hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work we go

[adamant]

Who: OPEN to EVERYONE who signed up to dig trenches!
Where: Olivine City!
When: anytime from the 23rd to the 25th of May
Summary: GRAB A SHOVEL AND GET TO IT.
Rating: We'll say PG for now? But I won't police it so BE CAREFUL, GUYS
Log:
The rain is endless and gray.

The buses and vans vomit their charges in various states of distress. After the long, winding ride to the dig site in the cramped vehicles, the air is cool, almost cold. Plastic ponchos are methodically handed out, along with an assortment of shovels, to the volunteers. Pokemon, except for water-types, are welcome to join the effort. The water is already surging up the beaches, crashing dangerously against Olivine's sea walls. Man-made coastal defence was never made to fight the magical rainstorm of two dozen angry Gyarados.

There is mud. The sand is mud, the roads are mud, the mud is mud, and while that makes the ground easier to dig, it's a pain to walk in. Hope you brought good boots, trainers, because it's pelting hard and there's no end in sight.


[ ooc: This is the mod-approved OFFICIAL trench-digging log! This is totally OPEN, So tag in with your character or thread around! Dig, rest at the pokecenter, ditch working and wander around town--the shifts are FOUR HOURS long, so try not to overexert yourselves! Have fun! ]

Comments

[islandshore.livejournal.com]

[When Riku signed up for this, he didn't expect the rain to be this bad, but what can ya do? He's lucky enough to have a team full of overpowered Pokémon to get the job done.

So, as he digs, he's joined by Slacker the Nidoking, Gaia the Tyranitar, Quake the Gabite, Slash the Sneasel, and Ace the Lucario. His Rotom is scoping out the area for any unruly water types, ready to give them a good ol' shock. In short, he's got quite the little army helping him out with the digging.

But that doesn't make it much easier on him, really.]

[rodeopony.livejournal.com]

[ Suddenly, there's a big, lumbering bush-turtle walking right up to Riku's team to lend them a hand. He's not quite on the same size scale as Slacker or Gaia, but the rain is harmless to him and he's willing to work.

He's followed soon after by a quick, limber Eevee Riku might recognize, especially because the Eevee is followed by a familiar blonde. ]

Howdy, Ree-coo!

[ Screw the rain, Applejack is coming right in for a hug. Hope you don't mind! ]

[soggypastry]

[Out of all of Lightning's team, only one is up to digging with his trainer. The problem is he's a massive derp and his ways of helping...sometimes make a bigger mess than they started with. That includes him getting on all fours and just digging with no care as to where the mud goes.

Yeaaaah. Anyone who wants to get close better be watchful of mud balls flying everywhere. Sen is useless when it comes to actually digging. Lightning, on the other hand, seems to have some experience with this. Bodhum was never slammed with this kind of storm, but if there's one thing anyone who lived on a coast knows, it's how to dig a moat.

Even if your stomach is bruised and climbing back out of the trench won't be as easy as getting in was.]

[adamant]

[ There's a familiar presence that moves in next to Sen, taking his wrists to still him. Strike patiently--this is rare for her--shows the other Lucario what he's doing wrong, so hopefully he can channel that energy more appropriately. The ground rumbles a bit as Steelix passes through, like a freight train on the tracks. He's swallowing huge amounts of muddy ground, but hardly stopping as he goes unless a stray human or pokemon has the ill luck of winding up in his path. Skarmory's wing-blades are scooping up the mud like rivermills, tossing it behind her in an even arc. Even Al the Mightyena is joining

Meanwhile, Leon is half-digging, half-supervising his team as they work. It's been a few hours already, and though he knowingly signed up for a double shift, that doesn't ease the ache in his arms. He's hot despite the cold wind, having ditched his poncho and jacket in favor of nothing but his t-shirt. In the pounding rain, it's sticking to his frame uncomfortably.

He moves to enter the trench, pausing as he spots a familiar head of pink hair. Is that...? ]

Lightning?

[seasalttwilight.livejournal.com]

Roxas, admittedly, had missed the announcement that water pokemon were going nuts at this time. Not that he was paying attention to much else other than the fact that he had made it to Olivine in one piece, so the fact that Pence popped out of his pokeball was a bit of a surprise.

Even moreso when Pence seemed to look around before waddling off towards the ocean, a blank look on his face. Not that there was much of a difference than before. Roxas knew what it meant though.

"Not again," he sighed, taking off after his slowking, who had once again heard the call of the wild.

[justicereigns]

"Yours too, huh?" Smoker shook his head. "Best to just keep the water ones in the balls for now kid. Tsk."

[paladinlost]

[He might have only arrived a few hours ago, but Cecil's section of the trench is advancing rather quickly. Of course, that might be because he's not wearing half his weight in armor, for once. He needs all of his strength and mobility today, after all.

...Then again, it might also have something to do with the Clefable, the Dragonite, the Lucario, the Meganium, the Butterfree and the Shuppet at his side, working together lika an alarmingly well-oiled machine. He stopped giving them orders, after the first hour; there was no need to do so anymore.]

[seasalttwilight.livejournal.com]

[And striding determinedly through the trench is one slowking, being followed by one very annoyed trainer. Roxas has slipped a few times, and so he's kind of covered in mud, and a bit cold from the rain, since he doesn't have a jacket on, so he looks like he's a bit of a mess right now.

But he'll keep running. His pokemon. His responsibility. Cecil gets a brief wave as he runs by]

DADDIES UNITE

[derpy-mcderp.livejournal.com]

[Not quite as impressive but Laguna's Rattata and Pidgey are still going strong! He can't bring out Psyduck for obvious reasons and his Horsea, even it wasn't being effected, wouldn't be able to do much given what it was.

Still, they're working their damndest with him dig the trenches. Laguna himself has mud streaking his cheeks and shoes, pants, and hands are completely covered in mud. But he doesn't care.]

Open to all~

[herolegs]

[Of all the Pokémon on Chie's team, there's only one who's learned Dig -- her goofy little Dunsparce, Yosuke. So that little winged land snake... thing... whatever he is... is happily assisting in the digging, mud flying in all directions as he burrows along with childish glee. Her Sandshrew, Sandy, doesn't know Dig, but he still takes to the dirt like a fish to water, plowing along next to Yosuke looking excited that there's a job he can do.

Chie herself, and her Hitmonlee Bruce working next to her, are not so cheerful, each armed with a wholly mundane shovel. But it's a job that needs to be done, plus an opportunity to build a little muscle, so they're both ready and willing to work! (Suzuka Gongen, on the other hand, is floating above them, shunning both the mud and Bruce.)]

[thebelsareinert]

[Don't mind me, Chie. I'm just a cute little Paras, wandering around in the mud. You probably only see my mushrooms, sticking out. Don't they look yummy? My trainer is looking for me, but he's a ways away right now. What will you do?]

[3-butterflies.livejournal.com]

[Now during this crisis, when water pokemon are out of control and hurting others, the smart thing to do would be to stay away from the ocean, thus keeping away from the water pokemon.

Noooot Fluttershy. When she thinks no one is looking, she starts making a dash for the ocean waters, thinking if she could just talk to the manic pokemon, she can try and figure out why they're suffering and help out. Though she stumbles a few times, she seems absolutely determined to get there. Will she be fish food, or can you stop her?]

[thebelsareinert]

[Seeing someone, from Hiro's perspective, going to kill themselves-- Needless to say, Hiro makes a mad dash of his own to run towards and grab for the girl.]

Are you crazy!?

[thebelsareinert]

[He's diggin' up them holes, diggin'. Diggin' up them holes...

But he's not alone in his digging. An odd assortment of Pokemon is joining Hiro in this storm, helping him dig even when a lot of them can't stand the water. There's a Parasect, a Nosepass, a Combusken, and... For some reason, a Smeargle off to the side, an umbrella in one hand, its tail in the other - painting pictures in the mud. Clearly the greatest help of all.

With his Parasect keeping guard for the Water types that might get in the way of his, his Nosepass, and his Combusken's work, the three are actually making good work digging around. ... Don't ask how the Nosepass is digging. You won't like the answer.]

Come on guys, keep up the pace!

[wontdieifkilled.livejournal.com]

[Shirou is no stranger to manual labor. He could be found in amongst the other volunteers, digging with all his effort. He was doing a decent job on his own -- and it was further assisted by a pair of Onix -- or, rather, one Onix and a Ditto that had temporarily transformed into an Onix -- digging at good speeds. He also had a Skarmory flying overhead, to keep an eye out and warn the three of them when a wave got too close.]

Hrgh! Haa! Haa!

[Open]

[chosenlightchld.livejournal.com]

[Hikari sighed, digging into the ground with her shovel. She'd love to have her pokémon help her with this, but they were all babies with the exception of Pidgey and Eevee. And well... Pidgey couldn't really help with digging and half the time Eevee needed to be watched like he was a baby anyway.

So here she was, just digging without her pokémon here to help her. Not that that's putting her down at all. If anything, it's like she's trying to work harder to make up for it.]

[airwinged.livejournal.com]

[Hope usually has the good fortune of having Pokémon that are far, far larger than he is. Thing is though, his most powerful is also his only water type and definitely isn't help, his largest is a rock type and isn't doing so well in the mud and the weather, and the others are pretty much birds and babies, so he's stuck with an overly grumpy Ursaring and a long-suffering Ampharos to help him with his work as the others are on baby (and egg) sitting duty.

He's not about to complain though, especially when there are others who may not have the right Pokémon to help them out. Being the good Samaritan he is, he's looking around to see if he can offer some assistance.]

Need help? [Because she looks like she needs it.]

[saltwaterwounds.livejournal.com]

[You don't have to have strong Pokémon to help dig a trench. In fact, Sisuca's Azurill is watching from a safe distance, bundled underneath an umbrella Sisuca set up for her. She's just a hard worker with a strong back and a shovel. Four hours is nothing for her! She doesn't mind a little dirt and mess.]

Mama's going to dig her socks off!

[doorjammer.livejournal.com]

[Likewise, Seven didn't need any Pokemon to help him out with digging. Not that his Magby didn't try to help. He's carrying a small shovel of his own.]

Alright, let's do this, Pipe!



[He rolls up his sleeves and starts to dig.]

HRAAAAAAHHHH!!!

[Seven manages to shovel off a large amount of dirt. Meanwhile, his Pokemon...]

[He topples over his own shovel. Seven picks him up by his tail and puts him back beside him.

Seven digs some more. Pipe (his Magby) tries to dig and topples over some more. This goes on for a while until...]

Y'know what, Pipe? Maybe you should rest for a while...

[babel_hacker]

[Atsuro and his are out and doing their best to help. While his Chinchou stayed inside the Pokeball, the rest of the team do their best to make up for it.

Loupe the Raticate made the most progress, as one of Atsuro's stronger and faster Pokemon. Pascal the Growlithe braved the rain that even Ada the Poochyena temporarily put aside their rivalry for it, and out of reluctant respect.

Fortran is doing scouting duty with Asterisk the Cleffa, who looks determined to do her best, on its back.]

C'mon, guys!

[souljudgment.livejournal.com]

[Ted, for his part, had four pokémon out and about helping around. Aside from Ted himself digging, there was also Cleo the Dratini and Tir the Minun helping him out. Whatever dirt needs to be relocated, that's where Gremio the Chansey would be along with Jeanne the Smoochum. He couldn't let out Lazlo, his Piplup, due to his crazy temper right now, and certainly not Pahn the Cyndaquil either, as he was just going to suffer under the rain. All in all, they were making slow progress, but it was better than nothing.

The moment he hears Atsuro's voice though, he looks up, noticing his own group of misfits.]

Atsuro!

obviously open /o/

[tapestodiane]

Coop's first job was actually to dig holes. Maybe that's why he doesn't terribly mind digging these trenches. Aside the rain and the fact that it's going really slowly because of the everything-is-mud business, it's as good a workout/distraction as anything - and it's for a good cause.

And while he is admittedly getting tired he's only got about half an hour to go on this shift. Stopping for a moment, he breathes out slowly and runs a hand through his hair to keep it back. It hasn't escaped the rain, so the whole gelled-back-ness? Not happening. Makes him look a fair bit younger, actually.

Man, he's looking forward to a coffee after this. And donuts, if he can find any. Jelly donuts. That'd be amazing.

"Stay put, Tricia."

Directed to his escapist Manectric - she's very muddy indeed, and apparently enjoying the hard rain like nobody's business. She's not being too helpful, but there's some appeal in her company.

[used-fireblast.livejournal.com]

[Aside from the imminent danger of death-by-sea-dragon, this is rather reminiscent of Harry's apprenticeship on a farm. Ebenezer never had him working in the pouring rain, but there was at least one or two occasions of having to dig a big freaking hole.]

[His heart is pounding and his lungs are burning as he goes through the repetitive digging motion, but this is hardly the worst he's had to exert himself. No one cut him open before he started, for one thing.]

[Lara the Smoochum is helping as well, or trying to. She's mostly playing in the mud, tossing dirt clumps up the slope of the trench. Some even get over the edge.]

Couldn't have gotten teleported to Narnia in work clothes, no, had to be in my date threads.

"Smoo~"

Hell's bells, I hope they actually sell clothes around here.

[souljudgment.livejournal.com]

Jeanne, don't wander off!

[Smoochum? Meet Smoochum. Jeanne will be coming close to the Lara, watching her play. Soon enough though, she starts doing the same, grabbing dirt clumps and tossing them as much as she could.]

[open to all! :D]

[psychunaut.livejournal.com]

[Raz was so conflicted right now.

On one hand, he'd come to find out what was going on. Not just for himself, but for his Pokemon - S especially.

On the other hand - that wave of water which could burst into the city and kil everybody but especially him looked scary. Especially scary right now, in the mud and the rain.

And that's why come Raz is one of the people resting back at the Pokemon Center. He just needs to build up the courage to get back out there. Yeah. He is totally going to get back to digging those trenches. Or start doing it. After it's... safer. Oh well, he's having what seems like a one-sided conversation with his Charizard. His friends and allies would know he's reading its mind and responding that way, but WHATEVER.]

...A Fire/Psychic type? Well, I guess that'd suit me just fine. And I haven't heard of one, either! I wonder if one exists...

[Meanwhile at the front lines there's a Gardevoir and Hypno duo doing the diggy diggy hole thing as well.]

[thebelsareinert]

[Coming in to take a rest himself, when he spots Raz doing his thing. In a bit of coincidence - what is fate? - the Nidorino that Hiro got from Raz way back when as an egg is following after Hiro curiously.]

... Are you talking to that dragon?

[swordofimpulse.livejournal.com]

[Digging is never Shinn's forte.

No sirree. He has never found reason to hate it. And he definitely felt neutral about this.

...but the last few days and the trip here kinda... put some pressure on him. That coupled with the weather and mud?

Yeah, he kinda... snapped. As you can see by him just. Scooping mud like a crazy workaholic.]

[cynicizing.livejournal.com]

[... Uh.

Yeah, Santa'll just be holding up his shovel as a makeshift shield against the mud flying everywhere.]

What the hell are you doing, man?

[cynicizing.livejournal.com]

[All things considered, Santa's... definitely thankful he chose not to take up Team Rocket's offer, which makes this work marginally better. He's fairly certain their plan would've involved boats and, well. Better to be miserably digging up trenches on land than risking going out into the sea when it's like this.

... And hey. Might as well try to be a good citizen, even if the idea's kind of a joke to him now.

Still. He pauses in his digging for a moment to stare at the ocean with a strangely melancholic look, before muttering to himself.]

Goddamnit, I swear it's trying to haunt me or something...

[derppelganger.livejournal.com]

Oiiiiiii, Ghost Rider!

*A girl with a ditto who is currently attached to her head and shaped like some absurd looking umbrella hat waves in your general direction.*

Stop looking like some angst riddled teen and toss that shovel by your feet over here.

[0kwithalot.livejournal.com]

[Like others, Aradia wasn't expecting the rain to be this bad! But it's okay. She came here to help, and that's exactly what she's doing! Her Trapinch is helping out, too; even though he's not used to the mud and doesn't really like water, he still wants to help out his trainer! D'aww. They've actually made a good amount of progress on their section of the trench, too! It certainly helps that neither of them are strangers to digging.]

Hope this is okay!

[somanytosofew]

[Trench digging wasn't unfamiliar to England. It was unpleasantly familiar in fact and the memories of the last time he'd had to contend with trench digging and mud like this put a damper on his mood.

He's only brought Gabriel who is at least attempting to help by digging, but seems more interested in getting muddy.

He pauses to stretch and starts humming a tune, one from the last war. It comes back so naturally and it brightens the place up a bit.]

[dark-surprise.livejournal.com]

[Having taken the poncho they were handing out to everyone and found a sturdy pair of boots, Margarita had set to helping getting the trench dug. Her own contribution with her shovel wasn't that significant, given that bookish thirteen-year-old girls aren't particularly effective at moving large amounts of earth. But she'd marshaled her team of Pokemon well, with Grimalkin the Sneasel, Scarletter the Skarmory, and Guardian the Houndour hard at work digging according to her directions.

Mocha the Sentret and Aspera the Bagon, neither of which had limbs which were particularly suited for digging, were keeping an eye out for crazed Water Pokémon and fighting off any that looked like they were going to interfere with the others' progress.]

[isthedeadcat]

[Lion was taking a small break. The tiniest break ever, and it can be seen by the fact that Lion is terribly muddy and looks worn out. Still, a known face among all the people it's always good to see.]

Miss Surprise, it's good to see you here.

Open!

[show_my_cannons]

[And here we have one huge human digging in a ditch alongside of an equally huge Onix. The big rock snake is moving a lot of earth around in their section, and making excellent progress. But that isn't to say Ironhide is slacking. He's spattered liberally with mud, coated in it, and showing no signs of slowing.]

[The old guy has probably worked past the four-hour shift limit by now, but he seems all right with it.]

Open!

[pastsanity.livejournal.com]

[Dated to the evening of the 25th ]

[Things are cooling down. Somewhat. However, there is a lone man amidst the rain and the storm. There aren't any Pokemon nearby - at least, not any of his own - and he's swinging wildly into the ground with his shovel. He's digging, but only half of his efforts are worthwhile.

The other half, well, they're being used to attack whatever wild Pokemon comes close. With a shovel. As he attacks the ground and the creatures on top it alike, his tears mixed with the rain, he roars out to the sky.]

UWOOOOOOH...! BEAAAATRIIIIICE...!!

Oh gramps. Let's just forever pretend this is the last thread, so people can have uwooohhh fun xD

[isthedeadcat]

[With things calming down, Lion took a moment to walk around Olivine, to have a quick look at the town, when a familiar sound got to Lion's ears.

They may sound younger, but Lion can recognize those uwoooohs everywhere.

It takes a bit to find grandfather, but... That is a pretty familiar image. Well, except for the shovel and the mud and the pokémon. And grandfather looking fourty years younger. But still familiar.]

Grandfather...?