Being X-tremely avoidant!

[closedbond]

1. Morning, Shrouded Woods
[Instead of staying in town, X can be found camping out at the woods. For once his Kangashkan, Kanga and Li'l Kanga is out of their Pokeball resting near the makeshift campsite.

X meanwhile has climbed up a top one of the trees with a binocular in hand, clearly observing Pokemon up above in the trees. All the while if anything of interest passes by he's pulling out his Pokedex to look over their entries. He seemed to be quite focused on observing the local habitat, and definitely not trying to keep his mind off any recent events.]


2. Afternoon, Route 6 - Whistling Valley
[Anyone passing by will find X on the side with his Quaxly out of its Pokeball. In his hand is another Pokeball, as he stood before Quaxly.]

...Coiffe we need to train.

Pommmmp!

[Coiffe fluffed up his wings in response. Nodding his head, X will soon send out Marisso the Chesnaught out next to himself.]

Try to land a hit on Marisso, Coiffe.

[At least the training hasn't fully kicked off yet, so X wouldn't mind if anyone were to step in.]

3. Much Later, Route 6
[With training out of the way, X is setting up camp further off from the pathway in Route 6--almost as if he's trying to avoid other people but his own Pokemon. Once he's done setting up he's reaching out to Kanga who's yet again the only one out of her Pokeball. Placing a hand onto Kanga's side, X stayed silent--until a sigh left.]

What do you think Y would do if she saw me like this, Kanga? I feel like I haven't changed at all. It wasn't his fault, I know that. I know that, but even here turned out to be no different.

[X tensed. Wow, talk about a bummer mood. He hasn't even started any campfire yet either-!]

Comments

3

[chloeandeevee]

[Hearing X sounding so discouraged, Eevee scampers over. "Eevee-vee?"

Chloe soon follows.]

Hi! Um, is everything okay?

[She notes he seems down.]

[closedbond]

[It was avgood thing X recognized Chloe's Eevee or he would've been set on edge. He's pulling himself away from Kanga. He doesn't face Chloe right away, to rub at his eyes with his sleeve.]

....

[X is silent still and his Kanga is sending a worried glance his way. Even Li'l Kanga peeked out from the pouch giving a look over to Chloe and Eevee. Taking note of that, X finally spoke up.]

I'm fine. Just setting up for camp for the night.

[Finally he'll turn around to face Chloe. It's been a while since he's seen her, he realized now that he was face to face.]

Chloe, right? ...what are you doing out here?

[chloeandeevee]

We were just doing some research and checking out the area. I didn't think anyone else was around....

[She notices the Kanga looks and is definitely still concerned. Something isn't right....]

[closedbond]

I didn't think anyone else was around either.

[He'll tug at the brim of his cap, while looking away. Li'l Kanga will slip back inside his mother's pouch, while Kanga's still looking worried. Despite that, X's only way of acknowledging Kanga's worry was by placing a hand onto her.]

Have you and Eevee found anything of interest yet?

[chloeandeevee]

Not really. There don't seem to be a lot of Pokemon out right now....

[Or maybe they're shy and hid from Eevee's exuberance, but she won't say that.

She's not sure what to do with X's behavior either. Something isn't right, but they don't know each other well. She doubts he'd tell her anything.]

So we're kind of available if we could do anything to help you set up, or if you'd just like company....

[closedbond]

[X glanced towards the fields for a moment before looking back to Chloe. She's right that he wasn't willing to talk about what's on his mind, but he wasn't cold enough to push her and Eevee away either. As far as he knew, she was one of Ash's friend, and it didn't sit well with him thinking about sending her off on her way, alone.]

Sure, I don't mind.

[He'll glance over to Eevee before holding out Coiffe's Pokeball. He hadn't meant to add Coiffe onto his team, but he was part of it now. Sending out his Quaxly, Coiffe will be happy to see Eevee. It'll immediately waddle over cheering at seeing familiar faces.]

Poooom!

Seems Coiffe is happy to see you both.

[chloeandeevee]

[Eevee is definitely delighted and jumps up and down Vee-ing.

Chloe smiles.]

Hi, Coiffe. It's good to see you again.

[closedbond]

Pom pom!

[Coiffe happily greeted the two. That tugged a faint smile from X.]

I'm sure Coiffe would be happy if he could play with Eevee. If you don't mind, Chloe.

[chloeandeevee]

That would be great.

[Eevee is delighted and runs about in circles.]

[closedbond]

[He's smiling still watching as Coiffe flapped his wings before happily following Eevee around, running in his own circle next to her.

He will reach into his bag--and pull out a protein bar offering it to Chloe.]

Are you hungry?

[He figured he should offer something to her given that Chloe did offer to help out.]

[chloeandeevee]

[Eevee runs off ahead to start Tag.]

Oh.... I am, kind of. Thank you.

[Chloe smiles and takes the bar, starting to eat.]

[closedbond]

[Coiffe seeing Eevee run off will give chase! Playing tag? How fun! He's quacking happily as he's doing so. X's eyes were on their Pokemon in thought.]

Say, Chloe... have you battled before?

[chloeandeevee]

[Chloe smiles as she watches the fun game.]

Sometimes. Eevee loves using her evolved forms' attacks. She knows Copycat, so if any of them are around, she can copy their attacks. Or other Pokemons' attacks too, of course.

1

[domeinion]

[X should be able to hear Alice before he sees her, shuffling through the brush from the direction of her lab. Occasionally she'll bump into a tree or log before course correcting. She does look up in time and waves to X.]

Oh, good morning! I didn't know you were out studying too!

[closedbond]

[He definitely hears her, before he's looking down seeing Alice's disaster walk.]

Alice--ah...good morning. Are you okay?

[He'll return her wave with a small one. He won't say it out loud, but it was a relief seeing a familiar face like Alice. He should have known he'd run into her here. He'll climb down the tree, and landing onto his feet with ease just to be at eye level with Alice.]

I wanted to see what sort of Pokemon lived up in the trees here.

[domeinion]

Oh, I'm fine! This kind of thing happens all the time.

[She waves it off with a smile.]

They're fascinating, aren't they? I see a lot of Murkrow up there. They seem to like the shade under the canopy.

[closedbond]

I guess you get used to it, huh...

[Not that he's judging, being used to Alice's general... Alice-ness. X nodded as he glanced up towards the sea of leaves up above.]

They're different from the kind of Mukrows I've seen in pictures before. I guess that should have been expected with the regional variants that live here to begin with.

[domeinion]

It makes a lot of sense that they've got so many regional variants, wouldn't you say? Because this region is isolated, only allowing people in or out through random acts of drifting, the local Pokémon population's evolution over time must be fascinating!

[closedbond]

I was curious what the Murkrows would look here when they finally evolve. Or if...they evolve the same way like the Honchkrows I've learned about back home.

[domeinion]

I haven't found the right sort of stone to test that, but they might have some in Shimmerstone Cave! I've found all kinds of things there. Of course, finding your way back out always proves a challenge. Shellock's good at that, though.

[closedbond]

I don't have one either nor do I have thought to catch one to test it anything out.

[He really wasn't much of a Catcher to begin with.]

I heard of that place from another trainer. Even its entrance can be hard to find from the sound of it.

[domeinion]

There are a few places like that around the island. But you'll find all kinds of things! I found some gems in there, though I don't particularly need them.

[closedbond]

It could come in handy later--like if you need extra cash for items.

[Or give it as a present to someone but that prospect doesn't come up in X's mind.]

[domeinion]

Right, or if someone else needs it! Sometimes it's good to keep things just in case.

[closedbond]

I hadn't thought of that, but that make sense. You never know what could happen even here, in Ultern.