Chapter 8: Start
The General Store in Auburn was simultaneously better and worse than the ubiquitous PokeMart. Worse due to the unsurprising lack of merchandise compared to the high end retail chain. Better because - well - who doesn't love to haggle?
And haggling with a little [Persuasion] on your side?
Few things are more satisfying.
"Listen, I don't live here nor do I plan on it any time soon." I punctuate the sentence with a tap on the counter. "At most I'll be futzing around Auburn for another day or three."
From the slowly developing scowl on the store owner's face, I can tell he knows where I'm going with this. And he's not a fan.
Well too bad old man.
"So while it would be a mild inconvenience to go without…" I gesture to the spread of items on the counter. "I somehow think I can handle the day or two it would take me to get to Viridian City."
In all honestly, the prices aren't bad at all. Fairly reasonable from what I've been able to figure from questioning Joy.
But at the end of the day, the only thing I stand to lose from trying to squeeze every penny out of this deal is Mr. Irritated Store Owner's respect.
The thing is, there's only two people in this world whose opinion I currently care about. And the fuming man in front of me is neither pink and bubbly nor furry and adorable.
I continue after a moment as the owner chews his lip in thought.
"Look, I'm not trying to screw you over here. I'm not asking for half-off or anything like that." I wave my hand dismissively. "I'm just doing my due diligence as a mostly broke kid with no one to lean on. If I had family to help me out I wouldn't even be here in the first place."
Was that too much? It's still hard to tell when I'm pushing the pathos too hard.
"So let's find a compromise that'll leave neither of us happy, but still better off than we were before."
I can tell he's all but agreed, only his pride won't allow him to accept. Good thing I know just how to push him over the edge.
I move back from where I'd been leaning over the counter and shrug my shoulders with a resigned air.
"Suit yourself."
Now many people might see this as a prelude to walking away from the deal in an attempt to get reeled back in.
Amateurs.
As if I would lower myself to such a scrub tier move when I have something better.
Doing my best to keep down my smirk, I pick up Nikko and deposit her in front of the slightly bewildered man.
Nikko with her big brown eyes is dangerous enough. Add in the lilac bandana around her neck?
"Vee?"
Try and say no to that face, you weak willed weasel.
The sound of his resistance crumbling with a weary sigh is music to my ears.
Yeah. That's what I thought.
"Oh? Looks like you ended up going to the General Store after all." Joy exclaims as she enters the kitchen - my assortment of purchase spread across the table.
"I decided to check it out after Nikko and I finished a bit of training. It didn't have everything I wanted, but I think I came out of it with a pretty good deal. The owner seems like a nice enough guy."
Anyone who gives me what I want is a'okay in my book.
Joy moves over to the fridge and begins taking out ingredients for dinner. I've finally stopped asking if she wants any help - it just tweaks her sense of hospitality.
"So what did you end up purchasing?"
"Since you already all but thrust that backpack onto me - thank you once again - I was able to afford the other two big items on my checklist among other things. It did nearly clear out my savings though."
I reach over and drag the two items in question in front of me. Nikko on the next chair over gives them a cursory sniff.
"They aren't exactly top of the line, but it's not like I had the money for that anyway. And after spending a couple of nights braving the merciless wild, a tent and sleeping bag sounded divine."
"Eevee?"
"Don't worry Nikko, you'll always be my favorite cuddle buddy. I'm certain the sleeping bag is big enough for the both of us." I pause in thought. "At least until you evolve."
Nikko cocks her head in interest, her ears flopping in the most adorable way.
Hmm.
"We haven't really talked about evolving have we?"
I reach over and lift Nikko onto my lap.
"Vee?"
"How much do you know about your potential evolutions?"
I ask since I really have no idea. It hasn't been something I've put much thought to - she's still practically a baby.
I mean, do Pokemon have a set of inborn instincts regarding their evolutions like they do with their moves? Or is it something they have to learn? The question is especially tricky with an Eevee considering the number of paths they can take.
"Eevee vee."
I'm definitely getting better at parsing Eevee talk since I'm fairly confident in taking that to mean she has no idea. I think it's something to do with her body language?
"Well, we can go over the different options if you want?" The sizzle of something hitting the stove top fills the air. "I just don't want to color your perception and influence you one way or another. It's a big decision and I want you to end up with something you'll be happy with."
Nikko stares up at me before getting onto her hind legs and booping me on the face with a paw.
She leaves the offending appendages against my cheek and sends me a look that is both loving and mildly exasperated.
"Eee-eee Eevee eee."
I'm pretty sure that was something along the lines of: If you're happy then I'm happy too.
I grab the little munchkin and wrap her up in a big old hug, my face rubbing against hers.
She really is the best girl, isn't she? I was going to wait, but I'm definitely breaking out her gift.
"Thanks Nikko, that means a lot."
"Veevee." She answers as I reach over and grab a small grooming brush.
"Because I honestly don't know what I'd do if you wanted to be a Sylveon."
She sends me a look to continue explaining before melting into a puddle when I start brushing her.
"I have nothing against Fairy types, even if they do dip a little too deep into pink as a color scheme. Anything that can bitch slap – "
"Grey!" Joy reprimands my language - a spatula waved in my direction.
"Uh, easily defeat a Dragon can't be all that bad."
Nikko gives a blissed out nod as I run the brush through her fur.
"But biological clothing is where I draw the line. Full stop."
"Eevee?"
"Bow ties and ribbons Nikko. Bow ties and ribbons made of flesh and fur. It's unnatural and a blight against nature."
From the look on her face, it seems Nikko agrees with me. Although it's possible she'd nod along to anything at this point - she's really enjoying the grooming.
"So needless to say, I'm really grateful that you're letting me in on this decision. Because while I'll always love you, I'd probably love you a little less if you evolved into a Sylveon."
"VEE!"
I snort at the shocked look on her face.
"I'm just messing around with you Nikko." I assure her.
Mostly.
Fucking Sylveons.
"Besides that, the only other evolution I'm outright not a fan of is Glaceon. Which is once again mostly due to aesthetic issues."
I close my eyes and try to dredge up a picture of the Ice Pokemon.
"Glaceon just… looks really goofy. It has these two flappy things hanging down on either side of its head. And this weird helmet look as well."
"Eee?"
"I'll see about getting some pictures once we get to Viridian - I know I'm not describing it all that well. Just take my word for it that Glaceon look stupid as hell."
And what a waste. I always did like Ice Pokemon, but most of them are either goofy, horrifying or an unsettling combination of the two.
I gently roll Nikko over and begin brushing out her belly fur.
"Flareon, now that I'm thinking about it, is probably another no-go. Nothing exactly wrong with it, but I always thought that Ninetails and Arcanine were superior choices if I wanted a Fire Pokemon.
"Ninetails is such an elegant Pokemon." Joy interjects with a wistful look on her face. "I always wanted a Vulpix when I was younger."
"Vulpix is a cutie…" I start, smiling down at Nikko. "But for my money, you can't beat an Eevee."
I lean down and blow a raspberry on her tummy to drive home the point.
The conversations lapses for a while as I continue pampering Nikko and Joy finishes cooking dinner.
"So really, I would be more than fine with any of the other evolutions. I guess I'd leave it up to you at that point. No rush of course. You have a while yet before the decision comes to a head."
I shrug and serve myself some soup.
"We can simply wait it out if you prefer Umbreon or Espeon - both evolving from friendship. Or we can get ourselves the necessary evolution stone if Jolteon, Vaporean or Leafeon are more up your ally. Sound good?"
"Vee-vee!"
I grab my new backpack - dark green canvas with thick leather straps - and begin packing it up with my purchases from yesterday.
A set of bowls for Nikko's food and water.
A collapsible metal pot and a small tin of loose leaf green tea.
A temperature controlled thermos with built in filtration.
A bag of home made Pokemon food from Joy - meant to last until I can get something Eevee specific from Viridian.
An assortment of plastic containers for the different Berries I've collected so far.
Nikko's brush.
A brass kerosene lighter and bottle of lighter fluid.
My hodgepodge lock picking kit.
A couple pairs of woolen socks and a heavy red and black flannel.
And last, but not least, I slip the Miracle Seed and Shiny Stone into an internal pouch.
The unknown coin I keep in my pocket - I enjoy playing with it when I get bored. I can't wait until my DEX gets high enough to roll the coin across my knuckles. I always wanted to be able to do that.
My actual money on the other hand is once again distributed in multiple places, both in the backpack and on my person.
The tent and sleeping bag, unfortunately, are too big to fit and have to be tied to the top of the backpack. Luckily both collapse into relatively small packages and shouldn't be too unwieldy.
Content with the layout, I swing the fully loaded bag onto my shoulders to test the weight. Heavy, but more than manageable.
Perfect to dodge out of town before I have to deal with Allister again.
I simply refuse to deal with anyone who thinks wearing a cape in public is even a little okay. Sorry Lance, but your dragon horde doesn't excuse the cape. In fact, it's probably the only reason no one's called you out on it yet.
So lame.
With a huff, I tip backwards and fall onto my bed, glomping onto Nikko where she'd been resting. I can't help it, she's just too cute with her little bandana. I don't think I'll ever be able to thank Joy enough for that - truly a gift fit for kings.
Shuffling so Nikko is curled into the crook of my arm, I open up my [Status] and go over my progress from the last few days.
[Persuasion] has leveled up! (17/100)
[Persuasion] has leveled up! (18/100)
[Persuasion] has leveled up! (19/100)
–––
[Sneak] has leveled up! (19/100)
[Sneak] has leveled up! (20/100)
–––
[Lockpicking] has leveled up! (5/100)
–––
[Running] has leveled up! (21/100)
[Running] has leveled up! (22/100)
–––
[Rest] has leveled up! (7/100)
Not a bad haul if I do say so myself.
And I do.
"I'm so awesome."
"Vee." Nikko agrees.
The [Persuasion] levels were all from a Berry deal I made yesterday and the haggling from earlier today. Looking back, l'm pretty sure that actually closing a deal - successfully persuading someone - results in much more experience than merely using the skill. Three levels feels like a bit much otherwise.
Not that I mind.
Just like with [Running], I'm beginning to see a qualitative difference now that I'm getting around a 20% boost. Besides the small corrections and intuitions I get from the skill, it sometimes seems like it's tipping the scales my way in close situations.
It's not quite there yet - not even close really - but I feel as if the skill will eventually move from being really good at persuasion to being unnaturally good at persuasion. Less a skill and more a spell. I wonder if it would need MP at that point?
I rearrange Nikko so my arm doesn't end up falling asleep.
[Sneak] was actually a result of trying to avoid Allister as I went about Auburn and led me to a neat discovery. I had been thinking of [Sneak] in fairly narrow terms - video game cliche would be the best analogue. Crouched low, sticking to the shadows as I slipped through the night.
Which is definitely a proper use of [Sneak] - just the most obvious.
The real prize is being able to sneak while not looking like you are. Doing so in plain sight, in the middle of the day. To be part of a crowd and avoid detection all the same. A more sneaky sneak if you will.
A grin steals over my face.
It's another level of the skill that I'm real excited to play around with.
The [Lockpicking] level came from messing around with the door lock to my room. I was bored and Joy was out so I decided to brush off the skill.
It's really starting to fall behind so it's worth keeping an eye out for similar opportunities to grind it up a few levels.
[Running] and [Rest] are pretty self explanatory.
I did discover that activating [Rest] can put me right to sleep under the right circumstances. If I've recently woken up it obviously won't work. Same thing if I'm standing up, for example. Otherwise it's like an instant nap button.
I very much approve.
In fact…
I turn my head and try to guesstimate the time from the position of the sun. Looks like an hour or two until sunset.
Ah, screw it.
I'm way too comfortable to get up now and I could use an early morning anyway. I think it's time Nikko had her first battle.
Name: Grey
Race: Human
Age: 13
Class: Thief [+]
Title: Pokemon Trainer [+]
Level: 5
Exp: 0/1600
Money: p 450
–––
HP: 150/150
MP: 100/100
–––
STR: 10
VIT: 15
DEX: 40
INT: 10
PER: 25
CHA: 20
LUK: 10
Available points: 0
–––
[Skills] (6/6) [-]
[Thief's Eye] (4/100) [+]
[Persuasion] (19/100) [+]
[Sneak] (20/100) [+]
[Lockpicking] (5/100) [+]
[Running] (22/100) [+]
[Rest] (7/100) [+]
–––
[Traits] (1) [+]
[Perks] (0) [+]
–––
[Key Items] (2) [+]
–––
[Pokemon] (1) [+]
Still can't give a set schedule, but a chapter every couple of days looks like the best bet. A scene or two a day works out pretty well for me.
I wonder what you all think of Grey's thoughts on the different Eevee evolutions. If it wasn't obvious, I'm an earlier generation guy through and through. Gen 1 and 2 were the only ones I actually played as a kid. The rest were done on emulators as I got older. I did get a 2DS and X/Y a few years ago once I actually had money to spend, but I wasn't a fan.
For some reason the image of Nikko with a bandana wouldn't leave me so I wrote it in.
Thanks for reading.