comments

[wonribbons.livejournal.com]

[Dawn over here will just... be watching you in awe, N.]

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

[It takes a bit, but eventually N notices that he's being watched, and he takes a moment to look away from trying to teach Pidove how to properly carry things to lift a hand up, a bit hesitantly.]

Can I help you?

a-aaah i'm sorry this is so late

[wonribbons.livejournal.com]

Huh? [She blinks twice, before laughing...] Um, I was wondering- is that a Pokémon?

I am always late

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

[N smiles. Finally, someone who recognizes them.]

Yes, he is! He's a Pidove, though he seems to have trouble learning.

Are you a Trainer?

[wonribbons.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am. I'm also a Pokemon Coordinator, too!

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

Coordinator?

[N has not yet come across Pokémon Contests yet, as Unova doesn't have them, so the terminology is a bit lost on him.]

[wonribbons.livejournal.com]

[Dawn nods politely.] Yeah, I’m a coordinator – and I enter Pokémon contests. I’m originally from Sinnoh, and they have contests there, but maybe they don’t have it where you’re from yet…?

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

[N shakes his head.]

No. I come from Unova, and they only have battles and the stadium. How do contests work?

[There's a hidden knife in there - using Pokémon for contests sounds suspiciously like something he wouldn't approve of.]

[wonribbons.livejournal.com]

You're from Unova? [Dawn beams at that immediately!] One of my friends has been there.. though so far he only has a few badges.

Umm.. well, basically first off there's two rounds. The first one is where you show off your Pokémon by having their moves shine! And after that is the battling round, where you still have to make those moves shine and be as beautiful as possible.. but you have to also try to get as many points as possible and make sure your own Pokémon don't get knocked out.

[tsunkinesis.livejournal.com]

[Oh yes, N's frequent prescence in the park doesn't go unnoticed by Lili. Not to mention she was curious about his Pokemon friends. It's not exactly her business but she wanted to know what his deal was.]

...What are these creatures that always hang around you?

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

No.

[Of course, that bit is directed at Scraggy, who'd noticed a new person and was gearing up to headbutt her. Gently, N directs him towards a tree instead.]

These are Pokémon. They're my friends.

[tsunkinesis.livejournal.com]

[Watch it Scraggy. She's a psychic. You know what they can do to your type.]

Pokemon? Never heard of them. They from your home world?

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

Yes, they are; they're all very important to me. Closer than most people, in fact... they don't ever tell lies, so you can always trust them.

[tsunkinesis.livejournal.com]

[Well, she did have a pet back home she did confide in more than her friends before she met Raz. So, why not?]

Wow, never thought you can regain living things before. So what are their names?

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

Purrloin, Scraggy, and Pidove.

[He indicates each as he says their names.]

I suppose... it's because many consider them possessions, back at home.

[And he does not sound happy about it.]

[tsunkinesis.livejournal.com]

That's rather harsh. Maybe there are people who treat them as their friends. Kinda like how some of us have animal friends.

Is it alright if I can pet them?

[She can't help but find Purrloin to be adorable.]

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

Of course, if you're gentle.

[Pettings? Purrloin loves those! He saunters over to Lili, then flops down onto his back.]

Sadly... too many people treat them as things.

[macanese.livejournal.com]

[Macau is out for a walk when he sees N. He doesn't know the young man, nor does he want to pry too much, but...] If you need somewhere safe to stay, I here there are some houses that can accommodate even strangers.

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

[N gives the man a good-natured smile.]

Thank you, but I'm comfortable here. I have a house I can go back to so I can take basic care of myself, but out here... it's as close to nature as I can get. The towns just aren't the same. I think my friends like it better too.

[dclassreyvateil.livejournal.com]

[It felt like something out of a fairy tale, to stumble upon this person and his pets like this. She had no idea what they were, but they looked enchanting in their own ways.

The feeling subsides after a moment though, as she realized they were still in a park. This could have been perfectly fine in another world, free from societal restrictions like those Mayfield imposed.

A lone girl attempts to brave (if the Pokémon seem at all scary/creepy that is) going close to the man, whether they're sleeping or not, with a soft voice.]

Hey, are you okay?

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

[N isn't sleeping, he's just lying on his back, though Purrloin is comfortably curled up asleep on his chest.]

Hm? Oh, I'm fine. I simply prefer this place to the town. It's so... peaceful, and better for my friends.

Do I know you?

[reflames]

[Sorry, N. Your notwaifu is currently sleeping on the bench you normally occupy. Out like a light. Still wearing your clothes no she doesn't care.

What do?]

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

[What do? Why, nudge a bit, curiously.]

Mokou?

[reflames]

[She mutters something about sleep, and an alarm, but otherwise stays asleep. Sorry. TRY SOMETHING MORE ATTENTION-GRABBING?]

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

[Pidove can take care of that! He flutters around her head, then nestles down in her hair, going so far as to fluff out in an impromptu nest. Bird has no sense of personal space.]

[reflames]

[Mokou warily opens her eyes, trying to shoo the birdthing away.]

Get...get outta here...

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

You're sleeping on a bench.

[N says it entirely matter-of-fact, sitting himself down on the ground in front of said bench so they're more at eye level.]

I haven't observed that being normal for most people.

[reflames]

[Mokou just blinks. Still sleepy, kthx.]

I'm not really normal.

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

[That's easy enough to accept. N isn't either. It doesn't answer his question, though.]

Why are you on the bench, then?

[reflames]

I like the park better than the house.

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

[That also follows, and N's expression softens, at least as much as it can when he's mostly without expression.]

I do too. I stay out here with my friends. I wish there were more to it, but the set seems fixed so I take what I can.

[reflames]

[Yaaaaawn. She...well, she goes to make the motion to rub her hands together, but seeing as she's missing her left arm, all she can really do is wrap that one arm around herself and radiate heat.]

Your friends being those...animal things?

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

...

Yes. They're not things, they're Pokémon.

[reflames]

And I don't know what "po-kay-mohn" are. [Which she says with appropriate air quotes.]

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

Similar enough to animals, I suppose. They fill that niche rather easily. They're simply not things.

[reflames]

I didn't say things. I said animal things. As in kind of like animals but not completely.

They seem a little too sapient to be completely animal, frankly.

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

[Well, that at least calms him down a little bit.]

They're very intelligent. Back home they would talk with me, but I can't hear their voices here.

[reflames]

Talk as in human words? Or talk as in a more general type of understood language?

[natural-set.livejournal.com]

They don't use human words. People in general can't understand them. It's sad, I think; they can understand everything we're saying, but neither of us can hear them. They can make noises, but a Pokémon's voice... it's something different entirely.

[Purrloin has curled up in N's lap and fallen mostly asleep over the course of this, and N pets his head absently.]

[reflames]

[Mokou tilts her head to the side, a little confused.]

You telepathically communicate with them?