2024-01-25: An Emotional Quandary

• Log: An Emotional Quandary
• Cast: Xantia, Chase
• Where: Pallet Town
• Date: January 25, 2024
• Summary: Another Pokemon has found its way to Xantia's side, and she has no idea what to do with this development. Thankfully, a certain very quiet Nedian boy happens upon her plight, Chase's insight helping her to figure things out.

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==============================<* Pallet Town *>===============================

Pallet Town is the southernmost major city in the Emerald Cape region. It's a quaint, laid-back town with an enjoyable pastoral atmosphere suitable to the elderly Nedean population. Pallet Town embraced the individual house and suburbia more than other cities in Nede, and some of its detractors call it a forgettable stop on the way to Viridian City and the Indigo Plateau. However, the sleepy town has developed a culture of developing Champion-ranked trainers, many citing the famous Pokemon Lab headed by Professor Oak as an inspiration when they were youths. 

BGM: Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee & Pikachu! - Pallet Town - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTXevD9ephA

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Pallet Town! ...is not usually the most eventful town, barring Team Rocket incursions. Today is not nearly that atypical, a slight breeze the only thing that disturbs the usual peace and quiet. At least, within the town itself. That breeze also carries with it something else. Though faint, the calm atmosphere only makes the unusual noises stand out all the more. If one were to strain one's ears, one thing about them would soon become abundantly clear. The noises are coming from Pokemon. But these aren't the typical sounds of battle. This sounds more like an argument. And there's no sign of it stopping any time soon.

Following the sounds to their source is easy enough, given it's coming from the road to Viridian City, which is mostly a straight shot. Of the two distinct voices, one actually sounds pretty cheerful upon getting closer, while the other seems upset, but the voice is so high-pitched that it's hard to pull off any sort of angry tone. It makes for the cutest cacophony.

Closer still, the identities of the Pokemon become clear. One is the dark-grey Ghost Pokemon Shuppet, who indeed looks as cheerful as its tone suggests, dancing through the air as it sing-songs its way through the presumed argument. Only so presumed before of the upset bearing of the very small humanoid Pokemon pointing a fingerless arm up at the ghost, similar to Shuppet in that it too looks like it's covered in a sheet, though its is white instead, eyes barely visible beneath green, bowl cut-like hair with twin pink horns sticking out. Who's that Pokemon?

"Raaalts! Raaaaaalts!"

It's so doing its best to sound intimidating, and failing entirely at sounding anything but adorable. What the argument is actually about... that's hard to make out even if one could understand their speech, the two seeming to be making a game out of trying to drown each other out. Well, it's clearly a game to the Shuppet, anyway, the Ralts is trying its best.

One thing is a fairly safe bet, however. This argument has something to do with the figure sitting on a nearby bench, with elbows on her knees and head in her hands, copious red hair spilling out into her lap. One of the Otherworldly Visitors called Xantia, who in an earlier meeting hadn't seemed very interested in Pokemon or indeed Nede in general, only the Wise Men and what they were doing to Filgaia. If Chase overheard any of that, it might stand to reason that she would have absolutely no idea how to deal with a situation like this. And yet, she's sitting here, she's not just leaving, implying some measure of investment with... whatever this is.

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Chase is a youth meant to be off on his Pokemon journey, but as an assistant to Professor Oak, he finds himself returning to Pallet Town more often than he expected. No, that's not quite it. He could ignore that. He intended to. It's the notion of these visitors that has Chase worried, especially with Elaine returning as often as she does, and with his mother still here teaching in Pallet.

In a short amount of time, the universe has become so much better than Chase was ever prepared for. But he refuses not to meet it head on. He just... has to figure out how.

... And not get distracted by every Pokemon he meets. Or, today, hears.

Ralts and Shuppet are having an argument, and if they're even passably average examples of their species -- likely, given the nature of their feeding habits -- Chase already has a working theory on why.

Chase pokes his capped head from around a corner, Pikachu on his shoulder to poke her attention out with him. "Pika," she says. Chase nods. Then she points over to the Visitor: the one with bright red hair and elemental fists. What he really remembers about her is how eagerly she leapt into the rifts in space to return to her homeworld. But now she's here again... Being fought over by Pokemon.

It's things like this that makes it harder and harder for Chase to maintain his reservation on outsiders. It looks like Xantia's been chosen... Like he was.

Chase sighs to himself. He steps out from around his hiding spot while Pikachu somersaults off of his shoulder and into his arms as he reflexively catches her. Her expression is one plastered with her curly smile, and as they approach, she raises a paw to Xantia is cheerful greeting. "Piii pikachu! Pi Chachu!"

For his part, Chase says nothing, he instead looks to the Pokemon arguing, then back to Xantia expectantly.

Would she like a hand?

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia's reaction to hearing another Pokemon's voice nearby is to instantly jerk up her head. That grimace on her face... it just screams 'not another one'. It softens quickly, when she sees the Pikachu is in the arms of a trainer. She doesn't really have a problem with Pokemon so much... as long as they don't make themselves her problem. She cants her head, briefly studying the pair before her.

"...Oh. It's you. I remember you." There's an awkward pause as Xantia racks her brain. She noticed Chase was there, at the meeting with Mayor Nall and Professor Oak. But did he ever say his name? ...Did he ever say anything? "I, uh, sorry, didn't catch your name. I'm Xantia, if you didn't catch mine."

She looks tired. It's mental fatigue rather than physical. A struggle not due to doing too much, but doing too little for her liking. Keeping busy, just not with the things she feels she should be keeping busy with. And one of these things is...

Her gaze wanders to the Pokemon, whose noises continue unabated. She understands what's being asked of her, despite the lack of words from anyone that isn't a Pokemon. "I was just..." She fishes for a way to describe it, before just settling on the simple, "...having a talk, with Shoo over there." She gestures at the Shuppet, the nickname a sure sign that she must be its trainer, incredible as that might be given her earlier attitude. She would have elaborated, but Shoo instantly reacts to the name being spoken by looking over, then flying over, directly in front of Xantia's face. Xantia waves her arms in irritation, her hands going straight through the Ghost-type's body as it turns translucent. Shoo lets out a series of 'shuppet's that sound like laughter, finding this very amusing.

Which is when the Ralts catches up, having intended to hop up onto the bench... and not quite making it, legs flailing as it frantically struggles to use its arms to pull itself up the rest of way. Soon succeeding at the effort, it immediate whirls about on Shoo, quick to direct another salvo of upset 'ralts'es to the Shuppet.

Chase's guess was likely on the money here. The Ralts is upset with the Shuppet for purposely annoying Xantia to provoke her, the two Pokemon diametrically opposed in the emotions they thrive in the presence of. But Xantia doesn't know that. She just looks exasperated, having gotten absolutely nowhere in her attempt at explaining all this. "...Then this happened. The little one seems really upset for some reason. I don't know what's going on."

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Xantia. Chase nods with that, seemingly letting it roll around in his head. Then he listens. Shoo. A nickname with a clear story, and one that only speaks better of Xantia, despite what one might think. Shoo really has made its choice.

Oh. There's Shoo now. Chase cannot help but smile. Ralts isn't Xantia's though. Well --

Not yet, potentially.

Chase drops into a sit into the bench next to Xantia. His Pikachu settles happily in his lap, watching Ralts and Shuppet have their continued argument with that look of blank happiness. He gets out a rectangular device with a glowing surface and runs his fingers over it. A smartphone. They're common in Nede, even if they're completely foreign to Filgaia and Lunar. One he's done, he stares at it a moment, then turns the screen toward Xantia. Chase is willing to wait as long as it takes for her to notice. When she does, there's words there:

<You have intense feelings.>
<In both directions.>

But no hostility. Ralts hasn't run away despite Shoo having a buffet here in Xantia. That's telling.

Chase looks at his phone again, frowning and realizing this does not explain it well enough to one of the visitors. He erases the words to start another message.

<Shoo eats distressing ones.>
<Ralts prefers pleasant ones.>

But not 'bad' or 'good'... Other people might prefer those words, but Chase doesn't think that's quite right. It's the kind of perception he only has because of their association with certain Pokemon diets, though.

(He's forgotten to give his name. Er, maybe eventually.)

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Chase certainly has a much better grasp of the situation than Xantia does. She's only starting to understand that the animals here are... different, than the ones she's used to. She couldn't pinpoint the exact moment it happened, but at some point, she stopped treating Pokemon like she typically treats animals. Which in her case, is with indifference, occasionally bordering on callousness. It's not something she can explain, just... something that's always been true.

Then Shoo came along, and something changed. Indeed as the name implies, she certainly wasn't the one who made the choice, but she accepted the choice that was made all the same. It just felt somehow natural. The problem is that now she has no idea what to do with this spontaneously developed bond. She doesn't understand it, and few things frustrate her more than a lack of understanding. Even if she doesn't know this trainer well at all, she'll take any help she can get.

Chase sits next to her, and Xantia peeks over to see what he's doing. The device doesn't seem too foreign to her at least, it quickly parses in her mind as 'a tiny computer'. Which is still noteworthy, she's never seen one that small before. She briefly considers whether it's possible to control Pokemon with such a device, until Chase turns it over to show her the screen.

She blinks blankly. Nature of the words aside, she's not sure why she's being shown this. Why isn't he talking? The concerned look that follows stems from her drawing the conclusion that Chase must not be able to talk. Oh no, the poor boy, that explains so much. Briefly flustered, she decides it's best not to call attention to it and just accept it for what it is. "I... well, I suppose I can't argue with that. I do feel really strongly about... the things I feel strongly about."

That supremely unhelpful comment already shows that she needs more, even for she begins, "But why do--", interrupted by Chase preempting her with another message, that she patiently waits for, letting out a small sigh as she looks over to those two Pokemon on her other side, still at it with their respective intensities at the same level. Then she looks over the next message... and instantly jerks her head back to Shoo.

"Are you still doing that thing? Just less so I wouldn't notice?" Shoo, not having shoulders to shrug, instead does a loop in the air, with a "Shuppet" of innocence. The Ralts points at Shoo with an accusatory, "Ralts, Ralts!" Xantia facepalms. "Yeah... yeah I can see it now. But what do you want me to do about it?"

She pauses briefly, before turning to Chase. "What should I do about it? I don't even know why this other Pokemon cares so much, it just started following me around." Another brief pause, as she's beginning to put two and two together. "...Much like Shoo, I guess."

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

It's easier in Pallet Town sometimes. Everyone knows Chase cannot speak. Going out into the world always held that discomfort: how much is he going to have to explain himself? Can he even? Does he want to? These Visitors continue to surprise him. They might have a moment of surprise, but it passes so fast. 'Drifters' is not a term Chase knows, but perhaps he'd understand it. People who don't quite fit in, for one reason or another, can sometimes see like and respond with kindness.

If Xantia wants to watch him as he types, Chase does not display any issue with this. A poor understanding of social rules cuts both ways -- he has no idea he's not 'supposed' to care if someone reads over his shoulder!

Information supplied, Chase is left to watch Xantia and Shoo further. He has the good sense to try and hide his smile by tipping the edge of his phone over his mouth. Xantia's argument with Shoo is even more telling. Chase doesn't have to ask what 'that thing' is. Shuppets have a thing they love to do.

Xantia asks a question, but she also begins to have an epiphany. Chase raises his brows at her, looking from Ralts then to Xantia. He does have the shoulders to shrug, and he does, but, phone lowered, the rest of his face is more knowing.

Yes. Much like Shoo.

Pikachu covers her mouth with both paws and titters. It sounds like a bunch of 'ch's.

But what should Xantia do? Chase takes back to his phone to try and put together a message. It's good she's being patient with him. Finding the right words is always... a lot, for him.

<Shoo wants to get strong on anger, vengeance, etc>
<Ralts wants to get strong on joy, warmth, etc>
<What do you want?>

Chase looks at what he's written an extra moment (even if Xantia is already reading it) before he offers it officially. His own expression is thoughtful. There's more he might want to say, but he's not sure it's his place to say it. He needs Xantia's answer first.

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

These sorts of things are particularly easy for Xantia. She has a poor grasp over what does and doesn't fit the framework of 'normal'. Everything she encountered just kind of defaulted to being normal in her mind, it typically takes someone else's surprised reaction for her to realize that it isn't. Granted, it used to be much more absolute when she had fewer memories for comparison, but it's still natural to just sort of gloss over things as having only seemed unusual because she, personally, wasn't aware that could be a thing. She's nothing if not adaptive to whatever situation she finds herself in. Even if in this case, it feels more to her like the situation is being adaptive to her, for reasons she can't explain.

Once she's figured out what Chase is doing with his device, Xantia stops peeking, and waits to be shown the words. Taking time to decide on one's words is quite the opposite from the way she typically just says whatever comes to mind right away, but it's fine. This too, she's already adapted to.

It's a bit more frustrating during the moment when she gets not even typed words in response, and she catches the Pikachu's laughter. There's clearly something she isn't quite grasping here, what is it!?

She looks back over to the Ralts, its little arms crossed as it eyes Shoo warily for any more signs of trouble. The Shuppet appears to have grown bored of its little game though, making a show of floating about, minding its own business in a particularly overt way. It seems satisfied as long as it's annoying somebody, and Ralts is proving to be even easier to annoy than Xantia. These two don't appear capable of getting along at all. And yet, they're staying here, together, with her. How does this make any sense?

She was looking to Chase for the answer. Instead, she receives another question, and it's a doozy. "What... do I want?" She seems really taken aback by that one. She's usually so sure about what she wants, it's rare that she has to think about it very deeply.

Her gaze drift back to the two Pokemon. One always seeking to get her attention. The other, as she now sees, interceding on her behalf. Regardless of the reason, it feels as if they... care, in their own ways. Does she care, too? She's always found that hard to say about herself. It's always been easier for her to determine what others want. But she supposes she must. She's never had any trouble resolutely distancing herself from anything she considered more trouble than it's worth. She only gave that a half-hearted attempt, with Shoo. She didn't attempt it at all anymore when Ralts got involved. What is she supposed to conclude from that?

It takes a moment of thought, before she turns back to face Chase. "...I'll be honest. I don't really know what I want. But... if that's all these two wanted, they wouldn't stick around me in particular, would they? For whatever reason... they want to be around me. And I guess I... don't want to tell them no."

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Chase watches Shoo and the Ralts continue their antics with Xantia caught in the middle. He has a sense he should not trust these Visitors. Xantia in particular was fist fighting Pokemon! But here they are, vying for her attention, speaking of her character with their mere presence. And she's trying to listen. Even though she does not understand, she keeps listening.

With Xantia's irritation once Pikachu laughs, Chase brings a finger to his lips, and Pikachu hiccups her next laugh into silence. He reaches into his bag to pull out a pair of earbuds and puts them in her ears, plugging it in. Briefly, he swipes away from his notewriting app to something called 'Phwee's Playlist <3' and lets that run in the background to keep her occupied.

The cord is long enough to allow her to headbang freely. What sounds escape from the buds are intense and heavy, harmonized with growling and screaming. Her smile is unchanging.

Xantia chews on that question. A big question for her, he realizes. It's not easy for everyone, is it? Chase watches, silent and staring. (He does not mean to stare, his face just kind of Does That.) With her answer, his face is unreadable (it's also like that, sometimes) as he goes back to his phone to respond.

<Your feelings matter to them>
<More than food, but-->
<You have enough for both>
<So they don't have to fight>
<If you're honest with them>

...Well, they won't have to fight eternally. It's difficult to imagine a Ralts and a Shuppet would be entirely free of friction. But if Xantia wants them both with her, and both want to see her happy, it might tone down the bickering.

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia's general opinion on this world was not to bother with it. The artificial feeling she got from it unsettled her, and the people didn't seem to want or need her brand of helping. It certainly didn't need it as strongly as Filgaia does. With the Wise Men tying Energy Nede to Filgaia in a detrimental way, she couldn't afford to entirely ignore it... but she certainly wasn't expecting to get entangled with it in any major way, just because of her extreme feelings. Pokemon just have a way of entangling themselves, don't they? Endless hope and optimism, clashing with anger and frustration about Filgaia's condition and being unable to act on that... who would have thought these contradictions would manifest in the appearance of these two?

There's so much she's yet to understand of Pokemon. The blank expression at seeing a Pikachu enjoying loud music says it all - she never would have guessed they could enjoy such a thing. Being a Trainer seems like an involved process, one that she's extremely underprepared for. And yet, there's those two. Sticking by her, of all people. If only she knew what they were thinking. ...If only she knew they knew what she was thinking, and understood just how much that explains.

She doesn't even realize that Chase is studying her while she's having these thoughts. She also had no idea what she could reasonably expect, giving him the answer she eventually does. After all, it just kind of feels like she knows nothing, nothing helpful to these particular circumstances at least. Letting them do what they want kind of feels like a non-decision, but it's just the best kind of decision she's got, without being better informed.

"...They don't have to fight... if I'm honest with them?" She repeats Chase's typed words after reading them, which prompts a question mark that's just about visible over her head. That... should be an easy task, given her chronic inability to be anything but honest. So, does that mean she could stop their fighting, somehow...?

She looks aside, catching one eye of the Ralts, peeking out from under its cap-like hair. For a brief moment, it feels like there's a silent understanding there... And then Shoo decides that this is the Shoo Show actually, appearing in between them out of nowhere with a cheerful, "Shuppet!" That immediately sets Ralts off again, and everything's right back to the way it was when Chase first approached.

With one change. Xantia doesn't look so lost on what to do, like before. Instead, she lets out a chuckle, smiles, and shakes her head. This... doesn't feel so bad to her, now. "I don't know if anything could keep these two from fighting. But, somehow... I feel as if they're both enjoying this...?" She wouldn't never have guessed that this, too, might be a way to get along...

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Every trainer has their own way of doing things. Every team has their own way of relating to one another. The terms 'trainers' and 'teams' feel misleading to Chase as a whole Not everyone fights to be a Champion. Not everyone with Pokemon is focused on battling them.

But everyone has some kind of fight they're faced with. Pokemon know this better than anyone, he thinks. They fight to communicate. Fight to bond. Fight to change. It doesn't have to be hateful and scary. It can be fun, even, if you have the right partners with you, fighting toward the same goal.

So. Xantia's very right, Chase thinks, as he blinks back at her with a small bit of wonder. This may not be a traditional battle, but it's of the same importance to Shoo and Ralts, and one where they share a common goal of Xantia. If Visitors coming here made even just these two Pokemon happy -- and it's been more than that -- then isn't that worth it...?

Chase is back to his phone more briefly this time. The words aren't so difficult now:

<I see>
<You already understand them better than anyone>

That means Chase may not be able to be much of help. But that's how it should be, between people and their Pokemon.