2024-04-11: Small Temptations
- Log: Small Temptations
- Cast: Damian Tamaoka, Anne Aomori
- Where: Viridian Forest
- Date: April 11, 2024
- Summary: Anne invites Damian out to do some training, and to have a talk. She has a gift, some kind words, and absolutely no ulterior motives.
=============================<* Viridian Forest *>============================== Viridian Park is an expansive, publicly owned and well-maintained nature reserve that doubles as the main commuter path between Viridian and Pewter City. The Park itself is most famous for Viridian Forest, a League-curated training ground for novice Pokemon trainers to cut their teeth on -- even those that don't have a spirit for competition find the Forest of great curiosity due to the large number of flora and fauna to be found and studied within. BGM: Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee & Pikachu! - Viridian Forest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44TQR6n16Jg
GS: Free attacks take the format +free <Name>=Type/PL/Flag. Valid flags include Advance (1), Amplify (3), Artillery (0), Augmented (1), Bold (1), Break (4), Burst (3), Cancel (1), Counter (3), Cover (3), Disease (2), Enchanted (1), Follow (0), Formation (2), Gamble (1), Gatling (2), Headshot (3), Heal (3), Hyper (4), Infect (2), Inspire (2), Interrupt (3), Link (0), Martial (1), Mighty (3), Pass (4), Pierce (3), Prudent (1), Quick (4), Reload (3), Reserve (0), Riposte (3), Rush (0), Shield (4), Slow (4), Smite (3), Strike (0), Surge (3), Weaken (4), and Withdraw (1). You have 6 AP to work with and each point of PL costs 1 AP. Your max PL is 5.
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Damian's been spending far, far too much time by himself lately. His circle of friends has already shrunken a bit, and it feels like it's only a matter of time before the other shoe drops and he loses even more friends... though at least a few people haven't turned their backs on him, which is... both relieving and confusing. Still, trying to interact with other people right now is awkward, and Joy and Peace have been busy lately, so that just leaves him by himself, for the most part.
Sadly he's a little used to it at this point, though he doesn't like admitting it.
This time around, though, he does have more Pokemon companions to look after than he ever did before, which are giving him something to put his energy and attention towards.
Still, when Anne got in touch, and said she wanted to spend some time with him, to work on his battling techniques, he leapt at the chance. He remembered taht Anne was nearly champion-level, so getting to learn from someone like that...
Flash forward to now. Purri and Pixi are both out on the field on his side, and Damian points to anne's side of the field. "I-Incinerate! Assi-Assist!" Pixi starts to inhale, fire gathering in her maw as Purri does the same--and then they both release a simultaneous ball of fire right at Anne's chosen pokemon!
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
He may be used to it, but that doesn't make it ideal. Anne recognizes the issues he's having, though. Especially since he's talked about it to her. It's hard to avoid; Damian isn't trained in subterfuge.
But this time, though, there are more Pokemon, and on the field this time...
Anne might demur about being 'nearly Champion-level', but she is a powerful Trainer, and so she has some wisdom to impart. Her side of the battlefield has her Exeggcute and a Rattata. Exeggcute is in trouble, though! After Purri's Dark-type assaults and Pixi's Fire, the collective of seeds finally wobbles over and seems to faint.
"Hmmm," Anne says, and recalls the Pokemon, leaving just the Rattata on the field. "Good," she says. "We'll stop for now. But you're learning quite a bit. You work in time well with Purri and Pixi, and you're beginning to work well with type matchups."
"That working in sync is the most important though. It's the foundation of the rest. ...And with the care you take in looking after them, you're doing well."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Damian definitely isn't trained in subterfuge, that's for sure. He is capable of keeping some secrets, though (and let's be honest, stammering helps cover for a lot, as much as Damian would hate to ever admit that), but for himself... he tends to be more of an open book than not.
He's holding his breath as he watches the outcome of the combined fire assault... and Exeggcute faints. Damian lets out a huge sigh of relief, and then looks to Rattata--but he looks up to Anne instead as she calls a stop. "O-okay..."
But compliments are doled out, and Damian lights up, a happy smile on his face as she has actual compliments on his progress.
You'd think he never got a compliment from an adult authority figure before or something.
"Th-thank you, D-Doctor Aomori!" He nods though, as he knees to gesture Purri and Pixi to himself. He has ear scritches for both of them, and a poffin for each as well. "G-good job!"
He looks up to Anne. "I-I'm r-really glad to h-hear that... I know... I know I'll n-never be as good as you, or A-Alice, or Nami, b-but... d-doing it like this, its... easier, to k-keep track of."
Instead of doing a free for all against 2 or more other trainers.
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Rattata looks to Anne, and then runs in a circle. "Good work," she tells it, and recalls it to its Pokeball again, too. Her gray hair is loose at the moment, her big, chunky earrings too heavy to waver more than a little in the breeze.
She notices the happy smile, and returns a smile easily in turn. "You're welcome," she says. Then she shakes her head. "Don't discount yourself. It's important to know your limits, but you're still at the beginning of your training. And yes, it's better this way to gather the fundamentals, so that you'll be ready when things are more chaotic."
Anne looks to the side a moment, focusing her energy and her hearing to ensure there aren't people listening.
She walks over, now that they're done battling. "Also, I had something for you. It seems as good a time as any." She reaches into her bag, and pulls out a small kit--expensive grooming items for a Pokemon. "No point in giving it to you before she gets all dirty fighting, after all."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Don't discount himself... Damian nods a little, uncertainly, but then Purri headbutts him playfully in the side, and Damian laughs a little. "O-okay, y-you've been telling me th-that for years..." He looks up to Anne. "I'll t-try."
But learning the fundamentals... Damian nods to that. "R-right..." He's picked up a great deal through cultural osmosis, of course, but it's definitely different than putting everything into practice.
Damian is largely unconcerned with the potential for eavesdroppers, looking over Purri and Pixi both and applying some light healing magic to both of them. But he blinks when he looks at the kit, and then his eyes go wide as he reaches out with trembling hands to take it. "Wh-whoa... f-for me? R-really...?"
Damian opens it up to look over the contents, with Purri and Pixi peering in curiously. "Th-this is w-way nicer th-than mine... a-are you sure...?" His parents, ironically, would rather Damian spend the money on professional grooming services than him learning to do it himself. That's time that could be spent on his medium studies, after all. (Of course, they would like it even more if Damian had a Ghost-type pokemon...) He looks up to Anne again, awed. "Th-thank you..."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
"I'm not surprised," Anne says, nodding to Purri sensibly. Then, she looks back to Damian. "See that you do."
It's not that she went easy on him, precisely; it's more that she issued him a challenge appropriate to his skill level. There's a difference.
And, well, here's a present. "Yes," Anne says.
"For you. And yes, I'm sure. Use it well. I think it'll be good in your hands. You wanted to learn more about caring for Pokemon after all. And you already know more than you give yourself credit for."
A pause. "...Working with our mutual friends isn't all doom and gloom. There are benefits, too."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Purri has had Damian's back for years. (As well as his lap!) Damian is probably only as functional as he is now because of her.
Damian would never think to accuse Anne of going easy on him. This isn't a championship battle, after all, it's training. Tracking two opponents and two pokemon was still a challenge, but onne it seems he navigated successfully.
He wanted to learn more about caring for pokemon... "Y-yeah... t-taking care of M-Mypsy, a-and Rishi, I'm l-learning a lot, too..." He picks up one piece of equipment from the kit and looks at it, frowning. "Wh-what does this do...?" he mutters to himself. (It's for pokemon with manes made of fire or that are otherwise ethereal in some way.)
More than he gives himself credit for. A smaller, shyer smile at that, but no less a happy one. "Y-yeah, maybe s-so..."
But--their 'mutual friends'... Namely, Team Rocket. "O-oh... r-right..." He deflates again a little, looking conflicted. He closes the lid for a moment, fingers drumming at the sides as he thinks. If this came from Team Rocket, he really shouldn't take it... but on the other hand... he looks to Purri, eating her poffin, and contemplates. Her fur is pretty messed up from the fight, and besides that...
She works really, really hard, on his behalf... doesn't she deserve something extra nice, every once in a while...?
If it's just one time, it's okay, right? To help Purri, so she can keep helping him?
He pulls the kit closer to himself, wrapping his arms around it. "Th-thank you... I'll p-put it to g-good use, p-promise..."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
"That's good," Anne answers of caring for the Pokemon. "You're finding new kinds of Pokemon to care for, with unique needs. You'll figure out the rest as you go. ...And there's instructions in the box for some of these."
She smiles back--and she notices the way that he deflates. That's something to note, for usre.
"Ultimately, it's up to you," she says, "What you do, when, and why. I know your friends are important to you, but that's only one reason." Two, really, but it's fine.
"...But part of the point of that organization isn't just to bring about change--it's to enrich and care for its members. You are one, so you should benefit."
"So think about it. There are a lot of us who don't feel they fit in. This is a place to belong." A pause. "...And I'm sure you will."
"Remember, though. If you need to talk, I'm around."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
"Y-yeah... th-there's n-not a lot of information, o-on caring for Psynymphs..." Not a lot that's publically available, anyway.
He already made his peace with the idea of Peace stealing that information for Mypsy's benefit, didn't he? (Really, stealing isn't the right word--she just copied it, that's all...)
There is a bit of a blink as Anne expounds on other purposes for Team Rocket. Not just to bring about change, but... to take care of its members.
He's one of their members now. Someone who didn't feel like he fit in at home, in Lavender Town, who doesn't feel like he fits in anywhere... Peace and Joy had trouble fitting in, too. All three of them had to leave Lavender Town, one way or another...
But Team Rocket will take him in, despite all that. Even if he just joined to be with Peace and Joy, to protect them, to protect himself... he could still belong here.
Damian is quiet for a good long few moments, staring down at his lap as all of those thoughts run through his head. "O-okay..." he says finally... he should be more troubled but... the aching desire to finally fit in somewhere is winning out, in the moment.
He looks up to Anne, and then down to Purri to give her ears some more scritches, earning him a purr. "That'd be nice..." he says, absently to himself.
If he ever needs to talk... Damian nods, and then looks up to Anne. "Um... c-can... I ask a favor?"
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
"There isn't," Anne says. She thinks back to what Rena said--about taking the Psynymphs from their mother. These didn't have their mother anymore, but...
"So you'll have to work twice as hard to make sure you do it right."
But Anne said what she said; she meant it, but she also knew the effect it could have on him. She notices how quiet he is... and eventually, he says okay. That that would be nice.
It's a start, at least.
"Sure," Anne says. "You can ask. I'll probably even say yes, depending on what it is."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Purri finishes off her Poffin, standing up and starting to streeeetch out in that way felines do. And as she stretches, her claws unsheath, and they're all painted a sparkly light purple that compliments her fur. She sits up and examines them for a moment, then looks up to Damian. "Purr, purrloin?"
Damian looks down--there it is, a bit of a chip. "D-don't worry, I c-can fix that when w-we get back."
"Purr!" Purri is satisfied with that.
But working twice as hard. "I w-will!"
It is a start... and Damian, (un?)fortunately might be exactly the type of person such a message could reach, especially in the wake of losing Nina and Sable as friends.
But Anne says to ask. "U-um... C-could..." Damian glances up to Anne, and then glances shyly away. It's no big deal, just say it already. "... c-could you call m-me..." He stops, takes a deep breath, and makes sure to enunciate so it doesn't get lost in the stutter. "Umm. Call. me. Mia?" He glances up to see her initial reaction to that, then looks down again.
"I-it's... a n-nickname, th-that Alice a-and Nami use... B-because, of the m-middle letters in m-my name..." See? It makes perfect sense, no need to feel like this is weird for any reason.
He bites his lip a little and glances up again, just a little, to see Anne's reaction.
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Big stretch! Anne does not say it, but she has been around enough felines that she is Aware. She is also aware of the chip in the polish. ...Naturally; she was fighting, after all.
Anne smiles at the exchange. And then, she nods, when he agrees he will work twice as hard.
It's not insincere; Anne is genuine in trying to help Damian be more of his own person, more of someone who can stand on his own and with others. ...But she's willing to mold him into an ideal Rocket, too.
The two things are not incompatible.
THe request is easy, though. Easy, except it's very important to Damian. So Anne watches him seriously for a moment, as if evaluating him. That's what she's doing, after all. She reaches up, adjusts her glasses, and...
"Sure, Mia. I can do that."
Her reaction is entirely unruffled; after she speaks up, she even smiles.
"That's not a problem at all."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Damian did get the best claw (nail) polish he could, but... well, sometimes you still get a chip. But maybe that's something else he can ask for, at some point... Surely that won't be a problem, right?
He might be bad with reading peoples' motives sometimes, but... he can sense Anne's genuineness, at least, in dealing with him. Her willingness to listen, to offer him meaningful choices, to even ask him what he wants to do...
Anne might be trying to sell Team Rocket as a place where he could belong, but even absent that, he's very quickly started looking up to Anne a great deal, too.
But Anne agrees--and she even calls him Mia to do it. He's looking down, still, but it's easy to see the edges of a smile on his face beside that, one that's wide and maybe a bit happier than he means to show.
He looks up to Anne, "Th-thanks..."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
It certainly won't be a problem. Just a little hint of something to come...
That's what makes Anne dangerous, of course; she melds her genuine intentions with her more deep-seated goals. Perhaps it's not what's best for Damian, in the end, to be a good Rocket--But it should be better than where he is now.
And until and unless he backs out, that's what she's going to help him to become.
"You're welcome," she says, and it's a trivial favor for her that means a lot to him, she can tell. That's fine, too.
"Let's head back," she suggests. "There's some work I can finish, and I can show you a bit about it. It'll help you learn more about Pokemon."
There are questions she has for him, too...
But she'll let him have this moment, and ask them later.