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Post by DataNinja on Jun 27, 2020 1:40:20 GMT
"All of those do sound good," Evelyn says, giggling at his awkwardness. "Especially the last one. I do that a lot." She winks and grins.
"I think..." she says, sighing, "That... I don't know. I think he'd be proud of me no matter what, so long as I was happy with myself. I just... don't know if I'm happy, you know? Slowing down, with all this happening... I feel like I focussed too much on the destination, rather than the journey. And it all feels... I don't know, a little hollow. I find myself reflecting most fondly on, like, that first day at the beach, over by Rustboro. Rather than any Gym challenge. What about you?"
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Jun 18, 2022 18:49:06 GMT
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Post by seraphflonne on Jun 27, 2020 1:47:04 GMT
Kai gives off a rather nervous sounding chuckle at Ruby's question, not entirely sure how he does feel about it all honestly. "Yeah, I'm fine... I think. I mean my power is water, maybe it was just hard to notice because of that. Specially since uh, it seems to just come out of my skin. So while you had rocks and pebbles, and Cole burned things... I probably just thought I was sweaty"
He realized that one guy had mentioned living underwater, and... he had been fine when covered in water earlier... "Maybe I can breathe underwater? That would be really cool actually! I mean I liked surfing back home but never really did diving or anything cause I was a kid back then, so that would be nice to try!" He ignores the fact he'd have to try with actual water and risk choking on it to figure that out. His outburst had clearly put away the nervousness he was feeling a moment ago.
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 27, 2020 1:50:04 GMT
"It'll probably be a bit between dropping off Pokémon and when they're taught," Ruby says. "You wanting to go and try swimming then? Kill some time?"
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Post by Robot on Jun 27, 2020 1:58:51 GMT
"Never knew Dad, but he was always a big part of my drive, and my goals. Made him out to be some giant, that men wanted to be and women wanted to be with. An easy smile, rugged, gentle when he could afford to be. Strong, charismatic." Theodore shrugged helplessly. "It... was the role model I never had, and yet still looked up to for some reason. I'm not happy with this me, so he probably wouldn't be either."
The question held weight, what did he remember the most of their exploits?
"Cole's food. Good cooking, good company. Sleeping under the stars and adventuring, just like I'd always wanted. Watching Six and Fred grow up. Finding a Staryu with Ayah... I hope she's okay."
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Post by seraphflonne on Jun 27, 2020 2:08:05 GMT
"Yeah, that'd be nice. Just a little swimming trip for an hour or so that has no chance of being ruined!" He seems rather excited about that. "Ugh, I gotta decide what I want tutored and all that first though. You doing anything specific yourself for your team?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 27, 2020 2:17:06 GMT
"What aren't you happy with?" Evelyn asks. "I'll do what I can to help you out, if there are things you want to work on. Things are always better with friends. ...but I know about trying to hold myself up to an impossible standard, inflated by the media. You have to learn to be happy with yourself. Not because of them."
"And I'm sure she's okay," Evelyn says, reassuringly. "Well... as much as we are, anyways. She's strong, you know that. This is just... something that hurts us all. But I'm sure we'll figure it out."
"I'm probably just going to swing back by the department store. Nymph could do with some move upgrades, so I want to peruse the TMs there again. I know that there's a way to jailbreak Porygon to unlock a little more oomph, might look into that. Even if they're not as stable. Been discussing it with Nymph, and if there's a chance, we'll jump at it. They're a little frustrated by that limiter." She laughs. "I must say, I'm a little jealous you all managed to get that Mega Evolution working so quickly."
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Post by seraphflonne on Jun 27, 2020 21:12:01 GMT
"Huh, I guess it is weird we all did it before you... granted I've had Keahi since I was Nine, maybe that has something to do with it?" Kai scratches his head, trying to think it over.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out soon, maybe you just need to do that jailbreak thing? Artificial Pokemon might also just make it weird..."
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 27, 2020 22:18:51 GMT
"Bonds are a big part of it, but research points to the only known benefactors of Mega Evolution being fully evolved Pokémon," Ruby says. "I know Dad said that weird things might happen, given that these were artificial, but I guess if you've still got natural potential to go, it won't work. A shame." She shrugs. "I'm sure I'll get it... eventually. Ay...Ayah was the first of us three to make it work. I saw her pull it off when we were facing down Ev. I wonder if heavy emotional moments might do it..."
"I know you've ran into more taxing stuff than we have along the journey," she points out.
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Post by seraphflonne on Jun 28, 2020 3:24:37 GMT
"I dunno if that's true, I mean we ran into some haunted places but other than that I think it's been pretty equal? Not that it's really good to compare hardships, as people take that differently. Though you may be onto something with that emotional thing. Plenty of the plated had Mega-Pokemon alongside them. Like it was always linked together or something..." Kai gives out a sigh, not really sure about the idea at all.
"Or maybe not, I'm not good at technical things or thinking things through. Just dancing and knowing a little about some Pokemon"
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Post by Robot on Jun 29, 2020 22:55:38 GMT
"I built myself up on a sense of machismo, idealized rugged masculinity and delicate femininity and cast off the idea that there was ever anything else. In a way that was... really narrow minded and exclusive. As I accepted what was happening, it got worse. Now I'm about as 'something else' as I can get. Look like some kind of porcelain skinned doll. The old mindset disgusts me now, and the new look does too. Nothing to be done for the latter, just... need to get comfortable and grit my teeth I guess?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 29, 2020 23:59:46 GMT
Ruby shrugs. "I don't claim to be an expert. Even the experts don't know what's up." She chuckles. "I think we'll just have to see what happens..."
It's decently easy to find someone skilled in certain arts, and it looks like the Pokémon will be ready before the ferry leaves in the evening. In the meantime, the pair are able to go to the beach - on the other side of the city to where Kai and Theo were before. He's able to test out his water there...
"Look," Evelyn says, "people learn, people change. It's a natural fact of life. Don't beat yourself up over what you once were, just make sure to keep moving on. I know that it can be tough to change, though."
"And... look, let me know if you want some tips on how to achieve a certain look. I might not look it, but I've had some... experience with trying out different styles. Not the best, but if you aren't happy with how you are now, I could try and see what we can do. Especially with the department store here. Might need to invest in some makeup or new clothes... but we can see what we can do if it's something that hurts you to see."
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Post by Robot on Jun 30, 2020 1:56:00 GMT
"Makeup? How is makeup going to fix this?" Theodore gave Evelyn a sideways look. "You never really struck as the type to be into any of that either. Ayah made it sound like it was one of those time consuming, practiced hand sort of things when we talked about hair and stuff like that." His nose wrinkled at the idea of makeup. "Suppose it can't really make things any worse... Ayah was nudging me into new things, and back into old ones I'd left behind... before... well... all of this."
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 30, 2020 2:13:37 GMT
"Well," she flushes a little, "you were worried about being too pale. Makeup could add a little colour back to you, if you prefer that. If your hair keeps growing back, could try some styles that help draw less attention to it - though that might be futile. Stuff like that."
"And... look, mom taught me all that stuff when I was a little girl," she says, awkwardly. "I loved dressing up for years. But people would always report on what "daddy's little princess" was doing or wearing or whatever. So I decided to tell them where they could shove it, and, well, this more practical style is the result. The beach is the only place I real feel comfortable letting loose a bit, because it's less likely I'll run into anyone who cares or who'd recognise me. So... I could try and impart some of that stuff onto you. Not now, obviously, but we could see about getting out of here ASAP and stopping by the Department Store. Pick up something to try on the ferry."
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Post by seraphflonne on Jun 30, 2020 9:16:24 GMT
Kai gives Ruby a wave before he goes for a dive, intent on seeing how long he can stay underwater for. He made sure his Milotic was out, just in case he accidentally blacked out. He went out and down, probably getting way too out there in his drive of testing things out, his snakelike companion keeping behind him, surprised that it couldn't keep up with it's trainer.
The islander kept going, staying out in the depths far longer than he had planned. He wasn't sure when he realized he didn't have to go up for air, and he got lost in the feeling of the world seeming to open up for him in this new way. His feelings about the organization Ayah worked for got more muddled because of this, sure he had been so afraid when he had unlocked it, and now he had begun to explore it... he was getting lost in it...
Shaking his head, he started making for the surface. It took a few moments before he breached the surface. He couldn't afford to get lost, they had a timetable... which he would probably be breaking if he didn't hustle back to shore, if looking at the sun was any indicator at least. He made his way back, looking a bit sheepish as he finally made it back to shore.
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 30, 2020 21:24:17 GMT
"Kai, for god's sake! You could have given me a signal that you were okay!" A panicked and relieved Ruby says, as he returns to shore. "I didn't know if you were okay, or drowning, or dead! I know you had your Pokémon, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything with wilds about!"
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Post by seraphflonne on Jun 30, 2020 21:59:14 GMT
Kai gave a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head as he often does when he feels this way. "Y-yeah, sorry about that. I just got lost in the feeling of it all. It was just so cool to go that deep, and just... not even feel the pressure in my lungs and knowing I could keep going..." He trails off, looking back at the water for a moment as he does. He breaks out of it as he sees Kele break the surface, the snakelike form slithering onto shore, before seeming to just lay there.
"Ah, sorry Kele, I should have swam slower for you. Take a rest in your ball for as long as you need!" He flicked the ball out and returned Kele, before turning back to Ruby. "Uh... but yeah, I'm okay!"
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Post by Robot on Jul 1, 2020 1:38:43 GMT
"Best foot forward I guess. You really had people following you around and gabbing about every little thing you did just because of who your Pa was? Must've really been the hype you were laying on him when we first met." Theodore chuckled softly and sank deeper into his pillow. "Evelyn... what're you going to do if we don't end up being enough to stop whatever? Say we get to see what our failure causes..." He squinted up at the Center lights.
"I've been beaten till I passed out more times then I can count since this circuit started. Guessing it's all downhill from here."
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 1, 2020 2:38:24 GMT
"That's good to hear, at least," Ruby says, chuckling nervously. "Did you learn anything besides "can't drown, apparently"? Which on its own already seems like a more useful thing than just making rocks."
"All the Champions everywhere get that," Evelyn says. "There's a reason not many of them get married or have kids during their tenure, if at all. Because the public goes crazy over it. Well... the subset of the public that cares about all that celebrity stuff. Which is thankfully not a huge amount."
She sighs at the deeper question. "I don't know. ...I don't know. We might find there was never any hope at all. In which case... well, I'll just feel numb, I guess. If it's just because we weren't strong enough... I'll probably beat myself up a lot over it. I can't necessarily conceive of what might happen. So... hopefully we can burn that bridge and never get to it."
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Post by Robot on Jul 1, 2020 16:00:56 GMT
"I'll probably just... disappear." Theodore exhaled slowly. "Find a spot off in the woods somewhere if it's safe to and set up camp. Live off the land, and just... never speak to another soul again. Nothing I can offer after the fact, is as important as what we're up to right now." The boy swung his legs off the bed and sat up. "No sense in bellyaching over it yet though, you're right. Going to try to slip past the nurse?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 1, 2020 17:05:42 GMT
"You sure that nothing'll ever be important?" Evelyn asks, gently. "Can you really say you'll know what the future holds? None of us ever expected this, after all. Could be something else that comes along, knocks our socks off."
She looks at Theo. "C'mon, man. You just got in here. Not good for you to sneak out just yet. Because the Nurse'd probably kill you for that. I'll beg to get out next time she comes in, and get us some food. Then we can see about getting you out." She winks. "In the meantime, let's talk about something lighter. You said you liked to think about cute girls to pass the time. Spill." She sticks her tongue out, teasing.
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