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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 25, 2021 19:02:11 GMT
"Thel, the gym may likely be closing until the storm is over. The last thing any of the leaders want are young, hot-blooded trainers braving very dangerous weather to continue their challenge at their risk, and risk to their Pokemon. I managed it just fine in your absence.". She gives the boy a concerned look.
"Yes, you may use the phone in the lobby, then I really must insist you take some time for yourself, Thel. Come see me again when your call is finished."
The phone in the lobby was different then the one at school but functioned mostly the same. After three rings, Em answers. "Hello?"
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Apr 23, 2024 13:37:31 GMT
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2021 19:10:34 GMT
"Ah, okay, I see..." He says, though he's a little disappointed that he won't actually get a chance to work. It felt like he was going to be doing something. Getting some money, all that stuff. "And I will."
"Oh, Em…" he breathes, "It's Thel. I'm so sorry. It's late... I hope you didn't worry. And... I hope things have been going better for you than over here. I've been having a... bit of a rough time." He laughs, just... that statement felt so underwhelming. "It's good to hear you again."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 25, 2021 19:44:41 GMT
"I always worry for you Thel. I hope things are still save in Olivine? I have been watching the weather and they say things are getting quite bad coastally. Cianwood is on full lockdown, trying to hastily build a seawall.". She grows quiet for a moment. "These are the times when... Coming together are their most important. Talk to me, what is troubling you so? You sound like you have been crying?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2021 20:08:49 GMT
"It's... very, very wet here. Got trapped on a mountain for a day, but, all safe and warm now. I... haven't seen the coast yet. Jasmine probably would have mentioned if it was really bad, though," he says. "The Gym'll probably be shut down, though, to try and stop people from travelling as much."
He takes a breath, to steady himself. "I... I have been crying. A lot. Virtually every night, I dream. Serenity appeared in them one night on the mountain, helped me learn how to focus and stay calm... but just now, before I called. I needed to rest, so I did and... it was a torrent. More than I could ever hope to write down. I saw the region flooded, things safe, things beyond all of that. I saw things of me, and of you. There was happiness, there was sadness... but it was just... it was all too much." He stops, just focussing on his breathing, in and out. In and out. "For every one I saw, there were so many more. My life's been so short so far... I... I don't know how to handle it. More memories than I've experienced days. Memories that weren't memories..."
"I'm... I'm sorry for dumping this all on you. I just... I don't know who else knows everything about me. I... don't expect you to have answers to any of this, I just... I needed someone to say it to, and you wanted me to keep you appraised of my life. It's... been a strange time, so far." He lets out another laugh.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 25, 2021 20:47:17 GMT
Hope's fluffy body sprawled against Thel's forehead to remind him of her presence, bracing to look down into his eyes with her playful smile. "It sounds like your Second Sight has shown you the scope of your ability all at once... I wish I could hold you, and kiss you. Stroke your hair and tell you it will all be okay."
She exhales slowly. "You were looking into futures. Events that have not come to pass, but could. That is called Precognition. It is... far more distressing then postcognition. I'm so sorry you are having to go through this without me by your side, Thel. Maybe you should come to me as soon as you can? We could work through it together."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2021 21:14:21 GMT
He looks up at Hope sloooowly sprawling down his face, and giggles despite himself.
"I wish I could be there with you, too. It's... it's terrifying," he admits, "but even just knowing that you're there, that you would support me. That honestly means a whole lot."
"I... would definitely like to come back to you as soon as I can. Now more than ever. But... people went through so much trouble to get me into this school, it wouldn't be fair to them to just... drop everything and leave. As much as I want to, and just... go to you. Oh so much." He sighs. "If I'm remembering right, it's just a few more weeks. And then I can go to you. We can... figure out whatever we want to do with ourselves after that."
"Besides," he sighs, "This rain isn't going to let us travel right now. I... hope it ends soon. I worry. But... there's nothing I can do."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 25, 2021 21:57:06 GMT
"Thel... Do you know who you are?". Em asked tenderly, not a hint of malice behind the question. "You are a friend to your Pokemon, the love of my life, gifted in ways you don't understand, certainly. Do you know... What makes you, you? How to separate out the noise from the self?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2021 22:18:43 GMT
"I... don't know who I am," he says, genuinely. "Not entirely. If I'm being honest with myself, a lot of me is just... learning more as I go. I never really had a me before. Not... in the way everyone else did. Never something that mattered."
"I... can recognize the difference, though. Between me and... well, what could be. The memories are... they're there, when I see, but different. I don't know, though... if it's really me finding myself, though, or if I'm just making more me as I go..." He starts to shake his head, but remembers Hope on there. "There might be some semblance of both, I guess. I... do know that being around others has helped out bring out the best in me. You most of all, Em." He does give Hope a gentle rub on the head, though. She helped a lot, too.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 25, 2021 22:54:15 GMT
"I ask because Clair put me in touch with a psychic, a human that has some of the gifts I desperately miss. I've been talking to her over the phone, her name is Sabrina. She talks a lot about the self overcoming the extra self. Things beyond you.". Em explained as best she could, but it was clear she struggled.
"Everything possesses a natural will to be as it is. When your will exceeds those thresholds, you control it. So when you... Isolate who you are from the rest of the universe, you become stronger? I guess?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2021 23:16:31 GMT
"I see..." Thel says. So there were other humans like this. He'd heard that, but, now he knows for sure. "I really hope she can help you regain what you're missing. I'm not sure if I'm exactly understanding everything that she's saying, but... I'll keep it in mind. I've found that sometimes things in life only make sense in the moment..."
"Thank you, Em. For everything. I miss you so much, every day. I can't wait to see you again. I've been learning so much... and I've been learning how to cook better, too. So there're some things that I can't wait to share with you, that I hope you'll enjoy. It feels like such a long time... but we'll have that reunion."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 25, 2021 23:21:11 GMT
"You don't have to go already, do you?". There was a pleading note in her voice. "I would really, really love to just... Tell you about my new home, and my new partner. Make this moment last as long as we can?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2021 23:40:57 GMT
"I'd love that," he says, warmly. "Jasmine wants to talk to me after... but I know she'll understand this. And I didn't want to just keep burdening you with my problems... but I want to hear all about how it is there! Is the new partner the rock that we met on the mountain? Or is it someone entirely new?"
There's excitement in his voice. He wants to hear all about how she's doing, and that's helped cast away some of the gloom from before. "In which case, I want to hear about both, because I never really got a chance to properly meet the one from before. I wonder how they compare to Jasmine's rocks... there's one here that reminds me of it. Oh! What's the scenery like around there? Everywhere I go, it's always... so different."
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 26, 2021 0:09:45 GMT
"Well you know Happy, and you introduced me to Stoic. Stoic is a Boldore, a pure rock type which I am told is pretty rare, as most of them end up being Rock Ground, like that big snake from the route to Mahogany. Boldore grow those red crystals and absorb sunlight with them. Stoic is usually pretty quiet and unassuming. He is a great listener, but clumsy. Sometimes I will talk to him about how I am feeling, and he will try to comfort me. He means well, but it never ends without me getting bruises.". The girl laughed softly at the memories.
"Clair gave me a little dragon type named Deino, I named him Brave. He is blind, but gets by despite that, and doesn't let anything intimidate him. She wants to toughen me up, and she said dragons are very unruly. She compared them to men, which was odd. As people go, she is very intense, but I can tell she cares. The gym here is on a little island in the middle of a lake. It's a mountain city. We are barely getting rain yet because of the elevation."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 26, 2021 0:23:04 GMT
"Ah, Stoic likes the sun... I can tell we'll definitely get along," Thel says, laughing. "And... yeah, Pokémon can sometimes be a little bit less gentle than you'd like when trying to help." Bliss comes to mind. "I'm glad you have a fierce defender, too. I know one of the girls here that I've met has a dragon and... he's very impressive and scary, and from the sounds of it definitely powerful and unruly. Though there was this one dragon that belonged to the school that was very squishy and slimy and just... loved giving hugs. So I don't know."
"I don't know what Claire'd have meant by that men comment either... but, I guess I haven't actually met too many men, come to think of it. There was Gold and Morty early on, and then when I battled that one guy on the beach to cheer up Bliss... well, and Kursz and Omega, but I don't feel like those count. ...it's funny, the opposite of how it was before, really. I'm glad that you have someone looking after you that cares, though!"
"Oh, that sounds like a pretty area..." he says, "I can't wait to see it. I'm glad, too, that you really haven't had much rain yet. It's... not fun." He laughs. "Going to be fun to walk to school in it."
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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 Jan 26, 2021 0:55:30 GMT
"Omega was a little unruly at times.". Em admitted as the conversation started to wind back down. "I think you would really like it here. There aren't any volcanos, but it is very rocky and the view is amazing.". There was a creak of a bed.
"You don't have to wait for a special time Love. I will always answer when you need me. The time when we are together again can't come soon enough."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 26, 2021 1:10:23 GMT
"I'm fine without volcanoes," he says, "the heat of the sun is enough. But I'd take even the shadiest of lands if it meant being with you."
"I'll call when I next get the chance. Not sure how busy school will be keeping me, but I'll try and find a good time when I'm not exhausted. I'll definitely make sure to in the next couple of days, though... unless the storm stops that. I don't know how bad things can get. So I don't want you to worry. There are enough strong people around here. I'll be fine."
"I love you, and hope you have a good night. Talk to you later."
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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 Jan 26, 2021 1:34:00 GMT
"I love you too. When your dreams trouble you, think of me. I will be thinking of you too. Maybe we will meet in the middle someday."
With the call ended, Hope gives a giggle and makes a small squeaky kissing noise at Thel, lightly brushing his cheek, as if teasing him about the endearing moment.
Jasmine has tea ready when Thel returns, and has changed to nto something more comfy and reminiscent of sleepwear. "I did some reading on Salandit, to see if there was anything I could do to help you.". The girl explained, sliding a cup in front of him.
"Rock types are hardy, often solitary, they don't require much and are self sufficient. Steel types are very similar to a fault. Salandit are kept in line to the whims of a Salazzle keeper, of which make up a small fraction of the population. Subject to her every mood and whim, is that right?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 26, 2021 1:51:05 GMT
"Oh, you stop that," Thel teases Hope, lightly poking at her, but he doesn't actually mind.
"Yeah, that's right," he says, taking the cup and having a sip. "Pretty much, at least. There's the other ladies that're under the Lady, and all of their whims are... contradictory. But it's all under Her in the end."
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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 Jan 26, 2021 2:19:49 GMT
"I want to help you learn how to say no.". Jasmine explains quietly as she slid a cup and saucer towards him. "You are a fine person, caring, intelligent, but I worry for your ability to stand up for yourself."
Sitting back, she folded her hands in her lap. "You wanted to work here to better establish your independence. Even with the gym closed, I do have work for you. It will be dirty and tiring. Are you still interested?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 26, 2021 2:32:55 GMT
"I mean I… I know how to say no," his face reddens as he remembers the only real time that he's refused someone being Violet, back on the mountain. "It's... not quite the same. There's more to Salazzles than just words. Which are all humans have." He feels awkward, though, and doesn't meet her eyes.
"You're right, though. I... wasn't able to stand up to Diva. I needed Patience there. I... I did fight, back when Terra was being kidnapped, though. I... didn't stop the Pokémon from taking her, but I didn't go along with the person who wanted me to go with them. ...but I guess that was more for Terra, so it probably isn't the same..." He's not really the best at supporting his position, and is rather rambly when he's nervous.
"Yes, I'm interested," he says, nodding. "It... can't really be any worse than what I used to have to do, I'm sure."
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