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Post by DataNinja on Feb 9, 2020 2:24:27 GMT
"Okay." Rainbow beams, before grabbing Bea's hand, and starts pulling her down the volcano's trail, getting up to a run, making sure not to pull too hard.
The path is gentle, the Lavaridge side of the volcano much less steep than the other sides, with the trail winding back and forth. At the end of one of the bends is a lookout point, staring over the forest and the city beyond, and it's there that Rainbow finally comes to a halt, breathing hard but laughing - which occasionally devolves into soft sneezes from the ash that still falls. There're a few benches here, and she rests up against one.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 3:13:39 GMT
Trailing along after Rainbow, skirts fluttering, Bylii swooping and swirling playfully after the pair. She has a seat against Rainbow, looking out over the forest below. "Too bad it isn't snow, my only complaint for today." She blows a little ash off her palm. "You seem absolutely giddy, it's really nice. Not nervous or apprehensive, but free of it all. Maybe that's the power of flight."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 9, 2020 3:30:54 GMT
"Snow's really cold, and unpleasant," Rainbow says. "It means less fresh food, more time spent cramped inside... it was nice and cool inside and around Shoal Cavern, once, with frost all around... but it's usually too dangerous in there, so despite it being kinda close, it's best to just avoid it."
"It's just... open areas, with less reminders of what we have to do... it's freeing of a feeling. A feeling of just... being able to enjoy life with friends, and be happy. I guess I haven't really had a chance to feel that for a while."
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 3:48:46 GMT
"Everyone deserves a life like that. Carefree to pursue the things that really mean the most to them. A friend or two to share it with is really the best." Smoothing her pink skirt out, she begins fishing fruit and sandwiched from her pack, setting Baied free to enjoy the extra meal, she leaned against Rainbow in earnest. "No reason not to take every opportunity." She offered Rainbow a wrapped sandwich and an apple, setting out smaller portions for Baied and Bylii.
"Even in this time, the saying is 'Life is too short'"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 9, 2020 4:16:30 GMT
"It's a good saying to keep in mind, no matter the time," Rainbow agrees, leaning back against Bea, and wrapping one arm around the other girl's shoulders, eating her fruit and sandwich (a food conveniently designed for such occasions) with one hand. Bylli nibbles on a berry, sitting on the railing in front of the lookout cliff, legs swinging, while Baied gobbles up all the extra food placed in front of him, before curling up, at least semi-contentedly, letting the ash pile atop him.
The setting is silent for a time, the other travellers having stayed at the top to likely take the cable cars down, and with nothing really on the mountainside. At least until there's a cracking sound. It's somewhat recognizable, but also distinct. And Bea realizes it's coming from her pack. The egg seems to be hatching.
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 4:33:00 GMT
"Oh! It's finally time! Cumulous isn't near as noisy as Yellow was." She laughs softly. "Suppose a steel egg would be harder." Nestling the artificial egg in her lap, she tapped gently at the shell, an excited smile on her face. "Cumulous is going to be a Castform, The Weather Pokemon. It is known for adapting based on conditions, and having a strong control over meteorological systems."
As the shell broke apart she gingerly pulled pieces away, her face lighting up as her creation issued his first cry.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 9, 2020 4:53:41 GMT
Rather than the expected white of the emerging cloudform, the head that pokes out of the shell is a sheen of shimmering rainbow colours, constantly shifting from the slightest change in angle. It gives out a cry that sounds like the wind whistling through trees, as it floats out of the eggshell, and circles around Bea's head, before floating in front of her with an inquisitive look on its face.
"Ohhh, it looks beautiful," Rainbow says. "I can see why you wanted one."
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 5:07:24 GMT
"They don't normally possess that sheen, typically they are cloudy gray with a white domino mask." She admired him with a smile before poking the castforms middle gently. "Hello Cumulous, it's very nice to meet you. There is so much I'll teach you in our time together."
Cupping her hands behind the Pokemon's tiny form, she drew it close, between her and Rainbow. The arm had been a welcome gesture, with the newly hatched there the moment took on an oddly different sort of intimacy. "I am Bee, this is Rainbow." She pointed at the sleeping lump. "Baied." And the fairy. "Bylii! Welcome to the family! He's so soft..." She comments in a low voice.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 9, 2020 5:51:58 GMT
The little cloud gives out a happy little giggle as it swirls around the pair of humans, before returning to the cupped hands. "Hello, little one" Rainbow says, in a quiet voice, before giggling. "I'm a rainbow just like you."
Baied doesn't really do more than open one eye to stare at being addressed before closing it again, while Bylli hovers over to fawn over the new Pokémon, chittering at it, while fluttering down at eye level. The Castform mostly seems to just be trying to take everything in curiously, every new bit of movement catching its attention. Which isn't the best when there's a bunch of movement around from all the ash. It does seem to keep focus the longest on the three living creatures around it, though.
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 11:43:25 GMT
"I'm really proud." Bee gently teased the curl at the top of Cumulus' head with a fingertip. "I've never made something so grand before, so you could say Cumulus is my life's work. My next project is catching up to him." Everything felt so strangely warm and familial in those moments. Knees against her chest, she rested her head in the curve of Rainbow's neck.
"I almost don't want... To put him in a ball, but if I don't he could wander off, or someone might take him." She chewed her lip softly. "I want to give him a better life, where he makes his own decisions. Look at those bright eyes, how could I not?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 9, 2020 18:18:02 GMT
"I'm sure you'll make many more such accomplishments in your life," Rainbow says, squeezing Bea's shoulder. "You've still got many years ahead of you, after all."
"At the very least, you should probably keep him safe, until he grows up, and has an awareness of the world around him," she says. "There are a lot of things in the world that can get you killed via curiosity... maybe less here, but I feel like it's still dangerous."
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 18:25:20 GMT
"I suppose just because he is coded to a ball doesn't mean he has to stay in it. It would keep someone from theiving him, and let me protect him better." Bee produced a poke ball and turned the red cap towards him, moving it in a little arc like the sun. "I wonder what weather will be his favorite."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 9, 2020 19:10:02 GMT
The Castform taps the ball, getting sucked inside, which pings... before the little thing jumps out again. And back in. And out. And in. And out. It seems very curious about the sensation of transitioning from between the outer world and the Pokéball. And the accompanying noise.
"Well," Rainbow says, laughing, "I don't know if you've just caused yourself more problems or not like this. Hopefully it holds off before it's time to sleep."
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 20:00:37 GMT
Beatrice is in stitches after the second instance, and physically crying and holding her sides by the third, before she finally has to sequester the ball away from it, wiping her eyes. "Okay, okay, you're too much." Her mirth slowly peters out. Recalling Baied now that their meal was done together and the battery bug was more keen on taking a nap, she relaxed and let Bylii and Cumulus play.
"What do you think your future will be like after we clean things up? Or are there branching futures where sometimes things work one way or another? If time is linear, then a singular outcome makes sense, but that gets into predestiny again. I'd like to help make it safe and fun like this again."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 9, 2020 20:32:37 GMT
"Are you, uh, are you going to be okay, Bee?" Rainbow asks with some concern as she sees Bea break down laughing.
"And... I can't say," she says, shrugging. "I'm hoping it can get to be something like this, where everyone's able to live without fear. But... as long as it's better, that's what matters. We may not be able to change what happened before, but we can forge something new."
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 23:17:11 GMT
"I'll be fine, leave it to the nonsensical newborn to really find my sense of humor." Wiping her eyes again, amidst another chuckle, she sniffed a little and smiled. "Better is good. Things can always get better, in any time period. In the now, things aren't perfect. In your time, there are benefits, but still not perfect. Beyond your time, even, I'm sure there will always be something that could be improved, which society or an individual holds back. Just don't perpetually take the weight of your time on yourself okay? That's too much responsibility for one person." With that she winked. "Which is why you've got me, after all."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 10, 2020 3:12:40 GMT
"Alright," Rainbow says, relaxing. "Just wasn't sure." She giggles. "I don't think I've really seen you laugh much at all, let alone this hard."
"Yeah, that's what I was saying," she says. "I don't want to focus on making it perfect. I know I could never manage that. Just... it needs to be better than it is now. That's all. I don't think even two people would be enough for that job, either," she adds, chuckling. "It's a job for everyone."
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Post by Robot on Feb 10, 2020 14:56:07 GMT
"Today has been a really big success all around." She explained quietly, taking in the view through the light ash-snow. "What do you feel are signs of accomplishment and prestige in your time? Like, who gets assigned to Central Command? Here it is badges, diplomas.and accolades. Having stockpiled credentials that people can reference and know you are qualified."
Fishing her badge case from her pack, Bee showed Rainbow the set. "The best battlers in our region will have all eight, some of them go on to other regions and leagues, or higher to a tier above that. Elites, and the Champion."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 10, 2020 17:24:37 GMT
"You're a success if you've made contributions... whatever those are," Rainbow says. "Keeping life alive, contributing to culture, all of that. It's a low bar, but it's important to recognize that every job is important. And so is every person."
"Central Command isn't really an 'assigned' thing. It's people who are good at plugging the right things in, and figuring out what things mean that tend to go there. It's a repository of knowledge, but we have no real idea how to get to much of it - so, when not making calculations for others, or letting them know what might be the best way to deal with a certain Pokémon or what not, the people there tend to think outside the box and try and find new stuff that's hidden within. New information. I worked with them to try and figure out what time I needed to span to." She shrugs. "It's funny - it's really not a fitting name anymore. It's neither central, nor do any commands come from there. It's called that because it's apparently where the battle leaders stayed during the Dark Times, figuring out what to do and giving orders. Most of the ones that exist in Mossdeep now live in the King and Queen's place."
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Post by Robot on Feb 10, 2020 17:32:01 GMT
"There was a period when Hoenn returned to a Monarchy? That's fascinating! I can only imagine out of necessity for decisive leadership, or the strength of the regents pairing." Kings and Queens, castles, dragons. Not exactly her medium of choice but the idea that it is a reality in the future was a curiosity. "What can you tell me about that period of Governance? Or even this castle?"
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