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6,671 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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May 20, 2024 13:55:53 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 6, 2019 2:06:05 GMT
Mica knew that look, it happened whenever she reminded her grandparents of her parents. She wanted to argue, to tell them everything is dangerous. Life is dangerous. Walking into the bathroom is dangerous. Hugging a Qwilfish is dangerous. Sticking your hand too far into Ham's mouth after he's eaten a full meal is dangerous. That one is a different kind of dangerous. Instead she just offered a little nod. "Donovan should be around soon but... I think I'm going to go lay down with my Pokemon. I've never gotten to share a bed with all of them before... if it's okay Gram. Some quiet time might do me good."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 6, 2019 18:28:03 GMT
Donovan froze when he heard the Quagsire shout. He wasn't entirely sure how he was going to deal with this right now. He wasn't sure he WANTED to deal with this right now. He reached into his bag and pulled out a pen and pad of paper. He quickly wrote a note explaining that he was still dealing with calling people who might be worried and he would be back either late tonight or in the morning, possibly staying at the Pokemon Center.
He gently folded the note and placed it on the doorstep before knocking and walking off around a corner. This way they wouldn't worry about where he was and Mica could have more time with her family. He knew deep down that she probably wanted him there as well but he just....He needed to not be around anyone for a while. Wandering into a restaurant, he quietly ordered some food and sat in a corner booth, trying to figure out what it was that he needed to do...A few moments later and he was nodding off to sleep.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 6, 2019 20:04:47 GMT
Mica
A knock comes at Mica's door. "Millie," her grandmother's voice comes, "I know you said that you wanted to be alone, but I just thought you might want to know that Donovan left a note on the doorstep, if you want to read it."
Donovan
He's not sure how long it is, before he's being gently shaken awake. "Sir," a teenage girl in a wait staff uniform says, with his food, "I'm afraid that you've fallen asleep. Were you wishing to have this here still? Or would you prefer it boxed up to go?"
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6,671 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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May 20, 2024 13:55:53 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 6, 2019 22:09:09 GMT
"It's probably some dumb boy chivalry thing about leaving me behind for my own safety." The girl's tone returned sulkily. "Either I'll see him tomorrow or I won't... I'm not going to force myself on him again." Mica rolled into Apex's arms with Ham on the other side of her. Dusty was huddled up in her arms, Morganite settled in and casting a soft light at the end of her bed. Hero had wriggled his way into her hair and tingled along the back of her neck. "Goodnight Grandma."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 8, 2019 4:38:32 GMT
Donovan nearly jumps awake "What?" Before he turns bright red "Sorry, must have dozed off. I'll still have it here if that's fine." He looked at his Pokedex out of the corner of his eye, trying to see the time "How much longer are you all open? I don't want to keep anyone here by staying around to long" He says with a small smile "I've just been on the road for a few months. Nice being in an actual restaurant for once"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 8, 2019 5:21:01 GMT
Donovan
By the time, it looks to have only been about fifteen or twenty minutes. Pretty much just enough time for his food to get here.
"Oh, uh, until 9," the girl says, "But if you want to order anything, we ask that it's before 8:30, just so our kitchen doesn't have to stay open too late for one or two customers. I hope that's understandable." So, he has about another two hours in here. "If I might ask," she says, "what brings you out here? We don't tend to see many travelers."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 9, 2019 2:33:22 GMT
Donovan played around with his food for a second with a contemplative look on his face before smiling and looking at the girl "Well, I was just out at the Temple on the Bay, and this is the closest town. See I'm travelling around and researching the Temples for the lab for a bit of an internship. I'm also on my way through on the way to the next city with a Gym."
He holds out a hand in greeting "My name is Donovan. I'm a trainer from Sinnoh. I'm learning everything I can about Vesperia as I travel it. Have you lived here long? I'd love to hear any local legends or anything like that" Nothing he said was a lie. And this would be a great way to learn what exactly had changed. He was sure it was a lot...
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 9, 2019 4:09:54 GMT
Donovan
"Ah, I see," she says, hesitating, before shifting her tray so as to be able to shake his hand. "Well, that sounds interesting. If a lot of work. I've lived here all my life... can't really think of local legends. There are stories people from other regions tell, but anything around here is all the practical stuff. Like don't go near the Bay without proper protection." She looks around. "Anyways, I have to get back to work. You can pay at the front when you're done. Enjoy your meal." She walks off towards one of the other scattered patrons in the place.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 9, 2019 4:20:16 GMT
Donovan sighed before focusing on eating. He didn't know why he kept hoping he would be able to learn anything from regular people. It seemed his best bet would be in the next Temple they enter. At least the residents of the Temples know things other than the obvious....He was most likely being too hard on those he's met, but he couldn't help himself.
Finishing up his food, he gathers the dishes into one pile before going and paying. Without paying too much attention he wanders back to the Pokemon Center and finds an open room. He didn't want to bother Mica and her family after leaving the note. He would head there in the morning. Maybe he would call the Lab as well....see if they knew anything more about the professor, or if they needed any more jobs done in the area.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 9, 2019 5:02:28 GMT
The morning comes soon enough, though both Mica and Donovan are able to get enough sleep.
Mica's grandparents are up by the time she is, but they leave her to her business, making sure that she initiates any interactions. The Center is still fairly quiet where Donovan is, with only perhaps one other person briefly coming in to use the services provided.
The both of them notice, though, that their PokéDexes have messages blinking on them. It seems to be from the Lab. "[Mica/Donovan]," the message reads (addressed to the appropriate person), "is that you? I got a notification this morning that both of your Dexes re-entered the network, so, I hope this isn't just a glitch. Please, let me know when you get this. Well... if you get this, I guess. Lana."
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6,671 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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May 20, 2024 13:55:53 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 9, 2019 13:01:26 GMT
It is Mica, and we are okay. Mica sent back in brief without thinking too much about it. Everyone that knew them well enough seemed worried, why would it matter if their Dexes left and rejoined the network? That probably happened all the time. She goes about training her Pokemon, even making an attempt with cuddles far enough away from her Grandparent's place that they won't worry too much. The two of them had really grown up. Or maybe it was that Mica was the returning prodigal daughter. Their child hadn't returned, she had. It was the only difference, but it was one that made her sad.
Training and breakfast out of the way, she called her sensei. "I just wanted you to know that I'm okay, She began. "That I've been taking what you taught me to heart. We went into the temple out on Thunder Bay and lost six months, they're just gone. Maybe that was where that day went when I was still in town?"
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 10, 2019 3:19:57 GMT
Donovan pulls out his dex and starts to respond before deciding against it and heading to a PC. He was sure he could get the info across better if he didn't try and do it through text. Calling up the lab, he waited in silence, not quite sure what he would say..
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 10, 2019 3:37:51 GMT
Mica
Elisha takes a little bit of time to answer the phone. She sounds a little tired. "Who? Wha?" There seems to be some confusion. "I think you have the wrong numbe- oh, wait... Mica? Is that you? Sorry, you caught me on a day that I was taking to relax a little bit. I'd normally be more awake at this time." She seems to take a few moments to just try and process what Mica had said. "I... am not sure I'm quite getting you. I thought that I'd seen something about someone matching your description going missing, so, I expect that's what you mean by being okay. But... how do you lose six months? What do you mean?"
Donovan
It only takes a few rings for the Lab to pick up, Lana's face appearing on the PC screen. "Vesperia Pokémon La-" she begins, before registering the caller. "Donovan???" she says, emphatically. "Are you okay? What happened. I just got a message from Mica, saying it was her, but... oh, gosh, it's good to know that you're all right. I cannot believe how surprised I was to get the notification that your 'Dexes were back in a city. I... did not expect that after six months. Where have you been?" She calms down a little bit, and takes a deep breath. "Sorry. I'm sure you've had enough of that from people close to you. I've just been concerned, especially after the Professor's... disappearance. I was afraid of foul play or something."
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6,671 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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May 20, 2024 13:55:53 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 10, 2019 9:57:16 GMT
"Sorry, I don't get it either, but like... We went inside, had a few brief conversations and a small battle over the plate. When we left, six months had passed. Like time was different inside and we weren't even there very long. I don't -feel- any older, but everyone around us is freaked, and Donovan and I are pretty uncomfortable about it too. That has never happened before." Mica trailed off for a moment, leaning back against Ham.
"It might happen more before we are done. I know doing it is important, but I am really scared."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 11, 2019 2:30:07 GMT
Donovan went quiet "You know when we got back and found out how long it had been, I was really hoping the Professor would be back and I could find out some more stuff from her"
He figited in place for a moment "I'd tell you where we were, but it really would be unbelievable. I've learned that time doesn't quite...flow the same everywhere in Vesperia. Or at least it feels that way." He tried to think of how to put it before giving up again. He could maybe show her if they were both at a Temple but would that do any good? Or would it just cause more problems down the line....
"But yeah, we're back for the time being. I wouldn't be surprised if this happens again though"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 11, 2019 5:08:10 GMT
Mica
"I..." Elisha seems to be trying to think of what to say. "I don't know if I can help you in any way on this, Mica. This isn't something that I know anything about, or can even really imagine. I'll take you at your word that it actually happened, but... I don't know what I can say, or anything. I'm sorry, Mica. There's no advice I can really give here, besides doing what you think is right."
Donovan
"That's, uh, I see." Lana blinks. "Is it something to do with the Temples? Because there's really a lot we don't know about them. Time manipulation, though... what kind of people must have been around to build them if they could do such a thing?"
She seems to remember something. "Oh! That does remind me of something. A colleague of mine found something recently, near Nahani, up in the mountains. She stumbled upon a structure while attempting to do some geological studies. Like... not like the Temples, none of that weird material. Carved out of the mountain. There are glyphs and things and whatnot inside. I really don't have the whole picture, because it was really only a few days ago when they were able to start getting some equipment out there, but you might be interested in checking it out?"
"And also, the stones that we talked about, the next batch finished recently. If you were still wanting that Stone for your Budew, so we could test out the effects." She laughs nervously. "Sorry if that was all kinda changing the subject, I just... don't really know how to react to all this, and all."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jan 12, 2019 3:55:58 GMT
Donovan nodded silently. This place sounds like it's something that he needs to see, like it might have answers "Will you send me the coordinates of that place? I'd really like to see it. And yeah. It was inside on of the Temples. It seems time doesn't flow the same inside all of them. The one on the Bay is home to the Electric Tribe and time moves much faster. We were only in there for what felt like a half hour. Not six months" He fell silent again
He perked up at the mention of the stones "Actually, Rose is a Roselia now, so I'm even more interested in the Stones. Anything that could give me a bit of a leg up in battles. I keep feeling useless anytime we challenge a Gym." He thought for a moment "I know most people won't believe it, but once this is all sorted, I'd like to share everything I've learned about the Temples with you. I uh....I guess I'm the worlds leading expert on them now" He says with a nervous chuckle.
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6,671 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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May 20, 2024 13:55:53 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 12, 2019 12:04:42 GMT
"I'll keep doing that then, but there is something that is nagging at me now that I am home." Mica admitted quietly. "These plates have so much power even though we have no idea how to use them but... Maybe if I figured it out... Maybe... Mom and Dad wouldn't have to still be gone." A deep, shuddering breath.
"I'm glad you are still taking time to relax, and just enjoy yourself." Mica followed with firmly. "I miss you, and I promise to stay in touch." She hadn't given the other girl a chance to respond, and was on the verge of hanging up.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 12, 2019 18:38:57 GMT
Donovan
"Alright, I'll do that after this call," Lana says. "Make sure to let me know when you're near Nahani, so I can let her know when you'll be there. Otherwise you'll probably be turned away."
"Yeah, the Bay one's always been thorny. There's not much of it sticking out of the electricity, so, it's not easy to get to it, or set up anything there. Focus tends to be on the other, more easily accessible ones." She hesitates. "I really don't want to believe that time flows differently, given that that raises so many questions... but with your PokéDex essentially having essentially traversed six months in an instant when it reconnected to the network... that data's hard to ignore."
Lana shakes her head, as though clearing those thoughts from her mind. "Regardless, I'll send that stone along after this. Let me know how it goes when you use it. And check with Mica to see if she wants one. We've got a few extras this time." She gives a small smile. "And, believe me, if you actually have credible answers to the Temples, that would be big."
Mica
"Just... make sure not to dwell on that possibility," Elisha says. "Loss is hard, I know. But, unless you know it would work, it's just like any other time that you wish you could magically make it better. It just makes it harder to move on, dwelling on 'what if's. It's not healthy to have it occupy your thoughts."
"And... just make sure to take care of yourself, Mica," she says. "This all sounds like a heavy burden... sometimes, it helps to just set that burden aside for a time and try to relax a little. Don't be crushed under it. And sometime, maybe you can visit again."
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6,671 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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May 20, 2024 13:55:53 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 13, 2019 1:38:29 GMT
"Thanks Elisha, I will try to put it down for a little while. I know my grandparents really missed me, maybe I will take some time in Hirimlik with them. I'll see you again when I get a chance. Bye!" Though there was a cheerfulness in her voice in parting, it had been forced. Mica buried her face in Ham's face and sighed wetly against his rubbery skin.
"Every step of the way, things get heavier, more complicated, Ham. More and more people counting on us. More at stake. The world is changing so fast because of us, but we have no grasp of it..." She held the amphibian, and he held her back, a blank expression on his face.
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