Post by Morgan on Nov 8, 2021 20:47:20 GMT
Morgan
NAME "Morgan Evergreen" | AGE Six years old (18 actually) |
OCCUPATION Traveling Bard (Civilian) | HOMETOWN Oasis City, Shula |
GENDER/SEXUALITY Nonbinary (they/them) / Not Thinking About It (Questioning) | PLAYED BY Bright |
PERSONALITY
POSITIVE TRAITS: • Resourceful • Generous • Good reputation in the wild • Not easily disturbed • Good at reading between the lines | NEGATIVE TRAITS: • Sticky fingers • Overly secretive • Overly trusting of Pokemon • Technologically clueless • Often reads subtext where there is none |
LIKES • Playing music • Busking • Being out of the loop • Bones • Weaving bracelets | DISLIKES: • New technology • Being examined too closely • Big cities • Team Rocket • Official-looking people |
personality (written)
Morgan, first and foremost, is very resourceful. Years of their life spent living in the wild have taught them how to make the most of what they have- and have left them with an unpleasant tendency of stealing what they need if they don't have the means to acquire what they need legally.
Just because they steal doesn't mean they are selfish, however- in fact, when they're able to, they're naturally inclined to give to others in need, whether it be money or food or even just a listening ear. That doesn't mean they're friendly by any stretch of the word, however- they're very secretive and distrustful, wary of most everyone they meet for some reason or another.
Though they try to be kind to those they think deserve it and greatly enjoy a dramatic song or two, Morgan just has a very serious disposition. They're just not really used to smiling, and they more often than not have their guard up even around people they're familiar with.
This is, of course, limited to humans and other gijinka. Through most of their life being spent in the wild amongst Pokemon they've gained a tendency to be overly trusting of Pokemon, to the point where they'll trust any wild Pokemon (and even many trainer Pokemon) almost without question. This, when they were in the wild, was typically kept in check by their old friends and caretakers, but in the absence of both the Sableye they haven't yet gotten used to questioning the intentions of strange Pokemon.
Their resourcefulness isn't the only thing they've gained from their time in the wild- though there's absolutely no way for them to know every single wild Pokemon (or even know many on a personal level aside from passing greetings) Morg has a good reputation among wild Pokemon- especially the Pokemon around Shema Island, as they've spent the most time there.
A good few of Lorea's older Pokemon know of them and some maybe helped them a few years ago when they needed help escaping Team Rocket, when they were much younger than they are now. However, they have never been to Faraday Island or Isle Changeling, so none of the Pokemon there would have any reason to know of them unless they had travelled and met some mutual acquaintances.
Though they spent a year or so halfway living in society, Morgan is still quite technologically clueless- they're very bad at picking up on more complicated things like PCs and xtranscievers, and even pokeballs themselves (despite being relatively intuitive designs) will be difficult for them to figure out for a while, especially after having gone their whole life not using them.
Really, it could be said that they're bad with most 'modern' things, but that's only most obvious with modern technologies.
In speech, however, they tend to excel, despite (or maybe because of) their feral childhood. They're very good at reading between the lines in verbal conversation, or very good at reading subtext- unfortunately, almost to the extent where they often read subtext where there is none. They're also extremely good at reading the body language of various Pokemon species, something that has helped and still does help them navigate sometimes frightening situations in the wild.
Finally, it's worth noting that they are not easily disturbed, whether it be by gore or anything else. Though it wasn't exactly normal for them to see these things as a child, they've seen them enough that they've managed to build quite a resistance to various sights and smells a 'normal' individual might be nauseated by.
Just because they steal doesn't mean they are selfish, however- in fact, when they're able to, they're naturally inclined to give to others in need, whether it be money or food or even just a listening ear. That doesn't mean they're friendly by any stretch of the word, however- they're very secretive and distrustful, wary of most everyone they meet for some reason or another.
Though they try to be kind to those they think deserve it and greatly enjoy a dramatic song or two, Morgan just has a very serious disposition. They're just not really used to smiling, and they more often than not have their guard up even around people they're familiar with.
This is, of course, limited to humans and other gijinka. Through most of their life being spent in the wild amongst Pokemon they've gained a tendency to be overly trusting of Pokemon, to the point where they'll trust any wild Pokemon (and even many trainer Pokemon) almost without question. This, when they were in the wild, was typically kept in check by their old friends and caretakers, but in the absence of both the Sableye they haven't yet gotten used to questioning the intentions of strange Pokemon.
Their resourcefulness isn't the only thing they've gained from their time in the wild- though there's absolutely no way for them to know every single wild Pokemon (or even know many on a personal level aside from passing greetings) Morg has a good reputation among wild Pokemon- especially the Pokemon around Shema Island, as they've spent the most time there.
A good few of Lorea's older Pokemon know of them and some maybe helped them a few years ago when they needed help escaping Team Rocket, when they were much younger than they are now. However, they have never been to Faraday Island or Isle Changeling, so none of the Pokemon there would have any reason to know of them unless they had travelled and met some mutual acquaintances.
Though they spent a year or so halfway living in society, Morgan is still quite technologically clueless- they're very bad at picking up on more complicated things like PCs and xtranscievers, and even pokeballs themselves (despite being relatively intuitive designs) will be difficult for them to figure out for a while, especially after having gone their whole life not using them.
Really, it could be said that they're bad with most 'modern' things, but that's only most obvious with modern technologies.
In speech, however, they tend to excel, despite (or maybe because of) their feral childhood. They're very good at reading between the lines in verbal conversation, or very good at reading subtext- unfortunately, almost to the extent where they often read subtext where there is none. They're also extremely good at reading the body language of various Pokemon species, something that has helped and still does help them navigate sometimes frightening situations in the wild.
Finally, it's worth noting that they are not easily disturbed, whether it be by gore or anything else. Though it wasn't exactly normal for them to see these things as a child, they've seen them enough that they've managed to build quite a resistance to various sights and smells a 'normal' individual might be nauseated by.
POKEMON
Species: Random | Gender: Random | Ability: Random | Level: 10
Moves: I'd like to have my starter randomized at the lab, please! My only request is that it be a musically inclined Pokemon, because I think that would be cute- either a Pokemon that's like...naturally musically inclined like Grookey for example or simply a Pokemon that just...likes the vibes would work.
Species: Random | Gender: Random | Ability: Random | Level: 10
Moves: I'd like to have my starter randomized at the lab, please! My only request is that it be a musically inclined Pokemon, because I think that would be cute- either a Pokemon that's like...naturally musically inclined like Grookey for example or simply a Pokemon that just...likes the vibes would work.
APPEARANCE
Morgan is a bit of an odd duck, appearance-wise. They stand at a modest 5’4”, with a slender, almost scrawny physique and long, shin-length blue-black hair. They also have red eyes, a detail only really visible up-close- from a distance, their eyes just look dark. They’re rarely seen without their mask- the skull of some kind of canine Pokemon -covering the majority of their face, but what can actually be seen of their face reveals a thin, square jawline and unusually pointed teeth.
Without their mask or their hood up to hide them, their Morgrem heritage is much more noticeable. Though their nose is still relatively small, all things considered, their genetics leave it upturned- they don’t possess too much of a noticeable nose bridge, either, leaving them with an unusually flat face despite their defined jawline.
They also have large, pink ears sticking out from where their human ears would be. These ears have a wider range of motion than you’d expect, but are still only able to really wiggle back and forth. This range of motion allows for them to be easily hidden beneath Morgan’s hood.
The skin on their hands and sides of their head is pink, they have green splotches down their lower legs and feet, and they have pink splotches over their face (almost like freckles).
Though they have the normal amount of fingers on either hand, due to a past accident they’re missing two fingers on their right hand (their pinkie and ring fingers).
Finally, their long hair is prehensile, meaning it can be used to grab and hold objects if Morgan wishes (though they rarely make use of it, in the interest of keeping their gijinka identity hidden). The most they use their prehensile hair for is keeping their skull mask on their face, which it does a very good job of.
Though their hair is frequently in their eyes, they typically keep at least one eye free with a small green hair clip- a remnant of their lost childhood.
They honestly take the vaguest sort of pride in being androgynous, but they don’t like to think in-depth about their appearance because of how little luxury they have to change it. They’ve picked one thing they’re comfortable with and stuck with it.
Without their mask or their hood up to hide them, their Morgrem heritage is much more noticeable. Though their nose is still relatively small, all things considered, their genetics leave it upturned- they don’t possess too much of a noticeable nose bridge, either, leaving them with an unusually flat face despite their defined jawline.
They also have large, pink ears sticking out from where their human ears would be. These ears have a wider range of motion than you’d expect, but are still only able to really wiggle back and forth. This range of motion allows for them to be easily hidden beneath Morgan’s hood.
The skin on their hands and sides of their head is pink, they have green splotches down their lower legs and feet, and they have pink splotches over their face (almost like freckles).
Though they have the normal amount of fingers on either hand, due to a past accident they’re missing two fingers on their right hand (their pinkie and ring fingers).
Finally, their long hair is prehensile, meaning it can be used to grab and hold objects if Morgan wishes (though they rarely make use of it, in the interest of keeping their gijinka identity hidden). The most they use their prehensile hair for is keeping their skull mask on their face, which it does a very good job of.
Though their hair is frequently in their eyes, they typically keep at least one eye free with a small green hair clip- a remnant of their lost childhood.
They honestly take the vaguest sort of pride in being androgynous, but they don’t like to think in-depth about their appearance because of how little luxury they have to change it. They’ve picked one thing they’re comfortable with and stuck with it.
HISTORY
Morgan’s life is a bit of a rollercoaster, so perhaps it would be better for us if we split it into parts.
(Click each chapter title to open.)
(Click each chapter title to open.)
{CHAPTER NULL: Ainoa Adelaide, the Entrepeneur}
Ainoa Adelaide was an enterprising young woman, born and raised on a small farm in Tavros Ridge. Though they lived comfortably, she always dreamed of living somewhere bustling with activity, and so with the help of her family she moved to Oasis City to try and start a garden center. After all, though she didn’t want to stay on the farm she shared her family’s green thumb and love of plantlife.
So there she was, after a rough (and frankly, sort of expensive) move, with her very own flower shop and her partner Pokemon (a Raticate named Nimsy) at her side.
...To make a long prelude short, her business flopped, not least because the other businesses in the gorgeous green city shut her out rather than welcoming her with open arms. After only a year she was nearly destitute, with barely any money left to her name.
She had to close the shop to be able to pay her rent.
Above all else, though, above the sabotage of her business and her struggles to stay afloat, Ainoa felt ashamed. Her family had worked hard to get her out to Oasis in the first place, and for her to (in her eyes) fail so spectacularly was absolutely disgraceful. Even if she had the money to make the move back to Tavros Ridge, she had no idea how her family would react.
So, pushed by fear, shame, and a lack of sustainable income in what was possibly one of the most expensive Shulan cities, Ainoa turned to what seemed like her only option:
She joined Team Rocket.
Ainoa Adelaide was an enterprising young woman, born and raised on a small farm in Tavros Ridge. Though they lived comfortably, she always dreamed of living somewhere bustling with activity, and so with the help of her family she moved to Oasis City to try and start a garden center. After all, though she didn’t want to stay on the farm she shared her family’s green thumb and love of plantlife.
So there she was, after a rough (and frankly, sort of expensive) move, with her very own flower shop and her partner Pokemon (a Raticate named Nimsy) at her side.
...To make a long prelude short, her business flopped, not least because the other businesses in the gorgeous green city shut her out rather than welcoming her with open arms. After only a year she was nearly destitute, with barely any money left to her name.
She had to close the shop to be able to pay her rent.
Above all else, though, above the sabotage of her business and her struggles to stay afloat, Ainoa felt ashamed. Her family had worked hard to get her out to Oasis in the first place, and for her to (in her eyes) fail so spectacularly was absolutely disgraceful. Even if she had the money to make the move back to Tavros Ridge, she had no idea how her family would react.
So, pushed by fear, shame, and a lack of sustainable income in what was possibly one of the most expensive Shulan cities, Ainoa turned to what seemed like her only option:
She joined Team Rocket.
{CHAPTER I: Lucky Little Faerie}
Morgan was a genetic success.
Their mother, Ainoa, was little more than a grunt, a very poor woman joining Team Rocket in a desperate attempt to take back control of her life. After all, though there were definitely cleaner ways to gain shelter and work, Oasis City was expensive to live in and surrounded by desert. Team Rocket was simply the easiest option, and though she didn’t like it, once she was in she felt like she couldn’t leave.
Eventually, she was given an opportunity to participate in Team Rocket’s gijinka experiments, with the incentive of higher pay and medical care throughout the process...and, if she would give her child to the organization, she would receive more money she could put towards potentially reviving her business, or even moving out of Oasis City altogether. It was too tempting for her to ignore, and so she agreed to participate.
Ainoa underestimated, however, how attached she’d get to a baby she hadn’t even met yet. She was soft at heart, and as the gravity of the situation dawned on her she realized she wouldn’t be able to bear parting with her child, much less put them at the complete mercy of a criminal organization. She couldn’t take back her word, though, and as such she attempted to strike a deal with those overseeing her pregnancy.
She had always been an active, contributing member of the organization- if they allowed her to mentor her child, then she would remain with the organization as a guarantee and train her child as best she could. After all, was she not competent? Was she not loyal?
Realizing the potential of having someone so close to the subject there to oversee its development (and, of course, knowing other cases in which other members had remained close to their children to great success), permission was granted.
6 months later, her child was born successfully, with large, goblin-like ears, an upturned nose, and a pink-ish tone to their skin...and though they looked strange, she thought they were the most wonderful thing she’d ever seen, and with love she named them Morgan.
Morgan was a genetic success.
Their mother, Ainoa, was little more than a grunt, a very poor woman joining Team Rocket in a desperate attempt to take back control of her life. After all, though there were definitely cleaner ways to gain shelter and work, Oasis City was expensive to live in and surrounded by desert. Team Rocket was simply the easiest option, and though she didn’t like it, once she was in she felt like she couldn’t leave.
Eventually, she was given an opportunity to participate in Team Rocket’s gijinka experiments, with the incentive of higher pay and medical care throughout the process...and, if she would give her child to the organization, she would receive more money she could put towards potentially reviving her business, or even moving out of Oasis City altogether. It was too tempting for her to ignore, and so she agreed to participate.
Ainoa underestimated, however, how attached she’d get to a baby she hadn’t even met yet. She was soft at heart, and as the gravity of the situation dawned on her she realized she wouldn’t be able to bear parting with her child, much less put them at the complete mercy of a criminal organization. She couldn’t take back her word, though, and as such she attempted to strike a deal with those overseeing her pregnancy.
She had always been an active, contributing member of the organization- if they allowed her to mentor her child, then she would remain with the organization as a guarantee and train her child as best she could. After all, was she not competent? Was she not loyal?
Realizing the potential of having someone so close to the subject there to oversee its development (and, of course, knowing other cases in which other members had remained close to their children to great success), permission was granted.
6 months later, her child was born successfully, with large, goblin-like ears, an upturned nose, and a pink-ish tone to their skin...and though they looked strange, she thought they were the most wonderful thing she’d ever seen, and with love she named them Morgan.
{CHAPTER II: Blasting Off}
The next 3 years were tense, spent in Team Rocket’s headquarters (where Morg’s mother was given room to stay). The poor little thing had to quickly learn double-talk, to read between the lines of their mother’s words as she taught them one thing and meant the other. She taught them to lie for their own sake, to perform as she’d had to in all her years working for Team Rocket. She taught them to be wary of human beings and the organization surrounding them, as Rocket wanted to use them for their own nefarious purposes.
And...above all else, she taught them to be kind in secret. She taught them that it was alright to love, it was alright to bond. After all, it was unavoidable. However, they had to be reserved, because if the wrong person knew how much they cared that care and compassion would be used against them.
And so, Morgan grew up as Team Rocket property, going from being carried in their mother’s arms to hiding behind their mother’s legs to being trained with strangers as higher-ups tried more and more to separate them from each other.
Finally, when Morgan was about three years old, their mother had had enough.
In the dead of night, she grabbed what little she owned, grabbed Morgan, and ran.
Of course, just because it was nighttime didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any resistance. She was noticed before she was even out of her hall, and quickly she was intercepted. Her Raticate, Nimsy, was sent out to use double team and attack, and the ensuing chaos was enough to buy her enough time to keep running for the exit. When they had reached it, however, one of her fellow grunts’ Pokemon lunged forward with a toxic fang- aiming at her, not Nimsy.
The Salandit’s fangs sunk into her calf, and though Nimsy was able to fend it off, the damage was done.
She had been poisoned.
She didn’t notice at first, of course. Though her leg hurt like hell she refused to stop moving, keeping a tight hold on her child’s hand as they fled, leaving Nimsy behind to try and keep their pursuers at bay. Despite her pain she even picked Morgan up when they innocently complained of being tired, already worrying for her child’s health.
They ventured out into the desert, the one place she was so afraid to cross, in an effort to escape from Team Rocket completely.
Of course, she didn’t make it far. She was badly poisoned and bleeding, quickly reaching the point of delirium. It went without saying that Morgan was terrified at the state of their mother, and so, when a Mandibuzz descended seeking prey, instead of begging for mercy Morgan begged for its help to save them both from Team Rocket.
Mandibuzz are usually selfish creatures, no doubt, but a heart-rending sight like a mother too weak to care for her child sparked pity in the creature. It agreed to help them travel the desert, and thus began...
The next 3 years were tense, spent in Team Rocket’s headquarters (where Morg’s mother was given room to stay). The poor little thing had to quickly learn double-talk, to read between the lines of their mother’s words as she taught them one thing and meant the other. She taught them to lie for their own sake, to perform as she’d had to in all her years working for Team Rocket. She taught them to be wary of human beings and the organization surrounding them, as Rocket wanted to use them for their own nefarious purposes.
And...above all else, she taught them to be kind in secret. She taught them that it was alright to love, it was alright to bond. After all, it was unavoidable. However, they had to be reserved, because if the wrong person knew how much they cared that care and compassion would be used against them.
And so, Morgan grew up as Team Rocket property, going from being carried in their mother’s arms to hiding behind their mother’s legs to being trained with strangers as higher-ups tried more and more to separate them from each other.
Finally, when Morgan was about three years old, their mother had had enough.
In the dead of night, she grabbed what little she owned, grabbed Morgan, and ran.
Of course, just because it was nighttime didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any resistance. She was noticed before she was even out of her hall, and quickly she was intercepted. Her Raticate, Nimsy, was sent out to use double team and attack, and the ensuing chaos was enough to buy her enough time to keep running for the exit. When they had reached it, however, one of her fellow grunts’ Pokemon lunged forward with a toxic fang- aiming at her, not Nimsy.
The Salandit’s fangs sunk into her calf, and though Nimsy was able to fend it off, the damage was done.
She had been poisoned.
She didn’t notice at first, of course. Though her leg hurt like hell she refused to stop moving, keeping a tight hold on her child’s hand as they fled, leaving Nimsy behind to try and keep their pursuers at bay. Despite her pain she even picked Morgan up when they innocently complained of being tired, already worrying for her child’s health.
They ventured out into the desert, the one place she was so afraid to cross, in an effort to escape from Team Rocket completely.
Of course, she didn’t make it far. She was badly poisoned and bleeding, quickly reaching the point of delirium. It went without saying that Morgan was terrified at the state of their mother, and so, when a Mandibuzz descended seeking prey, instead of begging for mercy Morgan begged for its help to save them both from Team Rocket.
Mandibuzz are usually selfish creatures, no doubt, but a heart-rending sight like a mother too weak to care for her child sparked pity in the creature. It agreed to help them travel the desert, and thus began...
{CHAPTER III: The Lorea Relay}
The Mandibuzz carried Morgan and their mother to the ruins, where they met and asked a flock of Natu for help. The little birds were able to bolster Ainoa’s ailing health with the use of the move wish (though she was still in dire straits), and got them in contact with a gang of Sandile and Krokorok living nearby.
The gang was able to help escort them the rest of the way to Redshore Town, where a group of Pokemon from Lake Laleh (who had been alerted ahead of time by a Natu that had flown ahead) met them and took over the relay, helping the suffering duo around the lake to Nefi Village without being seen.
There, as the moon began to dip low in the sky, was where they stopped. Even with the efforts of the Natu in the ruins, it was clear that Ainoa would die without real, skilled medical attention- though she’d had her moments of lucidity during their escape through the desert and around the lake, she’d spent most of the time incoherent with pain. She needed help.
Going into town, however, meant that Team Rocket would be able to find them. Ainoa knew this. And so, at the border of Nefi Village, she pleaded with her child to flee to Shema Island. She would go into Nefi Village and get help for her wound, and once she was better she promised she would go searching for them.
Morgan agreed, because what else were they supposed to do? They had to listen to their mother, didn’t they? After she gave them a kiss on the forehead goodbye they crossed the bridge to Shema Island, accompanied by a ragtag group of water types.
These water types proceeded to pass the gijinka child off to some swamp-dwelling friends, explaining the situation to them before heading back over the bridge.
Thus, the Lorea relay officially ended.
And thus began Morgan’s life alone.
The Mandibuzz carried Morgan and their mother to the ruins, where they met and asked a flock of Natu for help. The little birds were able to bolster Ainoa’s ailing health with the use of the move wish (though she was still in dire straits), and got them in contact with a gang of Sandile and Krokorok living nearby.
The gang was able to help escort them the rest of the way to Redshore Town, where a group of Pokemon from Lake Laleh (who had been alerted ahead of time by a Natu that had flown ahead) met them and took over the relay, helping the suffering duo around the lake to Nefi Village without being seen.
There, as the moon began to dip low in the sky, was where they stopped. Even with the efforts of the Natu in the ruins, it was clear that Ainoa would die without real, skilled medical attention- though she’d had her moments of lucidity during their escape through the desert and around the lake, she’d spent most of the time incoherent with pain. She needed help.
Going into town, however, meant that Team Rocket would be able to find them. Ainoa knew this. And so, at the border of Nefi Village, she pleaded with her child to flee to Shema Island. She would go into Nefi Village and get help for her wound, and once she was better she promised she would go searching for them.
Morgan agreed, because what else were they supposed to do? They had to listen to their mother, didn’t they? After she gave them a kiss on the forehead goodbye they crossed the bridge to Shema Island, accompanied by a ragtag group of water types.
These water types proceeded to pass the gijinka child off to some swamp-dwelling friends, explaining the situation to them before heading back over the bridge.
Thus, the Lorea relay officially ended.
And thus began Morgan’s life alone.
{CHAPTER IV: It Takes A Village}
Morgan was never truly alone, of course, despite being initially left unattended- in fact, most Pokemon they came across were more than willing to help a young child on their way, whether it be to shelter during a storm or food when they were hungry, especially given Morgan could speak their language.
Eventually, they fell in with a duo of Sableye, who despite not sharing a species with them treated them as one of their own...and though before meeting the duo they simply survived, when in the Sableye’s care they thrived.
This duo of Sableye were the ones to first introduce Morg to civilization, teaching the child the value of theft.
They were both once trainer Pokemon (or at least, that’s what they said) and knew a good deal about how to steal and con their way into human-made food. And so, it was only a natural progression for them to go from stealing food for their charge to stealing clothing when Morg’s Rocket clothes started getting too small for them, and from there it was only natural to teach their gijinka protege their ways.
From the age of 4 (that is, since they were 12 years old physically), Morg was taught to steal.
They remembered what their mother had told them, of course, but it was difficult to figure out what they really needed versus what they really wanted. Most of the time they deferred to the Sableye’s morals, finding it easier to follow their mischievous mentors without question. Against the odds, though they were nearly caught a couple of times their natural darkvision and their two mentors’ guidance led to them being a natural at nighttime heists.
Though they didn’t have much choice in the clothes they stole, they slowly began to hammer out their own kind of grungy slapped-together sense of style, trying to pick darker colors and favoring skeletal motifs (to the point where they began to collect discarded bones from wild areas and carry them around for good luck). This, eventually, reached a point where when their Sableye companions discovered the skull of a large Pokemon, they cleaned what was left of the meat and presented it to Morgan as a gift. It became a mask when Morgan realized it would be a simple way to hide their face, and with their prehensile hair (a result of their Morgrem genetics) they had no trouble at all keeping their new skull mask on their face.
They spent most of their 4th year getting the hang of living more or less by themself in the wilderness, relying less and less on the wild Pokemon around them to survive. They were still as polite as they could be to the wild Pokemon, of course, and they did their best to mind the territorial borders they’d been shown in the past. The Shulan wilderness was still their home, and it wouldn’t do to disrespect its other occupants. In exchange for their politeness, they were treated with care, and generally spared from conflicts the wild Pokemon would find themselves in.
Not only that, but if they were polite, there was a chance that a beach-dwelling Pokemon would lend a hand- or fin, or wing -in getting them to another island, in case of close encounters with Team Rocket members (or any potentially dangerous individuals at all, really).
They would usually remain on whichever island they had been brought to until their next close encounter with an adult, when they’d go down to the oceanside and plead once again for help getting off-island. Of course, occasionally there would be aggressive Pokemon who preferred to attack rather than help or leave alone, but the Sableye accompanying them were good judges of whether to fight or flee, and as a result Morgan frequently escaped unharmed.
...These occasional conflicts, however, were what led to Morgan’s assortment of scars and their missing two fingers on their right hand. That wasn’t the only problem, either.
Though they were happy to live completely disconnected from civilization, Morgan still needed food and shelter when the weather got undesirable. It made them feel terrible to steal what they couldn’t afford, too, which was...everything, since they had no source of income. Though they couldn’t remember their mother’s name, her teachings still stuck with them.
There was no way for them to change their situation, however, and so they continued with their occasional forays into civilization to steal and seek shelter.
…
That is, until one winter’s day, when they and their Sableye companions happened to lockpick their way into a music shop.
Morgan was never truly alone, of course, despite being initially left unattended- in fact, most Pokemon they came across were more than willing to help a young child on their way, whether it be to shelter during a storm or food when they were hungry, especially given Morgan could speak their language.
Eventually, they fell in with a duo of Sableye, who despite not sharing a species with them treated them as one of their own...and though before meeting the duo they simply survived, when in the Sableye’s care they thrived.
This duo of Sableye were the ones to first introduce Morg to civilization, teaching the child the value of theft.
They were both once trainer Pokemon (or at least, that’s what they said) and knew a good deal about how to steal and con their way into human-made food. And so, it was only a natural progression for them to go from stealing food for their charge to stealing clothing when Morg’s Rocket clothes started getting too small for them, and from there it was only natural to teach their gijinka protege their ways.
From the age of 4 (that is, since they were 12 years old physically), Morg was taught to steal.
They remembered what their mother had told them, of course, but it was difficult to figure out what they really needed versus what they really wanted. Most of the time they deferred to the Sableye’s morals, finding it easier to follow their mischievous mentors without question. Against the odds, though they were nearly caught a couple of times their natural darkvision and their two mentors’ guidance led to them being a natural at nighttime heists.
Though they didn’t have much choice in the clothes they stole, they slowly began to hammer out their own kind of grungy slapped-together sense of style, trying to pick darker colors and favoring skeletal motifs (to the point where they began to collect discarded bones from wild areas and carry them around for good luck). This, eventually, reached a point where when their Sableye companions discovered the skull of a large Pokemon, they cleaned what was left of the meat and presented it to Morgan as a gift. It became a mask when Morgan realized it would be a simple way to hide their face, and with their prehensile hair (a result of their Morgrem genetics) they had no trouble at all keeping their new skull mask on their face.
They spent most of their 4th year getting the hang of living more or less by themself in the wilderness, relying less and less on the wild Pokemon around them to survive. They were still as polite as they could be to the wild Pokemon, of course, and they did their best to mind the territorial borders they’d been shown in the past. The Shulan wilderness was still their home, and it wouldn’t do to disrespect its other occupants. In exchange for their politeness, they were treated with care, and generally spared from conflicts the wild Pokemon would find themselves in.
Not only that, but if they were polite, there was a chance that a beach-dwelling Pokemon would lend a hand- or fin, or wing -in getting them to another island, in case of close encounters with Team Rocket members (or any potentially dangerous individuals at all, really).
They would usually remain on whichever island they had been brought to until their next close encounter with an adult, when they’d go down to the oceanside and plead once again for help getting off-island. Of course, occasionally there would be aggressive Pokemon who preferred to attack rather than help or leave alone, but the Sableye accompanying them were good judges of whether to fight or flee, and as a result Morgan frequently escaped unharmed.
...These occasional conflicts, however, were what led to Morgan’s assortment of scars and their missing two fingers on their right hand. That wasn’t the only problem, either.
Though they were happy to live completely disconnected from civilization, Morgan still needed food and shelter when the weather got undesirable. It made them feel terrible to steal what they couldn’t afford, too, which was...everything, since they had no source of income. Though they couldn’t remember their mother’s name, her teachings still stuck with them.
There was no way for them to change their situation, however, and so they continued with their occasional forays into civilization to steal and seek shelter.
…
That is, until one winter’s day, when they and their Sableye companions happened to lockpick their way into a music shop.
{CHAPTER V: music pun here}
Initially they hadn’t even planned to touch anything, only in the building to get out of the freezing cold outside. It wasn’t anything they hadn’t done before- in the hottest and coldest months, they made a habit of scouting suitable shelters during the day and breaking into them to sleep in shifts at night. Then, in the early hours of the morning, they’d flee, leaving no sign of their presence behind besides the unlocked door or window they used to get in.
This time, however, was different.
Morgan had always been faintly curious about music, enough that they liked to linger in the alleyways by bars, clubs, and restaurants at night just to hear what was playing from inside. They had never once considered that they could play an instrument on their own, though, not until there was a wall of guitars right in front of them.
They were meant to find somewhere to curl up and sleep, but instead they pulled an acoustic guitar from the wall and sat down somewhere to try and puzzle it out.
As survival-minded as the Sableye duo were, they shared their protege’s curiosity towards music (to some extent). Perhaps that was why Morgan’s curiosity was indulged, the Sableye bringing them instruction books they couldn’t even read and giving them misguided advice on what to do with their hands.
And...well. Maybe Morgan should’ve guessed that they’d draw some sort of attention from someone, but they couldn’t’ve guessed that what they thought was a storage room was actually a staircase up to the owner’s apartment.
So they were caught.
...Luckily for them, though the owner was initially shocked to see a skull-faced figure and two Sableye plucking away at one of his guitars, he quickly got over the surprise and realized Morgan was just a child.
Seeing how thin Morgan was he insisted they come upstairs with him and rest, something that understandably made them nervous. After all, they weren’t supposed to trust humans, nor did their Sableye friends look comfortable with the arrangement. Still, the promise of food and a comfortable place to rest was enough to lure the trio upstairs, and while the owner of the shop was waiting for sleep to creep towards him again he set about teaching Morgan some beginner chords.
Though they initially only planned to stay for a night, Morgan and their friends ended up staying in that little apartment above the music shop for half a year, only leaving for a week or so at a time when they felt overwhelmed. The music shop became what was almost a safe haven, something helped a great deal by the owner’s willingness to take what they said at face value.
Yes, perhaps the man should have reported the child to the authorities (especially since they told him very little about themself), but a runaway gijinka child was in a bit of a unique position. Due to how new the concept of gijinka publicly living in society was, the man could readily fill in the blanks between Morgan’s stories with all sorts of different reasons.
And besides. He wasn’t a snitch.
Initially they hadn’t even planned to touch anything, only in the building to get out of the freezing cold outside. It wasn’t anything they hadn’t done before- in the hottest and coldest months, they made a habit of scouting suitable shelters during the day and breaking into them to sleep in shifts at night. Then, in the early hours of the morning, they’d flee, leaving no sign of their presence behind besides the unlocked door or window they used to get in.
This time, however, was different.
Morgan had always been faintly curious about music, enough that they liked to linger in the alleyways by bars, clubs, and restaurants at night just to hear what was playing from inside. They had never once considered that they could play an instrument on their own, though, not until there was a wall of guitars right in front of them.
They were meant to find somewhere to curl up and sleep, but instead they pulled an acoustic guitar from the wall and sat down somewhere to try and puzzle it out.
As survival-minded as the Sableye duo were, they shared their protege’s curiosity towards music (to some extent). Perhaps that was why Morgan’s curiosity was indulged, the Sableye bringing them instruction books they couldn’t even read and giving them misguided advice on what to do with their hands.
And...well. Maybe Morgan should’ve guessed that they’d draw some sort of attention from someone, but they couldn’t’ve guessed that what they thought was a storage room was actually a staircase up to the owner’s apartment.
So they were caught.
...Luckily for them, though the owner was initially shocked to see a skull-faced figure and two Sableye plucking away at one of his guitars, he quickly got over the surprise and realized Morgan was just a child.
Seeing how thin Morgan was he insisted they come upstairs with him and rest, something that understandably made them nervous. After all, they weren’t supposed to trust humans, nor did their Sableye friends look comfortable with the arrangement. Still, the promise of food and a comfortable place to rest was enough to lure the trio upstairs, and while the owner of the shop was waiting for sleep to creep towards him again he set about teaching Morgan some beginner chords.
Though they initially only planned to stay for a night, Morgan and their friends ended up staying in that little apartment above the music shop for half a year, only leaving for a week or so at a time when they felt overwhelmed. The music shop became what was almost a safe haven, something helped a great deal by the owner’s willingness to take what they said at face value.
Yes, perhaps the man should have reported the child to the authorities (especially since they told him very little about themself), but a runaway gijinka child was in a bit of a unique position. Due to how new the concept of gijinka publicly living in society was, the man could readily fill in the blanks between Morgan’s stories with all sorts of different reasons.
And besides. He wasn’t a snitch.
{The Home Stretch, or “Point A to Point B”}
So he fed Morgan, got them and their Sableye their own sleeping bag and pillow, and taught them to play guitar and further enjoy music. He didn’t worry (too much) when they’d disappear with their Pokemon, thinking of them almost like a feral Meowth. Though they might’ve taken well to living with him, they still needed their space.
It was around this time where Morgan started to play publicly, taking the guitar the man had given them and honing their skills busking for passersby. They were sure to hide their appearance as they did, keeping a hood over their ears and their mask (which had become a sort of comfort object) firmly covering their face.
Though initially they barely made anything, eventually they became so skilled that they began turning a small but notable profit- most of which went back to the music shop owner, as payment for the guitar and all the nights he’d spent teaching them to play it. It became a routine for them to present him with the money, then insist he take it until finally hiding it somewhere he’d find it later.
Their Sableye, seeing Morgan happy with their new living situation, gradually began to spend less and less time around- though they were always easy to find when Morgan ventured out into the wilds again, they spent less of their time in the music shop and more time venturing around just the two of them.
This was, of course, until one day, when (after hearing Morgan say a few weeks prior that they’d like to play for more people) they presented Morgan with a brand new backpack. It was stolen (of course), and covered in dirt from being hidden in the woods, but it was a gift regardless. The Sableye then both explained to Morgan how one of their previous trainers had started his journey, telling them that if they wanted to play around the region this was their best bet.
And...well, as much as they personally had never seen the lab, they thought it was worth going in at least for the free stuff.
When Morgan told the owner of the music shop the Sableye’s plan (omitting the detail of the stolen bag) he was enthusiastic, going into more detail about how his little sister had started her journey there and how they’d be able to receive a starter from the professor if they wanted.
His gift to them ended up being his call to the lab, giving them Morgan’s name with his last and faking any other information the lab might need as background information.
“Their name’s Morgan Evergreen, they’re 18 years old. They’re my nephew- niece- well, my brother’s kid, they came in from Galar a week ago lookin’ to start their journey. Yeah, I don’t know why my dunce of a brother didn’t call ahead- oh, they can come in? Nice! I’ll let them know.”
And so, on the day they’d later decide as their birthday, plans were made for Morgan to visit the Seabreeze Lab.
(Later, Morgan insisted on breaking back into the shop the backpack was stolen from and leaving money behind as payment. The Sableye agreed. Though the amount they left behind certainly wasn’t enough to cover the costs, they still left a good half of the price.)
So he fed Morgan, got them and their Sableye their own sleeping bag and pillow, and taught them to play guitar and further enjoy music. He didn’t worry (too much) when they’d disappear with their Pokemon, thinking of them almost like a feral Meowth. Though they might’ve taken well to living with him, they still needed their space.
It was around this time where Morgan started to play publicly, taking the guitar the man had given them and honing their skills busking for passersby. They were sure to hide their appearance as they did, keeping a hood over their ears and their mask (which had become a sort of comfort object) firmly covering their face.
Though initially they barely made anything, eventually they became so skilled that they began turning a small but notable profit- most of which went back to the music shop owner, as payment for the guitar and all the nights he’d spent teaching them to play it. It became a routine for them to present him with the money, then insist he take it until finally hiding it somewhere he’d find it later.
Their Sableye, seeing Morgan happy with their new living situation, gradually began to spend less and less time around- though they were always easy to find when Morgan ventured out into the wilds again, they spent less of their time in the music shop and more time venturing around just the two of them.
This was, of course, until one day, when (after hearing Morgan say a few weeks prior that they’d like to play for more people) they presented Morgan with a brand new backpack. It was stolen (of course), and covered in dirt from being hidden in the woods, but it was a gift regardless. The Sableye then both explained to Morgan how one of their previous trainers had started his journey, telling them that if they wanted to play around the region this was their best bet.
And...well, as much as they personally had never seen the lab, they thought it was worth going in at least for the free stuff.
When Morgan told the owner of the music shop the Sableye’s plan (omitting the detail of the stolen bag) he was enthusiastic, going into more detail about how his little sister had started her journey there and how they’d be able to receive a starter from the professor if they wanted.
His gift to them ended up being his call to the lab, giving them Morgan’s name with his last and faking any other information the lab might need as background information.
“Their name’s Morgan Evergreen, they’re 18 years old. They’re my nephew- niece- well, my brother’s kid, they came in from Galar a week ago lookin’ to start their journey. Yeah, I don’t know why my dunce of a brother didn’t call ahead- oh, they can come in? Nice! I’ll let them know.”
And so, on the day they’d later decide as their birthday, plans were made for Morgan to visit the Seabreeze Lab.
(Later, Morgan insisted on breaking back into the shop the backpack was stolen from and leaving money behind as payment. The Sableye agreed. Though the amount they left behind certainly wasn’t enough to cover the costs, they still left a good half of the price.)
{Extra: Trivia!}
-Though the Sableye love Morgan to bits, they’re not all that ready to become trainer Pokemon again yet. They’ve got some issues with it all that they’re not ready to address, and they’re much more willing to take the opportunity to strike out just the two of them again and cause mischief without Morgan in the mix.
--(Despite this, they have both promised to come find Morgan again when they’re ready. Morgan themself is...less than enthusiastic about this, especially with how reminiscent it is of when they were separated from their mother. They trust the Sableye, though, and so they’re going out on their own.)
-Morgan is most skilled with guitar, though they can play the keyboard a little bit.
-Morgan still isn’t great at reading or written language at all and has extremely poor handwriting, which is something they try to keep hush.
-Ainoa, Morgan’s mother, eventually found her way back to her family’s farm at Tavros Ridge (though she still wants very badly to reconnect with her child). The bite and subsequent poisoning has left her with a chronic pain in her leg and difficulties walking to this day, making it impossible for her to search as thoroughly as she wants to or even to leave home much at all.
--Thankfully for her, her family welcomed her back with open arms, and though she hasn’t shared every detail of her past they know that she was separated from a child she’d had by a Team Rocket attack. They just...don’t know that her kid is a gijinka, or that she was a part of Team Rocket herself.
-Theoretically their last name is Adelaide, but they were never told their mother's last name before they split. They tend to use Evergreen if ever truly necessary, but they honestly prefer not to have any last name at all, most often simply going by Morgan or Morg.
-Though the Sableye love Morgan to bits, they’re not all that ready to become trainer Pokemon again yet. They’ve got some issues with it all that they’re not ready to address, and they’re much more willing to take the opportunity to strike out just the two of them again and cause mischief without Morgan in the mix.
--(Despite this, they have both promised to come find Morgan again when they’re ready. Morgan themself is...less than enthusiastic about this, especially with how reminiscent it is of when they were separated from their mother. They trust the Sableye, though, and so they’re going out on their own.)
-Morgan is most skilled with guitar, though they can play the keyboard a little bit.
-Morgan still isn’t great at reading or written language at all and has extremely poor handwriting, which is something they try to keep hush.
-Ainoa, Morgan’s mother, eventually found her way back to her family’s farm at Tavros Ridge (though she still wants very badly to reconnect with her child). The bite and subsequent poisoning has left her with a chronic pain in her leg and difficulties walking to this day, making it impossible for her to search as thoroughly as she wants to or even to leave home much at all.
--Thankfully for her, her family welcomed her back with open arms, and though she hasn’t shared every detail of her past they know that she was separated from a child she’d had by a Team Rocket attack. They just...don’t know that her kid is a gijinka, or that she was a part of Team Rocket herself.
-Theoretically their last name is Adelaide, but they were never told their mother's last name before they split. They tend to use Evergreen if ever truly necessary, but they honestly prefer not to have any last name at all, most often simply going by Morgan or Morg.
aeron of thq