Wayward Souls

If a goal is meaningless without the journey, then why have a goal? Why not just have the journey. This is the philosophy of Robin Summers and Amber Richards; two wandering souls facing the extraordinary and unbelievable, wandering and rediscovering the world that he shunned and she was taken away from.

[wayfaringtrainers]

For absolutely no reason, I feel like every fibre of Amber's being would despise Jacinthe with the fury of a thousand suns.

(I lie, the reason is the inherent rivalry between a fairy queen vs a self-titled upstart)

[alolynn-heart]

"Ehhh, I think that's what they are called. I may have got the exact name mixed up," Lynn said scratching a the side of her forehead. Still it was nevetheless a kit to help refresh and upkeep one's pokemon.

"Oh! I've seen plenty of those around the contest halls in Hoenn. And a bunch of wild swablu as well while visiting the region. You aren't wrong that they are incredible fluffy," she remarked.

An eyebrow raised as she patiently waited while the poor gardevoir struggled telepathically to form the endearing adjective they were just talking about.

"Ah, I totally get that. I at least have Tsuki who is adamant about sleeping at the end of whatever bed im on. But then you wake up to a mightyena's floofy face in the morning begging for food," she sighed with a small grin

"That or your pyukumuku some how escapes their pokeball and you find that sea creature nest among your pillows," she added recalling just how a bit messy that seemed to sound.

[wayfaringtrainers]

"Most of my Pokémon don't really do the 'sneak into trainer's bed' thing I hear so many people talk about... But my Luxray is absolute regarding breakfast time. And boooooy does he get huffy when I'm 2.327 seconds too late."

"That is because you commonly share a bed with your mate an-"

"So We've Talked A Lot About My Floofy Pokémon Tell Me More About Yours Please Okay Thanks."

Despite Amber's very abrupt and necessary interruption of Azura's sentence, the psychic type couldn't help but hide a grin...

[wayfaringtrainers]

AKA: Zichi was bored and had a slow day at work, and so invented some completely random headcanons for his muses!

On her father's side, Amber's ancestry can be traced all the way back to Hisui's Pearl Clan. This is despite her childhood home being the same region where the Diamond Clan was settled. (it was a long time ago)

Robin screwed up his Johto League challenge because he over-relied on his ace (not Gladius). He then went to Kanto and screwed up by overworking himself to exhaustion.

Robin and Amber's guilty pleasure is Karaoke. They infrequently go and sing (really badly).

Their favourite song to 'duet' is Hall & Oates: Out of Touch (AKA Out of Touch Thursday). They 'duet' it by alternating lines

Katrina is still in touch with her school friends, and regularly meets up with them when in Galar. Tragically, they are all straight.

Samantha has dated 1 woman... For 23 minutes. She walked out when Samantha revealed she had 2 kids. Samantha will take this fact to her grave.

[alolynn-heart]

Lynn was...sort of catching on. "Oh. I mean it's not uncommon to have your extra pokemon in those pc boxes. Heck a few of my own are in one." she replied, although she had to attempt to make a mental note on exactly which ones were in that box in the first place.

Ah. Well nevermind that~

"Being a water type training I don't have many fluffy pokemon.. Well unless you could Tsuki," she said referring to her mightyena. This canine pokemon was the equivalent of a very floofy husky. Perhaps samoyed levels of floof. Lynn knew Amber's 'pain'.

"Actually, around Alola ..trainers are given refresher kits to help maintain their pokemon. Most of it is just a grooming kit to clean them up after battle. But it does come with some topical medications. If you would like I could see I could pick one up for you?" Lynn asked figuring the friendly suggestion may just help. But likely this seemed to be more of a case then just simple upkeep.

Lynn then turned the gardevoir that was speaking telepathically to her. A small understanding nod was made. "I suppose we have that six pokemon rule in place so it doesn't feel too overwhelming," she added with a shrug. This was coming from the same coordinator who at the moment had two full regional teams and was still possibly acquiring more traveling around Lumiose City.

She then blinked at Amber's next statement. Oh. That felt a little too close to home. "It would be a lie to say I haven't done the same~"

[wayfaringtrainers]

"Refresher... Grooming... Kit..." Amber slowly typed out on her phone, a reminder for later on.

"Well in terms of floofy boys and girls... Well there's no competition, my Altaria -her name's Melody- is the fluffiest of them all. Altaria down is famous for it's floof, y'know? It's always good quality for its softness and warmth..."

"I do not believe Amber would be overwhelmed... Or at least, I do not believe Amber would not enjoy being overwhelmed."

Phrasing, Azura.

"Many of our cohorts are... Fffffflliiiiff..." She seemed to pull a face at trying to mentally project that word. Made-up words that weren't names could be surprisingly difficult to telepathically communicate, especially across the human/pokemon language barrier.

"Flrrrf. Floooooo. Floooo Ffffff Eeee. Flooooooffffffeeee. Floofy, there it is." You got there in the end Azura. "Most of our companions are floofy. I am sure a nap with all of them would be warm and comfortable."

[wayfaringtrainers]

List a Pokémon move for each type that applies to your muse!

🍞[ NORMAL ] Slash. The target is attacked with a slash of claws, scythes, or the like. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit. 🥊[ FIGHTING ] Vacuum Wave. The user whirls its fists to send a wave of pure vacuum at the target. This move always goes first. 🦢 [ FLYING ] Air Cutter. The user launches razor-like wind to slash opposing Pokémon. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit. 🧪[ POISON ] Purify. The user cures the target's status condition. If the move succeeds, it also restores the user's own HP. ⛰️[ GROUND ] Sand Attack. Sand is hurled in the target's face, lowering the target's accuracy. 💎[ ROCK ] Smack Down. The user throws a stone or similar projectile to attack the target. If the target is in the air, it will be knocked down to the ground. 🐞[ BUG ] Lunge. The user makes a lunge at the target, attacking with full force. This also lowers the target's Attack stat. 👻[ GHOST ] Shadow Sneak. The user extends its shadow and attacks the target from behind. This move always goes first. 🔪[ STEEL ] Iron Defense. The user hardens its body's surface like iron, sharply boosting its Defense stat. 🔥[ FIRE ] Flame Charge. Cloaking itself in flame, the user attacks the target. Then, building up momentum, the user boosts its Speed stat. 🌊[ WATER ] Water Pulse. The user attacks the target with a pulsing blast of water. This may also confuse the target. 🌿[ GRASS ] Aromatherapy. The user releases a soothing scent that heals all status conditions affecting the user's party. ⚡[ ELECTRIC ] Shock Wave. The user strikes the target with a quick jolt of electricity. This attack never misses. 🔮[ PSYCHIC ] Heal Pulse. The user emits a healing pulse that restores the target's HP by up to half of its max HP. 🧊[ ICE ] Icicle Crash. The user attacks by crashing large icicles onto the target. This may also make the target flinch. 🐉[ DRAGON ] Dragon Dance. The user vigorously performs a mystic, powerful dance that boosts its Attack and Speed stats. 💀[ DARK ] Dark Pulse. The user releases a horrible aura imbued with ill intent. This may also make the target flinch. 🌸[ FAIRY ] Dazzling Gleam. The user damages opposing Pokémon by emitting a powerful flash.

[alolynn-heart]

Although Lynn couldn't read the other young woman's mind like Azura could, it didn't mean she couldn't at least pick up on those subtle changes in their mood and expressions.

She wondered if perhaps her little reference brought up some sensitive topic, despite that not being the intention at all. The corsola in her lap would wobbly slightly trying to get herself comfortable, in which the coordinator would pick her up slightly and turn her about so that she could view the ocean that was out in the distance, all the while listening to Amber speak.

She raised an eyebrow hearing 'Elise's' name. "Looking pretty for treats, huh?" Lynn remarked with a softened smirk. "That's something Lamia has taught Tsuki. Or well, she's influence the rest of the team." It was why her gorebyss was a natural performer~

"I don't think I met your lopunny before?" she asked. Right Lynn. Just uknowningly scratching the surface of certain..territory.

[wayfaringtrainers]

"Well, she's currently in the box right now..." Amber explained, oblivious to the thought of Lynn catching on. "she was also in the box last time I was here, come to think of it. Given how fluffy she is, I guess it works out?"

"There are nine of us on this team. But only six can accompany Amber for... Human reasons." Azura added onto the explanation. "Amber does her best in giving us all equal time."

"Yeah, after finally being free to go on a Pokémon journey, I kinda went a little overboard on obtaining friends..."

[wayfaringtrainers]

Me waking up at 5am: If it wasn't for my anxiety and preference for staying as low key as possible, I would absolutely shove Amber into one of those dashboard contestants that appear irregularly. Because she would despise every second on stage. And it would be funny to watch anybody try drama with her.

[alolynn-heart]

Lynn perked up at the as Amber clarified what her gardevoir meant. "Oh! That now makes a lot more sense! A lot of my own pokemon were found on routes or beaches right outside nearby cities~" she remarked rubbing the back of her head.

"Route 209 does sound a little familiar. Especially with all those rivers and bridges. I think I recall some goldeen and seaking fishing spots there. And something else..."

She paused when Azura requested about the berries. "Ehh, well I don't have the exact berries. But I have some leftover pokeblocks made from aspear berries if you wanna try one of those?" she remarked reaching into her bag and retrieving those infamous dispensers seeing around Hoenn contest halls, only for Amber to intercept the offer.

"I see," Lynn chuckled..."you remind me of my mightyena who goes up to other trainers pretending like she is starved, when in fact she has just been fed"

[wayfaringtrainers]

"I... Would never do that." The hesitation may have sounded like guilt, but it was more a matter of 'exact words' on Azura's behalf. No, she wouldn't ask for treats... Buuuuuut she would accept any that were offered.

"I know somebody who is exactly like that." Amber said, before mentally deciding not to give any further details because Arceus dammit any further answers involves other people's secrets.

"Yes. Elise does try to look pretty for treats." Being a Gardevoir means being naturally empathetic and a mind-reader, so sensing Amber's heavily-suppressed panic (as well as being in-the-know about the Summers-Richards background drama) managed to pretty handily come up with an on-the-spot explanation.

"Yeah! My Lopunny, Elise!" Amber died a little inside, having to lie to friends like this... But NDA's were NDA's. "She'll try and pull them big ol' bunny eyes to get what she wants. We're all immune at this point though."

[alolynn-heart]

"East of Heartholme..." Lynn hummed scrunching up her face as she tried to recall exactly where the place was. She recalled a snowy town up toward the north, but that was in the wrong direction. "I'm sorry but, were there perhaps any notable landmarks nearby?" she inquired tilting her head slightly.

With that she turned toward Amber. "Oh, it's no wonder why you ended up rejecting the poffin. I noticed that if you don't get it down just right they end up tasting rather bitter and dried out."

So Azura has a lax nature.

Oh.

The delivery girl blinked realizing now just how closely the gardevoir was studying her. "I ehhh... get your point. You -really- don't like bitter flavors," she said raising up both her hands in a truce like fashion.

Ahem...

"Well, what I do know that pokemon of a similar nature do like sour flavors instead. So perhaps somethin' mixed with aspear or payapa berries might be better?~"

[wayfaringtrainers]

"... ... East of the city." Azura repeated, before Amber shuffled in to explain.

"Oh, she means Route 209." Amber clarified, "the road between Hearthome and Solaceon town. I met her on the Western end, where all the rivers and bridges are."

"Correct. East of the City." Azura repeated herself. An unspoken downside of telepathy is that sometimes it can be a little too literal. "I will however, accept these berries you speak of."

"No need to make the offer, Lynnie." Amber beamed even as Azura glanced at Amber in mock-betrayal. "She's the only one on my team who actually likes sour treats, so I've got plenty for her. And she'll have them at treat time."

[alolynn-heart]

"Oh? Do you mean your old home wasn't in Heartholme then?" she asked turning toward Amber's gardevoir. Forgive her, she's trying to keep up with all this new information. Still she understood Zura's preference for warmth. Hell, she was the same way. Not too surprising considering she came was raised in Alola.

Well sort of.

She nodded at the inquiry about poffins. "That's right. I learned about them when I started to perform at contest halls around Sinnoh. I mean I already mastered making pokeblocks. But for some reason. It's not that I burn them..they just seem ... how do I say this...lackluster?" she said scrunching up her face.

In truth she didn't visit Sinnoh all too often. And that meant there wasn't a lot of opportunity to practice making those confectionary treats.

"Ehhh, I'm willing to bet your nature didn't quite compliment the sour flavor of that poffin you picked up. Or stole," she jested, then turned to Amber .." Hmm.. speaking of which do you happen to know what Zura's would be? Her nature that is."

[wayfaringtrainers]

"It was East of Hearthome." Azura clarified, "next to a winding river that made Summers cool and Winters freezing. It was close."

"According to my Pokédex, Azura is considered 'lax' in nature, which means yeah, bitter food aren't exactly her cup of tea. Her cup of bitter, bitter tea."

"They are not." Azura had blinked, only to teleport less than a step's distance in order to get close to Lynn, staring deep into her girlypop soul, making her dislike of bitter food quite... Obvious.

[lore-and-legends]

"They're all afraid of me. And they're right to be. You should be, too."

[wayfaringtrainers]

"... ... ..."

"Unfortunately, ever since that one time a feral Garchomp tried to cleave me in two, my ability to feel fear has been completely ruined."

[alolynn-heart]

Of course the girlypop corsola was going to lavish up the attention. A squee followed by a side-to-side wobble came from Kikuri when Amber had patted the top of her head. "Ehh, she does really turn up the cute factor for those snacks," Lynn sighed out with a defeated smile.

However, it was what Amber mentioned next that made the delivery girl quirk a brown. "Ya mean going back to visit Heartholme? I don't think I remember that part being too cold. Unless it was during the winter," she remarked thoughtfully.

With that the coordinator hummed to herself. The snacks were difficult to obtain? "Oh wait, could she possibly mean those poffins? I have to admit that is one contest hall recipe that I have yet to master. Like it's you have to get the formula just right for the batch."

That's what they were talking about, right?

Right, Zura??

[wayfaringtrainers]

"My old home would be uncomfortable in winter." Azura confirmed Lynn's question, "And being close to human settlements meant I was very aware of how warm humans could make their homes. It sometimes made the cold worse."

Despite the tone of Azura's explanation, she didn't seem that dejected or emotional about the rough means of survival in the wild, it seemed just matter-of-fact to her.

"Poffins... They are the fluffy buns that trainers would make for Pokémon, yes? Sometimes trainers would discard the poffins that they were not happy with. Wild Pokémon would fight over these, they were very popular."

"The first time I successfully got one, it tasted bitter and I never went back for another."

"... Huh." Amber mumbled to herself, before speaking up. "You made it sound like you were stealing snacks, you know. Good to know."

[wayfaringtrainers]

She's just gonna watch the anons be their annoying selves, eating from a bucket of popcorn.

"Feel like I've seen this episode before..."

[alolynn-heart]

Lynn leaned forward to scoop up her corsola that was nearby and brought the coral pokemon to sit upon her lap. "Heey, that is good of a reason as any. Even if it is something as simple as wanting a cute pokemon~" she bemused with a friendly grin at Amber.

"To be honest that is how I kind of met Kikuri. There's a little fishing spot right outside of town. Before you head to the cemetery. That's where I first encountered her. So I figured why not revisit this place today.. for nostalgic reasons y'know?"

Lynn couldn't help but chuckle at Zura's confession about wanting to nap and someone else to bring her food. That was certainly a mood she could relate to. Alas she was the delivery girl bringing food to people. Her time for naps was rather...sporadic to say the least.

"Hell, this little one here is always on alert when I come back from doing deliveries. She thinks there are snacks for her. And well, she's right most of the time," she added with a soft chuckle.

[wayfaringtrainers]

"Well she is a cutie, and she deserves all the snacks." Amber grinned at Lynn, giving her fellow pink-coded gal Kikuri a grin and a pat on the head. "But now that you mention it, I don't think we've ever revisited your old home, huh Azura?"

"I have no attachment to it." She responded matter-of-factly, "It was cold, and the snacks were difficult to obtain."

"Well, at least it's good you find time with me better than..."

"... Azura, what do you mean by snacks being 'difficult to obtain'."

"... ... Don't I also deserve all the snacks?"

"'Zura what did you mean."

"..."

[alolynn-heart]

"My luck has been on thin ice," Lynn half muttered under her breath, only for her to change her tone to something more casual and friendly. "Still being in the coordinator spotlight certainly gives you more perspective of your surroundings~"

Since it technically wasn't an aforementioned date, she thought it would be best to keep those secrets tucked away in her brain-vault. Safekeeping for another day. Another time. Then again, she did briefly wonder if Azura could read minds? Nah, that couldn't be the case.

"Ah! It looks like you two are close. I would have guessed you had known each other longer than six months."

The delivery girl then turned her attention toward the gardevoir, "Curious then, did you raise Zura from a ralts or was she captured during a later evolution?"

[wayfaringtrainers]

Ah yes, luck. Amber was very familiar with the flip-flopping extremes of chance. Not that she brought attention to Lynn's under-breath mumblings.

"Well, I met Azura when she was a li'l Ralts, East of Hearthome City. She wanted a trainer, I wanted a li'l cutie and that's how things went!"

"I spent most of my Ralts time napping. I wanted a trainer so I could sleep all day and have someone else give me food." There was a twinge of shame in Azura's telepathic 'voice'. But Amber simply tightened the arm around Azura's shoulder for a closer hug.

"And now you're one of my most reliable friends and need to stop doubting yourself, okay?"

[wayfaringtrainers]

"Well you gotta get it over with sooner or later. Third date means there's some trust there, but you aren't too deep that a rejection hurts!" Despite making light of the matter, Amber was... absolutely avoiding the Copperajah in the room.

"And hey, despite what everyone and his mother says, Robin and I aren't attached to the hip..."

"... Attached by the heart is another matter." The Gardevoir spoke via telepathy, a mildly mischeavous smile on her lips as Amber snorted a laugh. The Psychic-type gracefully rose from the seat and stepped away, allowing Lynn to take the seat instead.

"Oh, right! Introductions!" Amber beamed, hand pointed to the Gardevoir and Lynn in turn. "Lynn, Azura. Azura, Lynn."

[alolynn-heart]

Lynn's expression slightly scrunched up at the mention of rejection. This was something the coordinator dealt with when she weighed over the idea of revealing her own past. "Or worse, they use that revealed info against you."

Oh. Perhaps she herself said a little too much.

Luckily the topic was still keeping light hearted. Somehow. "Really now? I could have sworn you two were practically velcroed together," she added with a soft smirk, but then perked up when she heard the other voice. It was coming from the gardevoir? Ah, that's right they were a psychic type.

Lynn opened her mouth to ask exactly what that other matter was, but it seemed Amber had jumped right into the introductions. The brunette hesitated to take the seat as she did feel it would be an intrusion. But it seemed like they insisted.

"Ehh, it is lovely to meet you, Azura" she remarked slipping onto now empty space on the bench beside their trainer. "Have you known each other for a while or..?"

[wayfaringtrainers]

"Oh yeah, there's that too. So far I've been pretty lucky, although there's always that one asshole who tries to use your vulnerabilities against you." Really skirting the line of what you're allowed to say here, huh Amber?

Regardless of her secrets -and of Lynn's own thoughts- Amber reached over to Azura and pulled her in close, wrapping an arm around Azura and gave a grin to Lynn.

"'Zura and I have known each other for about half a year at this point, she's also the 5th Pokémon I caught, but like all my Pokémon we've bonded well."

"Feels like longer." Azura continued to 'path, "But lovely to meet you too."

[alolynn-heart]

@wayfaringtrainers / Amber (get girlypop jumpscared )

"Oh? Did I startled you?" Lynn asked knowing very well that was a very rhetorical question considering Amber's sudden slurred speech. A coy grin playing across her features. She totally didn't intent any of that. Not at all.

The coordinator now stood beside the bench where the other sat. It was in the remote part of the town. Away from the hustle and bustle. A small light house overlooked the ocean side cliff. where below the sounds of waves crashing against the rocks could be heard.

It would be then she would notice the gardevoir sitting next to Amber. Ah, so they were the one the orange haired female was talking to. "And to think I almost thought you were talking to yourself~" she teased.

Still with a statement like that it was no wonder Amber found herself a secluded spot. A thoughtful hum elicited from the former scientist. "Ehhh? Trauma dumping that quickly on the third...?" she paused looking around. "Oh speaking of which, it's not often I see you without Robin," she said placing the corsola down onto the ground. While the intend was for Kikuri to go explore at her own leisure she instead opted to remain idly wobbling beside her trainer's feet.

[wayfaringtrainers]

"Well you gotta get it over with sooner or later. Third date means there's some trust there, but you aren't too deep that a rejection hurts!" Despite making light of the matter, Amber was... absolutely avoiding the Copperajah in the room.

"And hey, despite what everyone and his mother says, Robin and I aren't attached to the hip..."

"... Attached by the heart is another matter." The Gardevoir spoke via telepathy, a mildly mischeavous smile on her lips as Amber snorted a laugh. The Psychic-type gracefully rose from the seat and stepped away, allowing Lynn to take the seat instead.

"Oh, right! Introductions!" Amber beamed, hand pointed to the Gardevoir and Lynn in turn. "Lynn, Azura. Azura, Lynn."