[Open] September Catch-All

[ohwowzers]

Who: Kieran and YOU!
Status: Open
Where: All Over
What: September Catchall
Warnings: N/A; will change if needed

Dratinis and Disappearances - Closed to CR
[Kieran has been here for several months now, and while it’s been difficult being here without the rest of his friends or his older sister, he’s made do and made some new friends. However, he also had the luxury of having a couple people from home here as well, which also helped Kieran cope with being in this bizarre world. That is, until recently. He had checked the crew quarters, his Shellphone directory, everything. But unfortunately, it looks as if Drayton had gone home, pulled through the rifts back to Unova by the looks of it. And while Kieran had often butted heads with the lazy Dragon Tamer, not having that friend from home really seems to have gotten to him.]

[For a little while, he can be found on his own either on Hero’s Rest or at the Cosmo Conservatory, sitting near the water off on his own. If he’s at Hero’s Rest, he’ll be holding Pasta, the shiny pink Dratini, while at the Conservatory he’ll be interacting with the Dratini Trio that have been living there. He looks downright miserable as he interacts with the Pokemon, hugging them close as he stares out at the water. Furret is also with him, curled around him like a safety blanket.]

[He looks like he could use someone to talk to. Or a hug. Or maybe both.]

Peak Content
[Honestly Kieran isn’t even sure how it happened. One moment he’s walking through town, minding his own business, when suddenly he’s jerked back sharply, his arm tugged behind him in the process.]

Wah—!! What the—?!

[Kieran glances behind him, trying to tug his arm back to him, only to find… wait, what is this? Some sort of magic rope attaching his wrist to another person? He frowns, before tugging again, looking at the other person.]

What’s goin’ on??

Fish in a Barrel..?
[This… doesn’t feel right.]

[Kieran had gotten curious about mermaids washing up on Elah, but he hadn’t anticipated a quest involving butchering them. So when Kieran gets to the beach and sees a stranded mermaid before him, he hesitates, a conflicted look on his face, before summoning forth Politoed from its Pokeball.]

Hey, Politoed, gimme a hand here.

[With his Pokemon beside him, he then turns to the mermaid.]

I-It’s okay. I ain’t gonna hurt ya. I’m gonna try gettin’ ya back to the water…

[If there are any Paladins nearby, they are free to see Kieran and assume he is here for nefarious purposes. Or, perhaps any Corsair who’s paired up with him might see his actions and question why he’s trying to help the mermaids rather than harvest from them.]

Bounty - Shoebill Billy
Is that… really our target?

[Kieran can’t help but tilt his head as he stares at the bird several feet away. Sure it’s big, and sure it’s staring menacingly, but it’s not really… doing anything? It looks like it’s just being a bird. He frowns, before turning to whoever has paired up with him for this task, a puzzled look on his face.]

We don’t really have to fight it, do we? I mean, it’s not really… harmin’ anyone, is it?

Wildcard
[Got an idea for a prompt? Feel free to write your own starter, or send me a DM so we can plan something out!]

Comments

Bounty

[weisshappened]

I... admit, I was expecting worse.

[Seeing a kid about to go out on a bounty alone? No way. Not while Davrin is on the grind! But, more seriously, he'd been expecting... a monster. This feels like the opposite of the Moth Incident.]

[It does look like it's just a bird.]

Think maybe it's possessed?

[He'd think it might have been Blighted, but that doesn't exist here.]

[ohwowzers]

[He remembers this guy, even if they only spoke briefly. Kieran is glad for the extra help; sure he has his Pokemon, and he's gotten more used to bringing his new staff to these kinds of quests, but it's nice to have extra help. Still, Kieran can't help but frown, a hand brought up to his chin.]

I dunno... it doesn't look possessed? It just looks kinda... bored?

[The big bird blinks slowly at them, before moving to pick at something on its wing. Kieran turns to the older man, shrugging a bit.]

Do we, uh... do we fight it? Or just chase it off?

[weisshappened]

That's what those things look like when they're bored?

[Genuine question! This kind of bird is unfamiliar to him. He knows that's not what Assan looks like when he's bored. But Assan's only part bird.]

Did the report say if it was attacking anything?

[Because if it's just a Weird Bird? They probably just should chase it off without hurting it.]

[ohwowzers]

I dunno, but I've seen Cramorant that kinda stand around like that when they're bored... or huntin'...

[Or even if they were just standing around staring into space. Cramorant were kind of dim-witted like that.]

No, the report said it was... makin' people uncomfortable. And people thought it was plannin' somethin'?

[Scheming?? The bird sure looked shifty, but...]

Y'know, I'm startin' to wonder if this is a real bounty or a weird prank...

dratinis 🍜

[oathkeeper]

[As one of the ship's captains, it doesn't take Sora very long to realize that Drayton is gone as well. It's a little sad because Sora wanted to get to know Drayton better. He seemed like a really cool boy to know.

Knowing that Kieran and him were friends from the same world? It doesn't take long for Sora to go look for his friend and crewmate too. When he finds him sitting alone, Sora smiles sadly and comes to sit right next to him.]

Hey, Kieran. You know what I think I need right now?

[ohwowzers]

[Kieran doesn't really acknowledge Sora when he comes to sit beside him, not initially. Furret looks up at Sora and lets out a small, sad chitter at him, and Pasta also lets out a happier sound at Sora. But when Sora speaks to him, Kieran blinks almost as if coming out of a daze, looking up at Sora.]

...huh?

[Whether that's an answer to Sora's question, or even him not hearing Sora's question at all, is a bit unclear.]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora's smile doesn't faulter. He really feels for Kieran, he really does. Ventus is gone too and that has left Sora feeling pretty dang sad.

But right now, this is about Kieran. He reaches his arm out and puts it around Kieran's shoulders.]

I think. I need a pretty big hug.

[He thinks Kieran is the one who needs the hug.]

[ohwowzers]

Huh..?

[Before he realizes it, he's being pulled into a side hug. Kieran blinks a few times, before letting out a sad sigh and curling against Sora's side. He does his best to offer a side-hug in return, but it's hard for him to offer the same effort Sora is. But he's trying. Furret, perhaps sensing some of Sora's own sadness, lets out a little chitter and moves to wrap around them both like an oversized pillow.]

[Surrounded by warmth like this, Kieran lets out another sad, shaky sigh.]

...You know, he really got on my nerves all the time, and never took anything seriously. But now that he's gone home... I miss him.

Dratinis

[withermarked]

[ Faulkner is on is way to feed the Dratinis, bucket of seafood in hand, when he notices that someone else is already giving them attention.

...Followed by noticing that it's both a kid he knows, and how unhappy Kieran happens to look. He hasn't really seen the boy anything other than cheerful, so he can't help being at least a touch concerned. ]

You okay?

[ohwowzers]

[Kieran doesn't acknowledge Faulkner at first, but Furret and the Dratinis do; Furret looks up at Faulkner and offers a sad little chirr, while the Dratini trio offer happier cries at Faulkner and the sight of seafood. The trio squirm out of his hands and make their way over to Faulnker. Meanwhile Kieran blinks, almost as if coming out of a daze, before looking up at Faulkner.]

Huh..?

[Was he okay? Physically, he was, but... He sighs, pulling his knees up and resting his crossed arms on top of them.]

...not really.

[withermarked]

[ He can't help chuckling a little; the Dratini trio are always awfully eager when it comes to food. He'll spread it out for them, before turning his attention back to Kieran.

After a moment, he'll sit down nearby while the creatures chow down on their meal. ]

...You want to talk about it?

[ohwowzers]

[Young Pokemon were often eager with food and playtime, so it's easy to distract them with mealtime. Kieran, now that his hands are free, can freely curl in on himself. Behind him Furret continues to curl around him to offer some comfort.]

I mean... it's just stupid, is all...

Peak Content

[velocityraptor]

[ He's just minding his own business, what prank this is to be tethered to someone so easily.

He stares at the rope a moment and then to Kieran. ]

Hey. [ His smile is kind, but he's confused. ] Did you tie us together?

[ohwowzers]

No, I didn't.

[Kieran tugs at the strange rope again, with little success. Looks like they are indeed stuck together. He signs, rubbing the back of his head with his free hand.]

Aw man... What's goin' on here??

[velocityraptor]

I'm not too sure about that. [ Ah well, something strange is happening. He draws his sword off his hip and makes a good attempt to slice the rope apart.

Useless. Figures. He re-sheaths the sword. ]

Nice to meet you, I'm Hawks. I guess we're going to have to work together to try and get out of this.

[ohwowzers]

[Seeing that sword makes Kieran hesitate, holding still so as not to get cut or anything by mistake. Once the sword is sheathed he lets out a breath of relaxation, but that just brings forth a new problem now; how exactly to break the rope.]

Ah, I'm Kieran. It's nice to meet ya. Mr. Hawks... but I don't got any idea on how to break this thing.

[He sighs, before turning to look at the man... and then do a double-take. Are those... wings??]

fish in a barrel

[octoblot]

[Please, Kieran being here for nefarious purposes? He looks about as untrustworthy as... well, those catfish that Azul met underwater in the whalefolk village, actually. But that's neither here nor there as Azul notices Kieran struggling with one of the merfolk that has ended up beached here.

He stands up from where he had been looking over one of the mers that had unfortunately passed on and approaches, holding out his arms toward the one Kieran has with him.]

Here, step aside for a moment and let me take a look.

[When the mer in question makes some kind of noise in their throat that sounds like wary agitation to the presence of another person, Azul breathes out a sigh tinged with annoyance... and then proceeds to make a low but similar sounding noise in his own throat, which causes the injured mer to suddenly go slack. Azul clears his throat soon after.]

Ahem, okay, they should be calmer now to allow us to be able to provide water or even pick them up and put them back in the sea, if they are strong enough to swim again.

[ohwowzers]

Oh, Mr. Azul!

[Kieran blinks at the instruction, and then openly gapes at the exchange. Beside him, his Politoed lets out a happy croak of his own, as if imitating the sound made by both Azul and the mer. Kieran is left befuddled, looking between the two.]

Huh..? What did ya just do..?

[octoblot]

I was lettihg them know that we were not a threat, and that we wish to help them rather than bring harm.

[A beat, and then--]

Mercreatures exist where I am from, so I know how to communicate with them as well as most species of other sea dwellers.

[on account of... being a mer himself...]

Bounty

[seasaltkeys]

[Roxas can't say he likes the bird very much, one way or another. It's definitely staring, and there's only so much Roxas can stare back.]

Maybe we just need to scare it off?

[ohwowzers]

Maybe..

[Even though the bird is still staring at them, Kieran can't help but frown.]

But is it really a monster? 'Cause it just looks like a regular bird to me...

[seasaltkeys]

It's a weird looking bird...

Granted a lot of things in this place could also be monsters.

[He's been doing a lot of research.]

We could try making a loud noise.

Fish in a Barrel

[beshackled]

[Paladin-assigned or no, Erichthonios does not precisely know how to tell a Paladin and a Corsair apart. All he sees is a boy and some manner of amphibious-looking creature next to a beached mermaid, and on seeing them, he rushes over without a thought to anything else.]

Another one?!

[Hurried footsteps landing deep in the sand, the tall man only pauses once he has reached them.]

How long has she been here? Is she dehydrated?

[ohwowzers]

[Kieran actually jumps a bit at the sudden new voice, Politoed croaking in greeting. But at the words, he shakes his head and looks down at the mermaid.]

I dunno how long she’s been here, but she looks like she’s hurt.

[Indeed, it looks like there are some fresh wounds on the mermaid’s tail, wounds Kieran has been trying to heal with one of his Pokemon Potions.]

Politoed’s tryin’ to keep her wet, but I don’t know if I can carry her to the water on my own without hurtin’ her.

[beshackled]

You won't have to.

[He may be shorter than he truly is here, but he still has a formidable height next to others, and while he isn't truly bulky, he's got a fair amount of muscle on him.

But first thing's first. He kneels down, assessing the wounds.]

'Twould be best to heal this up before returning her to the water. 'Tis possible there may yet be sharks around, and the blood from her tail is like to stir them into a frenzy if they see her kind as prey.

[Movements slow, he reaches, laying hands over the largest wound as the aether begins to rise from his body, slowly tying her flesh back together from the metaphysical level.]

Politoed, pray continue to keep her wet. I'm not very skilled, so this will take a few moments...