2024-01-29: A Sketchy Situation
- Cutscene: A Sketchy Situation
- Cast: Jacqueline Barber
- Where: Vermilion City
- Date: 2024-01-29
- Summary: Jacqueline Barber heads to Vermilion City, in hopes of tracking down a graffiti artist who's work she's taken an interest in. When she finally manages to track down the responsible, however, she finds herself in for a surprise...
Vermilion City has been facing a small problem, of late. Mercifully small, at least - with Team Rocket activity on the rise and the Ten Wise Men looming on the horizon, it's nice to have a problem that doesn't mean Pokemon getting stolen or people getting hurt.
For today, the problem is... graffiti.
It happens at night. People wake up find their shops covered in gaudy, brightly-colored painted artwork. No one, as of yet, has been able to figure out who the culprit is, but it's caused a lot of grumblings from the building owners who have to clean up afterward. The only clue left behind every time is a paw print, left somewhere in the image. Pictures of this art have spread online, though, and Jacqueline Barber - accessing from a public terminal, since she hasn't saved up enough to justify buying one of those 'phone' devices since she's constantly moving between worlds where they don't function as well - has found herself intrigued. It's a little known fact that, to the chagrin of some, she has quite the fondness for those sorts of bright, gaudy colors. Naturally, she wants to meet the person responsible - and if she could convince them to maybe paint something to advertise her shop with... all the better. And so, she sets out. She hopes to find information...
...but what she finds instead is even better. Jacqueline arrives in Vermilion City to hear rumors of another building freshly painted. She follows the trail and, eventually, finds herself in front of the wall of a local shop. It's practically been covered - you can't even see the name of the business anymore. And in front of that is a rather despondent-looking member of the Vermilion City police, letting out a sigh.
"We've got an industrious little fella on our hands, alright... That's the fifth one this week." He mutters to himself. Jacqueline approaches, offering a wave.
"Good afternoon, officer. What seems to be the problem?" She asks. He looks her way - and seems taken aback, at first. This is probably his first time seeing one of the Visitors up close, she imagines. She can't blame him. He recovers his composure quickly, adjusting his hat.
"Oh... good afternoon, ma'am. It's alright, there's no problem. We're on the job. We don't think they're a danger to anyone, but we'll have them caught in no time." The policeman assures. Jacqueline frowns for a moment, looking back up at the art.
"Hm... Are you sure that's necessary? It's just a little street painting - nothing serious." Jacqueline points out. "I've taken a bit of an interest in them, actually... I was hoping to track them down and talk with them myself - maybe help them direct their talents elsewhere."
The policeman frowns consideringly, at that - then studies Jacqueline for a moment, then looks down at the Pokeballs she's started carrying on her belt.
"Well... if you've got those, you should be able to handle it. Alright, I'll let everyone know you're giving us a hand." He decides. Jacqueline nods.
"Thank you. I won't let you down." Jacqueline replies. "I've already made a map of all of their targets up to this point. Every location up to this point has been a wide, open space with enough traffic to draw attention to their work, but with enough cover that they can get in and out without being seen... Do you have any idea for other locations that'd fit the bill?"
With another considering frown, the policeman thinks it over. Until...
"Actually, I think I know just the place." He replies - and with a nod, Jacqueline listens - and a plan begins to form...
- That Night -
The location, as it happens, is a fish restaurant. There's enough space on each side of it to work and enough light from the surroundings to work by, making it the perfect location. ...And, the perfect location to stake out. There's a cafe nearby, still open this late, and Jacqueline sits at one of the outdoor tables, taking a sip of coffee. She seems quiet intently focused on it, but what she's actually listening for...
...Is the shrill cry of her Spearow, keeping watch. It trills, in a code they'd (begrudgingly, on Spearow's part) set up in advance to tell her where to look. Jacqueline stands up, finishes the rest of her coffee and disposes of her cup properly.
It's the alleyway, according to Spearow. Jacqueline approaches carefully, taking cover on the side of the restaurant and leaning out just far enough to try and catch a glimpse of the culprit. On the far end, a small figure - just under four feet tall - is hard at work on their latest artpiece. Perhaps they've been inspired by their canvas - for right now, the artist is hard at work on what appears to be an abstract illustration of a Thrashing Gyarados.
"Excuse me..." Jacqueline starts. "Are you the artist who's been frequenting these parts? I love your work, and I was hoping-" She expects to be met with a human voice, a human face, but what she sees instead is...
"Smeargle...!" The artist gasps, leaping back in surprise. Indeed - the artist is a bipedal dog, tail grasped in one hand to serve as a brush and the other carrying a trash can lid turned into a makeshift palette, blobs of fresh paint clearly visible.
"A Pokemon... so it was you. I'm impressed." Jacqueline remarks in surprise. "I didn't think a Pokemon could-"
As she talks, the Smeargle dips her tail into her palette, taking red, yellow, and orange... and then begins to paint in the air itself, embers taking shape. They look incredibly lifelike... and feel incredibly lifelike, too, as they blaze to life with warmth! Jacqueline gasps.
"Commurk!" She shouts, tossing the Pokeball. With a swing of her tail, the Smeargle sends the Embers flying toward Jacqueline - but Commurk materializes at the last second, the embers sizzling harmlessly into steam on contact with its watery body. In retaliation, it sends a series of watery tendrils rushing at the Smeargle - who bounds, up against the wall, before hopping toward the building on the other side as one comes in, then back again to evade the next, then leaps /over/ the last. As she flies through the air, tailbrush is dipped into the palette once more. Yellow and white - she /flicks/ her brush, unleashing Thunder Shock sparks. It's Commurk who's steaming a little, now, taking the brunt of the Electric-typed attack. Smeargle lands, with a mischievous, raspy snicker.
"I didn't realise the art world was so cutthroat on Energy Nede... I'm sorry, Commurk - can you keep going?" Jacqueline asks. Commurk shakes it off, and burbles positively in response. Jacqueline nods, turning to face Smeargle. "I'd rather not do this in the middle of the city... but if you want to fight, then I guess I should help you let off some steam. Commurk, use Mega Punch!"
In response to her command, the contents of Commurk's body shift, balancing its weight - and in response, its watery form shifts. Forming into the shape of a fist it flings itself forward! Smeargle's eyes open wide in surprise, and her brush lashes out. This time, she paints pretend armor around herself - temporarily Hardening as Commurk crashes into her. Smeargle stumbles back - but then, with a look of interest, regains her footing and squints with one eye, both hands, two(out of three) fingers raising to frame Commurk as a magic pencil briefly appears to circle around it. Inspiration strikes, and Smeargle paints...
...forming a large, cartoony-looking boxing glove in the air, that goes flying right back toward Commurk! Back to its normal form, it spreads its body as wide as it can go - letting the boxing glove flying harmlessly through the gap in its center and crash into the pavement behind it. With a snap of frustration, Smeargle begins to dance on her feet, eying Commurk and Jacqueline carefully.
"I understand now... So, you can copy the moves of other Pokemon with your art. ...We should finish this quickly, before you learn all of /our/ moves. Commurk - use Barrage!" Jacqueline orders. With an affirmative burble, Commurk's body shifts again, forming something not unlike a slingshot - it rears back... and launches a sphere at Smeargle! She leaps back, out of the way of the first one - but she doesn't expect the second, which knocks her back... nor the third, which finally sends her crashing to the ground in a daze.
Deciding that's enough, Jacqueline hurries over to Smeargle, kneeling down by the painter's side.
"I think that's enough, don't you?" Jacqueline asks. "...I mean what I said, you know. I do love your work. I actually came here tonight because I wanted your help painting something for my shop... I love the kinds of colors you've been using. I don't meet a lot of people who can appreciate them."
Smeargle works herself back up into a sitting position, watching Jacqueline warily. ...She relaxes, though - her words ringing true.
"You've attracted a lot of attention here, too. Some of it... negative, but a lot of positive, too. I'm thinking... Do you want to come with me? You can paint for me - and in return, I can help you find a lot more kinds of paint than you'd be able to see on your own, and interesting things to take inspiration from. ...Maybe help you find a place that'd be glad to display your art. What do you say?" Jacqueline asks. Commurk sidles up next to. A watery tendril extends... holding a Sitrus Berry. Jacqueline, too holds out a hand - this one, holding a Pokeball.
Smeargle watches the two of them for a moment consideringly... then, after some thought, first accepts the berry, taking a bite, before pressing the button on the Pokeball herself. Smeargle and berry both are enveloped in red light, and it doesn't take any time at all for the ball to let out a cheery 'ping'. With that, Jacqueline sighs and stands up.
"Alright... Let's get you both to a Pokemon Center. And me, too, while we're at it. I'm exhausted. That's not at all how I thought tonight would go..." She says. She starts to walk away. Spearow flutters down as she leaves, landing on her shoulder.
- The Next Morning -
Jacqueline gets up bright and early - and feels refreshed, having made a new friend. The first thing she does is make her way back to the fish restaurant she fought Smeargle. She finds the police officer from yesterday there, looking up at the unfinished painting.
"Good morning, ma'am. I take it you caught our artist?" He greets with a tip of his cap - and Jacqueline sighs.
"Yes. ...Literally. You didn't tell me it was a Pokemon." She replies, folding her arms in front of her... and then, shrugs, massaging her forehead. "...But, I guess I can see why you didn't all jump on top of this situation."
He pauses - and looks a bit sheepish for a moment.
"Uh... sorry, I just assumed. But you're a Visitor, so I should've..." He starts, then shakes his head. "...But, yes. It's rare, but this isn't the first time Smeargle have come into town like this. But someone suggested Team Rocket might've been responsible, and people got wound up from there, so we couldn't let it keep going... It was a real mess."
Jacqueline nods - and then the two of them stare at the unfinished artwork for a moment.
"...I noticed they haven't washed this one away yet like the others." She says consideringly, looking toward the officer.
"Well... the chef was saying how much she liked the piece." He replies. Their eyes meet. Jacqueline draws out Smeargle's Pokeball.
"...Think he'd be upset if she finishes the job, at least? It'd be a shame to just leave it half-way done, wouldn't it?"
That day, the new mural on the side of a certain fish restaurant attracts a lot of attention - and, a lot of new customers... and the world becomes just a bit more colorful.