#littlerooted

[littlerooted]

[capoidro]

"Keeping your nose clean I hope, Archie."

"MY NOSE CLEAN?!" it's the strangest guffaw-chortle that busts out of archie, but it rocks him, the side of his fist pounding into his thigh.

it had taken him a moment to recognize the young man, realize that he was one and the very same that had quashed maxie's plans. magma was the machine, sure, but maxie was the engineer, the only one in that scheme that archie felt could rival him. and besides, what was it that they said? the enemy of my enemy is my friend?

well, he wasn't sure about friends, but he could make do with 'a kid i won't squash under my thumb'. if he even could do that anymore. arceus, the kid had sprouted while archie had been offshore.

"scamp," you little shit, "i'm not sure that it's any of your business what's going on with your ol' pal archie. you don't have to worry about me causing trouble any time soon." not soon. he was nowhere near ready to try and take on kyogre by himself again, not yet.

[rockheadcd]

@littlerooted said: "Your facilities really are incredible, Roark. I can tell you spared absolutely no expense. I wish we had the space to do this back in Rustboro." He shoots the man a smile. "And while I admit my focus is more in those species from the Cenozoic, being able to see some of these species alive has been absolutely wonderful." "Admittedly, this also makes me lament how much of the accessible information comes from Dex holders like myself, given we were children when we recorded most of this. Who on earth thought Rampardos hunted anything? They're herbivores." "At the very least the information I had to hand to raise my Cradily was accurate, even when I was younger." / mento illness comes in many flavors. | accepting.

"Honestly, I'm just improving on what my dad's started when he moved to Oreburgh years ago with Tata," he explains casually, but he's certainly proud that fellow academics have taken notice. Sure, the goal for the people here was to learn, but Roark's priority was the care for the 'mons before anything else. It was Byron's prerogative before that, and ultimately, the prerogative of his own father's father before him. It just wasn't until later on when the coal exports returned funds that they were able to expand on the research side of things. Surely, Brendan was aware of the in's and out's of the paperwork and even some of the bureaucracy—it wouldn't be the first time he's spoken nerdy with him. "Rustboro is in a weird spot, so I can't imagine there's a lot to work with. Has there been any discussion around an independent facility?" Roark asks, curious about situation there—Orebrugh and Canalave were in rather unique positions, but Hoenn operated under a completely different geography.

Still, he can't help but laugh a little. "If professors and museums were asking for a kid's input, they coulda asked me when I was still in grade school. Even opportunistic predators are an exception and not the norm, but it doesn't feel like 'til recent years that the research community has actually been able to compare notes. It's why Dad and I take a lot of pride in the fossil programs we maintain here. It wouldn't be the first time a 'mon's skeleton was misinterpreted entirely. Sheesh, most fossils we have any information on are straight up pacifists, too." Another reason why Roark spent so much time putting together a proper ambassador program, consequently fostering fossils. After all, not all of their findings warranted a revival process, and even in the grand scheme of things, space would always be a factor.

"If it wasn't for the perseverance, I'm not sure if the program would be this thorough. I oughta take you to Iron Island one of these days so you can check out the herds there—beyond the public areas, Dad's helped care for a multi-generation herd of Bastis and Shieldon. They're happy as Clamperls, especially since the remote habitat has remained relatively unchanged save for some global phenomena. The information he's been able to document is kinda the reason I ended up as obsessed as he is, ehe."

"It's a good thing Lileep and Cradily are pretty chill—at least in my experience. My mom's Lileep is doing well, even in the climate here. They're so much more resilient than we could have imagined despite finding many of their fossils in old seabeds. On the plus side, they still exist in remote reefs, apparently. I'm really glad it wasn't a scenario with an Aerodactyl or another apex predator, though." Spoken from experience apparently. "My hope is to hopefully correct a lot of the inaccuracies from 'dex research as we verify the behavioral patterns of the fossils here on the mainland. I've learned so much more than I could have ever imagined over the years."

[kristallum]

🏜️—desert resort, unova.

Seeing the "statues" dotting randomly across the stretch of sand brings a knowing smile to Crys' face, squinting to her traveling companion with an all-knowing glint in her eye. "It's said that Darmanitan awaken from these statuesque states when tempted by Ragecandybars," she rattles around her knapsack, a look of disappointment following. "And, to think—I came all this way from back home with none to offer... bummer."

Awakening dormant Pokemon is not the mission of the hour for the Champion slash aspiring Professor, and certainly isn't what drove her to post up outside of Unova's Desert Resort for the last several weeks with eyes glued to the skies.

As a UAP enthusiast, what with the recent sightings reported over the area, it was only natural for Crys to wind up trailing the hotbed of rumors circulating through this distant region.

Verifiable by credible sources, as well as the usual conspiracy theorists (people after her own heart), strange activity above the Desert Resort has been recorded for nearly a century—and, if the nature of the phenomena mentioned in reports is anything telling to whats been behind these recent occurrences, then Crys is determined to be the one to make direct contact with whatever it may be that has been watching from above, for so long.

That, or she'd die trying—were others not there to talk sense into her, that is.

"Boy, roaming around in the heat is no joke... if you hadn't arrived with those extra canteens, I'm afraid we would've been goners." Buttercup seems to nod in agreement, the Heracross fluttering inches above the hot sands so as to not burn her feet. "My poor Bubbles doesn't care much for the grittier part of our investigations... some help she is!"

And, an investigation it is. Waiting for the cloak of nightfall for aerial surveillance to commence was a waste of time; Crys, ever the curious, knew traces from whatever had been visiting these wastelands in the middle of Unova had to be evident somewhere. Using every ounce of daylight to scan the dunes, the trenches, the valleys—it was all necessary to her line of work. No stone was to be left unturned, not in her presence.

"We are gracious you decided to join us, B." Rolling up a sleeve, the Johtonian wipes the sweat from her forehead; Buttercup's wings have about had enough, as she lowers herself to the ground. "Tell me—what's it been like, having May as a co-Champion? I know you missed her terribly."

—@littlerooted

[badbirchenergy]

🏝️—undella town, unova.

"I dunno if I ever met somebody who scares the livin' daylights outta me, just by smilin'?" May's voice is low as the two Hoennites leave the cabana of Sinnoh's infamous Cynthia, having spent a good deal of their morning catching up on inter-regional affairs. "Itchin' for the day I can finally take her on, though! I don't think this li'l condo of her's would be left standin' after that."

Though, they aren't here to tumble, far from it—as one of the first international visits conducted by the joint-Champs following May's return to the position, their only goals are to chit chat and rub elbows with the region's most prestigious of representatives. Reclaiming her honor has been a long, winding road, but it hasn't been an entirely grueling affair.

Undella, as picturesque as anywhere found in Hoenn or Alola, welcomes the two back into its radiating bask. Beachfront shoppes and storefronts displaying the latest swimwear face the crystalline waters that lap pleasantly against the shoreline; tourists from all walks of life bounce between lounging under umbrellas, to enjoying games of beach volleyball with their Pokemon, to snorkeling off around the sea shallows.

A crowded city for obvious reasons, the scene is anything but stressful for May—if she is to brave any populated area, let it be by the coast.

"But, glad that's over... we can finally get a li'l chill time in!" Springing with each step, May skips towards a boardwalk overlooking the dunes. Vanhi, having spent the interim with Trixie down by the pier, rounds with the Swampert to greet their trainers halfway along the elevated path.

"Not sure 'bout you, but I could totally use a dip right now. All that talkin' and whatnot worked up my nerves... a swim would be fuckin' stellar."

—@littlerooted

[littlerooted]

Brendan's relationship with Steven and Wallace is difficult in RPC terms because unlike a lot of Champions, there's no way to really justify what happens unless its ignored entirely.

In a lot of later cases (say, Diantha or Cynthia) you can reasonably extrapolate that the Champions are off dealing with things elsewhere. I think Steven is one of the only times that you get looked in the eye and told to go deal with it as a kid.

Its something I think the Manga does a good job of fixing! And obviously I don't want to make it unfun for anyone I write with! Brendan's cordial and polite. But he has his beef.

[littlerooted]

I don't have a name for Brendan's mum yet by the way, hence her faceless nature lol

[littlerooted]

Despite being such a basal Pokemon - one of the earliest species besides Anorith that can be revived in fact - Mary is smart enough that when she's bored, she'll make it everyone elses problem.

She's not quite as smart as a Pokemon like Octillery, but she's definately not stupid and Brendan has to find ways to keep her amused. She likes simple puzzle games.