CJ loved ecology. One, because it was easy, and their brain needed a fucking break, and two, because it was endlessly fascinating. It tied into organizational and evolutional concepts, and could be witnessed with the naked eye-- no microscope migraines for them, not today!

It should be said that CJ wasn’t even looking at the stupid hot professor, but his Vivillion. Pokemon that came in different morphs were another of CJ’s niche passions, with genetics being their focus of study-- at least insofar as conservation and biodiversity were concerned.

CJ’s field journal was a mishmash of notes, scrawled in a rushed script in margins, upside-down, looping around other lines of text. They became innately embarrassed of it, snapping it shut as they approached GIDEON GRAVES.

“Pretty Vivillion,” they said, with a small smile, “what regional pattern are they?”

GIDEON GRAVES
normal/bug/fairy
:freeloader:

☉

The laugh that escapes CJ when Toni calls her Shinx petty is real and genuine, like their smug giggles have been growing and growing since the interaction started. “I’m sorry,” they said, pressing a knuckle into the bridge of their nose, “I-- it’s. The frankness. I appreciate it.” They heaved a breath. “It’s nice to see that other people get frustrated by their Pokemon too, right, Kin?”

They look down at Kinnick to see if she wants some water but she’s off again rustling in the undergrowth; there’s a zapping noise that causes clods of dirt to go flying and then she comes crawling out of the brush with a dazed Rowlet in her face.

“I’ve had Kinnick for years,” CJ said, taking Toni’s hand (their own nails being quite plain and worn down), “she got surrendered to the shelter I worked at for biting her previous owner, as an Eevee.” Then, on another beat, “I’m CJ. Nice to meet you!”

Antoinette Spina
flying/water
catch attempt rowlet
wearing

☉

With Deadlegs’ help they manage to avoid the fissures and the giant, gaping holes and cracks in the surface of the earth. A second earthquake roars loudly in CJ’s ears-- they hear the sound before they feel the motion-- and they clutch Calvin close and spread their feet, bracing against the upheaving ground until it passes, leaving them with a vaguely rubber-band like feeling.

They press on towards the red flare.

The path they are more or less following ends, dropping down into-- into literally nothing. CJ considers dropping to their stomach to crawl to the edge of the pit, to see if there are any survivors, anyone who needs help, when a hand thrusts skyward. The fingers claw into the fractured asphalt-- there’s a noise like grinding rocks, making CJ think of a mortar and pestle, of pills churned to chalk-- and up rises a-- a fucking Regi?!

They literally-- they cannot believe--

It’s just an illusion, it’s just an illusion--

CJ makes a very brave-sounding yelp as they launch to the side, the zap cannon churning the air with the scent of energy, striking the ground where they once stood. They hit soundly on their elbow, biting down on a cry of pain, and Calvin trills worriedly in their arms.

“Deadlegs, blizzard!” CJ shouts on the burst of air that it takes them to roll and rise to their feet. Their Glaceon’s eyes begin to glow, and an otherworldly sound of whipping wind slices through the air; a furious storm of whirling snow and icy crystals begins to spin around them, coalescing to funnel around Regirock.

Meanwhile, Calvin sets a concerned limb against the bloody scrape on CJ’s elbow, life dew running in chill droplets across their skin.

vuKdF68A

Greyson Connors
cj enters the arena! glaceon and togepi are out.
glaceon uses blizzard
togepi uses life dew

☉

CJ wouldn’t last long in bureaucracy. Inactivity made them itch. Paperwork made their eyes cross. Working in a nuanced field like vetmed did mean they had more respect for the subtlety of politicians-- knew that not every battle was won on-site, sword in hand-- but, in that same vein, they were, at their core, a jump first and ask questions later kind of person.

Having seen the groggy but conscious Sandile off with its trainer, CJ headed out into the relief camp proper, carting a kit full of emergency med supplies, food, and water. They made a few brief stops to check up on some prior patients to see who was curing up well (and following instructions) and who wasn’t.

They’d just sent off a Litten with a well-healed abscess when someone bumped into them from behind; they startled and spun, almost elbowing their accidental assailant with the force of their turn. “Shit! Sorry. Are you okay?”

She didn’t seem much the worse for wear-- a slight flush over her cheeks that matched the ruby of her hair-- and bright golden eyes that winced in apology.

“No, I’m fine,” CJ said, tempted to squint because they knew they recognized this lady, but how? “No harm done. Can I help you with anything?”

PENELOPE LIVY
dawn of a new day: medic

☉

CJ has the feeling of being weighed, measured, and found overwhelmingly wanting. They force a smile that only looks a tiny bit fake; it’s not an unusual first impression. They’re definitely more of an end-of-season-heroics character.

“Okay, good. Sorry about that.”

And, you know, they had just sort of stumbled over Toni and made her spill her water, so those definitely weren’t points in the win column.

“Aw, cute,” they cheer, when Toni reveals she’d had the Shinx for her whole life. Their hand absently goes to rustle Kinnick’s head fur, wondering just how different their life would be if they’d had the Jolteon during her formative years. There would be a lot less assaulting the local wildlife, that was for fucking sure.

They couldn’t hide their frown when they heard Toni’s opinion of her Shinx. “Aw, it’s not that bad, right?” they said, trying to find the positive in the situation like Sisyphus pushing that damn boulder up a hill, “They’ve just got a lot of growing to do.” The Shinx then decimated a hovering Crobat and CJ, to their credit, did not laugh. They did grin like an idiot.

Meanwhile, Kinnick had sighted a Vullaby in the nearby bushes. She cleaned its clock with a thunder and then dragged its smoking body back to the two trainers, as if to say that’s great, but look what I can do. CJ winced as they zapped the baby bird into a Pokeball.

“You’re a menace.”

Antoinette Spina
flying/water
catch attempt vullaby
wearing

☉

CJ winces when the stranger jumps. “Sorry,” they say, watching the water pool in the dirt. “If you spilled too much I might have another bottle.”

A little Mudkip hopped out to investigate and the Shinx decimated it with a mouth that opened more than CJ thought physically possible.

"How long have you had her?”CJ asked, wondering about the little kittens nerves. Meanwhile, Kinnick decimated a Rookidee perched in a nearby tree.

"Don’t do that,” CJ hissed, "you’ll start a friggin’ fire!”

Antoinette Spina
flying/water
catch attemp rookidee
wearing

☉