[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]so far, so good. the walk is pleasant with a soft breeze sweeping through her hair. clouds lazily roll overhead and she's settling into a familiar sense of comfort the longer they're wandering.

except, comfort quickly shifts into panic and she's yanking repeatedly at the large clay hand that holds hers.

"hey, watch out," she squeaks. the automaton abruptly stops, head turning to stare at her with a quizzical coo. a moment too late and the scatterbug that had been attempting to cross their path would have been pancaked beneath the golurk's massive feet. instead, the little bug is safe and not squashed. it scurries off without hesitation, more than content to never cross paths with another automaton again.

a relieved sigh escapes illeana before she's gently tugging at the clay hand once more to signal they're good to continue.

safari.
passing!

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]the next curve of the path brings them past a cluster of sunkern. one in particular seems keen on observing them as they pass, on watching the way their connected hands swing gently between them. and maybe it wishes it had hands to do the same for the coo that escapes it is disheartened, sad, longing.

poor thing... you'll get hands soon, cutie. just you wait!

safari.
passing!

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]there's a series of questions (well... more like concerns) that rise when the next pokemon crosses their path. first: how does it support that block of ice? second: how does it not just topple over beneath the weight? third: is it even heavy or surprisingly lighter than it looks? and finally, fourth: can she hold the blocky head of ice in her hands just to confirm or deny these questions?

her golurk looks plenty confused if she stops to think about it. as if the automaton has never seen something quite like it in its life and she'd really have to agree. perhaps that's why they both drift closer, heads tilting to the side as if a change of angle will give them better understanding.

"hello," she murmurs. the blockhead penguin chirps back in response, a light noise coming out muffled by ice. okay, another question. how does it breath through that ice? too many questions, not enough answers. she's quick to extend a hand, to flash a welcoming smile. "you're quite unique, you know?" of course it probably doesn't know that but it should. a pause follows before she's widening the smile, pulling corners of a mouth further back into cheeks. "i'd be honored to study you if you'd give me the pleasure."

and perhaps it will or perhaps it won't. she waits for an answer, anyway.

safari.
capturing!

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]the small snake almost goes unnoticed by the scientist and her automaton. almost but not quite. perhaps because it slithers across their path, narrowly missing the large clay feet. it'll dart between them, confused and nervous to be stepped on. and where deus normally isn't paying attention, illeana is.

"be mindful of your feet," she murmurs to the golurk and it coos back in response. gentler steps are taken with a clay head glancing down every now and then. the dratini passes them by without any harm done to its body and disappears into the bushes.

safari. i rly forgot ab this, huh?
passing

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]the next creature to cross their path is one she's familiar with. well, more with the fully evolved form than the beginning but it's enough to bring a fond smile to her face. and while she wouldn't mind another gengar, she has to keep in mind that two gengars would probably be a recipe for disaster. hers is already a handful.

and so, in a mildly big brain moment, illeana offers a gentle wave and leads deus on the way to the next clearing. the gastly stares after them for a moment, snickers, and then floats on.

safari. forgot again pepehands
passing

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]eventually, the path gives way to a small lake. and naturally, she drifts closer with every intention of seeing what it holds. turns out it holds a tentacool, one that manages to catch her off guard when she peers over the water's edge.

a gasp escapes as surprise settles in. and much like a wingull, she's flapping her arms in an attempt to not teeter over the edge. the automaton at her side extends a clay hand and holds her steady, enough for her to breathe and regain her composure.

the tentacool and the lake are both abandoned in favor of not almost falling in again.

safari.
passing