1-800-ARE-YOU-SLAPPIN

For every “⏳” I receive, my muse will openly talk about a bit of their backstory.

“The closest I ever came to dying was that day in the spring, with the Wailord incident. It’s cliche, but it really did all happen so fast. I was there, swimming like any other day, and I’d passed my first marker rock.”

“Swimming in the ocean is entirely different to being in a pool and I don’t think people realise it so much. In the ocean the very water surrounding you is alive - you’re one little speck in a huge melting pot teeming with life - and as you swim, and move through that huge shared space, you feel so free. You don’t have to stray far from the shore, but the further you go, the more you liberate yourself. Nothing matters out there, not bills, not drama, not work… There’s not a single thing to worry yourself with. Well, there is, you don’t want to drown of course, but we’re talking material worries right now, and out in the ocean none of them come with you.”

“Material worries had been weighing heavy on my mind that day, so that’s the main reason that I went out. It was early in the morning, so the bay was quiet,  but there were still people about. Fellow vagabonds in the mental journey towards peace. I got into my stride and I was going well and strong. Pretty quickly I’d forgotten what I was so taken up with and all I was focused on was the water and how soothing it felt splashing against my face below that gorgeous Unovan sun.”

“I felt the Wailord coming before I saw it. It was uncommon, though not rare to see the giants in the bay, but whenever they did appear from the depths it was gentle and careful - as if the Pokemon themselves were aware of their tremendous size and didn’t want to disturb the peace. This time was not gentle.”

“It was like a volcano at the very bottom of the ocean had erupted, but an eruption of ice rather than lava. Very cold water - water that had never felt the sun’s warmth - was creeping up towards the surface like the ancient touch of a waking titan from the planet’s core. The displacement of water foretold the arrival of something big, and that something big was the feral Wailord.”

“The creature burst free from the waves and into the air, lifting with it a tidal ring that quickly came thundering down. It felt like a volley of stones on my head - and body, at that. I was shoved underwater hard and fast, given no chance to take a breath, and left with no clue which way was up and which was down. I would have panicked if given the chance. The Wailord had come down as quickly as it had come up, again displacing a large amount of water. Again I was tossed like a rag-doll, carried upwards on a wave and further out, quickly and painfully deposited in the water. This time, though, my landing spot was worse.”

“It felt like my head split right open when I hit the rocks. All I can remember is a searing pain in my head, and a dull pain everywhere else. I don’t think I want to remember the rest, if I’m honest, but I did feel a melancholy calm wash over me - if this was how painful life was, even though it was a moment in a lifetime, i didn’t want to be alive. I invited the waves to take me, though I guess looking back I really didn’t have much of a choice, being that I was too stunned to move. It all went black around about then.”

“Sigurd - my Sealeo - saved me that day. I only found out about that after I came out of the hospital. One of my neighbours told me how in the drama of the whole event she noticed a Sealeo yapping madly at anyone who would pass near. She got curious, and wandered closer to see me lay there on the sand, unconscious. I felt like I had a huge debt to repay, the only thing is that it was a weird one. If it had been a person I could have tracked them down and given them a gift, some money, a card, and be on my way. A wild Pokemon would have no need for any of that.”

“It didn’t take me long actually, to track down Sigurd. Part of me thinks - well, I know now, but at the time I didn’t - that he was worried about whether I made it or not, and was on the lookout for me. I was only strolling along the shore when a yapping Sealeo looking happier than usual came rushing out of the ocean and, well, tackled me, and gave me some friendly licks. Sure, Sigurd saved my life that day, but I think he saved a little more than that. He gave me a chance at a genuine friendship, no money or etiquette needed, just warm company and love.”

Kiwi was sitting near the shore in full uniform. She didn't know if it was a smart idea or not but she didn't care too much, her focus was on a Wailmer in the water. She was checking them over for injuries. “Okay, I think that about does it, be more careful you goof!” She gently pet the Pokemon.

“I thought you Magmas only cared about life on the land.” Blake called out to the girl crouched a small way away, in a tone that was both inquisitive and mocking. The stark red uniform had stuck out from a mile away, but before dashing right over to start a fight he had decided to at least see what they were up to. He had observed her checking over the Wailmer for injuries, which at first had struck him as though she had been the culprit, but after seeing her gentle handling he pieced together that what she was doing was innocent, or at least had the facade of innocence.

//Sooooo according to my post history the last time I was active here was in July and I probably should have explained things a little sooner but life is a rollercoaster right now (has been since summer) and it isn’t letting me off anytime soon...

tagging:

For every “⏳” I receive, my muse will openly talk about a bit of their backstory. [Accepting]

“The last time I saw her was in March. We’d gone to some stupid party for my mother at PokeStar Studios - some award she’d won in costume design working on a hit movie - and… well, all I can say is that she was really special. I’d always known it, but seeing her when I picked her up earlier that day was when it hit me for real. I didn’t take note of her incredible beauty that time. Don’t get me wrong, she was gorgeous. Her flowing red hair, her striking blue eyes, her soft lips and those damn freckles, man. Of course I was attracted to her, but when I picked her up that day I realised it wasn’t just a physical level. I was enamoured with who she was. She was real.”

“I can’t remember feeling the same about anyone else, honestly. And I don’t know if I ever will. What we made together was just pure bliss. She didn’t have to be rich or educated, because she was rich in character and she had the sharpest wit I’d ever known. You might find that funny, that I didn’t realise how I liked her as a person until so late, but I was just as plastic as the rest of them. All I had to be was athletic, handsome, and a worthy ‘heir’ for my parents… I really don’t know what she saw in me originally. Was it pity? Did she see some vulnerability, or a chip in my armour? I wouldn’t be surprised. She was empathetic and charitable and caring like no other. Even though she had naught to give, even though she had no one to care for her, and even though I couldn’t relate to her life.”

“That’s why my mother pulled her aside at the party, basically. We were from two different worlds. I was the one with the silver spoon in my mouth, and she was the one who went days without eating at times, even as a child. That wasn’t her father’s fault. He worked his hardest, while mine didn’t work at all.”

“She probably thought my mother was going to say something reassuring. Something like, ‘I’m honoured to have you in this family. You make Blake so happy, and I only hope that he makes you happy too.’ That would have been the truth. No, instead my mother said the opposite. ‘You’re a glorified prostitute. A whore. You think I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’ve known women like you my entire life. You’re a street rat trying to leech off my son and his wealth, and I won’t have it any longer.’ My mother said it so callously, but so calmly that I don’t think she knew how to respond. But my mother wasn’t finished. ‘You may think that Blake loves you, but I know my son. He’s just one wink away from the next girl. If you want to think that when he looks at you, he doesn’t just see a number out of ten, then I don’t blame you, but you ought to know the truth. I was sick of seeing that ridiculous fish-out-of water look you have whenever you attend any of these events with him.’ She caught my eye from across the room after this, and immediately stormed out of the venue in tears. All I had to do was see my mother smiling proudly to know what had happened.”

“Outside, I managed to find her overlooking the river. ‘Whatever she told you, it isn’t true.’ I said. She wouldn’t look at me, but I heard her sniffling. We just stood there for awhile. I should have done something, anything, but I didn’t. This wasn’t fake or manufactured, her feelings were real, as were mine, and I was just criminally inexperienced. I didn’t hug her, I didn’t go and argue with my mother, I didn’t even say that we should just go and be somewhere else… but she did. ‘I’m going to leave before it’s ruined,’ she said, finally, ‘goodbye Blake.’”

1ST RULE: tag 10 muses you would like to know better:

2ND RULE: BOLD the statements that are true for your muse.

APPEARANCE:

I am 6'00" or taller

I wear glasses

I have at least one tattoo

I have at least one piercing

I have blonde hair

I have brown eyes

I have short hair

My abs are at least somewhat defined

I have or have had braces

PERSONALITY:

I love meeting new people

People tell me that I’m funny

Helping others with their problems is a big priority for me

I enjoy physical challenges

I enjoy mental challenges

I’m playfully rude with people

I started saying something ironically and now I can’t stop saying it

There is something I would change about my personality

ABILITY:

I can sing well

I can play an instrument

I can do over 30 pushups without stopping

I’m a fast runner

I can draw well

I have a good memory

I’m good at doing math in my head

I can hold my breath underwater for over a minute

I have beaten at least 2 people in arm wrestling

I know how to cook at least 3 meals from scratch

I know how to throw a proper punch

HOBBIES:

I enjoy playing sports

I’m on a sports team at my school or somewhere else

I’m in an orchestra or choir at my school or somewhere else

I have learned a new song in the past week

I work out at least once a week

I’ve gone for runs at least once a week in the warmer months

I have drawn something in the past month

I enjoy writing

FANDOMS ARE MY #1 PASSION

I do or have done martial arts

EXPERIENCES:

I have had my first kiss

I have had alcohol

I have scored the winning goal in a sports game

I have watched an entire season of a TV show in one sitting

I have been at an overnight event

I have been in a taxi

I have been in the hospital or ER in the past year

I have beaten a video game in one day

I have visited another country ( region )

I have been to one of my favorite band’s concerts

RELATIONSHIPS:

I’m in a relationship

I have ( had ) a crush on a celebrity

I have ( had ) a crush on someone I know

I have been in at least 3 relationships

I have never been in a relationship

I have asked someone out or admitted my feelings to them

I get crushes easily

I have had a crush on someone for over a year

I have been in a relationship for at least a year

I have had feelings for a friend

MY LIFE:

I have at least one person I consider a “best friend”

I live close to my school

My parents are still together

I have at least one sibling

I (used to) live in the united states Unova

There is snow right now where I live

I have hung out with a friend in the past month

I have a smartphone

I have at least 15 CDs

I share my room with someone

RANDOM SHIT:

I have breakdanced

I know a person named Jamie

I have had a teacher with a last name that’s hard to pronounce

I have dyed my hair

I’m listening to one song on repeat right now

I have punched someone in the past week

I know someone who has gone to jail

I have broken a bone

I have eaten a waffle today

I know what I want to do with my life

I speak at least 2 languages

(copy/pasted from ask)

“Of course - but nothing was ever proven.” Vivian spluttered, taken off guard. Only moments ago she had been peacefully completing paperwork when a grunt came charging in demanding to be sent on a mission. The man was seemingly outraged by the supposed harm being done to pokemon around Rustboro city. Rumours had been flying about supposed, organised attacks in the area after numerous pokemon were brought to nearby centres severely injured. According to reports, Aqua had sent a team to investigate due to suspected Magma involvement but nothing came of the investigation.

“I understand your desire to find out if the rumours are true and that, if they are, you want to protect those pokemon. However, authorising that kind of mission… I’m not sure it’s within my jurisdiction.” Unable to make eye contact, Vivian kept her eyes firmly on the desk. She sympathised with his worries but taking action on the matter would mean having to act out with the Aqua name. Of course, he could go without it being authorised but something like that would have serious repercussions if the higher ups found out.

Moving her hand to start searching through the grunt profiles pictures she’d pulled up when he entered her office, Vivian tried to work up the courage to look away from the desk. Talking to someone new was bad enough let alone telling them “no” when they seemed so passionate about what they were asking. Whatever his reasons she couldn’t risk her new position over it.

Finally, she caught sight of the profile she was looking for.

“I sympathise, I really do, but,” Vivian started, finally gathering enough courage to make eye contact, “if you want to keep your nose clean I’d recommend just forgetting any rumour you’ve heard, Grunt…” Vivian paused slightly as her eyes flickered to the profile on the screen beside her, “Blake.”

Blake huffed. He had thought this Vivian was someone he’d be able to go to for support with this issue, but as was evident with her by-the-book response, she was not. He folded his arms and leaned against the door, so it would be obvious that he wasn’t going to leave that easily, with nothing said.

“I thought we were supposed to be about protecting Pokemon from people?”

Blake had already appealed to the other higher-ups last week about what now seemed a completely trivial matter. Of course, now that he actually had something important to bring attention to, he couldn’t. Vivian wasn’t his last hope, but had she agreed to help it would mean Blake had the resources of Aqua behind his investigation, as well as not just himself.

He made sure to stare back hard when she finally made eye contact. If she was just going to say no, he wanted to at least make it difficult. “You’re really gonna turn me down? Even if you don’t care about the Pokemon, surely a good mystery is enticing enough?” He gave her a slight lillipup-eyed look.

@aquagruntblake

“PARDON!” Kegan shouts as races passed a young couple riding together. Mama would’ve had tanned her hide if she ever forgot her manners, not even mindin’ that her daughter was fighting for control of a lemon bicycle during her slip up. She had known this morning when she took the last of her savings up to Rydel’s Cycles that the bike she had gotten hadn’t been the best. It had been an older, used model that had sat in the store so long the nice sales clerk had given her a discount just for finally taken it off their hands.

She should’ve known that something was gonna be wrong with this stupid thing, Daddy always said if something was discounted it was for a reason, but she hadn’t had a bike since she’d left home. All she’d wanted was to feel the wind in her hair like she had when she used to race Trevor into town. Now she was racing down the largest hill on Hoenn’s Cycling Road at a break-neck speed, with brakes that were so slack that a newly hatched Magikarp could’ve put up more of a fight. She couldn’t even stop the bike herself since she had taken her shoes off and put them in her pack as soon as she left the store. That and the pedals had already taken a chunk out of her shin when she tried.

Tense with fear, it took Kegan a moment to see the next obstacle that was coming at her: A cute guy who hadn’t noticed that she was a bike wreck waiting to happen. The worst part? She was heading right for him!

“LOOK OUT!” 

The intense Hoenn heat had made Blake skeptical of adding cycling to his workout routine at first. But he had to put that Rydel bike to some better use than blocking his front door from opening fully, and so it was with reluctance first, and relief later in the cooling breeze that he decided today he would try cycling - though perhaps for the last time.

As expected, it was hot. He wasn’t too sure about Hoenn, but at least back home cycling shirtless wasn’t a big deal. Surely the custom in Hoenn couldn’t be that different? He had set off from Slateport with only a bottle of water and Sigurd’s Poke Ball in his backpack and was making good progress even onto Cycling Road itself. Quite a few regions had these, though not Unova. There didn’t seem to be any indication for the direction of traffic, so Blake was just letting loose and overtaking whenever he could. There came a problem though when an unexpected obstacle was suddenly oncoming. There was no time to react, and nowhere to turn, except for to the side, where Blake’s bike hit the wall and deposited its rider over it.

Before the splash came an “OH SHIT!”, but there was at least a splash, and not a thud.

He gave a little laugh, though a light blush found its way to his cheeks. “W-well, I don’t really battle often so it’s hard to say really.. But thanks man.” The last serious battle he remembered was his battle with Lorenz and.. he was incredibly proud of how he’d done with it. Made him feel like he wasn’t a complete failure.

He gives a nod. “Sure, jus’ lemme know when you’re available for it an’ I’ll try to get that day off.” He gives a firm nod. “Yeah! She lives in Lavaridge an’ goes up Mt. Chimney to hand ‘em out to weary travelers and their pokemon. M’ kinda honored I got the chance to meet her though she’s very humble ‘bout it. Used to do odd jobs for her an’ other people in Lavaridge so she knows me pretty well too.” He grinned. “A sealeo huh? Then I hope he really enjoys ‘em!”

Adrian seemed like a really nice guy. Blake had a lot of time for kind people, and the mention of how he helped out the folks of Lavaridge brought a warmth to his chest. Since moving to Hoenn, he’d seen a plethora of kind acts that he wouldn’t have ever seen in Unova. This place really seemed like paradise. “So do you do some sort of freelance work? Or not anymore?”

It would be interesting to note what someone his age actually did in Hoenn - he hadn’t met many others who weren't simply trainers or students. Of course, he didn’t plan on leaving Aqua any time soon, but a cover would be a smart idea, should he ever need the alibi.

When the other finally recalled his name, Lorenz just gave him a quick nod as a sign that he got the name right. Took him long enough, but now they could finally move on to the actual reason of his late night visit… Seemed his colleague took some little ones into his home. That explained the noises he mistook for screeching.

“Y’feed them to your Poochyena.” That was the only advice he wanted to give Blake at the moment, though he was quick to add in case his humor wasn’t to the other’s taste: “Kidding. Anyway, they’re still wild so you can’t just put ‘em in their Poke Ball to shut them up, right? You already fed them? Made sure they’re warm? Turned off anything that makes noise in your flat?”

If you want to get something done, you gotta do it yourself. The Aqua yawned as he pushed his colleague out of the way and entered the apartment with only so much as a quickly mumbled “Pardon the intrusion”. Blake didn’t look like the brightest apple of the bunch, none of his fellow grunts did, so Lorenz was sure what little he had of experience as a trainer would serve in fixing that chirping problem better than whatever the other tried so far.

“Why did you bring them into your house anyway? If they’re missing their Ma, you should just bring them back where you found them… Or just capture them already. Where are they?“

It was suddenly, very evidently clear to Blake, that he was out of his depth. Why did he bring a squabble of crying Wingull home anyway? He closed the door behind Lorenz and folded his arms defensively.

“I dunno man... They were just so cute... and after I stroked them a little they started following me, then there were some mean lookin’ Electrike nearby so I assumed the worst was gonna happen. Just now they won’t shut up...”

He directed Lorenz to behind the kitchen counter where, as promised, there were five sea birds snuggled into a cushion of blankets. Blake wondered if the grunt had a Wingull or Pelipper of his own. Sure, Blake knew the ins and outs of taking care of Water-types, but Flying-types were something else entirely - and he was the one obsessed with someday owning a Braviary. Maybe the thought of taking care of a dozen baby Flying-types made him feel closer to his goal of that Braviary.