Journey to Pallet Town

[a-turkish-massage-owl]

Rosie yawns wide as she pulls out her map. The sun is barely peeking over the treeline, giving her enough light to lazily trace her finger along her route. She'd wanted to get an early start on her trek to Pallet Town, but typically she's not up THIS early. Good thing she'd prepared a thermos of coffee this morning before she left..not like she'd fall asleep while walking, but she does need to be alert! She'd rather not get lost or run into any troublesome travelers. It's been a long time since she's left Celadon, usually on outings with her parents. Though her Pokemon are hovering alongside her, she is traveling alone, and such a long ways. However, she made a commitment to the cause, and there'd be far more dangerous tasks ahead than walking to Pallet Town!

She turns and waves at her house. "Goodbye! Mom and Dad will take care of you while I'm gone!" Rosie had left extremely specific instructions on the upkeep of her garden..hopefully her parents will understand them! Rosie fishes the coffee thermos from her heavy bag and nurses it as she heads down Route 7. Well into the morning, she's finished about half of her coffee by the time she's left Cerulean City, and is currently a bundle of jittery excitement, admiring the view of the water.

[Limeshells]

Now, don't get him wrong, Wally doesn't think he's got such a bad jig--at the very least he does get some kind of income in. But it's tough working on commission... getting a set amount of cash for every Squirtle he reels in or every Oddish he plucks out from the bushes. And, of course, how much he gets is determined on the "quality" of the little bastards...

The point is that the poacher is kind of broke. And it sucks. Especially since he wanted to send Michael something nice for his birthday. But it's not as if he's got any other options. Wally made the decision years ago to become a Pokemon poacher when he realized he wasn't good for anything else. Eventually it led him away from his home in Unova, it fucking dragged him all over the God damn place, and somehow he's found himself in Kanto. Quitting is even less of an option now than it ever was.

And, really, it's not that bad. At the very least he's become desensitized to the... less than glamorous aspects of the business. That comes with being the "butcher" for so many years in his operations.

The poacher sighs heavily as he contemplates all of his along the water outside of Cerulean City, where he's currently been stationed. He has to supply his boss with 50 heads by the end of the week. But right now he doesn't give a shit--his back hurts and his feet ache. Today he's not catching anything but sight of a peaceful river and his Braviary plucking out worms from the dirt...

.... and, evidently, a pretty lady strolling nearby. Well. Well well well. Wally smiles like the bit of a sleaze that he is. He's laying on his back, propped up by his arms, with his feet dipped in the river water.

"Ain't it a lil' dangerous to be wandering around out here? There's a lot of wild critters you know. They don't take kindly to humans sometimes!"

Case in point; Braviary, whose now decided all of a sudden to rush up to this strange woman in his trainer's proximity and examine her hotly. Standing on his legs he actually surpasses her in height. And knowing how magnificently big he is the bird fluffs up his feathers and squawks demandingly. Who are you. Why are you near my trainer. Don't you see he has lesser Pokemon to kill. Squawk squawk squawk.

"Braviary! Get! I'm, I'm sorry he's territorial!" Wally jumps up from his lounging position to join the woman and tugs on his Pokemon's collar, reeling the giant bastard back until he stops struggling and goes back to plucking out worms. With one eye on the blonde. The one with boobs. "Yeah he's... sorry about that. He wouldn't attack ya. He just likes to show people whose 'boss.'"

[a-turkish-massage-owl]

Rosie had already noticed the man lounging by the water's edge, his posture suggesting she leave him be to relax. That and..well, he's got a rather large Pokemon nearby she'd rather not disturb. However, he does call out to her first, so Rosie figures it's safe to approach. Or perhaps not. She's barely opened her mouth to reply to him when the Braviary suddenly moves towards her. Naturally, her Vileplume, who'd been hitching a ride in her bag, hops down and sizes up the towering bird in front of it.

"AAAaaa, wait-hold on, stop it now!" Rosie wraps her arms protectively around Vileplume, preferring to not have a confrontation so early on their travels. The Braviary's loud, aggressive squawking sends her heart racing even moreso than the coffee was, but thankfully the gentleman is able to calm his Pokemon down. Vileplume, too, backs off, but keeps a wary eye on the Braviary as it decides to slowly waddle over and examine the water. Rosie breathes a sigh of relief.

"It's alright, no harm done. Gave me quite a scare! Your Braviary makes for quite an intimidating partner!" She looks over at the bird, having the chance now to admire his brightly colored feathers. "He's beautiful though; I haven't seen many bird Pokemon like him in Celadon." Rosie turns her attention back to the man. "Do you live here, in Cerulean? You mentioned wild critters along these routes, so if there's anything I should watch out for, I'd appreciate the heads up! I'm on my way to Pallet Town, and it's been...a while, since I've traveled this way."

[Limeshells]

"Yeah, that's definitely one way to describe him."

Wally watches the behemoth of a bird in question as he stalks around the edge of the river. While he might have told the younger woman that Braviary would watch himself the truth of the matter is he really wouldn't put it past the Pokemon to charge at her and her big ass flower if he thought he could get away with it. And the Vileplume would be shit out of luck if that happened... though he has to admit he admires it's spunk. It almost makes up for it being a bitch ass grass type.

"Hm? Yeah, well, they ain't from here. He's actually from back home--I'm from Unova, they got a shitload of 'em back there. I think it makes him a little cocky 'cause he was my starter," finally, the poacher feels comfortable enough to turn back to the woman he was shamelessly oggling a little while ago, "And nah! I'm a traveler sweetheart, actually I'm a straightup fisherman. Usually work down South by the port but sometimes I come up here for leisure and river fishin."

And that's more or less the truth... he's just not specifying what it is, exactly, he fishes for. Spoiler alert; it's Pokemon. What an asshole.

"I'm pretty familiar with the Southwest routes though. I came from Johto before here. Lots of dangerous shit between here and there. 'Specially through all the forests and mountains... lots of rapid critters. What's a girl like you doin' headin' to Pallet? Ain't it, like, an empty shithole that people only case 'bout 'cause some researcher and some rioter lives there?"

[a-turkish-massage-owl]

"Unova? Goodness, that's quite a ways to travel! No wondah I haven't seen a Pokemon like him before!" If Rosie could have a dream vacation, Unova would be one of her top picks. That is, if she ever has the time and the funds to do so. "I can see why he's so close to you, too." Rosie smiles and looks over at her Pokemon, who has decided it's a good time to nap in the grass like the bitch ass it is. "Vileplume was my starter, too. Well, she was an Oddish way back then, of course."

As if he probably didn't know that already, being a seasoned trainer himself. Such a foolish thing to say. She's glad she has something to quickly respond to afterwards. "Aah well, I'm not sure about a rioter! But my friend might be the researcher you're talking about. She's been studying Pokemon medicine, and has asked me to come help her." There's a tinge to her cheeks now, as she looks at her hands. "Much of my research is in studying Pokemon diets. I'm not sure what I can do, if it's anything, but I couldn't say no. I haven't been able to travel much in the past few years, so it's nice to have a reason to leave home for a while."

[Limeshells]

"Heh. Yeah. I mean, you know, I'm a pretty good trainer."

The poacher shrugs as a smirk stretches the edges of his mouth, sniffing and wiping his nose with his thumb. He's so modest, too, what a charming man indeed.

"You gotta be to make it out here doll face, this ain't easy pickin'."

Wally raises a brow in curiosity as she explains what she's up too, now more interested in what she has to say than what his Braviary is up too. Which is pretty unfortunate considering how the bird is steadily creeping up towards the unsuspecting Vileplume. And then attempts to give her a nasty peck on the head as soon as he feels like he has an opening. Birds are assholes.

"Research? So you're one of them scientists? That's... pretty cool..."

Cool like the sweet smell of cash money lingering in his nose.... the poacher isn't exactly sure what this might look like... but his supervisor is always looking for profit. They could be researching some rare Pokemon! Or... be working on something even bigger then that (and it would actually be nice not to have to kill the critters for a change). Wally's interested in seeing where this could lead him. If anything it might be a better way to invest his time than fishing Goldeens and Magikarps from the river.

"... You wanna escort? I sometimes do it for a lil' extra cash. Got a full team--Flyin' types, poison types, electrics... all badasses. And for a pretty girl like you?" He winks like the sleaze he is, "Might not even charge. Much."

[a-turkish-massage-owl]

"I would certainly say so! Traveling such a long way on your own. And here I thought walking to Pallet Town was a tremendous journey!" Rosie won't deny she's impressed with the man's accomplishments. It seems they're both wrapped up in their conversation, till Vileplume's screech of distress catches Rosie's attention. The small, tearful Pokemon is now sporting a lump on her head and waddling back to her owner's side. "Oh Vileplume, what've you done to yourself?"

Rosie frowns with mild concern and gathers Vileplume in her arms, proceeding to then ponder the man's offer. He...seems friendly enough, though the wink he gives her is a tad on the creepy side. Still, he would be a fine companion for the journey; he knows the area and would provide some much needed assistance with his Pokemon if she got into trouble. That'd be alright, wouldn't it??

"Well..uhm. You're welcome to join me sir , but I'm afraid I don't have too much money on me. Just enough for some food along the way to Pallet Town, about uh..maybe 800."

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