thepurpleone | Cyberformed [] Inbox

[Donnie's family lives in a sewer?]

[Poinsettia looks to the side in an attempt to register how casually cheery Donnie came off with that one comment. But to be fair, Poinsettia has heard of Pokémon who live out inside the sewers, so it may have not been as bad as they thought it would've been for Donnie himself.]

[And besides, there are other things to look forward to! Such as being absolutely stunned that they didn't have to walk all the way to the cafeteria area for a glass of water.]

Wait — wait you can summon water just like that?! And I didn't have to walk all the way to the cafeteria to get a simple glass of water?!

[Cue the awkward yet intense silence.]

Yeah, I can totally have a basin full of nice water, Donnie . . . but how did you come up with this stuff? You're like — super smart!

[Donnie blinks at Poinsettia.]

Wait, that's what you've been doing this whole time? Oh you poor thing.

I thought most of the rooms came with sinks at least. But I guess it's not as important a thing to have for...robot people?

[He grins. But yes, he is super smart, thank you for noticing!]

I've been doing this sort of thing forever. How else do you think my family has running, clean water, electricity and the internet in the sewer?

Anyway, shouldn't be hard. I'll just have to see where the closest pipeline is, then run something between it and a wall here. Maybe right beside the garden area, like over in the corner?

[Poinsettia nodded sheepishly.]

[And speaking of sinks . . . Poinsettia hadn't seen one in Justice's dorm as far as they could tell. Maybe it's bad for robots? Poinsettia remembered seeing a device or two malfunction due to a liquid mishap back at home, but that could be an entirely different thing.]

[And for a young turtle his age, Donnie has done quite the impressive feat in providing for both himself and his family!]

I can totally have the pipeline run along in the corner like that, Donnie. I think that can work out well! Is there anything I can do to repay you or to keep in mind about the garden?

Don't worry about it. I'll see about getting a basin we can use and have Vallum bring it over.

[Donnie doesn't seem worried about getting permission for that, figuring even the Shaymin's roommate will benefit from it in some way.]

I can take a basin! And besides . . . who is Vallum? Are they a friend of yours? If so, I would like to see them! They must be a super cool person for them to bring in the basin like that!

He's my security golem. I stole him from some fae shipping company. [Three of them, actually. And all their Sentry bots.]

He was actually in my room but you probably didn't notice him since he kind of just stands still most of the time. He's like, twenty feet tall.

Wait —

[Clearly, the gears inside their head are starting to turn based on how still they've stood in place.]

— i-isn't stealing from other people bad? Or did they do something horrible to warrant such a theft from their very own shipping company?

[More thinking, especially with how shockingly well Vallum blends into Donnie's room. And to be frank, Poinsettia didn't even realize that he is more than just room decoration!]

I didn't realize he lives with you; does he talk to you sometimes?

[His grin abruptly drops, brow furrowing. Clearly he doesn't hold high opinions of this company.]

Oh, no, not really, if you don't consider stealing people away from their homeworld to be sold as designer pets for stupidly rich people.

I guess he's not technically alive. He's like a magical machine, different class from the Cybertronians and the AI here. Very basic functions. He can talk but only if prompted, and even then he can only answer certain things, but he wasn't really made to be a conversationalist.

… Oh. [Awkward silence.] Huh.

[More silence before Poinsettia finally speaks up on the elephant in the room.] Yeah, you did a good thing in getting Vallum out of that situation. It must’ve been awful for him to be mistreated like that, and you had a good heart in wanting to give Vallum a better chance in living. And besides, did you get to punch them in the face for how they’ve hurt Vallum? If I was there, I would’ve bitten them in the face!

[Poinsettia then looks behind them, wondering if Vallum would be here soon. Then they turn back to face Donnie.]

Vallum is not much of a talker, right? I think he’s pretty much alive if those mean company people chose to dehumanize him like that. Even if he is different from the usual robot that I see in the R2 … I think he’s special in his own good way! No meanie [Like the company Donnie chose to rescue Vallum from, the good turtle boy.] deserves to have him enslaved like that!

Edited 2025-04-28 06:05 (UTC)

Er...

Actually, I wasn't talking about the golems. There's like...these fish-mermaid-looking people? My brother and I rescued a bunch of them from the tanks they had. We haven't been able to check out the possible coordinates for where their homeworld is to return them just yet, and I don't know how many more might've been taken and kept elsewhere or already sold. But...at least these ones won't be.

Ohhh, I see now. [Thank goodness nobody dared to lay a single hand on Vallum. While they may have only known him for about a few minutes or so, Poinsettia is more than willing to protect him if needed.]

[Now visibly horrified, now that Donnie laid it out for them.] Good lord, I didn’t even realize that you were even referring to the fish people. [More silence.] Goodness, I sincerely hope that they’re doing OK so far now that they’re free. They must’ve been homesick from being away from their homes for so long.

Is it easy to find where they live, Donnie?

They're currently in a temporary place. It was pretty awful. One of them was still a baby.

[He frowns, shaking his head.]

Whoever's been poaching them seems to have done a good job of keeping that world a secret. Mikey and I found some coordinates when we ransacked the manager's office, but I haven't been able to look into it further, yet.

A baby?! [Poinsettia, at this point, is now practically stunned at what they just heard.] Wh-Why a baby? Why would they just —?

[Poinsettia then shook their head, now too much to comprehend the actions of that one company.]

Good Arceus, do you think I can help you and Mikey out on getting those fish people home once we finish setting up the garden? I think there is a way to help them, right? [As un-tech-savvy as they are compared to tech extraordinaire Donnie, at least Poinsettia has something to call for in the form of a helping hand. Or paw, to be more accurate.]

Because people can be horrible and selfish.

[Blunt and to the point, but Donnie's seen enough to know the unfortunate truth.]

The help wouldn't be unappreciated. But the bulk of that part is going to require research. Given that we're probably looking at a planet or a system that's been scrubbed off of known charts and had likely only been known to a few, we can't just look it up.

[Understandably, Poinsettia doesn't say anything. And as it turns out, Donnie had every right to say it.]

[Not everyone is as noble and kind-hearted as Donnie is, and Poinsettia could easily (and horrifyingly so) pinpoint any instance a malicious and dark-hearted person arrived on the scene to hurt both man and Pokémon alike way back at home. Just thinking about all the innocents hurt to uphold one's comfort for conquest made them unsettled to the core.]

[Eventually, Poinsettia breaks the silence.]

I-Is there anyone familiar with that planet in mind? There had to be someone who can help.

[Poinsettia then looks behind them again, before turning back to face Donnie once more.]

And besides, is the basin coming in soon? I'm not rushing you or Vallum, but does he know where my dorm is? I hope he doesn't get lost on the way there . . .

Edited 2025-04-29 02:20 (UTC)

Unfortunately if there is, it's no one I know. And talking to those native to the planet doesn't get very far since they've never been off of it themselves, apart from their being taken.

...huh? Oh!

Actually, the basin's something I'll have to look for. I'm sure the junk room has something. [He taps at his bracer computer.] Hey Vallum? Trade places with Sentry and meet me over at the junk room. I'm going to need your assistance.

Vallum! [Poinsettia's expression instantly brightens up, now immediately turning to face the door with a huge smile.]

Oh my goodness, I can't wait to see him!! [While Poinsettia isn't looking directly at Donnie himself, she is at least keeping her eyes on him in spirit.] Is he super nice to you and everyone? Does he do cool stuff too? I can't wait to get the basin from him and to thank you and him so much for the help —

[Now at this point, Poinsettia has now become quite the certified yapper about how cool Vallum and Donnie is . . . despite not meeting the former in person just yet. But regardless, at least Poinsettia has something to look forward to!]

Have you been to the bar? I let Mikaela keep the other two golems I got to help be bouncers in case of any fights. Not that anyone's supposed to fight in there but you never know, around this place. I named them Bastion and Bulwark. But yeah, don't expect too much from them. Like I said, they were made to do a specific job, not socialize.

But I guess Vallum's nice? Judging from the security programming they have, I would not want to engage in combat against them.

[Poinsettia falls silent for a brief moment, not even realizing that the new "decorations" situated in Maccadam's were actually golems all along.]

[In a quiet, yet musing tone.] Yeah, of course I've been to the bar . . . I just didn't realize that Mikaela was with them until you told me so!

[Poinsettia then buried their face into their paws for a short moment.] Maybe I shouldn't have drank the entire menu the last time I was there . . .

......

[Donnie squints at Poinsettia then.]

How are you still alive.

If I remember right, none of the drinks were that alcoholic. They all tasted like fruits as said on the menu, and they were absolutely amazing!

[Poinsettia then preened at being able to drink every single glass featured on the latest offerings at Maccadam's, being something that is worth flexing over. Though they did eventually drop their bragging rights attitude immediately afterwards once it all washed over.]

. . . And it's probably something I may not do again. I don't even remember how long I was out sleeping in Maccadam's! Probably a day or two? It's probably more than that, if I can recall . . .

..."that" alcoholic. There are also things strictly made for Cybertronians that would probably melt your insides.

....

You know, generally people do not binge on the entire menu at the bar, it's usually not a good idea.

I mean — it was just one time! [This is technically true, but also false at the same time if one considered the fact that in the previous two times they've been at Maccadam's . . . they got drunk and landed themself right in the medibay.]

And it's not like that I'm drinking roboty drinks or anything like that! I made sure that the drinks were Shaymin-made just for me. Or at least that is what I heard about the bar, since I'm pretty sure they're meant to serve everybody on board, robot or not?

[Sighing wistfully, but not meant to be taken personally as you know . . . Donnie does have a point and does care about them!] I guess you're right. It has been a long while since I've eaten or drank something fruity, but I'll keep that in mind next time.

[As if the time Poinsettia attempted to politely ask for . . . interestingly made herb cookies from a sketchy booth located within Maccadam's totally didn't happen, but Donnie doesn't really to know that, right?]

Edited 2025-05-01 04:48 (UTC)

They do have non-alcoholic beverages, I believe. Mikaela hasn't let me have anything otherwise because I'm underage.

[He wrinkles his nose a bit, not that he cares tooo much. One day, perhaps he'll try it if he's allowed. There has to be some reason people drink the stuff, right?]

Anyway, I'm going to go find that basin. Not sure how long that's going to take so I'll just hit you up later when if find something suitable.

[Poinsettia simply nodded along with Donnie, pretty much confirming that yes, they did remember hearing about the bar serving non-alcoholic beverages right.]

Yes, yes, I can totally see that! A shame that Mikaela said no to you on having the drinks from the bar [Or at least the regular alcoholic drinks, that is. The more kid-friendly versions of them are most likely fair game, though.], but I can see her reasoning on why she would say no on the matter. I think she was just looking out for you since . . . you're pretty young and all that. A drunk turtle might not be so good, now that I think about it . . .

[Upon hearing about the basin once more, Poinsettia instantly perked up in attention.] Oh!! Oh, of course, the basin! Of course we need the basin! D-Do you want me to go with you to go in and find that basin together or do you want me to stay in for a bit until you find it for the garden set up? E-Either way is good for me!

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