[Have they been wondering this since they were distributing meals at the clinic and got more used to the idea of Ghost Pokemon? Maybe.]
[Psychic communication is hard, so have an inadvertent memory of them sniffing a wrapped meal they delivered to a Misdreavus. The scent is indistinct and puzzling, at least to their Shinx nose.]
Pretty much! Gotta put the sad in malasada, y'know.
Seriously though... I've mostly just been eating whatever the hell I want. If there's one thing this place has got, it's good food—and I guess most of the fare is fit for any Pokémon consumption.
That's the spirit! [She snorts. Indeed, she clearly is a fellow lover of puns.] I'll hold you to it. I mean, it's the least you could do after I had to drag your ass through all that fog...
Speaking of which—good to see you're already settling right in after all that.
Why wouldn't I be? I'm not stuck in some wet underground caves, like some people. [Jokingly pitying. Let's be real, it's not like wet treetop platforms are much of an improvement.]
The one where we're all supposed to secretly be birds.
[Which is the closest they're going to come to admitting that they and Laios fell off one of the Canopy bridges and got tangled. Even if it's objectively very funny!]
Oh, 'cause being stuck sleeping on a bunch of soggy wooden planks is sooo much better? At least I've got an actual roof over my head! The way you were talking, I almost thought you got recruited by some secret fourth guild.
House is a strong word. [Confirmed!] And I'm a ghost, remember? We do all our best work in the shadows.
[Which isn't really a flex... But too much sun does make her feel sluggish now. Truthfully, she loves being in high places and would have enjoyed having a spot in the Canopy of her own, soggy or not, but maybe it just wasn't meant to be.]
You have fun trying not to plummet to your death up there!
[Multiple names, right... Siffrin's memories might still be fuzzy, but they've traveled enough to know that it's not necessarily the first name people use, depending on where they come from.]
Should I call you Shoka or Sakurane? Or the whole thing?
[ A missing Pokémon—seemed like an easy enough case to solve. All it needed was finding the right trail, but Bigby being new and unfamiliar with most of Bottlecap Bay, he thought it was only fitting to tap Shoka for this quest when it popped up on the board. It'd be like a part two of their tour, he joked, just with slightly higher stakes.
Even so, splitting up to cover more ground felt like a good first step before the full investigation got going. His initial pick would have been to visit the clinic, but remembering his hesitation with the place (and people), he opted to put that one off in favor of talking to a few shopkeepers instead. After some time, he'll figure out how to connect. ]
Hey, Shoka. Think I found a few leads to start with. [ There’s a distinct sound of items rustling as he juggles them in his hands. He's very much holding the pearl with his shoulder like you would a clunky old phone. ] How’s it going on your end? Ready to regroup?
Shoka's disguise also serves as a convenient storage space, so she removes her Grumpearl before responding:]
Roger that, ace detective. Hope the clues you've sniffed out are better than mine...
[It's going not so great on her end. Though she's gathered a few tidbits of information on Zweilous itself from her own investigation at and around the Pokéclinic, any clues as to the Pokémon's current location were minimal, too vague to be promising. But they can compare once they're back together.]
Meet me back at the board? If you can remember how to get there.
Something definitely smells fishy, I'll say that much. [ Admittedly, the Pokémon he talked to seemed just as clueless as him, if not a little put off by the juxtaposition of his demeanor and appearance, but what he did manage to get out of them was interesting, to say the least. ]
Yeah, shouldn't be too hard. Just give me a couple of minutes before you go posting my missing poster next. [ He fumbles a bit to disconnect again before making his way over to the quest board. When he spots her, he waves her down with his free hand before approaching. ]
Before we compare notes— [ He hands her the pastry he's holding, though not without breaking off a small piece for himself first. ] —one of the bakers asked me to give you this. Said she remembered you. What's it called again? A malsalad?
[Their psychic connection is broken with a snicker. Fortunately, Bigby does show up shortly thereafter—and with an investigation snack, no less! Shoka's ears perk up in surprise.]
Oh—sweet! [She... did that for her? And it's even the spicy kind, her favorite! That's... really nice, actually? Shoka seems a little taken aback—enough that she almost doesn't realize that the pastry is missing a chunk when she takes it in her claws.] Malasada. Um, if she told you to give it to me, why are you eating it? It's mylasada, not yourlasada.
[She doesn't really care that much and would have offered to split it with him anyway, but... Dude!]
More like my finder's fee for your food. [ But he concedes easily on letting the bit go, neatly putting the piece back into her outstretched claws with a smirk. ] Alright, fine. I need to watch what I eat anyway.
[ He says as he pulls out a seed to chew on from his pocket. Letting it dangle from the corner of his mouth first, he rubs his hands together, a bit in thought, but mostly to get the sugar off. ]
So, Zweilous. The Pokémon who knew what I was talking about all mentioned seeing them around town at various times. I don't think they wandered off too far. Also—they have two heads? [ He makes a bit of a face at this. ] You'd think that'd be hard for anyone to miss, but tell me what you got.
[Shoka watches him place the torn-off piece back into her claws with a look that says, Are you serious? Then she hands it right back to him with one hand, after pulling the larger piece under her disguise with her other.]
After you had your grubby little paws all over it? Hard pass. [That's just an excuse, really. More importantly:] Anyway, you've got to try it. High-key one of the best things the Bay has to offer.
[But she guesses she'll eat his finder's fee too if he really insists. They can always grab victory malasadas after this is all wrapped up.
Either way, then it's time for investigation talk.]
Around town, huh? Way to narrow it down.
[It's not Tokyo-sized, at least, but Bottlecap Bay still isn't exactly small to them, after all. Even so...]
... Still a better actual lead than I got, though... But I did manage to get more of a description of the guy, I guess. They don't just have two heads—they have two heads that have it out for each other. Word around town is they're a regular at the clinic 'cause they're always beating themselves up—literally. [She snorts. It sounded messed up to her—and almost like Zweilous themself could have been a suspect in their own disappearance—but the Pokémon who told her this part acted like it was perfectly normal and mostly unconcerning for a Zweilous. Pokémon are so weird.] They're also a Dragon-type with black fur, so... we'll be looking for clawed footprints, if we can actually find any. And if we're lucky, maybe they shed on something, hah.
[She pauses there, searching her memory for a moment before concluding:]
That's about it, though. There was... one other thing I heard, but no clue if it even means anything.
If I was an actual rat, I might find that offensive. [ He matches her look with one of his own, but yoinks the piece back with an overly dramatic huff. ] Might as well give me back the whole thing while we're at it, if you're that worried.
[ His smirk returns, unserious, but between finishing his seed and the investigation talk, he waits before actually trying it. He'll take her word for it for now. ]
Look, it beats having to sniff all around the forest, too. I'll take what I can get. [ Hearing Shoka's description gets a snicker out of him, bad as it when they're currently missing, but the thought is just too ridiculous for him not to. ] Great. A suspect and victim all in one. Could be why they've just been going in circles around the Bay, if they're in the middle of another fight.
... But a Dragon-type, though, huh? [ He scratches his cheek in thought, trying to filter for that scent in his memory. Truth be told, he hasn't met many others beside one Dragonite in particular, but: ] I can work with that. Thought we were dealing with a Dark-type or something, to be honest. I got the two mops of black fur down, but no one bothered mentioning scales. [ His fault, really, for not thinking to clarify types of all things. He'll get there. ]
We can check around some of the spots I know of first, but—go ahead. It still could mean something, eventually.
[ He can't help but repeat: ] ... Doing it all over? [ A weird turn of phrase. Suddenly, he feels like this may be more urgent than he initially thought. ]
Regretting something, maybe? But you're right. It's hard to say right now.
[ He pauses to think, nibbling a bit on his malasada piece before shaking his head. ] That said, let's check the post office nearby. Someone only saw them around there early in the morning, but they could've dropped something off if we're lucky. [ Anything to get some scent to track would be ideal. ]
I'll, uh. Let you continue the tour, actually. [ Definitely not still getting used to where everything is. ]
[Hard to say—but Bigby's lead sounds at least somewhat promising.]
Good idea. [When he doesn't immediately get moving, she glances at him, as if waiting for him to admit that he totally doesn't remember where the post office is. When he does, she titters.] Also a good idea.
[She'll lead them to the post office, then, talking easily along the way if Bigby will engage her—about the quest, and malasadas, and the city. She doesn't think of herself as an especially chatty person—and she isn't usually, especially with new acquaintances like Bigby—but something about him apparently has her comfortable enough to make an exception.
From afar, the easiest way to pinpoint the location of the post office is to follow the stream of winged Pokémon flying to and from the opening in the building's roof. Through the entryway, a variety of Pokémon milling about inside can be seen, bringing letters and packages to the Pelipper at the front counter.]
Here we are. [And now that they're here... Shoka is actually a little curious to see Bigby's investigation methods. Cutesy, Pikachu-like appearance aside, he isn't exactly a charmer, after all (even if she kind of enjoys that about him).] So. How do you wanna do this?
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telewarped) wrote2025-02-09 11:21 am
at some point in early april
...what do you eat?
[Have they been wondering this since they were distributing meals at the clinic and got more used to the idea of Ghost Pokemon? Maybe.]
[Psychic communication is hard, so have an inadvertent memory of them sniffing a wrapped meal they delivered to a Misdreavus. The scent is indistinct and puzzling, at least to their Shinx nose.]
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But no promises if you eat souls. I'm pretty sure only the Lum Berries can afford those.
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Bummer! Well, I mostly thrive off of fear and negativity anyway... And the occasional spicy malasada.
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[They're pretty sure they've seen a stand with those in town! They haven't tried any yet, but Siffrin at least recognizes the name.]
So what I'm hearing is... you live off a diet of pain-strys?
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Pretty much! Gotta put the sad in malasada, y'know.
Seriously though... I've mostly just been eating whatever the hell I want. If there's one thing this place has got, it's good food—and I guess most of the fare is fit for any Pokémon consumption.
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[But - huh! Makes sense. Or... no, it really doesn't with how many types of Pokemon there are, but it fits with what they've seen other kinds eat.]
I guess I'll owe you some ghoul-met cuisine next time we run into each other.
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Speaking of which—good to see you're already settling right in after all that.
[They've even got jokes!]
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Why wouldn't I be? I'm not stuck in some wet underground caves, like some people. [Jokingly pitying. Let's be real, it's not like wet treetop platforms are much of an improvement.]
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Well, which guild did you wind up in?
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[Which is the closest they're going to come to admitting that they and Laios fell off one of the Canopy bridges and got tangled. Even if it's objectively very funny!]
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['House' is a strong word. 'My' is also a strong word.]
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[Which isn't really a flex... But too much sun does make her feel sluggish now. Truthfully, she loves being in high places and would have enjoyed having a spot in the Canopy of her own, soggy or not, but maybe it just wasn't meant to be.]
You have fun trying not to plummet to your death up there!
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[Ribombee's REAL crimes. Siffrin nearly got got.]
Did you try being a Cheri Berry first and miss a vine?
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I bet I can last longer than you. Maybe I'll earn five planks.
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Maybe I'll even put a good word in for you. What was your name again?
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It might be a miracle Sif didn't accidentally get the other Mimikyu through the pearls.]I'm Siffrin. [No middle name, no last name!]
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[Her tone is still teasing, but only lightly now. Even simple things have a way of getting lost in the fog, after all.]
Shoka Sakurane. In case you forgot.
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[Multiple names, right... Siffrin's memories might still be fuzzy, but they've traveled enough to know that it's not necessarily the first name people use, depending on where they come from.]
Should I call you Shoka or Sakurane? Or the whole thing?
[Or a nickname, maybe, eventually! But not yet.]
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[Same as her.]
heads or tails (early june); audio
Even so, splitting up to cover more ground felt like a good first step before the full investigation got going. His initial pick would have been to visit the clinic, but remembering his hesitation with the place (and people), he opted to put that one off in favor of talking to a few shopkeepers instead. After some time, he'll figure out how to connect. ]
Hey, Shoka. Think I found a few leads to start with. [ There’s a distinct sound of items rustling as he juggles them in his hands. He's very much holding the pearl with his shoulder like you would a clunky old phone. ] How’s it going on your end? Ready to regroup?
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Shoka's disguise also serves as a convenient storage space, so she removes her Grumpearl before responding:]
Roger that, ace detective. Hope the clues you've sniffed out are better than mine...
[It's going not so great on her end. Though she's gathered a few tidbits of information on Zweilous itself from her own investigation at and around the Pokéclinic, any clues as to the Pokémon's current location were minimal, too vague to be promising. But they can compare once they're back together.]
Meet me back at the board? If you can remember how to get there.
action
Yeah, shouldn't be too hard. Just give me a couple of minutes before you go posting my missing poster next. [ He fumbles a bit to disconnect again before making his way over to the quest board. When he spots her, he waves her down with his free hand before approaching. ]
Before we compare notes— [ He hands her the pastry he's holding, though not without breaking off a small piece for himself first. ] —one of the bakers asked me to give you this. Said she remembered you. What's it called again? A malsalad?
no subject
[Their psychic connection is broken with a snicker. Fortunately, Bigby does show up shortly thereafter—and with an investigation snack, no less! Shoka's ears perk up in surprise.]
Oh—sweet! [She... did that for her? And it's even the spicy kind, her favorite! That's... really nice, actually? Shoka seems a little taken aback—enough that she almost doesn't realize that the pastry is missing a chunk when she takes it in her claws.] Malasada. Um, if she told you to give it to me, why are you eating it? It's mylasada, not yourlasada.
[She doesn't really care that much and would have offered to split it with him anyway, but... Dude!]
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[ He says as he pulls out a seed to chew on from his pocket. Letting it dangle from the corner of his mouth first, he rubs his hands together, a bit in thought, but mostly to get the sugar off. ]
So, Zweilous. The Pokémon who knew what I was talking about all mentioned seeing them around town at various times. I don't think they wandered off too far. Also—they have two heads? [ He makes a bit of a face at this. ] You'd think that'd be hard for anyone to miss, but tell me what you got.
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After you had your grubby little paws all over it? Hard pass. [That's just an excuse, really. More importantly:] Anyway, you've got to try it. High-key one of the best things the Bay has to offer.
[But she guesses she'll eat his finder's fee too if he really insists. They can always grab victory malasadas after this is all wrapped up.
Either way, then it's time for investigation talk.]
Around town, huh? Way to narrow it down.
[It's not Tokyo-sized, at least, but Bottlecap Bay still isn't exactly small to them, after all. Even so...]
... Still a better actual lead than I got, though... But I did manage to get more of a description of the guy, I guess. They don't just have two heads—they have two heads that have it out for each other. Word around town is they're a regular at the clinic 'cause they're always beating themselves up—literally. [She snorts. It sounded messed up to her—and almost like Zweilous themself could have been a suspect in their own disappearance—but the Pokémon who told her this part acted like it was perfectly normal and mostly unconcerning for a Zweilous. Pokémon are so weird.] They're also a Dragon-type with black fur, so... we'll be looking for clawed footprints, if we can actually find any. And if we're lucky, maybe they shed on something, hah.
[She pauses there, searching her memory for a moment before concluding:]
That's about it, though. There was... one other thing I heard, but no clue if it even means anything.
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[ His smirk returns, unserious, but between finishing his seed and the investigation talk, he waits before actually trying it. He'll take her word for it for now. ]
Look, it beats having to sniff all around the forest, too. I'll take what I can get. [ Hearing Shoka's description gets a snicker out of him, bad as it when they're currently missing, but the thought is just too ridiculous for him not to. ] Great. A suspect and victim all in one. Could be why they've just been going in circles around the Bay, if they're in the middle of another fight.
... But a Dragon-type, though, huh? [ He scratches his cheek in thought, trying to filter for that scent in his memory. Truth be told, he hasn't met many others beside one Dragonite in particular, but: ] I can work with that. Thought we were dealing with a Dark-type or something, to be honest. I got the two mops of black fur down, but no one bothered mentioning scales. [ His fault, really, for not thinking to clarify types of all things. He'll get there. ]
We can check around some of the spots I know of first, but—go ahead. It still could mean something, eventually.
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[The rest of the malasada is already gone, absorbed into the void beneath her disguise rag.
A pause, then, as she thinks back to what she heard.]
Well, I talked to someone who saw Zweilous pretty recently, and he said he heard 'em say something about... "Doing it all over". Whatever that means.
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Regretting something, maybe? But you're right. It's hard to say right now.
[ He pauses to think, nibbling a bit on his malasada piece before shaking his head. ] That said, let's check the post office nearby. Someone only saw them around there early in the morning, but they could've dropped something off if we're lucky. [ Anything to get some scent to track would be ideal. ]
I'll, uh. Let you continue the tour, actually. [ Definitely not still getting used to where everything is. ]
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[Hard to say—but Bigby's lead sounds at least somewhat promising.]
Good idea. [When he doesn't immediately get moving, she glances at him, as if waiting for him to admit that he totally doesn't remember where the post office is. When he does, she titters.] Also a good idea.
[She'll lead them to the post office, then, talking easily along the way if Bigby will engage her—about the quest, and malasadas, and the city. She doesn't think of herself as an especially chatty person—and she isn't usually, especially with new acquaintances like Bigby—but something about him apparently has her comfortable enough to make an exception.
From afar, the easiest way to pinpoint the location of the post office is to follow the stream of winged Pokémon flying to and from the opening in the building's roof. Through the entryway, a variety of Pokémon milling about inside can be seen, bringing letters and packages to the Pelipper at the front counter.]
Here we are. [And now that they're here... Shoka is actually a little curious to see Bigby's investigation methods. Cutesy, Pikachu-like appearance aside, he isn't exactly a charmer, after all (even if she kind of enjoys that about him).] So. How do you wanna do this?