Pokemon: The Grassy Hill

[idolpro]

There's only one way to go from the Laboratory, and that's along the lane leading down the grassy hill. On the right side, there's a small farm where those of you that possess rideable Pokemon can learn to do so, as well as a farmer who could use some help herding their Mareep, Tauros, and Miltank. On the left side, there are large meadows filled with fruit-bearing berry trees, an ideal place for picnics and outdoor parties.

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Comments

[dragonheartedgirl]

Look at all of the trees bearing fruit! I've never seen any kind like this...

[ Not to mention all of the flowering plants... There's even a faint sound of buzzing bugs which might mean there's a hive with honey somewhere? ]

[we_meet_again]

I don't think I have, either... but that's probably normal, all things considered.

[Deerling bounces on ahead, pausing periodically to munch a leaf or fallen berry. It's very scenic, so Cobalt gets out his phone and snaps a few photos.]

[dragonheartedgirl]

It makes sense. If all of the animals are different, then it makes sense for the plants to be different too.

[ Charmander is following behind deerling, taking care not to let his tail get too close to the plants while still keeping an eye out for her. It seems like he's appointed himself her personal watch-dragon? Or something to that effect. ]

It's too bad we probably can't take any of these fruits back for seeds. It would be nice to have more real plants back there...

[we_meet_again]

[Taking pictures of Deerling and Charmander playing in the grass together.]

That's true. I wonder if these are edible-- oh!

[Deerling starts to ...glow?? Then shine, And shift, and expand, until the light dims and instead of a Deerling, something much larger stands in its place.]

[dragonheartedgirl]

Oh! She evolved. How regal....

[ Her antlers are incredibly impressive... ]

1/2

[we_meet_again]

[Apparently the top of the antler/branches is 6'3" so... pretty tall all of a sudden!]

Evolved?

[That's not what that word means, is it??!!

?????????]

[we_meet_again]

My phone says it's called Sawsbuck now.

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ She doesn't know that word has another meaning,,, ]

Really? That's what the "Pokedex" said it was... maybe I misread. "Sawsbuck" huh? That makes sense... although, I'm used to only the male deer--or the bucks--having antlers like this.

[we_meet_again]

Oh... In that case, I guess it makes sense? This one is male.

Uhhh That's what the phone said, anyway. I don't know how to tell, myself.

[dragonheartedgirl]

He is!? I'm so sorry!

[ ALL THIS TIME she's been referring to the deerling as a SHE...!!! ]

[we_meet_again]

[Shrugs, casual]

I don't mind. I don't think Deerl-- er, Sawsbuck minds very much, either.

[Sawsbuck is ignoring them both in favor of munching on berries and playing with Charmander]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Charmander is currently attempting to climb up a tree to get at MORE BERRIES to share now that Sawsbuck is so much bigger and clearly able to look after himself. ]

I guess not... he must have a very easy-going nature. Mercury's was quite upset to be called the wrong one....

[we_meet_again]

[Being Aware of Charmander's tail, Sawsbuck uses its muzzle to try and give her a boost up into the tree to get berries. Helping...???]

Mercury?

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ She'll just supervise from a distance, since it seems like between the two of them, Sawbuck and Charmander have got this. He's made it up onto a branch and is now scooting with his arms and legs wrapped around the branch out to some ripe fruit--it's pretty cute. ]

Mars was transferred--it seems in his place they've given us a new adult. He's taken to calling himself "Mercury," it seems.

[we_meet_again]

[oh heck I just misgendered your pokemon, too.]

Oh.



Sorry to hear about Mars.

I hope Mercury is nice.

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ no biggie!! ]

Mn. Everyone is taking it hard. It's... hard.

[ More than hard, it doesn't feel right to have him missing. To have so many people missing. ]

... But--Mercury, he seems quite kind. I think... it might also be good for everyone, having an adult around.

[we_meet_again]

Even if you got a good newbie, it's hard to lose your unitmates. I'm sorry.

[He puts a hand on her shoulder]

I'm glad to hear he's kind, though. I hope everyone is able to get along well.

[dragonheartedgirl]

That would be nice.

...

We've been struggling with that lately, a little, it seems.

[we_meet_again]

Is that right?

What's going on?

[dragonheartedgirl]

Eclipse... I'm sure you already know, but he doesn't think of us as a family. That in and of itself isn't a problem, if that's not what he wanted, but it sounds like that's not the case. He said quite a few things, including that he doesn't feel that we care about him enough and that those of us who feel like we are a family are lying to ourselves and to each other.

[we_meet_again]

[quiet for a minute, letting that sink in. Eclipse did mention this to him a little, but didn't expand on it very much, so Cobalt still doesn't know very much about how everyone feels about it.]


Do you think it feels like a family?

[dragonheartedgirl]

Yes. For all the various disagreements we've had and the differences between us, I've always felt--with both our past and present members--I've always felt that was what we were and are. Even for the amount of distance that exists between us, I've felt the same for Eclipse, even.

[we_meet_again]

Then it's not a lie.

I think whether or not it feels like a family depends on what you expect a family to feel like, versus what the current situation feels like. Eclipse doesn't get to decide either of those things for you, so if it feels like a family to you, then you're not lying to yourself or each other.

It sounds like maybe Eclipse has different expectations for what a family should feel like, though...?