farawayplace | Purfect Catastrophe!

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pc: lillie (timidlyblooming)

Purfect Catastrophe!

If anyone happens to be passing by the library, a very distraught Snowy—Lillie’s Alolan Vulpix—might bark at them, pleadingly, and try to point them in the way of the library, where Lillie works, most often reading to younger children.

The library might be in a state of only somewhat-controlled chaos: it seemed a wild Pokemon had found the quiet (well, it had been quiet up until now….) library a very suitable place to hide her children. Unfortunately, said children happened to be Coinpur, which dashed around, furry and fleet-footed, causing quite the commotion, before they quickly tired themselves out, and promptly went to sleep wherever they found themselves, with no regard to danger…

A - Stranded
Lillie had made a brave effort to climb to retrieve one particularly precariously napping Coinpurr who had chosen a very high shelf to sleep in, but in her attempt to reach it, she couldn’t quite manage on the stairs, which clattered away from her, leaving her hanging off a shelf! The Coinpur continued to dream, stretching languidly, before curling up tight.

B - Roar
A bunch of kindergarteners can be heard inconsolably crying or, conversely, competing in spinning increasinglyfrightening (if very creative) stories about a monster living in the book returns chure. None of them are tall enough to actually peek at what’s inside, of course, so all of the terrible stories seem equally impossible to prove right or wrong. Some particularly rambunctious children attempt to roll up thinner books or magazines to try and reach up and swat at the roaring beast, but all it is, really, is the echoing purrs of a sleeping Coinpur in the metallic, tinny-sounding chute.

C -~~Type:~~ Wildcard
Where else can Coinpur be found? Could you ever hope to catch them all? There are sleeping kittens on the roof (doesn’t anyone have a Flying type?), kittens in people’s bags, kittens in flyers tangled up like hammocks…

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Lillie sighed in relief at being on her own two feet again. Straightening out her skirt, she then bowed deeply in gratitude.

"Thank you for saving me!"

It looked like a bad fall to her, but any fall on hard floor or ground seemed like a bad fall to her!

At his question, Lillie nodded. "Yes, that little one's sleeping there and it could fall and be badly hurt!

Volo returned the bow for the sake of politeness. "No need to thank me! I'm glad I was passing by just at the right time! Now..."

After taking another glance at the Coinpur, Volo decided to pick up the stepladder. He might not have needed it, technically...but it would help him to see better. He didn't just want to reach up and blindly grab the poor creature!

Once the steps were in place, Volo only went up a couple. Then he paused, resting his hand on the shelf close to the Coinpur, feeling reluctant to disturb it.

"It looks so happy, but I do see your point. We don't want it rolling off the shelf in its sleep!"

Moving as gently as he could, Volo tried to scoop the sleeping Pokémon into his arms, hoping he could just cradle it like a baby and bring it down without any fuss. Maybe it would be that easy, since the Pokémon here seemed so much more docile than the ones in Hisui, but he was prepared for something to go wrong!

"I'm sure it is... but it's still no place for them a nap."

The Coinpur was so docile, it simply curled tighter, purring even more loudly, comfortable and happy in Volo's arms. It didn't seem remotely bothered or wary, never mind aggressive!

Lillie smiled appreciatively and in relief at Volo bringing the little one down.

"Thank you so much, sir...!"

"My pleasure! This one's very charming, I must say..."

It had been a very long time since any of Volo's own Pokémon had been this small, and apart from Togepi, none of them had really liked to be held like this. He seemed to be lost in the moment, until he finally remembered that this Pokémon wasn't his!

Since he didn't want to look like he was stealing the Coinpur, he held it out slightly, towards Lillie.

"Sorry, is this one yours?"

She smiled brightly, then shook her head. "Oh, no! It's wild. If you both like each other... I'm sure its mother would let it go to a good home, but you can wait to meet her and be sure."

The sleepy Coinpur yawned and lifted its head up, acknowledging Volo with its sleepy little eyes. It purred contentedly, its tightly-curled tail flicking.

"I'm just trying to gather them, since they've gotten into so much trouble all over the library..."

"Oh! Yes, perhaps...?"

Volo's expression brightened, and he looked back at the Coinpur in his arms, this time with even more emotion behind his eyes. He wouldn't get his hopes up - he'd try not to... - just in case the mother wasn't ready to let this one go.

Volo wasn't familiar with this species of Pokémon, and he wasn't looking for another battler to add to his team...but this little incident had made him feel like a bit of a hero. That was something Volo had always secretly wanted, on some level. Not the most important thing in life, to be sure, but it was nice.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if this Coinpur could join him, as another companion, so he would never forget this day?

But for now, it seemed, there was still more to be done. Volo put on a more serious face and nodded.

"I'm happy to help in whatever way I can, miss. As you can see, I can reach high places! And anywhere I can't reach, my Togekiss and Garchomp can surely get there!" After a brief pause, imagining his Garchomp trying to scoop up a Coinpur with scythes or claws, Volo shook his head. "Maybe just Togekiss."

"Thank you!" Lillie said happily. "I think we've gotten most of them, the one on the shelf, the one that was on that boy, the other one that was on a shelf, there were also... oh! I think I heard some voices that sound a little muffled... but I couldn't tell where they were! Maybe you'd be able to see them."

As Lillie walked, her Alolan Vulpix, Snowy, chased after her.

"Snowy, could you please find the little ones we heard before? Their voices were muffled and it was hard to tell where they'd gotten to!"

Snowy nodded and, with perked, twitching ears, stalked the sounds as a wild Vulpix might pursue prey... she arrived at some very tall cloth flyers that had gotten twisted around.

The muffled sound seemed to come from within them.

"... I wonder where they are? Do you think they're inside? Can you untangle them without them falling out?"

The very top is too high up and too wide for Lillie to maneuver alone!

Volo realised that Snowy must have been the Alolan Vulpix he'd passed on the way in. Maybe she'd been out there looking for more of these lost Pokémon...?

Volo followed them both, still cradling the sleepy Coinpur. It was small enough that he could support it just on one arm, and once they got to the banners, he raised his other hand to scratch his head.

"Ah...! How in the world did they get in there, I wonder...? Hmm, if we try to untangle them from the bottom, they might fall out, and that's a fair distance to fall! I can't quite reach the top, but I could with one of those small ladders. And then, what if I got my Togekiss to grab onto the other side, and we could both bring it down gently? That would leave you free to stay on the ground and be a Coinpur catcher, if something should go wrong. What do you think?"

After her recent escapade on the shelves, Volo thought that Lillie might not want to be climbing any stepladders so soon!

No, sir, she would not! No more ladders if it can be at all avoided.

"Yes!" Lillie agreed, hands balled up in determination.

Snowy barked in agreement, waving her tails excitedly. She was prepared to help catch them too, if needed!

Volo hunted around the nearby shelves for a spare stepladder. He wasn't sure how he'd manage it, with the Coinpur in his arms, but the ladder he found was light and had small wheels attached to the bottom. Such a useful idea!

"Ah, what about this little one...?" When he got back, wheeling the ladder beside him, Volo nodded down at "his" Coinpur. "If I ask you to hold it, then you won't be able to catch any of the others..."

While he was figuring that out, Volo reached into his satchel with his free hand. After a bit of digging around, he pulled out Togekiss' Poké Ball and threw it straight up into the air.

The bird-like Pokémon emerged above him, circling and chirping joyfully - first at the sight of her trainer, and then at the new Pokémon in his arms. She had to gently lower herself to take a sniff, though she was careful not to get too close and wake the Coinpur.

Volo gestured for Togekiss to turn around and greet Lillie. "Miss Togekiss, this young lady is...?"

In all the panic, it seemed they had skipped polite introductions. Maybe now still wasn't the best time, but Volo didn't want to be rude!

"My name is Lillie, please forgive my rudeness," Lillie said politely, with a bow that was almost like a curtsey.

Snowy the Alolan Vulpix gave a fox-like bark, "Kon-kon!"

"And this is Snowy."

Snowy barked a few more times, looking back over her shoulder, waving her tail eagerly, as she turned to offer her side.

"She says she can carry the Coinpur for you, mister...?"

"Nothing to forgive, Miss Lillie! I can see you have your hands full. My name is Volo. At your service." He quickly returned her bow, then turned his attention to her Vulpix. "Thank you, Snowy! That's very helpful of you! I think it's still feeling sleepy, so hopefully it won't be trying to run off anywhere..."

The Coinpur gave a quiet mew of protest as Volo laid it upon Snowy's back, but it quickly dozed off again, its paws gently kneading Snowy's fur. That was probably more comfortable than being held by a human!

With his hands now free, Volo wiped his palms on his clothes and started up the ladder. Once he was high enough to reach the top of the banner, he nodded towards the other end.

"Miss Togekiss, if you please...we need to bring it down slowly, and take care not to shake it, as we think there's another little creature sleeping inside."

Togekiss perched upon the flyer, taking hold of it with her feet. Moving together, trainer and Pokémon lifted the flyer free from its hooks, and then began to lower it towards the ground. Volo tried to keep things as smooth as possible, though his movements were a little jerkier on account of being on a ladder that he had to descend one step at a time, rather than on wings. But the Coinpur should have been safe, since it was tightly bundled up, unless it decided to suddenly wake up and start moving!

Snowy's a bit surprised by the kneading, unused to the gesture (she was raised alone, not with a litter mate, and was initially rather aloof towards other Pokemon...), but after the initial surprise and confusion, found it pleasant. She raised her six tails and gently lowered them, to drape over the Coinpur, almost like a blanket.

Fortunately, the sleeping Coinpur hardly shifted and only just started to wake as it was lowered, but did not bolt away or make any other sudden moves!

"That's great," Lillie said, feeling relieved.

Soon the banner comes to a gentle rest upon the ground, with the Coinpur still safely tucked away inside it, no longer in any danger of falling.

Once his hands are free and he's off the ladder, Volo holds out his arm for Togekiss to perch on. He retrieves a berry from his pocket - he usually carries a bag of them, it's an old habit - and gives a couple to Togekiss as thanks.

"'Teamwork makes the dream work'. I heard somebody say that recently and I thought it was clever. And true!" Volo turns to Lillie with a triumphant smile. "Are there any others that we might need to reach?"

Lillie giggled a bit at the phrase, it sounded a bit corny, like one of the principal's jokes... well, if it had involved a Pokemon pun, it might've sounded even more like him!

"Fortunately, that was the last one," Lillie said happily as she picked up the last Coinpur.

Just as she was about to bring it to its litter mates, a Persian came in, meowing. The other Coinpur could be heard mewling.

"Oh, that must be the parent!"

"That's grand! Well done, Miss Lillie!"

Just as Volo was about to comment on what hard work it must have been to find them all, the Persian began to approach and caught his eye, causing him to gasp.

"What a majestic Pokémon...!"

He gave a broad smile, though it was quickly dampened when he realised that perhaps it would want to gather up all of its lost Coinpur. That would have been very understandable, Volo thought. They were its babies! He would be sad to say goodbye to the one he'd carried, but such was life, sometimes. For a bit of comfort, Volo inclined his head towards Togekiss as she hovered close to his shoulder.

"I should love to keep that little Coinpur," he mused aloud, "but this kind of Pokémon is new to me. I'm not the one to judge when it's their time to leave the nest, so to speak. And I know how it is, to be sent out into the world before one is ready. So...I shall leave it up to them!"

"Mr. Volo...?"

That sounded so sad, even if Lillie did not know much about it.

The little Coinpur stirred and responded to its parent's call, preparing to leap down, so Snowy lowered her body and her tail to the floor to allow a smoother and safer route down. The Persian nuzzled the Coinpur, joined by the Coinpur from the banner.

The Persian regarded Volo and Lillie with a piercing gaze, studying them, although its gaze softened at volo's words.

Suddenly, the Coinpur Volo had found first mewed. The Persian looked surprised. Some sort of conversation carried on between them for some time, then... the Persian nuzzled the Coinpur, and both came closer.

Appreciative nuzzles from the Persian to both Lillie and Volo, as if thanking them, then, the Coinpur clung to Volo's leg with its forepaws, mewing up at him. It wanted to stay with him!

The Persian drew back to sit and watch sadly on, tears welling in its eyes.

"Oh, dear..."

Volo began to blink rapidly, trying to stop himself from tearing up, but it wasn't much use. He wiped his eyes with the sides of his hands.

"I feel rotten, separating a parent from its child, but..." He reached down to softly pick up the Coinpur and nestled it in his arms. "I promise I will take good care of your baby, if you'll let me. I have raised six Pokémon already. You can see one of them right here. She's healthy, and happy, and..."

Togekiss came to land on the floor, a short distance away from the Persian, and turned around on the spot as though showing off her feathers. As she did so, she cooed and trilled softly.

'Volo can be strange, and he's often lost. But he has a big heart. No matter how lost he gets, his Pokémon are very important to him. He holds us all close.'

In the meantime, Volo continued to talk, not realising he was being talked about. He sank down into a squat, so that he and the Coinpur were closer to Persian's level.

"...and I will be coming to this library a lot, I'm sure. So, if you live in this area, perhaps this won't be the last time we meet! I could even bring this little one to see you..."

He had to stop there before he got even more upset, thinking about how he'd never seen his family again once he was sent away from home, and how this Persian looked more upset than his own mother had...but, then, maybe he was the perfect person to take this Coinpur, since he didn't take it lightly.

Persian listened to Togekiss' words, but kept its head down for a little longer, only briefly looking out of the corner of its eye at the spread wings, ear pricking at the rustling of feathers. It finally raised its head when Volo spoke again, its eyes brighter then, comforted and rejuvinated with the possibility of reunion!

It smiled again and rushed to nuzzle Volo's leg and call out to its child once more, 'Goodbye, take care, I love you, and I'll see you soon... be safe, be strong.'

The Coinpur looked happy in Volo's arms. 'Goodbye! I love you too and I'll do my best to get stronger and stronger! Volo will be a nice and kind master, I'm sure.' The Coinpur licked at Volo's hands affectionately.

Lillie hesitatingly tried to gently pat Volo's back, since he looked so affected.

"I'm so...happy...that things will be different...for you..."

Volo seemed to be talking to the Coinpur in his arms. In response to Lillie's hand on his back, he sniffed and smiled, trying to pull himself together. Nobody wanted to see a grown man crying like a little child, did they?

"Oh, Miss Lillie! Thank you. I'm sorry for being such an embarrassment! It just reminded me of...anyway, I assume all is well now? All the Coinpur are found and safe? Are you quite well, after all of that?"

"You are not an embarrassment, not at all!" Lillie said, very firmly, with an spark of anger that surprised even her. "... this is..."

It was healing for Volo, wasn't it? That he could give Coinpur a gentler send-off from his parent than he had had.

"... y-yes, they've all been found and it seems Persian had seen them, then come to find the last two. I am well too, of course, but... Mr. Volo, if you were sent out too early... then, I'm sure, you'll make sure Coinpur has all the support it needs! Maybe... in helping Coinpur, you'll feel better about what had happened too, even if we can't change the past, we can change the present and future. And, um, if any of it is difficult or confusing, I'm sure the Persian, your Pokemon, and even other trainers in Ultern can help you with things you might not know because you didn't learn them..."

"I, um, didn't lose my mother, not exactly—" Lillie fiddled nervously with her braid. "But, I did lose my father as a baby, he went missing for a long, long time, and my mother became very... very obsessed with work, so she spent less and less time with me, overtime... I forgot a lot of things I learned only halfway, so, compared to my classmates, I... I am a little behind. But, that doesn't mean I can't still learn!"

Now, she sounded more determined and insistent.

"And so can you!"

Volo had thought he was being subtler than he was; it was a pattern that he hadn't yet picked up on, even though it had probably been part of his undoing in Hisui. But, in this case, he was glad to have been seen and heard, even if it hurt. He rose to his feet and listened with a thoughtful frown.

"Thank you, Miss Lillie. I think you're quite right. The past is fascinating, in general terms, but I try not to dwell on my own too much. But now and again, things happen. Unexpected reminders, such as this..."

He nodded at the Coinpur in his arms, then leaned down slightly to kiss the top of its head. The pause gave him a moment to think about what Lillie had said about her own situation.

"Miss Lillie...when I was a child, I had to learn on my own. Oh, I was lucky enough to have a tutor, but there was no school. It was lonely - my mother didn't have much time for me, either - but it meant that I never compared myself to anyone. I don't believe there is any such thing as being behind. We all learn and grow at our own paces, no? And I'm sure that your experiences have taught you things that your classmates haven't yet learned. Just a thought!"

The Coinpur happily mewed at the kiss, tail swishing, then purred and nestled close.
Persian watched the two, gaze tender and fond, before quietly turning away with its young, to return to the rest of the litter, reassured that Volo cared deeply for Coinpur.

Lillie listened to Volo's words, eyes brightening with a look of realization.

"... you're right, Mr. Volo! There've been times like that too... maybe you're right about that too, and we're all growing at our own pace too, and it's okay if it's different, sometimes faster, sometimes slower..."

She tried to comfort Ash and give him perspective, when he felt bad about Rotom possibly travelling away to work with his hero, drawing on her experiences with her mother living separately from her for work, talking things through helped reassure they still cared for each other...

"Then... good luck with everything, Mr. Volo and Coinpur, too! I have to get back to work, now."

Edited (I wrote that before deciding a better response and moment to react to for Persian!) 2023-07-25 10:52 (UTC)

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Purfect Catastrophe!

[no problem! + she only feared touching Pokemon in the past, no issues with humans!]

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[let's have Volo find the last one, so the mother can come back ;3;]

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[aaand Volo can have the one that's bonded to him if it chooses to go along with him! ;3;]

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[ soooo emotional ;_;... CW: abandonment? ]

[oh, nooo, Volo... but yes, he's the best possible home!]

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[1/2; ... I don't know if your Volo's just magic and brings out all the complexity in my characters]

[2/2; or if it's just you being a great writer and easy to bounce off of regardless of character]

[ CW: vague death mention (also Volo: it's me, i am magic) ]

[wrapping up~ ^^]