Tumbly Bumbly [open]

[IAN THOMAS]

“Shhh, easy Lickitung.” The pokémon, known for her cheerful behavior and loving nature, currently hugged herself close to her owner’s leg. Her beady eyes watched a group of passing young ladies, not unlike Ian’s own eyes. While Mr. Thomas watched with interest, however, Lickitung watched them as though they were wolves among the sheep. After her original owner, a harsh female, Lickitung preferred to avoid the gender altogether as far as humans went.

Only when the girls were out of sight did Lickitung divorce herself from her trainer. “Lickitung, not everyone wants to hurt you.” He consoled the Licking Pokémon, warm brown eyes sympathetic. “Want to take a rest?” He held out her pokéball and she gave it a lick. It opened at the contact, letting the pink pokémon withdraw into its safe space.

“Furr,” a second pink pokémon piped up. Saver served as the only one of Ian’s pokémon to carry the honor of a nickname because, to be honest, he had no talent at picking names and wanted to spare his other pokémon the embarrassment. At the moment, the oddly-colored Furret’s voice seemed cheerful.

Ian smiled, serving as all the invitation Saver needed to claw his way up the breeder’s shirt and climb up to rest on his blonde head of hair. The man started to say something about asking before clawing, but was interrupted by his stomach. The growl provoked a sigh. “My stomach wants to eat, but not alone.” He’d hoped to avoid this problem since coming to Fuchsia in the first place had been to visit an old friend who’d moved here after the disaster on Cinnabar. Unfortunately, the friend needed to leave early in the morning to Saffron to deal with a family crisis, leaving Ian alone.

He hated alone. He scanned the area, trying to find someone he might be able to con into joining him for a meal. Speaking to strangers would prove no issue; Ian had very little shyness and was outgoing to a level that would make most public figures look like schoolboys hiding behind their mothers.

[JERICHO MAXWELL]

"Hey, c'mon Sammy!" Jericho called to his Growlithe, who was currently running in circles chasing Pidgeys. He looked up at them as they took off, barking at them as they flew above his head. It was strange that a group of wild Pidgeys were simply hanging around the middle of the square. Then again, if people constantly fed them breadcrumbs, why wouldn't they?

Techno, his beloved stunted Raichu, was relaxed atop his shoulder, long tail curled around his chest and she watched Sam run around. She would normally have joined Sam in his fun, seeing as she loved a good excuse to run around, but she stayed perched on Jericho's shoulder and looked around. They had never been to Fuchsia city before. He whistled to Sam, who was now sniffing at a girl's bag (while she was wearing it, in fact - dumb pup). Sam turned, tongue lolling out, before running over to him and sitting at his feet. He looked around, muzzle pointing in a different direction every two seconds. Jericho scratched behind the fire dog's ears, smiling down at him.

The redhead looked around for somewhere to eat as he felt his stomach throb rather painfully; he hadn't eaten in a day and a half because his mother hadn't had enough money to wire to him. Techno yawned and licked Jericho's temple, a habit of her displaying her love. Jericho shifted his hand from Sam's head to Techno's and scratched behind her ears.

As though Jericho had released Sam from captivity, the moment Jericho removed his hand from the Growlithe's head, he ran off again, through the plaza and to a blonde man that looked a few years older than him. Jericho ran over, hand in his hair and Techno still standing on his shoulder. Sam was standing and shifting his weight from paw to paw, looking up at the man happily. Jericho bowed slightly, looking extremely embarrassed. "I'm sorry if he's bothering you," he said quickly to the man. "He's normally not quite so...impulsive," he added, placing his hand on the Growlithe's head. As if he had suddenly give him a tranquilizer, the dog Pokemon immediately sat and panted up at Jericho, as though saying 'why thank you for reminding me I was momentarily insane. Isn't it a nice day?'

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[IAN THOMAS]

“Furr! Furret!” Saver called the alarm from his lookout post as he saw the incoming stranger. When the fire-type refrained from attacking, he began to scold the strange pokémon angrily instead of being fearful. besides, from his spot on Ian's head, Saver would have the luxury of letting his owner get devoured while he got away.

Despite the friendliness coming from the puppy pokémon, Ian forced himself to be cautious at first. This Growlithe seemed friendly enough, but they were known to have a hell of a bite if they or their master was threatened. “Hey there,” he spoke quietly, gently. It was a young one, no more than a puppy. He obviously had a very happy life and seemed to be quite well taken care of. He must have a trainer somewhere…

Looking up, Ian grinned at the approaching boy. “Naw, don’t worry. Saver’s just over-sensitive…” he trailed off, looking at the Raichu on Jericho’s shoulder. His brown eyes became unfocused for a second, his mind trapped in an unwanted memory. Four sets of claws coming gingerly onto his shoulder woke him out of it as Saver traveled to the ground to sniff at the growlithe. "Furret?"

“You’ve got a nice-looking Growlithe,” the man complimented. He forced himself to look at the electric rat on Jericho’s shoulder and noticed how odd it looked. It was small, but it didn’t seem malnourished or otherwise unhealthy. “And a distinctive Raichu, too,” he added. “I’m Ian.”

[JERICHO MAXWELL]

Jericho bowed his head again to the man, feeling extremely foolish. Some trainer he must look like. As he raised his bright blue eyes, he caught something unfamiliar and pink. He stared at it for a good second or two. It was a Furret, but it clearly wasn't normal looking. Maybe it wasn't really a Furret? But a second later the pink creature chimed out it's name, looking down at Sam. The Growlithe, who clearly didn't care if the Furret was pink green or purple, barked at it happily and leaned forward and sniffed at the pokémon's an inch from it's nose.

"Well I'm glad he's not being a bother," he said. He noticed the man's gaze gravitate towards Techno, a fact that didn't surprise either the rat pokémon or her trainer. People stared at her all the time because of her peculiar size. but his gaze was different than most of the other curious stares. Jericho shook it off. It was none of his business. Techno shifted on Jericho's shoulder and leaned forward, sniffing in the man's direction. "Rai?" she said, ears forward and tail twitching.

The blonde man turned away from Techno and returned his attention to Sam. "Oh, thank you!" he said to the compliment. "I...obtained him from a bad breeding facility. I try to keep him as healthy and happy as possible to make up for the bad times he had there," he said, thinking of the original condition of the Growlithe. Sam turned away from the Furret momentarily and licked Jericho's hand. Techno took the opportunity to give the Furret her attention and jumped gently off of Jericho's shoulder, landing next to Sam. She approached the Furret with her ears forward in curiosity and posture relaxed. Neither she nor Jericho had ever seen a shiny pokémon before and were thus understandably curious about the odd coloration of the ferret pokémon.

Jericho watched the two with a smile before returning his gaze to the man. When he spoke about Techno, Jericho nodded with a smile. "Yeah, Techno definitely attracts attention. I'm Jericho," he said, putting his hands in his pockets, feeling his initial embarrassment leak away. He was fine with talking to people that were easy to talk to. But try to get Jericho talking to a person who was just as shy as he was, and you are going to have a non-existent conversation. "Nice to meet you, Ian."

His eyes went back to the strange Furret. "I hope you don't mind my asking, but I've never seen a Furret like that before," he said. "Why is it pink?"

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[IAN THOMAS]

Saver made a noise of happy acceptance. For all the show he put on for the younger pokémon, he could be as hyperactive as anything. He reached out a paw to the pup, giving him a friendly little pat on the muzzle.

Ian shrugged easily. Sure, it might have bothered someone in a hurry with someplace to go, but as a breeder he’d dedicated his life to pokémon. Having a Snorlax lay on him would seem like an enlightening experience instead of a painful one; it was doubtful a Growlithe could turn him sour. What did make him seem ill-humored was hearing about the cruelty of the fire-type’s previous owner. He sorrowfully recalled first seeing Lickitung, how alone and confused she seemed that she could never be good enough.

But he forced himself to remember that for every person running a “breeding” center (he hated people using the name of his dream in such a grotesque way!) there was a person like him or Jericho who could love those pokémon and rehabilitate them. There had to be hope always, or what was the point? “You’ve done a great job,” Ian assured him.

Uninterested in the humans for the moment, Saver sized up Techno. She was small for a Raichu, but seemingly just as friendly as Sam. Though he personally dreamed of ripping the tail off of Chelsea’s brute of a Raichu and tying him to a rock at the bottom of the ocean with it, he held no grudge against this one and extended his paw in a friendly way. “Furr,” he greeted, eyes bright in excitement to meet two strangers in one day.

“Great to meet you, Jericho.” Saver, realizing he was being talked about, looked up at the other boy. He seemed alright for a human. He raised his head up proudly, letting the sun strike his eye-catching pelt. “Yeah, Saver’s a little freak of nature, but he’s alright. He’s a shiny pokémon: one colored differently than most of his kind, as you can see.” Understanding the affectionate insult, the Long Body pokémon snorted as if to say, ‘yeah, you should talk!’ Ian went on, “Now that I’ve told my pokémon’s secret, could you tell me about your Raichu? Was she rescued too, or is it genetic?” His mind pondered the possibilities for a second before he casually added, "Maybe over some grub, if you haven't already eaten? I'm starved, but it's hardly worth going out to eat for just one."

[JERICHO MAXWELL]

[[ Sorry this took so long to write. D: ]]

Jericho blushed happily at the compliment. There wasn't anything that made him happier than being assured that he was a good trainer.

Techno's head cocked to the side as the Furret sniffed at her. Jericho didn't know if it was because Techno had found another abnormal pokemon, but she chirruped happily and took the paw that was extended to her gently. "Rai, rai!" she said, tail flicking around as she happily greeted the Furret. She then dropped the Furret's paw then ran in a circle around him, asking him to play. Sam'sears perked forward, but it seemed as though, for the moment, he was conten in watching the other two interact. He sat back on his haunches and licked Jericho's hand a couple of times before turning and watching his friend and the new pink pokemon.

"A shiny Furret, huh? He's gorgeous," he said, staring at the pokemon's shining pink fur. Techno stopped her joyful running, nearly colliding her nose into Jericho's leg and looked up at him similarly to how Saver had done a few seconds ago. "Raichu!" she said with a pout. Jericho chuckled and scratched Techno's side with his foot. She leaned into the touch, smiling happily before darting back over to Saver and bending down in a puppy-bow, asking her to play.

Jericho opened his mouth to inform him about Techno's peculiar size, but when Ian said they should do it over some lunch, he smiled and nodded. "Sounds great! he said. "I'm hungry as well. I haven't eaten yet," he added with a small smile. "I've never been to Fuchsia before. Do you know if this place is any good?" he said, nodding up to the sign hanging a little above their heads.

[[ I don't think I gave you much to reply with, I'm sorry. I definitely will understand if your post is short. x'D ]]

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