Liberty is a Pokémon trainer. 10 years old, new to the whole thing. She is from Pallet Town. The Pokémon journey begins! Good ol' Route 1. Liberty is there with her starter Pokémon Cubone. She named him Relic. Who might Liberty share her adventures with? Someone she knows from Pallet Town? Someone from a neighboring town?

  Joe is a Pokemon (okay, so we both are too lazy, and dont know how to make the fancy e) trainer in the 'Has pokemon, has license' sense.  Random Pokemon RP's where Joe had a Pidgey who hung out with him predate Superbird, but we're calling this one Superbird anyways.

  Joe is *hackcough*teen years old, from the next town over but is visiting at the moment.  Joe knows Liberty is awesome, other way around may not be known. At least to Joe's wonky ego settings that don't register compliments.

Liberty always had a hard time figuring out Joe's age and when she asked someone once, they hacked and coughed. >.< But age or no, Liberty is in the middle of battling a wild Pokémon and captures it. Good ol' caterpie. Liberty spots Joe approaching and waves. "Hey Joe!"

  Anime is full of incredulous for their age situations anyways.  Such as 15 year olds that are seven feet tall and built like Mexican Wrestlers.  Joe waves hi to Liberty as she wanders over.  "Hi Liberty, congratulations on now having twice as many pokemon that hang around you than I do."  The Pidgey Eyes Joe with that 'well DUH, you lazy bastard' look.

  Hey, pokeballs cost money.  Not to mention Joe is less interested in amassing a pocket stored army that can devastate a small island nation and more reaching the convenience store alive.

Lucky is a black pursian, *cough* years old.  He watches the battle and licks his paw.

"Either of you interested in being my human?" he asks, "I don't have any starter humans, so I'll need a volunteer."

Liberty looks over to Lucky. Apparently, age-telling cold is contagious. "How is it you speak English when most Pokémon don't?" she asks, more enthralled by that than the fact he's black. Though that certainly didn't escape her notice either.

Relic looks over at Lucky and says, <Pokémon>"Very funny."</Pokémon> which to everyone else just sounds like "Bone."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Sun 15 May 2011.

  Superbird is less amazed and more Angry Bird Face.  So, generic dislike between Birds and Cats going on here?  <Subtitles>Back off man, only room for one feeloader Mooching off Joe.</subtitles>  Yeah, nothing so dignified.

  "Hiring standards hit a lull for you, or what?" Joe asks of the Kitty.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:27, Sun 15 May 2011.

Lucky chuckles from Superbird's comment.

"I was taught English by a human who loved me," Lucky answers, doing the kitty-cat tail-wag, "Most pokemon I ask say they're not interested in learning English.  I was only kidding about taking either of you as my human.  I don't have any huméballs to capture you with."

He smirks and winks at Joe.

Liberty says, "Well if you want, I'll take you." she holds up a Pokéball. "What happened to the last human you were with?"

  "I'd feel less awkward about the Humeball thing if I tried to punch your face of or something just for making eye contact."  Sure, cramming someone into a softball sized container that shrinks to golf ball size could be considered kind of a jerkfaced move.  But it's harder to feel sympathy to a GIANT BEE after it tries to sting your eyeballs out.

  A surprisingly large amount of pokemon just offer high fives as he walks by though.  He's still trying to figure out how that voltorb managed that.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:50, Sun 15 May 2011.

Lucky eyes the pokeball and headshakes.  "No thanks, goldilocks," he says, "I just met you."

He nods to Joe.

"I don't understand the fixation with violence in both humans and pokemon.  I'll join up with a human all official and stuff once I know they'll not be using me as their gladiator."

Liberty gives Lucky a weird look. "You just asked for someone to volunteer to be your "human" and then turn around and say no thanks? Maybe you know English, but your communication skill is off. Anyway, if you want someone who won't use you for combat, then go with Joe. I can vouch for him. He has a reputation for being too lazy to bother with Pokémon battles."

Relic rolls his eyes. He looks at Liberty. <Pokémon>"Can we continue now?"</Pokémon>

Liberty looks over at Relic, "What's the rush, Relic?" not 100% solid evidence Liberty can speak Pokémon, but close enough to show she understands he's in a hurry.

  "If that guy didn't want me to punch him, he shouldn't have said 'let's battle', he should have said 'let's have pokemon fight while we watch'.  Then me and Bird could have both pointed and laughed at him."  Joe, you and Superbird still pointed and laughed at him anyways.

  "Though, I guess if you were dead set on following someone around with low expectations of you, I do seem to fit that bill."  Be the very best? Catch them all? YOU CRAZY!
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:15, Sun 15 May 2011.

"I was poking fun of the way people talk about pokemon, blondie," Lucky says, "Instead of 'starter pokemon' I said 'starter human.'  The humor is in imagining a pokemon throwing a ball into the arena and out pops a human to do battle for the pokemon.  Rather than the other way around."

"I'll travel with you for a while, Joe.  Name's Lucky."

Blondie, Goldielocks, etc... "Name's Liberty." she says to Lucky. A bellsprout pops up! Relic faces the bellsprout. The two start battling right there in front of Lucky. Liberty just seems to be overseeing the battle, though her eyes follow it intently. She keeps the Pokéball handy that she was going to use on Lucky.

  Joe nods, "Nice to meet you Lucky, what did happen to the last Human you hung around with though?"  Sure, Liberty asked already, but maybe Joe would have a bit extra chance to have it answered now 'Lucky Joined Your Party!' fanfare has occurred for him.

  <subtitles>"I'm watching you Maaaaaan."</subtitles>  Ah, Superbird.  Ever the insane dramaqueeen.

  Joe facepalms at the Bellsprout "Stop trying to punch things with leaves!"

Lucky sighs as more violence ensues.

"Nice to meet you, Liberty."

"The nice human who taught me English died of old age."

The bellsprout is distracted by Joe for a moment and Relic thwaps it upside the sprout.

The battle is won and Liberty immediately captures the bellsprout. She then turns her attention back to Lucky. "Are you old? Or was the man already old when he found you?"

  Now, if this were Monster Rancher then the deadly horrors of your monsters dying of old age at the ripe old age of two, or maybe four (even robots and sentient obelisks) would be all too real and waiting just around the corner.  But this is Pokemon, when is the last time you saw one deal with old age?

  Also, Joe used Nonsensical Ramble! It was Super Effective!  Bellsprout Is Confused!

  "Well, sorry to hear that Lucky.  Wish I could go with more than that, but I don't think I ever met the guy."

"His name was Grendel," Lucky says, "And yeah.  He was really old when we met."

Liberty says, "Let's go for some ice cream." because ice cream is always a welcome change of topic. And Liberty has 3 Pokémon now, all of whom need a Pokécenter. She begins heading back towards Pallet Town.

  Joe comments "Icecream solves so many things.  It solves them so well it leaves you wondering why we haven't chosen this course of action until right now."  He looks down to Lucky, and asks "I don't suppose you had a favorite flavor?"

Lucky smiles and nods at both Liberty and Joe.

"Sounds good.  Favorite flavor?  Hard to choose when so many are so tasty."

He licks his lips and follows their lead.

Liberty heads for the Pokécenter and heals up her Pokémon before she goes to the goods store and buys some ice cream. Her flavor of choice? Chocolate with hot fudge. She gets a little extra and lets her Pokémon out to partake. All 3 of them. She watches them and seems to be deep in thought.

  I think, one of the more optimistic either game blurbs or cartoon bits I've seen was it mentioning that Pokemon go all kinds of Aggro on you, and yet amazingly you never get killed by them, because they are looking for a badass enough trainer to deal with them...  Wait, Doesn't that make all those Pokemon you beat up but don't capture all the more depressing?

  Just can't win ;.;

  Joe opts for Fudge swirl, because it's vanilla ice cream with your chocolate syrup built in already.  Delicious, AND lazy!  Lucky Gets' a tiny kids cup of Phish Food (how quaint, bet you think you're real clever with that one.).

  Superbird nomnomnomns a wafer icecream cone... Just an icecream cone... So he likes icecream cones alright!? Oh man, crumbs everywhere.

Lucky blink-blinks in surprise at the nifty flavor he's been offered.  Lick lick lick!  Yum!  :9

"Thank you, Joe!" he says, "This is delicious!  I wasn't expecting you to pay for me, but if you insist I'm happy for the treat and treat you back some time."

Liberty says, "You mean to say you carry money with you, Lucky?"

  Joe finally remembers that Meowths and stuff have that attack where they THROW GOLD OUT OF NOWHERE...  How come Team rocket was always trying to steal pokemon if they could have Meowth make gold?... Oh, right.  Because the gold economy was probably devastated by all the Meowths.

  "Well, we just met you and I'd feel kinda bad if you couldn't get any icecream after we announced going for some."

Lucky smiles at Liberty.

"No I just find it in unlikely places," he says as he reaches behind her ear to prestidigitate a coin with a wink, "I'll cover the tip, then.  Thanks again, Joe."

Liberty backs her face off a little as she gasps in surprise. Then smiles. "Neat trick." What? When I was 10, I still found that trick to be neat.

  Joe will be more impressed if Lucky can easily reach a tip jar than the fact Lucky is providing the tip.  "Yeah, I'm still using newbie pockets for where I keep my money."

Lucky smiles at his new friends.

"So what are your plans, then?" he asks, "Why'd you become pokemon trainers?"

Liberty lets Joe answer first, if for no other reason so Chris can have the after-Tim spot.

Lucky takes the spot, then.

  If Liberty is just silent and Chris takes the after Tim Spot, then that doesn't change the pose order any more than if she actually answered and Chris took the after Tim spot.

  "Because I still have a scar where a weedle barely missed my vital organs when I wasn't one.  More a survival necessity outlook than any enthusiasm for it."

Liberty says, "That's one vicious Weedle..." then looks at Lucky. "I wanna see what it's about, see the world, learn from and about Pokémon. My larger goal kind of depends on what I learn about Pokémon. That goal: Become someone influential enough to get things done. Like founding a special anti-rocket team or something."

"Survival," Lucky says with a nod, "A noble goal.  So one to have body guards, the other to learn.  Well if you two like, I can serve as translator for your existing pokemon for the time being.  Any questions you wanted to ask them?  Like, 'Why did you attack me?'

He glances at the plant pokemon Liberty recently captured.

  If we wanted to be ridiculous, we could say that Weedle took offense to Joe's blue T-shirt.  Because Weedles are Version Red, Gangsta Bug type don't like yo colors.

  <subtitles>"But if you translated, then he'd know all the stupid things I Say!</subtitles>
  "But if you translated, then I'd have to listen to all the stupid things Superbird says.
  Superbird Sage nods, then double takes <subtitles>"Hey, that's totaly not the point I was making when making that point!</subtitles>

  Joe just kinda blink blinks at Superbirds spaz out from his coincidental comment. "...okaaay?"

Liberty says, "Sure. Thanks."

She looks at the two new ones. The Bellsprout, she asks, "So why did you attack?"

The Bellsprout answers, <Pokémon>"Because I saw you attack the Caterpie."</Pokémon>

Lucky translates as best he can for both pokemon.

"So the caterpie didn't attack them first?" he asks.

  Joe can't answer the 'Did Hanerty or Greedopie shoot first?', because that started and finished before Joe entered the thread.  "If every case of horrible violence could have been avoided from skipping very absic misunderstandings, things would be a lot more convenient."

Liberty looks at the Caterpie. The Caterpie says, <Pokémon>"I panicked! I saw this scary lookin' cubone and what was clearly a Pokémon trainer. So I thought I better attack the cubone first and get the first shot in. And it was only stringshot..."</Pokémon>

Once Lib hears the translation, she says, "I thought it was just a given that Pokémon attack other Pokémon."

"Under many circumstances, pokemon live together quite peacefully," Lucky says, "But as you can see, when it comes to pokemon who belong to a trainer, the mindset is 'Attack if you want to have any chance of keeping your freedom.'  I can't say why the weedle attacked Joe, but I'd wager a guess that it thought it was fighting for it's life...  unless it was a gangster weedle or something.  Criminal personalities exist among pokemon just like they do humans."

  "Well, I was pretty sure they were an asshole.  But it hadn't occurred to me that would be the only reason they'd stab a six year old."  He shrugs,  "I don't suppose you notice what was more common in your time out and about lucky?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:19, Mon 16 May 2011.

While the TV Network bleeps out Joe's curse word due to the the kid's show, Liberty says, "Did Pokémon control take care of the Weedle? You obviously survived the encounter.... or did the Pokémon just run off?"

"I'm guessing the frequency of anus type pokemon is about equal to the freqency of such in humans," Lucky says, "While certain pokemon have a reputation for a harsh disposition..."

He glances at cubone.

"...that doesn't mean they're all nasty down to the last individual.  My own kind, for example, are famed for being prone to scratch 'with little or no provocation.'  That's not exactly true.  From a human's perspective, sure, but not so from a Pursian's.  Humans I'm told are known to attack pokemon with brooms simply for sniffing at their trash cans.  To a human, apparently, trashcans are sacred and they take great offense to something like that.  In the same way, a Pursian's attack might seem unprovoked to a human."
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:59, Mon 16 May 2011.

  Joe says "If anything ever happened to it, I never heard about it."  He considers Lucky's comments and outlook, then says "This would be part of the reason for my lazy and reactive approach.  I could end up putting effort into just being kind of a dick."

Relic is proud of the fact cubones have such a reputation. But he doesn't puff his chest. He just keeps that standard "I'm too tough to look proud, happy or sad" look that cubones do.

Liberty says, "Most people with a background like yours, Joe, would wind up looking to destroy Pokémon, humiliate them, or otherwise "get back at" them for what the one did. Or they'd be afraid to go out or even to have a Pokémon. You must be brave at least for that much."

Lucky nods.

"She's got a point.  Glad you didn't wind up angry or scared of all pokemon.  Admittedly, I find it hard to not be prejudice myself."

  Joe says "Well, I guess some of it is self consciousness about similar mindsets.  If I reasonably want people to shut up about 'blarg all Humans are jerkfaces by nature', even if nobody will, then it'd be kinda stupid to go 'blarg! All Pokemons are jerkfaces!'."  We're pretty sure as both Player and Character there are plenty functional Hypocrisies'(is that the spelling?) Joe still puts to use.

  He shrugs "Granted, Humans cant level a building by default.  The cynical deep end of my outlook assumes the whole kids with licenses thing is a sugar coated method of keeping Humanity from being wiped out.  Encourage a bunch of competitive adolescents to train small armies in combat in case one of the many mountain leveling Pokemon decides they don't like how a city ruins their ocean view."  Cheaper than arming children with guns too, not that Guns would work on most pokemon.

Liberty huhs. "Yeah. Can't level a building normally. Though I think what Lucky said earlier makes sense. Most humans and Pokémon are not jerks. It's the jerks that give the others a bad name. But whatev. How'd you meet Superbird?"

Relic eyes Superbird.

"Yet somehow being unable to level buildings with their bare hands never seems to slow a human down from leveling buildings by other means," Lucky points out, "And pokemon don't have the power to cram humans into little balls, summon humans at will, or mentally dominate humans with gym badges.

"I like your frankness, Joe.  I can appreciate your outlook.  I just wish people wouldn't sugar-coat it.  Or institutionalize it.  I don't think it necessary to make jerkfacery the norm in response to a few bad apples.  Pokemon or otherwise."

  "I always figured the Gym Badge thing was because More Shiny objects was better than no shiny objects.  Hmm, amazing and argument breaking point about 'humans can still destroy buildings."  Joe then dramatically points at a radioshack "Librty! Tear down that building right now!... Oh, that's right. you can't.   Might as well say 'Humans built airplanes, so its completely the same to compare Human ability to fly to a birds'.  Or 'you have submarines, so what's your excuse for drowning to death?'."

  The bitter meter is rising captain!  "Yeah, most people and most pokemon aren't jerks.  But that still doesn't take away that all humans-" The stray psychic or plot powered ones aside "On their own merits can't exactly do a ton themselves, compared to even the 'weakest' of pokemon being able to kill their faces off if they decided to, or even accidentally." Oh, look. Pikachu shocked Ash again for disagreeing with him, That's hlariouoh, Ash is dead... whoops.  Okay, who's the smartass that turned off the cartoon physics?  I don't want to have to scrape challenging pokemon off the Gym floor after Onyx is done with them.

  "Anyways, as for Superbird here, He's a stalker."  Superbird tiltcrashes.  "What? It's true.  You keep a him from stealing your soft pretzel and you never hear the end of it from them."

  And how did Joe accomplish the snack theft prevention on that first meeting?  Step 1) Dodge.  Step 2) Jam that pretzle in your face like you're a hamster.  Step 3) Avoid choking.  Step 3 is the tricky part, but Joe did it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:20, Fri 20 May 2011.

Liberty says, "Hey now... I can do plenty! I have opposable thumbs!" So does Mr Mime, but guess what he resembles? A human. That's right. Regardless, even as Lib says this, she holds her thumbs up. Then sets her hands down. "But yeah. I don't think destructive power is everything." That's because THIS Liberty wasn't raised to believe that being a killing machine is all she is good for. "I think Lucky's point is that humans are the ones who rule the planet. Not Pokémon. Unless I'm completely wrong."

Relic resists the urge to point and laugh at Superbird. Good thing cubones have those skull masks to hide their expressions.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:46, Fri 20 May 2011.

"Liberty's kinda right," Lucky answers, flip-flopping his tail in that lazy kitty-cat manner, "Hey superbird!  Use vine whip!  Cubone.  Surf!  You're pokemon, obviously, you must be able to.

"Missed points aside, an individual's ability to hold their own in a one-on-one fight is less an issue than their willingness to be a jerkface.  Few seem to object to Snorelax's incredible strength... because they have reputations for being too lazy to be jerkfaces.

"Or am I misreading and you're jealous of pokemon for being good gladiators?"

He looks at Superbird, puzzled.

<Pursian, purr!>"You harass him for a different reason.... riiight?</Pursian, purr!>
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:01, Fri 20 May 2011.

  Superbird Wingflaps <subtitles>"Dude's crazy, he broke his hands punching a Scyther unconscious that was trying to tear my wings off when I first met him.  Then he gave me a pretzel.  He keeps making up a stupid non badass story for I have no freaking clue why.</subtitles>

  "Eh, it'd be a lot more convenient if the 'capacity for violence, yes no' wasn't even a factor in day to day life really."

Liberty holds her ice cream cone up in a "cheers" fashion to Joe. "Amen. I wonder how many world-smashing tyrants, Pokémon or otherwise, could be dissuaded by ice cream."

Cubone says in response to Superbird, <Bone>"I like this Joe guy."</Bone>
This message was last edited by the player at 05:56, Fri 20 May 2011.

Lucky blink-blinks at Superbird's response.

"He's saying that you punched out a scyther when you first met.  Not being inconvenienced by another's violence would be great, yes...  But I doubt ice-cream would be very effective against most jerkfaces."

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afzqnyxZxQM  Refer to 2:30, on Joe's Thoughts on how Icecream could be effective against Jerkfaces.  Or failing that, eye socket.

  "That's crazy talk, that would take at least fifteen punches to the lose chitin segment on the left side of their head followed up with a nearby rock."  Superbird facewings.

Liberty is done her ice cream and looks at the two new Pokémon. "Comm'ere."

The Pokémon obey. The Caterpie crawls to her while the Bellsprout wobbles to her, practically dancing its way over. Liberty puts her hands on them, one hand on each, slowly petting them. She closes her eyes. The Pokémon look at her curiously and innocently. Then close their eyes.

Relic stands in front of Liberty with his back facing her, holding his bone upright in front of him like a guard.

Lucky watches curiously, flopping the tip his tail.

"So...  What's this all about?"

  Joe wonders it Liberty is going to use the Taunisian skeletal pull of DEATH... Wait, no, she wouldn't do that to them.

  Bugs and Plants don't have skeletons, duh.

  "I have no freaking idea.  When you pat someone on the head, you usually lift your hand after Liberty."

OOC Style:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6BGwITuBr8  at 2:05

Relic answers Lucky, <Bone, Cubone>"She's connecting with them."</Bone, Cubone>

Liberty opens her eyes and looks at Joe. "But when you pet them, you don't. I was just figuring out what to name them..."

She then looks at the Pokémon, who have now opened their eyes. She looks at the caterpie. "I will name you Shift." she then looks at the Bellsprout. "And I will name you Valor."

"Connecting with them?" Lucky echoes, "Meaning psychically?  I've heard there's psychic type humans, but they're rare and most live in one city.  Nice names.  You coulda asked 'em their names, but they likely wouldn't have a human translation."

  Joe comments "So, you hate being called Lucky then, or do you just go with it because it's less of a hassle then saying 'my name is 'untranslatable', get it right'?  Considering you'll supposedly be hanging around me for a while, I'd prefer to call you something that won't set you off in seething rage"  Deep man, Deep... Wait, no it isnt.

Liberty says, "I'm guessing that when someone introduces themselves, they tend to use a name they prefer to go by. Just a hunch."

She then looks at Lucky. "I try not to talk about it too much, but yeah. I'm psionic. But on the topic of names, many trainers name their Pokémon. It's like giving them a rank or a title that defines who they are."

"My name is <Pursian>Lucky</Pursian> which translates quite nicely to Lucky," Lucky explains, "And you have little to worry about from me as far as violence is concerned.  I avoid violence.  I don't even like 'playful' matches between willing pokemon.

"Why hide being psychic?"

  Enemy used Rock Paper Scissors!  It was considered Distasteful.

  "Don't look at me for the whole 'why that name' thing.  He picked it."  This said pointing at Superbird.  Superbird wingshrugs, <subtitles>"If Humans are gonna call me something, it better be something awesome"</subtitles>

Liberty answers Lucky's question. "Many humans are afraid of psychics, human or not. The very topic makes even the more tolerant uncomfortable. And the less tolerant... become violent."

Lucky mews a groan.

"Really?  Ugh.  Sorry about your troubles, Liberty."

  Joe's less than eyetwitchy over the subject in this thread than in others.  It also helps that Liberty isn't a jerkface.  "I guess some people feel the need to punch the outside of someone's head before someone gets a chance to punch the inside of theirs.  even if it wouldn't happen in the first place"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:29, Sat 21 May 2011.