Frontier Town Main Street

[Jackie Cat]

These days, you could find just about anything downtown.

The southern part of Frontier Town had the longest uninterrupted stretch of thoroughfare in the settlement, and on each side of its broad pathway were numerous shops, venues and businesses of all kinds. Some of these enterprises indicated their trade with signs displaying products or symbols, while others adopted the more colourful advertising style of modelling their awnings or other parts of the building to resemble the species of the proprietor. A sort of raised boardwalk was held in common on each side, leaving plenty of space for wagons, carriages and very large pokémon to pass through without trouble. Space was not at a premium, here.

The west side of the street was by convention given over to common retail – the general store, the grocery and greengrocer's, the tailor's, the butcher, and so on. The east side, meanwhile, had less everyday professional services such as the local barber-surgeon, a pharmacist, the local undertaker's, a very small jeweller's that shared space with a tattooist specialising in rock- and steel-type patrons, and even a modest legal firm.

Many of these businesses proudly declared that they were established in various years, in faded paint. Others were slick new builds, a testament to the continued economic growth of the town. Perhaps a day would come soon enough when this would become the commercial heart of Frontier City.

 

[Neirdae]

(Cool, cross thread quotes do work. Praise be to Dragonfree!)

"I'm surprised this was staying on you at all without any stitching to speak of.

Clover picked up the button and adjusted it on her head. "I only put a couple threads in it, so it was barely hanging on. It takes a bit of time to make something like that really a part of me. Sewing it in will help."

Clover glanced down the road where the Traveler's Haus stood, then turned the other way where shops galore promised treasures and fortune (or at least a day's pay.)

"Do you want to find a hat? Or will that mess with your horns?

 

[Mr.RMA]

"My horns? Oh... right..." Yup, ralts anatomy, can't be forgetting the two pink disks jutting out of his head...

"Well, I'm sure we could just cut a couple slits through a hat and that'll solve that problem. Point is one way or another at least I'll be distinguishable from what these fellas consider 'wild' or 'feral' or whatever. Not sure how we're gonna be able to afford anything though... Maybe they'll be willing to let us take out a loan..." Seemed unlikely to Corey, considering they were a bunch of traveling strangers hailing from parts unknown.

"Well, that or maybe one of these shops are hiring on the spot... Not a frequent thing where I come from but, then again it's already been made plain that this place goes by different rules." Not to mention, if the others were dead set on becoming rangers, getting a job would help him get a potential sponsor.

"Lead the way, kindly shuppet... Speaking of which, you have a name? You can call me Corey."

 

[Neirdae]

"Lead the way, kindly shuppet... Speaking of which, you have a name? You can call me Corey."

"Oh, silly me! I didn't introduce myself!"
Clover posed with her tongue out. "I'm Clover, the therapy ghost! Most Shuppet make Pokémon feel bad so they can keep eating, I just eat those yummy fears away so we both feel better!"

Clover spun around, looking in windows for clothes, before popping into the first one she saw.

 

[Weazel]

“Hey! Corey!”

Archie had drifted away from the main crowd sometime during the mystery dungeon Q&A session. Dungeon delving was a major part of his job as an Adventurer back in his world, so he hadn’t been particularly interested in hearing about all the dangers they held – he’d already done that once, after all! He’d thought in the general chaos of the crowd he’d caught sight of the Ralts, but it wasn’t until both he and Corey had both extracted themselves that he was able to follow after the Pokemon onto what appeared to be the main commercial hub of the town. It seemed like he’d met up with Clover at some point, and the two were on their way to one of the tailors.

So, the Oshawott had hustled after them! It’d seemed like the crowd was starting to break up and go their separate ways anyway. Talking with the Ralts was honestly kind of weird, as he was simultaneously familiar and foreign to the Oshawott. But, he figured any sense of familiarity at all was better than none, and the Corey of his universe had always had a good head on his shoulders. Made him a good option to confer with, all around.

“Glad to see you didn’t wind up too far away,” the Oshawott grinned, as he approached. The Corey of Archie’s universe wasn’t much one for battling, despite his depth of knowledge about Mystery Dungeons, including the amazing ability to pinpoint where they were located – and even when they might reappear if they’d previously vanished! Archie wondered how much this Ralts might be similar. He likely wouldn’t have the luxury of being able to sit on the sidelines. “You haven’t happened to see Tarahn around, have you? Figured the three of us would do well to stick together, at least until we got our feet under us.”

 

[Mr.RMA]

"Oh, silly me! I didn't introduce myself!"
Clover posed with her tongue out. "I'm Clover, the therapy ghost! Most Shuppet make Pokémon feel bad so they can keep eating, I just eat those yummy fears away so we both feel better!"

Clover spun around, looking in windows for clothes, before popping into the first one she saw.

"Well, pleasure to meet you, Clover. Y'know I've had a professor once theorize that not all shuppet are necessarily inclined to make people feel worse in order to feast on their negativity... He'd have been pretty damn excited to meet one like yourself!" Corey replied as he followed after the shuppet, up to when she vanished into one of the nearby clothing shops. He was about to go after her when he heard Archie's voice calling from behind him, calling his name.

“Glad to see you didn’t wind up too far away,” the Oshawott grinned, as he approached... “You haven’t happened to see Tarahn around, have you? Figured the three of us would do well to stick together, at least until we got our feet under us.”

"Hah, likewise to you... Don't know what kind of targeting system or whatever that cloud's using but it's clearly busted," he replied with a faint chuckle. "'fraid I haven't seen hide nor hair of Tarahn though... or I guess that's hide nor scale? Whatever, figure of speech... He can't be too far though, I'm sure he'll come around with a bunch of the others." It was rather amusing in a way, hearing a version of Archie speak with concern about a version of Tarahn. In Corey's world, as far as he knew, the two had never met, but they were on such opposite sides when it came to law and order that he would've easily seen them as the sort to get at each others' throats... and indeed judging from that first meeting in the Nexus, it sounded like this Archie had already done that to his version of Tarahn at least once.

"I agree with you though... In a roundabout, metaphysical way, we all know each other, and in these wild circumstances, that's at least a foundation to work with. What've you got planned? You thinking of joining those Rangers or whatever? Me personally, I just need to find some kind of clothes... though you seem to have solved that problem for yourself, huh?"

 

[Weazel]

Damn, so Corey hadn’t seen Tarahn either. This town was decently sizable, especially compared to Treasure Town back home, but there were only so many places the Toxel could be hiding. Assuming he’d ended up in town at all. There was a scary thought. Hopefully no one had gotten teleported deep into the wilderness.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” the Oshawott sighed, putting his paws on his hips. He’d just have to hope the Toxel had ended up with a group, like he had. Thankfully, it seemed like Corey thought similarly to him on the idea of the three of them grouping up. Hopefully they’d have just as easy a time convincing Tarahn if – when – they found him. But then Corey asked him about the rangers. “To be honest, I think joining them would be more of a hindrance than a help. That kind of rigid structure – and not to mention it sounds like they spend more time keeping people out of dungeons than delving themselves – it just seems like it’s more likely to get in the way of… Whatever it was we’re here to do?”

He folded his arms, and thought back on what he’d managed to capture from that whole conversation. “The Escarpa Clan, though, are natural Mystery Dungeon explorers, so they’d probably know more than the Rangers do about them. Not to mention being affiliated with them might allow us to move more independently. The problem there is, we’ll likely need to impress them with a show of strength. First though, we’d have to find their Chieftain, a Luxray named Sierra. I think that strange green cat’s also interested in signing up with the clan.”

He frowned. It was unlikely any of them had the strength to impress a Luxray, not yet at least. If the dungeons here were anything like they were back home, they’d be full of riches, they’d likely have no trouble supporting themselves off the spoils they could bring back. The problem was, they needed some sort of stable base to support themselves with until they were able to reliably delve. They were going to need lodgings and food, and money most of all. They’d really been thrown into the deep end here, and who knew who was reliable, and who was trustworthy, even among their own group of ‘heroes.’

“Huh?” The Oshawott blinked. Corey had said something to him. Something about clothes? “Oh! Uh, yeah, Clover” – Here he paused to try and look over the Ralts’ shoulder to spot the Shuppet, but it seemed like she’d already gone into the store – “and I wound up in a bar along with a few others, and the proprietor allowed us to have our pick of his lost and found.”

Come to think of it, Corey was still naked. That was probably why he and Clover had come here, actually. The Oshawott quickly shuffled around the Ralts, and pushed open the tailor's door, holding it open for the Ralts to enter with him.

“Come on, let’s see if we can’t find something the shopkeep’s willing to part with in return for some honest work,” he said, gesturing for Corey to follow him.

 

[VeniaSilente]

Kalas swooped down the main street until he saw a small group of Pokémon among which he saw a few faces from before. A Ralts and an Oshawott just about to enter the stores. There had been another Pokémon then too, but Kalas did not managed to catch a glimpse of who it was before it went into one of the stores.

"Hey all, wait for me?" he asked just as he landed. "I'm Kalas... from the group, too. Are you looking for jobs already?"

 

[Mr.RMA]

"Whatever honest work I can provide in this body at least..." Corey murmured, nonetheless following after Archie into the shop. As he went on, he could hear someone else approaching, introducing themselves as Kalas.

"I mean, we'll be looking for jobs soon enough, but right now I'm just trying to look decent by this society's standards." Whatever that even meant... apparently you're only considered "naked" if you don't have some piece of fabric somewhere on your body. That point was steadily becoming clearer by the moment, but it still took a bit for a human like him to adjust to.

"We're not gonna object if you follow along, just trying to avoid getting swarmed again... too many people in one place back there."

 

[VeniaSilente]

"I mean, we'll be looking for jobs soon enough, but right now I'm just trying to look decent by this society's standards." Whatever that even meant... apparently you're only considered "naked" if you don't have some piece of fabric somewhere on your body. That point was steadily becoming clearer by the moment, but it still took a bit for a human like him to adjust to.

"We're not gonna object if you follow along, just trying to avoid getting swarmed again... too many people in one place back there."

Kalas gave a curt nod and then looked himself up down somewhat distractedly. "Alrighty, I have no idea what is the need for that but I could guess that it would be easier to find jobs if we're dressed sharp."

He decided to follow the others inside and look about, and made a mental note to find a bird mon to ask them what kinds of clothes would a bird even wear; the best he could think of was a hat, and he frowned at the idea.

 

[Neirdae]

Clover heard the door swing open behind her. A lot of Pokémon had joined her! Archie from the Wandering Zera had caught up and was talking to Corey, and a Spearow hopped in behind them.

He decided to follow the others inside and look about, and made a mental note to find a bird mon to ask them what kinds of clothes would a bird even wear; the best he could think of was a hat, and he frowned at the idea.

Clover spun upside down and zoomed in front of Kalas. "Hi! Are you with our group? I hadn't met you before. I'm Clover, a therapy ghost!"

 

[VeniaSilente]

Clover spun upside down and zoomed in front of Kalas. "Hi! Are you with our group? I hadn't met you before. I'm Clover, a therapy ghost!"

Kalas could but let out a squawk at suddenly seing the Shuppet so close... not to mention so upside down.

"Uh—"

He instinctively tilted his head, it took him a moment to right himself. "I'm with the group I think... Hello there, I mean. I'm Kalas and I'm a detective... well, I used to be."

He waved at the Shuppet and looked around the nondescript store for clothes.

"Well, that's me. So, what does a therapy ghost do? I've seen therapy Houndour before, but not therapy Shuppet, not certainly..."

 

[Neirdae]

"Well, that's me. So, what does a therapy ghost do? I've seen therapy Houndour before, but not therapy Shuppet, not certainly..."

"When you're feeling bad, I eat all that sadness and bad thoughts away! I also give hugs. And laughter is the best medicine!"

Clover flipped upright again.

"If you're a detective, any ideas for why we're here? I don't see any evil overlords to fight. Not that I'm any good in battle anyways."

 

[VeniaSilente]

"When you're feeling bad, I eat all that sadness and bad thoughts away! I also give hugs. And laughter is the best medicine!"

If Kalas's eyes could have looked bigger and rounder at that moment, it'd have been plain daylight in a desert world with three suns.

"Eating thoughts oooookay. I don't... suppose I can ask what do thoughts even taste like?"

"If you're a detective, any ideas for why we're here? I don't see any evil overlords to fight. Not that I'm any good in battle anyways."

"Well, so far I have two ideas." He eyed the surroundings conspicuously. "But it's day one and I don't want to end up in a fight either." He thought over the response that Clover gave him for one more moment. "What exactly do you mean with evil overlords anyway? Like, what are they like back at your place?"

 

[Neirdae]

"Eating thoughts oooookay. I don't... suppose I can ask what do thoughts even taste like?"

"Sadness and grief tastes the best! Anxiety is pretty good too. Anger or hate give me a tummyache." Clover poked her 'belly'. "Do I even have a tummy? I bet this all makes as much sense as when someone tried to tell me what cake tastes like!"

"What exactly do you mean with evil overlords anyway? Like, what are they like back at your place?"

"I didn't see any giant flags or pictures of a king that everyone bows to, no chained up prisoners in the streets. I'm mostly feeling Pokémon are tired or lonely here, not overworked and oppressed."

Clover turned to Corey. "What about you? I think Ralts can feel more emotions than I can."

 

[VeniaSilente]

"Sadness and grief tastes the best! Anxiety is pretty good too. Anger or hate give me a tummyache." Clover poked her 'belly'. "Do I even have a tummy? I bet this all makes as much sense as when someone tried to tell me what cake tastes like!"

"That's uuuh..."

Kalas honestly didn't know what to answer. Thoughts and emotions having flavours was already a foreign thought, the idea that things like sadness and grief were the ones that tasted the best was just a whole 'nother level; even if Kalas had to admit, the gears in his brain still turning, that the idea did hold some merit.

After a moment, he just settled for giving Clover a thumbs-up with his wing.

"Well that's good to hear! Although I guess we can be happy that some things just don't make sense?"

"I didn't see any giant flags or pictures of a king that everyone bows to, no chained up prisoners in the streets. I'm mostly feeling Pokémon are tired or lonely here, not overworked and oppressed."

"Hmmm giant flags or pictures...."

The Spearow mulled it over for a moment. He did notice back at the initial meetings in this world that there was one Pokémon with a statue made of them, and that stores did have iconography or styling after Pokémon in this place. None of them gave the impression of evil overlord, honestly.

"There are other ways to lord over people without overtly oppressing them," he explained. "But I get the impression that won't be the Thing we have to help with. No, no..."

He waited for the Ralts to give their impressions on the matter, but Kalas already had a feeling that the town would have its own spice and variety of problems for the group to Solve, if they were going to get into it. Who knows, maybe something about a delusional Machoke...

 

[Mr.RMA]

"What about you? I think Ralts can feel more emotions than I can."

"Hmm? Oh, ah, yeah, but I imagine it's a different sort of thing for the two of us... You're detecting emotions through how they, err, 'taste', whereas for me it's a lot more direct... It's a very strong kind of empathy you might say. I'm still getting used to it myself." Corey was hesitant to delve further, unsure if inferring his human origins would be a problem with those outside their group listening in. Some of the others seemed pretty concerned about that at least...

As for the subject of quests and overlords and whatnot, that was all completely beyond him. Corey didn't even bother to express any opinion there, merely moving further into the shop to browse the wares.

 

[Jackie Cat]

The tailor's that the party of pokémon had entered had an ordinary facade, with a glass front allowing for window-shopping. The proprietor clearly had an austere taste where decor and marketing were concerned – there had been no elaborate species-themed awnings and the sign was a simple one reading "Spindle & Thread – Bespoke Tailoring est. 143".

The building itself may have been relatively spartan, but it would seem that was to avoid distracting from the clothes and accessories on offer, which varied from the wholly practical, to the decadently lavish. A sturdy flight helmet resembling Nico's hung on one wall, while a wooden mannequin displayed a frilled dress sewn for a bipedal frame. Scarves, cufflets, bandanas and ribbons were especially common, and came in every conceivable variety.

Once Clover and her companions had browsed and talked a little, the tailor himself emerged from the back of the shop, clearing his throat to get their attention. He would have had to do so – he was a spidops, and otherwise moved with perfect silence.

"Good morning," he said, stiffly. "I am Spidops Lorenzo, tailor and vendor of this establishment. May I assist you in any way, or would you like to browse unattended?"

 

[Weazel]

They were quickly joined by a Spearow, likewise naked, who introduced himself as Kalas. Archie hadn’t noticed him in the crowd, but there had been a lot of Pokemon, and Spearow was on the smaller side all things considered.

“I, uh, think that Ranger bird was wearing a helmet and some goggles. Seemed pretty practical?” He offered, helpfully. Just what kind of Pokemon was that bird? He’d never seen it before. Something to ask about later, maybe. For now, he followed Kalas and Corey into the shop, where Clover soon rejoined them. She got to talking with the others about emotions and evil overlords and were generally beyond the Oshawott, but he did offer, “Plenty of outlaws where I’m from, enough that bounty hunting is something Adventurers specialize in.”

Maybe that was something he could do here, once he’d regained some strength? At least back in his world, outlaws weren’t all feared bandit leaders and master criminals. There were plenty of low level troublemakers like Tarahn. That was something he could discuss with the others later. For now, he hovered near the door – though out of the way of anyone trying to enter or leave. He already had his clothes, after all.

Oh, and then they were joined by yet another Pokemon Archie didn’t recognize. A Spidops – if Archie was understanding the introductory custom of this town correctly. He figured he should speak up first.

“Uh, hello! My friends” – he paused to gesture at Kalas and Corey – “are new to town – we all are – but they don’t have anything to wear. We’re a little short on money, so we were hoping maybe there was a job we could do for you in return for something small for them to wear, to hold them over until we have the money for something better?”

 

[Jackie Cat]

Lorenzo frowned, stroking his moustache-like pedipalps. He muttered something inaudible to himself in a silk-soft voice. Then he shrugged, which was already an impressive gesture in a person with four forearms, and all the more so in one wearing a multi-sleeved dress shirt and black waistcoat.

"I have very few odd-jobs and errands," he began, "and fewer that I would entrust to complete strangers. Still, I may be able to help you."

The spidops walked behind his front counter and gestured to his wares.

"Accessories are cheap. Pleasant, essential, but unremarkable – the leavened bread of my art. Outfits are the thing I live for, and there are only so many more I can afford to make on my own dollar, or expect to be commissioned to craft for clients, before I pass on. I am adequately successful, but in old age my thoughts turn to legacy. I wish to make beautiful garments. For this, I need exceptional customers."

Now he gestured to the party – and to Archie specifically.

"Take any item under a dollar and wear it for personal use. The service I ask in return is this: there is a gala later this month at Frontier Hall, hosted by Mayor Ignatius, the empoleon. The well-to-do of this town will be there, as will moneyed guests from Landsverd, Novelux, and elsewhere. Secure invitations to this gala, and attend it, in as conspicuously prestigious a manner as is expedient. I shall furnish you with exquisite clothing to wear at the event, and you shall indicate to anyone whose eye you catch that it was tailored at this establishment."

Lorenzo folded his arms.

"Is this proposal agreeable to you, sirs and miss?"