nexus_crossings | (no subject)

(no subject)

Harley is sitting cross-legged on a random Nexus couch today. She has found a pamphlet from the Pokémart and is looking through some of the Pokémon that could be adopted and trained.

She seems in a good mood today. Twirling her hair, as she reads the pamphlet. And there is a huge bag of caramel popcorn at her side.

"If you could have any kind of pet, what kind of animal or creature would you have?"

"What do you think qualifies as being a suitable pet owner?"

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"Oh! Really!" She claps her hands a little. Excited. "I could adopt one?"

"Which one!" Choosing from 800 sounds like a difficult task.

"I think we can arrange an adoption that benefits both me, you and the pokemon that chooses to be your partner." Odd how he words it like that, since one would assume the trainer to pick their starter. He walks over to a small table in the lab, picking up a tablet-like device and turning it on. Right next to the Pokedex is a metal drawer, containing six pokeballs. He gestures for Harley to come over to the table.

"Ms Quinn, I would like you to participate in my studies." He hands the tablet to her. "This is the newest Pokedex, which allows a person to scan different species of Pokemon in order to collect data. I want to see how the Nexus affects Pokemon, so I need data from lots of people." He turns to look at the pokeballs. "In exchange for a Pokemon, would you be willing to collect data for me? The Pokedex is state of the art and will not require much skill to use it."

Harley listens to him carefully, watching as he picks up that device, and then gestures for her to come to the table.

"Does it hurt the Pokémon to be scanned?" Harley asks.

"Nope. It's completely harmless. Here, I'll show you."

He reaches over and grabs a Pokeball off the table, throwing it lightly onto the ground. The ball opens up in a flash, and a happy little green plant Pokemon hops onto the ground.

"Bulbasaur!" The pokemon shakes his head, then happily looks at Professor Madrone and Harley. He gestures for Harley to point the tablet at the Pokemon.

"All you have to do is hold up the device towards the Pokemon and it should automatically scan them without any fancy lights." If she does so, the device screen will light up and give a text description of Bulbasaur, explaining it's traits, typing and other skills.

"Oh! Hello!" Harley waves at the Bulbasaur when he arrives. He looks happy. So whatever environment is inside that Pokémon ball must be satisfactory to him.

She points the tablet at the Pokémon. And then reads the description for the Bulbasaur. "Grass/Poison Pokémon. I know a friend of mine that would get along with you, little guy." She smiles.

"Bulba!" "The Pokemon extends one whip-like appendage to Harley, as if asking for a shake. He's a very happy plant, despite what one might think regarding Poke'balls. Most certainly, the Bulbasaur would be a great companion for one Poison Ivy.

"This one is up for adoption, along with a few others." He nods, showing off the other poke'balls. "Here we have Charmander, Oshawott, Snivy...oh..." His eyes rest on a Pokeball and the very end of the row. "Hmm...I forgot I left this Pokemon here. Alas, one of the Pokemon here isn't available due to personality issues." The Pokeball is marked with a small dark emblem in the middle.

She gently takes his whip-like appendage, to shake his 'hand'. She is really glad that he is so happy.

"I am good around poisonous types." Harley smiles even more.

"Can I see the others? Meet them?" She pauses when he does. And looks at the Pokeball marked with a small dark emblem. "What kinda personality issues?"

"Bulbasaur could be a great fit then." The Pokemon happily chirps and the vine shake and maybe the idea of being Harley's new partner.

"Of course. I'll let you meet as many Pokemon as you'd like." But he can't help but shake his head at that last comment. "Well, he's very protective, almost too much. He doesn't like interacting with the other Pokemon and tends to enjoy being alone."

He reaches for the pokeball, opening it to reveal a black and grey puppy. Immediately, the pokemon growls at Bulbasaur and starts to slink away to the nearest corner.

"Poor Poochyena...I wish I could help him out more."

"If it works out, we could go on rainforest adventures." Harley grins. She thinks Bulbasaur would enjoy the rainforest.

"Awwww...." Harley gently lets go of Bulbasaur for the moment. And she follows the Poochyena to the corner he headed for, a little concerned.

"HiYa!" Harley keeps her voice bright, but still a soft and caring tone. "Poochyena is it? I'm Harley."

"It's okay you don't want to be around Pokémon."

"Bulbasaur!" The Pokemon seems excited at this idea, but immediately notices the grumpy Poochyena. Being a happy little plant, the Pokemon tries to follow Harley's lead, walking over to the table, smiling at the dog.

The Poochyena growls a little bit, really not enjoying the surprise company or the fact that he was called out of his Pokeball. Bulbasaur is causing a little bit of stress and Professor Madrone catches sight of this immediately. He's already reaching down and picking Bulbasaur up and into his arms.

Even if the dog Pokemon isn't immediately moving towards Harley, he's sniffing the air around her cautiously.

"Well, he's not lashing out at you, which is a good sign."

"Thanks for caring, Bulbasaur. I think Poochyena needs a little space." Harley smiles over at the happy little plant Pokemon.

Harley sits near the Poochyena, allowing the Pokemon to sniff the air around her.

"Did something happen to him?" She asks the Professor.

Bulbasaur looks a little disappointing, but the Professor pats his head, reassuring him that everything is okay. Poochyena makes no sudden movements, choosing to lay down, licking one paw while carefully keeping an eye on Harley.

"I believe he was abandoned by his pack for not being strong enough. A common thing many wild Pokemon do."

"Then you had the wrong pack." Harley tells Poochyena.

"I sort of had a similar experience... I was in the wrong kind of gang. And I got hurt. And abandoned."

"But then..." She brightens. "I found the right people. The right friends. And they helped me get stronger."

"You just need to find the right person, Poochyena."

The right person? Poochyena seems to huff at that statement, but has at least started looking upward at Harley with his red eyes. It's clear that the Pokemon is reflecting on her words, but seems lost in thought.

"He seems to be doing better. Normally Poochyena would be running away right now, but I think he understands your words, Harley." He puts Bulbasaur on the ground, but the plant Pokemon stays near his feet. "Poochyena was found a few months ago, injured and hungry, at my doorstep. Some of the other Pokemon I watch over brought him here for care."

"That is nice, that you have a place where injured Pokemon can stay safe."

Harley is glad that all these Pokemon have a place to stay.

"There are so many in the Nexus. Did something happen to their world?"

"Everyone deserves a home, pokemon and people alike." He thinks about her question for a second. " I think that portals appear here and there, similar to the doors, which allow Pokemon access to this place. I'm from their world and haven't noticed any major issues."

Poochyena listens to the two of them talk and slowly gets up from his spot, moving a few inches closer. His nose is withing touching distance of Harley's shoes.

"I was happy to find myself a home in the Nexus. So am glad that these Pokemon are able to do the same..." Harley smiles.

She smiles at Poochyena. And gently taps his nose with the tip of her shoe.

"Yes. If you so like, you may come back anytime and see the Pokemon. I might have you help with a few chores here and there though." Nothing stressful, mainly feeding or playing with the Pokemon.

The Poochyena hops back at getting his nose lightly bopped, but that doesn't deter him from trying to take a playful bite at her shoe. Dogs like to chew on things, after all. The professor is not oblivious to this sudden display of energy.

"Harley...Poochyena seems to like you. Why don't you try adopting him for a bit? Maybe you can get him to break out of his shell?"

"I would like that." Harley already has a paying job. But she would be happy volunteering here. Especially if it means seeing more of the Pokemon.

She laughs at the Poochyena bites at her shoes. Her shoes, while fancy, are very durable. And she boops his nose with her toe again.

"Really?" Her eyes lit up.

"I am sure I could do that. And you never know... he could warm up to other Pokemon over time." Because she would like to take care of Bulbasaur too, maybe sometime in the future. But not right now, if it is at the expense of Poochyena.

"Great! The Pokedex is your hand is now yours. Use it to scan any Pokemon you may encounter in the Nexus, as that information will be sent back to me for research. If you'd like, I can also set you up with some tools to catch wild Pokemon for starters. I know some people don't like the idea of capturing Pokemon, which I can respect."

Poochyena must have a taste of leather, as he continues trying to nip at Harley's feet. When she boops him on the nose again, he grows and starts barking...at her shoe. Seems like he still has lots to learn.

"Time heals all wounds, they say." He offers Poochy's Pokeball to Harley. "Pokemon and people share spirits and personalities."

"What would I do with these wild Pokémon? Would they upset Poochyena?" That would be her greatest concern.

Speaking of Poochyena, Harley uses the Pokedex to scan him. So she can learn about his strengths. His weaknesses. What he likes to eat.

"We will learn about each other. Won't we Poochyena." She holds the Pokeball to her heart.

"Well, many people keep other Pokemon around as friends. Some Pokemon like to battle or participate in contest shows and trainers help Pokemon achieve those goals."

He ponders on her comment for a moment, while Poochyena takes a seat near her feet.

"It could happen, so be mindful of how Poochyena acts around any wild Pokemon you may find. I trust you'll do what's best for him though."

Harley carefully reaches out to scratch Poochyena between the ears. "I am sure he will tell me what he wants. Right, Poochyena?"

The Pokemon gives off a happy bark, then nudges Harley's leg, as if asking when they can leave. Professor Madrone merely smiles at the scene.

"Of course. You're welcome back here anytime, Harley."

"Thanks Professor!" Harley holds out her Pokeball so that Poochyena can decide if he wants to go inside of it.

"I will be back. I will want to visit Bulbasaur."

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