Lazy Lake [Open]

[Kurt Emerson]

(Tags: Mod Kris for spawning, experience points, whatever, and open to anyone else who wants to pop in. This is just to get some of my Pokemon out and about.)
Happiness: Jello - maxed, Hoagie - (1/5), Tabasco - (1/5), Chestnut - (1/5)

"Careful, children," Jello drawled as he floated on the lake near the shore. The Quagsire had an easy-going smile on his face and one eye open as he watched some of his younger teammates sprint about on the land.

"Children?" came an indignant squawk that vaguely reminded Jello of Apple (not that the Xatu would ever have her voice raised to such an embarrassing octave). Hoagie the Girafarig was young enough to not care. "Excuse me, but I don't believe you've fathered any eggs yet!"

"Call me the dad of the team," Jello said mildly, using his flippers to slowly drift out further in the lake.

"Wouldn't that be Peanut?" Tabasco asked, the Oshawott popping up in the water next to Jello. "He's Kurt's main Pokemon, isn't he?"

Jello shrugged, uncaring about the debate. It seemed as if the thought left Tabasco's mind within a few seconds as well, for the young Water-type suddenly said, "Hey, Jello, watch this!"

The Quagsire glanced over in time to see Tabasco using a Tail Whip to splash water up in the air then trying to propel himself up toward the falling water with a Tackle. Jello got a face full of lake water before giving the Oshawott a small clap.

Hoagie, meanwhile, also seemed to have forgotten his momentary argument with Jello, considering the Girafarig was suddenly trying to find the Deerling of the team. "Chestnut? Where did you go?"

He wandered up the shoreline and eventually used Oder Sleuth to find the Deerling crouched low by the reeds. "There you are! What are you doing?"

Chestnut answered with a laugh. "Practicing Camouflage! Such a fun move, isn't it?"

"Oh, yeah... Loads of fun..."

[Mod Kris]

Tabasco earned 5 experience points! Tabasco grew to level 7! Tabasco learned Water Gun!

Hoagie earned 5 experience points!

Chestnut gained 5 experience points! Chestnut grew to level 2! Chestnut grew to level 3!

[Deleted]

_{Tags: Kurt Emerson
Happiness: Reuben - 0 (1/5)}

Reuben had been snoozing on the banks of the river, but the excited and exuberant shouts coming from his teammates was enough to stir him awake. He blinked open an eye in time to see Tabasco go flying up in the air and crash down into the water with a splash. The Sentret heard Jello give the Oshawott a slow clap for the feat, prompting Reuben to head toward the water.

"That was nothing," Reuben said, with a wiggle of his tail. "Watch the splash I can make!" With a running start, Reuben leaped into the river and, with his thick tail, Slammed into the water.

[Kurt Emerson]

(Tags: Mod Kris for experience points, Avalyn Glasse, still open if anyone else wants to pop on over!)
Happiness: Jello - maxed, Hoagie - (2/5), Tabasco - (2/5), Chestnut - (2/5)

Reuben abruptly joined Jello and Tabasco in the lake, creating a mighty splash as he did so. Jello blinked rapidly, allowing the water to roll off his skin, as he straightened up from his lazy lounging. All he needed was for the young Sentret to suddenly realize he couldn't swim or something.

Kiwi would kill him.

"That wasn't so bad," Tabasco said as Reuben resurfaced, and the Oshawott paddled back over to the shore. "Still bet I can make a bigger splash, though!" Thus, the younger Water-type took a running leap off of the bank and used his Water Gun to propel himself higher into the air before coming in for a landing on the water's surface.

"Hoagie, let's go swimming!"

"No."

Jello glanced over to the bank to see Chestnut pouting at the Girafarig, demanding to know, "Why not?"

"When have you ever swam?" Hoagie asked.

"Never," was the quick reply, "but that's why this would be fun! Perfect time to learn!" The Deerling suddenly gave off a slight glow, a side effect of his Camouflage in order to change her typing to Water. Hoagie still looked apprehensive, but wandered closer to the edge of the lake, Stomping down on the taller grasses surrounding the water.

Figuring that Tabasco and Reuben were okay, Jello swam a little closer to Hoagie and Chestnut. "I'll be around, too," the Quagsire offered.

[Mod Kris]

Reuben earned 5 experience points! Reuben grew to level 2! Reuben grew to level 3!

Tabasco gained 5 experience points! Tabasco grew to level 8!

Chestnut gained 5 experience points! Chestnut grew to level 4! Chestnut learned Growl! Chestnut grew to level 5!

Hoagie gained 5 experience points!

[Deleted]

_{Tags: Kurt Emerson
Happiness: Reuben - 0 (2/5)}

Okay, so maybe diving into the lake hadn't been one of Reuben's better ideas. Not being a Water-type meant that the Sentret wasn't quite used to the added weight the lake padded onto his fur. Once he resurfaced from his jump, Reuben slowly swam closer to Jello, feeling safer with the Quagsire nearby.

Hoping that Jello wouldn't mind, Reuben reached out with his paws and held onto one of Jello's flippers to watch Tabasco go high in the air before cannonballing into the lake. Reuben puffed out his cheeks, hating to concide defeat to anyone, but he was smart enough to realize he had no choice in this matter.

"Good one," he said to the Oshawott, "but just wait until I get bigger! Once I evolve, my splashes will definitely be better than yours!"

[Kurt Emerson]

(Tags: Mod Kris if needed, Avalyn Glasse, still open for others!)
Happiness: Jello - maxed, Hoagie - (3/5), Tabasco - (3/5), Chestnut - (3/5)

Jello watched (and relaxed) as Reuben resurfaced from his dive into the water. As the Sentret slowly swam over to the Quagsire, Jello met him halfway and didn't protest when the younger Pokemon reached out for Jello's flipper. Jello was a-ok with being a flotation device for his younger teammates.

Reuben (somewhat begrudgingly) congratulated Tabasco for his splash, and boasted about how awesome he'd be at diving when he evolved. Tabasco, on his part, laughed.

"When you evolve, I'll be evolved!" the Oshawott said. "I think I'll be bigger! Jello, which of us will be bigger?"

"No idea," Jello said mildly. "I know what a Furret looks like, but I haven't seen one of your evolutions before, Tabasco." Before the pair could argue any further, the Quagsire started making his way toward the shore with Reuben in tow. "Why don't we take a break on land for a while?"

"Yes, good idea," Hoagie immediately agreed. "See, Chestnut? They're coming back. Get back here."

"You're no fun," the Deerling whined, but he listened to the Girafarig nonetheless and made his way back to the shore.

[Deleted]

_{Tags: Kurt Emerson
Happiness: Reuben - 0 (3/5)}

Reuben was thankful for Jello wordlessly allowing the Sentret to hang onto him. Jello may be pretty laid-back most of the time, but the Quagsire always seemed to know what was going on around him.

When Reuben reached the shore with Jello and, after giving his fur coat a good shake, merely responded to Tabasco's laughter with a muttered, "Yeah, yeah..."

The Sentret perked up his ears as Chestnut bickered with Hoagie, and Reuben looked to the Girafirag. "Why don't you like water?" he asked bluntly. "It's not that bad."

[Kurt Emerson]

(Tags: Avalyn Glasse)
Happiness: Jello - maxed, Hoagie - (4/5), Tabasco - (4/5), Chestnut - (4/5)

Jello helped tow Reuben to shore and seemed unperturbed when the Sentret shook right next to him. The Quagsire's skin was almost always slick and a touch damp, just from his species. More water never bothered him. Instead, he flopped on the shore and basked in the sun as the others talked. He could hear Tabasco reach the shore as well, but, by the sounds of it, the Oshawott preferred to keep walking and splashing at the edge of the lake.

Hoagie blinked as Reuben turned to him and the Girafarig took a moment to answer. "I mean, right, water's not that bad," Hoagie said, "but it's not my element, ya know? I definitely prefer land."

"I still want to try swimming," Chestnut said. "It's not like I'm gonna sink to the bottom."

"You never know," Hoagie said.

"Uh, yeah I do," Chestnut returned. "I'm not that heavy and Jello's here to help."

Jello merely waved a hand in acknowledgement but otherwise said nothing.

[Deleted]

_{Tags: Kurt Emerson, kinda running low on things to say. idk if we wanna wrap this up?
Happiness: Reuben - 0 (4/5)}

Reuben blinked as Jello flopped on the shore before settling down next to the Quagsire. The Sentret couldn't help but chuckle at the brief exchange between Hoagie and Chestnut, then at Jello's mute response.

"If I can swim without sinking," Reuben said, "I'm sure you guys could, too. You definitely have stronger legs than I do." He glanced down at his short arms.

[Kurt Emerson]

(Tags: Avalyn Glasse, sounds good! Thanks for threading with me! Let me know if you want to do one last post with Reuben or if I should just lock and archive this.)
Happiness: Jello - maxed, Hoagie - (5/5), Tabasco - (5/5), Chestnut - (5/5)

Jello glanced over at the others, noticing Hoagie shuffling his feet with a pout on his face as Chestnut and Reuben seemed to gang up on him. Before the argument could escalate further, Jello heaved himself to his feet.

"Maybe another day," the Quagsire said. He gently pushed Reuben further away from the lake and gestured for Tabasco to follow them. The Oshawott, after making one last series of splashes, caught up easily. "For now, I think it's time to head back to the ranch."

"Yes, brilliant idea!" Hoagie bounded ahead to lead the way. Chestnut, after rolling his eyes, followed after.

[Deleted]

_{Tags: Kurt Emerson, one last post to get the full Happiness point for Reuben! xD
Happiness: Reuben - 0 (5/5)}

Reuben did his best not to laugh at Hoagie fidgeting after Reuben and Chestnut had decided to counter the Girafarig's arguments about swimming. However, Jello seemed to have enough, and the Quagsire gently directed Reuben and Tabasco away from the lake.

"Ohhhh-kay," Reuben said to Jello's words about returning to the ranch. The Sentret's ears drooped slightly as they began leaving, but he figured the group would return to the lake at a later time. They lived close enough to the place, after all, and Reuben was sure that Chestnut would want to try swimming sooner rather than later.