Eh, they're okay. I've read that the ones out at sea are really isolating for the people living there to keep them running.
[But now that they're on the topic of what exactly happened here, Arven finally (and carefully) explores the tents for any clues (10). Mabosstiff remains at his side in case anything tries to pop out at him.]
[ well, soujuurou is terrified, but once arven says that it’s his friend, he decides to swallow down his opinion. arven doesn’t seem like a bad person, and even he understands the importance of living alongside animals.
it was a necessity back at home, after all
he smiles warmly at the pokemon, and then back at arven. ]
Really? That’s nice. Is that common in your world?
[For what it's worth, Mabosstiff regards Soujuurou with curiosity more than anything. He could sense that fear, but he's not the type of Pokemon to take advantage of it.]
Yeah. Most people have a Pokemon partner. Oh, and Pokemon are what we call animals in my world. They're not exactly the same as the regular animals I've heard about, but I've just been using the comparison anyway since it's easier.
[ he nods, understandingly. though he’s tense, mabosstiff’s lack of aggression works to get him to relax, as he slightly raises his hand with his palm out for the pokemon to sniff. ]
I’ve heard of people keeping pets in the city, but this seems different. It’s as if the two of you were like equals.
[ unlike his life in the mountains, where the respect came from a place of fear and need to survive. a pack of wild dogs or a single could kill you, so it was best to steer away from them and appease them when necessary. the idea of keeping a pet in his village would not only be unheard of, but downright ridiculous. why would you want to have yet another mouth to feed? ]
[Mabosstiff takes that invitation to sniff! Does Soujuurou even smell weird to a dog Pokemon?]
Hmm, it might be because me and Mabosstiff have been through a lot together. He's way more than just a pet to me- he's my precious family who I can always rely on.
[ soujuurou smells...like a crisp autumn morning in the mountains. the cold weather, the pure air, the trees full of vibrant colors, and the dead leaves on the ground. ]
Precious family...
[ he nods absentmindedly, realizing deep down that he can't really relate to that connection. alice and aozaki were people that he held dear to him, but...well, just what even is family anyway?
he smiles. ]
That's good. I'm glad that you have someone that you're that close to. The power of bonds is incredible, isn't it?
[ now he's sounding like some sort of groupie for the goddess... ]
[That is incredibly specific and pleasing to Mabosstiff's senses. He gently presses his snout into Soujuurou's palm. He can pet if he wants.]
Heh. I guess they are, huh? [Arven's never outright disagreed with the whole bonds thing, it's just the goddess's methods are a bit...much.] But yeah, I'm glad to have him, too. My life would've been a lot lonelier without him.
[ mabosstiff moves and soujuurou once again tenses up, his hand motionless. this isn't the same behavior that he remembers from the wild dogs or foxes. either they would keep to themselves, or simply attack.
he looks to arven, his expression one of genuine curiosity and confusion. ]
It's actually the opposite. I was trained to understand animals really well, and how to counter them if necessary. You always have to be careful in the mountains for things like bears--these huge furry creatures that are like 2 meters tall that can walk on their hind legs and have large claws-- or wild dogs.
[ survival, survival, survival. the only rule that reigns over the wild is the survival of the fittest, and soujuurou had that drilled into his head day and night until he left the mountains. he has nothing but respect for animals--but it's a respect born out of a necessary fear.
but he takes note of arven's movements, and mimics them on the side of mabosstiff's head, behind the ear. awkward but gentle. ]
I was attacked by a pack of wild dogs one time, in the mountains. I survived, and I'm pretty proud of that, but it left me with a pretty bad fear of them. I definitely would have never thought that I would ever pet anything like one. [ despite himself, he smiles. ] But he's your friend, so I think I can trust him as well.
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[ he looks up at the light, almost as if transfixed by it like a moth to the flame.
it takes an effort for him to look away, instead focusing on the empty tenta. ]
But what made them leave? And without taking their stuff, too.
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[But now that they're on the topic of what exactly happened here, Arven finally (and carefully) explores the tents for any clues (10). Mabosstiff remains at his side in case anything tries to pop out at him.]
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That must be nice…
[ realizing that he let his opinion slip out, soujuurou decides to try and change the subject, but the only thing that he sees is… uhh… ]
That’s your, um… dog?
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Yep. This is Mabosstiff, my lifelong best bud.
[He'd go on, but for once he keeps the gushing to a minimum. They're stuck in one of these mind realm things.]
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it was a necessity back at home, after all
he smiles warmly at the pokemon, and then back at arven. ]
Really? That’s nice. Is that common in your world?
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Yeah. Most people have a Pokemon partner. Oh, and Pokemon are what we call animals in my world. They're not exactly the same as the regular animals I've heard about, but I've just been using the comparison anyway since it's easier.
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[ he nods, understandingly. though he’s tense, mabosstiff’s lack of aggression works to get him to relax, as he slightly raises his hand with his palm out for the pokemon to sniff. ]
I’ve heard of people keeping pets in the city, but this seems different. It’s as if the two of you were like equals.
[ unlike his life in the mountains, where the respect came from a place of fear and need to survive. a pack of wild dogs or a single could kill you, so it was best to steer away from them and appease them when necessary. the idea of keeping a pet in his village would not only be unheard of, but downright ridiculous. why would you want to have yet another mouth to feed? ]
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Hmm, it might be because me and Mabosstiff have been through a lot together. He's way more than just a pet to me- he's my precious family who I can always rely on.
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Precious family...
[ he nods absentmindedly, realizing deep down that he can't really relate to that connection. alice and aozaki were people that he held dear to him, but...well, just what even is family anyway?
he smiles. ]
That's good. I'm glad that you have someone that you're that close to. The power of bonds is incredible, isn't it?
[ now he's sounding like some sort of groupie for the goddess... ]
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Heh. I guess they are, huh? [Arven's never outright disagreed with the whole bonds thing, it's just the goddess's methods are a bit...much.] But yeah, I'm glad to have him, too. My life would've been a lot lonelier without him.
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[ mabosstiff moves and soujuurou once again tenses up, his hand motionless. this isn't the same behavior that he remembers from the wild dogs or foxes. either they would keep to themselves, or simply attack.
he looks to arven, his expression one of genuine curiosity and confusion. ]
Is he trying to tell me something?
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Arven lets out a small laugh.]
You're really not used to animals, huh?
[There's no judgment behind his question this time. Surprise? Definitely. But hey, it's never too late to learn.]
He's saying you can pet him if you want. Like this.
[He gives Mabosstiff a gentle pet on his head, running his hand back and through the Pokemon's thick fur.]
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It's actually the opposite. I was trained to understand animals really well, and how to counter them if necessary. You always have to be careful in the mountains for things like bears--these huge furry creatures that are like 2 meters tall that can walk on their hind legs and have large claws-- or wild dogs.
[ survival, survival, survival. the only rule that reigns over the wild is the survival of the fittest, and soujuurou had that drilled into his head day and night until he left the mountains. he has nothing but respect for animals--but it's a respect born out of a necessary fear.
but he takes note of arven's movements, and mimics them on the side of mabosstiff's head, behind the ear. awkward but gentle. ]
I was attacked by a pack of wild dogs one time, in the mountains. I survived, and I'm pretty proud of that, but it left me with a pretty bad fear of them. I definitely would have never thought that I would ever pet anything like one. [ despite himself, he smiles. ] But he's your friend, so I think I can trust him as well.