street rat

indie. PKMN oc by aeri

[ofinstinct-blog]

— “Eh, M’tough. I’ve fallen down stairs worse then this.”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“An’ ya didn’t get hurt? Awesome! Can ya teach me to do that?!”

[ofinstinct-blog]

— “Hmm…..well, I don’t think I broke anything so…..I should be fine.”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“I dunno... you tumbled down a lotta stairs just now.”

[ofinstinct-blog]

— Pay no attention to the man who just fell down the stairs.

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“You okay there, buddy?”

[paraplegicdreamer-blog]

             "……“ Okay maybe sometimes he got jealous when he watched people leave Mossdeep City so easily. He wanted to leave too, he wanted to travel too, but… He knew better.

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“Hi there!!”

----- In a flash, Nicki was in front of him, smiling widely at the boy all the while. Before too long, a Munchlax joined her at her side, though it was looking extremely confused at everything that was going on.

“You ‘kay there? You’re lookin’ a lil’ spacey!”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“Hmph. People either hate our guts or treat us too stinkin’ nicely. No in between. S’weird...”

[ofinstinct-blog]

— “Yeah, ya can. It’s not a whole lot, but between battlin’ and what we get from founding from Professor Willow, it’s not all that bad. We’re not as popular or rich as Team Valor or Team Mystic, but we get by at least. An’, like I said. If yer short on anythin’, th’ other members of the team can pitch in; expenses, food, whatever.”

— “I guess you could say we’re less like a team, and more like a community of sorts. A big ol’ family, I don’ know. However you wanna call it. Mostly, we work to find out how to bring out the potential of Pokemon through hatching, and we even got connections with Elm in Johto.”

— “Ya don’ gotta join if ya don’ wanna, but the offer’s there.”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“I...”

     Standing up from the ground, she stared wistfully off into space, not even realizing Ritz had climbed all the way back up under her hat until she felt his tail whip her in the face.

     It didn’t make sense. Every show she watched, every petty crook she saw Chief bring to justice, everyone had a catch to them. It just didn’t make sense. She looked up at him from under her bangs.

“...Why are you bein’ so nice to me? You tol’ me yourself you could’a taken me to the cops. But you didn’t do it. Why didn’t you? An’ why’s everyone gotta be so nice to me? It’s ‘cause I’m a kid, right? Does everyone think dumb kids like me can’t do anythin’ for themselves?”

[ofinstinct-blog]

— Well, he guessed that was a little better, but even still, there was a scowl on Spark’s face. “Yer eleven and, what? Pay rent? That’s stupid, if ya ask me. Kids mooch. S’what they do. Look, I know a way for you t’ get money that’s better then havin’ to pickpocket people.”

— “Team Instinct.”

— “We’re a team of people who get together and do lot’a stuff to help bring out the best in our Pokemon. Mostly hatchin’ eggs. Anyways, we do a lot of underground battlin’. No League rules, just you an’ your Pokemon. And if battlin’ isn’t for you, the rest of the team would be happy to pitch in, helpin’ ya get what’cha need.”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

     Team Instinct, huh? She hadn’t heard much about them before, but Chief had always told her to be wary of those sorts of teams: Rocket, Aqua, Magma, Plasma...

     --- But it wasn’t like she could just mooch off of Baxter forever, could she? His words made her pause and look down to the floor at her partner, who had been following the group all the while.

“I don’ pay rent to Chief. He... He did the same thing you did. He took me in when I had no where to go, tol’ me to stay as long as I wanted an’... an’ maybe that’s why I feel bad about it. He tells me I ain’t gotta worry about that sorta stuff, but...”

“...Can I really make money from joinin’ Team Instinct?”

[ofvalor-deactivated20170907]

“There’s a lot to do out there, that’s for sure. You got your regular ol’ trainers, your contest stars, your movie stars, your Kalos showcase whatchacallits, musical stars. Shoot, you could be anythin’ you wanted! Why pick one?!”

But, there was a far more pressing explanation to give! Candela struck a pose, her middle and index fingers resting at the edge of her Go-goggles in a sort of salute.

“Team Valor, on the other hand, is an organization of street battlers that laugh at the thought of ‘battle restrictions’! We’re the rough and tumble group that take on the task of unlocking a Pokemon’s full potential through intense battles and training! No one can douse our passion for Pokemon! It’s pretty neat, if I do say so myself!”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

     Her eyes watched intently as the woman passionately explained her life’s work, Nicki hanging onto every word that left her lips intently. Sure, her sister had told her time and time again why she loved being a Pokemon Performer, and she and her friends back home in Aspertia spent summer afternoons pretending to be a Gym Leader or even the Champion of the Unova League, but this felt.. different somehow.

Nicki only wished she could find something to be that passionate about!

“An’ yer the leader?! That’s so wicked cool! H-hey, so, what’s a street battle like, anyways? How’s it differ from a normal battle? Do ya like bein’ the leader? What’dya do to become the leader? How old are ya anyways? Are there other teams like Team Valor?”

[ofinstinct-blog]

— “Really? ‘Cause you seem to have made it my business.” He turns on his heel and starts walking, Jr looking confused but following along, still holding her up. They came across an apartment building, and Jr seemed to understand now, holding Nicki carefully as he followed Spark up to the third floor, sixth door.

— “Ya’know, yer lucky I don’ call th’ police, or somethin’.” He got the door unlocked and pushed it open, stepping aside so Jr could enter in a bit and place Nicki on the floor. “Yer choice. You can leave now an’ I won’t tell anyone, or—”

— “You could live here off th’ streets. S’not much, but probably better then nothin’. Don’t even gotta worry about grocery shoppin’ or bills.”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“Wh-what?! Wait, no- I-!”

     She nervously looked about the apartment. Oh boy, this seemed... painfully familiar. Nicki sighed as she scratched the nape of her neck. Wow, this was. Well, this was really awkward, alright.

“I was... I mean, I appreciate what’cher doin’ here, but... I already got a place t’ stay! An’ food an’ bears! That last part doesn’t make much sense, but it’s good, I promise! An’... I was jus’ tryin’ to pocket a bit ‘a cash to pay back the guy who’s taken me in. ‘m sorry.

     She couldn’t work at her age, getting money from passing Trainers she beats is hard, there were few options for her to get enough money to properly pay back the Chief...

[ofinstinct-blog]

— “Well, you apparently wanted something. And yer lil’ Rattata instead got a mouth full of Razz Berry. Why are you even pickpocketing– tryin’ to pickpocket– at eleven anyways? Shouldn’t you be home, or somethin’?”

— He looks over at Lily, the Wigglytuff giving a shrug. There was a few moments of silence, before Spark finally gave a long sigh.

— “Are you seriously eleven….?”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“Hey! I am eleven! I am, I am, I am!”

     Jeez, what was this guy’s problem? Okay, so even if she hadn’t tried to steal from him, he was still being a huge jerk! Squirming in the Raichu’s grasp, Nicki shot a fierce look at him.

“What’s your problem, man?! Lemme go already! S’not your business why I’m doin’ what I’m doin’, ya know!”

[ofvalor-deactivated20170907]

“Ritz? That’s a snazzy name! I like it!” And boy could he put ‘on the ritz’ too, causing quite the laugh when the he scurried up his trainer’s leg. He was so talented! Was it natural, or were they performers together? None of hers ever did that!

“Nice to meet you too, Nicki! I’m Candela, Team Valor’s one and only leader!” It was a force of habit, throwing her squad into her introduction, but Candy could tell both the kid and her friend had spunk. Just the spunk she needed!

“How long’ve you two been together? Must have been while, I’d guess.”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“Ah, we’ve been together ‘bout a year now! I’m still tryin’ to figure out what it is exactly I wanna do as a Trainer, t’ be honest... I mean, I’ve got ideas! Just.. not sure which one’s the best for me, ya know?”

     Ritz, loving the sudden praise, struck a few more poses before Nicki lightly tugged on his tail, which had been whipping her face repeatedly with all his posing.

“Alright, that’s enough, hotshot. So... what’s Team Valor? Never heard of it before.”

[ofinstinct-blog]

— “Jr.” He doesn’t even need to say anything else as the Raichu takes hold of the small of her back and uses Strength to lift her up off the ground and hold her over his head to keep her from getting away as Spark stands back up, sending out Lily as he does so.

— “Ya’know, s’not polite– or legal– to steal from someone. Especially berries that they’ve worked hard to grow from seeds for their Pokemon. What’s your name? Better yet—-”

— “How old are you even?”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“H-hey! Lemme go! I’m eleven, ya ass, now put me down!”

     That’s right. She cursed. No Chief around to tell it was rude, and to be honest, he really was being an ass! Just who has their own Pokemon use a move on a real person anyways?!

... She wasn’t going to answer that one.

     With a childish pout, she glared off to the side, not even looking the teen in the eyes.

“S’not like I wanted th’ stupid Berries anyways...”

[ofvalor-deactivated20170907]

► @ritzi-nicki

“AWW! he’s so cute!”

It isn’t the go to reaction to people seeing a Rattata, but when you’ve raised dozens, they grew on your faster than a Raticate’s teeth. Candela squatted down to get a better look, careful to keep her hands to herself. Maybe they were a bitter. You could never be too careful!

“You are a lil fella, right? I think they have longer whiskers. Or are you a lil lady?” She beamed up at the Pokemon’s trainer, “What’s their name?”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

Wha-

     Wait, did this lady seriously like Rattata, too?! Really and truly? Most people absolutely hated the species, or at least thought very little of them in general. ‘Street rats’, ‘filthy vermin’, etc, etc. She had heard it all, but to hear that she wasn’t the only one who thought they were just the cutest was-!!

“Oh, uh, his name! Right! This is my buddy, Ritz! My first Pokemon and my number one partner-in-crime! An’ I’m his wonderful and amazing trainer, Nicki! Nice t’ meet’cha, lady!” 

     Cue Ritz running up her leg and onto her shoulder in order to strike a pose. What a show off.

[ofinstinct-blog]

— Jr’s ears perked up right before the Rattata jumped and grabbed onto a berry, Spark noticing that before hearing the Normal-type land on the ground and turning to him, an eyebrow raised. Great, the cherry on top of this rotten cake of a day– someone trying to steal from him.

— “Well, that’s what’cha get, buddy. maybe you’ll think twice before doin’ that.” Even still, he’s already reaching into his pack and pulling out a water bottle for the small rodent, pulling out one of the little travel-size water bowls he had for his Pokemon, and pouring some out for him. “Here, drink that. Get some of that spiciness outta yer mouth.”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

     The tiny rat was hesitant to sip from the water initially, but ultimately, it was the need for relief that overpowered his cautious nature. After a few long sips from the water, Ritz's ears perked up as Nicki rushed around the corner.

“Ritz! Hey, Ritz, ya alright, buddy?! S-sorry, pal, I didn’t-... Uh...”

     She nervously looked back and forth between her partner and her failed pickpocket target. Well. This was...

“U-uhm... Hi. Nice...weather today, huh? Hehehe... heh.”

[ofinstinct-blog]

— “What’s so bad about us, hunh, Jr?!”

— “……..What’s so bad about us….?”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“Alright, Ritz... you ready? Okay... Use Thief!”

     With a small nod of confirmation from her rodent friend, the little Rattata was off, his form blurring as he dashed up to the gloomy-looking fellow. 40 feet away, 30 feet, 20 feet, 10- There! He jumped, and Ritz’s teeth sank into the closest thing he could grab from the man’s belt. Wait, that was-

“A-ack! Ritz, drop it! That’s a-”

     Nope, too late. Ritz was already on the ground, reeling from the spicy flesh of the Razz Berry!

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“Haha! Looks like there’s a fight brewin’, huh, Ritz?”

    Ritz squeaked and popped out from under her hat with a single kernel of popcorn in his paws, chewing excitedly as he watched the commotion all around.

“Why’re they fightin’ over a nerdy-lookin’ guy though?”

[ritzi-nicki-blog]

“Whoa... those Pokéathletes are so cool!!”