|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Aug 26, 2024 10:50:49 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Nov 12, 2020 21:40:53 GMT
"It wasn't all sunshine and flowers. I think she would have preferred a daughter sometimes. Getting me to help with the family business was like pulling teeth. Hard for a manly image to go around giving people flowers.". Amaranth smiled wistfully at the memories. "If I didn't have Grandpa to work the berry farm with, chasing off birds and whatnot, I would have gone nuts."
Color spread across his face. "Don't think I ever been so homesick. And I know it doesn't compare to yours. Sorry again I was so hard on you."
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 19, 2024 3:58:23 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Nov 12, 2020 21:50:10 GMT
"I dunno," Ayah says, teasing. "I think you could have pulled it off. Put a flower in Six's palm, don't think anyone'd stand to argue there."
"And it's okay," she consoles. "I... deserved it, really. I wasn't a good friend. Didn't trust you to not hate me after... everything that'd been done. Didn't want you to get involved." She gives a smile and a chuckle. "You found a way to get involved anyway, though. Should have known."
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Aug 26, 2024 10:50:49 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Nov 12, 2020 22:03:39 GMT
"Couldn't get out of my own way, what made you think I could get out of yours?". They chuckled warmly and held Ayah close. "Should probably call it an early night. I'll take the couch I spose. Too cold to stay outside for the night."
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 19, 2024 3:58:23 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Nov 12, 2020 23:16:40 GMT
"Guess we can leave off planning for in the morning," Ayah says. "Probably better that way. Well-rested."
She gives a wink. "I mean, you don't have to take the couch. I'm sure I can trust you to keep out of trouble."
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Aug 26, 2024 10:50:49 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Nov 12, 2020 23:49:53 GMT
They kissed the back of one of her hands gently. "As much as I appreciate the trust, I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I accepted. Maybe someday.". There was a wink back, and a fond embrace before Amaranth excused himself for bed.
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 19, 2024 3:58:23 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Nov 12, 2020 23:56:34 GMT
"Alright, well, see you in the morning," she says, understandingly, before adding, "don't fall off the couch."
The night is thankfully uneventful, and Amaranth wakes to the smell of cooking food in the kitchen. Seems like Maya's always up early.
It's a bit before the other Trainers straggle down, though everyone seems to be in fairly good spirits.
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Aug 26, 2024 10:50:49 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Nov 13, 2020 0:10:03 GMT
Amaranth eats well, favoring sweet aromatic foods to the typical salty fare common in breakfasts. He greets his friends in turn with a polite wave and a nod, not one for early morning conversations. Rest was alright, the couch likely saw little use with so much freedom around the place to be anywhere but inside. No lumps made for a more comfortable sleep.
Rested and fed, he sat back slowly. "So... We know what Orion is planning but not where he is, how he is doing it, or how far along he has gotten... What now?"
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 19, 2024 3:58:23 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Nov 13, 2020 0:24:52 GMT
"I don't think there's anything in particular that he is going to be doing," Zach says. "Maybe going to try and open a rift to where they came from," he gestures to Ayah and Maya, "but, regardless of anything, he'll have to come back here. So... doesn't matter where he is, he should probably be back today or tomorrow. Then you can hop on the ship while he fiddles around in there, and everything's solved."
"You make it sound so simple," Evelyn says, sarcastically.
"Well, I mean, he's probably got scarily strong who-knows-what from other worlds," Zach says, shrugging. "Simple in concept, difficult in execution, that's all."
"Well, there's a lot of us," Ruby says, "and I'd imagine we have a lot of pent up anger between us that he won't expect." She grins and winks.
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Aug 26, 2024 10:50:49 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Nov 13, 2020 21:10:54 GMT
"Wait, ship? He has a ship that can make its own portals? And we are going to steal it? Is that the plan?". Amaranth puzzled through that for a moment.
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 19, 2024 3:58:23 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Nov 13, 2020 22:04:59 GMT
"The middle of the ocean is a better place for poking and prodding with stuff in case things go wrong," Zach says, "but, yes. The hope was to eventually be able to bring the boat other places. Stop having to bring stuff back to research it." He laughs. "If you want to steal a boat, go ahead. But, the big thing is mostly that he's set up shop in there, so that's where you'll find him. Don't know what you'd want with a boat."
"I could do with never seeing the ocean again after this," Evelyn mutters. "Not just beaches."
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Aug 26, 2024 10:50:49 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Nov 15, 2020 22:41:59 GMT
"I suppose that doesn't stop the problem... it's the ideas and the tech he has handy... and the people he had working for him that were the issue... but we've overcome some of that at least... We aiming to catch him with his pants down, or is a fair fight more important to y'all?"
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 19, 2024 3:58:23 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Nov 15, 2020 23:07:36 GMT
"I can't say that his ideas were all bad," Zach says. "Just... he takes them too far. Has some delusions of being the one to bring the world forth. I think if he was more directed, and there were some more cautious people involved, this research could produce some great things. At the very least, proving to him that he's not invincible'd be a good start."
"Psh," Maya says, "the people around him wouldn't play fair, and I wouldn't trust him to not just try and bail. That's what he did before all this when it looked like he was gonna be stymied by people."
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Aug 26, 2024 10:50:49 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Nov 16, 2020 19:10:15 GMT
"...So we have to back him into a corner if we want any kind of closure or justice out of this. Make sure he has to face the people he has wronged in the name of progress. You have a room here he might frequent with only one exit?"
Amaranth pondered aloud.
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 19, 2024 3:58:23 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Nov 16, 2020 19:40:08 GMT
"Not really here," Zach says, "It's pretty open. The most would be the basement, but that's got the gates, so... not really. It's why I suggested the boat. As long as he's inside, you should have no issues."
"Well, at the very least he'll have to face a handful of people he's wronged," Ruby says, dryly.
"Look at you, planning ambushes," Evelyn teases. "Wasn't that long ago you were going on about chivalry and fair fights and stuff."
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Aug 26, 2024 10:50:49 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Nov 16, 2020 19:48:17 GMT
"If he's going to be yellow, then I'll nail his ass to a wall so hard he ain't ever coming down.". Amaranth declared heatedly. "Ain't no playing fair with someone that uses women and children to do their dirty work to total strangers. Might be a gentleman but I won't have that."
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 19, 2024 3:58:23 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Nov 16, 2020 20:10:09 GMT
"Oh, so if someone sends someone to do their dirty work, but it's a man, then it's all A-Okay in your book?" Maya asks, frostily. "You going to go and treat me any different based on who I am? Get over it."
"If it's fine for one, it's fine for the other. And if something's unconscionable for one, same goes for the other. At the core, everyone's the same, even if we might be built a little different. Guess that was easier for people back home. Where if you were dividing people into arbitrary groups, everyone'd still have more and more arbitrary differences."
"I am an individual, and everyone here is, too. Everyone everywhere is."
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Aug 26, 2024 10:50:49 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Nov 16, 2020 20:24:20 GMT
"Look, you shouldn't have had to do what you did. And shouldn't have done what you did. In your shoes... I might have done the same, but it's worse, to me, that he played on your love of Ayah to get you in on his experiments. You're right, I shouldn't gender bias, but it is an old habit, and it will be a hard one to break. Sorry."
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 19, 2024 3:58:23 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Nov 16, 2020 20:38:12 GMT
"All I'm saying is... if I was Ayah's brother, instead of her sister, would you be hating me more now?" Maya asks. "For the choices I made. I'm not proud of them all, and I was doing the best I could... but don't put me on or let me off the hook just because of a pretty face or whatever. 'Kay? Judge me for me."
"Look... what's done is done," Ayah says, quietly. "Dwelling on this is just going to hurt everyone more. We have a chance to end it now, after all."
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Aug 26, 2024 10:50:49 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Nov 16, 2020 20:49:18 GMT
Amaranth fell quiet at Ayah's interjection. It was a few long moments before they spoke again. "Let's just... Get ready for him."
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 19, 2024 3:58:23 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Dec 5, 2020 21:13:42 GMT
While an eye is kept out, there's no sign of Orion returning that day, so it's filled with tense relaxation and preparation. Most of it is dedicated to just helping Hyacinth with getting acclimatised to a world that doesn't want to kill for one wrong move.
By the end of the day, it seems to have definitely worked out, at least to start. The bug is no longer twitching at every little thing... though there was a bit of a relapse when Kai let his own bug out. That thing seems like it needs a bit more rehabilitation.
But she seems much calmer, and willing to just sit and watch the sunset with Ayah and Amaranth, trilling gently. Not constantly freezing at every sound, or attempting to be aware of every nook and cranny around it. It seems like Amaranth has done a good job here.
The evening turns into sleep, which turns into the next day. Wherein, from the sounds of it, Orion's boat is returning, and will be back within an hour or so. Enough time to have breakfast and prepare. Figure out what Pokémon that're being taken. The Ultra Beasts are unregistered, so they're separate from the system, at least.
Now's the time for anything last minute that needs to be said or done.
|
|