- 282
- #4
Wynmond hadn't expected Lan to text him immediately after their last encounter, nor had he anticipated the confusing and obscure messages dropped into his inbox in the dead of night. Oh, the time wasn't an issue; Wynmond never really slept, after all. No, it was the emojis and exclamation points and, well, Lan. Really, he wasn't sure how to respond. Texting had a lot of rules he never understood and often seemed to violate despite his best intentions, but Lan hadn't commented. In fact, Lan had even invited Wynmond to yet another research, to which Wynmond only had one thing to say:
"Okay. Meet me outside the dorms at 2pm."
And that was where he was, settled onto a bench with Barker bouncing on his knees. He only hoped it'd go better than last time, where Barker had left marks on another trainer upon introduction. It was only Barker's second time meeting another trainer and Wynmond was anxious; what if Barker hurt Lan, too? Was Wynmond trash at reigning his pokemon in, or had it been a one-time fluke? He considered canceling the outing, but by the time the thought crossed his mind it was 1:40pm and the worst thing he could imagine at that current moment was disappointing someone he had made plans with.
See, this is why he didn't have friends. It was easier.
"You won't bite Lan, right?" He gently pulled Barker against his chest and rested his chin on top of their head. Barker crooned and wagged his tail as he batted at his trainer's face. A non-conclusive answer if Wynmond had ever seen one, but it rested his nerves for the moment.
"You're a good boy, Barker."
"Okay. Meet me outside the dorms at 2pm."
And that was where he was, settled onto a bench with Barker bouncing on his knees. He only hoped it'd go better than last time, where Barker had left marks on another trainer upon introduction. It was only Barker's second time meeting another trainer and Wynmond was anxious; what if Barker hurt Lan, too? Was Wynmond trash at reigning his pokemon in, or had it been a one-time fluke? He considered canceling the outing, but by the time the thought crossed his mind it was 1:40pm and the worst thing he could imagine at that current moment was disappointing someone he had made plans with.
See, this is why he didn't have friends. It was easier.
"You won't bite Lan, right?" He gently pulled Barker against his chest and rested his chin on top of their head. Barker crooned and wagged his tail as he batted at his trainer's face. A non-conclusive answer if Wynmond had ever seen one, but it rested his nerves for the moment.
"You're a good boy, Barker."
- 150
- #5
Lan hummed as grabbed the pack of food to tempt the totodile with. He grabbed his gloves, shoving the heavy leather in his belt, decorated with teeth scars from previous nibble pokemon. "Okay, gloves, food, Christmas, phone, am I missing anything?" He question.
"Socks and shoes unless you plan to go barefoot," Kennedy drawled, leafing through a magazine. "You are going to be late, Lan."
"Ehh, it happens." Lan tugged on his socks and then the heavier boots he usually wore when working the trail. "Anyhow later Kenny." He leaned down patting her hair and laughed, ducking as she swung at him.
"Fuck you."
"Love you!" He gave a lazy whistle to Christmas, calling the bulbasaur to him and started out the door. "Are you ready to meet a new playmate?" He questioned the pokemon as they walked out the dorm. "Oii, Ooi Wynmond. Am I late?" He called out.
"Socks and shoes unless you plan to go barefoot," Kennedy drawled, leafing through a magazine. "You are going to be late, Lan."
"Ehh, it happens." Lan tugged on his socks and then the heavier boots he usually wore when working the trail. "Anyhow later Kenny." He leaned down patting her hair and laughed, ducking as she swung at him.
"Fuck you."
"Love you!" He gave a lazy whistle to Christmas, calling the bulbasaur to him and started out the door. "Are you ready to meet a new playmate?" He questioned the pokemon as they walked out the dorm. "Oii, Ooi Wynmond. Am I late?" He called out.
- 234
- #6
Wynmond jolted at the sound of Lan's voice, loosening his grip by accident. Barker squirmed and hopped from his perch in Wynmond's lap and let out an excited yowl and began to rush towards Lan. Luckily, Wynmond now had experience with this maneuver and scooped his pokemon right up and into his arms, shushing the squirming and hissing Barker.
"Just a little," Wynmond murmured and shifted Barker onto his hip while he checked his phone. "Two minutes late. It's fine."
Barker had calmed long enough to heave a sigh, flopping their arms onto Wynmond's forearm in defiance. Wynmond used his now free hand to ruffle the top of Barker's head, laughing lightly as the totodile tossed their head in response.
"Lan, this is Barker. Barker, this is Lan, and-" Was that Christmas? His face tightened for a moment. Barker had never met another pokemon before, not even to battle. After the experience with Tori he was worried, but, honestly... Lan loved Christmas as much as Wynmond loved Barker. He didn't know Lan well, but he doubted he'd let anything happen to Christmas.
"Hi Christmas~" He cooed softly, bending down to view her. He kept his grip tight on Barker, who had noticed Christmas with a jolt and let out a loud squeal of excitement. He leveled his gaze on Lan, nodding to the two pokemon.
"Did you, uh, want me to set Barker down?"
"Just a little," Wynmond murmured and shifted Barker onto his hip while he checked his phone. "Two minutes late. It's fine."
Barker had calmed long enough to heave a sigh, flopping their arms onto Wynmond's forearm in defiance. Wynmond used his now free hand to ruffle the top of Barker's head, laughing lightly as the totodile tossed their head in response.
"Lan, this is Barker. Barker, this is Lan, and-" Was that Christmas? His face tightened for a moment. Barker had never met another pokemon before, not even to battle. After the experience with Tori he was worried, but, honestly... Lan loved Christmas as much as Wynmond loved Barker. He didn't know Lan well, but he doubted he'd let anything happen to Christmas.
"Hi Christmas~" He cooed softly, bending down to view her. He kept his grip tight on Barker, who had noticed Christmas with a jolt and let out a loud squeal of excitement. He leveled his gaze on Lan, nodding to the two pokemon.
"Did you, uh, want me to set Barker down?"
- 149
- #7
"Not yet, I betting he is a bitey little fucker like every totodile I have ever met," Lan replied chipperily as he fished his gloves off his belt and slid them on. The heavy leather was scarred with bits of the reinforced metal plates shining through bite marks. He held his hands out to Wynmond. "If I could hold him for a moment?" Lan asked, relaxed.
"Barker a good name for him. And he is water type yes? Christmas can smack him if he gets rough with her, but I just want to see how he going to react to me first." Christmas should have a major type advantage on him with vine whip if she needed to tell him to stop it.
Christmas gave a low noise of greeting, relaxed as she took in the strange new pokemon She gave a lazy wave to Barker with her vines.
"Barker a good name for him. And he is water type yes? Christmas can smack him if he gets rough with her, but I just want to see how he going to react to me first." Christmas should have a major type advantage on him with vine whip if she needed to tell him to stop it.
Christmas gave a low noise of greeting, relaxed as she took in the strange new pokemon She gave a lazy wave to Barker with her vines.
- 227
- #8
Wynmond snorted and a crooked smile touched his face while he watched Lan. "He's like a vicious toddler, with sharp teeth." Ah, steel- he probably should take notes and do the same. He looked down at Barker, who already had begun flailing against Wynmond's grip once the totodile noticed Lan's stretched hands.
"Be a good boy, Barker." Was that a plea or command? Wynmond wasn't sure, but with Lan's prepared equipment he felt moderately better with Barker meeting another person. He respected the forethought. With great care, he handed the squirming Barker to Lan, lowering his hands once he felt Lan had secured the totodile.
Barker squealed and snapped his jaws once safely deposited, clapping their small hands in absolute bliss as they eyed Lan.
"Diiiiiile!"
And with that, he bit down onto Lan's arm, only to recoil and crone in strangled confusion. His head tilted side to side, eying the leather and patting it experimentally. It was safe to say he was entirely enraptured.
"Where'd you get those?" Wynmond nodded to the gloves and bent down to gently extend his hand for Christmas to sniff. "I didn't expect him to rip through everything within the first hour he was born. Maybe within a week, but."
Barker, meanwhile, had tired himself out with testing bites and slaps, having moved onto gently slapping Lan's face and cooing affectionately.
"Be a good boy, Barker." Was that a plea or command? Wynmond wasn't sure, but with Lan's prepared equipment he felt moderately better with Barker meeting another person. He respected the forethought. With great care, he handed the squirming Barker to Lan, lowering his hands once he felt Lan had secured the totodile.
Barker squealed and snapped his jaws once safely deposited, clapping their small hands in absolute bliss as they eyed Lan.
"Diiiiiile!"
And with that, he bit down onto Lan's arm, only to recoil and crone in strangled confusion. His head tilted side to side, eying the leather and patting it experimentally. It was safe to say he was entirely enraptured.
"Where'd you get those?" Wynmond nodded to the gloves and bent down to gently extend his hand for Christmas to sniff. "I didn't expect him to rip through everything within the first hour he was born. Maybe within a week, but."
Barker, meanwhile, had tired himself out with testing bites and slaps, having moved onto gently slapping Lan's face and cooing affectionately.
- 164
- #9
"These are custom," Lan admitted, watching Barker tire himself out and chuckled as the small pokemon gently tapped his face. "They are pokemon handling gloves, like a pest control officer would have. Basically a mix of leather and kevlar but customized to add in the steel plating for a bit more added protection." Lan wiggled his fingers. "They also work wonders to keep your hands and arms free of cuts and bruises while rock climbing."
"Going to have your hands full trying to teach that out of him. He seems like a good temperament so you might want to work on him realizing that it actually hurts instead of just covering up more. Pokemon can take a lot more then we can." He looked at the little crocodilen pokemon. "People are fragile, yes they are."
Christmas nuzzled into Wynmond's hand, eagerly seeking out scratches. She gave a blissful saurrrr.
"How much of your stuff did he destroy? We didn't really get to bring much."
"Going to have your hands full trying to teach that out of him. He seems like a good temperament so you might want to work on him realizing that it actually hurts instead of just covering up more. Pokemon can take a lot more then we can." He looked at the little crocodilen pokemon. "People are fragile, yes they are."
Christmas nuzzled into Wynmond's hand, eagerly seeking out scratches. She gave a blissful saurrrr.
"How much of your stuff did he destroy? We didn't really get to bring much."
- 179
- #10
Custom. So he could probably badger his dad to make them if he ever actually called home again. Eugh. Parents.
"I know," he murmured and opened his hands to scratch Christmas' head. "I tried the advice of screaming in pain when he bites, but he thinks it's a game. We're still working on it." Lan was right, though. Barker absolutely didn't want to hurt anyone, he just didn't know his own strength.
"He ate my stacks of papers and my stationery." He ruffled the top of Christmas' head and cooed, beckoning for her to come closer as he settled onto his heels. "And my books. I've been getting them shipped, but I mostly brought books, so I had a lot by the time Barker hatched."
Barker had calmed considerably, either tired out by his thrashing or properly entertained and now content to move on. His eyes were locked on Christmas now, hands extending and grabbing in her direction. "Diiile?"
"Yeah? Do you want to meet Christmas?" He looked between Lan and Christmas, head tilting. "Do you think he's ready?"
"I know," he murmured and opened his hands to scratch Christmas' head. "I tried the advice of screaming in pain when he bites, but he thinks it's a game. We're still working on it." Lan was right, though. Barker absolutely didn't want to hurt anyone, he just didn't know his own strength.
"He ate my stacks of papers and my stationery." He ruffled the top of Christmas' head and cooed, beckoning for her to come closer as he settled onto his heels. "And my books. I've been getting them shipped, but I mostly brought books, so I had a lot by the time Barker hatched."
Barker had calmed considerably, either tired out by his thrashing or properly entertained and now content to move on. His eyes were locked on Christmas now, hands extending and grabbing in her direction. "Diiile?"
"Yeah? Do you want to meet Christmas?" He looked between Lan and Christmas, head tilting. "Do you think he's ready?"
- 106
- #11
"Christmas has a type advantage over him, so I think it should be fine." Lan replied, smiling as Christmas butted into Wynmond's hands, eagerly getting petted.
He carefully set the totodile down on the ground, watching him. "Hmm, might work better if you ignore him, just gently push him away till he associates biting with lack of attention."
"Though some sort of heavy chew toy or scratching post or something might help get his energy under control." Lan sat down, smoothing his jeans down as he kept a close eye on the pair.
Christmas gave a interested noise. "Bulba." She said, approaching the water type curious.
He carefully set the totodile down on the ground, watching him. "Hmm, might work better if you ignore him, just gently push him away till he associates biting with lack of attention."
"Though some sort of heavy chew toy or scratching post or something might help get his energy under control." Lan sat down, smoothing his jeans down as he kept a close eye on the pair.
Christmas gave a interested noise. "Bulba." She said, approaching the water type curious.
- 177
- #12
"You're not going to let Barker bully you, are you? Are you?" Wynmond's voice had dropped to the sickly sweet cooing he had displayed in their first meeting, directed right at Christmas.
"That's a good idea," Wynmond admitted, eyes locked still on Christmas as he spoke. His gaze flicked to watch Barker, settling onto the balls of his feet with his hands dragged against the ground, ready to intervene if necessary.
Barker squirmed the moment the process of setting him down had begun, stilling only long enough to steady himself once deposited. "Toto~!" He cried, snapping with intent towards Christmas. His trainer tensed and whistled lowly; a gentle warning for the totodile.
Luckily, it wasn't needed.
Barker scampered towards Christmas, breaking the space between the two. He circled Christmas, tilting his head side to side and emitting soft coos of interest every few seconds. Once thoroughly done with his inspection, Barker stopped in front of Christmas and grinned wide. "Diiiile~!"
To say Wynmond was relieved was an understatement.
"I guess he's nicer to other pokemon. I'm glad."
"That's a good idea," Wynmond admitted, eyes locked still on Christmas as he spoke. His gaze flicked to watch Barker, settling onto the balls of his feet with his hands dragged against the ground, ready to intervene if necessary.
Barker squirmed the moment the process of setting him down had begun, stilling only long enough to steady himself once deposited. "Toto~!" He cried, snapping with intent towards Christmas. His trainer tensed and whistled lowly; a gentle warning for the totodile.
Luckily, it wasn't needed.
Barker scampered towards Christmas, breaking the space between the two. He circled Christmas, tilting his head side to side and emitting soft coos of interest every few seconds. Once thoroughly done with his inspection, Barker stopped in front of Christmas and grinned wide. "Diiiile~!"
To say Wynmond was relieved was an understatement.
"I guess he's nicer to other pokemon. I'm glad."
- 128
- #13
Christmas let Barker approached, vines sliding out just encase she needed them. She followed him, giving a confused bulba as she slowly rotated around in a circle. She gave a chuff noise, relaxing as Barker called to her.
"Bulbasaur," She replied, cheerfully, waddling the few steps between them so she could shove her face against him. She nudged him, waddling away a bit before looking back, giving a playful "Bulba," in invitation.
"Mmhm, I think they are going to be fine. " Lan looked up and motioned Wynmond to join him. "But did you want to do something? Besides just letting them play?" He didnt think that as what they came out for, but now he couldn't remember for sure. He has just held a delightfully bitey baby.
"Bulbasaur," She replied, cheerfully, waddling the few steps between them so she could shove her face against him. She nudged him, waddling away a bit before looking back, giving a playful "Bulba," in invitation.
"Mmhm, I think they are going to be fine. " Lan looked up and motioned Wynmond to join him. "But did you want to do something? Besides just letting them play?" He didnt think that as what they came out for, but now he couldn't remember for sure. He has just held a delightfully bitey baby.
- 147
- #14
"I wanted to see if we can learn anything new today, for research, but..." He doubted they'd be able to successfully pull Barker's attention. The totodile was completely enraptured by Christmas. The invitation was met with a playful growl and measured lunge, flopping right beside the bulbasaur and thumping her side with his tail.
"Barker, buddy," Wynmond called, whistling sharply. The totodile completely ignored his trainer in favor of nudging his new friend. "Yeah, I think he's excited to have a friend. Sorry. I know you wanted to turn in more notes today."
It wasn't just Lan who had wanted to, either. Wynmond had yet to go out on an expedition and was strapped for cash for it. The research was something he could do easily, but he wasn't going to pressure Barker for it, especially not when he seemed absolutely delighted to finally meet another pokemon.
"Barker, buddy," Wynmond called, whistling sharply. The totodile completely ignored his trainer in favor of nudging his new friend. "Yeah, I think he's excited to have a friend. Sorry. I know you wanted to turn in more notes today."
It wasn't just Lan who had wanted to, either. Wynmond had yet to go out on an expedition and was strapped for cash for it. The research was something he could do easily, but he wasn't going to pressure Barker for it, especially not when he seemed absolutely delighted to finally meet another pokemon.
- 151
- #15
"Don't know why these can't be the notes," Lan replied, motioning to the pair as they played. "Bullshit it. The play behaviors of Totodiles or something equally fancy sounding." He peeled off gloves, casually plopping them to the side.
"Might not be what they wanted but I can't imagine them saying no to any sort of research. Specially so early in the exploration." He smiled slightly watching Christmas push her weight fully against the totodile giving a long drawn out 'Saauuuur.'
He hummed pulling out a small sheet of plastic and then started to put random food items on it. "Are you hungry? I raided the cafeteria to grab some stuff to tempt him." Lan paused considering the food assortment of leafy greens, (slightly wilted) fruits (slightly smushed), grains, and the odd nut. "I did not pick well." He shrugged and picked up a a handful, treating it like trail mix.
"Might not be what they wanted but I can't imagine them saying no to any sort of research. Specially so early in the exploration." He smiled slightly watching Christmas push her weight fully against the totodile giving a long drawn out 'Saauuuur.'
He hummed pulling out a small sheet of plastic and then started to put random food items on it. "Are you hungry? I raided the cafeteria to grab some stuff to tempt him." Lan paused considering the food assortment of leafy greens, (slightly wilted) fruits (slightly smushed), grains, and the odd nut. "I did not pick well." He shrugged and picked up a a handful, treating it like trail mix.
- 243
- #16
"I'm pretty good at bullshitting, but thank you for the tip." Hell, he could remember half of his later high school years and the half-awake reports he scrambled out by the skin of his teeth. Somehow he had received excellent grades as a result, but his homeroom teacher had known perfectly well it wasn't "his best effort". Whatever that looked like.
Lan rustled with plastic and it caught Wynmond's attention, his head tilting back to observe the offerings. Barker paused their play long enough to also regard the snacks, only to turn back to Christmas and croon in excitement.
"Sure." While the food wasn't the best quality he wasn't one to care too much, popping a berry into his mouth. The texture was offputting but not enough for Wynmond to particularly mind.
"It's fine for a human, but I don't think a totodile will like these." He tapped the corner of his mouth. "He has the teeth of a predator, so I suspect something meatier, maybe." Christmas probably liked the assorted goodies enough, but Barker had, so far, only shown interest in the meat sticks Wynmond kept trying to toss out whenever the cafeteria handed them to him.
"I requested a package of meat from the enrichment center. I could let you know when I get it, if you'd like." The sound of Barker clapping their hands together caught Wynmond's attention, followed by Barker flopping beside Christmas to lazily bat at her antenna.
Lan rustled with plastic and it caught Wynmond's attention, his head tilting back to observe the offerings. Barker paused their play long enough to also regard the snacks, only to turn back to Christmas and croon in excitement.
"Sure." While the food wasn't the best quality he wasn't one to care too much, popping a berry into his mouth. The texture was offputting but not enough for Wynmond to particularly mind.
"It's fine for a human, but I don't think a totodile will like these." He tapped the corner of his mouth. "He has the teeth of a predator, so I suspect something meatier, maybe." Christmas probably liked the assorted goodies enough, but Barker had, so far, only shown interest in the meat sticks Wynmond kept trying to toss out whenever the cafeteria handed them to him.
"I requested a package of meat from the enrichment center. I could let you know when I get it, if you'd like." The sound of Barker clapping their hands together caught Wynmond's attention, followed by Barker flopping beside Christmas to lazily bat at her antenna.
- 88
- #17
"I should have thought of the enrichment center." Lan hadn't even considered it. "I raided the kitchen when I was trying to figure out what Christmas liked, so it just sounded like a good idea even if all they had was sad stuff."
Christmas gave Barker a gentle smack with her antenna, pulling away from the totodile as he bapped at her antenna. They were sensitive. Nope. "Bulba, bulba saurr!" She grumbled.
"You know, I wouldn't have taken you as a bullshitter, you look so straight and narrow."
Christmas gave Barker a gentle smack with her antenna, pulling away from the totodile as he bapped at her antenna. They were sensitive. Nope. "Bulba, bulba saurr!" She grumbled.
"You know, I wouldn't have taken you as a bullshitter, you look so straight and narrow."
- 185
- #18
Wynmond watched the two at play, hand resting on his chin. His gaze flicked towards Lan briefly.
"That's how I got away with it," he answered. When you looked like a nerd, sounded like a nerd, and generally are a nerd people tend to just trust what you have to say. He shrugged absently and stole another berry.
Barker winced and held the spot he was slapped, rolling upright and glancing at his trainer for a moment, tears in his eyes. Wynmond shook his head and gestured back to Christmas, mouthing the word 'apologize'. While it was clear the pokemon had absolutely no clue what his trainer was saying, the general jist of it must have translated across, as Barker turned, grabbed a flower, and tried to hand it to Christmas.
"Cute," Wynmond murmured, scuffing softly. Even if they got no research notes the interaction was good for both the pokemon. Eventually, though, Wynmond would need to take Barker outside the walls -- face a pokemon that wasn't as friendly as Christmas. That thought unnerved him still.
"Have you two ventured outside the town yet?"
"That's how I got away with it," he answered. When you looked like a nerd, sounded like a nerd, and generally are a nerd people tend to just trust what you have to say. He shrugged absently and stole another berry.
Barker winced and held the spot he was slapped, rolling upright and glancing at his trainer for a moment, tears in his eyes. Wynmond shook his head and gestured back to Christmas, mouthing the word 'apologize'. While it was clear the pokemon had absolutely no clue what his trainer was saying, the general jist of it must have translated across, as Barker turned, grabbed a flower, and tried to hand it to Christmas.
"Cute," Wynmond murmured, scuffing softly. Even if they got no research notes the interaction was good for both the pokemon. Eventually, though, Wynmond would need to take Barker outside the walls -- face a pokemon that wasn't as friendly as Christmas. That thought unnerved him still.
"Have you two ventured outside the town yet?"
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- 103
- #19
"That is adorable," Lan drawled, relaxing more as he watched the two interact. Barker was a very, very sweet baby. "He is a good boy." He added, watching Christmas give a confused noise but moved to inspect the flower.
Christmas lipped at the petals and pulled it close, nibbling on it slowly. Her vines relaxed pulling back into her bulb as she ate her presented gift. She gave a pleasant little humming noise, swaying slightly back and forth.
"Yeah, quiet a few times. It sort of what I got hired in for." Lan nodded to Christmas. "She been doing really well out there."
Christmas lipped at the petals and pulled it close, nibbling on it slowly. Her vines relaxed pulling back into her bulb as she ate her presented gift. She gave a pleasant little humming noise, swaying slightly back and forth.
"Yeah, quiet a few times. It sort of what I got hired in for." Lan nodded to Christmas. "She been doing really well out there."