"Oh, uh." August mentally bluescreened at the concept of being physically perceived. "Can I get the best tasting eight-poke-or-less food? Er, whatever you recommend, I guess." His eyes scanned over various menus, but the words went in one ear and out the other.[break]
The customer adjusted the cane slightly, moving all his weight onto his left leg and wiggling the other absentmindedly."I mean, like, counting sales tax or whatever. 'Cuz that's what I have on me." [break]He observed the stranger- maybe a waiter or bartender? Fancy clothes were out of his wheelhouse, but he didn't want to be subjected to foot-in-mouth-itis, so like- [break]
Yeah. "...Oh wait, am I supposed to like, sit down, or...?"

⚰︎ divider made by milky!

Berthold Hawthorne

The stranger's shout evidently startled the congregating waterfowl. Most scattered, but one in particular lunged forward, crashing into his lap and dropping a globule of water onto his face before flying off as well. [break]
August screeched for a brief second, cutting himself off as suddenly as his mouth opened. Did he actually just make that sound? [break]
He took a few moments to gather his remaining brain cells. Wait, was someone talking to him?... "Uh, can you repeat that?" August scratched his ear. The movement of his knee almost sent the cane clattering to the ground, but evidently, he'd had his daily allotted share of bad luck since it stayed in place. [break]
The young adult reached down and froze. Wait- [break]
Those feathered assholes stole his fruit!

⚰︎ divider made by milky!

Alexei Ivanov

employment: act i

[break][break]
It was a rainy day in Slateport, and August was a horrible trainer.[break]
No, really. He had no pokemon to his name, no job, and enough money to buy him a sandwich or two at the local gas station. Which was, you know. Fine. The pokemon centers were chill with squatters.[break]
Less chill was the way the rain made his jacked up leg get all tingly. The nearest stores were all old-timey; some kind of tailor, an insurance agent, and a pub that clearly used to be a house. [break]
The pub seemed like the best bet, to be honest. The other options tended to dislike scrungly young adults dripping water all over their carpet. He raised his hand to rap on the door. Wait, this was a restaurant. [break]
He pushed the door open with his right hand, leaving his left one open to wedge his cane between the frame and nudge his way through. It was moderately crowded, as far as he could tell- the unusual hour balanced itself with the bad weather. Or something. Maybe this place was just... That popular. [break]
August eyed a hanging menu, twitching minutely as rainwater dribbled down his shoulders. [break]
Did they have anything for eight poke or less?

⚰︎ divider made by milky!

Berthold Hawthorne

August, mercifully, didn't have to climb any ladders or bridges to enter the pokemon center. He was passing between Mauville and Lilycove, which was already actually hell on his leg, but the concept of having to scale a tree to check in made him want to fold himself into meat origami and launch himself into the sun.[break]
He adjusted the cane in his lap, having positioned it horizontally upon first sitting on the bench. There were an unusual amount of birds in Fortree- which he was always up for. Birds were the shit, and evidently, the rest of the town thought so, too, because there were numerous bird-friendly treats and millets offered at a steep discount in the pokemart. He had a tin of washed blueberries- that way, he could feed both himself and the little Wingull who kept squawking at him whenever he looked away for longer than three seconds.[break]
"I'm poor, dude," he said, apropos of nothing, "you ain't getting more than-" [break]
As he made to toss one more blueberry towards the little guy, a warbling cry and flap of wings startled him nearly off the bench. [break]
Behind the Wingull landed a Pelipper. [break]
And then another. [break]
And another.[break]
The pokemon kept landing until he counted nearly ten birds, noisily squawking at each other and him alike. "What the- get your own food!" [break]
He was surrounded.

⚰︎ divider made by milky!

Alexei Ivanov